Deadbat
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Podcast links and then report below….
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000547343777
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After almost 3 weeks without a fixture, the Blades finally were able to set foot in the grass in a competitive fixture as they faced Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
The Blades were nowhere near full strength and matched up with a higher-level opponent who had a lot of quality on the pitch, it was always going to be a tough ask. United though had some glorious chances to start the game with McGoldrick in particular missing two sitters. After his most glaring miss, United compounded things with Robinson’s error leading to Podence scoring. After Sharp had been harshly penalised for high foot when he appeared to legitimately score the equaliser, the Blades momentum seemed to wither and Wolves in the end saw out the game comfortably. Further goals from Semedo and Podence, after a Foderingham error gave the score line a slightly unfair gloss but Wolves deserved the victory in the end.
United went out at the first hurdle of this competition since the embarrassing defeat to Barnet in 2018-19 during the Blades promotion campaign. With a number of games to fit in and United still someway off the pace for promotion, they now can focus on trying to mount a playoff bid in the remainder of the season.
The 3rd round FA Cup fixture saw United like many other clubs, have to make several enforced changes due to covid, injury and players being cup tied. Wolves also made changes and opted not to start talisman Raul Jimenez but did have the likes of Neves, Traore, Coady, Dendoncker, Silva and Podence in relatively strong looking line up.
The Blades started with Gordon in the centre of the three at the back with Berge and Hourihane in front and Osborn supplanting McGoldrick and Sharp as the most advanced midfielder. Inside a minute, United had a great chance as an errant pass from a Wolves defender saw the ball inexplicably played across their own box and straight to Sharp. The forward fired it wide past Ruddy’s far post. Incredibly United had another great chance in the 2nd minute, when Norrington Davies and Osborn combined and the latter’s excellent cross was perfect for McGoldrick but his header was wide of the post.
After these two let off, Wolves broke out and Traore despite being doubled up managed to find room for a cross and it fell for Silva but his header was straight at Foderingham. Basham then had to do well to sense danger but then almost undid his good work when his clearance fell straight to a Wolves man before Podence tumbled rather theatrically in the box under a challenge from Bogle. The appeals were righty waved away.
Gordon then conceded a corner but McGoldrick cleared the second ball that came back in as Wolves now looked to dominate the ball and territory after their own slow start. United had looked dangerous going forward though and Berge managed to retrieve Foderingham’s loose throw to advance into their half but Osborn’s ball through was overhit for Sharp.
On 12 minutes the Blades had another chance and the best of the game so far and really should have scored. Norrington Davies sent over a delightful cross that fell into the path of McGoldrick who controlled the ball and seemed set to score but often when he has time to finish, is when the striker struggles and so it proved again. He took too long and then his finish was weak and blocked by Marcal and then on the line after it ricocheted off the defender. A check for a handball was waved away and United were made to pay for this miss soon after.
On 14 minutes, Robinson under little pressure saw him make a complete hash of his clearance and Silva was presented with the ball and able to feed PODENCE who took a touch and easily converted past Foderingham, to give Wolves the lead which they scarcely deserved after United had missed so many chances.
United tried to respond but Sharp was caught offside twice and Wolves gradually started to see more of the ball and forced them backwards. Some neat football and interplay saw the home side find several gaps and United were struggling to stem the tide. Robinson made another error which saw him pass it straight to a Wolves player but Traore fired wide. Another chance came after this as Silva got away from Bogle, played a one two that beat the offside trap and tried an extravagant lob but it fell the wrong side of the post. It was given as a corner suggesting Foderingham may have got a touch on it.
Ait Nari then curled an effort wide as Wolves drove forward before brief rest bite for United was short-lived as Houirhane wasted a free kick clipping straight to Ruddy.
Gordon lost a ball over the top but got back to make a tackle and then the young defender made another unforced error but Traore shot wide. Wolves then attacked in numbers but Osborn and Berge made a block tackle which led to another effort for Neves but he curled wide.
Sharp won a loose ball giving United a rare chance but McGoldrick was tackled leading to a corner. The effort came in and the ball bounced around and led to Sharp hooking home. It was disallowed for a high foot which seemed harsh as the defender did duck in the challenge and no contact appeared to be made. VAR did not see fit to get involved and felt it was not a clear and obvious error.
Foderingham cleared a long ball just before half time as Wolves went in leading after the Blades had been maid to pay for errors at both ends.
Freeman came on for Robinson at half time and Moutinho for Marcal. The United replacement had a few opportunities in forward positions but his touch let him down twice. It had been a quiet start in terms of chances but Wolves showed more quality on the ball and started to move it forward with purpose.
Traore won a corner off Norrington Davies but United cleared before Sharp then won a free kick from Semedo but the wing back then did likewise from Osborn as Wolves defended any danger easily. Ait Nouri then fired over after the ball dropped for the first chance of the 2nd half for either side as they game ticked past the hour mark.
United had not created anything and rare corner actually led to a chance at the other end as Toure then broke holding off Berge and Basham and the latter cynically chopped him down for the first booking of the game.
Bogle’s effort then led to a chance but United cleared as Wolves looked to probe and move into the box. The home side continued to look the more likely and the Blades had offered nothing in the second half and indeed since that opening trio of chances (outside of the Sharp disallowed goal) had not troubled Ruddy at all.
United did win another corner but Hourihane’s delivery had been poor all day and his floated effort was cleared and Wolves again nearly broke at the other end before United made another chance with Burke on for McGoldrick. Freeman gave it away again before Norrington Davies upended Traore before Wolves also made changes. Jimenez and Trincao came on for Traore and Silva.
United finally had an effort but it was not close as Berge fired over after good work from Sharp before Burke’s back hell sent Wolves on the attack.
On 73 minutes the game was effectively sealed as a ball over the top saw United’s high line breached. Gordon and Norrington Davies both were to far up whilst others stayed back and it saw Ait Nouri in and he sent over a cross that was easily dispatched by the other wing back SEMEDO.
It seemed this had taken the game away from United who had not mustered much of a fightback anyway this half at least but Burke did well to find Sharp and Ruddy made his first save of the game pushing away the veteran strikers volleyed effort.
Bogle then also got in after good work from Berge and Basham but fired over on the angle. The next spell saw Wolves play keep ball before Sharp and Berge were replaced by Ndiaye and Norwood as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
On 80 minutes a ball down the side saw Foderingham come but as he tried to claim he was close to the edge of his box and could only palm it and this allowed Jimenez to get in and as the keeper tried to recover his error, it was a possibility he may bring the striker down. The Mexican kept his composure and squared the ball to PODENCE who scored into a relatively unguarded net and the score was now quite emphatic.
Wolves threatened to run riot as Jimenez and Trincao worked a space and the striker fired an effort that Foderingham pushed over. Jordao and Cundle came on for Podence and Neves. Wolves were now showing their class as they moved it around and United could not even muster any clear chances now with Osborn overplaying a ball yet again before Hourihane and Ndiaye’s wretched crosses.
The final chance came in the second of three additional minutes but after Trincao nutmegged Gordon, the sub fired over. The final whistle went soon after. It was a comfortable win in the end but United were left to rue some good chances early on but ultimately even with a unfortunate officiating call, they were not good enough at both ends with some horrible defensive moments matched by the same at the other end with clear chances spurned. United now can concentrate on finally getting some league games in and try and move up the league.
United – We deserved to lose but maybe 3-0 flattered them a bit. We certainly should have had a goal and if we take one of the three good chances early on and a great one for McGoldrick it could be different. The Sharp disallowed effort was harsh too. 1-0 at half time was a bit unjust but then they had 2 or 3 good chances too. We were right in the game and really if we had been better at both ends and not made a stupid error (Robinson) could easily have led. 2nd half was a different story. Felt they were a lot better and scored two goals (both avoidable) and could have had a few more. They looked a class above in terms of ability to keep the ball and final moments. In the end we were well beaten and a routine loss btu the first half was very different to the second but that is why they are a team top half of the top league and we are middle of the Championship. In the end it looked very much like the games of last season. First half despite the score we did ok and matched them in general play and chances. Yes, we were open at one end, but so were they. I felt we gave them a good game and started well with Norrington Davies and Bogle well forward and the forward’s causing problems.
Second half was really flat. We lacked drive and impetus and maybe the lack of games and the players coming in/missing showed up. I thought Berge and Hourihane did not get in the game and McGoldrick and Sharp were starved of the ball. We did not concede loads of chances but I felt Wolves never got out of first gear and did what they had to. We had a few corners or moments up their end but nothing clear cut and any chances came from them but again they were not tearing us apart. After the subs they stepped it up though and scored a good second goal in terms of how they made and finished it. It was really bad defending though to be so high up after we lost the ball and then we did not get back at all. It looked like lower league defending against a class side. Then they started to get through us and Jimenez caused us all sorts of problems with his movement. The third though is a keeping error. It was terrible but at least in a game that does not cost us points and gets an error for him out of the way almost. After this it just sort of petered out.
I felt after we went 1-0 down and then after the Sharp incident, we never had the belief or quality to get back in it. Before that and certainly for the first 15 minutes it was more about what we did at either end but after the break, I felt Wolves eased their way to the win and we did not have any fight to get back. Whether that is down to the lack of energy, fitness, game time or just they were much better or maybe a combination of these things, I do not know. The chances came too late. We had 5 so to me should have used these earlier as it did not look like we were going to get back into it. Making them at 2-0 seemed like it was after the horse had bolted to me. It is odd as looks an easy win but the first spell it was not easy and we looked more likely but then the longer the game went on, the poorer we got and they picked us off when they could and won the game at a canter.
We now will hope to get some players back and have a more settled defence and a stronger midfield (looked very weak today physically) to take on Derby next week who have been scrapping and fighting hard. We need to get some points on the board and move up the league. We are not playing any real top sides for the next period and a low of mid to lower teams so really need to be targeting 2 or 3 wins over the rest of this month to hopefully see us get in the top 10 and then be in and around the playoffs. Be interesting if we do any business but my feeling is when we get players back and covid issues hopefully lessen, we may see 2 or 3 go out rather than many come in. The wage bill will need reducing especially if promotion is only a small chance looking at things as they are. You feel if we do not go up, this will be further cut in the summer. We cannot have 6 or 7 strikers with many on a really good wage and ditto for left and right backs when we barely have any midfielders or central defensive cover. We need to be addressing the imbalance as much as the financial situation but ultimately needs to be ore about quality than quantity but maybe the number of games necessitate, we may have to hold fire.
There are a few players such as Robinson, Freeman that need moving on for me. I also would not be upset if Berge went if we can recover the fee (very unlikely) and Hourihane will rightly not be retained next season you would think. Osborn another who tries hard but would you give him another deal – I’d rather us look for some lower league talent with pace/power that may be able to impact games more. None of these look remotely good enough or in some cases interested enough for a team going for promotion – Berge/Osborn outliers for talent/effort of course.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000547343777
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After almost 3 weeks without a fixture, the Blades finally were able to set foot in the grass in a competitive fixture as they faced Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
The Blades were nowhere near full strength and matched up with a higher-level opponent who had a lot of quality on the pitch, it was always going to be a tough ask. United though had some glorious chances to start the game with McGoldrick in particular missing two sitters. After his most glaring miss, United compounded things with Robinson’s error leading to Podence scoring. After Sharp had been harshly penalised for high foot when he appeared to legitimately score the equaliser, the Blades momentum seemed to wither and Wolves in the end saw out the game comfortably. Further goals from Semedo and Podence, after a Foderingham error gave the score line a slightly unfair gloss but Wolves deserved the victory in the end.
United went out at the first hurdle of this competition since the embarrassing defeat to Barnet in 2018-19 during the Blades promotion campaign. With a number of games to fit in and United still someway off the pace for promotion, they now can focus on trying to mount a playoff bid in the remainder of the season.
The 3rd round FA Cup fixture saw United like many other clubs, have to make several enforced changes due to covid, injury and players being cup tied. Wolves also made changes and opted not to start talisman Raul Jimenez but did have the likes of Neves, Traore, Coady, Dendoncker, Silva and Podence in relatively strong looking line up.
The Blades started with Gordon in the centre of the three at the back with Berge and Hourihane in front and Osborn supplanting McGoldrick and Sharp as the most advanced midfielder. Inside a minute, United had a great chance as an errant pass from a Wolves defender saw the ball inexplicably played across their own box and straight to Sharp. The forward fired it wide past Ruddy’s far post. Incredibly United had another great chance in the 2nd minute, when Norrington Davies and Osborn combined and the latter’s excellent cross was perfect for McGoldrick but his header was wide of the post.
After these two let off, Wolves broke out and Traore despite being doubled up managed to find room for a cross and it fell for Silva but his header was straight at Foderingham. Basham then had to do well to sense danger but then almost undid his good work when his clearance fell straight to a Wolves man before Podence tumbled rather theatrically in the box under a challenge from Bogle. The appeals were righty waved away.
Gordon then conceded a corner but McGoldrick cleared the second ball that came back in as Wolves now looked to dominate the ball and territory after their own slow start. United had looked dangerous going forward though and Berge managed to retrieve Foderingham’s loose throw to advance into their half but Osborn’s ball through was overhit for Sharp.
On 12 minutes the Blades had another chance and the best of the game so far and really should have scored. Norrington Davies sent over a delightful cross that fell into the path of McGoldrick who controlled the ball and seemed set to score but often when he has time to finish, is when the striker struggles and so it proved again. He took too long and then his finish was weak and blocked by Marcal and then on the line after it ricocheted off the defender. A check for a handball was waved away and United were made to pay for this miss soon after.
On 14 minutes, Robinson under little pressure saw him make a complete hash of his clearance and Silva was presented with the ball and able to feed PODENCE who took a touch and easily converted past Foderingham, to give Wolves the lead which they scarcely deserved after United had missed so many chances.
United tried to respond but Sharp was caught offside twice and Wolves gradually started to see more of the ball and forced them backwards. Some neat football and interplay saw the home side find several gaps and United were struggling to stem the tide. Robinson made another error which saw him pass it straight to a Wolves player but Traore fired wide. Another chance came after this as Silva got away from Bogle, played a one two that beat the offside trap and tried an extravagant lob but it fell the wrong side of the post. It was given as a corner suggesting Foderingham may have got a touch on it.
Ait Nari then curled an effort wide as Wolves drove forward before brief rest bite for United was short-lived as Houirhane wasted a free kick clipping straight to Ruddy.
Gordon lost a ball over the top but got back to make a tackle and then the young defender made another unforced error but Traore shot wide. Wolves then attacked in numbers but Osborn and Berge made a block tackle which led to another effort for Neves but he curled wide.
Sharp won a loose ball giving United a rare chance but McGoldrick was tackled leading to a corner. The effort came in and the ball bounced around and led to Sharp hooking home. It was disallowed for a high foot which seemed harsh as the defender did duck in the challenge and no contact appeared to be made. VAR did not see fit to get involved and felt it was not a clear and obvious error.
Foderingham cleared a long ball just before half time as Wolves went in leading after the Blades had been maid to pay for errors at both ends.
Freeman came on for Robinson at half time and Moutinho for Marcal. The United replacement had a few opportunities in forward positions but his touch let him down twice. It had been a quiet start in terms of chances but Wolves showed more quality on the ball and started to move it forward with purpose.
Traore won a corner off Norrington Davies but United cleared before Sharp then won a free kick from Semedo but the wing back then did likewise from Osborn as Wolves defended any danger easily. Ait Nouri then fired over after the ball dropped for the first chance of the 2nd half for either side as they game ticked past the hour mark.
United had not created anything and rare corner actually led to a chance at the other end as Toure then broke holding off Berge and Basham and the latter cynically chopped him down for the first booking of the game.
Bogle’s effort then led to a chance but United cleared as Wolves looked to probe and move into the box. The home side continued to look the more likely and the Blades had offered nothing in the second half and indeed since that opening trio of chances (outside of the Sharp disallowed goal) had not troubled Ruddy at all.
United did win another corner but Hourihane’s delivery had been poor all day and his floated effort was cleared and Wolves again nearly broke at the other end before United made another chance with Burke on for McGoldrick. Freeman gave it away again before Norrington Davies upended Traore before Wolves also made changes. Jimenez and Trincao came on for Traore and Silva.
United finally had an effort but it was not close as Berge fired over after good work from Sharp before Burke’s back hell sent Wolves on the attack.
On 73 minutes the game was effectively sealed as a ball over the top saw United’s high line breached. Gordon and Norrington Davies both were to far up whilst others stayed back and it saw Ait Nouri in and he sent over a cross that was easily dispatched by the other wing back SEMEDO.
It seemed this had taken the game away from United who had not mustered much of a fightback anyway this half at least but Burke did well to find Sharp and Ruddy made his first save of the game pushing away the veteran strikers volleyed effort.
Bogle then also got in after good work from Berge and Basham but fired over on the angle. The next spell saw Wolves play keep ball before Sharp and Berge were replaced by Ndiaye and Norwood as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
On 80 minutes a ball down the side saw Foderingham come but as he tried to claim he was close to the edge of his box and could only palm it and this allowed Jimenez to get in and as the keeper tried to recover his error, it was a possibility he may bring the striker down. The Mexican kept his composure and squared the ball to PODENCE who scored into a relatively unguarded net and the score was now quite emphatic.
Wolves threatened to run riot as Jimenez and Trincao worked a space and the striker fired an effort that Foderingham pushed over. Jordao and Cundle came on for Podence and Neves. Wolves were now showing their class as they moved it around and United could not even muster any clear chances now with Osborn overplaying a ball yet again before Hourihane and Ndiaye’s wretched crosses.
The final chance came in the second of three additional minutes but after Trincao nutmegged Gordon, the sub fired over. The final whistle went soon after. It was a comfortable win in the end but United were left to rue some good chances early on but ultimately even with a unfortunate officiating call, they were not good enough at both ends with some horrible defensive moments matched by the same at the other end with clear chances spurned. United now can concentrate on finally getting some league games in and try and move up the league.
United – We deserved to lose but maybe 3-0 flattered them a bit. We certainly should have had a goal and if we take one of the three good chances early on and a great one for McGoldrick it could be different. The Sharp disallowed effort was harsh too. 1-0 at half time was a bit unjust but then they had 2 or 3 good chances too. We were right in the game and really if we had been better at both ends and not made a stupid error (Robinson) could easily have led. 2nd half was a different story. Felt they were a lot better and scored two goals (both avoidable) and could have had a few more. They looked a class above in terms of ability to keep the ball and final moments. In the end we were well beaten and a routine loss btu the first half was very different to the second but that is why they are a team top half of the top league and we are middle of the Championship. In the end it looked very much like the games of last season. First half despite the score we did ok and matched them in general play and chances. Yes, we were open at one end, but so were they. I felt we gave them a good game and started well with Norrington Davies and Bogle well forward and the forward’s causing problems.
Second half was really flat. We lacked drive and impetus and maybe the lack of games and the players coming in/missing showed up. I thought Berge and Hourihane did not get in the game and McGoldrick and Sharp were starved of the ball. We did not concede loads of chances but I felt Wolves never got out of first gear and did what they had to. We had a few corners or moments up their end but nothing clear cut and any chances came from them but again they were not tearing us apart. After the subs they stepped it up though and scored a good second goal in terms of how they made and finished it. It was really bad defending though to be so high up after we lost the ball and then we did not get back at all. It looked like lower league defending against a class side. Then they started to get through us and Jimenez caused us all sorts of problems with his movement. The third though is a keeping error. It was terrible but at least in a game that does not cost us points and gets an error for him out of the way almost. After this it just sort of petered out.
I felt after we went 1-0 down and then after the Sharp incident, we never had the belief or quality to get back in it. Before that and certainly for the first 15 minutes it was more about what we did at either end but after the break, I felt Wolves eased their way to the win and we did not have any fight to get back. Whether that is down to the lack of energy, fitness, game time or just they were much better or maybe a combination of these things, I do not know. The chances came too late. We had 5 so to me should have used these earlier as it did not look like we were going to get back into it. Making them at 2-0 seemed like it was after the horse had bolted to me. It is odd as looks an easy win but the first spell it was not easy and we looked more likely but then the longer the game went on, the poorer we got and they picked us off when they could and won the game at a canter.
We now will hope to get some players back and have a more settled defence and a stronger midfield (looked very weak today physically) to take on Derby next week who have been scrapping and fighting hard. We need to get some points on the board and move up the league. We are not playing any real top sides for the next period and a low of mid to lower teams so really need to be targeting 2 or 3 wins over the rest of this month to hopefully see us get in the top 10 and then be in and around the playoffs. Be interesting if we do any business but my feeling is when we get players back and covid issues hopefully lessen, we may see 2 or 3 go out rather than many come in. The wage bill will need reducing especially if promotion is only a small chance looking at things as they are. You feel if we do not go up, this will be further cut in the summer. We cannot have 6 or 7 strikers with many on a really good wage and ditto for left and right backs when we barely have any midfielders or central defensive cover. We need to be addressing the imbalance as much as the financial situation but ultimately needs to be ore about quality than quantity but maybe the number of games necessitate, we may have to hold fire.
There are a few players such as Robinson, Freeman that need moving on for me. I also would not be upset if Berge went if we can recover the fee (very unlikely) and Hourihane will rightly not be retained next season you would think. Osborn another who tries hard but would you give him another deal – I’d rather us look for some lower league talent with pace/power that may be able to impact games more. None of these look remotely good enough or in some cases interested enough for a team going for promotion – Berge/Osborn outliers for talent/effort of course.
