v Sheffield United (a) - 3/5/2025

[Penwortham Blue]

19 minutes ago, arbitro said:

There was clearly a game plan today which up until the equaliser played out pretty well I thought. If we hadn't conceded so soon after going ahead I could see us going to a back five with Forshaw coming on in a three man defensive midfield as we have successfully done recently. Them scoring within eight minutes meant the other option covered by Ismael was all out attack. In that respect I thought he left it five or ten minutes too late but I could also understand his reasoning as conceding a second with so many attacking players on would have given us a mountain to climb.

We were in with a chance of promotion up until the last kick of the season. Had that been said a few weeks ago the poster would have been deemed certifiable.

I fully agree with this, if we had kept them out another 5/10 minutes, I think we would have made it but what a shocking goal to concede. Even after conceding, with 30 minutes left to play and the incentive we had, I thought we could still do it and expected a shit or bust siege of the Sheffield goal. The changes were too late and the kitchen sink siege that I anticipated just never materialised, at no stage in that game did we exert any sustained offensive pressure. I know the players didn’t leave much out there but I maintain that it was there for them to grab and they pretty meekly let it slip away. I have to agree with Revidge that a huge mentality issue runs through the club, we can never get over the line when it really matters.

Finally, I couldn’t help reflecting after the match and considering how the match would have played out if the circumstances had been reversed. My conclusion was that almost against any club who needed a goal to get in play offs or stay up, our goal would have been under constant pressure and sadly, yesterday with 30 minutes to go at, this just didn’t happen. 

Edited yesterday at 06:46 by Penwortham Blue

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

That was a really bad goal to give away, how many opportunities to clear the ball did we fail to take. Sheff U must have had the ball in and around our box for 30 seconds at least and nobody got a boot to the ball.

The substitutions killed the game for us. They actually made us worse at a time when we needed to step up our game.

Edited yesterday at 07:42 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[Herbie6590]

23 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

That was a really bad goal to give away, how many opportunities to clear the ball did we fail to take. Sheff U must have had the ball in and around our box for 30 seconds at least and nobody got a boot to the ball.

The substitutions killed the game for us. They actually made us worse at a time when we needed to step up our game.

That’s why there is so much quality recruitment needed in the summer…

[davulsukur]

Might have gotten lost in the sea of posts at the time but I wonder if Hedges is now a bit worried. Came off with an injury and out of contract. He's prone to a long term layoff. If hes out for months, I assume we'll let him go.

I was also impressed with Toth yesterday. He's looked a bit ropey in these games he's played in at times but he was solid yesterday and made a couple of good saves.

[Mattyblue]

Was a really poor goal, especially as the commentators had just been lauding the ‘physical presence of Hyam’ 🤦‍♂️

[Penwortham Blue]

10 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Was a really poor goal, especially as the commentators had just been lauding the ‘physical presence of Hyam’ 🤦‍♂️

Had to be Anel A didn’t it, the player who was on his way to Ewood and JDT, only for Sheffield to then sign him up with money they never had and didn’t pay 😡

[Old Codger]

15 minutes ago, Herbie6590 said:

That’s why there is so much quality recruitment needed in the summer…

And we know how that is likely to turn out... 
 

You'll need to turn up the heat with your media savvy and way with words, Ian, if we are to break the repeating pattern that has held our club under water in the Venk-toilet for so many years.. Not that it is exclusively your job, or your purview to take on that role. You do have some social capital built up though, so perhaps there is an opportunity to show thought leadership as we enter what is likely to be a fallow period of news about the Rovers.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

4 minutes ago, Penwortham Blue said:

Had to be Anel A didn’t it, the player who was on his way to Ewood and JDT, only for Sheffield to then sign him up with money they never had and didn’t pay 😡

He looked like a walking card to me. How he never got booked was a mystery.

[Ossydave]

Christ that Dennis header was definitely this seasons Hedges miss at Preston, truly awful.

I was quite happy when we signed him but what a waste of space he's been, granted injuries haven't helped but the return on those wages has been one hell of a waste.

What a shame the season ended when it did, 10 more games would have been handy. As many have said we never thought we'd be anywhere near 7th but it's not really much of a consolation.

I'm more worried about the players we may lose than who we may sign or not sign to be honest. Brittain, Tronstad and Travis must have admirers. Mr Marmite Dolan as inconsistent as he is still needs replacing with someone of at least equal ability, hopefully better though.

On the flipside I really think Toth can kick on and be a real asset, I don't think it's a fluke that we're unbeaten since he has been playing and he looked good again yesterday. I was worried about him I must admit, possibly still mentally scarred from Wally Wahlstedt, he HAS to be first choice though now next season.

I feel the league may be a little tougher next year, some decent squads coming down and if Brum and Wrexham flex their cash there's a good chance they're up around the play offs. 

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

8 minutes ago, Ossydave said:

Christ that Dennis header was definitely this seasons Hedges miss at Preston, truly awful.

I was quite happy when we signed him but what a waste of space he's been, granted injuries haven't helped but the return on those wages has been one hell of a waste.

What a shame the season ended when it did, 10 more games would have been handy. As many have said we never thought we'd be anywhere near 7th but it's not really much of a consolation.

I'm more worried about the players we may lose than who we may sign or not sign to be honest. Brittain, Tronstad and Travis must have admirers. Mr Marmite Dolan as inconsistent as he is still needs replacing with someone of at least equal ability, hopefully better though.

On the flipside I really think Toth can kick on and be a real asset, I don't think it's a fluke that we're unbeaten since he has been playing and he looked good again yesterday. I was worried about him I must admit, possibly still mentally scarred from Wally Wahlstedt, he HAS to be first choice though now next season.

I feel the league may be a little tougher next year, some decent squads coming down and if Brum and Wrexham flex their cash there's a good chance they're up around the play offs. 

 

It was as good a clearing header as you’ll see from any defender. He got it completely wrong. It needed a glancing header. It wasn’t even near to the target. That miss along with that cock up from Kargbo’s long cross field ball when he basically passed the ball back to their keeper made him their best defender for me.

Edited yesterday at 09:00 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[London blue]

I don't necessarily blame Dennis.

Rusty doesn't even come close, he's just not played any football. To spunk the amount of money we did on his wages is pure bad planning and panic. He was never going to do what was required.

[Atko's Engine]

One of the things that really sticks in my craw, ignoring the obvious, is how much the Ahmedhodzic transfer to Sheff Utd has shafted us.

IIRC, he was about to sign for us under JDT when they came in and gazumped us on his transfer fee &/or wages. He was then a massive contributor to them going up that season, significantly at our expense because we missed top 6 on GD.

OK, that happens; but during that season Sheff Utd failed to pay up what they were contracted to pay to his former club; they were charged, found guilty, and ultimately docked 2 points this season, which is nothing for a club coming back down with £150m in its coffers.

Fast forward 9 months and that same player scores the goal that, on the day, meant we again missed out on top 6 again.

Where's the fairness in that?? Another example of the authorities not being fit for purpose at our expense.

Edit: just seen that Bbrovers2288 beat me to it - 18 hours ago!!

Edited yesterday at 09:21 by Atko's Engine

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

9 minutes ago, Atko's Engine said:

One of the things that really sticks in my craw, ignoring the obvious, is how much the Ahmedhodzic transfer to Sheff Utd has shafted us.

IIRC, he was about to sign for us under JDT when they came in and gazumped us on his transfer fee &/or wages. He was then a massive contributor to them going up that season, significantly at our expense because we missed top 6 on GD.

OK, that happens; but during that season Sheff Utd failed to pay up what they were contracted to pay to his former club; they were charged, found guilty, and ultimately docked 2 points this season, which is nothing for a club coming back down with £150m in its coffers.

Fast forward 9 months and that same player scores the goal that, on the day, meant we again missed out on top 6 again.

Where's the fairness in that?? Another example of the authorities not being fit for purpose at our expense.

Edit: just seen that Bbrovers2288 beat me to it - 18 hours ago!!

We’d several chances to clear the ball well before it got to him. I suppose Baath can’t be everywhere.

[Inferi]

I think we never looked likely to win the game. Sheffield U dominated the match and had the better goalscoring chances. Both Hamer and Cannon failed to score when it looked easier to score than to miss.

[Penwortham Blue]

1 hour ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

He looked like a walking card to me. How he never got booked was a mystery.

Should have been booked within first 5 minutes.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

45 minutes ago, Penwortham Blue said:

Should have been booked within first 5 minutes.

I was always told if you want to give an opponent a quietener do it as early as you can. He obviously works to the same plan. 

[Tomphil2]

1 hour ago, Atko's Engine said:

One of the things that really sticks in my craw, ignoring the obvious, is how much the Ahmedhodzic transfer to Sheff Utd has shafted us.

IIRC, he was about to sign for us under JDT when they came in and gazumped us on his transfer fee &/or wages. He was then a massive contributor to them going up that season, significantly at our expense because we missed top 6 on GD.

OK, that happens; but during that season Sheff Utd failed to pay up what they were contracted to pay to his former club; they were charged, found guilty, and ultimately docked 2 points this season, which is nothing for a club coming back down with £150m in its coffers.

Fast forward 9 months and that same player scores the goal that, on the day, meant we again missed out on top 6 again.

Where's the fairness in that?? Another example of the authorities not being fit for purpose at our expense.

Edit: just seen that Bbrovers2288 beat me to it - 18 hours ago!!

We simply have to invest money and wages in a good potential striker from somewhere.

Ok they missed him i'm sure they've missed others in similar circumstances, it happens and we'd not moan if it was us doing it in fact we've seen both sides of the coin here down the years.

However non of that detracts from the fact their new model of trying to do it with punts like Gueye and expensive stupid toss of the coin loans of unfit forwards will not work it will just cost as much in the long run with no return.

They should have been hunting for the next Dack, Szmodics etc long ago but they'd wasted 7 mill on BBD and ended up with zero to reinvest.

2-3 mill min plus whatever add ons needs investing in a striker it's that simple.

[Exiled_Rover]

2 hours ago, Penwortham Blue said:

Had to be Anel A didn’t it, the player who was on his way to Ewood and JDT, only for Sheffield to then sign him up with money they never had and didn’t pay 😡

Pretty sure he was offside too.

[Exiled_Rover]

2 hours ago, Atko's Engine said:

One of the things that really sticks in my craw, ignoring the obvious, is how much the Ahmedhodzic transfer to Sheff Utd has shafted us.

IIRC, he was about to sign for us under JDT when they came in and gazumped us on his transfer fee &/or wages. He was then a massive contributor to them going up that season, significantly at our expense because we missed top 6 on GD.

OK, that happens; but during that season Sheff Utd failed to pay up what they were contracted to pay to his former club; they were charged, found guilty, and ultimately docked 2 points this season, which is nothing for a club coming back down with £150m in its coffers.

Fast forward 9 months and that same player scores the goal that, on the day, meant we again missed out on top 6 again.

Where's the fairness in that?? Another example of the authorities not being fit for purpose at our expense.

Edit: just seen that Bbrovers2288 beat me to it - 18 hours ago!!

Pretty sure they failed to pay an instalment on Brewster to pay for Ahmedhodzic. 

[joey_big_nose]

2 hours ago, Ossydave said:

Christ that Dennis header was definitely this seasons Hedges miss at Preston, truly awful.

I was quite happy when we signed him but what a waste of space he's been, granted injuries haven't helped but the return on those wages has been one hell of a waste.

What a shame the season ended when it did, 10 more games would have been handy. As many have said we never thought we'd be anywhere near 7th but it's not really much of a consolation.

I'm more worried about the players we may lose than who we may sign or not sign to be honest. Brittain, Tronstad and Travis must have admirers. Mr Marmite Dolan as inconsistent as he is still needs replacing with someone of at least equal ability, hopefully better though.

On the flipside I really think Toth can kick on and be a real asset, I don't think it's a fluke that we're unbeaten since he has been playing and he looked good again yesterday. I was worried about him I must admit, possibly still mentally scarred from Wally Wahlstedt, he HAS to be first choice though now next season.

I feel the league may be a little tougher next year, some decent squads coming down and if Brum and Wrexham flex their cash there's a good chance they're up around the play offs. 

 

 

2 hours ago, Ossydave said:

Christ that Dennis header was definitely this seasons Hedges miss at Preston, truly awful.

I was quite happy when we signed him but what a waste of space he's been, granted injuries haven't helped but the return on those wages has been one hell of a waste.

What a shame the season ended when it did, 10 more games would have been handy. As many have said we never thought we'd be anywhere near 7th but it's not really much of a consolation.

I'm more worried about the players we may lose than who we may sign or not sign to be honest. Brittain, Tronstad and Travis must have admirers. Mr Marmite Dolan as inconsistent as he is still needs replacing with someone of at least equal ability, hopefully better though.

On the flipside I really think Toth can kick on and be a real asset, I don't think it's a fluke that we're unbeaten since he has been playing and he looked good again yesterday. I was worried about him I must admit, possibly still mentally scarred from Wally Wahlstedt, he HAS to be first choice though now next season.

I feel the league may be a little tougher next year, some decent squads coming down and if Brum and Wrexham flex their cash there's a good chance they're up around the play offs. 

 

Has a single "premier league" player we have signed worked out? Murphy, Etuhu, Fleck, Dennis etc all come and just have been terrible. Only one O can think of who was probably just about worth it was Downing but he was hardly transformative.

Id be quite happy if we just avoided players who have played decent premier league time, the likelihood of them being motivated is pretty minimal and they cost an absolute fortune. Cantwell has started to show promise but has taken a long time to get there.

[Tom]

3 hours ago, davulsukur said:

Might have gotten lost in the sea of posts at the time but I wonder if Hedges is now a bit worried. Came off with an injury and out of contract. He's prone to a long term layoff. If hes out for months, I assume we'll let him go.

I was also impressed with Toth yesterday. He's looked a bit ropey in these games he's played in at times but he was solid yesterday and made a couple of good saves.

Didn’t we once give Gladwin a contract when he was injured just because we wanted to be nice to him (or his agent)

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

2 minutes ago, Tom said:

Didn’t we once give Gladwin a contract when he was injured just because we wanted to be nice to him (or his agent)

The reputation of being a club that “ looks after its players “ is a useful one to have but there are limits. 
Siggy probably wouldn’t agree with me I suppose.

[Mashed Potatoes]

9 minutes ago, Tom said:

Didn’t we once give Gladwin a contract when he was injured just because we wanted to be nice to him (or his agent)

I'm not sure that's correct. When this story was flying around at the time I think somebody came on here and said that players pay in to an insurance policy which pays for their first six months if they are injured and out of contract. The club did let Gladwin use their facilities whilst he was recovering but that won't have cost anything.

[bazza]

Players we must get shut of for me would be Dennis, Woodrow, Hedges,  Forshaw, ACB, Weimann and Vale.

I'd keep Sanderson. Hope Dolan stays but I don't think he will.

Keep JRC, Buckley and Leonard. I'd also keep and have a look at Markanday and Garrett. Don't want to lose any more from the rest.

[...]

3 hours ago, Herbie6590 said:

That’s why there is so much quality recruitment needed in the summer…

Yes yes! What we need is a significant investment that ought to do it!