Progress, of sorts

Sheffield United 1 v Rochdale 1

Saturday 13 August 2016

League 1

Twitter @ball_sup

We know how we’re going to measure success. Out of this League. We know how we’re going to measure progress. Goals scored, goals conceded, points gained, League position.  Two games in, one goal, one point. And, we’re out of the League Cup. No one was hoping for that.

Early days. I’m not party to the Accounts Department. But, isn’t the whole point that we’ve cleared out wage draining deadwood?  Aren’t we supposed to be bringing in people who are young n hungry and who we can afford?

So, we’d know we’d progressed if we seemed demonstrably better than much of last season. We haven’t yet. So, the Jury is still out on the Better & Cheaper aspiration. But, we’re not awful. Same quality, at a cheaper price. Is where we are.

Adkins didn’t “get it”. And, couldn’t translate it onto the pitch. Wilder “gets it”, and hasn’t yet translated it onto the pitch.

That, again, is progress (of sorts). A Manager who gets it. A cheaper team not taking the piss.

We want Goals & we want Points.

Today, I’m having a go at the movement & the anticipation. I watched the Rochdale players. When a United player had it, or was going for the ball, Rochdale were switched on. Alert. Looking where he might knock it. Already at pace to intercept it. Jockeying. Ready.

But, when a ball was knocked in to a Rochdale defender, he can just knock it back. Knowing the United players will be static & backfooted.

Cloudwater DIPA v6 on keg at 9%. The front foot.

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