When we don't win at the football

[Willie Carlin]

We’re making a right Horlicks of it. Second in league, most wins and third highest scorers.

 

[BushBlade]

Completely agree, how often we forget where we thought we'd finish this and last season.

We aren't naive enough to predict we'll finish 1st, yet every time we drop points we are shocked about our deficiencies.

If we dominated for the 90 and created 20 chances people would still be straight on here praying for a big January budget because 'we aren't good enough'.

For what, the title? Who thought we were or should be?

Some people like to try to show how clever they are by analysing the game and pretending they’re Gary Neville. Some are better than others.

It was a bit frustrating. By half time we were playing well and it looked like we were going to go on and win. We didn’t. It would have been a great game for a neutral but I’m not a neutral so I’m a little annoyed, because I hate seeing my team lose. We’re still second though, just need to pick up again against Stoke.

 

[SB_90]

I was thinking about This while reading the forum that this team reminds me alot of jurgen klopp 1st 2 years. Because they punched above weight alot & it made up for quality difference but as soon they dropped that intensity or played 80% they usually came unstyck because individuals are good enough on paper to go toe to toe as equals

 

[Carlton Blade]

We are a lower mid table quality squad (Not team, our first XI is better) with a great system and a great manager.

Not sure where that gets us but if we are 5% off our best against the better teams we can't quite beat them

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Last season off the top of my head...

Middlesbrough Home
Wolves Home
Derby Home

This season it’s all TBC, we’ve beaten Norwich.

See post #14 and #17.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

As I've mentioned in another thread, the international break was a factor in our performance last night. When our momentum gets disrupted it seems to always affect us. I think we have dropped points every game post-international break (and we always start the seasons slow, which is another indicator that we are a side that doesnt respond kindly to breaks).

I'm not saying it's an excuse, as we need to address this. But I think it's definitely a factor.

 

[Houston_Blade]

When we aren't quite up to standard why is it always because Wilder's fucked up, or the players couldn't be arsed?

When a defeat comes along it's suddenly proof of how we're not quite good enough yet, or how we're inconsistent? Forget the four game winning streak, that's irrelevant.

In games like yesterday when we got put on the back foot in the second half, it's usually because they're all unfit. Everyone knows we generally fade in the second half and struggle to impact the game. A very true statement if you ignore most of our victories this season.

In my opinion it was a good game of football where we dominated a top side at home. That side then came out in the second half and really came at us, like I'd expect of a good home side.

We lost the game because we failed to completely dominate one of the better teams in this league away from home for 90 minutes.

But I suppose the unfit thing makes more sense.

Well said that man. It’s much easier to moan like fuck and blame someone though. Just a shame Lundstram didn’t get on the pitch as the reason for the loss has taken a bit more thought this time.

 

[bromtom]

When we aren't quite up to standard why is it always because Wilder's fucked up, or the players couldn't be arsed?

When a defeat comes along it's suddenly proof of how we're not quite good enough yet, or how we're inconsistent? Forget the four game winning streak, that's irrelevant.

In games like yesterday when we got put on the back foot in the second half, it's usually because they're all unfit. Everyone knows we generally fade in the second half and struggle to impact the game. A very true statement if you ignore most of our victories this season.

In my opinion it was a good game of football where we dominated a top side at home. That side then came out in the second half and really came at us, like I'd expect of a good home side.

We lost the game because we failed to completely dominate one of the better teams in this league away from home for 90 minutes.

But I suppose the unfit thing makes more sense.

Think we are possibly good enough to get out of this league, I don't think the players were tired or lazy, I don't think I'm Gary Neville, I do think it was quite clear that we sat off them though in the second half.

I just don't think Derby were good enough to get us down to 20-odd% possession which is what popped up on the TV after 15/20 minutes of the second half.

It was a bit Fulham away last season to me, and Derby aren't Fulham from last season good.

 

[super_pig]

Yes, I was there. We played 80mins (including injury time) against 10 men. They were still the better team for periods and missed a penalty to make it 1-1.

It was a serious question, honestly asked. I didn't ask "Why aren't we beating the top 6 teams regularly?", which would've better tied in with your response. Since asking, I've checked and the answer is wolves at home last season, Leeds away last year and Boro at home last year. The reason why I asked the question was to see if we 'froze' when we played them.

I'll criticise CW if I think he's making mistakes that a manager of his ability, experience and resources shouldn't be making.

you’re missing the point mate..
‘nobody’ in the top 6 are beating top 6 teams regularly and from what i’ve seen nobody will
this league is pretty even this season
think about it

 

[super_pig]

We are a lower mid table quality squad (Not team, our first XI is better) with a great system and a great manager.

Not sure where that gets us but if we are 5% off our best against the better teams we can't quite beat them

true
but doesn’t that apply to everyone?
we need to be 5% off on fwere occasions than the others then .. consistency is key

 

[Carlton Blade]

true
but doesn’t that apply to everyone?
we need to be 5% off on fwere occasions than the others then .. consistency is key

I think if you have a better overall squad and proven individual goal creators - WBA are the best example - you can be a bit off your game and still win against the better teams. I love how we play but most of our goals involve 4 or 5 players contributing. It becomes harder to score if we aren't quite at it.

And our football while trying to play on the back foot is truly awful. We can't defend deep and we go far too direct/aimless with the ball.

I think our biggest issues are the drop off from first XI to the rest of the squad and the lack of variety in our play. Our plan A is excellent but we don't have the squad options to do it differently. Our only ever slightly effective plan B was Hanson for 8 games in L1.

I'm not saying we are a bad team. We are fantastic when we play well. But we aren't able to hold that level for 90 mins, never mind 46 games. Therefore, mid table. But Wilder earns us a good bump up

 

[wizadry]

People ask questions as to why we’ve been beaten shocker, it’s hardly earth shattering.

Don’t ask the questions and you don’t get the answers, I’m sure that will achieve everything we need.

It’s a football forum, not the Houses of Parliament.

 

[Tom Bott]

A honest question, that hopefully someone can answer. How many times have we beaten a top 6 side in the championship in the one and a bit seasons we've been in it? I suspect that the answer is none, and there must be a reason for that.

Just Derby, Norwich, Wolves, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Forest and Villa.

Bristol City have been in the top 6 so add them ?

Easy to forget wins after a loss.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017–18_Sheffield_United_F.C._season

 

[Stretch]

Yes, I was there. We played 80mins (including injury time) against 10 men. They were still the better team for periods and missed a penalty to make it 1-1.

It was a serious question, honestly asked. I didn't ask "Why aren't we beating the top 6 teams regularly?", which would've better tied in with your response. Since asking, I've checked and the answer is wolves at home last season, Leeds away last year and Boro at home last year. The reason why I asked the question was to see if we 'froze' when we played them.

I'll criticise CW if I think he's making mistakes that a manager of his ability, experience and resources shouldn't be making.

Not wanting to be pedantic but we beat Derby at home too, and they finished 6th.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Just Derby, Norwich, Wolves, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Forest and Villa.

Bristol City have been in the top 6 so add them ?

Easy to forget wins after a loss.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017–18_Sheffield_United_F.C._season

See post #14, #17 and #35.

My memory isn't selective. All I remember is getting dry bummed by fulham x2 and wolves away, losing to villa at home last season, the 1st 12 minutes at villa away when the sky was falling in and losing to cardiff away & boro away. Nothing else, none of the wins.

 

[dc_blade]

The way people react to football results is basically irrational. It's not actually a reasoned reflection on the match itself or what it says about the team's future prospects. I think most people are using the football to process their feelings about other things in their life, subconsciously. Especially those for whom any criticism of the team is totally unacceptable, and those for whom any setback at all signifies total disaster.

It's like transference, with Chris Wilder and Kevin McCabe standing in for the therapist.

 

[BushBlade]

The way people react to football results is basically irrational. It's not actually a reasoned reflection on the match itself or what it says about the team's future prospects. I think most people are using the football to process their feelings about other things in their life, subconsciously. Especially those for whom any criticism of the team is totally unacceptable, and those for whom any setback at all signifies total disaster.

It's like transference, with Chris Wilder and Kevin McCabe standing in for the therapist.

I’m happy when we win, pissed off when we lose. I don’t consider that to be irrational.