Can Blackwell win the fans back?

[Eckingtonian]

This is not the start of a witch hunt,but a genuine question.It seems when he took over from Robson he was the best thing since sliced bread.Now the general concensus seems to be that he should go.What do you think,and reasons.

 

[Jon Bon]

Clean slate from me at the start of the season. I'm not hopeful of anything different but you never know. We have seen some good performances, albeit few and far between, so we know there's something in the locker. I'd much rather be singing 'There's only one Kevin Blackwell' than 'Blackwell out!'...

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

If the players perform, yes.

 

[Toronto Blade]

Win the first few games and he will be a hero!With a little help from McCabe it is all possible!

 

[Ballinpigpubs13]

If we get off to a decent start then why not?
If we are about half way after 10 games and shrugging his shoulders to the fans like at Donny away, then I don't think he'll have long before the shoe's off brigade start.
New season, new start in my book.
Keep clear of injuries, confidence in a few players like ched and who knows! (no I'm not on the jack daniels)

 

[LouTheBlade]

My stance is simple. I like the bloke, I'm not at all convinced by the manager. He has to win promotion for Blades fans to take him to their heart. Its as simple as that because nothing else will do, which was proved by the fact that he has got us so close before.

I still fear for his future at the lane though and the signs at present arent good. With the pressure of the fans from last season it would seem logical that failure this time would mean his time has run out. Sadly on this occasion, I dont think he has had the backing he needs to resurrect this team and turn them back into promotion challengers. He is having to get by on freebies and loans again and he needs more than that..........

I would love to see him take United up but with a thin squad of triers I see us falling slightly short again. What KB needs to avoid at all costs is a slow start. If United arent in the top 10 by november/december time expect a change with Speed taking over.

 

[parisblade]

I think King Kev has had stern words with our friend from Luton following the fans forums that have been held. From a distance, it seems that things have changed:

1) Give the young 'uns a chance! We have a great academy and most Blades would rather see a yoot give 110% than an "established" player give 80%, no matter what the end result.
2) Play football that pleases! Results count but not at any cost.
3) Mess with my 25k attendances and you're off! Give the public something to sing about, shout about (not your head) and get excited about. Lethargy will kill BDTBL...

 

[SwissBlade]

The important thing is that he wins the players over(not that i'm suggesting he's lost them, quite the contrary now), the rest will fall into place...

 

[happyhippy]

No, to be honest.

I would certainly say that most fans didn't think of Blackie as being any form of sliced bread let alone the best thing since it, but all we could get after the truly asinine appointment of Barny Sornob.

Despite maintaining our general "top-ish Division Two" stance, we are piss poor to watch. It's Billy McEwan all over again. The difference is that there are a lot of people who expect a hell of a lot more, despite no real reason to.

 

[beightonblade]

yep he can win me back ! ............................ by fooking off

 

[cooperblade]

He'll never totally win the fans over whatever happens. Warnock never did even when he took us into the Premier League.

I'm hopeful for the coming season, I think we've recruited well (very well if we add Dickinson and Calve signs and turns out to be decent) and, although it's always easier when it's too late, I thought we put in some really good performances at the back end of last season.

I'm relatively happy to start the season with Blackwell in charge but I think we should move fairly quickly to remove him if we don't start well (or at least show positive signs) - say after 10/12 games.

I still don't think there are many alternatives out there so we would almost certainly replace him with Speed which could go either way.

 

[boo radley]

beightonblade

Did he ever lose them? There is always a vocal minority at every club that are just waiting for people to not do so well. Is this 'general concensus' amonst the vocal minority? Im sure you've conducted a poll amonst all united fans so if this is the case i apologise. Can you please publish the results of the 25000 or so that went to games last year giving how the questions were asked, what the questions were and how many spoiled ballot papers there were etc (funny i dont remember getting mine) and then i will answer your question.

Also what you doing up so early, gert kicked you out of bed?

 

[Vancouver]

Regardless of what he does there are people on here who will still find issues and faults with him.

 

[Micalijo]

He'll never totally win the fans over whatever happens. Warnock never did even when he took us into the Premier League.

I'm hopeful for the coming season, I think we've recruited well (very well if we add Dickinson and Calve signs and turns out to be decent) and, although it's always easier when it's too late, I thought we put in some really good performances at the back end of last season.

I'm relatively happy to start the season with Blackwell in charge but I think we should move fairly quickly to remove him if we don't start well (or at least show positive signs) - say after 10/12 games.

I still don't think there are many alternatives out there so we would almost certainly replace him with Speed which could go either way.

There are a million reasons to sack Blackwell, the availability of replacements should not come into it or be very, very low down. It's not your job to pick replacements so don't worry about it.

If he stopped lying to fans about the number of shots and chances we create it would be a start. Treats us like idiots does our Blackie.

 

[sheffielder]

beightonblade

Did he ever lose them? There is always a vocal minority at every club that are just waiting for people to not do so well. Is this 'general concensus' amonst the vocal minority? Im sure you've conducted a poll amonst all united fans so if this is the case i apologise. Can you please publish the results of the 25000 or so that went to games last year giving how the questions were asked, what the questions were and how many spoiled ballot papers there were etc (funny i dont remember getting mine) and then i will answer your question.

Also what you doing up so early, gert kicked you out of bed?

He is only asking people's opinion. He has not asked for a poll. Suggest you go back to bed and get out of the right side you prick

 

[Pollingtonblade]

He is only asking people's opinion. He has not asked for a poll. Suggest you go back to bed and get out of the right side you prick

Feisty One You Are!!!!!!

 

[sheffielder]

G string got caught up my ass!

 

[Revolution]

It also bears pointing out that EckingtonBlade and not Beightonblade asked the question....

 

[raul]

No, to be honest.

I would certainly say that most fans didn't think of Blackie as being any form of sliced bread let alone the best thing since it, but all we could get after the truly asinine appointment of Barny Sornob.

Despite maintaining our general "top-ish Division Two" stance, we are piss poor to watch. It's Billy McEwan all over again. The difference is that there are a lot of people who expect a hell of a lot more, despite no real reason to.

Chengdu. Frdai.The Academy. The Hotel. The Belgian club. Eurpoe in Five Years time. The ambition remains to be a top 10 club.

If there IS expectation, guess who created it.

 

[Bramley]

He'll never totally win the fans over whatever happens. Warnock never did even when he took us into the Premier League.

I'm hopeful for the coming season, I think we've recruited well (very well if we add Dickinson and Calve signs and turns out to be decent) and, although it's always easier when it's too late, I thought we put in some really good performances at the back end of last season.

I'm relatively happy to start the season with Blackwell in charge but I think we should move fairly quickly to remove him if we don't start well (or at least show positive signs) - say after 10/12 games.

I still don't think there are many alternatives out there so we would almost certainly replace him with Speed which could go either way.

Agreed. I think if we're playing decent stuff, blooding some young 'uns and in the top 10 come Christmas with a viable chance of the playoffs I'll be happy.

 

[DP8789]

Whether he can win people over or not i couldnt really care less, if he gets us promoted with the squad and resources we currently have then he's done a great job and deserves giving a few quid to try and keep us there.
I personally dont like the bloke, never have and never will, dont like his excuses and his tactics. But im of the opinion that this is most definately make or break for him this season, uniteds insistence on keeping speed suggests that he will be his replacement if that time does come.

*one thing that does have to be said is that King Kev is mostly to blame for the poisoned chalice blackwell has been left to sort out, why oh why did he appoint robson. to this day i still hate him for that decision that has put us about 2 years behind where we could have been.

 

[Grecian2000]

I think if we're playing decent stuff, blooding some young 'uns

In a nutshell for me.

My footballing day does not revolve around supping a gallon and being with mates, it's about watching something decent on the grass. That is what he has destroyed in the last two seasons with his negativity and Hoof.

If he can change (or indeed if he's forced to change or leave) and gets the players to play and goes to away games to win then YES he can turn it araound with me.
If the mantra is grinding out 1-0 wins then NO, he can fuck right off.

 

[frechyblade]

A supplimentary question from me would be:

Would you be happy gaining promotion by grinding out enough 1-0 wins or hovering around mid table winning some and losing more playing attractive free flowing football?

My choice would be to see football being played on a football pitch not 7ft in the air. My fear is that we have a mentality of win at all costs that is in all levels of football, i see junior football teams playing in exactly the way we did last season, a few big lads lump it forward and feed of the scraps.

Here's hoping there has been a change in philosophy at BDTBL and we go out and try and play football, I have it on fairly good authority that will be the case.

UTB

 

[Ollessendro]

This is not the start of a witch hunt,but a genuine question.It seems when he took over from Robson he was the best thing since sliced bread.Now the general concensus seems to be that he should go.What do you think,and reasons.

Can he? Absolutely! If he gets United playing attractive football and we challenge and/or get promoted, then yes. I mean there will always be a selection (say 10-15% who don't like him) but if he achieves then I really don;t see why not. I'd certainly eat humble pie if he got us (convinclingly) promoted this season.

Will he? Absolutely not! (imo). He is stuck in negative ways, hasn't larnt from his mistakes and he doesn't have the players. With his current squad and lack of tactical nouss I just can't see us finishing anywhere near the play offs. I'd love him to throw caution to the wind, attack teams and play to our strenghts (like after he took over from Robson) but I just can't see it.

 

[Ollessendro]

Did he ever lose them? There is always a vocal minority at every club that are just waiting for people to not do so well. Is this 'general concensus' amonst the vocal minority? Im sure you've conducted a poll amonst all united fans so if this is the case i apologise. Can you please publish the results of the 25000 or so that went to games last year giving how the questions were asked, what the questions were and how many spoiled ballot papers there were etc (funny i dont remember getting mine) and then i will answer your question.

Also what you doing up so early, gert kicked you out of bed?

Here you go Boo.

http://www.s24su.com/showthread.php...art-deux&highlight=poll:+back+him+or+sack+him

That is overwhelming evidence that fans want Blackwell to be sacked. Simple.

I can here your response now. That's only 250 people, 25000 go to the matches. However my response to that is that samples are taken all the time to show the population. For example if you want to do some research on smoking you wouldn't ask the whole 20 millionm smokers in the Uk, you'd probably get data from a sample (say a couple of thousand). This might be dfficult for your small brain to take in, but I'll try.

Rather than come up with some nonsensical reply. Try to answers these questions:

- can you tell me a better sample than this poll on this forum? If yes, can you show us it and all the results?
- can you give me some good reasons (or a good reason) why this sample is not representative (roughly speaking) of all Blades fans?

(I lay these questions down for all Blades fans, not just Boo. I remember having a ding dong with Swiss about this and him avoiding the question time and time again. I am genuinly interested in any Blades challenges on the 2 questions above).

 

[broomhillblade]

Treats us like idiots does our Blackie.

It takes one to know one... ;-)

 

[Balham]

You come up with some good questions Ollessandro..

Here you go Boo.
Rather than come up with some nonsensical reply. Try to answers these questions:

- can you tell me a better sample than this poll on this forum? If yes, can you show us it and all the results?
- can you give me some good reasons (or a good reason) why this sample is not representative (roughly speaking) of all Blades fans?

but then ruin it with pointless jibes

This might be dfficult for your small brain to take in, but I'll try.

I'd say that the poll you've found would be an accurate sample but it's on a similar level to finding an opinion poll from 9 months ago. It'd be very different to one carried out today. That's particularly pertinent when you think back to October, in the middle of a shocking run which was always going to test the fans' patience.

Carry out a similar poll today and there's your answer. I believe that the majority of United fans want to see the team playing "good" football - ie not hoofball - and winning games. I'm willing, as ever, to wait and see if Blackwell can get that out of the squad he's constructed. The signs are positive but what will August 8th bring?

 

[parisblade]

A supplimentary question from me would be:

Would you be happy gaining promotion by grinding out enough 1-0 wins or hovering around mid table winning some and losing more playing attractive free flowing football

Good question, are the 2 mutually exclusive? As already mentioned, the football when he first took over was good to watch and reaped rewards.

 

[frechyblade]

Here you go Boo.

http://www.s24su.com/showthread.php...art-deux&highlight=poll:+back+him+or+sack+him

That is overwhelming evidence that fans want Blackwell to be sacked. Simple.


I can here your response now. That's only 250 people, 25000 go to the matches. However my response to that is that samples are taken all the time to show the population. For example if you want to do some research on smoking you wouldn't ask the whole 20 millionm smokers in the Uk, you'd probably get data from a sample (say a couple of thousand). This might be dfficult for your small brain to take in, but I'll try.

Rather than come up with some nonsensical reply. Try to answers these questions:

- can you tell me a better sample than this poll on this forum? If yes, can you show us it and all the results?
- can you give me some good reasons (or a good reason) why this sample is not representative (roughly speaking) of all Blades fans?

(I lay these questions down for all Blades fans, not just Boo. I remember having a ding dong with Swiss about this and him avoiding the question time and time again. I am genuinly interested in any Blades challenges on the 2 questions above).

You can argue that the sample is representative of all blade fans. To play devils advocate a little I'd raise 2 points:

- Is 1% a large enough percentage to gain a valid represenatation
- The issue is with how the poll was carried out, it's the same issue with our current voting system, you mainly get the views of the people that have strong views one way or the other. my guess is that there are a large number sat on the fence, that don't have strong views one way or the other. I guess the forum has a lot more than 250 members, why didn't they vote?

I'm one of those fence sitters thats hoping that things will improve next season with a change of style. Here's hoping!

UTB

 

[Ollessendro]

You come up with some good questions Ollessandro..

but then ruin it with pointless jibes

I'd say that the poll you've found would be an accurate sample but it's on a similar level to finding an opinion poll from 9 months ago. It'd be very different to one carried out today. That's particularly pertinent when you think back to October, in the middle of a shocking run which was always going to test the fans' patience.

Carry out a similar poll today and there's your answer. I believe that the majority of United fans want to see the team playing "good" football - ie not hoofball - and winning games. I'm willing, as ever, to wait and see if Blackwell can get that out of the squad he's constructed. The signs are positive but what will August 8th bring?

You're right Balham. It's only a bit of banter between Boo and I (we have a history) but it could be taken the wrong way.

In answer to your suggestions see below.

You can argue that the sample is representative of all blade fans. To play devils advocate a little I'd raise 2 points:

- Is 1% a large enough percentage to gain a valid represenatation
- The issue is with how the poll was carried out, it's the same issue with our current voting system, you mainly get the views of the people that have strong views one way or the other. my guess is that there are a large number sat on the fence, that don't have strong views one way or the other. I guess the forum has a lot more than 250 members, why didn't they vote?

I'm one of those fence sitters thats hoping that things will improve next season with a change of style. Here's hoping!

UTB

Ok, in response to the 2 of you I've created a poll. Let's see wht the results are.

http://www.s24su.com/showthread.php?19617-Do-you-have-any-faith-left-in-Blackwell

I don't think anyone can say that the sample is not representative (although i'm happy to debate it with anyone that does).

In response to your questions Frechy:

- yes. 1% is obviosuly a small percentage, but 250 observations would make it statistcially significant.
- this poll gives 4 options and hence should cover the apathy or sit on the fence options. Regardless I don't think that these issues would skew the data. It's not like taking the time to fill in a seurvey (where I accept you get bias from where people feel more strongly) it is merley the click of a button.