Alan Biggs argues that neither sets of players at Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United can be accused of a lack of effort regardless of what fans say
You can hurl all the brickbats you like at our two Sheffield teams and, heaven knows, plenty would be justified in a season as turbulent as this. But one of the most common is way off the mark in my opinion. So much so it sails over towering Kop roofs at both Bramall Lane and Hillsborough. “Lack of effort.” It’s the readiest to hand of any complaint for fans of any club anywhere. A good old standby for any bad performance. Couldn’t care.” There’s another meaning much the same. And this season both of those have been heard a fair bit in the environs of S2 and S6.
In effect, though, that equates to a charge of not trying – the most damning criticism you can make of any professional sporting competitor. Well, maybe it’s time that particular brickbat was hurled back.
“Lack of heart” ? That’s something entirely different. It’s a remark based on an evident lack of belief or confidence. Which, without condoning it, has been only inevitable at times during Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday’s tumultuous and risky season.
This leads on to “lack of fight”, a perception based on a reluctance to have a go at the opposition, again for confidence reasons. “Lack of leadership”? Again, spawned from all of the above. And often fair comment. Ditto with “lack of quality.” We all wish it was better on both sides of the city.
But “lack of effort”? That’s not fair for me, deeply wounding and trotted out way too often. Even if it were true – and I’ve rarely if ever seen it – players simply wouldn’t get away with it in this age of data and metrics.
As the Blades’ ex boss Paul Heckingbottom pointed out recently in response to that charge, he’d know if it was true from all the running stats presented to him. Across with the Owls, latest boss Danny Rohl has demanded more athleticism and energy; in essence, a higher level of fitness and staying power. But that doesn’t point to any previous lack of effort.
More specifically, I heard Carlton Palmer and Paddy Kenny concur on a recent podcast that they had never known that to be true in their careers, which included Hillsborough and Bramall Lane. Effort is frequently misdirected. Either that, or the players are having a horrible day. You lose the game if you have too many of them at once.
It’s a group effort in which the entire team is judged, including those who have performed at their level. You lose possession too frequently, fail to track a runner for a goal, miss chances, and, in some people’s eyes, you lack effort. But, truly, and without calling it anything other than a poor performance, this is all there is to it about momentary lapses in concentration, besides the confidence issue. Or even, simply trying too hard.
When things are going well, players make natural and instinctual movements, with little need for second thoughts. When the opposite is true, there is a dithering ambiguity. This is something we’ve seen far too often on both sides of the city.
Danny Rohl and Chris Wilder have both attempted to harness positive ideas and acts, bringing both groups of supporters with them. Whatever their restrictions, players across the board are putting in the effort. They are well aware that there is no hiding place on that score.
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