Ratings:
Henderson 7/10 – Gets 7 not because he was bad but he did not really have anything to do. He made a few routine saves and then one from a header that bounced off him from close range but other than that he was well protected and another clean sheet. His kicking was again a bit off and he struggles to get distance when the ball is passed back to him.
Baldock 8/10 – Thought he was very good in his defensive work and that why he is rated so highly here. He made a very good player (maybe Burnley’s best player) in McNeil look very ineffective and he was taken off. He used his body well and got in some good tackles. Going the other way, he was so involved all game getting up and down. Incredible fitness levels from him at times today. The opening spell he had loads of runs down the flank but his final part let him down. He was undeterred and kept going and second half had even more good runs and moments and did put one really good ball in. He has really upped his game season after season.
Stevens 8/10 – As with Baldock, he was just so important to what we did. He played high up the field and first half made sure we had an extra man every time and he just kept relentlessly attacking at all times. He was involved in the first two goals and the second was a great cross leading to the finish. Shows some great quick feet and skill and never panics even when under pressure and normally finds the right-out ball or pass. He was also solid in his defensive work. Had a brilliant season.
Basham 7.5/10 – Solid as normal. Won a few headers first half when he had to. One give away nearly saw them get in but others recovered. After this not sure he got a lot wrong. Sometimes he just cleared but most of the time he tried to pass it and keep the ball. Nearly assisted on a good cross that just missed McGoldrick. Looked a bit soft his booking at the end but not seen it back. He is another that has upped his game even more when I was not sure he could.
O’Connell 7.5/10 – Very good performance again. I really rate Barnes as a player and think he is a very good footballer as well as a hard-working forward who is good in the air. Today other than one chance when his clearance fell to him after Jack’s error he was never in the game. O’Connell came onto every header and won it, used the ball when he could and was always there when they threatened to get in. He may not be far away from that first international call up.
Egan 7.5/10 – Quietly efficient again. Not sure he had to win as many headers and O’Connell seemed to win more as the ball went to his area but Egan was faultless in what he had to do. Lost his footing once second half that saw them have a half chance but he won many interceptions or just got it away when he had to do. Been much better in his possession/passing in heling us get moving this season and more confident (seemed to panic more when he first came here). Got a bit of a knock/strain at the end but not sure it is that serious as he came on at the end to walk to the Kop after full time.
Norwood 7.5/10 – Thought he was actually one of our poorer players today and was still good! He gave it away a few times sloppily and second half he lost it at vital times but they did not make us pay. However, that is the bad bits – the good bits were his control of play in front of the defence, his ability to switch play and just keep a nice composed start to our build up. He is a great shield when teams break and his defensive work has been better this season (does not get run past like he was doing at times last season). A lovely footballer and I suppose he does take a chance it is inevitable he may give the ball away at times.
Lundstram 9/10 – What has happened to him? Some saw a player in him – others felt he was not good enough (I was in the latter camp I am honest enough to admit). However, when we got promoted not sure that many felt he would be involved much at all but suddenly he does well in pre-season and gets the opening day start and he has gone from strength to strength. Seems to have gained pace, physicality and mobility. He has gone from someone who felt he needed to play Hollywood balls, to just keeping it nice and simple but does drive when he can and has been so solid in defensive work too. Looks a complete player and his ability to get into the box and finish (made three goals this season look easy) is such an attribute. Need to get him tied down to a longer deal (out of contract at the end of the season) as suitors may come knocking! The ‘Lunny for England’ chants near the end were met with laughter but the rise of his game means these are not as outlandish as they may seem. Huge credit to him. He has worked on his fitness, his game, his consistency and is determined to stay in the team and be a key player. Been brilliant for us and one of the biggest surprises in my United supporting lifetime.
Fleck 9/10 – Lundstram got man of the match but it could have been him or Fleck. Fleck was sensational today and we saw all the best qualities of him. Great on the ball, moving it around quickly, getting on it and driving at people and making tackles and interceptions. He put so much in today and delighted he got his goal with a run and excellent finish. Seemed to play more in an attacking role (not quite a number 10) but definitely was right amongst the front areas at times and we saw some of the great things he can do. The driving run at the end where he went past 2 or 3 and carried it 30 or 40 yards summed up his performance. At times he reminds me of Gazza (stop laughing) in that he too could carry the ball and be deceptively fast using his quick feet and skill to gain him territory.
McGoldrick 8/10 – He may not have scored (had a few chances that were not clear ones – the one he skewed wide and then a tough headed chance – he then assisted for Sharp rather than try and go for goal) but his overall play was superb. His ability to link play, to come off and bring others into it is key to what we do. He linked so well on both the opening goals and was always available. The ball stuck to him and he used it intelligently. Such an underrated footballer and even at this level he is comfortable technically. Love him to get a few goals but sure that will come. He has to play for us and all that talk about him being taken out of the team should be long forgotten.
Mousset 8/10 – A constant nuisance running behind and always on the shoulder. Made three goals whether it be a pass, a flick or the tackle and assist to Fleck. He was always in the game and him and McGoldrick caused them problems and nearly linked up a few times too. He used the ball better today than he has in other games and I felt was strong and never afraid to shirk a challenge. He got clobbered a few times but kept getting up for more which I loved! Tired a bit and not sure he will give us much more than an hour until gets to the fitness levels of the rest but he has been our best striking signing without a doubt. Seems to be loving life at the Lane as he came to the Kop to take acclaim with the ‘Mooooose!’ chant and gave the double thumbs up with a smile as wide as the Wicker Arches!
Subs –
Sharp 7/10 – He came on and ran around but looked off the pace and did not hold the ball up a few times conceding possession or fouls. Not sure he quite has the pace to get into games and has struggled at times recently coming off the bench. He missed a really good chance but then did play Lundstram in with some good work. He lacks the physicality, athleticism and pace but can always sniff you a goal. Think he will be disappointed not to have scored though today.
McBurnie – Looks a bit bambi on ice still to me. He mistimes his jumps for headers and everything is a bit stilted. He had a few moments to break but the balls him and Sharp played to each other were a bit slow. He will have to gain more minutes by making a greater impact when he does come on off the bench.
Jagielka – Brought on for Egan and made a few routine clearances but it was all a bit easy at this stage so a great game to come into.
Chris Wilder 9/10 – Set us up disciplined again pressing in the right areas and ensuring that they had to cross from deep/wide. We harried and pressed when we needed and ensure that we won possession and then we had the right mix of when to go short and when to go longer but for the most part we played football in the right areas and hurt them all over the place. Dyche seemed clueless how to cope with our wing backs so high up, O’Connell and Bash popping up and midfielders also in different areas and getting into the box. He kept flipping a tactics board out with his coaching staff and tried to stem the tide but it did not work. Burnley got outplayed but they also got outcoached too. For me though Wilder’s reaction at the end said it all. He saluted the Kop and then walked off, no big celebration or over the top gesturing at our fans. It was all very business-like. As if to say; another three points but let’s move onto the next one. Love this attitude even if us lot as fans are as giddy as kippers at the moment!
Burnley – I expected a lot better but then at times I still underestimate how good we are and were today. They got out worked and out battled but they were out played from a football stand point. Even at 0-0 they went long early and seemed to want to get it up to Barnes and Rodriguez and then get on the knock downs and play in around them. It did not work at all. I expected them to move it around more and utilise some of the good footballers they have and McNeil to get involved but he was bottled up and they did not even try and play through us. I think they had a 5-10 minute spell first half and the same second half but never even in those phases had anything clear. We were so on top it was hard to believe. We picked them off and then just went the other way and they had no answer. Dyche points to the defensive mistakes but other than the third not sure it as down to any particular individual errors really – they just could not match our hunger, football and our shape. They were well beaten and in truth even though they did better after the break, they never really tested us and the better chances and moments came from United. Dyche was honest enough to say they were well beaten and the claims for decisions was all a bit desperate really. Maybe one might have been but without seeing it back I cannot say with authority one way or another. The reality is they were soundly beaten. It makes me laugh that once again that fans of an opponent will say it was the worst, they played this season. As others have said it seems every team saves this up for United. Or maybe this Blades teams is very bloody good.
Going back to Burnley, I do like Dyche. Like Wilder a straight talking, honest hard-working manager but also one that tactically and football wise does not get the credit. I have seen them a few times the last few seasons and they do go direct at times but also have played some good stuff so I was so shocked at how direct they went today and it was almost all game. It was the long diag and it was so predictable. Off the ball they did not get their foot in and we ran past them time after time and they did not react to the second or third stages of our clever play.
I am sure they will finish around the middle of the league and be fine this season. Some may feel the lack of spending and resources may see them lower but I do not see this. Like us, the management, togetherness and organisation mean they will pick up points and the last two results will not happen regularly I feel. Today they looked a really poor side but I do think we have to give United a lot of credit for this.
Opponent Man of the Match – Not sure there was anyone who stood out at all. The lad Taylor who came on at left back might win it be default – he at least had a go and had a few slaloms runs down that side but no end product. The keeper was the only other one who could come out with any credit. He made two or three good saves, the volley from Lundstram and the Sharp finish were smart stops.
Opponent Weak link – Not sure where to start. I like Barnes but today we did a good job on him and he got frustrated. The midfield three, Hendrick (played wide today), Westwood and Cork are all underrated and solid players who can play football but tackle. Today they got outbattled, outrun and out skilled. Defensively they were all over the place though and Tarkowski and Mee got pulled about a lot – the former was really poor and did not know what to do when McGoldrick came off him. The two wing backs were really poor first half and Pieters got the hook at the break. It could easily have been Lowton – he was fantastic for us in that League One season and has made an excellent career for himself at the top level but has had two poor games, at fault for a for a few goals against Chelsea and pulled apart today. We really seemed to target that side and countless times he was nowhere to be seen but got little protection from Hendrick who seemed to drift inside to try and make an extra three as they were struggling in this area too.
Referee/Officials/VAR – They will point to the VAR handball on O’Connell (not seen it back but some say it could have been given) and a few other moments. The Burnley fans were singing he was not fit to referee and I would say we got more than our fair share of the 50-50 decisions but I would say our work rate, tackling and how we played (getting to the ball first) meant that was always a possibility. There was nothing wrong wit the three goals (Burnley officials were searching almost frantically for a foul in the third – it was not) and not sure there were many other really clear decisions that they missed that may have changed the game. I felt Simon Hooper was fine. The last three or four games we have had really good officials and nothing too contentious. We seem to be of teams where VAR is not affecting us either way at the moment which I am fine with!
Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Great first half and then second it flattened out as we could not keep that up and it was kind of easy so inevitable the noise would drop. Still the noise and euphoria first half was something else as they saw another wonderful United performance full of everything you want to see in your team. Passion, skill and goals. It was sensational to watch. I turned round on the third goal as I celebrated and to see the look of shock/delight and sheer joy on faces young and old was great – I wish I had somehow taken a photo to capture the moment but that it not very spontaneous! The Burnley fans to their credit made a fair bit of noise early on but the two goals before the break killed them and they got a bit frustrated near the end and some left long before the end. I am pleased a hard working and less than prosperous town has a team they can be proud of us and the parallels to us are clear in that sense. Do not mind them at all as a club. The fans that came into the train station coming out singing the ‘No. Nay, Never’ came into contact with a huge group protesting at affairs in Hong Kong made me gulp as Burnley’s reputation towards ethnic minority groupings is not that great. Luckily, they seemed to all mix in quite well outside the Howard Pub.
*Today I only just made the game and personal events could impact on me being at every game (should be ok all being well) so be warned there may be odd weeks when you get no report. To cut a long story short I have spent the last few days with my poorly Mother (she has dementia/had a stroke last year and has no mobility currently physically and not looking after herself at all despite having carers for her visiting at home and had another fall recently) She has been back in hospital and had to have her put in a care home for respite for a period but to say I am knackered after spending so much time in a hospital – I got to Sheffield quite late and only had time for one beer! I should be at Spurs next week but before you all jump and down and say where is the report…I may not be as efficient in the upcoming months for these reasons (that and moving house!) I am glad I made it – I needed a break from it all anyway – as would have been gutted to miss that!
