Bassett's boys

[Highbury_Blade]

There's going to be a few tanked up punters waiting for the doors to open come 19:30 I should imagine.

Long day for WalthamstowBlade and I. We'll be cracking open the first tin at Victoria coach station at 7am

 

[Darren]

I'd queue from Shoreham Street to Landsend to see the goalkeeper repeatedly walk the ball to the halfway line and then kick it long; kick it hard; kick it high, towards the opposition penalty area in the hope that two giant centre-forwards will outmuscle the defenders and the ball end up in the net.

Who cares if the ball is constantly sailing over Platini and Currie's heads, as long as Alehouse Bill is on the other end?

Great stuff....

Serious question.

Are you, well, serious, about this, or do you take great delight in being a contrarian?

I'm 48. I was just too young for the early 70s (I saw a few games as a kid, but remember little of them). For me and many other people, the years from 1988-93 were the best time ever to be a United fan. We went from being a shit team relegated to the 3rd division, to being (via promotions in successive years) a decent top level team capable of beating Man United, Liverpool, Spurs (6-0!) and so on. All on fuck all money.

You may not have liked the style and you may be right that that style has had it's day, but to denigrate the achievements of that team is stupid and juvenile.

 

[JJ Sefton]

The event will be attended exclusively by Dinosaur Dave Disciples, convinced that his rudimentary "football" was, is and always will be, the way to go.

Or people like me, who would like to spend an evening with a bunch of blokes who gave us some of the best memories we've had watching Sheffield United.

Your routine is getting tiresome as fuck now.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Long day for WalthamstowBlade and I. We'll be cracking open the first tin at Victoria coach station at 7am

Pffft, I'm on the Buckfast from 5.

 

[Silent Blade]

Was John Gannon the scapegoat of that era? I see he did well to duck out of the way of the cross for their second goal - didn't want to mess up that perm.
I remember he was the one we were always shouting at to get stuck in - he could run as fast backwards as anyone else forwards as he was backing away from his man.

I remember Bassett dropped him for the home game against Hull in Sept 1989 because the fans were giving him a lot of stick but admitted afterwards that he thought it was a wrong decision. When he scored the winning goal at Wolves I was surprised that some of the Blades fans didnt seem to cheer the goal enthuisatically and I saw some of them looking at each other laughing as if they couldnt believe that it was Gannon who had scored

 

[Silent Blade]

In the double-promotion winning side he was the main taker of corners and free-kicks.

.

Alan Roberts was the main corner taker for the 1988-89 season. Gannon joined us on loan in February 1989 and the first two things he did after coming on as sub was up upend a Blackpool player in a late tackle and the other was to assist our 4th goal

 

[Revolution]

Alan Roberts was the main corner taker for the 1988-89 season. Gannon joined us on loan in February 1989 and the first two things he did after coming on as sub was up upend a Blackpool player in a late tackle and the other was to assist our 4th goal

He scored the 4th goal didn't he?

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I wasn't aware of the context when I made my comment. I now realise the topic was generated by an understandable commemoration. I don't mind that of itself, but it will reinforce the bizarre idea, prevailing in S2 only of course, that Bassett's "style" remains valid,

The event will be attended exclusively by Dinosaur Dave Disciples, convinced that his rudimentary "football" was, is and always will be, the way to go. The rest of football begs to differ. Fans of Watford, Barnsley, Palace, Forest and Leicester will be either baffled or amused, I should think.

Those that are going, I hope and believe will really enjoy it. On the other hand, thousands of Blades, my own father included, who simply stayed away during the Bassett era, will do precisely the same on this occasion.

How about an event for John Harris' proper football team?....

They already did have a similar event in honour of key players from that team:-

http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20141015-woodys-leaving-do-959601.aspx

http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/woodys-leaving-do.36372/#post-661979

 

[Darren]

He scored the 4th goal didn't he?

He did.

 

[Silent Blade]

He scored the 4th goal didn't he?

Yes, that is right. It was John Francis who assisted the goal

 

[Kenilworth]

Long day for WalthamstowBlade and I. We'll be cracking open the first tin at Victoria coach station at 7am

Sponge or biscuits? 'Cos we all know that you two are soooo rock 'n' roll





Come an' 'av a go if you think you're 'ard enuff

 

[Pinchy]

Looks like you really did boycott at the time. Nobody who saw Deane and Agana play would think like that.

I agree. However, those crowds of 10,000 or less who stayed around to watch Bassett struggle post Deane and Agana would think exactly like that. It was awful. Wimbledon Lite, very lite. Perhaps we should forget that period.

Shouldn't we have an event for the late Ian Porterfield, who took us up two divisions and was ludicrously sacked because we lost at home to Norwich and the 'best fans in the land" had a tantrum? Unlike Bassett and Warnock who both, for all the singing and dancing, left us where they found us.

Still, enjoy your evening...

 

[Revolution]

I agree. However, those crowds of 10,000 or less who stayed around to watch Bassett struggle post Deane and Agana would think exactly like that. It was awful. Wimbledon Lite, very lite. Perhaps we should forget that period.

Shouldn't we have an event for the late Ian Porterfield, who took us up two divisions and was ludicrously sacked because we lost at home to Norwich and the 'best fans in the land" had a tantrum? Unlike Bassett and Warnock who both, for all the singing and dancing, left us where they found us.

Still, enjoy your evening...

I disagree. I have many find memories of 1994-5 and even the relegation season had its moments (eg winning at Anfield).

1995-6 pre Kendall sucked. No doubt about that.

I'm a big Porterfield fan. But if you think the car park demonstration was a tantrum, you didn't see the game that preceded it. I did. It was time for him to go.

 

[BushBlade]

I wasn't aware of the context when I made my comment. I now realise the topic was generated by an understandable commemoration. I don't mind that of itself, but it will reinforce the bizarre idea, prevailing in S2 only of course, that Bassett's "style" remains valid,

The event will be attended exclusively by Dinosaur Dave Disciples, convinced that his rudimentary "football" was, is and always will be, the way to go. The rest of football begs to differ. Fans of Watford, Barnsley, Palace, Forest and Leicester will be either baffled or amused, I should think.

Those that are going, I hope and believe will really enjoy it. On the other hand, thousands of Blades, my own father included, who simply stayed away during the Bassett era, will do precisely the same on this occasion.

How about an event for John Harris' proper football team?....

Good idea. We can celebrate the trophies they won.

 

[Darren]

I disagree. I have many find memories of 1994-5 and even the relegation season had its moments (eg winning at Anfield).

1995-6 pre Kendall sucked. No doubt about that.

I'm a big Porterfield fan. But if you think the car park demonstration was a tantrum, you didn't see the game that preceded it. I did. It was time for him to go.

I recall the victores(!!) over Fulham and Carlisle on 28/12/85 and 1/1/86 where the team was booed off. There was a very anti Porterfield mood by early 1986.

Irrational in many ways, given he has taken us from Division 4 to 2nd Division promotion contenders.

 

[Revolution]

I recall the victores(!!) over Fulham and Carlisle on 28/12/85 and 1/1/86 where the team was booed off. There was a very anti Porterfield mood by early 1986.

Irrational in many ways, given he has taken us from Division 4 to 2nd Division promotion contenders.

Anyone who thinks our fans are too quick to turn on the team now wouldn't believe what it was like that season. The Millwall game was the worst.

I remember the team being booed off despite beating Fulham.

 

[Darren]

Anyone who thinks our fans are too quick to turn on the team now wouldn't believe what it was like that season. The Millwall game was the worst.

I remember the team being booed off despite beating Fulham.

The game you alluded to v Grimbsly was also horrendous.

It was a strange one, we had struggled in 84-5, but ended up avoiding relegation comfortably and had strongly challenged for promotion in 85-6. Given that we were in Division 4 in 1982, that would seem reasonable progress. No wonder Porterfield was pissed off with the fans.

 

[BushBlade]

The game you alluded to v Grimbsly was also horrendous.

It was a strange one, we had struggled in 84-5, but ended up avoiding relegation comfortably and had strongly challenged for promotion in 85-6. Given that we were in Division 4 in 1982, that would seem reasonable progress. No wonder Porterfield was pissed off with the fans.

The same fans that were singing 'we'll take more care of you, Porterfield' two years prior.

 

[Revolution]

The game you alluded to v Grimbsly was also horrendous.

It was a strange one, we had struggled in 84-5, but ended up avoiding relegation comfortably and had strongly challenged for promotion in 85-6. Given that we were in Division 4 in 1982, that would seem reasonable progress. No wonder Porterfield was pissed off with the fans.

The playoffs came a year too late for Porterfield. We finished 7th, and I think we were possibly one or two places higher when he was fired. Brealey would have been less likely to fire him if a playoff spot was achieveable I think.

 

[Darren]

The playoffs came a year too late for Porterfield. We finished 7th, and I think we were possibly one or two places higher when he was fired. Brealey would have been less likely to fire him if a playoff spot was achieveable I think.

We were 7th but a play off spot would have still been very much achievable. We were 2 points behind 5th (which was the last play off place the following season)

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-two-old/1985-1986/table/1986-03-22

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I agree. However, those crowds of 10,000 or less who stayed around to watch Bassett struggle post Deane and Agana would think exactly like that. It was awful. Wimbledon Lite, very lite. Perhaps we should forget that period.

Shouldn't we have an event for the late Ian Porterfield, who took us up two divisions and was ludicrously sacked because we lost at home to Norwich and the 'best fans in the land" had a tantrum? Unlike Bassett and Warnock who both, for all the singing and dancing, left us where they found us.

Still, enjoy your evening...

So all the vitriol, pompous lectures and playground name-calling is based purely on Bassett's last 18 months in charge and totally ignores the previous 5 successful seasons.

John Harris got us relegated once you know. Why don't we all focus on that instead of his many better years?

I'm sure the club will get around to honouring Porterfield's 4th Division Champions eventually. Give them chance!
They started with a night for Woodward, Currie and Coloughon and now they're quite rightly moving onto our most successful era in the last 40 years.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Unfortunately yes, some hads very low opinions of him but he ended up getting picked for Wales whilst with us and was part of a team that scored bundles of goals a quarter of which he assisted,
He could appear invisible occasionally , but who doesnt , but in general he did more positive than negative and his goal at Forest is still one of the best 3 Ive ever seen by a blade

His right footer v Forest? Incredible.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

I remember Bassett dropped him for the home game against Hull in Sept 1989 because the fans were giving him a lot of stick but admitted afterwards that he thought it was a wrong decision. When he scored the winning goal at Wolves I was surprised that some of the Blades fans didnt seem to cheer the goal enthuisatically and I saw some of them looking at each other laughing as if they couldnt believe that it was Gannon who had scored

The first of 2 nil nil draws v Hull. The home game I spent in silence, my analytical head on, as there was no entertainment.
Second one at Boothferry was marked by chants of Stan Stan Stan the man to alleviate the boredom. But Bassett gave us dozens of terrific days .

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I don’t know how any genuine blade can slate Bassett.

They guy took us from 3rd tier to first. We beat Man U, Liverpool, Spurs, did the double over the pork, signed a future England international from Donny for a pittance, brought in other class players like Kelly, Tracey, Agana etc for next to nowt. He even took out a loan in his own name to secure the signing for Bryan Gayle. He also brought through the likes of Whitehouse and Ward.

The guy worked wonders with our club usually with one arm tied behind his back. If we’d not sold Deano or even used a third of the money to replace him with Bassett’s target Tore Andre instead of Jostein, we might well have stayed up (or if Hans Segers hadn’t gifted Everton a win or Spurs got a West Ham like let off for their corrupt dealings).

His style may be dated but it worked at the time and made the team so much more than the sum of it’s parts.

 

[Silent Blade]

I recall the victores(!!) over Fulham and Carlisle on 28/12/85 and 1/1/86 where the team was booed off. There was a very anti Porterfield mood by early 1986.

Irrational in many ways, given he has taken us from Division 4 to 2nd Division promotion contenders.

I remember fans shouting "Porterfield out" after the ref blew for half time at Saltergate in December 1982. We were losing 2-0 to Chesterfield who were at the bottom of division 3. Matt Bell recalls Shred walking towards the dugout at Springfield Park, Wigan in February 1984,in the game we lost 3-0, he thumped the dugout roof and shouted at Porterfield letting him know what he thought of the display

 

[United Aren't Back.]

To put this all in context. I loved the Deane, Agana, Bryson days, watch the tv series from 89 90, fantastic.
But in 2013, to have some Australian ridiculing us internationally in the media cos we had fucking Dave Bassett allegedly being ambassador for a new manager and talking hoofball..ffs McCabe, you showed the club up there. I loved Dave and the team then. Never had such good times since. But his day is long long gone. I know everyone here can see that.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

I wasn't aware of the context when I made my comment. I now realise the topic was generated by an understandable commemoration. I don't mind that of itself, but it will reinforce the bizarre idea, prevailing in S2 only of course, that Bassett's "style" remains valid,

The event will be attended exclusively by Dinosaur Dave Disciples, convinced that his rudimentary "football" was, is and always will be, the way to go. The rest of football begs to differ. Fans of Watford, Barnsley, Palace, Forest and Leicester will be either baffled or amused, I should think.

Those that are going, I hope and believe will really enjoy it. On the other hand, thousands of Blades, my own father included, who simply stayed away during the Bassett era, will do precisely the same on this occasion.

How about an event for John Harris' proper football team?....

Sheffield United Football Club plays a important part in all of our lives . Whatever any of us think on how football should be played , the game like society has moved on since the Bassett / Warnock days.

I started watching the blades under the John Harris era , and enjoyed / appreciated the quality football . However the real baptism of being a blade was actually under Bassett and Warnock . These 2 managers for me are like Adkins - Why-

Because Bassett , Warnock and Adkins , have given us the connection of togetherness between the club , manager , players and fans. This is why Bassett and Warnock should be remembered, in a good way IMO, not for the type / brand of football.

Let us think of what these guys brought to the club , in a positive way , and that even in a short period of time , Adkins is moving us forward in the same way , albeit with a completley different game of good football,

These 3 managers have the same mindset of winning, and cementing all of us , being as one. Surely that is a good thing .

UTB

 

[JohnDenver]

Sheffield United Football Club plays a important part in all of our lives . Whatever any of us think on how football should be played , the game like society has moved on since the Bassett / Warnock days.

I started watching the blades under the John Harris era , and enjoyed / appreciated the quality football . However the real baptism of being a blade was actually under Bassett and Warnock . These 2 managers for me are like Adkins - Why-

Because Bassett , Warnock and Adkins , have given us the connection of togetherness between the club , manager , players and fans. This is why Bassett and Warnock should be remembered, in a good way IMO, not for the type / brand of football.

Let us think of what these guys brought to the club , in a positive way , and that even in a short period of time , Adkins is moving us forward in the same way , albeit with a completley different game of good football,

These 3 managers have the same mindset of winning, and cementing all of us , being as one. Surely that is a good thing .

UTB

I don't think I'm being unfair if I say Adkins has done nothing yet. I can't fault him so far, but so far is the blink of an eye.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

I don’t know how any genuine blade can slate Bassett

No genuine Blade would, no question about that.

 

[Jehovah]

I had this poster on my bedroom wall.

Next to the Patsy Kensit ones that I used for target practice

Yogurt rifle?