Southampton 3 United 0 - report

[Deadbat]

Pod below






Another week, another defeat and the same depressive narrative that has beset United all season continued. This week the loss came at in form Southampton and sadly it was not a surprise. After losing narrowly previous three games, this performance saw the Blades soundly beaten and by the end they looked a sorry and bedraggled side. It is six played away and six defeats away from home and now 14 defeats in 15 in an appalling run of form. Southampton totally dominated from start to finish and in the end 3-0 maybe flattered the visitors who were undone thanks to goals from Che Adams, Stuart Armstrong and Nathan Redmond.



The Blades remain rock bottom and it is hard to see where the next point is coming from. United are only the fourth side in English league history to have no more than one point from their opening 12 league games of a season, after Manchester United in 1930-31, New Brighton in 1931-32 and Newport County in 1970-71.



Manager Wilder opted to bring some of the old guard back as Sharp and Jagielka were in for Burke and Bryan. Stevens was back in from injury replacing Lowe. The three dropped players were not even on the bench. Southampton had a chance to go up to 3rd in the table and started with the prolific Danny Ings and former Blade Che Adams.



The game started with United on the back foot and the home side playing patient football, moving it from side to side and through the third with no challenges at all as the away side just sat off. Stevens first contribution since coming back into the team was a bad effort which led to a corner. It was a well worked routine that came out to the edge of the box but Armstrong miskicked his effort. Fleck then was the next to be careless in possession, a rare moment United had it, but Romeu fired wide.



Adams then span Basham easily and played a lovely ball to Ings who was in on goal but Ramsdale did well to smother superbly. The flag went up after but it may have been a close one if the ball had gone into the net. Vestergaard then drifted past an apology of a tackle from Ampadu and the ball had Ings in but Jagielka got a good foot in. A stat summed up the home side’s domination as they had 80% possession after 20 minutes and seven United players had not played a successful pass.



McBurnie then injured himself diving to try and win a foul and was struggling with his shoulder/arm. It was a bit pathetic and even though there was contact it was not a great moment for the front man.



Another lovely ball had Ings in on the angle but twice Basham blocked as the defence was stretched again. The corner was over everyone though. It was all the home side and United had barely put a pass together although finally on 25 minutes they mounted their first attack into the last third and won a corner soon after but it was cleared and as the Saints broke, Stevens lost the ball and had to use his hand to stop Adams getting clear. He was rightly booked.



United did have a chance though when Stevens and Fleck played a one two and the wing back sent over a good cross but Berge completely fluffed his lines skewing well wide.



This rare moment of positivity was punished within a minute. Fleck gave away a silly free kick which Ward Prowse took and as Ramsdale dithered, Jagielka headed clear. It should have been an easy claim for the keeper. After this Vestergaard helped it back on as Ampadu failed to even mount a challenge and then Egan let ADAMS go and he too could not even muster anything of note to stop the former Blade poking past the hapless Ramsdale. An incredibly sloppy United goal with several players all not doing their job. The goal had been coming and was a deserved one for a completely dominant home side.



The one-way traffic continued as United dithered on it again and Basham twice had the chance to move it on but lost it and Armstrong sprinted away and won another corner. Soon after this Ings came inside and the oles were starting after this lovely bit of skill. Berge again watched his man come inside and then Ampadu failed to engage with his man. It was all so easily as United players were not in the game on or off the ball.



Ampadu finally did put in a bad tackle but chopped down Walcott as the pace and skill was too much and was lucky not to be booked. Baldock did win a free kick the other way but Berge’s delivery was poor and straight to the keeper. Three United men had run offside anyway.



More good work from Ings led to a long range shot wide and the half time whistle came soon. 1-0 was the least Southampton deserved who had dominated the game in every aspect. United with 74 attempted passes completed had the fewest of any Premier League team since February, 2007 when yes, it was the Blades again who broke this unwanted record with 67 in a 2-1 defeat at Blackburn.



McBurnie was given a chance to start the second half and test his injury but strangely he was taken off after only 2 minutes and MCGoldrick came on as he could not get his arm going to have proper mobility. United did have a decent spell when they won two corners but Fleck’s awful ball led to a break for the home side. Another corner did come for the Blades but Egan headed over. It was a decent chance. A ball in nearly led to a chance for Sharp but did not break.



The home side had not started as well this half but gradually started to take control again although more mistakes, this time from Ampadu who gave it away under no pressure and then Berge who mis controlled it saw the Saints continue to probe. Walker Peters and Adams worked the ball well and Jagielka had to clear the ball. The home side then moved it into space and Ings had a shot deflected wide. It was back to one-way traffic. Sharp had barely had a kick and was taken off just before the hour replaced by Brewster.



Ings then nearly found an opening with a crossfield ball but Adams could not get in as the ball was cleared. The restbite was only temporary though and the second goal came on 62 minutes. The home side ran through all too easily and the ball sat up for ARMSTRONG whose shot may have been going in anyway but took a wicked deflection off Jagielka and nestled into the corner with Ramsdale completely wrong footed.



United looked a beaten side and the heads had completely dropped and the home side were moving the ball around with ease with no pressure on the ball. The Blades were chasing shadows and looked a side that just wanted the game and maybe even the season to be over. It was helpless stuff and another break led to another chance.





Ampadu and Egan both clattered into Walcott who ran away easily leading to a free kick chance for Ward Prowse whose effort just went over with Ramsdale going across his goal.



Mousset came on for Basham but the game was lost at this stage and everything just seemed so desperate. Southampton continued to look more likely to score again and won another corner that was cleared. United’s only tactic seemed to be fouling their opponents and the disappointing Berge chopped his man down again. The free kick was deflected wide for another corner. Vestergaard headed wide as once again the Saints were first to the ball.



More wretched defending saw Jagielka somehow set up Adams and with Egan not able to get across Ings effort was saved from Ramsdale.



A rare chance for United came when after a throw in routine, Berge came inside and fired a woeful shot miles over the bar. Straight back the other ended a ball inside put Ings in but he opted to come inside for Adams rather than shoot which was strange as he was right in on goal. Walcott had looked a different player today than the one seen at Everton the last few years and was rightly given a standing ovation by the few thousand in as Redmond came on.



The substitute’s impact was almost immediate, as a Ward Prowse free kick was cleared Redmond and Romeu played a one two and as Baldock and then Berge just watched the players make the passes without even getting close, REDMOND came inside and curled it right into the corner.



United looked completely hapless and Southampton took the chance to make more changes as N’Lundulu and Diallo came on for Adams and Romeu. United barely could even mount an attack and McGoldrick’s disappointing cross saw it easily cleared. The game was just petering out and the only thing in doubt was the margin of score line. Ramsdale then was put under pressure again but was fouled as he tried to clear.

 

[Deadbat]

United – I did not think it could get any worse but today was embarrassing. We were lucky to only lose by the score line we did. It was desperate to watch and we had about 3 or 4 minutes of 90 in the game – maybe a few in the first half an a few to start the second half. Outside of this it was so one sided. Possession, chances, skill, tackles, pressing, running, heading, individual battles and shape. We looked an absolute mess. It was painful to watch. The team look absolutely shot. Absolutely done. There is an argument that they have stopped competing and that’s hard to type but that is what it looked like. I do not think intentionally but the legs and minds both have just gone.



We did not even look like a plucky Championship side having a go. There was so much between the two teams it was frightening.



We did not have a shot on target, never looked like having an attack, let alone scoring and it was just a case of how much we would lose by. It was really painful to watch. A few times I actually went in the kitchen or was pottering about (so if the report misses bits you know why) I was that depressed by it all. I am not sure I have seen a United team lack so much belief and simply look so boring.



The game started with them dictating possession and we never could get in the game. It’s as if the minds know we are going to lose so are not running as fast, competing as much although we did tackle a bit but badly. It is not even if the players can get stuck in properly often just late and giving away stupid fouls.



We look completely broken. There is no belief, confidence or even resilience. We looked a beaten side even before we conceded and after 5 minutes you knew we had lost. How bad is that?



Loads of players were pointing to others or blaming others. Noone took responsibility at all and the players looked totally demoralised. Not sure even sure it was effort as they just did not have the confidence to even run or tackle. They just looked so deflated in every way.



It is beyond tactics or who is playing now but the players individually and collectively are just beaten in every way. We have no belief in doing the basics and now we are not even competing. Today it is beyond just losing by the odd margin or moments. Even in those games we have been second best. Take away West Brom and not sure there is one game we have not deserved to lose – maybe Leeds a draw. We are miles off the other teams and are getting worse each week.



Not sure what we do? Sure the calls that were quite small from United’s fans will probably grow now for a change of manager. Souness who has been his biggest fans has said the owner will look at it now in terms of a change. I still do not think we should do it but we look a beaten team and have no fire in the bellies at all. I still think he may walk in the news few weeks. He won’t continue to oversee pathetic performance after performance. His pride will not allow it no matter who much money he may lost. I do worry by the New Year after we lose the next few v Man Utd and Brighton, he will go. Just my feeling.



We are as good as down. There is no two ways about it. Yes, the table says we can still get points but I cannot see us getting more than a handful of points at most. Indeed, it would not shock me if we went down with like 3 or 4 points at best. We do not look like scoring let alone winning games and defensively we are horrible. The team are not even competing now and the heads have gone. They seem to have just stopped playing. It is awful to watch.



Ratings: (hard to rate these as they were all dire – you could argue they was no one more than a 4/10!)

The fact I am struggling to dissect many of them shows how little they did with the ball but how easily they lost battles versus their opponents and how they could not stem anything coming the other way.



Ramsdale 6/10 – Another game where he did not look convincing at all. Made a few good saves from Ings (one may have been offside) and no chance on the second goal. The first he has to take the initial ball and then after this he was not great either as the shot went rather through him, albeit from point blank range. After this he often came and tried to punch things or flapped at crosses and just did not look confident. A kick off the sub near the end summed him up. I am not sure he was anywhere near at fault today and he made a few saves to keep the score down but he and the defence’s indecision is clear. He looks very shaky even when making saves.



Baldock 4/10 – Got ran past. Never got forward. Too far off his man. They picked him off time after time. He did not even tackle or get stuck in really. He seemed to lose his spirit and fight too which for him is worrying. He looks a player that’s confidence is really on the wane too.



Stevens 3.5/10 – As above. Made a mistake early on that led to a corner and this set the scene. Did get forward with one cross for Berge I suppose but defensively he was slow, the player run through him and he did not keep to a line. His form has fell off a cliff since the lockdown. I was glad to have him back but not sure he was any better than the hapless Lowe. Walcott caused us problems down both sides.



Basham 4/10 – Thought it was one of his worst displays for United for some time, he gave it away a lot, was not picking men up and never on the front foot. Everything was coming at us and he could not stop the tide. He started making mistakes and then became so sloppy all over the game. One header badly off target – should have done better. He had one run forward second half where he won a corner but everything, he does at the moment he, like the rest of the team, looks jittery and lacking belief.



Jagielka 6/10 – Maybe our best outfield player and he was average at best. He was not great but at least won a few headers/tackles and interceptions. He showed more willing than most of the others outfield and seemed to be quicker than most of them. That sums it up. He at least kept going and tried to stop a few things but he too made mistakes, nearly seeing up Adams with one when him and Egan got in the way. Also, indecision on the first goal although I blame Ramsdale.



Egan 4/10 – Awful on the first goal as he lost his man and did not put a challenge in. Ings got away from him time after time and he did not get many blocks or tackles in as they just ran at us. He keeps this high line but it is not working as time and time they got over the top of us. Big gaps opened up all over the defence and it was just where they would choose to attack at us from.



Ampadu 2/10 – Woeful performance. Brought in to be the defensive shield and we started with him just in front. The fact they had so much ball in midfield, so many chances and ran at us time after time showed how bad he was. He gave it away all game, did not win challenges (first goal), let runners go off him and in possession he offered nothing. How he did not get booked for several awful late, cynical fouls I do not know. Miles off it and not the answer in this position. Sadly, neither is Berge or Norwood.



Berge 2.5/10 – As above. Wretched showing really although might be our best midfielder as he had two efforts (awful ones). Had our two attempts of note (outside Egan header) but miskicked again and then blazed over. One other awful cross and several slow telegraphed balls. Outside of possession, a liability. Ran through time after time, gave away stupid fouls and lost his man all game. I don’t see this great talent others do. I think he has the heart of a pea and don’t give me is a young lad in a strange country. Lots of others come to the UK and adapt quicker. He is miles off it for me. He looks disinterested too and not sure there is fight in him at all. For all this great ability, he miscontrols it a lot and his first touch is really poor. I think we will move him on in January and try and recoup some of the fee as he won’t hang around in the Championship but don’t see the suitors all clamouring for his services that others do. We will struggle to get all our money back the longer it goes on and his form continues to nose dive.



Fleck 2.5/10 – See above. Gave it away several times and did not learn his lesson from last week as he gave away a pass early on and then gave away a free kick which led to the goal. Had one moment where he linked with Stevens and that was it. Second half he put an awful cross in when we had that brief spell. After this never got near them when they had it and barely touched it. Looks a shadow of the player he was. You’d take him out of the team but sadly you could say that about the whole team. The midfield have been wretched but today on and off the ball they took things to a new level. I’d rather now just see Slater, Osborn or a load of kids run around. Least we may compete and have some energy. These three have been a disgrace (along with Norwood and Lundstram) all season. We do not have a midfield.



Sharp 4/10 – Never in the game at all. His mark is maybe higher than others just because not sure he can be blamed totally for having no service whatsoever. He tried to run a few balls down the channels but it was scraps and he may as well have been sat at home. There is no point us playing with strikers. We may aswell put another 2 midfielders or even defenders in and play 5-5 formation and at least we may have more of the ball in some area of the field.



McBurnie 3.5/10 – As above really. He committed a few stupid fouls and then a ridiculous dive saw him injure himself. He may have got caught but why he threw his arms up like he did and then hurt himself! He was great last week but today had no impact and then went off at the break. Not sure he had much chance to do anything as we had so little of the ball.





Subs –



Brewster 4/10 – Came on but like those above not sure he had many touches at all as everything was in our third. Felt sorry for him really as he cannot hope to make any impact



McGoldrick 4/10 – He at least touched it more than the other strikers but not sure anything came off. Had one cross and won one corner.



Mousset – Did not even realise he was on.



Manager Wilder 1/10 – Hard to know what to say. He keeps changing the side, keeps tweaking personnel but effectively is playing the same way. Although today oddly we had Ampadu right in front of a high line which maybe hoped to disrupt them and give us more of the ball. It did not. They had more the ball and just knocked it over us for runners. It was almost like we set up playing for at best a 0-0 draw. They were always going to score and they did and then the game was done. We had a few minutes after the break but overall, we were well beaten in every facet of the game. The players look like they have no confidence in the system, the shape, their own ability and have no real desire at the moment. They look like there is no fight in them. Maybe the manager is the same now. It is really sad. Loads again will talk about selections and tactics and yes, they have a point but think it is more than that. He does need to try something different formation wise but if the players as he says cannot win their races, tackles and headers than we have no chance. We are not even competing at the moment in games. Regardless of us having no ball, chances or any kind of pattern on the balk, off it we are hapless with no pressing, no tackling, no denying space. It’s like a testimonial for teams against us as we sit back and off and just wait for chances to come. It’s horrible and boring to watch. We have no identity. We are not even dirty (one booking) and when we do get stuck in or foul it’s clumsy. I do not think he has any idea how to turn it around.



He said we had a structure and solidity for the first 25 minutes. He is kidding himself. Said we stuck in there but we were never in the game at all. He’s right we had a better go second half but we never really did anything. To say we were in the game is utter nonsense. We were never in it and they dominated. We did not even try and pass it and did not compete. He talks about the goal and the mistakes and is right but it was always coming with the way we played sitting back and not competing. It's not like we were even in the game. Nitpicking individual mistakes is valid but we were going to lose playing as we were and they would have scored on something else if it was not that. He seems bewildered by it all and sadly now some of his words are as baffling and nonsensical as our performances.



Any other manager and I would say we need to change it but he deserves longer to try and impact something. I do not buy this we need to keep him no matter what happens though. I don’t mean losing most of the game and going down. I mean in terms of seeing some hope, commitment and change to how we are doing things. If we carry on like this every week for another month – then he won’t be here – the board will remove him. I do not want that but that would happen or he would just walk away. At the moment it is diabolical to watch and to see him preside over it is really painful but we something will give at some point. I do not want a change at all but he will know if there is not a shift in something soon, he won’t be here in the Championship. This notion we will just suddenly bounce back and go back up if we finish say with 4 or 5 points and lose most week and go down as looks like happening is fanciful too. Once the slide is in, these players confidence, form and belief in anything will be gone Asking them to play this way after the worst season a club may have ever have in history and just suddenly start winning does not happen. Some fans seem to just think we will go back to the Championship and look at Bournemouth and Norwich and thing we will be fine but for that to happen we need to arrest the slide at least in form and how we play long before the end of the season or there is a real fear, we could just slide down the leagues again. People will scoff at that but you only have to look at the likes of Wigan and Sunderland to see how quickly things can go the other way. Things can change the other way just as quick as they worked positively for us in the last few years.





Southampton – I said at the start of the season they would be my surprise packet from how they ended last year and so it has proved. Really rate the manager and they have goals in Ings and Adams but some really good midfielders too and Ward Prowse is very underrated. The defence is now performing as a unit and have solid centre backs and full backs who get up and down. They are kind of where I would have loved us to have been this year and maybe are doing what we did last season but they do have a goal scorer in Ings. Ward Prowse takes a fantastic set piece too. I expect them to finish a similar position to where we did last season, maybe even higher. They do bring through good young players and have bought well.



Today was easy. Their best players Ward Prowse and Ings did not even score. They won at a canter and could have had more. They won the battles and then the quality on the ball took over. They had movement, desire and were crisp in their passing. They can play much better than that too.



Opponent Man of the Match – Take your pick. Ings caused problems, Adams was a threat and Walcott rolled back the years. Vestergaard played more as a midfielder it was that quiet at the back. The wing backs looked good and in midfield they controlled it. I thought Romeu was really good and maybe the stand out but when all 11 are individually better than the opposition 11 than you can take your pick.



Opponent Weak link – No-one. Yes, it was that easy for them.



Referee/Officials/VAR – Easy game to ref. He booked one of ours Stevens for a stupid handball – he could have booked many more, McBurnie for his swan dive, Ampadu, Fleck and Berge for a series of fouls. No controversial VAR moments. They had a few saved that may have been close if they had gone it but they got through us time after time it did not matter.



Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Nice to see fans back I suppose. Made no difference to us and we will still probably be in Tier 3 into late Jan/Feb so will be as good as down when we go back. Be interesting to see the demand for games when a few thousand do go back. Think United should just rotate round the 22,000 season ticket holders for the final 10 or so games so we all get to 1 game each. This should be free and they still owe us money off our season ticket for next year. With surely a reduction too for the Championship on top of the money they said we would save from games we missed least we all won’t pay as much although may only be like 50% of crowds still even in August. What a depressing thought as 12,000 fans attend to see us play Wycombe at the Lane in front of new manager Michael Appleton! Oh, you laugh but it might be nearer the truth than you think!

 

[Barney]

We look like a Sunday league team that has won a competition to have a season playing in the premier league.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Yep, a good asssement. As I've said in other threads, that midield performance today was so bad, the three of them should give their wages to the unemployed folk of Sheffield. It was inept, without fight or guile.

As for CW, his tactics were terrible. Take your pick from starting with Billy and McB to bringing Jags into a role which needs a player to motor forward. His post-match interview, if he genuinely believes we were solid for 30 mins, relfects the mind of a blinkered chap. Very sad to see.

 

[robbiez666]

This really is finally the season where I'm now actually over-generous with my ratings. Well, we both gave Wilder the same rating anyway! Think on this though. As entirely dire our midfield is. As consistently outplayed, run passed and error prone, Jack Rodwell still doesn't even make the bench. Fancy.

Worst performance of the season but a long margin. First 25 minutes were the most embarrassed I've been as a fan. We literally just gave the ball and allowed them to put ball after ball through. On another day, with better delivery and if it wasn't raining, we would have been at least 3 down before halftime. We picked up briefly in the second half and actually pressed them high but that lasted about 10 minutes. We then just regressed into the negative lacklustre side we've seen most of the season. Kind of running around but never really having any confidence that it would amount to anything. The starting line-up was quite clearly, to just about everyone, wrong. I mean, We strengthened the midfield, at the cost of the defence, when they have 4 attacking players that will just run in behind us all day. Made no sense.

Ramsdale: 6.5 - Didn't really do much wrong today. A couple of crosses he should have claimed but made a couple of very sharp saves one-on-one. Distribution was poor but otherwise, by default, our best players
Stevens: 5.5 - Ridiculous booking which could have been more and made a few ricks today. More solid than Lowe, but maybe less going forward.
Jag: 4 - Lost every aerial battle, looked slow and they played off his shoulder. He keeps going and showed more effort than most but he's past it and should be nowhere near a Premier League starting line-up. Why he got handed a new deal is beyond me.
Egan: 4.5 - At fault for the first goal and looked like an accident waiting to happen on several occasions. Made a couple of good blocks but a bad day at the office.
Bash: 5 - Didn't notice him once first half, which probably works in his favour. Started the second much further forward and looked dangerous but that didn't last very long. Pulled off as per always for the same change that never works every game.
Baldock: 5 - Too slow at times and caught on the ball. Hardly got forward but actually put in a decent cross today. made a couple of good blocks and recovering challenges
Ampadu: - 4 - On the occasions he had it at his feet he looked edgy and lacking confidence. Nothing going forward. Players ran through him, as the defensive pivot, at will.
Fleck: - 4 - Made a couple of decent runs forward but then again gave the ball away badly a couple of times again. Zero impact on the game
Berge: 4.5 - Get a point for having our best 2 chances but loses half a point for messing them up so badly. Again, nothing from him. Could have played anyone in our midfield today, would have not made a difference.
McBurnie: 5 - Decided to play foul his man and managed to injure himself bwung a nobhead. Came back into midfield and helped out but then no one in front of him
Sharp: 3 - fuck me, this is your saviour? All he does is try to fall over and get a free kick. Did zilch. Nada. Nothing. How he started ahead of Brewster is a joke.

subs:

McGoldrick: 5 - Gets a point for at least winning some headers and managing to hold the ball up a bit. Loses one for being incredibly slow and getting caught on the ball multiple times
Brewster: 4 - I'm kind of assuming he came on the pitch then had to go off for a very long shit because didn't notice him once
Mousset: 4 - He looks exciting and dangerous, until he gets on the ball. Looked shattered after 2 minutes. Made the least effort possible to close men down after that 2 minutes.

Wilder: 1 - The starting line-up was clearly terrible and yet here we are. The worst 25 minutes under his management (I do wonder what he says to motivate them, I wish he'd shut up instead). We were playing a team on form with 4 quick attacking player so plays a 38 year old in a back 3, who was immediately targeted. In playing him at the back, it meant our wingbacks couldn't get out because there would be acres of space to run into. Playing Sharp upfront, which makes no sense since he's not even been on our bench and the Sharp and McBurnie pairing we know doesn't work (and shit, shock, horror, it didn't work). The formation that has seen us fluke a draw is not the problem though. Awful. May as well let Knill have a go again. Can't possibly be worse than how he's doing.

Southampton - They have had a great start to the season but the conditions didn't help them at all. They were poor today. If they were on form we could have picked up the record for heaviest Premier League defeat.

 

[Harry's Game]

Ramsdale 5

Baldock 5
Bash 5
Egan 4
Jags 3
Stevens 2

Berge 1
Ampadu 1
Fleck 1

McBurnie 1
Sharp 2

Disdy 4
Brewster 2
Mousett 1

Wilder 1

 

[Deadbat]

Even the Southampton goalie taking the p*ss



The oles at the end and this would make me furious as a player but they'll be back on instagram and sending dopey videos again next week. I'd be embarresed reading stuff like this but not sure ours are that bothered at the moment. Lot being made of Wilder but these players who used to run all day and were would leave it out there every week have now turned into a spinless set of players sadly.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Thanks for the report Deadbat . I can imagine it was as difficult to write as it was to read!

Depressingly poor performance.

 

[bakeblade]

United – I did not think it could get any worse but today was embarrassing. We were lucky to only lose by the score line we did. It was desperate to watch and we had about 3 or 4 minutes of 90 in the game – maybe a few in the first half an a few to start the second half. Outside of this it was so one sided. Possession, chances, skill, tackles, pressing, running, heading, individual battles and shape. We looked an absolute mess. It was painful to watch. The team look absolutely shot. Absolutely done. There is an argument that they have stopped competing and that’s hard to type but that is what it looked like. I do not think intentionally but the legs and minds both have just gone.



We did not even look like a plucky Championship side having a go. There was so much between the two teams it was frightening.



We did not have a shot on target, never looked like having an attack, let alone scoring and it was just a case of how much we would lose by. It was really painful to watch. A few times I actually went in the kitchen or was pottering about (so if the report misses bits you know why) I was that depressed by it all. I am not sure I have seen a United team lack so much belief and simply look so boring.



The game started with them dictating possession and we never could get in the game. It’s as if the minds know we are going to lose so are not running as fast, competing as much although we did tackle a bit but badly. It is not even if the players can get stuck in properly often just late and giving away stupid fouls.



We look completely broken. There is no belief, confidence or even resilience. We looked a beaten side even before we conceded and after 5 minutes you knew we had lost. How bad is that?



Loads of players were pointing to others or blaming others. Noone took responsibility at all and the players looked totally demoralised. Not sure even sure it was effort as they just did not have the confidence to even run or tackle. They just looked so deflated in every way.



It is beyond tactics or who is playing now but the players individually and collectively are just beaten in every way. We have no belief in doing the basics and now we are not even competing. Today it is beyond just losing by the odd margin or moments. Even in those games we have been second best. Take away West Brom and not sure there is one game we have not deserved to lose – maybe Leeds a draw. We are miles off the other teams and are getting worse each week.



Not sure what we do? Sure the calls that were quite small from United’s fans will probably grow now for a change of manager. Souness who has been his biggest fans has said the owner will look at it now in terms of a change. I still do not think we should do it but we look a beaten team and have no fire in the bellies at all. I still think he may walk in the news few weeks. He won’t continue to oversee pathetic performance after performance. His pride will not allow it no matter who much money he may lost. I do worry by the New Year after we lose the next few v Man Utd and Brighton, he will go. Just my feeling.



We are as good as down. There is no two ways about it. Yes, the table says we can still get points but I cannot see us getting more than a handful of points at most. Indeed, it would not shock me if we went down with like 3 or 4 points at best. We do not look like scoring let alone winning games and defensively we are horrible. The team are not even competing now and the heads have gone. They seem to have just stopped playing. It is awful to watch.



Ratings: (hard to rate these as they were all dire – you could argue they was no one more than a 4/10!)

The fact I am struggling to dissect many of them shows how little they did with the ball but how easily they lost battles versus their opponents and how they could not stem anything coming the other way.



Ramsdale 6/10 – Another game where he did not look convincing at all. Made a few good saves from Ings (one may have been offside) and no chance on the second goal. The first he has to take the initial ball and then after this he was not great either as the shot went rather through him, albeit from point blank range. After this he often came and tried to punch things or flapped at crosses and just did not look confident. A kick off the sub near the end summed him up. I am not sure he was anywhere near at fault today and he made a few saves to keep the score down but he and the defence’s indecision is clear. He looks very shaky even when making saves.



Baldock 4/10 – Got ran past. Never got forward. Too far off his man. They picked him off time after time. He did not even tackle or get stuck in really. He seemed to lose his spirit and fight too which for him is worrying. He looks a player that’s confidence is really on the wane too.



Stevens 3.5/10 – As above. Made a mistake early on that led to a corner and this set the scene. Did get forward with one cross for Berge I suppose but defensively he was slow, the player run through him and he did not keep to a line. His form has fell off a cliff since the lockdown. I was glad to have him back but not sure he was any better than the hapless Lowe. Walcott caused us problems down both sides.



Basham 4/10 – Thought it was one of his worst displays for United for some time, he gave it away a lot, was not picking men up and never on the front foot. Everything was coming at us and he could not stop the tide. He started making mistakes and then became so sloppy all over the game. One header badly off target – should have done better. He had one run forward second half where he won a corner but everything, he does at the moment he, like the rest of the team, looks jittery and lacking belief.



Jagielka 6/10 – Maybe our best outfield player and he was average at best. He was not great but at least won a few headers/tackles and interceptions. He showed more willing than most of the others outfield and seemed to be quicker than most of them. That sums it up. He at least kept going and tried to stop a few things but he too made mistakes, nearly seeing up Adams with one when him and Egan got in the way. Also, indecision on the first goal although I blame Ramsdale.



Egan 4/10 – Awful on the first goal as he lost his man and did not put a challenge in. Ings got away from him time after time and he did not get many blocks or tackles in as they just ran at us. He keeps this high line but it is not working as time and time they got over the top of us. Big gaps opened up all over the defence and it was just where they would choose to attack at us from.



Ampadu 2/10 – Woeful performance. Brought in to be the defensive shield and we started with him just in front. The fact they had so much ball in midfield, so many chances and ran at us time after time showed how bad he was. He gave it away all game, did not win challenges (first goal), let runners go off him and in possession he offered nothing. How he did not get booked for several awful late, cynical fouls I do not know. Miles off it and not the answer in this position. Sadly, neither is Berge or Norwood.



Berge 2.5/10 – As above. Wretched showing really although might be our best midfielder as he had two efforts (awful ones). Had our two attempts of note (outside Egan header) but miskicked again and then blazed over. One other awful cross and several slow telegraphed balls. Outside of possession, a liability. Ran through time after time, gave away stupid fouls and lost his man all game. I don’t see this great talent others do. I think he has the heart of a pea and don’t give me is a young lad in a strange country. Lots of others come to the UK and adapt quicker. He is miles off it for me. He looks disinterested too and not sure there is fight in him at all. For all this great ability, he miscontrols it a lot and his first touch is really poor. I think we will move him on in January and try and recoup some of the fee as he won’t hang around in the Championship but don’t see the suitors all clamouring for his services that others do. We will struggle to get all our money back the longer it goes on and his form continues to nose dive.



Fleck 2.5/10 – See above. Gave it away several times and did not learn his lesson from last week as he gave away a pass early on and then gave away a free kick which led to the goal. Had one moment where he linked with Stevens and that was it. Second half he put an awful cross in when we had that brief spell. After this never got near them when they had it and barely touched it. Looks a shadow of the player he was. You’d take him out of the team but sadly you could say that about the whole team. The midfield have been wretched but today on and off the ball they took things to a new level. I’d rather now just see Slater, Osborn or a load of kids run around. Least we may compete and have some energy. These three have been a disgrace (along with Norwood and Lundstram) all season. We do not have a midfield.



Sharp 4/10 – Never in the game at all. His mark is maybe higher than others just because not sure he can be blamed totally for having no service whatsoever. He tried to run a few balls down the channels but it was scraps and he may as well have been sat at home. There is no point us playing with strikers. We may aswell put another 2 midfielders or even defenders in and play 5-5 formation and at least we may have more of the ball in some area of the field.



McBurnie 3.5/10 – As above really. He committed a few stupid fouls and then a ridiculous dive saw him injure himself. He may have got caught but why he threw his arms up like he did and then hurt himself! He was great last week but today had no impact and then went off at the break. Not sure he had much chance to do anything as we had so little of the ball.





Subs –



Brewster 4/10 – Came on but like those above not sure he had many touches at all as everything was in our third. Felt sorry for him really as he cannot hope to make any impact



McGoldrick 4/10 – He at least touched it more than the other strikers but not sure anything came off. Had one cross and won one corner.



Mousset – Did not even realise he was on.



Manager Wilder 1/10 – Hard to know what to say. He keeps changing the side, keeps tweaking personnel but effectively is playing the same way. Although today oddly we had Ampadu right in front of a high line which maybe hoped to disrupt them and give us more of the ball. It did not. They had more the ball and just knocked it over us for runners. It was almost like we set up playing for at best a 0-0 draw. They were always going to score and they did and then the game was done. We had a few minutes after the break but overall, we were well beaten in every facet of the game. The players look like they have no confidence in the system, the shape, their own ability and have no real desire at the moment. They look like there is no fight in them. Maybe the manager is the same now. It is really sad. Loads again will talk about selections and tactics and yes, they have a point but think it is more than that. He does need to try something different formation wise but if the players as he says cannot win their races, tackles and headers than we have no chance. We are not even competing at the moment in games. Regardless of us having no ball, chances or any kind of pattern on the balk, off it we are hapless with no pressing, no tackling, no denying space. It’s like a testimonial for teams against us as we sit back and off and just wait for chances to come. It’s horrible and boring to watch. We have no identity. We are not even dirty (one booking) and when we do get stuck in or foul it’s clumsy. I do not think he has any idea how to turn it around.



He said we had a structure and solidity for the first 25 minutes. He is kidding himself. Said we stuck in there but we were never in the game at all. He’s right we had a better go second half but we never really did anything. To say we were in the game is utter nonsense. We were never in it and they dominated. We did not even try and pass it and did not compete. He talks about the goal and the mistakes and is right but it was always coming with the way we played sitting back and not competing. It's not like we were even in the game. Nitpicking individual mistakes is valid but we were going to lose playing as we were and they would have scored on something else if it was not that. He seems bewildered by it all and sadly now some of his words are as baffling and nonsensical as our performances.



Any other manager and I would say we need to change it but he deserves longer to try and impact something. I do not buy this we need to keep him no matter what happens though. I don’t mean losing most of the game and going down. I mean in terms of seeing some hope, commitment and change to how we are doing things. If we carry on like this every week for another month – then he won’t be here – the board will remove him. I do not want that but that would happen or he would just walk away. At the moment it is diabolical to watch and to see him preside over it is really painful but we something will give at some point. I do not want a change at all but he will know if there is not a shift in something soon, he won’t be here in the Championship. This notion we will just suddenly bounce back and go back up if we finish say with 4 or 5 points and lose most week and go down as looks like happening is fanciful too. Once the slide is in, these players confidence, form and belief in anything will be gone Asking them to play this way after the worst season a club may have ever have in history and just suddenly start winning does not happen. Some fans seem to just think we will go back to the Championship and look at Bournemouth and Norwich and thing we will be fine but for that to happen we need to arrest the slide at least in form and how we play long before the end of the season or there is a real fear, we could just slide down the leagues again. People will scoff at that but you only have to look at the likes of Wigan and Sunderland to see how quickly things can go the other way. Things can change the other way just as quick as they worked positively for us in the last few years.





Southampton – I said at the start of the season they would be my surprise packet from how they ended last year and so it has proved. Really rate the manager and they have goals in Ings and Adams but some really good midfielders too and Ward Prowse is very underrated. The defence is now performing as a unit and have solid centre backs and full backs who get up and down. They are kind of where I would have loved us to have been this year and maybe are doing what we did last season but they do have a goal scorer in Ings. Ward Prowse takes a fantastic set piece too. I expect them to finish a similar position to where we did last season, maybe even higher. They do bring through good young players and have bought well.



Today was easy. Their best players Ward Prowse and Ings did not even score. They won at a canter and could have had more. They won the battles and then the quality on the ball took over. They had movement, desire and were crisp in their passing. They can play much better than that too.



Opponent Man of the Match – Take your pick. Ings caused problems, Adams was a threat and Walcott rolled back the years. Vestergaard played more as a midfielder it was that quiet at the back. The wing backs looked good and in midfield they controlled it. I thought Romeu was really good and maybe the stand out but when all 11 are individually better than the opposition 11 than you can take your pick.



Opponent Weak link – No-one. Yes, it was that easy for them.



Referee/Officials/VAR – Easy game to ref. He booked one of ours Stevens for a stupid handball – he could have booked many more, McBurnie for his swan dive, Ampadu, Fleck and Berge for a series of fouls. No controversial VAR moments. They had a few saved that may have been close if they had gone it but they got through us time after time it did not matter.



Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Nice to see fans back I suppose. Made no difference to us and we will still probably be in Tier 3 into late Jan/Feb so will be as good as down when we go back. Be interesting to see the demand for games when a few thousand do go back. Think United should just rotate round the 22,000 season ticket holders for the final 10 or so games so we all get to 1 game each. This should be free and they still owe us money off our season ticket for next year. With surely a reduction too for the Championship on top of the money they said we would save from games we missed least we all won’t pay as much although may only be like 50% of crowds still even in August. What a depressing thought as 12,000 fans attend to see us play Wycombe at the Lane in front of new manager Michael Appleton! Oh, you laugh but it might be nearer the truth than you think!

An accurate although depressing report, thanks for the effort we all appreciate it. After most games I can usually think of some changes I'd like to see, but really struggling to think of anyone to bring in who might help. Osborn definitely needs to come in, maybe give Bogle a go. As regards manager if CW does go, I believe Phil Parkinson is now available!!

 

[Big Hitter]

Well we had one attack I remember, a cross from the left wing that Berge should have done something better with but I agree- thoroughly depressing show.

 

[Come from away]

A confident team did to us what we used to do, when attacking they had 6 or 8 players willing to go forward. First half we rarely went forward, second half rarely in numbers.

 

[sheff_blade90]

its not a good performance & ings did have many good chances. it is highly likely for the 1st time in history both Sheffield teams will be relegated in same season

. but it is being compounded by bad luck. how many times this year have we had a fortunate goal for us. id say we had more against us today than we had for us this year. che Adams shinned it in after bad communication at the back & the Armstrong deflection that sends GK wrong way.

but i always say the damage wasnt done today it was done earlier in the season against Villa Leeds Fulham West Brom & West Ham. we take our chances & we are 16th not great but doable

 

[metalblade]

Spot on report but utterly depressing reading Deadbat

 

[varkanoid]

We look like a Sunday league team that has won a competition to have a season playing in the premier league.

Like I said in the main match thread we were like the stooge team in an Exhibition Match playing a team of All Stars. The green kit made it worse.

Its getting to the point now where even commentators are embarrassed to talk about us but I must say they were such a biased pair today and calling us Sheffield Wednesday a couple of times just was like the final nail.

 

[hidesbehindapseudonym]

Like I said in the main match thread we were like the stooge team in an Exhibition Match playing a team of All Stars. The green kit made it worse.

Its getting to the point now where even commentators are embarrassed to talk about us but I must say they were such a biased pair today and calling us Sheffield Wednesday a couple of times just was like the final nail.

To be fair we played like Wendy. We will probably be starting the New Year on 1.

 

[Addison]

United – I did not think it could get any worse but today was embarrassing. We were lucky to only lose by the score line we did. It was desperate to watch and we had about 3 or 4 minutes of 90 in the game – maybe a few in the first half an a few to start the second half. Outside of this it was so one sided. Possession, chances, skill, tackles, pressing, running, heading, individual battles and shape. We looked an absolute mess. It was painful to watch. The team look absolutely shot. Absolutely done. There is an argument that they have stopped competing and that’s hard to type but that is what it looked like. I do not think intentionally but the legs and minds both have just gone.



We did not even look like a plucky Championship side having a go. There was so much between the two teams it was frightening.



We did not have a shot on target, never looked like having an attack, let alone scoring and it was just a case of how much we would lose by. It was really painful to watch. A few times I actually went in the kitchen or was pottering about (so if the report misses bits you know why) I was that depressed by it all. I am not sure I have seen a United team lack so much belief and simply look so boring.



The game started with them dictating possession and we never could get in the game. It’s as if the minds know we are going to lose so are not running as fast, competing as much although we did tackle a bit but badly. It is not even if the players can get stuck in properly often just late and giving away stupid fouls.



We look completely broken. There is no belief, confidence or even resilience. We looked a beaten side even before we conceded and after 5 minutes you knew we had lost. How bad is that?



Loads of players were pointing to others or blaming others. Noone took responsibility at all and the players looked totally demoralised. Not sure even sure it was effort as they just did not have the confidence to even run or tackle. They just looked so deflated in every way.



It is beyond tactics or who is playing now but the players individually and collectively are just beaten in every way. We have no belief in doing the basics and now we are not even competing. Today it is beyond just losing by the odd margin or moments. Even in those games we have been second best. Take away West Brom and not sure there is one game we have not deserved to lose – maybe Leeds a draw. We are miles off the other teams and are getting worse each week.



Not sure what we do? Sure the calls that were quite small from United’s fans will probably grow now for a change of manager. Souness who has been his biggest fans has said the owner will look at it now in terms of a change. I still do not think we should do it but we look a beaten team and have no fire in the bellies at all. I still think he may walk in the news few weeks. He won’t continue to oversee pathetic performance after performance. His pride will not allow it no matter who much money he may lost. I do worry by the New Year after we lose the next few v Man Utd and Brighton, he will go. Just my feeling.



We are as good as down. There is no two ways about it. Yes, the table says we can still get points but I cannot see us getting more than a handful of points at most. Indeed, it would not shock me if we went down with like 3 or 4 points at best. We do not look like scoring let alone winning games and defensively we are horrible. The team are not even competing now and the heads have gone. They seem to have just stopped playing. It is awful to watch.



Ratings: (hard to rate these as they were all dire – you could argue they was no one more than a 4/10!)

The fact I am struggling to dissect many of them shows how little they did with the ball but how easily they lost battles versus their opponents and how they could not stem anything coming the other way.



Ramsdale 6/10 – Another game where he did not look convincing at all. Made a few good saves from Ings (one may have been offside) and no chance on the second goal. The first he has to take the initial ball and then after this he was not great either as the shot went rather through him, albeit from point blank range. After this he often came and tried to punch things or flapped at crosses and just did not look confident. A kick off the sub near the end summed him up. I am not sure he was anywhere near at fault today and he made a few saves to keep the score down but he and the defence’s indecision is clear. He looks very shaky even when making saves.



Baldock 4/10 – Got ran past. Never got forward. Too far off his man. They picked him off time after time. He did not even tackle or get stuck in really. He seemed to lose his spirit and fight too which for him is worrying. He looks a player that’s confidence is really on the wane too.



Stevens 3.5/10 – As above. Made a mistake early on that led to a corner and this set the scene. Did get forward with one cross for Berge I suppose but defensively he was slow, the player run through him and he did not keep to a line. His form has fell off a cliff since the lockdown. I was glad to have him back but not sure he was any better than the hapless Lowe. Walcott caused us problems down both sides.



Basham 4/10 – Thought it was one of his worst displays for United for some time, he gave it away a lot, was not picking men up and never on the front foot. Everything was coming at us and he could not stop the tide. He started making mistakes and then became so sloppy all over the game. One header badly off target – should have done better. He had one run forward second half where he won a corner but everything, he does at the moment he, like the rest of the team, looks jittery and lacking belief.



Jagielka 6/10 – Maybe our best outfield player and he was average at best. He was not great but at least won a few headers/tackles and interceptions. He showed more willing than most of the others outfield and seemed to be quicker than most of them. That sums it up. He at least kept going and tried to stop a few things but he too made mistakes, nearly seeing up Adams with one when him and Egan got in the way. Also, indecision on the first goal although I blame Ramsdale.



Egan 4/10 – Awful on the first goal as he lost his man and did not put a challenge in. Ings got away from him time after time and he did not get many blocks or tackles in as they just ran at us. He keeps this high line but it is not working as time and time they got over the top of us. Big gaps opened up all over the defence and it was just where they would choose to attack at us from.



Ampadu 2/10 – Woeful performance. Brought in to be the defensive shield and we started with him just in front. The fact they had so much ball in midfield, so many chances and ran at us time after time showed how bad he was. He gave it away all game, did not win challenges (first goal), let runners go off him and in possession he offered nothing. How he did not get booked for several awful late, cynical fouls I do not know. Miles off it and not the answer in this position. Sadly, neither is Berge or Norwood.



Berge 2.5/10 – As above. Wretched showing really although might be our best midfielder as he had two efforts (awful ones). Had our two attempts of note (outside Egan header) but miskicked again and then blazed over. One other awful cross and several slow telegraphed balls. Outside of possession, a liability. Ran through time after time, gave away stupid fouls and lost his man all game. I don’t see this great talent others do. I think he has the heart of a pea and don’t give me is a young lad in a strange country. Lots of others come to the UK and adapt quicker. He is miles off it for me. He looks disinterested too and not sure there is fight in him at all. For all this great ability, he miscontrols it a lot and his first touch is really poor. I think we will move him on in January and try and recoup some of the fee as he won’t hang around in the Championship but don’t see the suitors all clamouring for his services that others do. We will struggle to get all our money back the longer it goes on and his form continues to nose dive.



Fleck 2.5/10 – See above. Gave it away several times and did not learn his lesson from last week as he gave away a pass early on and then gave away a free kick which led to the goal. Had one moment where he linked with Stevens and that was it. Second half he put an awful cross in when we had that brief spell. After this never got near them when they had it and barely touched it. Looks a shadow of the player he was. You’d take him out of the team but sadly you could say that about the whole team. The midfield have been wretched but today on and off the ball they took things to a new level. I’d rather now just see Slater, Osborn or a load of kids run around. Least we may compete and have some energy. These three have been a disgrace (along with Norwood and Lundstram) all season. We do not have a midfield.



Sharp 4/10 – Never in the game at all. His mark is maybe higher than others just because not sure he can be blamed totally for having no service whatsoever. He tried to run a few balls down the channels but it was scraps and he may as well have been sat at home. There is no point us playing with strikers. We may aswell put another 2 midfielders or even defenders in and play 5-5 formation and at least we may have more of the ball in some area of the field.



McBurnie 3.5/10 – As above really. He committed a few stupid fouls and then a ridiculous dive saw him injure himself. He may have got caught but why he threw his arms up like he did and then hurt himself! He was great last week but today had no impact and then went off at the break. Not sure he had much chance to do anything as we had so little of the ball.





Subs –



Brewster 4/10 – Came on but like those above not sure he had many touches at all as everything was in our third. Felt sorry for him really as he cannot hope to make any impact



McGoldrick 4/10 – He at least touched it more than the other strikers but not sure anything came off. Had one cross and won one corner.



Mousset – Did not even realise he was on.



Manager Wilder 1/10 – Hard to know what to say. He keeps changing the side, keeps tweaking personnel but effectively is playing the same way. Although today oddly we had Ampadu right in front of a high line which maybe hoped to disrupt them and give us more of the ball. It did not. They had more the ball and just knocked it over us for runners. It was almost like we set up playing for at best a 0-0 draw. They were always going to score and they did and then the game was done. We had a few minutes after the break but overall, we were well beaten in every facet of the game. The players look like they have no confidence in the system, the shape, their own ability and have no real desire at the moment. They look like there is no fight in them. Maybe the manager is the same now. It is really sad. Loads again will talk about selections and tactics and yes, they have a point but think it is more than that. He does need to try something different formation wise but if the players as he says cannot win their races, tackles and headers than we have no chance. We are not even competing at the moment in games. Regardless of us having no ball, chances or any kind of pattern on the balk, off it we are hapless with no pressing, no tackling, no denying space. It’s like a testimonial for teams against us as we sit back and off and just wait for chances to come. It’s horrible and boring to watch. We have no identity. We are not even dirty (one booking) and when we do get stuck in or foul it’s clumsy. I do not think he has any idea how to turn it around.



He said we had a structure and solidity for the first 25 minutes. He is kidding himself. Said we stuck in there but we were never in the game at all. He’s right we had a better go second half but we never really did anything. To say we were in the game is utter nonsense. We were never in it and they dominated. We did not even try and pass it and did not compete. He talks about the goal and the mistakes and is right but it was always coming with the way we played sitting back and not competing. It's not like we were even in the game. Nitpicking individual mistakes is valid but we were going to lose playing as we were and they would have scored on something else if it was not that. He seems bewildered by it all and sadly now some of his words are as baffling and nonsensical as our performances.



Any other manager and I would say we need to change it but he deserves longer to try and impact something. I do not buy this we need to keep him no matter what happens though. I don’t mean losing most of the game and going down. I mean in terms of seeing some hope, commitment and change to how we are doing things. If we carry on like this every week for another month – then he won’t be here – the board will remove him. I do not want that but that would happen or he would just walk away. At the moment it is diabolical to watch and to see him preside over it is really painful but we something will give at some point. I do not want a change at all but he will know if there is not a shift in something soon, he won’t be here in the Championship. This notion we will just suddenly bounce back and go back up if we finish say with 4 or 5 points and lose most week and go down as looks like happening is fanciful too. Once the slide is in, these players confidence, form and belief in anything will be gone Asking them to play this way after the worst season a club may have ever have in history and just suddenly start winning does not happen. Some fans seem to just think we will go back to the Championship and look at Bournemouth and Norwich and thing we will be fine but for that to happen we need to arrest the slide at least in form and how we play long before the end of the season or there is a real fear, we could just slide down the leagues again. People will scoff at that but you only have to look at the likes of Wigan and Sunderland to see how quickly things can go the other way. Things can change the other way just as quick as they worked positively for us in the last few years.





Southampton – I said at the start of the season they would be my surprise packet from how they ended last year and so it has proved. Really rate the manager and they have goals in Ings and Adams but some really good midfielders too and Ward Prowse is very underrated. The defence is now performing as a unit and have solid centre backs and full backs who get up and down. They are kind of where I would have loved us to have been this year and maybe are doing what we did last season but they do have a goal scorer in Ings. Ward Prowse takes a fantastic set piece too. I expect them to finish a similar position to where we did last season, maybe even higher. They do bring through good young players and have bought well.



Today was easy. Their best players Ward Prowse and Ings did not even score. They won at a canter and could have had more. They won the battles and then the quality on the ball took over. They had movement, desire and were crisp in their passing. They can play much better than that too.



Opponent Man of the Match – Take your pick. Ings caused problems, Adams was a threat and Walcott rolled back the years. Vestergaard played more as a midfielder it was that quiet at the back. The wing backs looked good and in midfield they controlled it. I thought Romeu was really good and maybe the stand out but when all 11 are individually better than the opposition 11 than you can take your pick.



Opponent Weak link – No-one. Yes, it was that easy for them.



Referee/Officials/VAR – Easy game to ref. He booked one of ours Stevens for a stupid handball – he could have booked many more, McBurnie for his swan dive, Ampadu, Fleck and Berge for a series of fouls. No controversial VAR moments. They had a few saved that may have been close if they had gone it but they got through us time after time it did not matter.



Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Nice to see fans back I suppose. Made no difference to us and we will still probably be in Tier 3 into late Jan/Feb so will be as good as down when we go back. Be interesting to see the demand for games when a few thousand do go back. Think United should just rotate round the 22,000 season ticket holders for the final 10 or so games so we all get to 1 game each. This should be free and they still owe us money off our season ticket for next year. With surely a reduction too for the Championship on top of the money they said we would save from games we missed least we all won’t pay as much although may only be like 50% of crowds still even in August. What a depressing thought as 12,000 fans attend to see us play Wycombe at the Lane in front of new manager Michael Appleton! Oh, you laugh but it might be nearer the truth than you think!

"the players look like they have no confidence in the system, the shape, their own ability and have no real desire at the moment. They look like there is no fight in them."

Sums up where we are at the moment. CW has been given a vote of confidence by the Prince. He has to look beyond simply saying its down to mistakes as he has now been given time to put it right.

A thorough review of how the team is set up on a daily basis including training and conditioning is required IMO, the players look shot before a ball is kicked. The senior players if they haven't already been consulted should have input into developing a plan for getting out of this malaise. That includes getting any gripes out on the table including, team selection, tactics and any contract issues that may be festering.

Most of the players owe where they are to the Manager. A lifelong Blade who must be hurting at some of the pitiful efforts that were put on display against Southampton. As supporters we can acknowledge when the opposition are too good for us. We can get upset at the style of play and why certain players are in or out but what we can't stomach is a lack of effort and desire to sweat blood and tears for the red and white striped shirt that I witnessed for the first time to-day under Chris Wilder.

 

[Roygbiv]

Spot on about next season. No way does a team bounce back from the sort of humiliation that we are facing. Going down is one thing, going down like we are is something that takes years to recover from. God knows how we have managed to balls things up to the point where I'm now worrying about next season but I am. It's absolutely dreadful right now.

 

[bakeblade]

Spot on about next season. No way does a team bounce back from the sort of humiliation that we are facing. Going down is one thing, going down like we are is something that takes years to recover from. God knows how we have managed to balls things up to the point where I'm now worrying about next season but I am. It's absolutely dreadful right now.

Agreed I was looking forward to the Championship - more games, no VAR, chance of away tickets. Now I'm starting to dread it.

 

[Deadbat]

Spot on about next season. No way does a team bounce back from the sort of humiliation that we are facing. Going down is one thing, going down like we are is something that takes years to recover from. God knows how we have managed to balls things up to the point where I'm now worrying about next season but I am. It's absolutely dreadful right now.

Just dont get this we will come straight back up as we have lots of good Championship players. At the moment the side cannot even do the basics and if we played like this we'd be near the bottom of that division too. Everyone will say it cannot go on like this and players will find form but the likes of Fleck, Stevens, Norwood etc been like this for nigh on 6 months really.

Sunderland and Wigan have shown what can happen and others who would just come back up like Stoke and Huddersfield have been closer to going the other way than coming straight back up.

If things carried on a large % of this team would be moved on as we would have to rebuild confidence completely and effectively start again. Trouble is not sure how yoou would shift many of them as not many would want them outside a few. The likes of Egan, Berge etc value is nose diving week by week. Who'd want anything to do with players who have the worst record ever? We would be stuck with them and hoping somehow they find something but this season could shatter many and finish a few off.

Maybe Brewster, Berge and Ramsdale can find the potential we saw in them

The likes of Sharp, Norwood, McGoldrick, Stevens, Basham may not even be here in a year and certainly none of them would be part of any attempt to get back up.

Baldock, Egan and McBurnie you'd hope would be ok and maybe Fleck will come again but the rest above I have mentioned are all 30+

 

[Bergen Blade]

We tried a couple of new formations second half. First matching up their 4-4-2. Thought it helped us get higher up, but after 10 minutes they seemed to get a few breaks and we struggled to contain them again. We changed to 4-3-3 after Mousset came on, but I didn't think it helped us find rhythm. Each of the three formations we tried saw us concede a goal.

 

[Deadbat]

We tried a couple of new formations second half. First matching up their 4-4-2. Thought it helped us get higher up, but after 10 minutes they seemed to get a few breaks and we struggled to contain them again. We changed to 4-3-3 after Mousset came on, but I didn't think it helped us find rhythm. Each of the three formations we tried saw us concede a goal.



View attachment 100391 View attachment 100392

So it probably is more than just about formations

We have tried to change things a bit in games- rarely from the start but I actually think all the debate about formations is hiding the painfully obvious

Every player is simply playing crap - they have no confidence and look terrified of doing anything, whether it be off the ball or on it. Not one player has had a good season at all. Even Baldock and Egan have been worse than last season by some way - they are our best players.

We have no midfield at all at the moment. None. They are not even competing but would say its spreading across the team. We are getting brushed outside physically. We are a complete soft touch and a one paced one at that.

It won't matter what formation we play (yes, I would change it as currently not working) if the players individually and collectively keep playing like this.

I think the idea that if we throw lots of strikers in and play some pace up top we may have more of a threat has some semlance of maybe giving us hope but ultimately we are having like 20-30% possession every week and we have no good possession in the opposition half. We cannot control the ball, let alone make basic passes. We are getting out run (fitness is woeful but think confidence in the other aspects makes it look even worse).

I think even lower league teams would beat us at the moment as we may see when we play Bristol Rovers in a few weeks.

 

[Roygbiv]

Just dont get this we will come straight back up as we have lots of good Championship players. At the moment the side cannot even do the basics and if we played like this we'd be near the bottom of that division too. Everyone will say it cannot go on like this and players will find form but the likes of Fleck, Stevens, Norwood etc been like this for nigh on 6 months really.

Sunderland and Wigan have shown what can happen and others who would just come back up like Stoke and Huddersfield have been closer to going the other way than coming straight back up.

If things carried on a large % of this team would be moved on as we would have to rebuild confidence completely and effectively start again. Trouble is not sure how yoou would shift many of them as not many would want them outside a few. The likes of Egan, Berge etc value is nose diving week by week. Who'd want anything to do with players who have the worst record ever? We would be stuck with them and hoping somehow they find something but this season could shatter many and finish a few off.

Maybe Brewster, Berge and Ramsdale can find the potential we saw in them

The likes of Sharp, Norwood, McGoldrick, Stevens, Basham may not even be here in a year and certainly none of them would be part of any attempt to get back up.

Baldock, Egan and McBurnie you'd hope would be ok and maybe Fleck will come again but the rest above I have mentioned are all 30+

I've been saying we look well set for next season as we have proven Championship players. The problem is these players are going down right now as a team in the most humiliating fashion possible. They may individually be decent to good Championship players but unless something changes I don't see how they get over this as a unit.

 

[Upton_Blade]

Spot on about next season. No way does a team bounce back from the sort of humiliation that we are facing. Going down is one thing, going down like we are is something that takes years to recover from. God knows how we have managed to balls things up to the point where I'm now worrying about next season but I am. It's absolutely dreadful right now.

I've not even contemplated a change of manager until today as I've held onto the, probably misguided, notion that CW would get it right eventually but that was so bad that I'm really not sure I want him to continue anymore and you've hit the nail on the head with that post.

For me he's got until the turn of the year to at least look like he knows how to sort this out or I would seriously look at a change in January.

If we carry on like this for the entire season and end up with statistically the worst ever season on record then he will probably walk in the summer if he hasn't sooner than that. This would have a new manager coming into probably the most important transfer window in our history blind so to speak on top of only having a couple of months to instil a new system.

If we made the change in January then the new man will have the rest of the season to work out exactly what's needed, get his system in place and then buy players to fit that system ready for the new season.

 

[Large Mendonca]

A thorough review of how the team is set up on a daily basis including training and conditioning is required IMO, the players look shot before a ball is kicked. The senior players if they haven't already been consulted should have input into developing a plan for getting out of this malaise. That includes getting any gripes out on the table including, team selection, tactics and any contract issues that may be festering.

Although I agree, I somehow don't think this would go down well - I'm getting the impression that Wilder doesn't take too well to suggestion/criticism.

 

[Kev Gee]

Today has finally sealed it for me. We need to change the manager. There is no way if we go down that CW will suddenly arrest the slide and we will suddenly change our form around and challenge for promotion. The teams confidence is shot. We need to bring in someone with some fresh impetus. I would fire Wilder and his entire backroom team tomorrow and bring in Van Winkle (at least till the end of the season) and see how the team react during Jan and then plan accordingly. We simply can't go on like this. Prince Abdullah should act swiftly and decisively this week

 

[Chilttheblade]

Good report as usual,I wish the players had the same stamina as you Dbat ! Wilder has to go asap, One of the problems is that he has loyalty to certain players who have been helped him and contributed in the past e.g. Sharp,Fleck,Mcgoldrick,Basham,Norwood who are not up to it but he continues with them. In addition they are blocking places / salaries of players who might do better. A new manager would get rid easier.
Please United don't make the same mistake as Huddersfield made with David Wagner.

 

[gordoncharles]

Spot on about next season. No way does a team bounce back from the sort of humiliation that we are facing. Going down is one thing, going down like we are is something that takes years to recover from. God knows how we have managed to balls things up to the point where I'm now worrying about next season but I am. It's absolutely dreadful right now.

It's too early to worry about next season. Obviously that will be in the Championship as there is no way what is now what they'd call in Spain una puta banda (I can't think of a suitable expression in english) is going to get 35 points in 26 games to put it in doubt.

No manager could either so it's futile even contemplating a change until the end of the season and even then I probably wouldn't do it. If it remains as bad as this then all you can do is attempt to ship out as many of them as possible and start again.

However, the Covid influenced football season has been so bizarre and so wretched that I fully expect Wilder to be sacked pronto and his replacement to be announced as Gary Monk.

 

[Blade59]

What a depressing read but sadly 100% spot on. Like you I started to loose interest after around 60 minutes. This team is looking a spent force. There is no desire or determination any more. Just feel a lot are going through the motions and there is no collective or individual motivation. Sad after everything they have shown and achieved over the last few years. Perhaps we do need a change not because it will change the outcome of this season but the momentum that this continuing will carry on into next season. I can take us being beaten every week if we are giving it our best shot but I do not believe we are any more. Whether that is the players, the manager who knows but something has got to give sooner or later. The fact that the first 30 minutes appeared to go to plan according to Chris is worrying to say the least.

 

[Wards]

I’m lost for ideas. Usually I’m an optimistic sort but I’m just gonna give Thursday a miss and save myself the pain.

I still think we’d be daft to get rid of CW but he needs to think again if he thought that was a good structure for 30 minutes. It was woeful. 9 passes completed in the first 15 minutes? against Southampton?! Pathetic, really.

January can’t come soon enough. Hopefully the sight of a couple of new faces will lift them. We’ll be all but down by then of course anyway but I can’t bear to watch us smash the dreaded Derby record without a fight.

I really don’t see how we change it up given the current personnel at our disposal. Thought 442 looked a bit better but seeing the likes of Basham as a PL midfielder shows where our squad is at sadly.

 

[Grappler]

As I have said almost every week, I can't believe that the loss of JOC has caused this collapse in the team, and yet it has.

Personally, I am not worried about the Championship, you only have to watch the "Goals on Quest" TV show to see how poor it is and I think we would be fine. The fact that all three teams that were relegated from the Prem are in the top four of the Championship tells you that not being great in the top flight doesn't mean you will be poor in the league below.

Our players are not showing any grit or balls at all. In Boxing, there is a term for knowing you are not good enough, but giving it literally everything, so that the only finish is you being knocked out, being brave enough to give everything and risk being knocked unconscious by a thunderous punch.

It's called "going out on your shield", or, "being carried out on your shield".

It's an old code of conduct, being tough enough to face adversity and not hide or shy away from it, to face something with your head high and look trouble, straight in the face. "Walk Tall", as they used to say.

There was a time when I thought Sheffield United were all about this.