2007/08 Season Review

[Blades-7]

Oh well, a long hard season back in the second tier.

At times its been expectant, fustrating, dissapointing, boring then exicting, hopeful, optimistic season.

So to summarise it up ive made up a list ...

Player Of The Season
James Beattie for me.. been leathal up front and done far better than what i expected. His goals have won us matches and his form since Blackwell took over has been world-class. Well done James, for a amazing season.

Worst Player Of The Season
Hmm.. I dont reallly have one to be honest. Keith Gillespie hasnt exactly been good. Lee Hendrie was shocking. Gary Naysmith had been poor all season until a few weeks ago, so, i dont really have a worst player of the season.

Best Result
Well, who can forget the 3-0 win at Charlton and the 1-0 win at Stoke? The draw at Ipswich was good, because it set us on our way but the 2-0 win against Hull was vital because it kept us in the hunt for the play-offs.

Worst Result
Oh dear. Well, 0-3 at home to Stoke. 0-0 at home to Scunthorpe, 1-1 at home to Blackpool, 0-1 at home to Palace 0-2 to Charlton. But out of all those the most embrassing was 0-2 at Wednesday. Now lets move on....

Best Goal
Hard to remember any really. Beats' stunning free-kicks against Wednesday and Burnley are the only winners for me.

Best Signing
James Beattie... nuff said. Also Gary Cahill and David Cotterill deserve a mension.

Worst Signing
Lee Hendrie lol.

Best Managerial Decision
Robson-Resiging. Blackwell-Signing and playing 4-3-2 after losing Chris Morgan against Hull.

Worst Managerial Decision
Robson-Coming here. Blackwell-Well for me hes done nothing wrong.

Finally, Gives Marks Out Of Ten For The Season
6/10.. not consistant enough under Robson and Blackwell took over to late despite his amazing efforts.



Your turn folks..

 

[butchaboy]

Player Of The Season
James Beattie, no need to explain, 22 goals and missed about 6 league games probably more so who knows if he would have played them all, this guy needs to be keps for next season no doubt, if we are to go up

Worst Player Of The Season
Most players under robson
Tonge, Naysmith, Sharp, all under blackwell however are changed players

Best Result
Away at Charlton, Home to Hull

Worst Result
At home to stoke and at home to scunthorpe
shocking games

Best Goal
Beatties free kick against pigs, priceless

Best Signing
James Beattie and David Cotteril

Worst Signing
I dont want to say Hendrie as the lad showed passion when he played, but then again that would leave Ehiogu

Best Managerial Decision
Robson getting the boot, Blacky being taken in

Worst Managerial Decision
Robbo coming in

Finally, Gives Marks Out Of Ten For The Season
7/10
Poor poor start, middle, but great end, looks promising under Blacky therefore a high rating, hopefully we will be rating 9 or 10 this time next year

 

[7UpJordan]

Player Of The Season
Beattie. Has been firing on all cylinders since Blackwell came in and has scored some cracking goals. And plus he got the first hat-trick since Peschisolido a few years ago.

Worst Player Of The Season
You'd probably expect me to say Bromby, but that would be harsh as pretty much everyone wasn't playing well under boring, boring Robson. For me the worst player of the season has been Hendrie. Poor attitude, good riddance to him.

Best Result
2-0 against Norwich. Was perhaps the first time in nearly a year I left Bramall Lane feeling happy.

Worst Result
Losing 3-0 to Stoke, I left at half time. But pretty much every crap result under Captain Yawn.

Best Goal
Beatties free-kick from miles out against Leicester.

Best Signing
See Player-of-the-season.

Worst Signing
See worst player of the season.

Best Managerial Decision
Getting rid of Robson. I bet he still reckons he could have got us to the top of the league.

Worst Managerial Decision
Bringing in Robson, just about ruined our season.

Finally, Gives Marks Out Of Ten For The Season
2/10 for the Robson era, 9/10 for the Blackwell era.

 

[DazBlade88]

Player Of The Season

I'm going to change the habit - Matt Kilgallon. Absolute rock all season, been Mr.Consistent for us at the back, don't think there's been another player stand out as much whilst playing as many games. Quality player and really hope a big club don't come in for him.

Worst Player Of The Season

I don't like the title of this topic, but I'll say most dissappointing is Hendrie. Really expected big things from him, as did all Blades but he was very poor and I don't think his heart was in it. Would be glad to see him leave on his wages.

Best Result

Either 3-0 at Charlton, or 2-0 at home to Hull.

Charlton was so unexpected and we were a different class, I thought that was a turning point for us after that.

Hull was just brilliant, playing against a team looking for automatic promotion with 10 men and beating them so well. We were all over them and I think it was a sign of how good a squad we actually have when we turn it on.

Worst Result

Too many to mention, I'll say the 3-0 home defeat to Stoke. It was embarrassing, I'd never seen a United team show that little amount of passion and fight.

Wednesday away was so close, but I chose Stoke purely because it was at the Lane and I don't expect us to get turned over like that by ANYBODY at home.

Best Goal

Beattie at Burnley. Absolutely amazing free kick, best I've seen from a United player for a long time. We've never really been a team for brilliant goals though, have we?

Best Signing

For me, Beattie for obvious reasons. His goals at the start of the season kept us in this league, and despite alot of calls of him being lazy, he's been one of the most hard working players all over the pitch. His passion for us was great and I really hope he carries that on next season.

The other contender for me was Gary Speed, alot of people will disagree but I think he's been exactly what we've needed since joining. A calm head in the middle of the park who can pick out a pass. A credit to football this man, still doing as much running as he does at 38.

For loan signings, between Cahill and Coterill. Both excellent in different ways, really wish we could have kept hold Cahill, absolute class act at the back. Hopefully we manage to get Coterill, all depends on Steve Bruce I suppose.

Worst Signing

As earlier, Hendrie. Massive dissappointment after big expectations, thankfully he was on a free so it was only his wages we paid for.

Best Managerial Decision

Hull at home, playing 4-3-2 after having one sent off. We went for it instead of sitting back and it was refreshing to watch us pile pressure on a good side with only 10 men.

Worst Managerial Decision

I can't remember which one it was... it might have been both come to think of it, but Scunthorpe or Blackpool at home. They went down to 10 men, we were drawing, and we changed to 4-5-1. I just remember looking at it in total bemusement, I think I actually laughed! It showed against Leicester, you should just pile into them, hammer a few goals in. Even if you don't score, at least look like it, but we never did.

Finally, Gives Marks Out Of Ten For The Season

Overall - 4/10. A very, very dissappointing season for us, the finish made it look respectable with Blackwell taking over. Im very optimistic for next season though, and with the momentum from our last 10 games it looks good for us.

Up The Blades.

 

[RichJay]

Player Of The Season

I'm also going to go with Matt Kilgallon. While I don't think he had the best start to the season he has been solid at the back for the majority. He is definitely the most improved player from last season.

Worst Player Of The Season

It's a toss up between Hendrie and Gillespie for me. I think I'll go for Hendrie just because I was expecting more from him and I don't think his performance have warranted the wages he is on.

Best Result

The home game against Hull.

Worst Result

I think the home game against Scunthorpe was the worst with no sign of effort or passion.

Best Goal

Beattie's goal against the pigs. Probably the most important goal of the season.

Best Signing

James Beattie, 22 goals and a great hard working team player.

Worst Signing

Hendrie (see worst player of the season).

Best Managerial Decision

Playing 4-3-2 after Chris Morgan being sent off against Hull.

Worst Managerial Decision

Bringing in Robson.

Finally, Gives Marks Out Of Ten For The Season

5/10 - not consistent enough and Robbo should have gone earlier. A few more games under Blackwell and I believe we would have made the playoffs. Let's home we can take the momentum from the last 10 games into next season.

 

[metalblade]

Season 2007/8

On the day that West Ham escaped punishment for the blatant cheating I knew one team would suffer in the end, only when Danny Webber through on goal lifted the ball over the onrushing keeper only to see the ball strike the inside of the post and roll along the goal line to safety did I realise that inevitably it would be my team.
Sheffield United always the victims of cheating and last day drama's had done it again, like Don Givens penalty miss, Stamford Bridge in 94, play off finals, once again we had f**ked it up leaving me to ponder over a thousand "if onlies" and the inevitably parting of the ways with Neil Warnock who I felt fell short tactically at the top level. Disliked by some myself included he has to take a lot of credit for making SUFC what it is today and the parting was handled poorly.
It is not hard to imagine my shock and horror on reading the short list of replacements our fat friend Turry had drawn up, Dave Basset, Peter Reid and Bryan fuckin Robson FFS surely not, inevitably the ex England captain got the job. High profile, a great player but as a manager he had never really cut it without spending shit loads of cash. Not my choice at all but time would tell, the forums were alive with horror stories from Baggies who hated the bloke with a passion. Out went Jags, Davis, CKR and Kozzy. In came Sharp £2m, Beattie £4m, Naysmith £1m, Hendrie £0 and Carney £45k. Alarm bells were ringing as we were linked to every Premiership player who was pushing 35 and hoping for a last fat pay cheque. All in all we went into the season having a large transfer surplus and little if any team improvement.

AUG - began with a 2-2 draw to newly promoted Colchester followed by a 3-1 cup win over Chez vegas. Next came a 0-1 defeat at Watford and a 1-0 home win against much fancied WBA better performances but as the month ended with a 3-2 away win at MK Dons defensive frailties were starting to show.

SEPT - began with a horror show at Scunny, a Webber double salvo got us back into a game that we had no rights to be in, still we managed to fold to a 3-2 defeat. A decent 3-1 win over Wolves was followed by a trip to Blackpool where a BT brace saved our blushes and another poor showing at Palace who managed to record their first win giving their manager a stay of execution. A poor Morecombe side was routinely hammered 5-0 at the lane and the month ended at home to Southampton where we surrendered the points 1-2 to a team clearly struggling. We finished the month exactly where we started languishing in 19th spot and rumours of dressing room unrest were starting to be heard.

OCT - The soul crew came to the lane and easily went into a 3-1 lead over the lethargic Blades somehow we got it back to 3-3 in injury time but by then I had long gone following the example of Blades fans hammering on the exits at half time, the first time I have left the ground with 15mins still to play. At the last minute I dragged myself to the pub for the televised game at Bristol, what a waste of time if we thought the Cardiff game was bad a 2-0 defeat took us down to unbelievable levels. A new centre back pairing of the excellent loanee Cahill and the fast improving Killgallon coincided with a up turn in results, a 1-1 draw at home to struggling Preston and the first away win came at Leicester, backed up by a draw at the KC to high flying Hull City. The month ended with us still in 19th spot and a footballing master class in the cup to Arsenal reserves who really were a joy to watch playing the passing football that Robson's team could only aspire to do. Alarmingly less than a year previously much the same United team had out fought and beat the Arsenal first team, so much for the new passing game, looking at our players obviously they found it hard to pass the local take away. The warnings of dour football and unfit players from the Baggies fans were starting to ring true.

NOV - The upturn in results continued subduing to some extent the dissatisfaction with Robsons reign two home games produced a 0-0 draw with Burnley and a 3-1 over Ipswich with one of the best performances of the season. A hard fought 1-0 win a t Stoke proved to be a false dawn as we sunk to our poor levels in the 0-1 home defeat to Plymouth who really should have scored 4 or 5. United bounced back with a great 3-0 win at Charlton to end the month in the dizzy heights of 13th spot.

DEC - started off with a 1-0 win at the Ricoh and the pro Robson fans were harping on about only one defeat in the last nine league games, reality said we had been less than convincing in most of them. The watford clones in the shape of the thugs of Stoke city came to the lane and the game was over after 18mins as they raced to a 3-0 lead. Now you would expect the losers to regroup and come out in the second half to have real go and restore some pride. The way we rolled over and accepted a arse rogering was sickening to see not one effort on goal from the Blades. 1-0 away defeats at Norwich and Cardiff were separated by the months only high spot of a 1-0 win over the dingles. The increasing calls for Robson's head got louder after the poor poor 1-1 draw with Blackpool on boxing day. The scenes at Bramall lane would sink to a new low a few days later in the 0-1 defeat to a Palace team revitalised by a certain Neil Warnock. Thankfully I missed both games due to severe bout of man flu, The lane had become a bad place to be let alone work, what was once a pleasure had turned into a chore, early season optimism had been ground down where it was replaced by a feeling of doom, gloom and despair in the corridors of the south stand. The taste in the air of relegation was not yet there but it was getting close.

JAN - Things were now pretty bad McCabe was sat on the fence neither sacking or backing the numpty in charge, nothing was spent in the JTW but results took a slight upturn, a 0-0 at Wolves followed by a good cup win at Bolton and a home win over big spenders QPR setting us up nicely for the Sheffield derby at the sty. What happened in that game was the straw that broke the camels back for nearly all the pro Robson fans, a 2-0 defeat is bad enough but to be out fought and out played by a collection of youngsters loan players and journeymen collectively the shite of S6
was simply a disgrace. A good win over Eriksons Man City and a 1-1 draw with Watford ended the month amid rumours that Robbo had only two more games to save his career.

FEB - a 2-2 draw a bottom club Colchester was not a good start to the month talk of automatic promotion had long gone and any thoughts of the play offs now looked a distant dream we had to win the up coming home game with struggling Scunny. United served up one of the worst performances since the days of Adrian Heath, 10 man Scunthope battled out a drab 0-0 draw in a game where neither team had a serious effort to score. The inevitable car park protest took place in larger numbers this time, surely Robson's time was up. The Blades faced a daunting trip to league leaders WBA as reports said Robson had left the club along with his mate Brain Kidd to be replaced by Kevin Blackwell to the end of the season in the circumstances a 0-0 result was fantastic. Draws with Boro in the cup and away at in form QPR helped to restore the confidence of the team. A battling display at Boro in the replay saw the team give everything going out to a fluke goal in extra time.

MAR - a shite display saw us lose 0-2 to Charlton maybe the effort at boro had taken too much out of us. Two very tough away games followed but we recorded a 1-1 at Ipswich and a fine backs to the wall 1-0 win at Plymouth backed up by home wins over Coventry and Norwich. A 1-0 win in the blizzard of Barnsley lifted us up six places over the month before ending with a 3-1 defeat at in form Preston where very little went for us. We were starting to grind out results, dare we still cast our eyes on a play off spot ???

APR - Leicester were dispatched by a quick BT hat trick before the return Sheffield derby, the game took it's usual course with United generally in control only for the pigs to score with their first real effort on goal. In a cauldron of hate the pigs took a two goal lead shortly after half time sparking off trouble in the crowd. the proud record at the lane (no win for the pigs since 67) and the 95 year history of no pig double was under serious threat. At no stage did I think we would lose though, this was a different United to the one that a few months previously would have capitulated. Now the players were looking fitter a yard or two faster and we were a team again. the pigs keeper made a miraculous save from BT but the ball cannoned back into the goal off a pig defender game on. Now it was only a matter of time as the pigs did everything they could to slow it down and hang on happy to try and snatch something on the break. Just as we thought we might not do it BT smashes in a world class free kick to pull us level. It still feels a bit like a defeat. BT repeats the feat in a 2-1 win at Burnley. the ten man Blades put in the performance of the season to beat Hull 2-0 and also beat Bristol 2-1 with a patched up team.

MAY - Unbelievably the run of form under Blackie has given us an outside chance of the play offs and yesterday for 20mins we were sat in 6th place but at the end of the day it was too much to ask. At least we have the old Sheffield United back, Blackwell has earned his 3yr contract the league will surely be tougher next season but we are back on track. BRING IT ON

 

[londonblade]

I really think next season we're going to be challenging for top two finish and instant promotion to the premier league. I reckon Blackwell's got what it takes to make the right changes in the summer to make us contenders for those automatic promotion spots. If blackwell had been in charge from the beginning, then we would easily have make the play-offs, and maybe even the automatic spots.

 

[jodman]

So, as many of us feared, we arrived at the party a little late to make the final dance. A monumental effort from all concerned has seen us finish the season as the form team in the league and left a lot of us thinking about the whys and wherefores that have seen us miss out by the narrowest of margins.

Another season is over but at least this time the fact that we have failed to achieve our ultimate goal is somewhat diffused by the fact that the squad has started showing that it is as strong on the pitch as it is on paper.

Next season will not be the runaway charge to the premiership that many are already hoping for, anyone harbouring dreams of the blades ‘doing a Reading’ are only setting themselves up for a fall. We have a solid platform from which to build, no small feet considering the way our season was heading a few months ago, but this season has proved that football has slight regard for expectations or favourites.

I foresee a season of blood and thunder football; I dare say that anyone hoping for free-flowing football will have to keep watching match of the day for their fix because I have seen no signs that it is forthcoming at beautiful down town Bramall lane. High tempo, highly physical and very direct is the way I expect us to play next season; perhaps with a sprinkling of football when the opportunity presents itself (once we are winning).

I’m hopeful that we will be in the mix next time around; there will be two very good teams joining us from the premiership and another one at least from the league below without taking into account the dozen or so top-flight one timers that already populate the championship. I still think that we have the quality to finish in the top 6, a good start is imperative and holding onto James Beattie would be a massive step in the right direction but I have my doubts that the latter will happen if I’m honest.

Overall, the season has been very frustrating; bordering on boring for the first half but it came to life following the arrival of Kevin Blackwell. My hopes for next season are simply that we can concentrate on the football from the very beginning, that the high profile personnel are restricted to the playing staff and that we see no signs of in-fighting between fans and players, manager, board or fellow fans. The last is a ‘big ask’ but with optimism something of a personal outlook coupled with the wave of unity surrounding Sheffield United over recent months; perhaps it’s not a bridge too far.

Bring on next season, up the Blades.

 

[ClarkeBhoy]

best player
james beattie
worst player
by far- billy sharp
best performance
charlton away
worst performance
pigs away
best goal
beattie at burnley
best signing
beattie
worst signing
for 2 million (ish) billy sharp
best managerial decision
4-3-3 at leicester or stoke away.
worst managerial decision
4-5-1 at stoke at home or pigs away
Final marks
5/10

 

[Robbie]

Sorry but both......

best managerial decision
4-3-3 at leicester or stoke away.

and

worst managerial decision
4-5-1 at stoke at home or pigs away

Were 4-5-1

 

[Bladesman]

Player Of The Season

James Beattie

Worst Player Of The Season

Gary Naysmith

Best Result

2-1 Win over Hull.

Great atmosphere, Great performance from our 10 men and it helped keep us going til the last game of the season.

Worst Result

0-2 to Wednesday the less said about this game the better.

Best Goal

Beattie vs Wednesday

Best Signing

James Beattie

Worst Signing

Lee Hendrie

Best Managerial Decision

4-3-2 against Hull.

Worst Managerial Decision

Robson

Finally, Gives Marks Out Of Ten For The Season

5/10 Just not good enough overall and really with the way we have been performing under Blackwell we should of probably walked away with the league from the start.

 

[stinkyblade]

Player Of The Season

Agree with Daz, Kilgallon for me. Been extremely consistent and solid at back.


Worst Player Of The Season

Probably Keef

Best Result

Stoke away

Worst Result

Stoke at home

Best Goal

Beattie against Burnley

Best Signing

Beattie

Worst Signing

Hendrie

Best Managerial Decision

Blackwell got us playing with passion again

Worst Managerial Decision

Take your pick from Robsons baffling collection

Finally, Gives Marks Out Of Ten For The Season

6/10. Awful under Robson apart from cup run. Since Blackwell came in, credit to him. We might not have played lovely football, but we were playing the old fashioned way, like the Warnock days.

 

[shorehamview]

Player Of The Season

Beattie. He's scored, defended and worked his nuts off. Lazy? Not in a month of sundays.

Worst Player Of The Season

Hendrie. Certainly the biggest on-field disappointment. I expected big things from him, and he failed spectacularly to deliver.

Best Result

Has there been any tremendous result? Not really.

Worst Result

Wendy away or at home. A side as shit as they are should have been thrashed. Robson said it's just another match. Fish cocks.

Best Goal

Beattie against Wendy, just to shut them up and stop that bloody bouncing.

Best Signing

Beattie.

Worst Signing

Hendrie

Best Managerial Decision

Blackwell going for the jugular against Hull, where many managers would have taken off a forward.

Worst Managerial Decision

Robson's crazy-assed tactics.

Finally, Gives Marks Out Of Ten For The Season
Under Robson - 5. Under Blackwell - 8.

 

[Monty's_Girl]

Player Of The Season

James Beattie: 22 goals enough said

Worst Player Of The Season

Lee Hendrie, like SV i expected big things from Hendie and sadly not seen them

Best Result

2-1 against Hull with only 10 men and the 1-0 win over the Dingles at Oakwell

Worst Result

2-0 over at S6 and the 3-0 against Stoke

Best Goal

James Beattie's against the pigs at the Lane

Best Signing

James Beattie

Worst Signing

Lee Hendie

Best Managerial Decision

Blackwell getting us playing like the Sheffield United we all know and love

Worst Managerial Decision

Bryan Robson full Stop

Finally, Gives Marks Out Of Ten For The Season

Robson's season 3 Blackwell's season 9

 

[beightonblade]

One word........................sh*t.

 

[Robbie]

Why do people keep putting that we beat Hull 2-1?

 

[Blades-7]

yeh tut tut.. it was 3-1

 

[ClarkeBhoy]

No it was 2-0 not 2-1 or 3-1

 

[Blades-7]

sarcasm......

 

[keenzy]

Player Of The Season

Killa. BT went off the boil abit and has been out injured, killa has player all way through and been ace.

Worst Player Of The Season

Keef. He's past it now. corners never get past the front post and his pace has gone.

Best Result

The hull game at home probbably. Went back to the united we love, full of fight,
I came out of the game happy. Which has been a while since i lest felt that after a game!

Worst Result

The loss at the sty. It was a disgrace.

Best Goal

Beattie against the pigs. (id say the one away at burnley but i wasnt looking )

Best Signing

James Beattie

Worst Signing

Lee Hendrie. not done anything. or that lad from inter Milan.

Best Managerial Decision

Going for it against hull. not sitting back and trying to get one on the break. Put them to the sword.

Worst Managerial Decision

"just another game" Vs Pigs

Finally, Gives Marks Out Of Ten For The Season

5. Shit most of the season but started to pick up at the latter.

Just hope we can pick up where we left off next season.