Halifax report.....

[The Crab]

View attachment 18596

That bullet has to travel less than five yards, so you'd think even Hammond could manage that.

 

[northsomersetblade]

An experienced head in midfield......all that unseen work he does....swallow your pride and give him a call Chris

 

[Darthblade]

Really? A sizeable section are amongst the very worst. Very few fans turn against their own team as quickly and frequently as ours.

Sorry to upset Bladey Blades, but it's the uncomfortable truth.

I think that the period of time we've been treated like mushrooms and served up with crap to watch has been pretty substantial and last seasons "embarrassing debacle" was, I believe, the last straw for many of our long-suffering supporters.

On that basis I would say that the majority of our fans are remarkably patient. We are one of the largest underperforming Clubs in the Country and its not the fault of the supporters ........

UTB & FTP

 

[Darthblade]

The only positive to come out of this is if the Board finally wake up and realise that the Management must continue to be financially supported to bring in the additional 4 / 5 quality players NOW, that are required to make us competitive from the start of the season, rather than several months into the season ........

UTB & FTP

 

[BushBlade]

Bush

I agree with much of what you say but we were only going in one direction under Robson. Blackwell turned around the headlong rush for relegation and we finished the season with a great run and an unlikely play off chase. He deserved another go after that, surely?



We were abysmal in that first half against QPR and it was up there with Oldham (87) and Port Vale (00) at home. It only stayed at 3-0 because Warnock stopped them attacking in the second half. He had to go even after just 3 games, as the performance was THAT bad.

No. I wish it was possible to access BM posts from the past as it is here because I predicted exactly what would happen.

The players were distraught with Robson and were delighted when he went so Blackwell benefitted from the dead cat bounce. They liked him simply because he wasn't Robson. He's a good coach and good coaching was all that was needed to turn it around given the quality of players we had.

As soon as Blackwell had to manage the team, rather than coach it, he had problems. Once the pressure was on, once he had to make decisions, recruit players, motivate them over the long term, he couldn't hack it.

As soon as KM gave him the job until the end of the season, I knew he'd end up getting it full time and that he wouldn't take us up.

This isn't a 'told you so' post but I'm not interested in anyone who says 'hindsight'. It was as obvious to me and anyone else who follows football, just as it was with Robson.
And no, I don't know everything, I got my assessment of the Adams appointment spectacularly wrong. (And Adkins, and Clough tbf).

Re your second point, we lost to a side that got promoted. It was a stupid time to sack him and what followed proves this.

 

[Bartleby]

Maybe I've just not got enough years under my belt, maybe 20 or 30 years from now I'll be just as miserable and cynical as they are, but I hope not.

no lad, it's not an age thing, not all us old farts are like those tossers.

 

[Bartleby]

Depressing to hear.

hearing this has brought me down to earth with a bump after the mildly optimistic spell since Wilder's come in, and would have regardless of the result. Same shit different season.

 

[8lade]

Simple message the football players never seem to get;
'If you don't 'turn up' you will lose, whoever the opposition is.'

 

[sportinguista]

Thankfully the Halifax here in Warsaw was offering better fare...

 

[JOEYDEE]

Really? Really? Is it any wonder our players lack confidence when fans have a go in a friendly against Halifax ffs. At least wait till the first proper game. Groan. GET BEHIND THE TEAM. Support them, don't slag them off.
I remember when our fans encouraged not slagged off at the first opportunity.

Just how old are you exactly ??

 

[Small Mendonca]

Slashers when they hear we've lost in pre-season...

Here we go again, no-one wants United to lose. It's completely ridiculous that people are viewed as slashers if they criticise the club or team. Even Barney gives praise when it is deserved. It's just getting tiring now.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

It's only preseason, so I don't read too much into results but when I saw the team sheet to start the game I just thought still too lightweight again (as we have been for the last 2 seasons). I know CW is trying to address the problems (at least we have a manager who sees the problems on this front) but we'll start doing a lot better once he drops in a dominant centre half, effective target man and midfield player who can get his foot in, all three of them leaders, with aggression and definitely in the case of ch and cf some height, preferably with the cm too.

 

[Small Mendonca]

Quick mention for the ref ,she did really well ,I reckon its the first time our first team have been reffed by a female.

I must have watched a different game. I thought she reffed it well for the first 30 minutes but then began to get very picky and in the end gave us absolutely nothing. Some very baffling decisions. Having said that, no worse than some of the refs we've had at the Lane before.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Just how old are you exactly ??

Why on Earth has that any relevance?

 

[sitwell]

I must have watched a different game. I thought she reffed it well for the first 30 minutes but then began to get very picky and in the end gave us absolutely nothing. Some very baffling decisions. Having said that, no worse than some of the refs we've had at the Lane before.

It was an easy game to ref I know ,a lot challenges were half hearted and she dropped a bollock with a good tackle from Oconnell but apart from that thought she was really good. Interesting to see the players having second thoughts when being spoken to, it was all a bit smiley but nothing wrong with that.

 

[Pinchy]

I think that the period of time we've been treated like mushrooms and served up with crap to watch has been pretty substantial and last seasons "embarrassing debacle" was, I believe, the last straw for many of our long-suffering supporters.

On that basis I would say that the majority of our fans are remarkably patient. We are one of the largest underperforming Clubs in the Country and its not the fault of the supporters ........

UTB & FTP

No-ones saying it's their fault, mate, though they don't help.

Sorry but I've seen and heard them over many years, long before 'last season's crap'. We could go 20 games undefeated playing delightful football, but dare to go one down in the 21st they'd be at it with vitriolic, self-satisfied abuse.

Vermin, some of them.

 

[Rodley]

Here we go again, no-one wants United to lose. It's completely ridiculous that people are viewed as slashers if they criticise the club or team. Even Barney gives praise when it is deserved. It's just getting tiring now.

You're conflating the issue. I have no problem with people criticising the club.

I have an issue with the small minority people who spend their life on forums, on Twitter and on the terraces trolling all things SUFC. Be it dishing out vile abuse to the players and fellow supporters in the grounds, dogmatically telling everyone how shit everything is, over and over and over again, or peddling rumour, mistruth or lie to suit their jaundiced agenda. Its bollocks.

We've now reached some bizarre parallel universe when you can spit reprehensible bile at players or the club (I mean horrible stuff, beyond the pale) and its justified apparently because we've been here for 6 years & we get decent crowds. And the minority of bedwetters appears to be growing. Depressing stuff.

 

[BushBlade]

You're conflating the issue. I have no problem with people criticising the club.

I have an issue with the small minority people who spend their life on forums, on Twitter and on the terraces trolling all things SUFC. Be it dishing out vile abuse to the players and fellow supporters in the grounds, dogmatically telling everyone how shit everything is, over and over and over again, or peddling rumour, mistruth or lie to suit their jaundiced agenda. Its bollocks.

We've now reached some bizarre parallel universe when you can spit reprehensible bile at players or the club (I mean horrible stuff, beyond the pale) and its justified apparently because we've been here for 6 years & we get decent crowds. And the minority of bedwetters appears to be growing. Depressing stuff.

Those people have always existed but they have more platforms now. My concern is that there seems to be more of them these days, as if those who used to think like that but kept quiet about it because they thought they were a minority now feel validated and empowered.

Not just football either but every part of life. Now that people have the anonymity of user names and reveal their real thoughts, it seems to me there are far more cunts, nutcases and weirdos than I ever thought possible.

 

[gavtheblade]

We looked good last pre season and went un beaten.
Turned up at Gillingham for Adkins first competitive match,the rest is history.
Pre season gives us a chance to see the cracks,and clearly we still have a few.

I agree with an earlier post about that we still have no spine to the team,I tend to agree.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

We looked good last pre season and went un beaten.
Turned up at Gillingham for Adkins first competitive match,the rest is history.
Pre season gives us a chance to see the cracks,and clearly we still have a few.

I agree with an earlier post about that we still have no spine to the team,I tend to agree.

The players at Gillingham just thought they just had to turn up to win. Poor preparation IMO.

Basham said they weren't up for it . Fuck me and the blokes still here and could be a integral part .

Still not a promotion winning squad , but Wilder expects and will get the better out of all players .

It's a balanced side Wilder has to produce and we ain't there yet , but we will be

 

[sheffielder]

The players at Gillingham just thought they just had to turn up to win. Poor preparation IMO.

Basham said they weren't up for it . Fuck me and the blokes still here and could be a integral part .

Still not a promotion winning squad , but Wilder expects and will get the better out of all players .

It's a balanced side Wilder has to produce and we ain't there yet , but we will be

team selection was also a joke. Howard was his number 1 all pre season and he brings in Long. Gillingham also known for getting the ball in the box and he drops Sammon for Adams who played his first career game up top.

What worries me is that coutts is a great at the training ground and every manager seems to be convinced they are the man to get a game out of him. Basham is also not a man who plays midfield on the front foot

Have to say as One of Wilder's biggest fans I am slightly alarmed already that he isn't making his mark on some no marks.

 

[Bartleby]

Not just football either but every part of life. Now that people have the anonymity of user names and reveal their real thoughts, it seems to me there are far more cunts, nutcases and weirdos than I ever thought possible.

totally agree. Cunts, nutcases and weirdos mostly too thick to even try to hide their identities as well (cos it's not that anonymous). A few keyboard warriors sitting in their underpants trying to incite riots in 2011 got a short sharp shock in the form of 4 year sentences.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Really? A sizeable section are amongst the very worst. Very few fans turn against their own team as quickly and frequently as ours.

Sorry to upset Bladey Blades, but it's the uncomfortable truth.

How did you behave say, Oct to Dec 1995?
Right behind the gaffer I suppose?

 

[sheffielder]

Really? A sizeable section are amongst the very worst. Very few fans turn against their own team as quickly and frequently as ours.

Sorry to upset Bladey Blades, but it's the uncomfortable truth.

Seen it all now. The man who slags everything off including the fans says we are the worst fans? You might be an intelligent man Pinch, but I would imagine you spend a lot of time under your desk rocking yourself.

 

[sitwell]

The irony of seeing a 20 stone 40 year old calling Halifaxs keeper a fat cunt ,and the bloke who gobbed Sharp had obviously never kicked a ball in his life ,but he had paid his 12 quid I suppose.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

The players at Gillingham just thought they just had to turn up to win. Poor preparation IMO.

Basham said they weren't up for it . Fuck me and the blokes still here and could be a integral part .

Still not a promotion winning squad , but Wilder expects and will get the better out of all players .

It's a balanced side Wilder has to produce and we ain't there yet , but we will be

Playing devils advocate here but that seems to be finger crossing and hoping for the best.

 

[FriethBlade]

We looked good last pre season and went un beaten.
Turned up at Gillingham for Adkins first competitive match,the rest is history.
Pre season gives us a chance to see the cracks,and clearly we still have a few.

I agree with an earlier post about that we still have no spine to the team,I tend to agree.

That was me re the spine, what slightly worrying is we've brought 6 players in, 3 of them centre halves, and still we seem to have a weak spine. Admittedly only a friendly but if a non league centre forward is causing us those kind of problems it suggests our centre backs aren't any better than last season....yet

 

[zablade]

I don't think results are that important in pre season friendlies, it's the performance, however worryingly all the reports about the performance seem to be pointing out the same weaknesses of the last two seasons.

Also I don't get the logic of pointing out "we won all our pre season games under Weir and Adkins" What's that supposed to say? We are doing worse than last pre season?

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Playing devils advocate here but that seems to be finger crossing and hoping for the best.

It's a bit now or never this season for us getting promotion. Think fans deep down are at the end of there tether and patience wearing a bit thin . Wilder has the task of keeping the owners , board , players and fans onside .

He has got plenty of brownie points , and player recruitment is going in the right direction . The problem is , supporters like some of the players in the squad from previous seasons have forgot what winning / success smells like , and we think failure before it even happens.

Think we all deep down have fingers crossed and hoping for the best . I know it's only a game , but you do feel 100% better with a spring in your step when the Blades are doing well.

Walking back to the car , train , coach , after a result is a feeling only a football fan knows about .

Here's to promotion

UTB

 

[Pollingtonblade]

It's a bit now or never this season for us getting promotion. Think fans deep down are at the end of there tether and patience wearing a bit thin . Wilder has the task of keeping the owners , board , players and fans onside .

He has got plenty of brownie points , and player recruitment is going in the right direction . The problem is , supporters like some of the players in the squad from previous seasons have forgot what winning / success smells like , and we think failure before it even happens.

Think we all deep down have fingers crossed and hoping for the best . I know it's only a game , but you do feel 100% better with a spring in your step when the Blades are doing well.

Walking back to the car , train , coach , after a result is a feeling only a football fan knows about .

Here's to promotion

UTB

I'd heard all the interviews and thought I'd make the trip last night full of optimism thinking at least we'll have a go, we didn't, and after going one down had that familiarity of last year.

I hope beyond hope we get it right though