Manager? Questions need to be asked

[Darthblade]

It obviously wasn't as effective as any of us would have liked but to say it didn't happen just isn't true, is it?

You're correct ..... technically he did throw himself on the deck
UTB & FTP

 

[Rudders]

I wouldn't be so gung-ho on keeping SJ for any windows beyond this season and let him regenerate the squad for the following reasons. Some of these issues he doesnt carry entirely himself - some are club/owner/player failures etc

1. He can't motivate the players we have now so what makes you think he can do that with new players?
2. He cant sort out the defence and midfield we have now so this may continue with new players, seems quite a big gamble to allow him to get new players in this area given that almost no improvement is being made in the defensive areas this season.
3. He isnt dragging the club forward off the field like CW talked about (maybe not his job to do this anyway)
4. His preferred style and team tactical formation is quite distinctive/unusual and wouldnt be able to be copied by any other manager in future so if we did replace him at any point down the line then we would need yet another new set of players.
5. Other than Egan, N'Diaye and possibly Sharp I don't think he or his coaching team has improved any of our existing players.
6. Overly loyal to certain players - playing Sharp every game as the main central striker is not working, but it doesn't look like changing. Very reluctant to try anything new in midfield etc.
7. We don't do well in first halves.
8. We don't score when we are on top in games.
9. Our own set pieces are so bad and we are such a small, slow and weak team that they are a threat to us, not a benefit.

In terms of plus points I think he has the following going for him
1. He can see the problems, talks about them well (but doesnt/can't address them at the moment)
2. He can spot an attacking player ie N'Diaye; MGW
3. He is tactically responsive during games, doesn't always get the response right though, but which manager does?
4. Our attacking set up is getting better and I think he will/can improve this further with some braver selections.
5. Keeping the ball is generally a good idea which is how his teams play
6. He is generally calm and doesn't slag off referees (which long term is more productive)
7. His coaching team probably know the European transfer market/available players a bit better than other teams in our league.

 

[Sheffsteel]

There comes a point, soon, where questions need to be asked. Approach in first half was poor. No tempo. No pace. No urgency. No aggression.

its not happening

Have little interest in individual matches, look at the bigger picture of the season so far.

The positives are we generally dominate most matches and play good passing football.
We have loads of options and strength on the bench.

The negatives are we keep being unlucky…conceding last minute goals….this can’t be bad luck anymore….there must be an issue.
When opposition teams are organised packing their defense we struggle to create clear chances.
We‘ve looked poor at set pieces (both defensive and offensive) for a while now, we seem to lack physicality and height.
Teams don’t need to attack us much to score a goal. We never look like keeping a clean sheet. Olsen is OK but doesn’t look convincing.

The jury is still out for me….if anyone predicts a play-off place I can see the logic.
Some of the home games we’ve dominated so much….it’s like watching a cup tie where we play a team from a lower division.
If anyone predicts nearer a relegation battle I can also understand why.

Looks like we’re relying on Slav to do what he did at Fulham and Watford.
Poor first half of the season, then a long winning run after Xmas.
Would t surprise me if our season all depends on Mouse, Brewster and/ or McBurnie hitting form.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Currently we lack character, consistency, shape, clear tactics. We're weak defensively, wasteful up too and far too easily bypassed in midfield.

 

[Guesty]

Currently we lack character, consistency, shape, clear tactics. We're weak defensively, wasteful up too and far too easily bypassed in midfield.

But apart from that, Mrs Lincoln...

 

[guancheblade]

There comes a point, soon, where questions need to be asked. Approach in first half was poor. No tempo. No pace. No urgency. No aggression.

its not happening

Given CH got hooked before half time I'd say Slav saw what you saw, asked those questions of himself and responded accordingly.

 

[Harry's Game]

Who’s going to be this seasons Blackwell appointment post Xmas?

Hecky I suppose

 

[west_yorks_blade]

Currently we lack character, consistency, shape, clear tactics. We're weak defensively, wasteful up too and far too easily bypassed in midfield.

Just give it to us straight kozzy.

We can take it.

 

[Caseh]

Given CH got hooked before half time I'd say Slav saw what you saw, asked those questions of himself and responded accordingly.

A lot of people seem to be ignoring this... He made a change that loads of people wanted with Hourihane starting instead of Norwood, but it obviously wasn't working so he didn't hang around in making a change - Which absolutely was working until MGW got himself sent off.

 

[ancientblade]

im not overly impressed with slav especially his team selections but think we have to give him at least 2 more transfer windows to sort things out think we have to accept the best we can do this season is mid table

 

[Joe Boltons Left Foot]

i was also at the game last night and for me witnessed one of the most abject first half displays i have seen at the lane. Second half started like he had got his point across and the team had woken up. I wont mention the referee as i am still fucking furious. on an additional point the issue for me is i cant see how the controlled play out from the back works with the quick one touch movement through midfield. When we do that we look really good its just all too often we are way too pedestrian from the back and telegraph our intentions in the middle of the park. we arent defensively strong enough to be an effective counter attack team but maybe thats what we need to accept so that we can attack with pace.

Excuse the ramblings i am just trying to get my head round what i am watching and how within one game we go from hopeless to looking like world beaters and back again several times.

 

[Bladedog]

To suggest the manager is sacked after one transfer window and three months in charge is ludicrous....we're not fuckin wednesday!

 

[AdamSufc1997]

Can't believe people can blame manager. Who else can we bring in then whoever wants him gone.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Can't believe people can blame manager. Who else can we bring in then whoever wants him gone.

They'll be some wanting Micky Adams back "he'll get us fired up".
I do despair at our fans sometimes questioning a manager who is trying to get us playing football the right way like all the top teams do, and who hasn't really been backed in the transfer window.
If anything any anger should be directed at the Board/Prince not Slav.

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

The manager will need time to turn this oil tanker around. He was clear we needed certain players and he has spotted the areas we are lacking aka:
JOC replacement - Davies
Centre Mid replacement - Hourihanne (Jurys out and he probably expected to use Berge there)
Attacking Flair - MGW, plus the other two that we messed up on deadline day, and bringing N'Diaye into the picture.

The old guard are still letting us down, plus the horrendously imbalanced squad with 7 strikers on the books.

There have been some green shoots but it will take time to sort out the mess our squad is both in personal and mentally.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Recruitment has been poor, formations and tactics baffling, and there has been no evidence of any type of plan. He has put the horse in front of the cart choosing to impose a style of play on a squad of players that aren't geared up to play it, rather than the other way around: playing a system that suits the players at his disposal. This is the cardinal sin of management. That said, he has one of the best squads in the division so we'll level out by the end of the season and improve. I still feel we'll be involved in a play off push. If not, his performance would be one of abject failure and the P45 wont be far away. That's the way of the world.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

SJ has a decent track record but very much has a preferred style of play which is not 5 at the back. He has inherited a totally dispirited and ageing team which collectively has losing very much in its DNA now and which only knows/is capable of playing 5 at the back. Even the cast-aside Basham looks totally dispirited. The fit is not there - its like asking Wimbledon of the Bassett era to play like Brazil, Wilder blew most of the available cash on some very dodgy acquisitions and Covid took care of the rest. PA is skint so no way can we just spend our way out of the hole we are in.

The "assets" we have got left are only worth what someone will pay for them and that is nowhere near what we want (and need) for them (including the increasingly absent Berge). I doubt that JOC will play for us again sadly, Avoiding relegation has to be the number 1 priority which is do-able. Wanting promotion to the PL with the current squad is like joining the masochists queue outside the dungeon. I have my doubts that SJ has the time and patience to rebuild entirely, nor does the club have deep enough pockets to get the players he would likely want. I fear we are in for a bit of a torrid drawn-out period before we get an overall improvement. I hope I am wrong.

 

[Bladesince59]

SJ has a decent track record but very much has a preferred style of play which is not 5 at the back. He has inherited a totally dispirited and ageing team which collectively has losing very much in its DNA now and which only knows/is capable of playing 5 at the back. Even the cast-aside Basham looks totally dispirited. The fit is not there - its like asking Wimbledon of the Bassett era to play like Brazil, Wilder blew most of the available cash on some very dodgy acquisitions and Covid took care of the rest. PA is skint so no way can we just spend our way out of the hole we are in.

The "assets" we have got left are only worth what someone will pay for them and that is nowhere near what we want (and need) for them (including the increasingly absent Berge). I doubt that JOC will play for us again sadly, Avoiding relegation has to be the number 1 priority which is do-able. Wanting promotion to the PL with the current squad is like joining the masochists queue outside the dungeon. I have my doubts that SJ has the time and patience to rebuild entirely, nor does the club have deep enough pockets to get the players he would likely want. I fear we are in for a bit of a torrid drawn-out period before we get an overall improvement. I hope I am wrong.

Your'e not wrong we're in the shit

 

[Stu_Blade]

Currently we lack character, consistency, shape, clear tactics. We're weak defensively, wasteful up too and far too easily bypassed in midfield.

 

[bakeblade]

SJ has a decent track record but very much has a preferred style of play which is not 5 at the back. He has inherited a totally dispirited and ageing team which collectively has losing very much in its DNA now and which only knows/is capable of playing 5 at the back. Even the cast-aside Basham looks totally dispirited. The fit is not there - its like asking Wimbledon of the Bassett era to play like Brazil, Wilder blew most of the available cash on some very dodgy acquisitions and Covid took care of the rest. PA is skint so no way can we just spend our way out of the hole we are in.

The "assets" we have got left are only worth what someone will pay for them and that is nowhere near what we want (and need) for them (including the increasingly absent Berge). I doubt that JOC will play for us again sadly, Avoiding relegation has to be the number 1 priority which is do-able. Wanting promotion to the PL with the current squad is like joining the masochists queue outside the dungeon. I have my doubts that SJ has the time and patience to rebuild entirely, nor does the club have deep enough pockets to get the players he would likely want. I fear we are in for a bit of a torrid drawn-out period before we get an overall improvement. I hope I am wrong.

I predict we will have a poor January transfer window and will finish nearer the bottom than top.
Slav and his entourage will be moved on at the end of the season at great cost. We will then look for a young British manager to rebuild us based mainly on youth.
Meanwhile the Prince will desperately seek funding help or look to sell up.
Negative I know, but I can see it happening.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

I predict we will have a poor January transfer window and will finish nearer the bottom than top.
Slav and his entourage will be moved on at the end of the season at great cost. We will then look for a young British manager to rebuild us based mainly on youth.
Meanwhile the Prince will desperately seek funding help or look to sell up.
Negative I know, but I can see it happening.

What do you think my chances of a pay rise this year are?

 

[georgebernardshaw]

I predict we will have a poor January transfer window and will finish nearer the bottom than top.
Slav and his entourage will be moved on at the end of the season at great cost. We will then look for a young British manager to rebuild us based mainly on youth.
Meanwhile the Prince will desperately seek funding help or look to sell up.
Negative I know, but I can see it happening.

I’m not sure whether this is impatience or in-patients, this forum spent the last six months of the Wilder era trying to get him out, and now, after another six months or so, people are starting the Slav out campaign.

Fucking hell lads, have a listen to yourselves and get a grip.

 

[Kenilworth]

You saw that we were poor but forgot he changed it around and we looked like the better team until the MGW red card, right..? It's nice to see a manager have the balls to change it around so early in a game. As soon as he did make a change we looked much better. Slav needs at least two more transfer windows imo. Don't blame Slav for the shite he's inherited.

I blame him for the shite start, the shite formation and tactics and not realising what Millwall would do. Can’t blame him for Olsen’s fuck up but Slav gets minimal credit for changing it early when the problem was of his own making.

 

[Kenilworth]

Any manager can get tactics, formation or starting line up wrong.

It's sometimes not until a game kicks off that you realise you've dropped a bollock, when you see the opponents formation and tactics.

Slav saw it early and changed it.

The problem isn't the manager, it's the same old Sheffield United.

Ask Slav what he was thinking when he arrived here at a relegated Premier League team and he couldn't have imagined that the entire squad would be so lacking in ability and know how.

And if backed as a relegated Premier League club should have been, the likes of Gallagher and Sessignon and Elliott (OK he got injured) and MGW would all be tearing the League up right now.

I can tell you what Slav was thinking.

££

 

[Kenilworth]

more likely to receive more deducted points

That’s not the point. A squad cobbled together with shoe strings and ageing players has accumulated more points than us from a rookie manager than the mastermind behind Fulham’s blistering rise.

we all know Adkins got Southampton up because he was fortunate to have inherited a good set of players - I don’t see any difference with Slav. He only seems to do well if the individuals are of sufficient quality to overcome the opposition in spite of what Slav sets a team up to do.

 

[Kenilworth]

The bottom line is that the midfield issues still haven't been fixed, certainly not from a defensive point of view at least and we can't keep a clean sheet for love nor money, probably because the defence and the goalkeeper are left completely exposed by the likes of Fleck and Norwood who at some point are going to have to be put out to pasture, god knows when. The old back 3, overlapping system papered over the cracks in midfield where the wing backs and centre backs were doing things that in a typical midfield, the midfielders would be doing.

Its been the usual thing where we've created decent chances and not converted them. McGoldrick butchered two good chances that any other half decent striker would have buried then we switched off at the end, not for the first time.

Its a sign generally of this squad that they just can't maintain their performances over any sort of sustained period and haven't been able to since we beat Wolves during lockdown then went off the rails ever since. It was a good result against Stoke that showed some character and made us look like we could be contenders but you wouldn't have known they'd have done that on last nights performance which was OK but nothing more. A lot of them gave up the ghost long ago and are now just going through the motions at a level they're more comfortable playing at where they can still pick up the odd result against teams like Peterborough and Hull but once it gets difficult again, they revert to last season's type of giving up even against teams like Millwall who we'd be disappointed at not taking any points from.

We've got a storm to ride out until we can start waving goodbye to the various underperforming members of the squad unfortunately so we just need to keep our heads above water for the next couple of seasons until contracts start expiring. We can forget about promotion, we look like becoming what we used to be, floating around the Championship for the foreseeable until things inevitably go sour again....

I think it’s more of a case of we just have drizzle to endure for the foreseeable.

 

[bakeblade]

What do you think my chances of a pay rise this year are?

Non existant, however if you want the lottery numbers for this weekend...

 

[Kenilworth]

Have little interest in individual matches, look at the bigger picture of the season so far.

The positives are we generally dominate most matches and play good passing football.
We have loads of options and strength on the bench.

The negatives are we keep being unlucky…conceding last minute goals….this can’t be bad luck anymore….there must be an issue.
When opposition teams are organised packing their defense we struggle to create clear chances.
We‘ve looked poor at set pieces (both defensive and offensive) for a while now, we seem to lack physicality and height.
Teams don’t need to attack us much to score a goal. We never look like keeping a clean sheet. Olsen is OK but doesn’t look convincing.

The jury is still out for me….if anyone predicts a play-off place I can see the logic.
Some of the home games we’ve dominated so much….it’s like watching a cup tie where we play a team from a lower division.
If anyone predicts nearer a relegation battle I can also understand why.

Looks like we’re relying on Slav to do what he did at Fulham and Watford.
Poor first half of the season, then a long winning run after Xmas.
Would t surprise me if our season all depends on Mouse, Brewster and/ or McBurnie hitting form.

All sounds much more like allowing a random set of events to happen as opposed to managing and planning to have an effect.

 

[bakeblade]

I blame him for the shite start, the shite formation and tactics and not realising what Millwall would do. Can’t blame him for Olsen’s fuck up but Slav gets minimal credit for changing it early when the problem was of his own making.

I've said it before, I genuinely don't think they bother scouting the opposition pre match

 

[blade too long]

I'm getting a 3.1 % pay rise....well pension rise