United 2 Wednesday 2 - report

[Ollessendro]

There was no way their lad (not madine) went for the ball - unless you count Simmos extremely small pair.

His eyes never came off simonson and never looked at the ball. They did a job on us and the ref let them

Was it Reda Johnson. A big, cynical, dirty lump whoever he was. I could not see his eyes from where I was on the kop (towards the back) and on the replays it is too far away. I think a fould would have been harsh on them, but I've seen em given.

What I have an issue with was the unpunished, persistent and cynical fouling from their players.

Two of their players should have received red cards in the first half.

Agree with this. He set the precent in the first few minutes when he let their left back assault Williamson is the area after 5 minutes. Stone wall pen and at least a yellow. He went on to persistently foul throughout the first half and got carded in the second. He was not the only one with their defenders all over Ched and Cressy and some shcoking challenges flying. Wednesday used their physical advantage illegally, but the ref did not pull them up for it. I am still pissed off about the way he let Wednesday kick lumps out of us and get away with it.

Just watched the game on Blades Player and did a chances count, which I think is more accurate than possession and shots on/off goal, in terms of analysing who were the better team.

The Blades - 2 100% chances, 1 50% chance
The pigs - 6 100% chances, 3 50% chances

It is very rare to see a home team produce so few chances, but thankfully we were very effective on Sunday. And quite lucky.

It is intersting when you look at things like that. The overall statistics (18 attempts to 6) show Wednesday to have created more chances too. They missed some good chances (Madine header, O'Conner header, hitting the post and shot on the bar).

You should know that the highlights never show the true picture though Bergen. We had a big shout for a penalty early on and could have been 3 up at h/t and them down to 10 (even 9) men. They were cynical and dirty and how they kept 11 on the field I'll never know.

I do agree that Wednesday troubled us more than we troubled them. we never dealt with their long throws, corners or free kicks convincingly. Another factor that you have to take into account Bergen is that they were chasing the game. We sat back in the 2nd half and looked to shut up shop. Had we been behind or level we would not have done so. Everything was going well and it almost worked, bar switching off and a goalkeeping error.

I thought we were lucky to be up at half time. However a positive is that we were clinical. How often have we said that recently?

 

[SRBlade]

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Decent effort but its too high for a sending off, hip height is the most dangerous place to catch someone with your foot. Heads can take bangs like that all day.

 

[judge]

Decent effort but its too high for a sending off, hip height is the most dangerous place to catch someone with your foot. Heads can take bangs like that all day.

are you being serious ?

 

[Bergen Blade]

It is intersting when you look at things like that. The overall statistics (18 attempts to 6) show Wednesday to have created more chances too. They missed some good chances (Madine header, O'Conner header, hitting the post and shot on the bar).

You should know that the highlights never show the true picture though Bergen. We had a big shout for a penalty early on and could have been 3 up at h/t and them down to 10 (even 9) men. They were cynical and dirty and how they kept 11 on the field I'll never know.

I do agree that Wednesday troubled us more than we troubled them. we never dealt with their long throws, corners or free kicks convincingly. Another factor that you have to take into account Bergen is that they were chasing the game. We sat back in the 2nd half and looked to shut up shop. Had we been behind or level we would not have done so. Everything was going well and it almost worked, bar switching off and a goalkeeping error.

I thought we were lucky to be up at half time. However a positive is that we were clinical. How often have we said that recently?

I watched the whole game on BladesPlayer, so I'm not judging by highlights only. I don't really like shots on/off targets stats. It's no problem to whack the ball up on the Kop to have it registered as a shot off target, and weak efforts that falls into the hands of a comfortable keeper doesn't mean a chance has been created either. Assessing attacks, counting chances and differentiating roughly between real and half chances is in my opinion the best way of analysing who were the better team.

I agree that the score influenced the way we played. I don't accept that a 2-0 lead means you'll be unable to create more chances. But pace and a willingness to counter attack would help.

Regarding your comment that I have highlighted - I hope Danny Wilson isn't making the same sort of excuse, as I think that mean we'll see more of the same, rather than problems areas addressed.


If someone's interested, a bit more analysis, and some thoughts, are to be found here: http://scandinavianblades.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/9612581-analysis-disappointing-derby

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I watched the whole game on BladesPlayer, so I'm not judging by highlights only. I don't really like shots on/off targets stats. It's no problem to whack the ball up on the Kop to have it registered as a shot off target, and weak efforts that falls into the hands of a comfortable keeper doesn't mean a chance has been created either. Assessing attacks, counting chances and differentiating roughly between real and half chances is in my opinion the best way of analysing who were the better team.

I agree that the score influenced the way we played. I don't accept that a 2-0 lead means you'll be unable to create more chances. But pace and a willingness to counter attack would help.

Regarding your comment that I have highlighted - I hope Danny Wilson isn't making the same sort of excuse, as I think that mean we'll see more of the same, rather than problems areas addressed.


If someone's interested, a bit more analysis, and some thoughts, are to be found here: http://scandinavianblades.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/9612581-analysis-disappointing-derby

An interesting article Bergen. We seem to have been saying the same thing about our lack of pace up front and wide for the last three or four seasons.

Did you think their second goal was a foul? Did they show it from behind the goal? I was on The Kop and appealed but not many around me did.

Did you think it was a penalty in the first half? I thought not at the time but many others have said it should have been.

 

[Staffs_Blade]

I agree with you Sothall, at the time I thought it was a definite foul and I was right behind the goal but this was probably more in hope. Having now seen it again I don't think it was - Simmo simply didn't get it, I'm assuming he was trying to punch it. A more commanding, confident keeper could have dealt with it. Agree about the lack of defenders challenging for it though.

As for the first half penalty with the foul on Williamson I think this was a blatant push and we should have had it. However I know it shouldn't matter but I think it came too early in the match and the ref bottled it.