Deadbat
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Podcast and report on the latest depressing result…..
Billed as a huge game that United simply had to get something from in order to kick start their season, sadly it was another defeat and one that leaves the Blades absolutely rock bottom and now in huge danger of being cut away from many of the other teams. It is now 1 point from 9 games and this abysmal start continued despite the opposition being inferior to many of those they played before the last international break. Today, United failed to win at the Lane again and now have 5 of the last 6 at home going back to last season.
Today, United did have chances and on another day, it could have gone the way of the home side but once again poor defending cost us at the vital moment as the opposition showed a bit of quality to win the game. Ollie McBurnie had a number of chances but failed again to score with his effort hitting the bar summing up his, and United’s season. The final whistle saw the Blades players look absolutely despondent as they failed to get anything yet again from a game.
It was another much-changed side with Ethan Ampadu coming back in after being ineligible to face Chelsea and seemed to be starting at left centre back. Back came John Fleck after a period out injured and McBurnie started in place of Brewster who was dropped to the bench. There was no place in the for the injured Enda Stevens or Billy Sharp who was not in the squad for the first time this season. Lys Mousset was not seemed fit enough to be involved yet. West Ham started with England man Declan Rice in midfield but were without key man Michail Antonio but started with big money signing Benrahma joining Blades nemesis Robert Snodgrass on the bench. Yarmolenko was self-isolating and not in the match day squad.
United started quickly as they kicked towards the Kop and in the first minute a cross came in that just evaded McBurnie. On three minutes Egan’s diagonal ball saw Baldock get in on the angle but his shot at the near post was saved by Fabianski’s feet.
The Blades were pressing high up the field and had another chance after a West Ham turnover but Basham’s cross was poor. United won an early corner after Berge and McGoldrick nearly combined but it came to nothing.
The first 10 minutes had certainly been United’s but slowly West Ham started to get a foot in the game and from a long throw Bowen hooked it on but no one could get on the end of it. On 23 minutes, United had their second effort on goal as Basham’s tackle kickstarted a move with Baldock pulling it back and McBurnie hitting a powerful shot but straight at Fabianski who palmed out. Fleck’s shot on the rebound was weak and dribbled into the keepers’ hands.
The next period of the game saw West Ham have a lot more of the ball and start to force United back. They had their first real chance when Baldock tried to gamble to win a tackle but lost it and Masuaku drifted inside and his cross was helped on by Bowen to Coufal whose shot was well saved by Ramsdale and fortunately it did not fall for an attacker.
United had not had the attacking impetus they had enjoyed early on and a number of poor crosses featured with Lowe the latest culprit. West Ham at the other end had the best chance of the game with Basham failing to cut out a throw and the cross came over and Haller nodded down. The goal was gaping but Soucek blazed badly wide. A real let off for United.
West Ham then had another opportunity when a long ball was headed back and Egan had to make a block for a corner. The away side were now controlling possession and United did not look as threatening but then the home side had a flurry of chances with a cross from Berge headed goalward by McBurnie and Fabianski made the save you would expect but maybe made heavy weather of it. From the corner McBurnie did well to knock on but McGoldrick was offside when he flicked his own header onto the post.
Just before the break, West Ham broke and Bowen’s running saw him free down the right and he came inside Ampadu but maybe rather selfishly took the shot and Egan made the block. The corner was cleared and the half time whistle came soon after this. It had been a relatively even contest with United shaded the chances but West Ham maybe having the best opportunity through Soucek.
After the break, United began well with Lowe’s cross cleared and McGoldrick coming onto it but his shot was straight at Fabianski and comfortable. West Ham then had a chance as a ball over the top caught Ampadu out and Haller got his toe to it but Ramsdale did well to smother.
West Ham were pressing higher up and now causing problems for United who were giving it away. The next 5 minutes saw the Blades struggle to get out. From one such moment Ramsdale kicked away and with no challenge from McBurnie, the ball came forward and was knocked on and Fornals came inside and his shot was blocked but fell to HALLER who hit a powerful shot that Ramsdale got a hand to but he could not keep it out. It was another game without a clean sheet.
The Hammers now were dominating and came again with men over. Ampadu gave it away seemingly injured and the away side were in but Burke’s shot was blocked and Haller could not force home.
A chance was flicked wide from Cresswell’s delivery from wide and United were looking a sorry sight as the next goal looked more likely to go to West Ham. Norwood was replaced by Brewster as McGoldrick dropped into midfield.
United had offered nothing after that McGoldrick early shot but Berge nearly fed the same man in but it was blocked off. West Ham came forward and Haller nearly sidefooted in a second after good work from Masuaku down the left who got away from Baldock. This was a really good chance and he needed to do better than shoot wide from close range.
West Ham looked more likely to get another and nearly did. On 72 minutes Rice crashed a header off the bar as he somehow was being marked by Baldock. Yet, two minutes later United had a chance, as Brewster played in McBurnie and he steadied himself but his shot hit the bar with Fabianski beaten. He maybe should have done better as he was one on one but summed up United’s rotten luck although both teams had hit the woodwork in close succession.
Lundstram came on for Basham but West Ham but the game was becoming really scrappy now. West Ham had opportunities to make it safe but played the wrong final ball whilst United huffed and puffed but could not get any concerted pressure at all. On 89 minutes, United went all the way back to the goalkeeper after having the ball for over a minute and that summed up the lack of bravery. Every player did not take responsibility. West Ham saw out much of the stoppage time professionally and the final chance for United saw a shocking cross from McGoldrick straight into the keepers hands and that was it. It was another defeat in the worst start to a Premier League season by any team in history and one of United’s worst runs of games without a win in their whole history.
United – Another desperately disappointing day. Were we awful? No. Were we good? No. We were average though at best against a side that are no great shakes and that last season we would have put away. They were missing their most dangerous player and really, we need to be playing better and beating teams like that if we are to have any chance of staying up. We are not becoming a bit of a laughing stock when you look at not so much the table but the results this season. Today we were not playing a top side and maybe on another day we could be the 1-0 winners but this has happened too much this season for it not to be a coincidence. Other teams have better forward/players capable of scoring and stop others teams scoring at the other end. First half we started well and for 10 minutes as at Chelsea and other games felt we did well and had a few half chances. Baldock has a shot and McBurnie too. They were not golden chances but we never take half chances even. They then got back into the game and started to dictate and will argue the next two chances were even better with Ramsdale making a good save and then the miss from Soucek which was the best opportunity of the half. I felt after being dynamic with and without the ball for 10 minutes we just slowly started to sit back and they controlled the ball a lot more than we did and the midfield had no influence whatsoever after starting well. We did end the half better but overall; it was fairly even first half with both teams having chances. 0-0 (or maybe 1-1) was about right.
Second half was really poor and we looked a ragged mess much of it. We had one shot through McGoldrick but then it was all them for a spell in terms of attacking threat and composure on the ball. They had 10-15 minutes where they had men over and we looked knackered (as the Fulham game). They eventually scored an avoidable goal but you sensed it might be coming. After this we made changes but it was all so scrappy. I think they had more chances and had a few moments where it could have been 2 or 3 and then Rice hit the bar. We then had our one real chance of the half and hit the bar which is unfortunate but they had done the same really and the 2nd half they were much better than us – not even sure they were that good. We were safe on the ball. No one committed to going forward and off it we did not press/tackle or do anything. The goal summed it up with no one covering, chasing or closing down. It was pathetic really. They had other moments like this where they nearly had free shots inside our box where in contrast that never happened to us. We changed things and Brewster came on and at least had a few moments of decent play and we tried to gamble a bit at the end but it was all a bit desperate and we never really looked like scoring or even having an effort after the one that hit the bar. In the end 1-0 to them was probably about right. They had a similar amount of chances to us and indeed the big chances Haller and Soucek / Mcburnie for us with one - they shaded it. Baldock had one saved as did Coufal. I just felt quality on the ball and composure in the right moments they had it and in the end for an away side they controlled most of the second half.
For us it’s hard to know where we go from here. Forums and social media will debate formations/tactics and selections but he changed it again and brought Fleck back and put Ampadu centre back. Not sure if Stevens comes back and then maybe Mousset it is going to change much either. The reality is that individually, collectively and managerially we are second best every week. We look a shadow of the team from last season and as much as everyone gets really angry at the 2nd season syndrome whether it is us or opponents working us out; we are miles off where we were and nowhere near the side we showed last season. At the moment we are the worst team in the league and maybe by some distance. Only Burnley can rival us. At least West Brom and Fulham are entertaining to watch and have some individual talent and scoring threat going forward. Not only are we dire in terms of performances and results but we are boring to watch. I am not sure all these fine margins talk is the truth either. As I say results and things like today are happening most weeks. That is because our players are not good enough at the moment to get results, score goals or stop goals. You cannot say it’s unlucky or things are not falling when it is happening every week. 8 defeats from 9 games and 1 goal from open play and often we rarely look like scoring. Today, as much as we had some chances, I am not sure outside the McBurnie one they are golden chances/sitters. They are decent chances the other 2 or 3 but not glaring misses. West Ham via Haller and Soucek both missed much better opportunities than anything we had outside of the one that hit the bar and they hit the bar too so the narrative of us missing chances is not quite right when they had as many good ones if not more. Overall, play outside of the first 10 minutes we were not good enough. Defensively they got through us too much, midfield we had no control and lacked much cutting edge or outlet up the top. Sadly, against quite an ordinary team, they still looked better than us probably.
Not sure where we go from here. I think we may need to stick with a least 8 or 9 of the side (maybe he can bring Stevens in for Lowe and then maybe Brewster plays more) but if people were asked to name our strongest team with Jack being out, most would pick 8 or 9 of the 11 today maybe 10. So, it’s not like there are lots of players in the background who are going to be much better options. I am not sure Bogle (yes, I know he has not had a chance), Lundstram, Osborn, Robinson and Sharp coming in is going to dramatically change things and most of these had chances too and not been much better. He will just have to stick with the bulk of the team for a series of games and hope they find some form, fitness (not just Fleck but how tired did we look 2nd half again – don’t give me international duty b****s either as others have players away too – most have more than us!) and confidence. These players are the ones that got us up and did well last year so the bulk our fate needs to rest with. Talk about a change of formation may come in but not sure 3 or 4 years of playing like this and changing it will happen. He does need to make tweaks or changes as at the moment we are plodding on and nose diving to being in the history books as the worst team in Premier League history.
At the moment things are really depressing. I think sadly reality will have hit home for most today. I saw us being crap in most games even before that trio of fixture and literally outplayed v Fulham 2nd half and overran – a really poor team. A lot said we would turn it around when we played other teams not as strong but today saw a quite ordinary West Ham team win fairly comfortably and 2nd half just up the pressure and intensity and we folded so easily again. We look a bit spinless and I was waiting and waiting for some fight and intensity but nothing. It was the sort of defeat where we just kind of accepted our lot. No one got hold of the ball or tried to make things happen. It was depressing to watch the 2nd half. I do not see how we can turn it around currently as there is so much wrong. It’s not just scoring goals or conceding them but the lack of aggression, fitness, confidence, pace, strength and ability. I am stunned how bad we have become from the team I saw for 2/3rds of last season. It is literally like a different set of men (yes, I know 2 or 3 are different).
Billed as a huge game that United simply had to get something from in order to kick start their season, sadly it was another defeat and one that leaves the Blades absolutely rock bottom and now in huge danger of being cut away from many of the other teams. It is now 1 point from 9 games and this abysmal start continued despite the opposition being inferior to many of those they played before the last international break. Today, United failed to win at the Lane again and now have 5 of the last 6 at home going back to last season.
Today, United did have chances and on another day, it could have gone the way of the home side but once again poor defending cost us at the vital moment as the opposition showed a bit of quality to win the game. Ollie McBurnie had a number of chances but failed again to score with his effort hitting the bar summing up his, and United’s season. The final whistle saw the Blades players look absolutely despondent as they failed to get anything yet again from a game.
It was another much-changed side with Ethan Ampadu coming back in after being ineligible to face Chelsea and seemed to be starting at left centre back. Back came John Fleck after a period out injured and McBurnie started in place of Brewster who was dropped to the bench. There was no place in the for the injured Enda Stevens or Billy Sharp who was not in the squad for the first time this season. Lys Mousset was not seemed fit enough to be involved yet. West Ham started with England man Declan Rice in midfield but were without key man Michail Antonio but started with big money signing Benrahma joining Blades nemesis Robert Snodgrass on the bench. Yarmolenko was self-isolating and not in the match day squad.
United started quickly as they kicked towards the Kop and in the first minute a cross came in that just evaded McBurnie. On three minutes Egan’s diagonal ball saw Baldock get in on the angle but his shot at the near post was saved by Fabianski’s feet.
The Blades were pressing high up the field and had another chance after a West Ham turnover but Basham’s cross was poor. United won an early corner after Berge and McGoldrick nearly combined but it came to nothing.
The first 10 minutes had certainly been United’s but slowly West Ham started to get a foot in the game and from a long throw Bowen hooked it on but no one could get on the end of it. On 23 minutes, United had their second effort on goal as Basham’s tackle kickstarted a move with Baldock pulling it back and McBurnie hitting a powerful shot but straight at Fabianski who palmed out. Fleck’s shot on the rebound was weak and dribbled into the keepers’ hands.
The next period of the game saw West Ham have a lot more of the ball and start to force United back. They had their first real chance when Baldock tried to gamble to win a tackle but lost it and Masuaku drifted inside and his cross was helped on by Bowen to Coufal whose shot was well saved by Ramsdale and fortunately it did not fall for an attacker.
United had not had the attacking impetus they had enjoyed early on and a number of poor crosses featured with Lowe the latest culprit. West Ham at the other end had the best chance of the game with Basham failing to cut out a throw and the cross came over and Haller nodded down. The goal was gaping but Soucek blazed badly wide. A real let off for United.
West Ham then had another opportunity when a long ball was headed back and Egan had to make a block for a corner. The away side were now controlling possession and United did not look as threatening but then the home side had a flurry of chances with a cross from Berge headed goalward by McBurnie and Fabianski made the save you would expect but maybe made heavy weather of it. From the corner McBurnie did well to knock on but McGoldrick was offside when he flicked his own header onto the post.
Just before the break, West Ham broke and Bowen’s running saw him free down the right and he came inside Ampadu but maybe rather selfishly took the shot and Egan made the block. The corner was cleared and the half time whistle came soon after this. It had been a relatively even contest with United shaded the chances but West Ham maybe having the best opportunity through Soucek.
After the break, United began well with Lowe’s cross cleared and McGoldrick coming onto it but his shot was straight at Fabianski and comfortable. West Ham then had a chance as a ball over the top caught Ampadu out and Haller got his toe to it but Ramsdale did well to smother.
West Ham were pressing higher up and now causing problems for United who were giving it away. The next 5 minutes saw the Blades struggle to get out. From one such moment Ramsdale kicked away and with no challenge from McBurnie, the ball came forward and was knocked on and Fornals came inside and his shot was blocked but fell to HALLER who hit a powerful shot that Ramsdale got a hand to but he could not keep it out. It was another game without a clean sheet.
The Hammers now were dominating and came again with men over. Ampadu gave it away seemingly injured and the away side were in but Burke’s shot was blocked and Haller could not force home.
A chance was flicked wide from Cresswell’s delivery from wide and United were looking a sorry sight as the next goal looked more likely to go to West Ham. Norwood was replaced by Brewster as McGoldrick dropped into midfield.
United had offered nothing after that McGoldrick early shot but Berge nearly fed the same man in but it was blocked off. West Ham came forward and Haller nearly sidefooted in a second after good work from Masuaku down the left who got away from Baldock. This was a really good chance and he needed to do better than shoot wide from close range.
West Ham looked more likely to get another and nearly did. On 72 minutes Rice crashed a header off the bar as he somehow was being marked by Baldock. Yet, two minutes later United had a chance, as Brewster played in McBurnie and he steadied himself but his shot hit the bar with Fabianski beaten. He maybe should have done better as he was one on one but summed up United’s rotten luck although both teams had hit the woodwork in close succession.
Lundstram came on for Basham but West Ham but the game was becoming really scrappy now. West Ham had opportunities to make it safe but played the wrong final ball whilst United huffed and puffed but could not get any concerted pressure at all. On 89 minutes, United went all the way back to the goalkeeper after having the ball for over a minute and that summed up the lack of bravery. Every player did not take responsibility. West Ham saw out much of the stoppage time professionally and the final chance for United saw a shocking cross from McGoldrick straight into the keepers hands and that was it. It was another defeat in the worst start to a Premier League season by any team in history and one of United’s worst runs of games without a win in their whole history.
United – Another desperately disappointing day. Were we awful? No. Were we good? No. We were average though at best against a side that are no great shakes and that last season we would have put away. They were missing their most dangerous player and really, we need to be playing better and beating teams like that if we are to have any chance of staying up. We are not becoming a bit of a laughing stock when you look at not so much the table but the results this season. Today we were not playing a top side and maybe on another day we could be the 1-0 winners but this has happened too much this season for it not to be a coincidence. Other teams have better forward/players capable of scoring and stop others teams scoring at the other end. First half we started well and for 10 minutes as at Chelsea and other games felt we did well and had a few half chances. Baldock has a shot and McBurnie too. They were not golden chances but we never take half chances even. They then got back into the game and started to dictate and will argue the next two chances were even better with Ramsdale making a good save and then the miss from Soucek which was the best opportunity of the half. I felt after being dynamic with and without the ball for 10 minutes we just slowly started to sit back and they controlled the ball a lot more than we did and the midfield had no influence whatsoever after starting well. We did end the half better but overall; it was fairly even first half with both teams having chances. 0-0 (or maybe 1-1) was about right.
Second half was really poor and we looked a ragged mess much of it. We had one shot through McGoldrick but then it was all them for a spell in terms of attacking threat and composure on the ball. They had 10-15 minutes where they had men over and we looked knackered (as the Fulham game). They eventually scored an avoidable goal but you sensed it might be coming. After this we made changes but it was all so scrappy. I think they had more chances and had a few moments where it could have been 2 or 3 and then Rice hit the bar. We then had our one real chance of the half and hit the bar which is unfortunate but they had done the same really and the 2nd half they were much better than us – not even sure they were that good. We were safe on the ball. No one committed to going forward and off it we did not press/tackle or do anything. The goal summed it up with no one covering, chasing or closing down. It was pathetic really. They had other moments like this where they nearly had free shots inside our box where in contrast that never happened to us. We changed things and Brewster came on and at least had a few moments of decent play and we tried to gamble a bit at the end but it was all a bit desperate and we never really looked like scoring or even having an effort after the one that hit the bar. In the end 1-0 to them was probably about right. They had a similar amount of chances to us and indeed the big chances Haller and Soucek / Mcburnie for us with one - they shaded it. Baldock had one saved as did Coufal. I just felt quality on the ball and composure in the right moments they had it and in the end for an away side they controlled most of the second half.
For us it’s hard to know where we go from here. Forums and social media will debate formations/tactics and selections but he changed it again and brought Fleck back and put Ampadu centre back. Not sure if Stevens comes back and then maybe Mousset it is going to change much either. The reality is that individually, collectively and managerially we are second best every week. We look a shadow of the team from last season and as much as everyone gets really angry at the 2nd season syndrome whether it is us or opponents working us out; we are miles off where we were and nowhere near the side we showed last season. At the moment we are the worst team in the league and maybe by some distance. Only Burnley can rival us. At least West Brom and Fulham are entertaining to watch and have some individual talent and scoring threat going forward. Not only are we dire in terms of performances and results but we are boring to watch. I am not sure all these fine margins talk is the truth either. As I say results and things like today are happening most weeks. That is because our players are not good enough at the moment to get results, score goals or stop goals. You cannot say it’s unlucky or things are not falling when it is happening every week. 8 defeats from 9 games and 1 goal from open play and often we rarely look like scoring. Today, as much as we had some chances, I am not sure outside the McBurnie one they are golden chances/sitters. They are decent chances the other 2 or 3 but not glaring misses. West Ham via Haller and Soucek both missed much better opportunities than anything we had outside of the one that hit the bar and they hit the bar too so the narrative of us missing chances is not quite right when they had as many good ones if not more. Overall, play outside of the first 10 minutes we were not good enough. Defensively they got through us too much, midfield we had no control and lacked much cutting edge or outlet up the top. Sadly, against quite an ordinary team, they still looked better than us probably.
Not sure where we go from here. I think we may need to stick with a least 8 or 9 of the side (maybe he can bring Stevens in for Lowe and then maybe Brewster plays more) but if people were asked to name our strongest team with Jack being out, most would pick 8 or 9 of the 11 today maybe 10. So, it’s not like there are lots of players in the background who are going to be much better options. I am not sure Bogle (yes, I know he has not had a chance), Lundstram, Osborn, Robinson and Sharp coming in is going to dramatically change things and most of these had chances too and not been much better. He will just have to stick with the bulk of the team for a series of games and hope they find some form, fitness (not just Fleck but how tired did we look 2nd half again – don’t give me international duty b****s either as others have players away too – most have more than us!) and confidence. These players are the ones that got us up and did well last year so the bulk our fate needs to rest with. Talk about a change of formation may come in but not sure 3 or 4 years of playing like this and changing it will happen. He does need to make tweaks or changes as at the moment we are plodding on and nose diving to being in the history books as the worst team in Premier League history.
At the moment things are really depressing. I think sadly reality will have hit home for most today. I saw us being crap in most games even before that trio of fixture and literally outplayed v Fulham 2nd half and overran – a really poor team. A lot said we would turn it around when we played other teams not as strong but today saw a quite ordinary West Ham team win fairly comfortably and 2nd half just up the pressure and intensity and we folded so easily again. We look a bit spinless and I was waiting and waiting for some fight and intensity but nothing. It was the sort of defeat where we just kind of accepted our lot. No one got hold of the ball or tried to make things happen. It was depressing to watch the 2nd half. I do not see how we can turn it around currently as there is so much wrong. It’s not just scoring goals or conceding them but the lack of aggression, fitness, confidence, pace, strength and ability. I am stunned how bad we have become from the team I saw for 2/3rds of last season. It is literally like a different set of men (yes, I know 2 or 3 are different).