Ratings :
Davies 6/10 – First half, he was given no protection at all. They could have scored twice before they did score. The goal he has no chance. He made a few basic saves but most of the misses were just that, misses. He miskicked one out but then swept up well on another few. I felt sorry for him to start the game but then second half we did better to protect him. He only had a few headers to deal with and his saves were easy. I do not agree with his new deal as think we need to move on and look for better but he has done largely ok since he came back in.
Seriki 4.5/10 – Woeful on the goal as he completely switched off and did not pick up his man. He had been beaten before that. They caused problems down both sides. He did at least get forward and have some runs and crosses but nothing resulted from them. Outside of Hamer, he was the only real outlet though. Second half he was better in defensive stuff but we improved hugely after Hoever came on.
Burrows 6/10 – Totally different first half to second in terms of contributions. Continued to show he simply cannot defend. Got in bad positions constantly and he cannot tackle or stop his man or crosses. They went at him a lot to start but Seriki was not much better defensively. He put one ok cross in but saw little of him going forward. First half a long way off it, but then second half a different player. He got forward and was a constant threat. He linked well with others and some of our better attacks often involved him. Sent a few crosses over and looked a dangerous outlet with some great bits of combination with others..
McGuiness 5.5/10 – Both centre backs were all over the place but had no protection in front. He looked slow and ungainly. Took too long to react and did not win headers coming in. Did get better second half but can’t remember him winning much in the air. Clarke won three corners second half but missed the chances. He was ok and been a few better performances to end the season (not last two) but I do not want him close to our first team next season.
Tanganga 4/10 – Looked ragged again although full backs and central midfielders were not tackling, blocking space or doing anything to start the game. Not a good look to see him swearing at his fellow centre half. Told him to ‘f off’ after he went to clear the ball and felt it was his partner’s responsibility. He got booked second half and made some bewildering decisions. Just did not seem to react to stuff. To be fair he got better and started to win his wrestling match (he does too much of this though) but thought he was one of our weaker players on the day.
Arblaster 4.5/10 – Him and Peck did not get close to their men and we got overrun in this area. We did not deny the ball into the forward players and barely made a tackle/interception. He made one decent block but when he saw little of the ball – one ball inside full back was a decent attempt. Just far too quiet and did not seem to be mobile enough to get around and help fill gaps. There was space all over the midfield. I hope he can get back to the levels of before but still looks a long way short. Him and Peck as a combo does not work. We improved hugely after Rothwell replaced him, as Peck could then be further forward.
Peck 8/10 – His best game for a long time but that was after a poor first half where him and Arblaster just looked off the pace of the game and lacking any kind of intensity. He gave it away a fair bit and other than one run where he was fouled, I thought that we had nothing in midfield. Second half he was completely different and came out and ran the game. He won tackles, got on the ball, passed it forward and had efforts on goal. He controlled the midfield and moved it around allowing others to get involved. Scored a decent well struck goal and could have had another. He looked the player that some Premier League clubs may court, but we have not seen it enough in an average season from him – where he has again been flogged too much. Do wonder whether we will see him again now?
Hamer 7/10 – Flitted in an out but first half had the free kick shot – our only effort. He was much improved after the break, like them all. Had a break that led to the chance for O’Hare and then calmly rolled in Bamford on the mistake from them. He also was involved in the second too and in me making the second goal and became the top assister in the Championship – overtaking Sorba Thomas on the last day. He went to the fans at the end and like with Peck, might have been a goodbye? He will be missed, if he does depart, as despite frustrating, he can be a matchwinner. He is always likely to find that bit of skill or brilliance to get an assist or goal. IF he does move on, we will feel his loss definitely.
O’Hare 6.5/10 – Did not notice him at all first half and forgot he was even playing but then was the O’Hare we had seen at the start of the season, being involved in many of our attacks. He linked well with others, got round the ball and pressed too when off the ball. He had a shot wide and also was involved in sets ups for other chances. When him, Hamer, Burrows and Peck are like that with Bamford ahead, we look a good attacking side and that was without Brooks (and Seriki not at his best).
Cannon 6/10 – First half he was dreadful. I know he had little service but every time the ball went to him, he just got shrugged off or was too slow to react. He did not win a single ball and other than a looped header, can’t recall anything he did? Second half hugely improved. Set up O’Hare, calmly side footing the goal in and looked more mobile and threatening. He went off after the goal. Looked a threat and got in behind.
Bamford 6/10 – Like Cannon, had little service but other than one cross he tried to return, he was not given much of the ball in the first half. Second half he was much more involved, we played off him but we also had others getting into the box, so were not relying on him. He only had the one effort, the scissor kick but he was able to combine well with Ings and set up the goal with his pass.
Subs –
Rothwell 6/10 – Thought he was steady and allowed Peck to be the attacking midfielder. Sat and picked up the loose bits and used it sensibly.
Chong 8/10 – What a cameo! He was superb and something I have never seen coming. He went past his man time and time again with 3 or 4 super runs. Had a shot saved and nearly made two other goals. He looked energetic, quick and tricky and showed me things I did not think he had. Unsure where it came from? Maybe showed there is something there but to only show that once in pretty much half a season, is simply not enough.
Hoever 7/10 – He was energetic, got on the ball, used it well and got beyond them a fair bit. He nearly set up a goal for Bamford and he was an outlet down the right that we kept finding, as space as cropping up all over
Ings 5.5/10 – Had two efforts – one shot tipped over and then one he should have finished. He has been nowhere near for a good portion of the season, but he has been ok off the bench to close the season, at least looking a threat.
Riedewald – Did not come on for long but we saw out the stoppage time more likely to score again rather than having to just hang on.
Manager : Wilder 7.5/10 – An away win against a decent side, and some positive changes in coaching/set up and subs. The first half and the way we started was unacceptable as carried on the last two home showings and first half performances. We could have gone under but we did stay in the game and then he must have had words (why are we suddenly only turning up for second halves all of a sudden- it was the other way round most of the season?!). We found some energy and tempo, got on the ball and won midfield. We turned it forward quicker and players moved out of set positions with Burrows, Bamford, Cannon, O’Hare, Hamer and Peck the main players that linked as the front players suddenly came alive and we played higher up the field. We got back in it from a mistake but then scored again and after that, it was mostly all us. His changes helped us as those three that came in, made a real positive impact.
Derby – Thought they would do much better than last season when they were near the bottom for much of the season but Eustace has proved at Birmingham and Blackburn to be a very good manager and someone who does not get enough credit for me. He has got an ‘ok’ Derby team right to the fringes of the playoffs. They have some decent players (Agyemang up top has been excellent before getting injured) but you look at their team and would you swap it for ours? That may sound mad as we are so far below them but man for man you would swap that many. They have some solid defenders who do what ours don’t and also have goals from different areas, but a lot of journeyman types. Heck, we saw how poor the likes of Brewster and BBD were, with only flashes of form from both. I would not want either back but then they are both better than some of the options we have trotted out there this season.
Today was going to be hard with needed two other results to go for the but could only do what they had to and win the game against us. They started superbly and went after us. They scored and maybe with more composure, could have had more. The second half they failed to build on this and got nervous and the mistake summed it up. After this, they sort of fell apart and never looked like getting back into it and by the end, were a bit of a mess, as we pulled them apart and could have had more. A disappointing way to end the season but they have had a much better season than us, despite the result. Still, both teams will start level in August now. Definitely moving in the right direction though and with smart recruitment, can look to try and replicate what they did this season. To be in with a fight of getting in the top 6 at the end is a big overachievement I reckon. Whether they can be around the same places next season, with 3 strong teams (for this level) coming down and hopefully likes of United/Norwich improving and others like Brum/Wrexham spending again. However, with Eustace at the helm, do not see they being anywhere worse than mid table for the next few seasons.
Opponent Man of the Match – Szmodics caused us all sorts of problems and the main threat first half, scoring and be involved in most of their other good chances/play.
Opponent Weak link – Ironically Ward had been a real threat first half but made a big error that saw them pegged back. Brereton Diaz was never in the game – will he will ever be more than a Championship journeyman?
Referee / Officials – Tom Nield. This season, he has reffed wins at QPR and at home to Ipswich – rightly sent off Bamford (could have sent the keeper off for me for Ipswich too). Today, he was mixed. Some obvious bookings but then some odd decisions too. Thought there were a few corners for both sides he missed. He booked 7 players in the end which seemed too high for a game with few bad tackles really. He penalised Peck and Forsyth for two separate tackles where they seemed to win the ball but was one of those refs that looked at force/aggressive nature perhaps? Do not recall any bad decisions that shaped the scoreline. The first Szmodics chance was offside but he was on for the goal.
Epilogue! Match Report update…..
That’s it for the match reports this season – it has been a grind at times writing some of these but can’t just do them when we are successful I suppose but makes it harder when we lose, as feels like I am being even more negative (I know that is my slant sometimes to be pessimistic anyway) but it can be a struggle to try and put a positive spin when we have lost so many games.
From next season, I am not sure I will be writing as long and full-er reports – certainly every week. I will still most games (ones I see) do a summary of United/opposition and of course the player ratings etc. The actual report from the game, I do not know whether I will write every week. Feedback from people who do read these are that a lot (most?) just skip to the ratings of the players anyway. I do wonder who reads the actual report, as most will have seen it or can find far better reports out there. It takes me a long time to do them after games and with having other commitments/work sometimes it can take a fair chunk out of a Saturday/Sunday. Night matches are literally a nightmare, as by the time I get home, it is bedtime nearly and then I am leaving for work at 7am and my job does not allow me time to do during the working day so have to do next day and often the impetus for a discussion can be gone.
I’m not saying I can’t be bothered anymore – just they might not be as in depth for reasons above. I am happy to take feedback – people might say don’t bother at all anymore?! I get where Bladespod is coming from when he ended their podcast. Maybe United having a down season has not helped but think I do have a bit of a downer on football in general at the moment (others have spoken about that). It is not just because it has been dull this year – we have had worse times as a Blade definitely.
The last few seasons I have routinely not watched Match of the Day and can go weeks without watching a live game (used to watch every Super Sunday/all the Champions League games pretty much every week). I do not know who many of the players are in the Premier League anymore! I just seem to be losing touch and a bit of interest. There has been the odd Saturday, where I have just gone into the Peak District on my bike or gone for a run and not even thought about United. That is hard to shake as I never used to ever miss games. I am sure it will come again but I even felt it last season, when we were doing well. I know a fair few who have not renewed (think crowds will be down by a lot) and are taking a break from it next season. So, I do not feel like I am in a minority. It does not make people less of a fan – maybe it does but I just think you can have ups and downs as a supporter. I will always love football and United but you can be less into it for a whole host of reasons. Some people have other commitments (time and money). I renewed but was seriously the first time for a long, long time (even League One, I had no hesitation) where I was undecided at times whether to renew. Wonder if others felt like that too?
Anyway, despite this, I will be posting my end of season review – probably be concluded middle of next week and posted from end of next week. Even this does not have the detail of seasons past (finding time again) but will discuss each player and grade them and try and look ahead.
Cheers. UTB.
just got back from Derby beer& blades, maybe my mojos coming back
