The pleasure of seeing opinions melt

[Sheffsteel]

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.

Mills was given 3 discussion questions per hour by Hugh Woozencroft during the show.

In the later section of the show Woozencorft explained that it’s now an international break and every team has played 4 matches each.
So he asked Danny Mills which teams would be relegated and if his prediction has changed compared the the start of the season.

Mills was adamant that his opinion is unchanged saying “on paper” Sheffield United and Norwich clearly have the worse individual players.
So although these teams can have freak results or have a good run.....said that once the novelty has worn off over a full season the weakest squads are more likely to struggle. He thinks Villa will stay up due to having more players with a PL pedigree.

Then he said that Brighton were worryingly poor at the end of last season and suggested that their manager is new to the PL, has no experience or pedigree
So again over a length of time, as “on paper” the Brighton manager is the weakest they are also more likely to struggle.

 

[IOM Blade]

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.

Just listened to it. Both Mills and the other guy came across as arrogant pricks. Constantly interrupting and belittling the two Blades fans.

His point that we will go down as we have the poorest players in the league is ridiculous given the fact he obviously knows fuck all about our squad.

 

[Roygbiv]

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.

Chelsea also had 23 shots against them.

Danny Mills is entitled to his opinion. I think it's lazy and based on nothing but we will see. I think he's trying to reinvent himself as a "shock jock" to be honest as he knows he doesn't have the skill to become a serious pundit. It's the lowest form of content but he won't care as long as he's employed.

 

[Revolution]

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.

Well, yes, but that's a matter of degree. They both predict the future.

Actually, statistically speaking, I actually think that predicting how we would do this year using number crunching would be nigh on impossible, because:

• there's no reliable metric to predict how promoted or relegated teams will do in their new division.
• We have very few players who had any PL experience at the start of the season. Our starting XI at Bournemouth had played a grand total of 27 PL games (Basham 21, Stevens 6, everyone else zero). There's no data for these players.

What we do know is that most promoted teams struggle. At least one of them usually goes down. Often 2 get relegated, like last year. I don't think it was unreasonable to say that a promoted team with little PL experience would get relegated. It happens a lot.

 

[ChemEngBlade]

My issue isn't with pundits thinking we'll go down, its when they think that whilst not having watched us play. The issue won't be whether we are good enough, but if there's going to be 3 teams worse than us over the season. We're better than Huddersfield, Fulham & Cardiff were last season, however, I think that the bottom end of the league is marginally stronger this season. Albeit, I do expect Villa & Newcastle to struggle with also possibly Watford, Brighton & even Everton thrown into the mix

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

So although these teams can have freak results or have a good run.....said that once the novelty has worn off over a full season the weakest squads are more likely to struggle. He thinks Villa will stay up due to having more players with a PL pedigree.

Stoke have a squad full of Premier League pedigree.

Hows that going?

 

[Revolution]

"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 ?

PL games played by our players before this season:

Starters this season:
Basham 21
Stevens 7

Subs this season:
Sharp 2
McBurnie 16
Morrison 17
Mousset 58
Jagielka 360

Squad players who have yet to feature:
Stearman 77
Besic 37

 

[bornablade]

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.

If we as fans and Chris, his management team and all the players need any motivation to stay up then this is it.

Being in the Premier league next year is more than just the millions its worth to the club.

These guys are taking the piss out of the Blades after 4 games.

Nothing should give us greater pleasure than proving them wrong at the end of the season.

 

[Hackblade]

We've got 5 points and one win so far. Bit early to start bashing pundits who say we will go down.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

We've got 5 points and one win so far. Bit early to start bashing pundits who say we will go down.

Agreed, although I think it’s more ignorant comments on why ie our long ball style of play, reliance on Billy and an unknown from Bournemouth reserves for our goals, and basic style which causes the irritation because it’s an obviously display of their ignorance.
Most sensible Blades can surely see how neutrals could have us as one of the favourites to go down, it’s a completely logical call. But don’t say it’s due to things which are plainly untrue.

 

[Jason jacobs]

I remember in our 1st season back under Bassett,we was getting piss took out us everywhere when we went 16 games without a point.even simon mayo on radio 1 was taking piss.And we all no what happened then.

 

[dublin 10 blade]

When we have 40 points and are safe , that when I’ll start slagging off the pundits
Until then don’t think we’ve done it after 4 games it makes us sound like “ Dem Pigs “
Who after 2 games where on there way back
Look how thatsturning out
Hold your breath to cool your porridge lads

 

[Woodwardfan]

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.

A certain local journalist and two, get loads from our Forum ....and why not?

 

[Woodwardfan]

It is valid to say promoted teams have a 'honeymoon period', Wilder has even said that.

Things settle after 10/12 games.

Agree we make no rash statements but we know how good we are and we know that all but about 8 teams up here are not very good and yet they think they are superstars; that's fine.

 

[bypassblade]

It's nice to see pundits changing their views but 1st time we hit a rocky patch they'll be carping off I said not good enough I'm just happy for them to be eating their words.

 

[super_pig]

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".

it's started. a few more decent results and we'll be everyones 'second team'. ffs

 

[tonytonycurrie]

A

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.

And ashtrays on motorbikes!

 

[boss hog]

Norwich manager already blaming his budget, that would have the alarm bells ringing if I were a Norwich fan.

 

[Pedro Verde]

Why do people give a flying fuck what these so called experts say, they are usually wrong and ill informed

 

[Maidenhead]

Chelsea also had 23 shots against them.

Danny Mills is entitled to his opinion. I think it's lazy and based on nothing but we will see. I think he's trying to reinvent himself as a "shock jock" to be honest as he knows he doesn't have the skill to become a serious pundit. It's the lowest form of content but he won't care as long as he's employed.

He still hasn't forgiven us for knocking Leeds out of both cups in the same season

 

[madeinsheffield]

Once we get to 35 points and there are games left provided we are still playing as we are now will be the time to enjoy this level.

We have started better than any of us could have hoped for, we play the same way, we don't look a 'lesser' team, some players have really stepped up and we're scoring goals. There's a lot to learn (contact, free kicks etc) but the early signs are promising.

Better than that Bladeocoaster we had in League 1 about 4 years ago, enjoy these times

 

[spongebobblade]

“”Without being overtly dirty, the visitors will be as physical as they can possibly get away with usually within the rules”
“Their commitment is admirable even if the football itself isn’t overly sophisticated at times”
So said Pat Nevin before Saturdays game. National Rag? Nope. Amazingly it was his write up in the matchday programme.

 

[Sheffsteel]

He still hasn't forgiven us for knocking Leeds out of both cups in the same season

Danny Mills is a born and bred Norwich City fan, his 2nd team is Leeds United (the club he played for the most).

After last seasons promotion battle no wonder he doesn’t like us ha ha.

 

[Silent Blade]

He still hasn't forgiven us for knocking Leeds out of both cups in the same season

I remember seeing a tv footage of Mills looking really annoyed with a young pitch invader who was taunting him after Ndlovu's winner and he was about to go for him but a steward took the young pitch invader away just in time.

 

[Yewsman]

I don’t have a problem with “pundits “ tipping us to get relegated. When you look at our individual players on paper we are not that strong compared to other teams. I’d much rather being tipped for relegation than them all tipping us to stay up. I think we thrive as the under dogs both the players and the fans. What is annoying however is that most of the pundits are not relying on proper research or watching us. They also fail to take into account that football is a team game and a club that plays as a real team can more often than not beat a team whose players may be individually better on paper.

However I think we should not get ahead of ourselves. We have only played 4 games and the table does not really start to take shape until after about 10 games. It’s been a great start and I think the players have shown they have grown into the PL and will get even better. Not until we are comfortably mid table after 10 games will I really start to believe and not until we have 40 points will I really start to have a go at the pundits.

 

[raul]

Wise men my arse!

It's the Mail, everything is relative...

 

[BiggerBladeThanThou]

Be a bit shit if we do get relegated though....

 

[blademark]

Lazy punditry getting a hammering from this guy, who is only 21 but gets it pretty well.

Sheffield United’s imaginary ‘Route-one’ and modern football’s failing pundits

Joseph Odell takes a look at Sheffield United's tactical fluency and the flaws in some of the pundit analysis of the Premier League

backpagefootball.com

 

[BlairBlade]

I like Martin Keown. He particularly went up in my estimation after he made an appearance or two in the Nickelodeon series "The Renford Rejects".

This may have already been said, the vast majority of these so-called football commentators are not well-educated and have little ability to think for themselves above and beyond the limited regurgitation of banal cliches - as well evidenced by the follicly challenged (some might add mentally as well) idiots such as Garth Crookes and Danny Mills.

Others simply know they have say something and most say anything because they are being paid absurd sums of money to hear the sound of their own voices. Most English professional footballers cannot string together a grammatically correct sentence in English. It is no wonder that they simply open their mouths and drivel tumbles out. We know who these cretins are and I have no doubt they know that themselves.

No one, well noone with any intelligence believes a word they say. Garth Crookes hasn't just started talking bollocks. Danny Mills hasn't just become a "glamourous" twat.

No one truly believes Boris Johnson isn't a liar and that he has always intended to prorogue Parliament, have an early general election and that he is not doing any negotiating with the Eu, etc. He is all smoke and mirrors with a load of pretence and school yard bully-boy tactics. We all know he is a liar and is not to be trusted. If people are idiotic to believe the bile he spits out the that is of serious concern for the future of the UK. The fact he blames Corbyn for his woes is laughable as they are all simply due to the obnoxious behaviour of his nasty little party and the fact that no one trusts Johnson. They would be imbeciles to do so.

Garth Crookes, Danny Mills and Boris Johnson along with so many others are simply the same type of inadequates - like the tiger they will never change their spots.

However, it is quite understandable for many commentators to suggest, before the season starts, that we are one of the favourites to be relegated. You don't need an IQ of any size to know that is a reasonable assumption.

It is simply that after they have seen us play and seen our results that they still come out with the same dishonest, unadulterated rubbish and vacuous nonsense. It is that which shows them up as utter amateurs who are stealing a job. You would get more sense out of a Dominic Cummings but who would want him as your adviser unless you were intending to invade Poland?

 

[bornablade]

I like Martin Keown. He particularly went up in my estimation after he made an appearance or two in the Nickelodeon series "The Renford Rejects".

This may have already been said, the vast majority of these so-called football commentators are not well-educated and have little ability to think for themselves above and beyond the limited regurgitation of banal cliches - as well evidenced by the follicly challenged (some might add mentally as well) idiots such as Garth Crookes and Danny Mills.

Others simply know they have say something and most say anything because they are being paid absurd sums of money to hear the sound of their own voices. Most English professional footballers cannot string together a grammatically correct sentence in English. It is no wonder that they simply open their mouths and drivel tumbles out. We know who these cretins are and I have no doubt they know that themselves.

No one, well noone with any intelligence believes a word they say. Garth Crookes hasn't just started talking bollocks. Danny Mills hasn't just become a "glamourous" twat.

No one truly believes Boris Johnson isn't a liar and that he has always intended to prorogue Parliament, have an early general election and that he is not doing any negotiating with the Eu, etc. He is all smoke and mirrors with a load of pretence and school yard bully-boy tactics. We all know he is a liar and is not to be trusted. If people are idiotic to believe the bile he spits out the that is of serious concern for the future of the UK. The fact he blames Corbyn for his woes is laughable as they are all simply due to the obnoxious behaviour of his nasty little party and the fact that no one trusts Johnson. They would be imbeciles to do so.

Garth Crookes, Danny Mills and Boris Johnson along with so many others are simply the same type of inadequates - like the tiger they will never change their spots.

However, it is quite understandable for many commentators to suggest, before the season starts, that we are one of the favourites to be relegated. You don't need an IQ of any size to know that is a reasonable assumption.

It is simply that after they have seen us play and seen our results that they still come out with the same dishonest, unadulterated rubbish and vacuous nonsense. It is that which shows them up as utter amateurs who are stealing a job. You would get more sense out of a Dominic Cummings but who would want him as your adviser unless you were intending to invade Poland?

Interesting post until you brought in Johnson and Corbyn.

This forum helps me to escape that crap.