Fitness & pressing kills possession

[Need4speed]

In previous seasons how many teams have come to kill the game from the start knocking it across the back 4 and taking all pace out of the game. Indeed we have done it ourselves and unfortunately to ourselves. We have not seen that this season. Why? Wilder has the team fitter than I can ever remember a blades team. We hunt in packs forcing the opposition to move it faster and faster before inevitably giving the ball away. When we have the ball we only go side ways to open up space,we take quick throw ins and free kicks. In the end we are wearing the opposition out, with more and more space becoming available as the game goes on. Watch how our players are cropping up in different areas of the pitch - today Duffy, Basham and Done to name three. Yes we are in League One but the football is football played at pace and with a team that is really fit

 

[s4-blade]

It's slipped under the radar a little bit but the second member of staff Wilder brought in was Matt Prestridge, a sports scientist who has previously worked for Derby, Watford and Tottenham before joining wilder at Northampton. I think this has had a huge impact on the fitness of the squad in a similar way to how Alan Knill has revolutionised our set pieces.

 

[SRBlade]

I was in awe of the pressing we were doing, especially in the second half, Swindon didn't know what to do and as a result we were getting the ball back in no time at all.

The way our midfield three completely controlled the game was even more impressive, it was like a training game at times.

How good was that pass from Duffy to Sharp in the first half though?!

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

Its not really played at pace anywhere near enough. Feeman and Lafferty often fuck up the pace by stopping and playing sideways or backwaeds. That's because Lafeerty in particular has Full Back DNA. At home we could get away with more attack minded wingbacks who can put good ball in. A lot of ours yesterday in the first half was shit. Don't take this as over critical. But to blindly say how pacy we are in attack is bollox.

 

[gavtheblade]

I was in awe of the pressing we were doing, especially in the second half, Swindon didn't know what to do and as a result we were getting the ball back in no time at all.

The way our midfield three completely controlled the game was even more impressive, it was like a training game at times.

How good was that pass from Duffy to Sharp in the first half though?!

And the through ball to done in the first half was an excellent spot, don't know who played it though.

 

[Deleted member 875]

In previous seasons how many teams have come to kill the game from the start knocking it across the back 4 and taking all pace out of the game. Indeed we have done it ourselves and unfortunately to ourselves. We have not seen that this season. Why? Wilder has the team fitter than I can ever remember a blades team. We hunt in packs forcing the opposition to move it faster and faster before inevitably giving the ball away. When we have the ball we only go side ways to open up space,we take quick throw ins and free kicks. In the end we are wearing the opposition out, with more and more space becoming available as the game goes on. Watch how our players are cropping up in different areas of the pitch - today Duffy, Basham and Done to name three. Yes we are in League One but the football is football played at pace and with a team that is really fit

I fully appreciate that post, and that is an excellent bit of analysis, but i think you have missed one crucial thing out, and that is that we are now playing with a higher defensive line, and using that to keep the opposition teams pegged back in their own half. Clough was bad and Adkins was an even bigger cunt for playing with the defence too deep as we didn't have anyone quick at the back and was very vulnerable to pace, which in turn gave opponents the time and space to win the key midfield battles.