Blackwell lacks Balls

[Fiery Blade]

After listening to Blackwell relinquish all responsibility for last nights performance and blaming the players collectively some questions need to be asked of our manager and his backroom team :
Who picked the team ?
When did a manager's responsibility finish once the team has been selected ?
If 7600 plus paying customers can see that Quinn is not up to it why can't he and his team ?
It is patently obvious that Sharp, Robertson, Quinn, Howard, France, Taylor, Bromby and Bennett do not deserve Championship class status so why blame them when they cannot roll over football giants like Port Vale ?
Why not state that Kyel Reid and to a lesser extent Glen Little were the only players to perform ?
It is dead easy to blame everyone but yourself Blackwell - You must take some blame for yesterdays shambles - Be a man and admit it or else move over and let someone with balls take the helm

 

[matth]

I can remember last season when someone on the JSS shouted 'sort it out, Blackwell!' at him. His response, if I remember correctly, was the rather foul-mouthed 'why don't you try supporting the f***ing team, you f***ing doughnut'.

Is it just me who can see the irony here?

 

[Linz]

I can remember last season when someone on the JSS shouted 'sort it out, Blackwell!' at him. His response, if I remember correctly, was the rather foul-mouthed 'why don't you try supporting the f***ing team, you f***ing doughnut'.

Is it just me who can see the irony here?

T'was the South Stand for the Wednesday game... and it was me that posted it

http://www.sheff-utd.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=147596&postcount=3

 

[Fiery Blade]

He comes over so cocky when asked questions yet will not face up to reality - pity McCabe kept him on when he had the chance!

 

[matth]

T'was the South Stand for the Wednesday game... and it was me that posted it

http://www.sheff-utd.co.uk/forum/showpost.php?p=147596&postcount=3

Of course, it wouldn't be the JSS unless Blackwell had amazing hearing

It's interesting though that he feels he can shout at the fans for slagging off the team, but he can do it in the press as much as he likes...

 

[Vistoma]

After listening to Blackwell relinquish all responsibility for last nights performance and blaming the players collectively some questions need to be asked of our manager and his backroom team :
Who picked the team ?
When did a manager's responsibility finish once the team has been selected ?
If 7600 plus paying customers can see that Quinn is not up to it why can't he and his team ?
It is patently obvious that Sharp, Robertson, Quinn, Howard, France, Taylor, Bromby and Bennett do not deserve Championship class status so why blame them when they cannot roll over football giants like Port Vale ?
Why not state that Kyel Reid and to a lesser extent Glen Little were the only players to perform ?
It is dead easy to blame everyone but yourself Blackwell - You must take some blame for yesterdays shambles - Be a man and admit it or else move over and let someone with balls take the helm

I agree with most of this post, last season we had a thread running about his lack of nuts to change it when we could all see it wasn't working and he said the team didn't do what he asked, but then picked the same team for the next match?
On the other hand the players take most of the credit when it goes right so, in fairness, they should also shoulder the blame when it doesn't. We will see if there are any changes from the team put out against Middlesborough when the time comes on Saturday, I don't think there will be I hope I am wrong and we actually try and put teams to the sword by playing and not by giving their centre backs heading practice and the rest of the team sore necks.
My main gripe with Blackwell is simple... when we are not winning and all can see that whatever the plan was it isn't working he seems reluctant to, or blind to the fact it needs them, make changes until it is far too late for anyone to make a difference, lots of last 5 minute subs at the Lane.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Hear Hear !!
Many say Blackwell doesn't have a Plan B - After Burnley twice in as many weeks I would question if he had a Plan A- move over Blackwell give Gary Speed a chance !

 

[DuncDisorderly]

Blackie does have overall responsibility for the team, true enough, but if half a dozen of them aren't performing on the field, then he only has limited options. He can't sub them all, neither can he do much about changing their mindset during the game. The problem in changing the team between games has been that we haven't had the same quality to bring in. We have a first team, and then a squad of makeweights around them. There hasn't been, especially in midfield, any real competition for places. Maybe the message is taking a bit longer to get through some heads that others..?

 

[Woodwaaard]

We have a first team, and then a squad of makeweights around them. QUOTE]

I wish I earnt what some of the makeweights do.

Why on earth do we sign and employ players to be makeweights when we always profess to sign "quality not quantity"?

 

[mall]

...but Blackwell must take responsibilty for his team's performance otherwise it may as well be picked by committee........
This year it is definately his team and although a team is always work in progress you cannot keep shipping out loads of players every few weeks.
My point is that it starts with McCabe and filters down to Blackwell and his hand picked coaches...it's all about teamwork for him as well as the players.
The club's infrastructure although not yet complete seems to be fine, but we are still in the same division as when McCabe took over...as most people think, it's a results game.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

Bromby is a good example. Is he ever likely to dislodge Morgs and Killa by excelling in training or is he here to cover for a few games in case of injury or suspension? In midfield we've got Monty, Howard and Quinn, but who (until very recently) has been pushing them for their places?

Do we spend so much on the perceived 'first teamer' that we can only afford an understudy, perhaps..?

 

[Fiery Blade]

It may be interesting to see how much SUFC pay per week for these understudies ie Bromby, France, Taylor, Little, Bennett, etc,etc - McCabe and Radio Sheffield always on and on about the highest wage bill in the division - usually highest wage costs attract highest quality if so why did United not walk the Championship last season?

 

[jodman]

Bromby is a good example. Is he ever likely to dislodge Morgs and Killa by excelling in training or is he here to cover for a few games in case of injury or suspension? In midfield we've got Monty, Howard and Quinn, but who (until very recently) has been pushing them for their places?

Do we spend so much on the perceived 'first teamer' that we can only afford an understudy, perhaps..?

I think your point here is that we overspend on our targets (4 million on Beattie) when the same money could be used to buy multiple players to give us more options (Ebanks-blake, Jason Scotland and Martin Patterson for an unlikely example).

 

[chipsncake]

Bottom line is Blackwell has bought very poorly this close season, seven players in and the squad has not been improved, amazing.

 

[Bladesman]

Id say the team overall has been made worse.

Halford gone
Lupoli gone
Kyle gone
Paddy banned
Webber gone
Naysmith injured
O'Toole gone
C Beattie (even if shite) gone
Sun gone

Replaced with?

Taylor
France
Williamson (crippled)
Reid
Little (good but tired)
Bunn (good so far)
Treacy

Still no striker.

 

[jodman]

Bottom line is Blackwell has bought very poorly this close season, seven players in and the squad has not been improved, amazing.

The window is still open and it is still early days but it is hard to disagree when you consider the sale of Naughton, the failure to sign Halford, the loss of Paddy and the failure to bring in (a fully fit) central midfielder of any pedigree.

I'm struggling to think of a player that Blackie has bought who has actually turned out to be a success (not taking loans into account of course).

Jamie Ward is all i can come up with and he has hardly featured.

 

[Bladesman]

The window is still open and it is still early days but it is hard to disagree when you consider the sale of Naughton, the failure to sign Halford, the loss of Paddy and the failure to bring in (a fully fit) central midfielder of any pedigree.

I'm struggling to think of a player that Blackie has bought who has actually turned out to be a success (not taking loans into account of course).

Jamie Ward is all i can come up with and he has hardly featured.

No one yet and he has been here for a while now.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

Yes, kind of. The idea of the 22 man squad is a player for every place, and another one competing to knock them out of that place. What do we have? In defence our best four are Walker, Morgs, Killa, Naysmith. You can only say that Taylor is mild competition to Naysmith when fit. Apart from that we have Lee Bromby who will fill in when the others are injured or suspended.

Up front, I think our best pairing on paper is Evans and Henderson, Jamie Ward is a little different with his pace, but apart from Jamie, who is going to really push them for places. Not much incentive when you know your possible replacement isn't really good enough. Maybe the midfield will start to shake up a bit, as we now do have some genuine options, but we don't have that everywhere.

I do accept that it is a difficult balance, and the chances of getting it right are slim, but in my eyes we dont have real competition for places in the squad, just a first team and a bunch of understudies...

 

[Fiery Blade]

Fully Agree - seven in
Williamson - crocked
France - average utility player
Reid - Good Prospect
Little - Quality but 33 years old
Evans- not sure -good reviews
Treacey - Cover for Reid?
Bunn - replacement for Kenny S/T

Blackwells buys are not that inspiring

 

[DuncDisorderly]

Still no striker.

What about Evans..?

 

[Come from away]

Just read this thread and I have to say if you folks were judged by the standards you are applying here you'd never survive in your own jobs. Two games. We dominated Boro and Vale. Against Vale we panicked and couldn't finish and it wasn't our first team and we still have players getting used to working together under competitive game conditions. I guess some folk have people they want to dump on so are eager to jump, but let's have a dozen games before we start drawing solid conclusions. The Pigs lost the first six games one year but still made their usual mid-table.

 

[Bladesman]

What about Evans..?

Another one that is fit and will score. Since Sharp is near enough out the door.

£3mil is a gamble and despite good reviews I'm not sure we are looking at a striker that will be as prolific as Beattie.

 

[SwissBlade]

I can remember last season when someone on the JSS shouted 'sort it out, Blackwell!' at him. His response, if I remember correctly, was the rather foul-mouthed 'why don't you try supporting the f***ing team, you f***ing doughnut'.

Is it just me who can see the irony here?

Funnily enough it was one of the games during our crap run last season (could've been the pigs game too) that I stood up on the Kop and in a moment of Tourettes I shouted "Sort it out Blackie!" Of course he was never going to hear me from row 26 on the Kop but it was venting my anger...

At which point someone on the Kop went into a foul mouthed rant about supporting the team too...a bit of a 'debate' ensued, then we both sat down... he wouldn't shake my hand after the game though

I actually back Blackie 100%, but he's not so high and mighty that his reign can't be challenged. I'm not into booing players but if things aren't going well then i'm going to have a go at the man that picks the team.

I'll back the manager when he gets it right, but if he continues to make glaring errors then he needs to know.

The manager takes the acclaim and the glory but he also must take responsibility for his selections/ formations/ tactics etc.

I'm a great believer at work in my own job that a manager trusts his people, takes the kickings publicly for his departments mistakes but back them publicly, but behind closed doors gives them a kicking. Football is no different. Blackie should've held his hands up for this one. But go on with his job, then Each one of those players from last night should've been dropped at Glossop at 5am this morning, with a water bottle and a mars bar and made to find their way back to Shirecliffe.

 

[lenners]

Yes, kind of. The idea of the 22 man squad is a player for every place, and another one competing to knock them out of that place. What do we have? In defence our best four are Walker, Morgs, Killa, Naysmith. You can only say that Taylor is mild competition to Naysmith when fit. Apart from that we have Lee Bromby who will fill in when the others are injured or suspended.

Up front, I think our best pairing on paper is Evans and Henderson, Jamie Ward is a little different with his pace, but apart from Jamie, who is going to really push them for places. Not much incentive when you know your possible replacement isn't really good enough. Maybe the midfield will start to shake up a bit, as we now do have some genuine options, but we don't have that everywhere.

I do accept that it is a difficult balance, and the chances of getting it right are slim, but in my eyes we dont have real competition for places in the squad, just a first team and a bunch of understudies...

Dunc, you seem to have developed a keener and more sober sense of 'Blades understanding' since the transfer.
I'm impressed.
I'm still confused as to what happened to the Tommy Smith/McIndoe money mind.

 

[SotonBlade]

I'm still confused as to what happened to the Tommy Smith/McIndoe money mind.

My guess on that is that it's been 'put aside' to fund a goalkeeper, pending Paddy's hearing on Tuesday. I think if he gets more than a year we'll go out and buy with the cash, if 6 months, then we'll just extend Bunn's loan and use the cash elsewhere.

I know it's speculation, but that would be my guess

 

[Bladesman]

Dunc, you seem to have developed a keener and more sober sense of 'Blades understanding' since the transfer.
I'm impressed.
I'm still confused as to what happened to the Tommy Smith/McIndoe money mind.

On Evans maybe?

 

[SotonBlade]

Dunc, you seem to have developed a keener and more sober sense of 'Blades understanding' since the transfer.
I'm impressed.
I'm still confused as to what happened to the Tommy Smith/McIndoe money mind.

On Evans maybe?

I reckon the Evans money was already earmarked

 

[matth]

Just read this thread and I have to say if you folks were judged by the standards you are applying here you'd never survive in your own jobs. Two games. We dominated Boro and Vale. Against Vale we panicked and couldn't finish and it wasn't our first team and we still have players getting used to working together under competitive game conditions. I guess some folk have people they want to dump on so are eager to jump, but let's have a dozen games before we start drawing solid conclusions. The Pigs lost the first six games one year but still made their usual mid-table.

Fair points, but where on earth do you get it from that we dominated Vale? We really didn't, other than for the first 10 minutes. They seemed to ease into the game while we were squeezed out.

I also think that the signs we saw yesterday - capitulation, a lack of a plan B, certain players being played despite clearly having a dreadful run of games - were not new, or exclusive to this season. They're errors that have been going on since last season, and there should have been an improvement by now. If Blackwell can't get the players to play properly, he has to replace them. If he can't do that, he's not the right man for the job. Plain and simple.

 

[SotonBlade]

Agree with matth on some of those points. I think at the moment there are only a few players who, when fit should be starting no matter what: Walker, Morgan, Killa and Monty.

Walker, Morgan and Killa have no competition. Monty picks himself. Evans may become one of these depending on how he gets on in the first 6 games he plays. The rest are not certs for me, and that isn't good

 

[Fiery Blade]

People here seem to have lost the plot Its not the team its Blackwell He is now beginning his third season at the helm and he has sold last years best performer, signed more average players and after a gruelling pre-season v Sheffield FC, Bury, Lincoln etc managed a draw against Middlesborough who themselves have problems scoring goals. Last night we were out thought and out musculed by the mighty Port Vale and Blackwell blames the players for not taking their chances. The players he was talking about were Henderson & Sharp both bought by the Blades for £2million and neither fit to lace Beatties boots!
Blackwell should back his players not publicly berate them - next time he might make them take halftime break in the centre circle BLACKWELL OUT!