Post by deadbat on Aug 26, 2022 23:37:45 GMT
Podcast links below and report underneath….
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-22-23-luton-away
open.spotify.com/episode/7Id0okhy3xGJFgGBvPQX3x
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tufty-club-sheffield-united-podcast/id1508158343
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It was a point apiece for the two beaten play off semi-final sides on Friday night under the lights at Kenilworth Road. Luton led thanks to Carlton Morris’ flicked header but United responded with Oli McBurnie’s strike in the second half breaking his goal jinx. The Blades suffered more injuries before and during the game and in the end will take a hard-fought point when once again away from home they were not at their best against a direct and physical Luton side. United struggled to be as fluent as they have been and Luton were able to do what they are good at but in the end the Blades who finished with Jordan Amissah in goal, were able to take a valuable point back up to S2.
Manager Heckingbottom made three changes rewarding the impact of Iliman Ndiaye who got the start ahead of Reda Khadra, supporting Oli McBurnie who kept his place despite his profligacy in front of goal in the previous game, with the manager rewarding his overall performance for the team. John Fleck was out with a fractured leg replaced by James McAtee. Also, in a surprise move Chris Basham got the start ahead of Anel Ahmedhodzic with the assumption that the impressive new signing was perhaps not fully fit but was on the bench?
Luton began with Carlton Morris rewarded for his performance last week from the bench at Swansea and he partnered Elijah Adebayo. Former Blade Luke Freeman started the game for the Hatters.
The game began with McAtee’s poor ball that led to a Luton break and then after another giveaway from the same man as the loanee slipped, the ball came in and Morris fired wide after he took it off Freeman’s toes. There was a period of tussling between a number of players with Norrington Davies and Morris going down and then Ndiaye also wrestling back possession.
McAtee’s errant start continued and he gave the ball away and Egan was perhaps fortunate neither official spotted a possible handball as he also slipped in running back. United had lots of possession with Ndiaye threatening but were struggling to create and Luton’s direct tactics offered a striking comparison in styles. Indeed, the goal came from a set play but was actually well executed as the throw from Bell was cleared right back into his path and with no one going to the ball, the cross came over and MORRIS was first to it and expertly flicked it into the corner with Basham and Egan statuesque and not attacking the danger, the ball!
United tried to react but Ndiaye was crowded out with men constantly around him and could not get his shot away. On 15 minutes Baldock was cautioned for a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge that seemed very harsh. The referee was very inconsistent with what he was accepting and not accepting and was infuriating many United players. Luton had drawn United into a physical game and stopped any kind of momentum at all.
Baldock got down the right when Ndiaye fed him but his ball pulled back saw McAtee’ shot lack power. From a corner from the left, the ball was played to Norwood and he hit a firm shot that hit his own man Berge when it looked likely it may have worried the Luton keeper. McAtee was involved constantly but sadly not in a positive way and was cautioned for a drag back.
The next period continued to be niggle and Norrington Davies battled with Morris, the time on the floor and the referee continued to struggle with what was deemed excessive letting a lot go and then pulling up minimal contact. Baldock got in a great position but his cross was overhit before McBurnie ended up in a rugby tackle with the defender as United broke.
Luton were actually having little of the ball but the long direct clearance was worrying the Blades although McBurnie pulled a shot wide after a ball over from the right. Lowe then shot well over and it was Luton who still looked the more dangerous with Freeman having a decent game against his former employer, having a firm shot at Foderingham.
Morris then did well out on the right and the cross from Bree saw Foderingham completely miss the ball but fortunately so did Adebayo and United survived. The same man then fired over after more build up down the right saw the defence fail to react.
Luton continued to deny United space and time and quickly turned the ball into areas which forced United back. Ndiaye and McBurnie were working hard but Berge and Norwood were getting pressed behind them and with little else of creativity, United had not forced Horvath into a single save as the half time whistle went.
McAtee was not surprisingly withdrawn after a poor game where he was cautioned and gave the ball away constantly. Doyle, his teammate at Man City, came on.
Ndiaye showed quick feet and skill to win a free kick and then a corner after he drifted inside down the right but the corner pinballed around and was cleared. Not long after United were level. Berge was offside in the build up after McBurnie headed down and then Ndiaye had a shot blocked leading to a corner. The ball came in and was not properly cleared after Norwood sent a cross over and then Doyle was able to head it on before Egan helped it further on its way. The ball landed at the far post to MCBURNIE who hit a tremendous controlled volley into the far corner of the net. He celebrated wildly with the United fans behind the goal and was booked for his efforts but clearly meant a lot to him after 43 goals without a goal.
Soon after the goal Foderingham needed attention and seemed to be either unwell or concussed and was clearly struggling but United opted to carry on with him remaining on the field. After this Luton had a good spell as United could not build on the momentum of the start of the second half. Berge was struggling to be an influence and United could not keep the ball. Two dangerous crosses came in and United had to be on alert.
Basham and Baldock combined and the former sent a decent cross over that was cleared and then Doyle combined with Norrington Davies down the other side to win a corner. However United could not build any momentum and Luton continued to nip in and win the loose ball. Campbell was industrious and seemed to be a key man and he helped set up a chance for Morris that Foderingham had to turn behind although it may have been drifting side.
Nidaye had not been as influential but did well to wrestle possession and find Baldock who in turn played it back to Norwood who whizzed one over before at the other end Adebayo headed off target with the aerial ball still causing United problems. Jerome came on for Morris in a like for like change.
It was a game that seemed like it could go either way but United’s cause was not helped when Foderingham clearly could not continue and he had to be helped off in some distress and Amissah came on for his league debut.
Doyle had a shot that dipped into the keepers’ hands at the other end but Luton were looking the more likely in terms of forcing the play and won a corner before Amissah took his first high ball confidently. Luton continued to probe and Berry came on for Freeman, and Ahmedhodzic and Brewster replaced Norrington Davies and Ndiaye. United were not able to keep any kind of controlled possession with Berge and Norwood quite passive and little from the wing backs in terms of attacking threat as they were forced back. Norrington Davies was the next man to go down for treatment and then Egan, McBurnie and Baldock all were limping in surreal scenes as the walking wounded situation for the Blades continued!
Luton had a chance when the ball dropped for Bell but the ball was blocked before Basham made a great tackle to deny Berry who looked to dribble in towards goals. Doyle and Brewster combined for a corner at the other end and the striker than had a run and shot but it lacked power as the game drifted into 7 minutes of stoppage time.
Luton continued to force the game perhaps more as the home side and United were content to clear their lines but one chance arose when the ball was played down the side and Jerome got in but Amissah did well to push behind. The corner was cleared and United in the end saw it out to pick up a vital point after more disruption and injuries did not help but in another away performance where they were not at their best and had to dig deep to get anything.
United – Another away performance where we were nowhere near as good as at home in terms of approach, chance creation and individual performances but we gutted out a point with a number of injuries and the goalkeeping issue at the end too. I thought we had a lot of the ball first half but did little in the final third and they looked more dangerous than us even if they were from balls over the top or aerial stuff. Ndiaye showed flashes and McBurnie worked hard but we created little in terms of clear chances and struggled to keep it for long periods with short passes or give aways. They kind of won the 50-50’s and loose stuff. I am not saying they created loads but they did cause us more problems with the direct play down the sides and the aerial stuff/crosses. The goal was very sloppy and a basic Championship goal but we did not stop crosses coming in all night making it hard v a physical side. I thought we did not help Ndiaye who always caused issued but that Berge, McAtee and the wing backs offered very little despite the front two working hard. Norwood was ok but he was pressed a lot and they swarmed around us when we had it. They worked really hard and broke up the game helped by a poor referee who was maddeningly inconsistent all game.
We began the 2nd half well and got the goal and you thought come on, get it down, play through them and use our ability but it never happened. We kind of sat back and invited them on and too many were not brave enough on the ball or played it safe. We sort of tossed it away and played their kind of game. The time frittered away and then we had the Wes issue and you think we might have to just get a point and get out of here with lack of attacking options on the bench too. I did think several players could do a lot more though and will need to if we improve away. We got bullied a bit at times, as I say not helped by a crap ref. Luton are a very basic side, good at what they do but good sides would play around them and turn them round with incisive football and players who can run at them but it never really happened after the goal and that disappointed me.
Hecky can argue about the away performances not being that bad but they are night and day to what we have been like at the Lane and have been for quite some time really. If we want to be around the top two or even top six places, we need to address this. At home we are powerful, play good football and go at teams but we seem to almost lack confidence away. I get teams will have more of the ball at home than at the Lane and it will not be the same completely but Luton are a side that barely have the ball so to kind of sit back and not control things was worrying? Maybe I am doing Luton a disservice and as I say we had more disruption but individually we need to be more consistent as today only 3 or 4 can say they can be happy with the performances really with a lot of ordinary to poor ones where they did not affect the game enough. It is a point but we need to set out standards high and did not really follow up the last two good ones with anything that deserved to win the game and if anything, Luton edged it (certainly in terms of chances) and looked more likely. We need to ensure we have players at it from the start and cannot carry players (McAtee and Berge spring to mind) in games where teams are so competitive and physical and swarm around you. We need to assert ourselves more.
The plus is we drew at a side that made the top 6 and stuck in there overcoming more injuries and disruption. It is worrying (we talk about it in the pod) the number out of action – I make it 11 – 12 if Wes does not make it next game with players dropping every week. Maybe Fleck, Anel and Khadra did it during a game last week but you worry that we are losing a player or two almost every week and is a major concern with this department of the club and is not all down to bad luck. Some are of course impact injuries but we do seem to be getting more muscle injuries than ever before?
Yet again seems we cannot get a settled team even this stage of the season with Fleck and Ahmedhodzic out with injuries today and no Khadra. Bash and McAtee came in but we did see a drop off. We now have 11 players out who are listed as senior players which is ridiculous and we need to get some back soon. We went from having a strong-ish squad last week to 3 or 4 more dropping out and we suddenly have mostly kids and lack of options to come on and change things.
I won’t get too carried away by the performance, the same as I will not get too carried away by the wins last week – I felt a few were getting a bit too excited which was understandable after two good home wins but against sides that will be mid table at best. I think we always need to wait 10-12 games before we have a better feel for where we are at and that remains. It is still a good start at the Lane and a poor one away from home but at least we have got two draws. If we win most home games, we only need to upturn the away form marginally to remain around the top 6 and we have kind of done that but we need to improve how we play at both ends away from the Lane. As I say maybe Luton are better than I am giving them credit for but they seemed very direct and just a battling side and we should have quality to create more than we did (keeper did not have another save apart from the goal) with a few wide and they looked more threatening. Thought we lost two many 50-50’s tonight and that Luton worked a bit harder than us for large portions. They lacked quality to score more goals too of course. In the end it’s an ok result considering the circumstances and a better result than the performance I feel.
Reading beat us last year and have some dangerous attacking threats so we need to ensure we are back on it at the Lane and can avenge that awful display from last season and then we go to Hull where I hope we can show more adventure and positive play away from home.
Ratings:
Foderingham 6/10 – No chance on the goal but came and missed another cross and was the much busier in the first half. He made one routine save but had to make it from Morris but then had a spell where he almost seemed dazed and then you realise, he is not well and tried to struggle on but was not coming for crosses/balls and we could not take no chances. Hopefully he will be back for Tuesday as we are not exactly blessed with keeping over with one out on loan and another injured.
Baldock 6.5/10 – Got well forward first half but his final ball was lacking again and he just crosses it rather than picking out his man. He was harshly booked- just shoulder to shoulder. Then the ref let loads go after that of a similar nature! He defended ok and did what he had to but when he got into good positions going forward did not see much although played Bash in once and set up Norwood so was better 2nd half but was more defending than attacking. He actually did pretty well in that regard and stuck to his task. Maybe he (or McAtee) needs to get out to the man on the cross and also, we let too many crosses come in tonight.
Lowe 5.5/10 – Did not keep to his standards of the previous two home games both attacking and defensively. One wild shot over and a few poor passes going forward where he telegraphed balls. He also was nowhere near tight enough to his man as a barrage of crosses came in. Needs to be much closer and stop the ball coming in. Saw nothing going forward second half at all.
Basham 6.5/10 – Did well with a few clearances and blocks but I also thought we lost a lot of high balls and another day some of those flicks in or cause more problems. The goal he has to see the danger and being the nearest man has to attack it/go on Morris rather than drop back. Egan has to maybe communicate better too to tell him where the danger was? He improved after this and read the game well with a few blocks but they did also get in a few times down the sides.
Norrington Davies 7.5/10 – Our best defender again. Competitive as he did not stand for any nonsense and got stuck in, often on much bigger players. He loves the battle but stuck at it. Going forward he put one good cross in but was not able to get into these attacking areas much. Thought he was one of the few who won his battle most of the night and was first to the ball and made some good tackles/blocks. Been really good the last few games.
Egan 6/10 – I thought he was lucky to get away with a handball – slipping and clumsy as he ran back. After this him and the defence struggled with the high ball and they won a lot of the aerial stuff. He did win the header for the goal but too often the ball forward they won as they picked up the loose bits. We looked way too open down the sides too and meant we often looked at full stretch. I am not sure the others helped by not stopping the crosses coming in constantly.
Norwood 6.5/10 – Started ok but then they pressed and won the ball more and we did not really create much at all. They pressed him and we struggled to get into good areas. He did have the shot that hit Berge and the one just over 2nd half and outside of the goal these were our best efforts but the game seemed to pass him by as it became scrappy and they stopped him having time on the ball. He was ok when he had it but the least, he has been involved since Watford.
McAtee 1/10 – A nightmare 45 minutes. He gave it away early on, slipped and they had a chance. This carried on. Way off the pace as he got outmuscled but worryingly his touch and passing was atrocious. He set them up for their first two attacks and then on the goal he has to react and go to the thrower. Got booked and then committed another foul. His set plays were dreadful save one to Norwood (that gets him his 1 mark!) as he hit his first man on every one – including two in quick succession. Had to come off. I expected far better technically even if he got outmuscled but he has been poor in terms of his touch and passing. If he wants to play, he has to do much, much better. It was like having 10 tonight first half. I do worry that if we are a side going for promotion, we cannot have a young kid learning on the job and as I say he has to contribute. It looked all too much for him today but with any loan at football league level he is going to have games played at a fast pace and physical and is a long way from Premier League u23 football so needs to learn fast.
Berge 4/10 – I thought he was really poor tonight. Never influenced the game at all. He was safe when he had it or took too long and got robbed. Do not recall any runs at them and this is not helped with him being more withdrawn. His best position is further forward but Hecky seems like he wants to accommodate McAtee but if he plays like he did tonight, not only does it mean we have an ineffective player in him but Berge is too being asked to play further back. He improved a bit after Doyle came on and had a few moments but nothing where you thought he has done really well and affected a chance or made something. If teams were looking at him tonight will not have helped him in terms of any move away.
Ndiaye 7/10 – Our best player first half and looked like they were worried about him as he got into good areas, used his body to contort himself and keep possession but had little help. Most of our good play came from his hold up and link play. He made a few half chanced and then was involved second half in the lead up before we scored. He then made one for Norwood but faded after this and was taken off. He does look a great player and I felt technically looked the best footballer on the pitch albeit in fits and bursts.
McBurnie 7.5/10 – Along with Norrington Davies our best player and he just gets my man of the match for his efforts. Tussled and harried and got involved in grappling early (loved the rugby tackle as he had been fouled first!) but in a good way as he put himself around to good effect. He only had one pulled shot wide but he was leading the line well with little service at all. His goal he took superbly and was a fine finish and out of character after so many scuffed/weak efforts. After this continued to work hard but nothing else really dropped for him. Pleased for him as the last few games starting and sub, he has done well.
Subs –
Doyle 6.5/10 – Did ok actually and had the hockey assist for the goal (assist before the assist) and worked hard as we at least had someone who kept it some of the time in that area and also could get back. They still played through us too much in this area and at times he and Norwood did not win the physical stuff but he did alright overall and had one shot near the end. May have to start now with Fleck out and McAtee looking miles off being ready. Rather him and Norwood with Berge more advanced personally than moving people around. Maybe the young lad Arblaster may get a chance too.
Amissah – Played the final 12 mins + 7 and he did ok. Not a good sign when he banged his head on the dug out but took his first cross and with high balls coming in looked fine. Got a big kick on him too. Made the save right at the end which was an expected save but he made it. Hopefully this experience will stand him in good stead.
Brewster – One run where he won a corner and then another where he took a shot but it was weak. At the moment McBurnie offers far more to the team than him but sure he will get minutes with Sharp out. Those saying he was going to score lots of goals and be our leading scorer though – I struggle to see anything to convince me they are going to be right sadly as he looks a player that will play now and again but McBurnie and Ndiaye (and Khadra) done far more to claim the shirts ahead of him.
Ahmedhodzic – Not on for long. Won one header and clearance as his height was useful with balls coming into the box.
Manager: Heckingbottom 6/10 – Thought he picked the wrong team with McAtee preferred to Doyle that upset the balance of the team – as it did against Sunderland. We then have Berge further back and all of a sudden, it’s only Ndiaye they have to worry about. I think it would have been brave and may have knocked his confidence but I would have made the change first half. We wasted a half with how we set up and played and it was like having 10 men (that sounds harsh but that is how bad McAtee was- Berge was not much better either!). He changed it and we improved but then at 1-1 they got the initiative but with Wes struggling probably was hesitant to change too much at that stage. I thought we would have been much higher up the field after we equalised and looked the more likely but they did really and that was poor. The approach away from home is quite timid and we are looking to just stay in games rather than win them or take the game to teams with some of the quality we have. He needs to change the approach and mentality of the side or we are not going to win many away with the way we set up and attack teams.
Luton – Jones has done a super job. Always comes across as fiercely loyal to his team and club after games and sometimes to the point of being a bit chipper or irritating (his post match interview was a bit nauseating – he does not talk about the defending a long time after the offside) but you cannot knock what he has done there. With a vastly inferior budget to most at this level, to get them to the playoffs and competing around the top again so far this year, you have to salute him. They have made some smart additions and gone for players from lower leagues or ones that he knows will suit the system and the likes of Woodrow and Morris add to a squad that only lost Naismith from last season. They have plenty of experience and can see them being around the playoffs again this season. They are quite direct and play to their strengths but so what? They have a number of muscular strikers who are quite mobile for their size and a fair few very underrated players that don’t get the acclaim many do at other clubs. Like the lad Campbell in midfield and Adebayo is always a real handful up top.
The Freeman signing, I am not convinced by – he is a player that I am not sure had the fitness/focus to be a top player and maybe he does better when he is a big fish in a small pond. I also do not buy his recent talk about managers not fancying him as we had three at the Lane and none of them played him (when he was fit and he often wasn’t). We had lots of issues in midfield the last few years and if he had got himself fit and lost weight, he would have got more chances. Clearly all three managers saw the same. He was given a great chance to play for a big club at a higher level and did get opportunities but not sure he took them. So that’s on him not United. He also went to Forest at a lower level and was poor there – another big club that he could/should thrive at if he has the consistency and quality. Like with Burke, Robinson, Mousset and McBurnie (last two at least contributed first season) he was just a poor signing from Wilder but I was largely in favour when we did sign him. He did ok tonight but not sure he is a player I think we let go in any way really.
The game against United we saw why they are so effective. They don’t have a lot of the ball but do look dangerous when they get it forward. The front lads are strong and a handful. They scored a goal from a cross and put a number of good balls in with tall lads and played it down the channels well too. It is percentage stuff and quite limited but effective and clearly works. They did work hard off the ball though and won a lot of loose things and got around us. They made it really hard for us to keep the ball for any period and got it into good areas to force us back. Today they really got stuck in and worked for what they got. Will be disappointed to concede but after this they responded well and will say they maybe looked the more likely even though they did not have lots of clear chances but were forcing us back.
Reckon their approach, fitness and how they play will get them easily half way and maybe they might be around the top 6 again but their squad depth and quality might see them come up just short this season but the fact they would be anywhere near is testament to the team and Jones.
Opponent Man of the Match – Freeman for all my words above did quite well and Adebayo is always a handful. Morris also scored and was a nuisance but the lad in the middle of the park Campbell I really like and whenever I saw him last season seemed a stand out. Gets stuck in, good on the ball and good both ways. Think he may go on to better things.
Opponent Weak link – Thought Burke was clumsy for a player that is rated and seemed to resort to just grabbing McBurnie rather than trying to defend. I thought Lockyer struggled with trickery of Ndiaye. Just wished we could get them better service or more help to worry them even more.
Referee/Officials – David Webb. Refereed us for the second time already this season after being in charge in the League Cup at West Brom. He was involved quite a bit last season and sent off opponents in the games against Derby at home and Preston away before missing an incredibly blatant red card at Stoke towards the end of the season. He also did Swansea in the 4-0 win so seems to get a fair bit of our games!
Thought he was garbage tonight. He was so inconsistent and seemed to favour them with a lot of the 50-50 stuff. So far behind the play and guessed the Baldock foul and booking (was not even a foul) and then he lets wrestling and grappling (both teams) go. Just no idea what he would let go and what he would give as fouls. He booked four of ours but none of their games somehow? I agree with the Ndiaye one (stupid kicking it away and not retreating) and McAtee’s was fine but McBurnie did he go into the crowd – not sure he did?
Jones was moaning about an offside at the end in a way OTT interview on the goal (Berge was off to be fair) but if it was it was a long time before the period when we did score and that was onside – it had gone out for a corner before this? He was then going on about imaginary fouls – after the ref had let so much go he could not then give these!
He seemed to disregard some of the nasty stuff they dished out too – really bad tackle from Berry on Ndiaye and a few others where some how they escaped bookings (the double hand ball at the end!) after booting Doyle too in the chest!
It was offside taking away my red and white bias but as I say the goal came after this. He wound me up the ref tonight more than he should but was just guessing things and as I say wildly inconsistent with what he deemed to be excessive physical contact.
