Hard done by or got what we deserved?

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

We're hard done by because we earned 16 more fucking points than Sunderland

We got what we deserved for the turgid, negative way we play

 

[Crafty Blade]

Got what we deserved in the end because we should have been comfortable at the break should have been at least 2 up.

We didn't take our chances and sat back in the second half.

We can only blame ourselves for playing into Sunderlands hands.

They play counter attacking football and we played straight into their hands and we reaped what we sowed.

Sitting back against a counter attacking side isn't necessarily a bad tactic, especially when we can break quickly ourselves and theyre chasing the game. However attempting to do so for 45 minutes on a single goal lead was ridiculous and unwarranted. that said i did think we were going to see it out until Hamer went off. When they equalised the momentum had completely shifted with certain key players needed to wrestle it back then off the pitch. that's always the problem with sitting deep for so long.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Got what we deserved in the end because we should have been comfortable at the break should have been at least 2 up.

We didn't take our chances and sat back in the second half.

We can only blame ourselves for playing into Sunderlands hands.

They play counter attacking football and we played straight into their hands and we reaped what we sowed.

You could see us dropping deeper and deeper has the game went on, summed up by us launching the ball up to Moore and him heading it back and not one other United player was in Sunderlands half.
Just cannot see Wilder changing which is why he has to go, the thought of watching us hanging on again in matches when we go 1-0 up dosent bare thinking about.

 

[loyalblade95]

While I do agree that Moore deserves some level of criticism for that mistake that lead to their second goal, he's not the only one.

When Watson picks up that loose ball, he covers a fair bit of distance between that moment and the moment he shoots.

Having 10 men can't have helped, but not one player went to close Watson down (look how much space he has) while he was running at goal.

If just 1 player tries to close Watson down, it slows him down/puts him off slightly (even if he gets past them) which might have given Cooper and our remaining defence a bit more time to position themselves better to prevent the goal.

 

[HeySethUTB]

This is a side that scored 1 goal more (63) than the Sheffield United team that finished 10th (62) in 2017-18. We have been so poor going forward, lowest scoring third place team for over a decade.

I remember something that was said about “how it doesn’t matter about your record against the top 6” but at the same time saying we are far better because of the amount of points we amassed. I’m not sure if wilder was confident, arrogant or blinded by the fact we’ve played well and looked assured for about 270 minutes of football all season, and then either shit housed or unconvincingly ground out points fairly consistently.

I enjoy the data side of football but I feel wilder has gone too far that way. I want to see, the Sheffield United that attempts to completely dominate with aggression and overloads rather than play a shite overly safe Southgate inspired tactical brand of football. Because what happened was we were neither as good going forward as Leeds or solid enough to be as good as Burnley.

 

[Viewfromthepavilion]

Football is basically a simple game. If you are the better team, then you do not sit back & concede possession to a weaker side, you show you are the better team by taking possession & taking the game to them. Strong teams believe & show themselves as such & are usually more successful as a result.
The cowardly tactics / substutions on Saturday are unfortunately down to one man.
Whilst, disappointed at the result, I am more angry at the tactics employed (again). We lost a game we could & should have won, against POOR opposition, leaving a bad taste in my mouth for having failed to have left everything out on the pitch & having failed to play to our strengths.

 

[bakewellblade]

Name a leader... we have some very good individual talent that when things click or opposition teams lack ability and or fight look very comfortably third best in the previous league campaign. I'm convinced that wilder sees Jack Robinson as our strongest leader in the mould of a Chris Morgan type. He's got some guts and thunder attributes but nowhere near the characteristic or talent of Morgs.

Souter had that calm confidence about him that others look upto and looked a natural leader. Not a single player in the group has that same quality and I feel as pressure increases, collectively the team phycologically regress. It's not necessarily individuals fault, it's a character trait.

Anel and Robbo are a weak pair, neither take the game by the scruff and inspire. Equally Souza and Peck are both talented but lack leadership qualities (Peck could develop these but not convinced it's his nature).
We needed leadership above individual quality in January but feel we gambled on the latter. Holding was the one we all hoped would provide calmness and experience but we'll never know why he wasn't seen as the replacement for Souter.

My worry is we lose individual talent this close season and require more major surgery through the entire spine

 

[groveblade]

I just rewatched the entire game (crazy, I know!!)

Some salient points:
Kieffer Moore has an excellent first half and a shocking second half (winning headers v quick feet to counter attack...)

The disallowed goal is VERY controversial, and the reason the ref gives to the crowd is factually incorrect (Souza does NOT impede gk's view at time of Burrows strike - does Souza stop him diving? Arguable both ways)

Sunderland's support is only vastly superior to ours (vocally) after 1-1. It is a fairly evenly supported game up to then. (At 0-2 for the two minutes that burrows goal existed they were broken)

The way we sit too deep after half time (and even before that) is criminal, and an action replay of the Plymouth defeat

The challenge on Brewster looks a possible pen, in slow motion..

BBD has a shocker, either Davies or McCallum would've been better options

Hume's challenge is a shocker (in the modern game) - not even a var check? Strange...

Why bring cannon on for BBD? The shape of the team is then completely lost.

Coops needs to be another two yards out for their second goal to narrow the angle

There are still 3-4 minutes left after Watson scores... our reaction as a team is wasteful and pathetic

I know none of this is new news or views, but it's cathartic for me to say it!!

UTB!!

 

[Chazzer]

Agree 100% with all of the above. The VAR decision was the turning point. The euphoria of being 2-0 up suddenly turned to anxiety in both our players and supporters as the goal was chalked off and we seemed unable to recover the momentum we needed. This was compounded by poor tactical and substitution decisions in the second half. It was crying out for experienced PL players like T Davies and Holding to come on and provide stability and help change the mindset.

 

[Blade56]

Everything that can happen will possibly happen
Penalty to them in first 5mins
We have player (probs Gus) sent off after VAR review
3-0 down at half time
Last kick winner for them
Etc

But not this time, it’s our turn

I posted this a few days before Wembley knowing it wouldn’t be as simple as just turning up, playing winning and going home like the other play off games this weekend.

Gus went off, VAR controversy and last kick winner were pretty close and I was being purposely pessimistic on thinking it would quash reality

 

[Cheeky Blade]

So reading through it seems we got what we deserved. Tbf many having been saying this all season, especially post-Christmas when results started to match similar kind of performances more often.

 

[bxb]

I just rewatched the entire game (crazy, I know!!)

Some salient points:
Kieffer Moore has an excellent first half and a shocking second half (winning headers v quick feet to counter attack...)

The disallowed goal is VERY controversial, and the reason the ref gives to the crowd is factually incorrect (Souza does NOT impede gk's view at time of Burrows strike - does Souza stop him diving? Arguable both ways)

Sunderland's support is only vastly superior to ours (vocally) after 1-1. It is a fairly evenly supported game up to then. (At 0-2 for the two minutes that burrows goal existed they were broken)

The way we sit too deep after half time (and even before that) is criminal, and an action replay of the Plymouth defeat

The challenge on Brewster looks a possible pen, in slow motion..

BBD has a shocker, either Davies or McCallum would've been better options

Hume's challenge is a shocker (in the modern game) - not even a var check? Strange...

Why bring cannon on for BBD? The shape of the team is then completely lost.

Coops needs to be another two yards out for their second goal to narrow the angle

There are still 3-4 minutes left after Watson scores... our reaction as a team is wasteful and pathetic

I know none of this is new news or views, but it's cathartic for me to say it!!

UTB!!

Chapeau for putting yourself through the wringer again!

 

[MartBlade]

Coming away from Wembley I felt we were hard done by and that we should have won. Better team, better players, at least on paper, their goalie two worldies, VAR. I watched the extended highlights last night and have had time to think. And now I feel Sunderland deserved the victory and we got what we deserved. The team, not the fans. Sunderland kept at it, showed grit, never gave up and most of all were physically and mentally tougher. We were dropping like nine pins.

You need a hero. And none of ours stepped up. The hero was the Sunderland sub Watson. A local hero. As if it was written in the stars. Someone else said after Sunderland's last kick winner in the semi you had a feeling it might be them. The footballing gods etc which is superstition but they kept their belief. As the game wore on you could see our belief draining away. How do you deal with that? Weak players? Bad management? There must be a reason other than 'we're cursed'. Fact is although most/all of us are gutted we're also not shocked or surprised. It felt inevitable.

Good post.
One of the things we have to accept is that fans do make a difference …. Particularly in big games. The fans reactions can sometimes boost players confidence but can also very easily transmit tension to the pitch.
When we scored our second “goal” the outpouring of joy and relief was incredible… I looked at my mates and family and said “we’ve done it” and I absolutely knew it was true. One ridiculous VAR decision later and my mood was suddenly transformed.
I am absolutely not blaming the fans for defeat but from that moment onwards Blades fans were nervy and largely quiet whilst Sunderland fans got right behind their team. This was completely understandable given the scars that we all have from playoffs.
Anybody who has played any sport knows that tension is a performance killer. Nerves influence decision-making. The very best players in the World can deal with tension brilliantly…. others get indecisive and inaccurate.
So many Blades fans have said “I just knew it was going to happen”. Ask any sports psychologist what that type of thinking does to performance.
Again I’m not blaming the fans but unfortunately our play off record and our own collective tension and negativity in these games at the very least doesn’t help the players … and I think it definitely contributes to creating shaky actions at critical moments.
Even more unfortunately for us … the only antidote is a playoff win.

 

[PrestwichBlade]

Good post.
One of the things we have to accept is that fans do make a difference …. Particularly in big games. The fans reactions can sometimes boost players confidence but can also very easily transmit tension to the pitch.
When we scored our second “goal” the outpouring of joy and relief was incredible… I looked at my mates and family and said “we’ve done it” and I absolutely knew it was true. One ridiculous VAR decision later and my mood was suddenly transformed.
I am absolutely not blaming the fans for defeat but from that moment onwards Blades fans were nervy and largely quiet whilst Sunderland fans got right behind their team. This was completely understandable given the scars that we all have from playoffs.
Anybody who has played any sport knows that tension is a performance killer. Nerves influence decision-making. The very best players in the World can deal with tension brilliantly…. others get indecisive and inaccurate.
So many Blades fans have said “I just knew it was going to happen”. Ask any sports psychologist what that type of thinking does to performance.
Again I’m not blaming the fans but unfortunately our play off record and our own collective tension and negativity in these games at the very least doesn’t help the players … and I think it definitely contributes to creating shaky actions at critical moments.
Even more unfortunately for us … the only antidote is a playoff win.

Or, playing negatively and inviting pressure brings its own tensions and nerves!

 

[MartBlade]

Name a leader... we have some very good individual talent that when things click or opposition teams lack ability and or fight look very comfortably third best in the previous league campaign. I'm convinced that wilder sees Jack Robinson as our strongest leader in the mould of a Chris Morgan type. He's got some guts and thunder attributes but nowhere near the characteristic or talent of Morgs.

Souter had that calm confidence about him that others look upto and looked a natural leader. Not a single player in the group has that same quality and I feel as pressure increases, collectively the team phycologically regress. It's not necessarily individuals fault, it's a character trait.

Anel and Robbo are a weak pair, neither take the game by the scruff and inspire. Equally Souza and Peck are both talented but lack leadership qualities (Peck could develop these but not convinced it's his nature).
We needed leadership above individual quality in January but feel we gambled on the latter. Holding was the one we all hoped would provide calmness and experience but we'll never know why he wasn't seen as the replacement for Souter.

My worry is we lose individual talent this close season and require more major surgery through the entire spine

This is absolutely spot on. I’ve said for a long time that we lack an on field leader. Souttar was absolutely perfect for us … exuding calm authority, which transmits to other players.
Robinson just simply doesn’t have that kind of authority and Anel is far too emotional.
Souza is great when things are going well but tends to be a finger pointer when we’re under the cosh.
Signing an influential leader is a critical priority for us this summer.

 

[Frank the tank]

In one of your pre-match interviews I believe he called Sunderland "pests". He seemed arrogant and complacent, as if you just had to turn up to win. He completely underestimated the opposition.

I mean, I know you're a good team, but not THAT good.

I had a high opinion of Wilder prior to the game, but after seeing the arrogance and dismissive attitude from him, I'm just glad he isn't our manager.

And why could I see his nipples? Does he not own a suit? It's Wembley ffs show some respect and put your nipples away.

Well to be fair to.wilder you were absolutely dogshit in all three palynoff games and the 6 games before that

 

[Badger Blade]

Got what we deserved on the day but didn't get what we deserved based on the points total over 46 games.

Screwed it up in the league and did it again on Saturday.

We had a better season that most had anticipated before a ball was kicked (see Luton) but its just a real sickener when it comes to crunch games against Leeds/Burnley, the capitulation at the back end, tonking Bristol City only to throw it away at Wembley when it could have been so much different.

One consolation is that in all likelihood, that Sunderland team is going to be torn to bits most weeks and we can be comfortable in the knowledge that it's not us this time being made a mockery of, it'll be a different team of no-hopers in red and white stripes again.

 

[Dnblade]

A bit of both for me...The disalowed goal is harsh,i think it's a goal Souza isn't in line.
I think we would have gone on and won 3 or 4 if it stood.
Second half we kept on going long too often to KM and lost possession,but Sunderland didn't really trouble us despite having more of the ball,and our counters were getting snuffed out or players hesitating taking the wrong option,alrhough Brooks muscled out Cirkin i think it was and nearly sealed it,biut Patterson made a great save with his foot.
At that point i thought Sunderland were running out of ideas,their fans were quiet,but they plugged away and scored 2 good goals so deserved it.
So hard done to,but our own fault for not killing them off,it's been like that all season,not finishing teams off.

 

[Chimpan-A]

I just rewatched the entire game (crazy, I know!!)

Some salient points:
Kieffer Moore has an excellent first half and a shocking second half (winning headers v quick feet to counter attack...)

The disallowed goal is VERY controversial, and the reason the ref gives to the crowd is factually incorrect (Souza does NOT impede gk's view at time of Burrows strike - does Souza stop him diving? Arguable both ways)

Sunderland's support is only vastly superior to ours (vocally) after 1-1. It is a fairly evenly supported game up to then. (At 0-2 for the two minutes that burrows goal existed they were broken)

The way we sit too deep after half time (and even before that) is criminal, and an action replay of the Plymouth defeat

The challenge on Brewster looks a possible pen, in slow motion..

BBD has a shocker, either Davies or McCallum would've been better options

Hume's challenge is a shocker (in the modern game) - not even a var check? Strange...

Why bring cannon on for BBD? The shape of the team is then completely lost.

Coops needs to be another two yards out for their second goal to narrow the angle

There are still 3-4 minutes left after Watson scores... our reaction as a team is wasteful and pathetic

I know none of this is new news or views, but it's cathartic for me to say it!!

UTB!!

Thanks for this, as I will never be able to face watching this back, I feel you have taken a bullet for me. My memory is hazy but wasn’t there a challenge on BBD just outside the box when he was about to shoot and (it seemed to me) his legs were taken? It didn’t seem like their player got the ball.
How good a chance was the Brooks miss?

Why am I even asking??

 

[groveblade]

Thanks for this, as I will never be able to face watching this back, I feel you have taken a bullet for me. My memory is hazy but wasn’t there a challenge on BBD just outside the box when he was about to shoot and (it seemed to me) his legs were taken? It didn’t seem like their player got the ball.
How good a chance was the Brooks miss?

Why am I even asking??

The BBD one was by the touchline, midway through the half. Hume steams in and does a ball-then-man challenge... Absolutely fine by me, and in the past, but a potential red by v.a.r rules...

Brooks is 1v1 with GK, does him with eyes but doesn't drag his shot far enough left and he saves well either his legs...

 

[Chimpan-A]

The BBD one was by the touchline, midway through the half. Hume steams in and does a ball-then-man challenge... Absolutely fine by me, and in the past, but a potential red by v.a.r rules...

Brooks is 1v1 with GK, does him with eyes but doesn't drag his shot far enough left and he saves well either his legs...

I saw the one that injured him, just before that I thought he was about to pull the trigger at the edge of the area. Maybe my mind is playing tricks, or it was someone else!