Reply With QuoteUnited – Do you know what I will definitely take that. First 20 minutes we were poor and they swarmed all over us. It looked like us at home as they passed it around us, got chances but unlike us they did score early and could have had more. They did pass it forward and through our midfield and with runners and like the 2nd half last week we struggled and the midfield in particular gave the defence no protection. I felt Madine did well off scraps and Dowell showed some early promise with no end product. They scored a good goal but no pressure on the ball at all. They then could have had a few more and we sat off and they found a way to exploit space. They won a lot of corner and the wide men were causing problems. Slowly we got back into it and had a few half chances but then they came again and had a good chance to make it 2-0. I was happy to just keep it at one after a poor first half but one where you have to credit the home side but we had the bonus of the penalty and got level.
2nd half was a different story. We started really well, hit the bar and had more of the ball and finally started to wrestle some control in midfield but then they scored a really good goal (poor from us as we did not press again) but we came again and had more chances and kept calm and got level. After this I fancied, we may nick it and had more half chances and McGoldrick a decent flicked effort. They of course had a bit of a surge at the end and won a corner and had a bit of territory but in the end a draw was a good result and we will move on.
It was a really good game. Norwich are one of the better teams we have played in terms of how they passed it, overloaded men forward, played through the thirds at speed and caused us issues with movement and one touch stuff. We kept in it and showed real resilience and then played some good stuff our of our own. I was pleased with United and showed we maybe can stay right up there with the frontrunners. I do wish we had a bit more belief and are waiting for things to happen too much. We need to be a bit more forceful and step things up 10-20% but then we won’t play many better sides than Norwich although tough trips to Villa, West Brom and Leeds await.
Interesting to see what happens this week as rumours abound of Clarke maybe moving out (we will do well to get anywhere near a million for a 33-year-old with a big-ish contract and if Bristol City or Hull are willing to pay that I would say thanks for great service and recognise that he has done his job but we have moved on now). I would like us to get that quick, striker up top (no offence to Washington) to compliment the other three. Dowell has to do more if he gets more minutes. We cannot wait 5 or 6 games before he gets up to speed and needs to quick up in thought and play. Overall though with 17 to play we are in third with a winnable (said that last year v Bolton) game that is tailor made for Madine to net his first Blades goal. We do need to play for full games as we have effectively put two halves together in two weeks and that is why we only have a point. Last week is more disappointing as we certainly should have taken something but today, we showed some real resilience. Normally United lose big games v promotion contenders (seem to in my lifetime anyway - in promotion races – League One v Bolton apart)
Norwich – They began at break neck speed, scored a great goal and after this I felt after this we had to just stay in the game. We were not great but Norwich were good and sometimes you have to just give credit to the opposition. Vrancic and Stiepermann were running at the United players and drawing men. Hernandez and Pukki were also threats. We struggled with their running and direct play (not direct in terms of hitting it long but direct as in running at us). They have some really clever players and like us lots of players who can move around the field and play in different areas – they do not stay to fixed positions. They don’t have an out and out striker, Pukki is furthest forward but he often comes back and allows others to move ahead of him.
They have pace and running and can play some lovely one touch football. The one thing they do better than us is play it quicker and move it forward and through teams more rather than side to side but you can do that with midfielders who can run – ours are more static and wait to receive rather than dribblers/runners. They always give you a chance as they commit men forward and at the back, they are not great at marking. I would say I think we have a better defence but they have more threats going forward. I don’t think our defence was awful but they were surging at us and our midfield did not help at all.
They scored the two best goals of the game (both superbly made and finished) and could have had a few more but second half we had nearly all the other efforts aside from the goals and in the end a draw was a fair result. I was concerned they may nick one especially when it went to 96 minutes as they normally do but they seemed to be equally aware of our threat and the best chance actually fell to McGoldrick in the 89th minutes. They will be in the top 6 as they score goals but I think like us they will miss the top two as they concede too many also. They also switch off at key periods for all the great football. Defensively they do ship goals and that might cost them but rather watch teams like them than drab defensive sides who shut up shop; whatever the state of the game.
I love the way they attack and throw bodies forward. It was a proper game today and two teams going for it. Little bit disappointed they went to ground a bit easy and at times we are too honest (the penalty was stupid and nothing to do with going to ground too easily). This leads to us having to defend lots of free kicks. Norwich do have some cute players but they also know when to go down. Overall, they have like us, surpassed expectations on budget (still have a squad and outlay much in excess of ours if you run through the match day squads) but fair play to them. Farke came across as a bit of an arse last year (as Wilder did to them for his rants) but both managers have got two teams playing expansive, attacking football and go for wins. Not sure why Farke called us physical. They had more bookings today and we are guilty of being too nice. Ridiculous statement really as was his Krul does not have one save to make – did he miss the Madine shot. We also hit the bar. He says we had no other chances – forgets the McGoldrick shot over; the flick also. 2nd half not sure they had a shot close outside of the goal. Admittedly, first half it was the other way but bizarre comments. He did admit a draw was a fair result amongst his other weird comments. For us to take 4 points off them is a really good achievement.
Opponent man of the match – Stiepermann was the best player on the pitch I felt. Big, athletic, mobile, dribbler, passer and can shoot. Looks to have the lot. Real talent but was around German (not big clubs first teams) and is 27 so obviously like many of United players found his role and niche. I felt Vranjic was decent too and of course Pukki. A bit of a McGoldrick type in that he comes off the front, picks it up and links. A real clever player. Hernandez caused us issues at the Lane and he did the same today with his pace although Baldock stuck to it after a tricky start.
Weak link – Anyone of the defenders. Stupid challenge by the lad Buendia on the penalty but I felt Sharp and Madine at times found space away from Zimmerman and Lewis etc. Zimmerman switches off at times and so it proved on the goal. Disappointing to see Krul be such an arse on the goal and glad to see Sharp score.
Henderson 7/10 – Got megged on the goal but right at point blank range and those are hard to stop as you either get your legs on it or you don’t. No chance on the 2nd as it was right in the corner. He made one save early on which was decent but maybe going wide anyway and then one-point blank really good save to keep it at 1-0. 2nd half not sure he had much to do really and Krul was the busier after it being the other way around first half.
Baldock 6.5/10 – Started game under pressure as the lad Hernandez ran at him and was direct with his pace and trickery. Gave away a few cheap fouls and then lost him as he ran off him on the goal (felt it was others fault more for not closing earlier in the move). He improved as the game went on and even though Hernandez caused him some problems, he stuck to his task. He got forward well but only one decent cross and too often his final bit was poor or he took too long. He needs to really work on this aspect of his game as he gets in such good positions.
Stevens 7/10 – First half hour he struggled a bit and gave away a few corners/fouls as they were on top. He also took too long when he got forward and had lots of chances to cross but opted to play it on again or take another touch. He of course won the penalty with a great run and drew the stupid push. 2nd half he was much better and came onto the ball and was able to show more attacking play and was higher up the field. The goal he was not tight on his man but like with Baldock on the first I felt others let him down as the ball was moved about and we got stretched.
