Jake Wright

[Good Pinch Of Snuff]

Here we go, one loss and people start to panic FFS...... leave it to Wilder pls

 

[LS16Blade]

Wilder likes having the option to change tactics during the game, that he gets from having Basham's versatility in the starting line-up, and I appreciate that. Moreover, Basham himself is generally playing well.

I feel that it is clear, however, that United as a team have played their best football this season, with O'Connell - Wright - EEL as the back 3. That is the base that makes everything else work effectively. Crucially, that includes the midfield 3 of Coutts, Duffy and Fleck, who have not been at quite the same peak that they were when they knew they had the insurance of Wright organising things in the middle behind them, with no intention of going beyond the halfway-line.

EEL doesn't yet have the know-how or experience to play in the middle of a 3; he needs to be on the right. Similarly, O'Connell needs the guidance of an old hand but at present he has none because EEL has enough on concentrating on himself when he is asked to play in the centre. Consequently, we tend to look like we have a rick in us at the back. And I think the midfielders know that and as a result have played noticeably more conservatively over the last 6 weeks or so.

Wright went off at half-time at Charlton. At that point we were playing them off the park on the back of a run of performances where we looked irresistible. And, I think most agree that we probably wouldn't have conceded that stupid last- minute equaliser had Wright still been on the pitch. We then started without Wright against Walsall and lost. Again, it's hard to imagine that he would have allowed that ball down the middle that cost us that game, to have reached the striker.

Of course, we then won 6 on the spin so there's no need to over-react. After, all this is the first time we've got up on a Sunday reflecting on a defeat the day before, since August 22nd, which is an unbelievable run. But, I can't help feeling that against Swindon, Coventry, Oldham, Northampton, Bury and Southend, although we were clearly too good for the opposition, our football (primarily the midfield 3) hasn't flowed like it was doing up to the Charlton game. One or other of them has stepped up, such as Coutts against Swindon or Fleck against Northampton, but they haven't fired together like they were doing before.

As has been shown over and over again, football management is not about picking the best XI players at your disposal (the mistake England managers have tended to make) or even your preferred XI players. It's about finding and picking the XI that best work together. In my opinion, United's whole team works better with the assurance that Wright gives us in that crucial central position in the back 3.

Finally, I think Moore benefits from having Wright there too, and that will be vitally important next Saturday too because, excellent as Mooro has been, he could have thrown his cap on at least the first 2 of those goals yesterday and the 3rd hardly broke the netting albeit he was wrong-footed. The calmness that Wright brings would be most welcome next week.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Recall him, earlier in the season the defence was glued together by this guy, he will help Moore out too after a few recent wobbles. Doubts may creep into some of the lads after today's shock defeat, needs a leader at the back to keep it calm.

Oh really? So there's a problem then now is there? There wasn't one last week or most of the weeks before it - but we have a defeat and you now want to start changing the team eh? You want to bring back a 37 year old who was given his cards by Oxford United and make him the mainstay of our defence?

Do you know what I'd do instead mate? I'd go out and buy a good centre half and make that priority - then I'd let Mr T go back to the West Midlands and enjoy the rest of his 3 year contract.

 

[boo radley]

We have no screen for the defence
when hit on the break Walsall gambled on this and it paid off well for them. Few teams will be able to do this but they did it well on the day
We play so much on the front foot.A bad day at the office.
Will certainly keep my eye on bakayoko scored in all three games looks a good prospect I think he is just 21

That would suggest a change in midfield?

 

[Weasel]

Wilder likes having the option to change tactics during the game, that he gets from having Basham's versatility in the starting line-up, and I appreciate that. Moreover, Basham himself is generally playing well.

I feel that it is clear, however, that United as a team have played their best football this season, with O'Connell - Wright - EEL as the back 3. That is the base that makes everything else work effectively. Crucially, that includes the midfield 3 of Coutts, Duffy and Fleck, who have not been at quite the same peak that they were when they knew they had the insurance of Wright organising things in the middle behind them, with no intention of going beyond the halfway-line.

EEL doesn't yet have the know-how or experience to play in the middle of a 3; he needs to be on the right. Similarly, O'Connell needs the guidance of an old hand but at present he has none because EEL has enough on concentrating on himself when he is asked to play in the centre. Consequently, we tend to look like we have a rick in us at the back. And I think the midfielders know that and as a result have played noticeably more conservatively over the last 6 weeks or so.

Wright went off at half-time at Charlton. At that point we were playing them off the park on the back of a run of performances where we looked irresistible. And, I think most agree that we probably wouldn't have conceded that stupid last- minute equaliser had Wright still been on the pitch. We then started without Wright against Walsall and lost. Again, it's hard to imagine that he would have allowed that ball down the middle that cost us that game, to have reached the striker.

Of course, we then won 6 on the spin so there's no need to over-react. After, all this is the first time we've got up on a Sunday reflecting on a defeat the day before, since August 22nd, which is an unbelievable run. But, I can't help feeling that against Swindon, Coventry, Oldham, Northampton, Bury and Southend, although we were clearly too good for the opposition, our football (primarily the midfield 3) hasn't flowed like it was doing up to the Charlton game. One or other of them has stepped up, such as Coutts against Swindon or Fleck against Northampton, but they haven't fired together like they were doing before.

As has been shown over and over again, football management is not about picking the best XI players at your disposal (the mistake England managers have tended to make) or even your preferred XI players. It's about finding and picking the XI that best work together. In my opinion, United's whole team works better with the assurance that Wright gives us in that crucial central position in the back 3.

Finally, I think Moore benefits from having Wright there too, and that will be vitally important next Saturday too because, excellent as Mooro has been, he could have thrown his cap on at least the first 2 of those goals yesterday and the 3rd hardly broke the netting albeit he was wrong-footed. The calmness that Wright brings would be most welcome next week.

Some excellent points. Agree with all of this.

 

[spongebobblade]

Basham is a very useful player to have around particularly with his energy but as I've said before, at times it feels like we are shoe horning him in for the sake of it. I prefer Wright in the middle of the back 3, not only for his influence and talking but also because EEL isn't mobile enough to be the last man. Trying not to be critical, it's just my opinion

 

[finlaytheblade]

That would suggest a change in midfield?

Wilder plays on the front foot so this
will continue to be a weakness but at this level we can get away with it most of the time and Wilder knows this, occasionally we will get punished.
The championship would be a different kettle of fish

 

[Ricky]

You want to bring back a 37 year old who was given his cards by Oxford United and make him the mainstay of our defence?

Wright's 30.

 

[wizadry]

Wilder likes having the option to change tactics during the game, that he gets from having Basham's versatility in the starting line-up, and I appreciate that. Moreover, Basham himself is generally playing well.

I feel that it is clear, however, that United as a team have played their best football this season, with O'Connell - Wright - EEL as the back 3. That is the base that makes everything else work effectively. Crucially, that includes the midfield 3 of Coutts, Duffy and Fleck, who have not been at quite the same peak that they were when they knew they had the insurance of Wright organising things in the middle behind them, with no intention of going beyond the halfway-line.

EEL doesn't yet have the know-how or experience to play in the middle of a 3; he needs to be on the right. Similarly, O'Connell needs the guidance of an old hand but at present he has none because EEL has enough on concentrating on himself when he is asked to play in the centre. Consequently, we tend to look like we have a rick in us at the back. And I think the midfielders know that and as a result have played noticeably more conservatively over the last 6 weeks or so.

Wright went off at half-time at Charlton. At that point we were playing them off the park on the back of a run of performances where we looked irresistible. And, I think most agree that we probably wouldn't have conceded that stupid last- minute equaliser had Wright still been on the pitch. We then started without Wright against Walsall and lost. Again, it's hard to imagine that he would have allowed that ball down the middle that cost us that game, to have reached the striker.

Of course, we then won 6 on the spin so there's no need to over-react. After, all this is the first time we've got up on a Sunday reflecting on a defeat the day before, since August 22nd, which is an unbelievable run. But, I can't help feeling that against Swindon, Coventry, Oldham, Northampton, Bury and Southend, although we were clearly too good for the opposition, our football (primarily the midfield 3) hasn't flowed like it was doing up to the Charlton game. One or other of them has stepped up, such as Coutts against Swindon or Fleck against Northampton, but they haven't fired together like they were doing before.

As has been shown over and over again, football management is not about picking the best XI players at your disposal (the mistake England managers have tended to make) or even your preferred XI players. It's about finding and picking the XI that best work together. In my opinion, United's whole team works better with the assurance that Wright gives us in that crucial central position in the back 3.

Finally, I think Moore benefits from having Wright there too, and that will be vitally important next Saturday too because, excellent as Mooro has been, he could have thrown his cap on at least the first 2 of those goals yesterday and the 3rd hardly broke the netting albeit he was wrong-footed. The calmness that Wright brings would be most welcome next week.

Absolutely spot on and a great post mate.

 

[Leonardo Green]

That shambles yesterday would not have happened had Wright been playing, and that's a fact.

 

[Slim Man]

Oh really? So there's a problem then now is there? There wasn't one last week or most of the weeks before it - but we have a defeat and you now want to start changing the team eh? You want to bring back a 37 year old who was given his cards by Oxford United and make him the mainstay of our defence?

Do you know what I'd do instead mate? I'd go out and buy a good centre half and make that priority - then I'd let Mr T go back to the West Midlands and enjoy the rest of his 3 year contract.

Try not to talk bollocks if possible.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Oh really? So there's a problem then now is there? There wasn't one last week or most of the weeks before it - but we have a defeat and you now want to start changing the team eh? You want to bring back a 37 year old who was given his cards by Oxford United and make him the mainstay of our defence?

Do you know what I'd do instead mate? I'd go out and buy a good centre half and make that priority - then I'd let Mr T go back to the West Midlands and enjoy the rest of his 3 year contract.

You're talking shit, in fact you've had a very productive weekend in that respect.

And he looks nothing like Mr T. Unless your definition of Mr T is 'every black bloke'.

 

[HoodedClaw]

Oh really? So there's a problem then now is there? There wasn't one last week or most of the weeks before it - but we have a defeat and you now want to start changing the team eh? You want to bring back a 37 year old who was given his cards by Oxford United and make him the mainstay of our defence?

Do you know what I'd do instead mate? I'd go out and buy a good centre half and make that priority - then I'd let Mr T go back to the West Midlands and enjoy the rest of his 3 year contract.

No, there's been a "problem" since second half at Charlton, it's just been compensated for by our attacking play.

In a back 3 the best CCB we have is Wright, I understand the flexibility argument for having Basham playing so it comes down to opinions. Personally I prefer it with Wright in the Centre with EEL on the right and J'OC on the left.

EEL is good enough for this league, not so sure about Championship (I'm not convinced that CW and AK are either) so I don't see the point in buying another CB just so we can send him back to Wolves.

Also don't let facts get in the way of hating on JW. 37?? really?? are you sure??

 

[Ginger Gnome]

I've never particularly liked Basham but it'd be really harsh to drop him now as he's playing well. Even so, the best-balanced central defending trio we have is EEL, Wright, JO'C.

With Lafferty out, I'd have played Wright at centre back with O'Connell at wing-back as he likes to bomb forward and Done and Hussey are absolute bobbins.

 

[Wards]

I've never particularly liked Basham but it'd be really harsh to drop him now as he's playing well. Even so, the best-balanced central defending trio we have is EEL, Wright, JO'C.

With Lafferty out, I'd have played Wright at centre back with O'Connell at wing-back as he likes to bomb forward and Done and Hussey are absolute bobbins.

Agree to an extent, thought it showed up that we're currently a bit light on the left hand side. Done isn't comfortable there but can do a job when the going is good. Hussey has been a mistake full stop given his omission and fully expect him to be shifted on soon. We may have been as well switching to a back 4 Saturday with JO'C-Wright-EEL-Freeman but it was probably considered too drastic a change given recent results, and understandably so too. Hopefully the imminent arrival of Joe Riley will give us more options in this regard.

Best thing to do is simply chalk it off and go again Saturday!

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

The only tweak I'd make after Walsall would be bringing Wright back in.