Changeable margins and bad coaching/management

[HeySethUTB]

It might sound surprising given our league position, but when you dig into the underlying data, things don’t look as rosy as the table might suggest. Numbers don’t panic, they don’t exaggerate they simply reflect the season.

A sore thumb is the progressive carries against. A stat tracking how freely opponents are able to carry the ball forward through us. To date we’ve performed similarly to, or worse than, teams like Plymouth, Stoke, Derby, Oxford, QPR, and Portsmouth, not exactly promotion rivals. Four of these teams also rank among the highest for xG against and are firmly stuck in the bottom 10. Anyone watching our games will have noticed, at times, how comfortable opponents seem running at us with the ball.

This approach, whether tactical or a symptom of something else (like maybe a lack of pace at full-back/out wide), leads to a pattern of opponents gaining ground and forcing our players into last-ditch tackles, blocks, or clearances. We rank fourth in the league for these preventative defensive interventions in the final third behind only Plymouth, Millwall, and Derby. While this shows our players commitment and grit, it also suggests we’re leaning more on individual defensive moments than a rock-solid tactical shape.

And while that defensive grit has gotten us this far, it’s also why we’ve sometimes struggled against better teams and those who can capitalise on the space we’ve allowed. Players like Watson, Fellows, and Doak have shown what happens when quality is met with opportunity. Do last year’s defensive issues still exist but are being suppressed by poor championship quality?

Offensively, I think it’s safe to say it’s been a bit of a mixed bag. I often watch us and think “Are we a BTEC version of Swansea?” and while it seems a harsh comparison Swansea actually outperform us in final third entries, shots on target percentage, and pass completion rates. What we’ve had, is the the advantage of individual brilliance from players who can create something out of nothing.

Injuries haven’t helped, of course, but even with our strongest XI, over the season we are ranked 13th in the division regarding shot chance creation, have we consistently looked dominant or tactically in control from game to game?

Wilder is right there’s so much more potential in this group. We’ve seen individual success carry us so far, and if we can turn those flashes into something more consistent, we’ll be an even stronger side.

The January transfer window will be huge. Targeted recruitment, especially to tighten up defensively with the absence of Souttar and added variety in attack, could make all the difference.

We’re still in a fantastic position, but we know we can improve. UTB! Keep the faith!!

 

[dsr-burnley]

Burnley aren't good?? Wake up buddy and look at the stats. They are better so far than Sheffield bleeding United that's for sure.

Cant take your post seriously when you come out with shit like that.

Sheffield United have more points than Burnley so far this season, disregarding the deduction. Burnley are good, but don't put yourself down as a result.

The difference is that (so far) Burnley have been significantly better against the top teams (including yourself). But Sheffield United have been better against the bottom teams. Look at your run of consecutive home wins without scoring a goal - Burnley played a bit like that, except that in doing so we don't score either. Stoke, QPR, Preston, Derby - four 0-0 home draws against that lot. We beat Plymouth 1-0 when they gave us a crazy penalty, Swansea 1-0 with another crazy penalty. Parker's policy is to defend the 0-0 scoreline and wait for the attackers to score; the tactic is to pass it round the box and the half-way line until the gap appears and we can score. If the gap doesn't appear, we don't score.

Which is where you went wrong against us. You attacked. As other teams have found, if you put 8 men behind the ball and defend, you are more or less certain to get a 0-0 draw and you might be able (in your case, having better than the average forwards, probably will) score a goal to win. Play those tactics at Turf Moor, and you'll be laughing.

 

[UddersBlade]

Burnley aren't good?? Wake up buddy and look at the stats. They are better so far than Sheffield bleeding United that's for sure.

Cant take your post seriously when you come out with shit like that.

No they are’nt we have accumulated 2 pts more than them this season. However - they & Leeds along with us deserve to be top 3 after 25 games. Difference is that both Leeds & Burnley have better strength in depth to cover for injuries / suspensions.

 

[Toronto Blade]

It's not the coaching staff fault Moore missed last night!
It's Moore's fault. A penalty taker needs a particular mind set. Maybe, I don't know this, but maybe Gus doesn't have that mind set. The best penalty taker we had was James Beatie. Whenever he took a pen he just went into the zone. His whole focus was on the ball and it going into the back of the net. He rarely missed. Billy had a similar approach.
Imho Moore for the penalties I've seen him take can't seem to focus himself correctly. There's an art to it.
As for coaching at corners, well, for as long back as I can remember( fifty years a blade) we've never been that good with corners.
The OP should bear in mind that it's this same coaching staff who with a two point deduction had us at the top of this division at Christmas three games ago.

I would add Rhino David Unsworth to that list he was an all power penalty taker

 

[Andy67]

Just picking up the point on corners. I think the success rate for goals from corners is around 2%, there’s always a perception that we should score more from corners but the reality is that no one does.

The bit that does annoy me is that our corners seem to lead to a lot of attacks for the opposition, not sure if stats back this up but my eyes tell me we’re shit immediately following a corner.

I can’t quite grasp the idea that set pieces etc aren’t practiced or prepared for. I know against Burnley there first touch from set pieces is about 13th and I know we rank as 3/4 highest and the prep of dropping the ball from a corner very close to the keeper was evident and when it happened they panicked, however the lack of corners etc meant it didn’t happen enough. All the prep that goes into a game doesn’t mean that even if executed properly it will get the desired outcome, hours are spent on video analysis and routines but the opposition does the same analysis and prepares for our weaknesses.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I can’t quite grasp the idea that set pieces etc aren’t practiced or prepared for. I know against Burnley there first touch from set pieces is about 13th and I know we rank as 3/4 highest and the prep of dropping the ball from a corner very close to the keeper was evident and when it happened they panicked, however the lack of corners etc meant it didn’t happen enough. All the prep that goes into a game doesn’t mean that even if executed properly it will get the desired outcome, hours are spent on video analysis and routines but the opposition does the same analysis and prepares for our weaknesses.

I’m sure we work on them, we’re just shit at them.

 

[robbiez666]

This is from late November. We might be predictable but we're no Watford!

 

[utd4ever]

Revert to 4-4-2
Have Moore (target man) and Campbell ( poacher) up top

Direct/ long ball

see how that goes and if score loads of goals go with it.

Cooper
Gilchrist Anel Robinson burrows

Raksak Souza. Hamer. Hare

Moore. Tyrese

 

[steve26272]

. He has a great footballing brain but sadly his team mates don't.

herein lies the problem.

We’re trying to be an orchestra but some of our lads are club turns

We have adopted the elite approach of playing out from the back, tika taka passing and overplaying

But with JLT, learning Peck and moore

When it comes off like Brooks goal it’s easy on the eye, but trying to play intelligent football when we have only got Davies and Hamer who have it in them right now is crackers

 

[MiserableBlader]

p

So frustrated, but I put this at the door of the management and coaching team.
Moore took the penalty tonight. Very weak and similar to the last penalty he took which he scored, but which he was very lucky to score.
Watch that penalty back.
Anyone with any sense would not let him take another.
These are not fine margins, these are things that even people like us, who have not played football at a professional level can see so easily.
Best player in the team by a country mile is Gus Hamer.
Best dead ball player in the team by a country mile, Gus Hamer.
Why is Moore taking penalties?
Hamer should take penalties. It isn’t even a debate.
1 - 0 up at that point?
We should then put the game to bed.
Sunderland aren’t good.
Burnley aren’t good.
WBA aren’t good.?
1 point from 9.
Moore’s a big lad, and I like him, and I’m not criticising him, but big lads aren’t generally good with their feet and if I wanted someone to head a ball in the net he’d be up there - absolutely, but horses for courses?
No. Not penalties.
Before Souttar was injured - attacking corners? We had Souttar, Moore, Robinson, Souza, Gilchrist and Ahmehodovic. Biggest, tallest, potentially the most bullying team I can ever remember in all the 55 years I’ve supported Utd.
And how many goals did we score from dead balls or corners?
Hardly any.
Should have been banging them in for fun.
Corners should be coached. All dead ball situations should be coached.
If they did coach it, and the goal aren’t raining in and we have players if that size?
Then the coaches should be sacked.
We’re pressing well, but when we get the ball back, everything going forward goes slow mo.
When we break, we get up the pitch we play it backwards and it goes slow mo.
We’re making space, stretching the opposition’s defence. Then playing it backwards.Then achieving nothing.
Then there’s this new tactic of having two centre halves in the box when taking a goal kick, which allows at least two opposing attackers in your box. Eventually the goalkeeper ends up hitting it long?
What has been achieved?
Other than putting all your backline under pressure?
That I’m afraid is bullshit.
Football is a very simple game.
You just need to stick the ball in your opponent’s net more times than they put it in yours.
I am so frustrated, but I don’t put it at the feet of the players.
The coaches and management are culpable.
Sheffield United are a good team, they could walk this league, but there are decisions that are being made by the management that very, very poor.
It’s very basic.
If we get promoted this year?
If these coaches and management don’t up their game?
We’re going to have a very, very miserable season again.
Pathetic that the coaches and management aren’t changing the little and predictable things that would get us over the line.
Make as many excuses as you like Chris, I’m afraid it ultimately lies at your door.
I read this back and I know it’s a frustrated rant, I apologise, it didn’t start as one, but I love my club and I know we can be better.

Just to confirm this is not me with a second account!
I would have had to mention the imbecility of Hamer left Brooks Jesus right, Brewster deep or on wing etc etc
I still say with good PRACTICAL management rather than 'the emperors new clothes; fashion insanity we could have stayed up last season in the weakest 1st division ever.
My position on what you see with possession based football at the back,'inverted wingers' etc if you look closer, is also BOLLOCKS.

 

[wadblade]

We are running on empty at the moment. Am I right in saying that we used every available outfield senior pro against Sunderland

I still think at times we played well in all the Xmas matches and if the gods had smiled, we could easily have gained another 4- 6 points

Best thing we could hope for the snow arrives and Watford’s cancelled, and the cavalry arrive in time for Norwich

 

[AWetFlannel]

So frustrated, but I put this at the door of the management and coaching team.
Moore took the penalty tonight. Very weak and similar to the last penalty he took which he scored, but which he was very lucky to score.
Watch that penalty back.
Anyone with any sense would not let him take another.
These are not fine margins, these are things that even people like us, who have not played football at a professional level can see so easily.
Best player in the team by a country mile is Gus Hamer.
Best dead ball player in the team by a country mile, Gus Hamer.
Why is Moore taking penalties?
Hamer should take penalties. It isn’t even a debate.
1 - 0 up at that point?
We should then put the game to bed.
Sunderland aren’t good.
Burnley aren’t good.
WBA aren’t good.?
1 point from 9.
Moore’s a big lad, and I like him, and I’m not criticising him, but big lads aren’t generally good with their feet and if I wanted someone to head a ball in the net he’d be up there - absolutely, but horses for courses?
No. Not penalties.
Before Souttar was injured - attacking corners? We had Souttar, Moore, Robinson, Souza, Gilchrist and Ahmehodovic. Biggest, tallest, potentially the most bullying team I can ever remember in all the 55 years I’ve supported Utd.
And how many goals did we score from dead balls or corners?
Hardly any.
Should have been banging them in for fun.
Corners should be coached. All dead ball situations should be coached.
If they did coach it, and the goal aren’t raining in and we have players if that size?
Then the coaches should be sacked.
We’re pressing well, but when we get the ball back, everything going forward goes slow mo.
When we break, we get up the pitch we play it backwards and it goes slow mo.
We’re making space, stretching the opposition’s defence. Then playing it backwards.Then achieving nothing.
Then there’s this new tactic of having two centre halves in the box when taking a goal kick, which allows at least two opposing attackers in your box. Eventually the goalkeeper ends up hitting it long?
What has been achieved?
Other than putting all your backline under pressure?
That I’m afraid is bullshit.
Football is a very simple game.
You just need to stick the ball in your opponent’s net more times than they put it in yours.
I am so frustrated, but I don’t put it at the feet of the players.
The coaches and management are culpable.
Sheffield United are a good team, they could walk this league, but there are decisions that are being made by the management that very, very poor.
It’s very basic.
If we get promoted this year?
If these coaches and management don’t up their game?
We’re going to have a very, very miserable season again.
Pathetic that the coaches and management aren’t changing the little and predictable things that would get us over the line.
Make as many excuses as you like Chris, I’m afraid it ultimately lies at your door.
I read this back and I know it’s a frustrated rant, I apologise, it didn’t start as one, but I love my club and I know we can be better.

This has to be the most bitter, embarrassing, rambling, factually inaccurate OPs in this forum's history.

Take a bow son.

 

[MiserableBlader]

Just picking up the point on corners. I think the success rate for goals from corners is around 2%, there’s always a perception that we should score more from corners but the reality is that no one does.

The bit that does annoy me is that our corners seem to lead to a lot of attacks for the opposition, not sure if stats back this up but my eyes tell me we’re shit immediately following a corner.

How many teams have a 6' 7" centre back, 6' 5" centre forward, 6' 4" centre back and 6' 2" centre mid and take corners where they do not get a cross in but finish with their OWN keeper receiving the ball?
They are a shambles.
We have an international giant scoring at one goal per 3 games who I can only remember heading the ball at goal from between the posts ONCE. (went over the bar) They always used him DEEP heading the ball back across goal. And it succeeded ONCE at Bristol City with One scoring.

 

[Nick Jansky]

My position on what you see with possession based football at the back,'inverted wingers' etc if you look closer, is also BOLLOCKS.

I think most of us cottoned on a while ago that your position on pretty much everything is bollocks. But thanks for reminding us

 

[Houston_Blade]

How many teams have a 6' 7" centre back, 6' 5" centre forward, 6' 4" centre back and 6' 2" centre mid and take corners where they do not get a cross in but finish with their OWN keeper receiving the ball?
They are a shambles.
We have an international giant scoring at one goal per 3 games who I can only remember heading the ball at goal from between the posts ONCE. (went over the bar) They always used him DEEP heading the ball back across goal. And it succeeded ONCE at Bristol City with One scoring.

He scored 1 goal for Stoke and no goals for Leicester so it’s not just us who struggle to get the ball on his head, or he might just not be very good at scoring with headers.

 

[wak1889]

So frustrated, but I put this at the door of the management and coaching team.
Moore took the penalty tonight. Very weak and similar to the last penalty he took which he scored, but which he was very lucky to score.
Watch that penalty back.
Anyone with any sense would not let him take another.
These are not fine margins, these are things that even people like us, who have not played football at a professional level can see so easily.
Best player in the team by a country mile is Gus Hamer.
Best dead ball player in the team by a country mile, Gus Hamer.
Why is Moore taking penalties?
Hamer should take penalties. It isn’t even a debate.
1 - 0 up at that point?
We should then put the game to bed.
Sunderland aren’t good.
Burnley aren’t good.
WBA aren’t good.?
1 point from 9.
Moore’s a big lad, and I like him, and I’m not criticising him, but big lads aren’t generally good with their feet and if I wanted someone to head a ball in the net he’d be up there - absolutely, but horses for courses?
No. Not penalties.
Before Souttar was injured - attacking corners? We had Souttar, Moore, Robinson, Souza, Gilchrist and Ahmehodovic. Biggest, tallest, potentially the most bullying team I can ever remember in all the 55 years I’ve supported Utd.
And how many goals did we score from dead balls or corners?
Hardly any.
Should have been banging them in for fun.
Corners should be coached. All dead ball situations should be coached.
If they did coach it, and the goal aren’t raining in and we have players if that size?
Then the coaches should be sacked.
We’re pressing well, but when we get the ball back, everything going forward goes slow mo.
When we break, we get up the pitch we play it backwards and it goes slow mo.
We’re making space, stretching the opposition’s defence. Then playing it backwards.Then achieving nothing.
Then there’s this new tactic of having two centre halves in the box when taking a goal kick, which allows at least two opposing attackers in your box. Eventually the goalkeeper ends up hitting it long?
What has been achieved?
Other than putting all your backline under pressure?
That I’m afraid is bullshit.
Football is a very simple game.
You just need to stick the ball in your opponent’s net more times than they put it in yours.
I am so frustrated, but I don’t put it at the feet of the players.
The coaches and management are culpable.
Sheffield United are a good team, they could walk this league, but there are decisions that are being made by the management that very, very poor.
It’s very basic.
If we get promoted this year?
If these coaches and management don’t up their game?
We’re going to have a very, very miserable season again.
Pathetic that the coaches and management aren’t changing the little and predictable things that would get us over the line.
Make as many excuses as you like Chris, I’m afraid it ultimately lies at your door.
I read this back and I know it’s a frustrated rant, I apologise, it didn’t start as one, but I love my club and I know we can be better.

I agree I've said it before when a team gets promoted they improve the playing squad with players that are hopefully capable of performing at the new level , but they never upgrade the manager and coaches, and that's a huge problem we have never done it , until it's too late and we almost never have a sustainable run in the top division, and are inevitably relegated then get rid of the manager

 

[Andy67]

I’m sure we work on them, we’re just shit at them.

Amazing assessment. I suppose we are in top 5 of first contact on set pieces we are doing well enough to be 3rd in the league. I’m not saying that we are the best as we would be top of the league what I am saying is that there is a lot of time and effort spent in video analysis on the opposing teams and planning to exploit weaknesses. We are talking about a game that is not played on a computer but by human beings with multiple thousand variables where people make mistakes and people outperform expectations. All we know is the less injured, the more consistent in performances cost more money but that doesn’t guarantee you end up with an excellent player. We are where we are because we have a small squad of decent players who are doing what the coaches tell them, that is until they make three errors like they did at Sunderland.

 

[Andy67]

This has to be the most bitter, embarrassing, rambling, factually inaccurate OPs in this forum's history.

Take a bow son.

I tend to be more forgiving than you but I can certainly see the point you are making more than the other one

 

[Houston_Blade]

View attachment 200780
This is from late November. We might be predictable but we're no Watford!

Where’s the options for:

Straight into keepers hands
Doesn’t beat front man
Sets the opposition on an attack

???

 

[Houston_Blade]

Amazing assessment. I suppose we are in top 5 of first contact on set pieces we are doing well enough to be 3rd in the league. I’m not saying that we are the best as we would be top of the league what I am saying is that there is a lot of time and effort spent in video analysis on the opposing teams and planning to exploit weaknesses. We are talking about a game that is not played on a computer but by human beings with multiple thousand variables where people make mistakes and people outperform expectations. All we know is the less injured, the more consistent in performances cost more money but that doesn’t guarantee you end up with an excellent player. We are where we are because we have a small squad of decent players who are doing what the coaches tell them, that is until they make three errors like they did at Sunderland.

I’ve read all that and I still don’t think I’m any closer to understanding why the opposition create more chances from our own corners than we do.

 

[Norwood's 6 iron]

Hamer should take penalties. It isn’t even a debate.

We can only assume that you have spoken to Gus about being our penalty taker.
In his 100 plus appearances for Coventry was he their regular penalty taker?
Not every player wants to take a penalty, as they can't handle the pressure.
But you obviously know better.

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

So frustrated, but I put this at the door of the management and coaching team.
Moore took the penalty tonight. Very weak and similar to the last penalty he took which he scored, but which he was very lucky to score.
Watch that penalty back.
Anyone with any sense would not let him take another.
These are not fine margins, these are things that even people like us, who have not played football at a professional level can see so easily.
Best player in the team by a country mile is Gus Hamer.
Best dead ball player in the team by a country mile, Gus Hamer.
Why is Moore taking penalties?
Hamer should take penalties. It isn’t even a debate.
1 - 0 up at that point?
We should then put the game to bed.
Sunderland aren’t good.
Burnley aren’t good.
WBA aren’t good.?
1 point from 9.
Moore’s a big lad, and I like him, and I’m not criticising him, but big lads aren’t generally good with their feet and if I wanted someone to head a ball in the net he’d be up there - absolutely, but horses for courses?
No. Not penalties.
Before Souttar was injured - attacking corners? We had Souttar, Moore, Robinson, Souza, Gilchrist and Ahmehodovic. Biggest, tallest, potentially the most bullying team I can ever remember in all the 55 years I’ve supported Utd.
And how many goals did we score from dead balls or corners?
Hardly any.
Should have been banging them in for fun.
Corners should be coached. All dead ball situations should be coached.
If they did coach it, and the goal aren’t raining in and we have players if that size?
Then the coaches should be sacked.
We’re pressing well, but when we get the ball back, everything going forward goes slow mo.
When we break, we get up the pitch we play it backwards and it goes slow mo.
We’re making space, stretching the opposition’s defence. Then playing it backwards.Then achieving nothing.
Then there’s this new tactic of having two centre halves in the box when taking a goal kick, which allows at least two opposing attackers in your box. Eventually the goalkeeper ends up hitting it long?
What has been achieved?
Other than putting all your backline under pressure?
That I’m afraid is bullshit.
Football is a very simple game.
You just need to stick the ball in your opponent’s net more times than they put it in yours.
I am so frustrated, but I don’t put it at the feet of the players.
The coaches and management are culpable.
Sheffield United are a good team, they could walk this league, but there are decisions that are being made by the management that very, very poor.
It’s very basic.
If we get promoted this year?
If these coaches and management don’t up their game?
We’re going to have a very, very miserable season again.
Pathetic that the coaches and management aren’t changing the little and predictable things that would get us over the line.
Make as many excuses as you like Chris, I’m afraid it ultimately lies at your door.
I read this back and I know it’s a frustrated rant, I apologise, it didn’t start as one, but I love my club and I know we can be better.

Best post I’ve seen on here for ages.