Back from the match. Thoughts?

I strongly take issue with that. Concentric circles are the way forward.

 

Class act. Respectful bloke & very knowledgeable.

 

Where’s VAR when you need it!

 

Watched it on i-player thought the Blunts were the better team and with them being a Premier League team you would expect that, but with it only being a friendly I would not read much into it, thought it was a good work out and better than banging 5 or 6 past a none league team.

 

great to hear opposing manager praising our performance.

 

4 - 1 well and truly flattered them. I was happy with performance - we competed well for 60 mins plus and their first two goals came as direct result of fouls in midfield so shouldn't have stood. Lost rhythm with subs.

Anderson had some decent touches but thought diaby was the pick. Diaby very pacey for a centre back. Seen a lot of criticism of sibbick - didn't do a lot wrong for me - just seemed a bit limited getting forward compared to cavare.

For me Thomas had the worst game - lost the ball a lot.

Was surprised at Wilks' strength - did well when put up top.

We put together some nice passing in spells but was made difficult by a very hard working sheff utd team.

Missed last goal as had already left.

 

Saw bits and pieces

Thought we looked OK and they looked good

Defence needs lots of work. That is what happens when you let the core leave.

 

We had a team that was likely on average 3-4 years younger than United's and both teams, while being a league apart, were playing at half power. We started what's largely a youth team and they started their first team and they won 4-1. There's little that can be gleaned from a Barnsley perspective today other than Mowatt had an off day, Thomas can cross a ball but hasn't yet figured out a working relationship with the left back and Sibbick won't be our starting RB. That's it. Move on to Fulham and that will be our primary starting test.

 

With it only being a friendly I always wonder if players don’t give 100% so not to risk injury plus Stendel would be trying new things even at this late stage I’m sure he will know his starting 11 and best formation is I’m still looking forward to hearing timerider for the first time in a proper match this season

 

In a competitive match there would have been more tackles flying in , I think the players reined it in a bit taking into account the adverse weather and pitch conditions .
In a league match the conditions would have served up more innocuous looking tackles and it would have ended more bad tempered .
There was one or two dubious tackles but no where near the amount or seriousness as in a proper Derby in those conditions imo .
Sheff Us quality in player showed through in possession but I didn’t think it was a competitive match in respect of intensity and commitment at least I hope not anyway .
As usual I personally won’t read anything into pre season and will reserve judgement until a few games under our belts .
I was a bit concerned over the Final ball and the lapse in concentration when we were in possession but the weather and the nature of the importance of the game left a lot of unanswered questions imo.

 

We tried to play out from the back and it took us about 5 passes to get to the half-way line. With Sheff Utd pressing us everywhere it looked like an accident waiting to happen.
If the other team have got the measure of us in this respect then we should be going long.

 

I think Stendel would be happy with that game. He needed a team that would play top championship football to put our lads under pressure to see how they coped. Sheffield Utd were a better choice than an established premiership side as this is the style of football we will be up against.
Playing with 10 men for a period in that early game is an indication to what he is trying to do.
That game will have done them a load of good.