Sheffield United Player Ratings

[Shrenchel]

Yeh it was pretty good at certain points when we were pushing forward. Wouldnt mind our sing when we're winning mentality so much if we didnt sing the same 3 songs everytime.

[lcfc81]

Sheffield outplayed us for much of the game and we were lucky their finishing wasn't as good as the rest of their attacking play. Well done to city for grinding out a result. A lovely xmas present!

Really? I thought they were quite poor.

We had a dodgy first ten minutes but could have been 4-0 up at half time (With Welens hitting the bar and the Oakley effort from the corner when nobody marked him and he hit the side netting)

Second half we were a little dodgy at the back (partly due to a make shift defence and less to do with the quality of their attack imo) but still think we were very good going forward (particularly when Fryatt ripped 3 of their players and gave it to King who gave it to Howard who lobbed it just over).

All in all I was disappointed with Sheffield United who I thought we may not even get a draw against before the match.

[Guest Mee-9]

I was in SK4 and thought the atmosphere was pretty good, like I said a great atmosphere, for the Walkers. The abuse of Bunn was very amusing and the chanting was fairly consistent if not very widespread. Nothing like Filbo in years gone by, but a good atmosphere.

Sit in C2, and the atmosphere was good, Even for the West Stand!

The abuse of Bunn was one of the highlights of the night, wish we would have buried one infront of the kop, Bunn would have cried.

[Daggers]

Sheffield outplayed us for much of the game

Eh?

[Finnegan]

Sheffield were bollocks and I sit in C2 and there isn't an atmosphere, .

You get looked at funny for singing within half a mile of C2. Possibly that's because the only people that do are outrageously drunk or those who couldn't get a ticket elsewhere but there you go.

[Guest Mee-9]

Sheffield were bollocks and I sit in C2 and there isn't an atmosphere, .

You get looked at funny for singing within half a mile of C2. Possibly that's because the only people that do are outrageously drunk or those who couldn't get a ticket elsewhere but there you go.

I sit there too mate, I know what you mean. I remember at the Swansea game i stood up and started singing EI EI EI O, The woman behind me said, "Oooh we have some rif-raf near us, were not used to this." I turned round and said, "You'll have to put up with me for 22 more matches love"

It's like everyone hates noise in C2, but a good view.

[Finnegan]

The view is spot on to be fair, I like corner views. I wouldn't sit there if my old man didn't have a season ticket there to be fair, it wouldn't be my first choice. But he's in his fifties and I go along because we don't really do much father-son-bonding these days, hardly going to drag him to L1 for a sing-song .

[Ozwin]

The woman behind me said, "Oooh we have some rif-raf near us, were not used to this."

*Punches computer screen*

I hate people like that!

[AjcW]

just seen your sig and andy kings misses in glasses looks shockingly like that!(Shes actually very attractive and what I just said does her no justice )

(

anyway too the game:

Weale: 7 Not as steady as usual

Neilson: 6 The supposedly experienced head of the defence made a mistake that led to the only goal we conceded.

Hobbs 7.

Morrison 8.

Mcgivern 8 Very impressed, did a defensive job very well, especially at centre back in the second half.

Oakley 8 More impressive than in recent weeks for sure.

Wellens 8 Some of his through balls were excellent.

King 8 Solid going forward and solid going back, this kids going places.

Dyer 9.5 Excellent... simples

Fryatt 9 Some of his runs and trickery were excellent today .

Howard 8 The howard fryatt partnership looked solid as ever, his flick ons and hold up solid as always.

Oneill 6 Filled a hole.

[davieG]

At the match followed by the television

Weale 7

Neilson 7

Morrison 8

Hobbs 6

McGivern 7

Oakley 7

Wellens 7

King 8

Dyer 9

Fryatt 7

Howard 7

O'Neill 6

[CKB]

just seen your sig and andy kings misses in glasses looks shockingly like that!(Shes actually very attractive and what I just said does her no justice )

Hmmmm maybe Kingy is having an affair then? because that's deffo him in my sig! oh it could be his sister?

[Mikey]

Weale- 7

Neilson - 7

Morrison - 8

Hobbs - 6.5

McGivern - 7

Oakley - 7.5

Wellens - 8

King - 7

Dyer - 8.5

Howard - 8

Fryatt - 8

Subs:

O'Neil - 6

[iancognito]

Game.

Weale - 8 - Couple of great saves, got a fist on anything in range.

Neilson - 7 - One of his best for us, stayed composed in the 2nd half when it would've been easy to crack.

Hobbs - 7 - Was doing well, getting in blocks & headers, hope it's not a long term thing

Morrison - 8 - Had a fiver on him as first scorer unlucky with his drive but kept his head next to McGivern & O'Neill, Brown 's got some competition for his job.

McGivern - 7 - Actually did better at CB than LB. Still a bit too airy fairy for me though.

Wellens - 7 - Used the ball well, got in O'Neill's ear three or four times about crap defending and was unlucky with his volley.

Oakley - 5 - Generally, fcking useless atm and being played out of position isn't helping, couldn't trap a bag of wet sand and is lacking confidence.

King - 5 - Didn't see enough of him on the ball, conceded an unnecessary corner after picking up possession 20 yards out which is just poor.

Dyer - 8 - Had a great game IMO. One player in the team with genuine pace and their RB is probably still untwisting himself on the bus.

Fryatt - 7 - Good pen, made a nuisance of himself all night.

Howard - 9* - I've been Big Steve's biggest critic this season but he won every single flippin ball that came near him, roughed up Morgan and had a couple of chances for a goal too. He gives us an out ball, prescence in both boxes and the fact that two or three men went with him at the corner let Morrison in for the goal. I don't care if he's not scoring, he gives us more than goals and anyone who thinks Gallagher or Kermorgant should be in the side ahead of him is - quite frankly - a knob.

SUB

O'Neill - 4 - Little boy lost. Couldn't pass or tackle and looked like someone had let the mascot have a go. I'm sure he'll get better but give him to someone like Oxford or Darlington and let him get better there, left back is a scary enough position with McGiverntheballaway let alone random kids. It's harsh but true.

Overall we deserved to edge it but had we not got the first one that match had Bristol City written all over it again.

[Lillehamring]

Game.

Howard - 9* - I've been Big Steve's biggest critic this season but he won every single flippin ball that came near him, roughed up Morgan and had a couple of chances for a goal too. He gives us an out ball, prescence in both boxes and the fact that two or three men went with him at the corner let Morrison in for the goal. I don't care if he's not scoring, he gives us more than goals and anyone who thinks Gallagher or Kermorgant should be in the side ahead of him is - quite frankly - a knob.

this is absurd - in the first half most of the balls he won were around the centre circle and then he didn't have the pace to follow up... at times fryatt looked like he was on his own... and on one occasion he chested it down in our half tried to control it with his feet but it just rolled off, he then just stood there looking sulky while united pushed forwards.

in the second half he was better, but again most of his good stuff (including a sublime through ball) was way too deep leaving him stranded unable to support the pace of dyer and fryatt...

when he did get in the box his finishing was very poor, missing effectively an open goal, one shot on target that was saved well, put a free header miles wide and another shot wide when he should have done better...considering some of the stick fryatt gets for missing chances i can't believe people are so tolerant of a clearly past his best howard

i'm just worried that we get stuck in this bizarre, we only play well when howard plays mentality, he was nothing more than adequate today and a fitter stronger player would have put us well clear tonight

[Captain...]

this is absurd - in the first half most of the balls he won were around the centre circle and then he didn't have the pace to follow up... at times fryatt looked like he was on his own... and on one occasion he chested it down in our half tried to control it with his feet but it just rolled off, he then just stood there looking sulky while united pushed forwards.

in the second half he was better, but again most of his good stuff (including a sublime through ball) was way too deep leaving him stranded unable to support the pace of dyer and fryatt...

when he did get in the box his finishing was very poor, missing effectively an open goal, one shot on target that was saved well, put a free header miles wide and another shot wide when he should have done better...considering some of the stick fryatt gets for missing chances i can't believe people are so tolerant of a clearly past his best howard

i'm just worried that we get stuck in this bizarre, we only play well when howard plays mentality, he was nothing more than adequate today and a fitter stronger player would have put us well clear tonight

I wouldn't say it's a mentality as just an observation that whenever we start with Howard and Fryatt up front we play well.

It gives us a shape and style of play that everyone is familiar with, especially with Dyer on the wing playing like he did today, Howard not only created chances he held the ball up well, rather than just turning and running at defenders which is the job of Fryatt/Dyer/Waghorn. We know that he doesn't score as many as perhaps he should and Waghorn,Gallagher and Kermogant are better footballers than Steve but the team is more important than the individual and based on results and performances we are better with Howard.

I would like to see Kermogant as Fryatt's partner, give him half an hour, as Howard doesn't look up to the full 90, but based on performances I think it would be foolish to start with any other front 2 against Donny, even when Waggy is back. We have experimented with different partnerships and a front 3 and Nigel has to go with what works.

[Bryn]

Weale 7

Neilson 6 - Lacks quality for me

McGivern 6.5 - Looked better at centreback, and helped to shut out Utd aside from one really daft goal. Put the effort in I thought.

Hobbs 7 - Was in charge before his injury

Morrison 8 - Big future

Oakley 6.5 - Still not 100% convinced by him out wide but we were in control in the middle today and he did his bit in that

Dyer 8.5* - Well up for it tonight wasn't he? Still think his final delivery lacks a bit of something but his pace and dribbling scares the shit out of defenders, they could never push forward like they wanted because they knew he'd punish them if they did

King 7.5 - Very composed, quiet at times but not necessarily uninvolved

Wellens 7

Howard 6.5 - Didn't think he was in it so much first half but was still doing his job. Second half he was more involved and he was really dominating aerially and creating a lot of space for Fryatt

Fryatt 7.5 - Brilliant control tonight from him, really brilliant, I challenge you to show me a Championship player whose control bests Fryatt at the top of his game. If he had that extra yard of pace he'd be a top striker.

O'Neill 4 - Out of position and unready against a decent winger. But not to be written off yet methinks

[Fox92]

TV

Weale 8 - Played well, made some decent saves. Still needs to learn to punch though, or else.

Nielsen 6 - Lacks pace. Thats it.

Morrison 8 - He is a star, and I would love to see him and Hobbs here in 10 years.

Hobbs 7 Early injury but did well through that half.

McGivern 7.5 - Awesome at centre back.

Oakley 7.5 - Some good tackles, good passing, and at last good set pieces! Captain fantastic.

Wellens 8 - Great performance. Deserved a goal when he hit the bar.

King 7.5 - Did well tonight again. How can people still critisize him.

Dyer 7.5 - Did very well and the best we have seen him for ages.

Fryatt 9 - Defence couldn't cope with him. His close control is magical.

Howard 7 - Decent performance and did what was needed against another tall centre back.

O'Neill 4 - Looked out of his depth.

[Braunyfox]

AT THE GAME

If some fans can give Howard a 7 or over for yesterdays performance, which simply was awful, then clearly they are deluded. As soon as he held the ball up he lost it. One good flick on, which was helped towards goal by a Sheff Utd defender and one good through ball to an exceptional Dyer.

Howard is so far off the pace now it is worrying.

The defence played well considering and McGivern had one of his best games in the shirt, which was not hard really considering his prior form.

[Messi]

Weale 7

Neilson 2- SHIT!

Hobbs 7 (O'Neill 3)

Morrison 7

Mcgivern 6

Oakley 8

Wellens 7.5

King 7.5

Dyer 9

Howard 7

Fryatt 9

[Braunyfox]

Ridiculous - Another classic example of someone rating a player obviously because THEY JUST DON'T LIKE THEM or THEY LIKE THEM, not on there performance. Neilson was not the best player but he certainly was solid and well worth more than a two.

COME ON PLEASE START TO VOTE AS IT WAS, NOT AS YOU WISH IT HAD BEEN.

[Webbo]

At the game.

Weale 7

Neilson 7

Hobbs 7

Morrison 8

Mcgivern 7 did ok at CB tbf.

Oakley 6.5 his corners were better than usual but he was shocking in the first half.

Wellens 7.5

King 7

Dyer 8

Howard 7

Fryatt 8 all the Fryatt haters seem pretty quiet at the minute.

[bigneville]

At The Game;

Weale - 7.5 - Did what he had to do, no major scares.

Neilson - 6.5 - Always worries me when in possesion or one on one with his man. But didn't have a bad game today, but maybe thats him at his best? I'm really not sure.

Morrison - 8 - Had a good game defensively and capped off a good performance with a goal. On this form, could keep Brown out the side.

Hobbs - 7 - Another solid performance, hopefully not out for too long?

McGivern - 7 - Sheff Utd targetted him early on, and he didn't do too bad. A big improvement at centre back, but much better in the air than on the floor. No composure, but still learning.

Oakley - 6 - Still looks out of position at Right Midfield, but gives his all. Set piece delivery was good, and gave some cover to the ever-weak Neilson. Leads the side well.

King - 7 - Went about what he did very quietly, kept things simple and gave the in-experienced back line some much needed cover. A solid performance.

Wellens - 8 - His distribution is simply fantastic, full of composure. Battled well, and his calming influence was certainly needed at the end. Another very good performance from one of the best midfielders in the league.

Dyer - 8.5 - A threat all game long, ran at his man, caused all sorts of issues. Gave us some much needed width. Best i've seen of Lloyd for a long time.

Fryatt - 8 - Absolutelly torn Chris Morgan to shreads, he looked sooo much more comfortable playing up top with Howard. Looked like he really wanted it last night, full of running and lots of trickery. If anything still a little bit selfish, but if Matty puts in that much effort every game, and plays that well, we're looking at a 25 goal striker.

Howard - 7 - Won lots in the air, and battled well. He takes all the physical battle for Fryatt, and fully deserves to keep his place for Doncaster, if his legs can handle two games in three days.

Subs

O'Neill - 5 - Don't want to be too harsh to the lad, as he's young, and not had much, if any first team exposure. But he looked completely out of his depth, playing against a front line full of quality. Berner needs to get fit and quick. This lad needs some first team action elsewhere before getting a look in here.

Manager -

Pearson - 7 - Right starting line up, maybe needed some fresh legs in midfield or up top towards the end, but delivered again.

Fans - 6 - Better than usual, but still lacks a lot of atmosphere.

Sheff Utd - 5 - With the names they have in there first team squad, they should be playing a lot better football, and should be looking to take points down at the Walkers, but they didn't look like a team, just a bunch of individuals. But they certainly have potential to trouble the play-off positions though if Blackwell gets them working together.

[Guest]

Ridiculous - Another classic example of someone rating a player obviously because THEY JUST DON'T LIKE THEM or THEY LIKE THEM, not on there performance. Neilson was not the best player but he certainly was solid and well worth more than a two.

COME ON PLEASE START TO VOTE AS IT WAS, NOT AS YOU WISH IT HAD BEEN.

and yet it's you who's bitching about Howard who in case you

didn't notice won tons of balls in the air

At the game

Weale - 7

Neilson - 6

Morro - 8 - Brilliant performance

Hobbs - 7

McGivern - 7 - think that's the best performance I've seen out of him in a city shirt

Oakley - 6.5

King - 6.5

Wellens - 7.5

Dyer - 8 MOM - don't know how you missed his performance anish cos 20,000 others didn't

Howard - 7

Fryatt - 7.5 - some great touches, unfortunate that he had to display great skill on tv with jan coming

up but there we go

O Neill - 5.5 - sadly got beaten quite a lot but I've seen him play before and sure he'll come back better for it

[Braunyfox]

Oh don't get me wrong I like Howard, but whats the point of just getting your nut to the ball, all I'm saying is he clearly is off the pace at the moment .....

[Guest Mee-9]

The woman behind me said, "Oooh we have some rif-raf near us, were not used to this."

*Punches computer screen*

I hate people like that!

Was tempted to say "We're at a football match, not at lunch with the Queen"