Big Dick Batho

[BarcaBlade]

Hmmph. Guess I haven't been paying attention and missed the membership scheme. I've mumbled in the past about how I like terracing and no longer like BDTBL. This season I actually drummed up the enthusiasm to write all the fixtures into my diary and start to plan at least one away trip.

I start to think that I might have seen my last SUFC game. It was fun while it lasted I guess.

I hereby declare, with some regret, Sheffield United as my second team. Given that my nickname is 'Blade' (not so daft when you don't live in Sheffield), is it time for a rethink on that one?

 

[cooperblade]

I start to think that I might have seen my last SUFC game. It was fun while it lasted I guess.

I hereby declare, with some regret, Sheffield United as my second team. Given that my nickname is 'Blade' (not so daft when you don't live in Sheffield), is it time for a rethink on that one?

This recession must be really biting when £15 is enough to break strong bonds formed over many years.

 

[SotonBlade]

Did think this was all a bit harsh. If you think he's done a bad job, say so. No need to get personal.

 

[Micalijo]

Has our Communications manager learned how to use the internet yet Linz?

Why on earth does a football club need a communications manager? I suppose as Hozza very eloquently says there are loads of 'girls' who get upset if they don't know what the reserves had for breakfast before training and who get upset if the bread is stale and the hand dryers are broken. Maybe his role is to placate this lot.

All fans need to know is kick off time and when tickets go on sale - which could be a job in itself I suppose but he'll be taking a cool 50k home no doubt so fair play to my pal Batho.

---------- Post added at 09:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:02 AM ----------

This recession must be really biting when £15 is enough to break strong bonds formed over many years.

Top stuff Cooper lad. When a non-season ticket holding exile buys an away ticket from BDTBL someone (me) has to pay the staff costs of dealing with it. £15 seems fair enough to me. Bergen can can get a ticket off one of us lot.

 

[Bladesway]

Len was one of the best posters on here, a real shame he got binned.

Can't for the life of me understand why there is animosity for a man who took up an independent role and quick as a flash got himself on the books of the club. Says nowt, does nowt. Same as all the rest of them at BDTBL.

If it wasn't for this place I wouldn't even know the bloke exists. What does he actually do and when does he actually do it? Does he work 09.00-09.30 Mon & Thurs when no one is looking? He must be laughing his nads off because he gets paid to do nowt. Another one of McCabes puppets who will do as he is told when he is told. Until McCabe gets bored of him and he will be off.

---------- Post added at 09:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 AM ----------

This recession must be really biting when £15 is enough to break strong bonds formed over many years.

When it comes to putting medals on the table its tougher to get to the Lane from Prague than it is Barnsley. That is unless the 12.10 pony and trap doesn't make it out of the stable at Cudworth of course.

If your already splashing three figures out to get here its a bit of an insult to find yourself persecuted for it I would guess.

 

[Micalijo]

Well i must say you've done very well to retain your status as resident bore over several years and several forums.

Fair play to you Brownie - like that one alot.

Great thread this.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Has our Communications manager learned how to use the internet yet Linz?

Yes. I emailed him a while ago and got a reply in four minutes.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

He may well be doing plenty behind the scenes but why is nothing being 'communicated' ?

You'd have thought there'd be surveys, questionnaires, forums etc etc, if not, what exactly is he communicating and to and from where ?

 

[BarcaBlade]

This recession must be really biting when £15 is enough to break strong bonds formed over many years.

To be honest, I couldn't even find the information about cost and had no idae it was 15 quid. The point is, in a slightly Bert-like way, I can't see myself getting round to signing up for it from abroad. Of course I'd love to be able to rock up on the day and buy a ticket on the door, but appreciate those days are gone. So since 93 when I emigrated, I've relied on a mate picking me up a ticket for any games I've come to. I'm assuming he can't do that now unless I become a member.

I've also just realised that I've actually lived in Prague for twice as long as I ever lived in Sheffield so maybe no wonder I'm drifting. The bonds are, I guess, stronger to my team here, but only just coming to realize it. The curious thing is why I'm still BarcaBlade when I spent even less time there than Sheffield and whilst I went to Barca games, I never really bought into caring about them other than it's better when the people around you are in a good mood. Time to change my name...

---------- Post added at 11:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:55 AM ----------

Top stuff Cooper lad. When a non-season ticket holding exile buys an away ticket from BDTBL someone (me) has to pay the staff costs of dealing with it. £15 seems fair enough to me. Bergen can can get a ticket off one of us lot.

So does that mean my mate can still get me one without me being a member? Perhaps it's not all over...

 

[Darren]

I've also just realised that I've actually lived in Prague for twice as long as I ever lived in Sheffield so maybe no wonder I'm drifting. The bonds are, I guess, stronger to my team here, but only just coming to realize it. The curious thing is why I'm still BarcaBlade when I spent even less time there than Sheffield and whilst I went to Barca games, I never really bought into caring about them other than it's better when the people around you are in a good mood. Time to change my name...

QUOTE]


In February I passed the milestone of having lived more of my life in London than in Sheffield. Despite this, and despite living virtually all of time midway between the Arsenal and Spurs grounds, I have never remotely felt like having a London team and, football wise, still only feel a connection to United.

 

[BarcaBlade]

Alas, I've never been such a purist, but I think I have reached the milestone where if the Blades were to play Bohemians, I'd actually struggle to pick a side and would probably lean towards Bohemians simply because the fans create a better atmosphere (and I can buy a ticket on the day, stand up and enjoy a beer with mates during the match).

 

[Kopped]

Time to put my head above the parrapet......... Hang on, I've already done that

Richard is doing a very good job for the fans and the people who can be arsed and make the effort to attend public meetings.

If it wasn't for him, Danny Wilson wouldn't have been at the last one and the next one might also include a few extra people other than the Commercial, Box Office, Stadium and Media Officers. Now that to me says that he is engaging publicly with fans. He DOES read the forums, including this one but he will not do a Strappon and get involved in keyboard slagging matches. He has remained very professional throughout his tenure so far and I can't see that changing.

I will be organising another public forum in the coming weeks, Richard and the others will probably be there and that, tbh, is all he can do. be there and answer questions that YOU have. Not pre-selected vetted questions but proper questions from your minds.

There is only 1 rule: If your coming, come with an open mind, be constructive, NOT abusive and you will have your sasy and will get your answer whether it be at the forum or later because they do take contact details from anyone who haven't got an answer to their questions.

Now, are we going to move from behind the keyboards and attend the public forums or carry on throwing unsubstanciated abuse at club officials for nothing? That's the burning question imo

 

[TheSwollengland]

Quote BLADESWAY
"Can't for the life of me understand why there is animosity for a man who took up an independent role and quick as a flash got himself on the books of the club. Says nowt, does nowt. Same as all the rest of them at BDTBL.

If it wasn't for this place I wouldn't even know the bloke exists. What does he actually do and when does he actually do it? Does he work 09.00-09.30 Mon & Thurs when no one is looking? He must be laughing his nads off because he gets paid to do nowt. Another one of McCabes puppets who will do as he is told when he is told. Until McCabe gets bored of him and he will be off."

Quite possibly the most sensible thing I`ve read on here!

He seems to be a communications man who doesnt communicate except with a select few he feels he can trust which leads to the message not reaching the wider audiance ,I know literally hundreds of Blades who would never dream of joining a forum like this who see press reports saying this bloke is going to be the bridge between the club and fans ,who then effectively never see hide nor hair of him again.

He should be the one when the Star prints shite about the Blades ,as it often does, who should be all over them pointing out the errors,he should be the one who when RS give us a raw deal ,as they often do, who should be on the phone ins sayin its Richard Botto here and giving the clubs and fans views ,but no, he comes across as being invisible, organising clandestine get togethers that only a select few are priveledged to know about. A puppet who does what and says what the club(McCabe)allows ,when it wants ,we`ve got james Shield for that thanks and hes not drawing a wage .

It just perpetuates the mushroom management feeling,cover them in shite and keep in em in the dark.I get more info off the ex Blades players know than him.

Personal attacks on him do no one any good but defending him when in general hes not doing the job the majority thought he was going to do does no one any good either.

 

[essex blade]

Time to put my head above the parrapet......... Hang on, I've already done that

Richard is doing a very good job for the fans and the people who can be arsed and make the effort to attend public meetings.

If it wasn't for him, Danny Wilson wouldn't have been at the last one and the next one might also include a few extra people other than the Commercial, Box Office, Stadium and Media Officers. Now that to me says that he is engaging publicly with fans. He DOES read the forums, including this one but he will not do a Strappon and get involved in keyboard slagging matches. He has remained very professional throughout his tenure so far and I can't see that changing.

I will be organising another public forum in the coming weeks, Richard and the others will probably be there and that, tbh, is all he can do. be there and answer questions that YOU have. Not pre-selected vetted questions but proper questions from your minds.

There is only 1 rule: If your coming, come with an open mind, be constructive, NOT abusive and you will have your sasy and will get your answer whether it be at the forum or later because they do take contact details from anyone who haven't got an answer to their questions.

Now, are we going to move from behind the keyboards and attend the public forums or carry on throwing unsubstanciated abuse at club officials for nothing? That's the burning question imo

can we have a forum in a pub in southend !!

 

[Kopped]

Quote BLADESWAY
"Can't for the life of me understand why there is animosity for a man who took up an independent role and quick as a flash got himself on the books of the club. Says nowt, does nowt. Same as all the rest of them at BDTBL.

If it wasn't for this place I wouldn't even know the bloke exists. What does he actually do and when does he actually do it? Does he work 09.00-09.30 Mon & Thurs when no one is looking? He must be laughing his nads off because he gets paid to do nowt. Another one of McCabes puppets who will do as he is told when he is told. Until McCabe gets bored of him and he will be off."

Quite possibly the most sensible thing I`ve read on here!

He seems to be a communications man who doesnt communicate except with a select few he feels he can trust which leads to the message not reaching the wider audiance ,I know literally hundreds of Blades who would never dream of joining a forum like this who see press reports saying this bloke is going to be the bridge between the club and fans ,who then effectively never see hide nor hair of him again.

He should be the one when the Star prints shite about the Blades ,as it often does, who should be all over them pointing out the errors,he should be the one who when RS give us a raw deal ,as they often do, who should be on the phone ins sayin its Richard Botto here and giving the clubs and fans views ,but no, he comes across as being invisible, organising clandestine get togethers that only a select few are priveledged to know about. A puppet who does what and says what the club(McCabe)allows ,when it wants ,we`ve got james Shield for that thanks and hes not drawing a wage .

It just perpetuates the mushroom management feeling,cover them in shite and keep in em in the dark.I get more info off the ex Blades players know than him.

Personal attacks on him do no one any good but defending him when in general hes not doing the job the majority thought he was going to do does no one any good either.

That is Garbage!

The forums I organise are PUBLIC, with 1 rule!

Does he contact RS and the Stir? Yes he does, but as all true media outlets they sensationalise everything and are often way off the mark. Maybe he should be complaining to them about their lack of attention they've given to SWFC Chairman and owners Court Case.

He may not be in the public eye gobbing off on the radio all the time or have a special column in the Stir, but he is engaging with as many fans as he can.

Exiles are more than welcome to contact him via email, and he will answer them. He will not however go on message boards because it's unprofessional.

---------- Post added at 12:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------

can we have a forum in a pub in southend !!

I can't organise that far away, but anything's possible.

Try contacting him via email and asking him: [email protected]

He can give you a sincere answer then. Failing that, email him your questions and provide your number or something and he'll get back to you. That is what he does.

 

[TheSwollengland]

Whats the one rule ?
That no one knows about them ? How many off here attended the last one ,20-30,never mind how many Blades knew about it ,so perhaps your the one spouting garbage fella?

If hes in the Star and on the radio I`ve never heard him or seen him ,unless he comes on incommunicado,rather than saying "I am Richard Batto Blades Comminications Manager and this is how it is " He should be writing (another form of communication ) to The Stirs letters page and contradicting their bad reporting and having his name printed as the correspondent.

He is a paid employee of McCabe and will play the party line to keep his job, abox ticked in the clubs piss poor fan relations game.

James Shields can spew out the factory produced press releases thankyou very much and not draw a wage fo it.

Ive nothing against the fella ,wouldnt know him from Adam but dont expect me to believe all this fans voice crap because he`s far from it ,hes a paid lacky,nothing more.

 

[Kopped]

Well try this:
http://www.s24su.com/showthread.php?23569-Fans-Forum

then this:
http://www.s24su.com/showthread.php?23673-Fans-Forum-The-Q-s-and-A-s

It was well posted!!!

The 1 rule: If you come, come with an open mind and ask/voice your questions/grievances constructively! Getting abusive will only close the meeting and no others will be offered. So it's in everyone's best interest to be constructive. You don't have to agree with the club, but you can ask your questions to get them off your chest.

I post threads highlighting that there will be a forum, it's upto you if you want to attend or not!

 

[JJ Sefton]

Personal attacks on him do no one any good...

Yes but some people have an image to keep up.

 

[Tuns]

Time to put my head above the parrapet......... Hang on, I've already done that

Richard is doing a very good job for the fans and the people who can be arsed and make the effort to attend public meetings.

Glad to hear he is doing a good job for those that attend meetings.

I hope his comms brief is wider than that unless we think we can 20,000 fans to meetings?

Responding to the sort of fans who know about and then decide to attend meetings is one thing, reaching out to the mass of fans in other ways is critical including fans who perhaps don't go anymore or who do not have STs anymore. There's thousands of them and my guess is that 99.9 per cent won't be going to a forum and a majority won't be looking on websites either.

The club has to start reaching out to the masses of both current and lapsed fans if it really wants to go forward, and if McCabe is ever going to get the cash he wants.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Glad to hear he is doing a good job for those that attend meetings.

I hope his comms brief is wider than that unless we think we can 20,000 fans to meetings?

Responding to the sort of fans who know about and then decide to attend meetings is one thing, reaching out to the mass of fans in other ways is critical including fans who perhaps don't go anymore or who do not have STs anymore. There's thousands of them and my guess is that 99.9 per cent won't be going to a forum and a majority won't be looking on websites either.

The club has to start reaching out to the masses of both current and lapsed fans if it really wants to go forward, and if McCabe is ever going to get the cash he wants.

Indeed, communication to the potential, lost and exiled fans is as important, if not more so, than local forums and local press.

I remember our Turry saying that there were 80,000 different fans who attended in the Prem season which shows what kind of potential attendees the club has. I appreciate a lot of those were prem only fans but surely canvassing around and getting opinions on a bigger scale has to be in his remit. As many have said, the silence ie deafening and if he is communicating, it can't be in the right places.

 

[Darren]

Indeed, communication to the potential, lost and exiled fans is as important, if not more so, than local forums and local press.

I remember our Turry saying that there were 80,000 different fans who attended in the Prem season which shows what kind of potential attendees the club has. I appreciate a lot of those were prem only fans but surely canvassing around and getting opinions on a bigger scale has to be in his remit. As many have said, the silence ie deafening and if he is communicating, it can't be in the right places.

Did that 80,000 figure include away fans

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Did that 80,000 figure include away fans

I know that was dazzler humour but no, 'databased' Blades fans or at least fans buying tickets in Blades' seats.

 

[SwissBlade]

I don't have an issue with Batho, but I am slightly puzzled by what he has achieved and its difficult to support him because of this.

Not sure if its him or the club undermining his role, but with regards to getting proper feedback on all of the questionnaires, forum ideas and any other methods of communicating with him then a clandestine fans forum with the new manager is not exactly what we're looking for... I believe Kopped got the fans there not Batho. And because of the whole approach and secrecy surrounding that event it doesn't exactly send a message that we're all United.

I've seen little improvement at the ground/ match day experience which was supposed to be his job.

I emailed the club after Wilson was appointed to get my viewpoint to the club and whilst this was not supposed to be his remit, I got an auto reply from him.

So I emailed him directly with some suggestions, I got a response, but nothing dazzling.

I'm not wanting to be over critical, but if we get asked for our opinion on certain areas of the club, then its only right for the club to make these results public and give feedback on them on the OS.

Its like Bathos is only allowed to communicate via intermediaries on forums and god forbid anything gets put on the OS!

Come on Richard, pull your finger out and make your presence known!

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Not another Batho thread! He's fast becoming the most discussed member of our non-playing staff. It's times like this I think it was a shame banning len. He would have been all over this thread.....although I sense he is still around

 

[Bergen Blade]

Calm down

They're going to have a look at the scheme again, hopefully to make it more reasonable for exiles.

 

[Deleted member 1486]

They're going to have a look at the scheme again, hopefully to make it more reasonable for exiles.

So the club from Sheffield, called Sheffield United, makes it more expensive for supporters from Sheffield to attend matches than people who live in Timbuktu? That makes total sense.

 

[Micalijo]

Not another Batho thread! He's fast becoming the most discussed member of our non-playing staff. It's times like this I think it was a shame banning len. He would have been all over this thread.....although I sense he is still around

Banning Len was ridiculous, rather than a shame.

Still, pretty much everything that needed saying had been said. Hard to feel any meaningful connection with club now so things would have been much quieter anyway.

All this nonsense about a communications manager is a joke when all that is left in the traditional sense of support are a few hundred clappers lapping it all up with the chance to see us play Exeter and Wycombe. Everyone else is just an interested observer these days, wanting an afternoon out and a few beers.

 

[SwissBlade]

Banning Len was ridiculous, rather than a shame.

Still, pretty much everything that needed saying had been said. Hard to feel any meaningful connection with club now so things would have been much quieter anyway.

All this nonsense about a communications manager is a joke when all that is left in the traditional sense of support are a few hundred clappers lapping it all up with the chance to see us play Exeter and Wycombe. Everyone else is just an interested observer these days, wanting an afternoon out and a few beers.

You been away Mic?

 

[bricktop]

Yes but some people have an image to keep up.

Repeating yourself again?

:badger: :badger:

 

[Big Mart]

Yes. I emailed him a while ago and got a reply in four minutes.

Four minutes? Shows how busy he is then

The forums I organise are PUBLIC, with 1 rule!

What's that, the one where you only inform folks where the meetings are, and who'll be there representing the club at the 11th hour, unless you're contacted previously via Private Messaging? F**k me, the last "Public" meeting you organised was a more closely guarded secret than a meeting of the Freemasons. Or was it the rule that you weren't allowed to go to complain, just ask "constructive" questions whatever they are.

More to the point, why should there be a need for people to leave their homes and inconvenience themselves, simply to meet and fawn over the "Communications Officer"? The title would imply that he's there to communicate, which is something he simply didn't do, and still isn't unless you know the secret handshake.

His original voice of the masses "appointment" was another load of McCabe smokescreen "I'm a massive fan" bollocks, and his subsequent promotion to a highly paid position within the club has only serve to cement that belief.

I think the club are a tad confused, we don't need this position, we just need a simple ticket pricing structure, a clear picture of what's happening on the pitch and that'd suffice, all the other bollocks is boring.

:loopy::croc::loopy: