Worst United Team Ever - Anyone Disagree?

[JohnDenver]

Pompey are comfortably the best.

They won a major trophy a few years ago - that creates a fan base for years to come, despite everything.

I admire them, but imagine if they'd faded into obscurity without their credit-card silverware.


PS - In reply to the OT I have to vote for this lot as the worst team because I was too young to remember the Don Givens nonsense. However, I do suspect the memory people have of that lot has faded and mellowed, especially given the bounce-back promotion season. Actual silverware - fancy that.

 

[SwissBlade]

I'd written it off before Weir was sacked, Swizzers - It's completely FUBAR already

With this squad and their attitude we are aimlessly ambling our way back into Division 4. That's the reality.

Sorry I meant written the side off as the worst ever.

 

[highpeakblade]

I disagree with you completely about this being the worst team ever. Some of the players we have in this team are proven as class players elsewhere and in spells have shown some decent stuff at the lane however the current performances we are getting out of players is easily comparable to our worst ever squads.....

For me it's quite simple, a few of the players aren't cutting it and other players are under-performing, our better players aren't able to get into a rhythm due to this which means they are also under-performing.

A massive overhaul of dead wood has to happen in January. I originally thought Weirs signings to be shrewd and most important good strengthening ones but they have shown to be anything but at the minute!

I live by an old philosophy. If a player doesn't want to play for United simply because they want to play for United, if a player doesn't want the club to do well equally as much as if not more than he wants to do well himself and if a player is simply around for the wage packet......then show them the door.

Half hearted performances aren't welcome at Sheffield United Football Club, players who believe themselves bigger than Sheffield United Football Club don't belong at the club.

The manager needs to be asking these questions now and giving them the option of the door because this might well turn into a battle at this rate and we want players who are in it for the right reasons.

 

[Darren]

I disagree with you completely about this being the worst team ever. Some of the players we have in this team are proven as class players elsewhere and in spells have shown some decent stuff at the lane however the current performances we are getting out of players is easily comparable to our worst ever squads.....

For me it's quite simple, a few of the players aren't cutting it and other players are under-performing, our better players aren't able to get into a rhythm due to this which means they are also under-performing.

A massive overhaul of dead wood has to happen in January. I originally thought Weirs signings to be shrewd and most important good strengthening ones but they have shown to be anything but at the minute!

I live by an old philosophy. If a player doesn't want to play for United simply because they want to play for United, if a player doesn't want the club to do well equally as much as if not more than he wants to do well himself and if a player is simply around for the wage packet......then show them the door.

Half hearted performances aren't welcome at Sheffield United Football Club, players who believe themselves bigger than Sheffield United Football Club don't belong at the club.

The manager needs to be asking these questions now and giving them the option of the door because this might well turn into a battle at this rate and we want players who are in it for the right reasons.

I think that's a bit naive. There are an infintesimal amount of players who will not play for whoever pays them the most. To that extent their motive is primarily financial. However, given that if they play crap their wages will tend to decline that's usually sufficient motivation.

 

[metalblade]

Without a shadow of doubt this is the worst team in the clubs history, the 81 team was bad but this lot ..................... fuckin hell I wouldn't back this shower of shit to beat a conference team. To those of you who say we have reached rock bottom don't be too hasty, if we stick with this lot in league two (yes that's where we are going) next season things could get a whole lot worse.

 

[Grecian2000]

Easily the worst.

Poor players in every position and a lack of effort that I find quite staggering. Playing full backs as full backs and getting them the fuck out of midfield would at least make a slight improvement.

 

[Racy]

There were reasonable 2nd/3rd tier players in the 80-81 team - Kenworthy, Ryan, Trusson, McPhail, Hatton, Matthews even (say it quitely) Givens. You would hard put to say the same about this lot.

Most of the above were 4th division players Kenworthy ,Mcfhail and Matthews were shocking took the piss with the managers before Porterfield couldn't keep out of the boozer.
Ryan was good at Luton
Hatton was quality at his best
Trusson had a good season in the fourth
Givens never to be forgiven

 

[SwissBlade]

highpeakblade I'd agree with a lot of that. No excuses for the players, but there have been so many new players coming in this season and the upheaval of having Weir, then Morgs and now Clough selecting the players that they believe is the best side it's no wonder that were in a mess.

Were missing a big striker that's clear. But more importantly a strike partnership. I don't buy into the thought that losing Blackman was where it all went wrong, Blackmans goals were a big boost last season, but perhaps they masked the loss of Ched, but just as importantly a fit Cresswell.

Saturday we created plenty of chances, but Porter is not really playing how the team want and vice versa, plus Miller isn't sharp yet.

The creativity that we have is great, but we lack someone to upset the opposition. It tells us a lot when Harry is currently this man.

We need to get a settled side, ship a few out on loan and bring in a bit more guile

 

[Grecian2000]

Kenworthy ,Mcfhail and Matthews were shocking

Wow, there isn't a player on our books now who'd get in my team in front of any of them.

 

[Bladesman]

Worse I've seen. In fact the first 60 minutes in the Coventry away game was the worst hour I think I've ever seen

True most of that match was poor but we showed some fight towards the end to the point I really did think we could have got something from that match. I know the Coventry fans were probably shitting it a bit when we got it back to 3-2 and had some momentum.

Like many have agreed on here that match started to change when we brought on McGinn and Taylor. McGinn must be a complete twat off the pitch to not be starting under 3 different managers.

 

[Grecian2000]

McGinn must be a complete twat off the pitch to not be starting under 3 different managers.

He's the Anti Monty.

 

[oldblade]

I disagree the 80-81 was shocking

When Clough gets things sorted we will climb this league give him a bit of time.
The old 3rd div was just a cloggers league there's some decent teams who play football in this

The side that played against Walsall on 2nd May 1981 was Conroy, Casey, Garner, Houston, MacPhail, Trusson, Matthews, Givens, Tibbott, Hatton, Ryan. Neville was on the bench. Kenworthy played for most of the season, but not in this match. Can't remember why.

I do not think anyone can argue with any shred of credibility that the current side is better than that one. It had ability and goals in it, but seemed to lack the stomach or mindset for a relegation fight. Not really surprising as we were never really in a relegation fight until the closing few games of the season. However, had it been a 3 point win in those days, we would have stayed up.

The current side not only lacks the stomach for any sort of fight, it is by comparison also short on ability and goals. Without significant changes there is no way on earth that this side will get even close to 54 points.

In my view, this is comfortably the worst Sheffield United side in my lifetime and probably in our history.

 

[Bookers Mullet]

Easily the worst side in my lifetime (my first full season was the 4th division championship year) we've had a few come close, but this current lot is woeful. Every united team i can remember had at least one player i'd be gutted to lose , this current side i couldn't give a toss if they all vanished in a black hole tonight.

I think some of them have ability, but none of them have any sort of fight or passion for the club, they think they can come out with a few media sound bites about how they are in a false position and working their socks off to put it right. they're not, they're strolling from pay cheque to pay cheque.

I remember John Gannon, being a boo boy for the crowd, but unlike Doyle he give his everything for the Blades, he was far from my favourite player but hes head and shoulders a better professional then any of this bunch

 

[Silent Blade]

This one is poor by any stretch, but 81 was worse. However, that may not be the case come season end.

Dont think 81 was worse. A club employee at the time told my dad that the players hated Martin "I should still be playing for England" Peters also it was quite freakish the way we slid down in the league table

 

[GlosBlade]

This is worse than 80/81, it is only the blades that could get relegated in such circumstances as we did that season, as someone has already pointed out we were never in the relegation places until that last afternoon of the season and we started that last game in 17th place. Winning one out of the last 10 games did for us that season.

This mob have the look of a relegated team and our results since the new year have been shocking as have most of our performances. Basically they are not a team, they don't have a leader, they can't score goals and confidence is non existent. Hopefully clough can see that and will start to ship out some of last seasons proven failures once he has had a look at them.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

This is definitely the worst team we've ever had. I love the Blades but I've never had so little respect, admiration or affection for our players. Most matches I come away thinking "what the xxxx are you xxxxx doing to my club?"

 

[Sirius]

They won a major trophy a few years ago - that creates a fan base for years to come, despite everything.

FFS They won the first Div. twice in the late 40s The Man U of that time.
I admire them, but imagine if they'd faded into obscurity without their credit-card silverware.


PS - In reply to the OT I have to vote for this lot as the worst team because I was too young to remember the Don Givens nonsense. However, I do suspect the memory people have of that lot has faded and mellowed, especially given the bounce-back promotion season. Actual silverware - fancy that.

IMO The 80s team would have given this pathetic lot 3 goals start and beaten them.

 

[JohnDenver]

IMO The 80s team would have given this pathetic lot 3 goals start and beaten them.

Oh good.

 

[axel smeets]

Hard to say for me as I wasn't there in 81, but for anyone born after then it is certainly the worst team we have ever seen. On the train on the way back from Shrewsbury the other week someone who has been watching the Blades since the 70s said that he certainly thought it is the worst United team ever. Regardless of that, I have never seen such a spineless and heartless bunch pull on the red and white stripes. They really are not fit to wear the shirt.

 

[sheffielder]

I am not sure it's the worst in terms of personnel. I think there is something severely rotten in the club and we need someone brave to do something about it. We can't keep on going through managers and we will run out of divisions to go down from soon.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Nope definitely the worst in my lifetime, been watching them since late 80's.

My old man says they they're probably the worst in his lifetime and he's been watching them since the 60's.

 

[Hartley Hare]

I have no knowledge of the 1980/81 team, although I find it hard to believe that at some point or other, over all of the years, all of the current squad would have been selected in previous teams.

I do not believe the players are that bad, certainly good enough for this division. I just can't help thinking we have a poor team at the moment due to the fact we have had four managers in less than a year.

A better judgement can be made at the end of the season, when results will decide if this truly is the worst team in living memory.

HH

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

The side that played against Walsall on 2nd May 1981 was Conroy, Casey, Garner, Houston, MacPhail, Trusson, Matthews, Givens, Tibbott, Hatton, Ryan. Neville was on the bench. Kenworthy played for most of the season, but not in this match. Can't remember why.

I do not think anyone can argue with any shred of credibility that the current side is better than that one. It had ability and goals in it, but seemed to lack the stomach or mindset for a relegation fight. Not really surprising as we were never really in a relegation fight until the closing few games of the season. However, had it been a 3 point win in those days, we would have stayed up.

The current side not only lacks the stomach for any sort of fight, it is by comparison also short on ability and goals. Without significant changes there is no way on earth that this side will get even close to 54 points.

In my view, this is comfortably the worst Sheffield United side in my lifetime and probably in our history.

True. At least half that side would easily get in the current team probably 8 or 9 depending on who the manager is. The current team wouldn't have a prayer of winning Division Four. Not even sticking in Edwards and Morris. Still struggle to make the play offs.

 

[Sirius]

Oh good.

I know we can't live in the past. and any judgement/comparison between teams of today, and yesterday mean not a lot, but I would swap McPhail and Matthews for Doyle and any other of this lot, any day. My gripe with Matthews was that he wouldn't take responsibility for taking the pen that sent us down. I don't blame Givens, at least he had the balls to take it when the others hid but I think Matthews was far superior to Doyle.

Yes the 80s teamy did hide, not nearly as often as some of the present lot do..
IMO it will be resolved only with a mass clear out, root and branch. The sooner the better. Come on Prince. Pay 'em off, or at least bring in a leader.

 

[mattbianco1]

On paper we've got one of the better squads in the division. Unfortunately though we don't play on paper and on the pitch, this is by far the worst side I've seen.

Oh no, now you've said it. Everybody will retaliate to those comments

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Most of the above were 4th division players Kenworthy ,Mcfhail and Matthews were shocking took the piss with the managers before Porterfield couldn't keep out of the boozer.
Ryan was good at Luton
Hatton was quality at his best
Trusson had a good season in the fourth
Givens never to be forgiven

But Matthews who chickened out of his responsibility to take the spot kick is a hero, yes?

Don Givens only played 11 games and scored three goals so it was all his fault of course.

 

[brownie4583]

It is a far cry from previous years when BDTBL was a fortress and teams hated coming here and knew Blades would fight and scrap for everything from 1st whistle to the last,and although i do like Clough,i still think we needed more of a character as manager!

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

On paper we've got one of the better squads in the division. Unfortunately though we don't play on paper and on the pitch, this is by far the worst side I've seen.

It might be the pitch?

When it was laid did it acquire a tilt towards our goal?

 

[madeinsheffield]

Not that I'm a fan of radio pig but NC is on there tonight for an hour to answer questions, I might break a habit and tune in to see how he answers questions.

Can somebody shoot Brian the tool!

 

[1889]

Indeed, I have said this before, but if you magically resurrected the best team in our history - the ones who won the league in 1898 - the current lot would wipe the floor with them, purely because of the advances in fitness and technique generally in the last 100 or so years.

Well that all depends if the referee, rules and ball came from 1898 or 2013 ? If it was the former, those from the current lot that were still on the pitch by half time wouldn't come out for the second half.