Crewe Alex v Sheff Utd

[JJ1532]

Well, lets look on the bright side here. Only 31 games(32 with our inevitable first round FA Cup exit) until the end of the season. Count down is well and truly on.

Anyway, Dalla Valle should be back fit. He was doing some pre-match fitness routines on Saturday, so he isn't far off. Not sure on Kingsley, I'm sure we'll find out his status tomorrow. I'll say it again, for about the millionth time. Drop King(if we can), start LDV and go 4-4-2. Simple, well for everyone bar Davis that is. Be interesting to see how injured Fox is and whether that affects things. Be a big blow to have him missing, nobody else looks capable of anchoring that midfield.

As for Sheff U, they are a baffling team. Seem to vary between excellent and terrible, with nothing in between. They seem quite suseptible to a dodgy result, but when they turn up they bury teams. Got a lot of decent players at this level, including Sharp who is back amongst the goals. Adams(who we chased last season) is scoring, but he too seems to score in fits and starts. Defence looks ropey, they've only conceded 3 less than us which is a bit mad. But a decent team on their day.

Its at home, so we'll probably lose. All United have to do is press us for a concerted period(first half, 2nd half, it makes no difference) and wait for their golden chances to arrive. Maybe we might scrape out a 0-0, but I doubt it. Oh the joys, roll on Saturday.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Just a feeling someone is going to absolutely batter us at some point (Strange that it's not actually happened yet, scoreline wise). Early goal, heads drop, fan revolt, the goals will flow. Shelf Utd seem as good a bet as anyone.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Had a very interesting conversation yesterday with a gentleman who works at the football club. He said a few interesting things. Davis won't resign is one we all know, but the fact Dario would've liked us to have kept Anthony Grant and make him the captain of the Alex was another one. Steve is also pissed off he can't fail "his way" and genuinely doesn't want to play the kids (maybe he plays Turton regularly to prove a point he's not good enough?), but if he's failed the last two years with his array of loanees, then we might as well fail with the kids in my opinion. The way Davis is managing them too is not like how he managed them four years ago with dissenters like Sarcevic quickly removed from the club, but Davis has apparently gone all Steve Holland on the players and tried to be their friend. The club urgently needs a disciplinarian to kick all these players into shape else we'll be in non-league before we know it. I will also happily bet my house that Collins will never become our permanent manager, I think the club have realised the Steve Holland approach is one road we shouldn't walk down again. Unfortunately, the fact they hate "outsiders" means we're inevitably stuck with Davis, because Dario doesn't want to come back, he's happy with semi-retirement.

Anyway regarding the game, things will get ugly if Sheffield United take the game to us on Saturday and batter us. You'll still have those Davis In fans that blame anyone apart from their dear leader, but the first shouts of Davis Out have been heard at Blackpool on Saturday and one bad performance in this with Eastleigh looming could make Davis' position at the club precarious, because our more vocal supporters now seem to be well and truly anti-Davis based on the Blackpool game. The fact the Davis In loyalists genuinely believe we'll beat Eastleigh means that they'll have a lovely surprise a week on Saturday!

Just seen Inman and Fox are out for a good while. Shit.

Garratt
Turton, Ray, Nugent, Kingsley (Guthrie if not fit)
King, Atkinson, Jones
Wilson, Haber, Colclough

That team has more own goals in us than actual goals.

 

[Brammer_£500000]

Interesting post, and if what this ‘gentleman’ from the club says is spot on then it answers a few things that have run through my head this season, and before. I am not sure about these pro Davis types you mention, I just think some fans are taking a be careful what you wish for stance as opposed to backing Steve’s ability as a manager who obviously has got worse results the last 2 or so seasons. I genuinely believe you have some fans concerned that if you get rid of Steve then you start a merry go round if nothing changes.and we will be firing managers every few months. My own opinion is that some sort of change is required, thanks for the Wembley wins Steve, but enough is enough for us and for your own CV's sake, the club is slowly starting to head back to 1979.

As for the cup match, well it was the FA Cup 1st round that Steve took over against Colchester, anything less than a win and it will prove ironic as it would be his last game, I reckon he will still be here post Sheffield (seeing as he survived post Blackpool), but his future hinges on this cup match, which we could well be heading into still awaiting a win at home. No pressure, Steve.

 

[blade1889]

Post Sheffield United?


A game on paper we should win so we'll lose

 

[Brammer_£500000]

Win lose or draw Steve will be in a job post blades, unless we git hit for 6 or someting.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

I expect Steve to be in charge on Saturday and against Eastleigh. But if we lose to Eastleigh then the board genuinely have no option. It'll be a lower ebb for us than Blackpool was on Saturday if we were to lose to Eastleigh.

 

[JJ1532]

That's my thoughts as well. No lose situation is that game. We win, great, get some funds and see who we draw in round 2. We draw, get a tough replay and the pressure will increase when we head back to their place. We lose and his position has got to be untenable.

I'm more concerned by this weekend though. So we're now missing our best midfielder and most consistent attacker for the foreseeable future. Great. Although, for me, there is now no excuse to not go 4-4-2. Neither Atkinson nor King deserve to start, so just start King because we have to. Get LDV/Saunders upfront with Haber, Wilson and Coco on the wings. But no, it'll be 4-3-3 again. King and Atkinson will be a shambles in midfield again and Haber will be alone and isolated upfront again and we'll likely lose, again.

 

[Crewelad87]

How many blades coming Saturday ? Heard you're only having the side stand due to ticket sales.

 

[blademan89]

How many blades coming Saturday ? Heard you're only having the side stand due to ticket sales.

We wont be filling the side stand that is for sure.

 

[Crewelad87]

We wont be filling the side stand that is for sure.

It only holds 1650????? Quite surprised so few blades will be coming. Usually always at least sell out the side.

 

[blademan89]

It only holds 1650????? Quite surprised so few blades will be coming. Usually always at least sell out the side.

We only just sold out the side last year . To be honest i must of been 7/8 times to crewe and only twice have we had behind the goal. I doubt there will be more than 1500 there on saturday. Il be there i like crewe as an awayday. Very easy trip straight off train , the grounds there and theres plenty of boozers around to choose from. Nothing less than a win is acceptable in this one either given crewes current position.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Injuries to Fox and Inman aren't as bad as first feared. Inman could possibly make the bench on Saturday, Bingham, LDV and Kingsley will all be fit as well.

In normal circumstances, the latter three wouldn't play because Davis has a habit of benching them when they get to full fitness before starting them the week after, however due to the injury crisis we've faced I reckon Bingham will come straight back in. Unsure about Kingsley because Guthrie played well last week but Davis loves dropping Guthrie yet allows Turton to continue doing toss for us.

Team will probably look like this:
Garratt
Turton, Nugent, Ray, Kingsley
Bingham, Jones, King
Wilson, Haber, Colclough

We will not score unless Sheffield United concede a penalty or score an own goal. 3-0 home loss.

 

[SRNP]

First home game I'm not attending without a valid excuse. Just fed up of us now. I feel like I'm being mugged out of money every time I attend. Heard stuff from someone knows someone who works behind the scenes who said there is a lot of negative happenings going on involving the management and the board. Very bad times ahead for Crewe.

As for the game.
Crewe 0 - 1 Sheff utd
Attendance 5162 (1479 Sheff fans)

Sheffield won't believe how easy we are to play against, they'll miss 2 open nets, Garratt will make 1 or 2 world class saves which our happy clappers will forget about. We might have a spell of 15 minutes looking like we can compete in league one but then we'll slip back to the incompetent mess of a team that we see so often.

 

[Football Purist]

Gotta feeling we'll win this and our revival will commence.
And no,I haven't been drinking.

 

[Wootball]

I was tempted to make this the third game of the season I've missed so far (home and away) but I'm out in Nantwich after so thought I'd go along just in case. I'm dreading this, I have no desire whatsoever to watch Crewe anymore.

 

[Crewelad87]

I nearly fell of my chair, looks like we are playing 4-4 fookin 2.

 

[Wootball]

Wonders never cease

 

[blademan89]

Iv left back in cheshire inn. Fucking disgusting performance again

 

[blade1889]

A Bristol City fan was on about leaving at ht, said he should join you in the pub...didnt know tha'd actually left but cant blame you.

 

[blademan89]

A Bristol City fan was on about leaving at ht, said he should join you in the pub...didnt know tha'd actually left but cant blame you. Sounds shit.

It was fucking awful the midfield was absolutely attrocious.

 

[blademan89]

Wow were fucking losing thats me finished wi em

 

[Saddlerrad]

Coupon buster.

 

[blademan89]

Officially retired from sheff utd games

 

[blade1889]

It was fucking awful the midfield was absolutely attrocious.

The Reading fan on here said, "let me guess, tippy tappy football and dodgy defending" sounds abart reight!? Obvs only listened on the radio but we just seemed to go sideways then lose it in midfield.

Cant believe sacking another manager is the way forward but if anything we've gotten worse. Cant believe I'm saying this but I'd actually take Warnock back right now.

 

[The Alex]

Why would you leave at 0-0 at half time? Bizarre.

Finally fucking won.

 

[blademan89]

Why would you leave at 0-0 at half time? Bizarre.

Finally fucking won.

Why wouldnt you?

 

[Wootball]

Jesus, Sheffield United were bad today. We actually deserved to win, which feels bizarre to say.

 

[blademan89]

The Reading fan on here said, "let me guess, tippy tappy football and dodgy defending" sounds abart reight!? Obvs only listened on the radio but we just seemed to go sideways then lose it in midfield.

Cant believe sacking another manager is the way forward but if anything we've gotten worse. Cant believe I'm saying this but I'd actually take Warnock back right now.

You cant just keep changing manager everything at the club is wrong. The board sanctioned too many players for clough who are all garbage yet signed no one this year. The wage bill is obv a problem but either the board need to put more in or were here for even longer thats a fact. Were already 10 games off catching the top 2

 

[The Alex]

Why wouldnt you?

Because half the match is left, it's 0-0 and anything can still happen. It wasn't as if you weren't in with a chance of winning.