Slept on it

[Davalon]

There's a difference in being disappointed and chucking your teddies out.

I think it's fantastic that we're disappointed on missing out on Europe because it not only shows how far we've come, but also the mentality.

The only note of caution is that hopefully people won't get critical quickly next season if we don't go as well.

 

[Roygbiv]

No, but he's laying the groundwork for how difficult it's going to be. If not, he'd have just no commented or prevaricated. He made a clear distinction between this year's budget and next season's.

He said we overachieved at the end of our first Championship season. I don't think there is anything hidden in there. If anyone thinks next year won't be harder then they're kidding themselves. I think most of us know we can't expect to be pushing for Europe again. It's unheard of from a newly promoted team with our budget and that's why this season was an overachiement. It certainly doesn't mean we are destined for relegation next season though.

I really don't think there was any hidden message in him saying we overachieved. We did overachieve. It's unlikely to happen again next season but he's certainly not saying "get ready for relegation". The "I don't think we will be a one season wonder " line similarly doesn't mean we're going to be top 6 next season.

 

[nopigfansintown]

No team in Premier League history has ever earned this many points from this few goals scored. In fact, no team has earned this many points from less than 45 goals scored.

Only 8 teams in Premier League history have conceded less than 40 goals and finished outside the top 6.

This season is an outlier. We will not concede less than 40 goals next year. We'll lose or draw a few of the close games we drew or won this season. That's just how sport goes.

It will be tougher because this is an extremely tough league

Then surely we spend money on a better forward line to conpensate?

 

[Stretch]

He doesn't, does the United board? We'll soon find out.

Well put it this way, I am far more confident of the board's ambition now, with the Prince as owner, than I ever was under KM.

And let's be honest, why wouldn't they want to kick on now? It would be madness not to from this position.

At the end of the day, this current squad is top half quality, so top 6 shouldn't be considered as out of our reach. Not at all.

 

[Bladesman]

CW saying we've overachieved is him softening us up for relegation next season unless he gets some £ to improve

Most of his references are about tugging at the clubs purse strings for an improved budget. He has done it every season though regardless of the COVID-19 situation.

 

[nopigfansintown]

We haven't even finished the season yet. The only info we have is that the budget is going to be less than it was pre-COVID. I don't understand why you think the owner should be getting stick for that?

Covered in post nine.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Then surely we spend money on a better forward line to conpensate?

It's not as simple as that and I would hope you are fully aware of that. Otherwise every team that came up would stay up because they'd just buy better players.

 

[Superblades]

This season has been brilliant, as have the last 4. I’ve no doubt Wilder will strengthen the team in the summer, maybe not players straight into the starting 11 but I feel we will have a better pick from the 25 as a whole.

The only concern going forward for me is fans expecting us to be a top 10 team now. I know we need to show ambition but we also need to be realistic at the same time. Next year, I am more than happy with survival and becoming an established Prem team, double over Leeds and give the cups a good go.

 

[nopigfansintown]

He said we overachieved at the end of our first Championship season. I don't think there is anything hidden in there. If anyone thinks next year won't be harder then they're kidding themselves. I think most of us know we can't expect to be pushing for Europe again. It's unheard of from a newly promoted team with our budget and that's why this season was an overachiement. It certainly doesn't mean we are destined for relegation next season though.

I really don't think there was any hidden message in him saying we overachieved. We did overachieve. It's unlikely to happen again next season but he's certainly not saying "get ready for relegation". The "I don't think we will be a one season wonder " line similarly doesn't mean we're going to be top 6 next season.

I'm more concerned about the references to the budget than league position. 17th is success.

 

[nopigfansintown]

It's not as simple as that and I would hope you are fully aware of that. Otherwise every team that came up would stay up because they'd just buy better players.

Every other team doesn't have Chris Wilder. Wilder + competitive budget = success.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Covered in post nine.

Covered in the post I replied to? We lost money the two preceding years by trying to fund our way out of the Championship as best we could. We will lose money this year as well.

Brighton are down £180m in transfer dealings the last 3 seasons. They aren't any more established in the Premier League than they were the year they came up. This is not a gradual improvement up the leagues scenario. Every year we are in this league we are very much one of the favourites to be relegated. Because we are a couple of injuries away from disaster

 

[Roygbiv]

I'm more concerned about the references to the budget than league position. 17th is success.

I agree and it will likely be that way forever as it would be for all but 9 or 10 clubs in England. I'll personally start worrying about the budget when I see what happens. Every season Wilder says we've got fuck all to spend. We spent £70m last season and it was still one of the lowest in the league.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Every other team doesn't have Chris Wilder. Wilder + competitive budget = success.

I'm pretty sure Bournemouth fans would have said the same about Eddie Howe before this season. The Premier League will chew you up and spit you out if you don't get everything right. Wilder is the best manager we've had but that doesn't mean that him spending money we don't have is a good idea

 

[nopigfansintown]

I'm pretty sure Bournemouth fans would have said the same about Eddie Howe before this season. The Premier League will chew you up and spit you out if you don't get everything right. Wilder is the best manager we've had but that doesn't mean that him spending money we don't have is a good idea

Who's advocating that, you? Certainly not moi. Howe has been spending money Bournemouth don't have every year he's been there so isn't a good comparator.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Who's advocating that, you? Certainly not moi.

A 'competitive budget' for Sheffield United is spending money we don't have. We will be competing with teams with richer owners, bigger sponsorship deals etc.

Please don't pretend you haven't been putting forward the view that the current owner is planning on pocketing a bunch of the Premier League money. Because that's exactly what you've been getting at since your first post. There is precisely zero evidence that he has or will do that

 

[nopigfansintown]

A 'competitive budget' for Sheffield United is spending money we don't have. We will be competing with teams with richer owners, bigger sponsorship deals etc.

Please don't pretend you haven't been putting forward the view that the current owner is planning on pocketing a bunch of the Premier League money. Because that's exactly what you've been getting at since your first post. There is precisely zero evidence that he has or will do that

I haven't ever suggested or referred to that. You owe me an apology to be honest. I wouldn't dream of putting words in your mouth. The view I've expressed, very clearly and candidly is why is there likely to be a significant budget reduction next season(based on this season's affordable budget) when Sheffield United has covered its Covid losses with unbudgeted for prize money? My question is based on the comments of first team manager, Chris Wilder. I've never criticised the manager, league position, referred to an expected league position next season or even claimed that the chairman is embellishing funds from the club. Hope we have that clear now.

 

[Carlton Blade]

I haven't ever suggested or referred to that. You owe me an apology to be honest. I wouldn't dream of putting words in your mouth. The view I've expressed, very clearly and candidly is why is there likely to be a significant budget reduction next season(based on this season's affordable budget) when Sheffield United has covered its Covid losses with unbudgeted for prize money? My question is based on the comments of first team manager, Chris Wilder. I've never criticised the manager, league position, referred to an expected league position next season or even claimed that the chairman is embellishing funds from the club. Hope we have that clear now.

My assessment is that we have massively overachieved given one year of investment, and three years of zero investment. If this is a year of minimal or no investment - given the level of the monies coming into the club - the owner deserves all the criticism coming his way. The mood music coming out of the club is not good, but, as ever, I'll wait to see what they do rather than what they say they're going to do. Wilder is magician but he needs help. People would want previous owners shot.

I didn't say you were accusing him of doing anything illegal. Just that you are 100% saying that he will have funds available to the club that he will choose to not spend. And budgets are not set in August to never be touched until they are required. The club has been well aware of it's likely finishing position and prize money for a fair while now.

Genuinely, I'd apologise if there was anything to apologise for.

 

[Revolution]

So next season, what do we do? We need more goals, granted, and signing 2 reyt good strikers won't solve that. Sorry to those of you who think that'll solve everything.
We need to create more chances for a start, we need to take more risks, we need more pace in the side and we need to get better with our decision making. The formation needs a tweak.

Really like this post but it’s surely the case that signing a better striker would help. McGoldrick has underperformed expected goals by nearly 7 goals. That can be addressed with a good signing (or Didzy finishing better).

chance creation is a bigger issue, though. Having some shots might also be an idea.

 

[alcoblade]

My assessment is that we have massively overachieved given one year of investment, and three years of zero investment. If this is a year of minimal or no investment - given the level of the monies coming into the club - the owner deserves all the criticism coming his way. The mood music coming out of the club is not good, but, as ever, I'll wait to see what they do rather than what they say they're going to do. Wilder is magician but he needs help. People would want previous owners shot.

Agreed. However, I can imagine the talk of reduced budgets being, to some degree, a PR line to manage expectations of both our fans, current players, and the selling clubs.

I'd hope our transfer budget would rival last year's.

 

[nopigfansintown]

I didn't say you were accusing him of doing anything illegal. Just that you are 100% saying that he will have funds available to the club that he will choose to not spend. And budgets are not set in August to never be touched until they are required. The club has been well aware of it's likely finishing position and prize money for a fair while now.

Genuinely, I'd apologise if there was anything to apologise for.

It's here in black and white: " Please don't pretend you haven't been putting forward the view that the current owner is planning on pocketing a bunch of the Premier League money". If you're not willing to apologise, I'll ask you to kindly not respond to my posts or engage with me anymore on here.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Agreed. However, I can Imagine the talk of reduced budgets being, to some degree, a PR line to manage expectations of both our fans, current players, and the selling clubs.

I'd hope our transfer budget would rival last year's.

That's my hope. A classic Wilder bluff.

 

[alcoblade]

Please don't pretend you haven't been putting forward the view that the current owner is planning on pocketing a bunch of the Premier League money. Because that's exactly what you've been getting at since your first post. There is precisely zero evidence that he has or will do that

Well given that he's an investor and not a fan, one way or another I'd expect this to be the case over the coming years. I don't see that as a negative, in itself.

 

[corner_flag]

Agree - I was disappointed we let Europe slip out of our grasp, but then looking at the table - look at the teams we are in and around, the teams we have beaten this season, and some of the performances have been breathtaking
Incredibly proud of these players

 

[Carlton Blade]

It's here in black and white: " Please don't pretend you haven't been putting forward the view that the current owner is planning on pocketing a bunch of the Premier League money". If you're not willing to apologise, I'll ask you to kindly not respond to my posts or engage with me anymore on here.

I wasn't accusing you of suggesting any criminal activity was taking place and you are well aware of that. I'm sorry that the way I worded the fact that you are 100% claiming that the current owner won't invest the prize money in the team has offended you.

I'm also aware that it isn't a real apology. But you aren't really offended so it seems to balance out

 

[Carlton Blade]

Well given that he's an investor and not a fan, one way or another I'd expect this to be the case over the coming years. I don't see that as a negative, in itself.

It's a business that he will one day hope to sell I imagine. Being fiscally responsible but still competitive is the way to sell the club for the most amount of money

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

And I'm glad I did. Didn't see too many reactionary threads on the main forum, Shoutbox was a bit of a hellhole but if that's where people vent their frustrations it can only be a good thing.
They tried their upmost yesterday, it wasn't a lack of effort, it wasn't down to their attitude, they have simply ran out of steam after an incredible effort over the course of the season from what is by and large the same core of players we've had for 3 years.
If you need a pick me up at this moment after being disappointed with yesterdays result and the end of the season in general just cast your minds back to August - written off, pushed aside, laughed at and were told we'd be whipping boys. Should raise a smile at least.

So next season, what do we do? We need more goals, granted, and signing 2 reyt good strikers won't solve that. Sorry to those of you who think that'll solve everything.
We need to create more chances for a start, we need to take more risks, we need more pace in the side and we need to get better with our decision making. The formation needs a tweak.

We'll see some transfers made in the summer that we might not like, but just stick with it and see where it takes us. There's certain players I don't want to lose but if we do so be it, I trust Chris. There isn't one player we've sold so far under Wilder's tutelage and ended up worse for, if that's Egan, O'Connell, Stevens, Fleck or Baldock this season, so be it. The money will be used well and Chris and Alan will have left no stone unturned for every eventuality. They'll have a replacement in place for every player - and where else we can spend the rest of the money we make on them too. It will more than likely leave us with a stronger unit.

I see a very busy summer upcoming because Chris has always said standing still in this division is going backwards. I expect to cut some slack from our squad (Lunny, Robinson, unfortunately Moose, Freeman) to put to our budget and give us a fine sum of money to work with. We don't need to spend hundreds of millions because there's a lot of cheap depth we can sign in certain areas where we need it, so we can save the bulk of the budget for 2 or 3 Sander Berge/Oli McBurnie level signings.

Anyway, what a fabulous season. And the fact most of us are disappointed to not to be in Europe on our first season back in the Prem when we have just spent over half a decade in League One is absolutely mental when you think about it. Our Messiah and his team of disciples have changed this club beyond our wildest dreams, and I'll be forever thankful for that as I'm sure we all will.

'Like' whore

 

[alcoblade]

It's a business that he will one day hope to sell I imagine. Being fiscally responsible but still competitive is the way to sell the club for the most amount of money

That, and paying yourself a big salary / taking huge dividends. That's all "TV money", in the end.

But of course, it all only continues if we stay in the PL. And that only continues if we keep investing big chunks back into the club.

 

[nopigfansintown]

I wasn't accusing you of suggesting any criminal activity was taking place and you are well aware of that. I'm sorry that the way I worded the fact that you are 100% claiming that the current owner won't invest the prize money in the team has offended you.

I'm also aware that it isn't a real apology. But you aren't really offended so it seems to balance out

Who mentioned criminal activity, not me? He could've invested the money in the club in a different way or given it to charity, used it to let us in the ground for free, the possibilities are endless. Erm yes, I am offended. Not just words - thoughts now. It seems there is no point continuing to engage. We're also derailing the thread, so...

 

[Carlton Blade]

Who mentioned criminal activity, not me? He could've invested the money in the club in a different way or given it to charity, used it to let us in the ground for free, the possibilities are endless Erm yes, I am offended. Not just words - thoughts now. It seems there is no point continuing to engage. We're also derailing the thread, so...

Ok.

 

[Digs blade]

And I'm glad I did. Didn't see too many reactionary threads on the main forum, Shoutbox was a bit of a hellhole but if that's where people vent their frustrations it can only be a good thing.
They tried their upmost yesterday, it wasn't a lack of effort, it wasn't down to their attitude, they have simply ran out of steam after an incredible effort over the course of the season from what is by and large the same core of players we've had for 3 years.
If you need a pick me up at this moment after being disappointed with yesterdays result and the end of the season in general just cast your minds back to August - written off, pushed aside, laughed at and were told we'd be whipping boys. Should raise a smile at least.

So next season, what do we do? We need more goals, granted, and signing 2 reyt good strikers won't solve that. Sorry to those of you who think that'll solve everything.
We need to create more chances for a start, we need to take more risks, we need more pace in the side and we need to get better with our decision making. The formation needs a tweak.

We'll see some transfers made in the summer that we might not like, but just stick with it and see where it takes us. There's certain players I don't want to lose but if we do so be it, I trust Chris. There isn't one player we've sold so far under Wilder's tutelage and ended up worse for, if that's Egan, O'Connell, Stevens, Fleck or Baldock this season, so be it. The money will be used well and Chris and Alan will have left no stone unturned for every eventuality. They'll have a replacement in place for every player - and where else we can spend the rest of the money we make on them too. It will more than likely leave us with a stronger unit.

I see a very busy summer upcoming because Chris has always said standing still in this division is going backwards. I expect to cut some slack from our squad (Lunny, Robinson, unfortunately Moose, Freeman) to put to our budget and give us a fine sum of money to work with. We don't need to spend hundreds of millions because there's a lot of cheap depth we can sign in certain areas where we need it, so we can save the bulk of the budget for 2 or 3 Sander Berge/Oli McBurnie level signings.

Anyway, what a fabulous season. And the fact most of us are disappointed to not to be in Europe on our first season back in the Prem when we have just spent over half a decade in League One is absolutely mental when you think about it. Our Messiah and his team of disciples have changed this club beyond our wildest dreams, and I'll be forever thankful for that as I'm sure we all will.

A good post that I’ve only just read and noticed it seems to have now turned into a transfer fund debate.

To come back to your points, I agree it’s not simply a case of throwing money about for a couple of strikers. The point you make about trying to be more creative is spot on.

I was frustrated as hell at full time yesterday, not so much by the performance but more so that we’d blown our chance of getting into Europe and I felt sorry for the players because they have put so much effort into giving us the levels of performance and results that they have this season.

Those and the management staff could literally have done no more and they’ve given us all tremendous entertainment and pride in our club.

In many respects, building on that will be harder then the tasks we’ve had to face this season but I’ve every confidence in CWAK