A different (for us) approach to the window

[Cappy]

My limited and 3rd-hand understanding is we intentionally tried something different this window. We made our 'out' decisions very early. We didn't renew, we sold, we set expectations with those still here. We knew that would generate great concern in the fan base, as we went from a squad of 400 to 4, but the concern was early. Since then we have built the squad. It has compromised results slightly. With a settled squad, we'd have got three wins. Instead we got 5 points (kinda). We had confidence we could, due to finances and Wilder's patter, build that squad up. A few hours left, where we will lose 2 or 3 today (third maybe being Anel), but stay positive Blades, I'm told there is paperwork prepared and ready to offset final day losses if needed/agreed. It's been a good window.

Leeds and Burnley, as two examples, have done the opposite. They kept their players for the early season games but knew they'd lose players late in the window, but then are disrupting their squad for gameweeks 4-8 Let's see where we are after 10 games. I think our strategy wins. UTB

 

[loyalblade95]

5 points from 9 isn't bad at the start of the season, beat Watford on Sunday and that's 8 from 12.

 

[Cappy]

5 points from 9 isn't bad at the start of the season, beat Watford on Sunday and that's 8 from 12.

Agree. Not downplaying the potential loss of Anel, by the way. His reading of the game, technical ability in a tackle, and speed don't exist in the current squad or those potentially incoming. If he stays, we should treat it like a new signing in terms of positivity.

 

[Grizzly blade]

All well and good if you have depth or a history of managing with small squads…sadly we have neither.
Squad depth-
injuries to O’Hare and heaven forbid Hamer we are in a huge amount of trouble in terms of goal threat.
Injuries to Souttar…or a recurrence for RND and we are scrambling for cover.
In both these scenarios we would then be turning to kids to step in, some of whom failed to get much of a kick at Barnsley in midweek.

Added to that a still sulking and completely unprofessional Anel who has given up tracking his man, putting in a tackle or having much enthusiasm to do something with the ball means that defence looks extremely vulnerable to Pace and any team that is just a little bit direct.

If this really is it for now….i do t see Wilder getting us where he’s expected to.

 

[Grizzly blade]

5 points from 9 isn't bad at the start of the season, beat Watford on Sunday and that's 8 from 12.

Great positivity…but I have little faith our defence will manage against the mighty Watford.
And a point to note…we will in fact be sat n 3 points from first 4 games if we do get beaten.

Relegation form (too early I know) in fact, and already 5 points off the 2 point per game target for promotion.

 

[Cappy]

All well and good if you have depth or a history of managing with small squads…sadly we have neither.
Squad depth-
injuries to O’Hare and heaven forbid Hamer we are in a huge amount of trouble in terms of goal threat.
Injuries to Souttar…or a recurrence for RND and we are scrambling for cover.
In both these scenarios we would then be turning to kids to step in, some of whom failed to get much of a kick at Barnsley in midweek.

Added to that a still sulking and completely unprofessional Anel who has given up tracking his man, putting in a tackle or having much enthusiasm to do something with the ball means that defence looks extremely vulnerable to Pace and any team that is just a little bit direct.

If this really is it for now….i do t see Wilder getting us where he’s expected to.

Got to be careful not to out a source, but the 'performance' area (strength and fitness in old money) area of the team has had an overhaul. CW brought someone in, and kept Hecky's guys too, but have changed the approach. Supposedly, the difference has been huge. I'm told to expect a very different soft tissue injury profile this season. It's about risk taking. A young player with potential, a senior player who won't drop off, injury prevention techniques improved? We aren't a club who can pay to offset/remove every risk. Fingers crossed we've nailed it. I'm choosing to be positive

 

[loyalblade95]

Great positivity…but I have little faith our defence will manage against the mighty Watford.
And a point to note…we will in fact be sat n 3 points from first 4 games if we do get beaten.

Relegation form (too early I know) in fact, and already 5 points off the 2 point per game target for promotion.

Fair enough. How many games have we got until that first international break, could be key to gelling the squad, if it hasn't gelles by then.

 

[BladeInIreland]

My limited and 3rd-hand understanding is we intentionally tried something different this window. We made our 'out' decisions very early. We didn't renew, we sold, we set expectations with those still here. We knew that would generate great concern in the fan base, as we went from a squad of 400 to 4, but the concern was early. Since then we have built the squad. It has compromised results slightly. With a settled squad, we'd have got three wins. Instead we got 5 points (kinda). We had confidence we could, due to finances and Wilder's patter, build that squad up. A few hours left, where we will lose 2 or 3 today (third maybe being Anel), but stay positive Blades, I'm told there is paperwork prepared and ready to offset final day losses if needed/agreed. It's been a good window.

Leeds and Burnley, as two examples, have done the opposite. They kept their players for the early season games but knew they'd lose players late in the window, but then are disrupting their squad for gameweeks 4-8 Let's see where we are after 10 games. I think our strategy wins. UTB

Does this mean not to expect incomings of Anel does not leave?

If you can get your business done early that is obviously preferable. The majority of ours were out of contract so early was always going to be the case. I do wonder what the feeling from players not picked for Leeds and Burnley is, who are now wanted to start. Won't be a massive deal but can't be great for motivation.

 

[Cappy]

Great positivity…but I have little faith our defence will manage against the mighty Watford.
And a point to note…we will in fact be sat n 3 points from first 4 games if we do get beaten.

Relegation form (too early I know) in fact, and already 5 points off the 2 point per game target for promotion.

Sorry, I have to call that out. Your maths is wrong. 3 games at 2 point per game is 6. We have 3 official points, which is 3 off the 'target'. But in reality, if we continue, we are scoring very close to your target (5) with a disrupted squad in early-season. But, hey we all have our own set of glasses. UTB. Bring on Sunday

 

[Cappy]

How many games have we got until that first international break

Just Sunday

 

[Grizzly blade]

Got to be careful not to out a source, but the 'performance' area (strength and fitness in old money) area of the team has had an overhaul. CW brought someone in, and kept Hecky's guys too, but have changed the approach. Supposedly, the difference has been huge. I'm told to expect a very different soft tissue injury profile this season. It's about risk taking. A young player with potential, a senior player who won't drop off, injury prevention techniques improved? We aren't a club who can pay to offset/remove every risk. Fingers crossed we've nailed it. I'm choosing to be positive

So instead of Hamstrings expect Calf injuries instead??
Fingers crossed we’ve improved then, time will tell.
Long season ahead however and this league isn’t the pushover many wanted to believe a month ago.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Sorry, I have to call that out. Your maths is wrong. 3 games at 2 point per game is 6. We have 3 official points, which is 3 off the 'target'. But in reality, if we continue, we are scoring very close to your target (5) with a disrupted squad in early-season. But, hey we all have our own set of glasses. UTB. Bring on Sunday

Read again…Watford up where I expect a tough game and probable first defeat.
That will be our 4th game. 2 points per game average would be 8…we lose as expected we remain on 3. 5 points off the 2 ppg target

 

[moody1889]

My limited and 3rd-hand understanding is we intentionally tried something different this window. We made our 'out' decisions very early. We didn't renew, we sold, we set expectations with those still here. We knew that would generate great concern in the fan base, as we went from a squad of 400 to 4, but the concern was early. Since then we have built the squad. It has compromised results slightly. With a settled squad, we'd have got three wins. Instead we got 5 points (kinda). We had confidence we could, due to finances and Wilder's patter, build that squad up. A few hours left, where we will lose 2 or 3 today (third maybe being Anel), but stay positive Blades, I'm told there is paperwork prepared and ready to offset final day losses if needed/agreed. It's been a good window.

Leeds and Burnley, as two examples, have done the opposite. They kept their players for the early season games but knew they'd lose players late in the window, but then are disrupting their squad for gameweeks 4-8 Let's see where we are after 10 games. I think our strategy wins. UTB

Are you Prince Abdullah in disguise? It was a decent start but ended up a poor window with us being at least 4 players short.

No matter what excuses you come out with it will not wash.

We have had longer than anyone else to get our own house in order but in true Sheffield United fashion we have done absolutely nothing.

Sold one of our best up and coming players for a few of 10m and just sold Trusty for 6m and they are using the excuse that his replacement is already here

Either Wilder is bluffing or they even worse than I thought.

 

[Cappy]

Read again…Watford up where I expect a tough game and probable first defeat.
That will be our 4th game. 2 points per game average would be 8…we lose as expected we remain on 3. 5 points off the 2 ppg target

I only read once. Then I comment and move on with unwarranted confidence

 

[Cappy]

Are you Prince Abdullah in disguise? It was a decent start but ended up a poor window with us being at least 4 players short.

No matter what excuses you come out with it will not wash.

We have had longer than anyone else to get our own house in order but in true Sheffield United fashion we have done absolutely nothing.

Sold one of our best up and coming players for a few of 10m and just sold Trusty for 6m and they are using the excuse that his replacement is already here

Either Wilder is bluffing or they even worse than I thought.

If you're going to say "we have done absolutely nothing." I'm not going to give your post any respect

 

[Grizzly blade]

Yeah…I wasn’t a fan of selling Osula but apparently it was great business.
Allowed us to get some other players in to replace the pretty much full team we released.
Happy days. Best hope Brewster finds his running boots never mind his shooting ones

 

[Cappy]

I sad to myself, 'stay off twitter and the forum today. It'll be like a mental asylum'. But I didn't listen to my wiser self. Fuck me

 

[Grizzly blade]

If you're going to say "we have done absolutely nothing." I'm not going to give your post any respect

Yes…a little silly…but I can agree we’ve had longer than pretty much any team to prepare, we were announcing departures before last season finished…yet still failed to bring the required number of players in we wanted to have a strong team pushing for the top 2. Instead still losing players on the last day of the window.

Sadly I don’t see promotion in this squad, even with time to gel I expect we will be weak at the back, struggle to maintain possession or have a real threat up top.
I honestly think there will be at least 6 sides better than us in those areas…even Burnley despite their firesale.

 

[Railway Blade]

I sad to myself, 'stay off twitter and the forum today. It'll be like a mental asylum'. But I didn't listen to my wiser self. Fuck me

View attachment 191665

You were safe this morning with the optimism of a new day dawning and potential incomings to get excited about. After Wilder's press conference post lunch it was time to run for the hills !!

 

[Cappy]

Sadly I don’t see promotion in this squad, even with time to gel I expect we will be weak at the back, struggle to maintain possession or have a real threat up top.

And those differences of opinion are what makes it fun. I will say that if we lose Anel and don't replace him with the one I've been told, I will be worried about pace at RCB. Not worried about midfield possession, but concerned about holding the ball up front for runners. I get told some ITK stuff but I'm nowhere near a football strategy/tactics expert

 

[Cappy]

You were safe this morning with the optimism of a new day dawning and potential incomings to get excited about. After Wilder's press conference post lunch it was time to run for the hills !!

I was told what he'd say But let's see if the potentials turn into actuals

Edit: I was told what he'd say re incomings

 

[loyalblade95]

Just Sunday

While an international break would be good for us at the moment, it's still annoying that there's so many of them this season.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

Fair enough. How many games have we got until that first international break, could be key to gelling the squad, if it hasn't gelles by then.

We always do so well in the first match after the international break. About as good as when we're on Sky.

 

[Cappy]

One of our customers is Western Australia based and I've a full day ahead of me in their time zone tomorrow. So, bed time. I look forward to waking up to great ridicule. UTB