The evidence - Blackwell has lost it

[Casper]

Ive been trying to give Blackwell the benefit of the doubt for the past few weeks now. Yes he's had injuries and disruptions, yes the general play has been appalling and yes cracks in the team spirit have become evident. But in my heart i was still holding out for Blackwell to turn us round.

Yesterday though the evidence, to me, was overwhelming. Like it or not, Blackwell is primarily a hoof ball merchant. So what does he do yesterday - order the players to keep the ball on the deck at all times. The players looked nervous, disjointed and generally clueless how to break Cardiff down playing that way. We are not good enough to play that sort of game. We lacked invention and when our play broke down the defence was hopelessly exposed. Dont get me wrong im not a hoofball fan, but if you are going to play on the deck then you must have the right tactics and players who are comfortable doing that.

I think yesterday the players gave 100% but Cardiff won at a canter - they hardly had to break sweat and that really worried me. How does Ched Evans get a game? When Camara came on at least we looked like we had a threat. Cotterill can be very frustrating but he makes things happen. I like Glen Little but im afraid he epitomises everything that Blackwell has done to the team this season - he's past his best, and nowhere near good enough for a side with ambitions of promotion.

 

[Linz]

Thread moved to General Blades Chat.

An explanation of why can be found HERE.

 

[Wards]

seems he can't do right for wrong...

 

[Gingerblade]

Can't agree here pal, scoring 3 and having what looked like a 4th ruled offside is hardly not looking like we couldn't break Cardiff down!

 

[Trevor Hockey]

Just looked at BBC report and stats. We had 51% possession + more shots on target + more offtarget than Cardiff + more corners.

Hardly supports what some on here and elsewhere say that we were second best !

If yesterday was evidence that Blacky has lost it and we're doomed - then I hope to god that those who hold that view are never looking at 'evidence' against me !

UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

Surely Casper, this was a Sacastic post eh?

So even when Blackie trys to change things from le Hoof to passing football he's still criticised for not having the right players????

If you don't like the man fine, but to criticise him for trying to sort things out is a little harsh.

Ok so he was Bold and possibly very Brave to try something new against one of the form teams of the division, but we got 3 goals out of it. For me its STILL the defense that needs sorting

 

[WhiteHawk]

I swear theres a huge number of Blades that were at a different game to me yesterday!!

People complain that we hoof it all the time but we got the ball down and played yesterday, and played well, and you're still complaining??!!!!

We played some good stuff and I'm gutted that we played so well, arguably the better team, and yet we still lost. I actually think we can count ourselves quote unfortunate, Killas attempt that hit the player on the head on the line and Quinns "goal" are 2 examples.

The defence was poor but the first goal was quite unfortunte, yes you could say Morgan made a mistake but 9 times out of 10, that ball would have ended up somewhere near the half way line. The second goal was a penalty so you can't really blame the defence for that, the third was sloppy defending but the 4th was an excellent goal which came from a mistake by Walker on the half way line.

Couldn't break Cardiff down? We had 19 attempts at goal and had the ball in the back of the net 4 times! Or did you not see that?

 

[Mary Christmas]

I swear theres a huge number of Blades that were at a different game to me yesterday!!

People complain that we hoof it all the time but we got the ball down and played yesterday, and played well, and you're still complaining??!!!!

We played some good stuff and I'm gutted that we played so well, arguably the better team, and yet we still lost. I actually think we can count ourselves quote unfortunate, Killas attempt that hit the player on the head on the line and Quinns "goal" are 2 examples.

The defence was poor but the first goal was quite unfortunte, yes you could say Morgan made a mistake but 9 times out of 10, that ball would have ended up somewhere near the half way line. The second goal was a penalty so you can't really blame the defence for that, the third was sloppy defending but the 4th was an excellent goal which came from a mistake by Walker on the half way line.

Couldn't break Cardiff down? We had 19 attempts at goal and had the ball in the back of the net 4 times! Or did you not see that?

Well Whitehawk I know I watched the same game as you and agree entirely with your summary including young Kyle's error.

I'm reading so many posts slagging yesterday's performance - it's ridiculous. "There was no atmosphere going there, in there or after the match"; "people have lost the will to boo"; "They deserved to lose"; "We played well for 2 minutes". One slagged them off and in the same paragraph admitted he'd not seen the game!

"There's none so blind as those that won't see"

 

[Fiery Blade]

Fantastic - we ship in four goals, defend like schoolboys, miss gold edge opportunities, do not take advantage of rubbish Cardiff defending and we have blinkered fans eulogising over a brilliant blades performance
Yesterday we lost 3-4 for anyone who is not on this planet
It is now over one month since we won at home andsix weeks since we won away, we have lost the last three games on the trot and amassed five points out of a possible 24 points!!!

 

[alcoblade]

Fantastic - we ship in four goals, defend like schoolboys, miss gold edge opportunities, do not take advantage of rubbish Cardiff defending and we have blinkered fans eulogising over a brilliant blades performance
Yesterday we lost 3-4 for anyone who is not on this planet
It is now over one month since we won at home andsix weeks since we won away, we have lost the last three games on the trot and amassed five points out of a possible 24 points!!!

some fans, including those who want Blackwell out, can see a good and unlucky performance when they see one. Others are so hell bent on being proved right, they've lost all sense of objectivity.

UTB

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

And if we brought someone like O'Driscoll in why would we suddenly be able to pass it????

 

[alcoblade]

And if we brought someone like O'Driscoll in why would we suddenly be able to pass it????

I think tat like or loathe Blackwell, he's fashioned a certain style after his few years in management. It's against that he's judged. We're showing signs that we might want to start passing the ball, but there's no evidence that Blackwell can get that type of play from a side. O'Driscoll's proved that he can.

It's debatable if we have the players to play that way, but I think we do given time and practice. We have a big problem at the minute in having a poor strike partnership and a leaky defence, so it's difficult to judge progress. We need to drop Evans until that player that we thought we were buying is found. Somehow, we seem to have had our pants removed in royal fashion.

UTB

 

[Fiery Blade]

some fans, including those who want Blackwell out, can see a good and unlucky performance when they see one. Others are so hell bent on being proved right, they've lost all sense of objectivity.

UTB

It gives me no pleasure whatsoever outlining the facts
Yesterday was better, I will and have already admitted but, we still lost 4-3 at home
how much positivity you want to heap on to the performance we defended extremely poorly, let in four goals at home, and lost for the third time in a row!
The manager is responsible for the results.
Your theory of keeping chanting we will turn it round does not appear to be working perhaps my theory of ditching the manager and bringing in someone with a clue may work - it can't be any worse than present circumstances!

 

[Trevor Hockey]

Liverpool went into todays game with Man Utd with worse form than us and on the back of their worst run for 40 yrs (I'm sure thats what was said) - they turned it round and SO WILL WE.

Too many are letting their private agenda's re-Blacky distort our season. We've drawn with 'Boro and WBA and should have got something yesterday.

I'll put my head on the block and say - we'll beat Newcastle - I really think we will!!

UTB

 

[oldblade]

Fantastic - we ship in four goals, defend like schoolboys, miss gold edge opportunities, do not take advantage of rubbish Cardiff defending and we have blinkered fans eulogising over a brilliant blades performance
Yesterday we lost 3-4 for anyone who is not on this planet
It is now over one month since we won at home andsix weeks since we won away, we have lost the last three games on the trot and amassed five points out of a possible 24 points!!!

I don't think anyone is saying it was a brilliant performance. they are just saying that it was better than a lot of recent performances and there were things to be encouraged about.

I have serious doubts about Blackwell and would rather we sought another manager.

But, I'm not going to try and pretend that we were awful yesterday. We weren't. There was very little hoofball. Even when we went behind we did not resort to the big punt upfield. We actually tried to create openinings by passing. We created a lot of chances and scored three goals against one of the better sides in the division. Certain individuals did not have the best of games, but the overall team performance wasn't bad.

On the downside, the defending was pretty comical on occasions and we do get opened up far too easily. That area needs much attention. But Cardiff's defence didn't look much better either, which may cost them in the end.

I am very disappointed to have lost yet again, but I did actually enjoy the game (as far as is possible when you've lost) and was entertained.

 

[Mary Christmas]

Just a couple of points I'd like to make.

1/ Re: "Blackwell is primarily a hoof ball merchant. So what does he do yesterday - order the players to keep the ball on the deck at all times. The players looked nervous, disjointed and generally clueless how to break Cardiff down playing that way. We are not good enough to play that sort of game. We lacked invention and when our play broke down the defence was hopelessly exposed. Dont get me wrong im not a hoofball fan, but if you are going to play on the deck then you must have the right tactics and players who are comfortable doing that".

The game is called football so by definition ........... Even with hoofball at sometime it has to come down and be played on the floor........... Now I'm sure that when we played Donny at a certain part of the game there was a brief period when we played some football insofar as there was a succession of 5 passes and the reaction of the crowd was quite derisory. Now I believe that I saw United not only attempt to play some football but did indeed play football for the first 20 minutes of the Cardiff game. There was no derision then - I heard plenty mumble "its about time" or "if only they'd done that before". I'm not sure but it could have been young Kyle that made the first hoof and before the ball hit the ground the same lot were saying same old same as......

2/ I feel as though I may be one of Fiery Blades "blinkered fans" for it is my humble opinion that the performance was better though it was a disappointing end product. He mentions about some "eulogising over a brilliant blades performance". I've had a good go at reading all of the posts about the game and I don't think anyone's actually said it was brilliant just better. He also seems to have taken ownership of the theory "ditch the manager". I think I've read enough posts to point out to him that there are one or two others that have held that theory for a while. However, until that happens - has it surely will - we need to ditch our prejudices and concentrate on the positives.

PS I've looked on Wikipedia under Theories and have found the likes of Einstein and Aizen but as yet there's no Fiery Blade,s "Theory of ditch the Manager" but do not dispair it's shit easy to get it in there.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Christmas,
Whilst I do not lay claim to be the first to have a theory of ditching a manager that is taking the club nowhere I would subscribe to the current feelings prevailent amoungst many Unitedites and because there are one or two others that hold similar views to myself does not make me the only disgruntled fan.
Tje reason I am so disgruntled is the fact that when we got into the Premier League we had a golden opportunity to firstly adjust to life in the higher division and then strike onwards and upwards to compete with the best- Whilst the rest is history we were a short step from returning last season when we contributed to our own downfall by giving up against Burnley.
Blackwell should have gone then, but he stayed and has now overseen the dismantling of a side with the capabilities of at least challenging for promotion.
His arrogant 'I'm not worried' comments are the last straw
I'm not one for theories just a passion to see United succeed, thats no theory just a heartfelt plea to have a manager with the same vision as I and thousands of Blades fans are looking for.!

 

[alcoblade]

"Blackwell should have gone then, but he stayed and has now overseen the dismantling of a side with the capabilities of at least challenging for promotion."

You can't seriously suggest that Blackwell wanted to dismantle the side, or another manager would have had the power to do anything differently? As you're another in a long line of relatively unsuccessful people who're adept at spendding the money of a more successful person, it should be the chairmen you're aiming you're advice at, not the manager.

Criticise Blackwell for approach, for what he says - but blaming the results of financial constraints on him is just ludicrous.

UTB

 

[Casper]

We were not good Saturday. We gave 100% yes i agree, we had more possession than we usually do yes i agree, we played more 'football' yes i agree. BUT we lost 3-4 at home and scored our 3rd in the 93rd min.

Cardiff had more control over the game than we did and when our attacking play broke down we looked very exposed at the back.

There are times for 'tip - tap' football and there are times for the long ball. There is a time for high tempo play and a time for holding the ball. It is very worrying to me that our team is nowhere near as good as last season. Blackwell has brought in, what 13 players? We only had to get rid of Naughton - and of course Kenny and Halford. Three very good players for Blades (although Kenny and sometimes Halford had their critics). But Blackwell was given money to replace these players as well as other areas of the team. He should be commended for getting rid of some deadwood, but he has not improved the team - it has gone backwards. We need to wake up and see whats happening here. A 3-4 defeat at home should not be viewed as an improvement. To me it is further evidence that we have lost the plot.

 

[lenners]

some fans, including those who want Blackwell out, can see a good and unlucky performance when they see one. Others are so hell bent on being proved right, they've lost all sense of objectivity.

UTB

Conceding four goals at home will very rarely be considered part of a good, unlucky performance on just about every objective measure.

 

[madeinsheffield]

That sums up how bad things are when we are 'happy we lost by one goal' FFS.

What's happening, yes there was more spirit, better football but there's a massive problem which needs addressing, and quickly, if it's done in time we can go on a run, climb the table and at least make the play offs, we nearly did it post robson, why not again!

 

[ghandi]

Liverpool went into todays game with Man Utd with worse form than us and on the back of their worst run for 40 yrs (I'm sure thats what was said) - they turned it round and SO WILL WE.

Too many are letting their private agenda's re-Blacky distort our season. We've drawn with 'Boro and WBA and should have got something yesterday.

I'll put my head on the block and say - we'll beat Newcastle - I really think we will!!

UTB

Liverpool in their last 8 league games have won 5 and lost 3 which equals 15 points which triple the number of points we have gained in the last 8 games. I think we have every right to be as good in the CCC as Liverpool are in the Premier but I just can't see us winning anyone let alone Newcastle.

 

[alcoblade]

Conceding four goals at home will very rarely be considered part of a good, unlucky performance on just about every objective measure.

not suprisingly you fail to mention that we scored 3, conceded a dodgy penalty, had a goal narrowly ruled offside and played the best quality of football we've played for some time.

On every objective measure there is, you're as full as sh1t as ever.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

That sums up how bad things are when we are 'happy we lost by one goal' FFS.

Who's happy? I want a change in manager. I can also recognise significant improvement when I see it.

UTB

 

[uniblade]

Get him out now the seasons not over yet there is time for us yet.

 

[lenners]

not suprisingly you fail to mention that we scored 3, conceded a dodgy penalty, had a goal narrowly ruled offside and played the best quality of football we've played for some time.

On every objective measure there is, you're as full as sh1t as ever.

UTB

I'll repeat it again: on virtually every objective measure, conceding four goals at home and losing does not represent a good performance.
We have been marginally better in some aspects of the game but that does not equate to a good performance. Indeed, had the dramatic fizz in the last couple of minutes of injury time not occured, I suspect the reaction may have been markedly different despite essentially the same performance.
I suggest your actual acknowledgement of that, deep down, led you to have a bit of a needless hissy fit.

 

[Guesty]

The Guardian says that despite our three goals, Cardiff were "vastly superior". I found that very hard to argue with, obviously plenty disagree!

 

[alcoblade]

I'll repeat it again: on virtually every objective measure, conceding four goals at home and losing does not represent a good performance.
We have been marginally better in some aspects of the game but that does not equate to a good performance. Indeed, had the dramatic fizz in the last couple of minutes of injury time not occured, I suspect the reaction may have been markedly different despite essentially the same performance.
I suggest your actual acknowledgement of that, deep down, led you to have a bit of a needless hissy fit.

you don't think my belief that you're full of shit is linked to a hissy fit do you? It's constant, genuine and whole hearted Len......

UTB

 

[lenners]

you don't think my belief that you're full of shit is linked to a hissy fit do you? It's constant, genuine and whole hearted Len......

UTB

No, I think it's linked to knowing you're wrong and getting all uptight about it.
Chill out, think Lenist and allow serenity in.

 

[TonyAgana]

I'll repeat it again: on virtually every objective measure, conceding four goals at home and losing does not represent a good performance.

You don't really read people's posts, do you? Of course losing doesn't represent a good performance. However, that is such a ridiculous thing to say in that consider if we'd played Barcelona, played out of our skin, drawn 7-7 and lost on penalties, would you allow anyone to say it then? Regardless, nobody has said that. What people are saying is that there are plenty of positives to take from the game - superior possession, shots on/off target, corners etc. plus the fact that we all witnessed a much improved "style" of football, plenty of character, guts and enthusiasm. Compared with recent performances it's perfectly acceptable to consider Saturday's game a "good performance". You're only as good as your last game and prior to Saturday we were shit. Going into the Newcastle game we are looking stronger and were unlucky to get something out of our last game. Nobody is saying it was like watching Brazil on Saturday, just that we were a lot better than other performances recently.