A shambles in Hertfordshire

[Blackheath Blade]

I've got accustomed to enjoying away days with The Blades over the last few years as it's a welcome break from the toxic atmosphere that is in evidence at The Lane these days.
However, following yesterdays day out, I cant remember seeing anything like that at an away game for quite some time. The majority of our team, the Manager and his backroom staff should take a long hard look at themselves and what they want to achieve in the remaining games we have this season.
Over the last few months, there have been several posts on this, and other sites, that this league is there for the taking if one team shows a bit of nous, grit, guts, intelligence and hard work. Having watched yesterdays offering, i'm now almost certain that team won't be us.
To be fair, I couldn't believe we were losing at half time yesterday. Two average teams conspired to produce a dull, scrappy game with two glorious chances going begging courtesy of Flynn and Kitson. Right on half time, we go a goal down to some poor defending, scored by an overweight striker wearing the last pair of shorts in the kit bag.
Nevertheless, Lopez certainly gave a lesson to our strikers in that he knew how to control the ball and also was prepared to risk a shot on goal which earned him a hat-trick and grudging applause from some Blades fans when he was substituted.
Losing Murphy in the opening minutes to injury didn't help us, although it gave MacFazdean a long overdue chance to impress and boy, did he do that in the second half. The only plus point on an awful afternoon.
The usually reliable defence looked as though they'd been out on the piss the night before and i'm getting a touch concerned that Long, fine prospect that he is, appears to be reluctant to both talk or shout at his defence, or leave the safety of his six yard area to collect through balls over the top when his defenders are begging him to come and collect the ball.
Second half, we were awful. We started off well enough but when the second goal went in, not one of our team (MacFazdean excepted) rolled their sleeves up and was prepared to have a go back. In truth, we looked and played like a team who were staring relegation in the face instead of lying second in the table and this resulted in the inevitible "Wilson out " chant which led to a scuffle between a handful of Blades stood near me. Just about sums up the day when fans of your own club end up trying to put each other in hospital.
Good luck to Stevenage, they deserved it yesterday. United on the other hand deserved fuck all.

 

[Ollessendro]

Pretty much as I saw it Blackheath Blade. This could be a knee jerk reaction, but I would be surprised if that team goes up automatic. I am hoping and praying it will be a kick up the arse (meaning they will respect poorer teams and not just turn up thinking they will automatically win) and they go onto get automatic promotion. However my gut instinct is telling me that Wilson's Blades will fall just short once again.

 

[raul]

Has he not fallen foul of scoreboard journalism Ollie?

 

[blade too long]

was the classic "off " day , we all have them, just 18 had it on the sameday

 

[alcoblade]

was the classic "off " day , we all have them, just 18 had it on the sameday

Not quite true though, is it. Though it's fair to say we had an off day - that phrase usually means a bad day for a good team. The real mystery is how such a relatively average third division team has managed to be right up there. There's no need to read too much into yesterday - performance after performance tells us there's lots wrong.

For whatever reason we're still in with a great shout - so let's hope we get promotion and perform major surgery on the team - but this would be the first promotion season in my blade supporting history that I would be glad to put behind us.

UTB

 

[blade too long]

we are an above average team in this division , you dont keep 16 clean sheets if your rubbish, the constant crap about this division being shite is really pissing me off , its as good / bad as its ever been , we are all in it for a reason , and when we get out of it it wont be because the others are shittier, we will have worked harder , in all other promotions we have at times been awful, and this we should be pissing it attitude is tantamount to owl fan based arrogance, or delusions of grandeure

it took forest leeds and saints several seasons to climb out of it , we have stayed in top 3 for thw most of our time down here , which is not easy , despite the over blown assesments of us given

we are not a team capable of sweeping aside the rabble in this division as it is thought by some to be , we are one of the better squads in a very tight division
we lost 4-0 , not a good day , but if we do go up , who gives one

 

[alcoblade]

we are an above average team in this division , you dont keep 16 clean sheets if your rubbish, the constant crap about this division being shite is really pissing me off , its as good / bad as its ever been , we are all in it for a reason , and when we get out of it it wont be because the others are shittier, we will have worked harder , in all other promotions we have at times been awful, and this we should be pissing it attitude is tantamount to owl fan based arrogance, or delusions of grandeure

it took forest leeds and saints several seasons to climb out of it , we have stayed in top 3 for thw most of our time down here , which is not easy , despite the over blown assesments of us given

we are not a team capable of sweeping aside the rabble in this division as it is thought by some to be , we are one of the better squads in a very tight division
we lost 4-0 , not a good day , but if we do go up , who gives one

Not much of a debate - are we relatively average, or above average.

Nobody seems to be suggesting we should piss the league - certainly not me. I'm just very bored, which is strange given the league position, but not so given the lack of entertainment.

We can both agree it's really about going up. But if you're actually happy with the football, I'd be surprised. It was McCabe himself who (rightly) argued for a shift towards style over content. On that measure, we're still falling.

UTB

 

[blade too long]

trust me , entertainments not high on the list in the championship , or after watching sunderland v norwich , inthe prem
I find football today very bland

 

[Ollessendro]

Has he not fallen foul of scoreboard journalism Ollie?

He agrees with me pretty much so know!?

Not quite true though, is it. Though it's fair to say we had an off day - that phrase usually means a bad day for a good team. The real mystery is how such a relatively average third division team has managed to be right up there. There's no need to read too much into yesterday - performance after performance tells us there's lots wrong.

For whatever reason we're still in with a great shout - so let's hope we get promotion and perform major surgery on the team - but this would be the first promotion season in my blade supporting history that I would be glad to put behind us.

UTB

I actually think it was an off day, but more in the sense we defended poorly. We have been pretty average all season, but have generaly defended well. Since Collins returned the defence has been excellent, bar Sat-di. The entertainment value has been close to zero and we have been unconvincing all season, but the best defence in the league had ensured we had grinded out results and stayed at the top. That fell apart spectacularly at the weekend. Maguire and Collins, normally composed and like rocks, were at six's and seven's. They may as well have had Olle and Papa Luigi playing centre half. In fact, it seemed like Maguire and Collins had supped 5 pints each before the mach (as Blackheath states) a bit like me and the old man.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

we are an above average team in this division , you dont keep 16 clean sheets if your rubbish, the constant crap about this division being shite is really pissing me off , its as good / bad as its ever been , we are all in it for a reason , and when we get out of it it wont be because the others are shittier, we will have worked harder , in all other promotions we have at times been awful, and this we should be pissing it attitude is tantamount to owl fan based arrogance, or delusions of grandeure

it took forest leeds and saints several seasons to climb out of it , we have stayed in top 3 for thw most of our time down here , which is not easy , despite the over blown assesments of us given

we are not a team capable of sweeping aside the rabble in this division as it is thought by some to be , we are one of the better squads in a very tight division
we lost 4-0 , not a good day , but if we do go up , who gives one

Agree with all of that, but you don't have to think we should piss it to think that this is a terrible division. Everyone talks about how difficult it is to bridge the gap between the Champ and the Prem, but I'd reckon the gap between the Champ and the 3rd Div is just as big now, relatively speaking, in terms of overall quality.

I've seen a lot of academy football in the last few years, at the younger end, and week after week I see junior players (some, anyhow) who appear to have better basic technique and vision than established lower league pros. By basic, I mean really basic: trapping a ball, passing it, creating and using space or closing space down, opening your body to receive the ball, body shape when defending, showing players left or right, shooting. Particularly shooting. I've just about stopped worrying now if teams we play create shooting opportunities, as most 3rd Div strikers don't seem able to hit the proverbial cow's arse (er, Stevenage aside).

 

[broomhillblade]

The question now is what team does Wilson pick for Saturday?

Does he pick the same team with the message "you got us into this mess, now get us out of it"?

Or does he give the side a complete shake-up?

(I think he'll opt for the former, but we seldom seem to perform well in televised games in any case)

 

[Zanzibar]

The question now is what team does Wilson pick for Saturday?

Does he pick the same team with the message "you got us into this mess, now get us out of it"?

Or does he give the side a complete shake-up?

(I think he'll opt for the former, but we seldom seem to perform well in televised games in any case)

From all reports the first name on the team sheet should be Macfadzean.
Will it be?....I'll be surprised, he's far too young for Wilson.

 

[Darren]

From all reports the first name on the team sheet should be Macfadzean.
Will it be?....I'll be surprised, he's far too young for Wilson.

Of course, the manager who insists on giving regulat places to old crocks like Maguire and Long would never give a place to someone as young as McFadzean.

 

[davidpinder]

At the end of the day League 1 have done exactly what they wanted to do turn this league into an "anybody's" league. They have brought in this wage cap/ turn over percentage or whatever it is to even up the league lets be honest they have done that. It just shows with what Tranmere, Yeovil and Brentford are doing is simply hard work, playing for each other and simply wanting it more than others. We have the team to get out providing they are all fit, DW took a gamble on not really replacing Howard and went with young Long who has had some bad games but plenty of good however when it comes to the last 10 games and you need experience and hard work i am not sure he and some others have got that. I expect a playoff spot but am not a 100% on that now maybe if we win Saturday i will change my mind once again, Still don't think donny will make it over the line either but losing again in a playoff final would be bad but to them would be unthinkable.

1, Bournemouth
2, Swindon
3,?
4,?
5,?
6,?
7,?

 

[Kentblade]

I've got accustomed to enjoying away days with The Blades over the last few years as it's a welcome break from the toxic atmosphere that is in evidence at The Lane these days.
However, following yesterdays day out, I cant remember seeing anything like that at an away game for quite some time. The majority of our team, the Manager and his backroom staff should take a long hard look at themselves and what they want to achieve in the remaining games we have this season.
Over the last few months, there have been several posts on this, and other sites, that this league is there for the taking if one team shows a bit of nous, grit, guts, intelligence and hard work. Having watched yesterdays offering, i'm now almost certain that team won't be us.
To be fair, I couldn't believe we were losing at half time yesterday. Two average teams conspired to produce a dull, scrappy game with two glorious chances going begging courtesy of Flynn and Kitson. Right on half time, we go a goal down to some poor defending, scored by an overweight striker wearing the last pair of shorts in the kit bag.
Nevertheless, Lopez certainly gave a lesson to our strikers in that he knew how to control the ball and also was prepared to risk a shot on goal which earned him a hat-trick and grudging applause from some Blades fans when he was substituted.
Losing Murphy in the opening minutes to injury didn't help us, although it gave MacFazdean a long overdue chance to impress and boy, did he do that in the second half. The only plus point on an awful afternoon.
The usually reliable defence looked as though they'd been out on the piss the night before and i'm getting a touch concerned that Long, fine prospect that he is, appears to be reluctant to both talk or shout at his defence, or leave the safety of his six yard area to collect through balls over the top when his defenders are begging him to come and collect the ball.
Second half, we were awful. We started off well enough but when the second goal went in, not one of our team (MacFazdean excepted) rolled their sleeves up and was prepared to have a go back. In truth, we looked and played like a team who were staring relegation in the face instead of lying second in the table and this resulted in the inevitible "Wilson out " chant which led to a scuffle between a handful of Blades stood near me. Just about sums up the day when fans of your own club end up trying to put each other in hospital.
Good luck to Stevenage, they deserved it yesterday. United on the other hand deserved fuck all.

I cannot disagree with any of that.
You must have been near us as the guy causing the problem was directly in front of me and decided to call a guy in the row behind every name under the sun because he had a different opinion.
Sad imho how this comes about but the agressor was so drunk when he took his seat or should I say stood that he was swaying before the game kicked off.
What a sad reflection on the City and the Blades but then over the years we have got used to all this.
The game was bad enough without being sat/stood behind.
UTB

 

[Ollessendro]

I cannot disagree with any of that.
You must have been near us as the guy causing the problem was directly in front of me and decided to call a guy in the row behind every name under the sun because he had a different opinion.
Sad imho how this comes about but the agressor was so drunk when he took his seat or should I say stood that he was swaying before the game kicked off.
What a sad reflection on the City and the Blades but then over the years we have got used to all this.
The game was bad enough without being sat/stood behind.
UTB

Was that the fat, bald tosser with the yellow jacket on?? I could see some twat mekkin a big fuss about 10 rows in front and a bit to the right of us. I quickly lost interest when it was clear the twat wanted to put on a show more than owt else. It was a cringeworthy performance of 'handbags' that would have been better suited to the West End, rather than the terraces. It was sad to see Blades arguing and I felt for the guy who he was shouting at. Old tubbs was looking he did not pick on a hard bastard, as he deserved a Sheffield kiss. If ever the chant (if you wear a yellow jacket you are a cunt) was more fitting.

 

[Bedrock Blade]

Was that the fat, bald tosser with the yellow jacket on?? I could see some twat mekkin a big fuss about 10 rows in front and a bit to the right of us. I quickly lost interest when it was clear the twat wanted to put on a show more than owt else. It was a cringeworthy performance of 'handbags' that would have been better suited to the West End, rather than the terraces. It was sad to see Blades arguing and I felt for the guy who he was shouting at. Old tubbs was looking he did not pick on a hard bastard, as he deserved a Sheffield kiss. If ever the chant (if you wear a yellow jacket you are a cunt) was more fitting.

It was actually the bloke in the yellow jacket's mate that was being a prick. Yellow jacket bloke was trying to shut him up by doing an ott sarcastic impression of him. It kinda worked.

 

[Ollessendro]

It was actually the bloke in the yellow jacket's mate that was being a prick. Yellow jacket bloke was trying to shut him up by doing an ott sarcastic impression of him. It kinda worked.

Ah my mistake. I take it back.

 

[Zanzibar]

Of course, the manager who insists on giving regulat places to old crocks like Maguire and Long would never give a place to someone as young as McFadzean.

Ah, yes.
Maguire was given his debut by Adams and was good enough to retain his spot.
Long would never have made his debut this season other than the crises which forced Wilson to pick him.

 

[Darren]

Ah, yes.
Maguire was given his debut by Adams and was good enough to retain his spot.
Long would never have made his debut this season other than the crises which forced Wilson to pick him.

Well, he could have played the vastly experienced Coyne in goal who has been hanging around the club for months and he could have dropped Maguire last season and replaced him with Ertl(!).

I see no basis for this myth that Wilson will not give young players a chance if they are good enough.

 

[broomhillblade]

At the end of the day League 1 have done exactly what they wanted to do turn this league into an "anybody's" league. They have brought in this wage cap/ turn over percentage or whatever it is to even up the league lets be honest they have done that. It just shows with what Tranmere, Yeovil and Brentford are doing is simply hard work, playing for each other and simply wanting it more than others. We have the team to get out providing they are all fit, DW took a gamble on not really replacing Howard and went with young Long who has had some bad games but plenty of good however when it comes to the last 10 games and you need experience and hard work i am not sure he and some others have got that. I expect a playoff spot but am not a 100% on that now maybe if we win Saturday i will change my mind once again, Still don't think donny will make it over the line either but losing again in a playoff final would be bad but to them would be unthinkable.

1, Bournemouth
2, Swindon
3,?
4,?
5,?
6,?
7,?

Good points. The problem with the salaries cap is that any team that doesn't get promotion will then lose its half-decent players to the Championship (or Prem). You can't blame players for wanting to move up if the chance comes along. So the next season it all starts again, bringing in a few youngsters to blend with older journeymen. The clubs that win promotion may be - as you suggest - those with average players who work hard as a team, rather than those with a few potentially 'quality' players. In our case, until we get promotion, the Academy will be just a production line for other clubs (and hopefully show a profit for SUFC). Maybe that was always the case.

 

[Kentblade]

Was that the fat, bald tosser with the yellow jacket on?? I could see some twat mekkin a big fuss about 10 rows in front and a bit to the right of us. I quickly lost interest when it was clear the twat wanted to put on a show more than owt else. It was a cringeworthy performance of 'handbags' that would have been better suited to the West End, rather than the terraces. It was sad to see Blades arguing and I felt for the guy who he was shouting at. Old tubbs was looking he did not pick on a hard bastard, as he deserved a Sheffield kiss. If ever the chant (if you wear a yellow jacket you are a cunt) was more fitting.

It turned out to be father and son.
I was concerned regarding getting an elbow in the stomach and moved seats with my grandson to be safe.
At my age not advisable to get involved in a ruck.
UTB

 

[Blackheath Blade]

Was that the fat, bald tosser with the yellow jacket on?? I could see some twat mekkin a big fuss about 10 rows in front and a bit to the right of us. I quickly lost interest when it was clear the twat wanted to put on a show more than owt else. It was a cringeworthy performance of 'handbags' that would have been better suited to the West End, rather than the terraces. It was sad to see Blades arguing and I felt for the guy who he was shouting at. Old tubbs was looking he did not pick on a hard bastard, as he deserved a Sheffield kiss. If ever the chant (if you wear a yellow jacket you are a cunt) was more fitting.

I cannot disagree with any of that.
You must have been near us as the guy causing the problem was directly in front of me and decided to call a guy in the row behind every name under the sun because he had a different opinion.
Sad imho how this comes about but the agressor was so drunk when he took his seat or should I say stood that he was swaying before the game kicked off.
What a sad reflection on the City and the Blades but then over the years we have got used to all this.
The game was bad enough without being sat/stood behind.
UTB

Gentlemen, we must have been so close to each other without knowing it. The big guy in the yellow jacket came and stood right in front of me (on the row in front ) after the scuffle. He was as quiet as a mouse and behaved himself after that, probably because the stewards were eyeing him up as ejection fodder.
He stank of ale and it made me wonder what the attraction is in getting shit faced and carrying off like he did. God help him when we do have summat to celebrate.

 

[Bedrock Blade]

There must have been two Yellow Jackets. One a twat, one friend of a twat.

 

[Ollessendro]

Gentlemen, we must have been so close to each other without knowing it. The big guy in the yellow jacket came and stood right in front of me (on the row in front ) after the scuffle. He was as quiet as a mouse and behaved himself after that, probably because the stewards were eyeing him up as ejection fodder.
He stank of ale and it made me wonder what the attraction is in getting shit faced and carrying off like he did. God help him when we do have summat to celebrate.

To be honest Blackheath, I wish I had drank as much as him before the game But being serious, it is totally embarassing. I lost interest after a few seconds, when it was clear that whoever was causing the agro was a big girls blouse that wanted to draw attention to themselves. If he'd have been a hard nut, he would have silently dealt with the bloke he had an issue with. Instead he made a big fuss and did nowt. Regardless of all that, it is always a shame to see Blades fans fighting (or arguing with) each other.