Blackwell goes, but who comes in?

[scouseblade]

I have read a hell of a lot of comments on this site saying Blackwell should go.

But not one person has said who would replace him?

We are not in a financial position to offer another club compensation to take their manager, so does that rule out someone like O'Driscoll?

Do we appoint within, try an untested manager, ie Gary Speed

Or do we find someone who is on the managerial scrapheap and give them 6 months?

I personally would change but at the end of the season...

 

[Robbie]

We missed the boat on Billy Davies when he was a free agent, I said this at the time.

To bring in....
Steve Coppell
George Burley
Curbishley
Mark Hughes
Paul Jewell
Jim Magilton
David O'Leary
Lawrie Sanchez
Southgate

That's obviously providing you don't want to pay compensation

 

[NN6]

the only ones of that list I'd consider are Coppell, Curbishley and Hughes...and there is no chance of the latter.

not sure I want anyone headbutted in the dressing room... Jewell got the lowest points total of all time in the premier and is prone to 'off field activities'....apparently....Southgate got so much money to spend at Boro and wasted most of it....never liked O'Leary and his profligacy put Leeds where they are now... Sanchez would just prolong the 'long ball' tag for a couple more years.

Coppell would be a good choice but I think he may be finished with management.

My top choice would be Paul Lambert who has done a phenomenal job turning Norwich round. Other than him I'd go for a lower league, up and coming manager. Chris Wilder is doing a good job at Oxford but would the likes of him get any time of our fans to establish himself?

 

[SwissBlade]

We missed the boat on Billy Davies when he was a free agent, I said this at the time.

To bring in....
Steve Coppell
George Burley
Curbishley
Mark Hughes
Paul Jewell
Jim Magilton
David O'Leary
Lawrie Sanchez
Southgate

That's obviously providing you don't want to pay compensation

Everyone has an opinion, but the only one I'd go along with on that list would be Coppell...

O'Driscoll would be the ambitious and perhaps more risky choice. But its the choice I'd prefer

 

[Lund-Blade]

O'Driscoll

Sure he has worked wonders for little Donny but how can anyone be so sure he would be a great success for the Blades? It's a big step up....

1. A team not molded for you
2. A club with a lot of injuries (not as many as Blamewell says though..)
3. A club who most likely will have to cut the wages even more next year.
4. A club who has to face far greater expectation from the fans

I am not saying I would dislike appointing O'Driscoll but it's a big risk, but that's how it is for most managers I guess...

Sanchez would be the worst appointment ever!

 

[LouTheBlade]

In the position we find ourselves in - no money, no players and a tightening of the budget in the summer there is only one suitable candidate. If you want a challenge for the playoffs with all of that thrown into the mix.......

NEIL WARNOCK

We arent going to get pretty football with our resources but at least it would be slightly better to watch under him. Gary Speed is an option but it would be a lot to ask of a new, young manager to take on our current problems. Big nose is the only way forward at this time. Forget fucking O'Driscoll, he is unproven at a big club. Fancy football is great, but when youre sat in mid-table it doesnt mean a lot to me. He is dull and completely lacks charisma (Robson II). You have to be a certain sort of character to manage the Blades and besides, if he turned down a PL club why on earth would he want to come to the lane?!

 

[beightonblade]

Absolutely no point in replacing cheap as chips while McCabe is around....... all he wants is a yes man .... an he's got a perfect un.

 

[SwissBlade]

O'Driscoll

Sure he has worked wonders for little Donny but how can anyone be so sure he would be a great success for the Blades? It's a big step up....

1. A team not molded for you
2. A club with a lot of injuries (not as many as Blamewell says though..)
3. A club who most likely will have to cut the wages even more next year.
4. A club who has to face far greater expectation from the fans

I am not saying I would dislike appointing O'Driscoll but it's a big risk, but that's how it is for most managers I guess...

Sanchez would be the worst appointment ever!

I agree, Thats why it would be a risk, but so many on here want us to play a different brand of football so it would be a step in the right direction on that front.

The club would have to make a clear statement of their intent, make it a 2,3,4... year strategy, built on the Academy, built on the style of football, but at the same time keep the physical aspect of the team so we don't get bullied.

 

[Lund-Blade]

I agree, Thats why it would be a risk, but so many on here want us to play a different brand of football so it would be a step in the right direction on that front.

The club would have to make a clear statement of their intent, make it a 2,3,4... year strategy, built on the Academy, built on the style of football, but at the same time keep the physical aspect of the team so we don't get bullied.

Yes, but why replace Blackwell now then if O'Driscoll is going to be given time? A replacement right now must make improvements this season and take us up, there is no need to pay double salaries for the rest of this campaign to say "Next year he might do a job for us..."

I agree with Lou somewhat but I don't think it's realistic. The one man that could step in and improve what we already got and probably give us a decent chance of playoff is Warnock. I would really like it if Neil came back but I think it's highly unlikely...

The return of the "messiah"?

 

[Ollessendro]

I have read a hell of a lot of comments on this site saying Blackwell should go.

But not one person has said who would replace him?

We are not in a financial position to offer another club compensation to take their manager, so does that rule out someone like O'Driscoll?

Do we appoint within, try an untested manager, ie Gary Speed

Or do we find someone who is on the managerial scrapheap and give them 6 months?

I personally would change but at the end of the season...

We are in no position to sack Blackwell, so i can't see the point in debating this. Sorry to piss on the thread, but Tricky trevor: a) stated that we don't have any money (to sack him) and b) that he is doing a good job.

The only thing that we can hope for is that he'll quit. But I just can't see that.

 

[Lund-Blade]

We are in no position to sack Blackwell, so i can't see the point in debating this. Sorry to piss on the thread, but Tricky trevor: a) stated that we don't have any money (to sack him) and b) that he is doing a good job.

The only thing that we can hope for is that he'll quit. But I just can't see that.

Exactly, he's too cheap to kick out....

 

[Pinchy]

I have read a hell of a lot of comments on this site saying Blackwell should go.

But not one person has said who would replace him?

We are not in a financial position to offer another club compensation to take their manager, so does that rule out someone like O'Driscoll?

Do we appoint within, try an untested manager, ie Gary Speed

Or do we find someone who is on the managerial scrapheap and give them 6 months?

I personally would change but at the end of the season...

I have - often!

Steve Coppell - it's obvious.

 

[yamyamblade]

Only other name that I think has done a good job is Lee Clark who has done a great job at nearby Huddersfield only worry is lack of experience to deal with the current situation at the club

I only wish for some honesty from the club about finances and their strategy for the next couple of years. If we knew that then we could begin to understand and maybe support it instead of all the frustrations that is obvious with us fans at the moment

 

[LouTheBlade]

I have - often!

Steve Coppell - it's obvious.

He would be an excellent choice but there is no chance of it Pinchy.

Coppell wont move north at his age and certainly not to Sheffield United. A club like ours is far too much grief for him. He has many other suitors who would take him on.

 

[Micalijo]

We are in no position to sack Blackwell, so i can't see the point in debating this. Sorry to piss on the thread, but Tricky trevor: a) stated that we don't have any money (to sack him) and b) that he is doing a good job.

The only thing that we can hope for is that he'll quit. But I just can't see that.

You given up mate?

Very hard to think like this but you have to take the sod Blackwell attitude and try and get some enjoyment out of your football. If that involves watching our manager make a pratt of himself and involves laughing at our own players then so be it.

 

[super_pig]

coppell is a long ball merchant.. no chance.. we need to completely build the club philosophy from the bottom up.. i'd go for dario gradi personally.. imagine what he could do with a club with our resources

 

[JohnDenver]

Absolutely no point in replacing cheap as chips while McCabe is around....... all he wants is a yes man .... an he's got a perfect un.

This baffles me. Personally I'd want a manager who accepts the remit given him by the chairman. Whether you agree with the remit is another matter, but the manager bloody well should - he's being paid to do just that.

Steve Bruce took his ball home when it became clear he'd have to succeed on a tight budget. What a hero he was...

 

[AlienWoodward]

John Hughes from Hibs. Cracking man manager cracking football to watch,get him while we can he is premier league bound.

 

[SwissBlade]

Lund, firstly I'm not saying that we should get rid of Blackie (just yet). If things continue much longer then it may need reviewing soon. Unfortunately I think the effectiveness of the management has all but gone.

I firmly believe that if we don't make the play off's then he won't be at the club in the summer. I think he'll walk. He may walk before.

So my thoughts on O'Driscoll v Warnock.

Warnock was a legend, he did a great job, but part of me wants to keep him that way.

What would we achieve with him coming back? Automatic's? Unlikely, he wants to retire and I think with current cut backs, we won't get the auto's for a few seasons. Play offs? May also be a struggle. I think NW would only be a stop gap. Perhaps also too much water has gone under that bridge.

We're also now approaching a cross roads. Do we persevere with the direct, mainly effective style? Or do we restructure the club, use the academy and change our footballing philosophy?

When Robson came in we made the wrong choice at the time (with the joy of hindsight), what we needed was someone to get us straight back up, what we got was a man that wanted to change the philosphy, but didn't know how to do it with the players. Now we have some better players technically, we have some young players and we have strikers that can play to feet.

I think its a matter of time when not if Blackie goes and when it happens I won't be dancing in the ailes but I'll be looking at it as a great opportunity for the club to set our stall out, plan for the long term and rebuild slowly.

 

[Houso]

O'Driscoll for me. Quick, before he ends up at Wolves.

The whole McCabe wants a yes man is a misnomer too. Blackwell has been given sufficient funding and any up and coming manager like SoD would be over the moon to be at a club like SUFC. He's had to sell players and had no money to spend, so he'd be no different at BL.

Why did Blackwell offer his resignation in after a playoff final defeat, but after such a shocking season is not giving any suggestion of being close to leaving?

Please go.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I agree with this one.

Dooley and Warnock would have argued with McCabe and put the football side of the business first and made it more difficult for McCabe to operate as he is doing.

Maybe a football man is what we need now. I’m not sure Trevor Birch is that man.

 

[Houso]

In the position we find ourselves in - no money, no players and a tightening of the budget in the summer there is only one suitable candidate. If you want a challenge for the playoffs with all of that thrown into the mix.......

NEIL WARNOCK

We arent going to get pretty football with our resources but at least it would be slightly better to watch under him. Gary Speed is an option but it would be a lot to ask of a new, young manager to take on our current problems. Big nose is the only way forward at this time. Forget fucking O'Driscoll, he is unproven at a big club. Fancy football is great, but when youre sat in mid-table it doesnt mean a lot to me. He is dull and completely lacks charisma (Robson II). You have to be a certain sort of character to manage the Blades and besides, if he turned down a PL club why on earth would he want to come to the lane?!

He didn't turn down Burnley.

Plus, I'm sick of this ' you have to be a certain sort of character' belief that pervades some sections of our club... including the chairman. Robson was a bad appointment because he was a bad manager - not because he wasn't an abrasive personality.

We have to change our way of thinking. We don't have to play direct football, especially when it's ineffective direct football. It's admittedly harsh on Neil as we played some good stuff with him too, but long term we were never going to be successful.

Let's try a new approach centred on a different style of football and different types of players. Let's exploit the foreign transfer market better and maybe force some youngsters to sink or swim.

Plodding along with direct managers who rub everyone up the wrong way clearly doesn't work in the long run. It's precisely the reason why when it matters, we simply can't win.

 

[bladesadviser]

I'm sorry I just don't see O'Driscoll as the answer. All I hear he plays attractive football yet on the few times I have seen them they look very average and don't excite at all. Last Saturday against Reading they were very poor and this against a side we beat 3-0 within the previous two weeks. He took a long time to win over the Doncaster fans who didn't like the style of play and his constant playing players out of position.

 

[Ollessendro]

You given up mate?

Very hard to think like this but you have to take the sod Blackwell attitude and try and get some enjoyment out of your football. If that involves watching our manager make a pratt of himself and involves laughing at our own players then so be it.

Unfortuantely yes.

Watford was a real low point for me. I am starting to feel like I did in the very late 90's, completely and untterly apathetic. I went from having a season ticket to stopping going to the Lane at all in the late 90's. I was gutted when Kendall left and then when Charles Green and Mike McDonald took us for a ride it pushed me over the edge. Watching decent looking managers in Spackman and Bruce bugger off because of the board made me completely disillusioned with United. I stopped going for a while and didn't return unil a while into Warnocks reign.

I am starting to feel the same way now. Things are looking bleak and it's summed by by our joke of a manager. I usually put up with the shit performances, because of the day out, the booze, the banter etc. But at Watford I just thought what the fuck am I doing paying to watch this shit. It was freezing, I wasn't feeling well so didn't have a drink and then it was a debacle. People might call me fickle and less of a blade, but I don't give a shit. I live in London and my life is here. I'll make the effort to get to games because I love the club, but that is starting to wane. It enfuriates me to see clueless Blackwell wasting my time (as a fan). maybe I'm just having a bad few days, but I am contemplating not bothering going to any games for the rest of the season.

 

[Sensiblade]

Gary Speed - Simples!
But if that happens then BB will have to call him CAC2

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Speed???

On what basis?

 

[Sensiblade]

Speed???

On what basis?

He's second in command and he's cheap

 

[LouTheBlade]

I'm sorry I just don't see O'Driscoll as the answer. All I hear he plays attractive football yet on the few times I have seen them they look very average and don't excite at all. Last Saturday against Reading they were very poor and this against a side we beat 3-0 within the previous two weeks. He took a long time to win over the Doncaster fans who didn't like the style of play and his constant playing players out of position.

THANK YOU! Bang on matey - ive never heard so much garbage spoken about that club. Theyre a middle of the road CCC side who should feel very lucky and privileged to be where they are. I would also like to remind that Dave Penney achieved two of the promotions, if people would care to remember.

Decent manager but massively overrated and a side that plays massively overrated football. If they were that good, they would be challenging for a playoff place. Inconsistent results are not a symptom of 'good football.' Good football is winning football. Stop listening to Donny Rovers fans, they talk out of their arse.

 

[Houso]

THANK YOU! Bang on matey - ive never heard so much garbage spoken about that club. Theyre a middle of the road CCC side who should feel very lucky and privileged to be where they are. I would also like to remind that Dave Penney achieved two of the promotions, if people would care to remember.

Decent manager but massively overrated and a side that plays massively overrated football. If they were that good, they would be challenging for a playoff place. Inconsistent results are not a symptom of 'good football.' Good football is winning football. Stop listening to Donny Rovers fans, they talk out of their arse.

How much have they spent to get where they are?
What level of players has got them where they are?
What has O'Driscoll managed that three previous Sheffield United managers didn't?

Donny should feel privileged to be where they are. But there's one man in particular they should be thanking beyond their excellent owner.

 

[Sensiblade]

How much have they spent to get where they are?
What level of players has got them where they are?
What has O'Driscoll managed that three previous Sheffield United managers didn't?
Donny should feel privileged to be where they are. But there's one man in particular they should be thanking beyond their excellent owner.

Not being Sheffield United's manager is a glarring thing he has not managed