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Post by mojofilter on Aug 27, 2016 21:04:42 GMT
So what needs to change? We have a good squad (strong additions and a good portion of a team that did well all year last year), a respected manager, a bit more money etc. I can't see why we are struggling to get going. I know injuries have been a problem but that's not everything.
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Post by georgefryer on Aug 27, 2016 21:08:20 GMT
I thought Thomas, Maguire and Skars (when he was) were great. Rothwell looked very good when he came on as well. I don't feel comfortable with Ruffels at left back at all, and my god, Lundstrum is woeful at the moment. The amount of times he lost the ball today, and there team were going through him like a hot knife in butter. In my opinion he needs to be dropped for Rothwell in the next game. I don't care if he's captain, Martin got the rough treatment and Lundstrums not bigger than the team.
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Post by middlebartonyellow on Aug 27, 2016 21:08:28 GMT
So what needs to change? We have a good squad (strong additions and a good portion of a team that did well all year last year), a respected manager, a bit more money etc. I can't see why we are struggling to get going. I know injuries have been a problem but that's not everything. Settled defence would be a good start. A change in formation because we need an extra body in midfield.
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Post by cedricterrier on Aug 27, 2016 21:10:37 GMT
Ok never went today . But from the radio .. We need left sided defender . And pace up top . Agree about macca . Love his effort but runs out of steam and really is no winger . All these midfielders , why? Dunkly is compromised when put on the left . Still by far our best defender . I think we are a long way short of last years team but I have not lost faith in app . Just can't see why all the midfielders . Rochdale is looking like a game we should and need to win . Although he won't score many I want Taylor up top .
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Post by yellowshark on Aug 27, 2016 21:14:30 GMT
I think we're going to struggle this season mid table at best, that's unless we get some pace and defensive cover. Given it's our first season in this league, I'll be happy to take mid table. With a few tweaks (wingers!) we might do a lot better, but as long as we stay clear of any hint of a relegation struggle I won't complain.
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Post by bashamwonderland on Aug 27, 2016 21:34:25 GMT
We were probably just the better team today and didn't deserve to lose. Some great plays but our strikers and CMs weren't up to the job. Still don't think we'll go down if we play like that all season but it doesn't seem like we'll be fighting for promotion either.
Special mention to the 17,000 Sheffield fans who made less noise than most league 2 home crowds last season.
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Post by ZeroTheHero on Aug 27, 2016 21:36:47 GMT
I'm wondering if people were at a different game to the one I saw (my first sight of the new-look Us). We weren't great but I thought we were the better side I cannot for the life of me see how you thought that. We were not too bad until we scored the goal. After that I thought it was downhill all the way - against a poor team. I made excuses for us and looked for the positives against Brighton's second string, but I found that a difficult watch this afternoon. None of the problems we have all seen seem to be being addressed - and they go further than getting a (talented) young midfielder will sort out. We cannot retain the ball so badly and give opponents so much space if we want to make a decent fist of this league.
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Post by pottersrightboot on Aug 27, 2016 22:01:24 GMT
I'm wondering if people were at a different game to the one I saw (my first sight of the new-look Us). We weren't great but I thought we were the better side I cannot for the life of me see how you thought that. We were not too bad until we scored the goal. After that I thought it was downhill all the way - against a poor team. I made excuses for us and looked for the positives against Brighton's second string, but I found that a difficult watch this afternoon. None of the problems we have all seen seem to be being addressed - and they go further than getting a (talented) young midfielder will sort out. We cannot retain the ball so badly and give opponents so much space if we want to make a decent fist of this league. Bit negative. We should have dug out a point against a team that will eventually finish in the top third. Sheff U looked OK to me. Thought our lack of fitness let us down. Macdonald was finished five minutes into the second half and the front two totally disappeared after half time. Like the look of Rorhwell and Ledson will be a good signing. I trust Appleton to get it right, let's not get too down on the lads.
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Post by unification on Aug 28, 2016 8:14:38 GMT
Just watched the highlights on Sky. If we keep defending like that for the first goal, I'll have no hair left by the end of the season. Aaron Martin's appalling defensive header has summed up the sort of goal we've conceded so far this season. If I was the management team I would have the whole unit working on getting rid of the ball properly and the midfield providing options too. Our handling of the second ball is atrocious.
Regarding fitness - why we don't look prepared has come as a total surprise. Last season we looked to a man one of the moat prepared, professional and physically sound sides in League 1. Why some of our players don't look ready yet despite being five games into the league season is a disgrace to them and an insult to the manager.
Frustrating at the minute. We simply must do better.
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Post by ontheup01 on Aug 28, 2016 8:36:00 GMT
We seemed to lose our shape after Skarz went off. Dunks looked a lot less comfortable on the left. Plus as we know this side has little pace or width. I thought Sercs & Maguire played well but Edwards didn't impress today and Lundstram was poor, needs a rest. So chippy out-thought us again. At least we gave Jake a decent cheer. And I think we are still above them on GD! We certainly let a poor Blades side back into this game. By the second half we were hanging on and in truth they deserved the win albeit we defending very poorly for both goals. Sercs had a better game when going forward, lundstrum is talented but doesn't seem to be able to win the physical battles required in centre mid. Skarz was solid until injured, Dunks was strong but lack of technique meant he struggled on the left. Edwards and Ruffles had poorish games. Part of the reason we lack width is because our fullbacks don't have the pace to get into the last third carrying the ball. up front we scored a good goal but seemed to fade out of the game. Maguire was probably out best player, but it's hard to really do some damage when so many of the lads just couldn't win their battles By beating their man, winning headers or stopping crosses. Keeper as ever is a top performer. Player of the month by a country mile. Still early days, eventually Nelson and Ribeiro will bring pace and width into the defence. Think we might need a strong CM and possibly a running winger who gets behind fullbacks. Let's see how we are fixed in a couple of months.
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Post by victor1986 on Aug 28, 2016 8:54:26 GMT
Lunds & Sercs are not what they can be; Ruffels -er not up to this league; we have shipped poor goals with Martin playing.
Other than that we obviously need a pacey winger before deadline day.
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Post by uptheus on Aug 28, 2016 9:06:04 GMT
Just watched the highlights on Sky. If we keep defending like that for the first goal, I'll have no hair left by the end of the season. Aaron Martin's appalling defensive header has summed up the sort of goal we've conceded so far this season. If I was the management team I would have the whole unit working on getting rid of the ball properly and the midfield providing options too. Our handling of the second ball is atrocious. Regarding fitness - why we don't look prepared has come as a total surprise. Last season we looked to a man one of the moat prepared, professional and physically sound sides in League 1. Why some of our players don't look ready yet despite being five games into the league season is a disgrace to them and an insult to the manager. Frustrating at the minute. We simply must do better. It was a foul on Martin for their first goal. Their player has made no attempt to go for the ball and has just jumped/pushed right into Martin's face. They'd been doing it all the game e.g. not looking at the ball and jumping straight into the defenders face leading with their elbows. Agree re the second goal and midfield. I actually felt that Sercombe had a better game yesterday, but with Lundstrum being sooo woeful he had to do the job of two players. Add to that with Macca having no pace we really struggled for an outlet. We have no pace in the team at all. No full backs bombing on, no wingers with pace, and a weak centre midfield. We don't look like scoring goals either. To really make a fist if this season we desparately need another centre back for cover, wingers, but more importantly on the left as I think Rothwell could play in the right, a decent striker oh and another full back on the left. Hopefully with those additions the multitude of central midfielders will come to the fore!
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Post by uptheus on Aug 28, 2016 9:16:14 GMT
We seemed to lose our shape after Skarz went off. Dunks looked a lot less comfortable on the left. Plus as we know this side has little pace or width. I thought Sercs & Maguire played well but Edwards didn't impress today and Lundstram was poor, needs a rest. So chippy out-thought us again. At least we gave Jake a decent cheer. And I think we are still above them on GD! We certainly let a poor Blades side back into this game. By the second half we were hanging on and in truth they deserved the win albeit we defending very poorly for both goals. Sercs had a better game when going forward, lundstrum is talented but doesn't seem to be able to win the physical battles required in centre mid. Skarz was solid until injured, Dunks was strong but lack of technique meant he struggled on the left. Edwards and Ruffles had poorish games. Part of the reason we lack width is because our fullbacks don't have the pace to get into the last third carrying the ball. up front we scored a good goal but seemed to fade out of the game. Maguire was probably out best player, but it's hard to really do some damage when so many of the lads just couldn't win their battles By beating their man, winning headers or stopping crosses. Keeper as ever is a top performer. Player of the month by a country mile. Still early days, eventually Nelson and Ribeiro will bring pace and width into the defence. Think we might need a strong CM and possibly a running winger who gets behind fullbacks. Let's see how we are fixed in a couple of months. Totally agree with your comments, but it's hard to believe that with all the midfielders we have we actually need another one, but I know what you mean. Not sure Ribiero will add pace as he didn't look that kind of player when I saw him in Spain. I can understand MApp bringing in Edwards because we need more experience in the team, but I always think a mixture of experience and youth through the spine works well with youngsters and pace in the wider areas e.g. if they make mistakes in those areas it doesn't tend to have a bigger impact. Whereas, making an error in the spine areas does. Personally, I just wish we'd kept Wright or a player of his type.
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Post by eighteen93 on Aug 28, 2016 9:31:16 GMT
Just watched the highlights on Sky. If we keep defending like that for the first goal, I'll have no hair left by the end of the season. Aaron Martin's appalling defensive header has summed up the sort of goal we've conceded so far this season. If I was the management team I would have the whole unit working on getting rid of the ball properly and the midfield providing options too. Our handling of the second ball is atrocious Apart from Martin's poor header you might also refer to Edwards allowing the cross from Matt Done to come in far too easily and Ruffels for allowing Billy Sharp to finish at the far stick.
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Post by johnf on Aug 28, 2016 9:34:37 GMT
Although it wasn't a great game yesterday I think we were unfortunate not to come away with a point. But I think until we get a settled back four we will give away goals especially away from home. We have been unlucky with injuries lets hope nelson Can get back soon to give us more options in the centre of our defence.
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Post by Junior on Aug 28, 2016 11:28:13 GMT
Lundstrum is the biggest concern for me. What the hell has happend to him. 5/6 times he got caught on the ball in the middle of the pitch leaving Sheffield Utd to hit us on the break. When he did use the ball his passing was slow and he rally under hit. Skipper or no skipper, he needs to be dropped and giving a kick up the arse.
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Post by headingtonutd on Aug 28, 2016 11:37:14 GMT
Errrmm, you kind of did. 'too naive' 'system A or system A' and 'if we don't change it's groundhog day' Not really sure where you said in that post anything about a great opportunity for next week? Unless you did it in invisible ink? Do I need to rub lemon juice on it? Don't rub lemon juice on it, it gets really sticky. Don't be bitter either, I'm just not repeating myself. appleton knows we need pace on today's performance, and I have every faith he will deliver No repeating yourself would require you to have said it in the first place As for the lemon juice you seem to have more experience with it than me so i will bow to your greater wisdom. I am glad you are more upbeat though, long may it last. keep the faith brother!
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Post by ubermeistervonmeat on Aug 28, 2016 11:38:39 GMT
Absolutely, Lunny is the major problem - truly dreadful yesterday apart from the neat routine which nearly got a goal. MAPP made a mistake making him captain but can he really take it off him now ? It would hardly help his confidence. MAPP made another big mistake in letting our real captain go - his usual calm performance yesterday compared to Martin (and Dunks second half) - he may not be as good as Nelson but Martin is nowhere near his level - great and proper reception for him at the end yesterday as befits the shift he put in for us for years. MAPP is a good young manager but he needs to wise up quickly or this season will be a slog. Finally, Sheff Utd were no great shakes at all - we simply gifted them the game second half from a position where we should have won - sadly that will probably be the spur for them to go on a run now
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Post by davox on Aug 28, 2016 12:28:06 GMT
Lunds & Sercs are not what they can be; Ruffels -er not up to this league; we have shipped poor goals with Martin playing. Other than that we obviously need a pacey winger before deadline day. We need a pacey, experienced left back. Winger is a second priority. Need to face up to it that Skarz is starting to get more injuries and Ruffels has cost us 3 points already this season on his own. Conceding a stupid free kick yesterday and another dumb one against Chesterfield opening game that both led to goals!
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Post by Gary Baldi on Aug 28, 2016 12:33:42 GMT
The issue we have with 442 is how one paced we are as a team in the back 4 and midfield 4. We just aren't a threat to get behind teams
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Post by slimjim on Aug 28, 2016 14:08:10 GMT
We seem to have little or no pace in wide positions. We then become quite easy to play against. Macca is quality on his day but he looked exhausted at the start of the second half.
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Post by uptheus on Aug 28, 2016 17:41:10 GMT
Lunds & Sercs are not what they can be; Ruffels -er not up to this league; we have shipped poor goals with Martin playing. Other than that we obviously need a pacey winger before deadline day. We need a pacey, experienced left back. Winger is a second priority. Need to face up to it that Skarz is starting to get more injuries and Ruffels has cost us 3 points already this season on his own. Conceding a stupid free kick yesterday and another dumb one against Chesterfield opening game that both led to goals! What about when Dunks fucked up by heading it straight for their player to have a one on one situation.
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Post by davox on Aug 28, 2016 20:00:54 GMT
We need a pacey, experienced left back. Winger is a second priority. Need to face up to it that Skarz is starting to get more injuries and Ruffels has cost us 3 points already this season on his own. Conceding a stupid free kick yesterday and another dumb one against Chesterfield opening game that both led to goals! What about when Dunks fucked up by heading it straight for their player to have a one on one situation. With goal saving tackles and interceptions he's saved us more than he's lost though and I'm sure he will. I'm not singling out Ruffels. Just frustrated that he's being played in a position he's not very good at. We've got plenty of cover at centre back if Dunkley goes off form throughout the season. What have we got at left back? Ruffels and Welch-Hayes. Not good enough. I want to see a Baldock type player on that side
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Post by dubaiyellow on Aug 29, 2016 4:49:04 GMT
obviously a lot of work still to be done with our current team, injuries are not helping, but I do believe in MAPP and the players we have (+ one or 2 more signings by Wednesday). Having watched the highlights and forgetting the problems leading up to both of their goals I actually think Ruffles needs to do better for both. He was weak in the challenge for the first and the free kick for the second one was a reckless foul. It was never going to be easy, but I've still got my seat on the positive bus
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Post by Denissmithswig on Aug 29, 2016 10:37:42 GMT
We need a pacey, experienced left back. Winger is a second priority. Need to face up to it that Skarz is starting to get more injuries and Ruffels has cost us 3 points already this season on his own. Conceding a stupid free kick yesterday and another dumb one against Chesterfield opening game that both led to goals! What about when Dunks fucked up by heading it straight for their player to have a one on one situation. Please don't say anything against Dunkley, some of our fans get awfully upset! I thought he was poor on Saturday. Yes he put some good blocks in but he put us under unneeded pressure on serval occasions.
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Post by foley on Aug 30, 2016 7:54:21 GMT
What about when Dunks fucked up by heading it straight for their player to have a one on one situation. Please don't say anything against Dunkley, some of our fans get awfully upset! I thought he was poor on Saturday. Yes he put some good blocks in but he put us under unneeded pressure on serval occasions. I thought that in the first half Dunkley was excellent and the whole defence were generally very good. In the second though he along the rest of the defence were poor. For some reason he started losing possession and being caught out. To be fair to the defence the midfield gave the ball away far too much and it didn't stick up front. Things aren't quite firing at the moment. The front two are not giving enough (Taylor gave us something extra when he came on), and Lundstrom looks half the player last season (normally his passing is his strength but he also gave the ball away far too cheaply and often on Saturday) Rochdale at home Saturday is a big game to try and get back on track. A very difficult one for MAPP. The captain is nowhere near at his best, but the last thing that he wants to do is to blow his confidence more. I suspect that he will play Saturday with the hope that we will win and get some confidence back.
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