Our only way to improve...

[FTPE]

Wingers.

I will start by saying how proud I am at last nights performance. In Fletcher, Reach and Bannan they still have some quality players and if the old saying is correct and form does go out of the window in derbies, we couldn't have asked for a more dominant performance. We have had very strong spells against much better sides but I can't think of a relentless, positive onslaught like that for a long time.

We all know where we came up short, we are all aware that not only did we hand them their first clean sheet of the season but for a team that bossed 90% of the game we didn't create any where near as many chances as we should have either.

The problem is, where do we improve?
My mate last night claimed we needed to splash the cash on a striker. Another friend said we still need a creative midfielder.
In our financial position I don't think either is a priority.

Hear me out, I don't think with the money we have to spend (and that isn't a dig at the club) we could possibly improve on Duffy, Norwood, Fleck and Coutts. A player like Mason at Derby might do it but when you consider his parent club regard him as the "next Lampard" the chance of buying a player like that on a permanent is zero.
Those 4 are amongst the most composed and technically brilliant footballers I have ever seen in a Blades shirt.

As for the strikers what better box finisher is there in the league than Billy, who I thought was outstanding last night by the way? His hold up and link up play was brilliant, he run his nads off and showed a desire you'd expect of a fan playing against "the enemy".
I am also a massive McGoldrick fan. He is such a silky footballer with a fantastic work ethic. He glides around the pitch and opposition with a touch like a Championship version of Berbatov.

So to my point. A slow methodical build up is fine but the tempo has to be mixed up. We have to burst into life at times and deliver earlier when the opportunity arises. Listening to Wilders interview last night he is (obviously) aware of this.
The problem is, while it is fantastic to see our center backs overlapping and getting crosses in, having marauding wingbacks getting forward at every opportunity... is it enough and is the quality there?
Like I have previously stated we have the quality to create in the middle of the park but when a team comes to sit back and defend then going through the middle can become very tight and difficult. Spreading the ball wide, overlapping and stretching the opposition's defence is something we do very well but would trained out and out winger be able to do it better?

I am not proposing this as a Plan A, I love our style but in if we had a Paul Devlin or Dane Whitehouse on the wing how much more of a threat would we be? I think in JOC and Egan we have the know how and ability to play a flat back 4 but it would mean losing a man in the centre of the park- but with half an hour left to play when the game is a stalemate then I don't see that as a problem.

Freeman and Enda do a really good job but their goal threat and creativity is obviously a lot lower than that you would expect from an actual winger. Left and right backs can still push forward and we could probably play them both still (although I would be reluctabt to ever drop Bash) I just hope we try for some wingers again.

I thought thay was the plan when we brought in Nathan Thomas, maybe it was and it didn't pay off.

Anyway, I'm a very proud but dissapointed Blade this morning. If last season wasn't a "passing of the torch" then this season certainly is. As always it will be a very interesting January but I still think we are more than capable of staying in tbe top 6 and making the playoffs regardless.

UTMB.

 

[SwissBlade]

From the pig end

First half our wing backs and attacking centre halves were overlapping down both sides, getting in behind and exposing the shambolic Wednesday defending. If we had wingers they’d have done similar no doubt.

Second half, Wednesday’s back 8 then sat deeper and prevented us from getting around the back as often, wingers would’ve made zero difference to this

 

[Ginger Gnome]

We had Johnson on the bench if we wanted a winger to put crosses in rather than a left back.

If we have limited funds, prioritising signing a player to fill a role we don't use as Plan A would be plain daft.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

From the pig end

First half our wing backs and attacking centre halves were overlapping down both sides, getting in behind and exposing the shambolic Wednesday defending. If we had wingers they’d have done similar no doubt.

Second half, Wednesday’s back 8 then sat deeper and prevented us from getting around the back as often, wingers would’ve made zero difference to this

Wednesday's back eight?

 

[FTPE]

Wednesday's back eight?

"Back 8" gives the impression there were two players up close to Fletcher.
I think a back 8 is being generous.

 

[gavtheblade]

Mitrovic.
Fulham.

 

[FTPE]

Mitrovic.
Fulham.

Didn't he just cost £22 million!?
He's excacly what we could do with. A powerhouse striker that not only takes chances but makes his own as well, but come on who could we find like that for 2 or 3mil?

 

[Harry's Game]

A forward with power and pace is what is desperately needed.

If we had a Tammy Abraham or even a Brian Deane in this side you wouldn't see us for dust.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Our system does not cater for wingers.Our real problem is the lack of third man runs. When we play Mcgoldrick we are essentially playing two attacking midfielders. These two very rarely run the other side of the striker and break the lines.Mcgldrick did it twice last night, and won a penalty and had another decent opportunity. This is why we look so good until we get into the final third. You'll never score many goals with only one or two players in the box, playing pretty patterns thirty or forty yards from goal. The players we need to improve cost big money at this level.

 

[FTPE]

Our system does not cater for wingers.Our real problem is the lack of third man runs. When we play Mcgoldrick we are essentially playing two attacking midfielders. These two very rarely run the other side of the striker and break the lines.Mcgldrick did it twice last night, and won a penalty and had another decent opportunity. This is why we look so good until we get into the final third. You'll never score many goals with only one or two players in the box, playing pretty patterns thirty or forty yards from goal. The players we need to improve cost big money at this level.

Why don't you think we could play wingers?

 

[Addison]

Our system does not cater for wingers.Our real problem is the lack of third man runs. When we play Mcgoldrick we are essentially playing two attacking midfielders. These two very rarely run the other side of the striker and break the lines.Mcgldrick did it twice last night, and won a penalty and had another decent opportunity. This is why we look so good until we get into the final third. You'll never score many goals with only one or two players in the box, playing pretty patterns thirty or forty yards from goal. The players we need to improve cost big money at this level.

Spot on although it was Duffy who won the penalty. No matter how good our build up play looks until we get players running past Billy then we will continue to have a low ratio during a game of actual chances created. McGoldrick played well last night but was too deep. Billy was marked by three big lumps and our play and players at times were all down the flanks and no-one was in the box. Bringing on the likes of Johnson with his pace would have given us the opportunity for someone to make those runs. The two man attacking midfield worked at times last season because we had Brooks pace.

For all our possession we only tested Dawson three times last night and one of those was the penalty. Its not about the lack of players at the moment its about formation and changing it during the game to cause the opposition problems. We had players on the bench with pace.

We also don't help ourselves by insisting on pulling 10 men behind the ball at Home when defending set pieces. We gave the Pigs a chance to have a breather when they got a corner because the ball went straight back to them and we had no opportunity for a quick counter to break down their 8 man defence.

 

[bornablade]

We need a couple of strikers (or just the one) with pace who can get in front of their marker to meet the crosses from our wing backs.

Alternatively we need to be smarter. I think it was against Blackpool in 2015. Ball comes across from the right. Basham cleverly blocks Billy's marker giving him the space to get to the ball first and score.

We were never first to any of the crosses last night.

Despite that. Excellent performance.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Why don't you think we could play wingers?

We could but we'd have to change a system that is allowing us to dominate the vast majority of games (essentially what a system is there to do).. I don't think it's the system costing us points, but the personnel at the top end of the pitch. If we're looking at the last five games we haven't lost points due to superior tactics from the opposition.

 

[FTPE]

We could but we'd have to change a system that is allowing us to dominate the vast majority of games (essentially what a system is there to do).. I don't think it's the system costing us points, but the personnel at the top end of the pitch. If we're looking at the last five games we haven't lost points due to superior tactics from the opposition.

No, I completely get that. Having such a possesion based set up means you do need to be strong in the middle, but the way we come forward almost always ends with us on the wing trying to pick out the perfect pass into the box.
A winger can cut inside and shoot himself, a real winger can beat a man and cross the ball on the move.
Its hard because I think to fix the thing we are lacking would jeopardise the area we are strongest in, you're right.
We have had games though where Billy and Mcgoldrick (Leon last season too) have been unplayable, just saying we need a better striker when we fail to break a team down just seems too simplistic to me.

 

[nopigfansintown]

No, I completely get that. Having such a possesion based set up means you do need to be strong in the middle, but the way we come forward almost always ends with us on the wing trying to pick out the perfect pass into the box.
A winger can cut inside and shoot himself, a real winger can beat a man and cross the ball on the move.
Its hard because I think to fix the thing we are lacking would jeopardise the area we are strongest in, you're right.
We have had games though where Billy and Mcgoldrick (Leon last season too) have been unplayable, just saying we need a better striker when we fail to break a team down just seems too simplistic to me.

I think pace in up front is desperately needed. Somebody who will play on the shoulder and can beat a man.This season I thought we'd be building our side around Brooks and would change to 4-3-3 or some variant of one up top, and we'd see the kind of approach you seem to be suggesting.Obviously it hasn't happened. We are failing at a very high level and it seems to me spending real money is the only remedy at this point. It's hard to be too critical as it's difficult to see how we can improve with this group of players.

 

[Revolution]

We could but we'd have to change a system that is allowing us to dominate the vast majority of games (essentially what a system is there to do).. I don't think it's the system costing us points, but the personnel at the top end of the pitch. If we're looking at the last five games we haven't lost points due to superior tactics from the opposition.

Well, I'm not so sure. Forest and Wednesday defended deep and stifled us. Derby changed up and we couldn't cope.

Nobody is looking for s change of style. The style has been successful on the whole. It's more that a plan B might be preferable at times when it isn't working so well in terms of creating chances.

 

[FTPE]

I think pace in up front is desperately needed. Somebody who will play on the shoulder and can beat a man.This season I thought we'd be building our side around Brooks and would change to 4-3-3 or some variant of one up top, and we'd see the kind of approach you seem to be suggesting.Obviously it hasn't happened. We are failing at a very high level and it seems to me spending real money is the only remedy at this point. It's hard to be too critical as it's difficult to see how we can improve with this group of players.

Brooks would definatley make a difference. Personally I would want someone stronger but before you know it my "want list" is basically a Thierry Herny.

Of all our (rumoured) summer targets would any of them done what you are asking though? Hogan? Waghorn? I think the player best suited for what you pointed out is Nuhiu or Washington and to be honest I don't think Washington is nearly good enough.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Well, I'm not so sure. Forest and Wednesday defended deep and stifled us. Derby changed up and we couldn't cope.

Nobody is looking for s change of style. The style has been successful on the whole. It's more that a plan B might be preferable at times when it isn't working so well in terms of creating chances.

That's just it though. A coach could say "tactically we are superior but they have better players so we can't break them down. They took their one or two chances due to their superior players".United sold their plan B. You get Brooks and another pacy tricky kid to play on the other side (and maybe play the Duffy role when needed) and you have your plan B and more options for plan A.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Brooks would definatley make a difference. Personally I would want someone stronger but before you know it my "want list" is basically a Thierry Herny.

Of all our (rumoured) summer targets would any of them done what you are asking though? Hogan? Waghorn? I think the player best suited for what you pointed out is Nuhiu or Washington and to be honest I don't think Washington is nearly good enough.

I think the Hogan who was at Rochdale and Brentford would be ideal, but I'm not sure he's the same player after all his injuries. I was never sold on Waghorn. Agree on Washington: although he's the right type of player he simply doesn't have the quality.

 

[Bladesman]

A forward with power and pace is what is desperately needed.

If we had a Tammy Abraham or even a Brian Deane in this side you wouldn't see us for dust.

Yep, we really need some pace up front. I thought Washington would provide it but he just doesn't seem to have made a place for himself.

 

[Espania blade]

A forward with power and pace is what is desperately needed.

If we had a Tammy Abraham or even a Brian Deane in this side you wouldn't see us for dust.

Why couldn't that forward be JOC, Egan, Basham McG, Freeman even Duffy ? Sharp was redundant last night in terms of being a traditional center forward so why not play with false 9 and let any of the above be the "center forward" with our style of play with the constant pass and move system anybody could run into the box and all the above are capable of scoring goals. Maybe i'm missing something.

Last night was great to watch but i want to see us scoring goals and winning matches, for me just playing great football isn't enough, eventual it wasn't enough for Arsenal fans either they wanted their team to achieve more than playing the "beautiful game"

For all people say about they would rather watch the football we play rather than ,say the "Basset" way I was there in those days and i don't remember anybody complaining about the way Dave Basset went about wining games, and who would complain about that unbelievable day at Leicester? we need to mix it up a bit more for me and if we need to go long with a big lad like JOC, Freeman or Egan in the box or all three! then i think that would wet my appetite just as much as the pass and move style we played last night getting us nowhere.

UTB

 

[Harry's Game]

Yep, we really need some pace up front. I thought Washington would provide it but he just doesn't seem to have made a place for himself.

Connor Washington has pace but the ability of Connor Salmon.

 

[Bladesman]

Connor Washington has pace but the ability of Connor Salmon.

Well he is rarely in the box and is usually just running down the flanks. Which is odd for someone that is meant to be a striker.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Why couldn't that forward be JOC, Egan, Basham McG, Freeman even Duffy ? Sharp was redundant last night in terms of being a traditional center forward so why not play with false 9 and let any of the above be the "center forward" with our style of play with the constant pass and move system anybody could run into the box and all the above are capable of scoring goals. Maybe i'm missing something.

Last night was great to watch but i want to see us scoring goals and winning matches, for me just playing great football isn't enough, eventual it wasn't enough for Arsenal fans either they wanted their team to achieve more than playing the "beautiful game"

For all people say about they would rather watch the football we play rather than ,say the "Basset" way I was there in those days and i don't remember anybody complaining about the way Dave Basset went about wining games, and who would complain about that unbelievable day at Leicester? we need to mix it up a bit more for me and if we need to go long with a big lad like JOC, Freeman or Egan in the box or all three! then i think that would wet my appetite just as much as the pass and move style we played last night getting us nowhere.

UTB

I hope we leave three up field at Anfield next season when Liverpool get their first corner.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Wingers.

I will start by saying how proud I am at last nights performance. In Fletcher, Reach and Bannan they still have some quality players and if the old saying is correct and form does go out of the window in derbies, we couldn't have asked for a more dominant performance. We have had very strong spells against much better sides but I can't think of a relentless, positive onslaught like that for a long time.

We all know where we came up short, we are all aware that not only did we hand them their first clean sheet of the season but for a team that bossed 90% of the game we didn't create any where near as many chances as we should have either.

The problem is, where do we improve?
My mate last night claimed we needed to splash the cash on a striker. Another friend said we still need a creative midfielder.
In our financial position I don't think either is a priority.

Hear me out, I don't think with the money we have to spend (and that isn't a dig at the club) we could possibly improve on Duffy, Norwood, Fleck and Coutts. A player like Mason at Derby might do it but when you consider his parent club regard him as the "next Lampard" the chance of buying a player like that on a permanent is zero.
Those 4 are amongst the most composed and technically brilliant footballers I have ever seen in a Blades shirt.

As for the strikers what better box finisher is there in the league than Billy, who I thought was outstanding last night by the way? His hold up and link up play was brilliant, he run his nads off and showed a desire you'd expect of a fan playing against "the enemy".
I am also a massive McGoldrick fan. He is such a silky footballer with a fantastic work ethic. He glides around the pitch and opposition with a touch like a Championship version of Berbatov.

So to my point. A slow methodical build up is fine but the tempo has to be mixed up. We have to burst into life at times and deliver earlier when the opportunity arises. Listening to Wilders interview last night he is (obviously) aware of this.
The problem is, while it is fantastic to see our center backs overlapping and getting crosses in, having marauding wingbacks getting forward at every opportunity... is it enough and is the quality there?
Like I have previously stated we have the quality to create in the middle of the park but when a team comes to sit back and defend then going through the middle can become very tight and difficult. Spreading the ball wide, overlapping and stretching the opposition's defence is something we do very well but would trained out and out winger be able to do it better?

I am not proposing this as a Plan A, I love our style but in if we had a Paul Devlin or Dane Whitehouse on the wing how much more of a threat would we be? I think in JOC and Egan we have the know how and ability to play a flat back 4 but it would mean losing a man in the centre of the park- but with half an hour left to play when the game is a stalemate then I don't see that as a problem.

Freeman and Enda do a really good job but their goal threat and creativity is obviously a lot lower than that you would expect from an actual winger. Left and right backs can still push forward and we could probably play them both still (although I would be reluctabt to ever drop Bash) I just hope we try for some wingers again.

I thought thay was the plan when we brought in Nathan Thomas, maybe it was and it didn't pay off.

Anyway, I'm a very proud but dissapointed Blade this morning. If last season wasn't a "passing of the torch" then this season certainly is. As always it will be a very interesting January but I still think we are more than capable of staying in tbe top 6 and making the playoffs regardless.

UTMB.

Very interesting post pig end,may take on is.whatever we tried it was always going to be difficult against a set up like that,a team that set up to keep us out at all costs with no interest of making a game of it.The first time in living history a team set up to destroy the game in a Sheffield Derby.
Even Man City with all there world class players find it difficult to brake through against teams that park the bus in Wendie's case two buses.

 

[lakedistblade]

Last night West Brom destroyed Leeds with pacy strikers running at the defence. No slow build up there. Of course Leeds were playing to win and left themselves exposed like Wigan did against us. Pace in behind doesn't work with 2 packed lines of defenders. We did what every other team would do and tried to pull Wednesday with width. Flash of quick passing to break in for the penalty nearly did it for us. Wasn't our night and we will have plenty of chances against more ambitious teams but West Brom showed how useful pacy strikers can be so I hope we can strengthen in Jan. 3 points off top and joint third on points is a great place to be going into late November .Can't wait for Rotherham.

 

[davidblade]

In my opinion not only do we require a decent striker but we also need higher quality wing backs to deliver the quality killer ball ie of Kyle Naughton or Matt Lawton type. There’s no point in changing our system it works well and is attractive to watch

 

[Houston_Blade]

In the system we play what would a pacy striker add? If we played on the break and needed someone on the shoulder of the defenders I’d agree, but we don’t.

We actually need players that would get the ball forwards with more pace and give the strikers a chance of being there without the box being packed.

The other option is to sign a “messi” who can unlock defences single handedly and score from nowhere but I’m not hopeful on that one.

 

[wizadry]

I’m not sure what we need in our team to make it into a quicker attacking unit but Luke Freeman would be a very useful addition to our current system.

 

[SUFC Guy]

Its probably harsh but I think we need to play the same system but with faster, more powerful and technically better players if we are to move to the next level and progress.
Billy, Clarke, Duffy and McGoldrick only have a couple of years left in them. We need to start replacing them as from Jan but not all at once.

Keep progressing over the next 2 or 3 seasons and have a real good go at promotion - a Fulham/Wolves/Newcastle style assault but without the massive outlay in one season that can cripple a club. If we get there sooner then great - but it will be a tall order.

When we do hit the prem we will absolutely have to depend on very quick wing backs for defensive duties. The quicker prem players would rip us apart on the counter attack as we are now. Even the lower prem sides can manage this. Possession wise we will compete easily but score enough to stop up? (or progress) We need to replace the front 2 and Duffy.

Harsh as I say but also true.

UTMB
FTP