Post by deadbat on Apr 20, 2024 20:34:20 GMT
Any slim hopes United had of staying in the fight for relegation went out of the window as for the second time this season, the next worst team, Burnley, put United to the absolute sword at Bramall Lane. The Blades should have led with good chances for McBurnie and Brereton Diaz before poor goalkeeping from Grbic, again, allowed a tame shot to escape his clutches. A second goal came before half time with awful defending and more indecision from the goalkeeper and suddenly, despite having the better chances, the Blades were 0-2 down. A renewed purpose in the second half saw a fantastic save from Muric deny McAtee but Hamer’s curling effort reduced the arrears but after Brereton Diaz nearly made it 2-2, Burnley went up the other end and Foster scored easily thanks to more atrocious defending. A fourth came from Gudmundsson with his first touch and after this, United completely fell apart and more goals nearly came from the visiting side. The home side looked a sorry state by full time with heads down all over the pitch and Burnley had renewed hope in their efforts to stay up. The Blades are now doomed and there are real concerns in the mentality and ability level of a good chunk of the current side. Surely a huge clear out must result in the summer to give United a realistic chance of being the top end of the division below? The current side and level of performance/fitness is nowhere near the level of the Premier League but also will struggle to yield a serious challenge even in the Championship. Chris Wilder has big decisions to make in the coming weeks and months as he looks to reshape a squad that can get the club going back in the right direction.
Once again Wilder made changes with Larouci and Holgate out and McAtee and Souza in. United started with four at the back and played Hamer behind McBurnie and Brereton Diaz/McAtee out wide. Burnley kept faith with Arijanet Muric in goal despite his recent errors and former Blade Sander Berge started in midfield. The Norwegian got a mixture of cheers and boos when his name was announced prior to kick off.
The game started with both teams coughing up possession too easily and it showed why they occupying the bottom two places of the table. Burnley were looking to move it around more than the home side who were trying to feed off McBurnie or find the channel ball down the flanks but neither side were particularly secure in their play. The first chance did come to United when McAtee sent in a whipped cross and McBurnie converged and seemed set to score but his finish was saved at point blank range by Muric. The striker really should have scored. Burnley responded and Cullen had an effort blocked before they nearly got in down the right-hand side. United then had the next significant effort when the ball was played into Brereton Diaz who got in but once again Muric smothered the ball and Souza took too long on the rebound. It had been an even game but United had created two good chances to open the scoring.
Vitinho then had a shot blocked before Grbic saved low down from Foster as United were caught ball watching somewhat as both teams started to open more. Vitinho headed narrowly wide from Larsen’s cross. Berge then fed Larsen who shot not far wide as Burnley started to look the more dangerous after United had created the good early opportunities. Foster had a header saved from Assignon’s cross and United started to drop deeper and struggle with the movement of some of the nimble Burnley forward players. However, United broke out and after good work from McBurnie initially to hold the ball up, he played it to Hamer who returned it to the Scottish striker who hit a powerful shot on the angle that was tipped over the bar.
Hamer then had an effort that was saved after more decent build up with Brereton Diaz involved but Burnley were able to quickly move it forward soon after this and Odobert had a shot blocked.
The opening goal came when Burnley were allowed to move through the midfield without so much of a challenge as Souza stood off and the ball was played forward. It dropped to LARSEN who hit a shot but it clipped a United player which seemed to take the pace off the ball. Somehow Grbic failed to react and the ball squirmed into the net with his dive seemingly inexcusably late.
Incredibly, 0-1 became 0-2 almost instantly. Burnley broke down the right and Brereton Diaz got beat too easily and with Osborn and Trusty not able to sense the danger, ASSIGNON got in too easily with no challenge incoming. His toe poke perhaps clipped Trusty but again Grbic was way too slow to react and his lame thrust of his foot merely diverted the ball into the net. The boos rang round the Lane as shocking defending and goalkeeping had combined to see the Blades with an almighty challenge to get anything from a game that they actually had created the better opportunities from so far.
More poor play from Grbic saw the ball not cleared properly and Foster was not far off target for the rampant away side who scented blood. The half time whistle was predictably met by lusty boos from much of the crowd inside the Lane, who rightly voiced their displeasure at the defensive capitulation they had witnessed.
The second half began, with surprisingly no chances from the Blades, but they did at least show some urgency and won an early corner. As the ball was not cleared, United moved it inside and McAtee hit an effort that seemed to be heading to the top corner but somehow Muric clawed it round the post. A fantastic save and the game quickly seemed to be a tale of two keepers, with one making several outstanding saves and another being calamitous in most things he did.
Assignon had a break and an effort saved from Grbic as Trusty once again was too far off his man but United broke quickly and were back in the game. McAtee was brought down but managed to keep going and fed HAMER. The midfielder jinked back inside, sat his man down on the floor and curled an absolute beauty into the far corner. It was game on as the Kop suddenly found their voice! Soon after Muric’s poor kick out fell to Brereton Diaz and his run and low shot was pushed round the post by the keeper who made amends for his mistake.
United seemed to have the momentum but were caught out by a sucker punch on 58 minutes as the away side broke and Assignon got on the ball and with Souza once again unable to react to the initial run, Trusty then inexplicably showed him inside and his low cross was swept home by FOSTER with more appalling marking right in the middle of the defence. Such a simple goal and as the inquest went on, Bogle and Souza had words for a long period after the goal.
Brownhill came on for Larsen before a rare positive moment from Souza, saw a run and shot but it was relatively comfortable for Muric who dived to make the save. Brereton Diaz then had an effort flicked away from Muric as United looked for a way back into the game.
Souza gave way for Archer and then McBurnie poked wide after good work from the substitute. GUDMUNDSSON replaced Vitinho and his impact was instant. The ball was switched across and the Icelandic midfielder was presented with it and came inside and sent a fantastic effort beyond Grbic right into the corner. That was game, set and match. The Burnley fans mocked the Blades fans, although a significant number had already started to depart the terraces.
Grbic’s disastrous performance continued when he kicked it straight to Brownhill, whose attempted long-range return was wide before Gudmundsson then crashed an effort off the post. United looked a sorry state at the point. Norwood and Brooks came on for McBurnie and Hamer before Fofani and Amdouni took the place of Odobert and Foster.
Burnley were now keeping possession to cheers from the visiting crowd who were imploring former hero Berge to add the final nail in the coffin but at this stage, Burnley were in cruise control whilst in contrast, many of the home team looked like they simply did not want to be there. Bogle had a late run and effort saved but the final eight minutes of stoppage time was played with neither side able to impact the scoring and by the end, the Clarets had coasted to an easy win in what had been a relatively close game for long periods. The Blades fans who remained made their feelings known, as they proved once again that they are by a long distance, the worst side in the league and one of the poorest ever seen at this level.
United – We had 3 or 4 improved games but then last week we lost rather meekly at Brentford and today we got smashed at home – at least in terms of the scoreline but the side that is supposed to be, not much worse than us! I have seen a lot of fans getting upset about Burnley not getting the criticism we have had but today that talk has been put in the bin. We have lost 9-1 on aggregate to them and whilst today the score did kind of flatter them, the last half hour our effort and attitude was embarrassing and showed why a number should be leaving the club at the close of the season.
A lot will be made of the keeper and maybe if we swapped keepers, it’s a close game but the reality is we got pumped again at home. It’s another team that runs through us too much and actually even though we did have chances and got through them at times, we were incredibly open for a home side yet again and the so called next worst team scored four and could have had more.
We started ok but it looked two poor teams and I felt it might be the odd goal that settled it but we did have chances and McBurnie had to score but even outside of this, we had 2 or 3 other decent chances and Muric made some good saves. They had a few chances but felt we easily had the better ones and should have been ahead in the first half hour. Not sure either side were great. Then the opener comes and yes it takes a nick, but it’s so poor from Grbic. We showed the lack of leaders as Wilder admitted post game as no one got hold of the side and we were cut through again straight after. Again, the keeper is poor for me, despite a bit of a deflection, and has to save it but the defending in the build up is awful yet again. This sort of took the air out of the whole ground. We had created the better chances but bang, one, two and the whole game and atmosphere is markedly different. The crowd then turn and you can see why and every mistake after this is magnified. It became much like many of the other home games (against much better teams).
The break came and I was shocked he did not send a message with changes to the side but we did have a bit of a go and McAtee had a good effort saved and then we score a decent goal. I thought we might get back in it and then if it became 2-2, we might go and win. BBD has a chance but before we could get the momentum turned, they break and score such an easy goal. The defending from Souza and Trusty is appalling but the whole side is ripped though. This kills it and after this, the game sort of petered out but I felt it was telling that so many of our players sort of gave up. There was over half an hour to go and although we maybe were a tad unfortunate to be 1-3 down (can argue was all down to our own shambolic defending) we still had time to get one back and put an equally shaken side under pressure. We seemed to completely give up and then the fourth came and after this, it was a really hard watch and they moved the ball around and could have had more. The players basically mailed it in and that is inexcusable. There was no fight or togetherness and the team simply wanted the game done.
To concede so many goals at home shows what a soft touch this side is. No leaders, no backbone, no organisation, and no fight at all. Hecky may have gone but have we really got that much better under Wilder? I am not sure we have. It has been better but we are still having so many hammerings and games where we seem to almost down tools. I thought Wilder would not allow this but it has happened as much under him as Hecky. Away from home we have looked more solid and at least tried to be hard to beat but the reality is, that despite our obvious fitness and ability deficiencies, I am not sure tactically we have improved that much and just are so easy to run though. Today, we could have scored 2 or 3 at least but equally, a really poor side created too much. A lot will be made of the keeper and he is appalling but the whole side as a unit does not get tight, does not pick up (in open or set play) and in simple terms opponents score goals a lot easier than it is for us to do the same at the other end.
Some of the efforts of individuals in terms of basic sprinting, covering and tackling is laughable – Souza, Trusty are two that stand out but actually there are others (Hamer, McAtee to name another two) that are woeful out of possession. The players shrug and point but no one actually leads or tries to bring them together. The game today was relatively close in terms of possession, chances and actually moves of merit and if we have a keeper of any kind of ability, we perhaps are right in the game. However, even all that said, the way we simply gave up after an hour was really telling about these players as individuals. I genuinely would not care if we saw none of them again (maybe Arblaster and Hamer – on the ball – apart). They are a side that seems individually to blame others but not realise that actually each and every one of them is guilty for this shambolic season and that means ultimately collectively we look simply abject and out of our level. I do get that skill wise, many are not good enough and athletically and power wise, we cannot compete but I also think players can do more than walk and try and run/sprint. We stand off constantly, even in the first half of games so teams just have such an easy passage to create chances.
We are done now but were a long time ago. Indeed, we were done the minute we sold Ndiaye and Berge. I do not get why we are playing or using the likes of Archer, McAtee and even BBD/Holgate who will not be here. I also would add Norwood and a few others – it is bizarre as Wilder will not play Foderingham but then others who probably will not be here – are playing still?
We have 5 games left but I do not see another point now. We will lose the next two at Man Utd and Newcastle and then Forest (better than Burnley) will have too much pace and power for us. Spurs will be way too good and then Everton away might be fighting for something. We have not won since January at Luton and not at home since Brentford and after the recent mini run of improvements in performances (still got few points) we are back to two poor shows and comfortable defeats.
For me the season cannot end soon enough. It has been an absolute disaster from start to finish. On and off the pitch, we have shown no kind of ability on and off the field to suggest we are a top flight side. We are a laughing stock to the wider football world and now have wasted another chance to try and establish ourselves in the top flight. It is so hard to get here and yet again we have frittered away any chance to try and remain here. We have not even given it a go.
Today, to see Burnley (who are 2nd bottom) run riot and another team that came here and ran us off our home pitch, was really hard to take but we have come to expect it from a pitiful side that has been badly set up and organised by two managers now – granted the lack of ability is an even bigger factor.
The conformation of relegation will come next week and if what Wilder says is right, then soon we will see some changes and we can start moving out some personnel and bringing in some players who can give us some enthusiasm and pace/running and try and stop us being such an easy team to beat. I am sick of us just getting beat to easily and players just simply accepting it. Today was not against a good side but another side who will go down. The players should be ashamed at their efforts (particularly the final half hour).
Ratings:
Grbic 2/10 – I do not know what to say anymore? This guy may have appearances as a goalkeeper and at a decent level but everything I have seen so far suggests otherwise. He is a complete nightmare. He has no redeeming features and every time the ball gets close to him, I wince. He cannot kick (several times he put us under pressure and nearly led to other goals) and he does not command at all. His basic handling is poor, often spills it and he does not take crosses. Ultimately the biggest issue – I have mentioned lots already – is that any kind of shot that goes towards him, looks like going in. He had no chance with the 3rd and 4th but I cannot remember any other good saves that he made all game (even basic ones he makes a meal of) and the first two goals I felt were awful. People may defend him and say they were both deflected but the first in particular, he had an age to react and seemed to dive way too late and it goes in so slowly. The second one he seems to guess somewhat but again he still should react better and why he goes with his feet, I am not sure? Should do better again. He is a nightmare and the sarcastic cheers when he does something basic sums it up. I would not have been shocked if we had subbed him at half time. Wilder will show he is incredibly stubborn if he keeps picking him as he is not good enough and we need to see if we can move him on in the summer. It has been another awful signing and further question marks against our recruitment team. I would bring Davies/Wes/Amissah in (anyone) for the final games. We are achieving nothing but unsettling an already shocking defence by persisting with him.
Bogle 6/10 – Thought he was one of our stand out players with Hamer. He at least got forward, got on the ball and showed some positivity. He had a few decent runs first half and then second half took this on even more and a lot of good things came from him. He did make some mistakes defensively but I just think he looked more interested than most and kept going to the end too.
Osborn 5/10 – Started the game ok and did the basics but the 2nd goal he is really static and then thought his performance started to drop off and he too made mistakes – mainly positionally. He always does his best and kept trying but thought they got down this side a fair bit and second half, they had a number of chances from players cutting in. I’d probably retain him but as a squad player/sub that can cover.
Ahmedhodzic 4.5/10 – He had improved in that period of games but made some mistakes last week and today felt he was ball watching too much as they had so many uncontested efforts/headers in the box. He did at least try and bring things out from the back and one of the few who wanted to advance but he never seems to impose himself physically on the attackers and we seem to just get bullied or the ball sticks too easy in our defence. Teams have so many free headers when balls come in. We need to move him on and hopefully can get a decent fee in the summer.
Trusty 2/10 – Like Grbic, do not see any qualities in him at all. He looks a decent size and appears on the surface to have some athleticism but he has none at all and is weak in the air and in tackles. He has no idea how to defend, where to stand, how to cut down angles or where to show forwards. Teams routinely go down this inside left channel as he switches off and loses his runners. He never gets close enough and then often gives them space to shoot. The second goal he did not get across but there was other moments when he left his attacker free. The second half one moment I watched him at a corner just leave his man completely for a free header. It was embarrassing. The third goal is woeful as he just ambles back and then lets his player come inside. He has no aggression in him at all but seems like another who has no concept where to be positionally and as a result we have huge gaps. I have seen people say he did well for Birmingham but they were right near the bottom – surely we aspire to do much better than that? Another we need to move on as he is simply not good enough.
Souza 2/10 – Feels like I am singling Grbic, Trusty and Souza out but they were by some distance the worst players for United. I watched him carefully today. He is an absolute phony of a footballer. He does not get out of a light job, hides from the ball and then seems to almost stand in areas where he knows he will not have to influence the game (in and out of possession). How teams have seen a player in him before I do not know? Another that looks a big unit but offers zilch. Berge two or three times just sauntered past him and he did not even try and attempts to get back. He kept on pointing or blaming others but his act seems to have worn thin on most (Robinson at Wolves, Bogle today who have had enough of him). He never seems to get on the ball (one run and shot and decent tackle are the only two decent things I can recall him doing all game?). Off the ball he is laughable. Teams have the run of midfield and today they had so many chances where he was nowhere near pressing the ball or marking. The third goal he just wanders over and lets his man run off. His sub got cheers and that says it all. Another we need to get rid of. A loser in his attitude and his results (his teams keep getting relegated). I’ve got as much chance playing for Brazil as him.
Hamer 6/10 – On the ball he might be more a 7 as he showed some nice touches and at least always looked to pass forward. Couple of decent moments first half and looked to link but maybe got crowded out. Second half he scored a superb goal and a lot of the decent attacks he had saw him involved. Off the ball he is really poor. Today, I will defend him in that he was in a 10/Attacking midfield role but still he is woeful at getting back or trying to close down and make it hard for players to move the ball on. He needs to get much fitter in the summer. I do not think a Premier League club signs him, so he will be one of few you can reasonably hope we build around next year.
Arblaster 5.5/10 – Not his best day. A few ok passes and moments where he came out of tight spaces but he gave it away a fair bit (did win it back after he lost it once or twice). He tried a few flicks and overhead knocks that lost it and twice he actually lost possession that led to chances to them. He does not hide and kept plugging away and will try and be positive but as the game went on, his influence faded and in the end Burnley dominated the final half an hour of midfield and he was just chasing things.
McAtee 5/10 – Another frustrating game. He did have the decent pass for McBurnie and also the assist for the Hamer goal – added into a good shot -that was well saved but for the most part he frustrated me again. His corners were awful and too often he hit the first man on other crosses. He lost possession too cheaply and I felt just ran into trouble. Defensively he does not get back at all and this put Osborn under too much pressure all game. I would take him out now. He is not really having a huge impact and will not be our player next season.
Brereton Diaz 5/10 – He has dropped off last few games after his excellent start. First half, he had a few moments and maybe should do better with the shot on the angle. Did try and keep the ball and possession but it was all a bit scrappy. Had another effort not far off an then 2nd half he had the shot saved at 1-2. After this, along with the rest of the team, he sort of lost his way and ended up deeper and deeper.
McBurnie 4.5/10 – Held the ball up a few times first half and won a few free kicks before having the great chance that he missed – he has to score that. Another driven shot tipped over but after the break I thought he offered little really and that the centre half started to win more loose balls. He became a peripheral figure after it went 1-3 and eventually came off.
Subs:
Archer 5/10 – Had one run and cross for McBurnie but at this stage, we were struggling to get any headway and living off scraps.
Norwood – Not sure why he came on? Seems pointless when we are chasing the game? Not sure I saw him touch the ball much at all.
Brooks – Every touch came off him or he passed it straight to them. A really untidy final 10 minutes where he probably showed why he has not been playing. Looked way off it.
Manager: Wilder 3/10 – Another hammering at the Lane and this time to a fellow relegation side. We were in the game I suppose but never felt we properly had any control of the game at any stage even at 0-0. We saw less of the ball in midfield of them but did not have many threats down the sides which our formation should have been tailor made for. I thought there were big gaps all over the side again and we looked too far strung out with no cohesiveness at all in terms of each component of the side. We were not helped by the keeper but I am unsure why he went to a 4 at the back and took our best defender (outside of Robinson who is injured) in recent weeks, Holgate, out? The Souza and McAtee reintroductions did not work but then at 0-2, he makes no changes to the shape or personnel. We get back in it but then concede but again way too slow to make changes and when the final ones came, the game was done?
I have to be honest, for all the talk some have been throwing out that he will sort it out and if anyone can change it, he will, I am not convinced. I wasn’t when he came back and still am not. We have been better under Hecky but not by much and results have shown that. We are still getting hammered in many games, still have no shape, pattern of play or clear identity to how we are playing? We get out passed every week but also despite not having possession and sitting back look awful defensively. I do not see what his plan is for the side. Maybe when he gets more new players in, he can further change it but the keeping swap has been a disaster really and made us far worse (if that was possible!). I hope I am wrong and he can make the changes to the side in terms of players that come in that are fitter, more tactically astute and positionally know the game better. However, I have not seen anything so far to suggest that he was the right move. I think we should have gone down a new route. I get we need a new owner and that things might not change hugely till then, but that is all the reason to do something different. I fear, with few signings over the summer (we are skint so won’t being many in) and a poor start, then I worry where we go next? He knows he cannot walk out as no one else at any kind of level would have him but equally I just do not see anything tactically or even motivationally to suggest he will arrest the slide. Those convinced he will are banking it on a huge turnaround in playing staff but we do not have the funds to make this happen so it surely will be much of the same with the only hope being that it is a lower level. However, do we really think players like Grbic, Osborn, Trusty, Osula etc who all could end up starting are going to be anywhere near a side in the top half of even the division below?
Burnley – They won 4-1 but not even sure they were that great. That is not sour grapes. They got two quick goals but easily could have been two behind and were helped by a shocking defence and keeper of course. After it went 1-2, I felt the game was changing but credit to them, they went forward and scored a decent third from their point of view – if it had been us going 1-2, we would have stopped attacking and caved in – see Bournemouth and Fulham for recent examples of this. They did score a few decent made and taken goals and nearly had more and for the last half an hour they coasted to the win. The first hour was a close game and you swap the keepers and it might be United winning. I think their defence is poor and can be got at and will continue to be an issue as, if expectedly, they go down but they do have some good individual attacking players. Expect them to be right near the top of the Championship next year but have spent a lot of money so may have to recoup some? They have beaten us 9-1 on aggregate, so cannot really argue they have been far superior than us in two games and are now well clear. I am not sure they are that much better but the games and table suggest otherwise now and we have to accept that. We are the worst team in the league and even Burnley, who are a poor side, are a level above us – today was about finishing/defending/keeping but than that is what football is about. In general play it was quite even, but they did those things far better and were clinical.
Opponent Man of the Match – Assignon and Larsen were both dangerous with running and both got goals. They were maybe the stand outs outfield although Cullen is a tidy player too and you can make a call for Muric, despite a few errors himself, for man of the match. Made 3 or 4 great saves to ensure they stayed in the game and then ahead. Berge was decent and maybe a 7/10 – he was nice and composed and kept the ball but was put under no pressure at all. He just did what he had to really but did have a few good runs with the ball but was maybe more withdrawn than he played for us?
Opponent Weak link – Thought the defence could be got at and O’Shea was slow and made a few errors but they were not given the pressure perhaps we needed to do.
Referee/Officials – Andy Madley. One booking all game – Osborn for pulling someone back I think? They had a few similar that he played on but never went back to caution them. Thought a few decisions could have gone either way but he did let physical contact go a fair bit which I was fine with. Some fans were asking for 50-50’s on Bogle or McBurnie but these were fine really. Not sure there was anything in terms of bad officiating though that changed the game.
Crowd/Atmosphere – Nearly 29,000 was announced and know they count the ST holders who are not there don’t they but it seemed a lot less than that? There were big gaps in the Bramall Lane Upper Tier and some gaps on the Kop/John Street too. By the end there were huge gaps all over. Again. Burnley fans enjoyed their day but even they did not completely fill the lower tier. The atmosphere would be toxic if more fans remained in the round but by the end it is all rather muted as most have left and apathy rules.
Once again Wilder made changes with Larouci and Holgate out and McAtee and Souza in. United started with four at the back and played Hamer behind McBurnie and Brereton Diaz/McAtee out wide. Burnley kept faith with Arijanet Muric in goal despite his recent errors and former Blade Sander Berge started in midfield. The Norwegian got a mixture of cheers and boos when his name was announced prior to kick off.
The game started with both teams coughing up possession too easily and it showed why they occupying the bottom two places of the table. Burnley were looking to move it around more than the home side who were trying to feed off McBurnie or find the channel ball down the flanks but neither side were particularly secure in their play. The first chance did come to United when McAtee sent in a whipped cross and McBurnie converged and seemed set to score but his finish was saved at point blank range by Muric. The striker really should have scored. Burnley responded and Cullen had an effort blocked before they nearly got in down the right-hand side. United then had the next significant effort when the ball was played into Brereton Diaz who got in but once again Muric smothered the ball and Souza took too long on the rebound. It had been an even game but United had created two good chances to open the scoring.
Vitinho then had a shot blocked before Grbic saved low down from Foster as United were caught ball watching somewhat as both teams started to open more. Vitinho headed narrowly wide from Larsen’s cross. Berge then fed Larsen who shot not far wide as Burnley started to look the more dangerous after United had created the good early opportunities. Foster had a header saved from Assignon’s cross and United started to drop deeper and struggle with the movement of some of the nimble Burnley forward players. However, United broke out and after good work from McBurnie initially to hold the ball up, he played it to Hamer who returned it to the Scottish striker who hit a powerful shot on the angle that was tipped over the bar.
Hamer then had an effort that was saved after more decent build up with Brereton Diaz involved but Burnley were able to quickly move it forward soon after this and Odobert had a shot blocked.
The opening goal came when Burnley were allowed to move through the midfield without so much of a challenge as Souza stood off and the ball was played forward. It dropped to LARSEN who hit a shot but it clipped a United player which seemed to take the pace off the ball. Somehow Grbic failed to react and the ball squirmed into the net with his dive seemingly inexcusably late.
Incredibly, 0-1 became 0-2 almost instantly. Burnley broke down the right and Brereton Diaz got beat too easily and with Osborn and Trusty not able to sense the danger, ASSIGNON got in too easily with no challenge incoming. His toe poke perhaps clipped Trusty but again Grbic was way too slow to react and his lame thrust of his foot merely diverted the ball into the net. The boos rang round the Lane as shocking defending and goalkeeping had combined to see the Blades with an almighty challenge to get anything from a game that they actually had created the better opportunities from so far.
More poor play from Grbic saw the ball not cleared properly and Foster was not far off target for the rampant away side who scented blood. The half time whistle was predictably met by lusty boos from much of the crowd inside the Lane, who rightly voiced their displeasure at the defensive capitulation they had witnessed.
The second half began, with surprisingly no chances from the Blades, but they did at least show some urgency and won an early corner. As the ball was not cleared, United moved it inside and McAtee hit an effort that seemed to be heading to the top corner but somehow Muric clawed it round the post. A fantastic save and the game quickly seemed to be a tale of two keepers, with one making several outstanding saves and another being calamitous in most things he did.
Assignon had a break and an effort saved from Grbic as Trusty once again was too far off his man but United broke quickly and were back in the game. McAtee was brought down but managed to keep going and fed HAMER. The midfielder jinked back inside, sat his man down on the floor and curled an absolute beauty into the far corner. It was game on as the Kop suddenly found their voice! Soon after Muric’s poor kick out fell to Brereton Diaz and his run and low shot was pushed round the post by the keeper who made amends for his mistake.
United seemed to have the momentum but were caught out by a sucker punch on 58 minutes as the away side broke and Assignon got on the ball and with Souza once again unable to react to the initial run, Trusty then inexplicably showed him inside and his low cross was swept home by FOSTER with more appalling marking right in the middle of the defence. Such a simple goal and as the inquest went on, Bogle and Souza had words for a long period after the goal.
Brownhill came on for Larsen before a rare positive moment from Souza, saw a run and shot but it was relatively comfortable for Muric who dived to make the save. Brereton Diaz then had an effort flicked away from Muric as United looked for a way back into the game.
Souza gave way for Archer and then McBurnie poked wide after good work from the substitute. GUDMUNDSSON replaced Vitinho and his impact was instant. The ball was switched across and the Icelandic midfielder was presented with it and came inside and sent a fantastic effort beyond Grbic right into the corner. That was game, set and match. The Burnley fans mocked the Blades fans, although a significant number had already started to depart the terraces.
Grbic’s disastrous performance continued when he kicked it straight to Brownhill, whose attempted long-range return was wide before Gudmundsson then crashed an effort off the post. United looked a sorry state at the point. Norwood and Brooks came on for McBurnie and Hamer before Fofani and Amdouni took the place of Odobert and Foster.
Burnley were now keeping possession to cheers from the visiting crowd who were imploring former hero Berge to add the final nail in the coffin but at this stage, Burnley were in cruise control whilst in contrast, many of the home team looked like they simply did not want to be there. Bogle had a late run and effort saved but the final eight minutes of stoppage time was played with neither side able to impact the scoring and by the end, the Clarets had coasted to an easy win in what had been a relatively close game for long periods. The Blades fans who remained made their feelings known, as they proved once again that they are by a long distance, the worst side in the league and one of the poorest ever seen at this level.
United – We had 3 or 4 improved games but then last week we lost rather meekly at Brentford and today we got smashed at home – at least in terms of the scoreline but the side that is supposed to be, not much worse than us! I have seen a lot of fans getting upset about Burnley not getting the criticism we have had but today that talk has been put in the bin. We have lost 9-1 on aggregate to them and whilst today the score did kind of flatter them, the last half hour our effort and attitude was embarrassing and showed why a number should be leaving the club at the close of the season.
A lot will be made of the keeper and maybe if we swapped keepers, it’s a close game but the reality is we got pumped again at home. It’s another team that runs through us too much and actually even though we did have chances and got through them at times, we were incredibly open for a home side yet again and the so called next worst team scored four and could have had more.
We started ok but it looked two poor teams and I felt it might be the odd goal that settled it but we did have chances and McBurnie had to score but even outside of this, we had 2 or 3 other decent chances and Muric made some good saves. They had a few chances but felt we easily had the better ones and should have been ahead in the first half hour. Not sure either side were great. Then the opener comes and yes it takes a nick, but it’s so poor from Grbic. We showed the lack of leaders as Wilder admitted post game as no one got hold of the side and we were cut through again straight after. Again, the keeper is poor for me, despite a bit of a deflection, and has to save it but the defending in the build up is awful yet again. This sort of took the air out of the whole ground. We had created the better chances but bang, one, two and the whole game and atmosphere is markedly different. The crowd then turn and you can see why and every mistake after this is magnified. It became much like many of the other home games (against much better teams).
The break came and I was shocked he did not send a message with changes to the side but we did have a bit of a go and McAtee had a good effort saved and then we score a decent goal. I thought we might get back in it and then if it became 2-2, we might go and win. BBD has a chance but before we could get the momentum turned, they break and score such an easy goal. The defending from Souza and Trusty is appalling but the whole side is ripped though. This kills it and after this, the game sort of petered out but I felt it was telling that so many of our players sort of gave up. There was over half an hour to go and although we maybe were a tad unfortunate to be 1-3 down (can argue was all down to our own shambolic defending) we still had time to get one back and put an equally shaken side under pressure. We seemed to completely give up and then the fourth came and after this, it was a really hard watch and they moved the ball around and could have had more. The players basically mailed it in and that is inexcusable. There was no fight or togetherness and the team simply wanted the game done.
To concede so many goals at home shows what a soft touch this side is. No leaders, no backbone, no organisation, and no fight at all. Hecky may have gone but have we really got that much better under Wilder? I am not sure we have. It has been better but we are still having so many hammerings and games where we seem to almost down tools. I thought Wilder would not allow this but it has happened as much under him as Hecky. Away from home we have looked more solid and at least tried to be hard to beat but the reality is, that despite our obvious fitness and ability deficiencies, I am not sure tactically we have improved that much and just are so easy to run though. Today, we could have scored 2 or 3 at least but equally, a really poor side created too much. A lot will be made of the keeper and he is appalling but the whole side as a unit does not get tight, does not pick up (in open or set play) and in simple terms opponents score goals a lot easier than it is for us to do the same at the other end.
Some of the efforts of individuals in terms of basic sprinting, covering and tackling is laughable – Souza, Trusty are two that stand out but actually there are others (Hamer, McAtee to name another two) that are woeful out of possession. The players shrug and point but no one actually leads or tries to bring them together. The game today was relatively close in terms of possession, chances and actually moves of merit and if we have a keeper of any kind of ability, we perhaps are right in the game. However, even all that said, the way we simply gave up after an hour was really telling about these players as individuals. I genuinely would not care if we saw none of them again (maybe Arblaster and Hamer – on the ball – apart). They are a side that seems individually to blame others but not realise that actually each and every one of them is guilty for this shambolic season and that means ultimately collectively we look simply abject and out of our level. I do get that skill wise, many are not good enough and athletically and power wise, we cannot compete but I also think players can do more than walk and try and run/sprint. We stand off constantly, even in the first half of games so teams just have such an easy passage to create chances.
We are done now but were a long time ago. Indeed, we were done the minute we sold Ndiaye and Berge. I do not get why we are playing or using the likes of Archer, McAtee and even BBD/Holgate who will not be here. I also would add Norwood and a few others – it is bizarre as Wilder will not play Foderingham but then others who probably will not be here – are playing still?
We have 5 games left but I do not see another point now. We will lose the next two at Man Utd and Newcastle and then Forest (better than Burnley) will have too much pace and power for us. Spurs will be way too good and then Everton away might be fighting for something. We have not won since January at Luton and not at home since Brentford and after the recent mini run of improvements in performances (still got few points) we are back to two poor shows and comfortable defeats.
For me the season cannot end soon enough. It has been an absolute disaster from start to finish. On and off the pitch, we have shown no kind of ability on and off the field to suggest we are a top flight side. We are a laughing stock to the wider football world and now have wasted another chance to try and establish ourselves in the top flight. It is so hard to get here and yet again we have frittered away any chance to try and remain here. We have not even given it a go.
Today, to see Burnley (who are 2nd bottom) run riot and another team that came here and ran us off our home pitch, was really hard to take but we have come to expect it from a pitiful side that has been badly set up and organised by two managers now – granted the lack of ability is an even bigger factor.
The conformation of relegation will come next week and if what Wilder says is right, then soon we will see some changes and we can start moving out some personnel and bringing in some players who can give us some enthusiasm and pace/running and try and stop us being such an easy team to beat. I am sick of us just getting beat to easily and players just simply accepting it. Today was not against a good side but another side who will go down. The players should be ashamed at their efforts (particularly the final half hour).
Ratings:
Grbic 2/10 – I do not know what to say anymore? This guy may have appearances as a goalkeeper and at a decent level but everything I have seen so far suggests otherwise. He is a complete nightmare. He has no redeeming features and every time the ball gets close to him, I wince. He cannot kick (several times he put us under pressure and nearly led to other goals) and he does not command at all. His basic handling is poor, often spills it and he does not take crosses. Ultimately the biggest issue – I have mentioned lots already – is that any kind of shot that goes towards him, looks like going in. He had no chance with the 3rd and 4th but I cannot remember any other good saves that he made all game (even basic ones he makes a meal of) and the first two goals I felt were awful. People may defend him and say they were both deflected but the first in particular, he had an age to react and seemed to dive way too late and it goes in so slowly. The second one he seems to guess somewhat but again he still should react better and why he goes with his feet, I am not sure? Should do better again. He is a nightmare and the sarcastic cheers when he does something basic sums it up. I would not have been shocked if we had subbed him at half time. Wilder will show he is incredibly stubborn if he keeps picking him as he is not good enough and we need to see if we can move him on in the summer. It has been another awful signing and further question marks against our recruitment team. I would bring Davies/Wes/Amissah in (anyone) for the final games. We are achieving nothing but unsettling an already shocking defence by persisting with him.
Bogle 6/10 – Thought he was one of our stand out players with Hamer. He at least got forward, got on the ball and showed some positivity. He had a few decent runs first half and then second half took this on even more and a lot of good things came from him. He did make some mistakes defensively but I just think he looked more interested than most and kept going to the end too.
Osborn 5/10 – Started the game ok and did the basics but the 2nd goal he is really static and then thought his performance started to drop off and he too made mistakes – mainly positionally. He always does his best and kept trying but thought they got down this side a fair bit and second half, they had a number of chances from players cutting in. I’d probably retain him but as a squad player/sub that can cover.
Ahmedhodzic 4.5/10 – He had improved in that period of games but made some mistakes last week and today felt he was ball watching too much as they had so many uncontested efforts/headers in the box. He did at least try and bring things out from the back and one of the few who wanted to advance but he never seems to impose himself physically on the attackers and we seem to just get bullied or the ball sticks too easy in our defence. Teams have so many free headers when balls come in. We need to move him on and hopefully can get a decent fee in the summer.
Trusty 2/10 – Like Grbic, do not see any qualities in him at all. He looks a decent size and appears on the surface to have some athleticism but he has none at all and is weak in the air and in tackles. He has no idea how to defend, where to stand, how to cut down angles or where to show forwards. Teams routinely go down this inside left channel as he switches off and loses his runners. He never gets close enough and then often gives them space to shoot. The second goal he did not get across but there was other moments when he left his attacker free. The second half one moment I watched him at a corner just leave his man completely for a free header. It was embarrassing. The third goal is woeful as he just ambles back and then lets his player come inside. He has no aggression in him at all but seems like another who has no concept where to be positionally and as a result we have huge gaps. I have seen people say he did well for Birmingham but they were right near the bottom – surely we aspire to do much better than that? Another we need to move on as he is simply not good enough.
Souza 2/10 – Feels like I am singling Grbic, Trusty and Souza out but they were by some distance the worst players for United. I watched him carefully today. He is an absolute phony of a footballer. He does not get out of a light job, hides from the ball and then seems to almost stand in areas where he knows he will not have to influence the game (in and out of possession). How teams have seen a player in him before I do not know? Another that looks a big unit but offers zilch. Berge two or three times just sauntered past him and he did not even try and attempts to get back. He kept on pointing or blaming others but his act seems to have worn thin on most (Robinson at Wolves, Bogle today who have had enough of him). He never seems to get on the ball (one run and shot and decent tackle are the only two decent things I can recall him doing all game?). Off the ball he is laughable. Teams have the run of midfield and today they had so many chances where he was nowhere near pressing the ball or marking. The third goal he just wanders over and lets his man run off. His sub got cheers and that says it all. Another we need to get rid of. A loser in his attitude and his results (his teams keep getting relegated). I’ve got as much chance playing for Brazil as him.
Hamer 6/10 – On the ball he might be more a 7 as he showed some nice touches and at least always looked to pass forward. Couple of decent moments first half and looked to link but maybe got crowded out. Second half he scored a superb goal and a lot of the decent attacks he had saw him involved. Off the ball he is really poor. Today, I will defend him in that he was in a 10/Attacking midfield role but still he is woeful at getting back or trying to close down and make it hard for players to move the ball on. He needs to get much fitter in the summer. I do not think a Premier League club signs him, so he will be one of few you can reasonably hope we build around next year.
Arblaster 5.5/10 – Not his best day. A few ok passes and moments where he came out of tight spaces but he gave it away a fair bit (did win it back after he lost it once or twice). He tried a few flicks and overhead knocks that lost it and twice he actually lost possession that led to chances to them. He does not hide and kept plugging away and will try and be positive but as the game went on, his influence faded and in the end Burnley dominated the final half an hour of midfield and he was just chasing things.
McAtee 5/10 – Another frustrating game. He did have the decent pass for McBurnie and also the assist for the Hamer goal – added into a good shot -that was well saved but for the most part he frustrated me again. His corners were awful and too often he hit the first man on other crosses. He lost possession too cheaply and I felt just ran into trouble. Defensively he does not get back at all and this put Osborn under too much pressure all game. I would take him out now. He is not really having a huge impact and will not be our player next season.
Brereton Diaz 5/10 – He has dropped off last few games after his excellent start. First half, he had a few moments and maybe should do better with the shot on the angle. Did try and keep the ball and possession but it was all a bit scrappy. Had another effort not far off an then 2nd half he had the shot saved at 1-2. After this, along with the rest of the team, he sort of lost his way and ended up deeper and deeper.
McBurnie 4.5/10 – Held the ball up a few times first half and won a few free kicks before having the great chance that he missed – he has to score that. Another driven shot tipped over but after the break I thought he offered little really and that the centre half started to win more loose balls. He became a peripheral figure after it went 1-3 and eventually came off.
Subs:
Archer 5/10 – Had one run and cross for McBurnie but at this stage, we were struggling to get any headway and living off scraps.
Norwood – Not sure why he came on? Seems pointless when we are chasing the game? Not sure I saw him touch the ball much at all.
Brooks – Every touch came off him or he passed it straight to them. A really untidy final 10 minutes where he probably showed why he has not been playing. Looked way off it.
Manager: Wilder 3/10 – Another hammering at the Lane and this time to a fellow relegation side. We were in the game I suppose but never felt we properly had any control of the game at any stage even at 0-0. We saw less of the ball in midfield of them but did not have many threats down the sides which our formation should have been tailor made for. I thought there were big gaps all over the side again and we looked too far strung out with no cohesiveness at all in terms of each component of the side. We were not helped by the keeper but I am unsure why he went to a 4 at the back and took our best defender (outside of Robinson who is injured) in recent weeks, Holgate, out? The Souza and McAtee reintroductions did not work but then at 0-2, he makes no changes to the shape or personnel. We get back in it but then concede but again way too slow to make changes and when the final ones came, the game was done?
I have to be honest, for all the talk some have been throwing out that he will sort it out and if anyone can change it, he will, I am not convinced. I wasn’t when he came back and still am not. We have been better under Hecky but not by much and results have shown that. We are still getting hammered in many games, still have no shape, pattern of play or clear identity to how we are playing? We get out passed every week but also despite not having possession and sitting back look awful defensively. I do not see what his plan is for the side. Maybe when he gets more new players in, he can further change it but the keeping swap has been a disaster really and made us far worse (if that was possible!). I hope I am wrong and he can make the changes to the side in terms of players that come in that are fitter, more tactically astute and positionally know the game better. However, I have not seen anything so far to suggest that he was the right move. I think we should have gone down a new route. I get we need a new owner and that things might not change hugely till then, but that is all the reason to do something different. I fear, with few signings over the summer (we are skint so won’t being many in) and a poor start, then I worry where we go next? He knows he cannot walk out as no one else at any kind of level would have him but equally I just do not see anything tactically or even motivationally to suggest he will arrest the slide. Those convinced he will are banking it on a huge turnaround in playing staff but we do not have the funds to make this happen so it surely will be much of the same with the only hope being that it is a lower level. However, do we really think players like Grbic, Osborn, Trusty, Osula etc who all could end up starting are going to be anywhere near a side in the top half of even the division below?
Burnley – They won 4-1 but not even sure they were that great. That is not sour grapes. They got two quick goals but easily could have been two behind and were helped by a shocking defence and keeper of course. After it went 1-2, I felt the game was changing but credit to them, they went forward and scored a decent third from their point of view – if it had been us going 1-2, we would have stopped attacking and caved in – see Bournemouth and Fulham for recent examples of this. They did score a few decent made and taken goals and nearly had more and for the last half an hour they coasted to the win. The first hour was a close game and you swap the keepers and it might be United winning. I think their defence is poor and can be got at and will continue to be an issue as, if expectedly, they go down but they do have some good individual attacking players. Expect them to be right near the top of the Championship next year but have spent a lot of money so may have to recoup some? They have beaten us 9-1 on aggregate, so cannot really argue they have been far superior than us in two games and are now well clear. I am not sure they are that much better but the games and table suggest otherwise now and we have to accept that. We are the worst team in the league and even Burnley, who are a poor side, are a level above us – today was about finishing/defending/keeping but than that is what football is about. In general play it was quite even, but they did those things far better and were clinical.
Opponent Man of the Match – Assignon and Larsen were both dangerous with running and both got goals. They were maybe the stand outs outfield although Cullen is a tidy player too and you can make a call for Muric, despite a few errors himself, for man of the match. Made 3 or 4 great saves to ensure they stayed in the game and then ahead. Berge was decent and maybe a 7/10 – he was nice and composed and kept the ball but was put under no pressure at all. He just did what he had to really but did have a few good runs with the ball but was maybe more withdrawn than he played for us?
Opponent Weak link – Thought the defence could be got at and O’Shea was slow and made a few errors but they were not given the pressure perhaps we needed to do.
Referee/Officials – Andy Madley. One booking all game – Osborn for pulling someone back I think? They had a few similar that he played on but never went back to caution them. Thought a few decisions could have gone either way but he did let physical contact go a fair bit which I was fine with. Some fans were asking for 50-50’s on Bogle or McBurnie but these were fine really. Not sure there was anything in terms of bad officiating though that changed the game.
Crowd/Atmosphere – Nearly 29,000 was announced and know they count the ST holders who are not there don’t they but it seemed a lot less than that? There were big gaps in the Bramall Lane Upper Tier and some gaps on the Kop/John Street too. By the end there were huge gaps all over. Again. Burnley fans enjoyed their day but even they did not completely fill the lower tier. The atmosphere would be toxic if more fans remained in the round but by the end it is all rather muted as most have left and apathy rules.
