Given what we'd seen on Monday and Hecky's insistence on playing the daft lads in midfield, today I was a bit dismayed and feared Millwall burying us by half time and HJ&SMcC panicking all of our signings into a second half disasterzone. It's great to be wrong.
It was a game of two halfs though wasn't it? First half we set ourselves up versus an uncharacteristically clueless Millwall outfit and capitalised on some poor understanding of capability from some vastly improved playmakers. In the first 45, our midfield performed (largely) like you'd want them to play. They put Millwall seriously on the back foot and coupled with some graft from Brewster we literally ripped them to bits. The 2-0 lead gifted to United could have been more and really should have been. We could have, at 3-0 just stuck on five subs for a run about but as many people pointed out on shoutbox, a goal to them and we are in trouble. It was also nice to see one shoutbox contributor was happily holidaying in his home in Portgual. Yay!
Our first was wonderfully Wimbledon. Big Davey Beasant puts some snow on it and it bounces onto the feet of the runner on goal. Brewster did well to get involved and N'Daiye slotted it away coolly. Anel was simply scintillating (the cunteyed tossers on SUTV used that word excessively, so why not?) and his class showed through emulating Bash with his probing runs past their defenders. Take note, Norwood. Fleck had a decent first as well and the triangles were back out wide. It was a vintage Blades first half, extremely crowd pleasy and redolent of those heady days of mid-Wilder or mid-Bassett where we simply took the game off the opposition and refused to let them have it back. We even got a penalty which, although squandered, mattered little.
I expected Rowett to have a word at half time and oddly, although Millwall came at us for the first twenty minutes without much effect. A few close shaves were cleared but something had happened in midfield to turn Johnny into Jimmy, not let Sander be so effective and continue Norwood's desperate efforts. We tried to penetrate but didn't make a great deal of headway even with subs on the pitch. Glad to see we managed the result to three points and in all, United deserved it. But we still lacked the capacity to deliver more sword strikes after looking clinical in the first half. Not moaning about the result - yay for us. But had we not scored and Norwood's penalty miss been the difference between one and three points today, we'd be asking questions of Hecky and his inability to start with supposed talent to sustain the momentum and destroy the opposition.
Foderingham 6/10: Not because he played badly. He just didn't have much to save but collect or punch crosses
Baldock 6.5/10: Again, George plays one character like Bill Roache plays Ken Barlow. He's predictably committed and works his arse off but sometimes he is a bit unsighted and clumsy which takes a full mark off him today
Anel 9/10: Tremendous debut for the lad. Surging runs past players, positionally great in attack, committed in the tackle, difficult to get round and times his interceptions even in the box with experience and knowledge. Possibly the new Basham there
Egan 8/10: Solid if unspoken game for him and obviously more comfortable with Clark and Anel alongside him
Clark 8.5/10: Another great performance and better than Monday's which was more a 'what the fuck have we signed?' Today was 'Reyt Player! Gerrim signed!' Real commitment and made it difficult for Afobe and their front line
RND 6/10: Had his hands full with their right winger in more ways than one
Berge 8.5/10: faded in the second but that first half was showreel stuff. When he's got the ball and sets off past players, he looks and runs like Currie. Tremendously taken goal
Norwood 5/10: I won't give him below that because on balance, he did make some passable challenges and interceptions. But he is frequently robbed or makes a shit decision in passing and turns over the impetus and possession. Slate me all you want. I remain unconvinced this bloke 'makes us tick' or out team is 'better with him in it'. Still think watchers are easily pleased by the window dressing and fail to see it is old stock, well past it's sell-by-date. And despite the keeper moving, he needs to not take another penalty for us again because he doesn't have 'sweet feet' at all.
Fleck 6/10: A far better performance from John-not-Jim today particularly the first half. Second half he reverted to type and was subbed
N'Daiye 8/5/10: Another great outing from the danger man. Quick, effective and threatening. Just what we want if its only for two thirds of every game
Brewster 7/10: Good effort from the lad today running at them and looking less clueless and lost. Great endeavour buying the penalty too
Sharp 5/10: Dug in solidly if winning not much because we'd pulled back into our shell by the time he came on
Jebbison 4/10: Not really impressed to be honest. Fluffed a great goalscorers opportunity near the end
Osborn 6/10: Did his usual whriling dervish act
HJ&SMcC: 8/10: Shame we didn't see the real potential get a run out today but in a way understandable. Good strategy throughout mind - kill them off early with pressure and pressing and manage the game to three points at the end
pommpey
