Possible Implosion

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

The Vicar

The Vicar

Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2014
Messages
848
Reaction score
1,430
After accepting that relegation is a virtual certainty, my anxiety is about the future of the club. The potential to go down with the lowest points total, lowest goals scored, fewest chances created, no clean sheets etc etc is more worrying. The long term consequences could be catastrophic.
Sponsors are hardly likely to be flooding in to be associated with us, I can see the M/Hall shop closing after less than 2 years as sales disappear, & youngsters are unlikely to be rushing to support us, which undermines our future fan base. Plus the much vaunted media dept are likely to be culled as cost are reduced.

Plus the stigma that will be attached to such a poor season for all involved with the club. I can see it now, 'XXXXX has been linked to XXFC, XXXX was part of the SUFC team that achieved the lowest points total in PL history, a total unlikely to ever be beaten'. Or,' CW the former manager of SUFC has been linked to XXFC, CW who managed SUFC when they achieved the lowest points total in PL history ....................'! And you can imagine the abuse coming our way from rival supporters.

I really think that if the season continues in the same way that the above really could happen, with confidence in the players & management/coaching staff being at rock bottom for the start of the 21-22 season, & we will hardly be a magnet for decent players to plug the obvious gaps in the team.

Its interesting to gauge the support CW has, its gone from 100% behind him, to pockets of discontent, to a growing {but still less than the majority] group that want a change of management.

Personally,
Do I want a change - No
Do I have confidence he can get us to 15 -20 points - No
Do I have confidence he can take us straight back up in 21-22 - No
Do I like him as a manger, a Blade & a down to earth man - Yes - Unequivocally
Am I frustrated by his unwillingness to try anything different - Yes
Am I frustrated by the constant team changes - Yes
Am I frustrated by the poor showing of his signings - Yes

But in the football world of managerial changes virtually every week, I still want him to stay, which in the light of the above might sound sentimental! It is not his fault that we cannot compete financially at the top level, & in all probability relegation would happen in the coming 1 or 2 seasons anyway.

There are too many good memories from the past few seasons that spring to mind to throw it all away.
March 2017 - Oxford away, winning 2-3 & a chest patting CW came across to us at the end.
December 2016 - Coventry away, winning after a pitch invasion by the CC fans. Terrible weather!
Northampton away, Sat on the bank as I could not get a ticket - Promotion assured!
September 2018 - Beating Villa 4-1 in the sunshine, 5 days before I had a major operation - one of the best performances I can remember in living memory.
Ipswich at home - JOC's header & the utter relief that we were going up.

Without CW these events would never have happened, & I think he deserves my loyalty. I am sure he is hurting & cares as I do, I just hope this season does not set us back too far.

I, like most on here, am a Blade & have been for years. Its nice to be successful, but is not the reason I am a supporter. So whether it is the PL or elsewhere I shall continue to cheer, moan, be frustrated, lose sleep & be miserable for the 2 hours after a defeat [which has been some time this season].

MTLBWY

Happy New Year
 

The Vicar said:
After accepting that relegation is a virtual certainty, my anxiety is about the future of the club. The potential to go down with the lowest points total, lowest goals scored, fewest chances created, no clean sheets etc etc is more worrying. The long term consequences could be catastrophic.
Sponsors are hardly likely to be flooding in to be associated with us, I can see the M/Hall shop closing after less than 2 years as sales disappear, & youngsters are unlikely to be rushing to support us, which undermines our future fan base. Plus the much vaunted media dept are likely to be culled as cost are reduced.

Plus the stigma that will be attached to such a poor season for all involved with the club. I can see it now, 'XXXXX has been linked to XXFC, XXXX was part of the SUFC team that achieved the lowest points total in PL history, a total unlikely to ever be beaten'. Or,' CW the former manager of SUFC has been linked to XXFC, CW who managed SUFC when they achieved the lowest points total in PL history ....................'! And you can imagine the abuse coming our way from rival supporters.

I really think that if the season continues in the same way that the above really could happen, with confidence in the players & management/coaching staff being at rock bottom for the start of the 21-22 season, & we will hardly be a magnet for decent players to plug the obvious gaps in the team.

Its interesting to gauge the support CW has, its gone from 100% behind him, to pockets of discontent, to a growing {but still less than the majority] group that want a change of management.

Personally,
Do I want a change - No
Do I have confidence he can get us to 15 -20 points - No
Do I have confidence he can take us straight back up in 21-22 - No
Do I like him as a manger, a Blade & a down to earth man - Yes - Unequivocally
Am I frustrated by his unwillingness to try anything different - Yes
Am I frustrated by the constant team changes - Yes
Am I frustrated by the poor showing of his signings - Yes

But in the football world of managerial changes virtually every week, I still want him to stay, which in the light of the above might sound sentimental! It is not his fault that we cannot compete financially at the top level, & in all probability relegation would happen in the coming 1 or 2 seasons anyway.

There are too many good memories from the past few seasons that spring to mind to throw it all away.
March 2017 - Oxford away, winning 2-3 & a chest patting CW came across to us at the end.
December 2016 - Coventry away, winning after a pitch invasion by the CC fans. Terrible weather!
Northampton away, Sat on the bank as I could not get a ticket - Promotion assured!
September 2018 - Beating Villa 4-1 in the sunshine, 5 days before I had a major operation - one of the best performances I can remember in living memory.
Ipswich at home - JOC's header & the utter relief that we were going up.

Without CW these events would never have happened, & I think he deserves my loyalty. I am sure he is hurting & cares as I do, I just hope this season does not set us back too far.

I, like most on here, am a Blade & have been for years. Its nice to be successful, but is not the reason I am a supporter. So whether it is the PL or elsewhere I shall continue to cheer, moan, be frustrated, lose sleep & be miserable for the 2 hours after a defeat [which has been some time this season].

MTLBWY

Happy New Year
Click to expand...
So basically you are saying we are utter garbage, Wilder has messed up beyond belief but you still want him to stay.
 
We've got the stigma attached to us now with the new record etc but there many clubs in far worse positions.

Relax.
 
I said on another thread that this season is going to hang over the club, us supporters, the manager and all of the players for years to come, unless there is a significant improvement before it finishes.

As it stands, no team is going to bounce back quickly from this without big changes, so something needs to give.

That being said, we will be set financially for a while.
 
The Vicar said:
After accepting that relegation is a virtual certainty, my anxiety is about the future of the club. The potential to go down with the lowest points total, lowest goals scored, fewest chances created, no clean sheets etc etc is more worrying. The long term consequences could be catastrophic.
Sponsors are hardly likely to be flooding in to be associated with us, I can see the M/Hall shop closing after less than 2 years as sales disappear, & youngsters are unlikely to be rushing to support us, which undermines our future fan base. Plus the much vaunted media dept are likely to be culled as cost are reduced.

Plus the stigma that will be attached to such a poor season for all involved with the club. I can see it now, 'XXXXX has been linked to XXFC, XXXX was part of the SUFC team that achieved the lowest points total in PL history, a total unlikely to ever be beaten'. Or,' CW the former manager of SUFC has been linked to XXFC, CW who managed SUFC when they achieved the lowest points total in PL history ....................'! And you can imagine the abuse coming our way from rival supporters.

I really think that if the season continues in the same way that the above really could happen, with confidence in the players & management/coaching staff being at rock bottom for the start of the 21-22 season, & we will hardly be a magnet for decent players to plug the obvious gaps in the team.

Its interesting to gauge the support CW has, its gone from 100% behind him, to pockets of discontent, to a growing {but still less than the majority] group that want a change of management.

Personally,
Do I want a change - No
Do I have confidence he can get us to 15 -20 points - No
Do I have confidence he can take us straight back up in 21-22 - No
Do I like him as a manger, a Blade & a down to earth man - Yes - Unequivocally
Am I frustrated by his unwillingness to try anything different - Yes
Am I frustrated by the constant team changes - Yes
Am I frustrated by the poor showing of his signings - Yes

But in the football world of managerial changes virtually every week, I still want him to stay, which in the light of the above might sound sentimental! It is not his fault that we cannot compete financially at the top level, & in all probability relegation would happen in the coming 1 or 2 seasons anyway.

There are too many good memories from the past few seasons that spring to mind to throw it all away.
March 2017 - Oxford away, winning 2-3 & a chest patting CW came across to us at the end.
December 2016 - Coventry away, winning after a pitch invasion by the CC fans. Terrible weather!
Northampton away, Sat on the bank as I could not get a ticket - Promotion assured!
September 2018 - Beating Villa 4-1 in the sunshine, 5 days before I had a major operation - one of the best performances I can remember in living memory.
Ipswich at home - JOC's header & the utter relief that we were going up.

Without CW these events would never have happened, & I think he deserves my loyalty. I am sure he is hurting & cares as I do, I just hope this season does not set us back too far.

I, like most on here, am a Blade & have been for years. Its nice to be successful, but is not the reason I am a supporter. So whether it is the PL or elsewhere I shall continue to cheer, moan, be frustrated, lose sleep & be miserable for the 2 hours after a defeat [which has been some time this season].

MTLBWY

Happy New Year
Click to expand...
Nice post. I don’t quite agree with your risk of implosion, but agree with the overall gist.
 
Apart from Wednesday fans, no one is going to rush to remember the Covid football season.

Our wage bill is smaller than many Championship clubs and they are in absolute financial disarray. We go down with good young players and an exceptional Championship defence. We need to reform our scouting system and rebuild our midfield. We have the financial means to do it and signing players in the Champ is more “tried and tested”.

We go again under Wilder, with fans back and a new look midfield.

UTB
 
The Vicar said:
After accepting that relegation is a virtual certainty, my anxiety is about the future of the club. The potential to go down with the lowest points total, lowest goals scored, fewest chances created, no clean sheets etc etc is more worrying. The long term consequences could be catastrophic.
Sponsors are hardly likely to be flooding in to be associated with us, I can see the M/Hall shop closing after less than 2 years as sales disappear, & youngsters are unlikely to be rushing to support us, which undermines our future fan base. Plus the much vaunted media dept are likely to be culled as cost are reduced.

Plus the stigma that will be attached to such a poor season for all involved with the club. I can see it now, 'XXXXX has been linked to XXFC, XXXX was part of the SUFC team that achieved the lowest points total in PL history, a total unlikely to ever be beaten'. Or,' CW the former manager of SUFC has been linked to XXFC, CW who managed SUFC when they achieved the lowest points total in PL history ....................'! And you can imagine the abuse coming our way from rival supporters.

I really think that if the season continues in the same way that the above really could happen, with confidence in the players & management/coaching staff being at rock bottom for the start of the 21-22 season, & we will hardly be a magnet for decent players to plug the obvious gaps in the team.

Its interesting to gauge the support CW has, its gone from 100% behind him, to pockets of discontent, to a growing {but still less than the majority] group that want a change of management.

Personally,
Do I want a change - No
Do I have confidence he can get us to 15 -20 points - No
Do I have confidence he can take us straight back up in 21-22 - No
Do I like him as a manger, a Blade & a down to earth man - Yes - Unequivocally
Am I frustrated by his unwillingness to try anything different - Yes
Am I frustrated by the constant team changes - Yes
Am I frustrated by the poor showing of his signings - Yes

But in the football world of managerial changes virtually every week, I still want him to stay, which in the light of the above might sound sentimental! It is not his fault that we cannot compete financially at the top level, & in all probability relegation would happen in the coming 1 or 2 seasons anyway.

There are too many good memories from the past few seasons that spring to mind to throw it all away.
March 2017 - Oxford away, winning 2-3 & a chest patting CW came across to us at the end.
December 2016 - Coventry away, winning after a pitch invasion by the CC fans. Terrible weather!
Northampton away, Sat on the bank as I could not get a ticket - Promotion assured!
September 2018 - Beating Villa 4-1 in the sunshine, 5 days before I had a major operation - one of the best performances I can remember in living memory.
Ipswich at home - JOC's header & the utter relief that we were going up.

Without CW these events would never have happened, & I think he deserves my loyalty. I am sure he is hurting & cares as I do, I just hope this season does not set us back too far.

I, like most on here, am a Blade & have been for years. Its nice to be successful, but is not the reason I am a supporter. So whether it is the PL or elsewhere I shall continue to cheer, moan, be frustrated, lose sleep & be miserable for the 2 hours after a defeat [which has been some time this season].

MTLBWY

Happy New Year
Click to expand...
Whilst I share your passion it sometimes gets in the way of reality
This is a big business and, sadly, no longer an emotional plaything. When running a business where a senior individual appears to be underperforming it is vital to examine whether the fault now lies with that individual or others or both.
We castigate CW for his signings, but it is not his decision alone as to who may or may not join us.
The rest of the workforce (ie the players) have much more to answer for than CW.
The question for the Board now is only to decide who is best placed to take SUFC forward over the next 3-5 years. If that is CW then fine by me, but if someone else there are significant financial costs involved in that decision, which the Club may be unable to afford.
In my opinion the decision is best taken in June 2022, but unlike many on this forum I have never run a professional football club, so how should I know !!
Enjoy 2021 in good health.
 
Wow that is some depression you are in vic.

We are having a bad season, of that there is no doubt, but these are strange times that we have struggled to adapt to, no more no less. We have been relegated in the past by the last kick of the last game, & I don't see that as any different to going down with the worst points total. Sure it is embarrassing, but you draw a line under it & move on. Fans of any club mock other teams, it is just the way it is, & perfect fuel for ramming those taunts back down their throats by performances on the pitch.
If we go down, & I haven't given up yet, we will be among the favourites to come straight back up, with parachute payments to help with that. What you say is more likely to happen to the pigs given their position, there is absolutely nothing to suggest your rather bleak scenario happening here, nothing at all, & I simply do not understand people who think the way you do.
 
I dont think there will be an implosion. We will go down this year, but I feel we will be financially sound for a good couple of years to make a real fist of getting back up.

I dont mind being a yoyo club as long as its between the top 2 divisions.

CWAK must lead this recharge of the club.

UTMB
 
I keep reading we'll be financially fine, but isn't the Prince mortgaged to the hilt what with buying the club's assets? Between than and the giant fees wasted on this squad I expect there'll be a bit of a fire sale in the Summer.
 
Been on the sherry vicar?

Yes we will lose some sponsors and fair weather fans. We have also probably made some fans for life who have made their first trip to Bramall Lane and absolutely loved it.

If you want to watch a club implode, I suggest you head over to Owlstalk. (not suggesting you are a pig btw!)
 
The only way you can implode is by taking a wrecking ball to an already very successful strategy

Wilder — Bettis—- The prince are already a very successful partnership

Success is not a linear line one way all the way to the top

Trust the process of wilder/bettis/prince as it has proved how successful it is

We are far more likely to be successful sticking with the proven methods just ask norwich/Burnley/Bournemouth
 
I'm not sure what this optimism of coming straight back up is based on.

There will be 2 other sides coming down who won't have had as bad a season. We will lose 2 or 3 key players and we've given extended contracts to players who are clearly past their best and we wont be able to shift.

Hopefully McBurnie and Brewster will score for fun in the championship but a defence without Egan and JOC who will want to play premiership football will be difficult to replace.

There's more Huddersfields, Stokes, Cardiffs around than sides that come straight back up.
 

Good post I especially like this bit. "But in the football world of managerial changes virtually every week". That only applies to the pigs.
 
The Vicar said:
After accepting that relegation is a virtual certainty, my anxiety is about the future of the club. The potential to go down with the lowest points total, lowest goals scored, fewest chances created, no clean sheets etc etc is more worrying. The long term consequences could be catastrophic.
Sponsors are hardly likely to be flooding in to be associated with us, I can see the M/Hall shop closing after less than 2 years as sales disappear, & youngsters are unlikely to be rushing to support us, which undermines our future fan base. Plus the much vaunted media dept are likely to be culled as cost are reduced.

Plus the stigma that will be attached to such a poor season for all involved with the club. I can see it now, 'XXXXX has been linked to XXFC, XXXX was part of the SUFC team that achieved the lowest points total in PL history, a total unlikely to ever be beaten'. Or,' CW the former manager of SUFC has been linked to XXFC, CW who managed SUFC when they achieved the lowest points total in PL history ....................'! And you can imagine the abuse coming our way from rival supporters.

I really think that if the season continues in the same way that the above really could happen, with confidence in the players & management/coaching staff being at rock bottom for the start of the 21-22 season, & we will hardly be a magnet for decent players to plug the obvious gaps in the team.
Click to expand...
There’s one thing for certain, even though this is a complete shambles we are by far a bigger pull than that shower of shite on the opposite side of the city and the youngsters are hardly going to be flocking up at club like them who are ran by 🤡 .

Happy new year by the way. 👍
 
The Vicar said:
After accepting that relegation is a virtual certainty, my anxiety is about the future of the club. The potential to go down with the lowest points total, lowest goals scored, fewest chances created, no clean sheets etc etc is more worrying. The long term consequences could be catastrophic.
Sponsors are hardly likely to be flooding in to be associated with us, I can see the M/Hall shop closing after less than 2 years as sales disappear, & youngsters are unlikely to be rushing to support us, which undermines our future fan base. Plus the much vaunted media dept are likely to be culled as cost are reduced.

Plus the stigma that will be attached to such a poor season for all involved with the club. I can see it now, 'XXXXX has been linked to XXFC, XXXX was part of the SUFC team that achieved the lowest points total in PL history, a total unlikely to ever be beaten'. Or,' CW the former manager of SUFC has been linked to XXFC, CW who managed SUFC when they achieved the lowest points total in PL history ....................'! And you can imagine the abuse coming our way from rival supporters.

I really think that if the season continues in the same way that the above really could happen, with confidence in the players & management/coaching staff being at rock bottom for the start of the 21-22 season, & we will hardly be a magnet for decent players to plug the obvious gaps in the team.

Its interesting to gauge the support CW has, its gone from 100% behind him, to pockets of discontent, to a growing {but still less than the majority] group that want a change of management.

Personally,
Do I want a change - No
Do I have confidence he can get us to 15 -20 points - No
Do I have confidence he can take us straight back up in 21-22 - No
Do I like him as a manger, a Blade & a down to earth man - Yes - Unequivocally
Am I frustrated by his unwillingness to try anything different - Yes
Am I frustrated by the constant team changes - Yes
Am I frustrated by the poor showing of his signings - Yes

But in the football world of managerial changes virtually every week, I still want him to stay, which in the light of the above might sound sentimental! It is not his fault that we cannot compete financially at the top level, & in all probability relegation would happen in the coming 1 or 2 seasons anyway.

There are too many good memories from the past few seasons that spring to mind to throw it all away.
March 2017 - Oxford away, winning 2-3 & a chest patting CW came across to us at the end.
December 2016 - Coventry away, winning after a pitch invasion by the CC fans. Terrible weather!
Northampton away, Sat on the bank as I could not get a ticket - Promotion assured!
September 2018 - Beating Villa 4-1 in the sunshine, 5 days before I had a major operation - one of the best performances I can remember in living memory.
Ipswich at home - JOC's header & the utter relief that we were going up.

Without CW these events would never have happened, & I think he deserves my loyalty. I am sure he is hurting & cares as I do, I just hope this season does not set us back too far.

I, like most on here, am a Blade & have been for years. Its nice to be successful, but is not the reason I am a supporter. So whether it is the PL or elsewhere I shall continue to cheer, moan, be frustrated, lose sleep & be miserable for the 2 hours after a defeat [which has been some time this season].

MTLBWY

Happy New Year
Click to expand...
You are forgetting we are in a *covid season. and yes there should be Asterix beside this season at the end. I'm convinced if crowds were in stadiums we wouldn't be sat here on 2pts. Football is so different this season might as well be playing Fifa. Lost a lot of interest since project restart. It shouldn't be looked upon as previous comparisons of teams and seasons.
 
Guesty said:
I keep reading we'll be financially fine, but isn't the Prince mortgaged to the hilt what with buying the club's assets? Between than and the giant fees wasted on this squad I expect there'll be a bit of a fire sale in the Summer.
Click to expand...
As far as I understand it, the club has bought the assets, not the Prince.
 
My concern around the ‘implosion’ or not is the potential

Not saying that we will of course

But, Norwich almost gave up before they started with their pre season strategy, almost ‘save the wedge, go down with it in the bank and come back next year’
They did go down, but with some great memories, Liverpool etc and whilst getting relegated, almost over performed

Watford and Bournemouth both took it to the death, and could class themselves as ‘unlucky’
As such all 3 teams can with a bit of spin, take positives in a way

Now, if we get our shit together and hang on in their till at least April, we can lean on ‘the 2nd half of the season’s performance/results as a ‘go again’

However, should we continue in this vein, and be gone by Feb, the malaise in the building will be such a cloud I think we will need to make drastic changes just to get some new impetus

Not sure if even we can be shit enough to not get into double figures, but should that happen I reckon we need new blood, fire and thunder, sadly including some positions in high places
 
Stretch said:
I said on another thread that this season is going to hang over the club, us supporters, the manager and all of the players for years to come, unless there is a significant improvement before it finishes.

As it stands, no team is going to bounce back quickly from this without big changes, so something needs to give.

That being said, we will be set financially for a while.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure about the last sentence, assuming our wage bill is around £50m-£60m now and we have revenue this year of somewhere between £90m-£100m (due to Covid reductions) with the amortisation of the £100m+ we’ve spent now sizeable (around £20m per year), we’ll not make a deal of profit on PL revenues this year.

Next year the wage bill should drop assuming sensible contract clauses and the loss of some deadwood on decent salaries to around £30m-£35m (best case but maybe higher). Revenue drops to around £65m-£75m and the amortisation stays at £20m. It doesn’t leave a lot of room for manoeuvre on other costs.

The only player we return anywhere near what we got is Berge and I reckon we stand to lose £8m-£10m on him. We might make a fair bit on the likes of Egan/JOC/Baldock if they leave.

We then have the problem of having to make sure we’re back in the PL sharpish or that the books are balanced for when the parachute money ends.

I don’t see PA throwing caution to the wind so if we go back up it won’t be through big spending.
 
derekacorah said:
I’m not sure about the last sentence, assuming our wage bill is around £50m-£60m now and we have revenue this year of somewhere between £90m-£100m (due to Covid reductions) with the amortisation of the £100m+ we’ve spent now sizeable (around £20m per year), we’ll not make a deal of profit on PL revenues this year.

Next year the wage bill should drop assuming sensible contract clauses and the loss of some deadwood on decent salaries to around £30m-£35m (best case but maybe higher). Revenue drops to around £65m-£75m and the amortisation stays at £20m. It doesn’t leave a lot of room for manoeuvre on other costs.

The only player we return anywhere near what we got is Berge and I reckon we stand to lose £8m-£10m on him. We might make a fair bit on the likes of Egan/JOC/Baldock if they leave.

We then have the problem of having to make sure we’re back in the PL sharpish or that the books are balanced for when the parachute money ends.

I don’t see PA throwing caution to the wind so if we go back up it won’t be through big spending.
Click to expand...
We lose £8/10m on Berge? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 McCabe got binned ages ago
 
I agree with FMBlade1 in that we need to expand and improve the coaching team, recruitment, marketing, facilities etc. Wilder, I hope, recognises that he also has a lot to learn at this level, just like many of the players he keeps calling out.

Why not go and look at bringing in some experienced ex Premier League players/coaches/managers on a consultancy gig? It is abundantly clear that the Premier League is completely different gravy to the rest of the EFL, why not take advantage of those willing to spill her secrets? Even if just for the useful insight of dealing with the mental side of things?

The whole club is looking decidedly wet behind the ears, maybe needing new voices and perspectives doesn’t necessarily mean we have to give the current management the boot.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

William Carey
Early Derby Day Predictions
3 4 5
Replies
126
Views
7K
3Cheers4Ramirez
3Cheers4Ramirez
Sandygate Blade
Is it safe to post again yet?
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
diode_blade
diode_blade
CaptainMorgans
  • Poll Poll
Non-Attending Play-Off Blades
8 9 10
Replies
282
Views
20K
CaptainMorgans
CaptainMorgans
Blade56
92 points and AI
2 3 4
Replies
96
Views
4K
Nick Jansky
Nick Jansky
Shadota
Wasted Potential
Replies
16
Views
1K
Dellas Cowboys
Dellas Cowboys

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

Back
Top Bottom