Our club is inherently broken, but current on-pitch issues are distracting from the bigger picture.

[Shadota]

I've seen various debates of late over certain things we should or shouldn't do. The primary topics being around whether Wilder should remain in place as manager, or if we should cast our net out for someone else, as well as whether we should change to playing 2 forwards.

While there is certainly merit to debating these topics, I think it misses the bigger picture. Which is that we currently look like a club that has zero clue of what it wants to be.

Over the last 15 years, we've made multiple attempts to break away from the pigeonhole we'd established for ourselves over multiple decades prior. The "Bladey Blade" method, of running harder, working harder, showing more "pashun" than the opponent. An approach which has occasionally borne fruit, but since the departure of a certain Mr Warnock, has only delivered success via Wilder and Hecky, a pair you can effectively view as master and disciple.

Now, if we look at the attempts to correct course, it becomes blatantly clear that there has always been a failure to truly commit to the alternate path:

2025: Hire Selles. A man with a significantly different tactical outlook to his predecessor. Club proceeds to recruit the bare minimum, until Selles throws the board under the bus in a press conference. After which we make a number of last ditch signings to bolster the squad. Poor performances, as a result of a combination of the above, plus a lack of uptake on Selles' strategies, result in his early departure. We re-hire Wilder and return to the status quo.

2021: Slav. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. Club proceeds to make zero recruitment (our only permanent signings were Adam Davies and Adlene Guedioura), and wonder why Slav was unable to get Wilder's many square pegs, to fit into 11 newly-rounded holes. The response is to dismiss Slav, and bring in mini-Wilder, and return to the status quo.

2015: Adkins. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. A true failure in all regards. We recruited badly, except for the re-signing of Billy Sharp. Adkins' past tactics that brought success at the likes of Scunthorpe and Southampton, were almost entirely absent. The board, in contrast to all other examples here, did actually give him time to turn things around. But it never came. Instead we held out to the end of our worst season in decades.

2013: Weir. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. The club did a few things right on this one. Brought in staff at Weir's behest. Separated the Assistant Manager role into tactics and fitness. Hired a number of players to be moulded around the centrepiece of Weir's tactic: Kevin MacDonald. Oh wait, what was that? A 200k release clause? Wolves are paying it? Oh, bugger. Well, here's Jose Baxter to make up for it. I know he's a totally different type of player, but you'll make it work, won't you? (Spoiler: He didn't make it work). Weir proceeds to flounder without a midfield maestro to build his team around, and we tumble down the league until he's dismissed, and replaced by Nigel "I need a right back" Clough.

The archaic approach of "Outrun. Outright. Outplay." isn't sustainable. We need a Director of Football. We need the club to have a focused tactical approach, at all levels, to ensure prolonged exposure to one method of playing for senior players, and an easier, less jarring path to the first team for youth prospects. We need a thoroughly defined recruitment strategy. At present, everything feels like we're throwing shit at a wall to see what sticks.

Regardless of where we end up this season, we need to be employing a long-term strategy for the club. We cannot carry on in this manner - making a half-arsed effort to set ourselves up for the future, only to bail on it immediately and go back to what we did before. It might take a bit of suffering to get there, but we're already suffering as it is. At least if we commit to change, the pain might become worth it.

 

[Snowflake]

I've seen various debates of late over certain things we should or shouldn't do. The primary topics being around whether Wilder should remain in place as manager, or if we should cast our net out for someone else, as well as whether we should change to playing 2 forwards.

While there is certainly merit to debating these topics, I think it misses the bigger picture. Which is that we currently look like a club that has zero clue of what it wants to be.

Over the last 15 years, we've made multiple attempts to break away from the pigeonhole we'd established for ourselves over multiple decades prior. The "Bladey Blade" method, of running harder, working harder, showing more "pashun" than the opponent. An approach which has occasionally borne fruit, but since the departure of a certain Mr Warnock, has only delivered success via Wilder and Hecky, a pair you can effectively view as master and disciple.

Now, if we look at the attempts to correct course, it becomes blatantly clear that there has always been a failure to truly commit to the alternate path:

2025: Hire Selles. A man with a significantly different tactical outlook to his predecessor. Club proceeds to recruit the bare minimum, until Selles throws the board under the bus in a press conference. After which we make a number of last ditch signings to bolster the squad. Poor performances, as a result of a combination of the above, plus a lack of uptake on Selles' strategies, result in his early departure. We re-hire Wilder and return to the status quo.

2021: Slav. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. Club proceeds to make zero recruitment (our only permanent signings were Adam Davies and Adlene Guedioura), and wonder why Slav was unable to get Wilder's many square pegs, to fit into 11 newly-rounded holes. The response is to dismiss Slav, and bring in mini-Wilder, and return to the status quo.

2015: Adkins. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. A true failure in all regards. We recruited badly, except for the re-signing of Billy Sharp. Adkins' past tactics that brought success at the likes of Scunthorpe and Southampton, were almost entirely absent. The board, in contrast to all other examples here, did actually give him time to turn things around. But it never came. Instead we held out to the end of our worst season in decades.

2013: Weir. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. The club did a few things right on this one. Brought in staff at Weir's behest. Separated the Assistant Manager role into tactics and fitness. Hired a number of players to be moulded around the centrepiece of Weir's tactic: Kevin MacDonald. Oh wait, what was that? A 200k release clause? Wolves are paying it? Oh, bugger. Well, here's Jose Baxter to make up for it. I know he's a totally different type of player, but you'll make it work, won't you? (Spoiler: He didn't make it work). Weir proceeds to flounder without a midfield maestro to build his team around, and we tumble down the league until he's dismissed, and replaced by Nigel "I need a right back" Clough.

The archaic approach of "Outrun. Outright. Outplay." isn't sustainable. We need a Director of Football. We need the club to have a focused tactical approach, at all levels, to ensure prolonged exposure to one method of playing for senior players, and an easier, less jarring path to the first team for youth prospects. We need a thoroughly defined recruitment strategy. At present, everything feels like we're throwing shit at a wall to see what sticks.

Regardless of where we end up this season, we need to be employing a long-term strategy for the club. We cannot carry on in this manner - making a half-arsed effort to set ourselves up for the future, only to bail on it immediately and go back to what we did before. It might take a bit of suffering to get there, but we're already suffering as it is. At least if we commit to change, the pain might become worth it.

Shouldn’t the debate as to what we should/want to become, be finalised before all your suggestions ? It assumes that change is wanted by all(including the owners) and not just some.

 

[KMC-1889]

I wouldn’t mind the Out Run Out Fight Out Play approach if it was a deliberate strategy, but as you right point out over the last 20 years we veered rapidly from style to style with varying degrees of success.

For whatever reason, as a club and a fanbase we’re completely incapable of looking beyond the current season, making any talk of future planning a complete waste of effort.

This season has finished me off, I’ll go and support the team out of habit. £400m has come into the club after three premier league seasons and we have absolutely nowt to show for it and no vision for the future. We’ll plod along between League One & Championship until the next Bassett/Warnock/Wilder falls into our lap and we get a season or two of joy.

It’s the realisation that we won’t be a Brentford, or Fulham, or even a Forest. We’re going to be Bolton, or Stoke, or Blackburn.

 

[Kenilworth]

Shadota, a man with a significantly different grip on reality.

Selles has failed everywhere he has been. He was painting by numbers from a UEFA coaching template. His Gung Ho tactics have contributed massively to the dreadful start to the season.

Slav was useless. If he was thrown a pack of drivel then how come Hecky got a tune out of the same squad and almost grabbed promotion out of such a sack of shite?

Adkins, useless. Remember the parade of shame v Scunny at the end of the season?

Weir-do. The second worst manager in the history of the club behind Selles.

What’s the magic bullet? Oh, of course, the cliche’d DOF. That’s the panacea that will make all these wrongs, right. One mystery golden child to steer us to utopia. A single person whose influence is so great no manager could possibly fail under their guidance, tutelage and auora.

DOF is the trend.
DOF is the answer for the short of thinking.
DOF is the holy grail
DOF is the magic bean from which golden geese are manifest.

It’s laughable.
I fully agree that the infrastructure is totally different to what a modern Prem club works with. We have a Cat 2 academy and despite being hugely successful it is not at the required standard for the type of progress required. We have a recruitment team that is one or two scouts, Steve Bettis and what the manager requests. That’s as threadbare as it can be when you compare it to the models that Brentford and Brighton use.

There needs to be a shed load of investment in the back end before anything like a DOF can be considered. We are a million miles away from that.

I’d question this aversion to outrun, outfight, outplay. All successful teams outrun and outfight their opposition. Do you think City, Arsenal and Liverpool don’t run about? Did Leeds win the Champ last season at a canter? The fact is if you’re squad is as low on the running stats as Selles squad was you’ll soon find you’re in a whole heap of shit

So, for now, Bladey Bladeness.
We’re Sheffield United
A team from a working class city
Not won owt for over 100 years
You don’t choose Sheffield United for the glory.
There’s nowt wrong with having an identity. Are you ashamed of your roots?
I’m an exile and since I don’t expect my Sheffield United team to be world beaters, or be always in the top half of the Prem every season then I’m very pleased that it reminds me of my roots; of where I grew up, of my heritage, because, if all I wanted was a DOF to laud and a “me too” Prem franchise, I could select any number of the bland bollox from the league above.

It seems that ridiculing our tradition and identity is a trendy and hip thing to do. Summat for the kool kids to feel superior about and point accusing fingers to the Neanderthal hordes, below.

Yes, things ain’t rosey. It’s undoubtedly shite at the moment, but unless the owners make a huge investment in the infrastructure, in a parallel process to surviving this season and making progress next season, the appointment of a “head coach” is going to lead to the same issues all over again.

We’re no where near ready for a DOF.

 

[103SecondsOfMagic]

Shadota, a man with a significantly different grip on reality.

Selles has failed everywhere he has been. He was painting by numbers from a UEFA coaching template. His Gung Ho tactics have contributed massively to the dreadful start to the season.

Slav was useless. If he was thrown a pack of drivel then how come Hecky got a tune out of the same squad and almost grabbed promotion out of such a sack of shite?

Adkins, useless. Remember the parade of shame v Scunny at the end of the season?

Weir-do. The second worst manager in the history of the club behind Selles.

What’s the magic bullet? Oh, of course, the cliche’d DOF. That’s the panacea that will make all these wrongs, right. One mystery golden child to steer us to utopia. A single person whose influence is so great no manager could possibly fail under their guidance, tutelage and auora.

DOF is the trend.
DOF is the answer for the short of thinking.
DOF is the holy grail
DOF is the magic bean from which golden geese are manifest.

It’s laughable.
I fully agree that the infrastructure is totally different to what a modern Prem club works with. We have a Cat 2 academy and despite being hugely successful it is not at the required standard for the type of progress required. We have a recruitment team that is one or two scouts, Steve Bettis and what the manager requests. That’s as threadbare as it can be when you compare it to the models that Brentford and Brighton use.

There needs to be a shed load of investment in the back end before anything like a DOF can be considered. We are a million miles away from that.

I’d question this aversion to outrun, outfight, outplay. All successful teams outrun and outfight their opposition. Do you think City, Arsenal and Liverpool don’t run about? Did Leeds win the Champ last season at a canter? The fact is if you’re squad is as low on the running stats as Selles squad was you’ll soon find you’re in a whole heap of shit

So, for now, Bladey Bladeness.
We’re Sheffield United
A team from a working class city
Not won owt for over 100 years
You don’t choose Sheffield United for the glory.
There’s nowt wrong with having an identity. Are you ashamed of your roots?
I’m an exile and since I don’t expect my Sheffield United team to be world beaters, or be always in the top half of the Prem every season then I’m very pleased that it reminds me of my roots; of where I grew up, of my heritage, because, if all I wanted was a DOF to laud and a “me too” Prem franchise, I could select any number of the bland bollox from the league above.

It seems that ridiculing our tradition and identity is a trendy and hip thing to do. Summat for the kool kids to feel superior about and point accusing fingers to the Neanderthal hordes, below.

Yes, things ain’t rosey. It’s undoubtedly shite at the moment, but unless the owners make a huge investment in the infrastructure, in a parallel process to surviving this season and making progress next season, the appointment of a “head coach” is going to lead to the same issues all over again.

We’re no where near ready for a DOF.

But who is there here to properly oversee the back end investment? Itd be throwing good money after bad with the current lot upstairs.

Wouldn't it make sense to bring in an experienced operator with a clear vision in place to prevent another masterclass of fuckwittery from our esteemed board? Assuming they could manage to do that without shitting the bed again

 

[Blade56]

But who is there here to properly oversee the back end investment? Itd be throwing good money after bad with the current lot upstairs.

Wouldn't it make sense to bring in an experienced operator with a clear vision in place to prevent another masterclass of fuckwittery from our esteemed board? Assuming they could manage to do that without shitting the bed again

Exactly this^^^^^^^^^^

We have a recruitment team that is one or two scouts, Steve Bettis and what the manager requests. That’s as threadbare as it can be when you compare it to the models that Brentford and Brighton use.

There needs to be a shed load of investment in the back end before anything like a DOF can be considered. We are a million miles away from that.

Cart before the horse. Put a DoF in place to sort out the management, scouting, coaching, academy etc. Not sort out the scouting, coaching, academy etc then hire a DoF to oversee it.

Without the DoF it appears we have + running a shit show. Batten down the hatches, you’ll be proud to know we will be slogging it out in L1 soon owned by anonymous faces thousands of miles away with no idea and no parachute money, proud of where and what we are, failures?

At the moment the focus is on one man not the bigger picture that is SUFC. Until that changes nothing changes.

It’s a poor reminder of who we are when we are hoping enough clubs get deducted enough points to stop us getting relegated.

 

[SwissBlade]

I've seen various debates of late over certain things we should or shouldn't do. The primary topics being around whether Wilder should remain in place as manager, or if we should cast our net out for someone else, as well as whether we should change to playing 2 forwards.

While there is certainly merit to debating these topics, I think it misses the bigger picture. Which is that we currently look like a club that has zero clue of what it wants to be.

Over the last 15 years, we've made multiple attempts to break away from the pigeonhole we'd established for ourselves over multiple decades prior. The "Bladey Blade" method, of running harder, working harder, showing more "pashun" than the opponent. An approach which has occasionally borne fruit, but since the departure of a certain Mr Warnock, has only delivered success via Wilder and Hecky, a pair you can effectively view as master and disciple.

Now, if we look at the attempts to correct course, it becomes blatantly clear that there has always been a failure to truly commit to the alternate path:

2025: Hire Selles. A man with a significantly different tactical outlook to his predecessor. Club proceeds to recruit the bare minimum, until Selles throws the board under the bus in a press conference. After which we make a number of last ditch signings to bolster the squad. Poor performances, as a result of a combination of the above, plus a lack of uptake on Selles' strategies, result in his early departure. We re-hire Wilder and return to the status quo.

2021: Slav. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. Club proceeds to make zero recruitment (our only permanent signings were Adam Davies and Adlene Guedioura), and wonder why Slav was unable to get Wilder's many square pegs, to fit into 11 newly-rounded holes. The response is to dismiss Slav, and bring in mini-Wilder, and return to the status quo.

2015: Adkins. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. A true failure in all regards. We recruited badly, except for the re-signing of Billy Sharp. Adkins' past tactics that brought success at the likes of Scunthorpe and Southampton, were almost entirely absent. The board, in contrast to all other examples here, did actually give him time to turn things around. But it never came. Instead we held out to the end of our worst season in decades.

2013: Weir. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. The club did a few things right on this one. Brought in staff at Weir's behest. Separated the Assistant Manager role into tactics and fitness. Hired a number of players to be moulded around the centrepiece of Weir's tactic: Kevin MacDonald. Oh wait, what was that? A 200k release clause? Wolves are paying it? Oh, bugger. Well, here's Jose Baxter to make up for it. I know he's a totally different type of player, but you'll make it work, won't you? (Spoiler: He didn't make it work). Weir proceeds to flounder without a midfield maestro to build his team around, and we tumble down the league until he's dismissed, and replaced by Nigel "I need a right back" Clough.

The archaic approach of "Outrun. Outright. Outplay." isn't sustainable. We need a Director of Football. We need the club to have a focused tactical approach, at all levels, to ensure prolonged exposure to one method of playing for senior players, and an easier, less jarring path to the first team for youth prospects. We need a thoroughly defined recruitment strategy. At present, everything feels like we're throwing shit at a wall to see what sticks.

Regardless of where we end up this season, we need to be employing a long-term strategy for the club. We cannot carry on in this manner - making a half-arsed effort to set ourselves up for the future, only to bail on it immediately and go back to what we did before. It might take a bit of suffering to get there, but we're already suffering as it is. At least if we commit to change, the pain might become worth it.

Saying that the club is broken because of a certain style of play and failures with previous managers because we don’t have a DoF doesn’t really have any basis other than to tenuously link this to needing a DoF. Bringing in a DoF wouldn’t “fix” the club alone, if indeed the club is broken.

I think as much as looking at the failures and why they haven’t worked, we also need to look at successes and why they have.

The approach of “Outrun. Outfight. Outplay” isn’t the strategy, it’s the minimum standards expected at this club and is also not unique to Sheffield United or just Wilder. Under Bassett, Warnock, Wilder and Hecky we have had sides that overachieve.

We have failed at other times as we haven’t had the resources or the time to implement the changes needed to play another way, the only managers that got the resources (to an extent) were Kendall / Spackman and of course Robson, but the resources did . Kendall was so close, Spackman and Robson didn’t have time, Adkins had time but not resources, Slav had no time and no resources and the same for Selles, although I think he was a very different concept in that he was so inexperienced for the level we’re at.

The problem that you’ve failed to acknowledge is that in order to achieve this great plan, we need the resources which can only come from a sustained period in the Premier League or a Sugar daddy.

 

[Champagneblade]

I know the current Manager and him don’t necessarily get on but buying into what has been a success for us in the past why not have Warnock as a DoF?

Oh no, Bladey Bladey, Bladey I hear! But that’s part of the issue as well isn’t it? Some seem to have developed this snobbery around our success under home grown managers. He’ll have a contact book like War and Peace.

Wilder was happy to chat with Bamford who he called a Muppet and Warnock signed Diouf who he called a sewer rat. So I’m sure differences could be put aside.

I’d rather double down and accept the reality. Rather than have some snobbish future view. What will aim to be? Some continental Tika Taka team? And how much money will that cost?

No, I’d rather wind back to 2019. We play 3-5-2 throughout the club. We develop attacking centre backs we have a number 10 and we play two strikers. That was our most recent success. Nobody else has that blueprint and if we’d kept the standard of player up I.e. prioritised O’Connell replacement, then we wouldn’t be fending off the “being found out” accusation.

Warnock for all his faults did oversee the construction of the Academy. So why not prioritise this again to get to Cat A? Then get him to work with the manager on improving the scouting.

So that would be my blueprint.

1. A formation and a brand that has already given success by our own standards and is synonymous with us.
2. Further enhancements to an already successful Academy.
3. Focus on improving the scouting infrastructure complimented by AI, not replaced by it.
4. Retain the image of out run, out fight, out play that resonates with the city and its people.

Sometimes you have to acknowledge where are your strengths and not go searching for the next fad.

 

[Bell4]

I've seen various debates of late over certain things we should or shouldn't do. The primary topics being around whether Wilder should remain in place as manager, or if we should cast our net out for someone else, as well as whether we should change to playing 2 forwards.

While there is certainly merit to debating these topics, I think it misses the bigger picture. Which is that we currently look like a club that has zero clue of what it wants to be.

Over the last 15 years, we've made multiple attempts to break away from the pigeonhole we'd established for ourselves over multiple decades prior. The "Bladey Blade" method, of running harder, working harder, showing more "pashun" than the opponent. An approach which has occasionally borne fruit, but since the departure of a certain Mr Warnock, has only delivered success via Wilder and Hecky, a pair you can effectively view as master and disciple.

Now, if we look at the attempts to correct course, it becomes blatantly clear that there has always been a failure to truly commit to the alternate path:

2025: Hire Selles. A man with a significantly different tactical outlook to his predecessor. Club proceeds to recruit the bare minimum, until Selles throws the board under the bus in a press conference. After which we make a number of last ditch signings to bolster the squad. Poor performances, as a result of a combination of the above, plus a lack of uptake on Selles' strategies, result in his early departure. We re-hire Wilder and return to the status quo.

2021: Slav. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. Club proceeds to make zero recruitment (our only permanent signings were Adam Davies and Adlene Guedioura), and wonder why Slav was unable to get Wilder's many square pegs, to fit into 11 newly-rounded holes. The response is to dismiss Slav, and bring in mini-Wilder, and return to the status quo.

2015: Adkins. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. A true failure in all regards. We recruited badly, except for the re-signing of Billy Sharp. Adkins' past tactics that brought success at the likes of Scunthorpe and Southampton, were almost entirely absent. The board, in contrast to all other examples here, did actually give him time to turn things around. But it never came. Instead we held out to the end of our worst season in decades.

2013: Weir. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. The club did a few things right on this one. Brought in staff at Weir's behest. Separated the Assistant Manager role into tactics and fitness. Hired a number of players to be moulded around the centrepiece of Weir's tactic: Kevin MacDonald. Oh wait, what was that? A 200k release clause? Wolves are paying it? Oh, bugger. Well, here's Jose Baxter to make up for it. I know he's a totally different type of player, but you'll make it work, won't you? (Spoiler: He didn't make it work). Weir proceeds to flounder without a midfield maestro to build his team around, and we tumble down the league until he's dismissed, and replaced by Nigel "I need a right back" Clough.

The archaic approach of "Outrun. Outright. Outplay." isn't sustainable. We need a Director of Football. We need the club to have a focused tactical approach, at all levels, to ensure prolonged exposure to one method of playing for senior players, and an easier, less jarring path to the first team for youth prospects. We need a thoroughly defined recruitment strategy. At present, everything feels like we're throwing shit at a wall to see what sticks.

Regardless of where we end up this season, we need to be employing a long-term strategy for the club. We cannot carry on in this manner - making a half-arsed effort to set ourselves up for the future, only to bail on it immediately and go back to what we did before. It might take a bit of suffering to get there, but we're already suffering as it is. At least if we commit to change, the pain might become worth it.

Good post

However, it’s very difficult to break free from your deep set values - out run etc etc

I apply these value sets in my everyday life - in Aldi , the Chip Shop queue, the bus-stop, the butchers etc . When I’ve altered my approach based on feedback I don’t make as many enemies but I’m often late , miss out on the pies and end up with cold scraps .

So I revert back to type and all is well again

It’s not easy

 

[Kenilworth]

But who is there here to properly oversee the back end investment? Itd be throwing good money after bad with the current lot upstairs.

Wouldn't it make sense to bring in an experienced operator with a clear vision in place to prevent another masterclass of fuckwittery from our esteemed board? Assuming they could manage to do that without shitting the bed again

I still don’t get it.
Who?
Who is this mystery man?
A single man at the helm?
How is that different from a manager based club, now?
It makes no sense.
Why would that make any difference to a deaf and blind and inexperienced board of AI bot buddies?
You appear to be mesmerised by the DOF cult.

Where has it worked so miraculously without a massive parallel investment?

Did Bournemouth and Brighton and Brentford find a DOF and all of a sudden blossom as though Percy thrower added a tipple of miracle grow to a sad set of geraniums?

Given the level of our investment capacity and the board we have we’d be lucky to become a crap Watford mark 2. Always changing head coach, always wallowing in a mid table mediocrity mode. Zero identity and as bland as beige.

 

[Kenilworth]

Exactly this^^^^^^^^^^


Cart before the horse. Put a DoF in place to sort out the management, scouting, coaching, academy etc. Not sort out the scouting, coaching, academy etc then hire a DoF to oversee it.

Without the DoF it appears we have + running a shit show. Batten down the hatches, you’ll be proud to know we will be slogging it out in L1 soon owned by anonymous faces thousands of miles away with no idea and no parachute money, proud of where and what we are, failures?

At the moment the focus is on one man not the bigger picture that is SUFC. Until that changes nothing changes.

It’s a poor reminder of who we are when we are hoping enough clubs get deducted enough points to stop us getting relegated.

Who?
Who is this mystery messiah with the power to work miracles without the board putting a huge wedge into the infrastructure?
It’s a pipe dream and a lazy argument. Easy to spout as a solution to a massively complex and expensive problem with absolutely so realisation that it’s one type of single management mode for another.
Weird how so many think it’s the pill to cure all ills

 

[Kenilworth]

Saying that the club is broken because of a certain style of play and failures with previous managers because we don’t have a DoF doesn’t really have any basis other than to tenuously link this to needing a DoF. Bringing in a DoF wouldn’t “fix” the club alone, if indeed the club is broken.

I think as much as looking at the failures and why they haven’t worked, we also need to look at successes and why they have.

The approach of “Outrun. Outfight. Outplay” isn’t the strategy, it’s the minimum standards expected at this club and is also not unique to Sheffield United or just Wilder. Under Bassett, Warnock, Wilder and Hecky we have had sides that overachieve.

We have failed at other times as we haven’t had the resources or the time to implement the changes needed to play another way, the only managers that got the resources (to an extent) were Kendall / Spackman and of course Robson, but the resources did . Kendall was so close, Spackman and Robson didn’t have time, Adkins had time but not resources, Slav had no time and no resources and the same for Selles, although I think he was a very different concept in that he was so inexperienced for the level we’re at.

The problem that you’ve failed to acknowledge is that in order to achieve this great plan, we need the resources which can only come from a sustained period in the Premier League or a Sugar daddy.

That last bit is the answer, Swiss. Spot on.

I’d have given you a like but you made excuses for Adkins, Slav and Selles.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Shadota, a man with a significantly different grip on reality.

Selles has failed everywhere he has been. He was painting by numbers from a UEFA coaching template. His Gung Ho tactics have contributed massively to the dreadful start to the season.

Slav was useless. If he was thrown a pack of drivel then how come Hecky got a tune out of the same squad and almost grabbed promotion out of such a sack of shite?

Adkins, useless. Remember the parade of shame v Scunny at the end of the season?

Weir-do. The second worst manager in the history of the club behind Selles.

What’s the magic bullet? Oh, of course, the cliche’d DOF. That’s the panacea that will make all these wrongs, right. One mystery golden child to steer us to utopia. A single person whose influence is so great no manager could possibly fail under their guidance, tutelage and auora.

DOF is the trend.
DOF is the answer for the short of thinking.
DOF is the holy grail
DOF is the magic bean from which golden geese are manifest.

It’s laughable.
I fully agree that the infrastructure is totally different to what a modern Prem club works with. We have a Cat 2 academy and despite being hugely successful it is not at the required standard for the type of progress required. We have a recruitment team that is one or two scouts, Steve Bettis and what the manager requests. That’s as threadbare as it can be when you compare it to the models that Brentford and Brighton use.

There needs to be a shed load of investment in the back end before anything like a DOF can be considered. We are a million miles away from that.

I’d question this aversion to outrun, outfight, outplay. All successful teams outrun and outfight their opposition. Do you think City, Arsenal and Liverpool don’t run about? Did Leeds win the Champ last season at a canter? The fact is if you’re squad is as low on the running stats as Selles squad was you’ll soon find you’re in a whole heap of shit

So, for now, Bladey Bladeness.
We’re Sheffield United
A team from a working class city
Not won owt for over 100 years
You don’t choose Sheffield United for the glory.
There’s nowt wrong with having an identity. Are you ashamed of your roots?
I’m an exile and since I don’t expect my Sheffield United team to be world beaters, or be always in the top half of the Prem every season then I’m very pleased that it reminds me of my roots; of where I grew up, of my heritage, because, if all I wanted was a DOF to laud and a “me too” Prem franchise, I could select any number of the bland bollox from the league above.

It seems that ridiculing our tradition and identity is a trendy and hip thing to do. Summat for the kool kids to feel superior about and point accusing fingers to the Neanderthal hordes, below.

Yes, things ain’t rosey. It’s undoubtedly shite at the moment, but unless the owners make a huge investment in the infrastructure, in a parallel process to surviving this season and making progress next season, the appointment of a “head coach” is going to lead to the same issues all over again.

We’re no where near ready for a DOF.

A DoF just does a large proportion of the non 1st team on the pitch stuff Wilder dud and ties it to a long term strategy. He ensures that the person in charge of the 1st teamis solely responsible for the results of that team but isn't sacrificing the long term to just try and handle on to their job.

What needs to change for that to be in place?

 

[Kenilworth]

I know the current Manager and him don’t necessarily get on but buying into what has been a success for us in the past why not have Warnock as a DoF?

Oh no, Bladey Bladey, Bladey I hear! But that’s part of the issue as well isn’t it? Some seem to have developed this snobbery around our success under home grown managers. He’ll have a contact book like War and Peace.

Wilder was happy to chat with Bamford who he called a Muppet and Warnock signed Diouf who he called a sewer rat. So I’m sure differences could be put aside.

I’d rather double down and accept the reality. Rather than have some snobbish future view. What will aim to be? Some continental Tika Taka team? And how much money will that cost?

No, I’d rather wind back to 2019. We play 3-5-2 throughout the club. We develop attacking centre backs we have a number 10 and we play two strikers. That was our most recent success. Nobody else has that blueprint and if we’d kept the standard of player up I.e. prioritised O’Connell replacement, then we wouldn’t be fending off the “being found out” accusation.

Warnock for all his faults did oversee the construction of the Academy. So why not prioritise this again to get to Cat A? Then get him to work with the manager on improving the scouting.

So that would be my blueprint.

1. A formation and a brand that has already given success by our own standards and is synonymous with us.
2. Further enhancements to an already successful Academy.
3. Focus on improving the scouting infrastructure complimented by AI, not replaced by it.
4. Retain the image of out run, out fight, out play that resonates with the city and its people.

Sometimes you have to acknowledge where are your strengths and not go searching for the next fad.

I can’t see that working
It’s still one man with no authority but all the accountability. No money but a set of magic beans.

SwissBlade had it spot on.
Just like Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford. They all had sugar daddy levels of investment to burn. Firstly, on a complex and costly recruitment strategy, which got to the Prem initially, and then invested hugely in the infrastructure to sustain their conveyor of talent.

 

[UddersBlade]

I wouldn’t mind the Out Run Out Fight Out Play approach if it was a deliberate strategy, but as you right point out over the last 20 years we veered rapidly from style to style with varying degrees of success.

For whatever reason, as a club and a fanbase we’re completely incapable of looking beyond the current season, making any talk of future planning a complete waste of effort.

This season has finished me off, I’ll go and support the team out of habit. £400m has come into the club after three premier league seasons and we have absolutely nowt to show for it and no vision for the future. We’ll plod along between League One & Championship until the next Bassett/Warnock/Wilder falls into our lap and we get a season or two of joy.

It’s the realisation that we won’t be a Brentford, or Fulham, or even a Forest. We’re going to be Bolton, or Stoke, or Blackburn.

Or …..a Huddersfield!!!! They too have an incompetent US owner and historically wasted parachute money and ended up sinking to League 1.

 

[Kenilworth]

A DoF just does a large proportion of the non 1st team on the pitch stuff Wilder dud and ties it to a long term strategy. He ensures that the person in charge of the 1st teamis solely responsible for the results of that team but isn't sacrificing the long term to just try and handle on to their job.

What needs to change for that to be in place?

It’s so simple then.
A DOF is the answer.
It’s staring us all in the face.
Wilder is over worked and can’t manage the workload.
A DOF will solve all those problems at a stroke? Really?

Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford. Can anyone point to a single DOF who managed each of those through the process?

Forest and Sunderland.
Who’s the DOF?
They both won promotion via the play offs.
They both invested hugely when they got there.
Forest got there with a DoF did they? It wasn’t a manager led revival from a really poor start to the season? No, cos that can’t work. It must have been a DOF, right?

The common denominator is a massive wedge. It’s as simple as that.

 

[54yrblade]

I wouldn’t mind the Out Run Out Fight Out Play approach if it was a deliberate strategy, but as you right point out over the last 20 years we veered rapidly from style to style with varying degrees of success.

For whatever reason, as a club and a fanbase we’re completely incapable of looking beyond the current season, making any talk of future planning a complete waste of effort.

This season has finished me off, I’ll go and support the team out of habit. £400m has come into the club after three premier league seasons and we have absolutely nowt to show for it and no vision for the future. We’ll plod along between League One & Championship until the next Bassett/Warnock/Wilder falls into our lap and we get a season or two of joy.

It’s the realisation that we won’t be a Brentford, or Fulham, or even a Forest. We’re going to be Bolton, or Stoke, or Blackburn.

The biggest problem, IMO?
Apathy, across the club

Too many happy that this is OK and acceptable because their chosen one is in the dug out.

Living on past glories is not a recipe for success, unless you're easily pleased.

Compare us with the passion and anger shown by the Rangers supporters or passion shown in European fan bases.

A metaphor for the city. Easy way out and nothing improves.

We're less than average, in the right league for us, for now.

 

[Carlton Blade]

It’s so simple then.
A DOF is the answer.
It’s staring us all in the face.
Wilder is over worked and can’t manage the workload.
A DOF will solve all those problems at a stroke? Really?

Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford. Can anyone point to a single DOF who managed each of those through the process?

Forest and Sunderland.
Who’s the DOF?
They both won promotion via the play offs.
They both invested hugely when they got there.
Forest got there with a DoF did they? It wasn’t a manager led revival from a really poor start to the season? No, cos that can’t work. It must have been a DOF, right?

The common denominator is a massive wedge. It’s as simple as that.

So you're saying we have to go from 0 to fully formed in one go, without hiring the person who'll be in charge of both putting it all into place but also managing it?

 

[Carlton Blade]

It’s so simple then.
A DOF is the answer.
It’s staring us all in the face.
Wilder is over worked and can’t manage the workload.
A DOF will solve all those problems at a stroke? Really?

Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford. Can anyone point to a single DOF who managed each of those through the process?

Forest and Sunderland.
Who’s the DOF?
They both won promotion via the play offs.
They both invested hugely when they got there.
Forest got there with a DoF did they? It wasn’t a manager led revival from a really poor start to the season? No, cos that can’t work. It must have been a DOF, right?

The common denominator is a massive wedge. It’s as simple as that.

I also don't care what the job is called. Having the same person trying to get the best out of the squad also have to manage the long term future of the club from top to bottom puts United at a huge disadvantage over other clubs of similar standing

 

[The Crab]

I don’t have a problem with out run, out fight, out play.

But we’re doing none of those

 

[Kenilworth]

So you're saying we have to go from 0 to fully formed in one go, without hiring the person who'll be in charge of both putting it all into place but also managing it?

No.
Never said that it’s zero to fully fledged in one go
I said we were a million miles away from it.
I’m saying it’s far too simplistic to suggest a DOF is the panacea.

What you’re describing is not so much a DOF, because the work you’ve outlined has little to do the F part and all to do with the infrastructure.
Call it a DOI then.
All the stuff that is not directly related to the football playing staff.
A DoF has control over the football staff. We’re not ready for that because the backroom set up is not in place.

It needs engaged owners - not a set of mildly interested remote workers who give it some attention, when they can slice it into their schedule, to keep it barely ticking along like some fashionable bit barely loved tamagotchi.
It needs investment. It needs a board of committed people with deep pockets.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

I've seen various debates of late over certain things we should or shouldn't do. The primary topics being around whether Wilder should remain in place as manager, or if we should cast our net out for someone else, as well as whether we should change to playing 2 forwards.

While there is certainly merit to debating these topics, I think it misses the bigger picture. Which is that we currently look like a club that has zero clue of what it wants to be.

Over the last 15 years, we've made multiple attempts to break away from the pigeonhole we'd established for ourselves over multiple decades prior. The "Bladey Blade" method, of running harder, working harder, showing more "pashun" than the opponent. An approach which has occasionally borne fruit, but since the departure of a certain Mr Warnock, has only delivered success via Wilder and Hecky, a pair you can effectively view as master and disciple.

Now, if we look at the attempts to correct course, it becomes blatantly clear that there has always been a failure to truly commit to the alternate path:

2025: Hire Selles. A man with a significantly different tactical outlook to his predecessor. Club proceeds to recruit the bare minimum, until Selles throws the board under the bus in a press conference. After which we make a number of last ditch signings to bolster the squad. Poor performances, as a result of a combination of the above, plus a lack of uptake on Selles' strategies, result in his early departure. We re-hire Wilder and return to the status quo.

2021: Slav. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. Club proceeds to make zero recruitment (our only permanent signings were Adam Davies and Adlene Guedioura), and wonder why Slav was unable to get Wilder's many square pegs, to fit into 11 newly-rounded holes. The response is to dismiss Slav, and bring in mini-Wilder, and return to the status quo.

2015: Adkins. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. A true failure in all regards. We recruited badly, except for the re-signing of Billy Sharp. Adkins' past tactics that brought success at the likes of Scunthorpe and Southampton, were almost entirely absent. The board, in contrast to all other examples here, did actually give him time to turn things around. But it never came. Instead we held out to the end of our worst season in decades.

2013: Weir. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. The club did a few things right on this one. Brought in staff at Weir's behest. Separated the Assistant Manager role into tactics and fitness. Hired a number of players to be moulded around the centrepiece of Weir's tactic: Kevin MacDonald. Oh wait, what was that? A 200k release clause? Wolves are paying it? Oh, bugger. Well, here's Jose Baxter to make up for it. I know he's a totally different type of player, but you'll make it work, won't you? (Spoiler: He didn't make it work). Weir proceeds to flounder without a midfield maestro to build his team around, and we tumble down the league until he's dismissed, and replaced by Nigel "I need a right back" Clough.

The archaic approach of "Outrun. Outright. Outplay." isn't sustainable. We need a Director of Football. We need the club to have a focused tactical approach, at all levels, to ensure prolonged exposure to one method of playing for senior players, and an easier, less jarring path to the first team for youth prospects. We need a thoroughly defined recruitment strategy. At present, everything feels like we're throwing shit at a wall to see what sticks.

Regardless of where we end up this season, we need to be employing a long-term strategy for the club. We cannot carry on in this manner - making a half-arsed effort to set ourselves up for the future, only to bail on it immediately and go back to what we did before. It might take a bit of suffering to get there, but we're already suffering as it is. At least if we commit to change, the pain might become worth it.

Excellent post Sir, have a Like!

If I was to break kayfabe and put on my real-life/real-world hat - it's clear our biggest issue is culture, you're right. With any culture change it comes from the CEO and is then driven through every department with clear, concise and candid messaging that leaves nothing for misinterpretation. I know Bettis gets a mixed reaction, but he really has presided over a hotch potch of a period.

Look how Man City didn't just appoint Guardiola, they appointed a CEO, Sporting Director with the same values and commitments.

If we are to ever break free of the Bladey McBladey ethos, we need to go the full way and do something similar. Otherwise you're right, we'll end up going round in the same ever decreasing circle... On that subject I did joke the other week it would be strangely poetic if Wilder was the one to take us back to League One....

After 6 years out of League One, Chris Wilder came home, took us back to where we belong, he's one of our own.....

 

[Carlton Blade]

No.
Never said that it’s zero to fully fledged in one go
I said we were a million miles away from it.
I’m saying it’s far too simplistic to suggest a DOF is the panacea.

What you’re describing is not so much a DOF, because the work you’ve outlined has little to do the F part and all to do with the infrastructure.
Call it a DOI then.
All the stuff that is not directly related to the football playing staff.
A DoF has control over the football staff. We’re not ready for that because the backroom set up is not in place.

It needs engaged owners - not a set of mildly interested remote workers who give it some attention, when they can slice it into their schedule, to keep it barely ticking along like some fashionable bit barely loved tamagotchi.
It needs investment. It needs a board of committed people with deep pockets.

You're describing what a director in charge of football operations does. People just think it's transfers when it covers everything.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

It’s so simple then.
A DOF is the answer.
It’s staring us all in the face.
Wilder is over worked and can’t manage the workload.
A DOF will solve all those problems at a stroke? Really?

Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford. Can anyone point to a single DOF who managed each of those through the process?

Forest and Sunderland.
Who’s the DOF?
They both won promotion via the play offs.
They both invested hugely when they got there.
Forest got there with a DoF did they? It wasn’t a manager led revival from a really poor start to the season? No, cos that can’t work. It must have been a DOF, right?

The common denominator is a massive wedge. It’s as simple as that.

Isn't Edu (the guy that turned it round post Wenger at Arsenal) the DoF at Forest?

And as for the clubs you mention, they all have a DoF/infrastructure that doesn't leave them tied to one person and the whims of that guy.

Poor argument to be honest...

 

[Cheeky Blade]

"Outrun. Outgight. Outplay." isn’t archaic if your team can do it…it’s a basic requirement.

Unfortunately this team can’t seem to do that at Championship level.

 

[Cheeky Blade]

As for the owners

I maintain the ‘club has been broken’ since McCabe stated ‘the club has to stand on its own two feet’ and then brought the Prince in.

Football outgrew Sheffield United on the money side. And for all his talk of ‘attracting investment’ if the club was successful and reached the Prem the Prince turned out to be something of a con man, looking to build a stable of clubs through his ‘United World’ venture.

BUT! and it’s a big but, at least previous owners had some knowledge and showed interest in football and the club beyond being an asset in their portfolio.

I have no idea re: the owners if they even care about the game or the club beyond that.

 

[bornablade]

I've seen various debates of late over certain things we should or shouldn't do. The primary topics being around whether Wilder should remain in place as manager, or if we should cast our net out for someone else, as well as whether we should change to playing 2 forwards.

While there is certainly merit to debating these topics, I think it misses the bigger picture. Which is that we currently look like a club that has zero clue of what it wants to be.

Over the last 15 years, we've made multiple attempts to break away from the pigeonhole we'd established for ourselves over multiple decades prior. The "Bladey Blade" method, of running harder, working harder, showing more "pashun" than the opponent. An approach which has occasionally borne fruit, but since the departure of a certain Mr Warnock, has only delivered success via Wilder and Hecky, a pair you can effectively view as master and disciple.

Now, if we look at the attempts to correct course, it becomes blatantly clear that there has always been a failure to truly commit to the alternate path:

2025: Hire Selles. A man with a significantly different tactical outlook to his predecessor. Club proceeds to recruit the bare minimum, until Selles throws the board under the bus in a press conference. After which we make a number of last ditch signings to bolster the squad. Poor performances, as a result of a combination of the above, plus a lack of uptake on Selles' strategies, result in his early departure. We re-hire Wilder and return to the status quo.

2021: Slav. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. Club proceeds to make zero recruitment (our only permanent signings were Adam Davies and Adlene Guedioura), and wonder why Slav was unable to get Wilder's many square pegs, to fit into 11 newly-rounded holes. The response is to dismiss Slav, and bring in mini-Wilder, and return to the status quo.

2015: Adkins. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. A true failure in all regards. We recruited badly, except for the re-signing of Billy Sharp. Adkins' past tactics that brought success at the likes of Scunthorpe and Southampton, were almost entirely absent. The board, in contrast to all other examples here, did actually give him time to turn things around. But it never came. Instead we held out to the end of our worst season in decades.

2013: Weir. A man with a significantly different tactical approach to his successor. The club did a few things right on this one. Brought in staff at Weir's behest. Separated the Assistant Manager role into tactics and fitness. Hired a number of players to be moulded around the centrepiece of Weir's tactic: Kevin MacDonald. Oh wait, what was that? A 200k release clause? Wolves are paying it? Oh, bugger. Well, here's Jose Baxter to make up for it. I know he's a totally different type of player, but you'll make it work, won't you? (Spoiler: He didn't make it work). Weir proceeds to flounder without a midfield maestro to build his team around, and we tumble down the league until he's dismissed, and replaced by Nigel "I need a right back" Clough.

The archaic approach of "Outrun. Outright. Outplay." isn't sustainable. We need a Director of Football. We need the club to have a focused tactical approach, at all levels, to ensure prolonged exposure to one method of playing for senior players, and an easier, less jarring path to the first team for youth prospects. We need a thoroughly defined recruitment strategy. At present, everything feels like we're throwing shit at a wall to see what sticks.

Regardless of where we end up this season, we need to be employing a long-term strategy for the club. We cannot carry on in this manner - making a half-arsed effort to set ourselves up for the future, only to bail on it immediately and go back to what we did before. It might take a bit of suffering to get there, but we're already suffering as it is. At least if we commit to change, the pain might become worth it.

Just out of interest - with Wilder and Hecky, who is the master and who is the disciple?

 

[Servigliano]

For me the most important man/entity whatever at any pro football club is is the depth of the owner's or owners pockets allied to their ambition and luck/skill in appointing the next most important man ie the manager.
Our owners ambitions are unknown save to make money, although at the moment that has maybe changed to one of trying to ensure they don't lose more money. The depth of pockets remain unknown
It's interesting that over 80% on here forecast a better than a"tits up season" following Wilder's sacking and the appointment of Seles, an astonishingly high figure given the fact that they'd sacked a manager who'd got 92 points and appointed an unknown.
Is anyone now really surprised at the position we're in...
Decisions seem to be made by committee - which has to be bad.
If they'd appointed a DOF would the decisions have been different - I dunno, depends on his power I suppose.

 

[Carlton Blade]

For me the most important man/entity whatever at any pro football club is is the depth of the owner's or owners pockets allied to their ambition and luck/skill in appointing the next most important man ie the manager.
Our owners ambitions are unknown save to make money, although at the moment that has maybe changed to one of trying to ensure they don't lose more money. The depth of pockets remain unknown
It's interesting that over 80% on here forecast a better than a"tits up season" following Wilder's sacking and the appointment of Seles, an astonishingly high figure given the fact that they'd sacked a manager who'd got 92 points and appointed an unknown.
Is anyone now really surprised at the position we're in...
Decisions seem to be made by committee - which has to be bad.
If they'd appointed a DOF would the decisions have been different - I dunno, depends on his power I suppose.

The most important thing is money. But as with every business, if the people with whatever money the business has empower experienced, qualified, motivated and suitable people to make decisions in areas that they have expertise in, they will get better results than if they are scattergun, rely on one individual to do everything etc.

There seems to be a view that appointing a DoF/Sporting Director/Head of Football Ops etc is viewed as a fix all. It very much isn't. What it will do is make sure you get a much better return on whatever funds are available, for the first team and the club as a whole. Surely that would be a good thing?

 

[Roygbiv]

I remember seeing a feature on Sunderland before we played them in the final and was surprised at how better structured they were off the pitch.



Yeah they're a bigger club than us but they were in L1 a few years ago