New season, new system?

[robbiez666]

Trouble is, if we match up with a standard formation with other teams our players are normally worse.

The formation is a problem in terms of conceding goals. We get picked off way too easily.

I still think we should use it but we need a genuine alternative which we can start with as well. Teams know how we will set up and just play in a way to exploit and neutralise us.

We're conceding goals late on in games because we're tired. The system we play is a really demanding one.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Thats what I'm asking......
I only required a "yes or no" reply.

I was trying to point out that statistics show we already have " two chaps who can score fucking goals" so you may have to look a bit deeper to understand our relative lack of success since Christmas.

 

[Keen Blade]

Since when did Man City play a similar system to us? They almost always use a back 4.

If you're looking to stop teams exploiting out defensive deficiencies, playng one less defender is an odd way to go about it.

You can get Duffy and Brooks in the same side by playing Brooks off Clarke with Duffy in his normal spot in front of two more standard midfielders. There's no need for Evans and Lundstram in the same team like we keep doing.

Double like - exactly my point in the other thread that got me a bit of a bashing.
I don't want to see Lundstrom & Evans in the same team until we're 3-0 up.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

It might be time to move on from the 5-3-2 formation that served us so well during our return to our natural position in the football pecking order (frustratingly just outside the playoff positions).

As far as I'm concerned our natural position in the football pecking order should be a comfortable (mid table) top tier club with occasional cup final appearances and European involvement thrown in. Big city club, we should start acting like it imo

 

[Swannyblade]

As far as I'm concerned our natural position in the football pecking order should be a comfortable (mid table) top tier club with occasional cup final appearances and European involvement thrown in. Big city club, we should start acting like it imo

Tongue firmly in cheek there mate - I know given the size of the club, city, fanbase etc. we should be higher, but in my time following the blades, we’ve spent most seasons flirting with the playoffs in the championship and just falling short...or worse.

 

[BigBed]

I was trying to point out that statistics show we already have " two chaps who can score fucking goals" so you may have to look a bit deeper to understand our relative lack of success since Christmas.

Not really, if "statistics" had any true bearing on us scoring goals, we'd be fine, the fact we aren't and seemingly, can't, tells me the "statistics" don't mean shit?
We need atleast 1, younger, fitter, faster, striker, that's hungry and wants to make an impact, Oh, and one that can score and isn't afraid to shoot.
We also need a left wing back that can cross and isn't slow at getting back or prone to getting lost.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Not really, if "statistics" had any true bearing on us scoring goals, we'd be fine, the fact we aren't and seemingly, can't, tells me the "statistics" don't mean shit?
We need atleast 1, younger, fitter, faster, striker, that's hungry and wants to make an impact, Oh, and one that can score and isn't afraid to shoot.
We also need a left wing back that can cross and isn't slow at getting back or prone to getting lost.

So you don't believe that Leon and Billy have scored 29 goals between them, more than any other pairing in the Championship. ?

Or does it simply mean that this makes them fit the definition of " two chaps that can't fucking score". Looks to me like there are 29 good reasons why this might not be the case.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

The key is flexibility and the ability to change within a game. There's not a great deal wrong with what we're doing now apart from the final 3rd as discussed elsewhere. Needs tweaking and a cutting edge up front in terms of personnel.

 

[SB_90]

if we were just poor & we could talk about the mountain of what ifs then maybe yes but for me its the same as above, nothing wrong with the system because as been said before post Cardiff & Barnsley, we are just our own worst enemy at times. ive worked it out at 20pts from 9games now that we thrown away. so if ones we have now or can get someone to be more clinical then we are upthere challenging for play offs at least

 

[BigBed]

So you don't believe that Leon and Billy have scored 29 goals between them, more than any other pairing in the Championship. ?

Or does it simply mean that this makes them fit the definition of " two chaps that can't fucking score". Looks to me like there are 29 good reasons why this might not be the case.

Your basing your argument on statistics and that's it!?
Are they scoring week in week out........no.
Are we winning games week in week out.....no.
Can we hold onto a lead.....no.
Are we throwing away points......yes.
Are we scoring enough goals.....no.
Fuck statistics, these are facts!

 

[Champagneblade]

I’d consider tweeking the system for reasons of recruitment than changing all together.

If we go to a back four tgen we’ll be just like every other team. At least with three at the back and wing backs you give teams something extra to think about.

Girona are one of the surprise packages of la liga and they play 3-4-2-1 unless I am mistaken.

I think this would suit United for a couple of reasons.

Firstly recruitment. As you get further forward the players get more expensive. If you have 2 forwards as starters, you need 5, maybe 6 strikers on your books. If you play with one focal striker, you can get away with 4. You could recruit 2 strikers in the summer and retain Billy and Leon. A new first choice comes in and Leon is on the bench with either Billy or the other new guy.

If you want to play two up top, arguably you need two starters and another to rival for a place on the bench.

Secondly it also creates an opportunity to have both Brooks and Duffy in the team at the same time and has them with space to work in. It would also be a good position for Holmes to play or Thomas for that matter without having them as the sole focus of creation. In addition it makes you that little more robust without the ball.

In the forwards you can make a case for moving on Hansen, Lavery, Evans and Donaldson. Can we really afford to commit so much cash to replacing them? At least this way we make the most of what we already have.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Your basing your argument on statistics and that's it!?
Are they scoring week in week out........no.
Are we winning games week in week out.....no.
Can we hold onto a lead.....no.
Are we throwing away points......yes.
Are we scoring enough goals.....no.
Fuck statistics, these are facts!

I don't think you fully understand the basic premise of my argument, so I'll leave it at that.

 

[BigBed]

I don't think you fully understand the basic premise of my argument, so I'll leave it at that.

I do, all your argument is based on is statistics.
If only the world worked on them.

 

[Pierre's PC]

If only the world worked on them.

I always thought that it did in one form or another /shrug

 

[sufcboy95]

It’s time for the 3-2-1-3-1

 

[Cerberus Blade]

It might be time to move on from the 5-3-2 formation that served us so well during our return to our natural position in the football pecking order (frustratingly just outside the playoff positions).
Last season, most teams (bar Walsall ) couldn’t handle it, and during the early part of this season, it continued to be effective against the opposition. However in recent times, the impact seems to have been lost. O’Connell and Bash’s marauding runs forward from the back 3 have become less common, and the opposition teams seem more prepared to exploit our defensive deficiencies when possession is turned over.
Also, we seem overly reliant on attacks down the right, as Baldock seems much better suited to the attacking wing-back role, than Stevens on the left.
If we can recruit some quality for the defence, maybe we can revert to a back 4 (or at least have it as a viable option). It would also be nice to have some bona fide wide men in midfield, getting some quality balls into the box to feed the frontmen.

Man City’s success with a similar system and other teams’ efforts to replicate it, means the 5-3-2 has gone mainstream and no longer has the same impact or element of surprise - even stale old England are looking to have a dabble with it at this summer’s WC under Southgate...might be time to have a viable plan B

Agree!

We need to think one step ahead.

I would like to see us line up in a 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 formation. As far as I know, no one has tried that so far? We’d be the first!

I can hear the critics now saying “it’s too narrow”. But, if we did score, it would make for a bloody good conga!

 

[nopigfansintown]

A system is there for one thing: to help a team dominate the match.The rest is up to the players.We have dominated the majority of games in the second half of the season. We need better players not a complete overhaul of the system. I'd start with two new strikers, a new LWB to replace Lafferty, a centre back or two, and possibly a pacy option who could fit into a slightly altered shape.I'd like us to have the option to play Brooks and another quick player behind a target man.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

I do, all your argument is based on is statistics.
If only the world worked on them.

It appears not to have occurred to you that a statistic and a fact can be one and the same thing, so you may like to consider the following which is simply a repetition of what I have said before, but expressed in a different way.

Leon Clarke and William "Billy" Sharpe are both footballers who play in the English Football Championship for Sheffield United FC.

Between them, they have have scored more goals than any other pairing in this division and, in the case of the latter, his goals have contributed more polnts for his team than any other player in the league.

Please let me know what is factually incorrect about the above statement.

PS. Try as I might, I couldn't find anything to the effect of " they need replacing by two chaps who can fucking score goals " although I do admire your use of the word 'chaps'. Were you Eton or Harrow ?

 

[BigBed]

It appears not to have occurred to you that a statistic and a fact can be one and the same thing, so you may like to consider the following which is simply a repetition of what I have said before, but expressed in a different way.

Leon Clarke and William "Billy" Sharpe are both footballers who play in the English Football Championship for Sheffield United FC.

Between them, they have have scored more goals than any other pairing in this division and, in the case of the latter, his goals have contributed more polnts for his team than any other player in the league.

Please let me know what is factually incorrect about the above statement.

PS. Try as I might, I couldn't find anything to the effect of " they need replacing by two chaps who can fucking score goals " although I do admire your use of the word 'chaps'. Were you Eton or Harrow ?

The above facts are true, as are my facts relating to them not doing it at the moment, and as I asked in my original question, to which to failed to answer, instead, you were happy to try and rely on statistics.......would you be happy to stick with Clarke and Sharp, as our main goal threats next season?!??!?

And it was Cambridge actually.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

The above facts are true, as are my facts relating to them not doing it at the moment, and as I asked in my original question, to which to failed to answer, instead, you were happy to try and rely on statistics.......would you be happy to stick with Clarke and Sharp, as our main goal threats next season?!??!?

And it was Cambridge actually.

It depends.