Negative tactics

[OrderOfStGeorge]

The negative tactics again killing our attacks is not helping before today we had only averaged around 1 shot on target per game over 6 I am sure I saw mentioned earlier.

We have gone back on the way we played last season I dont see the edge of your seat over lapping centre backs tearing forward leaving the opposition bamboozled and lost for answers to our attacking play for the most part .

The last 10 minutes is how we should have started and should have been playing from the start.

Our midfield is clueless attacking wise we are crying out for an attacking midfielder that is not afraid to have a run at the opposition and have a dig from the midfield.

David Brooks or Benrahma would be perfect for that role it is clear we are crying out for a player like this that will take the game to the opposition and put us on the front foot and that is when we play our best football.

The negative sit back and absorb the pressure is not our natural game and we are not good enough over 90 minutes to play that way as we simply do not have the quality to play that way.

I think CW needs to think about investing in an attacking midfielder as a priority defensively I think we will be ok, we have let Luke Freeman go out on loan without any replacement we just play with 3 defensive midfielders it is not good enough.

The next 2 weeks are crucial and if we invest in an attacking midfielder and another striker i think we will be ok.

 

[Bobby Boo]

Watching United at the moment is like watching paint dry. It's painful to watch at times.

 

[Keen Blade]

The negative tactics again killing our attacks is not helping before today we had only averaged around 1 shot on target per game over 6 I am sure I saw mentioned earlier.

We have gone back on the way we played last season I dont see the edge of your seat over lapping centre backs tearing forward leaving the opposition bamboozled and lost for answers to our attacking play for the most part .

The last 10 minutes is how we should have started and should have been playing from the start.

Our midfield is clueless attacking wise we are crying out for an attacking midfielder that is not afraid to have a run at the opposition and have a dig from the midfield.

David Brooks or Benrahma would be perfect for that role it is clear we are crying out for a player like this that will take the game to the opposition and put us on the front foot and that is when we play our best football.

The negative sit back and absorb the pressure is not our natural game and we are not good enough over 90 minutes to play that way as we simply do not have the quality to play that way.

I think CW needs to think about investing in an attacking midfielder as a priority defensively I think we will be ok, we have let Luke Freeman go out on loan without any replacement we just play with 3 defensive midfielders it is not good enough.

The next 2 weeks are crucial and if we invest in an attacking midfielder and another striker i think we will be ok.

Spot on.
3 defensive midfielders cannot drive a team forward.
Why not try Burke in midfield - he has some pace + can drive forward. Or Fleck. Or Didsy as a 10.
But CW is too conservative in his way of thinking to try - he needs to change soon or we'll be too far adrift.

 

[DeanLearner'sCat]

We played without an attacking midfielder all last season and finished 9th. And Brooks wasn't particularly effective for us in the Duffy role. He did his best work as one of the front 2.

It's not really about the system, or even the personnel. It's more about our intent. We are sticking every man behind the ball now, whereas this time last year we actually had a go.

 

[vas borbokis]

Watching United at the moment is like watching paint dry. It's painful to watch at times.

Agree to a point but think Arsenal would have scored a hat full if we'd opened up to them. 2 quality moves by them and excellent finishes. They didn't create much else. We're badly missing JOC moving forwards on the left making our attattacking very one sided. We are best probing both flanks and its too easy to defend our right sided attacks when we carry so little threat down the left. Enda is missing JOC more than anyone...

 

[OrderOfStGeorge]

Spot on.
3 defensive midfielders cannot drive a team forward.
Why not try Burke in midfield - he has some pace + can drive forward. Or Fleck. Or Didsy as a 10.
But CW is too conservative in his way of thinking to try - he needs to change soon or we'll be too far adrift.

Any other manager would have been absolutely crucified by now for this CW needs to turn it around and fast.

I cant understand how we can go from a free flowing exciting team to watch for the vast majority of last season to one of the most negative and depressing teams to watch that couldn't hit a cows arse with a banjo.

The first time we play any attacking football McGoldrick scores a pearler, Wilder needs to remember attack has always been the best form of defence for us.

 

[Bobby Boo]

Agree to a point but think Arsenal would have scored a hat full if we'd opened up to them. 2 quality moves by them and excellent finishes. They didn't create much else. We're badly missing JOC moving forwards on the left making our attattacking very one sided. We are best probing both flanks and its too easy to defend our right sided attacks when we carry so little threat down the left. Enda is missing JOC more than anyone...

Can't disagree with any of that pal.

 

[OrderOfStGeorge]

We played without an attacking midfielder all last season and finished 9th. And Brooks wasn't particularly effective for us in the Duffy role. He did his best work as one of the front 2.

It's not really about the system, or even the personnel. It's more about our intent. We are sticking every man behind the ball now, whereas this time last year we actually had a go.

The negative tactics are killing us.

 

[Weasel]

Last season the wing backs pushed on as did Bash n O'Connell. This season anyone of those would get a nose bleed if they went past the half way line (Bash winning penalty at Villa excepted).

 

[OrderOfStGeorge]

We played without an attacking midfielder all last season and finished 9th. And Brooks wasn't particularly effective for us in the Duffy role. He did his best work as one of the front 2.

It's not really about the system, or even the personnel. It's more about our intent. We are sticking every man behind the ball now, whereas this time last year we actually had a go.

I agree for the most part but it is clear we lack real premier league quality in the midfield apart from Berge.

 

[OrderOfStGeorge]

Agree to a point but think Arsenal would have scored a hat full if we'd opened up to them. 2 quality moves by them and excellent finishes. They didn't create much else. We're badly missing JOC moving forwards on the left making our attattacking very one sided. We are best probing both flanks and its too easy to defend our right sided attacks when we carry so little threat down the left. Enda is missing JOC more than anyone...

I have always said it i can accept losing if we go toe to toe with the opposition but I cant if we sit back and almost accept defeat.

We didn't get 4 points from Arsenal last season sitting back against them we had a go at them and we are not doing that.

The tactics at the minute are more reminiscent of the David Weir era I have not seen such tactics in all the years Wilder has been here this is not the Blades way as he likes to call it.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

I was surprised today it was very defensive and have to agree that it looked like we were set up to play for a point . None of the wingbacks were pushing on , midfield content to go square or backwards and the front line just feeding off scraps .
The tempo & passing was so slow , took us 70 mins for a shot on goal and that’s poor . I know we’re struggling at the mo and not getting the rub of the green on some decisions but let’s get back to things we were well last season and last 3 years , high tempo , crisp passing , attacking intent , it reminded me today of a Warnock team away from home in the PL .. we are a lot better than that ., UTB

 

[Keen Blade]

Wilder catchphrases ...
IT'S A GIVEN THAT MY PLAYERS WILL BE FITTER THAN THE OPPOSITION + RUN AROUND A LOT.
THAT'S A BASIC EXPECTATION.
PLAY ON THE FRONT FOOT.
GO TOE TO TOE WITH THE OPPOSITION.
TRY TO WIN GAMES OF FOOTBALL.
We look unfit , half arsed , disinterested.
Wilder even admitted in post match interview that some players were looking sorry for themselves and that is unacceptable.
Right Chris , you've signed new blood so make some changes.
Get some feckin zip into midfield.

 

[blades78]

Our pattern of play at the moment is slow sideways passes around midfield and the back three, then occasionally we try to progress down one wing, either lose it by over playing or we work the ball back to ramsdale for launches it up field to our forwards who very rarely win it and hold onto it.
Once in a while I'd like us to drive at the opposition and try our luck from 25 yards. There is literally no creativeness or flair in the way we are playing. Everything is just safety first

 

[JJBlade]

Wait 'til Fulham beat us, then some on here might stop with the excuses and start to realise how shyte we are.

 

[SilkyBlade]

The negative tactics are killing us.

WTF are you talking about? They are the same tactics as last year...the only difference is pretty much every player to a man is off their A game, lacking confidence, no courage on the ball and naturally retreating as evidenced by Baldock being isolated several times at top of pitch. It’s a huge challenge for the manager to instill that confidence but if anyone can CWAK can.

 

[HeySethUTB]

Too direct under pressure, overplaying out wide. We do have players that are creative, the system we play doesn’t allow it. I’ve never heard of a successful counter attacking side that has limited pace when at 0-0, nor have I heard of a possession based side that overplays out wide to then cross the ball into a box at head height to strikers who are not known for their aerial prowess surrounded by defenders when losing.

The brand at the minute is scared football, never been front foot. It’s not acceptable to feel comfortable defending for 60, 80 or 85 Minutes and keeping it at 0-0 when you inevitably concede or blaming it on VAR and officials. If you attempt to put the ball in the net and be brave you might walk away with a win rather than a hard fought, feel sorry for the lads loss.

As for confidence not sure what’s happened to us that hasn’t happened to others, the only difference this year is teams are breaking us down. Defensive tactics don’t breed confidence, unless your looking for a draw.

 

[Johnstreet John]

The negative tactics again killing our attacks is not helping before today we had only averaged around 1 shot on target per game over 6 I am sure I saw mentioned earlier.

We have gone back on the way we played last season I dont see the edge of your seat over lapping centre backs tearing forward leaving the opposition bamboozled and lost for answers to our attacking play for the most part .

The last 10 minutes is how we should have started and should have been playing from the start.

Our midfield is clueless attacking wise we are crying out for an attacking midfielder that is not afraid to have a run at the opposition and have a dig from the midfield.

David Brooks or Benrahma would be perfect for that role it is clear we are crying out for a player like this that will take the game to the opposition and put us on the front foot and that is when we play our best football.

The negative sit back and absorb the pressure is not our natural game and we are not good enough over 90 minutes to play that way as we simply do not have the quality to play that way.

I think CW needs to think about investing in an attacking midfielder as a priority defensively I think we will be ok, we have let Luke Freeman go out on loan without any replacement we just play with 3 defensive midfielders it is not good enough.

The next 2 weeks are crucial and if we invest in an attacking midfielder and another striker i think we will be ok.

I agree. Games ar artificially tight because we're playing not to get hammered.

 

[Slugger]

Spot on Silky I was just about to post something similar. It's not as if Wilder is telling them not to push on. There just seems to be a lack of confidence to do so at the minute. There's a bit of fear running through the side which wasn't there a year ago.
It's very easy to make the simple 15 yard pass back and retain possession or to not bother with the lung busting break forward in case a counter-attack leaves you at blame.
Some players need a serious talking to over the next few days and also need to engage in a bit of video analysis.
I'd trust Wilder to be the right person to turn things around.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

I’ve said it before, but our moves 9/10 are asking defenders to play the final ball, and midfielders to get on the end of it. We need to work on getting our better attackers delivering the crucial heartbeat of our attacks. And we don’t even attempt to create centrally, everything is overplayed out wide.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Spot on Silky I was just about to post something similar. It's not as if Wilder is telling them not to push on. There just seems to be a lack of confidence to do so at the minute. There's a bit of fear running through the side which wasn't there a year ago.
It's very easy to make the simple 15 yard pass back and retain possession or to not bother with the lung busting break forward in case a counter-attack leaves you at blame.
Some players need a serious talking to over the next few days and also need to engage in a bit of video analysis.
I'd trust Wilder to be the right person to turn things around.

How do you know Wilder is telling them to push on? I seriously doubt Wilder is deploying the perfect game plan but players simply aren’t doing it. They’d be out of the team. I love Wilder but c’mon this is clearly tactical to go defensive, and it’s been a massive mistake.

 

[OrderOfStGeorge]

WTF are you talking about? They are the same tactics as last year...the only difference is pretty much every player to a man is off their A game, lacking confidence, no courage on the ball and naturally retreating as evidenced by Baldock being isolated several times at top of pitch. It’s a huge challenge for the manager to instill that confidence but if anyone can CWAK can.

You have to be blind to even think that they are not the same tactics at all because for a start we are not playing with overlapping centre backs and sitting back.

Not only that we are playing with 3 defensive midfielders try excusing that one!

If that was any other manager many people would be calling for his head playing with 3 defensive midfielders because they would be labelled clueless.

CW has earned the right getting us to where we are but he needs to change these negative tactics and sitting far too deep because it is like watching paint dry and painful to watch us at the minute.

We are crying out for an attacking outlet in our midfield we simply do not have it we are not good enough in our midfield and strikeforce and the negative tactics coupled with the fact as soon as we go forward more often than not we look clueless.

The decision making poor balls and the fact that we try and walk the ball into the net tells you all you need to know.

The second shot where Didzy had a go he curled in an absolute pearler and that is what we need to do more of having efforts on goal but apart from Didzy and McBurnie I cant recall Leno being troubled.

We still have not replaced Luke Freeman which is baffling I dont understand why CW has let Luke Freeman go out on Loan when we are crying out for an attacking midfielder that decision makes no sense.

If Wilder does not rate him as a Premier league midfielder he should have been sold and a replacement brought in.

Instead we are using 3 defensive midfielders and it simply does not work and time CW woke up and sorted it.

 

[OrderOfStGeorge]

Too direct under pressure, overplaying out wide. We do have players that are creative, the system we play doesn’t allow it. I’ve never heard of a successful counter attacking side that has limited pace when at 0-0, nor have I heard of a possession based side that overplays out wide to then cross the ball into a box at head height to strikers who are not known for their aerial prowess surrounded by defenders when losing.

The brand at the minute is scared football, never been front foot. It’s not acceptable to feel comfortable defending for 60, 80 or 85 Minutes and keeping it at 0-0 when you inevitably concede or blaming it on VAR and officials. If you attempt to put the ball in the net and be brave you might walk away with a win rather than a hard fought, feel sorry for the lads loss.

As for confidence not sure what’s happened to us that hasn’t happened to others, the only difference this year is teams are breaking us down. Defensive tactics don’t breed confidence, unless your looking for a draw.

For pace out running down the wing Demerai Gray would be a good shout.

 

[OrderOfStGeorge]

Wilder catchphrases ...
IT'S A GIVEN THAT MY PLAYERS WILL BE FITTER THAN THE OPPOSITION + RUN AROUND A LOT.
THAT'S A BASIC EXPECTATION.
PLAY ON THE FRONT FOOT.
GO TOE TO TOE WITH THE OPPOSITION.
TRY TO WIN GAMES OF FOOTBALL.
We look unfit , half arsed , disinterested.
Wilder even admitted in post match interview that some players were looking sorry for themselves and that is unacceptable.
Right Chris , you've signed new blood so make some changes.
Get some feckin zip into midfield.

He needs to practice what he preaches about there can be no room for sentiment with some of our players who's performances have been awful yet still get picked.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Tactics/personal/form of players all contributing to the slump right now. Wilder has to take some blame. For example, he hasnt been picking Norwood, who was key to that system and so far, rather than change the system, he has replaced JOC (also key to that system) with a championship reserve player who cant/wont play the same role as JOC. He also seems to have locked himself into this system (by signing players to match it) rather than ones who can be used to go to a plan B (the Duffy system, the Madine system).

The players must take some blame; the likes of Fleck, Stevens are out of form (and they of course were key cogs in that same system) and are making poor decisions on the pitch. But then again, they were always going to dip, given it is very hard to play out of your skin for season after season (particularly when you are at the top level and are probably championship player at heart - which most of them are). This is why we needed quality additions who good go straight into the first team, this summer.

If he isnt going to change the system (and the comments today about replacing JOC suggests he is sticking with it) he has to now try some of the newer players in (Lowe etc) as the current selection has failed thus far this season. They can't keep being picked based on what they have done for us in the past, it's now that counts.

 

[Antarctic Monkey]

Wilder catchphrases ...
IT'S A GIVEN THAT MY PLAYERS WILL BE FITTER THAN THE OPPOSITION + RUN AROUND A LOT.
THAT'S A BASIC EXPECTATION.
PLAY ON THE FRONT FOOT.
GO TOE TO TOE WITH THE OPPOSITION.
TRY TO WIN GAMES OF FOOTBALL.
We look unfit , half arsed , disinterested.
Wilder even admitted in post match interview that some players were looking sorry for themselves and that is unacceptable.
Right Chris , you've signed new blood so make some changes.
Get some feckin zip into midfield.

Bogle, Lowe and Brewster in next...make a statement

 

[SilkyBlade]

You have to be blind to even think that they are not the same tactics at all because for a start we are not playing with overlapping centre backs and sitting back.

Not only that we are playing with 3 defensive midfielders try excusing that one!

If that was any other manager many people would be calling for his head playing with 3 defensive midfielders because they would be labelled clueless.

CW has earned the right getting us to where we are but he needs to change these negative tactics and sitting far too deep because it is like watching paint dry and painful to watch us at the minute.

We are crying out for an attacking outlet in our midfield we simply do not have it we are not good enough in our midfield and strikeforce and the negative tactics coupled with the fact as soon as we go forward more often than not we look clueless.

The decision making poor balls and the fact that we try and walk the ball into the net tells you all you need to know.

The second shot where Didzy had a go he curled in an absolute pearler and that is what we need to do more of having efforts on goal but apart from Didzy and McBurnie I cant recall Leno being troubled.

We still have not replaced Luke Freeman which is baffling I dont understand why CW has let Luke Freeman go out on Loan when we are crying out for an attacking midfielder that decision makes no sense.

If Wilder does not rate him as a Premier league midfielder he should have been sold and a replacement brought in.

Instead we are using 3 defensive midfielders and it simply does not work and time CW woke up and sorted it.

Another clueless idiot who hasn’t played the game.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

CWAK needs to come up with a new system because the existing one which has done brilliantly is now failing. The back line has been disrupted with JOC out for the season and also losing Hendo (not a dig at Rambo), Wilder has also changed the midfield around so for me we have some unstability in the system. It's also noticable that team aren't letting us get the overloads when we do get forwrad, teams have worked on us and it's not working reliably anymore. By just adding Brewster to that team/system right now will make fuck all difference.

 

[Slugger]

You have to be blind to even think that they are not the same tactics at all because for a start we are not playing with overlapping centre backs and sitting back.

Not only that we are playing with 3 defensive midfielders try excusing that one!

If that was any other manager many people would be calling for his head playing with 3 defensive midfielders because they would be labelled clueless.

CW has earned the right getting us to where we are but he needs to change these negative tactics and sitting far too deep because it is like watching paint dry and painful to watch us at the minute.

We are crying out for an attacking outlet in our midfield we simply do not have it we are not good enough in our midfield and strikeforce and the negative tactics coupled with the fact as soon as we go forward more often than not we look clueless.

The decision making poor balls and the fact that we try and walk the ball into the net tells you all you need to know.

The second shot where Didzy had a go he curled in an absolute pearler and that is what we need to do more of having efforts on goal but apart from Didzy and McBurnie I cant recall Leno being troubled.

We still have not replaced Luke Freeman which is baffling I dont understand why CW has let Luke Freeman go out on Loan when we are crying out for an attacking midfielder that decision makes no sense.

If Wilder does not rate him as a Premier league midfielder he should have been sold and a replacement brought in.

Instead we are using 3 defensive midfielders and it simply does not work and time CW woke up and sorted it.

Our 3 midfielders are playing defensively but they are not "defensive midfielders". Lunny was an attacking success a year ago and I don't think anyone imagined Berge in Norwood's role.

 

[metalblade]

The problem for me is not one of our team from defence to midfield can take on and beat a man. Robinson is no JOC and Stevens especially is suffering just now as is Baldock to a lesser extent. Nothing at all from the midfield today Lundstram half hearted and only ever passing backwards Osborn terrible never got near the ball today it was like watching Monty at his worst. Berge no drive at all from him today but no movement ahead of him either 2nd half in 30 secs he passed three times to Lundstram who just gave it straight back to him. Fleck when he came on was only barely better than Osborn. We put all four of our strikers on today Burke's pace had them worried a little bit and McGoldrick worked himself a lovely goal otherwise nothing at all from any of them but hardly surprising given the service from midfield and out wide. Where has the drive and energy gone everything seems to be done at a stroll at the moment?
If I were Wilder I'd say fuck it and put Bogle and Lowe in at wing back they were ok at Burnley hopefully we bag a replacement for JOC too. I'd also bring Norwood back in and have Berge to the right. not at all sure how Ampadu never got on the pitch today either. I hope Brewster is as good as the Youtube vids suggest as we are just now Billy is offering nothing chasing balls down the channels