Stevens

[Chabuddy G]

Time for a little break I think.
The defence in general have not been good, granted, but Stevens has been the worst of the lot.
So poor defensively, so poor going forward. That second goal was an embarrassment.

What’s the point of him being on the pitch when he’s playing like he is?

Osborn next time please. He must be fuming.

 

[Swannyblade]

Time for a little break I think.
The defence in general have not been good, granted, but Stevens has been the worst of the lot.
So poor defensively, so poor going forward. That second goal was an embarrassment.

What’s the point of him being on the pitch when he’s playing like he is?

Osborn next time please. He must be fuming.

You can add Fleck to that as well - left hand side has been very poor since the restart.

 

[MCRBlade]

If Osborn and L.Freeman don’t come in on Thursday, I’ll be very shocked

 

[Chabuddy G]

You can add Fleck to that as well - left hand side has been very poor since the restart.

Yeah Fleck too. He was stinking today, gave it away nearly every time he had it.

Freeman and Osborn must be horrific in training

 

[Sheff de party]

That second goal isn’t his fault. He’s made his tackle. He can’t mark them both. Be reasonable.

 

[William]

I don't think it was completely Stevens fault that one. He got done a kipper but the fact Robinson remained planted to his spot was surely more of an issue.

 

[Rodley]

Every season Fleck takes 3-4 games to get up to speed. Looks the same after the restart, but we’ve just started to see a little bit of ball carrying. It’s essential he stays in the team.

 

[MoSF94]

That second goal isn’t his fault. He’s made his tackle. He can’t mark them both. Be reasonable.

I do think he was a little slow to react, but you're right that there should have been a man (Norwood/Fleck) tracking Ceballos, and there wasn't. And Deano didn't cover himself in glory with leaving the near-post open either

 

[Seth Rollins]

We played a hell of alot better today than the last 3 matches.

 

[robbiez666]

I think he's been told to sit a bit deeper with Robinson playing. He's certainly not trying to get forward anywhere near as much.

 

[TommyC]

If Osborn and L.Freeman don’t come in on Thursday, I’ll be very shocked

If they don’t then Wilder is basically sending a message to any squad player that the only chance you’ll ever get is through injury ...do not understand why those 2 aren’t getting a chance

 

[robbiez666]

I do think he was a little slow to react, but you're right that there should have been a man (Norwood/Fleck) tracking Ceballos, and there wasn't. And Deano didn't cover himself in glory with leaving the near-post open either

I think he should have been Robinson's but Norwood was screaming and pointing so maybe him!

 

[Birley Blade]

Time for a little break I think.
The defence in general have not been good, granted, but Stevens has been the worst of the lot.
So poor defensively, so poor going forward. That second goal was an embarrassment.

What’s the point of him being on the pitch when he’s playing like he is?

Osborn next time please. He must be fuming.

Had a stint like it in the Championship for a good few months. I honestly don’t know what more Osborne can do to get a game, Stevens is absolutely awful of late, people are even talking about playing him CB instead of JOC. Can you imagine the calamity. Osborne needs to get the nod next game.

 

[Trafford]

It was Norwood again - he lets the man run past him and just stands there pointing at him!

 

[Danetheblade]

If Osborn and L.Freeman don’t come in on Thursday, I’ll be very shocked

I won't be. That's my worry.

 

[Birley Blade]

It was Norwood again - he lets the man run past him and just stands there pointing at him!

Too much of it from Norwood of late. Loses his man, potters about without any urgency and then throws his arms up in the air and points the blame. Think someone needs to tell him he’s been shite the last couple of games.

 

[Derby_Blade]

I think he should have been Robinson's but Norwood was screaming and pointing so maybe him!

Probably Flecks man as Fleck got taken out on the half way line. Advantage for Arsenal obviously...

 

[true99blade]

The lot of them should’ve done better on the 2nd goal.

 

[LondonBlade89]

Fleck’s ball carrying improved, but his end product was complete shite. Arsenal’s second can be traced back to his shocking cross when he had so much time and space.

 

[Bladesman]

Time for a little break I think.
The defence in general have not been good, granted, but Stevens has been the worst of the lot.
So poor defensively, so poor going forward. That second goal was an embarrassment.

What’s the point of him being on the pitch when he’s playing like he is?

Osborn next time please. He must be fuming.

I agree. Stevens very much the weak link today and needs a week on the bench.

 

[Weasel]

It was clear as far as I was concerned, that Norwood hadn't picked up the runner (the lad who scored) after Stevens had managed to get back and had closed down his man. Norwood does his job and go's with the runner as he should have done and that makes it a dambed sight harder for the lad to get his shot off which proved to be the winner.

Another thing for their goal. When Hendo decides to go (and tbf no one else was going towards him in red n white) why didnt Robinson go towards to front post and get on the line to give his keeper some protection in case it goes past him? There was already enough red n white shirts in the 6 yard box in case the ball is pulled back. Basic defending that I thought. He gets on the line and there's a chance he clears that off the line.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

If JOC was available then Stevens would have been given a rest by now.

As it is, I don't think Wilder wants to overhaul it too much by going with J Robinson & Osborn.

He has been very poor since coming back though. He seems mentally fatigued more than anything, his fitness looks OK. He's just all over the shop positionally & his decision making is severely lacking.

On John Fleck, I think he just needs games to play his way back up to his normal levels. I wouldn't drop him yet, but there's no harm in subbing him & giving L Freeman some minutes.

I suspect that behind the scenes L Freeman & Mousset must have done something that's bothered Wilder.

 

[andy m]

It was clear as far as I was concerned, that Norwood hadn't picked up the runner (the lad who scored) after Stevens had managed to get back and had closed down his man. Norwood does his job and go's with the runner as he should have done and that makes it a dambed sight harder for the lad to get his shot off which proved to be the winner.

Another thing for their goal. When Hendo decides to go (and tbf no one else was going towards him in red n white) why didnt Robinson go towards to front post and get on the line to give his keeper some protection in case it goes past him? There was already enough red n white shirts in the 6 yard box in case the ball is pulled back. Basic defending that I thought. He gets on the line and there's a chance he clears that off the line.

Norwood was right to pass the runner on to Stevens and got to Pepe. Stevens just stood there and did nothing. He has come back in awful form.

 

[B.Lade]

Probably Flecks man as Fleck got taken out on the half way line. Advantage for Arsenal obviously...

I thought that too. Clearly VAR didn't think to look back and check that though...

 

[Weasel]

Norwood was right to pass the runner on to Stevens and got to Pepe. Stevens just stood there and did nothing. He has come back in awful form.

Sorry but that's load of bs imo. Watch the goal again. I agree Stevens is caught out of position and the ball is threaded through to his man from Arsenal's left hand side. Stevens running back goes straight to his man and closes him down as he is about to strike the ball, so much so that the Arsenal player checks back and Stevens gets a toe on the ball and flicks it away. The goalscorer is running from deep and has never been picked up by anyone in Utds midfield, but Norwood was the man closest to him and isn't tracking back. He's just stopped when the lad takes the ball off his team mate and instead of running back to make a challenge he just stands and watches. It's not Stevens job to hold up 2 opposition players. For me, it was Norwood's man all day long to cover and he didn't help out Stevens at all.

 

[Swannyblade]

It was clear as far as I was concerned, that Norwood hadn't picked up the runner (the lad who scored) after Stevens had managed to get back and had closed down his man. Norwood does his job and go's with the runner as he should have done and that makes it a dambed sight harder for the lad to get his shot off which proved to be the winner.

Another thing for their goal. When Hendo decides to go (and tbf no one else was going towards him in red n white) why didnt Robinson go towards to front post and get on the line to give his keeper some protection in case it goes past him? There was already enough red n white shirts in the 6 yard box in case the ball is pulled back. Basic defending that I thought. He gets on the line and there's a chance he clears that off the line.

Agreed.
Once Norwood has let the runner go, Robinson should be stepping out to the Arsenal player and there’d be no reason for Hendo to rush out and leave the gap at his front post. Why they chose to cover behind Henderson I don’t know

 

[Swannyblade]

Sorry but that's load of bs imo. Watch the goal again. I agree Stevens is caught out of position and the ball is threaded through to his man from Arsenal's left hand side. Stevens running back goes straight to his man and closes him down as he is about to strike the ball, so much so that the Arsenal player checks back and Stevens gets a toe on the ball and flicks it away. The goalscorer is running from deep and has never been picked up by anyone in Utds midfield, but Norwood was the man closest to him and isn't tracking back. He's just stopped when the lad takes the ball off his team mate and instead of running back to make a challenge he just stands and watches. It's not Stevens job to hold up 2 opposition players. For me, it was Norwood's man all day long to cover and he didn't help out Stevens at all.

Agreed.
Stevens does his job - stops his man’s route to goal and gets a tie on the ball. Someone (Norwood) should be tracking the runner and beating them to the loose ball after Stevens’ interception. Failing that, Robinson should be stepping out to block the run/shot, not Henderson

 

[Bladesman]

Stevens was mostly at fault plus Hendo didn't need to come off his line. We had more players in the box to cover any cut back.

 

[Danetheblade]

Stevens was mostly at fault plus Hendo didn't need to come off his line. We had more players in the box to cover any cut back.

Can understand why Henderson came off the line. There was a good second or so where the defence just stood there waiting for the pass.

 

[Champagneblade]

It was poor from Hendo to leave a gap at the near post. It would have bee. Far harder to score across him with Robinson already on the line.