Is Wilder being too loyal?

[Ricky]

Looks like we're in for an entire season of this flat 3, measured approach with every home game being tight and low scoring (barring a few batterings).

If this is to be the case then we need to find an adequate front pair. One that includes pace and power.

Mousset could become indispensable.

 

[Boxer Blade]

So if I'm understanding this right, if we are two nil up with 65% possession and playing well and Knill suddenly realises we don't have a new signing on the pitch he has to mention it to Wilder so he can change it, have I got that right?

 

[Sheffsteel]

Freeman has to play, McGoldrick misses too many sitters to play.

Gotta drop McGoldrick for the Moose, and one of Fleck or Lundstram for Freeman. Gotta be Lundstram, which may be harsh, but Norwood is too good a passer and Fleck has a touch more quality than Lunny.

You’ve chosen players that are better in possession but the players you’ve dropped are much better out of possession.
So there’s a risk, those players might help us score more but they’re also more likely for us to concede more.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

You’ve chosen players that are better in possession but the players you’ve dropped are much better out of possession.
So there’s a risk, those players might help us score more but they’re also more likely for us to concede more.

Lundstram played virtually no role last year in a team that finished with the best defensive record.

 

[ChemEngBlade]

When Southampton scored we didn’t have a single new signing on the pitch.

After spending £45m, surely we shouldn’t be in a situation where none of them are on the pitch? So is Wilder being too loyal?

I agree with this to a point. Heard his interview after the game after one lady beforehand made a dig at McGoldrick to which he replied 'heard the last person commenting about McGoldrick, on a free from Ipswich'. Which made me think whilst yes, Didsy on a free is an excellent piece of business, given his workrate and if you want to argue about it as a piece of business is possibly better than £18mil for McBurnie or £10mil for Moussett (might be wrong there on the figure), but to a degree, what does it matter?
Value for money doesn't score goals, players that can finish do. Yes Didsy's play in the midfield area is great, but on the break that can leave us with just one striker upfront to aim for. He get away with it to a degree because we often rely on getting the ball wide and working into a crossing area which affords him time to get back up the pitch, but we have guys in midfield that can spread the ball for him. I'd much rather see him looking to get the ball from midfield with his back to goal, looking to link up with people in front of him.
McBurnie & Moussett need to start for me. Moussett is always the quickest on the pitch, so we may as well exploit his pace

 

[JimmyMuir94]

When Southampton scored we didn’t have a single new signing on the pitch.

After spending £45m, surely we shouldn’t be in a situation where none of them are on the pitch? So is Wilder being too loyal?

Norwich winning Man City 3-1 with the side they got promoted with. We just had a bad day.

 

[Espania blade]

Lundstram played virtually no role last year in a team that finished with the best defensive record.

That's because Joc and Egan are struggling or has nobody noticed ? Lunny is there to protect them and deserves his place.
We need another creative player in midfield and strikers that can actually score once in a while.

I think we need to go 442 with some quality rather than loyalty - but have we got the quality - i'm not convinced yet

 

[A Storm of Blades]

That's because Joc and Egan are struggling or has nobody noticed ? Lunny is there to protect them and deserves his place.
We need another creative player in midfield and strikers that can actually score once in a while.

I think we need to go 442 with some quality rather than loyalty - but have we got the quality - i'm not convinced yet

But why was he deemed not good enough to protect the defence last year, but now a starter? Look, I’m frustrated because we aren’t playing the system, and personnel profile that got us promoted.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Duffy gone and formation tweaked has meant we've required something a bit different from the strikers. Not being supported by a number 10, they've been asked to create more for themselves and play a bigger role in our attacking play. Hence we've not thought we could afford a poacher (Sharp) starting.

Still we've needed to maintain our momentum and general playing style from last season, so McGoldrick has remained central. Gradually we may be looking to play two from McBurnie, Mousset and Robinson, but they're all new to the club and it's a big ask for them to be our main men when it comes to scoring goals and making our attacking play really work. Unlike Norwich who got promoted with younger, more mobile front players, we've had to make changes and are still waiting on things to really click up front.

 

[YES Blade]

Norwich winning Man City 3-1 with the side they got promoted with. We just had a bad day.

The difference is they haven’t spent £45m on players and they won, we lost.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Flecks inclusion was like having a new player in the first half. He was fresh and had a bit of “zip” to his play. But unfortunately he was far too predictable with his passing and didn’t really offer much in the second half. Really thought we missed Freeman’s dynamic energy in the middle. But you have give credit to Soton, they didn’t give us the time and space to play. We got hemmed in quite a lot and struggled to find our own players at times.

 

[Newbury Blade]

Felt like the substitutions were wrong again

“Again”? Did you not hear we drew at Bournemouth and Chelsea?

 

[Ricky]

Wilder seems pretty insecure about tactics. Couple of times on MOTD he's been quick to say 'nothing to do with tactics or shape' as if to cover his own back.

Might need to not worry and overthink things. I'd hate to think we're on a slippery slope to replicating our scared approach last time in the PL.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Wilder seems pretty insecure about tactics. Couple of times on MOTD he's been quick to say 'nothing to do with tactics or shape' as if to cover his own back.

Might need to not worry and overthink things. I'd hate to think we're on a slippery slope to replicating our scared approach last time in the PL.

I've noticed that and , worryingly , it is very reminiscent of both Bassett and Warnock when things didn't go well for them . Whilst both of them achieved great things for us given the circumstances , both were equally quick to deny responsibility for any failures and look for other reasons for any shortcomings .

For me , and in spite of a couple of decent results , the experiment of playing a flat midfield three and having players up front who are not natural goal scorers is not working and , unless and until this is addressed , things could start to go down hill very rapidly .

 

[RavBlade]

I did see poor finishing on several occasions from him, opting to pass backwards when there were good forward options available, poor crosses and the usual misplaced passes.

Not sure what I didn’t see. I’ll check the specsavers prescription, make sure the specs are heavily rose tinted next time.

Try boots you get free ones.

 

[Punk Blade]

they've been asked to create more for themselves and play a bigger role in our attacking play. Hence we've not thought we could afford a poacher (Sharp) starting.

Sharp was our most creative player today, in just 15 minutes he made three or four of our best chances.

 

[RavBlade]

Sharp was our most creative player today, in just 15 minutes he made three or four of our best chances.

Its called having a brain.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

I've noticed that and , worryingly , it is very reminiscent of both Bassett and Warnock when things didn't go well for them . Whilst both of them achieved great things for us given the circumstances , both were equally quick to deny responsibility for any failures and look for other reasons for any shortcomings .

For me , and in spite of a couple of decent results , the experiment of playing a flat midfield three and having players up front who are not natural goal scorers is not working and , unless and until this is addressed , things could start to go down hill very rapidly .

Yep, agree with that. The flat 3 experiment failed last year so it’s baffling why we’ve reverted to it.