Well, everything has blown up and gone a bit crazy hasn't it? Ever since I last wrote, Sheffield United has gone mental. We lost to West Brom, drew against Ipswich and people began doubting our play off credentials again. Then we beat Frank Lampard's Derby County in a match that had everything, then we beat Blackburn in another match that saw both teams go down to ten men largely due to an incompetent referee who, somehow, refereed the Manchester Derby but couldn't referee a Championship fixture. We then signed Everton prospect Kieron Dowell, then comprehensively beat Wigan with Billy Sharp surpassing Rickie Lambert as the top goal scorer in the top four English leagues during the 21st Century... Then it was heavily rumoured that we were signing everyone's favourite washing machine, Gary Madine. GARY MADINE. And, above all this, we've got a cup tie against Barnet to play. It's never boring following the Blades is it?
So, first things first. We go into this match in extraordinary form. we've scored 9 goals in our last three games and have also only conceded one goal during this period. A gripe that most fans have had so far this season is that our defence is too leaky and that we have to score at least twice in a game to secure the three points. Well, we've been scoring those two goals a game and then some and after the two clean sheets against Blackburn and Wigan, we've got the second best defence in the league behind only West Brom. So the defence has bolstered up, what about our strikers? Well in those three games, out of our nine goals, 8 have been scored by our strike force with previously criticised David McGoldrick scoring three in three, Billy Sharp scoring four in three and Leon Clarke scoring the other one. After many fans clamouring for a new striker (and perhaps after seeing who that new striker could possibly be) I think people have started to appreciate how good our strikers are especially Billy Sharp. I'll be honest, when Sharp was signed back in 2015, I thought it was more a nostalgia signing but I'm glad that Sharp has proved me (and others) wrong. He's managed to bag double figures in every season since and has been integral to our rise to third in the Championship. Sharp recently surpassed Rickie Lambert as the highest goal scorer in the top four English leagues during the 21st Century and with just about half of the season left, that lead that he has over a certain Jordan Rhodes could increase further. At 32, you've got to think that Sharp will start to wind down over the next couple of years but I believe that his style of play could provide beneficial, not to mention his incredible physique, could see him play at a good level until his late thirties at least and I hope that he spends these twilight of his career at Bramall Lane. We should all be thankful for Billy Sharp though because if he didn't come in 2015, who knows where we'd be? Probably playing Rochdale for the 8th season running. So, enough about our talismanic captain, lets talk about our opponents Barnet! Its been a strange through years for The Bees with them hopping between League 2 and the Conference. Currently sitting 15th in the Conference (or National League) it's not been the best start for Barnet with their fans probably expecting better from a team freshly relegated from the Football League. Although they are struggling at the minute, their FA Cup run has been impressive. They beat League 1 Bristol Rovers 2-1 away from home after drawing at The Hive, then beat fellow non league team Stockport County in the second round to secure a trip to Bramall Lane. The squad is a young one which may explain the struggles with the return to non league with key players like John Akinde leaving after relegation with the oldest player in the squad being 31. Are there any players to watch out for? Ex Tottenham trainee Shaquille Coulthirst is one to watch with a total of 5 goals in 14 games a particularly decent return. 20 year old youngster Jack Taylor has also impressed in his first full season of first team football. Top scorer Wesley Fonguck is also a danger with 6 goals in 20 games nothing to sniff at. So how do I see this one going? Well, in a perfect world I'd like to see United field some fringe players and those players put in a professional performance putting Barnet to the sword. However, this is the FA Cup and form goes out of the window and with the Kop closed, the atmosphere could be dulled and Barnet will want to show how good they can be. I'll go for a comfortable 3-0 win with new boy Dowell and goals for Washington and Clarke seeing us through into the fourth round. As ever Blades, UTB.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
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
Categories |