The pleasure of seeing opinions melt

[Cerberus Blade]

I see Martin McKeown is the latest "pundit" to "come out" and admit that he might have got it wrong about Sheffield United. He'd tipped us for relegation apparently, but he's having doubts already, after just 4 games.

It reminds me a lot of that crass presenter they had on RS a couple of years ago. You know, the one with the communication defect, from Leeds. At the start of our first Championship season since being promoted from League 1, he spoke only of "survival" and a "relegation battle" when mentioning Sheffield United. It was very enjoyable seeing his opinions melt like an ice lolly in the sunshine as we proved we were more than capable of competing at that level.

Even more pleasurable was seeing the opinions of Wednesdayites melt - as their predictions of us going "straight back darn" evaporated in their own back yard when we took them to the cleaners!

The thing is this though...if you want to stick your neck out and have a strong opinion on something, then that's fine, but make sure you do your research first and that's it's based on some sort of strong foundation. And this is the problem with a lot of the so-called expert "pundit" predictions. Any silly bugger can guess that the teams most likely to go down are the ones that have just come up. Me granny could have told us that. But looking a bit more closely at the evidence before making such a prediction seems to escape these "experts". And they end up looking daft.

As for McKeown, I think his latest stance is no face-saver. In fact, I think it makes him look dafter than ever. Because to be changing your mind after just 4 games only underlines the fact that you obviously didn't look into things very thoroughly in the first place. And what's more, a lot could change yet. When we've got a dozen or so games under our belt we'll have a bit more idea as to which direction this club is heading in. Maybe that's the time to start making predictions, or changing them, not now.

I do love a good trick-cyclist though - and our current form is bringing them out in numbers. Don't be surprised when they change their minds again if our form dips, and say, "I told you so".

 

[Weasel]

All good points and I agree.

Just one thing though, who is 'McKeown'?
I presume you mean Martin Keown?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Keown.

 

[Brian Deane]

Keyown ....you knaw its rite

 

[Whiston Blade]

Martyn Keyown

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Martin Keyawn?

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Michelle Keegan?

 

[boss hog]

He probably heard what Crooks said and changed his mind pretty sharpish.

 

[Rodley]

It’s early days yet lads.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I see Martin McKeown is the latest "pundit" to "come out" and admit that he might have got it wrong about Sheffield United. He'd tipped us for relegation apparently, but he's having doubts already, after just 4 games.

It reminds me a lot of that crass presenter they had on RS a couple of years ago. You know, the one with the communication defect, from Leeds. At the start of our first Championship season since being promoted from League 1, he spoke only of "survival" and a "relegation battle" when mentioning Sheffield United. It was very enjoyable seeing his opinions melt like an ice lolly in the sunshine as we proved we were more than capable of competing at that level.

Even more pleasurable was seeing the opinions of Wednesdayites melt - as their predictions of us going "straight back darn" evaporated in their own back yard when we took them to the cleaners!

The thing is this though...if you want to stick your neck out and have a strong opinion on something, then that's fine, but make sure you do your research first and that's it's based on some sort of strong foundation. And this is the problem with a lot of the so-called expert "pundit" predictions. Any silly bugger can guess that the teams most likely to go down are the ones that have just come up. Me granny could have told us that. But looking a bit more closely at the evidence before making such a prediction seems to escape these "experts". And they end up looking daft.

As for McKeown, I think his latest stance is no face-saver. In fact, I think it makes him look dafter than ever. Because to be changing your mind after just 4 games only underlines the fact that you obviously didn't look into things very thoroughly in the first place. And what's more, a lot could change yet. When we've got a dozen or so games under our belt we'll have a bit more idea as to which direction this club is heading in. Maybe that's the time to start making predictions, or changing them, not now.

I do love a good trick-cyclist though - and our current form is bringing them out in numbers. Don't be surprised when they change their minds again if our form dips, and say, "I told you so".

This is the article the quotes are taken from. I suspect that Keown’s “research” still hasn’t gone much further than looking at the first four results and the league table:-

5. Which three clubs will be relegated?

Keown: It's so hard to say. I predicted Newcastle, Norwich and Sheffield United in pre-season but Chris Wilder's side have the same number of points as Tottenham! Watford, tipped to push for Europe in pre-season, are bottom. Maybe Bournemouth and Southampton will start to feel the pressure.

Sutton: I'm standing by my initial guesses of Sheffield United, Brighton and Aston Villa. But I am worried about my old team Norwich. They've got a young back line, a talented team, but these are players not used to the Premier League. You have to hope they don't start to doubt themselves.

Sportsmail's Wise Men tackle 10 big questions

WISE MEN: With the international break upon us, three Sportsmail Wise Men answer 10 big questions on the Premier League, the England side, women's football… and VAR!

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Weasel]

Yes it is early days, and as CB mentioned in his post, all the more ridiculous that some 'experts' are changing their opinions after so few games played so far. It's a clear indication that they didn't bother to do their homework in the first place if their minds can be swayed so quickly.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but come on, if you are supposed to be an expert in a particular subject matter and know you will be asked a certain question (each year in this scenario) at least have the decency to do your homework and have a clue about it. He is after all, getting paid for his opinions.

It's just lazy. As for Danny Mills, he is either very lazy, a bit thick, or quite probably both. I also think he doesn't really like the Blades anyway from past experience. He's just an obnoxious little man. Same as the self proclaimed oracle that is smug twat Garth.

They just embarrass themselves, but aren't bright enough to realise they are doing it.

 

[Snake]

As has been said, predicting us to be relegated was an easy option. Although we don't necessarily agree with them, most Blades would concede that that was a reasonable assumption. The thing that gets me is why are many of these "experts" in a job? I can't get my head around it. Take Sue Smith's comments about us signing Madine last January so we "now have a striker". As we know, Billy was either the leading goalscorer or up there with the top at the time. You still see her ugly scouse mug on the screen giving her "expert" opinions week after week. It's amazing.

Don't even get me started on Garth "the poshest Stokie on the planet" fuckin Crooks. He is to football punditry what chocolate is to fireguards.

 

[Niceguyeddie]

Everything around the premier League is exaggerated beyond belief and opinions change like the wind
We seem to have become a bit of a favourite with the hipsters which will probably result In the old guard press pack turning on us

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

It`s interesting that Chris Sutton referred to his relegation picks as "guesses". More lazy journalism.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Fans' opinions about certain players are melting too. Its a journey and whata trip!

As for Keyown, he gets paid even when he is lazy like most other pundits. We started to exist for them on the first day of the season.

 

[Revolution]

It`s interesting that Chris Sutton referred to his relegation picks as "guesses". More lazy journalism.

Every prediction/pick is a guess.

I am not surprised that people are re-assessing their predictions as we look better than many who don't know the team anticipated, but it is too early to crow about them changing their minds. Whether we are good enough to get a point a game going forward remains to be seen. Beware small sample size.

 

[Houston_Blade]

It will be the ‘Pleasure of the “told you so” brigade’ if we fail to stay up.

Let’s leave the proclamations of how good we are until we’ve done a few more games and got 40 points on the board please. Bold statements early doors have a tendency to bite you in the arse.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Wise men my arse!

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

Every prediction/pick is a guess.

I am not surprised that people are re-assessing their predictions as we look better than many who don't know the team anticipated, but it is too early to crow about them changing their minds. Whether we are good enough to get a point a game going forward remains to be seen. Beware small sample size.

There is a difference between a forecast based on research and a pure guess. I haven`t seen Chris Sutton, unlike others, explain why he thinks we will be relegated: for example, using overlapping centre backs, poor signings, lack of experienced players.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Its quite interesting that fans with their geeky xg Twitter accounts are far more clued up than pundits who get paid a fair amount of money. Sky use those EFL podcast guys on sky sports news and for league one stuff on quest as pundits know absolutely nothing about lower leagues.

Gary Nevile took punditry to a new level. It'll be interesting to see who the next innovator is.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

There is a difference between a forecast based on research and a pure guess. I haven`t seen Chris Sutton, unlike others, explain why he thinks we will be relegated: for example, using overlapping centre backs, poor signings, lack of experienced players.

Chris Sutton has Naaawich to stay up purely because it's an ex team.

I said they'd struggle because their defence is shit. As has been proven after 4 games. In fact, they're lucky they haven't conceded about 15 after 4 games because West Ham should have had 6 or 7.

 

[sitwell]

Who actually stood up for us and/or actually did their homework? Redknapp and Savage are the only ones I can think of.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Danny Mills was on Talksport last night on the Kick off show and
he made it very clear that his opinion remains that he thinks the 3 relegated teams will still be Norwich, Brighton and Sheffield United.
The other presenter Hugh Woozencroft said his relegation prediction was Newcastle, Brighton and Norwich and he still sticks by his prediction.

Two Sheffield United fans rang the show to call him a lazy journalist and ask why he still thinks we’ll be relegated.
His reply was he’s looked at the quality of our players and we have probably the lowest quality players in the league.

His logic was better players means more wins over a long period, where as lower quality players logically means struggle.

The SU fan asked if he’d watched us play this season.....he replied that he’s seen all our 4 games and admits we’ve played really well but said he thinks it’s a temporary high.....he said he remembers Hull City when they came up and they also looked impressive early on, then eventually started to struggle.

He then said teams that stay up need to score goals and he’s watched our main striker Billy Sharp for years.....said he’s a great finisher but needs setting up and
Can’t score goals by himself......where as Teemu Pukki CAN score goals under his own steam. Said NC do have a chance of staying up because they always score goals.

The SU fan replied that Sharp has only played for 10 minutes this season and hardly even plays for us and mentioned Callum Robinson.
Mills said that our players don’t have any PL pedigree saying that Robinson and McGoldrick have only ever played in the Championship.

He then later contradicted himself when speaking about Man Utd highlighting how great Dan James is and how great Abraham and Mount are at Chelsea.
Mills thinks that Robinson’s good form is temporary because he’s come from the Championship, so playing his above his level.
However even though James, Mount and Abraham only have Championship experience, he thinks they’ll be stars in the PL.

The SU fan told Mills there’s no way SU will be relegated and that everyone has under estimated us for 3 years. Mills said he’s heard all this before from teams that have good starts but someone has to be relegated. The SU fan bet his house that we won’t be relegated. Mills laughed and took the bet. The other guy said that Danny Mills would need to do a forfeit if SU stay up. Mills agreed.

However they were both saying they would love to get this SU fan back on the show at the end of the season if we get relegated.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Who actually stood up for us and/or actually did their homework? Redknapp and Savage are the only ones I can think of.

I agree with this. Redknapp was promptly shouted down by Souness and Cashley the other week on Sky. It was embarrassing that they were sniggering at Redknapp’s comments about us.

 

[boss hog]

I see Mcgoldrick' s made comments about what Crooks said,I don't think we should bother getting caught up in that nonsense, just makes these idiot's look more important, let the performance's do the talking. We can give it back in spades when and if we're safe.

 

[BushBlade]

Danny Mills was on Talksport last night on the Kick off show and
he made it very clear that his opinion remains that he thinks the 3 relegated teams will still be Norwich, Brighton and Sheffield United.
The other presenter Hugh Woozencroft said his relegation prediction was Newcastle, Brighton and Norwich and he still sticks by his prediction.

Two Sheffield United fans rang the show to call him a lazy journalist and ask why he still thinks we’ll be relegated.
His reply was he’s looked at the quality of our players and we have probably the lowest quality players in the league.

His logic was better players means more wins over a long period, where as lower quality players logically means struggle.

The SU fan asked if he’d watched us play this season.....he replied that he’s seen all our 4 games and admits we’ve played really well but said he thinks it’s a temporary high.....he said he remembers Hull City when they came up and they also looked impressive early on, then eventually started to struggle.

He then said teams that stay up need to score goals and he’s watched our main striker Billy Sharp for years.....said he’s a great finisher but needs setting up and
Can’t score goals by himself......where as Teemu Pukki CAN score goals under his own steam. Said NC do have a chance of staying up because they always score goals.

The SU fan replied that Sharp has only played for 10 minutes this season and hardly even plays for us and mentioned Callum Robinson.
Mills said that our players don’t have any PL pedigree saying that Robinson and McGoldrick have only ever played in the Championship.

He then later contradicted himself when speaking about Man Utd highlighting how great Dan James is and how great Abraham and Mount are at Chelsea.
Mills thinks that Robinson’s good form is temporary because he’s come from the Championship, so playing his above his level.
However even though James, Mount and Abraham only have Championship experience, he thinks they’ll be stars in the PL.

The SU fan told Mills there’s no way SU will be relegated and that everyone has under estimated us for 3 years. Mills said he’s heard all this before from teams that have good starts but someone has to be relegated. The SU fan bet his house that we won’t be relegated. Mills laughed and took the bet. The other guy said that Danny Mills would need to do a forfeit if SU stay up. Mills agreed.

However they were both saying they would love to get this SU fan back on the show at the end of the season if we get relegated.

I missed that. Heard some of the show but turned it off when he started talking gibberish about Man U. When he gave a list of players who’d left to illustrate his point that it wasn’t Solksjaer who was responsible for their transfer dealings and then immediately afterwards said ‘Solksjaer said last season “this lot won’t be here’ but they are so it shows he’s not in charge.

 

[Antonb]

Let's just wait till the end of the season or until we are safe from relegation, then though, we can really let rip!

 

[boss hog]

All these opinions of us just go to show what a cosy, snobby little closed shop the prem is,they don't like the illusion of greatness to be challenged, they only understand money, they were happier with Fulham in there with their overpaid foreign players selling dishes all round the world than a little known British team with no household names to keep everyone safely on the gravy train.
They're all self serving leaches who are happy to proclaim the emperors new clothes.

 

[PokerBlade]

The trick is to change your mind frequently enough that you can claim you were right but not so frequently that people think you're flip-flopping all the time.

For pundits with opinions as forgettable as Keown once every four games is the magic number.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

"But I am worried about my old team Norwich. They've got a young back line, a talented team, but these are players not used to the Premier League. You have to hope they don't start to doubt themselves".

Just has a matter of Interest how many of our starting eleven in the 4 games played so far have played in the Premier League before ?