Reply With QuoteUnited – Well after 10 minutes it looked like a drubbing was on the cards. It had been a dire start. We gave away two silly fouls although the first had some doubt to it; I felt it was a silly challenge and even Stearman knew that from his reaction at the end. The second was another stupid free kick give away and then awful marking and a really basic goal to concede. We looked all over the place and you felt we were in big trouble but got the goal quickly; a brilliant goal. We then had more chances; as did they before we got level. We showed real spirit, guts and some decent football to get back into the game and draw level. After this it became a bit basketball and it could have been anything at half time. Both defences looked poor and you felt there were more goals both ways. The next goal seemed crucial but it never came.
The second half saw what we have been asking for in terms of a more committed, hardworking and organised Blades display. It was not cavalier and not the swashbuckling type of approach but we did the basics much better and Villa kind of run out of ideas. We did not go forward too much after say the hour mark but in the second half we had better chances than them and the only real save of note, the Villa keeper made and the best chance was Clarke’s. The only major issue second half was the continuation of the first half of a number of silly free kicks that we gave away. This always meant they may get a chance. The fact they got booed off at the end showed we had done well though and frustrated them. They are strong at home and even with good players missing (like us) they still have real threats so we did well. I felt there were some good performances from the likes of Donaldson, Carter Vickers and my man of the match Lundstram. Clarke worked hard for the team and Stearman had a good second half after a poor first half. A few still were up and down, O’Connell, Stevens, Baldock and Basham and I felt Duffy had a mixed match. Carruthers even did well when he came on.
I felt more than individuals it was a better team performance and even though the defence got pulled apart first half, we did cause them problems and kept the ball better at times. A few times we went longer that I would have hoped and panicked a bit but when you are on a bad run you tend to do that. It was a good point and one that stops the rot and gives us a platform for the two home games. It was a performance away from home more in keeping with those we have seen earlier in the season. Even if not close to those standards, it was a marked improvement from poor showings at QPR, Millwall and Preston in recent losses.
We do have players coming back but clearly we need to invest and it was interesting to note even the pundits discuss the notion that Wilder might one day move on if he does not get backing. It is hard to see us getting much higher (without Coutts) than say 5th or 6th without that extra quality down the spine. I worry that reports coming out from Wilder suggests it might be one nominal fee (for this level) and loans. That will not cut it and be really disappointing. For all this talk about how much the Prince has put in year in, year out, supposedly; the fact remains if we want to go up or give ourselves a chance of the playoffs; then we have to spend some money. We may not be able to spend stupid money but we have to compete with even likes of Bristol City (who have spent 5 million plus for a player) to stay in touch. Except Cardiff all the 6 above us have spent big money and will spend again. We may not get another chance for a few years (look at our city rivals who now seem a long way off) and next season will be even tougher. Despite the bad run we have given ourselves a real platform so the board have to give Wilder the tools to push us on. If they don’t; they are effectively accepting or cannot sustain more than mediocrity and/or is suggesting we need further investment to move the club on if McCabe and the Prince can’t or are not willing to do this.
Still I will end by saying what a year it had been. To go from League One football a year ago to win the league at a canter accruing 100 points was sensational. To start the season as we have and even with the dip and the injuries/suspensions; we are joint 6th in the league and have won at Wednesday and Leeds. We have a lot to be thankful for and have a superb manager who we all trust knows what needs to be done short and long term.
Villa – They started superbly and got two goals and seemed like they were a side well removed from a team that had been also struggling. They then tossed away two sloppy goals themselves and after this it could have gone either way. They looked really good first half going forward with Grealish, Snodgrass and Adomah all looking threats. They have a lot of midfielders that can shoot too and get into the box ahead of the striker/s. Something we do not. They did what we can do and overload the wide areas and we struggled to match this and two or three times we switched off. I felt they looked good and they may have had more goals but at the back they were abysmal. Chester and Jedinak struggled with both our strikers but particularly Donaldson who scored two and looked a threat all game running in behind. They made mistakes and they looked nervous. After the break I felt they may take the game to United and come again but actually created less than us and even though they had more of the ball and Grealish showed a few decent moments; not sure they created too much. They had a lot set plays and ball in the last third but never really hurt United. They kind of run out of ideas and in the end looked as happy with a point as we did.
For the money the squad has cost and even with the players out they should maybe be doing better but have been hit with injuries but still have million-pound players in reserve (we do not) and with a big crowd and backing, you think 6th is a bit below par. Still after a poor start, Bruce had steadied the ship and pushed them on and you feel they will be in and around the top places this season.
Opposition Man of the Match: Grealish. A moaning and diving so and so but he is a talented player. He has quick feet and can move the ball quickly and like Brooks does, he makes time for himself. I felt he was the main threat and we had to crowd him out. I felt Adomah looked dangerous first half and Snodgrass put some good balls in also. A few others were up and down but they do have midfielders who can shoot and get into the box.
Opposition Weak link: Jedinak scored but did not do anything else right. He was at fault for both goals and made mistake after mistake and looked an accident waiting to happen. Chester alongside him also got pulled about a lot. I felt we could have exposed them more for their weaknesses in this area. I am not sure about the keeper who always looks like he has a mistake on him and is bit of a line goalie. The lad Davis did ok but if they had a Clarke or a Donaldson; they would have a better chance of holding the ball up and bringing those midfielders into the game. The subs did nothing when they came on despite a lot of pedigree.
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