Plan B

[super_pig]

Think many on here have sussed it, we could have Ronaldo and Bale up front and they still wouldn't get a sniff if we keep this obsession no other team has of always going to the wings and corner flags then overplaying it and coming back or delivering a shit cross under or over hit or to the same place near the goal where the goalie can often grab it. Giving it an early grass cutter pass to the penalty spot or edge of the box for a player running in to hit it first time without needing to control it seems to be outside of our now singular box of tricks.

Having been at the game last night the scariest bit is despite this having gone on for a couple of months now, CW effectively said on radio we should keep playing this way and be a bit more patient before delivering the final killer ball in. Really. Maybe we should give the opposition deck chairs and sarnies while they wait for it to arrive it they haven't nicked it and forced a two on two at our end like most other teams try to do.

Lets not keep doing stuff we know doesn't work, up until two months ago we attacked and got the ball in much quicker with less fannying about.

that’s down to Enda’s worrying drop off in form recently

 

[Bladezz]

I love how our team play,

SWFC plan B is 11 behind the ball shall we take that approach?

We are adapting to losing Coutts and to be honest Lundstram is doing a really good job. But I think the performances of Duffy and Fleck may have suffered because of it.

Believe me I’m Fleck and Duffys biggest fan just think something missing from there game since Coutts is out.

We are a newly promoted team we should be over the moon with our position not looking to change system / formation when we’ve got to the playoffs.

 

[Bladezz]

Think many on here have sussed it, we could have Ronaldo and Bale up front and they still wouldn't get a sniff if we keep this obsession no other team has of always going to the wings and corner flags then overplaying it and coming back or delivering a shit cross under or over hit or to the same place near the goal where the goalie can often grab it. Giving it an early grass cutter pass to the penalty spot or edge of the box for a player running in to hit it first time without needing to control it seems to be outside of our now singular box of tricks.

Having been at the game last night the scariest bit is despite this having gone on for a couple of months now, CW effectively said on radio we should keep playing this way and be a bit more patient before delivering the final killer ball in. Really. Maybe we should give the opposition deck chairs and sarnies while they wait for it to arrive it they haven't nicked it and forced a two on two at our end like most other teams try to do.

Lets not keep doing stuff we know doesn't work, up until two months ago we attacked and got the ball in much quicker with less fannying about.

Bolton got into that position once and scored.

We got promoted by getting into those positions and scoring.

We are 6th in the table doing this.

But let’s change as South Bucks thinks it’s not the right plan .....

 

[super_pig]

1 win in 10 is worrying however you want to dress it up.

Hopefully the new signings will help turn the draws into wins and the defeats into draws.

Wilder is clearly fed up he called out staff and players who kept saying ‘unlucky’ other night. So he himself isn’t happy with our form.

it is but you could also dress that up as L5. D4. W1.. it’s not like we’re getting hammered every game that would be really worrying
this league is so topsy turvy that you just have to stay calm and hang in there.. any team that get’s on a run rockets up the table.. Derby will drop off at some point like Cardiff and Preston
Wolves are gone though

 

[Bladezz]

We dominated Derby but a poor lapse in concentration meant we got a draw. Ask the Derby fans they loved how we played thought it was far superior style of football. But they have a team full of £5m + players.

We hammered Bristol City until the mistake from Fleck.

We played very well at Villa apart from a mad first 5 minutes.

We have played poorly in games Millwall / Preston / Bolton.

These are the only games that need to make us worry. We need to make sure we don’t throw out performances like this regular. If we do then we have to worry.

But playing at home with 60% possession attacking teams without success for me first season back in Championship is a positive.

Now we have to slowly build and improve. Both defensively and goal scoring. I bet if you asked CW how do we fix that over night the only answer would be £15,000,000 Assombalonga for example.

If we demand results over night that aren’t attainable that’s when CW will think more about walking away.

 

[Fanny magnet]

We dominated Derby but a poor lapse in concentration meant we got a draw. Ask the Derby fans they loved how we played thought it was far superior style of football. But they have a team full of £5m + players.

We hammered Bristol City until the mistake from Fleck.

We played very well at Villa apart from a mad first 5 minutes.

We have played poorly in games Millwall / Preston / Bolton.

These are the only games that need to make us worry. We need to make sure we don’t throw out performances like this regular. If we do then we have to worry.

But playing at home with 60% possession attacking teams without success for me first season back in Championship is a positive.

Now we have to slowly build and improve. Both defensively and goal scoring. I bet if you asked CW how do we fix that over night the only answer would be £15,000,000 Assombalonga for example.

If we demand results over night that aren’t attainable that’s when CW will think more about walking away.

Think I'd rather keep clarke than assomobalonga

 

[Bladezz]

Think I'd rather keep clarke than assomobalonga

The big clubs don’t choose one or the other they sign both. That is our issue financially.

Well it’s not an issue it’s just how we are ran by one of the richest men in Sheffield and not one of the richest men in the world like some of these championship owners now are.

 

[Weasel]

The issue at the moment isn't the forwards. It's the lack of service / quality balls that they are getting. We could have top premier league centre forwards playing for us but if they aren't given the ball in the right areas they are going to struggle.

The final ball has to be so much better. Wilder agrees with this as per his tee to tee comment. He knows the final ball has been lacking. It would help if we could get a few better crosses in the box from out wide. Also being prepared to have a shot from distsnce rather than trying to walk it in might be helpful too!

If teams are going to sit in like they have been doing recently at the Lane, then we need a plan b. For me that is having a natural winger (or 2) to get to the by line and get crosses flashed into the box. That's when we can then judge the centre forwards properly cos if they were getting the service and missing chances then at that stage the buck would stop with them.

At the moment they are feeding off scraps at times as we lack invention in the final third if Duffys is negated. Hopefully Holmes and maybe even Thomas can change this in the 2nd half of season.

Not a lot wrong with Utd in fact weve done brilliantly this season, but there is always room for improvement. It's what successful teams do - they evolve and adapt to get better and stay ahead of the pack.

 

[super_pig]

Can we stop comparing ourselves to City and Barcelona please?

The OP has a valid point, however as many have said, rather than a plan b we just need a different option to unlock teams using the system we have. If Duffy plays that could be Brooks. Carruthers has tried but isn’t quite good enough, the attacking midfielder/ playmaker is pivotal and when Duffy has an off day we need another to step up.

why.. we have the same problem albeit at a lower level.. we have an attacking ethos rather than a counter attacking one. we might not be them (yet) but our problems are certainly analogous

 

[Weasel]

why.. we have the same problem albeit at a lower level.. we have an attacking ethos rather than a counter attacking one. we might not be them (yet) but our problems are certainly analogous

Agree. We have inferior players to the Man City's of this world obviously but the same problems 'ie trying to break down teams who get 10 men behind the ball. Doesn't matter to what level you play, each team has 11 players trying to stop the opposition scoring and we play the same game.

Any team usually finds it a struggle to break down a blanket defence. Difference is that the real good teams have players who have better close control of the ball, more intelligent players and usually find a way to break down the opposition over time. It' all relative though.

 

[Pinchy]

Some sensible observations, notably from SwissBlade.

As ever though, for some, “Plan B” is a euphemism for “I just want a tiny, little bit of hoof” Having thus put their Dino-feet in the door, they’ll move to gerritforrard mode. They want their grotesque “Plan B to Outer Space” to be the default position.

Fortunately our manager has made it clear we’ll carry on playing football. Sorry Hoofers.

Old Hoofers never die, they just lie in wait. I see them coming.

 

[Bladezz]

The issue at the moment isn't the forwards. It's the lack of service / quality balls that they are getting. We could have top premier league centre forwards playing for us but if they aren't given the ball in the right areas they are going to struggle.

The final ball has to be so much better. Wilder agrees with this as per his tee to tee comment. He knows the final ball has been lacking. It would help if we could get a few better crosses in the box from out wide. Also being prepared to have a shot from distsnce rather than trying to walk it in might be helpful too!

If teams are going to sit in like they have been doing recently at the Lane, then we need a plan b. For me that is having a natural winger (or 2) to get to the by line and get crosses flashed into the box. That's when we can then judge the centre forwards properly cos if they were getting the service and missing chances then at that stage the buck would stop with them.

At the moment they are feeding off scraps at times as we lack invention in the final third if Duffys is negated. Hopefully Holmes and maybe even Thomas can change this in the 2nd half of season.

Not a lot wrong with Utd in fact weve done brilliantly this season, but there is always room for improvement. It's what successful teams do - they evolve and adapt to get better and stay ahead of the pack.

We had several shots from distance against Pigs as the crowd shouted shoot when it’s on Flecks right foot. Etc...

Agree with the other points. Final third hasn’t been good enough stevens form has dropped as have a few others. They either refind there form or they’ll be sat in stands with the rest of us.

Hopefully Holmes can unlock some defences. I’m very excited about his signing.

Duffy Holmes in behind Clarke could cause a lot of issues for teams.

 

[Ricky]

At the moment, the least we should do is put Nathan Thomas on the bench.

He should start against Preston in the cup, ideally in a wide position. Then make a late decision whether to loan him out or keep him.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Agreed we need a plan B. Hanson was the plan B for us last year and we need some one to make an impact like he did (in terms of altering the way we could play within a game). Im not say we need a big man or start to hoof it (which does not work) - but definitely an alternative of some sort.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

The issue at the moment isn't the forwards. It's the lack of service / quality balls that they are getting. We could have top premier league centre forwards playing for us but if they aren't given the ball in the right areas they are going to struggle.

The final ball has to be so much better. Wilder agrees with this as per his tee to tee comment. He knows the final ball has been lacking. It would help if we could get a few better crosses in the box from out wide. Also being prepared to have a shot from distsnce rather than trying to walk it in might be helpful too!

If teams are going to sit in like they have been doing recently at the Lane, then we need a plan b. For me that is having a natural winger (or 2) to get to the by line and get crosses flashed into the box. That's when we can then judge the centre forwards properly cos if they were getting the service and missing chances then at that stage the buck would stop with them.

At the moment they are feeding off scraps at times as we lack invention in the final third if Duffys is negated. Hopefully Holmes and maybe even Thomas can change this in the 2nd half of season.

Not a lot wrong with Utd in fact weve done brilliantly this season, but there is always room for improvement. It's what successful teams do - they evolve and adapt to get better and stay ahead of the pack.

Top, top post. Exactly right. Nothing wrong with how we play - it has brought us reward, but we need a plan B when teams suss us.

Absolutely, any good team needs to keep improving. Teams that stand still get no reward.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Said this on numerous occassions.

We haven’t been sussed.

OK, Opposing teams are paying us a bit more respect and setting up more defensively.

Even so, we should be breaking teams down better.

The KEY reason why we are not doing so is the speed at which we recycle the ball, the speed at which we probe to create overload situations has been SIGNIFICANTLY slowed since the 21st of November 2017.

UTB

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

The 5 P's critique: purpose, positioning, pace, precision & passing.

 

[Deadbat]

Some sensible observations, notably from SwissBlade.

As ever though, for some, “Plan B” is a euphemism for “I just want a tiny, little bit of hoof” Having thus put their Dino-feet in the door, they’ll move to gerritforrard mode. They want their grotesque “Plan B to Outer Space” to be the default position.

Fortunately our manager has made it clear we’ll carry on playing football. Sorry Hoofers.

Old Hoofers never die, they just lie in wait. I see them coming.

I love the football we play and never thought I would say sometimes we may over play in terms of how we recycle it. Sometimes we might need to move it (pass it) forward to come back again rather than always sideways. It just allows defenders to move across and when we take 4 or 5 touches to shuffle it in; it means others can get back. We rarely break at pace to create chance and a lot of what we do is what I would term in the half court rather than full court to borrow basketball vernacular. We play our football at the moment when most of the oppo are back rather than passing it and moving it forward at space and taking advantage of gaps if they wer eon the attack. It is great we keep the ball and has been successful but the last 4 or 5 weeks the chances have dried up (Bristol apart and 3/4 that hit the post were long range shots) and we are not creating many clear cut chances.

We have not moved it quick enough recently and that means teams as a unit shuffles across and deny space. One thing that we need to do just occasionally is play a ball into the gaps down the side of the defenders or over the full back. Not from deep (hoof as you may call it) but from when we have it in a good position. Both Clarke and Donaldson could do with passes in between gaps to run onto now and again rather than always to feet as things have become congested. Defenders in recent weeks have played almost exclusively facing away from own goal making it easier to see everything. Defenders hate being turned - look what happened to Loovens twice. We did not do this enough. This was not long ball or hoofing; it was decent passes into channels but got defenders going towards their own goal. If we can do this more and move it quicker it will allow players more chances to get into more dangerous area. I do agree though the final ball has been awful but so often they are facing banks of 7 or 8 players when knocking it in rather than getting wide and behind the defenders.

Many teams will come and set up like Bolton and Wednesday and the way we have played in the last 2 games has yielded maybe a couple of shots in target in 180 minutes.