Minority Repoprt - Sheffield United

With the BBS once more the home for repetitive bile, I thought that it might be time to bring back the minority report.

When the starting line ups were announced, it is fair to say that I was surprised that we had 3 changes in our back 4. Obviously, one was forced, but I am inclined to think that the time has arrived to stop tinkering. After the first defensive dead ball situation, it was obvious that Bree had been left out to give us more height against the tall United defenders. Not that Wabara, was any improvement in that department as a United guy at the far post had a free header from that first cross. It was clearly going to be a long day defensively from set piece situations.
The Barnsley team lined up 4-4-2 again, whilst United lined up 4-5-1 (4-3-3 with the ball). Their middle 3 were arranged in a defensive triangle that would be hard to break down if we went behind. Not only that, but the United shape was designed to hit us on the break, and going behind would give them the room to exploit this strategy to the max.

Not long after United’s initial chance, Mawson stepped out to catch Sharp offside, only to find that Nyatanga had stepped back because he was fearful of Done’s pace. Nothing came of it, but it rang alarm bells both about the lack of communication at the back, and about Nyatanga’s weakness against pace and United’s strategy to exploit it. When the United goal arrived, not unexpectedly, it was from a corner. My friend insisted that Sharp had fouled the keeper, and if the ball had been directed at the near post, he probably would have done. However, the delivery, good as it was, was directed towards the far post, and Watkins running back towards his own goal was always 2nd favourite. When the header was made, the ball was less than 3 yards from our goal, and for me, in that situation, it is the keeper who is culpable.

I have been pleasantly surprised by the performances of Hourihane and Pearson in midfield since the team reverted to 4-4-2. Today they have still dominated possession, even though United played 3 against then (although as I said earlier, one of the three played just in front of the defence in order to cut down on the room available to Winnall and Watkins to collect the ball short). After United scored, the Barnsley full backs played 10 yards further forward in order to support the midfield, which encouraged our wingers to move inside in order to offer them space to run into. Of course, this opens us up to the counter in the system that United played, but we had to risk everything in search of the equaliser. And so it turned out. Our weakness at the back became more exposed because our shape was less compact.

Earlier in the season, we had problems in midfield. We seem to have fixed those, but the inability to concentrate for 90 minutes at the back, and the lack of goals from our forward pairings, which ever one we try, is costing us time and again. Those familiar with these reports will know that I do not rate Marley Watkins. I do not rate him on the wing, but I rate him even less as a striker. The changes that Johnson made with 25 minutes left were obvious ones, which probably should have been made earlier. Toney definitely has talent and made an impact on the game. Williams has talent, but his lack of fitness and touch meant that he did not. I thought that the missed penalty was the end for us, and was preparing for a BBSless evening, when Hourihane scored a cracker. It was a peach of a strike, and very much out of character with the dross that had preceded it.

Hammill, for all the impact that he has made so far, was very poor today, as was Isgrove on the right. These two had the key to the United defence because they had concentrated on strengthening their centre. But our two wide players repeatedly opted for the wrong option, and playing a right footer on the left side does tend to encourage him to cut inside into areas that are already occupied. I thought that Williams’ introduction might mean a swop, but no change was made.

The key to the game was the first goal. It allowed United to play within their strategy and according to their plan. It was a spirited fight from us and if the penalty had gone in, we could have won it. In the end though, we just did not have enough quality, and our keeper kept us in the game until the end.

 

Nothing minority about that report. Pretty accurate on all counts.

 

Agreed. Good account.

I might write mine tomorrow morning

 

Good report. But if you can see it, we can see it then why the hell can't the training staff and headcase sorry headcoach.

 

Thanks for the report.... much appreciated... not that I wouldha seen the above strategy. even though I could see in the 4-4-2 that Colin Bell played more forward in the midfield than Mick Doyle. I was pretty sharp in the head back then.

 

This. Can't disagree with any of it.

Although the "repetitive bile" follows repetitive crappy performances and results. Not sure you can blame people for wanting to vent after witnessing said crappy performances and results.