A day to turn the screws?

[SK10Blade]

With everybody else in the top six playing away this weekend and 7th and 8th playing each other will we improve our position come Sunday? After this long watching the Blades I still can't help remembering the countless times we have managed to drag defeat out of the jaws of victory. A win this weekend surely must be a huge step back to Championship though (nearly said massive there)

 

[Bladesman]

Yeah I think this weekend will be a decisive game and one that could mean we start to cement that second spot.

 

[boo radley]

Looking forward to it. After last nights test only a 3 days after a big game, the players should relax a little more.

 

[Blade58]

Yes, potentially, we have the opportunity to increase the gap.

However, with all the pending away games and the potential loss of Ched during his court case and of course the imminent verdict, I for one will not be getting too excited.

If/when we achieve our goal, is when I start getting excited. Not before!

 

[TarquinDelouche]

the enormity of the opportunity almost guarantees our unfortunate stepping into some canine excrement and slipping up. I shalln't relax until we have successfully navigated every possibility of fucking up.

 

[bricktop]

I think that March is a huge month for the Blades.

We've got 8 games coming up, that on paper are all very winnable, and if we win them all then we will be as good as up, but that is still a big if, and we need to take each game as it comes, starting with saturday.

 

[Darren]

With everybody else in the top six playing away this weekend and 7th and 8th playing each other will we improve our position come Sunday? After this long watching the Blades I still can't help remembering the countless times we have managed to drag defeat out of the jaws of victory. A win this weekend surely must be a huge step back to Championship though (nearly said massive there)

Can we get rid of this myth that we "fuck up" when we are in a position like this. We don't. The only seasons in living memory when we were in a similar position to now at this time of the season were in 1981-82, 1989-90 and 2005-06. Promoted each time.

 

[SK10Blade]

Darren, correct...and long may it continue. But i've seen too many fights at the other end of the table and at play offs to be too confident. Prove me wrong and i'll be delighted. Somehow this season seams different so it's fingers crossed time...as I meant originally.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

It''s no use trying to educate people Darren. Some people are just coveyor belts of footballing cliches.

 

[alcoblade]

Can we get rid of this myth that we "fuck up" when we are in a position like this. We don't. The only seasons in living memory when we were in a similar position to now at this time of the season were in 1981-82, 1989-90 and 2005-06. Promoted each time.

Ha, but what about the long list of players we give away who go on to become international superstars. We only got £3M for Lee Morris. And Deane was only the 2nd biggest transfer in UK history.



UTB

 

[Jonny G]

I think what we have under DW is an eye on turning the screw at every opportunity, rather than the specific game approach we certainly had under NW. Other games and teams will always take care of themselves and I have more faith now than in a long time that we as a squad know what is required by us to take care of things.

 

[Revolution]

Can we get rid of this myth that we "fuck up" when we are in a position like this. We don't. The only seasons in living memory when we were in a similar position to now at this time of the season were in 1981-82, 1989-90 and 2005-06. Promoted each time.

I couldn't remember a season when United failed to get promoted when they were in the automatic promotion places this late in the season. I checked and it seems there are 4 such seasons, all in the Old Division 2, but none in my lifetime:

1969-70: In second place on 18 March, after 33 games. Fell away and finished 6th.

1949-50: in second place having completed all our games, winning the last 5. Wednesday had a game in hand, which they drew 0-0 to pip us for promotion on goal average.

1937-8: again, in second place having completed our fixtures. Man Utd had a game in hand, which they had to win to pass us. They won 2-0. United lost their last game 2-1 at Southampton, blowing promotion. We went up the following year anyway.

1935-6: in second place as late as 26 March. Finished third. We were distracted by our run to the Cup final, apparently.

 

[travellingblade]

I remember 1969-70, but we made up for it the following season.

In 1949-50, we over achieved and could do no more, having won our last 5 games, but we were pipped on "goal difference", but again made up for it a couple of season later thumping them 7-3 after they took the lead.

I wasn't around for the earlier ones, but I don't think they are relevant.

 

[Ollessendro]

With everybody else in the top six playing away this weekend and 7th and 8th playing each other will we improve our position come Sunday? After this long watching the Blades I still can't help remembering the countless times we have managed to drag defeat out of the jaws of victory. A win this weekend surely must be a huge step back to Championship though (nearly said massive there)

Not really SK. I expect Huddersfield, Pigs and Charlton to all win tomorrow. We turned Bury and Bournemouth over easily and I do not rate Rochdale. I'd be happy if Huddersfield (my main concern) or any of the others dropped points, but do not expect it.

It is a great chance to relax and get back to playing well though. It's a great chance to cement our position before 3 away games. Hudders have 2 home games whilst we play Walsall and Brentford. If we panic and remain nervous we could be going to Colchester with them breating down our necks. Then again, if we relax and play how we can, we could be 3 win clear of second by mid march. Brownie is right (see below) that March is going to be a key month.

I think that March is a huge month for the Blades.

We've got 8 games coming up, that on paper are all very winnable, and if we win them all then we will be as good as up, but that is still a big if, and we need to take each game as it comes, starting with saturday.

I agree Brownie. All the fixtures look winnable, but there are a few tricky ties and a few away games. The main factor is the games come thick and fast, particularly in early March. It will be a bi test for the squad. We'll need to draw on all resources. If we remain calm and play how we can (and get a bit of luck - especially injury wise) then we could be in a great position going into Easter.

 

[Houso]

Playing away isn't actually too bad for us in the sense that away pitches are likely to be better than our own!

I'm willing to say, that if we win 6 out of the 8 matches, we're up.

 

[raul]

I think that March is a huge month for the Blades.

.

Are you going to let someone muscle in on your terretory like this Swiss?

 

[Darren]

Can we get rid of this myth that we "fuck up" when we are in a position like this. We don't. The only seasons in living memory when we were in a similar position to now at this time of the season were in 1981-82, 1989-90 and 2005-06. Promoted each time.

I couldn't remember a season when United failed to get promoted when they were in the automatic promotion places this late in the season. I checked and it seems there are 4 such seasons, all in the Old Division 2, but none in my lifetime:

1969-70: In second place on 18 March, after 33 games. Fell away and finished 6th.

1949-50: in second place having completed all our games, winning the last 5. Wednesday had a game in hand, which they drew 0-0 to pip us for promotion on goal average.

1937-8: again, in second place having completed our fixtures. Man Utd had a game in hand, which they had to win to pass us. They won 2-0. United lost their last game 2-1 at Southampton, blowing promotion. We went up the following year anyway.

1935-6: in second place as late as 26 March. Finished third. We were distracted by our run to the Cup final, apparently.

Thanks for the history

Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think we have ever had this many points at this time of the season and not gone up. 69-70 is the only one I know off the top of my head and our record after 32 games was P32 W18 D4 L10 pts 58 (in new money)

In the 3 seasons I mentioned, our record at this stage was:

81-82 P32 W19 D9 L4 pts 66
89-90 P32 W16 D12 L4 pts 60
05-06 P32 W21 D6 L5 pts 69

Our record points total was 96 in 81-82 - 10 wins and 2 draws from the last 14 will see us beat that. Perhaps more likely is beating our record number of wins in a season - also in 82-82 - 27 - 8 more will see us beat that.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

It''s no use trying to educate people Darren. Some people are just coveyor belts of footballing cliches.

Dunno PD, I mean, at the end of the day the boy done good. It's a game of two halfs, but this is a marathon not a sprint. Just take it one game at a time and if you take your chances, well, over the moon. Just avoid the potential banana skins, give 110%, look for the big man, remember there's no easy games in this league and we've now reached the business end of the season. Keep it tight early doors, they're all six pointers at this stage, cut out the schoolboy defending and they'll be dancing in the streets of S2 come May.

 

[blade too long]

http://www.swfc.co.uk/page/LeagueTable/0,,10304~20050622,00.html

If you transpose us for hull city this is as near as how I see the final table finishing, the year wednesday won the play offs , see them finishing 5th again , but hopefully huddersfield doing for them

whos the team that won the title that year , remember them

 

[SwissBlade]

Are you going to let someone muscle in on your terretory like this Swiss?

Brownie can take March, my month was February.

But I'm glad you remember. Am I the first thing you think about in the morning and the last thing at night?

 

[super_pig]

if you go on the charlton, huddersfield or wednesday boards right now, they're probably all saying the same thing.. 'how are we going to mess up this time'.. it's the pessimism created by being down here in the first place, 'cos let's be honest here.. none of us should be down here at all

 

[blade too long]

a look at our reslts in our last div 3 promotion year is interesting
http://www.sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk/results_fixtures/1988_1989/sheffield_united/index.shtml

we only won 2 of our last 7

 

[anglian blade]

Thanks for the history

Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think we have ever had this many points at this time of the season and not gone up. 69-70 is the only one I know off the top of my head and our record after 32 games was P32 W18 D4 L10 pts 58 (in new money)

In the 3 seasons I mentioned, our record at this stage was:

81-82 P32 W19 D9 L4 pts 66
89-90 P32 W16 D12 L4 pts 60
05-06 P32 W21 D6 L5 pts 69

Our record points total was 96 in 81-82 - 10 wins and 2 draws from the last 14 will see us beat that. Perhaps more likely is beating our record number of wins in a season - also in 82-82 - 27 - 8 more will see us beat that.

My concern is that the top clubs in this division are so much better than the rest that we will need an unusually high total to go up

 

[Darren]

My concern is that the top clubs in this division are so much better than the rest that we will need an unusually high total to go up

Not really - look at last season. The top 3 were clearly a lot better than the rest (Huddersfield in 3rd were 17 points ahead of 7th), and yet 88 points would still have been enough to get 2nd - that equates to 7 wins and 2 draws from our remaining 14 games which should be acheivable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010–11_Football_League_One

 

[blade too long]

Not really - look at last season. The top 3 were clearly a lot better than the rest (Huddersfield in 3rd were 17 points ahead of 7th), and yet 88 points would still have been enough to get 2nd - that equates to 7 wins and 2 draws from our remaining 14 games which should be acheivable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010–11_Football_League_One

doesnt work like that though , points spread means those 4 points less wed get go somewhere else , 2 to 3rd place team means theyd overtake us, so 89/90 be safe
7 wins 4 draws or 8 wins , just to be sure

no 2 seasons are ever alike , but overall 3rd place has never got more than 89 , ever , so 90 would be unassailable

 

[super_pig]

>we only won 2 of our last 7
but that was all we needed to win.. that's a bit like saying .. 'aah but when we won the league we only won 20.. drew 10 and lost 8'.. ultimately it doesn't matter. it is the position that matters

8 wins.. said it when it was 11 wins .. and now it's 8.. it will be seven 5pm saturday
wednesday night was the make/break point IMO.. it's downhill from now on.. we've shoved the knife back in the others.

 

[blade too long]

1 win in 2 out of 14 and 9 opponents to play who are below 10th in the division left to play, add a couple of draws

sounds good to me

win tommorow and we are a short stroll rather than a mad scramble from promotion

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

the enormity of the opportunity almost guarantees our unfortunate stepping into some canine excrement and slipping up. I shalln't relax until we have successfully navigated every possibility of fucking up.

I think what we have under DW is an eye on turning the screw at every opportunity, rather than the specific game approach we certainly had under NW. Other games and teams will always take care of themselves and I have more faith now than in a long time that we as a squad know what is required by us to take care of things.

We've not played particularly well in the last few games and in the last 2 home games we could have easily dropped points after going behind but we came through. We're going to face a lot of games like Wednesday (the day !) for the remainder of the season and the good thing is that under DW, we seem to know how to deal with them. I agree with Jonny as I've said elsewhere, I'm far more confident at this stage than I would have been under NW or KB.

 

[Jehovah]

Im desperate to know when K Mac is back. We missed him big time against the pigs and the first 45 against Scunny is the worst I have seen us play this season. I dont think we would have won if they had kept 11 men.

Got to win tommorow really with 3 away games coming up. Its going to be close. Ball sweatingly close.

 

[Balham]

We've not played particularly well in the last few games and in the last 2 home games we could have easily dropped points after going behind but we came through. We're going to face a lot of games like Wednesday (the day !) for the remainder of the season and the good thing is that under DW, we seem to know how to deal with them. I agree with Jonny as I've said elsewhere, I'm far more confident at this stage than I would have been under NW or KB.

I questioned DW's tactical acumen a couple of weeks back - I wasn't sure whether he was capable of making mid-game changes to turn matches round. He's proved me wrong on two out of the last three games; it's just a pity that the only one we didn't manage it was the derby!