SHEFFIELD UNITED
- V -
DONCASTER ROVERS
Just over 21 months ago, at 5:40 pm, I was happy. I was just finishing off at work (in Switzerland, we did not have a bank holiday) while listening to the Rovers. We were 2-nil up against a struggling Blades team. Two goals in 5 minutes seemed an unlikely proposition so I wasn't particularly concerned when Danny Bogdanovic pulled one back. When Rob Kozluk hit an equalizer 6 minutes into injury time, my desk took one hell of a kicking!
I didn't know it at the time, but this turnaround in a match represented the start of the more significant turnaround in Doncaster's fortunes that ultimately ended in relegation a season later. So there you are Donny fans. The Blades started it!
This fact is of course purely coincidental. The main causes of the Rovers' fall: an injury crisis of depths explored by fewer people than have walked on the moon and a freeze on funds for wages / transfers / loans etc. that resulted in an experiment as mad as the one conceived by Dr. Frankenstein when he awoke one morning feeling a little creative, had little to do with the Blades. But they were still there, at the start of it all! Not that I'm bitter.
As if we both needed an illustration of what relegation does to squads, only two players from each line-up remain in today's Blades' and Rovers' squads. Sheffield United have Richard Cresswell, who is now Player-Coach and substitute 'Keeper George Long. Both players are likely to be on the bench tomorrow. Rovers 'Keepers Neil Sullivan and Gary Woods have switched roles with Woods being the only squad-member of that clash in January 2011 likely to start tonight.
The Blades finished in a clear third-place last season with just one win separating them from deadly rivals the Owls, promoted in second place. Huddersfield, who agonisingly beat the Blades on penalties at Wembley in May to deny them their Championship return lagged them by a full 9 points in the final League 1 table. Normally, its not like me to evoke such painful memories for Donny's opponents, but sorry Blades. That's what you get for being their at the start of our decline!
So I think we can say that United are somewhat unlucky to be playing in League 1 this season. Indeed, in the last 10 seasons, the Blades 90 points would have won them automatic promotion on 7 occasions. So you have to wonder why Danny Wilson has allowed 10 players to move away from Bramall Lane with 10 new recruits coming in (excluding loans). A side that comes that close to promotion needs a tweak here and there, not a major rebuild. Or at least that's what I would have thought.
That said, you can't argue with some of the quality Wilson has brought in. Paul Gallagher, Dave Kitson and Nick Blackman could surely do well enough in the league above and with such talent you can see the 92-goal tally of last season (8 goals more than anyone else) being bettered. The question is whether they will be meaner at the other end of the pitch, where 51 goals conceded, whilst hardly a disaster, placed them more within the chasing pack. But looking at that line-up, I think tomorrow Rovers will definitely be up against a team who are genuine title contenders for the first time this season.
On Saturday, the Blades learnt something that the Rovers had discovered a few weeks earlier. Bury have the capacity to frustrate in this league. I even hear tell that the Bramall Lane faithful booed their new era side off the pitch!
Incredibly sloppy marking allowed Nick Blackman to volley home emphatically from inside the 6-yard box to put the Blades on their way, or so they thought. Peter Sweeney curled in a beautiful free-kick for the Shakers just 3 minutes later and Bury were proving that they can give as good as they get. Indeed, the Blades will be thanking Mark Cullen's lack of composure late on as he put a free header miles over the Blades' bar.
Boos from the fans aside, the Blades' attacking was still very pleasing on the eye. Not the hoof-ball too often associated with them but neat passes interchanged around the box eventually finding a runner who blazes through the opposing defence. Enjoyable to watch, if a little frightening.
The game before that saw 9-man Sheffield United earn a point at Scunthorpe. Two straight red-cards nearly always means controversy. Did Michael Doyle try to stamp on Mike Grella after fouling him? I could see why the referee thought so, so with the amount of time he had to decide, a red card is understandable. The replay left me in enough doubt as to whether Doyle was clumsy rather than cynical. Certainly worth appealing the red card. But Ryan Flynn's challenge on Christian Ribeiro really had me flinching. Reckless in the extreme and worthy of a 6-game ban let alone just the three. Why on earth Danny Williams thought that worth appealing I will never know!
The Iron had a real go at United, hardly surprising under the circumstances and whilst the defence generally held firm, the Iron's goal was preceded by particularly whoosy tackling.
Finally, I checked out the goal-fest that was the Blades' 5:3 win against Bournemouth. The attacking prowess was obvious with the Blades causing problems for the South-coast side on virtually every occasion that they ventured forwards. But at the back, it looks like some sorting out is needed on corners. Bournemouth's first was a catalogue of bad football. A poor corner even more poorly dealt with followed by defensive admiration of the wide-man's dribbling skill. In truth, there was nothing to admire. He didn't need to beat anyone, he just needed to move the ball forwards into the space afforded him and pick out the striker who the ball-watching defenders had conveniently left unmarked.
Bournemouth's second is another that the Blades defence will not want to see too often. The corner was better as was the marking so how did a Bournemouth striker get on the end of it? Certainly plenty for Rovers to look at!
I didn't know it at the time, but this turnaround in a match represented the start of the more significant turnaround in Doncaster's fortunes that ultimately ended in relegation a season later. So there you are Donny fans. The Blades started it!
This fact is of course purely coincidental. The main causes of the Rovers' fall: an injury crisis of depths explored by fewer people than have walked on the moon and a freeze on funds for wages / transfers / loans etc. that resulted in an experiment as mad as the one conceived by Dr. Frankenstein when he awoke one morning feeling a little creative, had little to do with the Blades. But they were still there, at the start of it all! Not that I'm bitter.
As if we both needed an illustration of what relegation does to squads, only two players from each line-up remain in today's Blades' and Rovers' squads. Sheffield United have Richard Cresswell, who is now Player-Coach and substitute 'Keeper George Long. Both players are likely to be on the bench tomorrow. Rovers 'Keepers Neil Sullivan and Gary Woods have switched roles with Woods being the only squad-member of that clash in January 2011 likely to start tonight.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
We don’t want to find ourselves in a position again where we are scratching around for goals. We suffered from that at the end of last season but now we have got the players. - Danny Wilson
The Blades finished in a clear third-place last season with just one win separating them from deadly rivals the Owls, promoted in second place. Huddersfield, who agonisingly beat the Blades on penalties at Wembley in May to deny them their Championship return lagged them by a full 9 points in the final League 1 table. Normally, its not like me to evoke such painful memories for Donny's opponents, but sorry Blades. That's what you get for being their at the start of our decline!
So I think we can say that United are somewhat unlucky to be playing in League 1 this season. Indeed, in the last 10 seasons, the Blades 90 points would have won them automatic promotion on 7 occasions. So you have to wonder why Danny Wilson has allowed 10 players to move away from Bramall Lane with 10 new recruits coming in (excluding loans). A side that comes that close to promotion needs a tweak here and there, not a major rebuild. Or at least that's what I would have thought.
That said, you can't argue with some of the quality Wilson has brought in. Paul Gallagher, Dave Kitson and Nick Blackman could surely do well enough in the league above and with such talent you can see the 92-goal tally of last season (8 goals more than anyone else) being bettered. The question is whether they will be meaner at the other end of the pitch, where 51 goals conceded, whilst hardly a disaster, placed them more within the chasing pack. But looking at that line-up, I think tomorrow Rovers will definitely be up against a team who are genuine title contenders for the first time this season.
On Saturday, the Blades learnt something that the Rovers had discovered a few weeks earlier. Bury have the capacity to frustrate in this league. I even hear tell that the Bramall Lane faithful booed their new era side off the pitch!
Incredibly sloppy marking allowed Nick Blackman to volley home emphatically from inside the 6-yard box to put the Blades on their way, or so they thought. Peter Sweeney curled in a beautiful free-kick for the Shakers just 3 minutes later and Bury were proving that they can give as good as they get. Indeed, the Blades will be thanking Mark Cullen's lack of composure late on as he put a free header miles over the Blades' bar.
Boos from the fans aside, the Blades' attacking was still very pleasing on the eye. Not the hoof-ball too often associated with them but neat passes interchanged around the box eventually finding a runner who blazes through the opposing defence. Enjoyable to watch, if a little frightening.
The game before that saw 9-man Sheffield United earn a point at Scunthorpe. Two straight red-cards nearly always means controversy. Did Michael Doyle try to stamp on Mike Grella after fouling him? I could see why the referee thought so, so with the amount of time he had to decide, a red card is understandable. The replay left me in enough doubt as to whether Doyle was clumsy rather than cynical. Certainly worth appealing the red card. But Ryan Flynn's challenge on Christian Ribeiro really had me flinching. Reckless in the extreme and worthy of a 6-game ban let alone just the three. Why on earth Danny Williams thought that worth appealing I will never know!
The Iron had a real go at United, hardly surprising under the circumstances and whilst the defence generally held firm, the Iron's goal was preceded by particularly whoosy tackling.
Finally, I checked out the goal-fest that was the Blades' 5:3 win against Bournemouth. The attacking prowess was obvious with the Blades causing problems for the South-coast side on virtually every occasion that they ventured forwards. But at the back, it looks like some sorting out is needed on corners. Bournemouth's first was a catalogue of bad football. A poor corner even more poorly dealt with followed by defensive admiration of the wide-man's dribbling skill. In truth, there was nothing to admire. He didn't need to beat anyone, he just needed to move the ball forwards into the space afforded him and pick out the striker who the ball-watching defenders had conveniently left unmarked.
Bournemouth's second is another that the Blades defence will not want to see too often. The corner was better as was the marking so how did a Bournemouth striker get on the end of it? Certainly plenty for Rovers to look at!
DONCASTER ROVERS
They are the biggest club in League One by a mile and I’m sure there’ll be over 20,000 there tonight - Dean Saunders
Isn't it bloody typical? When your favourite Donny-Exile in Switzerland has to return to the promised land, everyone is on an International break. Not only that but the very next week, Rovers have Derby with Sheffield United and a home tie on Saturday. Am I miffed? Just a little!
Sadly, my schedule also didn't allow a trip down to Colchester so I had to make do with going to the St. Leger where, in the last race, Viking Storm did the business at 7/2 yielding a nice £45 for yours truly. If there were other fans at the Leger meeting who did not get that one with the race coming immediately after Donny had beaten the Us, you can now sit and wonder "what were you thinking!"
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| Cotterill - Star of the Saturday's show (along with Viking Storm) |
At that match, David Cotterill proved to be the star of the show. After just 3 minutes, An awful throw from the Colchester 'keeper straight to Paul Quinn allowed him to play in Cotterill for a wonderful curving finish. Colchester then had the Rovers under quite some pressure as they looked to get back on terms which they did, mainly due to Rovers not getting their tackles in.
Once again just three minutes into a half, Cotterill played in a good free-kick towards Syers. Andy Bond got in front of Syers, but could only head into his own net. The Us continued to press but the defence and in particular Gary Woods held firm. By all accounts it was not the best Rovers performance but it was 3 points on our travels.
So to Sheffield and I'm already starting to flinch a little at injuries and the paper thin squad that we have. Billy Paynter missed Saturday's game and is a doubt for this evening; David Syers came off after 75 minutes feeling his calf and James Harper is nursing a groin injury.
Hardly a crisis just yet but with the Saturday/Tuesday/Saturday rhythm back after the international break, you see why extra depth is needed. It could be a difficult few months!
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