Sheffield United (A) League One, 2nd April 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

A trip to Bramall Lane for a meeting with the Blades, for whom this season has to rate as something of a disappointment so far. Their experience over the past few years almost mirrors that of Wigan Athletic - virtually unlimited funds for team building, a Premiership place, semi-finalists in Cup competitions, yet slipping down to League One status and only able to maintain a mid-table position. Sheffield United's "sugar daddy" took the form of Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz al Saud of the Saudi Royal family in September 2013, who promised substantial new capital with the aim of returning the Blades to the Premiership as quickly as possible. Nigel Adkins was appointed Manager last June, following quite a few well-known names holding that post - Neil Warnock, Micky Adams, Bryan Robson, Danny Wilson and Nigel Cough have all had a go without too much success.

United currently sit in 13th place, 9 points away from the play-offs with only 7 games remaining. Billy Sharp leads their goalscorers with 17 to his name, followed by Che Adams with 9. One player of theirs will register with Saddlers' supporters - Florent Cuvelier the Belgian midfielder. He has suffered from severe knee injuries, and was loaned out to Burton Albion last season for match experience. His squad number is 33, but he doesn't seem to have figured recently. Sheffield United's current form:

1 Mar Burton Albion (H) Lost 0-1
5 Mar Fleetwood Town (A) Drew 2-2
12 Mar Oldham Athletic (H) Won 3-0
19 Mar Millwall (A) Lost 1-0
25 Mar Crewe Alexandra (H) Won 3-2
30 Mar Southend United (A) Lost 3-1

Selection for Jon Whitney & Co seems straightforward in one sense - our international players have not only acquitted themselves well, but no injuries have been reported. James O'Connor is therefore the only probable absentee for whom cover is needed (unless it's decided to play Preston as a support for Tom Bradshaw after the heroics against Colchester United). We know that Bryn Morris has returned to Middlesbrough, but Matthew Pennington the Everton loanee will no doubt figure in Jon's plans.

Prediction? Sheffield United come to the game having just lost to Southend United 3-1. No red cards there, just a yellow to the appropriately named Chris Basham. I'll have to opt for a 0-2 win for the Saddlers for this one, with Bradshaw (naturally) and Sawyers sharing the goals. Etheridge to do a "Ron Green" and save a penalty in the 93rd minute........ :mrgreen:

[*DOFFER*]

:lol: Offer here

What you been doing Welsh.......

Nice to see your usual thread back

UTS

:D Offer

[Welsh_Saddler]

:lol: Offer here

What you been doing Welsh.......

Nice to see your usual thread back

UTS

:D Offer

Hi :D offer ........ to use a well-known phrase about retirement - "I don't know how I ever found the time to go out to work" !!

As to my "usual thread" - thanks for the comment. I haven't missed a League One game thread this season (yet!), but I may well need some help if it gets to be Championship time in August....... :wink:

[SoccerHQ]

Bramall lane is it...1-1.....fudge it 1-3 to the Saddlers as Burton win 2-0. :(

[funk_hits_the_fan]

Hoping to make this one, work permitting. My last time at Bramall Lane was the 0-2 in the FA Cup 4th Round years ago. Used to enjoy drinking in Sheffield before the game - is The Globe still there?

700 tickets sold I believe. A gritty 1-0 to The Saddlers.

[firreblade]

Welsh...... I thought you would of put this thread up from last week, iv been twiddling my thumps all of Easter holidays with no games, bored cack less. I reckon you would have about a million hits by now with all the bored saddlers :lol: anyhow I am going for a 0-3 Saddlers win due to the players rearing to go after the break and the international players coming back with confidence. Goals from Bradders 2 and Mantom 1. :D

[Welsh_Saddler]

Welsh...... I thought you would of put this thread up from last week, iv been twiddling my thumps all of Easter holidays with no games, bored cack less. I reckon you would have about a million hits by now with all the bored saddlers :lol: anyhow I am going for a 0-3 Saddlers win due to the players rearing to go after the break and the international players coming back with confidence. Goals from Bradders 2 and Mantom 1. :D

Yes, sorry for that delay - I deliberately waited until the Southend Utd v Sheffield Utd game had been played, so that at least the Blades' form was up to date (and there's always the hope that a couple of red cards might have affected their team selection!). :D

[Leatherman]

Just setting off. I will be easily recognised as the miserable pack horse standing outside shops in Meadowhall with outstreched arms full of bags containing wimins clothes.

Away trips to places like Sheffield should be banned or contained to Mid-week.

That is all.

[chunkster]

Welsh...... I thought you would of put this thread up from last week, iv been twiddling my thumps all of Easter holidays with no games, bored cack less. I reckon you would have about a million hits by now with all the bored saddlers :lol: anyhow I am going for a 0-3 Saddlers win due to the players rearing to go after the break and the international players coming back with confidence. Goals from Bradders 2 and Mantom 1. :D

Yes, sorry for that delay - I deliberately waited until the Southend Utd v Sheffield Utd game had been played, so that at least the Blades' form was up to date (and there's always the hope that a couple of red cards might have affected their team selection!). :D

You don't half command some respect on here welshy. no one would dare post this thread without you starting it. They would rather go without :lol: :wink:
on the prediction. 0-3 to the saddlers. sheffield are cack :lol:

[Ancient Moaner]

Just setting off. I will be easily recognised as the miserable pack horse standing outside shops in Meadowhall with outstreched arms full of bags containing wimins clothes.

Away trips to places like Sheffield should be banned or contained to Mid-week.

That is all.

Seems to have been a Tuesday night fixture for many, many years, today just unfortunate for you my friend.
I've now got to charm the missus into also letting me go to Oldham next Saturday, after she had pencilled in a visit to Cheshire Oaks shopping Centre, also for wimins clothes! :lol: :lol:

[SuperDon]

Team - Etheridge, Pennington, Downing, Taylor; Demetriou, Mantom, Flanagan, Chambers, Henry; Sawyers, Bradshaw

[SuperDon]

Subs
MacGillivray, Preston, Kinsella, Morris, Forde, Lalkovic, Hiwula

[EvenFlow]

Two changes from our last outing- Pennington in for O'Connor, and Flanagan makes his first start in 400 years, with Hiwula on the bench.

[booster cogburn]

Sat in The Devonshire Cat trying to make sense of that team selection!

[EvenFlow]

A bit more stickability up top with Sawyers playing more advanced, with Mantom at the head of a midfield diamond, it appears.

Team selections like this do provide a convenient reminder to steer clear of social media, though- we appear to have already lost, wih Flanagan needing transfer listing, and questions as to why Lalkovic isn't starting ahead of him... in this formation?! Give me strength.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Two changes from our last outing- Pennington in for O'Connor, and Flanagan makes his first start in 400 years, with Hiwula on the bench.

Presumably Preston is going to be used as an impact centre-forward sub in the 85th minute??? :?

(Edit - The betting exchanges have Sheffield United as favourites to win this............) :shock:

[The Red Prince]

Not sure on that selection.

Could be tactical genius, or tactical dodgyness, guess we'll know by 4:55.

[Andy_Petterson]

Given we should be fresh not having played for a bit, plus our awesome away record, I expect at least a point today.

UTS

[Welsh_Saddler]

Spooky....... 10 minutes gone, and no goals anywhere in league One....... :?

(Edit.... I take that back - Swindon Town 0 Fleetwood Town 1 (11 min))

Peterborough 1 Crewe Alex 0

[Welsh_Saddler]

Important score from the borders...... Sloppies 1 Wigan Athletic 0 (30 min) :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

And simultaneously.... Sheffield United 1 Walsall 0 :( :( :( :(

[DavidWFC2010]

Shrewsbury 1 - 1 Wigan... now our turn

[Welsh_Saddler]

It didn't take long.... Sloppies 1 Wigan 1 now....


Oh dear.... 2-0 to the Blades now :(

[sallian]

not taking advantage of the current Wigan slip-up

Losing 0-1 and we have Morris, Lalkovic, Forde and Hiwula all on the bench....seems like we are not set up to score

[deldras]

Oh dear :oops:

[PINNACLE]

not taking advantage of the current Wigan slip-up

Losing 0-1 and we have Morris, Lalkovic, Forde and Hiwula all on the bench....seems like we are not set up to score

And right on cue look what piece of crap has come back to gloat because we are 1-0 down.
Sod off !

[sallian]

Given we should be fresh not having played for a bit, plus our awesome away record, I expect at least a point today.

UTS

I expect a loss, the end of the Whitney run of enthusiasm and the realization of the loss of experience and tactical knowledge in the form of Sean O'Driscoll

[Welsh_Saddler]

This is the Wigan slip-up that sees them drawing 1-1..........do keep up. :roll:

[DavidWFC2010]

Time to change it Hiwula on for Flanagan and go two up top

[SuperDon]

Need to get a goal back before half time :(

[funk_hits_the_fan]

Dont rise to 'it' PINNACLE, not worth it

Everybody just ignore it please. It's hard enough when your losing.