LouTheBlade
Active Member
Being a Blade is sometimes fantastic and quite often torturous but after seeing confirmation of our latest signing this morning it has really hit home where we are as a club at the moment. A few members of this forum have recently called for a bit of realism amongst supporters, not least myself at times. One would hope that seeing United re-sign a player from times gone by (at the age of 32) will highlight to people around the club that we are no longer able to compete for the sort of players we were signing a couple of years ago. We’re not in that market anymore, get over it..........
Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinions and expectations, that goes without saying. But why so much uproar that we have signed Simon Walton and Rob Kozluk? Why is this so much of a surprise? Admittedly these aren’t the marquee signings that we have grown accustomed to over the last few years but that was during a period of progression (for the most part) when the club was flourishing. Harder times have now hit and we have to make do. I want United to do well as much as anyone – I’m sure I even think about them in my sleep, but I also have to temper my ambition with the realistic view that these players are our level now and we have to get the best out of what we can recruit.
The signing of Leon Britton (probably our most celebrated capture so far) got the imagination going a little but that was a case of right player at the right time. United did well to get him, but there is no guarantee he will be a star man for us. Just in the same way that there is no guarantee that any other player won’t be up to the mark. We have to give all players the benefit of the doubt until they have been given their chance. Regardless of that, the point is that supporters should face up to the fact that we don’t have the finances to build an imposing Championship side (on paper) any more. Those days are gone and we are back to doing what we used to do – building a side of journey men and misfits in the hope that a winning formula will click. It has happened many times before and who is to say it won’t again.
What surprises me the most is that certain members of this forum will post repetitive jibes at the club as if they are entitled to have huge expectations! It’s as if United have been affluent big spenders all their history and are littered with success! Since when have we ever not had to settle for second best?! Even during the early to mid 70’s when we had probably the best team in our history, things went pear shaped after a few years! We’re traditionally a second tier side that occasionally flirts with the top flight. That’s all we ever were and that’s all we ever will be. So why the huge expectation and the balking at a bizarre/uninspiring signing???? Are we not used to this by now?
The Blades have gone backwards as a club in the last 2 years there is no doubt about that. I wouldn’t let anyone from the club hierarchy fool me into thinking otherwise. They can use spin and talk up the commercial side of things all they want but I know they’re disappointed with the way things are and how we have got here. Once again we had our chance to push on and we blew it, just as we and many other clubs like us always do. However, what’s gone is gone and we have to try to look forward whether the transfer dealings are good, bad or indifferent. The same goes for the coaching staff because at the end of the day until they are removed the opinions of supporters are irrelevant. There were plenty of people against KB last season but the directors chose to completely ignore it and get on with things, so it is quite apparent that fan pressure no longer has the impact it did under the Robson fiasco.
The key is not to have massive expectations and have a little patience, which I even find difficult myself at times, such is my typical supporter mentality of wanting success overnight. Although it irks me to read posts constantly slagging the club off and taking a dim view, I do understand where those feelings come from and deep down I probably agree with some of the opinions. But what does it achieve other than making you feel worse and in some cases, making yourself look a complete muppet. Football swings around and momentum will shift over the course of a few years. We had our little flurry (as short as it always is) and now other team are having theirs. Our time of promise will come again but I guarantee it will either be short lived or will flatter to deceive for no more than four or five years. That’s United and that’s the way we do it so next time it happens just enjoy it while it’s there. The glass is neither half empty nor half full – it is what it is.
Just remember as well..........if all else fails, you can still laugh at Wednesday!
:thumbup:
Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinions and expectations, that goes without saying. But why so much uproar that we have signed Simon Walton and Rob Kozluk? Why is this so much of a surprise? Admittedly these aren’t the marquee signings that we have grown accustomed to over the last few years but that was during a period of progression (for the most part) when the club was flourishing. Harder times have now hit and we have to make do. I want United to do well as much as anyone – I’m sure I even think about them in my sleep, but I also have to temper my ambition with the realistic view that these players are our level now and we have to get the best out of what we can recruit.
The signing of Leon Britton (probably our most celebrated capture so far) got the imagination going a little but that was a case of right player at the right time. United did well to get him, but there is no guarantee he will be a star man for us. Just in the same way that there is no guarantee that any other player won’t be up to the mark. We have to give all players the benefit of the doubt until they have been given their chance. Regardless of that, the point is that supporters should face up to the fact that we don’t have the finances to build an imposing Championship side (on paper) any more. Those days are gone and we are back to doing what we used to do – building a side of journey men and misfits in the hope that a winning formula will click. It has happened many times before and who is to say it won’t again.
What surprises me the most is that certain members of this forum will post repetitive jibes at the club as if they are entitled to have huge expectations! It’s as if United have been affluent big spenders all their history and are littered with success! Since when have we ever not had to settle for second best?! Even during the early to mid 70’s when we had probably the best team in our history, things went pear shaped after a few years! We’re traditionally a second tier side that occasionally flirts with the top flight. That’s all we ever were and that’s all we ever will be. So why the huge expectation and the balking at a bizarre/uninspiring signing???? Are we not used to this by now?
The Blades have gone backwards as a club in the last 2 years there is no doubt about that. I wouldn’t let anyone from the club hierarchy fool me into thinking otherwise. They can use spin and talk up the commercial side of things all they want but I know they’re disappointed with the way things are and how we have got here. Once again we had our chance to push on and we blew it, just as we and many other clubs like us always do. However, what’s gone is gone and we have to try to look forward whether the transfer dealings are good, bad or indifferent. The same goes for the coaching staff because at the end of the day until they are removed the opinions of supporters are irrelevant. There were plenty of people against KB last season but the directors chose to completely ignore it and get on with things, so it is quite apparent that fan pressure no longer has the impact it did under the Robson fiasco.
The key is not to have massive expectations and have a little patience, which I even find difficult myself at times, such is my typical supporter mentality of wanting success overnight. Although it irks me to read posts constantly slagging the club off and taking a dim view, I do understand where those feelings come from and deep down I probably agree with some of the opinions. But what does it achieve other than making you feel worse and in some cases, making yourself look a complete muppet. Football swings around and momentum will shift over the course of a few years. We had our little flurry (as short as it always is) and now other team are having theirs. Our time of promise will come again but I guarantee it will either be short lived or will flatter to deceive for no more than four or five years. That’s United and that’s the way we do it so next time it happens just enjoy it while it’s there. The glass is neither half empty nor half full – it is what it is.
Just remember as well..........if all else fails, you can still laugh at Wednesday!
:thumbup:
