blader
Well-Known Member
Here is one (of sorts) for you. Apologies, it won't be as good as DB's but here goes....
We arrived at the ground and got to our seats early in anticipation of watching 2 of the top sides in the division play their part in a vital game at the right end of the league. My excitement began to fade the minute I arrived at my seat with the number written in Biro and looking out onto the pitch (I say pitch) which had more sand than Scarborough beach on it.
But hey ho, the game started with Blades in full voice and giving some stick to a Tranmere fan who turned up in a bright yellow jacket. We appeared to be playing a 4-1-1 (as usual) except with the difference of Robson on the right, Forte as the furthest forward and Kitson as the one in behind.
The first half was scrappy, we created a few chances with Forte forcing a smart save from their keeper. Nothing too much of note other than the apparent Tranmere game plan was to just hoof it up to Sidibe and see if one of the wingers can latch onto something. From early on it was clear that passing football would be near impossible on this pitch, but to our credit we did try and move the ball on the floor as much as possible.
Then the goal came, which as we all know was fortunate, but I wouldn't say undeserved. Unfortunately, we appeared to come out in the second half as we all feared. We sat further and further back as the game went on against a quite dreadful Tranmere side, it must be said. We invited pressure that really wasn't necessary and should have looked to kill the game with another goal. Into the last 20mins, the Blades regained some momentum forcing the issue a little more with some decent efforts, most notably Robson and Flynn who hit the bar with a great shot from the edge of their box.
We then managed to run the clock down very intelligently (something we have been incapable of in recent years) with Robson and McDonald winning corner after corner by kicking it against their defenders. Very clever.
Then the final whistle went after a nervous last second corner, which their keeper decided to attend! Cheers, of relief as much as anything and another solid, effective performance from t'Blades and one step closer.
Tranmere - One word really, average. I think George Long had one very weak shot on target to deal with in the 90 mins, and they appeared to only have one plan. Just lumping it up to Sidibe who constantly grabbed and fouled our defenders all game, eventually getting booked for it. After that performance, I'd be very surprised to even see them in the top 6 come May. Really quite poor. If there were any positives, I actually thought the lad Taylor, who scored the OG, looked a very solid and assured centre half. At 22, i think he will move onto greater things based on that performance. Also Palmer got MOM according to their sponsors. Well, that was simply ridiculous, he did nothing.
Blades - Better. Never looked trouble at the back, which has been the key to much of our success this season. Still feel we could go forward a little more and give the strikers a little more support, but a thoroughly effective away performance again. As has already been said, our away set up is a perfect formula, but we can't apply the same tactics at home and need to go at teams more. Thought we did well to try and play football even on a god-awful pitch.
Long - Not fair to rate him. Had one simple save and made a decent punch from a freekick. Pretty easy day for the kid again.
McMahon - 7 - one of his better performances I have seen. Seemed to read the play a lot better and was usually well positioned against a tricky winger. Still has issues with his distribution as it's often wasted, or sells his target short. But looked solid.
Maguire - 7.5 - Great again. Kept that lump of uselesness pretty quiet and won a lot in the air. Was a bit over optimistic with a few passes but defensively looking very mature and calm.
Collins - 7 - See Maguire.
Hill - 6.5 - OK. Nothing brilliant, but nothing bad either. I guess that sums up Hill.
Flynn - 7 - tough one to mark actually. I admit I am not a Flynn lover, today was a strange game for him. he certainly tried to beat his man on several occasions, which we have been crying out for him to do. He is a real workhorse, and did win a few corners from his runs, but he is also easily shepherded off the ball as he is so lightweight. Think he's a player we should use a lot mroe away than at home, but he is a peculiar player.
Doyle - 6 - We know Doyle by now. He tidies up in front of the back 4 quite well, but someone needs to remind him that he is not good in possession. Several times he held onto the ball too long and lost it. In dangerous areas a couple of times too. GET RID DOYLE!
McDonald - 8 - Just a class player, and shows it at times. Not all the time, but now and then he does something that no other player in this league could. Some great passes and looked to get forward a little more too in this game. Played in the prem at 21, and no reason why he can't get back there someday if he applied himself a little more!
Robson - 8 - Best game I've seen him play. Looked like a tidy player who has played at a better level. Deployed back out wide and should stay there IMO. Got behind his full back on a few occasions, not afraid to shoot or try and use the ball for a killer pass. Was also magnificent in killing the game with the corners at the end. Well done Barry, keep it up.
Kitson - 7 - played in a slightly different position behind the striker. Worked hard and won more than his fair share of headers. Maybe a little too deep at times, but another decent performance.
Forte - 7.5 - Not so much for what he did on the ball, but I thought he put in a real shift up top by himself today. Was clearly knackered after 65 mins and really should have been brought off.
Wilson - 7 - Tactics spot on. But again, back to substitutions. Forte really needed to come off earlier as he was dead on his feet, and just a new injection of pace would have helped us as we had just started getting under the cosh a bit. Really could have gone at them a bit more as they were a very poor side, and probably should have beaten them by more than one goal if we'd attacked a little more. Had we ended up drawing 1-1 he would have got a bit fat 0 from me, but fair enough another decent win.
Come on blades, not far to go now. I'm sick of being disappointed!!
UTB
We arrived at the ground and got to our seats early in anticipation of watching 2 of the top sides in the division play their part in a vital game at the right end of the league. My excitement began to fade the minute I arrived at my seat with the number written in Biro and looking out onto the pitch (I say pitch) which had more sand than Scarborough beach on it.
But hey ho, the game started with Blades in full voice and giving some stick to a Tranmere fan who turned up in a bright yellow jacket. We appeared to be playing a 4-1-1 (as usual) except with the difference of Robson on the right, Forte as the furthest forward and Kitson as the one in behind.
The first half was scrappy, we created a few chances with Forte forcing a smart save from their keeper. Nothing too much of note other than the apparent Tranmere game plan was to just hoof it up to Sidibe and see if one of the wingers can latch onto something. From early on it was clear that passing football would be near impossible on this pitch, but to our credit we did try and move the ball on the floor as much as possible.
Then the goal came, which as we all know was fortunate, but I wouldn't say undeserved. Unfortunately, we appeared to come out in the second half as we all feared. We sat further and further back as the game went on against a quite dreadful Tranmere side, it must be said. We invited pressure that really wasn't necessary and should have looked to kill the game with another goal. Into the last 20mins, the Blades regained some momentum forcing the issue a little more with some decent efforts, most notably Robson and Flynn who hit the bar with a great shot from the edge of their box.
We then managed to run the clock down very intelligently (something we have been incapable of in recent years) with Robson and McDonald winning corner after corner by kicking it against their defenders. Very clever.
Then the final whistle went after a nervous last second corner, which their keeper decided to attend! Cheers, of relief as much as anything and another solid, effective performance from t'Blades and one step closer.
Tranmere - One word really, average. I think George Long had one very weak shot on target to deal with in the 90 mins, and they appeared to only have one plan. Just lumping it up to Sidibe who constantly grabbed and fouled our defenders all game, eventually getting booked for it. After that performance, I'd be very surprised to even see them in the top 6 come May. Really quite poor. If there were any positives, I actually thought the lad Taylor, who scored the OG, looked a very solid and assured centre half. At 22, i think he will move onto greater things based on that performance. Also Palmer got MOM according to their sponsors. Well, that was simply ridiculous, he did nothing.
Blades - Better. Never looked trouble at the back, which has been the key to much of our success this season. Still feel we could go forward a little more and give the strikers a little more support, but a thoroughly effective away performance again. As has already been said, our away set up is a perfect formula, but we can't apply the same tactics at home and need to go at teams more. Thought we did well to try and play football even on a god-awful pitch.
Long - Not fair to rate him. Had one simple save and made a decent punch from a freekick. Pretty easy day for the kid again.
McMahon - 7 - one of his better performances I have seen. Seemed to read the play a lot better and was usually well positioned against a tricky winger. Still has issues with his distribution as it's often wasted, or sells his target short. But looked solid.
Maguire - 7.5 - Great again. Kept that lump of uselesness pretty quiet and won a lot in the air. Was a bit over optimistic with a few passes but defensively looking very mature and calm.
Collins - 7 - See Maguire.
Hill - 6.5 - OK. Nothing brilliant, but nothing bad either. I guess that sums up Hill.
Flynn - 7 - tough one to mark actually. I admit I am not a Flynn lover, today was a strange game for him. he certainly tried to beat his man on several occasions, which we have been crying out for him to do. He is a real workhorse, and did win a few corners from his runs, but he is also easily shepherded off the ball as he is so lightweight. Think he's a player we should use a lot mroe away than at home, but he is a peculiar player.
Doyle - 6 - We know Doyle by now. He tidies up in front of the back 4 quite well, but someone needs to remind him that he is not good in possession. Several times he held onto the ball too long and lost it. In dangerous areas a couple of times too. GET RID DOYLE!
McDonald - 8 - Just a class player, and shows it at times. Not all the time, but now and then he does something that no other player in this league could. Some great passes and looked to get forward a little more too in this game. Played in the prem at 21, and no reason why he can't get back there someday if he applied himself a little more!
Robson - 8 - Best game I've seen him play. Looked like a tidy player who has played at a better level. Deployed back out wide and should stay there IMO. Got behind his full back on a few occasions, not afraid to shoot or try and use the ball for a killer pass. Was also magnificent in killing the game with the corners at the end. Well done Barry, keep it up.
Kitson - 7 - played in a slightly different position behind the striker. Worked hard and won more than his fair share of headers. Maybe a little too deep at times, but another decent performance.
Forte - 7.5 - Not so much for what he did on the ball, but I thought he put in a real shift up top by himself today. Was clearly knackered after 65 mins and really should have been brought off.
Wilson - 7 - Tactics spot on. But again, back to substitutions. Forte really needed to come off earlier as he was dead on his feet, and just a new injection of pace would have helped us as we had just started getting under the cosh a bit. Really could have gone at them a bit more as they were a very poor side, and probably should have beaten them by more than one goal if we'd attacked a little more. Had we ended up drawing 1-1 he would have got a bit fat 0 from me, but fair enough another decent win.
Come on blades, not far to go now. I'm sick of being disappointed!!
UTB
