For NP, based in Sheffield and with his SWFC associations, he will not be short of motivation to blunt the high-flying Blades on Boxing Day. It's exactly 30 years since we had to travel "Up North" on Boxing Day - (a 1-0 win at Barnsley). Shame we will not sell out.
Why did I think this was an 8.15 kick off and arrange all Boxing Day socialness around that, only to find it's 3pm. FFS.
Have you been under milk stout Sahorn?! Tony Currie once played tennis at Radlett LT&SC. He was quite good in an idle way.
You can't beat cheesecake and cream as a dessert. I don't care where you travel to on this planet, strawberry cheesecake (or ASK honeycombe cheesecake) drowned in single cream can't be surpassed.
It's amazing what a win does for confidence as all of a sudden there are a load of predictions about us beating the team currently one place of a Champions League place! Hopefully, as the home side, the pressure will be more on them to win and they will attack us which suits us more with the pace we have. Doucs suspended so presumably Quina comes in and hopefully he will grab this opportunity with both hands and stake a place for a regular start. With three games in a week and two in three days I wonder if Pearson might make a couple of other changes especially as I see Villa as the bigger game of the two. We simply have to beat Villa but a point at Sheff Utd would not be too bad but with confidence surely high, maybe nick a win? 1-1
We all know that Sheff U are not a Champions League level team, despite their superb form so far. They are certainly beatable. On the replacement for Doucoure I too would like to see Quina but it doesn’t look like he is next in line, so I’m assuming it will be either Chalobah or Pereyra.
Will be a tough game, however we are all aware that they are punching well above their station and are very much beatable. At the Vic we could have won 3-0 and that was when we were playing atrocious. I think tactically we should play a low block and hit them on the counter attack, pace seems to cause them problems and is something we have in abundance, they also struggled to get anywhere near our goal at Vicarage Road and didn't register a shot on target all game, so if we are nice and compact and can counter attack well we have a fantasic chance of getting three points. Personally I would like to see Pereyra in for Doucoure. Doucoure has got himself into some great positions in the last few games but his finishing has let him down at the vital moment, I would be far more confident in Maxi taking chances.
I was under the Xmas tree wood after celebrating with too many beers and a good bottle of shiraz IBB, but well spotted. And we owe Sheff Utd one after they stole Tony Currie from us for a paltry £30,000. One of the finest players I've ever had the privilege to see in a Watford shirt.
Going to this one. Sheffield is only an hour away from me so it's worked out pretty well, shame theirs no trains running though. As for the game itself, I'm expecting us to make a few changes. Masina & Chalobah to come in for Kiko & Doucs. We may even see the likes of Pereyra, Success & Quina. It's another huge game, but we also need to keep some players fresh for Villa on Sat. We're massively over priced for this one. Sheff Utd were 4/6 last night but that's been cut to 4/5 already. I think we're about 3/1 with most bookies. Going for a solid 2-1 away victory. Have a great Christmas Everyone.
Most people were upbeat after we beat Norwich, but look what happened after that. We regressed. But, that was under he negative Nancy. This is, in some respects, a tougher game than Utd was. They are playing better than most people and they could of scored three at Brighton. They have good attackers - much sharper in front of goal than we do. I don't want to sound overly negative after quite a positive first post, but we will need to be alert for this one. Unbeaten away, but I think we caught them on a bad day at the Vic I feel. We are more than capable of getting something, and I hope we do.
Fingers crossed with Doucoure out, Hughes isn't pushed further up the pitch. The worry is with Chalobah replacing Doucoure then it would be Hughes playing higher up. He's been a revelation in his deeper role and has been a key reason for improvement over the last couple of games. Keep him deep and play Quina (or Pereyra if he can promise he will have one of his 3 good games a season - unlikely as it will probably be cold)
Simple for me, has to be Quina in that advanced central role to replace Doucoure. At least Quina will drop in and be aggressive when we don’t have the ball. A shame Cleverley is still out because he will be great in that role.
After paying a shilling to get in and tuppence for your tram rides, you'll probably have enough left for a packet of Woodbines to celebrate our victory!
I actually hope Pereyra comes in for Doucoure in the advanced midfield role; having Chalobah on is still like playing with 10 men.
The Blades have had a much better season so far away from home than at Bramall Lane and we really should have beaten them at the Vic. and done for their 'not lost away yet' tag. Ergo, we can beat them at their place too particularly given the new 'Pearson effect'. Meanwhile, him of tender years from the neotropics starts to wind up his considerable act in training over the festive season. The 'Orns ain't getting relegated. Blades 0 'Orns 2.
