Post by deadbat on Apr 11, 2021 21:58:43 GMT
Podcast and report below
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-20-21-arsenal-home
open.spotify.com/episode/0axKTSRN5012EdAu73JT1w?si=fUOHaJX9Tb2lcQ0BiD4u5g&nd=1
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The Blades are now close to finally having their relegation confirmed after another defeat in sorry season. Defeat to Wolves next week coupled with any kind of positive result for Brighton and Newcastle and United will have an R next to their name. In reality, relegation has been a fate that had been all but sealed for months now. This week’s defeat saw United back at the lane for the first time Chris Wilder had left as an erratic and mostly struggling Arsenal side feasted on the carcass of the Blades. It was Arsenal’s first Premier League win at Bramall Lane in 5 attempts and their first clean sheet in 15.
Manager Heckingbottom made three changes with Egan back and Ampadu also returning to the starting line-up. Burke was given the start alongside McGoldrick with still no place for record signing Rhian Brewster. Baldock was deemed fit to start at right wing back with Bogle on the bench. Out of form players Lundstram, Norwood and Stevens continued to be selected. There was still no return for the injured players with no Sharp, Basham, Berge or the longer-term O’Connell.
Arsenal with little to play for themselves in the league made five changes from their Europa League draw and seemed to be prioritising the second leg in Prague. Aubameyang was out with flu whilst Smith-Rowe was injured. Martinelli and Pepe started up front flanking Lacazette. Chambers, Mari and Ceballos came in.
Arsenal began with fluid football and a ball slipped through to Saka saw him shot over when well placed. The away side dominated the ball early but a miskick from Stevens led to a chance for Pepe but the offside flag went up. Stevens made another mistake but Ampadu’s cleared the cross that was sent over.
Ramsdale had been trying to pass the ball out and from one such kick out, Burke retrieved it and sent a high cross over. Osborn kept it alive and it fell to McGoldrick who stayed onside but he pulled his shot wide. It was a decent chance for the home side.
After this the balance of the game continued with the away side moving it between the thirds nicely and the Blades midfield unable to get any kind of pressure on. They could not get out and Norwood twice just kicked a clearance against an Arsenal man.
Ramsdale’s distribution had been one of the bright spots but he made a mistake and hit Lacazette and the ball fortuitously rebounded straight back into the keeper’s hands. It could have easily gone into the net.
Osborn then gave it away and the Gunners sprang forward again with Ceballlos flick into Martinelli but the forward hit the side netting when he had men in the box. Arsenal were totally dominating and a rare break saw Stevens got a decent cross over but McGoldrick fouled Xhaka as it came over.
Arsenal continued to move it around nicely and the pressure on goal started to intensify as they had a series of efforts and the first one on goal. Nobody pressed and Arsenal worked it to Martinelli whose shot took a deflection off Norwood and Ramsdale did well to readjust and make the save.
Martinelli then skinned Baldock down the touch line and cut in but his cross driven in missed everyone. The ball fell for Chambers but his shot was cleared off the line by Egan. It seemed like a goal was coming and so it proved on 33 minutes. Lovely football saw it moved forward. Saka did well and Lacazette came onto it, played in to Ceballos who once again flicked it on and back to LACAZETTE who got away from Ampadu and rolled it into the far corner giving Ramsdale no chance.
It was a great goal but again like with the goal at Leeds it was created and finished without any pressure or challenge on the ball.
More good football saw Saka nearly get in as United stood off. Arsenal then won two corners as Martinell had an effort deflected just wide from McGoldrick and even when United cleared it, the ball hit Osborn on the heel and Arsenal came again.
A rare break saw Norwood get his foot in and McGoldrick got down the line but chose to settle for a corner rather than make something happen. The set play was half cleared and Egan had an effort straight at Leno. At least it was another effort on goal in another rather timid Blades showing.
Arsenal finished the half as they started it with another attack and appeals for a Norwood hand ball were turned away by VAR and the half time whistle came soon after this.
The second half saw United at least start with a few attacks. McGoldrick had a shot deflected behind and then from the corner, Norwood’s looping ball was headed goal wards by Egan but punched away by Leno.
Arsenal then had a spell of play again moving it around and were looking comfortable although a run by Burke at least got it moving the other way for a spell. Norwood’s wasteful cross gave it away though not long after.
There was no urgency from the Blades in the game and the game was just drifting away with the visitors’ content to just play keep ball. A break from the corner saw Arsenal move forward and the ball was played back and Lacazette bent his effort over in the visitors first effort of the half.
Arsenal continued to keep the ball and it was all very easy. They moved it around with no pressure on the ball and just seemed content to keep the Blades at arm’s length. McGoldrick did have a chance when he came inside but was selfish and his shot was blocked.
MacBurnie and Brewster came on for McGoldrick and Burke just over the hour mark. Martinelli went down with a knock but was able to carry on. Saka was not as fortunate as he went down with a pull and had to be replaced by Willian.
United had not really threatened despite the slight improvement for 5 minutes to start the half and the game was all but sealed if it was not already as Lundstram’s appalling period in a Blades shirt continued as he put it on a plate. The ball was pushed to Pepe whose shot was palmed out by Ramsdale straight into the path of MARTINELLI who tapped home. The keeper will not have been happy with his part in the goal despite the architect being Lundstram.
Ampadu then had to do well to clear but then brought his man down and this saw a chance for Willian but the free kick was off target. McBurnie did go on a run but got a kick and his spell did not last long as he went off after this kick. Mari was booked for his part in the tackle. Mousset came on but the third goal came on the 84th minute. Partey went past Osborn easily and sent a through ball which completely dissected the Blades defence and LACAZETTE was in away from Ampadu again. He gave Ramsdale the eyes and shot home easily. The rout was complete.
United did create a chance on 87 minutes when a lovely slide rule ball from Egan set up Stevens to cross but his pull back was sliced horrible wide from Mousset. Ampadu got a late yellow as the game ticked into four minutes additional time but the game could not end quick enough for the Blades as another pitiful performance mercifully came to an end. The Blades players trooped off amidst the snow fall in S2 knowing that they are simply out of their depth at this level.
United – Another pathetic showing where a team that did not even come close to playing it’s first team beat us easily. They won 3-0 and it should and could have been more. Arsenal barely got out of first gear. McManaman said it was not like us for lack of effort and industry. Sadly, we have been like that for good portions of the season. I have seen many games like this where we have not laid a glove on the opponent and they have just walked through us. I cannot be bothered to go through or dissect the performance really. We never got going, they walked through us and could have scored early on. McGoldrick had a chance but then after this it seemed a matter of time before they scored and they eventually did. We oddly tried to pass it out but as the commentators said this was never going to work. We normally lost it or went sideways or backwards and then lost it. It was aimless. No one got hold of it and we never tried to move up the field. Everyone kept passing off responsibility and not one player tried to drive us up the field. It was very Weir like at times. We just kept losing it and it kept coming back. They went through us easily with barely a tackle made at all. We looked individually and collectively as if we did not want to be there. The players do not want to play the games and the fans don’t really want to watch them! Even the manager looks like he has no idea and probably wants a new man in so he can get out of this scenario quickly as his reputation is getting damaged. Granted we were long gone and awful before but his record is terrible – lost 4 and conceded 12 and scored 1.
After we concede which, we always do, then the game is done as it is every week. We never fight back and the games are just boring as teams just coast to a win. We had a bit of a better start to the second half but it was like a minute or two of pressure if you can call it that. We made changes but it was just changing two ineffective strikers for another two. No change of shape. No attempt to put them under pressure at all. We made an error for the 2nd and sure everyone will pan Lundstram and he will be the feature of everyone’s ire but despite the shocking mistake not sure he was any worse than any of the others. Fleck and Norwood and many others were as bad. Ramsdale went back to his pat-a-cake form of earlier in the season. They got a third and could have had more fi they wanted it. The strikers who came in stumbled about got injured or missed chances. I cannot think of a single positive from the game. I suppose Egan came back but that is it. We did not see anyone come out of that well.
I cannot say anymore than above. We looked slow, weak, pedestrian, clueless. No plan, no urgency. We did not attack with purpose and defended badly with mistakes aplenty. No pressure on the ball. I am not sure we put a tackle in of note till the 90th minute when Amadu got booked. Too many players just were simply on the pitch but not doing anything. They literally turned up. I am sorry but even for the lack of quality and confidence clearly being rock bottom, get stuck in, make a challenge, harry/press. It was like they did not give a damn.
Those fans confident that so many of this squad will click a switch and suddenly just become top end promotion players or a contending team are going to be in a rude awakening. The whole shape and system and way we play is completely broke. Not one individual can even do the basics right. The players look shot. Gone. There needs to be huge changes even with the inevitable drop off at the level below we will see and yes, we will get more of the ball and more chances but are we confident the midfielders will suddenly start to run more, drive through teams and the strikers will be able to create/score goals? I am not convinced. We need a major overhaul and at least half a dozen of this side needs to be jettisoned whoever the new manager is in. Players like Norwood, Fleck, Lundstram, Mousset, McBurnie, Burke, Stevens have been consistently abysmal for nearly a year now. 12 months. The odd game here and there but for the most part they have been putrid. Most of these need to be somehow moved on. This has gone from a team of winners to a complete set of spineless losers. I may be going over the top but this is a side that is one of the worst in Premier League history and even if we have nudged past that derby team, we are right on par with teams like them. We are abject. No skill, no effort, not competing and simply not bothered. If fans were in, this side would be rightly getting pelters. Many of these are on very good wages and most have signed bigger contracts in recent times and yet they are simply going through the motions. Some will say it does not matter and that the season has gone so what does it matter? It should matter. They should have professional pride. I felt tonight was another embarrassing performance. The players are just feeling sorry for themselves but this is simply not good enough. I would rather we get stuck in, take a few bookings, put ourselves about but we are a laughing stock at the moment with one of the worst, if not the worst record in top division football probably in the world.
Before I was all for taking our time around the new manager and set up but we now have been without Wilder for a month and if had threatened to resign twice before going back to January we have had 3 and a half months as we must have had a contingency plan? If they have not then that is shocking planning from the club. We need some direction now. The players are not really playing for this guy and he is not motivating and giving us anything. Maybe it does not matter and of course next August is all that matters but we need to get some direction before then. I am not sure I want a new managed to come in say June and the just have a month or so pre season before he is expected to shape a new side and bring back some confidence and momentum. We really need to be trying to move things forward in the next week or so. If they do not, then that would suggest they simply do not know who they want or are going to bring in. They must have identified at least one or two candidates now and be talking to their clubs or representatives.
We will finally be relegated next week and then face 6 dead rubbers but than that is what we have seen for much of the season really. It has been a total disaster and yes, we have had worst teams and, in some ways, worst seasons when you compare divisions/players but I am not sure I have ever seen a side so out of its depth in a division and a team I know are going to lose every week and lose without even putting up so much of a fight. I find it hard to watch us at the moment. It is simply boring and depressing and the players/club should be ashamed of the efforts that have put forth this season and that is why there has to be changes quickly.
Ratings:
Ramsdale 4/10 – Started playing some nice balls out and his distribution was good but then nearly got caught out. We did keep giving it him under pressure though and forcing him to clear. It seemed a tactic. It was odd. Thought he was quick off his line early and had to be alert. Saved one shot that was deflected but had no chance on the goal. Horribly exposed again. Second half he saw a few shots go wide or blocked but then on the second he really had to do better. It was weak and he should have moved his feet quicker to get across anyway. He just sort of laid down and pushed it straight to the striker. No chance on the third goal. He has been excellent since Xmas really but tonight his standard slipped also but again put under too much pressure.
Baldock 4/10 – Thought he struggled with the pace of Martinelli who got away from him a few times to start. His touch was off but had some bad balls played to him too. Could not get over half way at all and I felt he was penned back. Second half he kept going but not sure we saw anything again really of him going forward save one cross that McBurnie could not get to as he was injured. Defensively we were constantly chasing them as they cut through us.
Osborn 4/10 – He struggled against better technical players and often his touch went awry or got outmuscled. They attacked a fair bit down this side early and they just found little gaps as him and Osborn did not react. Not sure he got forward much but a few times ended up wide right which did not help when they broke and had men over. Tried hard but just quality wise well below his opponents. Second half he again just kept getting brushed aside. His touch and control were poor and he never really did much right. He is an honest trier but nowhere near good enough. The bit where PArtey just came inside and walked past him and played through for the third summed him up. Probably a mid-table Championship squad player (as he was at Forest for a few years) and being asked to play at the top level.
Stevens 3/10 – Continued his erratic form where he makes more mistakes with the ball than positive moments. He gave it away three times in the first 15 minutes and miskicked another when luckily, they were offside (he knew nothing about it). He rarely goes forward and he is struggling to do even the basics. He is so bad it is untrue. He has no confidence he can even control it or make a basic forward pass. He gets it and just gets rid or loses it. Had one cross when he did get forward down the left. Second half he continued to just kept giving it to them; often under no pressure whatsoever. He did have that late run and cross which was decent but overall, another really poor night.
Egan 5/10 – Thought he was ok and made a few blocks but he struggled with the pace and movement as did the whole defence really. I am not sure he knew who to mark as the three strikers moved around. They had opportunities down the middle and the sides as we did not keep close together and the defence was not really in line. We kept appealing for offside too as shown on the goals. He did have one volleyed effort and played a nice ball at the end. Maybe our best player or should I say least bad one.
Ampadu 4/10 –He made one block and tackle early on but then started to lose his men, not helped by the midfield not pressing or competing at all. The goal he switched off with Lacazette playing a one two and he could not react to a quality player’s pace and movement. He made a few blocks and tackles and he seemed more interested than most but then he lost it a few times too and gave away a silly foul and also a booking. The third goal he got done with a great ball but he was nowhere really – did not push out or mark his man. He is a player that probably cannot wait to go back to Chelsea. Not sure what his future position is as he switches off way too much at centre back. Also feel his next loan will be to a Championship team as he is way off this level. Thankfully it will not be us I would not think! Another that has not had anywhere near the impact you would have hoped.
Norwood 2/10 – Continued to just look slow, unathletic and ponderous. Twice he just kicked it straight at the Arsenal players under no pressure whatsoever. He had it a few times but he went sideways or when he kicked it pace and was aimless stuff. Mostly he was not in the pace and game and continued to let them run off him and would not tackle or try and get in. His set plays were not great and when he had the chance to cross, he hit looping ones (Egan header early second half). Then just kicked one straight out under no pressure. He tried to get in the game a bit more but often he ended up not putting the cross in and trying little passes after this. He then fell over twice when they broke instead of running back. As I say a lot will go for Lundstram but they were all as bad in midfield tonight as they are most weeks.
Lundstram 2/10 – He was not in the game to begin with but then had a few moments where he erm…ran around a bit and won a few headers and loose stuff. Mostly he was not in it like the rest of the midfield and they just passed around and through us. When we had it, we just helped it on. No one tried to get on it and keep it. He tried his daft flicks but whilst Ceballos actually landed to a teammate, his go nowhere. He then laid it on a plate for the second goal that killed the game that was probably already done.
Fleck 2/10 – Thought he was once again largely anonymous. A few passes early that were safe but never penetrated or ran though and then was wasteful when he had it. Mostly he was not in it and defensively they just had too much movement and quality and got through the midfield. It was the same as it is every week. He was neat and tidy but mostly ineffective and I just felt the game passed him by. I did not even know he was playing 2nd half.
McGoldrick 4/10 – Started with an effort which he should have done better with and pulled wide and then his touch started to go awry and he made poor decisions. Tried to come deep and link but not sure he got in it much at all. He gave it away twice to set them on the attack also. Had another shot deflected wide start of the second half. He was quite selfish with another effort when he came inside and tried to shoot. Not sure he was great today and seemed to be playing quite an individual game. Least he had a few efforts I suppose.
Burke 3/10 – Ran around a bit early and crosses in the chance that led to the McGoldrick one but overall, no real quality but again we did not have the ball in their half at all. He was just a bit of a headless chicken. Had a good run early on in the 2nd half but no end product as his body and ball seemed to come apart as it often does. Came off not long after that. Looks a dreadful player and you can see why he has moved clubs almost every year in his career and is still early twenties!
Subs –
McBurnie – Came on and gave it straight to them and then fouled someone. He did have one decent run but got kicked on this and could not carry on as he limped off. Another one that is never fit and when he plays does not contribute at all. Summed it up today – one give away, one run which was ok and then fell over and had to hobble off. Another who had been pathetic this season.
Brewster 4/10 – He seems to know he won’t see much of the ball so when he comes in, he just tried a shot. Today he was around 35 yards out when he tried a speculative effort when he had others well placed or better placed but don’t blame him for trying. Seems a bit desperate to make an impact but I thought he at least put a bit of effort into a game that had gone.
Mousset – Came on and had an awful effort miles wide when he should have scored. Looks overweight and completely unfit. Even on the time on he barely could keep up with play.
Manager Heckingbottom 1/10 – No idea why he is playing the same players week in, week out. It is doing them, him or us no good. The formation I can kind of accept as we have been set up that way for a long time but even that is not working so not sure changing it would be seen as that much of a risk. Everyone will talk about Lundstram but Stevens (and Norwood) have nearly been as bad week in, week out. Brewster still does not get a start and then we have the comedy act that is Burke starting. It was just baffling. Why he is not giving youngsters a go I do not know? Surely you can play one or two. Even for half an hour?
Why he does not try something else (Bogle in midfield or McGoldrick in front of Norwood and Fleck and Brewster alongside McBurnie)?. There is lots of things he could do but he keeps doing the same things. Today we tried a different way of losing – short, tippy tappy football around the defence and keeper and then we just lost it and they had attacks. There was no tempo, urgency or cohesion throughout the team. I do not know what the plan was. He made changes but it was like for like. Why did he not ry and change the formation or approach (go long or be more direct or press more). We just sat off and let them play around us and when we had it, we had no idea how to get up the pitch or create anything.
The players are not responding to whatever he is asking for. We actually look even worse now than we did under Wilder and that is saying something. He looks like many of the players, completely out of his depth.
Arsenal – They have not really had the season you would think. Even with them evolving they have still brought players in and it is not as if Arteta is still new there. He has been there almost 2 full seasons now. I also saw a stat that they had worse records in the final seasons under Wenger and Emery. They have some good players but still lack the fight, leadership and defensive solidity they struggled with before. I thought Arteta was getting it right and the FA Cup win and the way he had them really pressing and competing, I just saw them going in the right direction. This season they have regressed for me and I feel that 10th place is unacceptable as they stood before today’s game. They had won 12, lost 12 and drew 6 which is of course distinctly average. The success of the whole season depends on the Europa League and they have a tough away leg next week in Prague after being penned back at the death last week. Lost that and pressure may grow on Arteta maybe? I have not seen anyone suggesting he is not the answer but as I say I do not see any real improvements 18 months on.
They do seem caught between some of the exciting young talent they have like Saka, Nelson and Smith Rowe. Expensive (at least wages as much as fee) signings like Partey, Odegaard, Martinelli nd Gabriel have not really shifted things like they would have wanted in terms of consistency and they still struggle whenever they play the heavyweights. Granted they now generally beat the poorer teams and are not quite the soft touch away they once were but I am not seeing anything other than a 6th-10th place finish even next season. Aubamayeng is still their best player and is hugely important but turns 32 this summer. If they continue to limp around mid-table be interesting what they do with Arteta. He will get another season but a huge club like Arsenal cannot afford to be mid table consistently and not competing for honours. The argument about not having the funds of others does not really wash when the likes of West Ham, Leicester and Villa are above them. Leeds and Palace are also right around the in the table.
Today they rested quite a few but won easily as players out of form who have not played got back to some level of decent play with Lacazette scoring two and even maligned players like Xhaka and Partey just found it easy. They will not have an easier game at all. The memories of last season under the lights when a red hot Lane saw our gritty group outplay them may as well be another life time away.
Opponent Man of the Match – Take your pick. Every player was better than ours by a mile. Lacazette was the stand out with his finishing. Martinelli was a threat but everyone just looked streets ahead.
Opponent Weak link – No-one had a tough night. The keeper could have been sat on my sofa really.
Referee/Officials – Peter Bankes. He did ref us at Man Utd in the win but also at Leicester and the game at Brighton when Lundstram was sent off but VAR of course decided this. Nothing to really officiate. No real VAR calls. One booking for either side.
Coverage – Fletcher and McMananaman. Can’t stand the latter. He was actually too nice about us though. We have been crap all season and that was not the first time we have not been at it or competed. The same cliches though mostly from both and it was more like we were a foreign team playing Arsenal as they were all the focus. The concerns about Martinelli and concerns over his welfare summed it all up. Still, we are now an inconvenience and are stinking up the league. I bet the TV companies dread the games we are now involved in and rightly the focus should be on whoever we play as we are barely even making up the numbers.
