A Nightmare on Jihadi John Street

[Mr. Chow 2,947]

I reckon about 8th at least they never look easily beaten and won’t concede many either 

[OxOwl 574]

I had them just above the relegation zone around this time. 

[Matt_1 3,596]

As long as we're doing OK, this tends not to bother me as much.

 

Last year with Jos was some of the darkest times.

 

This is annoying, but it doesn't ruin my weekends like the Jos era.

[SiJ 47,804]

20 minutes ago, Matt_1 said:

As long as we're doing OK, this tends not to bother me as much.

 

Last year with Jos was some of the darkest times.

 

This is annoying, but it doesn't ruin my weekends like the Jos era.

Same. 

 

It is a bit irritating, but we are doing pretty well. 

 

It is a bit bonkers to think that group of players are doing quite so well in the PL. 

 

Not sure what that says about the standard of the league as a whole, though you have to give massive credit to what Wilder is doing there. 

 

Like in the Championship, they don't really seem to fazed by anyone. 

[ronnie 682]

I wouldn't be surprised if they become the 1st team to beat Liverpool at Anfield this season, the way they are going.

[31Dec1966 3,193]

1 hour ago, SiJ said:

Same. 

 

It is a bit irritating, but we are doing pretty well. 

 

It is a bit bonkers to think that group of players are doing quite so well in the PL. 

 

Not sure what that says about the standard of the league as a whole, though you have to give massive credit to what Wilder is doing there. 

 

Like in the Championship, they don't really seem to fazed by anyone. 

It certainly is a bit bonkers. I bought the book about Wilder (a quid from a charity shop) for a Blade mate and read a few bits. The bit that struck me the most was where he said he never looked at a players value and told his players they were just as good as the opposition regardless of theor transfer worth. Reminded me of Ramsey picking the player who could do the best job in the team, not necessarily the best player. He instills belief in his players, goes out to win every game from the off, and treats his players like he treated them at Alfreton Town. Seems to be working dammit.

[MAL 5,470]

1 hour ago, SiJ said:

Same. 

 

It is a bit irritating, but we are doing pretty well. 

 

It is a bit bonkers to think that group of players are doing quite so well in the PL. 

 

Not sure what that says about the standard of the league as a whole, though you have to give massive credit to what Wilder is doing there. 

 

Like in the Championship, they don't really seem to fazed by anyone. 

 

Like i was saying before.

 

They don't play any NAME, they play the game they want to play.

 

Which is, attack the phuck out of teams, go for the win in every game, create chances and by statistics, the more you create the bigger chance to score, plus whilst they attack the other side are not, not Keeganesque though.

 

He brought in players that were in lower leagues, but he brought them in because they do have abilities he can work with.

 

They have either or all of the good things, main one being quick thinking, whether that is with or without the ball, they know where to pass when they have it, they know where to go or cover when they don't, they don't tippy tap it about much, they move it quickly.

 

They can control a ball, they can run "Forward" with the ball, they can pass a ball, they can find space to receive a ball.

 

They might not be "the best" at them, but put it all together and it works a treat, he doesn't have posers.

 

 

 

 

[beswetherick 4,065]

I fúcking hate Sheffield United

 

That is all

[scram 21,436]

They're currently trading well on the old maxim of a Burnley type of team

 

"hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard"

 

I'm not sure Wilder is the type of manager who can step up from this level - maybe he is - but i have similar thoughts about Dyche and Howe for eg

 

maybe they are in their optimal niche - and thats perhaps best for them - to create positions where they are so revered they almost become untouchable

 

Rather than risk moving up a level (in club stature at least) and finding it's not working out

 

 

[Dronfield Blue 11,449]

Their next two away games are City and Liverpool, I'm a City fan and a scouser for a week or two. Surely they won't get anything there?

 

I'm going for a 9th or 10th spot finish for them.

 

What they have got is a 100% work rate and commitment, and a belief/confidence that drives them on every week. It will be interesting if they loose a few to see how they react to that.

 

It sticks in my throat, but, Wilder has got a very good performing team from a very average bunch of players.

 

Bast*rd

[TheEnchanter 21,935]

They're doing ridiculously well and my blunt mates are somehow managaing to remain civil about it. I think they're just as shocked. It is sickening to see however I'll be there to smile when they start collapsing. Whether its this season or the next. We'll all be there laughing. 

[Guest The Horse]

11 hours ago, scram said:

"hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard"

 

This.

I don't think many Prem teams have yet to match them for work rate which I find astonishing.

I'd have thought most clubs in the top flight would have dedicated analysts to pick apart the opposition and notice this.

Obviously not and it seems most teams are caught out by their industry. As Souness said, you've got to match them for work rate to earn the right to play.

Interestingly, I think a bottom placed Watford team fighting for their lives should give them one of their biggest tests yet.

[Beany71 140]

I have to admit my very few blunt mates are also being quite controlled about it. It's the annoying B@st@rds that have never been to a match that are all over social media! 

[SiJ 47,804]

7 minutes ago, Beany71 said:

I have to admit my very few blunt mates are also being quite controlled about it. It's the annoying B@st@rds that have never been to a match that are all over social media! 

Tbf, my Dem Blades mates are usually pretty reasonable. 

 

You have to take it on the chin really. For several years they gave us endless entertainment with how crap they were. 

 

Things have completely flipped on their head now and, whilst somewhat galling, in an odd way it isn't quite so bad when you are not in the same division. 

 

 

 

 

[alanharper 32,103]

16 hours ago, MAL said:

 

Like i was saying before.

 

They don't play any NAME, they play the game they want to play.

 

Which is, attack the phuck out of teams, go for the win in every game, create chances and by statistics, the more you create the bigger chance to score, plus whilst they attack the other side are not, not Keeganesque though.

 

He brought in players that were in lower leagues, but he brought them in because they do have abilities he can work with.

 

They have either or all of the good things, main one being quick thinking, whether that is with or without the ball, they know where to pass when they have it, they know where to go or cover when they don't, they don't tippy tap it about much, they move it quickly.

 

They can control a ball, they can run "Forward" with the ball, they can pass a ball, they can find space to receive a ball.

 

They might not be "the best" at them, but put it all together and it works a treat, he doesn't have posers.

 

 

 

 

 

They don't though, in the vast majority of games this season they've had far less possession than the opposition and fewer shots on goal as well - they've won at least 3 of their games despite sitting back and having around 30% possession and their top scorer up to the end of October was "own goal"! In 18 league games so far they've actually only exceeded 49% possession on 3 occasions (only winning 1 of those games) and they've had fewer shots on goal than their opponents in 12 matches (winning 2 of the 6 games that they had more shots in). Winning 2-0 at Everton with 30% possession and 1 shot on target was just peak Sheffield United!

 

Yeah they had a good go at Man Utd for an hour who turned up without a midfield but that was an exception tbh, their success is largely based on supreme organisation and hard work off the ball, and mostly by being bloody hard to score against, with the 3 CBs and 3 central midfielders in front of them effectively giving them 6 men in the middle of the park to stop teams playing there and the 3 CBs mean that teams who get round the sides with wingers don't get much joy from crosses either . Don't get me wrong Wilder is a brilliant manager (said through gritted teeth!) and he has the system he wants and the players to make it work, but the "swashbuckling all out attack Sheffield United style" isn't exactly the truth these days, in fact he learned in the second half of last season that he needs to be tight away from home rather than just going for it hence the crucial 1-0 wins at promotion rivals Leeds and WBA. They're not going to get "found out" either, PL managers aren't daft they know exactly how United play, but they're so tight and organised that it's difficult to get a positive result against them even if you dominate possession as Everton and Arsenal found out.

[SiJ 47,804]

Yeah, United's success has actually come from how defensively organised they are. 

 

It is a big part of why they got promoted and why they are doing so well now. Extremely well organised and very difficult to create chances against. 

 

Should they go a goal up, then teams are always going to struggle against them. 

 

I see some Dem Blades fans get upset when people label their football as basic. I'm not sure basic is the right description, but their approach is quite old school, albeit within quite a unique version of 3-5-2. They are about hard work, being organised and getting good deliveries into the box. It works. 

Edited December 23, 2019 by SiJ

[MAL 5,470]

48 minutes ago, alanharper said:

 

They don't though, in the vast majority of games this season they've had far less possession than the opposition and fewer shots on goal as well - they've won at least 3 of their games despite sitting back and having around 30% possession and their top scorer up to the end of October was "own goal"! In 18 league games so far they've actually only exceeded 49% possession on 3 occasions (only winning 1 of those games) and they've had fewer shots on goal than their opponents in 12 matches (winning 2 of the 6 games that they had more shots in). Winning 2-0 at Everton with 30% possession and 1 shot on target was just peak Sheffield United!

 

Yeah they had a good go at Man Utd for an hour who turned up without a midfield but that was an exception tbh, their success is largely based on supreme organisation and hard work off the ball, and mostly by being bloody hard to score against, with the 3 CBs and 3 central midfielders in front of them effectively giving them 6 men in the middle of the park to stop teams playing there and the 3 CBs mean that teams who get round the sides with wingers don't get much joy from crosses either . Don't get me wrong Wilder is a brilliant manager (said through gritted teeth!) and he has the system he wants and the players to make it work, but the "swashbuckling all out attack Sheffield United style" isn't exactly the truth these days, in fact he learned in the second half of last season that he needs to be tight away from home rather than just going for it hence the crucial 1-0 wins at promotion rivals Leeds and WBA. They're not going to get "found out" either, PL managers aren't daft they know exactly how United play, but they're so tight and organised that it's difficult to get a positive result against them even if you dominate possession as Everton and Arsenal found out.

 

But that is why they don't have as much possession.

 

When they have the ball, they get it forward quickly, no messing around their own box, it is straight up the other end, if they don't score the opposites have possession and they will stroke the ball around their box, giving them all the possession without much threat.

 

This shows with the stats i have...

Passes

Pork average per game = 386.44

Opposites average per game = 532.33

 

Difference of -145.89

 

Attacks

Pork average per game = 106.06

Opposites average per game = 116.06

 

Difference of -10

 

Attacks Dangerous

Pork average per game = 55.22

Opposites average per game = 54.28

 

Difference of +0.94

 

Every manager and player that are playing them, should know they will have to graft for a result.

 

They, especially Arsenal will not do that, they just want to jog around like it is a training match.

 

Whichever is the total reason...

I just wish the lazy arsse opposites would try more.

 

 

 

 

[MAL 5,470]

My possession stats for all games this season are...

 

Pork Average per game = 43.72%

 

Opposites Average per game = 56.28%

 

Attempts

 

Pork Average per game = 10.06

 

Opposites Average per game = 10.44

 

 

 

 

 

[darra 11,425]

Newcastle got it right against them pinging short first-time passes so they couldn't pressure them on the ball into making mistakes. United were chasing shadows. Then for some reason they stopped doing it and played into United's hands. 

[Bannofan 4,235]

15 minutes ago, darra said:

Newcastle got it right against them pinging short first-time passes so they couldn't pressure them on the ball into making mistakes. United were chasing shadows. Then for some reason they stopped doing it and played into United's hands. 

 

Bruce knew his best chance was playing a battler, so he chose Carroll from the start. That defence of Utds wouldn't have given Joelinton a kick.

 

Love that phrase of Scrams ' Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard ' . Going to memorise that!.

 

Basically Utd will only struggle against teams with a similar attitude to them but a little more quality, like Leicester. I think they have the chops to beat anyone but Liverpool, home or away.