View From Wilder

[Bartyblade]

Are you suggesting that there are some who would prefer to just see us hoofing it?

Not prefer to hoof it, but many are expecting us to whenever Hanson is in the team,
Probably ready to use as a stick to beat Hanson and Wilder with

 

[LJBlade]

Not prefer to hoof it, but many are expecting us to whenever Hanson is in the team,
Probably ready to use as a stick to beat Hanson and Wilder with

Oh yes I think there are certain people who are hoping we revert to hoof when Hanson is in the team, just so they can say they were right.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Are they wanting to see hoof for the sake of seeing it or are they just wanting to see us try something different? After all, the short passing game got us nowhere yesterday.

I'm assuming you're placing yourself in the group that know something about football

To be brutally honest, it's difficult to say. The shouts of gerritforrard and pass it are so unerringly inconsistent, it genuinely appears to be whatever comes in to their heads at any given time ends up being spouted out as nonsense. "I've thought of summat, let's get it out there". Mouth engaged, brain less so type stuff.

And you assume correctly

UTB

 

[bornablade]

I am not sure fans want to see Hoof, more that they want to see the team play with greater urgency.

We play a high pressing game, lots of possession but seem to rely on the thought 'keep playing like this, be patient and all will come good.' Unfortunately the oppositions have now all upped their game.

During the course of a game there are occasions that come along when a player or players recognise this is the moment to step up the gears and go for the jugular.
An example was their second goal last night. Their forward recognized, sniffed out that he could create something by pressuring EEL. Not once did I see any of our players recognise similar moments. It was all possesion for possesion's sake.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Not a case of returning to hoof - last night we had two strikers on the field at around 5'-7" yet we continued to send in crosses that was food and drink to their centre backs or went sailing out for a goalkick or throw in !
Last night the team did not have a clue how to break down a well organised visitors defence - Chris Wilder must shoulder some of the blame with a bizarre team selection and poor substitutions but players especially EEL and Basham cannot continue to keep making basic individual errors which are costing points !
McNulty, Hussey, Scougall need shipping out along with Clarke- there is no future in any of those under performers - Fleck finished up playing deeper and deeper last night as Fleetwood pressed us tight when we had the ball - it reminded me of an Adkins performance !
We have improved so much yet last night showed that yes we can screw up very easily - If it is not sorted we shall be again plying our trade in the third division next season - As they say it is a long season but on last nights performance following on from Gillingham and Walsall then we have major problems !

 

[blackydog]

I am not sure fans want to see Hoof, more that they want to see the team play with greater urgency.

We play a high pressing game, lots of possession but seem to rely on the thought 'keep playing like this, be patient and all will come good.' Unfortunately the oppositions have now all upped their game.

During the course of a game there are occasions that come along when a player or players recognise this is the moment to step up the gears and go for the jugular.
An example was their second goal last night. Their forward recognized, sniffed out that he could create something by pressuring EEL. Not once did I see any of our players recognise similar moments. It was all possesion for possesion's sake.

I want to see someone take a chance and run at defenses, the black lad for Fleetwood did it a few times to us. It puts the shits up defenders but we don't do it. All our work is too passy passy. Having said that if we go BAU they will have 10 behind the ball so not easy.

 

[South Bucks]

There is someting other than hoof or our short passing game and that is a passing game making quickish inroads into dangerous areas and feeding our strikers or having shots with an occassional bit of hoof mixed in to keep them guessing. We seem to have forgotten this.

Our slow short passing game often goes nowhere dangerous with no end product and is like watching paint dry. I can understand why Billy gets so frustrated.

 

[Darthblade]

I agree with most of that mate.

What I would say is that we've now got 3 new players to shake up the attacking side of our game and maybe Riley's pace could help us defensively.

It must be hard to legislate as to why vital players like EEL for instance should be so much off his game and not even doing the basics. I bet Wilder thought he'd ticked all the boxes this window, but we're either going to see if his famed man-management is as good as it's said to, be or he'll need to get somebody else in. Either way I'm glad that we've not got a game this weekend, because I think it's going to take time to sort out their heads.

Agreed ...... I think Tufty needs a couple of weeks to ( hopefully beat the shit out of some of them with a bat ) get their heads back into a winning mentality because we look very tentative at the moment and have done since the second half at Walsall.

I think the only position to play EEL is right side CH in a 3 CHs formation ....... he cant cope with being the central CH ........ needs Wright there as hes experienced and organises the brainless fuckers !!

Riley in at LWB would help as he has pace and can attack defenders ....... plus he can cross ...... everyone else in the team ( apart from Sharp ) thinks a cross is for attaching Jesus to !! Imho Sharp is our best crosser of the ball, which is bizarre.

I don't think Tufty ticked all the boxes though because I believe we need a pacey, strong striker who can score goals, to play with Sharp. Hanson has his strengths ( pace isn't one of them ) but I'm sure hes destined to be an impact player off the bench.

He says our business is over now ....... hopefully he might be having a re-think on that today ..........

I would happily lose Clarke, McNulty, Done, Scougal and send out a couple on loan like Reed & Long to free up some budget to get a big, strong, pacey striker in ........... please

UTB & FTP

 

[Darthblade]

To be brutally honest, it's difficult to say. The shouts of gerritforrard and pass it are so unerringly inconsistent, it genuinely appears to be whatever comes in to their heads at any given time ends up being spouted out as nonsense. "I've thought of summat, let's get it out there". Mouth engaged, brain less so type stuff.

And you assume correctly

UTB

I think what most of us "ordinary fans" want to see is passing the ball forwards, rather than sideways and back ( which is back to Adkins plan A ) or a ball into a dangerous area for our more attack minded players to latch onto .......

No hoofball is required thankyou !!

No movement upfront for most of the last two games and that should be just as much of an issue for Tufty as the "schoolyard" defending we've witnessed since Southend ....... we are pressing the "self-destruct" button and Tufty needs to get in among them and change the mindset and if necessary drop some of the players who think themselves "untouchable" !!

UTB & FTP

 

[HoodedClaw]

Really don't get picking McNulty over Lavery last night. Lavs provided an assist for Billy's goal and his shot, that was saved, fell to Freeman for the equaliser on Saturday (Saying this I didn't agree with him being subbed Saturday either).

I thought one of the big mantra's was you've got to keep playing well to keep the shirt, yet our defence hasn't changed and we've shipped 8 goals in 3 now.

It's the team selection last night more than the performance that has me worried. People kept saying how quick Wilder is to spot problems and change things. Didn't see any problem with how Lavery was playing (gets dropped for McNulty) seen lots of problems with the defence but they stay the same.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I'll add an observation that I posted before the Fleetwood match. We have signed a well regarded Man Utd player, from all that I've read he plays both as full back and winger, has bags of skill and technique and has been talked of as a contender for their first team squad. We're at a point in the season where we have little time to blood someone in, so I wonder why we signed someone so well regarded unless we aren't going to play them from the moment they sign to us?It's not as if we don't have well documented problems in both defence and attack, so to learn that Riley was consigned to the bench for the entire game is puzzling and makes me wonder why he was overlooked for this match?

Last season we were told that both Wilder and Knill, of whom I support because of the way they've adopted a far more positive approach to managing this club, attended many home games at Bramall Lane. They saw exactly what the supporters saw and this has been mentioned by both of them. I'm not being flippant, but perhaps at least one of our management team might take the time to join the supporters (South Stand?) and see the game from another angle. It might help to broaden their over-view about the problems we're currently facing. Wright's omission whilst our defence has slowly deteriorated has been puzzling. Wright's clearly the best defensive organiser we have, by the fact that he's on the bench he's clearly fit, so the fact that during his spell in the team, where we looked defensively sound and tough to break down, would indicate that this player is more than ready to take his place in our starting lineup.

Let me add, I'm fully supportive of our management team, but this shouldn't exclude the asking of questions, especially at such a crucial point in the season.

 

[blackydog]

There is someting other than hoof or our short passing game and that is a passing game making quickish inroads into dangerous areas and feeding our strikers or having shots with an occassional bit of hoof mixed in to keep them guessing. We seem to have forgotten this.

Our slow short passing game often goes nowhere dangerous with no end product and is like watching paint dry. I can understand why Billy gets so frustrated.

Obviously not taking the piss being a blade, but this is why I just couldn't stand watching Barcelona play, although to be fair it was a bit more successful for them but still mind numbingly boring.

 

[blackydog]

I think what most of us "ordinary fans" want to see is passing the ball forwards, rather than sideways and back ( which is back to Adkins plan A ) or a ball into a dangerous area for our more attack minded players to latch onto .......

No hoofball is required thankyou !!

No movement upfront for most of the last two games and that should be just as much of an issue for Tufty as the "schoolyard" defending we've witnessed since Southend ....... we are pressing the "self-destruct" button and Tufty needs to get in among them and change the mindset and if necessary drop some of the players who think themselves "untouchable" !!

UTB & FTP

But that needs fast players to get inside defences. Trouble with 10 man defence you have to go through them or round them, which might mean trying to draw them apart to make space, hence the sideways and back. We don't in my opinion have the players to go over them, plus our crossing is not good enough if we had.

 

[coaxingstar71]

So far this season, I've fully agreed with CW's decisions and for the most part, he's been proved correct. But he seems to have lost it the last couple of games. Like others, I can't understand why McNulty has come straight back in, I've got nothing against him but he was hardly setting the world on fire at Bradford. Thought Lavery was doing well alongside Sharp too.

His persistence with Basham too, when our best results were achieved with Wright at the centre of the '3' organising EEL and JOC. That's 10 goals shipped in 4 games, mostly due to schoolboy defending.

Playing Done at wing back when he's just signed a highly rated full/wing back from Man U. Hopefully, the one thing that should happen after last nights performance is that it's obvious he needs to make changes. Get Wright back in, give Riley a chance and stop using McNulty, who's clearly way off match fit. Perhaps even drop Coutts for a game to hopefully give him a kick up the backside too.

 

[him behind you]

Not taking responsibility for a shit team selection then?

Not impressed by that interview to be honest it's all going a bit Nigel. (Either of them)

Well, the performance on the pitch was very Nigel as well. I'm a bit perplexed that the strikers get it in the neck for not scoring enough despite the defence giving up 2 bad golas on Saturday, and the defence gets away with it again last night. The last 4 games (including Southend) the defence have been generally poor and this needs sorting or else we might find ourselves trying to get to Wembley again. I made a tongue in cheek post yesterday about not having the correct balance in the team by not having a ball winner in midfield, not having any natural wide players, and being light at the back but last night needed all of those. We were so narrow and predictable, and lost every 50/50 ball in the middle of the park.

Come on Chris - you're better than this, surely.

 

[Jan Age]

In the actual interview (worth a listen), he absolutely backs the board and says they've been fantastic with him. Certainly doesn't sound like he's working with his hands tied, nor does it look like he is with how many players we seem to have now.

Not aimed at you Jan Age, I just think a lot of people need to calm their tits a bit and brush this past couple of week off. Let them get back on the training pitch, get our new lads involved and go again. Not seen anything bar a very poor display last night to suggest there is anyone better in this division than us - it'll all come together again. Remember us having a similar wobble last time we got promoted - just a stage in the season when we need to get behind them. And on that note, can the crowd please make some bastard noise?? Crap atmosphere the last few games!

Yep I agree that this is just a wobble and we have accumulated enough points to be able to have one without doing too much damage and I would rather have it now with time to recover than at the end and drop in to play offs.

Personally I think the signings will have a great impact on the team.

But... it is still unusual for Wilder to comment other than 'we have a budget' .... so he's either a) giving some of the fans a reality check b) telling someone on the board to fall in line c) telling selling clubs we won't be held to ransom or quite possibly all three.

I personally would love it if he was using the media in such a clever way.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I think what most of us "ordinary fans" want to see is passing the ball forwards, rather than sideways and back ( which is back to Adkins plan A ) or a ball into a dangerous area for our more attack minded players to latch onto .......

No hoofball is required thankyou !!

No movement upfront for most of the last two games and that should be just as much of an issue for Tufty as the "schoolyard" defending we've witnessed since Southend ....... we are pressing the "self-destruct" button and Tufty needs to get in among them and change the mindset and if necessary drop some of the players who think themselves "untouchable" !!

UTB & FTP

Fair comments.

But what these fans consistently fail to appreciate, IMHO, is that when a forward ball is quite clearly not on, recycling it is the only viable option. Repeat the ONLY viable option. When a forward pass IS on, our players have demonstrated, in the main, that they take this route. Rarely do they miss the opportunity, which is to say that it does of course happen, just not as often as hoards of our fans would have you believe.

A forwards pass when it isn't on will invariably end up in possession turnover and / or the ball coming straight back at us. The good news is that the team and the manager know this. Just a shame more of our fans don't.

UTB

 

[him behind you]

We win at Southend and we were going to win the league by 15 points and now I suppose we will be lucky to scrape in the play-offs. We have to keep calm and move on

whilst i agree completely with the above comment by CW , i believe like most fans (well 99%) that we will ofcourse lose games in any division no matter where we are in the league

its the manner of last nights defeat that slightly concerns me,

Walsall, our bogey team and in general just an off day/poor defending
Gills, played some lovely football , scores good goals but punished for awful defending

last night, really really poor , the energy, enthusiasm and pressing just seemed to be completely lacking ( and of course the dreadful defending again!)

maybe this is a great time for a break, regroup and come back fighting which i think (and hope ) we will do
but more performances like last night and it would be a concern

That's exactly how I felt last night when I left the ground. It wasn't that we'd lost, or had gone 3 games without a win, it was the performance and attitude of the players last night which worried me because, as it was at the beginning of the season and quite a bit last season, only Billy Sharp looked to be caring / hurting by it..

 

[blackydog]

McNulty has come straight back in

Maybe Wilder wanted to put the "Mcnulty" question to bed and may now have done so. I don't have a problem with him trying it, unfortunately it backfired badly. But Mcnulty was not the only one to blame, far from it.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[BushBlade]

Maybe Wilder wanted to put the "Mcnulty" question to bed and may now have done so. I don't have a problem with him trying it, unfortunately it backfired badly. But Mcnulty was not the only one to blame, far from it.

Put it to bed for whom? The supporters? Or maybe he's getting grief from those above him saying 'you've got all these strikers, why do you need another?' Managers have to manage upwards as well as downwards and I suspect if you asked most of our ex managers which is more difficult, they'd say upwards.
Just a thought.

 

[blackydog]

Put it to bed for whom? The supporters? Or maybe he's getting grief from those above him saying 'you've got all these strikers, why do you need another?' Managers have to manage upwards as well as downwards and I suspect if you asked most of our ex managers which is more difficult, they'd say upwards.
Just a thought.

What I meant was whether McNulty had a part to play going forward so i suppose my answer to your question "Put it to bed for whom?", is Wilder himself and potentially upwards. May be something we will never know. But for me Mcnuts has had a shortish but credible chance to show he can bring something to the team but didn't, And i suspect will now be off. Some might argue he should be given another opportunity and if he had shone at Bradford i might agree, as it is I don't. Like a job interview you have to make the most of the opportunity.

 

[BushBlade]

What I meant was whether McNulty had a part to play going forward so i suppose my answer to your question "Put it to bed for whom?", is Wilder himself and potentially upwards. May be something we will never know. But for me Mcnuts has had a shortish but credible chance to show he can bring something to the team but didn't, And i suspect will now be off. Some might argue he should be given another opportunity and if he had shone at Bradford i might agree, as it is I don't. Like a job interview you have to make the most of the opportunity.

I agree with the bit about giving him an opportunity as once Hanson has trained with us McNulty's chances will be fewer. What I'm curious to know, and we probably never will, is why; did CW see something in training? Did senior players tell him McNulty should be given a chance, that he was harshly treated by the Nigels? Did the board question his handling of McNulty?

As I say, just a thought, whilst trying to fathom out why CW would make such a change. Maybe Chris is wondering today why he did it? We've all had 'what the fuck was I thinking' moments.

 

[Come from away]

With O'Shea and Carruthers available we can now consider giving Duffy and Couts a break, both are looking a little 'tired': also Hanson adds a new dimension to our game - with a squad of 24 we now have real options.

 

[blackydog]

I agree with the bit about giving him an opportunity as once Hanson has trained with us McNulty's chances will be fewer. What I'm curious to know, and we probably never will, is why; did CW see something in training? Did senior players tell him McNulty should be given a chance, that he was harshly treated by the Nigels? Did the board question his handling of McNulty?

As I say, just a thought, whilst trying to fathom out why CW would make such a change. Maybe Chris is wondering today why he did it? We've all had 'what the fuck was I thinking' moments.

Like you say, board see all these forwards and say "Chris we don't want to end up paying a load of players for sitting in the stands, either make use of them or get rid". May be a while before we find out, if ever.

 

[blackydog]

With O'Shea and Carruthers available we can now consider giving Duffy and Couts a break, both are looking a little 'tired': also Hanson adds a new dimension to our game - with a squad of 24 we now have real options.

Considered and positive view CFA, have a like.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I've written elsewhere about my thoughts concerning last night, but I'd add that Wilder, for whatever reason, acted swiftly in changing the personnel at haltime. It may not have made a great deal of difference, but it does seem that McNulty was given a chance and failed to make the most of his opportunity. Whatever the pros and cons - poor service, other players not using McNulty the way he prefers etc - he's not suited to the style of play that Wilder expects, so a parting of the ways is best for both parties. No great sadness here, at least from myself. A player that arrived with a useful reputation, but the delivery of that reputation was something we failed to see. I hope MM goes on to find a club, probably back in Scotland, that suits his standard of play.

 

[South Bucks]

If McNulty and others are not doing as they are told it would be interesting to be a fly on the wall behind the scenes to understand how it is explained to them what they are supposed to do and how its extensively practised and put into place.

I've seen many of Wilder's interviews now and they all remind me of some of the not so good teachers at school who would tell you to do something without explaining it properly or practicing it and they would then get angry with me and tell me I'm thick when it didn't work out. After a while I'd just ignore them and do my own thing.

The better teachers at school would explain we are trying to go from A to B, this is the theory you need to understand, these are steps involved and now we are going to practice each step until you are good at them then stick it them all together over and over again. If I got it right there was praise, if not we'd practice the dodgy bits until I got it right. There would be praise to motivate when needed. I loved those teachers and they got the best out of me and I did my best for them.

Take corners for example. Every game we have about 10 corners but how many times do we ever look like scoring from one. What evidence is there of the players have been taken through the good teacher approach, having a plan, learning all the steps each should take, practicing it to death and then doing it on the pitch. None. We just hear the team being criticised by Wilder for not scoring enough goals and not doing as they're told.

My suspicion, and it is only a suspicion, is the players are just being told what to do without the good teacher stuff and enough practice behind the scenes and after a while the players just ignore it and do their own thing.

 

[I should coco]

We just hear the team being criticised by Wilder for not scoring enough goals and not doing as they're told.

Compared to Clough or Warnock, I think CW comes across as quite laid back. If your face didn't fit with those two, then you were out and no second chances. I get the impression that CW is much less 'headmaster' than some we've had.

My suspicion, and it is only a suspicion, is the players are just being told what to do without the good teacher stuff and enough practice behind the scenes and after a while the players just ignore it and do their own thing.

It's an interview for the meeja, not a coaching session. IIRC old SAF always came across as a miserable old git but he managed to scrape the odd trophy or two for Newton Heath.

Please don't start getting het up about what is said, or not said, in a 90 second local radio interview. In the scheme of things it isn't really very important.

 

[JJ Sefton]

It's all going tits up.