United 3 Derby 1 - report

[Dnblade]

A keeper' primary role is to keep the ball out of the back of the net. I struggle to understand the mild obsession fans have with kicking. It's good to kick it well, but a very long way down my list of essentials. On here it seems to have parity with shot-stopping; handling; commanding the area; organisation and positioning. That can't be right, unless you happen to be Carson of course...

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I just don't like giving the ball back to the opposition...he tends to slice it out of play or it's very unpredictable where the ball will go...it's just something he can improve on,a minor criticism..I like Carson's kicking...straight to Billy Sharp.

 

[Darlington82]

No one has pointed out it was Duffy closing the keeper down for the first goal, also the times he took the ball off the toes of the opposition was impressive. Negatives, yep we had some, we have no-one to win a header in midfield / attack, making Blackmans distribution a challenge. Also I think people are viewing ched through very genourous glasses, it is a shame Clarke is suspended as Ched need two solid months of fitness training.

Overall this is the most enjoyable quality football I have seen in my 40+ years, only time we played as good football was the far too short Kendell era. Long may it continue and please don't sell Brooks.

 

[TTMeysh]

only time we played as good football was the far too short Kendell era

And maybe that brief Spackman interlude.

 

[Gretsch Blade]

Just returned to English shores after a fortnights sun... First things first, read DB's match post!
Fabulous write up, I feel like I was at BDTBL!
Again, your efforts are very much appreciated particularly for us exiled blades who can only get to a handful of matchdays per season.

 

[Steve Mackan]

It’s three wins from three at the Lane as United saw off Derby 3-1

Fantastic!! I agree re Ched. Did at least do 'something' this time though.

Despite the chinks in our armour that are obvious to us as fans, I think we look pretty comfortable at home. We desperately need a plan B though, for the trickier home games and for every away game. See Matt Smith at QPR for a team that tries to play, but then has a quality plan B. Hence why Hanson, though I don't like him, would be a better sub to bring on then Ched.

 

[Wards]

Evans was FAR better than Lavery when on the pitch.

Don't think Lavery is good enough. Never will be.

 

[Guesty]

No one has pointed out it was Duffy closing the keeper down for the first goal, also the times he took the ball off the toes of the opposition was impressive. Negatives, yep we had some, we have no-one to win a header in midfield / attack, making Blackmans distribution a challenge. Also I think people are viewing ched through very genourous glasses, it is a shame Clarke is suspended as Ched need two solid months of fitness training.

Overall this is the most enjoyable quality football I have seen in my 40+ years, only time we played as good football was the far too short Kendell era. Long may it continue and please don't sell Brooks.

That's true, the only time we had trouble yesterday was when we couldn't get hold of the ball in the middle of the park because they were winning everything in the air. In the scheme of things, it doesn't matter much, but it does mean we need to work that bit harder to win possession than some teams.

 

[Antonb]

Evans was FAR better than Lavery when on the pitch.

Don't think Lavery is good enough. Never will be.

What game were you watching, Lavery was playing just fine until the injury, Evens came on and did ok, nothing more nothing less. And up to now, been a waste of money. Talk about rose tinted glasses. And believe me, im not a Lavery fan. Don't think he will score us enough goals this season.

 

[Wards]

What game were you watching, Lavery was playing just fine until the injury, Evens came on and did ok, nothing more nothing less. And up to now, been a waste of money. Talk about rose tinted glasses. And believe me, im not a Lavery fan. Don't think he will score us enough goals this season.

Rose tinted? Hmm. Generally wasn't a fan of bringin Evans back but whatever.

Lavery did nothing. Nothing whatsoever in fact. Can't hold it up, reluctant to run at them, gave it away. At leat Evans held it up pretty well and unsettled them.

 

[Silent Blade]

I This gave Derby a final chance to pump it forward and Carson went up to join the attack. The free kick was cleared by O’Connell and the ball was played into SHARP and with the keeper out of position, he coolly moved it forward, came inside and rolled it into the empty net.

Stevens not O'Connell

 

[B.Lade]

Rose tinted? Hmm. Generally wasn't a fan of bringin Evans back but whatever.

Lavery did nothing. Nothing whatsoever in fact. Can't hold it up, reluctant to run at them, gave it away. At leat Evans held it up pretty well and unsettled them.

I thought Lavery harried them quite well, that said I also think Evans did well this time when he came on. Chalk and cheese compared to the Leicester game. He showed some desire, strength and actually worked hard against Derby.

 

[Pinchy]

One thing Lavery did show was courage. He already has stitches in a facial injury yet went in whole-heartedly for the header that clearly concussed him.

 

[WalkelyFan]

He might be better throwing the ball more than kicking it...I'm not being to critical because he had a good game,but his kicking is all over the shop.

I agree about Blackman throwing the ball. He must be under orders because a Wycombe supporting friend told me he threw all the time with them (presumably because his kicking was so erratic!) There were a couple of times yesterday though when a quick long throw down the centre woo have put them under real pressure from a counter-attack.

 

[WalkelyFan]

That's true, the only time we had trouble yesterday was when we couldn't get hold of the ball in the middle of the park because they were winning everything in the air. In the scheme of things, it doesn't matter much, but it does mean we need to work that bit harder to win possession than some teams.

Got to disagree with this one. Their centre halves were dominant in the air - true but the ball landed at Duffy's feet quite a lot of the time. I am sure this is not a coincidence.

 

[Dkc]

Great fancam scenes from the JSS here.



The Lane looks brilliant from the JSS, btw

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

At 2-0 and time ticking away towards 4:50 it's a whole different ball-game to a high tempo Up-'n'-at-'em Blades blast at home between 3:00 and 3:30 so it's unrealistic to compare the performances of Evans and Lavery. I thought under the circumstances Ched did reasonably OK, showing a bit more strength and getting up to challenge in the air against some tough defenders. If he'd been in the thick of things when their defenders thought they'd arrived into the jaws of hell then he might have shown a bit more, but he'll get there in his and Wilder's own time so don't fret folks.

I felt sorry for their fans; after only 5 minutes play they all must have thought they'd arrived at Camp Nou. After another 10 minutes or so they must have wished they'd stayed at home. When the intense pressure eventually subsided you'd have thought their left-back at least would have tried to get forward to help provide support in order to test out Freeman, but he might as well have got on the bus in the car-park and chilled out under his Apple headphones. I think that maybe (like his fellow defenders and goalie) he needed to get to half-time so he could get into the toilet and check if he needed to change his shorts.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Maybe we are saving the weapon of Blackmans long throw for September 24th?

He'll still never be able to throw it as far as David Seaman, he could throw it Overmars!

 

[Silent Blade]

Maybe we are saving the weapon of Blackmans long throw for September 24th?

He'll still never be able to throw it as far as David Seaman, he could throw it Overmars!

John Hope had the longest throw out of all Blades keepers I have seen

 

[Woodwardfan]

Best ever report. Give up the day job DB.

i'd say Fleck MOM but agree Coutts on 8.

Derby players were too busy preening and strutting around and then were 2 down before they started competing. I wondered if they had had a bust up as Rowett sat in the dug out for most of the first half. They were so casual and didnt even mark up for throw ins, over - confidence or apathy maybe.

Wright would be my first name on the team sheet even when all are fit. O"Connell and Basham are so much better when he plays.

So pleased for Coutts and Freeman, big day for them.

Loved Wilder's interview. He speaks football. Dont worry about him at this level. Deadbat captures how simple the game is and how money cannot defeat unity and honesty in the squad.

 

[Ginger Gnome]

Rowett was a joke of a manager, the only time he got up and did anything in the second half was whining about the ref at our excessive time-wasting, which would be fair enough if his own side were showing any kind of urgency themselves and we were really slowing play down, but Derby were taking just as long over their throw-ins and free kicks despite being 2-0 down and only really started playing when the added time was announced.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

That's true, the only time we had trouble yesterday was when we couldn't get hold of the ball in the middle of the park because they were winning everything in the air. In the scheme of things, it doesn't matter much, but it does mean we need to work that bit harder to win possession than some teams.

Got to disagree with this one. Their centre halves were dominant in the air - true but the ball landed at Duffy's feet quite a lot of the time. I am sure this is not a coincidence.

According to this derby are the most dominant aerial team in the league, so it may not na a major issue
http://www.allsportsnews.co.uk/news...teams-that-are-currently-dominating-key-stats

 

[him behind you]

I've just watched the extended action in ifollow. Not sure I was at the same game because that made it look like all Derby with us having a couple of chances but them giving us the game with the goals. Who edits that shit?

 

[HoodedClaw]

I've just watched the extended action in ifollow. Not sure I was at the same game because that made it look like all Derby with us having a couple of chances but them giving us the game with the goals. Who edits that shit?

Good, thought it was me. There's even one part where commentator says how dominant we've been and all they've shown is Derby.

Fucking laughable.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Something that hasn't been mentioned.

I genuinely believe that a significant factor why the victory was relatively comfortable against Derby is

The Derby players underestimated us and even though Rowett will have tried his best to prepare them they weren't psyched up for a really tough game.

THE REASON:
Derby had just played Bolton (the runners-up of league 1) a few days earlier, a game where Bolton were physical and organised but really lacking in quality, Derby dominated that game and creates loads of chances. They were winning 2-0, then Gary Madine undeservedly pulled a goal back in injury time.

The Derby players obviously thought we'd be a slightly better version of Bolton because it's logical to assume that a team coming up from league 1 can't have much quality. So they were very confident and expected to win. Our positive start to the match caught them by surprise and they never recovered. They weren't allowed to perform until the last 5 minutes of the match.