Calm Down and Fix the Problems

[Cerberus Blade]

A glance at the league table means emotions are running, understandably, high but now is not the time to panic.


Wilder’s team is deficient but not abysmal and, despite 3 defeats, is beating itself, rather than being outplayed.


Of the four league games played to date, the only defeat not self-inflicted through defensive errors was at, league leaders, Bolton – where the overall performance was good.


Wilder will be hurting but now is the time for clear thinking, not hysteria. Having changed his goalkeeper, he now needs to deal with three more problems to turn things round.


1. Central Defence


Wilder has stated his need for another central defender. Given the 4 goals in 2 games emanating from central defender errors this has become a critical priority. It’s two early to judge Wilson and O’Connell, individually or as a pairing, but with the season rapidly disintegrating, we can’t wait to find out.


Wilder, needs to bring in an experienced, proven central defender (Baptiste would do the trick) to play alongside either Wilson or McConnell.


2. The Right Partner for Fleck


Basham has many attributes but has poor positional sense (which, adds to our defensive woes) and plays with his head down.


Wilder, needs to decide, quickly, whether to employ Fleck in the deeper role he played, last season, at Coventry or pushed further up. He then needs to sign a compatible, strong, six-footer to play alongside him.


3. Stop Playing Sharpe and Clarke as a Pairing


Wilder has a huge decision to make here as everyone can see that his current strike pairing isn’t working.


If he wants to persist with 4-4-2, he needs to put some pace alongside Clarke, which is presumably the plan for Lavery. Moving Done alongside Clarke is another option within the current formation.


Alternatively, Wilder could move back to his pre-season 4-2-3-1 set-up, which might look something like:



……………………………..…….Moore


Basham……..O’Connell……………..New CB…………Hussey


…………………………..Fleck…………….New CM


…………………Sharpe………..Scougall…………….Duffy


……………………………………...Clarke



Signing players when you’re rock-bottom is obviously more difficult, which is a key reason why it becomes progressively more difficult to escape a relegation battle as a season progresses.


Wilder’s current squad is well short of promotion material, but neither should it be flirting with relegation. However, no team can consistently gift soft goals and succeed, so at a bare minimum, Wilder must sort out central defence. If he can bring in an effective partner for Fleck and find the right attacking formation, a charge for the Play-offs could yet materialise.

A glance at the league table means emotions are running, understandably, high but now is not the time to panic.


Wilder’s team is deficient but not abysmal and, despite 3 defeats, is beating itself, rather than being outplayed.


Of the four league games played to date, the only defeat not self-inflicted through defensive errors was at, league leaders, Bolton – where the overall performance was good.


Wilder will be hurting but now is the time for clear thinking, not hysteria. Having changed his goalkeeper, he now needs to deal with three more problems to turn things round.


1. Central Defence


Wilder has stated his need for another central defender. Given the 4 goals in 2 games emanating from central defender errors this has become a critical priority. It’s two early to judge Wilson and O’Connell, individually or as a pairing, but with the season rapidly disintegrating, we can’t wait to find out.


Wilder, needs to bring in an experienced, proven central defender (Baptiste would do the trick) to play alongside either Wilson or McConnell.


2. The Right Partner for Fleck


Basham has many attributes but has poor positional sense (which, adds to our defensive woes) and plays with his head down.


Wilder, needs to decide, quickly, whether to employ Fleck in the deeper role he played, last season, at Coventry or pushed further up. He then needs to sign a compatible, strong, six-footer to play alongside him.


3. Stop Playing Sharpe and Clarke as a Pairing


Wilder has a huge decision to make here as everyone can see that his current strike pairing isn’t working.


If he wants to persist with 4-4-2, he needs to put some pace alongside Clarke, which is presumably the plan for Lavery. Moving Done alongside Clarke is another option within the current formation.


Alternatively, Wilder could move back to his pre-season 4-2-3-1 set-up, which might look something like:



……………………………..…….Moore


Basham……..O’Connell……………..New CB…………Hussey


…………………………..Fleck…………….New CM


…………………Sharpe………..Scougall…………….Duffy


……………………………………...Clarke



Signing players when you’re rock-bottom is obviously more difficult, which is a key reason why it becomes progressively more difficult to escape a relegation battle as a season progresses.


Wilder’s current squad is well short of promotion material, but neither should it be flirting with relegation. However, no team can consistently gift soft goals and succeed, so at a bare minimum, Wilder must sort out central defence. If he can bring in an effective partner for Fleck and find the right attacking formation, a charge for the Play-offs could yet materialise.

Excellent post. I would have added McNulty instead of Sharp (at least give it a try) otherwise agree 100%,

 

[wizadry]

I've got an idea, lets not buy anymore midfielders because we never use the fuckers. Lets play 5-0-5 formation because this will suit our style of play. Oh, and Flecks injury isn't a groin tweak, it's fucking whiplash!

 

[HillmortonBlade]

An update from your correspondent in Prague.

Went to watch Sparta last night, not a hoof ball in sight. Not one, if you exclude clearances from the back. Lot's of "tippy tappy", but noticeable that the players always at least looked forward upon receiving the ball. 0-0 at 45 minutes, as the extra time announced at 1 minute it was clear that the midfield/defence were passing it round to finish out the half... Cue whistling and booing from the crowd (who had been enthusiastically behind the team up to that point). Me and HBJnr looked to each other and felt at home.

NB, the "ultras" seem intent on enjoying themselves, no matter what was going on.

Second half? Team responded, much more assertive in their tippy-tappy, but much more wing play and three goals created from wide. Tippy tappy, with assertion and a degree of aggression works a treat.

And the beer and sausage, and the public transport, were great too.

Signing off. Going to Pilsen today.

 

[RedandWhite]

A glance at the league table means emotions are running, understandably, high but now is not the time to panic.


Wilder’s team is deficient but not abysmal and, despite 3 defeats, is beating itself, rather than being outplayed.


Of the four league games played to date, the only defeat not self-inflicted through defensive errors was at, league leaders, Bolton – where the overall performance was good.


Wilder will be hurting but now is the time for clear thinking, not hysteria. Having changed his goalkeeper, he now needs to deal with three more problems to turn things round.


1. Central Defence


Wilder has stated his need for another central defender. Given the 4 goals in 2 games emanating from central defender errors this has become a critical priority. It’s two early to judge Wilson and O’Connell, individually or as a pairing, but with the season rapidly disintegrating, we can’t wait to find out.


Wilder, needs to bring in an experienced, proven central defender (Baptiste would do the trick) to play alongside either Wilson or McConnell.


2. The Right Partner for Fleck


Basham has many attributes but has poor positional sense (which, adds to our defensive woes) and plays with his head down.


Wilder, needs to decide, quickly, whether to employ Fleck in the deeper role he played, last season, at Coventry or pushed further up. He then needs to sign a compatible, strong, six-footer to play alongside him.


3. Stop Playing Sharpe and Clarke as a Pairing


Wilder has a huge decision to make here as everyone can see that his current strike pairing isn’t working.


If he wants to persist with 4-4-2, he needs to put some pace alongside Clarke, which is presumably the plan for Lavery. Moving Done alongside Clarke is another option within the current formation.


Alternatively, Wilder could move back to his pre-season 4-2-3-1 set-up, which might look something like:



……………………………..…….Moore


Basham……..O’Connell……………..New CB…………Hussey


…………………………..Fleck…………….New CM


…………………Sharpe………..Scougall…………….Duffy


……………………………………...Clarke



Signing players when you’re rock-bottom is obviously more difficult, which is a key reason why it becomes progressively more difficult to escape a relegation battle as a season progresses.


Wilder’s current squad is well short of promotion material, but neither should it be flirting with relegation. However, no team can consistently gift soft goals and succeed, so at a bare minimum, Wilder must sort out central defence. If he can bring in an effective partner for Fleck and find the right attacking formation, a charge for the Play-offs could yet materialise.[/QUOTE

Sharp on the wing are you mad?

 

[Sheffsteel]

The problem is not the league position at the moment however embarrasing.

The problem is our performances HAVE been abysmal. Certainly the two home league games.

Totally agree.

In the early part of the season it's best to take results with a pinch of salt.

I try to assess the performences NOT the results and look at the underlying trends.
The problem is...based on our performences and character of the players there's plenty of reason to be worried.

But I'm impressed with Wilders drive, character and the noises he makes so far.
Also fortunately for us it's a long season ans there's plenty of time to improve.

 

[The Bohemian]

Sharp on the wing are you mad?

I accept, it's not ideal. Clearly, he wouldn't be an out and out winger in a 4-2-3-1. Billy can play wide though and was the best crosser of a ball from wide positions we had last season.

Anyway, my main point was how ineffective Clarke and Sharp become as a pair. Of the two, Clarke offers more with his back to goal, in the air and can also finish. Assuming Wilder wants to retain the Route One option (which has logic when we're playing at home and up against the almost inevitable 4-5-1 barrier), Clarke is by far the better option. So Wilder will most likely either drop Billy (in which case he would probably leave) or try to accommodate him elsewhere. He lacks the guile to play as a No 10 behind Clarke, which leaves, really, only one option. And in all honesty, he would be hard pushed to be less effective then Done in a wider role.

None of these views prove definitively whether I'm "mad" or not but, in answer to your question, I'm not sure.

 

[Silent Blade]

That two year contract for Wright is looking ridiculous, surely it wasn't necessary.

I texted an Oxford fan at the weekend for his thoughts on Wright. He said he is brilliant!

 

[Bladesman]