Reply With QuoteUnited – Odd night. Another good win and another fairly assured performance but the Coutts injury almost made it feel like a defeat and it was a real sickener and to lose him for the season is a massive blow and could have a huge impact on what potentially could have been another glorious season and perhaps an unthinkable back to back promotion (more on that later).
We were not as good as we have been but still in patches played some great stuff. I would say we were better at Forest and against Norwich; games we lost and were not near the level of some recent performances. However, we scored 3 goals and could have had 2 or 3 more. Blackman barely had a save to make and their goal was a wonder strike. Even a poor spell second half, Burton did not trouble us that much. Indeed, if we had been a bit surer as we attacked and the final ball a bit better, it could have been a hammering for an abysmal Burton side. At times the passing was good and we cut through a poor side but at other times we got a bit sloppy. I thought the defence played well and after a few dodgy mistakes early, all 3 were very good and I felt that was Carter Vickers best game I have seen him have. Blackman was very assured also and showed it was the right decision to bring him back.
Sharp and Clarke continue to defy those that said they were too old/not good enough for the Championship. The latter was tireless again and the former showed his finishing prowess. The rest of the team were ok, they were decent to good but not as outstanding as they have been. I though Duffy had a quieter game and Fleck made the third but he was a bit up and down. Coutts going off disrupted us for a spell second half but we got back control. We were clearly as Clough admitted, the much better side and at times still bossed proceedings. You can tell how confident the players are and they all went to be on the ball. Love the fact for the most part we don’t just boot it clear and try and pass it even out of tight corners at the back. All the defence did this. Even Blackman!
Hopefully we can get Baldock back soon and allow Basham to go in the centre but we will really miss Coutts. For me he is and has been our best player over the last season or so and most influential player. Sharp and Fleck got all the plaudits last year but Coutts makes us tick. Him being out for the season and question marks over injuries with him before; is a major blow. No player is irreplaceable but he is the one in the side we do not have anyone like him really. He will be missed and I am not sure in the current squad anyone is even close to his level or can do his job so we need to get through next month or so and hope in 6 weeks the board really back Wilder. I think we may just put Basham into the midfield and maybe Fleck will drop back a bit in his role. He has the ability to be able to pick it up and pass it on even though he is not same sort of player. I think him, Basham and Duffy will be the three although maybe in some home games Lundstram or Carruthers may get opportunities. Neither have convinced for me. Carruthers showed flashes but is not consistent and most importantly both are too careless with the ball. They also do not move around the pitch as well as Coutts. Both physically get shoved off ball more too, which is odd considering Lundstram’s size. The drop off was clear last night as Lundstram just punted it quite a few times and looked almost winded/tired long before the end. He needs to seize his chance but other than an ok showing v Ipswich, not been that impressed I have to say. He is quite slow and as I say gives the ball away too much. Hope he can prove me wrong and take his chance but as I say I would bring Bash into the midfield when Baldock is hopefully fit.
Moving forward there has already been talk of who may come in to replace Coutts if we sign someone which I think we need to do. The form of Clarke means striking area is not as much a concern but we still need someone up there with pace but we may now have to throw all our eggs into one basket in terms of funds and make that fulcrum in midfield a priority. I would love Ryan Woods from Brentford but he has a long contract and thus his situation is different to the others that Birmingham snared from Griffin Park as they all only had a year left on their contract and Brentford sell them normally if that is the case. We may go back in for the lad Quina at West Ham maybe but his agent may make that hard and also heard Mourinho was sniffing around him! A left field suggestion could be former Blade Kevin McDonald (but not sure Fulham would sell). He is a Coutts type (not as good) who can pick the ball up from defence and carry it forward. The lad Swift at Reading is a good player but a more attacking midfielder. There is also Ben Pearson at Preston. I have a feeling Wilder will go back for Leonard though at Southend as fee would be nominal. I would be surprised if we really splashed the cash but I think we may need to now and go for a top, proven player.
We have two very winnable home games in a week. Fulham and Birmingham both have some talent and are a lot lower down than they should be but if we play like we can; even with Coutts out (remember Ipswich) we can still win both games of course. We need to start well as we often do and impose ourselves. They are two opponents who have some flair players but I think if you get stuck in, pressure them and do what we do best, we can overpower them both. It is a great chance to really cement our top two position but the team need the crowd with the loss of a key player to really drive them on.
Burton – Awful side I felt. Two years ago, an abject side led by Adkins limped to a pathetic 1-0 defeat to Burton at the Lane. We were turgid that night and the sight of that idiot Garner thumping the Bramall Lane air was painful. Two years on and the same management duo, wearing those ridiculously bright white trainers they always seem to wear, presided over a side that were well beaten by a confident, vibrant and exciting United side. Even Clough could probably not believe this was the same club.
Burton have a largely very old side and many that the term journeyman has to be applied to. Many seem to be players that’s best days (if they had any) are behind them and the likes of Bywater, Buxton and Warnock really are doing well to still be at this level. They have a few decent players and I was glad to see Dyer go off, who can be a threat but many others Cordell, Turner, McFadzean are poor players. The lad Murphy was a talent at Crewe but never established himself at Leeds and I do think the two lads they got from Rochdale Lund and Allen are decent players but again are they Championship standard? Palmer scored a decent goal and was maybe their stand out.
They did not play much football and looked like they could be got at any time. You can see why they are on such a losing streak at home. I suppose away they can set up more defensive and pay on the break with the pace of Dyer, Akins and Sordell. I see nothing but a season of real struggle and the fear is the home form is so bad that eventually they will not pick up the wins they have away and then you cannot see where the wins would come from. I expect them to go down to be honest and the only thing that could save them is if they are three worse teams but some such as Bolton and Millwall have picked up so you struggle to see three worse sides as you feel Sunderland and Birmingham under new managers will pick up a bit also.
Opposition Man of the Match: Not sure there was any that really stood out. The lad Murphy showed a few good touches but probably Palmer if just for his superb goal alone. He did actually run at us a bit in an otherwise very slow and static side.
Opposition Weak link – You could name a few really. The defence was awful and we looked like we could carve them open at will. The lad Turner was very awkward and slow and McFadzean was equally bad. Some Blades were desperate to sign him a few years ago but saw tonight we have moved on from that level. He was really poor and the penalty summed him up. The second goal where we just went through a big gap in the defence was frighteningly bad. However, the worst player has to be Stephen Warnock. A player that has once represented his country; he looked a tired player who looks ready for the knacker’s yard. He was slow, off the pace, his touch was bad and he lost his man constantly as shown on the third goal when he took his eye off Clarke at the back post.
