Post by deadbat on Jan 9, 2022 18:35:50 GMT
Podcast links and then report below….
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-21-22-wolves-away
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000547343777
open.spotify.com/episode/0ll5g0fDkJ2DAriSthtPtL
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After almost 3 weeks without a fixture, the Blades finally were able to set foot in the grass in a competitive fixture as they faced Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
The Blades were nowhere near full strength and matched up with a higher-level opponent who had a lot of quality on the pitch, it was always going to be a tough ask. United though had some glorious chances to start the game with McGoldrick in particular missing two sitters. After his most glaring miss, United compounded things with Robinson’s error leading to Podence scoring. After Sharp had been harshly penalised for high foot when he appeared to legitimately score the equaliser, the Blades momentum seemed to wither and Wolves in the end saw out the game comfortably. Further goals from Semedo and Podence, after a Foderingham error gave the score line a slightly unfair gloss but Wolves deserved the victory in the end.
United went out at the first hurdle of this competition since the embarrassing defeat to Barnet in 2018-19 during the Blades promotion campaign. With a number of games to fit in and United still someway off the pace for promotion, they now can focus on trying to mount a playoff bid in the remainder of the season.
The 3rd round FA Cup fixture saw United like many other clubs, have to make several enforced changes due to covid, injury and players being cup tied. Wolves also made changes and opted not to start talisman Raul Jimenez but did have the likes of Neves, Traore, Coady, Dendoncker, Silva and Podence in relatively strong looking line up.
The Blades started with Gordon in the centre of the three at the back with Berge and Hourihane in front and Osborn supplanting McGoldrick and Sharp as the most advanced midfielder. Inside a minute, United had a great chance as an errant pass from a Wolves defender saw the ball inexplicably played across their own box and straight to Sharp. The forward fired it wide past Ruddy’s far post. Incredibly United had another great chance in the 2nd minute, when Norrington Davies and Osborn combined and the latter’s excellent cross was perfect for McGoldrick but his header was wide of the post.
After these two let off, Wolves broke out and Traore despite being doubled up managed to find room for a cross and it fell for Silva but his header was straight at Foderingham. Basham then had to do well to sense danger but then almost undid his good work when his clearance fell straight to a Wolves man before Podence tumbled rather theatrically in the box under a challenge from Bogle. The appeals were righty waved away.
Gordon then conceded a corner but McGoldrick cleared the second ball that came back in as Wolves now looked to dominate the ball and territory after their own slow start. United had looked dangerous going forward though and Berge managed to retrieve Foderingham’s loose throw to advance into their half but Osborn’s ball through was overhit for Sharp.
On 12 minutes the Blades had another chance and the best of the game so far and really should have scored. Norrington Davies sent over a delightful cross that fell into the path of McGoldrick who controlled the ball and seemed set to score but often when he has time to finish, is when the striker struggles and so it proved again. He took too long and then his finish was weak and blocked by Marcal and then on the line after it ricocheted off the defender. A check for a handball was waved away and United were made to pay for this miss soon after.
On 14 minutes, Robinson under little pressure saw him make a complete hash of his clearance and Silva was presented with the ball and able to feed PODENCE who took a touch and easily converted past Foderingham, to give Wolves the lead which they scarcely deserved after United had missed so many chances.
United tried to respond but Sharp was caught offside twice and Wolves gradually started to see more of the ball and forced them backwards. Some neat football and interplay saw the home side find several gaps and United were struggling to stem the tide. Robinson made another error which saw him pass it straight to a Wolves player but Traore fired wide. Another chance came after this as Silva got away from Bogle, played a one two that beat the offside trap and tried an extravagant lob but it fell the wrong side of the post. It was given as a corner suggesting Foderingham may have got a touch on it.
Ait Nari then curled an effort wide as Wolves drove forward before brief rest bite for United was short-lived as Houirhane wasted a free kick clipping straight to Ruddy.
Gordon lost a ball over the top but got back to make a tackle and then the young defender made another unforced error but Traore shot wide. Wolves then attacked in numbers but Osborn and Berge made a block tackle which led to another effort for Neves but he curled wide.
Sharp won a loose ball giving United a rare chance but McGoldrick was tackled leading to a corner. The effort came in and the ball bounced around and led to Sharp hooking home. It was disallowed for a high foot which seemed harsh as the defender did duck in the challenge and no contact appeared to be made. VAR did not see fit to get involved and felt it was not a clear and obvious error.
Foderingham cleared a long ball just before half time as Wolves went in leading after the Blades had been maid to pay for errors at both ends.
Freeman came on for Robinson at half time and Moutinho for Marcal. The United replacement had a few opportunities in forward positions but his touch let him down twice. It had been a quiet start in terms of chances but Wolves showed more quality on the ball and started to move it forward with purpose.
Traore won a corner off Norrington Davies but United cleared before Sharp then won a free kick from Semedo but the wing back then did likewise from Osborn as Wolves defended any danger easily. Ait Nouri then fired over after the ball dropped for the first chance of the 2nd half for either side as they game ticked past the hour mark.
United had not created anything and rare corner actually led to a chance at the other end as Toure then broke holding off Berge and Basham and the latter cynically chopped him down for the first booking of the game.
Bogle’s effort then led to a chance but United cleared as Wolves looked to probe and move into the box. The home side continued to look the more likely and the Blades had offered nothing in the second half and indeed since that opening trio of chances (outside of the Sharp disallowed goal) had not troubled Ruddy at all.
United did win another corner but Hourihane’s delivery had been poor all day and his floated effort was cleared and Wolves again nearly broke at the other end before United made another chance with Burke on for McGoldrick. Freeman gave it away again before Norrington Davies upended Traore before Wolves also made changes. Jimenez and Trincao came on for Traore and Silva.
United finally had an effort but it was not close as Berge fired over after good work from Sharp before Burke’s back hell sent Wolves on the attack.
On 73 minutes the game was effectively sealed as a ball over the top saw United’s high line breached. Gordon and Norrington Davies both were to far up whilst others stayed back and it saw Ait Nouri in and he sent over a cross that was easily dispatched by the other wing back SEMEDO.
It seemed this had taken the game away from United who had not mustered much of a fightback anyway this half at least but Burke did well to find Sharp and Ruddy made his first save of the game pushing away the veteran strikers volleyed effort.
Bogle then also got in after good work from Berge and Basham but fired over on the angle. The next spell saw Wolves play keep ball before Sharp and Berge were replaced by Ndiaye and Norwood as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
On 80 minutes a ball down the side saw Foderingham come but as he tried to claim he was close to the edge of his box and could only palm it and this allowed Jimenez to get in and as the keeper tried to recover his error, it was a possibility he may bring the striker down. The Mexican kept his composure and squared the ball to PODENCE who scored into a relatively unguarded net and the score was now quite emphatic.
Wolves threatened to run riot as Jimenez and Trincao worked a space and the striker fired an effort that Foderingham pushed over. Jordao and Cundle came on for Podence and Neves. Wolves were now showing their class as they moved it around and United could not even muster any clear chances now with Osborn overplaying a ball yet again before Hourihane and Ndiaye’s wretched crosses.
The final chance came in the second of three additional minutes but after Trincao nutmegged Gordon, the sub fired over. The final whistle went soon after. It was a comfortable win in the end but United were left to rue some good chances early on but ultimately even with a unfortunate officiating call, they were not good enough at both ends with some horrible defensive moments matched by the same at the other end with clear chances spurned. United now can concentrate on finally getting some league games in and try and move up the league.
United – We deserved to lose but maybe 3-0 flattered them a bit. We certainly should have had a goal and if we take one of the three good chances early on and a great one for McGoldrick it could be different. The Sharp disallowed effort was harsh too. 1-0 at half time was a bit unjust but then they had 2 or 3 good chances too. We were right in the game and really if we had been better at both ends and not made a stupid error (Robinson) could easily have led. 2nd half was a different story. Felt they were a lot better and scored two goals (both avoidable) and could have had a few more. They looked a class above in terms of ability to keep the ball and final moments. In the end we were well beaten and a routine loss btu the first half was very different to the second but that is why they are a team top half of the top league and we are middle of the Championship. In the end it looked very much like the games of last season. First half despite the score we did ok and matched them in general play and chances. Yes, we were open at one end, but so were they. I felt we gave them a good game and started well with Norrington Davies and Bogle well forward and the forward’s causing problems.
Second half was really flat. We lacked drive and impetus and maybe the lack of games and the players coming in/missing showed up. I thought Berge and Hourihane did not get in the game and McGoldrick and Sharp were starved of the ball. We did not concede loads of chances but I felt Wolves never got out of first gear and did what they had to. We had a few corners or moments up their end but nothing clear cut and any chances came from them but again they were not tearing us apart. After the subs they stepped it up though and scored a good second goal in terms of how they made and finished it. It was really bad defending though to be so high up after we lost the ball and then we did not get back at all. It looked like lower league defending against a class side. Then they started to get through us and Jimenez caused us all sorts of problems with his movement. The third though is a keeping error. It was terrible but at least in a game that does not cost us points and gets an error for him out of the way almost. After this it just sort of petered out.
I felt after we went 1-0 down and then after the Sharp incident, we never had the belief or quality to get back in it. Before that and certainly for the first 15 minutes it was more about what we did at either end but after the break, I felt Wolves eased their way to the win and we did not have any fight to get back. Whether that is down to the lack of energy, fitness, game time or just they were much better or maybe a combination of these things, I do not know. The chances came too late. We had 5 so to me should have used these earlier as it did not look like we were going to get back into it. Making them at 2-0 seemed like it was after the horse had bolted to me. It is odd as looks an easy win but the first spell it was not easy and we looked more likely but then the longer the game went on, the poorer we got and they picked us off when they could and won the game at a canter.
We now will hope to get some players back and have a more settled defence and a stronger midfield (looked very weak today physically) to take on Derby next week who have been scrapping and fighting hard. We need to get some points on the board and move up the league. We are not playing any real top sides for the next period and a low of mid to lower teams so really need to be targeting 2 or 3 wins over the rest of this month to hopefully see us get in the top 10 and then be in and around the playoffs. Be interesting if we do any business but my feeling is when we get players back and covid issues hopefully lessen, we may see 2 or 3 go out rather than many come in. The wage bill will need reducing especially if promotion is only a small chance looking at things as they are. You feel if we do not go up, this will be further cut in the summer. We cannot have 6 or 7 strikers with many on a really good wage and ditto for left and right backs when we barely have any midfielders or central defensive cover. We need to be addressing the imbalance as much as the financial situation but ultimately needs to be ore about quality than quantity but maybe the number of games necessitate, we may have to hold fire.
There are a few players such as Robinson, Freeman that need moving on for me. I also would not be upset if Berge went if we can recover the fee (very unlikely) and Hourihane will rightly not be retained next season you would think. Osborn another who tries hard but would you give him another deal – I’d rather us look for some lower league talent with pace/power that may be able to impact games more. None of these look remotely good enough or in some cases interested enough for a team going for promotion – Berge/Osborn outliers for talent/effort of course.
Ratings:
Foderingham 5/10 – Did not make many saves really even though he let in three goals. One easy one from the early header and then one flicked over the bar late on. Did he get something on the lob too? Dodgy throw to Berge in the first half saw us get away with it. Had no chance with the first or second but then the third he makes a complete mess of and no idea what he was trying to achieve at all? He needed to just head it or kick it out as his momentum also saw him going out of the box.
Bogle 6/10 – Some decent things going forward but end product lacking in terms of ball or shot (2nd half). Defensively he made some mistakes and also got in some awful positions and led to the defence being all over the place in terms of a line. The 2nd goal nowhere to be seen. After this he made another mistake where he dithered and they nearly got in. He at least does try and attack and make things happen and will show some pace and energy. Defensively he worries me as his positional play is lacking.
Norrington Davies 6/10 – He started the game really well and put in one or two great crosses and was well forward. Tried to stick with Traore but clearly a mismatch and he started to struggle with him more as the game went on and he caused us problems. 2nd half not sure we saw much of him attacking wise but of course he was now playing as a centre back or seemed to be? He too did not know where to be in terms of line/shape and they had chances over the top including the vital 2nd goal. I am not sure he will oust Stevens on that performance but at least got 90 minutes in. He did ok and one of our better performers.
Basham 5.5/10 – Plugged away and he was the most senior defender much of the game. He is normally the most offensive of a three but had to sit back a fair bit due to those around him and 2nd half especially we rarely saw him get forward – one move with Bogle apart. He made one or two interceptions but then followed it up giving it straight to them twice two! He kept going but I also thought he was not quite at his best and with others struggling around him, he kind of got sucked down to their level.
Gordon 5/10 – I may get panned for this and told he is only a youngster and has not played many games but I have to review how I see it regardless of experience and felt the game was a real struggle for him. He lost it a few times when the ball over the top but did get a few tackles in but seemed to be running towards his own goal a lot. He gave it away twice to Traore first half. Second half he struggled with the movement and pace at times but kept going. The goal he tried to go and intercept and was in a horrible position as they played it over the top. I just felt it seemed a bit much for him at times but then having to be the main/central defender of the three was a tough task. Good experience for him but looks a long way from a first teamer at league level but he is only 19 and of course was playing top level players. If he had others not Robinson and RND of a better quality alongside him, he may have done better. He did keep going though as I say and did not hide.
Robinson 1.5/10 – Terrible. Absolutely atrocious really in that he gave them one goal and nearly another. He also was partly at fault for a few other chances when he played them onside. He started ok and was nice and solid but then quite quickly after the howler for the goal when he just miskicked it straight to then, he then made another mistake, passing it straight to them and another where he mis controlled. He seemed to go to pieces and not what the inexperienced Norrington Davies and Gordon needed alongside him. Taken off at half time and rightly so. He has done ok in some games despite the criticism he gets (Fulham he was good) but makes a big blunder almost every game. He has to be moved on when his contract expires as is not good enough and costs us goals.
Berge 5/10 – Started getting on the ball and made a few nice passes and helped us get high up the field. One driving run after he helped rectify Foderingham’s error and saw off a few challenges but then as the game went on, his influence lessened and lessened. Seemed to lost it in the build up the 2nd goal? Jogging a lot and I felt was just going through the motions. Twice just passed it straight to them. One chipped ball to Bogle apart, not sure he did much of anything other than a driven high shot, in the second half. Needs to do much more. If he wants to play mid table Premier League or equivalent, then show it in games like this. This was an ideal opportunity but he just coasted for me.
Hourihane 4/10 – He was probably our second worst starter after Robinson. He was neat and tidy to begin but then started giving it away and/or wasting set play after set play. Everyone was chipped or telegraphed and they often broke from his poor deliveries. Not good enough at all after he had done ok in some of the recent games. We looked lightweight and lacking in any creativity up the top of the field today.
Osborn 4.5/10 – Tried hard but lacks quality. That’s it really. He did like the rest so well to begin with a few moments down the left including one good cross. However the game started to drift and we needed to get into them and stop them coming through us but we did not tackle or press at all. When he had the ball, he makes unintelligent passes when players are offside which is odd for a supposedly bright fella? Went back to left wing back but we did not see anything down this side and he was forced to defend.
McGoldrick 4/10 – General play ok to begin with and some nice link play but he is a forward and ultimately is judged on his ability to shoot/head it at goal. He missed a really good headed chance and then took forever and messed up (again) a really clear chance. Takes either of these and we lead. He did not let his head drop and as I say, like he often does, we saw some ok things in general play and he won a few corners but then the longer the game went on, the less we saw of both our strikers.
Sharp 6.5/10 – Our best player and that is even with missing a big early opportunity and being offside a lot. He at least worked hard, controlled it well and led the line as well as he could. I thought he got in some ok areas and looked a threat but he also sometimes went too soon. He showed some fight and right until he went off, looked the most likely to score and was unlucky twice – the disallowed goal which was well taken and then the volley. Still our best striker and maybe by some way.
Subs –
Freeman 2/10 – Thought he was awful. He was given 45 minutes but looked overweight, slow and laborious. His second touch was normally a tackle, that is if he was quick enough to get to the tackle. I can cope with him not running back or tackling/pressing but he is meant to be technically good or a ball player but time after time his touch, passing and ability to create anything is badly lacking. Will leave in the summer and expect him like Coutts and Duffy, to nose dive down the leagues quite quickly. Whilst those two circumstances are different for their decline (age and injuries), this guy is only 29! He should be in his peak but does not seem to take things seriously to me. A really disappointing signing. Today he came on and did nothing. We already had two midfielders doing little so to add a third made us so easy to get through or take it off us.
Burke – He did ok albeit with little of the ball and the game gone. One daft backheel but he did set up Sharp with a good cross and held it up twice more down either flank. Easy just to say he is awful but he was ok when he came on today and certainly a long way from the worst player.
Norwood – Barely noticed him at all.
Ndiaye – One bad cross apart not sure he touched it.
Manager :
Heckingbottom 5/10 – Hard to rate as they were better and his line up was probably dictated in many ways by whom he had available. We started the game well and seemed up ‘for a game’ after so long off and if we take our chances, it is different but the longer the game went on, the rustier we got and we lost shape and defensive discipline -something he has brought in through the other games, albeit versus lesser opponents. I was not sure about the subs. I personally would have used all 5 and certainly would have got some on quicker, whether it be more youngsters or just to rotate to get some game time. The changes when they came at 2-0 and for two first teamers we needed, just seemed pointless as 10 minutes for match fitness is neither here nor there.
Wolves – After losing Nuno Espirito Santo last season, I wondered with a relatively small squad that had not been strengthened much, if they may struggle a bit this time around. Not to go down or be close but maybe be 7th or 8th bottom if I had to say. I just felt that Lage who had not managed at this level that they may drop off. It looked that way when the season started but credit to him and them, they have got a few back like Jimenez (who they missed for much of last season) and have risen up the league, culminating in an impressive win at Old Trafford recently. They sit 8th which is around where they have been the last few seasons. They have some steady performers and always seem well organised with Coady at the hub of that but have some talents that whilst unpredictable like Neves and Traore, can always produce magic now and again. Their squad is quite small and whilst today they had a fairly strong team (some changes) they probably do not have much choice if they have injuries and illness etc. Credit them for yes spending money but quietly establishing themselves (like Leicester) as a well run and solid Premier League club. They are definitely established at that level now. Not sure without further investment they can really be close to top 4 or 5 but that is the same for everyone. A top 10 club that does well in the cups and has the occasional European campaign is the best any of us clubs outside the big 6/7 can ask for really. Wolves and Leicester have done this.
Today they made changes and early on made mistakes and the defending was poor. The crowd got on their backs after the McGoldrick chance but we gave the lift we needed straight after. They got a bit lucky with the Sharp chance but 2nd half they made changes when they wanted and saw it out easily scoring one good goal and one via a mistake. I always felt they could have had more. 3-0 flatters them a little- but they definitely were better than a one goal win and deserved to concede so maybe it was more like a 4-2 type game but in the end got through and with Norwich at home, surely have a real chance of being just a game from the quarter finals and the sort of team, as Leicester showed last year that will see this competition is a real opportunity when some of the big teams in Europe/top of the league rest players.
Opponent Man of the Match – I always think Traore causes problems but we did ok against him but he just carries it a long way and can turn defence into attack. I though the lad Silva was good and showed flashes including setting up the first goal. Neves is a class act in the middle and the two wing backs caused problems but suppose when a player scores two and takes them so coolly, then Podence may take the award.
Opponent Weak link – Thought Marcal struggled and he lost his man twice in the chances we had and was taken off at half time – although may have been due to injury.
Referee/Officials – Paul Tierney. For the most part not a hard game to ref. The booking for Basham was easy and the only real bad tackle of the game I can recall? No sure either team made many tackles- maybe we needed to get closer to them and ruffle them more. They tried to go down and get a penalty early but rightly not given. The one major decision was the foot up for the goal. Seemed odd there was no review? Maybe they just decide it was not a clear and obvious error but I think there was grounds to look at it. Sharp did have his foot up but not up the head of a player who did duck a bit (not right down as others said though) but the reality is he did not make contact with the player as far as I was aware – so if you give that, then you would be giving anytime a player makes a hooked kick/overhead kick anywhere on the field. Surely it is only foot up if you connect or endanger a player? Not sure he did. I thought he was given offside when it was chalked off and shocked at the reasons, they disallowed it. Seemed a clear case of looking after his league and was a bad decision that I think 8/10 would be given. Certainly, if given VAR would not review. Whether we would have got through I am not sure as Wolves could and did up it, but still just before half time seemed a big call to me in the context of the game and I felt the wrong one.
