Deadbat
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Podcast links and then report below….
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000540562057
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It was a point for the Blades on the road after a drab 1-1 draw at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest. The game was desperately devoid of skill, talent and chances as the Blades passed it around and went nowhere most of the game and Forest were happy to soak up things and try and break but created little also. The second half was drifting to a stalemate before Sharp’s introduction led to a Gibbs White goal. This should have given United the win, maybe an unconvincing one, but more atrocious defending saw Lewis Grabban, another sub, and so often the scourge of United, control and easily score under no pressure at all. Both teams tried to win it after this showing a strange amount of urgency after no such type of tempo the whole game! However, the draw was about right. For United it is still unclear what the plan is as outside the odd moment of brilliance from Gibbs White or Mousset/Ndiaye, the fluency and style is limited. Defensively they continue to throw away the most basic and sloppy of goals. To see a centre forward control and then finish inside the 6 yard box with no challenge, sadly was not a surprise on the evidence so far this season.
The Blades made a number of changes some forced and some through choice. In came Bogle, Basham and Brewster. Out went Baldock, Ndiaye and Davies with the latter out due to injury. There was no place in the match day squad for Oli McBurnie with Jack Robinson back amongst the substitutes.
Forest were without the ineligible Max Lowe who was on loan from the Blades, but did start another ex United player, in Lyle Taylor up front. Forest had really improved after making a managerial change with Steve Cooper getting them playing a more attacking and ultimately rewarding, in terms of points, style of play.
The game began with United seemingly lining up with the same formation but Brewster was perhaps more wide right than Ndiaye had been previous game and Gibbs White was more central but it seemed those two and Osborn were supporting Mousset as the lone striker. It was definitely four at the back with Basham on the right and Egan on the left of the central defence.
Mousset had an early opening but his shot lacked power and trickled though to Samba but the first 5 minutes saw the Blades dominate possession and move it around neatly if without danger. Stevens was perhaps the most involved player on the field early on but his passing and crossing let him down on more than one occasion. Gibbs White won a free kick with a piece of skill but the dithering free kick routine, whether planned or not, came to nothing. Gibb White then found Stevens but his cross was again not close to a Blades player.
Forest had done little but like many other teams facing United, realised they just needed to wait for the slow, patient football to peter out and pounce. They did that as Lolley surged through midfield but shot wide.
Stevens again made a mess of a good opening for United and clearly was influential with space but not really made the final pass tell. The game became mire in midfield for the next period before Forest won a corner on 25 minutes and Taylor stabbed it just wide with the Blades not reacting.
Olsen’s lofted chip was foolish and led to Stevens losing out and then Fleck was nutmegged leading to him bringing his man down before Johnson also put the ball through the legs of a United player, this time Norwood, before Basham held up the youngster’s enterprising run. The young forward went to ground and Basham felt he was looking for a decision by falling to floor.
Basham intercepted a ball through after Stevens misplaced ball into the centre and he in turn fed Brewster who had not been in the game, but won a corner. This came to nothing again and then Egan made a mistake that led to Johnson’s shot being deflected and Olsen was able to gather the ball.
United had not really had any chances at all despite having a lot of the ball but finally one arrived on 36 minutes when Stevens ball somehow squirmed through to Bogle but his low shot was straight at Samba on the angle.
Bogle wanted a foul soon after down the right but the referee played on and in the end penalised Norwood for a similar looking foul – this led to the Blades player arguing too vociferously and he was booked as much for dissent as the challenge.
Brewster saw the ball sit up for him on the half volley but blazed badly over before Egan made another mistake giving a cheap foul away. Osborn was the next to cede possession and Spence drove past Stevens before his cross was cleared – this led to a succession of corners for Forest who were ending the half the stronger after United had shaded territory and the football at least, if not the chances.
Neither Taylor nor Mousset had not been in the game as lone strikers for either side and the Blades man miscontrolled a ball and then in his frustration caught Garner and was rightly booked for a poor challenge.
Brewster came back to defend but was unable to prevent a corner and from it the best chance of the half came when Worrall got away from Egan and headed just wide with Bogle being left to mark him as the ball came in. It was easily the closest either came in a desperately poor contest.
The half time whistle came soon after this.
The second half started with no changes despite neither side offering much quality at all and United won an early corner
Forest picked up two quick bookings for Yates and Figuierido for cynical fouls as United through Fleck and Mousset broke. The free kicks did not see United able to get the ball into the box. The Forest fans started to get frustrated with a few free kicks going against the home side after they had maybe had the better of the 50-50 decisions in the first half.
Decent skill from Gibbs White led to a chance but both Osborn and Fleck passed up a chance to penetrate and the balls forward were aimless.
Forest broke and Stevens did well to shrug off by Lolley who was trying to get the ball onto his left foot. The game had still not really come to life with neither side stepping up the intensity in a drab game devoid of skill, urgency and chances.
Forest were the first to make a change as Zinckernagel came on for Lolley just before the hour mark. They made another change soon after when Grabban came on for Taylor. Johnson’s cross was cut out by Basham before Mousset went on a run just before his name was called – on 65 minutes this time. Ndiaye came on and went down the middle rather than Brewster going into a more central position.
Ndiaye gave it away with his first contribution but Forest gave it away soon after. Johnson then burst down the left after Osborn was the next to be careless in his passing. Johnson went past one man but as Basham came across, the Forest man went down way too easily and was rightly booked for simulation – after attempting a similar ‘con’ job in the first half. United players were rightly enraged and there was a flashpoint after this incident.
The Blades had done nothing from an attacking sense but Forest were not exactly creating much although Norwood gave away another foul but the free kick was cleared as the game entered the final 15 minutes.
Sharp replaced Osborn and soon after his impact was instant. GIBBS WHITE got on the ball and fed Sharp who drove down the left and picked out the Wolves man who coolly side footed past Samba and into the net. The Blades celebrated the vital goal in front of the jubilant sold
Sharp then won a corner soon after showing some real energy and aggression but this was cleared again.
Forest had a chance when the ball came in from Colback and Grabban could not get enough on it to steer it goalward. It was a good chance to level. The equaliser did come soon after when Johnson was allowed too much time to cross and as the ball dropped GRABBAN was allowed time to bring it down and almost mis control it before turning it home with no defenders or the keeper reacting. It was a such an incredibly sloppy goal to let in once again.
Forest now sensed they could win it and were pressing for the winner with United now the side looking a spent force once again after so many late let downs this season.
However, Gibbs White broke and went past two men at pace before after being felled in the challenge, he managed to find Brewster but his finish was really poor and straight at the keeper who made a comfortable save.
The game was now wide open but Forest had a break down the right and the cross shot was deflected wide for a corner. Fleck managed to clear the delivery.
Hourihane replaced Fleck as the game entered the final minute of play.
Forest have scored beyond the 90th minutes with their last three goals and as the game entered additional time, the home side were now much more aggressive in trying to win the game with two crosses being just about cleared. Sharp did well to help stem the pressure and won a free kick which led to a booking for Worrall. Brewster tried to get into the box but his attempt to win a penalty seemed a little ambitious.
Norwood’s driven ball was hard for Ndiaye to control and led to the ball coming back up the field but the Blades did finish in possession after Ndiaye tried to get down the left but the full-time whistle signalled another disappointing evening for United as they look a long way from finding a formula that will yield improved performances and results consistently at this level. In the end a draw was about right as not sure either side did enough to deserve to win the game.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000540562057
---
It was a point for the Blades on the road after a drab 1-1 draw at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest. The game was desperately devoid of skill, talent and chances as the Blades passed it around and went nowhere most of the game and Forest were happy to soak up things and try and break but created little also. The second half was drifting to a stalemate before Sharp’s introduction led to a Gibbs White goal. This should have given United the win, maybe an unconvincing one, but more atrocious defending saw Lewis Grabban, another sub, and so often the scourge of United, control and easily score under no pressure at all. Both teams tried to win it after this showing a strange amount of urgency after no such type of tempo the whole game! However, the draw was about right. For United it is still unclear what the plan is as outside the odd moment of brilliance from Gibbs White or Mousset/Ndiaye, the fluency and style is limited. Defensively they continue to throw away the most basic and sloppy of goals. To see a centre forward control and then finish inside the 6 yard box with no challenge, sadly was not a surprise on the evidence so far this season.
The Blades made a number of changes some forced and some through choice. In came Bogle, Basham and Brewster. Out went Baldock, Ndiaye and Davies with the latter out due to injury. There was no place in the match day squad for Oli McBurnie with Jack Robinson back amongst the substitutes.
Forest were without the ineligible Max Lowe who was on loan from the Blades, but did start another ex United player, in Lyle Taylor up front. Forest had really improved after making a managerial change with Steve Cooper getting them playing a more attacking and ultimately rewarding, in terms of points, style of play.
The game began with United seemingly lining up with the same formation but Brewster was perhaps more wide right than Ndiaye had been previous game and Gibbs White was more central but it seemed those two and Osborn were supporting Mousset as the lone striker. It was definitely four at the back with Basham on the right and Egan on the left of the central defence.
Mousset had an early opening but his shot lacked power and trickled though to Samba but the first 5 minutes saw the Blades dominate possession and move it around neatly if without danger. Stevens was perhaps the most involved player on the field early on but his passing and crossing let him down on more than one occasion. Gibbs White won a free kick with a piece of skill but the dithering free kick routine, whether planned or not, came to nothing. Gibb White then found Stevens but his cross was again not close to a Blades player.
Forest had done little but like many other teams facing United, realised they just needed to wait for the slow, patient football to peter out and pounce. They did that as Lolley surged through midfield but shot wide.
Stevens again made a mess of a good opening for United and clearly was influential with space but not really made the final pass tell. The game became mire in midfield for the next period before Forest won a corner on 25 minutes and Taylor stabbed it just wide with the Blades not reacting.
Olsen’s lofted chip was foolish and led to Stevens losing out and then Fleck was nutmegged leading to him bringing his man down before Johnson also put the ball through the legs of a United player, this time Norwood, before Basham held up the youngster’s enterprising run. The young forward went to ground and Basham felt he was looking for a decision by falling to floor.
Basham intercepted a ball through after Stevens misplaced ball into the centre and he in turn fed Brewster who had not been in the game, but won a corner. This came to nothing again and then Egan made a mistake that led to Johnson’s shot being deflected and Olsen was able to gather the ball.
United had not really had any chances at all despite having a lot of the ball but finally one arrived on 36 minutes when Stevens ball somehow squirmed through to Bogle but his low shot was straight at Samba on the angle.
Bogle wanted a foul soon after down the right but the referee played on and in the end penalised Norwood for a similar looking foul – this led to the Blades player arguing too vociferously and he was booked as much for dissent as the challenge.
Brewster saw the ball sit up for him on the half volley but blazed badly over before Egan made another mistake giving a cheap foul away. Osborn was the next to cede possession and Spence drove past Stevens before his cross was cleared – this led to a succession of corners for Forest who were ending the half the stronger after United had shaded territory and the football at least, if not the chances.
Neither Taylor nor Mousset had not been in the game as lone strikers for either side and the Blades man miscontrolled a ball and then in his frustration caught Garner and was rightly booked for a poor challenge.
Brewster came back to defend but was unable to prevent a corner and from it the best chance of the half came when Worrall got away from Egan and headed just wide with Bogle being left to mark him as the ball came in. It was easily the closest either came in a desperately poor contest.
The half time whistle came soon after this.
The second half started with no changes despite neither side offering much quality at all and United won an early corner
Forest picked up two quick bookings for Yates and Figuierido for cynical fouls as United through Fleck and Mousset broke. The free kicks did not see United able to get the ball into the box. The Forest fans started to get frustrated with a few free kicks going against the home side after they had maybe had the better of the 50-50 decisions in the first half.
Decent skill from Gibbs White led to a chance but both Osborn and Fleck passed up a chance to penetrate and the balls forward were aimless.
Forest broke and Stevens did well to shrug off by Lolley who was trying to get the ball onto his left foot. The game had still not really come to life with neither side stepping up the intensity in a drab game devoid of skill, urgency and chances.
Forest were the first to make a change as Zinckernagel came on for Lolley just before the hour mark. They made another change soon after when Grabban came on for Taylor. Johnson’s cross was cut out by Basham before Mousset went on a run just before his name was called – on 65 minutes this time. Ndiaye came on and went down the middle rather than Brewster going into a more central position.
Ndiaye gave it away with his first contribution but Forest gave it away soon after. Johnson then burst down the left after Osborn was the next to be careless in his passing. Johnson went past one man but as Basham came across, the Forest man went down way too easily and was rightly booked for simulation – after attempting a similar ‘con’ job in the first half. United players were rightly enraged and there was a flashpoint after this incident.
The Blades had done nothing from an attacking sense but Forest were not exactly creating much although Norwood gave away another foul but the free kick was cleared as the game entered the final 15 minutes.
Sharp replaced Osborn and soon after his impact was instant. GIBBS WHITE got on the ball and fed Sharp who drove down the left and picked out the Wolves man who coolly side footed past Samba and into the net. The Blades celebrated the vital goal in front of the jubilant sold
Sharp then won a corner soon after showing some real energy and aggression but this was cleared again.
Forest had a chance when the ball came in from Colback and Grabban could not get enough on it to steer it goalward. It was a good chance to level. The equaliser did come soon after when Johnson was allowed too much time to cross and as the ball dropped GRABBAN was allowed time to bring it down and almost mis control it before turning it home with no defenders or the keeper reacting. It was a such an incredibly sloppy goal to let in once again.
Forest now sensed they could win it and were pressing for the winner with United now the side looking a spent force once again after so many late let downs this season.
However, Gibbs White broke and went past two men at pace before after being felled in the challenge, he managed to find Brewster but his finish was really poor and straight at the keeper who made a comfortable save.
The game was now wide open but Forest had a break down the right and the cross shot was deflected wide for a corner. Fleck managed to clear the delivery.
Hourihane replaced Fleck as the game entered the final minute of play.
Forest have scored beyond the 90th minutes with their last three goals and as the game entered additional time, the home side were now much more aggressive in trying to win the game with two crosses being just about cleared. Sharp did well to help stem the pressure and won a free kick which led to a booking for Worrall. Brewster tried to get into the box but his attempt to win a penalty seemed a little ambitious.
Norwood’s driven ball was hard for Ndiaye to control and led to the ball coming back up the field but the Blades did finish in possession after Ndiaye tried to get down the left but the full-time whistle signalled another disappointing evening for United as they look a long way from finding a formula that will yield improved performances and results consistently at this level. In the end a draw was about right as not sure either side did enough to deserve to win the game.