Post by deadbat on Mar 8, 2020 14:59:13 GMT
Sorry for the late report -went out after to Peddler, Old Workshop and The Picture House. Drank and ate too much and no fit state to write anything till now….
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-norwich
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The Blades continued their quest for European football with another win after they saw of Norwich City at Bramall Lane. Billy Sharp scored the only goal with a typical predatory finish but United were indebted to goalkeeper Dean Henderson for some stunning late saves to preserve the three points.
United made one change from the last league line up with John Lundstram coming in for Sander Berge in midfield. Norwich were coming into the game after an excellent week, beating Leicester in the league and Spurs in the FA Cup.
United were quick out of the blocks and moving the ball about with purpose and pace and created the first chance inside 5 minutes when Sharp centred but McBurnie’s header was tipped over by Krul. The corner was cleared but United returned it and Stevens cross had to be put behind by Godfrey. United were creating their traditional overloads down both sides and the pressure was mounting with both Basham and O’Connell in advanced positions.
Norwich had rarely threatened but Buendia’s shot was deflected wide and United could not properly deal with the corner seeing Pukki free but his shot on the angle hit the outside of the post. The same man then got away from Egan but Stevens got back to make the clearance as the Canaries started to have more of the ball for this spell of the game. Norwich were showing some nice touches and pieces of play that belied their lowly position and the game was very even at this stage.
United had a good chance though when the ball dropped from a corner to O’Connell after Egan’s initial effort, and the second chance was goal bound but McLean managed to divert it behind with a touch of fortune with Krul well beaten. United won two more corners with Sharp’s hard work and running leading to Norwich having to throw bodies in the way to prevent a few more half chances from the set plays.
On 36 minutes, the breakthrough came for the red and white wizards. More patient passing saw the ball played out to the right and Lundstram sent over a delightful whipped cross that was right onto the head of SHARP whose bullet header flew high past Krul into the net.
United looked for a second almost immediately and Lundstram shot not far wide. Soon after this, Stevens and then McBurnie had efforts blocked. The Blades could sense blood and wave after wave of attacks ensued. From one such move, some lovely passing and interchange from several players culminated in Sharp’s lay back for Lundstram to fire a shot that Krul had to save. Anywhere else on goal and it would surely have gone in.
The half time whistle came not long after and the Blades powerful finish to the half saw them go in with a deserved lead.
Farke made a tactical change sending on Drmic for Cantwell, and went to two up top and early on showed they wanted to be more direct knocking it forward quicker and they won two corners. United were struggling to keep the ball as they had in the first half although Norwich had improved, they did not really threaten Henderson’s goal.
Stevens had to come off as his stop start last few weeks continued with seemingly the same hamstring strain causing him issues. Osborn took his place after his excellent last few outings down the left-hand side. Vrancic took the place of Tettey as Norwich looked for even more attacking impetus.
United won a corner that was cleared before Basham then came inside and lobbed the ball over McLean but his finish was too high despite the great work in the build-up. Sharp came off to a standing ovation as McGoldrick replaced him with 20 minutes to go.
The game was becoming more stretched as United started to sit back and both teams attacked leading to a game that became more like basketball for a period. Concerns for the Blades were almost realised with a leveller as Norwich pushed the home team back and needed Henderson’s superb work to keep the lead. Godfrey’s header was saved right on the line and then from the rebound, he made another superb block assisted by McGoldrick, from Vrancic as the ball span up seemingly off the bar and then away. Baldock completed the clearance as somehow United’s goal remained intact.
Lewis was the next to go close with a stinging effort that Henderson had to push away as the visitors threw caution to the wind. Idah came on for Duda and then Berge for McBurnie, after Mousset had been readied again but not employed, as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes.
There was an additional four minutes of stoppage time to be played but the Blades saw this out professionally with a late effort from Buendia drifting well wide the best Norwich could muster. The final whistle was met with loud cheers from most of the Lane, as United celebrated another win and another clean sheet.
United – Once again as with the games against Bournemouth and West Ham; United did not play fantastic but got the win with a gritty performance where we did just about enough. As Wilder said, in both boxes we were better and that sums it up. We could not have complained if they had drawn but then the previous game against Brighton, we were much better and did not win so that is how football goes. We began well and it was all us the first 10 minutes but then they came back into it and had efforts themselves and it was very even but then the last 15 minutes of the half we battered them and scored and then could have had 2 or 3 more as they really struggled to cope with the balls coming into the box. Half time probably came at the wrong time as another 5 minutes and we would have got a second.
They brought a big striker on and went a bit more direct and the game was quite even for much of the second half. I cannot recall much happening goalmouth wise. They had a few corners, as we did but it was sort of drifting away which suited United although I felt we defended a bit deep. They then had a few big chances. Henderson made the fantastic double save when I am not quite sure how it stayed out and then he made another more makeable save from the Lewis shot. I thought they may get one at this stage as they were chucking men forward and we were not keeping the ball as much as we had done earlier in the game. We seemed a bit caught between holding on and going for a second and never did either really. However, the last sort of 5 minutes and stoppage time, I cannot recall they really having any efforts of note and we actually saw it out really well.
I am not sure anyone played great (Henderson maybe apart) and there were some average to decent performances without anyone really being outstanding. Collectively we played in fits and bursts but that final 15 minutes of the first half we really could have blown them away. That was United being at what they can do and what we saw maybe more of last season and earlier this season. Recently the performances have maybe been more like what they were maybe in the second half of last season actually. We have defended well, got the vital goal/s and then won games. We have not played bad but maybe not kept it as much as we can do and got long a bit too much. Still, we did what we had to do and it is another fantastic win and keeps us right in the hunt.
Be interesting to see what happens tomorrow with the government meeting. Having a nasty feeling we may see the next few games (maybe Newcastle and the Arsenal Cup game) played behind closed doors. Hope not but not sure they will have a meeting and then just say carry on as normal. Annoying if the case as got hotel, trains and tickets sorted for next week. Would the government reimburse all that?! I doubt it. Not sure it would help us as we have great support and think our players thrive off the intensity and noise but maybe it won’t matter if it happens.
Hopefully, whatever they do whether they carry on or we have a few behind closed doors, United can just keep going. We are 10 games (maybe 13 with the Cup!) from being a fabulous season to the best season United have had since maybe the second World War. We really have to just keep doing what we are doing and then who knows where that may take us.
Ratings:
Henderson 9/10 – He made two fantastic saves from Godfrey and then Vrancic (helped by McGoldrick) and then another good same from Lewis. The double saves, especially the second, was amazing. Actually, outside of that not sure he had many saves to make but his kicking was a bit rubbish again but let him off after those vital saves!
Baldock 7/10 – He was ok but I felt he gave away a few daft fouls again. Defensively, he stuck to his task faced with some pace (especially Lewis down that side) and managed to get some blocks in/tackles. He was not involved quite as much going forward although we saw the occasional foray but nothing of note in terms of crosses/chances made. He did find himself down the left at one point on a run showing our philosophy at times.
Stevens 7/10 – As above really. He defended ok and did what he had to. Got forward quite a bit first half, maybe more than Baldock and had a few crosses coming in that led to corners/half chances. Had a shot blocked and was really busy. Shame he pulled up second half and hope this nagging injury is not something that will keep him out long term.
Basham 8/10 – Another energetic and hungry performance. First half bit careless with the ball but did get forward quite a bit and was very deep in Norwich territory for long spells. He even continued this second half as our most advanced of the three centre backs and nearly scored with a superb bit of skill as he lobbed it over his man and volleyed over. If that had gone in then Wow! Summed him up when a few minutes from the end, he was maybe 30-70 second favourite to a ball on the right not from the dug outs and he sprinted won it from the timid Norwich player (not sure who it was) followed it up and cleared it. Love the guy to bits and is my player of the season as it stands now in a very close field just ahead of Fleck, O’Connell and Baldock.
O’Connell 7.5/10 – Thought he was really solid again and outfield maybe rivalled Bash and Billy for our stand out player. Got forward quite a bit first half and ended up playing almost as an orthodox left winger for a long spell and helped us keep the pressure on. Nearly scored with an effort deflected wide when maybe he could have done a bit better. Had to defend rather than attack in the second half but he was really solid and always seemed to be in the right place to head/kick clear. Surely cannot be far from an England call up. We have such a great defensive record and thus he has to be close now. If people like Mings and Keane get called ahead of him then Southgate just clearly does not fancy him.
Egan 7/10 – Got turned first half by Pukki and Stevens had to help him. He also did not clear when Pukki hit the post but second half he was much better and made some telling step in interceptions and tackles as we defended well.
Norwood 7/10 – Some decent passes but went shorter this game and did not see as many long passes/diagonal balls as we have seen before. He was good first half and helping us dictate the game especially in that spell. Took some dangerous corners too. Second half not as involved on the ball and I felt we had a spell where they ran through us and we were a bit open but near the end he made some telling interceptions and helped us keep the ball.
Lundstram 7/10 – Glad to have him back. Think we need to play the same midfield that has took us so far this season. Berge’s time will come I am sure. He was up and down in this game Lunny. Some lovely bits of play and always involved and had two or three good efforts showing his goalscoring knack and ability to get on the end of things. The cross for the goal was superb and on a plate for Sharp. Second half felt he and the others were not on the ball as much and some of the runners got away from us down the middle.
Fleck 7.5/10 – Like with the rest of the midfield, when he had the ball looked good with some nice bits of link up and passes and some of his driving runs. He was involved in some of our best attacks. He was not on the ball as much second half but when he had it you knew he would take it forward or keep it. Few bits of skill did not come off second half nearer the end and they nearly broke after one.
McBurnie 5/10 – Not his day. Had improved massively but the last few home games, not sure he has been really at it or effective and our least effective player for me. He missed a good chance when needed to get more power/direction on his header early on and that was really it for chances other than one blocked. Had another chance second half but came across and took too long and was robbed. Looked very weak and slow at times and I felt he did not hold it up enough for me. He also was sluggish in tracking back. Should have been taken off before Sharp for me. I guess he was tiring also but we needed more legs up top and Mousset, as bad as he was in the week, could have given us an outlet and stretched them.
Sharp 7.5/10 – Played well and indeed has done since he got back in the starting line-up. Now he is getting games, the goals are starting to come too. Took his header superbly. He is very good at headed chances and scored a lot of goals just like that one. It really is an underrated quality to his game. He held it up well and as Match of the Day discussed, he was always a threat with his running and hold up play. Did not have much second half in terms of chances or the ball and had to feed off scraps but worked hard until he came off.
Subs –
Osborn – Now being involved more and more due to Stevens injury issues and today he was solid again when he came on making some tackles and clearances as they threw men forward. He also keeps the ball well and is better than I thought technically. Expect he may play the next few games as cannot see Stevens being risked if it is the same injury.
McGoldrick – Did alright with a few flicks and hold up and then also helped us stay in the lead assisting in the clearance with Henderson. He did a lovely nut meg near the end to help us keep the ball high up the field although gave away a few silly free kicks. I actually would play him and Sharp next week – as McBurnie has not been quite at its recent games. All that money and I feel we are maybe going to end the season with Lundstram back in and the old one two back up top!
Berge – Was going to be Mousset but ended up being him as we looked to see out time and give us another body. He did not touch the ball that much but the team did see out the additional time well so maybe just that extra body stopped them going down the middle as much as they had done.
Manager Wilder 8/10 – Another win. Another clean sheet and another gritty if not brilliant showing. We did enough to win the game with a good goal and some key defending/keeping. We started the game well and then ended the half superbly. Second half Farke changes tactics and chucked another man on. Maybe we did not keep it enough and sat a bit deep. He was a bit restricted in changes with Stevens going off, as then once Sharp tired and came off he could not make the other change till later as if he could have done, I think he would have put Mousset on for McBurnie earlier. In the end he did not even come on – he seemed stripped and ready so not quite sure for the second home game running; he has changed his mind!
Norwich – There are worse teams that have come to the Lane and for me they were better than Brighton, Bournemouth and West Ham and some others probably. They just switch off at key times and today they could not score when they had that chance/s. It is such tight margins and will argue they deserved a point. Equally, you could say that spell at the end of the first half we could have 2 or 3 more goals and the game would have been over. Second half they put the big lad on and went forward quicker and went a bit more aerial and did have some decent bits of play and won a lot of corners. They will wonder how the ball did not go over the line on the effort from the corner and then Lewis had a shot but then they sort of run out of steam. I expected them to really throw everything forward after this but it never happened. The goal was awful from them. No one pressed the cross and no one even close to Sharp. Terrible defending. We could have had a few more from similar indecision/when they switched off. They have some decent ball players and the lad Buendia is talented as is Vranic the sub but they do not score enough or keep the ball out enough.
All the pretty tip, tap stuff they can play is no good if they cannot do the basics well enough. I expect if they do go down and they probably will now as the gap is still sizeable with games running out. If they do then they probably come straight back if they keep most of the squad and could be a bit West Brom. The no spending approach is good for a while as they have suffered from overspending before but at some point, they will have to try and become more than the yo-yo team that I expect they could be. I never thought they would be such a gap between the teams. No one expected United to do so well of course but I would have not been shocked to see Norwich midway in the league. I knew they had defending issues last season but expected they would score more and win a lot more games. Farke’s a little bit naïve in his approach despite him doing a great job over the last few years.
*Interestingly I saw Norwich’s players pre game near the hotel near the St Paul’s hotel by in town (seems everyone stays here – mainly as there are no really good hotels in Sheffield in terms of being 5 star at least). They all came out of the hotel (I was going through the Winter Gardens) and walked down past the Smoke BBQ and then up the side near Browns and back to the Hotel where they had left. The walk lasted about 3-4 minutes. It was clearly a leg freshener type sashay but it was a complete waste of time! I did say Cantwell walk into a bin which was mildly amusing.
Opponent Man of the Match – Not sure really. I like Buendia and he showed some nice touches and was involved more second half when he ran through us a few times and got on the ball. The big lad who came on Thought Lewis was good and a threat and reckon someone will come for him if they do down. Although he did blatantly cheat pretending, he was injured and then got up and ran it off within seconds after he had ‘treatment’. He is a decent player.
Opponent Weak link – I actually thought that maybe their best player this season, Pukki was poor today and never in the game apart from that one chance and we defended him well. I like the lad Godfrey and think he is a good centre back but he and Hanley switched off badly on the goal. However, their worst player may have been Cantwell. Hyped up a lot and he seems to hype himself up a bit judging by his twitter boasts, he barely touched the ball today and was rightly taken off at half time. Maybe his performance was not helped by his pre match routine*
Must mention Krul. What an annoying twit he is. Do Norwich have to field keepers that act like massive bell ends? After the antics of Gunn, the other year, we had him today carrying on from his blatant cheating on the penalties in the week (why he was not booked or sent off for that ridiculous theatrics I do not know). He was wasting time from the start and then second half suddenly rushing but seemed to think he could take every goal kick/free kick from the wrong spots with a moving ball. He did it 5 or 6 times before finally the ref finally made him retake one. He seemed incredulous he was asked to follow the basic rules of football.
Referee/Officials/VAR – Aside from above when he failed to spot Krul’s cheating, I thought it was an ok game from Simon Hooper actually. Thought he gave them a few innocuous fouls for pushes and they went to ground a bit easily. Contrast Sharp going down and getting straight up with the antics of Lewis for instance. He did not book a player which is always a good sign but not sure there were many fouls or bad tackles all game. It was a bit stand off-ish for both teams at times. He did not get much help from his assistants who once again seemed to never want to make a decision and kept looking at Hooper even though they were closer.
Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Thought it was a bit flat for spells today and Norwich fans were right to sing the Library chant. After we scored, the noise of course came and second half I felt the chants increased as we got nearer full time and the win. There was a great ovation at the end though and I felt many may have took Wilder’s words about staying and thought about it, as it was noticeably fuller at the end when the team came to the Kop! Norwich did not come close to filling the away end and maybe only brought 1,800 at tops. They have brought more to the Lane the last two years. Weird really as I know they are struggling but they took 9,000 to Leicester in the week which was remarkable. Maybe the fans (and team!) are concentrating on the cup. The fans that came did actually make a fair bit of noise although they are different make up of fans. I saw a lot of more elderly fans (lots of couples too) than you normally see and a lot of them wear shirts too. They are probably going to go down now despite recent improvements but are a well-supported club if you look at the home crowds.
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-norwich
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The Blades continued their quest for European football with another win after they saw of Norwich City at Bramall Lane. Billy Sharp scored the only goal with a typical predatory finish but United were indebted to goalkeeper Dean Henderson for some stunning late saves to preserve the three points.
United made one change from the last league line up with John Lundstram coming in for Sander Berge in midfield. Norwich were coming into the game after an excellent week, beating Leicester in the league and Spurs in the FA Cup.
United were quick out of the blocks and moving the ball about with purpose and pace and created the first chance inside 5 minutes when Sharp centred but McBurnie’s header was tipped over by Krul. The corner was cleared but United returned it and Stevens cross had to be put behind by Godfrey. United were creating their traditional overloads down both sides and the pressure was mounting with both Basham and O’Connell in advanced positions.
Norwich had rarely threatened but Buendia’s shot was deflected wide and United could not properly deal with the corner seeing Pukki free but his shot on the angle hit the outside of the post. The same man then got away from Egan but Stevens got back to make the clearance as the Canaries started to have more of the ball for this spell of the game. Norwich were showing some nice touches and pieces of play that belied their lowly position and the game was very even at this stage.
United had a good chance though when the ball dropped from a corner to O’Connell after Egan’s initial effort, and the second chance was goal bound but McLean managed to divert it behind with a touch of fortune with Krul well beaten. United won two more corners with Sharp’s hard work and running leading to Norwich having to throw bodies in the way to prevent a few more half chances from the set plays.
On 36 minutes, the breakthrough came for the red and white wizards. More patient passing saw the ball played out to the right and Lundstram sent over a delightful whipped cross that was right onto the head of SHARP whose bullet header flew high past Krul into the net.
United looked for a second almost immediately and Lundstram shot not far wide. Soon after this, Stevens and then McBurnie had efforts blocked. The Blades could sense blood and wave after wave of attacks ensued. From one such move, some lovely passing and interchange from several players culminated in Sharp’s lay back for Lundstram to fire a shot that Krul had to save. Anywhere else on goal and it would surely have gone in.
The half time whistle came not long after and the Blades powerful finish to the half saw them go in with a deserved lead.
Farke made a tactical change sending on Drmic for Cantwell, and went to two up top and early on showed they wanted to be more direct knocking it forward quicker and they won two corners. United were struggling to keep the ball as they had in the first half although Norwich had improved, they did not really threaten Henderson’s goal.
Stevens had to come off as his stop start last few weeks continued with seemingly the same hamstring strain causing him issues. Osborn took his place after his excellent last few outings down the left-hand side. Vrancic took the place of Tettey as Norwich looked for even more attacking impetus.
United won a corner that was cleared before Basham then came inside and lobbed the ball over McLean but his finish was too high despite the great work in the build-up. Sharp came off to a standing ovation as McGoldrick replaced him with 20 minutes to go.
The game was becoming more stretched as United started to sit back and both teams attacked leading to a game that became more like basketball for a period. Concerns for the Blades were almost realised with a leveller as Norwich pushed the home team back and needed Henderson’s superb work to keep the lead. Godfrey’s header was saved right on the line and then from the rebound, he made another superb block assisted by McGoldrick, from Vrancic as the ball span up seemingly off the bar and then away. Baldock completed the clearance as somehow United’s goal remained intact.
Lewis was the next to go close with a stinging effort that Henderson had to push away as the visitors threw caution to the wind. Idah came on for Duda and then Berge for McBurnie, after Mousset had been readied again but not employed, as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes.
There was an additional four minutes of stoppage time to be played but the Blades saw this out professionally with a late effort from Buendia drifting well wide the best Norwich could muster. The final whistle was met with loud cheers from most of the Lane, as United celebrated another win and another clean sheet.
United – Once again as with the games against Bournemouth and West Ham; United did not play fantastic but got the win with a gritty performance where we did just about enough. As Wilder said, in both boxes we were better and that sums it up. We could not have complained if they had drawn but then the previous game against Brighton, we were much better and did not win so that is how football goes. We began well and it was all us the first 10 minutes but then they came back into it and had efforts themselves and it was very even but then the last 15 minutes of the half we battered them and scored and then could have had 2 or 3 more as they really struggled to cope with the balls coming into the box. Half time probably came at the wrong time as another 5 minutes and we would have got a second.
They brought a big striker on and went a bit more direct and the game was quite even for much of the second half. I cannot recall much happening goalmouth wise. They had a few corners, as we did but it was sort of drifting away which suited United although I felt we defended a bit deep. They then had a few big chances. Henderson made the fantastic double save when I am not quite sure how it stayed out and then he made another more makeable save from the Lewis shot. I thought they may get one at this stage as they were chucking men forward and we were not keeping the ball as much as we had done earlier in the game. We seemed a bit caught between holding on and going for a second and never did either really. However, the last sort of 5 minutes and stoppage time, I cannot recall they really having any efforts of note and we actually saw it out really well.
I am not sure anyone played great (Henderson maybe apart) and there were some average to decent performances without anyone really being outstanding. Collectively we played in fits and bursts but that final 15 minutes of the first half we really could have blown them away. That was United being at what they can do and what we saw maybe more of last season and earlier this season. Recently the performances have maybe been more like what they were maybe in the second half of last season actually. We have defended well, got the vital goal/s and then won games. We have not played bad but maybe not kept it as much as we can do and got long a bit too much. Still, we did what we had to do and it is another fantastic win and keeps us right in the hunt.
Be interesting to see what happens tomorrow with the government meeting. Having a nasty feeling we may see the next few games (maybe Newcastle and the Arsenal Cup game) played behind closed doors. Hope not but not sure they will have a meeting and then just say carry on as normal. Annoying if the case as got hotel, trains and tickets sorted for next week. Would the government reimburse all that?! I doubt it. Not sure it would help us as we have great support and think our players thrive off the intensity and noise but maybe it won’t matter if it happens.
Hopefully, whatever they do whether they carry on or we have a few behind closed doors, United can just keep going. We are 10 games (maybe 13 with the Cup!) from being a fabulous season to the best season United have had since maybe the second World War. We really have to just keep doing what we are doing and then who knows where that may take us.
Ratings:
Henderson 9/10 – He made two fantastic saves from Godfrey and then Vrancic (helped by McGoldrick) and then another good same from Lewis. The double saves, especially the second, was amazing. Actually, outside of that not sure he had many saves to make but his kicking was a bit rubbish again but let him off after those vital saves!
Baldock 7/10 – He was ok but I felt he gave away a few daft fouls again. Defensively, he stuck to his task faced with some pace (especially Lewis down that side) and managed to get some blocks in/tackles. He was not involved quite as much going forward although we saw the occasional foray but nothing of note in terms of crosses/chances made. He did find himself down the left at one point on a run showing our philosophy at times.
Stevens 7/10 – As above really. He defended ok and did what he had to. Got forward quite a bit first half, maybe more than Baldock and had a few crosses coming in that led to corners/half chances. Had a shot blocked and was really busy. Shame he pulled up second half and hope this nagging injury is not something that will keep him out long term.
Basham 8/10 – Another energetic and hungry performance. First half bit careless with the ball but did get forward quite a bit and was very deep in Norwich territory for long spells. He even continued this second half as our most advanced of the three centre backs and nearly scored with a superb bit of skill as he lobbed it over his man and volleyed over. If that had gone in then Wow! Summed him up when a few minutes from the end, he was maybe 30-70 second favourite to a ball on the right not from the dug outs and he sprinted won it from the timid Norwich player (not sure who it was) followed it up and cleared it. Love the guy to bits and is my player of the season as it stands now in a very close field just ahead of Fleck, O’Connell and Baldock.
O’Connell 7.5/10 – Thought he was really solid again and outfield maybe rivalled Bash and Billy for our stand out player. Got forward quite a bit first half and ended up playing almost as an orthodox left winger for a long spell and helped us keep the pressure on. Nearly scored with an effort deflected wide when maybe he could have done a bit better. Had to defend rather than attack in the second half but he was really solid and always seemed to be in the right place to head/kick clear. Surely cannot be far from an England call up. We have such a great defensive record and thus he has to be close now. If people like Mings and Keane get called ahead of him then Southgate just clearly does not fancy him.
Egan 7/10 – Got turned first half by Pukki and Stevens had to help him. He also did not clear when Pukki hit the post but second half he was much better and made some telling step in interceptions and tackles as we defended well.
Norwood 7/10 – Some decent passes but went shorter this game and did not see as many long passes/diagonal balls as we have seen before. He was good first half and helping us dictate the game especially in that spell. Took some dangerous corners too. Second half not as involved on the ball and I felt we had a spell where they ran through us and we were a bit open but near the end he made some telling interceptions and helped us keep the ball.
Lundstram 7/10 – Glad to have him back. Think we need to play the same midfield that has took us so far this season. Berge’s time will come I am sure. He was up and down in this game Lunny. Some lovely bits of play and always involved and had two or three good efforts showing his goalscoring knack and ability to get on the end of things. The cross for the goal was superb and on a plate for Sharp. Second half felt he and the others were not on the ball as much and some of the runners got away from us down the middle.
Fleck 7.5/10 – Like with the rest of the midfield, when he had the ball looked good with some nice bits of link up and passes and some of his driving runs. He was involved in some of our best attacks. He was not on the ball as much second half but when he had it you knew he would take it forward or keep it. Few bits of skill did not come off second half nearer the end and they nearly broke after one.
McBurnie 5/10 – Not his day. Had improved massively but the last few home games, not sure he has been really at it or effective and our least effective player for me. He missed a good chance when needed to get more power/direction on his header early on and that was really it for chances other than one blocked. Had another chance second half but came across and took too long and was robbed. Looked very weak and slow at times and I felt he did not hold it up enough for me. He also was sluggish in tracking back. Should have been taken off before Sharp for me. I guess he was tiring also but we needed more legs up top and Mousset, as bad as he was in the week, could have given us an outlet and stretched them.
Sharp 7.5/10 – Played well and indeed has done since he got back in the starting line-up. Now he is getting games, the goals are starting to come too. Took his header superbly. He is very good at headed chances and scored a lot of goals just like that one. It really is an underrated quality to his game. He held it up well and as Match of the Day discussed, he was always a threat with his running and hold up play. Did not have much second half in terms of chances or the ball and had to feed off scraps but worked hard until he came off.
Subs –
Osborn – Now being involved more and more due to Stevens injury issues and today he was solid again when he came on making some tackles and clearances as they threw men forward. He also keeps the ball well and is better than I thought technically. Expect he may play the next few games as cannot see Stevens being risked if it is the same injury.
McGoldrick – Did alright with a few flicks and hold up and then also helped us stay in the lead assisting in the clearance with Henderson. He did a lovely nut meg near the end to help us keep the ball high up the field although gave away a few silly free kicks. I actually would play him and Sharp next week – as McBurnie has not been quite at its recent games. All that money and I feel we are maybe going to end the season with Lundstram back in and the old one two back up top!
Berge – Was going to be Mousset but ended up being him as we looked to see out time and give us another body. He did not touch the ball that much but the team did see out the additional time well so maybe just that extra body stopped them going down the middle as much as they had done.
Manager Wilder 8/10 – Another win. Another clean sheet and another gritty if not brilliant showing. We did enough to win the game with a good goal and some key defending/keeping. We started the game well and then ended the half superbly. Second half Farke changes tactics and chucked another man on. Maybe we did not keep it enough and sat a bit deep. He was a bit restricted in changes with Stevens going off, as then once Sharp tired and came off he could not make the other change till later as if he could have done, I think he would have put Mousset on for McBurnie earlier. In the end he did not even come on – he seemed stripped and ready so not quite sure for the second home game running; he has changed his mind!
Norwich – There are worse teams that have come to the Lane and for me they were better than Brighton, Bournemouth and West Ham and some others probably. They just switch off at key times and today they could not score when they had that chance/s. It is such tight margins and will argue they deserved a point. Equally, you could say that spell at the end of the first half we could have 2 or 3 more goals and the game would have been over. Second half they put the big lad on and went forward quicker and went a bit more aerial and did have some decent bits of play and won a lot of corners. They will wonder how the ball did not go over the line on the effort from the corner and then Lewis had a shot but then they sort of run out of steam. I expected them to really throw everything forward after this but it never happened. The goal was awful from them. No one pressed the cross and no one even close to Sharp. Terrible defending. We could have had a few more from similar indecision/when they switched off. They have some decent ball players and the lad Buendia is talented as is Vranic the sub but they do not score enough or keep the ball out enough.
All the pretty tip, tap stuff they can play is no good if they cannot do the basics well enough. I expect if they do go down and they probably will now as the gap is still sizeable with games running out. If they do then they probably come straight back if they keep most of the squad and could be a bit West Brom. The no spending approach is good for a while as they have suffered from overspending before but at some point, they will have to try and become more than the yo-yo team that I expect they could be. I never thought they would be such a gap between the teams. No one expected United to do so well of course but I would have not been shocked to see Norwich midway in the league. I knew they had defending issues last season but expected they would score more and win a lot more games. Farke’s a little bit naïve in his approach despite him doing a great job over the last few years.
*Interestingly I saw Norwich’s players pre game near the hotel near the St Paul’s hotel by in town (seems everyone stays here – mainly as there are no really good hotels in Sheffield in terms of being 5 star at least). They all came out of the hotel (I was going through the Winter Gardens) and walked down past the Smoke BBQ and then up the side near Browns and back to the Hotel where they had left. The walk lasted about 3-4 minutes. It was clearly a leg freshener type sashay but it was a complete waste of time! I did say Cantwell walk into a bin which was mildly amusing.
Opponent Man of the Match – Not sure really. I like Buendia and he showed some nice touches and was involved more second half when he ran through us a few times and got on the ball. The big lad who came on Thought Lewis was good and a threat and reckon someone will come for him if they do down. Although he did blatantly cheat pretending, he was injured and then got up and ran it off within seconds after he had ‘treatment’. He is a decent player.
Opponent Weak link – I actually thought that maybe their best player this season, Pukki was poor today and never in the game apart from that one chance and we defended him well. I like the lad Godfrey and think he is a good centre back but he and Hanley switched off badly on the goal. However, their worst player may have been Cantwell. Hyped up a lot and he seems to hype himself up a bit judging by his twitter boasts, he barely touched the ball today and was rightly taken off at half time. Maybe his performance was not helped by his pre match routine*
Must mention Krul. What an annoying twit he is. Do Norwich have to field keepers that act like massive bell ends? After the antics of Gunn, the other year, we had him today carrying on from his blatant cheating on the penalties in the week (why he was not booked or sent off for that ridiculous theatrics I do not know). He was wasting time from the start and then second half suddenly rushing but seemed to think he could take every goal kick/free kick from the wrong spots with a moving ball. He did it 5 or 6 times before finally the ref finally made him retake one. He seemed incredulous he was asked to follow the basic rules of football.
Referee/Officials/VAR – Aside from above when he failed to spot Krul’s cheating, I thought it was an ok game from Simon Hooper actually. Thought he gave them a few innocuous fouls for pushes and they went to ground a bit easily. Contrast Sharp going down and getting straight up with the antics of Lewis for instance. He did not book a player which is always a good sign but not sure there were many fouls or bad tackles all game. It was a bit stand off-ish for both teams at times. He did not get much help from his assistants who once again seemed to never want to make a decision and kept looking at Hooper even though they were closer.
Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Thought it was a bit flat for spells today and Norwich fans were right to sing the Library chant. After we scored, the noise of course came and second half I felt the chants increased as we got nearer full time and the win. There was a great ovation at the end though and I felt many may have took Wilder’s words about staying and thought about it, as it was noticeably fuller at the end when the team came to the Kop! Norwich did not come close to filling the away end and maybe only brought 1,800 at tops. They have brought more to the Lane the last two years. Weird really as I know they are struggling but they took 9,000 to Leicester in the week which was remarkable. Maybe the fans (and team!) are concentrating on the cup. The fans that came did actually make a fair bit of noise although they are different make up of fans. I saw a lot of more elderly fans (lots of couples too) than you normally see and a lot of them wear shirts too. They are probably going to go down now despite recent improvements but are a well-supported club if you look at the home crowds.
