Sheffield United away match day thread

[Bris Red]

5 minutes ago, petehinton said:

Performances far far more important than results at this stage imo. We’ve been excellent since Boxing Day. Cardiff & Swansea probably the only genuine ‘poor, move on’ performances since then, and they were injury inflicted. Had a thread bare squad for two months. 
 

Very excited for next season. We’ll be another level above this, again, with another good pre-season and multiple signings. 

Agreed mate. I think performance wise we have been as you said superb since the turn of the year bar a couple wobbles.

I think next season is going to be a interesting/exciting one. We are a couple of players away from seriously challenging IMO, get the recruitment right in the summer and next season we will be there or there abouts IMO.

[alexukhc]

Referring has to improve next season

[Midlands Robin]

The good thing to take away from this game is that we've got a solid base of a team who can hold their own. We've got a group of young lads who have played their way across the season in to first choice contention for their spots. Every game through the remainder of the season will continue to help develop this squad for next season.

It is obvious however, that we lack an extra something in the final third. Someone who can attack through the middle and play behind a single striker or a front two and pull defences apart would be a must for me. I like Weimann but he wasn't getting the in the first half and wasn't doing much with it when he had it in the second.

The one good thing I can take away from the way we've played since Christmas though, is that it's enjoyable to watch. Even when we lose we've played some great stuff. After some trying times a few years ago, it's great to be able to say we are fun to watch.

[cheddarwedlocker]

Does Weimann offer anything apart from running and pointing at the same time?

[redkev]

1 minute ago, OliOTIB said:

Does Weimann offer anything apart from running and pointing at the same time?

You ever tried it , that’s hard to do mind 

[italian dave]

1 minute ago, OliOTIB said:

Does Weimann offer anything apart from running and pointing at the same time?

Arguing with referees?

[Kingswood Robin]

6 minutes ago, firstdivision said:

But he brought in Cornick and Mehmeti in January. The signings will be in midfield and defence. 

We haven't seen the best of them yet, they're still settling in. A forward could leave and another come in. A midfielder could make all the difference for us in the final third. 

I'm as frustrated as anyone, I've see them about 15 times this season and only seen one win, but I believe we're on the verge of something good.

Edited April 18, 2023 by Kingswood Robin

[Mr Popodopolous]

10 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

That's what I'm saying though, we did have it "both ways". We were punished harshly with the booking for Cornick, they got away with about 5 worse instances of it and he only booked the most blatant booting of the ball away. 

Same with the foul by Pring and the foul on Wells. If ones a booking then they both are. Got no problem with us being punished in whatever way a referee sees fit, just want the same to be applied to the opposition. 

It's as I said Saturday, some of our either tougher play or gamesmanship gets held to different standards for some reason.

[italian dave]

6 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

I know, I don't have a problem with Sheff United players doing all they could to get a result. Its just another example of the worst kind of officiating. 

I want us to have a few seasons in the prem so that when we come back down we are treated like royalty in comparison to other clubs. It's a joke..

I’m no apologist for officials, and will stand with anyone in criticising the current standard, but I don’t think it’s OK for players to do ‘all they can’ (with the implication that it doesn’t matter whether it’s within the rules or not). And to then criticise referees whose lives are made massively more difficult by players who deliberately cheat and try to deceive the referee. 

[RedRock]

1 minute ago, OliOTIB said:

Does Weimann offer anything apart from running and pointing at the same time?

Love the guy, but when he’s off the boil he brings very little to the side. Yes energy and we did have a good shape. Absolutely zero threat though.

Think he’s had his chance to play himself into the side now. Time for a change to see if we can reinvigorate things up front. 

[CityCiderEd]

20 minutes ago, keflav said:

To be fair got to look at it in the context of the league positions, they just about to go up we sat in middle with nothing to play for... So that being said we've done pretty well, yes we have to be more clinical and ruthless when on top but that will come....

And on this performance Sheffield will need to spend big otherwise they coming straight back down again...

On what I've seen of SU this season they will need almost a completely new team. With this team they could probably break the lowest points total.

[Top Robin]

9 minutes ago, OliOTIB said:

Does Weimann offer anything apart from running and pointing at the same time?

Weimann and Wells are too inconsistent and should be sold in the summer and replaced with proper reliable goal scorers.

[pillred]

Apart from the obvious when did we last finish a season strongly? we always seem to fade and finish seasons on a downer.

[Northern Red]

Just now, pillred said:

Apart from the obvious when did we last finish a season strongly? we always seem to fade and finish seasons on a downer.

Last season.

[downendcity]

What I noticed tonight ( and in other games against "top" championship sides) is that while we look good attacking on the break, our attacks were often a bit frenetic and as a result all too often broke down without really troubling their defence. Moreover, when the attack did break down  the ball inevitably fell to a defender, who then initiated their attack with space to run into because we had become stretched.

By comparison, especially in the second half Sheff United not only broke at pace, but they did so  in a way that enabled them to sustain pressure in and around our penalty area.  When we got a foot in and cleared the ball it would often fall to a Sheff U player causing yet more sustained pressure.

Also, why are we still pretty rubbish at taking throw ins?!

 

[spudski]

So frustrating watching us dominate game and lose. 

Imo...it's a mental thing and part coached. 

We play composed measured football into the final third...then become headless chickens. Rushed, poor touch, poor decisions, poor delivery. Literally no composure. 

I watch, and it's obvious to me that we are trying to play fast one touch passes and crosses into the final third to try and catch out the opposition. In trying to do so , it's rushed and unmeasured. No composure. Trying to push the percentages. 

Sheff Utd rode their luck, but when they got the chance it was composed and accurate and played with precision. 

It's what we are lacking of late imo. 

 

[cityexile]

I mean, we have to be fair, I assume there is some reason they are top two? Four wins in their last five, only exception the defeat to Burnley, concede less than a goal a game. McAtee made a difference when he came on and one real chance and a decent finish, with the type of run where we keep getting done offside or the pass is not quite on the money. We held them to the last 15.

First half we were zipping the ball around, and creating space. On us we did nothing with it. Always going to be a difficult game and ended up very disappointed to lose, but we know it makes no difference and no point risking players. Fairly obvious how NP wants us to play, and what we need to work on.

[Open End Numb Legs]

4 minutes ago, CityCiderEd said:

On what I've seen of SU this season they will need almost a completely new team. With this team they could probably break the lowest points total.

Was about to say much the same. Whilst I hate the result, I think we showed in the 1st half that we would be better suited to the Prem than SU. Even when we faded they could barely string 3 passes together. If you can't pass well in the Prem you have no chance.

[DaveF]

5 minutes ago, Top Robin said:

Weimann and Wells are too inconsistent and should be sold in the summer and replaced with proper reliable goal scorers.

Wells has been great this season...

[W-S-M Seagull]

That was frustrating. 6 points lost to them this season despite us being the better team in both games. 

We need a player or two that is able to create a bit of magic in games like tonight cos that's all that was missing. It's what won Sheffield Utd the game tonight. We need to be trying to get players like that on loan.

[W-S-M Seagull]

2 minutes ago, Open End Numb Legs said:

Was about to say much the same. Whilst I hate the result, I think we showed in the 1st half that we would be better suited to the Prem than SU. Even when we faded they could barely string 3 passes together. If you can't pass well in the Prem you have no chance.

I think they could be as bad as that Derby team that finished on a record low number of points.

[Kodjias Wrist]

9 minutes ago, OliOTIB said:

Does Weimann offer anything apart from running and pointing at the same time?

Ah the old Weimann argument 

[Open End Numb Legs]

3 minutes ago, downendcity said:

......Also, why are we still pretty rubbish at taking throw ins?!

 

If anyone has Nige's number for me I would be suggesting that since we often lose possession on our throws we need to practice what some teams do which is when we are under pressure on a throw that the ball is delivered on the volley to the receiving player. That way we cannot be closed down, as a defensive throw it gets cleared down pitch.

[Loosey Boy]

Anyone hear Nige on Radio Bristol just now?

Not happy with the subs (not including Mehmeti) as they didn’t work hard enough and impact the game 

[exAtyeoMax]

On RB, Nige wasn't happy with the performance of the subs… (apart from Mehmeti)

Edited April 18, 2023 by exAtyeoMax

[Andy082005]

33 minutes ago, Ska Junkie said:

Same old tbh and it's becoming quite frustrating. Played well with the vast majority of play yet I don't remember us working the keeper once and we lost again!

Where is the issue though, front men or the midfield supply? I genuinely don't know.

Both. Overall Lack of quality in the final third. Without a doubt

Final ball / pass is very poor - has been all season . 
 

 

[Open End Numb Legs]

Just now, Loosey Boy said:

Anyone hear Nige on Radio Bristol just now?

Not happy with the subs (not including Mehmeti) as they didn’t work hard enough and impact the game 

Thought he could have brought them on earlier TBH. Not much time for them to get into it when already losing.

[cityexile]

2 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

That was frustrating. 6 points lost to them this season despite us being the better team in both games. 

We need a player or two that is able to create a bit of magic in games like tonight cos that's all that was missing. It's what won Sheffield Utd the game tonight. We need to be trying to get players like that on loan.

I think it’s more one step back. Does not matter if you have prime Shearer in the middle if the final ball is constantly over hit or yards away from him. Bell is young and developing, he has pace which scares defenders, but tonight in the first half he was guilty of failing to get the ball in close to one of our players time after time. Hopefully it can be worked on and it ‘clicks’. Their goal was a well timed run, a good pass and a good finish. All it took.

[Midred]

6 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

That was frustrating. 6 points lost to them this season despite us being the better team in both games. 

We need a player or two that is able to create a bit of magic in games like tonight cos that's all that was missing. It's what won Sheffield Utd the game tonight. We need to be trying to get players like that on loan.

We need a player or two who will never get booked irrespective of their "gainsmanship"!

[cityexile]

5 minutes ago, exAtyeoMax said:

On RB, Nige wasn't happy with the performance of the subs… (apart from Mehmeti)

Sykes, Scott, Conway. Interesting comments.

[Offside]

Frustrating performance. We barely created anything. Sheff Utd were very average but had more quality in the final third. 

[GrahamC]

4 minutes ago, Open End Numb Legs said:

Thought he could have brought them on earlier TBH. Not much time for them to get into it when already losing.

Two of them came on (at 0-0) on 65 minutes, plenty of time to make an impression.

Scott didn’t really get into the game in his 20 minutes or so.

[Kodjias Wrist]

Just now, GrahamC said:

Two of them came on (at 0-0) on 65 minutes, plenty of time to make an impression.

Scott didn’t really get into the game in his 20 minutes or so.

Agreed similar to the Watford game it felt we should have brought on subs earlier but were actually worse with bell taken off.

[REDOXO]

We are pretty but almost always eventually go long after a lot of tip tap. The issue is our longer balls tonight in particular were short or wayward. 
 

However we are not far off. We have to sort out our CBs have a ball winner or two in the middle and improve our shooting all over the pitch. 

[robin_unreliant]

3 minutes ago, REDOXO said:

However we are not far off. We have to sort out our CBs have a ball winner or two in the middle and improve our shooting all over the pitch. 

Worth remembering too that we had Pring at CB and King in midfield due to the injury situation.

[Jerseybean]

Overall thoughts…..we created zero chances, managed to restrict/contain SU for most of the game, although in the second half they stepped it up and should have scored twice. 
 

So, a hard working team performance, with some neat and tidy stuff, however, we had no cutting edge and we’re beaten by one of the two clear chances they created. 

[The Dolman Pragmatist]

23 minutes ago, DaveF said:

Wells has been great this season...

Hasn’t scored for a while, and that’s been our main problem recently…

[REDOXO]

2 minutes ago, robin_unreliant said:

Worth remembering too that we had Pring at CB and King in midfield due to the injury situation.

Exactly. I’m as pissed off about the last few days as the next girl, but we are yet again lurching to the end of a season with a big sick list. Our u21s will be massively important in the summer. I read some stuff and think most on here didn’t give ConwAy or Bell a second thought in July. The season before was Scott and Benerous. Nevertheless we need to have a more physical presence that’s for sure!

[Red Army 75]

 

[GrahamC]

3 minutes ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said:

Hasn’t scored for a while, and that’s been our main problem recently…

I like Wells but it’s a long while, his last 2 goals have been penalties, he has only scored one goal In open play this year.

His general game is good but even in the win at Stoke he should have scored & is struggling in front of goal.

[redkev]

36 minutes ago, Top Robin said:

Weimann and Wells are too inconsistent and should be sold in the summer and replaced with proper reliable goal scorers.

Do you have a spare 20million quid 

[redkev]

29 minutes ago, Loosey Boy said:

Anyone hear Nige on Radio Bristol just now?

Not happy with the subs (not including Mehmeti) as they didn’t work hard enough and impact the game 

Looks like the subs might be subs this weekend 

[Mr Popodopolous]

39 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

That was frustrating. 6 points lost to them this season despite us being the better team in both games. 

We need a player or two that is able to create a bit of magic in games like tonight cos that's all that was missing. It's what won Sheffield Utd the game tonight. We need to be trying to get players like that on loan.

Both games? Dunno abour that. First half yeah perhaps , 2nd doubtful. How many clear chances did we have tonight, far from dominant. Point perhaps.

[Lew-T]

12 minutes ago, Red Army 75 said:

 

Good interview. I’m quite pleased he’s pissed off with that second half.

[Jerseybean]

As they said on Sky ‘you could tastes the relief’

[pillred]

1 hour ago, Northern Red said:

Last season.

Really W3 D3 L3 of the last 9 not bad I grant you but 12 points from a possible 27 is not finishing the season strongly, well not in my humble opinion.

[pillred]

1 hour ago, REDOXO said:

We are pretty but almost always eventually go long after a lot of tip tap. The issue is our longer balls tonight in particular were short or wayward. 
 

However we are not far off. We have to sort out our CBs have a ball winner or two in the middle and improve our shooting all over the pitch. 

Glad we are not far off then :laugh:.

[Wanderingred]

I know we’ve had some tough games and performances have generally been ok but the last seven games have yielded just five points. I think it’s important that we reverse that in the last 3 games and finish the season on a high. A bit of momentum going into next season would do us good.

[Mr Popodopolous]

3 minutes ago, Wanderingred said:

I know we’ve had some tough games and performances have generally been ok but the last seven games have yielded just five points. I think it’s important that we reverse that in the last 3 games and finish the season on a high. A bit of momentum going into next season would do us good.

Doubt we'll beat Burnley, between now and 4 and 7 points perhaps.

Burnley have drawn their last two away from home but are Champions elect and rotating their squad somewhat.

[Spike]

3 hours ago, Percy Pig said:

Let's be fair, Mehmeti has done nothing for weeks. Conway has been injured and Sykes just back from a suspension. 

Yeah, but Sykes is easily the best wide-attacking player we have as he offers a little bit of everything.
How you can critique Mehmeti for doing nothing when he's played 42 minutes across the last 4 games is beyond me, of which in one of those games he came on and scored. I don't understand how he is supposed to be at his best when he's given 9 minutes against Stoke (scored), 15 mins against Middlesbrough and 15 mins against Watford and then only 3 minutes today?! I am genuinely concerned that he may not get enough consistent game time which in turn will set him back. 
With Conway yes he has been injured but he is bar far the best striker we have when he's given game time, I'd pick him before Wells in the middle every time, Wells may score goals but he also misses some sitters and make some terrible passes at times, I'd much rather have Conway getting consistent game time over him.

[RedM]

8 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

That was frustrating. 6 points lost to them this season despite us being the better team in both games. 

We need a player or two that is able to create a bit of magic in games like tonight cos that's all that was missing. It's what won Sheffield Utd the game tonight. We need to be trying to get players like that on loan.

Pearson doesn't like to have players on loan. We will have to think of something else, loans aren't going to happen on the whole whilst he is here.

[brad blit]

As others have said, a young spirited team in transition and not a million miles off being a decent team at this level. If Pearson can bring in 5/6 good squad players that can offer competition in key area's then we should push on next year aiming for that illusive 6-13th group of teams.

Looking ahead to next year, would it be safe to say Bell probably needs a good L1 loan next year to play week in week out and build confidence at a lower level? He's proven himself to show good promise and potential, but now he needs to hone his skills playing regularly somewhere else to "grow up"

[Dolman Block B]

Off subject slightly but what has ever happened to Kane Wilson ? 

[Super]

9 hours ago, spudski said:

So frustrating watching us dominate game and lose. 

Imo...it's a mental thing and part coached. 

We play composed measured football into the final third...then become headless chickens. Rushed, poor touch, poor decisions, poor delivery. Literally no composure. 

I watch, and it's obvious to me that we are trying to play fast one touch passes and crosses into the final third to try and catch out the opposition. In trying to do so , it's rushed and unmeasured. No composure. Trying to push the percentages. 

Sheff Utd rode their luck, but when they got the chance it was composed and accurate and played with precision. 

It's what we are lacking of late imo. 

 

You mean dominate the first half.

[Davefevs]

12 hours ago, Percy Pig said:

It's a percentage play. 

Cornick physical enough to challenge situations where he's probably less than 10% likely to win the header and not end up on his arse.

Tanner more likely to win second ball than Dasilva.

I don't get too down about the perception we lose a lot of those balls, it's just percentage football for territory. Its not pretty, but we don't have the midfield or defence available to play out often. 

It's just part of the game. Kick it wide, make the margin for conceding a counter attack smaller by condensing the pitch. Potentially win a throw or gain the chance to "pen them in". 

 

It's fine. Nowt special, just fine.

Yeah, I get all that….I still don’t like it.

12 hours ago, ExiledAjax said:

We announced 12,000 sold in early May last year. Given its currently mid-April I expect we're about on track to have the same number of STs next season. That's somewhere around 13,500, maybe up towards 14,000.

A couple of weeks ago I saw a tweet that we’d sold more at that stage than last season, suggesting ST sales were going well.

12 hours ago, Curr Avon said:

O'Leary punches the ball confidently and clears out Ahmedhodzic into the bargain!

Don’t go posting stuff that O’Leary does come off his line decisively!

[Open End Numb Legs]

Heckingbottom told the press after the match about our time wasting in the 1st half.

I don't get that. The crowd were whistling and booing, presumably the 4th official was getting it verbally, eventually we got a booking. BUT!! - we looked more likely to score and were playing some really quick football. We had no reason to waste time, SU and the crowd were trying to take the moral high ground whilst at the same time struggling to get a touch of the ball at times. Total nonsense.

[Davefevs]

12 hours ago, Henry said:

This is Kings best game for us. 
 

He’s looking like a key player for us, rather than emergency cover.

I thought he had an excellent first half.  Whilst in second half he passes it well, was calm in possession, I think his lack of legs was a big part of Utd starting to find lots of holes in our midfield.  In first half he seemed to pick up every loose ball / great positioning, second half he didn’t / we didn’t.  And that meant we had to wi stand pressure.

Certainly not suggesting he was bad or even average, just first half performance far outweighed his second half, and a sign that at 34, playing full 90s, or maybe playing back to back may be a bridge too far.

Re extending contract, his role as a player is gonna be hard to define, and if we sign CMs too, that role is gonna be harder still.

Well played overall though Kingy.

[Davefevs]

12 hours ago, IAmNick said:

Sheffield United goal: https://streamin.one/v/eb7ae873

Someone remind me….was this in the next passage of play from Pring slicing a right foot clear straight up in the air near the right touchline, ie we never quite recovered from that error?

Not blaming Pring, just trying to work out whether we react well enough to things like that?

[Davefevs]

11 hours ago, Percy Pig said:

That's what I'm saying though, we did have it "both ways". We were punished harshly with the booking for Cornick, they got away with about 5 worse instances of it and he only booked the most blatant booting of the ball away. 

Same with the foul by Pring and the foul on Wells. If ones a booking then they both are. Got no problem with us being punished in whatever way a referee sees fit, just want the same to be applied to the opposition. 

11 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Wells was scythed down twice by Egan, neither apparently warranted a yellow. 
They were allowed to take throws & free kicks seemingly from wherever they liked.

Geoff Eltringham (the worst ref at our level) finally booked one of their players in the 93rd minute.

We need to give Conway a run now, let’s face it he can’t score any fewer, Wells’ general game is decent but he can’t buy a goal at present.

Geoff Eltringham is a shocking referee, who favours the bigger team, usually when the big team is at home.  He is just inconsistent in his application of the laws / rules to one side over the other.  He isn’t inconsistent for both teams.  He favoured Utd massively last night, just like he always does.

[Top Robin]

10 hours ago, redkev said:

Do you have a spare 20million quid 

No but we will have soon

[Davefevs]

11 hours ago, GrahamC said:

I like Wells but it’s a long while, his last 2 goals have been penalties, he has only scored one goal In open play this year.

His general game is good but even in the win at Stoke he should have scored & is struggling in front of goal.

He needs someone closer to him, he’s playing on his own for too much of the game.  No coincidence imho that v Boro, Cornick played much closer to him and Wells was really good.

[1960maaan]

2 hours ago, Dolman Block B said:

Off subject slightly but what has ever happened to Kane Wilson ? 

I can only guess, but Pearson has repeatedly said he was in need of a "pre-season" after his long injury layoff. I can only think he hasn't made it to the level Parson wants him at, yet. Has made the bench a couple of times, think he had a run for the U21's but we know Nige likes to make sure they are ready.

[1960maaan]

34 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

A couple of weeks ago I saw a tweet that we’d sold more at that stage than last season, suggesting ST sales were going well.

I saw that too, but I'm sure I heard Downsy say we had sold "almost 10,000" last night.

[A Horse With No Name]

12 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

I saw that too, but I'm sure I heard Downsy say we had sold "almost 10,000" last night.

A lot of people are waiting till the last minute before renewing. Better in my bank, and all that.

[1960maaan]

Interesting reading through replies, I missed a large chunk of the 2nd half including the goal as my feed went down.
I do think it's a bit optimistic to expect to dominate sides for 90 minutes, to try and do that against a side that will be in the Prem next year, near impossible. We could have done better , some of that I would level at Nige and his use and timing of Subs.

Bell gets stick for his crossing, but for me the fact he's happy to go outside the FB makes him more of a threat than Mehmetti (and it's his first real run at this level) specially in games against good sides. Wells could have done with Conway along side him and as for Conway he looks far more happy central.  Seeing as we were playing the only 4 fully fit defenders , I think we've done OK.
We have lacked a little composure and quality around the area , but we have controlled the ball a lot better than we have for a long time. When you think that only 2 of the back 4 and 1 of the midfield would have started if we had a fit squad then we do show a lot of improvement. Still needs work, but with nothing riding on these games I'm still optimistic for next year.

[1960maaan]

30 minutes ago, CrackingCheeseGromit said:

A lot of people are waiting till the last minute before renewing. Better in my bank, and all that.

I did wonder if people were waiting to move seats. My mate is moving with his boy to the singing section, while I guess a lot will be moving to Dolman A block, or whatever it's called now.

[Clutton Caveman]

12 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

That was frustrating. 6 points lost to them this season despite us being the better team in both games. 

We need a player or two that is able to create a bit of magic in games like tonight cos that's all that was missing. It's what won Sheffield Utd the game tonight. We need to be trying to get players like that on loan.

Wasn't Mehmeti supposed to be that guy?

[IAmNick]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Someone remind me….was this in the next passage of play from Pring slicing a right foot clear straight up in the air near the right touchline, ie we never quite recovered from that error?

Not blaming Pring, just trying to work out whether we react well enough to things like that?

Yeah it was, I'm 99% sure. I don't have that bit recorded but I remember it happening.

[Open End Numb Legs]

11 minutes ago, Clutton Caveman said:

Wasn't Mehmeti supposed to be that guy?

I still think he can do it. He came on for just 3 mins +5 added on so my guess is he was not 100%.

[Super]

So who were the ones that were day dreaming for the goal?