CW "A Few Surprises in the Retained List"

[Cyprus Blade]

The retained list may be a huge clue to the transfer budget (if any) he has - I wouldn't be surprised in the least if there are a lot of retentions. How would he know who to get rid of anyway - he's not even taken his coat off - so I can feel a clean slate time again coming. Any pretence of us having resources of any significance available to finance a promotion winning squad seems to be disappearing fast given the money is tight references at the press conference. Don't feel much like celebrating this appointment and the news coming with it. Sorry, but that's just how I feel. I wish the guy luck but can't help thinking better men than him have tried and failed. We are a joke.

 

[The Crab]

Pre-Season 2025.

Sheffield United today their 19th manager in 19 years.

Kevin - After last year's failure to reach the play offs, we had no alternative but to sack the manager and bring in a new one, with fresh ideas.

The 19th - An honour to be at such a great club. We all start off with a clean slate and a message to all the fans, #UnitedTogether.
Although the back four average age is 45, it's only fair that I give them the opportunity to prove their value to this club.

All this was said as Kevin drank 3 glasses of water. No one in the room saw his lips move once.

 

[The Crab]

He bought the DVDs and the hat from me.
Second tree from the right, Marsh Lane every Sunday.
Weather Permitting (obviously)

Yeah I wanted to see you about that DVD, Debbie Does Dallas turned out to be just "Dallas" when I got home. As much as I liked Victoria Principle back in the day, she was disappointingly fully dressed.

 

[Barney]

There's no excuse not to have a long retained list.

And by that I meant only Long should be on it.

I see what you did there.

 

[itsinyerblood]

This is all too predictable. The new manager wants to see what the current defence is like. He needs a chance to see what they can do, so presumably that will take us into Nov-Dec before a decision is reached. Of course, if the managerial judgement isn't up to what is needed we'll have the same defence, maybe minus one or two existing players. Same goes for midfield, so I dread to think of the consequence all of this will have on what the team's ambitions are meant to be. Will a good season be seen as finishing two places above the position Adkins team finished? I hope my cynicism is proved to be wrong, but I'm underwhelmed about the long-term strategy (assuming there is one?) that emanates from our board, as long as the belief that a club like ours deserves much better. We get what we deserve, at least all the while the quality of decision making is so poor and lacking in ambition.

 

[Booker4]

Typical new manager quote about the fans to get people on side.

What should be a concern is "a few" surprises.

It's a shame Adkins couldn't have said something similar on Sunday! I'm just going to trust that Wilder knows what he's doing, even if that means keeping McEveley, because he'll know the characteristics better we do from the outside.

 

[Dkc]

​

Baxter

Could this be the surprise?

 

[PeteBlade]

I see what you did there.

It's that humour of mine that you so love.

 

[PeteBlade]

It's a shame Adkins couldn't have said something similar on Sunday! I'm just going to trust that Wilder knows what he's doing, even if that means keeping McEveley, because he'll know the characteristics better we do from the outside.

I don't imagine many would having been screamed out for 2 hours.

 

[him behind you]

The retained list may be a huge clue to the transfer budget (if any) he has - I wouldn't be surprised in the least if there are a lot of retentions. How would he know who to get rid of anyway - he's not even taken his coat off - so I can feel a clean slate time again coming. Any pretence of us having resources of any significance available to finance a promotion winning squad seems to be disappearing fast given the money is tight references at the press conference. Don't feel much like celebrating this appointment and the news coming with it. Sorry, but that's just how I feel. I wish the guy luck but can't help thinking better men than him have tried and failed. We are a joke.

Maybe Nige's "clean sheet" idea last summer wasn't actually Nige's and was, in fact, a clause King Kev is having put into all new manager contracts? Things now start to make sense.

 

[Bladepicker]

I'd keep Long. At 22 he still has time to develop as a 'keeper and likely a better option than anything we could get as a reserve 'keeper. That said, reserve is what I'd prefer him as.

Harris is the only other maybe. Showed good form when we signed him but then became progressively worse. Would still pick him over Jay and he's a long way from irreplaceable. So a very tentative maybe.

Rest can go.

Agree with Long and I really like Harris but he is just too injury prone. We need an end to players we know will play 30 ganes max.

 

[Champagneblade]

If wages are realistic and Wilder wants more pace, then I'm not against Jam getting another year.

He's not one of my starters but he's not out injured often, and he showed for Chesterfield he can still make an impact.

When you hear him speak he's got a very good attitude and whilst not in the XI, he's a handy one to have in the match day squad. There are no young lads that are coming through yet who can provide that unpredictability allied with pace, which he still has to be fair.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

there's Kieron Freeman but think he'll still be serving last of his 3 match ban at start of next season for a late sliding challenge on a Northampton player (so CW has seen him in action!)

Owd Jonjo wer'nt too happy with it was he,funny but both could be teamates next season.

 

[PeteBlade]

If wages are realistic and Wilder wants more pace, then I'm not against Jam getting another year.

He's not one of my starters but he's not out injured often, and he showed for Chesterfield he can still make an impact.

When you hear him speak he's got a very good attitude and whilst not in the XI, he's a handy one to have in the match day squad. There are no young lads that are coming through yet who can provide that unpredictability allied with pace, which he still has to be fair.

Ugh, he has no end product that chap, just runs.

For me he's the exact sort of player we should be shipping out.

 

[Almosthuman]

Has there been any indication of when the retained list will be released?

 

[AlienBlade]

He's still under contract anyway mate. I'd be disappointed of McNulty isn't part of the squad this season. He's proven that he is a goalscorer, he's young and will only get better. He might only be from the bench for now, but McNulty has the potential to be a top forward, he just needs a manager that trust him, encourages him and gives him a chance, something that seemed lacking from both of the previous managers, although he did under Clough get to play games but when he had an off game he was back to the bench without another chance.

To be fair to lough, he always Said McNulty was "one for the future" but ended up being throw own in at the deep end when our "established" strikers failed. Clough also believe in not letting them rest on their laurels..

 

[Booker4]

To be fair to lough, he always Said McNulty was "one for the future" but ended up being throw own in at the deep end when our "established" strikers failed. Clough also believe in not letting them rest on their laurels..

True he said that but then he played him a lot and then said when he didn't deliver "that's why I don't start him"! Some players need the kick up the backside, maybe McNulty's one of them but either way I'd be sad to see McNulty, who's an out and out goalscorer, sold to Pompey.

 

[AlienBlade]

Ugh, he has no end product that chap, just runs.

For me he's the exact sort of player we should be shipping out.

The problem with Jam, isnt always Jam, .... 9 out of the 10 crosses he makes the back stick (people say he's over hit it to no-one... but if a striker runs to the back stick rather than both running to the front, there is a shooting chance.... it's common sense you tell one of your strikers to run to them back stick.

 

[BusheyBlade]

Probably couldn't find out due to his terrible spelling.

 

[AlienBlade]

True he said that but then he played him a lot and then said when he didn't deliver "that's why I don't start him"! Some players need the kick up the backside, maybe McNulty's one of them but either way I'd be sad to see McNulty, who's an out and out goalscorer, sold to Pompey.

I think he should be given a chance... however "out and out goalscorer... 12 in 32 in league 2... and one was 3 game (so 9 in 31... almost Chris Porter Career level rate)

 

[The Crab]

I think he should be given a chance... however "out and out goalscorer... 12 in 32 in league 2... and one was 3 game (so 9 in 31... almost Chris Porter Career level rate)

Yeah it's really pushing the envelope isn't it?!

 

[BushBlade]

Maybe Nige's "clean sheet" idea last summer wasn't actually Nige's and was, in fact, a clause King Kev is having put into all new manager contracts? Things now start to make sense.

It wouldn't even need a clause in his contract. You're just given the job on the basis that you have to use the existing players. Which is what I think Adkins was told to do. That, and play more exciting football.

 

[Ecco1889]

Maybe some of the under-achievers will flourish under Wilder....

 

[Bladesman]

Maybe some of the under-achievers will flourish under Wilder....

Or maybe some of the under-achievers will be flushed down the bog by Wilder.

 

[Grecian2000]

I'm fucking livid.

Not seen the list, no idea what surprises might be involved (could be he's drawn a picture of BDTBL in crayon), no idea at all what he might want to do with the squad etc. etc.
Doesn't stop me being livid though.

 

[Newbury Blade]

This is all too predictable. The new manager wants to see what the current defence is like. He needs a chance to see what they can do, so presumably that will take us into Nov-Dec before a decision is reached. Of course, if the managerial judgement isn't up to what is needed we'll have the same defence, maybe minus one or two existing players. Same goes for midfield, so I dread to think of the consequence all of this will have on what the team's ambitions are meant to be. Will a good season be seen as finishing two places above the position Adkins team finished? I hope my cynicism is proved to be wrong, but I'm underwhelmed about the long-term strategy (assuming there is one?) that emanates from our board, as long as the belief that a club like ours deserves much better. We get what we deserve, at least all the while the quality of decision making is so poor and lacking in ambition.

There is no "current defence". The centre-backs were loanees. The only senior defenders left are Brayford, who is injured, on a long contract, and good, and McEveley, Harris and Freeman, who are none of those things. He doesn't have to see them play to know that we need two new centre-halves, my four-year-old could work that out, although it eluded Clough and Adkins for most of the last two seasons.

 

[PeteBlade]

I'm fucking livid.

Not seen the list, no idea what surprises might be involved (could be he's drawn a picture of BDTBL in crayon), no idea at all what he might want to do with the squad etc. etc.
Doesn't stop me being livid though.

The only thing he should be doing with the squad is showing them the door.

 

[itsinyerblood]

There is no "current defence". The centre-backs were loanees. The only senior defenders left are Brayford, who is injured, on a long contract, and good, and McEveley, Harris and Freeman, who are none of those things. He doesn't have to see them play to know that we need two new centre-halves, my four-year-old could work that out, although it eluded Clough and Adkins for most of the last two seasons.

Of course you're correct NB. Then thing is, I have such little faith in the Board and their ability to appoint someone who'll last longer than a season. An incoming manager should have no baggage or overspill to deal with from the previous incumbent, but not at our club. We appoint with cliches resounding about the new appointee being here for years to come, and if miracles aren't delivered within a season the board decide that it's time to sack the current manager and replace him, such is the craziness that exists in the upper echelons at SUFC. It's a dizzying cycle of poor decision making, and generally poor appointments.

I want any manager of SUFC to succeed, but the board continue to display the vision of a peanut and they, ultimately, have to accept that the buck stops with them. Of course the players have performed poorly, many shouldn't be at this club, but we mustn't confuse the great stadium we have with the generally poor and deserved run of mediocre performances that have become our norm. Whatever Wilder brings to this job, he needs patience, a phrase I seem to repeat with each new managerial appointment. We are a deservedly Division 1 club, it's what we've become by the failure to appoint a manager and Board who have the calibre to deliver the (relative) success the supporters deserve.

 

[Beat Jedi]

Has there been any indication of when the retained list will be released?

You've got it all wrong. The retained list is retained, so the manager knows who to retain, not release. Yes think that's it.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Itsinyer, looking at your avatar, are you robbie savage?