Reply With QuoteUnited – We were poor today and never really got going in a very average performance in a poor game against a side that were there for the taking. Wilder got the team selection wrong. He tried to match up and keep it solid in midfield but Evans and Lundstram together does not work. Both lack mobility and pace and means we get overrun in this area. Duffy is not a defensive player but he gets hold of the ball and thus reduces pressure on your defence/rest of midfield. I felt that Wilder played the two aforementioned to give us some solidity but in truth it never worked and the best two players on the pitch (save for the sub who came on and gave us a torrid time) were Celina and Carroll who were up against these two. For a home side we never had control of the game or midfield all afternoon and we never really put them under any pressure. It felt a bit friendly/practice match at times as we sat off. They were not great but came to life after we scored, stepped up a gear and in the end went through us a like a knife through butter. They scored 2 but could have easily scored 4 or 5 in the last 20 minutes alone. We had a few decent chances at 0-0 with shots missing from Lundstram and also McGoldrick but we never really got beyond them. The front two were isolated and we had no creativity or pace. We took an age to move the ball on and when we did they had men behind the ball and dealt with us quite easily.
I do not think they were great shakes and were equally poor for long spells but simply upped it after we scored. Wilder got the team selection wrong but had chances to redeem himself but did not change it and when he did make the wrong changes for me. Duffy should have been on a lot earlier or even Leonard in midfield to get amongst them, pressure them an stop the ease with which they ran through with the ball. Woodburn came on and was left isolated – he should have replaced a midfielder for me – in the same way the other strikers were. Sharp rarely changes games when he is a sub as lacks the pace to get up with the game. Duffy came on late on but this was a waste of time for me.
I felt we did not really press, harry or get in their faces and it was all a bit easy. They gave the ball away a lot without being under any pressure but we failed to take advantage. I felt we sat off and gave them time. They wasted so many good chances to cross or create and it was only at the end when they started to run at us and commit men forward they made us pay. I felt despite us being poor we had given as good as we got up to the point we scored and then got in front. We failed to build on this and they sensed gaps opening up. They seemed to have quicker, nimble and more skilled players in the last 20 minutes – which had not always been the case in the early stages of the game. It was if they realised how slow and immobile our defence and midfield were. It was worrying how easily a team got through us in those last stages – especially as it had our new big money signing and highly rated keeper in. Neither looked totally convincing and indeed none of the debutants had a particularly good game.
The issues pinpointed last year in terms of defensive errors – poor goals and lack of creativity and pace (outside of Duffy) were right to the fore and if Clarke is not on his game or not effective you worry where the goals may come from. The keeper did not have one save to make and other than a couple of shots wide from McGoldrick and Lundstram we did not create anything outside the goal.
I was not going to get too up if we had won – said when we led that the performance had been average at best- so cannot get too down about losing. It is one game. Still, it is a concern to some degree as there are a lot of questions around the side still. I am still to be convinced by either Lundstram or Evans. There are fans of both of them I know but unsure either offer much that affects games enough in a positive way. Both are very much ‘meh’ players in that they are just very average. Egan had to do a lot better than that but should be given time of course. It is hard to be too critical of the strikers as both had little service but Clarke did have one of those not that bothered games I felt. McGoldrick seemed to put himself about more than him. Fleck was wasted having to drift out to the left and ended up more left wing than central but him, O’Connell and Clarke – our three big players down the spine did not have great games at all.
We clearly need another striker but if Coutts is not back for a few months; the midfield is still an issue. We will get overrun a lot more if we play like that but I am sure Wilder will change things for the game in the week. I expect a reaction to a very poor start and hope we can go there and be positive. We then go to QPR; so two away games in a week. It is important we get off the mark sooner rather than later. I said today a point would have been a good result and even said that at 1-0 and then at 1-1; would have been delighted to take a draw. We lost rather meekly in the end and it was disappointing how easily they scored the goals. We looked a bit of a soft touch in the final stages and that needs to change fast.
Swansea – Thought for the first hour or so off the match they looked as poor as us. They gave it away and were sloppy with the ball even at the back. They did not have much of an attacking threat although had more of the midfield. They looked like they were feeling their way into the season the same as we were; but the goal woke them up. They made a change and got some pace into the game and the two lads in midfield started to support the already impressive McKay. Celina and Carroll started to run at our tired midfielders and they supported McBurnie and to be honest a chance looked like coming every time they attacked after this. They hit the bar and had a few other efforts in between the goals. They just ran at us and got men up to support and the weight of numbers told. They were queuing up to score the goals they did.
Tactically Potter got it right in the end as he ensured they had 2 wingers which pinned back the wing backs and nullified out main threat – due to the pace even our centre backs could not go forward. We then relied on the midfield to run with the ball or carry it but they did not and they found out probably a bit too late but enough in the end; how to play against us. Several teams did the same post Xmas but we do not seem to be able to change it.
Swansea are a much changed team and a new manager with several key men leaving; they may have some Premier League quality but I do think with a proper United up and at em performance today; they were there for the taking. Sadly we served up a really poor showing and in the end they did just about enough to nick the game. People will say that it was even for 70 minutes but the final 20 minutes are when games are effectively won and lost and they battered us in this all-important stage of the game in ball retention and chances. Hard to know where Swansea will finish up. Been linked with more players; including Ryan Woods at Brentford but they look the weakest out of the three relegated teams on paper. Course it never works that way but I would be surprised if they did go straight back up. I felt playoffs at best would be what they would achieve.
Opposition Man of the Match: The lad McKay was the best player in the first half and looked a threat and of course the sub Montero caused us all sorts of problems but to me the best two players were Carroll and Celina. The latter was at Ipswich last year and did ok but not someone clubs were clamouring to sign (from Man City). Today he bossed the midfield and I felt for the final part of the game his play, running and passing was crucial in the comeback.
Opposition Weak link: Other than above; no one stood out really or were particularly bad. Just a lot of average performers (for both teams). Felt the lad Olsson at left back struggled a bit and lost his way a few times and the centre backs although good in the air did give it away as much our players did.
Originally Posted by mahatmafoot
