Sheffield United - Shithousing and Rockets
Today City went to Sheffield to play the red and white team of Sheffield. Sheffield United are a good side, they've come out of the Championship playing good football, looking organized and looking to keep the ball. It wasn't going to be easy, any one that thought it was going was massively off the mark. When the lineup was announced was, there was no Wilfred Ndidi, why? He had made a poor mistake at Chelsea by giving the ball away and allowing Mason Mount to score but he atoned for his error with a second half header to earn City a point. He picked up a leg injury so missed the game, Hamza Choudhury replaced him and Mendy filled Choudhury's place on the bench. Choudhury quickly became the high light for City, his performance is simple to describe. Kantesque, he was everywhere, the center half pairing of Jonny Evans and Calgar Soyoncu loved his protection and at times he often played as a third center half. He almost played in a way like Fernandino has made famous at Manchester City. Fuchs and Ricardo pushed on providing the width.
It's not unusual for Brendan Rodgers to play three at the back, he's done it Liverpool and he's done it at Celtic. This way of using Choudhury though really does mimic the Manchester City model, but the team didn't function in the manner Manchester City has. Sheffield United played well, but City at times didn't help themselves. Ayoze Perez at Newcastle United last season impressed me, he was smooth, he was creative and he was their star of the team. But as of yet he hasn't shown that same form at City, maybe it's the system but he isn't playing like he can. James Maddison is also suffering playing out on the left wing, Vardy plays better with him in the middle and Maddison looks more suited to a central role too.
In the 38th minute though, James Maddison drifted from his left wing position and put Jamie Vardy through on goal, as Vardy advanced the Sheffield United keeper awaited his fate, his fate was to pick the ball out of the net. Vardy's finish was sublime with his left foot and City took the lead. Despite not playing well City were leading. Vardy's celebration was the definition of shit housing, Vardy is from Sheffield and supports Sheffield Wednesday (United's biggest rivals), as he scored he couldn't help but stand in front of the home fans with his hands to his ears. He'd been taking abuse all game but this was his chance to ask them to repeat themselves. The home crowd didn't seem to impressed but the fact remained Leicester City and their Sheffield Wednesday supporting front man had taken the lead.
Sheffield United in the second half changed both of their strikers, and in the 62nd minute, Oliver McBurnnie equalized with an old fashioned headed goal. It's still a joy to see, even if it is against you team. But as the disappointment set in, the realization started to become clear, IF City want to truly be a top six team they have to find a winner.
By the 70th minute, City had won a corner, Sheffield United cleared it but it came to Christian Fuchs, Fuchs who is filling in for Ben Chilwell did what Chilwell can't do and sent a good ball back in but it was slightly to high for Soyoncu but the ball fell perfectly for second half sub Harvey Barnes. Barnes unleashed a missile of a half volley. If Sheffield United's keeper had got in the way of it, he would have hit the net too. Rarely is a ball hit so well but Barnes truly hit that ball as good as he ever will.
So City won but it wasn't a good performance, Sheffield United were never going to be a pushover and I think they may be one of the promoted teams to stay up this season. The system is restricting James Maddison and Youri Tielemans as of yet hasn't even come close to the heights of last season. Rodgers I think has seen what Man City has done and is trying to replicate that. It's not a bad idea but he hasn't got the balance in the side and in his two sub appearances Harvey Barnes has asked some serious questions as to why he isn't starting. He looked lively and engaged against Wolves and was the same against Sheffield. Perez will adjust he's too good not to but his form is slightly worrying. Soyoncu though is making most City fans say Harry who? Maguire going for £80 million was a great piece of business, especially if Soyoncu keeps this level of play up. Though credit has to go Jonny Evans who is a Rolls Royce of a defender, he made Maguire better last season and is doing the same with Soyoncu.
All in all though last season under Puel, we would have lost this, I'm certain of it. So not playing well away from home and winning is not perfect but the end of the day. We've got three points against a side we should beat.
It's not unusual for Brendan Rodgers to play three at the back, he's done it Liverpool and he's done it at Celtic. This way of using Choudhury though really does mimic the Manchester City model, but the team didn't function in the manner Manchester City has. Sheffield United played well, but City at times didn't help themselves. Ayoze Perez at Newcastle United last season impressed me, he was smooth, he was creative and he was their star of the team. But as of yet he hasn't shown that same form at City, maybe it's the system but he isn't playing like he can. James Maddison is also suffering playing out on the left wing, Vardy plays better with him in the middle and Maddison looks more suited to a central role too.
In the 38th minute though, James Maddison drifted from his left wing position and put Jamie Vardy through on goal, as Vardy advanced the Sheffield United keeper awaited his fate, his fate was to pick the ball out of the net. Vardy's finish was sublime with his left foot and City took the lead. Despite not playing well City were leading. Vardy's celebration was the definition of shit housing, Vardy is from Sheffield and supports Sheffield Wednesday (United's biggest rivals), as he scored he couldn't help but stand in front of the home fans with his hands to his ears. He'd been taking abuse all game but this was his chance to ask them to repeat themselves. The home crowd didn't seem to impressed but the fact remained Leicester City and their Sheffield Wednesday supporting front man had taken the lead.
Sheffield United in the second half changed both of their strikers, and in the 62nd minute, Oliver McBurnnie equalized with an old fashioned headed goal. It's still a joy to see, even if it is against you team. But as the disappointment set in, the realization started to become clear, IF City want to truly be a top six team they have to find a winner.
By the 70th minute, City had won a corner, Sheffield United cleared it but it came to Christian Fuchs, Fuchs who is filling in for Ben Chilwell did what Chilwell can't do and sent a good ball back in but it was slightly to high for Soyoncu but the ball fell perfectly for second half sub Harvey Barnes. Barnes unleashed a missile of a half volley. If Sheffield United's keeper had got in the way of it, he would have hit the net too. Rarely is a ball hit so well but Barnes truly hit that ball as good as he ever will.
So City won but it wasn't a good performance, Sheffield United were never going to be a pushover and I think they may be one of the promoted teams to stay up this season. The system is restricting James Maddison and Youri Tielemans as of yet hasn't even come close to the heights of last season. Rodgers I think has seen what Man City has done and is trying to replicate that. It's not a bad idea but he hasn't got the balance in the side and in his two sub appearances Harvey Barnes has asked some serious questions as to why he isn't starting. He looked lively and engaged against Wolves and was the same against Sheffield. Perez will adjust he's too good not to but his form is slightly worrying. Soyoncu though is making most City fans say Harry who? Maguire going for £80 million was a great piece of business, especially if Soyoncu keeps this level of play up. Though credit has to go Jonny Evans who is a Rolls Royce of a defender, he made Maguire better last season and is doing the same with Soyoncu.
All in all though last season under Puel, we would have lost this, I'm certain of it. So not playing well away from home and winning is not perfect but the end of the day. We've got three points against a side we should beat.
Comments
Post a Comment