Post by deadbat on Nov 8, 2022 23:06:40 GMT
To be honest I am not doing a full match report – I am too tired and got an early start with work and I am a bad loser! No joking apart, I am not sure anyone is that interested in any in depth analysis of that! The reality is I came away from Saturday’s game buzzing. We had hammered the league leaders and I though here we go, two winnable games to go top into the break with players coming back from injury. Tonight, sees us lose meekly and deservedly and three more injured players that might be out for a longer spell of time. It feels like in one game all the momentum and hope has slipped away. However we have seen this in most of the home games (and most games) since the break and if the front two/Norwood are off – we have nothing or no way of attacking teams. The approach to trying to create tonight was startling and a real concern that the management team did not change it at all. We did the same thing from minute one to the end and Rotherham found us so easy to play against.
Credit to Rotherham, they did a job on us and worked hard all over the field but not sure they had to do much. They scored a goal through another mistake from Robinson who is an absolute liability at the moment and then saw it out easily. One Egan shot which he tried to hit too hard and then a McBurnie header straight at the keeper but for the last 20 minutes not sure we got behind them or created much at all save a brief cameo from Khadra. We were completely clueless how to break them down. They had a weakened side and we had enough players that should have been too good for an organised but very ordinary side. In the end they will not believe how easy it was for them to win. They deservedly won the game as for all the possession we had – we did not stretch them at all. Ndiaye was off it and whilst McBurnie tried, we had nothing else. Osborn and McAtee were just non existent as attacking forces. Both are a complete waste of time. The former works hard but is devoid of any quality on the ball and the latter sadly barely even reaches a job and hides. In the end it was a huge let down and feels one step forward and 3 or 4 back tonight.
People will say it’s one game but the reality is we have put together barely 60-90 minutes of good play in about 10 games. We are desperate for more quality in midfield and striking options that can change the game from the bench. Sadly, the likes of McAtee and Sharp are just non factors and teams know these players will not stretch them or cause them any problems. We may have bring Osula back and look to terminate a few loans to get better players in their place. Certainly, we need to have other options to help us create as we rely so much on Norwood and Ndiaye. If teams bottle them up or they are off it, then with Berge out, we are quite easy to play against being so weak and one paced.
Really disappointing that the last home game for a month and we serve up a nothing performance with no urgency, hunger or desire. We looked miles off a team that believes it could win promotion tonight. I don’t buy the tired legs excuse as Rotherham have a smaller squad and played just as many games. They showed more hunger and at times more quality when it mattered tonight. The players should be embarrassed that they got out worked and did not do enough to stretch a pretty limited side. They got what they deserved – nothing. The attitude of the players was not good enough tonight and the coaching staff could not impact the style or motivate them at half time. I expected them to come out after the break and see a different side – we saw exactly the same. Bit of a spineless performance from United tonight to say the least. If we expect to go up we have to be more consistent and this season we have sadly shown we cannot do that and certainly since the break, we have no idea what we are going to get and are still littered withy awful defensive mistakes.
United –
Ratings:
Foderingham 6/10 – No chance on the goal but some odd kick outs, a few juggles and took forever to release it at times.
Baldock 6/10 – One of our better players in that he got into some good areas in the first half and one good cross too. He defended ok and at least kept going but barely saw him as an attacking threat 2nd half.
Stevens 4/10 – Another performance where his touch was off and he looked stuck in quicksand again. He cannot run anymore and this coupled with his defensive work where he is too far off his man means we look like we can be got at down that side. He did put one decent cross in.
Robinson 3.5/10 – He makes big mistakes that lead to goals. He made a few in the first half where he overplayed or put it in bad areas and then he played a daft ball which led to them winning a throw. Failed to cut out the ball into the box and just dithered as they nipped in to cross/score. A liability even for all his improvements in the last 12 months – he simply makes too many big errors.
Ahmedhodzic 6/10 – Did ok and at least tried to step out and had one run but a few times he just ran it out too. He then got a knock and was struggling. One effort where he tried to get a shot away with good feet but then he had to come off.
Egan 6/10 – Ok really in terms of general play but he was not able to really move it quick enough when he had the ball. Won a lot of his headers though but only against one striker. However, they got in with only about 3 or 4 proper attacks all game and we often just ball watch when it comes across.
Norwood 6/10 – One of our better players but miles off it really in terms of creating anything at all. Two woeful free kicks and poorer corners tonight. He tried to switch play and move it on but looked frustrated at lack of options with Ndiaye and nothing either side of him.
Osborn 4/10 – A nothing player and performance. Runs around and erm…. that’s it. Did well Saturday but tonight he constantly came back or inside and would never try and advance with the ball. Safe and ponderous and technically very limited. Rather see Arblaster or someone with some dynamism or pace. So slow and weak and when he offers little with the ball – then what is he playing for?
Fleck NA – Not in the game and then another injury. Cannot stay fit and you feel his final 6 months at United will be spent in and out of the treatment table before he moves on.
Ndiaye 4.5/10 – His poorest game of the season. His touch came off him a few times and he was not able to really threaten at all. Just never in it and although had little service – you expect him to get involved. Even when dropped into midfield – was not able to impose himself. Created nothing and had no efforts let alone any penetrating runs.
McBurnie 6.5/10 – Our most dangerous forward in he had a few headers over and one at the keeper but starved of service and felt he looked like he was leggy. Picked up an injury at the end that you worry might keep him out as although he came back on seemed to be struggling and limping?
Subs –
McAtee 4/10 – His mark may seem harsh and he had two good runs – one first half that led to a half chance and another second half that won a corner. Outside of that – I forgot he was even playing. He hides behind men and does not impose himself. Just looks lost. When he has it, his touch is not even that great and twice overran the ball. Not had any kind of impact at all and he’s had a fair few games but not sure he has played well in one game. I would send him back – he’s not ready for this kind of football – not sure he ever will be unless he starts getting involved and getting stuck in a bit. He was walking around. I don’t get this we are not playing him right either – he has to get himself into the games and when he gets it run forward. He looks terrified to do anything wrong. Rather a player have a run and lose it than just give it off or hide behind his man. Been a massive disappointment and I think worse than Khadra – argument you would send both back to me.
Sharp 3/10 – Sad to see. He was offside twice, committed an awful two footed tackle and looked woefully slow and not a threat at all. He is offering little at the moment and as much of a legend as he has been, not sure why he is being used (we have no one else I suppose?) as he is not scoring, looking dangerous or even linking play/offering a nuisance at all. Looks like he’s about done at this level on the evidence this season.
Basham 5/10 – Ran around and at least put himself about and had one header but some good passes/decisions and never seemed to be fully in control. Another who seems to be struggling to have the impact he used to have.
Khadra – Actually ran down the line and put two good crosses in. Put another poor one in too but at least he ran at them and showed he wanted to turn them to face their own goal.
Manager: Heckingbottom 2/10 – The McAtee sub did not work at all and we lost any kind of control we had in midfield. Rotherham took over after this – not saying we had been great but played well for 20-25 to 45 and actually could have had a penalty and had more chances. We came in at half time with a long time to turn it around but tactically and formation he changed nothing. We looked clueless and the switch to 4-4-2 did not work and was too late anyway. Khadra should have come on a lot earlier too. He still does not get we have 5 subs and can use some a lot earlier. I thought Taylor completely did a job on us and a limited bunch saw us out easily – worrying Hecky and his coaching staff had no idea how to break them down and did not change things throughout the game. It resembled a Blackwell hit and hope and get on the flicks type formation. We played no real football or tried to get behind them all game and too many players seemed scared to run with the ball. It was give it to Norwood who will hit a cross in and hope we get on the end of it. That was the tactics all game. It was startling they did not change it at all in terms of how we played or the personnel in key areas.
