United 0 MK Dons 1 - report

[Deadbat]

United slumped to another defeat as a late Antony Kay header saw United’s miserable season continue. What made the result even harder to take; in a game of few chances; was that Fabian Brandy missed a sitter moments earlier that could have won the game for the home side. To compound another desperately disappointing day Brandy was then sent off for a petulant kick out at Lee Hodson in stoppage time.



It was a poor game with little in it and United only made David Martin make one save all afternoon and George Long a virtual spectator. As the home side you would have expected the Blades to push on but in reality it never really happened as slow build up, lack of penetration and no real goal scoring threat saw another blank sheet.



Manager David Weir made changes with new signing Jose Baxter in from the start and Matt Hill and Ryan Flynn back in the side at the expense of Sean McGinty, Fabian Brandy and Callum McFadzean. MK Dons had former Blades loanee Izale McLeod up front and had former Manchester United duo Alan Smith and Luke Chadwick on the bench.



The game started with United kicking towards the Kop and Baxter was involved early with some neat touches. His play saw Taylor in the clear but the striker pulled his shot badly wide. Poor play from Maguire nearly let in McLeod but he shot badly wide and then the same man nearly found Gleeson but his shot was blocked out. The game was relatively even with little happening until McMahon was involved in a series of challenges and got involved unnecessarily before he then drew retribution from Carruthers who was rightly booked for a late challenge right in front of the dug outs. Manager Robinson had been continually in the ear of the fourth official and this incident did not help his mood.



Baxter nearly got in but the keeper was quick out to smother and then Taylor was nearly played in by the debutant. At the other end MK Dons had a few shots blocked and another cross just eluded Bantom. The half came to an end soon after in a game where neither keeper had made a save.



The second half saw United try and up the tempo but they were struggling to create anything and they were giving the ball away more than they were keeping it. Taylor shot wide when he may have been flagged for offside if he had converted after a shot from Baxter was blocked before a break from MK Dons saw a poor final ball allow McMahon to clear.



Ironside came on for the disappointing Taylor but he too struggled to make headway and was soon dumped unceremoniously on the floor with no free kick given. Flynn was booked for diving when he took a tumble in the box and could have no complaints when if he had concentrated on the ball he may have created something.



Brandy was next to be called from the bench as he replaced Murphy and soon was involved running at his man and winning a free kick. He had another run that led to a corner and suddenly his introduction had given United new life. From another free kick he won McMahon finally forced a keeper into a save as his effort was palmed away. It was a routine save but drew ironic cheers from some in the crowd as at least it was an effort of some note.



Bamford shot wide when well placed after he got away from the defence and then Ironside scuffed wide after more good work from Brady but the game seemed to be drifting towards a stalemate until suddenly a flurry of incidents.



With five minutes to go, United missed the chance to win the game and they could not have hoped for a better opening. Baxter made the opportunity by drifting away from two men and cut it back where Ironside missed it but it fell invitingly to Brandy who had the whole goal to aim at and the keeper out of the equation at the near post but he somehow sidefooted wide. It was a sitter and most fans and players alike were in disbelief he had not scored. Soon after MK Dons won a free kick out on the right and Williams’ delivery to the back post was headed across goal and in from KAY. This was a signal for many fans to stream out of the Lane.



McFadzean came on for Flynn in stoppage time but the visitors kept the ball in the corner for most of the final 5 minutes until when it did reach half way Brandy wildly kicked out at Hodson to earn him a deserved straight red. It was petulant and stupid. Soon after the final whistle went to jeers from the terraces after another poor performance and result.



United – Hate to say it again but it was another really poor display that lacked life, penetration, ability and chances of note. Baxter played ok and gave us a bit of something but overall in the attacking areas we offered nothing. We had a few half chances and then missed a sitter at the end which could have won the game. Their winner summed it up as poor marking gifted them a free header. In reality a point was not much better than none and even if we had won I would have been saying the same things. Indeed if Brandy had scored it would have masked a lot of the deficiencies we continue to see. It was slow and chess like as we shuffled the ball on moving barely 5 yards and continued to look scared to even attack in the opponents half. Murphy, Flynn and Taylor were really poor and we must have the most the toothless attack in the league. Regardless of the formation, tactics, you expect your forwards to at least create something, a run, a shot, a pass but we got nothing out of those 3 all afternoon. Baxter at least tried some different things but he too faded as the game looked like petering out until the late miss and then goal. Brandy’s red card was moronic.



Weir’s comments post game were the same as the previous week and the week before that. He keeps saying it is a work in progress but I am not seeing any progress. That sounds harsh but I can only go on what I am seeing and he has addressed any of shortcomings from last season; not creating or scoring and if anything we are worse as are conceding more goals.



It is really poor to watch and to be honest it is not passing football, nor is it knocking it forward. It is a just a mixture of nothing and I don’t really see any style emerging at all. We seem now to be kicking it longer at times than we were earlier in the season and seem to merge from passing it around for a bit to then being under pressure and humping it forward. If that is all we are going to do anyway then we may aswell do that straight away rather than allow them to get players behind the ball. It was amusing and worrying to watch Collins and Maguire panic when MK did actually pressure them but to be honest whether they were pressured or left; it did not matter as those two and Coady often managed to give ball away fairly easily anyway. When we did get in the last third I never thought a chance was coming as the forward players were just outmuscled too easily. Taylor and Murphy are two of the most physically weak players I have ever seen play for United. They make Tony Philliskirk seem like Darius Henderson! They are not even that fast either. I am unsure what these two and Flynn offer the side and we have to bring in replacements in these areas and fast. I would bring McGinn back for Coady and hopefully get at least 2 more forward/wide players in by Monday. However, worryingly the defence had nothing to do today but still managed to concede again. Everyone keeps saying how solid Maguire and Collins are but the last 3 goals have come from their poor play failing to stop penetration and then clear headers lost (Hanson and today Kay). In reality there are holes all over the side with mostly poor players and the formation/tactics are not working. We are not creating anything, we are not scoring and it is rubbish to watch. Give me 2 quick wingers and balls down the flank to chase any day over this turgid stuff we are watching. I am not advocating long ball but we have to play it forward quicker than we are and get in the areas we can hurt teams. Messing around with it in our half is just giving us more problems and we are losing the ball more.



I knew it would be a time where we would have to be patient and of course expected mid table this season. Once again it is still early and we have to be ready to watch more of what we saw today sadly. What I want to see is some level of improvement though and progression though and at the moment we are seeing more regression! As I said last week the players are mostly rubbish and that is the overriding factor but we are stuck with most even with a few additions. Weir’s job is to get the most out of the players and get them playing to their maximum. As poor as they are I am not sure many are even doing that. It has been really disappointing start for both Weir and United. Notts County’s results show how bad they are and we have been well beaten at Bradford and Brentford and struggled against quite ordinary sides in MK Dons and Colchester.



I have seen some poor United sides but very rarely have I seen a United team that consistently does not look like scoring or creating chances and that is a real concern both in the tactics/approach and the personnel. I do not expect us to get anything at Rotherham next week who are doing very well and then we suddenly could be in the bottom four. I do not thing anyone really expected that no matter how patient and how long it would take to turn things around.

 

[Deadbat]

MK Dons – Were even worse than us but that should not be a concern. A poor side that should have been put to the sword and we barely made a chance all game. They would have been happy with a point I am sure and seemed content with this until the late smash and grab. For an away side, like Colchester, they will have been content that the keeper barely had a save to make and mostly coped with us easily. They did not create anything but again away from home to stop the home side having many chances and then score a late goal and win it, is in many ways a perfect approach.







They had been up to Sunderland in the week and back home and then back up North and still looked as fresh as us really when we had a full week off and would have been good value for a point even though they created little.



Robinson was irritating as usual as he did not shut up continually being in the fourth officials’ ear. To be fair he was quite complimentary in what he said about us after the game saying as a club we will get it right and it is waiting to take off. He seemed to suggest he tried to sign Baxter and a few more (guess Coady as he spotted and signed him for Liverpool when he was a coach there) of our players. Interesting to know if he did turn down the chance to come considering the compliments he paid us as a club at the end of the game today.



As for them this year; I predicted playoffs but I honestly now think they will do well to make that high and can see them around the middle really. They don’t have many more attacking threats than us and like us lack pace.



Opposition star man – Antony Kay. Marshalled back line well and then scored the winner with a text book header from a set play.



Opposition weak link – Izale McLeod. Was pretty dire when he was at the Lane but despite a journeyman type career he has scored goals wherever he has gone in the lower divisions. Today he was the awkward, gangly forward I remember with a poor touch and headless chicken style of running. The moment where he ran away from Maguire and then hit an appalling shot wide (sort of toe punted it) summed his performance up.





Long 7/10 – Had nothing to do really. A few shots off target and a few routine catches. He did take some daft goal kicks which put the defence under pressure a couple of times. Little chance with the goal that was headed across him into the far corner.



McMahon 6/10 – He actually defended ok for the most part but his annoying habit of trying to get involved with opponents continues. He had hold of one in a headlock on the floor and was lucky to escape without a card. A few other daft and wild moments also saw him fortunate to not even be spoken to. He induced a yellow card after the above indiscretion with their man flying into him. He is irritating to say the least at times and needs to just concentrate on playing football. Had some shocking free kicks/corners which rarely beat the first man but then had one saved near the end.



Hill 6/10 – Glad to see him back but that is more to do with the players he replaced who are clearly not good enough. He is an improvement on those. He was steady defensively and did try and get forward even if he often never got on the end of anything or ran out of steam. His technical ability is not the best and he too sliced a few aimless balls. In an ideal world we would be looking to bring in two new full backs but reality is other areas probably are more of a priority.



Maguire 5/10 – Another erratic performance. He dallied in possession a few times that nearly led to chances and his passing was really mixed. He nearly let them in when ball ran away from him early on down the left hand channel and then later the same thing nearly happened again. He seemed to be marking Kay on the goal too or not marking him rather. He has actually not had a great season for me and seems to be getting worse not better.



Collins 6.5/10 – Thought he had a steady game today and was our best defender. He headed clear and dominated that area, albeit against very little up top but McLeod was taken off so ineffectual he was. At times he panics when on the ball and loses it; same as Maguire and does not seem comfortable playing it out of the back which is a concern as Weir clearly wants us to do this.



Coady 4/10 – He was really poor. For large spells he was simply not in the game. When he did get on the ball he often gave it away or at best he continually turned backwards or sideways. He never seems to want to drive forward and make up yards going towards the opponents’ goal? I think McGinn will have to come in for him as at the moment he is offering very little which is a shame as he looked decent at York and in the cameo v Notts County. Does not look ready to make a significant impact at professional level yet. He may be young but there are players from top league down (Barkley for example) that are making an impact so he has a lot of improving to do but it concerns me his lack of mobility and pace as he seemed to struggle to get first to the ball at times or his slow foot speed meant it took too long for him to get the ball and decide what he wanted to do.



Doyle 6.5/10 – I have been as critical of him as the next fan but he was decent today and maybe has been one of our best players this season. He did nothing amazing but in general play used it ok, won loose balls and at least tried to have passes or shots forward. He was more purposeful in possession than most of the so called attacking players. Of course at times he was wasteful too but I would hazard a guess his ball retention was still better than most. Worrying that he is our play maker!



Baxter 7/10 – Promising start. He was not a massive threat and at times he was out of the game for spells but when he did get on the ball he mostly used it well and was able to try different things and be inventive. Had a half chance when keeper blocked him off as he tried to nip in and then at the end he created the chance for Brandy. He showed a decent touch and good range of passing. Not the most mobile (carrying a bit of weight for me or is that just how he is?!) and not the quickest but looks an intelligent sort of player. Two or three times Murphy and Taylor were too slow to react to his balls or touches. Hopefully with better players coming in for those his play may be rewarded more.



Murphy 3/10 – My comments on him every week are mostly the same. It may seem like I am picking on him but sadly I am not. He continues to look woefully out of his depth which is worrying when we are in the third tier. He did actually try and go at defenders today to be fair and carried it forward but often the defender just shadowed it out or outmuscled him easily. Unbelievably weak. As someone said near me; ‘Our lass could shove him off the ball.’ His touch and passing continues to be sloppy and he looks totally devoid of confidence. Not sure why Weir is continuing to persist with him. I think it would be best for all parties if we could broker a return back to Scotland as clearly is not good enough and is another that is showing no sign of improvement.



Flynn 4/10 – He flitted in and out of the game but was not as effective in nearly a full game as he was against Bradford for a half last week. Never really got any crosses in and continually swapped wings with Murphy (to no effect). I cannot really him doing anything significant of note all afternoon and forgot he was playing for long stretches.



Taylor 3/10 – He was isolated again and received little service but even when he did get the ball he was really poor. He sliced badly wide in the first half and then put another effort wide after ball had fortunately fell to him after a deflection. He had a couple of runs where he sort of just ran aimlessly and got outmuscled and the ball drifted out. He is another that looks out of his depth sadly and I cannot see him scoring many goals. Whether we play one up or two up we need superior players I am afraid if we hope to move towards the upper places in this division. Not writing him off by any stretch but he has been quite poor whatever we say about formations/tactics. Before he has not had chances but today he had a few and wasted them but even though isolated he has no idea how to play as the lone striker. His job is to hold the ball up; bring others into play and at very least chase balls down, work hard. I watched him today closely and he just sauntered about. I heard a comparison to Richard Cadette from a fan near me but I think that’s harsh. On Cadette.



Subs



Ironside – Huffed and puffed but did very little really and we looked no more of a threat with him up there. He spent most of his time grappling and losing the fight with the centre back. Had one decent chance but sliced badly wide as the cross came in. He is not a goal threat at all but does not really do anything else of note. Not sure he is quite up to it at this level, despite being willing and working hard. The fact no one have signed him on loan from division below tells a story.



Brandy – A nightmare cameo. He came on and actually gave us some life for 5-10 minutes and we created a few half chances or won corners from his trickery. He won a few free kicks and we looked a threat finally. Then right at the end he missed a sitter when it was easier to score sidefooting wide with the goal at his mercy. After they scored he then wildly lashed out at an opponent in stoppage time and was rightly sent off. Should be fined the maximum wages. Now be missing for 3 games and with the lack of creativity we have already this compounds the problem.



McFadzean – Pointless change. The game had almost finished and was given no time to make any impact. It just slowed things down which helped MK Dons.



Weir rating 4/10 – Another really poor and pedestrian performance. He changed the side and brought back Hill to give some defensive stability and also brought in new signing Baxter. However the approach on the field and the lack of chances, goals and real purpose continues. We rarely look like creating or scoring and often the play is so slow that teams just either get men behind the ball or pressure us into losing it when we advance into their half.



He keeps saying the same things about a work in progress and evaluating which I accept but we are not improving match by match at all. After the first game we have been really poor in almost every other game (granted did not go to Brentford) and have scored one header from a corner and the keeper has chucked one in. You can count number of clear chances in 4 or 5 games on one hand. The game is different if Brandy scored and we probably win but in reality that would have masked another inadequate performance. MK Dons were no better but having had a tough game in the week and being away at one of the so called big teams, it was up to us to show the initiative but we did not.



If we lose at Rotherham that would be 3 defeats on the bounce and 6 without a win. Of course in reality we could lose another 4 or 5 consecutively and he still not would be under pressure to lose his job or anything daft like that but he does have to improve. At the moment he is making very intelligent comments and saying the right things and does seem a really nice bloke. The harsh reality is that whatever we say about time and patience; we still will have one of the biggest wage bills in the division and biggest squads (as Robinson alluded to). How many other teams have 4 or 5 senior professional left backs at this level (granted they are all bobbins!)? That is not his fault and he is dealing with the fall out from previous bad decisions. However, the current product and performances that he is overseeing on the pitch have been unacceptable and he and his team need to improve quickly. If we did go another 4 or 5 without a win and more games without goals it quickly does turn into a relegation battle I am afraid. That sounds ridiculous but without us really ever looking like scoring and looking so pedestrian I do not see this side winning many games at all and see a lot of games like we saw v MK Dons and Colchester; to be the norm at the Lane.



Hopefully this week he can bring in a couple more. We badly need at least 1 possibly 2 strikers. Next Saturday is a big game. A local derby and with Rotherham riding high we go in maybe as underdogs. We need a positive result to restore some faith to the fans. Another reverse and confidence will be rock bottom.



Officials – Referee: David Webb. He should have booked McMahon for his petulance but then booked 6 other players; 4 for them with one retribution tackle on McMahon and then another late one in the second half. There were a few late tackles and these were rightly carded and he also was correct to book Flynn for diving. He could have booked Hill for diving earlier in the game too! The red card was a simple decision and happened right in front of him. Overall he got most things right. At times it was a bit stop start but that was more to do with the poor players than him.



Odd that twice goal kicks had to be re-taken as the ball did not go out of the box. That is a daft rule as the team that commits the offence then gets ‘another go’. To me it should be an indirect free kick in the position where the ball is kicked to the opposition. Does not happen very much but is a rule that has always flummoxed me? What if a team did that 3 or 4 times to waste time. Would the referee be entitled to book them for unsportsmanlike conduct.



Crowd/Atmosphere – More like the crowd numbers most probably expected this season and I think this will be the number we will see for many games. 15,000 ish at best. MK Dons brought only a couple of hundred. The atmosphere was flat with little noise of note other than groans as more sideways and backwards play led to nothing of excitement happening all game. If you were a fan and ran up the Kop steps and watched the last 5 minutes free; then you would have seen everything of note that happened. The last 2 home games have been dismal and not much better than some park games. The level of play from both United and the opponents has been dreadful and any who came on the off chance today won’t return after that.

 

[Guesty]

Funny that the attendance was noticeably down on previous games despite the renewed optimism of the previous couple of games.

I know everyone likes him because he's young, hip and exciting but I'm far from convinced by Brandy. He's demonstrably no goal threat whatsoever and is hardly racking up the assists either. He's a petulant cheat and appears to have a nasty streak, too. He seems more dangerous that the rest of our wingers but it's not translating into effectiveness thus far.

 

[axel smeets]

Bang on as usual DB. An insipid performance, devoid of any action, excitement or goalmouth chances, with one of the worst misses at the lane since my own namesake against Walsall in August 1999. Flynn, Taylor and Murphy are simply for me - wank. I can't think of a better way to describe them.

If the investment is true in any way shape or form, then we had better hope that it is enough to buy us around 6-10 new players. That will hopefully give us enough to climb the table. Without it, I feel that we will be in the bottom half, perhaps even a relegation fight. That said, we still need to stick behind Weir, as I feel he will turn it around.

 

[alcoblade]

Funny that the attendance was noticeably down on previous games despite the renewed optimism of the previous couple of games.

I know everyone likes him because he's young, hip and exciting but I'm far from convinced by Brandy. He's demonstrably no goal threat whatsoever and is hardly racking up the assists either. He's a petulant cheat and appears to have a nasty streak, too. He seems more dangerous that the rest of our wingers but it's not translating into effectiveness thus far.

He scored plenty last season in another shite team. Of all our forwards, only he and Baxter look like they could help us escape this division, though I accept its not the best of starts.

UTB

 

[Revolution]

It truly is amazing that we have managed to make half a dozen new signings (and introduce one young player) in the last 12 months up front and in midfield - Brandy, Coady, Taylor, McGinn, Murphy and Ironside - and none of them, not a single one of them - is a goal threat.

I said before the start of the season that this team had 40 goals in it. That was an over estimate. Baxter is a step in the right direction, but without someone who can put the ball in the net, we are going to be relegated.

It is also deeply worrying that Weir has no idea how to get this team to score goals.

 

[alcoblade]

Another worry for me is that it looked to me like several of the players looked like they had been forced to be more positive and take men on - ie take the risks we want the to. But in reality, the biggest problem is the likes of Flynn and Murphy are simply not good enough to do it at this level. Eearly signs on Taylor are equally as worrying but we should allow home more time.

I'm unconvinced with the formation with the squad we have. 442 with wingers playing more percentages would be more fruitful than hoping a supporting 2 can support a stranded striker by beating their man. The strikers can't hold it, the wide men can't beat men. Worrying.

UTB

 

[Harry's Game]

Saw Macmahon described on another forum "as a bit of a knob" hard to disagree, comes across as a thoroughly unlikeable individual.

The Less said about Murphy and Flynn the better.

Doyle wasn't bad until he gave away the free kick that cost us the match.

only plus point was Baxter. We Could do with another three or four signings like this before the window shuts.

 

[Deadbat]

It seems it was Coady that was marking Kay and was simply too weak as he overpowered him to head home. I think I blamed Maguire.

 

[Rudders]

Deadbat good report, a couple of things you missed. The referee wasn't David Webb is was the MK Dons number 7, he had a great game for his team and looked one of the best player refs I have seen for a while (not quite Shearer class though).

Their right back looked very dodgy and their right midfielder were very poor. We could really have done with an attacking left back today.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Saw Macmahon described on another forum "as a bit of a knob" hard to disagree, comes across as a thoroughly unlikeable individual.

It seems like he has to get a fight going with his opposition to get himself motivated. I think referees are very lenient with him, almost every game.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Their right back looked very dodgy and their right midfielder were very poor. We could really have done with an attacking left back today.

Have a look at MK Dons fans' view of their right back Hodson:

http://www.thezonemk.co.uk/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=107&t=9643&sid=8414f93b68b5f02ef1e898b717ab7359

I agree we need an attacking left back though!

 

[pommpey]

Thanks for the write up Deadbat.

Christ. We're right in the shit, aren't we?

Goalkicks out of area - I was reffing a ship's game in 1986 and gave an indirect freekick, because I thought that was the correct decision and got so much shit for getting it wrong. I do think - like you - it should be that way.

pommpey

 

[Bladesway]

I know everyone likes him because he's young, hip and exciting but I'm far from convinced by Brandy.

Sorry but I like him because he looks tricky and can do things with the ball at his feet like draw fouls and beat a man. He isn't the answer on his own but he is certainly better than anything else I have seen. Don't like his nasty streak however.

 

[blade too long]

We are baking a cake , and the first few attempts have failed
However I expect us to win the bake off come May, just need some more ingredients, to make us rise

 

[Grecian2000]

Funny that the attendance was noticeably down on previous games despite the renewed optimism of the previous couple of games.

Really? First game at £22 for the Kop (cat A presumably) after two cheaper games.

This team isn't worth paying £22 to watch (I went to Scarborough to watch something far more depressing but significantly cheaper (£15 for a full day), if anyone wants a Deadbat style critique on Yorkshires batting fiasco I'm well up for it!).
I can't see me paying the full whack for anything other than derby games this season (and maybe Wolves), this is Div3 and the standard is very, very poor.

Thanks for the effort Deaders and the line about Phillys and Hendo was worth the read on its own.

 

[super_pig]

sorry DB but Doyle was totally anonymous. he is also prone to getting into macmahon esque spats and his nasty little late challenges are unprofessional and dont befit the shirt.. it was his petulant challenge that gave franchise the free kick in a dangerous position that led to the goal. totally unprofessional. this guy is the captain. he wouldn't inspire me to go over the top
i was devastated to find that murphy and flynn are actually two people and not one wearing different shirts to avoid justified abuse from the terraces.. and we had them both on the pitch at the same time!!..
that was utterly crap and has relegation written all over it.. worst team performance since 1981??

 

[Deadbat]

Really? First game at £22 for the Kop (cat A presumably) after two cheaper games.

This team isn't worth paying £22 to watch (I went to Scarborough to watch something far more depressing but significantly cheaper (£15 for a full day), if anyone wants a Deadbat style critique on Yorkshires batting fiasco I'm well up for it!).
I can't see me paying the full whack for anything other than derby games this season (and maybe Wolves), this is Div3 and the standard is very, very poor.

Thanks for the effort Deaders and the line about Phillys and Hendo was worth the read on its own.

I was in Scarborough on Weds and saw day one so missed the batting collapse. Siddy had em 5-2 aswell. Rashid's bowling?!?! Think they have blown the County Champ now. Shame as we have had a great season.