Please help me

[Micalijo]

Why do so many posters on here think that Blackwell has been given a poor hand - no money etc?

I raise this time and time again and nobody seems to respond. Fair enough, I aint crying about a lack of response but this is a final attempt to get some comments on it. I swear I won't mention it again.

Design Blade has made some perfectly decent comments in a recent string but says words to affect of I feel for KB because he hasn't had any money etc etc.

Is it only me who thinks that Cotterill, Hendo, Evans, Willo, Taylor, Howard, Ward does add up to a tidy sum in CCC terms?

I really dislike what McCabe has doen to SUFC re the property but he hasn't said to KB no more money. He could easily have said we are not spending money on transfer fees, you can have a decent wage structure but no fees. He hasn't and this is why I think KB deserves no more than the smallest amount of sympathy.

Other managers would love to have had the opportunities givento KB even if Kyle x 2 and Killa have gone. Other managers keep their fans entertained on much lower budgets and Warnock is currently showing what can be done.

 

[JohnDenver]

Quite simply: net spend and plumetting wage budget.

I want to see what we're like with a stable budget before making a final judgement.

 

[Micalijo]

Fair enough but when people compare us to other relegated clubs and say we are wonderful, I don't think the likes of Coventry, Wednesday, Charlton spent anything like what we have - certainly not a £3m striker after the end of parachute.

 

[cooperblade]

Why do so many posters on here think that Blackwell has been given a poor hand - no money etc?

Blackwell's brief before this season must have been something like:

Raise £5m plus in transfers

Reduce the wage bill significantly

Finish in the play-offs.

Some managers will have it worse, some will have it better. On balance, I think he's probably slightly overachieved.

 

[Sensiblade]

Fair enough but when people compare us to other relegated clubs and say we are wonderful, I don't think the likes of Coventry, Wednesday, Charlton spent anything like what we have - certainly not a £3m striker after the end of parachute.

I comparison to Weds & Charlton (not sure about Cov) though, we never spent massively before the parachute payments ran out or when we were in the Prem.
We have never overextended our financial situation to the point of risking the future of the club.

 

[alcoblade]

Micalijo - I share your concerns about Blackwell and the style of play he delivers. But I have to disagree with the idea that he's not had a tough hand to play.

It could have been more difficult. He could have had nothing to spend - he hasn't, and he's probably used the money badly. Evans looks like a real flop right now. But all managers want stability. If you look at the player turnover that has been forced on Blackwell, I think it's really harsh to not concede that it's a difficult situation to manage.

My problem is that given all the above, you need a versatile manager. I think Blackwell's only game is to hold it tight and pinch goals. For that you need a solid defence and he's had that sold from underneath him. But can he change his style to accomodate? I strongly suspect not.

UTB

 

[Micalijo]

I don't think KB has any say in outgoings at all does he?

But my point is that the club have reduced it to the 4th highest - per McCabe.

Surely we deserve better football and more hope for the next few years with the resources made available.

 

[Micalijo]

I comparison to Weds & Charlton (not sure about Cov) though, we never spent massively before the parachute payments ran out or when we were in the Prem.
We have never overextended our financial situation to the point of risking the future of the club.

Eh? What about Beattie, Naysmith etc etc?

 

[Bladesway]

I'm not sure I can help you but I certainly don't see it quite as black and white as you do Micalijo.

If we are honest, McCabe got what he wanted when Blackwell came in. He was probably sick and tired of Warnock and his ego and shat his pants when Robson spent all that hard earned cash and didn't get promotion on the back of it. Blackwell was like a kiddy in a sweet shop. Just happy to be there. Lets be fair as well, until we gave him a contract he performed well with what he had. Sure he had good players but he did a great job in his first half season when there was no expectation.

Then I am assuming KM decided play time was over and that we had to sell all and everything that moved. Just for example (and I don't know who sold him and the transfer figures may be vague but they are good enough)

BT £3.5m
Tonge £2m
Kyles £8m
Stead £600k
Hulse £1.75m
Sheltoss £1m
Armstrong £500k


Then theres the also rans who we don't know if they went for a song or decent cash.

Up to the start of last season who did we sign for any real money?

Ched £1.5-£3m depending on who you believe and what day it is.
Cotts £1m again see what day it is.
Howard £500k

Then we sold Killer this window for £1.75m. Now I'm not the maths king but we should really be in a position where KB can spend pretty much what he wants on who he wants (within reason). Why do you think that isn't the case? We can only speculate but I am going to have a wild stab in the dark that KM has pulled the purse strings in and that is that.

"Cotterill, Hendo, Evans, Willo, Taylor, Howard, Ward does add up to a tidy sum in CCC terms?"

No, not really when you look at what we have recouped the other way. You can question the wisdom of some of the purchases sure, but they are generally (Relish and Chedders aside) small sums for players.

Hope this clears some of the dust off and helps.

 

[SE1Blade]

Why do so many posters on here think that Blackwell has been given a poor hand - no money etc?

I raise this time and time again and nobody seems to respond. Fair enough, I aint crying about a lack of response but this is a final attempt to get some comments on it. I swear I won't mention it again.

Design Blade has made some perfectly decent comments in a recent string but says words to affect of I feel for KB because he hasn't had any money etc etc.

Is it only me who thinks that Cotterill, Hendo, Evans, Willo, Taylor, Howard, Ward does add up to a tidy sum in CCC terms?

I really dislike what McCabe has doen to SUFC re the property but he hasn't said to KB no more money. He could easily have said we are not spending money on transfer fees, you can have a decent wage structure but no fees. He hasn't and this is why I think KB deserves no more than the smallest amount of sympathy.

Other managers would love to have had the opportunities givento KB even if Kyle x 2 and Killa have gone. Other managers keep their fans entertained on much lower budgets and Warnock is currently showing what can be done.

I posted this a couple of weeks ago (below). As Cooper has said, Blackies brief would be to drastically lower the wage bill and raise transfer money. To do all this and keep us in the top 6 (regardless of style of play) is in mine, and many others opinion, a very good job indeed. You may not agree, but this is why many Blades think Blackwell is doing an excellent job under the circumstances, and that is without taking injuries into account, which like it or lump it, has a major effect on the team.

When you think of how Watford and Charlton are struggling (the teams who came down with us), how Reading are struggling (who still have parachute payments) and we're above Middlesborough (who still have a Premiership wage bill) I think it also reflects well on how we are doing:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are those sold & bought over Blackies 2 year reign (frees, swaps & loans not included) All approximate values:

SOLD
Rob Hulse £1.75m
Luton Shelton £1m
Chris Armstrong £500k
Michael Tonge £2.5m
James Beattie £3.5m
Jon Stead £600k
Kyle Naughton £4m (+£1m on appearances)
Kyle Walker £2m (+£1m on appearances)
David Carney £100k
Leigh Bromby £250k
Brian Howard £500k
Matt Kilgallon £1.75m
David Cotterill £600k

Total sold (approx): £19.05m (possible further £2m)

BOUGHT
Darius Henderson £2m
David Cotterill £1m
Brian Howard £500k
Jamie Ward £330k
Leigh Bromby £250k
Lee Williamson £500k
Ched Evans £750k (rising to £3m)
Andy Taylor £100k
Richard Cresswell £400k
Mark Yeates £300k

Total spent: £6.13m (possibly a further £2.25m)

I may have missed some out, but it gives a bit of a picture. All fees based on widely reported figures in the press etc. May not be exact.

It does show you how he's done well to raise all this money, and reduce the wage bill from £22m to £10m, and keep us in with a shout of top 6.

 

[Sensiblade]

Eh? What about Beattie, Naysmith etc etc?

I said in comparison to Charlton & Weds. They both spent far more when up there than we did and overstretched their budgets to the point of self destruction

 

[silverfox]

Have you really seen any "good entertaining football" (Other managers keep their fans entertained) from anyone in this league?

I haven't seen any at all for a few seasons and I'm supposed to be one of the "clappers"

This league is crap and we are an average team in it.

 

[Micalijo]

Yes agreed re lack of versatility.

Why not buy a keeper, buy a centre-back and buy a fit midfielder rather than Evans? Hindsight is great eh?

You then cover for injuries and bring in someone like Seip in the loan market in to add really good options. I think he has made incredibly hard work of it and I don't think he can pick a player. He certainly can't develop a player or get players to play above themselves for me.

 

[bricktop]

Have you really seen any "good entertaining football" (Other managers keep their fans entertained) from anyone in this league?

I haven't seen any at all for a few seasons and I'm supposed to be one of the "clappers"

This league is crap and we are an average team in it.

But with the crowds we get, the income from off the field developments and the far-sighted and progressive Blades Way, and the string of global connections should be an average side in it, or be knocking on the door of automatic promotion

 

[alcoblade]

You can't do a tally of transfer fees and then make assumptions about how much cash that has generated. We've had a wage-bill of upwards of £20M, and then falling to £10M. All underpinned with gate receipts of little over £6M. Transfer fees tell a fraction of the story.

UTB

 

[Micalijo]

Have you really seen any "good entertaining football" (Other managers keep their fans entertained) from anyone in this league?

I haven't seen any at all for a few seasons and I'm supposed to be one of the "clappers"

This league is crap and we are an average team in it.

Yes, plenty.

Reading last week. Coventry last season battered us. We have done it a few times as well. WBA a few times. Forest at WBA recently. Forest at Swansea this term. Loads more Silverfox. I like football. I can get enjoyment out of it, honest I can!

 

[alcoblade]

Our style of play is pure crap to watch and I'm certain that many other clubs play more entertaining football that we do. Just about every opposition I see look more capable on the ball.


We'd all love open football with an emphasis on attack, that delivers. But we live in the real world. Warnock brought us direct football with an emphasis on attack. Blackwell has brought direct football with an emphasis on defence. From a "viewing pleasure" point of view, our style is right at the bottom of the pile as far as I'm concerned.

UTB

 

[silverfox]

Yes, plenty.

Reading last week. Coventry last season battered us. We have done it a few times as well. WBA a few times. Forest at WBA recently. Forest at Swansea this term. Loads more Silverfox. I like football. I can get enjoyment out of it, honest I can!

Well all I can say is you are easily pleased if you think that football is good at this level.

I've not seen it!

If only we could go back in time.

 

[Sensiblade]

this seems to be slipping off the OP's original point.
and my reply has been ignored

 

[implied]

The amount he's spent and raised is irrelevant.

He is still unable to coach, motivate, organize, teach or inspire a good team.

He is extremely limited, and obviously out of his depth and he is holding back the team that he does have.

Whether we sold James Beattie a year ago or not matters not in the slightest.

 

[Micalijo]

I said in comparison to Charlton & Weds. They both spent far more when up there than we did and overstretched their budgets to the point of self destruction

Maybe not destruction but it was a huge gamble imo by McCabe post relegation.

 

[Foxy]

Our style of play is pure crap to watch and I'm certain that many other clubs play more entertaining football that we do.

Fans of other clubs are convinced of this too

Except Donny, who seem to be overjoyed at passing it around the defence and then losing it in the oppositions half the majority of times I've seen them

The majority of the league and football as a whole is based on percentage football, high tempo and pressure.

 

[Sensiblade]

Maybe not destruction but it was a huge gamble imo by McCabe post relegation.

Not spending money or the purchase of Evans?

 

[silverfox]

But with the crowds we get, the income from off the field developments and the far-sighted and progressive Blades Way, and the string of global connections should be an average side in it, or be knocking on the door of automatic promotion

We are in terms of position. In the play off places.

If people are talking entertainment.... we haven't seen it for years.

Football is crap these days.

Get used to it.

 

[alcoblade]

Fans of other clubs are convinced of this too

Except Donny, who seem to be overjoyed at passing it around the defence and then losing it in the oppositions half the majority of times I've seen them

The majority of the league and football as a whole is based on percentage football, high tempo and pressure.

But we don't do high tempo pressurised football. We soak up opposition pressure and our attacking play is reactionary. I was certainly more pleased with Warnock's approach, though many would dismiss both as just "direct".

Can you imagine Peter Ndlovu becoming a cult figure in a Blackwell side? Can you imagine him even making the bench?

UTB

 

[Micalijo]

Fans of other clubs are convinced of this too

Except Donny, who seem to be overjoyed at passing it around the defence and then losing it in the oppositions half the majority of times I've seen them

The majority of the league and football as a whole is based on percentage football, high tempo and pressure.

Really disagree with that Foxy. Every side I see has two central midfielders capable of switching play, keeping possession, little one-twos. They don't always come off but they at least try.

 

[silverfox]

But we don't do high tempo pressurised football. We soak up opposition pressure and our attacking play is reactionary. I was certainly more pleased with Warnock's approach, though many would dismiss both as just "direct".

UTB

I think Foxy was talking about our attacking game.......most teams play it....percentage stuff.

Did anyone watch Sunderland v Stoke the other night?

Worse than watching us.

 

[Micalijo]

Not spending money or the purchase of Evans?

Naysmith, Hendrie, Beattie etc - huge gamble for me.

 

[implied]

Have you really seen any "good entertaining football" (Other managers keep their fans entertained) from anyone in this league?

I haven't seen any at all for a few seasons and I'm supposed to be one of the "clappers"

It's not about entertaining football, it's about good football.

It's about not choosing a 90 yard punt to the opposition keeper when there are two free team-mates to pass to.

It's about being able to build attacks competently down the left, right or centre.

It's about the midfield being able to hold the ball instead of just laying it back to the left-back only for him to panic and boot it up the pitch.

It's about the full-backs being able to overlap the wingers at the right moments and provide extra strength in attack.

It's about the wingers knowing when to cover their defence.

It's about knowing who should be picking up particular opposition players when we're defending set pieces.

It's about the midfield being able to move into position for a pass to give each other options.

It's about being able to play the ball backwards while building an attack without it resulting in a thump up pitch from defence.

It's about the strikers being able to hold up the ball, knowing which midfielder will be making a run for them.

It's about a million and one other things and Blackwell doesn't have a clue about any of it because he's a goalkeeper, and a fucking dull one at that.

 

[Sensiblade]

Naysmith, Hendrie, Beattie etc - huge gamble for me.

A huge gamble but it didn't overstretch us and we have recouped money from Beattie.
Charlton & Wendy both lost players they had bought for Millions for next to nothing, especially Wendy.