I listened to the match against Coventry on BBC Radio Sheffield yesterday afternoon.
I was disappointed with the team`s performance. The commentators were not impressed, stating quite frequently that there was not enough attacking, not one player getting past the opposition back four.
I`m not sure about this label we`ve been given “favourites for promotion”. This was the same selection as was picked against Bristol City, in our defeat at home. Why did we pick the same starting eleven? Why were we playing with a lone striker again? Surely after the mid-week win over Mansfield, we should have stuck with the team that played that night rather than so many changes. Bringing in so many changes doesn`t help the team to gel at all. We had a small back four again, and having been at the Lane, watching them prior to this match, I can see that Murphy and Scougall aren`t up to last year`s standards either. Harris still worries me, there seems to be a lack of an attacking mind-set with him, and whether his own goal was harsh or not, he should be taking on the opposition on the left hand side.
You can tell we weren`t up to standard, four shots with one on target compared to Coventry`s eleven, with five on target, says it all really. It`s frustrating when we aren`t pushing or taking the opportunities to get shots in. if you remember the Hull match at Wembley last season, you can see NC was pushing his players forward towards the end of the ninety minutes, searching for an equaliser. Yes this is a speculative approach, and we may concede, but at least we can get in the face of the opposition with a more attacking attitude.
Peterborough next on Tuesday. We need to win this one, they have picked up maximum points in their first two games. We need to start accumulating points and moving up the table if we are to live up to our favourites tag. NC needs to pick a solid starting eleven and stick with them, get them working together and not play one week and off the next. Perhaps two up front will give us a bit of an attacking edge, with more attacking minded players on the pitch.
Anyway, fingers crossed for Tuesday, and I`ll be back at the Lane next weekend for the Crawley game, so here`s hoping for a turnaround!
UTB!
Olly
Sheffield United MOD/Armed Forces Supporter`s Branch Chair
Tel: 07411 319796
Email: oliverlongden@aol.com
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