Our ‘big’ problem?..:

[Filey Blade]

What is it? As a contributor to this forum how do you see it?

For me, in reality and in the bigger scheme of things we are performing way out of the expectations of fans and pundits alike.
Yes we have this amazing winning habbit at present, however I’d like to see what individuals think?

My view is, today it felt like last year when we played Milwall. Outfought and outdone. In perspective compared to Bolton away, last year, we have no problems.

However, as a fan I expect better today because of Wilder and his achievements thus far, and the players also. I just get the feeling that we are slightly figured out on the basis teams respect us for are achievement thus far this season. Also, we miss Coutts and his ability to retain the ball and possession.

So fellow Blades? What’s are current/possible big issue? Let’s keep it clean, open and honest.

 

[Bladesman]

Our problem is that injuries are catching up with us and we don't have the depth in our squad that other teams do.

 

[Harry's Game]

Our problem is that injuries are catching up with us and we don't have the depth in our squad that other teams do.

This ^^

 

[Deadbat]

Teams are setting up against us to match our formation every week. They are playing the ball over the top and turning our centre backs. They are counter attacking well against us knowing we push men forward. If teams match our work rate or better it - it becomes about who is more decisive in the last third and lately we have been poor at either end. We try and be too precise in the last third and lack a goalscoring midfielder meaning a lot of pressure on Sharp/Clarke. At the back we have stood oof too much and made some poor mistakes; overplaying at this end too.

More specifially in terms of individuals; we miss Coutts control of the games and his protection in front of the back four. We also miss the RWB as it means we dont have same attacking threat and balance. We lack the shapr we had before.

We are also maybe tired and some of the efforts of earlier in the season has meant we have struggled to keep same intensity to our play.


Or it's all down to

Stearman/Basham/Carter Vickers/Blackman/Sharp/Lundstram/A n other ...delete the name/s you want to depending on personal preference of scapegoat..being shite even though they were all fine when we were winning.

End of thread!

 

[Filey Blade]

You bugger

I agree with all the comments above however when your on tube some ‘rare’ views come out.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Our problem is that injuries are catching up with us and we don't have the depth in our squad that other teams do.

Totally. Losing both RWB is unlucky and has thrown our back 3 into disarray.

Losing one of Coutts/Fleck was always going to be a massive blow.

At the risk of appearing to question the great man - I'm not convinced he's convinced what his best front 2 are and this seems to be adding to the flux.

 

[sheffielder]

Injuries and produced a lack of balance. I don't see a lack in appetite although I wonder if the Coutts injury has had a physiological impact on the players and we are a touch uncommitted as we were.

The injuries to Freeman and Baldock really have compounded our style of play and now CCV's confidence seems to have taken a knock, he seems to want to stay at home rather than provide that RCB overlap Basham naturally provides.

I keep seeing on different posts and facebook that suddenly everyone is not good enough.

Blackman
CCV
Stearman
Wright
Stevens has gone off the pace
Lundstram is useless
Duffy
Sharp

Suddenly all these need replacing, the team that got us to number 1 a few weeks ago (albeit for a few hours). A bad injury can knock a squad, add to that the other injuries and it's not hard to see why we have seen a dip.

Come on now, we're better than that. Look where we have been for 6 years. no win in 3 matches and some are jumping off the train. I just don't understand it.

 

[Filey Blade]

Totally. Losing both RWB is unlucky and has thrown our back 3 into disarray.

Losing one of Coutts/Fleck was always going to be a massive blow.

At the risk of appearing to question the great man - I'm not convinced he's convinced what his best front 2 are and this seems to be adding to the flux.

I agree, he has 1 proven striker, 1 in form of his life and 1 young man who i can’t tell where he is meant to play! Added to that Donalson and maybe Lavery

Injuries and produced a lack of balance. I don't see a lack in appetite although I wonder if the Coutts injury has had a physiological impact on the players and we are a touch uncommitted as we were.

The injuries to Freeman and Baldock really have compounded our style of play and now CCV's confidence seems to have taken a knock, he seems to want to stay at home rather than provide that RCB overlap Basham naturally provides.

I keep seeing on different posts and facebook that suddenly everyone is not good enough.

Blackman
CCV
Stearman
Wright
Stevens has gone off the pace
Lundstram is useless
Duffy
Sharp

Suddenly all these need replacing, the team that got us to number 1 a few weeks ago (albeit for a few hours). A bad injury can knock a squad, add to that the other injuries and it's not hard to see why we have seen a dip.

Come on now, we're better than that. Look where we have been for 6 years. no win in 3 matches and some are jumping off the train. I just don't understand it.

I think are ferocity and pressing has gone to shitte since Coutts broke his leg. I totally agree we have gone daft with our reaction over the latest results, for me we are doing more then fine. I think we may be expecting too much at present after a good start.

 

[Pedro's Winger]

No need to over think it.
We lost our key player and don't have a replacement.
Coutts plays in each of the last three games and we wouldn't be having the same discussion.

 

[metalblade]

I think it's fair to say we have had more injuries this season so far than we had all last season, not that it should be an excuse we have competition and cover in every position. A bit unfortunate that probably our most influential player is out for the season and both right wing backs have been injured on and off all season and for the last few weeks are both out at the same time which seems to have upset the whole right side of the team.
Another thing is after nearly half the season has gone we are up in the top six and in recent performances the players seem to think all they have to do is turn up to win, shit v Fulham, even shitter v Brum and utter shit today I saw next to nothing to take a positive from today.

 

[8lade]

Losing Coutts and the RWB at the same time is clouding the issue of where the problem is and how to combat it. Basham put in some great crosses today but nobody was attacking them which (IMO) was a mistake in team selection as Clarke/Sharp (maybe even Hanson!) would've worked better. Need speed somewhere in the back row as this has been a problem all season. We'll turn it around everybody stop shitting themselves, stop in fighting and we'll be ok.

 

[Barney]

Truthfully, I think it's just that we were performing out of our skins from the start of the season, and these last few results probably paint a more realistic picture of the ability of the squad as a whole. We are more top 6 as opposed to an automatic team at the moment, which is of course fine by me.

 

[Barnette]

Lundstrum isn't useless and is improving every game

 

[Filey Blade]

Losing Coutts and the RWB at the same time is clouding the issue of where the problem is and how to combat it. Basham put in some great crosses today but nobody was attacking them which (IMO) was a mistake in team selection as Clarke/Sharp (maybe even Hanson!) would've worked better. Need speed somewhere in the back row as this has been a problem all season. We'll turn it around everybody stop shitting themselves, stop in fighting and we'll be ok.

Well.. I don’t want to upset apple cart but HMS Hanson has a place for me. His physical attributes are an asset.

 

[Tezza1889]

It’s Jamal Blackman who possibly is the worst keeper I’ve ever seen..

He’s fucking rubbish and can’t save fuck all... I’m not looking for a scapegoat... but he’s shit.. sorry every shot seems to sail in

 

[Filey Blade]

Truthfully, I think it's just that we were performing out of our skins from the start of the season, and these last few results probably paint a more realistic picture of the ability of the squad as a whole. We are more top 6 as opposed to an automatic team at the moment, which is of course fine by me.

Spot on for me

 

[Rob86]

For me it is the loss of Coutts and it really is that simple. Our De Bruyne, Pogba, Coutinho etc. it is not as if the lad who has stepped in has been at all poor, in fact I think Lundstram has played very well, but the loss of Coutts has affected Duffy IMO. Fleck continues to be the best player on the park and the main player I worry about in Jan. But with Duffy below par, due to Coutts injury, this then affects Leon, Sharp and Brooks when they are up top who fead off Duffy so excellently.

Perhaps we need to grind more results out, so be more defensive maybe, whilst we work a formation or style out and that might mean being a bit more defensive, I do not know. Baldock and Freeman returning will be a huge boost, so at the moment it is probably just bad luck with injuries

But as a previous poster has mentioned, we have got progressively worse over the last 3 games with today being abysmal. The way it stands I don't see where a point is coming from before Christmas, but even if we go into the new year on 40 points I will still be very happy with it.

 

[Ricky]

We simply need a better manager.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I agree, he has 1 proven striker, 1 in form of his life and 1 young man who i can’t tell where he is meant to play! Added to that Donalson and maybe Lavery



I think are ferocity and pressing has gone to shitte since Coutts broke his leg. I totally agree we have gone daft with our reaction over the latest results, for me we are doing more then fine. I think we may be expecting too much at present after a good start.

21 teams would love to be where we are.

 

[Benny and the Blades]

It was bound to happen sooner or later, how we get out of this run of bad luck will show us just how good a management team we really have, and how serious the club is about staying at this level

UTB

 

[PokerBlade]

We played alright against Fulham but individual errors cost us and it was just a crazy game all round. We were the better team against Birmingham but didn't quite create enough. A first half wonder goal allowed them to sit far deeper than they might have. Didn't get a chance to follow today's game but it doesn't sound great.

This is hardly the worst run of form in the world and I've been saying all along that we should expect to have a run of poor results at some point this season. Be happy that our general style of football is as good as it's ever been and we're way ahead of expectations.

Bottom line is that Wilder's getting far more from these players than pretty much any other manager would. The only thing we can do to improve is take our time and buy some better players.

 

[super_pig]

teams are respecting us now and sitting in
we’re short of a rwb and lost our balance
that’s all

 

[robbiez666]

As Deadbat says, teams no how to play us and how to set up against us. When we were outworking other teams, we had a chance to win regardless.

We've taken 1 point from two teams who are very poor. If we carry on that way, we would be in trouble.

Every game we play, we must outwork the other side. It's that simple. If we don't we get sloppy. We also struggle quite badly when other teams high press us. This is about 10xs worse without Coutts. He keeps the ball, keeps it moving and always offers for a return. We're trying to play out without this and we keep getting caught out.

Pace is also (still) an issue. Teams set-up to counter-attack us, we leave huge gaps and don't have the players to get back.

We need Baldock back asap or Chris needs to find a pull a rabbit out of the hat with a new formation.

 

[Davalon]

We haven't got a big problem FULL STOP

Too much whingeing about Coutts, and a few who got ahead of themselves, especially those who got carried away pre-season and then took pleasure in telling people how right they were (not talking about posters on this board btw just a few Blades generally).

Realistically we're likely to enter 2018 in the top 6. I like Wilder's high standards and expectations very much, but if that position isn't good enough for people under the circumstances I fucking give up.

 

[8lade]

Well.. I don’t want to upset apple cart but HMS Hanson has a place for me. His physical attributes are an asset.

He's got an aerial presence that only Clarke has and if Clarke has an off day...
Is it enough for selection? Maybe, depending on what's heading our way.

 

[sportinguista]

There is no "BIG" problem. We just haven't done too well in the last three games. It was going to happen at some point.

Look at where we are in the league.
Look at where we were in the league a year ago.
Look at where we were in the league six years ago.
Look at the games we've already won this season.

Now, read the OP's question again.

 

[cooperblade]

We try and be too precise in the last third

Thought the opposite was true at times today, too many shots from 20 yards plus in the 2nd half.


Our 'problem' (and I think we could've had 5 points or more quite easily from the last 3 and then everything would've been rosy) at the moment is a few injuries have unbalanced us and cost us a lot of what made us so difficult to play against.

Baldock/Freeman, Stevens, Basham and O'Connell gave us 4 players constantly bombing forward from deep. CCV isn't as dangerous / willing to get forward from RCB as Bash and Bash, although he's done great, doesn't offer the same threat as Baldock/Freeman.

Added to that, we've lost half of an amazing midfield partnership and our best player at keeping the ball.

Like I said, I'm not overly worried as I think we've been unfortunate in each of the last 3 games and that will turn. Hopefully Baldock is back soon - he's been training for the last fortnight hasn't he?

 

[Blade56]

Recently an unwillingness to run at a defence. We seem to need to create an electric move of 5-6 passes rather than occasionally running straight at em and shooting. Plus shooting around the box. We tried a few today but needs practice, nearly all off them would hit a barn door, problem is the barns in another field.

That said we're doing alrieght but a worrying run, the cream is rising, we need some more quality

 

[KoppedOff]

We need more coaching sessions from Keith Edwards and Tony Currie.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

A bit of doubt has crept in. Players, fans, everybody. It's proving hard to shake off.

Some will disagree, some won't admit it but in my opinion this is the problem.