Bolton 1 United 0 - report

[Deadbat]

A new season. A new manager. Another defeat. For the third time in a row at this level United lost on opening day. The fresh optimism of a new manager and new approach seemed to galvanise the Blades who began the game well but after failing to score, Bolton came out and improved. They scored a wonder goal and then saw off the United threat all too easily. An expectant large following from Sheffield will have gone home fearing that there is a lot of work for new manager Wilder to do, if he wants to shape this side into a promotion contender. Still it is one game and United know they can play better both individually and collectively and there were some positives in the form of debutants Wilson, O’Connell and Fleck who performed well.


The game began in bright sunshine with United back in red and white stripes but in white shorts with black socks in a sparsely populated ground on three sides with 4,300+ Blades packing the away end. Sharp and Clarke began up top with Done playing wide left. There were debuts for 6 new Blades starting and another Wright on the bench. Bolton began with former Blade Mark Howard in goal.


United began on top and won the early tackles despite Bolton playing a 5 in midfield with ex Owl Madine up front on his own. One cross from Duffy just evaded Sharp and then a Hussey delivery ought to have been scored by Clarke but he headed wide. It was a good chance and would eventually prove to be as good an opportunity as United would engineer all day. Hussey put a cross over that missed Sharp and Clarke and then Brayford fed Duffy but it was blocked for a corner. United were in control and Bolton were having to throw men in the way as the away side continued to probe. Duffy then had a cross shot wide.


Bolton had not been in the game but started to come out and won a number of throws with Wilson’s delivery from this causing a few problems as Long hesitancy was a concern. Madine won one header but Vela’s shot was blocked but the game was much more even now with Pratley’s strength and running in midfield causing problems.


The game was heading for a half time stalemate when after United had conceded territory deep inn their own half, the ball was half cleared and from fully 25 yards SPEARING hit a rising volley that went beyond Long and into the corner. It was a great shot and little the keeper could do. Buoyed by this Bolton came again but Madine headed wide after good work from Spearing again.


Half time came and went but United were struggling now to create and the Bolton backline were repelling any threats too easily and the game became very stop start. Poor crossing and passing was a feature of the Blades play sadly despite having a lot of the ball.


They created a half chance when Clarke flicked on and Done headed goalwards but Howard saved by flicking over. It was first effort on goal from the Blades all game and would prove to be the only effort at Howard in a game of few chances. Sharp put the ball in the net but was deemed offside long before he had dispatched the ball. Bolton had the best chance of the half when Moxey’s long throw, a continuing feature of their play, saw Pratley head goalwards after losing Basham but Long made a great save.


Adams and Scougall came on for Duffy and Done who had not really offered much and the incoming players both went wide. United were struggling to create any clear chances though and it had become very scrappy. Hussey wasted three chances to cross and could not even keep two of them on the field.


Bolton had already made three changes and Pratley seemed to hurt himself in an innocuous challenge with Clarke and had to be stretchered off with 10 minutes to play. Now facing 10 men, United had a chance now but the game seemed to peter out and United could barely create anything. They won one corner and Sharp shot over but time after time they made poor decisions or could not execute the right ball. The extra 6 minutes+ of stoppage time passed without any real chances for the Blades and signalled that United started the new campaign as they had started and finished the last one; with a defeat.



United – It was odd as I came away I just thought it was a nothing sort of game that was fairly even but that they just scored a great goal and we did not. That is the simplistic way of looking at it.


We had a really good start to the game and could have scored. We pressed and harried and got in some good positions but the final ball or touch eluded us and then the game became more even. I still felt we had control of the match though and seemed the better side but gradually they had a spell of play and started to force us back. They scored a great goal and after this the second half sort of just petered out. We barely had a chance of note and they won really easily. You could say they did little but did not need to.


They scored and then saw us off quite comfortably and we barely put a glove on them. Howard was untested and our vaunted front two barely had a kick. We did not threaten from wide and were slow and ponderous in the central area with no one getting ahead of the strikers all game. We could be still playing now and not scored the two lads at the back had an easy game really for Bolton after that opening spell.


I have to be honest and say I expected more the overall performance and result was sadly too similar to last season. The first 10-15 minutes saw us pressing and playing the way Wilder wants but after this we sort of lost heart and sat off, did not compete and it became like a practice side (for both teams – don’t get me wrong; everything I level at us, I could say the same about Bolton but they had the lead). However I thought we would be more determined to get back in the game but seemed to have no idea how to create anything.


In short we are still a soft touch too. We need more nasty b******s who can get stuck in and turn the ball over so we move the other way. We sat off too much second half and even though they did nothing with the ball they were given too much time. When we did win it we were so wasteful I the last third. So many players got it, looked up and seemed bewildered what to do. It ended up being a lot of diagonal crosses over hit. We could not play through them and then when we went wide we were so slow moving it across they got men across to cover. The few times we found space our final ball was abysmal. We look like a side that will win a few, but will lose quite a few and I do not see characters in this side that will see us nick the 1-0 type games like today. We do not look anywhere near a promotion side. However, it is one game and that is what you have to stress. It will take time and we need to get fitter, sharper and more decisive in everything we do. The passing and tempo after that opening was way too slow. We lack pace but compound it by doing everything at a snail’s pace on the ball.


I thought Bolton were a side who have come down and not sure what to expect at this level with a few players having left and were ripe for us to have a right do. We did it to start the game but then played 70 minutes at a whimper. However, we do have 6 new players and in that sense it will take a bit of time. I just worry that the fear factor was still there. Too many players tried to play it safe and nobody gambled by running with the ball, trying a forward through pass or anything that may turn the defence. It was all a bit sideways and simple and even that we struggled with! Maybe we are still lacking that quality we need to unlock defences.


It was frustrating as we were as good as them; better than them for long spells but outside of the few half chances early on (one good chance for Clarke) I am not sure we created that much really and that is disappointing. In the second half Bolton were aware of our threats we had and saw us off quite easily. People will say they were negative (formation) and they did not attack much but I am not really interested in them; I am interested in us and we still cann do much better. Their keeper I do not think got his knees dirty. He had one flick over save and that was regulation and that was it. Yes we had some half chances, balls going across early on but you have to get things on target, make the keeper work.



Bolton – They worked hard and but bodies in their way when they needed. They played the odd pocked of football but were as poor as us on the ball. They did not need to do much to win the game. They scored a great goal and then defended easily and actually had the better chances to extend the lead. The second half was easy for them as we wasted ball after ball and never got wide or in behind them. When we did our crossing was awful. I was concerned that fitness wise they seemed to go a bit longer than us and won loose balls at the death. That is a concern when they have on the whole an older side and some players in Wheater and Buxton who have barely been training/playing pre-season only just recently re-signing.


They will argue they did what they had to do in that they scored a goal, defended well and limited us to barely an attack. They saw off the threat of the first 20 minutes and then had more control of the game. Of course if we had scored in the first 20 minutes it would have been different but we didn’t. Surprised they set up 4-5-1 and also had a defensive player in one of the wing positions. They certainly came with plan to flood midfield. For the opening it did not work but as the game went on and after they scored it did. They played the second half well restricting space and the two wingers sat right on the full backs limiting space. The midfield protected the back line and we ended up having to go longer and panicking rather than drawing men by playing an extra pass. Tactically Parkinson will feel he outdid Wilder but it is not as simple as that as goals change games. Still we barely had an effort on goal all game and they will be delighted with the defensive side. They have a lot of players who have been around a bit with an experienced back line with two strong dominant centre backs in Wheater and Beevers and with Moxey and Buxton also offering players who have played for the most part higher up the league. The midfield has players who have played Premier League in Pratley and Spearing and the young lad Vela is a decent player. The fact Mark Davies could not get in the side shows sadly they have far more options in this part of the side. I felt we missed a trick when Howard was preferred to Amos but we did not expose the weaknesses we all know so well. Up top Madine toiled but this is an area they lack options in although the lad Proctor from Bradford came on at the end.


I am not sure I see them as a side that will be top two but think they have enough experience and some quality (missing Clough today – but he may go) to be around the top 6. As I discussed above, man for man they are probably better than us (two centre backs are better and midfield is better) although I think we have better striking options than them but did not show it today.



Opponent man of the match: Darren Pratley. I felt the was the games outstanding player. Spearing scored a great goal and worked hard and the two lads at the back defended well but I felt they did not have to do much to see off our threat. Pratley offered good options with the ball and came and received from the defence. He also showed some strong running in an attacking sense. He got his foot in and worked hard to cover the defence. Not amazing but stood out. Beevers was a close second.


Opponent Weak link: Chris Taylor. A player we were linked with; I felt he was the poorest of the BWFC side. He never really threatened and was not a surprise when he went off. I thought we would target Howard but he only really had a few bits to do and he nearly made a mess of them. We never had any long range shots on target at all which was disappointing as we know how much he struggles with long shots. We simply did not test him.

 

[Deadbat]

SUFC Player Ratings –


Long 6/10 – Both keepers had little to do really. He had no chance on the goal with a long shot that beat him all ends up. A few other crosses he hesitated on and missed a punch completely. I felt he should have been more decisive and I just do not feel he commands his box. He still looks like a nervous kid on debut and that is worrying when he has played 2 or 3 seasons now. He did make a really good save second half when he dived low to his left to push away. It was an excellent stop. His distribution was patchy again. He put one out second half somehow when it was a simple ball to Hussey and a few others times kicks were erratic.


Brayford 6/10 – Defensively ok although he I felt Taylor was poor for them. He got forward quite well to start the game and linked with some nice interchange but then when he got in good positions his final ball was really poor for the most part. It is only recently I have noticed how poor his crossing is. I am not sure he is the same player he was before his injuries as does not seem to have that strength and even could be quite quick but seems quite languid now. Not sure it would be that much of a blow if he did move on but then it would be another position to fill.


Hussey 4/10 – He defended ok in parts but was facing a right back in Wilson who was playing right wing. He still made some poor errors with the ball which led to them getting possession/throw ins etc. Position wise I felt he also switched off a few times leading to them having too much space. So defensively big questions. Going the other way, oh dear. He put in one beauty to Clarke that he should have scored but after that he must have wasted at least a dozen crossing opportunities. He put so many behind the goal or over hit them which was the opposite to Brayford who could not beat his first man. He had a lot of time to measure a number of crosses but some of the final product was embarrassing for a professional. Meant to have a wand of a left foot too apparently?!


Wilson 7/10 – He was fine I felt. Only had one striker up against him and O’Connell and to be fair this made Wilson the spare man often. On the ball he was ok but kept it quite simple. They did not have lots of attacks but when they did they only had a few chances. Being ultra-critical you could say it was his clearance that fell to the lad who scored but that to me was more down to the midfield not pressing.


O’Connell 7/10 – Like Wilson, he had a steady debut. Nothing remarkable but he made no major errors Thought Madine actually played ok and held it up and was a presence and probably played better than our front two. Madine did win quite a bit in the air and a few times the two lads needed to be more assertive but most of headers he won were away from goal. Both forward lines had little service in a poor game of football. He is a big lad and looks like a rugby league player somewhat in physique but it was a decent enough start.


Basham 5.5/10 – Seen some felt he did well as they had 3 in the midfield but I felt even taking that into consideration I am not sure he did much on or off the ball and for me non-existent for much of the game. So ponderous and slow when on the ball and he lacks pace/guile in an attacking sense. He also lost his man a few times when they did attack. The build up to the goal he and the rest of the midfield had been guilty of being 5 yards off and this sitting off made us pay although it was a great goal. When he gets it he takes too long to make decisions or execute a pass and when he does it normally only goes a few yards and puts the other player under pressure. He slows play right down. May sound harsh but if we have him as a regular in midfield we are looking at a similar type placing to last year. Some fans like him citing his effort but I fail to see what he offers. He is physically so weak for a big lad and extremely slow. This allied to him not being very good on the ball or offering any kind of threat offensively means we must look to upgrade here.


Fleck 7/10 –Might have been our best player and yet he still struggled with power and running of two/three lads in Bolton’s midfield but he at least got on the ball and tried to have a go. I felt he was having to do the job of two or three players at times as Done/Duffy became anonymous and Basham as stated above did not really contribute. He always came off square to receive it and wanted to try and prompt things. I felt so many times other players gave it him under pressure and he did well to at least keep it and send us the other way. A neat and tidy player who gets about but sadly still does not give us that intimidation/power in the middle of the field or offer a goal threat which mean replacing Basham a priority for me.


Duffy 6/10 – He was lively early on. He got into some good areas and looked a threat we controlled the opening. He at least got on the ball and tried to have a go at the defence but not much came off really. Second half I felt he was poor and should have come off long before he did. He did not see much of the ball and when he did nothing came as a result of him. Scougall was not the replacement I would have put on though as he is not a winger.


Done 5/10 – Started game ok and lively enough but then faded badly and offered nothing really. His touch and crossing was poor but more than this he was simply not in the game and started wandering inside to try and get involved but this just led to the play being over more compressed. Had one header on the angle Howard tipped over but this was a regulation save. Not a winger and somewhat wasted out there. He is a striker and that is it for me but he clearly won’t play ahead of Clarke or Sharp so he may be an impact sub at best. Not sure what Wilder sees in him as a wide man. He said he did not see him as a full back/wing back but he is no better in this position. Another area we need to improve but with the keeper, centre midfield and centre back positions also needing attention you worry this might get left.


Clarke 6/10 – Missed a good chance early on with a header he ought to have scored. Tried to hold it up and battled against the two big lads but starved of any kind of real service, he seemed somewhat isolated. I felt this touch and link up especially first half was ok. I have not graded them too low the strikers as I felt they did try and work hard and it was not lack of effort but cannot recall too many passes or crosses outside of opening spell that saw them receiving the ball in any kind of position where they could threaten. He faced two tough, uncompromising centre backs today and will have easier games hopefully to come.


Sharp 5.5/10 – Not his best game but as with above lacked service. A few crosses early on just evaded him and then as the game went on started coming deeper to look for the ball. Got in once but was deemed offside. Had one long range shot over at the death but a frustrating afternoon with the crossing and final ball so bad. I thought Clarke looked more of a threat than him today.


Subs:


Scougall – Offered nothing. Was given 20 minutes too but he was given a wide right position and again not sure he can be effective here. Would have been better in the midfield area picking up pieces and starting to run at men. Miscontrolled the ball two or three times. Not sure what Wilder has seen to have him still here. He should have been transfer listed with the others. I think he will be moved on before the end of the season/his contract is up. The likes of Reed and Whiteman did not even make the bench so you sense Wilder likes him but he will only be an asset if we play a midfield 5.


Adams – Came on and was put in Done’s wide left position but he seemed to play more inside and just off the front two as we tried to fashion a chance. We struggled to get anything going and it all became rather congested. He tried too bustle though once when he ran through but it was cleared. From the rumours it may not be long before he moves on. If we do still have him then he is a better option than Done out wide for me but neither are classic wingers in that sense.


Interesting that Calvert Lewin did not make the bench. Is he injured? The fact Wallace (K) and Coutts made the bench shows squad is a little light as if they move on with the other two (Woolford and Wallace (J) ) then we are right to the limit of players if saw Whiteman/Reed came in as subs. I think before August we clearly need 3 or 4 more players, ideally starters that would push the likes of Wilson (early stages for him though), Done, Basham and Long onto the bench in my opinion.


Manager – Wilder 5/10 – It was an opening day defeat and as he says that is all that matters really. Some will point to some positives and I agree there were some. The centre backs he signed were decent and Fleck was busy but we still look a soft touch and still lack creativity in key areas. Bolton played it perfectly going to pack the midfield, get a goal and then defend in numbers with a high line as they knew we have no pace whatsoever up top in any of the four positions. Wilder should have changed it tactically second half but just put on two wide men for wide men and we looked even less of a threat after the changes. I would have personally gone three at the back (Brayford, Wilson and O’Connell) as they barely even had a striker; we would even have thrown a defender up top to give them something to think about. Also the last 10 minutes Proctor was almost midfield meaning they had a 4-5 formation (had 10 men)! This implies they were defending to hold on but were not. The last 10 minutes it was criminal we barely had an effort on goal or moment to get excited about when they had 10 men. We panicked when we had it and did not make the extra pass to make our numerical advantage count. Still not sure you can blame CW for that. He could not expect Hussey and many others to not even be able to keep a cross on the field from numerous attempts. The corners were awful and needs noting. We barely even got one into the box, they all sailed over the back post or failed to beat the first man. It was worrying that for all the discussion about it being first game and a long way to go, I did not see any significant difference from last season. It will take time though but there are big areas for improvement.


Ref – Thought he was inconsistent and a bit fussy. He seemed to want everyone to know he was there which was odd as it was a nothing sort of game. Booked three players (2 for them and Clarke for us – think that was for complaining at the Sharp foul) but I can’t remember many bad fouls all game really.


The last 5 minutes saw the inevitable frustration in the SUFC end added to by him somehow deeming Sharp handled the ball when he was kicked to the ground (an incredible decision) and then him and his assistant gave a throw to them when it was clearly ours. He played 6 minutes stoppage time that actually ended up being nearly 8 but it mattered little to help us!


Minor point but the Bolton manager had a white shirt on and surely this should have been brought up. I kept thinking they had a man over on the wing but it was Parkinson!


Day Out / Crowd – As usual great day out ruined by 90 minutes! Not been away much last few seasons but enjoyed today. United fans did their best to get behind them but by the second half the 4,000+ were either drained by the heat or just became numb to another very average performance. It was a good view from the upper tier of an excellent stadium – one of the better news ones. I do hate the name of it (any ground with naming rights I am not a fan) and it is in the middle of nowhere. Credit to the police/rail companies today who did a good job getting fans there despite the closure of Horwich Parkway. We got a cab to the ground from Bolton but after they ferried most Blades back to Manchester rather than Bolton and they were quite quick although it was incredibly hot on the coaches. Shame some knob heads decided to have a go at the driver insisting they let them off and generally being idiotic. Same idiots decided to have a go at the rest of the Blades for not signing on the coach saying it was not like we had lost at Wembley and get behind them. Sad that you have to apologise for your fellow fans behaviour. Inside the concourse we had the usual jumping around and throwing overpriced beer everywhere. It seemed like the Police cared little and just stood and watched. Why fans are so desperate to film this I am not sure?


The rest of the day was excellent. We got into Manchester just before 10am and had a breakfast at the Waterhouse pub near the Library and then headed to the Northern Quarter. Sat outside the Bluu bar and had a few drinks bathed in sunshine. It was gorgeous weather and hard to move from the spot we had with some lovely company and we set the world to right. We got the train from Victoria to Bolton and then opted for a quick pint at one of the scruffiest pubs I have ever been in; the Griffin before the delightful barman with one tooth Anthony got us a cab to Bolton (some our party continued the inappropriate comments- with a whole barrage of racism; asking if he knew Amir Khan and then said ‘your lot are doing well at the cricket.’). Embarrassed we shuffled out and we were at the ground by 2.30pm. Post match we went back to the NQ and had a few in the Kosmonaut, the Allotment (Garden themed pub) and ping pong bar Twenty Twenty Two. We had a bite to eat at Yard and Coop and then finished off with a few cocktails at Fitzgerald (a wonderful speakeasy type bar down a back street) surrounded by 3 hen parties. Arrived back in Sheffield for around 11.15pm. A great day with some good pubs, banter and company. As I say shame game spoiled it a bit!

 

[Deadbat]

Apologies it was Duffy not Wilson who headed out on the goal. It was a poor header too. Headed it centrally and got no distance.

 

[Lower Drop Blade]

Excellent report as ever....but be careful scoring players with a 4 marks you down as a negative fan whose having a shit weekend

 

[robbiez666]

On the face of it losing 1-0 away to a club just relegated isn't a terrible result.

I worry that Bolton away may have been one of the easiest travels this season. Charlton were beaten 2-0 by Bury and MK Dons only won due to some of the worst defending I've ever seen from Shrewsbury. I remember Wigan losing their first game last time out as well. It's probably the best time to play a relegated team lacking in confidence or desire and expecting to walk it. You could argue that Bolton are one of the teams where a high pressing/high tempo style would work the best, and it clearly did for a short period.

We'll know more after a few games obviously, but if we can only sustain the type of football Wilde wants to play for 20 minutes or so, we're going to have serious issues.

 

[BushBlade]

On the face of it losing 1-0 away to a club just relegated isn't a terrible result.

I worry that Bolton away may have been one of the easiest travels this season. Charlton were beaten 2-0 by Bury and MK Dons only won due to some of the worst defending I've ever seen from Shrewsbury. I remember Wigan losing their first game last time out as well. It's probably the best time to play a relegated team lacking in confidence or desire and expecting to walk it. You could argue that Bolton are one of the teams where a high pressing/high tempo style would work the best, and it clearly did for a short period.

We'll know more after a few games obviously, but if we can only sustain the type of football Wilde wants to play for 20 minutes or so, we're going to have serious issues.

Maybe but I said the same to my mate about Man U v Spurs last season; that it was the best time to play then but, in fact, they started well and got worse over the season. As Bolton may do when injuries kick in, players get complacent or de-motivated etc.

I'm not sure why Bolton are one of the teams where high pressing/tempo would work the best. Surely they're used to it playing in the championship last season? I suspect it will work a lot better against teams like Shrewsbury.

If I wanted to be critical of Wilder I'd say he got his tactics wrong. Should have matched Bolton in midfield, made them try to break us down and looked to hit on the break. He seems to be going through an Adkins type learning process about some of our players. Hopefully, he'll learn a lot quicker.

 

[robbiez666]

Maybe but I said the same to my mate about Man U v Spurs last season; that it was the best time to play then but, in fact, they started well and got worse over the season. As Bolton may do when injuries kick in, players get complacent or de-motivated etc.

I'm not sure why Bolton are one of the teams where high pressing/tempo would work the best. Surely they're used to it playing in the championship last season? I suspect it will work a lot better against teams like Shrewsbury.

If I wanted to be critical of Wilder I'd say he got his tactics wrong. Should have matched Bolton in midfield, made them try to break us down and looked to hit on the break. He seems to be going through an Adkins type learning process about some of our players. Hopefully, he'll learn a lot quicker.

Not really being critical of Wilder, as such, but I would expect there are several Bolton players who think they're better than this league and can win by just turning up and strolling around. They've also just come off the back of a bad relegation system, had a transfer ban and are a bit of a mess.

After seeing the Shrewsbury highlights I think and kind of football would be good against them!

 

[BushBlade]

Not really being critical of Wilder, as such, but I would expect there are several Bolton players who think they're better than this league and can win by just turning up and strolling around. They've also just come off the back of a bad relegation system, had a transfer ban and are a bit of a mess.

After seeing the Shrewsbury highlights I think and kind of football would be good against them!

Do you think Parkinson would play players like that? We were a fucking shambles when we went down but DW1 managed to turn us around quickly. And Bolton's problems are no worse than Northampton's were last season. Wigan had a twelve year old chairman and a rookie manager and still managed to go up.

Whilst we could hope they'd strut around like twats and crumble like a North Yorkshire cliff, if they didn't it was always likely we'd struggle. They didn't and so we did.

 

[SB_90]

A lot of over reaction yesterday I thought from some it thought it was typical United luck Bolton had 1 shot in 1st half & got 1 goal

Also theres a big difference to last yr sounds like we were much solid defensively & we were playing Bolton which along with mk dons & millwall probably 3 toughest games we have this season. Who had majority of the championship squad left. could've been much worse being absolutely unprepared losing 4-0 to Gillingham. Panic loaning in a CB

 

[JohnDenver]

Thanks Deadbat. For games I miss I always read fans' reports rather than listen to anyone else so appreciate this.

Before the game I was worried about Done playing wide as it shows a horrible lack of options there. If teams take the lead against us and Duffy doesn't do it on his own then I'm at a loss for how we can hurt teams. Scougall is awful wide and Adams isn't a touchline -hugger, so I really hope we unearth some help for Duffy.

UTB

 

[Ginger Gnome]

Bringing Scougall on behind the strikers rather than wide would have made more sense, better to go narrow than take off one guy who is useless out wide and bring on another guy who is useless out wide. I like Scougs, but he literally has one position where he has ever looked any good and that's the front of a midfield three. Might as well have put an actual donkey on the wing for all the use Scougall is there.

 

[Come from away]

Thanks Deadbeat a good read.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Thanks Deadbat . I don't bother with the Star or any other reports, I just wait for yours which is a concise and balanced view.

It's very disappointing to lose any game, but I think the consensus is that, defensively, we look better than we did at the start of last season, only losing to a volley from outside the box that 99% of the time is going in the stands. Sounds as if we should have scored too from Clarke and from balls across the box.

 

[Ollessendro]

What a depressing read! Keith Edwards was much more positive on Radio Sheffield!

One thing that is still abundantly clear is we are a soft touch. We are naive at best and guilty of being gutless and spineless on tye other foot. We dominate the first 25 mins yet don't have an effort on target. We know Howard is poor and struggles with long range efforts yet in 90 mins we have no shots on target. Similarly at the other end the goal was soft. We did not deal with a long throw, which was poorly cleared and the midfielder had acres of space to shoot. Thatcwas reminiscent of SUFC under Adkins. When are we going to learn to charge players down quickly or better still pick them up in the first place? It sounds to me like the only difference today was they were more clinical. Wilder needs to drum into them that we need to be more ruthless. Part of this is being nastier but also taking our chances and not giving away soft goals. The additions of Clarke, Fleck and O'Connell will help to make sure we are bullied less than last year but (as others have said and are saying) we are 3 or 4 players away from being an automatic promotion contending outfit.

 

[pommpey]

Cheers Deadbat and welcome back.

So, in essence, last seasons residuals performing like last season's team and the new input failing to raise the game.

Plus ca fucking change, eh?

pommpey

 

[penthouseblade]

You were on the same coach as me then back to Manchester! The lads you refer to were shitfaced to be fair, and probably don't even remember the journey?!

 

[1danewhitehouse]

A new season. A new manager. Another defeat. For the third time in a row at this level United lost on opening day. The fresh optimism of a new manager and new approach seemed to galvanise the Blades who began the game well but after failing to score, Bolton came out and improved. They scored a wonder goal and then saw off the United threat all too easily. An expectant large following from Sheffield will have gone home fearing that there is a lot of work for new manager Wilder to do, if he wants to shape this side into a promotion contender. Still it is one game and United know they can play better both individually and collectively and there were some positives in the form of debutants Wilson, O’Connell and Fleck who performed well.


The game began in bright sunshine with United back in red and white stripes but in white shorts with black socks in a sparsely populated ground on three sides with 4,300+ Blades packing the away end. Sharp and Clarke began up top with Done playing wide left. There were debuts for 6 new Blades starting and another Wright on the bench. Bolton began with former Blade Mark Howard in goal.


United began on top and won the early tackles despite Bolton playing a 5 in midfield with ex Owl Madine up front on his own. One cross from Duffy just evaded Sharp and then a Hussey delivery ought to have been scored by Clarke but he headed wide. It was a good chance and would eventually prove to be as good an opportunity as United would engineer all day. Hussey put a cross over that missed Sharp and Clarke and then Brayford fed Duffy but it was blocked for a corner. United were in control and Bolton were having to throw men in the way as the away side continued to probe. Duffy then had a cross shot wide.


Bolton had not been in the game but started to come out and won a number of throws with Wilson’s delivery from this causing a few problems as Long hesitancy was a concern. Madine won one header but Vela’s shot was blocked but the game was much more even now with Pratley’s strength and running in midfield causing problems.


The game was heading for a half time stalemate when after United had conceded territory deep inn their own half, the ball was half cleared and from fully 25 yards SPEARING hit a rising volley that went beyond Long and into the corner. It was a great shot and little the keeper could do. Buoyed by this Bolton came again but Madine headed wide after good work from Spearing again.


Half time came and went but United were struggling now to create and the Bolton backline were repelling any threats too easily and the game became very stop start. Poor crossing and passing was a feature of the Blades play sadly despite having a lot of the ball.


They created a half chance when Clarke flicked on and Done headed goalwards but Howard saved by flicking over. It was first effort on goal from the Blades all game and would prove to be the only effort at Howard in a game of few chances. Sharp put the ball in the net but was deemed offside long before he had dispatched the ball. Bolton had the best chance of the half when Moxey’s long throw, a continuing feature of their play, saw Pratley head goalwards after losing Basham but Long made a great save.


Adams and Scougall came on for Duffy and Done who had not really offered much and the incoming players both went wide. United were struggling to create any clear chances though and it had become very scrappy. Hussey wasted three chances to cross and could not even keep two of them on the field.


Bolton had already made three changes and Pratley seemed to hurt himself in an innocuous challenge with Clarke and had to be stretchered off with 10 minutes to play. Now facing 10 men, United had a chance now but the game seemed to peter out and United could barely create anything. They won one corner and Sharp shot over but time after time they made poor decisions or could not execute the right ball. The extra 6 minutes+ of stoppage time passed without any real chances for the Blades and signalled that United started the new campaign as they had started and finished the last one; with a defeat.



United – It was odd as I came away I just thought it was a nothing sort of game that was fairly even but that they just scored a great goal and we did not. That is the simplistic way of looking at it.


We had a really good start to the game and could have scored. We pressed and harried and got in some good positions but the final ball or touch eluded us and then the game became more even. I still felt we had control of the match though and seemed the better side but gradually they had a spell of play and started to force us back. They scored a great goal and after this the second half sort of just petered out. We barely had a chance of note and they won really easily. You could say they did little but did not need to.


They scored and then saw us off quite comfortably and we barely put a glove on them. Howard was untested and our vaunted front two barely had a kick. We did not threaten from wide and were slow and ponderous in the central area with no one getting ahead of the strikers all game. We could be still playing now and not scored the two lads at the back had an easy game really for Bolton after that opening spell.


I have to be honest and say I expected more the overall performance and result was sadly too similar to last season. The first 10-15 minutes saw us pressing and playing the way Wilder wants but after this we sort of lost heart and sat off, did not compete and it became like a practice side (for both teams – don’t get me wrong; everything I level at us, I could say the same about Bolton but they had the lead). However I thought we would be more determined to get back in the game but seemed to have no idea how to create anything.


In short we are still a soft touch too. We need more nasty b******s who can get stuck in and turn the ball over so we move the other way. We sat off too much second half and even though they did nothing with the ball they were given too much time. When we did win it we were so wasteful I the last third. So many players got it, looked up and seemed bewildered what to do. It ended up being a lot of diagonal crosses over hit. We could not play through them and then when we went wide we were so slow moving it across they got men across to cover. The few times we found space our final ball was abysmal. We look like a side that will win a few, but will lose quite a few and I do not see characters in this side that will see us nick the 1-0 type games like today. We do not look anywhere near a promotion side. However, it is one game and that is what you have to stress. It will take time and we need to get fitter, sharper and more decisive in everything we do. The passing and tempo after that opening was way too slow. We lack pace but compound it by doing everything at a snail’s pace on the ball.


I thought Bolton were a side who have come down and not sure what to expect at this level with a few players having left and were ripe for us to have a right do. We did it to start the game but then played 70 minutes at a whimper. However, we do have 6 new players and in that sense it will take a bit of time. I just worry that the fear factor was still there. Too many players tried to play it safe and nobody gambled by running with the ball, trying a forward through pass or anything that may turn the defence. It was all a bit sideways and simple and even that we struggled with! Maybe we are still lacking that quality we need to unlock defences.


It was frustrating as we were as good as them; better than them for long spells but outside of the few half chances early on (one good chance for Clarke) I am not sure we created that much really and that is disappointing. In the second half Bolton were aware of our threats we had and saw us off quite easily. People will say they were negative (formation) and they did not attack much but I am not really interested in them; I am interested in us and we still cann do much better. Their keeper I do not think got his knees dirty. He had one flick over save and that was regulation and that was it. Yes we had some half chances, balls going across early on but you have to get things on target, make the keeper work.



Bolton – They worked hard and but bodies in their way when they needed. They played the odd pocked of football but were as poor as us on the ball. They did not need to do much to win the game. They scored a great goal and then defended easily and actually had the better chances to extend the lead. The second half was easy for them as we wasted ball after ball and never got wide or in behind them. When we did our crossing was awful. I was concerned that fitness wise they seemed to go a bit longer than us and won loose balls at the death. That is a concern when they have on the whole an older side and some players in Wheater and Buxton who have barely been training/playing pre-season only just recently re-signing.


They will argue they did what they had to do in that they scored a goal, defended well and limited us to barely an attack. They saw off the threat of the first 20 minutes and then had more control of the game. Of course if we had scored in the first 20 minutes it would have been different but we didn’t. Surprised they set up 4-5-1 and also had a defensive player in one of the wing positions. They certainly came with plan to flood midfield. For the opening it did not work but as the game went on and after they scored it did. They played the second half well restricting space and the two wingers sat right on the full backs limiting space. The midfield protected the back line and we ended up having to go longer and panicking rather than drawing men by playing an extra pass. Tactically Parkinson will feel he outdid Wilder but it is not as simple as that as goals change games. Still we barely had an effort on goal all game and they will be delighted with the defensive side. They have a lot of players who have been around a bit with an experienced back line with two strong dominant centre backs in Wheater and Beevers and with Moxey and Buxton also offering players who have played for the most part higher up the league. The midfield has players who have played Premier League in Pratley and Spearing and the young lad Vela is a decent player. The fact Mark Davies could not get in the side shows sadly they have far more options in this part of the side. I felt we missed a trick when Howard was preferred to Amos but we did not expose the weaknesses we all know so well. Up top Madine toiled but this is an area they lack options in although the lad Proctor from Bradford came on at the end.


I am not sure I see them as a side that will be top two but think they have enough experience and some quality (missing Clough today – but he may go) to be around the top 6. As I discussed above, man for man they are probably better than us (two centre backs are better and midfield is better) although I think we have better striking options than them but did not show it today.



Opponent man of the match: Darren Pratley. I felt the was the games outstanding player. Spearing scored a great goal and worked hard and the two lads at the back defended well but I felt they did not have to do much to see off our threat. Pratley offered good options with the ball and came and received from the defence. He also showed some strong running in an attacking sense. He got his foot in and worked hard to cover the defence. Not amazing but stood out. Beevers was a close second.


Opponent Weak link: Chris Taylor. A player we were linked with; I felt he was the poorest of the BWFC side. He never really threatened and was not a surprise when he went off. I thought we would target Howard but he only really had a few bits to do and he nearly made a mess of them. We never had any long range shots on target at all which was disappointing as we know how much he struggles with long shots. We simply did not test him.

Cheers as always for the report DB.


Just a minor correction. Clarke was booked for a foul out on the right wing just after they scored. It was Adams who was then booked for dissent after the atrocious decision against Sharp late on. Meanwhile, Bolton players regularly kicked the ball away after a free kick was given with no sanction which was frustrating.

 

[Deadbat]

Sorry, I had noticed on BBC report only Clarke was recorded as being booked. I went with them, should have trusted my instinct which remembered it was Adams. Mind you by this stage I had supped best part of 5 Morrettis in Manchester.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Thought we started well and it was one way traffic the first 25 minutes. Bolton were set up very defensively, defending deep with a 4-1-4-1 formation that had a robust, steady defence, a right back at right wing and three solid, rather than spectacular central midfielders. Overall a very static team and they won't have enough about them to be top ten unless they make additions, or have more mobility and creativity in the squad.

Realising they couldn't compete with us Bolton started playing a very direct game, passing it long down the channels, which saw them win a sensational amount of throw ins down their right. This slowed the game down, upset our rhythm and forced us to get back to deal with these throws. When we tried to press, Bolton passed it backwards before launching it long upfield again, meaning we became a bit stretched. Our organisation slipped up when they scored. At the other set pieces they had we seemed to have a man watching their man (Spearing) outside the box. More teams will try Bolton's tactics against us this season and we will have to deal better with it.

We tried to implement Clarke into what is Wilder's preferred 4-2-3-1 system, but I don't think it worked as we hoped. Clarke dropped a bit deeper when they had the ball, but not quite enough to help us win the ball back, something which is key to Wilder's playing style. Maybe this was because he also had the task of being the target man. Long balls went towards him, and obviously he was asked to get into the box, rather than roaming around to link play, especially when we tried to work crosses. Maybe it's a too big ask for him to do both.

When Clarke did push up he was struggling to win much against their two giant centre halves, and he may not win quite as much in the air as we've hoped. Having two such high profile forwards as him and Sharp meant that we tended to look for them a bit earlier than we should have and this became predictable against a Bolton defence who were tailor made for such a game pattern.

Clarke becoming more like a traditional target man, rather than a link player/no 10, who also didn't/couldn't quite help out in midfield too much meant that Done and Duffy had to drop a bit deeper, which reduced their attacking impact. When we played Derby I thought McNulty worked very hard and made a few defensive runs to cover for our two "wide men" and also help out Fleck and Basham centrally. If Done has to play as a traditional winger he won't be good enough. If we can find a way to make use of his forwards runs into space and into the box, getting on the end of things, I think he can score quite a few. The withdrawn central forward can be key to him managing this. I really like Duffy and think he'll do well.

Fleck was my man of the match, delighted that he seems able to do well both defensively and offensively. He's composed on the ball and has a lot of class. Basham was ok for me, but especially against deep defending teams, his position will be one where we should have a more attack minded option, a goal threat and a more creative and skillful passer. I'm not worried about Hussey, despite some disappointing second half involvements. There were some very good crosses too. Centre halves did well.


So - to conclude - we have to keep assessing if we can afford playing both Clarke and Sharpe in the two forward roles, while also sticking with the rest of the line up. I think we did miss someone to link play better between Bash/Fleck and attack, and someone to cover and help out a bit more defensively. Two strikers, both capable goal scorers, is a nice thought, but if it comes at the expense of our attacking play not working we have to make adjustments.

 

[UnitedBlade]

Thought we started well and it was one way traffic the first 25 minutes. Bolton were set up very defensively, defending deep with a 4-1-4-1 formation that had a robust, steady defence, a right back at right wing and three solid, rather than spectacular central midfielders. Overall a very static team and they won't have enough about them to be top ten unless they make additions, or have more mobility and creativity in the squad.

Realising they couldn't compete with us Bolton started playing a very direct game, passing it long down the channels, which saw them win a sensational amount of throw ins down their right. This slowed the game down, upset our rhythm and forced us to get back to deal with these throws. When we tried to press, Bolton passed it backwards before launching it long upfield again, meaning we became a bit stretched. Our organisation slipped up when they scored. At the other set pieces they had we seemed to have a man watching their man (Spearing) outside the box. More teams will try Bolton's tactics against us this season and we will have to deal better with it.

We tried to implement Clarke into what is Wilder's preferred 4-2-3-1 system, but I don't think it worked as we hoped. Clarke dropped a bit deeper when they had the ball, but not quite enough to help us win the ball back, something which is key to Wilder's playing style. Maybe this was because he also had the task of being the target man. Long balls went towards him, and obviously he was asked to get into the box, rather than roaming around to link play, especially when we tried to work crosses. Maybe it's a too big ask for him to do both.

When Clarke did push up he was struggling to win much against their two giant centre halves, and he may not win quite as much in the air as we've hoped. Having two such high profile forwards as him and Sharp meant that we tended to look for them a bit earlier than we should have and this became predictable against a Bolton defence who were tailor made for such a game pattern.

Clarke becoming more like a traditional target man, rather than a link player/no 10, who also didn't/couldn't quite help out in midfield too much meant that Done and Duffy had to drop a bit deeper, which reduced their attacking impact. When we played Derby I thought McNulty worked very hard and made a few defensive runs to cover for our two "wide men" and also help out Fleck and Basham centrally. If Done has to play as a traditional winger he won't be good enough. If we can find a way to make use of his forwards runs into space and into the box, getting on the end of things, I think he can score quite a few. The withdrawn central forward can be key to him managing this. I really like Duffy and think he'll do well.

Fleck was my man of the match, delighted that he seems able to do well both defensively and offensively. He's composed on the ball and has a lot of class. Basham was ok for me, but especially against deep defending teams, his position will be one where we should have a more attack minded option, a goal threat and a more creative and skillful passer. I'm not worried about Hussey, despite some disappointing second half involvements. There were some very good crosses too. Centre halves did well.


So - to conclude - we have to keep assessing if we can afford playing both Clarke and Sharpe in the two forward roles, while also sticking with the rest of the line up. I think we did miss someone to link play better between Bash/Fleck and attack, and someone to cover and help out a bit more defensively. Two strikers, both capable goal scorers, is a nice thought, but if it comes at the expense of our attacking play not working we have to make adjustments.

I agree from what I've seen Done doesn't look comfortable out wide. Could he play behind Clarke / Sharp and link play ? I've never seen him play that role but he needs to be more central. Not sure we have a balanced side yet.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I agree from what I've seen Done doesn't look comfortable out wide. Could he play behind Clarke / Sharp and link play ? I've never seen him play that role but he needs to be more central. Not sure we have a balanced side yet.

I think the only role he can be really effective at is one where he's using his aggression and energy to get on the end of things. I think that can be done from a wide starting position though - if it's the right formation, playing style and mix of players. It's important that we get goals from other positions than the central striker(s) and Done should be aiming for double figures this season.

 

[Snowman]

I have only ever seen Done successful as playing centrally, running onto balls, harrying defenders, and being "at the sharp end" for balls getting away from Defenders in the box.. He has always seemed wasted for me coming in from wide. Much as I like him for his energy and commitment, unless he is played up front or at least in the "Scougall position" he may as well be just used as a sub back up for Billy and we already have a second rate one of them.

 

[robbiez666]

I think the only role he can be really effective at is one where he's using his aggression and energy to get on the end of things. I think that can be done from a wide starting position though - if it's the right formation, playing style and mix of players. It's important that we get goals from other positions than the central striker(s) and Done should be aiming for double figures this season.

I reckon he could work on the right of left of a 4:3:3 where the central striker is supported by the two others. I think Chelsea played this was at one point.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I reckon he could work on the right of left of a 4:3:3 where the central striker is supported by the two others. I think Chelsea played this was at one point.

Yes, but I don't see why Done's role should be too different from that in a well-balanced 4-2-3-1?

 

[Roygbiv]

It all started here. Who would have thought we would go on to absolutely romp the league?