Deadbat
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Podcast links and then report below….
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The week ended with another defeat for United meaning they have picked up a solitary point from three games against mid table sides. The home side Blackburn had been put to the sword with a 7-goal thrashing in the week at home but it was a different story against Jokanovic’s struggling Blades. United had the perfect start when Rhian Brewster finally scored a league goal after 14 months but the away side could not build on this and Blackburn took control of the game. They equalised just before half time through Khadra after a deflection. After the break Sharp missed a good chance to regain the lead but then it was all Rovers with goals from Brereton Diaz and Poveda completing the turnaround. Mousset and Gibbs White missed chances after this but Blackburn had further chances to score more goals and thoroughly deserved the victory.
For the Blades they have now lost 5 in 8 and are heading in the wrong direction as Jokanovic’s self-titled revolution seems to be no nearer to getting close to the changes needed in performances and results. Blackburn should have been ripe for the Blades to get back to winning ways after being annihilated in the week but once again United showed what a soft touch they were and in the end were easily beaten yet again. Individually and collectively from the manager to the players to the board room, the club is failing and face a tough winter to try and somehow arrest the dramatic slide of the last 2 years.
Jovanovic tinkered again perhaps feeling Mousset could not play 3 games in a week (or 3 60 minute games so not even 2 full games in reality!) and so the veteran Sharp came back in. McBurnie was back on the bench for McGoldrick who was out of the match day squad. Blackburn had senior players Rothwell and Johnson on the bench and also had injuries and suspensions that limited the selections.
The game began in driving rain but United backed by a near 5k following made a fantastic start. They took the kick of and almost got in via Bogle down the right and soon after they were in the lead. Norwood played the ball down the right and Sharp did well to hold off Wharton – he managed to stay on his feet and chipped over a lovely ball. BREWSTER met it on the volley from around the D and caught it beautifully smashing it high into the net. It was a strike out of keeping from a player who has looked totally bereft of confidence since signing. The Blades fans seemed as shocked as pleased at the source of the goal.
United definitely settled better and were knocking it around confidently with Gibbs White always looking to get on the ball but gradually Rovers started to come into the game. Bogle was booked for bringing down Khadra. United started to become sloppy on and off the ball and they were lucky not to concede a penalty when Brereton Diaz skipped through and Egan’s clumsy challenge was not penalised. Soon after this Brereton Diaz had the ball in the net but was adjudged just offside.
Blackburn were now asking questions and ball over saw Olsen rooted to his line and Lenighan somehow missed when he should have scored. Fleck was the next to be booked for a cynical foul as Rovers broke as United’s transition play out of possession continued to be a major weakness as teams continue to run through too easily through a soft centre. United tried to find a way back into it but Gibbs White overplayed twice and then Brewster could not find a finish from a half chance.
United were now defending deeper and deeper and Basham twice had to make last ditch tackles but the same man was culpable on 37 minutes as KHADRA outfoxed him twice, came inside and hit a shot that hit a far too deep Egan and wrong-footed Olsen nestling into the net. The goal had been coming and the home side were deservedly back on level terms.
Bogle had an effort deflected over and Brewster dragged a poor finish wide as United tried to respond before the break but Rovers had another break that was held up by Basham just before the half time whistle.
The second half saw the home side start quicker and were getting joy down both flanks with tricky wing play and also Brereton Diaz a constant threat down the middle too. United were struggling to get any kind of play going but on 57 minutes had a great chance. Fleck, who had been poor, managed to play a lovely through ball to Sharp who was in goal on the angle but his toed effort was weak and saved easily by Kaminski. This miss was to prove costly as Rovers took the lead soon after.
The build up was neat and Travis then ran at Stevens and Egan taking them both out of the game, the ball across saw no United player react and as Norwood and Basham stood like statues, BRERETON-DIAZ got in front of them and finished with a neat side foot finish. A well worked and finished goal but more appalling defending from the Blades who simply are unable to stop conceding goals.
Jokanovic brought on Ndiaye and Mousset for Brewster and Fleck on the hour in an attempt to get back in the game but Blackburn now were creating chances as United’s lack of fitness and weak mentality continues to be exposed. Gibbs White tried to make something happen and had a cross cleared by Davenport but it was still the home side who looked more likely and the third goal duly arrived.
POVEDA was played in down the left and with Bogle nowhere to be seen, he got across and hit a low shot that should have been meat and drink to Olsen, an international goalkeeper with a supposedly good reputation but he spilled the ball (his drink) and it rebounded to Poveda who calmly walked round the keeper and scored into an empty net. Another howler from the Swedish keeper whose signing had not been a success at all.
United had a chance to get one back when Ndiaye played a nice ball into the path of Mousset but he like Sharp hit it too close to the keeper and he and Sharp made a mess of the rebound when right in front of goal. It eventually fell to Gibbs White but he smashed it off the top of the bar and behind. This was the final chance for United and after this Rovers had further chances to score goals. Olsen made a save for the first time in the game, from a Brereton Diaz low shot. Baldock came on for Bogle and then Norwood was booked (which will mean a suspension) before Travis hit the post and sub-Dolan also had a chance but ran out of space.
Many Blades fans had already started to trudge out of a rain sodden Ewood Park long before the additional minutes were played and the 5 minutes passed without incident (so I heard – I had left!) and United meekly played out time and slipped to another desperate defeat.
United – What a mess we are. On and off the field we seem directionless. We never hear form the Chairman (who is it?), the owner or the CEO. What is plan? Where are we going? We were supposed to be getting a director of football supposedly but that has not happened. The training ground was supposed to be developed or a new site found but that has not happened and no news on it at all. We have appointed a manager and not really backed him to get the right players in and worryingly I am not even sure he was that involved in the signings we made. I know he will sign off on them but feel at his other clubs, the players that were brought in were done so by others and as they were good players, he could get a tune out of then. These lads are like an old 80’s band. Now and again, they may bring out a classic still or play a good gig but watching a mostly old, slow and irrelevant side. We have become like Duran Duran.
I really do not enjoy watching us play. Heard someone say defend SJ and the style saying it is good and we have been creating chances and it is entertaining. Other than glimpses against poor sides like Peterborough and Barnsley for spells (and maybe Blackpool) not sure I have been that entertained. It’s dull. It is slow and predictable. We have lots of ball – do nothing with it and then teams attack us and go through and create chances much easier than we do. It is not good to watch and we are losing lots of games. We have no identifiable shape or pattern and this lack of structure is shown up most off the ball when we have such a soft underbelly. For all the talk of tactics and shape and him not having the players to play this way though – these players have to do the basics much better. Passing, control, finishing and then the biggest issues pressing, tackling, defending and stopping players coming through us to score goals.
Indeed, his quote after the game seems to be the most damning about the current prospects for this side. ‘We are not the most solid and strongest team but must play with the characterisitcs of my players. Some positions we don’t have solutions.’ Pretty damning stuff and whilst it is clear these players seem to be clearly not good enough and there has to be questions asked of style of play and their adaptability – it is clear there are questions now to be seriously asked about the management. The players seem unfit, demotivated and fold easily when they go under pressure. It sadly might get worse before it gets better. I am very concerned we may get dragged into a relegation fight but only the bad sides in the bottom 3 might keep us out of it, rather than us being able to put results together. My biggest concern is we won’t be able to change it that dramatically in January or next summer due to financial constraints – being limited with loans (2 left) and saddled with so many on big contracts we cannot offload. The fact the likes of Fleck, Norwood, Egan, Baldock, McBurnie, Burke and Brewster have at least another season, many 2 or 3 left is quite frightening.
We discuss it on the pod (above) but not sure you can sack him. We may get a manager in who might see a short uplift in the side but then what? They can’t afford to sack him either. The only way he will go is if it looks like we may have a chance of going down and/or lose like another 5 or 6 on the bounce. Whilst ever we keeping picking up the odd result, we will stave off any relegation threat and should with the experience/talent (there is some!) in the squad but I would not be shocked if we are embroiled in a bit of a scrap now. The worry is if that happens the players seem to not have the fight or desire anymore. Many do not look arsed to be. Maybe they are just old/unit/tired but most of these lads are 28-32. They are supposedly in their peak? Many just seem finished at this club and their reputations as being part of the one best United sides I’ve ever seen have been damaged to the extent they are just players who played for my team. Outside maybe Sharp, Basham and perhaps Didz, the rest will be remembered for that fantastic run but also equally remembered for effectively mailing it in for 2 years that saw the club plummet nearly back to where they started this journey. Really sad as I did love these players and group but in the same way Wilder seemed to give up, so have many of these. They look like what they were most of their careers before that magical spell – mid to lower Champ players and League One. I am not sure any manager can come in and turn them round now. They seem completely broke. We have to add by subtracting somehow but moving most of these side on will be tough. The three lads I mentioned above who do try and wear the shirt with pride ironically probably won’t be after July 1st as their contracts are up and with the financial state, they all could get deals elsewhere that will be better than what we offer. You can argue their ages that is right but what is worrying is the younger players left are even worse and look less bothered.
Not sure what we do as feel we will limp on this season. The signings in August have not improved us at all (other than Gibbs White) and the recruitment for 3 seasons has been awful. Maybe Mitchell will go to Boro now. He should have been moved on a long time ago and others who are responsible for lumbering us with this dross. It is clearly more than systems or managers as they have been rubbish in a variety of systems for a long time. All those calling for us to go back to a 5-3-2 and the shape we had before have short memories. We were garbage with that. Maybe the argument is we are at a lower level so may be more successful. He is not going to go back to it now though as he clearly has said. Ultimately regardless of shapes, systems and patterns, unless these players do the basics properly and can tackle/defend/head it etc – we will keep losing football games. They have to show they care more and have more desire not just meekly cave in when they concede. The body language yesterday was appalling. Without the ball we must be one of the worst sides in the whole football league. Not even joking. League 2 clubs will have players who run more, chase back more, close down, tackle and clear the ball better. We literally play like a non contact sport and when we do foul it is only as they cannot be bothered to run back as they are lazy.
Today we played well for 5 minutes – then they took over. I am sick of all this talk over moments and if this has happened. It is ‘if we took this chance’ or ‘defended that moment.’ Well guess what? We are not doing that and haven’t for years. It is a pattern, 61% possession and XG is totally irrelevant. Trending in the right direction I hear? Well, the only direction I see is down unless we can do these basic things better. Blackburn had been battered and should have been there for the taking especially after a good start but slowly we let them back in it and the goal had been coming. Yes, Sharp misses a chance but they take their own soon after. So, I am not interested in this ‘if he did this’ or ‘did that.’ We are not doing it and this is football. 2nd half they ran through us time after time. We had a late chance but we were 3-1 down and I felt never properly looked like coming back. These sides beating us are garbage for me. That may seem insulting but it’s not like we have come down and felt we are getting beat by great teams. Take out maybe the top 3 and the rest of the division is howling. Horrific. Yet we are losing to these teams full of journeyman nobodies. You know what? We have a team full of them too but so maybe I have answered why we are doing so badly but I do believe hunger and desire and wanting to score/not concede goals comes down to how much you want it. These players just are not bothered. As Warnock said years ago, ‘they are just picking up a wage.’ Our best 3 players are MGW (is not ours) and Ndiaye and Mousset (that is a stretch but a player who can make things happen) cannot play more than an hour. We are relying on old timers like Bash and Billy to drag us through games trying to make something happen.
I am glad for a break. This team angers me but bores me. The manager has to think seriously about what he is going to do. I am all for sticking with him and letting him try and change things around but it will take 2-3 seasons at least. It will be a bumpy ride and not sure if he will stay for the journey or to carry out his revolution. Sadly, the way football goes as much as I have said I’d like him to stay (not sure what a change achieves) results talk. A continual struggle and the Lane becomes toxic – the away end was yesterday (maybe that was the bad farts!). Next home game if we go behind it will become nasty and if that happens normally the manager goes. I am really concerned for us in both the short and long term. Things have gone wrong as quickly as they had gone right and after 4 amazing years, we may be in for 4 absolute horror years (2 years in). I would not be shocked to see the club back in League One in that time frame and in a real financial mess unless some quick decisions are made to change things on and off the field.
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The week ended with another defeat for United meaning they have picked up a solitary point from three games against mid table sides. The home side Blackburn had been put to the sword with a 7-goal thrashing in the week at home but it was a different story against Jokanovic’s struggling Blades. United had the perfect start when Rhian Brewster finally scored a league goal after 14 months but the away side could not build on this and Blackburn took control of the game. They equalised just before half time through Khadra after a deflection. After the break Sharp missed a good chance to regain the lead but then it was all Rovers with goals from Brereton Diaz and Poveda completing the turnaround. Mousset and Gibbs White missed chances after this but Blackburn had further chances to score more goals and thoroughly deserved the victory.
For the Blades they have now lost 5 in 8 and are heading in the wrong direction as Jokanovic’s self-titled revolution seems to be no nearer to getting close to the changes needed in performances and results. Blackburn should have been ripe for the Blades to get back to winning ways after being annihilated in the week but once again United showed what a soft touch they were and in the end were easily beaten yet again. Individually and collectively from the manager to the players to the board room, the club is failing and face a tough winter to try and somehow arrest the dramatic slide of the last 2 years.
Jovanovic tinkered again perhaps feeling Mousset could not play 3 games in a week (or 3 60 minute games so not even 2 full games in reality!) and so the veteran Sharp came back in. McBurnie was back on the bench for McGoldrick who was out of the match day squad. Blackburn had senior players Rothwell and Johnson on the bench and also had injuries and suspensions that limited the selections.
The game began in driving rain but United backed by a near 5k following made a fantastic start. They took the kick of and almost got in via Bogle down the right and soon after they were in the lead. Norwood played the ball down the right and Sharp did well to hold off Wharton – he managed to stay on his feet and chipped over a lovely ball. BREWSTER met it on the volley from around the D and caught it beautifully smashing it high into the net. It was a strike out of keeping from a player who has looked totally bereft of confidence since signing. The Blades fans seemed as shocked as pleased at the source of the goal.
United definitely settled better and were knocking it around confidently with Gibbs White always looking to get on the ball but gradually Rovers started to come into the game. Bogle was booked for bringing down Khadra. United started to become sloppy on and off the ball and they were lucky not to concede a penalty when Brereton Diaz skipped through and Egan’s clumsy challenge was not penalised. Soon after this Brereton Diaz had the ball in the net but was adjudged just offside.
Blackburn were now asking questions and ball over saw Olsen rooted to his line and Lenighan somehow missed when he should have scored. Fleck was the next to be booked for a cynical foul as Rovers broke as United’s transition play out of possession continued to be a major weakness as teams continue to run through too easily through a soft centre. United tried to find a way back into it but Gibbs White overplayed twice and then Brewster could not find a finish from a half chance.
United were now defending deeper and deeper and Basham twice had to make last ditch tackles but the same man was culpable on 37 minutes as KHADRA outfoxed him twice, came inside and hit a shot that hit a far too deep Egan and wrong-footed Olsen nestling into the net. The goal had been coming and the home side were deservedly back on level terms.
Bogle had an effort deflected over and Brewster dragged a poor finish wide as United tried to respond before the break but Rovers had another break that was held up by Basham just before the half time whistle.
The second half saw the home side start quicker and were getting joy down both flanks with tricky wing play and also Brereton Diaz a constant threat down the middle too. United were struggling to get any kind of play going but on 57 minutes had a great chance. Fleck, who had been poor, managed to play a lovely through ball to Sharp who was in goal on the angle but his toed effort was weak and saved easily by Kaminski. This miss was to prove costly as Rovers took the lead soon after.
The build up was neat and Travis then ran at Stevens and Egan taking them both out of the game, the ball across saw no United player react and as Norwood and Basham stood like statues, BRERETON-DIAZ got in front of them and finished with a neat side foot finish. A well worked and finished goal but more appalling defending from the Blades who simply are unable to stop conceding goals.
Jokanovic brought on Ndiaye and Mousset for Brewster and Fleck on the hour in an attempt to get back in the game but Blackburn now were creating chances as United’s lack of fitness and weak mentality continues to be exposed. Gibbs White tried to make something happen and had a cross cleared by Davenport but it was still the home side who looked more likely and the third goal duly arrived.
POVEDA was played in down the left and with Bogle nowhere to be seen, he got across and hit a low shot that should have been meat and drink to Olsen, an international goalkeeper with a supposedly good reputation but he spilled the ball (his drink) and it rebounded to Poveda who calmly walked round the keeper and scored into an empty net. Another howler from the Swedish keeper whose signing had not been a success at all.
United had a chance to get one back when Ndiaye played a nice ball into the path of Mousset but he like Sharp hit it too close to the keeper and he and Sharp made a mess of the rebound when right in front of goal. It eventually fell to Gibbs White but he smashed it off the top of the bar and behind. This was the final chance for United and after this Rovers had further chances to score goals. Olsen made a save for the first time in the game, from a Brereton Diaz low shot. Baldock came on for Bogle and then Norwood was booked (which will mean a suspension) before Travis hit the post and sub-Dolan also had a chance but ran out of space.
Many Blades fans had already started to trudge out of a rain sodden Ewood Park long before the additional minutes were played and the 5 minutes passed without incident (so I heard – I had left!) and United meekly played out time and slipped to another desperate defeat.
United – What a mess we are. On and off the field we seem directionless. We never hear form the Chairman (who is it?), the owner or the CEO. What is plan? Where are we going? We were supposed to be getting a director of football supposedly but that has not happened. The training ground was supposed to be developed or a new site found but that has not happened and no news on it at all. We have appointed a manager and not really backed him to get the right players in and worryingly I am not even sure he was that involved in the signings we made. I know he will sign off on them but feel at his other clubs, the players that were brought in were done so by others and as they were good players, he could get a tune out of then. These lads are like an old 80’s band. Now and again, they may bring out a classic still or play a good gig but watching a mostly old, slow and irrelevant side. We have become like Duran Duran.
I really do not enjoy watching us play. Heard someone say defend SJ and the style saying it is good and we have been creating chances and it is entertaining. Other than glimpses against poor sides like Peterborough and Barnsley for spells (and maybe Blackpool) not sure I have been that entertained. It’s dull. It is slow and predictable. We have lots of ball – do nothing with it and then teams attack us and go through and create chances much easier than we do. It is not good to watch and we are losing lots of games. We have no identifiable shape or pattern and this lack of structure is shown up most off the ball when we have such a soft underbelly. For all the talk of tactics and shape and him not having the players to play this way though – these players have to do the basics much better. Passing, control, finishing and then the biggest issues pressing, tackling, defending and stopping players coming through us to score goals.
Indeed, his quote after the game seems to be the most damning about the current prospects for this side. ‘We are not the most solid and strongest team but must play with the characterisitcs of my players. Some positions we don’t have solutions.’ Pretty damning stuff and whilst it is clear these players seem to be clearly not good enough and there has to be questions asked of style of play and their adaptability – it is clear there are questions now to be seriously asked about the management. The players seem unfit, demotivated and fold easily when they go under pressure. It sadly might get worse before it gets better. I am very concerned we may get dragged into a relegation fight but only the bad sides in the bottom 3 might keep us out of it, rather than us being able to put results together. My biggest concern is we won’t be able to change it that dramatically in January or next summer due to financial constraints – being limited with loans (2 left) and saddled with so many on big contracts we cannot offload. The fact the likes of Fleck, Norwood, Egan, Baldock, McBurnie, Burke and Brewster have at least another season, many 2 or 3 left is quite frightening.
We discuss it on the pod (above) but not sure you can sack him. We may get a manager in who might see a short uplift in the side but then what? They can’t afford to sack him either. The only way he will go is if it looks like we may have a chance of going down and/or lose like another 5 or 6 on the bounce. Whilst ever we keeping picking up the odd result, we will stave off any relegation threat and should with the experience/talent (there is some!) in the squad but I would not be shocked if we are embroiled in a bit of a scrap now. The worry is if that happens the players seem to not have the fight or desire anymore. Many do not look arsed to be. Maybe they are just old/unit/tired but most of these lads are 28-32. They are supposedly in their peak? Many just seem finished at this club and their reputations as being part of the one best United sides I’ve ever seen have been damaged to the extent they are just players who played for my team. Outside maybe Sharp, Basham and perhaps Didz, the rest will be remembered for that fantastic run but also equally remembered for effectively mailing it in for 2 years that saw the club plummet nearly back to where they started this journey. Really sad as I did love these players and group but in the same way Wilder seemed to give up, so have many of these. They look like what they were most of their careers before that magical spell – mid to lower Champ players and League One. I am not sure any manager can come in and turn them round now. They seem completely broke. We have to add by subtracting somehow but moving most of these side on will be tough. The three lads I mentioned above who do try and wear the shirt with pride ironically probably won’t be after July 1st as their contracts are up and with the financial state, they all could get deals elsewhere that will be better than what we offer. You can argue their ages that is right but what is worrying is the younger players left are even worse and look less bothered.
Not sure what we do as feel we will limp on this season. The signings in August have not improved us at all (other than Gibbs White) and the recruitment for 3 seasons has been awful. Maybe Mitchell will go to Boro now. He should have been moved on a long time ago and others who are responsible for lumbering us with this dross. It is clearly more than systems or managers as they have been rubbish in a variety of systems for a long time. All those calling for us to go back to a 5-3-2 and the shape we had before have short memories. We were garbage with that. Maybe the argument is we are at a lower level so may be more successful. He is not going to go back to it now though as he clearly has said. Ultimately regardless of shapes, systems and patterns, unless these players do the basics properly and can tackle/defend/head it etc – we will keep losing football games. They have to show they care more and have more desire not just meekly cave in when they concede. The body language yesterday was appalling. Without the ball we must be one of the worst sides in the whole football league. Not even joking. League 2 clubs will have players who run more, chase back more, close down, tackle and clear the ball better. We literally play like a non contact sport and when we do foul it is only as they cannot be bothered to run back as they are lazy.
Today we played well for 5 minutes – then they took over. I am sick of all this talk over moments and if this has happened. It is ‘if we took this chance’ or ‘defended that moment.’ Well guess what? We are not doing that and haven’t for years. It is a pattern, 61% possession and XG is totally irrelevant. Trending in the right direction I hear? Well, the only direction I see is down unless we can do these basic things better. Blackburn had been battered and should have been there for the taking especially after a good start but slowly we let them back in it and the goal had been coming. Yes, Sharp misses a chance but they take their own soon after. So, I am not interested in this ‘if he did this’ or ‘did that.’ We are not doing it and this is football. 2nd half they ran through us time after time. We had a late chance but we were 3-1 down and I felt never properly looked like coming back. These sides beating us are garbage for me. That may seem insulting but it’s not like we have come down and felt we are getting beat by great teams. Take out maybe the top 3 and the rest of the division is howling. Horrific. Yet we are losing to these teams full of journeyman nobodies. You know what? We have a team full of them too but so maybe I have answered why we are doing so badly but I do believe hunger and desire and wanting to score/not concede goals comes down to how much you want it. These players just are not bothered. As Warnock said years ago, ‘they are just picking up a wage.’ Our best 3 players are MGW (is not ours) and Ndiaye and Mousset (that is a stretch but a player who can make things happen) cannot play more than an hour. We are relying on old timers like Bash and Billy to drag us through games trying to make something happen.
I am glad for a break. This team angers me but bores me. The manager has to think seriously about what he is going to do. I am all for sticking with him and letting him try and change things around but it will take 2-3 seasons at least. It will be a bumpy ride and not sure if he will stay for the journey or to carry out his revolution. Sadly, the way football goes as much as I have said I’d like him to stay (not sure what a change achieves) results talk. A continual struggle and the Lane becomes toxic – the away end was yesterday (maybe that was the bad farts!). Next home game if we go behind it will become nasty and if that happens normally the manager goes. I am really concerned for us in both the short and long term. Things have gone wrong as quickly as they had gone right and after 4 amazing years, we may be in for 4 absolute horror years (2 years in). I would not be shocked to see the club back in League One in that time frame and in a real financial mess unless some quick decisions are made to change things on and off the field.
). There will be big losses last year and this year even with the parachute payments.
