Getting a heavy defeat may just be the wake up call to VK that we have a fundamental weakness with height in the team. OK we can play lovely football but a seasoned Championship team with a good mixture of height and skill will roll us over as SUFC have proved. It's an indication of how vulnerable we are in this respect. Another concerning thing is the team rapidly loses it's shape under constant aerial bombardment. It happened at WBA in the closing stages and at Cardiff.

agree

Hopefully out of our system for next Sunday and ready to take it out on rovers.

We won’t play a better team than that this season.

Huge reorganisation of the defence needed.

It's just not fit for purpose when it's put under any sort of pressure.

CaptJohn wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:24 pm

Getting a heavy defeat may just be the wake up call to VK that we have a fundamental weakness with height in the team.

But how do we stop it happening with the players we have?

We have no-one in defence who seems to be any good at defending crosses, and how can we solve that problem, even though we know it'll happen every time a ball comes into our box?

Good point but why did we abandon a winning formula. Bring our speedy players on for second half

Agreed, one of the most disappointing aspects of a poor second half display was how quickly we lost our shape when we were put under pressure. All credit to Utd but we stopped defending from the front and once again a couple of our young players showed a lack of composure and temperament and allowed themselves to be cajoled by Utd players into unbecoming challenges. Just play to your strengths and wind up your opponents by knocking the ball around them.They’ll soon get frustrated and make poor challenges which possibly allows for set pieces in promising positions.
Time to brush ourselves down, pick ourselves up and ensure that we put in a strong performance in our last match before the break, next week

Yep people said about the height in the side and they were dam right .
Look bad defeat have a look at each game and make improvements .

I agree, but my worry is we haven’t the players to stop it

Still top of the league, let’s give them some credit and chill out

Exactly per cent . Let's hope we are ready for next Sunday .

Milltown1882 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:30 pm

We won’t play a better team than that this season.

We’re they really that good? Just abysmal from us couldn’t do the basics today

I worry that todays the exact opposite of a positive - it’s told the division how to beat us.

Not a bad time for a kick up the arse.

We need a reaction.

Spijed wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:33 pm

But how do we stop it happening with the players we have?

We have no-one in defence who seems to be any good at defending crosses, and how can we solve that problem, even though we know it'll happen every time a ball comes into our box?

Start Roberts and Taylor as backs.

Sheedyclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:54 pm

We’re they really that good? Just abysmal from us couldn’t do the basics today

They’re very, very good at what they do. McBurnie and Ndiaye were quality. Just an off day for us.

Biggest positive is that VK will have learned some home truths about the team. We have had an issue with our GK Muric. I dont think he will be dropped for the Rovers game but if we are serious about promotion then we need to do something in the next window. WE can all try to be positive about his distribution, which we cannot better, but you need a GK that instills confidence. There is no doubt Rovers will target him-no one did that at Pope or Heaton.Our defence is very vulnerable and Taylor simply needs to come in, either as a LB or left of three CH. I think also Roberts who is not perfect needs to start because of his experience and he is a braver defender. Bastian has really disappointed me-I thought he had not been given a chance but very poor in the last few games he started. And Tella-whats happened to him since the Coventry game. Hopefully Tuesday night will allow us to give a start to players like Egan Riley, Dervisoglu, and even McNally

No point starting Roberts he as one eye on the World Cup. He pulled out of a winnable challenge today

On another positive, teams with a more balanced and focused defence will beat Sheff Utd

jedi_master wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:55 pm

I worry that todays the exact opposite of a positive - it’s told the division how to beat us.

No other team in the league has the physicality, quality or experience to replicate what Sheffield United did today. And I think a lot of it was down to personnel. It would still have been a difficult game but I’m not sure we get such a hiding with Brownhill and Rodriguez starting.

It has to be turned in to a positive for next weekend

jedi_master wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:55 pm

I worry that todays the exact opposite of a positive - it’s told the division how to beat us.

Surely it’s been obvious how to beat us? Teams just haven’t been able to do it. It’s no secret we’re not exactly strong on set pieces and direct play. Sheffield United were just very good at doing it and also very good on the ball. Great movement and powerful play.

fungus_the_bogeyman wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 05, 2022 3:24 pm

No other team in the league has the physicality, quality or experience to replicate what Sheffield United did today. And I think a lot of it was down to personnel. It would still have been a difficult game but I’m not sure we get such a hiding with Brownhill and Rodriguez starting.

Agreed - both were huge misses today.

Only a positive if we learn some valuable lessons, I'm not going to panic at only our 2nd defeat of the season, but the lack of basic defending has to be addressed whether by a change of personnel or by work on the training ground.

fungus_the_bogeyman wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 05, 2022 3:24 pm

No other team in the league has the physicality, quality or experience to replicate what Sheffield United did today. And I think a lot of it was down to personnel. It would still have been a difficult game but I’m not sure we get such a hiding with Brownhill and Rodriguez starting.

Yeah very true - they’re excellent at what they do.

Good reality check. Might calm down some of the talk about getting 100 points/walking the league etc.

It will be a positive if VK learns from his mistakes with the team today
Roberts is a better RB than Vitinho
Taylor is a better LB than Maatsen
Tella is not a lone striker

Not saying any of the guys aren't worth a place in the eleven in a different role but Roberts and Taylor had to start

And should start the next game

This match has exposed the two weaknesses we have seen all season, our defence is poor, and we cannot deal with offensive or defensive set pieces.
We may need to go three at the back and start rotating the squad.

Just need that dominant centre back.

So what challenge will Rovers bring us- isn’t Diaz a pacey type of chap and do they rely on the big lads?

Diaz and Gallagher have height and weight that will certainly test the strength of our back line whoever is picked

Got battered 2nd half against a big physical direct side who we couldn't deal with due to our lack of height and strength

beddie wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 05, 2022 3:47 pm

Just need that dominant centre back.

I think we still have Kevin Long and Bobby Thomas?

If only we had a tall, ball playing international centre forward signed on .....

ceborame wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 06, 2022 8:12 am

If only we had a tall, ball playing international centre forward signed on .....

And if only he could play CB or GK

jojomk1 wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 06, 2022 8:14 am

And if only he could play CB or GK

That's where he'd be at set pieces

fungus_the_bogeyman wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 05, 2022 3:24 pm

No other team in the league has the physicality, quality or experience to replicate what Sheffield United did today. And I think a lot of it was down to personnel. It would still have been a difficult game but I’m not sure we get such a hiding with Brownhill and Rodriguez starting.

Spot on. You need your warriors in these type of games. While Sheffield had Norwood playing after getting away with a blatant yellow card midweek, we had Brownhill missing after he picked up a yellow. Jay was missed at both ends of the pitch.

ceborame wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 06, 2022 8:12 am

If only we had a tall, ball playing international centre forward signed on .....

Is that the one who can jump lower than Muric?

beddie wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 05, 2022 3:47 pm

Just need that dominant centre back.

We have one… just not quite there yet in his development.

McNally