It's not over....yet

[Proper Blade]

we won't be able to change formation this season. Its too late. It takes weeks of training and then they'd need to play it for months to get could. Look what happened with Slav

I assume they work on other formations in training, and on Saturday we ended up playing 4-3-3.

 

[CoatesyBlade]

I think they’ll likely get 2nd now. We just don’t score enough

I think we do. Plus we don’t tend to concede that many (as a rule!)
You know what it’s like… Boro lose to Stoke and we beat Sunderland midweek and everybody’s happy again.
I guess come Wednesday eve we’ll have a better idea. Will there be a reaction or not. I have to believe there will be cos that game against Luton must’ve pissed the boys off as much as it did us fans!

 

[robbiez666]

I assume they work on other formations in training, and on Saturday we ended up playing 4-3-3.

I can't remember many occasions when going to 4 at the back got us a result. My memory is terrible, but struggling.

 

[Carlton Blade]

I think we do. Plus we don’t tend to concede that many (as a rule!)
You know what it’s like… Boro lose to Stoke and we beat Sunderland midweek and everybody’s happy again.
I guess come Wednesday eve we’ll have a better idea. Will there be a reaction or not. I have to believe there will be cos that game against Luton must’ve pissed the boys off as much as it did us fans!

Fingers crossed

 

[Nagima]

I don’t see a huge amount of positivity in there

But the sentiment that it’s not over yet is easy to say.

We’re currently in a very negative mindset, despite what players and management say, the actions on the pitch show a tired, leggy set of players afraid to attack or playing in a cautious way, to protect what we have.

It’s completely wrong to approach it this way. And sadly it will end badly.

I said after Boro that we needed a psychologist and I was deadly serious. We’ve not stopped the rot, mentally.

Wins against Watford, Spurs and Reading were great, but they’ve only patched up some weakness. We’ve not suddenly become technically weaker. That’s not the issue. Our tactics are generally good enough for most sides in this division

But Boro and Blackburn exposed physical weakness in the centre of the park. Stop Norwood, stop our game. But this hasn’t been our entire game through the last few years. Plenty of sides have targeted Norwood and we’ve just moved the ball elsewhere.

Down the flanks has been where we’ve got lots of luck. Down the right: Bash and Baldock with support from Duffy, Lundstram and Berge. Down the Left with JOC, Stevens and Fleck.

The personnel may have changed but the method of overloading the wings with overlapping centre halves has never gone away. We didn’t rely on pace, we relied on numbers and movement.

Up top we’ve had reliability of Leon, then Didsy grafting dropping out, movement again with Billy being that horrible little player that pops up to score or provide the space for others to drop in

Last season we had MGW with his very different movement, he was fluid, a role that Ndiaye has taken on, theyve been the evolution and a hybrid Didsy. With McBurnie or Billy as the hold up man it’s allowed MGW or Ndiaye to work off them

The beauty of what we have is that we have flexibility in the wingbacks, the centre midfield, up top, but it only works if we shift the play away from the centre or protect Norwood.

The positive is that not every game will be as tough as Blackburn or Boro…

But the negative is that we can also easily make hard work of games against Millwall, Luton or QPR (where we got out of jail)

The warnings have been there since QPR away that teams can match or better us if we’re weak through the middle. But that game we shifted Berge out wide to cause problems

We have to adapt and cause sides problems. Yes they will cause us problems, but we have enough players to overcome or set up better.

Starting at Sunderland we need to be aggressive with their midfield, give them the problem. Get Baldock in, get Doyle in. Play Billy and McBurnie up top. Get Jebbo on the bench. Bully Sunderland

I admire your optimistic outlook but observing how we play, it looks like we can't play our 352 anymore. Robinson and Anel are not getting forward in general play as often in comparison to our first season in PL. We still are playing that midfield now even though Norwood and Fleck are past their best. Berge has no desire.

MGW was exceptional for us and was more creative than Ndiaye. If you watch closely you will see that he does not lift his head often enough and simplify it a bit more. McBurnie tries but is limited. The two don't work as a partnership.

As for wingbacks we have Baldock and Stevens who have a lot of mileage and are not the best going forwards. The current 2. Bogle and Lowe do not know how to defend and Bogle over plays the ball too much.

The problem we are facing is Hecky's stubborn reliance on Berge and the older crew. Couple that with a decent squad of players but practically all of them having serious flaws in their game. We recruited some good loans but don't play them enough.

 

[YOUBOYZ]

Boro under Wilder were crap. Carricks got them firing on all cylinders.

Blades playing Wilders tactics.

Mmm

Carrick used his contacts and got them two Villa lads in, (like adding 2 Gibbs _Whites to his first team) Both young enthusiastic, good footballers who changed their first team dynamic. Wilder had a pedestrian outfit, hence the results and his consequent sacking.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

You know what it’s like… Boro lose to Stoke and we beat Sunderland midweek and everybody’s happy again.

I know…it’s so annoying.
When I get into stabbing-the-guilty mode I want to keep my knife out, not keep having to put it back again.

 

[chesblade]

Don't think Stoke is going to be easy for boro, they are playing well

 

[jono_t2000]

MGW was exceptional for us and was more creative than Ndiaye. If you watch closely you will see that he does not lift his head often enough and simplify it a bit more. McBurnie tries but is limited.

Whisper it quietly but I think Oli Macs footwork and on the ball ability has been much better than Iliman last few games or so.

 

[Zeblades34]

You're probably going to groan at this, but in light of how depressing this place has been the last 24 hours or so, I thought I'd be the one to stick my head above the parapet and at least try to make some folks feel better. And we just can't go on like this come Weds night.
Yesterday was as bad as it gets - as simple as that. We played dreadfully, lost in a predictable manner, the fans voted with their feet at the end and of course, Boro came from behind to win convincingly, away from home. The worst possible points swing played out against us in a manner as equally excruciating and frustrating as it was predictable.
So now that we've seen the worst (because if Boro overtake us, it won't be a surprise anymore. Yesterday was the rude awakening that stung. And I can't fathom how we could possibly play worse than yesterday as a group) the fact remains that this is still in our hands. Not comfortably anymore, but it's still with us. And provided the players and Hecky stop twatting around and WAKE UP, we can get to the finish line.
I am anticipating the scenario of Boro getting ahead of us one way or another at some point in the coming weeks, but that could well be part of another 'game in hand' scenario given our cup run. Our remaining home games are absolutely nothing to fear. Away, is a different matter - yesterday's fuck up means that we're almost certainly going to need to pull out a big result away from the Lane at some point. Weds night could well be that result if we get three points, similarly if we go to Norwich and get a result there as we have done in the past.
Had my tantrum last night, today I'm trying to move on. That's my piece.

As much as i agree that if/when team wakes up then it's still in our hands and yes pulling out a big away result could sort us out. But i just can't see where a big away result is coming from? Our better players from first 3rd of season when we were flying have now suddenly dropped off and it shows massively that when norwood isn't in form then the team isn't. Berge needs dropping and doyle and mcattee need re-instating asap we're a much more mobile outfit when they play and look more creative.

 

[Bell4]

I'll add a little.

One crumb of comfort is the remaining fixtures.

Yesterday, though we lost, means we have one fewer top 8 team to play.

Whilst Boro won, they removed only a bottom 8 team from their remaining fixtures.

As at today, I saw that for the remaining 10 games, the split was like this:

Boro
Top 8 - 3 (avg pos - 4)
Mid 8 - 5 (avg pos - 12.6)
Bottom 8 - 2 (avg pos - 21.5)
Overall - 11.8

United
Top 8 - 3 (avg pos - 5.33)
Mid 8 - 3 (avg pos - 11.66)
Bottom 8 - 4 (avg pos - 21.5)
Overall - 13.7

So on average we are playing teams lower down by two places. We are also playing twice as many of the worst 8 teams as they are. They are also playing more teams who, given the tightness of the league are still pushing for play offs at this point. Crucially when it comes to fellow top 8 teams they are playing considerably more difficult teams; they have two top 6 teams and we have one for instance.

We can get into the discussion about threatened teams fighting as their position gets more precarious but by this stage, they are down there for a reason.

If we really can't at least match Boro, with a better run in on average, with fewer top 6 teams to play and with twice as many of the poorer teams and with a 4 point cushion, then we shouldn't have much trouble convincing ourselves that we didn't really deserve it.

Great work

However

They are better than us - have more confidence and will overtake us - and that’s me being positive

 

[originaltrueblade]

Great work

However

They are better than us - have more confidence and will overtake us - and that’s me being positive

Let us play like we should go into the game to win it not
Play for a draw … take the leash off Hecky

 

[Bell4]

Let us play like we should go into the game to win it not
Play for a draw … take the leash off Hecky

Weds will tell us what’s going on in his head and his attitude towards pulling us through

It will be fascinating

 

[Harry's Game]

This week will be key, if Boro beat Stoke and Preston and we don’t beat Sunderland then the game will be up As far as top 2 is concerned once they are above us they will stretch way comfortably.

If that happens then we have to find some form a confidence for the play offs. Season isn’t over, none of the teams likely to be in the play offs are on the level of Burnley and Boro.

 

[Harry's Game]

Let us play like we should go into the game to win it not
Play for a draw … take the leash off Hecky

We took the leash off at a Millwall and Blackburn and got countered to death.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I genuinely thought this thread would be telling me that things will get worse in the near future, shows my mindset at the moment regarding the Blades.

I can't see this set of players reversing the momentum as it stands. I think come Sunday we'll be out of the cup and 3rd in the league.

 

[BettingBlade]

We took the leash off at a Millwall and Blackburn and got countered to death.

Only because our approach leaves us woefully exposed.

People talk about Hecky taking us back to the formation our players are suited to etc but the way we play is so much less sophisticated than it was.

We need to go back to the 2 in midfield and having the number 10 role behind the strikers. The reason it worked so well is because that gives licence for the full backs to get forward knowing that there will be Norwood and one other to cover.

The way we do it at the minute is. The full backs bomb forward and so do the midfielders either side of Norwood, leaving us with 8 players up the top of the pitch. Is it any wonder we’re getting countered to fuck.

So when people talk about Hecky’s limited abilities, this is a prime example of just how simplistic we are in our approach. Defensively, we are too rigid and going forward we’ve been so gung ho of late it really stinks of desperation and a poor tactical set up.

 

[Snowflake]

I can't remember many occasions when going to 4 at the back got us a result. My memory is terrible, but struggling.

Warnock and Bassett eras ?

 

[robbiez666]

Warnock and Bassett eras ?

I meant during the current 3-5-2 era and changing shape.

 

[71Blade]

This week will be key, if Boro beat Stoke and Preston and we don’t beat Sunderland then the game will be up As far as top 2 is concerned once they are above us they will stretch way comfortably.

If that happens then we have to find some form a confidence for the play offs. Season isn’t over, none of the teams likely to be in the play offs are on the level of Burnley and Boro.

we just lost to Luton at home 1 point over the 2 games home and away - we are playing like 11 strangers - whoever we play in the playoffs it will not end well

and for the record Boro beat both Stoke and Preston or at the very least 4 points

and that's me being positive - Saturday i cannot get that turgid shit out of my head #stillangry !!!

UTB

 

[ForgeBlade]

This week will be key, if Boro beat Stoke and Preston and we don’t beat Sunderland then the game will be up As far as top 2 is concerned once they are above us they will stretch way comfortably.

If that happens then we have to find some form a confidence for the play offs. Season isn’t over, none of the teams likely to be in the play offs are on the level of Burnley and Boro.

Problem is, we are utterly shit at playoffs. It's like some weird curse hanging over the club. We just cannot win playoffs.

 

[Harry's Game]

Problem is, we are utterly shit at playoffs. It's like some weird curse hanging over the club. We just cannot win playoffs.

Neither could Brentford until they did.

 

[N20 Blade]

This week will be key, if Boro beat Stoke and Preston and we don’t beat Sunderland then the game will be up As far as top 2 is concerned once they are above us they will stretch way comfortably.

If that happens then we have to find some form a confidence for the play offs. Season isn’t over, none of the teams likely to be in the play offs are on the level of Burnley and Boro.

Who? Luton, Millwall, Blackburn? We've played all three within the last month and done really well.

 

[originaltrueblade]

Weds will tell us what’s going on in his head and his attitude towards pulling us through

It will be fascinating

Indeed

 

[originaltrueblade]

We took the leash off at a Millwall and Blackburn and got countered to death.

Rephrase that take the leash off but use some savvy

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Let us play like we should go into the game to win it not
Play for a draw … take the leash off Hecky

you mean like we did against Middlebro?

 

[Snowflake]

I meant during the current 3-5-2 era and changing shape.

Sorry, misunderstood

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

I'll add a little.

One crumb of comfort is the remaining fixtures.

Yesterday, though we lost, means we have one fewer top 8 team to play.

Whilst Boro won, they removed only a bottom 8 team from their remaining fixtures.

As at today, I saw that for the remaining 10 games, the split was like this:

Boro
Top 8 - 3 (avg pos - 4)
Mid 8 - 5 (avg pos - 12.6)
Bottom 8 - 2 (avg pos - 21.5)
Overall - 11.8

United
Top 8 - 3 (avg pos - 5.33)
Mid 8 - 3 (avg pos - 11.66)
Bottom 8 - 4 (avg pos - 21.5)
Overall - 13.7

So on average we are playing teams lower down by two places. We are also playing twice as many of the worst 8 teams as they are. They are also playing more teams who, given the tightness of the league are still pushing for play offs at this point. Crucially when it comes to fellow top 8 teams they are playing considerably more difficult teams; they have two top 6 teams and we have one for instance.

We can get into the discussion about threatened teams fighting as their position gets more precarious but by this stage, they are down there for a reason.

If we really can't at least match Boro, with a better run in on average, with fewer top 6 teams to play and with twice as many of the poorer teams and with a 4 point cushion, then we shouldn't have much trouble convincing ourselves that we didn't really deserve it.

Top, top post.

 

[Bladebri]

Is it time for this

 

[Freethinker]

Only because our approach leaves us woefully exposed.

People talk about Hecky taking us back to the formation our players are suited to etc but the way we play is so much less sophisticated than it was.

We need to go back to the 2 in midfield and having the number 10 role behind the strikers. The reason it worked so well is because that gives licence for the full backs to get forward knowing that there will be Norwood and one other to cover.

The way we do it at the minute is. The full backs bomb forward and so do the midfielders either side of Norwood, leaving us with 8 players up the top of the pitch. Is it any wonder we’re getting countered to fuck.

So when people talk about Hecky’s limited abilities, this is a prime example of just how simplistic we are in our approach. Defensively, we are too rigid and going forward we’ve been so gung ho of late it really stinks of desperation and a poor tactical set up.

It's a long time since I've seen eight players up top of pitch more like eight at back and a big gap to front two