United – I really enjoyed that as it was a game that had no pressure really other than us being the non -league scalp and making the headlines – I was dreading the pitch invasion and more Reynolds love in as it all became a bit nauseating even though it was good story I suppose. However, I was pleased to see the smirks knocked off his face and the story was complete squashed. Even if they win the replay, not sure the story is the same weirdly as it will be midweek and the second game. Be a bigger and harder win of course but no one will care as much. Today was the big Sunday afternoon game and at least we avoided the embarrassment. Barely.
As it went 2-1 and then 3-2 and with the McAtee injury and of course Jebbison’s ban, you sensed here we go and maybe a bit of a turning point – especially with all the off field shenanigans and the Berge rumours.
In the end we were fortunate to get a draw I felt. We played ok to begin with and scored and did what we had to. They had a few chances but we defended the long throws and corners pretty well. I thought we were professional and the front two looked lively and we had decent control with most of their chances coming from just punts forward. We looked the better footballing side and took the sting out of it when we had to. We deserved to lead even though they had a decent end to the half.
It was an odd game where we seemed in control but then went to pieces second half and could not cope with a non-league team’s intensity. We just never got going and they looked like scoring every time the ball went in our box. It reminded me of West Brom last season at the Hawthorns. It was weird as we had been mostly ok first half but then they were winning every first and second ball – from set plays and in general play. So many players struggled and you sensed we were done before we got the second leveller. Then we scored and looked like we would up it but the red card changes it again. They had chances before they did score and you felt that was that and we would be the big cup story but credit Egan for another late leveller. You hope now we can have the control at the Lane we did not have in this half – you also think on a better pitch we will be much better as much as it is the same for both teams. We are in the hat and that is all that matters. We also will get a load more money from another TV game you would think? They will bring 6 or 7,000 to I would guess so hope we have the whole ground open as could still be a 20,000+ crowd.
Now we have an interesting few days and weeks with rumours of Berge going – no sign of the embargo ending – the club put out a statement saying it would be sorted almost a week ago and it has not been. We are hearing nothing from the owner or Bettis and Hecky is being thrown to the wolves in terms of answering the media’s questions about off the field stuff. You sense if nothing happens in the next few weeks with the takeover then it probably will not happen and we could have the ridiculous situation of maybe going up and not being able to sign anyone unless the Berge sale allows this to be sorted.
With regards Sander getting 20 million for him which is our money back and then some is fine. He can be great but is he much better than the player we signed 3 years ago? He had a spell end of last season but even this year he has been quite ordinary with only the odd cameo in games. The issue I have is the timing. He is still one of our better players and now relying on two young lads alongside Norwood is a risk with no depth or options with sick note Fleck and the unproven Coulibaly not really reliable you sense? It means any injuries here and we are struggling. It gives us no time to replace. My preference would be wait until the summer. Get up and then move him then if we are going to – if we sell now it just shows how much trouble we are in financially now as I feel we would get a similar free in the summer (yes he’s 6 month on in his contract but still has another year). It smacks as we are in a bit of bother and seems like we have been hawking him around? If he had been available for a while why are all these teams bidding now. It is worrying for the state of the finances.
Any kind of sale of a key first teamer is not good news when sides around us like Burnley (Obafemi and 2 or three more) and Boro (Archer and Barlaser) are strengthening – we should not be weakening but then this has always been the way with United. If it derailed promotion then they only have themselves to blame and its terrible mis management to enter an embargo and then be forced to sell a few days before the window. As I say no issue if he went but surely we are in such a good position this could weaken us and reduce the chances of us going up -which is all that matters?
It is clear things are not right off the field and the fact we have no idea who is coming in or no more news about the takeover concerns me. If is does not go through then we simply have to get up. If we failed then the club could be in an almighty mess for the next 5 to 10 years.
Ratings:
Davies 3.5/10 – I am never convinced by him. Came out and missed the ball early and then dropped a cross which led to a chance. Made one smart save from the Mullin effort but I am always a little more concerned when he is in as opposed to Wes. Second half he seemed like a rabbit in the headlights as he remained on his line and balls reigned in. The second goal he messes up the first shot and got way with it and then did not come for the throw – maybe that is harsh but just looks timid for a big guy? Then they had a number of other chances/crosses going in and he looked less than convincing. Not sure he could do much on the second but the third goes through him. I think Wes saves a few of the goals that went in. He looks very shaky and I worry then the ball is near him. Not a great display at all and the games I have seen him play you can see why Stoke moved him on.
Bogle 4/10 – Gave away a series of stupid fouls I thought and we did not see too much going forward first half. Then got a nasty blow (not on purpose) on the nose. Got skinned by Mullin just on half time. He was not as much of a threat as he has been. Second half they attacked down his side more and they got a lot of balls in from there. He did not really get into their box and they pinned him back. Poorest he has been for a while but maybe the knock did not help. Worryingly he might be out for a few weeks if it’s a bad fracture unless he gets a face mask he can wear?
Osborn 4/10 – Thought Wrexham played down this side with him and Bash and got in down the channel a few times. Did ok with the ball at times but then just tossed it long too. Was moved into midfield at half time but never in it as they bossed this area winning all the loose stuff and rightly taken off as he was contributing nothing attacking wise or defensively.
Ahmedhodzic 4.5/10 – He was ok to start with defensively but he did not go forward as much and then as they started to come at us, he did not clear the ball or get tight to his man on set plays. Failed to get there on the first or the second and then he was struggling when they came at us. Thought the whole second half was a struggle for him and Bash. He has been ok most weeks since he came back but maybe his glandular fever took it more out of him as he looks languid and not gliding over the turf (even on the lovely surface of the Lane) like he was. Lucky to get away with a hand ball.
Basham 4/10 – At times he seemed full stretch even against slower and weaker (ability) players and he nearly set them up a few times. He was not able to just clear it and lots of wild slices or the ball that set them on the attack. He was not close enough to his man and looked really slow when running as they attacked. I felt that they played down this side, albeit not his normal side and caused him problems all game. Along with Osborn looked our weakest player outfield.
Egan 7/10 – Solid to start with heading some long throws away and clearing it but another clumsy foul (maybe this was necessary) leading to another long throw. He won headers and clearances but then they started to cause problems and his two partners struggled. He was pulled about and he too did not look as secure. Scored another well taken goal with his feet to get us out of the cart.
Norwood 7/10 – Played it sensible and nice and composed to start the game. He kept it well and moved it around. Looked the most composed midfielder on the pitch. Second half a different story as he barely saw it at all but did score a good goal well taken and was the one who looked likely to give us some control back.
Doyle 6/10 – Lively to begin with and took a great corner for the goal and then some bad ones. Then lost his way for a spell. He showed bits and pieces but I am not as convinced by him as most fans – as he fades badly and his fitness is a big issue. He starts games great but then normally after an hour his race seems done – he had to stay on today due to the lack of options and the red card. He is a decent player but needs to do more than 45 minutes of good play before fading out. Second half we had no control of the midfield and Norwood was the only one in it defensively and attacking wise. However, he did have two assists from corners.
McAtee 5.5/10 – Bits and pieces when he got on it and had some runs and one shot deflected wide. Took a few knocks, including on the goal when he got caught and maybe this is why he went off? Did not influence the game as much as he has though.
Jebbison 5/10 – 7.5 to 8 for his showing until he was sent off. Excellent first half where he linked well with McBurnie and had two or three great runs and efforts. Always looked a threat with his pace and held it up well. He looked really good and had another run at 2-2 before he then was sent off. If he did kick out then it is stupid but seemed fairly innocuous to me but as I say we could not see it and some saying he tried to boot him? Could and maybe should have cost us the game. Now he is out for three games just when he is finding form. With Osula suspended (now done?) and having a broken jaw and McBurnie and Ndiaye having some issues (Pearce said the latter had a toe problem and the former seemed not right second half?) we are really light for the next 3 up top now – this was more important than the result today so is a big blow when he was finding good form too.
McBurnie 7.5/10 – Great powerful header where he lost his man and showed good hold up and clever play. Technically on a difficult pitch showed his quality as he linked well with others. He was a threat and showed intelligent play. He seemed to get a bit of a knock and then second half as they attacked us was not in it before he went off.
Subs –
Lowe 5/10 – Bit better than Osborn but they still got down this side a fair bit and he barely got in their half the other way? Defensively we got pulled apart. No idea where he was on the third?
Ndiaye 5/10 – Had one weaving run where he looked good and had a shot blocked but other than that he gave it away two or three times and did not cause many problems for them. A lot will be made of the defending for the goal but he gave it away that led to the break. I was not really wanting him to play on that pitch as we could ill afford another injury.
Sharp 5/10 – Not great. He tried to win a few free kicks and had a decent shout on one but often it meant we had no outlet after we changed the top two. Stupid shot with men well placed at the end and he also had failed to clear on the corner. He did win us the late corner for the goal.
Manager: Heckingbottom 5/10 – First half fine – 7-8/10 but then we never started and we are worryingly seeing more and more of these fade outs. He may have been better giving us more legs and aggression in Coulibaly in midfield (granted not seen much of him) than Osborn if he had to make the change. Maybe McBurnie was injured but even though we had seen less of him and Jebbo, they looked a threat and Sharp offers little these days. Also hindered us set plays wise too the other way. He named a fairly strong team and we were not great second half at all. We need to do much better after the break as we seem to think we can coast through games but it came back to bite us today as a team who knocked it forward and into the box worried us. They caused us far more problems than many of the Championship sides we have faced recently and showed if you knock it behind us or win the first ball you can cause us problems. Granted erratic performances by senior players like Bash and Davies did not help. He will face a nervous wait now as we are littered with rumours about at least one sale and with a suspension and injury will hope we can get through this next few and get some back – you would hope Stevens, Baldock, Fleck and maybe even Osula could be available and maybe in a month Brewster and RND. It seems like we may lose Berge but with us not being able to bring anyone in look very light in midfield and up front. We will be relying on players like Coulibaly and Osula to have an impact in the next few games you would think which is less than ideal when neither were considered close to being first team options a few months ago? You hope the embargo and sales of a key man cannot be the start of us imploding and we need to stay strong the next period of games.
Wrexham – I have watched the Wrexham series on Disney and it’s a decent watch. Yes it’s a bit cringeworthy at times but actually still more real and less forced than any of the ones covering the bigger clubs. I like the way they interact with the locals and go in the local pub. Interesting even the money needed at that level to ensure they try and get up/improve the ground. It will be interesting to see if Reynolds/Mcelhenney stay for the long haul as after the initial few years and interest in the TV series you would figure those outside the local area and particularly in the US would not be that bothered as the novelty will have worn off. If they go up and the story continues then maybe they will continue to invest but a lot rests I fear in the next few months. I compare them to the Salford story though and you can see things plateauing off after the initial success/interest. To really go up through the leagues you need the infrastructure and huge investment really. Whether they keep chucking money to just get them even out of League Two or League One will be interesting.
This season they have been right at the top and have been unstoppable at home. They have brought in many players like Mullin, Tozer and Palmer who could all play a league or two higher. Of course the likes of Howard and McFadzean I am not sure were good enough for us even when they were younger, back in League One – to counteract. Parkinson’s side play very direct stuff and rely on getting it forward and set plays/long throws. He has been effective at the lower level but struggles further up when it has become more technical as shown at Bolton and Bradford, despite great success initially.
Credit the home team and fans. They looked a side that can cause real problems and you can see why they have won every league game at home and beat Coventry. They overcame two injuries and a deficit and had a real go second half and did cause us real problems. They will be gutted not to win and on the chances and overall play did enough to nick it. They get it up to Mullin who works so hard and use the set plays well. You can see why they are blowing most teams away, albeit at their level. Defensively they looked suspect but so did we and we have a lot better players! They made a real game of it and will still fancy their chances at the Lane even though they may not have as much of the ball and will have to defend a lot more you sense.
Opponent Man of the Match – Mullin. Thought he was superb. A proper old fashioned centre forward’s display and he led the line, ran the channels and looked a threat. Definitely could play League One or higher (where he went with Cambridge before the dosh came calling of Wrexham although he did say to be fair he wanted to be closer to home in Merseyside). The lad Forde was decent on the right and O’Connor was always in the action too.
Opponent Weak link – Howard was nearly as poor as Davies and felt he was not great on the last two goals but no one played particularly poorly. Thought the young lad who came on struggled when we ran at them but they all worked hard.
Referee/Officials – Dean Whitestone. Not an easy game to referee. He was ok actually and not sure too many decisions were that bad. The red card was the fourth official’s call and I am not sure without seeing it on a better replay. Maybe he did kick out and if he did it is a red card but not sure it seemed that bad to be sent straight off from what we did see but he was closer than any of us. The rest of the game felt all the yellows were right. He played the right amount of time at the end of both halves. There was some poor tackles and they did go to ground a lot. They did not penalise the yards gained on the long throws and he often oversteps on many too but that is nit picking a bit. They missed a penalty on Ahmedhodzic if we are moaning about the red card – being fair in terms of assessment.
Matchday/Crowd/Coverage – Was always going to be all about the Hollywood affect and Wrexham. No problems with that. Nobody would have wanted us to win outside of our own fans. Again, I get that. I’d have been wanting Wrexham to win, against any other team too. They were fair for the most part in the studio crediting us for our first half and how we came back. Thought Lineker, Hughes and Shearer were fine in their assessment. The man of the match was right but Pearce and Gabbidon’s other takes were poor. They called Ahmedhodzic a Swedish international and said McBurnie was not that big for a striker. He also said it has to be in the quadrant for corners – it does not – it has to overhang it doesn’t it? He loved rattling off stats Pearce but clearly did not know much about us other than what he had read up. Gabbison had some horrible takes on things too. Did he say we struggled with long throws as we could not defend them in training as we had no one who took them? They were not great compared to the studio analysis on the game.
