The first of many excuses...

[lenners]

Though I think we've heard this one before, probably around the same time last year...

SHEFFIELD United will not be held to ransom in the transfer market, chief executive Trevor Birch has warned.
The former Chelsea and Leeds supremo delivered his message as manager Kevin Blackwell prepares to embark on a recruitment drive following the anticipated departure of several key players.

Despite cutting Blackwell's budget, United still expect to remain one of the most lucrative destinations in the Championship.

But the directors have vowed not to pay over the odds following suspicions that potential targets could attempt to exploit Blackwell's situation.

Birch said: "We are ambitious but we won't be caving in to each and every demand. We need to try and provide value for money, especially in these times."

Birch was referring to the challenges facing football as a result of the economic crisis. Both Portsmouth and Hull, who will join United in England's second tier next term, are fighting to seize control of spiralling budgets while other clubs in the division are experiencing serious difficulties.

Blackwell wants to have the majority of his signings in place before the club go to Malta in July.

 

[Foxy]

I guess what he probably should have said instead is:

"Please inflate your prices accordingly, we desperately need players so will waste money desperately."

 

[lenners]

I guess what he probably should have said instead is:

"Please inflate your prices accordingly, we desperately need players so will waste money deperately."

No, what he should have said is we're busy approaching players, already have some lined-up and will be announcing some shortly.
We had this one last year, along with the classic 'we're not just buying players for the sake of it, they've got to improve the quality...'
United's PR has been appalling for months now, including the farce of the forums which did nothing to entice renewals.
This is just more bull.

 

[Sensiblade]

We had this one last year, along with the classic 'we're not just buying players for the sake of it, they've got to improve the quality...'

We didn't just buy players for the sake of it though, we got Loan players in instead

 

[Robbie]

To be fair, this looks like a copy and paste job from numerous other releases

 

[Oreyt]

I guess what he probably should have said instead is:

"Please inflate your prices accordingly, we desperately need players so will waste money deperately."

Yes, either that or just say nothing, in which case cue ''WHERE'S A STATEMENT FROM THE CLUB. WE'RE BEING KEPT IN THE DARK. DISGRACEFUL. ROCKET SCIENCE ETC'' type bleatings.

 

[Robbie]

We didn't just buy players for the sake of it though, we got Loan players in instead

Ryan France? Glen Little? Jordan Stewart? Kyel Reid? Leigh Bromby?

 

[Sensiblade]

Ryan France? Glen Little? Jordan Stewart? Kyel Reid? Leigh Bromby?

I wouldn't say they were just for the sake of it.

Bromby and Little were both good enough to play in the first team
Kyel Reid came with a decent reputation but didn't work out
Stewart and France were both big dissapointments.
But none of them could be said to be Just for the sake of it in my opinion.

 

[Robbie]

I wouldn't say they were just for the sake of it.

Bromby and Little were both good enough to play in the first team
Kyel Reid came with a decent reputation but didn't work out
Stewart and France were both big dissapointments.
But none of them could be said to be Just for the sake of it in my opinion.

If Bromby was good enough to play in the first team, why the hell would we sell him?

Little, why did it take over a half a season to get a few games under his belt.

France, bemusing signing really, 82 appearances in the 10 years prior to his signing, the Owls wouldn't offer him a contract because of his injuries, so we did instead.

Reid, seemed a bizarre signing too, by all accounts looked quality in pre-season and never allowed a chance even when short on players.

Jordan Stewart, was only signed to get Lee Hendrie off the wage bill, which I understand to a sense. But it was a misguided decision, based purely on a financial setting.

 

[Foxy]

Reid, seemed a bizarre signing too, by all accounts looked quality in pre-season and never allowed a chance even when short on players.

I was raving about Kyle pre-season, he struggled to settle and had a few personal problems though. Be interesting to see what happens with him now.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I agree with Foxy, it's a standard comment aimed at keeping player expectations within reasonable limits. Coming out when our manager has already happily told the world we are looking to bring in 13 (correct me if I've got the figure wrong) and therefore desperate for re-enforcements and saying we have lots to spend would be plainly stupid.
Nearly as stupid as asking where the signings are before the transfer window is open and when most players are either on holiday or about to go.

 

[lenners]

I agree with Foxy, it's a standard comment aimed at keeping player expectations within reasonable limits. Coming out when our manager has already happily told the world we are looking to bring in 13 (correct me if I've got the figure wrong) and therefore desperate for re-enforcements and saying we have lots to spend would be plainly stupid.
Nearly as stupid as asking where the signings are before the transfer window is open and when most players are either on holiday or about to go.

What has the transfer window got to do with it? We won't be buying many players off anybody, we're mainly after out-of-contracts.
Other teams have already made moves.
The remarkable thing is you lot all lapped up the bull last summer and are already intent on doing the same.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

What has the transfer window got to do with it? We won't be buying many players off anybody, we're mainly after out-of-contracts.
Other teams have already made moves.
The remarkable thing is you lot all lapped up the bull last summer and are already intent on doing the same.

and the predictable thing is that the season has only just finished and you are attacking the club for our transfer policy with no idea who we having been talking to or how far along we are with discussions.

Incidentally can you give me the details (name, positions and wages) of these players we should of already signed? Just out of interest.

Oh and the the transfer window is important as the better players (i.e. the one we will try and get first logically) aren't available yet, secondly the majority of contracts don't end until may (some june), otherwise you wouldn't have players available for the last few games of the season. Therefore you can't sign players who's aren't out of contract, you can talk to them but you can't have a legally binding agreement that they will join unless the existing contact is terminated by the club early.

 

[Foxy]

The remarkable thing is you lot all lapped up the bull last summer and are already intent on doing the same.

Who is "you lot"? and are they really intent on "lapping up" that we don't want to be hend to ransom? is that not comment sense?

 

[lenners]

and the predictable thing is that the season has only just finished and you are attacking the club for our transfer policy with no idea who we having been talking to or how far along we are with discussions.

Incidentally can you give me the details (name, positions and wages) of these players we should of already signed? Just out of interest.

Oh and the the transfer window is important as the better players (i.e. the one we will try and get first logically) aren't available yet, secondly the majority of contracts don't end until may (some june), otherwise you wouldn't have players available for the last few games of the season. Therefore you can't sign players who's aren't out of contract, you can talk to them but you can't have a legally binding agreement that they will join unless the existing contact is terminated by the club early.

Have we released our retained list?

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Have we released our retained list?

not answering a direct question Len, how predictable.

Have a pop at the club, unable to defend your original position when questioned, and so you move on. also terribly predictable.

 

[lenners]

not answering a direct question Len, how predictable.

Have a pop at the club, unable to defend your original position when questioned, and so you move on. also terribly predictable.

I think my post actually said it all Bob.

 

[Grecian2000]

Who is "you lot"? and are they really intent on "lapping up" that we don't want to be hend to ransom? is that not comment sense?

I would have thought that the "you lot" are those that read that statement and see is at a hard nosed warning to those pesky agents not to hold the club to ransom.

I would suggest that "the other lot" might read it and see it as the first step in a long line of statements eventually culminating in an explanation as to why we haven't assembled a squad fit to challenge for promotion.

The question is, which "lot" will be nearer the truth come August? Let the betting commence.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I think my post actually said it all Bob.

Indeed it does. It doesn't answer the questions raised, it doesn't further the debate it just attempts to alter focus.

When done Len, another successful duck.

 

[lenners]

Indeed it does. It doesn't answer the questions raised, it doesn't further the debate it just attempts to alter focus.

When done Len, another successful duck.

Bob, have we released our retained list yet?

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Bob, have we released our retained list yet?

Len, can you provide a list of names of players we have missed out on?

 

[Grecian2000]

Bob, have we released our retained list yet?

We have now

http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2054144,00.html

 

[SwissBlade]

I agree with Lenners that this is the same old cut and paste...

But like most others say, what are the club supposed to do? Say nothing - then you'll have a go; Say this then you'll have a go; say we're ready to break the bank... and yep you'll have a go.

I'm not overly happy with things at the lane, but i'm mellowing slightly in the fact that, at present, we seem to not be doing as badly as many other clubs around us both geographically and (so called) ambition wise.

By the way Lenners, did you ask this of the club at the recent Q&A?

I'd rather Birch was out there getting experienced players tied in for 3-4 years instead of making nothing statements, but the season isn't out yet and I fully expect us to stick to our word and get players this summer. No excuses. We either get players in or we fail in our promises.

 

[JohnDenver]

but the season isn't out yet and I fully expect us to stick to our word and get players this summer. No excuses. We either get players in or we fail in our promises.

Which promises are you referring to?

Or were they actually stated intentions, subject to the vaguaries of happenstance?

 

[SwissBlade]

Which promises are you referring to?

Or were they actually stated intentions, subject to the vaguaries of happenstance?

Well they were stated intentions, however, I thought i'd cloud the issue slightly by turning them into promises by the club (before someone else does).

The problem I've had with the club is that we've rarely made promises or been bold enough to state our full targets.... its always "a possible promotion push". I think it'd get more fans excited, but it also has the other edge (i.e. risk) that if we fail, then the fans will hold someone accountable...

Last season showed that this league is there for the taking, the clubs that are bold enough to give it a go will do ok... Christ we've had a play offs made up of teams that (without disrespect) shouldn't be in the positions they're in whereas the chasing pack have a greater pedigree in recent years.

We should be making really positive statements now... not for season ticket sales, but because we believe that we have the infrastructure at the club to get up... If we don't believe that, then something needs to change at the club...

 

[lenners]

Len, can you provide a list of names of players we have missed out on?

Never underestimate the power of Lenners, Bob. No sooner has the lack of urgency surrounding our close-season been highlighted than the retained list magically appears.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

United's PR has been appalling for months now, including the farce of the forums which did nothing to entice renewals.

I know a guy who's got some experience in supporter communication and, by chance, he's just come available. Maybe he could do the PR role for us..?

 

[lenners]

I agree with Lenners that this is the same old cut and paste...

But like most others say, what are the club supposed to do? Say nothing - then you'll have a go; Say this then you'll have a go; say we're ready to break the bank... and yep you'll have a go.

I'm not overly happy with things at the lane, but i'm mellowing slightly in the fact that, at present, we seem to not be doing as badly as many other clubs around us both geographically and (so called) ambition wise.

By the way Lenners, did you ask this of the club at the recent Q&A?

I'd rather Birch was out there getting experienced players tied in for 3-4 years instead of making nothing statements, but the season isn't out yet and I fully expect us to stick to our word and get players this summer. No excuses. We either get players in or we fail in our promises.

Ask what? They delivered a load of guff as predicted and sold sod all season tickets on the back of them.
They're still offering nothing positive to fans.

 

[lenners]

I know a guy who's got some experience in supporter communication and, by chance, he's just come available. Maybe he could do the PR role for us..?

It's another example of the great opportunity once again offered to us.
Absolutely no sign of United being willing to get stuck in and take it.

 

[JohnDenver]

Well they were stated intentions, however, I thought i'd cloud the issue slightly by turning them into promises by the club (before someone else does).

Good work!

But regarding the need for positive statements, in my my line of work we call it "managing expectations". Ie. never put a steamroller in your attic.