Clouded by results - A very typical boardroom response.

[The_Green_Man]

Another very welcome 3 points today and despite the performance not being the prolific, emphatic victory that we are all so desperate to see, never the less it is our third scrappy victory against same league opposition on the trot.

You will have to forgive me now as I am a blade therefore it is hard not to allow myself to be overcome by negative, pessimistic thoughts, however the next three fixtures in my opinion could prompt a very typical boardroom reaction and it worries me as such a typical response could prove so detrimental to our season.

So let's say we bag a few points against the likes of Wigan, Bradford and Peterborough?

Heading into the transfer window a very typical response from the board in times gone by would be to rip up the cheque and tighten up the purse strings with the manager forced to make the same old predictable speech of how "We just went toe to toe with the best in this league and we got something from them" and "This proves that the set of lads that we already have are more than good enough to compete for promotion".

Am I being overly negative in believing this to be a very typical Sheffield United boardroom response?

It is a catch 22 situation really. Of course I want us to go out and lick every one of our opposition between now and the transfer window, I am a blade and I expect nothing less! But I sincerely hope that bagging points doesn't come at a cost when it comes to making the necessary improvements to the squad.

This team isn't good enough. We have seen more than enough proof of this since the season started and a few scrappy wins against some of the so called better teams in this division doesn't change my opinion what so ever. Of course I will take the wins all day long but never the less it would be deluded to believe that we are good enough to challenge based on the overall picture.

How much faith do you have in the board? Do you hope we win the lot and that the board will still back the manager financially despite a few semi decent results? Or alternatively would you take a couple of rough results in order to force the board to get the cheque book out as promised by Jim Phipps?

Hypothetically speaking like.............If you can see where I am coming from?

 

[Hunkerby]

Hopefully the decision to invest or not to invest has already been made and should not be influenced by results in the next few weeks. However, if short term results do influence this decision, the effect could well be the opposite to what is described in your post. Winning the next few games could encourage the board to make a push for promotion. Losing the next few may give them an excuse to wait until the Summer.

 

[boo radley]

What spectactular signings are people expecting?

 

[Blade56]

Anyone else think there is a campaign of mis information going on? Tell the fans something big is happening in January

Selling the ground
Moving to a smaller community stadium in Don Valley
Closing the academy
Paying off half the squad
HRH pulling the plug
Chinese moving in changing name to the super trams and playing in yellow/red dragon colours
Brayford off

Loads of bad news rumours, expectaion of fans set low then when nothing happens a few low level loans in and out we all feel relieved. It's a Blades/McCabe thing

 

[davidpinder]

Another very welcome 3 points today and despite the performance not being the prolific, emphatic victory that we are all so desperate to see, never the less it is our third scrappy victory against same league opposition on the trot.

You will have to forgive me now as I am a blade therefore it is hard not to allow myself to be overcome by negative, pessimistic thoughts, however the next three fixtures in my opinion could prompt a very typical boardroom reaction and it worries me as such a typical response could prove so detrimental to our season.

So let's say we bag a few points against the likes of Wigan, Bradford and Peterborough?

Heading into the transfer window a very typical response from the board in times gone by would be to rip up the cheque and tighten up the purse strings with the manager forced to make the same old predictable speech of how "We just went toe to toe with the best in this league and we got something from them" and "This proves that the set of lads that we already have are more than good enough to compete for promotion".

Am I being overly negative in believing this to be a very typical Sheffield United boardroom response?

It is a catch 22 situation really. Of course I want us to go out and lick every one of our opposition between now and the transfer window, I am a blade and I expect nothing less! But I sincerely hope that bagging points doesn't come at a cost when it comes to making the necessary improvements to the squad.

This team isn't good enough. We have seen more than enough proof of this since the season started and a few scrappy wins against some of the so called better teams in this division doesn't change my opinion what so ever. Of course I will take the wins all day long but never the less it would be deluded to believe that we are good enough to challenge based on the overall picture.

How much faith do you have in the board? Do you hope we win the lot and that the board will still back the manager financially despite a few semi decent results? Or alternatively would you take a couple of rough results in order to force the board to get the cheque book out as promised by Jim Phipps?

Hypothetically speaking like.............If you can see where I am coming from?

I have no faith in the current board set up at all, if what I am led to believe is true then while ever there is a 50-50 partnership in place not much will happen anyway. You need to hope Clough comes knocking for a few players, but the problem there is Burton won't pay the wages we do so if you were the players would you move?

I like you want us to win but know dam well that this squad isn't good enough for promotion.

 

[judge]

Anyone else think there is a campaign of mis information going on? Tell the fans something big is happening in January

Selling the ground
Moving to a smaller community stadium in Don Valley
Closing the academy
Paying off half the squad
HRH pulling the plug
Chinese moving in changing name to the super trams and playing in yellow/red dragon colours
Brayford off

Loads of bad news rumours, expectaion of fans set low then when nothing happens a few low level loans in and out we all feel relieved. It's a Blades/McCabe thing

Yeah its called bladesmad

 

[judge]

Doesnt matter what they say its what they do
Too many people on here dissect and over analyse every soundbite and cliche and interpret it to suit their adgenda

I cant see anything being spent because the evidence of the last few seasons is that weve only spent what we have generated and i dont think we have generated much this season

The murphy money seems to have been eaten up by tte loans and the signings of sharp and woolford

This is all just my opinion and i hope im wrong

 

[drinksmat]

There is an argument to say that some wins over the next couple of weeks might help in the JTW - rather than writing this season off and waiting for the summer, some proof that things are turning around on the field might strengthen any requests that are made. Only time will tell.

We got 3 points as a Christmas present yesterday but if anyone is hoping for more don't forget that when you write to Santa the last posting date is tomorrow.

 

[Woodwardfan]

The O.P. is typical of Blades fans' state of mind. We are all confused and all over the place. Delighted that we have "stopped the rot" but so reluctant to express support for current team selection.

We realise the manager had to change the approach but not many of us were wishing for a midfield of Coutts, Basham, Hammond and Woolford. 3 wins in a row is hard to argue with but we know full well we cannot hope to be successful with such a midfield, surely not, oh, plus Collins and McEveley in the Back 4? What's going on ? don't we know anything about football?

Adkins said all along he hoped we could keep in touch with the leaders come January and then "kick on". Why he kept saying that has confused us even more. Word is we are not throwing money at the JTW, so what was he on about?

It can't just have been the fact that by the New Year Brayford and Done plus the other list of casualties would be match fit, not just that, surely? Was Hammond always going to join us so far into the season? Is he that important? Confusion again, after 3/4 games he looked a spent force, many on here slated him and the manager, yet now he's become a "main man" so quickly; not the type of player we all hoped for, but a "main man" nevertheless; more confusion. So many Blades openly slaughtered the manager when he selected George Long and predicted a collapse - clean sheet after clean sheet spreads more confusion.

The O.P. raises a valid point and a slight variation of it raises a dilemma. If we do invest in the JTW should it be to reinforce this mean way of playing the game and see how far it takes us? No way? How confusing!!

I suppose if this team gets thumped at Wigan we will understand it all bit more than we do now! We can't play Long, McEveley. Collins, Woolford, Coutts, Hammond and Basham in the Back 9 and expect points away at Wigan can we? We won't defend and counter-attack from the off at home to Bradford will we?

What do we know?

 

[metalblade]

Or the other way the board may look at things being we have to reduce the squad size and wage bill, so it would be obvious to them to get rid of the high earners rather than making the choice on footballing ability first and foremost.

 

[Rodley]

Anyone else think there is a campaign of mis information going on? Tell the fans something big is happening in January

Selling the ground
Moving to a smaller community stadium in Don Valley
Closing the academy
Paying off half the squad
HRH pulling the plug
Chinese moving in changing name to the super trams and playing in yellow/red dragon colours
Brayford off

Loads of bad news rumours, expectaion of fans set low then when nothing happens a few low level loans in and out we all feel relieved. It's a Blades/McCabe thing

The "rumours" of selling the ground and building a new ground are utter, contemptible bollocks. Invented by people who are determined to de-rail the club and peddled by people who quite frankly don't have a clue.

Honestly why on earth are people inventing new problems for us? It's going beyond parody at the minute.

 

[Deleted member 875]

All the rumours going round at boardroom level are unsubstantiated, piss, shit, wind and hot air at the minute.

What we need to do in the JTW is try and get half a dozen players off the books, and bring in players for 2 or 3 positions. Namely someone to play down the left hand side of midfield as Woolford is garbage, someone to replace Collins and partner David Edgar ar centre half, and maybe a new left back as well.

Now we have won 3 on the spin, and conceded 1 in the last 4 since the Shrewsbury debacle, confidence does slowly seem to be returning, and the signs are there that Nigel Adkins now knows what his best side is, and is fashioning a sustainable side out of the flotsam and jetsam that make up our first team squad.

 

[Esablade]

I'm expecting nowt in Jan after McCabes recent statement and the rumours.
Maybe we'll be able to offload a few more until summer...maybe not..

 

[Worksop II]

The main job in January for the Board is comming for a scheme to siphon away the FA Cup money ............

 

[Woodwardfan]

The "rumours" of selling the ground and building a new ground are utter, contemptible bollocks. Invented by people who are determined to de-rail the club and peddled by people who quite frankly don't have a clue.

Honestly why on earth are people inventing new problems for us? It's going beyond parody at the minute.

Most will be from S6 and the others will lead their lives looking for negatives and doom and gloom; some people are like that; it's nothing to be ashamed of, it is an illness like any physical illness and should be treated as such.

 

[Deleted member 875]

Most will be from S6 and the others will lead their lives looking for negatives and doom and gloom; some people are like that; it's nothing to be ashamed of, it is an illness like any physical illness and should be treated as such.

That is bollocks. If we go through a bad spell which we have done a couple of times this season now, the finger will be rightly pointed at the board, and their failings and the lack of success we have enjoyed will be rightly examined.

 

[Woodwardfan]

That is bollocks. If we go through a bad spell which we have done a couple of times this season now, the finger will be rightly pointed at the board, and their failings and the lack of success we have enjoyed will be rightly examined.

My post was about people "who deliberately de-rail the club" and start stupid, negative rumours.

You have it out of context.

 

[Rodley]

That is bollocks. If we go through a bad spell which we have done a couple of times this season now, the finger will be rightly pointed at the board, and their failings and the lack of success we have enjoyed will be rightly examined.

No issue with that, but people just making things up? They need their bumps feeling IMHO.

 

[Harry's Game]

What spectactular signings are people expecting?

Exactly.

McCabe already dropped a huge hint at the meeting with fans the other week that he feels the problem is the squad is too big, which for once are words of truth from old Kev's mouth.

It's how that squad size should be resolved is what is going to differ between the board and fans I fear.

I can't see much coming in in the JTW unless some go out, and no one is going to buy the useless lumps off us so that means at least one of Done, Brayford or Adams on their way.

My bet would be Done.

 

[Rodley]

For what it's worth I expect a couple of signings at best as the JTW is not an easy window to get work done. Sounds like Adkins has been given a budget though and has been scouting accordingly.

 

[Rodley]

Exactly.

McCabe already dropped a huge hint at the meeting with fans the other week that he feels the problem is the squad is too big, which for once are words of truth from old Kev's mouth.

It's how that squad size should be resolved is what is going to differ between the board and fans I fear.

I can't see much coming in in the JTW unless some go out, and no one is going to buy the useless lumps off us so that means at least one of Done, Brayford or Adams on their way.

My bet would be Done.

Can't see any of those going as we need to reduce the wage bill and Brayford will be the only big earner.

I suspect some of the following will go:

Alcock
Flynn
McNulty
Baxter
Higdon
McFadzean

Whoever we get in is contingent on who we can get rid of.

 

[Snowman]

I'm expecting nowt in Jan after McCabes recent statement and the rumours.
Maybe we'll be able to offload a few more until summer...maybe not..

Just a quickie and apologies if it has already been done to death but just for me, in a nutshell, what was the KM recent statement?

 

[finlaytheblade]

Another very welcome 3 points today and despite the performance not being the prolific, emphatic victory that we are all so desperate to see, never the less it is our third scrappy victory against same league opposition on the trot.

You will have to forgive me now as I am a blade therefore it is hard not to allow myself to be overcome by negative, pessimistic thoughts, however the next three fixtures in my opinion could prompt a very typical boardroom reaction and it worries me as such a typical response could prove so detrimental to our season.

So let's say we bag a few points against the likes of Wigan, Bradford and Peterborough?

Heading into the transfer window a very typical response from the board in times gone by would be to rip up the cheque and tighten up the purse strings with the manager forced to make the same old predictable speech of how "We just went toe to toe with the best in this league and we got something from them" and "This proves that the set of lads that we already have are more than good enough to compete for promotion".

Am I being overly negative in believing this to be a very typical Sheffield United boardroom response?

It is a catch 22 situation really. Of course I want us to go out and lick every one of our opposition between now and the transfer window, I am a blade and I expect nothing less! But I sincerely hope that bagging points doesn't come at a cost when it comes to making the necessary improvements to the squad.

This team isn't good enough. We have seen more than enough proof of this since the season started and a few scrappy wins against some of the so called better teams in this division doesn't change my opinion what so ever. Of course I will take the wins all day long but never the less it would be deluded to believe that we are good enough to challenge based on the overall picture.

How much faith do you have in the board? Do you hope we win the lot and that the board will still back the manager financially despite a few semi decent results? Or alternatively would you take a couple of rough results in order to force the board to get the cheque book out as promised by Jim Phipps?

Hypothetically speaking like.............If you can see where I am coming from?

Was signing Brayford and Done last January a negative response by the board? At least 2 million shelled out there so if that's not positive !
I don't know what is.It was cloughs inability to in vest wisely that was the problem .I like brayford but to pay that kind of money for 1 player
was crazy ,the board backed clough and for me (with hindsight as I backed him all the way,good job I'm not a gambler) they trusted him at that time how wrong they were (I was fooled too) .l don't think the board will allow that to happen again and Adkins in my opinion wouldn't go down that road anyway .As the price for brayford was undisclosed ,could it be a record for a 1st division team?.

 

[Esablade]

Just a quickie and apologies if it has already been done to death but just for me, in a nutshell, what was the KM recent statement?

From memory:

Squad is too large with too many players on wages ' not commensurate' with L1 wages.

This will have to change if we are to get one or two in...net liabilities etc etc

The rumours are that the Prince wanted to put cash in in Jan, but wanted McCabe to match it..which he refused.

Happy to be corrected here but I think that's the gist of it..,

 

[Snowman]

From memory:

Squad is too large with too many players on wages ' not commensurate' with L1 wages.

This will have to change if we are to get one or two in...net liabilities etc etc

The rumours are that the Prince wanted to put cash in in Jan, but wanted McCabe to match it..which he refused.

Happy to be corrected here but I think that's the gist of it..,

Thanks. Nowt new then.

 

[Blade56]

No issue with that, but people just making things up? They need their bumps feeling IMHO.

I volunteer to feel the bumps of the females making things up

 

[derryblade]

I am not sure NA does know his best side yet and certainly this is not the style he wants, it's totally designed to grind out results that's all that matters at the minute, he's admitted as much. The main concern for me is the bookings we are accumulating and will continue to accumulate playing this system, Basham, Mc'everley, Hammond and Sharp must be nearing suspension which will disrupt these tactics and the team. January is huge period for the owners and the manager, we welcome the wins but we would be a bit naïve to think it's job done, we need quality in all the areas we needed last year and a replacement for JM, the owners need to dig deep.

 

[Deleted member 875]

My post was about people "who deliberately de-rail the club" and start stupid, negative rumours.

You have it out of context.

No, I've got it exactly in context. It's patronising to say I have taken it out of context.

People rightly criticise the board when things aren't going well, because let's face it, it is partially down to some of their stupid decisions that we are in our current predicament.

Personally from all the supporting evidence I see the Prince seems to have lost interest in United, and it is not entirely surprising that people are speculating that he may be willing to pull out.

As for the rest of it, there will always be rumours, I don't believe a lot of the rumours, but I can see with perfect clarity why the rumours come about. I don't think for a minute any of are true, but I can understand the reasons why people draw those conclusions.

There aren't people "who deliberately de-rail the club", but are also Unitedites who are concerned about the future of United, and given the previous track record of the board, believe that there are nefarious intentions with the current board.

 

[Woodwardfan]

No, I've got it exactly in context. It's patronising to say I have taken it out of context.

People rightly criticise the board when things aren't going well, because let's face it, it is partially down to some of their stupid decisions that we are in our current predicament.

Personally from all the supporting evidence I see the Prince seems to have lost interest in United, and it is not entirely surprising that people are speculating that he may be willing to pull out.

As for the rest of it, there will always be rumours, I don't believe a lot of the rumours, but I can see with perfect clarity why the rumours come about. I don't think for a minute any of are true, but I can understand the reasons why people draw those conclusions.

There aren't people "who deliberately de-rail the club", but are also Unitedites who are concerned about the future of United, and given the previous track record of the board, believe that there are nefarious intentions with the current board.

Nobody wants to be "patronising", it's just that I think you are on about much wider issues than I was, i.e. in a different context, see the relevant quotes:

The "rumours" of selling the ground and building a new ground are utter, contemptible bollocks. Invented by people who are determined to de-rail the club and peddled by people who quite frankly don't have a clue.

Honestly why on earth are people inventing new problems for us? It's going beyond parody at the minute.

Most will be from S6 and the others will lead their lives looking for negatives and doom and gloom; some people are like that; it's nothing to be ashamed of, it is an illness like any physical illness and should be treated as such.

BTW, my reference to context was in response to you saying I was talking "utter bollocks", I think being"patronising" is a meek response anyway.

 

[Woodwardfan]

The O.P. is typical of Blades fans' state of mind. We are all confused and all over the place. Delighted that we have "stopped the rot" but so reluctant to express support for current team selection.

We realise the manager had to change the approach but not many of us were wishing for a midfield of Coutts, Basham, Hammond and Woolford. 3 wins in a row is hard to argue with but we know full well we cannot hope to be successful with such a midfield, surely not, oh, plus Collins and McEveley in the Back 4? What's going on ? don't we know anything about football?

Adkins said all along he hoped we could keep in touch with the leaders come January and then "kick on". Why he kept saying that has confused us even more. Word is we are not throwing money at the JTW, so what was he on about?

It can't just have been the fact that by the New Year Brayford and Done plus the other list of casualties would be match fit, not just that, surely? Was Hammond always going to join us so far into the season? Is he that important? Confusion again, after 3/4 games he looked a spent force, many on here slated him and the manager, yet now he's become a "main man" so quickly; not the type of player we all hoped for, but a "main man" nevertheless; more confusion. So many Blades openly slaughtered the manager when he selected George Long and predicted a collapse - clean sheet after clean sheet spreads more confusion.

The O.P. raises a valid point and a slight variation of it raises a dilemma. If we do invest in the JTW should it be to reinforce this mean way of playing the game and see how far it takes us? No way? How confusing!!

I suppose if this team gets thumped at Wigan we will understand it all bit more than we do now! We can't play Long, McEveley. Collins, Woolford, Coutts, Hammond and Basham in the Back 9 and expect points away at Wigan can we? We won't defend and counter-attack from the off at home to Bradford will we?

What do we know?

If we do make any signings in the JTW could I make a plea for some PACE.

Never mind central defenders; never mind whether there's are a wide man and/or a striker - PACE please.