Deadbat
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View from the sofa.....
United got their first Premier League point and goal thanks to a late Billy Sharp goal at the Vitality Stadium. The Blades were more than a match for the home side and looked comfortable at their new elevated level. Indeed, the Blades had the better chances long before a scrappy opener was converted by Chris Mepham. United threw on Sharp and two new signings, McBurnie and Freeman and at the death they scored a similarly scruffy goal from a set play. Unitedite Sharp knocking the ball home to give United a vital late point and the only promoted side to get anything on the opening weekend, albeit from an easier fixture.
Manager Wilder opted to only include one new signing in Callum Robinson (if you don’t count returning goalkeeper Dean Henderson) in his starting line up with 5 other new faces, Jagielka, Besic, McBurnie, Freeman and Osborn on the bench. McGoldrick got the nod up top with Robinson with Lundstram getting the start in a seemingly more orthodox midfield three. Bournemouth were without former Blade David Brooks but gave a surprise first league start for the ex United keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
United playing in their new all white change strip started superbly and nearly led in the first minute. Lundstram lofted a lovely ball over the top and McGoldrick was clear. The striker could not quite get the purchase he wanted and Ramsdale pushed the ball away. It was a great chance. United knocked the ball around confidently and pushed men forward when they could. Smith did get through on the break down the right but his cross evaded everyone. United continued to keep a compact shape but the home side had another decent break at speed when Wilson and Fraser combined but the ball was too strong in the end.
Some neat and tidy football from United saw the ball moved around and then from the left it was knocked inside to Robinson who had a low drive palmed away by Ramsdale. Billings had a shot well over at the other end as Bournemouth had so far not rested the United keeper. United won a corner but Lundstram pulled his shot wide before a poor tackle from Smith led to a booking. Just before this it seemed another poor challenge from Fraser high and on the ankle roll, has been missed by referee Friend and VAR with confusion whether it could be reviewed if the ref has not seen it as a booking or even a foul.
A decent chance came to Bournemouth but Mepham fired wide under pressure from Basham. Robinson then had a shot blocked just before the break. United had been well in the game and had the best two efforts on goal.
The second half saw United threaten again with nice football and an over, then a dummy saw Stevens in but Mepham cleared for a corner. Lundstram twice put through lovely balls with one leading to McGoldrick drilling a low shot just wide and then a lovely cross from the far side somehow evading both the defender and Robinson. Lerma had a shot in between these chances but it was blocked.
The home team started to up the tempo and pin United back without creating too much but won a corner and then a free kick. As O’Connell headed clear and the Cherries fans appealed for a penalty, the ball dropped and Billing hit an exocet of a shot that Henderson did superbly to push away firmly. The VAR review confirmed it was not a penalty. After Baldock could not fully clear, Fraser managed to win a free kick from Stevens. He took it and Ake headed back goalwards, the ball deflected into Wilson who had a shot saved at point blank range by Henderson. MEPHAM managed to react and turn it in from close range.
After this McBurnie came on for McGoldrick but the next period of the game saw little action at either end and it became mired in the midfield. Freeman came on for Lundstram and then Fraser for simulation and Fleck for foul play were both carded. United tried to get more bodies forward but the final ball was poor and twice it went behind the goal with players well advanced in the area. Sharp came on for Basham as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
United kept plugging away and trying to move it about and a patient move saw Freeman come inside and get blocked off leading to a free kick. Norwood played in Baldock whose cross was knocked goalwards by McBurnie and deflected off a defender into the path of SHARP who poked home. Sharp’s unbridled joy clear to see as he wheeled away to celebrate in front of the massed United fans at the side of the pitch.
After the goal a foul on the edge of the box gave Fraser a chance but his free kick was well over and as the game entered the final four minutes it was United who ended on the attack committing more men forward and nearly getting another chance via Freeman and Stevens.
United – Delighted to get a point and pleased with the performance. We started well and Lundstram’s superb pass nearly led to a goal for McGoldrick. You worried if we would get many more chances like that but Robinson had a good shot, missed another one that came across and McGoldrick had another effort just wide. We had chances and saw more of the ball than I thought we would. Going the other way, we kept our shape and limited them. First half 0-0 was about right in terms of play but we shaded chances/efforts. We had a few chances to start the second half but then from around 52-53 mins to 75 they were the better side but were not overpowering us or dominating us. They had a few efforts, corners and forced us back a bit but were not ripping through us. When they scored you worried, we would not get back into it, not because of our resilience or commitment to send more attacking threats on/forward but just we had not created much for that final third of the game and indeed there had been few efforts on goal all game from both sides.
The goal, albeit as scrappy as their goal was brilliant. We had to see out a good free kick chance for them but we deserved the draw and matched them all game with and without the ball. I think we kept our shape and Lundstram had a decent game. The front two were a threat first half and then second half we managed to get blocks/tackles in when we had to and thus the goal was poor as Baldock somehow ended up on Ake and we did not react twice after this. Still, we kept at it and kept trying to play football. We did not throw men forward in terms of the overlapping centre back and only Stevens consistently got into the final third but at 0-0 you understood that. We tried to keep the ball and be nice and patient but when we got into the final third other than a few neat moves, we sometimes panicked and the final ball was really poor. Due to the wind/poor quality, we sent at least 5 balls behind the goal (Fleck did it twice) and not even remotely giving players a chance to get on the end of.
I feel that at times we could have been better in possession and went a bit long at times or in that final part of the field but that is being ultra-critical. For the most part, we kept out discipline, passed it when we could and tried to attack when we had chances. It would have been underserved to take nothing from the game. For an away side we had as many, if not more efforts and as much of the ball really. They did not cut us open and we kept a solid shape. It was a sensible and promising first day performance and whilst we must not get carried away, it is something to really build on with two home games to now come. The fans must not get carried away. It was a decent-good performance but more than that for me to go away and look comfortable for much of the game is a really positive sign and should give the players/team confidence.
United got their first Premier League point and goal thanks to a late Billy Sharp goal at the Vitality Stadium. The Blades were more than a match for the home side and looked comfortable at their new elevated level. Indeed, the Blades had the better chances long before a scrappy opener was converted by Chris Mepham. United threw on Sharp and two new signings, McBurnie and Freeman and at the death they scored a similarly scruffy goal from a set play. Unitedite Sharp knocking the ball home to give United a vital late point and the only promoted side to get anything on the opening weekend, albeit from an easier fixture.
Manager Wilder opted to only include one new signing in Callum Robinson (if you don’t count returning goalkeeper Dean Henderson) in his starting line up with 5 other new faces, Jagielka, Besic, McBurnie, Freeman and Osborn on the bench. McGoldrick got the nod up top with Robinson with Lundstram getting the start in a seemingly more orthodox midfield three. Bournemouth were without former Blade David Brooks but gave a surprise first league start for the ex United keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
United playing in their new all white change strip started superbly and nearly led in the first minute. Lundstram lofted a lovely ball over the top and McGoldrick was clear. The striker could not quite get the purchase he wanted and Ramsdale pushed the ball away. It was a great chance. United knocked the ball around confidently and pushed men forward when they could. Smith did get through on the break down the right but his cross evaded everyone. United continued to keep a compact shape but the home side had another decent break at speed when Wilson and Fraser combined but the ball was too strong in the end.
Some neat and tidy football from United saw the ball moved around and then from the left it was knocked inside to Robinson who had a low drive palmed away by Ramsdale. Billings had a shot well over at the other end as Bournemouth had so far not rested the United keeper. United won a corner but Lundstram pulled his shot wide before a poor tackle from Smith led to a booking. Just before this it seemed another poor challenge from Fraser high and on the ankle roll, has been missed by referee Friend and VAR with confusion whether it could be reviewed if the ref has not seen it as a booking or even a foul.
A decent chance came to Bournemouth but Mepham fired wide under pressure from Basham. Robinson then had a shot blocked just before the break. United had been well in the game and had the best two efforts on goal.
The second half saw United threaten again with nice football and an over, then a dummy saw Stevens in but Mepham cleared for a corner. Lundstram twice put through lovely balls with one leading to McGoldrick drilling a low shot just wide and then a lovely cross from the far side somehow evading both the defender and Robinson. Lerma had a shot in between these chances but it was blocked.
The home team started to up the tempo and pin United back without creating too much but won a corner and then a free kick. As O’Connell headed clear and the Cherries fans appealed for a penalty, the ball dropped and Billing hit an exocet of a shot that Henderson did superbly to push away firmly. The VAR review confirmed it was not a penalty. After Baldock could not fully clear, Fraser managed to win a free kick from Stevens. He took it and Ake headed back goalwards, the ball deflected into Wilson who had a shot saved at point blank range by Henderson. MEPHAM managed to react and turn it in from close range.
After this McBurnie came on for McGoldrick but the next period of the game saw little action at either end and it became mired in the midfield. Freeman came on for Lundstram and then Fraser for simulation and Fleck for foul play were both carded. United tried to get more bodies forward but the final ball was poor and twice it went behind the goal with players well advanced in the area. Sharp came on for Basham as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
United kept plugging away and trying to move it about and a patient move saw Freeman come inside and get blocked off leading to a free kick. Norwood played in Baldock whose cross was knocked goalwards by McBurnie and deflected off a defender into the path of SHARP who poked home. Sharp’s unbridled joy clear to see as he wheeled away to celebrate in front of the massed United fans at the side of the pitch.
After the goal a foul on the edge of the box gave Fraser a chance but his free kick was well over and as the game entered the final four minutes it was United who ended on the attack committing more men forward and nearly getting another chance via Freeman and Stevens.
United – Delighted to get a point and pleased with the performance. We started well and Lundstram’s superb pass nearly led to a goal for McGoldrick. You worried if we would get many more chances like that but Robinson had a good shot, missed another one that came across and McGoldrick had another effort just wide. We had chances and saw more of the ball than I thought we would. Going the other way, we kept our shape and limited them. First half 0-0 was about right in terms of play but we shaded chances/efforts. We had a few chances to start the second half but then from around 52-53 mins to 75 they were the better side but were not overpowering us or dominating us. They had a few efforts, corners and forced us back a bit but were not ripping through us. When they scored you worried, we would not get back into it, not because of our resilience or commitment to send more attacking threats on/forward but just we had not created much for that final third of the game and indeed there had been few efforts on goal all game from both sides.
The goal, albeit as scrappy as their goal was brilliant. We had to see out a good free kick chance for them but we deserved the draw and matched them all game with and without the ball. I think we kept our shape and Lundstram had a decent game. The front two were a threat first half and then second half we managed to get blocks/tackles in when we had to and thus the goal was poor as Baldock somehow ended up on Ake and we did not react twice after this. Still, we kept at it and kept trying to play football. We did not throw men forward in terms of the overlapping centre back and only Stevens consistently got into the final third but at 0-0 you understood that. We tried to keep the ball and be nice and patient but when we got into the final third other than a few neat moves, we sometimes panicked and the final ball was really poor. Due to the wind/poor quality, we sent at least 5 balls behind the goal (Fleck did it twice) and not even remotely giving players a chance to get on the end of.
I feel that at times we could have been better in possession and went a bit long at times or in that final part of the field but that is being ultra-critical. For the most part, we kept out discipline, passed it when we could and tried to attack when we had chances. It would have been underserved to take nothing from the game. For an away side we had as many, if not more efforts and as much of the ball really. They did not cut us open and we kept a solid shape. It was a sensible and promising first day performance and whilst we must not get carried away, it is something to really build on with two home games to now come. The fans must not get carried away. It was a decent-good performance but more than that for me to go away and look comfortable for much of the game is a really positive sign and should give the players/team confidence.