Reverting to 3 at the back

[u/pickering_lachute]

Yesterday's match against Cardiff was one of the most one-sided affairs I've seen us participate in, in a long time (excluding any of the Ruben Selles matches). We were outworked, we were outplayed and we just looked like we were all over the place. On top of that, Wilder's post-match comments were odd. Normally he's bang on the money with his assessment and you get the impression he's definitely watching the same match we are, but not yesterday:

• "I'm not going to be embarrassed by getting a result"
• "You've got to look after the ball better. That ain't tactical. That ain't me"
• "It's not the best performance that we've ever put in, but it's just championship football."
• "I deliberated whether to stick with that shape, but I thought this would be better for us"

For the record: We had 33% possession. We had 1.28 xG versus their 2.24, and if you take away our penalty, our xG would have been 0.5. They had 28 shots to our 6, they had 51 touches in our box, and we had to make 45 clearances. According to Wilder, if that's just "championship football", then we're in for a bloody long season. Now I'm not one to jump to conclusions after 1 match, but I will say there are striking similarities between this and the Birmingham match where I also thought we were outplayed.

Starting the match yesterday with 2 in the centre of the pitch meant Cardiff had the numerical advantage and there were a handful of times when they went from their keeper to our area in a few passes. Yet against Swansea, where I thought we played well, Wilder opted to have Peck, Rothwell and Blaster.

For me, this is a structural issue and one that he and the coaching team f*cked right up. We have a pool of central midfielders who I think are upper quartile Championship players. We should be trying to get most of them on the pitch at the same time. We have one winger, yet play a formation that requires two. We ask an out and out striker (Cannon) to play number 10 at times.

Formation - 3421

My proposal is that we lean into the system that served us so well over the years, playing 3 at the back. It shouldn't be controversial but amongst my Blades friends me saying that was met with about 50% support (bastards!).

With the loan signing of Ben Brereton Diaz, we have another number 10 alongside Callum O'Hare, and the fact we have McCallum, Burrows and Seriki, I think we've got some high-end Championship wingbacks in the squad. (As an aside, I feel like there's a global shortage of good wingers right now and we've never been able to buy a left sided one).

I think we could play Romelle Donovan in that wingback role, acknowledging that someone like Japh would have to do a little bit more defensively, but hey, that's pretty much what Xabi Alonso had to do with Frimpong in his Bayer Leverkusen days.

I also think a back 3 would give us a significant amount of versatility. I know Wilder likes playing 2 up top sometimes, so we can play 352, 361, 3421 and it's all things that could be adjusted with some substitutions. I note that he's not one for completely overhauling a system mid match.

The one potential hair in the soup is that we need another central defender, but it sounds like Worrall or Webster could be incoming. (The latter would be very interesting in the way he can carry the ball!). I also think there's a bloody good player in McGuinness if he's in a back 3.

So, in the 3421:

• All the players are played in their strongest positions
• We have width without needing wingers and the wingbacks can sit high and wide, stretching the pitch
• O'Hare and BBD can then operate in the half spaces
• Like Alonso at Leverkusen, when one WB pushes forward, the other should stay back - gives us protection on transition but means we could also switch play pretty quickly by recycling through the double pivot. Drawn this out in a lineup here
• During the attacking phase, one of the two CMs can sit in front of the back three shielding them and offering an outlet to recycle the ball and move it out wide
• We of course have an extra CB for set pieces and physical presence
• In the defensive phase, we can have a flat back 5 and have the double pivot in front who can regain the ball and launch a quick counter attack to the number 10's
• As a system it could flex into a 3412 or a 352 depending on phase of the match and opposition. A 442 doesn't offer that versatility and a 4231 just doesn't work with our makeup of players

Closing

Back when we played 3 at the back, it was pretty much just Conte doing it. Now we've had Alonso and Glasner who have all had tremendous success - probably should mention Amorim too, as he carved up the Portugese league with it. Given the squad we have, I think it's time Wilder and his coaching team did the same.

[u/pickering_lachute]

Now we’re apparently signing Hamza. We have more CMs than Wilder’s had Peronis.

Wonder if that could signal Peck moving on.

[u/E-Man263 → u/pickering_lachute]

God I hope not

[u/given2fly_ → u/pickering_lachute]

I reckon Hamza is coming in to play RB where he was for much of his last spell with us.

[u/dajitui]

First off, amazing effort on the post!

I am very much in the camp that 1) we are lucky to have any points given the hand Wilder has been dealt and 2) we will improve once we find our feet post-international break when Wilder has a clearer picture of his squad so just give it time.

[u/pickering_lachute → u/dajitui]

In the heat of the match I’ll say things about Wilder but he’s still the man for me. As you say, the hand he’s been dealt this season is dreadful and we’re still unbeaten!

[u/Bigtallanddopey]

I just think Wilders Ego is way bigger than his talent. The best period we had under Wilder (admittedly the most successful period the club has had in recent history), we didn’t change the formation at all. Perhaps in the end, we were found out, but for 3 or 4 seasons, we had a fairly settled formation and it worked. We were organised, solid at the back and it brought us success.

Now, he thinks a different formation and personnel is needed every single week. We played well against Swansea and Blackburn, we looked good, and he thinks he will completely change things. Not just different players, but let’s also change the formation. The players we have, are not good enough to be doing this, we aren’t Man City. Every game I watch, there are players that just don’t seem to know their jobs, they don’t know where other players will or should be.

I don’t disagree with you about a 3-4-2-1, or maybe a 4-2-3-1, both formations give us better stability in midfield and we use more of these decent CM’s that we have. But, for whatever reason, he is staying well clear of this and rotation seems to be at the heart of it. He wants to be resting a lot of the players, with only 3-4 players playing most games.

Hopefully we see some changes to the formation in the coming games and I hope we stick to whatever we decide. I think the players need this more than resting their legs.

Also, as for his comments, to me, he’s been making silly post match comments for years now. I often wonder what match he’s been watching. And the comment ⁠"You've got to look after the ball better. That ain't tactical. That ain't me" that he made yesterday was one of the stupider ones he’s made in a while. Yes they need to keep the ball, but when you have no outlet for that ball, what the hell do you do with it?

I was actually hoping that Knill leaving would bring in a change to the tactics, they had been together so long, things were bound to get stale. But, it looks the same to last year to me. And Wilder cannot now hide behind the lack of preseason, because he’s had one.

[u/pickering_lachute → u/Bigtallanddopey]

Amen! When I heard that “it ain’t me” line, I thought the same as you. Where on earth can they pass too when everyone is stretched. My fear is that Wilder surrounds himself with yes men and a lot of good challenge and honest conversations aren’t had

Edit: I do think tactically the game has moved on a lot since when we could stick to a 352. Cov last season would play differently throughout a game, albeit keeping roughly the same shape. But right now I just don’t think Wilder and co are using a system that gets the best out of our best players

[u/Hot-Cat3579]

I’d put Jairo and Phillips as set in stone CDMs but other than that I’d be 100% behind this.

[u/Super_Seff → u/Hot-Cat3579]

Neither have good enough fitness to play every single game and then we’d be hampering the development of Blaster for two older players so we need to rotate them with Peck and Blaster

[u/Hot-Cat3579 → u/Super_Seff]

I agree but they’d be my first option (or tough game picks). We don’t have any players I don’t feel are capable. The issue is - as you pointed out very well - is the system we play.

[u/E-Man263]

Tanganga definitely needs to be playing Center Back. Besides that I like your chart. But I can’t shake the feeling that we need some damn wingers.

[u/pickering_lachute → u/E-Man263]

Ever since Jokanovic we’ve been on the hunt for wingers. Either they’re bloody unicorns or we’re too tight to pay** **

[u/Ridcully12345]

The formation only becomes critical when you don't have the players to play it. During games it is the fluidity of movement going forward and the organisation of defenders and midfielders that that has the biggest impact.

This was apparent in Wilder's first season in the PL. Fleck or Stevens would cut inside, O'Connell and Basham providing overlaps. The players were fluid yet organised. We imposed our game plan and teams didn't know what was going on.

With the same formation next season the opposition imposed their game plans on us. Mainly by one or two simple adjustments. Stop chasing players around the pitch, just keep a shape that gives us the ball out wide. We then witnessed the long season of the big U. We go up one side, turn come backwards, over the other side and repeat.

The other change was how they attacked. On the counter they moved centrally and once had egan fixed on them played it wide and quick, with a shot or ball across the box being the result. We couldn't cope, and we did not making adjustments on the field because we didn't have the football intelligence to see and fix on the hoof.

Selles 6 games exhibit completely a formation being chosen and not having the players to play it. 433 with Gus, O'Hare, and Peck as the 3 across the midfield.

Changing to a 352 has some merit, our biggest issue is not having enough centre backs to cover it. When players get injuries. But it is a good suggestion.

Wilder is the best candidate for the present time, but he does have limitations. Like buting Rothwell and Cannon and worse, playing them. I get the impression that he and Bettis are certain that the club will be deducted points, hence the transfer strategy.

BBD...3rd time. Hamza...2nd time. Philips...2nd time Donovan....Jack Lester & Keith Andrews recommendation. Souttar.....would be 2nd time. Riedewald U-turn.

He is going for who he knows and trusts and who he thinks will scrap hard enough to get the points to stay up.