“We’re an Honest Bunch”

[georgebernardshaw]

As Blades fans were living in the wrong era.

If a Blades era is say, 65 years, I’m perfectly happy to have lived in mine

 

[bornablade]

My first visit to Bramall lane was 60 years ago this month. We were 7th in the top flight. So in effect we have gone backwards in my time supporting the Blades.

I wasn't happy with the sacking of Hecky but I accept Chris Wilder's appointment and give him my fullest support. Yesterday however may have highlighted that we have honest players but really are not good enough for this league. This would have been the case if Hecky had been in charge or Wilder.

The Prince is an OK owner if we wish to be a Championship team. This is not where we were 60 years ago.

I can imagine Berge and Illiman's agents saying to them ......

'look this is a bit of a Micky Mouse club, they've been promoted to the Premier league and they've given the manager £20 million to spend. This is not a serious Premier league club. I think you'd be better going elsewhere'.

The answer to all of this does not lie with us. It really is well and truly out of our hands.

 

[cahill]

If a Blades era is say, 65 years, I’m perfectly happy to have lived in mine

Prior to the 1970s we’d spent all our seasons in the top two divisions. Since then, we’ve had our occasional flirtations, but we’ve declined generally on the pitch, whilst paradoxically the supports grown.

 

[cahill]

My first visit to Bramall lane was 60 years ago this month. We were 7th in the top flight. So in effect we have gone backwards in my time supporting the Blades.

I wasn't happy with the sacking of Hecky but I accept Chris Wilder's appointment and give him my fullest support. Yesterday however may have highlighted that we have honest players but really are not good enough for this league. This would have been the case if Hecky had been in charge or Wilder.

The Prince is an OK owner if we wish to be a Championship team. This is not where we were 60 years ago.

I can imagine Berge and Illiman's agents saying to them ......

'look this is a bit of a Micky Mouse club, they've been promoted to the Premier league and they've given the manager £20 million to spend. This is not a serious Premier league club. I think you'd be better going elsewhere'.

The answer to all of this does not lie with us. It really is well and truly out of our hands.

Well put

 

[The Bear]

I get all that you are saying.

But for me, as with all things in life, the journey counts for far more than the destination. My support is permanent and non negotiable regardless of where in the pyramid we happen to be. Of course I would love it if we were regularly competing for a European place, but actually not at the expense of the club’s values & identity. Success is desirable but is secondary to quite a lot of other things. For me, anyway.

I do realise that other posters, and possibly predominately younger ones, will say that I am part of the “problem” and lack ambition, and I understand and respect that view. But I actually don’t want to be Man City, and ambitions change as you get older.

The bottom line is that if I ask myself whether supporting this club since 1968 has enriched my life the answer is a resounding yes. And that includes the season in Division 4 and all the rest of the shit we have endured at different times. The failures sit alongside the relative successes as part of the tapestry that defines my relationship and history with this club. Would I have liked it to be different? Actually that’s a pointless question because it was what it was, and I’m glad that I’ve been along for the ride. All of it. I’m hoping for a few more years of it yet.

I love this club, warts & all.

Me of similar vintage but I am sorry our inability to win any kind of final makes us one of the worst teams in the whole league structure. Since 1968 I think only Rochdale were as bad. Every time it is the League Cup (or any other cup) the word on here is always aw dont bother it is mickey mouse blah, blah. Jeez what a bunch of defeatists. I am ashamed that my club has never won any kind of cup for nigh on 100 years! If it was Wimbledon or Exeter I might understand, but Christ we are just about in the top 20 of all clubs of all time yet we have this totally shit record. You get clubs like Oxford, Norwich, Sunderland, Stoke have won things but dear old Sheff Utd, fucking bollocks. Even bastard Wednesday have won two play offs and a League Cup.

As a league team we are ok-ish but winning things - bloody hell a disaster.

 

[OLDBLADE43]

I’m impressed that you e managed to shoehorn a reference to your favourite right-wing topic of asylum seekers in a completely unrelated thread

Do you agree with the rest though?

 

[Le Cynique]

Do you agree with the rest though?

No, not especially. Not sure if you’ve noticed but we’ve had a Conservative government for quite a while now and the country is in a terrible state.

 

[Caveblade]

Modern football is shit. I will always be a Blade but I admit I am quickly losing interest in watching Premier League football.

It's all about money, the rules and regs are changed every year and surprise surprise they tilt things even more towards the big clubs.

5 subs, added time, the officials, cat 1 academies and broadcasters who are only interested in the big clubs for TV audiences. Then there is the cheating and diving.

The only plus of match day is spending time with my nephew and friends the rest is pretty crap.

As pointed out elsewhere FFP is a joke and we cannot possibly compete without putting the future of the club at stake.

 

[gordoncharles]

Apologies if someone already mentioned this earlier in the thread but we're not comparable with, for example, Brighton or Brentford as their owners are longtime fans of their clubs in the traditional Jack Walker or John Madejski mould, but just happened to have become filthy rich. Bournemouth is a much weirder one, but Russian oligarchs were looking to cement their links in the UK in the early 2000s (how prescient) and I believe their guy already owned a property in Sandbanks and was probably told about AFC Bournemouth by Harry Redknapp's very astute dog.

I don't particularly mind the "honest bunch" motif, which we've all heard before many times, as any fleeting success we achieve we know is against the odds and therefore more meaningful - but it would be nice to have higher aspirations than just to be hard-working, a tag that's dogged us since the 80s and remains the go-to adjective of every lazy twat pundit who ever gives us a mention.

When we live up to that, it irks me a bit.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Me of similar vintage but I am sorry our inability to win any kind of final makes us one of the worst teams in the whole league structure. Since 1968 I think only Rochdale were as bad. Every time it is the League Cup (or any other cup) the word on here is always aw dont bother it is mickey mouse blah, blah. Jeez what a bunch of defeatists. I am ashamed that my club has never won any kind of cup for nigh on 100 years! If it was Wimbledon or Exeter I might understand, but Christ we are just about in the top 20 of all clubs of all time yet we have this totally shit record. You get clubs like Oxford, Norwich, Sunderland, Stoke have won things but dear old Sheff Utd, fucking bollocks. Even bastard Wednesday have won two play offs and a League Cup.

As a league team we are ok-ish but winning things - bloody hell a disaster.

If you follow United to watch them win things, you’re doomed to a life of disappointment - David Niven once said of his friend, Errol Flynn, “you knew where you stood with Errol, he always let you down”…

It’s the same with United.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

My first visit to Bramall lane was 60 years ago this month. We were 7th in the top flight. So in effect we have gone backwards in my time supporting the Blades.

I wasn't happy with the sacking of Hecky but I accept Chris Wilder's appointment and give him my fullest support. Yesterday however may have highlighted that we have honest players but really are not good enough for this league. This would have been the case if Hecky had been in charge or Wilder.

The Prince is an OK owner if we wish to be a Championship team. This is not where we were 60 years ago.

I can imagine Berge and Illiman's agents saying to them ......

'look this is a bit of a Micky Mouse club, they've been promoted to the Premier league and they've given the manager £20 million to spend. This is not a serious Premier league club. I think you'd be better going elsewhere'.

The answer to all of this does not lie with us. It really is well and truly out of our hands.

Be grateful that you didn’t start a month earlier, when we were top of the league. I was young enough to think we were on the verge of something momentous, particularly as teams like Ipswich and Burnley won the league in those times. But the failure did stand me in good stead for later. I knew that the start in 71-72 would not last, and thoroughly enjoyed watching Edwards and Morris win Division 4. Along with successes under Basset, Warnock and Wilder (and Hecky). I would have liked a Wembley Cup Final, though.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I don't particularly mind the "honest bunch" motif, which we've all heard before many times, as any fleeting success we achieve we know is against the odds and therefore more meaningful - but it would be nice to have higher aspirations than just to be hard-working, a tag that's dogged us since the 80s and remains the go-to adjective of every lazy twat pundit who ever gives us a mention.

It wasn’t always like that, it really started in the Bassett era. Certainly under John Harris, and my understanding is that even prior to that, we had a reputation as a good footballing side.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Sorry but it's the little old sheffield syndrome.
Biggest village in the world always rules by socialists intent of making it smaller and less important.
Sheffield is bigger than Manchester itself not greater manchester .
Manchester can attract and get greater development as they are a forward looking modern city .
Manchester, Leeds even now Newcastle look for modern labels to come to their city.
Sheffield bases itself on primark etc etc .
We have two teams huge fan bases, 2 huge stadiums both passionate fans yet no investment .
This council are a fukin disgrace , majid majid whatever an absolute tosser .
City of asylum seekers .
One thing nobody understands is ard you a blade or an owl ?? We are obsessed with football, we deserve a club playing European football regular but we have no investment either club or the city itself and its down to sheffields pathetic socialist history .

Quite possibly the biggest load of nonsense I've ever seen

"Only reason United aren't a bigger club is Socialism". But Brighton, a city represented by the Green Party, that's a Capitalist hotbed

It's just bollocks

 

[Nick Jansky]

Quite possibly the biggest load of nonsense I've ever seen

"Only reason United aren't a bigger club is Socialism". But Brighton, a city represented by the Green Party, that's a Capitalist hotbed

It's just bollocks

View attachment 176251

derbysufc is full of it. But every circus needs its clown & he’s ours, so best to just laugh at it.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

It wasn’t always like that, it really started in the Bassett era. Certainly under John Harris, and my understanding is that even prior to that, we had a reputation as a good footballing side.

That was the ethos I grew up with. Best illustrated by the fact the we had Joe Shaw as our centre-half, while Wednesday had the clogger Peter Swann as theirs. Two totally different footballing styles.

 

[gordoncharles]

It wasn’t always like that, it really started in the Bassett era. Certainly under John Harris, and my understanding is that even prior to that, we had a reputation as a good footballing side.

Yes you're quite right. Those of us a much older vintage, who can still occasionally remember the mid 70s when we're not dribbling into our cocoa, know we had a fine side in those days.

We've had several managers who've attempted to get a side playing attractive football, but aside from the first 3 years of Wilder we've only seemed to manage any kind of success when we've been branded as a kick-em-hard-boot-it-long bunch of cloggers.

 

[derbysufc]

derbysufc is full of it. But every circus needs its clown & he’s ours, so best to just laugh at it.

Dickhead , you know jizz all.
I have 2 mixed race kids ok , you want to meet them then I will make it happen .
I've probably been to a thousand more games than you .
I'm expressing myself OK on general life. Sheffield Council are ultra lefties .
Look after jonny foreigner not a a sheffield geezer .
My kids are fukin mixed race so do not play the race card .

 

[Nick Jansky]

Dickhead , you know jizz all.
I have 2 mixed race kids ok , you want to meet them then I will make it happen .
I've probably been to a thousand more games than you .
I'm expressing myself OK on general life. Sheffield Council are ultra lefties .
Look after jonny foreigner not a a sheffield geezer .
My kids are fukin mixed race so do not play the race card .

What a weird response

Would you like to point out where I played the race card? Maybe read the actual post you are responding to before getting yourself all upset next time, petal. You will look less ridiculous.

Oh, and I doubt very much that you’ve been to 1,000 more games than me. Not that it would matter if you have.

 

[derbysufc]

I'm not your petal . And I went 32 years not missing a blades game plus england games.
Don't try the race card when my 2 kids are mixed race. You want to meet them then let's say the Luton game I will front you with my kids.

 

[VictoryBlade]

No, not especially. Not sure if you’ve noticed but we’ve had a Conservative government for quite a while now and the country is in a terrible state.

If you honestly believe Labour will be better you must be about 16 years old. Just wait for them cunts, and i really mean that! Toodles

 

[Nick Jansky]

I'm not your petal . And I went 32 years not missing a blades game plus england games.
Don't try the race card when my 2 kids are mixed race. You want to meet them then let's say the Luton game I will front you with my kids.

Christ, what the fuck are you rambling on about?

Go on then - show me where I’ve played the race card, as you put it. I’ll wait.

 

[Carlton Blade]

If you honestly believe Labour will be better you must be about 16 years old. Just wait for them cunts, and i really mean that! Toodles

You really mean it? Shit, I'd better re-evaluate the last decade of lurching from disaster to corruption via incompetence.

People aren't pro Labour. Just sick of being fucked over and stolen from by idiots

 

[Nick Jansky]

If you honestly believe Labour will be better you must be about 16 years old. Just wait for them cunts, and i really mean that! Toodles

Crikey, if you really mean it, it must be serious!!!

 

[ghandi]

Does this statement define us as a club, or hinder us ?

We’ve heard it from various managers over time, from Basset to Wilder. It’s something we expect as supporters that the 11 on the pitch will spill blood for the club and the fans.

But is it enough to take the club forward from being a lower Prem to Championship club (and lower at times) in thought and development. The thing we ultimately lack is skill on the pitch in order to win matches consistently and that takes vast sums of money.

I guess we are missing the billionaire owner (can Sheffield as a city actually attract such investment) that even clubs like Brighton have attracted and there is now a massive gap between the top half and bottom half of the Premier League. Even VAR has been developed over time to assist the ‘bigger clubs’ or so it appears.

I will always love the Blades as they are in my DNA, it’s just that after 50+ years of following the Blades, I’m getting on a bit of a downer that the club I love will never be able to compete at the highest level and that having an “honest bunch” is the best that I can expect.

UTB !

It's just another meaningless bollocks saying like he's a football man or he's a player's player FFS

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Yes

Sorry but it's the little old sheffield syndrome.
Biggest village in the world always rules by socialists intent of making it smaller and less important.
Sheffield is bigger than Manchester itself not greater manchester .
Manchester can attract and get greater development as they are a forward looking modern city .
Manchester, Leeds even now Newcastle look for modern labels to come to their city.
Sheffield bases itself on primark etc etc .
We have two teams huge fan bases, 2 huge stadiums both passionate fans yet no investment .
This council are a fukin disgrace , majid majid whatever an absolute tosser .
City of asylum seekers .
One thing nobody understands is ard you a blade or an owl ?? We are obsessed with football, we deserve a club playing European football regular but we have no investment either club or the city itself and its down to sheffields pathetic socialist history .

So I’m guessing the cities of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle Nottingham and Leicester must all have a better class of “socialist” in charge?…Come on, in all these case’s, Its not what a city has done for its football clubs, it’s definitely what progressive, successful clubs can do for a city…What have United or Wendy ever done for Sheffield?

 

[Bell4]

Me of similar vintage but I am sorry our inability to win any kind of final makes us one of the worst teams in the whole league structure. Since 1968 I think only Rochdale were as bad. Every time it is the League Cup (or any other cup) the word on here is always aw dont bother it is mickey mouse blah, blah. Jeez what a bunch of defeatists. I am ashamed that my club has never won any kind of cup for nigh on 100 years! If it was Wimbledon or Exeter I might understand, but Christ we are just about in the top 20 of all clubs of all time yet we have this totally shit record. You get clubs like Oxford, Norwich, Sunderland, Stoke have won things but dear old Sheff Utd, fucking bollocks. Even bastard Wednesday have won two play offs and a League Cup.

As a league team we are ok-ish but winning things - bloody hell a disaster.

You must have been reading my mind - couldn't sleep last night so started to think of clubs who had won a domestic Cup final , Top Div ...hell ...even been in a domestic cup final ....(and i know I'm sad) ..since i was born in 1961 (as we have achieved non of these things in my 62 years on the planet) ...The list is quite comprehensive and includes , as you say , the clubs above ... also include the likes of Millwall , Fulham , Portsmouth, Rotherham , Swindon , QPR , Luton , Hull, Watford, Coventry, Swansea, Bolton , Bradford City , Tranmere , ...and others ....

Us ....nowhere

 

[Numpty's Dusty Ruts.]

Sorry but it's the little old sheffield syndrome.
Biggest village in the world always rules by socialists intent of making it smaller and less important.
Sheffield is bigger than Manchester itself not greater manchester .
Manchester can attract and get greater development as they are a forward looking modern city .
Manchester, Leeds even now Newcastle look for modern labels to come to their city.
Sheffield bases itself on primark etc etc .
We have two teams huge fan bases, 2 huge stadiums both passionate fans yet no investment .
This council are a fukin disgrace , majid majid whatever an absolute tosser .
City of asylum seekers .
One thing nobody understands is ard you a blade or an owl ?? We are obsessed with football, we deserve a club playing European football regular but we have no investment either club or the city itself and its down to sheffields pathetic socialist history .

I think that if you do your politics and history homework you'll find that most English northern big cities have a socialist history and a vaguely left leaning present. Sheffield council is crap not because it's Labour or "socialist", but because the people who run it aren't very good.

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

Got to admit I'm not a big Football fan in general, I wouldn't turn the TV over for a Man City vs Tottenham Cup final if there was a good film on.
BUT the Blades result makes or break my week, and it doesn't matter what Division we are in, where we stand in the table or who owns the club.
It's personal, and the only team that can come anywhere near that for me , is England.

 

[The Bear]

If you follow United to watch them win things, you’re doomed to a life of disappointment - David Niven once said of his friend, Errol Flynn, “you knew where you stood with Errol, he always let you down”…

It’s the same with United.

Not in 1966 I did. I felt sorry for them. But c'mon since that time won NOWT. You look at clubs of similar size, they all have won something. We can't even win a play off bloody final even ones where we are ahead on pens . . .

 

[Revolution]

Me of similar vintage but I am sorry our inability to win any kind of final makes us one of the worst teams in the whole league structure. Since 1968 I think only Rochdale were as bad. Every time it is the League Cup (or any other cup) the word on here is always aw dont bother it is mickey mouse blah, blah. Jeez what a bunch of defeatists. I am ashamed that my club has never won any kind of cup for nigh on 100 years! If it was Wimbledon or Exeter I might understand, but Christ we are just about in the top 20 of all clubs of all time yet we have this totally shit record. You get clubs like Oxford, Norwich, Sunderland, Stoke have won things but dear old Sheff Utd, fucking bollocks. Even bastard Wednesday have won two play offs and a League Cup.

As a league team we are ok-ish but winning things - bloody hell a disaster.

It is pathetic, isn't it.

Here is a list of current league teams who, since the play offs were set up in 1986, have not won a domestic or European trophy, reached a final, or won the FL playoffs. Teams in italics have won the playoffs in one of the conference divisions in that time:

Accrington Stanley

Barrow

Bristol City

Burton Albion

Crawley Town

Exeter City

Forest Green Rovers

Harrogate Town

Lincoln City

Mansfield Town

MK Dons

Morecambe

Newport County

Reading

Salford City

Sheffield United

Shrewsbury Town

Sutton United

Wrexham

I don't really like these arguments about which clubs are bigger than other clubs, but there is no doubt that one club sticks out a mile on that list in terms of size and resources. And it's us.

It is also worthy of note that only 3 of the listed teams have been members of the PL/FL continuously in that period: us, Reading and Bristol City.

the club's attitude to the League Cup in particular has been shameful for decades. Two semi final seasons and countless shocking, couldn't care less performances over its 60 plus year history. No wonder many of our fans couldn't care less about it. The club never has.