Match Threads Match Thread- Sheffield Utd vs Spurs

[Bulletspur]

SHEFFIELD UNITED 1-3 SPURS
McGoldrick Aurier, Kane, Ndombele​

Spurs: Lloris (C), Aurier, Rodon, Dier, Davies, Reguilon (Sanchez), Hojbjerg, Ndombele, Bergwijn (Lucas), Son (Vinicius), Kane.
Subs: Hart, Alderweireld, Gedson, Sissoko, Lamela, Bale.

Sheffield Utd: Ramsdale, Bogle, Basham, Egan, Ampadu, Stevens, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, McGoldrick, Burke.
Subs: Jagielka, Foderingham, Sharp, Brewster, Baldock, Bryan, Lowe.

Official Site Match Centre
Three changes to the team that started against Fulham on Wednesday night. Joe Rodon comes in for his second start in the Premier League and is joined by Ben Davies and Steven Bergwijn, back from illness. They come in for Davinsn Sanchez, Moussa Sissoko and Harry Winks.

REFEREE --------- Andre Mariner ???????

Team Form: ----- Sheffield - LLLWW ----- Spurs - DWWWD --------- (All competitions)


We make the trip to Sheffield United sitting six points adrift of leaders Manchester United in the Premier League standings. While they are nine points behind 17th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, the midweek triumph over Newcastle United has given hope to Chris Wilder’s team as they bid to avoid relegation.

Having put together a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions, there are reasons why Jose should feel positive about the development of our side. However, conceding late equalisers against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham is the difference between sixth and second, and it has left him demanding more of a ruthless streak from our players. Some will argue that Jose also has a responsibility to deploy more attack-minded tactics, a debate which will inevitably be played down by our boss given his success in the past. Nevertheless, we are at a stage in our campaign where we need to turn draws into victories, especially this weekend with four of the top seven playing each other. There is an opportunity to make up the ground lost in failing to see off Fulham on Wednesday evening, but Son and Kane are in need of more assistance from our other players in the final third.

As far as Sheffield United are concerned, they will head into this fixture with some pressure having been lifted off their shoulders for the first time in months. While the victories over Bristol Rovers and Newcastle were far from pretty, Wilder will be ecstatic that an 18-match winless streak has been brought to an end. The fact that their 1-0 success against an unimaginative Newcastle side came courtesy of a penalty will not be lost on Wilder, but it has at least set the ball rolling with regards to making up ground on the teams above them. A mix of title-chasing clubs and relegation rivals are to come over the next five weeks, although the Blades are aware that they have to set out to defeat each of their remaining 20 opponents if they wish to stay in the top flight.

Jose will almost certainly make changes to our XI with Toby and Lucas in line for recalls. Despite remaining as unused substitutes against Fulham, Dele and Bale are expected to stay among the replacements.

Barring any late fitness issues, Wilder could opt against making any alterations to his Sheffield United XI. Oliver Burke is likely to keep his spot in the side ahead of Tuesday's match winner Billy Sharpe. Jack O’Connell and Sander Berge remain long-term absentees from the squad.

Banner courtesy of @chrissivad

 

[H-SF]

got a bad feeling about this. Sheffield United are better than their points suggest, they circulate the ball well and are still fine defensively in their mid/low block. We won’t sustain pressure against them because we have no possession structure and will just resort to route 1 (with no counter press to back it up) and they won’t give us any space in behind to counter attack. If we win it will be a Kane/Son carryjob and will probably be by the odd goal. This is gonna be another horrendous watch so buckle up guys

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

I've never understood why SU have been so dreadful in terms of results this season. I known they were missing key personnel for a while, but they were a good side last season. Resolute. I'd have expected them to churn out a few more wins here and there.

They don't offer much of a goal threat, but, our boys seem to be averse to defending high balls into the box. From set piece or from open play. If I were Wilder, I'd be putting my big lads in the box and pinging high balls.to their head. Invite fouls around the box. But shhhh, hopefully they haven't sussed this. Not sure why Rodon hasn't featured to help cut this out, unless he just isn't quite there yet.

It's a difficult game as spurs are back to being so unpredictable and SU are decent with a smidgen of momentum.

On paper we walk this, but in reality I think it'll be a narrow victory. Let's see what team JM comes up.with. hopefully if Sissoko plays it isn't anywhere near the front 3.

 

[yankspurs]

I've never understood why SU have been so dreadful in terms of results this season. I known they were missing key personnel for a while, but they were a good side last season. Resolute. I'd have expected them to churn out a few more wins here and there.

They don't offer much of a goal threat, but, our boys seem to be averse to defending high balls into the box. From set piece or from open play. If I were Wilder, I'd be putting my big lads in the box and pinging high balls.to their head. Invite fouls around the box. But shhhh, hopefully they haven't sussed this. Not sure why Rodon hasn't featured to help cut this out, unless he just isn't quite there yet.

It's a difficult game as spurs are back to being so unpredictable and SU are decent with a smidgen of momentum.

On paper we walk this, but in reality I think it'll be a narrow victory. Let's see what team JM comes up.with. hopefully if Sissoko plays it isn't anywhere near the front 3.

They can’t score. They’re actually halfway decent defensively.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

1-1 draw.

Kane or Son will score early in the first half, but only Kane or Son. Anyone else is banned from scoring because it messes with the MASTERPLAN. We’ll probably hit the post and scuff a shot on the rare occasions we open their defence up again after we have that all important one goal lead. We’ll largely be in control for the first half but slightly bored with life in general.

Then their manager will have the temerity to notice we sit deep with a low block, and he’ll instruct his team to play further up the field, especially the fullbacks who’ll rampage out wide, creating overloads that somehow, inexplicably, put immense pressure on our defence. We’ll ride our luck until the 82nd minute when a free kick (conceded by cheeky fan-favourite Harry Winks for shirt tugging. Winks will remonstrate with the referee long into February for applying the rules fairly and consistently in a stronghold of stupidity that pundits mistake for passion) is lofted high, deflecting off of Davinson Sanchez’s unfortunate penis and into the net, past the scrambling Lloris, who’ll wear the expression of a man in the midst of a full blown existential crisis. Which he is.

Then Mourinho will gesticulate wildly, like the town drunk at midnight after invisible angels have pissed in his cider, screaming for the team to get forward but no one will know what this means because the MASTERPLAN only allows them to get forward in the first twenty minutes of the match. We’ll then ride our luck for the rest of the game, they’ll probably hit the crossbar just to keep things frisky until we’re finally, temporarily released from the dull ache of boredom that comes from staring into the abyss for longer than the most experienced Tottenham supporters can handle.

Meanwhile, in a particularly combative post- match press conference, Mourinho blames Dele Alli for poor positional discipline even though he’s currently enjoying a renaissance with Pochettino and Paris Saint-Germain, leaving the rest of us trying to shake off the doomed and strange sense that we’re all bit actors in a banally horrific version of Kramer vs. Kramer

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

I really don't think we'll win this. Sure it'll be the same old story. Put your house on 1-1.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Foreseeing a huge comeback here and a top 4 statement. This will be change of our fortune this season. It’s starting now.

 

[spursfan77]

I really don't think we'll win this. Sure it'll be the same old story. Put your house on 1-1.

If ever there is a game that is going to be one all it’s this one. It’s nailed on.

 

[HodisGawd]

1-1 would be a miserable result. It will be 1-1.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

We'll be lucky not to ship 5 to them I would have thought ... Nightmare game.

 

[Black]

They will dominate us

 

[shelfboy68]

We will take the lead then try to hang onto it until about the 80th minute then concede sound familiar.

 

[faymantaray]

1-1 draw.

Kane or Son will score early in the first half, but only Kane or Son. Anyone else is banned from scoring because it messes with the MASTERPLAN. We’ll probably hit the post and scuff a shot on the rare occasions we open their defence up again after we have that all important one goal lead. We’ll largely be in control for the first half but slightly bored with life in general.

Then their manager will have the temerity to notice we sit deep with a low block, and he’ll instruct his team to play further up the field, especially the fullbacks who’ll rampage out wide, creating overloads that somehow, inexplicably, put immense pressure on our defence. We’ll ride our luck until the 82nd minute when a free kick (conceded by cheeky fan-favourite Harry Winks for shirt tugging. Winks will remonstrate with the referee long into February for applying the rules fairly and consistently in a stronghold of stupidity that pundits mistake for passion) is lofted high, deflecting off of Davinson Sanchez’s unfortunate penis and into the net, past the scrambling Lloris, who’ll wear the expression of a man in the midst of a full blown existential crisis. Which he is.

Then Mourinho will gesticulate wildly, like the town drunk at midnight after invisible angels have pissed in his cider, screaming for the team to get forward but no one will know what this means because the MASTERPLAN only allows them to get forward in the first twenty minutes of the match. We’ll then ride our luck for the rest of the game, they’ll probably hit the crossbar just to keep things frisky until we’re finally, temporarily released from the dull ache of boredom that comes from staring into the abyss for longer than the most experienced Tottenham supporters can handle.

Meanwhile, in a particularly combative post- match press conference, Mourinho blames Dele Alli for poor positional discipline even though he’s currently enjoying a renaissance with Pochettino and Paris Saint-Germain, leaving the rest of us trying to shake off the doomed and strange sense that we’re all bit actors in a banally horrific version of Kramer vs. Kramer

Very detailed prediction but what are these assertions based on?!?!?!

 

[Gassin's finest]

I think we'll slip up again. Which means we'll probably win 5-0

 

[lis spur]

Another team that will endeavour to turn us around physically and with energy, pressing us and unless our small margin of error works for us ie taking the two chances we make in the first 45 mins ,then it will be groundhog day again ;another frustrating draw I am afraid :-(

 

[rez9000]

<sigh>

Many thanks for the match thread, as always, @Bulletspur

I'm sighing because my heart sinks when I think of all your efforts inevitably descending into a mire of negativity and toxicity. Such a shame that the work that goes into the introduction as well as the very nice graphics (I think it right to thank @chrissivad for them) has to stand against that.

Hence why I didn't do my different language thanks this time round. Apologies.

Oh, well. Come On You Spurs.

 

[Spurs 1961]

Going to be a tough game to watch. Two teams who find scoring hard and two teams who don’t concede many. Looks like 0-0 but of course there may be the odd goal win or 1-1 draw. I can’t see anything else happening in a game that is likely to go as expected. No surprises in store from two entirely predictable setups.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I’m not quite certain where the idea comes from that Sheffield United is defensively quite Ok. Only two teams have conceded more, and then a coupe of teams have conceded as many. Their defence isn’t all that, and this is backed up by the fact that they’ve conceded in every match apart from the last.

 

[GutBucket]

Need to score at least 2 goals in first half or we draw.

 

[Bulletspur]

We will win this game convincingly if:

1) Our players actually win 50-50 balls like our recent opponents

2) Our players actually hold and shield the ball as well as our recent opponents

3) Our players actually pass accurately and precisely like our recent opponents

4) Mourinho's now realises that one option of defending is to attack and actually does it, which will do no harm to his philosophy which is to defend

However, without these elements being applied to our game performance and tactics, it is going to be another bad day at the office me thinks