United 0 Tranmere 0 - report

[S64 Blade]

It's disappointing to see our most creative midfielder essentially replaced for a left back - particularly when we're the home side and when there's some well talked about youngsters around the team as well. For me, you're always going to struggle when your applying those sort of selections and tactics.

 

[Maidenhead]

Maybe I am beign reactionary but other than Stevenage and spells for Bournemouth and Notts County; we have been quite poor this season. What concenrs me is once again against the better sides we seem wanting. Both Brentford and Tranmere seemed hungrier, faster to the ball and more determined than us. They worked harder than us which is a concern; maybe even more concerning than the poor technique, passing, creativity as there is no excuse for not matcing teams workrate.

Sorry but that's bollocks.

Yes it was a crap game to watch but we more than matched Tranmere all over the park resulting in George Long not having a single save to make.

Basically 2 evenly matched teams, one of which is top of the league, cancelled each other out.

It may have been a crap game to watch but in no way were Tranmere "hungrier, faster to the ball and more determined than us", nor did they work harder.

Both teams got the draw they deserved.

 

[Foxy]

Unlike Doyle and Tmac who never niggle or pull, cheat etc. you really need to wake up to the limitations of the pathetic players and management that make up SUFC rather than complain yet again that opponents don't play fair

Or alternatively, you could stop putting words in my mouth for the sake of a wind up, that way I'll have no cause to "wake up".

 

[Bergen Blade]

Yes we are in the third tier but if I had paid to watch that (£20 and upwards) on a single game basis, I would have been furious. It was dire. As I say you would see better on a park.

I felt for NorwayBladeKarl who's been banging on about this game for weeks and travelled over with his father and then witnessed such a poor game.

I'd hoped the Stevenage game would kick start our season. The line up that gave us a 4-1 win that day also saw us score three against Crewe and (Hill for Williams apart) Carlisle. I think it would have been worth building on those high scoring games, made possible by attacking team selections and game plans. With good preparation and hard work on the training pitch we may have managed to improve defensively too.

Of course, losing McDonald made it difficult for us. But I think the dropping of Westlake for McMahon and the inclusion of a defender at left midfield sent the signal that we were focusing more on Tranmere's strengths than on what was needed to create chances against them. The solidity and momentum of our attacking play isn't such that we can make a few defensive changes and expect to keep creating and scoring goals. A few tweaks in the wrong direction and we've messed it up again.

Wilson may have been happy with 0-0, although Karl and his father surely wasn't.

 

[Foxy]

I agree, we shouldn't be starting with a left-back (though he has played as a winger and I believe started as one) on the wing... and I'd have brought McFadzean on when he was substituted...

But Williams and Hill have perhaps been our most adventurous two most of the season, if others showed as much willingness to get forward and try and make something happen then we might score a few more.

 

[jt64]

Not an awful game but had 0-0 written all over it after, ooh, 20 minutes? Don't recall either team having a decent chance on goal.

 

[Bergen Blade]

But Williams and Hill have perhaps been our most adventurous two most of the season, if others showed as much willingness to get forward and try and make something happen then we might score a few more.

Williams had a decent game from left back against Stevenage, but struggled a bit more in the following match against Crewe. He's been poor from an attacking perspective at left midfield and primarily plays there to combat opposition wingers. Hill is usually steady at left back, but offers little going forward (overlapping, showing composure in possession, beating an opponent, crossing with quality, chipping in with goals/assists) in my opinion. I am not questioning their attitude/willingness by the way.

 

[breeny]

Pretty awful today - lack of controlling the football for 90 mins was the main concern. Still, 1 point better than nothing...

 

[LSF]

Yes, it was a truly awful spectacle to watch but no surprise as both teams were desperate not to lose.
As for several on here slinging the knives into the usual suspects, no surprise there either!

Flynn was lost in his role in central midfield and as SV stated earlier, looked far more comfy back in his role out wide. Whilst the knives are truly heading his way at the moment I'll stick my neck out and say he'll play a pivotal role in our season. Yep, he's not physical and may not relish the full blooded challenge, but he has other qualities that some refuse to acknowledge for whatever reason. Williams again looked uncomfy starting further forward but looks better when attacking those areas from full back, cue the knives again.

I really don't get the nasty slagging of our players, yes, they may not be the greatest we've had in our history, but they are our crap, and for that reason they'll get my full support and backing rather than some of the bilge lobbed at them on here.

The best entertainment yesterday was surely Blunkett & Wonder now officiating at football matches - has music and politics lost its' appeal?

 

[Racy]

Sorry but that's bollocks.

Yes it was a crap game to watch but we more than matched Tranmere all over the park resulting in George Long not having a single save to make.

Basically 2 evenly matched teams, one of which is top of the league, cancelled each other out.

It may have be


en a crap game to watch but in no way were Tranmere "hungrier, faster to the ball and more determined than us", nor did they work
harder.

That about sums it up.
What did everyone expect Tranmere to come here and take chances and go away with nothing no way.
It was a tense top of the table game where both back fours were exe lent.
Ok Wilson made a few obvious errors with team selection and tactics but I'm sure he will have noted them and correct them.
We know this season will be a grind let's go to Crawley and get a result.

Both teams got the draw they deserved.

 

[Ollessendro]

Before yesterday Tranmere’s results from the last 7 league games was L L W W L D D D. They struggled to beat Chesterfield in the cup the week before. They lost their top goalscorer recently too. That to me is a team there for the taking. A team that is stuttering and should be attacked. Playing at home United should have gone for it. It was a great opportunity to beat them, leap frog them and go top. Instead Wilson bottled it. He was way too conservative and played not to get beat. He showed a lack of faith in his squad and set us up to be solid. That is really disappointing considering the circumstances. Wilson’s team selection was simply pathetic, cowardly and inept.

That said, Tranmere did not want to lose this one and Moore set them up to keep it tight. He clearly did his homework and took advantage of the fact that K Mac was not playing. Moore outfoxed Wilson and the latter had no answers. Most teams put a couple of players on K Mac and this gives the likes of Flynn and Blackman a bit more space. With K Mac injured and Flynn being played out of position, then Moore’s job was even easier. They knew Doyle, Williams etc were not up to it and kept Blackman quiet. They clearly played to nullify us and we did not have the quality to break them down.

Some of the vitriol towards the players is a bit over the top. I understand that people were upset to pay £20 and watch garbage. But put the blame in Wilson’s court. He opted not to try and beat a team with a wage budget a fraction of the size of ours. He played a left back on the left wing, right winger in centre mid and dropped our attacking right back for a more defensive one. That is despite us being at home and Tranmere being in poor form. Wilson played negative and did not want us to lose. Williams is clearly not very good. But Wilson is the one who opted to play him out wide. Flynn is ok, but that is it. The guy is ok on the wing and has created a lot of goals for us this year. He is lightweight and inconsistent. But he is better than most of what we have. Yet despite him being light weight and inconsistent, Wilson opted to trial him in centre mid for the most important game of the year. Wilson’s conservatism and poor judgement is where the blame should lie.

The worrying thing for me is that Wilson is struggling to get this squad to do better than squads that are costing a quarter of what ours is. Only Donny and MK Dons would have wage bills that are within range of ours (more than 50% I mean). Tranmere, Brentford etc will be paying their squads a quarter of what we are. Yet Wilson does not have the faith to attack these teams at home. Ok we lose our best player, but he sets up to draw 0-0 or nick a goal. That is embarrassing. The division is really poor and we are missing a trick if we do not go up this term. Tranmere will fall away, I would be surprised if Brentford and Donny maintained their form and MK Dons are the only team I can see lasting and going for automatic promotion. However United have not looked better than Swindon, County, Stevenage and the others mentioned.

We talk about McCabe needing to put his hand in his pocket. Yet our wage bill is around £6m compared to others in the division of between anywhere between 500k to 3/4m. I think that with a bit more creativity and/or some pace out wide we would be better. However this squad should be doing a lot better than what it is. We should win the division. Anything other than automatic promotion is a massive favour. I would really like to see a winger brought in on loan or til the end of the season. But I will understand f McCabe says no. I think I would say to Wilson ‘your wage bill is more than triple that of Brentford and Tranmere’ do one. I am paying these lads twice as much as Donny and MK Dons, you should be taking them up, nar fook off.

There is an argument that if we keep plugging away then we will go up. The stats show that we are performing better than this side last season in terms of the equivalent games we have played. If we keep chipping away and get a mid to high 80’s points score then we will probably get automatic. Brentford, Donny and Tranmere do not have big, strong squads (mind nor do we) and will probably fall away or be happy with the play offs. Therefore I can see why Wilson just wants to stay there. However we ought to be stamping some authority on this division. A win yesterday, result at Crawley and then 2 wins in homes games against very poor teams would be sending us into the new year top. We could then not look back. Instead we struggle on and look like we may end up limping into the play offs again.

 

[GAZBLADE]

Before yesterday Tranmere’s results from the last 7 league games was L L W W L D D D. They struggled to beat Chesterfield in the cup the week before. They lost their top goalscorer recently too. That to me is a team there for the taking. A team that is stuttering and should be attacked. Playing at home United should have gone for it. It was a great opportunity to beat them, leap frog them and go top. Instead Wilson bottled it. He was way too conservative and played not to get beat. He showed a lack of faith in his squad and set us up to be solid. That is really disappointing considering the circumstances. Wilson’s team selection was simply pathetic, cowardly and inept.

That said, Tranmere did not want to lose this one and Moore set them up to keep it tight. He clearly did his homework and took advantage of the fact that K Mac was not playing. Moore outfoxed Wilson and the latter had no answers. Most teams put a couple of players on K Mac and this gives the likes of Flynn and Blackman a bit more space. With K Mac injured and Flynn being played out of position, then Moore’s job was even easier. They knew Doyle, Williams etc were not up to it and kept Blackman quiet. They clearly played to nullify us and we did not have the quality to break them down.

Some of the vitriol towards the players is a bit over the top. I understand that people were upset to pay £20 and watch garbage. But put the blame in Wilson’s court. He opted not to try and beat a team with a wage budget a fraction of the size of ours. He played a left back on the left wing, right winger in centre mid and dropped our attacking right back for a more defensive one. That is despite us being at home and Tranmere being in poor form. Wilson played negative and did not want us to lose. Williams is clearly not very good. But Wilson is the one who opted to play him out wide. Flynn is ok, but that is it. The guy is ok on the wing and has created a lot of goals for us this year. He is lightweight and inconsistent. But he is better than most of what we have. Yet despite him being light weight and inconsistent, Wilson opted to trial him in centre mid for the most important game of the year. Wilson’s conservatism and poor judgement is where the blame should lie.

The worrying thing for me is that Wilson is struggling to get this squad to do better than squads that are costing a quarter of what ours is. Only Donny and MK Dons would have wage bills that are within range of ours (more than 50% I mean). Tranmere, Brentford etc will be paying their squads a quarter of what we are. Yet Wilson does not have the faith to attack these teams at home. Ok we lose our best player, but he sets up to draw 0-0 or nick a goal. That is embarrassing. The division is really poor and we are missing a trick if we do not go up this term. Tranmere will fall away, I would be surprised if Brentford and Donny maintained their form and MK Dons are the only team I can see lasting and going for automatic promotion. However United have not looked better than Swindon, County, Stevenage and the others mentioned.

We talk about McCabe needing to put his hand in his pocket. Yet our wage bill is around £6m compared to others in the division of between anywhere between 500k to 3/4m. I think that with a bit more creativity and/or some pace out wide we would be better. However this squad should be doing a lot better than what it is. We should win the division. Anything other than automatic promotion is a massive favour. I would really like to see a winger brought in on loan or til the end of the season. But I will understand f McCabe says no. I think I would say to Wilson ‘your wage bill is more than triple that of Brentford and Tranmere’ do one. I am paying these lads twice as much as Donny and MK Dons, you should be taking them up, nar fook off.

There is an argument that if we keep plugging away then we will go up. The stats show that we are performing better than this side last season in terms of the equivalent games we have played. If we keep chipping away and get a mid to high 80’s points score then we will probably get automatic. Brentford, Donny and Tranmere do not have big, strong squads (mind nor do we) and will probably fall away or be happy with the play offs. Therefore I can see why Wilson just wants to stay there. However we ought to be stamping some authority on this division. A win yesterday, result at Crawley and then 2 wins in homes games against very poor teams would be sending us into the new year top. We could then not look back. Instead we struggle on and look like we may end up limping into the play offs again.

Gotta say Olle, that's a pretty fair assessment IMO.
I'd like to think that the majority is behind DW but he does seem to have a conservative approach in games like this. Yes, i know it's a point gained but it would have been nice to have seen a more positive attacking approach.
Onwards and upwards!!
UTB
COYRWW

 

[Ollessendro]

Gotta say Olle, that's a pretty fair assessment IMO.
I'd like to think that the majority is behind DW but he does seem to have a conservative approach in games like this. Yes, i know it's a point gained but it would have been nice to have seen a more positive attacking approach.
Onwards and upwards!!
UTB
COYRWW

If we get automatic promotion, then I will take these comments back. I am still behind him, but I am not completely convinced. I am wary of his conservative approach. I'll back him to the end of the season, but if we miss out it is failure on his part. No excuses. If we do not go straight up, then it will be his fault. Not McCabe, not the players, just him. He has the resources and the division is crap. In my eyes, anything other than 1st or 2nd is a massive failure on his part.

 

[super_pig]

If we get automatic promotion, then I will take these comments back. I am still behind him, but I am not completely convinced. I am wary of his conservative approach. I'll back him to the end of the season, but if we miss out it is failure on his part. No excuses. If we do not go straight up, then it will be his fault. Not McCabe, not the players, just him. He has the resources and the division is crap. In my eyes, anything other than 1st or 2nd is a massive failure on his part.

f**king amen mate.. top post

 

[Zanzibar]

Sorry but that's bollocks.

Yes it was a crap game to watch but we more than matched Tranmere all over the park resulting in George Long not having a single save to make.

Basically 2 evenly matched teams, one of which is top of the league, cancelled each other out.

It may have been a crap game to watch but in no way were Tranmere "hungrier, faster to the ball and more determined than us", nor did they work harder.

Both teams got the draw they deserved.

Tranmere picked up virtually every loose ball in the game and played the only passing between the two sides.
If that doesn't make them cleverer and hungrier I don't know what does.
All in all both attacks were negated but we know that Tranmere can score goals and we cannot.
Wilson afforded them too much respect and disappointed a large home crowd....he didn't have to pay to get in either.

 

[chipsncake]

After Saturday, if you guys can't see what many have been saying for some time now, that Wilson is taking us nowhere, then I despair. Signings, contract hand outs, team performances and selections, substitutions, in fact everything a manger is responsible for is nowhere near an acceptable standard yet you still say give him to the end of the season. Week in week out the miserable performances are in front of your eyes yet for some reason you find an excuse to give him the benefit of the doubt. He has resources any other manager in this division can only dream of yet we still come up short in every department. OK we are third but its such a poor league we should be nearly home and hosed by now and can you honestly see him being the man man to take us forward if we mange to fluke promtion? He has been a very poor manager for a long time now and the only arguement for his retention is that McCabe would probably replace him with someone equally inept. The patience of most is being tested to the limit by the likes of Saturday's debacle and the sooner we get rid the better.

 

[Maidenhead]

After Saturday, if you guys can't see what many have been saying for some time now, that Wilson is taking us nowhere, then I despair. Signings, contract hand outs, team performances and selections, substitutions, in fact everything a manger is responsible for is nowhere near an acceptable standard yet you still say give him to the end of the season. Week in week out the miserable performances are in front of your eyes yet for some reason you find an excuse to give him the benefit of the doubt. He has resources any other manager in this division can only dream of yet we still come up short in every department. OK we are third but its such a poor league we should be nearly home and hosed by now and can you honestly see him being the man man to take us forward if we mange to fluke promtion? He has been a very poor manager for a long time now and the only arguement for his retention is that McCabe would probably replace him with someone equally inept. The patience of most is being tested to the limit by the likes of Saturday's debacle and the sooner we get rid the better.

Why?

 

[Ollessendro]

Why?

He explained that in his post. Wilson has resources at his disposal that other managers can only dream about. Our wage bill is 2 or 3 times higher than most in the league, including the teams above us. Wilson has had room for manouvre. He has had 3 transfer windows and brought in a host of players. Of the team first choice 11/match day squad most of them are his players (Howard, Williams, LJF, Hill, Westlake, McMahon, K Mac, Flynn, Blackman, Porter, Kitson, Porter and Miller) and he has chosen to re-sign players (Cresswell, Doyle and Collins).

Wilson is quickly turning into the new Blackwell. He had inherited a very good squad (for this level anyway), showed some positive signs and then ultimately failed. He was too negative and a bit unlucky, but lost in the play off final when we should have taken 3rd. Then he has reigned over the selling of best players (not his fault) and systemically replaced them with inferior one's. He has then chose to play negative and try not to lose. This mind numbingly poor football with zero entertainment factor is crippling the fans. It is just like history repeating. Will Wilson take us up? Or is he taking another step in the path of Kev?? We're probably looking at doing another Bristol (Wilson took them to 2 play heartaches in his 4 seasons there) at best. Wilson has had around 10 attempts to get out of this division and failed every time. The more I look at our approach this season, the less confidence I have that he will finally break his duck.

 

[Balham]

Ollessendro I'm ashamed to admit that I fully agree with you. Although to be honest you probably picked that argument up from me...

What's my view?
We shouldn't ever take an opponent lightly. Look at Arsenal for an example of what happens when you do. However, what we should be doing is going out and taking every single league game to the opposition irrespective of who they are. There is no side in League One which should be facing a Sheffield United team set up to contain them.

I'd really love for United to put in a decent attacking performance at Crawley but the key for me is the two home games over Christmas. With the players we've got we should be tearing Scunthorpe (22nd, -16 goal difference, 20 points) and especially Hartlepool (24th, 0-3-8 record away from home this season) apart. There's a real opportunity there for United to put down a marker - but it'll need bolder team selections.

 

[ponteblade]

Cheers DB, Doyle lucky to get four, nice one though!

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Yes we are in the third tier but if I had paid to watch that (£20 and upwards) on a single game basis, I would have been furious. It was dire. As I say you would see better on a park.

We were the home team and should have been taking the game to them. We had 1 player missing but concerning we should all go to pot if one player is out?

I am unsure how I am overreacting about Flynn and Williams. Both were dire. They have had some functional games this year but neither are good enough even in the third tier. The posiiton thing baffles me too somewhat. They are footballers and should be be able to control or pass a balll regardless where they are on the pitch. When Williams has been left back he has been even worse. I am not sure he has a 'best' position. Granted he has done ok in some games wide left. Flynn also in recent games since an encouraing start to the season has been abject out wide. Today faced with a few physical tackles I saw a player that did not want to know and every time there was physical contact he lost the ball.

That is our problem aswell, other teams like MK Dons and Brentford move players about and can interchange, with midfielders swapping with wingers and get pplayers ahead of strikers etc. We seem stuck with the most basic 4-4-2 and no players outside of maybe Blackman come away from their normal areas.

Maybe I am beign reactionary but other than Stevenage and spells for Bournemouth and Notts County; we have been quite poor this season. What concenrs me is once again against the better sides we seem wanting. Both Brentford and Tranmere seemed hungrier, faster to the ball and more determined than us. They worked harder than us which is a concern; maybe even more concerning than the poor technique, passing, creativity as there is no excuse for not matcing teams workrate.

Workrate against a truly abysmal Port Vale team was exceptionally poor, showing the team are not professional in outlook, they are big time charlies who are in truth a dismally poor 3rd division team.