Tag: sheffield united

Day 89 – Project re-Restart

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The pandemic couldn’t have come at a worse time for the world Sheffield United.
There we were back in March, riding a wave of positivity, optimism and unbeatenness [just check if that’s actually a word before you hit ‘publish’, please – Ed.]. We were injury-free, cruising, loving the support of the Bramall Lane faithful, every game a joy.

But, like much of football since its return, we’ve lost our sparkle a bit.

The first game was to be expected. Every team has been a bit unsettled, none of them are match fit and it’s all been a bit weird. And – as I mentioned here, seething (mostly) quietly under my breath – we should have got all three points there, anyway.
But Sunday delivered a really sloppy, really disappointing performance and we got soundly beaten by a rather ordinary Newcastle side who probably couldn’t believe their luck.

Look, it’s just one game – and only our third defeat of the year! (the others being to Liverpool and Man City) – but we’ve got a trip to Old Trafford tomorrow, and with three of our infamous and well-respected defensive quartet missing for one reason and another (and another), and ManU now apparently riding the same wave we were on in March, there needs to be a change in attitude.

We’d better buck our ideas up; we’d better buck them up sharpish. Capisce?

[reference] (because why wouldn’t you want to watch that again?)

If the second coming of the Premier League was dubbed Project Restart (and it was), then I think that Sheffield United need a Project re-Restart.

The fact is that we’ve always bounced back after a bad performance, and so I’m not distraught, but there are a whole number of things which could give us more of a chance tomorrow (different opposition, crowd, injuries, more money, bigger squad, suspensions, 5 days rest instead of 3, actually owning Dean Henderson etc.)

Otherwise though, it’s a pretty even playing field.

Whatever happens, I’m still a proud Blade and this season has still been absolutely amazing. Despite the disappointing return, we’re some distance from me wanting to bite your hand off for 17th place – something I thought I’d probably be doing with 8 games left.

Come on, as I often say, you red and white wizzzzzaaaards.

Day 84 – Happy, Not Happy

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Mixed feelings (did you see the title of the post?) after last night’s football.

Happy (that’s the first bit) to see the return of Premier League football, albeit in weird, unsettling circumstances. And happy to get our first game out of the way: a wholly lacklustre affair at an empty Villa Park.

Not Happy, though (second bit now) about the goal that never was:

Just look at all those faces. They know. All of them.

Clumsy, sure. Messy, maybe. Maybe undeserved, even. But they all count.

Or usually they do, anyway.

But despite the fact that this was way over the line, the technology didn’t pick it up.

Why?

Hawk-Eye (the company responsible for the goal line technology) later told us:

“During the first half of Aston Villa v Sheffield United match at Villa Park, there was a goal line incident where the ball was carried over the line by Aston Villa goalkeeper, No. 25 Nyland.

“The match officials did not receive a signal to the watch nor earpiece as per the Goal Decision System (GDS) protocol. The seven cameras located in the stands around the goal area were significantly occluded by the goalkeeper, defender, and goalpost. This level of occlusion has never been seen before in over 9,000 matches that the Hawk-Eye Goal Line Technology system has been in operation.

“The system was tested and proved functional prior to the start of the match in accordance with the IFAB Laws of The Game and confirmed as working by the match officials. The system has remained functional throughout. Hawk-Eye unreservedly apologises to the Premier League, Sheffield United, and everyone affected by this incident.”

Quite why it wasn’t then referred to VAR, no-one really knows, but that’s only fuelled the number of conspiracy theories going around about this which are now rivalling 5G, the moon landings (or lack of them) and Bill Gates inserting vaccine chips (or whatever) in all of us.

For this morning at least.

Because if that extra point keeps Villa up, it will cost another club tens of millions of pounds. And if those two lost points means that we don’t make the Champions League this season, that will cost us tens of millions of pounds.
Perennial Premier League favourites Man United will be chuffed though. Just saying.

Such are the implications and fine margins* of modern day football.

Of course, all this can be sorted out immediately by using the “definitive replay”. Because the goalie and the defender (and all the other players) can be removed from that image:

Sooo… Even if they were in the way, they won’t be once that is released.

When it is released. Then we’ll know. Any time now. Coming soon.

…

…

…

If, of course, it was switched on. *cough*

Onward. Upward. Newcastle on Sunday.

* this one wasn’t very fine

Day 64 – There goes the weekends

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With apologies to Eminem:

Guess who’s back, back again
Football’s back, tell a friend…

Yep:

I won’t lie, I am a bit torn over the decision to restart the Premier League. Sure, I want to watch the action, but I’m not sure it’s the best idea from a safety point of view, and I just hope that it doesn’t backfire for any of the players or backroom staff involved.

But – deep breath – the decision has been made and we go into our first game away at Aston Villa with (apparently, at least) 7 Ollie McBurnies up front.

It’s a bold, attacking line-up. Come on you Red And White WIZZZZZZZAAAAARDS!

The dream continues…

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Something here while I look through a disappointing lot of photos from yesterday and clean sand out of everything and everywhere – everywhere – after sundowners on Llandudno beach yesterday evening.

We appear to have brought back quite a lot of the beach with us. It’s amazing to consider that there is any beach left given the number of people down there yesterday that must have brought an equal amount of beach back with them.

We’re struggling a little today. Mrs 6000 slipped on the dodgy stairs down to the beach yesterday and twisted her knee, so she’s sore and limping around this morning.
The beagle is suffering slightly after it decided to steal and wolf down 2 slices of pizza, each generously topped with piquante peppers. This was yesterday evening, it was thoroughly scolded and it still hasn’t been able to look me in the eye since.
And 6000 Jr is unwell. If he’d been to Italy or China, I’d be very concerned, but he hasn’t, and so I’m just quite concerned. Fresh air, drugs, rest and relaxation is the best we can do for him. And possibly a brandy later (for me).

So let’s have some good news: Sheffield United…  I mean… What. A. Season.

Another hard-fought win yesterday, another 3 points and the dream continues.

Bullet header. Great saves. Fantastic effort. Amazing team spirit. Unbelievable belief. You make your own luck*.

And yes, I know that some of my readers are left cold by football. That’s fine. I’m not, and I’m having a great time at the moment.

I’ll get back to my photos now. Might share some a bit later. Maybe tomorrow.
Watch this space.

 

 

* This one is BS.