BladesPod - latest episodes

[Frank the tank]

Loved this
Seems the more painful the defeat the more therapeutic the pod

For me the mentality issue lays squarely at the lack of confidence in tte centre back pairing and goes all the way back to the start of last season ( heckys prem team ) must be soul destroying to work your arse for a mere glimpse of an opportunity to the have to watch your back line offer up gift wrapped scoring opportunities again and again

We fixed this with souttar who improved everyone around him but the ' Mr I'll show them lot' decided to not play his more than adequate replacement and instead sacrifice 210 million pounds to make sure jlt Got an extension to a contract he doesnt deserve anyway

Add to that the lack of a real leader anywhere through the team and the issue remains largely unaddressed

 

[ZoneManWilf]

About 15 mins in, usually BladesPod is very cathartic for me, this time all it's done is re-opened the 2 week old wounds let's see if the next 20 help!

Not much really! Going to take a while this one...

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Love these podcasts, but I'm going to have to swerve this one.

My social media feeds were somehow overran with Sunderland memes in the week after their win, so had to avoid that too.

I'm choosing to ignore it ever happened.
For an hour at Wembley, it was the most fun I'd ever had watching United.

I still can't get over how we threw it away.... and we did throw it away. Wilder inexplicably reverted to type when the formula for success had been laid out in the final weeks of the season. I want him to remain, but that was infuriating.

I look forward to checking back in with the Pod in August when, hopefully, I've managed to muster up some enthusiasm and we've had a good transfer window
.. ().

 

[I should coco]

Bleh. Roygbiv and I tried to avoid talking about the playoff final and had a general catchup on the state of United heading into the off-season and how we feel about another year in the Championship. Cheers if you listen...

It's CLOSE SEASON over here. We do not have locker rooms, games do not go into overtime and we do not push forward on the offence.

Come on lads, standards, innit.

 

[Beans]

Was going to hold this one until we get official confirmation but seeing as it's so widely reported I thought I'd publish it now rather than risk it becoming dated once we learn more. Roygbiv and I react to the news of Chris Wilder's sacking - the why, when and what comes next:

 

[Cappy]

Cheers boys, really good Pod. Yours and The Pinch have been really good listening, so thanks and well done.

Completely agree with your thoughts on the media, Ben. It's clickbait 2.0. They may make their employer money, and that is fair, but no mater how they argue against criticism, I doubt it's why they dreamed of reporting on football as a youngster.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Roygbiv when Selles wears a Nehru gilet for his first press conference.

View attachment that looks gay~2.mp4

 

[Roygbiv]

Roygbiv when Selles wears a Nehru gilet for his first press conference.

View attachment 213720

I prefer a Sheffielder

 

[Selly]

Was going to hold this one until we get official confirmation but seeing as it's so widely reported I thought I'd publish it now rather than risk it becoming dated once we learn more. Roygbiv and I react to the news of Chris Wilder's sacking - the why, when and what comes next:

Only halfway through but you've nailed it so far - from the analysis of the reasons for/against Wilder, to the hypocrisy around how this has played out vs how Wilder returned.

Great listen.

 

[I should coco]

Having listened to the pod and taking into account all your measured arguements about the need for the club to be run by more than one man, I'm still surprised by how laid back you seem to be, about the downside. The wrong man, could very easily have us down near the bottom, and with the looming loss of the parachute payments, a firesale could happen in JTW.

I accept that, sticking with him just because his replacement might be worse, isn't really an arguement, but just stand back and look at our track record in managerial replacements.

Since I started watching in 1970, we have no replaced one manager who could be deemed 'successful' (i.e winning promotion), with an improvement. The nearest one was Kendall, who was well backed, but ultimately he didn't win promotion, so can't be considered a success.

You both keep saying that most of the fan base you knw are all a bit 'meh', on this, but I think you are out of step. Most Blades I know, don't trust some Yanks who know fuck all about 'soccer', to replace Wilder with someone better. I think you are out of step on this one.

 

[Selly]

Since I started watching in 1970, we have no replaced one manager who could be deemed 'successful' (i.e winning promotion), with an improvement. The nearest one was Kendall, who was well backed, but ultimately he didn't win promotion, so can't be considered a success.

Of course one might argue that by your definition Wilder (in his second spell) does not qualify as "successful"

 

[Bartleby]

Was going to hold this one until we get official confirmation but seeing as it's so widely reported I thought I'd publish it now rather than risk it becoming dated once we learn more. Roygbiv and I react to the news of Chris Wilder's sacking - the why, when and what comes next:

Cheers, an interesting listen on the earbuds while I was just painting the front door. I'd kind of forgotten about how bad Hecky was treated when Wilder came back.

Think it sums up my feelings at the moment, bit nervous in case it is a bad move but not outraged about the change being made.

"but he's our prat" - quote of the day

 

[raul]

I'd love to know who the fan was that curtailed his enjoyment of a Berlin stag and flew home aghast as reported in the Stir.

 

[Frank the tank]

I'd love to know who the fan was that curtailed his enjoyment of a Berlin stag and flew home aghast as reported in the Stir.

I once went on a stag do to Berlin and wouldn't have even known if I had been sacked never mind the Sheffield United manager

 

[Beans]

I'd love to know who the fan was that curtailed his enjoyment of a Berlin stag and flew home aghast as reported in the Stir.

Definitely wasn't Berlin Blade, who has bigger fish to fry.

 

[Roygbiv]

Having listened to the pod and taking into account all your measured arguements about the need for the club to be run by more than one man, I'm still surprised by how laid back you seem to be, about the downside. The wrong man, could very easily have us down near the bottom, and with the looming loss of the parachute payments, a firesale could happen in JTW.

I accept that, sticking with him just because his replacement might be worse, isn't really an arguement, but just stand back and look at our track record in managerial replacements.

Since I started watching in 1970, we have no replaced one manager who could be deemed 'successful' (i.e winning promotion), with an improvement. The nearest one was Kendall, who was well backed, but ultimately he didn't win promotion, so can't be considered a success.

You both keep saying that most of the fan base you knw are all a bit 'meh', on this, but I think you are out of step. Most Blades I know, don't trust some Yanks who know fuck all about 'soccer', to replace Wilder with someone better. I think you are out of step on this one.

It's difficult to know if you're in the majority or not. I certainly wouldn't want to say we speak for the fans or anything. I think we're obviously split on this as a fanbase but looking on here, talking to mates and wading through the same people making the same posts on twitter it seems like the general feeling is "let's see what happens next".

I think this is much more than just a usual manager change too. As Ben said, this manager might not work out but we're obviously changing how the entire club is ran. Losing Wilder may well harm us next season but long term it's the changes they make to scouting, recruitment and structure that will decide whether these owners have the right ideas to move us forward or not. The manager is obviously going to always be important but I don't think the entire club is going to rest on his shoulders as we've been used to with all our other managers

 

[BladeyMcBlade]

A great listen as always and I have to say I think you are spot on. I am a bit disappointed that Wilder has gone and it does seem harsh on him, but actually long term a bigger change to try and take the club forward had to happen at some point and this is the start of that new chapter. Who knows if it will work, it is a gamble, but it could well be a positive change in structure behind the scenes that is much needed.

 

[themaninblack]

Love the pod normally lads but that was a difficult listen. I support SUFC, not Chris Wilder, and managers, like players, come and go. Having said that, I’m amazed the owners have taken such a massive gamble, sacking a manager with a proven track record who was so close to taking us up.
I also feel quite sad that an era has come to an end; I’ve loved having Wilder as manager, I think it gave the club a real identity.
Let’s see how the new bloke gets on. Hopefully he will prove to be a better manager than Wilder and this time next year we will be preparing for our PL fixtures.

 

[Roygbiv]

Love the pod normally lads but that was a difficult listen. I support SUFC, not Chris Wilder, and managers, like players, come and go. Having said that, I’m amazed the owners have taken such a massive gamble, sacking a manager with a proven track record who was so close to taking us up.
I also feel quite sad that an era has come to an end; I’ve loved having Wilder as manager, I think it gave the club a real identity.
Let’s see how the new bloke gets on. Hopefully he will prove to be a better manager than Wilder and this time next year we will be preparing for our PL fixtures.

It's a huge call. Don't think anyone can argue with that. As I said on the pod, I'd have kept him another season and I am sad tonight but the club did eventually have to move away from the Wilder model simply as there are so few around who could manage the entire club like he did

 

[Large Mendonca]

Great pod. It does seem like a massive shift in identity, and with that, an obvious risk of losing the Wilder "comfort blanket" and Championship pretty much guaranteed.

Lots of people have bemoaned over recent years "why can't we be like Brentford, Brighton etc" - well, I think we're about to find out. The club couldn't even attempt this in it's current form.

Speculate to accumulate and all that. It would be nice to move away from the badge we've acquired over the years as a "gritty, physical upenatem" side, and I welcome the attempt.

 

[Selly]

Agree with the point on the pod that Beans made that whilst our ceiling may very well now be higher with Selles in charge and the other changes being made - it does feel like the floor is now lower.

With the squad we had plus Wilder (plus a couple of signings) you'd think we were a shoe in for the playoffs - now I genuinely think we could finish anywhere from 1st to 12th

 

[Beans]

Agree with the point on the pod that Beans made that whilst our ceiling may very well now be higher with Selles in charge and the other changes being made - it does feel like the floor is now lower.

With the squad we had plus Wilder (plus a couple of signings) you'd think we were a shoe in for the playoffs - now I genuinely think we could finish anywhere from 1st to 12th

And I suppose if you accept that we're just never ever going to win the playoffs so we have to build a top two team, then raising the ceiling may be necessary...

 

[I should coco]

Great pod. It does seem like a massive shift in identity, and with that, an obvious risk of losing the Wilder "comfort blanket" and Championship pretty much guaranteed.

Lots of people have bemoaned over recent years "why can't we be like Brentford, Brighton etc" - well, I think we're about to find out. The club couldn't even attempt this in it's current form.

Speculate to accumulate and all that. It would be nice to move away from the badge we've acquired over the years as a "gritty, physical upenatem" side, and I welcome the attempt.

Brentford and Brighton both have owners who are fans, so have spent money to see their projects through. We aren't in the same boat. We have some rich Yanks who are playing at soccer. I'm thinking more Elon Musk and his chainsaw, rather than a considered evolution as per Brentford/Brighton.

Sacking Wilder seems premature and not part of a long term plan. Surely nobody would have Selles top of their list?

I think we may find that they make it up as they go along.

 

[Selly]

And I suppose if you accept that we're just never ever going to win the playoffs so we have to build a top two team, then raising the ceiling may be necessary...

Absolutely. I've been kind of neutral on whether Wilder should stay or go - and to a point my opinion means nothing - but I'm slowly coming round to being optimistic that we are at least trying to solve some of the issues:

Reasons he should have stayed

• 92 points
• halfway through a rebuild
• one of our own
• beat SWFC (1990) twice

Reasons he should not have stayed

• 92 points represented a significant overperformance vs performances
• reversion to type in the big games
• fitness/conditioning
• seen nothing in his second spell that showed me he was willing/able to change
• lack of any defined style in second his period - over reliance on individual brilliance rather than tactical nous

 

[Large Mendonca]

Brentford and Brighton both have owners who are fans, so have spent money to see their projects through. We aren't in the same boat. We have some rich Yanks who are playing at soccer. I'm thinking more Elon Musk and his chainsaw, rather than a considered evolution as per Brentford/Brighton.

Sacking Wilder seems premature and not part of a long term plan. Surely nobody would have Selles top of their list?

I think we may find that they make it up as they go along.

Bloody hell !!

Gonna give them a bit more credit than that - I think we'll agree to disagree

 

[Gimli]

Having listened to the pod and taking into account all your measured arguements about the need for the club to be run by more than one man, I'm still surprised by how laid back you seem to be, about the downside. The wrong man, could very easily have us down near the bottom, and with the looming loss of the parachute payments, a firesale could happen in JTW.

I accept that, sticking with him just because his replacement might be worse, isn't really an arguement, but just stand back and look at our track record in managerial replacements.

Since I started watching in 1970, we have no replaced one manager who could be deemed 'successful' (i.e winning promotion), with an improvement. The nearest one was Kendall, who was well backed, but ultimately he didn't win promotion, so can't be considered a success.

You both keep saying that most of the fan base you knw are all a bit 'meh', on this, but I think you are out of step. Most Blades I know, don't trust some Yanks who know fuck all about 'soccer', to replace Wilder with someone better. I think you are out of step on this one.

I think they got it spot on.

As well as we did results wise last season, you have to accept that part of our failure to get promotion is down to Wilder. How many games did we actually play well in? How many times did we sit back after taking the lead and look a lot worse for doing so (and whilst I accept a lot of the time it led to us winning 1-0 it also led to us throwing games away including big ones against Leeds and of course the play off final).

I think the point of changing how the club is run so that it’s not all about one man is that they’re trying to set up a philosophy whereby if Selles isn’t as good as we hope/think then he can be replaced with someone else without having to overhaul the entire system.

I don’t really accept the ‘some yanks who know fuck all about soccer’ argument - nearly half the owners of Premier League clubs are American so to use an American phrase ‘go figure…’

 

[Harry's Game]

Was going to hold this one until we get official confirmation but seeing as it's so widely reported I thought I'd publish it now rather than risk it becoming dated once we learn more. Roygbiv and I react to the news of Chris Wilder's sacking - the why, when and what comes next:

Just listened to it and the most sensible take I’ve have heard or seen on the situation

 

[Nesh Blade]

Bloody hell !!

Gonna give them a bit more credit than that - I think we'll agree to disagree

Giving them credit on what evidence? Genuinely asking not being sarky

 

[Large Mendonca]

Giving them credit on what evidence? Genuinely asking not being sarky

....or the benefit of the doubt?

I see it that these are a consortium of highly successful businessmen , who also have sporting experience in and around them. They have so far put up some serious money (or more than the Prince could offer), and I don't think they're doing it for shits and giggles either.

I'm prepared to give this whole thing a chance to bear fruit, even if we were relatively safe beforehand, with Wilder. I just don't think the current way of doing things, as explained in the pod, would get us very far even if Wilder did get us back up.

 

[Selly]

I just don't think the current way of doing things, as explained in the pod, would get us very far even if Wilder did get us back up.

Whilst I agree, they've taken a risk making the change whilst we are in the 2nd season back in the Champ.

It's very much shit or bust this season IMO. The absolute best case scenario if we don't go up is Leics, Soton and Ipswich go back up, and we are one of a group of teams just below the 3 relegated teams in terms of resources. Basically perennially hope for the PO.