View From Arsenal

October 21, 2019 / Roy / Leave a comment

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“Credit to Sheffield United tonight. A club without the budget that we have, but they’re a proper team. A functional system, a coach who knows how to get the best out of each of his players & the work-rate from all involved on the pitch is superb. We could learn a thing or two.”
“They play some pretty decent stuff too! A credit to the PL”
“Quality side. Never easy for anyone going there”
“They are a team with balls. A team that will fight. A team that are not afraid. A team that we are not.”
“Sheffield United strategy is so simple when they have the ball they attack when they don’t have the ball they defend…what’s not to like”

“Sheffield United football philosophy is so easy to understand. Our is so confusing”
“United were amazing defensively. Just maybe we should get their manager in to improve us defensively!”

“Even Liverpool had a hard time against them.
We’ve been beaten by an organised team with a manager who knows how to maximise his teams’ potential.
If only we had a man in charge who could do just that.”
“Sheffield United manage really speaks honestly. I wish we had him tbh”
“I’d take the SU manager over Emery now.”
“We should look no further than Chris Wilder. He’s doing an excellent job with his team.”
“Guys like Chris Wilder that’s thier level they suited more with these kind of teams he defended with 10 men at home making big jump to top 6 club is big risk”
“First half they were all over us. That Sheffield Utd team is rank, plumbers the lot of them.
Until the last 20 minutes they were well in control, played good possession football and didn’t get bothered at all.
He’s taken them from League 1 to the PL in three seasons, he’s one of the best innovators in the country. Watch them in other games, they’re usually on the front foot.”

“I wouldn’t say we dominated anything other than possession. We had more pointless possession than in any other game I can really remember”
“Easiest money Dean Henderson will ever earn”
“Credit to them? Sheffield didn’t have to try, Arsenal were playing tippy tappy football, walking and jogging everywhere, Sheffield were under no pressure”
“Embarrassing to be so utterly dominated by Sheffield Utd from start to finish.We had the ball, but it was EASY for SU.”
“Sheffield worked hard but were lucky based on the play, scored from set piece then defended. I agree creativity is lacking from us but there were still opportunities.”
“They play the most boring football tho. at least we try to go for a second goal“

“I think we look completely limp in midfield, no intimidation factor at all, when these shitty teams play the other top teams, especially the top 2, they have lost the game before they start.”
“Beaten by pubbers”
“What knobend at Sky decided Sheffield Utd v Arsenal was a good TV selection? We all could have told them it’d be wank”
“Through large patches of the game I was wishing Ozil was on the pitch, not a good sign.”
“If Mousset was even slightly better than the Championship level plumber he is, they win 2-0.”
“When we look back on the Emery years & cry ourselves to sleep at night wondering why we didn’t sack him off earlier, we must always remember the one big shining bright positive from his reign. Something that will live with us forever. Those beautiful kits. But THAT. IS. IT.”
“Emery is a Dick.”
“Meet the new manager, same as the old manager but worse.”
“Emery should be left on the side of a Sheffield road. Let the locals feed off his carcass.”
“This serves us right for repeatedly calling them Sheffield.”
“After 61 years as an arsenal fan i am close to quitting, i have never seen anything as bad as this in all that time!”

Pre-Match View From Arsenal

October 18, 2019 / Roy / 1 Comment

“I’m a huge fan of United’s manager Chris Wilder and for me he’s one of the most innovative but successful managers in the country today.
I’ve watched them most weeks and I’ve been impressed with how well they’ve transitioned to the top flight. Against similar level opposition they play on the front foot with a ball dominant style and a lot of positionless play where guys swap around regularly but they’re still very good defensively.
Hard to predict how they’ll set up because even though we’re a much better team we and they’ve given up possession to bigger teams so far, we don’t look comfortable trying to control games and have been there for the taking in every away game this year.
They’re a very poor quality side although Robinson, Stevens and Fleck are decent. Henderson’s an ok keeper but he’s got a clanger in him. Also Lundstram is a FPL god.”
“This is going to be really tricky. Has banana skin written all over it.”
“They were surprisingly good against Liverpool, pressed really well, don’t expect an easy game, especially with the way we play atm.”
“Sheffield United has only conceded 7 goals in the league so far. Second lowest in the league. It will be a tough nut to crack.”
“Particularly with how little we create”
“This will be a very tough game – defensively they are very strong, and it will be a great atmosphere up there under the lights.
would settle for a 1-1.”

“Hard to be confident for this. They are a really well organised side and will deffo raise their game for us. Liverpool only won there because of a terrible mistake from the Keeper.”
“They’ll ruin us.”
“not confident whatsoever”
“Has Home win written all over it. Newly promoted northern team at home. Our record against such isn’t that great. Hope I’m wrong obviously.”
“Not looking forward to this one. Monday night likely rain and they’ll run all day and night.
See us struggling to get into this and we won’t battle or control enough of it to win. Low point of the season coming up”
“Got a 1-0 loss written all over it”
“Don’t like the idea of playing this lot under the lights infront of a packed house. LOSS”
“Auba is my only hope. Sheffield Utd are pretty organised whenever i have seen them this season and doesn’t leak too many goals. Glad to see Luke Freeman in PL.”

“Only 4 days until I have to watch team with 9 players I really hate try to play football!”
“Let’s hope captain fannyfart isn’t playing as his wife has just given birth..”
“Amazing where we’re at with this team. Worried about playing Sheffield United. But, rightly so. And thats no disrespect to them. I guess I just expect so much more…”
“they don’t have much quality but they play with energy and the crowd has lots of passion. Doubt we win this away from home under the guidance of Unai Emery.”
“Think this will be a fairly routine win for us providing HB & KT play.
Too much quality and i suspect they will have a go against us which will work out well for us. Think everyone will see what a difference it actually makes to have first choice fullbacks playing. Think we can go on a really good run now “
“Routine win? Is this a server glitch from 2004?”
“I honestly can’t remember one time when we’ve played them in Sheffield and had an easy ride regardless of their form being good, bad or indifferent, similar to how Wimbledon often used to be a fly in our bowl of soup.”

“Emery probably nervous because he can’t set up as the underdog.”
“Ofc he can. Already forgot about Huddersfield Town at home last season? 8 defenders + Laca and Auba up front at home vs a relegation side.
Thankfully we managed to win 1-0 against the worst team in the prem by scoring a 83rd min bicycle kick on our 2nd and last attempt on target” “In days gone by we’d have beaten these easy but 2019 is a different scenario altogether (particularly with our lot) but I still go with a win for us.”
“They’re a somewhat ‘physical’ side, even so we now have some players more able to cope with that than those wenger snowflake pussies.”
Sheffield Utd are a newly promoted team.
We should be beating them by a big margin. Come the end of the season they’ll most likely be relegation fodder.
We have a good attack force…and that’s about it.”
“I’ll be very disappointed if we don’t win by at least 2 goals”
“Sheffield are decent and will raise their game, we’re **** away but with Auba we can score a goal or two.”
“Sheffield UNITED ffs. I’m picking people up on this, you’re not the only. Two teams in Sheffield so we should call them by their full name”

View From The Republic Of Ireland

October 15, 2019 / Roy / Leave a comment

A collection of quotes from fans of the Republic Of Ireland on the performances of Enda Stevens and John Egan against Switzerland

“Stevens turning into a fine footballer.”
“I thiught Stevens was one of the best of a bad bunch? He was involved all the time and didn’t shy from the ball unlike that cretin Hendrick”
“Agree no problems with his display”
“Started poorly playing in an unfamiliar position yet grew more solid as game passed by”
“I didnt think Stevens did too badly at all tbh.Lost the ball a lot but did well on a few occasions to recover it”
“Stuck to his task well and tried to get Ireland motoring”
“Solid defensively, but we have yet to see him sparkle in an Ireland shirt.”
“poor with the ball before moving back to left back where he looked much happier driving forward in the second half.”
“pathetic tonight”
“I thought Stevens was good in the first half and did okay in the second, far from pathetic.”
“Stevens needed to come off Lichtsteiner to experienced for him”
“Stevens was awful.”
“Stevens worries me”
“LWB is definitely his best position. There are still questions about his suitability though”
“crazy to think we have two top class wingbacks excelling in the premier league in Doherty and Stevens, and when we finally employ a system that uses wingbacks, we use neither in those positions”

“Distribution could have been better but rallied after a slow start”
“Made a few decent clearing headers but his distribution was poor as he was guilty of a few poor long balls forward.”
“Kicked about 4 long balls to nobody”
“Egan loves a stupid foul”
“I feel sorry for Randolph, Egan, Duffy and the lads up front! What we have on the wings and and in the middle of the park is absolutely useless!
“He made a number of vital interventions and put in an all-around excellent display.It’s mad to think he wasn’t in the team until the last game. He brings a new found calmness to the Ireland backline. Absolutely superb”
“John Egan was everywhere, solid performance”
“Probably our best player”
“Egan was a positive”
“Egan promising”
“Very solid display”
“Good performance”

Loan Updates

October 14, 2019 / Roy / Leave a comment

It’s been a tough month for some of our loanees. Sam Graham has been ruled out for the rest of the season with injury, Regan Slater has lost his place at Scunthorpe and Oliver Greaves has mostly been used as a substitute at Barrow. Here I take a look at the players who have featured somewhat more regularly for their clubs:

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“Duffy might be absolutely fantastic in a number 10 but how would we know if he’s never played?”
“Duffy’s barely been given minutes but his creative output in the same position last year means he should probably play 10”
“Joe Allen is miles better than Ince, Powell or Duffy”
“I think we should put Duffy central advanced and support him.”
“Duffy is a quality player, a little past his best but should be seen as competition for Clucas rather than as a No.10”
“I would play Duffy to give us a bit more bite”
“Duffy has been ok today.”
“Duffy looked good towards the end, would like to see more of him.”
“Duffy was passing to his own players, we don’t like that down Stoke!”
“I just don’t think Jones wanted Duffy. Surely if he really rated him we’d have seen more of him on the pitch.”

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“Great to see him made captain tonight”
“has impressed in his (albeit limited) time at Spotland, providing defensive solidity in addition to genuine attacking potency, making himself one of the first names on the team sheet”
“Takes a superb free kick”
“2nd most tackles in League One”
“He;s made the biggest impact of all our summer signings”
“Am I blind or was Rhys Norrington-Davies and Ollie Rathbone the only two players that turned up today?”
“Man of the match today”
“Had a fantastic game”
“well done Rhys Norrington-Davies, what a game!!”

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“Parkhouse must be a candidate for Young Player of the Year. But it will probably go to a player from one of the Dublin clubs.”
“If a gold medal could be struck for guts ,perseverance and a willingness to die for his club Parkie you would be the only winner”
“George Kelly should be looking at Parkhouse and asking himself whether his career his best served by sitting on the bench at Dundalk.”
“Parkhouse frustrates at times but don’t forget the youngster is top scorer.”
“I’m sometimes critical of Parkie but forget his work supporting others. His pass to Junior for first goal on Friday was superb. I’ll try to be more circumspect in future.”
“Parkie has the most delicate touch to bring in others and now his Ariel work v defenders is sublime If his touch in the box comes like Junior’s has we are into clover.”
“Parky is a very average player, but works hard and gets goals at least.”
“Bit harsh on Parky. If only we played someone with him up front to take some of the burden off him,people forget his age and the fact it’s his first season playing in this league.”
“Parky’s head must be wrecked, running around mad after 4 defenders. He must come off every game exhausted”
“David Parkhouse is an awful finisher. He puts in a great shift but misses to many guilt edge chances.”

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“Smith looks head and shoulder above any of our strikers. .”
“Chased and harrassed defenders and showed one moment in the first half where he really showed what he was about other than the disappointing finish. He really should have put that chance away that he created himself but hit it weekly straight at the keeper when the net beckoned. He was unlucky on a couple of occasions and never gave up despite it not being the ideal sort of game with so much physical presence in numbers in the opposition.”
“Smith is a good additions that add something to us”
“Great finish by Smith.Great to finally have a second striker scoring some goals and Smith now has four and he hasn’t started that many games!”
“Smith took his goal well”
“I don’t get is why Smith was dropped? Plays well and scores on Tuesday night and is only rewarded with a space on the bench today.”
“Smith is very poor”
“Don’t rate Smith”

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“I think Thomas is suffering from Pressley’s coaching. He seems a pale shadow of how he started the season.”
“Another example of Pressley failing to get the best out of individuals by insisting that everyone conforms to inflexible tactics and Opta stat targets, regardless of whether they are suited to or capable of it.”
“Needs a spell out the team not good in a poor team” “it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest of Thomas was left out, couldn’t understand why people were creaming themselves over him coming back. I said last season he was a 45 minute man, may as well not exist in the second half of games, and has also been proved this season to be a one trick pony. That trick worked on the first home game but hasn’t done since.”
“Don’t get me wrong Thomas is a decent player but it was like the second coming when we re-signed him. He had a lot of very average games last season but people forgot.”
“I expect Thomas to be back firing soon enough. And then back off the boil again. And then back firing. The nature of a lower league winger.”

View From The Republic Of Ireland

October 12, 2019 / Roy / 2 Comments

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A collection of quotes from fans of the Republic Of Ireland on the performances of Callum Robinson and John Egan against Georgia

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“I like Callum Robinson but for some reason he seems out of sorts when playing for Ireland. Maybe it’s just me. “
“The starting XI was ok but some of the players were off the boil, mcclean the king culprit but also Robinson, hourihane, Collins looks limited”
“Robinson is the worst player ever to pull on the green jersey“
“Connor Sammon?”
“it’s a tight one”
“Rather have Mary Robinson and Michael Collins out there than that other 2.”
“Callum Robinson looks lost on the wing”
“Cut a lonely figure wide on the right and was rarely involved”
“He wasn’t good”
“Very disappointing”
“He struggled big time”
“He was dire”
“Was starved of decent delivery, but showed his danger with a few teasing crosses. Probably Ireland’s biggest attacking threat on the evening, which admittedly was a sparse shortlist, but was an anonymous figure after the break.”
“he is a good player”
“He really fights hard”

“It must be said that John Egan slotted in really well at CB and was a big positive for us. Looks like he has been playing there for years”
“Rock steady on his competitive debut”
“Coped with everything that came his way, with one or two vital headers, and can reflect positively on his first competitive start.”
“Only positives from that game were that Egan came in and gave his first decent performance for us, and Connolly came on and looked bright.”
“John Egan got Man Of The Match – not surprised a centre-half got it. Sums up the rest of the team. “
“Duffy and Egan have been good. That’s the only positive”
“Duffy and Egan looks like it could be a very good partnership”
“What did work: the Duffy/Egan partnership, which looks like it has real legs”
“Egan and Duffy look to be a decent centre back pairing”
“Egan pretty decent”
“Well played John Egan”

Scotland Fans Views On John Fleck

October 10, 2019 / Roy / 4 Comments

“If ever one players inclusion in a Scotland team confirms how low we have sunk it is John Fleck. I honestly couldn’t tell you who at least 6 of tonight’s team for at club level.”
“Playing regularly in the premier league lol probably better than half our squad”
“Playing regularly in the Premier League isn’t exactly a barometer of quality these days, some absolute dross cutting about”
“Why do Scotland managers pick dross like John fleck”
“Liam Palmer, John Fleck and Snodgrass are garbage”
“Didn’t even know John Fleck was playing”

“John Fleck for Ryan Christie is just murderous in my opinion. Why bother.”
“John Fleck is useless. If you ask for him because he played in the Championship, then you are deluded. There are better prospects in Scotland (i.e. Christie)”
“How John fleck starts before Ryan Christie is beyond me” “How has John Fleck started ahead of Stuart Armstrong started tonight?” “Rather midfielders from Scottish Premiership than see Fleck again in an Scotland kit.”
“hes pish”

Clarke out……Clarke out…..Clarke out there is no hope for us no matter who’s in charge it’s simply a lack of talent ,Wonder kid John Fleck debut at 16 for Rangers this wonder kid gets first cap 12 years later …..nuff said methinks”
“John Fleck, who was the next big thing at Rangers more than a decade ago, yet apparently only made his international debut tonight. Didn’t even realise he was playing.”
“To be fair, Fleck’s done ok tonight. Definitely played very well for an hour or so”
“Gave the jersey everything he had to show he can compete at this level”
“Wee Fleck not singing the dire flower of Scotland, good start to his debut”

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View From Watford

October 5, 2019 / Roy / Leave a comment

“We can’t beat Sheff Utd. There are no teams, realistically, that we look like we would beat.”
“Play five across the back, stifle the opposition and try to nick a goal on the break or from a set piece – almost the perfect away performance. Oh, hang on… we were at home. Against Sheffield Utd. FFS”
“No way can anyone consider that a good result.”
“That was the game we had to win.
And we didn’t even try to win it.
Two errors which we inexplicably failed to punish and created next to nothing else. “
“We had enough chances to win, but didn’t deserve any more than a draw”
“kept looking at the scoreboard to check how much closer we are to the end of the game. Boring and dull that had an end of season feel about it. Also, I haven’t seen the stats yet, but I swear Sheff Utd had the ball a crap ton more than we did, I thought we were the home side?”

“didn’t think it could get any worse but it just did
Lets just forfeit this season, **** off for 8 months and start again in the championship”
“Christ, we’re so going down this season.”
“An enjoyable and exciting game of League Two hoofball”
“We needed a win today to give us any chance of building a run and getting out of our predicament. There are not enough “winnable” games left for us to accomplish the 39 odd points we will need to stay up and moreover, it doesn’t look like we’re even close to being able to put together the sort of run needed to dig ourselves out of the bottom 3. If anything, it looks like we are becoming more and more accustomed to being relegated. The players today, with the way they played and their co-ordinated lack of belief certainly looked every inch a team on their way down.
There is no way we aren’t going down. If there are any odds available on relegation, I would stake a sizeable sum. It would be printing money. This side is doomed.”
“Sitting back and giving the Blades the advantage won’t cut it as they will also be in the relegation battle”

“We should’ve won that. They didn’t create much. Clean sheet at least. 4th bottom still achievable. Bring on the next game. I’ve not given up hope. It’s too early.”
“Wasn’t that bad a performance to be honest. On another day it’s 3-0. Sheff Utd tidy but never looked like actually scoring.”
“We kept a clean sheet. They didn’t really have any chances, we had three absolutely gift wrapped ones. I understand us keeping it tight and just trying not to concede. Those are the positives at least.”
“Clean sheet and Sheff Utd didn’t look like scoring were positive”
“More solid at the back, which was a plus point, but against a team that probably came for a point.”

“I look forward to the “good point” crap, as we now head into our ninth game of the season without a win, having also just failed to beat a newly promoted team at home, who dominated possession against us, and in which we had 2 ****ing shots on target the entire game.
Just pathetic. I despise this group of players. Useless, spineless s**t bags the lot of them.”
“Watford fans do love a point though. Always take a point, even against average newly promoted sides at home.”
“I’m not content with a horrendous, lifeless draw at home to Sheffield United, in our eighth game in a row that we’ve failed to, you know, WIN in.”
“I’m normally positive but that was a ******* horrific performance. We only kept a clean sheet because we gave up all attempts to be any sort of attacking side, and sheffield united had two terrible strikers up top”
“Sheff United have some rubbish strikers they will be in trouble at some point”
“Norwich, Villa, Newcastle and Sheff utd prob wont set a very high target. We’re 2 wins behind schedule.
Deeney is the answer. “

Pre-Match View From Watford

October 3, 2019 / Roy / Leave a comment

“Sheffield used to have quite a good footballing pedigree, Sheffield Wednesday were once considered a massive club and battled in the top flight of English football for much of their history, best known now as a sanctuary for ex-Watford players who can no longer perform effectively.
This week we play their less well known neighbours, Sheffield United, nicknamed the Blades. Quite a cool nickname that dates back to historical times when we used to make things in this country, less relevant now but a nice nod to the past. Can’t profess to have seen much of them but from what I can gather they have played some quite decent football whilst being solid and organised defensively when needed. They have also scored in each of their away games so far (alarm bells ring).
On the unofficial scale of must win games this is right up near the top for us, only games where you will actually be relegated there and then would be above this. If we are to survive this season it is games like this that we simply must win, I mean no offence to Sheffield United (I did that earlier) but we are now at the point where home games against non top 6, and especially newly promoted, sides need to be won, especially with Spurs away to follow.”
“If we can get first goal we might spark into life. Concede first and heads will drop though.”
“I watched Sheff U against Liverpool and they were very unlucky to lose that. Only a crazy mess up by their keeper denied at least a point.
There’s no way Watford would have stood up to Liverpool like United did. They have also won at Everton, a place we’ve never won in our history.
I would say we are actually the underdogs in this match. United are a better “team” by far. We have superior quality, but it means nothing if you’re not committed to the cause.”
“I watched their match against Liverpool and was very impressed by them. Have no doubt they will beat us comfortably.”
“Sheffield United lost 1-0 against Liverpool and their manager was digging out their players after the game and furious.
We lost 8-0 against Man City and the club showed more or less total apathy afterwards. Shows you a fair bit about the different mentalities of the clubs at the moment.”

“The big issue is, can the Blades get themselves motivated for such lowly opponents?”
“It should work in our favour, being underdogs for this one. Sheff Utd complacent thinking they just need to turn up.”
“Hard to see us getting anything. They will get a goal in the first 20 minutes due to some inexplicable act of defensive suicide and that will be it. We will lose by a margin if at least 3 goals.”
“Dear Sheffield United,
Would you like your 3 points gift wrapped or just as they come?
Regards,
Watford Football Club”
“I think this has potential to be a season defining game. Win and I think we’ll have the quality to stay up. Lose or draw and I think we’re ******.”
“Hate the term must win but this one is pretty close. Could be our season starts here and we desperately need it to happen”
“If we win we have a chance of staying up. If we lose this, we are as good as gone.”

“We are 4th (105 shots) in the league for most shots on goal this season. That must demonstrate there is still decent attacking flair in the team.
We are 9th in the table for ‘big chances missed’
Possession has not been an issue even though you can’t derive too much from that nowadays. Still better to have it than not.
I look at those core stats & ask myself is it just ordinarily bad luck that that round ball of leather is not touching the back of the onion bag. How can it be we have dropped off a cliff so convincingly?”
“I think we have the better players, but they will be high on confidence, organised and work their socks off. Some more poor defending will cost us, and we will struggle to create chances against them.”
“Sheff Utd are everything we are not. A squad of limited players, who play with a purpose and a game-plan they are able to execute consistently.
They’ll batter us. I’m certain of it.”
“They’re young goalkeeper has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week, we have to start fast and get the first goal. If we do I think we might have a comfortable 3-0 win. Deulofeu getting off the mark as it’s a mediocre team like this he would normally shine against.
However the mess we’re in and low in confidence has me extremely worried. Sheffield are the extreme opposite going to the Vic with nothing to lose, and most probably go home with all 3 points and the young goalkeeper picking up the motm award.”
“Ideally we’d shoot at Henderson as much as possible to test him. Unfortunately with our attackers we may have lots of shots but the only danger will be to the crowd”

“Sheffield United have played well so far and far better than anyone anticipated but I fully expect them to burn out and be down there at the bottom come the season so 3 points from this is a must. We have more individual quality but Sheffield United have players that know their responsibilities and have a compact and solid 5-3-2 which Liverpool struggled to break down at the weekend. They are narrow and have 2 holding midfielders which makes it hard to play between the lines so I think we would be best off attacking them down the wings, therefore I would like to see us play Sarr on the right and Deulofeu on the left.”
“Prediction
Watford 2-3 Sheffield United
Sharp (og 23, og 72); Sharp (85, 88, 90+6)”
“Whatever happens, it’s always a laugh taking the piss out of Paddy Kenny in the Sheff Utd goal. I’ll look forward to that at least.”
“As long as we can nullify Tony Agana and Brian Deane we should be fine.”

Former Players Update

October 2, 2019 / Roy / Leave a comment

In this feature I take a look at the players who were part of last seasons promotion squad but have since moved on

Paul Coutts will always have a place in the hearts of United fans and it seems he’s now endearing himself to the supporters of Fleetwood Town. Immediately made club captain by boss Joey Barton, Coutts has shone in the Cod Army’s fantastic start to the season:

“For those asking, we can confirm that Paul Coutts still doesn’t give the ball away…”
“Paul Coutts is absolutely fantastic. Passing ability unreal. 91% pass completion is unreal. Definitely is a championship player. Thank you to Sheffield for releasing him”
“He’s made more successful passes than anyone else in League One”
“Looks like he’s been playing at Highbury forever”
“A key figure in the middle of the park.” “Ran the show in the middle of the park in the opening 30 minutes but again Town need more end product from their midfield men”

Martin Cranie is another player who will always be welcomed back at Bramall Lane. Now at Luton Town, his season has unfortunately been hit by an injury that has seen him out since late August. Still, his early performances with The Hatters proved to be a hit:

“Excellent from Cranie”
“Very impressive”
“looked very assured”
“Looks class”

“Strong signing”

Kieron Dowell is once again out on loan following his spell with The Blades last season. The Everton midfielder is now at Derby County and is finding it difficult as The Rams try to rebuild following the departure of Frank Lampard:

“liability”

“Kieran Dowell replacing Mason Mount is like selling grapejuice and calling it Merlot”

“He’s too lightweight”

“Can’t we send Dowell back? Absolute garbage”
“Get rid, we have better in the Academy”
“He’s another that produces one in six at best and we’ve had our fair share of those.”
“Dowell is awful. Like literally, woefully awful. I’d rather play my blue wheelie bin (which actually would beat Tom Huddlestone in a race)”
“He’s playing in a team that’s trying to establish its identity under yet another manager. He’s not Mount and I don’t think the teams helping him by playing the slow pace we did tonight. Four games into last season fans were slagging off Wilson. Give the lad a chance”
“Lets abuse Dowell until he plays better”

Marvin Johnson never made much of an impact at The Lane after his loan move from Middlesbrough but since returning to his parent club, he has managed to hold down a regular place in their starting 11:

“definitely made a big difference since returning from his loan spell at Sheffield United…”
“It’s been some about-turn in Boro fortunes for Marvin Johnson. Just when you thought he’d be on his way out, he starts the season rather impressively and bags a free kick. Maybe that player we saw ever so briefly under Monk is back, and hopefully to stay?”
“Been one of the best players so far this season”
“Different player under Woody and improving game by game”
“Neymar has posters of marvin Johnson in his room”
“There’s a player in there somewhere”
“Johnson has to be playing out of his skin every game to even stand as a mediocre championship level player”

Despite being the most controversial signing for many a year, Gary Madine turned his reputation with Blades fans around by helping the club win promotion. However, since returning to Cardiff Madine has only made one appearance and seems to be in desperate need of a move:

“Whatever happened to Gary Madine again played the first game then disappeared”
“By far our worst ever signing”
“Our worst player”
“he’s Useless”
“He’s not even listed as a squad player on the club website”
“Just when you thought it couldnt get worse, Gary Madine has just come on for the reserves”
“#FreeGaryMadine”

Although he didn’t feature too much for The Blades, the attitude of Connor Washington could never be faulted and he now finds himself in the Scottish Premiership with Hearts. After a good start, his season has been interrupted by a hamstring injury that will leave him out of action until the new year:

“There goes the 20 goals he was gonna bang in this season”

“Conor Washington on form is currently our best option”

“The goals will flow when he is fit”

“Plenty of positives but Conor Washington was one of the biggest.”

“ Conor Washington was pivotal to us”

“think conor Washington will become a player.”
“I’d take 10 more Conor Washington’s”

View From Liverpool

September 29, 2019 / Roy / 3 Comments

“Hardest 3 points we’ve got so far this season” “we’ve been in a game here today.”
“Great performance from Sheffield United. I didn’t expect that” “Even as a Liverpool fan I can say harsh result for Sheffield United. If they keep up that style they will gave A LOT of the “top 6” some scary days.”
“Not many are gonna win at Bramall Lane”
“They have a bit of Yorkshire grit in that side and will be tough to beat for any visiting side especially the top 6 because they will play like this today”
“United were very good… after playing these and Norwich… feels like two teams equipped to stay up.”
“I hope SU put in that amount of effort when they play City”

“thought Sheffield were very good, hope they play that well against City as well.”
“just hope Sheffield play like that against the rest of the Top 6.”
“all credit to Sheffield United”
“Sheffield U were superb at closing us down”
“to be honest that’s probably a harder game than some aways against other top 6 sides.”
“We won’t be the only team at the top to go there and struggle this season. They’re much like Wolves of last season, but without the goal threat of Jiminez.”
“They were superb and with a very loud crowd behind them.”
“Felt like the biggest test ever and we overcame it”
“Sheffield deserved something from that, we are VERY lucky.”
“There is no way in hell we deserved 3 points”

“We were very lucky here. Shef United fair play! Big fan of Chris Wilder.”
“Hats off to Sheffield they’re not pretty but one tough nut to crack.”
“Full credit to Sheffield United, that’s the hardest game we’ve played in a while. They were so well organised and hard working.”
“bit of a smash and grab, bit lucky to get out with 3 points.”
“The clean sheet was due to their lack of quality up top when under pressure more than anything. I’m sure a load of teams are gonna go there and get turned over. They try to play decent footy and have a great crowd behind them. Credit where credits due. They aint bad, they just came up against a side today who don’t know when they’re beat.”
“Thank f**k we don’t need to go there again this season.”
“Glad to have got that out of the way, they’ll give many teams a very tough game this season!”
“Sheffield look like a well drilled team and the atmosphere was cracking.”
“Credit to them. Played very well and look exceptionally coached.”

“Defending for our lives against this lot. Embarrassing”
“poor , lucky and got away with it but take all the luck we can get”
“Got away with one there. Three points though, which is what matters.”
“Manner of the goal was harsh on Sheffield United but I’m confident that if he had stopped that we still would have ground out a win.”
“We take all our chances and that would of been a stroll today. We all know there are those games like that in the league were you just have to win ugly. Another three points. That’ll do for me.”
“Spent years watching United and Chelsea sweep up titles winning like that.”
“Was never going to be as easy as some thought cup finals for these teams just up”
“I like these wins we don’t deserve to be fair. We dont deserve the win today, but we have them and that’s just great.”
“That was uglier than peter reid”
“That was a Carlos Tevez level of ugly and far too ugly for my liking.”

“Sheff Utd played well, they defended well but they mostly had half chances and we missed 3 sitters. We also had 70% possession all game and more attempts on goal. We just lack a bit of creativity in midfield as Henderson and Gini are not the creative players so we will definitely find it difficult to break down teams like Sheff.Utd who rely on physical players, long ball and likes to play deeper.”
“We missed so many good chances. People should calm down who says we were luck. It’s Sheffield that were luck”
“we didn’t play as well as we could and yet still could have put 4 or 5 past them if it wasn’t for poor finishing and a blatant penalty not even going to VAR!!!” “Yea they got a good home field advantage, but our goalie is better than their goalie. They parked the bus and tried to waste time, then when we scored they finally started playing, screw them they got what they deserved. We go what we deserved. Go a Reds!!!!”
“They were also bit snide, and there were quite a few hacks in there. The step on Salah’s arm, although not blatant, was kind of a dick move.
Hope they can equally “raise” their game when City come to town.”
“City will batter them, they have the players in midfield to provide the invention needed to break this kind of team down. We didn’t really have any creativity from midfield and still created 3 clear chances against them.” “nice to see Chris Wilder, another star of Jurassic Park, hanging out his players to dry in true English dinosaur fashion.”
“like that lad , pulled no punches with the keeper either. If you want to be a top player then don’t make stupid mistakes. Had his team up for it and it looks like they give most teams a game at their place.” “If the likes of Pardew, Allardyce, Hughes had been in charge of Sheffield United today, well for a start they’d have got twatted but if the game did end up going the same way they’d be straight on the TV bitching and whinging.
Got a lot of time for Wilder. I hope he keeps them up – think he will.”
“Really like their manager too. Love the way he talks about the game. Really demanding of his players.”
“I was so judgemental on Wilder, saw him as a bit of an old timer, cut from the same managerial cloth as those pricks Allardyce and Pardew. But the way he’s got them promoted playing this football for what is a distinctly mediocre squad is amazing. It takes a lot of intelligence to do what he’s done, and his self awareness and behaviour off the field is tantamount to his intelligence. It’s an insult I ever thought he was in the same bracket as that parochial minded LMA cabal and I’m sorry I ever thought that. Nobody deserves to be compared to that shower of shite, especially Wilder.”
“Joe Elliott, Sean Bean, Colin Wanker, Michael Palin, Dave Bassett, Joe Root, can you hear me, can you hear me, your boys took a hell of a beating, your boys took a hell of a beating!”