Right then. Help it make sense.

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Feeling fed up today. But yesterday, I felt calm throughout, I guess I must've thought we'd do it, despite saying beforehand that I couldn't call it.

The feeling at the end is familiar, we've been here a million times before but this time I was left feeling bemused, shell shocked. What just happened?

Go on, help it make sense.

First half, we looked comfortable, assured, settled at the back and creating a few chances. Their lot looked frustrated, limited and we'd silenced their fans.

1. Was it the psychological impact of the second goal being ruled out? Suddenly a 1-0 lead feels weaker, despite being a fantastic position to be in, and a comfortable performance to that point? Does it buoy their lot?

2. Was it injuries that shafted us? Losing your talisman and suddenly your system has to change. You don't have someone wanting to dictate the game. The rest are a good supporting cast, but they aren't the ones looking to make something happen.

3. Was it the lack of a Plan B? Our bench couldn't have looked much stronger, but we looked like we didn't know how to set up, when the subs came on?

4. Was it a lack of like-for-like replacements, to stick to the same game plan? We are mid-rebuild after all and it's very easy to lose sight of that, given how well we've done.

5. Was it Robbo getting wrong footed by their forward for the first? Bringing their fans back into it?

6. Was it injuries that shafted us again? Anel being off the pitch, leaving a hole in the side, conceding whilst temporarily down to 10 men. Yes, the Moore pass really, really didn't help us.

All/some of the above? Owt else? Make it make sense. Because there's no chance I'm chuffing watching it back. And no, I'm not interested in empty, throw away comments like "Wilder bottled it. He'll be out thru the back door". Give me something more substantial than that, based on what we saw. No snidy comments.

UTB, as ever.

 

[Rochdaleblade]

It was a game of football between two closely matched teams. These tend to hinge on big moments, luck or refereeing decisions. Sunderland took their chances clinically when they had them, we dillied and dallied. If Brooks shot bobbles over the keepers outstretched leg or VAR doesn't rule out Burrows goal, we win.

 

[rompodebailey]

Yes

 

[blackydog]

Still not a fan of hoof it to Moore and never will be.

 

[Chimpan-A]

It was a game of football between two closely matched teams. These tend to hinge on big moments, luck or refereeing decisions. Sunderland took their chances clinically when they had them, we dillied and dallied. If Brooks shot bobbles over the keepers outstretched leg or VAR doesn't rule out Burrows goal, we win.

It’s this for me. Just moments, individual decisions by players.

 

[Racing Blade]

The only other point I'd add to our list is whether or not our support is a factor. Given that we were up against, vocally, one of the best supported teams in the land, I thought we started quite well but, as you say, the VAR intervention killed is stone dead.

We all know, too well, that feeling of sinking into the abyss, as the final whistle looms and there is nothing in the world to compare with the outpouring through the Wembley exits as our fate is sealed. Some throwing away scarves and other adornments, a few turning on the players or manager, others vowing never to return again, a few making mundane conversation about anything other than football, but the great majority solemnly trooping away like a defeated army, keen to get down the Underground rabbit holes before the opposing fans head out, celebrating in a way that none of us know.

Each Sheffield United team that turns out in a play off, generally bears little or no connection to the previous failures...... but we do. Would other clubs, without a similar play-off history to ours, have let their bubble burst so quickly at the VAR crossroads? A Portsmouth or Ipswich or Derby might have dusted themselves down and got back behind their team at 1-0.

Not necessarily our fault. History dictates the way we are.

 

[BigDon]

Feeling fed up today. But yesterday, I felt calm throughout, I guess I must've thought we'd do it, despite saying beforehand that I couldn't call it.

The feeling at the end is familiar, we've been here a million times before but this time I was left feeling bemused, shell shocked. What just happened?

Go on, help it make sense.

First half, we looked comfortable, assured, settled at the back and creating a few chances. Their lot looked frustrated, limited and we'd silenced their fans.

1. Was it the psychological impact of the second goal being ruled out? Suddenly a 1-0 lead feels weaker, despite being a fantastic position to be in, and a comfortable performance to that point? Does it buoy their lot?

2. Was it injuries that shafted us? Losing your talisman and suddenly your system has to change. You don't have someone wanting to dictate the game. The rest are a good supporting cast, but they aren't the ones looking to make something happen.

3. Was it the lack of a Plan B? Our bench couldn't have looked much stronger, but we looked like we didn't know how to set up, when the subs came on?

4. Was it a lack of like-for-like replacements, to stick to the same game plan? We are mid-rebuild after all and it's very easy to lose sight of that, given how well we've done.

5. Was it Robbo getting wrong footed by their forward for the first? Bringing their fans back into it?

6. Was it injuries that shafted us again? Anel being off the pitch, leaving a hole in the side, conceding whilst temporarily down to 10 men. Yes, the Moore pass really, really didn't help us.

All/some of the above? Owt else? Make it make sense. Because there's no chance I'm chuffing watching it back. And no, I'm not interested in empty, throw away comments like "Wilder bottled it. He'll be out thru the back door". Give me something more substantial than that, based on what we saw. No snidy comments.

UTB, as ever.

Agree with several points especially the first. We have to shake off the doom and gloom mentality in both the players and especially the supporters of ‘here we go again’. The reaction should have been a roar from the blades fans to trample the relief of the Sunderland supporters cheers on the decision. The players feed off our support and they feel the ‘oh no’ attitude.
If I’m injured and passionate there is nothing that could stop me going back on, the injuries that were sustained were like a welcome relief to get me out of there!! Am I wrong?
Robby wasn’t wrong footed, Burrows made a bad call to move inside!
I’m afraid to say it’s the way we play. Apart from the obvious there are no players I would change with any other club. We have the players we don’t have a way or instinct to go for the jugular. Been the same all season, hence the frightened to death back to cooper football.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Agree with several points especially the first. We have to shake off the doom and gloom mentality in both the players and especially the supporters of ‘here we go again’. The reaction should have been a roar from the blades fans to trample the relief of the Sunderland supporters cheers on the decision. The players feed off our support and they feel the ‘oh no’ attitude.
If I’m injured and passionate there is nothing that could stop me going back on, the injuries that were sustained were like a welcome relief to get me out of there!! Am I wrong?
Robby wasn’t wrong footed, Burrows made a bad call to move inside!
I’m afraid to say it’s the way we play. Apart from the obvious there are no players I would change with any other club. We have the players we don’t have a way or instinct to go for the jugular. Been the same all season, hence the frightened to death back to cooper football.

Very fair, IMO. And so, we come back to game plan. Excellent players but not fully sure how to use them in a system that promotes front foot football.

We could and should have been more 'swashbuckling' all season, IMO.

 

[Plymouthblade]

We go 2-0 up we win the VAR bullshit did us I’m glad we haven’t got that next season

 

[sheff_blade90]

for me with all the tactic talk. if thats a play semi final or league game we win. likely in same manner as Bristol city. crazy that they can change the rules. disallow a subjective goal that wouldve been given in any of our 48 previous championship games. as i heard darren bent was angry it was disallowed

injuries didnt help. but also if moore had just squared it to campbell. that wouldve been 2-0. & Sunderland had to come out at us. & hope like Bristol city did at 3-0 down. then finally like gerrards slip you cant account for what moore did

 

[AWetFlannel]

Good post.

I saw the same system that I'd seen all season when the subs came on, we went to a 4-2-3-1 with players in their natural positions, so don't think it was that.

And then similar to what others have said, it's fine margins. No team 1-0 up in a play off final gets 20mins into the second half and starts to dominate more. They were always going to start pushing, we were always going to struggle to keep possession and surrender territory. It's not a tactical decision, it's the natural outcome of football when one team isn't miles better than the other.

Our young lad misses a good chance, their young lad scores a screamer. It's nobody's fault, they made their luck and deserved it in the end.

Plenty of players could've had better games, our fans could've been more supportive, ultimately the management takes the blame.

 

[luffenhamblade]

Good post.

I saw the same system that I'd seen all season when the subs came on, we went to a 4-2-3-1 with players in their natural positions, so don't think it was that.

And then similar to what others have said, it's fine margins. No team 1-0 up in a play off final gets 20mins into the second half and starts to dominate more. They were always going to start pushing, we were always going to struggle to keep possession and surrender territory. It's not a tactical decision, it's the natural outcome of football when one team isn't miles better than the other.

Our young lad misses a good chance, their young lad scores a screamer. It's nobody's fault, they made their luck and deserved it in the end.

Plenty of players could've had better games, our fans could've been more supportive, ultimately the management takes the blame.

Why does anybody need to be blamed? Ambulance chasing isn’t exactly a positive activity. We’re all devastated so I get it but why, why, why in today’s society must someone always be to blame?

 

[Plymouthblade]

I blame var ruined the game

 

[Rodley]

The bottom line in these one off games you’ve got to go for the jugular.

We did that in the first half, but the second half we sat in and sat off inexplicably. And when we had the chances, like Moore being clean through, we dithered with it.

The changes were poor as we tried game management rather than going after a second and killing the game off. We are a better team than Sunderland, but tactics and individual decision making (and lack of fitness / athleticism) was our undoing.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Why does anybody need to be blamed? Ambulance chasing isn’t exactly a positive activity. We’re all devastated so I get it but why, why, why in today’s society must someone always be to blame?

Blame was probably the wrong word. The manger is responsible for the performance of the team.

I said in the previous paragraph it's nobody's fault which I stand by, there are no individuals who can or should be singled out.

 

[blackydog]

Why does anybody need to be blamed? Ambulance chasing isn’t exactly a positive activity. We’re all devastated so I get it but why, why, why in today’s society must someone always be to blame?

RCA mate. Not helped so far, I must admit.

 

[Bladesince59]

We had a de-pep talk at HT

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

The bottom line in these one off games you’ve got to go for the jugular.

We did that in the first half, but the second half we sat in and sat off inexplicably. And when we had the chances, like Moore being clean through, we dithered with it.

The changes were poor as we tried game management rather than going after a second and killing the game off. We are a better team than Sunderland, but tactics and individual decision making (and lack of fitness / athleticism) was our undoing.

Great reply, I agree.

We have greater depth overall, a stronger squad and bench overall. But in those moments, their quality of the individuals told versus ours. Mayenda scores clinically, whereas Moore hesitates which we've seen other instances of this season; our young attacker in Brooks has his chance saved, their young attacker in Watson bags his.

 

[CountryBlade]

Still not a fan of hoof it to Moore and never will be.

They looked dangerous in that second half and yet when we wrestled back possession and started to frustrate them by keeping the ball, we go and blast it long again and end up back under pressure. It was very frustrating

 

[The Fox]

It's sport and that's how it is .
If someone could turn it into some scientific formula it'd be dead boring .

 

[CornwallBlade]

The only other point I'd add to our list is whether or not our support is a factor. Given that we were up against, vocally, one of the best supported teams in the land, I thought we started quite well but, as you say, the VAR intervention killed is stone dead.

We all know, too well, that feeling of sinking into the abyss, as the final whistle looms and there is nothing in the world to compare with the outpouring through the Wembley exits as our fate is sealed. Some throwing away scarves and other adornments, a few turning on the players or manager, others vowing never to return again, a few making mundane conversation about anything other than football, but the great majority solemnly trooping away like a defeated army, keen to get down the Underground rabbit holes before the opposing fans head out, celebrating in a way that none of us know.

Each Sheffield United team that turns out in a play off, generally bears little or no connection to the previous failures...... but we do. Would other clubs, without a similar play-off history to ours, have let their bubble burst so quickly at the VAR crossroads? A Portsmouth or Ipswich or Derby might have dusted themselves down and got back behind their team at 1-0.

Not necessarily our fault. History dictates the way we are.

Fair comments. Actually, I thought did pretty well until it became clear that Wilder was instructing the team to sit deep. Everyone around me was saying, surely not this….again. VAR sucked the life out of us for a while and was fuel to them. Just before ko when they unfurled their tifo banner, it was intimidating. In the face of it all we sang loud and proud.

 

[CornwallBlade]

It’s this for me. Just moments, individual decisions by players.

The save from Moore in the first couple of minutes was world class. 99 times out of 100 its a goal

 

[haich1889]

Feeling fed up today. But yesterday, I felt calm throughout, I guess I must've thought we'd do it, despite saying beforehand that I couldn't call it.

The feeling at the end is familiar, we've been here a million times before but this time I was left feeling bemused, shell shocked. What just happened?

Go on, help it make sense.

First half, we looked comfortable, assured, settled at the back and creating a few chances. Their lot looked frustrated, limited and we'd silenced their fans.

1. Was it the psychological impact of the second goal being ruled out? Suddenly a 1-0 lead feels weaker, despite being a fantastic position to be in, and a comfortable performance to that point? Does it buoy their lot?

2. Was it injuries that shafted us? Losing your talisman and suddenly your system has to change. You don't have someone wanting to dictate the game. The rest are a good supporting cast, but they aren't the ones looking to make something happen.

3. Was it the lack of a Plan B? Our bench couldn't have looked much stronger, but we looked like we didn't know how to set up, when the subs came on?

4. Was it a lack of like-for-like replacements, to stick to the same game plan? We are mid-rebuild after all and it's very easy to lose sight of that, given how well we've done.

5. Was it Robbo getting wrong footed by their forward for the first? Bringing their fans back into it?

6. Was it injuries that shafted us again? Anel being off the pitch, leaving a hole in the side, conceding whilst temporarily down to 10 men. Yes, the Moore pass really, really didn't help us.

All/some of the above? Owt else? Make it make sense. Because there's no chance I'm chuffing watching it back. And no, I'm not interested in empty, throw away comments like "Wilder bottled it. He'll be out thru the back door". Give me something more substantial than that, based on what we saw. No snidy comments.

UTB, as ever.

1) yes BUT the fact it took so long to even announce a 'POSSIBLE' offside (the scoreboard changed/Burrow's name was announced over the tannoy system/ players had started making their way back after celebrations) put a huge downer on fans and players alike. What was an excellent first 30 mins turned on a dime. I don't watch Premiership football so am not aware of any changes to VAR. Can anyone tell me if/when the rule changed to 'possible offside was left to the referee. I have never known referee have Offside discretion?? There was no 'possible offside when Lundstram's big toe took an age!! The experts had obviously took an age to analyse on their numerous screens using the BEST technology, how the f#ck can the referee make a decision in about 20 seconds, on a little screen, they can't make in 2 or 3 minutes back at HQ??? I feel the ref wanted to make history. The way he marched onto the pitch, set himself & waited for silence, was making to narcissism. The Effect was game changing on & off the pitch. Players went flat & fans were devastated. Can anyone remember a mood as low at half time when winning?? There wasn't even a 'Greasy Chip Butty' song to start the 2nd half.

The other points would take all day. The rot was in from that moment. One mans ego won the day not Sunderland.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

The save from Moore in the first couple of minutes was world class. 99 times out of 100 its a goal

Kieffer couldn't have done any Moore.

 

[DronnieBlade]

We have a deeply ingrained DNA that runs through the entirety of the club. Wilder as gaffer and lifelong Blade does little to change what I am about to state. Some of this is a good thing (the bringing together of the fan base and the players after Adkin’s being a prime example). Some of it is not.

Overall, I want Wilder to stay next year. I hope he can recharge over the next few weeks and go again. The way in which the season ended, along with the weight of the whole GB tragedy would be enough to break many a man. I believe CW is a tough enough individual to overcome this.

However.

He has got to hold his hands up and question his own recruitment strategy for players at the top of the pitch, too many of whom under his tenure have not been up to it.

There has been a tendency to adopt a “target man” strategy as a mainstay of what we do. This leads to us being rather more direct than a lot of our peers.

Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland have not done it and, in my head and with my , that is NOT a coincidence !

You get a few right (Dids although more of a 10 / Ty Campbell) but you have to say big money has been spent in the last 6/7 years that can only be described as money spunked. You know the names - you don’t need me to list them.

Tom Cannon will, for absolute certainty, be the most recent 8 figure transfer recruit to add his name to the list. It’s inevitable - he simply isn’t good enough. When you are slow AND weak, along with other technical deficiencies, what chance you got ?

Maybe this new data driven recruitment pathway we are apparently going down will herald a new era with greater fortunes. Let’s hope so.

The DNA I speak of is the incredibly baffling “appreciation” our fans demonstrate when genuinely shit things happen on the grass.

It’s good that the lad played the ball forwards rather than sideways even though it went to their lad, not ours !

Great flick on big un, oblivious to the fact it went straight to their defender !!

It echoes throughout the ground. It’s fucking backwards and I can’t help but think that Wilder is at least a bit of an advocate of this style or strategy.

Said my bit. Our DNA doesn’t need major surgery, more tweaking a bit.

But changing it most surely does.

UTB

 

[Guesty]

We've lost six of the seven games we've played against the organisers promoted sides. That's not a coincidence, I think it goes beyond one or two moments going against us.

 

[Davalon]

Feeling fed up today. But yesterday, I felt calm throughout, I guess I must've thought we'd do it, despite saying beforehand that I couldn't call it.

The feeling at the end is familiar, we've been here a million times before but this time I was left feeling bemused, shell shocked. What just happened?

Go on, help it make sense.

First half, we looked comfortable, assured, settled at the back and creating a few chances. Their lot looked frustrated, limited and we'd silenced their fans.

1. Was it the psychological impact of the second goal being ruled out? Suddenly a 1-0 lead feels weaker, despite being a fantastic position to be in, and a comfortable performance to that point? Does it buoy their lot?

2. Was it injuries that shafted us? Losing your talisman and suddenly your system has to change. You don't have someone wanting to dictate the game. The rest are a good supporting cast, but they aren't the ones looking to make something happen.

3. Was it the lack of a Plan B? Our bench couldn't have looked much stronger, but we looked like we didn't know how to set up, when the subs came on?

4. Was it a lack of like-for-like replacements, to stick to the same game plan? We are mid-rebuild after all and it's very easy to lose sight of that, given how well we've done.

5. Was it Robbo getting wrong footed by their forward for the first? Bringing their fans back into it?

6. Was it injuries that shafted us again? Anel being off the pitch, leaving a hole in the side, conceding whilst temporarily down to 10 men. Yes, the Moore pass really, really didn't help us.

All/some of the above? Owt else? Make it make sense. Because there's no chance I'm chuffing watching it back. And no, I'm not interested in empty, throw away comments like "Wilder bottled it. He'll be out thru the back door". Give me something more substantial than that, based on what we saw. No snidy comments.

UTB, as ever.

Negative approach after the break and an inability to deal with Sunderland's tactical tweaks.

Anything else is looking for excuses.

We didn't lose to a better team (although I don't begrudge them their win on the day - they changed their set up and made it pay.)

We lost it ourselves.

 

[SheepdipBlade]

We went ahead by dominating the game - then sat back to defend the lead. I was fine with that up to half time but then expected us to get some degree of control back after the break. That didn't happen, they controlled the park and two individual errors cost us. Hamza's intercepted throw in and Moore's nightmare back pass. That's not to blame those two lads - the mistake was in allowing Sunderland to dominate possession - an approach that collapses if a player makes a serious mistake.

 

[INTAKE BLADE]

The turning point in the game Moore's suicidal back pass was the icing on the cake of a Wembley cock up.

 

[Mumbo]

The elation after the second goal was out of this world,it was killed stone dead by VAR.Our fans shit themselves after that as we could see our team visibly shrinking.
We’ve seen what happens when we sit deep as a team it’s something that’s coached into our players.
Second half; Everyone around me said the same an equaliser is coming,we are standing off,why the fuck are we doing this when we’ve seen it fail time and time again.
We hand the opposition the initiative,someone drops a bollock and it’s game over.
Yeah we missed chances,yeah we had injuries,Yeah….VAR,but we had the superior team.
I heard all the bad luck stories over and over again but we didn’t play to our strengths which is front foot football.
Bravery was required and we bottled it.