Deadbat
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
- Messages
- 5,922
- Reaction score
- 31,247
---
The Blades season is effectively over after they exited the FA Cup at the Quarter Final stage as they lost to Chelsea for the third time this season. After the turmoil of the last few weeks, no one really gave United much chance of executing an upset at Stamford Bridge but a much better showing meant ultimately United were unfortunate to lose after they played really well in the second half and missed chances to level before a late goal made the score line quite flattering for Chelsea after they had controlled the first half and led due to an own goal.
United caretaker manager Paul Heckingbottom sprung a few surprises in his team with 5 changes in a line up where the formation and positions seemed unclear from the team sheet announced. In came Bogle, Jagielka, Osborn, McBurnie and McGoldrick. Out went the ineligible Ampadu, Bryan, Burke, Basham and Sharp with the latter two not even on the bench that featured youngster Gordon, Brunt and Ndiaye. Sharp is expected to be out for a few weeks after picking up an injury in the week. Basham failed a late fitness test.
Chelsea brought in Arrizabalaga, Christensen, Chilwell, Hudson-Odoi, Gilmour, Emerson, Mount, Pulisic and Giroud – totalling nine changes from the win over Atletico Madrid but still had a very strong line up.
Despite the pre match graphic the official site put out, the Blades remained at 3-5-2 with Baldock and Stevens flanking Jagielka at the back and Osborn/Bogle as the wing backs and the usual three in midfield.
United started well and had a shot in the first minute with McGoldrick’s shot straight at Kepa. The Blades were pressing and harrying but Chelsea began to move it around well and dominate possession. The Blades won a corner after McGoldrick showed good desire but the flick from Stevens onto Jagielka saw the header loop up and be saved fairly easily.
Chelsea started to take control though and a series of niggle fouls saw the ball stay in the United territory for a period of time. Stevens made an error but Jagielka did well to recover the mistake.
They were a couple of half chances to get the ball into the danger area but the Blades remained compact until a mistake from Osborn saw Hudson-Odoi get in and cross and the ball bobbled off Ramsdale and then went out for a corner. From this the opening goal came. It was cleared to the edge of the box but no one got out to Chilwell who hit a low shot across goal. It was going wide until NORWOOD (OG) stuck his foot out and deflected it past his keeper into the net. It was the second consecutive week the Blades have conceded an own goal and only Arsenal (4 to 3) have scored more this season.
After this the home team pinged the ball about and United were not able to get a foothold in the game at all and the rare times, they had it, they gave it away. The football was patient though as they moved the Blades about ad Gilmour was key to most things they did. His pass nearly got in Hudson-Odoi with Osborn sleeping again.
United were not trying to attack at all despite being 1-0 down and continued to sit in in a very negative approach to the game. They were working hard to deny chances but ultimately had to try and score a goal and were not doing that. Another period of niggly fouls with Baldock and Stevens giving a few away.
Another error by Norwood who was continually trying to get on the ball, saw him give it straight to Pulisic who got in and was clear but Ramsdale made the excellent point blank save.
The Blades were still in the game but passed up several opportunities to cross the ball on both sides before McGoldrick tried a speculative shot again that was easy for Kepa to save.
The half time whistle was not long coming after this in a game where United had not disgraced themselves and had worked hard but lacked any real quality to hurt Chelsea. The home side had not really had many opportunities themselves and the goal was a mistake but they had controlled the game and the football.
The second half saw Pulisic just completely embarrass Fleck and Stevens as he ran through the pair of them to get in and Ramsdale made a great save with the rebound put over by the American. United tried to come out and Bogle had a good run but was stopped with a good tackle before the shape of the game reverted to before with Chelsea dominating the ball.
Pulisic caused more problems down the right and worked space for Hudson Odoi whose shot was ballooned over but it was another opening for Chelsea.
Baldock and Stevens both were guilty of poor fouls as Pulisic was causing problems again. United did have a half chance as the ball came over from the left and McBurnie went down under a challenge but as it came back Stevens and Lundstram dithered. Chelsea broke away and suddenly an error from Jagielka nearly saw second own goal as Ramsdale scrambled across as the ball went out for a corner.
Osborn was getting well forward and worked a few good openings but the ball did not quite fall before Chelsea made two changes with James and Azpilicueta came on for Giroud and Christensen. United were now having a lot more of the ball and forcing Chelsea back. A neat spell of possession saw Bogle find Lundstram and he put over a great cross which had to be converted by McGoldrick but somehow with the goal at his mercy he headed wide. It really did look easier to score. A dreadful miss and United would surely not have a better chance to get back into the game.
Soon after McBurnie did well to bring a ball out of the sky and he hit a powerful shot that Kepa pushed away. Suddenly it was all United and Chelsea had to make more changes with Havertz and Ziyech on for Gilmour and Hudson-Odoi. The home side had created little after those opening few minutes of the half.
United were attacking down the left with intent and Osborn then nearly got in again before Burke came on for McBurnie. McGoldrick then showed great skill to jink past his man tight by the touchline and skirted along the line coming towards goal before his cross was pushed away from Kepa as no Blades player could get a touch.
Brewster came on for Norwood as Stevens headed wide from a free kick as the Blades were now dominating a game that had completely turned around. Kante had to be used to help stem the tide with Pulisic being withdrawn. The game ticked to the last minute but a poor Baldock cross eased the pressure.
On 90 minutes, Brewster then did well to hold it up and back heeled it to Osborn whose run and pull back fell for Brewster who hit a powerful shot but it flicked a defender on its way into the side netting. The corner was cleared and deep into stoppage time the game was put to bed. Stevens and Osborn made a mess of it down the left and from the throw, Jagielka’s header dropped and the ball was switched to the right where James put over a dinked cross and ZIYECH took a touch and drilled it superbly into the corner giving Ramsdale no chance. The tie was sealed and Chelsea were relieved they had breathing space as the Blades had pushed them right to the end.
United – It was miles better than last week. We had a go and had chances. We did not fold and competed. We had chances to level and should have taken it to extra time. The 2-0 flattered them in the end and does not tell the story. They controlled the first half after we began well but did not have tons of chances and the goal was sloppy again. They did have most of the ball and could have made it 2-0. Second half they could have put it away early and had more opportunities in the first 5 minutes of the 2nd half than the whole first half but then we slowly came into it. We had a real go and had a series of chances and one guilt edged chance which McGoldrick has to score. We had more moments and even right at the end Brewster nearly levels. The late goal was a sucker punch but we had to go for it at that stage.
First half we began ok but then sat back and invited pressure and started giving it away with several cynical and petty fouls but they were not creating lots. The goal was a bit fortunate for them but poor play from us. They then could have got a second and controlled things having all the ball. It was not too dissimilar to last week in that we stayed in the game but I did think we pressed and harried more and were a lot closer to them than we have been. I was concerned 2nd half as we started slowly and bad defending nearly saw them score a second to finish the game but after that around 55 minutes we started to get out.
I am not sure anyone individually was fantastic really and my match ratings will reflect that. It was odd in that no one really was taking the game or doing things that would make you think ‘he is playing’ really well but we just got on the ball more, pressed them more and had more men up the field to attack more. We missed the golden chance and had other openings and could easily have taken the game to extra time. Whether they would have stepped up again and just gone up a gear I do not know but they were struggling to get out. Not sure they were hanging on at the end but we certainly continued to have chances right till the end.
I came away from the game and thought at least we had a go. In simple terms we still cannot score and cannot keep teams out the other end but we had as many chances as them, we competed and 2nd half we got up the pitch and actually really forced them back. I just thought it was a better performance and other than the backs to the wall, gutsy effort v Villa, it was the best we have played for some time. Forgotten amongst all the talk about Wilder and the hammering last week is that we have been nearly as bad as last week in many other games, just teams have not taken chances or not needed to score more goals. Today even though it looked comfortable, we had a go and it was much more respectable.
Off the field, things have been really quiet at the club. Even the social media team have not come out and said much or put much out this week. A lot has been made of the lack of tribute to Wilder from the club and it is poor that the club have not made a proper acknowledgement but show how things really broke down at the end. However, moving forward I am more concerned we have heard nothing from the likes of Bettis, Abdullah or his family this week. Maybe there is nothing to say but even a cursory statement saying we are moving forward with a plan for the new management structure, what we are desperate for the club to make an appointment yet and think I would rather us take our time. Ideally if the new manager could come in for the final few games to assess real live game time but if we don’t and wait for the right man, that is fine. I am not sure we are going to be making a ton of signings this summer unless a number leave but the formation/style and the new man and his team getting a feel for things is probably needed rather than waiting till June/July time.
Rumours this weekend of the likes of Slavisa Jokanovic and Steve Cooper at Swansea were certainly a bit more positive and interesting than the names we had seen before. The fact that the likes of the Cowley brothers went to Pompey and some fans were interested showed that we are not going to be spoilt for choice really. We now have two weeks before the next league game. We have 9 largely pointless games to go but still feel some players are playing for their future but then when a new manager comes in then it is a clean sheet somewhat. That is why it is hard to expect the players to really be absolutely going for it. They know this manager is not here and know they are down. I do expect more games to be like last week than today. We had a chance in a different competition and did about as well as we could do but, in the league, there is literally nothing to play for. Quite sad that in mid-March and the next meaningful game will be August – 5 months away where we are really going to be that bothered about a result/game. Never has it ever been like this in my United supporting lifetime.
