Wilder and Ismael both favour the same formation and system. The players couldn't/wouldn't play that way under Ismael why would it have been any different under Wilder?
Anyway back to tonight: Reach, Grant and Townsend all very poor, but the worst of the lot was Mowatt although he did deliver a masterclass in ball watching and not tackling. Andy Carroll tries hard but has no support.
Only us, Hull & Peterborough without a win in last 5 and Hull have managed 2 draws.
Wilder and Val favour a similar formation, but while he generally plays three at the back he often uses three in midfield too. The system isn't identical either. Wilder's sides use the ball better and he's more flexible at Championship level at least as exampled last night.
I don't know for certain but I very much doubt he'd have ok'd contract extensions for Phillips and Furlong for starters. As for Bartley and Ajayi neither are good enough on the ball to play in a Wilder back three. I doubt either would have started the season for us. They're not consistently good enough defensively either.
Speaking of which it would have been interesting to see whether Mowatt did enough for him as a central midfielder in comparison to what he had at Sheffield. At the same time I'd have been intrigued to learn his thoughts of and plans for Robinson, Grant and Diangana.
I suspect the former would have been out the door before a ball was kicked in anger and one of the other two may have been loaned out with a view to rebuilding their confidence and a January return. Does he put all his eggs in one basket for the late arrival of Dike and start the season with Hugill up front?
And would Jake have got enough starts to trigger his contract extension given his age and use of the ball? All conjecture really. And redundant. Mr. Lai chose to take the advice (allegedly) of a chairman of a club which looked to be in direct competition with us at the start of the season.
