[DISCUSSION] Fans Forum - Kevin McCabe & Dave Green - 12th April 2013

[redalwaysablade]

Would like to add my thanks to Foxy and Linz, great job well done.

It really can't be stated enough, it's a devilishly hard job to keep everyone updated on the proceedings.

Followers will no doubt add their own thanks.

UTB.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

What's the accepted short name for Foxy / Linz ? Flinz or Lixy?

Either way top Job guys.

 

[Balham]

What's the accepted short name for Foxy / Linz ? Flinz or Lixy?

Either way top Job guys.

Thought it was Fonz? Sentiments echoed in Richmond, big thanks for the coverage guys.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

"In terms of money, since relegation from the Championship it's probably cost the family about £1mil a month and it's failed."

Wow.

If true shows what a failure Wilson was. Promotion should have been tied up before Quen of the South managed it with that sort of budget.

 

[Revolution]

So, if I've got this right, the idea is to bring through young players. But we cannot keep hold of them, according to Mr McCabe, so any of them who are good enough to play further up the league will be sold.

so as soon as the youngsters coming through are not as good or plentiful, the whole thing collapses, and we are stuck with short termism to plug the gaps

this is no different from what we've been doing since 2009-10 and we are doing now. It isn't working. we get worse every year.

Nothing will change until McCabe has some backbone and keeps our good young players for longer than 1 or 2 seasons, or he leaves the club.

How depressing.

 

[Wapping Blade]

What's the accepted short name for Foxy / Linz ? Flinz or Lixy?

Either way top Job guys.

I prefer Lixy as it sounds rude

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

"The problem is that 65% of turnover is only player wages (for those over 21). "

I'd imagine players wages at just about every club in the FL, including United, is the main cost (by a country mile). United as far as I know have relinquished every other project that was sapping their money such as ownership of the foreign clubs and the hotel, plus big reductions on the admin side. If they've got player wages down to 65% (which it sounds like they must have) then they shouldn't be losing anything like £12m a year.

As for the Academy the last I heard it was just about self financing (through pitch and facility rental to the general public and business), it probably makes money if you factor in player sales of Academy graduates.

The Academy should be about more than selling on any decent prospects though, as Warnock said when it first opened I'd like to see a first XI made up of players from the Academy, well how's this for a team with players that are still playing:-

Long
Walker-Maguire-Jags-Naughton
Lowton -Monty-Tonge-Quinn
Sharp-Forte

 

[JohnDenver]

So, if I've got this right, the idea is to bring through young players. But we cannot keep hold of them, according to Mr McCabe, so any of them who are good enough to play further up the league will be sold.

so as soon as the youngsters coming through are not as good or plentiful, the whole thing collapses, and we are stuck with short termism to plug the gaps

this is no different from what we've been doing since 2009-10 and we are doing now. It isn't working. we get worse every year.

Nothing will change until McCabe has some backbone and keeps our good young players for longer than 1 or 2 seasons, or he leaves the club.

How depressing.

The other point about McCabe's statement concerns his accusation that managers have under-used academy players. Whilst there is a bit of truth in this, what the hell have the board been doing about it? Nobody is managing the long term football strategy. Managers have been sacked at insane times of the season, and loan players have sanctioned.

If we want to be a club which relies on youth, it needs a documented strategy, boardroom decisions that back it up, and conuinuity of management. Plus, as previously said, to get the fans on side and supportive of the strategy, it needs some commitment to keep these kids...

 

[gavtheblade]

Why would he be released this summer?

On good behaviour.

 

[Revolution]

There is no reason for a team with our resources and support to settle for being a feeder team for Premier League sides. None whatsoever.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

There is no reason for a team with our resources and support to settle for being a feeder team for Premier League sides. None whatsoever.

Agreed. There's an article in today's "I" newspaper listing the biggest 20 teams in English football based on crowds, stadium, history etc. We are on the list, as you would expect. And we are by far the biggest under-achievers on that list over the last 40 years.

McCabe should be ashamed that much smaller clubs than us have achieved far more success during his tenure.

 

[Linz]

We had an email last night complaing that they couldn't get the audio to work from the Q&A

If you are reading, there is a very good reason for that...

 

[Foxy]

McCabe saying we can sell players and not worry because there'll be another one coming along out of the academy is pure bullshit. You really cannot succeed that way. I mean, what are the odds of getting a crop of academy players of promotion quality in a variety of positions all at the same time? Nil.

This was asked last night, the consensus from the top table is that we'll continue to "compliment" the academy products with those from elsewhere, players with potential at the right age.

Westlake, Blackman and Miller were given as examples of this.

Had I been there it's fair to say I'd have done more than shake my head - I'd have told you quite plainly that you were utterly clueless if you thought Robson was a good manager. And based on his jobs he's had since, the rest of the footballing world would agree with me.

I think the point he was trying to make in a round about way, is that supporters don't see the other side to managers, the day to day dealings off the pitch etc.

We had an email last night complaing that they couldn't get the audio to work from the Q&A

If you are reading, there is a very good reason for that...

...and for said people, we'd probably better spell it out a little clearer - That's because there wasn't any, nor ever planned to be any

 

[alcoblade]

"The problem is that 65% of turnover is only player wages (for those over 21). "

I'd imagine players wages at just about every club in the FL, including United, is the main cost (by a country mile). United as far as I know have relinquished every other project that was sapping their money such as ownership of the foreign clubs and the hotel, plus big reductions on the admin side. If they've got player wages down to 65% (which it sounds like they must have) then they shouldn't be losing anything like £12m a year.

As for the Academy the last I heard it was just about self financing (through pitch and facility rental to the general public and business), it probably makes money if you factor in player sales of Academy graduates.

The Academy should be about more than selling on any decent prospects though, as Warnock said when it first opened I'd like to see a first XI made up of players from the Academy, well how's this for a team with players that are still playing:-

Long
Walker-Maguire-Jags-Naughton
Lowton -Monty-Tonge-Quinn
Sharp-Forte

Remember that several of those players came from a very basic youth set-up.

I question that the academy is "self financing". We were told this several years ago, before lots of cost cutting occurred. If it was self financing, why the cost cutting? If it's self financing, where the hell is the £1M a month that McCabe is supposedly (I don't believe it) putting in? Why are we selling anything that threatens to move us forward?

Questions not aimed at you Handsworth, BTW...

UTB

 

[UnitedBlade]

I wonder if McCabe was actually referring to £1M loss per month for the last 2 seasons published accounts which has involved major restructuring.

Given the "property" restructuring must now be done and we've reduced player wages by at least £4m, we can't possibly be losing £1m a month this season.

Can we ?

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

On good behaviour.

Having served just over a year of a 5 year sentance?
Sept 2014 maybe but it's a joke if you can get out a year into that sentance.

 

[Pinchy]

Having served just over a year of a 5 year sentance?
Sept 2014 maybe but it's a joke if you can get out a year into that sentance.

You can't. There is no release on 'good behaviour'. Ched will get automatic release after 2 1/2 years. He won't even get the 135 days HDC (tagging) because that doesn't apply to sentences of four years or over, or indeed to sentences of any length for rape.

I add my thanks to Foxy and Linz for their usual suberb coverage. It really is above and beyond the call of duty. Well done.

 

[Bladesway]

I would add my thanks to all concerned in getting the text from the Q & A. It wasn't a shock any of it. McCabe telling everyone how much he ploughed in (he doesn't pay out of his back pocket) and Dave Green sitting there saying next to nowt of consequence in case his master snaps his leash.

IF this time he sticks to what he says we are going to do that may buy him some mileage but I noted the same old rhetoric about pesky agents, having to sell players and replacing with similar quality to what we have sold.

All I would say to McCabe is if he quit the bullshit and told us we were in a mess and he would do everything within his power to bail us out of it, including sticking to promises on academy players and youth over loanees (is there any wonder with our recent track record managers shit themselves and resort to loan players?), he would probably win a lot more respect from everyone. He ought to admit his failings on management recruitment as well. He is bloody awful at it period. Admit your weakness McCabe and you might win sypathy and respect.

And ending it with "we are all Blades aren't we?" Please, someone tell me there was irony in there. There was wasn't there?

 

[metalblade]

HEY !!! there is no bigger Blade

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I can see warnock coming back but not whilst mccabe is at the helm

Warnock dismissed any idea of coming back today on either R5 or talksport

 

[Pinchy]

Warnock dismissed any idea of coming back today on either R5 or talksport

Good. Someone ought to tell him no-one's asking!

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Good. Someone ought to tell him no-one's asking!

and yer didn't think today could get any better.

 

[Maidenhead]

I would add my thanks to all concerned in getting the text from the Q & A. It wasn't a shock any of it. McCabe telling everyone how much he ploughed in (he doesn't pay out of his back pocket) and Dave Green sitting there saying next to nowt of consequence in case his master snaps his leash.

IF this time he sticks to what he says we are going to do that may buy him some mileage but I noted the same old rhetoric about pesky agents, having to sell players and replacing with similar quality to what we have sold.

All I would say to McCabe is if he quit the bullshit and told us we were in a mess and he would do everything within his power to bail us out of it, including sticking to promises on academy players and youth over loanees (is there any wonder with our recent track record managers shit themselves and resort to loan players?), he would probably win a lot more respect from everyone. He ought to admit his failings on management recruitment as well. He is bloody awful at it period. Admit your weakness McCabe and you might win sypathy and respect.

And ending it with "we are all Blades aren't we?" Please, someone tell me there was irony in there. There was wasn't there?

And I particularly enjoyed his comment about Jordan Slew. Hopefully one or two of our other up and coming players may look at what has happened with Jordan and think twice before following the big bucks

 

[JohnDenver]

And I particularly enjoyed his comment about Jordan Slew. Hopefully one or two of our other up and coming players may look at what has happened with Jordan and think twice before following the big bucks

It might have been a footballing mistake to have gone to Blackburn, but it was for life changing sums of money so I can understand it.

As for McCabe, he's in no position to criticise Slew, because he chases the transfer money just the same! Oh, and when SUFC is interested in buying a player, is anyone naive enough to suggest we don't sound out agents to do so?

In summary, keep yer gob shut Kevin, it makes you more honest.

 

[Maidenhead]

It might have been a footballing mistake to have gone to Blackburn, but it was for life changing sums of money so I can understand it.

As for McCabe, he's in no position to criticise Slew, because he chases the transfer money just the same! Oh, and when SUFC is interested in buying a player, is anyone naive enough to suggest we don't sound out agents to do so?

In summary, keep yer gob shut Kevin, it makes you more honest.

I can understand it but who do you think is happier at the moment Slew or Maguire?

We know who is wealthier but money aint everything