Another poll - worst period in club history

[Darren]

Self explanatory really - is this the worst ever point in the club's history or was it the late seventies/early eighties. I am going for now. The shit years back then were really only from 1978 to 1981 as we plummeted from a middling 2nd tier team to the 4th division. After that, we were on a upward trajectory and within 4 years were a middling 2nd division team again.

We have now been shit for a good 6 years and see no signs of an upward movement. These are the locust years for me.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

The team that went down to Division 4 is the worst ever United team but this is the worst period of time.

 

[Bayingblade]

I guess the reason for my vote was that in the late 70's everything was in decline. The ground (south stand apart) needed updating, the training facilities weren't the best, crowds were down etc etc. At least these days the infrastructure is there. That's what tips it for me, bad as it is these days.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Always difficult to tell when you're in the midst of it but, like Darren says, it was a pretty rapid decline (& a shocking one therefore) previously, which was reversed by decisive action & the wonderful feelgood campaign in the Fourth Division. Now, you can see no signs whatsoever of an immediate bounce-back if the unthinkable were to happen & this extended decline ended up in another drop through the trapdoor to the Fourth. The decline just seems inexorable this time round.

 

[Darren]

The team that went down to Division 4 is the worst ever United team but this is the worst period of time.

Good point, but compare and contrast with the team we put out last night and the team that played v Walsall in May 81

Conroy - Long

Casey - Brayford
MacPhail - Edgar
Houston - Basham
Garner - McEveley

Ryan - Campbell-Ryce
Trusson - Reed
Matthews - Baxter
Tibbott - Hammond

Hatton - Adams
Givens - Calvert-Lewin

I would say it's a close run thing...

 

[JJ Sefton]

Self explanatory really - is this the worst ever point in the club's history or was it the late seventies/early eighties. I am going for now. The shit years back then were really only from 1978 to 1981 as we plummeted from a middling 2nd tier team to the 4th division. After that, we were on a upward trajectory and within 4 years were a middling 2nd division team again.

We have now been shit for a good 6 years and see no signs of an upward movement. These are the locust years for me.

It's worse than that, the locusts have fucked off and are pissing themselves laughing at us.

 

[Whiston Blade]

Can't vote as I wasn't around in 78-81

 

[Darren]

Re 80-81, the team then had enough to finish at least mid table in D3, but it was the combination of freak circumstances (going down with the equivalent of 54 points under 3 for a win) and a shit manager that sent us down.

Haslam resigned in January with us in mid table and Peters took over. He was clearly not up to that or any managerial job and we only won 3 with him in charge and after he resigned he never managed again.

 

[metalblade]

The thing that tips it for me is there is absolutely no signs that things will get better while we have stay away co-owners and a boardroom full of idiots. At least Brearley moved heaven and earth to make sure we only had the one season in Div 4.

 

[Lane Ender]

The thing that tips it for me is there is absolutely no signs that things will get better while we have stay away co-owners and a boardroom full of idiots. At least Brearley moved heaven and earth to make sure we only had the one season in Div 4.[/QUOTe
Brought in the right manager and who in turn brought in players to do the job.

 

[Silent Blade]

Polls like these are a waste of time because many who voted werent around in 1980-81. Cantona was voted Man U's best ever player rather than Bobby Charlton or George Best because many Man U fans who took part in the vote never saw Charlton or Best

 

[lazyfecklessblade]

I'm in my late 20's, so this is easily as bad as things have been. They're in real danger of losing the generation of fans gained over the Warnock period, and being worse than when we were doing 14-15,000 in the second tier

 

[Darren]

Polls like these are a waste of time because many who voted werent around in 1980-81. Cantona was voted Man U's best ever player rather than Bobby Charlton or George Best because many Man U fans who took part in the vote never saw Charlton or Best

Really? I wasn't around in 1897-1902, but I reckon that was the best period in United's history.

 

[Silent Blade]

Really? I wasn't around in 1897-1902, but I reckon that was the best period in United's history.

Not many Blades fans are as interested in Blades history as me or you so if there was a poll on the best period in Blades history then 1897-1902 wont win. You and I think Ernest Needham is the best ever player in Blades history but he didnt win "The best ever player" at the 125 anniversary

 

[Moorside Blade]

Good point, but compare and contrast with the team we put out last night and the team that played v Walsall in May 81

Conroy - Long

Casey - Brayford
MacPhail - Edgar
Houston - Basham
Garner - McEveley

Ryan - Campbell-Ryce
Trusson - Reed
Matthews - Baxter
Tibbott - Hammond

Hatton - Adams
Givens - Calvert-Lewin

I would say it's a close run thing...

Agree that there is little to choose between the quality of the two sides. Both contain players having little affinity for the club and pride in the shirt. The period 79 to 81 was shorter and less painful.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Polls like these are a waste of time because many who voted werent around in 1980-81. Cantona was voted Man U's best ever player rather than Bobby Charlton or George Best because many Man U fans who took part in the vote never saw Charlton or Best

So according to your logic knowing your history is useless. I wasn't around when Churchill was prime Minister but can say he was a better PM than this one.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Not many Blades fans are as interested in Blades history as me or you so if there was a poll on the best period in Blades history then 1897-1902 wont win.

I don't agree.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

it is fucking horrible supporting us at th minute and something or someone needs to give us some pride back.

 

[Bath Blade]

So according to your logic knowing your history is useless. I wasn't around when Churchill was prime Minister but can say he was a better PM than this one.

I don't think he's saying that. He's saying that the results of the poll aren't going to be valid because a significant proportion don't know their history.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Not many Blades fans are as interested in Blades history as me or you so if there was a poll on the best period in Blades history then 1897-1902 wont win. You and I think Ernest Needham is the best ever player in Blades history but he didnt win "The best ever player" at the 125 anniversary

Ahem!

 

[Silent Blade]

I don't agree.

Dont agree with what?

 

[Silent Blade]

So according to your logic knowing your history is useless. I wasn't around when Churchill was prime Minister but can say he was a better PM than this one.

Families of those who died at Gallipolli, Welsh people and East Londoners wont agree with you.

See Bath Blade's post re. my point

 

[JJ Sefton]

Families of those who died at Gallipolli, Welsh people and East Londoners wont agree with you.

See Bath Blade's post re. my point

As a point of history, families of those who died at Gallipoli would be better off blaming those who incompetently executed a reasonably soundly conceived (by Churchill) scheme, and Taffs angered by Churchill's actions as Home Secretary might leave that to one side when evaluating him as Home Secretary. Alex Ferguson was a crap player, that wouldn't factor into my estimation of him as a manager.

I'm baffled as to why east Londoners particularly should have a problem with old Winston.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I guess the reason for my vote was that in the late 70's everything was in decline. The ground (south stand apart) needed updating, the training facilities weren't the best, crowds were down etc etc. At least these days the infrastructure is there. That's what tips it for me, bad as it is these days.

That's my reason too.

Anyone under 40 will vote for the current lot so it's a biased poll.

In the early 80's apart from 1982 it wasn't just the team that was a joke, the club was a joke too.

However at present although the team/ players are a joke the club and supporters are in a different league.

I used to feel embarrassed telling outsiders I was a Blade in the 80's but these days I still get complementary comments. Stuff like "big club in the lower divisions, not sure why your still down there as you always look good on tv"

In the 80's we were on a financial level with small clubs and hardly spent anything and our crowds weren't that great even by div 3 and div 2 levels. In recent years we've been the biggest spenders in league 1, always the bookies favourites for promotion with great home and away support. We have a great stadium and our support is the envy of most Championship clubs.

 

[SRBlade]

I'm in my late 20's, so this is easily as bad as things have been. They're in real danger of losing the generation of fans gained over the Warnock period, and being worse than when we were doing 14-15,000 in the second tier

Good point, at around 2000 we were looking rudderless and there was around 14,000 who turned up regularly, it was not until the 02-03 season when attendances rose and often reached over 20,000. Those figures grew to a peak of over 30,000 in the premiership, then dropped to 25,000 and stayed at that figure until relegation to the 3rd division. Miraculously those figures have not dropped as dramatically as could have been expected.

Point being, that a good 6 years of work went into getting to the Prem and getting such high numbers of fans coming each week had been eradicated within 4 years from 2007 and we are much much much worse off for it.

Around 8k (?) turned up to that infamous Port Vale game of 1999, however we will see double that figure in a league below with a poorer team.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Dont agree with what?

I don't agree that modern day Blades would not choose 1897-1902 as the club's high point.

 

[I should coco]

Families of those who died at Gallipolli, Welsh people and East Londoners wont agree with you.

We were at war for the first and last examples. Mistakes get made and people get killed as a result.

There was a large chunk of the government that wanted to sue for peace with Hitler after the fall of France. Churchill wouldn't have it and I can't think of a better war time leader in our entire history.

No idea why the Welsh wouldn't like him but I'm not keen on them as it happens.

What about dropping the hyperbole and getting back to the Blades?

ISC

 

[sitwell]

Good point, but compare and contrast with the team we put out last night and the team that played v Walsall in May 81

Conroy - Long

Casey - Brayford
MacPhail - Edgar
Houston - Basham
Garner - McEveley

Ryan - Campbell-Ryce
Trusson - Reed
Matthews - Baxter
Tibbott - Hammond

Hatton - Adams
Givens - Calvert-Lewin

I would say it's a close run thing...

No question for me that team was far better with only Brayford (pre last 4 games) getting anywhere near. And that only because Paul (do you know who I am ) Casey was shocking.
I put on here last night 5 minutes before kick off as I stood in the away wishing I had a periscope ,that this was what I believe is our worst starting 11 I have ever seen.

 

[Silent Blade]

As a point of history, families of those who died at Gallipoli would be better off blaming those who incompetently executed a reasonably soundly conceived (by Churchill) scheme, and Taffs angered by Churchill's actions as Home Secretary might leave that to one side when evaluating him as Home Secretary. Alex Ferguson was a crap player, that wouldn't factor into my estimation of him as a manager.

I'm baffled as to why east Londoners particularly should have a problem with old Winston.

Sidney Street in 1911 re East Londoners.

The majority of the electorate in 1945 voted for Atlee. It was a landslide defeat for Churchill

 

[Silent Blade]

I don't agree that modern day Blades would not choose 1897-1902 as the club's high point.

Interesting. Which period it it for you?