Height

[Bergen Blade]

Our lack of height was a problem under Clough, and we looked vulnerable at defensive set pieces while creating nothing from our attacking set pieces. While Adkins tried to address that he ruined other things at the same time.

I think this could be Wilder's current first eleven:

Long
Brayford Wilson O'Connell Hussey
Basham Fleck
Done Scougall Duffy
Sharp​

The defence consists of four players who are strong and decent in the air, as is Basham. It will probably be ok most games from a marking perspective, although our average height will probably be among the lower in the division.

It's difficult to see that we will be a huge aerial threat from set pieces with that eleven, despite improved delivery from Duffy and Hussey. Wilson has a poor scoring record, O'Connell a little better. Basham's got the height, but his timing and heading technique is only average.

If, for example, Brayford got an injury and Basham don't quite find form in midfield, it's not unthinkable that we'd be lining up with:

Long
Freeman Wilson O'Connell Hussey
Reed Fleck
Done Scougall Duffy
Sharp​

Which means we're back to the problems we had under Clough with a very small team and little strength in the air.

I reckon Wilder will be looking to keep this in mind as he keeps shaping the squad. He's said he wants a target man and he may be looking for a bigger/stronger back up at right back than Freeman. When we were linked with Grandison I wondered if Wilder saw him as a right back, and he did confess that little interest in the transfer listed players ("to an extent"?) could hinder some of the recruitment. If Freeman and Coutts or J. Wallace moved on I think Wilder would bring in a couple of taller players in these positions. The right sided centre half should also preferably be a commanding type.

 

[Silent Blade]

Be prepared for a backlash from DronnieBlade

 

[Esablade]

Good post, though I'd take issue a little with the 'Basham's decent in the air' bit...he's tall, but I can't remember him bossing it in the air much at either end of the pitch?

 

[Silent Blade]

Good post, though I'd take issue a little with the 'Basham's decent in the air' bit...he's tall, but I can't remember him bossing it in the air much at either end of the pitch?

He is good in the air when it comes to defending but not good at attacking crosses at the other end

 

[Cyprus Blade]

He is good in the air when it comes to defending but not good at attacking crosses at the other end

50p shaped head.

Our lack of height was a problem under Clough, and we looked vulnerable at defensive set pieces while creating nothing from our attacking set pieces.

Scougall in both formations ? - the lad has a lot to prove and improve on. I don't think its a given that he'll be first choice and unless he hits the form of season 1 he will be on his way quite quickly as he offers no physical presence and zero height

 

[BushBlade]

50p shaped head.



Scougall in both formations ? - the lad has a lot to prove and improve on. I don't think its a given that he'll be first choice and unless he hits the form of season 1 he will be on his way quite quickly as he offers no physical presence and zero height

Scougall's role in attacking set pieces is to find space in areas where he may get a knock down.
In defensive set pieces he should be the out ball.

 

[cooperblade]

It would be easier to find a balanced line-up if Sharp was 6' 2". He's our captain and top scorer but I'm not convinced he's the ideal choice in a 4-2-3-1. I don't think there's a better option at the club currently but is it possible that someone like Leon Clarke takes Sharp's place?

 

[BushBlade]

It would be easier to find a balanced line-up if Sharp was 6' 2". He's our captain and top scorer but I'm not convinced he's the ideal choice in a 4-2-3-1. I don't think there's a better option at the club currently but is it possible that someone like Leon Clarke takes Sharp's place?

From a technical perspective, yes. From a political/man management perspective, no. He's our 'Shearer', undroppable.

 

[Bladezz]

All centre halves are decent in the air, Hussey seems a decent size and Brayford is very good in the air. Long is a big lad too.

With Basham in there, and the mystery target man we will have at least 7 in there.

I don't think be a big issue for us.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

It would be easier to find a balanced line-up if Sharp was 6' 2". He's our captain and top scorer but I'm not convinced he's the ideal choice in a 4-2-3-1. I don't think there's a better option at the club currently but is it possible that someone like Leon Clarke takes Sharp's place?

Wilder is not daft enough to do a Woy and tinker with tactics or formation to cater for 1no player , ala England with Rooney .

Nobody will take Sharps place as no player has the goal ratio he has . Bit irreplaceable from a football , club , ethos , and performance aspect . He can only perform better , with better players around him.

Leon Clarke ain't that good and would have his arse on the bench , with not being a out and out starter , but a impact player.

Just a thought.

UTB

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

It would be rather charming, although a little quaint perhaps, to ask our players to jump to a height above their standing position.
I am certain, that in one particular incident, against a rather physical side, that our centre-forward when jumping, was in fact, a rather ludicrous three inches shorter than he was just stood still.

I'm not asking for Mr Wilder to employ players with the physical attributes of Gulliver, but maybe a couple who may be susceptible to banging their heads on the crossbar when airborne.

Thank You.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Long is a big lad too

I know a couple of lads who'd pay decent money to see photographic evidence.
Are you talking "real BIG?" ... On the slack?

 

[Fulwood Blade]

if we get 3 nil up in a game and concede from a corner or free kick it doesn't matter.

If we (As WIlder suggests) play a pressing game and "win" the ball back quickly then that in itself nullifies the opposition.

All action type play is what CW's teams are all about - lack of height (Adkins wanting 6 big fellas from memory) therefore shouldn't make that much difference.

If the 2 x CH's get their head on 99% of balls (as good they should) and players have Geoff Boycott type concentration, then again it's not a problem.

If goals in our box are looked at in detail, it's probably because our players are sleeping - it's up to WIlder and Knill to keep them concentrating at all times - that is what good management about - and lack of height shouldn't really come into it - it's all about competing.

It's also about the management matching players up - ie: not like that usless numpty Hodgson who put Rooney on Iceland's no 1 header of the ball.

This is the sort of situation where we will find out if Wilder/Knill are actually any good.

UTB

 

[Bartleby]

It would be rather charming, although a little quaint perhaps, to ask our players to jump to a height above their standing position.

like you in yer pogoing days eh Mr Lydon ?

 

[dublin 10 blade]

I know a couple of lads who'd pay decent money to see photographic evidence.
Are you talking "real BIG?" ... On the slack?

That's more like it , back to basics , LYDON , I like it .

 

[Weasel]

One of Cloughs failings was the mans sheer arrogance in believing he was right and everyone else was wrong. All the fellow Blades i know was watchin United in Cloughs last season and saying that we were a team of footballing midgets who regularly got out fought and bullied out of games cosw we couldnt compete physically in a physical league. You only have to look at the number of set pieces we conceded from or caused us problems. Clough didnt recognise that div 1 is predominately a physical league. You dont have to out football teams in this league you can out muscle em and still get consistently good results. Example..? Dave Jones Pigsday team who pipped us to promotion. They were the anti football team...we were the football purists. They went up...we didnt.

 

[blade too long]

its not height in itself thats a problem , but how strong and athletic they are at leaping
some who are 6 foot 4 can head a ball up to 8 foot off the ground
and someone more athletic ay 5 foot 10 could outleap them at 8 ft 3 inches

just being 3 inch shorter isnt pivotal

 

[Weasel]

Yes they can. But predominately, a team of midgets will be out muscled by a team of 6ft 3" lads every week. Facts of life. A good big un should always beat a good little un. Times that by 11 and even if a few big uns have an off day, the powerful team will probably win through. United need to get up this season...you cant do it with a team buily like Cloughs powderpuffs.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

Personally I'll be gutted if we play 1 up front. I have never seen it work for us. ever.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Good post, though I'd take issue a little with the 'Basham's decent in the air' bit...he's tall, but I can't remember him bossing it in the air much at either end of the pitch?

Wouldn't he be one you'd ask to do a marking job at defensive set pieces?

 

[Bergen Blade]

Personally I'll be gutted if we play 1 up front. I have never seen it work for us. ever.

This was a decent spell:

 

[Esablade]

Wouldn't he be one you'd ask to do a marking job at defensive set pieces?

Yeah...I've seen him picking up in the box, just never really thought of him as that great in the air...

 

[Bergen Blade]

its not height in itself thats a problem , but how strong and athletic they are at leaping
some who are 6 foot 4 can head a ball up to 8 foot off the ground
and someone more athletic ay 5 foot 10 could outleap them at 8 ft 3 inches

just being 3 inch shorter isnt pivotal

But what if 5'6ish and average-at-leaping Duffy, Reed, Fleck, Done, Scougall and Sharp have to mark six-footers who are strong and very good at leaping?

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

But what if 5'6ish and average-at-leaping Duffy, Reed, Fleck, Done, Scougall and Sharp have to mark six-footers who are strong and very good at leaping?

That'll only happen every 4 years though

 

[Bergen Blade]

It would be easier to find a balanced line-up if Sharp was 6' 2". He's our captain and top scorer but I'm not convinced he's the ideal choice in a 4-2-3-1. I don't think there's a better option at the club currently but is it possible that someone like Leon Clarke takes Sharp's place?

Wilder seems a big fan, so I'd expect Sharp to be first choice. He had a poor spell with 1 goal in 13 matches last season, and if that happens again I'm sure we'll see him given a rest, especially with Wilder also being a fan of McNulty. During negotiations with target man-type strikers I think Wilder is being honest and tells them they'll probably be squad players.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

This was a decent spell:

View attachment 18535

In reality that was practically 0 up front. almost a fluid 4-6-0. And the reason we played that way is because we were utterly devoid of proper strikers. We also had some players briefly find a level of form that they have never been able to replecate. If we sign Leon Clark, I presume he would start with Sharp. How would that affect your chosen XI? Also whilst Adams may leave, would you keep him, and if so would he feature in your starting XI?

 

[Bergen Blade]

In reality that was practically 0 up front. almost a fluid 4-6-0. And the reason we played that way is because we were utterly devoid of proper strikers. We also had some players briefly find a level of form that they have never been able to replecate. If we sign Leon Clark, I presume he would start with Sharp. How would that affect your chosen XI? Also whilst Adams may leave, would you keep him, and if so would he feature in your starting XI?

The Clough team had great balance overall, although I agree Baxter was a temporary solution. But it worked well at the time.

If you listen to Wilder's latest interview he says that he wants to fit the players into his preferred formation. Although he didn't say that this was 4-2-3-1, this was the formation he played at Northampton and he says he "believes in the system, that it's entertaining, progressive and positive". With the player types he has in the forward positions and the way he describes his style, I agree it sounds very exciting and we shouldn't worry about having only one central striker. The 3 behind him will roam around, support and get beyond him regularly.

I don't think the signing of the target man (Clarke or whoever) will make Wilder change his main system. I hope Adams stays and will feature regularly in one of the forward roles behind Sharp.

 

[David Lee's first touch]

The Clough team had great balance overall, although I agree Baxter was a temporary solution. But it worked well at the time.

If you listen to Wilder's latest interview he says that he wants to fit the players into his preferred formation. Although he didn't say that this was 4-2-3-1, this was the formation he played at Northampton and he says he "believes in the system, that it's entertaining, progressive and positive". With the player types he has in the forward positions and the way he describes his style, I agree it sounds very exciting and we shouldn't worry about having only one central striker. The 3 behind him will roam around, support and get beyond him regularly.

I don't think the signing of the target man (Clarke or whoever) will make Wilder change his main system. I hope Adams stays and will feature regularly in one of the forward roles behind Sharp.

If Clarke or target man signs could billy do a job as the central of the three roaming behind, without too much emphasis on the defensive part. I know he's a striker and was good last season but I could still see him putting them away from there. He could also push on when we're in possession so we are could at times go 442 just to mix it up a bit.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I've read Moneyball too, well done.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

50p shaped head

Taking Nyron's name in vain. Tut.