Countdown to Kick Off - Are we ready?

[Bladesway]

do you give motivational lectures ?
I do admire a positive outlook

We are in a league where most teams would go wild for some of the "dead wood" we have

But wild as they may go, would they pay the wages or could they pay the wages?

 

[Sothall_Blade]

And yet, according to The Star today:- “The possibility that Montgomery, Quinn and their fellow midfielder Lee Williamson could be poached before Bury visit South Yorkshire on September 3rd represents one of the greatest threats to Wilson’s hopes of transforming United’s ‘route one’ image. Should his starting eleven be picked apart at the eleventh hour, Wilson could be faced with the unenviable prospect of trying to deliver both performances and results with a hastily assembled squad”.

How on earth is the prospect of Montgomery leaving a threat to our transformation into a proper football team?
On the contrary, it is a sine qua non!
More nonsense from The Scar.

You appear to have taken a tiny extract of The Star's article and then proclaimed it to be nonsense.
The full quote above is referring to the possibility that United could sell all three of them (and possibly others) in the final days of the transfer window.
That could potentially leave Wilson not enough time to bring in players of his own choosing.
As we've experienced before with Tonge and Walker it would most likely result in us having to bring in loan players instead with all the problems that entails.
It's in no way nonsense to suggest that Wilson's team-building plans could be scuppered by this scenario (regardless of the players involved).

What I would like to see United do is to impose their own transfer sales deadline of the 24th August and no offers for our players would be accepted after that date.
That would force the hand of any clubs considering making last minute bids for our players and allow Wilson a weeks grace to know exactly what his budget is, which positions he needs to fill and recruit accordingly.

 

[Pinchy]

In principle I agree with your sentiments. We both know, however, that such a self-imposed deadline will never happen in football.

I know it's absurd but what if we were offered £2m for Collins on the 25th?

Like it or not (and I think it long overdue) there is a will within the club to change our style and shake off our wretched long-ball tradition. It is plain nonsense to say that the sale of Monty would be a threat to that change, when, in truth, it's quite essential.

 

[stannyblade]

What I would like to see United do is to impose their own transfer sales deadline of the 24th August and no offers for our players would be accepted after that date.
That would force the hand of any clubs considering making last minute bids for our players and allow Wilson a weeks grace to know exactly what his budget is, which positions he needs to fill and recruit accordingly.

I like that idea.

If someone did come in for a player after this date then this should be Wilson and him alone that allows the sale. So if he doesnt want Quinn for example to go after that date then he doesnt go

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I like that idea. If someone did come in for a player after this date then this should be Wilson and him alone that allows the sale. So if he doesnt want Quinn for example to go after that date then he doesnt go

Yes, I'd do along with that. No problem if Wilson knows he can get a permanent replacement who will improve the team. Otherwise, don't force him to sell.

 

[ZoneManWilf]

I like that idea.

If someone did come in for a player after this date then this should be Wilson and him alone that allows the sale. So if he doesnt want Quinn for example to go after that date then he doesnt go

I try and be positive about the club and give the benefit of the doubt where I can, but this is SUFC we're talking about here.

Do you honestly believe in a million years they would do that if an offer came in on deadline day?

 

[Kenilworth]

Life? Don't talk to me about life!

I feel as optimistic as this feller......

 

[blade too long]

Heres an interesting fact

regarding the blue half , if you want to keep the kids off the fire the Stars got the Wednesday team photo in, my theres a lot of staff on it padding it out

Of the 16 outfield players available as we speak , if you add up how many league goals they collectively scored last season , you get the massive total of 32

---------- Post added at 02:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:17 PM ----------

Consistent aimless hoofing from plodding mediocrities on criminally high salaries? Have we not just plummeted from the Premiership to Division Three in no time at all? Has this happened in spite of our inept local heroes or have they been right at the heart if it - Shadow chasing; aimless flicks; giving away penalties and free-kicks as a matter of routine?

The case for change is unanswerable but some of you cling to mediocrity like barnacles.

Incredibly, sadly, shamefully, against all the evidence but unquestionably:

We still :heart: Hoofing.

I despise mediocrity , as much as the next blade , but theres moments in time when fate conspires to throw you some wobblies
No one foresaw Gary Speed being a spineless tart as a manager , most blades saw it as a progressive move, but changing systems a month into a season was madness

All our,not best , but most reliable , dependable players went missing , mainly due to injury, too many played less than 20 games
We were direct at times, but so are most teams ,60% of all goals still come from set pieces, but hoof ball gets clubs with limited resources , like Stoke into where they want to be
This myth that theres hours of one touch football anywhere is utter bollocks
Most prem games are banal , most championship dull and div 1 awful spectacles
We do play football , not as often as some would like , but no less than others, but some read too many roy of the rovers annuals

The most exciting times were probably the Bassett years , but scrutiny shows there was a hell of a lot of hoof ball and some terrible displays , like the 0-4 at leeds amonst even that era

 

[Revolution]

What we should have done was be sensible and pragmatic, rebuilding a new squad under a proven manager.

What we should have done was not repeat the Mike McDonald mistake, i.e. putting serious money in and then pulling the plug when the team was not instantly promoted. You'd think it was illegal for the United board to provide funding for more than 18 consecutive months or something.

Oh, and not appointing Bryan Robson would also have been worth a try.

 

[Pinchy]

Heres an interesting fact

regarding the blue half , if you want to keep the kids off the fire the Stars got the Wednesday team photo in, my theres a lot of staff on it padding it out

Of the 16 outfield players available as we speak , if you add up how many league goals they collectively scored last season , you get the massive total of 32

---------- Post added at 02:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:17 PM ----------


I despise mediocrity , as much as the next blade , but theres moments in time when fate conspires to throw you some wobblies
No one foresaw Gary Speed being a spineless tart as a manager , most blades saw it as a progressive move, but changing systems a month into a season was madness

All our,not best , but most reliable , dependable players went missing , mainly due to injury, too many played less than 20 games
We were direct at times, but so are most teams ,60% of all goals still come from set pieces, but hoof ball gets clubs with limited resources , like Stoke into where they want to be
This myth that theres hours of one touch football anywhere is utter bollocks
Most prem games are banal , most championship dull and div 1 awful spectacles
We do play football , not as often as some would like , but no less than others, but some read too many roy of the rovers annuals

The most exciting times were probably the Bassett years , but scrutiny shows there was a hell of a lot of hoof ball and some terrible displays , like the 0-4 at leeds amonst even that era

So its just bad luck that neutrals regard us as one of the most unattractive, unappealing, agricultural, neanderthal excuses for a football team of all time and look forward to fixtures against us with all the enthusiasm of a visit to the STD Clinic [free Pig tickets notwithstanding]? Are they mistaken? Were I not a Blade, I wouldn't travel to my back garden to watch us play.

This argument really was won and lost 20 years ago. Only at SUFC could it still rage. I despair.

 

[j j]

Are they mistaken?

If it were true they would be.

 

[SwissBlade]

But Swiss, do you really care if we are ready or is this just another way of you voicing your disproval at a 'shocking appointment' and 'very slow summer'?

Wilson has had a long time to prepare for this season and I can only presume he thinks he has seen enough in current players to do the job. His hands are obviously tied somewhat, but he is speaking positively and seems to think that the mix of players we already have and a few of his own additions can achieve success.

I will be able to give you a clearer answer at round 5pm on Saturday evening Smithy .......

No criticism of Wilson from me in this thread Ollie, on the contrary I am questioning the clubs approach not Wilson

That said, I agree he hasn't whinged much yet- because hasn't needed to make excuses... Yet

I also agree he has had a lot of time to do his business.

Some interesting responses on this thread. I'm also interested to see what Micalijo thinks

 

[Pinchy]

I invite you all to read the views of Lane Legends TC, Len Badger and Ted Hemsley in The Scar.

Time to :heart: Football!