Bradford v blades.

[blademan89]

Looking forward to actually watching us at the minute , something I've not been able to say for a long time. I'm expecting a good game on Saturday with two of the better sides involved. Should be a good atmosphere with over 20k there and 2700 blades. 8.22 train for me a good drink and hopefully 3 points too.

 

[bantamigo]

A lot of City fans will be slitting their wrists going into this after the last two games but we aren't a bad side overnight. If we get our passing game going then I reckon we will win. If we are poor or Sheffield United press us well then we will struggle.

Hopefully Meredith is back as Kilgallon could have a mare against his old club if last night is anything to go by. I would switch Vincelot back to centre back too, but that was obvious from last night. Can McNulty play? Probably not so it might force McCall's hand and I hope he doesn't resort to Hanson.

 

[finley]

First game this season where we go in as genuine underdogs and rightfully so.Sheffield united are flying and the form team in the league at this moment.Our record against them is woeful and i can't see it improving on Saturday.0-2 united sadly

 

[blademan89]

First game this season where we go in as genuine underdogs and rightfully so.Sheffield united are flying and the form team in the league at this moment.Our record against them is woeful and i can't see it improving on Saturday.0-2 united sadly

You're not underdogs your favourites

 

[Sheffsteel]

Started off playing OK ish but but after 4 games we had 1 point and were bottom of the league.

Wilder signs a new keeper and brings in a big commanding centre back on loan and now we've won 7 and drawn 2 of our last 9.

I've said all along that for many of those wins we weren't impresive, just working hard and organised and having leaders who are able to grind out a result. I thought we looked play-off material but not quite good enough for too 2.

However it's all changed because in the last 3 games we've dominated and been really impressive, definite top 2 material.

We still play a pressing game to stop the opposition having space but now we are showing quality especially in midfield.

I'd be satisfied with a 1-1 because it keeps us in contention and phsychologically it's important to keep an unbeaten run going.

However based on recent form we should win but by the law of averages we're due an off day. Surely we can't keep up these recent great performances?

Bradford 1 Blades 1

 

[Sheffsteel]

You're not underdogs your favourites

Based on recent performances Sheff Utd are favourites. Bradford were under par last night but it's a derby and you would expect a positive reaction from Bradford.

Wonder what odds the bookies have?

 

[bantamigo]

We've had a blip but we've still won 3 of the last 5 and lost 1 at home in about 28 games (Millwall first leg of the play-offs) so I wouldn't say Sheff Utd were favourites. It's probably about even.

Edit: 3 losses in 31 home games in all competitions in the last calendar year. Not bad.

 

[blademan89]

Based on recent performances Sheff Utd are favourites. Bradford were under par last night but it's a derby and you would expect a positive reaction from Bradford.

Wonder what odds the bookies have?

Bradford 11/8
Blades 21/10

They are favourites by some way

 

[Sheffsteel]

It's a 6 pointer and a really interesting game. If Bradford win it kicks starts their promotion train, if you lose then the doom mongers will say 1 point out of a possible 9.

For the Blades a win and we're laughing with a game in hand over our rivals. Lose and it's puts us under pressure to gain 3pts at home to MK Dons which have kind of been a bogey side for us. Also ends our long unbeaten run putting doubt within the club.

I'll not be greedy and will accept a draw.

 

[valefan16]

Sheffield United are far better going forward than Bradford who seem fairly dud attacking wise so at the moment I'd expect a Blades win as they'd be clinical.

 

[bantamigo]

Yet we are above them and Vale in the table, crazy times.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Yet we are above them and Vale in the table, crazy times.

It's obviously not a fluke because you had such a fantastic end to the season.

If you added this years record to the latter matches of last season then that's an impressive run of results for Scunny.

Every season you always get a team near the top that hits relegation form in the 2nd half and plummets and vice versa with a team down the bottom.

I'm still convinced MK Dons and Charlton will go on a good run at some point.

 

[valefan16]

Yet we are above them and Vale in the table, crazy times.

That's because we cant score either and have a worse defence!

 

[bantamigo]

That's because we cant score either and have a worse defence!

Well exactly. We score enough goals to win enough games to be second and that's because we don't concede many. That's not a dud attack. Although if we are top 3 in Jan we need to spend some money on a decent striker to get us over the finish line. In an ideal world.

 

[loz]

That's because we cant score either and have a worse defence!

It's much simpler than that, like every season, we are just a better team

 

[LS Bantam]

We're second but I can't say our immediate form is impressive or even that encouraging. Our problem was missing all the chances we were creating but since then we're not even creating that much; we're changing the line up every week and no one has a clue of our best starting 11.
If Meredith is fit we'll have a much greater chance of winning, if not our left side will be fairly non existent. McNulty is tied so another change up front, whether or not Hanson plays will determine how direct we play, I suspect Hiwula might come back in.
Based on recent form from both teams and our unspectacular record vs SU, I'll say 0-1 this weekend.

 

[F!RTHY]

I still believe Law should be more central, whether that be CAM or CM - I think he has a far bigger impact on the centre of the pitch, and only finds himself drifting inwards when on the wing.

I have a suspicion Vincelot may be slotting back into defence (I never thought I'd say that), and I believe Meredith will be okay to start.

GK: Colin Doyle

RB: Stephen Darby
CB: Romain Vincelot
CB: Nathanial Knight-Percival
LB: James Meredith

RM: Mark Marshall
CM: Timotheè Dieng
CM: Josh Cullen
LCM: Nicky Law

CAM: Harris Vučkić

ST: Jordi Hiwula

Has to be the XI for me.

2-1 City - 22,152

 

[valefan16]

Corrected

It's much simpler than that, like only 3 of the past 11 seasons we are just a better team

 

[LS Bantam]

Confirmation today that McCall just picks names out of a hat when deciding on his starting 11

 

[Cas]

5-0 Sheff United after seeing that team.

 

[bantamigo]

Never seen a City team without a recognised wide player in it. Enjoy your three points blades.

 

[Mighty_Bantam]

Proper game of football that.

Sheffield by far and away the best team we've faced this year. Streets in front of anyone else.

Fair result in the end.

 

[blademan89]

Proper game of football that.

Sheffield by far and away the best team we've faced this year. Streets in front of anyone else.

Fair result in the end.

Best game of football I've seen live in years, 2 teams going for it for 90 minutes, both sets of fans were brilliant, for once I've come out and I can say that was well worth £20. Very fair result it would of been very harsh had someone won. If a team finishes above us 2 then I'll Stand hanging basing it on that display

 

[Sheffsteel]

Listened to the whole match on the radio.

It sounded a fantastic match.
The radio commentator said it was a weird match because both sides we going for the win, neither settled for a draw. He said both sides will look back to missed chances and feel they could have snatched a win.
However he said it was probably a fair result and a fantastic advert for league 1.
Edwards said both sides had a promotion contender look about that and should feel pleased.

 

[F!RTHY]

Two CB's playing full back due to injury, and a defensive midfielder also dropping into defense, that with Hanson in the team, meant we didn't win it IMO.

I felt that we showed far too much respect to Sheff Utd, and it showed in that first half. Second half, we were better. Not once did we attempt to play the ball on the floor in the first half (barring our first goal, coincidently), which was largely due to Hanson's introduction - the soon as his contract ends in the summer, the better. Toodle-pip

I thought once we scored our third goal, it might've settled us down, but The Blades to their credit came back strong - as you would expect.

Overall, a decent point and a great advert for L1 football. I think had we been at full strength, we would've edged that today!

 

[bantamigo]

Would have liked to see us chuck Marshall on at the end as the win was there for the taking and we needed a bit of width. Still not sure what McCall was thinking. We looked at our best on the few occasions in the second half that Law and Hiwula ran the channels. Sheff Utd were decent though and a points a decent result.

 

[LS Bantam]

Not much to add, with literally no wingers and no full backs on the pitch for us I think McCall looked at SU's squad as the best in the league and was happy to be solid over spectacular, that's not to say we didn't go for it but that's the most defensive we've set up this season, normally he throws on all of his attacking subs but today he didn't change a thing.
Sheff Utd will win the league I'm confident of that, had either of us played someone else today and put in the same level of performance they'd had won easily. Great atmosphere from both sets of fans and a really good match to watch.

 

[Sheffsteel]

We're looking good perched on the shoulder of the leading pack.

It's unusuaal in that we've played most of the teams in the top half and we've now played all the top 3.
(Scunnie, Bratfud and Bolton) away from home.

Also 7 of our next 10 league matches are HOME GAMES,
so in theory we should earn a lot of points from now until Christmas.

But they do say games aren't won on paper, although Wilder seems to have given the club a focused no nonsense mentality.

Wilder has just said in his interview "What a boring game. No, I was really impressed by them, they knocked the ball about well. Great advert for the league. Disappointed we didn't win but I'm sure Stuart might be thinking the same. The score could have been anything and I suppose you have to be satisfied with a draw".

 

[finley]

Fantastic game of football,well worth the admission fee.What a change to see two teams going for it instead of being frustrated at one teams spoiling tactics. A proper game of football for a change

 

[finley]

Fantastic game of football,well worth the admission fee.What a change to see two teams going for it instead of being frustrated at one teams spoiling tactics. A proper game of football for a change

If only all games could be played in the same spirit