Wolves Fans' Verdict v Sheffield United: Team below par at struggling Blades
Our Wolves fans have their say on the defeat to Sheffield United.
John Lalley
What hurts the most about this utter embarrassment is how we allowed the worst team in this league to comfortably dominate the second-half.
Bar soaking up pressure, we had nothing remotely positive to offer. The haunting profligacy in front of goal returned with a vengeance during the first period; responsibility was spurned, a poor Sheffield team were unnecessarily reprieved and ultimately, we lost all direction and composure. Even then, given the unexpected lifeline of a late equaliser, we still contrived to allow a demoralised Blades’ outfit to dredge out a response that we should have snuffed out at source. Basic game management and solid professionalism should have prevailed; thrown a lifeline that was barely deserved, we carelessly hung ourselves.
Sloppy and untidy, we would do well to concentrate our energies on analysing the shortcomings of this performance rather than dwelling on the merits or otherwise of the penalty award.
Fabio Silva was naive rather than reckless but he should have been cuter; any contact, minimal or otherwise was inviting trouble. Like the majority of his colleagues, his input during this game was barely minimal and ultimately, he was culpable. It is pointless and counter-productive apportioning blame but maybe a clairvoyant might predict otherwise.
This exceedingly strange deal was hard to fathom from the outset and seems to me to have run its course. Frankly, I see no merit in it continuing; it’s of little benefit to either club and equally importantly to the player. We will inevitably suffer depreciation, but there comes a time when it is politic to cut one’s losses. The merger hasn’t worked not even remotely and it isn’t likely to.
The January transfer window should be exploited ultimately to the relief of both parties I would fancy. The club and player need to travel in a separate direction with no hard feelings on either side. Fabio needs an alternative and so too does Gary O’Neil, desperately so, in both cases.
Clive Smith
Sometimes it’s a lot harder writing these verdict’s than others. Beating City did not make us world champions and losing to Sheffield United doesn’t make us the worse team in the division. However, we were a lot lot better than them during the first half, so coming away with just a point would have felt like a missed opportunity, never mind none at all.
United looked clueless, giving the ball away and committing fouls and just generally going through the motions. Down their left Semedo, Cunha and Hwang virtually had a free reign and plenty of space to exploit. All three each wasted an excellent opportunity to score. You know the story as well as me though. All our possession, much of it in the final third, but their keeper only had one shot to save in the half. Our decision making, and it has to be said, lack of quality where it matters most, means our lack of goals continues to haunt us.
Patience is one thing but at times we pass the ball to death, yet achieve so little. Sheff U just tried to stay in the game and managed to do that fairly comfortably.
For the second half we just evaporated. Second to the ball, no longer any attacking threat and the only surprise was that it took them 25 minutes to score.
