Wtf is our midfield?

[bromtom]

That's just it though. A good manager plays a style and system to get the best out of what he's got. So far he's doing the precise opposite. You can't impose a style and system on players that will never be capable of it. Management 101. If he's looked at and thought "how do I build a team around Burke's strengths" he's asking the wrong question.

The best of what we've got would be 352/532 which we were absolutely dog shit at last season, surely you've got to try something different.

Desperate for a decent CB on the left for me, I think 4 could work if we had confidence in our left hand side. Robinson slows everything down because he's scared and can't get back quick enough if something he tries doesn't come off, and the LB situation is unclear, RND looked off it against Carlisle and doesn't know the team, Stevens is crocked, Lowe is weak defensively, and Osborn is unpredictable.

 

[nopigfansintown]

The best of what we've got would be 352/532 which we were absolutely dog shit at last season, surely you've got to try something different.

Desperate for a decent CB on the left for me, I think 4 could work if we had confidence in our left hand side. Robinson slows everything down because he's scared and can't get back quick enough if something he tries doesn't come off, and the LB situation is unclear, RND looked off it against Carlisle and doesn't know the team, Stevens is crocked, Lowe is weak defensively, and Osborn is unpredictable.

The only defender who can play in a four comfortably is Egan imo. The rest are square pegs in round holes. Our forward line (bar Burke) are all suited to a two, with the possible exception of Jebbo and Mcburnie who may suit the central striker in a three. All our midfielders suit a three. So the one player that unequivocally suits this system is Burke. The player that I'd least want to build the side around. You're right about last season, yet our problems were similar: we didn't have the players to revolutionise our style.

Slav's choices are threefold imo:
1) Smash the lot up and bring in 6-8 new players to impose his favoured style.
2) Bring in two or three and play the back three (LCB, midfielder(s) ).
3)Carry on as he is and get the bullet around Christmas time when the board panics.

 

[Andy67]

I think his sister Cindy Berge was playing today!

Chris De Berge

 

[Jacobsenthecrab]

Slavs reign is going to be a disaster if we expect him to deliver with none of the tools to play how he wants to play.

2 creative midfielders / wide forwards are require at a minimum.

Or revert to a back 5/3 and coach them to improve, can’t see us bringing the 5 or 6 players in that are needed to change formation so we need to make the most of what we’ve got.
Evolution not revolution was quoted when Slav signed, seems we’ve gone for the latter and everyone can see it won’t work with this group of players.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Where’s the 7th C

I think the issue is is that we don’t have any decent midfielders other than Berge.

Yeah, when Berge actually gets on ball you can see his shoulders sink when he looks round to sees his teammates stood in wank positions and not really showing for the ball. The occasional runs he makes from midfield seem to be born out of frustration than anything else.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

That's just it though. A good manager plays a style and system to get the best out of what he's got. So far he's doing the precise opposite. You can't impose a style and system on players that will never be capable of it. Management 101. If he's looked at and thought "how do I build a team around Burke's strengths" he's asking the wrong question.

I genuinely don’t think you can blame Slav though. You don’t employ a guy and tell him how to play.

We might have got a couple more points if he’d trotted out the same formation but it’s Not who he is or what he does as a manager.

it’s akin to replacing the head chef of a sushi restaurant with a French chef. He might be able to knock something out but it’s not going to be as good as he can do, and it’ll be worse than the last guys version.

we have to give him some tools for the job (some attacking flair and creativity) and we should have given him more of a preseason given he’s a slow starter and trying to get a new style across

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

Or revert to a back 5/3 and coach them to improve, can’t see us bringing the 5 or 6 players in that are needed to change formation so we need to make the most of what we’ve got.
Evolution not revolution was quoted when Slav signed, seems we’ve gone for the latter and everyone can see it won’t work with this group of players.

He would say evolution otherwise it would’ve destroyed any team morale that was left. He knew revolution was needed, like all of us, hence wanting 5 new players as he has recently now stated.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Or revert to a back 5/3 and coach them to improve, can’t see us bringing the 5 or 6 players in that are needed to change formation so we need to make the most of what we’ve got.
Evolution not revolution was quoted when Slav signed, seems we’ve gone for the latter and everyone can see it won’t work with this group of players.

That’s surely only a short term thing. If that was what was required then heckingbottom should have been given the job.

Give the man the tools for the job at hand, that’s the only way you can judge his reign.

don’t give a man who plays 4 at the back only one centreback capable of playing in that formation.

Don’t give a Man that’s used formations with wingers/wide forwards and creative midfielders a squad without anything like that type of player. He’s having to employ centreforwards out of position as that’s all we have available.

the squad has been (poorly) constructed for one way of playing so we need to give him some time abs signings before you can judge the job he’s doing

 

[Bladesthorpe]

Saw Basham skip past of their players a couple of times last night then realise he wasn't supposed to do that so he got rid of the ball and ran back to his defensive position.
I can't understand why the system has to be so rigid, let the players have a little license to express themselves.

 

[blades14]

I can’t understand how the club or the recruitment team hasn’t addresses the need for a creative midfielder? It’s quite concerning tbh and I don’t even think we will get one in before the transfer window shuts.

 

[blade13]

Wow. Have I accidentally logged onto amateur dramatics or timetravelled to Pigstalk 5 years ago. Some of the noise is embarrassing. We are not the massive, and tbh most of my Blades watching life has been about disappointment. I’ve enjoyed the Wilder years, and who knows given time I may enjoy Slavs. Some people really do seem to have expected us to win every game because the Championship has no talent unlike the Premier League. I saw progress last night. Slav has a very unbalanced team, which is one of the reasons why we struggled last year. By all means be critical, there was lots wrong with last night. But also let’s be reasonable and balanced. Swansea finished 4th and Birmingham were the form team at the end of last season. We will take time to adjust, no VAR and no protection from referees.

 

[Stretch]

meh…

last good game at the Lane. Stevenage 2012??

plus Slavs played with 3 creative players before. Still leaves us 2 shirt even if freeman isn’t a busted flush

He was quality for QPR immediately before joining us, including a goal for them at the Lane when he just walked through half of our team and slotted it home.

We've broken him somehow.

 

[Snowflake]

Did you watch him tonight? He was garbage

Not in my opinion. He provided most of the few attacking surges that we had along with Brewster.

 

[wadblade]

Slav learnt he could not play Robinson and Osborn together in a back 4 , tick
he must now surely realise he cannt play Berg and Norwood together in midfield
i thought Burke was our best outlet. Billy was a positive and Brewster will be a plus this season
i believe Swansea will finish below both us and Birmingham
That on the last two performances we should cash in on Berg and Rammers both hardly toughed the ball and get the Aston Villa guy and bring in either Moore from Cardiff or Smith from Rovram and use Jebbison on loan as bait

 

[wadblade]

Saw Basham skip past of their players a couple of times last night then realise he wasn't supposed to do that so he got rid of the ball and ran back to his defensive position.
I can't understand why the system has to be so rigid, let the players have a little license to express themselves.

Yes this system will turn Bash into an ordinary player He will be gone in January to whatever team CW is managing

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

The midfield is void of any skill or creativity and this absolutely must be addressed. Slav wont be able to play how he wants to until we remedy and we will end up nowhere near the top end of the table.

There is no point in having a million strikers to pick from if we dont have midfielders that can create lots of chances for them.

 

[guancheblade]

He has, and its been sitting in Leeds self isolating before his reveal on Monday

Our midfield are not existent, surely after 2 games Slav can see that we’re crying out for some pace, and some creativity??

 

[Sharp as a blade]

This entire forum was lambasting wilder and Heckingbottom for not changing to 4 at the back because clearly 5 at the back wasn't working anymore.

Now we've played 4 at the back for 2 games and all of a sudden we need to revert back to a back 5.

Should we just change formation after every game we don't win?

 

[bypassblade]

Copy Wilder formation. It’s not that hard.

Oh yes we really reaped the benefits last season.

 

[Hillsboro Blade]

Wilder didn’t rate him, and it’s clear Slav doesn’t

Why the fuck did Wilder sign him if he didn’t rate him? Really fucks me off the money that bloke wasted.

 

[Bearlie]

Not in my opinion. He provided most of the few attacking surges that we had along with Brewster.

He was involved in one of the build ups and provided a cross ...that was about it

 

[AnstonBlade1]

Why the fuck did Wilder sign him if he didn’t rate him? Really fucks me off the money that bloke wasted.

Prior to joining us, he always looked a player to be fair. Sometimes some players just don’t work out. Don’t think he wants to be here to be honest.

 

[Ginger Gnome]

This entire forum was lambasting wilder and Heckingbottom for not changing to 4 at the back because clearly 5 at the back wasn't working anymore.

Now we've played 4 at the back for 2 games and all of a sudden we need to revert back to a back 5.

Should we just change formation after every game we don't win?

Sticking with 3 at the back so that we have wingbacks offering width until such time that we bring in players suited to a back four and have some attacking wide players to fit the manager's preferred system would make more sense than chaining the back four in their own half and plugging every gap on the pitch with a striker leaving us with no creativity.

The team selections so far have played to our weaknesses rather than our strengths.

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

1st match, a Loss at home,
2nd match, a draw away....
Surely, were improving.......

If we win the next one he'll be the best thing since sliced bread......

 

[nopigfansintown]

I genuinely don’t think you can blame Slav though. You don’t employ a guy and tell him how to play.

We might have got a couple more points if he’d trotted out the same formation but it’s Not who he is or what he does as a manager.

it’s akin to replacing the head chef of a sushi restaurant with a French chef. He might be able to knock something out but it’s not going to be as good as he can do, and it’ll be worse than the last guys version.

we have to give him some tools for the job (some attacking flair and creativity) and we should have given him more of a preseason given he’s a slow starter and trying to get a new style across

There is a geniune argument of "why bring in a manager with a history of playing this way without the players to do it". If I remember correctly the explanation from the CEO and owner and new manager was one of continuity, which we haven't seen.

The thesis of not having the players could've been used for Adkins's tenure or Robson's which shows our predicament.Wilder started his United tenure with 4-4-2 lest we forget.

As it is we have an extremely talented bunch for the league we are in and he has to find a way.If not he'll be down the road. I can't see them letting him do a Pep or Klopp where we don't achieve our goals for a year or two, but he keeps his job and sticks to his preferred style and formation whilst he evolves the squad. He has to find a way to get the best out of the squad THIS season. For what it's worth I think he'll get at least two of the players he wants next week. Hopefully in time for WBA.

 

[nopigfansintown]

This entire forum was lambasting wilder and Heckingbottom for not changing to 4 at the back because clearly 5 at the back wasn't working anymore.

Now we've played 4 at the back for 2 games and all of a sudden we need to revert back to a back 5.

Should we just change formation after every game we don't win?

Not the whole forum

 

[Bladeinleeds]

There is a geniune argument of "why bring in a manager with a history of playing this way without the players to do it". If I remember correctly the explanation from the CEO and owner and new manager was one of continuity, which we haven't seen.

The thesis of not having the players could've been used for Adkins's tenure or Robson's which shows our predicament.Wilder started his United tenure with 4-4-2 lest we forget.

As it is we have an extremely talented bunch for the league we are in and he has to find a way.If not he'll be down the road. I can't see them letting him do a Pep or Klopp where we don't achieve our goals for a year or two, but he keeps his job and sticks to his preferred style and formation whilst he evolves the squad. He has to find a way to get the best out of the squad THIS season. For what it's worth I think he'll get at least two of the players he wants next week. Hopefully in time for WBA.

I agree to a point, the squad contains some of the best footballers in the division. but the squad construction has been, to be blunt, absolutely crap. Like comically poor planning in the way it’s been assembled.

We’ve got like 8 forwards, 5 people who can play left back (more than our entire midfield options). One recognised centre back. And ZERO creativity. No wonder the price question what the heck wilder was doing with his transfer budget….

Slav is trying to change things up - but what are his options. He’s left playing Strikers out wide because that’s all he can do. He’s left shunting a stiker like mcgoldrick into midfield as he has no other options.

we can play one formation because we don’t have any attacking midfielders, any wingers or any wide forwards. What can he do? If you want to keep the squad as is, appoint hecky or Alan knill or someone who’s knows and wants to play that way! Otherwise let’s get the 4/5 players he wants in and see what he can do.

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

2 league matches in, 1 away point, and it hits the fan ?

Hardly fair is it, it's almost as if some want him to fail init .........

 

[nopigfansintown]

I agree to a point, the squad contains some of the best footballers in the division. but the squad construction has been, to be blunt, absolutely crap. Like comically poor planning in the way it’s been assembled.

We’ve got like 8 forwards, 5 people who can play left back (more than our entire midfield options). One recognised centre back. And ZERO creativity. No wonder the price question what the heck wilder was doing with his transfer budget….

Slav is trying to change things up - but what are his options. He’s left playing Strikers out wide because that’s all he can do. He’s left shunting a stiker like mcgoldrick into midfield as he has no other options.

we can play one formation because we don’t have any attacking midfielders, any wingers or any wide forwards. What can he do? If you want to keep the squad as is, appoint hecky or Alan knill or someone who’s knows and wants to play that way! Otherwise let’s get the 4/5 players he wants in and see what he can do.

His squad is more than adequate to have us in the promotion shake up with zero incomings imo. He wants to do it that way - I believe he'll get that chance.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

His squad is more than adequate to have us in the promotion shake up with zero incomings imo.

you’re probably right. As I say we have good players (albeit a midfield badly out of form).

my concern is where are the goals coming from… We’ve scored less than a goal a game for over 2 seasons now. When we had a cutting edge and could freely score we had Duffy orchestrating things, there is no equivalent here atm.

the squad as it stands will have a a lot of round pegs in square holes by nessecity. I don’t think a complete overhaul is required but we need 4/5 additions to freshen up an incredibly stale squad. Doesn’t even have to cost the earth, there are lots of loan options would improve us and improve the flexibility and the options at Slavs disposal.