..if the current regime is in place then top 6. Change anything other than some players, then you might be right.
So - what’s going to happen next season and why ?
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Lower Drop Blade
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I think we will be going in a downward spiral with this clown owner how fast is the question, the parachute payments will slow things maybe but after that hold on tight.
shorehamview
Pink Sambuca drinking World Champion.
Storm the division, ripping it a new one as we hurtle back to the Premier League.
Or bimble around, just scraping into mid table by March.
Or we are totally fucked, making our performances this year look like peak Real Madrid, and we go back down to the pub league.
Or bimble around, just scraping into mid table by March.
Or we are totally fucked, making our performances this year look like peak Real Madrid, and we go back down to the pub league.
Blade56
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We need to:
1. get rid of dross players including lame ducks like McB and Brewster
2. find a buyer cause this clubs going nowhere with ten Bob note prince. This whole process will take 12-18 months so buy consolidation players and youth development players and hope we stay up 1/2 seasons.
3. Get rid of Wilder and his hangers on. Curse myself for saying it but get a manager like Bohl, if he (or his like) can raise that rusting titanic in S6 we need one.
4. rebuild with youth developing and cherry picking players. And FFS whoever buys keepers for us get rid.
1. get rid of dross players including lame ducks like McB and Brewster
2. find a buyer cause this clubs going nowhere with ten Bob note prince. This whole process will take 12-18 months so buy consolidation players and youth development players and hope we stay up 1/2 seasons.
3. Get rid of Wilder and his hangers on. Curse myself for saying it but get a manager like Bohl, if he (or his like) can raise that rusting titanic in S6 we need one.
4. rebuild with youth developing and cherry picking players. And FFS whoever buys keepers for us get rid.
Bladezz
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Will take a year to remove half the squad such as Souza / Slimane / Traore / Anel
Some will go quickly some we will be stuck with. In the mean time fix the wholes in the squad and create more leaders and generally improve the balance of the squad.
Where that makes us finish is anyone’s guess.
Then the season after we have to zone in on 2/3 positions that we need to improve to give us a fighting chance of promotion.
Teams like WBA don’t have parachute money but spend the parachute money wisely. Players like Wallace / Swift on free’s is excellent business and gives them a chance year on year to go up.
Be a miracle if we went back up straight away. Be somewhat a miracle to do it in 2 seasons.
Leeds and Southamtpon both have superior teams to us and end up in playoffs.
Sheffsteel
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It's an interesting question because it there's likely to be MASSIVE changes.
So it go from one extreme (promotion) to the other (relegation).
I've no idea how we'll perform next season....therefore in many ways it's more exciting.
Hence why I've renewed my season tickets.
The positives
1: Some talented young players coming through.
2: Wilder knows the division and what it takes to get promoted.
3: In recent matches we've had spells of looking a decent team. However it seem to be mental more than actual talent.
When we concede the defence seem to collapse but at least you can see the potential.
4: We have loads of injured players who have kind of been forgotten but imagine these players back Egan, Baldock (if he signs), RND, Davies, Brewster,
5: Last season Summer preparation was a total disgrace. Think Hecky designed his tactics on staying defensively solid and using N'Diaye to create chances. Once N'Diaye was sold, it appears Hecky's tactics went to pot. Also it was weird how many of the players seemed to unfit.
What I'm saying is that preseason 2024 should be much better with the players much fitter.
The negaitves
1: The players and manager have a culture of losing, you suspect most will be pschologically damaged.
We desperately need to start well next season, otherwise we could have a massive hangover and continue losing.
2: We'll be losing some of our better players, Beretton-Diaz, Archer and McAtee.
My expectation:
Think we'll start quite poorly, no better than mid table, then improve towards the end of the season and just miss out on the play-offs.
Actually for a change, wouldn't us mind being in the play-offs next season because for once I could enjoy a Wembley visit
and I wouldn't be feeling the same pressure of being desperate for promotion.
For me the objective is just to build a foundation, develop a team style, have a midfield who can look comfortable on the ball and pass the ball to each other. Regards promotion I don't think it's realistic next season but I expect us to push for top 2 in our 2nd season in the Championship.
Sheffsteel
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Basically I'm hoping for a repeat of the last time we were relegated from the Premier.
They'll be too many changes over the Summer 24, so I have little expectation for next season, anything could happen, it's mainly about building foundations and building upwards. I'm hoping we see the fruits of that rebuild and young player development in the 25/26 season, where if things go well I expect a serious promotion push.
Racing Blade
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As others have said, it's difficult with so much uncertainty as to how we line up at the start of the season and, again, when the transfer window closes. That, in itself, offers a sense of terror, given this season's recruitment debacle.
In terms of how we might view a Sunderland/Watford equivalent season, much would depend on whether or not it seems to form part of a rebuilding plan if indeed, it's achievable to have one these days. The 'perfect' model, where you acquire young talent with potential and, with the aid of a gifted coach, watch it flourish into an outfit capable of succeeding in the top flight is pie in the sky for fans of most of the twenty or so clubs, outside the top flight who dare to dream. The reality is the PL money will draw away any signs of promise, as most of those clubs regularly witness.
Another factor in our perception, like it or loathe it, will be how Wednesday fair. They are, at this moment, in that dreamland, with the aforementioned coach and a few players on the up. Should they progress how they all think they will, we won't be on here happily settling for our Sunderland/Watford season. The reality for them, as much as us and the others though, will be the same. Largely due to failing to uncover marketable talent for about 25 years, they aren't used to fearing the transfer window like we do, but it's part of Championship life. For now, let them think they're the next Ipswich Town, whilst we pull ourselves together and stop thinking we're the next Huddersfield Town.
In terms of how we might view a Sunderland/Watford equivalent season, much would depend on whether or not it seems to form part of a rebuilding plan if indeed, it's achievable to have one these days. The 'perfect' model, where you acquire young talent with potential and, with the aid of a gifted coach, watch it flourish into an outfit capable of succeeding in the top flight is pie in the sky for fans of most of the twenty or so clubs, outside the top flight who dare to dream. The reality is the PL money will draw away any signs of promise, as most of those clubs regularly witness.
Another factor in our perception, like it or loathe it, will be how Wednesday fair. They are, at this moment, in that dreamland, with the aforementioned coach and a few players on the up. Should they progress how they all think they will, we won't be on here happily settling for our Sunderland/Watford season. The reality for them, as much as us and the others though, will be the same. Largely due to failing to uncover marketable talent for about 25 years, they aren't used to fearing the transfer window like we do, but it's part of Championship life. For now, let them think they're the next Ipswich Town, whilst we pull ourselves together and stop thinking we're the next Huddersfield Town.
Cyprus Blade
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On my facebook memories feed up popped "we are Premier League" from 5 years ago. After a rollercoaster 5 years we aren't again. I've had some right depressing days following the Blades since I first went to the Lane as a kid in 1959. Yesterday was one of them. Officially relegated whilst the pigs look to have saved themselves (but that is a side issue and inconsequential to the matter of the Blades and the future). We are in a reet mess to use the technical jargon. There have been very few bright spots to this season - the emergence of MasterBlaster being the brightest for me.
On the downside there is
1) the protracted and unresolved ownership issue. Obviously the Prince wants too much brass (and now finds himself with a devalued product to market). I do find it odd that clubs like Wrexham and Ipswich can attract buyers who want to invest, but we, several divisions above and with a more solid fanbase, can only attract dodgy Guinness swillers. It needs sorting or we will slowly (or not so slowly) disappear down the tubes barring some miracle.
2) We have always been a selling club. As the late great Alan Woodward said "stop selling your best players". Losing Ndiaye was a massive blow for me, Berg less so but the timing of it could not have been worse . I know they wanted away and contracts were up, but why didn't they see a future here? The season was lost before a ball was kicked I think.
3) Manager. Wilder. He did great things to get the club back on its feet, but bought some poor but expensive players who added little or nothing. Add to that his mentality is a bit questionable for me. It's not just the meltdown in Prem mk 1, the apparent lack of tactical options and his propensity to blame anyone but himself. Before that he had, from all accounts I have seen, a very hot/cold relationship with Oxford Directors and at Northampton. Bearing in mind he went for the Portsmouth job (when at Oxford) and Charlton job (when at Northampton) - he didn't get either - but it does seem that there is often an antagonistic edge to his relations with Boards. Add to that his failures at Middlesboro and Watford. At Northampton he said, “You try to focus on football but every press conference is turned into talk over the stand, non-payment of wages and the future of the club. We don’t live in a bunker, so no matter how you want to keep your mind on the football, talk always turns to problems off the pitch.” Solving 1) above may extend Wilder's value here (despite his tactical limitations and recruitment issues) and postpone a collision with the Board. His return to the Lane hasn't stopped the rot, offensively we have improved thanks to Diaz {loan} and a more gung ho attitude but that seems to have come at the expense of any semblence of stability at the back whatsoever. The Gillingham miracle has not been repeated. In some ways I feel Hecky was hard done by given the start to the season and the replacements he was given. There isn't a queue of wannabe Managers outside the Lane and a significant number of fans are still in the Wilder love-in. So I guess we are stuck with him for now. We probably could not afford to pay him off again anyway. As one Oxford fan said on his departure from there " there will always be a place for a troubleshooter like Wilder; a club, somewhere, staring at catastrophe and with bit of money to spare".
4) Recruitment - has been awful. It needs to improve. Is it 19 players out of contract at one time? Someone needs to be called to account for that. And some of those left on the books should be out of the door. The Garbage from Athletico Madrid for one.
We appear to be in an invidious position, An owner who doesn't want to own us. A back office that malfunctions more often than not, A spurious invention called United World which does not seem to have any benefits for United. A manager who is seen by many as poor in the transfer market and tactically a busted flush, not to mention divisive of opinions. No spine of a team to build on and a plethora of poor-average players moving on. How much money is available for the rebuild. Not much I am guessing and with a track record of poor recruitment the future looks decidedly iffy. I hope I am most fervently wrong but right now avoiding relegation, insolvency and not losing to the pigs is about the best I can hope for after this season.
sorry for the rant and to anyone I have offended
UTB
On the downside there is
1) the protracted and unresolved ownership issue. Obviously the Prince wants too much brass (and now finds himself with a devalued product to market). I do find it odd that clubs like Wrexham and Ipswich can attract buyers who want to invest, but we, several divisions above and with a more solid fanbase, can only attract dodgy Guinness swillers. It needs sorting or we will slowly (or not so slowly) disappear down the tubes barring some miracle.
2) We have always been a selling club. As the late great Alan Woodward said "stop selling your best players". Losing Ndiaye was a massive blow for me, Berg less so but the timing of it could not have been worse . I know they wanted away and contracts were up, but why didn't they see a future here? The season was lost before a ball was kicked I think.
3) Manager. Wilder. He did great things to get the club back on its feet, but bought some poor but expensive players who added little or nothing. Add to that his mentality is a bit questionable for me. It's not just the meltdown in Prem mk 1, the apparent lack of tactical options and his propensity to blame anyone but himself. Before that he had, from all accounts I have seen, a very hot/cold relationship with Oxford Directors and at Northampton. Bearing in mind he went for the Portsmouth job (when at Oxford) and Charlton job (when at Northampton) - he didn't get either - but it does seem that there is often an antagonistic edge to his relations with Boards. Add to that his failures at Middlesboro and Watford. At Northampton he said, “You try to focus on football but every press conference is turned into talk over the stand, non-payment of wages and the future of the club. We don’t live in a bunker, so no matter how you want to keep your mind on the football, talk always turns to problems off the pitch.” Solving 1) above may extend Wilder's value here (despite his tactical limitations and recruitment issues) and postpone a collision with the Board. His return to the Lane hasn't stopped the rot, offensively we have improved thanks to Diaz {loan} and a more gung ho attitude but that seems to have come at the expense of any semblence of stability at the back whatsoever. The Gillingham miracle has not been repeated. In some ways I feel Hecky was hard done by given the start to the season and the replacements he was given. There isn't a queue of wannabe Managers outside the Lane and a significant number of fans are still in the Wilder love-in. So I guess we are stuck with him for now. We probably could not afford to pay him off again anyway. As one Oxford fan said on his departure from there " there will always be a place for a troubleshooter like Wilder; a club, somewhere, staring at catastrophe and with bit of money to spare".
4) Recruitment - has been awful. It needs to improve. Is it 19 players out of contract at one time? Someone needs to be called to account for that. And some of those left on the books should be out of the door. The Garbage from Athletico Madrid for one.
We appear to be in an invidious position, An owner who doesn't want to own us. A back office that malfunctions more often than not, A spurious invention called United World which does not seem to have any benefits for United. A manager who is seen by many as poor in the transfer market and tactically a busted flush, not to mention divisive of opinions. No spine of a team to build on and a plethora of poor-average players moving on. How much money is available for the rebuild. Not much I am guessing and with a track record of poor recruitment the future looks decidedly iffy. I hope I am most fervently wrong but right now avoiding relegation, insolvency and not losing to the pigs is about the best I can hope for after this season.
sorry for the rant and to anyone I have offended
UTB
I think we'll be left with mainly a bunch of kids!
Wes, McBurnie, Archer, Anel, Baldock, Brereton Diaz , McaTee, Holgate will all go for one reason or another. Sold/returned/leave.
Leaving a nucleus of youngsters Arblaster, Brookes, Jebbison, Brookes, Curtis. Wouldn't be surprised to see Jebbison and or Arblaster sold tbh.
Robinson and Bogle will stay. Hopefully Hamer too.
The likes of Osborne, Norwood and unfortunately Brewster will still be on the books.
Souza will be angling to leave I suspect.
The rest, who knows.
Our budget will be lower than half the rest of the championship so any incoming will be unproven hopefuls.
Next season will be a struggle. Not looking forward at all to playing our rivals from the sty. The wheel is turning.
It's the Blades way.
Stretch
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My prediction is that it won't be half as bad as some are making out, but also don't expect us to fly straight back up.
On the playing side, I think Wilder deserves a window and a pre season to reset us.
If we can keep Arblaster, Hamer, Bogle and Brooks, I believe we have an energetic and exiting core. Add in our experienced players like Robbo, Egan, Baldock, Ozzy and maybe McBurnie.?..along with our youth prospects and I think we have the makings of a very competitive Championship squad.
The jury is out on the likes of Trusty, Traore, Slimane and Davies at the moment. One busts his guts, but has been found wanting at this level, one was shipped out early on loan and the others have barley featured. However all of them might well be solid players in the Championship.
We then need to resolve the keeper situation urgently and probably need a couple of new defenders and attackers in the building.
Try to recoup what we can on the likes of Anel, and Souza to limit our outgoings, release who we can and hopefully we don't need to spend a fortune to go again.
In terms of the Boardroom, I don't see us being sold quickly unless the price drops. So I think it is more of the same sadly. Hopefully events off the field will be a bit quieter from now on, but I don't know enough about the ins and outs to safely predict really.
On the playing side, I think Wilder deserves a window and a pre season to reset us.
If we can keep Arblaster, Hamer, Bogle and Brooks, I believe we have an energetic and exiting core. Add in our experienced players like Robbo, Egan, Baldock, Ozzy and maybe McBurnie.?..along with our youth prospects and I think we have the makings of a very competitive Championship squad.
The jury is out on the likes of Trusty, Traore, Slimane and Davies at the moment. One busts his guts, but has been found wanting at this level, one was shipped out early on loan and the others have barley featured. However all of them might well be solid players in the Championship.
We then need to resolve the keeper situation urgently and probably need a couple of new defenders and attackers in the building.
Try to recoup what we can on the likes of Anel, and Souza to limit our outgoings, release who we can and hopefully we don't need to spend a fortune to go again.
In terms of the Boardroom, I don't see us being sold quickly unless the price drops. So I think it is more of the same sadly. Hopefully events off the field will be a bit quieter from now on, but I don't know enough about the ins and outs to safely predict really.
Lane Ender
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As good as that yes’s please
Sanguine
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Food in the kiosks will see a price rise that correlates directly to a fall in quality.
The bloke in the seat in front of me who is too tall will find himself a midget trapped in a never ending episode of 'Land Of The Giants.'
The kop posts will remain in place but be re-painted in lgbtqrxyz colours.
Brewster, Davies and McBurnie will all be selected to start our first game. However, Davies will receive a nasty burn from a hair dryer and won't start, Brewster will injure a previously undiscovered ligament whilst taking the knee and McBurnie will back into someone he believes is a defender but is actually the ref and be sent off.
Why? Because we are the Blades and shit like this happens.
The bloke in the seat in front of me who is too tall will find himself a midget trapped in a never ending episode of 'Land Of The Giants.'
The kop posts will remain in place but be re-painted in lgbtqrxyz colours.
Brewster, Davies and McBurnie will all be selected to start our first game. However, Davies will receive a nasty burn from a hair dryer and won't start, Brewster will injure a previously undiscovered ligament whilst taking the knee and McBurnie will back into someone he believes is a defender but is actually the ref and be sent off.
Why? Because we are the Blades and shit like this happens.
Lane Ender
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100%
metalblade
F**k off Abdull
I think the skint Prince will sell Arblaster and we will struggle, I'm expecting Mittwoch to be the dominant force in south Yorkshire unless the EFL put a stop to Chansiri's shady dealings. I don't see any grounds for optimism with our current squad or what will be left of it in August.
thing I mean 
Berkshire Blade
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I can see us being built of loans. Which means regardless we are back in a bit of a mess the next season success or not!
Down the Channels
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I'll look forward to the derby games if we are playing well and looking a decent team.
The thought of them gaining the upper hand isn't one I handle easily.
I didn't used to be this bad (I started going regularly in 78), I think it was the 2011/12 season that really got to me with them - the way they nicked promotion and wallowed in it with Megson.
No it won't mate, we've got used to settling for shit watching shit, and just accepting any shit what's thrown at us!
Champagneblade
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I don’t think we will sell Arblaster.
The Prince may be skint but he’s not daft.
He will know that Arblaster is worth far more as a proven player and also as a Premier League player and he doesn’t get a premium for either of those if he goes this summer.
I’m not convinced he’ll sell Hamer either, unless the player makes a big song and dance about leaving. He made a big thing about would you prefer Berge on a year’s contract or Hamer long term.
He’s not been like McCabe in that sense.
He’ll also believe in Wilder. He seemed regrettable it all ended as it did and he has shown patience in managers.
We will lose Archer though where he ends up will be interesting. He’d be an asset at that level. But for his part, he’s already done that. Maybe he’ll get shipped off to somewhere like the Netherlands on loan. As daft as it sounds, if he’s a loan option we should be in for him.
I can imagine Anel and Souza going late in the window. Wilder will probably have to strongarm the Board to get the players he needs early on.
As usual I think a lot will depend on the fitness of the squad. Players like Tom Davies and Brewster can be assets but how many matches can we get out of them.
If he gets all he wants and we stay clear of injury, we could still have too much quality for plenty of teams. Robinson, Egan and the right partner would still be a good Championship defence and Arblaster and Hamer a very good midfield base. We could be looking at top two.
The determining factor will be fitness. If this hits us again, then we could end up more like Wilder’s first Championship season where we ended up 10th after a bright start. I fear we end up with an over reliance on Brooks, Jebbison and Osula due to inadequate recruitment or unavailability.
Hopefully not so many derby games. I know Bell4 you mentioned you like this aspect as a fan. To me, you can often end up dropping points in these games against inferior teams as the occasion can be a leveller. We’ve been the inferior teams at times, like under Bassett and have faired well.
There may need to be some wheeling and dealing done but I do feel Wilder and co will feel on home turf at this level and will still be a big draw.
The Prince may be skint but he’s not daft.
He will know that Arblaster is worth far more as a proven player and also as a Premier League player and he doesn’t get a premium for either of those if he goes this summer.
I’m not convinced he’ll sell Hamer either, unless the player makes a big song and dance about leaving. He made a big thing about would you prefer Berge on a year’s contract or Hamer long term.
He’s not been like McCabe in that sense.
He’ll also believe in Wilder. He seemed regrettable it all ended as it did and he has shown patience in managers.
We will lose Archer though where he ends up will be interesting. He’d be an asset at that level. But for his part, he’s already done that. Maybe he’ll get shipped off to somewhere like the Netherlands on loan. As daft as it sounds, if he’s a loan option we should be in for him.
I can imagine Anel and Souza going late in the window. Wilder will probably have to strongarm the Board to get the players he needs early on.
As usual I think a lot will depend on the fitness of the squad. Players like Tom Davies and Brewster can be assets but how many matches can we get out of them.
If he gets all he wants and we stay clear of injury, we could still have too much quality for plenty of teams. Robinson, Egan and the right partner would still be a good Championship defence and Arblaster and Hamer a very good midfield base. We could be looking at top two.
The determining factor will be fitness. If this hits us again, then we could end up more like Wilder’s first Championship season where we ended up 10th after a bright start. I fear we end up with an over reliance on Brooks, Jebbison and Osula due to inadequate recruitment or unavailability.
Hopefully not so many derby games. I know Bell4 you mentioned you like this aspect as a fan. To me, you can often end up dropping points in these games against inferior teams as the occasion can be a leveller. We’ve been the inferior teams at times, like under Bassett and have faired well.
There may need to be some wheeling and dealing done but I do feel Wilder and co will feel on home turf at this level and will still be a big draw.
uptheblades12
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Next season it’s time for us to ditch 5-3-2. We’ve squeezed every inch of life out of it but it’s time to freshen it up.
Now or never with the clear out that's coming. Won't move on from it while wilder is here though.
uptheblades12
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I’m still in Wilder’s corner, but he will lose some confidence from me next season if it’s just all the same.
ChipButtyBlade
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Egan's form has been in freefall for a while now,and this latest injury who knows how that will affect him,i'm not holding my breath that he will return next season as the player we have been used to for many seasons,Brewster and Davies even Mystic Meg could not predict anything from those two.
Regarding Arblaster and Hamer we will just have to wait and see.
Jake Cooper scored at the weekend,as did Ugbo ......Wilder could turn those two into reyt monsters for us.
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