Confess your unpopular opinions regarding SUFC

[BladeByChoice]

I would rather we send Bindon back and keep Robinson for the season.

I know this thread is about unpopular opinions, but no need to take the piss .

 

[BigBed]

Our head coach is shit.

 

[Revolution]

Keifer Moore did not have a good season, but was not used properly, was sold partly in a fit of pique, and would have been a better fit a Selles team than Campbell.

I will never understand why we signed him and then went out of our way not to put the ball on his head.

 

[Sportbilly /Detroit Blade]

Wayne Allison, whilst seeming like a good bloke, was absolutely dogshit.

Not quite as bad as Bobby Ford, but high up on my list of my least favourite players of all time.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Confess your unpopular opinions regarding SWFC

1) Ross Wallace was overrated 2) I never understood the 'hate' given to Chris Woods 3) I love blue shorts

www.owlstalk.co.uk

 

[Champagneblade]

I thought Danny Wilson was a lovely guy but an average manager.

He inherited an embarrassment of riches and his only decision of note was to get a back up for Evans, knowing that cloud hung over him.

In the end he had a couple of goes at it and failed miserably; Michael O'Halloran was awful, James Beattie was well past his sell-by date and Will Hoskins was already carrying an injury.

If he'd got that one decision right, we have done enough in the final 3 games to go straight back up.

 

[Revolution]

I thought Danny Wilson was a lovely guy but an average manager.

He inherited an embarrassment of riches and his only decision of note was to get a back up for Evans, knowing that cloud hung over him.

In the end he had a couple of goes at it and failed miserably; Michael O'Halloran was awful, James Beattie was well past his sell-by date and Will Hoskins was already carrying an injury.

If he'd got that one decision right, we have done enough in the final 3 games to go straight back up.

As I always say when this old chestnut comes up, this is massive captain hindsight territory.

We were well aware of the possible Evans problem.

We had Porter and Cresswell. We signed Beattie, Hoskins and O'Halloran. We had a free scoring midfielder in Williamson. We did not weaken generally during the transfer window in January 2012.

None of those options were enough to get us over the line, but I do not think Wilson got that decision "wrong". It was desperately bad luck that none of the three other options we had worked out.

Plus if Andy "penalty specialist" Taylor and Matt Lowton had done their jobs, it would not matter.

And I thought Wilson did a better than average job.

 

[Champagneblade]

As I always say when this old chestnut comes up, this is massive captain hindsight territory.

We were well aware of the possible Evans problem.

We had Porter and Cresswell. We signed Beattie, Hoskins and O'Halloran. We had a free scoring midfielder in Williamson. We did not weaken generally during the transfer window in January 2012.

None of those options were enough to get us over the line, but I do not think Wilson got that decision "wrong". It was desperately bad luck that none of the three other options we had worked out.

Plus if Andy "penalty specialist" Taylor and Matt Lowton had done their jobs, it would not matter.

And I thought Wilson did a better than average job.

Fine margins in the final, I do concede that and we once more entered a major event missing key players.

I do personally feel, my opinion of course, that the squad that was left, even after summer departures, could have auto-piloted to where they ended up. It was an easy season to manage us as we had an overly talented roster.

It felt the only tinkering was that one level of recruitment. I don't recall who else may have been available, but it was more what he bought than who, and that isn't hindsight. Hoskins was carrying an injury? Why would one of your insurance options be an injured player? Beattie was a nostalgic signing, but his legs had clearly gone well before and O'Halloran was just a terrible player. Just a pity he couldn't have made a far better selection.

In a strange way, I thought he managed slightly better the following year, though it was ugly at times, he kept us in and about with us topping the league in December/January time, despite the loss of sizeable talent. The sale of Blackman, who had become the talisman of the side, was a terrible own goal by McCabe and sealed Wilson's fate, though the loss of Shaun Millar to injury almost at the same time as Diego emerging then having a career debilitating injury made the sale an even more misguided move.

Wednesday fans complain about Gassama and Musaba; that prior summer we lost Evans, Lowton, Williamson, Morgan, Quinn and Montgomerie. How's that for a loss of talent?

 

[programmechap]

Fine margins in the final, I do concede that and we once more entered a major event missing key players.

I do personally feel, my opinion of course, that the squad that was left, even after summer departures, could have auto-piloted to where they ended up. It was an easy season to manage us as we had an overly talented roster.

It felt the only tinkering was that one level of recruitment. I don't recall who else may have been available, but it was more what he bought than who, and that isn't hindsight. Hoskins was carrying an injury? Why would one of your insurance options be an injured player? Beattie was a nostalgic signing, but his legs had clearly gone well before and O'Halloran was just a terrible player. Just a pity he couldn't have made a far better selection.

In a strange way, I thought he managed slightly better the following year, though it was ugly at times, he kept us in and about with us topping the league in December/January time, despite the loss of sizeable talent. The sale of Blackman, who had become the talisman of the side, was a terrible own goal by McCabe and sealed Wilson's fate, though the loss of Shaun Millar to injury almost at the same time as Diego emerging then having a career debilitating injury made the sale an even more misguided move.

Wednesday fans complain about Gassama and Musaba; that prior summer we lost Evans, Lowton, Williamson, Morgan, Quinn and Montgomerie. How's that for a loss of talent?

The sacking of Wilson after the 0-2 home defeat by Crawley on 9/4/13 was perhaps McCabes most bizzare decision.

There were 5 games left in the regular season. We were 5th , virtually assured of a play off place and 6 points behind 2nd with 2 games in hand and thus still with a chance of automatic.

Why on earth you'd sack at experienced manager at that point and replace him with a bloke who never managed before (Morgan) is beyond me.

 

[Champagneblade]

The sacking of Wilson after the 0-2 home defeat by Crawley on 9/4/13 was perhaps McCabes most bizzare decision.

There were 5 games left in the regular season. We were 5th , virtually assured of a play off place and 6 points behind 2nd with 2 games in hand and thus still with a chance of automatic.

Why on earth you'd sack at experienced manager at that point and replace him with a bloke who never managed before (Morgan) is beyond me.

I remember at the time, he was getting some criticism. Being honest, I don’t recall being overly upset but then appointing Morgs was a nonsense move.

Bit like when Warnock left. A few would have been fine him going. I was happy for him to stay. But anyone wanting Robson to come in in his place? Nobody!

FWIW my choices at the time for those were Robins instead of Wilson and Chris Coleman instead of Robbo.

Coleman went on to do well with Wales but not sure he really built on his early promise. Robins has turned out to have a decent managerial career.

As we saw worh Adkins though, no guarantees that X Manager will do well with your club.

 

[Jon Bon II]

Pilchards are the new Bobby Ford.

 

[Revolution]

The sacking of Wilson after the 0-2 home defeat by Crawley on 9/4/13 was perhaps McCabes most bizzare decision.

There were 5 games left in the regular season. We were 5th , virtually assured of a play off place and 6 points behind 2nd with 2 games in hand and thus still with a chance of automatic.

Why on earth you'd sack at experienced manager at that point and replace him with a bloke who never managed before (Morgan) is beyond me.

You may remember that Radio Sheffield asked McCabe why he had sacked Wilson in the press conference announcing Morgan's appointment.

McCabe was flummoxed by the question. The best he could come up with was that we hadn't been winning at home. That was true. We had not scored in 4 home games. 3 0-0 draws and the Crawley defeat.

Of course, as people may remember, the person most responsible for that scoreless run was Jon Forte, who missed a series of good chances in three of those games. Forte was signed in desperation on the last day of the window after McCabe sanctioned the sale of Nick Blackman.

As well as stupidity, I think the other things motivating McCabe were:

• He was always fond of panem et circenses moves.
• Wednesday had swapped Megson for Jones the season before and outlasted us in the promotion race. I think he thought that we could get a new manager bounce too (although of course the real reasons they passed us were Ched Evans and "emergency loan" Mikael Antonio).

My goodness, McCabe did some daft stuff.

When Wilson was fired we had W17 D17 L7 which given that we'd lost the players who scored 50 odd of our 90 odd goals the season before and replaced them with the odd good player plus a number of crap ones, was an excellent performance.

 

[Champagneblade]

You may remember that Radio Sheffield asked McCabe why he had sacked Wilson in the press conference announcing Morgan's appointment.

McCabe was flummoxed by the question. The best he could come up with was that we hadn't been winning at home. That was true. We had not scored in 4 home games. 3 0-0 draws and the Crawley defeat.

Of course, as people may remember, the person most responsible for that scoreless run was Jon Forte, who missed a series of good chances in three of those games. Forte was signed in desperation on the last day of the window after McCabe sanctioned the sale of Nick Blackman.

As well as stupidity, I think the other things motivating McCabe were:

• He was always fond of panem et circenses moves.
• Wednesday had swapped Megson for Jones the season before and outlasted us in the promotion race. I think he thought that we could get a new manager bounce too (although of course the real reasons they passed us were Ched Evans and "emergency loan" Mikael Antonio).

My goodness, McCabe did some daft stuff.

When Wilson was fired we had W17 D17 L7 which given that we'd lost the players who scored 50 odd of our 90 odd goals the season before and replaced them with the odd good player plus a number of crap ones, was an excellent performance.

Evan’s was scoring for fun. If the court had delayed the hearing by 2 weeks we’d have been up at the first time of asking.

Beattie also missed a sitter away at MK Dons which could have made a difference and then got sent off away at Exeter. A draw and a win and we’d have gone up on goal difference. Couldn’t have had a worse impact if he’d tried!

 

[Revolution]

Evan’s was scoring for fun. If the court had delayed the hearing by 2 weeks we’d have been up at the first time of asking.

Beattie also missed a sitter away at MK Dons which could have made a difference and then got sent off away at Exeter. A draw and a win and we’d have gone up on goal difference. Couldn’t have had a worse impact if he’d tried!

One thing that really irked me about all of that was that John Terry's trial in the same year was specifically fixed for after the season had finished. I will never understand why this did not happen with Evans.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

One thing that really irked me about all of that was that John Terry's trial in the same year was specifically fixed for after the season had finished. I will never understand why this did not happen with Evans.

What i never understood is how was Mcdonald not guilty....;-)

Back to subject

It was absolutely stupid to get shut of Blackman halfway through a season and there was no need to sack Wilson.

 

[Champagneblade]

One thing that really irked me about all of that was that John Terry's trial in the same year was specifically fixed for after the season had finished. I will never understand why this did not happen with Evans.

I was going to reference that but couldn’t recall the details. You are absolutely right.

 

[Revolution]

I checked McCabe’s “Mucky Boots” biography to see what he says about Wilson’s dismissal.

The book says McCabe sacked Wilson on impulse, out of panic, and that he regrets firing Wilson and has since apologised.

It is also said that McCabe, living in Belgium at the time, was influenced by reports from then director Dave Green, who was very anti Wilson and critical of his in game decision making. The constant bickering and blame reported back to McCabe caused him to act.

So there you go.

 

[I should coco]

I checked McCabe’s “Mucky Boots” biography to see what he says about Wilson’s dismissal.

The book says McCabe sacked Wilson on impulse, out of panic, and that he regrets firing Wilson and has since apologised.

It is also said that McCabe, living in Belgium at the time, was influenced by reports from then director Dave Green, who was very anti Wilson and critical of his in game decision making. The constant bickering and blame reported back to McCabe caused him to act.

So there you go.

Supposedly, the fact that although he had got 2 clubs promoted, he'd failed in his 2 playoff attempts.

Like any Unitedite, McCabe was paranoid about playoff failure, so sacked him as he thought Morgs might just have enough leadership qualities to get us over the line. It was a risky strategy.......

 

[BladeByChoice]

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Thread 'Near Sell Out on Saturday'

Sep 17, 2025

The third coming of Wilder of Nazareth looking the popular people’s choice.

• Rodley
• Replies: 300
• Forum: General Blades Chat

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Reminded me of one.

My mate only goes to the cheap games with his 3 kids and often finds only RV seats left with 4 together at full price. Then on the day of the match, a couple of blocks open up in BLUT and the kop.