United 0 Preston 0 - very short report

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Deadbat

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My match report? Well to be honest I really cannot be bothered to put together anything as the team looked like they could not be bothered. Again. So I am not sure I can be bothered. Sorry about that folks but there is no point me spending ages trying to make out there was any kind of game to write about.



Nothing happened. Whatsoever. Oh other than a Long save from a header, McFazean had a shot blocked, Ironside a header wide and then they hit the post on a free kick. It was an awful game.



United looked exactly as they had all season; slow, unimaginative and clueless. We could still be playing now and still not score. I am being serious. We kept a clean sheet but that is the only real positive; save for a decent showing from Ironside. To be honest I spend the second half listening to the Donny game on the radio so poor our game was. It was dire stuff.



United look a side that the season cannot come to an end quick enough. Their body language suggests they really don’t care. Yes today meant little but it was no different to what had happened the rest of the season when they did have something to play for. After that one game v Swindon, the performance under Morgan have been exactly the same as under Wilson. Clueless; no passion, no football, no creativity. Nothing. Dire.



Yeovil are the in form side at the moment and I think they will be very confident of beating us over 2 legs. I will be surprised if we even score over these 2 games let alone win as we simply do not look like scoring. No goals in 3 games now and hardly any chances. Maybe they might surprise us but I cannot see it. I can see a Swindon v Yeovil final as Brentford will be dejected after what happened. At least soon this awful season will be over and we can turn our attentions to whatever awful appointment McCabe comes up with next.



Long 7/10 – Had very little to do. His kicking was a bit up and down but he was given some daft back passes to be fair to him. He then made a superb save from a point blank header which he somehow got diving high up and scooped up and out.



Westlake 6/10 – Not convinced by him at all but he was ok today. He gets in some awful positions and gives his winger acres of space and on the ball he is less than secure. His free kick and set plays were quite poor. Unsure why he was designated to take them? He did try and get forward and moved over half way quite a bit and he put one good cross in for Ironside. Some of our signings for little fees have come off (Miller/Blackman) but this one hasn’t. I don’t even see that much potential in Westlake sadly.



Hill 6/10 – Steady ish defensively but his distribution was truly shocking as he often just lumped it forward or played it to no one in particular. He is very ordinary but the fact he has been one of our more consistent players says it all really.



Maguire 6.5/10 – Committed a daft foul after he overran the ball and was lucky not to see a card. He stepped out of the defence a few times and did try and make things happen but he also was sloppy at times. He was our best defender today just but the fact he tried to use the ball and showed some determination in challenges.



Collins 5.5/10 – Another one who picked up a daft booking and was sloppy in his play at times. Seems to be making mistakes routinely at the moment. He headed and kicked things away and I suppose we kept a clean sheet but he did lose his man on one header (when Long saved).



McFadzean 4/10 – Was looking forward to seeing him but he was quite poor I have to say. He put effort in and buzzed about but did little when on the ball and other than one shot which the keeper blocked, I cannot recall him getting that involved in the game. He was moved from left to right but it failed to make any difference.



Doyle 6/10 – He was one of our better players today! He was still not great! He actually did win tackles and at times used the ball better than he has recently. His performance tailed off in the second half and a few wayward balls led to the usual cat calls. He is a really poor player and a poor captain but not sure else who we can put in to replace him? That says how bad this squad is.



McDonald 4/10 – Pretty ineffectual game. He tried to pass the ball around and move it from side to side but after first stage of game I cannot recall him having much of an impact on things and then he got involved in some unnecessary stuff and picked up a yellow card and was taken off too prevent him getting another. Showed more movement in waving to the visiting Scottish fans (many dressed in kilts in South Stand) when he went off than he did in the game.



Ironside 6.5/10 – He did ok without really threatening to score. He missed one header but his hold up play and general effort was good. He at least looked bothered and showed some aggression. He tailed off in the second half and often took too long to get a shot or make his mind up what to do when given a few half chances. I am unsure what his qualities are as at the moment it is mainly effort (which is better than most) but there does not look like there are goals in him and he does lack pace.



Kitson 4/10 – Cannot remember him doing anything other than look for fouls. He may have scored a few goals but his performance in recent times have really deteriorated but saying that he is still one of few who may pinch a goal or do something of note when the playoffs start. He keeps speaking about going to the MLS but not sure even his legs will last over there as he looks like a player on the end of his career to me.



Murphy 4/10 – Thought he was poor again. He did very little and often got stopped too easy by the full back. He moved to the left and then back to the right but wherever he went he had little impact on the game. I keep hearing he is fast and had decent control etc but I watched him carefully today and he showed none of that and like most other games he has played he was totally ineffectual. Been a major disappointment for me.



Subs



Porter – Put himself about more than Kitson which was not hard and had that one chance where he opted to try and punch it in the net and was rightly booked. I think I would play him Friday as at least he gives us an option (sadly we can’t create anything so at least he may win the odd header etc from the inevitable high ball).



Robson – Showed a bit of life in terms of getting on the ball but his distribution was mixed. He took a few shocking corners and free kicks but at least in general play tried to do something different with a few reverse balls etc. I think he is quite immobile and not sure where you play him but he still probably offers more than Flynn and Murphy in terms of creating things.



Whitehouse – Did not really get involved and then had one chance when ball was played to him but he took too long to get his shot away. Another like McFadzean that probably did not do enough to get a start this Friday.



Crowd - Bored. The only excitement (!) came when two smoke bombs when off in the away end. Nearly 20,000 people will never get those 90 minutes back.





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Twitter –

@Deadbat_DB
 



Bottom line is Morgans way out his depth in this job tactically he is clueless and after the euphoria of the Swindon game it's business as usual.
 
Bottom line is Morgans way out his depth in this job tactically he is clueless and after the euphoria of the Swindon game it's business as usual.

go on then,in what way did Morgan get it tactically wrong yesterday (as opposed to the players just not being good enough) ?
 
Do you think we are being overly negative in order to prepare ourselves for the ultimate disappointment ?

In the past we've been favourites to win the play-offs with the exception of our Semi-final defeat by S'land. As complete no hopers going into the play offs watch us f*****g win when we are completey undeserving
 
go on then,in what way did Morgan get it tactically wrong yesterday (as opposed to the players just not being good enough) ?

The official site always try and focus on the positives, hence Kevin Cookson and Morgan talking mostly about another clean sheet yesterday. But if Morgan has hopes of getting the job permanently it would have been interesting to hear his views on our attacking. He has to convince people that he - in time - can make us play good football.
 
The official site always try and focus on the positives, hence Kevin Cookson and Morgan talking mostly about another clean sheet yesterday. But if Morgan has hopes of getting the job permanently it would have been interesting to hear his views on our attacking. He has to convince people that he - in time - can make us play good football.

I just thought tactically,he wasn't defensive yesterday and reflected a team a lot of fans would have agreed with.. The only thing i would have liked to see is Murphy being played down the middle off Kitson. We were in a nothing to lose game and even a 45 minute spell with him down the middle i feel would give us an alternative to look at.

However, it maybe that Morgan feels Murphy isn't physical enough for that role yet
 
I just thought tactically,he wasn't defensive yesterday and reflected a team a lot of fans would have agreed with.. The only thing i would have liked to see is Murphy being played down the middle off Kitson. We were in a nothing to lose game and even a 45 minute spell with him down the middle i feel would give us an alternative to look at.

However, it maybe that Morgan feels Murphy isn't physical enough for that role yet

Yes, agree it was a wasted chance to see if Murphy could offer more up front.

I've watched it now and thought it wasn't as dreadful as I feared after reading Deadbat's report. There was some effort, but the motivation and inspiration wasn't good enough, and it looked as if the players had been reminded that they shouldn't risk more than necessary.

We struggled to get our widemen involved, they seemed to receive the ball with their backs to goal most of the time, as did both our strikers. Westlake was a positive performer for me.

Preston were pretty aggressive and professional in their defensive work, and so will Yeovil be on Friday. We need to remember what happened when they beat us at the Lane. They shocked us with their aggression and work rate while we seemed to think they'd defend deep and soak up the pressure.
 
I don't care if we had a management team of Mourinho and Rednapp, I think our current strike force is nowhere near good enough. Porter and Forte are just totally lacking in ability, Kitson has been a good player, he's past it now, but is still a decent finisher. Flynn and Murphy are average players at best, but I think it's difficult to condemn them and the midfield in general when the forwards are so completely ineffective, devoid of talent, slow in movement and thought. Until this is addressed we aren't going anywhere.
 
Was'nt it because of games ( loose terms ) and performances like that , that the last manager got fired. Or Morgs cunning plan is working by fooling the play off teams that we are indeed crap. Great plan cause it's working to a tee , and I'm booking the fights/hotel and tickets for the final already come on jay were going and fuck florida in june.U.T.B.
 
go on then,in what way did Morgan get it tactically wrong yesterday (as opposed to the players just not being good enough) ?
This makes me laugh, when Wilson was in charge it was always his fault, wrong tactics, wrong starting line-up, wrong substitutions, now Morgan has control its all down to the terrible, useless players we have!
Morgan has no tactics end of......can't win games through animation/passion on the touchline.
I think a lot of you need get off the Morgan band wagon, good player, not a scooby doo as a manager!
 
It's pretty weak to be writing off Morgan after a couple of games. Just as it's pretty weak to be appointing him with couple of games left in the season.

Is there anything that's not weak about United just now?
 
This makes me laugh, when Wilson was in charge it was always his fault, wrong tactics, wrong starting line-up, wrong substitutions, now Morgan has control its all down to the terrible, useless players we have!
Morgan has no tactics end of......can't win games through animation/passion on the touchline.
I think a lot of you need get off the Morgan band wagon, good player, not a scooby doo as a manager!
What makes me laugh is when fans call managers/coaches tactically inept when they have no idea what tactics have been discussed or what alternative tactics they would have used.

If you think Morgan sent out a professional football team with 'no tactics',you are deluded. Same applies to Wilson. Managers are ultimately judged on the tactics as they effect results. No bandwagon but how can you judge whether a manager will be any good or not based on 4 games with a squad not of his choosing.?

All this critisism of DW and CM,but it is amazing that the same fans don't have any alternative and realistic suggestions to change things.
 
What makes me laugh is when fans call managers/coaches tactically inept when they have no idea what tactics have been discussed or what alternative tactics they would have used.

If you think Morgan sent out a professional football team with 'no tactics',you are deluded. Same applies to Wilson. Managers are ultimately judged on the tactics as they effect results. No bandwagon but how can you judge whether a manager will be any good or not based on 4 games with a squad not of his choosing.?

All this critisism of DW and CM,but it is amazing that the same fans don't have any alternative and realistic suggestions to change
things.

It loathes me having a go at such a Blades legend but to be thrown in to this position by Mcabe is beyond belief.
 



It loathes me having a go at such a Blades legend but to be thrown in to this position by Mcabe is beyond belief.
It doesn't matter if he is a Blades legend or not, as usual people living in the past, when he is in the position to lead our club we the fans deserve a bit better. were you at Portsmouth, Crewe and Preston games? three absolutely clueless and inept disgraceful displays, call me deluded all you want doesn't bother me, it's my opinion and after watching a shower of shit all season I like everyone else are entitled to an opinion
 
go on then,in what way did Morgan get it tactically wrong yesterday (as opposed to the players just not being good enough) ?
Can we just try and explore opponents with our wide options.
Keep Mcfazdene out wide tell Hill to stop the hoofball and look to the central midfield who in turn will find Mcfazdene in a wide position to cross to the front men.
Same thing out right with Flynn also with the overlap option from Westlake.
Basically lets get crosses in rather than punts up to the front men with their backs goal.
The central defenders at this level are ok when they have time so lets get it wide crosses in and attack the ball this is the only way we are going to break them down.
 
It doesn't matter if he is a Blades legend or not, as usual people living in the past, when he is in the position to lead our club we the fans deserve a bit better. were you at Portsmouth, Crewe and Preston games? three absolutely clueless and inept disgraceful displays, call me deluded all you want doesn't bother me, it's my opinion and after watching a shower of shit all season I like everyone else are entitled to an opinion
Too right you are entitled to an opinion Bristol I dont travel only been to Bournmouth but i went to every home game but called it a draw after the Crawley game untill next season i had suffered enough.
 
It doesn't matter if he is a Blades legend or not, as usual people living in the past, when he is in the position to lead our club we the fans deserve a bit better. were you at Portsmouth, Crewe and Preston games? three absolutely clueless and inept disgraceful displays, call me deluded all you want doesn't bother me, it's my opinion and after watching a shower of shit all season I like everyone else are entitled to an opinion

Not seen anyone living in the past on this thread. I've been to the 3 games you mentioned and agree the performances were awful. However Swindon and Brentford were much improved and you could argue that the Preston game was more like a pre season friendly where barely anyone tackled.

If you had been to the majority of away games this season,I would suggest that you have seen some very good performances where we have played like good away teams should do. i.e limit the home team's chances,get a goal,win the game (Preston,Bournemouth and Tranmere immediately spring to mind). I agree that the majority of home games have been poor probably due to the players' apparent inability to up the tempo (unless they were instructed to play like they did)

Not seen anyone say you are not entitled to an opinion but you must also agree that people can disagree with your opinion if they so wish.
 
Can we just try and explore opponents with our wide options.
Keep Mcfazdene out wide tell Hill to stop the hoofball and look to the central midfield who in turn will find Mcfazdene in a wide position to cross to the front men.
Same thing out right with Flynn also with the overlap option from Westlake.
Basically lets get crosses in rather than punts up to the front men with their backs goal.
The central defenders at this level are ok when they have time so lets get it wide crosses in and attack the ball this is the only way we are going to break them down.

I may be wrong but with the players DW had I don't think he believed he had the players to do what you ask

Hill-excellent defender,tries to get forward, distribution poor. Difficult to look at central midfield for a pass thou when they are often static and don't provide an option

MacFadzean- not given a chance under DW. Looks a good prospect

Westlake- my worry is that I am happier with him in the opposition half than in ours.

Agree with the principle of what you are saying but I am not convinced that many of the players are good enough which is why DW went all defensive and tried to 'steal ' wins at times
 
Agree with the principle of what you are saying but I am not convinced that many of the players are good enough which is why DW went all defensive and tried to 'steal ' wins at times

Bob-on. Good teams attack and defend as a team. But we have players who are either incapable of getting up and down the pitch, or only capable in one half of the pitch. Last year we had Ched and Cresswell defending from the front, and wide players who were up and back constantly.

Wilson's apparent intention was that we should play a patient passing game this season to compensate for the team's weaknesses, but his midfield proved incapable of keeping the ball and eventually they just hid from it.

We can slate Wilson and Morgan all we like, but I don't believe in miracles workers.
 
I may be wrong but with the players DW had I don't think he believed he had the players to do what you ask

Hill-excellent defender,tries to get forward, distribution poor. Difficult to look at central midfield for a pass thou when they are often static and don't provide an option

MacFadzean- not given a chance under DW. Looks a good prospect

One of the problems with DW is that he didn't believe in his players didn't gamble enough basically lacked courage

Westlake- my worry is that I am happier with him in the opposition half than in ours.

Agree with the principle of what you are saying but I am not convinced that many of the players are good enough which is why DW went all defensive and tried to 'steal ' wins at times
 
Wilson's main problem was that given the choice between a player who might or might not make it and one who was on the way down, he'd choose the one on the way down. He could only gauge how good they were at a particular moment in time, with that decision perhaps clouded by the level at which those players had played at in the past.

Hence signing Higginbotham when we had Kennedy and Barry starting to break into the first team squad. With hindsight, the Higginbotham signing hasn't worked out at all and it disappoints me that we've seen fit to waste probably the best part of £250k on his wages when we had Academy players who play in the same position available.

It's the same with the loan signings. Crewe signed Chuks Aneke from Arsenal, a 19 year old forward with everything to prove who wanted to make a success of his spell (incidentally, he's out of contract in 2014 and may be open to a move down to League One). We signed John Cofie from Manchester United, an 18 year old with everything to prove who couldn't be bothered.
 
I cant believe so many supporters have never been to meaningless end of season bore fests before
what were they expecting , lung busting efforts players risking serious injury and 2 or 3 red cards from flying tackles, that would have been bright
 
I cant believe so many supporters have never been to meaningless end of season bore fests before
what were they expecting , lung busting efforts players risking serious injury and 2 or 3 red cards from flying tackles, that would have been bright

There was something to play for. 4th place and 2nd leg home advantage.
 
Wilson's main problem was that given the choice between a player who might or might not make it and one who was on the way down, he'd choose the one on the way down. He could only gauge how good they were at a particular moment in time, with that decision perhaps clouded by the level at which those players had played at in the past.

Hence signing Higginbotham when we had Kennedy and Barry starting to break into the first team squad. With hindsight, the Higginbotham signing hasn't worked out at all and it disappoints me that we've seen fit to waste probably the best part of £250k on his wages when we had Academy players who play in the same position available.

Totally agree you would have thought with his pedigree he (Higginbottom) would have made a big impact here that's probably what
DW thought also

It's the same with the loan signings. Crewe signed Chuks Aneke from Arsenal, a 19 year old forward with everything to prove who wanted to make a success of his spell (incidentally, he's out of contract in 2014 and may be open to a move down to League One). We signed John Cofie from Manchester United, an 18 year old with everything to prove who couldn't be bothered.
 

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