Blowing it.

[Groucho Blade]

This manager, this team, this season.

That is all.

 

[blade67]

There's a lot of "not there yet" boys out there but is there anyone who actually thinks we will blow a top 2 finish?

Can't be.

IF we keep playing as we are doing
IF key players stay fit and in form
IF we get a fair share of luck

I'm confident. But there is a 1/4 of a season left and things can change quickly if some of the above doesn't happen. We have a patch where we don't finish teams off and get 2 or 3 draws on the bounce and that 7 point gap could easily be 3 points with 5 games go to.

Does it matter that this board has several threads discussing what the team should/could look like in the championship and how many points will we finish with, or what game will seal promotion? Not really. As long as Wilder and the boys are looking no further than Saturday, I'm happy. I'm not ready to play the assume we are up game for another few weeks.

 

[Weasel]

said it when the fixture list came out, we will need to win or draw with Chesterfield ont last day and Ched will score the only goal.

Fuk me sideways. If that happens I will be going straight after the game to chuck mi sen off Humber Bridge. No ifs or buts.

 

[ourbob]

This is what you said. I thought that you were twisting the views of those like me who, while acknowledging we're likely to get promoted and enjoy supporting the club as much as anyone else, remain cautious. I don't think there's a "good chance" we'll blow it, but there's maybe a 10 percent chance.

If you can't enjoy supporting the Blades at the moment, find something else to occupy your time. What are you a supporter of a club for? Or football for that matter? If it's just about the position at the end of the season, then ignore it all and have a look at the table in the summer. Blades who fret too much and talk negatively at a time like this are probably as annoying to others as Man Utd and Arsenal fans are when they moan about not winning the PL and European cups.

If every girlfriend you've ever had cheated on you, would you put blind trust in your new one not to do the same?

you think there's a 10% chance of not going up but you go to the tightest people on earth "the bookies" and ask for 1/10 ,that is 10%,they will laugh you out of the door.

We are 1/100 for promotion.

 

[sheffielder]

Some of you need to learn to enjoy this, otherwise what's the point.

 

[Harrisblade]

Some of you need to learn to enjoy this, otherwise what's the point.

Can't I just carry on enjoying the marvelous football we're playing but STILL be terrified of speaking out loud of how we're certain to be promoted?

 

[S64 Blade]

I think you need to look at it objectively, if arguing that we will blow it.

When we blew it in 2011/12, we had warning signs of the possibility of it occurring. How many leads did we throw away, particularly in big games (Wednesdays at home)? We had a manager, who was a bit of a pushover and then our star striker was on trial for rape. To add to this, our bench and 'plan b' was much poorer than it is today.

None of the four points outlined here are applicable this year. Off the top of my head, I can't think of one game this season where have thrown away a lead, other than Gillingham at home.

That's not to say we won't, but if your argument is 'we have done it before' you need to consider the points why and see if these apply this season.

 

[Dkc]

you think there's a 10% chance of not going up but you go to the tightest people on earth "the bookies" and ask for 1/10 ,that is 10%,they will laugh you out of the door.

We are 1/100 for promotion.

They would give you 1/100 if you bet on us going up, but they wouldn't offer you the reverse odds if you wanted to bet on us not going up.

 

[sheffielder]

I was here for all the times we have blown everything, but I have told myself I need to enjoy the good times. These are good times.

 

[Sean Thornton]

What probably angers the football Gods more than anything are the fannies who change their minds depending on the latest result.

Look Offsidius, S2 is in meltdown again. Only drawn away from home.

Always the same Tevezius, leave them to it, we'll have a word with the boss , Trevorus Brookingus in a few weeks, he's a fair minded bloke, he'll make the final decision.

 

[ourbob]

See your point Dkc, they are offering 33/1 to finish in the playoffs,that's got to be the worst we can finish, who says we wouldn't win the playoffs?

We'll not go there.

 

[Harrisblade]

What probably angers the football Gods more than anything are the fannies who change their minds depending on the latest result.

Look Offsidius, S2 is in meltdown again. Only drawn away from home.

Always the same Tevezius, leave them to it, we'll have a word with the boss , Trevorus Brookingus in a few weeks, he's a fair minded bloke, he'll make the final decision.

That's made me even more worried!
I've always thought that with the Greek and Norse Gods, the victims always had a sporting chance - but the Romans are just downright cruel bastards!

 

[him behind you]

Here's my twopenneth (and this is me who was almost the ultimate clapper last year according to one or two).

We will get promoted this year because we are the best side in the division by far, are playing the best football, and have a manager who won't allow us to fail. HOWEVER, we could still cock it up because there is a quarter of the season left which is a lot of points for all teams to win or lose - that's a fact. And with all the years of frustration and disappointment this club have put me through since my first game in 1964 I cannot get rid of the nagging doubt in the back of my mind that it could go wrong (despite my confidence that this is our year) so I will certainly not knock anyone who has any doubts.

 

[Nick Jansky]

It would be unnatural not to have doubts. Part of me just wants the season to end, but a bigger part is loving what we are experiencing this season. It's amazing how few injuries we've had this season, it seems that everybody wants to play, and a virtuous circle of positivity has developed around the whole club to the point that I just can't imagine the wheels falling off - when we have stuttered we have bounced right back in spades. And just look at the quality on the bench, Carruthers & O Shea, and probably Lavery, would walk into any other team in this league.

On a personal note, I have 5 kids, 4 girls and a boy. They've all been to games, but none of them really got into football, which is fair enough, each to their own, until my youngest, a 13 year old girl, who became completely obsessed when she was 8. Most of you will have seen her, she plays for the Blades U13s, and one of the perks is that she is one of the flag bearers around the centre circle as the teams come out. Having been a Blade since the 60s, to share this season with my youngest child, and to see the huge buzz she is getting out of the whole thing, has made this the most enjoyable season of my lifetime. Thanks, CW & Knilly.

 

[I should coco]

And I find it very bizarre that there seems to be a mind-bogglingly large number of people who genuinely believe in "footballing gods" - I know the term is occasionally used in jest, but some people really believe there are supernatural and powerful beings interested in scuppering Sheffield United's promotion chances

As one who has often mentioned the footballing (and cricket) gods, I would say you aren't quite getting the meaning of the word jest!
The 'some people who really believe' are probably about as numerous as Pinchy's 'S2 hoofers' who want us to lose games and change footballing style.

That's not to say we won't, but if your argument is 'we have done it before' you need to consider the points why and see if these apply this season.

We have done it before but you are correct that none of the specific reasons from last time count. Please remember however, that we were 12 points clear in the Prem under Warnock and when we went down in 94 we had to lose and three other sides had to pick up points. If there is a new way to mess things up and twist the knife, we will find it. It's the Bladesway.

As it happens, I don't think we will cock it up this season. There are still plenty of games to go and we can't be promoted mathematically until mid April, but I have complete faith in Wilder.

One game at a time so enjoy each one by all means, but let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

 

[S64 Blade]

Please remember however, that we were 12 points clear in the Prem under Warnock and when we went down in 94 we had to lose and three other sides had to pick up points. If there is a new way to mess things up and twist the knife, we will find it. It's the Bladesway.

True, but it's much easier to cock something up when you're not winning every week, than when you are. One might also argue Warnock's negativity cost us in 2007, whereas that's not the case now.