Donny Debacle

[Deadbat]

My thoughts on Donny game and beyond..... ...

That was utterly depressing. It was almost like our players knew they were going to lose from the start. They never turned up from minute one. There was no fight, no football, no grit, no organisation. Nothing. There was not one positive from the whole game. It was awful. Sure we were better in the second half but Donny had took their foot off the gas and were coasting. As they said on the BBC it was so easy. I think even the beeb could not believe how bad we were. The tactics were wrong as we had nothing up front but we had 5 in midfield and still got out footballed so even if we harp on about systems and tactics if 8 or 9 players have utter stinkers what do you do? I do agree with Speed; whislt there is no doubt Doncaster have better footballers/players I at least thought we would battle and win loose balls but Doncaster won all those too.


Regardless of their poor performances though it also showed that most of these 8 or 9 are not good enough and Doncaster clearly have better footballers than us. Watching cloggers like Ertl, Quinn, Nosworthy, Morgan and Cresswell chasing shadows should be a worrying sign for our board. Our side lacks skill, pace, creativity anf goals but now for the first time in a number of years also lacks passion and bottle. Without these qualities this side COULD go down.

The silence from Birch and McCabe says it all. The former said our squad was good enough to be around the top 6 and the latter said we would not rely on loans again and would build for the future with players who would be around long term. Neither has happened. The fact they have gone silent says it all. We have no direction from the board at the moment. More importantly we have no investment to improve our failing team.

We cannot get investment and are stuck with an inept squad that has got worse season after season for the last few years (selling or losing Naughton, Walker, Kenny, Cotterill, Halford, Naysmith, Beattie, Kilgallon etc) and not replacing them. I think the board and the manager are powerless to stop the inevitable and the inevitable being hat this season will be a relegation battle (I know it is early but we cannot score goals and cannot stop them) and I feel Speed knows this.

It is clear we are skint (for whatever reason) and he cannot bring anyone in. He cannot change the side as we have noone else to bring in (Taylor, Monty, Evans are even worse than those playing!) so the present incumbents know they wll retain their places. Speed seems unable to change things and if anything the football we played in the opening few games has just faded away. We are lumping it as much as ever. I feel sorry for him as he cannot even get them playing football as they can't do it. They seemed to be getting there but old habits die hard and most of the team have almost accepted they do not have the skills to play football and are just kicking it.

Speed is probably regretting taking the job now. Whether he was promised new players or not you are not telling me he has not identified players he could bring in but it is clear the board are stopping any incomers. My fear is that he will just say sod this for a game of soldiers and walk at the end of the season and we will be back to square one. The whole squad needs a complete overhaul from top to bottom. There is maybe only 3 or 4 players out of the squad of 20-22 that I would actually keep moving forward. It is hard saying that but the rest are just not good enough.


Simonsen - No chance on either goal and made one or two other saves but he looked as shaken as the rest of the defence as crosses and shots bounded in on him. Would hate to be playing behind that lot at the moment. 6.5/10

Calve - Not good enough. I keep getting criticised for saying he is not good enouygh for this level and today proved it for me. Everyone says he should be played further forward but after his first few games (with some decent crosses and the wonder goal) his crossing and passing has been wretched. His is too weak physically and makes bad mistakes defensively. Was badly at fault for the second goal (amongst others) when he let his man run beyond him. Another one that is just playing as we have noone else. 3/10

De Laet - Lost Coppinger numerous times and whilst showed a few decent touches going forward his lack of concentration and ability to do the basics has cost us badly with him being at fault for the first goal (again amongst others). Under normal circumstances I would send him back to Man Utd as he has not really been great but then we have Taylor who is even worse. Our full backs are utterly appalling. 4/10

Morgan - Tried hard but the team was falling apart around him and he seemed as lost as them reverting to booting and heading the ball away. Against better footballers he showed his limitations as he got turned/passed around easily. 4/10

Nosworthy - Embarrasing. Bringing him back for a season was an awful decision. He cannot kick the ball, head the ball nor even do the basics. He is a mistake waiting to happen. We should see if we can terminate his loan but unfortunately as with walton probably are stuck with his wages fot the season. At least we can drop him and bring Bartlett back in. 3/10

Britton - Has been up and down all season. Had some excellent games and showed his ability on the ball but had some Howard/Harper games too. Whatever fault against the others and the formation I expect more than what he showed today where he was as bad as the rest. Gave the ball away and was outclassed by Oster, Woods and Stock. Thing is if he played in the Doncaster team he would fit in well despite today being an off day. 5/10

Quinn - Awful. Another one who gets a shirt as we simply have noone else (although some of the kids in the Academy really could do no worse). Always on the floor and he gives the ball away I would say 7/10 times when he has it. Offers utterly nothing but points and gesticulates like others are letting him down. The decision to award him a new contract was an appalling football decision by Birch and Blackwell. 3/10

Ertl - Never noticed him and did not even know he was playing. He looks like he does not even know what his role is and seems a signing that was just another waste of resources. 3/10

Yeates - Never in the gamer first half. At least he got a few crosses in and tried to make something happen. probablhy his wirst game for some weeks and still scores higehr than most of the team. Says it all. 5/10

Cresswell - Same as evey other week. Does nothing at all. Never wins a header, barely touches the ball, looks slow oh and for extra measure today he missed a sitter. Keeps his place as we have noone else. I would give the kid Slew a few games. He simply cannot do any worse. 1/10

Bogdanovic - Offside about 10 times. Never touched the ball and looked disinterested. The system did not help him but he could have at least put himself about. 2/10

Subs

Ward - Played 40 minutes and was our best player easily. At least he got involved, ran at defenders and tried to get in on goal, Nearly scored and could have won a penalty. Why was he not starting? 6/10

Lowton - Came on but did not have much of an impact but it was all too late then.

Slew - Had one good chance but fluffed it and went wider than he needed to. Felt sorry for him being given only 5 minutes. Should have been given longer to make an impact.

Doncaster - Excellent but playing against a team of dustbins so any praise has to be reserved. My 5-a-side team would have beat the Blades today. Woods, Stock, Coppinger were given all the time in the world. the defence were never pressure and Sharp and Hayter were playing two slow centre backs that stood off them all game. The right back was very good but he was faced with no pressure either. I dont feel they will go up but may flirt with the playoffs. The fact that the ground was half empty (regardless of the United numbers) says it all. They will not be ever able to go much higher than where they are unless Ryan chucks even more silly money in. I can see them maybe being around edge of playoffs this year and even next but Sean O'Driscoll will go onto bigger and better things and then they will tail off. Fair play to them though with a far lower wage bill and far less support/infrastructure they outclassed us and actually should have won by more.

Sorry to not be more positive but today was as bad as the Bristol City performance on TV 3 years ago under Robson; which was a similarly bad performance lacking passion and spine. At least Speed apologised to the fans after the game and at least I feel he does know that the team is not good enough. As I have said though I am not sure what he can do to arrest the slide. Boro (with a far better squad than us) are showing what can happen and I am fearful of how we are going to get enough points and goals to stay in this division.

 

[Nick Jansky]

McCabe needs to back Speed with some money now. I have always been a supporter of McC, but if we really can't afford to bring anybody in, I would like him to be totally honest, admit it, and explain why. I'm beginning to lose faith in him.

Good report Deadbat, sums it up perfectly for me.

 

[bottletree]

I switched TV over at half time and watched family fortunes. Bobby Davro's family got through the first round and won £10k for charity. You've been framed followed this and after that it was Harry Hill's TV burp.

 

[grafikhaus]

Sums it up, Deadbat. Absolutely no positives from that performance.

However the BBC commentators like to 'big it up', Doncaster were nothing special, but when you have no opponent within ten yards, it's easy to bring the ball down and weigh up the options.

If we had any alternatives, a good few of those players tonight should be shown the door. But we haven't. So they won't be.

Cresswell has had it. That pathetic miss from the 6-yard header showed as much. But on a night like tonight, it's not fair to single out anybody. Morgs did his best and Simonsen must wonder what kind of defence he's got in front of him.

As the camera zoomed in on Speed and his 'back room staff', I wondered WTF are they looking at their laptops for, when the game is right in front of them? And then I twigged. GS had an earpiece in and was probably listening in to the BBC 'experts' as to what they'd do.

The subbing of the ever-ineffective Bogdanovic just 5 minutes into the second half told us all we needed to know. He should have made changes immediately after Donny's first goal, as I can't recall ever seeing a game with 'lose' written all over it after just 20 minutes. And I've seen over 1000 games.

Speed sounded totally down after the game. It seems that De Laet is off and it is 'unlikely' that we will bring in anybody else.

Still early days, and we pulled a rabbit out of the hat at Hull, but once a downward momentum takes hold it can prove irresistable. :cry:

 

[beightonblade]

A chairman who wants out, a manager with no experience and a team full of woefull players.
McWobblegob ought to hand his head in shame, he has ripped the soul out of Sheffield United....history will show he is the worst chairman we have ever had !

I just hope i'm wrong about the freehold.

 

[Worksop II]

I just hope i'm wrong about the freehold.

I am starting to worry as to whether the New Carpet in the Directors Box has Underlay, anyone know ?

 

[Micalijo]

Great stuff Deadbat. Great assessment.

I think we'll stay up, just, but in terms of maintaining any enthusiasm for the club I think that is pretty irrelevant.

Football is in trouble in general and McCabe will always use this smokescreen of a recession which is fair enough in terms of fans disposable income - look at the gaps in the Donny crowd tonite, it hasn't stopped them building a football team.

I love slating McCabe but he gave Robson unbelievable riches and that has to be remembered. Wrong man obviously but he has gone for it. He is now cash flow wise shafted by the recession.


Piss off McCabe.

 

[raul]

Hear what you are saying Nick, but imo the last thing we need is to hear more wind and piss from the Chairman. As Secret Affair so brilliantly put it it's Time For Action.

 

[AlienWoodward]

Hear what you are saying Nick, but imo the last thing we need is to hear more wind and piss from the Chairman. As Secret Affair so brilliantly put it it's Time For Action.

I think it could be more a case of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKe2OfXLxuc

 

[grafikhaus]

Nosworthy - Embarrasing. Bringing him back for a season was an awful decision. He cannot kick the ball, head the ball nor even do the basics. He is a mistake waiting to happen. /QUOTE] etc.

A bloke on Praise and Grumble summed it up when he said that most players pull the stops out when they're trying for a new club and, when they get it, revert to not giving a toss. We've seen it and other teams have seen it. So why can't managers see it?

I'm pretty down after that debacle tonight. But I feel that people are beginning to lose faith with football in general. How many were at Donny tonight? The ones who were singing at the end, I presume they'd been on the pop all day? Why else pay around £50 for a day out when you can watch it live on TV? I see Burnley got 14k today, so where have the other 30k from Wembley gone? And who will be picking up Shrek's new pay rise at Man. U? The fans. (BTW, can't wait for Wigan v Bolton on MoTD tonight)

Sorry to go off-topic, but managers and footballers in general have to realise that the days of putting in 'shadow play' performances and talking general bollocks are coming to an end. There is absolutely no excuse for performances like we've witnessed tonight.

 

[Worksop II]

A bloke on Praise and Grumble summed it up

What summed it up for me was when the BBC commentator pointed out that Donny wern`t in the Football League 8 Years ago

 

[Lt. J Dangle]

I have banged on about this for years now. Another mediocre team has given us a football lesson again, same as every week, regardless of the result. Donny players can control a ball, pass it to a team mate, find space. Blades players let the ball hit their leg and it bounces away to nowhere. If we have the ball we either pass it to the other team or just smash it as far away as possible. Not a new thing, just the old Blades bad habits of the last 15 years. I'm sick of seeing players at SUFC who are incapable of performing basic football skills and picking up a good wage for it. What do they do every week in training? 9 goals in 13 games, a show-up on TV. I think I'd rather have us as a laughing stock off the pitch, like that lot down the road instead of a laughing stock on it, which is what we are now.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

"Britton - Has been up and down all season. Had some excellent games and showed his ability on the ball but had some Howard/Harper games too. Whatever fault against the others and the formation I expect more than what he showed today where he was as bad as the rest. Gave the ball away and was outclassed by Oster, Woods and Stock. Thing is if he played in the Doncaster team he would fit in well despite today being an off day. 5/10"

I'd love a midfield with those in it!

 

[grafikhaus]

Dead right Lt. J Dangle. Watching Inter v. Spurs the other night, it's so simple! The Inter players can instantly control the ball, bring it down, have team-mates on the same wavelength as them and possess the peripheral vision to know where their options lie.

So that's Inter and we're Sheffield United. But we pay 6-figure salaries to these wasters. The malaise is deep-rooted. Too many vested interests. That's why our average British manager 'has his coaching badges' (big deal) and can be seen ranting on the touchline (where he can't see anything). It's all a performance that managers are expected to perform. In the 70's (John Harris) managers were anonymous figures. Now they must be seen to 'care' and so jump up and down, give post-match interviews etc.

In Italy, Carlo Ancelotti etc. have to complete nearly 2 years at a 'manager's university' which covers all aspects of the modern game including finance, nutrition etc. etc. Here, we give the job to 'good, solid pros.' who wear a tracksuit with their initials on and give a good rant.

And we are surprised when England let us down every two years...

 

[jodman]

I have banged on about this for years now. Another mediocre team has given us a football lesson again, same as every week, regardless of the result. Donny players can control a ball, pass it to a team mate, find space. Blades players let the ball hit their leg and it bounces away to nowhere. If we have the ball we either pass it to the other team or just smash it as far away as possible. Not a new thing, just the old Blades bad habits of the last 15 years. I'm sick of seeing players at SUFC who are incapable of performing basic football skills and picking up a good wage for it. What do they do every week in training? 9 goals in 13 games, a show-up on TV. I think I'd rather have us as a laughing stock off the pitch, like that lot down the road instead of a laughing stock on it, which is what we are now.

I share your frustration but once again i am reassured by the comments made by Gary Speed (not to mention his body language during the many close-ups he was uncomfortably subjected to tonight). The fact that he acknowledges the problems and does not insult me by trying to deflect blame or gloss over unacceptable performances gives me some hope in these cynical times.

His ability as a manager remains to be seen but i am more then happy with the way he has conducted himself so far.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

My thoughts on Donny game and beyond..... ...

That was utterly depressing. It was almost like our players knew they were going to lose from the start. They never turned up from minute one. There was no fight, no football, no grit, no organisation. Nothing. There was not one positive from the whole game. It was awful. Sure we were better in the second half but Donny had took their foot off the gas and were coasting. As they said on the BBC it was so easy. I think even the beeb could not believe how bad we were. The tactics were wrong as we had nothing up front but we had 5 in midfield and still got out footballed so even if we harp on about systems and tactics if 8 or 9 players have utter stinkers what do you do? I do agree with Speed; whislt there is no doubt Doncaster have better footballers/players I at least thought we would battle and win loose balls but Doncaster won all those too.


Regardless of their poor performances though it also showed that most of these 8 or 9 are not good enough and Doncaster clearly have better footballers than us. Watching cloggers like Ertl, Quinn, Nosworthy, Morgan and Cresswell chasing shadows should be a worrying sign for our board. Our side lacks skill, pace, creativity anf goals but now for the first time in a number of years also lacks passion and bottle. Without these qualities this side COULD go down.

The silence from Birch and McCabe says it all. The former said our squad was good enough to be around the top 6 and the latter said we would not rely on loans again and would build for the future with players who would be around long term. Neither has happened. The fact they have gone silent says it all. We have no direction from the board at the moment. More importantly we have no investment to improve our failing team.

We cannot get investment and are stuck with an inept squad that has got worse season after season for the last few years (selling or losing Naughton, Walker, Kenny, Cotterill, Halford, Naysmith, Beattie, Kilgallon etc) and not replacing them. I think the board and the manager are powerless to stop the inevitable and the inevitable being hat this season will be a relegation battle (I know it is early but we cannot score goals and cannot stop them) and I feel Speed knows this.

It is clear we are skint (for whatever reason) and he cannot bring anyone in. He cannot change the side as we have noone else to bring in (Taylor, Monty, Evans are even worse than those playing!) so the present incumbents know they wll retain their places. Speed seems unable to change things and if anything the football we played in the opening few games has just faded away. We are lumping it as much as ever. I feel sorry for him as he cannot even get them playing football as they can't do it. They seemed to be getting there but old habits die hard and most of the team have almost accepted they do not have the skills to play football and are just kicking it.

Speed is probably regretting taking the job now. Whether he was promised new players or not you are not telling me he has not identified players he could bring in but it is clear the board are stopping any incomers. My fear is that he will just say sod this for a game of soldiers and walk at the end of the season and we will be back to square one. The whole squad needs a complete overhaul from top to bottom. There is maybe only 3 or 4 players out of the squad of 20-22 that I would actually keep moving forward. It is hard saying that but the rest are just not good enough.


Simonsen - No chance on either goal and made one or two other saves but he looked as shaken as the rest of the defence as crosses and shots bounded in on him. Would hate to be playing behind that lot at the moment. 6.5/10

Calve - Not good enough. I keep getting criticised for saying he is not good enouygh for this level and today proved it for me. Everyone says he should be played further forward but after his first few games (with some decent crosses and the wonder goal) his crossing and passing has been wretched. His is too weak physically and makes bad mistakes defensively. Was badly at fault for the second goal (amongst others) when he let his man run beyond him. Another one that is just playing as we have noone else. 3/10

De Laet - Lost Coppinger numerous times and whilst showed a few decent touches going forward his lack of concentration and ability to do the basics has cost us badly with him being at fault for the first goal (again amongst others). Under normal circumstances I would send him back to Man Utd as he has not really been great but then we have Taylor who is even worse. Our full backs are utterly appalling. 4/10

Morgan - Tried hard but the team was falling apart around him and he seemed as lost as them reverting to booting and heading the ball away. Against better footballers he showed his limitations as he got turned/passed around easily. 4/10

Nosworthy - Embarrasing. Bringing him back for a season was an awful decision. He cannot kick the ball, head the ball nor even do the basics. He is a mistake waiting to happen. We should see if we can terminate his loan but unfortunately as with walton probably are stuck with his wages fot the season. At least we can drop him and bring Bartlett back in. 3/10

Britton - Has been up and down all season. Had some excellent games and showed his ability on the ball but had some Howard/Harper games too. Whatever fault against the others and the formation I expect more than what he showed today where he was as bad as the rest. Gave the ball away and was outclassed by Oster, Woods and Stock. Thing is if he played in the Doncaster team he would fit in well despite today being an off day. 5/10

Quinn - Awful. Another one who gets a shirt as we simply have noone else (although some of the kids in the Academy really could do no worse). Always on the floor and he gives the ball away I would say 7/10 times when he has it. Offers utterly nothing but points and gesticulates like others are letting him down. The decision to award him a new contract was an appalling football decision by Birch and Blackwell. 3/10

Ertl - Never noticed him and did not even know he was playing. He looks like he does not even know what his role is and seems a signing that was just another waste of resources. 3/10

Yeates - Never in the gamer first half. At least he got a few crosses in and tried to make something happen. probablhy his wirst game for some weeks and still scores higehr than most of the team. Says it all. 5/10

Cresswell - Same as evey other week. Does nothing at all. Never wins a header, barely touches the ball, looks slow oh and for extra measure today he missed a sitter. Keeps his place as we have noone else. I would give the kid Slew a few games. He simply cannot do any worse. 1/10

Bogdanovic - Offside about 10 times. Never touched the ball and looked disinterested. The system did not help him but he could have at least put himself about. 2/10

Subs

Ward - Played 40 minutes and was our best player easily. At least he got involved, ran at defenders and tried to get in on goal, Nearly scored and could have won a penalty. Why was he not starting? 6/10

Lowton - Came on but did not have much of an impact but it was all too late then.

Slew - Had one good chance but fluffed it and went wider than he needed to. Felt sorry for him being given only 5 minutes. Should have been given longer to make an impact.

Doncaster - Excellent but playing against a team of dustbins so any praise has to be reserved. My 5-a-side team would have beat the Blades today. Woods, Stock, Coppinger were given all the time in the world. the defence were never pressure and Sharp and Hayter were playing two slow centre backs that stood off them all game. The right back was very good but he was faced with no pressure either. I dont feel they will go up but may flirt with the playoffs. The fact that the ground was half empty (regardless of the United numbers) says it all. They will not be ever able to go much higher than where they are unless Ryan chucks even more silly money in. I can see them maybe being around edge of playoffs this year and even next but Sean O'Driscoll will go onto bigger and better things and then they will tail off. Fair play to them though with a far lower wage bill and far less support/infrastructure they outclassed us and actually should have won by more.

Sorry to not be more positive but today was as bad as the Bristol City performance on TV 3 years ago under Robson; which was a similarly bad performance lacking passion and spine. At least Speed apologised to the fans after the game and at least I feel he does know that the team is not good enough. As I have said though I am not sure what he can do to arrest the slide. Boro (with a far better squad than us) are showing what can happen and I am fearful of how we are going to get enough points and goals to stay in this division.

Whilst your effort is constructive and it lives up to your normal standards of reporting it does not take away from the fact the Speed was part of the old regine that got in this shit in the first place.

Thanks to all you Blades who wanted Speedo. You're getting what you wanted, hope you're happy.

McCabe needs to back Speed with some money now. I have always been a supporter of McC, but if we really can't afford to bring anybody in, I would like him to be totally honest, admit it, and explain why. I'm beginning to lose faith in him.

Good report Deadbat, sums it up perfectly for me.

We've got no money it's all in McC's back pocket. Why be honest and piss the boss off when you get 200/450k per annum. I'd keep stum for that much money.

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

I like the fact that the official site has added an article called "get your kit on" - I take it I'm getting a game on Saturday then?

Seriously though, people have asked for a positive from today, and for me it was the fans who went - heard throughout the game and out-singing the Donny fans however bleak it got. It's support like that which Speed will need if he's going to turn this around, because given how far there is to go there are going to be a lot of inconsistent and downright dreadful performances along the way. If the fans at the match get on the team's back, it will never happen because nobody will dare to pass the ball.

Lets face it, we could have carried on with Blackwell for years to come, and I doubt he'd ever have got us relegated, but he wouldn't have got us promoted, and it would always have been dreadful to watch. Doing what Speed's trying to do is a risk - and in the short term certainly increases our chances of getting relegated. But I think I'd rather take the risk and at least have it a bit more interesting, and have some hope of real improvement in the future.

We don't know whether this is going to work in the end, but one thing we do know is that if you talk to the fans of any team where a manager has completely changed the style a team plays and ultimately achieved success, they will tell you that there were some diabolical performances in the early days.

Is it just that which we're seeing now? Only time will tell....if we let it.

 

[Lt. J Dangle]

Nothing against Gary Speed at all. He can only work with what he has inherited for the time being. Both he and his coaching staff need to address the fear of the ball that affects our team.

 

[Rudders]

I think tonight could be a useful learning experience for Speed. Lets hope he learns fast, these things amongst others:

- We play best with a high tempo
- 4-5-1 is not the be all and end all, 4-4-2 often works better
- Cresswell is wasted on the wing - better in the middle
- Nosworthy is a liability
- Our midfield is hopeless, use Lowton or other academy players
- Our players need to be fired up before the game

Granted it is only 10 games in and he seems to give the impression that he does realise something is up. I think he needs to address these things as best he can.

I also think it is critical he is given money to try and address these problems and try and get us out of the mess Blackwell left us in.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Nothing against Gary Speed at all. He can only work with what he has inherited for the time being. Both he and his coaching staff need to address the fear of the ball that affects our team.

I take no pleasure in saying 'told yer all'

 

[alcoblade]

I take no pleasure in saying 'told yer all'

You haven't told us anything. He's had 10 games and zero resource. He may turn out to be wank, he may not. It's far too early to tell, even if you're desperate to be proved right.

UTB

---------- Post added at 11:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:38 PM ----------

I think tonight could be a useful learning experience for Speed. Lets hope he learns fast, these things amongst others:

- We play best with a high tempo
- 4-5-1 is not the be all and end all, 4-4-2 often works better
- Cresswell is wasted on the wing - better in the middle
- Nosworthy is a liability
- Our midfield is hopeless, use Lowton or other academy players
- Our players need to be fired up before the game

Granted it is only 10 games in and he seems to give the impression that he does realise something is up. I think he needs to address these things as best he can.

I also think it is critical he is given money to try and address these problems and try and get us out of the mess Blackwell left us in.

Spot on. Let's hope he can see it and is given some resource. I'm confident about the first bit but worried about the last.

UTB

 

[lenners]

Alco, any of us could have recognised the current team/squad wasn't good enough.
If he took the job on the premise he could sort out the current lot without significant changes, he's a complete fool.
If he was promised room for change through loans and transfers, he's an absolute mug for not calling their bluff.

 

[alcoblade]

Alco, any of us could have recognised the current team/squad wasn't good enough.
If he took the job on the premise he could sort out the current lot without significant changes, he's a complete fool.
If he was promised room for change through loans and transfers, he's an absolute mug for not calling their bluff.

As a new manager without pedigree he'd be a fool not to take a job at Sheffield United. He would have liked the chance to see how the players could perform playing a different way. He's probably been told to tread water and use transfer windows to offload wasters like Evans and overpaid players like......everyone we've signed over the last 5 years. Either way, everyone in his position would have taken the job.

UTB

 

[lenners]

As a new manager without pedigree he'd be a fool not to take a job at Sheffield United. He would have liked the chance to see how the players could perform playing a different way. He's probably been told to tread water and use transfer windows to offload wasters like Evans and overpaid players like......everyone we've signed over the last 5 years. Either way, everyone in his position would have taken the job.

UTB

Don't agree. Any manager or would-be manager would be a fool to take our job without assurances.
Speed doesn't need the money and he could have a media job if he wanted one.
If he took it without proper forethought or assurances, he either doesn't care enough to be manager of our club or he's a fool.

 

[alcoblade]

Don't agree. Any manager or would-be manager would be a fool to take our job without assurances.
Speed doesn't need the money and he could have a media job if he wanted one.
If he took it without proper forethought or assurances, he either doesn't care enough to be manager of our club or he's a fool.

He's probably / possibly been told he can have whatever money he generates / removes from the wage budget. Just about the same promise he'd get from 90% of other clubs.

Our problem is that we've squandered huge resource on average players. We haven't got a pot to piss in now, however hard that is to take. If you hound Speed out that situation wont change.

UTB

 

[Nick Jansky]

Don't agree. Any manager or would-be manager would be a fool to take our job without assurances.
Speed doesn't need the money and he could have a media job if he wanted one.
If he took it without proper forethought or assurances, he either doesn't care enough to be manager of our club or he's a fool.

I think we have a history of making promises to young managers taking the job, only for them to find the goalposts moving once they have signed the contract. Steve Bruce & Nigel Spackman spring to mind.

 

[lenners]

He's probably / possibly been told he can have whatever money he generates / removes from the wage budget. Just about the same promise he'd get from 90% of other clubs.

Our problem is that we've squandered huge resource on average players. We haven't got a pot to piss in now, however hard that is to take. If you hound Speed out that situation wont change.

UTB

In that case, he'd be an absolute fool and isn't the man we need.
It'll just end up in him being sacked anyway.
There's an obvious lack of leadership at United, resulting in an absolutely soulless club both on and off the pitch.
The results were clear to see tonight. The players couldn't be arsed and neither could the fans.
We need strength of character and a bloke with a kid sat alongside him looking at laptops through the 90 minutes really did not look as if they have that character.

 

[alcoblade]

In that case, he'd be an absolute fool and isn't the man we need.
It'll just end up in him being sacked anyway.
There's an obvious lack of leadership at United, resulting in an absolutely soulless club both on and off the pitch.
The results were clear to see tonight. The players couldn't be arsed and neither could the fans.
We need strength of character and a bloke with a kid sat alongside him looking at laptops through the 90 minutes really did not look as if they have that character.

None of which puts any money in the bank. You can't pay 'em in washers.

UTB

 

[lenners]

None of which puts any money in the bank. You can't pay 'em in washers.

UTB

We may as well pack up then.
If what we saw tonight from Sheffield United is just an expression of a balance sheet, we are all wasting our time.
The reality is we're a club losing all identity with a leadership that apparently doesn't give a flying.
Perhaps they'll understand when it hits the balance sheet with another 5,000 season ticket holders lost next year.

 

[raul]

The team we played Alco - do you think their players are paid more or less than ours?