McBurnie

[Charlieblade]

I’m pleased it’s not just me, or the fact I was only able to follow the game on Radio. Sheffield.. The commentary was praising McBurnie for his contribution at dead ball defence, with his headers. With defensive frailty on display today, I was happy for McBurnie’s interventions.

Good reason to strengthen our defence and pick McBurnie for the semi final v Man City.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Leon Clarke mark II.

Except 200 times more expensive !

For someone who wears the #9 shirt, is very good at winning headers in defence at corners, but, who GENUINELY can’t kick a football properly, suffice to say I expected a wee bit more .

UTB

 

[cooperblade]

This season has really made me wonder what some fans get out of following United. Last week against Wigan we weren't clinical enough and we wanted a comfortable victory. This week we are clinical, get a comfortable victory and some people aren't happy because a defender got Man Of The Match and they thought the opposition deserved a point.

It's not going to get much better than this I'm afraid. I understand people wanting more but this is as good as it's likely to get for us. Just enjoy it. It's highly likely that in 5 years or so we will be reminiscing about this team and wishing we were watching them again.

I've been watching United since the early 80s and I think in terms of pure talent and potential, this is the best side I've seen.

They're not the best team by any stretch but I can't remember having so many players who could go on and have top Premier League (even Champions League) careers at one time.

Just watching Iliman Ndiaye is a privilege.

One of my favourite moments of the entire season was seeing Ndiaye and McAtee walking off the pitch together yesterday. Ndiaye was talking to McAtee about his unbelievable first touch from Davies' goalkick and it was like a couple of under 15s just buzzing with love for the game. Absolutely joyful stuff.

On top of that, we're in a scenario where the club is totally and absolutely fucked if we don't get promotion and under that huge weight, it looks like we're going to do it.

If you can't enjoy this...

 

[Carlton Blade]

I’m pleased it’s not just me, or the fact I was only able to follow the game on Radio. Sheffield.. The commentary was praising McBurnie for his contribution at dead ball defence, with his headers. With defensive frailty on display today, I was happy for McBurnie’s interventions.

Good reason to strengthen our defence and pick McBurnie for the semi final v Man City.

Defensive frailty? What game were people watching? We gave the ball away for the penalty, Bogle blacked out, they had a speculative shot. They created nothing else at all. Poor in possession certainly, but defensively solid

 

[Silent Blade]

I don't think we were great at all but we won 4-1 and are basically 2 wins from The Premier League. I just can't understand why this is the moment you'd start calling players shit and complaining about the way we play. We are so close to achieving something that is notoriously hard to do. These players are essentially about to save the club from financial ruin

I remember in the early 1970s some of my dad's friends who were supposed to be Blades always criticised Blades players but praised Wendy players which was confusing because we were always above Wendy in the league between 1970 and 1979. Even during the 1974/75 season (we finished 6th in the league and finished 4 points behind champions Derby) there were some of our fans still finding something to moan about. Some had stopped going because they thought Ken Furphy had signed "third division" players. The average attendance for the 1974/75 season was going to be the lowest for some time but it picked up towards the end of the season as hopes for a top 4 place were increasing. There were fans accusing TC of being "lazy" and Woody of being "nesh" and "trifle milky"

 

[Cheesebored]

GReAt aT DEFenSiVe HeadErs. Fuck me we've 3 centre backs to deal with that. Another woeful performance yesterday. I felt for him, it was embarrassing. Their centre half had him in his pocket and on the odd occasion he found himself in space he couldn't pick a pass. Laughable header when the defender fell at his feet in the box. Time to give Osula a run, raw or not.

 

[LJBlade]

GReAt aT DEFenSiVe HeadErs. Fuck me we've 3 centre backs to deal with that. Another woeful performance yesterday. I felt for him, it was embarrassing. Their centre half had him in his pocket and on the odd occasion he found himself in space he couldn't pick a pass. Laughable header when the defender fell at his feet in the box. Time to give Osula a run, raw or not.

Still bitter I see

 

[Frank the tank]

It's a pity that people can't give an opinion on whether a player is good or bad without all the histrionics and bed wetting comments.

Some have been harsh on McBurnie today. He worked hard and had some good touches. Overall though his level of performance since his arrival has been poor or maybe average at best.
It's a similar story with people getting offended because someone said Berge was poor.

My view is this. We have a large squad of players but not a definitive first 11. If all were currently fit you could pick 2 teams with little between them.
We don't seem to have any player with the exception of Anel who does not have a glaring weakness. Doyle and McAtee are talented and improving but decision making can be poor at times. Bogle and Lowe are poor at defending. Baldock and Stevens can defend but not so good when attacking. Robinson does make some mistakes but you can't fault his attitude. He made a few last ditch in header interceptions to prevent a goal.

Overall yes we won 4-1 but it only became easy with 10 minutes to go. Prior to that we struggled at times in our passing and movement. Our attacking play can be at best considered to be more individualistic than collective. We are going to get promoted. Have we any chance of staying up? No....too many players substandard or too old. I just hope that our club spend some bit of money and buy players with ages between 20 and 25.

Great Post

 

[ancientblade]

GReAt aT DEFenSiVe HeadErs. Fuck me we've 3 centre backs to deal with that. Another woeful performance yesterday. I felt for him, it was embarrassing. Their centre half had him in his pocket and on the odd occasion he found himself in space he couldn't pick a pass. Laughable header when the defender fell at his feet in the box. Time to give Osula a run, raw or not.

no i cant understand why lots of our fans like mcburnie just for winning headers in our own penalty area but his number 1 job for us is leading the line and scoring goals i just think jebbison offers more of a threat than mcburnie but oh for another clinical striker up front with illiman mcburnie wont be that striker in the premier league

 

[Frank the tank]

This season has really made me wonder what some fans get out of following United. Last week against Wigan we weren't clinical enough and we wanted a comfortable victory. This week we are clinical, get a comfortable victory and some people aren't happy because a defender got Man Of The Match and they thought the opposition deserved a point.

It's not going to get much better than this I'm afraid. I understand people wanting more but this is as good as it's likely to get for us. Just enjoy it. It's highly likely that in 5 years or so we will be reminiscing about this team and wishing we were watching them again.

Spot on
Everyone's shit but I'm angry we only win 4-1
What's all that about

 

[Down the Channels]

He is observing Ramadan and to be honest he looks knackered because of it.

I think this is a factor, it ends next week, so hopefully we'll see much more energy from him for the last 4 league games.

 

[Frank the tank]

I don't think we were great at all but we won 4-1 and are basically 2 wins from The Premier League. I just can't understand why this is the moment you'd start calling players shit and complaining about the way we play. We are so close to achieving something that is notoriously hard to do. These players are essentially about to save the club from financial ruin

That's the crux of it
For me these players and the manager are fucking heroes
They are saving this club from sliding back to where it was when I started supporting it

Obscurity

 

[RecordBreakers]

Help me out here - what does “Robbo - MOTD” say other than he had a great game and capped it off with a well taken goal?

Sometimes you win and the keeper is man of the match. It’s football, it’s unpredictable, some people even enjoy it.

A defender MOTM says everything about yesterday's performance. We was poor for 70 mins out of 90 slow and predictable. The most un 4-1 win I've seen for ages, but its 3 pts and I'd take that all day. But you can't think that was a walk over!

 

[LondonBlade89]

GReAt aT DEFenSiVe HeadErs. Fuck me we've 3 centre backs to deal with that. Another woeful performance yesterday. I felt for him, it was embarrassing. Their centre half had him in his pocket and on the odd occasion he found himself in space he couldn't pick a pass. Laughable header when the defender fell at his feet in the box. Time to give Osula a run, raw or not.

This feels a bit harsh. He didn’t have a great game yesterday but it wasn’t woeful for me. I think we know what McBurnie is now. He’s decent in the air, hassles defenders, holds the ball up well, can link up play quite nicely, finishing is fine and he’s OK on the ball. With such talent around him like Ndiaye and McAtee he’s actually a pretty good foyle. He’s also a big personality in a young side. I’d hope that Jebbison and Osula will grow to become better players than McBurnie but for now McBurnie’s better hold up play puts him ahead. I do think at some point either Jebbo or Osula need a run though. I know it’s often been a case of needs must recently with Sharp but if everyone is fit there’s no way he should be our #2.

 

[RecordBreakers]

Never known a striker win so many defensive headers

So much so it’s a worry when Hecky subs him. Not because we miss his goals but those headers

And this is the problem, it's worrying when your main striker is best In your own box than the oppositions

 

[Tazzy]

Some think every team we play they should lay down and let us win. pretty much every team we play at home sit deep so its not going to look good on the eye .but we are grinding out results that's all that matters McB is good at linking the play and bringing in other players for us to try and carve an opening

 

[coolasanidiot]

Sorry but he isn't scoring enough goals at all- he's not in the right places because he's far far too slow. Great we won yesterday but c'mon he was epitomy of useless.

Link up play? He's our number 9 - he needs to score a few goals- Cardiff were dogshit, Wigan were the same - good forwards would have scored multiple times against this standard.

You can't keep apologising for him, at the time we got MCB there were soundings of perhaps Wilder getting Ollie Watkins - yes we know wages an issue- but Jesus H Christ that's a lethal striker, MCB just isn't.

On the plus side he's great at defending corners- but sorry in this team Illy carries MCB- if we had a decent partner we'd be above Burnley.

 

[Frank the tank]

Sorry but he isn't scoring enough goals at all- he's not in the right places because he's far far too slow. Great we won yesterday but c'mon he was epitomy of useless.

Link up play? He's our number 9 - he needs to score a few goals- Cardiff were dogshit, Wigan were the same - good forwards would have scored multiple times against this standard.

You can't keep apologising for him, at the time we got MCB there were soundings of perhaps Wilder getting Ollie Watkins - yes we know wages an issue- but Jesus H Christ that's a lethal striker, MCB just isn't.

On the plus side he's great at defending corners- but sorry in this team Illy carries MCB- if we had a decent partner we'd be above Burnley.

Let's play a 19 Yr old kid or 37 Yr old instead then
I'm sure you wouldn't slag them off either

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Agreed and that happens all too often.
The mentality of some of our fans screaming at a player as soon as they lose it or misplace a pass. There are no players that have a 100% perfect game, not even Kevin DB so having a go at players for the slightest error is just pathetic.

I was applauding Berge when he took their advancing player out for a yellow. There were fans screaming at him calling it stupid. Beggars belied it really does.

In fairness those around me were screaming because he’d been easily knocked off the ball when in possession again when he’s twice their size, and then had to take the booking.
It wasn't for taking it.

With McBurnie, I still don’t think he gets the service he needs to score a lot of goals. If Doyle keeps delivering those early balls in as he did a couple of times yesterday, notably for the Robinson goal, McBurnies tally would increase but that’s not really been our style. McBurnie is doing fine within the way we play and if we go up, we’re going to have significantly less possession and are probably going to be looking for earlier balls in across goal.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Sorry but he isn't scoring enough goals at all- he's not in the right places because he's far far too slow. Great we won yesterday but c'mon he was epitomy of useless.

Link up play? He's our number 9 - he needs to score a few goals- Cardiff were dogshit, Wigan were the same - good forwards would have scored multiple times against this standard.

You can't keep apologising for him, at the time we got MCB there were soundings of perhaps Wilder getting Ollie Watkins - yes we know wages an issue- but Jesus H Christ that's a lethal striker, MCB just isn't.

And the small matter of the £34M Watkins fee.
Our recruitment model was blown out the window by Villa, Fulham and Palace looking to copy it with deeper pockets. If we wanted Watkins we needed to move a season earlier when we didn’t have the money.
Same for Toney, Cash, Eze, and god knows how many others. We need the money to take the risks and make mistakes and go spend again and as proven with Berge, Oli and Brewster we need to get them right every time else it pulls us down. That’s the difference.

 

[coolasanidiot]

Let's play a 19 Yr old kid or 37 Yr old instead then
I'm sure you wouldn't slag them off either

If a 19 year old kid played as bad as McB did yesterday - his second opportunity would be a long time coming.

Forget the defending corners.
Forget a couple of link ups.

At what point did McB terrorise the Cardiff defense like Illy did? You're going to struggle..

 

[coolasanidiot]

And the small matter of the £34M Watkins fee.
Our recruitment model was blown out the window by Villa, Fulham and Palace looking to copy it with deeper pockets. If we wanted Watkins we needed to move a season earlier when we didn’t have the money.

Petty. For two thirds the price we got one twentieth the player. No Blade wants to slag off players- we want enjoy the sight of something special. WE certainly did not get special we literally got a poor version of Gary Madine.

 

[LondonBlade89]

Sorry but he isn't scoring enough goals at all- he's not in the right places because he's far far too slow. Great we won yesterday but c'mon he was epitomy of useless.

Link up play? He's our number 9 - he needs to score a few goals- Cardiff were dogshit, Wigan were the same - good forwards would have scored multiple times against this standard.

You can't keep apologising for him, at the time we got MCB there were soundings of perhaps Wilder getting Ollie Watkins - yes we know wages an issue- but Jesus H Christ that's a lethal striker, MCB just isn't.

On the plus side he's great at defending corners- but sorry in this team Illy carries MCB- if we had a decent partner we'd be above Burnley.

I 100% agree with you here in this bit in bold but still think McBurnie is our best option right now.

 

[Frank the tank]

If a 19 year old kid played as bad as McB did yesterday - his second opportunity would be a long time coming.

Its not his first opportunity though is it ,its not even his second
and as of yet he isnt as good a player as mcburnie
thats not an opinion thats a fact

Forget the defending corners.
Forget a couple of link ups.

Yes forget anything good he did

At what point did McB terrorise the Cardiff defense like Illy did? You're going to struggle..

He isn't as good a player as Illy
None of our other strikers are or any of our other players
Should we just play with no other striker then ?

 

[DronnieBlade]

This workrate and good link up baffles me to be honest.

Slow across the grass.
Slow to react.
Consistently behind his man in 50/50 situations due to the above.
Lazy. I’d be surprised if his mileage in a game isn’t the lowest in the team.

And. Most important of all. In a possession based side, like ours, the rate of possession turnover WHENEVER he is involved in a play phase is alarming. Sometimes when trying to battle for the “hopeful” ball, but all too frequently due exclusively to his own inability to control a football !!!

UTB

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Petty. For two thirds the price we got one twentieth the player. No Blade wants to slag off players- we want enjoy the sight of something special. WE certainly did not get special we literally got a poor version of Gary Madine.

It’s not two thirds, the Watkins deal must have been more than double once the contract was included. It’s a significantly bigger investment, plus once Villa are in he isn’t coming to us.
As to my point, if we want these players we need to pay big money earlier in their development and take significant risks that they won’t pay off. We just don’t have the money to do that.

 

[Trafford]

At what point did McB terrorise the Cardiff defense like Illy did?

To be honest I thought Ndiaye was poor yesterday - it happens with every player from time to time but some get called out for it whilst others don’t.

 

[coolasanidiot]

Its not his first opportunity though is it ,its not even his second
and as of yet he isnt as good a player as mcburnie
thats not an opinion thats a fact



Yes forget anything good he did

He isn't as good a player as Illy
None of our other strikers are or any of our other players
Should we just play with no other striker then ?

We agree to differ Frank. I go to the match and I think he's an extremely poor striker that disappoints time and time again. You see positives in his play that I don't. He's seems a decent enough sort albeit a bit lairy - I've just seen enough for ME to say - no thank's I'd rather see Jebbo or Sharp- not at all a personal attack on the bloke just a football observation.

 

[JohnDenver]

I've been watching United since the early 80s and I think in terms of pure talent and potential, this is the best side I've seen.

They're not the best team by any stretch but I can't remember having so many players who could go on and have top Premier League (even Champions League) careers at one time.

Just watching Iliman Ndiaye is a privilege.

One of my favourite moments of the entire season was seeing Ndiaye and McAtee walking off the pitch together yesterday. Ndiaye was talking to McAtee about his unbelievable first touch from Davies' goalkick and it was like a couple of under 15s just buzzing with love for the game. Absolutely joyful stuff.

On top of that, we're in a scenario where the club is totally and absolutely fucked if we don't get promotion and under that huge weight, it looks like we're going to do it.

If you can't enjoy this...

This is a great post.

I’m a similar age and I’ve never seen talent like Ndiaye. I’ve never seen a defender as gifted as Anel. Chuck in the two Man City kids and these are lucky times.

Ironically, the reason I found yesterday so stressful is because all this good shit comes to a sudden end for the foreseeable future without a couple more victories. It’s rare and precious stuff.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

People have short memories given what we have seen from mcburnie. Form and confidence and fitness 100% have as much impact as anything else

We’ve seen what he’s capable off when for and firing and confident this season. He’s not quite hitting those highs again probable because he’s working his way back from injury again. If he’s doing the right things professionally (no reason to suspect otherwise now) then no reason he can’t get back to it again.

At the very least his defensive work has value.