The ghost of Bryan Robson

[Keen Blade]

I reserve blaming the board as they’ve got 2/3 more weeks to sign players. But the fact we’ve not replaced JOC still a year after his injury is absolutely shocking. We’ve lost Jagielka & Bryan at the moment we’re literally relying on Robinson/ Bash/ Egan playing every single game because we have no alternative. Shocking

But Wilder spent all the Boards money on shite

 

[Keen Blade]

Most of the players have done well in the Championship previously and in the Prem for a chunk of the time.

Are you a historian ? Interested in the past ?

 

[Keen Blade]

The manager said he was happy with the squad. Let's not go down the road of all these players somehow not being any good any more.
Agree it does seem half-baked. But it's majorly worrying that so many players lacked drive and energy on the pitch when they're playing their first game under a new manager.

Plenty of energy but no feckin idea or shape

 

[Keen Blade]

How many of those players aren’t good enough? Past performances don’t suggest many.

Fleck Norwood Mousset Burke Osborn as a LB , Berge where he doesn't fit and on and on

 

[Keen Blade]

We might even need 2 - A average Brum team put enough balls in our box that caused sufficient problems for us to be very concerned. Bash/Egan/JOC all covered for each persons inadequacies and worked as a unit. To play a 4 2 strong, uncompromising centre backs are needed if the full backs are going to push up.

It's all very concerning to me as to how this is panning out.

UTB

Folks will laugh but set up like last night we are relegation fodder - none of the strikers can shoot , no chances get created , dodgy as fuck at the back + the GK dives under the bouncing header

 

[Keen Blade]

Slav was doing plenty of headshaking last night

Thank God for that , at least he might have learned something

 

[Keen Blade]

These players finished 9th in the PL

We have internationals now in our side!

Did it look like that last night ?

 

[Bladezz]

Did it look like that last night ?

Not with this system no it did not.

 

[Caseh]

Thank God for that , at least he might have learned something

Of course he learned something, this was the first chance he got to see us against decent opposition.

 

[Champagneblade]

Of course he has. He hasn’t done very well if he thinks that’s his strongest side or that is a formation those players can play.

I would expect that the checklist has to be in this order:
1. Ability
2. Left footedness

Not the other way around.

To me Basham and Egan always start before anyone else at centre back until more players come into the squad. You can't be playing reserves just because they happen to be left footed.

To be fair it's Chris that started this somewhat OCD perception that if you had 2 midfielders or two centre backs you need one with each dominant foot upon pain of death.

It might be ideal in a sense but you pick your best ones.

Yesterday I'd rather have picked Basham at RCB, Egan at LCB and Bogle at LB.

Don't tell me Bogle could play left wingback against Manchester United away but not left back at home to Birmingham.

 

[Bladesman]

Not been around for a while but definitely in the ether tonight.
Expensive players passing around aimlessly for 90 minutes, no drive, no idea past the halfway line.
Fleck looked lost and like he's now run his race for us and we have a large number of ineffectual strikers, one of whom will cost us £30m over the course of his contract with no likelihood of any meaningful return.
Maybe all the cliches about being undercooked and taking time for a new system to bed in will prove correct.
But for a first performance under a new manager, presumably with players wanting to impress, that was desperate.
A few weeks like that and if Wilder's still not got a job....

Robson had some signings through the door when he arrived.

 

[Iceybabey]

Are you on drugs? Wilder created this shite. These are his players. They are not good enough.

This thread should have ended on this post.

 

[Iceybabey]

I would expect that the checklist has to be in this order:
1. Ability
2. Left footedness

Not the other way around.

To me Basham and Egan always start before anyone else at centre back until more players come into the squad. You can't be playing reserves just because they happen to be left footed.

To be fair it's Chris that started this somewhat OCD perception that if you had 2 midfielders or two centre backs you need one with each dominant foot upon pain of death.

It might be ideal in a sense but you pick your best ones.

Yesterday I'd rather have picked Basham at RCB, Egan at LCB and Bogle at LB.

Don't tell me Bogle could play left wingback against Manchester United away but not left back at home to Birmingham.

Bogle's not fully fit to start atm.

 

[steve26272]

We were playing Birmingham, a workaday Championship side.
I can't see Basham not playing tonight under Wilder and by god didn't we miss his energy and drive.
I also can't see us playing with no discernible pattern under Wilder. For me it was crying out for overloads down the flanks tonight but instead we were doing something else, though no idea what that actually was.
The criticism of Wilder for signing some of the players is fair enough but I'm not convinced we'd get a similar performance that lacked any real heart under Wilder - especially given the atmosphere at the start.

The reason we were playing Birmingham last night is because those players under Wilder took us down

Epitome or rose tinted glasses if you think we’d have smashed em 4-1 cos wilder was in charge - you forgotten the dross play and lack of plan B for the first 30 games of last season??

 

[Champagneblade]

Bogle's not fully fit to start atm.

He'll get fitter. I don't think Osborn will get taller

 

[Pedro's Winger]

The reason we were playing Birmingham last night is because those players under Wilder took us down

Epitome or rose tinted glasses if you think we’d have smashed em 4-1 cos wilder was in charge - you forgotten the dross play and lack of plan B for the first 30 games of last season??

Didn't watch a game during the last 18 months. Still followed closely but just couldn't watch games without fans. I also think it is unlikely we would have gone down without Covid.
For me, last night was the return of real or proper football and the warning signs were flashing brightly. Stoke are a prime example of what can go wrong (as well as us back in the day).
I just don't see us performing like that under the old boss.
Happy to give Slav time(within reason) and as said it maybe the old cliches about needing time etc prove correct.
But that performance was so out of sync there's an obvious danger this season could be over before it's really begun.

 

[Silent Blade]

As I have said elsewhere, one thing that does give me concern is that Jokanovic started Burke. Anyone who had done his homework would know that was going to be a bad move.

But yes, the bigger problem is the players. This isn’t a top 6 squad, yet alone top 2.

Jokanovic has seen Burke more times than you especially at the training ground since July 1st.

Who are the top 6 squads then?

 

[Revolution]

Jokanovic has seen Burke more times than you especially at the training ground since July 1st.

Who are the top 6 squads then?

I will bet you good money that I, and tens of thousands of other Blades, have more information about Burke’s true talent level than Jokanovic given the number of times we’ve seen him play.

Top 6 squads? Heaven knows, but Fulham, WBA, Bournemouth, Boro, Cardiff and Millwall all have better first teams than we do. Our midfield is awful and we don’t have the defenders to play the way we want.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Heckingbottoms 11 beat Burnley 1-0 and i thought they played well.

 

[90sblade]

Big over reaction from the OP. Team made plenty of chances, unlucky on many occasions. Seemed motivated. Deserved a point, probably 3. Birmingham seemed a decent side and Bowyer is no mug. Blades keep that type of performance up, def top 6.

 

[Keen Blade]

Big over reaction from the OP. Team made plenty of chances, unlucky on many occasions. Seemed motivated. Deserved a point, probably 3. Birmingham seemed a decent side and Bowyer is no mug. Blades keep that type of performance up, def top 6.

You must be taking the same Deludamol as dem Pigs.
We could have played till Christmas + not scored , just like last season.
Wake up + smell the coffee.
This bunch are on a downward spiral.

 

[Silent Blade]

I will bet you good money that I, and tens of thousands of other Blades, have more information about Burke’s true talent level than Jokanovic given the number of times we’ve seen him play.

Not since 1st July

 

[Silent Blade]

Top 6 squads? Heaven knows, but Fulham, WBA, Bournemouth, Boro, Cardiff and Millwall all have better first teams than we do. Our midfield is awful and we don’t have the defenders to play the way we want.

Let's remember this at the end of season

 

[AnotherBlade]

Not been around for a while but definitely in the ether tonight.
Expensive players passing around aimlessly for 90 minutes, no drive, no idea past the halfway line.
Fleck looked lost and like he's now run his race for us and we have a large number of ineffectual strikers, one of whom will cost us £30m over the course of his contract with no likelihood of any meaningful return.
Maybe all the cliches about being undercooked and taking time for a new system to bed in will prove correct.
But for a first performance under a new manager, presumably with players wanting to impress, that was desperate.
A few weeks like that and if Wilder's still not got a job....

Robson got a proper preseason and a shit load of new players to use!
If we had to play the pigs I think Slav would get hyped up and realise what it meant as opposed to being oblivious to what it means!
Your squad is always going to be one of the most expensive when you slide out of the premier league.....
They do both wear a suit to be fair, but Slav looks fucking class in his!

 

[Freddie]

You must be taking the same Deludamol as dem Pigs.
We could have played till Christmas + not scored , just like last season.
Wake up + smell the coffee.
This bunch are on a downward spiral.

2018-19. Promoted.

and to start…..

Swansea H 1-2
Middlesbrough A 0-3. Beaten after three goals in the first 28 mins.

Rubbish Wilder. Wake up and smell the coffee. Downward spiral. We’ll be down by Christmas.

 

[Silent Blade]

2018-19. Promoted.

and to start…..

Swansea H 1-2
Middlesbrough A 0-3. Beaten after three goals in the first 28 mins.

1970-71
1st game Orient beat us 3-1 we were lucky to lose by only 1 goal at Norwich which was our 3rd match