When top of the table Charlton came to Bramall Lane on Sunday for our final home match of 2023, a scintillating contest was always a possibility. Whilst that initial hype around a match may not always live up to the billing, Sunday's contest did, and then some! United end 2023 on a four match unbeaten run and knowing that they go into the short break ahead of Spurs having played possibly our best performance of the season. So... How did it all pan out?
Two changes from the Rugby Borough fightback to report on. Fran Stenson returned between the sticks in very good news. However, as the injury gods giveth, they also taketh. Izzy Goodwin missed out after her hat trick in the cup with Sophie Haywood partnering Sigsworth and Rayner at the top end of the pitch. The match kicked off and, despite the loss of Goodwin, United looked very strong indeed in the early exchanges as we kept Charlton pinned in their own half for much of the first fifteen minutes without troubling old foe Rogers between the sticks too much. A corner just before the twenty minute mark saw the first opportunities of the game and they were very good ones indeed. A Jodie Hutton corner caused pinball in the Bramall Lane end box with Tara Bourne and Jess Sigsworth having effort cleared off the line by some impressive last ditch blocks from The Addicks defence. A couple of minutes later, and United would take advantage of a set piece to take the lead! Following a foul on the right hand corner of the Bramall Lane end, Jodie Hutton stepped up and whipped an effort straight past Rogers (there was some question over whether Tara had touched the ball on the way through) to get her third goal in four games! After the start United had made to the contest, the lead was very much deserved. The pressure continued from United with Charlton chasing shadows at times. There was a shout for a penalty on Sigsworth after she was brought down in the box with the ref waving away the protests. The second would come not long after and in spectacular style! Starting in our own half, just about every player in the United XI played a role in getting the ball up the pitch before Hutton tested Rogers from just inside the box. The Charlton keeper parried the ball straight into the path of Ash Hodson to slot home via a deflection off of the arm of a Charlton defender. It was scintillating stuff from United and going into the break with a 2-0 lead was very much well earned! The second period saw Charlton try and get themselves back into the contest but United held firm. Bex Rayner and Jodie Hutton were absolutely superb throughout the contest, but really showed up in the second period as we sustained pressure. Just after the hour however, our backline was breached with Addison pouncing on a bobbling ball to fire home past Stenson to halve the arrears. The work rate was high as United looked to hold onto the lead. Charlton were sniffing for an equaliser with some of our own last ditch defending before Stenson made a cracking save following a header. As the clock wound down and Charlton continued to press, it looked like a defiant United backline had done enough to secure what would have been a major three points against the team setting the pace in the division. However... After playing over the seven allotted minutes of added time, Charlton would get an equaliser in heart breaking fashion. The whistle went a few seconds after the restart and United could be proud of a superb performance that deserved three points. Despite the late heart break. United were superb on Sunday. The first half is up there with some of the best football we've played at The Lane since the permanent move back into the city boundaries. That first half especially was an absolute joy to watch as we simply played Charlton off of the park. The second half was less bombastic than the first, however the defensive effort was still very good as we restricted the visitors to very little. It was gutting to see Charlton get an equaliser but I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles in football. Special mention to Bex Rayner for a superb all around performance from our no.9. Bex ran herself into the ground for the team on Sunday, whilst still managing to incorporate her dazzling close dribbling and little flicks and tricks from her repertoire. Bex absolutely could play at a higher level (I think long term readers of these reviews will back up that assertion!) And hopefully she'll be doing that in a United shirt! Jodie Hutton was also superb, especially in the second period, but it was a real team effort. So even though there might be some slight disappointment at the result. It was still a very positive result all around at The Lane. Lots to build on in the new year. If we play like we did on Sunday, we'll be onto a winner! Until next time, UTB.
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There is no where colder than a football terrace in winter. Science may say otherwise, but it is indisputable. Sitting on John Street today whilst rain lashed down on the turf was very cold indeed. Anyway, enough about the cold. Let's talk about what we're here for (or, rather, you are dear reader). United ran out narrow losers to a well backed Durham team in a frustrating contest for the home team.
United were unchanged for a third game in a row as we went searching for a response after last week's narrow loss away at Southampton. After the Remembrance Day formalities. The game kicked off with United knocking the ball around, looking for an opening in a stout Durham block. After a few passes however, the ball would either frustratingly bounce out of play, go awry, or find the feet of a Durham player. Through this passing, our visitors would get the opener. United gave the ball away deep inside our own half with Eleanor Ryan-Doyle pouncing and slotting home past Stenson to give the visitors a lead. Cue furious drumming and the bloke behind me excitedly blowing on what sounded like a kazoo. (Before we continue, would just like to state that Durham did bring a vocal and mass support to The Lane today. Despite the mickey taking, they did provide a good atmosphere for the game and is something that United perhaps need to look into). United responded by doing some nice passing manoeuvres, but just couldn't quite make anything stick. Izzy Goodwin nearly got us equal after she rounded Saunders in goal but went too wide. Her effort well wide from a very acute angle. The pressure would continue and Jess Sigsworth probably saw our best effort of the half well saved by Saunders after some good work around the box. The ex-Man United striker took aim with a quick snapshot that Saunders did very well to turn around the post for a corner. From the few corners we had in the first period. United players got on the end of them, but sent efforts flying over the bar rather than on target. As the first half came to an end. It just felt a little bit flat as the rain continued to fall on the Bramall Lane turf. The second half was pretty similar to the first half. Insofar as United had the possession, but just couldn't get anything to stick to get an equaliser. As the game wore on, Durham began to start catching United on the counter a little bit. Despite not managing to get much as far as shots, they still looked the more dangerous. United kept probing and saw chances come our way. Bex Rayner went close a couple of times alongside a shot that saw Saunders make another good snap save. It was pressure, but no real end product. The best opportunity we probably had in the second period fell to Sigsworth again. After a sustained attack, the ball was worked to Jess about 10 yards from goal. Perhaps anticipating more pressure. Jess snatched at her opportunity and sent the ball cascading over the bar when an effort on goal looked more likely. United continued to press for an equaliser and were nearly undone in the closing stages as Stenson was forced into a point blank save from a pull back with minutes left. The whistle went and it was a tough one to take for United in a frustrating afternoon for everyone of a red and white persuasion. The overarching theme of this review has been that one underlying word. Frustration. United did play some good stuff this afternoon, there's no denying that. We had passages of play where we were playing some very good one touch stuff with good movement around the pitch, then we just wouldn't be able to reward our own good play. It's just frustrating that we play well in these games and dominate the play, but we just can't kill teams off. It needs addressing and is something to work on as the season continues. Just a bit flat really. Bit meh, very cold. Until next time, UTB. For the first time since May 2020, and after 11 matches of this current season. Sheffield United were once again victorious in top flight football. In a game more topsy turvy closing act than Se7en and Knives Out combined. The first half was Sunday league at best, before becoming a pulsating contest in the second. Oli Norwood stepped up in the 110th minute of 6 minutes of added time. Proving why he is THE man of the people on that pitch and secure us a first win of the season. Let's reflect back on a very memorable Saturday afternoon.
After a thrashing in North London. United reverted back to a familiar 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation after a brief dalliance with the Mike Bassett favourite 4-4-2. George Baldock started his first game since Everton at home as Cam Archer and Rhian Brewster led the line in absence of the injured Oli McBurnie. There was a familiar face in the Wolves starting line up as Tommy Doyle made his first start in Wolves gold on his return to Bramall Lane. Before we continue, let's be honest about the quality of football in that first period. It was turgid. Both teams seemed to be cancelled out in a battle to prove who could be the worst at professional football. United did nothing in the first period. Wolves showed a little bit more attacking 'nous' (those quotation marks are looser than a baby tooth) in the first period. Cunha forced Wes to make a fingertip save. And then in a passage of play that wouldn't look out of place in Graves Park, let alone Bramall Lane. Wolves bumbled their way near our six yard box through Hwang Hee-Chan. As United attempted challenges, the ball bobbled to Ait-Nouri and, rather than sweep home into an empty net with Wes all out at sea, the Wolves defender instead let the ball hit his shin and roll wide of the goal. It summed up a first half devoid of any quality and as the teams entered the tunnel as the rain began to sweep around the ground. You felt that today would not be the day United would be getting that first win of the season. How wrong we were... James McAtee seemed to take it upon himself to try and drag United towards a result in the second period after coming on for Brewster before the end of half. The rain was whipping around the ground as the atmosphere began to crackle a bit. United went close minutes after the restart through Archer who whipped a wicked effort over the outstretched arm of Jose Sa onto the roof of the Kop net. The half time break seemed to have given United a shot in the arm, as we controlled the opening exchanges of the second period. The crowd responded to the effort on the pitch and, for the first time this season, you felt a goal was coming for the boys in red and white. And when it came, what a goal it was. Latching onto a shinned pass from McAtee. Cam Archer preyed on a dishevelled Wolves backline to race through on goal with only Sa to beat. With defenders gaining on him. Cam did what very few players have done at United in the past 3-4 years and had a pop from distance to test the keeper. A fierce effort beat Sa... Hit the crossbar... And bounced over the goal line to give United a 1-0 lead! The Lane burst into raptures as Archer raced towards The Kop in celebration as United took the lead in a Premier League match for the first time since Everton at home! With 15 minutes left. Could United hold on and secure that elusive first win and that ever more elusive clean sheet? As it turns out, no. No we couldn't. Or, at least it looked that way at the time. With a minute of normal time remaining, Wolves would get an equaliser. A quick throw in from Wolves led to the ball bouncing around our area. The ball fell to Wolves record signing Bellegarde to turn an effort goalward. With a deflection off of a United defender and a palm from Foderingham. The ball nestled into the top corner as the away end went into histrionics as it looked like it would be another one of 'those' days for United. The six minutes were shown on the subs board and United went searching for a winner. But, this is Sheffield United. We don't do last minute winners. Not in the Premier League anyway, or at least not this season. But then, in the 109th minute of the game after a corner was half cleared, George Baldock was tripped in the box by Fabio Silva and the ref said... Penalty! Now... If you know anything about Oli Norwood (apart from his penchant for fish and chips that is and having kids). You'll know that he does struggle a bit with penalties. Ever since his debut against Hull in 2018, Norwood does have a tendency to miss a penalty. So when Oli stepped up to take the potential match winner in the 110th minute of a game that we needed to win in tough conditions. it's to say nerves were jangling a bit. But step up Oli did and... He only went and bloody scored it! A super penalty from our captain saw Sa go the wrong way and Norwood crack the ball off of the crossbar and into the net to send Bramall Lane into rapture. There would be no chance for a Wolves response as seconds after the restart, it was over. Sheffield United had done it. We were winners in the Premier League once again! This win was very special indeed. We might still end up getting relegated at the end of the season. Things might go wrong at some point between now and May. But for now, nothing was more euphoric than seeing that penalty hit the back of the net and get us that first three points of the season. In a campaign that has seen heartache after heartache, media attention and noise everywhere, in that moment when Norwood scored that penalty. Nothing else mattered. We were all together in that stadium and we were all happy. Moments like that are rare in football. You have to savour them when they come along because you don't know when you'll next get to experience that level of unfiltered joy. Saturday was special. here's hoping it's the first of many special days in the coming weeks and months. Until next time, UTB. During a period of time that has been extremely emotional for everyone involved with the women's team (and the club as a whole) Saturday was the perfect tribute to a player that has symbolised Sheffield United so much over the course of the past half decade. A battling, determined and skilful second half saw United run away with the three points against a London City team that finished in the top three last season. It was a performance that would have made Maddy proud, and you couldn't ask anything more of the team than that.
Before the game got started, there was a moving and excellently observed tribute to our no.8 Maddy Cusack with a fantastically made video showing how much of a fantastic player and person she was for the club. There was one change from our last home game against Lewes with Ella Kinzett coming into the starting XI for Sophie Haywood who took a place on the bench. A couple of decent chances within the first five minutes saw both teams go close to opening the scoring. A long, raking ball from London City almost saw a centre forward played in one on one with Stenson, however, our big keeper was out quickly to sniff out the danger. Up the other end and United should have opened the scoring. Hutton laid on superb, dinked pass over the London City defence that saw Isobel Goodwin through with only the keeper to beat. Izzy lifted the ball over the keeper... and her effort just drifted wide of the post! An unlucky effort for our no.10 who, once again, had a superb outing in red and white, more on her later. Following a round of applause for Maddy in the 8th minute, United went close from distance. Sophie Barker was first to a bobbling ball that she sent arrowing over the bar. The game became a bit of a stalemate after this with both teams probing for the opener. That goal would come just before the half hour mark and it would come for the visitors. A corner was whipped in and Boye-Hlorkah was quickest to react with a snapshot that caught everyone unawares and settled into the back of the Kop net. United had the chance for an instant repsonse after some good interplay saw the ball drop to Ash Hodson just outside the six yard box. The ex-Liverpool midfielder snatched at the opportunity and sent the ball flying over the crossbar. Tara Bourne would be the next United player to go close to equalising with the ex-Man United player getting on the end of a Sophie Barker corner, completely unmarked, with her header too close to the London City keeper. Just before the break, London City were unlucky not to double their lead with Fran Stenson pulling off a cracking save to deny Lois Joel's thunderbolt effort from distance. That was that for the first period with United looking to pull off a comeback in the second half. That's exactly what we got! United came out of the second half break flying. Jodie Hutton went close twice in the opening exchanges with an effort from range just narrowly going wide of the post and another effort, after good team interplay, seeing an effort fly over the bar. The good start to the half would be rewarded just after the 50 minute mark thanks to our no.10 Isobel Goodwin! A curling corner from Hutton was nodded home by our centre forward for her second goal at The Lane in as many games. It was a deserved goal for United and especially for Izzy who would go close again after being played in by Kinzett. Cutting in on the left, Izzy's effort was just wide of the post as United looked to hammer home our good start to the half. Goodwin was involved again as she looked to turn provider for Hodson who struck a fantastic half volley that looped narrowly over the bar. Hodson would not be denied much longer in getting her first Blades goal with Ash and Izzy combining again to see our new midfielder turn a defender and scoop home to double our lead! United continued to look to add to the lead with Isobel Goodwin a constant menace up top. She was absolutely everywhere on Saturday, be it holding up the ball and waiting for support. Winning knock on after knock on or, very pertinently indeed, bursting past her marker and bearing down on goal. With just the keeper to beat, Izzy was about to fire home for her second when she was brought down in the box by Brougham with the ref pointing to the spot and sending the London City defender off. Izzy dusted herself down and duly sent the keeper the wrong way to double her tally for the day and send the 1,100+ at The Lane into raptures. Despite ten minutes left of the contest left, alongside 9 minutes added on at the end, United saw the game out with ease as we secured a second consecutive home win on an emotional day for everyone involved with the club. A super, super, second half performance on Saturday. In the first half, we did create chance but looked a little bit rusty at times with our passing a little bit loose. The second half was fantastic however, and we looked very good indeed against stern competition in an ambitious London City outfit. Rachel Brown was superb, as always, at wing back with a fantastic defensive performance on the flank. Bex was Bex in the middle and looked constantly busy with some very nice tricks and flicks. But, above all, Isobel Goodwin had a hell of a day up front. As mentioned elsewhere, she was everywhere on Saturday and did a little bit of everything. She could have had four goals on the day and could have had more than the one assist she did get. She looks very comfortable leading the line and is a constant menace to every defence she's faced so far this season. She's now got three goals in five games and looks like she will be the long term solution to replacing CSK's goals of the past two seasons. Izzy has a very big future in the game, hopefully she'll spend a lot of her future in a red and white shirt. Overall, a very good day indeed! We return to The Lane this coming Sunday with Birmingham City the visitors after a brief sojourn to Alfreton for Conti Cup action on Wednesday. Get on down to The Lane if you can! Until next time, UTB. Coming off of the back of back to back defeats. United came into the game on Sunday needing to find momentum after those losses. In a game United controlled from the off, The Blades secured a first win of the season in commanding fashion. United made two changes from last weeks defeat, with Alanta Brown coming into the starting line up alongside Ash Hodson. On the Lewes side of the pitch, former Blade Grace Riglar started in defence.
United started with intent. Asserting themselves onto our opponents early on with some slick passing play. Despite the quick passing, we couldn't quite get a clear effort on Whitehouse in the Lewes goal. The first clear cut chance would come via a set piece. A Jodie Hutton corner, delivered with pin point accuracy, found the head of a United attacker that went wide of the post! The game came alive during the half way point of the first period. Lewes went close with a superb opportunity from point blank range that found the hands of Stenson with the goal gaping wide. United heeded the warning and began to press for the opener again. Goodwin went close with a low drive after being played in behind by Rayner. And she should have had a penalty after looking to have been tripped in the box. Despite the pressure and a couple more good chances, we would enter the half time break still level. The second half began with a flash back to an incident last season (even against Lewes?) When a back pass to Whitehouse in the Lewes goal went unpunished. If I had a nickel for every time I've seen a back pass at United women's games, I'd have two nickels. It isn't a lot, but it's bizarre that it's happened twice. The pressure from United continued and after another corner. Whitehouse spilled the ball straight into the path of Goodwin inside the six yard box. Yet, our no.10 was unprepared to slam home and Whitehouse gathered at the second time of asking. A quick break from United saw Hodson test Whitehouse with another low drive after being played in by Bex. As it looked like it would be one of 'those' days for United. We found the breakthrough that our pressure warranted! Bursting down the wing after collecting a poor clearance. Rachel Brown carried the ball to the by-line and pulled back a low cross for Isobel Goodwin to poke home to score her second goal of the season! The summer signing from Rugby Borough has been impressive since her move back to The Championship. She'll be a big player for us, and looks like a good upgrade on Courtney Sweetman-Kirk. With the clock winding down, Goodwin should have clinched the game for us before the ninety minute mark with a darting run into the box. Her attempt on the angle squirmed it's way through Whitehouse but the Lewes keeper managed to kill the ball before it crossed the goal line. Despite ten minutes of added time. United saw the game out and got themselves up and running with a 1-0 win! A pleasing day on Sunday for United. I thought that we looked a lot more gelled as a team than we did against Sunderland with our game management coming on leaps and bounds. We controlled the contest from the opening exchanges of the game, and looked more assured in how we wanted to play the game. rather than letting our opposition assert themselves onto us. All in all, Sunday was very good indeed! There is something to build upon there ahead of our next game after the international break against Palace! Until next time, as ever, UTB. A bizarre game for United last Sunday as we struggled to break down a stout Sunderland backline. Our visitors preyed on our profligacy to score the only goal of the contest. United pushed for goals, but struggled to get them. This frustration led to a comical sending off that many people in the stadium (and beyond) have seen. More about that later though, let's talk about the match leading up to that moment.
Three changes from the opening day draw for United. Bethan Davies came in for the ill Fran Stenson. Alongside Tara Bourne and Sophie Haywood returning to the starting line up. The early stages of the contest gave us a glimpse of what was to come throughout the contest as a whole. United had a lot of the play, but couldn't break down Sunderland; to the point where we weren't getting a look at goal. Ash Hodson was trying her best to get something going down the right but nothing was sticking. As the half continued, Sunderland began to assert themselves on the contest. McAteer went close from distance midway through the half and then not long after, the goal came. Hesitant defending saw McAteer volley past Davies to gift visitors the lead. United could have responded minutes later through Goodwin, but the half time whistle went and United were still behind. The second half saw much of the same as the first; United probe, but couldn't break down Sunderland. The visitors were keeping us at arms length with the final ball letting down United. We went close a couple of times through Goodwin and Newsh, but it wasn't coming. The growing frustration for United was exemplified in with a bizarre sending off late on. Frustrated with Sunderland time wasting. Jess Sigsworth picked up a ball and launched it at a Sunderland player. From the perspective of John Street, it looked like Jess had thrown the ball but it had missed the player. On second viewing, that miss was actually a clear hit. It was poor from Jess and surmised a frustrating afternoon as Sunderland came away with the win. Frustrating was the word last Sunday. United played some lovely stuff at times during the contest. But couldn't find that killer blow to get the goals that would win us the contest or, even, to get us a point. Ahead of today's game against Blackburn. That killer final ball needs to have been drilled into the players all week because if we could have found that final pass. We should have been looking at a different result. Until next time, UTB. Yes, it's that time again ladies and gents and everyone in-between to look back at the transfer business that Sheffield United got up to ahead of (and slightly overlap with) our new campaign in the Premier League. A busy summer was had by United with 10 new players coming through the front door. So, with that in mind, let's start the lookback.
Anis Ben Slimane Age: 22 Position: Midfielder Signed From?: Brondby Previous Clubs: AB, Brondby Country: Tunisia Career Appearances/Goals: 123/11 Honours: Danish Superliga 2020/21 Fee: £1.7 million Our first signing of the summer and one that seemed to further enhance the idea that we would be signing players with a 'low risk, high reward' strategy. Anis had a fairly nomadic youth career, plying his trade for nine teams before making his breakthrough at AB in 2017. A midfielder with an eye for a creative pass, our new Tunisian international looks to provide depth in a midfield unit that has seen a massive overhaul over the summer and for a relatively small fee, to get an international calibre player who played meaningful minutes at the last World Cup seems to be a very smart deal from all involved. Yasser Larouci Age: 22 Position: Left Wing Back Signed From?: Troyes Previous Clubs: Liverpool, Troyes Country: Algeria Career Appearances/Goals: 46/1 Honours; FA Youth Cup 2018/19 Fee: Season Long Loan (With Option To Buy) Another signing that provides us with depth in a position of need, Larouci was highly rated coming out of the Liverpool academy system and appeared to have been offered terms to stay at Anfield when his contract expired in the summer of 2021. Betting on himself however, Larouci instead went to France and Troyes and was a regular during their last two seasons in Ligue 1 with 30 appearances last year as they were relegated to Ligue 2. A France under-21 international, Larouci has had a mixed start to life as a Blade with some decent attacking play and quick feet being evened out by some strange decisions being made on the defensive side of the ball. It's still early days for Yasser, and hopefully with the chance to gel with the team a little more over the international break, this will hopefully give him the chance to settle and start to assert himself within the team. Benie Traore Age: 20 Position: Striker Signed From?: Hacken Previous Clubs: Hacken Country: Ivory Coast Career Appearances/Goals: 45/15 Honours: Allsvensken 2022, Svenska Cupen 2022-23 Fee: £3.9 Million Our first long term story of the summer window was our pursuit of Benie, who had made a superb start to his second full campaign in Swedish top flight football, netting 12 goals in 14 appearances before his eventual transfer to United. During his time in Sweden, Benie had made his first appearance for the Swedish outfit in 2021 at the age of 18 but had his career hit a speedbump somewhat after suffering a leg injury in 2022. Despite the long lay off, as mentioned above, the Ivory Coast under-23 international was in red hot form before he joined us and looks like one who will develop with the squad as opposed to being the next big thing to lead our frontline (more on that signing later). Benie has had a decent start to life in United colours under trying circumstances as we started the season in a state of flux after the late sale of Ndiaye and Berge. Very much one to watch is Benie, looking forward to see him continue to grow into the team as the season progresses! Auston Trusty Age: 25 Position: Defender Signed From?: Arsenal Previous Clubs: Bethlehem Steel, Philadelphia Union, Colorado Rapids, Arsenal, Birmingham City Country: USA Career Appearances/Goals: 201/7 Honours: U.S, Open Cup Runner Up 2018, CONCACAF Under-20 Championship 2017, CONCACAF Nations League 2022-23, Birmingham City Player Of The Year 2022-23 Fee: £5 Million Since the beginning of the 2020-21 season, we have been looking for the elusive long term replacement for Jack O'Connell. Many have been tested there and more than a few have failed. For the first time since that 2019-20 season when we had that settled backline, we have squad depth at the LCB position! Trusty comes to us on the back of a very impressive season with Birmingham where he was the second highest scoring defender in the division (behind our own Anel Ahmedhodzic) and earned their Player of The Season gong. A regular for the United States, Auston takes the coveted no.5 jersey from O'Connell and looks to challenge current LCB incumbent Jack Robinson. After a long time without either a good LCB or a back up for Robinson, it's good to finally see that the club has atoned for it's earlier errors and get a potential long term option tied down to a long deal. Vinicius Souza Age: 24 Position: Midfield Signed From?: Lommel Previous Clubs: Flamengo, Lommel, Mechelen, Espanyol Country: Brazil Career Appearances/Goals: 96/3 Honours: Copa Libertadores 2019, Recopa Sudamericana 2020, Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A 2019, Supercopa do Brasil 2020, Campeonato Carioca 2019/2020 Fee: £10.3 Million About half an hour after we had sold Sander Berge to Burnley, coupled with the still raw feelings over the sale of Ndiaye to Marseille a week before, United needed to get the fans back onside and fast. How did we do that? We signed a Brazilian tank from Belgium. Vini comes to us after a campaign on loan in La Liga with Espanyol. Despite coming in on the back of the Berge signing, he and Vini could not be more different in regards to playing styles. Vini is a disruptor in the middle with an innate ability to get stuck in and make good interceptions. However, he's not just all tackles and running, showing a decent passing range, Souza has already become something of a fan favourite at The Lane with some top performances against Forest and Everton. Vini is the midifeld tank that we've been lacking for a long time, it looks like a shrewd bit of business getting him in on a long time deal. He's less Flamenco and more Brutalisimo and that, is absolutely perfect. Gustavo Hamer Age: 26 Position: Midfield Signed From?: Coventry City Previous Clubs: Feyenoord, Dordrecht, PEC Zwolle, Coventry City Country: Brazil Career Appearances/Goals: 216/27 Honours: Eredivisie 2016-17, Johan Cruijff Shield 2017, Coventry City Player Of The Year 2021-22/2022-23, EFL Championship Player Of The Month April 2023 Fee: £15 Million Despite saying all summer that we had a budget of £20 million all in, United appeared to bluffing because, despite the sale of Sander and Ili both increasing the budget, if you've been keeping count we've now spent around £30 million in the transfer market with the very surprising, but very welcome, signing of Championship stand out midfielder Gus Hamer at midnight the day before we played Palace displaying that we might just mean business this season. Hamer has been superb since making his move from Holland to Coventry in 2020 with dogged performances dovetailed with scoring absolute screamers. Beating off interest from other clubs, United secured the premier talent in the Championship from the last couple of years that instantly improves a midfield that still needs drive and verve. Already chipping in with goals, his debut finish against Forest was *chef's kiss*, Gus and Vini already look to be making a midfield that looked a bit paper thin a hell of a lot stronger. And we've not even finished with the midfielders yet. Tom Davies Age: 25 Position: Midfield Signed From?: Everton Previous Clubs: Everton Country: England Career Appearances/Goals: 155/6 Honours: Toulon Tournament 2018, Everton Young Player Of The Season 2016-17, Everton Goal Of The Season 2016-17, Everton Performance Of The Season 2016-17 Fee: Free The midfield strengthening continued with the free capture of a young player that has made over 150 appearances in the top flight. Tom Davies was once the next big thing coming out of the Everton academy with the boyhood Toffee impressing during his first couple of years in the Prem. Since then, injuries and and general malaise at Goodison have seen Davies' career hit a stumbling block. Despite this however, getting a player as young as Davies is with the top flight experience he has has to be seen as a bit of a coup for United. The talent is clearly there, Hecky and co just need to help Tom rediscover it. Cameron Archer Age: 21 Position: Striker Signed From?: Aston Villa Previous Clubs: Aston Villa, Solihull Moors, Preston North End, Middlesborough Country: England Career Appearances/Goals: 77/23 Honours: UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2023, EFL Trophy Player Of The Round (Round 1) 2021-22, EFL Trophy Top Goal scorer 2021-22 Fee: £18 Million A player we know all about after last season, Cam Archer has been on fire in the Championship since he made his first move to the division with Preston in January 2022. Helping fire Middlesborough to the play-offs with 11 goals in 20 games last year, Archer was the second player of the summer who had a protracted move to Bramall Lane with the deal itself looking like a Nolan film on steroids. However, all that matters at the end of the day is we have our man and our frontline options are bolstered even further. Already linking up well with McBurnie, Archer already is off the mark for United with a well taken goal against Everton. Could he be the man to fire us to safety? We will have to see, the early signs are looking promising indeed... Luke Thomas Age: 21 Position: Left Wing Back Signed From?: Leicester City Previous Clubs: Leicester City Country: England Career Appearances/Goals: 57/1 Honours: FA Cup 2020/21, FA Community Shield 2021, UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2023 Fee: Season-Long Loan After the injuries to Ben Osborn, Max Lowe and the continued absence of Rhys Norrington-Davies, United needed another left wing back to compete with Yasser Larouci on the left of defence and, in unusually quick fashion for United, we got some interesting cover signed up indeed. After breaking through the Leicester ranks in 2020, Thomas became a regular the following season and started in The Foxes FA Cup win against Chelsea in 2021. Also capable of scoring spectacular goals (his goal against Man United in the COVID season is well worth a watch if you can find it) Thomas is young, has Premier League (and big game) experience and offers us good cover at left wing back. He was impressive in his short cameo against Everton, it will be interesting to see if he starts against Tottenham after the international break. James McAtee Age: 20 Position: Attacking Midfield Signed From?: Manchester City Previous Clubs: Manchester City, Sheffield United Country: England Career Appearances/Goals: 40/9 Honours: FA Youth Cup 2019-20, Premier League 2021-22, UEFA Super Cup 2023, Manchester City EDS Players' Player Of The Year 2021-22, Premier League 2 Player Of The Month August 2021, Premier League 2 Player Of The Season 2021-22, Sheffield United Young Player Of The Season 2022-23, EFL Championship Runner Up 2022-23 Fee: Season-Long Loan Finishing off our summer dealings is someone we are very familiar with indeed. After a stellar second half of last season with United, James McAtee re-joined the club on loan for a second campaign! After a tough start to life at The Lane, Macca really came into his own in the second period of last season and was a crucial part in getting us over the line for automatic promotion and getting to the semi final at Wembley. Macca should be able to fill some of the offensive void left by Ndiaye sale and knowing the club should help him settle in very quickly indeed. What a way to finish what was a topsy-turvey summer. There you have it, a busy summer for United that sees us bolster our midfield options more than anything else which has been a need for a couple of years at least. Despite the mass of incomings, there still has to be questions asked of how we went about our recruitment, especially after the last minute sales of Ndiaye and Berge. You can be pleased with who we brought in this summer and also question why the board decided to sell two crucial players a week before our season started. Will the defining story of this summer be who we did sign, or who we sold? Time will tell... There are some things that are certain in life. Death, taxes and more pertinently, Bex Rayner scoring absolute screamers for The Blades. Not only did Bex add to her ever expanding list of bangers, but she did it at the best time possible; right at the death with our hosts looking like they'd be clinging on to a slender lead. There really is nothing better than a last minute goal to get something out of a game, and it's even better if that goal is a piledriver from 30 yards. Before we talk about the goal, let's take a look at the game as a whole.
A new start to a new campaign saw a slew of new faces in the starting XI. Isobel Goodwin, Ash Hodson, Jodie Hutton and Ella Kinzett all started at The Valley with Bourne, Sigsworth, May, Alana Brown, Connolloy-Jackson and Adebowale-Arimoro all on the bench. Our hosts lined up with a strong starting XI with the pick of their line up being former West Ham midfielder Kate Longhurst playing her first game in The Championship after a career spent in the top tier of English football. Lining up in our very nice indeed bespoke away kit, the season started with both teams feeling each other out as there was very little to report about in the first 10 minutes. The next 10 minutes was when the game really came to life and saw the first goal of the game, unfortunately, it came for the hosts rather than United. A poor back pass to Stenson was latched onto by Green, who rounded Fran in goal and rolled home into an empty net to give The Addicks an early lead. United almost had an instant response through Ash Hodson who just couldn't quite touch home a great Rayner cross. From the resulting rebound, captain Barker put the ball over the bar from range. United kept pressing for the equaliser and nearly had it again with Hodson again going close! Rachel Brown laid on a cross for the former Liverpool midfielder who narrowly turned the ball over the bar in what was a mad ten minutes for the contest. The game lulled a little bit after this with both teams weighing up their next moves with spells of possession. The contest was brought back to life just after the half hour mark with United going close again. Goodwin chased down what looked like a lost cause, but fortune favours the brave and her block on Rogers attempted clearance cannoned off of our new number ten and bounced towards the net... Unfortunately, the good fortune of the block was all we got with the ball bouncing just wide of the post! That was more or less that for the first period of play with an even stevens first period seeing United have some good opportunities, but just not quite being able to convert what had been created. United came out of the blocks quicker than our hosts as we searched for an equaliser. A slew of corners were repelled by a mixture of Charlton defenders and Rogers in goal with the closest we went to equalising being a mis-punch from the keeper that was agonisingly cleared off the line! The pressure from United continued as we headed past the half hour mark with United finding Rogers in inspired form to deny a whole flurry of efforts with a set of cracking saves. United went close again just before we entered the last twenty with Haywood's effort from distance kissing the crossbar with Rogers off her line slightly. Rogers was at it again minutes later, denying Goodwin from close range with a very smart block to deny our new signing a first goal in Blades colours. The game became a little bit end to end with Charlton going close to getting a second which was denied via a very good block from Charlotte Newsham keeping us alive. Saving a goal at one end was almost met with an equaliser at the other for Newsh with her effort from very close range minutes after her block being blocked itself by the ever imposing Rogers. Tara Bourne was denied from a good corner delivery and Barker went even closer minutes later with a curling effort from distance that Rogers was equal to. As we entered added time at the end of the 90, it looked like it would take something very special indeed to beat Rogers. Thankfully, in Bex Rayner we got exactly that. Picking up the ball from a Charlton defender after some dogged harrying, Bex took aim from about 30 yards and hammered the ball past Rogers to get the Blades a belated equaliser! If you've not seen this goal already, go out of your way to see it now... Right now. Go on, I can wait... You've seen it? What a goal, and goals like that are the norm for Bex. Pretty sure the clubs Twitter page has video archive of the stunners that Bex has scored over the past couple of years for United. We can add this one to the collection most definitely and what a time to score another banger. As the game entered 8 minutes of added time, the game became very basketball-y indeed with both teams going for the win. With a minute left, Charlton broke down the wing with a two on one situation unfolding. Working the ball into the middle, that two on one became a one on one with just Stenson to beat. Our returning no.1 stood tall and produced a superb block to deny Charlton what looked like a nailed on winner. The ball was cleared and that was your lot for the contest with United unlucky to not have a win, but also slightly lucky not to lose right at the death. It's fair to say Sunday was a seesaw contest but, at the end of the day, we're off the mark ahead of the visit of Sunderland to The Lane this weekend and, in a league that looks like it could be anybody's to win this year, getting points on the board early doors is very crucial indeed. Get down to The Lane if you can this Sunday to support the team and I'll hopefully see you there! Until next time, UTB. Close. But just not close enough. An allegory that sums up Sunday afternoon quite nicely don't you agree? Sums it up much nicer than the possibility of linking it to a Nick Jonas song from like, what, 2017? But for those few minutes when we pulled level against the standout team in club football anywhere in the world, it felt like we were going to do it. We were going to get that unlikely point against the all conquering team in club football, we'd be off the mark, we'd be on our way! Then it was over. Like tears in the rain, but what a few minutes it was. It wasn't all disheartening, far from it. United more or less kept City at arms length on Sunday and did something that not many teams can do. Subdue Erling Haaland for large stretches of a game. We might not have got the point, but we didn't disgrace ourselves either. Let's take a look back at what could have been.
A couple of changes from last week's agonising defeat to Forest with our wing backs changing from Osborn/Lowe to Baldock/Osborn. Hamer and Souza both made full home debuts with Oli McBurnie a welcome returnee on the bench. City lined up with what can only be described as a God squad with a frontline spearheaded by the aforementioned Erling Haaland with our old pal Grealish on the flank. World Cup winner Julien Alvarez slotted just behind the big Norwegian with Bernardo Silva making up a very frightening looking forward line. The game kicked off and, from the off, it became a game of United absorbing City probing as our visitors looked for a way towards goal. Despite the domination of possession, City were struggling to create clear cut chances in front of goal and weren't really cutting us open at all. An early United change was forced after Ben Osborn limped off to be replaced by Yasser Larouci but very little was happening in front of goal. Then it happened. A sliding John Egan had the ball hit his arm supporting him in said slide tackle and, with almost a gleeful point (if that is even a thing) City had a penalty. Up stepped Haaland, Wes went the wrong way and... HE MISSED! The ball bounced off the base of the Kop End post and rolled away! There was a slight check to see if Wes had left his line early, he had not and the game continued with The Lane roaring on our charges. City continued to probe but found Wes Foderingham in inspired form with the highlight of his half being a superb close range block to deny Alvarez what looked like a certain goal. The probing continued from City, but United stood firm and we went into the break at half time still on level pegging. The second half saw much of the same as the first period with City looking to try and unlock a United defence that just wouldn't budge. The gaps, however, were becoming a little bit more frequent but the normally lethal Haaland looked to be having an off day after spurning a glorious chance to break the deadlock after a great cross from ex-Blade Kyle Walker found the Norwegian a few yards out from goal. All the striker could do was slam his effort wide as it began to look like we might be getting away with being another team that the big striker scores against. Perhaps we should have known better as minutes later, Haaland opened the scoring. Grealish sent Baldock with a cut in from the left (to be fair to George, this may be only the second time that our old pal Jack has got the better of him in numerous meetings and, up to this point, George had had Grealish's number) and lofted a ball to the back post that Haaland outjumped Robbo for to head home. Wes was at it again not long before the opener I should mention, denying Haaland again with a super fingertip save to send a chip spiralling over the bar. United were not fazed by going behind however, and began to bring the game to City. A long throw from Robbo was cleared poorly by Ederson with Hamer launching an effort goalwards that Dias just blocked what looked like a goal bound effort. Buoyed by the crowd, United continued to come forward with McBurnie coming on and linking play up extremely well up top. City went close from a free kick that Wes was equal to and then minutes after that, it happened. A poor backheel from Walker allowed Traore the chance to cross into the box. His cross was just behind Hamer but the deflection saw Vini Souza slide pass out to an unmarked Bogle. The ex-Derby man took aim and... SCORED! United had done it with minutes to go! The ground was in absolute bedlam as City looked shellshocked. What a moment for United and what a moment for Jayden who has been unlucky with injuries as of late but what a time to score your first United goal since the home game against Stoke last season! However... The dream of a point was over not long after it looked on. Alvarez swept an effort just over the bar almost immediately and then a moment or so later, poor defending from Larouci allowed Walker to carry the ball unmarked into the area. Kyle laid the ball off to Rodri to slam past Wes and restore the City lead. From kick off however, United did go close to an instant response. McBurnie whipped in a great ball for Anel that our Bosnian just couldn't quite get on the end of. Close, but just not close enough. And that was that for the game. Another last minute heartbreaker for United, but the positives perhaps outweighed the negatives in this one. A battling performance from United was all that could have been asked before the game and is exactly what we got on Sunday. We really did reduce City to very little in regard to clear cut chances throughout the contest and made Haaland look very human at times. The marginal errors that we might have got away with in the Championship have cost us at least two points in the last two games and need stamping out like yesterday. But, and this is a big but, we didn't look out of place at all on Sunday. If Anel's neck was just a bit longer, or his leg was just a bit longer, we're possibly talking about us coming out of the weekend with an unlikely point. Close, but just not close enough. We turn our attentions to the Cup tomorrow with the visit of Lincoln City to The Lane before a big clash on Saturday against Everton. If we play with as much heart as we did on Sunday against The Toffees, who's to say we can't get a positive result? Until next time, UTB. The Deja vu that was felt when it was announced that United would be playing Palace for our first home game on return to the Premier League after three years away only went so far as exactly that with yesterday's game. The crowd was still eager, some of the players were the same (more from a United stand point than a Palace one) and the result was the same, just the opposite way round this time. After all the build up and, loose, excitement (think a lot of that died after this past week) United returned to the top flight with a result that we were familiar with the last time we were in the division. A narrow defeat. Let's have a look at how it all panned out.
Despite the loss of Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge in the past two weeks, Berge literally this past week. There was some buoyancy from United fans after the late night (for everyone's sake, we should never announce a signing at midnight again. Ever.) announcement of one of the Championship's top performers, Coventry City's Gustavo Hamer for a 'significant undisclosed fee'. Unfortunately, Hamer was only at The Lane to watch his new teammates and be paraded to the crowd as United started the new campaign with a starting line up that, being kind, wasn't exactly Premier League standard. The defence and goalkeeper spots were the same as last season, which is fine. The real problem was in midfield and attack with Hecky naming a midfield three of Norwood, Osborn and Chris Basham and an attack made up of 19 year old Will Osula and 20 year old Benie Traore. A lack of Slimane in the midfield was a little bit baffling but, and it's here where our recruitment has lacked during the summer, Traore and Osula really were our only options to start up top. Whichever way you look at it, no other Premier League team will have a forward line as young or inexperienced as the two that we picked yesterday afternoon. Despite the threadbare looking starting line up, there was a crackle of atmosphere around The Lane as we kicked off our 23/24 season with the fans heeding Hecky's call to be the twelth man just before the season began. United started the quicker of the two teams and kept Palace penned in for a large part of the opening exchanges with Benie, Will and Ben Osborn running themselves into the ground to keep the press on. The first chance of the contest would fall to United with Osula picking the ball up just inside the box. His curled effort took a nick off of a Palace defender and narrowly flew by Johnstone's post for a corner. It's safe to say the ground would have exploded had that chance sneaked in. Alas, Palace grew into the game as the half wore on with Eze beginning to pull the strings in the attack. It looked like Palace had opened the scoring just after the twenty minute mark when Wes palmed a strong effort from Andersen straight into the path of an onrushing Jordan Ayew. Not hesitating, the experienced forward nodded home first time past Wes with United being saved by a late offside flag from the John Street linesman. Palace continued to dominate the proceedings throughout the half as United struggled to find any cohesion without a link man between midfield and attack. We would have a shot on goal as the clock continued towards the 40 minute mark with Norwood blasting an effort towards goal from outside the area that Johnstone saved comfortably. Aside from that, there wasn't much else to report in a first period that started brightly for The Blades, but saw us hanging on a bit as the half continued. We didn't have to wait long for the opener to come after the half time break with four minutes gone, Palace had the ball in the back of the Kop end net. Good interplay down the left from Palace involving Lerma and Ayew saw the ex-Ghanaian international bypass Osborn and cross into the six yard area for Odsonne Edouard tapping home to get his, and Palace's, first goal of the season. The pressure continued from the visitors as United struggled to get a foothold back into the contest. Efforts became more frequent as Wes was kept much busier than he was in the first period. Palace would again have the ball in the back of the net with Edouard again rippling with Kop net with a sliding finish from a Tyreek Mitchell cross. The linesman again saved United's blushes as they raised the flag for offside. A rare break for United stuck with Traore and Osula connecting well after a punt for Foderingham with our new signing laying the ball on for Osula to whip a vicious effort towards goal that had Johnstone scrambling. Unfortunately, the effort was just wide of the post, kissing the side netting. After this, it was back to Palace domination with Wes repelling a variety of efforts as we wound down past the 80 minute mark. Subs would be introduced for United but it wasn't to be as the referee blew up to see a scratch United squad narrowly lose to Palace on the opening day. Not to sound defeatist, but I'm not sure what else could have been expected yesterday other than a loss with the line up we put out. Despite the signings of Hamer and Souza being exciting and what has been needed, it still doesn't excuse the lack of thought or forward planning that we have been told has been there all summer should we lose important players who are crucial to the way we play. We shouldn't be at the point where we are scrambling to replace key parts of our attacking repartee a week before the season starts because we can make a quick buck on players. That's not smart business sense, that's setting up a team and a manager for failure. The past two weeks as a United fan have been baffling to say the least. I struggle to think of a top level team in any country, let alone the Premier League, that has gone into the season looking weaker than they did when the previous season ended like we do currently. Signings are needed and they are needed now. The excuses are out of the window as far as we're concerned. We need bodies and quickly. Until next time, UTB. |
AuthorHi my name is John and i will be giving my thoughts on the blades matches and all blades related news in this section Archives
November 2022
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