Plans change very quickly in football. We all know that ultimately, be it a fixture change, a change of kit, a change of stadium, changes happen. That doesn't mean that those changes still leave you feeling a bit numb and not wanting to write about those changes. That's exactly what happened last week after our 3-1 friendly win against Derby County. After probably our most complete performance of pre-season so far, with just about everyone singing from the same hymn sheet. Things were looking up ahead of yesterday's game against Bundesliga opposition and our first home friendly since summer 2018. Then Iliman Ndiaye actually did leave to go to Marseille and, I'll tell you this dear reader, I just couldn't be bothered to write about a player that looked like he would be staying and signing a new contract as little as a week ago. That's just sour grapes from me mostly and I actually harbour very little ill will to Iliman for making the move. It's his boyhood club and, comparable on a macro scale, we've had similar when we ultimately went in for Billy Sharp. It is what it is. So... A week later and here we are. If we were hoping for a positive response to the selling of Ndiaye, we certainly didn't get one yesterday. Let's have a look back at what will indeed, be a very brief review.
United lined up with a strong starting XI that probably won't look too dissimilar to what we will see on opening day in a week's time against Crystal Palace (new signings depending) Wes was between the sticks with George, Anel, Egan, Robbo and new boy Yasser Larouci the back five. Berge, Osborn and another newbie Anis Slimane manned the middle with Will Osula and the final new signing to be involved, Benie Traore leading the line. There were a few notable players in the Stuttgart line up with Japan captain Wataru Endo and Guinea centre forward Serhou Guirassay in from the beginning. United actually started pretty strongly with some early pressing putting our visitors on the back foot. However, once Stuttgart had bypassed our press, we looked constantly vulnerable to their pace and direct dribbling. As a result of this, we conceded the first goal just before the ten minute mark. Following a quick counter, Serhou Guirassy dribbled his way into our box and, after a few step overs, slammed the ball past Wes at his near post to open the scoring. United did respond to the early opener and crafted a few decent chances with some neat interplay, culminating in Ben Osborn getting an opening but only steering his effort into the palms of the Stuttgart keeper. The visitors would add to their lead not long after this chance however with more simple play undoing The Blades. The ball was cleared poorly by Osborn and three passes later and the ball was hitting the roof of the net after an off balance finish from that man Guirassy again. United tried to respond again and some more decent passing found our debutant Traore on his own in the area. However, despite having time to set himself and think about his finish, our new boy snatched at his chance and the ball was easy again for the Stuttgart keeper. Just before the break, it really should have been three for our visitors with another fast break seeing a Stuttgart attacker clean through on goal with only Wes to beat. Thankfully, Wes made up for his earlier error in the first goal and produced a fine stop to keep the score at two as the ref blew his whistle not long after to bring to an end a chastening first 45 for United. The second half started as the first ended with Stuttgart continuing to push for a third and United looking a bit lost as to how best to overcome our visitors. Dawdling on the ball almost saw us concede a third after we gifted Stuttgart possession right on front of goal. Fortunately, Stuttgart were feeling kind in the moment and a lay off when a shot was probably the better option saved our blushes. This was only momentary however, as Stuttgart would get a third minutes later with that man Guirassy capping off a dominant afternoon with his third goal. It came about in similar fashion to his second with United allowing Stuttgart to get to the by line and pick out a pass for their centre forward to slam home. Very little happened after this with United going closest to getting a consolation via Will Osula. Played through one on one, our Danish youth international took the ball around the keeper and then... Just didn't shoot? It was a bizarre set of circumstances with Will looking befuddled at how he would score a goal after doing all the hard work in sitting the keeper down and giving himself the best opportunity to get a goal. It was a nice summation of our efforts yesterday. Confusing and slightly baffling as Stuttgart ran away comfortable winners of the contest. Very disappointing afternoon for United yesterday indeed. To say we're a week away from starting a league campaign in the 'best league in the world' we look fairly unprepared for it. A game like that is sort of excusable if your a week into pre-season, not a week away from the start of the season. Whether it be the loss of Ndiaye or be it just a bad day at the office, United lacked creativity all afternoon and struggled to contain a Stuttgart outfit that finished last season in a Bundesliga relegation play-off spot. Not to take anything away from our visitors who were superb and played some lovely football and could (and should) have had more than the three goals scored on the day. This week leading up to Palace should be an interesting one to say the least. We need bodies in, and we need players to get back from being injured. Will we see either of those two things happen? Who knows, but it would be extremely disappointing to not get to the Palace game and see that we've got some new faces in the matchday XI. All in all, next week will be crucial. Let's see what happens. Until next time, UTB.
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I'm going to be completely honest with you dear reader. I thought we were playing Girona today and not on Wednesday, the day after our visit to The New York Stadium against Rotherham. It came as a complete surprise, to me at least because I didn't read our fixture list correctly, that we were playing twice in consecutive days. However, we were. After some cancelled plans in actually going to Rotherham to see us in the flesh again (boo to you, Sheffield Supertram) I settled in on a Tuesday night to watch our first game of the double header from the comfort of my home. Let's get into that game now.
Game 1: Rotherham United VS Sheffield United The big news coming out of this game was, first, our new third kit was on show after a release the day before alongside our very fetching third kit warm up shirt (football clubs really are experts at getting money out of the fans that devote themselves to them, aren't they?) Was that Iliman Ndiaye was starting up front with Daniel Jebbison despite rumours that his departure to Marseille was imminent. I guess it wasn't on Tuesday, that might have changed five more times when you read this with certain ITK'ers on both sides of The Channel claiming different things more or less every hour. It would be Ndiaye who would have the first big chance of the contest after a great run and laser guided pass from Andre Brooks found Ili just outside the 18 yard box. Ili dropped his shoulder and let fly with a fierce effort that was straight at Johannsen in The Millers goal. After this early opportunity, it would be our hosts who would gain the upper hand in the contest in the most spectacular of fashion. Following a knock on from a throw in, trialist (and potential former Blades nemesis) Andre Green scorpion kicked the ball over Wes with his back to goal and a defender all over him. A superb effort in a pre-season friendly that saw The Blades trail in the contest. Rotherham seemed to gain confidence from taking the lead and began to impose themselves onto the contest. Tyler Blackett went close from a corner after some poor efforts to clear it saw the ball arrow towards the ex-Man United man who volleyed the ball just over the crossbar. The Rotherham pressure continued to mount with more matador defending seeing Cafu (not that one, the ex-Nottingham Forest one) have a fizzing effort just about beaten away by Wes. Up the other end, United looked like they'd found the equaliser not long after with an Andre Brooks cross seeing Jebbo send a header down towards the bottom corner of Johannsen's goal. The Rotherham keeper got down well to parry the effort but only as far as Jebbo again. With the goal gaping, Jebbo's effort was deflected away from what would have been a certain goal by a superb block by Cameron Humphreys who, apparently, moonlights as Inspector Gadget now to send the ball behind for a corner. In a topsy turvy ten minutes or so, Rotherham would again go close to extending their lead with Cafu again going close. This time, the defender lined up a free kick from about thirty yards that the ex-Forest man belted towards goal, beating Wes, but not the crossbar with his effort rattling the woodwork. Oli Norwood left the field of play not long after with a particularly nasty looking gash to the head, but that would be that for a first half that had thrills and spills aplenty. United came out of the break with a very early chance to level the score. Brooks was the main provider again, this time collecting a ball from Ndiaye and playing an exquisite pass in behind the Rotherham backline that Jebbo got onto after outmuscling Hall off the ball but Johannsen was equal to his effort and blocked the attempted effort. The game became a little bit transitional after this with both teams having half chances to add to the score line but nothing really to write home about. Ndiaye went close a couple of times; first, with a first time volley when a first touch might have offered a better opportunity to work Johannsen and secondly, after dancing past some Rotherham defenders and playing a one-two with Osborn, Ili saw his effort narrowly deflect wide of the post. After this, United made wholesale changes on the 75 minute mark that saw the game slow down a little and, ultimately, saw no further goals in the contest as United suffered a first defeat of the pre-season despite having probably the better chances in a close contest. Game 2: Girona VS Sheffield United A throwback to the lockdown a day later for United with a trip to Manchester City's training complex to take on City's La Liga affiliate outfit Girona on pitch 8 (or 18) at the complex. With no fans in attendance, the first teamers and some youngsters who weren't part of the squad at Rotherham participated in this contest with Girona having a couple of notable names in their starting XI. Paulo Gazzaniga started between the sticks with Daley Blind in defence in front of him. An even stevens opening to the contest saw both teams fizz the ball around the City training pitch with Anis Slimane and Sander Berge particularly impressing. Most of our good attacking play was coming through our new Tunisian international with his quick thinking leading to a golden chance for United to open the scoring. Anis looked to have been fouled, but with no whistle, the ex-Brondby man took advantage of the lapse in concentration from Girona to play a cutting pass to Max Lowe. Lowey burst into the box and saw his effort from close range smash against the bar and away in what would have been a great goal thanks to quick thinking from Anis. Girona would be the next team to hit the woodwork with a fast break following a turnover in midfield seeing Savio in on goal with just Davies to beat after a defence splitting pass. The Girona man beat Davies but saw his effort hit the foot of the post and bounce back, luckily, to Davies with Girona's quick passing causing us some problems. The hosts (can we call them that?) Probably had the better chances as we headed towards the break with Christian Stuani (of Middlesborough fame/infame delete as appropriate) had a couple of half chances that never really had Davies worried. The whistle went with both teams unfortunate to not have at least opened up the scoring. Girona continued as they ended the first half and tested Adam Davies early doors with Garcia hitting a rasping effort that our Welsh international keeper had to tip over the bar. United continued to struggle to get a foothold in the contest as some errors saw Girona probe around our area without managing to get a shot in at Davies. Despite the pressure, United would be next to go closest to opening the scoring with that man Anis Slimane at the heart of our creative effort, disguising a slide rule pass into the onrushing Ahmedhodzic, our Bosnian slammed an effort into the side netting when a pass to Osula might have been the better option. United began to get a foothold in the contest as we went past the hour mark with Lowe sending Osula through on the angle with a lovely through ball. Our Danish international appeared to surprise an onrushing Gazzaniga with his pace, but saw his fierce effort sail just wide of the target with Gazzaniga well off his line. A Frankie Maguire corner not long after saw some pinball in the Girona area which led to Anel having an effort blocked and Berge having a further effort blocked from just outside the box. Just as we entered the final fifteen minutes, the deadlock would be broken... By our hosts(?) A driving run into the box saw a cross find Savio in the box with his effort being expertly despatched coolly past Davies to open the scoring. Girona nearly doubled the lead immediately after the restart but, thankfully, Freckleton got across to block the goalbound effort. More changes were made by United with everyone bar the impressive Seriki making way for a very youth looking subs bench. Seriki would dart through a couple of Girona tackles and lay a ball off to Maguire to narrowly send an effort wide as United continued to search for an equaliser. We perhaps should have had it as we entered the final minutes of stoppage time. United executed an excellent press on the Girona back line and keeper that saw Gazzaniga play a loose pass to a United player. Macedo got the ball but couldn't quite force his effort on a tight angle into the net with his effort rolling just wide. In the dying embers of the contest, Girona would go on to get a second goal with Torre slotting home after a slight defensive mix up. The final whistle blew and United suffered a second defeat in two days, albeit with two completely different squads. Despite the results, the last two games have probably been the most beneficial so far as we continue to edge towards the season opener against Palace. We continue to create some good chances but just can't take them. Andre Brooks in the first contest against Rotherham was especially good for this with his cutting passes and a decent cross saw him look very good against a stout Championship outfit. In the second contest, Anis Slimane continues to look like a shrewd acquisition with his range of passing and quick mind on show all ready. It also appears that he's building a bit of a rapport with Sander in the engine room and, if both of those guys can get on the same hymn sheet more often, we could be onto a winner. Femi Seriki was also very impressive indeed in the Girona contest with some energetic runs down the right and some good defensive work against high level opposition. All in all, the results might not have gone our way, but there were plenty of positives to take away from both contests ahead of our next outing against Derby on Saturday! Until next time, UTB. Pre-season is a time when the results don't matter, not really anyway. In years gone by, United have had positive results against teams like Real Betis and Internazionale whilst then losing to Burton Albion and Mansfield. Pre-season games are there to get match fitness back into players after a break from the hustle and bustle of league football and bed in new signings and perhaps try some new tactics. All in all, the only thing that matters is that aforementioned fitness, not much else. So when United played out a pretty boring 0-0 draw with our hosts Estoril last week, the only thing that mattered out of that game was minutes under the belt. The fact it was a very, very, very boring game of football is by the by and spending £6 on it was a poor decision, strengthened by the fact that it's taken me a week to write the review, one that will indeed be very brief. Let's get on with it then.
United again went with two separate teams in both halves with Ndiaye and Jebbo leading the line in the first period. Flecky, Harrison Neal and Ben Osborn made up the midfield trio with Sachdev, Bash, Robbo, Francis and new loanee signing Yasser Larouci in defence. Adam Davies was between the sticks in a first half that produced very little quality from either team. United's best chances came from, you guessed it, Iliman Ndiaye who was slipping and sliding all over the place as he tried his best to get something going. A decent move instigated by Ili saw our Senegalese international worm away from his marker on the right by line and put the ball on a plate for the onrushing John Fleck to ably bobble his effort well wide of goal in a finish that summed up the first half very nicely indeed. Literally, nothing else really happened. Robbo and an Estoril player got booked in a friendly and Robbo poleaxed someone. That's your lot really. Sorry. Our second half eleven saw a more mobile midfield enter the fray with Sander and new boy Anis Slimane dovetailing quite nicely with Norwood in the holding position. Wes was in goal for the second period with Baldock, Freckleton, Egan, Anel and Max Lowe in front of him. Andre Brooks and Will Osula completed the XI. United actually made some decent passing moves in the opening exchanges of the second period with Anel, Norwood, Sander and Anis all combining well. After some light probing from United, we would go closest to opening the scoring via a scramble from a corner. Not happy with missing potential goals with his head, John Egan used his feet this time to slam an effort against the post as United looked up for it in the opening exchanges. That 'looking up for it bit' faded a little bit as we went through the half a little bit more but United still looked the more likely team to break the deadlock. A superb pass from Sander set Will Osula through one on one with the keeper and his dinked finish from the edge of the box looked like it would indeed open the scoring. However, we couldn't have nice things in this game and the goal was ruled out for offside. Osula went close again not long after in spectacular fashion after a cross in was met by a scissor kick from the Danish youth international. It was a superb effort that beat the keeper but clattered off the crossbar and bounced away much to the disappointment of the travelling Blades contingent. The crossbar came to Estoril's rescue again not long after with Anis Slimane picking the ball up about 25 yards out and unleashing an effort that stung the bar once again. United were getting close, but not smoking the cigar. In the closing exchanges, our hosts began to look a little more likely to score and should have won the game in the final seconds after some rash decision making from Lowe saw the Estoril attacker gifted a run through on goal with very little resistance. Fortunately, Wes was equal to the effort from the Estoril man and the game did indeed end goalless. A very boring watch indeed despite the increased quality in the second period. The first half was, as mentioned in the paragraph, pretty dire indeed with very little being shown from either team. The second period was better but not until past the 70 minute mark with the Osula scissor kick did the match ever get the pulses racing. All in all, a meh game but important for those minutes. Rotherham tonight, hopefully we see more of the new signings and the new kit! (Oooooooooo) I'll review that tommorow maybe because we play Girona on Thursday. Until then, UTB. And, just like that, we're back! Pre-season began with a win for those flashing Blades with a short trip to last season's National League Play-Off final losers Chesterfield our opposition. Two completely different teams played the first and second half with our first half XI being one more 'youth' inclined, and our second half team looking a little more experienced. On an afternoon that saw an eclectic mixture of weather alongside a debut outing for our new home kit, how did the two teams gel and compete? Let me tell you about them now.
Our first half team saw Wes, Egan, Lowe, Bash, Norwood and Fleck as the experience in the outfit with youth teamers Brooks, Seriki, Marsh and Osula alongside trialist Chris Francis completing the line up. As rain lashed down, The Blades got us underway after a slight delay to kick off to allow people to get inside the ground. The first half was a little tetchy with neither side exerting themselves onto the contest or testing either keeper. Chesterfield perhaps had the better chances in the opening 10 or so minutes of the contest without really worrying Wes in goal. A quick counter attack from United just shy of the twenty minute mark probably should have seen us open the scoring. Marsh and Fleck connected with Flecky playing our Danish youth international through on goal, a good block by the Chessie keeper saw the first real chance of the contest go begging. United began to assert themselves into the contest after the chance with Osula continuing to prove a nuisance to our hosts backline with his pace and strength allowing him to get in behind and hold the ball up well. Will was brought down in the box not long after his first opportunity with the ref giving nothing. Osula was denied again by Tyrer in the Spireites net after his low effort from a Lowe cross (ha) was palmed away for a corner. A hat trick of good opportunities for the Dane came to a close after he collected the ball in his own half, rode off a couple of challenges and saw himself one on one with the keeper. Chopping onto his right foot, Osula slammed his effort wide of the near post into the side netting in what was a frustrating start to pre-season for the youngster. Nothing of note happened in the rest of the half that saw a 0-0 score line about right despite United wasting a few good chances to take the lead. The second half saw Davies, Robinson, Ahemdhodzic, Berge, Osborn, McBurnie and, to the delight of the near 4,500 Blades in the ground, Iliman Ndiaye take up the spine of the team with Freckleton, Sachdev, Neal and Buyabu filling out the rest of the team. With a more mobile midfield in play, United started to take control of the contest with Ndiaye and McBurnie dovetailing nicely up front with Osborn(!) And Berge pulling the strings from midfield. With 7 minutes gone of the second half, we had our first goal of pre-season scored by, who else, Iliman Ndiaye! Berge played the ball into McBurnie with our Scottish international dummying the ball to Ili who bobbed and weaved through some Chesterfield challenges before sitting Tyrer down with a ball roll and a shimmy to calmy slot home in front of the United support. A typical Ndiaye goal to get our pre-season up and running. Eight minutes later and the ball was back in the Chesterfield net thanks to more good link up play between Berge and McBurnie. A side rule pass from Berge deflected off of a Chesterfield defender allowing McBurnie a clean run on goal after being played on side by the aforementioned deflection. With a 2 on 1 in favour of United, McBurnie laid the ball on a silver platter for an onrushing Ben Osborn to slide into an empty net to double our advantage. There should have been a third not long after as United continued to press our hosts. Osborn laid a ball on for Buyabu with the youngster arrowing a peach of a ball onto the head of McBurnie that our Scottish number nine got onto the end of and diverted towards goal. Tyrer pulled off a cracking save down to his left to keep the score at two. United stayed on top as we entered the final fifteen minutes of play with McBurnie and Sachdev both going close in the final stages of the contest. Our visitors had chances of their own in the closing minutes of the match with Liam Mandeville going close from twenty yards and our old friend Will Grigg forcing Davies into a smart stop in the dying embers of the contest. No further goals to report however and United go into our trip to Portugal on the back of a composed victory against game opposition. You can't really judge a lot by early pre-season games with this being nothing more than a starting barometer on where certain players are fitness wise as we build up towards the home opener against Palace in August. The first half was pretty even with our more youth based XI taking a bit of time to get to grips with a high pressing Chesterfield outfit. A team who have already played three games in preparation for their new campaign. Despite this, we still carved out the better chances of the contest and should have gone into the break with a couple of goals. Despite the misses, it was an encouraging start from Will Osula. The young Dane ran the Chesterfield backline hard for those first 45 minutes with his physicality helping him hold the ball up well. He looks promising and will definitely benefit from a loan out before the end of the window to get acclimatised better to professional football. The second half was when the big guns came on and the quality we had was just too much for Chessie. Osborn especially had a superb game and was everywhere in the second period. Deserved the goal and put in a good shift on the left hand side of the pitch. Iliman Ndiaye did what Iliman Ndiaye does best and bamboozled the Chesterfield defenders a few times, the partnership with McBurnie worked very well on Saturday. Will be nice to see it used more throughout the pre-season (fingers crossed). Overall, a decent first outing against a decent team. No injuries, minutes in the legs, and a couple of goals all point towards it being a good day all round! Now we go onto Portugal and a friendly against Estoril! Enjoy if you are out there! Until next time, UTB. It's that time again ladies, gents and everyone in-between. It's that time where we reflect on the campaign that has just gone and hand out some awards. Is it well other a month since the season ended? Yes. Is it well over a month since other media outlets, official or otherwise have handed out awards and plaudits? Also, yes. But we like to do things differently here, either that, or I just took some time off and have been a busy little boy. Anyway, before the new signings, new kit and new season get underway, let's take one last look back at the season that was 22/23 and hand out some awards that I'm sure every player will love and adore and totally ask me for a PDF of said award that I totally make. Let's get this show on the road.
Game Of The Season The Nominees: Sheffield United VS Blackburn Rovers FA Cup Quarter Final 19/03/23, Sheffield United VS Burnley 5/11/23, Sunderland VS Sheffield United 15/03/23, Sheffield United VS West Brom 26/04/23 The Winner... Sheffield United VS Blackburn Rovers There have been a lot of very good matches for United this season, believe it or not, getting promoted tends to see this happen more often than not. The four picked are just a shortlist that could easily have risen into double figures but for pure drama and spectacle, the game of the season has to be the quarter final win against Blackburn because it was THE perfect game of football (well, if your a neutral or a Blade that is) it had everything. VAR drama, decisions that either team could have felt aggrieved by, some brilliant saves and, to top it all off, some fantastic goals with Tommy Doyle's last minute winner the pick of the five scored on the day. Since we've come back from COVID, we've not really had a moment like Doyle's winner that unglues a stadium and leaves you hoarse in the voice and hugging strangers. Aside from the fact it was a cracking finish (more on that later, maybe, *insert eyes emoji*) it was also a reminder of how good football can be. Having those moments of pure, unadulterated joy is harder and harder to come by in modern football so having that goal happen in that match in that weather with that crowd was just everything that's good about football and supporting United. An unforgettable day. Signing Of The Season The Nominees: Anel Ahmedhodzic, Tommy Doyle, James McAtee, Ciaran Clark The Winner... Anel Ahmedhodzic This was a close run thing, for the top three anyway, but for pure consistency over the course of the season and how much of a bargain he was (£3 million pounds is daylight robbery, are Malmo doing ok?) It has to be Anel for signing of the season. For a long time we've spoken about how we needed a successor for the evergreen Chris Basham and full credit to the scoting team and Hecky for getting this one over the line because we've got a player that is Chris Basham and then some. 7 Goals from centre back is an outstanding return for a player that, at times, was running games from centre back. A danger going forward and a brick wall at the back, you can see why Anel was being scouted by some of the elite teams in football and it's incredible that he's here in the red and white of Sheffield United. A player that has fully bought into the United way and will leave us for a fee that will be ten times minimum the £3 million pounds we paid for him. Let's continue to enjoy him whilst he's here because he will be going to the very top of the game. Defensive Player Of The Year The Nominees: Anel Ahmedhodzic, John Egan, George Baldock, Wes Foderingham The Winner... George Baldock Another close run award but for the run in, there probably isn't a player that contributed more to our good form from Sunderland onwards than our furious Greek international. Whilst his offensive output is still lacking somewhat, there is no doubt that George is one of the best lockdown defenders that we have at the club and was a major part in reinvigorating a squad that looked a little bit tired and lost of ideas before he came back from injury at Sunderland and never looked back from that game. George is full blooded and an incredibly passionate player and truly leaves everything on the pitch for United. I don't think George has ever given anything less than 100% for United whenever he's pulled on the red and white stripes during his 6 years at the club and this year is probably the first time when he's been fully recognised for how important he is to the team and how we perform. A superb defender and a superb servant for the club during his tenure. Defending may not be the sexiest part of playing football but we've got a player in George who fully embraces the defensive duties he has and looks good whilst doing it. Offensive Player Of The Year The Nominees: Iliman Ndiaye, James McAtee, Sander Berge, Oli McBurnie The Winner... Iliman Ndiaye When Morgan Gibbs-White left United in the summer, there was a lot of pressure on Ili to try to take on the offensive capabilities of a player who, at times, put us on his back and won us games on his own as we pushed to the Play-Offs last year. An very good rookie year for Ili still saw some question marks above him. Could he last a full 90 minutes? Would his finishing improve? He answered both questions with a resounding 'yes and then some' this season. Iliman Ndiaye is a special, special footballing talent and is an offensive tour de force. The ball sticks to him like glue as he weaves his way through battle tested defences like they are training cones on a sandy beach in Blackpool. This is Ili's second season in professional football and he looks like he's been playing it for a decade plus. There were points in the past season where it looked like Ili would score goals for fun, then in the next stretch of games decide he needs to get more assists just because he can. I've never seen a player look as effortless as Ili has this season and treat tearing teams apart with such aplomb. He's a special one is Ili. Another one to enjoy whilst he's here. Rookie Of The Year The Nominees: Tommy Doyle, James McAtee, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Oliver Arblaster The Winner... James McAtee If you would have told me after the Luton game that James McAtee would have gone on to be one of the most crucial players in the run in for our promotion campaign I would have found it hard to believe. Things didn't look to good for Jimbo after that game and it looked like the Championship might just be a step taken to soon for the City loanee in his first taste of professional football outside of an academy setting. Post World Cup break, James McAtee has been one of the stand out attacking players in the division. A little bit more raw than Ndiaye but still able to turn a match when he wants, Macca had a stellar second half of the season that saw him end the season on 9 goals and a plethora of assists to go with it. For a first season in pro football and in a league as competitive as the Championship, that's a seriously good return and full credit for McAtee to turn it around like he did. He went from question marks over suitability to undeniable in our team as we looked to secure promotion back to the top flight. He's another one to watch in the future, will we see him in a Blades shirt again? Who knows? But it was an absolute pleasure to see him in the red and white whilst in the infancy of his career. He'll always be thought of fondly by Blades fans, whatever happens next. Young Player Of The Year The Nominees: Tommy Doyle, James McAtee, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Iliman Ndiaye The Winner... Iliman Ndiaye The second award for Ili and I think the first person since I started running these awards whenever I started running them to retain the award? (Maybe not, think MGW won it last year but Ili was definitely nominated) Either way, it's a very well deserved second award for our Senegalese starboy. It's probably not going to be his last award of the article so I'll keep this one relatively short. To achieve what Ili achieved in his second full season in pro football is mind boggling and to do it with the ease he did is spellbinding. It really does need repeating that this is only Ili's second season in pro football because he makes everything look so, so very easy. A very talented player. Not the last you'll see of him in these awards... Goal Of The Season The Nominees: Iliman Ndiaye VS Blackburn 20/08/22, Tommy Doyle VS Blackburn 19/03/23, Iliman Ndiaye VS Tottenham Hotspur 1/03/23, James McAtee VS Blackpool 29/12/22 The Winner... Iliman Ndiaye VS Blackburn The similarity of Ili's goal against Blackburn and his goal last year against Fulham are frighteningly similar and leave you wondering if Ili simply repeated his goal from Fulham against Blackburn at The Lane so more people would get the chance to see it in person just because he can. This is a terrific goal and fully showcases all of Ili's skills in full, thrilling, colour. He nicks the ball in midfield after tracking back then proceeds to beat three Blackburn players from the centre circle with consummate ease and then proceeds to curl home a finish, via the post, past the Blackburn keeper from about 20 yards out. It's a superb finish and was the first indicator that we've got something truly special in Iliman Ndiaye this season. The fact that he's scored a goal like this twice now fully hammers home how good he is. I'm glad he's our player. Most Improved Player Of The Season The Nominees: Iliman Ndiaye, Oli McBurnie, Jack Robinson, Oli Norwood The Winner... Oli McBurnie If you would have told me in the summer that Oli McBurnie would go on to score 15 goals this season and have one of the best goal to games ratio in the Championship whilst being one of our most effective players I wouldn't have believed you. The man who hadn't scored a league goal for us in close to a year and a half and a goal of any kind for a year would find the magic touch again? Surely not, but he did. Oli McBurnie showed why we payed £20 million for him in our first Premier League season for the first time ever whilst he's been here really and why he was such a coveted player after that season when he hit 23 goals for Swansea to earn that move to Yorkshire. He was a real pest for defenders at times and ran himself into the ground for the cause whilst showing an ability to hold the ball up and create and, more pertinently, convert chances. The goals against Birmingham and Blackburn in the FA Cup show this ability that Oli has to create something out of nothing and convert when he has no right to do so whatsoever. A really nice redemptive season for our no. 9. Will it continue in the Premier League? We will have to wait and see. Player Of The Year The Nominees: Anel Ahmedhodzic, Iliman Ndiaye, Oli McBurnie, John Egan The Winner... Iliman Ndiaye It had to be didn't it? After a season where Ili gets double figures in goals and assists whilst being one of the best and most dangerous players in the Championship and going to a World Cup and being one of your countries stand out players and being the first Blades player to start a knockout game at a World Cup against England? The player of the year just had to be Iliman Ndiaye. He's such a pleasure to watch at all times, even when he's perhaps not having the best of games, Ili is still able to pull something spectacular out of the bag that can change a game at the drop of a hat. He really did take us on his back at times this season and won us games on his own a fair few times this season. He's a major, major part of why we are where we are now and he's easily the most talented player United have produced this century. How long will he still be a Blades player? Who knows? Let's just enjoy him whilst we can and keep cheering on a player that will go to the very top. There isn't a doubt at all about that. And there you have it. Congratulations to all nominees and winners of these truly prestigious awards that will definitely be coming to you and are totally real. And there we have it for another year covering United and what a year it's been. A memorable one for a variety of reasons and I'm looking forward to doing it all again next year. A big thank you again for taking the time out of your day to read my innate ramblings that I know can go on at times. I really enjoy doing this and I hope you enjoy reading these. I've been doing this for 7 years now and it's still an absolute pleasure to write these articles. Next year I might be popping up in other publications which is either a good thing if you like these, and a bad thing if you don't. Either way, I'm looking forward to it! Have a great summer, I'll be back after the Chesterfield game. Until then, as ever, UTB. Coming a month or so after the official end of the season awards and what feels like a month since our last game. Doing a quick check shows it's been nearly a month since the last United game against Birmingham and, more pertinently to this particular article, over a month since United ended our FA Women's Championship campaign against Sunderland. With that in mind, it's the perfect time to start handing out awards! So, here we go, once again, for an award ceremony that I'm sure is just as prestigious as the official one that was hosted at the Town Hall. Let's get on with the awards!
Game Of The Season The Nominees: Sheffield United 8-0 Coventry United, Sheffield United 1-0 Charlton Athletic, Bristol City 0-1 Sheffield United, Sheffield United 4-2 Sunderland The Winner... Bristol City 0-1 Sheffield United The game that ultimately secured our status in the Championship for next season, a battling performance that saw us go to the home of what would be the league winners in Bristol City and come away with the win and compete on a level playing field with them hammered home the qualities that this side possesses and that we are still able to bloody the noses of the big, full-time teams in the division on our day. This game ensured that turnaround under Jonathan Morgan was complete and that the tactics and play style that he was implementing was in full flow. Fingers crossed their are more games like this next season! Defensive Player Of The Year The Nominees: Alethea Paul, Charlotte Newsham, Naomi Hartley, Fran Stenson The Winner... Charlotte Newsham An ever present this season, Newsham has continued an impressive debut campaign from last year in red and white and elevated it to another level this season. Offering decent attacking threat as well as defensive nous, Newsham clamped down some of best attacking players in the division incredibly well and was unerringly consistent in going about her job. A player who could definitely play in the WSL and will most definitely have a future in the top tier, hopefully Charlotte will be staying around for another year (or two) and she'll continue to be a presence in our backline going forward. Offensive Player Of The Year The Nominees: Mia Enderby, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, Bex Rayner, Maddy Cusack The Winner... Mia Enderby An electric attacker and another success from the clubs RTC, Enderby has had a superb second campaign in the first team and has picked up from where Lucy Watson left off last season as an exciting young player that will go to the very top of the game. Fantastic close control and an innate ability to want to take defenders on and make them look silly was very often one of the few positives in a fairly bleak middle of the season where we couldn't buy a win for love nor money. Watching Mia Enderby play in red and white is pleasure and hopefully we'll get to see more of her before she goes on to one of the big teams in the WSL because, lets not beat around the bushes, that's where she'll be going next. A superb footballer. Signing Of The Season The Nominees: Fran Stenson, Naomi Hartley, Rachel Brown, Grace Riglar The Winner... Fran Stenson A crucial signing at a crucial position coming at a crucial time in the season. Being able to secure the services of the highly rated Arsenal stopper Stenson played a huge part in our turn during the second part of the campaign. Stenson looked assured between the sticks and pulled off some crucial saves right from the off and played a major role in securing our first league win for five months when she came in against Charlton. Fran was a massive part of a stout backline that helped us over the line to secure Championship status for another year. Would be brilliant to be able to have her for a full campaign next season. Rookie Of The Year The Nominees: Molly Graham, Chene Muir, Tamara Wilcock, Ruby Clarke The Winner... Molly Graham Another player who played a major part in securing our Championship status, Molly Graham came into the team at a critical point of the season and looked like a player who had been playing Championship football for years. I mean this in the best way possible that Molly didn't look like a rookie when she played for us this season. A cool head, good in the challenge, and superb distribution. Another RTC success story and a player who will play a major role next season. Much like Enderby and a few others, also nominated for this award, Molly will more than likely go on to play at a higher level than the Championship, lets enjoy her whilst she's still here. Goal Of The Season The Nominees: Courtney Sweetman Kirk (first goal) VS Durham, Charlotte Newsham VS Coventry United, Sophie Haywood VS Coventry United, Bex Rayner VS Nottingham Forest The Winner... Sophie Heywood VS Coventry United We scored a lot of good goals this season, so much so that there were a few that were unlucky not to make the shortlist here but the standout goal of the campaign has to be Haywood's superb solo effort against Coventry United. Some sublime footwokr from the Aston Villa loanee saw her skin two Coventry United defenders on the near touchline and then after all that being able to slot home from an acute angle just added to the beauty of a truly special goal. Definitely would recommend going out of your way to see it if you haven't already. Young Player Of The Season The Nominees: Mia Enderby, Molly Graham, Bex Rayner, Charlotte Newsham The Winner... Mia Enderby There was a little bit of worry that losing Lucy Watson to Chelsea in the off season would see us lose one of our premier attacking threats but Mia Enderby, as stated elsewhere, has come in and had a superb season that may even have been better than what Watson produced in a Blades shirt which may be a bit hyperbolic, but Enderby has been that good this season. It's hard to believe that Enderby is 17 years old because she plays with a fearlessness that would not look out of place in the top flight of many divisions around the world. She'll definitely be one to watch in the future and will go right to the very top of the game. There's no doubt about that. Player Of The Season The Nominees: Charlotte Newsham, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, Mia Enderby, Alethea Paul The Winner... Mia Enderby Getting her third award is Mia Enderby and I know I've already written lots about her in this article so I will try and keep this one a little bit shorter, Mia will go to the very top of the game. There's no doubt about that. Already a regular with the England youth set up and a crucial part of our squad, it won't be long before the big teams come calling like they did last year for Lucy Watson. At times this season, Enderby was the positive bright spark in a team that looked a little bit lost, especially between September and February. It's a joy to be able to watch her play football. Simple as that. Hopefully she'll be around next season, but if the big clubs come calling, there will be no begrudging her moving on. She'll go right to the very top, definitely one to watch. And there you have it, congratulations to all winners and all nominees, everyone nominated deserves to be there and there were a lot of close calls between the players who won awards and even who was nominated. That's that for the 22/23 campaign then! A real campaign of three acts, a really encouraging opening act, followed by a bit of a rough middle act but back to encouraging for the final act. This season has been a bit of a rollercoaster but I will leave you all on this note. Being able to see attendances slowly creep up and sustain around the 1,000-1,100 mark has been brilliant to see. Having the chance to be able to go to The Lane most weekends and see United play at our proper home has been brilliant this season and seeing the variety of people come and support the team is what football is all about. I've loved being a season ticket holder this season and look forward to next season. The only way is up from here. See you all soon! As ever, UTB. It's a really strange thing securing promotion so early isn't it? After a season where jeopardy and the constant working out of permutations, all of that just disappears when that (P) replaces the (2) in the ol' Sky Sports league table. Turning up to the football carefree and not needing to think about 'who could gain on us if we lose' or 'we really need three points here to cement our promotion credentials'. It's nice isn't it? Saturday was also the last time we'll be playing at The Lane this season so with a Preston team still fighting for entry to the play-off lottery (what an exhausting thing to want to be a part of) United were looking to end the home season on a high and, goodness gracious me, we did exactly that.
After securing promotion on Wednesday, four changes were made from that excellent victory over West Brom. Could it have been down to who was most sober? Maybe. Basham, Bogle, Norwood and 250th goal chasing Billy Sharp returned to the starting XI. There would be no place for ex-Blade Ben Whiteman in the Preston line up but there was room for Daniel Johnson, a player who seems to relish playing Sheffield United more than most. With a party atmosphere around The Lane, United went about looking to put a spoiler on Preston's play-off hopes. The opening exchanges were all about probing as United knocked the ball about as we tried our best to break down Preston's backline. Just after the twenty minute mark and we probably should have had our opener. A quick break from a corner saw Ndiaye and McAtee two on two with backpedalling Preston defenders. Ili did what Ili does and sold the two for a kipper playing in Macca for a one on one with Woodman. Our City loanee couldn't quite lift his effort over Woodman into the net with the ex-Newcastle stopper pulling off a good reaction save to keep the score line level. As we headed towards half time, it looked like we'd be heading into the break all square, despite all our good pressure. However, as we entered the final ten minutes of the first period, we found the breakthrough! Tommy Doyle whipped a ball into the box from a corner and rising highest to it was our Bosnian Blade Anel Ahmedhodzic, getting his 7th goal of the season with all of them coming at The Lane. Minutes later and it could have been two! Another corner and another good chance, this time the ball was half cleared to Macca who laid the ball onto Jack Robinson to arrow an effort just wide of the Bramall Lane end post. Oli Norwood was next to go closest for United with an effort from just outside the box forcing Woodman to produce another good save. Shortly after, the half time whistle went and it was looking very, very good for a United team that, despite doing what they needed to do on Wednesday, still looked the better team against a Preston outfit that didn't look like they wanted the win they needed to keep their play-off hopes alive. Our visitors made one change at the break with Liam Delap replacing Jordan Storey. Preston came out of the break looking better than they did in the first period and looked much improved thanks to the introduction of Delap. Parrott, Cannon and Ledson all had efforts on goal in the opening moments of the second period but it would be United again who would have the best chance to add to the score line. Brilliant work from Ndiaye saw him dance his way through the Preston back line before his effort from close range was saved. The ball only went as far as McAtee who effort looked like it was in, but was blocked on the goal line! The game became a little bit more open after this with both teams going for that all important next goal. It would be Preston who would strike next in the contest after a cut back from Brad Potts was met by Liam Delap. The son of Rory got his second goal against us this season in similar fashion to how he got his first when he played for Stoke, slotting into an empty net with Wes having little chance to do anything about it. Despite the minor setback, United kicked into gear after this and began to press for the go ahead goal. The introduction of Daniel Jebbison for Sharp would be pivotal in swnging the momentum of the match back in our favour with our England youth international causing chaos for the Preston back line. His direct running would eventually lead to us regaining the lead, Jebbo held off the attentions of a variety of Lilywhite defenders to deftly play the ball into an onrushing John Fleck with our Scottish hero seeing his goal bound effort deflect off a Preston defender and loop over Woodman and send the ground into raptures in what could very well be the last time we see Flecky in red and white at The Lane. Three minutes later and it was three and Jebbo was at it again! Absolutely bodying a Preston player on the flank, Jebbo regained composure to clip the ball into the path of the onrushing Iliman Ndiaye with our Senegalese starboy doing the rest and sweeping home to really put the icing on the cake. United were in party mode now and tricks and flicks abound were being brought out in front of a game audience. Preston seemed to accept their fate and half heartedly attacked in drips and drabs but nothing of note. As we entered 7(!) Minutes of added time, we scored what we call in the business, a mickey taking goal. A corner was half cleared, Norwood played a blasé outside of the foot pass to Bash who chipped the ball to McBurnie to smash home with a falling volley that ensured he had his 13th goal of the season and our 4th of the day. The whistle went not long after and once again, United fans applauded a first team outfit that, in someways, had exceeded expectations set upon them way back at the start of the season. What a week eh? Promotion secured on Wednesday, and a rip roaring performance to send the home crowd away from The Lane for the last time this season very happy. United were comfortably the better team on the day. To say Preston were chasing the play-offs beforehand and we'd already secured promotion days before hand, you'd think we'd be the team phoning it in a bit. Fair play to the lads for putting on a commanding performance. It was just nice to watch. And it was the perfect way to end a home campaign that has brought a lot of joy. We've still incredibly got two games left of the season. Now it's just about getting them done and welcoming the boys back for our regular visit to the Town Hall! Until next time, UTB. Moments.
Football is all about them, isn't it? You can be having the greatest season or tournament but that can all be undone, or vindicated, in a moment. Whether it be a goal, a miss, a red card, an injury, there is always that chance that a football match can go either way depending on that moment. For Sheffield United, on a balmy Wednesday night at the end of April, our 2022/23 season was defined by two moments, not just one. On a night when the destiny and future of the football club was, perhaps, in the balance, United stepped up to the plate and delivered in those ever important moments. You want to re-live Wednesday night, I want to re-live Wednesday night, let's re-live it together. Three changes from the Cup semi-final against Man City with the City duo Doyle and McAtee recalled to the XI joined in attack by Oli McBurnie replacing Daniel Jebbison who found a place on the bench. United started the first half a little bit nervy with playoff chasing West Brom looking to spoil the potential party brewing within The Lane. Two minutes in and they probably should have opened the scoring. Our old tormentor Jed Wallace whipped a brilliant ball into the six yard box that found the head of Karlan Grant. With the goal at his mercy, the ex-Huddersfield man bounced his header into the floor and over the goal as United got away with a very early scare. Our visitors looked the more likely throughout the opening periods of the contest but United did have a couple of half chances as the half continued. Good work by Berge saw our Norwegian international dance around a couple of Baggie challenges and, perhaps encouraged by the crowd, opened fire from about 20 yards with the ball just flying narrowly over the crossbar. An exciting opening quarter of an hour continued when West Brom were gifted a free kick by Max Lowe on the very fringes of our box. Jed Wallace again looked to be provider for the Baggies and Karlan Grant once again was inches away from opening the scoring with Wes producing a fine save to deny the West Brom attacker twice in quick succession with the follow up saved despite the linesman flagging for offside. Our visitors continued to look the most likely to open the scoring and in the final ten minutes of the first half, Gardener-Hickman forced another fine save from Foderingham. Berge sent a header flying over the bar from a Doyle cross as a little bit of anxiety filled the air around The Lane. Despite the pressure, the first half ended all square with The Baggies perhaps a little bit unfortunate not to be ahead in a contest that United just didn't look like they were quite up to pace with yet. As we all know, the second half would go on to prove all fears about us possibly prolonging the promotion party a little bit presumptuous. United came out with fire in their belly after the slightly lacklustre first period and went close twice in quick succession. McBurnie saw a header saved from close range after a Doyle cross and, bursting from the right wing, George Baldock went close with a slicing effort that kept Palmer in goal honest as the decibel levels around The Lane began to rise. Shortly after the Baldock effort, and United had the opener that had The Lane had a roof over the pitch, would have blown it clean off. Iliman Ndiaye pounced on a poor back pass from Gardener-Hickman and was quickly in on goal with a defender and Palmer to beat. Ili shrugged off the attentions of the defender and, with Berge barrelling into the box, Ili laid the ball on for the Norwegian big boi to slam home and send The Lane into raptures. Flares were lit, songs were sung and, it looked like we would actually be sealing promotion at home, three games before the end of the season. This. Does. Not. Happen. To. Us. United were in full ascendency now as we went for the jugular with The Baggies looking shot. Berge lofted a cross into the box following a corner, completely unmarked and with the goal at his mercy was John Egan. The Lane rose to it's feet... Arms in the air... The roar building... And... Egan put the header wide. Because if some things were changing on Wednesday, Egan miscuing golden opportunities was comforting in a way in that it was staying the same. United kept on coming though and the second goal would come and if you thought the noise for the first one was loud. Mate, you've got another thing coming. A corner was cleared only as far as George Baldock on the edge of the area. Gorgeous George hit a first time volley back into the area and meeting it was our Bosnian big man Anel Ahemedhodzic who expertly swivelled on a six pence to slam the ball back into the roof of The Kop net and everything came unglued. It really was happening tonight? In a season of so much uncertainty with new owners, the sustainability of the club, it was all forgotten in this moment, even if it was just briefly. Anel and every player of a red and white persuasion bar Wes raced to the Kop corner to celebrate what would prove to be the promotion sealer. With the game more or less done and dusted, both teams now looked to the clock to see the contest out. West Brom had a couple of efforts on target but nothing to truly bother Premier League Wes and, after five minutes of added time, United were once again confirmed as a Premier League club after a two year absence! What a second half. Nothing will ever probably top that feeling of pure, unadulterated joy that followed the final whistle. We've not been able to fully celebrate clinching promotion at home for over 50 years and as the players clapped the fans and the fans clapped back from the stands with a pitch invasion, quite rightly, not on the cards everything just felt right. It's been a season where we've just gone about our business with very little fuss if we're being completely honest. It's very un-Sheffield United to have gone about the promotion with as little fuss as we have. Despite some late challenges from Luton and Boro, the chasing pack never really got within three points of us once the match day's had finished. Maybe we need to re-evaluate what it is being Sheffield United is at this point because we don't do what we used to anymore. When the going get's tough, United get going and that is full credit to the boys and Paul Heckingbottom. Within 18 months of being appointed Blades boss, Hecky has proved all the doubters wrong (myself included) in getting us back to the promised land and the riches of the Premier League. He has reinvigorated the club after a chastening season and a bit following the upheaval of relegation. Hecky has got a club that looked like it was going to be treading water back being a competitive outfit in one of the most cut throat leagues in the world in a matter of months. Things like this would be feted as a managerial masterclass (hello Michael Carrick) but Hecky hasn't had that credit from anyone like that. But then, that's probably the way Hecky would want it. He's appreciated by Blades fans and even if the media or the league won't give him that credit. Paul Heckingbottom quite possibly is the reluctant saviour of this club. A man who isn't a tubthumping Blade like Wilder or Warnock or a 'bloody the big boys noses' blood and thunder of a Bassett. Hecky is perhaps the most relatable manger United have had in recent years and that's perhaps why he's had so much success in getting the club back in tune with the fans. He's a South Yorkshire bred, unassuming bloke who goes about his work with minimum fuss. I think that resonates with a lot of fans and goes a long way in getting that backing back. Wednesday night will live long in the memory. Let's enjoy these last three games in the Championship. Until next time, UTB. After a tumultuous season that's had high highs, and low lows, United finished up our home Barclays Championship campaign safe in the knowledge that second tier football was secured for a fifth year and that the opportunity to go fully professional is just around the corner after appointing our first full time coach in the highly decorated Jonathan Morgan. Being second in the form table and beating champions Bristol City and their challengers London City Lionesses in recent weeks is a far cry from going months without a win between Coventry United in September and Charlton in February. We've had breakout stars with Mia Enderby picking up the 'one to watch' baton ably from Lucy Watson alongside strong appearances from Molly Graham, Tamara Wilcox and Chene Muir with the RTC continuing to show why it's one of the standout player production lines in the country. After all this, it was good to get the chance to see the team sign off a home campaign with a comfortable win against Sunderland to add some gloss to our points total.
One change from the win at Coventry, Bex Rayner was back in from the start, slotting in nicely just behind Enderby, Sweetman-Kirk and Haywood in the attack. United had the first real chance of the opening exchanges as we exited the opening ten minutes. Sophie Barker drifted a free kick into the area that just evaded a couple of onrushing attackers as we looked to get an early goal. Sunderland however were looking dangerous on the break and almost got the opener thanks to their pace on the break. slight miscommunication saw Stenson in no man's land with Joice baring down on goal. The Black Cats attacker rounded the Arsenal loanee but found her clear shot at goal blocked by a Molly Graham making an exceptional recovery run to shepherd the ball out of play to get rid of the danger. Graham was involved again minutes later, this time in an offensive matter as she got her head on a Barker corner with her header looping over the head of Moan and clipping the bar! The pressure continued to build and it paid off just shy of the twenty minute mark. Good work down the right by Rachel Brown saw our wing back pull the ball back from the by line with Sophie Haywood coolly slotting home to get her third goal in two games. A minute later and United had a second! Really good build up play involving just about everyone in the team eventually saw Brown and Enderby link up with our England youth international pulling out a lovely chipped ball that looked destined to hit the back of the net. Just before it could cross the line, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk bundled the ball in to give us a quickfire 2-0 lead! The goals didn't stop, however, this time it was Sunderland who would be adding to the scoresheet. Some matador defending from United allowed Scarr to be left alone just inside the 18 yard box with the Sunderland forward taking aim and seeing her effort deflect just above Stenson and into the Kop End net. Despite the set back, United would look to re-establish the two goal advantage and would get it back in spectacular fashion with the goal of the day. Picking up the ball from Althea Paul, Mia Enderby sent her marker for a hot dog with a cracking first touch and spin with her second touch being a heat seeker of a shot that left Moan grasping at thin air as the Bramall Lane end net bulged. A ninth goal of the season for the teenager who was an absolute menace all afternoon and has been all season. she's got a massive future in football and it's been a real pleasure being able to see her grow and strut her stuff at The Lane this season. A real star in the making. On the cusp of half time, United would continue the rout and get a fourth goal thanks to another of our top performers this season. A cross from the right wasn't properly cleared by Sunderland and with the ball sitting up nicely for Bex Rayner, our no.9 smashed the ball into the top corner to more or less kill the game off as the half time whistle went. A fantastic first period from United saw us score four goals for the second time in a week, it looked likely that Morgan would be getting his first home win as Blades boss in spectacular style. Sunderland came out of the second half looking to find a way back into the contest but didn't really get anything going until just before the hour mark. Danielle Brown had a corker of an effort smack off of the crossbar with a follow up forcing Stenson to make a cracking save as our opposition looked to remind us that they weren't quite dead and buried yet. United heeded the warning and perhaps should have had a fifth minutes later. Enderby danced her way past two Sunderland defenders with the greatest of ease and found CSK with her cross. Our veteran no.7 connected well with the ball but was denied by a superb save from Moan down to her left. The game settled down into something of a battle of attrition after this with United content to sit on what we had. Wilcock, Lord-Mears, Muir and Clarke were all given minutes as we edged towards the final whistle. 8 Minutes before the end and Sunderland got their second. Dodds lifted in a great ball to the back stick from the South Stand side with Kosovan international Ejupi getting on the end of it and hooking the ball past Stenson. Sunderland had their tails up now and looked to add more goals before the end of the contest. Pinball in the box just wouldn't quite fall for our visitors and Maddy Cusack eventually got the ball clear before a third goal could be added. No more goals would come however, and United were able to celebrate consecutive wins and a first home victory for Jonathan Morgan in big style as we brought the curtain down on the home portion of our Championship season. The game was already done by half time and that is full credit to a United team that have looked more and more confident since the arrival of Morgan. As the league itself goes more and more towards full time professionalism, it has become more and more difficult to be able to maintain the top half challenges that United were producing in our first couple of seasons in the second tier. Morgan and all his staff have done an excellent job in getting us back to the point where we are getting results against full time teams in the division and giving them a bloody nose. As the Redfearn era started to come to an end, it did look like we'd lost that vim a little bit. Morgan has been a breath of fresh air and with a full summer and pre-season under his belt, hopefully we can continue to build on the strong foundations he has started to lay. In conclusion, the season has been a mixed bag but there are the shoots of optimism there for the next campaign. The big crossroads in this offseason is the continuing question over transitioning to a fully professional outfit. Personally, I think it's something that should have been done a while but things like the takeover and funding may have held that back recently. Obviously, we don't want it to go the route of Coventry United, but for the good of the game in the city and the good of the players already here, it's something we need to do. To be able to get to the next level and being able to keep our better players like your Mia Enderby's, your Bex Rayner's, your Althea Paul's. We've gone too long allowing our better players leave without the club being reimbursed or allowing us to build to challenge for promotion. Hopefully that move is already being looked at because it's the least the team deserves. Anyway, one game left, let's go out on a high with another win! Until next time, UTB. Good Friday has been just that for United over the past couple of years. When we've needed a result on, or around the time the Easter Bunny comes and lays eggs under our Easter trees, we've pulled them out of the bag. Most memorably, of course, was our 2-0 win over Forest that ensured we took a big step to promotion that year thanks to a screamer from Mark Duffy and a composed finish from Enda. A few years later (four to be exact, we are all getting very, very old) and United were back on Good Friday needing a result that, once again, would see us take a big step to regaining our place back in the top flight. With the news that one of the chasing pack Luton had dropped points at Millwall and Boro playing Burnley later, United could potentially enter the weekend a maximum of 9 points clear of third. We just had to do our bit and beat bottom of the table Wigan.
United made two changes to the team that bested Norwich last weekend with Billy Sharp coming in for McBurnie and Jayden Bogle coming in for an ill Max Lowe. United looked to find an opening goal quickly and went close via a long distance effort from Tommy Doyle following a well worked corner routine. No recreations of his heroics against Blackburn however, as the Man City loanees curled effort couldn't quite beat Ben Amos in goal, arrowing just above the crossbar. United would get their deserved opener not long after the Doyle chance. McAtee skipped past a couple of Wigan defenders and curled a cracking ball towards the back post of The Kop End. Just about getting on the end of the cross was that man Iliman Ndiaye who poked home to get his 12th goal of the season and settle some early nerves within the ground. "The Blades are going up!" Reverberated around Bramall Lane as we were doing what we needed to do and, in very un-Sheffield United fashion, were doing it with some comfort. The search for a second nearly ended minutes after we got our first! A raking ball from Doyle found the head of a marauding George Baldock in the Wigan area. Our gorgeous Greek international laid on a cushioned header for Sharp to surely smash home for a quickfire second? Unfortunately not, Amos pulled off a cracking reaction save to deny Sharp his 250th career goal and keep United at bay a little bit longer. After a scramble at the corner, Bogle slammed an effort wide with his weaker foot and Wigan began to come into the game a little bit after this. Sustained pressure was maintained, but nothing really troubled Wes at all in goal with a slew of corners, crosses and set-pieces either being cleared or not coming to anything. McAtee raced away on the counter at one point and saw his effort blocked after a last ditch tackle in the area. Despite protestations from United fans, referee Andy Davies daw nothing wrong and play continued. After the short bit of 'Tic dominance, United had a fantastic opportunity to get a second after a moment of magic from Ndiaye. Weaving and dancing his way through the Wigan backline, Ili found his way into the box with just the keeper to beat. Instead of getting a shot off, Ili took the ball around Amos and, as the stadium waited for the net to bulge and celebrate a late contender for goal of the season (we really have put that out pretty early) James McClean blocked the goal bound effort with his backside with Amos pouncing on the ball before it could cross the line. A few half chances from both sides followed, but that would be that for a first period where everything but finding a second goal went well from United as they descended back into the changing rooms, escaping the bright sunlight for 15 minutes. Joe Bennett came on for Wigan at the break as they searched for a way back into the fixture. A couple of minutes after the restart and Billy Sharp once again was denied by a determined Amos. Anel had burst forward and played a lovely chipped ball into the area that Sharp met with his head from just beyond the penalty spot. The header bounced into the turf and saw Amos ruin the party again with another good reaction stop. The pressure continued from United with Doyle again letting fly from distance with an effort that was closer to the second tier of the Bramall Lane end than it was troubling Amos. Wigan came forward again and probably had their best spell of the game with a couple of headers going close after patient build up play. The closest our visitors came to an equaliser was through Thelo Aasgaard who's looping header after poor defending from United saw Naylor have an effort blocked and McClean putting the cross in for Aasgaard saw Wes tip the ball over the bar and out for a corner. As we entered the final throes of the contest, United once again went looking for a second. Berge burst forward from midfield and saw an effort from just outside the box fly wide over the crossbar with Norwood, Ndiaye and Bogle all having shots nearly go in. United had a decent shout for a penalty waved away after some good play saw John Fleck brought down in the box. Neither team would get a goal however and, despite not taking our chances, United ended Good Friday with a win and opening an eight point gap to third placed Luton after their draw with Millwall. All in all, a decent day for The Blades! We created the chances, especially in the first period and could have been home an hosed by the break. 1-0 wasn't really a reflection of the game with Wigan only really having the Aasgaard header on the hour mark as their best chance of the game. Despite having good periods in both halves, United contained our visitors well and as mentioned at the start, did create chances, we just didn't take them. At this point in the season, it doesn't matter that we're not blowing teams away or scoring five or six because we don't need to do that. All we need to do is keep the points totaliser ticking over and, hopefully, score one more goal than the opposition do and keep getting wins. We now go into the game on Monday in a very good position indeed. Burnley are now already promoted (congratulations are in order) and we will be heading to a Turf Moor that Burnley are yet to lose at this season. As long as we focus on what we're good at, we should be ok. Until next time, enjoy the chocolate, as ever, 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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