The bottom 3 in the Championship........

[Gavlar]

...........are currently the 3 teams that went up last season (albeit after only 9 games I know). Now should we be careful what we wish for in getting promotion this season?

Now of course 5 years in this division is a joke, and other teams like Bournemouth, Southampton have gone up again into the Prem, but I would suggest we need to invest heavily to stay in the Championship. Some of the money that Bristol C tried to spend over the summer on average players was ludicrous.

 

[Barney]

If we get promotion this season, next summers investment will be our most important in years.

 

[Tyler Durden]

If we get promoted, next season will be as if we never spent 5 years in the 3rd division to many fans.

We'll be expected to hit the ground running and aim for a top 6 finish immediately rather than build methodically. That's my concern.

Anyway I'm jumping the gun. Getting out of this bastard isn't exactly a forgone conclusion right now.

 

[Worksop II]

If we get promotion this season, next summers investment will be our most important in years.

Jimbo will be spending the Murphy money next summer, maybe

 

[Barney]

If we get promoted, next season will be as if we never spent 5 years in the 3rd division to many fans.

We'll be expected to hit the ground running and aim for a top 6 finish immediately rather than build methodically. That's my concern.

Anyway I'm jumping the gun. Getting out of this bastard isn't exactly a forgone conclusion right now.

I have high expectations and little patience for league one but the championship is a very different kettle of fish.

All I'd be worried about in the first season is staying up and getting a sense of stability in the championship, nothing more. Then look to kick on the following season.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Getting out of this bastard isn't exactly a forgone conclusion right now.

Exactly. Let's worry about the league above when we're actually somewhere near it (or, better still, in it).

In saying that, Rovrum stayed up (which, after all, is priority number one) the previous season without breaking the bank. IF we make it, we need to be using the money available a bit more wisely than it's been used the last 4 or 5 (& more) seasons.

 

[Tyler Durden]

I have high expectations and little patience for league one but the championship is a very different kettle of fish.

All I'd be worried about in the first season is staying up and getting a sense of stability in the championship, nothing more. Then look to kick on the following season.

I agree, it's a bloody tough proposition these days, very competitive. More so than when we were in it, and it wasn't exactly a doddle back then either.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Exactly. Let's worry about the league above when we're actually somewhere near it (or, better still, in it).

In saying that, Rovrum stayed up (which, after all, is priority number one) the previous season without breaking the bank. IF we make it, we need to be using the money available a bit more wisely than it's been used the last 4 or 5 (& more) seasons.

It could possibly be argued that the gap between Premiership has narrowed in recent years whereas the gap between Championship and League 1 has opened up maybe?

 

[sheffielder]

...........are currently the 3 teams that went up last season (albeit after only 9 games I know). Now should we be careful what we wish for in getting promotion this season?

Now of course 5 years in this division is a joke, and other teams like Bournemouth, Southampton have gone up again into the Prem, but I would suggest we need to invest heavily to stay in the Championship. Some of the money that Bristol C tried to spend over the summer on average players was ludicrous.

We need to invest now, get the team right before we go up and see how far that takes us. Unfortunately that won't happen and we would most likely be canon fodder if we went up.

 

[BushBlade]

We need to invest now, get the team right before we go up and see how far that takes us. Unfortunately that won't happen and we would most likely be canon fodder if we went up.

We can attract a better standard of player if we're in the championship.

 

[SteveBlade]

If a club like ourselves do things right then it won't be a massive ask.

Any club, if run properly can achieve anything in the Championship, likewise if mistakes are made, it can all go tits up. I wouldn't over think anything about this 'the bottom three all got promoted last year stuff'.

 

[Ricky]

And look at the top five in League One.

Burton, Walsall, Gillingham, Bury, Rochdale.

At this rate the Championship's bottom three next season will all be relegated on less than 20 points!

 

[itsinyerblood]

All good points above, and as has been mentioned, promotion to the Championship isn't a given just yet.

Let's base this on a promotion season though, and should we achieve this, then we should consolidate, don't ask a timescale but at least 3-5 seasons in which time we rid ourselves of any chaff and invest in players who are athletes, or at least those equipped with enough nous to compete at this level.

My assumption is that Nigel will realise what's needed and build accordingly.

 

[boo radley]

If. Then just beat weeds and piggies and stay up.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

My assumption is that Nigel will realise what's needed and build accordingly.

If only he'd asked the tea lady after the interview?

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

And look at the top five in League One.

Burton, Walsall, Gillingham, Bury, Rochdale.

At this rate the Championship's bottom three next season will all be relegated on less than 20 points!

I suppose what it tells us all ( and perhaps we already knew ) , is that Cotterell , Robinson and Grayson are good league 1 managers , thats all . When we sacked Clough , all the above were banded about as a replacement.
I even said Robinson.

The gap is widening and will get wider , when the bottom premiership club , gets £100m when relegated.

Not saying this just because , being a blade , but the only league 1 club , who has got the sustainability to survive and progress in the championship , if promoted this season , is SUFC..

This is the weakest , open , league 1 for many a season , so we have , to some how , take full advantage , and get in to the top two . Anything else will IMO be a failure , as we have everything in place to be successful.

Fans , manager , Club , directors all crave for success , ( which hopefully includes the players ) , but dilly dallying with the reported Hammond deal , does not help the cause .

Yes we have Done , Brayford , and Harris , all on the way back , but still lack a cutting esdge to grasp this league by the balls .

We have stagnated or been the nearly men , its time to invest and speculate to accumalate . Once in the championship , we will survive and kick on from there .

We have to get there first.

UTB

 

[grafikhaus]

There's no doubt that the gap - in both spending and quality - between League One and the Championship grows every season. However, to point out that last season's top three in League One are now struggling is too simplistic. Bristol (and Cotterill) may have had one of 'those' seasons where everything clicked. Also, having a rich Russian backer is impressive at our level but not so much in the Championship where most teams have serious investment.
Preston? Won't find it easy to replicate last season. Beckford is past his best, as is Davies. Garner will probably struggle. MK Dons scored 101 goals last season but, with selling Delle Ali, Afobe and some other bloke who's name escapes me, have 'lost' 46 of those goals. No wonder they're struggling.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Oh how I yearn for the Steel City derbies once more.

 

[cooperblade]

Sack Adkins, appoint Clough, play Cup football and destroy everyone on the break. Easy.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

In the half decade that we have been in this wilderness, we have had really only one decent stab at getting out, and that was under Wilson, when Ched cut his legs from under him. Since then, it has been half hearted and when we have reached the play offs, they have been approached with little confidence from the fans that we would succeed. Time to give this manager some proper backing and investment. Lets start playing and approaching games like, to name two, Gillingham & Bury. Do we really need teams like them to show us how it's done ? (No disrespect intended)

 

[Gavlar]

I suppose what it tells us all ( and perhaps we already knew ) , is that Cotterell , Robinson and Grayson are good league 1 managers , thats all . When we sacked Clough , all the above were banded about as a replacement.
I even said Robinson.

The gap is widening and will get wider , when the bottom premiership club , gets £100m when relegated.

Not saying this just because , being a blade , but the only league 1 club , who has got the sustainability to survive and progress in the championship , if promoted this season , is SUFC..

This is the weakest , open , league 1 for many a season , so we have , to some how , take full advantage , and get in to the top two . Anything else will IMO be a failure , as we have everything in place to be successful.

Fans , manager , Club , directors all crave for success , ( which hopefully includes the players ) , but dilly dallying with the reported Hammond deal , does not help the cause .

Yes we have Done , Brayford , and Harris , all on the way back , but still lack a cutting esdge to grasp this league by the balls .

We have stagnated or been the nearly men , its time to invest and speculate to accumalate . Once in the championship , we will survive and kick on from there .

We have to get there first.

UTB

I've lost count of the no of times the league has been there for the taking and we haven't taken it.............still onwards and upwards I guess.

 

[Grappler]

The vast majority of fans wanted Nigel Adkins, after the departure of Nigel Clough, we got him. The board asked the fans to back the new manager and get behind the lads, we have done that, 20,000 odd gates show it (so far). We now need the board to back Nigel Adkins (and the fans).

I am sure that Nigel Adkins did his home work, before even walking into BDTBL to be interviewed, would have told the board what he thought was wrong, what needed to be done to get a team for promotion built and how to do it, who to get.

We all know the defence was lacking last season and we had no real goals from midfield (apart from Baxter really), we had no "midfield general" (to use an old phrase), who literally could control a game, like Kevin McDonald did while he was with us.

If we still need defenders and midfielders then the board should push the boat out and go for it.

As has been said, this looks like the weakest League 1 for a few years, if we can't get into the top two and get automatic then something is seriously, seriously wrong. I know we have players to come back (Brayford, Done) but let's get in whatever we need, on loan, now.

If we get promotion, then the real investment starts and there will be no time for sentimnet, whoever needs to go, has to go, and we bring in what we need to stay up and head for mid table stability, before kicking on in a promotion push.

Nigel Adkins has been there, seen it, done it (more than once), he needs the board to back him properly.

 

[BushBlade]

The vast majority of fans wanted Nigel Adkins, after the departure of Nigel Clough, we got him. The board asked the fans to back the new manager and get behind the lads, we have done that, 20,000 odd gates show it (so far). We now need the board to back Nigel Adkins (and the fans).

I am sure that Nigel Adkins did his home work, before even walking into BDTBL to be interviewed, would have told the board what he thought was wrong, what needed to be done to get a team for promotion built and how to do it, who to get.

We all know the defence was lacking last season and we had no real goals from midfield (apart from Baxter really), we had no "midfield general" (to use an old phrase), who literally could control a game, like Kevin McDonald did while he was with us.

If we still need defenders and midfielders then the board should push the boat out and go for it.

As has been said, this looks like the weakest League 1 for a few years, if we can't get into the top two and get automatic then something is seriously, seriously wrong. I know we have players to come back (Brayford, Done) but let's get in whatever we need, on loan, now.

If we get promotion, then the real investment starts and there will be no time for sentimnet, whoever needs to go, has to go, and we bring in what we need to stay up and head for mid table stability, before kicking on in a promotion push.

Nigel Adkins has been there, seen it, done it (more than once), he needs the board to back him properly.

Agree, a number of posters, myself included, were of the opinion at the start of the season that unless the board made some serious investment and brought in players, irrespective of shipping some out first, it could take NA two seasons to sort us out.

If that doesn't happen soon, another season in L1.

 

[Grappler]

Agree, a number of posters, myself included, were of the opinion at the start of the season that unless the board made some serious investment and brought in players, irrespective of shipping some out first, it could take NA two seasons to sort us out.

If that doesn't happen soon, another season in L1.

I cannot stand the thought of another season in League 1.

No disrespect to any other club in our League, it's just not where I think Sheffield United should be. I have followed the Blades for around 45 years, was lucky enough to see Tony Currie, Alan Woodward, etc., as a young lad, was there when we had the crazy season in Division 4, saw Warnock build a squad on a shoe string budget and get us into the Premiership (ok he spent daft money on Horsfiedl, Akinbiyi, etc., at the end), and I think if we are not good enough for the Premiership, we should at least be a Championship side.

We are, where we are, I know that, I just think we have been here long enough, our gate money alone should put us head and shoulders above all other clubs in League 1 and most of the Championship teams.

 

[sheffielder]

We can attract a better standard of player if we're in the championship.

We may, but you have to pay for them you know.

 

[grafikhaus]

I cannot stand the thought of another season in League 1.

No disrespect to any other club in our League, it's just not where I think Sheffield United should be. I have followed the Blades for around 45 years, was lucky enough to see Tony Currie, Alan Woodward, etc., as a young lad, was there when we had the crazy season in Division 4, saw Warnock build a squad on a shoe string budget and get us into the Premiership (ok he spent daft money on Horsfiedl, Akinbiyi, etc., at the end), and I think if we are not good enough for the Premiership, we should at least be a Championship side.

We are, where we are, I know that, I just think we have been here long enough, our gate money alone should put us head and shoulders above all other clubs in League 1 and most of the Championship teams.

I was out with a Spurs fan the other day and he said 'Just what is wrong with the Blades?' I pointed out that every club sells their better players, injuries, 'no easy games in Division One'...etc. He replied 'Yeah, but this is Sheffield United. 20k gates, money, great tradition, excellent squad. You should be pissing on the likes of Rochdale and Colchester.'

And you know what? He's right.

 

[Rodders]

I was out with a Spurs fan the other day and he said 'Just what is wrong with the Blades?' I pointed out that every club sells their better players, injuries, 'no easy games in Division One'...etc. He replied 'Yeah, but this is Sheffield United. 20k gates, money, great tradition, excellent squad. You should be pissing on the likes of Rochdale and Colchester.'

And you know what? He's right.

He is right, but sadly with every year that passes, it's an ever decreasing circle - the ability of the players wanting to come to us decreases slightly, as does the ability and the pull of the manager we appoint after we've sacked the previous one. Finally we have someone with a great track record in NA - but I feel he's our last chance at a "name" for us in this division; I fear if we don't go up this season and don't look like it next, NA will be gone and we truly will become an "established" club in this division, battling with all the other teams in the league for the same players.

 

[Grappler]

I was out with a Spurs fan the other day and he said 'Just what is wrong with the Blades?' I pointed out that every club sells their better players, injuries, 'no easy games in Division One'...etc. He replied 'Yeah, but this is Sheffield United. 20k gates, money, great tradition, excellent squad. You should be pissing on the likes of Rochdale and Colchester.'

And you know what? He's right.

I spent the best part of almost two hours driving back from the game last night, saying over and over, "Port Bloody Vale"!, maybe I need a reality check because I am still shocked that teams like Port Vale can beat us, never mind us being in the same shitty league as then.

 

[grafikhaus]

I spent the best part of almost two hours driving back from the game last night, saying over and over, "Port Bloody Vale"!, maybe I need a reality check because I am still shocked that teams like Port Vale can beat us, never mind us being in the same shitty league as then.

I can see you when you got home now, Phil! (Poor Liz!)

​

 

[Grappler]

I can see you when you got home now, Phil!

Ha ha, luckily the Owls fans in the local didn't give me any banter, I guess after a 3-1 home win, they didn't have to..........