[CONFIRMED] Nigel Clough signs a 2 and a half year contract

[true99blade]

I'm quietly confident that we'll be out of this division the season after next. Clough didn't succeed at Derby but he certainly didn't fail. Acquiring mid-table finishes for the past few seasons with a team full of very average players in the division above ours isn't awful at all. Our team on paper has to be in the top 5 in this league which therefore suggests we are facing teams with poorer teams. Clough will not fail with us.
Sorry to point out the bleedin' obvious but many people are overreacting before Clough has been given a chance.

 

[Staffs_Blade]

Good luck Cloughie and UTB.

 

[judge]

Anyone excited .?

 

[Hodgyman]

As someone previously said "I'm underwhelmed", but the again, what do I know. I greeted Weir's appointment with optimism.

What I do know is Cloughie Jnr starts with a clean slate here.

Let's get behind him and give him and the players encouragement

 

[Bladesway]

Anyone excited .?

Yes actually I think this is a good appointment. Someone who has actually had to trim high wage bills at Derby and kept them on an even keel and has several years experience. He isn't a novice and he is in my opinion about as good as we could expect. People talking about Di Matteo and Holloway are just blowing hot air for the sake of it. Realistically this is about as good as it could be.

Hats off to Morgan as well. I think he has improved as a Manager in the short time between his two short stints. The point last night should be applauded. He hasn't complained about not being selected and I have nothing but respect for the bloke.

 

[Jon Bon]

Anyone excited .?

I'm flicking between this site and XHamster so it's more of a mild arousal at the moment...

 

[raul]

I was "meh" at the appointment of Weir. I was "meh" at the sacking of Weir. I am "meh" at the appointemnt of Clough. If he can stop me being "meh", then yes, I'll be excited.

 

[sheffielder]

Ah, I get it. I shouldn't fear having my balls crushed in a vice, I should be delighted that they aren't being.

I get yer.



UTB

There are obvioulsy people with different views about every manager. Ironically, you're very much like Pinch with your tunnel vision

 

[oldblade]

All this talk of managers showing passion on the sidelines is nonsense. I don't think I've seen many promoted League 1 clubs with managers who achieve promotion by waving their arms about and yelling at players. They achieve promotion by playing winning football. Clough achieved this with Burton, and regardless of him not achieving it at Derby he hasn't suffered a relegation with them, something we will all suffer this season if Weir doesn't feck off.

Don't recall Sir Alf getting particularly animated in 1966 either.

 

[Kev Gee]

I suppose in hindsight if he achieves even half as much with us as his dad di with Derby/Forest then he will become a Blades legend.

No pressure then.

 

[LA Blade]

New agent Clough successfully installed

 

[alcoblade]

There are obvioulsy people with different views about every manager. Ironically, you're very much like Pinch with your tunnel vision

That's where you're wrong fella. I try (sometimes fail, but try) to be objective about things in life as a whole. Speak with data, I say. I understand promotions (and lack of), wins, attendances rising and falling. I don't understand "ethos" and"proper"..

Once you've got hold of the facts, there's no tunnel vision involved. Facts are facts

UTB

 

[WhiteHawk]

Anyone excited .?

 

[Pinchy]

That's where you're wrong fella. I try (sometimes fail, but try) to be objective about things in life as a whole. Speak with data, I say. I understand promotions (and lack of), wins, attendances rising and falling. I don't understand "ethos" and"proper"..

Once you've got hold of the facts, there's no tunnel vision involved. Facts are facts

UTB

No. Only FACTS! are facts.

 

[Pinchy]

Ah, I get it. I shouldn't fear having my balls crushed in a vice, I should be delighted that they aren't being.

I get yer.



UTB

That's a special treat at Darren's club.

Edit: sorry, just noticed GRUMPY BLADE got there before me! Glad he did, come to think of it!

 

[Bladesway]

Wow, it's sarcasm time! Perhaps if I only had to endure it once a season, I'd be more realistic too

As I've said before a few times, I'd have tried to get Cox from the mighty Mansfield, Evans from gargantuan Rotherham, or Johnson from the supertanker that is Yeovil. I hoped our game changing investment would propel Sheffield United to the level of being able to tackle such superpowers. The clue was in the very post you responded to.

Being serious, I wanted emphasis on proven results rather than philosophy. As a paying customer, I'm both entitled to that opinion, and to be disappointed that my very low expectations have been lowered still further. I will be delighted to be proved wrong.

UTB

Think of me as the bloke who helps bring the best out of you.

 

[mida]

Clough scoring twice against the piggies (starts at 1m 32s)

 

[alcoblade]

Think of me as the bloke who helps bring the best out of you.

Only 2 women (at the same time) can do that.



UTB

 

[Pinchy]

I'm flicking between this site and XHamster so it's more of a mild arousal at the moment...

Mobile or main site?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

As someone previously said "I'm underwhelmed", but the again, what do I know. I greeted Weir's appointment with optimism.

What I do know is Cloughie Jnr starts with a clean slate here.

Let's get behind him and give him and the players encouragement

I've been thinking about this now he's on board

1 He's had one of the best mentors in the game.
2 Weir has done him a favour.
No one expects promotion
Win a few and people will see him as making progress
3 He's moved away from the Forest/Derby situation, even Burton are involved geographically so emotionally he wouldn't feel as much pressure
4 He's a sensible lad and honest, think the players will take to that.
5 We can't get everyone wrong

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

That's a special treat at Darren's club.

Edit: sorry, just noticed GRUMPY BLADE got there before me! Glad he did, come to think of it!

Didn't know it was a "special treat"

 

[Darren]

Only 2 women (at the same time) can do that.



UTB

Its overrated....

I was with you on the Cox (00h er missus), Evans etc, but I think you are being a bit hard on Clough. He has managed a club in a higher division than us and has proved himself competent (if not spectacular) at that level. I think he should be ok for us.

I'm gutted my dead granny didn't get the job, though.

 

[Shoreham on Thames]

that's that then, good luck Nige - i think you're gonna need it.

at least he's English and no pig connections.

It was just one game on loan I think...

I'll judge him on results - good luck to him (and us)

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

You picked the wrong two

Once my dummy I'd back in I realise Clough isnt worst we could have done. I just hope he proves versatile and not stuck on a setup when it isn't working.

I will give him time once the dust (disappointment) has settled.

I've just read a comment from a man complaining how foul mouthed he was on the touchline. I like him a bit more after that

UTB

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Wow, it's sarcasm time! Perhaps if I only had to endure it once a season, I'd be more realistic too

As I've said before a few times, I'd have tried to get Cox from the mighty Mansfield, Evans from gargantuan Rotherham, or Johnson from the supertanker that is Yeovil. I hoped our game changing investment would propel Sheffield United to the level of being able to tackle such superpowers. The clue was in the very post you responded to.

Being serious, I wanted emphasis on proven results rather than philosophy. As a paying customer, I'm both entitled to that opinion, and to be disappointed that my very low expectations have been lowered still further. I will be delighted to be proved wrong.

UTB

I think you and I have been pretty much in synch for a while with our thoughts on Weir's appointment and even our preferred choices for his replacement.

But I do think you're making an overly harsh judgement on Clough's track record. At both Burton and Derby he's steadily improved their position year on year. Burton weren't renowned for throwing money around and he's slashed the wage bill at Derby by 60% while stabilising and then improving a very poor team.

Two promotions (effectively), no relegations, no real failures on his record to date. I've seen his lack of appetite for a bigger job while at Burton questioned but that was because he had two young kids and shouldn't be such a problem now they're older.

It's fairly rare for any manager to leave two consecutive clubs in a higher position than he found them and to be generally admired by both sets of fans. Unlike Weir, Speed, Heath etc there is plenty of evidence to suggest that he can make steady (if unspectacular) progress with United.

So that's three whole paragraphs in support of Clough and I haven't even mentioned the ethos thing ;-)

 

[BladeFisher]

Yes actually I think this is a good appointment. Someone who has actually had to trim high wage bills at Derby and kept them on an even keel and has several years experience. He isn't a novice and he is in my opinion about as good as we could expect. People talking about Di Matteo and Holloway are just blowing hot air for the sake of it. Realistically this is about as good as it could be.

Hats off to Morgan as well. I think he has improved as a Manager in the short time between his two short stints. The point last night should be applauded. He hasn't complained about not being selected and I have nothing but respect for the bloke.

The first league game we've not conceded this season.

 

[Angef1Blade]

Anyone excited .?

Err..no

 

[Revolution]

I would rather we'd have kept Wilson.

But Clough is not David Weir, which is something.

 

[MobileBlade]

Sounds a bit like David Weir. Apart from the 5-1 bit of course

Don't think we created five chances did we?

 

[MobileBlade]

Mobile or main site?

Did I miss something?