Change in Style of Play

[JayGreen17]

Are we becoming a more direct team, I know we’re known to mix it up but since Christmas and following the more trickier games we seem to have increased the longer balls, especially crossfield and down the channels. We turned over possession far to easily last night and also against B’mouth, we need to be a bit more patient and probe like we used to.

I’d like to see us dominate midfield more and against the teams in the bottom half adapt an approach of how we played last season now we’re safe.

I know some will say don’t change what’s not broke but we aren’t creating the chances that we have done and this is leading to a lack of goals and naturally form of the strikers.

 

[Working Class Hero]

We definitely have become more direct since around Christmas. Personally I think it coincides with McBurnie playing more and McGoldrick playing less. It hasn't really affected results though, so I don't see it as anything to massively worry about, I'd just rather it didn't happen.

 

[Bladesman]

We cannot play the same way every match.

I don't mind being a bit more direct as long as someone is running the channels and getting on the ball.

 

[Ricky]

We'll be like peak Stoke City this time next season.

I expect a summer of recruiting big strong African lads who can run about a lot.

 

[Geordie Blade]

I think that the game in general changes subtly in the second half of the season. Not just because of weather, but because of player fatigue/fitness and because opposition teams under pressure (going promotion/relegation) start to play a tighter game. We've seen it before under Wilder:

2016/17: Brought in Hanson, went more direct in some games. Result: went on a great run and got promoted.
2017/18: Carried on as normal. Result: season went off the boil and finished tenth.
2018/29: Brought in Madine, went more direct in some games. Result: went on a great run and got promoted.
2019/20: Gone more direct in some games. Result: ?

 

[raimond]

In fairness, yep McBurnie rather than McGoldrick has an effect (as does looking for Moose's pace in the channels) but I'm not sure it's an actual tactic.

It's been a stop/start couple of months hasn't it really?? Enforced weeks off, played the best teams in the league, then cup games with different sides out, new signings to bed in, and some freakish weather. We've played 2 or 3 in genuine gales which of course affects how you play.

Decent results still. I'm sure now we've got a proper run at it (refreshed) we'll settle down again into our normal way of things

 

[Davalon]

We need to be able to mix it up but it's clear we would struggle to dominate possession this season like we have in previous under WIlder.

We've actually done better at times in certain games than I expected.

As much as we're loving this season and rightly heaping praise on all concerned, we also need to be realistic about what we have and what we need to stay where we are, let alone progress.

Our defence has been outstanding but a couple of injuries and our lack of goals could have created a problem.

 

[Akinbiyi]

I've thought this but not said anything

Gone are the cute fast triangles, we now just prefer to launch it and pick up the titbits. It doesn't suit us and doesn't suit McBurnie or Sharp, either.

 

[SwissBlade]

Are we becoming a more direct team, I know we’re known to mix it up but since Christmas and following the more trickier games we seem to have increased the longer balls, especially crossfield and down the channels. We turned over possession far to easily last night and also against B’mouth, we need to be a bit more patient and probe like we used to.

I’d like to see us dominate midfield more and against the teams in the bottom half adapt an approach of how we played last season now we’re safe.

I know some will say don’t change what’s not broke but we aren’t creating the chances that we have done and this is leading to a lack of goals and naturally form of the strikers.

We mix it up.

 

[Houston_Blade]

It's been a forced change, teams don't just play their game against us anymore. We found this in the Championship last season so it shouldn't be a surprise.

 

[Cheesebored]

I've thought this but not said anything

Gone are the cute fast triangles, we now just prefer to launch it and pick up the titbits. It doesn't suit us and doesn't suit McBurnie or Sharp, either.

Agree. We're not as easy on the eye as we were but as already stated it seemed to coincide with Mcgoldricks absence. However, I reckon we overdo it sometimes with the triangles and overloads. The forwards must get fed up making runs and the ball never getting delivered. Performances haven't been as fluid but we've still been getting the results. It's a conundrum for Wilder to sort out, which I'm sure he will.

 

[BushBlade]

It's been a forced change, teams don't just play their game against us anymore. We found this in the Championship last season so it shouldn't be a surprise.

I think people forget why managers like Bassett played long ball football. It wasn’t because he liked it, it was because it was the best way to achieve and retain top level football on a very limited budget.
We’ve still got one of the lowest budgets in the league and it’s unrealistic to expect us to outfootball every other side, particularly the teams that aren’t full of effete wankers. We haven’t got Man City or Liverpool’s players so we can’t play like them every week. If supporters want us to play pretty football all the time, fine but don’t moan when we’re down at the bottom of the league with Brighton and Norwich.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I've thought this but not said anything

Gone are the cute fast triangles, we now just prefer to launch it and pick up the titbits. It doesn't suit us and doesn't suit McBurnie or Sharp, either.

Bash made a run down the right wing in extra time and picked up a nice pass to take it to the byline and cross, it felt like it was our first attempt to so.

 

[Beans]

I've thought this but not said anything

Gone are the cute fast triangles, we now just prefer to launch it and pick up the titbits. It doesn't suit us and doesn't suit McBurnie or Sharp, either.

It might not suit us but it's effective. Since Jan 1st we've played 7 games and got 11 points (1.57ppg) - and two of those games were against City and Liverpool. Up to that point we had 29 from 20 (1.45ppg).

 

[finlaytheblade]

Bash made a run down the right wing in extra time and picked up a nice pass to take it to the byline and cross, it felt like it was our first attempt to so.

Teams have been watching us and are trying to lay traps to catch us out of position .
We are not pushing as often down the wings and so keeping a better shape.
Our games are less entertaining but still very interesting as the fear factor in the premiership is far greater with what's at stake.
Our game is evolving as it had to and will continue as air quality gets better.

 

[lakedistblade]

Our fast runs down the wing and dangerous early low balls across the box seem to have dried up. Instead we are punting high crosses to the penalty spot which defenders are eating for breakfast. Definitely not playing like a top half team right now

 

[JayGreen17]

I think that the game in general changes subtly in the second half of the season. Not just because of weather, but because of player fatigue/fitness and because opposition teams under pressure (going promotion/relegation) start to play a tighter game. We've seen it before under Wilder:

2016/17: Brought in Hanson, went more direct in some games. Result: went on a great run and got promoted.
2017/18: Carried on as normal. Result: season went off the boil and finished tenth.
2018/29: Brought in Madine, went more direct in some games. Result: went on a great run and got promoted.
2019/20: Gone more direct in some games. Result: ?

I get what you’re saying but the prem is a different animal and you can’t turn over possession as much in it without getting punished.

 

[PokerBlade]

We definitely have become more direct since around Christmas. Personally I think it coincides with McBurnie playing more and McGoldrick playing less. It hasn't really affected results though, so I don't see it as anything to massively worry about, I'd just rather it didn't happen.

This. Partly we've been forced though. Some of the games have been extremely hard. I don't want to see us going more direct but there's a positive to it which is we are an extremely well rounded side when at full strength. We can scrap it out when we need to and we knock it about as well as most when the opportunity's there.

 

[dc_blade]

Our fast runs down the wing and dangerous early low balls across the box seem to have dried up. Instead we are punting high crosses to the penalty spot which defenders are eating for breakfast. Definitely not playing like a top half team right now

Besides the fact that we were unbeaten in the league in February, have only lost to Man City and Liverpool in 2020, and are still picking up about 1.5 points per game, all of which suggests we’re playing very much like a top half team.

I think there’s an interesting discussion to be had about our change of style but let’s try and keep it based in reality.

 

[Iceybabey]

I think that the game in general changes subtly in the second half of the season. Not just because of weather, but because of player fatigue/fitness and because opposition teams under pressure (going promotion/relegation) start to play a tighter game. We've seen it before under Wilder:

2016/17: Brought in Hanson, went more direct in some games. Result: went on a great run and got promoted.
2017/18: Carried on as normal. Result: season went off the boil and finished tenth.
2018/29: Brought in Madine, went more direct in some games. Result: went on a great run and got promoted.
2019/20: Gone more direct in some games. Result: ?

This

 

[Sheffsteel]

Are we becoming a more direct team, I know we’re known to mix it up but since Christmas and following the more trickier games we seem to have increased the longer balls, especially crossfield and down the channels. We turned over possession far to easily last night and also against B’mouth, we need to be a bit more patient and probe like we used to.

I’d like to see us dominate midfield more and against the teams in the bottom half adapt an approach of how we played last season now we’re safe.

Agree.....we don’t pass it around as much without McGoldrick.....he’s a great link player with intelligence....shame he struggled to score.

McBurnie is more physical and great at flick ons.....it’s a,ways tempting just to pump it in the air towards him.
Mouset has pace....so when the opposition are upfield it’s so tempting to pump it long for Mouset to run on to.

Its ironic that we look better with McGoldrick but it’s not always effective.
Against some teams the more industrial long balls provided by Norwood is proving an effective weapon.

 

[bypassblade]

Yes we may have gone a bit more direct when McBurnie plays but in all honesty name me 1 PL club that doesn't play the long ball, okay when they do it it's called cultured long pass. Norwood is a great exponent of the long pass not ball, but a precision pass as is Fleck on occasions we do happen to play some lovely interplay if people take time to notice.

Moose holds the ball well and runs at players using his speed, whereas McBurnie is a beast that would run through a brick wall I'd love to see us give some team a real tonking before season ends. If you watch Didzy he's a very intelligent player who holds the ball up well, he may not have scored many but has contributed greatly this season.

 

[Ridgeway Blade]

A number of teams have pressed our midfield reasonably high and we haven't always had that midfield dominance. The long passes cut out the higher midfield of the opposition and hopefully find space behind for fowards to run on to. Now we have some pace up front it a reasonable tactic, plan B whatever you want to call it. Frequent overloads from the back mean there is more chance of us getting caught on the break and a lot of Prem teams have the players to take advantage of that. It is great that we have alternatives both in tactics and a strong enough bench to switch personnel to suit. The subs now are potential game changers as well.

 

[Silent Blade]

It is difficult to play passing football in March and April when pitches are bobbly and unpredictable after the winter months.

 

[SUFCinks]

I've noticed this as well. it's not even balanced 50/50 either ATM it is balanced massively in favour of hoofing it. I get that sometimes it has it advantages but it's a shit tactic that 1/2 times wastes possession and in turn invites further pression on us. It's a bit of snowball effect because the more time you spend out of possession in a game the more uncomfortable they are on the ball when they get it back after chasing it down, which means more paniced clearances and shit hoofs.

It's a bad habbit that we should be trying to coach out of the players. It wasnt part of our 'dna' coming through the leagues and earlier on in the season we adapted a balanced approach to it which worked wonders. The last few games have been frustrating to watch and painfully hoofy.

Reading yesterday showed the greater technical ability on the ball and looked a lot more comfortable in possesion playing neat 1-2s and driving with the ball. I personally thought we looked like the championship team in possession - very basic.

In summary - i hate it, once we are safe (another 6/7 points) we should be looking to instill confidence on the ball and revert to attacking fluid footy.

 

[Swannyblade]

Have we seen a combination of Didzy and McBurnie together yet...would we find a happy medium with this combo?

 

[Roygbiv]

Have we seen a combination of Didzy and McBurnie together yet...would we find a happy medium with this combo?

Yeah we have and it doesn't really seem to work as they both drop deep. That said I think we have won both games they have started together against Brighton and West Ham.

 

[Swannyblade]

Yeah we have and it doesn't really seem to work as they both drop deep. That said I think we have won both games they have started together against Brighton and West Ham.

Hmm, I take back that idea then!

God, I wish Moose had consistency, 90mins in his legs and that Didzy was 5 years younger

 

[SB_90]

I've thought this but not said anything

Gone are the cute fast triangles, we now just prefer to launch it and pick up the titbits. It doesn't suit us and doesn't suit McBurnie or Sharp, either.

yeah ive seen this for a few months & really infurtaite me yesterday, you get nothing but bringing sustained pressure on yourself. by lumping back to opposition. we a team transformed 70mins in when we finally got on ground played football

but is this the players taking the easy choice or is this wilder

 

[JackSUFC]

2018/29: Brought in Madine, went more direct in some games. Result: went on a great run and got promoted.

Exactly. After the 3-3 at Villa we went more direct and the emphasis seemed to be on being defensively solid to get us over the line. I like the fact we were able to adapt and mix it up style wise.