Blades written off?

[Kempy]

The likes of sky sports and many others have written us off for automatic promotion and play-offs. Personally i see it as a blessing in disguise if we infact somehow manage to have a good season :thumbdown:, what do you guys think though?

 

[bladeinlondon]

Agree barely got a mentionin The Times NOTW and Sky - but they got it wrong last season with Ipswich Us and QPR are tipped so agree maybe its a blessing in disguise. i think they are wrong that Boro and Forest will storm it - I think the one to watch is Bristol City personally

 

[LoughboroBlade]

For the first time since the season ended I finally looked at the rest of our division yesterday. Let's be honest - it's probably the weakest since the initial season post-relegation when Robson took over. I don't think there are any teams up there that look capable of running away with the division, all the relegated teams look poor, and I don't expect the promoted teams to offer much of a challenge. I'm confused by Boro being most people's favourites - people seem to assume that they will simply click this year, when most of what I saw of Strachan's team suggests they're in fpr another tough time.

Arguably the division's there for the taking - which makes it doubly annoying that we haven't strengthened more than we have done.

 

[Ollessendro]

I feel that the bookies and pundits have simply got this right. The only way it could be a possible advantage (in my eyes) is if KB feels the pressure is off, lightens up and we start playing some football. Can't see it mid, but we can always hope.

 

[Balham]

For the first time since the season ended I finally looked at the rest of our division yesterday. Let's be honest - it's probably the weakest since the initial season post-relegation when Robson took over. I don't think there are any teams up there that look capable of running away with the division, all the relegated teams look poor, and I don't expect the promoted teams to offer much of a challenge. I'm confused by Boro being most people's favourites - people seem to assume that they will simply click this year, when most of what I saw of Strachan's team suggests they're in fpr another tough time.

Arguably the division's there for the taking - which makes it doubly annoying that we haven't strengthened more than we have done.

I agree entirely with the overall picture. None of the relegated sides are going to do anything (famous last words!) - Hull have signed Harper and Solano which is not exactly a statement of intent, Burnley still have their mid-table Championship squad and Pompey hardly have any players at all.

Of the sides around last year; Boro have strengthened - they've got battle hardened Scots through the spine of the team to complement their youngsters so they'll be hard to beat. We've shown that's a good place to be in. Bristol City have bought well and will be wildcards. Forest have gone backwards; Leicester, Cardiff, and Swansea are all arguably the same as last season - we've improved.

QPR can never be discounted but I've a feeling they'll have a Warnock special season, flirting with the play-offs before finishing 8th because the referees are against them.

We'll be OK.

 

[Melbourne Blade]

Absolute blessing. I think it was steve claridge last preseason who tipped us to win the title !! And bizarrely predicted Newcastle to finish somewhere around 15th and said they'd "struggle"................

 

[Revolution]

And bizarrely predicted Newcastle to finish somewhere around 15th and said they'd "struggle"................

A fair number of people on this board thought the same, I recall. Quite a few thought Newcastle would be relegated again.

The fact that such a dreadful side can romp straight back up makes me reluctant to dismiss the chances of any of the relegated teams.

 

[Fiery Blade]

I can't believe that anyone who watched that load of dross served up last year is considering the Blades anywhere near the promotion race
With Blackwell in charge all season best chance mid-table best!

 

[syd]

We are in a relegation scrap with derby this year we havent produced one decent turn out all summer that could beat anyone at our level.
Ertl seems the best aquisition and the palace fans were happy to see the back of him!

 

[super_pig]

>Ertl seems the best aquisition and the palace fans were happy to see the back of him!
my cousins (palace fans) weren't .. in fact they were bloody furious.. they predicted he would be a legend here, what with our brazillian style and all ..lol

 

[syd]

well not as i was told on holiday having got talking to a bunch of palace fans i had not even mentioned his name when i said we had signed someone from them and they replyed we hope its Ertl because hes useless.
Im not saying he is, im excited to see him play competetively

 

[LouTheBlade]

Ertl looked very composed against Estudiantes and Palace fans I know speak very highly of him.

 

[Kempy]

Balham blade, i agree on some points however i cant really see burnley doing nothing this year. I agree with the general jist saying this year the league is definatly weaker, and also i have no idea why half the pundits are bumming boro, after theyve signed a few SPL players.. SPL are bassically middle class championship players in my oppinon, i dont rate the league at all, any league which has Anthony Stokes scoring easily, and making him look as if he has some sort of pace, is retarded.

Not sure on Ertl havnt seen him play as yet but so far people i know who have seen him play have had mixed reactions.

Fiery Blade "I can't believe that anyone who watched that load of dross served up last year is considering the Blades anywhere near the promotion race
With Blackwell in charge all season best chance mid-table best! " Yes to a point i agree, i dont think KB is the right man to get us back to the prem. But as others have said with the league kinda up for grabs , and lets be honest our options upfront are in my opinion one of the best if not the best in the league, the midfield isnt looking to shabby ( will look better with willimson) and GK im happy with simonsen, if we some how manage to pull together a couple of loans and get a defense together, i kinda think we could have a crack at it. no matter how much i feel like an idiot for thinking we actually have a chance at play-offs. And with the bookies and everyone writing us off, it kinda makes me feel like we could have a dark horse kind off affect