Matchday Thread Preston North End v Sheffield United - 17/09/22 - KO:15:00

[Schemer]

Worst part is, that’s legitimately the best we can do

The team that started today is our best available 11 right now, plus all we have as back up. Only Cunningham, Cornell, Bauer, Diaby and Woodburn weren’t involved from our 21 man squad

And that’s the best we could manage. We’ve got 15 more games of this minimum

That's what's concerning. Lowe is either going to have to come up with something from the players he has - maybe bringing in O'Neill - or get the analyst boffins to earn their money and identify a couple of out-of-contract players. An impossible task? Probably, but something needs to be tried or I can see us being in a relegation battle by New Year.

 

[Schemer]

I said 2 months, and I repeat yet again for the 3rd time, that I can see Lowe walking away.

H. O.

I'd be very surprised if he did. Understandably, managers these days tend to wait to be sacked and collect what's due to them.

 

[djwoody]

That's what's concerning. Lowe is either going to have to come up with something from the players he has - maybe bringing in O'Neill - or get the analyst boffins to earn their money and identify a couple of out-of-contract players. An impossible task? Probably, but something needs to be tried or I can see us being in a relegation battle by New Year.

Alternatively, we start taking some of our many chances (more than the top of the league opposition again today) and hit the top 6. It's very frustrating at the moment, but a long way from panic stations.

 

[Schemer]

Alternatively, we start taking some of our many chances (more than the top of the league opposition again today) and hit the top 6. It's very frustrating at the moment, but a long way from panic stations.

I didn't think there were that many glaring misses today but someone like Archer may well have taken at least one of the chances.

The problem is, Riis and Parrott look to be totally devoid of confidence. Parrott only scored 8 in 41 in League 1 last season and Evans and Maguire aren't going to suddenly be transformed into prolific strikers.

There's no point in panicking of course, but if you don't score goals whilst gifting goals at the other end, you're only headed one way.

 

[paolo poggi]

The first mass dissent from the fans, after the 3 substitutions, was the dormant volcano, that seismologists have been closely monitoring for several months, finally blowing it's cone and spewing yellow hot magma skywards. And once a volcano has erupted, the mountain never looks the same again.
No doubt, the fans will be labelled as fickle and spoilt brats, and wrongly so. Wrongly so, because fans have watched closely and with great scrutiny, as contradictory messages and decisions emerge, from the club, regarding selections. Parrott has gone well past the barren point at which all other strikers have been dropped but he is Lowe's pick (we assume, or is there more to it), which appears to be the only reason this player is still in the side.
A certain right 'wing-back' is ever present despite some woeful performances, the like of which has seen most others dropped.
The volcano needs capping very quickly, or there will be more destruction, of what lies in its path, to come, for the volcanic landscape of planet North End.

 

[justinr73]

The way I saw it, Storey made a lame headed clearance, that Lindsay didn't deal with because he was off-balance, Whiteman then had to steer away from Lindsay who was suddenly blocking his way, and had his pocket picked by Ndiaye steaming in, who then had time to take the scenic route around the still-off-balance Lindsay to finish.

The second was all Hughes IMO, from the shocking first touch that sent the ball up in the air and straight to the onrushing Berge, to being brushed easily off the ball as Berge ran into the box to set up the goal.

But whatever.

Preston 0-2 Sheffield United | Championship highlights

Highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End and Sheffield United.

www.skysports.com

Bollocks - that was a crazy pass by Woodman.

 

[djwoody]

I didn't think there were that many glaring misses today but someone like Archer may well have taken at least one of the chances.

The problem is, Riis and Parrott look to be totally devoid of confidence. Parrott only scored 8 in 41 in League 1 last season and Evans and Maguire aren't going to suddenly be transformed into prolific strikers.

There's no point in panicking of course, but if you don't score goals whilst gifting goals at the other end, you're only headed one way.

Yeah, as I said, it's hugely frustrating. Parrott should be on about 5 by now and we'd probably be top 6 if he was. It's all even more frustrating that the home crowd is up about 4k on this time last year and the extras are being given absolutely no reason to keep coming back. If we don't turn a corner, it will be one of the biggest wasted opportunities in decades to boost the long term fanbase.

 

[SF]

We could go down this year, this is abysmal.

 

[Mercersbus]

Sod all this fist pumping shit Lowe, when you've achieved something then maybe go and take the applause, but until then stay quite and humble as its embarrassing😳

" Quiet "

 

[Mercersbus]

Played very well first half and with investment could have been a goal up, 2 mistakes let Sheff Utd in, I'm not going to criticize the players because they are doing their very best.

Substitutions made us weaker.

Taking Alvaro & Riis off was very negative.

Not convinced with Brady or Parrott, Parrot because he's low on confidence and still young, Brady I think will become more of a frustration with our fans, he hangs on to the ball for too long and isn't as good as he thinks he is.

Again I point my anger at the owners, 3 goals in 10 games is an absolute embarrassment.

Lowe isn't free from criticism either due to his comments at the end of the window, I'd have more respect for him and support if he was honest and said we haven't recruited where we needed to.

I've still seen some good things and can't bring myself to criticize the defence despite.the goals we conceded today.

Seriously though how bad is refereeing in this country and the time wasting/kicking the ball away and play acting is just as frustrating as the lack of investment in the playing squad
from the Hemmings family.

It's my opinion that there are more than one of the Hemmings family in charge of OUR club, had there been a single benefactor (CH) to TH fortune i reckon we would be bankrolled to the Premiership,

 

[Mercersbus]

The way I saw it, Storey made a lame headed clearance, that Lindsay didn't deal with because he was off-balance, Whiteman then had to steer away from Lindsay who was suddenly blocking his way, and had his pocket picked by Ndiaye steaming in, who then had time to take the scenic route around the still-off-balance Lindsay to finish.

The second was all Hughes IMO, from the shocking first touch that sent the ball up in the air and straight to the onrushing Berge, to being brushed easily off the ball as Berge ran into the box to set up the goal.

But whatever.

Preston 0-2 Sheffield United | Championship highlights

Highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End and Sheffield United.

www.skysports.com

Quite wrong Whiteman's 100% fault, instead of clearing into row z he tried to play it out, second was 100% goalkeeper fault playing it out to Hughes with a sheff man close by

 

[Muzza]

👜👜

 

[nomorebigideas]

Couple of thoughts (if thoughts are what PNE Online is still about, although I'd take crisp flavours and helicopters at this rate):

Grayson = Great man-manager who, whilst lacking in technical nous, was provided with a very good to excellent squad at L1 Level. Promoted.

Neil = Technical manager with promotion on his CV but questions remain over his ability to man-manage. Asset-stripped squad at Championship level, arguably gave-up over his final 18-12 months with us. Fired.

Frankie = Frankieball. Fired.

Lowe = Seemingly good man-manager who trades on optimism and confidence. Lacks technical ability to change systems based on personnel available. Not backed in consistent transfer windows. TBD.

PR/CH = Normal caveats apply.

Sound about right?

 

[Wisemen say]

The way I saw it, Storey made a lame headed clearance, that Lindsay didn't deal with because he was off-balance, Whiteman then had to steer away from Lindsay who was suddenly blocking his way, and had his pocket picked by Ndiaye steaming in, who then had time to take the scenic route around the still-off-balance Lindsay to finish.

The second was all Hughes IMO, from the shocking first touch that sent the ball up in the air and straight to the onrushing Berge, to being brushed easily off the ball as Berge ran into the box to set up the goal.

But whatever.

Preston 0-2 Sheffield United | Championship highlights

Highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End and Sheffield United.

www.skysports.com

Pretty awful defending on both accounts, up unti the 1st goal we had played reasonably well and been the better side, but we are clueless once we get into the opposition 18 yard box, the lack of goals is already a huge problem.
Second half we huffed and puffed and created nothing,, the RL tripple substitution was more than a little baffling. 🙄🤔
RL needs to find a formation and a way for us to create and score goals and very quickly, a long hard season ahead.

 

[Randall Flagg]

I said 2 months, and I repeat yet again for the 3rd time, that I can see Lowe walking away.

H. O.

Maybe he can go to Leeds

 

[Cadleywhite]

For 40 minutes we played some decent stuff without really testing them. As is always said, you have to score when you are on top and in true North End style we get punished. The squad is so unbalanced it’s untrue. No one to challenge Potts for his place, strikers who are lacking in confidence or just not good enough for this level. The buck stops with the boardroom but as ever the silence is deafening.

 

[Mer5eywhite]

Whiteman turned into trouble after an iffy header from Storey.

Hughes was placed in trouble by a poor choice of pass from Woodman.

On a separate note, Brady takes too long on the ball, constantly slowing the game down and allowing the opposition time to get their shape back and locate their man.

Delivers every ball as if it’s a free kick.

 

[jonboy]

Bollocks - that was a crazy pass by Woodman.

Agree. A ridiculous ball from Woodman. He then gets a chance to redeem himself, but goes with his feet instead of his hands to make the save. He also cost us 3 points against Birmingham by misjudging a cross, giving their player a simple header in the 6 yards box. Given his lack of presence on crosses, I'm beginning to wonder if spending all our budget on him was the right decision. We could've loaned a decent keeper and used the money on wages for a better striker. Having said that goalkeeper is the least of our problems at the moment.

 

[Grand Tour]

Agree. A ridiculous ball from Woodman. He then gets a chance to redeem himself, but goes with his feet instead of his hands to make the save. He also cost us 3 points against Birmingham by misjudging a cross, giving their player a simple header in the 6 yards box. Given his lack of presence on crosses, I'm beginning to wonder if spending all our budget on him was the right decision. We could've loaned a decent keeper and used the money on wages for a better striker. Having said that goalkeeper is the least of our problems at the moment.

Listen, no offence meant to you, but nobody is perfect, but for the love of god, can we not start to get on the back of Woodman. He has been a great aquisition by the club, and let's face it, we haven't had many great aquisitions made over the last 10 - 15 years in all honesty. 🕊️

 

[beagleman]

Waited till today for my tuppence worth...
We were by far the better team for about 35 mins in first half, no question, fluffed chance after chance, shot over the bar... Usual shite. Once they scored that completely changed the dynamic, heads went down and no recovery.
Surprisingly I was not as annoyed as the vast majority around me in the IP. At my age I've seen it all before and it came as no real surprise. Riis is desperately short on confidence and looks fed up, Parrot is a good runner but his finishing is woeful... The less said about our other strike options the better. We just have a very average team who are lacking guidance or clarity as to tactics... And as a result we get it to the oppositions box then faff about and it goes wrong.... Again. Can't blame Lowe for everything.. I think he has been let down badly by the charlatans in charge of the clubs finances. Disappointed but not surprised.