Blades 0 Watford 1 - report

[Deadbat]

Sheffield United's early season struggles continued as they were beaten by high flying Watford in yet another miserable afternoon at Bramall Lane. The Hornets remain unbeaten away from home and took their chance well whilst limiting the home side to few opportunities of note all afternoon. The latest defeat, the Blades third home reverse of the season, already equals the number of home defeats the Blades had all last season. Even more worryingly, the result sees the home side plummeting dangerously close to the Championship drop zone with early season hopes of the playoffs now seemingly a distant memory.

The Blades were without several first choice players with Britton, Morgan, Bartley, Henderson and Williamson all injured alongside fringe players Kozluk and France. Jamie Ward was also suspended. De Laet came in for his home debut at centre back, Calve was restored to right back and Yeates and Bogdanovic got starts once again after impressing at Nottingham Forest in the week. The Blades seemed to be operating with Cresswell and Bogdanovic up front and a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation; which was certainly a contrast to the tactics employed in previous performances.

The game began with United trying to force the pace but Watford perhaps appeared as the more fluent and good interchange by Sordell and Cowie nearly saw the latter in on goal but De Laet blocked well. Yeates broke through after Cresswell fed him but his effort was touched over by Loach. Watford saw themselves clear not long after as Mutch got away from the Blades defence but the ball was cleared away. Not long after it was Graham causing problems but De Laet once again was well positioned to clear. United had not really been much of a threat but earned two consecutive corners and from the second Jordan's header was deflected over. However, Watford were able to take the lead from their first real effort on goal.

Yet again it came about from another defensive mistake. Just like Morgan at Middlesbrough, Jordan at Leeds and Simonsen at Forest; this time it was the turn of Nosworthy. The centre back completely lost his man Graham who darted inside the left channel of the Blades defence to receive Eustace's cross. From a position on the angle, Graham hit a low hard cross which was turned home expertly at the near post by SORDELL to give Simonsen no chance.

This dented United's confidence and the next stage of the game saw the Hornets control the football and the pace of the game. Their tactics and shape seemed to be causing United real problems and on a number of occasions they almost got in on goal again but the excellent De Laet was always invariably in the right place. Mutch was controlling the midfield play and United were badly missing Britton, who was on the bench, but not deemed fit enough to start. United did finally create a chance just before the break when Bogdanovic's deep cross found Cresswell whose header was on target but was pushed away by Loach.

The goalscorer Sordell was replaced by Deeney as the second half began with Speed opting against any changes. The Blades certainly began the half with more desire than they had shown in the first half with Montgomery throwing himself into challenge after challenge to try and inject some belief into his teammates. Whilst United were enjoying more territorial possession they were still struggling to create any clear chances. Yeates cross went right across the goal and then Bogdanovic had a speculative effort which went over the goal.

Finally the Blades did have a real chance on goal when Montgomery's work down the right led to an excellent cross which Bogdanovic should have converted but his header was weak and was easily saved by Loach. United were now putting on the pressure and two crosses into the box by Calve and then by Yeates were both deflected wide when each interception could have easily resulted in an own goal. Watford brought on another defender McGinn as they tried to hang onto their narrow lead whilst United countered sending on Evans for Ertl.

The visitors had a chance on the break but Graham headed narrowly wide from a deep cross. The Blades were continuing to be camped in the Watford half but were struggling to create clear opportunities and the crowd were becoming frustrated. United were throwing men forward and sent on young Slew for Quinn as they finished with four centre forwards on the pitch but goalkeeper Loach remained relatively untroubled. As the game entered the closing stages; United earned a free kick 25 yards from goal but Evans' effort was weak and straight into the wall. The referee adjudged that an additional four minutes would be played but United could not muster any kind of real effort on goal and the visitors saw time out easily to leave the Blades beaten at home once again.

 

[Deadbat]

United - It was pretty poor for the most part and I felt we could be still playing now and still not have scored. For long periods, it was a tepid performance with little real quality of note. We were really dire in the first half and Watford had more of the ball and of course took the one clear chance they had. We created nothing and never really looked like getting in beyond their defence.

We improved in the second half but it was just huff and puff with no real quality I felt. We never got the ball wide to get crosses in nor did we play any clever balls into the box; it was more like percentage stuff (dare I saw Blackwell style) into the box. Save for one Bogdanovic free header and a few deflections wide we did not have any clear chances. The football was limited and the passing and patience of the first few games unfortunately has disappeared for the last two home games where the style of play has been really poor. At times they tried to get on the ball but the lack of calmness and quality in most of our players meant they struggled to keep the ball and thus most of the time it went forward fairly quickly and was more of a direct approach. We perhaps deserved a point in terms of the amount of play in the Watford half but we did not make much of it count. If the opposition keeper barely has a save to make nor does the home side have many real efforts of note on goal you cannot complain if you lose a game.

Worryingly, we are creating little to nothing most games and look totally clueless for large spells of the game. When we concede a goal (or more) as we seem to every game from a defensive mistake (Nosworthy's turn this time) then teams shut up shop and keep us out rather comfortably. The confidence of the players looks extremely low and whilst I commend Speed for trying to change things and bring a more football orientated approach into the side, many of the players simply do not look good enough to be able to thrive in such a system. Quite simply the players are not good enough to play football or at least even try to play football. I do not want us to hoof it but I cannot see how we can move forward playing attractive football with this personnel.

I am fearful that if we continue in this vein with the type of performance and results it is going to be a long hard season and will probably result in a relegation battle. May seem excessive to say that at this time of the season but we are shipping goals by dire mistakes week in, week out and are not scoring goals whatsoever. Our goalscoring record is one of the worst in the whole football league and it seems we score one goal one game and then none the next. This has happened all season. If we carry on like that we will get relegated.

I feel sorry for Speed. He is a rookie manager and has been left a very weak and paper thin squad and is relying on loans to fill the gaps. Some of the more experienced players are letting him down with players like Quinn, Montgomery, Simonsen, Morgan, Nosworthy and Cresswell being poor for most of the season and added to this we seemingly have a defensive mistake every game. I look at the three compartments of the side and worry. The defence is full of loans, fill in's and is making mistakes every game and none will be here in 12 months. There is no chance to build or develop continuity or partnerships at all.

The midfield (save for Britton) is really limited and is full of players who are not comfortable on the ball and do not create or score goals. Montgomery and Quinn are getting worse not better but have been given long term deals.

Up front we are not scoring nor are we holding the ball up or even looking a threat. I look through the side and squad and how many of the players would I want to be part of United's long term future moving forward? I am struggling to name many at all. It is a mish mash of loans, over the hill players and solid pros that do their best but are not up to it. The players who we have sold and moved on have not been replaced and we now have a side that could easily get relegated as they are just not up to it. Fans may think I am over reacting but I have not seen any worst sides than us this season. Even when we have done ok, teams are capitalising on our one/two mistakes and scoring and then know we struggle to score. To not score than one goal in a game all season (none in half of them) is embarrassing but is not down to luck; it is because we are not good enough.

He is trying to bring in a new style and system but does not have the players to inject such a change. His best hope this season is to get the team we have playing to their strengths and then we can stay up (seriously we could get sucked into things on recent performances, results and goalscoring record) and hope McCabe and Birch can find him funds to totally transform the squad next summer. The team is full of slow plodders who will work all day but in reality are not good enough (Cresswell, Monty, Quinn etc). It is not as if we can say he needs to drop so and so and bring in him. Most of the fringe players are no better than the players starting. Everyone slates Evans but is Bogdanovic any better? Both are not good enough. Same for Quinn, Yeates who people (including myself) have been asking to start. Today they played and were awful. The current squad is not good enough. End of. However, it seems like from Speed's comments we are not going to bringing many in and we will have to work with what we have. If that is the case he may have to forego trying to make this collection of players turn into players they cannot be; namely skilled footballers who can pass the ball all day. Save for Calve, Britton and maybe Yeates the rest are not good enough to do that. We need to just get through this season and hopefully we can get some kind of cash injection or change at the top to being in funds and then make some changes and bring in some hungry, fast young players in the summer. I cannot see how this side and collection of players can improve or get much better. Most of the core of it is on the back end of their career and many of the others, Quinn, Evans are showing no signs of getting any better despite countless chances.

Birch openly said we would not rely on loans and would not have to fill gaps again and alas that is exactly what has happened again. There is no forward playing in the squad development whatsoever and as I said how many of these players could seriously be counted on to be part of a real promotion push (Morgan, Simonsen, Britton, erm thats it really). I see no sign of where the squad and the playing personnel are going. If we seriously think the core of Morgan, Montgomery, Quinn and Cresswell, which Birch lauded when we re-signed in the summer is going to get us anywhere near the top 6 then we are sadly mistaken. If we had 3 or 4 more players around them like Britton than maybe we could talk but those aforementioned 4 are more meant to be the ones propelling us forward. Unfortunately these players have proved this season that they are not good enough as nearly all of our opponents have quicker, more athletic and better footballers week in, week out.

Simonsen 7/10 – Had little to do really as Watford only had 2 or 3 real clear cut chances. Did ok with what he had to and had little chance with the goal which was well taken. Tried to get us going with throw outs and quick clearances but sometimes this led to us losing possession as the players were not good enough to keep the ball.

Calve 6/10 – He is ok going forward and decent on the ball but he is not great defensively and loses his man too often. He does not get tight enough to stop crosses and is weak in the challenge. When he went forward his final ball often was not quite good enough but at least he tried to get beyond the Watford defence. Now we have seen him for a run of games I sadly do not think he is better than what we have/had and would prefer we played Lowton who is going to be here beyond the season and built for the future.

Jordan 6/10 – He was ok today and defended alright on the whole but his crossing and passing was up and down all game. He is not brilliant, nor is he awful. Another one who is probably only here for the season (1 year deal) and is a very ordinary player who fits in well in a very ordinary side

De Laet 7.5/10 - One of the few bright spots. Thought he was our best player by a mile and of course he is not ours! He is relatively inexperienced and was thrust into a position that is not really his most natural as he is usually a full back and was our best defender and held the defence together. He made numerous blocks, interceptions and used the ball well. He probably seemed bewildered at how bad most of the rest of his teammates were.

Nosworthy 5.5/10 - He did ok for long spells, as he does for most games he plays showing good strength, speed and power. Invariably though a mistake, sliced clearance/pass or moment of indecision is round the corner and so it proved as he lost his man Graham and then even when he got back let him put a cross in unopposed for the goal. He made another mistake second half that nearly led to a second goal for Graham when he lost his man again. He does not convince me and once again he is not going to be part of United's long term plans so he is just another guy plugging the gaps again. He fits into the category of one of those players that 'will have to do as we have noone better'. That is sadly what it has come down to.

Montgomery 5.5/10 – His first half performance was awful and he lost the ball on countless occasions and tossed it away routinely. I will say the second half saw a big improvement in terms of his effort, drive and passion. He won 3 or 4 lost causes and made our best chance with the tackle and then cross to Bogdanovic. He kept running and fighting but sadly as always his touch and passing did not match his industry. He is a player that long term just does not fit into a footballing side unfortunately as he cannot even do the basics. Twice in the first half he got the ball down the right flank and just panicked waited for defenders to come back and then just played a negative ball backwards; rendering any advantage we had.

Ertl 5/10 – He is a solid enough player who is not particularly awful at anything but he is not particularly great at anything. He is very slow and immobile and does not get into the box as an attacking force nor has the skills to create much in terms of passing/through balls. He is workmanlike and wins his fair share of balls and usually keeps it but it is very simple short passes invariably and not very adventurous. He is another ordinary player who sums up much of our current ethos/player. That being an honest pro but that is too slow, unambitious and lacks genuine ability/guile to allow us to impose ourselves and try and beat teams; rather it is us about trying to stop teams.

Quinn 3.5/10 - Awful. Why we gave him a new contract is beyond me? He is simply not good enough. He runs about a lot and never hides. That I will grant him but he continues to give the ball away constantly, try stupid flicks and generally offer little to nothing in terms of ball retention. In reality he is a lower league player and probably cannot believe he is a regular-ish in a Championship side. He used to score goals a few seasons ago but never really looks like scoring these days. Taken over with 20 minutes to go. Should have gone a lot earlier.

Cresswell 3/10 – Another one who is just not performing at all or maybe he is just not good enough. Whichever it is, he needs to be taken out of the side as he is not a striker and is not a winger. He spends most of the game looking for free kicks or on the floor. The rest of the game he is pretty anonymous. The only reason I can see that he remains in the line up as for all his weaknesses he is one of the few who actually may get us a goal as he is not a bad finisher and also the fact we have noone else really!

Bogdanovic 5.5/10 – He did ok at times but at others frustrated. He had little service and also did not have a partner of not all game. However, for a big guy he is very weak and rarely wins a header. He gets knocked off the ball way too easily. At least he still held the ball up a few times which is more than Evans has done all season. He at least got in the right position for a few chances but he badly missed on a clear header and his confidence seemed to drop after that. Offered little more than Evans and it is a toss up which one you play. Neither looks like scoring, holding the ball up or doing much of anything you want out of a striker!

Yeates 6/10 - Not convincing but he still looked our most dangerous player. That says it all. He lost the ball once or twice but at least he did get a few crosses in and tried to at least get Watford on the back foot. He does look better when he comes on than when he starts but at the moment he has to play as he is one of the few who might actually make something happen.

Subs –

Evans - Came on and erm....did nothing whatsover. Actually he did give the ball away twice and then hit a pitiful free kick into the wall.

Slew - Thrown on with minutes to go and never really had chance to get into the game. Does look a big lad though for 18 and seems to have a bit of pace.


Watford - Thought they were very, very ordinary but credit to Malky McKay. They have a squad and side that are probably on far less wages than ours yet they look hungrier, calmer in possession and more intelligent footballers. They played decent in the first half, scored a well taken goal and then defended well marshalled by the excellent Taylor at the back. What is more worrying is they have a far less experienced side than us and much of their team are kids or unproven players. Yet they still looked more comfortable on the ball and more fluid when they attacked. As for defending they were well organised and made no real mistakes all game (something we do week in, week out) and I felt were pretty comfortable save for a 5 minute spell when Bogdanovic should have scored, we had a run of corners and a few deflected efforts went narrowly wide. However, for the keeper to just make two routine saves all game away from home is a job well done really. It was a solid, professional performance from a young, inexperienced side. Fair play to them. Maybe we deserved a draw but the reality is we perhaps deserved a draw last week too and the fact is we keep losing these type of games we keep giving stupid goals away and cannot score at the other end.


Officials – Clive Webster. The last two referees have pretty been hopeless in both the Portsmouth and Scunthorpe games. Webster was marginally better but he was pretty bad too. Another referee where you did not know what he was going to do next. I could kind of see where Speed is coming from as we do not seem to be getting many decisions at the moment. Most 50/50's seem to go against us. I felt Cresswell was looking for fouls too much but he maybe had a case on a few too when he appeared to be held. However, as poor as his performance was there was not one single bad decision that led to us not scoring or influenced them scoring. Blaming the referee would just be a little bit desperate today I feel.

Crowd – Better crowd today helped by the offer on kids tickets. The team were booed off at half time (the first time under Speed) and there were also noticeable boos at full time. The patience is the new manager (or at least more accurately the team) does not seem to be lasting but it is understandable really. I do not think the fans blame Speed and most have sympathy with him but the reality is we are losing games (and a lot at home) consistently, performing pretty abjectly and not scoring any goals whatsoever pretty much. That all leads to fan frustration and anger. The silence and lack of leadership from Mr McCabe is also deafening at the moment. He is either just disinterested by it all at the moment or just does not have the resources to change things. At the moment the fans can see no real direction in the club/team whatsoever. Most agreed with the managerial change but without massive help in changing the playing personnel and thus the general style/approach of the side then it is a change that is ultimately going to matter little in the short term.

 

[alcoblade]

Other than that, everything's rosey?



UTB

 

[Deadbat]

As I was writing the report, I was thinking god are we in this bad of state but sadly I do think we are.

We have changed the manager and things are no better. We are still losing games. Still playing rubbish and still there is no plan/ direction for the future.

I wish we could get rid of 9 or 10 players and start again but sadly we have no money. We are stuck with what we have. At least this season might be exciting in terms of us having somethign to play for

 

[super_pig]

>If we seriously think the core of Morgan, Montgomery, Quinn and Cresswell, which Birch lauded when we re-signed in the summer is going to get us anywhere near the top 6 then we are sadly mistaken
amen mate.. amen.. monty and quinn have been useless for years.. how 'do' they get in the team .. cresswell seemed a good player last year, perhaps he is injured.. or just got a nice contract who knows?.. this has been coming for a long time.. ever since the playoff final.. blackwells transfer 'buys' have been abject to say the least.. i heard a theory that i like that monty and quinn got contracts because at least they didn't need transfer fees.. hoofball just doesn't work.. we've been found out.. thing is that we don't have skillful enough players to make the transition.. it is going to be a rough ride and we could go down but then at least we'll then get rid of the dead wood.. i'm sure one of montys many admirers will come storming in with a bid.. NOT
great post deadbat.. {presses thanks button}

 

[Sirius]

Verry tempted afterr all these years to take a fuck off pill

 

[super_pig]

yeah should have taken the blue pill eh?
so that is why chicken all tastes the same

 

[Kev Gee]

This was in my opinion the worst performance under Speed. Yes we got wooped 0-4 by Scunthorpe but at least we tried then.
Today we were just awful all over the pitch. Simonsens kicking/throwing was dire. of our defense i thought Calve was our best player going forward but suspect defensivley. Maybe he should start in right midfield? Monty was just awful. Quinn.... Cant believe weve been saddled with him for another few years. Yeates. Ok in spells but one attack had me fuming when he chose to blaze it over the bar when there were players better placed. But TBH he probably thought whats the point in playing the ball to these teamates when theyre shite? Cresswell.... Too old and past it. and another player with a new contract.

I just cant see were we can go from here..... Weve been screaming to change the style of play, and Speed knows he cannot do it overnight with the players we have. But nothing seems to be working at the moment & im starting to worry about our relegation chances.

I need to say i dont believe its any of Speeds fault though, hes obviously trying his best. But at the moment & probably till the summer at least he will be working with both hands tied behind his back.

 

[alcoblade]

This was in my opinion the worst performance under Speed. Yes we got wooped 0-4 by Scunthorpe but at least we tried then.
Today we were just awful all over the pitch. Simonsens kicking/throwing was dire. of our defense i thought Calve was our best player going forward but suspect defensivley. Maybe he should start in right midfield? Monty was just awful. Quinn.... Cant believe weve been saddled with him for another few years. Yeates. Ok in spells but one attack had me fuming when he chose to blaze it over the bar when there were players better placed. But TBH he probably thought whats the point in playing the ball to these teamates when theyre shite? Cresswell.... Too old and past it. and another player with a new contract.

I just cant see were we can go from here..... Weve been screaming to change the style of play, and Speed knows he cannot do it overnight with the players we have. But nothing seems to be working at the moment & im starting to worry about our relegation chances.

I need to say i dont believe its any of Speeds fault though, hes obviously trying his best. But at the moment & probably till the summer at least he will be working with both hands tied behind his back.

To be fair they had the good sense to give Cresswell only a 3 year contract. Oh, wait......

UTB

 

[Bladesway]

I wonder when Super Kev will get his hands in his pockets and do something about it. Before we become a league one club. But with all that money we spent on signing on fees and new contracts in the pre-season its a wonder he has any left.

Its a load of cock at the moment and there is only one man to blame for the entire farce. McCabe. Won't spend can't spend. He has almost single handedly brought this club to its knees by taking his eye off the ball. Anyone doubting should take a look back at interviews and comments in Flashing Blade over 10 years ago when he was talking about revenue streams and just about anything other than SUFC first team.

Another lie brokered via his henchman (Birch) is that we wouldn't be dipping into the loan market like we did last season. Sorry but we seem to be quickly getting there.

Can't wait for his next Radio Sheffield interview, live from his front room. Mans a disgrace and has run this club into a wall.

 

[grafikhaus]

Yup, agree with most of what's been said. However, in this division, I don't think we're a million miles from being OK. I don't think it's all doom and gloom at all.

My thoughts from yesterday were that Noz and Ertl did OK. Sure Noz is a slip away from a disaster but looked solid all match. Technically he was 'at fault' for their goal, but it was a bloody well-taken goal.

Boggy? We've got another Ched here. A 'nearly' player who goes through the motions but achieves little.

But I must reserve my main criticism for the manager. When we had Watford on the back foot in the second half, I thought it was crying out to bring Britton on and try to add that final touch/calmness to our attacks. And, with a few minutes + extra left, chasing the game, at home to Watford etc. bringing Slew on was disgraceful. It can only have been to 'give the lad experience'. Gary Sinclair said as much when introducing him as 'a player from the academy'. Was a raw 18 year old expected to turn things around? I bet Watford were laughing.

 

[Kenilworth]

Britton was injured

 

[grafikhaus]

On the bench and warming up a couple of times as well as during half time.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Gary Speed again said that we did create chances and that we deserved more from the game. When he says "... even on days like today when we did create chances it didn't drop for us", is there a genuine disagreement between him and fans who say we created very little?

Aside from the game I fully share Deadbat's general views on our squad. We could field a decent team when everybody is fit, but as soon as a couple of injuries hit us our squad is hopelessly unbalanced.

 

[Worksop II]

First home game of the Season for us, sat there and watched, performed as expected, went home.

See you all again at Christmas.

MOM = Deuchars in the Red Lion

 

[raul]

Deuchars??? Bet you're a big Smoothflow man too.......

 

[breeny]

yeah should have taken the blue pill eh?
so that is why chicken all tastes the same

Great film!!

Hope they are in for training early tomorrow morning ...

 

[super_pig]

>Great film!!
like WOW.. i can do football

 

[Micalijo]

Gary Speed again said that we did create chances and that we deserved more from the game. When he says "... even on days like today when we did create chances it didn't drop for us", is there a genuine disagreement between him and fans who say we created very little?

Aside from the game I fully share Deadbat's general views on our squad. We could field a decent team when everybody is fit, but as soon as a couple of injuries hit us our squad is hopelessly unbalanced.

Yeates had a good shot well saved in first half, can't recall the build up. Cresswell had a good header well saved in first, good work and cross by Boggy. Boggy missed a sitter in second half, good cross from Monty. We also had a couple of really dangerous crosses in second half which I thought were well defended. These weren't phantom chances like Blackwell made up, these were moments when I genuionely thought we'd score.

Obviously, I am very quick to say we are shite and for large periods we were shite and clueless but overall I am convinced we deserved a point yesterday. No way is that a good thing, a point against watford but I have seen plenty worse under Blackwell and for dull, boring football Pompey was miles ahead of yesterday (but I believe that was because Pompey have a different class of player to Watford).