Deadbat
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- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
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Podcast links and report below
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000536922258
The Blades’ five game unbeaten run came to an end on Teesside as old foe Neil Warnock picked up a long overdue victory for the home side. Middlesbrough. At a wet and miserable Riverside Stadium, United could not build on recent results and the old failings of inability to deal with basic defending came back to haunt them. At the other end, the Blades created little despite pockets of good football and the home side eased to a regulation victory in the thanks to first half goals from Watmore and McNair.
Jokanovic made one change restoring Enda Stevens to the back line in place of Rhys Norrington Davies with David McGoldrick back on the bench in place of Adlene Guedioura. Sander Berge was still not fit enough to be in the matchday squad.
Boro had Lee Crooks starting after his red card from the weekend was overturned. Slovenian Andraz Sporar started up front for the home side who had a number of Warnock favourites in his match day squad from his days at many of his former clubs.
United began with Stevens well forward and sent a cross over but the ball bounced off a defender and fell for Lumley. Fry then linked with Watmore down the Boro right before United cleared.
The first attempt came from the visitors after Fleck ran forward and linked with Stevens and as the cross came over, Gibbs White laid it back for Ndiaye but his effort lacked power and was straight at the keeper.
Davies then gave the ball away but recovered to make a last-ditch tackle but it was not long before the home side were ahead. Bola had already caused Baldock problems and the winger was allowed to cross leading to the ball dropping for WATMORE and with Davies standing off, the midfielder curled an exquisite shot right into the top corner. It was a great strike and no chance for Olsen but the lack of a challenge in any aspect of the build up was a worry once again.
Stevens was then booked for a late foul and kicked the ball away in the aftermath. Tavernier’s free kick looped just wide.
United finally got up the field when Ndiaye ran away from Tavernier and was cynically chopped down. Norwood’s free kick was awful and blazed miles over the bar. At the other end Watmore headed wide after Norwood had given the ball away.
Middlesbrough continued to look dangerous when they came forward with a more direct approach and whilst United had a lot of the ball, they rarely looked like creating although Osborn got in a good area but his pull back did not fall for anyone and Boro ended up on the attack. This move where United had several passes but could not get close and then the home side breaking to be in the Blades box with two passes summed up the half.
Gibbs White and Ndiaye linked well but Sharp’s shot was weak and straight at the keeper at the near post before Fleck then gave the ball away and Tavernier shot just wide. United continued to have a lot of the ball but it was all in front of the home side who waited for the loose ball or the lack of penetration and then broke away. They were playing on the break but it was more effective.
However, the Blades did have a good chance when Baldock played in Ndiaye whose control may have come off his arm but the game went on and his shot hit the base of the near post. On reflection he could have picked out Osborn who was unmarked.
At the other end Bola continued to give Baldock a torrid time and beat him all ends up and won a corner before an Osborn loose touch almost saw Boro get in again. For all the neat stuff, the errors were creeping in and Sharp had endured a rough half and gave it away again. Boro broke down the left and the cross looped in and with Egan allowing his man to play it back, it was helped on further and MCNAIR smashed a low shot past Olsen. 2-0 on reflection of play and possession was very harsh on United but in terms of goal threat, the home side had looked far more dangerous.
United won a corner that Egan could not quite send into a fellow United player and then after Norwood’s foul, Boro broke again and won another corner. The half time whistle came soon after and a really disappointing performance saw the home team in complete control.
McGoldrick came on for Norwood and the early stages of the second half saw the game mired in midfield and United struggled to make much of a comeback although McGoldrick and Osborn linked well but Sharp’s header was well off target.
Boro had the next attempts again with a lovely ball nearly finding Crooks and then a looping shot went over. McGoldrick and Fleck both lost 50-50’s which summed up United and although Ndiaye broke, Peltier made a great challenge to deny the youngster.
The game approached the hour mark and Boro’s Lumley had still not really been tested all game with the game becoming rather scrappy but the home side still looking the more dangerous but Ndiaye broke well and found Osborn but the pass was too far behind him and the shot was cleared. It was a decent break but the execution in the pass and finish was lacking again.
McGoldrick’s impact had been minimal and his wasteful cross went miles over everyone before Gibbs White’s frustrating night continued as his shot deflected wide after he tried to roll his man. At the other end Boro still were having all the efforts, when Sporar and then Tavernier both had efforts at Olsen and still looked the more likely to score again.
Crooks and Fleck were booked in quick succession for poor tackles before the Scottish midfielder was then maybe fortunate to stay on after another poor challenge soon after. Then Sporar was maybe lucky to get away with a yellow card after he leant his head into Baldock. He was taken off for Ikpeazu soon after. Bamba was the next in the book for a clumsy lunge on Sharp. The free kick was lofted and easily punched away from the keeper.
The game entered the final 15 minutes but United had not shown anything to suggest a comeback was on the cards and it had been really comfortable for the home side. Hourihane came on for Ndiaye and finally United had an effort as decent football saw McGoldrick hit a fierce shot that Lumley flicked over the bar.
Middlesbrough saw off the corner and had a spell in the corner as the game ticked over to 90 minutes. Late on Sharp then had a half chance after a Gibbs White through ball but it was deflected over. The final 4 minutes of stoppage time saw the game peter out and the home side had a deserved victory in a really disappointing night for United.
United – Really underwhelming. Lots of ball but little in the way of clear chances (save Ndiaye hitting the post and McGoldrick with the shot when the game had gone) and I felt it was an easy win in the end for a very average and out of form Boro side. Their defence will not have had many easier games all season. We put them under little to no pressure all game other than one Ndiaye effort first half for all the ball we had. Apart from that, all the chances and dangerous attacks came from Boro. They won the loose stuff and turned us over easy and then went the other way. We did not win enough of the 50-50 and they looked far more like creating and scoring even if it was quite direct stuff. Our passing went wide and rarely went forward – when it did Ndiaye and Osborn had chances to create but this rarely happened. Yes some of the football was pretty but it was pretty pointless with often the final pass or bit being undercooked or lacking conviction.
A lot will talk about them getting it forward quickly or pressing us to turn it over but they scored two excellently taken goals. We never got close to such quality when it mattered. We got in good areas but time after time the final ball was overplayed or loose. Thus, we only had maybe two efforts of note all game, the Ndiaye one and the McGoldrick one. First half we played some nice stuff and at times got into good areas but never showed any quality when it mattered and it took us forever to get deep into their territory. On the contrary they managed to break through us so much easier. We lacked any kind of protection for the defence and on the goal, we do not do enough but they had other chances where the ball dropped and they reacted quicker. I am not sure we showed enough desire or belief to get anything from the game even if you take away the key moments in the two boxes. They closed us down and just brushed us aside way too easily.
I felt these two away games would show how much we had progressed as I felt we had beat 3 poor sides who will be right at the bottom. I was concerned that we are not this fantastic, evolving side some had seen due to the opposition we have faced. Yes, there had been progress but we have played some appalling sides. Whenever we have played anyone who is even half decent, we have struggled. We had lots of ball again but again did nothing to hurt the opposition and at the other end they looked much more dangerous. We can talk about possession all day long but if we cannot defend and never create chances, then we will lose games. I was bored again watching us and after the second went in, like at West Brom, we may as well have come home. There was not real concerted effort to get back into it and not one player actually tried to make things happen. We just sort of gave up and the 2nd half performance was pitiful I felt. I might get knocked for that but we never showed any real attacking intent and Boro looked far more like scoring again until the late McGoldrick effort. I felt we kind of looked like we have up and at never any point did we have a real go. The belief was not there. It just sort of petered out. The lack of anyone getting hold of the ball or making things happen was a worry against such an average side. As I say my take may seem overly negative and maybe it was just a case of so many being off it and when you have so many senior players below bar then you will not get anything.
To me my main concern a lot of this season has been we look a soft touch and so easy to play against when we play physical and stronger sides who are organised. We knock it about and keep it well at times but lack penetration and then teams just go on the break and go at our leaden footed defence. Tonight, I felt we never really looked like scoring, yet they did. All the stuff in between is great but totally pointless if we do not do anything with the ball. It was ponderous and slow again and other than a few moments from Ndiaye and Osborn not sure anyone came out with any credit. We just were not at the races and this seems to be the hallmark of us. We have an ok game, then a poor one and then a decent one. I said a few weeks ago I felt we would be a mid-table side at best and seen nothing to change that after the games against sides who will finish in these areas I believe, Preston and Boro. Unless the senior players can show some consistency and some balls to win the physical stuff against these sort of sides we will lose a lot to teams like this. We may pick off the poorer sides with some of the quality we have but too often percentage sides will just overrun and outfight us and then take advantage of our awful defence who do not react to danger until it is too late. Lots may rave about us having Olsen and say Baldock and Egan are solid but is it really all down to the left side why we have conceded so many goals/chances? Tonight we had Stevens and Davies in and arguably our strongest defence on paper and still Boro got through way too easily. As a unit they are not functioning, maybe lacking protection.
I am still not convinced we have a clear identity in how we are playing and we are relying on Gibbs White, Ndiaye and little triangles probably too much. If either or both or off their game, then what? We have to almost at times score a perfect goal and it is too clever at times. Sometimes we need to turn the opponents round and get the ball into dangerous areas but too often it was in front of them. I felt the subs made us worse and we actually looked less and less dangerous as the game went on. It is just one game but you worry that experienced manager and well drilled sides will just do what they need to, in order to get chances and stop us creating at the other end. It is a concern that a very average side saw us off way too easily.
It will be interesting to see how we cope with a far better side than Boro Saturday, albeit a different kind of side but they have movement, pace and physicality and will be a tough test and we have to play a lot better. Not sure many can come off tonight and be happy with their efforts and too many lost their battles or were sloppy with key moments. We need to bounce back or quickly can be going the other way into the international break. I came away feeling quite downcast. I thought the players had started to get it and realise what this division is about but a team that presses, does the little things and once again we lose rather comfortably.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000536922258
The Blades’ five game unbeaten run came to an end on Teesside as old foe Neil Warnock picked up a long overdue victory for the home side. Middlesbrough. At a wet and miserable Riverside Stadium, United could not build on recent results and the old failings of inability to deal with basic defending came back to haunt them. At the other end, the Blades created little despite pockets of good football and the home side eased to a regulation victory in the thanks to first half goals from Watmore and McNair.
Jokanovic made one change restoring Enda Stevens to the back line in place of Rhys Norrington Davies with David McGoldrick back on the bench in place of Adlene Guedioura. Sander Berge was still not fit enough to be in the matchday squad.
Boro had Lee Crooks starting after his red card from the weekend was overturned. Slovenian Andraz Sporar started up front for the home side who had a number of Warnock favourites in his match day squad from his days at many of his former clubs.
United began with Stevens well forward and sent a cross over but the ball bounced off a defender and fell for Lumley. Fry then linked with Watmore down the Boro right before United cleared.
The first attempt came from the visitors after Fleck ran forward and linked with Stevens and as the cross came over, Gibbs White laid it back for Ndiaye but his effort lacked power and was straight at the keeper.
Davies then gave the ball away but recovered to make a last-ditch tackle but it was not long before the home side were ahead. Bola had already caused Baldock problems and the winger was allowed to cross leading to the ball dropping for WATMORE and with Davies standing off, the midfielder curled an exquisite shot right into the top corner. It was a great strike and no chance for Olsen but the lack of a challenge in any aspect of the build up was a worry once again.
Stevens was then booked for a late foul and kicked the ball away in the aftermath. Tavernier’s free kick looped just wide.
United finally got up the field when Ndiaye ran away from Tavernier and was cynically chopped down. Norwood’s free kick was awful and blazed miles over the bar. At the other end Watmore headed wide after Norwood had given the ball away.
Middlesbrough continued to look dangerous when they came forward with a more direct approach and whilst United had a lot of the ball, they rarely looked like creating although Osborn got in a good area but his pull back did not fall for anyone and Boro ended up on the attack. This move where United had several passes but could not get close and then the home side breaking to be in the Blades box with two passes summed up the half.
Gibbs White and Ndiaye linked well but Sharp’s shot was weak and straight at the keeper at the near post before Fleck then gave the ball away and Tavernier shot just wide. United continued to have a lot of the ball but it was all in front of the home side who waited for the loose ball or the lack of penetration and then broke away. They were playing on the break but it was more effective.
However, the Blades did have a good chance when Baldock played in Ndiaye whose control may have come off his arm but the game went on and his shot hit the base of the near post. On reflection he could have picked out Osborn who was unmarked.
At the other end Bola continued to give Baldock a torrid time and beat him all ends up and won a corner before an Osborn loose touch almost saw Boro get in again. For all the neat stuff, the errors were creeping in and Sharp had endured a rough half and gave it away again. Boro broke down the left and the cross looped in and with Egan allowing his man to play it back, it was helped on further and MCNAIR smashed a low shot past Olsen. 2-0 on reflection of play and possession was very harsh on United but in terms of goal threat, the home side had looked far more dangerous.
United won a corner that Egan could not quite send into a fellow United player and then after Norwood’s foul, Boro broke again and won another corner. The half time whistle came soon after and a really disappointing performance saw the home team in complete control.
McGoldrick came on for Norwood and the early stages of the second half saw the game mired in midfield and United struggled to make much of a comeback although McGoldrick and Osborn linked well but Sharp’s header was well off target.
Boro had the next attempts again with a lovely ball nearly finding Crooks and then a looping shot went over. McGoldrick and Fleck both lost 50-50’s which summed up United and although Ndiaye broke, Peltier made a great challenge to deny the youngster.
The game approached the hour mark and Boro’s Lumley had still not really been tested all game with the game becoming rather scrappy but the home side still looking the more dangerous but Ndiaye broke well and found Osborn but the pass was too far behind him and the shot was cleared. It was a decent break but the execution in the pass and finish was lacking again.
McGoldrick’s impact had been minimal and his wasteful cross went miles over everyone before Gibbs White’s frustrating night continued as his shot deflected wide after he tried to roll his man. At the other end Boro still were having all the efforts, when Sporar and then Tavernier both had efforts at Olsen and still looked the more likely to score again.
Crooks and Fleck were booked in quick succession for poor tackles before the Scottish midfielder was then maybe fortunate to stay on after another poor challenge soon after. Then Sporar was maybe lucky to get away with a yellow card after he leant his head into Baldock. He was taken off for Ikpeazu soon after. Bamba was the next in the book for a clumsy lunge on Sharp. The free kick was lofted and easily punched away from the keeper.
The game entered the final 15 minutes but United had not shown anything to suggest a comeback was on the cards and it had been really comfortable for the home side. Hourihane came on for Ndiaye and finally United had an effort as decent football saw McGoldrick hit a fierce shot that Lumley flicked over the bar.
Middlesbrough saw off the corner and had a spell in the corner as the game ticked over to 90 minutes. Late on Sharp then had a half chance after a Gibbs White through ball but it was deflected over. The final 4 minutes of stoppage time saw the game peter out and the home side had a deserved victory in a really disappointing night for United.
United – Really underwhelming. Lots of ball but little in the way of clear chances (save Ndiaye hitting the post and McGoldrick with the shot when the game had gone) and I felt it was an easy win in the end for a very average and out of form Boro side. Their defence will not have had many easier games all season. We put them under little to no pressure all game other than one Ndiaye effort first half for all the ball we had. Apart from that, all the chances and dangerous attacks came from Boro. They won the loose stuff and turned us over easy and then went the other way. We did not win enough of the 50-50 and they looked far more like creating and scoring even if it was quite direct stuff. Our passing went wide and rarely went forward – when it did Ndiaye and Osborn had chances to create but this rarely happened. Yes some of the football was pretty but it was pretty pointless with often the final pass or bit being undercooked or lacking conviction.
A lot will talk about them getting it forward quickly or pressing us to turn it over but they scored two excellently taken goals. We never got close to such quality when it mattered. We got in good areas but time after time the final ball was overplayed or loose. Thus, we only had maybe two efforts of note all game, the Ndiaye one and the McGoldrick one. First half we played some nice stuff and at times got into good areas but never showed any quality when it mattered and it took us forever to get deep into their territory. On the contrary they managed to break through us so much easier. We lacked any kind of protection for the defence and on the goal, we do not do enough but they had other chances where the ball dropped and they reacted quicker. I am not sure we showed enough desire or belief to get anything from the game even if you take away the key moments in the two boxes. They closed us down and just brushed us aside way too easily.
I felt these two away games would show how much we had progressed as I felt we had beat 3 poor sides who will be right at the bottom. I was concerned that we are not this fantastic, evolving side some had seen due to the opposition we have faced. Yes, there had been progress but we have played some appalling sides. Whenever we have played anyone who is even half decent, we have struggled. We had lots of ball again but again did nothing to hurt the opposition and at the other end they looked much more dangerous. We can talk about possession all day long but if we cannot defend and never create chances, then we will lose games. I was bored again watching us and after the second went in, like at West Brom, we may as well have come home. There was not real concerted effort to get back into it and not one player actually tried to make things happen. We just sort of gave up and the 2nd half performance was pitiful I felt. I might get knocked for that but we never showed any real attacking intent and Boro looked far more like scoring again until the late McGoldrick effort. I felt we kind of looked like we have up and at never any point did we have a real go. The belief was not there. It just sort of petered out. The lack of anyone getting hold of the ball or making things happen was a worry against such an average side. As I say my take may seem overly negative and maybe it was just a case of so many being off it and when you have so many senior players below bar then you will not get anything.
To me my main concern a lot of this season has been we look a soft touch and so easy to play against when we play physical and stronger sides who are organised. We knock it about and keep it well at times but lack penetration and then teams just go on the break and go at our leaden footed defence. Tonight, I felt we never really looked like scoring, yet they did. All the stuff in between is great but totally pointless if we do not do anything with the ball. It was ponderous and slow again and other than a few moments from Ndiaye and Osborn not sure anyone came out with any credit. We just were not at the races and this seems to be the hallmark of us. We have an ok game, then a poor one and then a decent one. I said a few weeks ago I felt we would be a mid-table side at best and seen nothing to change that after the games against sides who will finish in these areas I believe, Preston and Boro. Unless the senior players can show some consistency and some balls to win the physical stuff against these sort of sides we will lose a lot to teams like this. We may pick off the poorer sides with some of the quality we have but too often percentage sides will just overrun and outfight us and then take advantage of our awful defence who do not react to danger until it is too late. Lots may rave about us having Olsen and say Baldock and Egan are solid but is it really all down to the left side why we have conceded so many goals/chances? Tonight we had Stevens and Davies in and arguably our strongest defence on paper and still Boro got through way too easily. As a unit they are not functioning, maybe lacking protection.
I am still not convinced we have a clear identity in how we are playing and we are relying on Gibbs White, Ndiaye and little triangles probably too much. If either or both or off their game, then what? We have to almost at times score a perfect goal and it is too clever at times. Sometimes we need to turn the opponents round and get the ball into dangerous areas but too often it was in front of them. I felt the subs made us worse and we actually looked less and less dangerous as the game went on. It is just one game but you worry that experienced manager and well drilled sides will just do what they need to, in order to get chances and stop us creating at the other end. It is a concern that a very average side saw us off way too easily.
It will be interesting to see how we cope with a far better side than Boro Saturday, albeit a different kind of side but they have movement, pace and physicality and will be a tough test and we have to play a lot better. Not sure many can come off tonight and be happy with their efforts and too many lost their battles or were sloppy with key moments. We need to bounce back or quickly can be going the other way into the international break. I came away feeling quite downcast. I thought the players had started to get it and realise what this division is about but a team that presses, does the little things and once again we lose rather comfortably.
