Mr McCabe ......... we have a problem !

[shorehamview]

Monty had a good game, but often the Monty haters refuse to accept that. Sure, on occasions he gave the ball away, but so did every other player in the country. Nobody has a 100% success rate, it's just that some seem to labour under the misapprehension that Monty has a zero% rate - far from it. Williamson fit may well be a better player than Monty, but Williamson fit for more than a couple of matches seems to be rarer than a unicorn in Rotherham or soap in Barnsley.

So yes, Monty is better than Williamson at the moment. If there's a better player to swap for Monty or indeed ANY of the players in our squad then let's have them in, but it's not that easy. If Fabregas fancies coming to the Lane I'd swap him for Monty like a shot, but the problem with getting any new players is getting them. I'd rather have a fit Williamson in, but that seems as likely as getting Fabregas, or even Calor Gas. Williamson is another crock signed on the off-chance that he might get fit. Warnock often signed players that did badly elsewhere in the hope that he could get them to play, but Blackwell seemed to sign crocks in the hope that his healing hands would make everything alright. A fit Monty is better than a crocked Williamson, and until Williamson is fit then I'd keep Monty in. He seems to be gelling with Britton, and I'd also keep Quinn sat on the bench at the moment, because Britton and Monty may just be the midfield pairing that will suit us best until better comes, whenever that may be.

I know Monty polarises opinion like no other, but I'm happy with him in our team until a better player comes along. That might be next week, next season or not for a year or two. So be it. It's the same with all of the squad - if we can get better then let's have them. We certainly got a better left-back than Taylor, who is enthusiastic but out of his depth.

 

[Jon Bon]

We have gathered that you don't like Monty by now, but the suggestion that Speed would be "cemented in Blade folklore" if he dropped Monty holds as much water and makes as much sense as stating that he will be cemented in Blades folklore if he chins David Blunkett's dog.

Steady on, there's no need to resort to animal cruelty to get cheap laughs, especially against animals that are actually earning an honest crust. Blind piggie politicians however, are a different kettle of fish, so if Speed was to aim higher..........

 

[Sensiblade]

How on earth did a random thread by BB turn into a Monty bashing thread???

Oh wait a minute, some people could turn a thread about the quality of the beer at the lane into a Monty bashing thread so I should have expected it really!

 

[chipsncake]

Monty had a good game, but often the Monty haters refuse to accept that. Sure, on occasions he gave the ball away, but so did every other player in the country. Nobody has a 100% success rate, it's just that some seem to labour under the misapprehension that Monty has a zero% rate - far from it. Williamson fit may well be a better player than Monty, but Williamson fit for more than a couple of matches seems to be rarer than a unicorn in Rotherham or soap in Barnsley.

So yes, Monty is better than Williamson at the moment. If there's a better player to swap for Monty or indeed ANY of the players in our squad then let's have them in, but it's not that easy. If Fabregas fancies coming to the Lane I'd swap him for Monty like a shot, but the problem with getting any new players is getting them. I'd rather have a fit Williamson in, but that seems as likely as getting Fabregas, or even Calor Gas. Williamson is another crock signed on the off-chance that he might get fit. Warnock often signed players that did badly elsewhere in the hope that he could get them to play, but Blackwell seemed to sign crocks in the hope that his healing hands would make everything alright. A fit Monty is better than a crocked Williamson, and until Williamson is fit then I'd keep Monty in. He seems to be gelling with Britton, and I'd also keep Quinn sat on the bench at the moment, because Britton and Monty may just be the midfield pairing that will suit us best until better comes, whenever that may be.

I know Monty polarises opinion like no other, but I'm happy with him in our team until a better player comes along. That might be next week, next season or not for a year or two. So be it. It's the same with all of the squad - if we can get better then let's have them. We certainly got a better left-back than Taylor, who is enthusiastic but out of his depth.

Sorry Shoreham but there isn't a player on this planet that gives the ball away as often as Monty, and the sooner he moves this excuse of a footballer on the better.

 

[puppet]

Yeah, you're right. I don't disagree at all. I guess I was aiming at the folks who decided not to come purely because we have reverted back to what we have pretty well always been in the nearly 40 years I have been watching us. I think we are losing a few of the people who jumped on board when we had the season long flirtation with the PL, and don't like it now that they are watching what most of us have been putting up with for more years than we care to remember.

i shouldve known thats what you were driving at there, sorry for the simpering self-pity

UTB

 

[Sensiblade]

Sorry Shoreham but there isn't a player on this planet that gives the ball away as often as Monty, and the sooner he moves this excuse of a footballer on the better.

That has to be wrong as you forgot to put FACT! in it somewhere.

 

[shorehamview]

Sorry Shoreham but there isn't a player on this planet that gives the ball away as often as Monty, and the sooner he moves this excuse of a footballer on the better.

If you can prove that, with proper facts and figures, then and only then will you have a case. I suspect that you might well be wrong.

 

[beechblade]

Sorry Shoreham but there isn't a player on this planet that gives the ball away as often as Monty, and the sooner he moves this excuse of a footballer on the better.

Monty gave the ball away, but he also won it a far few more times and broke a good numder of Preston attacks, as did Britton, Calve and Jordan, Monty also got an excellent tackle in that was wrongly punished as a free kick, he also broke with a few attacks but thanks to a few lazy forwards today had to run it to the byline and do nothing with it. I don't love Monty and I don't hate Monty, he was poor against Middlesbrough, but today he was a changed man in once senseas after that game he stepped up to his role as Captain and did his job at the lane very well today. The fact that Speed gave him that armband also tells you what he thinks about Monty as a player. But I suppose a footballer, well respected coach and now our manager wouldn't have a clue about that.

 

[broomhillblade]

Have you forgotten it's the last Bank Holiday weekend BB ? The gates will pick up from now on ....they always do .

Exactly. Only two Championship clubs had a bigger crowd yesterday - Derby and Forest.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

There are still so many that don't get it. Monty isn't here to play football. He's here to stop the opposition from doing so...

 

[Ballinpigpubs13]

Under 20,000 at BDTBL i believe.....Mr McCabe you have a problem.

A full 15 to 20 regulars that have had season ticket's around me for years have gone.
Got a text from the club this week as well promoting cheaper ticket's if bought by a season ticket holder which makes 19600 even more disapointing.

 

[Micalijo]

There are still so many that don't get it. Monty isn't here to play football. He's here to stop the opposition from doing so...

I don't think he's any good at doing what you say he's meant to do but assuming you're right, why was he so far up the pitch ahead of Britton and Ertl for alot of the game yesterday and do you think we would benefit from having someone in there who could tackle, harry and get in the way when required and also have a modicum of ability in possession? It's not as though I'm looking for a genius ball winning Hoddle type of passer, just a bit of an all-rounder would improve us massively I believe.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

I don't think he's any good at doing what you say he's meant to do but assuming you're right, why was he so far up the pitch ahead of Britton and Ertl for alot of the game yesterday.

I am right, thats what he does. He breaks up attacking moves. A lot of theirs, and some of ours.

and do you think we would benefit from having someone in there who could tackle, harry and get in the way when required and also have a modicum of ability in possession? .

Monty can do this, he will be playing a slightly different role further up the pitch while we use Britton in the 'quarterback' role.

It's not as though I'm looking for a genius ball winning Hoddle type of passer, just a bit of an all-rounder would improve us massively I believe.

We've got one coming back from injury in Willo. Interesting to see what Speed does when he's fit.

 

[TheSwollengland]

My thoughts

The majority who missed today are the plastics that got on board for the premiership
then theres the ones who used Blackwell as an excuse but now thats gone seem to be now using ther non attendance as some sort of badge of honour,and then there are those who simply find the current economic state a problem

As for Monty I am a one who likes him ,I always ask the question of those who knock him how many points we get with him in the side as opposed to when hes not,BUT,today I thought he looked poor ,he didnt seem to have a role and if he did he diidnt seem to know what it was

 

[beightonblade]

A full 15 to 20 regulars that have had season ticket's around me for years have gone.
Got a text from the club this week as well promoting cheaper ticket's if bought by a season ticket holder which makes 19600 even more disapointing.

same with me Ballingpubs ............ 'die hard Blades' are missing in alarming numbers.......... and the cheapo tickets does make sub 20,000 alarming even with a bank holiday.

 

[Nick Jansky]

To put the attendance into context, it was the 2nd highest in the Championship on a Bank Holiday weekend when a lot of folks have gone away.

 

[lenners]

To put the attendance into context, it was the 2nd highest in the Championship on a Bank Holiday weekend when a lot of folks have gone away.

Or it was 6,000 down on last season's average and would have been under 19,000 without Preston having free travel for their fans.
It's time for the club to make the BL Upper available for a range of free tickets for kids and any other offers the club can think of.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Or it was 6,000 down on last season's average and would have been under 19,000 without Preston having free travel for their fans.
It's time for the club to make the BL Upper available for a range of free tickets for kids and any other offers the club can think of.

I'd be thinking about dishing out tickets to the Students Unions. I'm not going to panic about the attendances until we see what happens on a non Bank Holiday weekend, but it is clear that we aren't going to get near last year's average. I do think the hike in prices will probably more or less compensate for the missing fans, but its going to take a long winning run to see attendances comfortably over 20,000. This means that the injection of pace up front is absolutely crucial, and it sounds as if Speed has recognised this.

What did you think of the game, Len?

 

[shorehamview]

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrressss Eeyore!

After all, every silver lining has it's cloud. Why the hell we would we want to delight in a victory and a great goal and forget the crap we've been watching? Bugger enjoying a rare win, let's pop the balloons, kick the puppy, steal the sweets from the kids and shit on the trifle. How dare we enjoy a win when there's doom and gloom to be pointed out!?!?

I don't expect goals like that every match, I don't expect us to play like a team of Cruyff clones overnight, but I'd like to be able to enjoy a win for more than five minutes before the Dismal Fairy Of Gloom pisses on my chips because he hates to see people enjoy themselves for even two minutes.

I mean, I don't actually believe in Father Christmas but I am not going to tell my daughter that it's all just commercial cack and we're being manipulated by the forces of capitalism, and I'm not going to tell her that the Tooth Fairy isn't real either. I like to see that happiness on her face. Similarly I'm not going to run round after a victory telling everyone that we're actually rubbish and only won because the other side were on a par with the Helen Keller Invitational XI.

I'm fully aware that one win against Preston won't be the sum total of our season, but please let me enjoy it for a few minutes longer. Go and play in the arcade, there's Australians to hit and Invaders to repel. You might enjoy it. I doubt it, but there's a first time for everything.

 

[Wards]

They'll always find something to moan about. It's in their makeup - I think enjoying success must trigger some kind of angry reaction inside. Why I don'tknow, it must be really fucking dismal leaving such a miserable existance!

 

[lenners]

I'd be thinking about dishing out tickets to the Students Unions. I'm not going to panic about the attendances until we see what happens on a non Bank Holiday weekend, but it is clear that we aren't going to get near last year's average. I do think the hike in prices will probably more or less compensate for the missing fans, but its going to take a long winning run to see attendances comfortably over 20,000. This means that the injection of pace up front is absolutely crucial, and it sounds as if Speed has recognised this.

What did you think of the game, Len?

I don't think it's a question of panic, it's a question of dealing with reality.
The season ticket disaster was foreseen - the club did nothing.
The ticket price folly was foreseen - the club did nothing.
The club did give hundreds of tickets away for QPR but didn't yesterday - a mistake. No point in having over 10,000 empty seats when you can offer free tickets to kids, for example.
The club did a £15 ticket offer - a mistake. The price was way too high after the shambles of QPR. It should have been £10 at the most.
I think the club already has a student deal in place but the students aren't around in August. They should be looking at aggressively marketing in both universities, probably with £5 tickets.
As for the game, very, very poor from both sides - lit up by a freak strike.

 

[Studge]

same with me Ballingpubs ............ 'die hard Blades' are missing in alarming numbers.......... and the cheapo tickets does make sub 20,000 alarming even with a bank holiday.

But presumably if they are missing "die hard Blades" may not be their correct description.

 

[borg elite]

I didn't renew after having a season ticket for twenty of the past twenty five years. I don't know if I am a typical example of someone who has not renewed. But I have been there when we used to average 10k. I don't want a medal or anything but not all non renewals are the premiership bandwagon jumpers.

The Blades played some great football, which the 19,000 odd who were there thoroughly enjoyed. They also witnessed a cracking goal from a debutant who looks like he is going to become a bit of a hero. The 19,000 odd deserved a day like this, they are the true fans.

 

[Large Mendonca]

Well it would have cost me between 40 and 50 quid to go with my lad, and i think that's obscene frankly. No i don't know a season ticket holder to take advantage of the "offer", and my shifts mean i can't justify a season ticket.

Guess that's me priced out then 'cause i would have gone yesterday, and i reckon there's a lot in the same boat.

 

[axel smeets]

I know it's probably been discussed elsewhere on here, but had McCabe sacked fat face on May 3rd when he should have, I reckon at least 2000 of the lost ST holders would have renewed. (Only my opinion of course, but I know one or two myself that didn't simply because of fat face.)

 

[DuncDisorderly]

I know it's probably been discussed elsewhere on here, but had McCabe sacked fat face on May 3rd when he should have, I reckon at least 2000 of the lost ST holders would have renewed. (Only my opinion of course, but I know one or two myself that didn't simply because of fat face.)

Bearing in mind that only a handful of ST's have been sold since Speed was appointed, perhaps we might consider the possibility that at least a good percentage of people who haven't renewed have chosen not to so because of economics, lifestyle, personal circumstances, and issues other than the manager or the football on offer..?

 

[axel smeets]

Of course that will be a factor for many people, but there will have been a few that will have set cash aside, waiting to see whether fat face would get his P45. When he didn't, those people will have thought, 'sod it, I'll spend it on summat else'.
The current economic conditions undoubtedly played a part, as will others, but I've got to believe that a significant chunk of non renewers were simply down to the football on offer.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

I can't really understand it myself. I'm a fan and so as long as I've got my health & can afford it, I will go. Not liking a particular manager or style of play would never keep me away. Managers & players come and go - fans shouldn't do the same should they?

 

[axel smeets]

I tend to agree deano, but if people are being asked to part with £400+, then I guess that many will choose not to go if they don't like what they are watching.

 

[JohnDenver]

we might consider the possibility that at least a good percentage of people who haven't renewed have chosen not to so because of economics, lifestyle, personal circumstances, and issues other than the manager or the football on offer..?

It's always a combination of those things. It's rare people "can't afford it" in the absolute sense (which is what you'll hear a lot of). More likely the quality of entertainment given by a season ticket doesn't outweigh taking a holiday abroad or getting a new car.

When we do well again, people will find the money. Although the thresholds do change as prices rise and disposable incomes shrink...