Clouded by results - A very typical boardroom response.

[Rodley]

No, I've got it exactly in context. It's patronising to say I have taken it out of context.

People rightly criticise the board when things aren't going well, because let's face it, it is partially down to some of their stupid decisions that we are in our current predicament.

Personally from all the supporting evidence I see the Prince seems to have lost interest in United, and it is not entirely surprising that people are speculating that he may be willing to pull out.

As for the rest of it, there will always be rumours, I don't believe a lot of the rumours, but I can see with perfect clarity why the rumours come about. I don't think for a minute any of are true, but I can understand the reasons why people draw those conclusions.

There aren't people "who deliberately de-rail the club", but are also Unitedites who are concerned about the future of United, and given the previous track record of the board, believe that there are nefarious intentions with the current board.

What supporting evidence?

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Another very welcome 3 points today and despite the performance not being the prolific, emphatic victory that we are all so desperate to see, never the less it is our third scrappy victory against same league opposition on the trot.

You will have to forgive me now as I am a blade therefore it is hard not to allow myself to be overcome by negative, pessimistic thoughts, however the next three fixtures in my opinion could prompt a very typical boardroom reaction and it worries me as such a typical response could prove so detrimental to our season.

So let's say we bag a few points against the likes of Wigan, Bradford and Peterborough?

Heading into the transfer window a very typical response from the board in times gone by would be to rip up the cheque and tighten up the purse strings with the manager forced to make the same old predictable speech of how "We just went toe to toe with the best in this league and we got something from them" and "This proves that the set of lads that we already have are more than good enough to compete for promotion".

Am I being overly negative in believing this to be a very typical Sheffield United boardroom response?

It is a catch 22 situation really. Of course I want us to go out and lick every one of our opposition between now and the transfer window, I am a blade and I expect nothing less! But I sincerely hope that bagging points doesn't come at a cost when it comes to making the necessary improvements to the squad.

This team isn't good enough. We have seen more than enough proof of this since the season started and a few scrappy wins against some of the so called better teams in this division doesn't change my opinion what so ever. Of course I will take the wins all day long but never the less it would be deluded to believe that we are good enough to challenge based on the overall picture.

How much faith do you have in the board? Do you hope we win the lot and that the board will still back the manager financially despite a few semi decent results? Or alternatively would you take a couple of rough results in order to force the board to get the cheque book out as promised by Jim Phipps?

Hypothetically speaking like.............If you can see where I am coming from?

In the past twelve months the board have:

signed Brayford
signed Done
sacked Clough and team
appointed Adkins and team
signed Billy
long term loaned Hammond - from the team now top of Division 1
and sold Murphy

Perhaps there is some desire to suffocate ambition or even destroy the club - but taking their actions at face value I can't see it.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

What spectactular signings are people expecting?

Well Boo, I'm expecting......er...............um.....................er................

 

[judge]

In the past twelve months the board have:

signed Brayford
signed Done
sacked Clough and team
appointed Adkins and team
signed Billy
long term loaned Hammond - from the team now top of Division 1
and sold Murphy

Perhaps there is some desire to suffocate ambition or even destroy the club - but taking their actions at face value I can't see it.

all paid for from player sales and cup runs

 

[Worksop II]

Just a quickie and apologies if it has already been done to death but just for me, in a nutshell, what was the KM recent statement?

In a nutshell

"it's someone else's fault"

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

in a nutshell, what was the KM recent statement?

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[spongebobblade]

Exactly.

McCabe already dropped a huge hint at the meeting with fans the other week that he feels the problem is the squad is too big, which for once are words of truth from old Kev's mouth.

It's how that squad size should be resolved is what is going to differ between the board and fans I fear.

I can't see much coming in in the JTW unless some go out, and no one is going to buy the useless lumps off us so that means at least one of Done, Brayford or Adams on their way.

My bet would be Done.

And there lies the problem with Sheffield United at boardroom level. I appreciate that you have to watch the purse strings but if we had kept hold of just half of the good players we have sold/released to save cash who have gone on to better things since we were relegated would we really be where we are now? As has been said so many times, if you replace ALL your crown jewels with slimey turds there's only so much you can take before they stink the place out

 

[Rodley]

all paid for from player sales and cup runs

Are you seriously suggesting the net spend is £0?

 

[Rodley]

all paid for from player sales and cup runs

You know you get £100,000 for winning the League Cup don't you?

 

[judge]

Are you seriously suggesting the net spend is £0?

No dont remember saying that

You know you get £100,000 for winning the League Cup don't you?

no i didnt ,any reason you mention it ?

 

[Toronto Blade]

It all depends how much the board want promotion .Adkins has already stated that this squad isn't good enough for promotion,so it is up to the board to make it good enough or fail.

 

[blade too long]

Anyone else think there is a campaign of mis information going on? Tell the fans something big is happening in January

Selling the ground
Moving to a smaller community stadium in Don Valley
Closing the academy
Paying off half the squad
HRH pulling the plug
Chinese moving in changing name to the super trams and playing in yellow/red dragon colours
Brayford off

Loads of bad news rumours, expectaion of fans set low then when nothing happens a few low level loans in and out we all feel relieved. It's a Blades/McCabe thing

seeing as the rumours all eminate from Barney cant see how mccabes involved

 

[blade too long]

It all depends how much the board want promotion .Adkins has already stated that this squad isn't good enough for promotion,so it is up to the board to make it good enough or fail.

Think any board would rather have championship income than league one

 

[Houston_Blade]

My post was about people "who deliberately de-rail the club" and start stupid, negative rumours.

You have it out of context.

If people have nothing better to do than that then they need a re-wire upstairs. There are a lot of rumours started on here born out of annoyance but with one notable exception it's not malicious.

 

[Old Skool]

Sorry folks..................there's an elephant in the room and that elephant is our current squad size. Unless and until the squad is trimmed - sizeably -then the ability of the gaffer to bring in additions is extremely limited. If NA is able to move a few out and free up the wages (forget transfer fees - I dont think any transfer income of any real value is realistic) then it is over to the Board...in my opinion then...and only then...can the ambition of the current Board be measured.

 

[Rodley]

Sorry folks..................there's an elephant in the room and that elephant is our current squad size. Unless and until the squad is trimmed - sizeably -then the ability of the gaffer to bring in additions is extremely limited. If NA is able to move a few out and free up the wages (forget transfer fees - I dont think any transfer income of any real value is realistic) then it is over to the Board...in my opinion then...and only then...can the ambition of the current Board be measured.

3 or 4 out and 1 or 2 in. A centre mid and a centre half being priority, possibly a winger.

 

[Deleted member 875]

If people have nothing better to do than that then they need a re-wire upstairs. There are a lot of rumours started on here born out of annoyance but with one notable exception it's not malicious.

Exactly. I don't think anyone is maliciously starting rumours about the board to deliberately de-rail the club, and the one notable exception to this........well I don't think it is wise to name names, or bring him in to the discussion as it will depend in to a multi-page thread about him.

 

[Old Skool]

3 or 4 out and 1 or 2 in. A centre mid and a centre half being priority, possibly a winger.

Possibly...but in my view I suspect far more drastic surgery is required. Don't we have something like 40+ professionals on the books ?? Ideally that needs to be reduced by about 25% to free up sufficient wages to bring in the 3 or 4 quality additions we would all like to see. Regrettably, I can see only 3 or 4 leaving....................at best. Quite where that will leave the manager and Board I dont know.....I guess all will be revealed in the next few weeks. UTB !

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[Woodwardfan]

Possibly...but in my view I suspect far more drastic surgery is required. Don't we have something like 40+ professionals on the books ?? Ideally that needs to be reduced by about 25% to free up sufficient wages to bring in the 3 or 4 quality additions we would all like to see. Regrettably, I can see only 3 or 4 leaving....................at best. Quite where that will leave the manager and Board I dont know.....I guess all will be revealed in the next few weeks. UTB !

I think that perspective will not be seen until next summer. The JTW is a make do and improve if possible scenario; next summer is the opportunity for surgery. It would be great to have the Championship income to spend on serious improvements rather than the "inconvenience" of staying down here another year. Easier to attract better players up there and that will be when the Board will have to get the big "Phase 2" cheque book out.