Atmosphere at Bramall Lane

[Rustyblade]

We used to have a shared history with the majority of our team, I guess. People we'd known for a while, not grown up with but watched them for long enough to have something invested in them. We even used to have a few who'd come up through the ranks, who belonged here. How many of the team on Saturday could we say that about?

Hard to care about people you hardly know. Hence the branch library atmosphere.

 

[oldblade]

Can you run it by us again? Did he put it wide of an open goal from about six yards?
As for Akinbiyi, I seem to recall he was inside the six yard box when he missed, in fact virtually on the goal line.

It happens to the best of them. Remember when we played Manchester United and Ronaldo (at the Bramall Lane end) somehow managed to put the ball over the bar. He was so close to the goal line that I thought it was impossible to get enough loft on it to do that! Earlier in the match he also missed another absolute sitter, but the second one was so bad that everyone forgot about the first miss.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Dearden headed in a powerful cross from TC on the left. TC's goal was in the dying minutes, from outside of the box he met a pass from the left with a powerful shot from the outside of his right foot and it swerved past keeper Ray Cashley. One of the best goals I have seen

I remember it well, he scored it at the Lane end, I was on the John St terrace, kop side of the tunnel & watched it from behind - the swerve was unbelievable. If I remember correctly, his performance got marked "10" in The People the next day. And "You Can Do Magic" was played & dedicated to him as the players left the pitch at the end of the game.

Funny how these memories stay with you after so many years.

 

[grafikhaus]

It happens to the best of them. Remember when we played Manchester United and Ronaldo (at the Bramall Lane end) somehow managed to put the ball over the bar. He was so close to the goal line that I thought it was impossible to get enough loft on it to do that! Earlier in the match he also missed another absolute sitter, but the second one was so bad that everyone forgot about the first miss.

This one?

Pity about the quality - if YouTube ever move from Super-8 it'd be worth looking at!

 

[ghandi]

Hi AG, always good to hear from (sensible) away posters.

It's a bit of all the above, but for me the reason why a lot of people at the Lane are disillusioned was on TV yesterday.

Neil Warnock, a proper football man, getting the best from a bunch of misfits and battling to the end.

NW epitomised all that is United and, if it wasn't for a pissed up B-lister (Bean), may well have still been with us. Also Dave Bassett gave us many happy memories.

At the moment, it all feels so sterile. Yes, I know we're 7th, but those of us that go know this is more to do with the poor standard of the CCC than our own abilities.

After several years of nail-biting finishes, Cup runs etc., every game now seems like an end of season tussle.

Anyway, hope you all got home safe. Bristol? That's a fair old poke. You could have bought that Dirk von Nostrilboy....

What exactly is a proper football man? It would appear to me its another one of those cliches that exist in football that doesn't have any definition at all. Such as football played the right way and getting a result. Who decides what for example what a proper football man is? Why can NW be describes as one is Bryan Robson a proper football man or Kevin Blackwell or Ron Atkinson etc etc

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

What exactly is a proper football man? It would appear to me its another one of those cliches that exist in football that doesn't have any definition at all. Such as football played the right way and getting a result. Who decides what for example what a proper football man is? Why can NW be describes as one is Bryan Robson a proper football man or Kevin Blackwell or Ron Atkinson etc etc

Before the gastric band was fitted, Les dude at S6 was quickly becoming a football man!

 

[oldblade]

This one?

Pity about the quality - if YouTube ever move from Super-8 it'd be worth looking at!

That's the one. The quality might not be top notch, but it is sufficiently clear to show that not only was Ronaldo's finish dreadful, our defending was pretty poor as well!

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Maybe we need a singing sections or to encourage fans to stand during the
matches?
:fishy::fishy::fishy::fishy::fishy:

 

[j j]

Back to the original point... the atmosphere at BDTBL is worse than poor, it is toxic and will/has cost us points. Saturday was better than it has been but still not good. Thankfully the clown behind me who shouted "Henderson you are fucking shit" shut up after H's goal (not my favourite player, but abusing your own FFS). Then there are the FurQuits who booed Quinn on (I wasn't pleased to see him come on, but booing your own when winning well FFS).

Seems to me that what has happened is:

1. We were the exception that proves the rule that the table does not lie when we went down as we were not the third-worst team in the PL.

2. Robson came in and spent money yet we went backwards and were bored by the football. Toxic atmosphere started.

3. Blackwell came in and almost rescued the season, but Hull went up when we were a better team than they were but ran out of games. Atomosphere improved.

4. Then we had a decent season and came very close to going up. Atmosphere good at times and was great in the play off home leg; Wembley was a huge let down. Without promotion we couldn't afford to keep our best prospects and sold early. Atmosphere recovery bubble deflated.

5. This season the results have been pretty good but the football has not been pretty or good and is matched by the atmosphere. We introduced loads of new players that did not gel (yet, hopefully), had loads of injuries and then lost two of our best performers in the window. No one to cheer. Even 3-0 against Reading was not a happy day as the football was poor. Results went downhill and the atmosphere got worse.

6. Then Bristol came to visit. We played decent football and got a good result. And a good goal (not a scramble!) to enjoy. But, no one really wants to celebrate yet because we fear it may be a flash-in-the-pan. Atmosphere is a bit better but far from good.

So, what are we going to do now? Get behind a team that tries to play and appreciates a bit of support or watch grumbling while being served garbage? Upward or downward spiral? Stoke or Wednesday? I've no idea which, but we are in a (another cliche alert) chicken and egg situation where we need some football to go with the results before the atmosphere improves. And we need an atmosphere before BTDBL can inspire our players to play and win enough to start us moaning in ecstacy instead of grief.

 

[Linz]

As Adrian Chiles said in his book..."it's the hope that kills you"...

I've been reading some Friedrich Nietzsche over the past few weeks. He argues that to appreciate the euphoric high of pleasure, one must also experience the depressing depths of pain.

Those who have never suffered pain can never experience true pleasure and live their lives in an emotionless limbo, free of disappointment but also free of happiness.

It seemed fitting for United fans, particularly some on here

 

[beightonblade]

Maybe we need a singing sections or to encourage fans to stand during the
matches?
:fishy::fishy::fishy::fishy::fishy:

: ... thats an idea

here an owd un: x is where owd BB used to stand an y is approx where i finished up when we scored ... mind yer there was a bit of an atmosphere at BDTBL then !
z is the owd white wall where the prefects used to stand

an here's a good view

 

[LoughboroBlade]

A certain percentage of Sheffield United 'fans' simply don't like Kevin Blackwell and want him to fail despite the fact he has been a brilliant manager for us and has exceeded all expectations in the three seasons he has been here.

Disagree completely. He took over a great set of players that Robson had inemptly managed - it shouldn't have taken a genius to keep us up, and was a totally different situation to when, for example, Kendall or Warnock came into the club.

Last season, we had enough quality in the club to get promoted, and had we played to that potential we'd have taken second. I expected us to get promoted with that set of players, especially considering how those around us were playing (Birmingham are unrecognisebale this year to the rubbish they played this time last year for example). Blackwell certainly didn't exceed expectations.

This year, we again have a set of players that should be capable of at the very least a playoff finish. We are currently struggling to get into the top 6 and stay there. Again, we are not exactly exceeding expectations in my opinion.

 

[oldblade]

Back to the original point... the atmosphere at BDTBL is worse than poor, it is toxic and will/has cost us points. Saturday was better than it has been but still not good. Thankfully the clown behind me who shouted "Henderson you are fucking shit" shut up after H's goal (not my favourite player, but abusing your own FFS). Then there are the FurQuits who booed Quinn on (I wasn't pleased to see him come on, but booing your own when winning well FFS).

The atmosphere isn't very good at the moment, and with the odd exception hasn't been good since relegation.

But I think calling it 'toxic' is a bit of an exaggeration. Yes, certain members of the crowd do get after some players. But that has been the case for as long as I can remember.

Even during the unexpectedly good 2002-3 season the ground was lacking in atmosphere for most league games, and attendances stayed stubbornly low. In the home game against Wimbledon (the one where Asaba scored an equaliser in injury time), the team got booed. And yet we were fourth and that season played some of the best football seen at Bramall Lane for many a year.

When we had our 4 game losing streak in February 2003, there were people actually demanding that Warnock be sacked!

It was only in the big games that the atmosphere was good.

At the moment I would call the atmosphere fairly indifferent rather than toxic.

 

[j j]

Yes, certain members of the crowd do get after some players. But that has been the case for as long as I can remember.

Indeed. When I first started going a fella in front of me used to berate Currie for being a lazy get and our players generally for "tip-tapping" the ball between each other instead of kicking it proper up the field. If he's still alive he must be having the season of his life.

 

[AlienWoodward]

Thanks Linz for taking my post in the manner in which it was intended. I guess fans of all teams have gripes about how things are being done at their club.

I find it interesting that you mention people have issues with Kevin Blackwell though. From an outsiders perspective I would say he is doing a decent job but then again I don't watch you week in week out and I understand you were on a poor run before beating us on Saturday. Many at AG are calling for Gary Johnson's head at the moment, I'd be interested to hear your take on the job he is doing for us.

PS - One thing I can completely relate to is reaching the Playoff final and not turning up!

I can remember when we had Robson in charge and looking at you guys who were doing really well and thinking I wish we had your manager.
I think in football things sometimes look better from the outside until you are watching a team week in week out. That was the best performance we have managed under Blackwell.
I thought Sproule was excellent for you guys,I saw him play quite a few times for Hibs. What do you lot think to him

 

[mall]

I've been reading some Friedrich Nietzsche over the past few weeks. He argues that to appreciate the euphoric high of pleasure, one must also experience the depressing depths of pain.

Those who have never suffered pain can never experience true pleasure and live their lives in an emotionless limbo, free of disappointment but also free of happiness.

It seemed fitting for United fans, particularly some on here

It would be nice to experience a brief period of pain if happiness was guaranteed.
However , does Nietzsche put a timescale on things painful?

 

[AlienWoodward]

I've been reading some Friedrich Nietzsche over the past few weeks. He argues that to appreciate the euphoric high of pleasure, one must also experience the depressing depths of pain.

Those who have never suffered pain can never experience true pleasure and live their lives in an emotionless limbo, free of disappointment but also free of happiness.

It seemed fitting for United fans, particularly some on here

I don't care what Nietzsche said, I'm still not getting a butt plug

 

[Eskimo]

Was the 3 - 3 draw Hodgy's last game in goal for us?

 

[Ashton Great]

I can remember when we had Robson in charge and looking at you guys who were doing really well and thinking I wish we had your manager.
I think in football things sometimes look better from the outside until you are watching a team week in week out. That was the best performance we have managed under Blackwell.
I thought Sproule was excellent for you guys,I saw him play quite a few times for Hibs. What do you lot think to him

I certainly agree that things look very different from the outside, although I think it's universal opinion in football that Bryan Robson is a very poor manager!

With regards to Sproule, he is the probably the most frustrating player I've ever seen in a city shirt. He has lightening pace, but 9 times out of 10 he'll beat the full back and slice his cross out for a goal kick. To be fair he did have a good game on Saturday, but far too often he goes missing in games. He'll be great one week then have 4 or 5 bad games on the spin. I don't think he's helped by the inconsistent selections we make, he can be in the side one week and out the next but then the same can be said for most of our players.

I've learned to accept Ivan for what he is - searing pace but poor distribution, then again if he improved his crossing he probably would be playing for a better side than us!

 

[Silent Blade]

Was the 3 - 3 draw Hodgy's last game in goal for us?

No, his last competitive game for us was in the 2-1 defeat at Bolton (they finished bottom of the table but we failed to beat them that season!) on January 16th 1971. He also played in the 1-0 friendly defeat at Chesterfield in the following week. He was to blame for Bristol City's 1st goal in that 3-3 draw in Sept 1970 as he dropped a simple catch and John Galley was quick to seize the loose ball. Apart from the 5-1 win at Pompey (Graeme Crawford played in goal) he played in every game that season until that defeat at Bolton. He had lost his confidence in going for crosses and form went downhill and other teams sensed this so John Harris signed John Hope who made a big difference to us as he came out for crosses also making brilliant saves which made the crowd gasp. Sadly Hope had a bad game in Nov 1971 when we lost 5-0 at West Ham in the League Cup quarter final but managed to discover his form shortly afterwards but he had a nightmare match against Arsenal (lost 5-0) and then he wasnt the same keeper we saw in the previous year. He got dropped from the team after a terrible game in the 4-0 home defeat to Derby in April 1972. He returned to the 1st team in January 1974 (2-1 win at Burnley on a Saturday night) but his spell in the 1st team was short-lived as he was dropped again in March

 

[AlienWoodward]

No, his last competitive game for us was in the 2-1 defeat at Bolton (they finished bottom of the table but we failed to beat them that season!) on January 16th 1971. He also played in the 1-0 friendly defeat at Chesterfield in the following week. He was to blame for Bristol City's 1st goal in that 3-3 draw in Sept 1970 as he dropped a simple catch and John Galley was quick to seize the loose ball. Apart from the 5-1 win at Pompey (Graeme Crawford played in goal) he played in every game that season until that defeat at Bolton. He had lost his confidence in going for crosses and form went downhill and other teams sensed this so John Harris signed John Hope who made a big difference to us as he came out for crosses also making brilliant saves which made the crowd gasp. Sadly Hope had a bad game in Nov 1971 when we lost 5-0 at West Ham in the League Cup quarter final but managed to discover his form shortly afterwards but he had a nightmare match against Arsenal (lost 5-0) and then he wasnt the same keeper we saw in the previous year. He got dropped from the team after a terrible game in the 4-0 home defeat to Derby in April 1972. He returned to the 1st team in January 1974 (2-1 win at Burnley on a Saturday night) but his spell in the 1st team was short-lived as he was dropped again in March

You always amaze me silent. We must be around the same age yet your memory for detail of games I have forgotten we have ever played is exceptional.
I can't remember some of the games this season. Mind you perhaps that's no bad thing

 

[Silent Blade]

You always amaze me silent. We must be around the same age yet your memory for detail of games I have forgotten we have ever played is exceptional.
I can't remember some of the games this season. Mind you perhaps that's no bad thing

To be honest I have forgotten a lot of games in the last few years. Sometimes I have to ask my lad "what was the score when we played them (name of opponents) last season?". I will be 48 next month, I remember matches from the 1970s much better than in the last few seasons so my memory bank must be overloaded now!

 

[AlienWoodward]

To be honest I have forgotten a lot of games in the last few years. Sometimes I have to ask my lad "what was the score when we played them (name of opponents) last season?". I will be 48 next month, I remember matches from the 1970s much better than in the last few seasons so my memory bank must be overloaded now!

My mistake I am a lot younger .... 47

 

[shorehamview]

One of the things about the atmosphere is the Kop. It used to have almost one voice, but now there are two distinct areas that sing. often different songs at the same time or one set lags just behind the other. Is it a schism in a Catholic/Anglican church stylie, never to be re-united? Have some people just moved seats this season?

We did also used to to have one specific area of the Lane for people who like to sing. It was called "Bramall Lane", and now it's just bits of it. Why?