Ok here goes:
Considering that we will not be expected to get any points for the next two games and probably won't with no changes, it is worth trying something else.
1. Drop Ramsdale and try Verrips for the next two games. Granted it wasn't his fault we lost yesterday, however he has not been convincing or reassuring this season so would be good to take him out of the firing line and see if Verrips is as good or any better. Chelsea were ruthless last season in ditching £70 million Kepa for Caberello and it paid off.
2. Start Brewster. Giving him sub appearances here and there doesn't help his form or confidence or get him to gel into the team.
3. Get on the phone to Jack Wilshere's agent with a view if fit to a play-as-you pay deal. A big name player like him could give the squad a boost and he's a different type of player to what we have. The Euros are coming up next summer so he should be fully motivated.
4. Depending on how '1' goes, see if Dean Henderson could come back on loan. It doesn't matter if he's paid twice as much as our next best player, he's worth it and it won't damage squad harmony anymore than continuing to pick Lundstram.
5. Sign some proper scouts that can recommend players outside the Championship and England. Actually be open minded to signing and playing them.
6. Wilder needs someone to advise and help him, and there's no shame in that. Whether a Director of Football, or a new coach to work alongside is the right model who knows, but right now I think some fresh output could be ideal.
7. Read these threads and learn from them:
Tactically outdone | S24SU Forum | Sheffield United Community
The long ball over the top down the middle | S24SU Forum | Sheffield United Community
Spend every single training sessions teaching our players how to shoot from long range, and our defenders how to deal with the long ball over the top.
8. And most controversially, change the system.
Albert Einstein said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Just because we are losing by 1 goal a game rather than 4 doesn't mean we are 'close' to getting it right, we've gained 1 point out of a possible 33 with the way we're playing and to be honest deserve little more than that.
Yes the way we set up has done wonders for us in the past, but that's the point, it's in the past and has little relevance to our current situation and predicament.
Personally I'd go with:
Verrips
Baldock- Basham-Egan- Stevens
Burke/Bogle - Berge- Lundstram - Osborne/Fleck
Brewster- Mc Burnie
Berge is more used to playing in a 2 for Norway and Genk, Bogle might offer something different and productive in tandem with Baldock, likewise Osborne and Stevens on the other side.
9. Tell the players to stop hoofing it up to McBurnie. Occasionally is fine but it's too predictable and not productive most of the time.
10. Be more strategic with substitutions. I can't see there being any rational in bringing Norwood on yesterday for example.
---
This would take some swallowing of pride for Wilder, along with recognition that he has made some mistakes. The bigger mistake is not changing anything. I commented yesterday that I feared he would be too proud to do this which is quite harsh, however the best managers adapt and change.
He did it after the Millwall game in League 1, he will need to do so again now.
Considering that we will not be expected to get any points for the next two games and probably won't with no changes, it is worth trying something else.
1. Drop Ramsdale and try Verrips for the next two games. Granted it wasn't his fault we lost yesterday, however he has not been convincing or reassuring this season so would be good to take him out of the firing line and see if Verrips is as good or any better. Chelsea were ruthless last season in ditching £70 million Kepa for Caberello and it paid off.
2. Start Brewster. Giving him sub appearances here and there doesn't help his form or confidence or get him to gel into the team.
3. Get on the phone to Jack Wilshere's agent with a view if fit to a play-as-you pay deal. A big name player like him could give the squad a boost and he's a different type of player to what we have. The Euros are coming up next summer so he should be fully motivated.
4. Depending on how '1' goes, see if Dean Henderson could come back on loan. It doesn't matter if he's paid twice as much as our next best player, he's worth it and it won't damage squad harmony anymore than continuing to pick Lundstram.
5. Sign some proper scouts that can recommend players outside the Championship and England. Actually be open minded to signing and playing them.
6. Wilder needs someone to advise and help him, and there's no shame in that. Whether a Director of Football, or a new coach to work alongside is the right model who knows, but right now I think some fresh output could be ideal.
7. Read these threads and learn from them:
Tactically outdone | S24SU Forum | Sheffield United Community
The long ball over the top down the middle | S24SU Forum | Sheffield United Community
Spend every single training sessions teaching our players how to shoot from long range, and our defenders how to deal with the long ball over the top.
8. And most controversially, change the system.
Albert Einstein said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Just because we are losing by 1 goal a game rather than 4 doesn't mean we are 'close' to getting it right, we've gained 1 point out of a possible 33 with the way we're playing and to be honest deserve little more than that.
Yes the way we set up has done wonders for us in the past, but that's the point, it's in the past and has little relevance to our current situation and predicament.
Personally I'd go with:
Verrips
Baldock- Basham-Egan- Stevens
Burke/Bogle - Berge- Lundstram - Osborne/Fleck
Brewster- Mc Burnie
Berge is more used to playing in a 2 for Norway and Genk, Bogle might offer something different and productive in tandem with Baldock, likewise Osborne and Stevens on the other side.
9. Tell the players to stop hoofing it up to McBurnie. Occasionally is fine but it's too predictable and not productive most of the time.
10. Be more strategic with substitutions. I can't see there being any rational in bringing Norwood on yesterday for example.
---
This would take some swallowing of pride for Wilder, along with recognition that he has made some mistakes. The bigger mistake is not changing anything. I commented yesterday that I feared he would be too proud to do this which is quite harsh, however the best managers adapt and change.
He did it after the Millwall game in League 1, he will need to do so again now.
