Post by deadbat on Feb 26, 2011 20:52:16 GMT
Sheffield United’s dreadful week finished with yet another awful performance and result as they lost to another relegation rival at Bramall Lane. Derby County were the latest side to come to the Lane and register a victory as the home side edged ever closer to the now inevitable relegation to league one. The game began with the Blades on top but a Derby goal against the run of play completed dented the confidence and United’s second half performance was simply not good enough. The game ended with chants for the removal of the board and understandably it was a very negative atmosphere inside the Lane as many fans have now simply had enough of the complete mismanagement of the club from top to bottom.
United began with exactly the same side that ended the disastrous evening at Glanford Park, save for Ertl in for the suspended Lowry. Derby, captained by Robbie Savage, but could not include Blades loanee Jamie Ward. They too were in dreadful form and were on the verge of a relegation fight themselves.
The game began with both Quinn and Riise prominent down the flanks. Riise put over two dangerous crosses that evaded Evans and Cresswell. Then Quinn was chopped down when in full flow but the free kick came to nothing. United’s best chance came when a corner was not cleared and Evans effort was scrambled away before from the rebound Cresswell ought to have scored but his effort was cleared away just in front of the line from Barker. United were on top and Riise had an effort from a free kick saved from loanee Fielding.
Doyle then headed over when well positioned and it did seem as if United were in control but then against the run of play the visitors took the lead. A deep free kick to the back post saw Ayala completely unmarked and he sent a ball across the box for ROBINSON to tap in. The scorer was completely free and the inquest in the United defence began again as yet another set play resulted in the ball in back of the Blades net.
Savage was booked for a late challenge on Quinn but United wasted the free kick before Derby had an opportunity when Green sent a cross over that was deflected behind with Simonsen scrambling across his line. Evans found the Bramall Lane upper tier with a volleyed effort and then his shot from the diagonal was comfortably saved by Fielding.
United had began the game well but now were struggling to create chances and the boos that greeted them at half time were probably as much for the scoreline and the general frustration at the winless run as the actual performance which probably merited they should not have been behind.
The second half saw Riise get beyond his man and send over a dangerous cross within the opening minute. Fielding could not punch clear effectively but Lowton’s lobbed effort was well over the bar when he really ought to have done better. A few half chances for Evans and then Collins from a corner did not really look like causing Derby any real problems and the crowd were now becoming a little frustrated. Derby were offering little in attack but were controlling the midfield and not really giving United any real chances that seemed to be relying on long throws and knock downs for any kind of opportunity with only Riise looking likely to get beyond the defence. Cresswell then headed over with the keeper once again failing to get there when a header down would have brought the equaliser.
Cresswell was taken off to loud cheers and replaced by Bogdanovic before not long after Quinn and Doyle made way for Vokes and Bent. United now had 4 strikers on the field but had little width and it was clear it was very much route one stuff for the remainder of the game. United were struggling to make much headway. Derby broke and Robinson’s curling effort saw Simonsen push the ball around the post as Untied now looked completely disorganised. United’s best chance and maybe only real effort on goal other than the scrambled efforts cleared off the line early on, came with 20 minutes remaining. A corner swung over from Riise was met by Lowton but his firm header was flicked over from Fielding. The final stages of the game degenerated into a scrappy period which suited the Rams and United could not create any real chances. Chants from on the terraces indicated the growing anger as the game and United’s season seemed to be petering out. United could not even offer any kind of final flourish and the final chance fell to Derby as they broke with all of the home players inside the box at a Blades corner. Robinson was away on goal and seemed certain to seal the game but Simonsen saved with his feet to deny him. The final whistle came not long after as United slumped to yet another defeat with many fans probably now just wishing this horrific season would just end.
United – Wretched. A pretty desperate performance from start to finish against an awful side but the fact that we could not break them down says it all about how bad we are. We have played arguably the worse 3 sides in the division (outside of us and maybe Preston) and lost them. That says we are simply not good enough. Today, we played a side that was as low as us in confidence that were shipping goals and not scoring them. They probably could not believe they found an opponent as bad as us.
We actually began the game ok and for the first half hour we were the better side and had a few half chances with a couple cleared off the line in a scramble but it was hardly scintillating football and a lot of percentage stuff really. Quinn and Riise began well and looked decent on the ball and always tried to go at people. However, when they scored with pretty much their first attack of note; it seemed to completely change United’s players’ attitude and play. After this we were utterly hopeless. The heads went down and we barely created a chance of note for the final hour of the game. Lowton had a header tipped over but other than this I cannot remember the keeper having a save to make or us having a clear chance. The second half performance was abject. We did not keep the ball, had no urgency and did not create chances. I would say we got a few decent balls in the box with Riise in particular putting across a few dangerous crosses but no one even tried to get on the end of them. The number of headers and clearances Derby made unopposed was scary. It was if our players did not even want to attack the ball. Even at the end when we were lumping balls into the box and had 4 up front (to be honest we were lumping it most of the day!) no one even got close to the ball.
It really is awful at the moment. There is no kind of football, shape or idea in the side but more than that there is no organisation, no defensive solidity or spine to the side at all. We have no leadership and to see the armband being tossed around from Cresswell to Quinn to then Bent I think summed it up. With cloggers like Doyle, Ertl and Collins lined up with players such as Nosworthy and Cresswell who are done at this level but somehow seem to have kept themselves in the top 2 divisions. The few bright spots were Quinn and Lowton down the left, Riise showed a few flashes and Evans merely for effort. The rest may aswell have been sat with me on the Kop. The team is maybe as bad as I have ever seen at the Lane but with a set of abject players mixed with loans who don’t care and players who are simply on the way out/down; it is really a dire mix.
Of course McCabe and the rest of the board are 90% to blame. From awful managerial appointments to dreadful signings being sanctioned to the sales of our better players to mismanagement of the club at all levels. He and the rest of them have made an utter mess of what was a promising situation 5 or 6 years ago. He has got pretty much every decision possible wrong since we went down with maybe the Blackwell appointment the one salvation in a strange sort of way after the Robson fiasco (he kept us up and then got us to the playoff final despite more sales and dreadful football – but should have been allowed to leave after the Burnley game and clearly was incapable of taking us to the next level). This season the decision to sack him after a game was 3 months too late; the Speed appointment backfired and made things even worse. The most recent appointment has been a complete disaster. That brings me onto Adams. Of course he is not the reason why we are where we are and he is right we have had 4 managers this season but he had basically pushed us over the edge. He like McCabe; has done nothing right in his albeit shorter spell at the club. I think most managers that came in would have been able to come in and get at least win. To not win a game at all is now beyond embarrassing and the performances and results in the last week maybe are the final straw.
He keeps going on about it not being his side which is true to a degree but as a manager he still should be responsible for organising, motivating and coaching a set of players and in that regard he has failed miserably. He also has been able to begin in 7 or 8 players and barely any has had any kind of significant impact. Indeed, Doyle, Collins and Bent are embarrassingly bad. The first two are truly shocking and the notion we have to watch them next season is frightening. Those saying they are the best he could have brought in with the funds, then I would say that says a lot about him as a manager? Surely he could have found better from all his experience of management and in the lower leagues? Also he could have tried harder to keep Bartley, Britton and Ward. At least till the end of the season. People have said they wanted to go but they did not seem desperate to get out before Adams came?
His most recent interview today suggests he is resigned to his fate even though he did not seem as down as I thought. I think he know he may be going in the next week or so but that there is nothing he can do about it. It is just when rather than if now. He has used a myriad of excuses such as ‘if only we could get in front’ or ‘it is the defence’ or ‘it is the strikers’. The truth of the matter is the team is not good enough and he has no idea how to get anything more or even the best out of them. He publically slated them in week and then named the same side man for man; except Ertl for Lowry which he had no choice over? Why did he not shake things up or try something different? The fact is he played the same side and they still were not good enough says how much of an affect he has having. Maybe they are not capable of doing any better but the fact he got no real reaction does tell me a lot.
It appears sadly that he is not good enough and that there is a reason why he has managed so many clubs in his career and was bobbing along in the bottom tier when we took him back up the leagues. I would have liked him to succeed. He seems to be a decent bloke and a Blade to boot but I am not sure whether we can keep going on like this. People may say what good is it changing the manager but at the moment we may have no choice? Granted we are probably down but I cannot see anything at all that he is even offering for us for next season and that is why it is hard to see an argument to see he can turn it around even next season. Some may say just keep him in charge now till the end of the season but maybe we need to bring someone else in to give them a chance to build for next season? Or if we have any ambitions (I know we in reality are gone) of staying up then the board has to ask. If they leave him in charge another week or so and another defeat or two then they are resigned to us being relegated. If that is the case he has failed and we need to look at the management/coaching team for next season which sadly probably does not include him and Cork.. Keeping him around as we lose week in, week out is not going to be the answer and I keep waiting for the chink of light but I cannot see one. Of course much of the problems and the decline of the club are way beyond whoever the manager is and Adams and unless there is some serious action from McCabe and the board in terms of putting more money in or selling up and letting someone else (if they can get someone else to invest) come in; then it seems this club is merely spiralling into oblivion.
Derby – An awful side. Maybe the worst I have seen at the Lane and I have seen some bad ones. However, the worst one remains us. Like so many others before they came and probably were there for the taking but managed to leave the Lane with a goal, a clean sheet and a win. Like so many others before them. We must be closing in on the record for most home defeats in a season (any stattos out there?) ever?
They scored one scrappy goal but played no football of note but soaked up the little pressure we put on them and the one praise you could offer was that they headed and cleared the balls away at the back and competed and won enough of the midfield battle. They were as bad as us in possession and had no real passing moves of note. They were a team that looked rock bottom in confidence but after they survived a few close shaves they got the goal and then grew in confidence and actually saw out the second half far more easily than they would probably have thought with barely a chance created.
Their keeper was put under little to no pressure despite looking shaky on crosses but the centre backs played well I suppose under little pressure. The two full backs were really poor as the plodding Quinn and Riise even outpaced them quite a few times. In midfield, Savage was his usual annoying self but was it was his sort of game and he won enough balls and kept the ball more than his opponents. Up front I cannot remember their strikers offered anything really and other than the goal; they had maybe a couple of other half chances and that was it. Sadly, that was about as good as we offered. A team that ought to be down with us but today’s win probably will be enough for them to stay away from the bottom three and stay up. Without funds and a manager who looks nearly as clueless as ours; they will probably struggle again next year without significant investment and a chance to improve their squad.
To see such an awful, talentless side come to the Lane and win was hard to take but it sums up our season as our spineless, talentless side is so easy to beat it is untrue.
United –
Simonsen 6/10 – Had little chance with the goal but another game where he looked completely indecisive from start to finish despite a few decent saves. Gave his defenders in front of him no confidence as he dithered and dallied over numerous through balls/crosses in which he failed to come for. He is simply not coming for crosses/balls at all and this makes it ultra hard for the defenders in front of him. The moment when he and Collins almost bumped into each other before the latter sliced it clear summed it up. He did make one routine save in the second half and then half blocked the one at the end when they broke away but it is his general command/authority which is the problem with his performances at the moment. There is no communication at all from keeper – defence and this spreads throughout the rest of the defence. The number of times Nosworthy and Collins went for the same balls or rather did not was frightening.
Nosworthy 5/10 – A mixed bag from start to finish. He seemed to completely lose his man on the goal. He did not hide in general play and kept looking for the ball and trying to get forward but most things he did ended in us losing the ball. He was up and down defensively and you never knew what he would do next and compounded this with his strange forays forward when more often than not he would gift the ball to the opposition through a poor ball or touch. At the end when we had chances to get the ball in or for him to lay a simple ball back he messed around on the ball and lost any opportunity we had of getting the ball in the box. His long throws are anything but too as his pathetic looped efforts barely make the 6 yard box. Thank god we only have 4 or 5 more home games to see this embarrassment of a footballer at our club ever again.
Lowton 6.5/10 – Thought he was one of the few bright spots in a sea of abjectivity. Whilst he was certainly not tremendous and made a couple of mistakes, at least showed some genuine pride in the shirt and his effort and commitment could not be faulted. Linked well with Quinn and tried to use ball sensibly and use the ball to feet when he could. Got forward as much as he could and had one poor effort when he hooked over with the keeper off his line and then one good effort when his header was tipped over. Playing in an unfamiliar position he may be one of few cornerstones for next season’s league one campaign but hopefully will be at his more natural right back.
Collins 4/10 – He was really poor for the most part. Despite standing well over 6 feet he actually manages to lose most of his headers and is so slow and lumbering when turned it is painful to watch. A number of botched passes/clearances when he did have the ball brought several groans from the crowd. Technically he is awful but what makes it worse is he does not even win the 50/50 headers/clearances that you would expect of a player who is limited. Lost his man on numerous set plays and generally looked all over the place. What possessed Adams to recruit him is beyond me. A dreadful signing who is with us another 2 seasons after this!
Ertl 5/10 – A very ordinary player who has all the hallmarks of most of this side in terms of little skill, pace or athletic ability. However, I thought he did well at centre back in the two home games versus Millwall and Reading and then he was dropped whilst players mentioned above played. Strange. He is very limited as his countless kicks/headers out of play when under no pressure proved but he at least sticks to what he can do rather than what he can’t. The fact that he looks vastly superior to Collins shows how bad his partner is rather than how good Ertl is.
Doyle 5/10 – Another Adams signing that has made the team worse. He is a Montgomery type player who unfortunately does not cover anywhere near enough ground as Monty. He is always at full stretch and seems to be making a lot of lunge tackles which leads to him either fouling or being on the floor and out of the play. In terms of his attacking abilities he offers very little and his passing and creativity is limited to say the least. Like Collins, a complete waste of resources when we are struggling for funds.
Williamson 6/10 – Thought he showed a few bits and pieces and was trying but not helped by his poor midfield partner and lack of options he also started to fade as United did. He got on the ball when he could but too often his final ball was off aswell and indeed we created little to nothing from the centre of the park and also did not exactly dominate the 50/50 battles here. He committed a lot of needless fouls and often his touch was too heavy or he did not make the right choice when on the ball. The one saving grace is that he also did not hide and tried to always get on the ball; even if he had to go deep to receive it. Think he could be one player who could be kept and hopefully if remains fit would stand out at a lower level.
Cresswell 3/10 – Another atrocious performance. Has played out wide and up front but wherever he plays he is basically a passenger. I cannot recall many things he did right today. Indeed, I cannot remember many things he did today? I saw him late to react to numerous balls or always jumping too early or too late for crosses. He huffed and puffed but overall looked a player totally finished at this level, lacking pace, stamina, strength and more importantly ability. How he keeps starting games is s beyond me?
Evans 6/10 – Not his best day but still one of our better performers even just for the fact he tried to get on the ball, play people in and keep possession. Granted he did not have many chances on goal today other than a few half chances and maybe he could have got on the end of a few decent Riise crosses but like most seemed on his heels. Think he will move on at the end of the season as we won’t be able to afford his wages. Sadly it will probably mean us allowing him to move for no fee to another Championship team simply to get him off the wage bill.
Quinn 7.5/10 – Thought he tried the hardest of all the players in red and white and was very good today. He tried to get past his man and got on the ball when he could. He drew 3 or 4 free kicks and looked up for the fight. In the past I have slammed him but he was one of the few who could say he gave it all today. Not sure why he was taken off when others remained on.
Riise 7.5/10 – My man of the match. Began the game well and made a few good darts down the left with a few decent crosses. Indeed, his service for much of the game was better than most we have seen all season even though some of these were too close the keeper. He has quick feet and is good on the ball and whilst he lacks pace he has decent ability and looked a touch above most of those on the field. A few bright moments in the second half saw some half chances created and he seemed to be the one who could get past his man and out in quality balls. However, when he was move inside his threat seemed to disappear as he got crowded out.
Subs –
Bent – Was booed on by some sections of the crowd (looked up incredulously at the crowd when this happened! – Maybe if he actually looked interested or like he cared then the crowd may get behind him) and then promptly offered nothing. Did not win a header of note and did not have a chance on goal. I can barely recall him touching the ball. A dreadful signing. Would rather we have gambled with a young kid.
Bogdanovic – Came on and was cheered lustily onto the field but this was probably as much to do with the outgoing player as him! Took ball out of play with first touch and then did not do anything really. The one argument I would offer is that it is hard to keep coming on for 10-20 minutes here and there and make an impact every week. It would have been nice if he had been given a run of 5 or 6 starts and then maybe he could bed down in the team. Sadly, Cresswell continues to get picked week in, week out despite awful performances.
Vokes – Cannot remember him touching the ball. Was brought on and put wide left which seemed odd as he is not a wide men. I was all for us going for it but we needed to retain some width and Quinn and Riise were two of our better players. Taking one off and putting the other in the centre meant we had 4 tall centre forward playing up top but no one seemed to know where they were playing or what they were meant to be doing and it looked all a bit hapless.
Officials – Very fussy from start to finish. Seemed more bothered about moving free kicks and throws in’s a few yards back (for both teams) than actually clamping down on bad fouls or constant moaning (some would say refereeing the game) from the like of Savage. The number of times he stopped the game to have words with players such as Savage (booked him later) or Williamson but did not book them was so frustrating as he was stopping the game and preventing any kind of flow whatsoever. At least he did add on the requisite amount of time at the end as Derby’s timewasting had started early and often although we could have played another 60 minutes and we still would have scored!
Crowd/Atmosphere – A good following from Derby who despite their struggles brought a lot of fans and they were very much behind their team. United’s fans were more positive than I thought they might have been. At least for the first part of the game. After Derby scored they were a few mutterings and then the predicted boos at half time despite United being a shade unlucky to be behind.
Half time saw the PA system/Gary Sinclair’s mic pack up. Just about symbolic of things at the club as the half time interval just went by with silence inside the ground bar the moans and grumbles in the toilets (at the performance!).
However the poor second half performance and lack of efforts on goal meant the crowds patience started to snap. As the game petered out into another inevitable defeat we had numerous chants such as ‘You are not fit to wear the shirt!’ to ‘You couldn’t score in a brothel’, to ‘Sack the board!’ and ‘Sack them all.’ This was not the whole ground but enough for the players/board/manage to hear.
The boos at the end were loud and plentiful and more chants of sack the board followed but I did feel a lot of fans were just not bothered as if the heart of the club had been ripped out and there was nothing anyone could do. It was almost as if we have been here before and many are just fated to relegation and years and years of more mediocrity with no hope whatsoever. I felt 10 years ago there may have been more passion and anger but now it is just like a shoulder shrug and barely even a shout or protest. I include myself in that. Sad really but a sign of things to come. I did expect a few fisticuffs or more of a fractious atmosphere as there has been in previous moments reminiscent of this but the silence and bewilderment on many faces just suggested at total and utter resignation in our fate; not just in terms of the relegation but the way the club is going.
United began with exactly the same side that ended the disastrous evening at Glanford Park, save for Ertl in for the suspended Lowry. Derby, captained by Robbie Savage, but could not include Blades loanee Jamie Ward. They too were in dreadful form and were on the verge of a relegation fight themselves.
The game began with both Quinn and Riise prominent down the flanks. Riise put over two dangerous crosses that evaded Evans and Cresswell. Then Quinn was chopped down when in full flow but the free kick came to nothing. United’s best chance came when a corner was not cleared and Evans effort was scrambled away before from the rebound Cresswell ought to have scored but his effort was cleared away just in front of the line from Barker. United were on top and Riise had an effort from a free kick saved from loanee Fielding.
Doyle then headed over when well positioned and it did seem as if United were in control but then against the run of play the visitors took the lead. A deep free kick to the back post saw Ayala completely unmarked and he sent a ball across the box for ROBINSON to tap in. The scorer was completely free and the inquest in the United defence began again as yet another set play resulted in the ball in back of the Blades net.
Savage was booked for a late challenge on Quinn but United wasted the free kick before Derby had an opportunity when Green sent a cross over that was deflected behind with Simonsen scrambling across his line. Evans found the Bramall Lane upper tier with a volleyed effort and then his shot from the diagonal was comfortably saved by Fielding.
United had began the game well but now were struggling to create chances and the boos that greeted them at half time were probably as much for the scoreline and the general frustration at the winless run as the actual performance which probably merited they should not have been behind.
The second half saw Riise get beyond his man and send over a dangerous cross within the opening minute. Fielding could not punch clear effectively but Lowton’s lobbed effort was well over the bar when he really ought to have done better. A few half chances for Evans and then Collins from a corner did not really look like causing Derby any real problems and the crowd were now becoming a little frustrated. Derby were offering little in attack but were controlling the midfield and not really giving United any real chances that seemed to be relying on long throws and knock downs for any kind of opportunity with only Riise looking likely to get beyond the defence. Cresswell then headed over with the keeper once again failing to get there when a header down would have brought the equaliser.
Cresswell was taken off to loud cheers and replaced by Bogdanovic before not long after Quinn and Doyle made way for Vokes and Bent. United now had 4 strikers on the field but had little width and it was clear it was very much route one stuff for the remainder of the game. United were struggling to make much headway. Derby broke and Robinson’s curling effort saw Simonsen push the ball around the post as Untied now looked completely disorganised. United’s best chance and maybe only real effort on goal other than the scrambled efforts cleared off the line early on, came with 20 minutes remaining. A corner swung over from Riise was met by Lowton but his firm header was flicked over from Fielding. The final stages of the game degenerated into a scrappy period which suited the Rams and United could not create any real chances. Chants from on the terraces indicated the growing anger as the game and United’s season seemed to be petering out. United could not even offer any kind of final flourish and the final chance fell to Derby as they broke with all of the home players inside the box at a Blades corner. Robinson was away on goal and seemed certain to seal the game but Simonsen saved with his feet to deny him. The final whistle came not long after as United slumped to yet another defeat with many fans probably now just wishing this horrific season would just end.
United – Wretched. A pretty desperate performance from start to finish against an awful side but the fact that we could not break them down says it all about how bad we are. We have played arguably the worse 3 sides in the division (outside of us and maybe Preston) and lost them. That says we are simply not good enough. Today, we played a side that was as low as us in confidence that were shipping goals and not scoring them. They probably could not believe they found an opponent as bad as us.
We actually began the game ok and for the first half hour we were the better side and had a few half chances with a couple cleared off the line in a scramble but it was hardly scintillating football and a lot of percentage stuff really. Quinn and Riise began well and looked decent on the ball and always tried to go at people. However, when they scored with pretty much their first attack of note; it seemed to completely change United’s players’ attitude and play. After this we were utterly hopeless. The heads went down and we barely created a chance of note for the final hour of the game. Lowton had a header tipped over but other than this I cannot remember the keeper having a save to make or us having a clear chance. The second half performance was abject. We did not keep the ball, had no urgency and did not create chances. I would say we got a few decent balls in the box with Riise in particular putting across a few dangerous crosses but no one even tried to get on the end of them. The number of headers and clearances Derby made unopposed was scary. It was if our players did not even want to attack the ball. Even at the end when we were lumping balls into the box and had 4 up front (to be honest we were lumping it most of the day!) no one even got close to the ball.
It really is awful at the moment. There is no kind of football, shape or idea in the side but more than that there is no organisation, no defensive solidity or spine to the side at all. We have no leadership and to see the armband being tossed around from Cresswell to Quinn to then Bent I think summed it up. With cloggers like Doyle, Ertl and Collins lined up with players such as Nosworthy and Cresswell who are done at this level but somehow seem to have kept themselves in the top 2 divisions. The few bright spots were Quinn and Lowton down the left, Riise showed a few flashes and Evans merely for effort. The rest may aswell have been sat with me on the Kop. The team is maybe as bad as I have ever seen at the Lane but with a set of abject players mixed with loans who don’t care and players who are simply on the way out/down; it is really a dire mix.
Of course McCabe and the rest of the board are 90% to blame. From awful managerial appointments to dreadful signings being sanctioned to the sales of our better players to mismanagement of the club at all levels. He and the rest of them have made an utter mess of what was a promising situation 5 or 6 years ago. He has got pretty much every decision possible wrong since we went down with maybe the Blackwell appointment the one salvation in a strange sort of way after the Robson fiasco (he kept us up and then got us to the playoff final despite more sales and dreadful football – but should have been allowed to leave after the Burnley game and clearly was incapable of taking us to the next level). This season the decision to sack him after a game was 3 months too late; the Speed appointment backfired and made things even worse. The most recent appointment has been a complete disaster. That brings me onto Adams. Of course he is not the reason why we are where we are and he is right we have had 4 managers this season but he had basically pushed us over the edge. He like McCabe; has done nothing right in his albeit shorter spell at the club. I think most managers that came in would have been able to come in and get at least win. To not win a game at all is now beyond embarrassing and the performances and results in the last week maybe are the final straw.
He keeps going on about it not being his side which is true to a degree but as a manager he still should be responsible for organising, motivating and coaching a set of players and in that regard he has failed miserably. He also has been able to begin in 7 or 8 players and barely any has had any kind of significant impact. Indeed, Doyle, Collins and Bent are embarrassingly bad. The first two are truly shocking and the notion we have to watch them next season is frightening. Those saying they are the best he could have brought in with the funds, then I would say that says a lot about him as a manager? Surely he could have found better from all his experience of management and in the lower leagues? Also he could have tried harder to keep Bartley, Britton and Ward. At least till the end of the season. People have said they wanted to go but they did not seem desperate to get out before Adams came?
His most recent interview today suggests he is resigned to his fate even though he did not seem as down as I thought. I think he know he may be going in the next week or so but that there is nothing he can do about it. It is just when rather than if now. He has used a myriad of excuses such as ‘if only we could get in front’ or ‘it is the defence’ or ‘it is the strikers’. The truth of the matter is the team is not good enough and he has no idea how to get anything more or even the best out of them. He publically slated them in week and then named the same side man for man; except Ertl for Lowry which he had no choice over? Why did he not shake things up or try something different? The fact is he played the same side and they still were not good enough says how much of an affect he has having. Maybe they are not capable of doing any better but the fact he got no real reaction does tell me a lot.
It appears sadly that he is not good enough and that there is a reason why he has managed so many clubs in his career and was bobbing along in the bottom tier when we took him back up the leagues. I would have liked him to succeed. He seems to be a decent bloke and a Blade to boot but I am not sure whether we can keep going on like this. People may say what good is it changing the manager but at the moment we may have no choice? Granted we are probably down but I cannot see anything at all that he is even offering for us for next season and that is why it is hard to see an argument to see he can turn it around even next season. Some may say just keep him in charge now till the end of the season but maybe we need to bring someone else in to give them a chance to build for next season? Or if we have any ambitions (I know we in reality are gone) of staying up then the board has to ask. If they leave him in charge another week or so and another defeat or two then they are resigned to us being relegated. If that is the case he has failed and we need to look at the management/coaching team for next season which sadly probably does not include him and Cork.. Keeping him around as we lose week in, week out is not going to be the answer and I keep waiting for the chink of light but I cannot see one. Of course much of the problems and the decline of the club are way beyond whoever the manager is and Adams and unless there is some serious action from McCabe and the board in terms of putting more money in or selling up and letting someone else (if they can get someone else to invest) come in; then it seems this club is merely spiralling into oblivion.
Derby – An awful side. Maybe the worst I have seen at the Lane and I have seen some bad ones. However, the worst one remains us. Like so many others before they came and probably were there for the taking but managed to leave the Lane with a goal, a clean sheet and a win. Like so many others before them. We must be closing in on the record for most home defeats in a season (any stattos out there?) ever?
They scored one scrappy goal but played no football of note but soaked up the little pressure we put on them and the one praise you could offer was that they headed and cleared the balls away at the back and competed and won enough of the midfield battle. They were as bad as us in possession and had no real passing moves of note. They were a team that looked rock bottom in confidence but after they survived a few close shaves they got the goal and then grew in confidence and actually saw out the second half far more easily than they would probably have thought with barely a chance created.
Their keeper was put under little to no pressure despite looking shaky on crosses but the centre backs played well I suppose under little pressure. The two full backs were really poor as the plodding Quinn and Riise even outpaced them quite a few times. In midfield, Savage was his usual annoying self but was it was his sort of game and he won enough balls and kept the ball more than his opponents. Up front I cannot remember their strikers offered anything really and other than the goal; they had maybe a couple of other half chances and that was it. Sadly, that was about as good as we offered. A team that ought to be down with us but today’s win probably will be enough for them to stay away from the bottom three and stay up. Without funds and a manager who looks nearly as clueless as ours; they will probably struggle again next year without significant investment and a chance to improve their squad.
To see such an awful, talentless side come to the Lane and win was hard to take but it sums up our season as our spineless, talentless side is so easy to beat it is untrue.
United –
Simonsen 6/10 – Had little chance with the goal but another game where he looked completely indecisive from start to finish despite a few decent saves. Gave his defenders in front of him no confidence as he dithered and dallied over numerous through balls/crosses in which he failed to come for. He is simply not coming for crosses/balls at all and this makes it ultra hard for the defenders in front of him. The moment when he and Collins almost bumped into each other before the latter sliced it clear summed it up. He did make one routine save in the second half and then half blocked the one at the end when they broke away but it is his general command/authority which is the problem with his performances at the moment. There is no communication at all from keeper – defence and this spreads throughout the rest of the defence. The number of times Nosworthy and Collins went for the same balls or rather did not was frightening.
Nosworthy 5/10 – A mixed bag from start to finish. He seemed to completely lose his man on the goal. He did not hide in general play and kept looking for the ball and trying to get forward but most things he did ended in us losing the ball. He was up and down defensively and you never knew what he would do next and compounded this with his strange forays forward when more often than not he would gift the ball to the opposition through a poor ball or touch. At the end when we had chances to get the ball in or for him to lay a simple ball back he messed around on the ball and lost any opportunity we had of getting the ball in the box. His long throws are anything but too as his pathetic looped efforts barely make the 6 yard box. Thank god we only have 4 or 5 more home games to see this embarrassment of a footballer at our club ever again.
Lowton 6.5/10 – Thought he was one of the few bright spots in a sea of abjectivity. Whilst he was certainly not tremendous and made a couple of mistakes, at least showed some genuine pride in the shirt and his effort and commitment could not be faulted. Linked well with Quinn and tried to use ball sensibly and use the ball to feet when he could. Got forward as much as he could and had one poor effort when he hooked over with the keeper off his line and then one good effort when his header was tipped over. Playing in an unfamiliar position he may be one of few cornerstones for next season’s league one campaign but hopefully will be at his more natural right back.
Collins 4/10 – He was really poor for the most part. Despite standing well over 6 feet he actually manages to lose most of his headers and is so slow and lumbering when turned it is painful to watch. A number of botched passes/clearances when he did have the ball brought several groans from the crowd. Technically he is awful but what makes it worse is he does not even win the 50/50 headers/clearances that you would expect of a player who is limited. Lost his man on numerous set plays and generally looked all over the place. What possessed Adams to recruit him is beyond me. A dreadful signing who is with us another 2 seasons after this!
Ertl 5/10 – A very ordinary player who has all the hallmarks of most of this side in terms of little skill, pace or athletic ability. However, I thought he did well at centre back in the two home games versus Millwall and Reading and then he was dropped whilst players mentioned above played. Strange. He is very limited as his countless kicks/headers out of play when under no pressure proved but he at least sticks to what he can do rather than what he can’t. The fact that he looks vastly superior to Collins shows how bad his partner is rather than how good Ertl is.
Doyle 5/10 – Another Adams signing that has made the team worse. He is a Montgomery type player who unfortunately does not cover anywhere near enough ground as Monty. He is always at full stretch and seems to be making a lot of lunge tackles which leads to him either fouling or being on the floor and out of the play. In terms of his attacking abilities he offers very little and his passing and creativity is limited to say the least. Like Collins, a complete waste of resources when we are struggling for funds.
Williamson 6/10 – Thought he showed a few bits and pieces and was trying but not helped by his poor midfield partner and lack of options he also started to fade as United did. He got on the ball when he could but too often his final ball was off aswell and indeed we created little to nothing from the centre of the park and also did not exactly dominate the 50/50 battles here. He committed a lot of needless fouls and often his touch was too heavy or he did not make the right choice when on the ball. The one saving grace is that he also did not hide and tried to always get on the ball; even if he had to go deep to receive it. Think he could be one player who could be kept and hopefully if remains fit would stand out at a lower level.
Cresswell 3/10 – Another atrocious performance. Has played out wide and up front but wherever he plays he is basically a passenger. I cannot recall many things he did right today. Indeed, I cannot remember many things he did today? I saw him late to react to numerous balls or always jumping too early or too late for crosses. He huffed and puffed but overall looked a player totally finished at this level, lacking pace, stamina, strength and more importantly ability. How he keeps starting games is s beyond me?
Evans 6/10 – Not his best day but still one of our better performers even just for the fact he tried to get on the ball, play people in and keep possession. Granted he did not have many chances on goal today other than a few half chances and maybe he could have got on the end of a few decent Riise crosses but like most seemed on his heels. Think he will move on at the end of the season as we won’t be able to afford his wages. Sadly it will probably mean us allowing him to move for no fee to another Championship team simply to get him off the wage bill.
Quinn 7.5/10 – Thought he tried the hardest of all the players in red and white and was very good today. He tried to get past his man and got on the ball when he could. He drew 3 or 4 free kicks and looked up for the fight. In the past I have slammed him but he was one of the few who could say he gave it all today. Not sure why he was taken off when others remained on.
Riise 7.5/10 – My man of the match. Began the game well and made a few good darts down the left with a few decent crosses. Indeed, his service for much of the game was better than most we have seen all season even though some of these were too close the keeper. He has quick feet and is good on the ball and whilst he lacks pace he has decent ability and looked a touch above most of those on the field. A few bright moments in the second half saw some half chances created and he seemed to be the one who could get past his man and out in quality balls. However, when he was move inside his threat seemed to disappear as he got crowded out.
Subs –
Bent – Was booed on by some sections of the crowd (looked up incredulously at the crowd when this happened! – Maybe if he actually looked interested or like he cared then the crowd may get behind him) and then promptly offered nothing. Did not win a header of note and did not have a chance on goal. I can barely recall him touching the ball. A dreadful signing. Would rather we have gambled with a young kid.
Bogdanovic – Came on and was cheered lustily onto the field but this was probably as much to do with the outgoing player as him! Took ball out of play with first touch and then did not do anything really. The one argument I would offer is that it is hard to keep coming on for 10-20 minutes here and there and make an impact every week. It would have been nice if he had been given a run of 5 or 6 starts and then maybe he could bed down in the team. Sadly, Cresswell continues to get picked week in, week out despite awful performances.
Vokes – Cannot remember him touching the ball. Was brought on and put wide left which seemed odd as he is not a wide men. I was all for us going for it but we needed to retain some width and Quinn and Riise were two of our better players. Taking one off and putting the other in the centre meant we had 4 tall centre forward playing up top but no one seemed to know where they were playing or what they were meant to be doing and it looked all a bit hapless.
Officials – Very fussy from start to finish. Seemed more bothered about moving free kicks and throws in’s a few yards back (for both teams) than actually clamping down on bad fouls or constant moaning (some would say refereeing the game) from the like of Savage. The number of times he stopped the game to have words with players such as Savage (booked him later) or Williamson but did not book them was so frustrating as he was stopping the game and preventing any kind of flow whatsoever. At least he did add on the requisite amount of time at the end as Derby’s timewasting had started early and often although we could have played another 60 minutes and we still would have scored!
Crowd/Atmosphere – A good following from Derby who despite their struggles brought a lot of fans and they were very much behind their team. United’s fans were more positive than I thought they might have been. At least for the first part of the game. After Derby scored they were a few mutterings and then the predicted boos at half time despite United being a shade unlucky to be behind.
Half time saw the PA system/Gary Sinclair’s mic pack up. Just about symbolic of things at the club as the half time interval just went by with silence inside the ground bar the moans and grumbles in the toilets (at the performance!).
However the poor second half performance and lack of efforts on goal meant the crowds patience started to snap. As the game petered out into another inevitable defeat we had numerous chants such as ‘You are not fit to wear the shirt!’ to ‘You couldn’t score in a brothel’, to ‘Sack the board!’ and ‘Sack them all.’ This was not the whole ground but enough for the players/board/manage to hear.
The boos at the end were loud and plentiful and more chants of sack the board followed but I did feel a lot of fans were just not bothered as if the heart of the club had been ripped out and there was nothing anyone could do. It was almost as if we have been here before and many are just fated to relegation and years and years of more mediocrity with no hope whatsoever. I felt 10 years ago there may have been more passion and anger but now it is just like a shoulder shrug and barely even a shout or protest. I include myself in that. Sad really but a sign of things to come. I did expect a few fisticuffs or more of a fractious atmosphere as there has been in previous moments reminiscent of this but the silence and bewilderment on many faces just suggested at total and utter resignation in our fate; not just in terms of the relegation but the way the club is going.
