Sheffield United v AFC Bournemouth

billythekid

billythekid

UTC Legend
AFCB Looking To Take All Three Points

After a good win at home against Newcastle United, which included keeping a second clean sheet this season, both at Dean Court, the other game was against Chelsea in a goalless draw. The Cherries will be looking to keep up that form and take all three points and get their first away win of the season when they visit Yorkshire. After the international break, the Cherries are away against the team automatically promoted in second place from the Championship last season, Sheffield United. The game is on Saturday at Bramall Lane at 3 pm.

Their manager since 25th November 2021 is Paul Heckingbottom. He took over from Slavisa Jokanovic with the Blades in 16th place in the Championship after 19 games and on 29 points. At the end of that season Heckingbottom had taken his side up to 5th place with 75 points, 13 points behind second place AFCB. The following season his side finished second (mentioned above), with 91 points.

They have had a tough introduction to the Premier League, losing their first three games, two of them at home, 0-1 against Crystal Palace and 1-2 against Manchester City. They then picked up their first point which was at home in a 2-2 draw with Everton. Then followed six consecutive defeats, two at home included their heaviest defeat so far this season, 0-8 against Newcastle United. The other one was 1-2 against Manchester United. In their last home game, United beat Wolves 2-1 for their first win of the season.

Away from home, Sheffield United lost 2-1 against Nottingham Forest and also Spurs. Then the three games in London, West Ham 2-0, Fulham 3-1 and Arsenal 5-0. They picked up a point against Brighton in a 1-1 draw which was their last game before the international break.

Our last game at Bramall Lane was in April 2022 and it finished in a goalless draw.

In our away games in the league against Sheffield United, AFCB have W 1, D 3, L 5.
All competitions, AFCB have W 2, D 6, L 11.

Sheffield United Team News
In the Summer transfer window they signed a few players. Amongst those was forward Cameron Archer signed from Aston Villa for £18 million and midfielder Gustavo Hamer from Coventry City for £15 million. Going into the international break they have 9 players out injured.

Sheffield United Player To Watch
Oliver McBurnie they are hoping will be back after injury. Scored 1 and assisted 1, but an important player for United. Leading scorers are Cameron Archer and Gustavo Hamer, both with 2 goals.

AFCB Team News
Philip Billing missed the last game against Newcastle United with a knock. Max Aarons went off with hamstring strain.

AFCB Player To Watch
Up front Dominic Solanke needs 1 goal to get his most Premier League goals in a season. The player who is standing out in the last few games is Ryan Christie. He is our engine room and just keeps going.

The Referee
Andy Madley is in charge of the game on Saturday. We had him twice last season, in the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest and that great away 2-3 win against Spurs.
 
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I would love a win but will take a draw. Their point against Brighton will have given them hope and confidence. Their next two games are us and Burnley and they they know that if they don't pickup points in these games then it is likely that it is curtains for them and Heckingbottom.
 
HamJDW said:
I would love a win but will take a draw. Their point against Brighton will have given them hope and confidence. Their next two games are us and Burnley and they they know that if they don't pickup points in these games then it is likely that it is curtains for them and Heckingbottom.
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Fortunately that win against Newcastle makes this more of a "must not lose" than a "must win" game. A point helps us more than them, so would be ok at a pinch.

But a win for us would be massive in terms of finally starting to gain some momentum which could see us start to pull clear of the relegation scrap.

If we play to our best, I think we should be optimistic of returning with three more points.

So for any players reading this, this is a "must win game" :p
 
billythekid said:
AFCB Looking To Take All Three Points

After a good win at home against Newcastle United, which included keeping a second clean sheet this season, both at Dean Court, the other game was against Chelsea in a goalless draw. The Cherries will be looking to keep up that form and take all three points and get their first away win of the season when they visit Yorkshire. After the international break, the Cherries are away against the team automatically promoted in second place from the Championship last season, Sheffield United. The game is on Saturday at Bramall Lane at 3 pm.

Their manager since 25th November 2021 is Paul Heckingbottom. He took over from Slavisa Jokanovic with the Blades in 16th place in the Championship after 19 games and on 29 points. At the end of that season Heckingbottom had taken his side up to 5th place with 75 points, 13 points behind second place AFCB. The following season his side finished second (mentioned above), with 91 points.

They have had a tough introduction to the Premier League, losing their first three games, two of them at home, 0-1 against Crystal Palace and 1-2 against Manchester City. They then picked up their first point which was at home in a 2-2 draw with Everton. Then followed six consecutive defeats, two at home included their heaviest defeat so far this season, 0-8 against Newcastle United. The other one was 1-2 against Manchester United. In their last home game, United beat Wolves 2-1 for their first win of the season.

Away from home, Sheffield United lost 2-1 against Nottingham Forest and also Spurs. Then the three games in London, West Ham 2-0, Fulham 3-1 and Arsenal 5-0. They picked up a point against Brighton in a 1-1 draw which was their last game before the international break.

Our last game at Bramall Lane was in April 2022 and it finished in a goalless draw.

In our away games in the league against Sheffield United, AFCB have W 1, D 3, L 5.
All competitions, AFCB have W 2, D 6, L 11.

Sheffield United Team News
In the Summer transfer window they signed a few players. Amongst those was forward Cameron Archer signed from Aston Villa for £18 million and midfielder Gustavo Hamer from Coventry City for £15 million. Going into the international break they have 9 players out injured.

Sheffield United Player To Watch
Oliver McBurnie they are hoping will be back after injury. Scored 1 and assisted 1, but an important player for United. Leading scorers are Cameron Archer and Gustavo Hamer, both with 2 goals.

AFCB Team News
Philip Billing missed the last game against Newcastle United with a knock. Max Aarons went off with hamstring strain.

AFCB Player To Watch
Up front Dominic Solanke needs 1 goal to get his most Premier League goals in a season. The player who is standing out in the last few games is Ryan Christie. He is our engine room and just keeps going.

The Referee
Andy Madley is in charge of the game on Saturday. We had him twice last season, in the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest and that great away 2-3 win against Spurs.
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When you say they have nine players out injured, are you talking about squad players or nine players that would automatically be in the first eleven?
 
I’ve looked at the last 4 league games for Shef U. These were at home to Man U and Wolves and away at Arsenal and Brighton. Shef U gained 4 points, a win versus Wolves and a draw at Brighton. This feels about right, although the only game Shef U had a higher xG was against a misfiring Man U. Shef U have scored 4 goals and conceded 9 whereas xG had them down as scoring 3.57 and conceding 6.73.

Goals xG.png

The average positions of the starting line-ups are below. Against Man U there was a circle in the midfield and against Arsenal it was largely a defensive display (the xG of 0.03 is one of the lowest values I have seen). For Wolves there seemed to be a preference for the right hand side, whereas against Brighton the average position is very odd with a thin line of 7 players just behind the centre line.

Av pos.png
Shef U have had 3 scorers in the last 4 games, Archer, Norwood (a pen) and McBurnie with 1 each and an own goal. There have been 4 credited assists from McAtee (2), Bogle and Baldock.

The following graph compares summary stats of Shef U and AFCB over the last 4 games. For the first time this season, AFCB are ahead on almost every statistic.

Comparison.png

Both teams have had less than 40% possession over the last 4 games, with AFCB having slightly more. AFCB have created a higher percentage of chances from open play and conceded a higher percentage from open play.

Percentages.png
 
Got a good feeling about this one.

2 wins on the trot under Andoni.

Christie and Solanke hitting form.

Tavernier reeling he hasn't scored lately. Probably a good any time scorer bet.

Kelly in the transfer window, but playing solidly.

It's written in the stars.

This is a dead set AFCB win.
 
Reality and Realism said:
When you say they have nine players out injured, are you talking about squad players or nine players that would automatically be in the first eleven?
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Name me a side where 9 players are automatic choices for the starting XI in the Premier League.

It’s a squad game.
 
DJ said:
Name me a side where 9 players are automatic choices for the starting XI in the Premier League.

It’s a squad game.
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There are sides that will stick with their strongest eleven. We would do the same. If you take 9 players out of that strongest side football matches will be l;ost.
 
Reality and Realism said:
There are sides that will stick with their strongest eleven. We would do the same. If you take 9 players out of that strongest side football matches will be l;ost.
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Not what I asked though is it.

Modern day football isn't about having a preferred choice XI and playing it week after week.

For example, the champions Manchester City, how many players started more than 30 Premier League games last season? The answer was 3, including the 'keeper.

Change it to 25 starts and the number increases to... 5...

So only 5 players started more than 2/3rds of the games.
 
dragonm8 said:
Got a good feeling about this one.

2 wins on the trot under Andoni.

Christie and Solanke hitting form.

Tavernier reeling he hasn't scored lately. Probably a good any time scorer bet.

Kelly in the transfer window, but playing solidly.

It's written in the stars.

This is a dead set AFCB win.
Click to expand...
Tav had to wait until returning to Yorkshire last season before he scored - hoping the same happens this season. Maybe have another turkey sandwich?
 
DJ said:
Not what I asked though is it.

Modern day football isn't about having a preferred choice XI and playing it week after week.

For example, the champions Manchester City, how many players started more than 30 Premier League games last season? The answer was 3, including the 'keeper.

Change it to 25 starts and the number increases to... 5...

So only 5 players started more than 2/3rds of the games.
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All very well. But Man City have strength in depth and quality. We do not. Man City could swap all eleven players on a match by match basis and still win football matched. We cannot do this with out compromising the strength of the side and as well you know it.
 
Reality and Realism said:
All very well. But Man City have strength in depth and quality. We do not. Man City could swap all eleven players on a match by match basis and still win football matched. We cannot do this with out compromising the strength of the side and as well you know it.
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‘As well you know it’.
Second time you’ve used this phrase today.
You are getting a big boy Steven.
 
Reality and Realism said:
When you say they have nine players out injured, are you talking about squad players or nine players that would automatically be in the first eleven?
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It's a common footballing phrase, which clearly means players injured from the squad. If you cannot grasp these very regularly used lingual terms, then this explains a lot about why your views are so basic and limited. Maybe stick to tiddlywinks?
 
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