Are we entertained?

[Bladeulike]

There’s been some understandable grumbles along the way about our overall standard of play this year but let’s get some perspective. What will be our definition of success for this season as the fog clears and there are now only just two possible outcomes left?

Justice was served last night as Blades cruised (not a word often used on this forum!) to a play off final against a team that finished in the top six. The easy answer is that success will be defined by achieving EPL status and we worry about next season when it arrives. No more needed to be said about that - the money rolls in, future viability and sustainability can be planned and managed and we continue to build. But what if we don’t get through the lottery of a one game play off? Crushing disappointment would be inevitable if we do lose but I don’t think success has to be a binary construct.

A few minutes browsing Porktalk demonstrates plumbing new depths in fans’ attitudes and behaviour as they continue to bang on about relative crowd sizes, showing a frankly toe curling sycophancy towards Sunderland, long discussions about empty seats spotted at the Lane and how ‘classy’ they are in comparison to us. It’s just embarrassing and rather sad that their definition of success can only be measured by our hoped for failure. Truly a club not waving but drowning.

Back to us. We are about to go through an emotional tsunami as the play off final approaches so best time for me to reflect is now before it hits us. Just wanted to say that, in the cold light of day, whatever happens, it’s been a great season. Success is about winning games, about being proud of the team, of being optimistic for the future and, above all, enjoying and being entertained as a football fan! That’s been one of our main successes this year. Sounds obvious but none of these applied at the end of last season. Losing won’t take any of those things away from this season’s achievements and credit to the club and team for restoring our pride and belief. If we lose, even with some inevitable departures, we go again next season as an established top six side. If we win then promotion will take us on another challenging journey but this time with sense that there is a plan and purpose and good financial backing.

We have ground out many results this season but overall have we been entertained as the final curtain approaches? Hell yeah! Strap in - it’s going to be a great ride!

 

[mattbianco1]

A few minutes browsing Porktalk demonstrates plumbing new depths in fans’ attitudes and behaviour as they continue to bang on about relative crowd sizes, showing a frankly toe curling sycophancy towards Sunderland, long discussions about empty seats spotted at the Lane and how ‘classy’ they are in comparison to us. It’s just embarrassing and rather sad that their definition of success can only be measured by our hoped for failure. Truly a club not waving but drowning.

The crowning moment of their season was us finishing 3rd, not in the top 2.

For about 25yrs now, their main excitement, aside from winning promotion back to the 2nd TIER on 3 occasions, has been United's failure to get back to the top tier. A place where a whole generation has skipped for them

 

[Badger Blade]

The crowning moment of their season was us finishing 3rd, not in the top 2.

For about 25yrs now, their main excitement, aside from winning promotion back to the 2nd TIER on 3 occasions, has been United's failure to get back to the top tier. A place where a whole generation has skipped for them

I'd put money on them going down next season if/when Sausage leaves for Soton/Leicester or somewhere in Germany. Chances are he might try and poach one or two of his better players and take them with him, too.

Birmingham won't go down, Wrexham might do alright so there's two spots up for grabs at the bottom straight away

As long as they've got Chansiri at the helm, they're one wrong move away from a full scale implosion.

 

[dexter101]

I think the big thing we have this season, is a squad that we can be proud of. Even if we don't win, the squad have grown, developed and a side and individually and also as a group collectively.

It helps with so many academy players in the group and generally it feels like the start of a new squad rather than last year where it wasn't good enough but we were also at the end of a squad and I think everyone knew it.

Credit to Wilder for putting this group together, he won't always get the tactics right, we (not him) might also sign players that don't work out, but that group walking round the pitch are a special group and I am really enjoying seeing that.

 

[Selly]

For about 25yrs now, their main excitement, aside from winning promotion back to the 2nd TIER on 3 occasions, has been United's failure to get back to the top tier. A place where a whole generation has skipped for them

And of course in that time we have actually succeeded in getting back into the top tier 3 times - so at best their excitement has been tempered with us being there 4 more season than they have managed.

 

[Northernsoulblade]

I am thoroughly entertained we are coming good again at the right time and have nowt to fear

 

[McGrath]

Being successful in sport isn't about entertaining.

I've seen managers like Kevin Keegan and Postegelou at Spurs make a big deal about playing entertaining football and they always fall short.

Look at other sports. Entertainment will always be a nice to have, one of England's greatest cricketers was Geoff Boycott, but you'd fall asleep watching him.

Another example is Rugby Union. The team that wins the world cup usually seems to be the team with biggest set of forwards who just pound oppositions into giving away penalties near the goal. It's grim to watch, but effective.

Talk about entertainment, shouldn't even be had. You either play the most effective football which fits the type of footballer you have available in your squad or you don't.

 

[loyalblade95]

We're going into the final full of confidence, and neither Sunderland or Coventry will not be looking forward to playing us in the final.

Burrows, O'Hare, Moore, maybe even Campbell (having got that assist) full of confidence and in form at the right time, Burrows has been the best player over both legs, O'Hare a very close second.

Thought Cannon played really well last night, he should do better with that first chance, but his work rate was top notch, made a nuisance of himself on the corners and pressed their defenders really well, his press on the halfway line led to our corner for the second goal.

To say that he was left on his own by Brooks a few times at first last night, Choudhury was class at RB, deffo should start in the final.

JRS looked good when he came on (what a ball to Peck that was), Souza was immense and covered every blade of grass necessary.

 

[mattbianco1]

when Sausage leaves for Soton/Leicester or somewhere in Germany. Chances are he might try and poach one or two of his better players and take them with him, too

Without being arrogant. Not a single player in the Wednesday squad gets in either Southampton or Leicester's match day squad

 

[mattbianco1]

Thought Cannon played really well last night

He was shit as the guy next to me continued to tell me throughout the first half.

He even had a go at Cannon for Brooks not winning the header at the back post.

I moved seats at half time

 

[Bladeulike]

Being successful in sport isn't about entertaining.

I've seen managers like Kevin Keegan and Postegelou at Spurs make a big deal about playing entertaining football and they always fall short.

Look at other sports. Entertainment will always be a nice to have, one of England's greatest cricketers was Geoff Boycott, but you'd fall asleep watching him.

Another example is Rugby Union. The team that wins the world cup usually seems to be the team with biggest set of forwards who just pound oppositions into giving away penalties near the goal. It's grim to watch, but effective.

Talk about entertainment, shouldn't even be had. You either play the most effective football which fits the type of footballer you have available in your squad or you don't.

I take your point but it’s not exactly what I said. I said ‘are we (meaning the fans) entertained’ not are we (the team) entertaining. I don’t expect or need us as a team to play ‘entertaining’ football in the way I think you imply. Give me a dour, gritty 1-0 win any day of the week over some dazzling, brave loss. We have not generally played open, fluid, creative football this season. However, I have been gripped from start to finish with the creation of this side, its development, its character and determination and it is now taking us to the most dramatic finale possible on one of the world’s biggest football stages. So hell, yes I have been entertained.

I think therefore that we are in violent agreement! Apart from the fact I believe that success, no matter the manner in which it’s achieved, does link directly to entertainment otherwise I’d be bloody miserable being a Blades fan rather than the complete opposite this season!
‘

 

[Badger Blade]

I take your point but it’s not exactly what I said. I said ‘are we (meaning the fans) entertained’ not are we (the team) entertaining. I don’t expect or need us as a team to play ‘entertaining’ football in the way I think you imply. Give me a dour, gritty 1-0 win any day of the week over some dazzling, brave loss. We have not generally played open, fluid, creative football this season. However, I have been gripped from start to finish with the creation of this side, its development, its character and determination and it is now taking us to the most dramatic finale possible on one of the world’s biggest football stages. So hell, yes I have been entertained.

I think therefore that we are in violent agreement! Apart from the fact I believe that success, no matter the manner in which it’s achieved, does link directly to entertainment otherwise I’d be bloody miserable being a Blades fan rather than the complete opposite this season!
‘

It's all down to context.

A dour gritty 1-0 is entertaining when you've held a good team at arms length for 90 minutes and executed a game plan - more akin to the sort of thing we'd be trying to do if we went up, taking pleasure in seeing a team defend and work hard for each other. The same dour gritty 1-0 against a team from League Two in the cup is a lot more disappointing.

Beating Brentford with 10 men for most of the game when Didzy scored at the end is the game that sticks out for me which wasn't entertaining in terms of free-flowing football but was entertaining as far as sheer tension and getting over the line is concerned.

All depends on whether you want a comedy (5-5 at Swindon anyone?) or a thriller.

 

[JJBlade]

I'd put money on them going down next season if/when Sausage leaves for Soton/Leicester or somewhere in Germany. Chances are he might try and poach one or two of his better players and take them with him, too.

Birmingham won't go down, Wrexham might do alright so there's two spots up for grabs at the bottom straight away

As long as they've got Chansiri at the helm, they're one wrong move away from a full scale implosion.

They're going to have the Chancer at the helm for a long time, he wants £120 million for the club just to try to get "some" of his money back, the club is valued at £45 million.
He's not letting it go for that price, and nobody is paying more than that, and the fans can have as many demonstrations against him as they want because it won't force him to accept even bigger losses just to keep them happy.

 

[dexter101]

If we were a mid championship table consistently without much hope of fighting for promotion, I would want us to be entertaining. As we were in the mix to be competitive for promotion, results are more important.