Post by deadbat on Oct 18, 2020 15:37:49 GMT
Match report below and pod here also:
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open.spotify.com/episode/1KuTdoWGxJQAc0ooDtSJep?si=enXqKTygRJ6j2737wNpzRQ
United’s poor start to the new season continued as they drew at home to fellow strugglers Fulham at Bramall Lane. Today, the Blades were the better side for the first half and missed a number of good chances but after the break the visitors largely dominated and but for poor finishing from Alexander Mitrovic and a stupid penalty the same player gave away; they would have left the Lane with all three points. Maybe over the game, United could point to them being better in the first half and thus deserving a point but the big chances certainly went to the visitors with Ramsdale the much busier keeper and Fulham looked the more frustrated on full time as United were hanging on at the end. This of course is really worrying, against a promoted side and one expected to struggle. With three really tough games to come, United know they have to play much, much better than they have done so far this season. The narrative has been about poor refereeing decisions or lack of firepower but today United looked a poor side 2nd half all over the field and were outworked and outskilled for long periods. It is a point though and gets them off the mark and for now off the bottom
Manager Chris Wilder made changes to his side with Max Lowe coming in for his debut at left wing back and Ollie Norwood coming back into the side. There was a start for Oli McBurnie alongside David McGoldrick who was deemed fit. Oli Burke began on the bench alongside record signing Rhian Brewster. There was no place in the squad for the injured John Fleck. The reserve keeper selected was Michael Verrips in a surprise on the bench.
Fulham began with an attacking looking line up in the quest for points with the tricky Cavaleiro and Lookman flanking the dangerous Mitrovic at the top of the field. Summer Blades target Antonee Robinson got the start ahead of Joe Bryan at left back. In midfield, debutant Ruben Loftus Cheek and Zambo Anguissa got starts alongside skipper Tom Cairney.
With both teams desperate to get on the board, the game began in cagey fashion although the visitors started the better side and got on the ball more. Lowe went down after clashing with Loftus Cheek and seemingly was winded or even concussed. The visitors moved it around patiently and the first chance came Cairney had a low shot that Ramsdale pushed away. The Blades had been slow to get going but on 9 minutes awoke from their slumber. Lundstram had been the most involved home player and he took a long-range effort of his own that was tipped over by Areola. The next moment saw good work from Norwood and then Stevens and the cross shot was diverted wide via a deflection from the defender. The corner came over but was given away from Cairney and United were in again. Basham found himself on the ball on the wide right and his cross was headed wide from McBurnie.
After a poor start, the Blades now were on top and another ball from Basham came back to him and he pulled his shot wide but McBurnie may have been offside if it had gone in. Loftus Cheek came inside and had a shot straight at Ramsdale but United were back on the move and Norwood was playing several forward balls that beat the Fulham midfield.
Lowe was clearly struggling and after more treatment, he had to go off and was replaced by Robinson with Stevens going back to left wing back. United were having a great deal of joy in between Ream and Antonee Robinson and Basham and Baldock worked an opening but the ball was cleared. Lundstram then ran through midfield and Anguissa chopped him down and was the first player to be booked.
On 22 minutes another good move saw Berge, McGoldrick and then Lundstram but Stevens shot on the angle as the Blades broke through lacked power and was saved. Lookman was down injured but after Fulham played on, United then oddly put it out! United were actually not having as much possession according to the stats but the key areas, the Blades looked far more dangerous and were the better side. Berge got in but his ball was telegraphed when he was looking for McGoldrick.
Just before the half hour, the best chance came when Berge played it back to Basham whose excellent cross was begging to be converted by McBurnie but he seemed to glance it off his shoulder via his nose and the keeper made a good save. He really needed to score a chance like that.
Norwood continued to work the ball well through the lines and his pass found Berge who made the Fulham keeper work again.
Robinson’s long throw for United went through everybody and somehow was not turned home and as the ball came back Berge drove the ball rather than picking anyone one out. Stevens then was fed by McGoldrick but his cross was flicked wide by McBurnie. Again, the flag may have gone up if it had gone in.
On 38 minutes, Fulham had a rare chance when Cairney’s free kick nearly dropped for Loftus Cheek at the back post but Egan cleared. Basham then took down Anguissa as he dribbled forward with a silly foul. Mitrovic took it after the touch but his powerful shot was fortunately for United straight at Ramsdale.
After this brief flurry from Fulham, United who had controlled the key moments and chances, were back on the attack but Berge overhit his cross after powering down the right. After a quiet start, Berge had started to be a real threat down the right with his power and running ability.
There was three minutes of stoppage time played but no further chances came and United even though they had ceded possession 58% to 42% will have been disappointed not to have led after having a series of half chances and one very good one and being the much better side.
The second half saw United offer the first chance when Baldock’s cross was headed at the keeper by McBurnie weakly but the replay showed it would have been offside.
McBurnie forced a foul from Aina who chopped him down but Norwood’s floated cross was cleared.
On 50 minutes, a cross came over and Ramsdale dropped the ball but recovered and made a save from Lookman to make amends for his error. At the other end Robinson’s long throw was straight at Areola and the throw out saw Fulham on the break but it was a poor cross in the end. The next period of the game saw Fulham start to control the game. Norwood’s poor cross led to another break out and the Cottagers won a corner. The ball came over and inexplicably Robinson had his arm up and clearly handled the ball. Mitrovic took it but hammered it too high and it clipped the bar and went over. Buoyed from this let off you hoped United would recover but sadly this did not happen. A skewed shot from McGoldrick was all they could offer as the possession and chances for the breakthrough continued to come from Fulham.
They broke again and Lookman nearly fed Cairney before Mitrovic also was close to getting in again. United had no control of the game and Fulham were breaking through the lines easily and often had 3 on 3 or 2 on 2. It had become ragged from the home side. Berge gave it away with a poor ball and then Fulham were in again but Robinson did well this time to flick away.
On 63 minutes, McGoldrick was replaced by Brewster as he came on for his home debut. United had now lost their shape though and it was all a bit messy. Fulham now looked the more confident and Cairney had a shot blocked before Ramsdale had to make a save as the cross came in from the right hand side. A rare moment for the Blades saw Stevens and Brewster try and exchange passes but Stevens final ball was poor. The same man sent over a looped cross as United looked clueless this half.
Fulham’s much improved second half saw them rewarded with LOOKMAN coming inside and as Berge turned his back, the winger got a bounce off Basham but the finish was superb as he powered it past Ramsdale who had no chance.
Straight after, Mitrovic could have made it 2-0. Lookman again came inside getting away from Baldock and his cross fell for the striker but Ramsdale made a good save.
Sharp came on for Basham as United looked to save the game but a free kick easily cleared. United did have a chance when they sent the ball in the box and the keeper dropped it, much like Ramsdale did earlier in the game, as the ball dropped Robinson got his toe to it and seemed to take a whack from Mitrovic and appeals from the United players were immediate. The ball was sent the other way and Ramsdale had to make a save from Cairney down to his left. After this save, Marriner was told to look at his monitor by the VAR team and after taking a look went back to the earlier Mitrovic foul and gave the penalty fairly quickly.
SHARP took responsibility and smashed it home, high into the roof of the net. Sharp ran back with the ball as United wanted to try and get a winner and soon after he had a chance but was offside. With the game ticking into the last minute, Fulham had a number of chances. Lookman came inside and hit a shot that deflected wide for a corner and then from a cross, Mitrovic headed wide when you would have backed him to score. The away side were looking the more likely and they came again with Mitrovic headed wide again just before the end of the five minutes of stoppage time. United were giving it away and Fulham scented the winner but the contest was ended by Andre Marriner with Fulham on the attack. In the end, the Blades were probably the more relieved of the two sides. They had been the better side first half but second half; it had been a largely anonymous performance from the Blades who shrinked somewhat and stopped taking responsibility and lost control.
United – First half and second half were night and day really. We started the game badly actually and they were the better side first 5-8 mins and had a chance through Cairney but after this we took control and had a series of half chances ourselves. Lundstram and Norwood were really influential and were moving us forward quickly with runs and passes respectively and then latterly Berge got involved too. The front two were quite poor again although McGoldrick did a few bits of link play. We controlled things though and McBurnie has to score a great chance. After this we continued to look the better side but did not take the lead we should have had into half time. Fulham had been quite timid and not really attacked much at all and sloppy on the ball.
After the break, they were miles better and moved it up quicker. The three forwards got on the ball and the midfield won every loose ball. They pushed us up the field and our wing backs/centre backs did not go forward at all second half. Lookman and Cavaleiro looked dangerous and Cairney started to control things. Our midfield three were anonymous second half and the strikers continued to offer nothing really, not even much of a nuisance factor. They had chances on the break as their pace on the counter cut through us as we lost out shape completely. They got through us twice from keeper throw outs. We did not even mount an attack I can recall of note after one Baldock cross and header from McBurnie (offside again) and maybe a Stevens bad ball to Brewster. We had a few wasted free kicks. They were much better but we got a let off from the penalty – more moronic defending from Robinson (see Leeds) – but did not kick on and they actually got better after this miss and deservedly led with a great strike. We don’t have players who can do that sadly. After this they nearly made it 2-0 and Ramsdale kept us in it and then we got a penalty and a decision went for us (was right but I would have felt it was soft the other way but technically is a penalty). After this I thought come on, let’s up it and the opposite happened. We looked tired and languid and they had 2 or 3 more chances to score. Mitrovic missed a header as bad as McBurnie’s and then had another. We were hanging on.
After the first four games we’d had some bad decisions and things did not go for us but I am more concerned after today as we played a poor side and a team we showed first half we could impose ourselves on but once again did not score (although did not see loads of great chances others have – only one) and our final bit/ball was poor as we were caught offside so much through as Bassett used to say, ‘p**ss poor thinking!’ Still, we should have led but the second half was frightening how bad we were. We lost our shape, organisation and belief. They stepped it up and we had no answer. The three midfielders were shocking on and off the ball and we had nothing up front and the defence then started making mistakes too. Ramsdale kept us in it really and we had a let off from the pen. What was concerning again was after we got back in it, we had no belief to win it and were desperately just trying to get a point. It was so far off the side we have seen for the last few years. Maybe as BT alluded to our players did massively over achieve last year and we are missing Fleck and O’Connell but quite a few need to hugely up their games – the front two and the two wing backs for definite who are miles off what they did last season but as a team and collective there is not the belief and will to win. I can almost cope with the poor passes, decisions etc but so many times we lost key 50-50 balls as well and as Wilder said, we have to win races, tackles, headers etc.
Some have said we had players coming back from internationals but so did they! We are not doing that and when as individuals other teams’ players are doing better, we are in for a long hard season. I was not sure about the front two he picked. Maybe Burke and Brewster are not fully fit, but the two that started have had chances of games to start and not delivered. I also am concerned Ampadu is not getting opportunities. He did pick Lowe but that was derailed instantly.
We now have a horror run of fixtures but more than the points, players and the team have to find a way of playing again. We look as if we are lacking in confidence and it is a shame as first half we saw signs but will have come off not feeling we are anywhere near our best and it is hard to see where the first win is coming from with the lack of goal threat (Brewster may help but looked way off in limited minutes) and the lack of cohesion and control. We have not put together a complete performance since Chelsea and that and Spurs apart, we seem a side going backwards in terms of confidence, football we play and the way we approach teams. I felt again other than a 20-minute spell first half, we played way too much hit and hope stuff and we did not get around the ball and play little triangles.
The main concern is no one took responsibility 2nd half. Players seemed to shrink and it was an insipid performance. We almost looked a side that had no belief anymore. That was worrying. It is a draw but I am worried that so many players do not look the same. Too much will be made of personnel and who we could have signed and I agree we needed a more creative threat but the same squad and players went to places like Spurs and City and took the game to these teams. Now we look like we are scared and the level of football is poor. We did show flashes first half but for much of the season and as the second half showed, we look a side that does not feel they can go on and score goals and win games and inevitable other teams will get chances and score with the quality at this level. We have to get that 30-35 mins of first half into a full performance and take chances when they come. At the moment everything is up and down individually and collectively with daft mistakes and lack of ruthlessness at both end.
Ratings:
Ramsdale 7.5/10 – He made one mistake where he dropped it but recovered to save – was a bit of a howler. Outside of this he was faultless. Held everything that came in – few powerful shots and some daisy cutters, took crosses and made 2 or 3 expected but good saves. He has improved after a rocky start but still getting badly exposed and having too much to do.
Baldock 6/10 – Had a great last two seasons but this season he has been poor I feel. He started the game ok and got up the field but his final ball took too long. Second half I felt Lookman caused him all sorts of problems and he struggled. Not sure Berge helped him at all though in this respect as they had men over. Going forward he put one good ball in but McBurnie was offside. This annoying tactic he has of running it all the way to the touchline and then he just stops and has no idea and tries to kick it off his man. He did it twice second half and he did it a lot last season. Just get it in the box. We are not going to score from where he has it and often, he runs there meaning we have no chance to get others with him.
Lowe – Not the best of the start at all to say the least. Took a whack in 5 minutes and then gave it away twice. He tried to go on but was clearly in a bad way and rightly we took him off. A debut up there with John Ebbrell!
Stevens 6/10 – I was surprised he started after a poor start to the season and also playing three times for Ireland but if he was to play, I am glad it was left centre back but then that did not happen. He did ok first half and involved with some runs, one good cross and then had a shooting chance which he did not quite catch. Second half felt he was a bit all over and made poor decisions time and time again. The ball to Brewster, bad crosses and overrunning it. He just got worse as the game went on.
Basham 7/10 – As he has been still most weeks, still one of our better players. Not sure he has quite got to the standards he set last season but still been maybe our best outfield player still. First half he was really good, bursting forward, getting in crosses, shots and runs and looked like he wanted to carry the game to them. After the break ineffective and had to sit back more with only one run forward and then was sacrificed again (not sure why he went again) for Sharp.
Egan 6.5/10 – Steady and fairly solid first half but a few times he switches off and needs to ensure he is on Mitrovic more who won 2 or 3 headers getting away from him and onto Robinson. He has to make sure it is his man but, on those chances, he was in no mans land. Overall though he was decent enough although fell over twice (happens routinely) again due to his boots.
Norwood 6/10 – All three midfielders may have been close to an 8/10 first half. All 3 were nearer a 4 first half. So, they all get 6! I felt first half he was really good save for one give away. He got it moving forward and at pace and played 3 or 4 great balls through the lines and got us moving. He showed his vision and made us tick and got us up the pitch. Second half, an awful floated free kick and then just never in the game. They ran off him and our midfield and we had no control of the game at all and he regressed badly.
Lundstram 6/10 – First half hour really good. He ran through and made penetrating runs and showed surprising pace to get away from players. He had a shot tipped over and looked dangerous when he got in the last third and linked well. Really busy and active. Second half non-event. Not sure he touched the ball more than a few times and the whole midfield were not in the game at all and they got away from us and broke off us too easy, time and time again.
Berge 6/10 – Started a bit slowly but grew into it and for the last 30 minutes was really dangerous and ran at his men and was strong and powerful. He had a shot saved and pulled the cross back for the offside goal but his final ball was never quite there. The run where he ran off his man and held him off and sent over a deep cross way too high summed it up. Lots of great play but no end product. I then thought second half he was passive and did not do anything to help s defensively. Baldock had no help and the goal summed him up as he turned his back. He gave it away a few times and I felt he was ineffective in everything he did. No doubt there is a player in there but not sure he does it other than fits and starts and the end product is lacking. I also think first half we looked better with Norwood in the CDM position. Second half we did not but then we have not 2nd halves when he has played there when teams have overrun us (Arsenal, Leeds etc). A lot will be made of positions for him v Norwood but they are two of our better players so you play both. Both are better than Osborn and even Lundstram (and Fleck currently) so they both play and then one other. Whether we need to tweak our midfield set up to get best out of both of them I do not know.
McGoldrick 5/10 – A few bits and pieces first half and linked play a bit but not sure he was that involved in anything too significant in terms of chances and as the game went on, he became less and less involved. Miles off McBurnie. That partnership, like most of our other striking ones, is not working. He was not in the game second half and right to go off you could say but then he was still doing more than his strike partner.
McBurnie 4/10 – Thought other than one run where he won a free kick, he was really poor. He was not strong enough to hold the ball up, did not link that much and missed 2 or 3 chances. One a sitter. His heading is poor. He may win lots of headers as the stat people keep saying but they rarely find a United shirt. His finishing overall since he came here has been poor and he has missed some really easy chances. Today he has to bury that second header but had a few other half chances too. He is so slow and ungainly and not sure his skill/possession keeping/link play is that great. I will get called for this but think he has not really got any better since we signed him – he has plateaued for me. He is not scoring and not assisting and not really contributing to us keeping the ball up the top of the pitch. We all get so defensive of him when Scotland strikers pan him and they are way over the top but not sure I see him as a Premier League level striker at the moment. Maybe, I will get criticised for that bit at the moment we look awful up the top of the pitch. The stats and what the naked eye sees in terms of play backs that up. We currently have a Champ performing attack (Sharp included – Burke has done well to be fair) in the top league.
Subs –
Robinson 5/10 – He is ok but I think he makes mistakes and recall seeing Forest a few times and seeing that and worried that he switches off. He made a big error v Leeds and then another today that should have cost us. You cannot keep doing that at this level. Two consecutive games he has made howlers. He did get a foot in on one later. His throws are not even that dangerous as we have no good headers of the ball and he found the keeper with loopy efforts twice although flatter one nearly saw a chance. I am perplexed Ampadu is not given a chance when we are struggling – not sure the likes of Robinson/Osborn – as nice/game lads are going to see us climb the league.
Brewster – Not sure he had that much impact at all. His touch was a bit off but he barely saw it as they were on top. He fell over a few times and it all went on around him. Had one chance but Stevens misplaced the pass back to him. Needs more service but will also need to do better when he does start which I expect should happen next week.
Sharp – Came on and showed some balls to take and convert that penalty. Been quite critical of him but showed some responsibility and maybe in that moment more than the rest of the team who’s poor second half performance where no one even wanted to get on the ball has to a concern.
Manager Wilder 5/10 – May seem low for a good first half performance where we were much better and should have led but it is about the whole game and if we did not lead (not his fault), we did not kick on and put them away. We went backwards completely and they controlled the game.
His interview after the game was poor as the interviewer asked him about Fulham changing their tactics and style and he said it was just us not doing the things we had but that was not quite true. Yes, we lost out shape and made mistakes but they pushed us back and played higher up the field. They got it forward quicker and we had no answer at all. He did not change it and if the game had gone on another 5 minutes, we would have lost it. Worryingly that a promoted side took the game to us and we had no answers at all and continued to struggle. He says we had no control but did not change the tactics or formation really – the Basham for Sharp change never really works at all (yes, I know he scored) but why not give us another midfielder or try and get us on the ball more. He just changes the strikers. He was saying what a good side Fulham are and what good players they have. He says Berge was tired but kept him on. He said we did not have the legs – well change it?! They will be very close to going down – we have to impose ourselves on teams like that and we did not.
Not sure why he did not start Brewster (maybe he is not match fit) but I believe he would have still done more than the ineffective McBurnie/McGoldrick who were both poor. I like that he gave Lowe a game but weird he persists with another poor performer in Stevens who was not great again – granted he had t make a change. Not sure why he brought Ampadu in if he is not going to play him. Waste of a loan really – we could have an attacking midfielder from a Premier League club instead if he is going to sit on the bench even when Fleck/Norwood have been dropped and O’Connell is injured. He still preferred Robinson too as a sub.
Fulham – Before today struggled badly and shipped lots of goals and looked like they had last time at this level – massively out of their depth. They have not shaken things up as much as last time and only made tweaks to the side that went up. They still have spent money and the wages they spent on Loftus Cheek and a reserve the Blades chased in Antonee Robinson, shows they have still the financial outlay to make a splash. They brought in Reed, Reid and also Cavaleiro, who had been on loan the previous season but largely it is the same squad that got up. They brought Anguissa back into the fold (did well at Villareal where he was on loan last season), but cost 25 million and I bet most Blades have never heard of him. He has cost them more than anything we have spent. I also heard that Loftus Cheek is on 150k a week. 150 thousand. Fulham are apparently paying half of that too! We are miles off this and they are a promoted side so shows how far we maybe still have to go. I know we can’t spend money we can’t have but eventually we will one day have to pay that kind of money if we want to compete regularly at the top. Of course, as them and Villa so nearly proved last year, spending money is not always the answer though.
Mitrovic is a key man (for us today!) and I see him as being a player who can get goals but the defence that does well at the level below looks slow and off the pace at this level. Their style generally is quite slow and based on possession but at this level they won’t be able to have so much of the ball and I also believe that teams will break on them and expose the lack of pace. Like us they are susceptible to the counter but also if they don’t do the bread and butter on crosses and set plays, they will do down.
Both sides have struggled with the basics of defending although Fulham have at least scored more than us; if we have been a bit tighter the other way losing by the odd goal in most games as opposed to heavy defeats. I am not sure Parker is that great a manager. He inherited an expensive and talented squad so anything less than promotion would have been a bit of a failure for me. However, not convinced he is particularly tactical astute (did change a bit today) or much of a motivator and believe having had no kind of apprenticeship he was lucky to get the job – look what Wilder did for 10+ years in comparison to get any kind of decent job and that was League One. I will be surprised if he lasts the season out. I expect them to be one of the three relegated sides at the end of the season. Sure, they will chuck more cash at it in January but not sure there is a long-term plan. I suppose Hector, Onomah, Reed etc are at least a younger nucleus moving forward but not convinced any are Premier League quality.
Today, they were second best first half and could and should have been behind as they looked slow and sat back and gave it away. Second half they improved and played higher up the field. They got stuck in, won the second balls and the forward players with pace woke up. They had lots of chances on the break and will feel they should have scored more goals. Recovered well from the penalty miss and scored a good goal and even after the blow of the penalty the other way, should have gone on and won. They will feel it is a step in the right direction today and finished the game much stronger than us.
Opponent Man of the Match – Lookman. Caused us all sorts of problems second half and scored a great goal. I felt Cairney also did well second half as did all the midfield. Robinson did ok aswell and looked useful and one that maybe got away!
Opponent Weak link – Easy one. The defence was not great and felt Ream is a really poor player who you can get at but Mitrovic missed a penalty, missed two chances and gave away a penalty. A player I feared the most in their line up and he was maybe our best player!
Referee/Officials/VAR – Easy game really for Andre Marriner. Not sure I like the fact twice we put the ball out when they had a player down when they had played on and also, he got straight up on the first one when we did. Also, he did mark Berge on a free kick second half when he was free! Outside of this the yellows were easy for pull backs on Lundstram and Stevens as they got away. Both penalties were quite easy and the second was hard to see in real time even though I shouted for it straight away and when he looked could see he kicked him. A lot of these of course would be missed pre-VAR so we will see lots more penalties now as when they look back at things, they will see more fouls in the box. Still would rather not have VAR even though it correctly went for us today.
Coverage – Enjoyed my stream and it was good value (wink, wink). McManaman was annoying and quite condescending again. Got Norwood and Berge mixed up and then Basham and Baldock. Clearly had no idea who anyone was. Also, the team formation at the beginning showed how much they know about us. Really poor ‘if’ you paid for coverage like that. Think Michael Brown is good though and not just because he is a former Blade here – he talks calmly and with common sense. Not a fan of the PPV idea at all and another death knell in the ever-widening link between the game and fans. Football is going to take a long time to recover from all the covid stuff but the league/TV companies/clubs to some degree are not helping matter with some of the decisions. At the moment hard to be excited about it – not helping that we are doing badly but it all feels a bit meh. Sad really.
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United’s poor start to the new season continued as they drew at home to fellow strugglers Fulham at Bramall Lane. Today, the Blades were the better side for the first half and missed a number of good chances but after the break the visitors largely dominated and but for poor finishing from Alexander Mitrovic and a stupid penalty the same player gave away; they would have left the Lane with all three points. Maybe over the game, United could point to them being better in the first half and thus deserving a point but the big chances certainly went to the visitors with Ramsdale the much busier keeper and Fulham looked the more frustrated on full time as United were hanging on at the end. This of course is really worrying, against a promoted side and one expected to struggle. With three really tough games to come, United know they have to play much, much better than they have done so far this season. The narrative has been about poor refereeing decisions or lack of firepower but today United looked a poor side 2nd half all over the field and were outworked and outskilled for long periods. It is a point though and gets them off the mark and for now off the bottom
Manager Chris Wilder made changes to his side with Max Lowe coming in for his debut at left wing back and Ollie Norwood coming back into the side. There was a start for Oli McBurnie alongside David McGoldrick who was deemed fit. Oli Burke began on the bench alongside record signing Rhian Brewster. There was no place in the squad for the injured John Fleck. The reserve keeper selected was Michael Verrips in a surprise on the bench.
Fulham began with an attacking looking line up in the quest for points with the tricky Cavaleiro and Lookman flanking the dangerous Mitrovic at the top of the field. Summer Blades target Antonee Robinson got the start ahead of Joe Bryan at left back. In midfield, debutant Ruben Loftus Cheek and Zambo Anguissa got starts alongside skipper Tom Cairney.
With both teams desperate to get on the board, the game began in cagey fashion although the visitors started the better side and got on the ball more. Lowe went down after clashing with Loftus Cheek and seemingly was winded or even concussed. The visitors moved it around patiently and the first chance came Cairney had a low shot that Ramsdale pushed away. The Blades had been slow to get going but on 9 minutes awoke from their slumber. Lundstram had been the most involved home player and he took a long-range effort of his own that was tipped over by Areola. The next moment saw good work from Norwood and then Stevens and the cross shot was diverted wide via a deflection from the defender. The corner came over but was given away from Cairney and United were in again. Basham found himself on the ball on the wide right and his cross was headed wide from McBurnie.
After a poor start, the Blades now were on top and another ball from Basham came back to him and he pulled his shot wide but McBurnie may have been offside if it had gone in. Loftus Cheek came inside and had a shot straight at Ramsdale but United were back on the move and Norwood was playing several forward balls that beat the Fulham midfield.
Lowe was clearly struggling and after more treatment, he had to go off and was replaced by Robinson with Stevens going back to left wing back. United were having a great deal of joy in between Ream and Antonee Robinson and Basham and Baldock worked an opening but the ball was cleared. Lundstram then ran through midfield and Anguissa chopped him down and was the first player to be booked.
On 22 minutes another good move saw Berge, McGoldrick and then Lundstram but Stevens shot on the angle as the Blades broke through lacked power and was saved. Lookman was down injured but after Fulham played on, United then oddly put it out! United were actually not having as much possession according to the stats but the key areas, the Blades looked far more dangerous and were the better side. Berge got in but his ball was telegraphed when he was looking for McGoldrick.
Just before the half hour, the best chance came when Berge played it back to Basham whose excellent cross was begging to be converted by McBurnie but he seemed to glance it off his shoulder via his nose and the keeper made a good save. He really needed to score a chance like that.
Norwood continued to work the ball well through the lines and his pass found Berge who made the Fulham keeper work again.
Robinson’s long throw for United went through everybody and somehow was not turned home and as the ball came back Berge drove the ball rather than picking anyone one out. Stevens then was fed by McGoldrick but his cross was flicked wide by McBurnie. Again, the flag may have gone up if it had gone in.
On 38 minutes, Fulham had a rare chance when Cairney’s free kick nearly dropped for Loftus Cheek at the back post but Egan cleared. Basham then took down Anguissa as he dribbled forward with a silly foul. Mitrovic took it after the touch but his powerful shot was fortunately for United straight at Ramsdale.
After this brief flurry from Fulham, United who had controlled the key moments and chances, were back on the attack but Berge overhit his cross after powering down the right. After a quiet start, Berge had started to be a real threat down the right with his power and running ability.
There was three minutes of stoppage time played but no further chances came and United even though they had ceded possession 58% to 42% will have been disappointed not to have led after having a series of half chances and one very good one and being the much better side.
The second half saw United offer the first chance when Baldock’s cross was headed at the keeper by McBurnie weakly but the replay showed it would have been offside.
McBurnie forced a foul from Aina who chopped him down but Norwood’s floated cross was cleared.
On 50 minutes, a cross came over and Ramsdale dropped the ball but recovered and made a save from Lookman to make amends for his error. At the other end Robinson’s long throw was straight at Areola and the throw out saw Fulham on the break but it was a poor cross in the end. The next period of the game saw Fulham start to control the game. Norwood’s poor cross led to another break out and the Cottagers won a corner. The ball came over and inexplicably Robinson had his arm up and clearly handled the ball. Mitrovic took it but hammered it too high and it clipped the bar and went over. Buoyed from this let off you hoped United would recover but sadly this did not happen. A skewed shot from McGoldrick was all they could offer as the possession and chances for the breakthrough continued to come from Fulham.
They broke again and Lookman nearly fed Cairney before Mitrovic also was close to getting in again. United had no control of the game and Fulham were breaking through the lines easily and often had 3 on 3 or 2 on 2. It had become ragged from the home side. Berge gave it away with a poor ball and then Fulham were in again but Robinson did well this time to flick away.
On 63 minutes, McGoldrick was replaced by Brewster as he came on for his home debut. United had now lost their shape though and it was all a bit messy. Fulham now looked the more confident and Cairney had a shot blocked before Ramsdale had to make a save as the cross came in from the right hand side. A rare moment for the Blades saw Stevens and Brewster try and exchange passes but Stevens final ball was poor. The same man sent over a looped cross as United looked clueless this half.
Fulham’s much improved second half saw them rewarded with LOOKMAN coming inside and as Berge turned his back, the winger got a bounce off Basham but the finish was superb as he powered it past Ramsdale who had no chance.
Straight after, Mitrovic could have made it 2-0. Lookman again came inside getting away from Baldock and his cross fell for the striker but Ramsdale made a good save.
Sharp came on for Basham as United looked to save the game but a free kick easily cleared. United did have a chance when they sent the ball in the box and the keeper dropped it, much like Ramsdale did earlier in the game, as the ball dropped Robinson got his toe to it and seemed to take a whack from Mitrovic and appeals from the United players were immediate. The ball was sent the other way and Ramsdale had to make a save from Cairney down to his left. After this save, Marriner was told to look at his monitor by the VAR team and after taking a look went back to the earlier Mitrovic foul and gave the penalty fairly quickly.
SHARP took responsibility and smashed it home, high into the roof of the net. Sharp ran back with the ball as United wanted to try and get a winner and soon after he had a chance but was offside. With the game ticking into the last minute, Fulham had a number of chances. Lookman came inside and hit a shot that deflected wide for a corner and then from a cross, Mitrovic headed wide when you would have backed him to score. The away side were looking the more likely and they came again with Mitrovic headed wide again just before the end of the five minutes of stoppage time. United were giving it away and Fulham scented the winner but the contest was ended by Andre Marriner with Fulham on the attack. In the end, the Blades were probably the more relieved of the two sides. They had been the better side first half but second half; it had been a largely anonymous performance from the Blades who shrinked somewhat and stopped taking responsibility and lost control.
United – First half and second half were night and day really. We started the game badly actually and they were the better side first 5-8 mins and had a chance through Cairney but after this we took control and had a series of half chances ourselves. Lundstram and Norwood were really influential and were moving us forward quickly with runs and passes respectively and then latterly Berge got involved too. The front two were quite poor again although McGoldrick did a few bits of link play. We controlled things though and McBurnie has to score a great chance. After this we continued to look the better side but did not take the lead we should have had into half time. Fulham had been quite timid and not really attacked much at all and sloppy on the ball.
After the break, they were miles better and moved it up quicker. The three forwards got on the ball and the midfield won every loose ball. They pushed us up the field and our wing backs/centre backs did not go forward at all second half. Lookman and Cavaleiro looked dangerous and Cairney started to control things. Our midfield three were anonymous second half and the strikers continued to offer nothing really, not even much of a nuisance factor. They had chances on the break as their pace on the counter cut through us as we lost out shape completely. They got through us twice from keeper throw outs. We did not even mount an attack I can recall of note after one Baldock cross and header from McBurnie (offside again) and maybe a Stevens bad ball to Brewster. We had a few wasted free kicks. They were much better but we got a let off from the penalty – more moronic defending from Robinson (see Leeds) – but did not kick on and they actually got better after this miss and deservedly led with a great strike. We don’t have players who can do that sadly. After this they nearly made it 2-0 and Ramsdale kept us in it and then we got a penalty and a decision went for us (was right but I would have felt it was soft the other way but technically is a penalty). After this I thought come on, let’s up it and the opposite happened. We looked tired and languid and they had 2 or 3 more chances to score. Mitrovic missed a header as bad as McBurnie’s and then had another. We were hanging on.
After the first four games we’d had some bad decisions and things did not go for us but I am more concerned after today as we played a poor side and a team we showed first half we could impose ourselves on but once again did not score (although did not see loads of great chances others have – only one) and our final bit/ball was poor as we were caught offside so much through as Bassett used to say, ‘p**ss poor thinking!’ Still, we should have led but the second half was frightening how bad we were. We lost our shape, organisation and belief. They stepped it up and we had no answer. The three midfielders were shocking on and off the ball and we had nothing up front and the defence then started making mistakes too. Ramsdale kept us in it really and we had a let off from the pen. What was concerning again was after we got back in it, we had no belief to win it and were desperately just trying to get a point. It was so far off the side we have seen for the last few years. Maybe as BT alluded to our players did massively over achieve last year and we are missing Fleck and O’Connell but quite a few need to hugely up their games – the front two and the two wing backs for definite who are miles off what they did last season but as a team and collective there is not the belief and will to win. I can almost cope with the poor passes, decisions etc but so many times we lost key 50-50 balls as well and as Wilder said, we have to win races, tackles, headers etc.
Some have said we had players coming back from internationals but so did they! We are not doing that and when as individuals other teams’ players are doing better, we are in for a long hard season. I was not sure about the front two he picked. Maybe Burke and Brewster are not fully fit, but the two that started have had chances of games to start and not delivered. I also am concerned Ampadu is not getting opportunities. He did pick Lowe but that was derailed instantly.
We now have a horror run of fixtures but more than the points, players and the team have to find a way of playing again. We look as if we are lacking in confidence and it is a shame as first half we saw signs but will have come off not feeling we are anywhere near our best and it is hard to see where the first win is coming from with the lack of goal threat (Brewster may help but looked way off in limited minutes) and the lack of cohesion and control. We have not put together a complete performance since Chelsea and that and Spurs apart, we seem a side going backwards in terms of confidence, football we play and the way we approach teams. I felt again other than a 20-minute spell first half, we played way too much hit and hope stuff and we did not get around the ball and play little triangles.
The main concern is no one took responsibility 2nd half. Players seemed to shrink and it was an insipid performance. We almost looked a side that had no belief anymore. That was worrying. It is a draw but I am worried that so many players do not look the same. Too much will be made of personnel and who we could have signed and I agree we needed a more creative threat but the same squad and players went to places like Spurs and City and took the game to these teams. Now we look like we are scared and the level of football is poor. We did show flashes first half but for much of the season and as the second half showed, we look a side that does not feel they can go on and score goals and win games and inevitable other teams will get chances and score with the quality at this level. We have to get that 30-35 mins of first half into a full performance and take chances when they come. At the moment everything is up and down individually and collectively with daft mistakes and lack of ruthlessness at both end.
Ratings:
Ramsdale 7.5/10 – He made one mistake where he dropped it but recovered to save – was a bit of a howler. Outside of this he was faultless. Held everything that came in – few powerful shots and some daisy cutters, took crosses and made 2 or 3 expected but good saves. He has improved after a rocky start but still getting badly exposed and having too much to do.
Baldock 6/10 – Had a great last two seasons but this season he has been poor I feel. He started the game ok and got up the field but his final ball took too long. Second half I felt Lookman caused him all sorts of problems and he struggled. Not sure Berge helped him at all though in this respect as they had men over. Going forward he put one good ball in but McBurnie was offside. This annoying tactic he has of running it all the way to the touchline and then he just stops and has no idea and tries to kick it off his man. He did it twice second half and he did it a lot last season. Just get it in the box. We are not going to score from where he has it and often, he runs there meaning we have no chance to get others with him.
Lowe – Not the best of the start at all to say the least. Took a whack in 5 minutes and then gave it away twice. He tried to go on but was clearly in a bad way and rightly we took him off. A debut up there with John Ebbrell!
Stevens 6/10 – I was surprised he started after a poor start to the season and also playing three times for Ireland but if he was to play, I am glad it was left centre back but then that did not happen. He did ok first half and involved with some runs, one good cross and then had a shooting chance which he did not quite catch. Second half felt he was a bit all over and made poor decisions time and time again. The ball to Brewster, bad crosses and overrunning it. He just got worse as the game went on.
Basham 7/10 – As he has been still most weeks, still one of our better players. Not sure he has quite got to the standards he set last season but still been maybe our best outfield player still. First half he was really good, bursting forward, getting in crosses, shots and runs and looked like he wanted to carry the game to them. After the break ineffective and had to sit back more with only one run forward and then was sacrificed again (not sure why he went again) for Sharp.
Egan 6.5/10 – Steady and fairly solid first half but a few times he switches off and needs to ensure he is on Mitrovic more who won 2 or 3 headers getting away from him and onto Robinson. He has to make sure it is his man but, on those chances, he was in no mans land. Overall though he was decent enough although fell over twice (happens routinely) again due to his boots.
Norwood 6/10 – All three midfielders may have been close to an 8/10 first half. All 3 were nearer a 4 first half. So, they all get 6! I felt first half he was really good save for one give away. He got it moving forward and at pace and played 3 or 4 great balls through the lines and got us moving. He showed his vision and made us tick and got us up the pitch. Second half, an awful floated free kick and then just never in the game. They ran off him and our midfield and we had no control of the game at all and he regressed badly.
Lundstram 6/10 – First half hour really good. He ran through and made penetrating runs and showed surprising pace to get away from players. He had a shot tipped over and looked dangerous when he got in the last third and linked well. Really busy and active. Second half non-event. Not sure he touched the ball more than a few times and the whole midfield were not in the game at all and they got away from us and broke off us too easy, time and time again.
Berge 6/10 – Started a bit slowly but grew into it and for the last 30 minutes was really dangerous and ran at his men and was strong and powerful. He had a shot saved and pulled the cross back for the offside goal but his final ball was never quite there. The run where he ran off his man and held him off and sent over a deep cross way too high summed it up. Lots of great play but no end product. I then thought second half he was passive and did not do anything to help s defensively. Baldock had no help and the goal summed him up as he turned his back. He gave it away a few times and I felt he was ineffective in everything he did. No doubt there is a player in there but not sure he does it other than fits and starts and the end product is lacking. I also think first half we looked better with Norwood in the CDM position. Second half we did not but then we have not 2nd halves when he has played there when teams have overrun us (Arsenal, Leeds etc). A lot will be made of positions for him v Norwood but they are two of our better players so you play both. Both are better than Osborn and even Lundstram (and Fleck currently) so they both play and then one other. Whether we need to tweak our midfield set up to get best out of both of them I do not know.
McGoldrick 5/10 – A few bits and pieces first half and linked play a bit but not sure he was that involved in anything too significant in terms of chances and as the game went on, he became less and less involved. Miles off McBurnie. That partnership, like most of our other striking ones, is not working. He was not in the game second half and right to go off you could say but then he was still doing more than his strike partner.
McBurnie 4/10 – Thought other than one run where he won a free kick, he was really poor. He was not strong enough to hold the ball up, did not link that much and missed 2 or 3 chances. One a sitter. His heading is poor. He may win lots of headers as the stat people keep saying but they rarely find a United shirt. His finishing overall since he came here has been poor and he has missed some really easy chances. Today he has to bury that second header but had a few other half chances too. He is so slow and ungainly and not sure his skill/possession keeping/link play is that great. I will get called for this but think he has not really got any better since we signed him – he has plateaued for me. He is not scoring and not assisting and not really contributing to us keeping the ball up the top of the pitch. We all get so defensive of him when Scotland strikers pan him and they are way over the top but not sure I see him as a Premier League level striker at the moment. Maybe, I will get criticised for that bit at the moment we look awful up the top of the pitch. The stats and what the naked eye sees in terms of play backs that up. We currently have a Champ performing attack (Sharp included – Burke has done well to be fair) in the top league.
Subs –
Robinson 5/10 – He is ok but I think he makes mistakes and recall seeing Forest a few times and seeing that and worried that he switches off. He made a big error v Leeds and then another today that should have cost us. You cannot keep doing that at this level. Two consecutive games he has made howlers. He did get a foot in on one later. His throws are not even that dangerous as we have no good headers of the ball and he found the keeper with loopy efforts twice although flatter one nearly saw a chance. I am perplexed Ampadu is not given a chance when we are struggling – not sure the likes of Robinson/Osborn – as nice/game lads are going to see us climb the league.
Brewster – Not sure he had that much impact at all. His touch was a bit off but he barely saw it as they were on top. He fell over a few times and it all went on around him. Had one chance but Stevens misplaced the pass back to him. Needs more service but will also need to do better when he does start which I expect should happen next week.
Sharp – Came on and showed some balls to take and convert that penalty. Been quite critical of him but showed some responsibility and maybe in that moment more than the rest of the team who’s poor second half performance where no one even wanted to get on the ball has to a concern.
Manager Wilder 5/10 – May seem low for a good first half performance where we were much better and should have led but it is about the whole game and if we did not lead (not his fault), we did not kick on and put them away. We went backwards completely and they controlled the game.
His interview after the game was poor as the interviewer asked him about Fulham changing their tactics and style and he said it was just us not doing the things we had but that was not quite true. Yes, we lost out shape and made mistakes but they pushed us back and played higher up the field. They got it forward quicker and we had no answer at all. He did not change it and if the game had gone on another 5 minutes, we would have lost it. Worryingly that a promoted side took the game to us and we had no answers at all and continued to struggle. He says we had no control but did not change the tactics or formation really – the Basham for Sharp change never really works at all (yes, I know he scored) but why not give us another midfielder or try and get us on the ball more. He just changes the strikers. He was saying what a good side Fulham are and what good players they have. He says Berge was tired but kept him on. He said we did not have the legs – well change it?! They will be very close to going down – we have to impose ourselves on teams like that and we did not.
Not sure why he did not start Brewster (maybe he is not match fit) but I believe he would have still done more than the ineffective McBurnie/McGoldrick who were both poor. I like that he gave Lowe a game but weird he persists with another poor performer in Stevens who was not great again – granted he had t make a change. Not sure why he brought Ampadu in if he is not going to play him. Waste of a loan really – we could have an attacking midfielder from a Premier League club instead if he is going to sit on the bench even when Fleck/Norwood have been dropped and O’Connell is injured. He still preferred Robinson too as a sub.
Fulham – Before today struggled badly and shipped lots of goals and looked like they had last time at this level – massively out of their depth. They have not shaken things up as much as last time and only made tweaks to the side that went up. They still have spent money and the wages they spent on Loftus Cheek and a reserve the Blades chased in Antonee Robinson, shows they have still the financial outlay to make a splash. They brought in Reed, Reid and also Cavaleiro, who had been on loan the previous season but largely it is the same squad that got up. They brought Anguissa back into the fold (did well at Villareal where he was on loan last season), but cost 25 million and I bet most Blades have never heard of him. He has cost them more than anything we have spent. I also heard that Loftus Cheek is on 150k a week. 150 thousand. Fulham are apparently paying half of that too! We are miles off this and they are a promoted side so shows how far we maybe still have to go. I know we can’t spend money we can’t have but eventually we will one day have to pay that kind of money if we want to compete regularly at the top. Of course, as them and Villa so nearly proved last year, spending money is not always the answer though.
Mitrovic is a key man (for us today!) and I see him as being a player who can get goals but the defence that does well at the level below looks slow and off the pace at this level. Their style generally is quite slow and based on possession but at this level they won’t be able to have so much of the ball and I also believe that teams will break on them and expose the lack of pace. Like us they are susceptible to the counter but also if they don’t do the bread and butter on crosses and set plays, they will do down.
Both sides have struggled with the basics of defending although Fulham have at least scored more than us; if we have been a bit tighter the other way losing by the odd goal in most games as opposed to heavy defeats. I am not sure Parker is that great a manager. He inherited an expensive and talented squad so anything less than promotion would have been a bit of a failure for me. However, not convinced he is particularly tactical astute (did change a bit today) or much of a motivator and believe having had no kind of apprenticeship he was lucky to get the job – look what Wilder did for 10+ years in comparison to get any kind of decent job and that was League One. I will be surprised if he lasts the season out. I expect them to be one of the three relegated sides at the end of the season. Sure, they will chuck more cash at it in January but not sure there is a long-term plan. I suppose Hector, Onomah, Reed etc are at least a younger nucleus moving forward but not convinced any are Premier League quality.
Today, they were second best first half and could and should have been behind as they looked slow and sat back and gave it away. Second half they improved and played higher up the field. They got stuck in, won the second balls and the forward players with pace woke up. They had lots of chances on the break and will feel they should have scored more goals. Recovered well from the penalty miss and scored a good goal and even after the blow of the penalty the other way, should have gone on and won. They will feel it is a step in the right direction today and finished the game much stronger than us.
Opponent Man of the Match – Lookman. Caused us all sorts of problems second half and scored a great goal. I felt Cairney also did well second half as did all the midfield. Robinson did ok aswell and looked useful and one that maybe got away!
Opponent Weak link – Easy one. The defence was not great and felt Ream is a really poor player who you can get at but Mitrovic missed a penalty, missed two chances and gave away a penalty. A player I feared the most in their line up and he was maybe our best player!
Referee/Officials/VAR – Easy game really for Andre Marriner. Not sure I like the fact twice we put the ball out when they had a player down when they had played on and also, he got straight up on the first one when we did. Also, he did mark Berge on a free kick second half when he was free! Outside of this the yellows were easy for pull backs on Lundstram and Stevens as they got away. Both penalties were quite easy and the second was hard to see in real time even though I shouted for it straight away and when he looked could see he kicked him. A lot of these of course would be missed pre-VAR so we will see lots more penalties now as when they look back at things, they will see more fouls in the box. Still would rather not have VAR even though it correctly went for us today.
Coverage – Enjoyed my stream and it was good value (wink, wink). McManaman was annoying and quite condescending again. Got Norwood and Berge mixed up and then Basham and Baldock. Clearly had no idea who anyone was. Also, the team formation at the beginning showed how much they know about us. Really poor ‘if’ you paid for coverage like that. Think Michael Brown is good though and not just because he is a former Blade here – he talks calmly and with common sense. Not a fan of the PPV idea at all and another death knell in the ever-widening link between the game and fans. Football is going to take a long time to recover from all the covid stuff but the league/TV companies/clubs to some degree are not helping matter with some of the decisions. At the moment hard to be excited about it – not helping that we are doing badly but it all feels a bit meh. Sad really.
