Post by deadbat on Nov 2, 2021 23:39:26 GMT
Podcast links and then report below….
open.spotify.com/episode/7hdm3SrRPxf1kazKG8hrNR
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-21-22-forest-away
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000540562057
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It was a point for the Blades on the road after a drab 1-1 draw at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest. The game was desperately devoid of skill, talent and chances as the Blades passed it around and went nowhere most of the game and Forest were happy to soak up things and try and break but created little also. The second half was drifting to a stalemate before Sharp’s introduction led to a Gibbs White goal. This should have given United the win, maybe an unconvincing one, but more atrocious defending saw Lewis Grabban, another sub, and so often the scourge of United, control and easily score under no pressure at all. Both teams tried to win it after this showing a strange amount of urgency after no such type of tempo the whole game! However, the draw was about right. For United it is still unclear what the plan is as outside the odd moment of brilliance from Gibbs White or Mousset/Ndiaye, the fluency and style is limited. Defensively they continue to throw away the most basic and sloppy of goals. To see a centre forward control and then finish inside the 6 yard box with no challenge, sadly was not a surprise on the evidence so far this season.
The Blades made a number of changes some forced and some through choice. In came Bogle, Basham and Brewster. Out went Baldock, Ndiaye and Davies with the latter out due to injury. There was no place in the match day squad for Oli McBurnie with Jack Robinson back amongst the substitutes.
Forest were without the ineligible Max Lowe who was on loan from the Blades, but did start another ex United player, in Lyle Taylor up front. Forest had really improved after making a managerial change with Steve Cooper getting them playing a more attacking and ultimately rewarding, in terms of points, style of play.
The game began with United seemingly lining up with the same formation but Brewster was perhaps more wide right than Ndiaye had been previous game and Gibbs White was more central but it seemed those two and Osborn were supporting Mousset as the lone striker. It was definitely four at the back with Basham on the right and Egan on the left of the central defence.
Mousset had an early opening but his shot lacked power and trickled though to Samba but the first 5 minutes saw the Blades dominate possession and move it around neatly if without danger. Stevens was perhaps the most involved player on the field early on but his passing and crossing let him down on more than one occasion. Gibbs White won a free kick with a piece of skill but the dithering free kick routine, whether planned or not, came to nothing. Gibb White then found Stevens but his cross was again not close to a Blades player.
Forest had done little but like many other teams facing United, realised they just needed to wait for the slow, patient football to peter out and pounce. They did that as Lolley surged through midfield but shot wide.
Stevens again made a mess of a good opening for United and clearly was influential with space but not really made the final pass tell. The game became mire in midfield for the next period before Forest won a corner on 25 minutes and Taylor stabbed it just wide with the Blades not reacting.
Olsen’s lofted chip was foolish and led to Stevens losing out and then Fleck was nutmegged leading to him bringing his man down before Johnson also put the ball through the legs of a United player, this time Norwood, before Basham held up the youngster’s enterprising run. The young forward went to ground and Basham felt he was looking for a decision by falling to floor.
Basham intercepted a ball through after Stevens misplaced ball into the centre and he in turn fed Brewster who had not been in the game, but won a corner. This came to nothing again and then Egan made a mistake that led to Johnson’s shot being deflected and Olsen was able to gather the ball.
United had not really had any chances at all despite having a lot of the ball but finally one arrived on 36 minutes when Stevens ball somehow squirmed through to Bogle but his low shot was straight at Samba on the angle.
Bogle wanted a foul soon after down the right but the referee played on and in the end penalised Norwood for a similar looking foul – this led to the Blades player arguing too vociferously and he was booked as much for dissent as the challenge.
Brewster saw the ball sit up for him on the half volley but blazed badly over before Egan made another mistake giving a cheap foul away. Osborn was the next to cede possession and Spence drove past Stevens before his cross was cleared – this led to a succession of corners for Forest who were ending the half the stronger after United had shaded territory and the football at least, if not the chances.
Neither Taylor nor Mousset had not been in the game as lone strikers for either side and the Blades man miscontrolled a ball and then in his frustration caught Garner and was rightly booked for a poor challenge.
Brewster came back to defend but was unable to prevent a corner and from it the best chance of the half came when Worrall got away from Egan and headed just wide with Bogle being left to mark him as the ball came in. It was easily the closest either came in a desperately poor contest.
The half time whistle came soon after this.
The second half started with no changes despite neither side offering much quality at all and United won an early corner
Forest picked up two quick bookings for Yates and Figuierido for cynical fouls as United through Fleck and Mousset broke. The free kicks did not see United able to get the ball into the box. The Forest fans started to get frustrated with a few free kicks going against the home side after they had maybe had the better of the 50-50 decisions in the first half.
Decent skill from Gibbs White led to a chance but both Osborn and Fleck passed up a chance to penetrate and the balls forward were aimless.
Forest broke and Stevens did well to shrug off by Lolley who was trying to get the ball onto his left foot. The game had still not really come to life with neither side stepping up the intensity in a drab game devoid of skill, urgency and chances.
Forest were the first to make a change as Zinckernagel came on for Lolley just before the hour mark. They made another change soon after when Grabban came on for Taylor. Johnson’s cross was cut out by Basham before Mousset went on a run just before his name was called – on 65 minutes this time. Ndiaye came on and went down the middle rather than Brewster going into a more central position.
Ndiaye gave it away with his first contribution but Forest gave it away soon after. Johnson then burst down the left after Osborn was the next to be careless in his passing. Johnson went past one man but as Basham came across, the Forest man went down way too easily and was rightly booked for simulation – after attempting a similar ‘con’ job in the first half. United players were rightly enraged and there was a flashpoint after this incident.
The Blades had done nothing from an attacking sense but Forest were not exactly creating much although Norwood gave away another foul but the free kick was cleared as the game entered the final 15 minutes.
Sharp replaced Osborn and soon after his impact was instant. GIBBS WHITE got on the ball and fed Sharp who drove down the left and picked out the Wolves man who coolly side footed past Samba and into the net. The Blades celebrated the vital goal in front of the jubilant sold
Sharp then won a corner soon after showing some real energy and aggression but this was cleared again.
Forest had a chance when the ball came in from Colback and Grabban could not get enough on it to steer it goalward. It was a good chance to level. The equaliser did come soon after when Johnson was allowed too much time to cross and as the ball dropped GRABBAN was allowed time to bring it down and almost mis control it before turning it home with no defenders or the keeper reacting. It was a such an incredibly sloppy goal to let in once again.
Forest now sensed they could win it and were pressing for the winner with United now the side looking a spent force once again after so many late let downs this season.
However, Gibbs White broke and went past two men at pace before after being felled in the challenge, he managed to find Brewster but his finish was really poor and straight at the keeper who made a comfortable save.
The game was now wide open but Forest had a break down the right and the cross shot was deflected wide for a corner. Fleck managed to clear the delivery.
Hourihane replaced Fleck as the game entered the final minute of play.
Forest have scored beyond the 90th minutes with their last three goals and as the game entered additional time, the home side were now much more aggressive in trying to win the game with two crosses being just about cleared. Sharp did well to help stem the pressure and won a free kick which led to a booking for Worrall. Brewster tried to get into the box but his attempt to win a penalty seemed a little ambitious.
Norwood’s driven ball was hard for Ndiaye to control and led to the ball coming back up the field but the Blades did finish in possession after Ndiaye tried to get down the left but the full-time whistle signalled another disappointing evening for United as they look a long way from finding a formula that will yield improved performances and results consistently at this level. In the end a draw was about right as not sure either side did enough to deserve to win the game.
United – It’s a point but it was far from good enough. I thought Forest were appalling and there for the beating and sat back and let us have it but we did nothing with oodles and oodles of possession. It was slow and laborious and predictable. Not sure how we thought we may score a goal? No players took any responsibility at all and we just passed it side to side. They were waiting for our mistakes and had a few but not sure they profited but had as many of the half chances as we did.
Another depressing performance and game. Thought it was two shocking sides really and neither did enough to win the game at all. We had most of the ball but did nothing with it. Indeed, nothing happened at all. We had a few half chances and so did they but nothing clear. Maybe the Worrall header was the best effort going just wide but it was a dreadful game and it was like nobody wanted to try and create or score a goal.
Second half was not much better. They had more of the ball than they had first half but not sure they did too much of note either. Both teams made changes and Sharp and Grabban made the impact assisting and scoring the goals giving both teams some life.
After we scored, we should have just seen it out but could not do it. Again. I looked at the clock and thought that is 15 minutes too long (with stoppage time) and then when they scored thought we’d lose. Forest just stepped up after we scored and could have had two in quick succession. They were rubbish but two balls into the box and we are all over the place. We have no desire or mental strength to just see games out. We were not great but got a goal and needed to just play the percentages, keep the ball and stop the ball coming into our box. Yet again we failed to do that.
A draw was about right really. Neither side deserved to win but frustrating we could not see it out. We do not seem to get those scrappy undeserved wins anymore. I never felt we would concede and it proved again.
I am not convinced that we are making any clear progress in either box and the safe, middling passing is dull to watch. He dropped the best player from Saturday oddly and then when he came on, put him in the wrong position. I find us almost dull to watch and the fact we concede too easily and to score is seemingly much harder means we will probably lose more than we win – as we have all season. I am not convinced we will get anything at Blackburn who are a better side than Forest and have better attackers.
Let’s be honest – apart from Stoke who are just above mid table – we have beat no one this season other than 4 of the bottom 5. The top teams have beat us – the playoff teams have beat us and the middle to just below middle have beat or draw with us. It is clearly not working and whether it is the players are simply broken, the system or the manager – we are in a bit of a mess and now it’s about not getting drawn into the bottom places and in a scrap as we saw last season, there is little fight left in these dogs. Continuing the analogy if some of them were dogs, you would put them down! People will say it is a point but that masks another poor performance. Forest were rubbish but that in some ways makes it worse. We should be putting sides like that away but never looked like scoring really till the late goal. Not sure we looked like conceding too to be fair but then we did.
Ratings:
Olsen 6/10 – Had little to do first half with a shot and header flashing wide from corners but he tried a daft lob out that put us in trouble and from said corners not sure he convinces. Not seen him come and punch or claim a cross yet really? Second half had little to do but I am not totally sure what he was doing on the goal. He sort of stands there and does not react. Not saying he should have saved it but he does not come out and close Grabban down or cover his post. Granted it is the defending that is the issue but it is too easy for the ball to go in the net.
Bogle 5/10 – Came in for Baldock after his nightmare performance Saturday. He got into some good positions to start but not always quick enough to make decisions but had one shot (our only one on target of note) and was well up the field. Defensively I am not totally sure about him. On the goal he does not close down at all and the cross comes in way too easy with no challenge.
Stevens 3.5/10 – Had loads of the ball and always wanting it and was constantly involved but not sure he did much right first half. So many chances to get crosses in, link with others and make something happen but either his pass went astray or his cross was really poor. He then started giving it away and got beat a few times as the half went on. Not sure it helps having Osborn in front who is timid and weak in both attacking and forward play. He carried on with bad decisions both ways and constantly seemed to be making errors with and without the ball. Weird one as he was one of our most involved players but not sure he did much right all game.
Basham 7/10 – Was ok and better than Egan to start with. He at least won a few challenges and also covered a fair bit of ground. He made a few tackles to hold them up. Tried to come forward when he could too. He did not look any worse than Davies for me and as I say can bring it out quicker and carry it more than the other two can. On the goal he and others were way too slow to react to a simple ball but it seemed a number were culpable really. However, I thought him Gibbs White and Sharp were the only three who can be pleased with their contribution tonight.
Egan 5/10 – His form this season (and last) has continued to drop off and today he had little pressure but gave it away in silly areas, made some cheap fouls and the opponents continued to win set plays with headers. They had a few efforts from corners just wide and he was nowhere to be seen. Second half the ball came in and too often it just fell into the middle and they won the ball. Does not impose himself or dominate. The goal is bad from him, Bash and a few others as they stand and do not win the cross or react after he controls it. It was awful how he had so much time to stab home.
Norwood 5/10 – Started with a few ok (if safe) touches but then he started to lose it a few times and try those daft aimless balls. He gave away a foul and got booked for arguing and his influence started to diminish. Some dreadful corners again. Gave away another free kick when on a booking and just felt he looked a lost soul at times. I am not sure anything came from either of our midfielders attacking wise. Suppose they did not get run through as much the other way at least.
Fleck 3.5/10 – Thought he was not in the game and his touch was off again. Passing was errant and he got beat for skill a few times. The games just pass him by. He seems well off the pace and seems to be just going through the motions. He had a decent run earlier in the season but has regressed to form of last 12-18 months for last 4 or 5 games. Offering us very little. He had one run that led to a booking for a Forest man but mostly he was coming back or safe and his legs looked shot again. Came off near the end.
Osborn 4/10 – Not in the game Saturday despite the criticism of him coming off – not sure he did much of note at all and today he carried that on. Lacks pace and physicality to beat a man and so weak he ends up getting bullied off it. Cannot beat a man at all and in general play he offers little. Second half he held up play, slowed it down and just kept giving it away with silly short passes or mis controls. He is a trier but not sure long term he should be starting for a side wanting to move up the league.
Gibbs White 7/10 – Won an early free kick and showed some neat touches but then started to fade and he had little influence for long periods. Sort of drifts out of it but then suddenly gets on it and you at least think something might happen. Second half not really in it at all and then all of a sudden linked up starting the move with a run, feeding Sharp and then the cool finish into the corner. He then had the run near the end that led to the chance for Brewster. Did 4 or 5 good things and whilst most of the game passed him by, he was the one where I thought things might happen when he had it.
Brewster 3.5/10 – Played wide of the 3 behind Mousset. A lot will say it his not his position but not sure him in a central area that we saw him doing much better. He is still a professional footballer who needs to control, pass, run with it. The game just passed him by. He worked back a few times to help defend and not sure it was lack of effort again but never seems to get involved or look dangerous. Had one run to win a corner and a wild shot over but all a struggle for him. He remained out wide when I thought he may have gone up top but did have a late chance when he botched a weak shot when he needed to use the power he has shown before. Really good opportunity this to win it.
Mousset 3.5/10 – Thought he was ok Saturday despite coming off and showed some flashes but tonight not in it at all to begin with after one early run and got frustrated and started to walk/jog rather than run. Got a booking after poor control and kicked out at Garner unnecessarily. Second half tried to get on it a bit but nothing really happened. One run where he got down the right was about the only time, I thought he stretched his legs. He went off on 65 minutes but did not go down at least before he did so that is progress!
Subs –
Ndiaye – Gave it away early on after he came on but not sure playing down the middle as the furthest forward suits him necessarily as surely, he needs to come onto it and dribble with it rather than be a hold up player. He had a few moments and runs but it was all a bit fleeting and then Forest started to press after they scored. No idea why he was dropped.
Sharp – Came on and made an instant impact with the run and ball into the box for the goal. He then won a corner too soon after. Looked up for it and won a free kick and was one of our more impactful players and only played 15 minutes.
Hourihane – Brought on for stoppage time and just kicked one nowhere. A pointless signing that offers us nothing that we did not already have. Slow and once paced and lacks dribbling, aggressiveness or bite.
Manager:
Jokanovic 5/10 – Another tame performance where a poor side should have been put away. We knocked it about but never looked like creating much until MGW linked with Sharp and then the late Brewster chance. That was about it – in 95 minutes. Forest only looked dangerous from set plays and crosses but that was maybe more than us and for all the play we had and ball we had, they had as many, if not better chances than us. It takes us an eternity to move it up the field and no idea what the plan is how we are going to break teams down. At the back we still keep giving away soft goals and the marking and determination to not concede is not good enough. Why he dropped Ndiaye I do not know and then when he brings him on, he puts him up top as the main striker? No issues with Bogle coming in for Baldock and Bash of course for Davies (injured). Sharp did make an impact when he came on to give him some credit. Overall though it was quite a dull game, a boring contest where we needed to up the tempo and show some urgency. We have all the ball but never really control teams or dominate teams properly. Its football with nothing at the end of it and the other way we just look like conceding. For as crap as Forest where they had a few corners and headers that could easily have gone in. I am not convinced we are improving in the key aspects of performances to consistently win football games at the moment. He seems to be still just chucking players out and hoping something clicks but many of these players lack the dynamism and sadly hunger to affect a change in how things are going.
Forest – Picked up massively since they got rid of Hughton and brought in Cooper. I expected them to be around the middle and that is kind of where they are but of course they were rock bottom to start the season and needed the change to get them going. Cooper has allowed them and a few players to take the shackles off after the defensive approach of Hughton. The fans seem so much happier with the form and the way they going about things but after a great run they did get hammered to Fulham but got a late draw at QPR last week.
Had an extra days’ rest to us tonight but whether that made any different I do not know but they looked off their game after some recent energy filled displays. Weirdly seemed to give us too much respect or maybe that was the plan – let us have it and know we will cough it up and they will get breaks? However, their main chances came from set plays really. The Blades had all the ball but not sure they were put under too much pressure but then they were wasteful with the possession they did have. The game was drifting to a 0-0 until the subs changed it for both teams but the goals were poor defensively from both sides. In the end they will be happier with a draw coming from behind but looked like they may win it for a spell too right at the end.
Despite the improvements not sure they look like a side that will be close to the top or bad enough to be at the bottom and looked two distinctly ordinary and one paced sides who lacked quality all over the field. A really bad game of football.
Opponent Man of the Match – Grabban made the difference and scored the goal. Johnson despite his cheating, was a threat and set up the goal. Worrall was solid as the back but the lad Spence, on loan from Boro, was a threat down that side and maybe their best player.
Opponent Weak link – Taylor was even worse than Mousset. Not in the game at all – but had no service really. I also thought the two in midfield Yates and Colback were as bad as Norwood and Fleck at side ways/pointless or errant passing. Lolley is a player that seems to have not gone on to do what he threatened to do – when he was linked with Villa etc a few years ago.
Referee/Officials – Leigh Doughty. Only appointed to the EFL list 2 years ago so a relatively new refer and a name I am not really familiar with. He gave a few decisions in their favour first half but then started to give us a few 50/50’s second half. The bookings were ok. Norwood maybe was for arguing and Mousset a bit petulant and then the two for them after time for cynical fouls. Johnson had been looking for a penalty first half so the one second half had to be a booking as a clear act of trying to cheat. The Forest fans were singing, ‘You’re not fit to referee!’ which was a bizarre – he gave a few to us in succession but the penalty was not even close to being an award for them. To be honest he was fine overall and nothing hugely changed the outcome.
