United 0 Wednesday 0 - report

[Deadbat]

The second steel city derby of the season ended in a dour goalless stalemate as an understrength Wednesday side managed to gain for them a positive result under new manager Jos Luhukay at a packed Bramall Lane. The game was a poor one and despite Wednesday being reduced to ten men when Glen Loovens was sent off on 64 minutes; United failed to break down a compact and organised Owls side. Clayton Donaldson and Leon Clarke both had good chances for United, whilst Ross Wallace and Adam Reach brought out saves from Simon Moore but in truth a draw was a fair result.


Manager Chris Wilder did not spring any real surprises reverting to the eleven that played at Derby with the three newcomers Ryan Leonard, Lee Evans ad James Wilson on the bench. Rumours before the game surfaced that Ricky Holmes was about to sign for the Blades also. Leon Clarke captained the side. Wednesday were missing several key men but still featured an experienced side that had multi million-pound signings and international players. They started with a formation intended to match up with United.


The teams came out to a vibrant atmosphere around the old stadium and as both team huddled up, the tension was palatable. United began well moving it around nicely with Fleck, O’Connell and Stevens linking down the left and Donaldson busy early. An early chance saw Lundstram try a delicate effort that floated just over the bar. After this United moved it around well and won a corner but they did create anything of note.


Wednesday won a corner of their own and had a Palmer shot blocked before Stevens sent a cross into the box that evaded everyone. Rhodes headed meekly wide and Joao then chipped over before Donaldson had an effort blocked. It was a relatively even contest now after United had began well. Donaldson was cynically scythed down by Loovens to earn him a yellow card before O’Connell just missed connecting with a free kick.


Fleck drove at the opposition and his driving run was halted by a cynical foul that led to a booking for Venancio. Duffy took the kick but it was disappointing and floated it over the bar. Soon after this the half time whistle came.


Donaldson angled a superb header goalwards and Wildsmith sprang up and tipped over. It was a superb save denying a certain goal. Pudil then volleyed wide at the other end before Wallace forced Moore into a low save. Fleck had a shot blocked by his own man. United won a series of corners but were wasteful and the game was very scrappy but a little more open than the first half.


Wilson was being readied by United but before he could get on; there was a significant moment in the game. Clarke played the ball down the left wing and Loovens tangled with Donaldson and seemed to upend the striker. Referee Coote saw this as another yellow card and that meant the long walk off the field from the Owls skipper as he picked up his second caution and the subsequent red. The free kick was cleared before Wilson came on for Donaldson.


Rhodes came off for Boyd as Wednesday now had more men behind the ball but they were causing problems when they broke out but United continued to have most of the ball.


Lundstram then shot wide before Wilson tested Wildsmith with a low shot. Duffy had been quiet but his low cross was nearly turned into his own net by Venancio. A poor tackle from Wallace should have seen a red card for the midfielder as Fleck held his leg but the awful over the top tackle only earned a yellow card. Clarke had a great chance from a free kick but somehow he headed wide under little pressure.


After this the game became a bit stop start with United wasting several decent chances in the final third to cause problems whilst Wednesday put on Nuhiu for Joao.


The game entered the final few minutes but United had struggled to create too much with the ten men resolute and looking dangerous on the break. From a free kick they won wide; the ball came in and Moore and Stearman both went for it and the keeper fell clutching his back after the ball was sent out off the box. He had to react quickly as Reach hit a great dipping half volley that looked destined for the net; but Moore tipped over superbly. He did well to save this as clearly had injured himself. He then had to save an easier effort pushing away from Walllace’s shot from the angle. United broke out and Baldock nearly got in down the right before Lundstram wildy blazed over when well placed. That seemed to be it and sure enough and referee David Coote brought an end to proceedings soon after.


The two reactions from players and fans told a story. United got a round of applause from the Kop as they trooped towards them whilst Wednesday players tossed shirts into their end with many bouncing up and down to celebrate the draw.


United – Came away very disappointed which is odd. We have picked up 4 points from 6 against them, are much higher than our rivals and around the top 6 compared to their bottom half position. At the start of the season you would definitely take that and would have been delighted. However of course playing them at home, with them having a weaker side than they could have and in a bit of disarray on and off the field; you expected us to win. Nothing wrong with that confidence. The game was a poor. A draw was fair and even after they went down to 10 we simply did not do enough to win. A few players did not seize the chance and play like they can do. Quite a few of them just played better at Hillsborough and were braver. Too many were safe and took easy option and seemed more worried about us losing. We needed to take the game to them more and get the ball in the box. Run at them, get some shots in, get wide. We just passed it around and kept it but to what end did this achieve?


We started ok but did not create too much and then it just sort of petered out. They defended in numbers and even had a few good chances on the break but we did not do enough. We needed to move it more and try and stretch them more but it was too slow and ended up being nice pretty football but pretty ineffective sadly. No one was awful for United although key man Clarke had his worst game for a while but no one was brilliant. You could say the same about the opponents. Regardless of who they had out there and that they are our rivals, you look at the position in the league and we need to win games like that. We are tossing away too many points at home and the performances are lacking the same energy, vibrancy of earlier in the season. Most should have been fresh having nearly 2 weeks off. Maybe teams have worked us out a bit and teams keep matching us up formation wise, which is real respect to us I suppose. However, when Clarke or Duffy are not quite at it, we do not look like creating chances. Missing Brooks is not helping and the wing backs/wide centre back appalling final ball/decisions are not helping. Wilder is right from tee to green we are fine but sadly what you do in the two boxes decides games and we are looking a bit clueless in the final third of our opponents at the moment.


We had over 100 more passes than them and dominated possession on the ball (64%) but we had less attempts on goal than them and simply did not do near enough. It was the same as the Bolton game. Everything in front of the other team and never got behind them either wide or down the centre. We looked a bit clueless at times and it was not down to great defending or lots of pressing. The opposition was well organised and resolute but were not doing anything amazing and gave a us a lot of time on the ball but we just wasted it or made poor decisions.


We are not playing dreadful but are quite average at the moment and do not look like going on long winning runs. In truth we do not look like winning more than the odd game let alone 2 or 3 in a row and have some tough games to come now.


One concern is that earlier in the season we would play maybe 3 or 4 good games and then a bad game and then get back on track. Now it is a couple of decent ones, then a few bad ones and then an average one. We are very inconsistent at the moment and the form and results is poor and more relegation form sadly. We have won 1 in 10 and that was against a woeful Sunderland side who have just been dismantled again at Cardiff. We have had two straight games against two quite poor sides on paper and actually in real terms (what we saw on the day) in Bolton and Wednesday that we could not break down or score against.


Nice to see 3 new players and maybe Holmes on the way in too and with Brooks coming back too. We should have lot of options (Lundstram, Leonard, Fleck, Evans, Duffy, Brooks, Holmes?, Clarke, Donaldson, Sharp, Wilson all competing for 5 slots if we play current formation). The defence has been mostly fine and we have tightened up in this area but attacking wise chances and goals have dried up and we need to change it up a bit and have a different plan. The passing and knocking it square and tip tap stuff is fine but it needs some mixture. We need to get beyond teams and turn teams. Teams are sitting deep and sitting in and we do not have pace to get behind them.


We also need to work on our corners and set plays. The corners are dreadful at the moment. We rarely look like scoring and often just waste them.


We now have a tricky game at Norwich; I can never remember us winning there? We always seem to lose – did we beat them 3-2 with a Brown and Tonge inspired win in early 2000’s? After this we seem to have lost quite a few but been a while since we have gone there. We need to get back to winning ways soon. We have some tough games against Villa and Leeds at home and go to Wolves so things do not get any easier. However, we have been better against the better teams recently like Villa and Derby than poorer side like Bolton and Wednesday so maybe when teams come out more it might help us.

 

[Deadbat]

Wednesday – Credit to them. They matched us up formation wise and defended well. I felt we played into their hands and did not do enough to stretch them. Still they got men in the way, tackled, fought and blocked. They were well organised, disciplined and did break a few times and could argue they had as many attempts as we did. They even made Moore make 2 or 3 saves. We only maybe offered 1 decent effort on goal (2 or 3 wide). They started the game poorly and we were well on top but we failed to create much and then the game became scrappy which suited them. They did not play much football I felt but still had a few decent long-range efforts and could have even nicked it. They were all workmanlike. The defence did not make many mistakes and the keeper was sound too. Most of the team were solid and professional. They fouled and were niggly but that is fine in the sense they were fighting for each other.


The new managers first job is to get them fit and organised. He needs players back and maybe needs to change the whole training regime if players are not fit or always injured. Maybe it is bad luck but often wonder when lots of players for the same club keep getting injuries. As for the rest of the season; they are too far off the top 6 and won’t be sucked into the bottom I do not think. Be interesting what happens in the summer – no offence to the new guy; but the appointment suggests they are not throwing as much funds at it as they have done and the lack of movement in January with all the injuries they have suggests FFP is an issue and will be in the summer. They have a lot of ageing or journeyman players on big wages and contracts that will be hard to shift and do not see many getting better. People like Jones, Butterfield, Fletcher, Rhodes, Hunt etc I am not sure are better than mid table Champ players at best. They have not the same production line as us from the Academy although the lad Clare came on (Hirst will move on for small compensation in the summer) so will have to wheel and deal a bit.


They do have some good players I admit that and many have badly underperformed this season when they have played. They can blame the previous manager all they want but individuals have to take some responsibility. The keeper Westwood is decent (had a poorer season) and they have some solid centre backs in Loovens, Lees and then some decent midfielders in the likes of Lees and Wallace (although was an arse last night). Their best players are Bannan, Hooper and Forestieri. None played last night so will point to that in the point they gained. If they get them three back they will move up the league but be too late for the top 6 I think. Their fans are still a bit deluded about how good they are and all this nonsense about how they would not swap any players for our eleven is biased rubbish. Certainly, whilst I admire the players I discuss above who may have better pedigrees or past, United have some players that may have come from the lower leagues but have proved this season they are good players and many can get even better as are good ages – the likes of Moore, Baldock, O’Connell, Fleck, Brookes. Add in Clarke, Duffy and a few others and our side and even squad with the new signings is certainly comparable to theirs despite their assertions it was all down the Carlos. The league table attests to this.


Opposition Man of the Match: Pudil played really well and headed and cleared everything and was first to the ball ahead of Clarke on a lot of occasions. He was maybe the stand out defender from a resolute back line. The two others both got booked and sent off but did well although Loovens was stupid to leave his feet twice. Joao worked hard and held the ball up quite well. He also chased the ball down a lot. Nobody was really poor for Wednesday and they all must have raised their games from some recent abject displays. They all put a real shift in last night and matched our work rate which has been one of our strengths but teams recently are matching us in that regard so we need to raise it again.



Opposition Weak link : Nobody was particularly poor. I felt the lad in midfield Jones was anonymous as Fleck and Duffy dictated for long spells in terms of ball possession. Palmer was someone who was sloppy a few times but did not take advantage. Rhodes was probably the quietest performer. Whether it was 8 million or 11 million; his signing is looking an expensive mistake. He had one flicked header wide but did nothing of note. He does not even work that hard. To be honest everything we have said about Sharp you could say about him. If he is not scoring then what does he actually do? Wallace was really poor I felt and other than one or two jinking runs resorted to fouling, arguing and trying to ref the game.


Moore 7/10 – Made a great save at the end when he hurt his back – mix up between him and Stearman. He made a few other more routine saves and kind of bobbed one from Wallace out which he got a bit lucky. Crucial save though that preserved a point at the end.


Baldock 6.5/10 – He was better than Stevens and a bit more composed on the ball but he too was a bit wasteful with the ball and I felt he rushed things or did not find the right quality when we needed it. He does keep going up and down the flank and has good energy but he needs to show more quality when it matters. Defensively he did ok and only once did they get away from him.


Stevens 5/10 – I think he continued his poor play from the last month or so. So sloppy on the ball and at times left gaps when he defended. He lost it twice setting them on the attack. His final cross/pass when he goes forward has been woeful. He kicks them too far, hits the first man rarely finds a red and white shirt. He may be better just trying to hit an area (penalty spot) as at the moment it is incredible how many times he gets in a good position but wastes things. Kept falling over too and was slipping and sliding all over.


Basham 5.5/10 – Defensively he was ok actually. He made interceptions and got his foot in and did not make any mistakes but when he went forward he was woeful. He overplayed the ball 3 times and then he kicked a cross into the Kop under no pressure. He has to do much better than he has been recently with the ball as he has been so careless. Technically he is very poor but not sure he will improve in this area. A great servant to United but at times you do wonder (tin hat time) if United want to keep moving on; that we need to upgrade especially with the type of football/formation we play which needs defenders to show more quality.


O’Connell 7/10 – Fine tonight and as at Derby he got back to standards of earlier in the season. Defended well for the most part and won his headers/tackles. He was a bit wasteful with some balls forward but kept plugging away. Another whose final ball was poor though. He also goes up for corners and gets his head on the ball but he has missed so many chances this season the odd time we get a decent corner in.


Stearman 7/10 – Might have been our best player. He was very good and as he has been last few weeks did not do anything wrong (maybe the mix up with Moore at the end but at least both went for it and not sure if a shout came or not). He played Rhodes really well and used the ball too when he could. He has been excellent recently. I also thought he passed it as well as anyone in the side. People forget that when they advocate Wright playing ahead of him but Stearman is more mobile and better with the ball. I do not think this bad run has anything what to do with this change in the side (Coutts, lack of form of others etc are the real reason).


Fleck 7/10 – Decent game. Not amazing and did bits in flashes with a few driving runs and decent passes but flitted in and out of the game. Probably wanted him to get on the ball more and drive at them even more as when he did they fouled him or were worried but another who played it sideways and backwards. We needed more forward passes. Still when he gets on the ball he is quality and you can see why a few Prem teams are allegedly looking at him. He is a classic box to box midfielder that can tackle, good on the ball, can pass and a decent athlete. Only weakness is he does not score enough goals.


Lundstram 5.5/10 – Not a great game. He is too inconsistent at the moment and has one good game and then one poor one. He has improved since he came in but we need much more than he showed today. He played everything at such a slow pace and needed several touches to make simple passes or tried that silly diagonal balls that comes off now and again but often allows teams to get players across as it is in the air for so long. He gave it away a few times too and just looked too slow in terms of how he moved and what he did. He is not strong enough for a lad his size too. His two shots were pathetic second half and wasted two decent chances we had to stretch them. With Leonard and Evans now here; he has to play much better than that to keep his place. Wilder will not drop Fleck or Duffy I feel so he is the most at risk in the midfield and the performance in a big game was very average at best last night.


Duffy 6/10 – Not really his night tonight. He never hid and I felt as always tried to get on the ball. He is clearly now a marked man and teams know most of the good stuff we do goes through him. At times his final ball was rushed and did not come off. His free kicks were also poor including a good chance first half when he floated over. Second half as they got more men behind the ball we were relying on him to make chances. If Brooks had been fit then he would have come on today. This is where Holmes also can help.


Donaldson 7/10 – Thought he looked quite lively a times and was by far the better of the two. Had out best chance and effort with the header and also ran the channels well and induced Loovens into two yellow cards. He has been decent recently and still has some pace over short distances. I am not sure him and Clarke always works as a pair though and can see why Wilson has been brought in to add extra options up top with a smaller player who can link more and maybe be more of a box player.


Clarke 4/10 – Thought he was really poor last night. Looked like the Clarke we saw to start last season and the one I remember from the various other clubs he has played for. Looked a bit disinterested which is odd. You know with him what kind of game he is going to have and when he failed to hold the ball up twice early on and kind of ambled about (his work rate has been tremendous) you sensed it might be an ‘Old Clarke’ night. He did not really have any chances other than the header he badly missed and did not link that well with Donaldson. As Wilder said as a pair they were a long way off from standards at Derby. He was not hooked off but you can see why as leading scorer in the division and always still a threat.


Subs:


Wilson – Thought he was quiet when he came on and not sure I would have gone for him over Sharp. He would have been desperate to make an impact as a Blade. Wilson had one low shot and tried to link a few times. Bit taller than I thought and looked quite sprightly. Be good to see more of him.


Manager: Wilder 6/10 – The team were pumped up and started the game well and moved it about but did not create too much. I felt their shape matching us up meant we struggled to find gaps and that we did not change it too much. As with Bolton we kept doing the same things with the same lack of output at the end. I am not sure he should have changed the formation but I would have looked at a few more subs and I also would have looked at maybe changing how we played more. Even going a bit more direct or simply just knocking a few more balls behind the centre backs and getting them turned. Everything was in front of them and made it easy. As the game carried on we never really looked like opening them up too many times.


Officials – David Coote. Reffed us v Bristol City and had sent Fleck off deservedly. The overall game he was fine really. He tried to let things flow and only stopped in when he had to. The yellow cards were all deserved and Wednesday did make a few cynical fouls. The red card was an odd one. I felt that the first definitely was but that the second was a bit harsh. It was more clumsy than anything else and I think if a United player had got a second yellow for that I would have been disappointed but the referee under current rules may have got marked down for it so I can see why he gave it in a way.


The main other controversy was the Wallace one. An awful tackle just like the Fleck one he was sent off for. Before this he had fouled a man in the first half, then moaned at the ref and kicked it away and did not get a yellow. He then committed two more fouls even before the over the top challenge. He should have been sent off even before the bad tackle he did near the end – then he tried to con the ref into a foul by diving. I counted 5 yellow cards for him and 1 red card!


My biggest gripe other than the miss of the Wallace red card; was them unwilling to see players stealing yards on throws and free kicks. It may seem a minor thing but a few times full backs were getting 10-15 yards extra on throw.


Crowd – Nice to see the Lane full. Started off really loud and loved the Ian Brown song ‘F.E.A.R.’ as the teams came out (not that big a fan of the Kasabian one) and this ramped up the tension but some have said it maybe went on a bit too long and a bit too loud – leave it to the natural crowd reaction – apparently was Wilder’s choice though!


The noise was good as the players huddled and the GCB song was as loud as it has been for a long, long time. We began well and the crowd were behind them but then the game became scrappy and crowd became a bit frustrated. After this there were pockets of noise but it was not the sort of game were either side’s fans were vocal throughout and went in phases. Wednesday’s fans got behind the team and appreciated the efforts and at the end celebrated it like a win with many fans replicating the players pumping their fists as the players threw their shirts into the crowd. It seemed a bit over the top when nearly every single one of the Wednesday players earn more than their counterparts at the Lane regardless of their place in the pecking order in terms of team selection.


Did not see too much trouble. It was busy near the Nelson with a few flares being lit and masses of fans but most of town was of course Blades fans. When I got to the Lane walked down Bramall Lane and was told we could not get that way by a line of police – they simply allowed us then to walk round them and down Bramall Lane anyway. It was all a bit odd. I know they sealed it off after the game. Just after we did walk off we heard a lot of shouting and then heard some bangs (fireworks/flares) and it seemed there had been some clashes but apparently not anything that significant. Disappointing to see that idiot chuck a bottle on the pitch when their lad trooped off after being red carded.


We have some more big games at home in Leeds and Villa and hope we can see some more positive results and more excitement than we saw last night as for all the anticipation and build up it did not match the game in September (regardless of the result and even if either side had nicked it- was still a poorish game).

 

[metalblade]

Wednesday – Credit to them. They matched us up formation wise and defended well. I felt we played into their hands and did not do enough to stretch them. Still they got men in the way, tackled, fought and blocked. They were well organised, disciplined and did break a few times and could argue they had as many attempts as we did. They even made Moore make 2 or 3 saves. We only maybe offered 1 decent effort on goal (2 or 3 wide). They started the game poorly and we were well on top but we failed to create much and then the game became scrappy which suited them. They did not play much football I felt but still had a few decent long-range efforts and could have even nicked it. They were all workmanlike. The defence did not make many mistakes and the keeper was sound too. Most of the team were solid and professional. They fouled and were niggly but that is fine in the sense they were fighting for each other.


The new managers first job is to get them fit and organised. He needs players back and maybe needs to change the whole training regime if players are not fit or always injured. Maybe it is bad luck but often wonder when lots of players for the same club keep getting injuries. As for the rest of the season; they are too far off the top 6 and won’t be sucked into the bottom I do not think. Be interesting what happens in the summer – no offence to the new guy; but the appointment suggests they are not throwing as much funds at it as they have done and the lack of movement in January with all the injuries they have suggests FFP is an issue and will be in the summer. They have a lot of ageing or journeyman players on big wages and contracts that will be hard to shift and do not see many getting better. People like Jones, Butterfield, Fletcher, Rhodes, Hunt etc I am not sure are better than mid table Champ players at best. They have not the same production line as us from the Academy although the lad Clare came on (Hirst will move on for small compensation in the summer) so will have to wheel and deal a bit.


They do have some good players I admit that and many have badly underperformed this season when they have played. They can blame the previous manager all they want but individuals have to take some responsibility. The keeper Westwood is decent (had a poorer season) and they have some solid centre backs in Loovens, Lees and then some decent midfielders in the likes of Lees and Wallace (although was an arse last night). Their best players are Bannan, Hooper and Forestieri. None played last night so will point to that in the point they gained. If they get them three back they will move up the league but be too late for the top 6 I think. Their fans are still a bit deluded about how good they are and all this nonsense about how they would not swap any players for our eleven is biased rubbish. Certainly, whilst I admire the players I discuss above who may have better pedigrees or past, United have some players that may have come from the lower leagues but have proved this season they are good players and many can get even better as are good ages – the likes of Moore, Baldock, O’Connell, Fleck, Brookes. Add in Clarke, Duffy and a few others and our side and even squad with the new signings is certainly comparable to theirs despite their assertions it was all down the Carlos. The league table attests to this.


Opposition Man of the Match: Pudil played really well and headed and cleared everything and was first to the ball ahead of Clarke on a lot of occasions. He was maybe the stand out defender from a resolute back line. The two others both got booked and sent off but did well although Loovens was stupid to leave his feet twice. Joao worked hard and held the ball up quite well. He also chased the ball down a lot. Nobody was really poor for Wednesday and they all must have raised their games from some recent abject displays. They all put a real shift in last night and matched our work rate which has been one of our strengths but teams recently are matching us in that regard so we need to raise it again.



Opposition Weak link : Nobody was particularly poor. I felt the lad in midfield Jones was anonymous as Fleck and Duffy dictated for long spells in terms of ball possession. Palmer was someone who was sloppy a few times but did not take advantage. Rhodes was probably the quietest performer. Whether it was 8 million or 11 million; his signing is looking an expensive mistake. He had one flicked header wide but did nothing of note. He does not even work that hard. To be honest everything we have said about Sharp you could say about him. If he is not scoring then what does he actually do? Wallace was really poor I felt and other than one or two jinking runs resorted to fouling, arguing and trying to ref the game.


Moore 7/10 – Made a great save at the end when he hurt his back – mix up between him and Stearman. He made a few other more routine saves and kind of bobbed one from Wallace out which he got a bit lucky. Crucial save though that preserved a point at the end.


Baldock 6.5/10 – He was better than Stevens and a bit more composed on the ball but he too was a bit wasteful with the ball and I felt he rushed things or did not find the right quality when we needed it. He does keep going up and down the flank and has good energy but he needs to show more quality when it matters. Defensively he did ok and only once did they get away from him.


Stevens 5/10 – I think he continued his poor play from the last month or so. So sloppy on the ball and at times left gaps when he defended. He lost it twice setting them on the attack. His final cross/pass when he goes forward has been woeful. He kicks them too far, hits the first man rarely finds a red and white shirt. He may be better just trying to hit an area (penalty spot) as at the moment it is incredible how many times he gets in a good position but wastes things. Kept falling over too and was slipping and sliding all over.


Basham 5.5/10 – Defensively he was ok actually. He made interceptions and got his foot in and did not make any mistakes but when he went forward he was woeful. He overplayed the ball 3 times and then he kicked a cross into the Kop under no pressure. He has to do much better than he has been recently with the ball as he has been so careless. Technically he is very poor but not sure he will improve in this area. A great servant to United but at times you do wonder (tin hat time) if United want to keep moving on; that we need to upgrade especially with the type of football/formation we play which needs defenders to show more quality.


O’Connell 7/10 – Fine tonight and as at Derby he got back to standards of earlier in the season. Defended well for the most part and won his headers/tackles. He was a bit wasteful with some balls forward but kept plugging away. Another whose final ball was poor though. He also goes up for corners and gets his head on the ball but he has missed so many chances this season the odd time we get a decent corner in.


Stearman 7/10 – Might have been our best player. He was very good and as he has been last few weeks did not do anything wrong (maybe the mix up with Moore at the end but at least both went for it and not sure if a shout came or not). He played Rhodes really well and used the ball too when he could. He has been excellent recently. I also thought he passed it as well as anyone in the side. People forget that when they advocate Wright playing ahead of him but Stearman is more mobile and better with the ball. I do not think this bad run has anything what to do with this change in the side (Coutts, lack of form of others etc are the real reason).


Fleck 7/10 – Decent game. Not amazing and did bits in flashes with a few driving runs and decent passes but flitted in and out of the game. Probably wanted him to get on the ball more and drive at them even more as when he did they fouled him or were worried but another who played it sideways and backwards. We needed more forward passes. Still when he gets on the ball he is quality and you can see why a few Prem teams are allegedly looking at him. He is a classic box to box midfielder that can tackle, good on the ball, can pass and a decent athlete. Only weakness is he does not score enough goals.


Lundstram 5.5/10 – Not a great game. He is too inconsistent at the moment and has one good game and then one poor one. He has improved since he came in but we need much more than he showed today. He played everything at such a slow pace and needed several touches to make simple passes or tried that silly diagonal balls that comes off now and again but often allows teams to get players across as it is in the air for so long. He gave it away a few times too and just looked too slow in terms of how he moved and what he did. He is not strong enough for a lad his size too. His two shots were pathetic second half and wasted two decent chances we had to stretch them. With Leonard and Evans now here; he has to play much better than that to keep his place. Wilder will not drop Fleck or Duffy I feel so he is the most at risk in the midfield and the performance in a big game was very average at best last night.


Duffy 6/10 – Not really his night tonight. He never hid and I felt as always tried to get on the ball. He is clearly now a marked man and teams know most of the good stuff we do goes through him. At times his final ball was rushed and did not come off. His free kicks were also poor including a good chance first half when he floated over. Second half as they got more men behind the ball we were relying on him to make chances. If Brooks had been fit then he would have come on today. This is where Holmes also can help.


Donaldson 7/10 – Thought he looked quite lively a times and was by far the better of the two. Had out best chance and effort with the header and also ran the channels well and induced Loovens into two yellow cards. He has been decent recently and still has some pace over short distances. I am not sure him and Clarke always works as a pair though and can see why Wilson has been brought in to add extra options up top with a smaller player who can link more and maybe be more of a box player.


Clarke 4/10 – Thought he was really poor last night. Looked like the Clarke we saw to start last season and the one I remember from the various other clubs he has played for. Looked a bit disinterested which is odd. You know with him what kind of game he is going to have and when he failed to hold the ball up twice early on and kind of ambled about (his work rate has been tremendous) you sensed it might be an ‘Old Clarke’ night. He did not really have any chances other than the header he badly missed and did not link that well with Donaldson. As Wilder said as a pair they were a long way off from standards at Derby. He was not hooked off but you can see why as leading scorer in the division and always still a threat.


Subs:


Wilson – Thought he was quiet when he came on and not sure I would have gone for him over Sharp. He would have been desperate to make an impact as a Blade. Wilson had one low shot and tried to link a few times. Bit taller than I thought and looked quite sprightly. Be good to see more of him.


Manager: Wilder 6/10 – The team were pumped up and started the game well and moved it about but did not create too much. I felt their shape matching us up meant we struggled to find gaps and that we did not change it too much. As with Bolton we kept doing the same things with the same lack of output at the end. I am not sure he should have changed the formation but I would have looked at a few more subs and I also would have looked at maybe changing how we played more. Even going a bit more direct or simply just knocking a few more balls behind the centre backs and getting them turned. Everything was in front of them and made it easy. As the game carried on we never really looked like opening them up too many times.


Officials – David Coote. Reffed us v Bristol City and had sent Fleck off deservedly. The overall game he was fine really. He tried to let things flow and only stopped in when he had to. The yellow cards were all deserved and Wednesday did make a few cynical fouls. The red card was an odd one. I felt that the first definitely was but that the second was a bit harsh. It was more clumsy than anything else and I think if a United player had got a second yellow for that I would have been disappointed but the referee under current rules may have got marked down for it so I can see why he gave it in a way.


The main other controversy was the Wallace one. An awful tackle just like the Fleck one he was sent off for. Before this he had fouled a man in the first half, then moaned at the ref and kicked it away and did not get a yellow. He then committed two more fouls even before the over the top challenge. He should have been sent off even before the bad tackle he did near the end – then he tried to con the ref into a foul by diving. I counted 5 yellow cards for him and 1 red card!


My biggest gripe other than the miss of the Wallace red card; was them unwilling to see players stealing yards on throws and free kicks. It may seem a minor thing but a few times full backs were getting 10-15 yards extra on throw.


Crowd – Nice to see the Lane full. Started off really loud and loved the Ian Brown song ‘F.E.A.R.’ as the teams came out (not that big a fan of the Kasabian one) and this ramped up the tension but some have said it maybe went on a bit too long and a bit too loud – leave it to the natural crowd reaction – apparently was Wilder’s choice though!


The noise was good as the players huddled and the GCB song was as loud as it has been for a long, long time. We began well and the crowd were behind them but then the game became scrappy and crowd became a bit frustrated. After this there were pockets of noise but it was not the sort of game were either side’s fans were vocal throughout and went in phases. Wednesday’s fans got behind the team and appreciated the efforts and at the end celebrated it like a win with many fans replicating the players pumping their fists as the players threw their shirts into the crowd. It seemed a bit over the top when nearly every single one of the Wednesday players earn more than their counterparts at the Lane regardless of their place in the pecking order in terms of team selection.


Did not see too much trouble. It was busy near the Nelson with a few flares being lit and masses of fans but most of town was of course Blades fans. When I got to the Lane walked down Bramall Lane and was told we could not get that way by a line of police – they simply allowed us then to walk round them and down Bramall Lane anyway. It was all a bit odd. I know they sealed it off after the game. Just after we did walk off we heard a lot of shouting and then heard some bangs (fireworks/flares) and it seemed there had been some clashes but apparently not anything that significant. Disappointing to see that idiot chuck a bottle on the pitch when their lad trooped off after being red carded.


We have some more big games at home in Leeds and Villa and hope we can see some more positive results and more excitement than we saw last night as for all the anticipation and build up it did not match the game in September (regardless of the result and even if either side had nicked it- was still a poorish game).

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

Can the owners of this, left on the pitch at Bramall Lane last night, please come and collect it as it stinks of pig shit!

 

[Camden Blade]

Agree Basham and Lunny were poor last night. I would start Leonard ahead of Lunny in games to come. Possibly even go 442 witth Evans in for Bash and just have 2 centre backs Jack and Stearman. And I do like Bash a lot but he looks tired of late and Lunny has a good engine but he's not a game changer. Leonard and Evans or Holmes if he signs look like they are. Our motm last night was Simon Moore!

 

[Steve Mackan]

Nice one Deadbat - think the scores are a tad harsh but mostly accurate

Deffo think it's time to see a freshening up. Leonard for Bash or Lunny. If, when we sign Holmes, we might go 3 4 2 1 with holmes next to duffy

 

[Deadbat]

Agree Basham and Lunny were poor last night. I would start Leonard ahead of Lunny in games to come. Possibly even go 442 witth Evans in for Bash and just have 2 centre backs Jack and Stearman. And I do like Bash a lot but he looks tired of late and Lunny has a good engine but he's not a game changer. Leonard and Evans or Holmes if he signs look like they are. Our motm last night was Simon Moore!

I love BAsh but in same way we have moved on from players like Hanson, Whiteman, Ebanks Landell etc, I think we will do the same with people like Basham. He is a steady pro and a great lad but his passing is wretched. Stevens another that has to massively up his game. We have to keep evolving and no room for sentiment.

 

[FTPE]

Clarke uninterested? He put a reyt shift in.
It was a completely wasted but he was everywhere and got sod all service going forward.

 

[Pinchy]

Stears was outstanding. Leon’s mark is absurd.

 

[Deadbat]

Clarke uninterested? He put a reyt shift in.
It was a completely wasted but he was everywhere and got sod all service going forward.

I did not see that. I felt he was quite lazy last night. The Weds player marking him got man of the match. He missed a sitter, did not hold the ball up and never a threat all night. Granted service was poor but Clarke did very little. He barely touched the ball 2nd half and after they went down to 10 needed to do more and work harder (say the same about others) but as the captain, leading scorer and talisman he needs to be better in such a huge game. Just my opinion. What did he do well - those who feel I marked him too low?

The ball did not stick with him to allow others to be brought into place, he did not hold it up, did not win many headers/loose balls and was beaten to 50/50's. I am not sure he even chased things down much. I watched the game back this morning and was surprised how bad he was. Most of my Weds mates have sent me pics of Pudil with a pic of Clarke in his pocket. I said it was the same for Stearman with Rhodes to be fair.

I felt Donaldson was much better last night. Clarke has been outstanding this season though. It is one game.

 

[Deaneandagana]

I love BAsh but in same way we have moved on from players like Hanson, Whiteman, Ebanks Landell etc, I think we will do the same with people like Basham. He is a steady pro and a great lad but his passing is wretched. Stevens another that has to massively up his game. We have to keep evolving and no room for sentiment.

It’s a fair point this & it applies to a number of our players - Wilder alluded to this in his post match interview.

In order to progress Wilder needs to upgrade certain individuals, no criticism meant but it’s the only way we will improve.

 

[Jehovah]

Agree about Lundstram. We're all willing him to kick on but he's too stop start. He gets dropped for me at Norwich.

 

[super_pig]

I did not see that. I felt he was quite lazy last night. The Weds player marking him got man of the match. He missed a sitter, did not hold the ball up and never a threat all night. Granted service was poor but Clarke did very little. He barely touched the ball 2nd half and after they went down to 10 needed to do more and work harder (say the same about others) but as the captain, leading scorer and talisman he needs to be better in such a huge game. Just my opinion. What did he do well - those who feel I marked him too low?

The ball did not stick with him to allow others to be brought into place, he did not hold it up, did not win many headers/loose balls and was beaten to 50/50's. I am not sure he even chased things down much. I watched the game back this morning and was surprised how bad he was. Most of my Weds mates have sent me pics of Pudil with a pic of Clarke in his pocket. I said it was the same for Stearman with Rhodes to be fair.

I felt Donaldson was much better last night. Clarke has been outstanding this season though. It is one game.

you have wednesday mates?? .. hmm

 

[Cheets]

Think we won 1-0 at Norwich circa April 1994, the season we got relegated from the Prem (first time).

 

[super_pig]

Agree about Lundstram. We're all willing him to kick on but he's too stop start. He gets dropped for me at Norwich.

stop start literally.. he seems to stop when he us about to play the ball .. strange habit

 

[Deadbat]

Agree about Lundstram. We're all willing him to kick on but he's too stop start. He gets dropped for me at Norwich.

Agree. We cannot carry players now who have 1 good game in 3. Likes of Duffy and Clarke have been consisent but the new player means players cannot have 2 or 3 poor games and retain their places.

Leonard in for Lundstram for me next week.

 

[Deadbat]

Think we won 1-0 at Norwich circa April 1994, the season we got relegated from the Prem (first time).

Nathan Blake - forgot that one?

Remember a 4-2 defeat, another bad one when Carver was manager was it and then lost 1-2 when Warnock gave Worthington the rods at the end when he refused to shake his hand! Also the cup defeat which was a really good performance when Deane and Agana scored in 1988.

 

[blackydog]

Would have given Simon an 8, 7 a bit mean after making some really important saves.

 

[Deadbat]

stop start literally.. he seems to stop when he us about to play the ball .. strange habit

The issues is he slows everything down. He needs 4 or 5 touches to do things and lacks pace. There is often 15-20 yards in front of him but he takes severl touches before making his pass. Carry it on! Commit other players.

 

[Deadbat]

Would have given Simon an 8, 7 a bit mean after making some really important saves.

He made one great save, parried one out that was a bit flappy (from Wallace) and also the great save was after his mix up with Stearman. It was a superb save though.

 

[coolhandluke]

Agree Basham and Lunny were poor last night. I would start Leonard ahead of Lunny in games to come. Possibly even go 442 witth Evans in for Bash and just have 2 centre backs Jack and Stearman. And I do like Bash a lot but he looks tired of late and Lunny has a good engine but he's not a game changer. Leonard and Evans or Holmes if he signs look like they are. Our motm last night was Simon Moore!

Leonard for Basham and Evans for Lunny .

 

[jt64]

Cheers Deadbat, seems an accurate and reasonable assessment all round

 

[super_pig]

The issues is he slows everything down. He needs 4 or 5 touches to do things and lacks pace. There is often 15-20 yards in front of him but he takes severl touches before making his pass. Carry it on! Commit other players.

doesn’t attack the space

 

[Pinchy]

I did not see that. I felt he was quite lazy last night. The Weds player marking him got man of the match. He missed a sitter, did not hold the ball up and never a threat all night. Granted service was poor but Clarke did very little. He barely touched the ball 2nd half and after they went down to 10 needed to do more and work harder (say the same about others) but as the captain, leading scorer and talisman he needs to be better in such a huge game. Just my opinion. What did he do well - those who feel I marked him too low?

The ball did not stick with him to allow others to be brought into place, he did not hold it up, did not win many headers/loose balls and was beaten to 50/50's. I am not sure he even chased things down much. I watched the game back this morning and was surprised how bad he was. Most of my Weds mates have sent me pics of Pudil with a pic of Clarke in his pocket. I said it was the same for Stearman with Rhodes to be fair.

I felt Donaldson was much better last night. Clarke has been outstanding this season though. It is one game.

Bladey Bill would have got a six for that performance.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Think we won 1-0 at Norwich circa April 1994, the season we got relegated from the Prem (first time).

We beat them at Carrow Road on April 3rd 1976. Guthrie, Stainrod and Currie all scored.
A bad signing, a very promising youngster, and a brilliant Currie who couldn't wait to move to Leeds for the money.

 

[Snowman]

I did not see that. I felt he was quite lazy last night. The Weds player marking him got man of the match. He missed a sitter, did not hold the ball up and never a threat all night. Granted service was poor but Clarke did very little. He barely touched the ball 2nd half and after they went down to 10 needed to do more and work harder (say the same about others) but as the captain, leading scorer and talisman he needs to be better in such a huge game. Just my opinion. What did he do well - those who feel I marked him too low?

The ball did not stick with him to allow others to be brought into place, he did not hold it up, did not win many headers/loose balls and was beaten to 50/50's. I am not sure he even chased things down much. I watched the game back this morning and was surprised how bad he was. Most of my Weds mates have sent me pics of Pudil with a pic of Clarke in his pocket. I said it was the same for Stearman with Rhodes to be fair.

I felt Donaldson was much better last night. Clarke has been outstanding this season though. It is one game.

Agree with you DB. Don't know about the mark given, but it seemed his heart wasn't in it. Maybe he's had enough of getting knackered chasing about up front.

 

[robbiez666]

We were strangely subdued until Wallace starting being a wanker and then suddenly players seemed more up for it. We only started chasing them down at a certain stage of the second half.

Bit harsh on Leon. He did a lot of running towards the wings and came back to help out quite often in the second half. He was quiet first half though.

 

[super_pig]

Bladey Bill would have got a six for that performance.

bladey bill would have scored

 

[Wards]

He made one great save, parried one out that was a bit flappy (from Wallace) and also the great save was after his mix up with Stearman. It was a superb save though.

From where I was the save from Wallace was fantastic. Not sure if you had the same angle as I did right behind it in the John st, looked to both move in the air and go through 4 or 5 bodies.

 

[Cheets]

We beat them at Carrow Road on April 3rd 1976. Guthrie, Stainrod and Currie all scored.
A bad signing, a very promising youngster, and a brilliant Currie who couldn't wait to move to Leeds for the money.

Looking forward to the memries of Norwich thread; the 1989 FA Cup tie, the sacking of Porterfield...