The Penny dropped at the DVS
Maybe it was our good start that enabled me to not realise
that United really are in 3rd tier football. I am 28 years old so
have never seen United at this level.
I’ve seen us in the Premiership and spent
the rest of my time watching us in Division 1 or now as it is known as the
Championship. Our good start meant that we were winning and nothing matters to
a fan when your team is winning. However, this all changed last Tuesday at the
Don Valley Stadium.
I can honestly say that is the worst I have ever seen us
play and the reason I say that is certainly not the score line but the level. Rotherham are a League 2 side and they played us off the park from start to
finish in front of around 2,500 of their fans and made us look like the league 2
side.
When Ched Evans scored that goal Danny Wilson should have done a Mourinho
Jewell moment and walked over and apologised. There was people in the crowd,
myself included, who were embarrassed to celebrate. We were awful!! And what
made it even worse, that was pretty much our first eleven. Leaving the ground I
walked back to the Arena Square
But on a brighter note, we got through and have got a
favourable home draw against another League 2 side in Bradford so would have to
fancy us to make the semi finals of what is a Mickey Mouse cup, but if we are in
it then we may as well try and win it.
I just hope it doesn’t hinder our attempt
to get out of this standard of football at the first attempt. I do not think we
can afford to do a Leeds . We have to get back
up this year, even if it means us trying out our excellent form in the play-off
finals.
One good thing to come from Rotherham is that we go into the
Derby
The Preston
game could be a blessing in disguise because it has given the team a rest and
given Wilson time to make his move on loan
signings that we badly need to compete with Charlton, Huddersfield, Preston and Wednesday for the top 2.
Which brings me onto the big one on Sunday. – The League One
Sheffield Derby.
Saying it like that leaves a sour taste in the mouth, but we are
both where we are and come Sunday, it doesn’t matter what league we are both in.
It’s the biggest match for the fans and the biggest match League One will ever
see. I just hope it passes without serious incident in and out of the ground. The
rivalry is good but it shouldn’t go too far and people should remember it is
just a game.
Some of my best friends are Wednesday fans and I’m sure they will give me a right hammering if they win, but it would only be the same the
other way round and come Monday/Tuesday it will all be forgotten.
They say that the formbook goes out of the window when it
comes to these games; I really hope this is true because we are certainly not
in form and they are.
I'd like to think that we are at home and that gives us
the edge but ask Huddersfield and Charlton
about our home form. The Blade in me thinks we will win, the brain says i'd be
happy with a draw.
I’m saying 2-1 to the Blades.
I worry for Wilson
Paul Simpson.
Paul, Sheffield United blog for Sport:Yorkshire
Dangerous Mix Wilson Needs to Fix
The Mixture that I am referring to is; ‘Can’t defend, Can’t
Score.’
So we are 11 games in and all of a sudden the positive
feeling around the club seems to have disappeared and now we are all left
seriously worried about facing our neighbours who, let’s face it, are in better
form.
Losing at Wycombe was a bitter pill to swallow and then to
see us get beat at home again without scoring against one of our so called
rivals for promotion is hardly the ideal preparation for the biggest game
League One has ever seen.
How does Danny fix it? Well I have to admit that I have been
impressed with him in the media so far, but I am now worried that he is going
to turn into the manager who keeps saying; “It’s OK as long as we are making
chances...”
Danny Wilson remains confident of bringing goals to games for The Blades.
We made chances at Wycombe – we lost, we made chances
against Huddersfield, we lost (badly), we made chances against Charlton, we
lost! Come May are we going to be the team that played the right way but
ultimately fell short?
Let me address each point of the mixture individually...
Can’t Defend?
We had the best defence in the league 5 or 6 games in, but
sure enough the keeper looks suspect and will make 1 mistake a game. Collins
has looked a different player but yet again, he drops a clanger and it’s game
over. Very similar to the Leeds goal! Lowton
has looked OK going forward but has struggled in some games at the back and
gets beat a bit too easy (still young but after high levels last year, was
expected to be even better at this level). We seem to be hoping young Maguire
carries us through... no chance! Despite how good he is, he cannot do it all on
his own. It was very easy for Huddersfield to
score 3 without really breaking sweat. Scunthorpe, Wycombe goals were gift
wrapped by our defence and Walsall really
should have had more than the 2 they got. A game we probably should have lost.
Never mind, won!
Can’t Score?
Losing Bogdanovic and Slew without any replacement has
really hurt us. Flynn and Mendez Laing haven’t shown any sort of form yet,
Williamson is no winger and Quinn again is blowing cold after a warm patch.
Evans doesn’t look like he will be prolific even though I have been impressed
with the effort he is showing. Cresswell and Porter again look like they need 3
or 4 chances to score. 10 Games in and I’ve already seen some of the worst
misses at Scunny, Wycombe, Huddersfield and
Charlton.
Dare I mention the
‘B’ word?
The worrying thing is that I look at the bench and how does
he change it? Try Long instead of Simonsen? Try Lawton
There are some
positives...
Maguire – Just hope we can keep him past January.
Attendances have been good both home and away.
We are top 6 with still a long way to go.
And if i am being honest I trust Wilson
I worry for him though if the unthinkable happens on the 16th.
Would have to say though that after all the chances,
somebody is going to get a real hiding soon enough!
Please God let it be a week on Sunday...
