Shadota
Near, VAR, wherever you are...
While I am still utterly fuming over the way we threw away the win yesterday, I am now able to look at the bigger picture, and know that we need to start afresh next season.
We all know that that 2nd half performance has become frighteningly familiar this season, and the fact that Wilder and his staff couldn't use the near 2 weeks break between the semis and the final, to conjur a gameplan that was just a hair more creative than "Let's just park the bus and try and steal one on the break" is just sad.
What makes it worse, is that we've played the same way in at least half our games this season, and still ended up on 90 points. If we'd actually made a concerted attempt to play a dynamic, aggressive, attacking style of football, we could have swept the entire league away. And the wealth of talent we have had available this season was more than good enough to do it.
I have been doubtful of Wilder's ability on and off throughout the season. But yesterday was the final nail in the coffin for me. We went into the game with plan A. And that worked for a while. But once Sunderland made changes to adapt, we blatantly did not have a plan B. We played the exact same way all game, got exposed by individual mistakes, but then did nothing and expected it to change.
It's akin to when Wilder left the first time. There were issues then admittedly, primarily the gaping void in our side left by O'Connell's injury, but we again had a plan A, and nothing else to back it up. I'm concerned now that Wilder's request to the board now, will be the same as what he did to the Prince back then - "give me more money to fix it", despite his track record indicating he is more successful when spending a pittance.
We need a new philosophy. Wilder's heart is in the right place, but I think his head isn't as a result. We need someone in charge who can be more analytical, and less emotional. Who can easily identify when things aren't right, and how to fix them.
We will absolutely need that sort of thinking next season, as there are going to be some very heavy hitters we'll need to be better than to get promoted. It won't be a 3 horse race for the top 2 like this season. All 3 PL demotees will compete. As will Birmingham most likely. Plus ouslrselves. And I wouldn't be surprised if Coventry make a push for it with a full season of Lampard in charge.
If we don't make changes to get ahead of the curve, we are going to quickly fall very far behind it. The last time we lost a Championship play off final, we were in League 1 two years later. Let's instead be proactive this time, and clear out the dead wood now, rather then letting it fester.
I love Wilder for things he's achieved in the past, but for me, it's time to let go.
We all know that that 2nd half performance has become frighteningly familiar this season, and the fact that Wilder and his staff couldn't use the near 2 weeks break between the semis and the final, to conjur a gameplan that was just a hair more creative than "Let's just park the bus and try and steal one on the break" is just sad.
What makes it worse, is that we've played the same way in at least half our games this season, and still ended up on 90 points. If we'd actually made a concerted attempt to play a dynamic, aggressive, attacking style of football, we could have swept the entire league away. And the wealth of talent we have had available this season was more than good enough to do it.
I have been doubtful of Wilder's ability on and off throughout the season. But yesterday was the final nail in the coffin for me. We went into the game with plan A. And that worked for a while. But once Sunderland made changes to adapt, we blatantly did not have a plan B. We played the exact same way all game, got exposed by individual mistakes, but then did nothing and expected it to change.
It's akin to when Wilder left the first time. There were issues then admittedly, primarily the gaping void in our side left by O'Connell's injury, but we again had a plan A, and nothing else to back it up. I'm concerned now that Wilder's request to the board now, will be the same as what he did to the Prince back then - "give me more money to fix it", despite his track record indicating he is more successful when spending a pittance.
We need a new philosophy. Wilder's heart is in the right place, but I think his head isn't as a result. We need someone in charge who can be more analytical, and less emotional. Who can easily identify when things aren't right, and how to fix them.
We will absolutely need that sort of thinking next season, as there are going to be some very heavy hitters we'll need to be better than to get promoted. It won't be a 3 horse race for the top 2 like this season. All 3 PL demotees will compete. As will Birmingham most likely. Plus ouslrselves. And I wouldn't be surprised if Coventry make a push for it with a full season of Lampard in charge.
If we don't make changes to get ahead of the curve, we are going to quickly fall very far behind it. The last time we lost a Championship play off final, we were in League 1 two years later. Let's instead be proactive this time, and clear out the dead wood now, rather then letting it fester.
I love Wilder for things he's achieved in the past, but for me, it's time to let go.
