My take ...

[metalblade]

A team of surrender monkeys, the last time anyone saw such a disgrace was 80 years ago with the fall of Singapore. I thought it was a disgrace when Blackwell let the pigs win at the lane for the first time in 40 odd years but this one is worse 42 years since the Millers last win at the lane. It is Rotherham FFS probably the club with the least support and resources in South Yorkshire if you discount Donny rovers. If a team of better players beat you fair enough but being beaten by a team that works harder leaves a bad taste in the mouth like puking up does.

Foderingham 5 one excellent save from that downward header but very jittery otherwise, no chance on the goal.
Baldock 5 bang average
Stevens 4 it really is time to move down the divisions pal
Anel 5 has never looked fit since he was injured was absolutely done by 60mins WHY?
Egan 5 missed a good chance
Robinson 4 yes C3PO is back if anyone doesn't know
Fleck 1 can't even remember him touching the ball he must have done summat though to get injured
Norwood 4 panicked by Rotherham pressing constantly pinging balls out of play or to nowhere and free kicks nowhere near the target played so deep we had a back six at times.
Osborn 4 I wonder if Nick Montgomery is his dad, looked busy did fuck all
Ndiaye 5 not really in the game other than a few tricks fell down a lot too needs to look at his footwear.
McBurnie 6 isolated much of the game had to make his own half chances

McAtee 5 better than those who started
Basham 6 should have started in right midfield gave us a bit of presence but by then it was too late
Khadra 6 running at them the only player to get the fans off their seats start him at Cardiff
Sharp 2 still has the desire as shown by his fouling and rash tackles the sad fact is he is now way off the pace, looks like he is running in treacle, hang your boots up son and let us remember you for the good times not as a has been.

Hecky 2 Local derby and his team shows no fight, no desire, no fucking clue how to beat hard work and the press, you have to ask if he is the man to take the club forward.

 

[pommpey]

Interestingly, we've scored the joint 1st amount of goals directly from free kicks in the division.

One.

Last season two teams were tied in 1st place for the number of goals scored directly from free kicks- Preston and Millwall.

Two each.

Evidently, there aren't any players in the championship scoring free kicks on a particularly regular basis.

How does that tally in 'the stats' with regard free kicks from positions 25m from goal, per game/per season?

Some teams' tactics don't give many FKs in that position, so their xG is less. Others, like us, sometimes have quite a few.

Regardless of this, I expect Norwood to have the sweet feet enough to shape his body and striking foot to get enough diagonal sidespin with lift and drop to beat a 2.3m defensive wall (jumping) to at least make the goalkeeper commit to a save. I don't think one of Norwood's free kicks (save the rare one he scored) has actually hit the target yet. That is a dismal return. I'm not asking for Ward-Prowse or De Bruyne. Just get the keeper committed, or at least make the fucking free kick count. A rebound from a save or an upright strike is what the inrushing attackers want. And even hit at the wall it has the risk of a deflection or a handball. A direct displacement from Norwood's right foot to a supporter's hands sat behind the goal is fucking wasteful

pommpey

 

[metalblade]

How does that tally in 'the stats' with regard free kicks from positions 25m from goal, per game/per season?

Some teams' tactics don't give many FKs in that position, so their xG is less. Others, like us, sometimes have quite a few.

Regardless of this, I expect Norwood to have the sweet feet enough to shape his body and striking foot to get enough diagonal sidespin with lift and drop to beat a 2.3m defensive wall (jumping) to at least make the goalkeeper commit to a save. I don't think one of Norwood's free kicks (save the rare one he scored) has actually hit the target yet. That is a dismal return. I'm not asking for Ward-Prowse or De Bruyne. Just get the keeper committed, or at least make the fucking free kick count. A rebound from a save or an upright strike is what the inrushing attackers want. And even hit at the wall it has the risk of a deflection or a handball. A direct displacement from Norwood's right foot to a supporter's hands sat behind the goal is fucking wasteful

pommpey

You don't even get the satisfaction of a defender in the wall taking a shot full on into his bollocks.

 

[Sheff de party]

Of course it’s Norwood’s fault. Jesus.

We simply couldn’t cope with their shape and press, then our squad only provides Billy and Bash to come on. Until we have more players available, we won’t have a plan B. We’re right up there with a big break imminent. No need to be disheartened.

 

[Sandygate Blade]

I got the feeling after first 10 minutes that we felt all we had to do was turn up and the 3 points were ours. Khadra should have been on far earlier. At least he ran at players.

Hope we've learned a lesson.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Went tonight. For what it's worth...

Wes - 6.
Steady away. Didn't have a lot to do.

Baldock - 6.
One of our better performers. Took a lot of long passes down neatly and competed well.

Egan - 5.
He lost most stuff in the air and fluffed our one big opportunity. Outside of that, defended well, but on a night like tonight you're looking to your leaders to inspire you and he was very quiet.

Ahmedhodzic - 4.
I was saying to the lads around me at HT that I wondered if he'd taken a knock to the head, as he suddenly stopped running and looked really lethargic.
PH has confirmed he was ill. Outside of one marauding run in the first half, had a really off night. Understandable.

Robinson - 3.
Partly at fault for the goal and his use of the ball was terrible. Absolutely lumping it every time he had it. Could argue it was because he had no options, but he seemed to epitomise everything that was wrong with our display. I've never seen us go so long ball.

Stevens - 6.
Surprised you gave him such a low mark pommpey because I actually thought he played pretty well. Showed some good footwork on a number of occasions and defended fine.

Fleck - 3.
Went off after 20, but was anonymous hitherto. Shame he got injured as he, more than anyone, could do with the World Cup break to get himself right.

Norwood - 6.5.
Not great by any stretch, but didn't hide and tried to get us going. Too much of it just went left and right without penetrating the lines. A few passes were fired too hard at players, given the conditions, which slowed us down. Still our MOTM though. Tried to lead.
Time for someone else to have a go on free-kicks? Woeful attempts.

Osborn - 3.
Thought he was probably our poorest player. In games where we have less of the ball, he's useful. In games like tonight, he struggles. In his defence, he's playing on the wrong side but there were a lot of occasions where things dropped (awkwardlyish) to him around the box and he couldn't muster anything with it. He's trying though and I appreciate he's out of position and being over-played due to injuries.

Ndiaye - 6.5.
Retained the ball really well. Sadly, had to come deep in search of it. No lack of effort from him though and, with Norwood, at least tried to lead from the front.

McBurnie - 6.
Tough night for him. Up against two big centre halves that dealt with (almost) everything we threw into the box. That aside, he tried to link play but we were lumping it so long from the back he was on scraps all night. Hope his injury in the final minutes is nothing serious.

Subs:
McAtee - 5.
I thought he might be a blessing in disguise and he was an improvement on Fleck, but still not imposing himself enough on the game or influencing the tempo. A couple of times we didn't read inventive things he tried.

Sharp - 5.
Really rusty. Butchered one openings we had, then fouled their player in frustration.

Khadra - 7.
Can't give him MOTM as he wasn't on long enough. However, in his short time on the field he showed more urgency than anyone else and showed what we had been lacking. In the first half Anel carried it up the pitch once and it created our best chance. Khadra did it 2/3 times and had them on the back foot.
Also whipped in some great deliveries.
McBurnie & Sharp need to be scolded for having a pop at him for whipping that ball in near post. The lads probably low on confidence as it is and he's the one lad out there trying to make something happen . It wasn't a bad ball in.


As for the game itself, we were flat and way too direct. Nearly everything went back to front. Rotherham actually played the better football and limited us to very few chances.
I was impressed with the lad Barlaser (no.4) that I kept an eye on most of the night and Wiles (no.8) showed a lot of industry too.
A draw might have been a fair result, but a win doesn't flatter Rotherham despite what statistics might tell you. It was a decent, disciplined away showing.

Big opportunity missed for us and those home showings against lesser opposition are becoming a bit of a pattern that we need to resolve.

 

[Ralph Blade]

After the Lord Mayor’s Show they used to call it, probably still do. Another bunch who turn up with a game plan and find us woefully short in finding a way past it.

Frustration that we pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, go backwards, pass, pass, back to Wes who launches it up field back to them.

Frustration that you could see that any of our corners were not good enough to get past their defence.

Frustration that whatever Norwood visualises what is going to happen from his direct free-kicks bears no match to reality, while 30,000 plus a tv and radio audience know exactly where it is going to go.

Having, like many of you, watched matches week in, week out I have never seen a goalkeeper time waste as much as that. Regularly had it in his possession in his hands for 25 seconds. Possession stats should have been reported in three categories, us, them and their goalie. Booking him in the first half simply gave him the licence to carry on because everyone knew the likelihood of a referee having the bottle to yellow card him a second time was almost non-existent.

More of these to come unless we find a way of breaking teams like this down, which we haven’t.

 

[Eza Blade]

Egan was absolutely dominated by their CF, also far too slow from goal kicks to get the ball moving forward, hence the poor tempo. More of a 4 in my book.

Tempo was poor from global kicks. It’s a strange one as a lot of the time it’s like Wes doesn’t want to give him the ball quick enough.
There was a fair bit of sniping at each other in defence from what I could see from the kop first half.

 

[djbaldken]

Three stages of life.
1.Birth
2. What the Fuck Blades
3. Death.

 

[Bowman Blade]

If Rotherham set up to play like that against the top teams, i.e. v Burnley and Norwich more recently, then what else did Hecky & Co expect ? Surely they would have done their homework on Rovrum to be prepared for a more 'attack' v 'defence' type of game where you shove pacey players i.e. (Khadra & Illy) out wider to run the channels so you have players to pass to when they come and press us (Plan B). They made it so tight between the midfield and defensive lines that there wasnt any room to play our usual inerpassing/moving style so at times you have to bypass the midfield and send it over the top or through the gaps to the runners. (the pass to Baldock v Burnley which got Mcb his 2nd goal v Burnley) It was quite apparant after the first 10 minutes that our creative players were ineffective or out muscled and even Mcburnie hardly won anything in the air against their big boys at the back. When teams come to play football against us we do well, when they sit back we dont !!

 

[Willglynning]

How does that tally in 'the stats' with regard free kicks from positions 25m from goal, per game/per season?

Some teams' tactics don't give many FKs in that position, so their xG is less. Others, like us, sometimes have quite a few.

Regardless of this, I expect Norwood to have the sweet feet enough to shape his body and striking foot to get enough diagonal sidespin with lift and drop to beat a 2.3m defensive wall (jumping) to at least make the goalkeeper commit to a save. I don't think one of Norwood's free kicks (save the rare one he scored) has actually hit the target yet. That is a dismal return. I'm not asking for Ward-Prowse or De Bruyne. Just get the keeper committed, or at least make the fucking free kick count. A rebound from a save or an upright strike is what the inrushing attackers want. And even hit at the wall it has the risk of a deflection or a handball. A direct displacement from Norwood's right foot to a supporter's hands sat behind the goal is fucking wasteful

pommpey

The average xG from a direct free kick is 0.06.

0.06.

We're 11th in the table in terms of shots from free-kicks. Sunderland have had more than twice as many as us and scored none.

This season, Norwood has a total xG of 2.1, and has scored 2 goals, one was from a free kick.

In his entire career he has scored 9 free kicks- only 3 behind Kevin de Bruyne in all competitions.

It doesn't really matter if they're on target or not, when statistically they only get scored 6% of the time. There is a reason that goals from free kicks are so rare.
By having scored a free kick this season he's already ahead of where he should be, in terms of total free kicks taken; and if I was to be really pedantic, on paper he's got a better record at free kicks this season than either Messi or Ronaldo have had throughout their careers.

 

[Snowflake]

Well, that were fucking bobbar, wonnit?

Odd isn't it, about United. We play the top of the league, fancied team and expecting a dicking and turn out the most comprehensive performance I've seen us do since the early PL season then come back to the Lane against what is on paper a team full of cloggers and they do a very well worked job on us. Most other teams are updating their spreadsheets now as to what to do with the resurgent Blades and we'd better start having a plan B because tonight we didn't even have a plan A.

Hecky was right not to change a winning formula. You don't wallop Burnley then make several changes just for shits and giggles. But from the outset it was clear we were not easy with Rotherham's pressing and certain players had just reverted to Wilderball pumping long balls into the wings where Rotherham were waiting or in the case of the main protagonist - Oliver Norwood - blindly chipping clever balls forward into fucking no-one or out of play. We weren't creating danger or even threat and Rotherham sat back watching us pass pointlessly across the backline trying to make headway down either flank. When Fleck went off with another fucking injury and we brought a livelier McAtee on we did start to go at them a bit but by then we were one down to a classic C3PO/Enda fuck up which simply handed Toytown the goal on a plate. It was a real 'bent-slightly-at-the-knees-cheeks-spread-biting-on-the-strap' submission to them in yellow. In truth throughout the game they'd come determined to get at least something out of the night instead of a penising. And let's face it, they have form for doing it at the squeals, so why not come to high-flying Sheffield United and make them consider maybe they aren't as good as the previous three games suggest? They did just that. We failed to come out and at them in the second half and reverted to half chances and hustle and bustle rather than the concerted, determined and frankly excellent punishment handed out on Saturday. All over this match we looked like we'd simply reset ourselves to the QPR game in levels of non-productivity and endeavour even with format changes and substitutions.

We still have the chance to go to Cardiff on Saturday and go top, with Burnley and Blackburn punching each other out the following day. If we turn up like tonight and think it's in the bag we'll end up fourth and will have to scrap our way back into the fight after a lengthy break and practically a new squad with the returnees, inshallah. Tonight was a vast, disappointing missed opportunity, gifting Rotherham all the spoils and showing our absolute weaknesses to a watching world. Certain players need to up their game for the final match before the break and at least go into it not giving the points away like we did tonight.

Foderingham 6/10: One uncharacteristic fluffed cross and no chance with the goal. Tale of the game really that he barely has much to save or do yet we still lose
Baldock 6/10: Tigerish and committed but basically ineffective
Anel 5/10: Hate to say it but his recent performances have contained inconsistencies. One surging run tonight. Nowt much else
Egan 6/10: Covered a lot of ground both late on up the pitch and in defence. Shite smack on goal though. That should have gone in
Robinson 4/10: Part of a weak spot for us tonight and although in spells in the tackle, he was half to blame for their goal. Shame, because I thought Saturday saved his reputation
Stevens 3/10: Below standard and lacking in so many areas. He's not the Enda we knew from what ... five years ago now. And we are paying for that
Osborn 4/10: Back to his usual 'runs-about' mode and frankly ineffective. Even at LWB where he was marginally better and more involved, the link up play was scrappy and disjointed from him
Norwood 4/10: 'When he plays well, we play well'. I'll leave that fucker hanging there for you Norwood fanboys to consider whilst factoring in his inconsistency. And for fucks sake. He's had what ... fifteen free kicks this season from a scoring position and put one in. The rest have ended up clearing the goalposts entirely without the keeper getting a hand on them. If that's not enough indication to let some other fucker take them then I don't know what is. He is SHITE at free kicks ... sweet feet or not. If you have fifteen free kicks from that position and you are that good, at least twelve should be on target. Over the bar they are fuck all use. Saved/parried they are still active for N'Daiye/McBurnie to pounce
Fleck 2/10: Prior to his injury he was anonymous
N'Daiye 5.5/10: Tried very hard to have any effect but was found not once my a pisspoor midfield or wingbacks. Rotherham also managed to put a massive air gap between him and McBurnie where no spark could jump across
McBurnie 6/10: Had a few chances but he was not fed or supported at all. Hope he's got the legs for Cardiff

McAtee 6/10: Improved performance with some tricky runs but nowt to show for it. Shame he was subbed
Basham 6.5/10: Added some grit and experience into midfield
Sharp 3/10: Usual hustle and bustle from Billy. I doubt he'll score this season again
Khadra 4/10: Went at them with no result. One very poor cross then another which should have gone in

HJ&SMcC 3/10: Thought they just got the whole game wrong tonight. Mind you, the players should take some of that also. Tonight was dreadfully disappointing

pommpey

I disagree with your management score.
They put out probably the best side and made reasonable subs. It isn’t entirely their fault if the players massively underperform.

 

[pommpey]

The average xG from a direct free kick is 0.06.

0.06.

We're 11th in the table in terms of shots from free-kicks. Sunderland have had more than twice as many as us and scored none.

This season, Norwood has a total xG of 2.1, and has scored 2 goals, one was from a free kick.

In his entire career he has scored 9 free kicks- only 3 behind Kevin de Bruyne in all competitions.

It doesn't really matter if they're on target or not, when statistically they only get scored 6% of the time. There is a reason that goals from free kicks are so rare.
By having scored a free kick this season he's already ahead of where he should be, in terms of total free kicks taken; and if I was to be really pedantic, on paper he's got a better record at free kicks this season than either Messi or Ronaldo have had throughout their careers.

Wow. That's being selective, isn't it? You work on Climate Change stats as well? I mean, Norwood has had almost a season more games than De Bruyne yet scored less free kicks? Who's being picky now?

Getting back to the real facts in it all, a free kick from him (and I think he's had about ten in striking distance in the past year at least) has a bit more effect on target, does it not, than flying over the crossbar into the waiting hands sat in the stands? I mean, if it is within the frame of the goal, it might actually go in, or at least cause the keeper some worry and actually have to prevent it. Both time last night I could have stuck a quick tenner the ball would end up in the BLLT or kop and won handsomely. In fact their keeper didn't even get up from his picnic table.

pommpey

 

[pommpey]

I disagree with your management score.
They put out probably the best side and made reasonable subs. It isn’t entirely their fault if the players massively underperform.

Not like you to habitually find something to disagree with.

pommpey

 

[El Volví]

Well, that were fucking bobbar, wonnit?

Odd isn't it, about United. We play the top of the league, fancied team and expecting a dicking and turn out the most comprehensive performance I've seen us do since the early PL season then come back to the Lane against what is on paper a team full of cloggers and they do a very well worked job on us. Most other teams are updating their spreadsheets now as to what to do with the resurgent Blades and we'd better start having a plan B because tonight we didn't even have a plan A.

Hecky was right not to change a winning formula. You don't wallop Burnley then make several changes just for shits and giggles. But from the outset it was clear we were not easy with Rotherham's pressing and certain players had just reverted to Wilderball pumping long balls into the wings where Rotherham were waiting or in the case of the main protagonist - Oliver Norwood - blindly chipping clever balls forward into fucking no-one or out of play. We weren't creating danger or even threat and Rotherham sat back watching us pass pointlessly across the backline trying to make headway down either flank. When Fleck went off with another fucking injury and we brought a livelier McAtee on we did start to go at them a bit but by then we were one down to a classic C3PO/Enda fuck up which simply handed Toytown the goal on a plate. It was a real 'bent-slightly-at-the-knees-cheeks-spread-biting-on-the-strap' submission to them in yellow. In truth throughout the game they'd come determined to get at least something out of the night instead of a penising. And let's face it, they have form for doing it at the squeals, so why not come to high-flying Sheffield United and make them consider maybe they aren't as good as the previous three games suggest? They did just that. We failed to come out and at them in the second half and reverted to half chances and hustle and bustle rather than the concerted, determined and frankly excellent punishment handed out on Saturday. All over this match we looked like we'd simply reset ourselves to the QPR game in levels of non-productivity and endeavour even with format changes and substitutions.

We still have the chance to go to Cardiff on Saturday and go top, with Burnley and Blackburn punching each other out the following day. If we turn up like tonight and think it's in the bag we'll end up fourth and will have to scrap our way back into the fight after a lengthy break and practically a new squad with the returnees, inshallah. Tonight was a vast, disappointing missed opportunity, gifting Rotherham all the spoils and showing our absolute weaknesses to a watching world. Certain players need to up their game for the final match before the break and at least go into it not giving the points away like we did tonight.

Foderingham 6/10: One uncharacteristic fluffed cross and no chance with the goal. Tale of the game really that he barely has much to save or do yet we still lose
Baldock 6/10: Tigerish and committed but basically ineffective
Anel 5/10: Hate to say it but his recent performances have contained inconsistencies. One surging run tonight. Nowt much else
Egan 6/10: Covered a lot of ground both late on up the pitch and in defence. Shite smack on goal though. That should have gone in
Robinson 4/10: Part of a weak spot for us tonight and although in spells in the tackle, he was half to blame for their goal. Shame, because I thought Saturday saved his reputation
Stevens 3/10: Below standard and lacking in so many areas. He's not the Enda we knew from what ... five years ago now. And we are paying for that
Osborn 4/10: Back to his usual 'runs-about' mode and frankly ineffective. Even at LWB where he was marginally better and more involved, the link up play was scrappy and disjointed from him
Norwood 4/10: 'When he plays well, we play well'. I'll leave that fucker hanging there for you Norwood fanboys to consider whilst factoring in his inconsistency. And for fucks sake. He's had what ... fifteen free kicks this season from a scoring position and put one in. The rest have ended up clearing the goalposts entirely without the keeper getting a hand on them. If that's not enough indication to let some other fucker take them then I don't know what is. He is SHITE at free kicks ... sweet feet or not. If you have fifteen free kicks from that position and you are that good, at least twelve should be on target. Over the bar they are fuck all use. Saved/parried they are still active for N'Daiye/McBurnie to pounce
Fleck 2/10: Prior to his injury he was anonymous
N'Daiye 5.5/10: Tried very hard to have any effect but was found not once my a pisspoor midfield or wingbacks. Rotherham also managed to put a massive air gap between him and McBurnie where no spark could jump across
McBurnie 6/10: Had a few chances but he was not fed or supported at all. Hope he's got the legs for Cardiff

McAtee 6/10: Improved performance with some tricky runs but nowt to show for it. Shame he was subbed
Basham 6.5/10: Added some grit and experience into midfield
Sharp 3/10: Usual hustle and bustle from Billy. I doubt he'll score this season again
Khadra 4/10: Went at them with no result. One very poor cross then another which should have gone in

HJ&SMcC 3/10: Thought they just got the whole game wrong tonight. Mind you, the players should take some of that also. Tonight was dreadfully disappointing

pommpey

I really didn't want to read this today after that debacle last night left me seething at our inconsistencies, but yet again Dude you've seen it pretty much how I did, so it's another 'Bob on'!

 

[Willglynning]

Wow. That's being selective, isn't it? You work on Climate Change stats as well? I mean, Norwood has had almost a season more games than De Bruyne yet scored less free kicks? Who's being picky now?

Getting back to the real facts in it all, a free kick from him (and I think he's had about ten in striking distance in the past year at least) has a bit more effect on target, does it not, than flying over the crossbar into the waiting hands sat in the stands? I mean, if it is within the frame of the goal, it might actually go in, or at least cause the keeper some worry and actually have to prevent it. Both time last night I could have stuck a quick tenner the ball would end up in the BLLT or kop and won handsomely. In fact their keeper didn't even get up from his picnic table.

pommpey

You're the one who mentioned De Bruyne and Ward-Prowse. I figured De Bruyne was the more pertinent example since he's the same age as Norwood. Needless to say that De Bruyne is categorically the better player- the point was that he's not scored a dramatically higher number of free kicks than Norwood has despite being significantly better.

Oh, and to avert any more selectiveness, De Bruyne's played about 60 more games than Norwood- since the stats I highlighted were in all competitions, but you do you. Norwood bad.

 

[Big Hitter]

We played Ale-house football and we were outthought - outmuscled and outplayed by a bunch of tryers from down the road. No Plan B from Management- God knows what Plan A was- never laid a glove on the goalie- pathetic. Defence had more holes than a colander, Forwards-well you needed a magnifying glass to spot them. McB tried but no support. Norwood's bleeding radar has gone u/s-( as my old Sergeant would say)- I would say he's bleeding useless at dead ball kicks. Cant be arsed to go on. Well done Pomps for taking the trouble to write something cogent about that twaddle.

 

[pommpey]

Norwood bad.

Not at all. Man of the Match versus Burnley and deservedly so. But characteristically - as pointed out - 'when he plays well, we play well'. So we are reliant on the foibles and inconsistencies of one player, are we? And really, in this cae we are talking about his free kick potency are we not which to anyone is disappointingly low. You still are skipping round the subject of him actually hitting the big old rectangle framed by the posts and bar as well. How frequent does KDB hit that target over how many he scores (given the playing conditions and opposition are also a step up from what Norwood faces these days? As said, I'm not asking for KDB or W-P. I'm asking for 'better' than Norwood is producing or let some other fucker have a pop

pommpey

 

[LW_Blade]

Robinson directly involved in the last 3 goals conceded. at home. Surely as a manager you'd not sit and judge that, and do something about it. As mentioned above he was just hoofing it forward every chance he got.
McAtee is just a youth team player playing Championship football, lets's be honest, nowhere near ready for this level.
Fleck, Sharp & Basham are done, and I hope we se a changing of the guard at the end of the season, with Egan included too if I'm been honest, he's just so slow nowadays. He's running in treacle half the time to get back.
If we're still top 3/4 in Jan, surely a back up striker is needed ASAP, zero options, unless we recall Osula.

 

[Digs blade]

You're the one who mentioned De Bruyne and Ward-Prowse. I figured De Bruyne was the more pertinent example since he's the same age as Norwood. Needless to say that De Bruyne is categorically the better player- the point was that he's not scored a dramatically higher number of free kicks than Norwood has despite being significantly better.

Oh, and to avert any more selectiveness, De Bruyne's played about 60 more games than Norwood- since the stats I highlighted were in all competitions, but you do you. Norwood bad.

I’m with Pomp’s here

Nobody is saying we expect even a minority of the free kicks to go in, but how hard can it be to get the frigging thing on target. Yes we are talking here about professional footballers who practice these things every day of their working life. How hard should it be to make the goalie work from 25 yards out centrally.

I can live with the odd one going over the bar but it’s practically every bloody time, yet no planning ever seems to be put in place to let someone else have a go.

I am a fan of Norwood by the way, I think he is a superb footballer which makes the free kick predictably even more frustrating

 

[cahill]

Of course it’s Norwood’s fault. Jesus.

We simply couldn’t cope with their shape and press, then our squad only provides Billy and Bash to come on. Until we have more players available, we won’t have a plan B. We’re right up there with a big break imminent. No need to be disheartened.

You’re right of course, but it feels pretty shit at the moment

 

[cahill]

I suffered till the 80th minute and felt so let down with what was unfolding in front of me ( on the pitch), I had to go for a pint. I’d normally squeamishly push past fellow fans if I ever left early full of apologies and embarrassed to be such a part timer. I felt none of that last night, we wouldn’t have scored if we’d played till midnight. We got chatting to two Millers fans pre match in the pub and fortunately told them we wouldn’t be surprised by a defeat last night rather than giving it Billy big bollox. At

Disagree, it’s explained by the fact the players walked out expecting to go top after satdi, dint put a shift in and were mardy faced fekers about being handed their

arses on a plate. Same goes for Hecky and most supporters.

Bout sums it up. “ it’s only Rovrum”

 

[Bladedog]

I've noticed the similarity with Norwood and Harry Kane for spurs..they take all the free kicks and are both wank wi em.

 

[pommpey]

I’m with Pomp’s here

Nobody is saying we expect even a minority of the free kicks to go in, but how hard can it be to get the frigging thing on target. Yes we are talking here about professional footballers who practice these things every day of their working life. How hard should it be to make the goalie work from 25 yards out centrally.

I can live with the odd one going over the bar but it’s practically every bloody time, yet no planning ever seems to be put in place to let someone else have a go.

I am a fan of Norwood by the way, I think he is a superb footballer which makes the free kick predictably even more frustrating

It's not just his free kicks though. Got a decent save a few games ago at the kop end but every opened up goalscoring opportunity he gets he fucking pumps it into the stands or dribbles it wide. He's had three shots on target this season I can think of. One saved as mentioned, one free kick and one dropping volley which took a few nicks as it pin-balled it's way past a field of legs. Compare if you will the dropping ball on 65 minutes at the Bramall Lane end on 17 January 2003 where Michael Brown took off and volleyed past the despairing hands of fatty Pressman in the pig net from about 20 metres. Of course, Norwood is 'the best midfielder ever to wear a Blades shirt' according to some (especially on twitter) Its like other midfielders have never existed, especially those who put game after game of graft in and weren't slaves to their own shortcomings or at least, able to make some fans blind to those shortcomings. In my lifetime, Hockey was and effective but a dirty cunt and would possibly sit every sixth game out in today's game, Nick Montgomery was clumsy and headless but a 180 minute ball of sometimes frustrating energy, Stuart McCall was getting on a bit but would sit and control, Dane Whitehouse was a mercurial battler whose head switched to 'focus' as soon as the whistle went. Micheal Brown was the beating heart of an almost successful Warnock side and his wingman Michael Tonge, although somewhat lightweight, could run the fuck past people and leave them sliding about in the mud. Glyn Hodges was somewhat idle but gifted and turned it on with breathtaking style and Tony Currie, even as an attacking midfielder, was a fucking jawdropping merchant of footballing dreams. I'm sure I have missed plenty. Bob Booker, Bryson, Murphy ... Norwood is way above these lot. Even if you disagree vehemently with every one, you'll have to go a long way to draw up the positives with Norwood's performances over five/six seasons to trump the senior picture cards there. And people say 'we'll miss him when he's gone'. Really? What exactly about his game will we miss? The dead balls? The pings? The free kicks? The yellow cards? The telegraphed passes? The coughing up of possession?

One thing is for certain. If the footballing gods smile upon us this season and we manage to overcome our own inconsistencies and actually get promoted, we are gonna have to miss him, because Brighton and Fulham weren't wrong when they jettisoned him on promotion. Upstairs he will be bulldozed flatter than he was during our relegation season. His singular failure to perform was one of the cornerstones of our dismal decline and serial battering that season.

pommpey

 

[Varkanoid]

Foderingham 6/10: One uncharacteristic fluffed cross and no chance with the goal. Tale of the game really that he barely has much to save or do yet we still lose

He did make a brilliant reflex save though.

Anel 5/10: Hate to say it but his recent performances have contained inconsistencies. One surging run tonight. Nowt much else

It was obvious in the 2nd half especially on corners he had a problem, we could see him limping and he looked like he was trying to cover it up. Another worry.

McAtee 6/10: Improved performance with some tricky runs but nowt to show for it. Shame he was subbed

He was subbed because I saw him disappear down the tunnel with a massive ice pack taped to his knee. Another worry!


Thanks for the report. This was our first game we have actually been to and it was the delayed one from two months ago. What a disappointment. We should have won it despite our performance. Egan and McBurnie shoot anywhere but straight at the keeper (again) and thats 2-1.

 

[Keen Blade]

I’m with Pomp’s here

Nobody is saying we expect even a minority of the free kicks to go in, but how hard can it be to get the frigging thing on target. Yes we are talking here about professional footballers who practice these things every day of their working life. How hard should it be to make the goalie work from 25 yards out centrally.

I can live with the odd one going over the bar but it’s practically every bloody time, yet no planning ever seems to be put in place to let someone else have a go.

I am a fan of Norwood by the way, I think he is a superb footballer which makes the free kick predictably even more frustrating

You think they practice things ?

 

[Eddie odd legs]

I was at Old Trafford for the F.A Cup semi final against Arsenal when Patrick Viera was arguably the best midfielder in the world. Warnock sent Monty on with one task - don't let him have a kick. Viera was hooked after 65 -70 minutes having not seen the ball ever mind kicked it! Monty was fantastic but he wasn't ' "creative" & didn't take free kicks etc. The team needs a stopper midfielder like Monty & not rely on Norwood to do both jobs. P.S. Frank Carson was the lunch time entertainment - he was funny!

 

[Woodhouseblades]

Well, that were fucking bobbar, wonnit?

Odd isn't it, about United. We play the top of the league, fancied team and expecting a dicking and turn out the most comprehensive performance I've seen us do since the early PL season then come back to the Lane against what is on paper a team full of cloggers and they do a very well worked job on us. Most other teams are updating their spreadsheets now as to what to do with the resurgent Blades and we'd better start having a plan B because tonight we didn't even have a plan A.

Hecky was right not to change a winning formula. You don't wallop Burnley then make several changes just for shits and giggles. But from the outset it was clear we were not easy with Rotherham's pressing and certain players had just reverted to Wilderball pumping long balls into the wings where Rotherham were waiting or in the case of the main protagonist - Oliver Norwood - blindly chipping clever balls forward into fucking no-one or out of play. We weren't creating danger or even threat and Rotherham sat back watching us pass pointlessly across the backline trying to make headway down either flank. When Fleck went off with another fucking injury and we brought a livelier McAtee on we did start to go at them a bit but by then we were one down to a classic C3PO/Enda fuck up which simply handed Toytown the goal on a plate. It was a real 'bent-slightly-at-the-knees-cheeks-spread-biting-on-the-strap' submission to them in yellow. In truth throughout the game they'd come determined to get at least something out of the night instead of a penising. And let's face it, they have form for doing it at the squeals, so why not come to high-flying Sheffield United and make them consider maybe they aren't as good as the previous three games suggest? They did just that. We failed to come out and at them in the second half and reverted to half chances and hustle and bustle rather than the concerted, determined and frankly excellent punishment handed out on Saturday. All over this match we looked like we'd simply reset ourselves to the QPR game in levels of non-productivity and endeavour even with format changes and substitutions.

We still have the chance to go to Cardiff on Saturday and go top, with Burnley and Blackburn punching each other out the following day. If we turn up like tonight and think it's in the bag we'll end up fourth and will have to scrap our way back into the fight after a lengthy break and practically a new squad with the returnees, inshallah. Tonight was a vast, disappointing missed opportunity, gifting Rotherham all the spoils and showing our absolute weaknesses to a watching world. Certain players need to up their game for the final match before the break and at least go into it not giving the points away like we did tonight.

Foderingham 6/10: One uncharacteristic fluffed cross and no chance with the goal. Tale of the game really that he barely has much to save or do yet we still lose
Baldock 6/10: Tigerish and committed but basically ineffective
Anel 5/10: Hate to say it but his recent performances have contained inconsistencies. One surging run tonight. Nowt much else
Egan 6/10: Covered a lot of ground both late on up the pitch and in defence. Shite smack on goal though. That should have gone in
Robinson 4/10: Part of a weak spot for us tonight and although in spells in the tackle, he was half to blame for their goal. Shame, because I thought Saturday saved his reputation
Stevens 3/10: Below standard and lacking in so many areas. He's not the Enda we knew from what ... five years ago now. And we are paying for that
Osborn 4/10: Back to his usual 'runs-about' mode and frankly ineffective. Even at LWB where he was marginally better and more involved, the link up play was scrappy and disjointed from him
Norwood 4/10: 'When he plays well, we play well'. I'll leave that fucker hanging there for you Norwood fanboys to consider whilst factoring in his inconsistency. And for fucks sake. He's had what ... fifteen free kicks this season from a scoring position and put one in. The rest have ended up clearing the goalposts entirely without the keeper getting a hand on them. If that's not enough indication to let some other fucker take them then I don't know what is. He is SHITE at free kicks ... sweet feet or not. If you have fifteen free kicks from that position and you are that good, at least twelve should be on target. Over the bar they are fuck all use. Saved/parried they are still active for N'Daiye/McBurnie to pounce
Fleck 2/10: Prior to his injury he was anonymous
N'Daiye 5.5/10: Tried very hard to have any effect but was found not once my a pisspoor midfield or wingbacks. Rotherham also managed to put a massive air gap between him and McBurnie where no spark could jump across
McBurnie 6/10: Had a few chances but he was not fed or supported at all. Hope he's got the legs for Cardiff

McAtee 6/10: Improved performance with some tricky runs but nowt to show for it. Shame he was subbed
Basham 6.5/10: Added some grit and experience into midfield
Sharp 3/10: Usual hustle and bustle from Billy. I doubt he'll score this season again
Khadra 4/10: Went at them with no result. One very poor cross then another which should have gone in

HJ&SMcC 3/10: Thought they just got the whole game wrong tonight. Mind you, the players should take some of that also. Tonight was dreadfully disappointing

pommpey

4/10 for Norwood...jeez... he was the one showing and trying to do something all night. Don't think weekly hating on our best midfielder for last 20 years is warranted tbh

 

[reedy63]

Thats put back down to fuckin earth ant it. very poor performance..we still have the chance to go top if we beat Cardiff.Burnley are playing Blackburn a draw will do in that one.

 

[Groucho Blade]

It's not just his free kicks though. Got a decent save a few games ago at the kop end but every opened up goalscoring opportunity he gets he fucking pumps it into the stands or dribbles it wide. He's had three shots on target this season I can think of. One saved as mentioned, one free kick and one dropping volley which took a few nicks as it pin-balled it's way past a field of legs. Compare if you will the dropping ball on 65 minutes at the Bramall Lane end on 17 January 2003 where Michael Brown took off and volleyed past the despairing hands of fatty Pressman in the pig net from about 20 metres. Of course, Norwood is 'the best midfielder ever to wear a Blades shirt' according to some (especially on twitter) Its like other midfielders have never existed, especially those who put game after game of graft in and weren't slaves to their own shortcomings or at least, able to make some fans blind to those shortcomings. In my lifetime, Hockey was and effective but a dirty cunt and would possibly sit every sixth game out in today's game, Nick Montgomery was clumsy and headless but a 180 minute ball of sometimes frustrating energy, Stuart McCall was getting on a bit but would sit and control, Dane Whitehouse was a mercurial battler whose head switched to 'focus' as soon as the whistle went. Micheal Brown was the beating heart of an almost successful Warnock side and his wingman Michael Tonge, although somewhat lightweight, could run the fuck past people and leave them sliding about in the mud. Glyn Hodges was somewhat idle but gifted and turned it on with breathtaking style and Tony Currie, even as an attacking midfielder, was a fucking jawdropping merchant of footballing dreams. I'm sure I have missed plenty. Bob Booker, Bryson, Murphy ... Norwood is way above these lot. Even if you disagree vehemently with every one, you'll have to go a long way to draw up the positives with Norwood's performances over five/six seasons to trump the senior picture cards there. And people say 'we'll miss him when he's gone'. Really? What exactly about his game will we miss? The dead balls? The pings? The free kicks? The yellow cards? The telegraphed passes? The coughing up of possession?

One thing is for certain. If the footballing gods smile upon us this season and we manage to overcome our own inconsistencies and actually get promoted, we are gonna have to miss him, because Brighton and Fulham weren't wrong when they jettisoned him on promotion. Upstairs he will be bulldozed flatter than he was during our relegation season. His singular failure to perform was one of the cornerstones of our dismal decline and serial battering that season.

pommpey

I’m with you Pommpey…I’m completely flummoxed by those who say Norwood is the best midfielder we’ve ever had. Blimey, I don’t think I could put him in the Top 20 in my lifetime as a Blade. Even to put him in any sort of Blades best XI, you’d have to have someone like Monty or Trevor Hockey alongside him to do his fetching and carrying. In fact, in all honesty, I couldn’t name an all-time best XI that had him in it.
Having said that, it’s probably true that when he plays well, we play well. But that‘s not necessarily a comment on his quality, it’s more a reflection of the poverty of our current midfield. We’ve needed to upgrade it with pace, power and mobility for at least three years. What have we done? Well, Sander Berge has never quite worked out (yet??) and the jury is out on Tommy Doyle and errr…that’s it.
It says something that I think the best midfield we could put out on Saturday includes Bash (who wasn’t quite good enough in midfield when we got promoted last time) and Arblaster, an untried youngster.
Our midfield is ineffective, ponderous and slow; we really need some energy and dynamism in there.
If we do manage to get promoted, our midfield is going to need a complete overhaul.