The narrative has to change

[Jan Age]

I agree - teams look to their leader especially in times of struggle.

Infact if you spend anytime around any team in any area who have had a manager for a sustained period and observe their performance and behaviour then you can usually describe the leader without actually meeting that person.

If your leader constantly makes excuses for under perforamnce than naturally the team will not feel the same level of accountability.

We saw this with: Clough; "you start with a point" and also Adkins.

We now have "we can't go toe to toe with big teams" "we are million miles away from them" "anyone who thinks we can match them wants their heads checking" and my personal favorite "they have spent 7 of the last 10 seasons in the prem"

If you are a player listening to that week in week out then what mindset are you going to approach most games, training sessions etc?

The most recent statement of our season wont be defined by playing the teams we have played in the first 10 games - smacks of desperation.

Should we have just forfeited the first 10 games then?

Like others have said the narrative has changed so much compared to the last 4 seasons it is shocking.

It is easy to lead a team when the going is good but a real test of leadership is when the chips are down and at the minute - for me - CW is failing miserably.

He has worked wonders for us over the last 4 years with his approach and mindset so why change? - perhaps he needs to work with a coach right now to help him reflect and realign with the principles that have taken him, his players and us on such an epic journey.

 

[1987]

I think I am in a small minority who do not recognize this huge shift in approach / mindset that's being suggested. For me, we're just not playing that well because;

• We've lost strong players from last season
• The replacements aren't as good, or haven't form yet (this might be where criticism is fair)
• We've had a particularly tough run of fixtures.

I think any change in approach by Wilder (other than him sounding softer on the players, which for me is understandable) is being enormously overthought and exaggerated.

Its a marked change I think (thinking back to last season, he was a lot more bullish post match), but I don't think it's affecting performances. I'm more in line with those reasons you suggest, with a focus on the left side, which has been decimated.

None of us know what's going on/ what he's saying to the team behind closed doors, which is where it matters. The players will know what he expects, and I don't for a second think he's been preaching apathy to them.

With the growing negative feeling around here, it's hardly surprising that he isn't instigating a pile on at the minute.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

I'm also surprised it's taking Bristol so long to join the big league.

There's a tap-in there for someone

 

[S40BLADE]

I have seen at most one or two people suggest a change in management and I think people are blowing this viewpoint majorly out of proportion. I do think however that this season is as good as done and I’m hoping we go back to a attractive and entertaining brand of football again next season instead of this overly rigid unconfident play-style that our mostly poor recruitment has forced us into.

 

[alcoblade]

Its a marked change I think (thinking back to last season, he was a lot more bullish post match), but I don't think it's affecting performances. I'm more in line with those reasons you suggest, with a focus on the left side, which has been decimated.

None of us know what's going on/ what he's saying to the team behind closed doors, which is where it matters. The players will know what he expects, and I don't for a second think he's been preaching apathy to them.

With the growing negative feeling around here, it's hardly surprising that he isn't instigating a pile on at the minute.

I agree in the shift in his language of late. I don’t get why so many put so much emphasis on it.

There will be a bit of psychology wrapped up in it, a bit of emotion, and a bit of random noise. Too many people over analyse these interviews, IMO.

 

[frechyblade]

What we don't know is what the narrative is in the dressing room and during the week in training. CW maybe using the media to portray a certain narrative but behind closed doors with the squad and management team he may be delivering a very different message.
I am right behind him and would back him to the hilt. I can't think of anyone else that I would like to be managing my club right now. Things may get more difficult this season and we might even get relegated. This still wouldn't be a reason to sack him yet.
If this had been our start last season would we have the dissent we do from some quarters?
In my opinion survival was our target last year, as it is this year. We aren't cut adrift just yet.
It is fascinating to see peoples views and opinions and I am not saying anyone else opinion isn't valid I just don't agree with some that think CW needs to go.
UTB

 

[Come from away]

I disagree that Wilder is being defensive but rather he is being realistic recognizing the weakness down the left side of his team - we cannot attack and defend as before against the better teams. Until we get our players back or a new LCB we need to cut our cloth to suit the opposition.

 

[BushBlade]

I think people who refer to press conferences as a ‘narrative’ are in danger of being mistaken for middle managers who like to use buzz words. I’m just running the idea up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes it. Reach out to me and we can touch base later.

 

[Bladeulike]

I think people who refer to press conferences as a ‘narrative’ are in danger of being mistaken for middle managers who like to use buzz words. I’m just running the idea up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes it. Reach out to me and we can touch base later.

Really, I mean really? You infer a management status on someone you don’t know, assign trite phrases that weren’t actually used and imply a pretentious tone all because you take exception to a commonly used and entirely fit for purpose single word like ‘narrative’? Not only that you take the time and trouble to actually post about it on a thread that has been otherwise interesting, well debated and non-controversial? Unbelievable.

 

[BushBlade]

Really, I mean really? You infer a management status on someone you don’t know, assign trite phrases that weren’t actually used and imply a pretentious tone all because you take exception to a commonly used and entirely fit for purpose single word like ‘narrative’? Not only that you take the time and trouble to actually post about it on a thread that has been otherwise interesting, well debated and non-controversial? Unbelievable.

Only a joke mate.

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

It's easy to support a winning team, that's obviously why the big six have so many supporters, It's never been easy supporting United because just when you think we've cracked it WHAM !!! we hit a bump in the road and it's panic stations all-round.
I've got faith in the man, there's a long way to go yet and he's never let us down.

So lets not let him down....

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

To me, the narrative still needs to shift. It's affecting Wilder's stance on things.

He needs to get back to what he's good at.

We saw in the opening stages against West Ham the side trying to get back to what they're good at, but confidence is fragile, it's easily knocked and it'll take time to rebuild. But because Wilder's confidence is knocked too, his tolerance is lower, he's quicker to revert back to defensiveness - it's what pundits refer to as his "head's gone". It hasn't, he's just struggling - the whole squad are, as are we.

It's short sighted and simplistic to call for a drastic course of action, when the squad can instead go back to basics and refocusing on what they think they're about, when they're at their best. Refocus on that stuff, try to do that stuff, but accept that it won't always work because we're in the hardest league in the world.

 

[Mumbo]

To me, the narrative still needs to shift. It's affecting Wilder's stance on things.

He needs to get back to what he's good at.

We saw in the opening stages against West Ham the side trying to get back to what they're good at, but confidence is fragile, it's easily knocked and it'll take time to rebuild. But because Wilder's confidence is knocked too, his tolerance is lower, he's quicker to revert back to defensiveness - it's what pundits refer to as his "head's gone". It hasn't, he's just struggling - the whole squad are, as are we.

It's short sighted and simplistic to call for a drastic course of action, when the squad can instead go back to basics and refocusing on what they think they're about, when they're at their best. Refocus on that stuff, try to do that stuff, but accept that it won't always work because we're in the hardest league in the world.View attachment 98839

 

[DronnieBlade]

To me, the narrative still needs to shift. It's affecting Wilder's stance on things.

He needs to get back to what he's good at.

We saw in the opening stages against West Ham the side trying to get back to what they're good at, but confidence is fragile, it's easily knocked and it'll take time to rebuild. But because Wilder's confidence is knocked too, his tolerance is lower, he's quicker to revert back to defensiveness - it's what pundits refer to as his "head's gone". It hasn't, he's just struggling - the whole squad are, as are we.

It's short sighted and simplistic to call for a drastic course of action, when the squad can instead go back to basics and refocusing on what they think they're about, when they're at their best. Refocus on that stuff, try to do that stuff, but accept that it won't always work because we're in the hardest league in the world.View attachment 98839

Think you will start to see this coming through.

Our players are all now “Premier League” players which is a definite swing shift in emphasis from the gaffer.

I take this to be that he has realised his mistake in portraying them in recent weeks as over achieving L1 / Championship players.

Let’s hope it’s not too late !!!

UTB

 

[Houston_Blade]

I think people who refer to press conferences as a ‘narrative’ are in danger of being mistaken for middle managers who like to use buzz words. I’m just running the idea up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes it. Reach out to me and we can touch base later.

I bet the response would start with "So............."