Post by deadbat on Dec 27, 2020 0:54:59 GMT
Pod links below and report underneath
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Boxing Day has traditionally been a good day for United but today it simply brought another defeat in an absolutely wretched season for the Blades. Everton were the latest side to feast on Wilder’s sorry side and became the 7th side to win from 8 visits to the Lane. Fifteen games and still no victory for the Blades who are now 10 points behind 17th place Brighton and staring Championship football in the face despite 23 games still to play! It is now 19 games without a win in all competition with records of the wrong type now being extended every week. Never had a club started as badly in the history of top flight football. Today, it was a really poor game and even Everton did not really impress but did enough to edge a tight, abject game with little quality on show from either side. In the end Sigurdsson’s smart finish was enough to win it for the Toffees as United huffed and puffed but showed little attacking composure to create much all game.
United were really down to the bare bones with no places for long term casualties Jack O’Connell and Sander Berge. John Lundstram was suspended. Fleck was dropped to the bench and in came Oli Burke to partner Rhian Brewster with McGoldrick playing in the number ten tole in a more attacking formation that many fans had been asking for. Ampadu and Osborn lined up in midfield. McBurnie and Mousset were both deemed fit enough to take places on the bench.
Everton were without James Rodriguez, Luca Digne, Allan and Richarlison but started with former Blade Dominic Calvert Lewin who rather ominously had not scored for three games after a prolific season with eleven goals – three more than the entire United team had scored all season. Youngster Anthony Gordon got a start up the top of the field. Everton named two sub keepers amongst nine which maybe showed how they also were struggling with bodies.
The game began in appalling weather conditions with rain and wind swirling around S2. On two minutes United won a corner after an errant pass back from Everton but it was cleared. The first five minutes saw United have a fair bit of the ball but they gave it away under relatively little pressure. Everton had their first attack when Baldock headed out for a corner but Ramsdale caught well under pressure. His throw out nearly set United free but Davies got back to recover things.
Pickford took too long to kick out and it hit Brewster but fortunately did not rebound the other way. United thought they had a chance when McGoldrick was played in by Brewster’s through ball and he rounded Pickford but made a mess of the effort and fluffed it completely and Godfrey cleared off the line. The flag went up and replays showed it was the right decision nullifying the opportunity.
Egan made a good tackle on Calvert Lewin but the striker was starting to come into the game as was Everton who were beginning to move p the field. Iwobi had the first effort for either side with a low shot straight at Ramsdale and then a diagonal ball saw Robinson sleeping and Calvert Lewin breasted down and volleyed just wide. It showed the awareness of the striker in comparison to the static defender and United were fortunate
The away side were now asking the questions and Ramsdale error strewn season continued when he dropped a cross at shoulder height under no pressure. United were able to gain a free kick in the melee that followed this and survived. Wilder seemed to see the tide had changed in terms of possession and territory and seemed to move McGoldrick to the left and Brewster to the right in an attempt to stem the flow of possession with Davies influential in the midfield role and Iwobi finding little gaps. This was in evidence when Iwobi went on a slalom run when he beat Osborn and Ampadu but was crowded out as Gordon could not get on the rebound. Sigurdsson then came inside away from Ampadu and shot wide with no pressure on the ball.
United had began the game ok but had struggled to create anything of note at all until right on half time when Burke got on the end of a quick Stevens throw and held off Doucoure showing his upper body strength but his attempted curler went past the post. It was United’s first meaningful effort of the game and the half time whistle went straight after this.
In truth it had been a poor game with Everton controlling more of the ball and looking more likely but with only a few efforts of note from either side.
McBurnie came on for Burke who seemed to have been struggling first half with a knock for the final part of the first 45 minutes. Robinson tried to let the ball go out and Doucoure nipped in but the United defender recovered his error well and won a free kick. Calvert Lewin was booked for kicking the ball away before Gordon came off for Bernard.
On 55 minutes there were half hearted appeals for a penalty for a push on McBurnie but the striker seemed to go down too easily under minimal contact.
Ampadu conceded a corner after he intercepted a through ball but there was little quality on show with Egan’s defensive work one of the stand outs for United. Sigurdsson nearly got in before Calvert Lewin was blocked out but no clear chances were being created.
Norwood came on for McGoldrick which seemed quite a defensive move and the sub gave away two cheap fouls and then gave the ball away that nearly put Everton in. The visitors put Coleman on for Keane as Holgate went to centre back. Egan flicked a header over from a corner in the first chance for United this half.
Baldock chopped down his man to earn a booking before Ramsdale spilt another ball but gathered at the second attempt.
Andre Gomes replaced Davies for the visitors and Mousset came on for Brewster as both teams tried to find something that would win the game. It seemed like that one goal and bit of quality would be enough and so it proved with 10 minutes to play.
It came from a United attack but they gave the ball away and Everton broke in numbers although the home side held up the first effort with a blocked tackle, the ball was not cleared and Basham’s poor header was latched meant the ball did not clear the area. The ball knocked across and Doucoure cushioned the ball down for SIGURDSSON who steadied himself and hit an angled shot right into the corner giving Ramsdale no chance.
United tried to respond with Bernard booked for fouling Ampadu but Basham’s header looped harmlessly wide. Egan then sent over a mis kicked cross which Pickford had to help over. United kept huffing and puffing but there was little conviction. Stevens shot was a long way over from a ball that dropped.
The game entered five minutes of stoppage time and there was a flurry of bookings came with Robinson, Pickford and Godfrey booked. The Blades man for dissent and the two Everton players for timewasting. McBurnie had a decent headed chance but flicked well wide when he was well placed from a corner and Everton managed to get it up the other end to kill the final moments before one final opportunity came in the 96th minute. Norwood helped the ball back in, Mina could not clear properly and Osborn knocked it back and it dropped for McBurnie but his snatched shot went well wide and with it that was the final chance of the game. There was no time of the goal kick and Referee Coote signalled an end to things and another week goes by without a win for the Blades.
United – I thought it was quite a poor performance again. I thought Everton were really poor and if we had any belief/confidence/quality we could have won the game. Sadly, we had non of those things. They had several missing of the better attacking players but I suppose we negated them early on and were right in the game. They shaded the first half but we had one chance in Burke. They had a few and Calvert Lewin maybe the best effort of the game and Iwobi had a few runs and shots. Sigurdsson also shot wide. They maybe edged things in possession and efforts but we were well in the game.
He had to change things as they had more of the ball and thus the McGoldrick in the hole experiment lasted about half an hour and we ended up with him and Brewster more withdrawn and wider and it seemed more 5-4-1 for the end of the first half. Some may say Wilder should have kept with the formation but we had started to get overrun 15-30 minutes and they looked more and more dangerous. We kind of stemmed the tide not that it was huge and got to half time.
Regardless of formation, I wanted an improvement in our conviction, energy and passing second half. I wanted more forceful attacking play but we did not see this. Not sure they were any better any there were barely any chances? I felt the McGoldrick withdrawal (he was not great but still felt he could do something of anyone) completely killed any chances we had of winning the game. They then took the initiative more and Norwood kept fouling and giving it away. They had extra midfield runners and started to find gaps and the goal came from this where they had numbers forward and men in the box – something we did not do all game. The goal was soft and we should have cleared a few times with a poor header, defenders not attacking the ball and then people losing their runners and not making the big challenges. It is a shot from the penalty spot and no challenge comes in.
After this we tried but nothing of real note. McBurnie had a few efforts and Stevens blazed over. Mousset showed some life at least after the really poor Brewster went off. I never thought we would score though and the lack of quality was depressing. It maybe could have ended 0-0 but they showed the bit of quality when it mattered and defended their goal very easily for an away side. Not sure Pickford had a meaningful save to make all game really and I just felt it was all too easy. Even if we had drawn 0-0 (yes against a side near the top – how I am not sure – granted they had some missing) it was still not good enough considering where we are. Our tactic seems to be to keep it tight and hope we snatch a goal but this is not working as we cannot keep it tight – invariably we concede at some point and never really look like scoring or creating much.
The biggest takeaway from the game again was that I was bored yet again tonight. The Brighton and Man Utd games at least we saw some passion and fight and heck some entertainment. Tonight, I was just thoroughly depressed by the performance. Even if we had drawn 0-0, I am not sure I would have come away feeling very positive. As I say I thought Everton were dire too. I am not sure we made them look bad either as they gave it away under little pressure as much as us.
I do agree with Wilder in that the confidence of players to pass forward or show some belief to do things on the ball seems to have evaporated. Noone is moving off the ball, we are starting to hide and are going back all the time. We do not press or harry and just seem rigid. We look like a table football side where you just keep your positions and don’t move either with or without the ball!
Even the players who were doing that such as Basham and Baldock seem to be going backwards. The players have no belief they can beat the teams they are up against. That is sad to say. They know they are inferior quality. Wilder said we put lots of effort in but at times I even think we are losing that side – see Ampadu, Robinson just getting shrugged aside physically. We have completely lost our identity as a side. We are now not a football side, not an attacking side, not a defensive side, not a physical side. We are a nothingness. We are a set of soft losers who are now on track to be remembered not for the fantastic side that rampaged through the leagues but will be known as the worst side maybe in top flight football history. Ever. We are a laughing stock at the moment. Fans might say I don’t care let them laugh but we should care. It’s our club. I loved the praise and what we did last season and everyone saying look at what they are doing. Conversely it’s horrible for us now to be one of the worst teams in top flight history – actually the worst as it stands. We are embarrassing. They are our club, my club but at the moment I do not even want to think/talk about them much. These reports are even hard to write. I am losing interest and just wish that the season would end. That is an awful feeling to have. I want to just fast forward to next August.
You would think the players would not want that on their CV’s but they are sure as hell not doing enough to not have that stuck with them. This is something that will follow many of them the rest of their career unless they can arrest this and some may never recover from it (Fleck, Stevens, Norwood, McGoldrick, Basham, Sharp won’t play here again you would not think). It’s really sad to see that this is what this side and Wilder may be known for maybe forever. I hate it but if this was another team/manager you would be saying these are absolute garbage and are absolutely stinking up the league. It’s like we are wasting a place (sounds daft as we deserve to be there) in the league at the moment. Some fans keep saying if we win this game or that game. Tell you what we are not winning any games. None. We are down and for me the season cannot end quick enough and somehow we hope to end the final 23 games is it with some hope for next season. I would say sell Berge and send Ampadu back but we can’t even do that as the former is injured and the latter has to play as the other midfielders are even more abject. It’s a mess really.
I would not even sign anyone in January; I would try and move some out if we can – likes of Rodwell, Jagielka, Foderingham, Moore, Bryan, Robinson – players that are not even good enough for next season in the lower league. In terms of incoming, we would be better waiting for the summer and then any incoming players’ confidence would not be dented and be part of this mess. If I was a player, I’d not sure I’d want to come and be part of this but then money talks I suppose. I just think we should wait. I still think that Wilder might not be here next season (resigning). If they keep losing something would give. I do not anticipate a situation where in March/April we have still not won and are on say like 3-4 points and he is still here. I hope I am wrong as whatever mess he and the players have made of this season – he and some of them deserve next season to try and right this wrong to some degree but feel this time in a year the team and manager could be completely different. Just a hunch as teams don’t keep losing and losing and the team/manager remaining the same. Something has to give at some point.
Ratings:
Ramsdale 5/10 – Started the game with a good claim under pressure. He saved an Iwobi shot but then he completely fluffed a simple catch when it was not under a challenge. They said he had to punch it but I disagree – the catch earlier was much harder. It is a bit bar of soap with him at times and that is a worry for a person whose main skill has to be his use of his hands and being able to catch! Second half he fumbled another but had little to do really in general play – he took one other catch from a cross but then the goal he had no chance. He has so many shots coming in like that and easy goals where he is left exposed. I do feel sorry for him but his handling is very suspect too.
Baldock 5.5/10 – I thought he never really offered much first half going forward and hid a bit or came backwards. Defensively he headed one out which was fine but lost it a few others times and not sure he was quite at it. He had a bit more of a go second half but not convinced he got many crosses in or we say much in terms of him creating. Defensively he was ok but even he seems to have lost some of the drive we saw earlier in the season.
Stevens 5/10 – Began the game again giving his man too much space and this theme carried on and his passing was really mixed with a number of short passes that put players into trouble. We did see him go forward a bit and one decent cross and then the throw in was quick thinking but he often was so determined to use his left foot it put him into trouble again as he dithered. This continued second half. He simply won’t use is right foot. He put a few short passes again and then wasted countless crossing opportunities or put in floated rubbish. One really poor shot well over was the only time I saw him in the Everton box.
Basham 5.5/10 – Thought he was one of our more forceful defenders early and at least came onto the ball and tried to get into good areas attacking wide when he could but as the game went on, I felt his threat lessened and he stayed back more. A few times he did come forward then he came back to others rather than driving forward. Made a few interceptions but his header on the goal was quite weak and lacked power and distance.
Robinson 3.5/10 – Just lacks sharpness in his physical and mental play. He is so slow. Wretched error when Calvert Lewin nipped in. He did well to react to the Ramsdale spill but then a few times he dithered again and they nearly got in. Second half he got caught trying to shepherd the ball out and they again nearly got in. Just looks to lack awareness of danger. Lacks pace and quality. Not a Premier League player at all and mistakes seem to come from him regularly. Not even sure he is Championship standard.
Egan 7/10 – Out best player for me and that was not saying much. At least got stuck in, tried to come forward and show some drive. Great early tackle on Calvert Lewin but then the striker started to win some of the battles as he drifted off onto Robinson more. He kept competing, had a header wide and was one of few who tried to go with the ball and he is meant to be our deepest player defensively. Shows the lack of form/conviction of others. On the goal he maybe should go quicker to the ball but then I think others could have done better – clearing it and closing down the scorer.
Ampadu 4.5/10 – I am not convinced by him at all. He is neat and tidy (safe) but when he tried to play a pass of any forward nature normally loses it or it does not come off and technically his first touch is not as sure as it should be. Too often other midfielders just run off him and he does not really act as an enforcer or a protector. Still not worked out what he is. Technically he is not that great. He is not as quick as I though and physically he is not really someone who gets many effective tackles in.
Osborn 4/10 – Ran around a lot but never really on the ball. His set plays were quite poor too. He is a trier but lacks quality and the Everton players just had more physicality, pace and quality for our midfield that looked a bit Championship I felt. Not sure I noticed him at all much second half and I felt he just looked a long way short required of the standard in terms of skill and physicality at this level. He is a decent fill in lad for spells at the end of games, plugging the left side if we are hanging onto a lead (stop laughing) or shoring things up but at the moment we need to create and win games. He is not the answer but Fleck and Norwood have been abysmal so he is playing by default.
McGoldrick 6/10 – Few neat early touches and started in the 10 but then ended up coming back inside as we saw little of the ball for a spell. He at least tried to get on it and always looked our best footballer in general play I felt. I thought when he went wide, we saw less of him but could see why wilder had to move him back as we started to struggle to see the ball. I would have liked to have seen him more central somehow even if Osborn went wide. He just ended up being out of the game. I still would have kept him on as he can drift and create something. After he went off, we struggled but not sure that was down to him departing as much as the incoming player.
Burke 4.5/10 – Thought he ran around but so often the ball came off him today and not sure he held it enough. He was a bit headless chicken and not sure we got players close to him either. He seemed to pick up a knock and tried to run it off but could not. Did have our best effort first half with the good play and shot. Another who seems to struggle to stay fit and may be on the injured list with a few others now. Likes of him and Mousset are a bit of a waste of time in terms of inability to play full games or even more than an hour most weeks! Still, he had our best moment maybe of the game and after he went off, we did not stretch them at all.
Brewster 3/10 – Started the game ok closing down Pickford and then nearly found McGoldrick and thought he was trying to close down but saw little of him on the ball really and then he ended up being wider as we changed the formation. Everyone will say he had no service but today we had two defensive midfielders and had three strikers on the field albeit it was changed. The BT pundits were quite critical and I agree sadly. He has to do much more. He seems to be coasting somewhat. I need to see more from him in terms of pressing, effort and simply doing more. At the moment he may not be getting much service but I need to see him get on the ball, hold it up, chase things, link, work for the team. At the moment he is offering nothing. Even with the lack of service I have been really disappointed with him. Look at Calvert Lewin (yes, I know silly comparison) but he had no service but made a few chances and worked so hard for the team and was a threat with his hold up and running. At the moment, he is not doing anywhere near enough to start games and albeit on limited evidence (and yes, he is young and may come good) looks a complete waste of precious funds. I have seen little to nothing of him at all to convince me he is going to score or create goals.
Subs –
Norwood 1/10 – Oh dear. Not sure what I can say. Not pinning the defeat all on him but the change and his play did not help. The guy looks completely done. I think I would not even have him on the bench now but of course our squad is so stretched and with 20 players being in the match day squad he kind of has to be there – but he is getting worse. Looks completely shot. He came on and fouled his man twice as he could not keep up. Telegraphed two passes, including one that put them in and then I am sure Sigurdsson was his man as he just jogged back after the initial clearance did not go far. He did put one cross in at the end for his 1/10. He was woeful. The demise of him and Fleck has been spectacularly shocking but neither on current form would even be part of the plans for next season. That is how bad they have both been. They have been appalling this season and if it was not for the previous exploits sure they would be getting a lot more hammer. Our midfield is a joke this season – we don’t protect the defence, don’t win tackles, do not control possession and do not create or score goals. It was really sad to see him bang an aimless ball out of play near the end. I think if we could find a taker in January I would but unlikely with the contract he is on and his reputation is fading fast. You worry he could end up being a Duffy and in League One in 12 months as his legs have gone completely.
McBurnie 3/10 – Not sure he did much of anything when he came on and was even worse than Burke – maybe not as bad as Brewster. He barely touched the ball and was not even a nuisance factor really. They took Keane off and he still did not impose himself although the game was bitty of course and so was feeding off scraps. He had two chances at the end and missed them both badly – a header nowhere near and a shot nowhere near.
Mousset – Ran around more than Brewster! Seriously. He nearly got in on a few moves and won a corner but he only had limited time to make an impact and we conceded not long after he went off. He will probably be out injured for a month now after having to run around a bit!
Manager Wilder 2/10 – Changed the formation in terms of having a 10 and we started the game ok but then they started to have more of it, we started to give it away and maybe he panicked a bit and we changed it and suddenly only really had Burke up. Maybe we had that from the start? It was hard to tell but he definitely asked McGoldrick to go wide and the same for Brewster. He had to change it as they were getting on top but I maybe would have not pushed them wide as not sure the full backs or Everton wide men – maybe Iwobi a bit were causing us lots of problems. However, he changed it and then had to bring Burke off who was injured so we had to shuffle things again. I am not sure we created anything and you knew the one moment of quality, if it came, would be from them. His Norwood change was a disaster – I would have taken Brewster off at this point and kept the one player and scorer we have in McGoldrick. We then conceded the territory and possession even more and their midfielders found gaps off him. The goal was another soft one. After this we had a few moments but you felt it was all a bit desperate.
He says he does not want to throw the players under the bus but then slates them for not having the quality and composure – these are the same players he said were good enough and did not belief in themselves last season. He says he cannot do it for them. He kept saying it was on them making bad mistakes or not showing confidence but sadly he has signed them, picked them and is choosing the same negative tactics where we are effectively trying to get a 0-0 or a fluky 1-0 at best. The tactics this season have been as depressing as the turgid, boring goal-free football. The buck has to stop with him. I love the guy but he basically seems to have no idea how to turn this around. He is not taking any responsibility, at least publically.
He keeps shuffling players around and most have had chances and did even tweak the formation a bit but we keep losing meekly every week. I am not sure the players have stopped playing for him but I think the belief is starting to slip away as he himself admits the players are too scared to pass forward, dribble or try and do things that may lead to an attack or maybe a goal! Rarely had a manager’s reputation gone from being so high (was being talked of as the next big thing and a possible England manager) to now so low and the worst top flight manager of all time in terms of statistics. Sadly, I cannot see anyway we arrest this slide anytime soon. These players do not seem good enough and mentally strong enough to change things but now he seems further away from them than any time and he is almost saying ‘it’s their fault not mine’ Well sadly as fantastic as you have been; you are in charge of this train wreck Chris. You need to take some responsibility.
This side and season is much worse than the Warnock one that went down. At least we had some fight at times that season. The only thing we have left is if we can beat Derby’s 11-point record. At the moment we may struggle to even get half of that tally. Imagine that? We may sneak the odd draw here and there but I would not be shocked if we did not win a game all season. How depressing is that but sadly a real possibility we could go all season without a single win!?
Everton – Had a good start this season after a so-so campaign last year where they started badly uncer Silva, Ferguson steadied them and then Ancelotti saw them finish mid table in the end. They were right near the top this season to start with Calvert Lewin smashing in the goals and newcomers like Allan, Rodriguez and Doucoure all having really good starts to their Goodison career. They have trailed off recently a bit but are 2nd in the league again so maybe it has still been really good. Ancelotti is a top manager and surprised he went there. They must be paying him a fortune. Not sure he will be there longer term but I expect them to finish top 10 this season and maybe on the fringe of Europa places. They have spent a fortune over the last 10 years and not sure many have really come off but persisting with some of the young players like Calvert Lewin, Holgate, Keane and even Pickford may have paid off. The likes of Iwobi, Tosun, Delph and Kean have been expensive mistakes really but Iwobi is playing a bit more and Tosun being used from the bench a bit. Surprised PSG signed Kean, albeit on loan.
I like Digne the full back and Holgate is someone we were after for a while but now would have no chance of signing. Calvert Lewin, I did not think would do anything like what he has done. I must admit I saw him more likely to go the way off Jordan Slew than what he has done. I was one of those who thought he was very ‘bambi on ice’ as he often comes back with himself when discussing those that wrote him off. I thought we did well to get say 1-1.5 million for him! Now you would have to pay like 60-80 million to sign him! Doucoure is really underrated and exactly what we need in midfield. They have some physical players like him, Allan and Davies who will get tackles in and get around the pitch so the likes of Richarlison, Rodriguez and Sigurdsson (think he is very overrated and a bit of a flat track bully who does well versus the likes of us but against the better teams less so) to show some of the quality they have.
Today, Everton missing several key men were not great and I felt gave it away a lot. Yes, they will say the conditions levelled things up but they were careless with the ball and other than a few bits (Calvert Lewin and Iwobi chances) did not really create too much at all. I thought they lacked quality really for a side aiming for second even with those players they had missing. I still thought they would show more. They were never really threatened defensively at all though and may say they always knew they would find a moment. If they had drawn 0-0, they could not have complained too much but then football is about showing that bit of class when it matters although I still feel the goal was a soft one and too easy. After they scored, they saw it our quite easily and Pickford did not have a save to make.
Opponent Man of the Match – Not sure anyone was brilliant. The defence did what it had to. I thought Holgate was very accomplished and the big lads coped easily. Davies actually started the game well and had a lot of the ball and Calvert Lewin showed a few moments of class but was quiet second half. Suppose for the one moment of class that won it, Sigurdsson will take the honours. He did more than anyone else did for both teams in this one moment.
Opponent Weak link – A lot of hype about the young lad Gordon but he struggled and went off injured. Doucoure is a powerful midfielder but he was sloppy at times tonight also. Pickford can make mistakes but was never tested all night.
Referee/Officials/VAR – David Coote. The couple of moments – the McBurnie one and the Gomes one (Egan) I felt both were not fouls. There was some contact but not enough to be given and the latter was outside the box anyway. He booked a lot of Everton players for timewasting and Bernard could have got a second one for kicking it away. Robinson was booked for arguing and Baldock the only player to get booked for a bad foul. Not sure there was anything really controversial and overall, the officials/VAR were fine.
We cannot even complain about no SUFC links on the TV – we had Michael Brown and Nigel Spackman and I felt that BT were quite nice to us when they could have been more critical for another largely toothless display. They do seem to look at us like an old dog that is on the verge of being put down though and it is an almost ‘feeling sorry for us’ type emotion. I would rather them just say we are shit and have done with it!
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Boxing Day has traditionally been a good day for United but today it simply brought another defeat in an absolutely wretched season for the Blades. Everton were the latest side to feast on Wilder’s sorry side and became the 7th side to win from 8 visits to the Lane. Fifteen games and still no victory for the Blades who are now 10 points behind 17th place Brighton and staring Championship football in the face despite 23 games still to play! It is now 19 games without a win in all competition with records of the wrong type now being extended every week. Never had a club started as badly in the history of top flight football. Today, it was a really poor game and even Everton did not really impress but did enough to edge a tight, abject game with little quality on show from either side. In the end Sigurdsson’s smart finish was enough to win it for the Toffees as United huffed and puffed but showed little attacking composure to create much all game.
United were really down to the bare bones with no places for long term casualties Jack O’Connell and Sander Berge. John Lundstram was suspended. Fleck was dropped to the bench and in came Oli Burke to partner Rhian Brewster with McGoldrick playing in the number ten tole in a more attacking formation that many fans had been asking for. Ampadu and Osborn lined up in midfield. McBurnie and Mousset were both deemed fit enough to take places on the bench.
Everton were without James Rodriguez, Luca Digne, Allan and Richarlison but started with former Blade Dominic Calvert Lewin who rather ominously had not scored for three games after a prolific season with eleven goals – three more than the entire United team had scored all season. Youngster Anthony Gordon got a start up the top of the field. Everton named two sub keepers amongst nine which maybe showed how they also were struggling with bodies.
The game began in appalling weather conditions with rain and wind swirling around S2. On two minutes United won a corner after an errant pass back from Everton but it was cleared. The first five minutes saw United have a fair bit of the ball but they gave it away under relatively little pressure. Everton had their first attack when Baldock headed out for a corner but Ramsdale caught well under pressure. His throw out nearly set United free but Davies got back to recover things.
Pickford took too long to kick out and it hit Brewster but fortunately did not rebound the other way. United thought they had a chance when McGoldrick was played in by Brewster’s through ball and he rounded Pickford but made a mess of the effort and fluffed it completely and Godfrey cleared off the line. The flag went up and replays showed it was the right decision nullifying the opportunity.
Egan made a good tackle on Calvert Lewin but the striker was starting to come into the game as was Everton who were beginning to move p the field. Iwobi had the first effort for either side with a low shot straight at Ramsdale and then a diagonal ball saw Robinson sleeping and Calvert Lewin breasted down and volleyed just wide. It showed the awareness of the striker in comparison to the static defender and United were fortunate
The away side were now asking the questions and Ramsdale error strewn season continued when he dropped a cross at shoulder height under no pressure. United were able to gain a free kick in the melee that followed this and survived. Wilder seemed to see the tide had changed in terms of possession and territory and seemed to move McGoldrick to the left and Brewster to the right in an attempt to stem the flow of possession with Davies influential in the midfield role and Iwobi finding little gaps. This was in evidence when Iwobi went on a slalom run when he beat Osborn and Ampadu but was crowded out as Gordon could not get on the rebound. Sigurdsson then came inside away from Ampadu and shot wide with no pressure on the ball.
United had began the game ok but had struggled to create anything of note at all until right on half time when Burke got on the end of a quick Stevens throw and held off Doucoure showing his upper body strength but his attempted curler went past the post. It was United’s first meaningful effort of the game and the half time whistle went straight after this.
In truth it had been a poor game with Everton controlling more of the ball and looking more likely but with only a few efforts of note from either side.
McBurnie came on for Burke who seemed to have been struggling first half with a knock for the final part of the first 45 minutes. Robinson tried to let the ball go out and Doucoure nipped in but the United defender recovered his error well and won a free kick. Calvert Lewin was booked for kicking the ball away before Gordon came off for Bernard.
On 55 minutes there were half hearted appeals for a penalty for a push on McBurnie but the striker seemed to go down too easily under minimal contact.
Ampadu conceded a corner after he intercepted a through ball but there was little quality on show with Egan’s defensive work one of the stand outs for United. Sigurdsson nearly got in before Calvert Lewin was blocked out but no clear chances were being created.
Norwood came on for McGoldrick which seemed quite a defensive move and the sub gave away two cheap fouls and then gave the ball away that nearly put Everton in. The visitors put Coleman on for Keane as Holgate went to centre back. Egan flicked a header over from a corner in the first chance for United this half.
Baldock chopped down his man to earn a booking before Ramsdale spilt another ball but gathered at the second attempt.
Andre Gomes replaced Davies for the visitors and Mousset came on for Brewster as both teams tried to find something that would win the game. It seemed like that one goal and bit of quality would be enough and so it proved with 10 minutes to play.
It came from a United attack but they gave the ball away and Everton broke in numbers although the home side held up the first effort with a blocked tackle, the ball was not cleared and Basham’s poor header was latched meant the ball did not clear the area. The ball knocked across and Doucoure cushioned the ball down for SIGURDSSON who steadied himself and hit an angled shot right into the corner giving Ramsdale no chance.
United tried to respond with Bernard booked for fouling Ampadu but Basham’s header looped harmlessly wide. Egan then sent over a mis kicked cross which Pickford had to help over. United kept huffing and puffing but there was little conviction. Stevens shot was a long way over from a ball that dropped.
The game entered five minutes of stoppage time and there was a flurry of bookings came with Robinson, Pickford and Godfrey booked. The Blades man for dissent and the two Everton players for timewasting. McBurnie had a decent headed chance but flicked well wide when he was well placed from a corner and Everton managed to get it up the other end to kill the final moments before one final opportunity came in the 96th minute. Norwood helped the ball back in, Mina could not clear properly and Osborn knocked it back and it dropped for McBurnie but his snatched shot went well wide and with it that was the final chance of the game. There was no time of the goal kick and Referee Coote signalled an end to things and another week goes by without a win for the Blades.
United – I thought it was quite a poor performance again. I thought Everton were really poor and if we had any belief/confidence/quality we could have won the game. Sadly, we had non of those things. They had several missing of the better attacking players but I suppose we negated them early on and were right in the game. They shaded the first half but we had one chance in Burke. They had a few and Calvert Lewin maybe the best effort of the game and Iwobi had a few runs and shots. Sigurdsson also shot wide. They maybe edged things in possession and efforts but we were well in the game.
He had to change things as they had more of the ball and thus the McGoldrick in the hole experiment lasted about half an hour and we ended up with him and Brewster more withdrawn and wider and it seemed more 5-4-1 for the end of the first half. Some may say Wilder should have kept with the formation but we had started to get overrun 15-30 minutes and they looked more and more dangerous. We kind of stemmed the tide not that it was huge and got to half time.
Regardless of formation, I wanted an improvement in our conviction, energy and passing second half. I wanted more forceful attacking play but we did not see this. Not sure they were any better any there were barely any chances? I felt the McGoldrick withdrawal (he was not great but still felt he could do something of anyone) completely killed any chances we had of winning the game. They then took the initiative more and Norwood kept fouling and giving it away. They had extra midfield runners and started to find gaps and the goal came from this where they had numbers forward and men in the box – something we did not do all game. The goal was soft and we should have cleared a few times with a poor header, defenders not attacking the ball and then people losing their runners and not making the big challenges. It is a shot from the penalty spot and no challenge comes in.
After this we tried but nothing of real note. McBurnie had a few efforts and Stevens blazed over. Mousset showed some life at least after the really poor Brewster went off. I never thought we would score though and the lack of quality was depressing. It maybe could have ended 0-0 but they showed the bit of quality when it mattered and defended their goal very easily for an away side. Not sure Pickford had a meaningful save to make all game really and I just felt it was all too easy. Even if we had drawn 0-0 (yes against a side near the top – how I am not sure – granted they had some missing) it was still not good enough considering where we are. Our tactic seems to be to keep it tight and hope we snatch a goal but this is not working as we cannot keep it tight – invariably we concede at some point and never really look like scoring or creating much.
The biggest takeaway from the game again was that I was bored yet again tonight. The Brighton and Man Utd games at least we saw some passion and fight and heck some entertainment. Tonight, I was just thoroughly depressed by the performance. Even if we had drawn 0-0, I am not sure I would have come away feeling very positive. As I say I thought Everton were dire too. I am not sure we made them look bad either as they gave it away under little pressure as much as us.
I do agree with Wilder in that the confidence of players to pass forward or show some belief to do things on the ball seems to have evaporated. Noone is moving off the ball, we are starting to hide and are going back all the time. We do not press or harry and just seem rigid. We look like a table football side where you just keep your positions and don’t move either with or without the ball!
Even the players who were doing that such as Basham and Baldock seem to be going backwards. The players have no belief they can beat the teams they are up against. That is sad to say. They know they are inferior quality. Wilder said we put lots of effort in but at times I even think we are losing that side – see Ampadu, Robinson just getting shrugged aside physically. We have completely lost our identity as a side. We are now not a football side, not an attacking side, not a defensive side, not a physical side. We are a nothingness. We are a set of soft losers who are now on track to be remembered not for the fantastic side that rampaged through the leagues but will be known as the worst side maybe in top flight football history. Ever. We are a laughing stock at the moment. Fans might say I don’t care let them laugh but we should care. It’s our club. I loved the praise and what we did last season and everyone saying look at what they are doing. Conversely it’s horrible for us now to be one of the worst teams in top flight history – actually the worst as it stands. We are embarrassing. They are our club, my club but at the moment I do not even want to think/talk about them much. These reports are even hard to write. I am losing interest and just wish that the season would end. That is an awful feeling to have. I want to just fast forward to next August.
You would think the players would not want that on their CV’s but they are sure as hell not doing enough to not have that stuck with them. This is something that will follow many of them the rest of their career unless they can arrest this and some may never recover from it (Fleck, Stevens, Norwood, McGoldrick, Basham, Sharp won’t play here again you would not think). It’s really sad to see that this is what this side and Wilder may be known for maybe forever. I hate it but if this was another team/manager you would be saying these are absolute garbage and are absolutely stinking up the league. It’s like we are wasting a place (sounds daft as we deserve to be there) in the league at the moment. Some fans keep saying if we win this game or that game. Tell you what we are not winning any games. None. We are down and for me the season cannot end quick enough and somehow we hope to end the final 23 games is it with some hope for next season. I would say sell Berge and send Ampadu back but we can’t even do that as the former is injured and the latter has to play as the other midfielders are even more abject. It’s a mess really.
I would not even sign anyone in January; I would try and move some out if we can – likes of Rodwell, Jagielka, Foderingham, Moore, Bryan, Robinson – players that are not even good enough for next season in the lower league. In terms of incoming, we would be better waiting for the summer and then any incoming players’ confidence would not be dented and be part of this mess. If I was a player, I’d not sure I’d want to come and be part of this but then money talks I suppose. I just think we should wait. I still think that Wilder might not be here next season (resigning). If they keep losing something would give. I do not anticipate a situation where in March/April we have still not won and are on say like 3-4 points and he is still here. I hope I am wrong as whatever mess he and the players have made of this season – he and some of them deserve next season to try and right this wrong to some degree but feel this time in a year the team and manager could be completely different. Just a hunch as teams don’t keep losing and losing and the team/manager remaining the same. Something has to give at some point.
Ratings:
Ramsdale 5/10 – Started the game with a good claim under pressure. He saved an Iwobi shot but then he completely fluffed a simple catch when it was not under a challenge. They said he had to punch it but I disagree – the catch earlier was much harder. It is a bit bar of soap with him at times and that is a worry for a person whose main skill has to be his use of his hands and being able to catch! Second half he fumbled another but had little to do really in general play – he took one other catch from a cross but then the goal he had no chance. He has so many shots coming in like that and easy goals where he is left exposed. I do feel sorry for him but his handling is very suspect too.
Baldock 5.5/10 – I thought he never really offered much first half going forward and hid a bit or came backwards. Defensively he headed one out which was fine but lost it a few others times and not sure he was quite at it. He had a bit more of a go second half but not convinced he got many crosses in or we say much in terms of him creating. Defensively he was ok but even he seems to have lost some of the drive we saw earlier in the season.
Stevens 5/10 – Began the game again giving his man too much space and this theme carried on and his passing was really mixed with a number of short passes that put players into trouble. We did see him go forward a bit and one decent cross and then the throw in was quick thinking but he often was so determined to use his left foot it put him into trouble again as he dithered. This continued second half. He simply won’t use is right foot. He put a few short passes again and then wasted countless crossing opportunities or put in floated rubbish. One really poor shot well over was the only time I saw him in the Everton box.
Basham 5.5/10 – Thought he was one of our more forceful defenders early and at least came onto the ball and tried to get into good areas attacking wide when he could but as the game went on, I felt his threat lessened and he stayed back more. A few times he did come forward then he came back to others rather than driving forward. Made a few interceptions but his header on the goal was quite weak and lacked power and distance.
Robinson 3.5/10 – Just lacks sharpness in his physical and mental play. He is so slow. Wretched error when Calvert Lewin nipped in. He did well to react to the Ramsdale spill but then a few times he dithered again and they nearly got in. Second half he got caught trying to shepherd the ball out and they again nearly got in. Just looks to lack awareness of danger. Lacks pace and quality. Not a Premier League player at all and mistakes seem to come from him regularly. Not even sure he is Championship standard.
Egan 7/10 – Out best player for me and that was not saying much. At least got stuck in, tried to come forward and show some drive. Great early tackle on Calvert Lewin but then the striker started to win some of the battles as he drifted off onto Robinson more. He kept competing, had a header wide and was one of few who tried to go with the ball and he is meant to be our deepest player defensively. Shows the lack of form/conviction of others. On the goal he maybe should go quicker to the ball but then I think others could have done better – clearing it and closing down the scorer.
Ampadu 4.5/10 – I am not convinced by him at all. He is neat and tidy (safe) but when he tried to play a pass of any forward nature normally loses it or it does not come off and technically his first touch is not as sure as it should be. Too often other midfielders just run off him and he does not really act as an enforcer or a protector. Still not worked out what he is. Technically he is not that great. He is not as quick as I though and physically he is not really someone who gets many effective tackles in.
Osborn 4/10 – Ran around a lot but never really on the ball. His set plays were quite poor too. He is a trier but lacks quality and the Everton players just had more physicality, pace and quality for our midfield that looked a bit Championship I felt. Not sure I noticed him at all much second half and I felt he just looked a long way short required of the standard in terms of skill and physicality at this level. He is a decent fill in lad for spells at the end of games, plugging the left side if we are hanging onto a lead (stop laughing) or shoring things up but at the moment we need to create and win games. He is not the answer but Fleck and Norwood have been abysmal so he is playing by default.
McGoldrick 6/10 – Few neat early touches and started in the 10 but then ended up coming back inside as we saw little of the ball for a spell. He at least tried to get on it and always looked our best footballer in general play I felt. I thought when he went wide, we saw less of him but could see why wilder had to move him back as we started to struggle to see the ball. I would have liked to have seen him more central somehow even if Osborn went wide. He just ended up being out of the game. I still would have kept him on as he can drift and create something. After he went off, we struggled but not sure that was down to him departing as much as the incoming player.
Burke 4.5/10 – Thought he ran around but so often the ball came off him today and not sure he held it enough. He was a bit headless chicken and not sure we got players close to him either. He seemed to pick up a knock and tried to run it off but could not. Did have our best effort first half with the good play and shot. Another who seems to struggle to stay fit and may be on the injured list with a few others now. Likes of him and Mousset are a bit of a waste of time in terms of inability to play full games or even more than an hour most weeks! Still, he had our best moment maybe of the game and after he went off, we did not stretch them at all.
Brewster 3/10 – Started the game ok closing down Pickford and then nearly found McGoldrick and thought he was trying to close down but saw little of him on the ball really and then he ended up being wider as we changed the formation. Everyone will say he had no service but today we had two defensive midfielders and had three strikers on the field albeit it was changed. The BT pundits were quite critical and I agree sadly. He has to do much more. He seems to be coasting somewhat. I need to see more from him in terms of pressing, effort and simply doing more. At the moment he may not be getting much service but I need to see him get on the ball, hold it up, chase things, link, work for the team. At the moment he is offering nothing. Even with the lack of service I have been really disappointed with him. Look at Calvert Lewin (yes, I know silly comparison) but he had no service but made a few chances and worked so hard for the team and was a threat with his hold up and running. At the moment, he is not doing anywhere near enough to start games and albeit on limited evidence (and yes, he is young and may come good) looks a complete waste of precious funds. I have seen little to nothing of him at all to convince me he is going to score or create goals.
Subs –
Norwood 1/10 – Oh dear. Not sure what I can say. Not pinning the defeat all on him but the change and his play did not help. The guy looks completely done. I think I would not even have him on the bench now but of course our squad is so stretched and with 20 players being in the match day squad he kind of has to be there – but he is getting worse. Looks completely shot. He came on and fouled his man twice as he could not keep up. Telegraphed two passes, including one that put them in and then I am sure Sigurdsson was his man as he just jogged back after the initial clearance did not go far. He did put one cross in at the end for his 1/10. He was woeful. The demise of him and Fleck has been spectacularly shocking but neither on current form would even be part of the plans for next season. That is how bad they have both been. They have been appalling this season and if it was not for the previous exploits sure they would be getting a lot more hammer. Our midfield is a joke this season – we don’t protect the defence, don’t win tackles, do not control possession and do not create or score goals. It was really sad to see him bang an aimless ball out of play near the end. I think if we could find a taker in January I would but unlikely with the contract he is on and his reputation is fading fast. You worry he could end up being a Duffy and in League One in 12 months as his legs have gone completely.
McBurnie 3/10 – Not sure he did much of anything when he came on and was even worse than Burke – maybe not as bad as Brewster. He barely touched the ball and was not even a nuisance factor really. They took Keane off and he still did not impose himself although the game was bitty of course and so was feeding off scraps. He had two chances at the end and missed them both badly – a header nowhere near and a shot nowhere near.
Mousset – Ran around more than Brewster! Seriously. He nearly got in on a few moves and won a corner but he only had limited time to make an impact and we conceded not long after he went off. He will probably be out injured for a month now after having to run around a bit!
Manager Wilder 2/10 – Changed the formation in terms of having a 10 and we started the game ok but then they started to have more of it, we started to give it away and maybe he panicked a bit and we changed it and suddenly only really had Burke up. Maybe we had that from the start? It was hard to tell but he definitely asked McGoldrick to go wide and the same for Brewster. He had to change it as they were getting on top but I maybe would have not pushed them wide as not sure the full backs or Everton wide men – maybe Iwobi a bit were causing us lots of problems. However, he changed it and then had to bring Burke off who was injured so we had to shuffle things again. I am not sure we created anything and you knew the one moment of quality, if it came, would be from them. His Norwood change was a disaster – I would have taken Brewster off at this point and kept the one player and scorer we have in McGoldrick. We then conceded the territory and possession even more and their midfielders found gaps off him. The goal was another soft one. After this we had a few moments but you felt it was all a bit desperate.
He says he does not want to throw the players under the bus but then slates them for not having the quality and composure – these are the same players he said were good enough and did not belief in themselves last season. He says he cannot do it for them. He kept saying it was on them making bad mistakes or not showing confidence but sadly he has signed them, picked them and is choosing the same negative tactics where we are effectively trying to get a 0-0 or a fluky 1-0 at best. The tactics this season have been as depressing as the turgid, boring goal-free football. The buck has to stop with him. I love the guy but he basically seems to have no idea how to turn this around. He is not taking any responsibility, at least publically.
He keeps shuffling players around and most have had chances and did even tweak the formation a bit but we keep losing meekly every week. I am not sure the players have stopped playing for him but I think the belief is starting to slip away as he himself admits the players are too scared to pass forward, dribble or try and do things that may lead to an attack or maybe a goal! Rarely had a manager’s reputation gone from being so high (was being talked of as the next big thing and a possible England manager) to now so low and the worst top flight manager of all time in terms of statistics. Sadly, I cannot see anyway we arrest this slide anytime soon. These players do not seem good enough and mentally strong enough to change things but now he seems further away from them than any time and he is almost saying ‘it’s their fault not mine’ Well sadly as fantastic as you have been; you are in charge of this train wreck Chris. You need to take some responsibility.
This side and season is much worse than the Warnock one that went down. At least we had some fight at times that season. The only thing we have left is if we can beat Derby’s 11-point record. At the moment we may struggle to even get half of that tally. Imagine that? We may sneak the odd draw here and there but I would not be shocked if we did not win a game all season. How depressing is that but sadly a real possibility we could go all season without a single win!?
Everton – Had a good start this season after a so-so campaign last year where they started badly uncer Silva, Ferguson steadied them and then Ancelotti saw them finish mid table in the end. They were right near the top this season to start with Calvert Lewin smashing in the goals and newcomers like Allan, Rodriguez and Doucoure all having really good starts to their Goodison career. They have trailed off recently a bit but are 2nd in the league again so maybe it has still been really good. Ancelotti is a top manager and surprised he went there. They must be paying him a fortune. Not sure he will be there longer term but I expect them to finish top 10 this season and maybe on the fringe of Europa places. They have spent a fortune over the last 10 years and not sure many have really come off but persisting with some of the young players like Calvert Lewin, Holgate, Keane and even Pickford may have paid off. The likes of Iwobi, Tosun, Delph and Kean have been expensive mistakes really but Iwobi is playing a bit more and Tosun being used from the bench a bit. Surprised PSG signed Kean, albeit on loan.
I like Digne the full back and Holgate is someone we were after for a while but now would have no chance of signing. Calvert Lewin, I did not think would do anything like what he has done. I must admit I saw him more likely to go the way off Jordan Slew than what he has done. I was one of those who thought he was very ‘bambi on ice’ as he often comes back with himself when discussing those that wrote him off. I thought we did well to get say 1-1.5 million for him! Now you would have to pay like 60-80 million to sign him! Doucoure is really underrated and exactly what we need in midfield. They have some physical players like him, Allan and Davies who will get tackles in and get around the pitch so the likes of Richarlison, Rodriguez and Sigurdsson (think he is very overrated and a bit of a flat track bully who does well versus the likes of us but against the better teams less so) to show some of the quality they have.
Today, Everton missing several key men were not great and I felt gave it away a lot. Yes, they will say the conditions levelled things up but they were careless with the ball and other than a few bits (Calvert Lewin and Iwobi chances) did not really create too much at all. I thought they lacked quality really for a side aiming for second even with those players they had missing. I still thought they would show more. They were never really threatened defensively at all though and may say they always knew they would find a moment. If they had drawn 0-0, they could not have complained too much but then football is about showing that bit of class when it matters although I still feel the goal was a soft one and too easy. After they scored, they saw it our quite easily and Pickford did not have a save to make.
Opponent Man of the Match – Not sure anyone was brilliant. The defence did what it had to. I thought Holgate was very accomplished and the big lads coped easily. Davies actually started the game well and had a lot of the ball and Calvert Lewin showed a few moments of class but was quiet second half. Suppose for the one moment of class that won it, Sigurdsson will take the honours. He did more than anyone else did for both teams in this one moment.
Opponent Weak link – A lot of hype about the young lad Gordon but he struggled and went off injured. Doucoure is a powerful midfielder but he was sloppy at times tonight also. Pickford can make mistakes but was never tested all night.
Referee/Officials/VAR – David Coote. The couple of moments – the McBurnie one and the Gomes one (Egan) I felt both were not fouls. There was some contact but not enough to be given and the latter was outside the box anyway. He booked a lot of Everton players for timewasting and Bernard could have got a second one for kicking it away. Robinson was booked for arguing and Baldock the only player to get booked for a bad foul. Not sure there was anything really controversial and overall, the officials/VAR were fine.
We cannot even complain about no SUFC links on the TV – we had Michael Brown and Nigel Spackman and I felt that BT were quite nice to us when they could have been more critical for another largely toothless display. They do seem to look at us like an old dog that is on the verge of being put down though and it is an almost ‘feeling sorry for us’ type emotion. I would rather them just say we are shit and have done with it!
