Deadbat
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Podcast links and then report below….
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000539543531
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The South Yorkshire Derby saw the spoils go to the away side as the Blades up and down season continued. In a game between two sides on a bad run of poor, the first half was an atrocious advert for the league before it burst to life after the break with some awful defending, some good finishes and finally some excitement. United went into a three-goal lead but then barely hung on at the death against a dire Barnsley side leaving both teams coming off with more questions than answers. For the Blades it is a win but not sure they will leave the field entirely happy. It was very unconvincing when it should have been comfortable.
The Blades made 5 changes from the defeat at Millwall with Baldock back in for Bogle, Norwood for Hourihane, Ndiaye for the suspended Gibbs White, Mousset for McGoldrick and McBurnie for Sharp. Barnsley started the game having only scored 7 goals in 13 games so far and the frontline was headed up by skipper Cauley Woodrow.
The home side started the game winning an early corner that came to nothing before the Blades had an opportunity with a direct ball flicked on by McBurnie and Mousset in on the angle but pulled his shot wide. The Blades won a corner on 5 minutes but Egan’s header back was pouched by Collins.
Sibbick and Collins nearly made a mess of a back pass but the keeper just got back before the first moment of note came from the home side when Adebayejo got beyond Egan and sent a cross over but there was no one in the box and United cleared.
The game approached the quarter hour mark and Mousset and Ndiaye linked well with McBurnie but Mousset made a mess of the cross and hit it behind.
Both teams were clearly totally out of confidence and the next spell saw both teams consistently give the ball away, often under no pressure. Fleck found a red shirt twice and then Styles did likewise for the home team. It had been a really drab game with no quality on display.
Mousset looked the main threat for the away side with his pace but he was crowded out before Moon was brought down giving the Tykes a free kick chance but it was hit too long and drifted out.
Baldock was then caught out in the general malaise of the game but Barnsley could not take advantage before Mousset again got in down the sides but he, Osborn, Norwood and then Baldock overplayed and as the latter went down looking for a penalty, the home side cleared with the appeals being rightly waved away by referee Ward.
United tried to work an opening down the left but Stevens was given a pass that was too short from Osborn and Barnsley cleared and won a corner at the other end as the Blades left back was put under pressure.
The next phase saw another spell of constant giveaways from both sides in almost laughable fashion. There were rarely more than 2 or 3 passes played by either side to each other and nothing of note going forward.
However, in the final stages of the half we at least saw some chances with Ndiaye running down the right and crossing but Mousset on the stretch and falling back failed to register enough power and Collins saved easily. At the other end, Adebayejo did well again and got away from Baldock before standing up a cross that Moon send looping over with a header with Olsen scrambling back.
On 43 minutes, Barnsley moved it around and the ball came in and was flicked goalwards but Olsen made the save with this being the first effort on goal by the home side. Olsen then subsequently threw the ball out summing up the first half. The referee did not even bother playing any additional time – he had probably seen enough like the rest of us in an absolutely appalling game of football with no quality or clear chances for either side and only one routine save for each keeper.
The second half saw the first chance come to the home side as the ball down the right came in and Baldock made a mess of a header and Woodrow had a chance but his shot was straight at Olsen.
United had a spell of play when Osborn sent over a deep cross and it came back to Norwood who laid it off to Baldock but his deflected shot went just over. Norwood could not even keep the corner in play though!
The breakthrough came through a moment of individual brilliance as the ball was knocked over the top for MOUSSET who had one man to beat but chose to wait, drift inside and curl a superb effort into the far corner and away from Collins to give United the lead. He was booked for going into the crowd in his celebrations.
Two minutes later and he had a second. This time it was Osborn down the left and he sent over an inviting cross that MOUSSET was able to bury from close range and United were now in complete control with two goals in three minutes for the big Frenchmen!
Leya Oseko and Cole came on for Adeboyejo and Frieser as the home fans continued to show their frustrations at their team after the quick fire double had seen them chasing the game.
Barnsley tried to respond from a free kick after Stevens and Davies had combined to bring their man down but as the delivery was wasted, the home fans started to vehemently question the future of the manager with a number of chants asking for his removal.
United then broke through Baldock but his ball lacked power and the chance seemed to be missed, although it came back to Mousset who should have been played in originally but this time he blazed over from the edge of the box.
Baldock then showed good skill to run down the outside of his man and as the cross came in, Mousset, Fleck and Osborn tried to fashion a chance but somehow the desperate Barnsley defence survived. McBurnie then sent over a cross that just evaded Mousset, who seemed to be feeling his hamstrings again and sure enough he had to depart on the hour mark replaced by Sharp. It was disappointing not to see him finish a contest again but at least this time he had made a significant contribution.
Woodrow’s free kick was not far over from 30 yards before Barnsley had a chance to come back as the ball was fed back from Cole but Moon’s effort hit the post and bounced out. At the other end McGoldrick who had come on from Ndiaye, headed across and somehow Fleck could not touch it over the line.
The game was incredibly open and the home team were also now creating chances as good as the Blades and missed a sitter as the ball came over and Cole somehow turned it wide with the goal at his mercy. It was more poor defending from the visitors who should have been in control but surely were when Baldock got down the right and pulled back a cross that OSBORN got on the end of. He took a touch and fired home with his unfamiliar right foot and it was 0-3 and surely game over?
Barnsley made another change when Hondermarck came on for Kitching and the home side had appeals for a penalty when Egan just got enough on the ball before the Blades broke with Osborn and McGoldrick but could not make the final pass work.
Barnsley had created chances and deserved the goal they finally got when after the ball came down the left, the ball was played in and COLE smashed the ball high into the net and they had a goal back.
The home side sensed some hope against a fragile United defence and Style had a chance but overhit his cross before on 83 minutes they had a second and a game that seemed over was back alive.
LEYA ISEKA got on the ball after the Blades had failed to clear through Egan and danced past Baldock and Fleck way too easily before smashing into the near post beyond the hapless Olsen.
Basham came on for McBurnie and the Blades now were hanging onto a game they had seemingly been coasting in. Barnsley were putting the ball forward and United could not hang onto it as the game entered six minutes of stoppage time. McGoldrick carelessly gave it away twice leading to the ball coming back and the home side forced a late corner with Collins up from the back but the ball squirmed wide from the knock down. Sharp had a late chance but Collings got to it first but there was not time for Barnsley to force a final attack and the Blades had done just about enough to hang on.
United – It’s a win but it was far from convincing. It should have been regulation but ended up nervy and ragged once again. The first half was a non event with both teams looking pretty abject in all aspects of play giving it away constantly and struggling to create anything. Mousset looked dangerous but we had no fluidity and actually looked better when we went long. We began with a more orthodox 4-4-2 and had a lot of the ball but did little with it really. We did not penetrate and had few passages of play in their last third. They looked even worse and until the final few minutes of the half barely had an attack. The half saw a few half chances but in reality, it was a slow and sloppy first half with no quality on show from either side. Both teams just kept giving it back to each other and it looked like neither side even wanted the ball.
Second half sees 5 goals and tons of chances both ways. Was it because both teams improved? Maybe but it also was because more gaps appeared and the game just became open. To be fair to United for the opening of the second half for 15 minutes we looked good with Mousset at the fore. We actually looked like scoring every time we attacked and Mousse scored two good goals, the first an individual effort and the second ably assisted by Osborn who improved immeasurably after a quiet first half. We had other chances and Mousset was really running them ragged. They looked all over the place and we really could have scored a few more. Still, they came forward too and it became a bit disorganised from us when we should have been in complete control. They hit the post and missed a sitter which were as good as any chances we had despite us opening them up more. I felt we needed to just get on the ball for a spell but it was a bit too open. Mousset going off did not help as he had been the main outlet and we did not have the pace and ball over the top as much. Still, we did have moments and then got the third and that should have been it.
Sadly, we fell asleep again and they waltzed through us to score two soft goals and all of a sudden, we are all over the place. We start kicking it away and no one gets on the ball. We at this point look a side that knows we may concede again and as stoppage time comes, you would not be shocked if they got another. It was really ragged and we looked so flaky at the back but also in midfield, giving the ball away and not having the confidence to try and keep it.
Barnsley were gone, well beaten and there was unrest in the crowd asking for the manager to go and we just had to see it out or go on and make it 4 or 5 but no we are not capable and too fragile to do that. We end up being the side that ends up second best for the final period and in the end are maybe a bit lucky that times runs out for them. It was a game that should have been comfortable and ended up being anything but. I am still not convinced what the plan is (we changed the formation today – just because one player was out is worrying if he is so convinced by it?) and actually went longer today – times it worked better with the goal we scored coming from balls over the top or down the sides. At the back we have no solidity and in midfield teams still walk through us. It was a game a good side, even after a poor half, gets in front and puts them away or sees it out. We ended up scraping a win against the worst side in the division. I am not exactly coming away from watching that and thinking we have turned a corner really despite the win. I see the same disorganised mess really that albeit scored some good goals and looked good for a 20-minute spell but also looked like conceding every time the opponents attacked in the final spell too. It is not a side that looks close to going on a run or who can beat some of the better sides and today we would have come unstuck versus most at this level. There is still a lot of work to do from the manager and the players and sense it will be a one step forward, two backwards type of season sadly. Hope I am wrong. Maybe I should be pleased with the attacking elements and of course Mousse did well (but is he now injured again?) but most of what I saw today still concerns me really.
I just feel we are a side that can score goals now and have bursts but it is that only, spurts of good play relying on individuals like MGW, Ndiaye or today Mousset. I am not sure we are seeing cohesion and lots of great team play (the goal v Stoke apart) and it is still very patchy in overall play. Defensively we still look horrific – we cannot stop basic goals and teams can put us under pressure so easily not helped by the timid and weak midfield in front.
I suppose I should be happy with a win but I still think it masks a lot of issues. People can argue and say at 3-0 it was easy and coasting but the fact we ended up hanging on tells the story really and the issues in the side and the set up. I am not sure the side knows how to go about and win games convincingly. Other than Stoke, who are now back to mid-table themselves, we have only beaten 4 of the bottom 5 in our other wins. It will be interesting to see what happens against two other mid table sides in Blackpool and Forest. My hunch does not convince me we will win both of these and we will see more stop start performances and results. I am not sure the manager is any closer to getting this side playing with confidence and swagger and having the belief they can control games and win games well. We need to have a level of control of games and at the moment that is not happening. Today was far harder than it should have been against a truly dire side but then that says where we are also sadly.
Referee/Officials – Gavin Ward. A nothing game really and the fact he only booked Mousset for going in the crowd to celebrate and Stevens for an innocuous foul for either side, summed it up. Not sure there was a bad tackle (barely a tackle really) all game. After a run of bad refs, he had a decent game. He was maybe better than most of the actual players!
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000539543531
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The South Yorkshire Derby saw the spoils go to the away side as the Blades up and down season continued. In a game between two sides on a bad run of poor, the first half was an atrocious advert for the league before it burst to life after the break with some awful defending, some good finishes and finally some excitement. United went into a three-goal lead but then barely hung on at the death against a dire Barnsley side leaving both teams coming off with more questions than answers. For the Blades it is a win but not sure they will leave the field entirely happy. It was very unconvincing when it should have been comfortable.
The Blades made 5 changes from the defeat at Millwall with Baldock back in for Bogle, Norwood for Hourihane, Ndiaye for the suspended Gibbs White, Mousset for McGoldrick and McBurnie for Sharp. Barnsley started the game having only scored 7 goals in 13 games so far and the frontline was headed up by skipper Cauley Woodrow.
The home side started the game winning an early corner that came to nothing before the Blades had an opportunity with a direct ball flicked on by McBurnie and Mousset in on the angle but pulled his shot wide. The Blades won a corner on 5 minutes but Egan’s header back was pouched by Collins.
Sibbick and Collins nearly made a mess of a back pass but the keeper just got back before the first moment of note came from the home side when Adebayejo got beyond Egan and sent a cross over but there was no one in the box and United cleared.
The game approached the quarter hour mark and Mousset and Ndiaye linked well with McBurnie but Mousset made a mess of the cross and hit it behind.
Both teams were clearly totally out of confidence and the next spell saw both teams consistently give the ball away, often under no pressure. Fleck found a red shirt twice and then Styles did likewise for the home team. It had been a really drab game with no quality on display.
Mousset looked the main threat for the away side with his pace but he was crowded out before Moon was brought down giving the Tykes a free kick chance but it was hit too long and drifted out.
Baldock was then caught out in the general malaise of the game but Barnsley could not take advantage before Mousset again got in down the sides but he, Osborn, Norwood and then Baldock overplayed and as the latter went down looking for a penalty, the home side cleared with the appeals being rightly waved away by referee Ward.
United tried to work an opening down the left but Stevens was given a pass that was too short from Osborn and Barnsley cleared and won a corner at the other end as the Blades left back was put under pressure.
The next phase saw another spell of constant giveaways from both sides in almost laughable fashion. There were rarely more than 2 or 3 passes played by either side to each other and nothing of note going forward.
However, in the final stages of the half we at least saw some chances with Ndiaye running down the right and crossing but Mousset on the stretch and falling back failed to register enough power and Collins saved easily. At the other end, Adebayejo did well again and got away from Baldock before standing up a cross that Moon send looping over with a header with Olsen scrambling back.
On 43 minutes, Barnsley moved it around and the ball came in and was flicked goalwards but Olsen made the save with this being the first effort on goal by the home side. Olsen then subsequently threw the ball out summing up the first half. The referee did not even bother playing any additional time – he had probably seen enough like the rest of us in an absolutely appalling game of football with no quality or clear chances for either side and only one routine save for each keeper.
The second half saw the first chance come to the home side as the ball down the right came in and Baldock made a mess of a header and Woodrow had a chance but his shot was straight at Olsen.
United had a spell of play when Osborn sent over a deep cross and it came back to Norwood who laid it off to Baldock but his deflected shot went just over. Norwood could not even keep the corner in play though!
The breakthrough came through a moment of individual brilliance as the ball was knocked over the top for MOUSSET who had one man to beat but chose to wait, drift inside and curl a superb effort into the far corner and away from Collins to give United the lead. He was booked for going into the crowd in his celebrations.
Two minutes later and he had a second. This time it was Osborn down the left and he sent over an inviting cross that MOUSSET was able to bury from close range and United were now in complete control with two goals in three minutes for the big Frenchmen!
Leya Oseko and Cole came on for Adeboyejo and Frieser as the home fans continued to show their frustrations at their team after the quick fire double had seen them chasing the game.
Barnsley tried to respond from a free kick after Stevens and Davies had combined to bring their man down but as the delivery was wasted, the home fans started to vehemently question the future of the manager with a number of chants asking for his removal.
United then broke through Baldock but his ball lacked power and the chance seemed to be missed, although it came back to Mousset who should have been played in originally but this time he blazed over from the edge of the box.
Baldock then showed good skill to run down the outside of his man and as the cross came in, Mousset, Fleck and Osborn tried to fashion a chance but somehow the desperate Barnsley defence survived. McBurnie then sent over a cross that just evaded Mousset, who seemed to be feeling his hamstrings again and sure enough he had to depart on the hour mark replaced by Sharp. It was disappointing not to see him finish a contest again but at least this time he had made a significant contribution.
Woodrow’s free kick was not far over from 30 yards before Barnsley had a chance to come back as the ball was fed back from Cole but Moon’s effort hit the post and bounced out. At the other end McGoldrick who had come on from Ndiaye, headed across and somehow Fleck could not touch it over the line.
The game was incredibly open and the home team were also now creating chances as good as the Blades and missed a sitter as the ball came over and Cole somehow turned it wide with the goal at his mercy. It was more poor defending from the visitors who should have been in control but surely were when Baldock got down the right and pulled back a cross that OSBORN got on the end of. He took a touch and fired home with his unfamiliar right foot and it was 0-3 and surely game over?
Barnsley made another change when Hondermarck came on for Kitching and the home side had appeals for a penalty when Egan just got enough on the ball before the Blades broke with Osborn and McGoldrick but could not make the final pass work.
Barnsley had created chances and deserved the goal they finally got when after the ball came down the left, the ball was played in and COLE smashed the ball high into the net and they had a goal back.
The home side sensed some hope against a fragile United defence and Style had a chance but overhit his cross before on 83 minutes they had a second and a game that seemed over was back alive.
LEYA ISEKA got on the ball after the Blades had failed to clear through Egan and danced past Baldock and Fleck way too easily before smashing into the near post beyond the hapless Olsen.
Basham came on for McBurnie and the Blades now were hanging onto a game they had seemingly been coasting in. Barnsley were putting the ball forward and United could not hang onto it as the game entered six minutes of stoppage time. McGoldrick carelessly gave it away twice leading to the ball coming back and the home side forced a late corner with Collins up from the back but the ball squirmed wide from the knock down. Sharp had a late chance but Collings got to it first but there was not time for Barnsley to force a final attack and the Blades had done just about enough to hang on.
United – It’s a win but it was far from convincing. It should have been regulation but ended up nervy and ragged once again. The first half was a non event with both teams looking pretty abject in all aspects of play giving it away constantly and struggling to create anything. Mousset looked dangerous but we had no fluidity and actually looked better when we went long. We began with a more orthodox 4-4-2 and had a lot of the ball but did little with it really. We did not penetrate and had few passages of play in their last third. They looked even worse and until the final few minutes of the half barely had an attack. The half saw a few half chances but in reality, it was a slow and sloppy first half with no quality on show from either side. Both teams just kept giving it back to each other and it looked like neither side even wanted the ball.
Second half sees 5 goals and tons of chances both ways. Was it because both teams improved? Maybe but it also was because more gaps appeared and the game just became open. To be fair to United for the opening of the second half for 15 minutes we looked good with Mousset at the fore. We actually looked like scoring every time we attacked and Mousse scored two good goals, the first an individual effort and the second ably assisted by Osborn who improved immeasurably after a quiet first half. We had other chances and Mousset was really running them ragged. They looked all over the place and we really could have scored a few more. Still, they came forward too and it became a bit disorganised from us when we should have been in complete control. They hit the post and missed a sitter which were as good as any chances we had despite us opening them up more. I felt we needed to just get on the ball for a spell but it was a bit too open. Mousset going off did not help as he had been the main outlet and we did not have the pace and ball over the top as much. Still, we did have moments and then got the third and that should have been it.
Sadly, we fell asleep again and they waltzed through us to score two soft goals and all of a sudden, we are all over the place. We start kicking it away and no one gets on the ball. We at this point look a side that knows we may concede again and as stoppage time comes, you would not be shocked if they got another. It was really ragged and we looked so flaky at the back but also in midfield, giving the ball away and not having the confidence to try and keep it.
Barnsley were gone, well beaten and there was unrest in the crowd asking for the manager to go and we just had to see it out or go on and make it 4 or 5 but no we are not capable and too fragile to do that. We end up being the side that ends up second best for the final period and in the end are maybe a bit lucky that times runs out for them. It was a game that should have been comfortable and ended up being anything but. I am still not convinced what the plan is (we changed the formation today – just because one player was out is worrying if he is so convinced by it?) and actually went longer today – times it worked better with the goal we scored coming from balls over the top or down the sides. At the back we have no solidity and in midfield teams still walk through us. It was a game a good side, even after a poor half, gets in front and puts them away or sees it out. We ended up scraping a win against the worst side in the division. I am not exactly coming away from watching that and thinking we have turned a corner really despite the win. I see the same disorganised mess really that albeit scored some good goals and looked good for a 20-minute spell but also looked like conceding every time the opponents attacked in the final spell too. It is not a side that looks close to going on a run or who can beat some of the better sides and today we would have come unstuck versus most at this level. There is still a lot of work to do from the manager and the players and sense it will be a one step forward, two backwards type of season sadly. Hope I am wrong. Maybe I should be pleased with the attacking elements and of course Mousse did well (but is he now injured again?) but most of what I saw today still concerns me really.
I just feel we are a side that can score goals now and have bursts but it is that only, spurts of good play relying on individuals like MGW, Ndiaye or today Mousset. I am not sure we are seeing cohesion and lots of great team play (the goal v Stoke apart) and it is still very patchy in overall play. Defensively we still look horrific – we cannot stop basic goals and teams can put us under pressure so easily not helped by the timid and weak midfield in front.
I suppose I should be happy with a win but I still think it masks a lot of issues. People can argue and say at 3-0 it was easy and coasting but the fact we ended up hanging on tells the story really and the issues in the side and the set up. I am not sure the side knows how to go about and win games convincingly. Other than Stoke, who are now back to mid-table themselves, we have only beaten 4 of the bottom 5 in our other wins. It will be interesting to see what happens against two other mid table sides in Blackpool and Forest. My hunch does not convince me we will win both of these and we will see more stop start performances and results. I am not sure the manager is any closer to getting this side playing with confidence and swagger and having the belief they can control games and win games well. We need to have a level of control of games and at the moment that is not happening. Today was far harder than it should have been against a truly dire side but then that says where we are also sadly.
Referee/Officials – Gavin Ward. A nothing game really and the fact he only booked Mousset for going in the crowd to celebrate and Stevens for an innocuous foul for either side, summed it up. Not sure there was a bad tackle (barely a tackle really) all game. After a run of bad refs, he had a decent game. He was maybe better than most of the actual players!