Deadbat
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2009
- Messages
- 6,659
- Reaction score
- 39,876
Pod and report….
The dreams for European football for the Blades are over after a number of results over the weekend and tonight means that the highest United can now finish is 8th place. After a poor start to the restart, United had won three straight at home but two poor results against sides out of form have put paid to the chances of the dream season. After a poor showing at Leicester, manager Wilder slammed the players but for once did not get the reaction he hoped for as the Toffees got a surprise victory.
United named an unchanged side despite the roasting from manager Wilder after the defeat at Leicester with Fleck being left on the bench. Leon Clarke appeared on the bench for what could be his Bramall Lane bow with no place for Lys Mousset. Everton started with former Blade Calvert Lewin spearheading the front line and gave starts to Sigurdsson and Walcott. Youngster Braithwaite started at the back alongside Michael Keane. Everton had looked a side ready for the summer break but still a graphic before the game showed an outlay of over 300 million over the last few years.
The first minutes saw a few hefty tackles from Berge and McBurnie as United at least put a few tackles in after the non show at the King Power. It had been a scrappy opening and neither team could find any fluency at all. Baldock was well forward and won an early corner that was cleared. United were playing higher up the field and as Everton tried to play it out – United opted to pick them off. United won a free kick from Berge being tripped and Pickford took no chances and pushed away. Norwood took a great corner that was pushed away.
Everton had offered little so far but Calvert Lewin good work found Walcott who got in after the clever ball and dragged the ball across the box. The drinks break came but it had been a poor game with Richarlison hitting the deck a feature so far showing how bad it had been.
Berge and Baldock won a corner but it was cleared and Osborn brought down Walcott as he sprinted away and was lucky not to be booked. Davies was carded for a poor challenge on McBurnie. Norwood clever ball had been United’s main threat and another good one was cleared and Stevens smashed it miles over.
Everton were having more of the ball but there had been few chances although Basham had to be alert to poke away from Richarlison. United’s best chances, if you can call them that, came from a Basham turn and cross but Pickford in truth was under no pressure and did not need to parry away.
The best chance of the game came when from an Everton corner, Henderson pushed away but not far enough and Walcott sent a lovely cross to the back post where Calvert Lewin got the jump on a static Berge and headed down and against the post. He should have scored really in a game where that was the only chance.
Osborn’s deflected effort drifted tamely back to Pickford before Richarlison fell over (again) but unbelievably Norwood was penalised when he won the ball and was booked too in a real moment of misjudgement from the ref who had let worse tackles from Osborn and McBurnie go. The half time whistle came after the free kick was cleared. United had not done anywhere near enough with no efforts on goal and Everton would definitely have been the happier side having created more and having more of the ball.
United did not heed the warning from crosses as just after the break Everton took the lead. A free kick was won on the left and Sigurdsson’s free kick was a beauty but with Berge and Stevens ball watching, RICHARLISON got in between and flicked a firm header past Henderson into the corner. It was poor defending but a great delivery and desire from the striker to get in to score.
United tried to respond and Stevens was in on the angle but could not get the ball down and the ball was cleared and Everton were then away at the other end but the cross evaded everyone. McGoldrick had a shot blocked after good work from Basham who was one of the few United players carrying the fight. The game had become a bit end too end and more good work from Basham saw his cross into a really dangerous area but the Blades front two were static.
Everton could have made the game save when Calvert Lewin got the better of Egan and ran in on goal but his shot was saved by Henderson. United were seeing more of the ball now but not really creating anything at all. Berge’s cross was blocked via a combination of Keane and McBurnie and went out for a goal kick.
Sharp and Fleck came on for McBurnie and Osborne on the hour but Everton still looked more like scoring again as a neat move saw passes exchanged and Calvert Lewin’s cross was away from incoming Everton players.
The drinks break then saw Lundstram replace Norwood but the game continued in the same vein with Everton looking dangerous with pace on the break but United not having any way through and still not had mustered a shot on goal. Fleck did finally thread a lovely ball through but Sharp could not take it and it got away from him.
The game entered the final 10 minutes and Zivkovic came on for Basham as United went to four at the back and the frontman won a throw in down the left and then was involved as Fleck and then Stevens sent over a cross and Baldock looped his header over.
The final 5 minutes and stoppage time saw United barely able to offer anything of note and frustratingly United kept moving it sideways with Berge and Lundstram chief culprits in passiveness. The final chance, if you can call it that, came when McGoldrick scooped miles over at the end. The final whistle went with United once again failing to muster a shot on target for the second consecutive game and Everton deservedly winning a poor game with a solid defence and more attacking threat.
United – We were bad on Saturday and a lot said Leicester worked us out and just were too good for us. Well they were out of form and showed how poor they have been recently v Spurs. Tonight, we played a team on the beach whose form has been horrific. They have a dodgy keeper and poor defence with a rookie centre back. We did not lay a glove on them and deservedly lost a really bad game of football. They created 2 or 3 decent chances outside the goal – not sure he had any clear chances and certainly no efforts on goal. Wilder slammed us after the game but not sure what he says tonight as it was nearly the same – not sure we were much better – it was just we played a poor team. There we no urgency, life or willingness to take chances. So many players were passive all game. It was all backwards and sideways. I felt Norwood did ok and some decent set plays and then Baldock and Bash in the 2nd half got forward well but outside of this so many very average to poor performances. The front two have given two very static games and we have had absolutely nothing up top. Yes, they have had no service but they need to hold it up/work harder. Both are very inconsistent and an area we need to be better in – sadly with little to spend not sure how we do that. I also thought the midfield were not tight enough again and it was all jogging pace. Maybe we were knackered and maybe we just had nothing left but there was no desire. We did not even chuck men forward till right at the end. I felt we just looked like we had no belief. Normally Wilder gets a reaction after one of his bollockings but tonight we got nothing. I am sure the players wanted to respond but when you are tired and lifeless, you end up not being able to run both with or without the ball. It was all very devoid of ideas. Not sure after they scored that anyone felt we would get back in the game. I felt we could have played till midnight and probably still not tested the keeper.
Everton are not a good side but won the game without having to do much at all. A few decent bits of play and they score. They then defended easily and won comfortably. I wanted a few United players to run at players, penetrate and at least draw men out but it was all just sideways and backwards. I cannot even blame the crosses. Norwood put a few good ones in as did Basham but we never turned them all game and we never made them even deal with anything difficult. At least get the ball in the box once or twice, take a shot, make them think. It is the first time we have not had a shot on goal since that Southend 0-3 defeat in August 2016. So nearly four years!
They just kept funnelling us wide and then back inside and moved across. It was easy. It is concerning how we have looked absolutely clueless the last few games and even subs have just not made any difference. Maybe we are just beaten in terms of energy etc but you would think with a huge prize that many of these will never play for again, that we would at least show some bravery and have a go – that is the Wilder mantra but tonight but we looked like we were feeling sorry for ourselves. I believe it is a combination of the fatigue and mental side but also the players had maybe overachieved too at times and the reality is we are going to finish mid table and that’s maybe about where we are. We have shown some fantastic performances but since lockdown alone, we have served up some dreadful showings – at least 5 where we have not had a shot on target and defended basic stuff badly. It’s a shame that we have petered out as we seemed to have got going again but the last 2 have been as bad as the first 3 games really and individually and collectively, we have not been good enough in these games. Still we have had a fantastic season. To finish top half would have been dreamland so important we do not go too far in criticism. However, we can say we have been crap in 5 out of the last 9 games – and ultimately that is why we won’t quite get the dream that seemed so achievable. We have lost as many (4) since the restart as we had in the previous 21 games.
We have nothing to play for on Sunday but hope we can at least finish the season with a better performance as the last two have been poor and would not want us to go out with three defeats. It is a disappointing way to end and sure many of the critics will say it does not bode well for next season but I feel the players will come back hungry after a break. We do need to add some quality but that is a concern if Wilder says it will not be big money signings as having to scrape around for Championship players is not really the market we want to be looking at. I do hope we can find some value for money in the continent but that is an area we seem to struggle to exploit.
The dreams for European football for the Blades are over after a number of results over the weekend and tonight means that the highest United can now finish is 8th place. After a poor start to the restart, United had won three straight at home but two poor results against sides out of form have put paid to the chances of the dream season. After a poor showing at Leicester, manager Wilder slammed the players but for once did not get the reaction he hoped for as the Toffees got a surprise victory.
United named an unchanged side despite the roasting from manager Wilder after the defeat at Leicester with Fleck being left on the bench. Leon Clarke appeared on the bench for what could be his Bramall Lane bow with no place for Lys Mousset. Everton started with former Blade Calvert Lewin spearheading the front line and gave starts to Sigurdsson and Walcott. Youngster Braithwaite started at the back alongside Michael Keane. Everton had looked a side ready for the summer break but still a graphic before the game showed an outlay of over 300 million over the last few years.
The first minutes saw a few hefty tackles from Berge and McBurnie as United at least put a few tackles in after the non show at the King Power. It had been a scrappy opening and neither team could find any fluency at all. Baldock was well forward and won an early corner that was cleared. United were playing higher up the field and as Everton tried to play it out – United opted to pick them off. United won a free kick from Berge being tripped and Pickford took no chances and pushed away. Norwood took a great corner that was pushed away.
Everton had offered little so far but Calvert Lewin good work found Walcott who got in after the clever ball and dragged the ball across the box. The drinks break came but it had been a poor game with Richarlison hitting the deck a feature so far showing how bad it had been.
Berge and Baldock won a corner but it was cleared and Osborn brought down Walcott as he sprinted away and was lucky not to be booked. Davies was carded for a poor challenge on McBurnie. Norwood clever ball had been United’s main threat and another good one was cleared and Stevens smashed it miles over.
Everton were having more of the ball but there had been few chances although Basham had to be alert to poke away from Richarlison. United’s best chances, if you can call them that, came from a Basham turn and cross but Pickford in truth was under no pressure and did not need to parry away.
The best chance of the game came when from an Everton corner, Henderson pushed away but not far enough and Walcott sent a lovely cross to the back post where Calvert Lewin got the jump on a static Berge and headed down and against the post. He should have scored really in a game where that was the only chance.
Osborn’s deflected effort drifted tamely back to Pickford before Richarlison fell over (again) but unbelievably Norwood was penalised when he won the ball and was booked too in a real moment of misjudgement from the ref who had let worse tackles from Osborn and McBurnie go. The half time whistle came after the free kick was cleared. United had not done anywhere near enough with no efforts on goal and Everton would definitely have been the happier side having created more and having more of the ball.
United did not heed the warning from crosses as just after the break Everton took the lead. A free kick was won on the left and Sigurdsson’s free kick was a beauty but with Berge and Stevens ball watching, RICHARLISON got in between and flicked a firm header past Henderson into the corner. It was poor defending but a great delivery and desire from the striker to get in to score.
United tried to respond and Stevens was in on the angle but could not get the ball down and the ball was cleared and Everton were then away at the other end but the cross evaded everyone. McGoldrick had a shot blocked after good work from Basham who was one of the few United players carrying the fight. The game had become a bit end too end and more good work from Basham saw his cross into a really dangerous area but the Blades front two were static.
Everton could have made the game save when Calvert Lewin got the better of Egan and ran in on goal but his shot was saved by Henderson. United were seeing more of the ball now but not really creating anything at all. Berge’s cross was blocked via a combination of Keane and McBurnie and went out for a goal kick.
Sharp and Fleck came on for McBurnie and Osborne on the hour but Everton still looked more like scoring again as a neat move saw passes exchanged and Calvert Lewin’s cross was away from incoming Everton players.
The drinks break then saw Lundstram replace Norwood but the game continued in the same vein with Everton looking dangerous with pace on the break but United not having any way through and still not had mustered a shot on goal. Fleck did finally thread a lovely ball through but Sharp could not take it and it got away from him.
The game entered the final 10 minutes and Zivkovic came on for Basham as United went to four at the back and the frontman won a throw in down the left and then was involved as Fleck and then Stevens sent over a cross and Baldock looped his header over.
The final 5 minutes and stoppage time saw United barely able to offer anything of note and frustratingly United kept moving it sideways with Berge and Lundstram chief culprits in passiveness. The final chance, if you can call it that, came when McGoldrick scooped miles over at the end. The final whistle went with United once again failing to muster a shot on target for the second consecutive game and Everton deservedly winning a poor game with a solid defence and more attacking threat.
United – We were bad on Saturday and a lot said Leicester worked us out and just were too good for us. Well they were out of form and showed how poor they have been recently v Spurs. Tonight, we played a team on the beach whose form has been horrific. They have a dodgy keeper and poor defence with a rookie centre back. We did not lay a glove on them and deservedly lost a really bad game of football. They created 2 or 3 decent chances outside the goal – not sure he had any clear chances and certainly no efforts on goal. Wilder slammed us after the game but not sure what he says tonight as it was nearly the same – not sure we were much better – it was just we played a poor team. There we no urgency, life or willingness to take chances. So many players were passive all game. It was all backwards and sideways. I felt Norwood did ok and some decent set plays and then Baldock and Bash in the 2nd half got forward well but outside of this so many very average to poor performances. The front two have given two very static games and we have had absolutely nothing up top. Yes, they have had no service but they need to hold it up/work harder. Both are very inconsistent and an area we need to be better in – sadly with little to spend not sure how we do that. I also thought the midfield were not tight enough again and it was all jogging pace. Maybe we were knackered and maybe we just had nothing left but there was no desire. We did not even chuck men forward till right at the end. I felt we just looked like we had no belief. Normally Wilder gets a reaction after one of his bollockings but tonight we got nothing. I am sure the players wanted to respond but when you are tired and lifeless, you end up not being able to run both with or without the ball. It was all very devoid of ideas. Not sure after they scored that anyone felt we would get back in the game. I felt we could have played till midnight and probably still not tested the keeper.
Everton are not a good side but won the game without having to do much at all. A few decent bits of play and they score. They then defended easily and won comfortably. I wanted a few United players to run at players, penetrate and at least draw men out but it was all just sideways and backwards. I cannot even blame the crosses. Norwood put a few good ones in as did Basham but we never turned them all game and we never made them even deal with anything difficult. At least get the ball in the box once or twice, take a shot, make them think. It is the first time we have not had a shot on goal since that Southend 0-3 defeat in August 2016. So nearly four years!
They just kept funnelling us wide and then back inside and moved across. It was easy. It is concerning how we have looked absolutely clueless the last few games and even subs have just not made any difference. Maybe we are just beaten in terms of energy etc but you would think with a huge prize that many of these will never play for again, that we would at least show some bravery and have a go – that is the Wilder mantra but tonight but we looked like we were feeling sorry for ourselves. I believe it is a combination of the fatigue and mental side but also the players had maybe overachieved too at times and the reality is we are going to finish mid table and that’s maybe about where we are. We have shown some fantastic performances but since lockdown alone, we have served up some dreadful showings – at least 5 where we have not had a shot on target and defended basic stuff badly. It’s a shame that we have petered out as we seemed to have got going again but the last 2 have been as bad as the first 3 games really and individually and collectively, we have not been good enough in these games. Still we have had a fantastic season. To finish top half would have been dreamland so important we do not go too far in criticism. However, we can say we have been crap in 5 out of the last 9 games – and ultimately that is why we won’t quite get the dream that seemed so achievable. We have lost as many (4) since the restart as we had in the previous 21 games.
We have nothing to play for on Sunday but hope we can at least finish the season with a better performance as the last two have been poor and would not want us to go out with three defeats. It is a disappointing way to end and sure many of the critics will say it does not bode well for next season but I feel the players will come back hungry after a break. We do need to add some quality but that is a concern if Wilder says it will not be big money signings as having to scrape around for Championship players is not really the market we want to be looking at. I do hope we can find some value for money in the continent but that is an area we seem to struggle to exploit.
