Realigning Expectations

[Champagneblade]

I think we need to realign expectations somewhat.

With Coutts fit and firing, top two was just about on if stars aligned and we avoided injuries in other areas. We haven’t done that. In fact we’ve dropped points I’d almost directly put down to injury - the likes of Norwich with no fit strikers, the likes of the recent run with no recognised RWB and Coutts. We could have been about 8 points better off in my view. I think we’d have beaten Norwich and Birmingham and eithet cone out top vs Fulham or controlled yesterday’s game far better.

Top 1 probably wasn’t on, though pleased we bloodied Wolves’ nose at home. Look at it now with the financial doping of Wolves. We’re a good unit on our day, but 10-15m players? Let’s get real.

Unfortunately when we have been floundering at home, Cardiff have taken full advantage with 2 solid away wins and we lost yesterday as they chalked another win on Friday.

Lundstram seems to be adjusting but Coutts was the only Coutts type we have. We also have two excellent attack minded full backs who are also out.

For a team whose success is built on attacking wing backs with Coutts as the fulcrum to it all, it’s very difficult to absorb eapecially when you need to move other players to cover. Our best back three is Bash-Wright-JOC. We don’t have anyone to play RWB if we play that.

Problem now is that it’s not January 1st, we still have a very busy month and Wilder doesn’t really have the fit players to suggest we’ll take maximum points for the rest of the month.

Just looking at his missed targets. Lenihen would be very useful right now to accomodate CCV loss of form and Basham covering RWB. Leonard would definitely have been in the squad over Henighan - Chris had nobody to bring on and shore up midfield if he wanted. Away from home, the pace of Cole or Sinclair would have been very handy.

Suggest we just sit back and enjoy the ride. If we are still close enough and the board have a dart at it in January, then great. But let’s not start throwing the baby out with the bathwater quite yet. We could still have 50 point by the new year which would have exceeded the majority of people’s expectations.

Not by any means throwing the towel in but we don't have the depth to cope with the absences and be as good. Better we focus on supporting those wearing the shirt and hopefully when players do cone back or are added, then we are still in the mix.

 

[JPBrods]

Without meaning to turn the screw too much and sound a bit demanding of what is a side fresh from League One, I think I'd be disappointed if we don't finish in or around the top six from here.

At the start of the season I only wanted safety. Blimey.

 

[Benny and the Blades]

The good start we have had to the season should give CW the breathing space he needs to make any improvements he feels are necessary, if the board back him...

 

[bladesmanluke]

The board won’t be backing him to the degree most would like. We’ll be fine this season. We won’t ever be at risk of going down, but we don’t look like promotion material without our midfield dynamo. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but we’d all have taken top half at the start of the season

 

[Slim Man]

I’ve been told he won’t be getting the backing we’re hoping for in January.

The only side that will force Wilder to move is us if we aren’t willing to back him accordingly.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I’ve been told he won’t be getting the backing we’re hoping for in January.

The only side that will force Wilder to move is us if we aren’t willing to back him accordingly.

Sorry...what backing "are we hoping for?". I don't understand what you mean by that? I know some Blades who think he should get millions to spend and others who think he should get a fraction of that. Do you mean, he's not going to get any backing at all?

 

[Slim Man]

Sorry...what backing "are we hoping for?". I don't understand what you mean by that? I know some Blades who think he should get millions eto spend and others who think he should get a fraction of a that. Do you mean, he's not going to get any backing at all?

A bit of backing but an open chequebook which some seem to be expecting is way off the mark. We won’t be competing with the top spenders in the championship. Don’t know exact figures, just close to someone who’s related to one of the coaching staff.

If he can keep performing miracles we’ll be fine but I was certainly hoping we’d bring in some established quality.

 

[SteveBlade]

A bit of backing but an open chequebook which some seem to be expecting is way off the mark. We won’t be competing with the top spenders in the championship. Don’t know exact figures, just close to someone who’s related to one of the coaching staff.

If he can keep performing miracles we’ll be fine but I was certainly hoping we’d bring in some established quality.

I don't think anyone's expecting anything like an open chequebook.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I think we need to realign expectations somewhat.

With Coutts fit and firing, top two was just about on if stars aligned and we avoided injuries in other areas. We haven’t done that. In fact we’ve dropped points I’d almost directly put down to injury - the likes of Norwich with no fit strikers, the likes of the recent run with no recognised RWB and Coutts. We could have been about 8 points better off in my view. I think we’d have beaten Norwich and Birmingham and eithet cone out top vs Fulham or controlled yesterday’s game far better.

Top 1 probably wasn’t on, though pleased we bloodied Wolves’ nose at home. Look at it now with the financial doping of Wolves. We’re a good unit on our day, but 10-15m players? Let’s get real.

Unfortunately when we have been floundering at home, Cardiff have taken full advantage with 2 solid away wins and we lost yesterday as they chalked another win on Friday.

Lundstram seems to be adjusting but Coutts was the only Coutts type we have. We also have two excellent attack minded full backs who are also out.

For a team whose success is built on attacking wing backs with Coutts as the fulcrum to it all, it’s very difficult to absorb eapecially when you need to move other players to cover. Our best back three is Bash-Wright-JOC. We don’t have anyone to play RWB if we play that.

Problem now is that it’s not January 1st, we still have a very busy month and Wilder doesn’t really have the fit players to suggest we’ll take maximum points for the rest of the month.

Just looking at his missed targets. Lenihen would be very useful right now to accomodate CCV loss of form and Basham covering RWB. Leonard would definitely have been in the squad over Henighan - Chris had nobody to bring on and shore up midfield if he wanted. Away from home, the pace of Cole or Sinclair would have been very handy.

Suggest we just sit back and enjoy the ride. If we are still close enough and the board have a dart at it in January, then great. But let’s not start throwing the baby out with the bathwater quite yet. We could still have 50 point by the new year which would have exceeded the majority of people’s expectations.

Not by any means throwing the towel in but we don't have the depth to cope with the absences and be as good. Better we focus on supporting those wearing the shirt and hopefully when players do cone back or are added, then we are still in the mix.

I think this is a really good post and I agree with most of it. Why didn't you post it a month ago though when we were top of the table? It would have had so much more credibility now if you had.

A wheel has fallen off and you're saying to us now, "that wheel was always going to fall off". OK, so can you tell us if any more wheels are going to fall off or is this about it?

I think expectations have been raised based on our performances all season up until two weeks ago. I know mine have, certainly. I predicted somewhere between 8th and 12th, with the possibility of an outside pop at the play-offs if we strengthen in Jan. But even today, after a poor defeat at lowly Millwall, a poor draw against lowly Birmingham, and a football lesson in fast attacking football and a defeat by Fulham, I still think we should remain in the top 6.

To do that Wilder has some tough decisions to make this month, before the January transfer window opens. I'm sorry to say it, because I think the bloke is brilliant, but yesterday was a bit like the defeat at Forest, it came about through him making unnecessary changes to the team.

 

[robbiez666]

I think, come the next derby, there will be very little difference in points between us.

We've got to just grind out whatever we can until January. Hopefully, Baldock will return sooner and give us a boost.

 

[Slim Man]

I don't think anyone's expecting anything like an open chequebook.

Oh believe me reading some on here they are and the board will absolutely get it if we don’t give it him. Until we get real investment we aren’t going to see anything like that.

 

[SteveBlade]

Oh believe me reading some on here they are and the board will absolutely get it if we don’t give it him. Until we get real investment we aren’t going to see anything like that.

I don't know man. I've not read them. The most optimistic I've seen are posts saying that we should make a big money bid for the Brentford midfielder. Big money being about 5 million.

 

[Carlton Blade]

A few bad results doesnt mean we need to realign anything. The best thing about United under Wilder has been the enjoyment I've got from each individual game. I'm sure Friday will see a much more aggressive performance and more entertainment. Anything after that is a bonus.

I'm not going to get tied up in who we've lost and who we need to sign. After the last age of boring football I didnt want to watch I'll still be happy to be entertained. Do that and the results will come

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Just maybe........... the pundits got it spot on. When they all suggested "momentum" and "confidence," I took it as a personal slur on my club.
Think we were all guilty of getting carried away. Perhaps all our wildest expectations have been tempered a little bit.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

After two defeats and a draw let's all just chuck the towel in for top two ... let's hope Wilder has got a bit more about him than that (i'm sure he has).

We've got a good team and a good manager, this is the time for McCabe and the Pearly Prince to get backing Wilder. They're looking at a guaranteed £300m over the next 3 years (or something like that ie silly money), now is the time to show a bit of ambition. This is one of the times that crop up now and again for United and they have to grasp the opportunity (they usually don't). Recent examples include McCabe not backing Wilson in 11/12 and 12/13 and that cost us promotion.

 

[Ricky]

The least we're entitled to is top 3, so now we've slipped to 4th I'm afraid this team isn't getting any support from me.

The fact I would've been delighted with a mid table finish at the start of the season is irrelevant, we hit top spot at one stage and the team owe it to us to stay there.

Yet they've disrespected us by falling away. That Wilder needs to sort this mess out, ASAP. Because if we drop out of the top 6 his position will become untenable.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Whatever expectations were at the start of the season doesn’t matter, we got off to a great start to the season and don’t want to let it fall apart. There are far more average teams in this division than I expected and anything less than top 6 would be poor after the start we had.

Yesterday was nothing to do with unrealistic expectations. We were crap against a poor Millwall team - we were out-fought and showed little quality. CW’s comments suggest he saw it that way too.

We need to strength at the beginning of the JTW and aim for top 2.

 

[bromtom]

Can we just have one thread for everyone to be defeatist in? Sticky it to the top of Blades chat.


Have a bit of faith.

We've dropped consecutive points for the first time in ages and everyone sounds like they want us to put 8 at the back and draw our way to ~60 point mediocrity.

We lost 2 in 3, not even 2 on the trot like we did in August. Don't remember this mood then.

We're fourth on goal difference, and if we win the next 2 LDLWW is not bad and will keep us in touch with automatic promotion and well in the playoffs.

If anyone was expecting us to not have a blip at some point and suddenly become Man City in January and spend £150 million I'm glad they're disappointed because they're a fucking idiot.

 

[Harry's Game]

We won’t be spending much more than £2m

And that will be on 2 or 3 players not one.

We aren’t a rich club, we don’t have a big money man behind us and we also have to keep an eye on FFP.

The loan market is where we need to make shrewd recruitment from this next window.

 

[GrayBlade]

I think, come the next derby, there will be very little difference in points between us.

We've got to just grind out whatever we can until January. Hopefully, Baldock will return sooner and give us a boost.

Why; are you expecting the Pigs to have an upsurge in form? You’ve got more faith in them than the Pork have.

 

[Champagneblade]

I think this is a really good post and I agree with most of it. Why didn't you post it a month ago though when we were top of the table? It would have had so much more credibility now if you had.

A wheel has fallen off and you're saying to us now, "that wheel was always going to fall off". OK, so can you tell us if any more wheels are going to fall off or is this about it?

I think expectations have been raised based on our performances all season up until two weeks ago. I know mine have, certainly. I predicted somewhere between 8th and 12th, with the possibility of an outside pop at the play-offs if we strengthen in Jan. But even today, after a poor defeat at lowly Millwall, a poor draw against lowly Birmingham, and a football lesson in fast attacking football and a defeat by Fulham, I still think we should remain in the top 6.

To do that Wilder has some tough decisions to make this month, before the January transfer window opens. I'm sorry to say it, because I think the bloke is brilliant, but yesterday was a bit like the defeat at Forest, it came about through him making unnecessary changes to the team.

We didn’t have the injuries a few weeks back. When all were fit in my view we were looking good enough for top two. But now Coutts is a permanent miss and we’ve not looked as assured with having to shift Basham from the back three to accommodate the loss of Freeman and Baldock.

I think we should still aim to catch Cardiff and Wolves. I’m not saying a wheel was always going to fall off. I’m saying now injuries have hit, the first XI is not as effective as our best XI. Chris will only get to revisit this in January.

I personally thought we could hang onto top two with our best XI. Currently we are more of a play off team because we have more weaknesses now in terms of turning over the ball, attacking at pace down the right and not being as good at centre back.

When Baldock is fit, then we can address two of those. Right now we are dropping points and Cardiff and Wolves are not.

It will be interesting to evaluate the performance levels when Basham reverts to RCB and Baldock to RWB or Freeman. Coutts’ injury has been conpounded by losses in other areas.

 

[bromtom]

We won’t be spending much more than £2m

And that will be on 2 or 3 players not one.

We aren’t a rich club, we don’t have a big money man behind us and we also have to keep an eye on FFP.

The loan market is where we need to make shrewd recruitment from this next window.

Nothing wrong with only spending 2m if it's on the right player(s).

We're a long way off FFP being an issue though, we're in profit this year so far by a few million what with sell on clauses and such. We could spend 15 million and probably not trigger anything.

 

[snootyfenooty]

I was one of the few on this forum who tipped top 6 at the start of the season. So I'm not surprised in the least that we have achieved that so far. Would I be happy then with just a top half finish or avoiding relegation? Would I fuck, if anyone reading this would be satisfied finishing mid table then this means you would also be happy watching some turgid shit where we average a point per game between now and the end of the season. Get a replacement for Coutts in the JTW and top 6 is nailed on.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Any talk of a blip is more than fair. But a blip is always relative to where we were before.

Let's be honest - we stormed last season. Then, when we first arrived in the championship we were nervous and hesitant for the first few games; Boro and Cardiff spring to mind. But since then, we've taken it to many sides and well and truly outplayed them, we have been fantastic. We were up there on merit and work ethic and expectations understandably increased. But we can't lose sight of the fact that this is a good division and we are still learning every week. If anything, I'm disappointed that the blip has come against sides that we could have beaten; QPR, Fulham, Birmingham and Millwall, but this now is where Wilder and Knill take stock and rally the troops.

Get your 'orrible trip to grotty Millwall out the way and get back to playing our football. Every passing day is another day of learning the new system after the unfortunate loss of Coutts, meaning every day is a day closer to Wilder getting us back fighting again. It'll come Blades.

UTB!

 

[GrayBlade]

Can we just have one thread for everyone to be defeatist in? Sticky it to the top of Blades chat.


Have a bit of faith.

We've dropped consecutive points for the first time in ages and everyone sounds like they want us to put 8 at the back and draw our way to ~60 point mediocrity.

We lost 2 in 3, not even 2 on the trot like we did in August. Don't remember this mood then.

We're fourth on goal difference, and if we win the next 2 LDLWW is not bad and will keep us in touch with automatic promotion and well in the playoffs.

If anyone was expecting us to not have a blip at some point and suddenly become Man City in January and spend £150 million I'm glad they're disappointed because they're a fucking idiot.

Spot on mate!

Wilder’s got s bit of sorting out do like he had in January and August. For some reason this time it’s going to be different and we’re going to fall like a stone and the Pigs are going to soar like eagles. You couldn’t make it up... although some seem to be doing like us not winning a game without Coutts in the side or when Lundstrum starts.

Losing Coutts is a massive loss but we aren’t and never have been a one man team under Wilder. I thinks it’s as much about the players accepting this and the fans getting behind his repacement who to be honest has been one of our best players in the last two games. Let’s just trust in Wilder to get it mostly right and see how it rolls. This season was a free shot for us anyway and there’s plenty of time left to get back into the groove.

 

[raimond]

Realistically, even if we were at full strength, Coutts and all, at some point this season we'd have probably had a run like this wouldn't we?? Because everyone does. But because Coutts has gone and we've stopped doing some of what we were doing, we're (folk on here) panicking.

It's given Wilder a chance to kick the players up the arse, whether it's a bit of complacency or feeling sorry for ourselves...get a few results, then he can shake things up in January (few in, few out, as he does anyway, millions or not).

We'll be raight

 

[Addison]

Spot on mate!

Wilder’s got s bit of sorting out do like he had in January and August. For some reason this time it’s going to be different and we’re going to fall like a stone and the Pigs are going to soar like eagles. You couldn’t make it up... although some seem to be doing like us not winning a game without Coutts in the side or when Lundstrum starts.

Losing Coutts is a massive loss but we aren’t and never have been a one man team under Wilder. I thinks it’s as much about the players accepting this and the fans getting behind his repacement who to be honest has been one of our best players in the last two games. Let’s just trust in Wilder to get it mostly right and see how it rolls. This season was a free shot for us anyway and there’s plenty of time left to get back into the groove.

The team is bigger than one man. So we need to stop obsessing about it. The system works with the players we've got so we don't need to change it. Our first eleven can beat any team in the league but we were never going to go a whole season without injuries, suspensions and loss of form.

Our high pressing game is already taking its toll and we do need to change the team around when we have two games a week. Yesterday the manager got it wrong we didn't need to change the team and his comments after reflect more how angry he was with himself than the team. He will put it right in the short term but needs the tools to get him to a successful end to the season. That means more quality in squad depth and the Board seeing what he has achieved already need to back him or we may lose him.

 

[bornablade]

I'm still looking towards top two.

I have more faith in Wilder and his team than I would if we had the bloke at Wolves or Cardiff in charge of us.

 

[ucandomagic]

We don’t have great players, we have a great manager who gets the absolute maximum out of decent honest players. That type of player needs to be confident but not arrogant. When you start to believe that you’re better than the opposition you lose some of that honest drive that got you there and you get beaten. Then you lose confidence and your aggressive drive fades even more.

Our manager will annihilate all feelings of overconfidence in all players this week. They will all be in no doubt that their place in the side is in real jeopardy. Win or lose next Friday the performance will be very different.

The improvement in Lundstram is a good demo of the Tufty effect. He started by trying to impress, spraying 40 yard passes that went out of play and getting caught out of position by trying to get too involved. Yesterday he was aggressive, available and kept it simple - exactly how Fleck started with us as he worked up his form.

Our players individually are mid table Champ and our manager is mid table Prem. With patience and sensible investment we could get to where Dyche and Burnley are in 4 or 5 years, but expecting too much too soon or believing that you can buy your way out of a slump is the road to nowhere.

Even Magic Takes Time

 

[DronnieBlade]

Personally, I don’t feel a need to re align expectations.

Even in the games we have lost, plus the draw vs Brum, we have been lively bright and at it. Possible exceptions vs Cardiff and yesterday at Millwall.

I have seen precious little to suggest that UTD are anything other than amongst the better sides in the division, and sit comfy in the play off spots. ON MERIT.

As our S6 chums are finding out first hand, it’s not just about who has the deepest pockets. Being able to spot and pick Gems like Fleck, JOC, Baldock, Enda, Sharp, Clarke et al for relative peanuts and moulding them in to genuine promotion contenders is no mean feat.

UTB