Wilder got it right today.

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

A couple of points.

Firstly, wilder and holding both said Luton caught them out with their formation and that’s we changed it at half time (and it worked).

Secondly, personally I’d rather keep the same formation but change the personnel, ie start with Choudry and Davis , then bring Souza and Peck on later. Having said that, I’m not a multi promotion winning manager.

And on the subject of squad rotation, I’m think I’m right in saying Farke likes to work with a small squad, similar to Bielsa. Hopefully this means we might see a drop of in their form as they tire at the end of the season like last time we were both going for promotion.

 

[loveWalrusDaveTheBlade]

Coz apparently we don't want a consistently cohesive team , in which the players all know their roles instinctively and know where their teammates will be.
A team that , quoting CW , "smashes everything in front of it".

We'd prefer to completely change , from Sat to Wed , then again from Wed to Sat , so we can struggle against the bottom club , a disjointed mess that can't keep the ball or construct any chances , with players looking like they just met on the coach down.

Only saved by the profligacy of the opposition strikers and the manager at HT changing it to (almost) what he should have started with.

A decent case could be made for Sectioning CW with just the evidence of his decisions in the last 3 games.

Looking at the chances Pompey & Luton had , does anyone think that if they'd taken just a few , we have the goalscoring ability to pull a game around from 0-2 down.

I know someone here say "we won and that's all that counts".
But it's not.
Coz winning on the basis of Pompey & Luton method just puts us closer to the PL where we'll be eviscerated.

Think of the number of chances we've conceded v Pompey & Luton.
Double it , to take account of facing PL teams attacking us instead.
Then apply the conversion rate of PL strikers.
You're now back to 0-8 v Barcodes.

If scraping wins in shit fashion in our league is your thing , why do you want promotion gained by that method ?

I get where you are coming from, and I think that most would agree that our recent set - ups and performance levels would receive a real tonking in the Premier League.

However, I think that conflating promotion from the Championship and Premier League survival is like trying to compare apples with pears. If you look at the last six clubs to be promoted from the Championship - some of whom played superb Championship football - it’s looking very likely that all six will be relegated in their first season. What is needed to survive in the Premier League is very different to what is needed to get promotion from the Championship.

Ironically, we were one of very few teams to break that mould when promoted to the Premier League last time under Wilder. But it was paper thin, as the facts of the following season showed us.

Our current objective is to get promoted from the Championship. Wilder has done a fantastic job on this so far, by any standard. However, we remain a long way short of achieving that goal, and must remain fully focused on that. That means employing tactics that work against Championship teams ( with all their limitations), and in managing and marshalling our still limited resources to that effect. We shouldn’t be worried about anything else.

It’s still a very big IF, but if we do get promoted, then it’s at that time that a major reset will be needed. The tactics will need to change to address the completely different challenges of the Premier League. Our squad will need a complete overhaul - the current squad is nowhere near the required standard, and only a few of the individual players are. We will need a different of level of investment ( and I think this may now be possible) and a much better organised and equipped approach to recruitment.

The point I’m trying to make is that I don’t think many teams can practise this successfully in the Championship. The Premier League is a different game, at a different level, and requires a different approach enabled by different financial circumstances. We can only worry about that if and when we get there. Interesting times to be a Blade.

 

[Bladezz]

The choice was TD.

But you know TD wouldn’t be anywhere near able to play 90 minutes.

 

[GymClassHero]

Booker4 , i like Wilder - he has overseen a wonderful output so far , by hook or by crook . He is clearly a good man manager and pulls the squad together well - but - i think the quality of the Prem, and the broad technical skills required of the mangers / coaches / club infrastructure - has moved on so much over the last 3 / 4 years and i don`t think Wilder has what is required to make a fist of it in that environment if we go up.

For one , i think his recruitment in the lower leagues has been great , but the recruitment required to sustain a Premier League place , with new owners who will have higher expectations than the Prince is beyond Wilder IMO . Plus , will he be happy to play a part rather than be the main man , in the running of and the recruitment of players etc - on a wider platform.

I think his tactical awareness is quite basic - his decision making (see above re recruitment - even this season and recently) is questionable - IMO.

He is a really good , up and at em Bladey Blade manager and this endears him to nearly everyone. But .....not for the Prem if we want to get a foothold - IMO

I agree with a lot of this, but I genuinely believe Wilder has the ability to manage at PL level, if he's willing to broaden his horizons. The days of the managers choosing the exact players to buy are gone. All of the clubs that have recently managed to become established in the PL (Brighton, Bournemouth etc) have a team of staff dedicated to supporting the manager when it comes to transfers. Wilder would identify which areas need improving and they will draw up a shortlist of players that fit that criteria.

The only other recurring issue re Wilder is his stubbornness at times. His refusal to deviate from his original winning formula with the overlapping CB's ended up costing us.

If he can work on these two things I don't see a reason why he can't be successful.

 

[Bladesman]

I’ve been today…it wasn’t great but we won. Luton have been missing 3 or 4 key players recently but they all played today and they played more like the team we saw last season. We dug in when we had to and created good chances when we managed to play our fluent football. I can’t get my head round the number of entitled fans we have created over the last couple of seasons who expect us to just roll up like Liverpool or Madrid and steam roll every team, home or away. We sit top of the league, most wins in the whole EFL, a fantastic team spirit, some great individual players, fantastic young academy players, and new owners who appear to want to back the club financially.
Take a step back….look at the big picture…enjoy the ride…..and stop fucking moaning for the sake of it

Not entitled but if fans think the first half was shit, then it was shit. So was the pompey match. We showed how good we can be on Wednesday and fans expect similar performances every game. I get the rotating of the team but this B team that we have played is totally disjointed to the point that Pompey and Luton missed some absolute sitters.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

I think Wilder took a gamble with the line up against Luton and fortunately for us and him it paid off. I fear he wont give up on the Hamza / Vini partnership which might cost us at some point. Hopefully, we will see a team akin to Boro against Leeds Monday-week.

 

[Andy67]

Why do people say stuff just to be antagonistic?

He just clearly got it wrong, as he has in many games this year, but sometimes the quality of our players gets us through games.

If you’re posting this you’re just trolling what’s the point? Just to get some reactions?

Oh bollocks, it worked

Essentially he picks a team he thinks will get him a result. Injuries and strains are limiting him at the minute as we all find out in due course. The fans just play a team without due consideration to what the outcome of the previous game (injuries and how long they are going to impact us)

 

[CaptainMorgans]

So you would pick the same team week in week out and play your best players all the time? Without Gus we lose a hell of a lot of guile and skill in the central areas so Chris (knowing what was coming from Luton), made us solid to cut out the bombardment, and yes Luton had a couple of chances but we got through a tough first half.
He has got a good squad together and is using them all wisely and anyone who can't see that is a fool!

They launched balls into us we needed to go as big as possible.

Second half we had to match them.

The tactical tweak and subs were perfect. He won us the match today was excellent.

We didn't stop them from launching balls into the box though? In fact, they played us off the park in the first half..

Adebayo missed a header in front of goal and later on a volley from 5 yards out.
They also hit the bar and had a decent chance with half the goal open.
Their front two totally bullied our defenders.
If any of those goes in, you're not saying "Wilder got it right." The reality was - Wilder got lucky.

In the middle of the park, Choudhury and Souza gave us no control again.
We couldn't advance the ball up the pitch. We created 0.1 XG in the first half. The first "chance" took 44 mins to arrive.

We were playing bottom of the league.

It's great that we've won again.
I'm shocked that the results and performances aren't aligning, but I don't think it's down to any clever tactics.

We've got good players at the top of the pitch that are more likely to score than the opposition... and that fact continuously bails us out.

Wilder got it wrong.
Wilder course-corrected at HT and we got away with it.

 

[wadblade]

Booker4 , i like Wilder - he has overseen a wonderful output so far , by hook or by crook . He is clearly a good man manager and pulls the squad together well - but - i think the quality of the Prem, and the broad technical skills required of the mangers / coaches / club infrastructure - has moved on so much over the last 3 / 4 years and i don`t think Wilder has what is required to make a fist of it in that environment if we go up.

For one , i think his recruitment in the lower leagues has been great , but the recruitment required to sustain a Premier League place , with new owners who will have higher expectations than the Prince is beyond Wilder IMO . Plus , will he be happy to play a part rather than be the main man , in the running of and the recruitment of players etc - on a wider platform.

I think his tactical awareness is quite basic - his decision making (see above re recruitment - even this season and recently) is questionable - IMO.

He is a really good , up and at em Bladey Blade manager and this endears him to nearly everyone. But .....not for the Prem if we want to get a foothold - IMO

I support the management team as they are def getting more right than wrong

But should not the criticisms you make be aimed at AK rather than CW as from what I understand AK does the tactics

 

[Bell4]

I think Wilder took a gamble with the line up against Luton and fortunately for us and him it paid off. I fear he wont give up on the Hamza / Vini partnership which might cost us at some point. Hopefully, we will see a team akin to Boro against Leeds Monday-week.

As NJ points out

With a full squad to pick from agains Leeds - let’s see what CWs attitude is based on that line up

Be very interesting

 

[TJ blade]

Your username is embarrassing you div. Get your head out of Wilders arse and realise we have been incredibly lucky today. Exactly the same as Portsmouth. Two games we should have lost with Wilders inept team selections, but somehow we have gained 6 points. Im as delighted as anyone but with everything a tad some common sense is required. Can’t see us getting top 2 but feel free to quote me. Take the points etc and UTB

This as got porky pig wrote all over it

 

[moody1889]

Wilder seems to set up to our opponents strengths instead of them worrying about our set up but points win prizes and so far wilders doing the business can’t argue with that be interesting the team selection for the weeds

We will be embarrassed again in the Premier League if he sets us up like thay and worrying about the opposition.

 

[nopigfansintown]

We're still threadbare and firefighting yet still winning. CW clearly didn't wan't to risk TD - even off the bench (that's your Peck replacement). Cannon, Hamer, Seriki, Arblaster and Moore are injured; Peck, Burrows and O'Hare are winded (clearly impacting Burrows last few performances imo). I highly doubt Holding is ready for 90. This is why you don't build a squad in January! I bet if you asked the management him they'd rather have rested Vini too (just been out injured and three games in a few days). Still won mind. Luton have the players to be a lot higher in the league. They are the biggest underachievers. It's not a big surprise that they showed something.


In my experience this is the worst fanbase we've ever had. If we get promoted and we are near the bottom in November (Harry Potter would have us there btw) it'll be... "Wilder ahhht". Mark my words. That's who we are now.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Is this not toxic at the minute. We are winning c.70% of games and it seems that unless we play like prime Barca there is a significant portion of the fanbase who only want to criticise Wilder and certain players.
I dread to think what it would be like if we were mid table and that result had gone the other way.
I will never be embarrassed to be a Blade (even last year), but some "fans" on here are unrealistic and would be slated if we saw Weds fans behaving this way on porktalk.
I thought it was the prem I was over, however the more I read the shit about Wilder on here after the season he is giving us, I think it's just how footy is going in general that makes me a grumpy old man..........though one happy the Blades are top of the league

Yes, sadly it is toxic at the moment. But my point is that this is nothing compared to how toxic it will be if we go up and struggle next season. Which is why, in my opinion, he shouldn’t have been brought back. He divides the fans. He might have felt he had unfinished business but so what, that shouldn’t have counted for anything and the fans had long since moved on from him. He will need to keep us in the PL next season to win over most of the doubters. If he doesn’t, he will be gone anyway.

 

[Bell4]

Yes, sadly it is toxic at the moment. But my point is that this is nothing compared to how toxic it will be if we go up and struggle next season. Which is why, in my opinion, he shouldn’t have been brought back. He divides the fans. He might have felt he had unfinished business but so what, that shouldn’t have counted for anything and the fans had long since moved on from him. He will need to keep us in the PL next season to win over most of the doubters. If he doesn’t, he will be gone anyway.

I don’t think it’s toxic tbh .

Yes the results are great , no doubt, but the fans aren’t blind or stupid . It seems week after week the opposition fans are left scratching their heads at how a team in the top 2 play so poorly - most of them go on to say that the performance against us is their best so far and they missed a hatful . Don’t know about their performances because obviously I don’t watch the opposition - but I do know that indeed they have missed sitters and we are walking a fine line . Why should people who can see this and then go on to post about their concerns be deemed negative and not unitedites? .

CW has done a good job to get us where we are but our displays on the whole have been turgid and I and many others think he has contributed to this - he’s been lucky , Swansea - Luton Portsmouth to name 3 recently, could and should have been out of sight .

Respected posters such as Deadbat and Roy have seen this and report what they see - nothing wrong with this .

 

[Nick Jansky]

I don’t think it’s toxic tbh .

Yes the results are great , no doubt, but the fans aren’t blind or stupid . It seems week after week the opposition fans are left scratching their heads at how a team in the top 2 play so poorly - most of them go on to say that the performance against us is their best so far and they missed a hatful . Don’t know about their performances because obviously I don’t watch the opposition - but I do know that indeed they have missed sitters and we are walking a fine line . Why should people who can see this and then go on to post about their concerns be deemed negative and not unitedites? .

CW has done a good job to get us where we are but our displays on the whole have been turgid and I and many others think he has contributed to this - he’s been lucky , Swansea - Luton Portsmouth to name 3 recently, could and should have been out of sight .

Respected posters such as Deadbat and Roy have seen this and report what they see - nothing wrong with this .

I agree with all of this. But it is toxic because we are sitting at the top of the league and a debate has been raging about the manager which shouldn’t be the case and probably wouldn’t be with any other manager without the history, good and bad. I’m not seeing too many balanced views on either side of the debate. I don’t think that’s going to change as long as he’s here, Under the new ownership I do think he’ll be gone before 2026 rolls around, and I hope that everyone can then move on & get behind whatever project comes next.

 

[Bell4]

I agree with all of this. But it is toxic because we are sitting at the top of the league and a debate has been raging about the manager which shouldn’t be the case and probably wouldn’t be with any other manager without the history, good and bad. I’m not seeing too many balanced views on either side of the debate. I don’t think that’s going to change as long as he’s here, Under the new ownership I do think he’ll be gone before 2026 rolls around, and I hope that everyone can then move on & get behind whatever project comes next.

Agree re your point about discussions re the manager when we’re where we are - says a lot doesn’t it .

Maybe it’s the pressure getting to him ? Safety first approach rather than the swashbuckling front foot approach of yesteryear .

Anyhow , good luck to him and I hope he continues with the luck he’s having at the moment - as you say - our lineup and formation against Leeds , where he will have a full squad to choose from will say a lot

 

[Nick Jansky]

Agree re your point about discussions re the manager when we’re where we are - says a lot doesn’t it .

Maybe it’s the pressure getting to him ? Safety first approach rather than the swashbuckling front foot approach of yesteryear .

Anyhow , good luck to him and I hope he continues with the luck he’s having at the moment - as you say - our lineup and formation against Leeds , where he will have a full squad to choose from will say a lot

Yes, I think the approach v Leeds is going to make a lot of minds up, including mine.

 

[loveWalrusDaveTheBlade]

Yes, I think the approach v Leeds is going to make a lot of minds up, including mine.

We've seen a great deal of Wilder's decision making over several seasons. It seems odd to me that you would choose to make up your mind on the basis of a team selection for a single game.
Not getting my excuses in early, by the way - I will be very disappointed if he doesn't go with the obvious starting eleven already listed in Bell 4's thread.
However, I personally prefer to make a judgement based on the full available data set, rather than a single point.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

As NJ points out

With a full squad to pick from agains Leeds - let’s see what CWs attitude is based on that line up

Be very interesting

Genuine question do you remember how we played in the Bashams arriving game? I don't. I do remember how we won.

 

[Nick Jansky]

We've seen a great deal of Wilder's decision making over several seasons. It seems odd to me that you would choose to make up your mind on the basis of a team selection for a single game.
Not getting my excuses in early, by the way - I will be very disappointed if he doesn't go with the obvious starting eleven already listed in Bell 4's thread.
However, I personally prefer to make a judgement based on the full available data set, rather than a single point.

As I’ve said elsewhere, I will judge based on what I see now, not on what I saw a few years ago. I’ve seen a pattern in how we’ve set up against stronger sides this season (Boro last week being a welcome exception) which hasn’t worked & I don’t rate it. It also fills me with horror at what might happen in the PL next season, if we’re there. So yes, how we set up v Leeds at home will inform my opinions. I have my fears but hope to be pleasantly surprised. My opinion is that we should take the game to Leeds and let them worry about us.

 

[Carlton Blade]

United have been a tough watch at times this season. 30+ games in and I'm not 100% sure we are a lot further along in a plan of how to attack on a consistent basis than we were in August.

Overall, it's been a great short term rebuild and we are well in the race. I'd just like to have seen some more evidence of looking at the attacking strengths of the squad and having things in place to get the best players the ball where they can do the most damage on a much more consistent basis.

I'm sure wanting to watch fast, direct, aggressive attacking football makes me entitled but

 

[robbiez666]

Wilder has to be the luckiest manager around. He regularly sets us up completely wrong but gets away with it and can change it at half time.

 

[loveWalrusDaveTheBlade]

Wilder has to be the luckiest manager around. He regularly sets us up completely wrong but gets away with it and can change it at half time.

Why can he change it at half time?

Is it because he has assembled an excellent squad through a comprehensive rebuild, and is using this to its maximum effect?

 

[Norwood's 6 iron]

If we go up i would replace Wilder immediately

Who with?

 

[GymClassHero]

Why can he change it at half time?

Is it because he has assembled an excellent squad through a comprehensive rebuild, and is using this to its maximum effect?

Yes he has and I recognize and applaud this rebuilding job he has done.

Doesn't change the fact that he got it wrong and needed to apply fairly significant changes at half time.

 

[loveWalrusDaveTheBlade]

Yes he has and I recognize and applaud this rebuilding job he has done.

Doesn't change the fact that he got it wrong and needed to apply fairly significant changes at half time.

So can we agree, then, that he got it right over the course of 90 minutes ( the period over which the match is judged, and the three points were won) using the resources that he had assembled during his exceptional rebuilding job, and managing those resources to minimise risk of burnout and injury, to best prepare us for the remaining challenge ahead?

 

[GymClassHero]

So can we agree, then, that he got it right over the course of 90 minutes ( the period over which the match is judged, and the three points were won) using the resources that he had assembled during his exceptional rebuilding job, and managing those resources to minimise risk of burnout and injury, to best prepare us for the remaining challenge ahead?

Unfortunately not but we can agree he got the first half wrong and rectified it in the second half, and he got the right result - fair I'd say?

I'm far from a Wilder basher... Got huge admiration and gratitude to him and always will for what he's done but he has been making glaringly obvious mistakes lately. Fair enough for him to play Choudhary and Souza together vs Portsmouth - we all saw it didn't work so why try the exact same thing again?

The definition of insanity is repeating the same mistake and expecting a different outcome. Not for one minute suggesting Wilder is nuts but he can be a stubborn fucker.

 

[finlaytheblade]

I need Bergen Blade on this to confirm my suspicions. But I think Luton caught us out today by playing two up front and we set up for them playing one.

Yep I think you are right! Also you don't expect a team who have slipped to the bottom of the league taking just 2 points from last 9 games coming out firing on all cylinders ! As CW said they were really up for it having there strongest team available gave them a lift.
We won the game credit to us.