United – I am struggling to say anything different most week. I expected us to lose and lose easily. We did and then some. We also completely gave up. Again. It is an utter shambles and at the moment we may aswell be relegated and just sit the season out. Just resign from the Premier League! I know that sounds silly but that’s how I feel. Watching another half a season plus of this is hard to watch. Effectively, just read what I wrote last week. It might have been even worse. I suppose we had a few shots this week and showed some fight, of completely the wrong type as not only were we hammered again but we showed complete lack of discipline and professionalism with cynical, dirty fouls and a deserved red card – from the man many are crying out to be captain. However, the complete and utter capitulation started from the kick off as they walked through us, we did not tackle and were incredibly behind after 15 seconds. It was appalling with no pressure on the cross and no one attacking it. There was no reaction at all and they could have had more. We did have a few shots but they dominated possession and controlled the game completely. It was easy as they just walked past us – much like every other team does. We tried meekly to grab or flail at players as they ran past as our appalling fitness, pace and athleticism was exposed again – versus another side supposed to be poor but again miles better than us at everything.
The lack of fight was clear again and yes again we were terrible on the ball but we never really had it as another team dominated. Individually no one stood up and got hold of it, but the shape and pattern meant we had no foothold in a game again. The second goal was like something on a Sunday League pitch as Thomas switches off with a ridiculously high line also to blame. He then looks hopelessly at his keeper and almost may as well have shouted, ‘Help!’ as he points and almost stumbles in desperation. The Burnley man runs through and scores an easy goal. Imagine players running at their opponents and us passing it forward at pace? We had a chance via Archer who also has been a complete bust and not at the level required. After this it was back one way traffic. McBurnie tried to show some right but in completely the wrong way. He could have gone for the first elbow and clearly after O’Shea got him back, wanted the next say. Completely moronic. We had probably lost but like with the Wes error last week, this meant it was definitely done.
Second half they could have had a few more as they again just walked through. Hecky just threw three kids on and not even sure what the formation was or who was playing where? Mind you it was like that at the start so nothing really much different! After this we had two Osula chances but that was it and they then ran through us again and again. They could have scored 4 or 5 goals in about 2 minutes before the third came and then the fourth and then the fifth. The players just gave up and after each goal there was no argument, no questioning, no pointing of fingers, just an acceptance that they are totally and utterly shite and out of their depth. Bet many do not even want to play at the moment as any reputation they had/have is slowly disappearing week after week. The lack of team spirit, leadership and pride is utterly disgusting. To go from a side that seemed quite together in a promotion winning campaign to this absolute shower of shite is incredible. I expected us to have a go at this level even if we did go down but this is far worse than even that dreadful season when we last went down. We have conceded more goals at this stage than any other team apart from Barnsley in the 90’s. We have lost 43/55 games. The commentators today and Clinton Morrison (one of the better ones) and the god damn awful crew on Soccer Saturday were laughing at us. They described us as pitiful.
Ultimately as I said last week, the mess has been created by the lack of planning and leadership at the top. Our owner seemingly does not give a damn and wants out but cannot find an owner or is not willing to sell. So, he selfishly sits there and watches as Rome burns. In a few months as we become a club in big debt again, he will not be able to give us away. However, despite all this, the focus will be on the manager and the players. The players lack of effort, passion and fight has been startling. They are not good enough to a man. We do not have one Premier League standard player in the entire squad. Even our better players Baldock and McBurnie are not at the level needed despite some effort and both are never fit or lack discipline. Ultimately the buck stops with the owner but also the manager and he simply has to be sacked. He, like the players, is massively out of his depth. Burnley and Bournemouth have better players but not be the level of scoreline (should have been more last week) and performances we have seen. The manager is coaxing and coaching absolutely nothing out of the team. The recruitment team with him sanctioning have made dreadful signings that have not improved us but you could argue with little funds we could not get Premier League players but I would argue we could get a type that would help us battle and be in games. We have signed small, weak players that are not fit and cannot run. We need to move away from just picking on or singling out individuals because make no mistake every single player is utterly abject at the moment in everything. Only Osula comes out with any credit today. The rest were atrocious to a man – save one volley and run from Hamer.
He is a nice guy but it is turning sour now and he has to be moved on. Please do not put McCall, Lester and Hudson in charge either – even temporarily. They are part of this complete lack of a plan combined with the players seemingly not even putting effort in (the garbage he said about our running stats being good v Bournemouth was an insult to the fans and angered people even more and rightly so). We need to move fast. I hope it is not Wilder and we have had a plan for a few weeks now as it has been coming so good and well run clubs have a man or a plan in mind when sacking the manager. Sadly, doubt that will be us. We are as good as down but fans deserve to come to the games and see us at least be competitive. It’s like a bush league team against a Major League side in baseball at the moment. We are waving the white flag at kick off now as well. The fans who went today must be furious – paying a lot of money and travelling over there on a freezing day to watch that complete and utter lack of anything.
The club is a mess. Roy made a superb point on Bladespod about us having 3 years out of 5 years in the Premier League with all the financial incomes that yields and we have absolutely nothing to show for it. No good players, no assets, no structure to the club, we have a guy with no experience of football running things (Bettis) and Heckingbottom has to do everything playing wise. No changes in the improvements to the training ground or a move to another site. The academy has not been improved. The ground has not been really improved. We have achieved nothing but lose football games (taking away that first half a season). The owner has to get out. He has to take a loss and move on as if he stays, he will end up losing more money and won’t ever be able to get rid.
Short term we need some pride back. The players need to actually show they give a damn. If the manager survives this I would be astounded but equally with the lack of leadership above, then maybe it does not happen? They are not here like McCabe and Brealey were to see the toxic fall out. Liverpool could score ten on Wednesday night and the next four games are against the good teams! To go from where we were last May to this is a complete and utter failure and those who back the Prince and the board (have we got one) are really baffling me. Heckingbottom has shown he is out of depth and needs to go but ultimately as he is the leader of the players, the owner is the leader of the club. Tonight, the owner, manager and players all should be ashamed of their efforts since we got promoted. We look like a club who just does not even want to be in the highest league. We may as well have took the money and refused the place because that is effectively what we are doing.
We need to move away from just picking on or singling out individuals because make no mistake every single player is utterly abject at the moment in everything. Only Osula comes out with any credit today. The rest were atrocious to a man – save one volley and run from Hamer.
