Deadbat
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- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
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Podcast links and then report below….
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000539109857
Sorry for the delay – late last night and then work today
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United failed to build on Saturday’s win against Stoke City as their inconsistent season continued with another disappointing result, this time against similarly placed Millwall. It was a strange night at Bramall Lane as both teams could have won it in a game that the away side controlled for the opening 30 minutes but then the Blades got back into it and missed guilt edged chances to lead. The game turned further on Morgan Gibbs White second yellow card, with Jayden Bogle also going off injured in the same moment. This meant it was difficult for the home side to know what to do but credit to them as they tried to attack and had chances but so did Millwall in a game that resembled a basketball game for the final stages. In the end, as he has done at the Lane before, Jake Cooper scored a stoppage time goal to break United hearts and leave the Blades closer to the foot of the table than the top in another frustrating night in a stop start season.
Manager Jokanovic made two changes to his line up with Hourihane and McGoldrick in for Norwood and Ndiaye. Millwall named an experienced Championship line-up and featured ex Blade Ryan Leonard from the start.
Millwall were clearly smarting from their home defeat to Luton and started quick out of the blocks and were quicker to the ball than a dithering Blades side. Indeed, they had the ball in the net when Olsen made a mess of a cross shot but fortunately the flag went up. The home team had lots of possession but the slow build up from the keeper to the defence was easily pressed and smothered and resulted in easy turnovers. The away side were much more forceful in everything they did, and it was not a major surprise when they took the lead although how it occurred perhaps was somewhat of a freak moment.
The ball was played to the right and WALLACE drove a deep cross that arrowed past a static Olsen and into the far corner of the goal. It seemed unlikely the Millwall man had meant to shoot from such a position, but it was reward for a positive start from the Lions. They came again and Malone shot narrowly wide. United continued to cough up possession. Osborn and Fleck were both guilty on occasions of losing the ball, but it became a trend as McGoldrick also was sloppy in several passages.
United had barely put a pass together in the Millwall half and when they finally did this, Fleck dragged an effort well wide. Gibbs White started to show flashes and it was his superb ball that suddenly gave the home side some cheer but McGoldrick, in on goal, rather telegraphed his finish and Bialkowski made the save from the one on one pushing his effort round the post. It was a fantastic chance to level spurned.
United had also failed to make a tackle of note and when they did it was a poor one from Gibbs White who was cautioned and rightly so. The Blades poor start though was recognised from the side lines and a rare first half tactical substitution was made when Hourihane was replaced by Ndiaye. The youngster instantly gave some life to the home side with a few jinking runs as at last they showed some life.
The Blades were level when from a short corner, Fleck drove inside, and Malone made a clumsy tackle from behind and the penalty award seemed an obvious one. There were few complaints from the Millwall team. SHARP took it and sent the keeper the wrong way before celebrating in front of the Millwall fans.
The Blades finished the half in more determined mood with Gibbs White and Ndiaye linking, and this theme continued in the 2nd half with the home side now the dominant attacking force. Stevens had to have treatment for a period after a seemingly late tackle from Leonard that was not punished but the same man was instrumental in what should have been the 2nd goal for United. Ndiaye did well again winning the ball and coming inside and after Osborn fed Stevens, the cross was perfect for a Blades player to finish. McGoldrick and Bogle converged but somehow the former spooned it over the bar. It was an incredible miss and easier to score. How he missed only he will know?
The Blades then had a cross shot saved and could not get on the rebound and it seemed the game had swung around but suddenly two minutes later and it went back the other way. Bogle went down in a challenge but as the ball broke Gibbs White tried to go past his man but there seemed little to no contact and the Blades man went down rather theatrically. Once again the referee, who did not have a good night, was right to brandish the yellow card. The Wolves man’ remonstrations were not great to see as impressive as he has been since he joined the club. To add insult Bogle had to go off injured and Basham came on for the Blades. Bogle and Gibbs White had been United’s main attacking threats, so this was a double blow in a game they looked like turning around.
Bradshaw had an effort saved from Olsen before Sharp pulled one wide after good work down the left and the game became rather scrappy. Norwood came on for McGoldrick but there was another big moment with just under 20 minutes to go. Saville who had been booked earlier tripped Fleck rather cynically but the referee opted not to brandish an obvious second yellow card. This drew further frustration from the crowd who were then to witness several baffling decisions by Mr Donohue. Millwall threw on Afobe and Smith and it really was land of the giants but actually despite the man advantage, the game had been fairly even. Indeed, the final 10 minutes saw it become more frenetic and resemble a basketball game with both teams attacking and gaps appearing all over. United had clearly not opted to settle for a draw but this made it finally a game that came to life after it had lacked real quality throughout.
Ndiaye weaved through after Osborn’s ball had not been cleared but Bialkowski made a great save to flick over whilst at the other end a few headers went just wide before after Olsen saved from Wallace, Bennett somehow stabbed wide. Stevens then had to make a vital block to deny Malone. At this stage it seemed either side could win it but Millwall now were creating more clear chances with Afobe shooting just wide. The referee’s difficult night continued when he let a blatant shove on Ndiaye go and Millwall broke. Stevens was booked in the aftermath for felling his man. The crowd at this point were incensed at the total lack of consistency and control and for a moment the referee had to call both captains together to talk to them. The reality was that the game had become so feisty due to his own inability to referee and make the right calls.
Millwall continued to push United back as the game went into 6 minutes of stoppage time and in the 2nd additional minute, the winner came. The ball was moved across patiently and the set up was made for COOPER and he hit a ferocious left footer that beat Olsen all ends up. It was a fantastic shot and left the Millwall players exuberant in front of their small band of fans.
The Blades failed to muster anything in response and only a Norwood booking was left to add before the final whistle came.
United – A desperately frustrating night to be honest. A lot will be made of the referee and rightly so. He was terrible. He got the penalty right and also the two yellow cards for MGW who was stupid – I hate to see diving also and Bogle tried it too. However, from this point he went to pieces and had to send off Saville. He then started to give some incredible decisions and the game became a bit of a farce. Still for all the talk of the referee, United must look at themselves. We were shocking for 30-35 minutes and never started. We did not make a tackle, did not press, and looked slow and ponderous on the ball. Millwall pressed us and just won it back easily. They were miles better and we were half asleep. To start a game like that is inexcusable. The goal was a bit of a freak but another keeping error from Olsen who looks far from convincing. After this we just did not seem to have a clue how to get it up the pitch and carried on the same laborious, predictable way and just lost it as we do not have the pace and power to play this sort of game and have small, weak players who lack running ability outside of Gibbs White (and Ndiaye when he came on). The sub had to be made as Hourihane was abysmal and anonymous but so were many more who could have gone.
As bad as the start was we then miss two glaring chances either side of the penalty. McGoldrick got all the praise Saturday but tonight he had a nightmare. They are awful misses and no excuse. The 2nd in particular is just shocking. He scored one or both and it is a different game altogether. Still even that saying, at 1-1, we looked the more likely and you felt the game had turned but then we lose two players in the same moment. You could not make it up really! Bogle had been one of our main threats and Gibbs White had looked good again but both go off in different circumstances. I have to say it looked a dive and it was poor by MGW. People will call the ref but not sure what option he had on both of those bookings? He just threw himself to the ground. As soon as he did it, I turned to my son and said he could be off here. It was not just falling under a challenge but he was looking for it and I do not like to see that.
After that it was scrappy and they struggled to create much despite having an extra men. Their fans were as frustrated as anyone calling for subs. The game should have been 10 v 10 when Saville has to go off. United did take the free kick quickly which was naïve really but then the ref needs to recognise that and stop it and make the call. He seemed happy we had taken it quickly. After this the crowd really started to get frustrated (not heard any noise before this in a very quiet Lane) and decisions started to become perplexing.
Maybe United were right to try and attack as they had several big players and if we had sat back and invited pressure then that may not have worked with us struggling with crosses and set plays but then I also felt it was disorganised and we had no structure at all. It became a bit basketball-y. It seemed either side could win it and we had chances but then they started to look more likely and you always felt they might nick it (well I did but I am negative) and so it proved. The lad Cooper always scores against us but it was a great strike.
A sickening defeat where not a lot went for us. As I say much will be made of the ref but we do have to look at a shocking first 30-35 minutes, some awful misses from Didzy and then indiscipline from MGW. These are all things we need to better at. The style of play continues to frustrate and I am not sure it is ever going to lead to a sustained period of wins/surge up the table with his current set up. I said before it seems to be a win one, lose one type of team but we are not even doing that at the moment and have failed to win 9 times out of 13 at Championship level. That is not good enough however you look at it and discuss pre-season prep (or lack of it), team imbalance and transition to a new style. I think there has to be some questions asked about the manager who we cannot keep saying it’s not his fault. I like him and think it could work but it’s going to take a long time to completely change the team/squad and worry we might be nearer the bottom than top whilst he is doing it. Will he want to stay and be part of a project moving forward for 2-3 years? Will the board have funds that can allow him to do this when we are riddled with so many big contracts and will probably need to make cut backs rather than be able to invest.
It all still seems a bit of a mess. Yes things went against us last night but it seems to be a different reason why we are not moving up the league. The players still seem to be feeling sorry for themselves somewhat but actually last night they did put a fair bit of effort in when we had 10 men. When we had 11 v 11, we actually looked worse save for a spell either side of half time.
Tonight I felt was important to get back to back home wins after the two losses but now it’s 3 losses in 4 after a decent run before that and we are trending in the wrong direction. Barnsley at the weekend will be another physical and direct side. We are missing our best player too. It’s been a really disappointing start to the season and it seems the top 6 ambitions are miles off.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000539109857
Sorry for the delay – late last night and then work today
---
United failed to build on Saturday’s win against Stoke City as their inconsistent season continued with another disappointing result, this time against similarly placed Millwall. It was a strange night at Bramall Lane as both teams could have won it in a game that the away side controlled for the opening 30 minutes but then the Blades got back into it and missed guilt edged chances to lead. The game turned further on Morgan Gibbs White second yellow card, with Jayden Bogle also going off injured in the same moment. This meant it was difficult for the home side to know what to do but credit to them as they tried to attack and had chances but so did Millwall in a game that resembled a basketball game for the final stages. In the end, as he has done at the Lane before, Jake Cooper scored a stoppage time goal to break United hearts and leave the Blades closer to the foot of the table than the top in another frustrating night in a stop start season.
Manager Jokanovic made two changes to his line up with Hourihane and McGoldrick in for Norwood and Ndiaye. Millwall named an experienced Championship line-up and featured ex Blade Ryan Leonard from the start.
Millwall were clearly smarting from their home defeat to Luton and started quick out of the blocks and were quicker to the ball than a dithering Blades side. Indeed, they had the ball in the net when Olsen made a mess of a cross shot but fortunately the flag went up. The home team had lots of possession but the slow build up from the keeper to the defence was easily pressed and smothered and resulted in easy turnovers. The away side were much more forceful in everything they did, and it was not a major surprise when they took the lead although how it occurred perhaps was somewhat of a freak moment.
The ball was played to the right and WALLACE drove a deep cross that arrowed past a static Olsen and into the far corner of the goal. It seemed unlikely the Millwall man had meant to shoot from such a position, but it was reward for a positive start from the Lions. They came again and Malone shot narrowly wide. United continued to cough up possession. Osborn and Fleck were both guilty on occasions of losing the ball, but it became a trend as McGoldrick also was sloppy in several passages.
United had barely put a pass together in the Millwall half and when they finally did this, Fleck dragged an effort well wide. Gibbs White started to show flashes and it was his superb ball that suddenly gave the home side some cheer but McGoldrick, in on goal, rather telegraphed his finish and Bialkowski made the save from the one on one pushing his effort round the post. It was a fantastic chance to level spurned.
United had also failed to make a tackle of note and when they did it was a poor one from Gibbs White who was cautioned and rightly so. The Blades poor start though was recognised from the side lines and a rare first half tactical substitution was made when Hourihane was replaced by Ndiaye. The youngster instantly gave some life to the home side with a few jinking runs as at last they showed some life.
The Blades were level when from a short corner, Fleck drove inside, and Malone made a clumsy tackle from behind and the penalty award seemed an obvious one. There were few complaints from the Millwall team. SHARP took it and sent the keeper the wrong way before celebrating in front of the Millwall fans.
The Blades finished the half in more determined mood with Gibbs White and Ndiaye linking, and this theme continued in the 2nd half with the home side now the dominant attacking force. Stevens had to have treatment for a period after a seemingly late tackle from Leonard that was not punished but the same man was instrumental in what should have been the 2nd goal for United. Ndiaye did well again winning the ball and coming inside and after Osborn fed Stevens, the cross was perfect for a Blades player to finish. McGoldrick and Bogle converged but somehow the former spooned it over the bar. It was an incredible miss and easier to score. How he missed only he will know?
The Blades then had a cross shot saved and could not get on the rebound and it seemed the game had swung around but suddenly two minutes later and it went back the other way. Bogle went down in a challenge but as the ball broke Gibbs White tried to go past his man but there seemed little to no contact and the Blades man went down rather theatrically. Once again the referee, who did not have a good night, was right to brandish the yellow card. The Wolves man’ remonstrations were not great to see as impressive as he has been since he joined the club. To add insult Bogle had to go off injured and Basham came on for the Blades. Bogle and Gibbs White had been United’s main attacking threats, so this was a double blow in a game they looked like turning around.
Bradshaw had an effort saved from Olsen before Sharp pulled one wide after good work down the left and the game became rather scrappy. Norwood came on for McGoldrick but there was another big moment with just under 20 minutes to go. Saville who had been booked earlier tripped Fleck rather cynically but the referee opted not to brandish an obvious second yellow card. This drew further frustration from the crowd who were then to witness several baffling decisions by Mr Donohue. Millwall threw on Afobe and Smith and it really was land of the giants but actually despite the man advantage, the game had been fairly even. Indeed, the final 10 minutes saw it become more frenetic and resemble a basketball game with both teams attacking and gaps appearing all over. United had clearly not opted to settle for a draw but this made it finally a game that came to life after it had lacked real quality throughout.
Ndiaye weaved through after Osborn’s ball had not been cleared but Bialkowski made a great save to flick over whilst at the other end a few headers went just wide before after Olsen saved from Wallace, Bennett somehow stabbed wide. Stevens then had to make a vital block to deny Malone. At this stage it seemed either side could win it but Millwall now were creating more clear chances with Afobe shooting just wide. The referee’s difficult night continued when he let a blatant shove on Ndiaye go and Millwall broke. Stevens was booked in the aftermath for felling his man. The crowd at this point were incensed at the total lack of consistency and control and for a moment the referee had to call both captains together to talk to them. The reality was that the game had become so feisty due to his own inability to referee and make the right calls.
Millwall continued to push United back as the game went into 6 minutes of stoppage time and in the 2nd additional minute, the winner came. The ball was moved across patiently and the set up was made for COOPER and he hit a ferocious left footer that beat Olsen all ends up. It was a fantastic shot and left the Millwall players exuberant in front of their small band of fans.
The Blades failed to muster anything in response and only a Norwood booking was left to add before the final whistle came.
United – A desperately frustrating night to be honest. A lot will be made of the referee and rightly so. He was terrible. He got the penalty right and also the two yellow cards for MGW who was stupid – I hate to see diving also and Bogle tried it too. However, from this point he went to pieces and had to send off Saville. He then started to give some incredible decisions and the game became a bit of a farce. Still for all the talk of the referee, United must look at themselves. We were shocking for 30-35 minutes and never started. We did not make a tackle, did not press, and looked slow and ponderous on the ball. Millwall pressed us and just won it back easily. They were miles better and we were half asleep. To start a game like that is inexcusable. The goal was a bit of a freak but another keeping error from Olsen who looks far from convincing. After this we just did not seem to have a clue how to get it up the pitch and carried on the same laborious, predictable way and just lost it as we do not have the pace and power to play this sort of game and have small, weak players who lack running ability outside of Gibbs White (and Ndiaye when he came on). The sub had to be made as Hourihane was abysmal and anonymous but so were many more who could have gone.
As bad as the start was we then miss two glaring chances either side of the penalty. McGoldrick got all the praise Saturday but tonight he had a nightmare. They are awful misses and no excuse. The 2nd in particular is just shocking. He scored one or both and it is a different game altogether. Still even that saying, at 1-1, we looked the more likely and you felt the game had turned but then we lose two players in the same moment. You could not make it up really! Bogle had been one of our main threats and Gibbs White had looked good again but both go off in different circumstances. I have to say it looked a dive and it was poor by MGW. People will call the ref but not sure what option he had on both of those bookings? He just threw himself to the ground. As soon as he did it, I turned to my son and said he could be off here. It was not just falling under a challenge but he was looking for it and I do not like to see that.
After that it was scrappy and they struggled to create much despite having an extra men. Their fans were as frustrated as anyone calling for subs. The game should have been 10 v 10 when Saville has to go off. United did take the free kick quickly which was naïve really but then the ref needs to recognise that and stop it and make the call. He seemed happy we had taken it quickly. After this the crowd really started to get frustrated (not heard any noise before this in a very quiet Lane) and decisions started to become perplexing.
Maybe United were right to try and attack as they had several big players and if we had sat back and invited pressure then that may not have worked with us struggling with crosses and set plays but then I also felt it was disorganised and we had no structure at all. It became a bit basketball-y. It seemed either side could win it and we had chances but then they started to look more likely and you always felt they might nick it (well I did but I am negative) and so it proved. The lad Cooper always scores against us but it was a great strike.
A sickening defeat where not a lot went for us. As I say much will be made of the ref but we do have to look at a shocking first 30-35 minutes, some awful misses from Didzy and then indiscipline from MGW. These are all things we need to better at. The style of play continues to frustrate and I am not sure it is ever going to lead to a sustained period of wins/surge up the table with his current set up. I said before it seems to be a win one, lose one type of team but we are not even doing that at the moment and have failed to win 9 times out of 13 at Championship level. That is not good enough however you look at it and discuss pre-season prep (or lack of it), team imbalance and transition to a new style. I think there has to be some questions asked about the manager who we cannot keep saying it’s not his fault. I like him and think it could work but it’s going to take a long time to completely change the team/squad and worry we might be nearer the bottom than top whilst he is doing it. Will he want to stay and be part of a project moving forward for 2-3 years? Will the board have funds that can allow him to do this when we are riddled with so many big contracts and will probably need to make cut backs rather than be able to invest.
It all still seems a bit of a mess. Yes things went against us last night but it seems to be a different reason why we are not moving up the league. The players still seem to be feeling sorry for themselves somewhat but actually last night they did put a fair bit of effort in when we had 10 men. When we had 11 v 11, we actually looked worse save for a spell either side of half time.
Tonight I felt was important to get back to back home wins after the two losses but now it’s 3 losses in 4 after a decent run before that and we are trending in the wrong direction. Barnsley at the weekend will be another physical and direct side. We are missing our best player too. It’s been a really disappointing start to the season and it seems the top 6 ambitions are miles off.
