Deadbat
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The Blades excellent start to their return to the Championship hit a bump in the road as they were beaten at Bramall Lane for the first time since January. Norwich got the win with a smart first half goal from Yanin Wildschut and then did what they had to by every mean possible to preserve the lead. United missing so many forwards battled hard but could not break down an organised Canaries side. The home side had so much of the ball and dominated long spells of the game but will have been disappointed with final decisions in the last third.
Unitedites arrived to the news that both Billy Sharp and Leon Clarke were out injured. Already without Donaldson, Lavery and Hanson; Wilder had to go with a not fully fit Ched Evans with David Brooks making his first league start just behind him. Freeman, Basham and Stevens returned with the unfortunate Carter Vickers missing out after scoring in the week.
United began on the attack and forced an early corner. After good work from Duffy, O’Connell headed back across but Evans could not get the power and Gunn saved easily. Norwich broke out and after a mistake from Freeman, Murphy cut in but his cross was scuffed wide from Jerome. Basham and Wright both made errors and these nearly let City in twice with O’Connell blocking a shot and another going wide. Brooks had been lively and some impish skill saw him push the ball through the legs of a defender and get in on goal but the keeper came out quickly and smothered on the edge of his box.
After some poor defending earlier, United did not heed the warning and Maddison came off Fleck and Coutts and played the ball into the inside right channel. O’Connell and Freeman were dissected and WILDSCHUT was in and he drove a low angled finish into the net beyond Blackman. It was a simply made and taken goal but the home side’s defending was porous to say the least.
Coutts tried to get United going but the passing was sloppy and at times too pedestrian. Gunn was time wasting as early as the half hour mark and when United did get a chance after a trip on Brooks, Duffy’s free kick off target. Norwich were pressing and not giving United time on the ball but Brooks got out of the corner with some superb skill that nearly led to a chance.
A decent spell saw Evans and then Brooks have shots blocked as United got crowded out. Freeman then had a shot on half time which was saved by the keeper in a frustrating first half.
The visitors kept United waiting for some time before eventually coming back onto the pitch. United began at a better tempo but Fleck’s shot lacked power and was comfortable for Gunn. At the other end Blackman saved a more powerful effort from Murphy. Norwich were slowing the game down at every chance and weak refereeing meant it was incredibly stop start. Wilder’s frustration showed when he kicked the ball back and a number of bottles got the end of his boot in the Norwich technical area. He was sent to the stands for going into the opposition technical area.
A series of bookings came for both sides as the game threatened to boil over. United continued to have more of the ball but were not creating much. Evans flashed two crosses across the box but United had no one in the box.
Thomas came on for his first league bow at the Lane as Stevens went off with O’Connell going to left back as United changed to a 4-4-2. Carruthers replaced Duffy and got straight into the action but his appeals for a foul were twice denied. Fleck had another effort that went wide and then Maddison hit a shot at Blackman. There had been few chances of note and Norwich continued to defend in numbers. Norwich broke and had a decent shout for a penalty waved away but Maddison’s ridiculous antics after this as he was subbed really should have seen him given a red card.
Freeman had taken a whack to his chest and was clearly struggling and had to go off replaced by Baldock.
The referee adjudged that the timewasting tactics City had employed would mean there would be an additional 6 minutes. This seemed generous on the visitors who had been at it all day. Brooks fired over and United could not force a meaningful chance as the visitors celebrated wildly on full time on what was an incredibly frustrating afternoon for the home side.
United – We deserved something from the game and the effort was there all game. We had more of the ball, forced them back and created lots of pressure. However, we conceded a poor goal and in truth they had the best chances over the course of the game (maybe only 4 or 5 other chances all game) and other than Brooks effort first half, I am not sure the keeper for them had much to do at all. For all the huffing and puffing, we never really looked like scoring. A few balls bounced across the box but I cannot recall even a good chance second half other than a few set plays or pull backs that no one got on the end of. Today we did not have that spark we needed and I honestly feel we could be still playing now and still not score!
I thought the midfield did not support the striker/s enough and we needed to get men beyond them and simply get more bodies into the box but it never happened and they sat back and repelled everything we threw at them. As I say it was not lack of effort but a real lack of quality and we looked a bit devoid of ideas when we got in the last third. Norwich were no better but they showed one bit of quality; got a goal and were able to hold it.
At times, our passing was sloppy today and we gave it away quite a few times first half with all of the defence guilty at one time or another. They could have got in before they did. I felt we improved as the game went on and started to keep it more and play with more urgency but the lack of options up top really hurt us. Evans was really poor (I know he is injured) but his touch and basic control was appalling most of the game. He did put a few crosses in but the centre halves had an easy game except the odd run from Brooks. He was our main threat and the one who looked like doing something. I felt the midfield trio all had poorest games for some time and that they made some bad decisions with and without the ball. The wing backs also did not really threaten going forward.
United were ok and were far from poor and it was a game that should have ended 0-0 but we lost. Norwich will say it was a perfect away performance in terms of getting a goal and defending it with the keeper well protected throughout. They were ugly in how they did it but they won’t care and neither will their fans. United have to be a bit cleverer and a bit better as they face teams that will do what Norwich did at home. That is where the lack of pace (and height today) will really hurt us as the season goes on and this issue is the one area that as superb as Wilder has done, he has simply not addressed. This allows teams to sit back.
It is far from the end of the world. We are having some rotten luck with injuries and next week will be tough if we have most of these out as I do not know where the goals are coming from (we don’t get goals from the midfield at the moment) so hope at least a few of them might be fit. Seems Freeman will be out which is a blow even though Baldock looks promising. Going to be a big week for Wilder preparing them for next Sunday and he will just hope he had some players back. If we do we have nothing to fear going there although they have not lost since the opening day and haver a very good home record. Key will be midfield for me. If those 3 can get back to standards they have set then we will be right in the game with a chance of winning if we do have at least one striker back.
Norwich – They got the goal and saw it out. It felt it was a bit smash and grab but then the reality is they did not have much to worry about in terms of clear chances or good efforts on goal. They got men in the way and broke things up and defended really well. They have now kept three clean sheets so clearly not down to luck as they have brought in two no nonsense big lads who both played well. They scored a decent goal and had a few other breaks but they did what they had to
The major gripe is the cynical, time wasting and cheating they employed to slow the game down at every opportunity. It is of course up to the referee to penalise and they tried it on all game and kept doing it as he was not penalising them. They were horrible to watch and some of the antics were embarrassing but will say it worked. Not sure it will work most weeks and were fortunate they caught us with 5 strikers injured. In general play United were better in a lot of things but crucially they showed that bit of quality in the last third. A horrible side to watch mind and not sure I would want to watch that every week if that is how they go about winning games.
Farke has clearly worked on the organisation and the defence and taken out players like Hoolahan and Martin; mainstays as he looks to shape his own team. They of course have a few out (like us) due to injury but I am not sure I saw enough to suggest they will be anything other than mid table. Teams with any kind of attack and quality (including us with players we had out) I feel would have beaten them today and a stronger ref may not have seen them so successful. They did press us and harry us and got amongst us though. We had the least amount of time on the ball we have had all season at home and this pressure saw us not be as effective at creating things.
Opposition Man of the Match: Thought they worked hard and closed us down and all did their job for the team. Sure, they used a lot of ‘gamesmanship’ but that is up to the referee to stamp out. Though the lad Tettey was good at breaking up play and never gave out midfield lads a moment. However, the two centre halves were outstanding (did not play much) and repelled everything we put into the box. The lad Klose stood out and takes the honours. They were missing main striker themselves (Oliveira – worth mentioning amongst all the talk of our bereft forward line) but had a few neat and tidy players and broke well when they could but most of best work was defensive. Jerome may be getting on but did hold it up and did all the things we needed of someone up top. He was not flashy or much of a goal threat but brought others into play. The lad Murphy was also lively too.
Opposition Weak link: Not sure there was anyone who was really bad. They were all steady. The lad Trybull was a bit cynical and he also gave it away quite a bit but Norwich had a lot of 6-7/10 players really.
Unitedites arrived to the news that both Billy Sharp and Leon Clarke were out injured. Already without Donaldson, Lavery and Hanson; Wilder had to go with a not fully fit Ched Evans with David Brooks making his first league start just behind him. Freeman, Basham and Stevens returned with the unfortunate Carter Vickers missing out after scoring in the week.
United began on the attack and forced an early corner. After good work from Duffy, O’Connell headed back across but Evans could not get the power and Gunn saved easily. Norwich broke out and after a mistake from Freeman, Murphy cut in but his cross was scuffed wide from Jerome. Basham and Wright both made errors and these nearly let City in twice with O’Connell blocking a shot and another going wide. Brooks had been lively and some impish skill saw him push the ball through the legs of a defender and get in on goal but the keeper came out quickly and smothered on the edge of his box.
After some poor defending earlier, United did not heed the warning and Maddison came off Fleck and Coutts and played the ball into the inside right channel. O’Connell and Freeman were dissected and WILDSCHUT was in and he drove a low angled finish into the net beyond Blackman. It was a simply made and taken goal but the home side’s defending was porous to say the least.
Coutts tried to get United going but the passing was sloppy and at times too pedestrian. Gunn was time wasting as early as the half hour mark and when United did get a chance after a trip on Brooks, Duffy’s free kick off target. Norwich were pressing and not giving United time on the ball but Brooks got out of the corner with some superb skill that nearly led to a chance.
A decent spell saw Evans and then Brooks have shots blocked as United got crowded out. Freeman then had a shot on half time which was saved by the keeper in a frustrating first half.
The visitors kept United waiting for some time before eventually coming back onto the pitch. United began at a better tempo but Fleck’s shot lacked power and was comfortable for Gunn. At the other end Blackman saved a more powerful effort from Murphy. Norwich were slowing the game down at every chance and weak refereeing meant it was incredibly stop start. Wilder’s frustration showed when he kicked the ball back and a number of bottles got the end of his boot in the Norwich technical area. He was sent to the stands for going into the opposition technical area.
A series of bookings came for both sides as the game threatened to boil over. United continued to have more of the ball but were not creating much. Evans flashed two crosses across the box but United had no one in the box.
Thomas came on for his first league bow at the Lane as Stevens went off with O’Connell going to left back as United changed to a 4-4-2. Carruthers replaced Duffy and got straight into the action but his appeals for a foul were twice denied. Fleck had another effort that went wide and then Maddison hit a shot at Blackman. There had been few chances of note and Norwich continued to defend in numbers. Norwich broke and had a decent shout for a penalty waved away but Maddison’s ridiculous antics after this as he was subbed really should have seen him given a red card.
Freeman had taken a whack to his chest and was clearly struggling and had to go off replaced by Baldock.
The referee adjudged that the timewasting tactics City had employed would mean there would be an additional 6 minutes. This seemed generous on the visitors who had been at it all day. Brooks fired over and United could not force a meaningful chance as the visitors celebrated wildly on full time on what was an incredibly frustrating afternoon for the home side.
United – We deserved something from the game and the effort was there all game. We had more of the ball, forced them back and created lots of pressure. However, we conceded a poor goal and in truth they had the best chances over the course of the game (maybe only 4 or 5 other chances all game) and other than Brooks effort first half, I am not sure the keeper for them had much to do at all. For all the huffing and puffing, we never really looked like scoring. A few balls bounced across the box but I cannot recall even a good chance second half other than a few set plays or pull backs that no one got on the end of. Today we did not have that spark we needed and I honestly feel we could be still playing now and still not score!
I thought the midfield did not support the striker/s enough and we needed to get men beyond them and simply get more bodies into the box but it never happened and they sat back and repelled everything we threw at them. As I say it was not lack of effort but a real lack of quality and we looked a bit devoid of ideas when we got in the last third. Norwich were no better but they showed one bit of quality; got a goal and were able to hold it.
At times, our passing was sloppy today and we gave it away quite a few times first half with all of the defence guilty at one time or another. They could have got in before they did. I felt we improved as the game went on and started to keep it more and play with more urgency but the lack of options up top really hurt us. Evans was really poor (I know he is injured) but his touch and basic control was appalling most of the game. He did put a few crosses in but the centre halves had an easy game except the odd run from Brooks. He was our main threat and the one who looked like doing something. I felt the midfield trio all had poorest games for some time and that they made some bad decisions with and without the ball. The wing backs also did not really threaten going forward.
United were ok and were far from poor and it was a game that should have ended 0-0 but we lost. Norwich will say it was a perfect away performance in terms of getting a goal and defending it with the keeper well protected throughout. They were ugly in how they did it but they won’t care and neither will their fans. United have to be a bit cleverer and a bit better as they face teams that will do what Norwich did at home. That is where the lack of pace (and height today) will really hurt us as the season goes on and this issue is the one area that as superb as Wilder has done, he has simply not addressed. This allows teams to sit back.
It is far from the end of the world. We are having some rotten luck with injuries and next week will be tough if we have most of these out as I do not know where the goals are coming from (we don’t get goals from the midfield at the moment) so hope at least a few of them might be fit. Seems Freeman will be out which is a blow even though Baldock looks promising. Going to be a big week for Wilder preparing them for next Sunday and he will just hope he had some players back. If we do we have nothing to fear going there although they have not lost since the opening day and haver a very good home record. Key will be midfield for me. If those 3 can get back to standards they have set then we will be right in the game with a chance of winning if we do have at least one striker back.
Norwich – They got the goal and saw it out. It felt it was a bit smash and grab but then the reality is they did not have much to worry about in terms of clear chances or good efforts on goal. They got men in the way and broke things up and defended really well. They have now kept three clean sheets so clearly not down to luck as they have brought in two no nonsense big lads who both played well. They scored a decent goal and had a few other breaks but they did what they had to
The major gripe is the cynical, time wasting and cheating they employed to slow the game down at every opportunity. It is of course up to the referee to penalise and they tried it on all game and kept doing it as he was not penalising them. They were horrible to watch and some of the antics were embarrassing but will say it worked. Not sure it will work most weeks and were fortunate they caught us with 5 strikers injured. In general play United were better in a lot of things but crucially they showed that bit of quality in the last third. A horrible side to watch mind and not sure I would want to watch that every week if that is how they go about winning games.
Farke has clearly worked on the organisation and the defence and taken out players like Hoolahan and Martin; mainstays as he looks to shape his own team. They of course have a few out (like us) due to injury but I am not sure I saw enough to suggest they will be anything other than mid table. Teams with any kind of attack and quality (including us with players we had out) I feel would have beaten them today and a stronger ref may not have seen them so successful. They did press us and harry us and got amongst us though. We had the least amount of time on the ball we have had all season at home and this pressure saw us not be as effective at creating things.
Opposition Man of the Match: Thought they worked hard and closed us down and all did their job for the team. Sure, they used a lot of ‘gamesmanship’ but that is up to the referee to stamp out. Though the lad Tettey was good at breaking up play and never gave out midfield lads a moment. However, the two centre halves were outstanding (did not play much) and repelled everything we put into the box. The lad Klose stood out and takes the honours. They were missing main striker themselves (Oliveira – worth mentioning amongst all the talk of our bereft forward line) but had a few neat and tidy players and broke well when they could but most of best work was defensive. Jerome may be getting on but did hold it up and did all the things we needed of someone up top. He was not flashy or much of a goal threat but brought others into play. The lad Murphy was also lively too.
Opposition Weak link: Not sure there was anyone who was really bad. They were all steady. The lad Trybull was a bit cynical and he also gave it away quite a bit but Norwich had a lot of 6-7/10 players really.
