Will we make the playoffs?

[Lawrence]

We will finish 7th
Barnsley are on a role and a scoring goals so no reason they cannot maintain this as confidence is sky high.
Last 3 games played against 3 poor teams and 1 from 9 is relegation form.
Too many derby games left - we don't have the bottle for these and the way we set up (counter attack) does not win you such games.
For all our possession we just don't work the goalkeeper. That, more than anything is the key worry. We will not score enough goals as Done can't do it all on his own and if Murphy mis-fires we do.
We are too vulnerable at set pieces becuase we have no dominant centre half and a lack of height in centre mid.
Even though we set up not to concede we always concede. That's because we are dreadful at CB. The only pairing at CB that is any good is Basham and Kennedy and that's not the best in the division by a long way.
The lack of clean sheet stats and the dearth of goals scored is a toxic mix that means we are really going to struggle to maintain a top 6 position - and if we do scrape it we will not prevail against any of the likely candidates from Swimdon, MKD and Barnsley.

Look at how Villa have transformed under Sherwood after taking a more forward and positive approach. From sideways and backward to forwards and inside the full backs. They are creating chances now and talk g them. It's a mind set and helps players express their ability rather than constrain it. We are ultra cautious and slow to build - pretty much like Lambert's Villa team was all season. It's no surprise that you don't score goals of you don't get up the pitch and press the opposition.

Top post Kenilworth, Spot-on except I don't think we will even manage 7th! - unfortunately I fear it is too late for NC to turn it around - unless? (you fill in the rest?)

 

[grafikhaus]

We will finish 7th
Barnsley are on a role and a scoring goals so no reason they cannot maintain this as confidence is sky high.
Last 3 games played against 3 poor teams and 1 from 9 is relegation form.
Too many derby games left - we don't have the bottle for these and the way we set up (counter attack) does not win you such games.
For all our possession we just don't work the goalkeeper. That, more than anything is the key worry. We will not score enough goals as Done can't do it all on his own and if Murphy mis-fires we do.
We are too vulnerable at set pieces becuase we have no dominant centre half and a lack of height in centre mid.
Even though we set up not to concede we always concede. That's because we are dreadful at CB. The only pairing at CB that is any good is Basham and Kennedy and that's not the best in the division by a long way.
The lack of clean sheet stats and the dearth of goals scored is a toxic mix that means we are really going to struggle to maintain a top 6 position - and if we do scrape it we will not prevail against any of the likely candidates from Swimdon, MKD and Barnsley.

Look at how Villa have transformed under Sherwood after taking a more forward and positive approach. From sideways and backward to forwards and inside the full backs. They are creating chances now and talk g them. It's a mind set and helps players express their ability rather than constrain it. We are ultra cautious and slow to build - pretty much like Lambert's Villa team was all season. It's no surprise that you don't score goals of you don't get up the pitch and press the opposition.

Good post. Anybody who has the temerity to suggest that the current manager is dragging us into a tailspin of failure usually gets the response 'Name a manager who could do better.'

Leaving aside that it's not our job to follow the progress of managers and would-be leaders, at all levels of the game, and magically spot the new Mourinho and you're given short shrift. Let's face it, we've been here before. Depending on age, many times.

In the near future, we'll hear the usual 'We should have given him (Clough/Wilson/Blackwell etc - delete as appropriate) more time.' But how long do we let things slide? So far, Clough has spent a fortune. He's failed to get promotion (and yes, with almost a quarter of the season left, I'm utterly confident that we will not go up) from an unusually-poor Third Division. His transfer 'policy' is pure scatter-gun and the mistakes far outweigh the successes. His motivational skills are absolutely zero (first-halfs are usually an utter non-event). He is solely responsible for the gloom and doom around the club (after all, being consistently out-classed by Crawley, Fleetwood, Scunthorpe, Walsall on Tuesday etc. is not going to put a spring in the step) and will be solely responsible for a quarter of those fans currently attending games to be missing next season. Also missing next season if NC is still here will be our few 'better' players, and the slide continues...

Kenilworth's point about Sherwood is a good one. Employing a new manager is always a gamble, after all 90% of managers eventually prove to be shite, and there are no guarantees. But it's basic football knowledge that dictates that a team will normally end up in the image of the manager. Lambert walked out on Colchester to join Norwich. Then he walked out on Norwich when Villa called. Now he's out of work and a living embodiment of the 'Peter Principle'. He's a dour, dour man and his Villa team reflected that. Obsessed with not losing, chiselling out draws at home was seen (by him) as 'progress'. He had very good players losing confidence and playing with their heads down. Sound familiar?

Sherwood, on the other hand, has totally transformed the mood (as has the guy at Barnsley). You can tell the players are enjoying life again. No great psycholgical trick, no 'tiki-taka versus hoof'. Just be confident, impress your qualities on the opposition, become proactive, go out to win every game. If it works with the pampered thoroughbreds in the PL, imagine the effect it will have on Third Division carthorses.

It might not work. What we're seeing now sure as hell isn't.

 

[groveblade]

current for, says no

current form pre Peterborough game made it look like we could well challenge for automatic!!!


And.....IF we get in the play-offs then I would advocate all Unitedites having their memories wiped as otherwise I fear that the collective expectation of failure will - again - become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

IF we get in the play offs we CAN do it. IMO all fans in that situation have to try to forget past hearbreaks and try to believe that we can do it!

 

[bladesadviser]

current form pre Peterborough game made it look like we could well challenge for automatic!!!

And thats been the problem all season for me, its been fine margins. Had we held on to beat Peterbrough, confidence would have been better for Fleetwood game which we would have probably won and then all of a sudden the result at Scunny doesn't seem so bad and we go into the game at Walsall looking to make it a 10 match unbeaten run with three winnable home games after that

Instead we now have a tricky match at Walsall which if we perform badly will mean the Lane on Saturday will be nervey, tense and anxious

 

[breeny]

Positions will be the same as current league table for 5th and 6th - after that I've no idea.

 

[djbaldken]

I,for one am very disappointed with the current performance level of the players, they are very good players at this standard yet are struggling with confidence !
What I am more disappointed in is the constant sniping, whinging and general doom and gloom that our so called supporters just love to post on here - I am sick to the back teeth of constantly reading the thoughts of YES Blade, robbiez666, Blader, the guy with the clown avatar and all the other Doom & Gloom merchants just revelling in our current poor form and seem to want the side to fail so they can come on here and be ultra negative.
Sorry guys, we don't need you - piss off back under the stones you emerge from every time we don't win - I for one am heartily sick of you !

Graham Chapman: I think all righthtinking people in this country are sick and tired of being told that ordinary, decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired.

All: Yes, yes...

Graham Chapman: I'm certainly not! And I'm sick and tired of being told that I am.

 

[sitwell]

Revelling? Fuck off. People are furious and no surprise that they are coming on to vent their spleen, their weekends constantly ruined, what would you have them do? kick the dog?

Why do you never appear after a victory ?

 

[Fiery Blade]

This! Not sure what happened in the last few weeks, however the teams belief has gone a bit like mine. I hve lot faith in clough and I wonder if some of the players have too.

So that is why Davies B, Freeman, Davies S, Coutts, Brayford, McEverley, have all come to play for him again !

Only a few weeks ago we beat Bristol City on their own patch - Preston went on a five match losing run,MK Dons have now not won in last four, Swindon lost four on the bounce in February - This is football at this level Ladies and Gentlemen
Grow Up, and lets get on with it - Yes we are going through a bad patch and we need to improve but we are still in the Play Off zone and there's all to play for !!
You whingers sound more like the followers from S6 coming out with It's his fault, We should be winning every game, We should be top of the league because we are Sheffield United, We get crowds of 18,000+, etc etc etc
When you have all finished throwing your toys out of the pram We should be United - One goal to get promotion no matter how it is achieved - If you want to go and support Villa, Barnsley or whoever has a new manager and takes your fancy then bugger off and leave supporting United to True Blades !!
We all want them to be succesful Some of us realise that you don't get everything in life on a plate - You have to work at it !

 

[Harry's Game]

Why do you never appear after a victory ?

That's a lie for a start but "keep saying it often enough then people will start to belive it" that's what Hitler said.

Thing is people are seeing through your snide comments.

 

[Kenilworth]

So that is why Davies B, Freeman, Davies S, Coutts, Brayford, McEverley, have all come to play for him again !

Only a few weeks ago we beat Bristol City on their own patch - Preston went on a five match losing run,MK Dons have now not won in last four, Swindon lost four on the bounce in February - This is football at this level Ladies and Gentlemen
Grow Up, and lets get on with it - Yes we are going through a bad patch and we need to improve but we are still in the Play Off zone and there's all to play for !!
You whingers sound more like the followers from S6 coming out with It's his fault, We should be winning every game, We should be top of the league because we are Sheffield United, We get crowds of 18,000+, etc etc etc
When you have all finished throwing your toys out of the pram We should be United - One goal to get promotion no matter how it is achieved - If you want to go and support Villa, Barnsley or whoever has a new manager and takes your fancy then bugger off and leave supporting United to True Blades !!
We all want them to be succesful Some of us realise that you don't get everything in life on a plate - You have to work at it !

Wow, Fiery
Anyone would think you have extra "Wood" fuelling your passion. More power to your elbow, feller.

You're right. With the squad we have compared to the rest we should all rejoice in 5th place .........then 6th then .........7th .........then Oh

Strikes me that now the lads know that Autos are off the table they are not pushing as hard by one or five percent individually and are now in danger of cruising into the play offs as they think they are home and hosed.

Rude awakening on the horizon.

Problem is, as we know all too well, that the teams that go into the play offs with some momentum will have the confidence to tip the balance over two legs. Those that stumble in or just fail to edge the autos will struggle.

The bare stark truth is that the fans are reacting to what the team is showing on the pitch. There have been plenty of occasions where the fans lift the players - but you almost right off every first half as you pretty much know it'll be 0-0 at half time after 60% possession and only one, possibly two shots on target to show for it. What gets crowds going is goal mouth action, a near miss, some incisive attacking play or even a great crunching tackle in midfield. Sadly, not much of that is on offer - until we get the inevitable sucker punch and go one down to some hit and hope ball or a free header in our own six yard box despite the fact that we have all 11 back for corners and free kicks.

Well I hope you're right and we do pull our collective fingers out (btw we seem to be having many more poor runs compared to the other contenders) so, I wait with baited breath for the onslaught, the hurricane, the irresistible force given it's clearly random and it's now our turn to shine.

Bring on the charge of the height brigade!

 

[JasonEllis]

So that is why Davies B, Freeman, Davies S, Coutts, Brayford, McEverley, have all come to play for him again !

Only a few weeks ago we beat Bristol City on their own patch - Preston went on a five match losing run,MK Dons have now not won in last four, Swindon lost four on the bounce in February - This is football at this level Ladies and Gentlemen
Grow Up, and lets get on with it - Yes we are going through a bad patch and we need to improve but we are still in the Play Off zone and there's all to play for !!
You whingers sound more like the followers from S6 coming out with It's his fault, We should be winning every game, We should be top of the league because we are Sheffield United, We get crowds of 18,000+, etc etc etc
When you have all finished throwing your toys out of the pram We should be United - One goal to get promotion no matter how it is achieved - If you want to go and support Villa, Barnsley or whoever has a new manager and takes your fancy then bugger off and leave supporting United to True Blades !!
We all want them to be succesful Some of us realise that you don't get everything in life on a plate - You have to work at it !

Been a rather long bad patch

 

[Fiery Blade]

Been a rather long bad patch

It will be OK We will get into the play offs
We will win the play offs
We will be triumphant !
Finally I will be able to say 'I was there'
Believe ye of little faith !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sheffielder]

So that is why Davies B, Freeman, Davies S, Coutts, Brayford, McEverley, have all come to play for him again !

Only a few weeks ago we beat Bristol City on their own patch - Preston went on a five match losing run,MK Dons have now not won in last four, Swindon lost four on the bounce in February - This is football at this level Ladies and Gentlemen
Grow Up, and lets get on with it - Yes we are going through a bad patch and we need to improve but we are still in the Play Off zone and there's all to play for !!
You whingers sound more like the followers from S6 coming out with It's his fault, We should be winning every game, We should be top of the league because we are Sheffield United, We get crowds of 18,000+, etc etc etc
When you have all finished throwing your toys out of the pram We should be United - One goal to get promotion no matter how it is achieved - If you want to go and support Villa, Barnsley or whoever has a new manager and takes your fancy then bugger off and leave supporting United to True Blades !!
We all want them to be succesful Some of us realise that you don't get everything in life on a plate - You have to work at it !

Not getting into a girly squabble with you and I will stick to the points you make about mine, rather than your rant at things I never mentioned.

What about the players that are not clough old boys? How do they feel. Not a huge fan of the left footed porter we have just brought in and i am not sure what coutta does, if anything. there are a lot of non ex Derby players who are now sue place to requirements who have to train and travel like everyone else. The tea lady will play before Collins, then there are players like Alcock and higdon. The list gets extensive. I am not saying that this has contributed but there must be a lot of unhappy campers in the squad.

It was clough who said last season that you needed only about 18-19 first team players and the rest filled by youngsters.

Is it ok for people to ask questions or should we all just blindly follow? I am a season ticket holder who doesn't boo at games or get anywhere close to the pitch to heckle, this is surely what a forum is for.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

So that is why Davies B, Freeman, Davies S, Coutts, Brayford, McEverley, have all come to play for him again !

Only a few weeks ago we beat Bristol City on their own patch - Preston went on a five match losing run,MK Dons have now not won in last four, Swindon lost four on the bounce in February - This is football at this level Ladies and Gentlemen
Grow Up, and lets get on with it - Yes we are going through a bad patch and we need to improve but we are still in the Play Off zone and there's all to play for !!
You whingers sound more like the followers from S6 coming out with It's his fault, We should be winning every game, We should be top of the league because we are Sheffield United, We get crowds of 18,000+, etc etc etc
When you have all finished throwing your toys out of the pram We should be United - One goal to get promotion no matter how it is achieved - If you want to go and support Villa, Barnsley or whoever has a new manager and takes your fancy then bugger off and leave supporting United to True Blades !!
We all want them to be succesful Some of us realise that you don't get everything in life on a plate - You have to work at it !

Fiery , can you go and give a life coach speech to the management and players

UTB

 

[robbiez666]

Good post. Anybody who has the temerity to suggest that the current manager is dragging us into a tailspin of failure usually gets the response 'Name a manager who could do better.'

Leaving aside that it's not our job to follow the progress of managers and would-be leaders, at all levels of the game, and magically spot the new Mourinho and you're given short shrift. Let's face it, we've been here before. Depending on age, many times.

In the near future, we'll hear the usual 'We should have given him (Clough/Wilson/Blackwell etc - delete as appropriate) more time.' But how long do we let things slide? So far, Clough has spent a fortune. He's failed to get promotion (and yes, with almost a quarter of the season left, I'm utterly confident that we will not go up) from an unusually-poor Third Division. His transfer 'policy' is pure scatter-gun and the mistakes far outweigh the successes. His motivational skills are absolutely zero (first-halfs are usually an utter non-event). He is solely responsible for the gloom and doom around the club (after all, being consistently out-classed by Crawley, Fleetwood, Scunthorpe, Walsall on Tuesday etc. is not going to put a spring in the step) and will be solely responsible for a quarter of those fans currently attending games to be missing next season. Also missing next season if NC is still here will be our few 'better' players, and the slide continues...

Kenilworth's point about Sherwood is a good one. Employing a new manager is always a gamble, after all 90% of managers eventually prove to be shite, and there are no guarantees. But it's basic football knowledge that dictates that a team will normally end up in the image of the manager. Lambert walked out on Colchester to join Norwich. Then he walked out on Norwich when Villa called. Now he's out of work and a living embodiment of the 'Peter Principle'. He's a dour, dour man and his Villa team reflected that. Obsessed with not losing, chiselling out draws at home was seen (by him) as 'progress'. He had very good players losing confidence and playing with their heads down. Sound familiar?

Sherwood, on the other hand, has totally transformed the mood (as has the guy at Barnsley). You can tell the players are enjoying life again. No great psycholgical trick, no 'tiki-taka versus hoof'. Just be confident, impress your qualities on the opposition, become proactive, go out to win every game. If it works with the pampered thoroughbreds in the PL, imagine the effect it will have on Third Division carthorses.

It might not work. What we're seeing now sure as hell isn't.

I think the point about Sherwood is a good one. I predict he'll not last a year, but the injection a new manager can give to a team who have played restrictive defensive football all year is obvious. The same can be said at Derby. When Clough left, McClaren came in, he brought a couple of players in but let the team go out and attack the opposition, and they've clearly revelled in it.

The players we have should easily be capable of putting 4 or 5 goals passed any team in this league. I wonder how they'd react if there was a manager who just told them to score more than the opposition.