Deadbat
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Match report below and pod here also:
United’s poor start to the new season continued as they drew at home to fellow strugglers Fulham at Bramall Lane. Today, the Blades were the better side for the first half and missed a number of good chances but after the break the visitors largely dominated and but for poor finishing from Alexander Mitrovic and a stupid penalty the same player gave away; they would have left the Lane with all three points. Maybe over the game, United could point to them being better in the first half and thus deserving a point but the big chances certainly went to the visitors with Ramsdale the much busier keeper and Fulham looked the more frustrated on full time as United were hanging on at the end. This of course is really worrying, against a promoted side and one expected to struggle. With three really tough games to come, United know they have to play much, much better than they have done so far this season. The narrative has been about poor refereeing decisions or lack of firepower but today United looked a poor side 2nd half all over the field and were outworked and outskilled for long periods. It is a point though and gets them off the mark and for now off the bottom
Manager Chris Wilder made changes to his side with Max Lowe coming in for his debut at left wing back and Ollie Norwood coming back into the side. There was a start for Oli McBurnie alongside David McGoldrick who was deemed fit. Oli Burke began on the bench alongside record signing Rhian Brewster. There was no place in the squad for the injured John Fleck. The reserve keeper selected was Michael Verrips in a surprise on the bench.
Fulham began with an attacking looking line up in the quest for points with the tricky Cavaleiro and Lookman flanking the dangerous Mitrovic at the top of the field. Summer Blades target Antonee Robinson got the start ahead of Joe Bryan at left back. In midfield, debutant Ruben Loftus Cheek and Zambo Anguissa got starts alongside skipper Tom Cairney.
With both teams desperate to get on the board, the game began in cagey fashion although the visitors started the better side and got on the ball more. Lowe went down after clashing with Loftus Cheek and seemingly was winded or even concussed. The visitors moved it around patiently and the first chance came Cairney had a low shot that Ramsdale pushed away. The Blades had been slow to get going but on 9 minutes awoke from their slumber. Lundstram had been the most involved home player and he took a long-range effort of his own that was tipped over by Areola. The next moment saw good work from Norwood and then Stevens and the cross shot was diverted wide via a deflection from the defender. The corner came over but was given away from Cairney and United were in again. Basham found himself on the ball on the wide right and his cross was headed wide from McBurnie.
After a poor start, the Blades now were on top and another ball from Basham came back to him and he pulled his shot wide but McBurnie may have been offside if it had gone in. Loftus Cheek came inside and had a shot straight at Ramsdale but United were back on the move and Norwood was playing several forward balls that beat the Fulham midfield.
Lowe was clearly struggling and after more treatment, he had to go off and was replaced by Robinson with Stevens going back to left wing back. United were having a great deal of joy in between Ream and Antonee Robinson and Basham and Baldock worked an opening but the ball was cleared. Lundstram then ran through midfield and Anguissa chopped him down and was the first player to be booked.
On 22 minutes another good move saw Berge, McGoldrick and then Lundstram but Stevens shot on the angle as the Blades broke through lacked power and was saved. Lookman was down injured but after Fulham played on, United then oddly put it out! United were actually not having as much possession according to the stats but the key areas, the Blades looked far more dangerous and were the better side. Berge got in but his ball was telegraphed when he was looking for McGoldrick.
Just before the half hour, the best chance came when Berge played it back to Basham whose excellent cross was begging to be converted by McBurnie but he seemed to glance it off his shoulder via his nose and the keeper made a good save. He really needed to score a chance like that.
Norwood continued to work the ball well through the lines and his pass found Berge who made the Fulham keeper work again.
Robinson’s long throw for United went through everybody and somehow was not turned home and as the ball came back Berge drove the ball rather than picking anyone one out. Stevens then was fed by McGoldrick but his cross was flicked wide by McBurnie. Again, the flag may have gone up if it had gone in.
On 38 minutes, Fulham had a rare chance when Cairney’s free kick nearly dropped for Loftus Cheek at the back post but Egan cleared. Basham then took down Anguissa as he dribbled forward with a silly foul. Mitrovic took it after the touch but his powerful shot was fortunately for United straight at Ramsdale.
After this brief flurry from Fulham, United who had controlled the key moments and chances, were back on the attack but Berge overhit his cross after powering down the right. After a quiet start, Berge had started to be a real threat down the right with his power and running ability.
There was three minutes of stoppage time played but no further chances came and United even though they had ceded possession 58% to 42% will have been disappointed not to have led after having a series of half chances and one very good one and being the much better side.
The second half saw United offer the first chance when Baldock’s cross was headed at the keeper by McBurnie weakly but the replay showed it would have been offside.
McBurnie forced a foul from Aina who chopped him down but Norwood’s floated cross was cleared.
On 50 minutes, a cross came over and Ramsdale dropped the ball but recovered and made a save from Lookman to make amends for his error. At the other end Robinson’s long throw was straight at Areola and the throw out saw Fulham on the break but it was a poor cross in the end. The next period of the game saw Fulham start to control the game. Norwood’s poor cross led to another break out and the Cottagers won a corner. The ball came over and inexplicably Robinson had his arm up and clearly handled the ball. Mitrovic took it but hammered it too high and it clipped the bar and went over. Buoyed from this let off you hoped United would recover but sadly this did not happen. A skewed shot from McGoldrick was all they could offer as the possession and chances for the breakthrough continued to come from Fulham.
They broke again and Lookman nearly fed Cairney before Mitrovic also was close to getting in again. United had no control of the game and Fulham were breaking through the lines easily and often had 3 on 3 or 2 on 2. It had become ragged from the home side. Berge gave it away with a poor ball and then Fulham were in again but Robinson did well this time to flick away.
On 63 minutes, McGoldrick was replaced by Brewster as he came on for his home debut. United had now lost their shape though and it was all a bit messy. Fulham now looked the more confident and Cairney had a shot blocked before Ramsdale had to make a save as the cross came in from the right hand side. A rare moment for the Blades saw Stevens and Brewster try and exchange passes but Stevens final ball was poor. The same man sent over a looped cross as United looked clueless this half.
Fulham’s much improved second half saw them rewarded with LOOKMAN coming inside and as Berge turned his back, the winger got a bounce off Basham but the finish was superb as he powered it past Ramsdale who had no chance.
Straight after, Mitrovic could have made it 2-0. Lookman again came inside getting away from Baldock and his cross fell for the striker but Ramsdale made a good save.
Sharp came on for Basham as United looked to save the game but a free kick easily cleared. United did have a chance when they sent the ball in the box and the keeper dropped it, much like Ramsdale did earlier in the game, as the ball dropped Robinson got his toe to it and seemed to take a whack from Mitrovic and appeals from the United players were immediate. The ball was sent the other way and Ramsdale had to make a save from Cairney down to his left. After this save, Marriner was told to look at his monitor by the VAR team and after taking a look went back to the earlier Mitrovic foul and gave the penalty fairly quickly.
SHARP took responsibility and smashed it home, high into the roof of the net. Sharp ran back with the ball as United wanted to try and get a winner and soon after he had a chance but was offside. With the game ticking into the last minute, Fulham had a number of chances. Lookman came inside and hit a shot that deflected wide for a corner and then from a cross, Mitrovic headed wide when you would have backed him to score. The away side were looking the more likely and they came again with Mitrovic headed wide again just before the end of the five minutes of stoppage time. United were giving it away and Fulham scented the winner but the contest was ended by Andre Marriner with Fulham on the attack. In the end, the Blades were probably the more relieved of the two sides. They had been the better side first half but second half; it had been a largely anonymous performance from the Blades who shrinked somewhat and stopped taking responsibility and lost control.
United – First half and second half were night and day really. We started the game badly actually and they were the better side first 5-8 mins and had a chance through Cairney but after this we took control and had a series of half chances ourselves. Lundstram and Norwood were really influential and were moving us forward quickly with runs and passes respectively and then latterly Berge got involved too. The front two were quite poor again although McGoldrick did a few bits of link play. We controlled things though and McBurnie has to score a great chance. After this we continued to look the better side but did not take the lead we should have had into half time. Fulham had been quite timid and not really attacked much at all and sloppy on the ball.
After the break, they were miles better and moved it up quicker. The three forwards got on the ball and the midfield won every loose ball. They pushed us up the field and our wing backs/centre backs did not go forward at all second half. Lookman and Cavaleiro looked dangerous and Cairney started to control things. Our midfield three were anonymous second half and the strikers continued to offer nothing really, not even much of a nuisance factor. They had chances on the break as their pace on the counter cut through us as we lost out shape completely. They got through us twice from keeper throw outs. We did not even mount an attack I can recall of note after one Baldock cross and header from McBurnie (offside again) and maybe a Stevens bad ball to Brewster. We had a few wasted free kicks. They were much better but we got a let off from the penalty – more moronic defending from Robinson (see Leeds) – but did not kick on and they actually got better after this miss and deservedly led with a great strike. We don’t have players who can do that sadly. After this they nearly made it 2-0 and Ramsdale kept us in it and then we got a penalty and a decision went for us (was right but I would have felt it was soft the other way but technically is a penalty). After this I thought come on, let’s up it and the opposite happened. We looked tired and languid and they had 2 or 3 more chances to score. Mitrovic missed a header as bad as McBurnie’s and then had another. We were hanging on.
After the first four games we’d had some bad decisions and things did not go for us but I am more concerned after today as we played a poor side and a team we showed first half we could impose ourselves on but once again did not score (although did not see loads of great chances others have – only one) and our final bit/ball was poor as we were caught offside so much through as Bassett used to say, ‘p**ss poor thinking!’ Still, we should have led but the second half was frightening how bad we were. We lost our shape, organisation and belief. They stepped it up and we had no answer. The three midfielders were shocking on and off the ball and we had nothing up front and the defence then started making mistakes too. Ramsdale kept us in it really and we had a let off from the pen. What was concerning again was after we got back in it, we had no belief to win it and were desperately just trying to get a point. It was so far off the side we have seen for the last few years. Maybe as BT alluded to our players did massively over achieve last year and we are missing Fleck and O’Connell but quite a few need to hugely up their games – the front two and the two wing backs for definite who are miles off what they did last season but as a team and collective there is not the belief and will to win. I can almost cope with the poor passes, decisions etc but so many times we lost key 50-50 balls as well and as Wilder said, we have to win races, tackles, headers etc.
Some have said we had players coming back from internationals but so did they! We are not doing that and when as individuals other teams’ players are doing better, we are in for a long hard season. I was not sure about the front two he picked. Maybe Burke and Brewster are not fully fit, but the two that started have had chances of games to start and not delivered. I also am concerned Ampadu is not getting opportunities. He did pick Lowe but that was derailed instantly.
We now have a horror run of fixtures but more than the points, players and the team have to find a way of playing again. We look as if we are lacking in confidence and it is a shame as first half we saw signs but will have come off not feeling we are anywhere near our best and it is hard to see where the first win is coming from with the lack of goal threat (Brewster may help but looked way off in limited minutes) and the lack of cohesion and control. We have not put together a complete performance since Chelsea and that and Spurs apart, we seem a side going backwards in terms of confidence, football we play and the way we approach teams. I felt again other than a 20-minute spell first half, we played way too much hit and hope stuff and we did not get around the ball and play little triangles.
The main concern is no one took responsibility 2nd half. Players seemed to shrink and it was an insipid performance. We almost looked a side that had no belief anymore. That was worrying. It is a draw but I am worried that so many players do not look the same. Too much will be made of personnel and who we could have signed and I agree we needed a more creative threat but the same squad and players went to places like Spurs and City and took the game to these teams. Now we look like we are scared and the level of football is poor. We did show flashes first half but for much of the season and as the second half showed, we look a side that does not feel they can go on and score goals and win games and inevitable other teams will get chances and score with the quality at this level. We have to get that 30-35 mins of first half into a full performance and take chances when they come. At the moment everything is up and down individually and collectively with daft mistakes and lack of ruthlessness at both end.
United’s poor start to the new season continued as they drew at home to fellow strugglers Fulham at Bramall Lane. Today, the Blades were the better side for the first half and missed a number of good chances but after the break the visitors largely dominated and but for poor finishing from Alexander Mitrovic and a stupid penalty the same player gave away; they would have left the Lane with all three points. Maybe over the game, United could point to them being better in the first half and thus deserving a point but the big chances certainly went to the visitors with Ramsdale the much busier keeper and Fulham looked the more frustrated on full time as United were hanging on at the end. This of course is really worrying, against a promoted side and one expected to struggle. With three really tough games to come, United know they have to play much, much better than they have done so far this season. The narrative has been about poor refereeing decisions or lack of firepower but today United looked a poor side 2nd half all over the field and were outworked and outskilled for long periods. It is a point though and gets them off the mark and for now off the bottom
Manager Chris Wilder made changes to his side with Max Lowe coming in for his debut at left wing back and Ollie Norwood coming back into the side. There was a start for Oli McBurnie alongside David McGoldrick who was deemed fit. Oli Burke began on the bench alongside record signing Rhian Brewster. There was no place in the squad for the injured John Fleck. The reserve keeper selected was Michael Verrips in a surprise on the bench.
Fulham began with an attacking looking line up in the quest for points with the tricky Cavaleiro and Lookman flanking the dangerous Mitrovic at the top of the field. Summer Blades target Antonee Robinson got the start ahead of Joe Bryan at left back. In midfield, debutant Ruben Loftus Cheek and Zambo Anguissa got starts alongside skipper Tom Cairney.
With both teams desperate to get on the board, the game began in cagey fashion although the visitors started the better side and got on the ball more. Lowe went down after clashing with Loftus Cheek and seemingly was winded or even concussed. The visitors moved it around patiently and the first chance came Cairney had a low shot that Ramsdale pushed away. The Blades had been slow to get going but on 9 minutes awoke from their slumber. Lundstram had been the most involved home player and he took a long-range effort of his own that was tipped over by Areola. The next moment saw good work from Norwood and then Stevens and the cross shot was diverted wide via a deflection from the defender. The corner came over but was given away from Cairney and United were in again. Basham found himself on the ball on the wide right and his cross was headed wide from McBurnie.
After a poor start, the Blades now were on top and another ball from Basham came back to him and he pulled his shot wide but McBurnie may have been offside if it had gone in. Loftus Cheek came inside and had a shot straight at Ramsdale but United were back on the move and Norwood was playing several forward balls that beat the Fulham midfield.
Lowe was clearly struggling and after more treatment, he had to go off and was replaced by Robinson with Stevens going back to left wing back. United were having a great deal of joy in between Ream and Antonee Robinson and Basham and Baldock worked an opening but the ball was cleared. Lundstram then ran through midfield and Anguissa chopped him down and was the first player to be booked.
On 22 minutes another good move saw Berge, McGoldrick and then Lundstram but Stevens shot on the angle as the Blades broke through lacked power and was saved. Lookman was down injured but after Fulham played on, United then oddly put it out! United were actually not having as much possession according to the stats but the key areas, the Blades looked far more dangerous and were the better side. Berge got in but his ball was telegraphed when he was looking for McGoldrick.
Just before the half hour, the best chance came when Berge played it back to Basham whose excellent cross was begging to be converted by McBurnie but he seemed to glance it off his shoulder via his nose and the keeper made a good save. He really needed to score a chance like that.
Norwood continued to work the ball well through the lines and his pass found Berge who made the Fulham keeper work again.
Robinson’s long throw for United went through everybody and somehow was not turned home and as the ball came back Berge drove the ball rather than picking anyone one out. Stevens then was fed by McGoldrick but his cross was flicked wide by McBurnie. Again, the flag may have gone up if it had gone in.
On 38 minutes, Fulham had a rare chance when Cairney’s free kick nearly dropped for Loftus Cheek at the back post but Egan cleared. Basham then took down Anguissa as he dribbled forward with a silly foul. Mitrovic took it after the touch but his powerful shot was fortunately for United straight at Ramsdale.
After this brief flurry from Fulham, United who had controlled the key moments and chances, were back on the attack but Berge overhit his cross after powering down the right. After a quiet start, Berge had started to be a real threat down the right with his power and running ability.
There was three minutes of stoppage time played but no further chances came and United even though they had ceded possession 58% to 42% will have been disappointed not to have led after having a series of half chances and one very good one and being the much better side.
The second half saw United offer the first chance when Baldock’s cross was headed at the keeper by McBurnie weakly but the replay showed it would have been offside.
McBurnie forced a foul from Aina who chopped him down but Norwood’s floated cross was cleared.
On 50 minutes, a cross came over and Ramsdale dropped the ball but recovered and made a save from Lookman to make amends for his error. At the other end Robinson’s long throw was straight at Areola and the throw out saw Fulham on the break but it was a poor cross in the end. The next period of the game saw Fulham start to control the game. Norwood’s poor cross led to another break out and the Cottagers won a corner. The ball came over and inexplicably Robinson had his arm up and clearly handled the ball. Mitrovic took it but hammered it too high and it clipped the bar and went over. Buoyed from this let off you hoped United would recover but sadly this did not happen. A skewed shot from McGoldrick was all they could offer as the possession and chances for the breakthrough continued to come from Fulham.
They broke again and Lookman nearly fed Cairney before Mitrovic also was close to getting in again. United had no control of the game and Fulham were breaking through the lines easily and often had 3 on 3 or 2 on 2. It had become ragged from the home side. Berge gave it away with a poor ball and then Fulham were in again but Robinson did well this time to flick away.
On 63 minutes, McGoldrick was replaced by Brewster as he came on for his home debut. United had now lost their shape though and it was all a bit messy. Fulham now looked the more confident and Cairney had a shot blocked before Ramsdale had to make a save as the cross came in from the right hand side. A rare moment for the Blades saw Stevens and Brewster try and exchange passes but Stevens final ball was poor. The same man sent over a looped cross as United looked clueless this half.
Fulham’s much improved second half saw them rewarded with LOOKMAN coming inside and as Berge turned his back, the winger got a bounce off Basham but the finish was superb as he powered it past Ramsdale who had no chance.
Straight after, Mitrovic could have made it 2-0. Lookman again came inside getting away from Baldock and his cross fell for the striker but Ramsdale made a good save.
Sharp came on for Basham as United looked to save the game but a free kick easily cleared. United did have a chance when they sent the ball in the box and the keeper dropped it, much like Ramsdale did earlier in the game, as the ball dropped Robinson got his toe to it and seemed to take a whack from Mitrovic and appeals from the United players were immediate. The ball was sent the other way and Ramsdale had to make a save from Cairney down to his left. After this save, Marriner was told to look at his monitor by the VAR team and after taking a look went back to the earlier Mitrovic foul and gave the penalty fairly quickly.
SHARP took responsibility and smashed it home, high into the roof of the net. Sharp ran back with the ball as United wanted to try and get a winner and soon after he had a chance but was offside. With the game ticking into the last minute, Fulham had a number of chances. Lookman came inside and hit a shot that deflected wide for a corner and then from a cross, Mitrovic headed wide when you would have backed him to score. The away side were looking the more likely and they came again with Mitrovic headed wide again just before the end of the five minutes of stoppage time. United were giving it away and Fulham scented the winner but the contest was ended by Andre Marriner with Fulham on the attack. In the end, the Blades were probably the more relieved of the two sides. They had been the better side first half but second half; it had been a largely anonymous performance from the Blades who shrinked somewhat and stopped taking responsibility and lost control.
United – First half and second half were night and day really. We started the game badly actually and they were the better side first 5-8 mins and had a chance through Cairney but after this we took control and had a series of half chances ourselves. Lundstram and Norwood were really influential and were moving us forward quickly with runs and passes respectively and then latterly Berge got involved too. The front two were quite poor again although McGoldrick did a few bits of link play. We controlled things though and McBurnie has to score a great chance. After this we continued to look the better side but did not take the lead we should have had into half time. Fulham had been quite timid and not really attacked much at all and sloppy on the ball.
After the break, they were miles better and moved it up quicker. The three forwards got on the ball and the midfield won every loose ball. They pushed us up the field and our wing backs/centre backs did not go forward at all second half. Lookman and Cavaleiro looked dangerous and Cairney started to control things. Our midfield three were anonymous second half and the strikers continued to offer nothing really, not even much of a nuisance factor. They had chances on the break as their pace on the counter cut through us as we lost out shape completely. They got through us twice from keeper throw outs. We did not even mount an attack I can recall of note after one Baldock cross and header from McBurnie (offside again) and maybe a Stevens bad ball to Brewster. We had a few wasted free kicks. They were much better but we got a let off from the penalty – more moronic defending from Robinson (see Leeds) – but did not kick on and they actually got better after this miss and deservedly led with a great strike. We don’t have players who can do that sadly. After this they nearly made it 2-0 and Ramsdale kept us in it and then we got a penalty and a decision went for us (was right but I would have felt it was soft the other way but technically is a penalty). After this I thought come on, let’s up it and the opposite happened. We looked tired and languid and they had 2 or 3 more chances to score. Mitrovic missed a header as bad as McBurnie’s and then had another. We were hanging on.
After the first four games we’d had some bad decisions and things did not go for us but I am more concerned after today as we played a poor side and a team we showed first half we could impose ourselves on but once again did not score (although did not see loads of great chances others have – only one) and our final bit/ball was poor as we were caught offside so much through as Bassett used to say, ‘p**ss poor thinking!’ Still, we should have led but the second half was frightening how bad we were. We lost our shape, organisation and belief. They stepped it up and we had no answer. The three midfielders were shocking on and off the ball and we had nothing up front and the defence then started making mistakes too. Ramsdale kept us in it really and we had a let off from the pen. What was concerning again was after we got back in it, we had no belief to win it and were desperately just trying to get a point. It was so far off the side we have seen for the last few years. Maybe as BT alluded to our players did massively over achieve last year and we are missing Fleck and O’Connell but quite a few need to hugely up their games – the front two and the two wing backs for definite who are miles off what they did last season but as a team and collective there is not the belief and will to win. I can almost cope with the poor passes, decisions etc but so many times we lost key 50-50 balls as well and as Wilder said, we have to win races, tackles, headers etc.
Some have said we had players coming back from internationals but so did they! We are not doing that and when as individuals other teams’ players are doing better, we are in for a long hard season. I was not sure about the front two he picked. Maybe Burke and Brewster are not fully fit, but the two that started have had chances of games to start and not delivered. I also am concerned Ampadu is not getting opportunities. He did pick Lowe but that was derailed instantly.
We now have a horror run of fixtures but more than the points, players and the team have to find a way of playing again. We look as if we are lacking in confidence and it is a shame as first half we saw signs but will have come off not feeling we are anywhere near our best and it is hard to see where the first win is coming from with the lack of goal threat (Brewster may help but looked way off in limited minutes) and the lack of cohesion and control. We have not put together a complete performance since Chelsea and that and Spurs apart, we seem a side going backwards in terms of confidence, football we play and the way we approach teams. I felt again other than a 20-minute spell first half, we played way too much hit and hope stuff and we did not get around the ball and play little triangles.
The main concern is no one took responsibility 2nd half. Players seemed to shrink and it was an insipid performance. We almost looked a side that had no belief anymore. That was worrying. It is a draw but I am worried that so many players do not look the same. Too much will be made of personnel and who we could have signed and I agree we needed a more creative threat but the same squad and players went to places like Spurs and City and took the game to these teams. Now we look like we are scared and the level of football is poor. We did show flashes first half but for much of the season and as the second half showed, we look a side that does not feel they can go on and score goals and win games and inevitable other teams will get chances and score with the quality at this level. We have to get that 30-35 mins of first half into a full performance and take chances when they come. At the moment everything is up and down individually and collectively with daft mistakes and lack of ruthlessness at both end.
a bargain.
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