Ball boys

[Trafford]

Refusing to give the ball to Westwood once was amusing, although I still wouldn’t condone it. Doing it repeatedly was a twat’s trick and could have prompted a reaction from their players. We don’t want any repeats, particularly in front if the cameras.

 

[Rodley]

I’d positively encourage it, other teams use every angle to shithouse a win. Bonus points if it’s against ex-Wednesday players.

 

[Digs blade]

I thought it was great

 

[Longtimesupporter]

Refusing to give the ball to Westwood once was amusing, although I still wouldn’t condone it. Doing it repeatedly was a twat’s trick and could have prompted a reaction from their players. We don’t want any repeats, particularly in front if the cameras.

I totally agree. To me. it brings the club down.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

I didn’t care for it, I also saw a ball boy give Baldock instructions of where to make his throw. Baldock just laughed, some confidence in these young kids which is good to see

 

[Stu_Blade]

I have always wondered how much control the manager has over the control of ball boys and if any instructions are given. You see some of them clearly sending instructions and when you are 1-0 up going into injury time you probably don't want a quick ball return as it's easy to disrupt the flow of an attack/hoof into row Z try and rather than get the ball back in the box quickly on the front foot.

However the referee I imagine will add time on for any delays and if it continues at any decent standard, FIFA/The FA will have guidance out and it will either be the end of home team ball boys/have neutral in place or some form of sanction/free kick against the infringing team if the delay is obvious.

 

[Billyblade]

Ball Boys shithousery they could potentially punish us for.

Blokes in the John St stand wanging it towards the kop is a different matter

 

[JackSUFC]

I totally agree. To me. it brings the club down.

If you’re 1-0 up you use everything to your advantage to manage the game properly. That includes ball boys slowing things down for the opposition.

If I was a ball boy, I’d take more pride in thinking I’ve helped towards three vital points, rather a pat on the back from my mum for being a good sport.

 

[Cheesebored]

Using a bit of initiative is fine. Being a twat isn't.

 

[Alwood]

I didn’t care for it, I also saw a ball boy give Baldock instructions of where to make his throw. Baldock just laughed, some confidence in these young kids which is good to see

Not quite how it happened. Norwood (I think) told the ball boy to roll the ball away from Baldock and the lad was explaining this and Furious patted him on the head. So all cool,

 

[Houston_Blade]

I didn’t care for it, I also saw a ball boy give Baldock instructions of where to make his throw. Baldock just laughed, some confidence in these young kids which is good to see

Norwood had told the ball boy to throw the ball towards the halfway line so Baldock turned around and said something along the lines of "you're supposed to give me the ball" then rubbed the ball boy on the head and laughed. It was funny

 

[Grumps]

I would give that ball boy at the kop end MOTM for his reading of the game

 

[brownblade]

Once or twice is funny and alright.

But we hate/hated Norwich for all their cheating timewasting. We don't really want to be like that, do we?

 

[FriethBlade]

Ball Boys shithousery they could potentially punish us for.

Blokes in the John St stand wanging it towards the kop is a different matter

Agreed, pissed myself when the bloke in the red top that you are referring to looked at the QPR player then just threw it down towards the kop.

Reminded me of the guy the other year on live TV also in the John Street that tried to boot the ball and ended up on his arse

 

[Brewster Cost £70 million]

Incoming 12 points deduction

 

[Ned the Donkey]

14, 15, 16 year old kids repeatedly - albeit briefly - being the centre of attention in a high stakes, high profile football match by antagonising and amusing adults - players and some in the crowd - some of who are at their emotional limits, and some well beyond.

I don't know if it's oversensitive, PC or what - but it seems like the kind of thing that could reasonably (for once) come under the umbrella of Safeguarding. No young person should have that level of attention and potential pressure.

Someone needs to sort this out quietly and behind the scenes before we have an "incident".

Till then: Well done to the lads who do their job without fuss.

 

[Big Hitter]

Absolute dregs of sportsmanship to piss about by not returning ball promptly.
Bloke in red top is an arsehole as well.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I think I'd feel more strongly about us looking like shithouses if the opposition teams hadn't done it to us all season.

Just last night they must have gained about 17 football pitches worth of ground on throw ins. I saw Ilias Chair rub the refs mark out on the free kick on the edge of the box and move the ball closer to goal (only to then hit the wall anyway!). Westwood would have wasted time like a fucker if they'd have somehow scored.

If you can't beat them, join them.

 

[Deadly_D'Jaffo]

Westwood would have wasted time like a fucker if they'd have somehow scored.

Westwood timewasting despite being 1 nil down was a new one.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

I think I'd feel more strongly about us looking like shithouses if the opposition teams hadn't done it to us all season.

Just last night they must have gained about 17 football pitches worth of ground on throw ins. I saw Ilias Chair rub the refs mark out on the free kick on the edge of the box and move the ball closer to goal (only to then hit the wall anyway!). Westwood would have wasted time like a fucker if they'd have somehow scored.

If you can't beat them, join them.

Or try and set the standard for others to follow?
I can understand the annoyance and temptation to go like for like when cheats actually do prosper, but joining those intent on creating a selfish, disrespectful, anti-social society ain't the way to go in my opinion.

 

[brownblade]

Remember some Oldham player getting into a minor scuffle with one of our ballboys years ago. 2013ish? Was some rumour of racism involved afterwards. Never heard much else.

 

[Stu_Blade]

14, 15, 16 year old kids repeatedly - albeit briefly - being the centre of attention in a high stakes, high profile football match by antagonising and amusing adults - players and some in the crowd - some of who are at their emotional limits, and some well beyond.

I don't know if it's oversensitive, PC or what - but it seems like the kind of thing that could reasonably (for once) come under the umbrella of Safeguarding. No young person should have that level of attention and potential pressure.

Someone needs to sort this out quietly and behind the scenes before we have an "incident".

Till then: Well done to the lads who do their job without fuss.

I can genuinely see your point there. I am surprised there hasn't already been an incident although verbal abuse is probably mixed in with all the other shouting at the time it only takes one

 

[Davalon]

Remember some Oldham player getting into a minor scuffle with one of our ballboys years ago. 2013ish? Was some rumour of racism involved afterwards. Never heard much else.

Lee Croft shouted to the ball boy 'quicker' and the deaf prats in the John Street decided he'd used the N word, which he definitely didn't.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Or try and set the standard for others to follow?
I can understand the annoyance and temptation to go like for like when cheats actually do prosper, but joining those intent on creating a selfish, disrespectful, anti-social society ain't the way to go in my opinion.

We won't change other teams by our behaviour. I'd be happy with us lobbying the EFL to cut this behaviour out, if the referees got a bit smarter with it then it would stop. A booking in the 89th minute for a keeper who has wasted 10 mins throughout the game is not good enough.

 

[Bladesthorpe]

Older fans like myself will remember the three sided ground and the cricket pitch, there were 3 ball boys who would be like whippets fetching the ball if we were losing and like tortoises if we were winning.
I felt embarrassed by the ball boys actions last night and even more so by the moron in the family stand when he threw the ball away. We are Sheffield United we should be better than this.

 

[bakeblade]

14, 15, 16 year old kids repeatedly - albeit briefly - being the centre of attention in a high stakes, high profile football match by antagonising and amusing adults - players and some in the crowd - some of who are at their emotional limits, and some well beyond.

I don't know if it's oversensitive, PC or what - but it seems like the kind of thing that could reasonably (for once) come under the umbrella of Safeguarding. No young person should have that level of attention and potential pressure.

Someone needs to sort this out quietly and behind the scenes before we have an "incident".

Till then: Well done to the lads who do their job without fuss.

I totally agree, these kids should stick to their jobs and get the ball back as soon as they can.
Ballboys getting involved in time wasting tactics is ridiculous and they need sorting out.

 

[SwitchBLADE Smiles]

Can’t believe I’m reading people having a whinge about our ball boys slowly getting the ball back into play when we’re winning?! The number of times we’ve been absolutely shit housed by sides over the years, away from home, using every tactic & time wasting policy that they can is insane.

We absolutely should use the exact same tactic that other clubs will use on us at every opportunity they can. It’s a high stakes, professional sport. Take every advantage you can get, because you can bet your arse that it’ll happen to us again this season.

 

[DifferentClass]

Let the club down, should be ashamed of himself.

Sheffield United ball boys are a disgrace.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Not quite how it happened. Norwood (I think) told the ball boy to roll the ball away from Baldock and the lad was explaining this and Furious patted him on the head. So all cool,

Fair play, I sit on the side but further to the side. From my position it looked like he’d turned in to Stuart Mccall for a minute

 

[Champagneblade]

Just remember, this discussion is taking place in the context of a rearranged fixture when they had a few injuries and were the first to pull the covid coward card.

Hope we shithoused them a match!

Great to get 3 points but it didn't get us any more for points lost when we had a huge fixture backlog because of them and the other cowards.