United 0 Villa 1 - report

[Woodwardfan]

Great report Deadbat . Spot on for me.
Pretty much how I saw the game.

Not going to get on Leonards case after two games but I thought he was very poor.
It won't surprise me one bit if he is a waste of money, maybe the sofa stats I posted ages ago which suggested he was Carruthers mark2. Not every L1 player is going to make the step up. I saw nothing, so far, to suggest there's a player there. Hope things change for him.

The non inclusion of Duffy was just bizarre, and Widler waited way too long to change this in the second half.

A player who is Player of the Season for 3 years out of 5 at Southend has got something about him, it's obvious.

You seem anxious to broadcast his impending failure come what may. Even when he has played just the two games, one of which we won away at Norwich and one of which we were the better team against the pre-season favourites to go up and who have now won 6 on the trot.

BTW Carruthers is a player. It's just that this is a big pressure club and it sometimes takes longer than 150 minutes to settle in. Poor show sir. Good luck Leonard.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I've now watched the highlights.

The ball for their goal entered the net about 3 feet above the goal line. Whatever anyone says that is too easy. I think keepers and coaches are mixed up with their theory about closing down angles. By all means go out to cut down the angles of a ground shot but FGS go back to close down the angle between the bar and the goal-line for a long dipping high shot. I reckon Hodgy would have leaned to the right to collect that shot comfortably. Seriously, if the keeper had stayed on his line that's all it would have taken.

Before that Stevens let the player go inside, O'Connell went to cover the outside run which he was never going to take and Fleck did nothing. 3 to blame - that's why we have signed Evans who would have barred the way. Also Lundstram can play that role but always seems to be pushed forward. I've commented on that 3 times before. He surely has to be a midfield 'anchor', shifting the ball and playing the odd long ball diagonally.

It will take time for all this to settle,

 

[Grappler]

One thing I will say about Villa, every corner they took seemed to drop in dangerous places in our box, real heart-in-mouth stuff.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I've now watched the highlights.

The ball for their goal entered the net about 3 feet above the goal line. Whatever anyone says that is too easy. I think keepers and coaches are mixed up with their theory about closing down angles. By all means go out to cut down the angles of a ground shot but FGS go back to close down the angle between the bar and the goal-line for a long dipping high shot. I reckon Hodgy would have leaned to the right to collect that shot comfortably. Seriously, if the keeper had stayed on his line that's all it would have taken.

Before that Stevens let the player go inside, O'Connell went to cover the outside run which he was never going to take and Fleck did nothing. 3 to blame - that's why we have signed Evans who would have barred the way. Also Lundstram can play that role but always seems to be pushed forward. I've commented on that 3 times before. He surely has to be a midfield 'anchor', shifting the ball and playing the odd long ball diagonally.

It will take time for all this to settle,

I don't think you're right about Hodgy, despite my admiration for him. The main difference is in the nature of modern footballs - the old leather footballs were heavy, and had virtually no swerve on them, so the goalie had time to assess where the ball was going, and more time to dive across. Stand on your line with the modern, light, swerving football, and it would be in the net before you have moved, especially as Snodgrass shot from more or less on the 18 yard line. Narrowing the angle makes it harder for even the best strikers of the ball, but with a perfect strike, the goalie has no chance.

 

[Deadbat]

Agree Scooter, DB talking bollocks re Clarke.

Game of opinions. Stand by that his form has dropped right off since he signed his new contract. Maybe just a coincidence but his effort was incredible in the run before. He would not give defenders a seconds peace and was a constant threat on the shoulders of defenders. Now he is waiting too much, not winning 50/50 battles as much as he was. The last three home games the Bolton, Wednesday and Villa centre backs have all been commended for their performances and we have lost the battle in this area three straight games for me. We started well, Clarke and Wilson included but 10-15 minutes is not enough. Second half they had an easy ride and Clarke and Wilson did not hold it up, did not close down and were too far apart.

Not sure what he did much of last nigth after the first 10 minutes or so when he held it up and looked lively and I barely noticed him 2nd half. If that had been Sharp he would have got pelters. Regardless of how well he has done this season; and he has been superb he has to get hold of the the ball, chase down and or link with other players to cause problems. Second half he got bottled up. I thought he had no service but then when he went on the run he made things happen with work rate alone and many of his goals was good running off the ball. He was stagnant second half.

I hope I am wrong but history suggests the Clarke purple patch was an aboration in a career full of so many clubs where he has been mainly lower Champ squad player to League One at best. That is not to discount he has had an excellent season but he needs to get back to the form he has shown for us to be successful.

I personally would play Brooks/Holmes and Duffy off Clarke. Think that would cause teams different of problems with the midfield 3 behind. At home it is not working at the moment. We are not winning and failing to score at home so we need to change it as the same approach I am not sure will yield results currently - teams just sit deep, pick us off or wait for the errant pass when we overplay it and the attacks dry up.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I don't think you're right about Hodgy, despite my admiration for him. The main difference is in the nature of modern footballs - the old leather footballs were heavy, and had virtually no swerve on them, so the goalie had time to assess where the ball was going, and more time to dive across. Stand on your line with the modern, light, swerving football, and it would be in the net before you have moved, especially as Snodgrass shot from more or less on the 18 yard line. Narrowing the angle makes it harder for even the best strikers of the ball, but with a perfect strike, the goalie has no chance.

Respect fellow blade, thoughtful and interesting post re the balls and the angles. Were you a keeper?

The stance 6-8 yards from the goal-line certainly reduces the swerve on the modern balls, that's a fact.

I suppose the crux of the matter is how many beat the keepers to the side and how many leave them helpless stranded on the 6 yard line or beyond. I see so many leaving them helpless just watching the ball go in the net after passing them way above their heads.

All keepers do it. I am not criticising United or Moore or Blackman or Howard etc. Funnily enough I don't recall Long being that susceptible for this particular weakness in fact, he saved most long ranged efforts and let in the messy, close ones.

Interesting indeed. Thanks Hodgy.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Respect fellow blade, thoughtful and interesting post re the balls and the angles. Were you a keeper?

The stance 6-8 yards from the goal-line certainly reduces the swerve on the modern balls, that's a fact.

I suppose the crux of the matter is how many beat the keepers to the side and how many leave them helpless stranded on the 6 yard line or beyond. I see so many leaving them helpless just watching the ball go in the net after passing them way above their heads.

All keepers do it. I am not criticising United or Moore or Blackman or Howard etc. Funnily enough I don't recall Long being that susceptible for this particular weakness in fact, he saved most long ranged efforts and let in the messy, close ones.

Interesting indeed. Thanks Hodgy.

Thanks for that. I played badly in goal for many years, but have always liked goalkeepers, partly because they are mad, and partly because they have more time to think about the game and sort things out in front of them. I've also stood/sat behind the goal on the Kop for 60+ years, and it is that that has brought home how difficult the swerve on the ball is - when it is United defending, the dip and swerve on shots terrifies me. From that point alone, the Premier League season 2006-7 was an eye-opener.
On a related matter, the players who do the curling shot into the far corner always seem to be left-footers - last night, Mahrez, Salah, etc, seems to be left-footers who cut in from the right, never right-footers who cut in from the left. Why is that? And have United ever had a player who did this - Hodges comes to mind as capable of it, but I don't remember him ever going on the right. I imagine Brooksy could do it - has he scored goals at youth levels like this? The only United player I 'saw' doing it was young Diego, for Italy under-20s (?), when he scored 2 goals and then got the injury which messed his career up - I remember seeing it on video.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Very good first half performance just needing that oh so important first goal we just need a rub of the green with that can’t fault effort in anyway whatsoever , O’Connell & Wilson very unlucky one of those goes in different game . Evans MOTM linked well with Fleck & first half we were getting joy down the right with Baldock who was also unlucky also with 2 two good efforts .

Think all of us were thinking at half time .. not another Bristol City game please ,
Second half they got a lot tighter on us on the flanks & restricted us to playing through the middle but at least last night we’d got some players who were willing to drive forward & also have a dig from outside the box something sadly missing from the Oinks game , but unfortunately we found a keeper on top form.

CW tried to change it with the subs as it looked like they’d take a point but we should never have took Evans off as we lost our rhythm completely after that .I would have just changed Leonard for Duffy in midfield .
The longer it went on just thought there gonna do us on the break as it proved but why the hell didn’t Stevens show Snodgrass down the wing and not inside shocking defending .

Plus points Evans , corners improved 100% with delivery & finally got some players who will have a pop from outside the box when the space appears ,also Stearman performance .

Bad points .. that we go no points ..and performances of Stevens & Donaldson last night . Think Stevens has dipped a hell of a lot since Oct on both defending and unwillingness to cross & when he does beat the friggin first man .

Ahh well Portugal ‘B’ away Saturday maybe we’ll play shit & pinch 3 points with a 90th minute win ? ... I’ll tske that

 

[Woodwardfan]

Great report Deadbat . Spot on for me.
Pretty much how I saw the game.

Not going to get on Leonards case after two games but I thought he was very poor.
It won't surprise me one bit if he is a waste of money, maybe the sofa stats I posted ages ago which suggested he was Carruthers mark2. Not every L1 player is going to make the step up. I saw nothing, so far, to suggest there's a player there. Hope things change for him.

The non inclusion of Duffy was just bizarre, and Widler waited way too long to change this in the second half.

Sanchez never got a kick tonight. Bad player then?

 

[Baaaaaaa Blades]

I personally would play Brooks/Holmes and Duffy off Clarke. Think that would cause teams different of problems with the midfield 3 behind. At home it is not working at the moment. We are not winning and failing to score at home so we need to change it as the same approach I am not sure will yield results currently - teams just sit deep, pick us off or wait for the errant pass when we overplay it and the attacks

Think exactly the same , we need to change it up somehow at home when teams park the bus , don't think CW will change the main structure of Having 3 CB and WB's but with now having brooks, duff, Holmes all best in the number 10 could be well worth a try withe Leon or Don upfront

 

[Woodwardfan]

Think exactly the same , we need to change it up somehow at home when teams park the bus , don't think CW will change the main structure of Having 3 CB and WB's but with now having brooks, duff, Holmes all best in the number 10 could be well worth a try withe Leon or Don upfront

At least as a 'Plan B'.

 

[I should coco]

I thought your Fleck and Wilson marks were very harsh.

From the middle of the Kop, I saw Fleck win several key tackles, do all the usual tidying up and then there was the lovely move into the box that we should have scored from.

Several people have said Wilson should have worked harder, but I saw him chasing all over the park and this is what lead to the rash tackles. He's been out of the game a long time but is begining to show some nice touches and the overhead kick would have been a wonder goal. Given a run, I think we will come to love this lad and he will definitely get goals for us.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Calm down. It wasn’t that good:-

https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/20...lla-goal-robert-snodgrass-vs-sheffield-united

“Every touch is abound with jittering nerves, as much as each boot gestures the ball forward with a knowing confidence. It’s a ballet of certainty against uncertainty as Snodgrass’ feet lead him closer towards the goal, closer towards glory.” ETC..