We need to talk about Sydie Peck

[Berkshire Blade]

Arblaster is getting better week on week, the longer he's out of the team. By the time he'd back some of our fans will be expecting peak Steven Gerrard...

Do you think he still has the ceiling of established premier league starter in an established premier league side like Davies was? Because I personally think his ceiling is top 6 championship side player

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Do you think he still has the ceiling of established premier league starter in an established premier league side like Davies was? Because I personally think his ceiling is top 6 championship side player

If you mean Peck, then yes, absolutely.

However, the longer he's asked to play as the 1 in a 4-1-5 formation under a coach he clearly is out of his depth, then it's not going to help his development.

 

[Winn Gardens Blade]

We clearly need tall effective midfielder playing alongside Peck. He looked isolated a lot today. Also, if Selles plays Cannon on the wing again Selles needs his head examining.

If Selles plays Cannon again he needs his head chopping of

 

[Berkshire Blade]

If you mean Peck, then yes, absolutely.

However, the longer he's asked to play as the 1 in a 4-1-5 formation under a coach he clearly is out of his depth, then it's not going to help his development.

So we need a defensive midfielder to babysit a guy who doesn't create a massive amount or score?

 

[Older Blade]

I think with Peck, its fair to say he's not been right this season, but its also easy to forget he's a 20 year lad plying his trade away from home and family, and with Wilder being sacked had a father type figure taken away, a very difficult situation to get your head around.

I've been through a company restructure in my late 20's where a boss I'd run through brick walls through was unceremoniously turfed out and it left me pissed off at the organisation and it took some time to get my head round it and crack on (some deal with it better than others), but it's a learning situation and he'll get through it and be all the better for it, and hopefully thats what Wilder has said to him.

Well said that man!.....

 

[Greystones Blade]

So we need a defensive midfielder to babysit a guy who doesn't create a massive amount or score?

Do you think Selles is trying to work out if Peck is the answer to his midfielder problems? He knows that Soumares is good and should be playing but chooses not to play him. Maybe he is trying to figure out if the Everton man fits the gap he’s got or whether he should look elsewhere? Just saying..

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

So we need a defensive midfielder to babysit a guy who doesn't create a massive amount or score?

Baby sit? Jesus, I thought you were one of the more intelligent posters round these parts?!?!? What part of playing two in centre midfield in the Championship in 2025 is babysitting? Did Coutts babysit Fleck? Or are you condoning the 4-1-5 formation we're playing and the only reason it's not working is because of Peck?

Or maybe he's in his second season and the only coach he's ever known has been sacked and the senior pro who he's played alongside the most and whose game compliments his has been sold and not replaced, and now he's being asked to play in a ridiculous tactical setup.

To be honest, I thought I'd have a reasonable discussion with you on this but you've turned into one of the hard of thinking, pitchfork carrying morons that pops up as soon as there's a scapegoat to pile in on.

 

[Shawy24]

Playing the poor fooker in centre midfield on his own against good, solid, athletic championship midfields is just suicidal.

Alongside Souza he looked full of potential - on his own he looks all at sea.

The manager is the one who's stitching him up.

Abso fuckin lutely

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Baby sit? Jesus, I thought you were one of the more intelligent posters round these parts?!?!? What part of playing two in centre midfield in the Championship in 2025 is babysitting? Did Coutts babysit Fleck? Or are you condoning the 4-1-5 formation we're playing and the only reason it's not working is because of Peck?

Or maybe he's in his second season and the only coach he's ever known has been sacked and the senior pro who he's played alongside the most and whose game compliments his has been sold and not replaced, and now he's being asked to play in a ridiculous tactical setup.

To be honest, I thought I'd have a reasonable discussion with you on this but you've turned into one of the hard of thinking, pitchfork carrying morons that pops up as soon as there's a scapegoat to pile in on.

I just don't see him having the creative ability of other players or defensive capacity to stop play like a Souza did. So I don't really see what he brings? I think he'll because solid bench player if we ever had a full choice of central players and possibly not even making the bench. That's not an attack on him he's young enough to improve just how I see it and I don't really understand how some people are rating him as premier league potential

 

[Rodders]

Is that a brand new tattoo sleeve he has?

Not good, not good at all

Is this the new Beattie’s Alloys?

 

[Pilley-Blade]

Can anybody elighten me what happened after the game with Peck and a section of the Kop? I am one of those that stays for ten mins after the game until the crowds have gone. The applause parade was not great, but something appeared to be said to Peck and he seemed to react, coming up to the Kop and making gestures. I may be off the boil, but it seemed a strange interaction. There was a mix of booing and applause.

 

[diplomat]

Playing the poor fooker in centre midfield on his own against good, solid, athletic championship midfields is just suicidal.

Alongside Souza he looked full of potential - on his own he looks all at sea.

The manager is the one who's stitching him up.

My bro who doesn’t go to games looked at the midfield three and said ‘we’re just gonna get over run with that that three’ and to be fair he’s right. Midfield is about partnerships and someone can look way better with the right partner. He’s got no partner and probably feels a bit like it’s rourkes drift. Him and Souza (who was a beast at times) versus him on his Tod with two people thinking about going forward all the time is a recipe for him getting isolated and run past.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Selles to blame sticking Peck in the middle on his own again (Bristol City again)

"the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"

 

[Blades Glory Owls Down]

As has been said above, Peck looks lost by himself as the holding midfielder. He has a lot of ground to cover in trying to protect the defence and I think it is unfair to expect him to do that by himself. He needs someone alongside him (Soumare?) who can share some of the burden when we are defending. Does that fit what Selles is trying to do? I dont know.
Would we be best suited to playing a 4-2-3-1 with the likes of Peck and Soumare in front of a back 4 and Barry, Hamer and O'Hare in front of them?
it gives us some stability/cover in the centre of midfield and should allow the attacking players (and 1 of the 2 holding midfielders in an ideal world) to get forward.
After watching the game and subsequent replays, I think Peck was at fault for the goal by not tracking the runner. He clearly saw him and watched him run through. He just pointed at him, hoping someone else would pick him up. Maybe I'm being a bit too critical but that was just my view of it.

 

[jono_t2000]

Live action of Sydie Peck.

span around in circles more times than a ballerina against Millwall

 

[Rufus Smalls]

Should have been peck n Soumare from the start

Exactly,

Peck had space and time with Vini along side him last season.

He can't do the holding role and the playmaker role all by himself.

 

[DronfieldBlade94]

I had considered creating a new post on this subject after my incressing frustration at Blades fans and the current structure of the team. However it's better suited on this current thread.

How and why are we suddenly throwing the toys out of the pram and scapegoating one of our key players from last season (In his first season as a pro) and certainly one of the best young players in the Championship.

Peck's qualities scream No8. Box to Box, dyamic midfielder, much better suited at pressing higer up the pitch playing more of a vertical game closing down as opposed to lateral and breaking play up. What the top coaches do is play to the strengths of the individuals at their disposal. Now I am his biggest critic when it comes down to creativity. However he is better at linking the play as we progress the build up between the deeper midfielders and forwards, what he is not is an Ollie Norwood. Norwood had one outstanding trait that meant he was a No4/6 and played that deep playmaker role. Peck does not suit that.

The two No10's in front of Peck currently mean he is massively exposed covering huge amounts of ground often isolated attempting to break up the play that has been left from poor structure and pressing from the front 5. Peck's natural instinct is to press and step on to intercept a receiving opponent and not play laterally to block forward passes.

The current sytem and personel is creating a completely unfair scapegoat. This kid has bags of potential and needs to be utilised properly.

 

[Champagneblade]

I had considered creating a new post on this subject after my incressing frustration at Blades fans and the current structure of the team. However it's better suited on this current thread.

How and why are we suddenly throwing the toys out of the pram and scapegoating one of our key players from last season (In his first season as a pro) and certainly one of the best young players in the Championship.

Peck's qualities scream No8. Box to Box, dyamic midfielder, much better suited at pressing higer up the pitch playing more of a vertical game closing down as opposed to lateral and breaking play up. What the top coaches do is play to the strengths of the individuals at their disposal. Now I am his biggest critic when it comes down to creativity. However he is better at linking the play as we progress the build up between the deeper midfielders and forwards, what he is not is an Ollie Norwood. Norwood had one outstanding trait that meant he was a No4/6 and played that deep playmaker role. Peck does not suit that.

The two No10's in front of Peck currently mean he is massively exposed covering huge amounts of ground often isolated attempting to break up the play that has been left from poor structure and pressing from the front 5. Peck's natural instinct is to press and step on to intercept a receiving opponent and not play laterally to block forward passes.

The current sytem and personel is creating a completely unfair scapegoat. This kid has bags of potential and needs to be utilised properly.

Build your team around your better player.

The way to be creative is to link up O’Hare and Hamer.

If you want to start Peck then you need for him to be a deeper playmaker, not expect him to be Claude Makelele.

I’d say that immediately rules out 4-4-2 and 4-3-3.

You can possibly play the following:

4-1-2-1-2 - a midfield diamond. You’d have Peck slightly to the right, Hamer to the left and O’Hare as a 10. You need someone like Choudhury to be in there as DM.

4-2-3-1 - Hamer left, O’Hare as a 10, a winger on the right and Peck alongside a Choudhury figure.

3-4-2-1 - Hamer and O’Hare as 10s with Peck and A DM behind. Probably my preferred with the other personnel we have.

4-2-2-2 - Again all points to a DM though I’m not sure how this system works without leaving gaps out wide.

All in all, pair Peck with Soumaré and let him play his natural game and get another DM.

If we’re in there bargain bin on this one, there is Mendy who was at Leicester and played at Lens last year or Riedewald, who was on Palace’s books before a year in Belgium.

 

[Bergen Blade]

As has been said above, Peck looks lost by himself as the holding midfielder. He has a lot of ground to cover in trying to protect the defence and I think it is unfair to expect him to do that by himself. He needs someone alongside him (Soumare?) who can share some of the burden when we are defending. Does that fit what Selles is trying to do? I dont know.
Would we be best suited to playing a 4-2-3-1 with the likes of Peck and Soumare in front of a back 4 and Barry, Hamer and O'Hare in front of them?
it gives us some stability/cover in the centre of midfield and should allow the attacking players (and 1 of the 2 holding midfielders in an ideal world) to get forward.
After watching the game and subsequent replays, I think Peck was at fault for the goal by not tracking the runner. He clearly saw him and watched him run through. He just pointed at him, hoping someone else would pick him up. Maybe I'm being a bit too critical but that was just my view of it.

We played 4-2-3-1 at Swansea, with Soumare and Peck at the base of the midfield. There were some decent spells (last 25 min of 1st half, we had 4 shots to their 0), but there were still huge gaps and we looked too open still. When you try to press high, but can't quite do it effectively there may be a lot of space for the opposition to exploit. Offensively, we struggled to get Hamer on the ball and O'Hare was poor on the right.

Consequently we changed things for Millwall, returning to the 4-3-3 that created chances against Bristol City.

If we're going to stick with that formation I think we need to play Soumare at the base and Peck RCM. This is a similar role to Peck played in our youth team and worth trying now. I think he's more creative, more capable of getting goals and assists, than he's been able to show in more holding roles for the first team.

 

[Wards]

I think we need to drop the notion we can carry what is effectively a modern day number '10' that OHare is currently half playing and revert to what would look like

Hamer ---------Peck
------Soumare------

With the expectation that either GH or SP joins in with the forward press whilst the other tucks in alongsise DS.

I like O'Hare and it's a shame to remove what he brings to the table but we should look to solidify the midfield first and foremost. There are still enough forward-thinking players on the pitch to be effective.

 

[Balham]

I think we need to drop the notion we can carry what is effectively a modern day number '10' that OHare is currently half playing and revert to what would look like

Hamer ---------Peck
------Soumare------

With the expectation that either GH or SP joins in with the forward press whilst the other tucks in alongsise DS.

I like O'Hare and it's a shame to remove what he brings to the table but we should look to solidify the midfield first and foremost. There are still enough forward-thinking players on the pitch to be effective.

I know we were strongly linked with Tim Iroegbunam earlier this month - not sure whether Everton signing Dibling reignites that - but that suggests that Sellés isn't entirely happy with his midfield choices at the moment. Hamer used to be a box-to-box midfielder (#8) at Coventry, it's only here that he's become a luxury attacking midfielder.

The other thing which will need sorting is the LW position. The press has to be co-ordinated across the front 4/5 and that's not possible with Cannon in the team as he just doesn't seem to understand what to do when out of possession. If Hamer can't sort his mindset out to play back in midfield effectively then maybe he has to be the answer on the left wing again.

 

[loyalblade95]

Might be a bit wishful thinking at the moment as he is injured, but I wonder if Arblaster could play that deeper role, not as a defensive CDM but more deeper lying playmaker, he's certainly disciplined enough.

But as he's injured, we'll have to find another solution for now.

Peck plays best as a box to box playmaker who's more creative than some people give him credit for.

Set up Brewsters goal against Pigs with that well executed pass to Campbell, that defence splitting pass to BBD against Boro (scored), just to name 2.

As for a potential formation change which might help us get the best out of him, what about something like a 4-1-4-1?

This doesn't include the potential signings of Tanganga, Woo, Ings, Mee and Redmond.

----------------Cooper
Seriki-Godfrey-Bindon-Burrows
---------------Soumare
Brooks--Peck-------Hamer--Barry
---------------Campbell

It should give us a solid defensive base and some better control in midfield but would require Campbell to work hard leading the line, while Brooks and Barry would have to be springing forward on attacks to help him.

 

[Tarqs]

I think we need to drop the notion we can carry what is effectively a modern day number '10' that OHare is currently half playing and revert to what would look like

Hamer ---------Peck
------Soumare------

With the expectation that either GH or SP joins in with the forward press whilst the other tucks in alongsise DS.

I like O'Hare and it's a shame to remove what he brings to the table but we should look to solidify the midfield first and foremost. There are still enough forward-thinking players on the pitch to be effective.

O'Hare plays ahead of one of those, he has to.

When he was dropped the last 2 months of last season bizarrely, it coincided with our worst run of the season.

 

[Willglynning]

----------------Cooper
Seriki-Godfrey-Bindon-Burrows
---------------Soumare
Brooks--Peck-------Hamer--Barry
---------------Campbell

Problem here is that we're omitting O'Hare, who's been arguably one of our better- if not our best player so far this season.

I think I'd prefer to have the team set up in a way that maximises the amount he can influence games successfully, rather than trying to play to the hypothetical strengths of a young lad who's still got a lot of development to do.

 

[Champagneblade]

If you mean Peck, then yes, absolutely.

However, the longer he's asked to play as the 1 in a 4-1-5 formation under a coach he clearly is out of his depth, then it's not going to help his development.

All feels a bit Ossie Ardiles as Spurs if we don’t make the formation more robust

 

[Back post bob]

I don't understand our fans slagging off players who pull on a united shirt.Yes constructive criticism is fine if accompanied by reason.
Take Peck young lad thrown in last season we all know he is not the holding defensive midfielder.Or the creater of goals.
What he does is link play always shows for the ball and yes gets caught in possession why because lots of our other players don't show don't make the runs for him to find.
What do you all want the me to you pass the ball across the back four and occasionally back to the keeper?

 

[Bergen Blade]

Problem here is that we're omitting O'Hare, who's been arguably one of our better- if not our best player so far this season.

I think I'd prefer to have the team set up in a way that maximises the amount he can influence games successfully, rather than trying to play to the hypothetical strengths of a young lad who's still got a lot of development to do.

O'Hare has been ineffective against Birmingham, Swansea and Millwall. I noted a couple of occasions on Saturday he got into good positions, but was not given the ball. I like it when he wins the ball against unaware opponents, but I am not sure he's quite right for his current role/this formation.

 

[KMC-1889]

If you mean Peck, then yes, absolutely.

However, the longer he's asked to play as the 1 in a 4-1-5 formation under a coach he clearly is out of his depth, then it's not going to help his development.

I think a bit more experienced layer like Davies would look at the situation he’s been left in and be a bit more conservative in his positioning and ‘do a job’. Unfortunately Sydie is 20 and is in the process of learning that lesson.

It’s really starting to look like it’s O’Hare OR Hamer in this system. Shoving either one out wide exposes the full backs and you can’t have them both roaming from the middle.

Assuming Soumare is integrated into the first team as a regular this will help Peck massively.

 

[Tarqs]

O'Hare has been ineffective against Birmingham, Swansea and Millwall. I noted a couple of occasions on Saturday he got into good positions, but was not given the ball. I like it when he wins the ball against unaware opponents, but I am not sure he's quite right for his current role/this formation.

Not sure you can blame him for getting into good positions and not being given the ball

 

[Bergen Blade]

Not sure you can blame him for getting into good positions and not being given the ball

It was an attempt to show recognition for some of the things he did well, even if there was little that came from it and me concluding we need a change in midfield.