Post by deadbat on Mar 6, 2021 19:39:19 GMT
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open.spotify.com/episode/74hCEKO6kArSFxUGrDdJal?si=8uFWtALJS1WFXJkK06i_lA&nd=1
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After the euphoria of securing a victory against the odds against Aston Villa, United came back down to earth and the imminent inevitability of relegation now looms ever closes after the latest defeat. Facing a Southampton side that had been struggling recently and had not won in 9 games, United simply could not get going today and were beaten with strikes from Ward Prowse and former Blade Che Adams.
In the end the Saints were too strong for the Blades and beat them for the fourth successive game since United came back up to the Premier League.
For the third came in the week at home, the Blades had to shuffle the pack again. United made one enforced change as Phil Jagielka was suspended after his extremely harsh red card on Wednesday evening. Surprisingly, Jayden Bogle came back earlier than expected from injury. It was uncertain if Bogle would play left or right wing back and which of the normal starters in these positions would come inside to the three central defensive positions.
There was no place for former Blade Che Adams as the visitors started with Minamino up front alongside Danny Ings. Nathan Redmond, a player that has also caused problems for the Blades also dropped to the bench.
As the game started, it seemed Bogle was right wing back and Baldock right centre back for the first time I could recall in a Blades shirt. Stevens gave it away twice under no pressure but Armstrong’s shot was blocked from Ampadu. Fleck tried to find space but again it was crowded out. United then started to give away a series of unnecessary free kicks on the left with Tella starting to cause problems. Ward Prowse tried to catch Ramsdale out but it was well wide.
Brewster won a corner but it was too long and over everybody before at the other end Bogle was the next to give away a silly free kick. Ings picked up a knock on 11 minutes and had to hobble off with Adams coming on to replace him.
Southampton had edged a poor game and the first 15 minutes the Blades had struggled to put a move together of note in a poor beginning. Brewster at least had been involved more and showed good physicality that led to a chance for Stevens to put the ball in but he fired it wildly wide.
United continue to struggle to keep it and Southampton were controlling the flow of the game and midfield. Good play by them nearly got them in but ironically the Blades broke and had a two on one but McGoldrick tried to be too clever playing a reverse ball instead of the easier one and it went back to Forster.
United at least had a spell of the ball further up the field for a period but there was no real chances created at all and the corners they won came to nothing with the continual tactic of the ball to back post not working. Brewster was penalised for a foul on Forster as McGoldrick tried to help it back.
On 24 minutes Stevens made another error in another really difficult afternoon for the struggling left wing back as he cleared into the centre with his wrong foot as Ramsdale came out and Tella should have done better but hit his effort over with the goal gaping. He had more time in reality.
Baldock then made a block from a shot as Southampton broke through as they upped the tempo again but on the half hour, they took a deserved lead. The ball over the top was route one but United’s defence was too far up and Ampadu was caught out. He ran back but made a wild and stupid lunge chopping his man down. For the second consecutive game a United defender made a cynical and desperate foul. Once again really poor defending but this time the decision for a penalty and the subsequent colour of the card, yellow, could not be argued. WARD PROWSE took it and sent Ramsdale the wrong way.
Bogle then was the next to let Tella run past him and brought him down and he too was booked. United’s players had been incredibly lazy and Norwood was the next to not bother trying to run back but just hacked at his man. The performance was sluggish to say the least on and off the ball and a far cry from the determined efforts of the week.
Tella had a shot at Ramsdale after the defence made a mess of a clearance again. United did have a chance as Fleck tried to send in an early cross but McGoldrick went too early and was offside although Forster made the save anyway. The few times the Blades did attack the strikers often had been caught offside.
Bryan and Ampadu got in a mess with the latter heading into the path of a Southampton player but Baldock got back to retrieve the situation. As good as the defence had been in the week, we saw a disorganised effort where we were not able to clear up and were making poor errors all over the field with basic passing and touch off.
Despite this, United did end the half well although Bogle was a bit desperate to try and win a penalty and maybe a bit foolish when he was already on a yellow. At the end of the two minutes stoppage time, there was a great chance when Brewster played McGoldrick in but the chip was ill judged against a giant striker and was easily clutched. It was a really good opportunity with the striker being one on one. The half time whistle came soon after this.
After the break, Norwood was withdrawn for McBurnie and McGoldrick dropped back into a number 10 role. Stevens got down the left but fluffed his lines hitting the first man and the corner was incredibly wasteful straight to Forster. At the other end, Southampton had a chance when the ball was played down the right-hand side and nobody went to the ball, it came over and Adams was unmarked. He had time to pick his cross and as it came over Baldock did not get enough on his clearance but it fell to Lundstram who just smashed it against a Southampton defender and it was breasted down into the path of ADAMS who smashed an unstoppable shot past Ramsdale and it was 2-0 and effectively game over. More appalling defending from United with so many opportunities to clear the ball.
United tried to force something back but it was all too desperate and Bogle could not get his cross over. McBurnie had a flicked header wide but the game was easy for the visitors who were just too comfortable. United won a corner but it was cleared easily. The game became mired in midfield but the home side had no zip or drive and the urgency was not there. It seemed to be just petering out.
Mousset came on for the disappointing McGoldrick as United tried to find something to get back into the game. However, Southampton looked more likely to score again and Tella came inside and took a low shot that Ramsdale did well to make the save and turn it round. It was again too easy for a player to get away and get his shot away.
Sharp came on for Brewster and United had a chance when the ball came over from the left and Bogle got to it but made a mess of it, slicing it wide with the best chance United created the half. At the other end it should have been 3-0, as Bertrand got away from Bogle with ease and pulled back but Minamino sidefooted wide. He should have scored. Once again the defending was lousy as the chance and finish was without any kind of challenge.
Armstrong was booked for a crude tackle on Lundstram as the game entered the final 20 minutes. The Blades midfielder’s shot was miles wide after the ball dropped from the free kick. Bogle then tried to win another free kick but the ref was not falling for it and Southampton broke. Adams was in on the angle with Stevens and Ampadu nowhere to be seen and Ramsdale made a good save with his feet.
Southampton broke again as Redmond who was on for Tella, got down that left hand side again but his low shot was saved by Ramsdale again. The corner came out to Minamino but this shot was blocked. The game ticked over to 80 minutes and Forster had not had a save to make in the second half and United barely had an attack of note after the break, outside of the Bogle chance.
Armstrong then weaved inside several players and his shot was narrowly wide and the Saints were now looking to score more goals against a hapless United side. Adams then barrelled his way past three United players to set up another half chance. Southampton were having several opportunities to extend the lead but Mousset had a half chance but blazed well off target before another break after another Lundstram give away saw Baldock and Bryan again get outbattled before Ramsdale and Adams tussled but the ball broke away.
The additional stoppage time saw little of note happen until a bad Fleck tackle saw him booked as Adams was caught really late. There was a skirmish as finally United showed some fight in some capacity and McBurnie and Vestergaard were cautioned as part of the melee. McBurnie then smashed into a player soon after and was treading thin ice. The Blades were not only well beaten but were losing their discipline as the game finished with 7 players booked.
United – We showed lots of fight and effort the other night and gave it a real go. Today I thought for the most part we were dire. We did ok in spells first half but were still second best and deservedly trailed. We did not have any efforts on goal outside of the McGoldrick chip. They did not have loads of chances but had more of the ball, looked more dangerous and controlled things. We made mistakes at the back and kept giving free kicks away. We were just careless in everything we did and did not win the 50-50’s let along do anything with the ball. Still McGoldrick had that one chance and we could have been level after another stupid mistake and foul for the pen.
Second half not sure the change helped and we got worse. We never got going and it was a disorganised mess. They scored early after more horrific defending and it was done after this. We made more subs and huffed and pugged but never looked like getting back into it. They actually could have scored 4 or 5 more goals really and Ramsdale and bad finishing kept the score down. Yes they were all on the break but it’s not like we created much or the men we put forward caused them issues. The defence and keeper had nothing to do at all second half. We just seemed to lose all motivation and belief and the players did seem to be just going through the motions after it went 2-0. I am not saying they gave up but they had no belief at all. We had a few half chances but only Bogle’s was a decent chance. Conversely, they had 4 or 5 clear ones. Possession says we had 51%! I am not sure how as we did little to nothing with it. They may have been more direct with one ball but they knew that was all they needed to get in.
It was night and day (literally) from the other night and we just saw nothing today from the side to suggest they are going to get many more points. They may flash the odd showing like Villa but let us not kid ourselves we have had several games like that where it had not been about fine margins as Wilder says but we have been second best all over the field in the basics of passing, movement, pressing, tackling, attacking, defending, you name it. There have been lots of games like today where we have been well beaten – even games by single goals. Today it was done by 48 minutes and they may as well have blown the whistle. For me it was so boring. No one tried to get amongst it, make things happen and there was no bravery or attempt to get down the sides, to link. The build up was all too slow and when they had it, they got through us too easy. We simply looked inferior in every way I felt. Some may say I am being too harsh and that Southampton were not great but they did not have to. A side falling quicker than anyone in the league and we turn up and give them the confidence boost they need. As ordinary as they were, if they take their chances it is 4 or 5-0. Not much more to say. The changes did not work individually or collectively. Baldock at centre back did not work. The wing backs were poor. Bryan was ok but still worse than the other night and made mistakes. Ampadu mistake ridden also. The midfield had no control and Stevens and Lundstram were appalling again. With Didzy off it, Brewster had to work off scraps and tried hard. The subs made no impact whatsoever. A thoroughly poor and depressing afternoon. To think we have 10 (+ 1 in the cup) of these is actually depressing. I love watching my team play normally but at the moment it is a chore and you can actually argue you could be doing much better things. That is how bad it has been much of the season. I can see what many may not watch the run in or games as it is simply gone now.
Surely, he has to take out some of the woeful performers now and give others a go. There is nothing to lose. He cannot keep persisting with two in particular. Trouble is he cannot even rest the so-called key men for Chelsea as we have no midfielders to bring in but I would not play McGoldrick or Fleck next week. Give them 2 weeks to get ready for Chelsea. That is the only thing we have left now but without Ampadu and the rest that will be hard unless Bash can come back somehow?
At least we have a week until the next one but for me the games can’t be completed quick enough now. We just have to hope the supposed fall outs behind the scenes get sorted or if it continues to play out publicly then it could turn nasty – the trouble with the Premier League is you have to do these pre and post match conferences and Wilder will always say what he thinks (no issues with that) but inevitably is going to lead to more questions and probable unrest.
Ratings:
Ramsdale 7/10 – Little to do first half. Few standard saves and then the penalty. One moment of indecision when he was off his line. Second goal had no chance with a great strike and once again given no protection. He made a good save from Adams on the angle as he came inside and another from Redmond as our defence just went missing. Made a few other saves as we left him badly exposed again. Might have been our Man of the Match just by the fact he was not as bad as everyone else. One of the few bright spots recently.
Baldock 5/10 – Tried his best and one of the few to make some blocks/cover or look alert. However, he gave some silly fouls away. Not sure he is a right centre back as he got into some poor positions and there were gaps down that side. The penalty for instance where was he? He did make some interceptions but on both goals he was too far up the field. On the goal his clearances was not the best as he barely got to the edge of the box but then Lundstram made a mess of it of course. After this felt Adams outmuscled him twice and they nearly got in again. We barely saw him as an attacking force from his new position.
Bryan 6/10 – One of the better defenders and has still worse than the other night and was slow to deal with certain situations or got in mix ups with fellow defenders. He struggled with the quick players and movement but he did keep going. They kept picking us off way too easily and there was no pressure on the ball from the defenders who did not get there first like they did the other night. He made a few interceptions but then near the end lost it to Adams once and nearly gave him another on a plate. The defence looked all over the place at times not winning the tackles or making the clearances they had done the other night.
Amapadu 5/10 – Yet another terrible error. He has been much better post Xmas and really good the other night but what a mistake again. He makes these a lot and they are costing us every other week seemingly. Too far up the field and then an awful lunge and tackle. Stay on your feet man! He and the rest of the defence did not offer much attacking wise despite them saying we had to or were trying to push forward but weirdly left huge gaps at the back too. They could have scored loads of goals really.
Stevens 2/10 – He is getting worse. Seems to have no confidence at all anymore. He started the game with two horrific passes and then it caried on from there. Defensively he nearly gave them a goal from a bad mistake and going forward he continued to make bad decisions. Sliced one into the upper tier and put another few into the first man. Carried on with his awful passing and decisions. Such as the awful ball straight at the defender to start the second half. They broke and scored from this after the corner although there was a long way to go, he was too far up the field when they crossed from the right-hand side before the goal. He got forward a fair bit but nothing came other than one decent cross which I think was the Bogle chance? Needs to be taken out. How can Lowe or Osborn do any worse? It is doing him no good to keep picking him. Looks more like a League 2 player at the moment than a Premier League one. Completely lost it.
Bogle 5/10 – Barely saw him as an attacking force at all and defensively struggled to keep up with the movement of Tella. Silly booking and then finally got forward and he tried to con the ref which was disappointing. Second half he was ball watching as the cross came over for the 2nd and then a few moments where he attacked, he did not make anything happen. He then tried to buy another free kick and they broke and nearly scored again. Do not like that at all and he did it twice. He did have one chance but missed this badly. They carried on causing issues with power and running and not sure he did enough to get back when he was not doing much attacking wise Ambled around too much today but at least does try and get on it.
Lundstram 1/10 – Appalling again. I gave him 1 just for a couple of passes to our shirt and he made one run forward where he nearly got in! Now for the rest of the shambles….I watched him carefully first half but to be honest not until 20 minutes as did not even realise, he was playing till then. I then saw him walking, yes walking twice as they came through. He never really got on the ball or made anything happen at all. He just ambled around. Second half he made the error on the goal and then gave it away a few times straight after that. Then he just stood on the ball and almost burst it before falling over and then fouling his man. Looked drunk. Gave it away a few more times after that. He may have good stats for running around but it is aimless wandering. He does not bust a gut when it matters and to me looks disinterested I everything. Absolutely hopeless at the moment. How he is getting picked at the moment I do not know? Be really interested in all those clubs that are wanting to sign him. Lower Championship is the best he will get for me.
Fleck 5/10 – Had a few moments to begin the game and tried to dribble and run with it and at least was busier than the other two but as the game went on, he seemed to also struggle to get involved as much. Second half he was tasked with too much to do with Lundstram anonymous and then us not really having a midfield for the final period as we chased the game (apart from him!). He did try and at least get on but looked a bit full stretch and desperate due to us having fewer men in here. He then gave the bad foul away at the end. Really stupid and could have really hurt Adams. If that is the other way around, we are slamming an opponent. Could easily have got sent off. Yes, it was not high but it was late and cynical.
Norwood 4.5/10 – Quiet first half. Not really involved that much. He sent a few crosses into no one and took some deep corners to no one. He did his usual foul as he grabbed someone and often did not bother running back when players went through. We never had control of the midfield at all.
McGoldrick 4/10 – A day to forget really. He did try and kept moving around to get on it but nothing really worked. Given him lots of plaudits this season but he had a shocker today with the ball when he did get it. Misplaced passes, poor control, bounced off him and then when he had the chance tried to chip a giant keeper. Carried on poor form second half with ball not sticking or wrong decisions. He actually could have been hooked long before he was. Sadly there were others as bad or worse today!
Brewster 6/10 – Actually he was one of the few who put some real effort in today. He won a few challenges and got us up the field with his effort. Not sure he always gets int front of his man and his touch is not great but today he nearly played in a chance for McGoldrick and at least looked busy. He kept plugging away I suppose. I am not sure he was great but he was better than he has been and did ok. Came off but that was because he only really had strikers on the bench who may change things a bit (they did not). I would have kept him on. He needs game time. Still despite his improvement does not ever look remotely like scoring a goal – yes, I know we will say he has no service but sometimes you have to show a bit of something to make something (Adams showed this and Watkins a few times the other night).
Subs –
McBurnie 4/10 – Had one header wide but not really in the game as they actually continued to dominate. He won a few flick ons and tried to link a bit and maybe did a bit more than McGoldrick but not by much really. Then decided to start making stupid fouls or trying to get in a fight. Rather see it in challenges or moments that matter in the game. At the end he could have got sent off like Fleck with stupidity as he charged at his man after being booked.
Mousset 2/10 – Ran around like a headless chicken or should that be like a headless Burke as we saw a different inept striker this week from the bench. They mentioned his dreadful scoring record (1 in 30 something was it but he has barely played even in those games – 10 minutes here and there due to appalling fitness or injuries). He bumbled around and had a dreadful shot wide. At least he did not get injured today. Surely, he will be moved on at the end of the season. Not sure we will get much for him and take a massive loss. We will do well to get more than a million quid for me. Cannot stay fit, involved in stuff off the pitch and not sure he is the sort of player you want in a physical Championship where most weeks there is two games per week.
Sharp – Got offside a few times which was laughable as they came from when they had some attacks. Game had gone by this stage but he did not much as they attacked far more than us.
Manager Wilder 3/10 – Got the plaudits for a plucky and fighting performance the other night as the players really fought for him. Today whether we were fatigued or just did not have it, we lost easily and limply. It was a really sub-par performance and an easy win. First half we were in the game I suppose but they were still better than us and deserved to lead but McGoldrick had a good chance. After the break he made the change and many will say it made us worse but we never could tell as we gave up the second goal soon after and that was it. All his changes after this were rotating the chairs on the Titanic. However, I would rather we changed tactics. Go long, get it to McBurnie and get men round him. Play the balls down the sides. We literally had no idea but kept doing the same things. We never got hold of it. Go back to basics and put a struggling side under pressure? No we just knocked it about and then lost it and they then threatened to run riot on the bench as they have pace and power and skill. Things we can only dream of. We looked like we were feeling sorry for ourselves and did not even put up a fight. For all the talk of us going out the front door, today we shuffled out the tradesman’s entrance and nobody even noticed us leave.
To be fair his interview after the game I have just seen was really honest and summed up everything I thought. He was quite measured and just said we were not good enough and did not really put up a fight and said as I did that we looked like they were feeling sorry for themselves. Interesting that he says he would move some out now if he could? I do wonder who they are as he is picking some when he has others like Lowe, Osborn etc who could come in?
Some more reports of course come out this week that he will walk if the Prince goes ahead with a rumoured plan to bring in a Director of Football. Also referred to delays in the training ground (new building). It was the Daily Mail so take it with a pinch of salt but there are too many stories and rumours doing the rounds to not be some truth to a degree. It is also clear from some of Wilder’s sideswipes at the hierarchy things are all not well. Adding fuel to the fire is his best mate constantly spouting spurious tweets. If I was Wilder whether I agreed with Wit or not – I would be telling him to shut up. Yes, he is a fan and entitled to his opinion but if my best mate was slagging off my boss constantly I would be having a word. Abdullah is still his boss even if he/we would not be where we are without the fantastic things Wilder has done. Maybe he just agrees and is happy for him to be a conduit for his more strongly thought opinions he can only really deliver in riddles but as I say not helpful at all.
With the DOF things, I would not want Wilder to lose control of the first team set up and be the man that ultimately gives the green light to signings but not sure why (if he is) Wilder would be so antsy. He was happy with his pal Mitchell identifying signings and giving him names etc. Now he does not want that or he does not want that as we may bring someone else in that is not his man who may be crap but may be good and may have great links abroad etc (an area we are sub-standard in and clearly along with Burnley the only club that seemingly does not tap into the whole world for signings and remain UK based largely). Wit saying he is guaranteed to be crap also is a bit pathetic – how does he know? He might improve us. Also, the constantly banging on about how Wilder will be on the terraces in years to come, the Prince won’t be. We get it but neither will many other chairman/owners. They are businessman. The Bladey Blade thing is a bit tired at times. I love Wilder and he has been the best thing to happen to the club and I really want him to sort things out and remain but I also think we need to recognise certain things need to change.
I am not saying we have to bring a Director of Football per se but we do need to look at the set up. We do not have funds (not sure that is Abdullah’s fault) so we need to do things slightly differently and cleverer for me. I also am not sure that Wilder will always work for a club where he can only bring his own men in from top to bottom? Most clubs these days have a director of football too?
Don’t get me wrong I want Wilder to stay and want him to lead the come back and build again but am concerned he is a it stubborn and is almost his way or no way. If I had a choice I still would rather Wilder and the way we are doing things than the unknown of a new manager and DOF and the unrest that may come towards the board but longer term we have to evolve. Surely Wilder realises that we cannot run the club with just his pals from Sheffield (no offence to Mitchell who has found some gems on the journey but Wilder said if it did not work out he would then have to go back to bricklaying where Wilder picked him up from – seems a bit Sunday League again). Granted United have never had a structure like that being mooted but our small-time mentality traditionally has held us back. I am not saying go totally the Brentford way and I think a combination of the traditional and innovative can work. Be interesting time ahead but it seems there is a real doubt if he will remain. I have said before I expect him to leave and when someone said the decision had already been made, Wit even remarked that ‘he is waiting to pay him up when he is not on Premier League wages’ yesterday which is again not helpful. Maybe I should not take his pals opinion as such a clear gage of what is/may happen but it is worrying times.
Southampton – Last season they ended well after the managerial change and started excellently this season and were top for a spell. I actually tipped them as a surprise team before the season and thought I was going to be proved right! They had another hammering (odd for a side that has been mid table twice they have got destroyed in two games – even we have not had that happen to us!).
They have dropped off quite a bit and were in really bad form and before today were 14th and only 7 points off Fulham but I expect them to get enough results and too many teams below them. I think they will have another spell and finish just below mid table but will have been disappointed after the start they had not to push on.
Hasenhutl is a manager I like and think has done really well. Not sure they have spent a fortune but with the superb academy they have and some shrewd buys will be around the mid table at worst I feel for years to come. Not sure I can see them getting sucked into a struggle any time soon. They have some solid players that do not get attention – defenders like Bednarek, Walker Peters and Betrand. In midfield they have solid performers too with the really underrated Ward Prowse, Romeu and Armstrong and then up top they have some flair in likes of Redmon and Djenepo. Of course, Ings gets a lot of the credit and is a very much poor man’s Harry Kane in he works hard, leads the line and makes/takes good goals. An excellent footballer and striker. However, Adams has really improved steadily and is now a solid top-level striker. I saw some Blades saying that they would not have him back last season! He is better than anything we have got and by some distance. Today they changed it round a bit. Minamino had not really shown much in his time at Liverpool but still seemed a bit of a coup for them to get him I thought and has shown flashes down there.
They did what they had to today to win and probably could scarcely believe how easy it was. They controlled the ball and even though they were not fantastic and made errors (like with the McGoldrick chance) they really were the only team that looked like scoring and they caused us problems with pace and power. The keeper had not had a hard save to make all game (only the one mentioned above and that was like a back pass) and the defence won’t have had an easier game all season – actually they did when they beat us at home. The last three games they have seen us off easily and they are not even that great a side.
Opponent Man of the Match – Take your pick. Adams or Tella for me. The latter caused us all sort of problems first half and Baldock and Bogle could not live with him and then Ampadu chopped him down. We had 2 bookings for fouls on him and numerous fouls. Adams then took over the mantle and was superb second half with a brilliant goal and could have had more. Once or twice he just outmuscled and out skilled several of our players. It was like it was not fair how much better and stronger he was.
Opponent Weak link – All steady really. We did not test the keeper. Ward Prowse was only average today but still better than any of our midfield. The other lad Diallo was quiet and Walker Peters not a threat attacking wise but fine defensively. They were all 6-7/10 performances really and a few 8’s in Adams and Tella. The lad Vestergaard is a bit of a brute but gets the job done and we could do with someone like him.
Referee/Officials – Paul Tierney. Fine. He booked 4 of ours and 3 of theirs. I think we were far dirtier with several cynical fouls. Bogle got booked and then dived twice. Fleck’s tackle was not great and then McBurnie was charging into players after being booked for a daft tackle. A number of ours were grabbing and chopping men down when they got past. I was cringing at how cynical and dirty we were. The penalty was an awful challenge too. Cannot think of many decisions when I was like that is really against us. We tried to con and cheat a few times too. We slam the refs/VAR when we do not get decisions but today the loss had nothing to do with officials.
Coverage – Nice to hear Daniel Mann again – as he gave us come great moments/commentaries in the Promotion season. Maybe they are giving him some of our games to re-acquaint himself with us ready for next season! Rob Green was irritating and offered nothing at all but cliches and tired statements. I did not listen or watch pre or post game. It is bad enough watching the game!
open.spotify.com/episode/74hCEKO6kArSFxUGrDdJal?si=8uFWtALJS1WFXJkK06i_lA&nd=1
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After the euphoria of securing a victory against the odds against Aston Villa, United came back down to earth and the imminent inevitability of relegation now looms ever closes after the latest defeat. Facing a Southampton side that had been struggling recently and had not won in 9 games, United simply could not get going today and were beaten with strikes from Ward Prowse and former Blade Che Adams.
In the end the Saints were too strong for the Blades and beat them for the fourth successive game since United came back up to the Premier League.
For the third came in the week at home, the Blades had to shuffle the pack again. United made one enforced change as Phil Jagielka was suspended after his extremely harsh red card on Wednesday evening. Surprisingly, Jayden Bogle came back earlier than expected from injury. It was uncertain if Bogle would play left or right wing back and which of the normal starters in these positions would come inside to the three central defensive positions.
There was no place for former Blade Che Adams as the visitors started with Minamino up front alongside Danny Ings. Nathan Redmond, a player that has also caused problems for the Blades also dropped to the bench.
As the game started, it seemed Bogle was right wing back and Baldock right centre back for the first time I could recall in a Blades shirt. Stevens gave it away twice under no pressure but Armstrong’s shot was blocked from Ampadu. Fleck tried to find space but again it was crowded out. United then started to give away a series of unnecessary free kicks on the left with Tella starting to cause problems. Ward Prowse tried to catch Ramsdale out but it was well wide.
Brewster won a corner but it was too long and over everybody before at the other end Bogle was the next to give away a silly free kick. Ings picked up a knock on 11 minutes and had to hobble off with Adams coming on to replace him.
Southampton had edged a poor game and the first 15 minutes the Blades had struggled to put a move together of note in a poor beginning. Brewster at least had been involved more and showed good physicality that led to a chance for Stevens to put the ball in but he fired it wildly wide.
United continue to struggle to keep it and Southampton were controlling the flow of the game and midfield. Good play by them nearly got them in but ironically the Blades broke and had a two on one but McGoldrick tried to be too clever playing a reverse ball instead of the easier one and it went back to Forster.
United at least had a spell of the ball further up the field for a period but there was no real chances created at all and the corners they won came to nothing with the continual tactic of the ball to back post not working. Brewster was penalised for a foul on Forster as McGoldrick tried to help it back.
On 24 minutes Stevens made another error in another really difficult afternoon for the struggling left wing back as he cleared into the centre with his wrong foot as Ramsdale came out and Tella should have done better but hit his effort over with the goal gaping. He had more time in reality.
Baldock then made a block from a shot as Southampton broke through as they upped the tempo again but on the half hour, they took a deserved lead. The ball over the top was route one but United’s defence was too far up and Ampadu was caught out. He ran back but made a wild and stupid lunge chopping his man down. For the second consecutive game a United defender made a cynical and desperate foul. Once again really poor defending but this time the decision for a penalty and the subsequent colour of the card, yellow, could not be argued. WARD PROWSE took it and sent Ramsdale the wrong way.
Bogle then was the next to let Tella run past him and brought him down and he too was booked. United’s players had been incredibly lazy and Norwood was the next to not bother trying to run back but just hacked at his man. The performance was sluggish to say the least on and off the ball and a far cry from the determined efforts of the week.
Tella had a shot at Ramsdale after the defence made a mess of a clearance again. United did have a chance as Fleck tried to send in an early cross but McGoldrick went too early and was offside although Forster made the save anyway. The few times the Blades did attack the strikers often had been caught offside.
Bryan and Ampadu got in a mess with the latter heading into the path of a Southampton player but Baldock got back to retrieve the situation. As good as the defence had been in the week, we saw a disorganised effort where we were not able to clear up and were making poor errors all over the field with basic passing and touch off.
Despite this, United did end the half well although Bogle was a bit desperate to try and win a penalty and maybe a bit foolish when he was already on a yellow. At the end of the two minutes stoppage time, there was a great chance when Brewster played McGoldrick in but the chip was ill judged against a giant striker and was easily clutched. It was a really good opportunity with the striker being one on one. The half time whistle came soon after this.
After the break, Norwood was withdrawn for McBurnie and McGoldrick dropped back into a number 10 role. Stevens got down the left but fluffed his lines hitting the first man and the corner was incredibly wasteful straight to Forster. At the other end, Southampton had a chance when the ball was played down the right-hand side and nobody went to the ball, it came over and Adams was unmarked. He had time to pick his cross and as it came over Baldock did not get enough on his clearance but it fell to Lundstram who just smashed it against a Southampton defender and it was breasted down into the path of ADAMS who smashed an unstoppable shot past Ramsdale and it was 2-0 and effectively game over. More appalling defending from United with so many opportunities to clear the ball.
United tried to force something back but it was all too desperate and Bogle could not get his cross over. McBurnie had a flicked header wide but the game was easy for the visitors who were just too comfortable. United won a corner but it was cleared easily. The game became mired in midfield but the home side had no zip or drive and the urgency was not there. It seemed to be just petering out.
Mousset came on for the disappointing McGoldrick as United tried to find something to get back into the game. However, Southampton looked more likely to score again and Tella came inside and took a low shot that Ramsdale did well to make the save and turn it round. It was again too easy for a player to get away and get his shot away.
Sharp came on for Brewster and United had a chance when the ball came over from the left and Bogle got to it but made a mess of it, slicing it wide with the best chance United created the half. At the other end it should have been 3-0, as Bertrand got away from Bogle with ease and pulled back but Minamino sidefooted wide. He should have scored. Once again the defending was lousy as the chance and finish was without any kind of challenge.
Armstrong was booked for a crude tackle on Lundstram as the game entered the final 20 minutes. The Blades midfielder’s shot was miles wide after the ball dropped from the free kick. Bogle then tried to win another free kick but the ref was not falling for it and Southampton broke. Adams was in on the angle with Stevens and Ampadu nowhere to be seen and Ramsdale made a good save with his feet.
Southampton broke again as Redmond who was on for Tella, got down that left hand side again but his low shot was saved by Ramsdale again. The corner came out to Minamino but this shot was blocked. The game ticked over to 80 minutes and Forster had not had a save to make in the second half and United barely had an attack of note after the break, outside of the Bogle chance.
Armstrong then weaved inside several players and his shot was narrowly wide and the Saints were now looking to score more goals against a hapless United side. Adams then barrelled his way past three United players to set up another half chance. Southampton were having several opportunities to extend the lead but Mousset had a half chance but blazed well off target before another break after another Lundstram give away saw Baldock and Bryan again get outbattled before Ramsdale and Adams tussled but the ball broke away.
The additional stoppage time saw little of note happen until a bad Fleck tackle saw him booked as Adams was caught really late. There was a skirmish as finally United showed some fight in some capacity and McBurnie and Vestergaard were cautioned as part of the melee. McBurnie then smashed into a player soon after and was treading thin ice. The Blades were not only well beaten but were losing their discipline as the game finished with 7 players booked.
United – We showed lots of fight and effort the other night and gave it a real go. Today I thought for the most part we were dire. We did ok in spells first half but were still second best and deservedly trailed. We did not have any efforts on goal outside of the McGoldrick chip. They did not have loads of chances but had more of the ball, looked more dangerous and controlled things. We made mistakes at the back and kept giving free kicks away. We were just careless in everything we did and did not win the 50-50’s let along do anything with the ball. Still McGoldrick had that one chance and we could have been level after another stupid mistake and foul for the pen.
Second half not sure the change helped and we got worse. We never got going and it was a disorganised mess. They scored early after more horrific defending and it was done after this. We made more subs and huffed and pugged but never looked like getting back into it. They actually could have scored 4 or 5 more goals really and Ramsdale and bad finishing kept the score down. Yes they were all on the break but it’s not like we created much or the men we put forward caused them issues. The defence and keeper had nothing to do at all second half. We just seemed to lose all motivation and belief and the players did seem to be just going through the motions after it went 2-0. I am not saying they gave up but they had no belief at all. We had a few half chances but only Bogle’s was a decent chance. Conversely, they had 4 or 5 clear ones. Possession says we had 51%! I am not sure how as we did little to nothing with it. They may have been more direct with one ball but they knew that was all they needed to get in.
It was night and day (literally) from the other night and we just saw nothing today from the side to suggest they are going to get many more points. They may flash the odd showing like Villa but let us not kid ourselves we have had several games like that where it had not been about fine margins as Wilder says but we have been second best all over the field in the basics of passing, movement, pressing, tackling, attacking, defending, you name it. There have been lots of games like today where we have been well beaten – even games by single goals. Today it was done by 48 minutes and they may as well have blown the whistle. For me it was so boring. No one tried to get amongst it, make things happen and there was no bravery or attempt to get down the sides, to link. The build up was all too slow and when they had it, they got through us too easy. We simply looked inferior in every way I felt. Some may say I am being too harsh and that Southampton were not great but they did not have to. A side falling quicker than anyone in the league and we turn up and give them the confidence boost they need. As ordinary as they were, if they take their chances it is 4 or 5-0. Not much more to say. The changes did not work individually or collectively. Baldock at centre back did not work. The wing backs were poor. Bryan was ok but still worse than the other night and made mistakes. Ampadu mistake ridden also. The midfield had no control and Stevens and Lundstram were appalling again. With Didzy off it, Brewster had to work off scraps and tried hard. The subs made no impact whatsoever. A thoroughly poor and depressing afternoon. To think we have 10 (+ 1 in the cup) of these is actually depressing. I love watching my team play normally but at the moment it is a chore and you can actually argue you could be doing much better things. That is how bad it has been much of the season. I can see what many may not watch the run in or games as it is simply gone now.
Surely, he has to take out some of the woeful performers now and give others a go. There is nothing to lose. He cannot keep persisting with two in particular. Trouble is he cannot even rest the so-called key men for Chelsea as we have no midfielders to bring in but I would not play McGoldrick or Fleck next week. Give them 2 weeks to get ready for Chelsea. That is the only thing we have left now but without Ampadu and the rest that will be hard unless Bash can come back somehow?
At least we have a week until the next one but for me the games can’t be completed quick enough now. We just have to hope the supposed fall outs behind the scenes get sorted or if it continues to play out publicly then it could turn nasty – the trouble with the Premier League is you have to do these pre and post match conferences and Wilder will always say what he thinks (no issues with that) but inevitably is going to lead to more questions and probable unrest.
Ratings:
Ramsdale 7/10 – Little to do first half. Few standard saves and then the penalty. One moment of indecision when he was off his line. Second goal had no chance with a great strike and once again given no protection. He made a good save from Adams on the angle as he came inside and another from Redmond as our defence just went missing. Made a few other saves as we left him badly exposed again. Might have been our Man of the Match just by the fact he was not as bad as everyone else. One of the few bright spots recently.
Baldock 5/10 – Tried his best and one of the few to make some blocks/cover or look alert. However, he gave some silly fouls away. Not sure he is a right centre back as he got into some poor positions and there were gaps down that side. The penalty for instance where was he? He did make some interceptions but on both goals he was too far up the field. On the goal his clearances was not the best as he barely got to the edge of the box but then Lundstram made a mess of it of course. After this felt Adams outmuscled him twice and they nearly got in again. We barely saw him as an attacking force from his new position.
Bryan 6/10 – One of the better defenders and has still worse than the other night and was slow to deal with certain situations or got in mix ups with fellow defenders. He struggled with the quick players and movement but he did keep going. They kept picking us off way too easily and there was no pressure on the ball from the defenders who did not get there first like they did the other night. He made a few interceptions but then near the end lost it to Adams once and nearly gave him another on a plate. The defence looked all over the place at times not winning the tackles or making the clearances they had done the other night.
Amapadu 5/10 – Yet another terrible error. He has been much better post Xmas and really good the other night but what a mistake again. He makes these a lot and they are costing us every other week seemingly. Too far up the field and then an awful lunge and tackle. Stay on your feet man! He and the rest of the defence did not offer much attacking wise despite them saying we had to or were trying to push forward but weirdly left huge gaps at the back too. They could have scored loads of goals really.
Stevens 2/10 – He is getting worse. Seems to have no confidence at all anymore. He started the game with two horrific passes and then it caried on from there. Defensively he nearly gave them a goal from a bad mistake and going forward he continued to make bad decisions. Sliced one into the upper tier and put another few into the first man. Carried on with his awful passing and decisions. Such as the awful ball straight at the defender to start the second half. They broke and scored from this after the corner although there was a long way to go, he was too far up the field when they crossed from the right-hand side before the goal. He got forward a fair bit but nothing came other than one decent cross which I think was the Bogle chance? Needs to be taken out. How can Lowe or Osborn do any worse? It is doing him no good to keep picking him. Looks more like a League 2 player at the moment than a Premier League one. Completely lost it.
Bogle 5/10 – Barely saw him as an attacking force at all and defensively struggled to keep up with the movement of Tella. Silly booking and then finally got forward and he tried to con the ref which was disappointing. Second half he was ball watching as the cross came over for the 2nd and then a few moments where he attacked, he did not make anything happen. He then tried to buy another free kick and they broke and nearly scored again. Do not like that at all and he did it twice. He did have one chance but missed this badly. They carried on causing issues with power and running and not sure he did enough to get back when he was not doing much attacking wise Ambled around too much today but at least does try and get on it.
Lundstram 1/10 – Appalling again. I gave him 1 just for a couple of passes to our shirt and he made one run forward where he nearly got in! Now for the rest of the shambles….I watched him carefully first half but to be honest not until 20 minutes as did not even realise, he was playing till then. I then saw him walking, yes walking twice as they came through. He never really got on the ball or made anything happen at all. He just ambled around. Second half he made the error on the goal and then gave it away a few times straight after that. Then he just stood on the ball and almost burst it before falling over and then fouling his man. Looked drunk. Gave it away a few more times after that. He may have good stats for running around but it is aimless wandering. He does not bust a gut when it matters and to me looks disinterested I everything. Absolutely hopeless at the moment. How he is getting picked at the moment I do not know? Be really interested in all those clubs that are wanting to sign him. Lower Championship is the best he will get for me.
Fleck 5/10 – Had a few moments to begin the game and tried to dribble and run with it and at least was busier than the other two but as the game went on, he seemed to also struggle to get involved as much. Second half he was tasked with too much to do with Lundstram anonymous and then us not really having a midfield for the final period as we chased the game (apart from him!). He did try and at least get on but looked a bit full stretch and desperate due to us having fewer men in here. He then gave the bad foul away at the end. Really stupid and could have really hurt Adams. If that is the other way around, we are slamming an opponent. Could easily have got sent off. Yes, it was not high but it was late and cynical.
Norwood 4.5/10 – Quiet first half. Not really involved that much. He sent a few crosses into no one and took some deep corners to no one. He did his usual foul as he grabbed someone and often did not bother running back when players went through. We never had control of the midfield at all.
McGoldrick 4/10 – A day to forget really. He did try and kept moving around to get on it but nothing really worked. Given him lots of plaudits this season but he had a shocker today with the ball when he did get it. Misplaced passes, poor control, bounced off him and then when he had the chance tried to chip a giant keeper. Carried on poor form second half with ball not sticking or wrong decisions. He actually could have been hooked long before he was. Sadly there were others as bad or worse today!
Brewster 6/10 – Actually he was one of the few who put some real effort in today. He won a few challenges and got us up the field with his effort. Not sure he always gets int front of his man and his touch is not great but today he nearly played in a chance for McGoldrick and at least looked busy. He kept plugging away I suppose. I am not sure he was great but he was better than he has been and did ok. Came off but that was because he only really had strikers on the bench who may change things a bit (they did not). I would have kept him on. He needs game time. Still despite his improvement does not ever look remotely like scoring a goal – yes, I know we will say he has no service but sometimes you have to show a bit of something to make something (Adams showed this and Watkins a few times the other night).
Subs –
McBurnie 4/10 – Had one header wide but not really in the game as they actually continued to dominate. He won a few flick ons and tried to link a bit and maybe did a bit more than McGoldrick but not by much really. Then decided to start making stupid fouls or trying to get in a fight. Rather see it in challenges or moments that matter in the game. At the end he could have got sent off like Fleck with stupidity as he charged at his man after being booked.
Mousset 2/10 – Ran around like a headless chicken or should that be like a headless Burke as we saw a different inept striker this week from the bench. They mentioned his dreadful scoring record (1 in 30 something was it but he has barely played even in those games – 10 minutes here and there due to appalling fitness or injuries). He bumbled around and had a dreadful shot wide. At least he did not get injured today. Surely, he will be moved on at the end of the season. Not sure we will get much for him and take a massive loss. We will do well to get more than a million quid for me. Cannot stay fit, involved in stuff off the pitch and not sure he is the sort of player you want in a physical Championship where most weeks there is two games per week.
Sharp – Got offside a few times which was laughable as they came from when they had some attacks. Game had gone by this stage but he did not much as they attacked far more than us.
Manager Wilder 3/10 – Got the plaudits for a plucky and fighting performance the other night as the players really fought for him. Today whether we were fatigued or just did not have it, we lost easily and limply. It was a really sub-par performance and an easy win. First half we were in the game I suppose but they were still better than us and deserved to lead but McGoldrick had a good chance. After the break he made the change and many will say it made us worse but we never could tell as we gave up the second goal soon after and that was it. All his changes after this were rotating the chairs on the Titanic. However, I would rather we changed tactics. Go long, get it to McBurnie and get men round him. Play the balls down the sides. We literally had no idea but kept doing the same things. We never got hold of it. Go back to basics and put a struggling side under pressure? No we just knocked it about and then lost it and they then threatened to run riot on the bench as they have pace and power and skill. Things we can only dream of. We looked like we were feeling sorry for ourselves and did not even put up a fight. For all the talk of us going out the front door, today we shuffled out the tradesman’s entrance and nobody even noticed us leave.
To be fair his interview after the game I have just seen was really honest and summed up everything I thought. He was quite measured and just said we were not good enough and did not really put up a fight and said as I did that we looked like they were feeling sorry for themselves. Interesting that he says he would move some out now if he could? I do wonder who they are as he is picking some when he has others like Lowe, Osborn etc who could come in?
Some more reports of course come out this week that he will walk if the Prince goes ahead with a rumoured plan to bring in a Director of Football. Also referred to delays in the training ground (new building). It was the Daily Mail so take it with a pinch of salt but there are too many stories and rumours doing the rounds to not be some truth to a degree. It is also clear from some of Wilder’s sideswipes at the hierarchy things are all not well. Adding fuel to the fire is his best mate constantly spouting spurious tweets. If I was Wilder whether I agreed with Wit or not – I would be telling him to shut up. Yes, he is a fan and entitled to his opinion but if my best mate was slagging off my boss constantly I would be having a word. Abdullah is still his boss even if he/we would not be where we are without the fantastic things Wilder has done. Maybe he just agrees and is happy for him to be a conduit for his more strongly thought opinions he can only really deliver in riddles but as I say not helpful at all.
With the DOF things, I would not want Wilder to lose control of the first team set up and be the man that ultimately gives the green light to signings but not sure why (if he is) Wilder would be so antsy. He was happy with his pal Mitchell identifying signings and giving him names etc. Now he does not want that or he does not want that as we may bring someone else in that is not his man who may be crap but may be good and may have great links abroad etc (an area we are sub-standard in and clearly along with Burnley the only club that seemingly does not tap into the whole world for signings and remain UK based largely). Wit saying he is guaranteed to be crap also is a bit pathetic – how does he know? He might improve us. Also, the constantly banging on about how Wilder will be on the terraces in years to come, the Prince won’t be. We get it but neither will many other chairman/owners. They are businessman. The Bladey Blade thing is a bit tired at times. I love Wilder and he has been the best thing to happen to the club and I really want him to sort things out and remain but I also think we need to recognise certain things need to change.
I am not saying we have to bring a Director of Football per se but we do need to look at the set up. We do not have funds (not sure that is Abdullah’s fault) so we need to do things slightly differently and cleverer for me. I also am not sure that Wilder will always work for a club where he can only bring his own men in from top to bottom? Most clubs these days have a director of football too?
Don’t get me wrong I want Wilder to stay and want him to lead the come back and build again but am concerned he is a it stubborn and is almost his way or no way. If I had a choice I still would rather Wilder and the way we are doing things than the unknown of a new manager and DOF and the unrest that may come towards the board but longer term we have to evolve. Surely Wilder realises that we cannot run the club with just his pals from Sheffield (no offence to Mitchell who has found some gems on the journey but Wilder said if it did not work out he would then have to go back to bricklaying where Wilder picked him up from – seems a bit Sunday League again). Granted United have never had a structure like that being mooted but our small-time mentality traditionally has held us back. I am not saying go totally the Brentford way and I think a combination of the traditional and innovative can work. Be interesting time ahead but it seems there is a real doubt if he will remain. I have said before I expect him to leave and when someone said the decision had already been made, Wit even remarked that ‘he is waiting to pay him up when he is not on Premier League wages’ yesterday which is again not helpful. Maybe I should not take his pals opinion as such a clear gage of what is/may happen but it is worrying times.
Southampton – Last season they ended well after the managerial change and started excellently this season and were top for a spell. I actually tipped them as a surprise team before the season and thought I was going to be proved right! They had another hammering (odd for a side that has been mid table twice they have got destroyed in two games – even we have not had that happen to us!).
They have dropped off quite a bit and were in really bad form and before today were 14th and only 7 points off Fulham but I expect them to get enough results and too many teams below them. I think they will have another spell and finish just below mid table but will have been disappointed after the start they had not to push on.
Hasenhutl is a manager I like and think has done really well. Not sure they have spent a fortune but with the superb academy they have and some shrewd buys will be around the mid table at worst I feel for years to come. Not sure I can see them getting sucked into a struggle any time soon. They have some solid players that do not get attention – defenders like Bednarek, Walker Peters and Betrand. In midfield they have solid performers too with the really underrated Ward Prowse, Romeu and Armstrong and then up top they have some flair in likes of Redmon and Djenepo. Of course, Ings gets a lot of the credit and is a very much poor man’s Harry Kane in he works hard, leads the line and makes/takes good goals. An excellent footballer and striker. However, Adams has really improved steadily and is now a solid top-level striker. I saw some Blades saying that they would not have him back last season! He is better than anything we have got and by some distance. Today they changed it round a bit. Minamino had not really shown much in his time at Liverpool but still seemed a bit of a coup for them to get him I thought and has shown flashes down there.
They did what they had to today to win and probably could scarcely believe how easy it was. They controlled the ball and even though they were not fantastic and made errors (like with the McGoldrick chance) they really were the only team that looked like scoring and they caused us problems with pace and power. The keeper had not had a hard save to make all game (only the one mentioned above and that was like a back pass) and the defence won’t have had an easier game all season – actually they did when they beat us at home. The last three games they have seen us off easily and they are not even that great a side.
Opponent Man of the Match – Take your pick. Adams or Tella for me. The latter caused us all sort of problems first half and Baldock and Bogle could not live with him and then Ampadu chopped him down. We had 2 bookings for fouls on him and numerous fouls. Adams then took over the mantle and was superb second half with a brilliant goal and could have had more. Once or twice he just outmuscled and out skilled several of our players. It was like it was not fair how much better and stronger he was.
Opponent Weak link – All steady really. We did not test the keeper. Ward Prowse was only average today but still better than any of our midfield. The other lad Diallo was quiet and Walker Peters not a threat attacking wise but fine defensively. They were all 6-7/10 performances really and a few 8’s in Adams and Tella. The lad Vestergaard is a bit of a brute but gets the job done and we could do with someone like him.
Referee/Officials – Paul Tierney. Fine. He booked 4 of ours and 3 of theirs. I think we were far dirtier with several cynical fouls. Bogle got booked and then dived twice. Fleck’s tackle was not great and then McBurnie was charging into players after being booked for a daft tackle. A number of ours were grabbing and chopping men down when they got past. I was cringing at how cynical and dirty we were. The penalty was an awful challenge too. Cannot think of many decisions when I was like that is really against us. We tried to con and cheat a few times too. We slam the refs/VAR when we do not get decisions but today the loss had nothing to do with officials.
Coverage – Nice to hear Daniel Mann again – as he gave us come great moments/commentaries in the Promotion season. Maybe they are giving him some of our games to re-acquaint himself with us ready for next season! Rob Green was irritating and offered nothing at all but cliches and tired statements. I did not listen or watch pre or post game. It is bad enough watching the game!
