The Legacy of Kevin Blackwell.

[DronnieBlade]

While many aim their venom at the board, and managers that have had the reigns since Blackwell departed, the die was cast IMHO when this bloke was given the job of manager at BDTBL some years ago.

His "fans" will point to his record as manager of the Blades being one of the best in recent memory.

I would call it benefiting from one of the most expensively assembled squads in Championship history that Bryan Robson put together but ultimately, failed to "gel" as a team.

Since that day, he has systematically dismantled a very good squad for, lets face it, a team of other sides rejects. I don't buy the bull that he had to work on a budget and his best players were sold from underneath him. While the sale of players is a given, often to bigger clubs with bigger wages e.g. Kyles, he has also, IMHO squandered a HUGE amount on the likes of Ched, Hendo et al.

No surprise to me that the man hasn't had a sniff of a job in 9 months.

You reap what you sow in this game and in life in general.

The appointment of Kevin Blackwell has ensured a poor harvest for several years to come :cry:

UTB.

 

[travellingblade]

I'm sorry but I don't agree with the statement "the die was cast IMHO when this bloke (Blackwell) was given the job of manager at BDTBL some years ago", because IMHO the die was cast the day we gave the job to Robson.

Blackwell did ok, but should have left after Wembley, we ALL knew, especially himself. If he was going to be sacked, why on earth waiting until two league or three games into the new season. If he had stayed we wouldn't have been in our current position, but that said, I would have wanted the change of Manager during either of the last two "closed seasons".

No, for me, the blame lay with the choice of Bryan Robson.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

No, for me, the blame lay with the choice of Bryan Robson.

Who was chosen, was he not, by Turry?

 

[shorehamview]

The appointment of Kevin Blackwell has ensured a poor harvest for several years to come.....

Blackwell had a brief to cut the wages bill by signing cheaper players than we were selling. He did this and still managed a play-off final, with a very good run of results given that the board were chopping his legs out from under him. (It could be argued that if we had kept those players, like James Beattie, then automatic promotion would have been possible, but the sales weren't down to Blackwell.) This did however result in the quality of players coming in being far lower than that of those going out, and the actual quality of play was, well, horrible. But to blame Blackwell for having to partly pay for the excesses of Robson is rather harsh.

There's no denying that the football under Blackwell wasn't very nice to watch, but blaming him for the situation we're in now is shooting very, very wide of the mark.

the die was cast the day we gave the job to Robson...............the blame lay with the choice of Bryan Robson.

The blame lies with whoever decided that Robson would be the ideal candidate to spend money like nobody's business on very expensive players. James Beattie was quality, but at what price? He said he signed for United because it was Robson who impressed him - nothing to do with the massive pay packet then? Whoever agreed the signing of Premier League players on Premier League money should be held accountable. Having seen both Terry Robinson and Chris Steer schmoozing Robson before the season started I'm also pretty sure that Kevin McCabe wasn't completely in the picture when as Chairman he certainly should have been and for that can take a lot of the blame too.

Ultimately it comes down to McCabe and those he directly and indirectly appointed. McCabe didn't keep it under tight enough control, and the appointment of Terry Robinson was arguably almost as much of a disaster as that of Robson.

Blackwell could have acted differently - he should certainly have gone through with his offer to quit after Wembley - but to blame him for the errors of McCabe, Robinson and Robson is not fair.

 

[Bladesway]

While many aim their venom at the board, and managers that have had the reigns since Blackwell departed, the die was cast IMHO when this bloke was given the job of manager at BDTBL some years ago.

His "fans" will point to his record as manager of the Blades being one of the best in recent memory.

I would call it benefiting from one of the most expensively assembled squads in Championship history that Bryan Robson put together but ultimately, failed to "gel" as a team.

Since that day, he has systematically dismantled a very good squad for, lets face it, a team of other sides rejects. I don't buy the bull that he had to work on a budget and his best players were sold from underneath him. While the sale of players is a given, often to bigger clubs with bigger wages e.g. Kyles, he has also, IMHO squandered a HUGE amount on the likes of Ched, Hendo et al.

No surprise to me that the man hasn't had a sniff of a job in 9 months.

You reap what you sow in this game and in life in general.

The appointment of Kevin Blackwell has ensured a poor harvest for several years to come :cry:

UTB.

Blame the man who appointed him. Blackwell did as he was told. He stayed on too long but who extended his contract?

 

[Micalijo]

Dronnie - congratulations on a simply magnificent opening post. Agree with every single word.

My Auntie Winnie could have good results with the side he inherited and even Steel and Jansky could have done better with the huge resources he was given.

Hard to add anything to your post other than to say Blackwell's departure was a very happy day.

 

[dingledog]

Totally agree with shorehamview, which is suprising in itself.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Still think that the majority of the blame for our sad demise (not all of it) lies with Blackwell.

No one will ever convince me otherwise.

 

[beightonblade]

The game at Southampton told yer all yer needed to know about Judas !

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Nyron Nosworthy.

That is all.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

While many aim their venom at the board, and managers that have had the reigns since Blackwell departed, the die was cast IMHO when this bloke was given the job of manager at BDTBL some years ago.

His "fans" will point to his record as manager of the Blades being one of the best in recent memory.

I would call it benefiting from one of the most expensively assembled squads in Championship history that Bryan Robson put together but ultimately, failed to "gel" as a team.

Since that day, he has systematically dismantled a very good squad for, lets face it, a team of other sides rejects. I don't buy the bull that he had to work on a budget and his best players were sold from underneath him. While the sale of players is a given, often to bigger clubs with bigger wages e.g. Kyles, he has also, IMHO squandered a HUGE amount on the likes of Ched, Hendo et al.

No surprise to me that the man hasn't had a sniff of a job in 9 months.

You reap what you sow in this game and in life in general.

The appointment of Kevin Blackwell has ensured a poor harvest for several years to come :cry:

UTB.

Absolutely ridiculous.

We finished 8th last season with Blackwell. You don't have a leg to stand on.

 

[bladeinlondon]

Nyron Nosworthy.

That is all.

Who Blackwell was desperate to re sign this season. I rest my case but would mention also Jordan Stewart though even the thought of him is painful!

 

[LS5 Blade]

Blackwell has a 100% record of every team he gets sacked from gets relegated that season!

Leeds, Luton, Sheffield United!

 

[bricktop]

While many aim their venom at the board, and managers that have had the reigns since Blackwell departed, the die was cast IMHO when this bloke was given the job of manager at BDTBL some years ago.

His "fans" will point to his record as manager of the Blades being one of the best in recent memory.

I would call it benefiting from one of the most expensively assembled squads in Championship history that Bryan Robson put together but ultimately, failed to "gel" as a team.

Since that day, he has systematically dismantled a very good squad for, lets face it, a team of other sides rejects. I don't buy the bull that he had to work on a budget and his best players were sold from underneath him. While the sale of players is a given, often to bigger clubs with bigger wages e.g. Kyles, he has also, IMHO squandered a HUGE amount on the likes of Ched, Hendo et al.

No surprise to me that the man hasn't had a sniff of a job in 9 months.

You reap what you sow in this game and in life in general.

The appointment of Kevin Blackwell has ensured a poor harvest for several years to come :cry:

UTB.

When was the last time someone told you that you talk absolute utter fucking shit?

 

[sitwell]

Thats rich.

 

[Rattly Noise]

The die was cast in 1889. We've been shit ever since. Get over it

 

[gavtheblade]

Blackwell had a brief to cut the wages bill by signing cheaper players than we were selling. He did this and still managed a play-off final, with a very good run of results given that the board were chopping his legs out from under him. (It could be argued that if we had kept those players, like James Beattie, then automatic promotion would have been possible, but the sales weren't down to Blackwell.) This did however result in the quality of players coming in being far lower than that of those going out, and the actual quality of play was, well, horrible. But to blame Blackwell for having to partly pay for the excesses of Robson is rather harsh.

There's no denying that the football under Blackwell wasn't very nice to watch, but blaming him for the situation we're in now is shooting very, very wide of the mark.



The blame lies with whoever decided that Robson would be the ideal candidate to spend money like nobody's business on very expensive players. James Beattie was quality, but at what price? He said he signed for United because it was Robson who impressed him - nothing to do with the massive pay packet then? Whoever agreed the signing of Premier League players on Premier League money should be held accountable. Having seen both Terry Robinson and Chris Steer schmoozing Robson before the season started I'm also pretty sure that Kevin McCabe wasn't completely in the picture when as Chairman he certainly should have been and for that can take a lot of the blame too.

Ultimately it comes down to McCabe and those he directly and indirectly appointed. McCabe didn't keep it under tight enough control, and the appointment of Terry Robinson was arguably almost as much of a disaster as that of Robson.

Blackwell could have acted differently - he should certainly have gone through with his offer to quit after Wembley - but to blame him for the errors of McCabe, Robinson and Robson is not fair.

Agreed mr martin

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I'm sorry but I don't agree with the statement "the die was cast IMHO when this bloke (Blackwell) was given the job of manager at BDTBL some years ago", because IMHO the die was cast the day we gave the job to Robson.

Blackwell did ok, but should have left after Wembley, we ALL knew, especially himself. If he was going to be sacked, why on earth waiting until two league or three games into the new season. If he had stayed we wouldn't have been in our current position, but that said, I would have wanted the change of Manager during either of the last two "closed seasons".

No, for me, the blame lay with the choice of Bryan Robson.

Wrong Robbo, it was that twat Turry.

 

[Oreyt]

I think you really REALLY want it to be all Blackwell's fault. But there's a bit more to it than that, sadly.

 

[Stafford Blade]

While many aim their venom at the board, and managers that have had the reigns since Blackwell departed, the die was cast IMHO when this bloke was given the job of manager at BDTBL some years ago.

His "fans" will point to his record as manager of the Blades being one of the best in recent memory.

I would call it benefiting from one of the most expensively assembled squads in Championship history that Bryan Robson put together but ultimately, failed to "gel" as a team.

Since that day, he has systematically dismantled a very good squad for, lets face it, a team of other sides rejects. I don't buy the bull that he had to work on a budget and his best players were sold from underneath him. While the sale of players is a given, often to bigger clubs with bigger wages e.g. Kyles, he has also, IMHO squandered a HUGE amount on the likes of Ched, Hendo et al.

No surprise to me that the man hasn't had a sniff of a job in 9 months.

You reap what you sow in this game and in life in general.

The appointment of Kevin Blackwell has ensured a poor harvest for several years to come :cry:

UTB.

The thread you started about Henderson proved you knew fuck all about football and this is the icing on the cake. Congratulations fella

 

[gavtheblade]

blaming blackwell for this seasons outcome is like blaming labour for the state our country is in.

 

[lenners]

The die was cast in 1889. We've been shit ever since. Get over it

To be fair, a league title and 4 FA Cups in the early years and lots of top tier football until 1976 said otherwise.
The shyte since then, coupled with the meek acceptance of fans who now get excited by how much we can sell young players for, says everything about the demise of SUFC.

 

[Large Mendonca]

Not Blackwell's fault at all, it was McCabes (or whoevers) decision it was to appoint Robson. Blackwell rescued us that season (nearly to a playoff position), play-off final the next, and 8th under cost cutting the one after that. Be careful what you wish for....oh , too late.

 

[Rattly Noise]

What about all those refs that didn't give us clear penalties etc...?

 

[bladesadviser]

Yes it would have been horrible to watch and we wouldn't be near the top but we certainly wouldn't have been relegated if Blackwell was still in charge

 

[beightonblade]

blaming blackwell for this seasons outcome is like blaming labour for the state our country is in.

Thats him banged for reights then !

 

[Jonny G]

I think you can say he showed poor transfer acumen in the summer, but the farce of believing Speed could make our squad play like Brazil whilst we waited for someone to pay to take him off our hands (coupled with all the time it took to appoint Adams) showed terrible judgement by the Board. The lack of attacking play by Speed and our persistence of a 4-5-1 with entirely the wrong types of players to make it work cost us dearly.

Possibly making myself the most unpopular person on here, but with hindsight I personally would've liked Adams here for the entire pre-season and season. The mood of the squad was broken in the summer and I don't think Speed did anything but make things worse. Signs are there now that we are now a unit rather than a collection of players. The only reason things panned out as they did is because our Board wanted as much compensation for Speed as they could muster and lost sight of what was happening to the team until it was too late.

If Blackwell has to answer for anything it's our poor injury record and fitness.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Mark these words Gents / Ladies.

Kevin Blackwell has set this club back 10 years.

Only now am I starting to realise EXACTLY the depth of the damage he has actually caused.

And if I was a betting man, I would bet it is Blackwell whom the board would apportion the majority (Not all) of the blame for our situation too.

 

[ZoneManWilf]

Mark these words Gents / Ladies.

Kevin Blackwell has set this club back 10 years.

Only now am I starting to realise EXACTLY the depth of the damage he has actually caused.

And if I was a betting man, I would bet it is Blackwell whom the board would apportion the majority (Not all) of the blame for our situation too.

Robson and the contract decisions made at that point set this club back far more than anything Blackwell could have done.

 

[Bladesman]

Robson and the contract decisions made at that point set this club back far more than anything Blackwell could have done.

Id agree but we no longer have any Robson signings left at the club. (could be wrong)

I think Blackwell during his time managed to offload most of Robsons signings but just never replaced most of them and opted to get in expensive loan players.