Be honest with yourselves

[Champagneblade]

Have to disagree on Hamer. To say he's being played completely out of position, that's 7 assists in 8 games. We'd be creatively fucked without him. Far from his best today though.

What is his best position though?

He doesn’t get played centrally because he isn’t switched on enough defensively and turns the ball over too much.

I understand why Wilder puts him out left and gives him freedom to come inside.

The only other way is to play a midfield 3 with two behind him or play 4-2-2-2 and no obvious width. He’s not that easy to accommodate which sounds daft but you know what I mean. You have to cover for his inefficiency as well as benefit from his efficiency

 

[Champagneblade]

Why are we even talking about play offs? Should we miraculously get there and be successful, could you imagine this version of Sheffield United coping any better than the last one? We were pretty poor last time but fuck me, if we're getting turned over by that Coventry team tonight, it would be carnage every week.

I see your point but this applies to any promoted team.

We’re Sunderland better equipped than us? We played them off the park that first half and without that stupid VAR fiasco they’d be where we are.

But promotion gave them money for a new team, pretty much.

Part of the problem for us was getting new owners. They didn’t understand how hard this league was. Hey didnt understand it was an evolution pre-season, not a revolution one. They discarded the likes of Moore for instance who are being referred to as “Championship cheat code” and for whom? Danny Ings, who never makes the XI?

 

[Sky Blues]

What is his best position though?

He doesn’t get played centrally because he isn’t switched on enough defensively and turns the ball over too much.

I understand why Wilder puts him out left and gives him freedom to come inside.

The only other way is to play a midfield 3 with two behind him or play 4-2-2-2 and no obvious width. He’s not that easy to accommodate which sounds daft but you know what I mean. You have to cover for his inefficiency as well as benefit from his efficiency

You have hardly ever played him in his best position. That's in the middle further up the pitch. It isn't his job to do the defending. His job is to pull the other side apart and make sure your opponents leave a few players back.

 

[Champagneblade]

You have hardly ever played him in his best position. That's in the middle further up the pitch. It isn't his job to do the defending. His job is to pull the other side apart and make sure your opponents leave a few players back.

I don’t disagree but if we play him in a two then it leaves us very exposed.

What system did you play when you were getting the best from him?

 

[YES Blade]

Since Wilder has been here we have been play off points wise. So yes we can, and should, point out the selles nonsense has destroyed our chances and ignoring it and the rest of the summer is impossible.

No we wouldn’t, we’d still be 5 points off the playoffs.

 

[Danetheblade]

You have to conclude the players don’t have the collective mentality.

They was a winning performance in terms of dominance but we lost.

We also don’t get marginal decisions at all. The guy prevented Seriki going past him. It’s a foul and a penalty kick.

But, as much as Hamer assisted again, he hasn’t really turned up in these big games. His goal output is well down on last year. He’s a bit of a luxury at times.

Unless he can flat track bully the remaining teams then that’s it from him and us.

We’re about 4 points behind where we should be in this recent run.

Fully agree with the comments regarding Hamer. On his day he’s a quality operator, but they’re few and far between, and the “on the day” moments are becoming the occasional worldie/good pass. He’s become a luxury player that’s not really worth the occasional finish/hollywood pass.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

No we wouldn’t, we’d still be 5 points off the playoffs.

The first couple of weeks of the rebuild are the killer not last night or even Charlton type games. The squad was so low on confidence. Not the case now. Are you seriously saying it went never sacked him we would have the same bloated squad and lack of points?

 

[Champagneblade]

Fully agree with the comments regarding Hamer. On his day he’s a quality operator, but they’re few and far between, and the “on the day” moments are becoming the occasional worldie/good pass. He’s become a luxury player that’s not really worth the occasional finish/hollywood pass.

We actually had our best run when he wasn’t in the team.

It’s sounds strange to say but our best was when he was coming back from injury in November/December.

In a perverse sort of way this augurs well for the future. It won’t be such a transition if he leaves. I’d rather have the better players but Bettis alluded to wage pressure and the likes of Hamer and Tom Davies must be on a fair screw.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

You have to conclude the players don’t have the collective mentality.

They was a winning performance in terms of dominance but we lost.

We also don’t get marginal decisions at all. The guy prevented Seriki going past him. It’s a foul and a penalty kick.

But, as much as Hamer assisted again, he hasn’t really turned up in these big games. His goal output is well down on last year. He’s a bit of a luxury at times.

Unless he can flat track bully the remaining teams then that’s it from him and us.

We’re about 4 points behind where we should be in this recent run.

My view of Hamer is at more of a tangent. Other team members around him (particularly Brooks) have improved, some like O'Hare have become tenacious 90+ minute players and incoming players have shone and it's making him look ordinary and if he's standing still.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Playoffs is a pipe dream and we are nowhere near organised nor capable for a go at it. We've sold badly and recruited worse, we are missing Sousa and Anel and have had a dreadful start thanks to chimping about backstage with AI recruitment and the incapabilities of Selles.

Wilder is here but we are far from the team he had last year and now face a tough run in just to finish above half way. The season is in effect done, the mission to not join Wednesday in Div One is completed and we should stop believing that we will sneak it because even if we did, we'd bottle it again and even if we didn't and went up, we'd be straight back down without at least £200m of investment COH just doesn't have.

The things we can take from this season are bitter relief and joy at Wednesday's demise. Let's keep it real, keep supporting them and hope that 2026-27 has more to offer.

UTB

The honesty some people need to take is they are miserable bastards.

Great game, played well, beaten by the top side who for large parts had their back to the wall. They ground out a victory, helped by some errors, ref, and them having the edge in quality.
I'd takes game like that every day of the week. And we'd win 90% of them.

 

[gordoncharles]

I'd actually like to thank Ruben Selles for ensuring that we don't make the play offs.

I know that there are quite a few amongst us who want promotion because it guarantees further parachute payments down the line, but parachute payments don't seem to be having much influence around the top of this year's division, and they didn't when when we had our best side in 40 years.

Going up with a substantially worse team than we went up with last time - let alone last season - would simply wreak further humiliation on us and personally I do not enjoy taking part in some sort of football masochist's version of Tom Brown's Schooldays where we are ruthlessly bullied and tortured by much bigger boys for nine months.

Bugger that.

 

[b1ade4life]

If we were only chasing one team I'd be more optimistic, but we're not, when we lose a few other teams can extend the lead , it was always going to be unrealistic, plus the fact we do not win games that have meaning is another reason I wouldn't want this team anywhere near them

 

[Flumps]

While it's mathematically possible just enjoy the ride. It's unlikely to happen but possible, weirder things have happened.

I don't know if its a psychological thing or not but it seems like alot of people on here want the season concluded end of Jan so they don't spend the rest of the season in hope only to be disappointed at the end after having a bit of hope?

Just enjoy it, before christmas we were questioning whether we're primed for relegation or not, now we're disappointed it looks almost like we've missed out on the playoffs. We can debate the fuck up at the start of the season and it's impact on this play off push but pretty much all of you all say the squad is too inconsistent and not good enough for the prem anyway.

 

[FriethBlade]

We’re a frustrating team to watch, as we feel so close to being a top side. But we have a very soft underbelly & wilt under pressure, and seem to concede from very few chances.

On the flip side our games are more entertaining than last year. It’s genuinely enjoyable to watch Brooks & Seriki every week at the moment (and usually Hamer - thought he was trying too hard tonight).

It’s frustrating because those play off places are filled with some very average teams, and Cov/Boro are nowhere near the standard of Leeds & Burnley.

Totally agree. If we csn keep the youngsters at the club we r 2 dominating CBs away from being a top 6 team next season

 

[CrookesBlade]

We’re a frustrating team to watch, as we feel so close to being a top side. But we have a very soft underbelly & wilt under pressure, and seem to concede from very few chances.

On the flip side our games are more entertaining than last year. It’s genuinely enjoyable to watch Brooks & Seriki every week at the moment (and usually Hamer - thought he was trying too hard tonight).

It’s frustrating because those play off places are filled with some very average teams, and Cov/Boro are nowhere near the standard of Leeds & Burnley.

Agreed. I’m enjoying the games regardless of the result at the moment. Several players that get you off your seat when they get the ball.

There are obvious weaknesses in there which are no doubt not helped by being unable to put a proper centre midfield pairing out due to injury or suspension. We also need another centre forward option.

Disappointing to look at Coventry, who were there for the taking, and see they are top of the league. What could have been if we’d not gone mental in pre season. Still, they are top of the league for a reason and it seems a really odd game for some to be chucking their toys out the pram over.

We have the basis of a good team as proven by the upturn in form. We will likely lose Hamer in the summer but if we can keep the rest of the side together with a couple of astute signings we’ll be competitive at the top end of the division.

 

[Bell4]

I think we're a top 6 side now but our start meant we needed to be a top 2 one. You look at Coventry tonight and they were basically a poorer version of us last season so there's a lot of frustration imagining where we'd be if we had kept Wilder

Agree fully

 

[Large Mendonca]

Since Wilder has been here we have been play off points wise. So yes we can, and should, point out the selles nonsense has destroyed our chances and ignoring it and the rest of the summer is impossible.

I would wager we’d be further ahead due to not making several wank signings while Wilder was missing.

 

[Blacksea]

You have to conclude the players don’t have the collective mentality.

They was a winning performance in terms of dominance but we lost.

We also don’t get marginal decisions at all. The guy prevented Seriki going past him. It’s a foul and a penalty kick.

But, as much as Hamer assisted again, he hasn’t really turned up in these big games. His goal output is well down on last year. He’s a bit of a luxury at times.

Unless he can flat track bully the remaining teams then that’s it from him and us.

We’re about 4 points behind where we should be in this recent run.

Taking out the abnormal start to the season,we are another Bristol City with this squad of players,and they have never been good enough to get out whatever squad they have had because there's always something lacking with it.
It's up to the management and recruitment to make the difference for next season,sort out this mismatched squad,get the fitness to the required levels and identify the players that do make the difference between also rans and promotion winners,and if there isn't money to do it,then work harder to get those players in on the budget available,it's not a huge gap to bridge for those at the club in position to do something about it.

 

[Champagneblade]

Taking out the abnormal start to the season,we are another Bristol City with this squad of players,and they have never been good enough to get out whatever squad they have had because there's always something lacking with it.
It's up to the management and recruitment to make the difference for next season,sort out this mismatched squad,get the fitness to the required levels and identify the players that do make the difference between also rans and promotion winners,and if there isn't money to do it,then work harder to get those players in on the budget available,it's not a huge gap to bridge for those at the club in position to do something about it.

Part of the issue for me has been the quality of loan.

We will be able to attract some of the best but last summer we really undercooked it and they added much of a muchness rather than genuine quality.

 

[Sky Blues]

I don’t disagree but if we play him in a two then it leaves us very exposed.

What system did you play when you were getting the best from him?

Hamer to the left in the middle and O'Hare to the right. They have a great understanding with each other.

 

[Boroblade1889]

Mission accomplished for me….id have taken this when we were bottom of the league….mid table, double over that lot and sent em down…..a lot of teams have got to go backwards for us to reach the playoffs offs….Get mathematically safe and start planning for next season.

 

[54yrblade]

We are where we are for a reason.

Last season we showed that we can't overcome a deficit or being put under pressure, particularly against our promotion rivals.

Last night showed it again and it's been there again this season.

It's what we are now.

Hamer, unfit and seen the best of him now. Tye C is poor and appears unfit. COH has moments but can't dominate over a game Cooper, appears to lack confidence as does the defence. Bamford can't do it alone up top.

We're nowhere near good enough for top 6 unless we're fit enough as a squad and sort the mentality and culture issue.

 

[skegblade]

Since Wilder got his side going we've been a good play off quality side with play off quality results. Unfortunately the 15 points we left on the table under Selles and the spell having to regain confidence meant that it was always going to be a big ask to get in the top 6.

Over the last 25 games we are only 7 points off the best side in that spell. That gives me some confidence we can be a play off quality side next season.

The loans will go ,better players will get poached,we have no parachute payment and our attendances are down,in what world do you think we compete,wilders competence in the buying market isnt fantastic
Blasters looked fkd since his cameo roles,the defence is stagnant at times ,best commited player is peck ,he wont be here next year ,the reason ...we need the funds to buy

 

[sitwell]

Our aim should be to enjoy the season now, experiment with a few players, look for a new striker and centre back ,and spoil Wrexhams season.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

The loans will go ,better players will get poached,we have no parachute payment and our attendances are down,in what world do you think we compete,wilders competence in the buying market isnt fantastic
Blasters looked fkd since his cameo roles,the defence is stagnant at times ,best commited player is peck ,he wont be here next year ,the reason ...we need the funds to buy

I'd argue the loans haven't been great this season. I suspect same quality or so next year is realistic.

Peck? Who is buying him?

2 extra play off places next year. It won't be easy but unfortunately that's why I was SO pissed off at sacking Wilder and the summer absolutely destroying our chances.

 

[Grey Blade]

The honesty some people need to take is they are miserable bastards.

Great game, played well, beaten by the top side who for large parts had their back to the wall. They ground out a victory, helped by some errors, ref, and them having the edge in quality.
I'd takes game like that every day of the week. And we'd win 90% of them.

Couldn't agree more! I didn't arrive home til 11.30 and as usual after a defeat couldn't believe the OTT negativity on here.
I can't remember seeing so many blocked shots - that's one statistic which might be worth recording. Coventry defended very well and that was the edge they had. It's a bit frustrating to see the ball being passed sideways but if the 'Gerritforrud gang' got their own way and the ball was hoofed forward repeatedly, the ball would just end up in their posession.
The Dave Bassett style of football was exciting to watch but it just wouldn't work now - today's teams are way more sophisticated.

 

[TJ blade]

MONEY!!!

We get to PL and stink it out, we can build on it.


We don't get to the PL, we have no money and become a Preston

We've become a Preston now

 

[Lord Eddard Muir]

The fact that we've now lost exactly half of the league games we've played and yet are still theoretically in the playoff picture is a damning verdict on the quality of the Championship this season

 

[TJ blade]

If we were only chasing one team I'd be more optimistic, but we're not, when we lose a few other teams can extend the lead , it was always going to be unrealistic, plus the fact we do not win games that have meaning is another reason I wouldn't want this team anywhere near them

Agree, we just dont win big games when it matters, same last season! Before anybody jumps on that shite up Penistone Road! Utds under21s would beat that shite!

 

[joe casey]

I like the championship. What's the point of getting to the prem we can't compete there. This is the first year for ages that we are not in a promotion or relegation battle. Just enjoy the games

Agree - and whilst I get and ultimately agree with the OP, I choose to be optimistic and think that whilst ever its mathematically possible, then we are hunting for 6th spot...otherwise whats the point in turning up to the rest of the games this season. It probably won't happen - but as we did in that wretched week last season, it only takes a few freak results for the table to change, so whilst there's a slim chance I'd rather enjoy chasing the dream