United 2 Oldham 3 - report

[Bergen Blade]

Anyone who think that Lowton should not have gone needs to take their red and white specs off. People defending his actions are numpties.

Not seen the episode yet, but if a team has a set piece (kick off, penalty, free kick, throw in) and an opposition player tries to claim the ball, it is usually the opposition player who does something wrong.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

I don't think Lowton deserved the 1st yellow but it's his stupidity that annoys me - a reckless lunge when he's just been booked gave the ref the opportunity to send him off. We should have calmed down after conceding, re-grouped and I'm sure that had we kept 11 men on the pitch, we'd have gone on to win.

 

[blade too long]

dont panic , Mr Mainwaring

We perhaps forget how young , and therefore inexperienced our team is, the odd horror show is always likely

Its akin to when Man Utd lost at home 3-2 to Blackburn after leading, football does occasionally throw together circumstances thatll change a game
an inexplicable Cresswell diving header , Lowtons lack of thought and a very harsh penalty , still coiuld have won the game just before the penalty , but thats football
Reminds us you never know what fates got in store
Hopefully a full compliment of 11 at Walsall will put right what 9 men let pass, but we didnt really get punished too much as we are all a game closer to the end

 

[diplomat]

Up until the madness I thought we played really well yesterday. Ched looked a yard quicker than last season and his football brain has improved. That said, a couple of better decisions from him and he'd have a hat-trick match ball and would have set up a couple more. That contradiction sums up my feelings on yesterday.

We should have been out of sight. We got in some good positions and but some great crosses in that were passed a cross the face of goal from the byline that were begging to be tapped in. These are often overlooked by stats but to me we're better chances than some of the shots we had in that a better timed run would have been a certain goal. I also like it because we have done it more this season than in the last five or six seasons combined.

Hopefully we can get back on track and match our rivals results (at least)

I don't think we bottled it as such - it was just a very weird game

 

[blade too long]

every team gets a weird one now and then

blades 1 watford 4 caused real panic in promotion to the prem year
losing 1-2 to hull in another promtion year looked like scuppering us
when we lost 4-0 at leeds most thought wed really blown it in 89

ITS A GAME WE ENDED WITH 9 MEN WE LOST AT THE DEATH, wont happen again , well more than once perhaps

 

[Bergen Blade]

We perhaps forget how young , and therefore inexperienced our team is, the odd horror show is always likely

33
21 19 26 26
24 30 31 26
35 24

(the age they will reach this year)

Is that a very young/inexperienced team?

 

[super_pig]

no but the two lads that got sent off are.. they've played in every game which is a huge ask for players that young in their first/second season.. they have to be excused for the odd misdemeanour.. i still don't think either of lowtons misdemeanours warranted a yellow card.. you know i don't wear glasses olle .. except for reading
in WW2 toward the end, we got hammered at Arnhem.. a right balls up.. we still won the war though

on the subject of bottle DB.. i reckon the players have the bottle.. it is the 'fans' i'm worried about

 

[cooperblade]

Few quick points:

Only possible reason for Lowton's first booking was for making Taylor look stupid which I didn't think was a bookable offence.

Think Cresswell starts ahead of Hoskins as we're very short of defensive markers at set pieces with such a small midfield.

Thought Simonsen could have come off his line for the 3rd and saved us a goal and a red card.

 

[Willie Carlin]

Few quick points:

Only possible reason for Lowton's first booking was for making Taylor look stupid which I didn't think was a bookable offence.

Think Cresswell starts ahead of Hoskins as we're very short of defensive markers at set pieces with such a small midfield.

Thought Simonsen could have come off his line for the 3rd and saved us a goal and a red card.

Taylor their No 18 was winding up players all the game. His type get away with it. Lowtons first yellow was a joke.

 

[blade too long]

21 19 26 26
24

(the age they will reach this year)


Is that a very young/inexperienced team?

err for a back four Id say yes

 

[Northyorksblade]

So many things to factor in. The change in defence before the game even started, then LJF's injury means another change and his replacement playing in an unfamiliar position, then Cressie's unfortunate own goal and Lowton's sending off. Harry's sending off was so late it didn't impact on anything. Just one of those games, but as everyone is saying, Tuesday and subsequent games are a worry defensively. The results of all four teams below us was a diefinite bonus! Fans need to get behind the team for the next few games, don't want the players confidence completely shot!

 

[ponteblade]

Thanks DB, I always try and listen to opinions and DBs are always valid, but we have to stop all the doom and gloom, we are still second and in a great position.
So trust in Wilson because unlike wendy and the terriers, we have a manager who I believe will take us up!!!!!

 

[Deadbat]

Sorry Deadbat ,I have praised your reports lately but you should have had a sit down before writing this one ,there is so much wrong with it I wouldn't know where to start.Disagree not only on opinions in it but also on your favouritism towards some players. How does 1 defeat in 9 games at home become a perennial team of chokers and bottlers and the judging of taylor Collins Doyle and the likes on what they have done in previous seasons instead of the present is just doom mongering. Really disappointed in that

Sorry Deadbat ,I have praised your reports lately but you should have had a sit down before writing this one ,there is so much wrong with it I wouldn't know where to start.Disagree not only on opinions in it but also on your favouritism towards some players. How does 1 defeat in 9 games at home become a perennial team of chokers and bottlers and the judging of taylor Collins Doyle and the likes on what they have done in previous seasons instead of the present is just doom mongering. Really disappointed in that

Fair dos. It all about opinions. Which players to you disagree with on ratings by the way as you do not say? Just interested.

1 defeat in 9 is not a perennial team of chokers but we have lost 2 in 3 and played well for maybe a half in 3 games. The way we threw the game away yeterday was nothing but a choke job. Sorry to upset you but the team completelt imploded yesterday against a very ordinary-poor side.

As for your criticism of the team of chokers and alluding to Collins, Doyle, Taylor etc. Well didn't this team consisting of such players actually go down last year and lose all the big games (Palace, Scunthorpe, Preston etc) when it really mattered. This is the same set of players consisting of some of the above that when it has really mattered has lost the big, big games (won 1 versus the other top 3 teams; losing 4 and drawing the other) this season too.

We will see what happens but do a honest question do you think this side will go up or do you think they will bottle it? I am basing it partly on what always happens with united (you say I cant compare the past with the present but 95% of the time United do let us down - sure you agree with that). I have been pleased with that I have seen this year and think we have done really well but ultimately think we will fail. That is maybe negative, maybe based on experiences of watching United but a big chunk of it is on watching this team both last season and this. We completely lack leadership (really noticeable yesterday) and faced with golden chance in the last week we have failed in two games.

I hope I am on here in a few weeks and say I was wrong and should have kept the faith but sadly looking at the games on the horizon for us and the challengers that things will have turned around quite a bit by the next home game.

I wish I could be more positive and yes maybe I am a doom mongerer but when you see your team/club do this so many times it is hard sometimes not to feel this way. I would love to go into every play off final/big game and feel we are going to win but most of the time I fear we are not. Sadly I am usualy right but this negati ity is based on fact not on just being totally pessmistic. As I say if we can somehow hold onto second and get promoted I will be first to say I was wrong, should have been more hopeful. I will take no glee after the suspected fall away and then play off defeat as all it would do it confirm what I thought but would hurt like hell. I wish for once this club would prove me wrong and shut me up!

I stand by my mark on Flynn. He worked hard but does not beat his man, does not get dangerous crosses in and is very slow and weak. He gets wrestled off the ball too easily for me. He does put a graft in and is a neat and today sort of player. I guess at this level he is about as good as you are going to get I suppose and maybe I am being too harsh wanting a winger who gets one or two crosses in or who attacks his full back at least once in a game?

Francois was very sloppy in everything he did and overplayed on the ball at least twice before the big mistake that nearly led to the leveller.

Quinn did some really good things when we were on top but when the chips were down in the second half he disappeared I felt and I am staggered why he is always shattered after an hour and blowing out of his behind?
As for the Lowton booking. I once again stand by saying it was a yellow. He held the ball in his hands, got involved in a tussle with Taylor who was trying to get the ball back - yes he was annoying so and so but he wanted to get the ball back which you often see when a team scores a goal to come back. Two or three times United had the opportunity to jist leave the ball but kept messing around with it. Others were as guilty as Lowton but after seeing the delay why did he pick the ball up and carry it very slowly. Why not kick it back to the centre? Also why did he toss it into the air (not back to the centre as some have indicated)? He had also been involved in a bit of a pusging match with Taylor. It was all handbags but I was not surprised the ref booked both. There were hands raised and thus he has to follow the guidelines.

Also I have watched the second yellow and it was aareally poor challenge and not a 50/50. He went in late and his foot was over the ground. It was borderline straight red. It certainly was worse than the one commited on Doyle in the week and the fact that Lowton was attacking and in their box matters little.

---

At the end of the day these reports are to stimulate discussion and opinions and glad that it does that.

 

[Webding]

Wasn't it Williamson that was involved with the initial tussling? Lowton was presumably booked for unsporting behaviour, which you can't really argue with, if the ref wants to be picky about it.

I don't know what's up with me at the minute - I'm usually as pessimistic as the next Blades fan, but while I can see that yesterday has the potential to wreck our season, I'm not 100% certain of it actually happening, like I usually would be. I think Wilson has a lot to do with this. Or maybe I had a bad ale at the beer festival.

Also - 33 years my backside.

 

[Deadbat]

erm...

Wasn't it Williamson that was involved with the initial tussling? Lowton was presumably booked for unsporting behaviour, which you can't really argue with, if the ref wants to be picky about it.

I don't know what's up with me at the minute - I'm usually as pessimistic as the next Blades fan, but while I can see that yesterday has the potential to wreck our season, I'm not 100% certain of it actually happening, like I usually would be. I think Wilson has a lot to do with this. Or maybe I had a bad ale at the beer festival.

Also - 33 years my backside.

You are right. I started going when I was around 5 so technically it is nearer to 29 years of pain!

I admire your optimism. Remind you of this at 4.50pm next Saturday when we are in Griffin Park and had numerous cold refreshements.

 

[super_pig]

i think you all need to cheer up a bit. it was a bonkers game.. player stretchered off.. own goal.. two sendings off and a penalty.. just get over it
if we don't then we 'will' go into freefall.. we've won so many home games straight i've actually forgotten how many, and we lost one finally.. boo hoo.. not the end of the world
my only complaint is that we didn't shut up shop at 2-2 and settle for a point. that is what SAF would have done
i rewatched the lowton incident on the football league show and i'm still not convinced but we have to 'blame' someone i guess :/

 

[Ollessendro]

I was going to write some more detailed thoughts on the train back from Donny to London, but my laptop battery was flat. I used the time to sleep off some of the copious amounts of ale I drank at Magna last night. Anyway, DB's report is spot on.

The afternoon started really well for me. Up to Kelham Island at midday. Drink in the Fat Cat, one in the Kelham Island Tavern and then the Shakespeare, before heading to the Red Lion in town. 4 pints of top ale and I was ready for the match.

Thought we were a bit nervous and Oldham looked like they were going to attack us. We still looked dangerous though and I thought Maguire had put us ahead early on. It was an excellent save from a header of his. Oldham could have gone ahead when SS made a top save after his hospital throw out and LJF doing a 'Nos'. We were soon ahead and it was all Evans. He outmuscled the defender for the first and the second was excellent. Great run and strike from a striker in form. He showed ill judgement on a few occassions though and opted to selfishly shoot, when there were others in good positions. Half time came at a bad time for us, as we were well on top. That said, the 2nd half continued in the same vein. United continued to have lots of pressure and missed lotys of chances. Cressy could not convert, the ball whizzed across the face of goal several times and their keeper kept them in it.

For 60 odd minutes we bossed the midfield, looked dangerous and completely comfortable. Doyle hit the post and I was thinking geez, this should be 5-0 easy. Then we imploded. Cresswell's stupid and uneccesary own goal. Lowton showing ill discipline and then a stupid challenge. Oldham smelt blood and put us to the sword. They played some really good stuff and ran out worthy winners. The 2nd goals was excellent. We were all over the place and they looked much moree dangerous. Still, Evans missed 2 glorious chances to win it. The shot down the keepers throat (a yard either side and it is a certain goal) and the shot blazed over the bar. We switched off and Maguire's poor position and lack of pace cost us. He made a stupid challenge and not only the game was beyond us, but he will now be suspended. Ref was terrible, but it was our fault.

Was this the sound of the wheels coming off? I just don't know. It is going to be a real test of the squad and of Wilson's metal in the next 10 days. A fairly tricky trip to the West Midlands looks all the tougher with our defensive problems.

There are going to be plenty of twists and turns before the end of the season. Today was a big set back, but we're still out in front of the faltering pack. I think it will go down to the wire, but also believe we have enough to clinch second spot. Yesterday now means March will be very interesting ......

 

[stannyblade]

Taylor their No 18 was winding up players all the game. His type get away with it. Lowtons first yellow was a joke.

Spot on. The ref wasnt even going to give Lowton the second yellow until that shit and kuqi got to him. BUT when their no6 commited a cynical foul late on which should have been his second yellow not one blade challenged the ref.

 

[sitwell]

'They played some really good stuff and ran out worthy winners.' watched a different game to me.

 

[Ollessendro]

'They played some really good stuff and ran out worthy winners.' watched a different game to me.

Indeed mucker. Either that or one of us was wearing dodgy spectacles.

Oldham grew in confidence after they scored and really smelt blood after Lowton went. There was only one team in it after that. They moved the ball about well and carved us open on several occassions. I am surprised that anyone would think any differently than Oldham deserving the 3 points. Sure, we could have wrapped the game up and yes we imploded. The were poor for 60 mins and even could have lost late on. But they seized the opportunity and were more clinical than us.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Oldham did not run out worthy winners - we chucked it away - mainly our own fault but a biased ref didn't help. We totally dominated for an hour. Even with 10 men the match was even, it was only when we went down to 9 that they "carved us open".

 

[Darren]

Oldham did not run out worthy winners - we chucked it away - mainly our own fault but a biased ref didn't help. We totally dominated for an hour. Even with 10 men the match was even, it was only when we went down to 9 that they "carved us open".

Agreed. It was pretty even at 2-2 until the 90th minute. We had the best chance to win it, just before the pen when Evans blazed over. I don't think we can blame the ref though. As others have said, I would have not have been surprised to see Lowton get a straight red for his challenge. The root of our troubles was the panic after it went to 2-1. It seems that we were pretty pissed off to be back in a contest after it looked like we were walking the game and went all out straightaway to restore the two goal advantage - hence Lowton diving in when he didn't need to.

 

[Deadbat]

I felt they looked the more likely winners after 2-2 and did get through us quite a bit but did not have that many clear chances. Actually Evans had the 2 best chances near the end. If one of us these goes in, we win 3-2, Maguire does not get sent off and we just have to manage without Lowton for a game. Such slim margins but we had the run tuesday with the deflected winner so sometimes you have to just accept the other side (Evans shot at keeper would have gone in if it had been a yard either side and Doyle's shot so close).

If we had just lost the game I would not have been fearing the worst but the injuries/suspenisons and how they lost it could have a big affect I feel. Suppose we will have a good idea after the next 3 away games. I would love United to go and prove me wrogn and get a couple of wins and a draw. Even with players missing we have enough players (certainly i attacking areas) to go and score goals at such places. Just hope we have enough to be able to keep them out at the other end.

 

[Balham]

The root of our troubles was the panic after it went to 2-1. It seems that we were pretty pissed off to be back in a contest after it looked like we were walking the game and went all out straightaway to restore the two goal advantage - hence Lowton diving in when he didn't need to.

Sounds like last season. It probably didn't help at all that the first Oldham goal was scored by one of the senior pros in Cresswell; it's them who I'd look to to calm the side down. We really missed Collins at the back, with him out we had no leaders in the defence.

 

[Darren]

Just had a look at the Maguire sending off incident and it seems to me that he was daft pulling the guy back. The ball was running away from him and the odds were Simonsen would have smothered it anyway. Anyway, even if he had scored we would have been better off losing 3-2 and not having M suspended than having a 70% chance of losing 3-2 and M suspended.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Agreed, a more mature defender would probably have left it to the keeper

 

[super_pig]

macguire has played every game this season.. for such a young player that is a big ask and he must be mentally drained.. perhaps simmo (as the more senior player) should have made more of an effort to claim it?

 

[Balham]

Again, it's a lack of leadership. Maguire probably panicked and acted on instinct in pulling the forward back; a clear shout from Simonsen might have avoided the whole situation from ending as it did.

Additionally, an experienced centre half would have been in Maguire's ear as the ball went into the Oldham half saying something along the lines of "have you got number 9?"

 

[super_pig]

yep you're dead right balham.. we need to move on.. file under D for disaster and forget

 

[Highbury_Blade]

File it under D, but file it under 'Don't do it again'