after wembley

[spadge]

been thinking since i set off from scunny to come home, after wembley i came away sat down and evan though i was gutted i deep down thought to myself right lets think about this, naughtons gone we all new this maybe we could keep walker and killa, get rid of all the fringe players like sharp, webber, carney, geary and maybe even quinn, then get 2 quality midfielders in a quality striker and a few players to fill the squad like ur davies' etc. the point im getting at was let a few of the fringe players go and get a few bits of quality in and we was there the league would be ours i really didnt think we wasnt to far away from having the correct blend of age, experience, quality and strength. Where did it all go wrong, my view is weve got a manager that is no more than a yes man and a chairman that is no more than a businessman that has lost all touch with the fans and the football club as a football club.
after the wembley defeat what was everyone elses thoughts about the team the manager and the chairman?

 

[Elsecar_Blade]

I agree with you re: the squad. I couldn't believe what I was hearing when I heard the infamous '8 new signings' comments from KB. We needed some quality to turn an effective and solid top six side into a automatic promotion side. 2, maybe 3, players would have done it.

I wasn't too worried re: Naughton as I knew we had Walker and that all we needed was a few months cover for Naysmith from somewhere to make Naughton's sale a good deal for the club. What I didn't foresee was the sale of Walker as well.

Something that I don't think is appreciated enough about last season is the impact of Greg Halford. People state the names of Naughton, Walker and maybe Kilgallon as big losses but Halford was the biggest of the lot for me. Was gutted to see him join Wolves but I guess we couldn't do anything about it if he wanted Premiership football.

I think the problem is the problems/issues that we couldn't see coming after the Play Off Final - Kenny's suspension, Walker's sale, Kilgallon's contract issues, a horrendous run of injuries. These have hit us hard.

Manager Blackwell - after the Play Off Final and I heard the comments re: resigning, I wasn't too fussed. I didn't think he deserved sacking and I still don't but I don't think he is the man to lead us to the Premier League without a major slice of good fortune. He made his decision to stay and he has a contract that allows him to do that so fair enough. Last season was a good effort and I think he had earnt at least one more crack at it. Calling him a 'yes man' is strong: the board are his boss and if they say he has to do it, he says 'Yes' or he heads for the dole queue. I know what I'd say as well.

Chairman McCabe: I'm still trusting him. He hasn't let us down yet with the exception of Robson and I trust that he is making decisions that he truly believes are for the best for SUFC. He hasn't made many wrong ones.

So what next?

If Blackwell walks, thats his choice but I think United have no right to push him until he has chance to prove that his squad is capable or not. I still believe that his exploits in the last season and a half give him the right to a chance at this season. For me, there are a number of things he must consider:

Who is his first choice eleven? Work it out and have the bottle to stick with it.

Is Kilgallon up for it? If not, don't pick him. Plan for the future.

Are the current tactics effective still? What are we going to do when Plan A fails?

What does he think constitutes the key aspects of our football team? Make it clear to the fans - is it pace? work ethic? coping with direct play? Once we know, we can see what he is up to. We might not agree but we know.

Let's hope that we start to put things back on track on Tuesday. UTB

 

[dingledog]

Seems a fair analysis to me Wombwell.

 

[spadge]

yes you make some good points there wombwell, i think it would help if he involved the fans a bit. By this i dont mean we pick the team but just come out and tell us what his plans are same with mccabe whats his plan with united etc. we seem to be getting left in the dark abit.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

When managers and their teams are struggling they tend to go back to what they know best and with KB, that's playing it tight. He said after Coventry that we needed to get back to basics defending wise and since then we've shipped an average of over 2 goals a game so it's difficult to see what he can do, particularly given the problems with injuries to Monty in particular, the situation with Killa and the apparent lack of confidence in Bunn.

 

[Worksop II]

I agree with you re: the squad. I couldn't believe what I was hearing when I heard the infamous '8 new signings' comments from KB. We needed some quality to turn an effective and solid top six side into a automatic promotion side. 2, maybe 3, players would have done it.

I wasn't too worried re: Naughton as I knew we had Walker and that all we needed was a few months cover for Naysmith from somewhere to make Naughton's sale a good deal for the club. What I didn't foresee was the sale of Walker as well.

Something that I don't think is appreciated enough about last season is the impact of Greg Halford. People state the names of Naughton, Walker and maybe Kilgallon as big losses but Halford was the biggest of the lot for me. Was gutted to see him join Wolves but I guess we couldn't do anything about it if he wanted Premiership football.

I think the problem is the problems/issues that we couldn't see coming after the Play Off Final - Kenny's suspension, Walker's sale, Kilgallon's contract issues, a horrendous run of injuries. These have hit us hard.

Manager Blackwell - after the Play Off Final and I heard the comments re: resigning, I wasn't too fussed. I didn't think he deserved sacking and I still don't but I don't think he is the man to lead us to the Premier League without a major slice of good fortune. He made his decision to stay and he has a contract that allows him to do that so fair enough. Last season was a good effort and I think he had earnt at least one more crack at it. Calling him a 'yes man' is strong: the board are his boss and if they say he has to do it, he says 'Yes' or he heads for the dole queue. I know what I'd say as well.

Chairman McCabe: I'm still trusting him. He hasn't let us down yet with the exception of Robson and I trust that he is making decisions that he truly believes are for the best for SUFC. He hasn't made many wrong ones.

So what next?

If Blackwell walks, thats his choice but I think United have no right to push him until he has chance to prove that his squad is capable or not. I still believe that his exploits in the last season and a half give him the right to a chance at this season. For me, there are a number of things he must consider:

Who is his first choice eleven? Work it out and have the bottle to stick with it.

Is Kilgallon up for it? If not, don't pick him. Plan for the future.

Are the current tactics effective still? What are we going to do when Plan A fails?

What does he think constitutes the key aspects of our football team? Make it clear to the fans - is it pace? work ethic? coping with direct play? Once we know, we can see what he is up to. We might not agree but we know.

Let's hope that we start to put things back on track on Tuesday. UTB

I often wonder what McCabe thought about the "shoes off protest" - he had backed Warnock with ever increasing funds, thought not mind blowing, and had suffered relegation like all of us.

He set on Robbo with even more money rolling around, especially in the wages department, and when it all went sour, McCabes reward were the hordes protesting in the Car Park.

I wonder what McCabe thought of that ?

 

[Elsecar_Blade]

yes you make some good points there wombwell, i think it would help if he involved the fans a bit. By this i dont mean we pick the team but just come out and tell us what his plans are same with mccabe whats his plan with united etc. we seem to be getting left in the dark abit.

Hammer, meet the head of the nail.

I think the fans are not stupid and sense something somewhere is wrong. Someone is telling us lies somewhere - with good intentions in all fairness - about the finances, the wages, the injuries, something. I don't agree with the idiots idea of supporting our Blades with negative chants but I think most of us have followed the Blades enough to know when something isn't quite right. It needs identifying, it needs the club to be honest and keep the fans informed.

SUFC never know: the fans might respond positively and back the team. If I'm honest, whilst I loved the success of promotion, I preferred the Premiership underdog battle more. Blades respond best to backs against the wall and up against it. Always have, always will. Maybe the pictures being painted are too rosy for us to understand?

I also think McCabe needs to come out and speak publically, i.e. Radio Sheffield or whatever. Just to assure the fans who support him a little and keep them onside.

 

[spadge]

yes i dont mind if where up shit creak without a paddle if they come and tell us that i think most blades me for one would get behind us more and say right we no situation lets get on with it, its just the fact no one seems to no where we stand, like you say something just doesnt seem right.

 

[Sensiblade]

If there are problems behind the scene's then telling the fans would be a bit counter productive due to the fact you wouldn't just be telling the fans. You'd be telling the competion, media, money men and anyone else who could either read a newspaper or the internet.

Any business keeps things confidential until it is absoloutley neccesary to tell and then they never give the full picture.

It's not a new thing Fan's not being told everything, it just seem's more apparant due to all the different forms of Media we as Fan's can look at compared to 10 or 20 years ago.

 

[jose_d_blade]

i said at the end of the transfer window we were in trouble and that "blackwell was an idiot" i also warned that we had too many loan players.
i said we had weakened the squad in all positions bar the wings.
its been like a fire sale.

i got slated.

just find it funny that people are starting to see what i said.

we wont do any thing untill we get a manager that will stick his neck on the line and demand 1st team backing from the board it is not blackwell.

 

[raul]

Something along the lines of "That corner'd look brilliant with a business suite in it" Worksop

 

[Come from away]

i said at the end of the transfer window we were in trouble and that "blackwell was an idiot" i also warned that we had too many loan players.
i said we had weakened the squad in all positions bar the wings.
its been like a fire sale.

i got slated.

just find it funny that people are starting to see what i said.

we wont do any thing untill we get a manager that will stick his neck on the line and demand 1st team backing from the board it is not blackwell.

Just for the record. I didn't agree with you then and don't now. Don't see any justification for your comments then and losing a couple of games does not make them right. Teams lose games even when they get promoted.

 

[jose_d_blade]

I said we would be in trouble due to the size of the squad do you think this is not the reason for the dip in form.

Do you think we brought in quality players ?

Or do you think the squad is not good enough?

Or is it that Blackwell couldn’t manage a kebab shop?

If you are trying to tell me that this team is as strong as last year I find it bloody hilarious.

I don’t care what you think but I am concerned and I don’t think id be much of a blade not to express my concern.

What would it take for you to agree?
Sell the whole team and just field youth players
Relegation to league 2
Sell the lane to make a quick book and share with the pigs

It is our club if you love it like I do its hard to say nothing when you think its being miss treated.

 

[Come from away]

i said we would be in trouble due to the size of the squad do you think this is not the reason for the dip in form.

Do you think we brought in quality players ? Yes

or do you think the squad is not good enough?yes

or is it that blackwell couldn’t manage a kebab shop?no

if you are trying to tell me that this team is as strong as last year i find it bloody hilarious. Ha ha ha

i don’t care what you think but i am concerned and i don’t think id be much of a blade not to express my concern.

What would it take for you to agree? Coomon sense
sell the whole team and just field youth players dumb as a post idea
relegation to league 2 not happrning
sell the lane to make a quick book and share with the pigs your option not mine

it is our club if you love it like i do its hard to say nothing when you think its being miss treated.

that's fine just think you jumped way too early and your expectations are unreal utb!!

 

[jose_d_blade]

I don’t expect a squad full of big name players or money to be thrown at the first team.
I don’t expect to be top from start to end of the season, heck id be happy to scrape in to the top six.


I would like the club to have a manager that players want to play for with fire i his belly that protects his team from the media not offer them up as sacrificial goats to hide his own shocking tactics.

id like a manager who's ego doesn’t decides who plays ,the dressing room must be like a civil war the way he picks the team, injured player and players playing out of position just to avoid playing some one who wont grovel.

I’d be happy to have a team that play for each other that want to play for the fans.

I’d like a board that doesn’t promise to build a squad capable of promotion and fall short on almost every time a club comes with a sniff of one of our better players, if we can’t compete don’t blow smoke up our arse. I would respect them more.

I would be happy if we had a team full of player of league 1 ability that play like there life depended on it rather than big time Charlie’s that don’t seem interested at least id feel they tried.

I’d like to see the ball passed around on the deck.

Is all this too much to ask?

 

[Muttley]

I've been saying much of the above for a while, and have been shot down nearly every time. It gives me no pleasure to see other Blades finally coming round to it. One in particular, who shall remain nameless!

 

[raul]

Yeah, where IS Judge???