How it could get worse

[Jim Chimmerney]

Didn't Charlton sign about a dozen players when Chris Powell took over? They then went up. Can be done.

and Brizzle last season.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Bit of a problem there SEB, they signed good players.

Danny Green
Danny Hollands
Dale Stephens
Matt Taylor
Rhoys Wiggans
Ben Hamer
Bradley Pritchard
Yann Kermogant
Hogan Ephraim
Darel Russell
Dany N'Guessan
Lee Cook

That's about the crux of it. Hardly world-beaters. In fact, the main two players of that season, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Johnnie Jackson were already at the club.

 

[pommpey]

It would have been much worse already if Sharp had got himself a serious injury earlier this season.

Just imagine where we would be without his goals. It's been a one-man performance just to get us this far - not that much above the relegation fight.

Which is why I don't understand Barney's line that Adkins' acquisition of Sharp has been a mistake. Sharp is a decent striker - a bit one dimensional but he puts the ball in the net. As you say, if he gets injured, we are in the same position as we were with Evans and even with Hulse - we have no direct replacement. Done is, in effect, an attacking midfielder and Sammon is provenly underskilled even at this level.

pommpey

 

[pommpey]

Sorry after all that effort but that's just carrying on as we have been, not getting worse

League position and fans desertiing.

2017-18 will see us even further in the guano. By then Adkins will be long gone, as will Phipps and HRH and McCabe will be looking at his portfolio wondering which bits to ditch in a fire sale. He'll appoint a real lame duck manager as well.

pommpey

 

[Bladesway]

It would have been much worse already if Sharp had got himself a serious injury earlier this season.

Just imagine where we would be without his goals. It's been a one-man performance just to get us this far - not that much above the relegation fight.

Or Matty Done steps up and scores a few. I'm happy to look at facts but crystal ball gazing really isn't my thing.

 

[nopigfansintown]

I'm not sure its a case of getting worse, its just logical regression. The only way its going to get better is if we add value to the squad : good, young hungry players with high resale value, under a manager with the track record for shaping them into a team and achieving promotions from this division. Ultimately the goal should be to obtaining promotion within a realistic timeframe. A board room that backs the manager and allows him to do this unmolested, but with the right recruitment goals, and the processes and personnel in place to carry it out.. A fan base with realistic expectations, yet unrealistic patience, given that we are attempting to stem years of accumulated decline and ill conceived ideas in the boardroom. Less reactive decisions and an overarching, proactive blueprint for success.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

League position and fans desertiing.

2017-18 will see us even further in the guano. By then Adkins will be long gone, as will Phipps and HRH and McCabe will be looking at his portfolio wondering which bits to ditch in a fire sale. He'll appoint a real lame duck manager as well.

pommpey

I could be wrong but next season looks like being the final hoorah for the current regime. I expect they'll back Adkins heavily (relatively speaking) in the Summer. If it doesn't work then you could be right but next season really is make or break IMO.

 

[Karaoke Blade]

[QUOTE="pommpey, post: 950056, member: 16328"]It'll get worse like this:

1. We will continue to underperform, and results will secure us a tenth place position in league three, our lowest for some years
2. The fans will continue to get on the players backs. Adkins will continue to offer poor post match interviews citing 'luck' and emphasising non-existant positive performance statements. Team morale will sag considerably
3. Bramall Lane matchday crowds will drop by 3000-5000
4. At the last game at Bramall Lane a vocal crowd will gather in the Cherry St car park calling for the board to resign. McCabe, HRH and Phipps will not be there, however.
5. Post season, a management level meeting will had Adkins in the 'Clough Position' of back-me-or-sack-me. Adkins will table his idea of inbound transfer targets which will be largely sneered at.
6. Plans will be revealled for a £650,000 upgrade of Club Shop and Executive Suite facilities with the long term aim of attracting conferencing and merchandise opportunities. This is increased by £100,000 the following week in a small box-column in the Star.
7. The summer transfer season looms. It is revealled Baxter has completed his rehabilitation work and is 'fit as a fiddle' and ready to take on the new season. The retained/released list is strangely delayed as management is in 'consideration'
8. The transfer season opens with nothing coming from the club official or unofficial sources
9. Season ticket sales are going poorly. Fans speculate that revenue may not be available for squad building. Nothing is issued by the club
10. Pre season training is 'going well' and the players are 'rested'. 95% of last season's squad are in attendance with the injured Matty Done (flu) and John Brayford (achillies) absent
11. Friendlies are played. We are beaten twice and draw once against lower leage and non league opposition. The squad contains a worrying amount of seemingly uncontracted last season players and youngsters
12. First game comes. It is revealled on S24SU by 'WeRallBladesRNTWe', a new poster seemingly ITK that all contracts have been renewed where necessary and Adkins and McCabe are communicating via email and Jim Phipps. Adkins is looking for other career opportunities. The game, against local rivals Chesterfield, is watched by 12000 people, 4000 of them Spireites. United lose 0-3. Matty Done and John Brayford do not play.
13. 'WABRW' posts on the following Tuesday that Matty Done has been sold to relegated Norwich City for an undisclosed fee. Done plays in the following Saturday's game and scores two good goals.
14. United play the following weekend and draw 1-1 with newly promoted Plymouth Argyle. United's goal is a late penalty, converted by Billy Sharp who seems to be carrying an injury. Brayford is absent causing fans to speculate on his future. On the Sunday following a fan recognises a delegation from Coventry City leaving the John Street Car Park and later more prestige cars leave, followed by Brayford.
15. Brayford is sold to Coventry on the Monday. McCabe goes public with the mandatory 'If they come ... we can't refuse' schtick.
16. United continue to underperform. They are 13th at Christmas. Fans are haemorraging from the matches and who are there, are calling for Adkins to resign. 'WABRW' posts on 29th Dec that a massive bust up has happened just before Christmas between McCabe and Adkins. This is why the players were so shocking in their Boxing Day clash with Walsall which resulted in a dismal 0-2 reversal with Baxter and Collins dismissed.
17. JTW comes. Billy Sharp is rumoured to be being looked at by Bradford City, whose chairman has pledged £3.8m to reinforce their strong league position and challenge for automatic promotion. They need a target man and goalscorer and Sharp is the man.
18. Sharp is sold two days later for an 'unidisclosed' sum. A BCFC source reveals this is £275,000. United sign n o one in the JTW with explanations sounding much the same as previous seasons.
19. Adkins remians in position. United are out of all three cup challenges. The relationship with McCabe improves slightly but as gates plummet to a low of 8200 for a home game against Port Vale (which we lose 0-1) the general consensus is that Adkins should go.
20. Adkins leaves 'by mutual consent' two games before the end of the season after picking up three points from a possible fifteen. Fans on S24SU ask why he didn't finish the season but WABRW returns to explain that Adkins has had a massive, irrepairable conflaguration with McCabe where he called him a 'fucking lying cunt'.
21. United finish the 2016-17 season 15th in the third tier of English football.
22. On S24SU, WHF continues to defend the club and the board.

pommpey[/QUOTE]
That's ridiculously far-fetched pommpey, I mean Matt Done scoring two goals! Come on.

 

[Worksop II]

Or Matty Done steps up and scores a few.

He came on Saturday and played the left hand side wing back position, which appeared to be mainly left back.

Adkins still setting up to defend rather than attack, probably trying to keep the score down

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

He came on Saturday and played the left hand side wing back position, which appeared to be mainly left back.

Adkins still setting up to defend rather than attack, probably trying to keep the score down

Let's not forget that was Done's position up until last season.

3-5-2 should be more attacking than 4-4-2 but I guess it depends on how the players take to it, it should suit Brayford particularly.

 

[pommpey]

Let's not forget that was Done's position up until last season.

3-5-2 should be more attacking than 4-4-2 but I guess it depends on how the players take to it, it should suit Brayford particularly.

3-5-2 is always a good formation, but you need 'wingbacks' rather than left/right sided back four defenders who are fit and agile enough to read the game and track back. They also have a 'box' where they should play their game which (for me) extends from the corner tip of both 18 yard boxes to the touchline, no futher forward except to cross. The central trio of two central defenders and an effective sweeper (one for Basham, maybe) should be sufficiently cohesive, as should the central midfield trio with one of them an effective attacking midfielder to support the two strikers. We played five across the midfield against Crawley last year and Coutts simply didn't know what to do. He barely wanted to get forward to support Murphy out wide or Done up top.

pommpey

 

[wizadry]

..and I've just checked, I was way out. He signed 19 players that summer.

Danny Green
Danny Hollands
Dale Stephens
Matt Taylor
Rhoys Wiggans
Ben Hamer
Bradley Pritchard
Yann Kermogant
Hogan Ephraim
Darel Russell
Dany N'Guessan
Lee Cook

That's about the crux of it. Hardly world-beaters. In fact, the main two players of that season, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Johnnie Jackson were already at the club.

Can I change my initial statement to they sign better players than we do then, albeit give or take one or two players.

 

[wizadry]

Danny Green
Danny Hollands
Dale Stephens
Matt Taylor
Rhoys Wiggans
Ben Hamer
Bradley Pritchard
Yann Kermogant
Hogan Ephraim
Darel Russell
Dany N'Guessan
Lee Cook

That's about the crux of it. Hardly world-beaters. In fact, the main two players of that season, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Johnnie Jackson were already at the club.

Where are all these players playing now would be interesting. I'll take a look later when I've finished work, it could make for interesting reading.

 

[Bert]

We need somebody in charge who understands proper tactics.

Billy in the hole,Sammy leading the line, Wooly false number 9, Che and Flynn working the channels, Coutts and Mac tracking back, Freeman and Wallace overlapping, Beard sweeping and Jose box to box.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I could be wrong but next season looks like being the final hoorah for the current regime. I expect they'll back Adkins heavily (relatively speaking) in the Summer. If it doesn't work then you could be right but next season really is make or break IMO.

What happens then? You know, after "the final hurrah"?

 

[Revolution]

We need somebody in charge who understands proper tactics.

Billy in the hole,Sammy leading the line, Wooly false number 9, Che and Flynn working the channels, Coutts and Mac tracking back, Freeman and Wallace overlapping, Beard sweeping and Jose box to box.

And no goalkeeper...

 

[Bert]

And no goalkeeper...

We won't be playing it Long

 

[pommpey]

We need somebody in charge who understands proper tactics.

Billy in the hole,Sammy leading the line, Wooly false number 9, Che and Flynn working the channels, Coutts and Mac tracking back, Freeman and Wallace overlapping, Beard sweeping and Jose box to box.

Bert sounds like just the person.

Apply within.

pommpey

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

What happens then? You know, after "the final hurrah"?

Lots of booing?

 

[Bartleby]

It'll get worse like this:

1. We will continue to underperform, and results will secure us a tenth place position in league three, our lowest for some years
2. The fans will continue to get on the players backs. Adkins will continue to offer poor post match interviews citing 'luck' and emphasising non-existant positive performance statements. Team morale will sag considerably
3. Bramall Lane matchday crowds will drop by 3000-5000
4. At the last game at Bramall Lane a vocal crowd will gather in the Cherry St car park calling for the board to resign. McCabe, HRH and Phipps will not be there, however.
5. Post season, a management level meeting will had Adkins in the 'Clough Position' of back-me-or-sack-me. Adkins will table his idea of inbound transfer targets which will be largely sneered at.
6. Plans will be revealled for a £650,000 upgrade of Club Shop and Executive Suite facilities with the long term aim of attracting conferencing and merchandise opportunities. This is increased by £100,000 the following week in a small box-column in the Star.
7. The summer transfer season looms. It is revealled Baxter has completed his rehabilitation work and is 'fit as a fiddle' and ready to take on the new season. The retained/released list is strangely delayed as management is in 'consideration'
8. The transfer season opens with nothing coming from the club official or unofficial sources
9. Season ticket sales are going poorly. Fans speculate that revenue may not be available for squad building. Nothing is issued by the club
10. Pre season training is 'going well' and the players are 'rested'. 95% of last season's squad are in attendance with the injured Matty Done (flu) and John Brayford (achillies) absent
11. Friendlies are played. We are beaten twice and draw once against lower leage and non league opposition. The squad contains a worrying amount of seemingly uncontracted last season players and youngsters
12. First game comes. It is revealled on S24SU by 'WeRallBladesRNTWe', a new poster seemingly ITK that all contracts have been renewed where necessary and Adkins and McCabe are communicating via email and Jim Phipps. Adkins is looking for other career opportunities. The game, against local rivals Chesterfield, is watched by 12000 people, 4000 of them Spireites. United lose 0-3. Matty Done and John Brayford do not play.
13. 'WABRW' posts on the following Tuesday that Matty Done has been sold to relegated Norwich City for an undisclosed fee. Done plays in the following Saturday's game and scores two good goals.
14. United play the following weekend and draw 1-1 with newly promoted Plymouth Argyle. United's goal is a late penalty, converted by Billy Sharp who seems to be carrying an injury. Brayford is absent causing fans to speculate on his future. On the Sunday following a fan recognises a delegation from Coventry City leaving the John Street Car Park and later more prestige cars leave, followed by Brayford.
15. Brayford is sold to Coventry on the Monday. McCabe goes public with the mandatory 'If they come ... we can't refuse' schtick.
16. United continue to underperform. They are 13th at Christmas. Fans are haemorraging from the matches and who are there, are calling for Adkins to resign. 'WABRW' posts on 29th Dec that a massive bust up has happened just before Christmas between McCabe and Adkins. This is why the players were so shocking in their Boxing Day clash with Walsall which resulted in a dismal 0-2 reversal with Baxter and Collins dismissed.
17. JTW comes. Billy Sharp is rumoured to be being looked at by Bradford City, whose chairman has pledged £3.8m to reinforce their strong league position and challenge for automatic promotion. They need a target man and goalscorer and Sharp is the man.
18. Sharp is sold two days later for an 'unidisclosed' sum. A BCFC source reveals this is £275,000. United sign n o one in the JTW with explanations sounding much the same as previous seasons.
19. Adkins remians in position. United are out of all three cup challenges. The relationship with McCabe improves slightly but as gates plummet to a low of 8200 for a home game against Port Vale (which we lose 0-1) the general consensus is that Adkins should go.
20. Adkins leaves 'by mutual consent' two games before the end of the season after picking up three points from a possible fifteen. Fans on S24SU ask why he didn't finish the season but WABRW returns to explain that Adkins has had a massive, irrepairable conflaguration with McCabe where he called him a 'fucking lying cunt'.
21. United finish the 2016-17 season 15th in the third tier of English football.
22. On S24SU, WHF continues to defend the club and the board.

pommpey

care to expand on that?

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

There could have been some mad cloning programme or hyper-breeding activity (orchestrated by the Pitsmoor Porker) and there's even more nobsters at BDTBL than were seen at Rochdale.

 

[Bartleby]

The club's debt spirals out of control and we face a winding up order as it is revealed we have huge unpaid tax bills. Milan Mandaric states his interest in buying out the club but there are protests in the club car park involving large banners with lots of blue felt tip writing on them. He thinks Oh fuck em then and we go into administration and start 2016/17 season with -12 points.

 

[Silent Blade]

Adkins renews the contracts of the likes of McEveley and Collins and goes on to sign about 7 players of the Woolford/Sammon ilk. The worst thing is that on all evidence, it's very probable.

And you take Mick Rooker's job at the club!

 

[Darthblade]

I’ve heard people say “It can’t get any worse”. Oh but it can. Let’s cheer ourselves up by imagining how our season could actually turn a lot worse, and become another part of the great Blades tragedy. I’ll kick off.

We somehow scrape into the Play Offs and get Millwall in the final. The game ends in mass violence when Millwall score, with Wembley being smashed up and running battles on the pitch. The game is finally abandoned. It’s described in the media as the “worst football hooliganism in at least a decade”. Politicians get on board, and, despite a heartfelt plea from Jim Phipps, the tie will not be replayed. Millwall are awarded the victory and both teams are docked 15 points from the start of next season.

McCabe initiates court proceedings against the FL. The Prince jumps ship.

It could easily get worse .......

We could offer contracts to any or all of our dross in the summer and continue to fail to sign decent players as replacements for the decent ones that have departed over the last few years ......

Situation normal at BDTBL .....

UTB & FTP

 

[pommpey]

It could easily get worse .......

We could offer contracts to any or all of our dross in the summer and continue to fail to sign decent players as replacements for the decent ones that have departed over the last few years ......

Situation normal at BDTBL .....

UTB & FTP

You've been reading my posts!

pommpey

 

[232 Bramall Lane]

Wednesday go up.

And West Ham win the cup!

 

[Pierre's PC]

And you take Mick Rooker's job at the club!

Is Barney any good at tiling the bathroom? 2

 

[Geordie Blade]

As a general rule, when SUFC does anything less than 'OK', we tend to bugger it up spectacularly. Eleven years of hanging around the top 8, and we have a grand total of 1 promotion to show for it. Two seasons where we switch off, and...

 

[robbiez666]

It can always get worse......

The team suddenly go on a run inspired by Flo, the Belgium Messi. We can go up automatically on the final day but Che's hoverboard catches fire killing one of football's greatest prospects. Racked with grief, the team lose to a 99th minute goal which sees Barnsley sneak into the play-offs.

Unperturbed, the Blades cruise through to the final with a 7-0 aggregate victory over Coventry to play Barnsley in the final. It seems a foregone conclusion but there's a bout of the Zika virus which decimates the squad leaving Collins, McGahey, Flynn, Hammond and Scougal the only fit first team players. There's a last gasp attempt to recall McNulty but he manages to strangle himself on his shoulder jumper in Portsmouth's Reflex

Adkins has no option but to field youth players, and to everyone's surprise, we batter Barnsley 10-0.

There's wild celebrations until the official parade when the FA announce that 18 players have been implicated in match fixing. When every game involved is totted up we're relegated. We're fined 50 million and relegated down a further two divisions. McCabe goes bankrupt and the Prince disappears.

When all is lost Lee Strafford takes over and we have to merge with Wednesday. It is decided that the new team, called Sheffield Wednesday as it' formed on that day, will play in blue and white at Hillsborough.

It can always get worse.

 

[Silent Blade]

Is Barney any good at tiling the bathroom? 2

Crouchy will decide!