Post by deadbat on May 30, 2024 10:34:36 GMT
2023/24 SUFC SEASON REVIEW / SCHOOL REPORT
Summary / Conclusions and Awards
I normally list all my player ratings and do averages but did miss a handful of games this year so not sure it would be an accurate reading of things – also not sure there would be many surprises? The likes of Hamer, Robinson, Bogle, Arblaster, BBD and McBurnie (when he played) got ok marks. The rest had the odd decent games but largely it would not be a pretty data set. I am not sure I can be bothered to input all the marks and do it -sorry! That kind of sums up how I feel about this season. I did the school report and grades etc, as I felt I cannot just do them in the good seasons like last year and wanted to still try and sum up the season. It was not an easy write up I can tell you. I do not like being so negative (some may say I do!) and want to look at positives but as I sit here typing this, it is hard to be optimistic about things moving forward.
This season was a disaster from start to finish. Not even I thought it would go as badly as it has done. We sold our best players, brought in a whole heap of rubbish replacements, were barely competitive all season and got hammered so many times – even more gallingly – mostly at home. We were a complete soft touch and neither manager had any idea how to get us playing to a plan, pattern or style that may make us competitive. We were wretched almost every game and to only win 3 games sums it up (and 1 so far this calendar year and 0 at home!). Overseeing this absolute car crash was an owner that somehow gets defended – with the often-applied line ‘it’s not his fault he has got no money’ but even without funds, the ownership surely has to do a far better job of ensuring we can be at least competitive and not a laughing stock. He went back to a manager that failed (admittedly had no choice but to remove Hecky but he had thrown him under the bus) and this made no real difference.
The season is done at least but it will take a long time for players, fans and the manager to recover. The losing mentality is kind of set in and takes a long time to turn that around. Granted we have so many players out of contract but not convinced Wilder and his ‘team’ will be able to get the right players in from the start. Teams are already signing players and we are again bumbling around waiting for this ownership change that probably will never happen.
When you look at the recently announced list of which players are still here – it is an absolute embarrassment. We have had 3/5 years in the top flight and we essentially (if Anel/Souza and some of the other signings we made last summer move on) have a squad that consists of Hamer, Arblaster (if not sold), Bogle and a trio of crocks (Davies, Brewster, RND) alongside players not good enough (Trusty) and too young to really be ready to play every week (Osula, Brooks, Curtis). Yet somehow despite all the Premier League money and not really spending much – we are skint! We have acquired a patch of turf in Dore that may one day be a training ground and talk about Category 1. We then have bought back some land we had before either side of the Kop and might re-open a hotel, that we shut down. Oh and we have completely reshaped our backroom team/scouting by bringing in two people we had before in Hoyland and Allen (and they made little difference before!)
Yet some say these are big developments and credit the owner! Sorry, not me. I think he has to go and whether the speculation comes to fruition we will wait and see but the notion we just need someone with more money is not totally true. We just need someone who can run us probably and make better decisions. The manager I think will limp on but his chest bumping and determination to turn it around will probably fade when he realises when he cannot afford any players to do this and after we struggle next season, he will probably move on and that sadly will be the end of his managerial career (at least top 2 league level). If new owners come in, he will be jettisoned anyway you would imagine.
I hope my cynicism does not come to fruition and we see the changes we need but I do not see it sadly. I think we are in for a bumpy ride the next few seasons. We will all be there and hope that we see a side that at least competes and surely wins more games next season but I do not see any hope of a promotion challenge and feel we need to just consolidate on and off the field for a period and try and then have some sort of proper plan with an infrastructure that can see us start to have a purpose and idea how to be a top-level football club and remain there.
Deadbat’s Awards for 2023/24
Player of the Season: Gus Hamer (Last season –Ndiaye)
Runner up: Jack Robinson (Last season – Ahmedhodzic)
Third: Jayden Bogle (Last season – Egan)
*Arblaster probably did not play enough games to qualify despite getting a better grade than those above. Ditto for Brereton Diaz hence why placed third.
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Moment of the season: The Norwood winner v Wolves.
At least we had a win and a late goal in front of the Kop with almost the last kick is always special!
Worst moment of the season: Ndiaye sale
The Berge one sort of finished it off but the moment the confirmation of the Ndiaye sale filtered through and we had the scenes of him arriving in Marseille airport, it was very much a punch to the gut. Any slim chance we had of being competitive, completely disappeared at this moment.
Goal of the season: Hamer at Forest
Liked Archer’s v Wolves and McAtee v Brentford runs it close but the Hamer one meant something at the time, was early in the season and at that stage we still had some hope!
Best individual display: Arblaster v Chelsea
After a shocking season, to see a Sheffield lad almost run midfield against players who cost billions (in total) was a rare positive. Souza v Luton ran this close. He was poor most of the way but inspired this day.
Best team performance of the season: Brentford (H)
We deserved to win this game. The other two wins could have gone either way really. At Brentford we won 1-0 and it should have been more and the only game we played well pretty much from start to finish.
Worst team performance of the season: Burnley (A)
Take your pick from so many defeats. I think whilst we go hammered at home so many times, the 5-0 at Burnley was the moment that hit so many hard. This was worse than Newcastle at home and the other big defeats – Arsenal, Brighton x2, Villa etc in my opinion as they were the next worst team and they were miles better! Hecky got sacked after this and despite a mini surge for about 2 games – the rest of the season continued the same trajectory.
Pass of the season: Hamer v Chelsea
In the lead up to the Bogle goal – yes, it’s slim pickings. Hamer has made some decent passes in several other goals (Archer at Villa another that stands out).
Save of the season: Foderingham v Salah
Wes made a number but this one sticks out and has been nominated for an award. Was a brilliant instinctive save.
Most improved player: Jayden Bogle
Weird one this as Bogle had gone backwards in the promotion season after showing lots of glimpses in the previous two campaigns. Baldock was out injured a lot and despite some up and down performances to begin with, he was very good for the most part under Wilder and improved his commitment and attitude too. Maybe this should be called Comeback Award?
Unsung hero: Ben Osborn
Not the most talented player and lacks height, strength, athleticism and pace. So hard to know what he does do well? He tries and never hides. Plays a lot of positions and never given a run in one and at times out of his depth but keeps plugging away.
Biggest disappointment (player): Anel Ahmedhodzic
Souza I expected much more when I saw his physique and resume but I have never seen him play so hard to know what to expect. I thought Anel would be fine at the top level as he was a defender who could use the ball and brave/quite quick but the power and pace was way too much and his attitude as the season went on looked like someone who had given up. Thought he’d go on and be a top flight player and be comfortable but been a long way off that. Archer was also not quite up to the billing we thought he would be and far from the difference maker some made out he would be.
Best opponent (player) v United: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle) joint with Bukhary Saka (Arsenal)
So many really that have been too good for us but wingers Gordon and Saka were stand outs as their teams ripped us apart. Pedro for Brighton was excellent too in the Cup.
Worst opponent (player) v United: Fabio Silva (Wolves)
Came on, got booked, missed a sitter and then gave a penalty away in the win for United. Went To Rangers in Scotland and struggled there too.
Signing of the season: Brereton Diaz
Sadly, a loan player and one that will not stay. Hamer was decent but had quiet spells and needs to do more off the ball. BBD came in and made an instant impact and scored goals, assisted and looked a really clever player. Gave us an outlet we did not have. Shame we cannot keep him. Hamer was probably a close second.
Worst signing of the season: Ivo Grbic
Tough competition and the whole summer window could win it as a cumulative award (Souza, Trusty, Larouci, Slimane, Traore – is to be frank a pathetic set of signings and only one may remain 12 months later). Archer and McAtee never really lived up the hype when they signed and we made a few other poor loan signings in Thomas and Holgate but Grbic has to take this award. I am not sure he did anything right and looked an abysmal goalkeeper. Somehow we have to try and move him on this summer but the scouts who saw him play for United will surely be running a mile!
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Thanks for reading if you managed to stay with it!
See you next season when hopefully it might be an easier read!
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Up the Blades!
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