Jim Phipps interview

[AnonymousBlade1995]

"international business attorney who was also a senior law advisor during the reconstruction of Iraq in 2008" will now be doing my upmost to get him to give the UN society at uni a visit

 

[LoughboroBlade]

"international business attorney who was also a senior law advisor during the reconstruction of Iraq in 2008"

Which begs the obvious question in any future Phipps interview, "what's been the more challenging role you've been involved in: reconstructing Iraq, or reconstructing Sheffield United"

To me, the answer's obvious. Long-suffering people desperate for better times, questionable leadership over the years that has led to the current poor standing, regular infighting...

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Which begs the obvious question in any future Phipps interview, "what's been the more challenging role you've been involved in: reconstructing Iraq, or reconstructing Sheffield United"

To me, the answer's obvious. Long-suffering people desperate for better times, questionable leadership over the years that has led to the current poor standing, regular infighting...

Mostly Shiite

 

[metalblade]

Gotta laugh haven't you Jim speaks about other owners making the mistakes of changing a clubs name or the colour of the kit they play in a few weeks after announcing we will play in white shirts with a bastardised badge and red shorts for the 2025-16 season, you couldn't make it up could you.

 

[Deano's Shorts]

"international business attorney who was also a senior law advisor during the reconstruction of Iraq in 2008" will now be doing my upmost to get him to give the UN society at uni a visit

Wonder if he's mates with the Halliburton gang. We could sail into the Champions League with a 50th of the cash they made out of reconstruction contracts.

 

[TonyAgana]

Regarding Maguire, I think "club policy" comes into play. I'm fully behind the notion that if a player is under contract and you don't want to sell them, it doesn't matter two shits how much the player "wants a move". But if the club believes success will come from a happy camp and only paying / playing players that want to play for the club, rather then being authoritative and holding players to their contracts, then cash in and move on - and we'll judge the board and it's policies deeper into their regime when policy has had chance to fully bed in. Patience is key here, of course.

 

[Deleted member 1486]

saying all the right things and making all the right noises

I don't think he is doing that. He could have easily shot down or ducked the Ched Evans question. Any reply on the topic could generate waves, he gave a good answer imho.

Its a good interview, he comes across well.

 

[Pinchy]

Gotta laugh haven't you Jim speaks about other owners making the mistakes of changing a clubs name or the colour of the kit they play in a few weeks after announcing we will play in white shirts with a bastardised badge and red shorts for the 2025-16 season, you couldn't make it up could you.

Cheap point; poorly made.

We have not changed from red to blue. The kit is red and white. You may not like it; I may not, but it's entirely different to Cardiff City. It's a one-off to commemorate the Centenary. Totally respecting, rather than undermining, our club's heritage.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Cheap point; poorly made.

We have not changed from red to blue. The kit is red and white. You may not like it; I may not, but it's entirely different to Cardiff City. It's a one-off to commemorate the Centenary. Totally respecting, rather than undermining, our club's heritage.

What Centenary?

 

[Blade for Sale]

What Centenary?

Centandaquarterplusoneary.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

What Centenary?

The one from 26 years ago!

 

[JJ Sefton]

As far as I can see next season is the centenary of a season where we played bugger all matches.

Possibly worth celebrating on current form...

 

[Revolution]

The shirt business, looked at in light of this interview, is a classic case of ignore what United say, and just look at what they do, though as I said up thread it's not a big point in my eyes.

 

[Pinchy]

What Centenary?

OK, admittedly it's a bit late; but it's the thought that counts.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Whether technically it's a centenary or not doesn't seem to be the point, afaics there's an intention to honour and even celebrate the history of the club.

I think this should be warmly welcomed.

 

[metalblade]

Cheap point; poorly made.

We have not changed from red to blue. The kit is red and white. You may not like it; I may not, but it's entirely different to Cardiff City. It's a one-off to commemorate the Centenary. Totally respecting, rather than undermining, our club's heritage.

 

[AlienBlade]

See Leeds (Beckford) and Huddersfield (Rhodes) for examples of holding out and getting the benefit of promotion from this very division.

The difference may have been that the player had said he was happy to wait it out until the end of the season, maguire had waited it out for 3 seasons and keeping him for those seasons didnt benefit us at all did it?

 

[AlienBlade]

I think most of us accept that.
Not re-investing some of the cash on a direct replacement was the big mistake of the season.

firstly we had directly replaced him before he went with Butler and or McGahay (however the former didnt work out and the latter is still learning his trade as Maguire had done before him), secondly when we did get the money (it was in the last few weeks of the window when Clough and the club thought they would have Collins McGahay Butler Maguire & Kennedy along with McEverly Alcock who could cover if needed... so wouldnt have seen the need to scout out any more Central Defenders, 3 weeks is a very short time,

I do think we should have tried to get one in January (however there is nothing to say we didnt try... maybe no one wanted to come who Clough thought was good enough)

 

[Grecian2000]

The difference may have been that the player had said he was happy to wait it out until the end of the season, maguire had waited it out for 3 seasons and keeping him for those seasons didnt benefit us at all did it?

Both Beckford and Rhodes had made it clear they were off at the earliest opportunity and played vital parts in their teams success despite this. Maguire could be totally different and sulked his way through the last year like a spoiled brat, but we don't know that for sure, and it could be he played out of his skin to make sure his choices were maxed up at the end of his time and he wouldn't have to settle for a shit club like Hull Tigers. We will never know.

I always find it baffling that everyone assumes that players wouldn't try just because they have been held to their contract.
Different era I know but Alan Woodward had transfer requests turned down more than once and still seemed to do OK for us.

 

[Rodders]

Both Beckford and Rhodes had made it clear they were off at the earliest opportunity and played vital parts in their teams success despite this. Maguire could be totally different and sulked his way through the last year like a spoiled brat, but we don't know that for sure, and it could be he played out of his skin to make sure his choices were maxed up at the end of his time and he wouldn't have to settle for a shit club like Hull Tigers. We will never know.

I always find it baffling that everyone assumes that players wouldn't try just because they have been held to their contract.
Different era I know but Alan Woodward had transfer requests turned down more than once and still seemed to do OK for us.

I don't understand this view that, if a player has their request turned down, they're going to play crap until their contract runs out. Surely this only reduces their value in the transfer market and makes the chance of a move even less likely?

Can anyone name a player deliberately not trying or playing worse on purpose because they weren't able to move? I can name one: Van Hooidonk who went on strike and that's it.

 

[Revolution]

I don't understand this view that, if a player has their request turned down, they're going to play crap until their contract runs out. Surely this only reduces their value in the transfer market and makes the chance of a move even less likely?

Can anyone name a player deliberately not trying or playing worse on purpose because they weren't able to move? I can name one: Van Hooidonk who went on strike and that's it.

I've always thought this argument is not founded in fact at all, and is only used to defend the club when we are selling the family silver.

 

[Silent Blade]

I don't understand this view that, if a player has their request turned down, they're going to play crap until their contract runs out. Surely this only reduces their value in the transfer market and makes the chance of a move even less likely?

Can anyone name a player deliberately not trying or playing worse on purpose because they weren't able to move? I can name one: Van Hooidonk who went on strike and that's it.

Paul Devlin, gifted Watford two goals around the time his agent (Rob Seagal) told the Star that Devlin wanted to move to Birmingham stating that he has always supported Birmingham ("he bleeds Blue" was one of his comments). His agent is wrong because I remember reading in the programme a year earlier that Devlin said he doesnt support any of his local clubs because he was a Celtic fan and often travelled to their games in Celtic supporters club coaches from the Midlands

 

[Sothall_Blade]

firstly we had directly replaced him before he went with Butler and or McGahay (however the former didnt work out and the latter is still learning his trade as Maguire had done before him), secondly when we did get the money (it was in the last few weeks of the window when Clough and the club thought they would have Collins McGahay Butler Maguire & Kennedy along with McEverly Alcock who could cover if needed... so wouldnt have seen the need to scout out any more Central Defenders, 3 weeks is a very short time,

I do think we should have tried to get one in January (however there is nothing to say we didnt try... maybe no one wanted to come who Clough thought was good enough)

Maguire left on 29th July. I don't accept the idea that a whole month isn't long enough for the club to spend the money on a replacement of almost equivalent stature and standing (not a free transfer or a kid)

Even after that Clough knew that neither Collins or Butler would ever play for United again by the end of September. So he plugged the gap with a daytripper who was never going to be a long-term solution, even if he'd performed brilliantly.

Then in January, we signed several more players but still no direct replacement for Maguire. I can't believe we couldnt attract somebody decent with the sort of money/wages used for other positions.

Finally in March, we missed the final chance to sign a specialist centre back and are now relying on various full backs and midfielders to fill in and take us up through a tough set of play-off matches.

It's just so frustrating when we're probably one key player away from a really good looking team with decent cover for all positions.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Phipps and the rest made an utter clusterfuck of the ched situation. Let's not forget that...

 

[JohnDenver]

Phipps and the rest made an utter clusterfuck of the ched situation. Let's not forget that...

I'd still place good money on McCabe's 50% influence driving us down that blind alley.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Paul Devlin, gifted Watford two goals around the time his agent (Rob Seagal) told the Star that Devlin wanted to move to Birmingham stating that he has always supported Birmingham ("he bleeds Blue" was one of his comments). His agent is wrong because I remember reading in the programme a year earlier that Devlin said he doesnt support any of his local clubs because he was a Celtic fan and often travelled to their games in Celtic supporters club coaches from the Midlands

Wasn't Michael Brown a shadow of his former self in the run-up to his sale to Spurs too?

 

[Silent Blade]

Wasn't Michael Brown a shadow of his former self in the run-up to his sale to Spurs too?

I remember Steve Bruce not playing well for Norwich claiming to be "depressed" when Norwich rejected an offer from Man U. He got his way in the end

 

[JohnDenver]

I remember Steve Bruce not playing well for Norwich claiming to be "depressed" when Norwich rejected an offer from Man U. He got his way in the end

Yup. Some players can be trusted to perform after their heads have been turned. Others can't.

It's a tough choice for a club to make if they genuinely don't wish to sell.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I'd still place good money on McCabe's 50% influence driving us down that blind alley.

Whoever was the driving influence, the clubs handling of the matter was shite.

 

[AlienBlade]

Both Beckford and Rhodes had made it clear they were off at the earliest opportunity and played vital parts in their teams success despite this. Maguire could be totally different and sulked his way through the last year like a spoiled brat, but we don't know that for sure, and it could be he played out of his skin to make sure his choices were maxed up at the end of his time and he wouldn't have to settle for a shit club like Hull Tigers. We will never know.

I always find it baffling that everyone assumes that players wouldn't try just because they have been held to their contract.
Different era I know but Alan Woodward had transfer requests turned down more than once and still seemed to do OK for us.

how can you be "off at the earliest oppotunity" and play vital roles....

are you saying that their decision to go was after the last oppotunity to be sold? as if not then they would have been off leaving the team behind (which you are saying isnt the case... thus proving my point that maybe at the time of the window they were willing to stay put until the end of the season and reassess then...

the fact that he didnt seem bothered in the pre season games says enough to say he had settled for moving to hull. but thats my opinion