Where will we finish ?

[hoosier-daddy]

2 manager's that are literally like chalk and cheese.

I wouldn't say Parker is anything like a piece of cheese or a stick of chalk to be fair.

[Mattster]

When we appointed Parker I said we'd finish 3rd-5th. I've seen nothing to suggest anything different.

[RVclaret]

We’ve got the 3rd - 5th best available squad so I reckon somewhere in there is about right. Top 2 looks a stretch given the strength of Sheff U and Leeds compared to us.

[hoosier-daddy]

We’ve got the 3rd - 5th best available squad so I reckon somewhere in there is about right. Top 2 looks a stretch given the strength of Sheff U and Leeds compared to us.

Strange one with SU. I've not thought too much of them whenever I've seen them play. The stats seem to back it up when you look at passing stats (in the 70s), chances on target, possession and xG. But they're clearly doing something right, at this moment in time.

[claretspice]

We’ve got the 3rd - 5th best available squad so I reckon somewhere in there is about right. Top 2 looks a stretch given the strength of Sheff U and Leeds compared to us.

I think we're a play off team although if we can get our injured attacking players back and firing to their potential, and if we can turn around from this tricky run of games within 6 or 7 points of the top 2, then there's a chance of the top 2, particularly with a couple of more judicious January arrivals. That's a lot of ifs though.

[RVclaret]

I think we're a play off team although if we can get our injured attacking players back and firing to their potential, and if we can turn around from this tricky run of games within 6 or 7 points of the top 2, then there's a chance of the top 2, particularly with a couple of more judicious January arrivals. That's a lot of ifs though.

Yep agree on all that really.

[Conroy92]

Sheff u top. Leeds second. Us third.
Felt like that for a while now.

[Mattster]

We’ve got the 3rd - 5th best available squad so I reckon somewhere in there is about right. Top 2 looks a stretch given the strength of Sheff U and Leeds compared to us.

Sheffield United's "available" squad is not better than ours. Look at their lineup yesterday. There isn't a single member of their back 4 I'd take over ours. Only Hamer in their midfield is better than what we have (and he's being played more out wide). We have the better wingers. There's nothing in Sarmiento/Flemming vs post-injuries O'Hare. It's pretty much just at striker and in Hamer (wherever he is playing) that they have better than us.

[RVclaret]

Sheffield United's "available" squad is not better than ours. Look at their lineup yesterday. There isn't a single member of their back 4 I'd take over ours. Only Hamer in their midfield is better than what we have (and he's being played more out wide). We have the better wingers. There's nothing in Sarmiento/Flemming vs post-injuries O'Hare. It's pretty much just at striker and in Hamer (wherever he is playing) that they have better than us.

Cooper is the best keeper in the league. Rak-Sakyi is better than our wingers. Burrows is better (more productive) than Pires. Ahmedozic gets into our back 4. Souza gets into our midfield and is probably the best DM in the league. Hamer is the best player in the league…

[northeastclaret]

Sheffield United's "available" squad is not better than ours. Look at their lineup yesterday. There isn't a single member of their back 4 I'd take over ours. Only Hamer in their midfield is better than what we have (and he's being played more out wide). We have the better wingers. There's nothing in Sarmiento/Flemming vs post-injuries O'Hare. It's pretty much just at striker and in Hamer (wherever he is playing) that they have better than us.

Can’t agree we have better wingers , our wingers too frequently have no end product whatsoever and what makes it worse is that our main offensive tactic is to ponderously feed either winger.

[Mattster]

Cooper is the best keeper in the league. Rak-Sakyi is better than our wingers. Burrows is better (more productive) than Pires. Ahmedozic gets into our back 4. Souza gets into our midfield and is probably the best DM in the league. Hamer is the best player in the league…

There is nothing in Trafford vs Cooper. Ahmedhodzic isn't as good as Esteve and doesn't offer on the ball what Egan-Riley does, I'm not taking him over either. Burrows isn't any better than either Pires or Humphreys. Souza is not, never has been and never will be, better than Cullen. Rak-Sakyi is no better than our wingers, equal I'll have but not better.

Hamer I said is better.

[claretspice]

Sheffield United's "available" squad is not better than ours. Look at their lineup yesterday. There isn't a single member of their back 4 I'd take over ours. Only Hamer in their midfield is better than what we have (and he's being played more out wide). We have the better wingers. There's nothing in Sarmiento/Flemming vs post-injuries O'Hare. It's pretty much just at striker and in Hamer (wherever he is playing) that they have better than us.

I think they're better than us down their left side and Campbell (who is injured but seemingly only short term) and Moore give them better options up front than us to really occupy defenders and create space/provide a platform. I also think Rak Sakyi is a good player who would make our team. We're tightly matched and with our players to return arguably we've the better sqyad on paper for the second half of the season. But their other advantage is they are a well balanced team. Currently I'm not sure we are.

[Mattster]

Can’t agree we have better wingers , our wingers too frequently have no end product whatsoever and what makes it worse is that our main offensive tactic is to ponderously feed either winger.

Who are Sheffield United's wingers that are better than what we have? They're playing Hamer on the wing due to having only one decent winger (Rak-Sakyi, who is no better than what we have).

How much of our wingers low end product is down to the system which ponderously, predictably feeds them so they're up against set defences?

[claretspice]

Who are Sheffield United's wingers that are better than what we have? They're playing Hamer on the wing due to having only one decent winger (Rak-Sakyi, who is no better than what we have).

How much of our wingers low end product is down to the system which ponderously, predictably feeds them so they're up against set defences?

Bit of both for me. Undoubtedly selection and system hasn't helped at times with Tuesday being a case in point. But there's been a lack if quality at times as well.

The biggest difference between us and Sheffield United overall is balance. You can debate of Ahmedozic or Burrows get in our team, or O'Hare v Sarmiento or Rak Sakyi v Anthony and argue it either way. But overall they are a better balanced football team. Whilst that's partly the way we set up at times, the lack of a couple of key ingredients is because we don't have that sort of player in our squad right now.

[ArmchairDetective]

Some must be delighted with our current position given some of the predictions on the first page.

I'd predict 3rd/4th at the moment. But I still think we can improve with or without additions in Jan. If we were to sell key players in Jan I might revise the above prediction.

[Mattster]

Bit of both for me. Undoubtedly selection and system hasn't helped at times with Tuesday being a case in point. But there's been a lack if quality at times as well.

The biggest difference between us and Sheffield United overall is balance. You can debate of Ahmedozic or Burrows get in our team, or O'Hare v Sarmiento or Rak Sakyi v Anthony and argue it either way. But overall they are a better balanced football team. Whilst that's partly the way we set up at times, the lack of a couple of key ingredients is because we don't have that sort of player in our squad right now.

Sheffield United are playing Hamer on the left wing due to only having one winger. How is their squad better balanced?

[RVclaret]

Sheffield United are playing Hamer on the left wing due to only having one winger. How is their squad better balanced?

He’s playing pretty central for the most part which allows Burrows to attack the vacated space, and how they score quite a few goals. We tried it the other night with Pires meant to offer the same but he didn’t offer anything. Look at Hamer’s 2 assists v Oxford from central, absolutely no one in our team currently looks capable of playing those passes.

[Mattster]

He’s playing pretty central for the most part which allows Burrows to attack the vacated space, and how they score quite a few goals. We tried it the other night with Pires meant to offer the same but he didn’t offer anything. Look at Hamer’s 2 assists v Oxford from central, absolutely no one in our team currently looks capable of playing those passes.

Screenshot_20241215_110323_Sofascore.jpg (170.62 KiB) Viewed 1518 times

That's his heat map, he's wider more often than he is central.

I also said he was better than what we have. It was all the other players I disagreed on.

In terms of Pires not offering anything against Derby compared to Burrows. Burrows has had one role all season. Pires is in and out, playing with a striker up front one week and then in a team without one the next. Hell, against Boro he came on with a left winger in front of him, no striker and four central midfielders.

As with a lot of our players, he's being made to look worse by comparison because he's playing in a system (if you can call it that) which doesn't give anyone but the defence an opportunity to shine.

[claretspice]

Sheffield United are playing Hamer on the left wing due to only having one winger. How is their squad better balanced?

Whilst I don't disagree that Sheffield United lack depth out wide, I disagree with your premise that that is why Wilder is playing Hamer there. He's playing him there because it's a role Wilder has identified he can be effective from in a balanced side that has a left full back deployed to offer the out and out width. Wilder has said that is by design in media interviews. They've played with a right winger deployed to add width and/or get beyond the striker (either Campbell or Rak Sakyi), two holding players, and then two 10s one playing narrow on the left, plus full back joining in. It's balanced and it's worked.

I do though take your point about Pires vs Derby.

[Alan Young]

We can match any side in terms of general play from back to front but there’s nothing to suggest our front 4 players in the current system can get us enough goals to be a top 2 team.

A couple of incomings in Jan could make the difference but seems unlikely based on Pace’s comments. Seems more likely that we’ll look to the returning injured players to provide the boost which is a hell of an ask.

[Mattster]

Whilst I don't disagree that Sheffield United lack depth out wide, I disagree with your premise that that is why Wilder is playing Hamer there. He's playing him there because it's a role Wilder he can be effective from in a balanced side that has a left full back deployed to offer the out and out width. Wilder has said that is by design in media interviews. They've played with a right winger deployed to add width and/or get beyond the striker (either Campbell or Rak Sakyi), two holding players, and then two 10s one playing narrow on the left, plus full back joining in. It's balanced and it's worked.

I do though take your point about Pires vs Derby.

Point taken. I question whether that is having a more balanced squad or more a manager that has developed a system that works and is balanced. We have enough options and profiles in all positions (bar striker, arguably) yet Parker has been unable to find a balance IMO, rather than there not being one to be found.

[hoosier-daddy]

A couple of incomings in Jan could make the difference but seems unlikely based on Pace’s comments. Seems more likely that we’ll look to the returning injured players to provide the boost which is a hell of an ask.

I'd be surprised if we didn't even entertain bringing someone in on loan.
But if Pace says we're actively looking, that can weaken our hand in any deals. So it's no surprise that he's not saying much on that front.

[claretspice]

Point taken. I question whether that is having a more balanced squad or more a manager that has developed a system that works and is balanced. We have enough options and profiles in all positions (bar striker, arguably) yet Parker has been unable to find a balance IMO, rather than there not being one to be found.

think the striker issue is a real problem though. We don't have a platform. Sheffield United have two or three good options at this level. They also have more pace in certain positions and more physicality - they are more a threat at set plays. We aren't, we tend to rely on one player - Koleosho- to inject pace, we've got some pretty identikit central midfielders other than Cullen, and we don't have an ideal balance of players comfortable taking up positions on left and right.

Partly this is Parker's fault. But he inherited the striker situation- basically no plan B if Foster got injured with
Hountondji not ready - and he lost other critical players - JBG's left footed craft, Vitinho's ability to inject pace from either full back or right wing- right at the end of the window amd neither were adequately replaced. That's before we talk about Amdouni's quality departing and the injury list. I don't think Parker has played his hand well so far but equally it hasn't been an easy hand.

[Mattster]

think the striker issue is a real problem though. We don't have a platform. Sheffield United have two or three good options at this level. They also have more pace in certain positions and more physicality - they are more a threat at set plays. We aren't, we tend to rely on one player - Koleosho- to inject pace, we've got some pretty identikit central midfielders other than Cullen, and we don't have an ideal balance of players comfortable taking up positions on left and right.

Partly this is Parker's fault. But he inherited the striker situation- basically no plan B if Foster got injured with
Hountondji not ready - and he lost other critical players - JBG's left footed craft, Vitinho's ability to inject pace from either full back or right wing- right at the end of the window amd neither were adequately replaced. That's before we talk about Amdouni's quality departing and the injury list. I don't think Parker has played his hand well so far but equally it hasn't been an easy hand.

Sheffield United started an U21 up front yesterday for their first ever start, their depth of options is no better than ours.

What extra pace do Sheffield United have? Hamer is no faster than Anthony, for example. Rak-Sakyi slower than Koleosho. O'Hare slower than Sarmiento. Burrows and Pires no difference. Gilchrist maybe quicker than Roberts. Their central midfield options no quicker than ours. Foster and Hountondji are quicker or equal paced to their strikers. Moore and Jay same paced.

Physicality, yeah but only really central defence and Moore (who isn't a 90 minute player).

And we don't know if Hountondji is ready or not because, again, he's been given very little opportunity and the opportunities he's been given have often seen him shunted out wide (even into what was practically wing back vs. Sunderland). Parker plays a number 10 in front of him even though it's not worked, multiple times. We have depth, he just doesn't use it and prefers to play people out of position instead.

[FCBurnley]

Where would this team finish
Trafford
Roberts CJER Estève Humphreys
Brownhill Cullen
Koleosho Ramsay Sarmiento
Foster

[Dressinggown]

An article in the Sheffield Star was published today based on the latest Championship predictions from the 'supercomputer' which is employed by Jeffbet.com.

At present the predictions include:

Champions - Burnley with 104 points.
Promoted - Sunderland with 97 points.

Play offs:

Leeds United
Sheffield United
Middlesbrough
West Bromwich Albion

Relegated:

Plymouth Argyle
Stoke City
Cardiff City

[Bowclaret]

The month of January will determine where we will finish this season.

Incredibly important for us.

[hoosier-daddy]

The month of January will determine where we will finish this season.
Incredibly important for us.

Very much so for 2 reasons. Fixtures and transfer window.

[CoolClaret]

1st

The reason being - hard to beat, and we have players coming back in key positions.

We will have a tremendously strong squad for the run in.

[dougcollins]

An article in the Sheffield Star was published today based on the latest Championship predictions from the 'supercomputer' which is employed by Jeffbet.com.

At present the predictions include:

Champions - Burnley with 104 points.
Promoted - Sunderland with 97 points.

Play offs:

Leeds United
Sheffield United
Middlesbrough
West Bromwich Albion

Relegated:

Plymouth Argyle
Stoke City
Cardiff City

Looks like they lost the 'supercomputer' and used someone's Nokia.

[Woodleyclaret]

We will finish top and rise to the top just after Christmas.We need a box finisher and once that's sorted we will be flying.Leeds have had some luck in games and don't look anything special ditto Sheff Utd.They will have to scrap out 2nd spot

[HagridsHut]

Second.

This is a young team, inexperienced largely and also still gelling. Parker will get it right.

Called it

[Venkys4eva]

I watched the Alan Pace q and a the other day on You Tube and was horrified when he said how impressed he was by our play so far this season. But I guess that would be like me analyzing NFL. He might be a good business man but he has no clue about football
My prediction is 8th unless we sign a top quality striker to play alongside a fully fit Foster ( which I don’t see happening )
Blackburn are currently 1 point behind us with level games. From what I have seen so far we could be in mid table by mid January

Classic