Dear lord no... More injured Derby reserves on the way.

[Pinchy]

Spot on Tarquers - Pinchy is the nemesis of everything blinkered and backward looking where the club is concerned, plus whatever else I may have missed out.

Now, I'm just about to pop into Waitrose, it couldn't possibly be a case of..."oh, wait 'til Pinchy finds out!" could it?

I'm just a Blade with firm opinions, mate and not afraid to swim against the tide...

 

[itsinyerblood]

I'm just a Blade with firm opinions, mate and not afraid to swim against the tide...

And the forum would be poorer without those views. Sometimes being a minority of one is just what's needed to cause much needed ripples.

Must add there's also serious entertainment value in all of this, that alone is worth hanging around for, so well done you UTB

 

[Pinchy]

Do you mean just like it was from certain quarters when Warnock was in charge? You know what I'm saying Mr Pinch?

Warnock was the right man at the right time...just like Bassett. He did very well to get us to the Prem on a very limited budget. He should, however, have been sacked immediately promotion was secured. His was the primary responsibility for our relegation, not Tevez, the FA or anyone else. As he has demonstrated conclusively, time after time after time, he was utterly out of his depth at the top level. His touchline antics were excruciatingly embarrassing.

You may be confusing Warnock with the odious SemiPro, an entirely clueless buffoon who was not fit to manage a Sunday League team and is now rightly unemployable.

 

[Revolution]

So if Chelsea offered us Diego Costa ?

I'll think about that when it happens.

Meanwhile, back on planet earth, we have several players who are injured long term or gave been injured long term and are less effective as a result. Signing more is a dumb thing to do IMHO.

 

[Large Mendonca]

And the forum would be poorer without those views. Sometimes being a minority of one is just what's needed to cause much needed ripples.

Must add there's also serious entertainment value in all of this, that alone is worth hanging around for, so well done you UTB

It certainly makes the forum interesting, it would be boring if we all agreed. Keep up the antagonism

Edit: As long as it remains respectful to each others views without abuse etc , or course.

 

[Pinchy]

And the forum would be poorer without those views. Sometimes being a minority of one is just what's needed to cause much needed ripples.

Must add there's also serious entertainment value in all of this, that alone is worth hanging around for, so well done you UTB

Thank you. I'm afraid, however, admin have decided they don't like my style. Some sensitive souls who like to dish out the vitriol but bristle with indignation when they get a bit back must have complained. Playground (and Shoutbox for that matter) bullies can't cope when they get a bloody nose. 'Twas ever thus.

So my contributions are now fewer and rather less entertaining...makes a bit more room for endless promulgation of the Agenda, I suppose.

 

[itsinyerblood]

It certainly makes the forum interesting, it would be boring if we all agreed. Keep up the antagonism

Cheeky bugger

Seriously though, glad you like having a sometimes dissenting voice or two around. The truth is, I wonder if the odd poster on here has a life outside of SUFC? They're my team, I want nothing but the best for everyone connected with the club, but sometimes the levels of hostility on here defies my understanding of what's meant to matter in life.

Compared to Pinchy I'm a mere novice, but I do find that when you push back it reveals a rather limited take on just about most things.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Thank you. I'm afraid, however, admin have decided they don't like my style. Some sensitive souls who like to dish out the vitriol but bristle with indignation when they get a bit back must have complained. Playground (and Shoutbox for that matter) bullies can't cope when they get a bloody nose. 'Twas ever thus.

So my contributions are now fewer and rather less entertaining...makes a bit more room for endless promulgation of the Agenda, I suppose.

I saw something to that effect in the shoutbox recently. Not surprised with the response you describe, just underlined that those who complained to the admin struggle with an adequate point of view. Onward and upward.

 

[Large Mendonca]

Cheeky bugger

Seriously though, glad you like having a sometimes dissenting voice or two around. The truth is, I wonder if the odd poster on here has a life outside of SUFC? They're my team, I want nothing but the best for everyone connected with the club, but sometimes the levels of hostility on here defies my understanding of what's meant to matter in life.

Compared to Pinchy I'm a mere novice, but I do find that when you push back it reveals a rather limited take on just about most things.

You're welcome

To support the Blades is like having an incurable illness i find. If they were a supermarket, we would have binned them off long ago to shop somewhere else

I do have plenty of interests outside football, so that's probably why I don't take it too seriously......anymore. I think more people probably need to chill a little, regardless of what happens in the next twenty years, I bet we'll still be crap

 

[itsinyerblood]

You're welcome

To support the Blades is like having an incurable illness i find. If they were a supermarket, we would have binned them off long ago to shop somewhere else

I do have plenty of interests outside football, so that's probably why I don't take it too seriously......anymore. I think more people probably need to chill a little, regardless of what happens in the next twenty years, I bet we'll still be crap

'Kinell LM, don't say that!

Although not quite the eternal optimist, I do try and find reasons that make sense (at least to me) and allows me to move forward. You're right, following a team is completely irrational, a bit like going to church, we support regardless but there's something about it that feeds some kind of unbalanced need. Probably comparable to historic political allegiances, only with lifelong commitment. But no regrets, things change, the world certainly does, and in the scheme of things where we'll figure in football's hierarchy will remain a divine mystery that might offer a few surprises.....even to hardened cynics who expect nothing will change.

UTB!!!

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

So in your world we should just fuck Brayford off ,after all he has played in Derby reserves and IS injured. Players do recover from injury you know ,virtually every player in the league has been injured at some time.
As it happens I would go for Eustace as well ,just the kind of leaders we need at our club to progress.

Personally i rate both Eustace and Barker very highly , and they would be a asset to the squad. If they can prove there fitness , which will be number 1 priority , get them signed . Perhaps we would not be so critical if they didn't play for Derby County.

UTB

 

[Blade58]

Fans on here and BM have been saying that Clough needs to have learnt lessons from the farce that was this season in order to be successful next season and yet here we are, 2 days on and yes, you've guessed it, we are in for yet another Derby/ex-Derby player who's had a bad injury

Why the fk can't he and his back room boys cast the net a bit fkin wider?

And as for Clough not signing Holt, I could be way wide of the mark, but I sort of read this article as if Holt had turned us down? Nowhere does it say that Clough declined to sign him Could be wrong though.

"Jason Holt has announced he will not be joining Sheffield United after they failed to gain promotion via the League One play-offs.

The midfielder finished the season on loan at Bramall Lane from Heart of Midlothian but is returning to Edinburgh as a free agent following talks with the South Yorkshire club’s hierarchy.

United negotiated a ‘first option’ agreement on Holt after securing his release from Tynecastle but, as The Star revealed last month, the 22-year-old has received expressions of interest from potential suitors at Championship and Scottish Premiership level. Sources north of the border also report Holt is also exploring the possibility of a move overseas."

 

[Blade56]

Maybe. If it is, surely it's to be welcomed? Or is it Heads the Agenda wins; Tails the Manager loses?

The irony is we scored 5 goals away from home in that match he decides to announce a change in style

 

[curtisblades]

98 league appearances since 2009 tells me that maybe we should be looking elsewhere. However, if he finally regained fitness I would consider signing him, could be what we need.

 

[Esablade]

Sad fact is most of the better players won't drop down to L1 unless they're old, recovering from a period of injury or their careers have stalled for some reason. (ie S.Davies)

It's a gamble for sure.

Perhaps we'd be better trying to poach some of our rivals best players like with Done. We must be able to offer players some of the best deals in L1!?!?

Lot of work to be done either way.

 

[Going up]

Just read this in the Star

‘Shaun Barker is expected to be invited to train at the Redtooth Academy when United reconvene next month after leaving Derby County. Barker has entered the final phase of his recovery from injury’

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/shef...lough-confirms-his-transfer-targets-1-7259079

And people still want this prat in charge of the club? Really? I mean Really?

#10moreyearsinthewilderness

Dear Lord, what an over reaction!

We could easily take a look at someone, then release them. Isn't that what all clubs do?

We could easily get a top Championship level CB with a Captain's leadership ability, on a pay as you play...an absolute steal in my opinion.

 

[robbiez666]

If we're helping him get fit, then I hope he is paying for it. It's ok helping former players as they've served the club but we're Sheffield United not Nigel Clough and Friends.

If we're intending to sign him then another long and arduous season of failure awaits.

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

Can we sack clough, or transfer policy is completely broken. Hire some ex Derby player, which only one has done well (Brayford) or a tiny scottish man with a lot of pace, its good but we have got about ten of them now.

 

[Worksop II]

If we're intending to sign him then another long and arduous season of failure awaits.

Clough spent enough of our Season rehabilitating Players ............... if they cant play for 95 minutes sod em off, or dont entertain em in the first place

Lets have some bullet proof players

 

[metalblade]

Shaun Barker/Jake Buxton ......................
played for Derby ....................................... check
over 30 yr old ............................................. check
had a bad injury or a history of injuries....... check
hoping for a last big pay day ...................... check
no re-sale value ......................................... check

phuck me ! ................................. and people still reckon non league Nigel will change his ways.
These are the type of signings we should be going nowhere near, OK in the very short term if they can prove they are fit but Barker has been out 3yr as near as damn it and 32 yr old. We should be looking at young players who will improve and even if we have to sell in the future we get a good fee for them.

 

[robbiez666]

The age and time out are huge issues. It's not like there's a chance he'll be anything like as good as he was before.

It was noticeable last year that certain clubs snapped up the better out of contract players in this league. In terms of centre backs, we should be looking at that.

 

[Blade58]

Shaun Barker/Jake Buxton ......................
played for Derby ....................................... check
over 30 yr old ............................................. check
had a bad injury or a history of injuries....... check
hoping for a last big pay day ...................... check
no re-sale value ......................................... check

phuck me ! ................................. and people still reckon non league Nigel will change his ways.
These are the type of signings we should be going nowhere near, OK in the very short term if they can prove they are fit but Barker has been out 3yr as near as damn it and 32 yr old. We should be looking at young players who will improve and even if we have to sell in the future we get a good fee for them.

Spot on!

Get ready for a season not too dissimilar to this

Player recruitment

Tactics

Philosophy

And as for us fans..................despair!

 

[Pinchy]

Pre-season, at all clubs, is a welcome opportunity to 'have a look' at available players. There won't be a club outside the Premier League that doesn't have some 'trialists' in for training. If Shaun Barker can prove his fitness (a massive 'if') we'll have the best centre-back in the league. It's a no-lose situation PROVIDED he is an additional consideration to TWO new quality centre-backs.

Do be consistent though, Bladey Blades. Don't dismiss Barker whilst making a case for Terry Kennedy will you?

 

[Jon Bon]

As he has demonstrated conclusively, time after time after time, he was utterly out of his depth at the top level. His touchline antics were excruciatingly embarrassing.

Leaving aside the reference to 'top level', could the same not be said about the present incumbent also?

 

[sothall blade]

Just read that he's not played a competitive fixture since 2012!! Of course, if he turns out to sign for us, then I'll support him as I do other Blades players but come on Cloughie... surely we want to be looking at better than this.

sign him up cloughie ! i also heard john ebbrell is still a free agent

 

[Going up]

Personally i rate both Eustace and Barker very highly , and they would be a asset to the squad. If they can prove there fitness , which will be number 1 priority , get them signed . Perhaps we would not be so critical if they didn't play for Derby County.

UTB

If we are looking to improve the Spine, a fit Eustace, or Barker, would be excellent additions. Also, like Davies, I believe that they would both be indebted to the manger and bust a gut for SUFC

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Part of the problem here is communication and PR as well as overreaction.

We know that we're looking for CHs which is good news, but then it turns out in public at least we've cast the net as wide as Derby again.

Even a virtually meaningless statement along the lines of: "We're looking at a number of players from different clubs," then mention something about youth and experience and feed that to the piranhas.

It's a further statement of intent.

Barker does seem to be a no lose option properly managed, but it's not the best message to send.

That said didn't we have a discussion on here yesterday about Holt staying as our first piece of business of the summer.

Hope we get someone sooner rather than later. Then the miserati can tear him to pieces.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

If we can get him fit (and by the sounds of it, he is back fit but hasn't been able to force his way into McLaren's plans), then I think he's worth looking at, but only if this is on a pay-as-you-play arrangement and is in addition to two other centre-backs with better injury record.

Incidentally, a separate thing I'd like the owners to do is get someone in to independently evaluate our training, physios, and matchday preparation for games, given what feels like an abnormally high number of injuries we've had this season.

 

[Blade58]

If we can get him fit (and by the sounds of it, he is back fit but hasn't been able to force his way into McLaren's plans), then I think he's worth looking at, but only if this is on a pay-as-you-play arrangement and is in addition to two other centre-backs with better injury record.

Incidentally, a separate thing I'd like the owners to do is get someone in to independently evaluate our training, physios, and matchday preparation for games, given what feels like an abnormally high number of injuries we've had this season.

I don't think Clough would allow anyone to question his training techniques. He's his own man and calls all the shots

 

[Pinchy]

Leaving aside the reference to 'top level', could the same not be said about the present incumbent also?

Repeatedly and tiresomely. Some of our correspondents have a semblance of an excuse that I'm not allowed to mention, but you can do so much better, mate. Make me laugh with something witty as you have done many times before. Put the agenda back in the pending tray for a while.