Not worried at all after that

[UddersBlade]

I agree that Wilder’s tinkering last night backfired and was not necessary . However, against the better sides in this league, our failure to add some firepower upfront right at the end of the transfer window will continue to hurt us unless this can be rectified in January. We had nothing at the top of the pitch last night for Leeds to worry about.

Regardless I hope Wilder reverts back to the tried & trusted formation & team that got us up at the top for the trip to Boro. He needs to remember that as Blades we will back him & the team if we are prepared to battle & go toe to toe - even if we lose.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Boggles the mind how many of our fans think Leeds aren't all that, they are the standout team in the league by almost every metric and showed it again last night.

 

[Lucky1979]

Boggles the mind how many of our fans think Leeds aren't all that, they are the standout team in the league by almost every metric and showed it again last night.

Yep. Some really bizarre takes on them in this thread. They are miles ahead of us in terms of quality. They will finish 10+ points ahead of us. Not sure why people think otherwise. Must have been the 0 shots on goal and 0 saves we made their keeper make. How that translates to us being better is beyond me

Yes, the game plan was total idiocy. But they would have still won even if we stuck with our usual side. Mainly because we can’t score. And at places like Leeds and Burnley your chances are going to be limited so you need to take them. And we don’t have anyone capable of doing that.

Next game is going to be rough as well with no Souza and Gus one away from suspension as well.

 

[coolasanidiot]

Boggles the mind how many of our fans think Leeds aren't all that, they are the standout team in the league by almost every metric and showed it again last night.

Without doubt Leeds are decent, and deserved the points last night, but I think most Blades fans were disappointed with such a negative line up. Already we can see that United are better than half the teams in the division - and in these games expectations are we WIN.

But given we are certainly not better than Leeds / Burnley etc we want to see attitude against better opposition as a free hit / go for it / give them a scare / give the fans something to be proud of. OK you'll lose a few but you'll definitely win a few.

The whole scenario was wrong last night- no Brooks or Raki - straight away sent out the message 'you are better than us' . I'd have preferred Chris to keep same team as previous - tell them to do it for 'George' and attack attack attack.

Maybe lose 4-2 , but last night was limp/ lame / pathetic - did fans/ players and himself no favours.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Without doubt Leeds are decent, and deserved the points last night, but I think most Blades fans were disappointed with such a negative line up. Already we can see that United are better than half the teams in the division - and in these games expectations are we WIN.

But given we are certainly not better than Leeds / Burnley etc we want to see attitude against better opposition as a free hit / go for it / give them a scare / give the fans something to be proud of. OK you'll lose a few but you'll definitely win a few.

The whole scenario was wrong last night- no Brooks or Raki - straight away sent out the message 'you are better than us' . I'd have preferred Chris to keep same team as previous - tell them to do it for 'George' and attack attack attack.

Maybe lose 4-2 , but last night was limp/ lame / pathetic - did fans/ players and himself no favours.

He might have thought that Leeds have struggled against a back three already this season and have had a few games where they've struggled to break them down.

Our defence is the best in the league, we have shown we are capable of counter attacking, our fans will get out-sang so let's frustrate them. Makes sense to me. Had we played our system and lost, he'd be getting slaughtered for his system and lineup regardless.

 

[Mattblade68]

One of main reasons we have been so good this season is due to our decision to be more attacking than last and not park the bus and invite the inevitable. Toe to toe , front foot football passing forwards ,4 at the back, wingers with pace . I think our game plan was based on thinking we were playing the Bielsa Leeds .Leeds are not as good as they were then and we are a lot better than we were then, we all know this. Did Leeds change as much as we did due to our threat with the line up. We had a chance to make a statement , I suppose
we did that .... Whether Leeds would have been ' by far the best side we have played' , if we had gone for it like normal , who knows , but they would not have looked as comfortable 100 per cent

 

[coolasanidiot]

He might have thought that Leeds have struggled against a back three already this season and have had a few games where they've struggled to break them down.

Our defence is the best in the league, we have shown we are capable of counter attacking, our fans will get out-sang so let's frustrate them. Makes sense to me. Had we played our system and lost, he'd be getting slaughtered for his system and lineup regardless.

He definitely did think that - and he definitely was hoping for a better outcome. And yes if we lose playing expansive football, he would have been berated- because ' footballs like that'. But as a fan were you not disappointed we didn't lay a glove on them? We didn't silence their fans whatsoever, our fans travelled in good numbers and paid good money , to go see us be totally submissive- I love Wilder but he got that totally wrong . WE aint going down - GIVE IT A FUCKING GO.

 

[AWetFlannel]

He definitely did think that - and he definitely was hoping for a better outcome. And yes if we lose playing expansive football, he would have been berated- because ' footballs like that'. But as a fan were you not disappointed we didn't lay a glove on them? We didn't silence their fans whatsoever, our fans travelled in good numbers and paid good money , to go see us be totally submissive- I love Wilder but he got that totally wrong . WE aint going down - GIVE IT A FUCKING GO.

I was disappointed aye. I also would've been disappointed had we "gone for it", not layed a glove on them and got spanked by four or five.

We picked a game plan, gave it a go and it didn't work. If he thought "going for it" would've given us an equal or better chance of getting a result, he'd have done it.

 

[Mattblade68]

Also... Why can't we try Sakyi or Brooks down the middle if we are playing some long balls to use the flick ons to then run at the heart of the defence

 

[wizadry]

Brooks didn’t even come on which I couldn’t believe because he’s been a bright light this season, finishing apart obviously. Wilder lost the plot last night big time, let’s hope this isn’t the norm because that was depressing last night.

 

[dexter101]

Showed them far too much respect, we didn't go to Chelsea/Spurs/Arsenal in that first prem season and shit ourselves like that.

We also did have a squad who were absolute warriors across the pitch.

This team, this week, I am not sure we had the character to pull out one of those displays.

Not saying it was the right tactics, but it felt like the emotion was off last night and wilder and the squad just wanted to get it played.

 

[Bell4]

We’ve gone there with a specific game plan, tried to be too clever, it’s not worked and it’s looked shit. Absolutely we’ve made a mistake, but that’ll get put away now and we won’t try it again (hopefully anyway).

On the other hand they looked pretty shakey in all truth. Too reliant on individual moments and absolutely there to be got at. If we play our own game in the reverse fixture we’ll beat them, and I’m confident they’ll lose comfortably more games than we will this season.

Is what it is, onwards we go.

Cheers Chris

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Not on that evidence. Return to this at the end of the season

On that evidence Leeds won't finish above us?
Bloody hell mate, have you ever done Jury Service?

 

[Bell4]

Best post and analysis of wilders approach eventual outcome - on the forum

Great read and I agree with every word

 

[Bell4]

Absolutely no one, I repeat no one, in the Championship, is so good that SUFC need to change their tactics to a containment hold on strategy. Every club is in the Championship for a reason I.e they aren't good enough yet to be in the PL. If a formation and set of tactics are working really well for us (and clearly we have one in place already as we were joint top), then for God's sake don't go somewhere in the Championship and change it to try to appease and contain. It's way too negative. We aren't playing City or Arsenal here. Go be yourself, think fuck you, and let them worry about us.

Before the match their fans where shitting bricks about us. Wilder went there and waved the white flag with that formation change as it completely changed the dynamics of our team on the night. No outlet. No pace up top. Moore isolated. Midfield struggling to find an out ball to get us up the pitch so that we could build an attack. It all just invited pressure on to our defence all night. It was all wrong on the night and even then, Leeds didn't capitalise and we managed to get to HT where we could have switched back to our usual formation, made subs and gone for it. We didn't, we didn't fix a problem staring us in the face and which was our own doing (or Wilder's to be precise) and we / CW got what we deserved on the night. Way, way too negative. Just be us, play to our strengths, change personnel as and when necessary to freshen up the side, but stick with the winning formation set up.

Wilder has form for overthinking things from time to time after he's had extra time. We were always shit after international breaks and there was a pattern in recent years. It's one game, but highly disappointing that we didn't get chance to show em our A game. But what is done is done, and we move on now. There should and must be learnings taken from that, and for every game for the rest of the season, we should play our formation and best side, and let others worry about us. As much as I like CW he isn't impervious to valid criticism when it's justified. Last night's criticism for CW is totally justified and he self harmed the team by tinkering and it backfired. He's still the right man for us though, he just needs to stop thinking he's the next Pep from time to time.

My comments re best post referred to this

 

[Weasel]

I was disappointed aye. I also would've been disappointed had we "gone for it", not layed a glove on them and got spanked by four or five.

We picked a game plan, gave it a go and it didn't work. If he thought "going for it" would've given us an equal or better chance of getting a result, he'd have done it.

Whereas I'm more disappointed that we lost 2 nil away after changing our tactics to be just about containing them and went down without a wimper. I woulsntnhave been as disappointed if we had lost by 4 'going for it' or to put it another way, playing our usual game. I could have at least understood the reasoning for that and thought well the better team has won and given us a lesson. In truth, that wouldn't have happened at all, and imo (and mine is I'd complete difference to yours) i think we would have been fine last night and got some positive result if we have stayed with our usual tactics. Unlike some on here, I'm yet to be blown away about just how good Leeds are (I don't think they are and are dodgy at the back which of course we never tried to exploit). We'll see how outstanding Leeds are come the end of the seasons table. We shot ourselves in thr foot yesterday and made them look so much better than us.

 

[MagnifiqueShorehamStreet]

No doubting that Leeds are a good side in the Championship,but wish Wilder would stop banging on about how good they are.`They're not Real Madrid.I suppose, it’s a way of deflecting from our performance and overcautious tactics.
He should just admit for once he got it wrong.It was his belief that Leeds are much better than us, that got him to pick the wrong tactics and team in the first place.He should learn from that, and not double down on it.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Whereas I'm more disappointed that we lost 2 nil away after changing our tactics to be just about containing them and went down without a wimper. I woulsntnhave been as disappointed if we had lost by 4 'going for it' or to put it another way, playing our usual game. I could have at least understood the reasoning for that and thought well the better team has won and given us a lesson. In truth, that wouldn't have happened at all, and imo (and mine is I'd complete difference to yours) i think we would have been fine last night and got some positive result if we have stayed with our usual tactics. Unlike some on here, I'm yet to be blown away about just how good Leeds are (I don't think they are and are dodgy at the back which of course we never tried to exploit). We'll see how outstanding Leeds are come the end of the seasons table. We shot ourselves in thr foot yesterday and made them look so much better than us.

You can't understand the reasoning for the changes even after Wilder has explained it?

He said they did extensive research on Leeds. Watched back the play off final from last season, where a very good Southampton side had the balls to change their system to deal with Leeds and now they're in the Prem. He watched games this season where back four's have been stretched badly and felt it'd happen to us.

None of us know what would've happened either way so I get people disagreeing and having their own opinion, but if you don't even understand the reasoning you must not be trying to understand.

 

[Matlock Blade]

I dread to think how Wilder will pick the team if we get to the play off final.

 

[Slim Man]

No chance.
Zero.
Bookmark me.

We are not in the race for automatics, we haven’t got the goals or depth in certain areas

Leeds are

And that’s fine

I don’t need to bookmark cos I don’t care

 

[biggiesablade]

We will never ever win a game with that stupid cunt cat on top

 

[Stretch]

I am not worried, just completely annoyed that we tried something so tactically inept.

Our strength so far is our defence, so we disrupt it.

Arguably their weakness is their defence, so we further limit our chances of scoring. Bizarre and utterly pointless.

Don't roll over for anyone in this division Chris, and don't kiss their arses either. The fact that it happened in such a huge game for all involved with the club, makes the capitulation even more inexcusable.

 

[Frank the tank]

What is the point in the revertng back to 4-2-3-1 now that wilder doesn't have faith in the players to perform in it in crunch games

Would have been far better to have picked an unchanged team and find out where we really are as a team and how we can Improve a new group, formation and structure but instead we completely lay down and die before a ball Is kicked

The wilder who reignited this club is gone

We well and truly went out the back door last night and it's a common theme unfortunately

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

So we've lost our first League game this season and away to Leeds
God help us if we lose a game to wendy ,
They'll be no room in the Sheaf .........

 

[Blacksea]

Oh

Fair assessment from me, this.

I think we looked like exactly what we were. A side that invested what it has on GK and defence, has some quality in CM but lacks depth, and hasn't invested up front. We look like far from the finished article. I mean, how many of our current squad are in their prime?

I think we look like quality individuals that are yet to gel into a seamless squad of pals, teammates on the same wave length. Don't forget how long we had Billy, Bash, Norwood, Baldock, Enda, Fleck. They knew the system, and one another. Now, Gilchrist, Souttar, Rak-Sakyi, O'Hare, Hamer, Burrows. There's undoubtedly quality there but they are still individuals, new to one another. We also lack depth, and it shows.

I don't think Wilder will go toe to toe against the top teams in this division, especially away, expectations have risen because of the start,but this squad is not an automatic promotion one so even taking into account the formation change,these players will only get us so far unless they play out of their skin on a regular basis

 

[sportinguista]

Let's have some perspective here.

Many of our squad, management and the whole backroom staff lost a very dear friend just nine days ago.
Some of them wouldn't have had their heads in the right place and you could tell CW was certainly struggling.

In the return we will beat them.
Leeds will do well to finish above us.
Ok tomorrow we'll drop a couple of places after Saturdays fixtures,but in the grand scheme of things we've had more costly defeats than this one.

UTB

I was working so didn’t see our game yesterday therefore can’t comment on it but on the perspective suggestion, whilst it may be a valid point, it didn’t stop Greece scoring their first ever goals at Wembley and winning in England for the first time…

 

[Weasel]

You can't understand the reasoning for the changes even after Wilder has explained it?

He said they did extensive research on Leeds. Watched back the play off final from last season, where a very good Southampton side had the balls to change their system to deal with Leeds and now they're in the Prem. He watched games this season where back four's have been stretched badly and felt it'd happen to us.

None of us know what would've happened either way so I get people disagreeing and having their own opinion, but if you don't even understand the reasoning you must not be trying to understand.

No, I understand what Wilder said post match. I don't understand how or why he thought it was a sounder plan than to stick with a formation and team that has just got us joint top (after starting minus 2) and which had just recorded 6 straight clean sheets. In short, I totally disagree with what Wilder thought was the best tactics to use. I don't need video analysis to know that you start with your strongest team, in a formation they are really comfortable in playing and which they are all starting to learn, and you don't go in with a containment mentality at a rival decent side. They beat us doing that then fair dos, no complaints from me. But they didn't have too. Wilder has his opinion, my opinion (and we all got one) is that he lost the plot last night. I would like to think that CW who is an intelligent man, knows this himself even if he won't admit it. I would be surprised if he pulls this one again this season.

 

[s20Blade]

We're going to get our points from most teams below Leeds and Burnley.

 

[AWetFlannel]

No, I understand what Wilder said post match. I don't understand how or why he thought it was a sounder plan than to stick with a formation and team that has just got us joint top (after starting minus 2) and which had just recorded 6 straight clean sheets. In short, I totally disagree with what Wilder thought was the best tactics to use. I don't need video analysis to know that you start with your strongest team, in a formation they are really comfortable in playing and which they are all starting to learn, and you don't go in with a containment mentality at a rival decent side. They beat us doing that then fair dos, no complaints from me. But they didn't have too. Wilder has his opinion, my opinion (and we all got one) is that he lost the plot last night. I would like to think that CW who is an intelligent man, knows this himself even if he won't admit it. I would be surprised if he pulls this one again this season.

Don't think it's fair to say we went to contain. We pressed high up the pitch and rarely got pushed into a low block.

Fair enough though, all about opinions

 

[ancientblade]

i know its basic but why dont we try a simple 442 system with brewster up top with moore and hamer in the duffy role behind the 2 strikers even o'hare would be better in that role hes doing nothing in the role wilders asking him to play