Deadbat
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Podcast and report below….
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After the jubilation of the midweek and the shock victory at Old Trafford, the Blades next trip to Manchester did not quite go as well. In form City made it eight straight wins in the league and twelve in all competitions to extend their advantage at the top of the league. Today the side in first place saw off the bottom placed side off despite being without several star players but it was a close contest.
United’s miserable run against Man City continued and it is now six league contests without even a goal, with five defeats and one 0-0 draw in the Premier League. The Blades have never won at the Etihad Stadium and have not even scored at Man City since 1991 when Brian Gayle scored in a 3-2 defeat. United’s last win was 1987 in a 3-2 success when Billy McEwan was the managed in a tier two contest and Chris Wilder played!
Today, City got an early goal after sloppy defending with Jesus profiting from several moments of indecision and then strolled the game although created little and in the end the Blades had a go in the final few minutes with Fleck so close to stealing a late leveller.
The Blades made four changes with John Egan back in for Man of the Match from the week, Phil Jagielka and Jayden Bogle starting for Kean Bryan at left back who was possibly deemed not to be quite fit after hobbling off in the week. United rotated the front two with goalscoring hero Burke and Rhian Brewster replacing old stagers Sharp and McGoldrick. Oli McBurnie was back in the squad and on the bench.
City made 5 changes and of course were missing Aguero and De Bruyne and also left Sterling and Mahrez out but still had a strong side with talented youngster Phil Foden being instrumental in the recent good run.
The home side started in the ascendancy and were moving the ball about with pace, often all one touch. United tried to set out with two banks of defence and midfield but City had players popping up all over and the Blades had to stay focused to plug any gaps. One decent spell of possession at least gave United a chance to get up the field but they were behind soon after on only 8 minutes.
It actually came from a ball over the top but Ampadu did not deal with it and flicked his header down the inside right channel. Torres was onto it but Bogle had a chance to clear but dithered. The winger managed to somehow wriggle around him tight on the goal line and then Ampadu could not execute any kind of tackle. The cross came over and inexplicably Basham left his man coming out for the reason only he could explain and JESUS took a touch and actually stumbled which put Ramsdale on the floor, before the striker easily scored from close range. An awful piece of defending with several players culpable and the Blades were trailing.
The next spell saw City again moving it about and the Blades struggling to get any kind of foothold on the game. However, it was nearly another error when Norwood’s header back was risky and Silva flicked on but Ramsdale saved. Any more kind of contact and it would have been a second goal.
Lundstram gave it away twice with the second after a promising move from Bogle and Fleck. Norwood was then booked after City broke as he brought down Foden in a typically poor challenge. On 25 minutes a ball over was finally cleared despite more confusion at the back. City were dictating the game if not really creating lots of chances but were coping easily with the threat the other way despite Burke gamely running across the line when the ball came forward. Brewster had not been in the game at all.
City continued to pick up any loose balls and then the Blades could not get it off them with City’s defence effectively playing as midfielders they were so high up and so involved in the play with touches aplenty. United did have a decent move on 34 minutes and a shot as Brewster hit a tame effort with Ederson saved easily. Soon after Burke nearly got in but Dias made a timely full stretch block. A second foul throw for City was about the only thing they had not done with ease as they were still controlling the game and tempo.
Play transferred to the other end and City had another spell with the ball and often it ended up with Torres with the ball as City targeted Bogle’s defensive weakness especially playing in an unfamiliar left back role. He made another mistake and Egan had to make an interception. The ball was played back down the right soon after and Torres skinned his man again but it went out for a corner before Ramsdale flicked over under his bar.
A silly foul from Fleck gave a chance for another whipped free kick but it was cleared. The half ended with City knocking it about with no pressure on the ball and the Blades probably glad to go in only 1-0 down even though City had not actually created any chances at all outside of the goal and the Silva class.
The second half saw City win an early corner but Dias headed wide as he got away from Egan. City moved it about well again and Foden found Zinchenko whose cross was met by Torres with Bogle dithering again but United cleared.
Foden and Lundstram both had treatment after a clash on 52 minutes but both could carry on. City then continued to move it about patiently and with thought as the Blades tried to stay in the game.
Torres then nutmegged Bogle but Egan cleared before more patient stuff from City saw them move it about side to side but were struggling to penetrate a compact Blades defence. A rare break saw Burke get down the left side and put a dangerous ball in but Brewster was stationary as the ball was cleared. The ball fell for Bogle but his poor day continued as he skewed horribly wide.
McGoldrick was on for Brewster but he was having to defend after he came on as City through quick work from Foden won two corners. A decent move from the home side saw Foden feed Zinchenko whose dangerous cross found Torres outjumping the hesitant Bogle but United managed to snaffle it away.
More patient football from City with Gundogan, Silva and Fernandinho all just moving it around from side to side as United could not get a foot in or even have a spell of play. A superb move saw Gundogan feed Zinchenko who hit a fierce shot but Ramsdale got down the left to push away spectacularly. A save you would expect to make but still he showed good reactions and firm hands.
The corner saw more poor work and lack of desire sadly on a set play as Laporte outjumped Basham who barely got off the ground but Ramsdale flicked over. United were still in it at 1-0 but were not really looking a threat so took off Burke and Basham for McBurnie and Sharp and Wilder tried to show a more attacking hand.
Foden won a corner with more quick feet but McBurnie’s first act was to head clear despite taking a whack. Baldock and Egan were both booked for cynical fouls on Foden and Fernandinho respectively but a chance for a break came when McGoldrick worked some space but Sharp took too long and was crowded out. The veteran did create a chance not long after when he breasted down for Fleck and the midfielder’s shot from outside the box whistled narrowly wide with Ederson beaten. It was the big chance to salvage something and was so close. Sharp then won a free kick which resulted in Norwood having a shot blocked and then Fleck’s cross clutched by the City keeper.
Rodri came on for Torres as Pep reacted to the new threat the Blades were creating as they threw caution to the wind. There was 5 minutes of stoppage time after a number of players had done down and another half chance came when Sharp and McBurnie combined but it would not quite sit and City broke. Jesus was in on goal and as Baldock tried to close down the danger he came left and hit a shot that Ramsdale saved superbly flicking around the post. City then were wasting time near the corner showing how close the Blades had pushed them. United cleared the ball and hit one final ball forward but McGoldrick’s foul was the final act and the Blades efforts were all in vain.
United had stayed in the game and not been battered in terms of chances or goals and even though they were chasing the game and the ball; it was a solid and disciplined performance. The Blades certainly can take heart from two solid performances this week and although today they were deservedly beaten, they put in a better performance than they had done in many of the defeats earlier in the season.
United – I did not expect anything from either game so 3 points I would have been delighted with form both. I would have taken one point to be fair. Today I knew it would be hard even with some of the players City had missing. They just knock it about and even if you stay compact and solid, they have more movement and better footballers that can find gaps even against that low block that we had enjoyed such success against a few days ago. The annoying thing is the goal was awful and not a brilliant goal where they picked us apart. After this they kind of settled for what they had and moved it about but they have taken teams like WBA and Chelsea (a team near the top) apart so we limited them to few chances.
Some may say we gave them too much respect but if you get tight or press, they move it around and can pick you off. I think we did what we could in the game. I saw Chelsea get destroyed but them recently where they tried to go toe to toe and they are miles better than us.
I felt we were compact, organised, covered for each other (outside of the goal) and were resolute. We did not look a side with so few points and the confidence seemed to be back. I felt Bogle and Brewster struggled but the rest were ok-decent without any outfield player being brilliant. Fleck and Norwood took another positive step again with the former our best and most dangerous player in terms of creating a threat. We had a go at the end and maybe on another day nick an undeserved point.
I think tactically we got it right. Players worked hard and covered ground or each other. We closed down gaps like we did in the week with Man Utd and they did not have many chances at all. It is a huge improvement that we have limited two good sides to barely any chances. The goal was desperately disappointing with Bogle, Ampadu and Basham all guilty to some degree. Weirdly though this game gave us a chance as City then sat back knowing they had a goal and were kind of happy with 1-0 for long periods. We stayed in the game for long spells. The game was dull as some neutrals alluded to but we had to make it dull and almost keep it 1-0 for as long as we could. At the end I thought we did have a flurry and went for it as much as we could without potentially losing the second goal too early on the break. Fleck’s shot is so close to going in and then it could have been a storybook week.
For me the big things are we are seeing things we have not seen. Some of the players are getting back to form (Ramsdale, Fleck, Norwood etc) and collectively we do not look a soft touch. Off the ball we have been great. We can still do more with it and lack a serious attacking threat at times but I cannot say we were bad today. We were decent and kept City to very few chances. Maybe they would/could have upped it if we had scored but we will never know that. A much better week and signs for the future for United. We may well be further from the other teams and the impending relegation nears even closer but we have known that for some time. This week and the results have not dictated us going down. At least we have finally seen signs of the old United.
Big game Tuesday. We need to carry on the improvements and be bang at it. Different kind of game as pressure will be on us more and being the home side too. West Brom have been decent away actually. You feel it will dictate how the rest of the season goes. If we win then we are right on West Brom’s heels and any talk of us being the worst side of EPL history goes (we would then need just a point to overtake Derby) and you would feel even if/when we go down, we could not finish bottom and finish the season with momentum for the Championship. If we lose though then you can literally feel the balloon being burst and the whole air of the season (if any left) has gone. We then are not only almost certainly down (we are as good as anyway of course) but then the questions and confidence could be eroding again. It is a big game not necessarily for this season but building for next season. I expect Sharp and McGoldrick back and hope we can come out and really show we are actually a better side than West Brom, even though the table at the moment suggests otherwise.
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After the jubilation of the midweek and the shock victory at Old Trafford, the Blades next trip to Manchester did not quite go as well. In form City made it eight straight wins in the league and twelve in all competitions to extend their advantage at the top of the league. Today the side in first place saw off the bottom placed side off despite being without several star players but it was a close contest.
United’s miserable run against Man City continued and it is now six league contests without even a goal, with five defeats and one 0-0 draw in the Premier League. The Blades have never won at the Etihad Stadium and have not even scored at Man City since 1991 when Brian Gayle scored in a 3-2 defeat. United’s last win was 1987 in a 3-2 success when Billy McEwan was the managed in a tier two contest and Chris Wilder played!
Today, City got an early goal after sloppy defending with Jesus profiting from several moments of indecision and then strolled the game although created little and in the end the Blades had a go in the final few minutes with Fleck so close to stealing a late leveller.
The Blades made four changes with John Egan back in for Man of the Match from the week, Phil Jagielka and Jayden Bogle starting for Kean Bryan at left back who was possibly deemed not to be quite fit after hobbling off in the week. United rotated the front two with goalscoring hero Burke and Rhian Brewster replacing old stagers Sharp and McGoldrick. Oli McBurnie was back in the squad and on the bench.
City made 5 changes and of course were missing Aguero and De Bruyne and also left Sterling and Mahrez out but still had a strong side with talented youngster Phil Foden being instrumental in the recent good run.
The home side started in the ascendancy and were moving the ball about with pace, often all one touch. United tried to set out with two banks of defence and midfield but City had players popping up all over and the Blades had to stay focused to plug any gaps. One decent spell of possession at least gave United a chance to get up the field but they were behind soon after on only 8 minutes.
It actually came from a ball over the top but Ampadu did not deal with it and flicked his header down the inside right channel. Torres was onto it but Bogle had a chance to clear but dithered. The winger managed to somehow wriggle around him tight on the goal line and then Ampadu could not execute any kind of tackle. The cross came over and inexplicably Basham left his man coming out for the reason only he could explain and JESUS took a touch and actually stumbled which put Ramsdale on the floor, before the striker easily scored from close range. An awful piece of defending with several players culpable and the Blades were trailing.
The next spell saw City again moving it about and the Blades struggling to get any kind of foothold on the game. However, it was nearly another error when Norwood’s header back was risky and Silva flicked on but Ramsdale saved. Any more kind of contact and it would have been a second goal.
Lundstram gave it away twice with the second after a promising move from Bogle and Fleck. Norwood was then booked after City broke as he brought down Foden in a typically poor challenge. On 25 minutes a ball over was finally cleared despite more confusion at the back. City were dictating the game if not really creating lots of chances but were coping easily with the threat the other way despite Burke gamely running across the line when the ball came forward. Brewster had not been in the game at all.
City continued to pick up any loose balls and then the Blades could not get it off them with City’s defence effectively playing as midfielders they were so high up and so involved in the play with touches aplenty. United did have a decent move on 34 minutes and a shot as Brewster hit a tame effort with Ederson saved easily. Soon after Burke nearly got in but Dias made a timely full stretch block. A second foul throw for City was about the only thing they had not done with ease as they were still controlling the game and tempo.
Play transferred to the other end and City had another spell with the ball and often it ended up with Torres with the ball as City targeted Bogle’s defensive weakness especially playing in an unfamiliar left back role. He made another mistake and Egan had to make an interception. The ball was played back down the right soon after and Torres skinned his man again but it went out for a corner before Ramsdale flicked over under his bar.
A silly foul from Fleck gave a chance for another whipped free kick but it was cleared. The half ended with City knocking it about with no pressure on the ball and the Blades probably glad to go in only 1-0 down even though City had not actually created any chances at all outside of the goal and the Silva class.
The second half saw City win an early corner but Dias headed wide as he got away from Egan. City moved it about well again and Foden found Zinchenko whose cross was met by Torres with Bogle dithering again but United cleared.
Foden and Lundstram both had treatment after a clash on 52 minutes but both could carry on. City then continued to move it about patiently and with thought as the Blades tried to stay in the game.
Torres then nutmegged Bogle but Egan cleared before more patient stuff from City saw them move it about side to side but were struggling to penetrate a compact Blades defence. A rare break saw Burke get down the left side and put a dangerous ball in but Brewster was stationary as the ball was cleared. The ball fell for Bogle but his poor day continued as he skewed horribly wide.
McGoldrick was on for Brewster but he was having to defend after he came on as City through quick work from Foden won two corners. A decent move from the home side saw Foden feed Zinchenko whose dangerous cross found Torres outjumping the hesitant Bogle but United managed to snaffle it away.
More patient football from City with Gundogan, Silva and Fernandinho all just moving it around from side to side as United could not get a foot in or even have a spell of play. A superb move saw Gundogan feed Zinchenko who hit a fierce shot but Ramsdale got down the left to push away spectacularly. A save you would expect to make but still he showed good reactions and firm hands.
The corner saw more poor work and lack of desire sadly on a set play as Laporte outjumped Basham who barely got off the ground but Ramsdale flicked over. United were still in it at 1-0 but were not really looking a threat so took off Burke and Basham for McBurnie and Sharp and Wilder tried to show a more attacking hand.
Foden won a corner with more quick feet but McBurnie’s first act was to head clear despite taking a whack. Baldock and Egan were both booked for cynical fouls on Foden and Fernandinho respectively but a chance for a break came when McGoldrick worked some space but Sharp took too long and was crowded out. The veteran did create a chance not long after when he breasted down for Fleck and the midfielder’s shot from outside the box whistled narrowly wide with Ederson beaten. It was the big chance to salvage something and was so close. Sharp then won a free kick which resulted in Norwood having a shot blocked and then Fleck’s cross clutched by the City keeper.
Rodri came on for Torres as Pep reacted to the new threat the Blades were creating as they threw caution to the wind. There was 5 minutes of stoppage time after a number of players had done down and another half chance came when Sharp and McBurnie combined but it would not quite sit and City broke. Jesus was in on goal and as Baldock tried to close down the danger he came left and hit a shot that Ramsdale saved superbly flicking around the post. City then were wasting time near the corner showing how close the Blades had pushed them. United cleared the ball and hit one final ball forward but McGoldrick’s foul was the final act and the Blades efforts were all in vain.
United had stayed in the game and not been battered in terms of chances or goals and even though they were chasing the game and the ball; it was a solid and disciplined performance. The Blades certainly can take heart from two solid performances this week and although today they were deservedly beaten, they put in a better performance than they had done in many of the defeats earlier in the season.
United – I did not expect anything from either game so 3 points I would have been delighted with form both. I would have taken one point to be fair. Today I knew it would be hard even with some of the players City had missing. They just knock it about and even if you stay compact and solid, they have more movement and better footballers that can find gaps even against that low block that we had enjoyed such success against a few days ago. The annoying thing is the goal was awful and not a brilliant goal where they picked us apart. After this they kind of settled for what they had and moved it about but they have taken teams like WBA and Chelsea (a team near the top) apart so we limited them to few chances.
Some may say we gave them too much respect but if you get tight or press, they move it around and can pick you off. I think we did what we could in the game. I saw Chelsea get destroyed but them recently where they tried to go toe to toe and they are miles better than us.
I felt we were compact, organised, covered for each other (outside of the goal) and were resolute. We did not look a side with so few points and the confidence seemed to be back. I felt Bogle and Brewster struggled but the rest were ok-decent without any outfield player being brilliant. Fleck and Norwood took another positive step again with the former our best and most dangerous player in terms of creating a threat. We had a go at the end and maybe on another day nick an undeserved point.
I think tactically we got it right. Players worked hard and covered ground or each other. We closed down gaps like we did in the week with Man Utd and they did not have many chances at all. It is a huge improvement that we have limited two good sides to barely any chances. The goal was desperately disappointing with Bogle, Ampadu and Basham all guilty to some degree. Weirdly though this game gave us a chance as City then sat back knowing they had a goal and were kind of happy with 1-0 for long periods. We stayed in the game for long spells. The game was dull as some neutrals alluded to but we had to make it dull and almost keep it 1-0 for as long as we could. At the end I thought we did have a flurry and went for it as much as we could without potentially losing the second goal too early on the break. Fleck’s shot is so close to going in and then it could have been a storybook week.
For me the big things are we are seeing things we have not seen. Some of the players are getting back to form (Ramsdale, Fleck, Norwood etc) and collectively we do not look a soft touch. Off the ball we have been great. We can still do more with it and lack a serious attacking threat at times but I cannot say we were bad today. We were decent and kept City to very few chances. Maybe they would/could have upped it if we had scored but we will never know that. A much better week and signs for the future for United. We may well be further from the other teams and the impending relegation nears even closer but we have known that for some time. This week and the results have not dictated us going down. At least we have finally seen signs of the old United.
Big game Tuesday. We need to carry on the improvements and be bang at it. Different kind of game as pressure will be on us more and being the home side too. West Brom have been decent away actually. You feel it will dictate how the rest of the season goes. If we win then we are right on West Brom’s heels and any talk of us being the worst side of EPL history goes (we would then need just a point to overtake Derby) and you would feel even if/when we go down, we could not finish bottom and finish the season with momentum for the Championship. If we lose though then you can literally feel the balloon being burst and the whole air of the season (if any left) has gone. We then are not only almost certainly down (we are as good as anyway of course) but then the questions and confidence could be eroding again. It is a big game not necessarily for this season but building for next season. I expect Sharp and McGoldrick back and hope we can come out and really show we are actually a better side than West Brom, even though the table at the moment suggests otherwise.