An explosion of emotion can either be a very positive thing or a very negative thing. If your passionate about something, you may explode with emotion when describing that thing your passionate about to another person or a group of people. But it could also be something that happens when your at breaking point with something and that explosion of emotion could be a way to get all that stress and bad feelings out. On Wednesday night, at about half past nine, There was an explosion of pure ecstatic emotion that hasn't been seen at Bramall Lane since the West Ham disallowed goal way back in February 2020 (that's two, yes two, years ago now. Time has flown as fast as Oli Burke when he's at full pelt) for those of you that somehow missed what happened on Wednesday, Ben Davies managed to get on the end of a Jack Robinson knock on to slam home to give us a last gasp winner despite being down to 10 men for over half an hour in the second half. It was a cracking night at The Lane, let's relive it one last time.
To the surprise of everyone, Paul Heckingbottom didn't make the now customary four changes to the starting XI with only one change being made to the team that battered Swansea with Charlie Goode coming in for his full debut, replacing the injured Chris Basham. Blackburn were still without Ben Brereton-Diaz with former on again, off again United transfer target Sam Gallagher leading the line for Rovers. United started the game the better team and really could have had two or three goals in the opening 20 minutes. George Baldock, high off his potential Puskas nominated goal against Swansea, ran onto a Fleck pass with his low driven effort keeping Kaminski honest with the Rovers stopper getting down quickly to turn it around his post for a corner. Sander Berge was the next player to go close for the Blades with his effort from a tight angle being parried by Kaminski which Norrington-Davies did turn in for what looked like his first goal in Blades colours but it was disallowed for offside despite looking very close on the replays. The early flurry of United chances ended after fantastic work from Berge saw him float a ball into the box that saw Billy Sharp steer a diving header just wide of the Bramall Lane End post despite being a chance he's definitely buried in the past. Blackburn began to come into the game a bit more with the choice of their first half flurry probably being a free kick from Reda Khadra that skimmed the top of the Kop net and left Wes rooted to the spot. Despite Blackburn probably ending the half the better, United should definitely have scored at least a goal in that first period but we didn't and thusly we went into the break level. Blackburn continued to control the game after half time but never really managed to get a clear look in at Wes's net. This looked like it would all change however after Charlie Goode, who must have watched a compilation of fellow loanees in the past before the game, emulated Gary Madine against Brentford in 2019 and went straight through a player going nowhere on halfway with a full blooded challenge that left the ref no choice but to send him off. It was a really silly challenge from the Brentford loanee and it now leaves us a bit short at right centre back going forward for the next three games at least. Blackburn smelt blood in the water after this and Pickering went close to opening the scoring with a rocket shot from just outside the box that Wes did very well to get a hand to. Our woes were worsened not long after with John Egan handballing to give Blackburn a gilt edged chance to go ahead. Khadra stepped up to take the penalty and Wes guessed the right way and saved it! This galvanised the United support and the atmosphere began to crackle. Blackburn went close again with a free kick but Wes once again was there to deny a goal with a great save with his chest. It appeared that United were more than happy to secure the point with Ben Davies replacing Gibbs-White just before the 90 minute mark but this sub wouldn't just secure us a point, it would secure us all three! Berge did good work on the right to win us a corner and the ball in from Fleck led to Kaminski spilling the ball onto the head of Robinson who cushioned the ball onto Davies who with his second touch of the ball slammed home to give us an unlikely win and send Bramall Lane into pandemonium. There was a bit more late pressure from Rovers but no more shots on goal and United secured another three points as we continue our surge up the table. After the two years that we've been through, it's easy to forget the pure joy that flows through you when your team scores a last minute winner. That feeling is even sweeter when your down to 10 men and have survived a late onslaught that includes repelling a penalty. Wednesday night was the first time since the beginning of the season at least that it can definitely be said that Bramall Lane was a cauldron of noise. After the sending off, the fans in every corner (Bramall Lane End lower apart) of the stadium created an almost continuous wall of noise. It was great to see the fan/player relationship that was a cornerstone of the Wilder era come back in full force and it's that connection between playing staff and the fans that will be crucial as we continue to look to ensconce ourselves in the play off race and, whisper it quietly, automatics. What a game, what a night, what a team. Let's see how we do against Millwall. Until next time, UTB.
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I'm surprised that this is the first time during this slate of games that we're doing a double up review. At one point during this season and more or less during the whole of last season this was the modus operandi for this humble blog. Whether it be the fact that we're back in the stadium and experiencing games in person again or that I've just got into the groove of doing it again, it's been good to be writing again. Anyway, before I get even more distracted from the reason we're here, let's review these last two games starting with the game in the week against Hull.
Game 1: Hull City After the draw against Huddersfield at the weekend, United did something we don't do too often and draw two games in a row. In fact, it was the first time United had been involved in back to back 0-0 draws since February 2008. The match itself was reminiscent of a lot of the games we had during the middle bit of the League 1 promotion season (I'm thinking Bury and Shrewsbury to be precise) where teams would set up shop with men behind the ball and we'd try our hardest to break them down. Unlike what we did do a few times during the League 1 season, we were unable to break down a staunch Hull rear-guard. The customary 4 changes were made with Ndiaye, Norwood, Hourihane and RND came into the XI, the most notable inclusion for Hull was a start for Blades academy product Reagan Slater with fellow United academy product Tyler Smith making the bench. The match began with a lot of start stopping as it appeared that half of the Hull squad went down injured at one point. United were dominating the ball and had a few half chances on goal mainly through Gibbs-White and McBurnie. Despite these efforts, Hull managed to quell any clear cut chances on goal and we went into the break level. The second half saw much of the same as the first half with United labouring against a Hull defence that was more watertight than Sandy Cheeks's dome in SpongeBob. Illiman Ndiaye probably had the best chance of the game as he was played one on one for the second time in a week with only the keeper to beat and once again, Ndiaye could only hit the ball at the keeper that Ingram pushed behind the post for a corner. Ndiaye is an absolutely wonderful footballer and has undoubtedly been one of the contenders for player of the season but his finishing in recent games has left a lot to be desired. But I'm sure that the ability to convert these chances will come eventually and when it does, he'll become the complete attacking player. After that, not much else happened really. Hull got very excited with their 0-0 draw and set off a few flares. Obviously, this match was a hell of a lot more important then when they were in the FA Cup final or when they beat Wednesday at Wembley in the play-offs. Anyway, another 0-0 draw, a bit disappointing but it's another game unbeaten, another point in the bag and another clean sheet. It could have been better, it could have been worse, would we get a response against The Swans? Game 2: Swansea City The rhetorical question was a little bit silly because we did get a response and what a response it was! 4-0 against a team that we haven't won against for ages is a really nice way to continue our good run of form. It was a fast and furious performance from United who from minute 1 looked on it. Swansea never really looked like getting into the game and the match was effectively finished before the interval with three goals before the 40 minute mark. Morgan Gibbs-White opened the scoring just inside the first 15 minutes after he took down a wonderful lofted ball from Norwood and slotted home past Fisher for his 6th of the season. Three minutes later and it was 2 and what a goal this was from the unlikeliest of sources. A chipped ball from RND appeared to have gone behind everyone in the box but, out of nowhere, George Baldock raced onto ball and after a tiny hop sent the ball crashing against the crossbar and into the side netting for his first goal in over 800 days. It was a brilliant finish from our wing back and the celebration showed that. Despite some more good chances to make it three and maybe four, it was eventually three on the cusp of half time when Gibbs-White nicked the ball on the byline, played in Sharp and our skipper does what he does best and chips over Fisher to make it three. It was a brilliant first half performance, could we continue the performance in the second half? Again with the rhetorical question! Yeah, we were pretty good in the second half and even though we brought it down the gears a tad as the half went on, we still created a few good chances and had the ball in the back of the net twice, one counted, one didn't. Let's talk about the disallowed goal first. It was Baldock again who finished off a neat move by Sharp after it looked like Billy had held onto the ball for too long. He did I guess as George's finish was disallowed for offside. Maybe it was just an involuntary reaction from the linesman to raise his flag due to seeing George potentially score twice in a game. Now, onto the allowed goal. Sharp was heavily involved again as he held up the ball in the Swansea box and eventually laid it off to Gibbs-White who topped off another brilliant performance with a calculated finish into the bottom corner of the Kop end goal to secure a 4th for United and the three points. United could and should have had a 5th after this with Oli Norwood somehow missing an open goal in spectacular fashion by blasting the ball over the bar when all of the net was empty. But it didn't matter in the end and United could be very happy with the afternoon's exploits at the final whistle. A real contrast in the two games over the past week, Tuesday was domination and no finish and yesterday was clinical finishing and complete domination. Despite the disappointment of the result on Tuesday, I think it was still a decent performance and on another day, we win that game comfortably and we're higher up the league than we are at the minute. But whatever criticisms were aimed at the team on Tuesday, they were answered with aplomb yesterday. It was a dominating performance and could easily have been 5, 6 or even 7 nil to United if we'd wanted it to be. It's nice to see us reclaim a bit of the ruthless killing edge that we had under Wilder at times again and proving that we're more than capable of putting a beating on teams at times. All in all, another very decent week for The Blades and for the first time this season, we're in the top six! Now, let's continue this form against Blackburn on Wednesday! Until next time, UTB. "If you can't win a game, then make sure you don't lose it". This is a quote that was probably uttered by someone fairly important in either sports or politics. For the sake of this article, let's say that Vince Lombardi said it after a come from behind victory for his Packers team against The Bears sometime around 1963. This quote, that Lombardi (or whoever said it first), is a great summary of how United performed yesterday against a Huddersfield team that has every right to feel aggrieved that they didn't come out of the midday kick off with a goal and probably the three points. However, thanks to a little bit of luck and a stifling performance from our back three, United's unbeaten run continues on for another game and we earn a point that keeps us within sniffing distance of the play-offs. So, how did the game go? Let's talk about that now.
The seemingly now customary 4 changes were made from the team that beat West Brom on Tuesday. Fleck, Berge, McBurnie and Gibbs-White all came into the starting XI. Daniel Jebbison returned to the bench for The Blades after he missed the midweek win against The Baggies. The game kicked off and for the first 20 minutes of the game, United could not get out of our own half as sloppy passing and a lack of authority on the ball saw a slew of fouls, corners and free kicks awarded to the hosts that never really did trouble Foderingham in the Blades net. After riding the storm, United probably had the best chance of the opening 30 minutes when a cross from Bogle found the head of McBurnie that the Scottish international headed into the hands of Nicholls in the Huddersfield goal from the edge of the six yard box. United reverted back to our first twenty minutes form after this however and just on the cusp of half time, Huddersfield should have probably had the opener. Jon Russell met a good ball in from a corner from the hosts and, despite Wes getting a hand to it, the ball bounced over the line and it looked like The Terriers had taken a deserved lead. However, the referee deemed that Huddersfield forward Danny Ward had tripped Wes in the lead up to the goal so it was egregiously ruled out. What the ref had failed to see in the lead up to the foul was George Baldock pulling Ward over that led to Wes falling over the ex-Cardiff man. It was a lucky escape for United on two counts because if the ref had seen the pull from Baldock, he would have probably given a penalty or just allowed the goal to stand. However, United went into the break level and had a chance to improve on what had been a poor first half performance. We did come out of the blocks quicker in the second half and Billy Sharp did well to almost open the scoring after his rifled effort after he got away from the Huddersfield defender brushed the outside side netting of Nicholls goal. The Blades continued to create chances in the opening exchanges and more good work from Sharp eventually saw him play in McBurnie who scuffed a shot straight at Nicholls that he really should have done better with. After this initial surge of opportunity, Huddersfield began to assert themselves on the game again and it took some staunch rear guard action from Egan, Robinson and Bash to repel some lightning quick counter attacks from The Terriers. However, neither team manged to get a clear effort on goal, until the last ten minutes that is! A good corner routine from United saw John Fleck receive the ball all alone just outside Huddersfield's 18 yard box. Our Scottish international curled in a lovely effort that for all purposes looked like it was settling in the bottom corner. Nicholls had other ideas however and pulled off a cracking save to deny United an unlikely opener. The great chances weren't over however and from the next corner, McBurnie controlled the ball and sent an effort on the turn towards the bottom left hand corner of Town's net that was kept off the line! Huddersfield couldn't get it clear however and Sander Berge stabbed an effort back towards goal that was saved by Nicholls and eventually cleared by Town. It would have been harsh on Huddersfield to have conceded at that stage because they were the better team yesterday but it proved once again that we can create good goal scoring opportunities even when we've been relatively poor in a game. The game wound down not long after that and United can feel pleased with a point against a team that hasn't lost in the league since November. Let's not downplay this, yesterday we were very poor. Our midfield play was practically none existent and it was bypassed by Huddersfield countless times as they built up an attack and provided very little ammunition for our own attacks with Sharp mainly providing the link between the defence and attack. However, despite the poor performance, we probably did create the better chances in the game and probably should have had at least a goal in that final ten minutes. It was thanks largely to our back three that we manged to keep that score line equal with special praise going to Jack Robinson. Don't get me wrong, Robinson has provided us with plenty of heart in mouth moments this season and has probably cost the team a few goals in games this season but the last couple of weeks he's had some very good games and has probably been one of the standout performers in our last two. Davies should be recalled to the starting XI when he's ready but Robinson should prove to be an able understudy and it's credit to him that he's kept Goode out of the team since his arrival from Brentford. Long may the good form of Jackie Long Throw continue and long may the good form of Sheffield United continue as well. Until next time, UTB. What a difference 6 months makes. In that time, both United and West Brom have undergone big, big changes. West Brom started the season like a house on fire and were top of the division for a bit in the lead up to Christmas whereas United started like a house that had already burnt down and looked like a team lost at sea without an oar to progress. Then the roles flipped, United have been reinvigorated after the appointment of Paul Heckingbottom and have become the form team in the league with 4 wins from our last six that has seen us make a run at the top six in recent weeks. West Brom on the other hand have gone from top of the league to clinging onto a spot in the top six and currently sit at 21st in the form table with 5 losses and a draw in their last six. This led to the sacking of Valerien Ismael and the appointment of Steve Bruce who appears to have forgotten that he said the Newcastle job he was sacked from at the beginning of the season would be his last in football. Three months later and he's back. This all led to what could be a crucial game for both teams in the run in for a play off place, so how did it all unfold?
Changes were afoot for United, Hourihane, Robinson, McGoldrick and after nearly 4 months out of the first team, George Baldock all came into the starting XI for United. On the West Brom side of things, there was no place for former Blades Matt Phillips, Kyle Bartley or Kean Bryan in the matchday 18 but former record signing Callum Robinson did make the bench for The Baggies, new signing Andy Carroll lead the line for Albion. United started off the game in fairly sloppy fashion and appeared unable to get the ball anywhere near our half of the centre circle ring, let alone the half way line as West Brom made some probing passes around our area along with the occasional long throw into our box. United did eventually get the ball into the West Brom half and probably had the best chance of the opening exchanges after Chris Basham made a mazy run to the edge of the Baggies box but his effort went high above Sam Johnstone's crossbar. Despite West Brom having most of the play during the first twenty, it would be United who would open the scoring. Good build up play down the left eventually saw Baldock burst into the box with the ex-MK Dons man squaring the ball to Sharp who's swivelled shot took a deflection off Mowatt and bounced past Johnstone for his third goal in five games. Sharp should have had a second not long after when a bouncing ball from Foderingham led to a misread from Ajayi which allowed Billy a one-on-one with Johnstone, Billy couldn't find the net however with Johnstone making a good save. The game got better for The Blades not long after when Jake Livermore was dismissed after he made a horror challenge on Hourihane in the middle of the pitch. United ended the half on top and perhaps should have had a second after Sharp turned home a Hourihane cross that was ruled out for offside. But so far, so good for The Blades, would it continue in the second half. United continued their good play at the beginning of the second half with a couple of efforts from Norwood, Bogle and Ndiaye leading to last ditch blocks from the West Brom rear guard. Ndiaye had the best opportunity to give us a two goal cushion after good play from McGoldrick saw the Frenchman through on goal with only Johnstone to beat. But the England international pulled off a very good save to keep the score down. This lead to Albion coming back into the game a bit and a slew of long throws and a few set pieces followed that United manged to repel. But despite the pressure, it would be United who would get the next goal and it was that man Sharp again who would get the goal that secured the three points for United. A long, flowing passing move from United eventually saw Morgan Gibbs-White dart into the box and lay the ball off for the skipper who's first time finish curled past Johnstone and led to a HUGE outpouring of relief and joy from the United faithful. Not much happened after this and United saw out the game to move within one point of the top six and, whisper it quietly, 10 points of the top two. After everything that has happened over the course of the last two years, last night was the first time it felt like we were truly 'back' as a watching support. The link between team and fans that was a huge part of the success during the Wilder period feels like it's coming back a bit. The fans were constantly behind the boys and the celebrations after Sharp's second were incredible to be a part of and even better to see. Last night was brilliant, there's not much else to say really. Let's get another result on Sunday eh? Until next time, UTB. Yes, it's that time of the year again when we take a look back at the business that United have done in a transfer window. This one is a little bit different to the last couple of windows (maybe? Not really?) as it's the first window that we've had 'post' (that's a very loose quotation mark by the way) COVID transfer window. So, would United splash the cash this window? No. No we wouldn't. But we did sign a couple of players! That's nice isn't it? let's have a look at the new boys for The Blades.
Adam Davies D.O.B: 17th July 1992 Position: Goalkeeper Signed From; Stoke City Fee?: Undisclosed Previous Clubs: Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, Stoke City Appearances/Goals: 217/0 Honours: Football League Trophy 2015/16, Football League One Play-Off's 2016, EFL League One Runner Up 2018-19, Everton Academy Player Of The Year 2009-10, EFL League One Team Of The Season 2018-19 After the decision was made to send back Robin Olsen after a less than stellar first half of the season, United needed a goalkeeper who was capable of challenging Wes for the no.1 spot at The Lane. Despite links to Frank Fielding (also at Stoke, oddly enough) we secured the services of Welsh international keeper Adam Davies. A player that Heckingbottom knows well after he was the starting goalie for his play-off/JPT winning Barnsley team of 2015/16, Davies brings some much needed nous and experience of the division that we didn't really have before. Davies should be a more than able deputy to Wes and keeps competition going at the goalkeeper position. Charlie Goode D.O.B: 3rd August 1995 Position: Centre Back Signed From: Brentford Fee?: Loan Previous Clubs: Hadley, AFC Hayes, Hendon, Scunthorpe United, Northampton Town, Brentford Appearances/Goals: 173/14 Honours: London Senior Cup 2014/15, EFL League Two Play-Offs 2020, EFL Championship Play-Offs 2021, Harefield United Under 18's Players' Player Of The Year 2012-13, Northampton Town Supporters' Player Of The Year 2019-20, League Two PFA Team Of The Year 2019-20 This one came out of nowhere a little bit. On transfer deadline day, United swooped to secure the signing of the Brentford centre back which improves the competition in our defensive department. Tall and imposing, Goode is capable of playing in either a back three or four and comes to the club on the back of a few Premier League appearances for The Bees this season but has suffered a few injuries that have limited game time. But if he can keep fit, he should be a good fir for our backline. Less incomings and more outgoings this window but the incomings are competition and back up for parts of the squad that need it most and the outgoings that have gone as I write this haven't really impacted first team positions this season and were more than likely on high wages. So, all in all, I think the January 2022 window for United has been a successful one! We've lightened the wage bill and brought in some solid players. So, until next time, UTB. I forgot how unforgiving the South Stand seats are on your legs. I don't know if it's because I'm used to sitting the opposite way round on John Street but those chairs really do dig into your shins. But enough about minor gripes with seats and leg room at The Lane, after a very late change of venue, United's women took on WSL team West Ham at Bramall Lane for a place in the next round of the Women's FA Cup and, despite the division gap between teams and the finally 1-4 score line in favour of the visitors, United can feel a bit hard done by that they didn't score more goals and perhaps even lead the game going into the break. Right, enough build up, let's get on with the review.
A couple of changes for United from the draw against Durham, Lucy Watson and Ocean Rolandsen came in for starts whilst Rhema Lord-Mears returned to the bench from a long injury lay off. West Ham put out a strong line up for the tie with Flaherty, Stringer, Houssein and Joel all coming in for starts. It wouldn't take long for The Hammers to open the scoring with Filis taps home from a few yards out after an effort from Svitkova rebounded off of the Kop End upright and fell kindly for the England youth international. However, United responded instantly and after good play between Watson, Walters and Sweetman-Kirk, Bex Rayner squeezed the ball over the line to get The Blades back in the tie. United began to probe for a goal to give us the lead with Watson having a cross cleared that had Sweetman-Kirk waiting for a tap in. It would be West Ham who would get the next goal however with some poor defending from United allowing Svitkova have another effort on goal that Kitching did very well to keep out. Unfortunately for our no.20, the ball bounced kindly for Walker to tap home to restore the West Ham lead. United kept up the pressure however and efforts from Rayner and Sweetman-Kirk followed. Sweetman-Kirk probably should have done better after a good cross from Watson saw our no.7 send an effort flying over the bar and then on the cusp of half time, Sweetman-Kirk was played through one on one with Leat after a good cross from Rolandsen but the ex-Liverpool striker put her effort just wide of the post. The whistle went not long after and United were left ruing missed chances that could, and probably should, have seen them at the very least level as we entered half time. The second half started with United continuing to look for an equaliser with Maddy Cusack's corner just after the 50 minute mark being cleared off of the line. Despite the early pressure however, West Ham were the team to score next after a deflected cross fell to Walker in the box which the West Ham no.9 duly despatched for her second and The Hammers third. The game's momentum was now fully with the East London side now as just 7 minutes later it was four after Icelandic international Brynjarsdottir met a curled cross to head home to more or less decide the tie. The game became a bit of a stalemate shortly after this with the only effort of note falling to Sweetman-Kirk just shy of the 75th minute mark when she tried an ambitious lob of Leat but it didn't quite come off and West Ham saw out the rest of the half to confirm their passage into the next round of the cup despite a well spirited effort from United. This was far, far from a comfortable run out for the WSL team that the score line suggests. During the first period of action, United were creating chance after chance and should have had at least three goals going into halftime instead of the one we had. It was a fantastic performance against a team that are having a good season in the league above and if the chances we created in the first half were taken, we could be talking about a completely different story. United's wing play was top notch at times with Watson and Rayner causing West Ham all sorts of problems throughout the game, as well as a battling performance from Cusack in the middle of the park. It was nice to finally see our women's team take to the field at The Lane after the postponement of last month's fixture against Sunderland and hopefully they'll be playing at The Lane or in Sheffield more often going forward. It seems a real shame that our women's team are playing their football all the way out in Chesterfield instead of somewhere within the boundaries of the City. There was talk of a relocation to the new stadium at Don Valley which would be ideal but I don't know if that's still happening anymore. After the record crowd that turned up for the league game against Liverpool and the healthy crowd that turned up on Sunday, there's clearly an appetite to see and support our women's team so it'd be nice for our owners or club officials to make watching them more accessible. Whether that be moving more games to Bramall Lane or the new stadium at Don Valley, these players deserve the chance to play in front of big crowds on a regular basis and playing in the city for the club that they represent rather than in a town in a completely different county. Let's get something sorted shall we eh United? 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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