Deadbat
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It had been seventeen months to the day since most Blades had set foot in Bramall Lane as the new season started. A different division and a different manager were significant changes that most fans would not have envisaged possible when they left the Lane on March 7th, 2020 when United were pushing for Europe at the top end of the Premier League. As the ground was close to capacity again finally after what seemed like an eternity, the home side entertained Lee Bowyer’s Birmingham City.
Most fans go into the new season with renewed optimism and even after a dreadful season last time out, United’s supporters were no different even under a new leader. However, after a preseason that had been somewhat under cooked, the reality hit home as the Blues shocked one of the promotion contenders on opening day. The Blades had 75% possession but visiting keeper Sarkic barely had a save to make and in the end Maxim Colin’s header was enough to take the three points. In truth the best chances of a tight game fell to Birmingham as United continued to lack creativity and idea even at a lower level. Birmingham were direct, physical and niggly but with a weak referee they did what they had to. United will meet many similar challenges at this level of this type and need to sharpen up in terms of pace of their passing and adapt to the new manager’s ideas with more alacrity than they showed today; albeit after very limited time under him.
Slavisa Jokanovic’s first league line up featured the same personnel that came down last season but despite speculation they retained Aaron Ramsdale and Sander Berge and both started. Up front it was Mousset, Burke and McGoldrick. There was no place for Chris Basham with Jack Robinson starting in a 4-3-3 formation.
Before kick off the new manager was introduced in his first game at the Lane and got a rousing reception just before the Greasy Chip Butty song was sang loudly and proudly by the returning fans. The Lane had close to 30,000 inside it and the atmosphere was electric as the game kicked off. The visitors settled quicker and forced United back. Roberts’ long throws were a feature early on and Chong was lively, having a shot blocked by Egan. United were playing it out from the back with even Ramsdale key to this possession early on but were struggling to make much headway. They coughed up possession on more than one occasion as the patient approach did not always work. McGoldrick tried to get on the ball from an unfamiliar left side position but United had not really worked any openings where as the ball spent more time in the Blades box, even if it was form balls from throws and long diagonals.
On 19 minutes though, City produced a real moment of quality. No one closed down Bela and he came inside Baldock and sent over a cross to the far post. Osborn was sleeping and full back COLIN got in and headed down and beyond Ramsdale into the corner at the Kop end. The Blades were stunned but City had started the game well and were rewarded for their positive approach.
United almost had an instant reply as Berge played the ball down the right channel. Burke was on the angle but nearly shocked Sarkic at his near post as it bounced off his near post and back into play but fell kindly for the visiting side. United then had another chance down the right side but Mousset’s shot was pulled wide.
United continued to try and pass it around and draw Birmingham on but now the visitors, buoyed by their goal, were just putting 10 behind the ball and United were too slow to move it on. They struggled to penetrate and in the end after a lot of passes, normally it was a direct ball that caused more issues for Birmingham. This was the case when Mousset was sprang down the right and his cross seemed perfect for Fleck but he went with his left foot as it came across and Colin made a timely block. Osborn blazed over from a corner not long after this.
Jutkiewicz’s power caused Robinson to have to clear for a corner before the busy Chong nipped in and nearly got his shot away. For all the ball United had, Birmingham still were causing problems when they turned it over.
Berge had been quiet but his power saw him get away from Pederson who cynically chopped him down and was rightly booked. The set play was wasted from United. Norwood’s shot went wide as United ran out of time as the half time whistle went soon after. United had controlled the ball but had not tested the keeper and really got the Birmingham defence turned.
United started the second half with some intent and at least the forward were getting more involved. McGoldrick’s shot was easy for Sarkic before a better chance came when Burke got down the right and sent over a cross that was just too far ahead of Mousset. Sadly, the striker pulled up lame in trying to get on the end of the cross, possibly slipped in the incident and signalled straight away he could not carry on – continuing his record of never completing 90 minutes in English football.
Brewster was on in his place to encouragement from the crowd despite his poor record so far in a Blades shirt and early on he showed some pace to nearly get in down the left. McGoldrick came inside and hit a curling effort but it was wide of the far post. At the other end Birmingham then had a flurry of chances and despite sitting back for the most part, they managed to find more opportunities in a 5-minute spell than the Blades had all game.
Firstly, Jutkiewicz should have done better but headed over when well placed before a cross from the left from Chong who had acres of space, saw the ball headed home by Colin but the referee spotted a push. An even better chance came when another cross came in and once again Jutkiewicz won the initial header but opted to head across goal and it seemed certain Hogan would score but he hooked over.
United than had two penalty kick appeals. The first seemed an excellent one as the ball dropped for Fleck and his shot hit the hand of Gardner who seemed to move his hand towards it. Referee Robinson was well placed but opted not to give it. Replays shows the midfielder was very fortunate and his attempts to pretend he was hit in the chest after were quite laughable really but he tried to kid the referee and maybe it worked! Berge then drove forward but Chong got just enough on the ball as the midfielder was grounded.
Sharp came on for Fleck but it was confusing what formation or whom was playing where but United had four strikers on the field. Leko came on for Hogan for the visiting side. Colin was booked for a foul on Brewster as Ramsdale’s long early kick nearly got him in.
Woods was booked for another cynical foul as he could not hold up the powerful Berge and then soon after his replacement Castillo suffered a similar fate as the midfielder started to really run at the Birmingham backline. Brewster was booked in between for a late tackle on the touchline for United.
The game entered the final 10 minutes and McBurnie was the final United change with Burke departing. Osborn wasted another chance hitting another effort a long way over before Berge drove forward again but there was no end product. The game became stop start with Robinson particularly weak at preventing blatant time wasting but he did adjudge 6 minutes to play. United huffed and puffed but McGoldrick was well off target with an ambitious effort and finally one Osborn cross was not far off McBurnie. Birmingham felled Berge again on full time but it was too late and the final whistle was blown signalling a familiar losing feeling for the Blades
United – Not the start we were looking for. On the surface we have not lost any players and have a strong squad but a new manager who needs time to get his ideas across combined with an awful pre season with no games and a trip to Spain where covid swept the camp.
Today we had a lot of the ball but it was totally bereft of any kind of attacking idea and purpose. It was out from the back and went sideways and backwards and then back. I get that is how he wants us to play but we have to do it much quicker. I also am concerned we have the players to play the way he wants us to play. We lack dynamism all over the side and it is a very slow side. On another day Burke’s shot goes in or we get a penalty but then Birmingham had the much better chances. We never worked the keeper at all and I felt it was way too predictable and very much like last season in all these strikers we have simply not being in the game as all the play was in our half due to the slow build up.
I am not sure the players seemed to know how he wants them to play or in some cases where they were meant to be playing? We had Norwood wide left of midfield, Fleck wide left (wrong footed), Berge centre and then they swapped about a bit after half an hour. Up top, McGoldrick seemed to be wide left and Burke wide right and Mousset in the middle but again this moved about. Some may argue that it is fluid and that is why it worked at Fulham and Watford, but not sure tonight the fluidity worked at all. The players seem befuddled how they were meant to play it. We would often pass, pass, pass and then go back and see no way through (we never played through midfield) and then play a long ball down the side (ironically, we caused more issues doing this to Burke or Mousset) but overall, we did not create much at all for the strikers. We never got the ball in the box all game and Birmingham actually saw it out quite comfortably. The goal we conceded was simple. A cross and header. We conceded lots of headed goals last year and will do the same again unless we improve our physicality at the back – Robinson and Osborn are weak and slow – they are not good enough to start for a side with ideas about promotion – that sounds harsh but no sure anyone can really argue? I saw Robinson get ragged about several times early and winced as long throws/balls came in and Egan was the only man I felt confident to win headers. We will continue to ship stupid goals unless we can win headers and deal with balls coming in.
After this we were unlucky to hit the post but not sure we did much else. We had a few long shots and Berge showed his power (they were cynical but cleverly shared the bookings around) and as well as he played there is rarely ever any product. Fleck and Norwood continued poor and slow form from last season. I felt a bit sorry for the strikers but again at times the movement was not there. I felt we could have played another half an hour and not scored -I never felt they were under loads of pressure. We simply do not get defences turned or put the ball in the box. Maybe his philosophy is to keep it, and bring teams on and then break the press but we don’t have the legs in the side (particularly midfield) to run through sides. Berge did it a bit but teams will just do what they did today to him. I was surprised how lacking in ideas we were all game to break down a side that were right at the bottom of the league. So, for all the strikers we have, unless we move it at a quicker pace and play with more urgency/tempo then we are going to see lots of teams spoil, defend and just break things up and we will need something different.
I have been really concerned that we have not signed or moved anyone out. People may scoff and say well it’s good we kept most of the squad but I am not sure. We have been a team in a losing run for a long time and I feel that we needed to freshen things up with 2 or 3 going and 2 or 3 coming in (granted glad Ramsdale and Berge are still here). I am sure people will point to Norwich and Watford struggling and bouncing back but they had players with pace, energy and youth – I just feel we needed an injection of enthusiasm. I said this on my pre season pod before people say you are just reacting to one game. I think we needed to move some first teamers out and some in- not all but at least 3 or 4 in and 3 or 4 out. Just my opinion. Some things/players come to the end of a natural cycle and I am concerned likes of Fleck, Norwood may have come to their end with us but I might be wrong. They don’t seem to have the hunger they once had in my opinion. Too many have been very average to poor for a long time and we need some freshening up. Today saw a performance albeit with the ball with the same lack of thrust and attacks of note that may lead to goals.
Of course, it is very early and we will wait and see. I did worry we may struggle with the poor preparation and of course we now have two away games to come – both tough. Be interesting to see how the crowd are in 4 or 5 weeks if we have a bad start? Already today you heard murmurings of ‘gerrit forward.’ I would say that under Wilder and Heckingbottom to a degree, the football was slow and predictable (down the wings/playing for overloads) with nothing coming in the box and limited chances/goalmouth action. So, in that respect it was no different! Maybe today might not have been the worst thing as can see where the limitations of this squad are if he wants to play this way. I personally think some players will adapt to his style and get better but a few I am sceptical. There will be some casualties, I am sure. Just disappointing that after all the build up we saw a game and a performance that lacked any kind of attacking idea or excitement after so long away and this against a pretty average side.
Most fans go into the new season with renewed optimism and even after a dreadful season last time out, United’s supporters were no different even under a new leader. However, after a preseason that had been somewhat under cooked, the reality hit home as the Blues shocked one of the promotion contenders on opening day. The Blades had 75% possession but visiting keeper Sarkic barely had a save to make and in the end Maxim Colin’s header was enough to take the three points. In truth the best chances of a tight game fell to Birmingham as United continued to lack creativity and idea even at a lower level. Birmingham were direct, physical and niggly but with a weak referee they did what they had to. United will meet many similar challenges at this level of this type and need to sharpen up in terms of pace of their passing and adapt to the new manager’s ideas with more alacrity than they showed today; albeit after very limited time under him.
Slavisa Jokanovic’s first league line up featured the same personnel that came down last season but despite speculation they retained Aaron Ramsdale and Sander Berge and both started. Up front it was Mousset, Burke and McGoldrick. There was no place for Chris Basham with Jack Robinson starting in a 4-3-3 formation.
Before kick off the new manager was introduced in his first game at the Lane and got a rousing reception just before the Greasy Chip Butty song was sang loudly and proudly by the returning fans. The Lane had close to 30,000 inside it and the atmosphere was electric as the game kicked off. The visitors settled quicker and forced United back. Roberts’ long throws were a feature early on and Chong was lively, having a shot blocked by Egan. United were playing it out from the back with even Ramsdale key to this possession early on but were struggling to make much headway. They coughed up possession on more than one occasion as the patient approach did not always work. McGoldrick tried to get on the ball from an unfamiliar left side position but United had not really worked any openings where as the ball spent more time in the Blades box, even if it was form balls from throws and long diagonals.
On 19 minutes though, City produced a real moment of quality. No one closed down Bela and he came inside Baldock and sent over a cross to the far post. Osborn was sleeping and full back COLIN got in and headed down and beyond Ramsdale into the corner at the Kop end. The Blades were stunned but City had started the game well and were rewarded for their positive approach.
United almost had an instant reply as Berge played the ball down the right channel. Burke was on the angle but nearly shocked Sarkic at his near post as it bounced off his near post and back into play but fell kindly for the visiting side. United then had another chance down the right side but Mousset’s shot was pulled wide.
United continued to try and pass it around and draw Birmingham on but now the visitors, buoyed by their goal, were just putting 10 behind the ball and United were too slow to move it on. They struggled to penetrate and in the end after a lot of passes, normally it was a direct ball that caused more issues for Birmingham. This was the case when Mousset was sprang down the right and his cross seemed perfect for Fleck but he went with his left foot as it came across and Colin made a timely block. Osborn blazed over from a corner not long after this.
Jutkiewicz’s power caused Robinson to have to clear for a corner before the busy Chong nipped in and nearly got his shot away. For all the ball United had, Birmingham still were causing problems when they turned it over.
Berge had been quiet but his power saw him get away from Pederson who cynically chopped him down and was rightly booked. The set play was wasted from United. Norwood’s shot went wide as United ran out of time as the half time whistle went soon after. United had controlled the ball but had not tested the keeper and really got the Birmingham defence turned.
United started the second half with some intent and at least the forward were getting more involved. McGoldrick’s shot was easy for Sarkic before a better chance came when Burke got down the right and sent over a cross that was just too far ahead of Mousset. Sadly, the striker pulled up lame in trying to get on the end of the cross, possibly slipped in the incident and signalled straight away he could not carry on – continuing his record of never completing 90 minutes in English football.
Brewster was on in his place to encouragement from the crowd despite his poor record so far in a Blades shirt and early on he showed some pace to nearly get in down the left. McGoldrick came inside and hit a curling effort but it was wide of the far post. At the other end Birmingham then had a flurry of chances and despite sitting back for the most part, they managed to find more opportunities in a 5-minute spell than the Blades had all game.
Firstly, Jutkiewicz should have done better but headed over when well placed before a cross from the left from Chong who had acres of space, saw the ball headed home by Colin but the referee spotted a push. An even better chance came when another cross came in and once again Jutkiewicz won the initial header but opted to head across goal and it seemed certain Hogan would score but he hooked over.
United than had two penalty kick appeals. The first seemed an excellent one as the ball dropped for Fleck and his shot hit the hand of Gardner who seemed to move his hand towards it. Referee Robinson was well placed but opted not to give it. Replays shows the midfielder was very fortunate and his attempts to pretend he was hit in the chest after were quite laughable really but he tried to kid the referee and maybe it worked! Berge then drove forward but Chong got just enough on the ball as the midfielder was grounded.
Sharp came on for Fleck but it was confusing what formation or whom was playing where but United had four strikers on the field. Leko came on for Hogan for the visiting side. Colin was booked for a foul on Brewster as Ramsdale’s long early kick nearly got him in.
Woods was booked for another cynical foul as he could not hold up the powerful Berge and then soon after his replacement Castillo suffered a similar fate as the midfielder started to really run at the Birmingham backline. Brewster was booked in between for a late tackle on the touchline for United.
The game entered the final 10 minutes and McBurnie was the final United change with Burke departing. Osborn wasted another chance hitting another effort a long way over before Berge drove forward again but there was no end product. The game became stop start with Robinson particularly weak at preventing blatant time wasting but he did adjudge 6 minutes to play. United huffed and puffed but McGoldrick was well off target with an ambitious effort and finally one Osborn cross was not far off McBurnie. Birmingham felled Berge again on full time but it was too late and the final whistle was blown signalling a familiar losing feeling for the Blades
United – Not the start we were looking for. On the surface we have not lost any players and have a strong squad but a new manager who needs time to get his ideas across combined with an awful pre season with no games and a trip to Spain where covid swept the camp.
Today we had a lot of the ball but it was totally bereft of any kind of attacking idea and purpose. It was out from the back and went sideways and backwards and then back. I get that is how he wants us to play but we have to do it much quicker. I also am concerned we have the players to play the way he wants us to play. We lack dynamism all over the side and it is a very slow side. On another day Burke’s shot goes in or we get a penalty but then Birmingham had the much better chances. We never worked the keeper at all and I felt it was way too predictable and very much like last season in all these strikers we have simply not being in the game as all the play was in our half due to the slow build up.
I am not sure the players seemed to know how he wants them to play or in some cases where they were meant to be playing? We had Norwood wide left of midfield, Fleck wide left (wrong footed), Berge centre and then they swapped about a bit after half an hour. Up top, McGoldrick seemed to be wide left and Burke wide right and Mousset in the middle but again this moved about. Some may argue that it is fluid and that is why it worked at Fulham and Watford, but not sure tonight the fluidity worked at all. The players seem befuddled how they were meant to play it. We would often pass, pass, pass and then go back and see no way through (we never played through midfield) and then play a long ball down the side (ironically, we caused more issues doing this to Burke or Mousset) but overall, we did not create much at all for the strikers. We never got the ball in the box all game and Birmingham actually saw it out quite comfortably. The goal we conceded was simple. A cross and header. We conceded lots of headed goals last year and will do the same again unless we improve our physicality at the back – Robinson and Osborn are weak and slow – they are not good enough to start for a side with ideas about promotion – that sounds harsh but no sure anyone can really argue? I saw Robinson get ragged about several times early and winced as long throws/balls came in and Egan was the only man I felt confident to win headers. We will continue to ship stupid goals unless we can win headers and deal with balls coming in.
After this we were unlucky to hit the post but not sure we did much else. We had a few long shots and Berge showed his power (they were cynical but cleverly shared the bookings around) and as well as he played there is rarely ever any product. Fleck and Norwood continued poor and slow form from last season. I felt a bit sorry for the strikers but again at times the movement was not there. I felt we could have played another half an hour and not scored -I never felt they were under loads of pressure. We simply do not get defences turned or put the ball in the box. Maybe his philosophy is to keep it, and bring teams on and then break the press but we don’t have the legs in the side (particularly midfield) to run through sides. Berge did it a bit but teams will just do what they did today to him. I was surprised how lacking in ideas we were all game to break down a side that were right at the bottom of the league. So, for all the strikers we have, unless we move it at a quicker pace and play with more urgency/tempo then we are going to see lots of teams spoil, defend and just break things up and we will need something different.
I have been really concerned that we have not signed or moved anyone out. People may scoff and say well it’s good we kept most of the squad but I am not sure. We have been a team in a losing run for a long time and I feel that we needed to freshen things up with 2 or 3 going and 2 or 3 coming in (granted glad Ramsdale and Berge are still here). I am sure people will point to Norwich and Watford struggling and bouncing back but they had players with pace, energy and youth – I just feel we needed an injection of enthusiasm. I said this on my pre season pod before people say you are just reacting to one game. I think we needed to move some first teamers out and some in- not all but at least 3 or 4 in and 3 or 4 out. Just my opinion. Some things/players come to the end of a natural cycle and I am concerned likes of Fleck, Norwood may have come to their end with us but I might be wrong. They don’t seem to have the hunger they once had in my opinion. Too many have been very average to poor for a long time and we need some freshening up. Today saw a performance albeit with the ball with the same lack of thrust and attacks of note that may lead to goals.
Of course, it is very early and we will wait and see. I did worry we may struggle with the poor preparation and of course we now have two away games to come – both tough. Be interesting to see how the crowd are in 4 or 5 weeks if we have a bad start? Already today you heard murmurings of ‘gerrit forward.’ I would say that under Wilder and Heckingbottom to a degree, the football was slow and predictable (down the wings/playing for overloads) with nothing coming in the box and limited chances/goalmouth action. So, in that respect it was no different! Maybe today might not have been the worst thing as can see where the limitations of this squad are if he wants to play this way. I personally think some players will adapt to his style and get better but a few I am sceptical. There will be some casualties, I am sure. Just disappointing that after all the build up we saw a game and a performance that lacked any kind of attacking idea or excitement after so long away and this against a pretty average side.
