Sheffield United vs West Ham United

v.
EPL Week 9 - Sunday 22nd November 2020 - Bramall Lane​

Please keep all discussion related to the match within this thread.

Matchday Stats/Player Ratings - https://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?match-day/match/sheffield-united-vs-west-ham-united.517/

Officials:

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistant Referee: Constantine Hatzidakis
Assistant Referee: Peter Kirkup
Fourth Official: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: Jonathan Moss
Additional Video Assistant Referee: Andy Halliday

Coverage:

Follow via S24SU Twitter: https://twitter.com/s24su

Live TV Coverage:

 

[Eza Blade]

can’t wait for today. I’d love us to smash shammers!!! YOU BLADES!!!

 

[Karaoke Blade]

Must win tomorrow, can’t see it though 1-3

That's the spirit.

 

[ancientblade]

Looks very busy, gets stuck in, good Championship player but nowhere near enough composure to play LWB at premier league level im afraid

well he looked a lot more composed at anfield than lowe did at the bridge

 

[CoatesyBlade]

Who are the 'many' LWBs playing in the premiership hes better than ? I don't disagree hes probably our best option at present but that is also a reason why we are presently bottom of the league...too many of our back up options aren't good enough.

The left side was our strongest area last season with JOC and Stevens. Its now our weakest as Robinson isn't good enough so Stevens is playing out of position at LCB and Lowe looks well out of his depth. Other teams realise this and are relentlessly targeting that area of the pitch. If Antonio plays today he will cause us a lot of problems.

For me I think you have the elite LWB’s like Robertson and Chilwell then it’s much a do about nothing. You’d hardly be rushing to sign the likes of Taylor, C Townsend, Targett, Lewis etc would you.

Anyway it looks like we’re in agreement anyway. I said I like Osborn at LWB and you’ve said he’s our best option right now.

And to just go a little further into it. Osborn was the back up option last year and he played well when called upon. The problem this season down the left isn’t that position. We don’t have cover for JOC or Flecky that’s why we’re struggling on that side.

Anyway... I’m upbeat about chances today. Got a feeling we’re gonna see a different team and performance than of late. I’ve been lifted by the press conference and seeing the lads in training. Looking forward to the game!

 

[ancientblade]

For me I think you have the elite LWB’s like Robertson and Chilwell then it’s much a do about nothing. You’d hardly be rushing to sign the likes of Taylor, C Townsend, Targett, Lewis etc would you.

Anyway it looks like we’re in agreement anyway. I said I like Osborn at LWB and you’ve said he’s our best option right now.

And to just go a little further into it. Osborn was the back up option last year and he played well when called upon. The problem this season down the left isn’t that position. We don’t have cover for JOC or Flecky that’s why we’re struggling on that side.

Anyway... I’m upbeat about chances today. Got a feeling we’re gonna see a different team and performance than of late. I’ve been lifted by the press conference and seeing the lads in training. Looking forward to the game!

osborn is an option at lwb but not in midfield imo too lightweight just think in home games especially he will get forward more than enda think he might play there today with enda carrying on at lcb

 

[CoatesyBlade]

osborn is an option at lwb but not in midfield imo too lightweight just think in home games especially he will get forward more than enda think he might play there today with enda carrying on at lcb

I don’t know ancient, you may well be right of course... but I think if we persist with Enda at LCB I’ll be slightly concerned when I see the team sheet. We need to start playing a genuine CB there for me. If he’s right footed... so be it!

 

[DronnieBlade]

Assuming we have all 6 of our forward players available for the first time this season (assuming Lys Features at all), I will be very interested to see who drops out of the squad.

UTB

 

[Deadbat]

Assuming we have all 6 of our forward players available for the first time this season (assuming Lys Features at all), I will be very interested to see who drops out of the squad.

UTB

I don't think any of the 6...Maybe McGoldrick apart as he has scored a few.... could exactly be fuming if they are not picked in the squad based on goals/nuisance factor/anything really.

I think he'll start McGoldrick and Brewster again and it will be Sharp, McBurnie and Mousset on the bench. Why he has both Robinson and Jagielka there I don't know tho? To me if Ampadu does not start he's your cover defender/midfielder with Osborn then just pick 4 strikers on the bench!

 

[Dkc]

Remember the two seasons under Basset where we had crap starts (quite possibly worse than this season) and survived comfortably in the end? Seem to remember in one of them we didn't even get a goal until November or December.

 

[FredZeppelin]

I genuinely don't know what to feel at the moment. I'm usually excited and 'on the edge of my seat' watching.
But today, I woke up and felt apathy. The same apathy that seems to be engulfing the squad this season.
I cling to the belief that 'we were fantastic for the first half of last season and faded after the break, so maybe this season we'll do the reverse and be brilliant after Christmas, 'a-la-Bassett'!
Somehow, though, I just don't see it. Do you? Where is the character, the nastiness, the desire to win, to 'prove em' all wrong?
All we see is 'head tennis, walking football, trendy trainers, "lets have it this weekend, Blades" and McBurnie's new fucking facial hair 'on trend' on Inside Shirecliffe.
All I want to see today is some fucking desire. Some bollocks. Some steel! It's who and what we are, isn't it?
A result would be nice...but more than that, I want my Blades back. This team isn't representing me.

UTB

 

[FredZeppelin]

Remember the two seasons under Basset where we had crap starts (quite possibly worse than this season) and survived comfortably in the end? Seem to remember in one of them we didn't even get a goal until November or December.

I must have read your mind.....or, (worryingly) you read mine!

UTB

 

[DronnieBlade]

I don't think any of the 6...Maybe McGoldrick apart as he has scored a few.... could exactly be fuming if they are not picked in the squad based on goals/nuisance factor/anything really.

I think he'll start McGoldrick and Brewster again and it will be Sharp, McBurnie and Mousset on the bench. Why he has both Robinson and Jagielka there I don't know tho? To me if Ampadu does not start he's your cover defender/midfielder with Osborn then just pick 4 strikers on the bench!

Have a feeling either Brewster or Moose will miss out based on injury / fitness. So the five will kinda pick themselves. Be interesting to see who starts though.

UTB

 

[Deadbat]

I must have read your mind.....or, (worryingly) you read mine!

UTB

The start this season is worse than anything under Bassett. We had 3 pts by this stage in 90-91. We drew at Derby and Chelsea and with Man City at home.

It was a number of games without a goal. Think 7 after David Barnes scored v Wimbledon in early Oct till Vinny Jones scored at Villa in early Dec so nearly 2 months without a goal!

 

[blades14]

Looks very busy, gets stuck in, good Championship player but nowhere near enough composure to play LWB at premier league level im afraid

He is arguably our best lwb option. He was also contender for MOTM against Liverpool

 

[FredZeppelin]

The start this season is worse than anything under Bassett. We had 3 pts by this stage in 90-91.

We did not score away after Derby in August till early Dec at Villa so it was a number of games without an away goal.

And in 90-91, it was obvious that the players were totally committed and 'desperate' for the first win. That's what I want to see today.
I'd also like some of the 'Bassett belligerence' from the Manager, too. Not this "well, we don't pay this money, that money, how can we compete?".
Time to go to war, Chris....and stop the fucking apologist and excuse-making shit.

UTB

 

[More Bladier than thou]

I just hope Baldock has been working on his crossing, very wasteful final ball has been a big reason our strikers aren’t getting service.

 

[8lade]

I hope our strikers have been working on their finishing, since we're unlikely to see the only natural finisher in the squad get on the pitch today.

 

[ancientblade]

I genuinely don't know what to feel at the moment. I'm usually excited and 'on the edge of my seat' watching.
But today, I woke up and felt apathy. The same apathy that seems to be engulfing the squad this season.
I cling to the belief that 'we were fantastic for the first half of last season and faded after the break, so maybe this season we'll do the reverse and be brilliant after Christmas, 'a-la-Bassett'!
Somehow, though, I just don't see it. Do you? Where is the character, the nastiness, the desire to win, to 'prove em' all wrong?
All we see is 'head tennis, walking football, trendy trainers, "lets have it this weekend, Blades" and McBurnie's new fucking facial hair 'on trend' on Inside Shirecliffe.
All I want to see today is some fucking desire. Some bollocks. Some steel! It's who and what we are, isn't it?
A result would be nice...but more than that, I want my Blades back. This team isn't representing me.

UTB

agree with all that and it also worries me that chris seems to have lost his no fear approach know you cant go gung ho against the bigger clubs but lets at least have a go against teams like the next 2 we are playing

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Personally think we’ll be unchanged, with Fleck & Moose the only changes to the bench. Unless either have been involved in a behind-closed-doors friendly over the international break, I don’t think Wilder will start them.

 

[HeySethUTB]

Thank god for Fulham, they’re absolutely shocking. Let’s get a result blades! Fourth from bottom will do me just fine this season.

 

[ancientblade]

Thank god for Fulham, they’re absolutely shocking. Let’s get a result blades! Fourth from bottom will do me just fine this season.

thats our only target this season finishing 17th after this start it would be chris wilders finest achievment in his career for me also got a feeling leeds might get dragged in to a relegation battle as attractive as they are they are very naive and open at the back

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Ampadu LCB. Fleck starts. Brewster dropped to the bench. Stevens, on media duty Friday, not involved at all!

 

[ekke287]

I like that line up

 

[metalblade]

Not on MOTD Rawnblade

View attachment 98585

All the family missed that game as one of my cousins decided to get married that day much to our disgust. You really do need to get your priorities right but then again his new wife was much bigger than he was he probably didn't have much choice
I remember once he caught a bloke trying to nick his car and was struggling to hold on to the fella, luckily his wife came out decked the guy and sat on him till the coppers turned up from Attercliffe nick. The poor bloke begged the coppers to take him away after the ragging she gave him.

 

[robbiez666]

That line-up looks right, given the players missing.

 

[bakeblade]

I like that line up

Apart from Lowe, would have preferred Osborn

 

[Birley Blade]

That front pairing screams Championship.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Best we can hope for is a point.

I hate to profit from Blades misery, but 6/5 on an away win is stealing money .

UTB

 

[robbiez666]

This is winnable

 

[8lade]

where is Sharp?