05/11/2011 - Stevenage v. Sheffield United

[Foxy]

Stevenage v Sheffield United
npower League One
Saturday 5th November, Kick Off 3:00pm

This match is ALL TICKET for Blades fans.

We have been allocated 1,390 tickets.Tickets are priced £23 Adults, £20 Concessions (over 60, full time students with a valid NUS card, UB40, ambulant disabled that receive medium-high disability allowance of which they will need to bring proof down on the day, £16 Under 18s, and £12 Under 11s.6 pairs of wheelchair/carer tickets are available however they are situated in a home section of the stadium. Please call Stevenage ticket office on 01438 223223 to reserve the tickets and then pay on the gate when you arrive.This match is a Category C fixture therefore 150 Loyalty Points will be issued to supporters purchasing tickets.
Due to lower ticket sales than expected, the dates of sale have been brought forward. Please see below:

Friday 28th October
5,000+ Loyalty points
Tickets will be on sale to members with 5,000 loyalty points or above.
1 ticket per supporter.

Saturday 29th October
Official Supporters Club Members,
2011 Superdraw Members
and 2,500+ Loyalty Points
Tickets will be on sale to Official Supporters Club Members, 2011 Superdraw Members and 2,500 Loyalty Points or above.
1 ticket per supporter.

Monday 31st October
General Sale
Should any tickets remain they will be on general sale to all supporters from Monday 31st October.

**We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.
**The last day to guarantee a seat on the Away Blade coaches to Stevenage is 5pm on Monday 31st October.

Tickets will be on sale in person, over the telephone on 0871 995 1889 or by post. Details of each supporter are required to check and allocate loyalty points.
Any supporter applying by post should clearly state which date of sale they are applying for by writing the application date on the front of the envelope.
​

 

[moDtheGod]

Got my four tickets yesterday. Looked forward to this one, though more for the banter and the day out than due to any positive expectations result-wise!

 

[Ollessendro]

Got my tickets on Sat-di.

Expect us to be winning games like this and I think we'll sneak this 1. 2-1 to United.

I'll be looking for a better defensive performance and a professional approach from the start. I hope Saturday taught us we cannot turn up to games and expect just to win. We also need to keep our concentration and not switch off.

My team would be:

---------- SS

Parrino Maguire Collins JFL

Lowton Doyle McDonald Philips

------ Evans Clarke

 

[DazBlade88]

I'm driving down to this one and I've had a feeling we'd lose this game for ages.

They're a very big, direct, percentage football team and I can see them absolutely bombarding balls into our six yard box to test us throughout the game. They'll know it's our weakness and I think they'll punish us.

Let's hope I'm wrong but 3-1 Stevenage is my prediction.

 

[Ollessendro]

They're a very big, direct, percentage football team and I can see them absolutely bombarding balls into our six yard box to test us throughout the game. They'll know it's our weakness and I think they'll punish us.

Don't know much about them, but what you say worries me Daz. Huddersfield and Wednesday have both had joy playing again us like this. To an extent Tranmere and Exeter have too (i.e. roughing us up and getting away with it). Judging by our inability to deal with arial bombardment and current keeping situation this is concerning. If they've watched any of our recent games,then they'll be rubbing their hads at this. Wimbeldon style performances will continue to catch us out. Our best option is to try and be as solid as we can, but stick to our passing game. That and fast, counter attacking football (which Clarke and Philips have really helped us with). If we stick to our game then (imo) we will beat them. We have goals in us and can tear them apart. We need to be up for it. No complacency and no 'presents'/gifts.

 

[Jehovah]

As above really, I have wrote this game off ages ago. GAINST STEVENAGE I HAVE WRITTEN US OFF FFS

 

[Foxy]

Only around 150 tickets left for this one, so those sitting on the fence... get yourself down to the ticket office if you are bothered!

 

[Highbury_Blade]

145 now....

 

[alcoblade]

Any pub suggestions? Olle?

UTB

 

[Foxy]

Any pub suggestions? Olle?

UTB

Being a rare new ground for me, I'm also on the look out...

Footballgroundguide says this:

There is a large Club House bar at the ground, behind the South Stand, which is popular with both home and away fans alike. However, for some high profile games, the bar will be open to home fans only, but this is only for a small minority of games. On my last visit, eventhough the bar was busy, I was served relatively quickly and it was a friendly atmosphere.

Otherwise there is not much in the way of pubs near to the ground. Still if you like your real ale then it is worth taking the 15 minute walk to the 'Our Mutual Friend' pub in Broadwater Crescent. This pub which is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide offers seven beers on hand pump, plus real cider and perry. If you have time on your hands then you can take the 15-20 minute walk into the town centre, where there are plenty of pubs to be found including a Wetherspoon outlet (called the Standard Bearer, which is located near to the Bus Station).

Across the roundabout from the ground there is a Retail Park that has various eating outlets such as Pizza Hut, McDonalds & Burger King. There is also a Harvester outlet called the 'Roaring Meg, which also has a bar.

 

[alcoblade]

Being a rare new ground for me, I'm also on the look out...

Footballgroundguide says this:

There is a large Club House bar at the ground, behind the South Stand, which is popular with both home and away fans alike. However, for some high profile games, the bar will be open to home fans only, but this is only for a small minority of games. On my last visit, eventhough the bar was busy, I was served relatively quickly and it was a friendly atmosphere.

Otherwise there is not much in the way of pubs near to the ground. Still if you like your real ale then it is worth taking the 15 minute walk to the 'Our Mutual Friend' pub in Broadwater Crescent. This pub which is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide offers seven beers on hand pump, plus real cider and perry. If you have time on your hands then you can take the 15-20 minute walk into the town centre, where there are plenty of pubs to be found including a Wetherspoon outlet (called the Standard Bearer, which is located near to the Bus Station).

Across the roundabout from the ground there is a Retail Park that has various eating outlets such as Pizza Hut, McDonalds & Burger King. There is also a Harvester outlet called the 'Roaring Meg, which also has a bar.

Cheers Foxy.

My pork mate went last year and recommended a nearby boozer. I'll post details later in week.

This will be the 90th football league club I've seen us play at, and the 103rd ground it total. You can all sleep well now...

UTB

 

[Ollessendro]

Any pub suggestions? Olle?

UTB

The Spoon's across from the train station is where I'll be suppin (I think). Looks about a little less than a mile away from ground. Come and join and we can have a beer (Stella for you and real ale for me) and discuss style vs effectiveness football (I'm interested to hear your Wimbeldon 89 debate which I plan to combat with the Arsenal invincibles team)

The real ale boozer Foxy mentioned is also a good shout too. I'd be happy to divert there if a few from here are going. It's a little in the other direction of the ground from the train station, but I don't mind going slightly out of my way in the search for the divine ambrosia. Something tells me that in my search for real ale and proper football, I will be finding much more of the former (as usual)

 

[moDtheGod]

Me and my mob will be in "Our Mutual Friend". I spoke to someone on the phone the other day, she said it's a five minute walk to the ground and confirmed that away fans are welcome.

 

[Jimmy Muir]

I've got a spare ticket for this if any one wants it for £15 inbox me.

 

[Ollessendro]

Will be going to 'Our Mutual Friend' also. Real ale pub, near the ground. Job done. You coming for a sherry alco? Other Blades welcome.

 

[Pinchy]

Sadly, I'm not going but always happy to help those in search of PF and RA!

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/15/15730/Our_Mutual_Friend/Stevenage

It's Dickens' last completed novel. Far from his best, though.

 

[TopBoy]

Lots of lads (and lasses) are planning on drinking in Hitchin, which is a bit easier on the eye than Stevenage and literally 5 minutes away on a train.

 

[Rudders]

As above really, I have wrote this game off ages ago. GAINST STEVENAGE I HAVE WRITTEN US OFF FFS

Its not just you - it looks like the management have as well:
Wilson: "very stern challenge"
Lowton:"a challenge"

It's not Barcelona FFS!

Its called getting your excuses in early (aka senseless defeatism) and Warnock was a master at it.

 

[DazBlade88]

I'm sorry if I'm being stupid, but how is saying that it will be a challenge defeatist? It's more out of respect for the opposition. If he says we're going expecting to give them a pasting then their team talk has already been sorted...

 

[judge]

You don't know the true power of the blades

 

[Pinchy]

Exactly how much longer do we tolerate non-football from Montgomery and Doyle together with match-losing nonsense from Quinn?
Meanwhile, a proper footballer sits on the bench. Wake up DW! Time for major changes!

 

[judge]

Exactly how much longer do we tolerate non-football from Montgomery and Doyle together with match-losing nonsense from Quinn?
Meanwhile, a proper footballer sits on the bench. Wake up DW! Time for major changes!

probably the same amount of time we tolerate having a dogy keeper ,a nervous back four ,a poor manager ,strikers who cant score ,no pace ,a chairman who has washed his hands of the club and a set of fans who seem to have had their passion for the club sucked out of them

unless you have any ideas on how to change things

 

[Pinchy]

Start by getting rid of the garbage who can't play football yet are constantly defended by you and other apologists!

 

[Compound_Legend]

5 years ago almost to the day,we beat Newcastle at St James Park in The Premiership. Now we can't even raise our game against a team who 5 years ago were playing St Albans City and Northwich Victoria.

This is the Blades way - and it's fucking wank. Welcome to the new wilderness years...

 

[judge]

Start by getting rid of the garbage who can't play football yet are constantly defended by you and other apologists!

think youve got me mixed up with someone else
the players are shit but banging on about playing football is just boring and pointless

we dont have any money and cant get rid of the shit ,you seem to be missing the point by a huge margin
maybe you stand too close to the speakers at your gigs

 

[Kev Gee]

Fucking had enough of playing shit like Monty & Doyle away from home & conceding goals in the last ten minutes.

WILSON OUT.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

5 years ago almost to the day,we beat Newcastle at St James Park in The Premiership. Now we can't even raise our game against a team who 5 years ago were playing St Albans City and Northwich Victoria.

Without wishing to go into the reasons for our decline, and their rise, we are in the same league on merit. With respect, what we were both doing 5 years ago, 10 years ago, 20 years ago is just irrelevant horseshit. Its what we are able to do about it in the future that matters, and the answer to that is 'not a lot' until the budgets allow it...

 

[SwissBlade]

Start by getting rid of the garbage who can't play football yet are constantly defended by you and other apologists!

Not that easy though is it Pinchy. They have contracts. What do you suggest? Pay the contracts up and release them on free's?

Wilson came into this with his eyes open. Preseason should've highlighted all of the areas of weakness, we of course, will have played friendlies against sides like Stevenage to see how we cope.

It seems that not many teams in this league play with a passing flair, it seems that we get bullied by other non footballing teams like Wednesday and Stevenage... So what do we do?

 

[LardSardine]

Without wishing to go into the reasons for our decline, and their rise, we are in the same league on merit. With respect, what we were both doing 5 years ago, 10 years ago, 20 years ago is just irrelevant horseshit. Its what we are able to do about it in the future that matters, and the answer to that is 'not a lot' until the budgets allow it...

It was my third match of the season today after Yeovil and Wycombe where I thought we were average. Fairly uninspired but professional performance at Yeovil to get the 3 points, had quite a few chances but didn't take them at Wycombe. Today though, we were awful.

The positives today:
- Simmo came back in and gave an assured performance, shouting at his defenders and saving us a few times especially in the second half.
- Evans looked pretty good when he came on. Think he has to start on Saturday.
- Erm, that's about it.

Negatives:
- Williams was dreadful, giving the ball away, getting beat too often, losing his man etc.
- Maguire and Lowton weren't much better. As usual Lowton looked good going forward but their wingers had way too much space.
- Quinn, trying to be too clever. A few times he gave the ball away with flicks and tricks that he shouldn't have been trying in those positions. Can't doubt his effort, but he's really nowhere near those early season performances.
- Monty and Doyle were awful. I can see why they were selected for giving a physical presence against a team like Stevenage, but they're both tiny so couldn't compete in the air, and constantly gave the ball away.

The team generally looked chaotic at the back, Stevenage could have had 5 today and matched their Wednesday score. In midfield we were second to all the balls and never won the 50/50's. Up front we didn't make their keeper make a serious save of note.

Much to ponder for DW, and I for one am seeing us going rapidly backwards, back to last season's standards.

Dunc, I can see where you are coming from, but lets be truthful here. As of today's game, we have supposedly much better players than Stevenage. How much do you think they're all earning? Most of them are playing at the highest level they ever have, most of ours, the lowest. With due respect, it's worrying when we're outplayed and beaten by a team like Stevenage, no matter how much you look at our present situation and being there by merit.

 

[raul]

Without wishing to go into the reasons for our decline, and their rise, we are in the same league on merit. With respect, what we were both doing 5 years ago, 10 years ago, 20 years ago is just irrelevant horseshit. Its what we are able to do about it in the future that matters, and the answer to that is 'not a lot' until the budgets allow it...

How do you reckon our budgets compare to the likes of, ooh, Stevenage Duncy?

I can fully accept your point about in this league on merit, but you can't isolate that fact by just not wanting to consider how we've ended up here. A more pertinent question might be "on the basis of their record of the last five years, how confident are we of the powers that be moving us forward 'when budgets allow'"?