Giving the ball away…..

[Super_Dazzler]

I’m not joining in the meltdown after the second string failed to beat Brum, most of them are not up to the level yet.
However, has anyone else witnessed our team give it away in our own third so many times?
It’s not like it was one player in particular though!!
Even if some of these players won’t be the first names on the team sheet in the future, how come they can’t pass a ball 10 yards?
Is it the problem that there’s no movement? Are the receiving players hiding and not finding space?
Whatever it is, we cannot continue with the same plan. We’re simply going to get pressured into more mistakes and ultimately punished.
Gerrit sorted Selles!! This is a coaching issue.

 

[JohnDenver]

The creative ways we found to turn over the ball in our own third were very entertaining.

Short back passes, standing on the ball, explosive first touches, ambitious threaded balls, standing still and watching, air kicks, missed headers, and best of all, randomly falling over in our own box.

One for the ages that was.

 

[Dkc]

We either tried to play it out from the back and gave the ball away, or Davies punted it long and we lost possession. Okay we had a young side out but I have never seen a game where we gave away possession so much.

 

[SwissBlade]

We either tried to play it out from the back and gave the ball away, or Davies punted it long and we lost possession. Okay we had a young side out but I have never seen a game where we gave away possession so much.

It * probably * wasn't as young as other sides we've put out previously. I was surprised how many first team players player last night. We'll be fucked on Saturday after 60 mins.

 

[SwissBlade]

I’m not joining in the meltdown after the second string failed to beat Brum, most of them are not up to the level yet.
However, has anyone else witnessed our team give it away in our own third so many times?
It’s not like it was one player in particular though!!
Even if some of these players won’t be the first names on the team sheet in the future, how come they can’t pass a ball 10 yards?
Is it the problem that there’s no movement? Are the receiving players hiding and not finding space?
Whatever it is, we cannot continue with the same plan. We’re simply going to get pressured into more mistakes and ultimately punished.
Gerrit sorted Selles!! This is a coaching issue.

It was the same on Saturday, we've gone from a side that values possession to one that can't keep it

 

[Blacksea]

We didn't just give the ball away,we were pressed by Birmingham deep in our own half,most of them are like brick outhouses,we had kids who shat themselves and had no knowledge how to play through a high press.
Most teams will play like this against us,sheer hard work to win the ball and turn it over on the edge of our are,or like BC did,break at speed and play throughout us,we are not up to tactical or technical speed to nullify either,it's just basic football for competent coaches,either set up to stop it happening or go under.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

To be told we can look forward to high energy pressing and quick fluid transitions, had I not known better, I'd have said that we played in blue and embarrassed the opposition with our fitness, strength and composure on the ball!
A changed side in a cup match maybe, but when we did have the current first choice 11 out there on Saturday, well......

 

[Blade58]

We either tried to play it out from the back and gave the ball away, or Davies punted it long and we lost possession. Okay we had a young side out but I have never seen a game where we gave away possession so much.

We have little up top capable of winning a clearance from the GK. For the most part out muscled

Passing out from the back is ok, but often scary. The amount of times we just get away with it is nail biting. I suppose it’s the same with the opposition but we ain’t bothered about them and don’t notice it as much

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

We have little up top capable of winning a clearance from the GK. For the most part out muscled

Passing out from the back is ok, but often scary. The amount of times we just get away with it is nail biting. I suppose it’s the same with the opposition but we ain’t bothered about them and don’t notice it as much

To be fair to Brum, they looked very accomplished at playing it out. We were chasing shadows, but on the odd occasion they looked like they were running out of space/time, they spread it out wide where a willing runner had made an option for them.
They always seemed to have an outlet where we always seemed, well, pretty clueless really!

 

[71Blade]

I’m not joining in the meltdown after the second string failed to beat Brum, most of them are not up to the level yet.
However, has anyone else witnessed our team give it away in our own third so many times?
It’s not like it was one player in particular though!!
Even if some of these players won’t be the first names on the team sheet in the future, how come they can’t pass a ball 10 yards?
Is it the problem that there’s no movement? Are the receiving players hiding and not finding space?
Whatever it is, we cannot continue with the same plan. We’re simply going to get pressured into more mistakes and ultimately punished.
Gerrit sorted Selles!! This is a coaching issue.

We try to press but not doing a great job of it so far when we get the ball we give it away so cheaply. Appreciate new system takes time but the passing of a football to one of your own players it's like we have forgotten what to do. First touch poor second touch is a tackle we look very out of sorts. We were very lucky not to come away with a heavier defeat than Saturday. Alot to do this could get worse alot worse before it gets better.

 

[Bergen Blade]

To be told we can look forward to high energy pressing and quick fluid transitions, had I not known better, I'd have said that we played in blue and embarrassed the opposition with our fitness, strength and composure on the ball!
A changed side in a cup match maybe, but when we did have the current first choice 11 out there on Saturday, well......

We tried to press high, but just couldn't force them into mistakes. Their players were confident and comfortable on the ball, showed some clever movement in getting out of tight spot. Even their goalkeeper was good with his feet.

When this vital element of our play fails, and a kid at centre half give an early goal away it's going to be difficult against a home side and club clearly on the way up.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Our children got pressed by very good professional players. They brought in Tommy Doyle, we brought in Marshy. Their squad is deep and full of quality, ours is thin.

Biggest worry for me is the lack of verticality in the play. We struggled to play decent balls behind their back line, and when we did One in particular couldn't do anything with them.

 

[MartBlade]

I’m not joining in the meltdown after the second string failed to beat Brum, most of them are not up to the level yet.
However, has anyone else witnessed our team give it away in our own third so many times?
It’s not like it was one player in particular though!!
Even if some of these players won’t be the first names on the team sheet in the future, how come they can’t pass a ball 10 yards?
Is it the problem that there’s no movement? Are the receiving players hiding and not finding space?
Whatever it is, we cannot continue with the same plan. We’re simply going to get pressured into more mistakes and ultimately punished.
Gerrit sorted Selles!! This is a coaching issue.

It was embarrassing…. and unfortunately speaks to a lack of confidence creating indecision. The fact that so many of our players looked like frightened rabbits is pretty worrying at this stage.
I still can’t understand what Selles thinks he or the team got out of making so many changes. It was always likely to result in exactly that type of display, which is not helpful in any way.

 

[Blacksea]

There were plenty who laughed when Birmingham paid what they did for Stansfield but he's helped get them back in the Championship and already opened his account this season,we bought Cannon, who's laughing now?

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Our children got pressed by very good professional players.

Ouch! Harsh but fair.

 

[brownblade]

Fair to say it needs to improve. But also fair to say that we need a vaguely Championship level set of defenders to play for us.

 

[Geordie Blade]

It’s what happens when you sell your best ball-playing defender yet try to carry on playing the same way.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Ouch! Harsh but fair.

Didn't mean to be really, Curtis, Dovy, Marsh, Ukaki and One haven't proven themselves to be professional players yet. A very tough gig for them last night.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Didn't mean to be really, Curtis, Dovy, Marsh, Ukaki and One haven't proven themselves to be professional players yet. A very tough gig for them last night.

I agree mate. Men against boys last night. Or men against children if you prefer

 

[Dkc]

Give it time. Remember what it said on the tin.

"Ruben Sellés arrives at Sheffield United not just with a résumé spanning some of Europe’s most diverse football environments, but with a clear, identity-driven philosophy shaped by years of high-performance education and top-level experience. After a season of emotional, tactical and leadership challenge at Reading, Sellés takes over at Bramall Lane with a belief in dynamic, high-intensity football rooted in human connection, clear principles and a readiness to adapt when necessary.

At the heart of Sellés’ footballing vision is an uncompromising intensity. Defensively, his teams press high and aggressively. “We press to score goals,” is his mantra. He believes in defending far from his own goal and demands dynamic off-the-ball work from all players. In possession, he favours rapid vertical play — reaching the final third quickly, either through direct combinations or a more structured, build-up approach depending on the situation. He wants his teams to thrive in what he calls “organised chaos”.

His experience as a performance specialist informs how he builds his teams. Sellés holds a master’s degree in high-performance sport and a UEFA Pro Licence, studying under Paco Seirullo — the architect of FC Barcelona’s methodology. That education, he says, set a standard for everything he’s done since. Sellés’ most impressive work came in his ability to build culture and trust under immense off-field pressure (at Reading).

More than a tactician or a motivator, Sellés is a coach who believes football is emotional, human, and expressive. He wants his teams to play with energy, identity and belief. He speaks of the importance of players feeling that they can beat anyone. He talks of the fire that drives him every day, even when the challenges are overwhelming. And he believes that when style, culture and club identity align, the results follow."

 

[10p]

Last night the players seemed not to have played together before. Whereas the brummies knew before they received a pass what their next pass was, ours had to think quickly what they were going to do. As a result they very often miscontrolled the ball making it easy for them to be dispossessed.
I hope that some of the young ones come good but putting them all in together like that, without any older heads who didn’t panic when they got the ball was just too much.
One looked completely stage struck and needs a loan to L1 to get some confidence. I find Brooks really frustrating- he always looks for the easy option.

 

[Revolution]

At the heart of Sellés’ footballing vision is an uncompromising intensity. Defensively, his teams press high and aggressively. “We press to score goals,” is his mantra. He believes in defending far from his own goal and demands dynamic off-the-ball work from all players. In possession, he favours rapid vertical play — reaching the final third quickly, either through direct combinations or a more structured, build-up approach depending on the situation. He wants his teams to thrive in what he calls “organised chaos”.

Hence one touch in 90 minutes in the opposition penalty area.

Must be a different Ruben Selles.

 

[CrookesBlade]

I’m not joining in the meltdown after the second string failed to beat Brum, most of them are not up to the level yet.
However, has anyone else witnessed our team give it away in our own third so many times?
It’s not like it was one player in particular though!!
Even if some of these players won’t be the first names on the team sheet in the future, how come they can’t pass a ball 10 yards?
Is it the problem that there’s no movement? Are the receiving players hiding and not finding space?
Whatever it is, we cannot continue with the same plan. We’re simply going to get pressured into more mistakes and ultimately punished.
Gerrit sorted Selles!! This is a coaching issue.

They were bullied. Regardless of the football you are trying to play you need some “big lads” in the Championship. We had 3 kids in there last night who were inexperienced and not strong enough physically.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

For balance, we were also pretty poor in possession last year. Carelessness in possession was a hallmark under Hecky and Wilder, drives me mad.

Last night was as much about bravery as technique. Brum players so much as looked in our direction and we shit our pants and cleared it. Disappointing, as i genuinely saw much more bravery on the ball preseason. Hopefully a hangover from Saturday.

 

[Blacksea]

For balance, we were also pretty poor in possession last year. Carelessness in possession was a hallmark under Hecky and Wilder, drives me mad.

Last night was as much about bravery as technique. Brum players so much as looked in our direction and we shit our pants and cleared it. Disappointing, as i genuinely saw much more bravery on the ball preseason. Hopefully a hangover from Saturday.

Wilder used to mention passing out of defence wasn't good enough but then he stopped and it never improved and we could still see basic short passes from the edge of our area going astray or to someone who was immediately pressed and never got the ball under control.
The second goal last night was a throwback to Plymouth last season when we never got it cleared properly and it kept coming back in
One of the reasons why there are deflected shot goals is that defenders are not in the right position to tackle or being short of cover,so players just throw themselves in too late,the shots already away and it hits a thrown leg or body and goes anywhere instead of getting a clean tackle in or being close enough to smother the shot before it's got momentum.
It's like the leg hanger full backs who can't be bothered to block a cross to stop it and just stick a leg out to flap.
The build up to that second goal I'm sure a cross comes in from our left side quite a way out from the area and one of ours is just watching their guy delivering it instead of blocking.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

I don't think the passing was the entire problem, it was more the poor first touch from the receiving players. A couple of times Brooks had the ball bounce off him and it ended up 5 yards away. Playing high intensity football should not be catching our own players out. Selles expects players to pass into space for players to run onto the ball and some still have the Wilder hangover of standing still waiting for it to come to them, and these fast passes are catching them by surprise.

 

[Hillsboro Blade]

Just the lack of basic ball control last night was disappointing. A Championship level player should be able the basic fundamentals you’d think!

 

[Mattblade68]

I’m not joining in the meltdown after the second string failed to beat Brum, most of them are not up to the level yet.
However, has anyone else witnessed our team give it away in our own third so many times?
It’s not like it was one player in particular though!!
Even if some of these players won’t be the first names on the team sheet in the future, how come they can’t pass a ball 10 yards?
Is it the problem that there’s no movement? Are the receiving players hiding and not finding space?
Whatever it is, we cannot continue with the same plan. We’re simply going to get pressured into more mistakes and ultimately punished.
Gerrit sorted Selles!! This is a coaching issue.

It's because we are trying to do everything very quick, when sometimes we just have to slow down so we don't make those errors

 

[Stretch]

Yes it was painful last night. We couldn't get anything going at all. But it was expected with some of the players we had on the pitch.

I am also careful to separate it from Saturday. Because if the Bristol game had turned out differently, we would probably still have been shit last night. We usually are in these early season cup games.