Olly writes his latest for Vital Football following Saturday’s victory at home over QPR.
We’ve had a mixed bag since Christmas so far in this half of the season. We’ve had some decent wins against Blackburn, Wigan, and now QPR to put us into the second spot of the Championship table.
I know it was a disappointing effort and result at home to Barnet in the FA Cup, but to be fair, CW changed ten of the first team in order to give the fringe players a run-out. Perhaps we should have stuck with the same starting line-up we are used to, but I know that the Championship is a very demanding league and I suppose resting some of the first team regulars will have been on the forefront of Chris’s mind.
A few other teams slipped up to lower league opposition anyway for that round of the Cup, so personally, I’m not that bothered that we’re out as I would much prefer us back where we belong, in the Premier League.
Swansea away is the next game at the weekend. Swansea are sat in mid-table obscurity at the moment and aren’t performing that well. They have a run of two draws and two wins under their belts for their last four games, however, their two wins have come away from home against Reading and Villa. They’ve drawn against lower teams such as Wigan and Preston, but as we always find out it’s sometimes harder playing against foot of the table teams as they are battling for survival and can make life difficult. I’m hoping for a win against them though, we could do with keeping getting the maximum points from our games to keep the pressure on Leeds on the top spot, as well as keeping us out of reach of the clubs below us, especially Norwich, who are level on points.
We’ve got Norwich away a week on Saturday and I think that will be a defining moment if we can beat them at their place. That will open our lead up a bit more and give us that space in order to hang onto our position, even though they have slowed down over their last few games, with a loss and two draws, including a loss at home to Portsmouth in the Cup.
I read about Washing Machine joining us over the last week or so and I was a bit surprised about him coming to BDTBL. I’m not sure what kind of reception he’ll get from the fans, but I have a raised eyebrow following what he was video’d doing in regards to having a go at Billy Sharp when Madine was with Bolton the other season. Obviously there will be reasons behind his signing and Wilder must hold him in high regard, as well as being impressed with his style of play. My biggest praise has to go to Billy Sharp though, he’s a brilliant ambassador for us and for him to bury the hatchet and sanction Madine’s arrival just shows how much of a man he is in putting everything behind him.
Anyway, I’m still away so am having to catch the games/goals on telly or Twitter. Hopefully I’ll get home soon and be able to get my bum crack back on my seat on the Kop before the end of the season!
UTB!!
Olly
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Olly Longden (RFA)
Sheffield United MOD/Armed Forces Supporters Branch
Tweet: @oliverlongden4