First up, many thanks to Wilco for his timely reminder, that we are all United in our loyalties, but we do not always know what other posters are going through when we make our comments. Mattyp told us this week that he has just been cleared for cancer. So let’s keep it respectful in our comments. We simply don’t know each other all that well if our only contact is through this board.
As for the match, we dominated without being incisive. Too often, we broke quickly and found space in the middle of the park, but failed to deliver a decent ball. When we did get into the box, we seldom looked threatening. Bamford was off the pace and Rodrigo seemed to lack understanding of where to position himself. Raphinha shone in moments but often misplaced his passes or ran into defenders. His crossing was unusually poor as well.
We were playing against the worst team in the league and we couldn’t impose ourselves. Sheffield United are Championship through and through. McBurnie, Lundstram and Baldock are technically limited players. Jagielka, Norwood and McGoldrick all lack pace or guile. We should have pasted them.
We can make excuses about how poor the pitch was, about players being tired, about poor officiating, but we had our best team out there, and too many of them looked off the pace. Worse than that, we lacked desire.
It feels odd saying this, with a tough month ahead, but we looked like we were playing our last game of the season.
There were positives in the performances of Llorente and Roberts. Dallas was industrious but left his shooting boots in the dressing room. Ayling covered up for Cooper’s lapses and Gianni was simply elsewhere.
All in all, it was a strangely deflating three points.
The next three games will tell us a lot more about the character of this team. They rested on their laurels today, but this is the last of the easy fixtures for the season.
Reflecting on the game
posted on 4/4/21
Going to have to disagree with the consensus. Thought we were good yesterday. Yes final ball went astray, finishing could be better, pretty normal for us but we ran them ragged for 70 mins. People need to forget the league position thing. The blunts haven’t been getting drubbed every week, they just don’t score enough.
posted on 4/4/21
comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 5 hours, 39 minutes ago
the sloppiness of our counters was disappointing to say the least. i dont think the pitch really had anything to do with our play, we just didn't make the right pass on most of our attacks. bamford was definitely off the pace.
the game was much closer than it should have been but the three points are the important thing. we're winning the games we should which is why we are where we are.
now to take a major scalp. i would be happy with 1 win in our next 3 games.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don’t think Bamford was off the pace - he just got no service. Did you see how annoyed he was with Roberts when he hit that left footed shot wide? Bamford was screaming for a pass that never came.
I think the lads were maybe under orders to shoot on sight and that meant those little through balls to Bamford never happened.
Maybe they got dragged into the local derby syndrome and lost a bit of composure but Bamford can only work with what he’s given. When he did get a chance the keeper made a great stop.
Frustrating that we didn’t kill them off and that pitch can’t help. It’s gone from slippy to being as bumpy as hell.
posted on 4/4/21
I expected a tough Yorkshire derby game and that's what we got. Some on here expecting a landslide victory obviously pay no attention to the Blades results just their league position.
Apart from Leicester away straight after Wilder left Shef utd's defeats have usually all been by the odd goal.
Man City arguably the best team in Europe atm could only beat them 1-0 home and away.
We actually played OK a bit sloppy with the final ball which could have been the pitch or mid week International fatigue catching up but actually that first half could and should have yielded 2 or 3 goals but for their keeper.
Their goal was Raphina trying a fancy flick that gave away possession cheaply. Alioski way out of position giving Mcburnie too much space and even then if Ayling had been on the goal line instead of too far behind it we may have got a clean sheet.
Although the Blades plugged away valiantly while we missed a couple more gilt edged chances to make the scoreline more justified in the second half I don't remember Meslier having a difficult save to make.
All in all we looked a solid comfortable dominant team against gritty opponents that belied their league position. I would give us a 6 and a half out of 10 for the full 90 minutes but the first half warrented a 8 for performance. That's how I saw it anyway.
posted on 4/4/21
... yep Raph is a talent but he needs to learn when to flick and when to lay the simple ball... Rodrigo too. This side is especially vulnerable in transition because everyone is bombing forward so we’re outnumbered giving the ball away cheaply when we’ve just won the ball ourselves. The Man U game was a case in point, but it’s a regular occurrence.
Just my take, but a lot of fans seem to judge performance on the score line. I recall lots of superlatives after the Southampton game where we were second best until we scored then got a couple of flattering goals against a side chasing the game. We were better for more of the game yesterday and people aren’t happy.
posted on 4/4/21
Said before the game that it would be tougher than people were making it out to be. Sheffield United might be bottom, but I wouldn't say they are the worst side in the league, personally. West Brom are worse (yesterday aside), and Sheff United are unlucky to be so far adrift. We were never likely to win 4-0 like some people seemed to think.
Combine that with the raised intensity from a Yorkshire derby, as well as the fact they are fighting for every point, and the fact that we are just never quite as good after the break, with multiple players returning from injury, and others that played ridiculous amounts over the international period, and it was always going to be a tougher game.
We were the better side, created all the good chances, and largely shut them out from creating anything clear-cut. I have no problems with that.
posted on 4/4/21
Pitch was 10 times better than it has been. Team put out was competitive to counter Sheff Utd - Dallas and Roberts with Phillips behind - and it worked.
Dallas and Roberts had their best games, and even Kalvin shot twice.
We were no different from most of our games the last 10 - not dominating like we used to. But we were much more solid defensively, and Llorente had his best game.
Raphinha is a superstar - he will get things wrong, but when they go right? Wow. Pure entertainment and genius.
A good performance against a gritty team that has plenty of quality and fight - just no goals.
That's Bielsa's philosophy - score enough and you are safe. Score more, and you are competing. Score even more and you have chance to win the top flight. Love it.
posted on 4/4/21
comment by milkyboy (U12731)
posted 11 hours, 1 minute ago
Going to have to disagree with the consensus. Thought we were good yesterday. Yes final ball went astray, finishing could be better, pretty normal for us but we ran them ragged for 70 mins. People need to forget the league position thing. The blunts haven’t been getting drubbed every week, they just don’t score enough.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought Sheffield United were poor all round and I really wanted us to give them a hammering. It's hard to forgive them for stealing promotion from us. Their thuggish football belongs in the Championship.
You are right, though, Milky, we did play some good football, and it cannot be overstated how much Bielsa gets out of his players. I guess it is not fair or realistic to expect stellar performances every game. Three points against the sucm would make up for everything.
posted on 5/4/21
For me, I the key issue we have had to far too many changes to the starting XI through the season. We simply don’t have the quality yet to make that number of rotations without it impacting the performance.
We always have done much better when keeping a settled side with players in a settled position on a weekly basis.
This team - relative to the Premiership - is a work in progress, so I am not concerned when we still get the points despite seeing a patchy performance.
I feel confident many more of these ‘patchy performances’ will translate in several more victories next season that we have witnessed this season.
Our first goal will to beware the ‘second season’ syndrome and to get off to a good solid start as we did this time around.
Also, we just fact in the inevitable return of the crowds, another element completely alien to us in the Premiership so far.
That could work both for and against, so it is another unknown factor so far.
Let’s see.
MOT.
posted on 5/4/21
Keep hearing the 'Second season syndrome' comcern. My take on it is rather it shouldn't be.
Reasoning for this is that those teams that have been prone to this hangover are ones that are fundamentally lacking in Premiership quality, haven't invested or havent invested wisely.
We have brought in some great buys at relatively sensible Premiership prices, obviously Rapha looking a complete steal at £17/18 Million.
Got to believe that the new summer intake will be of the same ilk - Bottom line is that we are unlikely to be flirting with relegation barring major injury disasters.
Finally, now we have attained 42 points and Fulham are still on 26, the executive will be well advanced on preliminary securing identified fits.
Looks like MB will probably sign up for another season. As a professional footballer wouldn't you want to be improved under him as he has proven with those under his tutelage time and time again?
MOT
posted on 5/4/21
I think we've got a great owner that's working the way Bielsa likes!..
Bielsa ain't one to hang around if he thinks things ain't right and we are now reaping the rewards for an owner that he trusts!..
Its great knowing that AR has faith in Bielsa and its running right through to the players!..