Defence - lessons learned

[Trafford]

Based on what we've seen so far this season, the main issues that we need to address are: -

• Most of the goals that we have conceded this year have been self inflicted
• Simmonsen can neither catch the ball nor punch it convincingly when there is a crowd of players in front of him - he may as well stop in the middle of the goal and attempt to save any headers that come in
• Neither Simmonsen nor the other defenders "call" when they are going for the ball - I used to scream my name when I played at centre back, it made the centre forward think that he was going to get clattered and also let my fellow defenders know to get out of the way
• The central defenders aren't winning enough first time headers when balls are punted into our box - and if they don't win the first one, they are often slow to react to the second one
• The midfield keep giving needless free kicks away near the half way line when they ought to be running the clock down - that gives the opposition the chance to lob it back into our box again and panic stations set in
• We keep trying to play football until the end of the match rather than just keeping possession or playing it down the wings - we need to be more professional
• We don't have any natural leaders on the pitch
• The forwards don't help out by holding play up - too often they lose possession due to poor control or trying something fancy

Many of these shortcomings were evident last year and the coaches can't be blind to them, so why haven't they done something about it? If the players aren't listening, drop a couple as a lesson to the rest; and if they haven't been told, change the coaching staff. It isn't rocket science.

But I suspect that the answer to most of the above is to either get Morgan fit or draft someone in who has the same characteristics.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Perhaps the above illustrates that Wilson has not really changed anything at all - just the opposition in general is not as good as last years opposition!!!
The squad is probably the most expensive to run in the division
Simonsen is certainly the most expensive goalkeeper
Evans is certainly the most expensive 'striker'
Montgomery and Quinn are probably the most expensive midfielders
All in all - not a lot of change from last year then !!
The players are still a bunch of overpaid, under talented players that are stealing a very very good living on the back of United and unfortunately
Wilson has not got what it takes to sort out the mess!
I'm fed up with his after match rambling, he either can't see the shortcomings or is incapable of doing anything about them!

 

[Bladesman]

I think Wilson has tried to change the style of play but its certainly evident that the same mistakes are being made by the same players from last year.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

Wilson has not got what it takes to sort out the mess!
I'm fed up with his after match rambling, he either can't see the shortcomings or is incapable of doing anything about them!

Its probably both Fiery. He can see the shortcomings, but can't move on the players he needs to to free up some budget. What he needs is time and patience. What did you expect, him to just click his fingers and everything to be OK again..?

 

[Fiery Blade]

Its probably both Fiery. He can see the shortcomings, but can't move on the players he needs to to free up some budget. What he needs is time and patience. What did you expect, him to just click his fingers and everything to be OK again..?

No I didn't expect that Dunc ! But what I do expect is that he and his coaching staff work with what he has to get the best out of of the players at his disposal!
Simonsen, on face value should be one of the better keepers in this league (based on his hourly rate of pay) yet we look with envious eyes over to Huddersfield who's current encumbant between the sticks wasn't deemed good enough as a reserve keeper at BDTBL
Cresswell -One of our top earners is now not good enough to get a place in the match day squad!
Porter and McDonald, both brought in by Wilson look like run of the mill third division players - Flynn, another Wilson purchase is so lightweight he wouldn't look out of place in the Throstles Under 12 side and JFL, another Wilson buy (FOC) can't get in the side because Collins and 18yr old Harry (unfortunately both making basic error after error week in week out are the players in the shirts!
All in all Dunc, Wilson has not done much except get the side playing in little triangles still making error after error at the back and missing chance after chance up front!
United are an average team in a poor league - My view on Wilson has not changes Run of the mill third division manager - he has not done anything yet to prove otherwise!!!

 

[broomhillblade]

Based on what we've seen so far this season, the main issues that we need to address are: -

• Most of the goals that we have conceded this year have been self inflicted
• Simmonsen can neither catch the ball nor punch it convincingly when there is a crowd of players in front of him - he may as well stop in the middle of the goal and attempt to save any headers that come in
• Neither Simmonsen nor the other defenders "call" when they are going for the ball - I used to scream my name when I played at centre back, it made the centre forward think that he was going to get clattered and also let my fellow defenders know to get out of the way
• The central defenders aren't winning enough first time headers when balls are punted into our box - and if they don't win the first one, they are often slow to react to the second one
• The midfield keep giving needless free kicks away near the half way line when they ought to be running the clock down - that gives the opposition the chance to lob it back into our box again and panic stations set in
• We keep trying to play football until the end of the match rather than just keeping possession or playing it down the wings - we need to be more professional
• We don't have any natural leaders on the pitch
• The forwards don't help out by holding play up - too often they lose possession due to poor control or trying something fancy

Many of these shortcomings were evident last year and the coaches can't be blind to them, so why haven't they done something about it? If the players aren't listening, drop a couple as a lesson to the rest; and if they haven't been told, change the coaching staff. It isn't rocket science.

But I suspect that the answer to most of the above is to either get Morgan fit or draft someone in who has the same characteristics.

That's known as stating the bleedin' obvious.

 

[Fiery Blade]

That's known as stating the bleedin' obvious.

Obviously not to Danny Wilson and his coaching staff !!!

 

[broomhillblade]

Obviously not to Danny Wilson and his coaching staff !!!

From the O/S today:

"The disappointment from our point of view, is that we have to be better when we get our noses in front, particularly in a scrappy game like this one was." said Wilson.

The Blades boss was left lamenting the choices the players made after taking the lead against Orient in what were somewhat ill tempered closing stages of a tight game.

"They had nothing to lose and were sending long balls into our box. We defended too deep and then when we got the ball out we didn't keep a hold of it. We surrendered possession too easily and paid the price. We have experience in our team, so I was very disappointed because of that. It is the basics of football sometimes, you have to take what you have got and close the game out" the manager explained.

 

[Fiery Blade]

From the O/S today:

"The disappointment from our point of view, is that we have to be better when we get our noses in front, particularly in a scrappy game like this one was." said Wilson.

The Blades boss was left lamenting the choices the players made after taking the lead against Orient in what were somewhat ill tempered closing stages of a tight game.

"They had nothing to lose and were sending long balls into our box. We defended too deep and then when we got the ball out we didn't keep a hold of it. We surrendered possession too easily and paid the price. We have experience in our team, so I was very disappointed because of that. It is the basics of football sometimes, you have to take what you have got and close the game out" the manager explained.

Well, hopefully he goes out onto the training pitch and relays that message in no uncertain terms!!!
The players should shoulder the blame, it was their faults both individually and collectively and Wilson should make that crystal clear!!
I also believe that it is bollocks that because a player has screwed the club for high wages we play them every week!
Come on Mr Wilson, now is the time to see if you can cut it at this club Grow some balls make some bold decisions! Earn your money
I do not subscribe to waiting for Morgan to come back and everything will be fine!!
The spine of the team is weak and poor, the midfield are not getting hold of the game and the forwards lack bioth skill technique and the art of putting the ball in the net at regular intervals!!!

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Based on what we've seen so far this season, the main issues that we need to address are: -

• Most of the goals that we have conceded this year have been self inflicted
• Simmonsen can neither catch the ball nor punch it convincingly when there is a crowd of players in front of him - he may as well stop in the middle of the goal and attempt to save any headers that come in
• Neither Simmonsen nor the other defenders "call" when they are going for the ball - I used to scream my name when I played at centre back, it made the centre forward think that he was going to get clattered and also let my fellow defenders know to get out of the way
• The central defenders aren't winning enough first time headers when balls are punted into our box - and if they don't win the first one, they are often slow to react to the second one
• The midfield keep giving needless free kicks away near the half way line when they ought to be running the clock down - that gives the opposition the chance to lob it back into our box again and panic stations set in
• We keep trying to play football until the end of the match rather than just keeping possession or playing it down the wings - we need to be more professional
• We don't have any natural leaders on the pitch
• The forwards don't help out by holding play up - too often they lose possession due to poor control or trying something fancy

Many of these shortcomings were evident last year and the coaches can't be blind to them, so why haven't they done something about it? If the players aren't listening, drop a couple as a lesson to the rest; and if they haven't been told, change the coaching staff. It isn't rocket science.

But I suspect that the answer to most of the above is to either get Morgan fit or draft someone in who has the same characteristics.[/QUOTE

Another of our shortcomings is full backs who can't deal with pace or trickery. Lowton in particular can be good going forward but defensively is woeful at times.

So, to summarise:

a keeper who can't catch, punch or command his area
central defenders who don't dominate in the air & lack pace
full backs who lack pace & can't deal with tricky wingers

But apart from that, we are fine! No wonder we keep squandering leads.

UTB FTO

 

[stannyblade]

Get a keeper in who the back four have confidence in and they will perform better. When someone says they would have more confidence with Jags in goal than Simmo then we are in trouble

 

[Trafford]

From the O/S today:

"The disappointment from our point of view, is that we have to be better when we get our noses in front, particularly in a scrappy game like this one was." said Wilson.

The Blades boss was left lamenting the choices the players made after taking the lead against Orient in what were somewhat ill tempered closing stages of a tight game.

"They had nothing to lose and were sending long balls into our box. We defended too deep and then when we got the ball out we didn't keep a hold of it. We surrendered possession too easily and paid the price. We have experience in our team, so I was very disappointed because of that. It is the basics of football sometimes, you have to take what you have got and close the game out" the manager explained.

Good to hear that he's already taking my advice on board Broomhill, remember where you read it first.....

 

[Sothall_Blade]

From the O/S today:
"The disappointment from our point of view, is that we have to be better when we get our noses in front, particularly in a scrappy game like this one was." said Wilson.
The Blades boss was left lamenting the choices the players made after taking the lead against Orient in what were somewhat ill tempered closing stages of a tight game.
"They had nothing to lose and were sending long balls into our box. We defended too deep and then when we got the ball out we didn't keep a hold of it. We surrendered possession too easily and paid the price. We have experience in our team, so I was very disappointed because of that. It is the basics of football sometimes, you have to take what you have got and close the game out" the manager explained.

It always amazes me when manager's come out after the match and say "we defended too deep".
Surely he should have been able to get them to push further up during the match?
I wasn't there but was he going crazy on the sideline, giving them a b******ing and ordering them to push out?
If he wasn't, why the hell not? If he was, why the hell did they ignore him?

 

[Worksop II]

What did you expect, him to just click his fingers and everything to be OK again..?

Been in the Job 6 Months now, including a full close Season where most of the Transfer Dealing is done.

Looks like Danny spent the first 3 months skinning his dick .......

 

[Bladesman]

To be fair to Wilson apart from Slew who went no club was really interested in any of our squad. Maybe Quinn at a push perhaps but offloading the likes of Simmo or Evans were never going to happen.

 

[oaklandrdblade]

I also believe that it is bollocks that because a player has screwed the club for high wages we play them every week!
Come on Mr Wilson, now is the time to see if you can cut it at this club Grow some balls make some bold decisions!

Perhaps we have no choice but to play some of these players as they are the best in the club in their position. We can't just get rid, there is the problem of somebody wanting them. Maybe Wilson's bold decision is to carry on playing Simmo as he thinks throwing in Long would destroy his progress as he's not ready yet. I don't like the fact that we pay so much to someone who is making the same mistakes time and time again, but I don't think Long is ready, and obviously Aksalu is not (although he may be injured) as 5 managers have failed to pick him.

Also did Simmo really screw us for high wages or were we an easy touch given that everybody knew we were desperate after Kenny's departure?

 

[Kenilworth]

the forwards lack both skill technique and the art of putting the ball in the net at regular intervals!

But they do put the ball in the net at regular intervals Fiery. It's just that the interval bit is a tad too long

 

[Worksop II]

everybody knew we were desperate after Kenny's departure?

Doesn't everyone know we are desperate again ..............