Is Sheffield United finally attractive to top quality players?

[Alex Cheeseright]

Has CWAK created a team that players want to come and play in. In other words, is it easier to recruit quality players than last year? I would say yes. We were favs to go down but have surprised most. Thus possible signings look at The Blades as a good place for a successful part in their career. Not sure. But looking forward to the recruitment sagas and to next season.

 

[FMBlade1]

No. As we don't pay anyone 50k a week.

Not that we should mind.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Has CWAK created a team that players want to come and play in. In other words, is it easier to recruit quality players than last year? I would say yes. We were favs to go down but have surprised most. Thus possible signings look at The Blades as a good place for a successful part in their career. Not sure. But looking forward to the recruitment sagas and to next season.

I think we’ll be among the favourites to go down again. More so than Leeds, Villa, West Ham and Brighton. This will have an impact for some players we may be interested in, but for me it will show that they’ve not got the right personality for us anyway.

 

[bromtom]

I think we’ll be among the favourites to go down again. More so than Leeds, Villa, West Ham and Brighton. This will have an impact for some players we may be interested in, but for me it will show that they’ve not got the right personality for us anyway.

Why though? Villa have the second worst defence in the league and considering it cost them £60m+ to assemble, can't see them improving it too much.

Grealish is probably off.

They might be more comfortable, but assuming they don't sack Smith, I don't think they'll be winning the league.

West Ham have a few good players and might spend some money, but that hasn't helped them recently.

Brighton need reinforcement too but I could see them being the best of those 3.

Can't see how we're in a worse position than anyone in the league currently, outside of the elite teams.

Leeds is an unknown.

We beat full strength Spurs and Chelsea during our supposed "dogshit/ found out/ knacked out" restart period. We need to stop doing ourselves down.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Why though? Villa have the second worst defence in the league and considering it cost them £60m+ to assemble, can't see them improving it too much.

Grealish is probably off.

They might be more comfortable, but assuming they don't sack Smith, I don't think they'll be winning the league.

West Ham have a few good players and might spend some money, but that hasn't helped them recently.

Brighton need reinforcement too but I could see them being the best of those 3.

Can't see how we're in a worse position than anyone in the league currently, outside of the elite teams.

Leeds is an unknown.

We beat full strength Spurs and Chelsea during our supposed "dogshit/ found out/ knacked out" restart period. We need to stop doing ourselves down.

Logic doesn’t apply and they’ll buy into the 2nd season bollocks and what they’ll believe is our post lockdown form. Wins at Spurs, Wolves and a Tottenham will be largely ignored.
In short people don’t like to be proven wrong, and they’ll double down that we’ll not get “lucky” twice.
You watch.

 

[Deadbat]

Why though? Villa have the second worst defence in the league and considering it cost them £60m+ to assemble, can't see them improving it too much.

Grealish is probably off.

They might be more comfortable, but assuming they don't sack Smith, I don't think they'll be winning the league.

West Ham have a few good players and might spend some money, but that hasn't helped them recently.

Brighton need reinforcement too but I could see them being the best of those 3.

Can't see how we're in a worse position than anyone in the league currently, outside of the elite teams.

Leeds is an unknown.

We beat full strength Spurs and Chelsea during our supposed "dogshit/ found out/ knacked out" restart period. We need to stop doing ourselves down.

You watch the bookies odds. They'll have us 14th - 18th I reckon. I disagree but you will see.

Don't care - more ammunition to prove everyone wrong again.

 

[bromtom]

Logic doesn’t apply and they’ll buy into the 2nd season bollocks and what they’ll believe is our post lockdown form. Wins at Spurs, Wolves and a Tottenham will be largely ignored.
In short people don’t like to be proven wrong, and they’ll double down that we’ll not get “lucky” twice.
You watch.

Even our own fans get arsey when you tell them second season syndrome is a myth, some pillock on Instagram was on about how we're not good enough and we need to sell our team and buy a load of players etc.

I looked it up and it's absolutely bollocks. I mean, Wolves have finished one place lower haven't they? Brighton didn't go down, took Bournemouth 5 goes to get relegated etc etc but Huddersfield went down so everyone is doomed second year.

I think, as a fanbase, it's time to let go of the negativity a bit, no need to be deluded or Billy big bollocks about it, but yeah. Let's be less negative and have a bit of belief for a change.

 

[FMBlade1]

If I was a top quality player I wouldn't want to go anywhere near SUFC.

1. They don't pay good PL wages
2. I would have to work really hard
3. No other top quality big names players alongside me
4. The manager would call me out and/or drop/sell me if I wasn't performing
5. SUFC players never get picked for major international teams
6. Bigger clubs don't come in for SUFC players as they aren't glamorous enough. Man City should sign Egan or JOC but won't for this reason.

Villa on the other hand...

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Even our own fans get arsey when you tell them second season syndrome is a myth, some pillock on Instagram was on about how we're not good enough and we need to sell our team and buy a load of players etc.

I looked it up and it's absolutely bollocks. I mean, Wolves have finished one place lower haven't they? Brighton didn't go down, took Bournemouth 5 goes to get relegated etc etc but Huddersfield went down so everyone is doomed second year.

I think, as a fanbase, it's time to let go of the negativity a bit, no need to be deluded or Billy big bollocks about it, but yeah. Let's be less negative and have a bit of belief for a change.

Not sure if you’re misunderstanding me. I’m saying this is the narrative we’re going to get from the press and that sticks in people’s minds.
Let’s see what happens but I’m reasonably confident that we will be seeing comment similar to what I’ve posted circulating in the press and TV comment about next season.
Leeds will be staying up comfortably and we’ll be in a relegation fight due to not enough quality and the nonsense of 2nd season syndrome.

 

[blademark]

I think we’ll be among the favourites to go down again. More so than Leeds, Villa, West Ham and Brighton. This will have an impact for some players we may be interested in, but for me it will show that they’ve not got the right personality for us anyway.

I'd be amazed if many of the pundits have us in the bottom 3 again. Even allowing for our tail off after lockdown, we still mustered enough points to survive comfortably.

 

[JackSUFC]

If I was a top quality player I wouldn't want to go anywhere near SUFC.

1. They don't pay good PL wages
2. I would have to work really hard
3. No other top quality big names players alongside me
4. The manager would call me out and/or drop/sell me if I wasn't performing
5. SUFC players never get picked for major international teams
6. Bigger clubs don't come in for SUFC players as they aren't glamorous enough. Man City should sign Egan or JOC but won't for this reason.

Villa on the other hand...

Parody account confirmed.

 

[Niceguyeddie]

If I was a top quality player I wouldn't want to go anywhere near SUFC.

1. They don't pay good PL wages
2. I would have to work really hard
3. No other top quality big names players alongside me
4. The manager would call me out and/or drop/sell me if I wasn't performing
5. SUFC players never get picked for major international teams
6. Bigger clubs don't come in for SUFC players as they aren't glamorous enough. Man City should sign Egan or JOC but won't for this reason.

Villa on the other hand...

Maybe you're getting top quality player mixed up.with fanny

 

[bromtom]

Not sure if you’re misunderstanding me. I’m saying this is the narrative we’re going to get from the press and that sticks in people’s minds.
Let’s see what happens but I’m reasonably confident that we will be seeing comment similar to what I’ve posted circulating in the press and TV comment about next season.
Leeds will be staying up comfortably and we’ll be in a relegation fight due to not enough quality and the nonsense of 2nd season syndrome.

No I was agreeing with you, that that's what the media will peddle, and even our own fans are on about it right now.

It reminds me of the first Championship season, where there were people saying we had close to relegation form after Burton, we just didn't. We had that tough period from Couttsy getting injured to the JTW but we got some bodies in and had comfortable midtable form for the rest of the season.

 

[Harry's Game]

I’m not calling out any particular poster...

...but there is some right old bollocks being posted on this thread.

 

[YES Blade]

Why though? Villa have the second worst defence in the league and considering it cost them £60m+ to assemble, can't see them improving it too much.

Grealish is probably off.

They might be more comfortable, but assuming they don't sack Smith, I don't think they'll be winning the league.

West Ham have a few good players and might spend some money, but that hasn't helped them recently.

Brighton need reinforcement too but I could see them being the best of those 3.

Can't see how we're in a worse position than anyone in the league currently, outside of the elite teams.

Leeds is an unknown.

We beat full strength Spurs and Chelsea during our supposed "dogshit/ found out/ knacked out" restart period. We need to stop doing ourselves down.

I can see Grealish staying, Villa will want more money than anyone will be willing to pay.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Maybe you're getting top quality player mixed up.with fanny

Underated post.

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

Main reason Leeds will not be predicted by so called expert pundits to be universally relegated like we were last year .. their foreign “fit the profile “ manager!

If Wilder was from South America and not Stocksbridge his stock would be higher in those circles. Thank Christ we have him instead though!!

 

[OrderOfStGeorge]

With a manger like Chris Wilder at the helm yes i would say so definitely

 

[PokerBlade]

The main thing holding us back in recruitment is going to be the budget. Suffice to say we're a lot more attractive now than we were this time last season. When it comes to "top class" players, well we aren't shopping in the same market that Liverpool, Man City et al will be but there's a fair few decent pros out there that will see us as a good club to play for. Particularly if we start branching into foreign markets and younger players, the ones with their heads screwed on will be thinking the Blades are a very good place to step up your career. It seems to be what attracted Berge and I can see others following suit.

 

[TJ blade]

I'd be amazed if many of the pundits have us in the bottom 3 again. Even allowing for our tail off after lockdown, we still mustered enough points to survive comfortably.

Think your in for a shock mate, we've been down in the lower division's for year's and the so called pundits or twats! Have never seen us play or heard of us so until we do something special and catch there attention we're always going to be plucky Sheffield United.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I'd be amazed if many of the pundits have us in the bottom 3 again. Even allowing for our tail off after lockdown, we still mustered enough points to survive comfortably.

Don't forget though, that we have less financial clout than most others and we've also got a number of ageing players in key positions that we will need to replace/add competition to. I think the recruitment is going to need to be spot on this summer and it sounds like Wilder may have his hands tied to some extent.

I agree with you that based on what we did this last season we are deserving of being more highly rated than a bottom 3 candidate, but given our comparative ability to improve the squad then I can see that weighing us down in terms of journo's league position predictions.

For what it's worth, I also think we will go through a bit of a mini-overhaul this summer with a lot of players going out the door and a few new ones coming in. I'm not expecting us to better this season's 9th place finish, but hopefully we'll build a foundation to allow us to continue improving as a Prem League club for a good few seasons into the future.

 

[Sithblade]

We need to be a stepping stone club like Brentford are in the Championship or Southampton a few years ago with Mane, VVD, Pelle, Tadic.

Get the promising overseas players who might not be ready for the Manchester clubs, Chelsea or Liverpool so come to us to get regular games in the league and if they do well a big club is more likely to then snap them up.

Sure that's why Berge joined in January and not last summer, if he does really well in the next two years we'll hopefully triple what we paid for him.

 

[FMBlade1]

Parody account confirmed.

Obviously slightly tongue in cheek and hyperbole, but which part do you specifically disagree with?

 

[AdamSufc1997]

Course we can. It's just that we don't want to pay wages. When will we learn that if we want quality we'll have to pay the wages if Stoke could attract the likes of shaqiri arnautovic etc then we can

 

[OrderOfStGeorge]

Course we can. It's just that we don't want to pay wages. When will we learn that if we want quality we'll have to pay the wages if Stoke could attract the likes of shaqiri arnautovic etc then we can

Exactly that well said totally agree with you there I do not see why we cant sign players in that kind of mould.

We already have the positive signing of Sander Berge who was highly sought after and one of the most highly rated young midfielders in Europe with some of Europe's top clubs circling.

If the Prince backs Wilder with the transfer funds and wages I see no reason why we cant sign that quality of player.

 

[JackSUFC]

Obviously slightly tongue in cheek and hyperbole, but which part do you specifically disagree with?

Ok, I’ll humour you.

1. They don't pay good PL wages - I’m sure our wage budget will be increasing as we progress. I’ll give you that one though.

2. I would have to work really hard - What?

3. No other top quality big names players alongside me - No ego’s/ dickheads in the squad then. Makes for a closer team-spirit which is surely a more enjoyable environment to be involved in?

4. The manager would call me out and/or drop/sell me if I wasn't performing - Isn’t that the job of a Football Manager?

5. SUFC players never get picked for major international teams - Henderson has been in the last few England squads, JOC rumoured to be close to a call-up. Berge a key player in a decent young Norway team. McBurnie Scotland’s #9. Three Ireland players. No, not top International teams but it’s not like you can’t get called-up to your country playing for us.

6. Bigger clubs don't come in for SUFC players as they aren't glamorous enough. Man City should sign Egan or JOC but won't for this reason - We don’t know that moving forwards. But for now, good, let’s keep it that way.

 

[bromtom]

Proper footballers who enjoy the game will want to come to us because we can play good football, have an inspiring and tactically astute manager, and a great dressing room. That's what we offer and wages can be worked on in our favour if players see something they want to be involved in, but I don't think we'll be tightarses anyway.

We don't want anyone who's not a proper footballer, who's only in it for money, exposure, guaranteed minutes etc and would play in the Azerbaijan conference south if they gave him a reality show on MTV and £200k a week.

 

[wadblade]

I do think that now we have proved ourselves we should be able to get some quality loans like Brewster and Wilson
even loans from europe but they would have to fit CWAK profile

 

[bromtom]

I do think that now we have proved ourselves we should be able to get some quality loans like Brewster and Wilson
even loans from europe but they would have to fit CWAK profile

Wilson, Harry? Doesn't offer much for me outside of his free kick.

Brewster though would be good.

There's a possibility of loaning from Watford or Bournemouth too I think, Huddersfield did that with their best player, and then sold him in January when it became obvious they were shite.

 

[FMBlade1]

Ok, I’ll humour you.

1. They don't pay good PL wages - I’m sure our wage budget will be increasing as we progress. I’ll give you that one though.

2. I would have to work really hard - What?

3. No other top quality big names players alongside me - No ego’s/ dickheads in the squad then. Makes for a closer team-spirit which is surely a more enjoyable environment to be involved in?

4. The manager would call me out and/or drop/sell me if I wasn't performing - Isn’t that the job of a Football Manager?

5. SUFC players never get picked for major international teams - Henderson has been in the last few England squads, JOC rumoured to be close to a call-up. Berge a key player in a decent young Norway team. McBurnie Scotland’s #9. Three Ireland players. No, not top International teams but it’s not like you can’t get called-up to your country playing for us.

6. Bigger clubs don't come in for SUFC players as they aren't glamorous enough. Man City should sign Egan or JOC but won't for this reason - We don’t know that moving forwards. But for now, good, let’s keep it that way.

To be clear I'm not slagging off the club for not paying stupid wages, forcing our players to work hard rather than coast, signing big name players for the sake of it, and for not getting players into top international teams or selling our better players to other top teams.

Just stating a bit of reality.

Let's face it, if you were a top quality player, where would you go?

SUFC, Leeds or Villa?

It won't be us. Now that's not necessarily a bad thing of course and has taken us very far, question is will it be enough going forward?