Sheffield United vs West Ham United

v.
EPL Week 9 - Sunday 22nd November 2020 - Bramall Lane​

Please keep all discussion related to the match within this thread.

Matchday Stats/Player Ratings - https://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?match-day/match/sheffield-united-vs-west-ham-united.517/

Officials:

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistant Referee: Constantine Hatzidakis
Assistant Referee: Peter Kirkup
Fourth Official: Robert Jones
Video Assistant Referee: Jonathan Moss
Additional Video Assistant Referee: Andy Halliday

Coverage:

Follow via S24SU Twitter: https://twitter.com/s24su

Live TV Coverage:

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

5-3 to the Blades,its been done before.

 

[YorkBlade]

Match Preview video

• Chelsea de-brief
• Latest Team News
• Score Predictions
• Memorable Matches
• Player Connections

 

[CoatesyBlade]

Would this a) excite you b) worry you

Ramsdale
Baldock Egan Jags Stevens
Berge Ampadu Fleck
Brewster McBurnie Burke

 

[8lade]

CoatesyBlade I'd poo my pants as soon as I saw that line up.
A front line with no goals at the expense of a midfielder and the left side of defence just begging to be attacked.

 

[ancientblade]

Would this a) excite you b) worry you

Ramsdale
Baldock Egan Jags Stevens
Berge Ampadu Fleck
Brewster McBurnie Burke

it wont happen coatsey but its the formation i would like us to play against none top 6 teams we have to be more adventurous in games like the next 2 imo 4pts minimum but we really could do with 6

 

[8lade]

ancientblade would you play the same personnel?

 

[CoatesyBlade]

CoatesyBlade I'd poo my pants as soon as I saw that line up.
A front line with no goals at the expense of a midfielder and the left side of defence just begging to be attacked.

Haha I appreciate your frank response. I’ll say this though... our left side is already our weak point and I think this strengthens it. And those 3 up front haven’t scored cos there’s been no service to them. This more attacking line up would hopefully create the chances for them to finish.

 

[CoatesyBlade]

it wont happen coatsey but its the formation i would like us to play against none top 6 teams we have to be more adventurous in games like the next 2 imo 4pts minimum but we really could do with 6

No I’m almost certain it won’t either. But for the record... it would excite me! Just looks more adventurous and balanced than what we are currently going with.

 

[8lade]

Haha I appreciate your frank response. I’ll say this though... our left side is already our weak point and I think this strengthens it. And those 3 up front haven’t scored cos there’s been no service to them. This more attacking line up would hopefully create the chances for them to finish.

Brewster isn't ready for the Prem he may have been by now but he's had his confidence dented by being thrown in to play 3 of the strongest sides in the league.
McBurnie is way out of form, ok he may not have had the chances he wants but he has had big chances which he didn't even get on target.
Burke is never going to be prolific I think looking back at his career is evidence of that but he does bring speed to the team but we shouldn't use him chasing the ball around their defenders, let him save it for the ball being played through to him, even at this level I don't think I've seen anybody who can keep up with him.
If we were to play 3 up and I wouldn't because we simply do not have the players it would have to be McG, Sharp, Burke with McG in the hole.
Robinson in for Jagielka, or drop Ampadu back and Norwood in midfield. We have plenty of options in midfield, fewer in defence and not much going on up top.
As Wavyblade alluded to, it's almost as though Wilder feels obliged to play the most expensive players.

edit: I feel like that fan telling Mike Bassett what to do with the England team.

 

[ancientblade]

ancientblade would you play the same personnel?

yes apart from keeping enda at the back and playing ben osborn at lb hes our best option for that position imo

 

[CoatesyBlade]

yes apart from keeping enda at the back and playing ben osborn at lb hes our best option for that position imo

I like Osborn at LWB

 

[ancientblade]

5-3 to the Blades,its been done before.

was at that game october 1965 think mick jones got 2 that day

 

[Blade1959]

He refereed when we played Man City in Nov 1975 and awarded us a controversial penalty but I dont remember him taking both teams off. I do remember a phantom whistler during the Texaco Cup match between the same teams in August 1974. TC was on the left and was about to receive a long pass but picked up the ball and booted it to the back of the John Street stand. The ref then came up to a policeman to look out for the phantom whistler. It was a brief delay before play resumed.

It was the league game in January 1975 when he reffed us against Man City again when he took the teams off.

 

[Silent Blade]

It was the league game in January 1975 when he reffed us against Man City again when he took the teams off.

I was at boarding school that day

 

[Honest Blade]

was at that game october 1965 think mick jones got 2 that day

That was my first ever game ... only five and a bit so did not really follow it truth be told. My uncle David took me. John Street stand, opposite the cricket pitch. My uncle had a season ticket for both United and Wednesday - I believe was not uncommon back then. So I thank my lucky stars he took me to the right place!

 

[ancientblade]

He refereed when we played Man City in Nov 1975 and awarded us a controversial penalty but I dont remember him taking both teams off. I do remember a phantom whistler during the Texaco Cup match between the same teams in August 1974. TC was on the left and was about to receive a long pass but picked up the ball and booted it to the back of the John Street stand. The ref then came up to a policeman to look out for the phantom whistler. It was a brief delay before play resumed.

didnt he referee our final game of the promotion season against watford silent ? always liked him great charachter of the 60s and 70s

 

[Rawnblade]

was at that game october 1965 think mick jones got 2 that day

So was I. Two late headed goals from Mick Jones, as I recall (but my memory may be playing tricks). I took a 2nd WW battered bugle with me, to the amusement of those around me (some, anyway). Remember the game being on MOTD that evening, in the days when only one game was chosen.

 

[FriethBlade]

I like Osborn at LWB

Looks very busy, gets stuck in, good Championship player but nowhere near enough composure to play LWB at premier league level im afraid

 

[HammerInPeace]

was at that game october 1965 think mick jones got 2 that day

4/9/65 He did indeed.

 

[HammerInPeace]

Please play Lundstram, please play Lundstram...
And no, we don't want to buy him..

 

[Silent Blade]

5-3 to the Blades,its been done before.

was at that game october 1965 think mick jones got 2 that day

That was my first ever game ... only five and a bit so did not really follow it truth be told. My uncle David took me. John Street stand, opposite the cricket pitch. My uncle had a season ticket for both United and Wednesday - I believe was not uncommon back then. So I thank my lucky stars he took me to the right place!

So was I. Two late headed goals from Mick Jones, as I recall (but my memory may be playing tricks). I took a 2nd WW battered bugle with me, to the amusement of those around me (some, anyway). Remember the game being on MOTD that evening, in the days when only one game was chosen.

4/9/65 He did indeed.

Not on MOTD Rawnblade

 

[CoatesyBlade]

Looks very busy, gets stuck in, good Championship player but nowhere near enough composure to play LWB at premier league level im afraid

I would argue that he’s better than many a LWB that’s plying his trade in the PL.
But more importantly it’s about what’s available to us in the here and now. Stevens and Osborn are our best options given how utterly out of his depth Lowe looked against Chelsea. An inform Stevens gets the shirt every time. Unfortunately he’s just not hitting those levels he once did... and it’s been many a month now. Personally I feel that Osborn has played his best games in a United shirt at LWB. So that’s why I like Osborn in that role.

 

[Not_a_Cheat]

So back in action at BDBL but to what advantage that gives us without fans is debatable, Could be playing on the moon, gravity apart Anyway, if you look at games at the start of the season, this is arguably one at home you would be looking for a win (as you should in every game of course for those that are gonna pick). However West Ham have on the whole had a pretty decent start and some eye catching results, so this is arguably a tougher prospect than even last season, when we arguably better... lol.

Anyway...

Any team news?

Fleck a returnee?

Moussett playing some part?

Go unchanged from the Chelsea game?

Despite our precarious position (putting it mildly) we have either score line or on play, been 'IN' every match. I would even argue that for the Chelsea match (which scoreline was bad obviously in the end) in which until conceding softly we looked like we might grind something out. Anyway after the run of games we just had, these next few look (perhaps with the exception of Leicester) like the games which could go a long way to shaping our season. If in 5 games time we are still winless, I think we know where we'll be next season. Anyway, hoping for a stroke of luck, 1-0 Blades win. McBurnie.

UTB

 

[Jan Age]

We’ve got to get Brewster & Burke on if Mousett isn’t fit enough to start. Put Mcgoldrick in the link up role. Start playing through passes for our strikers to run on to and turn their defenders.

just watching Brighton on MOTD with Wellbeck and Maupay up top - bit of pace - playing in to feet and through balls - exactly why they currently have a better chance of stopping up.

Need to reset the clock today.

 

[LS16Blade]

I cannot see any basis on which to believe that we will beat West Ham.

Opposition managers still patronise us with media platitudes about 'how difficult [our] system is to play against', of course, but privately they approach games knowing we're unlikely to score, and even if we do, it'll not be more than 1 goal. Moreover, we are guaranteed to cough up at least a goal in every match.

West Ham will have far too much know-how and quality for us, on a neutral ground. We'll lose 0-2.

And then the gaffer will tell the media about how much money West Ham have spent on players over the last few years.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I cannot see any basis on which to believe that we will beat West Ham.

Opposition managers still patronise us with media platitudes about 'how difficult [our] system is to play against', of course, but privately they approach games knowing we're unlikely to score, and even if we do, it'll not be more than 1 goal. Moreover, we are guaranteed to cough up at least a goal in every match.

West Ham will have far too much know-how and quality for us, on a neutral ground. We'll lose 0-2.

And then the gaffer will tell the media about how much money West Ham have spent on players over the last few years.

Sadly I’m with you.

Just can’t see where a spark is going to come from, if we think a half fit Fleck or not even half fit Moose is going to make a difference then it’s desperate.

We will always give a soft goal away as well.

 

[AnstonBlade1]

The problem is we go a goal down, we know and the opposition know that we aren’t going to score 2.
They will have too much for us today unfortunately.

 

[FriethBlade]

I would argue that he’s better than many a LWB that’s plying his trade in the PL.
But more importantly it’s about what’s available to us in the here and now. Stevens and Osborn are our best options given how utterly out of his depth Lowe looked against Chelsea. An inform Stevens gets the shirt every time. Unfortunately he’s just not hitting those levels he once did... and it’s been many a month now. Personally I feel that Osborn has played his best games in a United shirt at LWB. So that’s why I like Osborn in that role.

Who are the 'many' LWBs playing in the premiership hes better than ? I don't disagree hes probably our best option at present but that is also a reason why we are presently bottom of the league...too many of our back up options aren't good enough.

The left side was our strongest area last season with JOC and Stevens. Its now our weakest as Robinson isn't good enough so Stevens is playing out of position at LCB and Lowe looks well out of his depth. Other teams realise this and are relentlessly targeting that area of the pitch. If Antonio plays today he will cause us a lot of problems.

 

[ekke287]

I was at boarding school that day

I wasn’t even born!

Thoughts on today, our line up is obviously a bit shaken due to isolation and injury (and returning from) so we have no idea who gets the nod over who.

Personally I think playing Stevens at LCB is a mistake, and if he’s starting he should be LWB so we’re not losing two positions.

Not ideal but I’d put Robinson or preferably Ampadu in to at least sure up the back three defensively.

If Fleck is fit enough to start I’d add him, same with Brewster but we just don’t know.

FWIW assuming all those doubtful date out (worst case scenario) I’d go -

Ramsdale

Basham Egan Ampadu

Baldock Lundstrum Norwood Osborn Stevens

McGoldrick McBurnie

If all fit it would be the same defence with this in front -

Baldock Berge Norwood Fleck Stevens
Brewster Burke

This allows us to run at their defence and their should be enough creativity from the three behind to make the chances.

 

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

Whenever we play West Ham i always think back to that 2v0 defeat at home in 1990...30 years ago, seems like 10!