pommpey
THE FUTURE ... AS IT USED TO BE
- Banned
- #1
Jekyll and Hyde performance. It's typical of us though. We seem to go at teams and if we don't secure dominance early (Spurs/Chelsea/Burnley) we flail, run or of puff and ideas and then the second half is usually backs against the wall, repel-all-boarders stuff with rarely a favourable outcome.
I did think that the flat midfield with Berger centrally placed did marginally better in the first 45, and really, Billy's misses tell us that his autumn years have come now. We can't fulfil a two year contract with an eventual 36 year old whose game is largely composed of mixing it up in the penalty area and feeding off rare scraps, especially when he's playing as an auxiliary midfielder and winger. Elsewhere the 'this is a game about fuck all' mentality was evident even after we'd scored and looked to be on top. We simply let Southampton, a team riven with fuck ups and errors, roll us over and finish on a higher note than us. Sure, tiredness, mental state and the full programme has some effect, but Scumpton were rocked back on their heels at one stage and we failed to finish them off.
Didn't think much to the subs and formation changes to be honest and despite this season being the most remarkable and breathtaking achievement the club maybe has seen in the past fifty years, Wilder and Knill have some tough choices and decisions to make if we are to improve and stay in the EPL. It's clear a raft of players have peaked, or will never be at a level needed. We need replacements which have more skill, pace and footballing mentality to make the mark if we aren't to repeat past teams' habit of being ripped apart in their second season. Do we need to change formation? Who will be club captain? Goalkeeper (and his understudy)? More importantly, do the players we have have the capability to connect the willing front two and provide them with the opportunities needed? Fact is, this season we have the third best goals against record (so the defence and goalkeeper is suitable) but at the other end we fail to hit the net, hence our finishing position.
Henderson 6/10: Thanks Deano. That's all I have to say. We've had some fukcing awesome keepers at Bramall Lane - Hodgkinson, Brown, Leani ... just kidding, Tracey, Kelly, Kenny and now this young legend. Shame we won't keep him because he is much of the reason (not all of it) why we have such a mean goals against.
Baldock 6/10: He was pegged back for much of the game by the rather mercurial duet of Bertrand and Redmond, so ventures forward were rare.
Basham 5.5/10: Think he is feeling the strain now. Not Basham at his Best.
Egan 6/10: Eegs's performances have waned in the past few games a bit. He can be exposed at times, especially when he is not playing alongside Jack O'Connell
Robinson 7/10: Fucking wants that shirt, doesn't he? Some great interceptions and blocks, but again, he is not JO'C
Stevens 5/10: Another player who needs a break and an assessment. He's either shipping an injury or he is suffering a crisis of confidence
Lundstram 6/10: Gets an extra mark over 5 for the goal, but I think he's on his way and he knows it
Berger 6/10: Better from Berger and first half seemed passably comfortable in the role and even put in a few tackles and tried for aerial balls. But second half he was dismal, even when we went to 4-4-2 and he had Norwood beside him
Fleck 5/10: Like Stevens, just not the Fleck we knew earlier on in the season. There was a player once who would control the game and now he seems unable to do the basics
Sharp 4/10: Disappointing performance against his old side with every opportunity to finish the season showing why he should be at the club next season
McBurnie 3.5/10: Zero supply, zero effect
Clarke 3.5/10: Cheers Clarkey and good luck. You gave us Blades possibly one of the best days of our lives against your old club and we will remain eternally grateful for that
Norwood 2/10: A couple of 'chopped passes' (stopping the advance) and a shit tackle on Ings for the penalty.
Zivkovic 2/10: Ran a lot and ran a lot and ran a lot. Mind you, when you can't get the ball into the delivery zones and give him the opportunities, all he is doing then is chasing the ball as Southampton pass it about in front of him. We need better than this.
Overall, its a bit of a fizzle out end of a season, where we are grateful for the size of the firework straight out of the box. Disappointing finish where in five of the six matches, we were badly found out and exposed, and our Championship class was evident. I do expect HRH to give CWAK what they need to survive next season. It's not the time to sit counting the cash this last year has brought in.
Anyway, Up the Blades and thank you to players, staff and supporters for a bloody ace, unexpected and unbelievable roller coaster ride.
pommpey
I did think that the flat midfield with Berger centrally placed did marginally better in the first 45, and really, Billy's misses tell us that his autumn years have come now. We can't fulfil a two year contract with an eventual 36 year old whose game is largely composed of mixing it up in the penalty area and feeding off rare scraps, especially when he's playing as an auxiliary midfielder and winger. Elsewhere the 'this is a game about fuck all' mentality was evident even after we'd scored and looked to be on top. We simply let Southampton, a team riven with fuck ups and errors, roll us over and finish on a higher note than us. Sure, tiredness, mental state and the full programme has some effect, but Scumpton were rocked back on their heels at one stage and we failed to finish them off.
Didn't think much to the subs and formation changes to be honest and despite this season being the most remarkable and breathtaking achievement the club maybe has seen in the past fifty years, Wilder and Knill have some tough choices and decisions to make if we are to improve and stay in the EPL. It's clear a raft of players have peaked, or will never be at a level needed. We need replacements which have more skill, pace and footballing mentality to make the mark if we aren't to repeat past teams' habit of being ripped apart in their second season. Do we need to change formation? Who will be club captain? Goalkeeper (and his understudy)? More importantly, do the players we have have the capability to connect the willing front two and provide them with the opportunities needed? Fact is, this season we have the third best goals against record (so the defence and goalkeeper is suitable) but at the other end we fail to hit the net, hence our finishing position.
Henderson 6/10: Thanks Deano. That's all I have to say. We've had some fukcing awesome keepers at Bramall Lane - Hodgkinson, Brown, Leani ... just kidding, Tracey, Kelly, Kenny and now this young legend. Shame we won't keep him because he is much of the reason (not all of it) why we have such a mean goals against.
Baldock 6/10: He was pegged back for much of the game by the rather mercurial duet of Bertrand and Redmond, so ventures forward were rare.
Basham 5.5/10: Think he is feeling the strain now. Not Basham at his Best.
Egan 6/10: Eegs's performances have waned in the past few games a bit. He can be exposed at times, especially when he is not playing alongside Jack O'Connell
Robinson 7/10: Fucking wants that shirt, doesn't he? Some great interceptions and blocks, but again, he is not JO'C
Stevens 5/10: Another player who needs a break and an assessment. He's either shipping an injury or he is suffering a crisis of confidence
Lundstram 6/10: Gets an extra mark over 5 for the goal, but I think he's on his way and he knows it
Berger 6/10: Better from Berger and first half seemed passably comfortable in the role and even put in a few tackles and tried for aerial balls. But second half he was dismal, even when we went to 4-4-2 and he had Norwood beside him
Fleck 5/10: Like Stevens, just not the Fleck we knew earlier on in the season. There was a player once who would control the game and now he seems unable to do the basics
Sharp 4/10: Disappointing performance against his old side with every opportunity to finish the season showing why he should be at the club next season
McBurnie 3.5/10: Zero supply, zero effect
Clarke 3.5/10: Cheers Clarkey and good luck. You gave us Blades possibly one of the best days of our lives against your old club and we will remain eternally grateful for that
Norwood 2/10: A couple of 'chopped passes' (stopping the advance) and a shit tackle on Ings for the penalty.
Zivkovic 2/10: Ran a lot and ran a lot and ran a lot. Mind you, when you can't get the ball into the delivery zones and give him the opportunities, all he is doing then is chasing the ball as Southampton pass it about in front of him. We need better than this.
Overall, its a bit of a fizzle out end of a season, where we are grateful for the size of the firework straight out of the box. Disappointing finish where in five of the six matches, we were badly found out and exposed, and our Championship class was evident. I do expect HRH to give CWAK what they need to survive next season. It's not the time to sit counting the cash this last year has brought in.
Anyway, Up the Blades and thank you to players, staff and supporters for a bloody ace, unexpected and unbelievable roller coaster ride.
pommpey
