A Microcosm of Wilders Style

[Bayingblade]

I have been watching United since the early '70's (on and off) and I can honestly say that the football the team has played this season has been as good as any I have seen. Thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining, culminating in that fabulous day at BDTBL last Sunday.

Having watched the Chesterfield highlights again (and again....), two of the goals (to me) summed up the way Wilder has got his team playing that I have never really seen before, until this season. Firstly, our right wing back popping up in the centre forward position (not for the first time), to poach the first goal. Secondly, our left wing back scoring from the inside right (showing my age!!) position to secure the points.

This must be a nightmare to defend against and probably goes some way to explaining why we score so many goals. We literally have options all over the park and it's a testimony to the way the coaching staff have set the team up. Long may it continue........

Total football?

 

[Paulus]

The $64,000 question is whether this will work a division up or will we find defences that bit tighter and get picked off 'cos we're too open.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I have been watching United since the early '70's (on and off) and I can honestly say that the football the team has played this season has been as good as any I have seen. Thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining, culminating in that fabulous day at BDTBL last Sunday.

Having watched the Chesterfield highlights again (and again....), two of the goals (to me) summed up the way Wilder has got his team playing that I have never really seen before, until this season. Firstly, our right wing back popping up in the centre forward position (not for the first time), to poach the first goal. Secondly, our left wing back scoring from the inside right (showing my age!!) position to secure the points.

This must be a nightmare to defend against and probably goes some way to explaining why we score so many goals. We literally have options all over the park and it's a testimony to the way the coaching staff have set the team up. Long may it continue........

Total football?

And add in the sublime pass of Coutts to Caruthers for the second goal...

 

[Ben_1982]

Turning point was ditching the suit for tracksuit. Would he have jumped into the chesterfield dugout to retrieve the ball in a smart suit... yea probably!

 

[SwissBlade]

I have been watching United since the early '70's (on and off) and I can honestly say that the football the team has played this season has been as good as any I have seen. Thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining, culminating in that fabulous day at BDTBL last Sunday.

Having watched the Chesterfield highlights again (and again....), two of the goals (to me) summed up the way Wilder has got his team playing that I have never really seen before, until this season. Firstly, our right wing back popping up in the centre forward position (not for the first time), to poach the first goal. Secondly, our left wing back scoring from the inside right (showing my age!!) position to secure the points.

This must be a nightmare to defend against and probably goes some way to explaining why we score so many goals. We literally have options all over the park and it's a testimony to the way the coaching staff have set the team up. Long may it continue........

Total football?

It's close to total football in that respect.
But it's the movement which is key. When you're seeing players slotting into positions all over the pitch. Not square pegs in round holes, they're playing a position. But with Lafferty and Freeman you get this a lot, Harry Chapman was another one. Often picking the ball up deep, pass short to coutts or fleck, only to then appear a few seconds later on the wing or through the middle.

To answer Paulus yes it's something which can be carried forward to the Championship as it's so hard to defend.

Defenders will mark or defend a player in a fixed position. When those players start moving it's hard to keep up. Do they stay with or hand over the player?

When we don't have the ball we are extremely well organised and fit, so drop into positions.

Our problem on Sunday seemed to be defending high up the pitch and being caught on the break or with an unusual lack of talking in the back 3, jake Wright unusually having an off day.

I'd like to think that next season we bolster the centre halves and return fitter to continue playing this way in the championship

 

[Paulus]

Our problem on Sunday seemed to be defending high up the pitch and being caught on the break or with an unusual lack of talking in the back 3, jake Wright unusually having an off day.

I'd like to think that next season we bolster the centre halves and return fitter to continue playing this way in the championship

This would be my concern. I wasn't able to go on Saturday but I did see the three matches during the season where we were definitely second best, at home to Southend and Fleetwood and away at Walsall and at Walsall in particular we got picked off because in the "Turkish Messi" they had a player skilful enough to exploit the space behind the wingbacks and in front of the back three. Most League one teams hump it which we were able to deal with - in the Championship we will come up against better quality in midfield routinely. I suspect will need to play with a more overt defensive midfielder to protect the defence.

 

[SwissBlade]

This would be my concern. I wasn't able to go on Saturday but I did see the three matches during the season where we were definitely second best, at home to Southend and Fleetwood and away at Walsall and at Walsall in particular we got picked off because in the "Turkish Messi" they had a player skilful enough to exploit the space behind the wingbacks and in front of the back three. Most League one teams hump it which we were able to deal with - in the Championship we will come up against better quality in midfield routinely. I suspect will need to play with a more overt defensive midfielder to protect the defence.

I think we need more pace at the back. Not suggesting to bring Brayford back, but a player in his mould alongside Wright and JoC might work well

The other thing is that in league one Fleck, Coutts and Duffy have had a free role to attack, but in the Championship they won't get that luxury as much. I'd guess that Coutts or Fleck will sit deeper as will the wing backs. Doesn't mean that they can't still get forward but it'll be defend and organise first, counter attack second.

The good news on this is that the set up from games against Bradford, Bolton and Scunny will be similar to Championship games