Why are we scoring more this season?

[jono_t2000]

We seem to have developed a workable tactic from corners. .

I think when you strip everything back, this seems to be the biggest change.

Last season felt like never scored from a setpiece.

This season we're scoring plenty from either setpieces or recycled play after a setpiece.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I don’t think we’ve had an especially good way of playing or building attacks under Wilder since our over-lapping centre backs approach. The more time went on, the more it seemed we’d just caught lightning in a bottle with that. While I’m sure there’s more to it, the 4-2-3-1 we went with always just felt like more of an in-vogue formation to use more which allowed us to find roles for more creative players like Hamer and O’Hare than anything else. But we are actually looking like we may be getting back onto something recently. Would welcome @Bergen Blade’s views on this.

I agree with a lot of what's been said already.

If we forget about Selles; this is the period-based league table after 9 games (including the 1-3 defeat to Coventry) under Wilder:






Starting from the QPR game, this is the league table from then and up to now:






One key change is that Wilder finally realised Seriki should be brought back. He hadn't started a game since the opening day, but he's started every game since QPR. It meant Tanganga could return to his best position, following which we've looked more solid at the back - whoever Tanganga has partnered. Look at the goals conceded above! Seriki has been brilliant, adding so much to our attacking, and he's been so good for the right winger he's supported, Brooks and now also Chong.

While our attacking last season was a lot about giving it to Hamer in the last third, he's not played a big part this season due to his injury (again let's forget about what happened under Selles). While he's been out we've been forced to looking at different ways of creating chances. McCallum's had a good season and when Seriki also came into the team we've looked so much better down the flanks and we just look like having more strings to our bow now. With Hamer now also coming back things are really looking interesting, but it is very important we try to keep up the other stuff we've improved at while he's been out.

I also would like to highlight the value of us improving our set pieces. We're threatening more than we've done in a long time. Bindon's early goal was such a big help for us on Saturday.

 

[Need4speed]

I agree with a lot of what's been said already.

If we forget about Selles; this is the period-based league table after 9 games (including the 1-3 defeat to Coventry) under Wilder:



View attachment 227744


Starting from the QPR game, this is the league table from then and up to now:


View attachment 227743

View attachment 227745

One key change is that Wilder finally realised Seriki should be brought back. He hadn't started a game since the opening day, but he's started every game since QPR. It meant Tanganga could return to his best position, following which we've looked more solid at the back - whoever Tanganga has partnered. Look at the goals conceded above! Seriki has been brilliant, adding so much to our attacking, and he's been so good for the right winger he's supported, Brooks and now also Chong.

While our attacking last season was a lot about giving it to Hamer in the last third, he's not played a big part this season due to his injury (again let's forget about what happened under Selles). While he's been out we've been forced to looking at different ways of creating chances. McCallum's had a good season and when Seriki also came into the team we've looked so much better down the flanks and we just look like having more strings to our bow now. With Hamer now also coming back things are really looking interesting, but it is very important we try to keep up the other stuff we've improved at while he's been out.

I also would like to highlight the value of us improving our set pieces. We're threatening more than we've done in a long time. Bindon's early goal was such a big help for us on Saturday.

What impressed me about Seriki against Birmingham was his defensive discipline. For large parts of the match he operated as a conventional right back, getting forward to support the attack at the right times, rather than playing as a wingback who occasionally realises he is a defender. That has to be down to coaching as I guess for most of his time at the club he was being groomed as a wingback. If Seriki can continue like this we can play a back four and thus use the extra man up front. However I need to see this against a top team not a team with crap away form who are down to ten men.

 

[blades_95]

Echo what everyone has said & it’s really refreshing to see us playing with a bit of freedom and scoring good goals. It might be because the pressure’s off a little now but after a few seasons of promotion / relegation pressure, it’s enjoyable to go to games & watch your team have a go and entertain.

Set pieces is a big one though & it’s criminal we’ve neglected them for the past few seasons.

Last season our games were always tight and we scored relatively few goals, so I can’t understand not trying to gain an advantage from these situations - especially when we had Souttar & Moore! Leeds were notoriously bad at set pieces but scored from a corner to go ahead in both our games against them last season.

Then in the Prem where the quality gap is so hard to bridge, we should have been trying to make the most of set pieces - it’s now fashionable again and everyone is doing it at that level. Arsenal might win the title because they take a good corner!

 

[Servigliano]

Imho the answer is simple.
Last season Wilder had to stitch a team together out of virtually nothing and make do with what he he could get. And but for a dodgy VAR we'd have made it.
The same is true of his comeback - we now have have a proper No. 9 again and a midfield minder. Both are critical and solely due to Wilder being in charge.
He shapes his team around who he can get.
And he's bloody good at it.
Just don't give him big bucks to spend though! maybe...
I wonder where we'd be at if the Prince had had the dosh to land the players he really wanted after our Prem bash ie Watkins, Robinson (maybe he bought the wrong one...), Matty Cash and a midfielder whose name i forget.
Wilder ain't no dinosaur, he and Neill aren't tactically inept, the problem has been the lack of quality players.