Awful.

[Deadbat]

No detailed report tonight I am afraid. Did not go as I have squandered enough money on this club already this season so watched it from comfort of my sofa.

In short I felt we were pathetic and spineless. Sure we had a fair bit of the ball but as Sky said we had very few chances of note and they easily could have been 2-0 up in the first 20 mins. We scored a good goal but then Evans indecision and weak challange led to an equaliser that Simonsen had no chance with. Bradford deserved to be level and after this I felt whilst we had a lot of the ball we did nothing with it and never reallly looked like scoring till a good chance at the end.

We looked slow and unfit and so immobile all over the field and Bradford closed us down, worked harder and actually looked far more threatening in the last third. We played at such a slow pace and outside of Phillips and Clarke the rest of the team had no idea. How we will create chances now they have gone back I dont know. I doubt they will miss creating and scoring chances and then watching the rest chuck away goals or do nothing to create any other pieces of good play.

The fact is a team nearly bottom of the entire league looked hungrier, fitter, more determined and actually penetrated more than us says it all. We have reached a real low point. Wilson seems clueless how to get these players playing any better than they are but we have to ask after messrs Adams, Carver, Speed, Blackwell for many of these we have to admit they are really poor players. We had a team full of experience today and could not beat Bradford City nor really looked like scoring for much of game. These players are 'losers'. Many need to be got out of this club as soon as poissble and we need to bring in some hungry players who actually care. I am not sure many we have at the moment do give a s**t. They seem quite happy to go through the motions.

Simonsen - No chance with goal. Saved a pen and also made another couple of decent saves. 7/10

Parrino - Awful. Unfit, off pace and got skinned every time winger went at him. Never got close to man and made Lowton look like Cafu. Seriosuly. He is not the answer. I never felt he was as he got beat regularly last year (how many times have we won a game when he has played?). 2/10

Maguire - Clumsy, slow and easy to turn. Made another few errors that could have led to goals. He seemed more interesting in grappling than playing the game and got outmuscled quite a bit (when big centre half nearly scored). Penalty summed him up at the moment. Needs to be taken out of the team now. 4/10

Collins - Best defender probably again but he lost his man when they nearly scored early on but still only one who actually competed and won his battle. 6/10

Williams - Decent going forward but gave his man too much space other way. Improved as game went on. He has been up and down since signing. 6/10

McDonald - Great with ball when he got on it but awful off it and gave his man so much space and time. Barely noticed him second half and faded as he does in most games due to applaing fitness. Does he drink/smoke a lot? Seriously. 5/10

Doyle - Dreadful and should have been sent off for an awful stamp at the end where he basically went for their man. Disgusting and should be fined. He is an appalling player. 2/10

Evans - Terrible first touch, off pace, not interested and at fault for first goal. Had one good run but then did not shoot after hard work. 2/10

Porter - Marginally better than above but he too shows an awful first touch, never looks a goal threat and is so slow it is untrue. 4/10

Clarke - Showed a few bits and pieces but was in and out of the game and prefer him up front to out wide. Never see him again though now. 6/10

Phillips - Our best player. Scored a great goal. Everything we did well came from him. A top Champ div player no question. 7.5/10

Subs

Lowton - Better than PArino and at least got closer to man. Great cross that nearly led to a goal.

Tonne - Did he touch the ball apart from miss a penalty? Another one every one is crying out for like Parino but if they were that good in training etc do you not think Wilson would have played them. Yes, worryingly these players seem even worse.

 

[judge]

cant disagree with any of that ,so disheartening to see how bad we have become and even more disheartening to know things arent going to improve in the near future

actually feel sorry for wilson having to try and mould a team out of that spineless bunch of wankers even if he is well out of his depth

 

[Kev Gee]

Its frightning to think that things could actually get worse.

Clarke & Phillips go back and ermmm who else do we have to give that spark??

Next up its Oxford in the cup & they could turn us over.

 

[alcoblade]

cant disagree with any of that ,so disheartening to see how bad we have become and even more disheartening to know things arent going to improve in the near future

actually feel sorry for wilson having to try and mould a team out of that spineless bunch of wankers even if he is well out of his depth

As I've said elsewhere, it's all about seeing out the contracts of the dross he inherited. Granted his signings give me no confidence, but perhaps we wont always be bottom fishing. I'll start to really jusdge next season.

UTB

 

[Russ]

Its frightning to think that things could actually get worse.

Clarke & Phillips go back and ermmm who else do we have to give that spark??

Next up its Oxford in the cup & they could turn us over.

Yeah, big welcome back for Chrissy Wilder. Mind you, Gene Wilder could beat US

 

[Bladesman]

Getting hold of the ball was not a problem but we have no idea what to do with it the final 3rd.

It said it all when Lowton put a good ball in the box and out of 3 united players the only one attacking the ball is Phillips and our so called striker was doing nothing.

Collins and Maguire seem to drift further apart leaving a massive gap in the middle.

Phillips the only real threat going forward and the rest were a shambles.

 

[Hartley Hare]

I think the trouble is that the players think they are better than they are. So slow and ponderous.

Evans was useless, totally useless.
Maguire makes needless misjudgements that will cost goals

Gawd help us when Phillips and Clarke leave. Phillips has been very good.

I can't see us finishing in top six now. We can't beat a team 4th from bottom of the league at home, who haven't won away this season. Shocking.

Fed up HH

 

[BladeInThatcham]

Parrinio a 2? Did you watch the same game as me?

I'd give him a 0.5 - and that would be for turning up on time.....unfortunately ;-)

What has happened to our early season 'footballing philosophy'? Stevenage was truely woeful and although this was marginally better it was Bradford.....at home!! We should be tearing sides like this a new one.

 

[Knackered Blade]

I actually thought United played better tonight than at Stevenage, but this was a struggling Bradford team.

However the team is in free fall. It's not just tonight, it has been evident for a good few games that there are problems throughout the team.

Has Wilson got the ability to halt the slide?

It's not looking good.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Its frightning to think that things will actually get worse.

Clarke & Phillips go back and ermmm who else do we have to give that spark??

Next up its Oxford in the cup & they could turn us over.

Just corrected your post for you KG, hope you don't mind.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Agree with the assessment Deadbat. Not looking good.

I'm trying to work out what has changed so drastically. 2 months ago we thrashed Bury 4-0 and looked excellent. Tonight, we had plenty of possession but looked devoid of any ideas on how to attack. The team two months ago vs Bury was: Simonsen, Lowton, Jean-Francois, Mendez-Laing (Flynn 73), Doyle, Collins, Cresswell, Maguire, McAllister, Porter (Tonne 81), Quinn (Williamson 83). With the exception of Parrino, the team tonight (and from Saturday) is on paper much better than the one that looked so comfortable 2 months ago.

I'm honestly not sure whether tonight was simply a case of zero motivation for this competition - it's the first time we've really put out an XI that was more or less first choice. That had better be the reason why they were so poor....

Might just have a look to see what odds I can get on Oxford for Saturday...

 

[Bergen Blade]

Some more random thoughts:

It was disappointing to see how much space they found and worrying that we struggled to do anything about it. Thought we were disorganised and didn't look like a unit when we defended nor attacked. Parrino was shocking, but I wouldn't put Tønne in that bracket before he's given more time. Having not figured for ages it's a big ask to throw him on late when we're playing poorly and expect him to rescue us. It was his overhead kick that set up Clarke's big chance at the end by the way.



McDonald is one of the most frustrating players I've ever seen play for us. Looks to have so much ability, but a combination of laziness, disinterest and poor fitness makes him a liability defensively. Thought Clark tried hard, but little came off for him. Williams lost confidence first half after a couple of poor involvements and was probably the one who should have challenged their two free headers after right wing crosses. When Evans lost the ball before they scored he should have brought the ball forward, not stopped it and try to go back with it. In general we play it far too much sidways and backwards. Porter wasn't impressive, but I still think he offers more than Cresswell at the moment. Collins may end up with POY.

 

[Pragmatic Blade]

Like everyone else on here, I have to agree with Deadbat's assessment. We look so devoid of any quality with the exception of the loan players it is untrue. There is no leadership out there, and we need to have a serious rethink and consider how we are going to get ourselves out of this mess. It will not be a quick process, but even the likes of Southampton have built steadily despite being financially crippled (I cannot believe our situation is much different to theirs of two years ago).

I personally think we need a change in the board. I don't blame Danny Wilson - this decline started well before he came in - and he is struggling to get anything now from what is the most talentless bunch of wasters to wear the Blades shirt in my lifetime (plus 25 years). The board are invisible. Where are they?

The fans need to vent their frustrations at the Board and demand an improvement to the current situation. The apathy that surrounds the club at the moment is concerning, and it feels like we are drifting further into the abyss. I don't see enough evidence to suggest the fans can make a difference at the moment - I hope I am wrong.

No emotion, no feeling and a lack of atmosphere is evident throughout the club. I cannot remember a time when we were so devoid of passion, hunger and spirit. This team does not resonate with me as containing players who want to give their all, and we need some changes at the top ASAP to change the direction that our club is heading in. It needs to be done now and we as fans have a responsibility to make the Board face up to the consequences of our club drifting further away from the fans.....sad times.

 

[bladeinspaceandtime]

Its frightning to think that things could actually get worse.

Clarke & Phillips go back and ermmm who else do we have to give that spark??

Next up its Oxford in the cup & they could turn us over.

We were doing okay earlier in the season before those two came in. Maybe we were flattering to deceive earlier this season. I don't think we have hit the bottom yet, there is another division below this one! In all honesty I thought we would struggle to avoid relegation this season.

 

[BladeFisher]

I thought it was shocking and the fans should be blamed too! Bradford fans were teriffic, Bradford!! Gee whiz. Absolutely awful. It looked horrendous there tonight, like a reserve match. Bad planning by the club, should have closed both ends and put Bradford on the John Street side.

Bradford deserved to win and the way its going put your money on SUFC being the first big club to go into the Conference. We can pass fancy, but absolutely no drive anywhere near goal. It was shite and embarrassing and so was the atmosphere.

Here was a chance, the only one United will ever get realistically to get to Wembley in a cup competition and win it and it looked as if nobody could be arsed except Phillips. Absolutely dire. Oxford will turn us over on Saturday and I really can't see where the next positive result is coming from.

 

[Deleted member 875]

I had the misfortune of seeing that tonight, and it was another shite performance.

The recent bad run i would like to put down to bad luck, but deep down i know it is down to the problems we had last season rearing their ugly head.

At the appointment of Danny Wilson, i thought it was a very poor appointment, and he did start well although now it is starting to seem like that he is unable to stop the rot.

Out of tonights players, if Simmo, Parrino, Collins, Williams, MacDonald, Evans and Porter never played for this club again i would not be too disappointed.

Simonsen had a decent game, but recent performances have been awful and don't go anywhere near justifying his wages. I'm still struggling to understand why we resigned Parrino who was one of the worst players of last season, Collins is just an average league 1 standard player and doesn't really show any leadership skills, Williams is fucking shit, McDonald is less fit than me and i drink a lot and smoke 20 a day, Evans has been a waste of space from day one and Porter is another who can succiently be described as fucking shit.

I have a better understanding of quantum physics than how this set of imbeciles make a living from being professional footballers, and if things don't change soon at Bramall Lane i fear that League Two is beckoning for us, and quite frankly we deserve better

 

[Bladesman]

Ched Evans just been out in Crystal tonight.

Not too ashamed to show his face after that shit shower of a performance.

 

[Kev Gee]

Ched Evans just been out in Crystal tonight.

Not too ashamed to show his face after that shit shower of a performance.

You can tell he doesnt give a damn on the pitch. Never mind by his actions off the pitch!!!

The club is just a mirror image of the man at the top.

If the Chairman isnt interested. Then why should anyone else be?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Not just a comment on the JPT game but the signs have been there since the 'Udders game. Maybe our early season 'form' was misleading, maybe this is as good as we are now but a better team would have murdered us last night which is worrying when we should be walking over a team struggling to stay in the Football League or at least giving the keeper more than a handful of shots to deal with.

As Deadbat says, it's time to rest Maguire now and bring Lecs in (with the absence of anyone else). Too many times recently we've seen the attempted stretch for the ball which has resulted in either a chance or a goal. It's cost us points in the League and is happening too regularly now. Not sure whether Collins is the culprit either as he has gone missing marking wise and still insists on charging into challenges but his experience should keep him in at this stage.

Evans is just being Evans, even at this level his awareness is lacking. Porter seems to be an old fashioned target man which doesn't seem to fit into the style Wilson is trying to employ. Even though we've been getting the ball wide, he doesn't seem to be on the end of most things, doesn't win many headers and at this stage, Cresswell seems a better option.

The midfield is, STILL, an issue. As frustrating as McDonald has become, he at least has time on the ball and invariably finds a red and white shirt. Bodie and Doyle will continue to battle but provide nothing going forward and presuming Clarke and Phillips go back today, there's next to nothing in terms of pace up front.

I've really no idea what Wilson will do now, what team he'll go with on Saturday and how we can get back to the kind of solid confident team we were early season.

What's happened to McAllister by the way ?

 

[cooperblade]

I posted after the Rotherham match that we shouldn't read too much into performances in very low intensity games like those in the JPT. I'm struggling to stick to that after last night though.

This competition was a huge, huge opportunity to play at Wembley. That doesn't happen very often to 80 odd clubs in football and to throw away such a chance is criminal. We were favourites to win the cup, has that ever happened before? From a personal point of view as well, the chance for me to be able to take my 6 year old to watch us at Wembley in his 2nd season was incredibly exciting. So for me, those after the game who were saying they were glad to be out the JPT were totally wrong.

The performance was almost as difficult to bear as the result. We looked very shaky defensively early on but I thought, in general, in the first half we kept possession pretty well and looked OK without ever getting out of 2nd gear.

The 2nd half was horribly frustrating though. Williams completely stopped passing it and went long at every opportunity. McDonald started losing possession which he hadn't done in the first half. Phillips looked isolated. Porter was ineffective. Clarke looked like he'd got his boots on the wrong feet and seemed to cock up every single time he got the ball. Parrino was like a distressed animal in need of putting down (which he eventually was). Evans was poor but surely he was more likely to score than Clarke and should've stayed on when Tonne was introduced?

I think we have one chance to get out of this division and if we don't take it, we're very possibly looking at a spell of 3 or 4 seasons of transition before we can have another go at promotion.

I'm not too critical of Wilson at the moment. I think he's made mistakes but also has some credits on his record - the football's improved, we've scored goals, he brought in Phillips (the best loan signing for a long, long time). What can he do to turn it round? Who do we have on the sidelines who can come in and improve us? I'm actually looking forward to Ertl coming back as I think he'll improve the defence (as might Andy Taylor) which is a sad indictment of where we are. I don't think Morgan will ever play again. In midfield and attack, we're looking for a miracle - we need NML, Flynn, Philliskirk etc to suddenly produce something that they've shown little or no signs of so far.

In a fantasy football type world with the opportunity to move out as many as possible and start again, I'd probably only keep Lowton, Maguire (as a squad player for now), Collins, McDonald and Quinn - and out of them, I think only Collins can be truly satisfied with how he's played this season. I like Evans and can't understand why he hasn't played more this season but we have so many holes in the squad that (somewhere in the region of) £17k a week on one player can't make sense.

I wish we had a league game sooner, 3 points would help a lot (not that I'd be expecting us to get them). Oxford seems an utterly meaningless game, we've blown our big cup chance.

 

[Revolution]

This competition was a huge, huge opportunity to play at Wembley. That doesn't happen very often to 80 odd clubs in football and to throw away such a chance is criminal. We were favourites to win the cup, has that ever happened before? From a personal point of view as well, the chance for me to be able to take my 6 year old to watch us at Wembley in his 2nd season was incredibly exciting. So for me, those after the game who were saying they were glad to be out the JPT were totally wrong.

Agree totally with this. A wasted opportunity.

 

[blade too long]

lack of passion , no speed of thought , second phase , we never got one ball from tackles
out run and out battled , midfield over run , caught in possession , constantly choosing the wrong option
no support play , weak tackling , shoddy marking ,inability to apply any pressure
ineffective shooting , bad crossing, slack marking

other than that was brilliant
strange how not one of the top 6 in div 1 are still in it

 

[broomhillblade]

According to the stats we had more shots on target than Bradford (7 to 5). Otherwise there was very little between the two sides, stats-wise.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Simonsen - 7/10
Did everything that was asked of him. Couple of good saves.

Parrino - 3/10
Liked the look of him last season. Looked well off the pace last night.

Maguire - 5/10
Big, strong but slow. He and Collins let the forwards get in between them too often.

Collins - 5/10
Similar to Maguire but perhaps more alert. Awful distribution.

Williams - 4/10
Not tight enough to his man. Has got worse in the last few games.

Phillips - 7/10
Along with Clarke, our only real threat going forward. Quality player.

McDonald - 5.5/10
Looks good in possession but is not strong enough for such a big lad. Needs to work on that.

Doyle - 4/10
Totally anonymous at times and offers nothing going forward. No room for that stamp at the end!

Clarke - 7.5/10
Always lively, keeps his marker guessing. I like his close control and versatility.

Porter - 5/10
Shows good strength and links up play at times but drifts out of games. Doesnt do enough.

Evans - 3.5/10
Doesnt work hard enough, drifts wide too often. I would sooner see Cresswell alongside Porter.

 

[Guesty]

I think McDonald is flattering to deceive, because he gets his head up and finds his man, when he passes it sideways. Did no-one else see those two or three forward passes he delicately floated into the abandoned Kop? Absolutely woeful.and he looks terrified of shooting, too.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

At least now we can concentrate on mid-table mediocrity ...

 

[dingledog]

What can add, I would probably give a collective score for the teams performance, after all its a team game, mine would be about 2/10. We are really poor, not big enough or physical enough and the players really arent good enough, I'm tired of the 'on paper' arguments, we play on grass and they are rubbish.

I lay the whole blame at the door of Mr McCabe, I recall last season, 'no more reliance on the loan market' comment, am I missing something here. He has overseen the most spectacular fall in fortunes, both on the field and in terms of the business.

Until he goes unfortunatly I can only see further decline.

 

[alcoblade]

The problem with players like McDonald is that they demand a Monty type figure at the side. Oh for midfielders who could do a bit of oth sides.

UTB

---------- Post added at 10:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:15 AM ----------

I lay the whole blame at the door of Mr McCabe, I recall last season, 'no more reliance on the loan market' comment, am I missing something here. He has overseen the most spectacular fall in fortunes, both on the field and in terms of the business.

"I can't believe we were relegated with players like Simmo and Evans in the side" was his comment on the radio. Hearing tht made me realise just how far out of touch he'd become with anything football related at the club.

UTB

 

[madeinsheffield]

Given up the only possibility of see us lift any form of cup in god knows how many years to come..........unless we stay in this division another season, which on last night's performance is looking very likely

 

[blade too long]

Given up the only possibility of see us lift any form of cup in god knows how many years to come..........unless we stay in this division another season, which on last night's performance is looking very likely

man city were in here a decade ago
just a thought