Deadbat
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Podcast reaction
The Blades difficult start to the season continued as they lost again making it three straight defeats without even mustering a point and only one goal scored now in 540 minutes of football. Worryingly, the defensive solidity of last season seems to have gone with basic goals being conceded and that combined with the lack of goal threat at the other end suggests unless things improve in both areas of the field; United will be in a scrap nearer the bottom of the league. It may only be three games played but with Arsenal, City and Liverpool to play in 3 of the next 4; United fans will be wondering where the first point, let alone win is coming from. Today, United had chances but so did Leeds and it was a game that could have gone either way but a real moment of quality from Harrison on the left set up Bamford to lose his marker and nod him the winner at the death.
United have lost their opening three league matches of a season for only the third time, also doing so in 1966-67 and 1995-96 and have lost their past six league matches, their worst run since September 2013 (also six in a row).
Wilder was forced into two enforced changes with Egan suspended and Ampadu came in but O’Connell was also missing and not in the squad presumably injured with rumours circulating in the press it was a serious one that could keep him out for some time. Jack Robinson came in. John Fleck’s poor form dating back to the end of last season saw him dropped and Ben Osborn came in. McGoldrick and Burke started up top again and were hoping they would get more than 15 minutes to make an impact after McGoldrick had to be sacrificed in the week. It was a side that lacked key men from last year in Henderson, Egan, O’Connell, Fleck, Norwood and strikers Sharp, McBurnie and Mousset. The spine of the team was very different indeed.
Tyler Roberts replaced Rodrigo and only Koch of the new signings started with Bielsa going with the tried and trusted both from the start and largely on the bench too.
The game began with Leeds having the first attack on 2 minutes on a break with Harrison in lots of space but the ball was cleared. The first opportunity came soon after as Ayling was not closed down and had a shot from outside of the box pushed away from Ramsdale. United’s first chance came when McGoldrick got fouled but from the advantage, Lundstram found himself in on the angle but dragged his effort wide. United started to find their way back into the game and on 8 minutes Berge advanced but took too long to make a decision and the ball was cleared.
The next stage of the game from 10-20 minutes saw the game mired in a midfield battle with both teams trying to probe but little happening from either side in terms of creating chances. Both teams were feeling each other out somehow. A good move from the Blades came with Basham stepping forward and then Burke and Osborn involved but the former’s cross missed everyone and was cleared It had been the best move of the game from the home side and had been initiated by Ampadu and then latterly Basham coming out from the back.
Stevens lost the ball and this led to him bringing Costa down and the subsequent free kick from Phillips was really dangerous but Bamford headed over after getting between Ampadu and Robinson. Berge then gave it away before Harrison fed Klich whose shot looped over. The game was opening up more and on 28 minutes United should have scored. Neat build up saw Osborn put over a cross and McGoldrick flicked the ball back into the path of Lundstram who was right in front of goal but his effort was too close to Meslier who did make a fantastic save and pushed behind. It was a chance reminiscent 0f the goals Lundstram scored against Palace and Burnley last season but this time he could not apply the finish.
Leeds nearly made them pay as they broke quickly and as the cross came over Bamford again headed over, but once again had got the better of Ampadu aerially.
On 32 minutes, Basham was shoved over but the ref played on and then gave handball on Basham. The free kick drifted behind. At least the referee was consistent, as Burke muscled his man out of it and the game was allowed to play on again but Burke’s shot was blocked and then he could not make anything from the rebound.
At the other end, Leeds had a chance next as Basham took too many touches and the ball was quickly played forward, a one two ensued and Dallas hit a shot from range with the outside of his foot but it was well saved from Ramsdale springing to his right again.
The game continued to ebb and flow and the home team were the next to go close. Osborn played in Baldock who was well forward. He rolled his man and got in a powerful shot but Meslier did brilliantly with a strong hand to save high to his left-hand side. The corner saw Ampadu go down but it was not enough for a penalty and rightly so VAR did not even need to look at it for long.
A daft foul from Robinson on Costa saw another dangerous free kick opportunity for Phillips but this one was not as dangerous and went behind. Just before the break Burke ran through and showed his pace/running but came inside and tried to shoot rather than give it to the unmarked McGoldrick and the shot was blocked. United ended the half on the attack and Berge was more forceful this time in the speed of his run but the ball did not quite sit and the ref drew proceedings to a close.
Leeds made a change with Rodrigo on for the ineffective Roberts at the break. Leeds won an early corner and the ball came out to Costa who hit a shot that Ramsdale had to save low down. Leeds had been the better side to start this half and had forced United back but a break nearly saw Burke in but his back heel stopped the attack in his tracks. Robinson was penalised for a handball but Klich’s cross was well held by Ramsdale. Bamford had an effort that Ramsdale saved at his near post low down.
United finally came out and Basham was played in after a neat bit of work down the right but the ball was blocked as McGoldrick tried to get in. Lundstram was booked for a cynical foul as Leeds tried to get away. Another decent move from United saw Lundstram back heel and Stevens had a shot from outside the box saved low down.
On the hour mark Leeds had their best chance of the game so far. A ball forward was missed badly by Ampadu and Dallas was in and rounded Ramsdale but his finish into the empty net lacked power and Basham got back and defended, eventually after waiting to clear on his right foot as the ball trickled towards the goal!
Norwood came on for Lundstram before Rodrigo headed wide. Poveda replaced Costa for Leeds as both teams looked to find a winner. Baldock was then booked for a clean tackle on his man and was rightly enraged.
Berge then raced forward and drew two men on a great run and slipped in Osborn but his shot was blocked and then Leeds broke with Rodrigo having a shot saved from Ramsdale. Harrison’s cross just evaded the same man at the far post as both teams were going for the winner.
Sharp and McBurnie came on for Burke and McGoldrick and soon after good work from Berge saw the ball come in but would not sit right and was cleared. United won a corner after Sharp tried to get in but the ball was cleared.
Leeds were looking dangerous on the break and Ramsdale had to make a save from range from Poveda. Soon after the keeper did not need to knock the ball behind but conceded an unnecessary corner which fortunately came to nothing.
Berge was fortunate to get away without being penalised and this led to a shot blocked from Baldock that went behind. The corner came in and Robinson and McBurnie could not get enough on it and it came off Robinson who poked wide right in front of goal.
Leeds then had a break before United came back at them in a really good game which threatened to go either way with both teams looking dangerous.
United were the next to have a go and McBurnie played the ball back inside and Baldock kept going and caught the keeper as he went in on goal and caught him. He had to go for the ball but maybe on another day could have been booked but the ref felt it was inadvertent.
The game entered the final 5 minutes and Phillips was the next to have a go that was well saved but then United were in as Sharp had a shot blocked into the keepers hands after good work to bring the initial ball down.
With three minutes to go the vital break through came and it was a moment of quality from Leeds out wide. Berge lost the ball and did not react. Maybe it could have been a foul but he needs to be stronger in that situation. The cross from Harrison was superb and BAMFORD peeled off his men as he had all day and headed down and beyond Ramsdale into the corner. The keeper had no chance this time as Robinson was ball watching yet again. United’s players looked crestfallen after a much better performance but one where they had not taken the chances they had and once again conceded too many at the other end.
The game had an additional 5 minutes of stoppage time and Osborn got into the box but his cross was straight at the keeper. United could not fashion another chance and it was another defeat as the dreadful run continued for the Blades.
United – It seems to be all going wrong at the moment. The start of the season with results, injuries and suspensions has been a nightmare really. Today we were much better and definitely deserved a draw from the game but sadly we did not score again and did not keep a clean sheet again. Maybe we did not have much luck but you make your own luck. We still did not show the quality we needed in the final third to score although we did make chances today and another day, we score a few but then on another day they score a few also. It was a very open game with both teams going for it and a really good contest to watch. We were fully part of it but ultimately, we are not ruthless enough at either end. It is fine margins but unless we can put the ball in the next and keep it out at the other (copyright Adkins) then we are going to be in big trouble. We have had the fewest attempts on goal of any team and of course we are the only team not to score. We need to sign a striker but for me we need an attacking outlet in midfield (down the right-hand side) and creativity.
I felt much more positive on the whole and just felt get a point on the board and then we at least have a platform and a clean sheet but another sloppy goal is given away and we have lost again. The players had a winning mentality for the most part of four years but now we are are going the other way and it is a real concern. Nobody played brilliant – Ramsdale and Burke good and a few others decent but equally no one was awful but bad misses at one end (Lundstram) and errors marking (Robinson) at the other cost us a close but entertaining game that deserved more than one goal.
Today we actually had two or three great chances (Baldock was a good effort – other two missed) but Leeds had far more efforts on goal than us and may say they deserved it based on the amount of ball and chances they had for an away side. Bielsa said they deserved the win. Not sure I agree. A draw was a fair result for me definitely but maybe should have been 2-2 rather than 0-0 it looked being till the late winner. We had the more clear cut chances. They had more efforts on goal but a lot were long range but the big chances were maybe 2-2. The two for us in the first half and then the two for them one a goal and the one with Dallas) so not sure it was quite as simple as us just having the big misses. Both teams had numerous efforts. The difference is Lundstram missed a big one when they took their chance which was not as easy to score really.
We still do not shoot enough. Leeds had 7 or 8 efforts on goal. Outside of the Baldock one and Stevens shot - their keeper had a largely untroubled game after the big Lundstram miss. Second haf we did not have any real chances outside of the Robinson one from the corner. We dilly and dally and the final ball lets be honest is appalling. That allied with us never shooting means we are not going to score many goals. Not sure bringing in a striker changes that much unless it's Messi!
I worried when the teams came out as I alluded to above – and even though O’Connell and Egan not been at their best they are key men. Fleck’s going out was not a surprise in isolation but not sure I would have taken him out after the O’Connell new. Osborn did ok and think all the midfield three were ok. I felt Burke and McGoldrick did ok and the defence was decent but we still let them have too many efforts and it was open. We have now conceded three headed goals and these are not wonder goals. Ampadu and Robinson had lost Bamford all game and that happened again today. He could have scored a few before he finally did net. It had been coming. At the end you sensed of course it would be one goal that would decide it and so it proved. I always felt they had more quality in the final third though and that was the case with a superb cross. We had the ball in good areas again but not sure we did enough with it again.
General play we were ok and there were some nice moves but we second half not sure we created enough and I felt Leeds looked more likely as the game went on and used pace/movement on the break to look dangerous. I just senses they looked like opening us up more than we did the other way but it really could have gone either way. Not sure I agree that we looked more dangerous after the Sharp/McGoldrick changes. I thought this might have slowed us down actually but we still had opening as did they. It was a crushing blow but they had put better crosses in all game (Bamford missed a few headers) and we ultimately put poor crosses in again. One moment of quality and it’s in our net again. We could not come back from that and we now sit here bottom of the league with no goals and it has not been that hard a start in terms of games we have faced. We now play some of the better teams. It is looking very worrying.
The O’Connell injury is also huge. We now have a serious downgrade in two positions, with Henderson and him not being here and this means inevitably it is going to be very hard, if not impossible to be as tight defensively and thus puts further pressure on the strikers. I never thought Jack was fully right last season at the end and that continued this year. He just seemed to lack some spring/dynamism. Robinson is decent as a fill in but is a Championship defender and not someone we can count on for 40 games here. We need to now sign a left sided centre back too as well as a striker unless he plays Ampadu there. I like Robinson and I like Osborn but they are Championship players for the most part. I might get criticised for this. We have gone from a nice solid spine to now Norwood being out of the picture as a starter and Egan/O’Connell not featuring. Maybe he plays Stevens left centre back and a chance for Lowe? It’s more holes to fill sadly.
Arsenal next which is going to be hard to get anything and thus there is a strong chance we will go into the break rock bottom with 0 points and then the games get really hard! Of course, we need a striker but the team generally has not hit the standards up to Xmas for a long time now (we scrapped a number of results Jan-March) and the lung bursting wing backs/overlapping centre backs we have not seen and our approach is more pragmatic (negative?). We did play some better stuff today but Leeds actually looked as, if not, more enterprising going forward and sliced through us more than we did the same.
It is undoubtedly going to be a struggle this year. It would take something miraculous for us to get going like last season and if we were offered 4th bottom, we would all take it. With no goals and a key injury and players off form, we are looking at new players but it seems we cannot get them without the funds maybe to improve the squad as much as Wilder wants. It is going to be a really tough October. People may say the pressure is off with tough games but in reality, it ramps up further on the team every game that goes on without a point or even a goal. It is a big test for the group to respond.
The Blades difficult start to the season continued as they lost again making it three straight defeats without even mustering a point and only one goal scored now in 540 minutes of football. Worryingly, the defensive solidity of last season seems to have gone with basic goals being conceded and that combined with the lack of goal threat at the other end suggests unless things improve in both areas of the field; United will be in a scrap nearer the bottom of the league. It may only be three games played but with Arsenal, City and Liverpool to play in 3 of the next 4; United fans will be wondering where the first point, let alone win is coming from. Today, United had chances but so did Leeds and it was a game that could have gone either way but a real moment of quality from Harrison on the left set up Bamford to lose his marker and nod him the winner at the death.
United have lost their opening three league matches of a season for only the third time, also doing so in 1966-67 and 1995-96 and have lost their past six league matches, their worst run since September 2013 (also six in a row).
Wilder was forced into two enforced changes with Egan suspended and Ampadu came in but O’Connell was also missing and not in the squad presumably injured with rumours circulating in the press it was a serious one that could keep him out for some time. Jack Robinson came in. John Fleck’s poor form dating back to the end of last season saw him dropped and Ben Osborn came in. McGoldrick and Burke started up top again and were hoping they would get more than 15 minutes to make an impact after McGoldrick had to be sacrificed in the week. It was a side that lacked key men from last year in Henderson, Egan, O’Connell, Fleck, Norwood and strikers Sharp, McBurnie and Mousset. The spine of the team was very different indeed.
Tyler Roberts replaced Rodrigo and only Koch of the new signings started with Bielsa going with the tried and trusted both from the start and largely on the bench too.
The game began with Leeds having the first attack on 2 minutes on a break with Harrison in lots of space but the ball was cleared. The first opportunity came soon after as Ayling was not closed down and had a shot from outside of the box pushed away from Ramsdale. United’s first chance came when McGoldrick got fouled but from the advantage, Lundstram found himself in on the angle but dragged his effort wide. United started to find their way back into the game and on 8 minutes Berge advanced but took too long to make a decision and the ball was cleared.
The next stage of the game from 10-20 minutes saw the game mired in a midfield battle with both teams trying to probe but little happening from either side in terms of creating chances. Both teams were feeling each other out somehow. A good move from the Blades came with Basham stepping forward and then Burke and Osborn involved but the former’s cross missed everyone and was cleared It had been the best move of the game from the home side and had been initiated by Ampadu and then latterly Basham coming out from the back.
Stevens lost the ball and this led to him bringing Costa down and the subsequent free kick from Phillips was really dangerous but Bamford headed over after getting between Ampadu and Robinson. Berge then gave it away before Harrison fed Klich whose shot looped over. The game was opening up more and on 28 minutes United should have scored. Neat build up saw Osborn put over a cross and McGoldrick flicked the ball back into the path of Lundstram who was right in front of goal but his effort was too close to Meslier who did make a fantastic save and pushed behind. It was a chance reminiscent 0f the goals Lundstram scored against Palace and Burnley last season but this time he could not apply the finish.
Leeds nearly made them pay as they broke quickly and as the cross came over Bamford again headed over, but once again had got the better of Ampadu aerially.
On 32 minutes, Basham was shoved over but the ref played on and then gave handball on Basham. The free kick drifted behind. At least the referee was consistent, as Burke muscled his man out of it and the game was allowed to play on again but Burke’s shot was blocked and then he could not make anything from the rebound.
At the other end, Leeds had a chance next as Basham took too many touches and the ball was quickly played forward, a one two ensued and Dallas hit a shot from range with the outside of his foot but it was well saved from Ramsdale springing to his right again.
The game continued to ebb and flow and the home team were the next to go close. Osborn played in Baldock who was well forward. He rolled his man and got in a powerful shot but Meslier did brilliantly with a strong hand to save high to his left-hand side. The corner saw Ampadu go down but it was not enough for a penalty and rightly so VAR did not even need to look at it for long.
A daft foul from Robinson on Costa saw another dangerous free kick opportunity for Phillips but this one was not as dangerous and went behind. Just before the break Burke ran through and showed his pace/running but came inside and tried to shoot rather than give it to the unmarked McGoldrick and the shot was blocked. United ended the half on the attack and Berge was more forceful this time in the speed of his run but the ball did not quite sit and the ref drew proceedings to a close.
Leeds made a change with Rodrigo on for the ineffective Roberts at the break. Leeds won an early corner and the ball came out to Costa who hit a shot that Ramsdale had to save low down. Leeds had been the better side to start this half and had forced United back but a break nearly saw Burke in but his back heel stopped the attack in his tracks. Robinson was penalised for a handball but Klich’s cross was well held by Ramsdale. Bamford had an effort that Ramsdale saved at his near post low down.
United finally came out and Basham was played in after a neat bit of work down the right but the ball was blocked as McGoldrick tried to get in. Lundstram was booked for a cynical foul as Leeds tried to get away. Another decent move from United saw Lundstram back heel and Stevens had a shot from outside the box saved low down.
On the hour mark Leeds had their best chance of the game so far. A ball forward was missed badly by Ampadu and Dallas was in and rounded Ramsdale but his finish into the empty net lacked power and Basham got back and defended, eventually after waiting to clear on his right foot as the ball trickled towards the goal!
Norwood came on for Lundstram before Rodrigo headed wide. Poveda replaced Costa for Leeds as both teams looked to find a winner. Baldock was then booked for a clean tackle on his man and was rightly enraged.
Berge then raced forward and drew two men on a great run and slipped in Osborn but his shot was blocked and then Leeds broke with Rodrigo having a shot saved from Ramsdale. Harrison’s cross just evaded the same man at the far post as both teams were going for the winner.
Sharp and McBurnie came on for Burke and McGoldrick and soon after good work from Berge saw the ball come in but would not sit right and was cleared. United won a corner after Sharp tried to get in but the ball was cleared.
Leeds were looking dangerous on the break and Ramsdale had to make a save from range from Poveda. Soon after the keeper did not need to knock the ball behind but conceded an unnecessary corner which fortunately came to nothing.
Berge was fortunate to get away without being penalised and this led to a shot blocked from Baldock that went behind. The corner came in and Robinson and McBurnie could not get enough on it and it came off Robinson who poked wide right in front of goal.
Leeds then had a break before United came back at them in a really good game which threatened to go either way with both teams looking dangerous.
United were the next to have a go and McBurnie played the ball back inside and Baldock kept going and caught the keeper as he went in on goal and caught him. He had to go for the ball but maybe on another day could have been booked but the ref felt it was inadvertent.
The game entered the final 5 minutes and Phillips was the next to have a go that was well saved but then United were in as Sharp had a shot blocked into the keepers hands after good work to bring the initial ball down.
With three minutes to go the vital break through came and it was a moment of quality from Leeds out wide. Berge lost the ball and did not react. Maybe it could have been a foul but he needs to be stronger in that situation. The cross from Harrison was superb and BAMFORD peeled off his men as he had all day and headed down and beyond Ramsdale into the corner. The keeper had no chance this time as Robinson was ball watching yet again. United’s players looked crestfallen after a much better performance but one where they had not taken the chances they had and once again conceded too many at the other end.
The game had an additional 5 minutes of stoppage time and Osborn got into the box but his cross was straight at the keeper. United could not fashion another chance and it was another defeat as the dreadful run continued for the Blades.
United – It seems to be all going wrong at the moment. The start of the season with results, injuries and suspensions has been a nightmare really. Today we were much better and definitely deserved a draw from the game but sadly we did not score again and did not keep a clean sheet again. Maybe we did not have much luck but you make your own luck. We still did not show the quality we needed in the final third to score although we did make chances today and another day, we score a few but then on another day they score a few also. It was a very open game with both teams going for it and a really good contest to watch. We were fully part of it but ultimately, we are not ruthless enough at either end. It is fine margins but unless we can put the ball in the next and keep it out at the other (copyright Adkins) then we are going to be in big trouble. We have had the fewest attempts on goal of any team and of course we are the only team not to score. We need to sign a striker but for me we need an attacking outlet in midfield (down the right-hand side) and creativity.
I felt much more positive on the whole and just felt get a point on the board and then we at least have a platform and a clean sheet but another sloppy goal is given away and we have lost again. The players had a winning mentality for the most part of four years but now we are are going the other way and it is a real concern. Nobody played brilliant – Ramsdale and Burke good and a few others decent but equally no one was awful but bad misses at one end (Lundstram) and errors marking (Robinson) at the other cost us a close but entertaining game that deserved more than one goal.
Today we actually had two or three great chances (Baldock was a good effort – other two missed) but Leeds had far more efforts on goal than us and may say they deserved it based on the amount of ball and chances they had for an away side. Bielsa said they deserved the win. Not sure I agree. A draw was a fair result for me definitely but maybe should have been 2-2 rather than 0-0 it looked being till the late winner. We had the more clear cut chances. They had more efforts on goal but a lot were long range but the big chances were maybe 2-2. The two for us in the first half and then the two for them one a goal and the one with Dallas) so not sure it was quite as simple as us just having the big misses. Both teams had numerous efforts. The difference is Lundstram missed a big one when they took their chance which was not as easy to score really.
We still do not shoot enough. Leeds had 7 or 8 efforts on goal. Outside of the Baldock one and Stevens shot - their keeper had a largely untroubled game after the big Lundstram miss. Second haf we did not have any real chances outside of the Robinson one from the corner. We dilly and dally and the final ball lets be honest is appalling. That allied with us never shooting means we are not going to score many goals. Not sure bringing in a striker changes that much unless it's Messi!
I worried when the teams came out as I alluded to above – and even though O’Connell and Egan not been at their best they are key men. Fleck’s going out was not a surprise in isolation but not sure I would have taken him out after the O’Connell new. Osborn did ok and think all the midfield three were ok. I felt Burke and McGoldrick did ok and the defence was decent but we still let them have too many efforts and it was open. We have now conceded three headed goals and these are not wonder goals. Ampadu and Robinson had lost Bamford all game and that happened again today. He could have scored a few before he finally did net. It had been coming. At the end you sensed of course it would be one goal that would decide it and so it proved. I always felt they had more quality in the final third though and that was the case with a superb cross. We had the ball in good areas again but not sure we did enough with it again.
General play we were ok and there were some nice moves but we second half not sure we created enough and I felt Leeds looked more likely as the game went on and used pace/movement on the break to look dangerous. I just senses they looked like opening us up more than we did the other way but it really could have gone either way. Not sure I agree that we looked more dangerous after the Sharp/McGoldrick changes. I thought this might have slowed us down actually but we still had opening as did they. It was a crushing blow but they had put better crosses in all game (Bamford missed a few headers) and we ultimately put poor crosses in again. One moment of quality and it’s in our net again. We could not come back from that and we now sit here bottom of the league with no goals and it has not been that hard a start in terms of games we have faced. We now play some of the better teams. It is looking very worrying.
The O’Connell injury is also huge. We now have a serious downgrade in two positions, with Henderson and him not being here and this means inevitably it is going to be very hard, if not impossible to be as tight defensively and thus puts further pressure on the strikers. I never thought Jack was fully right last season at the end and that continued this year. He just seemed to lack some spring/dynamism. Robinson is decent as a fill in but is a Championship defender and not someone we can count on for 40 games here. We need to now sign a left sided centre back too as well as a striker unless he plays Ampadu there. I like Robinson and I like Osborn but they are Championship players for the most part. I might get criticised for this. We have gone from a nice solid spine to now Norwood being out of the picture as a starter and Egan/O’Connell not featuring. Maybe he plays Stevens left centre back and a chance for Lowe? It’s more holes to fill sadly.
Arsenal next which is going to be hard to get anything and thus there is a strong chance we will go into the break rock bottom with 0 points and then the games get really hard! Of course, we need a striker but the team generally has not hit the standards up to Xmas for a long time now (we scrapped a number of results Jan-March) and the lung bursting wing backs/overlapping centre backs we have not seen and our approach is more pragmatic (negative?). We did play some better stuff today but Leeds actually looked as, if not, more enterprising going forward and sliced through us more than we did the same.
It is undoubtedly going to be a struggle this year. It would take something miraculous for us to get going like last season and if we were offered 4th bottom, we would all take it. With no goals and a key injury and players off form, we are looking at new players but it seems we cannot get them without the funds maybe to improve the squad as much as Wilder wants. It is going to be a really tough October. People may say the pressure is off with tough games but in reality, it ramps up further on the team every game that goes on without a point or even a goal. It is a big test for the group to respond.
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