[alex1]

I wasn't too happy when I saw the formation, as we shouldn't be playing against the bottom club at home with 5 defenders across the back. I always look to see wingers as wingbacks should only be supplements, not replacements for giving us width.

Its about attacking in numbers. Look at Man City, Liverpool etc., when they are attacking you see 8 or 9 of their players in camera shot around the penalty box. Not one striker and a couple of midfielders.

On a related reason, I think if there is one player Billic tries to guarentee a place, its Ivanovic. When Billic first made contact, I expect he said, look I want the defence to be built around you. Trouble is, Ivanovic is slow, so he needs extra help and maybe that's why we are playing 3 central defenders instead of 2.

The only reason we should be playing without wingers is if they are all off form. Maybe that was the reason and seeing as we won yesterday, now is not the time to criticise him.
 

[baggie82]

I wasn't too happy when I saw the formation, as we shouldn't be playing against the bottom club at home with 5 defenders across the back. I always look to see wingers as wingbacks should only be supplements, not replacements for giving us width.

Its about attacking in numbers. Look at Man City, Liverpool etc., when they are attacking you see 8 or 9 of their players in camera shot around the penalty box. Not one striker and a couple of midfielders.

On a related reason, I think if there is one player Billic tries to guarentee a place, its Ivanovic. When Billic first made contact, I expect he said, look I want the defence to be built around you. Trouble is, Ivanovic is slow, so he needs extra help and maybe that's why we are playing 3 central defenders instead of 2.

The only reason we should be playing without wingers is if they are all off form. Maybe that was the reason and seeing as we won yesterday, now is not the time to criticise him.

Reasonable points but we played the first 60 minutes with a 3-5-2 and weren't overly defensive. Pereira actually had two players ahead of him for a change when he picked the ball up. We struggled more later on once the forwards had been subbed and Townsend was injured. We sat too deep and the midfield disappeared into the defence allowing Shef Utd free rein to carry the ball to the edge of our box. That was to some degree inevitable as we were sitting on our lead but wasn't helped by the lack of defensive cover from both Sawyers and Krov.

We have a young team, in experienced at this level so I think Ivanovic experience is invaluable at times. He is a good communicator. Sam Johnstone has looked a lot more comfortable with Ivanovic in front of him. Also a shout out for Bartley who with the captains armband has been excellent at Man Utd and yesterday. Slav may not have liked it but the sale of Hegazi was the right call.

[PartisanBaggie]

Well I for one, am shocked, absolutely shocked, that you're still critical.

Well, I for one am shocked, absolutely shocked, that you think last night was anything but a very, very lucky win for us...

[PartisanBaggie]

Not sure what you want. Chances of us steamrollering any side is unlikely at this level, certainly  right now as we try to re-establish ourselves. I'd take a few more wins like that. Great win in the circumstances, with the pressure that was on both sides.

If we can play the Blades at home every week maybe we’d get a few more wins this season.

Last nights game was a much needed win for Bilic, if anything. A great win on the other hand would have seen us beat the team at the bottom of the league comfortably without hanging on by the skin of our teeth for large periods.

[baggie82]

If we can play the Blades at home every week maybe we’d get a few more wins this season.

Last nights game was a much needed win for Bilic, if anything. A great win on the other hand would have seen us beat the team at the bottom of the league comfortably without hanging on by the skin of our teeth for large periods.

Nobody is taken in by this negative drivel. Only Chelsea have hammered Sheff Utd this season. Man City only beat them by a single goal. Just goes to show how agenda driven your posts are. We are all delighted by the win yesterday.

[mulliganstired]

Well, I for one am shocked, absolutely shocked, that you think last night was anything but a very, very lucky win for us...

A bit lucky maybe, but I think it is to easy to focus too much on the hairy last 20 mins, there were periods when we were very much on top.

[GREGMT]

I don't understand why Slaven keeps making these pre-determined subs around 65mins.  Robson-Kanu offers virtually nothing.  I think Edwards would be a better option than an over the hill Phillips.

I think we almost need 5 in Defence and also 5 in Midfield!!!  Bartley and Ivanovic are slow and need the assurance of a quick Ajayi.  Despite Gallagher we are still too slow with either Sawyers or Livermore.

Concerned about Grant, he looks poor and lacks confidence.  I would drop him and go with a False 9.  It needs to be all hands on deck to protect the defence.

We are going in the right direction with the ratio of goals conceded per match coming down.

[PartisanBaggie]

We were more than a bit lucky last night.

Let’s see how our luck fares against the Eagles and Magpies.

[Droitwich Baggie]

We were more than a bit lucky last night.

Let’s see how our luck fares against the Eagles and Magpies.

Do you mean this is one for the birds?Throstles, eagles and magpies.

[seteefeet]

I don't understand why Slaven keeps making these pre-determined subs around 65mins.  Robson-Kanu offers virtually nothing.  I think Edwards would be a better option than an over the hill Phillips.

I think we almost need 5 in Defence and also 5 in Midfield!!!  Bartley and Ivanovic are slow and need the assurance of a quick Ajayi.  Despite Gallagher we are still too slow with either Sawyers or Livermore.

Concerned about Grant, he looks poor and lacks confidence.  I would drop him and go with a False 9.  It needs to be all hands on deck to protect the defence.

We are going in the right direction with the ratio of goals conceded per match coming down.

Or just leave a striker on?? Have we had a game where whoever started up front has actually completed 90 mins.
Its like a rule that the striker must be subbed.

[PartisanBaggie]

Do you mean this is one for the birds?Throstles, eagles and magpies.

Ah, like what you did there Droitwich 👍🏻

[paulosull]

Bilic made a strange decision at half time with introduction of Krovinovic for Diangana, when an extra defender would have been an obvious call. Thought we coped well after joke of a card till half time but his change gave us no outlet.

[johnny Cash]

Bilic made a strange decision at half time with introduction of Krovinovic for Diangana, when an extra defender would have been an obvious call. Thought we coped well after joke of a card till half time but his change gave us no outlet.

Personally I understood the decision. It didn’t work. We already had a back 5 in effect and it was 1-1 so to add another defender would have been strange.

[Dexy]

Bilic made a strange decision at half time with introduction of Krovinovic for Diangana, when an extra defender would have been an obvious call. Thought we coped well after joke of a card till half tim5e but his change gave us no outlet.

We played the remainder of the first half with 10 men quite well , we offered a threat .
All Bilic did was sit them back and invite 5 quality players to camp around our area.

[baggie96]

No problem with the sub at half time, however the reaction of the team after their second and third is disgusting. He’s got to go for me, played well against Man U and Spurs but sheff u game should have been a similar score line to today as well.

We don’t seem able to get up for the games against teams around us which is worrying. Our form in 2020 has been awful including in the championship.

[gazberg]

Goti t wrong again from HT onwards. As stated we were doing well until then.

Team lacks discipline, their 3rd goal was embarassing to watch. Nearly everyone is mentally weak and gives up at the first chance.

[johnny Cash]

No problem with the sub at half time, however the reaction of the team after their second and third is disgusting. He’s got to go for me, played well against Man U and Spurs but sheff u game should have been a similar score line to today as well.

We don’t seem able to get up for the games against teams around us which is worrying. Our form in 2020 has been awful including in the championship.

We weren’t actually good against United or Spurs. On both occasions the team we played were poor but still we barely laid a glove. The controversy’s in the United game cloud the opinion because we should have had a penalty. If that had been given we may have got a point or even won, but it is possible to not play well and win.

I don’t think he will be sacked after this. In some ways the recent controversies help him because it gives his supporters something to cling too. Newcastle next week could be the end of the line though.

[gazberg]

I can't see them sacking him, it would cost money we don't have. Both parties will just wish each other well at the end of the season and walk away. The relationship is virtually non-existant as well so should NOT be continued.

[paulosull]

Personally I understood the decision. It didn’t work. We already had a back 5 in effect and it was 1-1 so to add another defender would have been strange.

can you explain it too me because I'm baffled with it? Hold what you have when down to ten frustrate opposition

[P Anderson]

How do you raise a team that are constantly getting done by poor refs, week in week out? The players gave a good account of themselves, playing against a superior team, in a superior league, and crooked officials. I still have a lot of time for Bilic.

[paulosull]

How do you raise a team that are constantly getting done by poor refs, week in week out? The players gave a good account of themselves, playing against a superior team, in a superior league, and crooked officials. I still have a lot of time for Bilic.

thought they gave up after second goal to be honest but weren't helped by coach with half time change.

[Baggies]

I know a lot of people don't buy into analytics with their xG and xS and xP stats, but enough top sides are now buying into it so it must be on to something. According to these metrics, we are comfortably the worst performing side in the division. We have some good attacking players, but no defensive structure, concede far too many chances and don't have a cohesive attacking shape either.

We like Bilic's passion, he is a good talker and a decent motivator. He isn't a good enough club football coach, not in the modern game. Our best hope of keeping this very limited side up is with a different manager.

[johnny Cash]

can you explain it too me because I'm baffled with it? Hold what you have when down to ten frustrate opposition

6 at the back would have been over kill and asking for it.  5 at the back and an extra midfielder to keep the ball made more sense. It didn’t work, but we were still in essence going to try to hold what we have and frustrate. 

[BB74]

He’s gorra gew Tom.

[LiamTheBaggie]

I don’t think Bilic can survive that second half.  That was worrying.

They have given up and waived the white flag - how can you possibly continue with the head coach after that? It’s merely delaying the inevitable.

This side do not know how to defend - they do not know whether to sit deep or press. The space between our lines is not closed down well enough. The midfield do not offer any protection to the back three. We are so easy to play through and that’s why we concede so many chances.

If you feel subject to an injustice then your personal instincts of digging in, making yourself bloody hard to beat should come to the fore. Instead, we waived the white flag and suffered a hammering.

That is the lowest point.