2 weeks to make a plan

[jono_t2000]

Will be disappointed if after the international break nothing has really changed in terms of our style.

Wilder was asked what would be happening during international break and he said "more work on the training ground "

I hope that's not the extent of it, we have less quality than last year, but certainly players are good enough to not be bottom of the league.

I hope Wilder, Knill and his analysts are really using this time to plan on a system and style that gets the most out of the players.

 

[Snowflake]

Will be disappointed if after the international break nothing has really changed in terms of our style.

Wilder was asked what would be happening during international break and he said "more work on the training ground "

I hope that's not the extent of it, we have less quality than last year, but certainly players are good enough to not be bottom of the league.

I hope Wilder, Knill and his analysts are really using this time to plan on a system and style that gets the most out of the players.

Maybe our new Spanishcoach is having some impact. If not, then why is he here ?

 

[KMC-1889]

They’ll come out in the same formation, with a similar team, and do the same thing they’ve done for the last 4 games.

He’ll have 40 games to turn it around and we’ll be blaming relegation on COH & Selles.

 

[GymClassHero]

I'm hoping that next time out we play two up top, maybe drop Peck and play Matos and Davies (provided he stays fit).

I'm expecting more of the same unfortunately.

 

[Ginger Gnome]

It's hard to play two up front and a back three. We managed it in Wilder's first spell but that had the wing backs constantly as part of the attack and the centre backs joining in so that we actually had numbers all over the pitch. Once we went to a flat three in midfield, the strikers were often isolated and by the time Wilder sulked off, the defence, midfield and attack were three separate things that barely interacted, a bit like what we've got now.

What Wilder is trying to do with the current back 5 setup kind of makes sense, in theory Ogbene is right back when we're defending but when we're on the attack, he becomes the right winger and it becomes a back 4. Much like Selles' intentions, the idea sounds fine but the transition doesn't work if we want to break quickly and if the left back goes forward rather than the right, it leaves a lopsided mess in behind.

In theory you could drop O'Hare for an extra striker but who is going to get the ball up to them? We don't really play through the midfield enough and don't have any width if we try to break quickly as the wide players are deep from defending.

Whatever formation or system they try doesn't really matter unless they actually start playing as a team and supporting each other, which has appeared occasionally but not enough under both managers.

 

[Sky Blues]

It's hard to play two up front and a back three.

Or otherwise known as 3 5 2

What's the most important is playing round pegs in round holes. Choosing the best 11 players doesn't work if some are playing out of position. Get back to basics. Make a plan. Have players on the bench for all eventualities.

You have a few players that would walk into most Championship sides. But if they don't get the support they need they just become average Championship players at best.

 

[Blade56]

I hope that's not the extent of it, we have less quality than last year, but certainly players are good enough to not be bottom of the league.

Apparently we don’t!

I hope Wilder, Knill and his analysts are really using this time to plan on a system and style that gets the most out of the players.

Ok, let’s put Peck int middle and use overlapping inverted CBs. That’ll do it.

 

[SwissBlade]

Will be disappointed if after the international break nothing has really changed in terms of our style.

Wilder was asked what would be happening during international break and he said "more work on the training ground "

I hope that's not the extent of it, we have less quality than last year, but certainly players are good enough to not be bottom of the league.

I hope Wilder, Knill and his analysts are really using this time to plan on a system and style that gets the most out of the players.

I am pretty sure that the short term plan is to get players fit to play a system that wins games.

 

[LBA_Blade]

Will be disappointed if after the international break nothing has really changed in terms of our style.

Wilder was asked what would be happening during international break and he said "more work on the training ground "

I hope that's not the extent of it, we have less quality than last year, but certainly players are good enough to not be bottom of the league.

I hope Wilder, Knill and his analysts are really using this time to plan on a system and style that gets the most out of the players.

Hopefully more of the same in terms of creating chances from set pieces, like the O'Hare opportunity. We definitely need more work on defending and attacking corners and in general getting the ball up in front of our faster players, if you play Ogbene in with a few yards to run onto the ball he can be at full pace which causes dangers for the opposition, the usual static to feet play means, we are waiting for the ball into feet, controlling it and the defence have reset, had 4 pints and a pie and we are still working out where to put it.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Promotion is never decided in Oct.....Relegation is always decided in Oct................its the Blades way.

There might be inklings but thats all.

 

[Bergen Blade]

The five at the back has meant we're defending better from open play. I also think Wilder likes that we're gradually improving our possession stat.

But our attacking play is not good. The back five are barely average in terms of starting moves. This means the two holding midfielders have to go deep to get moves going, but then they often only have the front three in front of them, so it's difficult to find space. If Hamer does get on the ball in the last third we lack numbers in the box and we lack an aerial presence.

Wilder said we got into 'incredible' positions at Hull, but in fact most of our balls into the box were easily dealt with by their defence.We need to achieve good positions with them having fewer defenders back and us having more in the box. Then we can start describing our positions as 'incredible'.

 

[Tezza1889]

Dead ball situations have to improve, we also need to work on short corners when we are getting no joy with the floated cross etc, we need to work on these as we seem toothless at every set piece.

We should work on getting to the line and crossing it quickly, dont check back and overplay till the defence reset, that doesn't work and has been a big part of our undoing these last 13 games or so going back to the end of last season, give the striker a chance to miss in the first place, might just tuck one away, dont create we will never know will we.

The buck really does stop with not scoring though, opposition teams know the longer it goes on with us not threatening them, the better thier chance is of getting the 3 points, also they'll be aiming at two goals themselves then they can get the pipe and slippers out for the rest of the game, we need to be a threat all game, we need to be seen as a threat and we no longer are, this absolutely must change, we must prioritise attack and goal scoring opportunities..

Draws will not keep us up..

 

[toledo]

Until team management understand, and accept, that last years tactical plan, now moving into this season, won't work anymore, we will continue to see the crap we've seen so far.

To save our season requires more than two weeks on the training pitch especially if the players are not tested, both physically and tactically.

We need a new game plan, carefully thought through by all, with players giving 150% on the field. These are footballers at the height of their physicality and protecting their minutes is utter bullshit. I an 72 years of age and I'm still going out on the training pitch and asking my young teams 'to give everything they have and leave it all on the field'

I don't know what the actual calendar shows for days of training and hours of training, but I hope its more than 2 hours in the afternoon, three days a week.

A new game and tactical plan to address the skill sets of each player, and ultimately the team, is crucial now to get us above the awful drop to Div 1...

God help us if we come back after the break playing 1 up front and expecting to win!!!

toledo

 

[Snowflake]

Promotion is never decided in Oct.....Relegation is always decided in Oct................its the Blades way.

There might be inklings but thats all.

The next 9 games will define our season. 20 points and we go for play offs. 12/15 we avoid relegation and end up mid table.
Less than 12

 

[Slugger]

It's hard to play two up front and a back three. We managed it in Wilder's first spell but that had the wing backs constantly as part of the attack and the centre backs joining in so that we actually had numbers all over the pitch. Once we went to a flat three in midfield, the strikers were often isolated and by the time Wilder sulked off, the defence, midfield and attack were three separate things that barely interacted, a bit like what we've got now.

What Wilder is trying to do with the current back 5 setup kind of makes sense, in theory Ogbene is right back when we're defending but when we're on the attack, he becomes the right winger and it becomes a back 4. Much like Selles' intentions, the idea sounds fine but the transition doesn't work if we want to break quickly and if the left back goes forward rather than the right, it leaves a lopsided mess in behind.

In theory you could drop O'Hare for an extra striker but who is going to get the ball up to them? We don't really play through the midfield enough and don't have any width if we try to break quickly as the wide players are deep from defending.

Whatever formation or system they try doesn't really matter unless they actually start playing as a team and supporting each other, which has appeared occasionally but not enough under both managers.

Great post!
With the players we have 3-5-2 attacking and 5-4-1 defending would be ideal.
However the elephant in the room here is that for some reason some of our players are just not fit enough to do this effectively.
I'd go so far as to say that arguably our 2 most talented players are overweight

 

[Sheffsteel]

Will be disappointed if after the international break nothing has really changed in terms of our style.

Wilder was asked what would be happening during international break and he said "more work on the training ground "

I hope that's not the extent of it, we have less quality than last year, but certainly players are good enough to not be bottom of the league.

I hope Wilder, Knill and his analysts are really using this time to plan on a system and style that gets the most out of the players.

Regards style of play…it’s not that different to last season.

Last season we saw loads of close games…..where we scored from a moment of quality….we then battled well to edge out a close win.
This season (under Wilder) we’re seeing plenty of close games…they score from a bad defensive mistake or bad luck…then battle it out to edge a close win.

 

[Willglynning]

Regards style of play…it’s not that different to last season.

Last season we saw loads of close games…..where we scored from a moment of quality….we then battled well to edge out a close win.
This season (under Wilder) we’re seeing plenty of close games…they score from a bad defensive mistake or bad luck…then battle it out to edge a close win.

That's the main reason that I wanted a fresh start after the playoff final. The wheels started coming off at the tail end of last season and, outside of two great playoff semi-final games, we look to be continuing that poor form.

I hope I'm wrong, but I feel like Wilder's lacking the tactical nous, or maybe even just desire, to shake things up to the extent we'd ideally need.

 

[FriethBlade]

The five at the back has meant we're defending better from open play. I also think Wilder likes that we're gradually improving our possession stat.

But our attacking play is not good. The back five are barely average in terms of starting moves. This means the two holding midfielders have to go deep to get moves going, but then they often only have the front three in front of them, so it's difficult to find space. If Hamer does get on the ball in the last third we lack numbers in the box and we lack an aerial presence.

Wilder said we got into 'incredible' positions at Hull, but in fact most of our balls into the box were easily dealt with by their defence.We need to achieve good positions with them having fewer defenders back and us having more in the box. Then we can start describing our positions as 'incredible'.

Bergen u have the nail on the head here. We can not have 2 central midfielders who contribute absolutely nothing going forward. It means that including the keeper we have 7 'defenders' in the team. Its no wonder we have scored only 3 goals so far this season

 

[Houston_Blade]

The five at the back has meant we're defending better from open play.

I’m not sure this is the case.

Hull scored from a cross that McCallum shouldn’t allow to come in, then 2 defenders missed the ball and we allowed one of their players the time and space to get a shot away.

This is after we gave Regan Slater all the time in the world to pick his spot in the box, fortunately he picked McGuinness’ leg and it rebounded wide.

If Hull would have pushed 2nd half they’d definitely have been able to create more chances, they were just content to sit on the 1 nil so it made us look like we were in control of the game.

We seem to have conceded a disproportionate amount of goals this season from weak full back/wing back defending and allowing balls into the box, then not having the desire or wherewithal to deal with said balls when they arrive. We’re lucky that no one else has gone for the throat like Ipswich did.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I’m not sure this is the case.

Hull scored from a cross that McCallum shouldn’t allow to come in, then 2 defenders missed the ball and we allowed one of their players the time and space to get a shot away.

This is after we gave Regan Slater all the time in the world to pick his spot in the box, fortunately he picked McGuinness’ leg and it rebounded wide.

If Hull would have pushed 2nd half they’d definitely have been able to create more chances, they were just content to sit on the 1 nil so it made us look like we were in control of the game.

We seem to have conceded a disproportionate amount of goals this season from weak full back/wing back defending and allowing balls into the box, then not having the desire or wherewithal to deal with said balls when they arrive. We’re lucky that no one else has gone for the throat like Ipswich did.

I'm not saying we're great, but we have more players back with three centre halves. They get in the way a bit more and both finishes you mention were either deflected or blocked.

I agree that Hull sat back on purpose, and it was quite effective with us struggling to open them up.

 

[Varkanoid]

Controversial but I think we should go 4 at the back did we not do a lot better last season when we changed from 3 to 4 at the back ? This then enables us to go 2 up top ? 3 at the back just invites Wilderball more than ever. Did McGuiness or Mee come off at the end against Hull so we went 4 at the back then immediately Gus starts feeding balls through the centre which we didnt do for most of the match till then ? All we seem to do with 3 at the back and 1 up front is push the ball sideways all the time cross it in to next to nobody in the middle, again and again and again.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I'm not saying we're great, but we have more players back with three centre halves. They get in the way a bit more and both finishes you mention were either deflected or blocked.

I agree that Hull sat back on purpose, and it was quite effective with us struggling to open them up.

I get the theory more men back should equal more bodies to defend. I just think that we have a knack at the moment for always making the opposition seem like they have an extra men. Whether it’s in our box, their box or when we do our pathetic attempt at pressing in between we seem to be a man light in every situation.

 

[247Blade]

Will be disappointed if after the international break nothing has really changed in terms of our style.

Wilder was asked what would be happening during international break and he said "more work on the training ground "

I hope that's not the extent of it, we have less quality than last year, but certainly players are good enough to not be bottom of the league.

I hope Wilder, Knill and his analysts are really using this time to plan on a system and style that gets the most out of the players.

Probably get em painting or summat menial .... we will see in a fortnight

 

[Carlton Blade]

If we don't commit more players forward, we won't create enough chances. We've scored 36 goals in the last 34 league games.

If that rate continues, we'll be relegated comfortably.

 

[Balham]

I'm hoping that next time out we play two up top, maybe drop Peck and play Matos and Davies (provided he stays fit).

I'm expecting more of the same unfortunately.

Soumaré for Matos. He was a bit hit and miss at Oxford but that's understandable, playing out of position and coming into the team with 15 minutes' notice. He was one of the only players (Hamer being another) whose first thought in possession was to move or pass forwards. Compare and contrast with Peck, who's the opposite at the moment, looking for the safe option.

Of course, he (Soumaré) was signed by Sélles in the AI era so he's obviously not good enough

 

[Carlton Blade]

Soumaré for Matos. He was a bit hit and miss at Oxford but that's understandable, playing out of position and coming into the team with 15 minutes' notice. He was one of the only players (Hamer being another) whose first thought in possession was to move or pass forwards. Compare and contrast with Peck, who's the opposite at the moment, looking for the safe option.

Of course, he (Soumaré) was signed by Sélles in the AI era so he's obviously not good enough

We know Matos can't progress the ball. We know Peck could, but now won't. Davies is better at it but it's still not a strength. Soumare is willing to at least try, and seems to back himself technically.

If we don't create more chances without having to chuck everyone forward, I think we'll get relegated. It has to be worth a try, if only as a last 30 minutes/first 60 minutes job share with Davies (because Peck seems locked in as a starter)

 

[Balham]

We know Matos can't progress the ball. We know Peck could, but now won't. Davies is better at it but it's still not a strength. Soumare is willing to at least try, and seems to back himself technically.

If we don't create more chances without having to chuck everyone forward, I think we'll get relegated. It has to be worth a try, if only as a last 30 minutes/first 60 minutes job share with Davies (because Peck seems locked in as a starter)

Wilder is myopic at times. I think he believes that the best way out of a form dip is to keep playing but O'Hare and Peck, in particular, have been poor this season and both have relatively obvious replacements. We've asked Peck to play as the holding midfielder which isn't his natural position when we've got a highly rated young defensive midfielder sitting on the bench. O'Hare and Hamer are currently getting in each other's way and it's impacting on our attacking cohesion but the former "runs about" and the latter is our best player.

If we're going to insist on this weird 3-4-2-1 / 4-2-3-1 hybrid formation* that's been cooked up in the febrile Shirecliffe canteen, it needs to be adjusted to get two up front.

Cooper
Tanganga - McGuinness - Mee
Ogbene - Davies - Soumaré - Burrows
Hamer
Campbell - Ings

*Ogbene pushed up wide right in possession and back as wingback/fullback out of possession

 

[Carlton Blade]

Wilder is myopic at times. I think he believes that the best way out of a form dip is to keep playing but O'Hare and Peck, in particular, have been poor this season and both have relatively obvious replacements. We've asked Peck to play as the holding midfielder which isn't his natural position when we've got a highly rated young defensive midfielder sitting on the bench. O'Hare and Hamer are currently getting in each other's way and it's impacting on our attacking cohesion but the former "runs about" and the latter is our best player.

If we're going to insist on this weird 3-4-2-1 / 4-2-3-1 hybrid formation* that's been cooked up in the febrile Shirecliffe canteen, it needs to be adjusted to get two up front.

Cooper
Tanganga - McGuinness - Mee
Ogbene - Davies - Soumaré - Burrows
Hamer
Campbell - Ings

*Ogbene pushed up wide right in possession and back as wingback/fullback out of possession

Works for me. Unfortunately, based on injury history, the longest time Ings and Davies can be on the pitch before one of their legs falls off is about 24 minutes.

 

[Bergen Blade]

If we don't commit more players forward, we won't create enough chances. We've scored 36 goals in the last 34 league games.

If that rate continues, we'll be relegated comfortably.

Agree with that. Maybe Wilder decided we needed to stop giving away so many clear cut chances and therefore played a defensive 7, hoping Hamer, O'Hare and Campbell would have enough quality to get a goal to nick a win. But it has been more difficult than imagined. I'm not sure we will be able to create much with this formation and so many not contributing offensively.

 

[David Wheatley]

Maybe our new Spanishcoach is having some impact. If not, then why is he here ?

Presume he wasn’t Wilders choice so it begs the question is he actually being used as the first team coach as it was stated that he was going to be when he joined the club

If he isn’t and we are relying on Knill as first team coach who is a busted flush then god help us