Post by deadbat on Dec 5, 2019 23:27:27 GMT
The Blades excellent run of performance and results came to an end as they were beaten by a goal in each half against a determined and resolute Newcastle side. The Blades lost for the first time since September 28th at the Lane against Liverpool. United had more of the possession and the better chances but a sloppy opening goal and a controversial second goal saw the away side take all three points. The first half saw the Blades miss some decent chances and the visiting keeper made some good saves and even after going behind, United were pushing for a leveller. After the second goal went in the home side became ragged and did not look like coming back into the game. It was a really disappointing result and despite being favourites for the first time this season; Steve Bruce got his tactics and approach spot on.
Chris Wilder sprang a surprise by changing his front two with Sharp and McBurnie coming in for McGoldrick and Mousset. Andy Carroll also got a start for Newcastle in the loan striking role instead of big money signing Joelinton.
Newcastle started the game well and had the better of the opening five minutes by winning a few throws that saw the ball hurled into Carroll’s head. The Blades responded and a decent move saw the ball come across and Stevens deflected effort was well saved by Dubravka. Soon after Norwood’s corner was met by McBurnie but his effort was saved from close range. After these efforts, the visitors scored with their first attack.
Basham opted to head twice on the floor almost and then Baldock’s clearance only went to the right wing. Manquillo picked it up and sent over a dangerous cross and SAINT MAXIMIN powered above the defence and Basham in particular to head away from Henderson into the goal.
United tried to respond with neat and patient play leading to Basham’s cross right into the path of McBurnie but his header was too close to Dubravka who pushed away.
United kept trying to probe and find gaps but Newcastle were defending well. Sharp was shepherded wide with a shot and then Egan’s header was straight at the keeper. United were having all of the ball but struggling now to create too much but then one cross from the left was deflected away from Sharp who looked like he would score before the defensive touch to take it away.
Newcastle were already slowing things down and taking their time over everything but Fleck was fouled by Shelvey and this gave United a chance right on half time. Norwood took it but Dubravka palmed away reading the midfielder’s intentions.
After the break, Sharp was booked and then United tried to push the tempo but were struggling to get anything going through the middle and Newcastle kept forcing United wide but were stopping the overlaps that often cause problems. One ball from Baldock saw McBurnie get a good headed effort in that Dubravka palmed over.
Mousset came on for Sharp who just before had an effort saved but had been deemed offside.
However, it was not long after this that the second goal of the game came and it went to the visitors in a smash and grab raid. Once again, the long punt to Carroll was the preferred method of attack and as he had all night, he won his header. The ball flicked into the path of SHELVEY but the offside flag went up. The referee did not blow his whistle and seemed to wave play on. The United players foolishly stopped and Henderson seemed to just watch the ball go into the net as the midfielder ran through and scored. You feared the worst when it went to a check and the replays showed it was clearly onside and the goal was given to wild jubilations from the away players and fans.
United fans voiced their frustration and it hard to take when the referee sometimes plays on when the flag goes up and other times, he stops the game. It seems like there is almost little point of having linesman in the games anymore and more confusion over VAR continues. However, the goal sadly for the home side was a legitimate one and another poor one to concede as the Blades lost the header, had a too high line and no one went with a runner with a horrific attempt to play him offside. These things may get forgotten in the outrage over the decision and the confusion over the rules.
After this McGoldrick and Freeman came on for Norwood and Basham but United’s momentum and chances of coming back seemed to have completely stalled. The Blades started giving it away and the crowd became even more frustrated. Newcastle slowed things down and in the final stages, they looked more likely to score another goal with McGoldrick’s shot that went about 30 yards over the bar, summing up a desperately disappointing and frustrating night where nothing went right for the home side.
United – Really disappointing night. It was a big game and after some great showings but not the points we deserved you felt we had to get a positive result tonight but it never happened. From the first minute, we just seemed sloppy even though we had a lot of the ball. You sensed they actually looked like they may get one early on and so it proved. They then had something to hold onto and they did it quite easily in the end.
After the Southampton game, the biggest disappointment of the season and maybe our most disjointed performance. Sure, we had lots of the ball and did have chances but I felt too many players were off their game. The changes in attack did not work in terms of the shape of the team. We had a few early chances, they then scored and we missed a few but after this, we kind of ran out of ideas.
We shuffled it across painfully slowly and they just got men behind the ball. They made us cross from wide and deep and this was bread and butter for the big defenders. We had no creativity, little link play and none of the midfield got ahead of the strikers all game. We looked very sluggish and just ran out of ideas completely. We had so much of the ball but second half we did not do much with it. Of course, they barely had it and did not create much at all and we still had more of the ball and chances but at this level we have to take them. We did not. They did.
That has been our undoing in the last 4 games really. We played great in 3 and ok in patches today but picked up 3 points from 12. The plaudits for all our play and performances will mean nothing if we cannot put the ball in the net and keep it out at the other end. Sadly, we saw Sunday and even more so today our lack of concentration at one end and the lack of genuine class at the other could mean it will be still be a long, hard season. Today we faced a team that sat in and I felt we struggled other than 2 or 3 chances from headers. Of course, we take a few of them first half and they have to come out but we did not and that is the difference at this level. We now play our fellow two promoted teams and have to respond. We proved that changing some of our first eleven shows a big drop off but I think whilst the lack of a number 10 and the lack of pace up top did impact us, so many other players had off games also. The wing backs were not threats, the centre backs did not get forward. To have to much of the ball and create so little is a concern really. A lot will be made about the 2nd goal but for me it was more about the concerns with the lack of genuine quality or idea in the final third and the fact we switched off at key times at the back.
Ratings:
Henderson 6/10 – Barely had a save to make but header goes in first half. Not sure he had much chance and then he stands there instead of trying to stop the shot. Why is he not playing on? Ridiculous really and unprofessional. He was a bit dithering a few times coming for the ball. To be honest though he had nothing to do but let in two goals so hard to mark him really.
Baldock 6.5/10 – Bit of a poor clearance on the first goal when he did not get enough on it. One of few who kept trying and at least getting forward but he lacks confidence to put the ball in the box. He kept plugging away with little movement in front of him at all. I thought he was frustrated that he often ended up tight in corners with little help.
Stevens 6/10 – I thought he was not great Sunday and the same today but his standards have been so high so him being average is more of a surprise. He made poor decisions on the ball all night and was giving it away a lot with telegraphed balls. He also took an age to do things and they closed him down and realised he does not have a right foot at all so channelled him inside constantly where they had men. His final pass/cross was too weak all game and also got run past a few times also.
Basham 5.5/10 – At fault for their goal with two silly stopped headers instead of just clearing the ball and then when he got back to position, he was easily beat on the headed goal and never got off the floor. He looked a bit clumsy all night and going forward there was little impact as they sent him backwards. Did put one good cross in though which McBurnie should have scored. He also seemed to be the man who played them onside on the second goal. Key moments but cost us dearly.
O’Connell 6.5/10 – One of the few who tried to come out and get forward but his final ball/moment when he did attack did not come off. Felt he did ok defensively and at least competed and won a few more balls than the rest but the few breaks they had they did get through us quite easily with pace and power.
Egan 6/10 – Carroll is a handful and won a lot of headers against us including the key one for the second. His aerial play allowed them to get up the pitch. I thought for the first time for a long time he lost his battle. I remember Carroll doing the same at the Lane to Morgan.
Norwood 5.5/10 – Some decent passing and control early but then started giving the ball away and constantly he found their shirts with sloppy play. His long passed did not always come off and I felt he got outmuscled a few times also. One decent free kick saved was his highlight. Not his night and taken off
Lundstram 5/10 – Really poor tonight. His passing, tackling and overall contribution was limited. He sadly reminded me of the Lunny of old that looked like he was running through treacle. He constantly gave the ball away or played balls that were either over hit or short. No real attacking threat and not involved much in the link play. We were way too slow to move it around and they just got men behind the ball.
Fleck 6.5/10 – Our best midfielder just for the fact he tried to get on the ball and make things happen but even for him things did not come off really. He was ok first half and some decent bits but then faded badly after they scored the second, as did the whole team and looked a forlorn figure as the game finished. We ended up with an unfamiliar formation and not even sure where he was meant to be playing at the end?
McBurnie 5.5/10 – Not sure he can be accused of not trying. He did try but he missed two good chances – both headers and needs to score at least one of them. He had a decent header second half well saved and a curled effort but outside of this he looked a bit like someone who did not know how we played. He did not know whether to come short or get in the box and there was a big gap between the midfield and attack and they just packed the box. He is pitifully weak and three times he just got shoved off the ball so easily and ended up on the floor. Sure, he will get lots of criticism once again but there were lots of other issues with the team tonight but he looks a long way off a Premier League striker. At least he got into areas and was a threat; not sure Sharp did much of anything really in contrast.
Sharp 4.5/10 – Sadly he looked a bit out of his depth. A few decent bits of build up or link but he slows things down so much when it comes up to him and takes an age to control, move it on or find a shirt. Missed a good headed chance and then screwed another wide but the Newcastle defence coped with him quite easily as he lacks pace and strength. The movement from the front two was quite poor tonight and we were stagnant but the passing was poor also behind them. Daft booking too and seemed to want to argue with the ref all game.
Subs –
Mousset – Came on and at least linked and showed some nice bits of hold up. We looked a threat for a spell but then the second goal came and he was not really in the game after that.
McGoldrick – His wild shot into the Kop summed up his finishing confidence at the moment. It was hard for him as we were chasing the game but the ball did not stick and the whole team just could not get anything going. Will have to come back in with Mousse at the weekend.
Freeman – Looked unfit and his cameo was really uninspiring with a blatant foul after he lost the ball and a booking to compound it. He barely kept it when he had it and looked very sluggish and slow.
Manager Wilder 5/10 – Got outcoached by Bruce today in some ways. They started well, got a goal after we missed a few chances and then they sat in a deep line knowing we had no pace and we had no answer. They pressed our wing backs and let Norwood have it and just sat back and pressed when they had to. I felt that whilst we had a bit of a spell second half, they saw things out quite easily second half and Wilder has to change the tactics and formation – he changed the personnel but that made no difference. They just sat in and we lacked the class/pace and movement to break them down. We could still be playing tomorrow and not sure we would have scored. Indeed, from around the hour mark not sure we had any chances at all and only remember one McBurnie header of note after the break. I thought we would really up the tempo after the break but we did not really do that. Big test to get the team back on track. The team rotation did not work at all. The front two that came in are far inferior to the other two and it showed today but so many others did not have any idea how to break down a defensive side.
Newcastle – In many ways a perfect away performance. They started ok, got a goal and then sat in. They had a few let offs and good saves but not sure we created tons of chances really. They fought hard for each other and closed off the gaps. Carroll and the two wide men were a threat in terms of not letting us have an easy out. The second goal came at a great time as it effectively killed the game. Fair play to Shelvey for taking the chance. For most of the game we passed it side to side and they just got men across. They knew we lacked genuine quality to break them down and actually for all the possession we had, not sure we hurt them much at all. They actually did what we have done to other teams before when we had resilient ground out away wins last year (Leeds, West Brom etc) where they defended well and took the few chances they created. On one hand it was a bit smash and grab but on the other they actually won the game relatively comfortably in the end. They will stay up as Bruce has them working really hard and for all his critics, he normally gets teams organised and defensively very good. They have a bit of pace and power at the top of the field and will take enough points to be well away from the bottom three.
They were quite direct tonight and limited and very negative in terms of spoiling and timewasting but if we had done the same; people would have said professional away performance and commend us. We have to do better to beat limited sides who play in such a way. They sat off us and said ‘Go on try and show you have the quality to break us down.’ We did not. Some Newcastle fans saying that teams will watch that and do the same but not sure teams will sit back and defend like that every week.
Opponent Man of the Match – The defence was solid for the most part with Clark excellent in particular. Shelvey was busy but they did not have much of the ball. The defensive covering and work they all did was commendable. Carroll actually won so many headers that helped them up the field. The best player was probably Saint Maximin. He scored a vital first goal and was a real handful throughout. The keeper also of course made some good but kind of expected saves. Not sure any were world class and were quite close to him.
Opponent Weak link – No one was amazing but no one was that poor. Almiron is frustrating player and has ability but a bit weak and not much end product. However, they were all solid in the work they did defensively. They did not need the ball much to beat us.
Referee/Officials/VAR – The big talking point was the goal. It was not offside and the ref clearly did tell the players to play on. The linesman got it wrong as he got most things wrong all game. However, the bigger issue is the fact that sometimes refs play on, other times they blow their whistle and stop the game (did it with McGoldrick near the end). Surely now if that is the rule, they should just play on till the ball goes out and then check it afterwards. Why does it sometimes get stopped but other times the ref can play on? It is almost as if they will play on if it is a dangerous attack but others if it looks like it might not be a chance, they blow the whistle. In simple terms we may aswell not have linesman. Just play on all the time and let someone in a room decide after it is offside. The assistants/linesmen were appalling all night. They did not make any decisions ironically (till that one – the wrong one) and just kept looking at the ref for throws in/balls going out. The ref may have got the goal right but not much else. He gave them a lot of 50/50’s and was weak all night. Attwell did not penalise some absurd timewasting from the keeper who played the situation like a fiddle – going down claiming he was hurt when he was fine. Several other players did that and he played just 2 minutes in the first half. He did not book any of the Newcastle players and essentially let them do what they wanted. We saw the ball on the field about a minute from 45th minute to the 55th minute and killed any chance of momentum we had as he let them go down, feign injury, take ages over goal kicks. It was pitiful to see him barely even acknowledge it. Sharp and Freeman got booked. They did not get one booking despite the timewasting and cheating all night. Tonight, everyone will praise him in the national media for what a fantastic job he did on the goal. The reality was his entire performance was spineless as he allowed players to feign injury and take as much time as they wanted. Really weak. We wanted to watch a game but for long spells we saw him stood over a player pretending to be injured.
Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Thought we lost the battles on the field and off it. Newcastle fans were the loudest to come to the Lane and the 3,000 made much more of a racket than 27,000 Blades who were subdued for the most part. The team had an off day but felt the crowd did not really generate much of an atmosphere either. It is as if the fans almost expect great performance and results and felt it was really flat tonight.
Chris Wilder sprang a surprise by changing his front two with Sharp and McBurnie coming in for McGoldrick and Mousset. Andy Carroll also got a start for Newcastle in the loan striking role instead of big money signing Joelinton.
Newcastle started the game well and had the better of the opening five minutes by winning a few throws that saw the ball hurled into Carroll’s head. The Blades responded and a decent move saw the ball come across and Stevens deflected effort was well saved by Dubravka. Soon after Norwood’s corner was met by McBurnie but his effort was saved from close range. After these efforts, the visitors scored with their first attack.
Basham opted to head twice on the floor almost and then Baldock’s clearance only went to the right wing. Manquillo picked it up and sent over a dangerous cross and SAINT MAXIMIN powered above the defence and Basham in particular to head away from Henderson into the goal.
United tried to respond with neat and patient play leading to Basham’s cross right into the path of McBurnie but his header was too close to Dubravka who pushed away.
United kept trying to probe and find gaps but Newcastle were defending well. Sharp was shepherded wide with a shot and then Egan’s header was straight at the keeper. United were having all of the ball but struggling now to create too much but then one cross from the left was deflected away from Sharp who looked like he would score before the defensive touch to take it away.
Newcastle were already slowing things down and taking their time over everything but Fleck was fouled by Shelvey and this gave United a chance right on half time. Norwood took it but Dubravka palmed away reading the midfielder’s intentions.
After the break, Sharp was booked and then United tried to push the tempo but were struggling to get anything going through the middle and Newcastle kept forcing United wide but were stopping the overlaps that often cause problems. One ball from Baldock saw McBurnie get a good headed effort in that Dubravka palmed over.
Mousset came on for Sharp who just before had an effort saved but had been deemed offside.
However, it was not long after this that the second goal of the game came and it went to the visitors in a smash and grab raid. Once again, the long punt to Carroll was the preferred method of attack and as he had all night, he won his header. The ball flicked into the path of SHELVEY but the offside flag went up. The referee did not blow his whistle and seemed to wave play on. The United players foolishly stopped and Henderson seemed to just watch the ball go into the net as the midfielder ran through and scored. You feared the worst when it went to a check and the replays showed it was clearly onside and the goal was given to wild jubilations from the away players and fans.
United fans voiced their frustration and it hard to take when the referee sometimes plays on when the flag goes up and other times, he stops the game. It seems like there is almost little point of having linesman in the games anymore and more confusion over VAR continues. However, the goal sadly for the home side was a legitimate one and another poor one to concede as the Blades lost the header, had a too high line and no one went with a runner with a horrific attempt to play him offside. These things may get forgotten in the outrage over the decision and the confusion over the rules.
After this McGoldrick and Freeman came on for Norwood and Basham but United’s momentum and chances of coming back seemed to have completely stalled. The Blades started giving it away and the crowd became even more frustrated. Newcastle slowed things down and in the final stages, they looked more likely to score another goal with McGoldrick’s shot that went about 30 yards over the bar, summing up a desperately disappointing and frustrating night where nothing went right for the home side.
United – Really disappointing night. It was a big game and after some great showings but not the points we deserved you felt we had to get a positive result tonight but it never happened. From the first minute, we just seemed sloppy even though we had a lot of the ball. You sensed they actually looked like they may get one early on and so it proved. They then had something to hold onto and they did it quite easily in the end.
After the Southampton game, the biggest disappointment of the season and maybe our most disjointed performance. Sure, we had lots of the ball and did have chances but I felt too many players were off their game. The changes in attack did not work in terms of the shape of the team. We had a few early chances, they then scored and we missed a few but after this, we kind of ran out of ideas.
We shuffled it across painfully slowly and they just got men behind the ball. They made us cross from wide and deep and this was bread and butter for the big defenders. We had no creativity, little link play and none of the midfield got ahead of the strikers all game. We looked very sluggish and just ran out of ideas completely. We had so much of the ball but second half we did not do much with it. Of course, they barely had it and did not create much at all and we still had more of the ball and chances but at this level we have to take them. We did not. They did.
That has been our undoing in the last 4 games really. We played great in 3 and ok in patches today but picked up 3 points from 12. The plaudits for all our play and performances will mean nothing if we cannot put the ball in the net and keep it out at the other end. Sadly, we saw Sunday and even more so today our lack of concentration at one end and the lack of genuine class at the other could mean it will be still be a long, hard season. Today we faced a team that sat in and I felt we struggled other than 2 or 3 chances from headers. Of course, we take a few of them first half and they have to come out but we did not and that is the difference at this level. We now play our fellow two promoted teams and have to respond. We proved that changing some of our first eleven shows a big drop off but I think whilst the lack of a number 10 and the lack of pace up top did impact us, so many other players had off games also. The wing backs were not threats, the centre backs did not get forward. To have to much of the ball and create so little is a concern really. A lot will be made about the 2nd goal but for me it was more about the concerns with the lack of genuine quality or idea in the final third and the fact we switched off at key times at the back.
Ratings:
Henderson 6/10 – Barely had a save to make but header goes in first half. Not sure he had much chance and then he stands there instead of trying to stop the shot. Why is he not playing on? Ridiculous really and unprofessional. He was a bit dithering a few times coming for the ball. To be honest though he had nothing to do but let in two goals so hard to mark him really.
Baldock 6.5/10 – Bit of a poor clearance on the first goal when he did not get enough on it. One of few who kept trying and at least getting forward but he lacks confidence to put the ball in the box. He kept plugging away with little movement in front of him at all. I thought he was frustrated that he often ended up tight in corners with little help.
Stevens 6/10 – I thought he was not great Sunday and the same today but his standards have been so high so him being average is more of a surprise. He made poor decisions on the ball all night and was giving it away a lot with telegraphed balls. He also took an age to do things and they closed him down and realised he does not have a right foot at all so channelled him inside constantly where they had men. His final pass/cross was too weak all game and also got run past a few times also.
Basham 5.5/10 – At fault for their goal with two silly stopped headers instead of just clearing the ball and then when he got back to position, he was easily beat on the headed goal and never got off the floor. He looked a bit clumsy all night and going forward there was little impact as they sent him backwards. Did put one good cross in though which McBurnie should have scored. He also seemed to be the man who played them onside on the second goal. Key moments but cost us dearly.
O’Connell 6.5/10 – One of the few who tried to come out and get forward but his final ball/moment when he did attack did not come off. Felt he did ok defensively and at least competed and won a few more balls than the rest but the few breaks they had they did get through us quite easily with pace and power.
Egan 6/10 – Carroll is a handful and won a lot of headers against us including the key one for the second. His aerial play allowed them to get up the pitch. I thought for the first time for a long time he lost his battle. I remember Carroll doing the same at the Lane to Morgan.
Norwood 5.5/10 – Some decent passing and control early but then started giving the ball away and constantly he found their shirts with sloppy play. His long passed did not always come off and I felt he got outmuscled a few times also. One decent free kick saved was his highlight. Not his night and taken off
Lundstram 5/10 – Really poor tonight. His passing, tackling and overall contribution was limited. He sadly reminded me of the Lunny of old that looked like he was running through treacle. He constantly gave the ball away or played balls that were either over hit or short. No real attacking threat and not involved much in the link play. We were way too slow to move it around and they just got men behind the ball.
Fleck 6.5/10 – Our best midfielder just for the fact he tried to get on the ball and make things happen but even for him things did not come off really. He was ok first half and some decent bits but then faded badly after they scored the second, as did the whole team and looked a forlorn figure as the game finished. We ended up with an unfamiliar formation and not even sure where he was meant to be playing at the end?
McBurnie 5.5/10 – Not sure he can be accused of not trying. He did try but he missed two good chances – both headers and needs to score at least one of them. He had a decent header second half well saved and a curled effort but outside of this he looked a bit like someone who did not know how we played. He did not know whether to come short or get in the box and there was a big gap between the midfield and attack and they just packed the box. He is pitifully weak and three times he just got shoved off the ball so easily and ended up on the floor. Sure, he will get lots of criticism once again but there were lots of other issues with the team tonight but he looks a long way off a Premier League striker. At least he got into areas and was a threat; not sure Sharp did much of anything really in contrast.
Sharp 4.5/10 – Sadly he looked a bit out of his depth. A few decent bits of build up or link but he slows things down so much when it comes up to him and takes an age to control, move it on or find a shirt. Missed a good headed chance and then screwed another wide but the Newcastle defence coped with him quite easily as he lacks pace and strength. The movement from the front two was quite poor tonight and we were stagnant but the passing was poor also behind them. Daft booking too and seemed to want to argue with the ref all game.
Subs –
Mousset – Came on and at least linked and showed some nice bits of hold up. We looked a threat for a spell but then the second goal came and he was not really in the game after that.
McGoldrick – His wild shot into the Kop summed up his finishing confidence at the moment. It was hard for him as we were chasing the game but the ball did not stick and the whole team just could not get anything going. Will have to come back in with Mousse at the weekend.
Freeman – Looked unfit and his cameo was really uninspiring with a blatant foul after he lost the ball and a booking to compound it. He barely kept it when he had it and looked very sluggish and slow.
Manager Wilder 5/10 – Got outcoached by Bruce today in some ways. They started well, got a goal after we missed a few chances and then they sat in a deep line knowing we had no pace and we had no answer. They pressed our wing backs and let Norwood have it and just sat back and pressed when they had to. I felt that whilst we had a bit of a spell second half, they saw things out quite easily second half and Wilder has to change the tactics and formation – he changed the personnel but that made no difference. They just sat in and we lacked the class/pace and movement to break them down. We could still be playing tomorrow and not sure we would have scored. Indeed, from around the hour mark not sure we had any chances at all and only remember one McBurnie header of note after the break. I thought we would really up the tempo after the break but we did not really do that. Big test to get the team back on track. The team rotation did not work at all. The front two that came in are far inferior to the other two and it showed today but so many others did not have any idea how to break down a defensive side.
Newcastle – In many ways a perfect away performance. They started ok, got a goal and then sat in. They had a few let offs and good saves but not sure we created tons of chances really. They fought hard for each other and closed off the gaps. Carroll and the two wide men were a threat in terms of not letting us have an easy out. The second goal came at a great time as it effectively killed the game. Fair play to Shelvey for taking the chance. For most of the game we passed it side to side and they just got men across. They knew we lacked genuine quality to break them down and actually for all the possession we had, not sure we hurt them much at all. They actually did what we have done to other teams before when we had resilient ground out away wins last year (Leeds, West Brom etc) where they defended well and took the few chances they created. On one hand it was a bit smash and grab but on the other they actually won the game relatively comfortably in the end. They will stay up as Bruce has them working really hard and for all his critics, he normally gets teams organised and defensively very good. They have a bit of pace and power at the top of the field and will take enough points to be well away from the bottom three.
They were quite direct tonight and limited and very negative in terms of spoiling and timewasting but if we had done the same; people would have said professional away performance and commend us. We have to do better to beat limited sides who play in such a way. They sat off us and said ‘Go on try and show you have the quality to break us down.’ We did not. Some Newcastle fans saying that teams will watch that and do the same but not sure teams will sit back and defend like that every week.
Opponent Man of the Match – The defence was solid for the most part with Clark excellent in particular. Shelvey was busy but they did not have much of the ball. The defensive covering and work they all did was commendable. Carroll actually won so many headers that helped them up the field. The best player was probably Saint Maximin. He scored a vital first goal and was a real handful throughout. The keeper also of course made some good but kind of expected saves. Not sure any were world class and were quite close to him.
Opponent Weak link – No one was amazing but no one was that poor. Almiron is frustrating player and has ability but a bit weak and not much end product. However, they were all solid in the work they did defensively. They did not need the ball much to beat us.
Referee/Officials/VAR – The big talking point was the goal. It was not offside and the ref clearly did tell the players to play on. The linesman got it wrong as he got most things wrong all game. However, the bigger issue is the fact that sometimes refs play on, other times they blow their whistle and stop the game (did it with McGoldrick near the end). Surely now if that is the rule, they should just play on till the ball goes out and then check it afterwards. Why does it sometimes get stopped but other times the ref can play on? It is almost as if they will play on if it is a dangerous attack but others if it looks like it might not be a chance, they blow the whistle. In simple terms we may aswell not have linesman. Just play on all the time and let someone in a room decide after it is offside. The assistants/linesmen were appalling all night. They did not make any decisions ironically (till that one – the wrong one) and just kept looking at the ref for throws in/balls going out. The ref may have got the goal right but not much else. He gave them a lot of 50/50’s and was weak all night. Attwell did not penalise some absurd timewasting from the keeper who played the situation like a fiddle – going down claiming he was hurt when he was fine. Several other players did that and he played just 2 minutes in the first half. He did not book any of the Newcastle players and essentially let them do what they wanted. We saw the ball on the field about a minute from 45th minute to the 55th minute and killed any chance of momentum we had as he let them go down, feign injury, take ages over goal kicks. It was pitiful to see him barely even acknowledge it. Sharp and Freeman got booked. They did not get one booking despite the timewasting and cheating all night. Tonight, everyone will praise him in the national media for what a fantastic job he did on the goal. The reality was his entire performance was spineless as he allowed players to feign injury and take as much time as they wanted. Really weak. We wanted to watch a game but for long spells we saw him stood over a player pretending to be injured.
Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Thought we lost the battles on the field and off it. Newcastle fans were the loudest to come to the Lane and the 3,000 made much more of a racket than 27,000 Blades who were subdued for the most part. The team had an off day but felt the crowd did not really generate much of an atmosphere either. It is as if the fans almost expect great performance and results and felt it was really flat tonight.
