Deadbat
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Pod and report on another defeat
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Another week, another defeat and the Blades horror show of a season continues as they now sit firmly at the bottom of the Premier League. Albeit it a tough trio of games that many feared after a poor start, other teams have picked up points from some of these sides but United sadly picked up absolutely nothing. With another international break now upon us, Blades fans know if they do not start picking up points in the next group of games in the lead up to Xmas, then their stay in the top flight will be over within two seasons. Certainly, Wilder’s man have a mountain to climb already. Today, a strong and star-studded Chelsea side were too strong for the Blades despite a good start from the away team.
United made one enforced change with Oliver Norwood back in for the ineligible Ethan Ampadu but changed things in midfield with Lundstram in for Osborn and up top with David McGoldrick in for Oli McBurnie who apparently had been ill in the week. McBurnie was deemed well enough to be on the bench. Chelsea started with summer signings Mendy, Silva and Chilwell in defence and further up the field Ziyech and Werner. There was no Kai Havertz due to isolating with Covid.
The game began with United starting well with them pressing and forcing the home team back. Basham’s cross was cut out after Berge had got down the right early on. The first chance came for Chelsea though when Abraham got away from Egan and after the cross came over the striker then flicked it on and Ramsdale had to save from Chilwell from point blank range.
United had a half chance when the long diagonal ball from Egan put in Baldock on the angle but his shot was deflected wide off Chilwell. United won two successive corners and then from the final one they took a surprise lead. Norwood and Baldock worked space well and Norwood’s pass sent the wing back clear and his precise pull back was sent goalwards by Berge and MCGOLDRICK flicked it home superbly with his back to goal. It was a deserved goal for a solid start from United.
The Blades came continued to compete well and were playing with confidence but Abraham came inside and had an effort easily saved from Ramsdale. Chelsea then had the ball for a large spell of possession and began to force United back and were really in the ascendancy. Lowe had a shot that was saved in a moment of restbite but the equaliser seemed to be coming after such domination of the ball and so it proved.
Stevens once again made another mistake as he lost his runner Kovacic who got away from him and pulled it back. ABRAHAM did not get the cleanest of finish but bounced it into the ground and into the goal as Basham could not het his head on it.
Chelsea continued to cause problems down the left-hand side and Lowe, Stevens and Lundstram were losing runners and not switched on. Lowe gave away another free kick and Ramsdale then had to push away from a free kick but not far enough and Werner smashed it against the bar. It was a let off for United.
Chelsea were now totally in the ascendancy and continued to probe. Ramsdale made another mistake when he pushed away a weak cross out for a corner when he should have held it and from the corner, the ball was put into the box from the Chelsea right hand side again. The cross was dangerous but should have been cut out. Lowe was fast asleep but Ramsdale has to get the ball as it was right in front of goal but CHILWELL bundled it in. The full back almost had his back on it as he turned it in but was still braver than the Blades goalkeeper who continued his wobbly display.
Chelsea were now rampant and nearly made it three as Chilwell turned a shot goalwards after poor defending saw United fail to clear it three times and Ramsdale had to push it away for a corner. United had a rare attack and won a corner but it bounced across the goal. After this United did finally have a spell of possession but moved it around rather aimlessly and Chelsea just got men back and it petered out.
The half time whistle came soon after with the home side deserving to lead after dominating the game outside the first 10 minutes and having the bulk of the chances. It was another poor display from the Blades full of defensive mistakes but also, they had not seen anywhere near enough of the ball and created little once again.
Chelsea began the second half with a chance and nearly made it three as Stevens’ poor header saw a chance for Kovacic but Basham got back well to make the block. The corner was cleared but both Lundstram and Basham have it away in close succession. On 55 minutes Ziyech hit a shot that was heading for the top corner but it was flicked away from Egan.
Chelsea were simply dominating the game and United could barely get a kick at all. Chelsea had two more chances to score after Brewster’s awful clearance saw Abraham have his effort blocked from Egan and then Ramsdale spilt another cross shot with Stevens injured in the melee.
The home side continued to be in complete control so Wilder tried to change things and McBurnie and Osborn came on for Brewster and Norwood. Berge gave it away twice and then fouled his man. The James free kick was pushed away by Ramsdale
Kovacic then shot just wide after more good movement. United simply could not get in the game at all. It was easy as Chelsea were not only showing quality on the ball but also competing and winning all the loose balls. It was so easy for the home side.
The game entered the final 20 minutes and Werner had a shot blocked and United had not mustered an attack with a rare moment seeing Baldock overhit a cross.
Kovacic took a knock and came off for Jorginho but it was one-way traffic still and the Blades rarely even kept the ball for more than one or two passes. A daft foul from Lowe saw a whipped free kick from Ziyech and as Ramsdale flapped again, SILVA beat McBurnie to it to power his header home. This effectively sealed the game but in truth just like last week, even though there had only been one goal in it this had been very one sided.
Chelsea moved the ball about well again and Silva sent a delightful ball that sent Werner clear and he lobbed the ball just wide with the United defence all over the place, with a few going out and a few staying. It was now becoming a bit embarrassing for United who were second best all over the field and the fourth goal came. It was a simple ball from Ziyech and WERNER came in and smashed the ball past Ramsdale. For this goal he had no chance.
United had completely gone and at this point it was now a matter of how many goals Chelsea would score. They continued to move it around well but United at least had a spell and won a few corners near the end but they had not mounted one meaningful attack on the Chelsea goal in a pitiful second half performance.
There was an additional three minutes of stoppage time to be played and Mount nearly got another as his shot was flicked up and over by Ramsdale.
The full time whistle came with both teams playing out time and United probably just desperate to get back up north and somehow regroup after the international break.
United – It’s looking really bleak. It has been a disastrous season. Other teams are at least picking up something here and there. We just keep losing. Every week. Yes, it was going to be hard today but did I fancy us getting anything? No and sadly so it proved. We played well for 10 minutes and started really well but the rest of the game we were completely outclassed by better players who were quicker, stronger, better movement and just skill wise far better than us. It is the first time we have played this season we have had a proper going over but I felt last week it could easily been this despite some seeing different things to me.
We started well and scored and I felt we gave ourselves a chance but as soon as they equalised you knew that was that. We almost waited till they scored goal after goal. We stayed in at half time just but then the second half was pathetic. Yes, they are good but we did not lay a glove on them and they just passed it round us. They moved off us all over the field and cut us up time after time. 4-1 was about right – it maybe could have been more. They were just way too good for us. A lot will be made of tactics and formation and of course we are right to discuss this but today individually and collectively we were soundly beaten.
I thought we might maybe get a point or even a surprise win in the last three tough games but we got nothing. Other teams are picking up points against these teams. We got sod all. We now are really rooted in a run of horrible form. I keep getting criticised for going back to last season but it is now 0 wins in 11 games and away from home the form is abysmal – we have won one game away in 2020 at Palace and one win in I think 13 away games and lost most off them too. We used to proud ourselves on how attacking we were away from home and how we would go at teams but now it’s nothing like that.
A lot are saying that’s the tough three games out of the way and we can crack on but it does not always work like that and some are very optimistic thinking it will suddenly turn around. We have not shown many signs we can turn it around no matter who we play next. We now have huge pressure on games to come. West Ham are better than last year. West Brom can score goals and are at home and then Leicester and Southampton are scoring. I cam struggling to see where the next goal let alone point or win will come from. That is not defeatist that is based what we have seen bar an ok showing first half v Leeds, a decent first half v Fulham and a good show at Liverpool and 10 minutes today. So, we have maybe put in about 100 minutes of good football in 720 minutes. The rest we have been shocking and deserve to be where we are. We are bottom as we are the worst team in the league. It is that simple. We have gone from being really good to awful. It’s a combination of things but maybe post lockdown we saw glimpses to be concerned. I think the crowd thing is a factor but the players have to be better and is a weak mentality if they need fans to get them going. Too many are feeling sorry for themselves and are playing poorly. A few are not good enough and nowhere near ready for this league also. That combined with no leadership on the field and I would suggest off it where the manager is just blaming them at the moment adds up the worst storm sadly.
I was worried last season we would like we have this season – a side that maybe had gone a level too far but we were incredible last season. It went from being a surprise to actually thinking we have really good player and many are easily Premier League level and this system was incredible. Now with a few injuries but still the bulk of the side and system, we look like a different side in terms of performance and results. You now think maybe it was a season last year where everything came together and the likes of Baldock, Stevens, Norwood, McGoldrick, McBurnie actually are Championship players and now look out of their depth. It’s odd as has happened maybe the wrong way round. I expected a struggle last year but maybe we’d just stay up and then these with additions would improve. However, the team, players and manager look devoid of confidence, ideas and hunger. That hunger we had getting up the leagues and last year has gone. We are not winning the infamous races, headers and tackles Wilder describes so now against better players who last year we managed to compete and even outdo even for skill, we look like a plucky cup team at best competing against juggernauts.
They had movement, skill and like las week it looked like 12 v 9 or 10 at times. It was so one sided after the opening spell. I carried on watching but it was hard to watch it and it was just a matter of how many we would let in. For all the talk of us not losing by loads this season we now have the worst goal difference in the league and today got a proper going over. If the manager and players don’t wake up and stop feeling sorry for themselves, they will get many more tonkings. At the moment the players need to wake up or they will be back at a lower level on a lot less wages and all the praise and fanfare will be long forgotten. Football is a fickle business and for Wilder and the players they will realise that quickly.
Much is made of the style and how we play now not working – we are not creating chances but I also think the little things, pressing, tackling, running or not where we were. We seem to have lost fitness and sharpness and everything combines makes us look what we are – the worst side in the Premier League. Everyone slammed Norwich last season but at least they were adventurous and scored. Naïve maybe but they did have a go until ran out of gas when they were almost gone by lockdown. We look an insipid and sad to say it, boring side. I think even Fulham and West Brom are more adventurous than us. Only Burnley rival us for dullness. If we are going to go down then let’s do it with a style or flair. I am not sure what we are now? Wilder seems clueless how to turn it round. However, I actually think more than tactics it is simply individually and collectively we are not good enough. Players are losing battles and we look shot confidence wise. Maybe if we got a result from somewhere, we could get back into things in terms of the mix of staying up but at the moment we are on course to rival that Derby team as the worst team in Premier League history. People will say keep the faith and of course you never know but there are so many things wrong at the moment. Lots will be made of us missing this player or that player or Ramsdale or Lundstram or the wing backs or Brewster or the other strikers or Norwood. Then it’s the formation and the tactics. The fact I have reeled off so many things make us realise what an uphill task it will be to even have a chance at staying up. Football is not fun to watch at the moment and United look a beaten side in most games long before they are. Even today at 1-1 I thought that was it.
There is no fight and no skill. Nothing really. We are conceding goals, not scoring (at least got one tody) and not competing. We scored a nice goal today but that was it – in 90 minutes. Two games of watching vastly superior teams just pass round us. Yes, they are miles better but not sure other teams have looked so inferior as us – and some other poor teams have played these two teams.
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Another week, another defeat and the Blades horror show of a season continues as they now sit firmly at the bottom of the Premier League. Albeit it a tough trio of games that many feared after a poor start, other teams have picked up points from some of these sides but United sadly picked up absolutely nothing. With another international break now upon us, Blades fans know if they do not start picking up points in the next group of games in the lead up to Xmas, then their stay in the top flight will be over within two seasons. Certainly, Wilder’s man have a mountain to climb already. Today, a strong and star-studded Chelsea side were too strong for the Blades despite a good start from the away team.
United made one enforced change with Oliver Norwood back in for the ineligible Ethan Ampadu but changed things in midfield with Lundstram in for Osborn and up top with David McGoldrick in for Oli McBurnie who apparently had been ill in the week. McBurnie was deemed well enough to be on the bench. Chelsea started with summer signings Mendy, Silva and Chilwell in defence and further up the field Ziyech and Werner. There was no Kai Havertz due to isolating with Covid.
The game began with United starting well with them pressing and forcing the home team back. Basham’s cross was cut out after Berge had got down the right early on. The first chance came for Chelsea though when Abraham got away from Egan and after the cross came over the striker then flicked it on and Ramsdale had to save from Chilwell from point blank range.
United had a half chance when the long diagonal ball from Egan put in Baldock on the angle but his shot was deflected wide off Chilwell. United won two successive corners and then from the final one they took a surprise lead. Norwood and Baldock worked space well and Norwood’s pass sent the wing back clear and his precise pull back was sent goalwards by Berge and MCGOLDRICK flicked it home superbly with his back to goal. It was a deserved goal for a solid start from United.
The Blades came continued to compete well and were playing with confidence but Abraham came inside and had an effort easily saved from Ramsdale. Chelsea then had the ball for a large spell of possession and began to force United back and were really in the ascendancy. Lowe had a shot that was saved in a moment of restbite but the equaliser seemed to be coming after such domination of the ball and so it proved.
Stevens once again made another mistake as he lost his runner Kovacic who got away from him and pulled it back. ABRAHAM did not get the cleanest of finish but bounced it into the ground and into the goal as Basham could not het his head on it.
Chelsea continued to cause problems down the left-hand side and Lowe, Stevens and Lundstram were losing runners and not switched on. Lowe gave away another free kick and Ramsdale then had to push away from a free kick but not far enough and Werner smashed it against the bar. It was a let off for United.
Chelsea were now totally in the ascendancy and continued to probe. Ramsdale made another mistake when he pushed away a weak cross out for a corner when he should have held it and from the corner, the ball was put into the box from the Chelsea right hand side again. The cross was dangerous but should have been cut out. Lowe was fast asleep but Ramsdale has to get the ball as it was right in front of goal but CHILWELL bundled it in. The full back almost had his back on it as he turned it in but was still braver than the Blades goalkeeper who continued his wobbly display.
Chelsea were now rampant and nearly made it three as Chilwell turned a shot goalwards after poor defending saw United fail to clear it three times and Ramsdale had to push it away for a corner. United had a rare attack and won a corner but it bounced across the goal. After this United did finally have a spell of possession but moved it around rather aimlessly and Chelsea just got men back and it petered out.
The half time whistle came soon after with the home side deserving to lead after dominating the game outside the first 10 minutes and having the bulk of the chances. It was another poor display from the Blades full of defensive mistakes but also, they had not seen anywhere near enough of the ball and created little once again.
Chelsea began the second half with a chance and nearly made it three as Stevens’ poor header saw a chance for Kovacic but Basham got back well to make the block. The corner was cleared but both Lundstram and Basham have it away in close succession. On 55 minutes Ziyech hit a shot that was heading for the top corner but it was flicked away from Egan.
Chelsea were simply dominating the game and United could barely get a kick at all. Chelsea had two more chances to score after Brewster’s awful clearance saw Abraham have his effort blocked from Egan and then Ramsdale spilt another cross shot with Stevens injured in the melee.
The home side continued to be in complete control so Wilder tried to change things and McBurnie and Osborn came on for Brewster and Norwood. Berge gave it away twice and then fouled his man. The James free kick was pushed away by Ramsdale
Kovacic then shot just wide after more good movement. United simply could not get in the game at all. It was easy as Chelsea were not only showing quality on the ball but also competing and winning all the loose balls. It was so easy for the home side.
The game entered the final 20 minutes and Werner had a shot blocked and United had not mustered an attack with a rare moment seeing Baldock overhit a cross.
Kovacic took a knock and came off for Jorginho but it was one-way traffic still and the Blades rarely even kept the ball for more than one or two passes. A daft foul from Lowe saw a whipped free kick from Ziyech and as Ramsdale flapped again, SILVA beat McBurnie to it to power his header home. This effectively sealed the game but in truth just like last week, even though there had only been one goal in it this had been very one sided.
Chelsea moved the ball about well again and Silva sent a delightful ball that sent Werner clear and he lobbed the ball just wide with the United defence all over the place, with a few going out and a few staying. It was now becoming a bit embarrassing for United who were second best all over the field and the fourth goal came. It was a simple ball from Ziyech and WERNER came in and smashed the ball past Ramsdale. For this goal he had no chance.
United had completely gone and at this point it was now a matter of how many goals Chelsea would score. They continued to move it around well but United at least had a spell and won a few corners near the end but they had not mounted one meaningful attack on the Chelsea goal in a pitiful second half performance.
There was an additional three minutes of stoppage time to be played and Mount nearly got another as his shot was flicked up and over by Ramsdale.
The full time whistle came with both teams playing out time and United probably just desperate to get back up north and somehow regroup after the international break.
United – It’s looking really bleak. It has been a disastrous season. Other teams are at least picking up something here and there. We just keep losing. Every week. Yes, it was going to be hard today but did I fancy us getting anything? No and sadly so it proved. We played well for 10 minutes and started really well but the rest of the game we were completely outclassed by better players who were quicker, stronger, better movement and just skill wise far better than us. It is the first time we have played this season we have had a proper going over but I felt last week it could easily been this despite some seeing different things to me.
We started well and scored and I felt we gave ourselves a chance but as soon as they equalised you knew that was that. We almost waited till they scored goal after goal. We stayed in at half time just but then the second half was pathetic. Yes, they are good but we did not lay a glove on them and they just passed it round us. They moved off us all over the field and cut us up time after time. 4-1 was about right – it maybe could have been more. They were just way too good for us. A lot will be made of tactics and formation and of course we are right to discuss this but today individually and collectively we were soundly beaten.
I thought we might maybe get a point or even a surprise win in the last three tough games but we got nothing. Other teams are picking up points against these teams. We got sod all. We now are really rooted in a run of horrible form. I keep getting criticised for going back to last season but it is now 0 wins in 11 games and away from home the form is abysmal – we have won one game away in 2020 at Palace and one win in I think 13 away games and lost most off them too. We used to proud ourselves on how attacking we were away from home and how we would go at teams but now it’s nothing like that.
A lot are saying that’s the tough three games out of the way and we can crack on but it does not always work like that and some are very optimistic thinking it will suddenly turn around. We have not shown many signs we can turn it around no matter who we play next. We now have huge pressure on games to come. West Ham are better than last year. West Brom can score goals and are at home and then Leicester and Southampton are scoring. I cam struggling to see where the next goal let alone point or win will come from. That is not defeatist that is based what we have seen bar an ok showing first half v Leeds, a decent first half v Fulham and a good show at Liverpool and 10 minutes today. So, we have maybe put in about 100 minutes of good football in 720 minutes. The rest we have been shocking and deserve to be where we are. We are bottom as we are the worst team in the league. It is that simple. We have gone from being really good to awful. It’s a combination of things but maybe post lockdown we saw glimpses to be concerned. I think the crowd thing is a factor but the players have to be better and is a weak mentality if they need fans to get them going. Too many are feeling sorry for themselves and are playing poorly. A few are not good enough and nowhere near ready for this league also. That combined with no leadership on the field and I would suggest off it where the manager is just blaming them at the moment adds up the worst storm sadly.
I was worried last season we would like we have this season – a side that maybe had gone a level too far but we were incredible last season. It went from being a surprise to actually thinking we have really good player and many are easily Premier League level and this system was incredible. Now with a few injuries but still the bulk of the side and system, we look like a different side in terms of performance and results. You now think maybe it was a season last year where everything came together and the likes of Baldock, Stevens, Norwood, McGoldrick, McBurnie actually are Championship players and now look out of their depth. It’s odd as has happened maybe the wrong way round. I expected a struggle last year but maybe we’d just stay up and then these with additions would improve. However, the team, players and manager look devoid of confidence, ideas and hunger. That hunger we had getting up the leagues and last year has gone. We are not winning the infamous races, headers and tackles Wilder describes so now against better players who last year we managed to compete and even outdo even for skill, we look like a plucky cup team at best competing against juggernauts.
They had movement, skill and like las week it looked like 12 v 9 or 10 at times. It was so one sided after the opening spell. I carried on watching but it was hard to watch it and it was just a matter of how many we would let in. For all the talk of us not losing by loads this season we now have the worst goal difference in the league and today got a proper going over. If the manager and players don’t wake up and stop feeling sorry for themselves, they will get many more tonkings. At the moment the players need to wake up or they will be back at a lower level on a lot less wages and all the praise and fanfare will be long forgotten. Football is a fickle business and for Wilder and the players they will realise that quickly.
Much is made of the style and how we play now not working – we are not creating chances but I also think the little things, pressing, tackling, running or not where we were. We seem to have lost fitness and sharpness and everything combines makes us look what we are – the worst side in the Premier League. Everyone slammed Norwich last season but at least they were adventurous and scored. Naïve maybe but they did have a go until ran out of gas when they were almost gone by lockdown. We look an insipid and sad to say it, boring side. I think even Fulham and West Brom are more adventurous than us. Only Burnley rival us for dullness. If we are going to go down then let’s do it with a style or flair. I am not sure what we are now? Wilder seems clueless how to turn it round. However, I actually think more than tactics it is simply individually and collectively we are not good enough. Players are losing battles and we look shot confidence wise. Maybe if we got a result from somewhere, we could get back into things in terms of the mix of staying up but at the moment we are on course to rival that Derby team as the worst team in Premier League history. People will say keep the faith and of course you never know but there are so many things wrong at the moment. Lots will be made of us missing this player or that player or Ramsdale or Lundstram or the wing backs or Brewster or the other strikers or Norwood. Then it’s the formation and the tactics. The fact I have reeled off so many things make us realise what an uphill task it will be to even have a chance at staying up. Football is not fun to watch at the moment and United look a beaten side in most games long before they are. Even today at 1-1 I thought that was it.
There is no fight and no skill. Nothing really. We are conceding goals, not scoring (at least got one tody) and not competing. We scored a nice goal today but that was it – in 90 minutes. Two games of watching vastly superior teams just pass round us. Yes, they are miles better but not sure other teams have looked so inferior as us – and some other poor teams have played these two teams.