Millwall 2 United 1 - report

[Deadbat]

Sorry for late report….got in midnight-ish and too tired to write last night. Day of excess on the booze did not help either but you need it these days to watch United!

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The Blades fell to rock bottom of League One after yet another defeat; their third from four games so far this season; at the New Den. United were undone by a late penalty when Jack O’Connell inexplicably decided he wanted to play volleyball giving Millwall the late winner. It was a poor game in which neither side impressed but the home side shaded the chances and probably did enough to deserve the win. United barely created an opportunity all game for the fourth league game running and even though new keeper Simon Moore impressed gave away two poor goals once again.


Manager Wilder made several changes from the side that lot to Southend with Scougall coming in for Done, Coutts for Fleck, Freeman for Brayford and of course Moore for Long. Aaron Ramsdale was preferred on the bench to Long.


Millwall themselves well beaten in the week had the dangerous front pairing of Steve Morison and Lee Gregory.


The game began with limited possession for either side with Gregory off target for Millwall and then Scougall firing well over. Clarke nearly got on a Duffy cross before Freeman had to be alert to deny Worrall at the back post. The game has been scrappy though although United will just be pleased to get to the quarter of hour mark without conceding after being three down at that stage the previous game.


However, they failed to do this after conceding a corner with hesitant play from Hussey originally leading to this. The kick came over and Basham’s clearing header lacked power and nobody closed down WILLIAMS who beat Hussey easily aand hit a low shot into the corner giving debutant Moore no chance. Almost his first touch in a United shirt was picking the ball out of his net. United came back though and it was not long before they were level but were indebted to some terrible keeping from Archer in the Lions goal. SCOUGALL hit a low shot that seemed to be comfortable for the keeper but somehow with a defender just in front he made a horrible hash of it and allowed the ball to squirm through him and into the net.


Buoyed by this United had a decent spell of play for a period but did not really go anywhere although Coutts and Duffy were involved in getting on the ball. Morison then had a decent headed chance for Millwall but was off target before Moore did well taking a high ball to cheers from the United fans behind the goal. The half petered out with no more chances. The Blades maybe shaded possession but Millwall maybe had the slightly better chances.


The second half saw Millwall come out with a renewed sense of belief and seemed to play5-10 yards higher up the pitch and at a greater tempo. They forced United back and won a few early corners. Morsion curled wide when well placed and then Gregory had a superb chance to score when played through and the defence opted to try and play offside again. The striker though was denied in his one on one with an excellent save from Moore.


Duffy had a long range effort off target but Gregory then had two chances poking wide and then being blocked by Wilson. The former went agonisingly past the post.


Done came on for Sharp and went up top. United were struggling to create any chances of note and were now probably wanting just to ensure they took a point. Millwall then created another chance when poor defending let in Gregory but Moore saved. O’Connell then made a mistake but recovered to get back and tackle but disaster struck soon after as the game entered the final minute. A high cross came over and inexplicably O’Connell leapt high with his hand up and punched the ball away.


MORISON took the kick and sent Moore the wrong way sending the home side into raptures.


There was an additional five minutes of play but despite McNulty coming on, United did not muster a chance of any note and the home side saw out time all too easily. The only discussion point was then a ball boy and fan in the crowd contrived to lose a ball to delay a throw in at the end so we had to get a replacement ball. It mattered little. The full time whistle confirmed that United had fallen to the bottom of the league and their lowest position since David Weir was in charge three seasons ago.



United – It was better than Tuesday! That is the positive. No, seriously we looked a bit more solid and had some more of the ball. We did not fall apart and only lost to a late goal. The keeper did well and Coutts and Freeman were decent if not brilliant. However, there are so many questions. I expected a really good Millwall side to tear into us and cause us all sorts of problems. That did not happen which is good but they were a side that I felt we could have beaten and had a go at. We did not and for another game barely had an effort. Outside of the goal we did not have another shot on goal. As for the team, the defence made some awful mistakes and they could have scored a lot more. In midfield we did well for bits of the first half but then second half lost this area. Up top Sharp and Clarke may aswell have been sat in the upper tier of the away end the amount they did. They barely kicked the ball. They had no service and yes maybe tactics not helping but at least put some effort in guys.


The pattern of play remains muddy. Nobody seems to know what he wants. We went long sometimes today and then at times played it neat and tidy but did not penetrate. As the game went on we got very tired and yet again we saw another side fitter but it helps every team has quicker and more athletic players.


We have not even seen the high pressing and pressure play from that first 20 minutes at Bolton. Today we sat off for long spells but they were as ponderous as us on the ball. I felt they were no great shakes and we could have gone and tried to win the game but opted to try and play for the draw, sat deeper and deeper and got what we deserved, nothing. Only Bolton can we say we have deserved anything from the games we have lost.


He now has 2 players back in the fold in Freeman and Coutts who were two of our better performers. These are on the transfer list. With Brayford going also, Freeman surely will remain at right back. I think Brayford will not play for the club again as even though he has another year left on his contract I think we will move him on. As with Hammond I am not sure we will get a club to take him (luckily we have Clough stupid enough to do that maybe) on his wages he is and we may have to pay him off or be paying a split of his wages for the remainder of his contract. So in affect we could still be paying him in next season even though he may have left us!


Seems Long has had a fall out with him after being dropped (could be wrong but why was he not on the bench?). Long signed a reduced contract in the summer and it seemed Wilder rated him or would have brought a keeper in. Now he is out of the team and probably regrets that decision although not sure there was clubs queueing up to sign him then or now! So not sure what he does. By the sounds of it though he may be moving on. I expect Long to be playing non-league football in a few years. He is not good enough sadly and has had chance after chance under 4 managers now. Wilder must massively regret not bringing in another keeper in the summer.



It will be interesting to see what happens if we do lose another couple. I cannot see anything but more poor results. We may nick a point next week but do not see where next chance is coming from, let along goal or win. It is weird as we of course cannot sack another manager and to be even be talking about this is nonsensical really but no team in the 92 would start a season say losing 6 of 7 (say we lost next two) and retain the manager so we would have to buck the trend. It has been an abysmal start in performances and play and so far, this season we have looked worse than we have under Adkins, Wilson and Clough. Only Weir did we look as incompetent in terms of not looking like scoring and keeping the ball out at the other end. Sad to say it but Wilder is looking like another Micky Adams at this stage. This is the highest he has ever managed and looks out of his depth in terms of what he has overseen so far in terms of signings, style and results. I don’t have a clue what he is trying to do in terms of how he wants us to play – it seems loosely to be a Bassett type style but our wingers don’t get wide, out strikers cannot run (so immobile) and we don’t have any nasty b******s in the middle of the field to break up play. For me all this talk over what players we need etc that is the most important. A leader, a central midfielders, a Savage, Booker, even Doyle type who will come in and kick a few, rally the troops and lead us. Basham and Coutts are such a soft touch in that area. A weak a midfield as you could ever wish to see and with two mini men out wide, how imposing must we look! Add in 3 defenders who look what they are, poor lower league players then you have a side that is looking for a leader and someone to inspire. At the moment, we look a side that is not even up for a fight. God help us if we are in a relegation scrap come May as this lot will make that Adams side that went down seem like Revie’s Leeds!


It is a mess at the moment and I do not see way out. We have a big quandary in that most of his signings seem poor but do we give him more funds to sign even more. Before we know it we could be in a situation like Clough with another 10-12 players on 2-3 year contracts with many not good enough and back in the same cycle as before. If god forbid we did have to make another managerial change then what? Do they have to wait another 2-3 years before they are out of contract?


I really do not see where we go from here. We have to maybe let him get another couple in and hope somehow internally he can sort it out and get us going. We don’t have any choice really. As I have said we cannot sack another manager and so have to just hope we don’t go down (promotion can already be forgotten about – not on the table necessarily – look at Barnsley but on the personnel we have – they had young, hungry players) and he can start to gradually improve things. Just hope it does not become a Weir/Adams where even he cannot motivate himself to keep going – his interview post game after the game saw first cracks of him not knowing what to do next – he spoke about needing the crowd and how we will be drilling them again in training but not sure they are getting what he wants? He sounds affected by it all at the end and made me think of some of Weir/Adams interviews stuttering through and the chest bumping and all the talk early season seems a long time ago. As Roy alluded to in his views from; even a Millwall fan picked up on it saying he ‘looked ill and sounded dreadful. Think the job is too big for him, don’t think he will be there long.’ If he cannot get through to them or they not listening or understanding or are they just not good enough. Maybe it is both. Whatever it is, he is making a right mess of things so far and sadly the buck stops with the manager. What price on Neil Warnock being our manager at Xmas? I am being serious.



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Millwall – I expected more from them especially on the back of a heavy defeat and first half they were not great at all and we were well in a poor game. However, they still had a few half chances and then second half they created several good chances. They did not tear us apart and it was poor play from us that led to opportunities. They will say they did just about enough to win the game on chances but overall a game they will just be happy with the win. I am sure they will play a lot better. Still I had them down as Champions at the start of the season and with the players they have and an excellent young manager in Neil Harris, think they will be around the top places. They look a side going in completely the opposite direction too us.


Opponent man of the match: Thought the two centre backs coped well with us all game, Craig and Webster. The latter coped with Clarke and Sharp easily and looked a good player. I felt in midfield they did not look as impressive as they have done when I saw them last season and the ball was bouncing off players all over the field. The two lads up top are a threat of course and got in good positions but their finishing was wayward today. Gregory and Morison especially. Still these two have mobility, power and height. They move off the ball. It was night and day watching them to Sharp and Clarke. Ironically if Sharp had been in same situations as the front two he may have scored a hat trick but does not have pace to get to areas like he did.



Opponent Weak link: Archer. Had one shot to save all game and fumbled it into his own net. Had nothing else to do! I felt the midfield lads were not as impressive as they have been when I have seen Millwall before. United did have more of the ball than they have done. The strikers caused problems but Gregory’s finishing was really poor. On another day he would have had a hat trick.

 

[Deadbat]

SUFC Player Ratings –


Moore 8/10 – Very good and our man of the match. He made two superb point blank saves to deny Morison and Gregory. His handling was good and he seemed to want to organise the defence and was quite vocal. No chance on either goal. His kicking sadly was not great. He kicked one out and quite a few others barely made half way. Seems to be an aspect of his game he struggles with. Much improved on Long on that showing though.


Freeman 7/10 – Thought he had a steady-ish game and looked more committed in his play than Brayford. He defended ok and made a few tackles/interceptions but at times he got done on 2 on 1’s as Scougall started wandering around to the centre and also him and Duffy switched a few times. He had a chance to bed down a place now but it is odd that Wilder does not think he is good enough but is now playing him and we have no other right backs in the squad so unless we sign someone he will play.


Hussey 5/10 – Again showed really questions marks over his defensive play. Too many times caught ball watching and a few crosses came over he did not react. For the goal it was woeful as the lad just walked around him on the edge of the box. On the ball he is very sloppy with his passing and general touch. He can whip a decent cross in and got a few over today but overall he is not good enough. When Bury fans are not bothered about losing a player and they finished near the bottom then it is a concern! I think if he can bring Freeman back then he needs to do the same with Wallace as he deserves a crack at it with Hussey so poor. One that needs taking out of the team.


Wilson 6/10 – Better than O’Connell and Hussey but not by much. Thought he was hesitant at times and seems a little unsure when on the ball. He knocks it long a lot. Defensively he won a few things but does not impose and is often not too tight on his man, evidenced by the chances they created. I am not sure long term he is good enough from what I have seen. Reminds me a bit of Edgar but maybe a poor mans Edgar who was better on the ball. Wilson does not really impose himself on the strikers and equally does not come out with the ball. He seems quite mobile but that is only real positive I can say so far and like with Hussey you can see why he was playing for such a poor team last year. Signing players like them and starting them, suggests you are not really serious about going for promotion.


O’Connell 4/10- He made two mistakes on Tuesday that cost us goals (first one may have been own goal but a wild slice and then on the third) and cost us again today. No idea what he was doing when he handled it. He claimed a push but there is very little contact and why he would have his hand up there even if pushed I am not sure. It was ridiculous and reminiscent of the McEveley one from last season at Shrewsbury. In general play he seems better than Wilson and not bad on the ball and quite strong. He might be a 7/10 in most games and seems decent but as a defender you cannot toss goals away like he does. He does some things that make you think he is a player but he is making big mistakes. Even before the penalty he made another one that nearly let Gregory in and indeed the big striker got away from him several times. He could have had 3 or 4 goals really. We needed two centre backs in the summer and on what I have seen we still need two centre backs. Sadly there is holes all over the rest of the side so people will focus on those areas probably but make no mistake we are no better here than we were last season.


Basham 6/10 – See comments from last game and one before that. He might have been a bit better than the other games in that I noticed him a few times but in terms of impact on the game is was minimal again. He got his foot in a bit and won a few bits but when on the ball he is completely clueless. Has no idea what to do and where to go. He just sort of stutters and then normally plays another slow, square ball. Seems unable to pass in front or unwilling to do that. On the goal his header away was so weak. He then berated someone else Wilson for not closing down which may be valid but his header was ineffective. A poor player and one I am not sure you want in the fulcrum of your team if you are in a struggle.



Duffy 6.5/10 – Thought he did better than he has done and at least got on the ball. He at least tried to have some efforts towards goal but the 2 shots he had were hopeless (high and wide). I felt he came inside a lot but wanted to try and make a difference but sometimes he got crowded out. Looks a player there if we can get him on the ball I feel.


Coutts 7/10 – Might have been our best outfield player really. He at least tried to get the ball and move it about and one of few who tried to find a shirt and switch play and get us moving up the field. He linked well with Duffy a few times and his range of passing was both short and long. He faded after the break and I felt we lost midfield and became a bit tired and ragged.


Scougall 6/10 – He scored a goal and at least had a shot even if it was a bad error from the keeper but he too did not really contribute too much. He ran around a lot and flitted in and out of the play but it was a bit hot potato when he had it. I wanted to see him get it and run at players but that did not really happen. Like Duffy was played wide but came inside a lot. Taken off. Not sure where he plays long term as not sure he is good enough but sadly even a mediocre performance like today may see him remain in the side as the squad is so bereft of options.


Clarke 4/10 – Really poor today. I have defended him a lot this season when some have been so critical of him and focused our poor play on him when he has worked hard and won quite a few headers. Today he was hopeless. Won no headers hardly, nothing stuck to him and looked slow and languid. Up front we had nothing today and for an experienced pairing they have to start improving. Neither looked interested today against two imposing centre backs and both completely lost their battles. They are not getting any service but I expect to work hard and fight. Today they did not.


Sharp 4/10 – As above. I cannot recall him barely touching the ball. He did not link with Clarke and did not get on the ball. Was taken off and could not grumble. At least Clarke may win the odd header (he didn’t) but Sharp may aswell have been sat with us in the away end. Whether it is the style of play, tactics or the fact he just has not got going, Sharp has had a really poor start to the season. I think we can analyse tactics/lack of service to death but as above, I still feel he has to harry defenders and chase. He did not even do that today.


Subs


Done – Came on for Sharp and at least ran about even if the quality was lacking. He one run and shot I recall but hard for him as the play was so fragmented and we did not have anything wide or holding it up. I would play him up top for a few games just for his nuisance factor. It may rub off on others in terms of work rate.

Chapman – As with other games he never really got into the game when he came on but 8 minutes is not really long enough and needs a start.


McNulty -Would have brought him and Done on for Sharp and Clarke at hour mark. He was given a minute after they scored. Waste of time. I was all for persevering with Sharp and Clarke in the week and felt issues were behind them two and still do to some extent but the lack of effort and even ability to hold the ball was criminal today. To the extent I would go with McNulty and Done next week. Make Sharp and Clarke accountable for not performing. We are bottom of the league and not scoring or even looking like scoring. It is not down to the strikers in many ways but we may have to try something else.



Manager – Wilder 2/10 – Another defeat and despite some improvements from Tuesday it was a deserved defeat. There was only one side creating chances all game and only one side looking to go and win it. I cannot agree with his comments post game about us controlling elements of the game and that we even shaded the first half. We had a few spells with the ball but went nowhere with it and had no efforts. It was quite even really but they had more chances and then second half even though they did not dominate they had 4 or 5 clear chances. We had none. We have created in all seriousness outside of the 2 goals no more than a handful of chances and I think we have failed to have a shot on target (outside of the goals) in almost every game. I cannot recall a save of note from any keeper so far this season (Howard push over from Done header which was routine). Imagine that – a keeper has not had a save to make in 5 games!


It has been unacceptable so far the performance and the results. He needs to improve and fast in all aspects. As disappointing as it was under Adkins, we won games and had some decent performances early on in the season, ultimately we were shocking and he deserved to go but we look even worse now. We have signed some really poor players on evidence so far and look a side that will be near the bottom and one where you cannot see where next point is from.


As others have said years of cost cutting, selling our best players, choosing poor managers who cannot handle the pressure has caught up with us and now we are looking at best a mid table League One club. Sad but I think we are a long, long way off ever even being at that level in the Championship with the way money has gone (look at what teams like Villa and Newcastle are spending). Ideally we need McCabe to find new investors and new hope but I fear the rot is well in place and failing a Newcastle/Keegan type resurgence where some nutter comes in and spends an absolute fortune and buys us a team packed with quality and appoints a strong, experienced manager who can handle the pressure then things could get a lot worse before they get better.



Ref – Fine really. He booked one O’Connell for the ludicrous hand ball. The rest of the game I can barely recall a bad tackle of note. He penalised them for stealing yards on a throw but I felt let the game flow for the most part really. The penalty was easy really and such an east decision.


Crowd / Day Out – First visit to the New Den. Ground is lacking in character and is very box like in structure. View was decent from the away end although why they gave you seats when it seemed to be all unreserved and you could just sit anywhere? We had seats with numbers in a bit that was blocked off so ended up sitting right behind the goal in a decent view in the end!


As for the raucous atmosphere and intimidating Millwall fans? Well I did not hear/see it. You get the odd roar now and again, the so called famous Millwall roar but it was like a few seconds then that was it. When they scored a few chavs ran across the stands and stewards chased after them for some reason (it was not like they could get to us!) either side but that was it. It was hardly scary stuff! One fan got arrested for nicking the ball when he would not return it and tried to take it out of the ground! That was about as racy as it got!


The ground was half empty with a really poor 9,000 inside and there were gaps all over the ground. The fans are quite spread out too and don’t seem to congregate in any one area. Behind the goal was a bit more populated but not by much. You can gaze at the trains snaking round the ground during lulls in play as they come very close to the back of the stands.


The play Let Em Come (Roy Green song) when they score and I oddly quite like that! It is awful and cheesy but embodies Millwall both the location (‘Sarf London) and their history.


United fans were quite most of the game. I think the malaise and general feeling of discontent has even hit the loyal fans. I did not see many of the younger, chav element today (maybe they did not fancy mixing it with the Millwall lot) and there were only around 800 Blades who travelled. A few chants were bellowed out but overall the atmosphere in the ground for both fans was flat.


They did not keep us in at the end which was good and we were away and on a train by 5.10pm – just missed one before. The Millwall fans were mixed with us on that too but there was no trouble at all that I saw and indeed we chatted to some on the way back to Tower Bridge.



As for the rest of the day, well as always and it sounds like a broken record but it was great. The match as always almost spoiled it.


We got into London at 8.30am ish and opted to go down to Greenwich and had our Wetherspoon’s breakfast in the Gate I think it was by Greenwich station by 9.15am! Had a beer here and we stayed here until the rain blew over. We then opted to walk off our breakfast by going up to the Greenwich observatory for some great view of London. The weather changed for the better and we had a lovely few pints by the Greenwich Tavern sat by the open window watching the tourists go by. We then went to the Plume of Feathers and sat in the beer garden not far from Greenwich Park. We had a further beer in the Trafalgar Arms which is right on the Thames not far from the Cutty Sark. We then grabbed a cab around 2ish rather than messing with trains and only cost us £7 using Uber to get to the ground and were dropped right by the away end.


After the game we got the train to London Bridge; had a swift pint in the Horseshoe Inn (the location for the fictitious Railway Arms pub at the end of the brilliant Ashes to Ashes TV series where the characters went to hell after being in purgatory – there is a Blades joke in there somewhere). We then went to Brick Lane and had a curry after bartering for free drinks before walking up to Shoreditch and having a drink at the Queen of Hoxton – delightful rooftop terrace here but not as good in the rain!). Everyone in here seemed much younger than us and it actually seemed half bar/half club and we were not really in the dancing mood so set off back to St Pancras from Liverpool Street. We got a few beers for the train and then got back into Sheffield around 23.15pm with chants of ‘We’re shit and we know we are’ and ‘United, United bottom of the league’ echoing around Sheffield station.


Sadly or maybe thankfully for me that is me done for away games for a while. That is not down to the results or me getting the mug on but just always planned to go to these two early in the season for trips to Manchester and London and then not bother for a while due to money/family etc. Would have considered Wimbledon but doubt I will get a ticket for that. So just be home matches from now on for a bit. Admire those who keep going away as well as home but as I said to my mate whilst the match gives the day focus, we would have been as well staying in the beer gardens we were in and not bothered with the match! Mind you if we went down I may start going again away as long as I could get some tickets as there are some new grounds to go to!

 

[DronnieBlade]

As ever, great in depth report DB.

UTB

 

[1973Blade]

Have any of the opposing goalkeepers in the league games made a save yet?

 

[Kev Gee]

Thanks for this DB!!

 

[robbiez666]

Have any of the opposing goalkeepers in the league games made a save yet?

Howard saved a Done header on the first day of the season, but apart from that, I don't think so.

 

[Dkc]

Cheers for the report as always Deadbat. I always respect your views, so you writing this...

promotion can already be forgotten about .

....after just four league games seems quite ominous.

I still think that we could do well this season, maybe get a couple more in now, pick up some results, then two more in the JTW. The first win, when it comes, will be a massive confidence-booster. Let's hope it comes on Saturday.

League positions don't matter at this stage. Pick up a couple of wins and we could be challenging for a play off position.

PS if anyone has a spare Wimbledon ticket, offer it to Deadbat so we'll get a decent report

 

[Come from away]

Glad to know we have a GK, but with a young back four they will make mistakes, we need Fleck back with a real partner - despite your positives not sure Coutts is the answer.

 

[silver blade]

SUFC Player Ratings –


Moore 8/10 – Very good and our man of the match. He made two superb point blank saves to deny Morison and Gregory. His handling was good and he seemed to want to organise the defence and was quite vocal. No chance on either goal. His kicking sadly was not great. He kicked one out and quite a few others barely made half way. Seems to be an aspect of his game he struggles with. Much improved on Long on that showing though.


Freeman 7/10 – Thought he had a steady-ish game and looked more committed in his play than Brayford. He defended ok and made a few tackles/interceptions but at times he got done on 2 on 1’s as Scougall started wandering around to the centre and also him and Duffy switched a few times. He had a chance to bed down a place now but it is odd that Wilder does not think he is good enough but is now playing him and we have no other right backs in the squad so unless we sign someone he will play.


Hussey 5/10 – Again showed really questions marks over his defensive play. Too many times caught ball watching and a few crosses came over he did not react. For the goal it was woeful as the lad just walked around him on the edge of the box. On the ball he is very sloppy with his passing and general touch. He can whip a decent cross in and got a few over today but overall he is not good enough. When Bury fans are not bothered about losing a player and they finished near the bottom then it is a concern! I think if he can bring Freeman back then he needs to do the same with Wallace as he deserves a crack at it with Hussey so poor. One that needs taking out of the team.


Wilson 6/10 – Better than O’Connell and Hussey but not by much. Thought he was hesitant at times and seems a little unsure when on the ball. He knocks it long a lot. Defensively he won a few things but does not impose and is often not too tight on his man, evidenced by the chances they created. I am not sure long term he is good enough from what I have seen. Reminds me a bit of Edgar but maybe a poor mans Edgar who was better on the ball. Wilson does not really impose himself on the strikers and equally does not come out with the ball. He seems quite mobile but that is only real positive I can say so far and like with Hussey you can see why he was playing for such a poor team last year. Signing players like them and starting them, suggests you are not really serious about going for promotion.


O’Connell 4/10- He made two mistakes on Tuesday that cost us goals (first one may have been own goal but a wild slice and then on the third) and cost us again today. No idea what he was doing when he handled it. He claimed a push but there is very little contact and why he would have his hand up there even if pushed I am not sure. It was ridiculous and reminiscent of the McEveley one from last season at Shrewsbury. In general play he seems better than Wilson and not bad on the ball and quite strong. He might be a 7/10 in most games and seems decent but as a defender you cannot toss goals away like he does. He does some things that make you think he is a player but he is making big mistakes. Even before the penalty he made another one that nearly let Gregory in and indeed the big striker got away from him several times. He could have had 3 or 4 goals really. We needed two centre backs in the summer and on what I have seen we still need two centre backs. Sadly there is holes all over the rest of the side so people will focus on those areas probably but make no mistake we are no better here than we were last season.


Basham 6/10 – See comments from last game and one before that. He might have been a bit better than the other games in that I noticed him a few times but in terms of impact on the game is was minimal again. He got his foot in a bit and won a few bits but when on the ball he is completely clueless. Has no idea what to do and where to go. He just sort of stutters and then normally plays another slow, square ball. Seems unable to pass in front or unwilling to do that. On the goal his header away was so weak. He then berated someone else Wilson for not closing down which may be valid but his header was ineffective. A poor player and one I am not sure you want in the fulcrum of your team if you are in a struggle.



Duffy 6.5/10 – Thought he did better than he has done and at least got on the ball. He at least tried to have some efforts towards goal but the 2 shots he had were hopeless (high and wide). I felt he came inside a lot but wanted to try and make a difference but sometimes he got crowded out. Looks a player there if we can get him on the ball I feel.


Coutts 7/10 – Might have been our best outfield player really. He at least tried to get the ball and move it about and one of few who tried to find a shirt and switch play and get us moving up the field. He linked well with Duffy a few times and his range of passing was both short and long. He faded after the break and I felt we lost midfield and became a bit tired and ragged.


Scougall 6/10 – He scored a goal and at least had a shot even if it was a bad error from the keeper but he too did not really contribute too much. He ran around a lot and flitted in and out of the play but it was a bit hot potato when he had it. I wanted to see him get it and run at players but that did not really happen. Like Duffy was played wide but came inside a lot. Taken off. Not sure where he plays long term as not sure he is good enough but sadly even a mediocre performance like today may see him remain in the side as the squad is so bereft of options.


Clarke 4/10 – Really poor today. I have defended him a lot this season when some have been so critical of him and focused our poor play on him when he has worked hard and won quite a few headers. Today he was hopeless. Won no headers hardly, nothing stuck to him and looked slow and languid. Up front we had nothing today and for an experienced pairing they have to start improving. Neither looked interested today against two imposing centre backs and both completely lost their battles. They are not getting any service but I expect to work hard and fight. Today they did not.


Sharp 4/10 – As above. I cannot recall him barely touching the ball. He did not link with Clarke and did not get on the ball. Was taken off and could not grumble. At least Clarke may win the odd header (he didn’t) but Sharp may aswell have been sat with us in the away end. Whether it is the style of play, tactics or the fact he just has not got going, Sharp has had a really poor start to the season. I think we can analyse tactics/lack of service to death but as above, I still feel he has to harry defenders and chase. He did not even do that today.


Subs


Done – Came on for Sharp and at least ran about even if the quality was lacking. He one run and shot I recall but hard for him as the play was so fragmented and we did not have anything wide or holding it up. I would play him up top for a few games just for his nuisance factor. It may rub off on others in terms of work rate.

Chapman – As with other games he never really got into the game when he came on but 8 minutes is not really long enough and needs a start.


McNulty -Would have brought him and Done on for Sharp and Clarke at hour mark. He was given a minute after they scored. Waste of time. I was all for persevering with Sharp and Clarke in the week and felt issues were behind them two and still do to some extent but the lack of effort and even ability to hold the ball was criminal today. To the extent I would go with McNulty and Done next week. Make Sharp and Clarke accountable for not performing. We are bottom of the league and not scoring or even looking like scoring. It is not down to the strikers in many ways but we may have to try something else.



Manager – Wilder 2/10 – Another defeat and despite some improvements from Tuesday it was a deserved defeat. There was only one side creating chances all game and only one side looking to go and win it. I cannot agree with his comments post game about us controlling elements of the game and that we even shaded the first half. We had a few spells with the ball but went nowhere with it and had no efforts. It was quite even really but they had more chances and then second half even though they did not dominate they had 4 or 5 clear chances. We had none. We have created in all seriousness outside of the 2 goals no more than a handful of chances and I think we have failed to have a shot on target (outside of the goals) in almost every game. I cannot recall a save of note from any keeper so far this season (Howard push over from Done header which was routine). Imagine that – a keeper has not had a save to make in 5 games!


It has been unacceptable so far the performance and the results. He needs to improve and fast in all aspects. As disappointing as it was under Adkins, we won games and had some decent performances early on in the season, ultimately we were shocking and he deserved to go but we look even worse now. We have signed some really poor players on evidence so far and look a side that will be near the bottom and one where you cannot see where next point is from.


As others have said years of cost cutting, selling our best players, choosing poor managers who cannot handle the pressure has caught up with us and now we are looking at best a mid table League One club. Sad but I think we are a long, long way off ever even being at that level in the Championship with the way money has gone (look at what teams like Villa and Newcastle are spending). Ideally we need McCabe to find new investors and new hope but I fear the rot is well in place and failing a Newcastle/Keegan type resurgence where some nutter comes in and spends an absolute fortune and buys us a team packed with quality and appoints a strong, experienced manager who can handle the pressure then things could get a lot worse before they get better.



Ref – Fine really. He booked one O’Connell for the ludicrous hand ball. The rest of the game I can barely recall a bad tackle of note. He penalised them for stealing yards on a throw but I felt let the game flow for the most part really. The penalty was easy really and such an east decision.


Crowd / Day Out – First visit to the New Den. Ground is lacking in character and is very box like in structure. View was decent from the away end although why they gave you seats when it seemed to be all unreserved and you could just sit anywhere? We had seats with numbers in a bit that was blocked off so ended up sitting right behind the goal in a decent view in the end!


As for the raucous atmosphere and intimidating Millwall fans? Well I did not hear/see it. You get the odd roar now and again, the so called famous Millwall roar but it was like a few seconds then that was it. When they scored a few chavs ran across the stands and stewards chased after them for some reason (it was not like they could get to us!) either side but that was it. It was hardly scary stuff! One fan got arrested for nicking the ball when he would not return it and tried to take it out of the ground! That was about as racy as it got!


The ground was half empty with a really poor 9,000 inside and there were gaps all over the ground. The fans are quite spread out too and don’t seem to congregate in any one area. Behind the goal was a bit more populated but not by much. You can gaze at the trains snaking round the ground during lulls in play as they come very close to the back of the stands.


The play Let Em Come (Roy Green song) when they score and I oddly quite like that! It is awful and cheesy but embodies Millwall both the location (‘Sarf London) and their history.


United fans were quite most of the game. I think the malaise and general feeling of discontent has even hit the loyal fans. I did not see many of the younger, chav element today (maybe they did not fancy mixing it with the Millwall lot) and there were only around 800 Blades who travelled. A few chants were bellowed out but overall the atmosphere in the ground for both fans was flat.


They did not keep us in at the end which was good and we were away and on a train by 5.10pm – just missed one before. The Millwall fans were mixed with us on that too but there was no trouble at all that I saw and indeed we chatted to some on the way back to Tower Bridge.



As for the rest of the day, well as always and it sounds like a broken record but it was great. The match as always almost spoiled it.


We got into London at 8.30am ish and opted to go down to Greenwich and had our Wetherspoon’s breakfast in the Gate I think it was by Greenwich station by 9.15am! Had a beer here and we stayed here until the rain blew over. We then opted to walk off our breakfast by going up to the Greenwich observatory for some great view of London. The weather changed for the better and we had a lovely few pints by the Greenwich Tavern sat by the open window watching the tourists go by. We then went to the Plume of Feathers and sat in the beer garden not far from Greenwich Park. We had a further beer in the Trafalgar Arms which is right on the Thames not far from the Cutty Sark. We then grabbed a cab around 2ish rather than messing with trains and only cost us £7 using Uber to get to the ground and were dropped right by the away end.


After the game we got the train to London Bridge; had a swift pint in the Horseshoe Inn (the location for the fictitious Railway Arms pub at the end of the brilliant Ashes to Ashes TV series where the characters went to hell after being in purgatory – there is a Blades joke in there somewhere). We then went to Brick Lane and had a curry after bartering for free drinks before walking up to Shoreditch and having a drink at the Queen of Hoxton – delightful rooftop terrace here but not as good in the rain!). Everyone in here seemed much younger than us and it actually seemed half bar/half club and we were not really in the dancing mood so set off back to St Pancras from Liverpool Street. We got a few beers for the train and then got back into Sheffield around 23.15pm with chants of ‘We’re shit and we know we are’ and ‘United, United bottom of the league’ echoing around Sheffield station.


Sadly or maybe thankfully for me that is me done for away games for a while. That is not down to the results or me getting the mug on but just always planned to go to these two early in the season for trips to Manchester and London and then not bother for a while due to money/family etc. Would have considered Wimbledon but doubt I will get a ticket for that. So just be home matches from now on for a bit. Admire those who keep going away as well as home but as I said to my mate whilst the match gives the day focus, we would have been as well staying in the beer gardens we were in and not bothered with the match! Mind you if we went down I may start going again away as long as I could get some tickets as there are some new grounds to go to!

Thanks for the report, have you started going to away games? thought you only went to home matches

 

[finlaytheblade]

It looks like you could be right about our new centre back pairing Deadbat ,Millwall was going to be the big test for them and it wasn't good.
There is a fear factor creeping into the squad and we are being bullied all over the pitch that is a bigger worry than the poor start.
Bolton bullied us Rochdale and Southend bullied us ,yesterday morison scared us to death and sharp and Clarke couldn't compete with there centre backs
Mr Wilder said we wouldn't be bullied off and on the pitch well we seem to be holding our own off the pitch ( sticking to a transfer policy )., on the pitch
we are losing too many battles and that sets the tone for getting beat.
I wasn't expecting great football this season but the weaknesses we have are destroying our chances ( earn the right to play your football ).The squad
have to find some balls quickly (2 or 3 new players are desperately needed ) or we are going to have a season of struggle. Wilder pre -season comments
led me to beleave he was building a squad with character and aggression ,not seen any of that so far,hope the players yet to come in show the kind of bottle that is badly lacking next 10 days are going to be crucial.

 

[Deadbat]

Thanks for the report, have you started going to away games? thought you only went to home matches

I always used to go to away games but in recent years now got a little un and other priorties take over so last 5 or 6 years only done maybe half a dozen away games per season. Last year I only went to Man Utd and Chesterfield though. As I say that will be it for a while. They are great days out but hit your wallet and your heart (result) hard. So relying on others away for summaries/thoughts for immediate future.

 

[Deadbat]

Forgot to mention the song for our new keeper. 70's classic meets furniture ad.

For the record we sing,' Moore, Moore, Moore....we've got Simon, we've got Simon'

Hours of thought must have gone into that one. Still something different!

 

[Deadbat]

It looks like you could be right about our new centre back pairing Deadbat ,Millwall was going to be the big test for them and it wasn't good.
There is a fear factor creeping into the squad and we are being bullied all over the pitch that is a bigger worry than the poor start.
Bolton bullied us Rochdale and Southend bullied us ,yesterday morison scared us to death and sharp and Clarke couldn't compete with there centre backs
Mr Wilder said we wouldn't be bullied off and on the pitch well we seem to be holding our own off the pitch ( sticking to a transfer policy )., on the pitch
we are losing too many battles and that sets the tone for getting beat.
I wasn't expecting great football this season but the weaknesses we have are destroying our chances ( earn the right to play your football ).The squad
have to find some balls quickly (2 or 3 new players are desperately needed ) or we are going to have a season of struggle. Wilder pre -season comments
led me to beleave he was building a squad with character and aggression ,not seen any of that so far,hope the players yet to come in show the kind of bottle that is badly lacking next 10 days are going to be crucial.

Yes that is the worry. Even more than the style, tactics, lack of goals, goals going in (all major worries) is that we were supposedly not going to get bullied. We have lost out physically in every game and the key areas centre def, mid and attack, we have lost almost every battle this season in every game losing headers, tackles apart from maybe 20 mins at Bolton.

 

[Deadbat]

Glad to know we have a GK, but with a young back four they will make mistakes, we need Fleck back with a real partner - despite your positives not sure Coutts is the answer.

thats the worry. He is poor but has been our best player last 2 games. What does that say about the rest?

 

[Deadbat]

Cheers for the report as always Deadbat. I always respect your views, so you writing this...



....after just four league games seems quite ominous.

I still think that we could do well this season, maybe get a couple more in now, pick up some results, then two more in the JTW. The first win, when it comes, will be a massive confidence-booster. Let's hope it comes on Saturday.

League positions don't matter at this stage. Pick up a couple of wins and we could be challenging for a play off position.

PS if anyone has a spare Wimbledon ticket, offer it to Deadbat so we'll get a decent report

Cheers

What makes you think we could do well? We have not been unlucky in any games. We are not creating, not scoring, conceding and have no pattern of play. It is a mess.

I actually think league positions do matter. We needed a good start this season to banish Adkins horrible season and the way we limped to such a pathetic end of season. We have had the opposite. It has been a disaster.

19th April was the last time we won a game. We are now 8 games without a win. 6 defeats and 2 draws going back to end of last season. We are really stuck in a rut

 

[Come from away]

Cheers

What makes you think we could do well? We have not been unlucky in any games. We are not creating, not scoring, conceding and have no pattern of play. It is a mess.

I actually think league positions do matter. We needed a good start this season to banish Adkins horrible season and the way we limped to such a pathetic end of season. We have had the opposite. It has been a disaster.

19th April was the last time we won a game. We are now 8 games without a win. 6 defeats and 2 draws going back to end of last season. We are really stuck in a rut

It is hard to build a team quickly with so many new players, time is not a good answer but it is the reality.

 

[penthouseblade]

SUFC Player Ratings –


Moore 8/10 – Very good and our man of the match. He made two superb point blank saves to deny Morison and Gregory. His handling was good and he seemed to want to organise the defence and was quite vocal. No chance on either goal. His kicking sadly was not great. He kicked one out and quite a few others barely made half way. Seems to be an aspect of his game he struggles with. Much improved on Long on that showing though.


Freeman 7/10 – Thought he had a steady-ish game and looked more committed in his play than Brayford. He defended ok and made a few tackles/interceptions but at times he got done on 2 on 1’s as Scougall started wandering around to the centre and also him and Duffy switched a few times. He had a chance to bed down a place now but it is odd that Wilder does not think he is good enough but is now playing him and we have no other right backs in the squad so unless we sign someone he will play.


Hussey 5/10 – Again showed really questions marks over his defensive play. Too many times caught ball watching and a few crosses came over he did not react. For the goal it was woeful as the lad just walked around him on the edge of the box. On the ball he is very sloppy with his passing and general touch. He can whip a decent cross in and got a few over today but overall he is not good enough. When Bury fans are not bothered about losing a player and they finished near the bottom then it is a concern! I think if he can bring Freeman back then he needs to do the same with Wallace as he deserves a crack at it with Hussey so poor. One that needs taking out of the team.


Wilson 6/10 – Better than O’Connell and Hussey but not by much. Thought he was hesitant at times and seems a little unsure when on the ball. He knocks it long a lot. Defensively he won a few things but does not impose and is often not too tight on his man, evidenced by the chances they created. I am not sure long term he is good enough from what I have seen. Reminds me a bit of Edgar but maybe a poor mans Edgar who was better on the ball. Wilson does not really impose himself on the strikers and equally does not come out with the ball. He seems quite mobile but that is only real positive I can say so far and like with Hussey you can see why he was playing for such a poor team last year. Signing players like them and starting them, suggests you are not really serious about going for promotion.


O’Connell 4/10- He made two mistakes on Tuesday that cost us goals (first one may have been own goal but a wild slice and then on the third) and cost us again today. No idea what he was doing when he handled it. He claimed a push but there is very little contact and why he would have his hand up there even if pushed I am not sure. It was ridiculous and reminiscent of the McEveley one from last season at Shrewsbury. In general play he seems better than Wilson and not bad on the ball and quite strong. He might be a 7/10 in most games and seems decent but as a defender you cannot toss goals away like he does. He does some things that make you think he is a player but he is making big mistakes. Even before the penalty he made another one that nearly let Gregory in and indeed the big striker got away from him several times. He could have had 3 or 4 goals really. We needed two centre backs in the summer and on what I have seen we still need two centre backs. Sadly there is holes all over the rest of the side so people will focus on those areas probably but make no mistake we are no better here than we were last season.


Basham 6/10 – See comments from last game and one before that. He might have been a bit better than the other games in that I noticed him a few times but in terms of impact on the game is was minimal again. He got his foot in a bit and won a few bits but when on the ball he is completely clueless. Has no idea what to do and where to go. He just sort of stutters and then normally plays another slow, square ball. Seems unable to pass in front or unwilling to do that. On the goal his header away was so weak. He then berated someone else Wilson for not closing down which may be valid but his header was ineffective. A poor player and one I am not sure you want in the fulcrum of your team if you are in a struggle.



Duffy 6.5/10 – Thought he did better than he has done and at least got on the ball. He at least tried to have some efforts towards goal but the 2 shots he had were hopeless (high and wide). I felt he came inside a lot but wanted to try and make a difference but sometimes he got crowded out. Looks a player there if we can get him on the ball I feel.


Coutts 7/10 – Might have been our best outfield player really. He at least tried to get the ball and move it about and one of few who tried to find a shirt and switch play and get us moving up the field. He linked well with Duffy a few times and his range of passing was both short and long. He faded after the break and I felt we lost midfield and became a bit tired and ragged.


Scougall 6/10 – He scored a goal and at least had a shot even if it was a bad error from the keeper but he too did not really contribute too much. He ran around a lot and flitted in and out of the play but it was a bit hot potato when he had it. I wanted to see him get it and run at players but that did not really happen. Like Duffy was played wide but came inside a lot. Taken off. Not sure where he plays long term as not sure he is good enough but sadly even a mediocre performance like today may see him remain in the side as the squad is so bereft of options.


Clarke 4/10 – Really poor today. I have defended him a lot this season when some have been so critical of him and focused our poor play on him when he has worked hard and won quite a few headers. Today he was hopeless. Won no headers hardly, nothing stuck to him and looked slow and languid. Up front we had nothing today and for an experienced pairing they have to start improving. Neither looked interested today against two imposing centre backs and both completely lost their battles. They are not getting any service but I expect to work hard and fight. Today they did not.


Sharp 4/10 – As above. I cannot recall him barely touching the ball. He did not link with Clarke and did not get on the ball. Was taken off and could not grumble. At least Clarke may win the odd header (he didn’t) but Sharp may aswell have been sat with us in the away end. Whether it is the style of play, tactics or the fact he just has not got going, Sharp has had a really poor start to the season. I think we can analyse tactics/lack of service to death but as above, I still feel he has to harry defenders and chase. He did not even do that today.


Subs


Done – Came on for Sharp and at least ran about even if the quality was lacking. He one run and shot I recall but hard for him as the play was so fragmented and we did not have anything wide or holding it up. I would play him up top for a few games just for his nuisance factor. It may rub off on others in terms of work rate.

Chapman – As with other games he never really got into the game when he came on but 8 minutes is not really long enough and needs a start.


McNulty -Would have brought him and Done on for Sharp and Clarke at hour mark. He was given a minute after they scored. Waste of time. I was all for persevering with Sharp and Clarke in the week and felt issues were behind them two and still do to some extent but the lack of effort and even ability to hold the ball was criminal today. To the extent I would go with McNulty and Done next week. Make Sharp and Clarke accountable for not performing. We are bottom of the league and not scoring or even looking like scoring. It is not down to the strikers in many ways but we may have to try something else.



Manager – Wilder 2/10 – Another defeat and despite some improvements from Tuesday it was a deserved defeat. There was only one side creating chances all game and only one side looking to go and win it. I cannot agree with his comments post game about us controlling elements of the game and that we even shaded the first half. We had a few spells with the ball but went nowhere with it and had no efforts. It was quite even really but they had more chances and then second half even though they did not dominate they had 4 or 5 clear chances. We had none. We have created in all seriousness outside of the 2 goals no more than a handful of chances and I think we have failed to have a shot on target (outside of the goals) in almost every game. I cannot recall a save of note from any keeper so far this season (Howard push over from Done header which was routine). Imagine that – a keeper has not had a save to make in 5 games!


It has been unacceptable so far the performance and the results. He needs to improve and fast in all aspects. As disappointing as it was under Adkins, we won games and had some decent performances early on in the season, ultimately we were shocking and he deserved to go but we look even worse now. We have signed some really poor players on evidence so far and look a side that will be near the bottom and one where you cannot see where next point is from.


As others have said years of cost cutting, selling our best players, choosing poor managers who cannot handle the pressure has caught up with us and now we are looking at best a mid table League One club. Sad but I think we are a long, long way off ever even being at that level in the Championship with the way money has gone (look at what teams like Villa and Newcastle are spending). Ideally we need McCabe to find new investors and new hope but I fear the rot is well in place and failing a Newcastle/Keegan type resurgence where some nutter comes in and spends an absolute fortune and buys us a team packed with quality and appoints a strong, experienced manager who can handle the pressure then things could get a lot worse before they get better.



Ref – Fine really. He booked one O’Connell for the ludicrous hand ball. The rest of the game I can barely recall a bad tackle of note. He penalised them for stealing yards on a throw but I felt let the game flow for the most part really. The penalty was easy really and such an east decision.


Crowd / Day Out – First visit to the New Den. Ground is lacking in character and is very box like in structure. View was decent from the away end although why they gave you seats when it seemed to be all unreserved and you could just sit anywhere? We had seats with numbers in a bit that was blocked off so ended up sitting right behind the goal in a decent view in the end!


As for the raucous atmosphere and intimidating Millwall fans? Well I did not hear/see it. You get the odd roar now and again, the so called famous Millwall roar but it was like a few seconds then that was it. When they scored a few chavs ran across the stands and stewards chased after them for some reason (it was not like they could get to us!) either side but that was it. It was hardly scary stuff! One fan got arrested for nicking the ball when he would not return it and tried to take it out of the ground! That was about as racy as it got!


The ground was half empty with a really poor 9,000 inside and there were gaps all over the ground. The fans are quite spread out too and don’t seem to congregate in any one area. Behind the goal was a bit more populated but not by much. You can gaze at the trains snaking round the ground during lulls in play as they come very close to the back of the stands.


The play Let Em Come (Roy Green song) when they score and I oddly quite like that! It is awful and cheesy but embodies Millwall both the location (‘Sarf London) and their history.


United fans were quite most of the game. I think the malaise and general feeling of discontent has even hit the loyal fans. I did not see many of the younger, chav element today (maybe they did not fancy mixing it with the Millwall lot) and there were only around 800 Blades who travelled. A few chants were bellowed out but overall the atmosphere in the ground for both fans was flat.


They did not keep us in at the end which was good and we were away and on a train by 5.10pm – just missed one before. The Millwall fans were mixed with us on that too but there was no trouble at all that I saw and indeed we chatted to some on the way back to Tower Bridge.



As for the rest of the day, well as always and it sounds like a broken record but it was great. The match as always almost spoiled it.


We got into London at 8.30am ish and opted to go down to Greenwich and had our Wetherspoon’s breakfast in the Gate I think it was by Greenwich station by 9.15am! Had a beer here and we stayed here until the rain blew over. We then opted to walk off our breakfast by going up to the Greenwich observatory for some great view of London. The weather changed for the better and we had a lovely few pints by the Greenwich Tavern sat by the open window watching the tourists go by. We then went to the Plume of Feathers and sat in the beer garden not far from Greenwich Park. We had a further beer in the Trafalgar Arms which is right on the Thames not far from the Cutty Sark. We then grabbed a cab around 2ish rather than messing with trains and only cost us £7 using Uber to get to the ground and were dropped right by the away end.


After the game we got the train to London Bridge; had a swift pint in the Horseshoe Inn (the location for the fictitious Railway Arms pub at the end of the brilliant Ashes to Ashes TV series where the characters went to hell after being in purgatory – there is a Blades joke in there somewhere). We then went to Brick Lane and had a curry after bartering for free drinks before walking up to Shoreditch and having a drink at the Queen of Hoxton – delightful rooftop terrace here but not as good in the rain!). Everyone in here seemed much younger than us and it actually seemed half bar/half club and we were not really in the dancing mood so set off back to St Pancras from Liverpool Street. We got a few beers for the train and then got back into Sheffield around 23.15pm with chants of ‘We’re shit and we know we are’ and ‘United, United bottom of the league’ echoing around Sheffield station.


Sadly or maybe thankfully for me that is me done for away games for a while. That is not down to the results or me getting the mug on but just always planned to go to these two early in the season for trips to Manchester and London and then not bother for a while due to money/family etc. Would have considered Wimbledon but doubt I will get a ticket for that. So just be home matches from now on for a bit. Admire those who keep going away as well as home but as I said to my mate whilst the match gives the day focus, we would have been as well staying in the beer gardens we were in and not bothered with the match! Mind you if we went down I may start going again away as long as I could get some tickets as there are some new grounds to go to!

Solid report as always!

Interesting you describe "lovely pints" in Greenwich; anyone else think the ale was fucking awful?! The five pints I sampled from five different pubs were all lacking head or body and were terrible, one of which I left after a couple of swigs. I can honestly say that I have never ever ever had a decent pint south of Birmingham; they (southerners) seem totally clueless when it comes to pulling a pint!!

 

[Dkc]

Cheers

What makes you think we could do well? We have not been unlucky in any games. We are not creating, not scoring, conceding and have no pattern of play. It is a mess.

I actually think league positions do matter. We needed a good start this season to banish Adkins horrible season and the way we limped to such a pathetic end of season. We have had the opposite. It has been a disaster.

19th April was the last time we won a game. We are now 8 games without a win. 6 defeats and 2 draws going back to end of last season. We are really stuck in a rut

No good signs at the moment, I agree. But it's simply too early to write off the season. We've had very poor starts before and gone on to have a decent season.

 

[Rodders]

Your comments on O'Connell are interesting Deadbat, I'm going to put my head above the parape here but, mistakes aside I think there looks to be a decent defder in there. I just don't think he's right as the senior player in the CB partnership. Get an old head next to him and we could be looking at a 2011/12 Collins/Maguire partnership.

 

[Harry's Game]

Excellent but depressing reading.

We don't even look close to winning games. I would snatch your hand off for a Guarenteed fifth from bottom finishing slot at the moment.

 

[Deadbat]

Your comments on O'Connell are interesting Deadbat, I'm going to put my head above the parape here but, mistakes aside I think there looks to be a decent defder in there. I just don't think he's right as the senior player in the CB partnership. Get an old head next to him and we could be looking at a 2011/12 Collins/Maguire partnership.

He is erratic though. One minutes making a good tackle and then throwing it away with an error. He is a bit of a shit or bust type defender for me.

You are right we need a solid experienced player alongside him. Surprised we did not go for Greer on a 1 year deal from Brighton.

 

[silver blade]

I always used to go to away games but in recent years now got a little un and other priorties take over so last 5 or 6 years only done maybe half a dozen away games per season. Last year I only went to Man Utd and Chesterfield though. As I say that will be it for a while. They are great days out but hit your wallet and your heart (result) hard. So relying on others away for summaries/thoughts for immediate future.

probably best to give Chesterfield a miss this season

 

[Booker4]

Sorry for late report….got in midnight-ish and too tired to write last night. Day of excess on the booze did not help either but you need it these days to watch United!

----


The Blades fell to rock bottom of League One after yet another defeat; their third from four games so far this season; at the New Den. United were undone by a late penalty when Jack O’Connell inexplicably decided he wanted to play volleyball giving Millwall the late winner. It was a poor game in which neither side impressed but the home side shaded the chances and probably did enough to deserve the win. United barely created an opportunity all game for the fourth league game running and even though new keeper Simon Moore impressed gave away two poor goals once again.


Manager Wilder made several changes from the side that lot to Southend with Scougall coming in for Done, Coutts for Fleck, Freeman for Brayford and of course Moore for Long. Aaron Ramsdale was preferred on the bench to Long.


Millwall themselves well beaten in the week had the dangerous front pairing of Steve Morison and Lee Gregory.


The game began with limited possession for either side with Gregory off target for Millwall and then Scougall firing well over. Clarke nearly got on a Duffy cross before Freeman had to be alert to deny Worrall at the back post. The game has been scrappy though although United will just be pleased to get to the quarter of hour mark without conceding after being three down at that stage the previous game.


However, they failed to do this after conceding a corner with hesitant play from Hussey originally leading to this. The kick came over and Basham’s clearing header lacked power and nobody closed down WILLIAMS who beat Hussey easily aand hit a low shot into the corner giving debutant Moore no chance. Almost his first touch in a United shirt was picking the ball out of his net. United came back though and it was not long before they were level but were indebted to some terrible keeping from Archer in the Lions goal. SCOUGALL hit a low shot that seemed to be comfortable for the keeper but somehow with a defender just in front he made a horrible hash of it and allowed the ball to squirm through him and into the net.


Buoyed by this United had a decent spell of play for a period but did not really go anywhere although Coutts and Duffy were involved in getting on the ball. Morison then had a decent headed chance for Millwall but was off target before Moore did well taking a high ball to cheers from the United fans behind the goal. The half petered out with no more chances. The Blades maybe shaded possession but Millwall maybe had the slightly better chances.


The second half saw Millwall come out with a renewed sense of belief and seemed to play5-10 yards higher up the pitch and at a greater tempo. They forced United back and won a few early corners. Morsion curled wide when well placed and then Gregory had a superb chance to score when played through and the defence opted to try and play offside again. The striker though was denied in his one on one with an excellent save from Moore.


Duffy had a long range effort off target but Gregory then had two chances poking wide and then being blocked by Wilson. The former went agonisingly past the post.


Done came on for Sharp and went up top. United were struggling to create any chances of note and were now probably wanting just to ensure they took a point. Millwall then created another chance when poor defending let in Gregory but Moore saved. O’Connell then made a mistake but recovered to get back and tackle but disaster struck soon after as the game entered the final minute. A high cross came over and inexplicably O’Connell leapt high with his hand up and punched the ball away.


MORISON took the kick and sent Moore the wrong way sending the home side into raptures.


There was an additional five minutes of play but despite McNulty coming on, United did not muster a chance of any note and the home side saw out time all too easily. The only discussion point was then a ball boy and fan in the crowd contrived to lose a ball to delay a throw in at the end so we had to get a replacement ball. It mattered little. The full time whistle confirmed that United had fallen to the bottom of the league and their lowest position since David Weir was in charge three seasons ago.



United – It was better than Tuesday! That is the positive. No, seriously we looked a bit more solid and had some more of the ball. We did not fall apart and only lost to a late goal. The keeper did well and Coutts and Freeman were decent if not brilliant. However, there are so many questions. I expected a really good Millwall side to tear into us and cause us all sorts of problems. That did not happen which is good but they were a side that I felt we could have beaten and had a go at. We did not and for another game barely had an effort. Outside of the goal we did not have another shot on goal. As for the team, the defence made some awful mistakes and they could have scored a lot more. In midfield we did well for bits of the first half but then second half lost this area. Up top Sharp and Clarke may aswell have been sat in the upper tier of the away end the amount they did. They barely kicked the ball. They had no service and yes maybe tactics not helping but at least put some effort in guys.


The pattern of play remains muddy. Nobody seems to know what he wants. We went long sometimes today and then at times played it neat and tidy but did not penetrate. As the game went on we got very tired and yet again we saw another side fitter but it helps every team has quicker and more athletic players.


We have not even seen the high pressing and pressure play from that first 20 minutes at Bolton. Today we sat off for long spells but they were as ponderous as us on the ball. I felt they were no great shakes and we could have gone and tried to win the game but opted to try and play for the draw, sat deeper and deeper and got what we deserved, nothing. Only Bolton can we say we have deserved anything from the games we have lost.


He now has 2 players back in the fold in Freeman and Coutts who were two of our better performers. These are on the transfer list. With Brayford going also, Freeman surely will remain at right back. I think Brayford will not play for the club again as even though he has another year left on his contract I think we will move him on. As with Hammond I am not sure we will get a club to take him (luckily we have Clough stupid enough to do that maybe) on his wages he is and we may have to pay him off or be paying a split of his wages for the remainder of his contract. So in affect we could still be paying him in next season even though he may have left us!


Seems Long has had a fall out with him after being dropped (could be wrong but why was he not on the bench?). Long signed a reduced contract in the summer and it seemed Wilder rated him or would have brought a keeper in. Now he is out of the team and probably regrets that decision although not sure there was clubs queueing up to sign him then or now! So not sure what he does. By the sounds of it though he may be moving on. I expect Long to be playing non-league football in a few years. He is not good enough sadly and has had chance after chance under 4 managers now. Wilder must massively regret not bringing in another keeper in the summer.



It will be interesting to see what happens if we do lose another couple. I cannot see anything but more poor results. We may nick a point next week but do not see where next chance is coming from, let along goal or win. It is weird as we of course cannot sack another manager and to be even be talking about this is nonsensical really but no team in the 92 would start a season say losing 6 of 7 (say we lost next two) and retain the manager so we would have to buck the trend. It has been an abysmal start in performances and play and so far, this season we have looked worse than we have under Adkins, Wilson and Clough. Only Weir did we look as incompetent in terms of not looking like scoring and keeping the ball out at the other end. Sad to say it but Wilder is looking like another Micky Adams at this stage. This is the highest he has ever managed and looks out of his depth in terms of what he has overseen so far in terms of signings, style and results. I don’t have a clue what he is trying to do in terms of how he wants us to play – it seems loosely to be a Bassett type style but our wingers don’t get wide, out strikers cannot run (so immobile) and we don’t have any nasty b******s in the middle of the field to break up play. For me all this talk over what players we need etc that is the most important. A leader, a central midfielders, a Savage, Booker, even Doyle type who will come in and kick a few, rally the troops and lead us. Basham and Coutts are such a soft touch in that area. A weak a midfield as you could ever wish to see and with two mini men out wide, how imposing must we look! Add in 3 defenders who look what they are, poor lower league players then you have a side that is looking for a leader and someone to inspire. At the moment, we look a side that is not even up for a fight. God help us if we are in a relegation scrap come May as this lot will make that Adams side that went down seem like Revie’s Leeds!


It is a mess at the moment and I do not see way out. We have a big quandary in that most of his signings seem poor but do we give him more funds to sign even more. Before we know it we could be in a situation like Clough with another 10-12 players on 2-3 year contracts with many not good enough and back in the same cycle as before. If god forbid we did have to make another managerial change then what? Do they have to wait another 2-3 years before they are out of contract?


I really do not see where we go from here. We have to maybe let him get another couple in and hope somehow internally he can sort it out and get us going. We don’t have any choice really. As I have said we cannot sack another manager and so have to just hope we don’t go down (promotion can already be forgotten about – not on the table necessarily – look at Barnsley but on the personnel we have – they had young, hungry players) and he can start to gradually improve things. Just hope it does not become a Weir/Adams where even he cannot motivate himself to keep going – his interview post game after the game saw first cracks of him not knowing what to do next – he spoke about needing the crowd and how we will be drilling them again in training but not sure they are getting what he wants? He sounds affected by it all at the end and made me think of some of Weir/Adams interviews stuttering through and the chest bumping and all the talk early season seems a long time ago. As Roy alluded to in his views from; even a Millwall fan picked up on it saying he ‘looked ill and sounded dreadful. Think the job is too big for him, don’t think he will be there long.’ If he cannot get through to them or they not listening or understanding or are they just not good enough. Maybe it is both. Whatever it is, he is making a right mess of things so far and sadly the buck stops with the manager. What price on Neil Warnock being our manager at Xmas? I am being serious.



–


Millwall – I expected more from them especially on the back of a heavy defeat and first half they were not great at all and we were well in a poor game. However, they still had a few half chances and then second half they created several good chances. They did not tear us apart and it was poor play from us that led to opportunities. They will say they did just about enough to win the game on chances but overall a game they will just be happy with the win. I am sure they will play a lot better. Still I had them down as Champions at the start of the season and with the players they have and an excellent young manager in Neil Harris, think they will be around the top places. They look a side going in completely the opposite direction too us.


Opponent man of the match: Thought the two centre backs coped well with us all game, Craig and Webster. The latter coped with Clarke and Sharp easily and looked a good player. I felt in midfield they did not look as impressive as they have done when I saw them last season and the ball was bouncing off players all over the field. The two lads up top are a threat of course and got in good positions but their finishing was wayward today. Gregory and Morison especially. Still these two have mobility, power and height. They move off the ball. It was night and day watching them to Sharp and Clarke. Ironically if Sharp had been in same situations as the front two he may have scored a hat trick but does not have pace to get to areas like he did.



Opponent Weak link: Archer. Had one shot to save all game and fumbled it into his own net. Had nothing else to do! I felt the midfield lads were not as impressive as they have been when I have seen Millwall before. United did have more of the ball than they have done. The strikers caused problems but Gregory’s finishing was really poor. On another day he would have had a hat trick.

What was the formation Deadbat? 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, or something else? It seems that so far Wilder hasn't been able to impose his tactics on the team and we certainly appear to lack leaders and pace. When the end of the month comes and we know who is in and out of the building then we can make a better assessment of the squad. It appears that Wilder wants at least 3 more and centre mid and centre back are the priorities. I'm not as pessimistic as you or others at this stage. If the window had just closed then I would be but I'm confident of a couple of decent arrivals and also confident that the existing signings will settle. No doubt two or three won't succeed and that's to be expected out of the 11 or so signings that Wilder will have made come September. I do think Wilder and the team have been very unfortunate in the last two games though. Take the own goal v Southend. That could have gone anywhere but sadly it looped over Long. If that hadn't gone in then the whole game could have been different. Yesterday was always going to be tough and its clear we'er playing on zero confidence. We need a win from anywhere and then the confidence will return. Wilder and the team aren't anywhere near as bad as some think, in my view, but playing with little confidence is certainly obvious and maybe a hangover from the end of last season too.

 

[Large Mendonca]

A sobering thought is that you generally need around 48-50 points to avoid relegation. Anyone see where we're gonna get these from at the minute ??

 

[Bergen Blade]

Thought our two weakest players were our "star" strikers Clarke and Sharp. Wilder is digging his own grave with those two being the focal point of our attacks. There is very little combination play between them. Clarke looks lost and restricted in the deep role, and against Millwall it looked like he'd been told to not get into too advanced positions. We use him as a target man, but against centre halves like Webster he's not going to win a lot in the air. Sharp was firmly in the pockets of the centre halves until substituted. We're crying out for some pace and movement in the central positions, someone who can run in behind, stretch defences and get on the ball and run with it. We can't carry any passengers.


The rest of the team didn't do too badly. Coutts had a decent match until he tired, looking good on the ball, although he does tend to slow us down. Millwall didn't bother much with possession, and they were happy to stand off our midfielders, and prevent passing options, rather than getting stuck in to win the ball high up. Duffy tried to get on the ball to create things, while Scougall was constantly on the move, but they both like (and are surely instructed to) cutting inside and the central area became very congested. A few times you could see that players are lacking a good understanding, and some attempts at clever pass and move football broke down due to that - and poor contributions from Sharp and Clarke.

Defensively we found Morison tough to deal with. Against forwards like him I think we really miss a bigger, more commanding type than the two we have. Someone like Webster? We tried on occasions to let Basham challenge him, enabling the back four to stay intact. For the first goal I think our organisation (transition from defending a set piece to defending from open play) was lacking. The second happened following a spell where Millwall managed to make the ball stick following long balls/crosses/set pieces, and maybe some fresh legs in midfield would have helped us to press better, rather than dropping into our own box all the time.

 

[Bergen Blade]

What was the formation Deadbat? 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, or something else?

4-2-3-1:

Moore
Freeman Wilson O'Connell Hussey
Basham Coutts
Scougall Clarke Duffy
Sharp​

 

[Booker4]

Thought our two weakest players were our "star" strikers Clarke and Sharp. Wilder is digging his own grave with those two being the focal point of our attacks. There is very little combination play between them. Clarke looks lost and restricted in the deep role, and against Millwall it looked like he'd been told to not get into too advanced positions. We use him as a target man, but against centre halves like Webster he's not going to win a lot in the air. Sharp was firmly in the pockets of the centre halves until substituted. We're crying out for some pace and movement in the central positions, someone who can run in behind, stretch defences and get on the ball and run with it. We can't carry any passengers.


The rest of the team didn't do too badly. Coutts had a decent match until he tired, looking good on the ball, although he does tend to slow us down. Millwall didn't bother much with possession, and they were happy to stand off our midfielders, and prevent passing options, rather than getting stuck in to win the ball high up. Duffy tried to get on the ball to create things, while Scougall was constantly on the move, but they both like (and are surely instructed to) cutting inside and the central area became very congested. A few times you could see that players are lacking a good understanding, and some attempts at clever pass and move football broke down due to that - and poor contributions from Sharp and Clarke.

Defensively we found Morison tough to deal with. Against forwards like him I think we really miss a bigger, more commanding type than the two we have. Someone like Webster? We tried on occasions to let Basham challenge him, enabling the back four to stay intact. For the first goal I think our organisation (transition from defending a set piece to defending from open play) was lacking. The second happened following a spell where Millwall managed to make the ball stick following long balls/crosses/set pieces, and maybe some fresh legs in midfield would have helped us to press better, rather than dropping into our own box all the time.

I'll ask you Bergen. Was it 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1? If its the latter then Sharp is up top in his own and Clarke is part of an advanced 3 behind with Duffy and Scougall on the left and right? I think in time we'll get more understanding, that's obvious. Some fans are seriously going overboard at this stage, especially given that Wilder wants at least 3 more to go in the team. We missed out on McFadzen so we're playing Wilson who is presumably the back up.

 

[Booker4]

4-2-3-1:

Moore
Freeman Wilson O'Connell Hussey
Basham Coutts
Scougall Clarke Duffy
Sharp​

Cheers Bergen. Ignore previous post! Before fans have said its 4-4-2 has it changed from earlier games or has it always been so?

 

[Bergen Blade]

Cheers Bergen. Ignore previous post! Before fans have said its 4-4-2 has it changed from earlier games or has it always been so?

It is quite possible that Wilder has called it a 4-2-3-1 for every game. But Clarke has often pushed up and played like a target man, while doing little link play or real defending. Meaning it has effectively been a narrow 4-4-2, that has usually started well, but struggled as soon as the opposition have survived our early pressing game and started to pass it long. At Millwall Clarke was a bit deeper and less mobile than in his other games.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Having watched the highlights I thought the build up to our solitary goal was excellent. We didn't half look stretched at the end though. Needed a good defensive midfielder to put his foot on the ball and calm it all down.