Deadbat
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- Aug 6, 2009
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Our pod reaction on the major formats and my match report below
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podca...sodeGuid=tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/854516845
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The Blades chances of European football took a massive surge in the upward trajectory after a sensational stoppage time winner against Wolves at a rain sodden Bramall Lane. Once again centre back John Egan was the hero. This time with a majestic header from a late Ollie Norwood corner. There was no coming back from Wolves in a game they had to win to keep their own Champions League places alive and a huge three points for the home team.
United welcomed back Jack O’Connell to the starting line up and gave a start to Billy Sharp with no place for David McGoldrick in the squad who joined John Fleck on the injury list. John Lundstram was back on the bench.
Wolves started with a powerful front three of Neves, Traore and Jimenez and were looking to get a vital three points in their quest for a Champions League place.
The game began in wet conditions and the a few players were skidding around early. Traore was on the ball early but seemed to hurt his shoulder under a challenge from Stevens but was deemed fit to carry on. On 5 minutes Berge showed quick feet and strength but his pass was errant although the subsequent foul on Norwood was ridiculous as the Wolves man slipped and fell into him.
The Blades won the first corner on 8 minutes but carrying on from Sunday a poor delivery was cleared. Wolves started to get on the ball more after it had been a quiet opening from both teams and Jota nearly got Jonny in but Basham covered well. On 15 minutes Egan had to clear after Osborn had given the ball away. Wolves looked dangerous on the ball and on the break with Jimenez class apparent and the ball going to Traore at every opportunity. United were ‘tripling up’ on the wide man but this left men over when crosses did come over.
Berge’s lovely ball inside the full back put Basham in but he pull back evaded everyone. United had their first chance when O’Connell reminded everyone of his crossing ability as he whipped one over but McBurnie flicked at the keeper. Traore at the other end got down the right past Stevens and was able to get his cross over but it was cleared.
At the drinks break, little had been seen in terms of chances but after the pause for refreshments in the pouring rain – Traore’s deep cross was headed back by Jota but Henderson clutched it high up I the first chance for the visitors.
A lovely break from their own goal line showed the pace and skill of Wolves as Jiménez flicked on and they were away. Jota looked set to shoot before O’Connell pulled him down cynically and was rightly booked. Neves took it and it was a beauty but clipped the bar with Henderson well beaten. A few inches lower and it would have been a goal.
Wolves had moved the ball better and United were giving it away too much and were guilty of playing it long with McBurnie and Sharp starved of anything to feet and the latter also caught offside a few times.
The home side had an improved spell and Sharp did well to cross but McBurnie poked well wide before Sharp nearly got in after a bad back pass from Boly but Patricio held him up long enough and the ball never came in after a series of poor crosses.
Wolves speed on the break was evident again as Neves hit a cross that that Henderson saved low down before at the other end Baldock was felled but United were given the advantage and Stevens hit a dangerous cross but Coady cleared.
United had 4 or 5 chances to get the ball over but from two Norwood corners and another cross in open play and then both Baldock and Stevens all were guilty of poor final balls again with the near post man hit routinely.
The half time whistle came with the game goalless. Wolves had looked the better side in terms of skill, fluency, pace and danger and had the best chance with the free kick hitting the bar. United had been cautious to the extreme for a home side and were perhaps worried about the pace of Wolves on the counter if they committed too many men forward but the passing was often too long and the Blades had not kept the ball long enough to worry the visitors.
United started the second half better and Sharp got away down the left but his cross was straight at Patricio. Basham then got down the other side but his cross was not far enough from the goalkeeper either. McBurnie had looked gingerly as he came out for the second half and obviously tried to give things a go after picking up a knock but sadly he was struggling and on came Mousset.
Egan pulled Jimenez back for a silly free kick but the delivery was cleared and Neves fired over. On 53 minutes a good all through saw Sharp in and he fired home but the flag had gone up – rightly so. The VAR checks confirmed he was clearly offside.
Basham went down quite theatrically as he got into the box after decent build up play but there was no contact in a rare moment of a United player going down too easily. United had been much better this half but had to be wary of Wolves on the break.
Stevens put a sensational cross that just evaded the United strikers as the game entered the final 30 minutes; a spell Wolves have done really well in all season.
Stevens was booked for pulling down Traore; with the card given after the advantage saw United clear with Basham doing well again.
Jimenez clever play featured again but his cross was straight at Henderson. Egan then cleared but after Sharp got outmuscled, Jota was in but again Basham came across to deny any opportunities. Zivkovic was on for Sharp as United had a fast but raw strike force to end the game as they looked to find gaps in behind a high line. The newcomer did well twice, once to win a free kick off a clumsy Boly and then put a cross in that Baldock met with Jonny sleeping but headed down and wide. It was the best chance of the second half for either side with neither keeper still making a real save all game.
Traore has run his course and even though United had done their job on him with Dendocker coming on as Wolves went more two up top in a bid to find a late winner but had not really threatened and United had shaded the second half. Mousset held off his man but his shot was wayward and miles wide before Baldock and then Stevens both sent over telegraphed crosses.
Good work from Basham saw him sweep up again before United went down the end and had a series of attacks after decent link play down the right. Berge did well but Baldock’s cross evaded everyone before Mousset and Zivkovic combined to lead to a crossing chance for Stevens but his driven ball hit the hand of Doherty. The free kick was taken short down the line for Osborn but his cross did not beat the first man and was cleared for a corner as the game was now in three minutes of stoppage time.
The home side were now pressing for the winner and the corner came over was played back but Zivkovic’s shot was blocked and then Osborn as it dropped tried to force it home but it was deflected and Patricio had to scramble behind – it may not have been going in but he could take no chance.
As the game entered the final 30 seconds, this was surely the final chance for either side? Norwood took the corner and hit the mark arrowing the ball into the penalty spot and EGAN rose majestically to power his header into the net giving the keeper no chance. Egan slid on his knees and was joined by his teammates whilst Wilder ran down the line celebrating with any of the few people he could find! Wolves took the kick off but they could not get the ball into the box and the final whistle came to signal a huge win for the Blades.
United – Big win. A draw would not have been a disaster against a really good side and even though it was not the best of games in tricky conditions with two teams maybe feeling the effects of so many games recently. It lacked quality both ways. I thought Wolves looked more dangerous first half but did not create much at all but broke well and showed some nice flicks/touches – they have such good front players but we double and tripled teams Traore and kept Jiménez away from goal. We did not really do much the other way either but McGoldrick had a flicked header from a decent O’Connell cross and Sharp nearly got on an error. They hit the bar with the best effort of the half but neither keeper really had much to do in a game with few chances and little quality. Both teams seemed to cancel each other out and the formations being the same and both sitting deep meant it had to be some real individual quality to carve out a chance and it did not happen. It was fairly even but they maybe looked a bit more likely without looking likely if that makes sense!
Second half thought we were the much better side. We defended well, they got frustrated and not sure they did anything of note 2nd half. Henderson was a virtual spectator and the front lads faded and Traore eventually went off. We did not show much in terms of our own forward although the two that came on stretched a very deep defence where it was hard to get in behind, a little bit more. We had a few half chances with Stevens cross and then Baldock nearly scored and maybe should have done better once he got in. The final stage you thought they may use their quality and pace to stretch us and find an opening as they have scored so many goals (33) in the 2nd half and are a great final third team also but it never came and they ran out of steam.
We attacked a lot more than them – it was not incessant pressure but we always looked more likely. We won a few corners and free kicks and then eventually had a few half chances and it led to the final corner and finally a great corner after another mixed bag (more bad than good) and what a header by our goalscoring hero Egan! 2 in 2! We do see our centre backs trot up over the years and often head it like defenders (in the sense of a defensive side by heading up and out/over) and the record for such strong players/headers of the ball is really poor. Tonight, he caught it perfectly and powered it home; holding his man off and meeting it on the full. A proper old-fashioned goal in the sense of the cross and header. A bad one to concede but over the course of the game I think if anyone shaded a poor game it was us. We were better than them in the second half and in the first half not sure they were much stronger than us so if anything, 1-0 was about right really if it was not a 0-0 which you could also make a strong argument for in such a game starved of much quality. It was two honest groups, well organised with few mistakes but neither side despite getting into good areas did enough to create or work the keeper. Wolves had more of the ball but did not do much with it.
It was another much more committed and solid performance than those opening 3 and we have improved and now taking out the cup, we have won 2, drew 2 and lost 2 so it’s been an average-ok start rather than a poor one. Win Saturday and it’s suddenly a good return pretty much and suddenly not only Europa League but the other competition is on again. That would be a big ask having played a day after Chelsea and it is so many games but we seem to be getting stronger in some ways the more we play with the rhythm and momentum. We are sadly picking up knocks to players but the end is in sight now with only 4 games left so we need a big push. If we can win 2 or more of those games it may be enough for a top 8 finish. We have some hard games still but at home we seem better even with no fans than away. It is no coincidence that we get our defence fully back (no offence to Robinson who has been steady) and we keep a clean sheet and look much more solid overall.
Just nice to see a run of 3 or 4 much better performance and results. Maybe if we had not scored, we would not be seeing things so positively all of a sudden as we would have been 10th and thinking that even though a draw was ok; things had sort of tailed off in terms of a bid for those top places that would get you something. Now the late goal has almost breathed some new life into things. We may not have been there but how good did it feel when that hit the net and no question of any offence to disallow it as seems to happen on most goals. We have scored late on under Wilder but more in League One than maybe even the Championship and even those sorts of goals often 80-85 maybe rather than 90+. It is a while since we scored a last-minute winner so late (Norwich at home maybe last season?)
Big credit to Wilder – a lot were doom and gloom (including myself – as we looked so bad to open things up) but with changes to the team he has got the team believing and helped them slowly turn it back round and now with 2 wins and a draw we are in good form again. Just hope we can finish the season strong. The defence is so key to what we do. With those together even with a few out of form, injured or different rotations we have a chance.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podca...sodeGuid=tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/854516845
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The Blades chances of European football took a massive surge in the upward trajectory after a sensational stoppage time winner against Wolves at a rain sodden Bramall Lane. Once again centre back John Egan was the hero. This time with a majestic header from a late Ollie Norwood corner. There was no coming back from Wolves in a game they had to win to keep their own Champions League places alive and a huge three points for the home team.
United welcomed back Jack O’Connell to the starting line up and gave a start to Billy Sharp with no place for David McGoldrick in the squad who joined John Fleck on the injury list. John Lundstram was back on the bench.
Wolves started with a powerful front three of Neves, Traore and Jimenez and were looking to get a vital three points in their quest for a Champions League place.
The game began in wet conditions and the a few players were skidding around early. Traore was on the ball early but seemed to hurt his shoulder under a challenge from Stevens but was deemed fit to carry on. On 5 minutes Berge showed quick feet and strength but his pass was errant although the subsequent foul on Norwood was ridiculous as the Wolves man slipped and fell into him.
The Blades won the first corner on 8 minutes but carrying on from Sunday a poor delivery was cleared. Wolves started to get on the ball more after it had been a quiet opening from both teams and Jota nearly got Jonny in but Basham covered well. On 15 minutes Egan had to clear after Osborn had given the ball away. Wolves looked dangerous on the ball and on the break with Jimenez class apparent and the ball going to Traore at every opportunity. United were ‘tripling up’ on the wide man but this left men over when crosses did come over.
Berge’s lovely ball inside the full back put Basham in but he pull back evaded everyone. United had their first chance when O’Connell reminded everyone of his crossing ability as he whipped one over but McBurnie flicked at the keeper. Traore at the other end got down the right past Stevens and was able to get his cross over but it was cleared.
At the drinks break, little had been seen in terms of chances but after the pause for refreshments in the pouring rain – Traore’s deep cross was headed back by Jota but Henderson clutched it high up I the first chance for the visitors.
A lovely break from their own goal line showed the pace and skill of Wolves as Jiménez flicked on and they were away. Jota looked set to shoot before O’Connell pulled him down cynically and was rightly booked. Neves took it and it was a beauty but clipped the bar with Henderson well beaten. A few inches lower and it would have been a goal.
Wolves had moved the ball better and United were giving it away too much and were guilty of playing it long with McBurnie and Sharp starved of anything to feet and the latter also caught offside a few times.
The home side had an improved spell and Sharp did well to cross but McBurnie poked well wide before Sharp nearly got in after a bad back pass from Boly but Patricio held him up long enough and the ball never came in after a series of poor crosses.
Wolves speed on the break was evident again as Neves hit a cross that that Henderson saved low down before at the other end Baldock was felled but United were given the advantage and Stevens hit a dangerous cross but Coady cleared.
United had 4 or 5 chances to get the ball over but from two Norwood corners and another cross in open play and then both Baldock and Stevens all were guilty of poor final balls again with the near post man hit routinely.
The half time whistle came with the game goalless. Wolves had looked the better side in terms of skill, fluency, pace and danger and had the best chance with the free kick hitting the bar. United had been cautious to the extreme for a home side and were perhaps worried about the pace of Wolves on the counter if they committed too many men forward but the passing was often too long and the Blades had not kept the ball long enough to worry the visitors.
United started the second half better and Sharp got away down the left but his cross was straight at Patricio. Basham then got down the other side but his cross was not far enough from the goalkeeper either. McBurnie had looked gingerly as he came out for the second half and obviously tried to give things a go after picking up a knock but sadly he was struggling and on came Mousset.
Egan pulled Jimenez back for a silly free kick but the delivery was cleared and Neves fired over. On 53 minutes a good all through saw Sharp in and he fired home but the flag had gone up – rightly so. The VAR checks confirmed he was clearly offside.
Basham went down quite theatrically as he got into the box after decent build up play but there was no contact in a rare moment of a United player going down too easily. United had been much better this half but had to be wary of Wolves on the break.
Stevens put a sensational cross that just evaded the United strikers as the game entered the final 30 minutes; a spell Wolves have done really well in all season.
Stevens was booked for pulling down Traore; with the card given after the advantage saw United clear with Basham doing well again.
Jimenez clever play featured again but his cross was straight at Henderson. Egan then cleared but after Sharp got outmuscled, Jota was in but again Basham came across to deny any opportunities. Zivkovic was on for Sharp as United had a fast but raw strike force to end the game as they looked to find gaps in behind a high line. The newcomer did well twice, once to win a free kick off a clumsy Boly and then put a cross in that Baldock met with Jonny sleeping but headed down and wide. It was the best chance of the second half for either side with neither keeper still making a real save all game.
Traore has run his course and even though United had done their job on him with Dendocker coming on as Wolves went more two up top in a bid to find a late winner but had not really threatened and United had shaded the second half. Mousset held off his man but his shot was wayward and miles wide before Baldock and then Stevens both sent over telegraphed crosses.
Good work from Basham saw him sweep up again before United went down the end and had a series of attacks after decent link play down the right. Berge did well but Baldock’s cross evaded everyone before Mousset and Zivkovic combined to lead to a crossing chance for Stevens but his driven ball hit the hand of Doherty. The free kick was taken short down the line for Osborn but his cross did not beat the first man and was cleared for a corner as the game was now in three minutes of stoppage time.
The home side were now pressing for the winner and the corner came over was played back but Zivkovic’s shot was blocked and then Osborn as it dropped tried to force it home but it was deflected and Patricio had to scramble behind – it may not have been going in but he could take no chance.
As the game entered the final 30 seconds, this was surely the final chance for either side? Norwood took the corner and hit the mark arrowing the ball into the penalty spot and EGAN rose majestically to power his header into the net giving the keeper no chance. Egan slid on his knees and was joined by his teammates whilst Wilder ran down the line celebrating with any of the few people he could find! Wolves took the kick off but they could not get the ball into the box and the final whistle came to signal a huge win for the Blades.
United – Big win. A draw would not have been a disaster against a really good side and even though it was not the best of games in tricky conditions with two teams maybe feeling the effects of so many games recently. It lacked quality both ways. I thought Wolves looked more dangerous first half but did not create much at all but broke well and showed some nice flicks/touches – they have such good front players but we double and tripled teams Traore and kept Jiménez away from goal. We did not really do much the other way either but McGoldrick had a flicked header from a decent O’Connell cross and Sharp nearly got on an error. They hit the bar with the best effort of the half but neither keeper really had much to do in a game with few chances and little quality. Both teams seemed to cancel each other out and the formations being the same and both sitting deep meant it had to be some real individual quality to carve out a chance and it did not happen. It was fairly even but they maybe looked a bit more likely without looking likely if that makes sense!
Second half thought we were the much better side. We defended well, they got frustrated and not sure they did anything of note 2nd half. Henderson was a virtual spectator and the front lads faded and Traore eventually went off. We did not show much in terms of our own forward although the two that came on stretched a very deep defence where it was hard to get in behind, a little bit more. We had a few half chances with Stevens cross and then Baldock nearly scored and maybe should have done better once he got in. The final stage you thought they may use their quality and pace to stretch us and find an opening as they have scored so many goals (33) in the 2nd half and are a great final third team also but it never came and they ran out of steam.
We attacked a lot more than them – it was not incessant pressure but we always looked more likely. We won a few corners and free kicks and then eventually had a few half chances and it led to the final corner and finally a great corner after another mixed bag (more bad than good) and what a header by our goalscoring hero Egan! 2 in 2! We do see our centre backs trot up over the years and often head it like defenders (in the sense of a defensive side by heading up and out/over) and the record for such strong players/headers of the ball is really poor. Tonight, he caught it perfectly and powered it home; holding his man off and meeting it on the full. A proper old-fashioned goal in the sense of the cross and header. A bad one to concede but over the course of the game I think if anyone shaded a poor game it was us. We were better than them in the second half and in the first half not sure they were much stronger than us so if anything, 1-0 was about right really if it was not a 0-0 which you could also make a strong argument for in such a game starved of much quality. It was two honest groups, well organised with few mistakes but neither side despite getting into good areas did enough to create or work the keeper. Wolves had more of the ball but did not do much with it.
It was another much more committed and solid performance than those opening 3 and we have improved and now taking out the cup, we have won 2, drew 2 and lost 2 so it’s been an average-ok start rather than a poor one. Win Saturday and it’s suddenly a good return pretty much and suddenly not only Europa League but the other competition is on again. That would be a big ask having played a day after Chelsea and it is so many games but we seem to be getting stronger in some ways the more we play with the rhythm and momentum. We are sadly picking up knocks to players but the end is in sight now with only 4 games left so we need a big push. If we can win 2 or more of those games it may be enough for a top 8 finish. We have some hard games still but at home we seem better even with no fans than away. It is no coincidence that we get our defence fully back (no offence to Robinson who has been steady) and we keep a clean sheet and look much more solid overall.
Just nice to see a run of 3 or 4 much better performance and results. Maybe if we had not scored, we would not be seeing things so positively all of a sudden as we would have been 10th and thinking that even though a draw was ok; things had sort of tailed off in terms of a bid for those top places that would get you something. Now the late goal has almost breathed some new life into things. We may not have been there but how good did it feel when that hit the net and no question of any offence to disallow it as seems to happen on most goals. We have scored late on under Wilder but more in League One than maybe even the Championship and even those sorts of goals often 80-85 maybe rather than 90+. It is a while since we scored a last-minute winner so late (Norwich at home maybe last season?)
Big credit to Wilder – a lot were doom and gloom (including myself – as we looked so bad to open things up) but with changes to the team he has got the team believing and helped them slowly turn it back round and now with 2 wins and a draw we are in good form again. Just hope we can finish the season strong. The defence is so key to what we do. With those together even with a few out of form, injured or different rotations we have a chance.
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