Halifax report.....

[zablade]

I look at it like this, if our squad of players was at a club like Oldham or Walsall, and no disrespect to either of those clubs, it's not a squad that you would put down as promotion candidates, that's just being honest.

If we make the play offs then Wilder will deserve enormous credit.

 

[larkymasher]

My issue with last night was Wilson's after match interview.

The interviewer tells Wilson that Halifax were really up for the match.

Wilson replies " Yeh, we knew they would be "................ Is he having a joke. If they knew Halifax would be up for it then play accordingly. Get the fuck stuck in then !!!!

3 Centre Backs battered by a big non league Centre forward is poor in the extreme.

 

[Rupicola]

We need a tough as nails player who can motivate the other players on the pitch. We haven't got anyone like that. Someone who's a bit dirty and can put the frighteners on the slackers. Most successful teams have at least one player like this.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

My issue with last night was Wilson's after match interview.

The interviewer tells Wilson that Halifax were really up for the match.

Wilson replies " Yeh, we knew they would be "................ Is he having a joke. If they knew Halifax would be up for it then play accordingly. Get the fuck stuck in then !!!!

3 Centre Backs battered by a big non league Centre forward is poor in the extreme.

Is that Sergeant Wilson . You watching Dads Army video with that Welsh bird in it.

 

[Dnblade]

Anyone know how we lined up formation wise..Just looked at the goals and looks like a back 3 when conceding the first goal..a 3-4-3/3-4-2-1.

 

[Deadbat]

For me we are still a soft touch with no physicality and no real leaders at all. The spine is still powder puff and sadly we have not addressed this. I am surprised another manager has not addressed this and I felt someone like Wilder would have immediately sorted.

A lot depends on Wilder getting maximum out of the squad we have but too many ordinary players remain for me. We need at least 4 or 5 to even be around the top 6. At the moment we look all the world a mid table side and that is at best. Sadly as others have alluded to; you look at squads like Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury and others and they have as much quality as us. However without that nasty side and the bit that makes us hard to beat we will be in a similiar position to last year. As bad as McEveley, Edgar, Hammond, Baxter, Sammon etc were last season I am not sure we have improved really. Sure the squad was bloated with rubbish but now is just a smaller version really. I like Duffy and Fleck as signings. They are neat and tidy but that wont get us out of the league alone.

The central defence still is lacking that presence and the midfield still seems a major soft touch. Basham for me is a sub/squad player at most and is being counted on as a leading figure. Get that dirty, leader in midfield and a big, scary centre back who kicks everyone and I might think we have an outside chance. At the moment it is the furthest off promotion we ever have been since we came down and the fact very ordinary players like Basham, Reed, McNulty, Coutts are around the first eleven is a worry. Hope I am wrong and Wilder can still bring in that spine but the side as it stands I fear is miles off.

 

[Booker4]

For me we are still a soft touch with no physicality and no real leaders at all. The spine is still powder puff and sadly we have not addressed this. I am surprised another manager has not addressed this and I felt someone like Wilder would have immediately sorted.

A lot depends on Wilder getting maximum out of the squad we have but too many ordinary players remain for me. We need at least 4 or 5 to even be around the top 6. At the moment we look all the world a mid table side and that is at best. Sadly as others have alluded to; you look at squads like Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury and others and they have as much quality as us. However without that nasty side and the bit that makes us hard to beat we will be in a similiar position to last year. As bad as McEveley, Edgar, Hammond, Baxter, Sammon etc were last season I am not sure we have improved really. Sure the squad was bloated with rubbish but now is just a smaller version really. I like Duffy and Fleck as signings. They are neat and tidy but that wont get us out of the league alone.

The central defence still is lacking that presence and the midfield still seems a major soft touch. Basham for me is a sub/squad player at most and is being counted on as a leading figure. Get that dirty, leader in midfield and a big, scary centre back who kicks everyone and I might think we have an outside chance. At the moment it is the furthest off promotion we ever have been since we came down and the fact very ordinary players like Basham, Reed, McNulty, Coutts are around the first eleven is a worry. Hope I am wrong and Wilder can still bring in that spine but the side as it stands I fear is miles off.

I see your points but I think your assessment is very much half glass full mate. We were really close last year as poor as we were to the play offs. Adding Duffy and Fleck should mean we are better than last season alone and although I agree we could do with a really dominant centre half we haven't seen how good Wilson and O'Connell are yet nor the others. One defeat and people are looking at things with a negative aspect. Maybe you'd have thought the same irrespective of last night but with a decent target man and another winger we'll be right up there. And yes we do need bite and energy in midfield but until we shift a few I can't see more than 2 coming in and we know that Wilder talked about a target man and a centre back last week.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

For me we are still a soft touch with no physicality and no real leaders at all. The spine is still powder puff and sadly we have not addressed this. I am surprised another manager has not addressed this and I felt someone like Wilder would have immediately sorted.

A lot depends on Wilder getting maximum out of the squad we have but too many ordinary players remain for me. We need at least 4 or 5 to even be around the top 6. At the moment we look all the world a mid table side and that is at best. Sadly as others have alluded to; you look at squads like Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury and others and they have as much quality as us. However without that nasty side and the bit that makes us hard to beat we will be in a similiar position to last year. As bad as McEveley, Edgar, Hammond, Baxter, Sammon etc were last season I am not sure we have improved really. Sure the squad was bloated with rubbish but now is just a smaller version really. I like Duffy and Fleck as signings. They are neat and tidy but that wont get us out of the league alone.

The central defence still is lacking that presence and the midfield still seems a major soft touch. Basham for me is a sub/squad player at most and is being counted on as a leading figure. Get that dirty, leader in midfield and a big, scary centre back who kicks everyone and I might think we have an outside chance. At the moment it is the furthest off promotion we ever have been since we came down and the fact very ordinary players like Basham, Reed, McNulty, Coutts are around the first eleven is a worry. Hope I am wrong and Wilder can still bring in that spine but the side as it stands I fear is miles off.

Very good post .

Basham , Reed , McNulty , Coutts says it all . These guys are not winners and do not have the smell of success .

Wilder will already know this . Have we missed the boat already ..

Just cannot see Wilder standing for second best , so will do something about it . This is were McCabe really does have to show is metal / loyalty and back Wilder to the hilt in the transfer market , with Stella signings not dregs .

 

[robbiez666]

For me we are still a soft touch with no physicality and no real leaders at all. The spine is still powder puff and sadly we have not addressed this. I am surprised another manager has not addressed this and I felt someone like Wilder would have immediately sorted.

A lot depends on Wilder getting maximum out of the squad we have but too many ordinary players remain for me. We need at least 4 or 5 to even be around the top 6. At the moment we look all the world a mid table side and that is at best. Sadly as others have alluded to; you look at squads like Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury and others and they have as much quality as us. However without that nasty side and the bit that makes us hard to beat we will be in a similiar position to last year. As bad as McEveley, Edgar, Hammond, Baxter, Sammon etc were last season I am not sure we have improved really. Sure the squad was bloated with rubbish but now is just a smaller version really. I like Duffy and Fleck as signings. They are neat and tidy but that wont get us out of the league alone.

The central defence still is lacking that presence and the midfield still seems a major soft touch. Basham for me is a sub/squad player at most and is being counted on as a leading figure. Get that dirty, leader in midfield and a big, scary centre back who kicks everyone and I might think we have an outside chance. At the moment it is the furthest off promotion we ever have been since we came down and the fact very ordinary players like Basham, Reed, McNulty, Coutts are around the first eleven is a worry. Hope I am wrong and Wilder can still bring in that spine but the side as it stands I fear is miles off.

Didn't Wilder say Basham was our best midfielder? I'm more concerned about Paul Coutts starting. Paul fucking Coutts. He should be nowhere near the first team. Idle bastard.

 

[Dnblade]

For me we are still a soft touch with no physicality and no real leaders at all. The spine is still powder puff and sadly we have not addressed this. I am surprised another manager has not addressed this and I felt someone like Wilder would have immediately sorted.

A lot depends on Wilder getting maximum out of the squad we have but too many ordinary players remain for me. We need at least 4 or 5 to even be around the top 6. At the moment we look all the world a mid table side and that is at best. Sadly as others have alluded to; you look at squads like Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury and others and they have as much quality as us. However without that nasty side and the bit that makes us hard to beat we will be in a similiar position to last year. As bad as McEveley, Edgar, Hammond, Baxter, Sammon etc were last season I am not sure we have improved really. Sure the squad was bloated with rubbish but now is just a smaller version really. I like Duffy and Fleck as signings. They are neat and tidy but that wont get us out of the league alone.

The central defence still is lacking that presence and the midfield still seems a major soft touch. Basham for me is a sub/squad player at most and is being counted on as a leading figure. Get that dirty, leader in midfield and a big, scary centre back who kicks everyone and I might think we have an outside chance. At the moment it is the furthest off promotion we ever have been since we came down and the fact very ordinary players like Basham, Reed, McNulty, Coutts are around the first eleven is a worry. Hope I am wrong and Wilder can still bring in that spine but the side as it stands I fear is miles off.

Agree about Basham..no way is he good enough to be called key,great energy but that's about it for me unless CW can bring more out of him..Not getting carried away about a friendly at Halifax in stifling heat though..I don't care if we lose every friendly as long as we're ready to go at the Reebok or whatever it's called these days,and maybe we learn more from the defeat than if the result was reversed and we're all thinking everything is rosy in the garden.

 

[Grizzly blade]

I have several issues about suggesting a "spine" needs to be big and physical.

Firstly, physical is on its way out. You can't tackle strongly without giving free kicks away. I know centre halves cannot be soft, they have to put up with the big forwards backing in, getting hold of them and then win their headers. But they cannot go about it by being more physical because th forward just goes down and gets the free kick.
Quite simply, the game is won and lost in midfield. If opponents are free to put quality balls into their forward, in reality there is very little a centre half can do other than stand them up and try to prevent them turning. It is up to the midfield to track runners, intercept passes and prevent the opponents playing. When we have the ball it is their job to then keep hold of it and move it about better to enable us to get decent ball into the forwards. Simple. A good cross is always a good cross....but it is made harder to do if the crosser has less time to get it right.

So if we aren't competing in midfield it's because we are giving the ball away too easily, getting caught out of position and not working hard enough to close opponents and limit their time on the ball. Pressure their first touch and vision....see if they can deal with it. If they are getting in behind us it is because midfield aren't tracking runners....again lack of simple graft. Nothing to do with nobody putting a foot in....you have to work hard to be in a position to put a foot in first!
And I had a little sympathy for Hammond here....he often ran and worked to try and get a foot in...sadly he was always too slo or off the pac to do what he wanted to do. Not lack of effort...lack of legs sadly.

So simply put, we don't need big, we don't need overly strong or aggressive. We need players in midfield and up front who can pass the ball, have a good first touch and will run their blood to water for their team mates first, manager second and then us lot!
We haven't seen that for too long, and one person in that team not pulling their weight and the whole team is let down.

Wilder knows this....and the players if they didn't already know it will have been reminded of this. They will get stronger as a group as the season goes on, and we as fans have to be patient while they get fit and then gather some momentum. If players don't do it....like Clough did they will be cast aside by wilder.

If I was going to criticise the manager I would say we haven't got enough games arranged. We basically have Been putting two sides out....well I would split the squad and have them playing 90 minutes. Even this early push them to their limit and give them th recovery time, but have them work thier bollocks off so they are ALL ready come the Bolton game. Youth lads can be subs. But all of em would be playing as much as possible for me.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Didn't Wilder say Basham was our best midfielder? I'm more concerned about Paul Coutts starting. Paul fucking Coutts. He should be nowhere near the first team. Idle bastard.

Is Wilder by no fault of his own falling into the Adkins trap . In training , 5 aside , non competitive games , some players may look the business . Although new broom , clean sheet and all that , give em a go / chance .

Been there , done it , got the tee shirt and just doesn't work. Let's not make the same mistakes where we kick off and don't know our best 11 or formation .

Some are never going to do the business unfortunately .

UTB

 

[Newbury Blade]

I don't think results are that important in pre season friendlies, it's the performance, however worryingly all the reports about the performance seem to be pointing out the same weaknesses of the last two seasons.

Also I don't get the logic of pointing out "we won all our pre season games under Weir and Adkins" What's that supposed to say? We are doing worse than last pre season?

No, it's saying you can't read anything into pre-season friendlies. Last season we looked like world beaters ... Then we played Gillingham.

 

[robbiez666]

yep, they got a dressing down.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

yep, they got a dressing down.

Sounds like it .

UTB

 

[robbiez666]

Is Wilder by no fault of his own falling into the Adkins trap . In training , 5 aside , non competitive games , some players may look the business . Although new broom , clean sheet and all that , give em a go / chance .

Been there , done it , got the tee shirt and just doesn't work. Let's not make the same mistakes where we kick off and don't know our best 11 or formation .

Some are never going to do the business unfortunately .

UTB

The listed players weren't going to be involved
The listed players could possibly earn their way back, but highly unlikely
The listed players can earn their way back
The listed players are all going on a Spanish holiday and seemingly at least one or two will be featuring quite heavily

Send them off with the development squad and play some young players instead. Or better yet, loan some young players in from the premiership. We should be bringing in at least 5 loans this season.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

The listed players weren't going to be involved
The listed players could possibly earn their way back, but highly unlikely
The listed players can earn their way back
The listed players are all going on a Spanish holiday and seemingly at least one or two will be featuring quite heavily

Send them off with the development squad and play some young players instead. Or better yet, loan some young players in from the premiership. We should be bringing in at least 5 loans this season.

Perhaps all been a bit Luvy duvy , friendly types , with a game against Stockbridge , trip to Spain , then Halifax.

It's not losing that is a issue , it's how you lose .

Some still seem to me to be on a jolly , don't understand the club culture or the ethos Wilder is building.

That's the worry .

The listed players have been listed for a reason . Unfortunately clubs ain't queuing up to buy em . It's a mistake IMO to even play em.

Coutts , Wallace , Freeman . We already know what they can and can't do .

Still a bit mis mash , with more pressure on McCabe than a Wilder imo

 

[Bergen Blade]

View attachment 18605 Anyone know how we lined up formation wise..Just looked at the goals and looks like a back 3 when conceding the first goal..a 3-4-3/3-4-2-1.View attachment 18604

The goals came after multiple substitutions. Had a look at it and as the first goal is scored it looked like this was our line up:

Gk
Freeman Wilson Wright K.Wallace
Scougall Whiteman Brooks Reed
McNulty DCL
​

I think Wallace is at left back, but pushes up to make a challenge, without winning the ball. It's a short clip though.

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

The goals came after multiple substitutions. Had a look at it and as the first goal is scored it looked like this was our line up:

Gk
Freeman Wilson Wright K.Wallace
Scougall Whiteman Brooks Reed
McNulty DCL
​

I think Wallace is at left back, but pushes up to make a challenge, without winning the ball. It's a short clip though.

Exactly. I think only Wilson will be in starting 11 come the Bolton game, if another CB isn't signed by then.

What was the worry for me was only two real chances created by what's likely to be the majority of the starting 11 for the first 60 mins or so. Also the the ease Halifax played through us. I now it's a psf but still those points should be better at this stage.
Let's see what Grimsby brings !!

 

[bulmer]

Wallace had to push up to try to make a challenge because reed didn't track his man from that point on we were in the shit with everyone else trying to cover for people leaving their post to challenge the spare man until we ran out of cover and their man was free at the far side with time and space to finish

 

[him behind you]

Perhaps all been a bit Luvy duvy , friendly types , with a game against Stockbridge , trip to Spain , then Halifax.

It's not losing that is a issue , it's how you lose .

Some still seem to me to be on a jolly , don't understand the club culture or the ethos Wilder is building.

That's the worry .

The listed players have been listed for a reason . Unfortunately clubs ain't queuing up to buy em . It's a mistake IMO to even play em.

Coutts , Wallace , Freeman . We already know what they can and can't do .

Still a bit mis mash , with more pressure on McCabe than a Wilder imo

They were lazy tossers last year, my concern is that leopards don't change their spots and they'll be lazy tossers this year. Wilder will hopefully not put up with it but his hands may be tied with regard to what he can do about it.

 

[sitwell]

Some were at it tonight ,Billy sharp got a 'put some effort in you wanker' which he will have heard and Mcnulty also got some despite being our best forward on the night. Some obviously thought it was a champions league game ,not a chance to look at players and will have been baffled by the 20 odd substitutions.
low points were Reed and Wallace
good points Fleck and Basham ,and McNulty looked like he might have a part to play. Brooks also showed a lot of hunger when he came on.
Quick mention for the ref ,she did really well ,I reckon its the first time our first team have been reffed by a female.

Was looking back at some of the comments after Wilders first couple of games ,I remember noticing Brooks at Halifax ,he showed he had something that night even with 20 players getting a go.