Presser questions for Blades v Derby, 24/10/26

[KMC-1889]

You are not going to achieve harmony whilst a section of the fanbase act like entitled children who think we should have bought world stars in the summer and be trouncing every team in the league and the other, more pragmatic section accept the situation we find ourselves in. Unfortunately the former section have the floor with regard to the forum. Wilder is not splitting the fanbase. It's the hole we find ourselves in and his approach to dealing with it. How different fans perceive that approach is the 'split' or divergence of opinion.
We are a mid-championship club. Always have been, with a few variations up and down over the years.. Accept it, and stop the constant moaning and to use your phrase, whining, when we loose a game. To highlight the point, much of the matchday thread is, unless United score, pathetic.

That's a nice strawman you're carrying there.

 

[SouthportBlade]

Average possession sits at 41%, second lowest in division. Is this by design? If not why do we struggle to control the ball?

 

[Nedski]

We are currently out performing our XG by almost 5 goals, ranking 21st in big chances, 21st for shots on target and 23rd for touches in the opposition box. We also rank 20th for accurate crosses and 24th for corners this season. Despite this we are in the top half of the table, close to the playoffs, and its clear that the game plan is high quality chances with a high conversion rate by our players. Isn't this just xG under a different name?

I'd love to see his face when he finds out his "system" (if there is one) is centred on xG.

 

[loveWalrusDaveTheBlade]

This is just a longer version of the same argument: Wilder is a passionate fan who means well, so his behaviour should be understood in context, while fans who criticise him are spiteful, entitled or dishing out shit.

You say yourself that he can be incoherent, unbalanced and overly emotional in press conferences, and that it would be good if he showed more control. So we agree that his behaviour isn't always appropriate. Where we differ is that you seem to think his passion somehow makes it more acceptable, while the passion of supporters who pay to watch the team is evidence of their character flaws.

The point about him putting money into the club through promotion is irrelevant to whether his current decisions and behaviour deserve criticism. Nobody is disputing what he achieved. Previous success isn't a lifetime exemption from scrutiny, and being a lifelong supporter doesn't make someone a better manager or mean their decisions are beyond question.

Nor is the fact that fans pay voluntarily an argument against criticising what they're watching. Of course managers get paid. That's not the point. Supporters are entitled to judge the performance of someone employed to manage their football club, just as they are entitled to judge the club's wider decision making.

He has a position of authority, represents the club publicly and is paid handsomely to do a job. That doesn't mean he can't show emotion, but it does mean there's a reasonable expectation that he handles criticism professionally. The same standard doesn't apply equally to a manager and someone posting on a football forum.

You keep framing this as a question of whether Wilder is a passionate Blade or whether certain fans are being unfair to him. It isn't. He can be a passionate supporter, have achieved a great deal for the club, and still be wrong in his decisions or his treatment of the supporters who have opinions that offer criticism.

That's the problem with this argument. Every criticism of Wilder gets reframed as bile, spite or entitlement, while every shortcoming on his part gets explained away as passion, adrenaline or wearing his heart on his sleeve.

You’ve made a lot of assumptions and claims on my behalf there, most of which are wildly wrong. You’ve put a lot of words into my mouth that I have never said. You claim that a lot of points I make are irrelevant to your argument . Possibly true, but please go back and have a look at their relevance to the post to which I was actually replying. That is the context in which my comments were offered. I took direct quotations from that post, and addressed them directly. My apologies if that offends your own opinions.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Who'd win a fight between a lion and a tiger?

It depends on the home advantage

 

[Carlton Blade]

You’ve made a lot of assumptions and claims on my behalf there, most of which are wildly wrong. You’ve put a lot of words into my mouth that I have never said. You claim that a lot of points I make are irrelevant to your argument . Possibly true, but please go back and have a look at their relevance to the post to which I was actually replying. That is the context in which my comments were offered. I took direct quotations from that post, and addressed them directly. My apologies if that offends your own opinions.

You keep saying I’ve put words in your mouth, but you don’t actually say which words or address the substance of the argument. If I’ve misrepresented what you’ve said, it shouldn’t be difficult to point out where.

And yes, I understand that your comments were made in response to the original post. That doesn’t mean every point you made was relevant to the argument I was making, or that your interpretation of my position was correct.

As for your final sentence, disagreeing with you doesn’t mean I’m offended by your opinions. It’s a discussion, not a personal grievance. The number of times people try to make out that someone disagreeing with them means they ‘can’t take my argument’ does make me chuckle.

 

[Uganda Blade]

Right.
I've sifted through the rubble and had a go at collating the questions for FH Team to consider.
The most popular, in terms of Likes, is this from sufc323 :
Why doesn't Donovan get many starts or even minutes?

Here are the others, in chronological order:
What is the thinking behind the 60 minute substitution habit. The opposition must know about this, and plan a response accordingly, (see Sunderland play off final).
Basing Blade
Have you identfied any ins/outs which you feel would give us a boost in the JTW?
raul
What do you think of a front three of Donovan/Bamford/Oné?
Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou
What, in your opinion, would constitute a "good" season?
Menage a petit pois
Why was Ryan Oné playing and scoring for us in the Championship two years ago but now can't get a game?
PeterNdlovu081
What Data company or companies do we use, and what do we use them for?
Bartleby
We are currently out performing our XG by almost 5 goals, ranking 21st in big chances, 21st for shots on target and 23rd for touches in the opposition box. We also rank 20th for accurate crosses and 24th for corners this season. Despite this we are in the top half of the table, close to the playoffs, and its clear that the game plan is high quality chances with a high conversion rate by our players. Are you requiring the attacking players in the team to take more of a risk and be braver in the final third to improve our numbers so we don't have to rely on clinical shots to finish off games?
Dave
You’re a Utd supporter, whats your view on the managers performance so far this season and , on reflection what are the top three reasons why a growing number of the fan base are becoming actively frustrated with you ?
Bell4
Apart from playing that God awful death by a hundred sideways and backwards passes along the back line, what are you doing to address the complete lack of pace and attacking intent of your football team?
Maurice Maurice
Do you think football supporters in general are becoming more impatient and unforgiving? And does this negativity effect the players?
Dkc
Why are you using Donavon so sparingly?
Is Seriki going to be at least on the bench on Saturday?
If Coventry aren't playing Gus can we get him back on loan in January?
Dkc
What happened to out run, out fight, out play. Do we still do that? What happened to risk and reward football and front foot football? Why don't we do those things anymore?
Kozzy_is_my_Dad
I'm interested in injury updates and likelihood of contract renewals for the young players on our books. Whether we now have the room in thebudget to do it.
I'm also interested in whether there's room to add young permanents in the next two windows.
What exactly was done in the break fitness wise. How successful/valuable he thought it was. Also, any plans for the next break.
A question on whether he sees us going four or three at the back longer term
nopigfansintown
Can we start being braver at corners, leaving our two quickest players on the half-way line. Would allow us to break....eg Seriki (when fit) & Donovan when he gets on the pitch.
Green7361
When do you expect Billy Sharp to be the next Blades manager?
SUFC Guy
Average possession sits at 41%, second lowest in division. Is this by design? If not why do we struggle to control the ball?
SouthportBlade

 

[Addison]

Theres only one question that needs answering in my mind at the moment. Straight yes or no answer;

" When fully fit and available is Femi Seriki your first choice right back?"

The correct answer is yes 100%. Any deviation from this along the lines of fighting for a place and we will know we are destined to see Choudhury continue out of position for the forseeable

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Right.
I've sifted through the rubble and had a go at collating the questions for FH Team to consider.
The most popular, in terms of Likes, is this from sufc323 :
Why doesn't Donovan get many starts or even minutes?

Here are the others, in chronological order:
What is the thinking behind the 60 minute substitution habit. The opposition must know about this, and plan a response accordingly, (see Sunderland play off final).
Basing Blade
Have you identfied any ins/outs which you feel would give us a boost in the JTW?
raul
What do you think of a front three of Donovan/Bamford/Oné?
Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou
What, in your opinion, would constitute a "good" season?
Menage a petit pois
Why was Ryan Oné playing and scoring for us in the Championship two years ago but now can't get a game?
PeterNdlovu081
What Data company or companies do we use, and what do we use them for?
Bartleby
We are currently out performing our XG by almost 5 goals, ranking 21st in big chances, 21st for shots on target and 23rd for touches in the opposition box. We also rank 20th for accurate crosses and 24th for corners this season. Despite this we are in the top half of the table, close to the playoffs, and its clear that the game plan is high quality chances with a high conversion rate by our players. Are you requiring the attacking players in the team to take more of a risk and be braver in the final third to improve our numbers so we don't have to rely on clinical shots to finish off games?
Dave
You’re a Utd supporter, whats your view on the managers performance so far this season and , on reflection what are the top three reasons why a growing number of the fan base are becoming actively frustrated with you ?
Bell4
Apart from playing that God awful death by a hundred sideways and backwards passes along the back line, what are you doing to address the complete lack of pace and attacking intent of your football team?
Maurice Maurice
Do you think football supporters in general are becoming more impatient and unforgiving? And does this negativity effect the players?
Dkc
Why are you using Donavon so sparingly?
Is Seriki going to be at least on the bench on Saturday?
If Coventry aren't playing Gus can we get him back on loan in January?
Dkc
What happened to out run, out fight, out play. Do we still do that? What happened to risk and reward football and front foot football? Why don't we do those things anymore?
Kozzy_is_my_Dad
I'm interested in injury updates and likelihood of contract renewals for the young players on our books. Whether we now have the room in thebudget to do it.
I'm also interested in whether there's room to add young permanents in the next two windows.
What exactly was done in the break fitness wise. How successful/valuable he thought it was. Also, any plans for the next break.
A question on whether he sees us going four or three at the back longer term
nopigfansintown
Can we start being braver at corners, leaving our two quickest players on the half-way line. Would allow us to break....eg Seriki (when fit) & Donovan when he gets on the pitch.
Green7361
When do you expect Billy Sharp to be the next Blades manager?
SUFC Guy
Average possession sits at 41%, second lowest in division. Is this by design? If not why do we struggle to control the ball?
SouthportBlade

And Jamie Shackleton and the Yorkshire puddings???

 

[Uganda Blade]

And Jamie Shackleton and the Yorkshire puddings???

I was tempted to include that, but I wasn't sure about referring to dogging partners as Yorkshire puddings...

 

[Bladesthorpe]

When are you going to get 54yr old, Shawy, Pollster, Knowsnowt ect on to your coaching staff to pass on their experienced knowledge of knowing the ins and outs of professional football on to you and your coaching staff.

 

[Large Mendonca]

Average possession sits at 41%, second lowest in division. Is this by design? If not why do we struggle to control the ball?

That raises a good point - “do you get frustrated by passages of misplaced passing that wouldn’t look out of place in Goals J league 5 a side??”

 

[ComedyClub]

Right.
I've sifted through the rubble and had a go at collating the questions for FH Team to consider.
The most popular, in terms of Likes, is this from sufc323 :
Why doesn't Donovan get many starts or even minutes?

Here are the others, in chronological order:
What is the thinking behind the 60 minute substitution habit. The opposition must know about this, and plan a response accordingly, (see Sunderland play off final).
Basing Blade
Have you identfied any ins/outs which you feel would give us a boost in the JTW?
raul
What do you think of a front three of Donovan/Bamford/Oné?
Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou
What, in your opinion, would constitute a "good" season?
Menage a petit pois
Why was Ryan Oné playing and scoring for us in the Championship two years ago but now can't get a game?
PeterNdlovu081
What Data company or companies do we use, and what do we use them for?
Bartleby
We are currently out performing our XG by almost 5 goals, ranking 21st in big chances, 21st for shots on target and 23rd for touches in the opposition box. We also rank 20th for accurate crosses and 24th for corners this season. Despite this we are in the top half of the table, close to the playoffs, and its clear that the game plan is high quality chances with a high conversion rate by our players. Are you requiring the attacking players in the team to take more of a risk and be braver in the final third to improve our numbers so we don't have to rely on clinical shots to finish off games?
Dave
You’re a Utd supporter, whats your view on the managers performance so far this season and , on reflection what are the top three reasons why a growing number of the fan base are becoming actively frustrated with you ?
Bell4
Apart from playing that God awful death by a hundred sideways and backwards passes along the back line, what are you doing to address the complete lack of pace and attacking intent of your football team?
Maurice Maurice
Do you think football supporters in general are becoming more impatient and unforgiving? And does this negativity effect the players?
Dkc
Why are you using Donavon so sparingly?
Is Seriki going to be at least on the bench on Saturday?
If Coventry aren't playing Gus can we get him back on loan in January?
Dkc
What happened to out run, out fight, out play. Do we still do that? What happened to risk and reward football and front foot football? Why don't we do those things anymore?
Kozzy_is_my_Dad
I'm interested in injury updates and likelihood of contract renewals for the young players on our books. Whether we now have the room in thebudget to do it.
I'm also interested in whether there's room to add young permanents in the next two windows.
What exactly was done in the break fitness wise. How successful/valuable he thought it was. Also, any plans for the next break.
A question on whether he sees us going four or three at the back longer term
nopigfansintown
Can we start being braver at corners, leaving our two quickest players on the half-way line. Would allow us to break....eg Seriki (when fit) & Donovan when he gets on the pitch.
Green7361
When do you expect Billy Sharp to be the next Blades manager?
SUFC Guy
Average possession sits at 41%, second lowest in division. Is this by design? If not why do we struggle to control the ball?
SouthportBlade

Would you rather eat chocolate flavoured poo, or poo flavoured chocolate?

 

[BangorBlade]

Whens Billy Sharp coming back

 

[Blade58]

Have the owners intimated the financial situation in regards to ins or the need to sell come the Jan transfer window and in view of yet another charge (loan) taken out by the club this month secured against the clubs assets?

 

[BerksBlade]

Why is our pass completion percentage so low?

 

[Shawy24]

When are you going to get 54yr old, Shawy, Pollster, Knowsnowt ect on to your coaching staff to pass on their experienced knowledge of knowing the ins and outs of professional football on to you and your coaching staff.

Very clever. But there are many more on here more qualified. Unfortunately none of them appear to fully support our glorious leader. Probably because they’ve mostly played week in week out as kids and youths and older rather than getting their tactics and experience from watching match of the day.

Funny how he’s been told by multiple posters to fuck off with the inverted wingers and when he does, that leads to an improvement? Funny how any poster on here who had played years as a keeper told him Grbic wasn’t a keeper, but he named him as his No 1 and destroyed his relationship with Wes. Etc etc.

The poster who he really needs on his staff is Bergen. Knows what he’s talking about, great analysis, balanced view of what Wilder may have been trying to achieve. Very neutral. Tells it how it is without the judgmental approach I may adopt. Champers and Gambling are/ were very knowledgeable of the players market.

Please don’t tar me with the same brush as Pollster.

 

[North Riding Blade]

That's a nice strawman you're carrying there.

Thanks.....I think!

 

[Green7361]

Right.
I've sifted through the rubble and had a go at collating the questions for FH Team to consider.
The most popular, in terms of Likes, is this from sufc323 :
Why doesn't Donovan get many starts or even minutes?

Here are the others, in chronological order:
What is the thinking behind the 60 minute substitution habit. The opposition must know about this, and plan a response accordingly, (see Sunderland play off final).
Basing Blade
Have you identfied any ins/outs which you feel would give us a boost in the JTW?
raul
What do you think of a front three of Donovan/Bamford/Oné?
Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou
What, in your opinion, would constitute a "good" season?
Menage a petit pois
Why was Ryan Oné playing and scoring for us in the Championship two years ago but now can't get a game?
PeterNdlovu081
What Data company or companies do we use, and what do we use them for?
Bartleby
We are currently out performing our XG by almost 5 goals, ranking 21st in big chances, 21st for shots on target and 23rd for touches in the opposition box. We also rank 20th for accurate crosses and 24th for corners this season. Despite this we are in the top half of the table, close to the playoffs, and its clear that the game plan is high quality chances with a high conversion rate by our players. Are you requiring the attacking players in the team to take more of a risk and be braver in the final third to improve our numbers so we don't have to rely on clinical shots to finish off games?
Dave
You’re a Utd supporter, whats your view on the managers performance so far this season and , on reflection what are the top three reasons why a growing number of the fan base are becoming actively frustrated with you ?
Bell4
Apart from playing that God awful death by a hundred sideways and backwards passes along the back line, what are you doing to address the complete lack of pace and attacking intent of your football team?
Maurice Maurice
Do you think football supporters in general are becoming more impatient and unforgiving? And does this negativity effect the players?
Dkc
Why are you using Donavon so sparingly?
Is Seriki going to be at least on the bench on Saturday?
If Coventry aren't playing Gus can we get him back on loan in January?
Dkc
What happened to out run, out fight, out play. Do we still do that? What happened to risk and reward football and front foot football? Why don't we do those things anymore?
Kozzy_is_my_Dad
I'm interested in injury updates and likelihood of contract renewals for the young players on our books. Whether we now have the room in thebudget to do it.
I'm also interested in whether there's room to add young permanents in the next two windows.
What exactly was done in the break fitness wise. How successful/valuable he thought it was. Also, any plans for the next break.
A question on whether he sees us going four or three at the back longer term
nopigfansintown
Can we start being braver at corners, leaving our two quickest players on the half-way line. Would allow us to break....eg Seriki (when fit) & Donovan when he gets on the pitch.
Green7361
When do you expect Billy Sharp to be the next Blades manager?
SUFC Guy
Average possession sits at 41%, second lowest in division. Is this by design? If not why do we struggle to control the ball?
SouthportBlade

I didn't ask about Billy Sharp, I asked about our tactics at corners, we basically get penned in and leave no outfield players on the half-way line. We have no outlet or ability to break quickly.

 

[Uganda Blade]

I didn't ask about Billy Sharp, I asked about our tactics at corners, we basically get penned in and leave no outfield players on the half-way line. We have no outlet or ability to break quickly.

Your question is the one above your username...

 

[1889]

Can we start being braver at corners, leaving our two quickest players on the half-way line. Would allow us to break....eg Seriki (when fit) & Donovan when he gets on the pitch.

Yes, absolutely agree, it’s infuriating when every outfield player goes back for a corner allowing the opposition to leave just one player near the halfway line.

I used to think this when Campbell was on the pitch, trotting back to our box, who the fucks he going to mark? He’s never cleared a corner in his career, not in our box anyway.

But if he stays up front, the opposition are going to have to delegate to defenders to stay with him?

 

[SUFC Guy]

Can we start being braver at corners, leaving our two quickest players on the half-way line. Would allow us to break....eg Seriki (when fit) & Donovan when he gets on the pitch.

This is the thing that amazes me. For every player a team leaves on the half way line means 2 less players for them attacking the corner kick, but teams seem hell bent on having 11 in the box when defending.

Coaching and tactics are a mysterious and confusing beast these days.

 

[Basing Blade]

Are you related to Deontay Wilder?

 

[Basing Blade]

Are you aware that, as you get older, you are looking more and more like Bagpuss?

....looks like Bagpuss,
he's one of our own.

 

[Numpty's Dusty Ruts.]

This is just a longer version of the same argument: Wilder is a passionate fan who means well, so his behaviour should be understood in context, while fans who criticise him are spiteful, entitled or dishing out shit.

You say yourself that he can be incoherent, unbalanced and overly emotional in press conferences, and that it would be good if he showed more control. So we agree that his behaviour isn't always appropriate. Where we differ is that you seem to think his passion somehow makes it more acceptable, while the passion of supporters who pay to watch the team is evidence of their character flaws.

The point about him putting money into the club through promotion is irrelevant to whether his current decisions and behaviour deserve criticism. Nobody is disputing what he achieved. Previous success isn't a lifetime exemption from scrutiny, and being a lifelong supporter doesn't make someone a better manager or mean their decisions are beyond question.

Nor is the fact that fans pay voluntarily an argument against criticising what they're watching. Of course managers get paid. That's not the point. Supporters are entitled to judge the performance of someone employed to manage their football club, just as they are entitled to judge the club's wider decision making.

He has a position of authority, represents the club publicly and is paid handsomely to do a job. That doesn't mean he can't show emotion, but it does mean there's a reasonable expectation that he handles criticism professionally. The same standard doesn't apply equally to a manager and someone posting on a football forum.

You keep framing this as a question of whether Wilder is a passionate Blade or whether certain fans are being unfair to him. It isn't. He can be a passionate supporter, have achieved a great deal for the club, and still be wrong in his decisions or his treatment of the supporters who have opinions that offer criticism.

That's the problem with this argument. Every criticism of Wilder gets reframed as bile, spite or entitlement, while every shortcoming on his part gets explained away as passion, adrenaline or wearing his heart on his sleeve.

Great post CB.

 

[Harry's Game]

Chris..

“If you were in the middle of a human centipede who would you want direct in front and directly behind?”

 

[Wards]

Chris..

“If you were in the middle of a human centipede who would you want direct in front and directly behind?”

They’d have a job on getting in behind with Danny Hall wedging his tongue up his ‘arris

 

[Green7361]

This is the thing that amazes me. For every player a team leaves on the half way line means 2 less players for them attacking the corner kick, but teams seem hell bent on having 11 in the box when defending.

Coaching and tactics are a mysterious and confusing beast these days.

 

[Green7361]

Im not saying we should do what Chelsea did at Arsenal (that was tactically brilliant) but we have Donovan, Seriki when fit and Chong...all players that could be on the halfway line waiting for Cooper to release the ball, instead we get hemmed in.

 

[Keen Blade]

I have a pressing (as opposed to presser) question ...
WHAT TIME WILL THE FANZONE OPEN
on Satdi (12:30 KO) ?
I've searched the SU website but found nowt