... and James Shield leaps to their defence

[Keen Blade]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...ited-column-a-harsh-transfer-lesson-1-7716480

maybe he's in fear of souring his "special relationship" with the Club ?

Biggsy described the attempts by the current regime to deflect criticism towards previous employees as "outrageous" - I agree - they write the cheques ! It's their company's money ! Our Club's precious resources.

Mr Shield talks of previous financial mismanagement (giving the example of a player on a £1m salary) as if the owners were the VICTIMS of this unfortunate pattern of incompetence , when of course they are its AUTHORS by failing to exert proper control of their company's money on behalf of the real victims in all of this - the fans.

The fans who , through love and loyalty to the Club , pay their hard-earned cash , in the reasonable expectation that those privileged custodians of both the Club and the cash , will treat it with a modicum of care.

So as to produce the sort of progress , in football terms , which befits the dedication of so many thousands of people who , in the main , are of much more modest means.

That is the core of social responsibility carried by the owners of football Clubs , particularly in the North of England , where history, tradition & attendances risk being overshadowed by the football "upstarts" of the economically advantaged South.

Mr McCabe , Mr Phipps - you need to consider how you would like to be remembered - then you will realize that you really need to up your game - or get out.

 

[spongebobblade]

James Shield has wriggled his way into the "IN" crowd at the lane and wouldn't dare to have the audacity to critisize United. Nothing to gain and everything to lose. Why not try looking at things from a die hard supporters point of view Mr Shield? It's a toss up whether he is just a puppet for United in the local rag or just a very poor repetitive journalist not fit to sharpen Tony Pritchetts pencil. I've virtually given up reading his same old drivel day in day out now

 

[Harry's Game]

Who was th £1m a year man then.?

 

[Dkc]

a very poor repetitive journalist not fit to sharpen Tony Pritchetts pencil. I've virtually given up reading his same old drivel day in day out now

He's a decent journo, and needs to be close to the club for sources but I agree he's not critical enough. We look back fondly at TP but he was subject to the same criticisms as Shield- though TP was the Star's hack in the days before the Internet and things were very different then.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

We look back fondly at TP

and Peter Howard

 

[Tezza1889]

James shield gets it, and there's no need to add more fuel to the fire is there, if you go after a chairman or board member as a local journalist you'd soon be out on your ear...

 

[HoodedClaw]

Who was th £1m a year man then.?

I nearly choked when I read it, who the fuck thought yes one of our players is worth a £1m/year.

Focuses a whole new light on the sheer incompetencies of the decision makers at our club.

I'm off for a lie down, just wow!

 

[Deleted member 1486]

He fails to address the main problem: bullshit from bullshitting bullshitters. If the official line from the club was "We're overspending, we need to cull players and be more efficient in our transfer dealings", I think most of us would accept that (some perhaps disappointed, but certainly not the anger we're seeing now), but instead we get bullshit about how money will definitely be reinvested, told all season to wait for the transfer window, constant stories fed from within the club about bringing people in, etc. If there were high expectations during the transfer window, it is entirely because people within the club whipped up those expectations!

 

[Tyler Durden]

Let's have it right, James Shield has spent the best part of 20 years making a career of either stating the bloody obvious or parrotting what other "sources" at the club have been saying. Not once have I read an article of his and ever felt more enlightened for it.
Whether he's a mouthpiece for the club or not is a secondary concern to the fact that he's a bargain-bin journalist.

 

[derryblade]

Wouldn't Shields have been better comparing the transfer dealings of another 3rd tier club rather than bringing a premiership club into his argument. As for the £1 million a year salaried player, that confirms the stupidity of our leaders, unfortunately they haven't learned from that experience, confirmed by KM statement at the AGM, we have still awarded inflated contracts to bang average players, despite being in the 3rd tier of football. A few different faces at the top table, but the same mistakes. Zero confidence these guys can turn this around anytime soon.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Wouldn't Shields have been better comparing the transfer dealings of another 3rd tier club rather than bringing a premiership club into his argument. As for the £1 million a year salaried player, that confirms the stupidity of our leaders, unfortunately they haven't learned from that experience, confirmed by KM statement at the AGM, we have still awarded inflated contracts to bang average players, despite being in the 3rd tier of football. A few different faces at the top table, but the same mistakes. Zero confidence these guys can turn this around anytime soon.

As I've stated on numerous occasions in any other walk of business the person at the top gets binned for underperforming - Mcabe in the last 7 years lost 10000 customers and taken us to stagnation in the 3rd tier and is like an albatross round the clubs neck.

All our hopes of promotion from the positive fans seem to be pinned on blind hope.

If we go up it will be despite Mcabe not because of him.

 

[I should coco]

As I've stated on numerous occasions in any other walk of business the person at the top gets binned for underperforming -

But not if they own the business.

Is he going to sack himself?

If we go up it will be despite Mcabe not because of him.

He has made some poor managerial appointments (Robson and Weir in particular) but has lent the club close to £50m. That is some commitment by anyone's standards.

ISC

 

[Sean Thornton]

As I've stated on numerous occasions in any other walk of business the person at the top gets binned for underperforming - Mcabe in the last 7 years lost 10000 customers and taken us to stagnation in the 3rd tier and is like an albatross round the clubs neck.

All our hopes of promotion from the positive fans seem to be pinned on blind hope.

If we go up it will be despite Mcabe not because of him.

He got 15000 customers extra in the first place if that's the criteria. We can point out his past failings until the cows come home but the problem is now. They aren't putting cash in for player investment just to cover trading losses and look to have no clue on how to move things forward.

Season ticket sales will plummet, the situation will get worse without major funding and where we are now will look infinitely brighter than the start of next season.

NA and Jims rallying calls are hollow. It's action at boardroom level that's needed not calls for support. They've got that already as gates show. Booing and moaning don't cost them money. Not attending will.

 

[Rodders]

He got 15000 customers extra in the first place if that's the criteria. We can point out his past failings until the cows come home but the problem is now. They aren't putting cash in for player investment just to cover trading losses and look to have no clue on how to move things forward.

Season ticket sales will plummet, the situation will get worse without major funding and where we are now will look infinitely brighter than the start of next season.

NA and Jims rallying calls are hollow. It's action at boardroom level that's needed not calls for support. They've got that already as gates show. Booing and moaning don't cost them money. Not attending will.

I agree that a statement of direction is probably needed to win back the doubters; is the current policy of "get as many out as you can before adding" actually the best course of action for the Club? Without knowing the details of things like the wage-bill, it's not possible to make an informed decision on what's the best action. If they came out and were honest and said "yep, we've over-committed last season and need to make savings", then, while not palatable, you can at least rationalise it. The figure of £1m a year is scary (surely it must be Brayford?) - it makes you think, how much are the rest of them on?
The current position of spin and disingenuousness is not doing anyone, most of all themselves, any favours.

 

[derryblade]

I agree that a statement of direction is probably needed to win back the doubters; is the current policy of "get as many out as you can before adding" actually the best course of action for the Club? Without knowing the details of things like the wage-bill, it's not possible to make an informed decision on what's the best action. If they came out and were honest and said "yep, we've over-committed last season and need to make savings", then, while not palatable, you can at least rationalise it. The figure of £1m a year is scary (surely it must be Brayford?) - it makes you think, how much are the rest of them on?
The current position of spin and disingenuousness is not doing anyone, most of all themselves, any favours.

If it is JB, that would confirm what most of us think of the joint owners decision making. I would speculate it was one of the players who came down from the championship, Evans would be my best bet because it was rumoured he was on that sort of wedge.

 

[Rodders]

If it is JB, that would confirm what most of us think of the joint owners decision making. I would speculate it was one of the players who came down from the championship, Evans would be my best bet because it was rumoured he was on that sort of wedge.

Actually, yes having read it, it's clearly Evans. I thought he was on about current players.

 

[BushBlade]

Actually, yes having read it, it's clearly Evans. I thought he was on about current players.

He said

'At least one member of United’s squad since their relegation from the Championship six seasons ago pocketed around £1m a year.'

Which could include Evans, Quinny, Monty, Willo, Creswell.

It was well know at the time we were overpaying these players.

Has Shields been taking lessons from Jim in 'Ambiguous Bollocks'?

 

[Rodders]

He said

'At least one member of United’s squad since their relegation from the Championship six seasons ago pocketed around £1m a year.'

Which could include Evans, Quinny, Monty, Willo, Creswell.

It was well know at the time we were overpaying these players.

Has Shields been taking lessons from Jim in 'Ambiguous Bollocks'?

Personally, I think it's Evans - and he doesn't know for definite if any others, so has written "at least"

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Mr Shield talks of previous financial mismanagement (giving the example of a player on a £1m salary)

A little vague and not specific enough on year(s) by Mr James.

Only one I can think of.

James Beattie.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Let's have it right, James Shield has spent the best part of 20 years making a career of either stating the bloody obvious or parrotting what other "sources" at the club have been saying. Not once have I read an article of his and ever felt more enlightened for it.
Whether he's a mouthpiece for the club or not is a secondary concern to the fact that he's a bargain-bin journalist.

He's the new Tony Pritchett.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Who employs him?

 

[Stretch]

Everything that Shields writes is re cycled from rumour and message boards with the odd out of date fact straight from the club to make him appear credible.

He gets paid as a journalist for doing very little, with perks from the club thrown in. Not likely to upset the apple cart is he?

 

[Toledo Blade]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...ited-column-a-harsh-transfer-lesson-1-7716480

maybe he's in fear of souring his "special relationship" with the Club ?

Biggsy described the attempts by the current regime to deflect criticism towards previous employees as "outrageous" - I agree - they write the cheques ! It's their company's money ! Our Club's precious resources.

Mr Shield talks of previous financial mismanagement (giving the example of a player on a £1m salary) as if the owners were the VICTIMS of this unfortunate pattern of incompetence , when of course they are its AUTHORS by failing to exert proper control of their company's money on behalf of the real victims in all of this - the fans.

The fans who , through love and loyalty to the Club , pay their hard-earned cash , in the reasonable expectation that those privileged custodians of both the Club and the cash , will treat it with a modicum of care.

So as to produce the sort of progress , in football terms , which befits the dedication of so many thousands of people who , in the main , are of much more modest means.

or performances week after week, in fact year after year. Of course a fan.



That is the core of social responsibility carried by the owners of football Clubs , particularly in the North of England , where history, tradition & attendances risk being overshadowed by the football "upstarts" of the economically advantaged South.

Mr McCabe , Mr Phipps - you need to consider how you would like to be remembered - then you will realize that you really need to up your game - or get out.

I honestly think that most people still have not caught on to the fact, that as a fan of any football club you mean absolutely very little to the club you support. It’s going to get even more disappointing in the future for supporters due to the fact of the money involved in football today. Most if not all club boards are not interested in their fans opinions or sentiments. You only have to look at Blackpool to see that you can invade the director’s box, protest in mass, and not even turn up to games it makes no difference. Fans of clubs are like muppets ( me included ) look no further than the Blades trip to Man Utd this site was full of anger and resentment to the prices and a lot of people were not going and even forecasted that we would sell hardly any tickets, right, what happened we sold out and could of sold more. The board know they can do what they want and who can really stop them, not the fans. The only reason Ched Evans was given the boot was not because the fans objected it was because of commercial reasons, they feared sponsors would pull the plug on sponsorship, because believe or not match day revenues are less than their commercial interests. The commercial side of football have a lot more power and say so than the football fan. Football is supposed to be a form of entertainment yet fans turn up like sheep spend a large proportion of their hard earned money to watch the Blades, well I for one do not call what we see entertaining in the slightest and is not worth the money I pay. The truth is our loyalty is our Achilles heel, who in their right mind would pay money to see poor performances week after week, in fact year after year. Of course a fan.

 

[Grappler]

It must be tough being a local journalist these days with dwindling sales of news papers and more people just going online for news. You can imagine the scenario in the offices of The Star.....

Editor: "Much happening down at The Lane this week James?"
James: "Not too much boss"
Editor: "We can't carry passengers here James, you know that, might be best if you look for employment elsewhere"
James: "er....well there is a story that SUFC are looking at two or three loan players?"
Editor: "Really James? Are you sure lad?"
James: "er..yes boss"
Editor: "hmmmm...this isn't just a rehash of your story about them trying to buy two or three players in the JTW is it James"
James: "er...no boss, honestly"
Editor: "hmmmm...I want to believe you James lad, honestly I do, it's just that your continued stories about this 'Dan Burn' seemed suspiciously like you reprinted the same story, numerous times, with a few changes?"
James: <gulp> "er..it's all true boss, I have my sources..."
Editor: "ok lad, I'll believe you, go ahead and get that story, once again, the Star is breaking the latest news!"

 

[Pedro Verde]

A little vague and not specific enough on year(s) by Mr James.

Only one I can think of.

James Beattie.

Says after relegation from the Championship so its not BT

 

[Sheffsteel]

I nearly choked when I read it, who the fuck thought yes one of our players is worth a £1m/year.

Focuses a whole new light on the sheer incompetencies of the decision makers at our club.

I'm off for a lie down, just wow!

This is exactly the situation.

We target a player and they ask for massive wages.

Do we show ambition and pay it?
Or show compentence and refuse to meet demands?

It seems that which ever option we choose the board have made the wrong decision. Heads you lose tails you lose.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Says after relegation from the Championship so its not BT

2011-12 season.
Wilson (re)signed him.
He might not have earned a £1m, but if his contract was £20k a week, that would equate to the figure quoted.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

This is exactly the situation.

We target a player and they ask for massive wages.

Do we show ambition and pay it?
Or show compentence and refuse to meet demands?

It seems that which ever option we choose the board have made the wrong decision. Heads you lose tails you lose.

Until promotion is achieved, every decision the board make will be wrong.
Achieve it and they'll be congratulated for appointing (fill in blank) and so on...

Then it'll all start again until the next promotion is achieved.

Not just United, it's every club who fails.

 

[HoodedClaw]

This is exactly the situation.

We target a player and they ask for massive wages.

Do we show ambition and pay it?
Or show compentence and refuse to meet demands?

It seems that which ever option we choose the board have made the wrong decision. Heads you lose tails you lose.

Sorry if I've mis-understood, are you saying that there are potentially scenarios where we should pay a player £1m/year whilst in league 1?

I can't think of one player that would come and play in league 1 that is worth £1m/year wages.

 

[Darthblade]

It must be tough being a local journalist these days with dwindling sales of news papers and more people just going online for news. You can imagine the scenario in the offices of The Star.....

Editor: "Much happening down at The Lane this week James?"
James: "Not too much boss"
Editor: "We can't carry passengers here James, you know that, might be best if you look for employment elsewhere"
James: "er....well there is a story that SUFC are looking at two or three loan players?"
Editor: "Really James? Are you sure lad?"
James: "er..yes boss"
Editor: "hmmmm...this isn't just a rehash of your story about them trying to buy two or three players in the JTW is it James"
James: "er...no boss, honestly"
Editor: "hmmmm...I want to believe you James lad, honestly I do, it's just that your continued stories about this 'Dan Burn' seemed suspiciously like you reprinted the same story, numerous times, with a few changes?"
James: <gulp> "er..it's all true boss, I have my sources..."
Editor: "ok lad, I'll believe you, go ahead and get that story, once again, the Star is breaking the latest news!"

James Shield wouldn't know a good investigative journalist if one came up and kicked him in the boll**ks !!

He's no better than a mouthpiece for the "Club spin" , which is why he's still working for the Wednes**y Star.

UTB & FTP