Thursday 4 October 2018

Game by Game - 15




Game 15 – Blackburn Rovers (A), Championship – 0-2


The A666. The road of the devil. The road to hell. The road to Blackburn. Driving through Darwen into Blackburn is a bit like passing over and finding yourself in Hades. We were welcomed into Blackburn by the sight of a young mum in dressing gown pushing a child in her buggy up the street, at 5:45 pm. An interesting sight, yet this wasn't the oddest moment of the night and the welcome was never really warm.

A walk down Bolton Road to McDonalds was a bizarre fusion of sights and sounds. From the gaunt, pasty faced youths guarding the entrance to Ewood Park WMC (and the membership secretary at a small table inside) with a look that just said, "Don't think about it". To the youths outside the newsagents, "I'd sooner get beat up than do prison". There was a Blackburn fan whose main form of communication appeared to be whinnying like a horse.Then to cap it all there was the 10 year old in the McDonalds queue  who, after asking JB if he supported Blackburn and JB replying that he didn't, proceeded to tell him to "f@ck off then". 

The night soon got better. United started with a bang. Quite literally, as banger exploded in the away end and 2,000 Blades fans simultaneously crapped themselves. Once the eggy smell of firework and rectal expulsion had passed, United were on the front foot from the off. Most of the first half saw the Blades camped in the opposition half. I have never seen such an unambitious home side as Blackburn. Once the excellent Egan and Basham isolated Graham and Dack (and subsequently Brereton), any counter attacks were snuffed out.


I can't imagine watching my team set up like that at home and clearly Rovers fans feel the same way. We have had some low points and rogue owners, but for a team riding high on their return to the Championship, just 12,000 home fans rattling around three sides of the stadium was a poor show. A sign of being careful what you wish for in terms of owners and recognition that the very best of times can soon turn bad. The fact those there were largely silent, apart from the youth sporadically banging his drum (which did more for Blades fans song creativity than  theirs), was equally sobering. "Is this a library?" chanted the Blades fans, more like a morgue.

As has been the case recently United didn't convert superior play and possession into goals, although this can be put down to the Blackburn keeper rather than profligate finishing. Whilst there was still a tendency for players to look for a pass when a shot was seemingly on, it was the saves that Raya made from McGoldrick, Duff and Fleck that kept the score 0-0. Well, those saves and a good headed chance put over by O'Connell. At 66-1 for the first goal and 20-1 anytime, it would have been nice if you had got your head over it Jack 😁.

After a bright five minutes or so at the start of the second half, when United had a great shout for handball in the box, Blackburn eased there way into the game, switching formation to match us and gaining some territory. For ten minutes or so we were on the back foot and failing to retain possession. Wilder and Knill responded by pushing Basham into midfield and morphing into a 4-3-3 which enabled United to regain control and we finally took the lead. 

Duffy, cut inside from the right and passed inside to Fleck, who moved the ball out wide left to McGoldrick. Rovers defenders were tracking across but nowhere near the Blades players and McGoldrick crossed for Sharp to bundle home at the second attempt. From thereon, United reverted back to the usual formation and Blackburn never looked like getting back into the game. There lack of creativity and guile exemplified by utilising sub Mulgrew as a quarterback sweeper, firing long diagonals from behind the centre halves.

The introduction of Coutts brought one of the biggest cheers of the night and from the minute he stepped on the pitch it was like he had never been away. From the off he was full blooded in the tackle and shirked nothing. Always wanting the ball, his touch was superb. A series of intricate one-twos when he was tight on the touchline showed quick feet and mind. He always seems to create more time and space than you think he has and this was no different. "Coutts's touch is arousing me", said JB.

The second goal again came from an advancing Fleck laying the ball off to his left. This time Stevens hit a wonderful curling cross and Billy somehow had more space around him than a Rovers fan, allowing him to head the ball hard into the ground, bouncing up into the roof of the net from close range. If it wasn't game over before, it was now. Scores of Rovers supporters were streaming out of the ground when sub Washington should have buried a third, but he fired too close to the impressive Raya.

Away wins are seldom more emphatic, even if the scoreline doesn't fully reflect the dominance.

Three final thoughts:

Billy Reliable: You can score all the spectacular 30 yard goals you like, but a bundled goal from 5 yards counts for as much, if not more. Especially if it gives your team the win that the flashier goals sometimes do not. That is why there will always be a role for Billy in the Blades team and why he is second top scorer in the division. At half time, you could argue he had been our least effective player. As Luke Prest messaged at the time, "Never that arsed with Billy being quiet, he often is before banging one in". Or in this case two. Unless injured or knackered, he is undroppable right now. And with McGoldrick playing so well, it's a nice problem to have.

Perspective: Following my piece on The Entitled Fans, it is worth reflecting on where we are now: 

  • Joint top, third on goal difference.
  • Coutts is back.
  • We have seen more victories than fans of any other Championship club.
  • Coutts is back.
  • A point better off than at the same stage last season, when everyone said we had a great start.
  • Coutts is back.
  • We have a stronger matchday squad.
  • Coutts is back.
  • We've got Ollie Norwood....
  • Coutts is back.

TalkSport Singles: The journey home was a time of warm reflection on a great away win that dissolved into hysterics, as we turned over the radio to Talksport and heard them trailing their dating site -Talksport Singles. 

Is it a same sex dating site? 

How do they recruit women from such a male oriented listenership? 

Surely, you wouldn’t find any women registering unless they are a Single White Female looking for Single White Van Man? 

And why, unlike everything else on Talksport, is it not sponsored by Screwfix, surely a missed opportunity there?

Just who would advertise themselves there?

"Barry from Willesden, Man United fan, likes shouting at passing cars and owning pitbulls"

"Nigel from Goole, Second Hand Car Salesman. Likes: His women like his cars, cheap reliable and fast"

"Karl, Postman from Kidderminster. Reads The Mail, Delivers the mail"

"Brian from Harlesden. Likes Spurs, Phil Collins and Steak and Chips"

"Tommy from Doncaster. Likes:  Benidorm - for holidays and the telly programme. Dislikes: No... proper hates Germans."





Monday 1 October 2018

Game by Game - 14



Game 14 – Millwall (A), Championship – 2-3

So we welcome back Alan Pickard to A United View, his Bolton Game by Game report being one of the most read so far. 

An early train to The Smoke, crap beer all day, a good pinch of snuff and a fantastic Blades win are a heady mix. As I flicked between match feeds at home, the fancam view on Facebook was frequently blocked by the back of Alan's head and the match soundtracked by his increasingly hoarse voice telling Millwall that they aren't scary anymore.  So when his stream of consciousness (along with the thoughts of fell Blades in Coach C of the 18:34 out of St Pancras) landed in the AUV inbox on Saturday night I anticipated a bit of an editing job would be in order..... 

It's started well. Train to Donny and iPhone Dave has spotted fellow AUV corespondent Tyrone, who is sat behind us. Selfie secured (without Tyrone knowing, ahem....that's Dave - Ed) and Fosters in hand. (Again AUV cannot condone the drinking of Fosters at all, nevermind when Jaipur now comes in cans - Ed). The day is off. To. A. Flyer.

Milwall away, and thoughts are cast back to the Warnock era. "SERVES YOU RIGHT FOR FUCKING MUSCAT THAT". Seriously though, I've never seen us win here, not sure that will change today. Anyway, back on the train and Player of the Season so far is up for debate. Votes, from the committee go to....

McGoldrick x 5
Norwood x 2
Stevens x 1
Bash x 1
Hendo x 1

So there we are. That seems conclusive, the player that half the support turned to social media to bemoan when he joined is the man. (Although, his scoring record is under threat from our mate Ed). What we all agreed on is that Norwood coming in has improved us ten-fold.

So, onto the match. It started with United on the front foot, trying to force the issue, but with the all too familiar situation of when the Duff Man can't unlock the door, nobody else seems able to step up to the plate. Or at least step up and deliver with any conviction.

The pressure is rewarded with a corner. A short corner is played in and back out again, Oli Norwood, he's fucking reyt good, puts one in the box son. And its a penalty. Phil reckons it was crossed by Stevens (Phil had clearly been on stronger stuff than Fosters - Ed). Anyway, Billy missed. Well, Amos saved really, but didn't fancy his run up. Didn't look confident at all. Sake.

I've walked down the stairs to get a beer, and then hear a cheer. For fuck's sake we've scored. This happened last year too. I've missed it again. Get in Billy you beautiful beautiful man. I would have your babies....

Half time. 

Second half. The first ten minutes of the second half has been voted (by the committee) as:

Stressful.
Shit.
Atrocious.
Wank.
Abysmal. 

Anyway, somehow we're 2 - 1 down and I'm not really sure how. I really can't wait to type this next bit.

Once things settled down, we got into a rhythm. Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, come on down, it's McGoldrick time.

Intricate passing between our midfield maestros, leads to a push on the Duff man. And it's another penalty. That man McGoldrick has big balls. Steps up. 2-2. G'wan babbi. The steward, who is an Arsenal fan, appreciated my turbo snuff post celebration.

There's only going to be one winner now. A one two on the right hand side is cut across the box by the main man Mark Duffy, straight into the path of that man again. McGoldrick slots home and 1,400 Blades are delirious, maybe nearly as much as Hendo at the other end of the pitch. We've deserved that. Final whistle and chants of Oohhh David McGoldrick ring around Bermondsey. Off home we go. iPhone Dave has purchased half of M&S and were all happy. UTB!

Four final thoughts from Coach C: 

Kirsti - Deserved victory but we made hard work of it and didn't start second half well. (Can always rely on Kirsti to list two negatives out of three points on a 3-2 away win! - Ed)

Paul - McGoldrick is proving a very good purchase. (He cost £19.99 less than this - Ed)

JB - It is really refreshing for United to dig themselves out of a hole. Holes that more often than not last season we were unable to get out of. And we've now done that twice in the last week. 

AP - Were winning games we'd have lost last season. Keep the faith. 

Photo - Copyright David Kirkham