My take ...

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Gutted for Brewster, he has looked good in the last few games, let's hope he is back quickly (under the circumstances).

Bogle was outstanding yesterday, MOTM for me.

Biggest complaint is that we need to be half a second quicker, in thoughts and actions, because Bogle rifled two or three along the goal line, that just needed someone to stick a toe out, and it would have been in the net, but our players stood there watching the ball roll past them.

Great for Billy to get his goal.
 



Watched this later this evening as I had guests who had the temerity to want to eat with us whilst Sheffield United were playing. How inconsiderate.

Anyways, managed to catch the first half hour live and it's clear that whilst this looks like it should be Wilderball, it doesn't play like Wilderball. The 5-3-2 is slightly pimped with N'Daiye who obviously started in the RAM role and ended in the RS role. It is quite clear though that he is the only conduit through which creativity flows, and he runs his fucking socks off and grafts to get the ball. Without him we'd struggle badly and him limping off means we might have to in a crucial time of the season.

Brewtser had a decent showing until he was injured and we did well employing him gainfully. His replacement was typically louchely skilled but by and large ineffective. Although we dominated the game - you'd fucking expect it versus a team we wiped our arses on at BDTBL and who are effectively upper Div One in their capability. We stroked the ball about tonight but again lacked that killer finish at times. balls bobbling across an open net and shots high, wide and handsome. Versus a team unlike Peterborough who would possibly capitalise on their chances those misses would be crucial. The mere fact that they couldn't get at us tonight was the difference in the win. It's not as though we kept their keeper's gloves warm or hit the woodwork several times. We just did the job and yeah, that's good. Three points is three points but we are a fucking long way from promotion.

Foderingham 6/10: Good save at the feet of one of their chances. Otherwise composed if a bit shaky in distribution at times
Bogle 8.5/10: Great showing again from this lad. Always involved and a real menace in their area. Some superb stuff with his feet.
Basham 7/10: Great player. Deft dummies, stepovers and runs into space, sometimes our most advanced player. Proof by his goal-by-proxy
Egan 6/10: Still not entirely stable as a centre back for me. Loses more aerial duels than he wins although he did find Bogle a few times from distance.
Robinson 6.5/10: Steadier. Thank fuck.
RND 7/10: Growing steadily into the role. Needs to have a bit more finesse in his play, mind
N'Daiye 7.5/10: Lovely game from him until crocked. Ball at his feet he is exactly what we want. Get well soon lad.
Norwood 7.5/10: Decent game from him with some lovely forward balls in the first half and steady play in the second, if only less in phases than the first.
Hourihane 5/10: Still unconvinced he is anything of what we need in that position.
Brewster 4/5: Thought he was pretty fucking ace in the 22 minutes he had. Get well soon kid
Sharp 7/10: Gutsy game from the skipper and a typical 'give him half a chance' goal from him that he has scored dozens of time off opposition defence's lapses. Needs to stop fucking goading the fans. His goals say it all

McGoldrick 5/10: Didn't think he was up to much tonight
Fleck 5/10: Good to see him back but nowt much to report
McBurnie (unmarked)

A good, well earned three points albeit against a pretty poor Peterborough team nowhere near matched against us. Well managed win lads.

Let's get at Birmingham. We have point to prove here

pommpey

The next month will show us how good/bad we are, Posh' were terrible and again we should have scored five, - I'm not holding my breath!! I think we will finish about where we are now Eleventh-ish,
I worry about Sharp & Didzy, they are both showing how tired their legs are yet we have to keep playing them or rely on a kid playing for Burton! sorry state of affairs.
Good report though, you weren't far out in your assessment .
 
The only trouble is Peterborough are one of those nice teams that let you play football, against more er robust opposition Norwood and Hourihane don't get a kick.
I thought every team had learnt keep a man on Norwood and he is out of the game, seems little Fergy doesn't do his homework. It really should have been another 6 goal drubbing Posh had a round 5 shots to our 20. More concerning is only 5 of our shots were on target Sharp, McGoldrick and Egan twice were guilty of glaring misses. I doubt we will ever have an easier away win Posh play some nice attacking football but as at the lane they can't defend for toffee and are as soft as shit. They look odds on to go back down.
Spot on. Watch them against West Brom, I'm already cringing at the thought of it.
 
I thought Poku looked decent, pacy with some skill. The type of player we haven't had years.
He did as they say catch the eye, not sure if that was in part due to him seemingly on the right and cutting in on his left foot, don't know what it is or why, but left footed players always seem to loom more skilful, cultured etc
 
Thought Sharp had a poor game overall by his standards but he took his chance well and that's what good strikers do on bad days.

Why he didn't get more acclaim from the fans second half as opposed to McBurnie is anyone's guess.
 
Each to their own DB. Norwood and less so Hourihane have been 'better' for me of late but the midfield we have played against haven't really been challenging and as other have said, taken both players on man-for-man in the middle of the park. Last night saw some bloody good balls into the mixer from Norwood and maybe better connectivity from Hourihane but there were many errors, misplaced passes and nothing 'going forward'. Both players don't carry the ball and they want to get shut of it straight away. Their tackling game is marginally better but as mentioned, there weren't many battlers out there in blue and white. Compare that with the right side midfielder last night - N'Daiye (up to 24 minutes) and there you have a bloke who harries, carries and digs out the ball from the tackle. He also takes players on. So does Basham. So does Bogle.

Less so with RND but what we have there is a player willing to advance and get involved, and more intelligence than Stevens who regularly is more error prone than RND. RND isn't the solution out there and Osborn lacks the stature to play the wide man. But RND did contribute last night. His problem is that over on the right Bogle has the mercurial and 'sees-the-game-ten-passes-ahead' Basham as his backstop when he bombs up the wing who advances with him and then when he knows we are about to give it up retracts back to cover (saw him do this last night, many times) whereas RND has Robinson, an 'improved' LCB but who hasn't the guile to fall back and cover RNDs arcs when he is up in the advanced role of LWB. It's an area we would see have huge gains if JOC came back but I feel you and I know that is never gonna happen now.

pommpey
Agree with the Norwood assessment Pomp’s. if pressed, he crumples. Looked great last night because he had space and time to “ping”. However, that is 30% of a midfield general’s role. Short, sharp, keep us moving forward is the additional requirement, that is still missing.
 
Agree with the Norwood assessment Pomp’s. if pressed, he crumples. Looked great last night because he had space and time to “ping”. However, that is 30% of a midfield general’s role. Short, sharp, keep us moving forward is the additional requirement, that is still missing.

I'd seriously love to see him pick the ball up and move into space with it. Basham and Bogle - his right-side team-mates - manage it with no real fuss. Show Christ Basham 10 metres of space in front of him and he'll take it off you, and will keep moving even when he lays it off. Show Jayden Bogle a window to advance either parallel with the touchline or inside behind his tracker and he will have it. Norwood receives and his immediate though it 'long pass', whether the receiver is in an advantageous position or not. If the wingbacks are out wide it doesn't necessarily mean they should have the ball. The tactical advantage maybe isn't there, and the defence is set in such a way that they are predicting that pass and spread to intercept it, so exploit the gaps made by that.

Neither Hourihane nor Norwood are 'playmakers' in the true footballing sense, which is why despite people's dicks rapidly filling with blood that Norwood has had an error-free match and has had many touches, overall it isn't man of the match stuff. He did put in a few decent crosses and some pretty good forward passes. But the rest of his game, short passing, taking the game forward, snuffing out the opposition and being creative across the midfielder's remit, is still wanting.

Norwood is not Michael Brown. Even on Brown's poorer days, he was tough in the tackle, positionally adroit, carried the ball from one half to the other and rarely passed it backward. And in four seasons he had 147 games and 28 goals. Norwood has had 138 games in red and white and a measly four goals. That is the difference between 8/10 or 9/10 and MotM and simply 'business as usual'/'what we expect'.

Don't get me wrong, Norwood is 'better', but this 'better' spell is against two structurally weaker sides, two games v ten men and a poor loss before that. PHs move to 5-3-2 and non-Wilderball is frustrating Norwood because it's really the only game he can play, hence hollywood passes into nothing. But he also had N'Daiye to do the shovel-work, which I feel is also affective on his performance.

pommpey
 
I'd seriously love to see him pick the ball up and move into space with it. Basham and Bogle - his right-side team-mates - manage it with no real fuss. Show Christ Basham 10 metres of space in front of him and he'll take it off you, and will keep moving even when he lays it off. Show Jayden Bogle a window to advance either parallel with the touchline or inside behind his tracker and he will have it. Norwood receives and his immediate though it 'long pass', whether the receiver is in an advantageous position or not. If the wingbacks are out wide it doesn't necessarily mean they should have the ball. The tactical advantage maybe isn't there, and the defence is set in such a way that they are predicting that pass and spread to intercept it, so exploit the gaps made by that.

Neither Hourihane nor Norwood are 'playmakers' in the true footballing sense, which is why despite people's dicks rapidly filling with blood that Norwood has had an error-free match and has had many touches, overall it isn't man of the match stuff. He did put in a few decent crosses and some pretty good forward passes. But the rest of his game, short passing, taking the game forward, snuffing out the opposition and being creative across the midfielder's remit, is still wanting.

Norwood is not Michael Brown. Even on Brown's poorer days, he was tough in the tackle, positionally adroit, carried the ball from one half to the other and rarely passed it backward. And in four seasons he had 147 games and 28 goals. Norwood has had 138 games in red and white and a measly four goals. That is the difference between 8/10 or 9/10 and MotM and simply 'business as usual'/'what we expect'.

Don't get me wrong, Norwood is 'better', but this 'better' spell is against two structurally weaker sides, two games v ten men and a poor loss before that. PHs move to 5-3-2 and non-Wilderball is frustrating Norwood because it's really the only game he can play, hence hollywood passes into nothing. But he also had N'Daiye to do the shovel-work, which I feel is also affective on his performance.

pommpey
I see you're up against it now. Having to compare Norwood to Michael Brown to try and detract from another fine performance, deary me, whatever next. Brewster 2/10, wasn't Brian Deane. Foderingham 1/10, wasn't Alan Kelly.
 
Honest question Pommps

Re Norwood

The tv pundits and commentators were almost salivating about Norwood performance last night

People who have been professionally employed at the highest level of English football for many years

Are they wrong ?
 
Honest question Pommps

Re Norwood

The tv pundits and commentators were almost salivating about Norwood performance last night

People who have been professionally employed at the highest level of English football for many years

Are they wrong ?
You had to didnt you!!!
 
You had to didnt you!!!
I really enjoy reading pommps post

I find them entertaining and informative

I’m not qualified to be a pundit but I have a view , I thought Norwood was truly outstanding last night irrespective of the opposition

There have been times when he has been not so good too .

I just wonder why there is seemingly quite big difference between what Pommps thinks and what the guys on tv thought ?
That’s all
 
I really enjoy reading pommps post

I find them entertaining and informative

I’m not qualified to be a pundit but I have a view , I thought Norwood was truly outstanding last night irrespective of the opposition

There have been times when he has been not so good too .

I just wonder why there is seemingly quite big difference between what Pommps thinks and what the guys on tv thought ?
That’s all
It's a bit like throwing a banger into a wasps nest though.....
 



Wouldn't place too much emphasis on TV pundits and commentators knowing everything about football. They are paid to gush over certain aspects of the match or different players. Too much downbeat talk from them doesn't go down well with the producers of these TV shows.
Good performance- not taking issue with marking - didn't see enough of game to dispute any. A bit worried that Billy is becoming too distracted by opposing fans comments and barracking. Seemed to direct a few expletives towards them after goal and when subbed.
Looking at fixtures for Feb. seems we have 5 or 6 games in 20 days. Is that right.? Injuries could be a worry.
 
Cheers Pomps.

Some of my observations for what it's worth... Thought Norwood was outstanding throughout. Controlled the game, excellent distribution for 93 mins with some good tackles, decision making and interceptions. I've not been his greatest fan over the past 2 seasons(!) but glad to see his recent form change (albeit v posh and Luton).

Disappointed to see Brewdog get injured as he looked electric.

Although Sharp is one of my biggest bladeyblade heroes (and he scored to deservedly gain the goalscorer crown) I thought his general play was clumsy.

As for Didzy, he offered very little and looked well out of sorts. Some tremendous control followed by an inexplicable finishing, decisions or pass/come crosses. Poor for me and with Brewsters injury, it leaves me concerned...

Still unconvinced about Egans inability to defend an over the top ball, but at times he did make some million dollar crossfield passes.... Then missed a couple of sitter headers. Frustrating.

Robinson still frightens the life out of me.

And Bash - this guy is just a legend.

Clean sheet though, how can we complain - but we re blades, so we do!

2 nowt away win.
Upset avoided. Let's keep pushing on...
 
I see you're up against it now. Having to compare Norwood to Michael Brown to try and detract from another fine performance, deary me, whatever next. Brewster 2/10, wasn't Brian Deane. Foderingham 1/10, wasn't Alan Kelly.

I see you're back in a 'My take ... ' thread desperately trying to score points off me, rather than the match itself. A it like your funny-as-haemorrhoids memes you keep posting up regarding the buttons, you're just a wee bit tragic and transparent in your output, as ever. Because you and I don't share an opinion about a footballer's performance, you're here again making a shit job of trying to play to an audience you think you have. Note - many on here disagree with me about Norwood. I get it. Many others provide their own version of events and whys and wherefores. I get that too. Then there's you, and some others (and Silent, bless him) who don't even mention the match, what you think Norwood did to get more than the mark I gave him and won't be happy with a simple difference in opinion. You must be a fucking great laff in the pub with all your Blades supporting mates, eh? Best they agree, or you'll be in their face all evening.

As before, your input is only valid if you can tell us why you disagree. Posting shit memes up and trying to be dead clever doesn't work. It won't change my opinion or my belief that you're just a pointless, ridiculous troll who maybe doesn't even understand football as a game, hence your lack of factual input or reasoned debate. Give Silent some credit, at least sometimes he sounds like he knows what he's on about. You? Never.

pommpey
 
Honest question Pommps

Re Norwood

The tv pundits and commentators were almost salivating about Norwood performance last night

People who have been professionally employed at the highest level of English football for many years

Are they wrong ?

And that is their opinion. I hold every right to disagree and I'll honour that with 'why'.

What I won't do is troll them on social media with an almost on-the-spectrum-like tenacity with nothing to offer about the game.

Experts are experts. If we went by your measure that their opinion was gospel, we'd be going along with a hefty wedge of questionable opinion either way

pommpey
 
I would like to see Egan dribble down the wing do 4 or 5 step overs and whack it into the net with his cock ,but thats not what hes good at ,not what hes there for and not expected of him :rolleyes:
 
I would like to see Egan dribble down the wing do 4 or 5 step overs and whack it into the net with his cock ,but thats not what hes good at ,not what hes there for and not expected of him :rolleyes:

Well, at least you're finally talking about football, Sitwell, so well done you.

pommpey
 
Well, at least you're finally talking about football, Sitwell, so well done you.

pommpey
Really though why do you want Norwood to dribble and run with the ball, it's not what he's good at, its not what he's there for, he's not a comparison to Michael brown. Look at what he brings and the positives and enjoy watching him.
Btw watching it back sober Billy sharps goal was massive and very few players would score that goal. Genuine blade legend.
 
Really though why do you want Norwood to dribble and run with the ball, it's not what he's good at, its not what he's there for, he's not a comparison to Michael brown. Look at what he brings and the positives and enjoy watching him.
Btw watching it back sober Billy sharps goal was massive and very few players would score that goal. Genuine blade legend.

Because that is what midfielders do, Sitwell. Not just Michael Brown, either. Kevin De Bruyne, N'Golo Kante and Fabinho all pick the ball up and move forward. Norwood does this:

1. Hangs back, just in front of Egan usually
2. Calls for and receives the ball from Egan
3. Turns and looks up, mainly to the wings (great clue everyone ... he's gonna lump it)
4. Lumps it to a wingback out wide, who has two players closing him down already

Against Luton at Bramall Lane, he picked the ball up inside the centre circle and twenty metres of open pitch lay before him. If he'd have started a run through this space, he'd have made at least fifteen of that and been at their penalty area in four seconds, drawing opposition players in, exposing space behind to run into and giving opportunity to lay in a pass. It took him a fucking age to start his engine and realise he had open pitch before him and still laid it wide after faltering. It's so fucking wasteful. If that is Basham doing that, he's up the pitch like a rat up a drainpipe.

Norwood might raise a lob for you with his fancy-dan 'pings' which are the stuff of yesterday but positionally, commitedly and tactically he's nowhere what we need to go forward. He's had a few passable games against ostensibly inferior opposition. I want more. He won't be able to give it mind.

pommpey
 
I'd seriously love to see him pick the ball up and move into space with it. Basham and Bogle - his right-side team-mates - manage it with no real fuss. Show Christ Basham 10 metres of space in front of him and he'll take it off you, and will keep moving even when he lays it off. Show Jayden Bogle a window to advance either parallel with the touchline or inside behind his tracker and he will have it. Norwood receives and his immediate though it 'long pass', whether the receiver is in an advantageous position or not. If the wingbacks are out wide it doesn't necessarily mean they should have the ball. The tactical advantage maybe isn't there, and the defence is set in such a way that they are predicting that pass and spread to intercept it, so exploit the gaps made by that.

Neither Hourihane nor Norwood are 'playmakers' in the true footballing sense, which is why despite people's dicks rapidly filling with blood that Norwood has had an error-free match and has had many touches, overall it isn't man of the match stuff. He did put in a few decent crosses and some pretty good forward passes. But the rest of his game, short passing, taking the game forward, snuffing out the opposition and being creative across the midfielder's remit, is still wanting.

Norwood is not Michael Brown. Even on Brown's poorer days, he was tough in the tackle, positionally adroit, carried the ball from one half to the other and rarely passed it backward. And in four seasons he had 147 games and 28 goals. Norwood has had 138 games in red and white and a measly four goals. That is the difference between 8/10 or 9/10 and MotM and simply 'business as usual'/'what we expect'.

Don't get me wrong, Norwood is 'better', but this 'better' spell is against two structurally weaker sides, two games v ten men and a poor loss before that. PHs move to 5-3-2 and non-Wilderball is frustrating Norwood because it's really the only game he can play, hence hollywood passes into nothing. But he also had N'Daiye to do the shovel-work, which I feel is also affective on his performance.

pommpey
Agree with all of that. When I was coaching we used to work on driving the attackers wide, gives you time to settle and see off any crosses, UNLESS they get in behind, I.e. goal line, then you’re in trouble. We rarely do that now. Look at Man City and Liverpool, they attack you within the width of the penalty area, thats where the telling passes are made. Pings are great but it actually slows the speed of the attack unless it’s from deep and opening up on the counter. When Norwood starts making Jordan Henderson type passes around the box, then we’ll be talking.
After Saturday, I expect Brum to be all over him in midfield. If he copes, I’ll be delighted but past record suggests he’ll be nullified.
 
Agree with all of that. When I was coaching we used to work on driving the attackers wide, gives you time to settle and see off any crosses, UNLESS they get in behind, I.e. goal line, then you’re in trouble. We rarely do that now. Look at Man City and Liverpool, they attack you within the width of the penalty area, thats where the telling passes are made. Pings are great but it actually slows the speed of the attack unless it’s from deep and opening up on the counter. When Norwood starts making Jordan Henderson type passes around the box, then we’ll be talking.
After Saturday, I expect Brum to be all over him in midfield. If he copes, I’ll be delighted but past record suggests he’ll be nullified.

Exactly. There are plenty of midfielders who attack from deep threading passes between them but above all else, retaining possession. Most of Norwood's pings are either intercepted or if they do find the winger, it gets passed backwards and recycled. It's pointless football.

But, y'know. Some people think he's fucking Pirlo

pommpey
 
Because that is what midfielders do, Sitwell. Not just Michael Brown, either. Kevin De Bruyne, N'Golo Kante and Fabinho all pick the ball up and move forward. Norwood does this:

1. Hangs back, just in front of Egan usually
2. Calls for and receives the ball from Egan
3. Turns and looks up, mainly to the wings (great clue everyone ... he's gonna lump it)
4. Lumps it to a wingback out wide, who has two players closing him down already

Against Luton at Bramall Lane, he picked the ball up inside the centre circle and twenty metres of open pitch lay before him. If he'd have started a run through this space, he'd have made at least fifteen of that and been at their penalty area in four seconds, drawing opposition players in, exposing space behind to run into and giving opportunity to lay in a pass. It took him a fucking age to start his engine and realise he had open pitch before him and still laid it wide after faltering. It's so fucking wasteful. If that is Basham doing that, he's up the pitch like a rat up a drainpipe.

Norwood might raise a lob for you with his fancy-dan 'pings' which are the stuff of yesterday but positionally, commitedly and tactically he's nowhere what we need to go forward. He's had a few passable games against ostensibly inferior opposition. I want more. He won't be able to give it mind.

pommpey
Wow ,you try and talk seriously about football and you get complete bollocks from someone who really doesnt understand the game. 'So wasteful' Jesus fucking wept. I would review your dinner instead.
 
I like reading your reports Pommpey, certainly don't agree with everything in them, but I take them with a pinch of salt and don't lose much sleep if I think you're a bit off. Regards Norwood yesterday? I think you were bang off. For me he sat in front of the back four, made himself available and mixed his passes up nicely. He made a few tackles, covered a fair bit of ground and was easily man of the match. The ball he dinked in for Egan at the back stick was perfection, shame about Egans header. Our lass can't stand him, thinks he's shite but even she gave him credit yesterday.

I think the big problem any ball playing midfielder we have is that we're soft as shit. We need a Trevor Hockey or some fucker that can do the dirty stuff to give the Norwoods time. That's what we're lacking.

Not saying he's the second coming, and we'll see how he does in the big games but yesterday he was excellent.
 
There really is not much wrong with this report, so it is surprising that people still go into that much detail just to emphasize certain nuances which we all know run through "My Take" like a red thread. Isn't it common knowledge that Pommpey has certain players he generally rates more than others?

We all do.

On yesterday's match:

Norwood can only play what's put in front of him. Peterboro gave him space, so he put in a very assured performance that was - when viewed on its own - not lacking much (if anything). Similarly, Hourihane also had time and space which removed the main bad marks against him from other matches, mainly that he has an awful tendency to pull his foot out of anything that favours him below 70-30. And then hasn't got the legs to run after whoever he just escorted to the ball by neshing it.

Ndiaye, while a player of great potential, probably had an average game in which he did not affect proceedings as much as he can. It's just that his forte, dribbling and doing the unpredictable, has a chance of working pretty much against anyone on any given day. Whereas Norwood and Hourihane can often seem a bit of flat track bullies whose best games are non-physical games which we dominate, anyway. That - in my view - cannot be cured by slagging them off in matches where one or both are unsuitable. But should have led to us having different types of midfielders in reserve that are thrown into those other types of matches instead.

It is highly ironic that our esteemed leader Chris Wilder had two years of recruitment for what by definition was always going to be (i) an underdog team and (ii) a technically inferior side in Premier League terms, and chose not to prioritize certain easily scoutable physical assets in any of our midfielders - the simple stuff like size, pace or aggression. We must be the only "cheap" team in history that forgot to infuse any steel and physicality into their lofty plans of survival in the Prem. Not one big nasty outdoor shithouse on our team... For years.

If it hadn't led to 16 months of weekly suffering, that would actually be funny. Neutrals must view that failure pretty much in the same vein we viewed Farke's last relegation. Incredulously shaking our heads, saying "he's never going to out-football anyone in the Prem and they conceded 50 in the Championship. How come he adds more Croatian midfielders and not a single defender?"

So yup, there may be further bad days for Norwood on the horizon. So let's celebrate a great performance when he has one. He was great yesterday. And every team is in this league on sporting merit. So less of the "I deduct points for it only being against X cause they are shite and my Gran would dominate them"...
 



Wow ,you try and talk seriously about football and you get complete bollocks from someone who really doesnt understand the game. 'So wasteful' Jesus fucking wept. I would review your dinner instead.
Again, all about pommpey and nowt about the game.

Do you actually watch football at all, Sitwell?

pommpey
 

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