Post by deadbat on Dec 6, 2020 19:10:50 GMT
Pod and report below
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-20-21-leicester-home
open.spotify.com/episode/5ES6o19cp8J9G5t27QwIjv?si=1EyiqjOvTMKMbBVp24vHUw
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Another week, another loss and the car crash of a season for Sheffield United continues. A few weeks ago, despite not being able to pick up a win, many others were also struggling at the bottom of the table. Now others have slowly started to get points and United are well and truly stranded on the embarrassing figure of one point from eleven games. Now not only is relegation looking likely but the record of being the worst ever top flight team (not just Premier League) in history is also a possibility unless the Blades can somehow break this long run of games without a victory. Going back to last season, United now have not won 15 games (league and cup) and have lost 14 of these. It is a wretched run and albeit it at the highest level, no United fan will have seen this in their life time. After the two games against West Ham and West Brom heralded two more defeats and no more goals, many United fans probably feared the worst against a Leicester side due a big performance but it was a different kind of heart break this time that saw the Blades do down to defeat with Wednesday fan Jamie Vardy scoring the last-minute winner.
Surprisingly after such a horrendous run, manager Wilder kept faith with 10 of the starters from last week with just Lundstram coming in for Norwood. McBurnie kept his place up front. Mousset was injured yet again so Sharp was given a place on the bench. Enda Stevens and Ethan Ampadu were still not fit. Leicester started with Vardy up top and had Maddison back starting. Right back Pereira was not risked despite coming back in the week and Soyuncu was also injured and not available. Leicester still packed plenty of experience and quality to start the game and indeed on the bench.
United began the game winning two corners that came to nothing but the away side started to take control of things with their pass and move play starting to dictate the tempo. Lundstram gave it away twice in close succession so even when the home side had it, they gave it away. Leicester were moving it side to side and back to front quickly and starting to find holes and from one such chance, Vardy beat the offside trap and was in on the angle and hit a powerful shot that cannoned off Ramsdale’s near post. It was a real let off inside 10 minutes.
Maddison’s cross was cleared away for a corner as Leicester dominated the play and Ramsdale then made a mistake that saw him knock the ball out for a corner. Lowe then committed a foul that saw Maddison try and outrageous free kick but he got it all wrong and it drifted well wide. Vardy was then offside as Leicester continued to look dangerous and the possession stats were frighteningly one sided.
Lundstram gave it away again but Basham got in to intercept before a rare chance for United saw Berge finally get in the game and drive through and McBurnie’s clever through ball fed Burke but the striker, as he did last week, made a horrible mess of the chance and fell over before he could even get a shot away.
This was a rare moment of promise for the Blades but was to prove costly as more patient build up saw Leicester deservedly take the lead. The ball was moved across and with no pressure on the cross it came over and Egan mistimed his jump and did not get enough on his header. Lowe was miles off Albrighton who hit a shot that deflected off Lowe and no United defenders reacted and PEREZ smashed home via the palms of Ramsdale who had little chance from such close range.
However, the Blades responded instantly and got level. They won a corner and Lundstram put it in a good area and MCBURNIE got up and powered his header into the corner of the net. It clearly was a big relief for the big front man.
After this United got stuck in and started to make it more of a contest for a spell after being second best up to the two goals but slowly Leicester started to take control again with more patient football and they often beat the press with one pass and were in on goal. Lowe was yellow carded for trying to stop one such break and then a ball from the right was eventually cleared after it ricocheted around. Berge then made a crunching tackle but Lowe gave it away when well-placed and the break was on the other way again. Basham then had to clear after more patient play from the Foxes nearly led to them being in on goal.
Lowe was then vert lucky not to be sent off after another cynical trip as Leicester threatened to get in on goal. He must have had his heart in his mouth but the referee Attwell opted to give him a final chance. The free kick saw a shot blocked by McBurnie who had done well at the defensive end on a few occasions but United had another let off when Maddison came inside and from a similar position to Vardy’s shot crashed another effort against the same post. The half time whistle came at a good time for United who were hanging on somewhat.
After the break, Osborn came on for Lowe with Wilder concerned he may lose his man through foul means and got him off before he was probably sent off. A neat move from Burke, Baldock and Lundstram nearly got United in on a rare moment of possession play. Leicester were moving it around well but looking a bit clueless this half and were not the same threat early on.
Berge was dis-possessed and this led to a corner for Leicester which McBurnie did well to clear with his head. Leicester still had more of the ball but were not having the control of the game they had although Justin nutmegged Basham and Osborn had to get across to make the interception. Fleck and Berge then both gave it away too easily but Perez ran into trouble. United did have a half chance as Osborn fed McBurnie and his cross was cleared with Lundstram trying to get in at the near post.
The game ticked over the hour mark and it had been a better spell for United with few chances of note at either end. Lundstram burst through two tackles in a rare moment when a Blades player ran at his man and was chopped down leading to a booking for Fuchs. Oddly, straight after this Lundstram who had improved 2nd half was taken off for Norwood. His first contribution was a poor cross which he repeated moments later. Basham’s cross was deflected wide for a corner and this led to a chance for McBurnie but his header was over when he was well placed.
At the other end Leicester then had a flurry of half chances with Ramsdale involved in many of them with some poor moments. He dropped a corner that led to Tielemans firing goalwards but Ramsdale at least got back to save although cut his lip in the melee.
Mendy and Perez came off to be replaced by Ndidi and Iheanacho before Ramsdale’s poor kick nearly led to a chance but Basham made the interception before the keeper nearly spilled another cross soon after in an indecisive spell for the keeper. However, Ramsdale came out well and headed away after Fleck’s poor cross saw the Foxes break.
The game ticked into the final 15 minutes and Fuchs long range shot was well over before Burke did well at other end to win a tackle but then strayed offside. This was his last moment as Brewster came on but the striker was caught offside twice not long after he took to the pitch. He did have an effort when Berge put the ball through and he tried a chip but it was off target.
The game became mired in midfield for a spell and seemed to be drifting to a stalemate with few chances created either way but a bad mistake was to prove costly right on 90 minutes.
With no danger imminent, Fleck mis controlled and dithered and Maddison got on the ball and played a lovely ball through that dissected the Blades defence. VARDY got goal side of Egan and was onside and the United man was probably concerned he may get sent off again and chose to let him go. The striker finished with aplomb away from Ramsdale. The striker darted away and broke the corner flag in his celebrations and was booked but would not have cared.
The kick off saw Baldock win a free kick after he tried to salvage something and then late on in the three minutes of stoppage time, United won a corner and Ramsdale came up but this was cleared and the final whistle went soon after. It was another defeat but a real gut wrenching one to lose it in such a way.
United – Heart-breaking way to lose at the death and inevitable Vardy would get it and for a long time it looked like we would get a point. We were certainly right in the game second half and they did not have the control or chances they had first half. Not sure we created much either but it seemed to be drifting to a draw and at least a point but then another mistake and it’s in our net again. People will say it sums up our luck and our season but I disagree. It is happening every week that we make mistakes that lead to goals and cannot score more than one at the other end. Every week. It’s not luck. Today we had lots of luck with the red card that should have been not given and they hit the post twice. Ramsdale dropped it a few times and it did not fall to them. Luck was nothing to do with us losing again. We lost as the other team had better players and moments of quality when it mattered in a second half where both cancelled each other out.
Yes, there was an error in midfield but why did we have such a ridiculously high line v Vardy? It was nonsensical tactics and deserved everything it got. 1-1 and 90th minute and our defence are so high v quick attackers. Still if Fleck can kick a ball then we do not concede. Ditto with Berge last week. People not doing their jobs every week. Ramsdale will get pelters again. McBurnie did last week and other before but Berge and Fleck have made two terrible mistakes. Away from this teams get through us routinely and another day we lost 4-1 today if those shots go the other side of the post. Overall, the other teams play better football, make less mistakes, concede less and score more than us. They have better athletes, technicians and quality. Every team. Even West Brom technically looked better. Today that same team got hammered 5-1. People will say we could have done that but we did not as we are not good enough to do that. That is why we are comfortably the worst team in the league.
The first half they were much better despite our goal and had all the play and chances. We were fortunate to be level at the break and were chasing shadows for long spells. Still even with us being better second half we still did not do enough to come close to winning the game. 1-2 was about right really and Leicester definitely did enough to win the game. They were the only team that wanted and tried to play football and go through the thirds. We for the most part relied on set plays and long balls hoping for second balls or something would drop. There was little actual quality all game save for maybe a few brief moments that normally ended with a crap cross or final ball. Second half even though we did better I am not sure other than one McBurnie header we threatened and we only had one shot on goal all game and Schmeichel did not have one save to make.
I cannot fault out endeavour in terms of trying but I will say we simply do not have the legs or mobility in the midfield. This means teams go through us easily. One pass and they are in. Our midfield has been wretched this season. Absolutely putrid. Everyone talks about the keeper (dodgy again I will say today but not at fault for the goals) and the defence and the strikers but we have nothing in the middle of the field. Nothing. For all the plaudits Berge gets, he is not influencing games. Lundstram was appalling first half and then got better second half and then was taken off. Norwood was really poor when he came on and Fleck was appalling all game on and off the ball. Norwood and Fleck two key men for the last 3-4 seasons look completely shot. They look like lower league players and are offering nothing on and off the ball. It is sad to see. No idea why they have lost form so badly. Both have fell off a cliff. I am not sure the defence did that badly today – Lowe apart and McBurnie played really well. Burke was not great but again had no service. The midfield was the major reason we lost the game as simplistic as that sounds as no one got on the ball – too many hid and it was easy for their players to pick passes/run through.
Another week and another defeat. More questions will come about Wilder’s future – most Blades will not entertain a change (me included) but it will heighten nationally with each loss as no manager normally survives such a run. Even Farke and Norwich were not this bad last year. Ditto for Watford who started the season so badly. It will be a horrible way for his tenure to end and I for one do not want it to happen as do not see the point of a change. If we do down, which looks likely we may as well give him the chance to take us back up.
At the moment relegation looks a formality sadly. People will say we could go on a run and are only a few points behind but at the moment we are losing every week. Every week. It might be fine margins but again today we did not deserve anything from the game and the WBA game apart we simply do not look like we can score goals. There were some positive and some things to be optimistic about but the bigger picture is we lost again and again did not do enough good things to win a game.
I had a quick glance at stats for the worst team in football for points and we are going to have to go some to beat it! The fewest points in a season (2 points for a win): 8, joint record: Loughborough (Second Division, 1899–1900) / Doncaster Rovers (Second Division, 1904–05). The fewest points in a season (3 points for a win): 11, Derby County (Premier League, 2007–08). These seem a long way off at the moment!
With two away games at Southampton and Brighton sandwiched between Man Utd at home, I am not sure where the next point is coming from and we face the real possibility of being on one point as we head into Christmas. We are now going from being crap and having had a bad start to being a laughing stock. I am not sure what the answer is. I do not believe we should change the manager but then the personnel week in, week out or making mistakes. We have a few who do well one week, then crap for weeks (McBurnie, Ramsdale, Berge casing points) and we have not had one game this year where more than 2 or 3 have played well in one game. Today we saw McBurnie play well and the defence did ok but individually and collectively we were not great to watch and for the huffing and puffing, not sure we did enough to win the game or even draw it, despite the horrible way we lost it. I am almost bored of everyone talking about team selections and individuals. The reality is everyone has had a good go at things (in terms of playing) and none of them individually or as a team have done enough to score enough goals, not concede goals and win enough games at all. It is painful to watch. The late goal today did not shock me at all. It almost had a sense of inevitability about it when it came.
Ratings:
Ramsdale 5/10 – He had no chance on the goals but he looked very erratic most of the 2nd half. He missed a cross (got back to save it but his error), kicked one straight to them, dropped another cross and looked like a mistake was going to happen every time it went near him. He has been nowhere near as bad as some have made out but he has not had a great season and the fact is when teams attack or shoot I expect it to be a goal does not exactly give you confidence in your keeper.
Baldock 6/10 – One of our better players again and has been all season. He does not get close enough to his man to stop crosses at times and that showed on the first but overall, he was one of the few who holds his own most weeks. Going forward we see the same frustrations with poor crosses and little end product or idea. Tries so hard and actually looks like it means a lot to him.
Lowe 3.5/10 – Looks woefully out of his depth sadly. He did make a couple of forward runs and make one or two interceptions so it was not like everything he did went wrong but a lot of the time he gets into awful positions. He goes to the ball when he should hold off and does the opposite when he should press. He gets beat easily and is weak in the tackle. Ball watching on the goal and then he commits two stupid fouls and was lucky not to get sent off. He is not Premier League standard.
Bryan 6/10 – Not sure he was that bad today. He started game a bit off and was not close enough to his man and on the ball a bit careless but got better as the game went on. He kept his position well and defensively he was fine and not sure any worse than some who have played there since O’Connell went out. He went forward a few times but he overhit one cross and hit the first man also.
Egan 6/10 – Did ok for most of the game and Vardy only got away twice. Once he hit the post and then scored. He gets caught out with that long ball way too often and positionally he seems to be too high up as he does not have the pace. I think if he had the situation again, he would have just taken him out. Yes, he goes off but then we probably do not lose. He should have taken one of the team. He is one of our better players most weeks and still nowhere near the heights of last season. Says it all.
Basham 6/10 – As above, he did ok defensively but a few times he switched off and they nearly got in. He did play them onside a few times. He made a few interceptions and blocks. Going forward we have not seen any real threat for a few weeks. He gets into some good areas but then dithers or stumbles or telegraphs the cross. Interestingly, Wilder blamed him partly for the goal saying he gave it to Fleck in a bad area.
Berge 5/10 – Sorry but the lad may have all the quality in the world but one or two moments in 90 minutes is not enough. He ran through once leading to the Burke chance and then had one other decent run. Outside of that, slow and ponderous, lost the ball too many times or came back and failed to take the initiative. Often slows us right down with too many touches or taking too long to do things. He may have quality and maybe our pattern of play (currently playing long ball a lot) may not suit him but he needs to do much more. Seems to be going through the motions to me. Everyone keeps criticising Norwood, Lundstram and Fleck but this lad plays every week and has had multiple chances in the pivot and on the right and still waiting for him to do more than one or two ‘nice/almost’ moments a game. I often forget he is playing. I might get criticised for this but he is one of the few who just looked like he was not arsed today. Maybe how he plays/carries himself. He might be a nice lad but we are carrying too many others and if one of our better technical players is not going to influence things then we are doomed. If we carry on losing then at the end of January you try and get your money back for me as the longer the season goes on, the less his value. Not sure if anyone would spend 20 million+ on him though at this point?
Fleck 4/10 – Another abject showing really. He got on the ball more today but not sure other than one jink inside he did anything with it – often gave it away or made a bad final pass. He looks nowhere near the player he was. Maybe he is still not fully fit but his body language and how he moves seems so far off where he needs to be. The goal was awful as he just made a really bad mistake and was punished ruthlessly. He looked dejected at the end as he knew it was his error. Quite sad to see arguably our best player along with Basham now look a long way off a top flight performer, for whatever reason.
Lundstram 5/10 – Started the game terribly and gave it away again and again. He looking like he was playing for them! Did take the corner for the goal and then started to improve and had a few good moments second half and then Wilder takes him off. He looked well p****d off. Maybe this was Wilder being petty but it seemed the wrong time to do it – none of the midfield had been great but for this spell he was the best of the three.
McBurnie 8/10 – Our best player by a long way. Ran his socks off. Scored a great goal and maybe should have had another too second half. He linked well and was our main threat. He also won loads of defensive headers and clearances. Worked so hard today and felt he carried the fight when many others did not sadly. Had a lot of criticism (I was one) but came out and played really well today and credit to him.
Burke 4/10 – Ran around a lot and some good runs off the ball but no quality at all on the ball. He goes into good areas but then no quality when he gets it. His brain seems to not marry up with his legs and twice he had got into positions and just fluffed it completely, in two consecutive weeks. He lacks intelligence when he gets into areas. I was not surprised he came off as he looked knackered. He has done ok at times but he is not going to score goals not make any as he lacks the composure or intelligence when his speed/power gets him there. Now drew 3 and lost 18 Premier League games in his career and is close to the record set by Gareth Bale (24) for games without a win! Not sure Burke will go on to have the career Bale did!
Subs –
Osborn 6/10 – Did ok when he came on and got a few blocks in and got forward when he could do and involved in one of our few decent attacks. They did have a few moments down that side but he was still better than Lowe by a long way.
Norwood 3/10 – Thought he was shocking when he came on. He gave it away several times, put three poor crosses in and did not really protect the defence as their quick and mobile players ran away from him. No idea why he came on but the midfield were playing so badly. He may have been better putting Bash into midfield to give us some legs there. They were showing with athletes and runners we needed to plug gaps but he is immobile. He is another, like Fleck, that just looks a busted flush sadly. I have loved the guy and he did well last season but at the moment he looks a long way off the standard required at this level and for the first time you can see why every team flogged him when they went up. He is not quick or mobile enough. We got away with it last year but now when he plays other midfields come through us.
Brewster – Caught offside twice and then tried an audacious chip but not sure he did much else really. He is not a link man or someone who runs off defenders although nearly did on the chance. Swansea knocked it about and played possession stuff. We are now a long ball team and not a very good one so god knows how he will make an impact in a team like this?
Manager Wilder 4/10 – Another defeat. He did not change the team which was odd but McBurnie repaid his faith, Bryan did ok too but Lowe was really poor again. His changes were right at half time and for Burke to come off but did not agree with the Lundstram change as at the time we had started to do a bit better and he had too. Not sure it helped us at all. He will say he cannot legislate for errors and we had more again that led to conceding two goals. However, he often says we cannot set up in a reckless way or go toe to toe but then why did we have a high line in the last minute and were so open? Also, his tactics and way of playing at the moment is really poor. We have gone from a possession based attractive, attacking team to a dour, long ball team playing off scraps. Maybe we could have nicked a draw but the performance again was not great and the way we played was boring and not pretty at all. Individually so many are off form and we have had injuries of course but how we are set up is awful to see. It was inevitable they would score first half and then the second half we barely got up a head of steam. We did not have a real go or try and win the game. Yes, Leicester are a decent team but then there are lots of them at this level. At some point we have to try and score more than one or win a game. His approach is pitiful at the moment. I love the man and what he has done but we look a pretty abject and desperate side hoping for the odd break here and there. Not sure who or what we are. We have no identity at all and we are a soft touch through the side with a jittery keeper, a porous defence, a midfield that does not get on the ball or press/tackle and a toothless striker force. All in all, does not bode well. I do wonder what he will do if we lost 2 or 3 more on the bounce as it gets to the point where even he cannot keep come out and blaming the players or mistakes. I do want him to go and my point above may be interpreted differently but that is why I feel he could just walk away. He sounded incredibly down after the game and his voice lacked the fight/enthusiasm he normally has and was completely missing. He admitted he was really down and his reaction as he trooped off was one of someone who seems powerless to change things. He again said we are playing top teams and players and it is like he has given up somewhat. For the first time I sensed he probably knows his future at the club is in real doubt.
He kept saying the players have to do better but at some point he will know the buck stops with him. He won’t stay in my opinion if we keep losing week in, week out. I hope I am wrong as even if we did I would still keep him. He deserves that and if/when we go down he is still going to be better played than many to get us back up but I do feel a further run of defeats and his own pride will mean so much that he would not want to be here and be the manager that oversees the worst season (at least in terms of points) in United’s history.
Leicester - They started the season well and were top but have trailed off recently with a few players losing form added to the number of games (Europe) and some injuries. They lost badly at home to Fulham last time and had been off the pace. Still, you were worried they would hit form at some point but today they were better than us but not amazing but did just enough to win the game even if it was late. They had a lot of the ball and unlucky to hit the post twice and should have led but conceded at a set play, their nemesis and were level. 2nd half they never really got going and their fans probably would have been critical of them if they had not won but kept calm and you feared a chance would come for them more than us and that they might take it and so it proved.
They have some really good players and have lots of things we do not. They had a fair few regulars missing today too but they have pace, energy and quality. They have goal threats all over the field and as annoying as Vardy is, he is a bloody fine player. Works relentlessly, quality link man, goal scorer, threat in behind. He is everything our forwards are not. Maddison was touted as the next big thing but has never really got going this season but sure will come good. The key to them is they have a really solid spine. Established performers like Pereira, Ndidi, Schmeichel and Soyuncu probably still don’t get the credit they deserve. All 4 of these are excellent players who would start for most Premier League clubs. Add in Vardy and you have a really solid base of a team.
Some of their signings have been quietly impressive. Think Tielemans is a great player and Fofana and Castagne are decent acquisitions that went somewhat under the radar. Still not sure Vardy had an effective enough partner as Perez more of a wide threat and Iheanacho.
I am not convinced Rodgers is that great of a manager actually but suppose he did well at Swansea, less well at Liverpool and then in an easier job excelled in Scotland. I expect them to finish top 7 or 8 again and they quietly with Wolves will be on the heels of the other big 6. I see those 8 as being quite a bit ahead of other teams even though the table may not show that at the moment.
Opponent Man of the Match – One moment of quality and he took it but even though Vardy scored, I’d give Tielemans the man of the match. Thought he was excellent and everything our midfield was not.
Opponent Weak link – Fuchs is playing due to injuries but struggled with McBurnie who caused him and Evans lots of problems all game.
Referee/Officials/VAR – Attwell was fine and favoured us as he should have sent Lowe off. I also thought Norwood and Fleck were lucky not to be booked. He let a lot go both ways and thought he tried to let things flow. I felt we got more decisions than them and still lost!
Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Still no sign of crowds at the Lane of course. There are rumours that we may return if Sheffield becomes a Tier 2 area but the reality is if games are rotated around last season’s ST holders, most of us would only see maybe a game before the end of the season if it is 2,000 allowed in. With defeat after defeat each week not sure many be desperate to get back at the moment even if it is just for one game, maybe I am wrong!
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-20-21-leicester-home
open.spotify.com/episode/5ES6o19cp8J9G5t27QwIjv?si=1EyiqjOvTMKMbBVp24vHUw
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Another week, another loss and the car crash of a season for Sheffield United continues. A few weeks ago, despite not being able to pick up a win, many others were also struggling at the bottom of the table. Now others have slowly started to get points and United are well and truly stranded on the embarrassing figure of one point from eleven games. Now not only is relegation looking likely but the record of being the worst ever top flight team (not just Premier League) in history is also a possibility unless the Blades can somehow break this long run of games without a victory. Going back to last season, United now have not won 15 games (league and cup) and have lost 14 of these. It is a wretched run and albeit it at the highest level, no United fan will have seen this in their life time. After the two games against West Ham and West Brom heralded two more defeats and no more goals, many United fans probably feared the worst against a Leicester side due a big performance but it was a different kind of heart break this time that saw the Blades do down to defeat with Wednesday fan Jamie Vardy scoring the last-minute winner.
Surprisingly after such a horrendous run, manager Wilder kept faith with 10 of the starters from last week with just Lundstram coming in for Norwood. McBurnie kept his place up front. Mousset was injured yet again so Sharp was given a place on the bench. Enda Stevens and Ethan Ampadu were still not fit. Leicester started with Vardy up top and had Maddison back starting. Right back Pereira was not risked despite coming back in the week and Soyuncu was also injured and not available. Leicester still packed plenty of experience and quality to start the game and indeed on the bench.
United began the game winning two corners that came to nothing but the away side started to take control of things with their pass and move play starting to dictate the tempo. Lundstram gave it away twice in close succession so even when the home side had it, they gave it away. Leicester were moving it side to side and back to front quickly and starting to find holes and from one such chance, Vardy beat the offside trap and was in on the angle and hit a powerful shot that cannoned off Ramsdale’s near post. It was a real let off inside 10 minutes.
Maddison’s cross was cleared away for a corner as Leicester dominated the play and Ramsdale then made a mistake that saw him knock the ball out for a corner. Lowe then committed a foul that saw Maddison try and outrageous free kick but he got it all wrong and it drifted well wide. Vardy was then offside as Leicester continued to look dangerous and the possession stats were frighteningly one sided.
Lundstram gave it away again but Basham got in to intercept before a rare chance for United saw Berge finally get in the game and drive through and McBurnie’s clever through ball fed Burke but the striker, as he did last week, made a horrible mess of the chance and fell over before he could even get a shot away.
This was a rare moment of promise for the Blades but was to prove costly as more patient build up saw Leicester deservedly take the lead. The ball was moved across and with no pressure on the cross it came over and Egan mistimed his jump and did not get enough on his header. Lowe was miles off Albrighton who hit a shot that deflected off Lowe and no United defenders reacted and PEREZ smashed home via the palms of Ramsdale who had little chance from such close range.
However, the Blades responded instantly and got level. They won a corner and Lundstram put it in a good area and MCBURNIE got up and powered his header into the corner of the net. It clearly was a big relief for the big front man.
After this United got stuck in and started to make it more of a contest for a spell after being second best up to the two goals but slowly Leicester started to take control again with more patient football and they often beat the press with one pass and were in on goal. Lowe was yellow carded for trying to stop one such break and then a ball from the right was eventually cleared after it ricocheted around. Berge then made a crunching tackle but Lowe gave it away when well-placed and the break was on the other way again. Basham then had to clear after more patient play from the Foxes nearly led to them being in on goal.
Lowe was then vert lucky not to be sent off after another cynical trip as Leicester threatened to get in on goal. He must have had his heart in his mouth but the referee Attwell opted to give him a final chance. The free kick saw a shot blocked by McBurnie who had done well at the defensive end on a few occasions but United had another let off when Maddison came inside and from a similar position to Vardy’s shot crashed another effort against the same post. The half time whistle came at a good time for United who were hanging on somewhat.
After the break, Osborn came on for Lowe with Wilder concerned he may lose his man through foul means and got him off before he was probably sent off. A neat move from Burke, Baldock and Lundstram nearly got United in on a rare moment of possession play. Leicester were moving it around well but looking a bit clueless this half and were not the same threat early on.
Berge was dis-possessed and this led to a corner for Leicester which McBurnie did well to clear with his head. Leicester still had more of the ball but were not having the control of the game they had although Justin nutmegged Basham and Osborn had to get across to make the interception. Fleck and Berge then both gave it away too easily but Perez ran into trouble. United did have a half chance as Osborn fed McBurnie and his cross was cleared with Lundstram trying to get in at the near post.
The game ticked over the hour mark and it had been a better spell for United with few chances of note at either end. Lundstram burst through two tackles in a rare moment when a Blades player ran at his man and was chopped down leading to a booking for Fuchs. Oddly, straight after this Lundstram who had improved 2nd half was taken off for Norwood. His first contribution was a poor cross which he repeated moments later. Basham’s cross was deflected wide for a corner and this led to a chance for McBurnie but his header was over when he was well placed.
At the other end Leicester then had a flurry of half chances with Ramsdale involved in many of them with some poor moments. He dropped a corner that led to Tielemans firing goalwards but Ramsdale at least got back to save although cut his lip in the melee.
Mendy and Perez came off to be replaced by Ndidi and Iheanacho before Ramsdale’s poor kick nearly led to a chance but Basham made the interception before the keeper nearly spilled another cross soon after in an indecisive spell for the keeper. However, Ramsdale came out well and headed away after Fleck’s poor cross saw the Foxes break.
The game ticked into the final 15 minutes and Fuchs long range shot was well over before Burke did well at other end to win a tackle but then strayed offside. This was his last moment as Brewster came on but the striker was caught offside twice not long after he took to the pitch. He did have an effort when Berge put the ball through and he tried a chip but it was off target.
The game became mired in midfield for a spell and seemed to be drifting to a stalemate with few chances created either way but a bad mistake was to prove costly right on 90 minutes.
With no danger imminent, Fleck mis controlled and dithered and Maddison got on the ball and played a lovely ball through that dissected the Blades defence. VARDY got goal side of Egan and was onside and the United man was probably concerned he may get sent off again and chose to let him go. The striker finished with aplomb away from Ramsdale. The striker darted away and broke the corner flag in his celebrations and was booked but would not have cared.
The kick off saw Baldock win a free kick after he tried to salvage something and then late on in the three minutes of stoppage time, United won a corner and Ramsdale came up but this was cleared and the final whistle went soon after. It was another defeat but a real gut wrenching one to lose it in such a way.
United – Heart-breaking way to lose at the death and inevitable Vardy would get it and for a long time it looked like we would get a point. We were certainly right in the game second half and they did not have the control or chances they had first half. Not sure we created much either but it seemed to be drifting to a draw and at least a point but then another mistake and it’s in our net again. People will say it sums up our luck and our season but I disagree. It is happening every week that we make mistakes that lead to goals and cannot score more than one at the other end. Every week. It’s not luck. Today we had lots of luck with the red card that should have been not given and they hit the post twice. Ramsdale dropped it a few times and it did not fall to them. Luck was nothing to do with us losing again. We lost as the other team had better players and moments of quality when it mattered in a second half where both cancelled each other out.
Yes, there was an error in midfield but why did we have such a ridiculously high line v Vardy? It was nonsensical tactics and deserved everything it got. 1-1 and 90th minute and our defence are so high v quick attackers. Still if Fleck can kick a ball then we do not concede. Ditto with Berge last week. People not doing their jobs every week. Ramsdale will get pelters again. McBurnie did last week and other before but Berge and Fleck have made two terrible mistakes. Away from this teams get through us routinely and another day we lost 4-1 today if those shots go the other side of the post. Overall, the other teams play better football, make less mistakes, concede less and score more than us. They have better athletes, technicians and quality. Every team. Even West Brom technically looked better. Today that same team got hammered 5-1. People will say we could have done that but we did not as we are not good enough to do that. That is why we are comfortably the worst team in the league.
The first half they were much better despite our goal and had all the play and chances. We were fortunate to be level at the break and were chasing shadows for long spells. Still even with us being better second half we still did not do enough to come close to winning the game. 1-2 was about right really and Leicester definitely did enough to win the game. They were the only team that wanted and tried to play football and go through the thirds. We for the most part relied on set plays and long balls hoping for second balls or something would drop. There was little actual quality all game save for maybe a few brief moments that normally ended with a crap cross or final ball. Second half even though we did better I am not sure other than one McBurnie header we threatened and we only had one shot on goal all game and Schmeichel did not have one save to make.
I cannot fault out endeavour in terms of trying but I will say we simply do not have the legs or mobility in the midfield. This means teams go through us easily. One pass and they are in. Our midfield has been wretched this season. Absolutely putrid. Everyone talks about the keeper (dodgy again I will say today but not at fault for the goals) and the defence and the strikers but we have nothing in the middle of the field. Nothing. For all the plaudits Berge gets, he is not influencing games. Lundstram was appalling first half and then got better second half and then was taken off. Norwood was really poor when he came on and Fleck was appalling all game on and off the ball. Norwood and Fleck two key men for the last 3-4 seasons look completely shot. They look like lower league players and are offering nothing on and off the ball. It is sad to see. No idea why they have lost form so badly. Both have fell off a cliff. I am not sure the defence did that badly today – Lowe apart and McBurnie played really well. Burke was not great but again had no service. The midfield was the major reason we lost the game as simplistic as that sounds as no one got on the ball – too many hid and it was easy for their players to pick passes/run through.
Another week and another defeat. More questions will come about Wilder’s future – most Blades will not entertain a change (me included) but it will heighten nationally with each loss as no manager normally survives such a run. Even Farke and Norwich were not this bad last year. Ditto for Watford who started the season so badly. It will be a horrible way for his tenure to end and I for one do not want it to happen as do not see the point of a change. If we do down, which looks likely we may as well give him the chance to take us back up.
At the moment relegation looks a formality sadly. People will say we could go on a run and are only a few points behind but at the moment we are losing every week. Every week. It might be fine margins but again today we did not deserve anything from the game and the WBA game apart we simply do not look like we can score goals. There were some positive and some things to be optimistic about but the bigger picture is we lost again and again did not do enough good things to win a game.
I had a quick glance at stats for the worst team in football for points and we are going to have to go some to beat it! The fewest points in a season (2 points for a win): 8, joint record: Loughborough (Second Division, 1899–1900) / Doncaster Rovers (Second Division, 1904–05). The fewest points in a season (3 points for a win): 11, Derby County (Premier League, 2007–08). These seem a long way off at the moment!
With two away games at Southampton and Brighton sandwiched between Man Utd at home, I am not sure where the next point is coming from and we face the real possibility of being on one point as we head into Christmas. We are now going from being crap and having had a bad start to being a laughing stock. I am not sure what the answer is. I do not believe we should change the manager but then the personnel week in, week out or making mistakes. We have a few who do well one week, then crap for weeks (McBurnie, Ramsdale, Berge casing points) and we have not had one game this year where more than 2 or 3 have played well in one game. Today we saw McBurnie play well and the defence did ok but individually and collectively we were not great to watch and for the huffing and puffing, not sure we did enough to win the game or even draw it, despite the horrible way we lost it. I am almost bored of everyone talking about team selections and individuals. The reality is everyone has had a good go at things (in terms of playing) and none of them individually or as a team have done enough to score enough goals, not concede goals and win enough games at all. It is painful to watch. The late goal today did not shock me at all. It almost had a sense of inevitability about it when it came.
Ratings:
Ramsdale 5/10 – He had no chance on the goals but he looked very erratic most of the 2nd half. He missed a cross (got back to save it but his error), kicked one straight to them, dropped another cross and looked like a mistake was going to happen every time it went near him. He has been nowhere near as bad as some have made out but he has not had a great season and the fact is when teams attack or shoot I expect it to be a goal does not exactly give you confidence in your keeper.
Baldock 6/10 – One of our better players again and has been all season. He does not get close enough to his man to stop crosses at times and that showed on the first but overall, he was one of the few who holds his own most weeks. Going forward we see the same frustrations with poor crosses and little end product or idea. Tries so hard and actually looks like it means a lot to him.
Lowe 3.5/10 – Looks woefully out of his depth sadly. He did make a couple of forward runs and make one or two interceptions so it was not like everything he did went wrong but a lot of the time he gets into awful positions. He goes to the ball when he should hold off and does the opposite when he should press. He gets beat easily and is weak in the tackle. Ball watching on the goal and then he commits two stupid fouls and was lucky not to get sent off. He is not Premier League standard.
Bryan 6/10 – Not sure he was that bad today. He started game a bit off and was not close enough to his man and on the ball a bit careless but got better as the game went on. He kept his position well and defensively he was fine and not sure any worse than some who have played there since O’Connell went out. He went forward a few times but he overhit one cross and hit the first man also.
Egan 6/10 – Did ok for most of the game and Vardy only got away twice. Once he hit the post and then scored. He gets caught out with that long ball way too often and positionally he seems to be too high up as he does not have the pace. I think if he had the situation again, he would have just taken him out. Yes, he goes off but then we probably do not lose. He should have taken one of the team. He is one of our better players most weeks and still nowhere near the heights of last season. Says it all.
Basham 6/10 – As above, he did ok defensively but a few times he switched off and they nearly got in. He did play them onside a few times. He made a few interceptions and blocks. Going forward we have not seen any real threat for a few weeks. He gets into some good areas but then dithers or stumbles or telegraphs the cross. Interestingly, Wilder blamed him partly for the goal saying he gave it to Fleck in a bad area.
Berge 5/10 – Sorry but the lad may have all the quality in the world but one or two moments in 90 minutes is not enough. He ran through once leading to the Burke chance and then had one other decent run. Outside of that, slow and ponderous, lost the ball too many times or came back and failed to take the initiative. Often slows us right down with too many touches or taking too long to do things. He may have quality and maybe our pattern of play (currently playing long ball a lot) may not suit him but he needs to do much more. Seems to be going through the motions to me. Everyone keeps criticising Norwood, Lundstram and Fleck but this lad plays every week and has had multiple chances in the pivot and on the right and still waiting for him to do more than one or two ‘nice/almost’ moments a game. I often forget he is playing. I might get criticised for this but he is one of the few who just looked like he was not arsed today. Maybe how he plays/carries himself. He might be a nice lad but we are carrying too many others and if one of our better technical players is not going to influence things then we are doomed. If we carry on losing then at the end of January you try and get your money back for me as the longer the season goes on, the less his value. Not sure if anyone would spend 20 million+ on him though at this point?
Fleck 4/10 – Another abject showing really. He got on the ball more today but not sure other than one jink inside he did anything with it – often gave it away or made a bad final pass. He looks nowhere near the player he was. Maybe he is still not fully fit but his body language and how he moves seems so far off where he needs to be. The goal was awful as he just made a really bad mistake and was punished ruthlessly. He looked dejected at the end as he knew it was his error. Quite sad to see arguably our best player along with Basham now look a long way off a top flight performer, for whatever reason.
Lundstram 5/10 – Started the game terribly and gave it away again and again. He looking like he was playing for them! Did take the corner for the goal and then started to improve and had a few good moments second half and then Wilder takes him off. He looked well p****d off. Maybe this was Wilder being petty but it seemed the wrong time to do it – none of the midfield had been great but for this spell he was the best of the three.
McBurnie 8/10 – Our best player by a long way. Ran his socks off. Scored a great goal and maybe should have had another too second half. He linked well and was our main threat. He also won loads of defensive headers and clearances. Worked so hard today and felt he carried the fight when many others did not sadly. Had a lot of criticism (I was one) but came out and played really well today and credit to him.
Burke 4/10 – Ran around a lot and some good runs off the ball but no quality at all on the ball. He goes into good areas but then no quality when he gets it. His brain seems to not marry up with his legs and twice he had got into positions and just fluffed it completely, in two consecutive weeks. He lacks intelligence when he gets into areas. I was not surprised he came off as he looked knackered. He has done ok at times but he is not going to score goals not make any as he lacks the composure or intelligence when his speed/power gets him there. Now drew 3 and lost 18 Premier League games in his career and is close to the record set by Gareth Bale (24) for games without a win! Not sure Burke will go on to have the career Bale did!
Subs –
Osborn 6/10 – Did ok when he came on and got a few blocks in and got forward when he could do and involved in one of our few decent attacks. They did have a few moments down that side but he was still better than Lowe by a long way.
Norwood 3/10 – Thought he was shocking when he came on. He gave it away several times, put three poor crosses in and did not really protect the defence as their quick and mobile players ran away from him. No idea why he came on but the midfield were playing so badly. He may have been better putting Bash into midfield to give us some legs there. They were showing with athletes and runners we needed to plug gaps but he is immobile. He is another, like Fleck, that just looks a busted flush sadly. I have loved the guy and he did well last season but at the moment he looks a long way off the standard required at this level and for the first time you can see why every team flogged him when they went up. He is not quick or mobile enough. We got away with it last year but now when he plays other midfields come through us.
Brewster – Caught offside twice and then tried an audacious chip but not sure he did much else really. He is not a link man or someone who runs off defenders although nearly did on the chance. Swansea knocked it about and played possession stuff. We are now a long ball team and not a very good one so god knows how he will make an impact in a team like this?
Manager Wilder 4/10 – Another defeat. He did not change the team which was odd but McBurnie repaid his faith, Bryan did ok too but Lowe was really poor again. His changes were right at half time and for Burke to come off but did not agree with the Lundstram change as at the time we had started to do a bit better and he had too. Not sure it helped us at all. He will say he cannot legislate for errors and we had more again that led to conceding two goals. However, he often says we cannot set up in a reckless way or go toe to toe but then why did we have a high line in the last minute and were so open? Also, his tactics and way of playing at the moment is really poor. We have gone from a possession based attractive, attacking team to a dour, long ball team playing off scraps. Maybe we could have nicked a draw but the performance again was not great and the way we played was boring and not pretty at all. Individually so many are off form and we have had injuries of course but how we are set up is awful to see. It was inevitable they would score first half and then the second half we barely got up a head of steam. We did not have a real go or try and win the game. Yes, Leicester are a decent team but then there are lots of them at this level. At some point we have to try and score more than one or win a game. His approach is pitiful at the moment. I love the man and what he has done but we look a pretty abject and desperate side hoping for the odd break here and there. Not sure who or what we are. We have no identity at all and we are a soft touch through the side with a jittery keeper, a porous defence, a midfield that does not get on the ball or press/tackle and a toothless striker force. All in all, does not bode well. I do wonder what he will do if we lost 2 or 3 more on the bounce as it gets to the point where even he cannot keep come out and blaming the players or mistakes. I do want him to go and my point above may be interpreted differently but that is why I feel he could just walk away. He sounded incredibly down after the game and his voice lacked the fight/enthusiasm he normally has and was completely missing. He admitted he was really down and his reaction as he trooped off was one of someone who seems powerless to change things. He again said we are playing top teams and players and it is like he has given up somewhat. For the first time I sensed he probably knows his future at the club is in real doubt.
He kept saying the players have to do better but at some point he will know the buck stops with him. He won’t stay in my opinion if we keep losing week in, week out. I hope I am wrong as even if we did I would still keep him. He deserves that and if/when we go down he is still going to be better played than many to get us back up but I do feel a further run of defeats and his own pride will mean so much that he would not want to be here and be the manager that oversees the worst season (at least in terms of points) in United’s history.
Leicester - They started the season well and were top but have trailed off recently with a few players losing form added to the number of games (Europe) and some injuries. They lost badly at home to Fulham last time and had been off the pace. Still, you were worried they would hit form at some point but today they were better than us but not amazing but did just enough to win the game even if it was late. They had a lot of the ball and unlucky to hit the post twice and should have led but conceded at a set play, their nemesis and were level. 2nd half they never really got going and their fans probably would have been critical of them if they had not won but kept calm and you feared a chance would come for them more than us and that they might take it and so it proved.
They have some really good players and have lots of things we do not. They had a fair few regulars missing today too but they have pace, energy and quality. They have goal threats all over the field and as annoying as Vardy is, he is a bloody fine player. Works relentlessly, quality link man, goal scorer, threat in behind. He is everything our forwards are not. Maddison was touted as the next big thing but has never really got going this season but sure will come good. The key to them is they have a really solid spine. Established performers like Pereira, Ndidi, Schmeichel and Soyuncu probably still don’t get the credit they deserve. All 4 of these are excellent players who would start for most Premier League clubs. Add in Vardy and you have a really solid base of a team.
Some of their signings have been quietly impressive. Think Tielemans is a great player and Fofana and Castagne are decent acquisitions that went somewhat under the radar. Still not sure Vardy had an effective enough partner as Perez more of a wide threat and Iheanacho.
I am not convinced Rodgers is that great of a manager actually but suppose he did well at Swansea, less well at Liverpool and then in an easier job excelled in Scotland. I expect them to finish top 7 or 8 again and they quietly with Wolves will be on the heels of the other big 6. I see those 8 as being quite a bit ahead of other teams even though the table may not show that at the moment.
Opponent Man of the Match – One moment of quality and he took it but even though Vardy scored, I’d give Tielemans the man of the match. Thought he was excellent and everything our midfield was not.
Opponent Weak link – Fuchs is playing due to injuries but struggled with McBurnie who caused him and Evans lots of problems all game.
Referee/Officials/VAR – Attwell was fine and favoured us as he should have sent Lowe off. I also thought Norwood and Fleck were lucky not to be booked. He let a lot go both ways and thought he tried to let things flow. I felt we got more decisions than them and still lost!
Crowd/Atmosphere etc – Still no sign of crowds at the Lane of course. There are rumours that we may return if Sheffield becomes a Tier 2 area but the reality is if games are rotated around last season’s ST holders, most of us would only see maybe a game before the end of the season if it is 2,000 allowed in. With defeat after defeat each week not sure many be desperate to get back at the moment even if it is just for one game, maybe I am wrong!
