Positivity.

[Kev Gee]

What is this new fangled thing I see us all afflicted with?

It's great to see our manager with a great outlook as opposed to the last fee months of cloughs reign.

How do we think out glass half empty fan base will react if we lose a couple of games on the bounce though?
Especially when seeing from NAs ex clubs fans that this seemed to grate on them after a while.

Just for one season, let's try and stay off the managers back if things don't GOTO plan straight away!!

 

[Blade56]

Got to agree KG I am firkin intoxicated with hoober positivity. I wake up smiling thinking about next season, I am buzzing inside it's brilliant.

And some posters still want to dissect Cloughs reign and HRH's commitment, un-bloody-believable

 

[SwissBlade]

Oddly whilst I'm happy with the appointment of Adkins, it's tinged with cynicism.

Firstly because Im not happy with the way that Phipps and the board have behaved recently.

Secondly you read the comments on here and we know full well that within weeks, if results don't go our way or we don't get off to a flyer, it'll be negative Nigel or ale house Adkins again.

Everything changes, but nothing changes.

Other than that, it's a beautiful day on the sea offshore over here in grimsby, I've got a great summer planned and Sheff Utd are not going to ruin that. I may even not bother with the first few games of the season to keep up my positivity

 

[Mouth of the South]

We undoubtedly stand a far better chance of getting out of this awful league under Adkins than we would have under Clough. Just how far we were off last season (i.e. as close to the relegation places as the top 2) was embarrassing, as were the majority of league performances at home. Recruitment, team selection and tactics were all horribly flawed.

Of course, NA needs to assess and improve the squad over the summer and, most importantly, get off to a good start. A nice 4-0 at home to Crewe in the season opener would be ideal. The league has to be the main and only priority - all cups esp the JPT should be sacrificed.

In line with Ken and 56's comments, the positivity radiated from the press conf has already reignited a lot supporters' optimism and hopes for next season. A couple of quality signings in key positions will only enhance that. Compare that with Clough's demeanor and recent interviews. Realistically, who would he have recruited over the summer - another batch of Derby rejects, more recovering from career-threatening injuries and a couple of unproven kids from Scotland or non-league?

I for one am very glad NC has gone and NA is undoubtedly the best possible (i.e. available, affordable and interested) replacement. Of course nothing is guaranteed but with the nucleus of a decent side, more money to spend and improved team management, I am very hopeful that next season will be 5th time lucky.

 

[TJB.]

Quiet, level-headed, reasonable optimism is my mantra.

Great managerial appointment which seems to have pleased almost everyone, but the squad is a bit of a mess as we know. I'll become a bit more optimistic once a few of signings roll in, and hopefully even more so once the season begins and the points start rolling in. Nobody can argue with Nigel II's CV, but owt can happen in football and it might not work out as we all hope, so better to just see how it pans out.

Positivity is great, and I've caught a whiff of it too, but I try not to get too carried away.

I saw a lad request odds on Twitter yesterday for us to
a) Finish the season 9 points clear at the top of the table, and
b) Go unbeaten at home all season.

He put £25 on each bet. THAT kind of optimism/positivity is one I can't get on board with!

 

[Thaddeus]

Oddly whilst I'm happy with the appointment of Adkins, it's tinged with cynicism.

Firstly because Im not happy with the way that Phipps and the board have behaved recently.

Secondly you read the comments on here and we know full well that within weeks, if results don't go our way or we don't get off to a flyer, it'll be negative Nigel or ale house Adkins again.

Everything changes, but nothing changes.

Other than that, it's a beautiful day on the sea offshore over here in grimsby, I've got a great summer planned and Sheff Utd are not going to ruin that. I may even not bother with the first few games of the season to keep up my positivity

I wouldn't say I'm feeling cynical but I think it will take a while before I properly engage with Nigel Adkins as being "our" manager. I'm sure I'll soon get over it but listening to the final Nigel Clough interview on Tuesday (replayed from the night of the Swindon second leg), made me feel a bit heartbroken for him, almost like hearing the unravelling of a family member. Already I've bought into the idea that Nigel Adkins is going to transform our team overnight, and so it almost makes it feel quite dull, like a relentless success machine. I'm sure it won't quite work out like this but there's a part of me that would have quite like to have carried on with Nigel Clough, as any success would have felt more hard won and unexpected, particularly since Clough had never experienced it himself.

I'm also aware that however high we climb, there is likely to be a natural ceiling. As someone who came of age with United in the "golden" period of Dave Bassett in the premier league, my main memories of football were of feeling relieved if we managed to come away with a draw, and any wins feeling almost miraculous. I'm not sure even the ups and downs of this season were any better or worse than that, and so while I can completely understand the urge for people to want us to be successful, I'm not sure it will feel any better on a week to week basis, and we're likely to soon get used to whatever level we end up at.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Oddly whilst I'm happy with the appointment of Adkins, it's tinged with cynicism.

Firstly because Im not happy with the way that Phipps and the board have behaved recently.

Secondly you read the comments on here and we know full well that within weeks, if results don't go our way or we don't get off to a flyer, it'll be negative Nigel or ale house Adkins again.

Everything changes, but nothing changes.

Other than that, it's a beautiful day on the sea offshore over here in grimsby, I've got a great summer planned and Sheff Utd are not going to ruin that. I may even not bother with the first few games of the season to keep up my positivity

Fully endorse your comments Swiss
I too was far from happy the way the board dealt with the sacking - was it necessary - We won't know until the new season arrives !
Will Mr Adkins be the saviour everyone on here seems to think he will be ? or will he be the villain because he plays the 'wrong' formation, doesn't start McNulty every game, doesn't rate Collins or even has the audacity to pick Higdon as the lone striker ?
Yes, Mr Clough appeared to be obstinate, negative at times and a tinkerman with team selection - Only time will tell whether Mr Adkins can make United tick !
One positive is that the new backroom staff team looks much stronger than Mr Clough's - perhaps thats the way he liked it !
Hopefully, it will be an interesting summer - I don't expect too many incomings apart from the obvious which had been identified albeit too late last season !
If we do get success will it be on the back of Mr Cloughs teambuilding or Nigel Adkins Miracle Worker !!
Good Luck Mr Adkins, hopefully we will all be toasting success at the end of next season - If not the knives will be out around Christmas time !!
UTB

 

[Jon Bon]

To keep it short – I’m looking forward to the season with renewed optimism and vigour, which is the polar opposite to how I felt two weeks ago.

You don’t have to look very far – try this thread for example – to see the Clough fans, shuffling around with their hands in their pockets, kicking cans and mumbling on about how the board acted in sacking gurner. What is wrong with you? For fuck’s sake, lighten up. Sacking Clough and bringing Adkins in is the best thing the board could have done and I have nothing but unequivocal praise for their actions. Nothing is guaranteed but if you can’t feel a bit chipper about the future being in the hands of someone with as impressive a track record as Adkins has, what can you feel chipper about?

 

[him behind you]

To keep it short – I’m looking forward to the season with renewed optimism and vigour, which is the polar opposite to how I felt two weeks ago.

You don’t have to look very far – try this thread for example – to see the Clough fans, shuffling around with their hands in their pockets, kicking cans and mumbling on about how the board acted in sacking gurner. What is wrong with you? For fuck’s sake, lighten up. Sacking Clough and bringing Adkins in is the best thing the board could have done and I have nothing but unequivocal praise for their actions. Nothing is guaranteed but if you can’t feel a bit chipper about the future being in the hands of someone with as impressive a track record as Adkins has, what can you feel chipper about?

Have a like JB. Part of me understands that we, as Blades, have a larger built in cynicism than any other group of people who have ever lived, mainly due to how things don't work out for us (there you go - I'm at it now) BUT I have nothing other than praise for the board and their actions. The "may" have told NC that he had until Christmas after the Swindon game but they then held a meeting with him and decided, for whatever reason, that they no longer believed in him. They took the immediate action of relieving him from his duties so that no more damage could be done, and have gone out and identified what they (and I) believe is the correct fit to take us forward and appointed him within 10 days. This was immediately after the season finished so no time has been wasted from a footballing perspective so the timing, for me, was spot on. Sometimes I wonder what we expect and how many of us actually work at a level where we have to make the kind of decisions we are so quick to moan about - I don't.

 

[Barney]

Oddly whilst I'm happy with the appointment of Adkins, it's tinged with cynicism.

Firstly because Im not happy with the way that Phipps and the board have behaved recently.

Secondly you read the comments on here and we know full well that within weeks, if results don't go our way or we don't get off to a flyer, it'll be negative Nigel or ale house Adkins again.

Everything changes, but nothing changes.

Other than that, it's a beautiful day on the sea offshore over here in grimsby, I've got a great summer planned and Sheff Utd are not going to ruin that. I may even not bother with the first few games of the season to keep up my positivity

Just out of interest, what has Phipps and the board done recently that you're not happy with?

 

[Blade58]

Just out of interest, what has Phipps and the board done recently that you're not happy with?

Not sacking Clough sooner!

 

[Blade58]

There are many who think Clough got a raw deal, but for me it's the fans that suffered the raw deal

The board in my humble opinion were absolutely right to terminate his contract. It can be argued that other managers suffering a similar fate may have been unfortunate, but not in this case

How he built his squad with possibly the highest budget in the division, amounted to either negligence or incompetence

No centre backs from what was essentially the start of the season is unacceptable, yet this after amassing 20+ signings

Stuttering along looking for Derby, ex-Derby players.

A scouting network that only seemed to include, Derby, Blackpool or the Scottish leagues

Waiting for COG for what seemed like months and then finally bringing in yes, another ex-injured, ex-Derby player in Davies surely knowing we were light up front (as we had seemed to be for what seemed like years)

Bringing in crocks and/or ex-crocks.

Even this closed season looking at bringing in Barker who hasn't played first team football for what is it, 3 years due to..........yes you've guessed it a serious injury?

Ending up so far behind the top two clubs it was embarrassing considering the resource he had at his disposal

And then of course fans being bored to tears at the majority of home games this season

The after match interviews of blaming anything and anyone except himself

Finally, the utter dread of perhaps having to witness the same dross again next season!

Nope, for me the board gave him the tools and he and his back room entourage (fkin 6 of em) failed to deliver

Fans can point to a couple of excellent cup runs, but winning a cup was never the remit, promotion was. The week in week out bread and butter of the football league was our priority end of

Some fans can point to progress because we finished 5th as opposed to 7th the previous season, but in essence for me, the team performance wise had regressed

Quite simply, he had to go

Nowt personal and good luck to you Nigel, but not at this club

As for positivity, yes can't wait now for next season now, something I was never going to say whilst Mr Clough was still at the helm

 

[Bladesman]

What is this new fangled thing I see us all afflicted with?

It's great to see our manager with a great outlook as opposed to the last fee months of cloughs reign.

How do we think out glass half empty fan base will react if we lose a couple of games on the bounce though?
Especially when seeing from NAs ex clubs fans that this seemed to grate on them after a while.

Just for one season, let's try and stay off the managers back if things don't GOTO plan straight away!!

Seems like Adkins is keen to understand why things don't always work which is refreshing to hear from a manager. Most managers seem to have one way of playing the game and that's it regardless of if its working or not.

 

[MalvernBlade]

was chatting to a Villa fan & a Baggie fan today, both of whom are amazed we attracted Adkins to the club & their perception that we must have a lot of money behind us to pull that one off. normally I don't give a rats arse to what others think about us but this manager has been there, done it & has brought a bit of respect to the club.

The proof will be in how he gets us playing but isn't it great being a Blade again and having the belief that something big is about to happen?

Too many false dawns over the last 20 years & hope that NA can get us playing attacking winning football

 

[robbiez666]

100% behind Adkins. Unlike our last few managers he's got form for getting out of this division and a real management pedigree. He's also an intelligent man, open to new ideas and has a great positive mentality. He'll be getting extreme patience from me.

He's a top manager regardless of what happens whilst he's managing us. The first one I can really remember us appointing.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I saw a lad request odds on Twitter yesterday for us to
a) Finish the season 9 points clear at the top of the table, and
b) Go unbeaten at home all season.

He put £25 on each bet. THAT kind of optimism/positivity is one I can't get on board with!

Not named Adkins was he?

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Wilson, Weir and Clough all won their first matches.

 

[MiserableBlader]

Personally I'm NOT expecting a great start.
I am expecting promotion.

Good (entertaining) home performances, yes from the start.
That and his record WILL keep the fans happy.

He has major problems to overcome first though.
1. An absolutely massive squad that will take some time to assess properly.
2. Some of the players he will expect to be good players (Collins and Baxter as prime examples) are so unbelievably shite he will not believe what he sees and that they are always this bad.

I sent him a tweet saying get Maguire's replacement ASAP and the rest can be sorted later.
Be interesting how many (trying to be helpful) he had though

 

[DorsetSUFC]

For me - I am quite positive. Not residing in Sheffield for a great number of years restricts me from attending a lot of games. To be honest, seeing the reports and postings of last season fully supports the poor performances I witnessed at the games I attended. I firmly believe the Board have took the bull by the horns and been brave in there actions. We now have a manager with a PROVEN track record - let's go for it. If it goes tits up next season - so be it, but I bet it will be exciting. Here's one Yorkshireman that will be raising a glass of cider to the Blades!!

 

[beardyblade46]

What is this new fangled thing I see us all afflicted with?

It's great to see our manager with a great outlook as opposed to the last fee months of cloughs reign.

How do we think out glass half empty fan base will react if we lose a couple of games on the bounce though?
Especially when seeing from NAs ex clubs fans that this seemed to grate on them after a while.

Just for one season, let's try and stay off the managers back if things don't GOTO plan straight away!!

how often to you go up to BL

 

[Blade56]

To keep it short – I’m looking forward to the season with renewed optimism and vigour, which is the polar opposite to how I felt two weeks ago.

You don’t have to look very far – try this thread for example – to see the Clough fans, shuffling around with their hands in their pockets, kicking cans and mumbling on about how the board acted in sacking gurner. What is wrong with you? For fuck’s sake, lighten up. Sacking Clough and bringing Adkins in is the best thing the board could have done and I have nothing but unequivocal praise for their actions. Nothing is guaranteed but if you can’t feel a bit chipper about the future being in the hands of someone with as impressive a track record as Adkins has, what can you feel chipper about?

There are many who think Clough got a raw deal, but for me it's the fans that suffered the raw deal

The board in my humble opinion were absolutely right to terminate his contract. It can be argued that other managers suffering a similar fate may have been unfortunate, but not in this case

How he built his squad with possibly the highest budget in the division, amounted to either negligence or incompetence

No centre backs from what was essentially the start of the season is unacceptable, yet this after amassing 20+ signings

Stuttering along looking for Derby, ex-Derby players.

A scouting network that only seemed to include, Derby, Blackpool or the Scottish leagues

Waiting for COG for what seemed like months and then finally bringing in yes, another ex-injured, ex-Derby player in Davies surely knowing we were light up front (as we had seemed to be for what seemed like years)

Bringing in crocks and/or ex-crocks.

Even this closed season looking at bringing in Barker who hasn't played first team football for what is it, 3 years due to..........yes you've guessed it a serious injury?

Ending up so far behind the top two clubs it was embarrassing considering the resource he had at his disposal

And then of course fans being bored to tears at the majority of home games this season

The after match interviews of blaming anything and anyone except himself

Finally, the utter dread of perhaps having to witness the same dross again next season!

Nope, for me the board gave him the tools and he and his back room entourage (fkin 6 of em) failed to deliver

Fans can point to a couple of excellent cup runs, but winning a cup was never the remit, promotion was. The week in week out bread and butter of the football league was our priority end of

Some fans can point to progress because we finished 5th as opposed to 7th the previous season, but in essence for me, the team performance wise had regressed

Quite simply, he had to go

Nowt personal and good luck to you Nigel, but not at this club

As for positivity, yes can't wait now for next season now, something I was never going to say whilst Mr Clough was still at the helm

For me - I am quite positive. Not residing in Sheffield for a great number of years restricts me from attending a lot of games. To be honest, seeing the reports and postings of last season fully supports the poor performances I witnessed at the games I attended. I firmly believe the Board have took the bull by the horns and been brave in there actions. We now have a manager with a PROVEN track record - let's go for it. If it goes tits up next season - so be it, but I bet it will be exciting. Here's one Yorkshireman that will be raising a glass of cider to the Blades!!

You can all join my NEW Bladey Blade Hoober positive club, our motto is

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

 

[SandyMcBlade]

Lets remember when Clough arrived and what he was brought in to do, to stop us being relegated, something some seem to have conveniently forgotten.
The first priority back then was not promotion it was to save us from relegation and I don't think Adkins or any other manager you'd care to mention could have done it much better, and before some smart arse comes out with the comment anybody could have done it I'd like to point out that that sort of thinking is what got us down here in the first place..
I'm not say I disapprove of the board appointing a more adventurous manager to gain promotion what I am saying is that at the time of his appointment Nigel Clough was the ideal man for the job...

 

[DorsetSUFC]

Don't know about being a Bladey Blade but I have taken some shit over the years living 2 miles outside of Yeovil!! But proud to be a Yorkshireman and exceptionally fookin proud to be a Blade!!

 

[Pinchy]

Don't know about being a Bladey Blade

Don't know whether you're a Bladey Blade? Take our simple test and discover your Bladey rating:

1. Do you Hoof?

2. Do you pine for the golden years of Hoof and Hope under Dinosaur Dave?

3. Do you blame Tevez for our relegation whilst ignoring the staggering ineptitude of 'Ol Big Nose at the top level?

4. Do you think we were wrong to sack Semipro or should he have been tarred and feathered on the Wembley pitch at half-time?

5. Did you think Bladey Hoofer Micky Adams would give us a quick fix?

6. Would you give "Morgs" a job for life because he's....called Morgs?

7. Would you like Brian Deane to be our manager because he used to play for us and he's called Deano or are you not convinced by a couple of years of mediocrity in the Heartland of Hoof, Norway?

8. Do you think former players just get better and better all the time?

9. Are players who are not in the team always better than those who are?

10. Is every United team the 'worst you've ever seen...'

11. Should all three substitutes be brought on in every game, without fail, preferably within the first 15 minutes because they must have improved dramatically since they failed to get selected 15 minutes earlier?

12. Do you agree with "Frank Lampard" that Monty was the bestest ever footballer of all time or do you know full well that Frank has never given him a second thought?

13. Do you think that "Koz" was a great joker or were his performances the real comedy?

14. Are you convinced that the Everton player Jagielka must have been pushed, even though neither he nor anyone else claimed that at the time?

15. How soon would you like to see Diego's Daft Dad on the coaching staff at BDTBL?

16. Should local lads in the Academy have to fight for a place in the first team or would you giyamallarun however disastrous the results might be?

17. Would you bring Bassett back?

18. Would you bring Warnock back?

19. Would you bring Im back?

20. Would you bring Emall back?

21. Are you aware of the existence of civilised life beyond Shoreham Street?

22. Would you kick it Long?

23. Would you kick it Hard?

24. Would you kick it High?

25. Do you prefer winning football to proper football even though they are one and the same thing everywhere but S2?

26. Have you ever doffed your cap in a very 'umble sort of way?

27. Can you tug your forelock?

28. Do you want nonadattippytappystuffrarndere?

29. Do you agree that we should gerritintbox?

30. Have you ever been upanatem?

Now tot up your score. If you answered one or more questions with a "Yes" (or indeed if you answered one or more questions at all) you are a Very Bladey Blade Indeed. You win a night out on London Road (you will need to bring your passport) with the former player of your choice.

 

[Blade56]

But if you answered NO you are a NEW positive Bladey Blade living in a land where it all goes reight for once


BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

 

[Kev Gee]

Pinchy you forgot

GERINTOOEM!

 

[SwissBlade]

Just out of interest, what has Phipps and the board done recently that you're not happy with?

I've mentioned it on other threads in more detail, but the sacking of Clough was a poor decision.

 

[Swanseablade]

I think we all would have felt more "defensive" towards Clough if he wasn't sooooo stubborn/single minded i.e.:
Lack of a decent centre half (buying one then offloading him because.........?)
Tactically- Negative/boring football (for most of the season).
Playing for large parts of the season without a recognised striker.
Ex-Derby players!
Substitutions.
etc......
If he had shown that he was flexible, could adapt to changes, had a Plan B, etc. throughout the whole season then I'm sure many more on here would have supported him longer. I liked him overall, we can't forget the job he did when he came in & the cup runs. But, I really don't understand somes view on here that he was "the best thing to happen to United in a long while." WTF? I wasn't pleased that he was sacked but I do understand the decision, as large parts of last season were beyond dire.
I am looking forward to see what next season brings with NA & I am more optimistic!
UTB
FTP

 

[Small Mendonca]

I don't think I've ever started looking forward to a new season at the start of June (except before the Premiership season). I think Adkins will be given more slack than Clough if things don't go to plan straight away as he has a proven track record at this level.

 

[SandyMcBlade]

Hey this nowt wrong we a bit of Bladey Blade luv !!!
And too much midfield tippy tappy can be just as pointlessly boarin as too much up and under......

It's all abart adaptability tha sees.......