Deadbat
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It is now four games and four defeats for Ruben Selles whose Sheffield United side remain marooned at the foot of the table of the Championship as they continued their disastrous start to the new season. Luke Cundle’s first half strike saw the Lions deservedly lead and in truth the visitors could have been out of sight, long before a late rally from the home side. Millwall keeper Benda made a save from Hamer, Campbell had an effort cleared off the line and Burrows hit the post but in truth, the away side were good value for the win as they repeated their success and scoreline of last season. They had more efforts (on and off target), a higher XG and more touches inside their opponents’ box, as for long spells they controlled the game. The Blades had a go towards the end but overall the performance was lacking any kind of plan, authority, or domination. Manager Selles is now under huge pressure only three league games in and knows with two tough games at Boro and Ipswich to come; if he does not fashion any kind of performance and result quickly then his tenure at the Lane will be one of the briefest in Sheffield United’s long history.
United brought in new signing Ben Godfrey, who began at right back and also started with Tom Cannon – with the forward starting in an unfamiliar wide position. Soumare and Seriki dropped out. Japhet Tanganha did not feature for Millwall, with speculation over the centre back’s future at the Den- with United being strongly linked with a possible transfer.
The game began with the visitors turning United around and making them kick towards the Kop in the first half. Millwall settled better and were winning many of the loose 50-50 balls before putting United under pressure. Ivanovic was causing problems for Bindon with his physicality and Coburn was winning the aerial balls. United were struggling to find anything of note in an offensive sense and the game was mired in midfield where the Blades were once again getting overrun. Leonard had an effort wide and Neghli then nearly got in as United dithered allowing the Lions to move into the last third. Campbell was seeing little of the ball and whilst there were glimpse for O’Hare and Barry, the home side had created nothing at all from an attacking perspective.
Burrows pulled an effort well off target before Coburn flicked on leading to confusion at the back as Millwall won a few set plays as they continued in the ascendancy. The lack of intensity from the home team saw so many challenges won by the away side and in turn they forced the Blades back. Cundle had an effort parried away from Cooper but the same man was celebrating soon after. The ball was turned forward and Millwall won the header and CUNDLE was not followed by Peck, and beat the offside trap and smartly turned past Cooper into the far corner. It had been a well-deserved lead for the away side who had been the far better side so far.
After this the side started to get frustrated and Coburn’s dipping effort was tipped over before hearty boos came from the Blades fans showing their frustration at another tepid performance with not a single effort registered on goal (indeed anywhere near) the visiting goal.
After the break, United tried to play at a higher intensity in terms of engaging their opposition but Millwall continued to look the more likely of the sides to score again. Cundle had another effort and then Ivanovic should have double the lead but pulled it wide as the boos again rang out around Bramall Lane. Brooks came on for the plan was for the Blades to get back into the game. Barry had an effort saved down low as United finally had an effort on target and then Peck’s header was cleared away inside the box. Neghli and Hamer were both cautioned but the game was drifting away and even though Millwall were sitting back more, there was not really any concerted pressure on their goal. O’Hare’s shot was not too far off target as United at least showed some life in the final 20 minutes.
Hamer came inside and hit a sot that was tipped around the post in United’s best effort before they were unfortunate not to level when Burrows hit a rasping shot that bounced off the post and away. Campbell then a header blocked away near the line. It seemed like it would not be United’s day and as the game ticked into 5 additional minutes, the terraces started to empty. The Blades could not test Benda again and the final whistle came with loud boos from those that remained inside the Lane. I am not sure anyone would have envisaged such a dreadful start despite the managerial change but the Blades look a complete mess at the moment and the fact they have lost to three sides not even tipped to be frontrunners sums up how bad the opening has been.
United – You can watch the highlights and see the chances at the end from Hamer, Peck, Burrows and Campbell and think we may have been unlucky not to get anything and maybe on good chances over the game, this could be an argument you could make? However, for an hour to 70 minutes, the Blades were absolutely dire. We deservedly went behind and could and should have been 2 or 3 behind long before the late efforts. We may have huffed and puffed and the keeper made a save and we hit the post but I am not sure it was really structured play or cohesive football/pressure that led. Millwall just sat back after not putting the game they controlled for most of the contest to bed. Then at 0-1, inevitable pressure may come. It was hardly wave after wave but on another day, we maybe could have nicked a draw but the reality is we did not score and this should not excuse what we saw long before this.
For a long time, we were dreadful with no real plan, shape or idea of how we were playing. The structure of the side is completely unbalanced and we are making some decent players look crap – they aren’t helping themselves mind! There was no pressing, front foot football or this vertical play Selles discussed. We looked weak and timid off the ball and when we had it, completely passive and with no plan how to launch concerted attacks or try and fashion a chance. We seemed to have big gaps all over the side -both without the ball and when we had it. So many of our big players who we counted on last season were appalling at keeping the ball (Hamer, O’Hare, Campbell and Peck) and as a result it kept coming back at us. The defence were not able to impose themselves on two physical forwards. Robinson has got pelters all season and seems to be identified as the main weak link at the back but Bindon and Burrows were worse than him. I thought Peck was left isolated but also was so careless on the ball and we ended up with lots of little weak players (Peck, Barry, Hamer, O’Hare, Barry) that just got shrugged off it so easily. We lost all the 50-50 stuff and as a result never had the ball or could maintain a spell of possession. The few times we did keep it, the play was slow and predictable. Cannon just looked completely out of his depth (people may say it is not his position but has he shown anything at centre forward either?). Campbell barely moved and as much as people will go in on Cannon (and rightly as he has been a dreadful signing and has no positive qualities whatsoever) then Campbell has looked like a totally disinterested player. I get he needs service but look at the two Millwall lads who ran around and won the knocks ons and never stopped. Individually we looked like a side who were all feeling sorry for themselves but collectively there was no cohesion/interplay and lots were just stood. We have wingers who are predictable. A striker isolated and midfielders with no structure. Lots of players miles apart and the defence put under pressure constantly but the team is stagnant with no movement/interplay whatsoever. We had so many set plays where no one moved. We just stood waiting. I thought Barry and O’Hare tried early on to get on it but they faded and quickly got snuffed out. Millwall just swept up the loose stuff and the only side who looked like creating much and they had chances before finally scoring. The goal came as the ball was knocked forward and Burrows and Bindon just waited and then Peck did the same and they won the first and second balls and took the goal well.
They could have had more goals at the end of the first half and to start the second half. There was one moment, where we just stood there and they won three balls from a cross and should have scored. Our players just stood and watched and the body language was really poor. Noone seemed to be getting the team together, moving them up the field or trying to get them motivated. They just seemed to be going through the motions. Brooks at least tried to get on the ball but his one footed tactic made it easy for them to read. We did have chances near the end but most of them were long rangers (Hamer, O’Hare, Burrows) rather than great build up and a draw would have massively flattered us. The side seemed to completely lack belief and in the end the visitors were good value for their win having been much the better side for well over an hour.
The end of the game saw the predictable boos. There will be a lot of focus on Selles and rightly so. He is in charge and for all the recruitment issues, I have no idea of how we are playing, the formation seems to limit us with an without the ball and we look really boring to watch. It is a nothing sort of approach. Passive with and without the ball. Weak, little players and everyone scared to take chances. The side looks a set of cowards at the moment. We have players who should be doing so much better and Hamer, O’Hare, Burrows, Peck, Campbell (to name 5) all have been dreadful to start the season. However, the buck stops with the manager and at the moment the players look totally demotivated, lacking in confidence and no idea what the plan is (they should take more responsibility but the narrative will be many of these were very good last season and now are playing terribly and the only change has been the manager/tactics). We have lost three games and deserved to lose all three. We are bottom and now play some better teams. I cannot see us getting anything from the next two either sadly. We have given him some defenders but Godfrey is a steady eddy type and the Swedish lad won’t be thrown into things surely? We have brought in some youngsters who look a way off top end Championship (Bindon, Barry, Ukaki) but the holdover players are not helping these at all. The board have made a total mess of recruitment but even with defensive changes (which we have started to make and will continue) the forward side and midfield you would not anticipate would or should change from the end of last season. All of these look woeful in this system and the manager is somehow making players who were stand outs look really poor.
Not sure what we do now? I do not think they will sack him after they made the big change – they would look even more stupid than they were in making the change but I cannot see anything but more defeats and then say we lost the next two – then they probably have to make the change. Then what? It won’t be Wilder despite all the talk of a return but say we go to a Dyche or that type -that goes back against the change of philosophy. They would have to go for another Selles type (European young manager – Danny Rohl?). I did not agree with the Wilder change but could see the reasoning long-term moving away from that type of manager but to not overhaul the backroom (bring in a director of football/football board) was bizarre. Maybe they just picked the wrong guy. Selles has achieved little so far as a manager and it was odd they seemed to so convinced he was the man with no interview process at all? I am not sure where we go from here. I think we will lose the next two and then if they keep him for Charlton after the break – the Lane could be even more toxic. Promotion to me is already off the table as obvious as that sounds and now it’s about not being in a relegation battle and just somehow having a season where we can build for next season (Burnley lost 2 all last season – we have already lost 3!) which is crazy after three games but the lack of character in the side is telling and you worry what happened with Luton last year. We might have to see what we can get for Hamer now (not sure anyone will pay big money but 20 million we would have to take it with us in the final year of parachute payments) and even Peck and look to just try and maximise the money we can bring in. We are not going to be close to a promotion contender so may have to see what we can do now to maximise funds – when you look at what is happening across the city. It may seem a negative take but the decision the board has taken and the start today means we are probably going to be a long way from the Premier League for a while now and our trajectory may be more like Norwich/WBA for a period. No issues with that but let us have a plan – get in some football experience on the board and have a strategy with recruitment/coaching that sees if we did go up in the next 4-5 years we can maybe stay there.
United brought in new signing Ben Godfrey, who began at right back and also started with Tom Cannon – with the forward starting in an unfamiliar wide position. Soumare and Seriki dropped out. Japhet Tanganha did not feature for Millwall, with speculation over the centre back’s future at the Den- with United being strongly linked with a possible transfer.
The game began with the visitors turning United around and making them kick towards the Kop in the first half. Millwall settled better and were winning many of the loose 50-50 balls before putting United under pressure. Ivanovic was causing problems for Bindon with his physicality and Coburn was winning the aerial balls. United were struggling to find anything of note in an offensive sense and the game was mired in midfield where the Blades were once again getting overrun. Leonard had an effort wide and Neghli then nearly got in as United dithered allowing the Lions to move into the last third. Campbell was seeing little of the ball and whilst there were glimpse for O’Hare and Barry, the home side had created nothing at all from an attacking perspective.
Burrows pulled an effort well off target before Coburn flicked on leading to confusion at the back as Millwall won a few set plays as they continued in the ascendancy. The lack of intensity from the home team saw so many challenges won by the away side and in turn they forced the Blades back. Cundle had an effort parried away from Cooper but the same man was celebrating soon after. The ball was turned forward and Millwall won the header and CUNDLE was not followed by Peck, and beat the offside trap and smartly turned past Cooper into the far corner. It had been a well-deserved lead for the away side who had been the far better side so far.
After this the side started to get frustrated and Coburn’s dipping effort was tipped over before hearty boos came from the Blades fans showing their frustration at another tepid performance with not a single effort registered on goal (indeed anywhere near) the visiting goal.
After the break, United tried to play at a higher intensity in terms of engaging their opposition but Millwall continued to look the more likely of the sides to score again. Cundle had another effort and then Ivanovic should have double the lead but pulled it wide as the boos again rang out around Bramall Lane. Brooks came on for the plan was for the Blades to get back into the game. Barry had an effort saved down low as United finally had an effort on target and then Peck’s header was cleared away inside the box. Neghli and Hamer were both cautioned but the game was drifting away and even though Millwall were sitting back more, there was not really any concerted pressure on their goal. O’Hare’s shot was not too far off target as United at least showed some life in the final 20 minutes.
Hamer came inside and hit a sot that was tipped around the post in United’s best effort before they were unfortunate not to level when Burrows hit a rasping shot that bounced off the post and away. Campbell then a header blocked away near the line. It seemed like it would not be United’s day and as the game ticked into 5 additional minutes, the terraces started to empty. The Blades could not test Benda again and the final whistle came with loud boos from those that remained inside the Lane. I am not sure anyone would have envisaged such a dreadful start despite the managerial change but the Blades look a complete mess at the moment and the fact they have lost to three sides not even tipped to be frontrunners sums up how bad the opening has been.
United – You can watch the highlights and see the chances at the end from Hamer, Peck, Burrows and Campbell and think we may have been unlucky not to get anything and maybe on good chances over the game, this could be an argument you could make? However, for an hour to 70 minutes, the Blades were absolutely dire. We deservedly went behind and could and should have been 2 or 3 behind long before the late efforts. We may have huffed and puffed and the keeper made a save and we hit the post but I am not sure it was really structured play or cohesive football/pressure that led. Millwall just sat back after not putting the game they controlled for most of the contest to bed. Then at 0-1, inevitable pressure may come. It was hardly wave after wave but on another day, we maybe could have nicked a draw but the reality is we did not score and this should not excuse what we saw long before this.
For a long time, we were dreadful with no real plan, shape or idea of how we were playing. The structure of the side is completely unbalanced and we are making some decent players look crap – they aren’t helping themselves mind! There was no pressing, front foot football or this vertical play Selles discussed. We looked weak and timid off the ball and when we had it, completely passive and with no plan how to launch concerted attacks or try and fashion a chance. We seemed to have big gaps all over the side -both without the ball and when we had it. So many of our big players who we counted on last season were appalling at keeping the ball (Hamer, O’Hare, Campbell and Peck) and as a result it kept coming back at us. The defence were not able to impose themselves on two physical forwards. Robinson has got pelters all season and seems to be identified as the main weak link at the back but Bindon and Burrows were worse than him. I thought Peck was left isolated but also was so careless on the ball and we ended up with lots of little weak players (Peck, Barry, Hamer, O’Hare, Barry) that just got shrugged off it so easily. We lost all the 50-50 stuff and as a result never had the ball or could maintain a spell of possession. The few times we did keep it, the play was slow and predictable. Cannon just looked completely out of his depth (people may say it is not his position but has he shown anything at centre forward either?). Campbell barely moved and as much as people will go in on Cannon (and rightly as he has been a dreadful signing and has no positive qualities whatsoever) then Campbell has looked like a totally disinterested player. I get he needs service but look at the two Millwall lads who ran around and won the knocks ons and never stopped. Individually we looked like a side who were all feeling sorry for themselves but collectively there was no cohesion/interplay and lots were just stood. We have wingers who are predictable. A striker isolated and midfielders with no structure. Lots of players miles apart and the defence put under pressure constantly but the team is stagnant with no movement/interplay whatsoever. We had so many set plays where no one moved. We just stood waiting. I thought Barry and O’Hare tried early on to get on it but they faded and quickly got snuffed out. Millwall just swept up the loose stuff and the only side who looked like creating much and they had chances before finally scoring. The goal came as the ball was knocked forward and Burrows and Bindon just waited and then Peck did the same and they won the first and second balls and took the goal well.
They could have had more goals at the end of the first half and to start the second half. There was one moment, where we just stood there and they won three balls from a cross and should have scored. Our players just stood and watched and the body language was really poor. Noone seemed to be getting the team together, moving them up the field or trying to get them motivated. They just seemed to be going through the motions. Brooks at least tried to get on the ball but his one footed tactic made it easy for them to read. We did have chances near the end but most of them were long rangers (Hamer, O’Hare, Burrows) rather than great build up and a draw would have massively flattered us. The side seemed to completely lack belief and in the end the visitors were good value for their win having been much the better side for well over an hour.
The end of the game saw the predictable boos. There will be a lot of focus on Selles and rightly so. He is in charge and for all the recruitment issues, I have no idea of how we are playing, the formation seems to limit us with an without the ball and we look really boring to watch. It is a nothing sort of approach. Passive with and without the ball. Weak, little players and everyone scared to take chances. The side looks a set of cowards at the moment. We have players who should be doing so much better and Hamer, O’Hare, Burrows, Peck, Campbell (to name 5) all have been dreadful to start the season. However, the buck stops with the manager and at the moment the players look totally demotivated, lacking in confidence and no idea what the plan is (they should take more responsibility but the narrative will be many of these were very good last season and now are playing terribly and the only change has been the manager/tactics). We have lost three games and deserved to lose all three. We are bottom and now play some better teams. I cannot see us getting anything from the next two either sadly. We have given him some defenders but Godfrey is a steady eddy type and the Swedish lad won’t be thrown into things surely? We have brought in some youngsters who look a way off top end Championship (Bindon, Barry, Ukaki) but the holdover players are not helping these at all. The board have made a total mess of recruitment but even with defensive changes (which we have started to make and will continue) the forward side and midfield you would not anticipate would or should change from the end of last season. All of these look woeful in this system and the manager is somehow making players who were stand outs look really poor.
Not sure what we do now? I do not think they will sack him after they made the big change – they would look even more stupid than they were in making the change but I cannot see anything but more defeats and then say we lost the next two – then they probably have to make the change. Then what? It won’t be Wilder despite all the talk of a return but say we go to a Dyche or that type -that goes back against the change of philosophy. They would have to go for another Selles type (European young manager – Danny Rohl?). I did not agree with the Wilder change but could see the reasoning long-term moving away from that type of manager but to not overhaul the backroom (bring in a director of football/football board) was bizarre. Maybe they just picked the wrong guy. Selles has achieved little so far as a manager and it was odd they seemed to so convinced he was the man with no interview process at all? I am not sure where we go from here. I think we will lose the next two and then if they keep him for Charlton after the break – the Lane could be even more toxic. Promotion to me is already off the table as obvious as that sounds and now it’s about not being in a relegation battle and just somehow having a season where we can build for next season (Burnley lost 2 all last season – we have already lost 3!) which is crazy after three games but the lack of character in the side is telling and you worry what happened with Luton last year. We might have to see what we can get for Hamer now (not sure anyone will pay big money but 20 million we would have to take it with us in the final year of parachute payments) and even Peck and look to just try and maximise the money we can bring in. We are not going to be close to a promotion contender so may have to see what we can do now to maximise funds – when you look at what is happening across the city. It may seem a negative take but the decision the board has taken and the start today means we are probably going to be a long way from the Premier League for a while now and our trajectory may be more like Norwich/WBA for a period. No issues with that but let us have a plan – get in some football experience on the board and have a strategy with recruitment/coaching that sees if we did go up in the next 4-5 years we can maybe stay there.
