Blackwell accused of bullying

[JohnDenver]

I voted for Tony Blair. I also supported Blackwell’s second season on the basis we had a chance of promotion.

I’ll have a job selling either decision at the pearly gates.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Prescient comments from Linz in that thread:

ome an

And she was right......began quite well, then, in an instant, we were watching what has become an all too familiar type of football that is more boring than watching paint dry. Compared to Wilder Blackwell is a novice. Whatever his reputation he's had plenty of opportunities to make an impact somewhere. So far he's failed.

 

[Kona]

I don’t really recall the lad but it doesn’t sound like sour grapes to me. If he’d said at the time, then maybe I’d look at it differently.

Our time under Blackwell’s ‘management’, is the only time in 29 years of being a season ticket holder, I considered not renewing.

The style of play was as detestable as him.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

It is also telling that as soon as Blackie left for Leeds that our form dipped off drastically as with Blackie as Warnocks lieutenant we would have enjoyed top flight football earlier and sooner.

Blackwell left us in pre-season 2003. The effects were so catastrophic that after the first 10 games of the following season we were top of the table. It’s a myth that we suddenly became poorer because we were missing “good old Blackie”, and the impact on the form was non-existent. We were undoubtedly a poorer team, but this was chiefly because McCall’s legs had well and truly gone at that point, and Brown was playing for a move. It also didn’t help that we essentially rebuilt the squad given the turnover that summer.

 

[BettingBlade]

The fact that Blackwell preferred to leave an empty seat on the bench rather than give it to a youngster for match day experience is enough to convince me that the OP could be true.

He’s the only manager I can think of in recent times that hasn’t given at least some youth a proper chance. Even if you don’t think a player is good enough you shouldn’t deny him an opportunity to gain experience to suit your over-inflated ego.

Blackwell was always a twat and you could tell from how the players reacted to him.

 

[JohnDenver]

Blackwell left us in pre-season 2003. The effects were so catastrophic that after the first 10 games of the following season we were top of the table. It’s a myth that we suddenly became poorer because we were missing “good old Blackie”, and the impact on the form was non-existent. We were undoubtedly a poorer team, but this was chiefly because McCall’s legs had well and truly gone at that point, and Brown was playing for a move. It also didn’t help that we essentially rebuilt the squad given the turnover that summer.

I think brownie is enjoying himself here.

If he’s serious I want access to his drinks cabinet....

 

[Greenwich Blade]

He once gave me a lift when I was hitchhiking - seemed like a nice bloke to me.

 

[Laney Blade]

He started Lowton's Naughton's and Walker's professional career by successfully implementing them into the first team

The worst we finished under him was 8th in the Championship.

I'm not saying these allegations are untrue and don't deserve to investigated... but for now would take it with a pinch of salt and imagine it's probably a grudge that Lowton made it and he didn't.

I think sour grapes ...our 2 Kyle's & Matty Lowton got on fine with KB. It must be hard to know you aren't up to their standard but unfair to cry bully as the excuse.

 

[Laney Blade]

It really boils down to one thing.

It’s impossible to get the best out of people if you rule in the way described.

This is why he fails. Consistently.

It’s not a coincidence.

Treat footballers with respect, and you are much more likely to earn that respect back, even when it’s necessary to dish out a bollocking. Players will accept it better.

Hardly rocket science, but clearly beyond the intellectual capacity of the ex goalie !!

UTB.

Obviously the management team choose the best young players to bring into the first team squad. It is a results business so they have to choose the best. The others go into the development team. Currently headed by Mark Todd but can't remember who it was back then. May have been Mark Todd then?

 

[Laney Blade]

Nobody is claiming he drove anyone away. The article in the OP is saying that he ruined their confidence and in football confidence is everything.

ome an

And she was right......began quite well, then, in an instant, we were watching what has become an all too familiar type of football that is more boring than watching paint dry. Compared to Wilder Blackwell is a novice. Whatever his reputation he's had plenty of opportunities to make an impact somewhere. So far he's failed.

 

[niktheblade]

This might have been mentioned but the comments were taken from the undr the cosh podcast. Blackwell has been mentioned by a few pro's on there and they all say the same

 

[Davalon]

Clarke Carlisle another one to publicly air his opinion on him.

KB was undoubtedly a cunt but I wouldn't say he was shit from beginning to end.

However what summed him up was the Burnley play off final. We played the same way in both league games and got nothing.

How did we approach the final? Exactly the same. Clueless.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

“Former Bury and Preston midfielder Chris Sedgwick also made claims about Blackwell. ... It was just all about him. He was vile. He was just so arrogant. All he was bothered about is if you have worked hard ... “

If we didn’t know the identity of Hoofwell’s mentor and benefactor, we’d have to be pretty dense not to guess it from these comments. “His master’s voice”, etc. At least Warnock was (occasionally) charming and funny.

Under Blackwell I used to come away miserable even when we'd ground out a win.

Our time under Blackwell’s ‘management’, is the only time in 29 years of being a season ticket holder, I considered not renewing.

Completely understand where both of you are coming from. Badbuy Jr and his older brother had 5 or 6 mates (kids) who got disillusioned and bored, and packed it in, at the end of Cackwell’s first season. So their dads, who couldn’t justify the time or money going on their own, with young families to support, packed it in too. As did Jr’s big brother. They were all season ticket holders at the time, who gave up because the football was unwatchable, not because we were on the slide.

Jr and me were never going to pack it in. But I feckin hated going, at times, during Knobwell’s “reign” (of shit). Am I surprised that a manager who relied on a “style” grounded in “kick, rush, wrestle and elbow” has been called a bully?

Hahahahaha. Nope.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Clarke Carlisle another one to publicly air his opinion on him.

KB was undoubtedly a cunt but I wouldn't say he was shit from beginning to end.

However what summed him up was the Burnley play off final. We played the same way in both league games and got nothing.

How did we approach the final? Exactly the same. Clueless.

...after beating Preston in the semi final by keeping the ball on the ground and passing it - I knew that my money and my seat at the final were a complete waste of time when the ball was launched continuously towards the best pair of centre backs in the division.

Gormless, prehistoric management with not a single saving grace

 

[super_pig]

It was excruciating. Defenders would hoof it aimlessly into midfield where Quinn would try to scoop it over his own head to nowhere in particular in the vain hope of finding someone masquerading as a striker. Monty (let’s keep it neutral about him) would then have to chase around relentlessly in the hope of retrieving it. There was no style, no flair, nothing that qualified as passing and precious little excitement.

Besmirch him? That’s far too lenient. I’d miss out the ‘esm’ and just birch the fucking useless piece of shit.

View attachment 44049

and hence the ‘elpiton’ moniker was born

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

and hence the ‘elpiton’ moniker was born

The "elpiton" moniker is entirely justified in Quinny's case (even if Pinchy often reaches for hyperbole in order to make his point--I've always thought that if a point is worth stating, then it's worth overstating ).

Stephen Quinn is an excellent example of a competent footballer, who might have contributed more than he eventually did to the cause, who was shithoused, and whose Blades record was compromised, by Blackwell.

The twat. (Not Quinny).

 

[Dkc]

ome an

And she was right......began quite well, then, in an instant, we were watching what has become an all too familiar type of football that is more boring than watching paint dry. Compared to Wilder Blackwell is a novice. Whatever his reputation he's had plenty of opportunities to make an impact somewhere. So far he's failed.

On his own maybe but him and Warnock have just got Cardff up to the PL

 

[diplomat]

The "elpiton" moniker is entirely justified in Quinny's case (even if Pinchy often reaches for hyperbole in order to make his point--I've always thought that if a point is worth stating, then it's worth overstating ).

Stephen Quinn is an excellent example of a competent footballer, who might have contributed more than he eventually did to the cause, who was shithoused, and whose Blades record was compromised, by Blackwell.

The twat. (Not Quinny).

Couldn’t agree more. Quinny was a neat little intelligent footballer. Folk around me used to slate him for the blind hooks over his shoulder and wonder out loud how he kept getting picked. “He’s being picked because he’s following his instructions to the letter” said I.

 

[Pinchy]

Couldn’t agree more. Quinny was a neat little intelligent footballer. Folk around me used to slate him for the blind hooks over his shoulder and wonder out loud how he kept getting picked. “He’s being picked because he’s following his instructions to the letter” said I.

Yes. It’s very instructive to reflect on how many such blind hooks over the shoulder we see these days. It just doesn’t happen does it? Better style, better players, better organisation, certainly better football.

 

[CrookesBlade]

Can’t say I find Wedgebury’s story particularly compelling. He was never at the required standard and was at the club for years.

I will add the caveat though that pretty much every aspect of the latter part of Blackwell’s reign (post the 3-2 win over the pigs) was eye bleedingly awful and made going to the match a depressing chore - Cresswell running though treacle on the left wing and the mindless over the shoulder hooks from Quinn being standout features. The shrug of the shoulders to the away end at Doncaster Rovers sums that period of time up nicely.

Whilst Blackwell did play the youngsters that were good enough (and a couple that weren’t) I always did wonder what was the point of having an academy when he was telling the first team that “midfielders aren’t there to play football”.

He was the man at the right time when he took over front Robson, put some fight back in the side and took us from certain relegation to he verge of the play-offs. Should also be remembered that he took us to within 3 points of promotion. He wasn’t the worst we’ve had by some distance

The point most people turned on him though was the defeat at home to the pigs. Allowing a poor Wednesday side to do the first double over us in 95 years saw the season written off as failure before it was over.

McCabes mistake was not taking the opportunity to let him go when he offered to, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

His ability to alienate players on an industrial scale is truly breathtaking though. Imagine what we could have done with Billy Sharp or Leon Britton in their prime if he had a clue how to use them.

 

[Gin&Juice]

Ask Keith Gillespie about Blackwell.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Can’t say I find Wedgebury’s story particularly compelling. He was never at the required standard and was at the club for years.

I will add the caveat though that pretty much every aspect of the latter part of Blackwell’s reign (post the 3-2 win over the pigs) was eye bleedingly awful and made going to the match a depressing chore - Cresswell running though treacle on the left wing and the mindless over the shoulder hooks from Quinn being standout features. The shrug of the shoulders to the away end at Doncaster Rovers sums that period of time up nicely.

Whilst Blackwell did play the youngsters that were good enough (and a couple that weren’t) I always did wonder what was the point of having an academy when he was telling the first team that “midfielders aren’t there to play football”.

He was the man at the right time when he took over front Robson, put some fight back in the side and took us from certain relegation to he verge of the play-offs. Should also be remembered that he took us to within 3 points of promotion. He wasn’t the worst we’ve had by some distance

The point most people turned on him though was the defeat at home to the pigs. Allowing a poor Wednesday side to do the first double over us in 95 years saw the season written off as failure before it was over.

McCabes mistake was not taking the opportunity to let him go when he offered to, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

His ability to alienate players on an industrial scale is truly breathtaking though. Imagine what we could have done with Billy Sharp or Leon Britton in their prime if he had a clue how to use them.

He only managed Leon Britton for 3 games

 

[Large Mendonca]

Nearly finished Keith’s autobiography while on holiday, he’s very scathing of Blackwell. Seems to back up the bullying stories saying himself, cotterill and sharp all took a hammering but he was scared stiff of Speed.

 

[Magic Hat]

Pembo was rumoured to have bounced him around the dressing room once.

Not true.

 

[Revolution]

He only managed Leon Britton for 3 games

During which Britton laid on Ched Evans' equaliser at Cardiff, which was Britton's only positive contribution in a Blades shirt.

 

[Cheets]

Nearly finished Keith’s autobiography while on holiday, he’s very scathing of Blackwell. Seems to back up the bullying stories saying himself, cotterill and sharp all took a hammering but he was scared stiff of Speed.

What? Gillespie or Blackwell were scared of Speed?

 

[Large Mendonca]

What? Gillespie or Blackwell were scared of Speed?

Blackwell daren’t challenge Speed or Beattie, but picked on so called lesser players. All according to KGs book of course......

 

[Sheffsteel]

Blackwell daren’t challenge Speed or Beattie, but picked on so called lesser players. All according to KGs book of course......

To be fair I think most managers use what at some point, what can be perceived as “bullying” to assert their authority.

Blackwell, like most managers, chose the easy targets to give rollickings.

My understanding is that managers that give rollicking and bully players need to have either a great track record where they deserve respect (Alex Ferguson, Jose Mouriho) or be able to go on the charm offensive and be likeable (Neil Warnock).

Blackwell had a very modest playing record, so couldn’t earn respect that way.
Also he come never get across his personality as a likeable genuine man to the players.