The ball is in McCabe's court.

[Harry's Game]

Today was this season in microcosm. One or two promising moments, lots of poor decision making and in the end just not good enough.

Now the club has to decide what it wants to be, do they want to settle for being an established third tier mid table side who might occasionally get near a play off spot. A version of what we were in the late 90's early 2000's but a division lower, or do they really want to take a punt and spend the money to buy a promotion winning side.

The mood music is not encouraging, talk of 'cutting our cloth' and 'pathway for youth' indictes they are going down the former path, they seem to not want to push the boat out and go for that top two place, I am sure this would be denied at any fans forum and they will point to sides such as Yeovi and Rotherham who have had recent promotions from this level without large amounts being spent, this to me is to miss the point almost deliberately so, a club like us is never going to sneak up on the rails to win a promotion, we wear a huge target in this divison, everyone wants to beat us, the comparison should be Leeds, Wednesday, Forest etc who have all spent time down here recently and realised the only way out is to get the best players at this level together, which requires money, we WILL have to spend more to sign a player than the likes of Burton or Walsall, it's just hard reality.

If the board or let's face it McCabe, want to cut expenditure and try to keep doing it on the cheap we are going to be down here a minimum another 5 years, probably longer.

That's the way I see it anyway, and I don't belive it would make a jot of difference if we changed the manager this time.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

The season ticket price reduction tells it's own story. Welcome to long term planning aiming for mid table third level mediocity.
But oh ......all those raised hopes after a scraped win v Shrewsbury.....sums it up really.

 

[Roygbiv]

I can't see how it's going to suddenly dawn on McCabe what needs doing. The talk coming out of the club would be frightening if it wasn't so inevitable.

 

[Surrey Blade]

Today was this season in microcosm. One or two promising moments, lots of poor decision making and in the end just not good enough.

 

[Surrey Blade]

The board has spent a shed load of money since our relegation to L1. The problem is that this money has not been spent wisely. Building a team on a more limited budget, providing the right players are identified to ensure we build a cohesive team, could prove to be a more successful strategy.

 

[Ricky]

I am sure this would be denied at any fans forum and they will point to sides such as Yeovi and Rotherham who have had recent promotions from this level without large amounts being spent, this to me is to miss the point almost deliberately so, a club like us is never going to sneak up on the rails to win a promotion, we wear a huge target in this divison, everyone wants to beat us

Spot on.

The main reason clubs are OCCASIONALLY able do it on a small budget is because there's no pressure or expectation in the first place.

We're a completely different animal. Big clubs don't drop to League One and get out by getting better pound for pound value than everybody else.

Pointing to those clubs who manage it is a shockingly poor basis on which to justify not spending money. But I fully expect to hear it from them at some point.

 

[alcoblade]

The season ticket price reduction tells it's own story. Welcome to long term planning aiming for mid table third level mediocity.
But oh ......all those raised hopes after a scraped win v Shrewsbury.....sums it up really.

I wished he'd shown real ambition and doubled the price of season tickets.

UTB

 

[bladesmanluke]

How old is Kevin McCabe?

He won't be around to see us back in the Championship

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Well, Nige has set his stall out in today's programme notes:

"Billy Sharp and Che Adams ... are forming an impressive partnership which bodes well, for not only the rest of the campaign but importantly for seasons to come."

The fact they were both poor today (especially Billy) doesn't make them poor players, nor does it invalidate the point about their blossoming partnership.

If either gets sold, we can safely say it'll be against the wishes of the manager.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

I wished he'd shown real ambition and doubled the price of season tickets.

UTB

Of course that would be justified on grounds like "we need to buy good players " but looks like all pretence has now gone. Goodbye "Prince", goodbye.

 

[bladesmanluke]

Well Nige has set his stall out in today's programme notes:

"Billy Sharp and Che Adams ... are forming an impressive partnership which bodes well, for not only the rest of the campaign but importantly for seasons to come."

The fact they were both poor today (especially Billy) doesn't make them poor players, not does it invalidate the point about their blossoming partnership.

If either gets sold, we can safely say it'll be against the wishes of the manager.

We'll have to sack Adkins now and pretend the new boss didn't want either of them so that's why we sold them for £400k

 

[Barney]

The recruitment next season needs to be dropped down to a similar strategy to the clubs that go up on much smaller budgets. The budget itself should not be dropped to their standard. That resources advantage we should have next season needs to be there so it can be used to recruit in their style, but better.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

We'll have to sack Adkins now and pretend the new boss didn't want either of them so that's why we sold them for £400k

Hoping McCabe isn't reading this....

 

[bladesmanluke]

The recruitment next season needs to be dropped down to a similar strategy to the clubs that go up on much smaller budgets. The budget itself should not be dropped to their standard. That resources advantage we should have next season needs to be there so it can be used to recruit in their style, but better.

We should have been doing this for the past 5 years and they still haven't figured it out. I don't hold much hope for that changing

 

[PokerBlade]

At least some of them will feel like they've been in a scrap tomorrow. More than I can say for a lot of games this season.

Not a bad performance compared to the standard. Still, too many players that just aren't up to the task. Flynn ran all over but doesn't have the necessary quality. Basham never shirked a tackle but didn't serve any real attacking threat. McEveley and Hammond both generally solid but had their usual moments where I shouted "WTF was that?", both good to cost you a goal at any moment they choose. Done didn't beat his man once, didn't cross from deep either. His only chance defensively is to charge at their first touch and leave 30yds of empty space behind him the times he doesn't get there. Long coming for crosses and coming off worse for it every time.

Yeah, good effort today, lads, but far too many nearly men.

 

[SwissBlade]

This summer we need to avoid sacking a manager and let him rebuild. That would be a great start

This season has been the worst on record for years for a number of reasons, but its not through lack of funding from the top, its not through lack of enthusiasm either

It is however down to a decade of backing managers, but then replacing managers at the slightest drop in form and results. Its been far too easy to replace a manager and pay him off. Leaving behind the remnants of a project never completed.

Adkins has shown since the JTW that if he works with what he's got and finds a team, then we can be more consistent. He has begun the clearout and he needs to continue it.

Adkins will hopefully admit that this year has been testing for all of us and it looks like he has found something. He can't guarantee that it will be enough, but no manager can.

Apparently Adkins was the best out there, he's far from proved it, but with his previous experience he is as well placed as any other manager, for this level.

As I said at the end of last season, the manager will be best placed to know what needs to be improved and who needs to go because he knows the players.

I'd hate for a us to spend another pre season with the PR bandwagon of positivity because it sounds good and sells tickets, i'd hate for us to also have a new manager wiping slates clean.

The ball is in McCabe AND the Princes court, it always is. However, it doesn't need money throwing at the problem, it needs the plan to be adjusted and it needs careful spending on the right targets for this division for the entire 2016/17 season in league 1. That has to be the first focus.

Adkins and his scouts will now have a list of players we like in this division. We need to go and get these whilst paying up and saying goodbye to players who've done a job for their club, but are no longer what we need.

Forget looking elsewhere at other clubs as models, we're Sheffield United, we should all know by now that we're different. Lets make other clubs use us as their model.

 

[alcoblade]

Of course that would be justified on grounds like "we need to buy good players " but looks like all pretence has now gone. Goodbye "Prince", goodbye.

You will be in a group with about three other people who were hoping that season ticket prices would crease significantly.

UTB

 

[United Aren't Back.]

This summer we need to avoid sacking a manager and let him rebuild. That would be a great start

This season has been the worst on record for years for a number of reasons, but its not through lack of funding from the top, its not through lack of enthusiasm either

It is however down to a decade of backing managers, but then replacing managers at the slightest drop in form and results. Its been far too easy to replace a manager and pay him off. Leaving behind the remnants of a project never completed.

Adkins has shown since the JTW that if he works with what he's got and finds a team, then we can be more consistent. He has begun the clearout and he needs to continue it.

Adkins will hopefully admit that this year has been testing for all of us and it looks like he has found something. He can't guarantee that it will be enough, but no manager can.

Apparently Adkins was the best out there, he's far from proved it, but with his previous experience he is as well placed as any other manager, for this level.

As I said at the end of last season, the manager will be best placed to know what needs to be improved and who needs to go because he knows the players.

I'd hate for a us to spend another pre season with the PR bandwagon of positivity because it sounds good and sells tickets, i'd hate for us to also have a new manager wiping slates clean.

The ball is in McCabe AND the Princes court, it always is. However, it doesn't need money throwing at the problem, it needs the plan to be adjusted and it needs careful spending on the right targets for this division for the entire 2016/17 season in league 1. That has to be the first focus.

Adkins and his scouts will now have a list of players we like in this division. We need to go and get these whilst paying up and saying goodbye to players who've done a job for their club, but are no longer what we need.

Forget looking elsewhere at other clubs as models, we're Sheffield United, we should all know by now that we're different. Lets make other clubs use us as their model.

Nothing...no amount of Adkins and his Scouse inflected positive bullshit...can either sound good or sell tickets this summer. He is a total fucking fraud. How fucking stupid will we need to be to rush for season tickets to watch this shit next season?

 

[United Aren't Back.]

You will be in a group with about three other people who were hoping that season ticket prices would crease significantly.

UTB

No ...I dont want that to happen.
Just recognising that the cunt at the top is shaping us for the long haul in this division does not mean I want prices to go up. Fuck them all.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Nothing...no amount of Adkins and his Scouse inflected positive bullshit...can either sound good or sell tickets this summer. He is a total fucking fraud. How fucking stupid will we need to be to rush for season tickets to watch this shit next season?

Adkins has winged it this season . He will be very lucky if he does not get the sack . Oh I forgot we have had a squad of 40 players which has made his task impossible . But let's have faith in the bloke .

No doubt we will find out and see the real Adkins next season . Cannot wait.

UTB

 

[yorkshirecoast]

McCabe gave up years ago, Adkins is clueless and - with a handful of exceptions - we have a squad of players lacking quality, determination, pride, pace and fitness. What a f'kin shambles.

 

[SwissBlade]

Nothing...no amount of Adkins and his Scouse inflected positive bullshit...can either sound good or sell tickets this summer. He is a total fucking fraud. How fucking stupid will we need to be to rush for season tickets to watch this shit next season?

I'm buying mine this week. And yes I'm stupid

 

[metalblade]

Yes today's result just about sums us up for this season, bang average. Just take a look where both teams were last time we met, we were plodding along as we have all season win one, lose one, draw one but Barnsley were in a terrible run losing every week and bottom of the league.Since that day when the dingles scraped a lucky draw in the last minute they have turned the season round not by being a fantastic team but just by being half decent and consistent. Every season there is a team that implodes this year it is Gillingham and we can't even be consistent enough to take advantage, today's team truly is one of the worst teams ever to represent Sheffield United the team that dropped into the old division four was possibly worse but that is debatable. On paper we have the best manager for the job but looking at this season you could be forgiven for thinking he doesn't know his arse from his elbow, his signings, tactics, formations and substitution have on the whole been crap bordering on abysmal and after listening to his after match interviews you could be forgiven for thinking he is deluded and full of shit. If it was a school report it would be a D minus for Adkins, we will end up point for point exactly where we were last season with Nigel Chuff.
I can't see nothing changing next season we have already had pointers that we are entering another period of austerity, the Prince and Jim Phipps are clueless when it comes to running a successful football club let's hope they don't want McCabe to show them the way talk about the blind leading the blind, what with the pigs looking more and more certain to be promoted to the premiership we as a club are looking likely to enter a new dark age.

 

[travellingblade]

We've spent loads of money...... getting rid of manager after manager, and their associated "backroom" staff.

 

[Ecco1889]

I'm buying mine this week. And yes I'm stupid

Im really stupid cos I'm buying two

 

[robbiez666]

Today was this season in microcosm. One or two promising moments, lots of poor decision making and in the end just not good enough.

Now the club has to decide what it wants to be, do they want to settle for being an established third tier mid table side who might occasionally get near a play off spot. A version of what we were in the late 90's early 2000's but a division lower, or do they really want to take a punt and spend the money to buy a promotion winning side.

We don't need to push the boat out or spend big. This has been repeated on countless occasions this season. It's not necessary. Which teams above us have spent big? It's about getting the right kind of players in. Those on the way up, young attacking players on loan and experienced heads to do a job.

Our scouting network is dire. We've hardly done any of that. Che, K Wallace, Scougs, Flynn. All have played their part since signing.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

We don't need to push the boat out or spend big. This has been repeated on countless occasions this season. It's not necessary. Which teams above us have spent big? It's about getting the right kind of players in. Those on the way up, young attacking players on loan and experienced heads to do a job.

Our scouting network is dire. We've hardly done any of that. Che, K Wallace, Scougs, Flynn. All have played their part since signing.

Other teams of our size have spent big when dropping into L1 to give themselves the best chance of a quick promotion - and for the vast majority it has worked. We on the other hand show no ambition, sell all our best players and try to do it on the cheap - which is why we are facing our longest ever period outside the top 2 divisions.

 

[robbiez666]

Other teams of our size have spent big when dropping into L1 to give themselves the best chance of a quick promotion - and for the vast majority it has worked. We on the other hand show no ambition, sell all our best players and try to do it on the cheap - which is why we are facing our longest ever period outside the top 2 divisions.

That's fine if you've just come down (Charlton, Wigan, Wolves etc) but we've not got those better players anymore. It's what we should have done but didn't. too late now. We need to build for the future.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Agree with parts of the OP but don't agree that we have to spend a fortune to get out of this division. I certainly don't believe the 'we are skint' line coming out of the club for one minute, the numbers don't add up for me for that to be the case. But even on a reduced budget SUFC should still easily be able to outspend anyone else in this division. Cherry picking the best out of this division would still be much cheaper and much more effective than what we've had this season with Adkins bringing in overpaid and under performing dross from higher divisions.

If we do cherry pick from this division we should end up with a team/squad capable of getting out of this division. They'd be our players, paid a lot less money than the current lot, but ones who would be overjoyed to be at a club like United and put the effort and performances in accordingly. Personally I don't think the club will go this way under the current manager but are much more likely to do so under Wilder or Warnock.

 

[Grappler]

Im really stupid cos I'm buying two

My stupidity started earlier, I bought two on the first day they went on sale!