The secret of our success

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DronnieBlade

DronnieBlade

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Appreciate it’s not as simplistic as looking at one thing in isolation.

But one thing I believe is a factor that doesn’t get as much attention as the overlapping CBs and other tactical aspects to our play is the pace at which we move the ball around the pitch.

In direct comparison with many of our peers in the PL, we fairly fizz the ball in to feet, seriously testing our players touch, which is generally very good.

Combining this with good off the ball movement has our opponents chasing shadows for long periods.

Be interesting to know if there are any average speed of pass stats out there to firm this up ?

UTB
 



Its an interesting question. What is the secret to our success? Some factors I can think of are.....

1: Fluid positions - when we bought Baldock from MK Dons their fans said George is impressive going down the wing but he often gets caught out of position and can’t defend. So Wilder buys him and tells him to bomb forward playing to his strength, his weakness is covered by Basham being able to fill in to the right back position when needed. Basham is ”Mr Versatile”, he’s decent in central defense, decent in midfield and decent at right back but he’s not great in either position. So Wilder plays Bash in a defensive 3 and asks Egan to cover Bash’s odd mistakes, but Bash is asked to cover Baldock’s mistakes and Bash is encouraged to push up into midfield providing an extra man. Bash plays 3 positions in the same match. Several of our players play fluid positions so we attack as a team and defend as a team. The result is that it often looks like we have an extra man on the pitch. Wilder also plays to a players strengths so they seem better than their actual standard.

2: Hungry players - Wilder tends to buy players with something to prove on the up. He has this motto, “perform well and you keep your place”, “drop your standard, get injured, be suspended and it gives other players the chance to claim your place”. Players are always under pressure to put in a good shift. He values application and attitude over ability. The team is key.

3: Good coaching - We seem to play the same players, same formation, same tactics every game. Wilder has little tweaks but every player knows exactly what they are doing, Even the subs seem to easily slot into the system. It’s a common discription of us but we do look such a “well drilled“ team. Wilder doesn’t complicate tactics confusing players. He also focuses on his own team instead of over focussing on stopping the opposition.

4: Motivation/ psychological edge - Its quite incredible how Wilder seems to create a cup final atmosphere in every match. He ALWAYS respects the opposition but NEVER over respects them. Remember when we played away to Shrew in league 1 and they‘d list 6 consecutive matches when they played us. Wilder explained that these types of matches can be really tough when everyone just expects us to turn up and easily win. He made a point that we wouldn’t fall into the trap and would approach Shrewsbury like it’s a really tough match. We won 3-0 I think, long ranger from Sharp.

Also Wilder is very grounded and knows you need to focus every match....and sometimes results can come down to minor details and minor mistakes.
 
Good OP.

As Chris Wilder has spoke about before it's the stuff that's done 'away from the lights'. On the training ground.

The management / coaching team have spent hours on developing partnerships all over the pitch.

The pundits talk of our players knowing exactly what's expected of them but just as important each player also knows what's expected of their team mates.

Our fringe players are included. If a player has to be drafted in then it appears seamless. Look at the goal at WBA last season - Freeman, Cranie, Dowell, probably not our first choice but looking at that link up play you wouldn't have believed it.

This doesn't happen overnight. The precise, crisp passing takes hours and hours to perfect. Each player has become a better player for being involved in these almost telepathic partnerships.
 
One of the most important aspects is continuity. We play (largely) the same players in the same system week in week out. This certainly helps engender that team spirit and understanding of the subtleties and nuances of what makes us tick. Our ability to pick the same players each match is either good fortune or our medical team behind the scenes deserve a lot of credit. Of course this may change a bit over the xmas period with a few potential suspensions lined up.
 



Nah den said:
One of the most important aspects is continuity. We play (largely) the same players in the same system week in week out. This certainly helps engender that team spirit and understanding of the subtleties and nuances of what makes us tick. Our ability to pick the same players each match is either good fortune or our medical team behind the scenes deserve a lot of credit. Of course this may change a bit over the xmas period with a few potential suspensions lined up.
Click to expand...
It’s part of the scouting process. One of our many requirements is evidence they can play a lot of games in a season.
Conditioning and Medical staff are excellent though. Very little luck involved.
 
So many factors to answer this question, Wilders ability to get the best out of "journeymen " knills ability to out think opposing coaches (yes I do believe he is the brains when it comes to tactics etc) it's been mentioned by bushy that we have players that are perennially good with fitness, see previous club comments about mcgoldrick and there are more, so I'd say it's more physio and conditioning at United that keeps them fit.
Consistency we have several players that have played a lot of games for this team in quite a short space of time, many played more than 150 in under 4 seasons.
But imho the most salient point, the biggest reason we are where we are is is the fact that between manager, coach, players and all other staff, we finally have a togetherness that fosters the old adage about sum of the parts is vastly inferior to the total package and yes I include the majority of fans.
This was proven with the fact we continued to perform quite well through the recent board room unpleasantness and continue to do so.
Long may it continue
 
In fairness to the OP, i think we play better when we move the ball quicker. Speed of thought as much as the actual speed of the pass i reckon..........
 
Sheffsteel said:
Its an interesting question. What is the secret to our success? Some factors I can think of are.....

1: Fluid positions - when we bought Baldock from MK Dons their fans said George is impressive going down the wing but he often gets caught out of position and can’t defend. So Wilder buys him and tells him to bomb forward playing to his strength, his weakness is covered by Basham being able to fill in to the right back position when needed. Basham is ”Mr Versatile”, he’s decent in central defense, decent in midfield and decent at right back but he’s not great in either position. So Wilder plays Bash in a defensive 3 and asks Egan to cover Bash’s odd mistakes, but Bash is asked to cover Baldock’s mistakes and Bash is encouraged to push up into midfield providing an extra man. Bash plays 3 positions in the same match. Several of our players play fluid positions so we attack as a team and defend as a team. The result is that it often looks like we have an extra man on the pitch. Wilder also plays to a players strengths so they seem better than their actual standard.

2: Hungry players - Wilder tends to buy players with something to prove on the up. He has this motto, “perform well and you keep your place”, “drop your standard, get injured, be suspended and it gives other players the chance to claim your place”. Players are always under pressure to put in a good shift. He values application and attitude over ability. The team is key.

3: Good coaching - We seem to play the same players, same formation, same tactics every game. Wilder has little tweaks but every player knows exactly what they are doing, Even the subs seem to easily slot into the system. It’s a common discription of us but we do look such a “well drilled“ team. Wilder doesn’t complicate tactics confusing players. He also focuses on his own team instead of over focussing on stopping the opposition.

4: Motivation/ psychological edge - Its quite incredible how Wilder seems to create a cup final atmosphere in every match. He ALWAYS respects the opposition but NEVER over respects them. Remember when we played away to Shrew in league 1 and they‘d list 6 consecutive matches when they played us. Wilder explained that these types of matches can be really tough when everyone just expects us to turn up and easily win. He made a point that we wouldn’t fall into the trap and would approach Shrewsbury like it’s a really tough match. We won 3-0 I think, long ranger from Sharp.

Also Wilder is very grounded and knows you need to focus every match....and sometimes results can come down to minor details and minor mistakes.
Click to expand...

Very good analysis.

One thing that is obvious is that CW loves to recruit Captains from other clubs. Players with leadership skills and the right attitude.

So my question is....... from which clubs are their captains a realistic target for us this January :)
 
Akinbiyi said:
Average speed of of our passes.

Fuck me.
Click to expand...

There's a danger that even the class slowcoaches like yourself (none intended), were getting to grips with XG, so a new bullshit bafflement factor had to be brought in.

Average pass speed is meaningless without knowing the wind speed and prevailing direction, air humidity and the wind resistance of the particular ball in use.
It will however allow the usual miserable twats to 'prove' that Lunny is shit and Billy's legs have gone.
 
I should coco said:
There's a danger that even the class slowcoaches like yourself (none intended), were getting to grips with XG, so a new bullshit bafflement factor had to be brought in.

Average pass speed is meaningless without knowing the wind speed and prevailing direction, air humidity and the wind resistance of the particular ball in use.
It will however allow the usual miserable twats to 'prove' that Lunny is shit and Billy's legs have gone.
Click to expand...
That will never happen :)
 
Akinbiyi said:
That will never happen :)
Click to expand...

"Sir, Sir, do we really have to do algebra as it's reet hard?"

"Look Biyi, get your wax crayons out and carry on with colouring in and let the rest of the class work"

"Alreet Sir, ta"
 
makblade said:
Very good analysis.

One thing that is obvious is that CW loves to recruit Captains from other clubs. Players with leadership skills and the right attitude.

So my question is....... from which clubs are their captains a realistic target for us this January :)
Click to expand...

Very true.....it’s a though he knows “peer pressure“ can have massive positive effects.
The mood within a dressing room becomes contagious....a few bad apples upsets the working environment for everyone.
Wilder has said in interviews that he always tries to create an enjoyable happy environment being ultra honest with players treating them like men.

It all started by making Sharp captain.....he’s so selfless and passionate about our club....he’s been such a positive influence on and off the pitch.
Altho Basham has more limited ability Wilder appreciates his 100% genuine dedication to the cause, he’s a good bloke.
Wilder knew Enda Stevens at Northampton and knows he‘s a good pro too with a great attitude, so buys him.
Baldock/ Norwood again all solid pro’s with down to earth positive attitudes.

This season we have young players in McBurnie, Mousset and Robinson.
They are all on their way to being millionaires without doing that much, so could get carried away and distracted.
However we also have the likes of Jagielka who will help these players stay grounded, humble and focussed.

Recruitment of the right personalities is vital to retaining a great team spirit. Norwood said last year it’s the best team spirit he’s known during his career.
Wilder has admitted he makes phone calls to people within the game to check the personalities of prospective targets.
 
We definitely play a lot better when we move the ball quickly. I’m pretty sure pass speed won’t be measured but it was noticeable first half on Sunday and against Newcastle that we moved the ball slower than we normally do.

As a youngster I had a coach who liked to stand 3 yards away, blast the ball at you and shout “deal with it”. Maybe the Blades players encountered similar?!
 



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