This is what happens when...

[Nick Jansky]

Yesterday was a shit show. The question is, what happens now.

We have the squad we have, for the reasons we have it, which go way beyond the last transfer window. At this point in time flinging blame around for that or saying that players aren’t good enough is entirely pointless and achieves nothing. No matter what’s happened in the past this squad is what we’ve got.

And yesterday it didn’t compete. We don’t know the reasons for that, but we do know that they can compete because they have done to some degree or other in every match this season. So do we really want to be throwing the baby out with the bath water based on one, albeit horrific, performance.

We are in a dark place this morning, and what happens next depends on the response from everyone. People need to keep their heads and show some resolve. The manager, players and the fans.

We know that in the past teams have suffered similar mullerings early in the season and have turned it around. We might, or we might not. The players might not have the mental fortitude to do it, but they might. We will find out the answer pretty soon.

In the meantime cool & clear heads are needed, at least for the time being.

 

[MagnifiqueShorehamStreet]

Yesterday was a shit show. The question is, what happens now.

We have the squad we have, for the reasons we have it, which go way beyond the last transfer window. At this point in time flinging blame around for that or saying that players aren’t good enough is entirely pointless and achieves nothing. No matter what’s happened in the past this squad is what we’ve got.

And yesterday it didn’t compete. We don’t know the reasons for that, but we do know that they can compete because they have done to some degree or other in every match this season. So do we really want to be throwing the baby out with the bath water based on one, albeit horrific, performance.

We are in a dark place this morning, and what happens next depends on the response from everyone. People need to keep their heads and show some resolve. The manager, players and the fans.

We know that in the past teams have suffered similar mullerings early in the season and have turned it around. We might, or we might not. The players might not have the mental fortitude to do it, but they might. We will find out the answer pretty soon.

In the meantime cool & clear heads are needed, at least for the time being.

Sometimes you know, to get better, and get out of the mess you’re in, you just have to face facts, and hold people responsible for their actions.
Our preparations for this season were incompetent,beyond amateur, and irresponsible.
To wait while the season nearly starts, to sell your 2 best players, is not their fault for wanting away, it’s yours for not dealing with it sooner. They didn’t hold the cards, we did as the selling club.
Left us scratching around for players who were willing to come on our wages, eg mostly non-Prem league players, except Harmer.I’m discounting Archer, as he will be back at Villa, at the end of the season.
Consequence, we start the season, unprepared, and without the talent or hope to even compete at this level.People responsible, are the Prince and his lackey, Bettis.
They need to go now, and quickly for the club’s sake.The Prince appears to be hanging on for top dollar, when the club’s value is only going to fall and fall as the season unfurls.I hear one of the problems with him finding a buyer, is he wants to retain an interest.Please God no.Take your money, and go.Let’s face it he can’t even sub-let a city centre hotel to those who can, run a piss up in a brewery.

 

[Sheff de party]

The whole pre season was a complete fuck up, selling 2 players who can hold the ball and pass it more than 1 yard, the squad is shocking in depth and will take us down, did u watch the state of the subs that came on today, if it was possible we were worse than earlier in the game, we are a mess and it stems from pre season.
Unfortunately we don’t have enough to recover from this, I hope I’m really wrong about this and please come back to me and throw it my face I will be delighted if you do

Anyone who thinks Sander Berge would have done anything except spectate and hide today is a very generous fan indeed.

 

[Danny_Blade]

Two years ago Southampton got tonked at home 8-0 by Leicester. They bounced back and stayed up that season. We can only live in hope!

Think it was 0-9? But anyway I was thinking about this too but then realised whilst it's true that they stayed up the difference here is Southampton were already a long and well established Premier League club and had been since they were promoted with Nigel Adkins as manager.

 

[ancientblade]

would agree about baldock for captain egan is far too quiet on the pitch george is the obvious candidate imo weve really missed him and need him back asap egan is a real worry just now his form has dropped off a cliff i would put anel in the middle of the 3 thats his best position problem is apart from trusty weve nobody to go in there

 

[Stretch]

Sometimes you know, to get better, and get out of the mess you’re in, you just have to face facts, and hold people responsible for their actions.
Our preparations for this season were incompetent,beyond amateur, and irresponsible.
To wait while the season nearly starts, to sell your 2 best players, is not their fault for wanting away, it’s yours for not dealing with it sooner. They didn’t hold the cards, we did as the selling club.
Left us scratching around for players who were willing to come on our wages, eg mostly non-Prem league players, except Harmer.I’m discounting Archer, as he will be back at Villa, at the end of the season.
Consequence, we start the season, unprepared, and without the talent or hope to even compete at this level.People responsible, are the Prince and his lackey, Bettis.
They need to go now, and quickly for the club’s sake.The Prince appears to be hanging on for top dollar, when the club’s value is only going to fall and fall as the season unfurls.I hear one of the problems with him finding a buyer, is he wants to retain an interest.Please God no.Take your money, and go.Let’s face it he can’t even sub-let a city centre hotel to those who can, run a piss up in a brewery.

I wouldn't argue with a lot of the points you have made, but I am not sure we can just 'discount' Archer as a signing, regardless of whether he will be here next season or not. Should we discount bringing McAtee back on loan, or finding a decent LWB in Thomas because they won't be here either?

I am all for calling out where we have got it wrong, but not everything is shit just because we have had a humiliating pasting at home.

Yes some signings were made far too late, but that wasn't solely down to us. We can rake up the last minute Ndiaye change of heart as a major factor here, as well as other clubs playing silly bollocks (Villa and City) right up until the last possible minute. I think we did ok in the window, under the circumstances. Most clubs have to make compromises and rarely does a club land every deal in the way that it wants.

We have also competed quite well in 4 of the 6 games we have played so far. Fuck knows what was up them yesterday thought. They seemed lost and I suspect other factors might have been involved due to the emotion of the day.

 

[bogo40]

What difference would have Ndiaye have made today ?

Ndiaye, and Berge would have made no difference at all. In fact the money they brought in has given us a squad of a minimum size. The fault today was No closing down/tackling, lack of being able to pass to each other and what looked like couldnt be arsed.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Sometimes you know, to get better, and get out of the mess you’re in, you just have to face facts, and hold people responsible for their actions.
Our preparations for this season were incompetent,beyond amateur, and irresponsible.
To wait while the season nearly starts, to sell your 2 best players, is not their fault for wanting away, it’s yours for not dealing with it sooner. They didn’t hold the cards, we did as the selling club.
Left us scratching around for players who were willing to come on our wages, eg mostly non-Prem league players, except Harmer.I’m discounting Archer, as he will be back at Villa, at the end of the season.
Consequence, we start the season, unprepared, and without the talent or hope to even compete at this level.People responsible, are the Prince and his lackey, Bettis.
They need to go now, and quickly for the club’s sake.The Prince appears to be hanging on for top dollar, when the club’s value is only going to fall and fall as the season unfurls.I hear one of the problems with him finding a buyer, is he wants to retain an interest.Please God no.Take your money, and go.Let’s face it he can’t even sub-let a city centre hotel to those who can, run a piss up in a brewery.

The responsibility sits with the owner. Everyone is well aware of that, but saying it doesn’t help a jot. What’s happened has happened. The only option is to deal with where we are as positively as we can. Anything else will make matters worse.

 

[Pintor75]

I've not been downhearted so far this season, losing some games we could have bot a point from, but yesterday was abysmal, first ten minutes ok, then totally outplayed in every department, Newcastle were good admitted, but we were awful. whoever the defensive coach is ,he's not needed if that's the best he can do. As some are saying, there was maybe something behind the scenes going on, Wilder talk,maybe?, hopefully this is a one off and we can go to whu in a better frame of mind

 

[FTPE]

Players had the heart of a mouse!! Do they respect Hecky? Are they scared of Hecky? We will see

Anel really fucked me off.
He didn't give up as such but he seemed to sulk and mope around feeling sorry for himself.
Egan and Robbo were pants but they'll NEVER do that. Really dissapoined to be honest.
Bash, Baldock haven't got that quit in them either thank god.

 

[BouncinBlade]

They were all a shambles mate. Apart from Robinson I’d say. Absolute joke

 

[Shakespeare blade]

Anyone who thinks Sander Berge would have done anything except spectate and hide today is a very generous fan indeed.

Never got the chance to find out, but it’s not about this one match though, it’s about all the matches in which we keep giving away possession which in this league means goals against, I’m sure your right as every single player went missing yesterday

 

[FTPE]

They were all a shambles mate. Apart from Robinson I’d say. Absolute joke

As Blades we never really moan about players that aren't elite. We don't expect world beaters and master tacticians, what we appreciate or even demand is what Robbo gives us week in and week out. We expect more from the big names though, and when they don't give the minimum (fight and desire) then we rightly go hard at them.
We know what Robbo is, he knows what he is, and as long as he keeps that fire in his belly he should avoid the majority of this criticism

 

[Junior Soduko]

Questions have to be asked on our serious lack of planning and foresight for this season and beyond. I appreciate we are limited with budgets etc, but how has the relevant department signed off on a strikeforce of;

Archer
Mcburnie

Traore - 20, 41 senior football appearances. Bought as a development player, questionable as to whether this was the correct strategy given the importance of this area in the premier league.
Osula - 20, 33 senior football appearances. Started the season as first choice due to no other options, has potential but was clear isnt going to contribute to keep us up over the course of a premier league season.
Jebbison - 20, 50 senior football appearances. Again, has potential but is still a work in progress. Currently injured/health related issue with return unknown.

Brewster - Has yet to fulfill the promise associated with his transfer fee and whilst has shown glimpses, overalll his time here has been a disappointment. Currently out injured with return unknown.

At the end of the transfer window, we had 4 fit strikers - 2 on the evidence shown so far are good enough to compete at premier league level. 2 have yet to show they are good enough to compete. People will moan about the result yesterday (rightly so) but while the performance was shite, when you look at the strategy we have followed as a club with regards to recruitment we are literally one injury/suspension away from everything going up in smoke. I've highlighted strikers as it is a key area and one that just baffles me with regards to our approach. How and why we didnt do our utmost to get one in on deadline day i will never know.

We are contantly being told that we now are in abetter financial position with saleable assets etc. Next year if/when we get relegated - Archer will go back, Mcburnie is out of contract, Jebbison is out of contract. For our promotion campaign next season in a key area of the pitch we will have a strikeforce of Traore, Osula and Brewster. It's worrying.

 

[SRA76]

We will soon see what this had done to players mental state of mind on Saturday cos I personally can only see another fucking mauling again something has to change drastically like now

 

[MagnifiqueShorehamStreet]

The responsibility sits with the owner. Everyone is well aware of that, but saying it doesn’t help a jot. What’s happened has happened. The only option is to deal with where we are as positively as we can. Anything else will make matters worse.

Any suggestions as to which tune we fiddle, whilst the shit show unfurls before our complacent eyes? And oh yes, there’ll be plenty more of those to come this season, before you wake up.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Any suggestions as to which tune we fiddle, whilst the shit show unfurls before our complacent eyes? And oh yes, there’ll be plenty more of those to come this season, before you wake up.

What are your constructive suggestions to improve things?

 

[MagnifiqueShorehamStreet]

1) Stop the complacency, and start putting pressure on the Prince as a fanbase to encourage him to get out and on his bike.Things won’t get better now, until he’s gone.
2) In the meantime, cheer the lads and Hecky on,to the rafters.It’s not their fault they have been put in this impossible position, by an absent landlord of an owner.

 

[Nick Jansky]

1) Stop the complacency, and start putting pressure on the Prince as a fanbase to encourage him to get out and on his bike.Things won’t get better now, until he’s gone.
2) In the meantime, cheer the lads and Hecky on,to the rafters.It’s not their fault they have been put in this impossible position, by an absent landlord of an owner.

I look forward to you organising the first of those, then. Just like a bunch of us (including a few others on here) did back in the 90s with BIFA & got rid of Brealey. Because words on a forum (or letters to the Green 'Un as it was in those days) mean absolutely fuck all.

The second one is already happening.

 

[MagnifiqueShorehamStreet]

I look forward to you organising the first of those, then. Just like a bunch of us (including a few others on here) did back in the 90s with BIFA & got rid of Brealey. Because words on a forum (or letters to the Green 'Un as it was in those days) mean absolutely fuck all.

The second one is already happening.

Did you see the empty seats, at the end of the game, or did you still have your head up your arse?

 

[Nick Jansky]

Did you see the empty seats, at the end of the game, or did you still have your head up your arse?

As I said, when we had a previous owner that people wanted out I was one of the people who did something about it & made it happen.

Time for your generation now. Either get on with it & do something or carry on whining about it on a forum. One might just achieve something, the other is pointless. Your choice.

 

[MagnifiqueShorehamStreet]

As I said, when we had a previous owner that people wanted out I was one of the people who did something about it & made it happen.

Time for your generation now. Either get on with it & do something or carry on whining about it on a forum. One might just achieve something, the other is pointless. Your choice.

There’s many ways to skin a cat my friend, and putting your views on a variety of media, that you have at your disposal is a small but nevertheless valid and useful way of getting your point across.
I’m entitled to my view, and I’ll continue putting it forward on a fan forum, and by other means,even though you apear to be dismissive of it.There’s a lot you say, which I think is cobblers, but respect your right to say it.
Thanks for the compliment about my generation‘s turn now, by the way.Started watching the Blades in 64.Power to the wrinkles, this is our time!

 

[Nick Jansky]

There’s many ways to skin a cat my friend, and putting your views on a variety of media, that you have at your disposal is a small but nevertheless valid and useful way of getting your point across.
I’m entitled to my view, and I’ll continue putting it forward on a fan forum, and by other means,even though you apear to be dismissive of it.There’s a lot you say, which I think is cobblers, but respect your right to say it.
Thanks for the compliment about my generation‘s turn now, by the way.Started watching the Blades in 64.Power to the wrinkles, this is our time!

If you've been watching for that long I would have thought you would have learned.

Yes, I am dismissive of what putting stuff on a fans forum will achieve unless you are actually trying to organise something. Otherwise, its fine for letting off steam but doesn't actually change anything.

Other than that, what is it you are actually wanting people to do? You have mentioned "start putting pressure on the Prince as a fanbase to encourage him to get out and on his bike". How do you propose doing that? Chucking a few tennis balls on the pitch?

 

[Bell4]

We will soon see what this had done to players mental state of mind on Saturday cos I personally can only see another fucking mauling again something has to change drastically like now

change - like what ?

 

[AWetFlannel]

Our best player wanted out. We can repeat any other explanation until we're blue in the face. He wasn't "sold". Fans with a victim mentality are feeding off this like it was Deane and Fjortoft all over again.

Your second point, I generally agree with. Many fans would be happy just by throwing money around because that's what wins the banter/pride stakes but our best moves have been the lower value ones.

Bring players in late? What do you suggest? We should've rang up all the managers we wanted to buy/loan players from and told them to hurry up because we can't wait? They say no or they double the price. Brilliant move.

I hate that the window closes after the season starts but the answer isn't to pretend it doesn't.

Gnonto wanted out at Leeds as well.

You are right about bringing players in late, well run clubs will only let their players leave when it suits them, they won't be rushed. Us on the other hand...

 

[MagnifiqueShorehamStreet]

If you've been watching for that long I would have thought you would have learned.

Yes, I am dismissive of what putting stuff on a fans forum will achieve unless you are actually trying to organise something. Otherwise, its fine for letting off steam but doesn't actually change anything.

Other than that, what is it you are actually wanting people to do? You have mentioned "start putting pressure on the Prince as a fanbase to encourage him to get out and on his bike". How do you propose doing that? Chucking a few tennis balls on the pitch?

Listen mate, I post my views on a fans forum.You either like em or you don’t.You obviously don’t.Fair enough!
If it’s just me letting off steam, what’s wrong with that?For the last time,it’s a fans forum!
I don’t need a lecture on how to change the world or how brilliant you were in changing the world in the 90’s. Stop being a sanctimonious prat and move on.I already have.

 

[Panini]

Gnonto wanted out at Leeds as well.

You are right about bringing players in late, well run clubs will only let their players leave when it suits them, they won't be rushed. Us on the other hand...

I'm not sure it's about being well run, it's more about where you are in the food chain. Plenty of clubs we would consider well run made significant purchases in the last few days

 

[AWetFlannel]

I'm not sure it's about being well run, it's more about where you are in the food chain. Plenty of clubs we would consider well run made significant purchases in the last few days

It's not just about being well run, but if you make significant sales early, you should make significant purchases early.

Leeds had clubs up the food chain after Gnonto, who had handed in a transfer request, and turned them down.

We seem to have had clubs meet our valuation of our players early, which is fine, but that we would sell before anything was close to coming in should be criticised. We could've stalled Marseille and Burnley like Villa and Man City stalled us.

 

[Panini]

It's not just about being well run, but if you make significant sales early, you should make significant purchases early.

Leeds had clubs up the food chain after Gnonto, who had handed in a transfer request, and turned them down.

We seem to have had clubs meet our valuation of our players early, which is fine, but that we would sell before anything was close to coming in should be criticised. We could've stalled Marseille and Burnley like Villa and Man City stalled us.

Marseille and Burnley are above us in the food chain. Maybe not by every metric but our players wanting to leave and join these clubs means they are.

If those clubs don't do their business (ie buy our players, meet our valuation etc) early then we can't avoid the situation we ended up in. We can't afford to buy replacements before the players leave because again we're not high enough up for the food chain and can't afford it.

They were never going to do their business early because they were holding that our asking price would drop the nearer to the end of the window we got.

It's literally impossible to get your business done early in our position.

 

[Keen Blade]

It's like the story of the King's clothes.
Everyone (except the players) knew from the recruitment that we expect , nay planned for relegation.
Yesterday it was like the penny had just dropped with the players that they are here to get relegated and have a crack at the Championship next season.
So they downed tools.
It will take some clever psychology to manage them towards failure whilst trying to form a band of brothers ready for success next season.
It's one thing being a yo-yo club.
It's an entirely different thing PLANNING to be a yo-yo club.

The big question is whether Hecky has the personality & leadership skills to "develop" a squad which is in a league above where it belongs - how is he going to maintain morale through defeats ?

Can players be told "ignore that you're sitting bottom on next to no points - all I want to see is you guys improve as individuals and as a team" ?