Best play second fiddle then.......

[highpeakblade]

I has become apparent now that at the minute unless we win a game there is no point what so ever coming on the forum with any form of optimism regarding the game. Instead we all have to come home and sulk which declaring how we simply aren't good enough, how we have n bottle or plan b and how we lack the quality to achieve anything what so ever..... therefore the end is nigh and we should all get on the AA Route Planner to plot our journeys to Morecombe and Exeter next year!.

WELL THE REVOLT CONTINUES I'M AFRAID.

Call me an happy clapper, Call me deluded, Call me whatever you want but all I call myself is a true fan and a realist!.

Once again I have several the negatives most of all the fact that we didn't get 3 points in a game that we 100% deserved to win regardless of everything on the overall balance of play we were heads and shoulders against them which makes it ever more sickening, I also have negatives regarding the freakness of that wicked deflection that pegged them back into the game and the sloppiness in the back four and goalkeeper that let them equalize, these things can't be denied and need to be addressed.

BUT AS MUCH AS IT PAINS THE KNOCKERS TO HEAR IT........

Once again for the most it was a very much improved performance and one that warranted a win. We did most things right and absolutely bossed the game for the majority and should have walked it. Bringing Paynter in, an unattractive signing for some is looking to be a cracking move! His physical presence seems to compliment the players around him and today for me he had a decent game. But again as a whole the forwards and midfield were cracking and if anything we were very unlucky not to have banged in 4 or more goals.

For me we are putting the ball around as good as it has been whilst in league one, the movement both and on the ball is again as good as it as been in a while and overall the football is again as good as it has been in a while all-be-it still not at the level of consistency that we would all like to see but luck did play a major part in that today and as said we deserved it. To come away from that with a point feels like a defeat in it's own right because there should only have been one winner.

I will agree with the knockers to an extent and this is that we need to sharpen up at the back and stop making these costly mistakes that have seen us drop several points in recent weeks in games that we dominated BUT I refuse to let these errors detract from the huge improvement I have seen over the last month or two. We are growing gradually, the understanding is there, the confidence is there and overall the team are working for eachother and are giving us cause for optimism.

EVER THE OPTIMIST........

I have seen more than enough in that team to strongly believe that it is coming together. We still have a good few points to play for and I still think that if we continue to improve at the rate that we are doing then all is fine and we will be more than comfortable come May. Two or three new players will be coming into the club to give us that something different but this needs to be done carefully as we finally have a team that are starting to understand eachother and knit. The need for that extra bit of quality however is obvious and needs to happen.

But overall sorry knockers but once again the positives are there for me and despite feeling a little deflated I have taken more than enough out of that the remain in high spirits and to believe we are still heading in the right direction.

 

[Esablade]

You found a bit drunk but I agree in the most part...

 

[davidpinder]

Yep can't wait for league 2 will be mint, but it's ok we played well.

 

[Guesty]

A few points immediately, it's an endless source of amusement how both 'sides' lay claim to the word 'realist'.

And second, none of the knockers want United to fail. Predicting it doesn't mean you want it to be so.

And finally, if we'd done enough to warrant a win, we'd have won.

 

[metalblade]

I can't really argue against much of that fella but the thing is HPB even though the performances have improved post Weir we are still massively inconsistent, we have the good v Villa followed by abject shite the Saturday after. Even after a good performance we still can't close a game out, we have been in front in the last 3 yet still only have 1pt to show for it, this against opposition average at best at worst crapper than ourselves. We have just thrown away a golden opportunity to pull away from the bottom and now go into games against the better sides under severe pressure to get wins. Yeah we might have been unlucky today but when you get it right 90% of the time and the 10% of sloppiness lets you down it is time to worry, I fear for us I really do. I was saying on here last season to prepare for a relegation battle most scoffed at that, I hate to say it but I told you so. Without additions this month it will be touch and go right till the last day of the season and we all know what happens when United need something on the last day to survive. Like watching a slow motion train crash we are heading for disaster.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

As said above if United had deserved to win the game they would have. Instead they showed their consistent ability to succumb to pressure and in this case applied by a very average team.

I love the Blades with every ounce of my being and desperately want them to do well, I clap and encourage every completed pass, every tackle and every run towards goal. The team did a lot of pleasing things today and showed a positive attitude in everything they tried to do but I'm sorry THEY SIMPLY ARENT GOOD ENOUGH and I'm talking about the team as a whole.

Today is about as well as they can play and they couldn't beat Bradford City at home. I've absolutely no criticism for the players or manager but at the end of the day they don't have what's required. End of.

 

[raul]

Sadly, we cannot wish our way to safety. We will have to win some games. Probably more than one every six. Which might be difficult when two nil halfway through isnt enough.

 

[Deadbat]

United played well today. I enoyed the game. There was some good football and lots of exctiment. However we failed to win and threw away a two goal lead. We have not won 1 in 6 games now and are on the brink of going back in the bottom 4 (Tranmere play Crewe next week).

Some of the play was better and overall it is much more positive than the dross under Weir.

BUT

We do not look like putting any kind of run together and are woefully inconsistent game to game and within games. What good is going 2 up and playing well when you chuck it away in a matter of minutes. Without some proper strikers and an influx of 3 or 4 quality players we will probably draw and lose more than we win and it sadly is going to go right to the wire if we stay up/go down. Those that have said for the last month or so we will pull away and be near the middle surely have to realise it has not happened and probably will not as we have proved we are not good enough to put a series of wins together.

Today lost in the sight of the number of chances/play we had is that Bradford as poor as they were had as many if not more clear chances than us over the game (think about it). Even before the deflected goal, Hanson and then McLean missed sitters. They had hit the post too and had an effort off the line. Bradford were dire but still had for me as many clear chances on goal than us. That is why for all the great play from Baxter, Murphy and Flynn etc, we seemed almost embarrassed when we got near the box and our dithering when they should have been for the kill; cost us a game we should have won comfortably against a poor side.

 

[Kev Gee]

say all you want the the only thing that matters at this stage is points.

 

[Bulletnut]

say all you want the the only thing that matters at this stage is points.

Ooh don't say things like that, you'll be accused of sulking. Don't mind the War and Peace post Highpeak Blade but just because you're thrilled to bits every time the Blades play some of us would like a bit more substance. We're at the stage where nowt but points matter, we really are in danger of going down if we don't start winning. That may not wipe the smile off your face but some of us will be really pissed off if that happens.

What pains the "Knockers" is being preached at by supersilious posters who try to paint themselves as bigger and better fans when all you're doing is displaying an ignorance of the opinions of others and an ignorance of our current plight. Why for example do you refer to yourself as a "true fan and a realist"? Are you telling me I'm not a fan because I reserve my right to criticise?

I've followed my club for nigh on 50 years, I've seen some great times and some terrible times along the way. I think our current squad is fucking awful, I cannot stand Kevin McCabe, I think the "Prince" will be another load of baloney but will it stop me loving this club? Will it fuck!

Get off your high horse, we're all Blades on here and the inferences from your posts are quite frankly disrespectful and I'll informed.

 

[cahill]

Agree with Deadbat. The ball was in their box seemingly constantly yet there was nothing but dithering when it came to finishing. Flynn was rampant on the wing, Murphy ran at defenders, Baxter oozed class at this level today yet we went 45 minutes without a goal.

 

[highpeakblade]

We have improved tenfold and compared to where we were a couple of months ago we are now in a must better position. We are a confident team, most importantly we are playing good, attractive, attacking football on the deck and creating more than enough chances to win goals. All the have to do now is iron out those needless errors and inconsistencies and we are going to start winning a good few games.

I think off the top of my head we have around 20 league games left so 60 points to play for. A couple of wins which are long overdue and in my opinion will come while playing this well could take us mid table and a couple more could sit us comfortably top half of the league which is where I think we will end up come the end of the season.

I would be negative if we were still playing the style of football as we were under Weir. The type where we huffed and puffed but conceded and never looked like creating anything. However at the minute we are playing football, we are putting the ball around on the deck extremely well and re creating chance after chance. It will fall in place like I said we just need to iron out the errors and maybe add that bit of added quality in the right areas.

Onwards and upwards!

 

[MBoreman]

To the people saying all that matters is points, how do you think they'll get points? Play like they did yesterday (25 shots, dominant etc) and they'll win 90% of the games in this league. I'll have to see the second goal again but I feel both were unlucky. Bradford are a team of bullies which won't have helped, and as far as claims of dithering are concerned, endless close calls and 25 shots suggests otherwise.

 

[sheffielder]

We have improved tenfold and compared to where we were a couple of months ago we are now in a must better position. We are a confident team, most importantly we are playing good, attractive, attacking football on the deck and creating more than enough chances to win goals. All the have to do now is iron out those needless errors and inconsistencies and we are going to start winning a good few games.

I think off the top of my head we have around 20 league games left so 60 points to play for. A couple of wins which are long overdue and in my opinion will come while playing this well could take us mid table and a couple more could sit us comfortably top half of the league which is where I think we will end up come the end of the season.

I would be negative if we were still playing the style of football as we were under Weir. The type where we huffed and puffed but conceded and never looked like creating anything. However at the minute we are playing football, we are putting the ball around on the deck extremely well and re creating chance after chance. It will fall in place like I said we just need to iron out the errors and maybe add that bit of added quality in the right areas.

Onwards and upwards!

We need to see a hard thought performance turn into a victory quickly or those 20 league games will quickly turn to 10 and you will be saying the same thing. We can't keep on surrendering and Nigel can't keep on putting the same team out hoping that victory will come.

We don't have enough mental strength to deal with killer blows like yesterday and certainly don't have enough quality to come off the bench to snatch games.

You need to stop looking at this with blinkers, because in general it's not the performances which are being questioned.

 

[sitwell]

Ooh don't say things like that, you'll be accused of sulking. Don't mind the War and Peace post Highpeak Blade but just because you're thrilled to bits every time the Blades play some of us would like a bit more substance. We're at the stage where nowt but points matter, we really are in danger of going down if we don't start winning. That may not wipe the smile off your face but some of us will be really pissed off if that happens.

What pains the "Knockers" is being preached at by supersilious posters who try to paint themselves as bigger and better fans when all you're doing is displaying an ignorance of the opinions of others and an ignorance of our current plight. Why for example do you refer to yourself as a "true fan and a realist"? Are you telling me I'm not a fan because I reserve my right to criticise?

I've followed my club for nigh on 50 years, I've seen some great times and some terrible times along the way. I think our current squad is fucking awful, I cannot stand Kevin McCabe, I think the "Prince" will be another load of baloney but will it stop me loving this club? Will it fuck!

Get off your high horse, we're all Blades on here and the inferences from your posts are quite frankly disrespectful and I'll informed.

So if you hate the chairman,don't believe the investors, think the players are shot and can't stand most of the fans, what do you love about Sheffield United

 

[highpeakblade]

We need to see a hard thought performance turn into a victory quickly or those 20 league games will quickly turn to 10 and you will be saying the same thing. We can't keep on surrendering and Nigel can't keep on putting the same team out hoping that victory will come.

We don't have enough mental strength to deal with killer blows like yesterday and certainly don't have enough quality to come off the bench to snatch games.

You need to stop looking at this with blinkers, because in general it's not the performances which are being questioned.

I've liked your post mate because despite the clash of opinions this is a very good debate, you see it from one angle and I am looking at things from another and it seems neither of us will back down on it.

If the improvements weren't there then it is highly probable that I would side with the negativity a bit and wonder how we would get out of this mess however like I keep saying I have seen more than enough to still feel that we are only heading in one direction at the minute and I don't see that as downwards despite the lack of wins.

In the last "x" amount of games we could and possibly should have won most of them. We dominated in large spells and created more than enough chances to put them to bed. On another day we would have walked away comfortable winners but a combination of rustiness / lack of clinicalness and an obvious lack of luck has cost us.

At the minute we are still playing some cracking football and with 20 games to play I am more than confident that playing in this manner we will pick up the points and steer ourselves out of danger. If in 10 games from now we have failed to convert these games into points then I may start to understand where all the knockers are coming from, but at this stage in the season (which I see as just over half way) for me we have turned a corner at the right time and are playing some of our better football. We haven't left it too late for once and I think we have more than enough time to build on it.

I just haven't seen enough of late to take on board the negativity that some others have, in fact it is obvious I am seeing the opposite.

 

[sheffielder]

I've liked your post mate because despite the clash of opinions this is a very good debate, you see it from one angle and I am looking at things from another and it seems neither of us will back down on it.

If the improvements weren't there then it is highly probable that I would side with the negativity a bit and wonder how we would get out of this mess however like I keep saying I have seen more than enough to still feel that we are only heading in one direction at the minute and I don't see that as downwards despite the lack of wins.

In the last "x" amount of games we could and possibly should have won most of them. We dominated in large spells and created more than enough chances to put them to bed. On another day we would have walked away comfortable winners but a combination of rustiness / lack of clinicalness and an obvious lack of luck has cost us.

At the minute we are still playing some cracking football and with 20 games to play I am more than confident that playing in this manner we will pick up the points and steer ourselves out of danger. If in 10 games from now we have failed to convert these games into points then I may start to understand where all the knockers are coming from, but at this stage in the season (which I see as just over half way) for me we have turned a corner at the right time and are playing some of our better football. We haven't left it too late for once and I think we have more than enough time to build on it.

I just haven't seen enough of late to take on board the negativity that some others have, in fact it is obvious I am seeing the opposite.

I am sorry but I am confused. I think we are both agreeing that the performances are there, however you don't seem to want to discuss the lack of bottle in our team which for a team in our position ultimately wins you games.

 

[Deadbat]

To the people saying all that matters is points, how do you think they'll get points? Play like they did yesterday (25 shots, dominant etc) and they'll win 90% of the games in this league. I'll have to see the second goal again but I feel both were unlucky. Bradford are a team of bullies which won't have helped, and as far as claims of dithering are concerned, endless close calls and 25 shots suggests otherwise.

25 shots. How many were close to going in? How many saves did the keeper make. One pea roller from Murphy first half and the McGinn one which you would expect him to save first half. We had so many great openings and so many times, slow play, poor decisions, bad crosses and inability to attack the decent crosses meant we actually did not really come that close to scoring. These close calls that are alluded to; I cannot recall them hacking off the line like we did, missing an open goal like they did and hitting the post. And they were gash. That worries me when we dominated so much.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Plenty of teams have been relegated with generally good performances week in week out. It's the decisions you make at crucial moments of a game and how you respond to pressure that determines success or failure.

We have some ability and plenty of spirit but the current crop have to learn a big of character and resolve. If they can't, replacements need to be found.

 

[JohnDenver]

We have some ability and plenty of spirit but the current crop have to learn a big of character and resolve.

What's the difference between spirit and character/resolve?

 

[metalblade]

The "true Blades" you know the "real fans" those that don't hate everything about Sheffield United, the chairman and other fans included are actually the ones who were saying we will be ok when we needed to get something against Wigan. Same again, we will be alright when we were dropping out of the Championship. After the two years when we were going to piss this league they are saying the same again we won't go down blah blah McCabe is the saviour blah blah, we got the Prince and his millions blah blah, Wendy are shit too blah blah, anyone who criticises is really a pig fan who should fuck off to Meadowhall on matchdays.
Unless we see 2-3 better players arrive in the next two weeks the chances are we will go down so please ......................... Change the fucking record guys .

 

[true99blade]

The only thing that determines that a team is relegated is the results they get. I must say I'd have rathered a shite performance and all 3 points yesterday.

 

[highpeakblade]

I am sorry but I am confused. I think we are both agreeing that the performances are there, however you don't seem to want to discuss the lack of bottle in our team which for a team in our position ultimately wins you games.

I can't discuss something that I 't think we have a problem with mate. I don't think it is a lack of "bottle" as you put it but more a combination of slightly lacking the quality required to go on and win games and overall and I know you create your own luck in football but still we haven't had a great deal of it in games have we, yesterday that deflection for the first sums this up, in the past it has been ricochets or players slipping. I know you can't blame this for everything and I wouldn't ever dream of trying but overall it will come together. I don't think we lack bottle though, we do however lack that bit of overall quality and we are addressing that, Paynter will improve things as will the other couple who come in.

Overall we are much improved and it will get better.

ps - This doesn't mean we lack quality because I honestly think we have more than enough in this team to steer ourselves out of this mess anyway and I think it will all continue to fall into place however a couple more in would make things a bit easier for us.

 

[Bulletnut]

So if you hate the chairman,don't believe the investors, think the players are shot and can't stand most of the fans, what do you love about Sheffield United

Everything else

 

[MobileBlade]

United played well today. and are on the brink of going back in the bottom 4 (Tranmere play Crewe next week).

Just to be pedantic, for that to happen, one of the sides would have to win and Shrewsbury would need a least a point at Swindon.

 

[KenMcnaughtsNuts]

What's the difference between spirit and character/resolve?

Can't get drunk on resolve. Actually, maybe you can. It sounds like an alcopop.

 

[highpeakblade]

The "true Blades" you know the "real fans" those that don't hate everything about Sheffield United, the chairman and other fans included are actually the ones who were saying we will be ok when we needed to get something against Wigan. Same again, we will be alright when we were dropping out of the Championship. After the two years when we were going to piss this league they are saying the same again we won't go down blah blah McCabe is the saviour blah blah, we got the Prince and his millions blah blah, Wendy are shit too blah blah, anyone who criticises is really a pig fan who should fuck off to Meadowhall on matchdays.
Unless we see 2-3 better players arrive in the next two weeks the chances are we will go down so please ......................... Change the fucking record guys .

What comes next then? Calling for Clough's head with 10 games left of the season?

I don't want to argue but I just can't see where all this negativity has come from. Ok we could have had a few more points than we have picked up over the last few games but overall based on the form of the last 6 and last 10 matches in the league, we are well out of the relegation mix. In comparison to what we were a few months ago we are growing and growing and still have 60 points to play for in the season! It is simply unreal.

Some of the football that we are playing at the moment is better than that under Danny Wilson and this is with what can only be described as a weaker team than what he had. We are coming very close to winning more and more games and it WILL come I put my neck on the line. When you dominate games and create as much chances and we are then it will fall into place we just have to be patient and allow it to happen.

The extra players will HELP us to do this but never the less this team are proving that they are capable of turning things around. Negativity snowballs and for me it is all an over-exaggeration and to be fair is unnecessary. We all want more course we do, we all want the prince to open his wallet and sign a few billy big bollox, we all want to see us winning every game, we all want promotion, we all want everything for our club because we are all blades and we love our club!. But all things considered, looking at the bigger picture we are heading firmly in the right direction, we have turned a corner and if we continue to progress how we are doing then we can look forward to some exciting times ahead hopefully.

 

[Guesty]

You consider a point above the bottom four well out of the relegation mix? No wonder you're so positive all the time!

 

[bartman]

Unless we see 2-3 better players arrive in the next two weeks the chances are we will go down so please ...

Spot on

 

[ghandi]

What comes next then? Calling for Clough's head with 10 games left of the season?

I don't want to argue but I just can't see where all this negativity has come from. Ok we could have had a few more points than we have picked up over the last few games but overall based on the form of the last 6 and last 10 matches in the league, we are well out of the relegation mix. In comparison to what we were a few months ago we are growing and growing and still have 60 points to play for in the season! It is simply unreal.

Some of the football that we are playing at the moment is better than that under Danny Wilson and this is with what can only be described as a weaker team than what he had. We are coming very close to winning more and more games and it WILL come I put my neck on the line. When you dominate games and create as much chances and we are then it will fall into place we just have to be patient and allow it to happen.

The extra players will HELP us to do this but never the less this team are proving that they are capable of turning things around. Negativity snowballs and for me it is all an over-exaggeration and to be fair is unnecessary. We all want more course we do, we all want the prince to open his wallet and sign a few billy big bollox, we all want to see us winning every game, we all want promotion, we all want everything for our club because we are all blades and we love our club!. But all things considered, looking at the bigger picture we are heading firmly in the right direction, we have turned a corner and if we continue to progress how we are doing then we can look forward to some exciting times ahead hopefully.

I would like to live in your world because it is so much better than the real one ( a point a game in the right direction really???) where in the last year we have won about a dozen league matches and scored about 40 goals...fuck me Ronaldo score 15 more on his own and not against the likes of Hartlepool and Stevenage. Never mind though we score 2 aginst Bradford yesterday and secured a point against a team who have won less than us in the last 3 months. The reason negativity snowballs is because many people can see what is happening and do not clap like the King of the Seals being fed sardines from a bucket.