Are we even safe???

[davidpinder]

I look at the table in mid February and see Watford in the top half.

http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/LeagueTable/0,,10418~20100209,00.html

I look now and all of a sudden they are just 2 points from safety people may laugh but a defeat saturday against Mr warnock which could very easily happen and just 1 point from Blackpool and we might just have a problem. Many of the teams below us are in form or at least better than us look at QPR, Ipswich and Reading. 11 away defeats only 3 other teams as bad or worse even the piggys only lost 10.

http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/LeagueTable/0,,10418~20100309,00.html

 

[Trigger Blade]

It crossed my mind too but the acid test is len.

When we got the point at Cardiff in 2006 and Leeds needed 12 out of 12 to catch us and hope we didn't get another point, he still didn't think we'd make it.

So far, not even he's dared to suggest we're doomed, so I think we're probably just about safe.

Cue len, with a relegation for us at Hillsborough nightmare scenario.

 

[MAQ]

Its a wholely valid point.

I was looking at the table this morning and although I dont subscribe to doom and gloom, and Im more of a "Half-Full" person, we are only 11 points off relegation.

Now i dont want this to set he Hares running but based on the 11 remaining matches and the fixtures we have, taking only 1 point from those remaining could place us on that very weel know waterway without any method of propulsion!

 

[Grecian2000]

We are safe in that we have enough home games to get a few points.

Some teams are still negative enough to come to BDTBL and not see us as being there for the taking. This gives us enough of a foothold to be able to get by.
It's away that I don't see much of a points return!

 

[Wards]

We'll get enough points from our home games to avoid that, easily I'd imagine.

I can't see where we'll pick another one up away though. Mid table obscurity ahoy.

 

[oldblade]

I think 53 points is the magic number that should guarantee safety in that I don't think anyone has ever been relegated on that number of points.

At least 2 clubs have been relegated on 52 points - Millwall and Leicester.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Many of the teams below us are in form or at least better than us

No they're not or they wouldn't be below us.

There's no way we will get relegated.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Are vee safe?

 

[oldblade]

No they're not or they wouldn't be below us.

There's no way we will get relegated.

You might be right about us not getting relegated, although it is still well within the bounds of mathematical possibility and past history should teach us to take nothing for granted!.

But, regardless of the fact that they are below us, some of those teams may well be better than us now.

Our current league position is not as a result of current results. We are where we are largely as a result of a good start and a couple of good patches along the way.

Similarly, many of those teams below us are not there as a result of how they are playing now. It's as a result of how they've been playing earlier in the season.

In my view our team is not as strong as it was earlier in the season and it certainly seems to be relapsing back into the poor form shown around the time of the bad run in October.

It may be that quite a few of the teams below us are now stronger than they were and playing better than they were.

It is where you are after the 46th game that counts. As we have found out in the past.

In 1980-1 we were never in a relegation position at any stage of the season until about 4-40 PM on the final day of the season when Don Penn scored from the penalty spot for Walsall.

 

[Darren]

You might be right about us not getting relegated, although it is still well within the bounds of mathematical possibility and past history should teach us to take nothing for granted!.

But, regardless of the fact that they are below us, some of those teams may well be better than us now.

Our current league position is not as a result of current results. We are where we are largely as a result of a good start and a couple of good patches along the way.

Similarly, many of those teams below us are not there as a result of how they are playing now. It's as a result of how they've been playing earlier in the season.

In my view our team is not as strong as it was earlier in the season and it certainly seems to be relapsing back into the poor form shown around the time of the bad run in October.

It may be that quite a few of the teams below us are now stronger than they were and playing better than they were.

It is where you are after the 46th game that counts. As we have found out in the past.

In 1980-1 we were never in a relegation position at any stage of the season until about 4-40 PM on the final day of the season when Don Penn scored from the penalty spot for Walsall.

Fair points but given that we really only need 2 wins from our remaining games to be 100% sure of safety (on the basis that no-one has ever gone down with more than 52 points), I really don't think we need worry. United may be poor at the moment, but they are certainly not one of the poorest teams in the league.

 

[oldblade]

Fair points but given that we really only need 2 wins from our remaining games to be 100% sure of safety (on the basis that no-one has ever gone down with more than 52 points), I really don't think we need worry. United may be poor at the moment, but they are certainly not one of the poorest teams in the league.

Earlier in the season we went on an 8 game non winning run. It is conceivable that something similar could happen now. If it did, the last few games could get very interesting! Unlikely maybe, but we have a knack of managing to achieve the unlikely.

In my view we need to get the points from our home matches because I can't see us getting another away point unless there's a dramatic turnaround in our approach to away matches. One win and we're pretty much there and most of our home games look winnable. But defeat on saturday and the pressure starts to build.

 

[oldblade]

I would also add that on paper we may not be one of the poorest teams in the league, but we still contrived to lose to the poorest team in the league last Tuesday. And in the process another record tumbled. Peterborough registered their firstr ever win against us and scored their first ever league goal against us.

 

[davidpinder]

I would also add that on paper we may not be one of the poorest teams in the league, but we still contrived to lose to the poorest team in the league last Tuesday. And in the process another record tumbled. Peterborough registered their firstr ever win against us and scored their first ever league goal against us.

Like i said during the Peterborough game "good aren't we"

 

[JJ Sefton]

United may be poor at the moment, but they are certainly not one of the poorest teams in the league.

After spending a few minutes in the second half on Saturday looking for five unoccupied seats I could lie down on and have a nap, I beg to differ.

 

[broomhillblade]

I look at the table in mid February and see Watford in the top half.

http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/LeagueTable/0,,10418~20100209,00.html

I look now and all of a sudden they are just 2 points from safety people may laugh but a defeat saturday against Mr warnock which could very easily happen and just 1 point from Blackpool and we might just have a problem. Many of the teams below us are in form or at least better than us look at QPR, Ipswich and Reading. 11 away defeats only 3 other teams as bad or worse even the piggys only lost 10.

http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/LeagueTable/0,,10418~20100309,00.html

It's sad to admit it, but I'm not that bothered. Today I can hardly recognise the club that I've supported, man and boy, since 1948.

 

[GrayBlade]

It's sad to admit it, but I'm not that bothered. Today I can hardly recognise the club that I've supported, man and boy, since 1948.

You must be bothered deep down Broomhill, or you wouldn't have bothered to come on here and post that you're not bothered if you get my drift.

I've been going since 1955 and I know it hurts like hell right now, a sinking feeling almost like seeing a loved one slowly slip away after being given false hope, but we'll come back... I just hope we're still around

Far what it's worth, I think we've got enough points in the bag to stay up, but I can see the home form dipping as both players and fans accept we're going nowhere this season, so it could be tighter then we'd like.

The best lift for all would be a change of manager now to give us a boost, the squad a lift and to let him have a good look at what's required for next season. If things stay the same, I really fear for us next season but I'll always be "bothered" about my beloved Blades... (like you)

UTB

 

[Darren]

You must be bothered deep down Broomhill, or you wouldn't have bothered to come on here and post that you're not bothered if you get my drift.

I've been going since 1955 and I know it hurts like hell right now, a sinking feeling almost like seeing a loved one slowly slip away after being given false hope, but we'll come back... I just hope we're still around

Far what it's worth, I think we've got enough points in the bag to stay up, but I can see the home form dipping as both players and fans accept we're going nowhere this season, so it could be tighter then we'd like.

The best lift for all would be a change of manager now to give us a boost, the squad a lift and to let him have a good look at what's required for next season. If things stay the same, I really fear for us next season but I'll always be "bothered" about my beloved Blades... (like you)

UTB

It's interesting, but every season (bar one) from 1976-1989, we were in a worse league position than we are now, but I can't recall the same malaise being around as there is now. Is this because (a) the proliferation of means of communication mean the doom and gloomers infect everyone else; of (b) our hopes have been raised so much in the last few year that the prospect of becoming a mediocre second tier team again is too much to bear?

 

[JJ Sefton]

It's interesting, but every season (bar one) from 1976-1989, we were in a worse league position than we are now, but I can't recall the same malaise being around as there is now. Is this because (a) the proliferation of means of communication mean the doom and gloomers infect everyone else; of (b) our hopes have been raised so much in the last few year that the prospect of becoming a mediocre second tier team again is too much to bear?

Ill have a B please Bob.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

If we go down I will trombone Kevin Blackwell.

 

[Grecian2000]

I have no problem being a "mediocre" second tier team, providing we go out and "have a go".
Get it down, pass it, get wide men beating players and crossing it. Get 1-0 up, go for 2. If we go away to a better team let them know they've been in a game, let's see the opposition keeper a bit dishevelled once in a while, not leaving the pitch in pristine kit. For God's sake give us something to shout about (and not just at the ref).

It's the complete dullness that has fucked me off.

 

[oldblade]

It's interesting, but every season (bar one) from 1976-1989, we were in a worse league position than we are now, but I can't recall the same malaise being around as there is now. Is this because (a) the proliferation of means of communication mean the doom and gloomers infect everyone else; of (b) our hopes have been raised so much in the last few year that the prospect of becoming a mediocre second tier team again is too much to bear?

We might be in a higher league position at the moment, but for most of the time what I see on the pitch is no better and often less entertaining than anything I saw during those years.

 

[davidpinder]

It's interesting, but every season (bar one) from 1976-1989, we were in a worse league position than we are now, but I can't recall the same malaise being around as there is now. Is this because (a) the proliferation of means of communication mean the doom and gloomers infect everyone else; of (b) our hopes have been raised so much in the last few year that the prospect of becoming a mediocre second tier team again is too much to bear?

No i think its the fact we came down and didn't go straight back up like 1 or 2 team seem to do and this season will be no different, we then bring in a manager than got us to the playoff final failed to get us up and now plays some of the worst football seen in many a year, not to mention losing to teams like Peterborough a league 2 side a few years ago and a league 1 side next season. Not acceptable and time for change.

 

[Darren]

No i think its the fact we came down and didn't go straight back up like 1 or 2 team seem to do and this season will be no different, we then bring in a manager than got us to the playoff final failed to get us up and now plays some of the worst football seen in many a year, not to mention losing to teams like Peterborough a league 2 side a few years ago and a league 1 side next season. Not acceptable and time for change.

But then the early 80's saw such delights as a 4-0 defeat at Newport, a 5-2 defeat at Swindon and a 5-2 defeat at Colchester and some seriously dire football. A 0-0 draw at the Lane with Brentford on 27/12/80 particularly stands out as a game we would not have scored had we played until doomsday. All some 5-7 years after we had finished 6th in the the top division.

Our fall in the late 70's/early 80's was much more precipitous than our current fall from top 2nd tier team/premiership strugglers to mid-table/outsiders for the play side 2nd tier team over the last 3-4 years.

Maybe people are a lot harder to please these days

 

[broomhillblade]

It's interesting, but every season (bar one) from 1976-1989, we were in a worse league position than we are now, but I can't recall the same malaise being around as there is now. Is this because (a) the proliferation of means of communication mean the doom and gloomers infect everyone else; of (b) our hopes have been raised so much in the last few year that the prospect of becoming a mediocre second tier team again is too much to bear?

Maybe we're still a bit hung-over from our all-too-brief Premiership season and all the disappointments it brought: Relegation; a feeling that West Ham had shafted us; the loss of players like Jags; the fiasco that was Bryan Robson; McCabe losing interest, etc.

Maybe we need another trip to the Fourth Division so that we can rebuild again from scratch and regain a winning mentality (only joking!).

My local team, Boston United, have been in freefall for the past few seasons and were relegated to the Unibond Premier League after last season. In the close season they brought in two joint managers who had had success with Ilkeston Town (one of whom is Rob Scott). They sacked virtually the whole playing squad (I think they were down to about 4 players a few weeks before the season started. They have rebuilt and are having a storming season, and are currently lying in second place. I don't know what this proves, except that a root-and-branch clearout can sometimes work, and maybe Rob Scott is managerial material for the future. Isn't his brother Andy doing rather well somewhere?

 

[lenners]

It's interesting, but every season (bar one) from 1976-1989, we were in a worse league position than we are now, but I can't recall the same malaise being around as there is now. Is this because (a) the proliferation of means of communication mean the doom and gloomers infect everyone else; of (b) our hopes have been raised so much in the last few year that the prospect of becoming a mediocre second tier team again is too much to bear?

Prior to 1976, we weren't a mediocre second tier team - I'll leave it to you to put forward the stats on number of years in the top flight up til then.
The main problem is that United showed a flash of the club's real potential in the last few years and then royally fucked it up again.
I don't think anyone would believe that one year out of 16 in the top flight represents a reasonable return for United (or five years out of 30 odd) either historically or in the context of the size of club.

 

[Robbie]

No they're not or they wouldn't be below us.

The season is over 46 games, not 35....

 

[Darren]

Prior to 1976, we weren't a mediocre second tier team - I'll leave it to you to put forward the stats on number of years in the top flight up til then.
The main problem is that United showed a flash of the club's real potential in the last few years and then royally fucked it up again.
I don't think anyone would believe that one year out of 16 in the top flight represents a reasonable return for United (or five years out of 30 odd) either historically or in the context of the size of club.

But thats my point. Prior to 1978 we had never finished lower than halfway down the second tier. Hence the disastrous late 70's and 80's should have provoked greater outrage than the current situation, where for anyone aged 45 or under we are actually performing at our usual level (or even slightly better).

 

[Revolution]

But thats my point. Prior to 1978 we had never finished lower than halfway down the second tier. Hence the disastrous late 70's and 80's should have provoked greater outrage than the current situation, where for anyone aged 45 or under we are actually performing at our usual level (or even slightly better).

There was malaise of a different kind. People stopped going. United's average attendances basically halved from 1976 to 1981.

This doesn't happen now during a season because of the vast number of season tickets keep people attending (and even if they don't go they are counted) as they've already paid. If they go and hate it, they will boo, or moan about it on message boards. Back in the day, people just gave up.

In this regard, it would be interesting to see if our away support has fallen this year, because there people do not pay in advance on a yearly basis.