Post by deadbat on Sept 14, 2019 20:43:44 GMT
Report below…..and brief Podcast review here too
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-southampton-home
The Blades suffered back to back home defeats (only the second time in their Premier League history) as they lost by a single goal to Southampton at Bramall Lane. It was a game where decisions went against United with a goal ruled out for offside on the VAR system and club captain Billy Sharp sent off for a late tackle at the end of the game to compound a bad day.
United did have chances in the game but also gave opportunities away in an end to end contest. It could have gone either way but the away side were ruthless to score an excellent individual goal after an error and then United missed opportunities at the death to take a point.
United made changes with Fleck and McGoldrick in for Freeman and Robinson. Southampton were without Nathan Redmond but former Blade Che Adams started.
The game began with the visitors seeing more of the ball and they forced an early corner but they did not create much other than a tame header Henderson fielded. United came out and won a corner of their own but this came to nothing. The game was quite even but the away side were looking more controlled with the ball and Romeu was key to many of their moves.
From a swift attack, the ball fell for Adams who hit a crunching shot that hit the post. United cleared and moments later had an even better chance as McBurnie played in McGoldrick but one on one he hit Gunn when he should have scored. Fleck had two chances with a header wide and then an angled shot off target before Hojberg shot wide at the other end. United had struggled to keep the ball and the Saints then went down the right and the deep cross was headed down and seemingly goalwards by Adams but Henderson made a great save with the ball possibly coming off the post as he saved. It was a real let off for United.
The next spell saw United keep it better but they could not create any clear chances despite Norwood’s superb diagonal balls nearly putting Baldock in twice. The half time whistle came after O’Connell headed over from a corner.
United needed to play higher up the field and did this in the second half with McGoldrick coming deeper and linking well with Fleck twice. Vestergaard smashed into Baldock and United had a free kick. Norwood put it over, Egan seemed to miss it or just help it on and McBurnie put the ball in. The goal was given but eventually after a delay the VAR system adjudged that McBurnie was offside and for the first time this season a significant moment went against the Blades with the new system.
After this United lost their shape somewhat and Adams shot at Henderson and Boufal went on a run before shooting over. Sharp came on for McBurnie but only moments later the deadlock was broken. Norwood telegraphed a ball to Lundstram and DJENPO seized on it and broke away. Norwood and O’Connell tried to bring him down but he went past both of them and the final man Egan before slotting expertly in the corner. A great goal but really poor defending from the initial pass and the inability to stop the player either by fair or legal means.
Fleck shot wide as United tried to get back in the game but Mousset came on for Lundstram. He instantly got involved having a shot blocked for a corner before Fleck had a great chance blocked and then Gunn saved from McGoldrick. Robinson then came on for Basham as United really went for it. Sharp chased down a Southampton player but his tackled was late and high and he was given a straight red by Mason. This disrupted United and Southampton controlled the final stages. Six minutes of stoppage time were put up and even though Henderson went forward on two set plays, United did not create a further chance and slipped to the disappointing loss.
United – It was a good game. We had chances. They had chances. Things did not go for us. However, I have said I do not think we had control of the game and a number of people have jumped on that but for a home side; we gave the ball away so much and they cut through us too many times. We maybe could have a point on another day but we were not good enough where it mattered. That is what this league is all about and as Wilder says we have to ‘wise up’ or will see many days like this at this level.
Wilder takes about 17 chances but 3 or 4 of those were at the death when we were really going for the salvage job. They had far more shots on target and the better chances over the game really hitting the post twice. I cannot recall more than the one brilliant McGoldrick chance in the first half up to the point they scored- taking away the goal disallowed and then second half they were blocks or off target not clear sitters.
We huffed and puffed first half but I felt the better play and chances came from them really – they controlled large swathes of midfield. Cannot agree with Wilder and other fans who said we were the better side first half. Felt they edged it on play, composure and overall opportunities. 2nd half we started well and the disallowed goal did not help but we then seemed to lose our way. They scored a good goal but was a give away from us and poor attempts from 2 or 3 to stop the man getting in a shooting space. After this we threw men forward and did have chances but it was all a bit desperate. McGoldrick missed another one and then Fleck had one blocked but the keeper did not really have a save to make. I cannot recall many guilt edged chances at all. Then Sharp gets sent off and that was it really.
It was not a particularly one-sided game for either side and both teams had chances but I was disappointed that against one of the weaker sides at this level, that technique and composure they edged it I thought. I am not sure we managed many great moves of note. There were more balls to the channels and then get on knock downs and we did not really play through the thirds very much at all. It was all a bit hit and hope save for a couple of Norwood tremendous diagonals that Baldock fluffed again when in great positions. United were not awful but it just seemed a bit last ditch and ragged at times and we lacked shape and composure. Southampton had maybe the best 3 players on the field in Romeu, Hojberg and Ward Prowse. They seemed to have a lot of control of the ball for an away side and in midfield we never really kept it secure enough. Worrying a team like them can counter attack and go through us pretty routinely.
They played a high press and our flat three means we cannot really move further up the field. It took us ages to get up the field where as they did it quicker with more mobile player. We went too long for me and it is concerning a team like this ran through us quite a bit. Most of our chances came from balls out wide and knock downs (save for the one Didsy chance). We are not working the ball through teams like we did last season. This is down to the level we are at of course but we also seem to have gone away from trying to play through teams. We are playing a lot of percentage stuff and long diagonal balls. If teams press us, we just are asking Norwood to hit those diagonal balls. Outside of that a couple of Baldock overloads not sure where we are creating much really.
I will agree it is a game of slim margins and McGoldrick takes the chance and we lead and it becomes different but I thought that they pressed us higher and more aggressively than the other way round. I thought McBurnie was ineffectual and that the midfield was very careless in keeping the ball. It was not until the final stages until the wing backs got up the field. We did ok at times but our lack of pace individually and collectively makes it difficult for us to be secure at the back or create tons the other way.
As I say I may get criticised but if we play like that most weeks at this level we will go down. We lacked quality where it mattered for me and snatched at things in key areas both with passing and shooting. It was very basketball and if we don’t take chances, we are always there for the taking. It is how we play and risk and reward but if we are not good enough in the two boxes and don’t keep hold of the ball then we will lose most games.
I felt the away team did just enough to win the game just for composure and keeping a good shape and discipline for an away side. We have to start games better as that is 5 games now and we have been second best in my opinion first half for many of them.
It’s not all doom and gloom and there have been some strange results such as the Norwich result v Man City which is certainly is eye opening. However, I felt today was a big day. If we had won it would have been a great start, a draw and it is ok but now with two very tough games coming up we could be in the bottom three in a few weeks and it looks a poor start. It was really important we did not get beat today. We said to make the Lane a fortress but we have lost 2/3 at home already and not played any of the so called big 6 down here which is disappointing. We need to be careful with the games coming up we don’t go into the next break with say 3 losses as we would then be entrenched in the bottom three and it becomes a scrap already.
Ratings:
Henderson 7.5/10 – Made a superb point blank save from Adams. He made a few other regulation saves and his overall play today was good. No chance on the goal or with the one that hit the post. I felt he was exposed quite a bit today when they came forward as we were a bit gung ho. At the end I am unsure why he was not taking the set plays and us putting men in the box rather than him go up.
Baldock 7/10 – Thought he played ok again in general play but he did not do enough with a few great balls that came to his feet from Norwood and his touch was poor or he made the wrong decision. Did make great runs to get here. He kept going 2nd half and as with Leicester felt he was one of the stronger players from an attacking sense and a lot of attacks came from him being the outlet down that side.
Stevens 6.5/10 – Steady defensively but did not see as much from him in an attacking sense. Had a couple of runs forward put he never really got many balls over when he got in advanced positions. They kept him back quite a lot and he was not able to get up the field as they pressed us.
Basham 6/10 – Commited as always and a few good tackles, interceptions but once again too many mistakes with the ball and nearly led to chances as they broke. He cannot be so loose with the ball as this level. He will always give 100% but not sure he is getting as advanced at this level (understandably) and has been playing more of a defender than an attacking player – more orthodox – so far this season.
O’Connell 6.5/10 – He was ok and won headers and tackles but they also had a few chances when the defence did not react. They had a few flicked headers and balls came across that we were slow to react to. Did not get forward very much at all and they pressed him on the ball so I only recall one or maybe two surges. The lad on the goal ran past him too easily.
Egan 6/10 – Lost Adams twice; once he mistimed his shot and another he headed against the post. He was ok in general play but cannot switch off like that and needs to not allow clear chances. He was pressed and had to go long a bit or give it up under pressure which saw us become a bit rushed. Not sure why he was not thrown up at the end, even with ten men surely, we needed some physicality at the top of the field? Needed to do more on the goal also; along with others.
Norwood 6/10 – Made 3 or 4 delightful balls first half and showed his touch and vision. He was involved in our better moves. 2nd half I felt he got ran past time after time and the three midfielders showed the real weakness in their game when quick, mobile midfielders run through us and they cannot run back or keep up with them. He gave it away on the goal with a bad mistake and then could not even foul him. Put a good ball in for the disallowed goal but not sure we saw many balls 2nd half that dissected their defence outside of this. He looked weak as they attacked and just ran past him and we had a big gap in this area.
Lundstram 5.5/10 – Thought he had his poorest game of the season. He was not awful by any stretch but looked leggy and slow from the hour mark. He was steady in the first half and kept it simple when he had the ball. However, I felt we sat off and did not press and it was too easy for the visitors’ midfield. He, along with others did not get enough loose balls and when he had it was not secure enough with it. 2nd half he was sloppy and he gave the ball away a lot and was quite static when they attacked.
Fleck 7.5/10 – Thought along with Henderson and Baldock he was one of our stand outs. He was busy, linked with others and had two or three shots at goal. He got on it and probed and carried it well. He drove when he could. I am not sure he created too much but I just felt he was able to penetrate more than any of the rest of the team. He is the only player until Mousset came on (maybe Stevens a bit too) who will drive at players and commit men. The rest lack pace and that ability to do that. Not saying they are bad players but it is all behind the opposition.
McGoldrick 5/10 – His overall play at times was very good as he came deep, linked and showed his good touches on the ball but he missed one excellent chance and one very good one and as good as his link play is, he cannot miss chances like he had done at this level so far. He should have scored at least 3 goals this season but has missed them all. We cannot afford at this level to miss the chances he is so he may have to take a seat sadly as much as I love him.
McBurnie 5/10 – I thought he was great in the first few sub games but he has started the last two and been ineffective for me. He has been subbed on the hour in both games. That says it all really about his lack of impact. He made McGoldrick’s chance with a good ball but other than that he was second to the ball, lost headers, did not hold it up and not sure he pressed in the same way their forwards did. We paid an awful lot of money for him and he has to contribute more than that as if he is not a goal threat – he did not have any opportunities or look like having chance on goal – then he has to work hard and hold the ball up. Not sure he did either that well.
Subs –
Sharp – Got down the right channel and got two great crosses in and was looking lively but then commits a silly, late lunge. May have been exuberance with not playing and us being behind but that killed any chance we had of getting back into the game and now he is out until after the next international break I believe – so nearly a month. It looked poor at the time and you can see why he gave him a red sadly.
McBurnie 7.5/10 – Really good. He held it up and made sure that the ball stayed in their last third. He got it, played it wide and then got in the box and won numerous headers. He scored a great headed goal and actually had a few other attempts too. He has a decent first touch and makes sure we keep the ball. He has good movement when the ball comes into the box and you can see why he has scored a lot of goals. Will surely now start next week.
Mousset – Looked lively. Won a corner with a shot on the angle, held it up and showed pace and running. Of all the strikers we have seen so far, albeit in limited time, he looks the best of the lot this season in terms of quality and impact. Might be harder if he starts a game but not sure the two that started today did enough to say that he should not start at Everton.
Robinson – Came on very late as we threw men forward but the Sharp red kind of stopped any flow. He was constantly offside which was poor to say he was not on very long. Thought it was very harsh he was left out after an excellent 2nd half at Chelsea. Maybe he was not fully fit after his knock with Ireland but not sure why he played then.
Manager Wilder 5.5/10 – Bit surprised he changed the team and I would have started Robinson. Freeman was not that effective at Chelsea though so can kind of see why Fleck played. I felt once again we started badly and did not control the possession, tempo or get high enough the field. It was all a bit scattergun. We did get better towards the end of the half and started the 2nd half well but after the non-goal and the goal we lost all kind of shape. The subs all seemed a bit desperate, not in terms of making them but we had no kind of shape or cohesion. Not sure whether it is personnel, mentality or shape but we need to control games better than that, especially against a side reckoned to be a similar ilk to us, at home.
Southampton – Better than I thought they would be. They missed maybe their best player in Redmond and still controlled large spells of the game. They had clear chances in both halfs and maybe had a few let off the other way but the keeper only had maybe one really good save to make. They scored a good goal and then defended well with a bit of luck to see it out. They will see it as a perfect away day. I thought that ability wise and technique on the ball they were better than maybe I anticipated. We take about Norwood and some of our players but the lad
Opponent Man of the Match – The BBC report gave it Hojberg who was good but I felt Romeu was superb and ran the game. Good on and off the ball but had more mobility than our three. Ward Prowse technically showed his ability also when he got on it. Gunn made one good save in the first half. Djenpo of course scored a great winning goal and had a few penetrative runs. Adams hit a post and Henderson then denied him but was quite other than this.
Opponent Weaklink – Not sure they had anyone that poor. They were just workmanlike but the midfield were the stand outs. Like us they gave it away a bit and I felt Cedric and Benarek were sloppy. Also, Boufal was wasteful too at times. Thought the long haired lad Vestergaard won a lot of headers but also made some mistakes and gave a shocking foul away on Baldock.
Referee/Officials/VAR – As soon as the goal went in, I did not celebrate as I sensed it was tight. I did not think McBurnie was off but thought Egan was when he touched it on – it seems that McBurnie may have been off anyway regardless if Egan touched it. It is the first time we have fell foul to it but it was not a massively controversial one and it seems they got it right. The hand ball seemed to be a good shout but they don’t like overruling the referees on these. It is only the offsides they seem to be going with overturning really. The rest they seem to be going with the ref. I have not seen it back but seemed like we could have got it. The red card seemed more clear cut despite many United fans protesting and calling it a disgrace. It was reckless and stupid and seemed fairly obvious. Everyone booed the ref off Lee Mason but what did he actually get wrong? There was a few either way. He stopped play when they did not really have an injury but then he did the same when McBurnie went down. The handball was a tough one to give in real time. Not sure many huge decisions went wrong. It all seemed a bit desperate from our crowd. I recall non fouls on Stevens and McGoldrick not being given and they were not fouls. The VAR was not decided by him on both the penalty and the offside. It all smacked as a bit desperate to me. If anything, I felt he could have been harsher on our players. McGoldrick got away with an elbow and Norwood and Fleck both cynically tried to chop their players down. I will get criticised for saying it but I thought that the defeat was nothing to do with the officials.
Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Nearly 31,000 – with a full away support, it was the best crowd of the season. Was noisy at times as the game became end to end and with the controversial moments; it ramped up 2nd half. I felt the fans kept behind the side but it became a bit frustrating when things did not go for us. It was a good atmosphere though and the away fans made a fair bit of noise too. Saw a bit of bother as we walked away just off John Street so not sure what happened but there was some definite fighting. Worryingly that we talked about making the Lane such an intimidating place though and we have now lost two in a row. We did not do that even the last time we when we got relegated.
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-southampton-home
The Blades suffered back to back home defeats (only the second time in their Premier League history) as they lost by a single goal to Southampton at Bramall Lane. It was a game where decisions went against United with a goal ruled out for offside on the VAR system and club captain Billy Sharp sent off for a late tackle at the end of the game to compound a bad day.
United did have chances in the game but also gave opportunities away in an end to end contest. It could have gone either way but the away side were ruthless to score an excellent individual goal after an error and then United missed opportunities at the death to take a point.
United made changes with Fleck and McGoldrick in for Freeman and Robinson. Southampton were without Nathan Redmond but former Blade Che Adams started.
The game began with the visitors seeing more of the ball and they forced an early corner but they did not create much other than a tame header Henderson fielded. United came out and won a corner of their own but this came to nothing. The game was quite even but the away side were looking more controlled with the ball and Romeu was key to many of their moves.
From a swift attack, the ball fell for Adams who hit a crunching shot that hit the post. United cleared and moments later had an even better chance as McBurnie played in McGoldrick but one on one he hit Gunn when he should have scored. Fleck had two chances with a header wide and then an angled shot off target before Hojberg shot wide at the other end. United had struggled to keep the ball and the Saints then went down the right and the deep cross was headed down and seemingly goalwards by Adams but Henderson made a great save with the ball possibly coming off the post as he saved. It was a real let off for United.
The next spell saw United keep it better but they could not create any clear chances despite Norwood’s superb diagonal balls nearly putting Baldock in twice. The half time whistle came after O’Connell headed over from a corner.
United needed to play higher up the field and did this in the second half with McGoldrick coming deeper and linking well with Fleck twice. Vestergaard smashed into Baldock and United had a free kick. Norwood put it over, Egan seemed to miss it or just help it on and McBurnie put the ball in. The goal was given but eventually after a delay the VAR system adjudged that McBurnie was offside and for the first time this season a significant moment went against the Blades with the new system.
After this United lost their shape somewhat and Adams shot at Henderson and Boufal went on a run before shooting over. Sharp came on for McBurnie but only moments later the deadlock was broken. Norwood telegraphed a ball to Lundstram and DJENPO seized on it and broke away. Norwood and O’Connell tried to bring him down but he went past both of them and the final man Egan before slotting expertly in the corner. A great goal but really poor defending from the initial pass and the inability to stop the player either by fair or legal means.
Fleck shot wide as United tried to get back in the game but Mousset came on for Lundstram. He instantly got involved having a shot blocked for a corner before Fleck had a great chance blocked and then Gunn saved from McGoldrick. Robinson then came on for Basham as United really went for it. Sharp chased down a Southampton player but his tackled was late and high and he was given a straight red by Mason. This disrupted United and Southampton controlled the final stages. Six minutes of stoppage time were put up and even though Henderson went forward on two set plays, United did not create a further chance and slipped to the disappointing loss.
United – It was a good game. We had chances. They had chances. Things did not go for us. However, I have said I do not think we had control of the game and a number of people have jumped on that but for a home side; we gave the ball away so much and they cut through us too many times. We maybe could have a point on another day but we were not good enough where it mattered. That is what this league is all about and as Wilder says we have to ‘wise up’ or will see many days like this at this level.
Wilder takes about 17 chances but 3 or 4 of those were at the death when we were really going for the salvage job. They had far more shots on target and the better chances over the game really hitting the post twice. I cannot recall more than the one brilliant McGoldrick chance in the first half up to the point they scored- taking away the goal disallowed and then second half they were blocks or off target not clear sitters.
We huffed and puffed first half but I felt the better play and chances came from them really – they controlled large swathes of midfield. Cannot agree with Wilder and other fans who said we were the better side first half. Felt they edged it on play, composure and overall opportunities. 2nd half we started well and the disallowed goal did not help but we then seemed to lose our way. They scored a good goal but was a give away from us and poor attempts from 2 or 3 to stop the man getting in a shooting space. After this we threw men forward and did have chances but it was all a bit desperate. McGoldrick missed another one and then Fleck had one blocked but the keeper did not really have a save to make. I cannot recall many guilt edged chances at all. Then Sharp gets sent off and that was it really.
It was not a particularly one-sided game for either side and both teams had chances but I was disappointed that against one of the weaker sides at this level, that technique and composure they edged it I thought. I am not sure we managed many great moves of note. There were more balls to the channels and then get on knock downs and we did not really play through the thirds very much at all. It was all a bit hit and hope save for a couple of Norwood tremendous diagonals that Baldock fluffed again when in great positions. United were not awful but it just seemed a bit last ditch and ragged at times and we lacked shape and composure. Southampton had maybe the best 3 players on the field in Romeu, Hojberg and Ward Prowse. They seemed to have a lot of control of the ball for an away side and in midfield we never really kept it secure enough. Worrying a team like them can counter attack and go through us pretty routinely.
They played a high press and our flat three means we cannot really move further up the field. It took us ages to get up the field where as they did it quicker with more mobile player. We went too long for me and it is concerning a team like this ran through us quite a bit. Most of our chances came from balls out wide and knock downs (save for the one Didsy chance). We are not working the ball through teams like we did last season. This is down to the level we are at of course but we also seem to have gone away from trying to play through teams. We are playing a lot of percentage stuff and long diagonal balls. If teams press us, we just are asking Norwood to hit those diagonal balls. Outside of that a couple of Baldock overloads not sure where we are creating much really.
I will agree it is a game of slim margins and McGoldrick takes the chance and we lead and it becomes different but I thought that they pressed us higher and more aggressively than the other way round. I thought McBurnie was ineffectual and that the midfield was very careless in keeping the ball. It was not until the final stages until the wing backs got up the field. We did ok at times but our lack of pace individually and collectively makes it difficult for us to be secure at the back or create tons the other way.
As I say I may get criticised but if we play like that most weeks at this level we will go down. We lacked quality where it mattered for me and snatched at things in key areas both with passing and shooting. It was very basketball and if we don’t take chances, we are always there for the taking. It is how we play and risk and reward but if we are not good enough in the two boxes and don’t keep hold of the ball then we will lose most games.
I felt the away team did just enough to win the game just for composure and keeping a good shape and discipline for an away side. We have to start games better as that is 5 games now and we have been second best in my opinion first half for many of them.
It’s not all doom and gloom and there have been some strange results such as the Norwich result v Man City which is certainly is eye opening. However, I felt today was a big day. If we had won it would have been a great start, a draw and it is ok but now with two very tough games coming up we could be in the bottom three in a few weeks and it looks a poor start. It was really important we did not get beat today. We said to make the Lane a fortress but we have lost 2/3 at home already and not played any of the so called big 6 down here which is disappointing. We need to be careful with the games coming up we don’t go into the next break with say 3 losses as we would then be entrenched in the bottom three and it becomes a scrap already.
Ratings:
Henderson 7.5/10 – Made a superb point blank save from Adams. He made a few other regulation saves and his overall play today was good. No chance on the goal or with the one that hit the post. I felt he was exposed quite a bit today when they came forward as we were a bit gung ho. At the end I am unsure why he was not taking the set plays and us putting men in the box rather than him go up.
Baldock 7/10 – Thought he played ok again in general play but he did not do enough with a few great balls that came to his feet from Norwood and his touch was poor or he made the wrong decision. Did make great runs to get here. He kept going 2nd half and as with Leicester felt he was one of the stronger players from an attacking sense and a lot of attacks came from him being the outlet down that side.
Stevens 6.5/10 – Steady defensively but did not see as much from him in an attacking sense. Had a couple of runs forward put he never really got many balls over when he got in advanced positions. They kept him back quite a lot and he was not able to get up the field as they pressed us.
Basham 6/10 – Commited as always and a few good tackles, interceptions but once again too many mistakes with the ball and nearly led to chances as they broke. He cannot be so loose with the ball as this level. He will always give 100% but not sure he is getting as advanced at this level (understandably) and has been playing more of a defender than an attacking player – more orthodox – so far this season.
O’Connell 6.5/10 – He was ok and won headers and tackles but they also had a few chances when the defence did not react. They had a few flicked headers and balls came across that we were slow to react to. Did not get forward very much at all and they pressed him on the ball so I only recall one or maybe two surges. The lad on the goal ran past him too easily.
Egan 6/10 – Lost Adams twice; once he mistimed his shot and another he headed against the post. He was ok in general play but cannot switch off like that and needs to not allow clear chances. He was pressed and had to go long a bit or give it up under pressure which saw us become a bit rushed. Not sure why he was not thrown up at the end, even with ten men surely, we needed some physicality at the top of the field? Needed to do more on the goal also; along with others.
Norwood 6/10 – Made 3 or 4 delightful balls first half and showed his touch and vision. He was involved in our better moves. 2nd half I felt he got ran past time after time and the three midfielders showed the real weakness in their game when quick, mobile midfielders run through us and they cannot run back or keep up with them. He gave it away on the goal with a bad mistake and then could not even foul him. Put a good ball in for the disallowed goal but not sure we saw many balls 2nd half that dissected their defence outside of this. He looked weak as they attacked and just ran past him and we had a big gap in this area.
Lundstram 5.5/10 – Thought he had his poorest game of the season. He was not awful by any stretch but looked leggy and slow from the hour mark. He was steady in the first half and kept it simple when he had the ball. However, I felt we sat off and did not press and it was too easy for the visitors’ midfield. He, along with others did not get enough loose balls and when he had it was not secure enough with it. 2nd half he was sloppy and he gave the ball away a lot and was quite static when they attacked.
Fleck 7.5/10 – Thought along with Henderson and Baldock he was one of our stand outs. He was busy, linked with others and had two or three shots at goal. He got on it and probed and carried it well. He drove when he could. I am not sure he created too much but I just felt he was able to penetrate more than any of the rest of the team. He is the only player until Mousset came on (maybe Stevens a bit too) who will drive at players and commit men. The rest lack pace and that ability to do that. Not saying they are bad players but it is all behind the opposition.
McGoldrick 5/10 – His overall play at times was very good as he came deep, linked and showed his good touches on the ball but he missed one excellent chance and one very good one and as good as his link play is, he cannot miss chances like he had done at this level so far. He should have scored at least 3 goals this season but has missed them all. We cannot afford at this level to miss the chances he is so he may have to take a seat sadly as much as I love him.
McBurnie 5/10 – I thought he was great in the first few sub games but he has started the last two and been ineffective for me. He has been subbed on the hour in both games. That says it all really about his lack of impact. He made McGoldrick’s chance with a good ball but other than that he was second to the ball, lost headers, did not hold it up and not sure he pressed in the same way their forwards did. We paid an awful lot of money for him and he has to contribute more than that as if he is not a goal threat – he did not have any opportunities or look like having chance on goal – then he has to work hard and hold the ball up. Not sure he did either that well.
Subs –
Sharp – Got down the right channel and got two great crosses in and was looking lively but then commits a silly, late lunge. May have been exuberance with not playing and us being behind but that killed any chance we had of getting back into the game and now he is out until after the next international break I believe – so nearly a month. It looked poor at the time and you can see why he gave him a red sadly.
McBurnie 7.5/10 – Really good. He held it up and made sure that the ball stayed in their last third. He got it, played it wide and then got in the box and won numerous headers. He scored a great headed goal and actually had a few other attempts too. He has a decent first touch and makes sure we keep the ball. He has good movement when the ball comes into the box and you can see why he has scored a lot of goals. Will surely now start next week.
Mousset – Looked lively. Won a corner with a shot on the angle, held it up and showed pace and running. Of all the strikers we have seen so far, albeit in limited time, he looks the best of the lot this season in terms of quality and impact. Might be harder if he starts a game but not sure the two that started today did enough to say that he should not start at Everton.
Robinson – Came on very late as we threw men forward but the Sharp red kind of stopped any flow. He was constantly offside which was poor to say he was not on very long. Thought it was very harsh he was left out after an excellent 2nd half at Chelsea. Maybe he was not fully fit after his knock with Ireland but not sure why he played then.
Manager Wilder 5.5/10 – Bit surprised he changed the team and I would have started Robinson. Freeman was not that effective at Chelsea though so can kind of see why Fleck played. I felt once again we started badly and did not control the possession, tempo or get high enough the field. It was all a bit scattergun. We did get better towards the end of the half and started the 2nd half well but after the non-goal and the goal we lost all kind of shape. The subs all seemed a bit desperate, not in terms of making them but we had no kind of shape or cohesion. Not sure whether it is personnel, mentality or shape but we need to control games better than that, especially against a side reckoned to be a similar ilk to us, at home.
Southampton – Better than I thought they would be. They missed maybe their best player in Redmond and still controlled large spells of the game. They had clear chances in both halfs and maybe had a few let off the other way but the keeper only had maybe one really good save to make. They scored a good goal and then defended well with a bit of luck to see it out. They will see it as a perfect away day. I thought that ability wise and technique on the ball they were better than maybe I anticipated. We take about Norwood and some of our players but the lad
Opponent Man of the Match – The BBC report gave it Hojberg who was good but I felt Romeu was superb and ran the game. Good on and off the ball but had more mobility than our three. Ward Prowse technically showed his ability also when he got on it. Gunn made one good save in the first half. Djenpo of course scored a great winning goal and had a few penetrative runs. Adams hit a post and Henderson then denied him but was quite other than this.
Opponent Weaklink – Not sure they had anyone that poor. They were just workmanlike but the midfield were the stand outs. Like us they gave it away a bit and I felt Cedric and Benarek were sloppy. Also, Boufal was wasteful too at times. Thought the long haired lad Vestergaard won a lot of headers but also made some mistakes and gave a shocking foul away on Baldock.
Referee/Officials/VAR – As soon as the goal went in, I did not celebrate as I sensed it was tight. I did not think McBurnie was off but thought Egan was when he touched it on – it seems that McBurnie may have been off anyway regardless if Egan touched it. It is the first time we have fell foul to it but it was not a massively controversial one and it seems they got it right. The hand ball seemed to be a good shout but they don’t like overruling the referees on these. It is only the offsides they seem to be going with overturning really. The rest they seem to be going with the ref. I have not seen it back but seemed like we could have got it. The red card seemed more clear cut despite many United fans protesting and calling it a disgrace. It was reckless and stupid and seemed fairly obvious. Everyone booed the ref off Lee Mason but what did he actually get wrong? There was a few either way. He stopped play when they did not really have an injury but then he did the same when McBurnie went down. The handball was a tough one to give in real time. Not sure many huge decisions went wrong. It all seemed a bit desperate from our crowd. I recall non fouls on Stevens and McGoldrick not being given and they were not fouls. The VAR was not decided by him on both the penalty and the offside. It all smacked as a bit desperate to me. If anything, I felt he could have been harsher on our players. McGoldrick got away with an elbow and Norwood and Fleck both cynically tried to chop their players down. I will get criticised for saying it but I thought that the defeat was nothing to do with the officials.
Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Nearly 31,000 – with a full away support, it was the best crowd of the season. Was noisy at times as the game became end to end and with the controversial moments; it ramped up 2nd half. I felt the fans kept behind the side but it became a bit frustrating when things did not go for us. It was a good atmosphere though and the away fans made a fair bit of noise too. Saw a bit of bother as we walked away just off John Street so not sure what happened but there was some definite fighting. Worryingly that we talked about making the Lane such an intimidating place though and we have now lost two in a row. We did not do that even the last time we when we got relegated.
