The problem with our current success...

[BushBlade]

Even though I agree with you, I think it's such a crazy approach. Football is about results. If you're not getting them, trouble begins. Teams don't make their predicted positions in the league, miss out on money, players move on to clubs with more ambition and the downward spiral begins. The downward spiral is now far far harsher than it used to be. Look at Portsmouth, Sunderland, Bolton etc.,

Why teams would believe they have better things to do than prepare for the only thing that matters - the football match is really beyond me.

Because, as the Tea Lady said, they’ve got a week at most. Before that, they’re preparing for a previous game. A week’s preparation is not always enough.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

The biggest problem will be the comment 'we expect more'. It's easy to enjoy it if we expect to be beaten. Like against Liverpool next week, we expect nothing, so can enjoy the game. The pressure is off. It turns around when we are expected to do well.

Having said that Wilder is so good, im sure we will be ok. The bigger danger is when Wilder realises he is too good for us and leaves.

Sir Clive Woodward is on tele now and is called Sir because he took union tatics to another level.

Sir Christopher Wilder will sound nice, lets hope it arrives quicker than Sir Geoff did.

 

[Mumbo]

This forum not so long ago was full of people saying things like “We can’t defend” I know cos I was one of them
but we quickly went from a team that couldn’t defend to having the best defence in the league.
What I’m getting at is that Wilder is a quick learner,he adapts quicker than his peers and it doesn’t matter what other managers or pundits think they know
about our system because the blades under Wilder will always be a work in progress.

 

[Mumbo]

That's why I'm worried about our underdog mentality changing. If we get used to our current success and cement our status in the Premier League, our expectations and more importantly, the expectations of the owner (and whoever he brings in to fund our progression) - may change. And Wilder become a victim of our constant progression.

I don't think that will happen but thats the only circumstance I can envision where Wilder would leave.

As for success: Long term success in my eyes is creating a sustainable, profitable, global PL football club but retaining the values and identity the club has. If the Prince improves the stadium, academy and provides the funds CW needs - looks like it's on its way to happening.

I don’t think there’s any chance of us being up our own arses like half the fans in the premier league or for that matter
like the Massive at S6,not while CW makes humble and honest appraisals like after the game yesterday.
I’m enjoying every minute of the premier league,even after losing at home I’ll never be as down as losing at the Lane to Burton with Madkins in charge.
Most of us on here have been through too much to take owt for granted and CW will ensure every player stays grounded no matter what heights his leadership
takes us too.

 

[SMFblade]

Because, as the Tea Lady said, they’ve got a week at most. Before that, they’re preparing for a previous game. A week’s preparation is not always enough.

It seems to be enough for us.

 

[SwissBlade]

As the weeks go on, pundits are getting more accurate in their analysis and comment and the Roygbiv 'view from' get's less about our lucky, direct, hard-working and basic football and more about how we are able to stifle teams who have superstars, but no real structure, tactical leadership or gameplan. One of my favourite moments in the week is reading the Friday pre-match view. Being the underdog fires me up and judging from the comments on the forum - it does for a lot of you.

I've been a fan since I was a kid. My first game was in 1992 and I've never really seen us play great football. Like a lot of you I've spent rainy Tuesday nights at Gigg Lane, Vale Park, and endured too many play-offs and off field dramas. I've always considered us the underdogs who are usually hard done by. If it can go wrong, it will.

But what happens now things are changing?

1) Other managers start to realise the reason their teams don't play well against us, is because of US not them? Send scouts, do their preparation and figure out ways to deal with our rigid defensive systems?
2) Other managers create systems to deal with our 'overlapping centre-backs' or even copy it and it becomes a norm of the game?
3) We begin to expect more - one day we won't be the underdogs.

My fear is that the more the pundits, other managers and teams come around to the way we play and understand it's intricacies - the harder time we are going to have and we then will see just how good Chris Wilder is. I just hope it's not this season because if teams do switch on - we could have a hellish time January onwards. If we are very successful and continue adapting and out-foxing the teams and managers in the best league in the world - can we keep hold of Wilder?

These aren't urgent points but I hope that the club can see that if we continue the way we are going, we won't be underdogs for long. Until then, I'm enjoying the ride, putting my faith in CWAK and remaining optimistic about the Prince and his vision forward.

UTB

If Marco Silva watched us away at Chelsea, then home to Southampton, it would almost have been a pointless exercise to understand the formation and tactics.

If he wanted to understand how we attacked and moved the ball he'd have seen Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Didsy and Freeman all playing the ball to R and L wing backs attacking the opposition weaknesses and to a greater extent, a much higher press at home to Saints than for 2/3rds of the game against Chelsea.

The way we played yesterday was just right, despite what Wilder says about us with the ball, i thought that the organisation was excellent.

I don't see that we will play that way against Liverpool, sitting so deep against an attacking side with such clinical strikers would be a bit daft, but so would going all out...

I honestly have no idea how we'll set up against Liverpool

 

[Eddiecolquhounsleg]

The blades are the new Borg of the premier league, always adapting to get throught the defensive shields of our opponents....
"Resistance is futile..."

Dead right

 

[GrayBlade]

Brighton are currently doing this, both Webster and DAN BURN are both playing as advanced centre backs, getting into crossing areas similar to bash and JOC.

I was going to say that Graham Potter probably picked up on our style when playing against us last season, but he did the double over us with Swansea and we were poor both games so I wouldn’t think he was too impressed. You’re right about Brighton although having watched their extended highlights a couple of times, Burn and Webster aren’t a patch on our lads at going forward. They looked what they are to me, centre backs getting a nose-bleed, I think if we’d have signed one of them like we tried to they have played in the Egan role.

 

[BushBlade]

It seems to be enough for us.

We’re not having to prepare to play against us though. In the main, we’re preparing against teams who play quite similarly. And it didn’t seem enough last week.

 

[Bartleby]

2) Other managers create systems to deal with our 'overlapping centre-backs' or even copy it and it becomes a norm of the game?

One big advantage we have if they did try to copy it is that we've had a lot more practice at it, having already been doing it for 3 years (though I guess the counter to that is we've had less practice at playing against it)

 

[KeyffSmyff]

But we haven't really had a game yet where they have seen us play our brand of attacking football for more than a few minutes. Great to see the Moose and huge credit to CWAK for getting him working into the team and giving us another different type of outlet. Makes me salivate for when Rav is ready.

 

[Stevo]

As the weeks go on, pundits are getting more accurate in their analysis and comment and the Roygbiv 'view from' get's less about our lucky, direct, hard-working and basic football and more about how we are able to stifle teams who have superstars, but no real structure, tactical leadership or gameplan. One of my favourite moments in the week is reading the Friday pre-match view. Being the underdog fires me up and judging from the comments on the forum - it does for a lot of you.

I've been a fan since I was a kid. My first game was in 1992 and I've never really seen us play great football. Like a lot of you I've spent rainy Tuesday nights at Gigg Lane, Vale Park, and endured too many play-offs and off field dramas. I've always considered us the underdogs who are usually hard done by. If it can go wrong, it will.

But what happens now things are changing?

1) Other managers start to realise the reason their teams don't play well against us, is because of US not them? Send scouts, do their preparation and figure out ways to deal with our rigid defensive systems?
2) Other managers create systems to deal with our 'overlapping centre-backs' or even copy it and it becomes a norm of the game?
3) We begin to expect more - one day we won't be the underdogs.

My fear is that the more the pundits, other managers and teams come around to the way we play and understand it's intricacies - the harder time we are going to have and we then will see just how good Chris Wilder is. I just hope it's not this season because if teams do switch on - we could have a hellish time January onwards. If we are very successful and continue adapting and out-foxing the teams and managers in the best league in the world - can we keep hold of Wilder?

These aren't urgent points but I hope that the club can see that if we continue the way we are going, we won't be underdogs for long. Until then, I'm enjoying the ride, putting my faith in CWAK and remaining optimistic about the Prince and his vision forward.

UTB

The way we play isn't new,and is now no surprise,the reason we are not getting found out is that Chris has a group of players that fight to wear the shirt,this along with his ms knills tactical nouse is why we are where we are,granted we will struggle against the power houses but our belief, spirit .and quality will see us safe this season

 

[Luke1993]

I was going to say that Graham Potter probably picked up on our style when playing against us last season, but he did the double over us with Swansea and we were poor both games so I wouldn’t think he was too impressed. You’re right about Brighton although having watched their extended highlights a couple of times, Burn and Webster aren’t a patch on our lads at going forward. They looked what they are to me, centre backs getting a nose-bleed, I think if we’d have signed one of them like we tried to they have played in the Egan role.

I agree about burn, but Webster looks very accomplished on the ball.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

However long we remain in this league. I’d would always prefer to get under the skin of the bigger clubs than be condescending to smaller or newly promoted clubs.

 

[finlaytheblade]

I take your point, other teams will begin to understand us more etc, but we faced the same challenges in the championship. Second season was when we should in theory have struggled?
I'm pretty sure we are already playing a plan B, like yesterday, and in CWAK, we have two extremely inventive coaches, and plan C will be along sometime soon. Its all in front of us and all to look forward to.

It's not so simple as teams knowing how we play .we have improved season on season as our results show.Yes we do tweak the system but we are far more difficult to beat now .
Looking at the team that took the 1st division compared to now and the biggest change is quality which Wilder & Knill have gradually brought in.We have the nucleus of the team from 3 years ago but added quality in all areas .That is the key and has to continue to progress for us to get better.
The evolution has to continue and who knows what Wilder can achieve.
He did say a while ago he could achieve all he wants at the lane !.Let's hope he still feels the same way . Could be exciting times if so.

 

[steve26272]

Each year as we progress we will play the same system but with better players, that’s how we have evolved.
The question is whether we can find lads that will give everything as they are playing up for Sheffield United. Ericksen at Spurs is technically better than Norwood, but would he do the hard miles? Rat face Vardy is an accomplished stricker, but only likes running forward.
Can we attract a better class of player but one who still has the desire to make it, rather than think they already have made it and we’re privileged they play for us rather than the other way round

 

[moDtheGod]

But we haven't really had a game yet where they have seen us play our brand of attacking football for more than a few minutes.

Totally agree. The smug hipster twats who've listened to the Tifo podcast and think they know about us and the overlapping centre backs haven't actually seen any of this in action yet. We scored against Leicester from a JOC cross, what else has there been? Hardly anything in truth.

Edit: It wasn't a JOC cross at Leicester. I can't remember who it was against. I think I've made it up!

Absolutely the teams do their homework. But it doesn't appear like they've taken us seriously enough to do it yet.

Why have so many teams changed their normal formation to match us up then? Starting in week 1, with Bournemouth breaking their usual 4 at the back for a back 3?

 

[Edinblade]

I think the op needs to stop worrying, looking for problems. Enjoy what’s happening NOW. Whilst we have CWAK at the helm, it will keep going, of that I’m very confident.
This is the best time for supporting the Blades in modern times. I’ve supported since the John Harris era and for me now is much better and more sustainable.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Chrissie is getting noticed by traditionally trigger happy clubs. Let’s face it how much longer can the hapless Bruce continue at Ncasel? Silva is on the back foot at Neverton, Even the Mancs would be foolish not to look at him when they get fed up of their babyfaced “league 2” manager. If Wilder went now we’d be fucked. That’s why I think he should bring someone like Billy into the inner sanctum and give him a player coach role so when the inevitable happens we can have a certain continuity.

 

[SMFblade]

Why have so many teams changed their normal formation to match us up then? Starting in week 1, with Bournemouth breaking their usual 4 at the back for a back 3?

Good point. Considering most clubs have far more resources than us - they're not that effective ay the preparation.

I think the op needs to stop worrying, looking for problems. Enjoy what’s happening NOW. Whilst we have CWAK at the helm, it will keep going, of that I’m very confident.
This is the best time for supporting the Blades in modern times. I’ve supported since the John Harris era and for me now is much better and more sustainable.

Absolutely agree and am enjoying it so much - I just want it to continue and if thinking about what could go wrong can help us not go wrong - then I will. Also as someone else said above: it's the Blades Mindset

 

[JJFearnley]

Sir Clive Woodward is on tele now and is called Sir because he took union tatics to another level.

Sir Christopher Wilder will sound nice, lets hope it arrives quicker than Sir Geoff did.

Sir Clive Woodward came close to a tactical revolution before the 2003 World Cup. He asked his senior players how many points the team would score if they didn't try to score tries and just instead set up Jonny Wilkinson for drop goals. They reckoned that adding on penalties England would score 30 to 36 points per game against any opposition. Sir Clive asked which teams in world rugby could score 30+ against England. None of them. So, why don't we just play to set up drop goals?

Only England could consider playing this way because no other team had Jonny. You wouldn't even need to get into the 22 to score points. The opposition would have to play goal line defence on your own 10m line to counter it. Then you can just chip over the top. Put them inside their own 22 and then force either a penalty or kick to touch, giving you the ball back well inside their half to try again.

After a long discussion they didn't go with the plan. They could beat every team in the world playing their regular style so didn't need to try this.

England were knocked out in 1999 by 5 drop goals (and 20+ other points) so they idea of the greatest drop goal kicker in the world scoring 6-8 per game and picking up a few penalty goals as well was not unreasonable.

 

[Willglynning]

Remember Farke and Klopp are ex colleagues and good friends.

Unless they played together, I don't think that they actually have ever worked together- Farke joined Dortmund after Klopp had already left.

 

[Sheffsteel]

As the weeks go on, pundits are getting more accurate in their analysis and comment and the Roygbiv 'view from' get's less about our lucky, direct, hard-working and basic football and more about how we are able to stifle teams who have superstars, but no real structure, tactical leadership or gameplan. One of my favourite moments in the week is reading the Friday pre-match view. Being the underdog fires me up and judging from the comments on the forum - it does for a lot of you.

I've been a fan since I was a kid. My first game was in 1992 and I've never really seen us play great football. Like a lot of you I've spent rainy Tuesday nights at Gigg Lane, Vale Park, and endured too many play-offs and off field dramas. I've always considered us the underdogs who are usually hard done by. If it can go wrong, it will.

But what happens now things are changing?

1) Other managers start to realise the reason their teams don't play well against us, is because of US not them? Send scouts, do their preparation and figure out ways to deal with our rigid defensive systems?
2) Other managers create systems to deal with our 'overlapping centre-backs' or even copy it and it becomes a norm of the game?
3) We begin to expect more - one day we won't be the underdogs.

My fear is that the more the pundits, other managers and teams come around to the way we play and understand it's intricacies - the harder time we are going to have and we then will see just how good Chris Wilder is. I just hope it's not this season because if teams do switch on - we could have a hellish time January onwards. If we are very successful and continue adapting and out-foxing the teams and managers in the best league in the world - can we keep hold of Wilder?

These aren't urgent points but I hope that the club can see that if we continue the way we are going, we won't be underdogs for long. Until then, I'm enjoying the ride, putting my faith in CWAK and remaining optimistic about the Prince and his vision forward.

UTB

It’s a bit like deja-vu.......we’ve faced all this in the Championship and close to home with the Wednesday fans.
The accepted logic is “we’ve spent 30 million on players with a pedigree playing at a high level where as you’ve spent 3 million on players with a lower league pedigree. So obviously we have more talent and should win”.

In the past with a team of less talented players we would out battle the opposition and play direct long ball percentage football hoping for the best.
However this SU team are so well drilled and play to a system involving simple pass and move and it tends to outplay opposition teams.
It’s massivley impressive that Wilder can make a team of players consistently out play a team consisting of more technically superior players.

I think of it a bit like going to art school and asking players to paint a picture.
So players have good days and bad days, so the painting can be a master piece or a piece of shit.
However Wilder has his players so well drilled, it’s as though he sneaks them a “painting by numbers” set.
So every single player, even those with average ability, put in (at worse) a decent performance.
Something that hadn’t been mentioned is that our big strength is “consistency” and that’s what ensured our promotion.
Where as a Leeds, Derby, Forest could be brilliant one week and poor the next.
We are the other hand don’t rely on flair or individuality, this means as a team we’re good or very good almost every match.
In my lifetime I’ve never seen a United team be this consistent week in week out.

As I said it’s like asking people (the players) to paint a picture but giving them a paint by numbers set.
So decent results are virtually guaranteed every match....it’s very clever management playing to a formula where everyone knows their precise role.

 

[BushBlade]

Unless they played together, I don't think that they actually have ever worked together- Farke joined Dortmund after Klopp had already left.

I think he’s confusing him with David Wagner.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Unless they played together, I don't think that they actually have ever worked together- Farke joined Dortmund after Klopp had already left.

I’m sure Farke recently said he’d rarely ever spoke to Klopp. Didnt think they knew each other.
I know the ex Huddersfield manager Wagner and Klopp were and are very close, think they were best men at each other’s wedding.

 

[fuerstenberger]

I think he’s confusing him with David Wagner.

I am prone to, what I call memory merges and confusion these days, but this case is not one of those. Farke played for Lippstadt old men against Paderborn's old men, a game in which I also played. That was in 2013 and he spoke, after the game of his friendship with Klopp. I might add he was unpleasant before, during and after the game.