Post by deadbat on Feb 18, 2024 18:56:35 GMT
For the third consecutive home game, the Blades conceded five goals and it was yet another embarrassing afternoon for United who were once again given a real hammering. After the win at Kenilworth Road, the Blades will have hoped to build on this impressive result but after Mason Holgate’s moronic red card on 13 minutes, United conceded two goals by the half hour and the game was effectively over. Wilder tried to shut up shop but Brighton’s passing game completely demoralised the home side and three goals inside the final quarter of an hour saw the Seagulls score five goals at Bramall Lane for the second time inside a month!
Wilder had to make changes again with Cameron Archer, Max Lowe and Rhys Norrington Davies the latest players on the treatment table. In came Yasser Larouci and Will Osula from the start. On the bench was youngsters Brooks, Arblaster and a new name, young striker Billy Blacker.
The Blades began well and had an opening after good work from Hamer saw the ball fed to Bogle and his shot was saved at full stretch from Verbruggen. Brighton also had a chance soon after as a dangerous cross from Adingra was diverted towards his own goal from Ahmedhodzic and Foderingham had to make the low save to turn it away. Brighton started to settle and were moving the ball around crisply but United also had a threat with McAtee’s strong running. However, disaster struck the home side when Holgate launched into a tackle on Mitoma. The players came together and although the initial decision was just a yellow card from Stuart Attwell, he was told quickly to look at the monitor and did not need long to upgrade an original decision to a red card. Replays showed it was a horrifically high and mistimed tackle and the Brighton man was lucky not be seriously injured.
Brighton sensed they could take immediate advantage and were getting down both sides with alarming regularity with Larouci and Bogle struggling with the pace and trickery of Adingra and Mitoma. A ball from the left went out and seemed to take a touch off Welbeck but a corner was given. The ball came in and Dunk and Webster won headers before BUONANOTTE got a touch and it was ruled to go over the line. There were appeals for a foul on Foderingham in the build up but the goal was given. It was poor defending and had been coming as a number of crosses had been won by Brighton players with poor marking and challenges a feature of the defensive play from the Blades.
Hamer did well to make a run forward and showed good skill to deceive Dunk but his ball across was touched away from Verbruggen. Brighton moved up the other end though and doubled their lead. It was more shambolic defending as Gross put over a deep cross and once again Brighton won the first ball and Mitoma hit a shot that Foderingham pushed away. WELBECK was on the rebound and smashed home.
Osula was withdrawn for Trusty as McAtee was asked to do the job as a lone striker as it was already damage limitation stuff for the home side, for the third consecutive game at the Lane.
Brighton were continuing to attack and looked like scoring every time they came at United. Mitoma, who had gone to ground looking for a penalty earlier, beat Bogle twice with superb skill but the final touch could not be applied on either occasion. Down the right Larouci was continually at full stretch and further chances came but Foderingham made a good save down to his right. United did have the ball in the net just before half time as Ahmedhodzic and Osborn converged and the latter hooked home but after being disallowed for a foul – it was checked and then still ruled out, but this time for offside! Whilst Osborn was stood in an offside position, the ball did come off a Luton player but was ruled inadvertent contact as the reason for being annulled.
After 7 minutes of stoppage time, the players finally had a break after a incident packed first half where all the key decisions had gone against United but they had also been given a bit of a going over; yet again.
The second half saw Brighton make two chances and play keep ball for long periods without exacting more damage on the Blades. Foderingham made one save from a headed chance but United were struggling to get the ball and a rare break from the keepers kick out to McAtee was the only real opportunity they nearly fashioned. Brighton were just content now to move it around and work openings but United were at least limiting them to less opportunities, even if the game was effectively over as a contest.
Brooks came on for Larouci just after the hour but Mitoma continued to tease Bogle and his run and cross shot was cleared as Brighton won three corners in quick succession. Mitoma’s run and cross led to the fourth goal as Robinson sliced it into his own net under pressure before the floodgates opened up. Gross sent over a cross and ADINGRA superbly turned home and after a Blades double change saw Brewster and Norwood come on, ADINGRA scored again with a deflected finish that looped in at the far post.
Ahmedhodzic headed wide from a Robinson cross and a flare up in stoppage time involving Davies and Verbruggen saw United show some fight but it was too little, too late in another humiliating afternoon.
United – It was another depressing afternoon where we were given another hammering. We look completely mismatched at this level and are one of the worst sides to ever play in the Premier League. We are a laughing stock and are absolutely stinking up the league. We have footballers that are nowhere near the level of their opponents in competence and add in they also seem largely spinless and lacking in any kind of fight/pride and we have what we are seeing – a team that is routinely (every week currently) getting pumped at home. It should be embarrassing to play out games in front of a half empty stadium but that is what is happening regularly. It is hard to watch the games and see how out of our depth we are and teams are simply playing with us.
Granted today was not helped by the ludicrous red card (why we signed him only Wilder will know after his form/record in the last 3 seasons but Wilder’s obsession with players – Holmes/Leonard – we have seen before no matter what the facts are telling him) from Holgate and of course this makes a hard job, almost impossible.
After this though even though we did have ten men, I would get it if they had scored goals to take it away late on but we pretty much imploded. For all the talk of the red card and some questionable decisions – not sure it was a corner but the possible foul on Wes I think he needs to be stronger – the basic level of defending is simply atrocious. I went to watch Hallam yesterday (a game I enjoyed far more) and saw defenders attack the ball more. The number of unopposed crosses where neither full back closed down and then the number of unmarked players/headers won was incredible. That is not down to just having ten men. They could have had a few before they did score but it was such a scrappy goal and three or four times they get to the ball first (two headers and the finish) and we just stand there. The second is the same with no challenge on the cross or the first shot or the rebound. The lack of desire is clear to see.
Players are not determined enough to win the ball and make blocks (we did do that better last week) and as a result shots/headers/chances reign in on us. We sit off all over the field and just invite pressure. It is amusing as Wilder said we would not set up like we did in the cup where we were quite open and Wes was clearly kicking the ball out long rather than short kicks or build up play – so we effectively tried to defend and be more solid. Yet, they still opened us up time after time and scored five goals! Clearly Wilder’s game plan was not helped by the red card of course but we have conceded 5’s the last two home games and clearly have now idea how to be solid and disciplined. We simply get opened up so easily whether we defend deep or try and play higher up. The players individually and collectively are not good enough and lose battles and make poor decisions with and without the ball.
After it is 0-2 it is a training exercise for Brighton. They did go to ground quite a bit and I felt that some of the 50-50 decisions they got -the corner for the first goal and the goal we had disallowed is offside technically but comes off a Brighton man – not sure what the rules are anymore but summed up our day really? The red card though is our own stupidity and he has cost us any chance of being in a game that would be a struggle.
I heard a few moaning he took Osula off but he did not want to get hammered again. In the end of course we did get hammered again. I think if Brighton had wanted they could have attacked more and scored more but seemed happy to just play it around. Wes made a few decent saves and they perhaps overplayed it a bit as they became a bit like the Harlem Globetrotters but the game had been decided long before the late goals. After they got a third, they get a fourth and fifth and could have had more. The stats in terms of possession – 80% to them and shot – 24 to 6 with 10 on target to 1 (that was the first minute!) are totally damning and wholly in line with yet another one sided game where the players looked like they did not want to be there from the moment they scored the first goal. Skill wise they way the opponents control it, pass it and move it around and just play into space and move off the ball is a different level to our slow and clumsy players. Only McAtee really comes out with any credit. The rest just looked out of their depth and surely must know it? The likes of Larouci and Trusty are barely Championship mid table players and both are clear signs our recruitment system is completely broke.
It is hard to watch teams just knocking the ball about to oles with almost an hour left of the game but it is happening every week. However, for all the discussion about the lack of ability compared to their opponents, the players once again pretty much gave up and just waved the white flag. The players are weak mentally and rudderless. Sadly, as much as we talk about a clear out in the summer, a number of summer or recent signings also played today. To keep getting stuffed particularly at home should see the players at least show some pride and fight but they just lay down – I suppose the argument is teams are just knocking the ball around us and we are so physically and mentally fatigued but it was like that after 20 minutes!
I am not sure where we go from here. We are down and will be well before the season. We have tried to play more solid and defensive and are still getting destroyed. I would like to say only play the players that will be here next season or will have contracts offered and try and blood some youngsters but then the side might be even worse and we may get hammered even more? I also think Wilder knows his own falling reputation would take an even bigger hit.
At the moment, the manager and players have to at least give some pride to fans and some hope for next season. The apathy and current performances and results means that things can spiral quickly (look at clubs like Sunderland) that have struggled to get out of this funk and we won’t have Ndiaye and Gibbs White (and senior players like McGoldrick, Sharp, Basham, Norwood etc who all were competent to good Champ players).
The injuries continue and heard Norrington Davies and Lowe are now out for the rest of the season – if that is the case then they will never play for us again. Sad in the case of the former but the latter has been a really poor signing and playing way above his level. In terms of Wilder’s words the other day in reference to contracts being assessed looking at a player’s availability then you would think we probably will see Basham and McBurnie moved on also. You sense Baldock and Egan – the jury may be out as until this season – they have both been quite durable but both wrong side of 30 so again would not be shocked if they depart too. With no news on Jebbison, Arblaster, Bogle etc – then you worry some of these may go too. It is a mess really and although we do need to move some on, the number left out of contract means the situation is just bizarre and the owner’s words about it being healthy is completely nonsensical but sums up the lack of planning and direction on and off the pitch.
At the moment the lack of any decisions off the field and the complete disinterest of the owner means we look completely rudderless. He wants out and needs to dramatically cut his asking price or every week/month he waits, the lower the value gets. I jokingly said he would struggle to get his pound back in a year’s time the other week, but I stand by that. Maybe no one is interested in buying us but you do seem Champ teams getting new owners and being took over with less infrastructure (ground/academy/fan support) than us but clearly Abdullah wants a totally unrealistic price. Defenders of him will say why should he take a lower fee but it’s only worth what people are willing to give us?
We should have known with the embargo and the rumours about administration a year ago, that promotion has only really kicked the can down the road. We have lost the only assets we had really (every player we have signed since the summer is probably worth less) and we have no sense of a direction we are going in other than get promoted, take the money and then erm….I don’t know!
Throw in the appalling fitness/injury record and the shocking recruitment and it is hard to be positive about much other than a few decent youngsters coming through but even those probably can’t be seen as regulars in a team going for promotion from the Championship.
Ratings:
Foderingham 3.5/10 –The first goal I thought he could have been a bit stronger personally even though some say he was blocked (combination of his own man and a Brighton player). The second goal he makes a good save and then after this he makes a few other decent saves – expected but he did make them. He has little chance with the three goals in the second half (bit slow down to the fourth) and is left badly exposed all game. Odd that he was preferred to Grbic when Wilder said he was his first choice? He will probably be back in for Wolves now but these defeats are showing it is not really down to who is in goal!
Bogle 1/10 – Thought he was given a torrid afternoon and Mitoma beat him time after time. He did have the one shot on target early on but that was our only effort on goal! Defensively he had no idea what to do with Mitoma and he beat him inside, outside, and just made him look daft all game. The second goal he switches off but he did this all game and seemed to have no idea where his man was.
Larouci 1/10 – Completely out of his depth. The winger beat him time after time and he was not tight enough all game. It was hard to watch him struggle so much as they just exposed him badly and having ten men made it even harder. Did have a few runs forward second half I suppose but even then he checked back or lost it. Looked a player where the pace and trickery of this league was too much for him. Sadly, we might have to play him as we have no one else – with RND and Lowe out – maybe he just puts Osborn there? Another dreadful signing.
Holgate 0/10 – I am not sure I have given a zero before but a red card after just over 10 minutes for an appalling and dangerous tackle – not sure I have many other options? I am not sure why we signed him (we are down and it is just squandering money we need for next season?) and after an awful debut v Villa, he did better last week at Luton but today his act of stupidity cost us any chance of getting anything. It was a dreadful tackle and an easy red – he is now out for 3 games (we only have 13 left) and surely should be fined the maximum he can be. Another that is not going to be here next season, does not really improve the first team at all and not even helping us be more solid – a nonsensical signing.
Ahmedhodzic 2/10 – After a better game last week, he was back to his awful marking, sliced clearances and generally not doing enough to impose himself as the visitors seemed to win every ball forward and every cross. I can cope with teams scoring brilliant goals or great moves but many of their chances came from crosses into the box where him and the rest of the defence stood like statues. He then starts sulking again and putting in poor challenges. He did try and run out once from the back and second half had the header wide but another game where we looked a complete soft touch in the middle of the field.
Robinson 2/10 – Been one of the better players in a horrific season but today he was another that badly struggled. He did make a few tackles and run outs but the basic defending today he was miles off. He did not pick up, lost men and they had free headers. He seemed to go chasing things and along with the rest of the team we lost our discipline. The own goal summed up his day.
Osborn 4/10 – Tried hard and at least did a few things where he helped it on or harried. He was just chasing shadows the first half though and meant it was hard as they just kept the ball. When he did have it, he was ok with it and one of the few that kept it. Sad that he is one of the few who is actually giving it a go when he should be nowhere near this league.
Souza 3.5/10 – Like Osborn put in a lot of effort but barely had the ball at his feet and most of the game he was just trying to plug gaps and stop them getting into our final third. He at least showed some fight in terms of getting into a few dust ups but they just passed round our midfield at ease. He has been better but another that the level of pace/power and skill is just too much for him and the rest of our midfield who never have the ball as they cannot keep it when they get it!
Hamer 3.5/10 – Started well with a few decent moves or passes forward and had that one decent run where he beat a few men and it was sort of blocked but thought that as the game went on, his influence became less and less and he ended up just trying to fill gaps and never got on the ball. I have heard people say he has been a good signing – he has not for me. He is another bought for a lot of money (for us) who routinely is outplayed by his opponent and fades badly in games after always having a few good moments. Totally unfit too and one if offered our money back would take it but we ain’t getting our money back! I hear some say he has been one of our better signings but that really shows how bad the rest have been as he has been largely disappointing.
McAtee 6/10 – Our best player and the only one who looked like he can really play at this level. He was the one player whose touch, dribbling and overall skill levels was anywhere near the level of Brighton’s. He had a few good bits of play early and then was played as a lone striker and worked really hard with scraps but showed some good chasing and energy levels despite the situation. Reckon he may get another Premier League loan next season but we won’t be seeing him again at the Lane after the season finishes.
Osula 4/10 – Hard to really assess him – he only played half an hour and actually did ok with a few bits of hold up or link play but then the red card and two goals and he is sacrificed as we did not want to get a hammering - of course we did anyway!
Subs –
Trusty 1/10 – Like with other centre backs, guilty of not marking and switching off. He does not react to danger and is so slow to cover or see players moving into space. His play on the ball is wretched. Twice he just let the ball under his foot and then kicked it out. Been a poor signing and not even sure I would want him in the heart of my defence, even at Championship level. I have said it before – not sure what positive attributes he has – not strong, good in the air, particularly good tackler and technically inept. I worry that our scouting department saw enough to waste what limited funds we have on him.
Brooks 2.5/10 – He has only had bit of time recently and today came into a tough game but he gave it away a few times and did not quite give us the energy levels you would want when he was introduced. Struggled to get up the pace of the game. Must be hard when we are always chasing the ball.
Davies – Nearly had a scrap with the keeper. That was about it.
Norwood – Came on at 0-4 and knocked a few balls down the channels.
Brewster – Not sure he touched it much but the game was done at this point.
Manager: Wilder 1/10 – Not sure I can score the manager much more for someone who has overseen three straight games we have conceded five goals at home – not sure that has ever happened in United’s history?
He was though the manager who was so desperate to sign Holgate and look how he has repaid him! Today he talked about us being more defensive and not being as open but more shocking defending even outside of the red card saw us gift them two goals and we could have conceded more. He also picked the appalling Larouci (not sure he has many other options) and we had another side lacking pace that was picked off and ran though again. At this stage though it feels like shuffling chairs on the titanic. It does not matter what tactics or formation he employs; the players are simply not good enough and are so far off this level. However, he seems now to be equally unable, the same as Heckinbottom, of even keeping us competitive in most games. We are getting destroyed routinely at home and teams are just walking through us. Tactically he has not got a clue how to arrest the decline and for all the talk of improvements under him, the results have now largely regressed to what it was under Heckingbottom. We have won two under Wilder to Hecky’s one (couple of draws each) but are seeing the same lack of competitiveness and hammerings we saw under Hecky. It’s marginally better but now we have gone from absolutely awful to plain old awful. If Hecky was in charge now, most would be calling for his head and indeed were after so many hammerings in close succession. I am not saying to sack him but we need to look very closely in the off season if he is the right man to carry us forward as we are seeing the same old failings we saw last time under him when it went wrong.
The stats on possession and chances have now fell back to the Hecky levels and we are seeing that this is much bigger than the manager. I do wonder if he will actually be here to start the season as another three months of this and the break clause may be activated.
I do think it’s much bigger than the manager of course and have said so above in the structure of the club and how we have no clear plan but not sure if he will remain in charge after the season. We saw what losing so meekly did for him last time. I do wonder if he regrets coming back as not sure what he has to gain at all? He won’t have any funds to sign replacements for those departing and will have a hotch potch side starting the Championship next season with hold overs we cannot get rid of (Brewster, Trusty) mixed in with youngsters.
Brighton – A side that passed us off the park in the cup so facing ten so early, meant they could repeat this and score another 5 goals! They could have had more. It was so easy and they just passed and moved and those little triangles saw them move up the field. All this without their leading scorer too! They have some excellent individuals but also some solid defenders but even they can play football too. The only knock is they do go to ground a fair but (not the Mitoma one obviously) and do not need to and often spring up and run around straight after going down seemingly seriously injured! They are well run club and are properly funded and are in Europe. They have a superb recruitment model and keep having excellent managers too. They are everything that we would want to be but are light years ahead of us just to how they are run and funded.
Opponent Man of the Match – Mitoma was superb despite some theatrics and tore us apart but Adingra was also very good on the other side taking advantage of two poor full backs not good enough defensively for this level. Gross in midfield was very good and Welbeck gave a proper centre forward’s performance up top. All over the team they just looked better, quicker and more skilled at everything they did.
Opponent Weak link – Once again not sure they had one. Seem to be saying this most weeks.
Referee/Officials – At half time a lot were booing the officials and looking at them but by full time think most realised it was more about our own ineptitude. At the time as we are on the South Stand, we were not sure about the red card but of course it was! The first goal my Uncle thought Wes was blocked but not sure it is that clear. After this it seemed like quite a few other 50-50’s went for them and as so often when things go against you, then you sense the officials are doing the same but actually not sure how many big decisions did go against us. The corner that resulted for the goal might be the one that seemed to go against us but we still need to defend it. The Osborn one I am not even sure of the rules but as I say things were not going for us. After this the second half was much easier and we could not get near them. I cannot stand VAR and the delays and all the nonsense around it and will not miss it but again felt like a few fans were trying to blame the officiating and looking at them but we cannot keep looking at them really.
Matchday/Crowd/Coverage – The Lane was half empty by full time again and this is now becoming a frequent occurrence. The players really should be ashamed but you cannot blame the fans. I stayed longer this time but the games are long up and done as contests that why should fans stay and watch essentially a training/practice exercise for opposition? Away fans continue to mock us but are met with apathy so quiet is the home support as they sit and just stare at the embarrassment they are witnessing every week. Will be interesting to see the season ticket prices and the renewal rates as do believe there will be a drop off as this season has been tough but I suppose next season at least we won’t be getting hammered every week – you hope?! The Lane is a depressing place to be at the moment. Used to be a tough place to come but now we just roll over and it’s party time for every team and it’s fans that come here! Be plenty more of this with sides like Arsenal and Spurs to come etc.
Wilder had to make changes again with Cameron Archer, Max Lowe and Rhys Norrington Davies the latest players on the treatment table. In came Yasser Larouci and Will Osula from the start. On the bench was youngsters Brooks, Arblaster and a new name, young striker Billy Blacker.
The Blades began well and had an opening after good work from Hamer saw the ball fed to Bogle and his shot was saved at full stretch from Verbruggen. Brighton also had a chance soon after as a dangerous cross from Adingra was diverted towards his own goal from Ahmedhodzic and Foderingham had to make the low save to turn it away. Brighton started to settle and were moving the ball around crisply but United also had a threat with McAtee’s strong running. However, disaster struck the home side when Holgate launched into a tackle on Mitoma. The players came together and although the initial decision was just a yellow card from Stuart Attwell, he was told quickly to look at the monitor and did not need long to upgrade an original decision to a red card. Replays showed it was a horrifically high and mistimed tackle and the Brighton man was lucky not be seriously injured.
Brighton sensed they could take immediate advantage and were getting down both sides with alarming regularity with Larouci and Bogle struggling with the pace and trickery of Adingra and Mitoma. A ball from the left went out and seemed to take a touch off Welbeck but a corner was given. The ball came in and Dunk and Webster won headers before BUONANOTTE got a touch and it was ruled to go over the line. There were appeals for a foul on Foderingham in the build up but the goal was given. It was poor defending and had been coming as a number of crosses had been won by Brighton players with poor marking and challenges a feature of the defensive play from the Blades.
Hamer did well to make a run forward and showed good skill to deceive Dunk but his ball across was touched away from Verbruggen. Brighton moved up the other end though and doubled their lead. It was more shambolic defending as Gross put over a deep cross and once again Brighton won the first ball and Mitoma hit a shot that Foderingham pushed away. WELBECK was on the rebound and smashed home.
Osula was withdrawn for Trusty as McAtee was asked to do the job as a lone striker as it was already damage limitation stuff for the home side, for the third consecutive game at the Lane.
Brighton were continuing to attack and looked like scoring every time they came at United. Mitoma, who had gone to ground looking for a penalty earlier, beat Bogle twice with superb skill but the final touch could not be applied on either occasion. Down the right Larouci was continually at full stretch and further chances came but Foderingham made a good save down to his right. United did have the ball in the net just before half time as Ahmedhodzic and Osborn converged and the latter hooked home but after being disallowed for a foul – it was checked and then still ruled out, but this time for offside! Whilst Osborn was stood in an offside position, the ball did come off a Luton player but was ruled inadvertent contact as the reason for being annulled.
After 7 minutes of stoppage time, the players finally had a break after a incident packed first half where all the key decisions had gone against United but they had also been given a bit of a going over; yet again.
The second half saw Brighton make two chances and play keep ball for long periods without exacting more damage on the Blades. Foderingham made one save from a headed chance but United were struggling to get the ball and a rare break from the keepers kick out to McAtee was the only real opportunity they nearly fashioned. Brighton were just content now to move it around and work openings but United were at least limiting them to less opportunities, even if the game was effectively over as a contest.
Brooks came on for Larouci just after the hour but Mitoma continued to tease Bogle and his run and cross shot was cleared as Brighton won three corners in quick succession. Mitoma’s run and cross led to the fourth goal as Robinson sliced it into his own net under pressure before the floodgates opened up. Gross sent over a cross and ADINGRA superbly turned home and after a Blades double change saw Brewster and Norwood come on, ADINGRA scored again with a deflected finish that looped in at the far post.
Ahmedhodzic headed wide from a Robinson cross and a flare up in stoppage time involving Davies and Verbruggen saw United show some fight but it was too little, too late in another humiliating afternoon.
United – It was another depressing afternoon where we were given another hammering. We look completely mismatched at this level and are one of the worst sides to ever play in the Premier League. We are a laughing stock and are absolutely stinking up the league. We have footballers that are nowhere near the level of their opponents in competence and add in they also seem largely spinless and lacking in any kind of fight/pride and we have what we are seeing – a team that is routinely (every week currently) getting pumped at home. It should be embarrassing to play out games in front of a half empty stadium but that is what is happening regularly. It is hard to watch the games and see how out of our depth we are and teams are simply playing with us.
Granted today was not helped by the ludicrous red card (why we signed him only Wilder will know after his form/record in the last 3 seasons but Wilder’s obsession with players – Holmes/Leonard – we have seen before no matter what the facts are telling him) from Holgate and of course this makes a hard job, almost impossible.
After this though even though we did have ten men, I would get it if they had scored goals to take it away late on but we pretty much imploded. For all the talk of the red card and some questionable decisions – not sure it was a corner but the possible foul on Wes I think he needs to be stronger – the basic level of defending is simply atrocious. I went to watch Hallam yesterday (a game I enjoyed far more) and saw defenders attack the ball more. The number of unopposed crosses where neither full back closed down and then the number of unmarked players/headers won was incredible. That is not down to just having ten men. They could have had a few before they did score but it was such a scrappy goal and three or four times they get to the ball first (two headers and the finish) and we just stand there. The second is the same with no challenge on the cross or the first shot or the rebound. The lack of desire is clear to see.
Players are not determined enough to win the ball and make blocks (we did do that better last week) and as a result shots/headers/chances reign in on us. We sit off all over the field and just invite pressure. It is amusing as Wilder said we would not set up like we did in the cup where we were quite open and Wes was clearly kicking the ball out long rather than short kicks or build up play – so we effectively tried to defend and be more solid. Yet, they still opened us up time after time and scored five goals! Clearly Wilder’s game plan was not helped by the red card of course but we have conceded 5’s the last two home games and clearly have now idea how to be solid and disciplined. We simply get opened up so easily whether we defend deep or try and play higher up. The players individually and collectively are not good enough and lose battles and make poor decisions with and without the ball.
After it is 0-2 it is a training exercise for Brighton. They did go to ground quite a bit and I felt that some of the 50-50 decisions they got -the corner for the first goal and the goal we had disallowed is offside technically but comes off a Brighton man – not sure what the rules are anymore but summed up our day really? The red card though is our own stupidity and he has cost us any chance of being in a game that would be a struggle.
I heard a few moaning he took Osula off but he did not want to get hammered again. In the end of course we did get hammered again. I think if Brighton had wanted they could have attacked more and scored more but seemed happy to just play it around. Wes made a few decent saves and they perhaps overplayed it a bit as they became a bit like the Harlem Globetrotters but the game had been decided long before the late goals. After they got a third, they get a fourth and fifth and could have had more. The stats in terms of possession – 80% to them and shot – 24 to 6 with 10 on target to 1 (that was the first minute!) are totally damning and wholly in line with yet another one sided game where the players looked like they did not want to be there from the moment they scored the first goal. Skill wise they way the opponents control it, pass it and move it around and just play into space and move off the ball is a different level to our slow and clumsy players. Only McAtee really comes out with any credit. The rest just looked out of their depth and surely must know it? The likes of Larouci and Trusty are barely Championship mid table players and both are clear signs our recruitment system is completely broke.
It is hard to watch teams just knocking the ball about to oles with almost an hour left of the game but it is happening every week. However, for all the discussion about the lack of ability compared to their opponents, the players once again pretty much gave up and just waved the white flag. The players are weak mentally and rudderless. Sadly, as much as we talk about a clear out in the summer, a number of summer or recent signings also played today. To keep getting stuffed particularly at home should see the players at least show some pride and fight but they just lay down – I suppose the argument is teams are just knocking the ball around us and we are so physically and mentally fatigued but it was like that after 20 minutes!
I am not sure where we go from here. We are down and will be well before the season. We have tried to play more solid and defensive and are still getting destroyed. I would like to say only play the players that will be here next season or will have contracts offered and try and blood some youngsters but then the side might be even worse and we may get hammered even more? I also think Wilder knows his own falling reputation would take an even bigger hit.
At the moment, the manager and players have to at least give some pride to fans and some hope for next season. The apathy and current performances and results means that things can spiral quickly (look at clubs like Sunderland) that have struggled to get out of this funk and we won’t have Ndiaye and Gibbs White (and senior players like McGoldrick, Sharp, Basham, Norwood etc who all were competent to good Champ players).
The injuries continue and heard Norrington Davies and Lowe are now out for the rest of the season – if that is the case then they will never play for us again. Sad in the case of the former but the latter has been a really poor signing and playing way above his level. In terms of Wilder’s words the other day in reference to contracts being assessed looking at a player’s availability then you would think we probably will see Basham and McBurnie moved on also. You sense Baldock and Egan – the jury may be out as until this season – they have both been quite durable but both wrong side of 30 so again would not be shocked if they depart too. With no news on Jebbison, Arblaster, Bogle etc – then you worry some of these may go too. It is a mess really and although we do need to move some on, the number left out of contract means the situation is just bizarre and the owner’s words about it being healthy is completely nonsensical but sums up the lack of planning and direction on and off the pitch.
At the moment the lack of any decisions off the field and the complete disinterest of the owner means we look completely rudderless. He wants out and needs to dramatically cut his asking price or every week/month he waits, the lower the value gets. I jokingly said he would struggle to get his pound back in a year’s time the other week, but I stand by that. Maybe no one is interested in buying us but you do seem Champ teams getting new owners and being took over with less infrastructure (ground/academy/fan support) than us but clearly Abdullah wants a totally unrealistic price. Defenders of him will say why should he take a lower fee but it’s only worth what people are willing to give us?
We should have known with the embargo and the rumours about administration a year ago, that promotion has only really kicked the can down the road. We have lost the only assets we had really (every player we have signed since the summer is probably worth less) and we have no sense of a direction we are going in other than get promoted, take the money and then erm….I don’t know!
Throw in the appalling fitness/injury record and the shocking recruitment and it is hard to be positive about much other than a few decent youngsters coming through but even those probably can’t be seen as regulars in a team going for promotion from the Championship.
Ratings:
Foderingham 3.5/10 –The first goal I thought he could have been a bit stronger personally even though some say he was blocked (combination of his own man and a Brighton player). The second goal he makes a good save and then after this he makes a few other decent saves – expected but he did make them. He has little chance with the three goals in the second half (bit slow down to the fourth) and is left badly exposed all game. Odd that he was preferred to Grbic when Wilder said he was his first choice? He will probably be back in for Wolves now but these defeats are showing it is not really down to who is in goal!
Bogle 1/10 – Thought he was given a torrid afternoon and Mitoma beat him time after time. He did have the one shot on target early on but that was our only effort on goal! Defensively he had no idea what to do with Mitoma and he beat him inside, outside, and just made him look daft all game. The second goal he switches off but he did this all game and seemed to have no idea where his man was.
Larouci 1/10 – Completely out of his depth. The winger beat him time after time and he was not tight enough all game. It was hard to watch him struggle so much as they just exposed him badly and having ten men made it even harder. Did have a few runs forward second half I suppose but even then he checked back or lost it. Looked a player where the pace and trickery of this league was too much for him. Sadly, we might have to play him as we have no one else – with RND and Lowe out – maybe he just puts Osborn there? Another dreadful signing.
Holgate 0/10 – I am not sure I have given a zero before but a red card after just over 10 minutes for an appalling and dangerous tackle – not sure I have many other options? I am not sure why we signed him (we are down and it is just squandering money we need for next season?) and after an awful debut v Villa, he did better last week at Luton but today his act of stupidity cost us any chance of getting anything. It was a dreadful tackle and an easy red – he is now out for 3 games (we only have 13 left) and surely should be fined the maximum he can be. Another that is not going to be here next season, does not really improve the first team at all and not even helping us be more solid – a nonsensical signing.
Ahmedhodzic 2/10 – After a better game last week, he was back to his awful marking, sliced clearances and generally not doing enough to impose himself as the visitors seemed to win every ball forward and every cross. I can cope with teams scoring brilliant goals or great moves but many of their chances came from crosses into the box where him and the rest of the defence stood like statues. He then starts sulking again and putting in poor challenges. He did try and run out once from the back and second half had the header wide but another game where we looked a complete soft touch in the middle of the field.
Robinson 2/10 – Been one of the better players in a horrific season but today he was another that badly struggled. He did make a few tackles and run outs but the basic defending today he was miles off. He did not pick up, lost men and they had free headers. He seemed to go chasing things and along with the rest of the team we lost our discipline. The own goal summed up his day.
Osborn 4/10 – Tried hard and at least did a few things where he helped it on or harried. He was just chasing shadows the first half though and meant it was hard as they just kept the ball. When he did have it, he was ok with it and one of the few that kept it. Sad that he is one of the few who is actually giving it a go when he should be nowhere near this league.
Souza 3.5/10 – Like Osborn put in a lot of effort but barely had the ball at his feet and most of the game he was just trying to plug gaps and stop them getting into our final third. He at least showed some fight in terms of getting into a few dust ups but they just passed round our midfield at ease. He has been better but another that the level of pace/power and skill is just too much for him and the rest of our midfield who never have the ball as they cannot keep it when they get it!
Hamer 3.5/10 – Started well with a few decent moves or passes forward and had that one decent run where he beat a few men and it was sort of blocked but thought that as the game went on, his influence became less and less and he ended up just trying to fill gaps and never got on the ball. I have heard people say he has been a good signing – he has not for me. He is another bought for a lot of money (for us) who routinely is outplayed by his opponent and fades badly in games after always having a few good moments. Totally unfit too and one if offered our money back would take it but we ain’t getting our money back! I hear some say he has been one of our better signings but that really shows how bad the rest have been as he has been largely disappointing.
McAtee 6/10 – Our best player and the only one who looked like he can really play at this level. He was the one player whose touch, dribbling and overall skill levels was anywhere near the level of Brighton’s. He had a few good bits of play early and then was played as a lone striker and worked really hard with scraps but showed some good chasing and energy levels despite the situation. Reckon he may get another Premier League loan next season but we won’t be seeing him again at the Lane after the season finishes.
Osula 4/10 – Hard to really assess him – he only played half an hour and actually did ok with a few bits of hold up or link play but then the red card and two goals and he is sacrificed as we did not want to get a hammering - of course we did anyway!
Subs –
Trusty 1/10 – Like with other centre backs, guilty of not marking and switching off. He does not react to danger and is so slow to cover or see players moving into space. His play on the ball is wretched. Twice he just let the ball under his foot and then kicked it out. Been a poor signing and not even sure I would want him in the heart of my defence, even at Championship level. I have said it before – not sure what positive attributes he has – not strong, good in the air, particularly good tackler and technically inept. I worry that our scouting department saw enough to waste what limited funds we have on him.
Brooks 2.5/10 – He has only had bit of time recently and today came into a tough game but he gave it away a few times and did not quite give us the energy levels you would want when he was introduced. Struggled to get up the pace of the game. Must be hard when we are always chasing the ball.
Davies – Nearly had a scrap with the keeper. That was about it.
Norwood – Came on at 0-4 and knocked a few balls down the channels.
Brewster – Not sure he touched it much but the game was done at this point.
Manager: Wilder 1/10 – Not sure I can score the manager much more for someone who has overseen three straight games we have conceded five goals at home – not sure that has ever happened in United’s history?
He was though the manager who was so desperate to sign Holgate and look how he has repaid him! Today he talked about us being more defensive and not being as open but more shocking defending even outside of the red card saw us gift them two goals and we could have conceded more. He also picked the appalling Larouci (not sure he has many other options) and we had another side lacking pace that was picked off and ran though again. At this stage though it feels like shuffling chairs on the titanic. It does not matter what tactics or formation he employs; the players are simply not good enough and are so far off this level. However, he seems now to be equally unable, the same as Heckinbottom, of even keeping us competitive in most games. We are getting destroyed routinely at home and teams are just walking through us. Tactically he has not got a clue how to arrest the decline and for all the talk of improvements under him, the results have now largely regressed to what it was under Heckingbottom. We have won two under Wilder to Hecky’s one (couple of draws each) but are seeing the same lack of competitiveness and hammerings we saw under Hecky. It’s marginally better but now we have gone from absolutely awful to plain old awful. If Hecky was in charge now, most would be calling for his head and indeed were after so many hammerings in close succession. I am not saying to sack him but we need to look very closely in the off season if he is the right man to carry us forward as we are seeing the same old failings we saw last time under him when it went wrong.
The stats on possession and chances have now fell back to the Hecky levels and we are seeing that this is much bigger than the manager. I do wonder if he will actually be here to start the season as another three months of this and the break clause may be activated.
I do think it’s much bigger than the manager of course and have said so above in the structure of the club and how we have no clear plan but not sure if he will remain in charge after the season. We saw what losing so meekly did for him last time. I do wonder if he regrets coming back as not sure what he has to gain at all? He won’t have any funds to sign replacements for those departing and will have a hotch potch side starting the Championship next season with hold overs we cannot get rid of (Brewster, Trusty) mixed in with youngsters.
Brighton – A side that passed us off the park in the cup so facing ten so early, meant they could repeat this and score another 5 goals! They could have had more. It was so easy and they just passed and moved and those little triangles saw them move up the field. All this without their leading scorer too! They have some excellent individuals but also some solid defenders but even they can play football too. The only knock is they do go to ground a fair but (not the Mitoma one obviously) and do not need to and often spring up and run around straight after going down seemingly seriously injured! They are well run club and are properly funded and are in Europe. They have a superb recruitment model and keep having excellent managers too. They are everything that we would want to be but are light years ahead of us just to how they are run and funded.
Opponent Man of the Match – Mitoma was superb despite some theatrics and tore us apart but Adingra was also very good on the other side taking advantage of two poor full backs not good enough defensively for this level. Gross in midfield was very good and Welbeck gave a proper centre forward’s performance up top. All over the team they just looked better, quicker and more skilled at everything they did.
Opponent Weak link – Once again not sure they had one. Seem to be saying this most weeks.
Referee/Officials – At half time a lot were booing the officials and looking at them but by full time think most realised it was more about our own ineptitude. At the time as we are on the South Stand, we were not sure about the red card but of course it was! The first goal my Uncle thought Wes was blocked but not sure it is that clear. After this it seemed like quite a few other 50-50’s went for them and as so often when things go against you, then you sense the officials are doing the same but actually not sure how many big decisions did go against us. The corner that resulted for the goal might be the one that seemed to go against us but we still need to defend it. The Osborn one I am not even sure of the rules but as I say things were not going for us. After this the second half was much easier and we could not get near them. I cannot stand VAR and the delays and all the nonsense around it and will not miss it but again felt like a few fans were trying to blame the officiating and looking at them but we cannot keep looking at them really.
Matchday/Crowd/Coverage – The Lane was half empty by full time again and this is now becoming a frequent occurrence. The players really should be ashamed but you cannot blame the fans. I stayed longer this time but the games are long up and done as contests that why should fans stay and watch essentially a training/practice exercise for opposition? Away fans continue to mock us but are met with apathy so quiet is the home support as they sit and just stare at the embarrassment they are witnessing every week. Will be interesting to see the season ticket prices and the renewal rates as do believe there will be a drop off as this season has been tough but I suppose next season at least we won’t be getting hammered every week – you hope?! The Lane is a depressing place to be at the moment. Used to be a tough place to come but now we just roll over and it’s party time for every team and it’s fans that come here! Be plenty more of this with sides like Arsenal and Spurs to come etc.
