Sheff Utd (H) 17th April - Match Thread

[Sniffer]

I go back to the away games when Agana and Deane used to run us ragged. Recall one where it was 3 or 4 and then on leaving the ground found out that Scotland had beaten England in the grand slam decider .

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Went to that 0-3, I'd just moved to Manc and as a naive 18 year old thought getting from there to Sheffield by train would be well easy, it's not very far.

It isn't as the network is a disaster, we were awful and Akinbiyi missed an open goal from two yards.

It's a direct train, no?

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

It's a direct train, no?

Yeah, but it takes an age.

Over an hour to travel less than 40 miles, on an absolute shitheap of a service that breaks all the time.

 

[Lycan]

The 1-0 when van La Parra scored and shushed the away end was the worst one.

Tommy fucking Rowe man.

 

[Tony Towner]

I go back to the away games when Agana and Deane used to run us ragged. Recall one where it was 3 or 4 and then on leaving the ground found out that Scotland had beaten England in the grand slam decider .

First time I went was the season we won Div 3, October time I think, lost about 3-1 with those 2 up front. Been 3 times in total, lost the lot. Even fat Leon 2 the last time

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

The 1-0 when van La Parra scored and shushed the away end was the worst one.

Tommy fucking Rowe man.

Tommy Rowe didn't play that one, we'd got rid of him by then...

Rowe played at left wing when we lost 1-0 there and Nakhi Wells scored near the end.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

I admit I was one of the 1000's on my way out at 0-2.

Have to say I made a point of never leaving a match early no matter how bad we played, score or the weather, almost my own badge of honour.

Except once when a combination of terrible hangover (game was on new years day), terrible bus service, stinking cold, shite game meant I left after 85mins when we were 2-0 down.

Doesnt take much to work out which fecking game it was...

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Have to say I made a point of never leaving a match early no matter how bad we played, score or the weather, almost my own badge of honour.

Except once when a combination of terrible hangover (game was on new years day), terrible bus service, stinking cold, shite game meant I left after 85mins when we were 2-0 down.

Doesnt take much to work out which fecking game it was...

Great stuff, but you must go to better New Year's parties than I do because we played them on 2 January

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Great stuff, but you must go to better New Year's parties than I do because we played them on 2 January

Possibly wouldnt be the first or last time I lost a full day in the 90's

 

[Tredman]

Podence really doesn’t look fit to me, so I’m going:

Rui
Saiss - Coady - Boly
Semedo —— Otasowie —— RAN
Moutinho
MGW - Traore
Fabio​

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Holy lack of width, Batman.

 

[Tredman]

Meh, can’t win with some - stick Adama wide right and people moan he just hangs out there doing nothing

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

It just looks suspiciously like our "line everyone down the middle of the pitch" shape that we ended up with vs West Ham, to the benefit of no-one...

Otasowie will not play, he had a reasonable 20 minutes out of 45 vs Chelsea, he has done nothing at all since. Vitinha would play in that scenario surely.

I also don't see us going to a back three for this one, we're playing one of the worst PL teams ever. They've lost eight of their last nine games. They didn't score in six of those. Lost all of the last four, scoring one goal.

 

[Johnny75]

Meh, can’t win with some - stick Adama wide right and people moan he just hangs out there doing nothing

I prefer a more solid midfield but I’d go with roughly the same formation:

Rui
Saiss - Coady - Boly
Semedo —— Donk—Vitinha—— RAN
MGW
Traore —Fabio​

 

[lemonjelly]

I can see tredders point. everyone has podence starting, but he isn't fit, and we know if he does start, he's definitely a change we'll need to make during the game,
I get the clamour for Vitinha to replace moutinho at HT, but I'd actually prefer him playing alongside moutinho. That suggests dropping donck, at a time when he's just started showing a bit of better form this season, or going with a 3-5-2. However, we don't really have the players for 2 up top, unless it is jose and silva, and that means leaving adama on the bench.

 

[Tredman]

It just looks suspiciously like our "line everyone down the middle of the pitch" shape that we ended up with vs West Ham, to the benefit of no-one...

Otasowie will not play, he had a reasonable 20 minutes out of 45 vs Chelsea, he has done nothing at all since. Vitinha would play in that scenario surely.

I also don't see us going to a back three for this one, we're playing one of the worst PL teams ever.

We may as well play MGW, it’s possibly last chance saloon for him and he looked ok against Fulham. I’d rather not play Podence as he really doesn’t look ready. Happy enough to play Donk, but I don’t think you learn much from that - 3 atb for me purely as I would never be playing 4 so don’t see the point in trying it.

 

[northfield wolf]

It just looks suspiciously like our "line everyone down the middle of the pitch" shape that we ended up with vs West Ham, to the benefit of no-one...

Otasowie will not play, he had a reasonable 20 minutes out of 45 vs Chelsea, he has done nothing at all since. Vitinha would play in that scenario surely.

I also don't see us going to a back three for this one, we're playing one of the worst PL teams ever. They've lost eight of their last nine games. They didn't score in six of those. Lost all of the last four, scoring one goal.

Looks like a 0-0 then.

 

[lemonjelly]

We may as well play MGW, it’s possibly last chance saloon for him and he looked ok against Fulham. I’d rather not play Podence as he really doesn’t look ready. Happy enough to play Donk, but I don’t think you learn much from that - 3 atb for me purely as I would never be playing 4 so don’t see the point in trying it.

I agree Neves being out is a prime opportunity for us to see what MGW and Vitinha can do in longer spells, rather than cameos. Personally, I've felt MGW has done ok in the opportunities he's had, and Neves being out for 2 weeks should give these 2 chances that a fair few fans have indicated wanting to see.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Rui
Semedo Boly Coady RAN
Vitinha - Donck - Moutinho
Traore - Fabio - Podence

Could switch MGW for either #8, as long as Donck is at the base I’m not fussed.

Or back 5

Rui
Saiss Coady Boly
Semedo Donk Moutinho RAN
Traore Fabio Podence

I’ve not picked Vitinha or MGW because there’s no way Nuno will do it in a midfield two. So the only way either of those two get to start is in the 4-3-3 or as a CAM in a 4-2-3-1 but don’t think this is Vitinha’s position so would be MGW in the 4-2-3-1

 

[Sniffer]

Nathan Blake ripped us to bits in the 1995 game.

One of those we really should have been signing years before we actually did.

Didn’t they find out afterwards the goals were too high and the late equaliser may not have gone in?