Saints 1-0 Sheff Utd - Match Thread

[Saint Pete]

Well, we won and a clean sheet is encouraging I guess. Confidence clearly needed at present and remember we had a couple of scratchy unimpressive wins after Still was sacked that then resulted in a purple patch when the confidence flowed for a bit. That's what I will be clinging to anyway!

[Osvaldorama]

Just now, Saint Fan CaM said:

For Pompey I'd keep the same side except put Charles in for Downes.

Me too 

[OneMrsWallace]

Sorry, what just happened? What's the doughnut shaped thing next to our name? 

[saintant]

We made it much harder than it should have been because Azaz and Scienza missed easy chances that simply must be converted. After Stewart went off we had zero presence up front and allowed them to control the game. There were a few scares and Bamford really should score after the terrible mix up between Jelert and THB - schoolboy stuff. Fortunately Bamford was not as clinical as normal and his shot gave Peretz the chance to stick out a leg and divert it. The 3 points here is the most important thing but we must take our good chances when they come along because that could easily have finished 1-1 even though we were worthy winners.

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, washsaint said:

I don't know what some of you are on but you sure are miserable feckers.

We were not going to play like Brazil with how low our confidence is but we were comfortably the better side and shold have won by more than 1 goal but for yet more woeful finishing (especially from Azaz and Fellows).

Jack made a real difference at the back with his leadership and tonight they actually fought for the shirt (which shod be a given but hasn't been).

We were still too weak in midfield and Downes gave the ball away in dangerous areas that opened up a ton of space in the middle for SHeffield.

A win and a clean sheet.  Gives Saints some confidence going into the derby game.

Weird take, I think most people are relieved as we were getting too close to the bottom 3 for comfort on a terrible spiral of form. Essential win in that context. Not a coincidence that we go away from 5 ATB, drop Manning and Wood, and we see a clear improvement. And that we struggled when they both came on.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

Damn, Saints needed the points.

Good to hold out for a clean sheet too.

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

We can only play against who shows up.

We got a single goal win against a struggling Utd side that allowed us all the possession we wanted, and also easily gave up the midfield.

Even then it took a deflected goal to get the win, although Azaz could have got a second.

Second half Scienza and Fellows put the ball well over. At the other end we had to clear off the line from a corner and Peretz had to make a good save from Bamford. The rebound from that handily didn't fall right to Hamer.

We didn't offer much when Stewart went off. But at least Fellows knew to just start cutting in, rather than try and get a yone's head on it.

The subs continue to make us a bit weaker. However, Manning did get a good block in, as he was pretty much defending only, and Robinson tracked back well.

A much needed win to stop the slide. But we'll need a lot more against tougher opponents.

[saintant]

14 minutes ago, BotleySaint said:

Classic Saints added time performance. Give them chance after chance until the inevitable.

Didn't see them create chance after chance. Were we watching different games?

[stknowle]

Just a huge relief to get a win. Deserved it overall but could’ve paid for the profligacy esp given Bamford’s shite effort when he absolutely should’ve scored. Stewart makes a huge difference but I hope to god we aren’t gambling on him staying fit and have another Damion Downs lined up….

[stknowle]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Didn't see them create chance after chance. Were we watching different games?

They didn’t. Whatsoever. They had 1 gilt edge one though. 

[saintant]

1 minute ago, stknowle said:

They didn’t. Whatsoever. They had 1 gilt edge one though. 

Whereas we scored and had two gilt edged chances.

[Mr X]

A must win.... And a marginally better performance it must be said.... However I fear it's just a false dawn and we will revert back to shockingingly bad on sunday....so I'm still Tonda out 

[Harry_SFC]

I think 1-0 was a fair reflection of the game. We had the better chances overall despite Bamfords miss at the end. 

Still worrying how poor we looked once Stewart went off. Armstrong just doesn't give us anything upfront. 

[bpsaint]

Really thought we’d get spanked tonight, time will tell of course but that could be one of our most important results of the season in what could have been, and what still could be a relegation battle.

Felt like the QPR game where we just needed to squeeze out a win for a bit of morale, hopefully we can take that into Sunday now with a bit of belief.

Edited 1 hour ago by bpsaint

[Mboto Gorge]

Actually thought we deserved to win that as should’ve been at least 2 up at half time and prob more. Add to that Leo’s headed chance and you’d say we deserved the points, but fuck me we make it hard, 9/10 Bamford probably equalises and this place is in meltdown. The defending and general organisation still looks absolutely dreadful. Happy with the win though, have to take what we can get right now 

[davefizzy14]

Great to get the win and a cleansheet 😊

[Hodgey]

Give credit to Tonda - he must have hated going to a back 4. The reality is though that the formation change won him that game, the extra midfielder meant we won that battle starving Utd of providing their two forwards with anything. 
As an added bonus it also stopped the easy ball back or sideways.

a big foreward really gives us a different dimension (and frankly us table stakes in this league) and must be priority one for next seasons hopeful promotion push.

Thought the keeper looked better than previously - seems a lot calmer and I think is improving following little football l

Tonda out ? I’m now wobbling - he’s bought himself a few more games but any more 5 at the back slow sideways shite and he must go.

[S-Clarke]

It was actually weirdly similar to the game at their place, a fairly ugly game but we came out the other side with a scrappy win. That's what this was, let's not beat around the bush - a proper scrappy 1-0. 

The clean sheet is a huge plus from tonight in my eyes, it feels like it's been forever but it was only as far back as that Millwall 0-0 a few weeks back.

Defensively fairly solid for that first half, I didn't think Sheff U carried much threat. The first half for me demonstrated why the 4 works, because it forced us to move through the lines quicker - and Leo and Fellows kept the width, we stretched the game and moved it a bit quicker - not so obsessed with passing around 3 CB's, we had less 'backwards options' - and it showed.

I thought Wellington did well, full of effort and energy. I've not been convinced but he's not Manning, so I'd give him the birth now. Stewart gives us what we don't have, a centre forward who provides a physical presence in the sense of hold up, and disruption of a backline. You can't rely on him to stay fit though, so it would be daft to expect that - we still need a new one of 'his type'.

Not much happened in the 2nd half really, bit scrappy. Sheff U came into it with Bamford adding a bit more for them up top, but we held out.

Good to get a win to go into the weekend, but it was very scrappy - but you'd take them in our state.

Edited 1 hour ago by S-Clarke

[James]

We look loads better with Stewart up front, exactly what we need for this league. Shame he can’t stay fit. 

[BotleySaint]

That extra analyst made the difference!! 

[Dr Who?]

12 minutes ago, OneMrsWallace said:

Sorry, what just happened? What's the doughnut shaped thing next to our name? 

You are a doughnut 🍩 it is next to Sheffield United’s name! 

[ant]

Three words: 

Sticking plaster win. 

I mean I'll bloody take it. Glad to feel something within the realm of positivity. But it felt more luck than judgment.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

5 minutes ago, James said:

We look loads better with Stewart up front, exactly what we need for this league. Shame he can’t stay fit. 

Indeed,  he was starting to look good too before his last injury. 

Got to get in a back up in the transfer window.

Edited 1 hour ago by JohnnyShearer2.0

[Gloucester Saint]

7 minutes ago, James said:

We look loads better with Stewart up front, exactly what we need for this league. Shame he can’t stay fit. 

Poor as both managers have been, you have to say that Damian Downs cock up was fatal to Still and probably will help do for Tonda. £7m?! They cannot have watched him live, becuase he’s been as appalling back in Germany. Get Agyemang who Derby got, change left of over £2m (which is what their decent Swedish keeper cost), rotation with Stewart so he doesn’t break down in the away game there, and despite the other many flaws the squad has, we’d be top 6 in a poor league this year. 

No @CB Fry I don’t wish we were Derby, but we might want to look at their scouting network. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Gloucester Saint

[Lee On Solent Saint]

A win's a win, but that second half was just awful. 

[macca155]

Good win, don't care how the points come. Wins always boost confidence.

Shea needs time, pulled out of several 50/50 tackles. Sunday isn't the game for him. Hopefully Bragg will be fit to provide an option.

Jack led the team well and all the defenders put a shift in. Jander was MoTM for me, some superb interceptions.

Sunday could be interesting.

COYS

[saintant]

Just now, Lee On Solent Saint said:

A win's a win, but that second half was just awful. 

We were fine until Stewart went off.  He was the big difference between the two sides. Once he left the field Sheff Utd could afford to push forward more knowing we had nobody holding the ball up so struggled to get out of our own half. I'd be selling AA this window and bringing in a big centre forward to alternate with Stewart because we were a different side with someone competent playing the centre forward role.

[Sir Ralph]

10 minutes ago, James said:

We look loads better with Stewart up front, exactly what we need for this league. Shame he can’t stay fit. 

Why has our board not got a replacement 9?

[Mboto Gorge]

5 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

A win's a win, but that second half was just awful. 

We’ve said that a few times under Tonda. 

[Midfield_General]

No Bazunu ✅

Drop Manning ✅

Drop Wood ✅

4 at the back ✅

Fellows playing as an actual winger ✅ 

A target man who can win a header and hold it up ✅

...and we win a game. Who'd have thought it. Tonda's a genius. 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Midfield_General

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, saintant said:

We were fine until Stewart went off.  He was the big difference between the two sides. Once he left the field Sheff Utd could afford to push forward more knowing we had nobody holding the ball up so struggled to get out of our own half. I'd be selling AA this window and bringing in a big centre forward to alternate with Stewart because we were a different side with someone competent playing the centre forward role.

With the win tonight and if we can get something Sunday (ha!) reluctantly I’d cash in on AA and put the Damion Downs horrific mistake right and buy the mobile target man needed in the first place to rotate with Stewart. 

[Wade Garrett]

Tough conditions and up against a physical side.  Ground out a decent win and on another day could have won by more.

So much better with 4 at the back and full-backs that actually stop crosses.

[Mboto Gorge]

4 minutes ago, saintant said:

We were fine until Stewart went off.  He was the big difference between the two sides. Once he left the field Sheff Utd could afford to push forward more knowing we had nobody holding the ball up so struggled to get out of our own half. I'd be selling AA this window and bringing in a big centre forward to alternate with Stewart because we were a different side with someone competent playing the centre forward role.

Yep it’s pretty clear we need another big centre forward to rotate with Stewart and share the load, someone to replace him today would’ve kept a big striker up front to keep them occupied at the back, but we surrender that once AA came on. Surely we expected Downs to be the one to alternate with Stewart for the centre forward role, so with him now gone, surely we sign a replacement ?

Edited 1 hour ago by Mboto Gorge

[hypochondriac]

We still weren't great but no coincidence we dropped some of the underperforming players and switched to four at the back and we get a clean sheet and look better. @egg @Lord Duckhunter @Fabrice29 still think we can't play 4 at the back effectively or that the formation has no influence on the performances and results?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

14 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

It was actually weirdly similar to the game at their place, a fairly ugly game but we came out the other side with a scrappy win. That's what this was, let's not beat around the bush - a proper scrappy 1-0. 

The clean sheet is a huge plus from tonight in my eyes, it feels like it's been forever but it was only as far back as that Millwall 0-0 a few weeks back.

Defensively fairly solid for that first half, I didn't think Sheff U carried much threat. The first half for me demonstrated why the 4 works, because it forced us to move through the lines quicker - and Leo and Fellows kept the width, we stretched the game and moved it a bit quicker - not so obsessed with passing around 3 CB's, we had less 'backwards options' - and it showed.

I thought Wellington did well, full of effort and energy. I've not been convinced but he's not Manning, so I'd give him the birth now. Stewart gives us what we don't have, a centre forward who provides a physical presence in the sense of hold up, and disruption of a backline. You can't rely on him to stay fit though, so it would be daft to expect that - we still need a new one of 'his type'.

Not much happened in the 2nd half really, bit scrappy. Sheff U came into it with Bamford adding a bit more for them up top, but we held out.

Good to get a win to go into the weekend, but it was very scrappy - but you'd take them in our state.

Nothing says you love a player more, than wanting to give birth to him.🙂

[Jack]

It’s not just moving the extra man further up the pitch, it’s moving the ball forward from those positions and then scrapping and winning second balls further up the pitch. Something we don’t get the chance to do with an 5 as we give it away so much deeper and with the midfield the wrong side of the ball. And then with your 2 wingers actually playing on the wings, Sheff Utd were forced to double up and leave spaces elsewhere. 
 

We looked rusty, a bit edgy, butchered some good chances and conceded some stupid ones. But overall the intent was so much better. It’ll have to be far more like that to have a chance on Sunday 

Edited 1 hour ago by Jack

[Zorba]

16 minutes ago, Dr Who? said:

You are a doughnut 🍩 it is next to Sheffield United’s name! 

I thought it was on Danny Ings’ head.

Edited 1 hour ago by Zorba

[Midfield_General]

Shout out to Peretz for winning us that. 

Bamford should have scored but it's refreshing to be thanking the keeper for a win and a clean sheet, rather than fuming after them equalising from the one shot they manage on target. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Midfield_General

[VectisSaint]

That was a hard watch. We fully deserved to win, but it was so lacking in energy, and Sheff Utd were simply abysmal. On top of that the Sky commentator whoever he was simply the worst I have ever heard, had no idea what was going on and was so laid back and unenthused about anything, his sidekick, whoever "she" was wasn't much better. Very little playing it around at the back, encouraging to see Peretz actually launching the ball, sometimes effectively (sometimes not). Peretz still looks a bit shaky at times but so much better than Baz. No Manning meant there were very few back passes, to Stephens' relief. Even Downes seemed to get the idea of playing forward tonight, wonders will never cease. We should have had more than 1 thats for sure, but a wins a win and the 3 points are very welcome.

[Jack]

Blackmore was piss weak again in the interview. He should’ve had some balls and asked Tonda why it’s taken so long to play his best players in their best positions and ditch the back 5, which is shit. 

[saintant]

6 minutes ago, Zorba said:

I thought it was on Danny Ings’ head.

Ings looked on the heavy side to me - think he's past it now.

[OneMrsWallace]

25 minutes ago, Dr Who? said:

You are a doughnut 🍩 it is next to Sheffield United’s name! 

Fair point. Must be all the drinks I knocked back in the final ten minutes. 

[Harry_SFC]

9 minutes ago, Jack said:

Blackmore was piss weak again in the interview. He should’ve had some balls and asked Tonda why it’s taken so long to play his best players in their best positions and ditch the back 5, which is shit. 

His reluctance to change it has cost us a lot of points already.

Let's just hope he doesn't revert back to type. I mean there is absolutely no reason to after you've just won and kept a clean sheet. 

[Turkish]

Bens influence starting to take a hold 👏

 

[Charlie Wayman]

It was a good game to watch so pity that the stadium was half empty. The weather didn't help of course. We deserved to win, there was more cohesiveness in our play and more competent defending. Wellington is a much better defender than Manning and it showed with much less of a threat down their right side and far fewer crosses into our 6 yard box.

For all their great work at taking on and beating players, Scienza and Fellows are very poor at getting their heads up and thinking about options for their final balls. Scienza is inclined to be too greedy especially, snatching at marginal chances rather than playing in a colleague. They can't do it all on their own and it's costing us goals.

Let's stick with this side on Sunday to build up some much needed self confidence. We made the Blades look ordinary at times so sorting Pompey out shouldn't be a problem.

[Verbal]

Regaining the will to live is an underrated emotion.

[Chez]

17 minutes ago, Jack said:

Blackmore was piss weak again in the interview. He should’ve had some balls and asked Tonda why it’s taken so long to play his best players in their best positions and ditch the back 5, which is shit. 

Blackmore has asked him about why he hasnt played 4 at the back and was told it was because he didnt have any fit full backs. He can't really go over that old ground can he?

[Chez]

51 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Me too 

I thought Charles rather coasted through his return appearance and didn't put enough effort in. I suspect he's not fully fit, so starting him is unlikely.

[captainchris]

52 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Me too 

I’d put Bragg in for Downes for definite …Bragg has been very good lately and should definitely play.

[Saint Pete]

27 minutes ago, saintant said:

We were fine until Stewart went off.  He was the big difference between the two sides. Once he left the field Sheff Utd could afford to push forward more knowing we had nobody holding the ball up so struggled to get out of our own half. I'd be selling AA this window and bringing in a big centre forward to alternate with Stewart because we were a different side with someone competent playing the centre forward role.

Sorry, can't agree with selling Armstrong, that's madness in my opinion. He's a proven goalscorer at this level and those are not that easy to find. Stewart looks decent and I agree with you that we certainly need one and preferably 2 central strikers on the squad that have physical presence. But as we know Stewart is very unreliable in terms of fitness. Yes, bring in another big man up front, I would hope and pray that's the plan now we have a free spot after Downs leaving on loan. But don't throw away the one player that has scored consistently at this level!! I think we should be playing him as well as Stewart/new striker in one of the wide supporting positions, not throwing away a scorer that pretty much every team in this division would want.