United 1 Millwall 1 - report

[super_pig]

The goal doesn't make for good viewing.

Considering the timing, there were three United men in close proximity to Cooper when he scored. You'd think they'd be all over anyone in the box.

I know we were a man light but the space he had considering the position he was stood is quite remarkable.

Didzy, Freeman and Norwood we're all ball watching. Not one of them got a challenge in at all until the ball was already gone. That was Freeman. I don't know what use they thought they were doing.

they’re not defensively minded players

 

[Selly]

Regardless, Wilder and the fans can be as angry as they like about the ref there, but why is nobody calling out Madine's laziness to chase the free ball down?! The Millwall keeper sprinted over from his area to collect the ball (that wasn't going out). Why isn't Madine doing the same? Madine's 30 yards away and it's a good 7-8 seconds before the keeper punts the ball upfield. If he chases it down too at worst the keeper doesn't make the same exact clearance that directly leads to the equaliser. At best he forces the keeper to make an error or slip and Madine might have an open goal to shoot at. For me it was just symptomatic of the last 10 mins where we just had no idea how to approach the game.

That's a very good point.

We collectively switched off when McG was taken out - either because we thought the ref would give the foul, or because we thought the ball was going out. you can see that as the ball comes back towards us and almost to a man they are all out of position.

Its easy to say play to the whistle, and they all should be, and when it was clear the ref wasn`t giving the foul then Madine should have been closing the keeper down to at least make him kick it with his weaker foot.

 

[Wards]

Hmm, not so sure - my own opinion is that when you’re down to ten you keep shape best you can with everyone behind the ball. Not convinced Madine running 45 yard closing the keeper down would’ve put him in any position to challenge for a loose one should we have cleared it - and lets be right, we should be defending those whether our striker closes the keeper and even if we are a man down.

 

[guancheblade]

Hmm, not so sure - my own opinion is that when you’re down to ten you keep shape best you can with everyone behind the ball. Not convinced Madine running 45 yard closing the keeper down would’ve put him in any position to challenge for a loose one should we have cleared it - and lets be right, we should be defending those whether our striker closes the keeper and even if we are a man down.

Well Madine is not influencing the game by standing still where he is. Neither is he back helping out the defence. So he can only contribute by trying to chase a free ball down and potentially retain possession instead of surrendering it without challenge to the opposition.

You can see him belatedly go towards the ball when the keeper kicks but its far too late by then. Shows me that he knew what he should have done but was too distracted/not bothered to do it sooner.

 

[grafikhaus]

United were the better side first half but we did not create anything of note at all and it was very pedestrian.

Sums us up in too many games. Bielsa doesn't need a bloke hiding in the bushes with binoculars to suss us out. Most teams play it across the field to alter the angle of attack. With us, their defence has time to go for a cuppa while they watch our ponderous 'build up'. Too much 'shadow play' where our players think they've done their bit by playing a slow, ineffectual pass sideway/backwards. Same every time we have a throw-in. Nobody is showing for the throw, too many are hiding.

As for the McGoldrick one in the dying seconds, that was as clear as day in front of me in the South Stand. It certainly wasn't in the 'seen them given'/'we'd have been unhappy if given against us' category. McGoldrick played the ball and Leonard went straight through him.

Same here. The only 'I've seen them given' about that outrageous foul was 'was it a red or yellow?' The ref. didn't even give a foul and seconds later, Millwall equalised. Fair play to CW for keeping his cool as any attempt at criticising piss-poor refs. is a ban/fine. (If I was Warnock, I'd pack management in at the end of the season as dark forces are at work conspiring to get Cardiff relegated.)

 

[cahill]

Maybe Wednesday night at Brum took a lot out of us. A day less to recover on top of a tough week. Clutching at, straws, I know...

I don’t think that is clutching at straws. CW said at the start of the season that us Darbeh and Wigan were the only clubs not to benefit from the Tuesday Wednesday Saturday split all season

 

[benn5712]

Also, late on in the game, McGoldrick was playing keep ball left touchline. Fleck went onto the penalty spot in loads of space, hands up asking for the pass.
McG shoved the ball back down the line, possession lost and back under pressure.
He also had a shot R/H side of the box when Madine was in a decent position, cross might have been better.
Nothing against McGoldrick at all. Glad we've got him. Just made a few errors of judgement last few games.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

I'm still fuming over that performance today and had only just got over the no show against Birmingham City mid week.

We have unfortunately hit our worst form right at the most important and frustrating part of the season. We have totally changed how we approach games and can no longer maintain any sort of prolonged pressure on opponents. We played decent football for literally 10 minutes out of 95 and that is never going to be good enough. We look tired and scared and Wilder's substitutions are not doing us any favours at the moment.

It has been a fantastic season and Wilder and the team have deservedly received more plaudits than any Blades team for years and I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey but we have hit the same wall as last year, albeit a couple of months closer to the end of the season.

I can see Leeds dropping points but there is not a chance in hell that we are capable of winning all four given our current form.

Went to Hillsborough liokulofor a draw

Fuck me drunk it doesn't get more pathetic than that.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Also people need to get off Coutts' back and remind themselves how bad an injury he suffered. He needs a full pre season under his belt before any of us can condemn his future for the club.

Ahh, the fabled Sheffield United 'pre-season'. It sorts out all manner of ills.