Let's all take a step back..........

[Fulwood Blade]

The problem is, we'll outplay pretty much every team we come up against, we'll demonstrate better quality on the ball, particularly in midfield and we'll knock it around better.

But the margins in this division are fine ones. The lack of resourcefulness in that final third is an issue that needs addressing. Our performance at Charlton was as good as I've seen all season, but that inability to put the game beyond doubt bit us on the arse. Shrewsbury was nervier than it needed to be and they scored with their only real attempt, Bury were ultra defensive, but having two men down should've counted for more. Walsall hit us with one of their only attacking forays, and could've scored another but for the crossbar.

Over the course of a season, these things can cost points. It's far from being a major crisis, but making the most of our chances is something that needs work.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Unfortunately CW feels there is a need to change what was working to try and get Clark in the team - that is fine by me, but it HAS to work. I do not want an experiment with another manager trying to accommodate a player and it takes 10 games (and that is after the first 5 games of the season) to see that actually......it isn't going to work after all.

UTB

 

[Revolution]

To me, it has a look and feel similar to Eddie Howe and Bournemouth and we've seen where that can go.

Burnley?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Burnley?

Nope, that's why I said Eddie Howe and Bournemouth

 

[Houso]

1 - 4 - 3 - 3 - 2 - 6 - 4 - 4 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 2

Not sure we need more goals. We've struggled a couple of times recently to hit the back of the net, but a team with 2 strikers with holding among the best goals to game ratio for this division (still pretty much in the their prime) has the ability there to score.

Something needs tweaking without a doubt, but the hand wringing is borderline hysterical given our form since the start of October.

 

[blade too long]

That's a completely different story.

If we used the money to avoid admin, then that's what the cash was for. You weren't making that point, and I didn't respond to that point.

You repeatedly state that we can't sign players because the money won't have come in yet. Stick to that point - and understand that it doesn't hold water. The payment terms are the same when we buy and sell, so they can both happen on the same day. There is no waiting required.

Now, making sales to clear debt is another point.

it is one and the same point
never spend money you cant pay back

 

[alcoblade]

No, you said;

but WILL be trading in the JTW
The money for Che should be in by then

Then you said

it is one and the same point
never spend money you cant pay back

So we're either skint (in which case we won't be dealing in January as you suggest), or it's a cash flow thing, which as you've had explained to you "quite a few" times now, isn't relevant because we don't immediately pay out when we buy.

There is, of course, a third option. That's the "tiny" possibility that you don't really think these things through when you post them.

 

[blade too long]

You have to pay something down and if we are buying a say 1.2 m pound player say EEL wed have to immediately lay out 300k or so..we arent talking getting a 20 year mortgage .so even staged payments are pretty hefty for a club on a league one income.or perhaps someones thinking things through with their heads in the clouds

 

[1danewhitehouse]

The problem is, we'll outplay pretty much every team we come up against, we'll demonstrate better quality on the ball, particularly in midfield and we'll knock it around better.

But the margins in this division are fine ones. The lack of resourcefulness in that final third is an issue that needs addressing. Our performance at Charlton was as good as I've seen all season, but that inability to put the game beyond doubt bit us on the arse. Shrewsbury was nervier than it needed to be and they scored with their only real attempt, Bury were ultra defensive, but having two men down should've counted for more. Walsall hit us with one of their only attacking forays, and could've scored another but for the crossbar.

Over the course of a season, these things can cost points. It's far from being a major crisis, but making the most of our chances is something that needs work.

I generally agree with that but the only thing I’d say to counter it is that when you play 352, it leads to a situation whereby you’re more likely to dominate the game but also more likely to get caught out at the other end like we did against Walsall. Those are the pros and cons of the system. Personally, I’m still in favour of it as I enjoy watching wave after wave of attack even if it means we don’t see many clean sheets. I agree we need to be more ruthless. I think everyone probably shares that view. Ideally, we would get a striker in who combines Done’s workrate and mobility with Clarke’s physical presence and Sharp’s instincts in the box. We probably won’t get all of that in a league 1 player but if we could get 2 of the 3 attributes in one player, we’d be in a strong position.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

That's a completely different story.

If we used the money to avoid admin, then that's what the cash was for. You weren't making that point, and I didn't respond to that point.

You repeatedly state that we can't sign players because the money won't have come in yet. Stick to that point - and understand that it doesn't hold water. The payment terms are the same when we buy and sell, so they can both happen on the same day. There is no waiting required.

Now, making sales to clear debt is another point.

I suspect you’re wasting your time here pal. The guy struggles to comprehend the simplest principles no matter how clearly you lay them out.


Although there are exceptions to your point. Money to come in contingent on performance or other criteria (fees after x number of appearances, after promotion, sell on clauses etc.). Of course in those scenarios, there is no guarantee the money will ever be received and as such, it wouldn’t be prudent to spend it.


But I, and I suspect 90 odd percent of the forum take your main point and agree with it.

Own

 

[Houston_Blade]

I agree almost entirely.

But this isn't even a blip. One unexpected home defeat is all we're taking about, against a team we totally dominated and robbed us blind.

That some would be concerned about that performance is just a measure of how far we've come.

UTB

I'm referring more to the DLL form from the last 3 games, slight blip that's all. The mood on here in a few games will be much different with a few decent results.

 

[alcoblade]

You have to pay something down and if we are buying a say 1.2 m pound player say EEL wed have to immediately lay out 300k or so..we arent talking getting a 20 year mortgage .so even staged payments are pretty hefty for a club on a league one income.or perhaps someones thinking things through with their heads in the clouds

Oh FFS.....

We'd have received that same downpayment from Che, the player we sold. How many times?

You aren't seriously suggesting we needed that £300k to avoid admin in the summer, but come Christmas we'd be looking to purchase £1m plus players? (Don't answer, for the sake of my own sanity).

There's a joke about brains,
gunpowder and matchsticks somewhere, but anyway I'll stick to a more fruitful endeavour of platting fog.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

I suspect you’re wasting your time here pal. The guy struggles to comprehend the simplest principles no matter how clearly you lay them out.


Although there are exceptions to your point. Money to come in contingent on performance or other criteria (fees after x number of appearances, after promotion, sell on clauses etc.). Of course in those scenarios, there is no guarantee the money will ever be received and as such, it wouldn’t be prudent to spend it.


But I, and I suspect 90 odd percent of the forum take your main point and agree with it.

Own

I can cope with the odd nonsense post, but he continually posts based on really daft assumptions, and point blank refuses to absorb anything that's said.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I can cope with the odd nonsense post, but he continually posts based on really daft assumptions, and point blank refuses to absorb anything that's said.

I know. I've been there and done it with him. My advice that you're wasting your time is based on experience.

 

[Ricky]

Football fans adjust very quickly to what they're being served up so sometimes it's good to step back and get a true sense of perspective. We've come a long way in a short space of time, and we have hope when previously there was none.

At the same time though it should be pointed out that this is the least we should expect from Sheffield United in the third division - we should bloody well be a force to be reckoned with. It's just that the minimum has been too much to ask season after season.

It's possible to be grateful for how far we've come whilst also pointing out where we need to improve. Ultimately we are still in L1 after all, and we need to get out of it.

 

[blade too long]

Oh FFS.....

We'd have received that same downpayment from Che, the player we sold. How many times?

You aren't seriously suggesting we needed that £300k to avoid admin in the summer, but come Christmas we'd be looking to purchase £1m plus players? (Don't answer, for the sake of my own sanity).

There's a joke about brains,
gunpowder and matchsticks somewhere, but anyway I'll stick to a more fruitful endeavour of platting fog.

UTB

but and here's the rub CW had no idea then who he specifically needed, better to see what he had and wait till january
he tried Clark as an inexpensive punt , but its not been a roaring success
We didnt want to blow all we had on punts that relied on real luck
Its prudent to sit on it and as it stands with us in 3rd we are handily placed to make better judgements on our specific needs
It was never would we spend money but when

where the fuck did I put we would go into admin over 300k
I said we have avoided admin from not using your preferred gung ho lets splash it all and go for it approach
just spend 2m to 3m as soon as we can to get out , which sounds a plan , but rarely works

I dont fall back on cheap inferior childish insults to bolster my opinions
I go on what weve done in the past

spent among the most in this division with little, well no success
CW is doing it different

 

[alcoblade]

but and here's the rub CW had no idea then who he specifically needed, better to see what he had and wait till january
he tried Clark as an inexpensive punt , but its not been a roaring success
We didnt want to blow all we had on punts that relied on real luck
Its prudent to sit on it and as it stands with us in 3rd we are handily placed to make better judgements on our specific needs
It was never would we spend money but when

where the fuck did I put we would go into admin over 300k
I said we have avoided admin from not using your preferred gung ho lets splash it all and go for it approach
just spend 2m to 3m as soon as we can to get out , which sounds a plan , but rarely works

I dont fall back on cheap inferior childish insults to bolster my opinions
I go on what weve done in the past

spent among the most in this division with little, well no success
CW is doing it different

There you go again with completely random and utter nonesense. It's fucking ridiculous.


I haven't expressed an opinion on how we should have spent any money. Given that, it can't possibly be be gung ho, as you suggest. Any chance that straightforward fact will sink in? - absolutely not,

Like I do with my small children, when they spout childlike nonsense, I point it out and they learn from it.

In this case, it's just pointless. So we just have to read countless rants from you that stand up to zero scrutiny, and wouldn't even hold water in a children's playground.

Anyway, the egg timer must have emptied by now. Chuck another random comment in.....

UTB

 

[blade too long]

There you go again with completely random and utter nonesense. It's fucking ridiculous.


I haven't expressed an opinion on how we should have spent any money. Given that, it can't possibly be be gung ho, as you suggest. Any chance that straightforward fact will sink in? - absolutely not,

Like I do with my small children, when they spout childlike nonsense, I point it out and they learn from it.

In this case, it's just pointless. So we just have to read countless rants from you that stand up to zero scrutiny, and wouldn't even hold water in a children's playground.

Anyway, the egg timer must have emptied by now. Chuck another random comment in.....

UTB

so its ok for you to spout random crap saying Id said 300k would cost us admin

not nonesense either

thats your abiding problem
you accuse people of doing what you continually do
talk bollocks

what have I ranted about
Ive put exactly what weve done
saved spending till January

Im happy where we are and our options

wheres the rant in that
mind boggling what you read in your head

 

[alcoblade]

Sigh....

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

but and here's the rub CW had no idea then who he specifically needed, better to see what he had and wait till january
he tried Clark as an inexpensive punt , but its not been a roaring success
We didnt want to blow all we had on punts that relied on real luck
Its prudent to sit on it and as it stands with us in 3rd we are handily placed to make better judgements on our specific needs
It was never would we spend money but when

where the fuck did I put we would go into admin over 300k
I said we have avoided admin from not using your preferred gung ho lets splash it all and go for it approach
just spend 2m to 3m as soon as we can to get out , which sounds a plan , but rarely works

I dont fall back on cheap inferior childish insults to bolster my opinions
I go on what weve done in the past

spent among the most in this division with little, well no success
CW is doing it different

There you go again with completely random and utter nonesense. It's fucking ridiculous.


I haven't expressed an opinion on how we should have spent any money. Given that, it can't possibly be be gung ho, as you suggest. Any chance that straightforward fact will sink in? - absolutely not,

Like I do with my small children, when they spout childlike nonsense, I point it out and they learn from it.

In this case, it's just pointless. So we just have to read countless rants from you that stand up to zero scrutiny, and wouldn't even hold water in a children's playground.

Anyway, the egg timer must have emptied by now. Chuck another random comment in.....

UTB

I think you two need to take a step back

As an aside, Che would have been great for this team / system alongside Billy.

 

[finlaytheblade]

No matter what is available this window there wasn't the time to spend money available from the two sales.Wilder has put a good team together within his budget, amazing really when other managers were thrashing around dropping us further in the shit.
Now is the time to sit back and revues where we are ( management team + owners) with the right investment we really can do it this season.

 

[blade too long]

I think you two need to take a step back

As an aside, Che would have been great for this team / system alongside Billy.

didnt exactly explode last season did it

its hard to plan good chemistry between forwards
took a punt on Clark but its not hit the heights yet
Done fits well but is in a barren spell of scoring , although we are winning games when he plays
reminds me of Dirk Kuyt who was at Liverpool
never scored too many but offered a lot besides

 

[I should coco]

As an aside, Che would have been great for this team / system alongside Billy.

Calling Tyler Durden!

Can we have the 'jug eared cunt' line again please?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

didnt exactly explode last season did it

its hard to plan good chemistry between forwards
took a punt on Clark but its not hit the heights yet
Done fits well but is in a barren spell of scoring , although we are winning games when he plays
reminds me of Dirk Kuyt who was at Liverpool
never scored too many but offered a lot besides

I thought there were signs of them combining well towards the end of last season, plus the overall style is completely different, not that it matters now anyway.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Anyway, the egg timer must have emptied by now. Chuck another random comment in.....

UTB

quality !

At least us Blades don't lose our sense of humour

UTB

 

[fuerstenberger]

I remember a thread before the season began, after Wilder's appointment. On it, most of the comments seemed to suggest that a top six finish would be regarded as a success. Most also expressed a hope that the standard,style of football would improve. I think it is safe to say, a top 6 finish is well within our grasp now and that the style, standard of football has improved immensely. I have only seen us on 3 or 4 occasions, out here, on TV, but I have been impressed by the work ethic, the style and on most occasions, the goals.
Also on that same thread there was a contributor who said he was a pro and dismissed the squad, Wilder was building, as a bunch of lower league cast offs with no talent. He assured us all that we would be embroiled in a relegation battle.
I think what we have in Wilder is a manager whose star is rightly rising. I have heard him discussed out here in football circles. Under Wilder, I think we are a 'team' now who appear to care about each other and the club. What I would have given just to have that over the last 5 seasons. I genuinely believe Wilder will be successful, eventually. How long, eventually, is,heaven knows, but at the moment I am happy I have my pride in the Blades back.

 

[I should coco]

I remember a thread before the season began, after Wilder's appointment. On it, most of the comments seemed to suggest that a top six finish would be regarded as a success. Most also expressed a hope that the standard,style of football would improve. I think it is safe to say, a top 6 finish is well within our grasp now and that the style, standard of football has improved immensely. I have only seen us on 3 or 4 occasions, out here, on TV, but I have been impressed by the work ethic, the style and on most occasions, the goals.
Also on that same thread there was a contributor who said he was a pro and dismissed the squad, Wilder was building, as a bunch of lower league cast offs with no talent. He assured us all that we would be embroiled in a relegation battle.
I think what we have in Wilder is a manager whose star is rightly rising. I have heard him discussed out here in football circles. Under Wilder, I think we are a 'team' now who appear to care about each other and the club. What I would have given just to have that over the last 5 seasons. I genuinely believe Wilder will be successful, eventually. How long, eventually, is,heaven knows, but at the moment I am happy I have my pride in the Blades back.

Sadly I can only give you one 'like'.

Absolutely spot on and we should remember where we came from. At the start of the season we wanted to compete and build a team and most people expected us to then go on and push for automatic promotion next season.

The fact that we haven't battered all comers 5-0 in recent games is a disaster of Titanic proportions to some on here. The thread title says it all. Lets all just be thankful that it is a million times better than last season's shite and we are making steady progress.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Take a step back................from what?

The OP suggest we need a few tweaks - the forwards need a few tweaks, but without those tweaks we will be in a title race with 2 or 3 others.

Sort these tweaks and there will be no title race - everyone else will be playing for 2nd - it really is that clear to see.

CW & AK won't be taking a step back - that is obvious. Just sort the problem you have and we can all take a step back in early April, watching from above as they all fight it out.

Finishing 2nd this season is not on the cards - as long as we play our cards in the right way.

UTB

 

[1danewhitehouse]

didnt exactly explode last season did it

its hard to plan good chemistry between forwards
took a punt on Clark but its not hit the heights yet
Done fits well but is in a barren spell of scoring , although we are winning games when he plays
reminds me of Dirk Kuyt who was at Liverpool
never scored too many but offered a lot besides

30 odd goals between them despite Adams not being up front for much of the time and only being 19 is a decent return. Especially when you consider that as a team overall, we were poor.

 

[blade too long]

30 odd goals between them despite Adams not being up front for much of the time and only being 19 is a decent return. Especially when you consider that as a team overall, we were poor.

well you know sharp will add two thirds of that and will get near or even a few more
Sharp could get 25 to 30 this term

 

[1danewhitehouse]

well you know sharp will add two thirds of that and will get near or even a few more
Sharp could get 25 to 30 this term

True. Because now he's playing in a better team.

But it's still the case that nobody has really nailed down that second striker spot.