United – Another game, another defeat, and another performance where for the most part we looked clueless when we entered the opposition half. We were not outplayed and another day the penalty goes in and we get out with a draw but we missed it which is poor play – not unlucky. For most of the game I was totally bored by how we played, we took forever to move it up the field and then when we got there, we never really looked like we might trouble the keeper unless Hamer took a shot.
Indeed, Hamer was the only player who looked a threat really (Ogbene few flashes apart) and without him, we would not have come close to scoring till the late scramble/penalty. We simply have no idea what to do when we get over half way. We have no movement; we are stagnant and look like we are scared to pass/penetrate forwards. Wilder says it was not the tactics why we lost which really concerns me? We had a lot of the ball and after the break they sat back but did nothing to hurt them till those late moments at the end. Defensively we were ok I suppose but then switched off on the goal and could have conceded another after more poor slack play and McBurnie got in. Hull are a very ordinary side and a decent side puts them away. They have some slow, immobile players themselves and not sure they are a side that really stretches you or hurts you but did what they had to do in order to win – getting the goal and then defending with relative comfort – till the last few minutes.
We could and should have got a draw but we did not. The Sky pundits said Hull deserved to win for doing the things that a team needed to and suppose they are right. It is ok saying we could have done this or that but we did not. Wilder talking about margins but we keep losing 1-0. Last year a lot said it cannot be lucky when we keep winning 1-0 but conversely perhaps you say we cannot be unlucky when we keep losing similarly tight games? The reality is we nicked a lot of close games last year but we never really dominated many teams and now the margins are dropping the other way. With some key men moving on and being replaced by inferior players – we now have further regressed.
Stats (XG/Possession) are pointless if you do not win and I will counter we have been 2nd best in those statistical areas all season today – if we were not perhaps today. The players look completely drained of any confidence and they are slow and often second to the ball – as Sky remarked about our fitness. I thought we were largely clueless and even though the counter is, Hull were not better – as Wilder said it is about winning games and creating big moments. We did not and this teams are increasingly looking like a pitiful set of losers. I have seen a few say it was an ok performance but I thought we were largely passive and got what we deserved. The late scramble/pen kind of makes it look like we were unlucky but for most of the game we were pathetic (as I say Hull not much better which makes it worse)
I am not saying they do not care but some look like they would rather not be there – they seem very accepting of the fate. Selles rightly got slammed but now we have Wilder who was supposed to galvanise and lift them and we have not seen much improvements really to my eye? Sure, we have had a few more chances but we look incapable of fashioning many meaningful attacks, let alone chance or goals. 2 goals in 9 games is a joke and the players should be totally ashamed. The new signings for the most part (Tanganga done ok/Ings caused a few problems) have not improved us at all and seemed to be just panic signings and likes of McGuinness and Matos look like League One players – which is where they could be heading.
The talk of playoffs a few games ago can be firmly consigned to the bin. Mid table looks fanciful to the extreme. We now need to just somehow get enough points to stay in this league. The rot has firmly set in but I believe it was long before the managerial change at the end of the season. The performances were mostly poor and after that Coventry win (where we battered a side now leading the league and miles ahead of us seemingly) we became even more cautious than we had after Xmas and our form/results fell off. We have won 3 in 16 league games (2 were dead rubbers essentially v Cardiff/Stoke) and lost 12 of these. TWELVE defeats in 17. The form at the end of the season was a team that was of one that should have been closer to going down than going up. That is why all the 92 (it’s 90 – we cheated so rightly got docked 2 points) points is kind of not relevant as recency of form shows we really were falling off. I still feel Wilder should have been given another go but I am not sure we would have got much better than a 5th/6th place and even that would have been a stretch. Our form and all the stats suggested if we carried on, with less quality in the squad it might be just over half way.
No-one expected us to be a relegation scrap but we are 100% are. Selles was a disaster and I think we thought we would see some upsurge from Wilder but we have not really – we got a win I suppose but the performances have not been that much better. Take out the Ipswich debacle and every other games has been similar under both managers. Opposition gets in front; we create nothing and show no real urgency to get back in games and meekly lose out. I am not convinced Wilder had a plan B attacking wise. Maybe he tries 2 up front now but you still need players who can gamble, try, and pass and move, dribble, and actually cross a ball from wide areas with accuracy. We are not even doing the basics but seem almost terrified to try and attack. The confidence thing will be thrown at them but we looked like this post Easter too? Wilder will remain now no matter what (they would not dare sack him again I am sure unless they go on an even bigger losing streak than Selles- which is possible) but I am concerned he is a bit of spent force and has no idea (him or his coaches) on how to progress the ball up the field, how to make chances and how to make us a dynamic attacking side? I hope I am wrong but I just do not see it. We can change players and granted a load are out of form and deserve to be dropped now- even just to send a message (did it with Burrows and surely Peck, Campbell, O’Hare should be taken out now?) but the reality is that we have little behind them either? I am struggling to see where the goals and points are coming from at all. The way we play is so ingrained, it is hard to get out of this and for all the Selles has destroyed what we had – as I say I am not sure we really had much as we ended the season looking not dissimilar. The Bristol City games (where they were better side until we scored/red card) kind of masked what we were doing – the red card effectively settled the tie.
I will say the recruitment has been poor (McGuinness, Chong, Matos, Barry, Bindon are not up to this level) but then January was really bad too (Cannon, Clarke, BBD) so we have major issues with this side of the club – regardless of the critique that stands about the coaching and in particular the way the players are coached to attack.
We will see how they respond after the international break but I see nothing in the manager (sorry for all the Wilder fans who were so enthused about him coming back) and players to suggest they can suddenly turn this around? We look absolutely shot. Those pinning their hopes on January need to realise that it could be too late if things carry on and also those previous windows. Sorry to be so downcast and maybe lots will be negative but when you have the form we have had since Easter – with the Playoff final bottle job thrown into the mix which has accelerated the decline even more – it is hard to be positive. 8 defeats in 9 and the worst record of any clubs in the whole football league pyramid means I have to say how I see it and will not try and sugarcoat or spin things. Wilder said it himself – we are losing games of football every week. The management/coaches (Selles and Wilder) and players have failed to do an effective job this season (and the end of last) and sadly deserve all the criticism they get. Fans will attend the next home game and will try and get behind them and give them that fresh start – as they rightly should every game – but I think the patience is wearing thin with many.
Ratings:
Cooper 6/10 – No chance on the goal. Another poor kick out early on but he did what he had to first half and left exposed really on the goal. After the break he made a decent save from McBurnie on the one on one. Both keepers had little to do all game with few chances of note.
Ogbene 5/10 – Our main attacking threat first half as he set up the two Hamer chances and was able to at least penetrate and run at his men. Sadly, despite being impressive he switched off defensively at a crucial moment (might have been a penalty if it had not gone in as he had his hand up) as he left him completely unmarked. After the break faded badly and saw very little of him at all as an attacking force. Some terrible crosses too looped to the keeper.
McCallum 4.5/10 – Not shocked Burrows was left out as despite people pointing to his stats being ok – I am not sure that he has been very good this season and defensively been a real issue not stopping crosses. McCallum was given a chance but he is hardly an inspiring replacement. He did ok at times with his forward play but then started to leave big gaps and lost his man completely and on the goal again failed to get close to stopping a cross. He does try and get about but lacks quality. Comes to something when he has been preferred to Burrows and is as bad but will probably keep his place.
Mee 4.5/10 –He was beaten by Slater on Hull’s first chance and not sure he looked quite as steady as he has been and did not read the game as well as the first two games. Not sure he looked as steady as he has done in other games really. He also made the howler that led to McBurnie’s chance.
McGuiness 5/10 – Looks a poor player. Defensively he is slow to react to stuff and gets turned too easily. A big bloke who is seemingly awful in the air – he gets smaller if anything? He seems to shrink. When he goes up for corners never seems to get near the ball. However, he did make two blocks and despite some hurried clearances and slices – he was probably better than Mee today.
Tanganga 5/10 – After his impressive first few games, he has started to regress but I would point to all the mess around him. Not sure he suited to be a wide centre back and we have not seem him be able to attack the ball as much from out wide. He did at least throw his body in a few times and get some tackles but he got badly beaten by Giles near the end.
Matos 3.5/10 – Largely anonymous. Supposed to be a midfield ratter who runs around but rarely did I see him pressing or tackling? I forgot he was playing for most of the game. He did make one tackle second half where he used some aggression but the few times he had the ball his passing was wretched often overhit or too soft. Technically he looks miles off even Championship standard to me – which is mad when he was with Chelsea but we saw this with Gilchrist who had the same struggles.
Peck 4/10 – Another disappointing show. Had a fair bit of the ball but takes way too much touches and slows play down. Had another good chance that he missed – what a surprise. The midfield actually began ok but as the game went on, he started to see less of it. He at least got more involved than Matos but we never seemed to pass the ball forward and he takes an age to do things. We improved after he went off. Needs a spell out of the side for me. Soumare might not be great but deserves a chance alongside Davies.
Hamer 6.5/10 – He has had a poor season but today at least he showed a threat with the two efforts first half (the one that hit the post was unlucky) and set up Peck for the header. Second half carries on with him being the only real threat as he had the two shots – one over and one saved. He was the one looking to thread the ball down and try and make things happen. A few poor passes I agree but he at least went forward. I have panned him a lot this season but he did try today and felt he had little help.
O’Hare 2/10 – Given a fair bit of the ball today – heard some say he has been starved of it as we do not go down the centre but today he did see the ball but did nothing with it. Got crowded out, had poor touches and just looked lost. Stupid booking. Weak and ineffectual and another in a big list that needs to be taken out of the team -sadly we have nothing in reserve. Second half, lost the ball and then foolishly pulled his man back and was booked. Then disappeared completely and I forgot he was even playing when he went off. Been largely awful this season and looks a player feeling sorry for himself.
Campbell 3/10 – Had very few touches. Couple of ok runs down the side apart, he seemed to avoid physical contact again, failed to hold it up and no goal threat at all really. Had a chance 2nd half but took a heavy touch. Well off the pace. We were much better when Ings came on as he at least moved off the ball and held it up a bit. Maybe we could play them both together but Campbell cannot complain if he is dropped – saw some improvement in the week but very little today. Little service but again he has to move to provide an outlet.
Subs -
Davies 5/10 – Came on and at least did try and get on it and some forward passes but things did not come off for him either. He is better than the two that started but again the fitness issues remain.
Ings 6/10 - He looked lively and won a few flicks and then clever play to get the penalty. Needs to start the next game but worry is if he can actually stay fit or last more than 60 minutes but we need to do something different up the top. We improved after him and Davies came on.
Burrows 2/10 – Dropped but comes on and has a moment to try and get us a point and completely messed it up. Another whose confidence looks shot. He was our designated penalty taker and scored them all last season so the argument for him to take is strong but might have been a bit cold and lacking confidence as dropped. Easy to say let Hamer or Ings take it – as that is just hindsight so would not criticise Wilder for this. He then just stopped even challenging or running when Crooks got away at the end.
Cannon 2/10 – Touched it twice. One shot blocked and a flicked header. Nothing else and do not know why we are even playing him at this stage? We need to just take him out of the squad and get him out on loan in January. To think we are going to be stuck with him for 4 more years!
Ings – He looked lively and won a few flicks and then clever play to get the penalty. Needs to start the next game but worry is if he can actually stay fit or last more than 60 minutes but we need to do something different up the top.
Barry – Came on, got the ball wide and I thought go on, have a go, but he sent a looping cross behind the goal. Another dreadful signing that looks way off it.
Manager: Wilder 3/10 – I thought we may see a real response from the team after he come on but it has been largely the same really – even the biggest Wilder fans can only say it has been a marginal improvement. In terms of today, not sure how he can say the game was not lost tactically at all? We did lack quality in the final third and our crossing/choices were poor of course but we do not have any idea how to progress it up the field or how to hurt opponents – it is more than just individual poor choices and the structure of the side is all wrong – granted players are playing poorly of course. He was very critical of the players after the game and once again did not examine what he and the coaches could do different – saying he cannot go out there and do it. I listened to his pre match presser (gushing about McBurnie for 5 mins and criticising Selles for not bringing him back) and then his post-match and thought he has not changed. I am not convinced he is anywhere near the same manager he was and that he has the ability or staff around him (coaches and players – although as bad as they are – they should not even be contemplating relegation but the rot has set in and now they are showing they are a set of spineless losers) and that is a major concern. He has to do something drastic or his reign this time might not even last the season out (of course they would not sack him any time soon and would be stupid to do so unless they lose like every game for the next 8 or 9 up to Xmas!).
