Pre Sheffield United match chat- DF press conference page 3

[Cjay]

Week today so seemed as good a time as any for this.

Would be remiss of me to not mention the tragic events that unfolded earlier this week.

The sad death of George Baldock who played for our opponents for 7 years.

Only 31, shows how fragile it all is, he played a match in Greece on the Sunday, was found on the Wednesday.

Very sad, a clip from a radio show popped up on my twitter feed, turns out a young boy needed a defibrillator, he had a heart issue. So the club invited him down, meet the players sort of thing I guess (during covid this was). And Baldock just said he'd buy it, no publicity, nothing to do with the club, his own money.

Nice guy and hopefully some form of tribute is organised for Friday

Anyhow

First game back after another stupid international break sees 2nd vs 5th.

3 points separate the teams

Sheffield United are the only unbeaten side left in the Championship this season with 6 wins and 3 draws, they also have the best defence with only 3 goals conceded

Not the most free scoring of sides with only 12 goals, but had a very decent season so far.

If you put stock in xG and stuff though the defence is a bit more iffy than the 3 goals conceded suggests, they should have conceded 6-7 but either the opponent missed when they shouldn't or the goalie made a great save.


Last game out they beat struggling Luton 2-0.

Bit of extra added motivation with old ham face Wilder making multiple digs at us in the summer and in the past.

In terms of key player the main one is Gus Hamer, he's scored 4 of the 12 goals Sheffield United have managed and got one assist from a new role out wide

Loan signing Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has had a struggle but got both goals vs Luton and may see him kick on now.

And of course like all parachute payment clubs they kept hold of people like Anel Ahmedhodžić and Vini Souza and highly rated Ollie Arblaster.

Added proven Championship players like Keifer Moore and Callum O'Hare and goalie Michael Cooper whose maybe a bit of an unsung hero.

Tactically the old overlapping cb stuff has gone for a more traditional low block 4-2-3-1, judging by possession stats they seem quite happy to sit deep and break on teams with the energy in midfield they have and pace.

From our point of view a very frustrating end to the Sunderland game robbed us of 2 points.

A very decent performance in parts though, less so in others.

Willy Gnonto showing once again he can step out of the shadow of his departed best mates Georgie and Jimmy and be the main man.

Joel Piroe showing that he is perfectly capable of playing as a loan striker and is actually bloody good at it.

And Firpo continuing his transformation into Roberto Carlos.

But will we perhaps have a new midfielder?

Mateo Joseph scored a first half treble this week, does that change the thinking about who starts up front?

Aaronson after a bright start is struggling, is a case to he made for a change in that role?

We hope to have Dan James and Manor Solomon back of course, do they come back in?

We also have the issue of people like Tanaka and Aaronson maybe only getting back to training on Thursday.

Our record vs the better teams this season isn't good, we can debate bad luck etc but we've played 4 top half teams and not beaten any of them, 5 if you include Boro in the cup.

So needs to change surely.

Anyway any thoughts etc.

[The Subhuman]

I’d like to see

Meslier
Bogle
Firpo
Tanaka
Rodon
Struijk
James
Rothwell
Joseph
Gnonto
Solomon

[The Subhuman]

Without a true defensive mid come third CB we’re likely to concede so will need goals. James pace will keep them honest and I think Solomon’s now how and skills trump Ramazani’s youth and pace atm.

Gnonto as the 10. We have zero options for the 4 and 8 atm.

[whiteswan]

Very sad re George Baldock. First game for the blades since. They will be well up for this more than ever now, just like Greece were v England. I can't see us winning this one.....sorry

[mentalcase]

Without a true defensive mid come third CB we’re likely to concede so will need goals. James pace will keep them honest and I think Solomon’s now how and skills trump Ramazani’s youth and pace atm.

Gnonto as the 10. We have zero options for the 4 and 8 atm.

Is James available again ?

[YorkshireSquare]

What is this of which you speak? A game of football? An actualy game of football?

[The Subhuman]

Is James available again ?

Is supposed to be back for SU, as is Solomon

[mentalcase]

Is supposed to be back for SU, as is Solomon

Thanks, I hope that's the case, even if both start from the bench, both will be excellent additions to bring on against tiring legs.

[Jammy 07]

Is supposed to be back for SU, as is Solomon

Farke said James would be out until the next international break.

Not sure that means he'll be available immediately after it though and guess we won't find out until the pre game press conference.

[Tom the Cat]

Don't forget that Bamford is "fit" again unless he has fallen off his settee !!

[The Subhuman]

Don't forget that Bamford is "fit" again unless he has fallen off his settee !!

Shouldn't make anyones starting 11 though

[Jammy 07]

Would happily take point on Friday and move on to Tuesday against Watford when hopefully our late international returnees have had some decent kip.

4 points from the two home games would be more than acceptable in the circumstances we find ourselves in.

[The Subhuman]

Would happily take point on Friday and move on to Tuesday against Watford when hopefully our late international returnees have had some decent kip.

4 points from the two home games would be more than acceptable in the circumstances we find ourselves in.

I'm praying Rodon doesn't get injured tonight ....

[mentalcase]

Would happily take point on Friday and move on to Tuesday against Watford when hopefully our late international returnees have had some decent kip.

4 points from the two home games would be more than acceptable in the circumstances we find ourselves in.

We don't worj that way jammy, we'll beat sheffield then drop points to watford, still 4 points like.

[The Subhuman]

7 changes for Wales tonight, one of them is not Rodon

[Jammy 07]

We don't worj that way jammy, we'll beat sheffield then drop points to watford, still 4 points like.

That's the problem as we could easily drop points in both of them and might end up with bugger all points wise. Which is why I'd take a point on Friday and see what happens after that.

[The Subhuman]

I'm looking for performance as usual ....

[Jammy 07]

I'm looking for performance as usual ....

After an international break with many players away does that really matter ?

Defeats really hurt so avoiding one is probably the most important thing.

[The Subhuman]

After an international break with many players away does that really matter ?

Defeats really hurt so avoiding one is probably the most important thing.

To me? Yes ... I think SU have players away too it shouldn't be an excuse

[Barlow Boy]

Flaming Friday night games, early set off to avoid the Friday night rush hour