CONFIRMED Chris Basham signs

[Grizzly blade]

I'd cut Blackwell a bit of slack as he's been OK as a manager's wing-man, as have a few other who were subsequently found to be lacking as managers, e.g. Kidd, McCall, Knill.

Blackwell deserves no slack at all, none.
The single reason we ended up in the shit, at least Robson brought some good players for the money, Blackwell rewarded average with silly money and his signings then style of football simply terrible.
The man is the epitome of the term dinosaur. He’d love to be a poor mans Neil Warnock but he’s not even close to that.
There’s a reason he’s never done anything as a manager and will never be one again.

 

[SwissBlade]

Part of the reason his recruitment was so poor was because his budget was poor.

I'm not excusing him as a manager, because if I remeber correctly, Wilder's was even smaller, and he did ok. I'm just saying that Adkins didn't have the same options in terms of recruitment as Robson, Blackwell or Clough had.

I think you nailed it with your wilder comment.

Adkins was the wrong manager at the wrong club at the wrong time. However it still doesn’t excuse his inability to pick out the issues.

I feel drained of energy everytime I talk about him so excuse my lack of detail in my responses.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Where are you getting your figures for Williamson? He only played 16 games, and didn't make a single start until the new year.
And as I said, this was Lowton's first season: the fact that he played most games proved how thin our squad was!

You say it wasn't a bad squad, but I can't agree, this is how we lined up for the first game:

S Simonsen (4 England U21 Caps)

J Ertl (7 Austrian Caps)
A Taylor (Not the best, but not the worst)
K Bartley (Rangers/Swansea/Leeds/West Brom)
C Morgan (only played 8 games that year)

J Ward (33 Northern Ireland Caps)
L Britton (Plenty of prem games)
N Montgomery
S Quinn (18 Republic of Ireland Caps)

C Evans (9 goals that season)
R Cresswell (4 England U21 Caps)

Surely you're not saying that's a good side?

As much as I like the cut of your jib C2na, that's not a bad 11. Not the best, but certainly not the worst since we got relegated from the prem.

 

[Chali 2na]

I think you nailed it with your wilder comment.

Adkins was the wrong manager at the wrong club at the wrong time. However it still doesn’t excuse his inability to pick out the issues.

I feel drained of energy everytime I talk about him so excuse my lack of detail in my responses.

It was a draining experience, we seemed to just lurch through the season, hoping Billy Sharp might nick one. After failing to replace Murphy, we had no creative spark.

In his defence though, he inherited a terrible side, with the retained list already done and was only allowed to sign 2 players - was never going to end well, but Adkins ensured it ended badly.

 

[Chali 2na]

As much as I like the cut of your jib C2na, that's not a bad 11. Not the best, but certainly not the worst since we got relegated from the prem.

Thanks, NC. The cut of your own jib is equally likeable.

Can't say I agree that we've had worse sides since our relegation from the PL, unless your including some of our league 1 sides. Allow me to address your annotations:

S Simonsen (4 England U21 Caps) - England U21 caps count for very little in my book, especially when the player is 31 when you sign him. Have we ever had a more calamitous keeper?

J Ertl (7 Austrian Caps) - Full caps are a lot more impressive, and Ertl definetly wasn't an awful player, however he couldn't even get into our league 1 side after relegation, so his career was certainly on the decline.
A Taylor (Not the best, but not the worst) - You're wrong, he was the worst*. He's one of the most ineffective footballers I've ever seen. League 1 at best, as evidenced by his career.
K Bartley (Rangers/Swansea/Leeds/West Brom) - You're right, he did eventually play for those clubs, however we gave him his 1st league appearance, so his subsequent experience counts for very little in my book. Having rookie centre half in a relegation battle is asking for trouble.
C Morgan (only played 8 games that year) - May I add, Morgan's replacement was Nyron Nosworthy.

J Ward (33 Northern Ireland Caps) - Can't argue here - clearly one of our better players at the time.
L Britton (Plenty of prem games) - When asked about his move to United, he said "It was a mistake. I Should have never left Swansea" - I happen to agree with him.
N Montgomery - Worked hard, but was clearing coming to the end of his career at the time.
S Quinn (18 Republic of Ireland Caps) - Another good player, but 2 good wingers alone isn't enough to keep you up.

C Evans (9 goals that season) - 9 goals in 34 games isn't that impressive, especially for the top goalscorer. 'Ok' at best that season.
R Cresswell (4 England U21 Caps) - Again, U21 caps aren't that impressive, especially when he was 32 at the time. His age was starting to show; he had a ratio of 1 goal in 7 that year...

*Sharing the podium with Jordan Stewart for the worst ever blades left back.

 

[bricktop]

The years between 2007 and 2016 should be consigned to history and the dustbin. We ended being managed by some shit managers (Adams and Weir the worst), had some awful and limited players, and progressively got worse as we slid from the top flight to 11th in League One. Those years were painful

It’s worth remembering that Basham was part of the one of the worst teams we have had ever, but he did deserve credit at the Time as one of the few players who didn’t hide, all what has happened to him is we got a manager in who knew how to use him, gets the best out of him, and had got players around him who he have thrived by playing alongside.

If we went up to the top flight. I still think Basham would be a part of the side. He might be gangly. look clumsy but he is a cracking player who we will be noticeable by his absence if he doesn’t play

 

[grafikhaus]

The years between 2007 and 2016 should be consigned to history and the dustbin.

Not at all - you've got to hit rock bottom before you appreciate the highs. Those years were our 'Dunkirk' period. Could it get any worse? But in stepped CW (Churchill Wilder ). He's halted our reverse and we can put that period behind us. Lots of work to do, but exciting times ahead. As CW might have said:

'Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.'

 

[JohnDenver]

Blackwell deserves no slack at all, none.
The single reason we ended up in the shit, at least Robson brought some good players for the money, Blackwell rewarded average with silly money and his signings then style of football simply terrible.
The man is the epitome of the term dinosaur. He’d love to be a poor mans Neil Warnock but he’s not even close to that.
There’s a reason he’s never done anything as a manager and will never be one again.

I remember a Leeds fan (pre-Roygbiv, but similar idea), describing what we could expect from Blackwell and it was eerily prescient. A good start characterised by hard work and organisation, but followed by the steady erosion of quality, either by discarding players or their deterioration of performance.

That turned out to be exactly true. Many players - usually skilful - went through Blackwell’s revolving door, often going on to good Championship or even Premiership careers, but performing much worse for us than elsewhere. Meanwhile, lesser players would join and the squad weaken to crisis point.

Skilful players like Dyer, Cotterill, Squinny, Evans and even Billy Sharp simply rotted under Blackwell and subsequently improved in leaps and bounds.

Meanwhile he recruited far too many loanees, often staggeringly bad players, and of his permanent contract signings, how many flourished?

You might credit him for the two Kyles, but I’d suggest he had them delivered to him by our academy. And what money he did reinvest was wasted.

So thanks for keeping us up. Thanks (not really), for grinding our way miserably to an awful playoff final. But his management of the squad and coaching of players cost us massively and set up the relegation shambles.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Blackwell deserves no slack at all, none.
The single reason we ended up in the shit, at least Robson brought some good players for the money, Blackwell rewarded average with silly money and his signings then style of football simply terrible.
The man is the epitome of the term dinosaur. He’d love to be a poor mans Neil Warnock but he’s not even close to that.
There’s a reason he’s never done anything as a manager and will never be one again.

Blackwell's recruitment was terrible but let's not forget that Robson lumbered us with the likes of Hendrie, Carney etc on big money. and whilst Sharp, Beattie, Ehiogu, Speed, Naysmith etc. were good players, they cost us too much and under Robson, weren't good at all. It was only when Blackwell came in that those players really started to perform (bar Beattie who was decent from the off). Blackwell's problem, much like Clough, was that when he had to replace the players he lost through sales, retirement etc. was that he spunked money on poor players or at least for both of them, players that were poor under them (Ched, Willo etc. coming good under Wilson, Freeman, Coutts, Basham etc. coming good under Wilder).

 

[snootyfenooty]

Freeman, Coutts, Basham etc. coming good under Wilder).

Bit unfair that. Basham gave 100% from the off, Coutts needed rehabilitating, Freeman was a bit of a tosser who needed sorting out and is the one out of the three Wilder can probably take credit for.

 

[BushBlade]

Blackwell's recruitment was terrible but let's not forget that Robson lumbered us with the likes of Hendrie, Carney etc on big money. and whilst Sharp, Beattie, Ehiogu, Speed, Naysmith etc. were good players, they cost us too much and under Robson, weren't good at all. It was only when Blackwell came in that those players really started to perform (bar Beattie who was decent from the off). Blackwell's problem, much like Clough, was that when he had to replace the players he lost through sales, retirement etc. was that he spunked money on poor players or at least for both of them, players that were poor under them (Ched, Willo etc. coming good under Wilson, Freeman, Coutts, Basham etc. coming good under Wilder).

Which is the difference between a coach and a manager. Blackwell was a decent coach and, when he came in, benefitted from not being Robson. He just had to do a coaching job. However, his recruitment, leadership, ability to cope with pressure, tactical awareness and man management was poor and they are the key components of being a manager.

 

[Westran]

Bit unfair that. Basham gave 100% from the off, Coutts needed rehabilitating, Freeman was a bit of a tosser who needed sorting out and is the one out of the three Wilder can probably take credit for.

Weren't both Freeman and Coutts transfer listed when Wilder first came in? Surely He can take credit for this in the same way as for Freeman?

 

[Davie Blade]

To those scoring Clough over 0.1 out of a trillion
https://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/sheffield-utd-v-bristol-city.66290/
0.1 was for signing CB and PC.
Both are now unrecognisable players, highlighting what a remarkable manager CW is.

 

[I should coco]

As usual it was Mr McCawber who went back into panic mode

McCabe has made some massive managerial mistakes, but sacking Blackwell was not one of them.

I can only assume you didn't see the first half of QPR at home in 2010, as nobody who watched that could be in any doubt Blackwell had to go. I've been watching since 1970 and that first half alone makes my 'top 5' worst Blades performances ever.

It's not hyperbole. That game was car crash tv at its worst and he HAD to go.

Bringing the thread back to HMS Bashambauer, really brings home how much things have changed. Players who want to be there, meshing completely with their team mates in an attractive efficient system. We are light years away from the horrors of Mogadon Man, Blackwell and the wisdom of geese.

 

[Gimli]

McCabe has made some massive managerial mistakes, but sacking Blackwell was not one of them.

I can only assume you didn't see the first half of QPR at home in 2010, as nobody who watched that could be in any doubt Blackwell had to go. I've been watching since 1970 and that first half alone makes my 'top 5' worst Blades performances ever.

It's not hyperbole. That game was car crash tv at its worst and he HAD to go.

Bringing the thread back to HMS Bashambauer, really brings home how much things have changed. Players who want to be there, meshing completely with their team mates in an attractive efficient system. We are light years away from the horrors of Mogadon Man, Blackwell and the wisdom of geese.

Would the team have been relegated with Blackwell though? I don’t refute your claim that the QPR performance was abject but surely getting rid of Blackwell did more harm than good - also Middlesbrough away this season was pretty dire, but glad we didn’t sack Wilder on the basis on one really bad game!

Quick edit - I know Blackwell was not a great manager and I am not saying he should have stayed forever but I think it was a mistake sacking him when we did.

 

[I should coco]

Would the team have been relegated with Blackwell though? I don’t refute your claim that the QPR performance was abject but surely getting rid of Blackwell did more harm than good - also Middlesbrough away this season was pretty dire, but glad we didn’t sack Wilder on the basis on one really bad game!

A very good question.

I can still remember my mood after that game as a combination of bewilderment, shock and mainly outright anger. I do not exaggerate when I say it makes my all time worst list. It really was that bad.

Somehow after a performance THAT poor, I don;t know if he could have turned it around and it may well have been repeated in subsequent games. Despite the 6 years of misery that followed, we have now moved on.

You are being a little tinker, comparing it to Boro. That was just a 'standard' United shit away performance. We have 5 or 6 every season and it is Blades-law we have these.

 

[Gimli]

A very good question.

I can still remember my mood after that game as a combination of bewilderment, shock and mainly outright anger. I do not exaggerate when I say it makes my all time worst list. It really was that bad.

Somehow after a performance THAT poor, I don;t know if he could have turned it around and it may well have been repeated in subsequent games. Despite the 6 years of misery that followed, we have now moved on.

You are being a little tinker, comparing it to Boro. That was just a 'standard' United shit away performance. We have 5 or 6 every season and it is Blades-law we have these.

The Boro comparison was indeed tinkerous and facetious

 

[Chali 2na]

Would the team have been relegated with Blackwell though?

I think so, yes.

 

[snootyfenooty]

McCabe has made some massive managerial mistakes, but sacking Blackwell was not one of them.

I can only assume you didn't see the first half of QPR at home in 2010, as nobody who watched that could be in any doubt Blackwell had to go. I've been watching since 1970 and that first half alone makes my 'top 5' worst Blades performances ever.

It's not hyperbole. That game was car crash tv at its worst and he HAD to go.

Bringing the thread back to HMS Bashambauer, really brings home how much things have changed. Players who want to be there, meshing completely with their team mates in an attractive efficient system. We are light years away from the horrors of Mogadon Man, Blackwell and the wisdom of geese.

If I didn't know you better I'd have thought you was simply looking for an argument! How you've managed to take a selected snippet from my post and then managed to contrive this into me being pro-Blackwell takes some doing. There's no praise for Blackwell from me, just pointing out that it was Mr McCawber's subsequent actions which got us relegated, not Blackwell having a bad 45 minutes against QPR in the second game of the season.

For clarity I've repeated the whole sentence below and you'll see what I was getting at:

As usual it was Mr McCawber who went back into panic mode and appointed disaster after disaster as Blackwell's replacements, each one being a cheaper option than the one before. You can hardly attribute any of that and the end result (relegation) to Blackwell.

Nice try though!

 

[Bladezz]

Bashams into the last year of his contract. I think it’s time we sit down and talk about an extension for him.

 

[I should coco]

If I didn't know you better I'd have thought you was simply looking for an argument! How you've managed to take a selected snippet from my post and then managed to contrive this into me being pro-Blackwell takes some doing

I wasn't particularly trying to misqmisquote you, more surprised that anyone could blame KM for sacking him.

I agree the subsequent comedy managerial appointments were KM's fault but the fact remains that Blackwell had to go.

Me, looking for an argument?
As if...........

 

[Maidenhead]

A very good question.

I can still remember my mood after that game as a combination of bewilderment, shock and mainly outright anger. I do not exaggerate when I say it makes my all time worst list. It really was that bad.

Somehow after a performance THAT poor, I don;t know if he could have turned it around and it may well have been repeated in subsequent games. Despite the 6 years of misery that followed, we have now moved on.

You are being a little tinker, comparing it to Boro. That was just a 'standard' United shit away performance. We have 5 or 6 every season and it is Blades-law we have these.

I remember that QPR game well.

After it I said to my son "that's it, he's got to go"

My son replied to me "blimey, you never say that".

He was right I don't, as I think most managers are sacked far too quickly, but that night was up there as possibly the worst performance of all time, and I've seen some bad ones in my 48 seasons.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

200 not out.

Well done Bash, what a player.

 

[Stretch]

200 not out.

Well done Bash, what a player.

Wilder's interview yesterday when talking about bash. 'I think he's immense' ...'A manager's dream'.


Love the bloke.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

Just read blackpool fans thoughts on this. All seem happy he is due to leave, one offering to drive him here.

Lol