Square Pegs in Square Holes

Stocksbridge Park Steels 0 v Sheffield United 5

Saturday 9 July 2016

Twitter @ball_sup

I'm claiming a Personal Best there. An 11 day close season. Last game, England v Iceland in Nice on June 27. (I've checked the Blog, 12 days last year).

Without a nod to results & performances yet, I'm putting myself firmly behind most of the changes at The Lane since last season fizzled out. To be honest, I'd have broadly been OK if they'd kept Adkins. But, if we didn't, we had to go full new broom. And we have.

An identity appointment in Chris Wilder. Phipps has delivered his final Phippsyism. A long released & able to seek other clubs list. And I'll say it. If we have to take a step back, to rebuild. I'm OK with that. Difficult to get rid of one squad and get another in a few weeks.

Sad, but inevitable, to see the end of Tel Kennedy & Diego. They've been with the club for fifteen years. DNA. But, things move on.

Wilder played 22 today. Of those, only Sharp, Adams, Whiteman, Basham & Calvert-Lewin were really involved at the end of last season. Add Reed & Brooks who were fringing it. And the injured Brayford. I think I saw Long in a tracksuit. But, he wasn't involved today. I saw Graham Kelly in a tracksuit, also not involved.

Four new signings out there. Chris Hussey set up as a conventional left back. It looked like Brayford, over on the right, was told to push forward a bit more. Jack O’Connell set up as a conventional centre back. James Wilson set up as a conventional centre back. And Mark Duffy, I'd say he set up as left midfield.

O’Connell & Wilson are from Centre Half Central Casting. Tall & athletic. Ronseal centre halves. Both looked the part. Attacking the ball in the air. Not afraid to go to it, a bit out wide if necessary. Marshaling. Organising. Lower league opposition. But, neat starts.

Chris Hussey also had a many feet right, few wrong, debut as well. When there was not too much on, Wilder pushed him forward.

But, the best of the new bunch was Mark Duffy. Bright. Energetic. Involved. Getting in the box. Got a few shots off (blocked).

I'm not going through them all. Sharp looked a bit off the pace & couldn't get going. Whiteman & Brooks benefitted from playing centre midfield, with lots of stuff going through them. Brooks has a simple problem. When he's busy, with the ball at his feet, he's the ticket. But, he's a young lad, he drifts. He needs to be bang at it consistently.

Callum Semple was steady. Got some great clearance headers in. I like the lad. From the Shirecliffe Centre Half Production Line.

And even one genuine trialist. Conor Shaughnessy. Set up as centre back. He looked comfortable. Pacy & assured on the ball. Did his shift.

Difficult to talk about systems & tactics. 22 a side v lower league oppos. It all looked neat & tidy. No three laps around the defence. But, no get it forward for the sake of it either. It had a simple feel of play players in their correct position. Let ‘em do their jobs. Be switched on.

To be honest. I’m happy with all of that.

Bradfield Brewery, Wim-Bull-Don on cask at 4.5% in the clubhouse.

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