cooperblade
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2009
- Messages
- 3,189
- Reaction score
- 5,021
I enjoyed it last night. Despite it taking 3 hours to get from Leeds to Nottingham, despite the slip road to the M1 northbound being closed meaning an extra portion of the 50 mile an hour zone and despite the result, I had an enjoyable evening watching the Blades.
There was great fight (bit too literally in the case of one lad with the copper) and spirit in the 2nd half along with some decent stuff and anyone who continues to believe the rumours of dressing room unrest is watching a different team to me. Len posted a week or so ago that people are starting to care about United again and I think he's spot on. Alright a lot of it's been negative but everyone seems to be talking about the team again and I'm really hopeful that we're starting to see the beginning of the end of the Robson induced stupor we've been in.
We started incredibly badly last night, it must have been 10 minutes in before one of our players did something right. It was strange to concede so early and think 'that's been coming'. We were all at sea at corners. Yeates was the man on the back stick but kept coming out to stop a short corner leaving us exposed to a deep corner. We lacked a Morgan to organise at set pieces. We improved gradually through the first half but it was impossible not to. Very unusual seeing Ward as an orthodox right back but I guess Blackwell was concerned about Forest's pace down the left.
The second half was largely good and I thought we probably shaded it. The through ball to Quinn in the last seconds was probably the best chance but it needed someone a touch quicker on the end of it.
I know they're all wired for sound but I'm not happy about a ref brandishing a red card for something he hasn't seen without actually going to speak to whoever's told him to send Henderson off. It may well have been a definite red but the way the ref went about it and the way their number 6 went running after him like a whinging little kid in the playground left a sour taste. The ref was appalling all night long.
Cracking atmosphere in the away end in the 2nd half, really enjoyable - hate-filled and passionate, just how it should be.
I'm a bit worried about how much we'll have left in the tank for what is a crucial game on Saturday. It wouldn't be a surprise if Geary, Williamson and Camara are missing as well as Henderson. The 2nd effort must've taken a lot out of the legs and Peterborough will be bouncing after their win last night.
Bunn 8 - Starting to grow (not literally unfortunately for micalijo) as a decent keeper at this level. One of his 2 second half saves was top drawer. Slowly changing my opinion about him.
Geary 5 - Was that the last we'll ever see him of him? He was struggling with his winger to be honest and every time he went to ground he looked like he wouldn't get up. Love him to bits and hope he's back soon, fingers crossed.
Bartley 5.5 - Struggled in the air more than he did on Saturday. Made some great sliding tackles but the suspicion was that he had to make them because he'd been caught a little out of position.
Nosworthy 6 - Great fun to watch him constantly using stepovers and dribbles to get himself out of trouble. It will stop being fun when he inevitably drops a Beesley-sized bollock and costs us a goal. Overall, done well so far.
Kallio n/a - Just can't mark that performance. Truly, truly awful. Summed up nicely in the last minute when a simple pass to him went straight through his legs. More than once he made a mistake and I had no idea whatsoever what he was trying to do. I read people on here slagging Taylor off but, for me, he's streets ahead of Kallio and Stewart.
Ward 6 - Battled away at right back and, by and large, did a good job there. We'll never know how much we missed his attacking presence I guess - would he have got on the end of the through ball in the minute if he'd been up front?
Montgomery 8 - MOTM - Followed up his good performance on Saturday. Typical Monty, broke things up, drove us forward when he could and kept his passing nice and simple.
Williamson 5.5 - Pretty quiet in comparison with his display against Bristol City.
Yeates 5.5 - Like Williamson, didn't hit the heights of Saturday. I'm not sure how much of a willing worker or tackler he is so he's going to have to produce attacking wise to avoid going the way of Cotterill.
Henderson 5 - Wasn't pulling up any trees. Don't know what he did for the red card but it became impossible to defend his indiscretions a long time ago.
Camara 5.5 - Another one who didn't quite live up to his last game although it was incredibly difficult for him due to (a) us being shit early on and (b) playing up front on his own after Henderson went off.
Subs:
Quinn 6.5 - Thought he did well and caused Forest problems. Few moans when he came on again. Can't see people's problem with a lad who always gives 100% and has weighed in with more goals than most in our midfield in recent years.
Evans and Cresswell - not really on for long enough to get a mark. Be interesting to see which one starts on Saturday, might be both if Camara can't manage a 3rd game.
There was great fight (bit too literally in the case of one lad with the copper) and spirit in the 2nd half along with some decent stuff and anyone who continues to believe the rumours of dressing room unrest is watching a different team to me. Len posted a week or so ago that people are starting to care about United again and I think he's spot on. Alright a lot of it's been negative but everyone seems to be talking about the team again and I'm really hopeful that we're starting to see the beginning of the end of the Robson induced stupor we've been in.
We started incredibly badly last night, it must have been 10 minutes in before one of our players did something right. It was strange to concede so early and think 'that's been coming'. We were all at sea at corners. Yeates was the man on the back stick but kept coming out to stop a short corner leaving us exposed to a deep corner. We lacked a Morgan to organise at set pieces. We improved gradually through the first half but it was impossible not to. Very unusual seeing Ward as an orthodox right back but I guess Blackwell was concerned about Forest's pace down the left.
The second half was largely good and I thought we probably shaded it. The through ball to Quinn in the last seconds was probably the best chance but it needed someone a touch quicker on the end of it.
I know they're all wired for sound but I'm not happy about a ref brandishing a red card for something he hasn't seen without actually going to speak to whoever's told him to send Henderson off. It may well have been a definite red but the way the ref went about it and the way their number 6 went running after him like a whinging little kid in the playground left a sour taste. The ref was appalling all night long.
Cracking atmosphere in the away end in the 2nd half, really enjoyable - hate-filled and passionate, just how it should be.
I'm a bit worried about how much we'll have left in the tank for what is a crucial game on Saturday. It wouldn't be a surprise if Geary, Williamson and Camara are missing as well as Henderson. The 2nd effort must've taken a lot out of the legs and Peterborough will be bouncing after their win last night.
Bunn 8 - Starting to grow (not literally unfortunately for micalijo) as a decent keeper at this level. One of his 2 second half saves was top drawer. Slowly changing my opinion about him.
Geary 5 - Was that the last we'll ever see him of him? He was struggling with his winger to be honest and every time he went to ground he looked like he wouldn't get up. Love him to bits and hope he's back soon, fingers crossed.
Bartley 5.5 - Struggled in the air more than he did on Saturday. Made some great sliding tackles but the suspicion was that he had to make them because he'd been caught a little out of position.
Nosworthy 6 - Great fun to watch him constantly using stepovers and dribbles to get himself out of trouble. It will stop being fun when he inevitably drops a Beesley-sized bollock and costs us a goal. Overall, done well so far.
Kallio n/a - Just can't mark that performance. Truly, truly awful. Summed up nicely in the last minute when a simple pass to him went straight through his legs. More than once he made a mistake and I had no idea whatsoever what he was trying to do. I read people on here slagging Taylor off but, for me, he's streets ahead of Kallio and Stewart.
Ward 6 - Battled away at right back and, by and large, did a good job there. We'll never know how much we missed his attacking presence I guess - would he have got on the end of the through ball in the minute if he'd been up front?
Montgomery 8 - MOTM - Followed up his good performance on Saturday. Typical Monty, broke things up, drove us forward when he could and kept his passing nice and simple.
Williamson 5.5 - Pretty quiet in comparison with his display against Bristol City.
Yeates 5.5 - Like Williamson, didn't hit the heights of Saturday. I'm not sure how much of a willing worker or tackler he is so he's going to have to produce attacking wise to avoid going the way of Cotterill.
Henderson 5 - Wasn't pulling up any trees. Don't know what he did for the red card but it became impossible to defend his indiscretions a long time ago.
Camara 5.5 - Another one who didn't quite live up to his last game although it was incredibly difficult for him due to (a) us being shit early on and (b) playing up front on his own after Henderson went off.
Subs:
Quinn 6.5 - Thought he did well and caused Forest problems. Few moans when he came on again. Can't see people's problem with a lad who always gives 100% and has weighed in with more goals than most in our midfield in recent years.
Evans and Cresswell - not really on for long enough to get a mark. Be interesting to see which one starts on Saturday, might be both if Camara can't manage a 3rd game.
