Deadbat
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An awful week ended for United with a depressing defeat at home to Fleetwood seeing the Blades pick up one point from footballing giants Crawley, Peterborough and Fleetwood. Before the week United could still harbour serious hopes of a late automatic promotion bid. The Blades are facing an almighty struggle just to get into the end of season with eight teams within five points and battling for only two spots that are left.
It was another depressing performance that featured mistakes all over the field and slow, ponderous build up with little penetration, goal mouth action or any kind of entertainment. Few players left the game with any credit and serious questions are now being asked of Nigel Clough and his managerial team. The cup runs of last and this season now seem a long time ago as the harsh reality hits that unless the approach of the manager and players change; United will stay in the third tier for the fifth season.
The Blades began by giving a debut to new signing Steve Davies who partnered Matty Done. Jose Baxter was also back in the side with the injured Ryan Flynn and Marc McNulty giving way.
Fleetwood had enjoyed a decent first season at this level and started their first ever game at the Lane in confident manner knocking the ball about well. United did have the first chance but Davies headed well wide from a Murphy cross. A scramble saw Fleetwood clear with Baxter the nearest United man but the Blades had failed to test the keeper so far. Former Blade Jordan went off injured for the visitors. Baxter fired over before Morris nearly got in at the other end after mistakes from Harris and then McEveley.
Fleetwood had not offered much as a goal threat but were competing well and they were able to take the lead on 25 minutes. Some neat interchange saw Proctor play the ball over to the left. MORRIS was given time and space with Brayford not tight enough and hit a powerful rising drive that flashed past Turner. The keeper maybe should have done better at his near post but the defending in the build up was sloppy.
Basham was booked after a mistake from Brayford had led to Fleetwood breaking away. HAUGHTON hit the first free kick into the wall but as the ball came back to him; he was able to take a touch and then try a surprise shot from way out on the angle on the left wing. The ball seemed to bounce twice before deceiving Turner and going in again at his near post. It was an appalling mistake from the keeper who knew it straight away from his reaction.
The crowd voiced their displeasure as the ball was returned to the centre circle with some in the South Stand voicing their displeasure towards the chairman Kevin McCabe who was sat in the directors box.
United tried to get going and won a corner soon after. The corner was cleared but from the subsequent return ball from Murphy, Basham headed goalwards and the predatory DONE nodded home for the second time in a week. United were back in the game.
United though were making more mistakes and Harris again gave the ball away but Proctor was stopped by McEveley.
The half time whistle came soon after.
The second half saw Done go down maybe a little theatrically in the box as united tried to get back level but they had not tested Maxwell since pulling one back and the play continued to be slow and laborious.
Maxwell had been timewasting from the start of the game and this had got worse since Fleetwood had gone ahead and the referee had seen enough as he took his time over another goal kick. The referee decided to book him with still half an hour left to play.
Fleetwood were defending in numbers but were repelling United fairly comfortably.
United had struggled to create much and were relying on Murphy to create something. The winger had continued to look dangerous and beat two men before winning a corner. The same man then kinked into the box and had an appeal for a penalty but the referee waved it away.
Adams came on for Baxter who had given the ball away cheaply all game as United tried to find a spark but had created very little. One chance came when Murphy found Harris and his cross was headed back by Coutts but Doyle and McNulty seemed to get in each others way before the former hit a shot that Maxwell turned over.
McNulty and Wallace came on but the expected onslaught never materialised and a Done header tamely wide was as close as they got even with an additional six minutes stoppage time. The loud boos at the end showed what most of another healthy crowd felt of another unacceptable performance and result.
United – Struggling for words to describe such a performance. We barely created anything – it was slow, plodding tempo. The players lacked energy, ability and desire. There was no urgency, little forward play, we did not get players into the box and never got to the by-line. It was really poor. We gave away two sloppy goals and could have given more away and even when we got one back; we then barely had an effort of note the whole second half. Players on probably double and triple the wage of their respective opponents served up a performance that suggested a side that will do well to even finish top 6. It really was dire. In a week we have seen a sign offer little to nothing in over 180 minutes of football and lost to two bang average, at best, sides who will not be anywhere near the promotion shake up at the end of the season I feel.
Clough stood there motionless much of the time; McCabe sat there stoically in the directors box and it is almost as if nobody has a clue to get this side out of this division. We are 23 points off the top team. 23 points! That is totally unacceptable and a long way off second. The season is kind of going the way it did 2 years ago when Wilson was jettisoned and they limped in the playoffs but were deservedly beaten. I see nothing in this side to suggest they will kick on, finish the season strongly and win at Wembley.
Do hope I am wrong but the performances continue to be wholly not good enough and nothing seems to be changing. They have given him funds but other than Done, the other players brought in have not really improved things. Brayford, Holt, Coutts and Freeman (done ok but he does not even see him a starter) have not made much impact. We will wait on Davies but he has wasted money on mostly average dross (Brayford will still come good I feel). The squad is littered with slow, weak players who cannot change games. I genuinely only feel half a dozen could even play at a higher level if they went up. So the players he has are not good enough for division above but not good enough to get us out of this division seemingly. Sure some will say we need to wait till the end of the season but we have been waiting all year for improvements and we ain’t seeing any. Take away that disastrous spell under Weir and are we any further forward than where we were when we finished that Wilson/Morgan season in terms of personnel, playing style or hopes for the future? Probably not in all cases. We seem to be just treading water but nowhere near getting to the side of the pool.
Be interesting to see what happens now. We go on and make the playoffs and have a real good go, then Clough will come back I am sure regardless but if we dip our or lose limply then sadly as I have said examinations in the summer of his recruitment, style of play and ultimately results will have to be asked. We have sacked managers (Blackwell, Wilson) when in positions like this. The merry go round does have to stop at some point but surely it stops when we find someone who can do the job. The choices continued to frustrate and it definitely a crossroads now for Clough.
Fleetwood – A side that played a smattering of decent football, they competed well and defended in numbers. Sure they time wasted but so we would we in their position. Being honest though they were an ordinary side, akin to many that have come to the Lane this year and should have been dispatched 2 or 3-0. That was the same story at their place in December. The fact we have picked up a point against them sums up how poor we are and that is not an insult to them as they have done brilliantly to get to this level and be nearer the top than bottom too. However as someone said our ground holds more than the entire population of Fleetwood. Does not mean anything of course but still gives a flavour to the size of the respective clubs.
The left winger was decent, Morris as he was up at Highbury and scored a good goal. However they left experienced players like Crainey and Dobbie. One of their best players Sarcevic was missing too. He lad Roberts at the back is a strong leader and heads and clears (something we miss) as he did when he was at Stevenage.
Think they will end up around the middle of the league but that is some achievement and too win at a ground like the Lane will be a real feather. Sadly it is all too easy to do that these days and not the coup for sides that it used to be. Aleaxnder has done a good job though and they never seem to get stuffed and always seem well in games.
It was another depressing performance that featured mistakes all over the field and slow, ponderous build up with little penetration, goal mouth action or any kind of entertainment. Few players left the game with any credit and serious questions are now being asked of Nigel Clough and his managerial team. The cup runs of last and this season now seem a long time ago as the harsh reality hits that unless the approach of the manager and players change; United will stay in the third tier for the fifth season.
The Blades began by giving a debut to new signing Steve Davies who partnered Matty Done. Jose Baxter was also back in the side with the injured Ryan Flynn and Marc McNulty giving way.
Fleetwood had enjoyed a decent first season at this level and started their first ever game at the Lane in confident manner knocking the ball about well. United did have the first chance but Davies headed well wide from a Murphy cross. A scramble saw Fleetwood clear with Baxter the nearest United man but the Blades had failed to test the keeper so far. Former Blade Jordan went off injured for the visitors. Baxter fired over before Morris nearly got in at the other end after mistakes from Harris and then McEveley.
Fleetwood had not offered much as a goal threat but were competing well and they were able to take the lead on 25 minutes. Some neat interchange saw Proctor play the ball over to the left. MORRIS was given time and space with Brayford not tight enough and hit a powerful rising drive that flashed past Turner. The keeper maybe should have done better at his near post but the defending in the build up was sloppy.
Basham was booked after a mistake from Brayford had led to Fleetwood breaking away. HAUGHTON hit the first free kick into the wall but as the ball came back to him; he was able to take a touch and then try a surprise shot from way out on the angle on the left wing. The ball seemed to bounce twice before deceiving Turner and going in again at his near post. It was an appalling mistake from the keeper who knew it straight away from his reaction.
The crowd voiced their displeasure as the ball was returned to the centre circle with some in the South Stand voicing their displeasure towards the chairman Kevin McCabe who was sat in the directors box.
United tried to get going and won a corner soon after. The corner was cleared but from the subsequent return ball from Murphy, Basham headed goalwards and the predatory DONE nodded home for the second time in a week. United were back in the game.
United though were making more mistakes and Harris again gave the ball away but Proctor was stopped by McEveley.
The half time whistle came soon after.
The second half saw Done go down maybe a little theatrically in the box as united tried to get back level but they had not tested Maxwell since pulling one back and the play continued to be slow and laborious.
Maxwell had been timewasting from the start of the game and this had got worse since Fleetwood had gone ahead and the referee had seen enough as he took his time over another goal kick. The referee decided to book him with still half an hour left to play.
Fleetwood were defending in numbers but were repelling United fairly comfortably.
United had struggled to create much and were relying on Murphy to create something. The winger had continued to look dangerous and beat two men before winning a corner. The same man then kinked into the box and had an appeal for a penalty but the referee waved it away.
Adams came on for Baxter who had given the ball away cheaply all game as United tried to find a spark but had created very little. One chance came when Murphy found Harris and his cross was headed back by Coutts but Doyle and McNulty seemed to get in each others way before the former hit a shot that Maxwell turned over.
McNulty and Wallace came on but the expected onslaught never materialised and a Done header tamely wide was as close as they got even with an additional six minutes stoppage time. The loud boos at the end showed what most of another healthy crowd felt of another unacceptable performance and result.
United – Struggling for words to describe such a performance. We barely created anything – it was slow, plodding tempo. The players lacked energy, ability and desire. There was no urgency, little forward play, we did not get players into the box and never got to the by-line. It was really poor. We gave away two sloppy goals and could have given more away and even when we got one back; we then barely had an effort of note the whole second half. Players on probably double and triple the wage of their respective opponents served up a performance that suggested a side that will do well to even finish top 6. It really was dire. In a week we have seen a sign offer little to nothing in over 180 minutes of football and lost to two bang average, at best, sides who will not be anywhere near the promotion shake up at the end of the season I feel.
Clough stood there motionless much of the time; McCabe sat there stoically in the directors box and it is almost as if nobody has a clue to get this side out of this division. We are 23 points off the top team. 23 points! That is totally unacceptable and a long way off second. The season is kind of going the way it did 2 years ago when Wilson was jettisoned and they limped in the playoffs but were deservedly beaten. I see nothing in this side to suggest they will kick on, finish the season strongly and win at Wembley.
Do hope I am wrong but the performances continue to be wholly not good enough and nothing seems to be changing. They have given him funds but other than Done, the other players brought in have not really improved things. Brayford, Holt, Coutts and Freeman (done ok but he does not even see him a starter) have not made much impact. We will wait on Davies but he has wasted money on mostly average dross (Brayford will still come good I feel). The squad is littered with slow, weak players who cannot change games. I genuinely only feel half a dozen could even play at a higher level if they went up. So the players he has are not good enough for division above but not good enough to get us out of this division seemingly. Sure some will say we need to wait till the end of the season but we have been waiting all year for improvements and we ain’t seeing any. Take away that disastrous spell under Weir and are we any further forward than where we were when we finished that Wilson/Morgan season in terms of personnel, playing style or hopes for the future? Probably not in all cases. We seem to be just treading water but nowhere near getting to the side of the pool.
Be interesting to see what happens now. We go on and make the playoffs and have a real good go, then Clough will come back I am sure regardless but if we dip our or lose limply then sadly as I have said examinations in the summer of his recruitment, style of play and ultimately results will have to be asked. We have sacked managers (Blackwell, Wilson) when in positions like this. The merry go round does have to stop at some point but surely it stops when we find someone who can do the job. The choices continued to frustrate and it definitely a crossroads now for Clough.
Fleetwood – A side that played a smattering of decent football, they competed well and defended in numbers. Sure they time wasted but so we would we in their position. Being honest though they were an ordinary side, akin to many that have come to the Lane this year and should have been dispatched 2 or 3-0. That was the same story at their place in December. The fact we have picked up a point against them sums up how poor we are and that is not an insult to them as they have done brilliantly to get to this level and be nearer the top than bottom too. However as someone said our ground holds more than the entire population of Fleetwood. Does not mean anything of course but still gives a flavour to the size of the respective clubs.
The left winger was decent, Morris as he was up at Highbury and scored a good goal. However they left experienced players like Crainey and Dobbie. One of their best players Sarcevic was missing too. He lad Roberts at the back is a strong leader and heads and clears (something we miss) as he did when he was at Stevenage.
Think they will end up around the middle of the league but that is some achievement and too win at a ground like the Lane will be a real feather. Sadly it is all too easy to do that these days and not the coup for sides that it used to be. Aleaxnder has done a good job though and they never seem to get stuffed and always seem well in games.
