Chris Wilder's pre-match interview

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To sum up.

EEL is doubtful and hasn't been training consistently. Hip problem. Will leave it until Friday but he could be out. Hopefully it won't weaken us.
Basham came in at the weekend and has been disappointed to be out so could come in.
Those on the fringes of the first team are going to have a large part to play as we come towards the end of the season as injuries accumulate.
Example: O' Shea has come in but not got any game time because Duffy has been exceptional.
Those on the fringe know that they are part of things and they are included.
Wants a group effort as we more into the latter stages of the season.
There are long-distance away games and it gives us the potential to freshen things up.
But would like a settled team and won't change things for the sake of it.
There are some injured players who hopefully will be back in the fold before long (Clarke, etc)
Puts recent poor results down to individual mistakes rather than poor performances.
Still progressing and still not the finished article but pleased with new additions.
Doesn't want to get carried away with anything.
Recognises that we have played well against teams in the lowest half and is pleased with that.
On Jake Wright's appearance stats - a bit lighthearted - we won a few on the bounce and he wasn't in the team!
But then enlarges on this and says it was a hard decision to bring him back and it paid off.
Tribute to Basham's attitude in taking that blow with admirable fortitude (my wording).
Lavery also was left out and came on and did well also.
Pleased with the team's attitude but emphasizes that he's always prioritized a strong attitude and communal group effort as the most important thing.
But has quality players too.
Quality players plus fantastic attitude is a great thing.
Is it a defining month? There will be twists and turns - teams could come with a late run and influence things.
The top teams haven't been convincing as a whole recently.
But yes it's a big month considering the home games.
But also we need to get positive results against the two away games coming up which are absolutely fucking miles away (my wording).
We aim to win the division.
The aim is always to be the best team in the division.
On recruitment potentially for the level above: it's best not to get ahead of yourself while still having a short, medium and long term recruitment policy.
Most but not all recent additions have been for medium to long term.
Peterborough are dangerous and are an expansive team. They can hurt you and like us will want to win.
 
Sounds like O'Shea is seriously pushing Duffy for a starting place, as is Samir for one of Fleck or Coutt's spots.

A great thing is competition for places. I expect us to get better and better in midfield and up top during this run in. My only slight concern is the defence, if EEL is out for any length of time and we lose another of the CBs we are on thin ice. Either way if Wright gets injured we might struggle.
 
I feel for the first time in a while we are strong at centre back. Wilson seems close to being fully fit again and is no mule's fool.

Fair point that actually. I have sang Wilson's praises before yet to my shame completely forgot him when I posted earlier. :oops:
 
The guy knows what team spirit is all about...it'll go a long way.
 
I say it frequently, but I can't help have 100% confidence in Wilder.

The manner in which he conducts himself and speaks is fantastic. He seems incredibly well balanced; passionate about the club, but not a gobshite like Warnock. Tactically minded with the ability to go direct, but not a hoofball merchant.
 



Sounds like O'Shea is seriously pushing Duffy for a starting place, as is Samir for one of Fleck or Coutt's spots.

A great thing is competition for places. I expect us to get better and better in midfield and up top during this run in. My only slight concern is the defence, if EEL is out for any length of time and we lose another of the CBs we are on thin ice. Either way if Wright gets injured we might struggle.



I had thought the same about Carruthers pressing for one of those spots but when he’s come on, it’s been for Duffy in a more advance role. Perhaps if we looked to freshen things up in midfield we might change the shape slightly from



Coutts---------Fleck

---------Duffy



To



---------Basham (or Fleck)

Carruthers----O Shea



as it seems both Carruthers and O Shea want to play slightly more advance positions. This would be more like the shape that Clough’s midfield was with



-------------Doyle

-------Coady---Scougall




Or Adkins’ 352 midfield where it was


-----------Hammond

-------Flynn-----Cuvelier



I don’t see it as a long term plan, just thinking if we found ourselves wanting to freshen up and rest our midfielders for a game, it could be a way to go that would perhaps suit Carruthers and O Shea better than having one in a deep role.


As for CB, I wouldn’t be taking any risks with EEL as for me, it’s almost a toss up between him and Basham in the RCB role at the moment so might as well let him recover and play Basham there. We’ve still got Wilson waiting in the wings who has by all accounts been good for the U23a so I’m not massively concerned regarding defensive cover.
 
I say it frequently, but I can't help have 100% confidence in Wilder.

The manner in which he conducts himself and speaks is fantastic. He seems incredibly well balanced; passionate about the club, but not a gobshite like Warnock. Tactically minded with the ability to go direct, but not a hoofball merchant.

Totally agree.

It's his grounding in lower league and especially non league football that's taught him that talent can be overrated and how far a team can go with character, team spirit and 100% application (just like Bassetts Wimbledon), in fact it makes you wonder how much Wilder learnt from Bassetts management style.

One comment he made In an interview the other week which I found really interesting was how he said that some managers are obsessed with tactics and formations. He said that he likes to keep it simple and concentrate more on his own team than focussing too much on the opposition. He gave the impression that he's not massively into tactics (apparently Brian Clough was the same).

Got the impression that it's Knill who is the tactics expert and Wilder is more into leading and inspiring players to perform at their best. Also get the impression that Knill is "good cop" with Wilder being "bad cop".
Wilder certainly doesn't suffer fools with team spirit being key to his success.
 
Totally agree.

It's his grounding in lower league and especially non league football that's taught him that talent can be overrated and how far a team can go with character, team spirit and 100% application (just like Bassetts Wimbledon), in fact it makes you wonder how much Wilder learnt from Bassetts management style.

One comment he made In an interview the other week which I found really interesting was how he said that some managers are obsessed with tactics and formations. He said that he likes to keep it simple and concentrate more on his own team than focussing too much on the opposition. He gave the impression that he's not massively into tactics (apparently Brian Clough was the same).

Got the impression that it's Knill who is the tactics expert and Wilder is more into leading and inspiring players to perform at their best. Also get the impression that Knill is "good cop" with Wilder being "bad cop".
Wilder certainly doesn't suffer fools with team spirit being key to his success.
I don't believe him when he says he's not into tactics. I think the point he's trying to get across is that some managers set out to stop the other team playing first, what I call the 'Benitez approach' because that's how he won a title in Spain. That's for underdogs. We're not underdogs in this league so we can concentrate on imposing our game plan on what is usually weaker opposition.
It's still 'tactics'.
 
Or Adkins’ 352 midfield where it was


-----------Hammond

-------Flynn-----Cuvelier

That midfield seemed odd at the time, now with the benefit of hindsight we did well to finish in the top half with it. What the fuck was Adkins thinking? Maybe there's more than a little weight to the theory that he would have been quite happy with a payoff from January onwards.

Dean Fucking Hammond. What a stump. Seeing his name on here brings on an involuntary rage.
 
Totally agree.

It's his grounding in lower league and especially non league football that's taught him that talent can be overrated and how far a team can go with character, team spirit and 100% application (just like Bassetts Wimbledon), in fact it makes you wonder how much Wilder learnt from Bassetts management style.

One comment he made In an interview the other week which I found really interesting was how he said that some managers are obsessed with tactics and formations. He said that he likes to keep it simple and concentrate more on his own team than focussing too much on the opposition. He gave the impression that he's not massively into tactics (apparently Brian Clough was the same).

Got the impression that it's Knill who is the tactics expert and Wilder is more into leading and inspiring players to perform at their best. Also get the impression that Knill is "good cop" with Wilder being "bad cop".
Wilder certainly doesn't suffer fools with team spirit being key to his success.

He didn't say that talent can be overrated at all. He emphasised the importance of having quality players allied to great attitudes. He has emphasised the right way from day one.

No amount of football alchemy will turn Tuftyball into Hoof and Hope. The amazing thing is that anyone would want another Bassett in modern times. It certainly isn't Tufty. If in doubt, watch his team play, then watch a video of Bassett's Wimbledon or Blades post-Deane.
 
Remember how Wilder looked, four games in ? Furrowed, grey, baffled, broken, defeated. I thought he'd be gone by Christmas.

Very happy to be wrong. His GP and family are probably happier too :)
 

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