Drastic Action

[bongleblade]

Is required. This is a real 'Sink or Swim' moment in recent Blades history, without trying to be hyperbolic, maybe one of the most pivotal moments in the last 20 years i have been watching the Blades.

Let's say you had ultimate reign as Chairman/Manager, In terms of tactics, team selection and transfers, what action would you take now to turn the tide in the next two games and until the window shuts on August 31st?

 

[Rodley]

Need a keeper and 3 in.

 

[Cheesebored]

Need a keeper and 3 in.

What about the midfield and attackers?

 

[ancientblade]

Need a keeper and 3 in.

minimum

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Build a solid defence for starters

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[Carlton Blade]

Sell one of Bogle or Baldock
Sell Berge
New keeper
Another centreback to allow switching between 3 and 4atb
New CM with the ability to cover lots of ground
New CM with the ability to cover lots of ground
Forward thinking CM
Multiple wide forwards
If Jebbison isn't ready, a focal point CF

GK

Baldock/Bogle Egan Davies RND

New CM New CM New CM

Brewster Jebbison/New CF McBurnie

 

[scouseblade]

Is required. This is a real 'Sink or Swim' moment in recent Blades history, without trying to be hyperbolic, maybe one of the most pivotal moments in the last 20 years i have been watching the Blades.

Let's say you had ultimate reign as Chairman/Manager, In terms of tactics, team selection and transfers, what action would you take now to turn the tide in the next two games and until the window shuts on August 31st?

Keeper definitely.
New AMF definitely,
Wide players - unless he goes back to wing backs
A target man

 

[I should coco]

Is required. This is a real 'Sink or Swim' moment in recent Blades history, without trying to be hyperbolic, maybe one of the most pivotal moments in the last 20 years i have been watching the Blades.

You might be trying not to be hyperbolic but you aren't succeeding.

Off the top of my head I can remember similar 'most pivotal' moments:
-Losing the play off final to Burnley
-Relegation against Wigan
-Losing the play off final to Wolves ("He's taken us as far as he can")
-Losing at the rust bucket in 2012 and them overhauling us
-Losing at the rust bucket in 2008 (Robson; "It's just another game")
-Losing the play off final against Uddersfield
-Losing at Swindon in the play offs under NC
-Losing 4-0 at Gillingham
-Losing at home to Shrewsbury under NA
-Wilder losing at Millwall
-Drawing with Millwall at home in the promotion season (Shoutbox: "He's got to go......")

There's probably loads more and most of those above were bigger turning points than an early season shitshow away defeat.

I'd say go away and sleep on it, but I guess by the time I've typed this there will another 20 posts telling you it is even worse than you suggested and everybody has to go.

 

[JJBlade]

A keeper
And three quality, stylish, creative, big, strong, athletic, powerful midfielders

If our forwards are still shyte when we bring them in we can then start on the forward line.

But I've got a feeling that three midfielders with the attributes listed above will see our forwards bang in a shitload

 

[bypassblade]

I'm not one to panic after 3 games but were do have SERIOUS problems, we need a GK plus 3 midfielders Fleck & Norwood no idea Berge god knows what's happened to him. I saw the goals on TV this morning and it was just like watching the Vinnie Jones long throw when at Wimbledon, we had no idea how to defend and WBA beat up up LEGALLY.

I keep reading on BBC site and here sometimes saying we shouldn't have got rid of Wilder, we should yes we had a great ride but it was too perfect a storm. We had was it 2 points at Christmas last year CW blamed everyone and everything else, bar himself if he'd have stood up and said it's my fault he would have got respect.

He should have gone in January possibly earlier there's no room for sentiment in football, the Prince must have got the gift of the gab to sell this sack of shite to Slav, I cannot believe the one Didzy missed it was horrendous, we need a GK a good one Verrips was flapping like a seal last night when they scored through his mistake.

Someone ought to tell them that you score by playing the ball FORWARD and not constantly passing back to GK.

 

[Karaoke Blade]

Wingers
Midfield general
GK
Chris Morgan

 

[Pedro's Winger]

The legacy of Wilder's success is probably already squandered.
The biggest failure is off the pitch by not building far better facilities, including a modern academy.
On the pitch, Wilder's race hadn't really been run and though he was clearly at fault as well the ownership didn't have a clue what they were doing when he left.
You don't take months to appoint someone who then comes in late and doesn't acquire a single new player before the season starts.
The season is already close to a write-off without a massive effort from the manager, coaching staff, owner and players all pulling in the right direction.
Nothing so far suggests that's remotely likely.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Say I am Slav and I am looking at the season as a whole.

Would get a keeper in… either Olson as a stop gap on loan or maybe try and push the boat out for woodman or the qpr lad who could be long term answers.

I’d find another centreback as proper cover (replacing jags and Bryan). Look for someone young / developing in league 1.

if we want a vieira type and are struggling, I’d be tempted to play Osborn there for his energy. Supplement that with a garner type to add some quality.

then I’d use the loan market for players to fit my (Slavs) system.

Maybe if we are bold a couple from - sessignon / Diallo / ceri / reiss-nelson or some other big clubs prospect.

I’d also be tempted to play freeman for the next couple of games and see if there’s anything there. Similarly with bogel in attack if we don’t have the signings in.

 

[GV Blade]

Now, the whole point of this season is to get promoted back to the Premier League.
Right ? We can all agree on that.
Lets remember, that these same players whom we are trying to get promoted with, were not good enough to keep us there last season - and come next August (if miraculously we did get promoted), they will all be a year older !
Now the early indications are, this current crop of players, wont be good enough to get us promoted this season.
We need the loan market, and we also need to be brave and give some of our youngsters the opportunity. Maybe Norrington Davies, Slater, Brunt. Jebbison to name a few.
The players in my opinion that are too old, or not good enough when we do get promoted again are McGoldrick, Sharp, Burke, Fleck, Norwood to name a few.
Its harsh i know, but we must rebuild, we must introduce youth - our Academy is one of the best in the country, lets use the players we have produced - or at least give them a try.
One thing is for sure, another night like last night is just not acceptable - things need changing.

UTB

 

[bongleblade]

You might be trying not to be hyperbolic but you aren't succeeding.

Off the top of my head I can remember similar 'most pivotal' moments:
-Losing the play off final to Burnley
-Relegation against Wigan
-Losing the play off final to Wolves ("He's taken us as far as he can")
-Losing at the rust bucket in 2012 and them overhauling us
-Losing at the rust bucket in 2008 (Robson; "It's just another game")
-Losing the play off final against Uddersfield
-Losing at Swindon in the play offs under NC
-Losing 4-0 at Gillingham
-Losing at home to Shrewsbury under NA
-Wilder losing at Millwall
-Drawing with Millwall at home in the promotion season (Shoutbox: "He's got to go......")

There's probably loads more and most of those above were bigger turning points than an early season shitshow away defeat.

I'd say go away and sleep on it, but I guess by the time I've typed this there will another 20 posts telling you it is even worse than you suggested and everybody has to go.

Yeah fair enough, it is a pivotal moment nonetheless, this current team is spent and it seems there's only one way they are going.

Many of these players from the CW era are clearly at the end of their lifecycle, we need a new era under SJ, not a continuation of the past.

Do we spend relatively big in the market to give us a shot at a new era and getting promotion again? or do we roll over and go for a 'transitional season' where no doubt our crown jewels get sold at the end of it?

We have 20 days to decide either way!

 

[bongleblade]

my two pence:
1. GK transfer as a priority - do whatever is takes to get Olsen or even consider Jamal Blackman on a free transfer as a stop gap until January.

2. Ditch the old guard, even if it doesnt work at first (Sharp, Didz, Stevens, Norwood, Fleck).

3. Establish a solid Front 2 or 3, even if it doesnt work at first. Use any from a combination of Jebbison/McB/Brewster

4. Rebuild the Midfield - keep Berge/Bogle/Osborn + Loan 3-4 Midfield players including wingers, bring through the best u23 midfielders

5. Find out what formation suits the players and stick with it - realistically, we are only suited to a back 3/front 2 arrangement currently, but this could change with loans

 

[Freddie]

Need a keeper and 3 in.

Long and Hussey.

 

[Bladesince59]

You might be trying not to be hyperbolic but you aren't succeeding.

Off the top of my head I can remember similar 'most pivotal' moments:
-Losing the play off final to Burnley
-Relegation against Wigan
-Losing the play off final to Wolves ("He's taken us as far as he can")
-Losing at the rust bucket in 2012 and them overhauling us
-Losing at the rust bucket in 2008 (Robson; "It's just another game")
-Losing the play off final against Uddersfield
-Losing at Swindon in the play offs under NC
-Losing 4-0 at Gillingham
-Losing at home to Shrewsbury under NA
-Wilder losing at Millwall
-Drawing with Millwall at home in the promotion season (Shoutbox: "He's got to go......")

There's probably loads more and most of those above were bigger turning points than an early season shitshow away defeat.

I'd say go away and sleep on it, but I guess by the time I've typed this there will another 20 posts telling you it is even worse than you suggested and everybody has to go.

Seen em all. Fucking classics weren't they?

 

[Blacksea]

What's happened here is that the board have gone for the policy,expected,of loan players in,so obviously they aren't going to be coming in until the last days of the window,if ever.
It's a disappointing policy for me, instead of making a statement of intent,identifying,scouting and recruiting our own players who will make us a cut above our rivals without paying silly money,as any recruitment team worth their salt at any club should be capable of doing,we fell into the trap of believing that we could never under perform again like last season,and the drop in class and a new manager would sort out the rest,so a few loans in the right areas and sorted,but now the rest of the players who were deemed good enough have also downed tools in this division,so the master plan is struggling to get off the ground.Maybe it's a blip and things will gradually improve,but its a policy that lacks ambition, foresight,and shows up the vacuum in the backroom staff while other clubs,even those who have been nowhere near the PL for years are showing us up on the recruitment front.

 

[Badger Blade]

I don't think in recent memory at least that we've had a team signed to play in such a specific way with all members of the squad having a very specific role to play in that system. The system broke/was found out and we're left with 11 robots who have malfunctioned and need to be re-programmed, they have no mind of their own hence the lack of creativity and goals.

It's not an overnight job but in the immediate short term, I'd have to change the team to make it as Wilder-less as possible where there is no Premier League hangover so I'd bring in people like RND, Freeman, find a spot for Bogle (wide right), maybe blood someone like Brunt and Jebbison where these players have less of a scarring from last season and can adapt to a new game plan a bit more easily and play with some freedom because the majority of the rest of the squad are damaged goods.

We need a new goalkeeper, a Besic-type midfield ball winner (could Osborn do this job?), a big nasty sod to play at the back and some pace out wide with a modicum of footballing intelligence (i.e. not Burke). A mid table finish at this point would be a decent achievement in what is going to be a rebuild over this season and next as contracts run down and people get released. Might have to bite the bullet early on some and get shut this season if possible, don't want any more Lundstram scenarios on our hands.

 

[coolasanidiot]

You might be trying not to be hyperbolic but you aren't succeeding.

Off the top of my head I can remember similar 'most pivotal' moments:
-Losing the play off final to Burnley
-Relegation against Wigan
-Losing the play off final to Wolves ("He's taken us as far as he can")
-Losing at the rust bucket in 2012 and them overhauling us
-Losing at the rust bucket in 2008 (Robson; "It's just another game")
-Losing the play off final against Uddersfield
-Losing at Swindon in the play offs under NC
-Losing 4-0 at Gillingham
-Losing at home to Shrewsbury under NA
-Wilder losing at Millwall
-Drawing with Millwall at home in the promotion season (Shoutbox: "He's got to go......")

There's probably loads more and most of those above were bigger turning points than an early season shitshow away defeat.

I'd say go away and sleep on it, but I guess by the time I've typed this there will another 20 posts telling you it is even worse than you suggested and everybody has to go.

A brilliant recollection of misery there I'm adding

Hopkin for Palace last minute winner in play off final
Wednesday Semi Final drubbing by Waddle & crew

Not very often we walk from Wembley without tears in our eyes.

What comes around goes around - our turn again soon enough- don't get too down...

 

[Gavlar]

Need a keeper and 3 in.

If we put 4 keepers in nets we might even keep a clean sheet….might.

 

[BigBed]

1. A fucking miracle
2. 3 points
3. Players.

 

[Snowflake]

Now, the whole point of this season is to get promoted back to the Premier League.
Right ? We can all agree on that.
Lets remember, that these same players whom we are trying to get promoted with, were not good enough to keep us there last season - and come next August (if miraculously we did get promoted), they will all be a year older !
Now the early indications are, this current crop of players, wont be good enough to get us promoted this season.
We need the loan market, and we also need to be brave and give some of our youngsters the opportunity. Maybe Norrington Davies, Slater, Brunt. Jebbison to name a few.
The players in my opinion that are too old, or not good enough when we do get promoted again are McGoldrick, Sharp, Burke, Fleck, Norwood to name a few.
Its harsh i know, but we must rebuild, we must introduce youth - our Academy is one of the best in the country, lets use the players we have produced - or at least give them a try.
One thing is for sure, another night like last night is just not acceptable - things need changing.

UTB

We don’t all agree that we must get promoted this season. What we must do in the next three years is to build a side capable of being promoted AND capable of staying up for more than two seasons.

 

[Toronto Blade]

Amazing that our midfielders only scored 1 goal all of last season that was from Berg before he went out injured, the rest zero goals.
They knew Lundstram was leaving . Still nothing has come in only a banged up Viera who couldn't pass a medical mid August.

 

[I should coco]

A brilliant recollection of misery there I'm adding

Hopkin for Palace last minute winner in play off final
Wednesday Semi Final drubbing by Waddle & crew

Not very often we walk from Wembley without tears in our eyes.

What comes around goes around - our turn again soon enough- don't get too down...

He said something about his Blades watching over the last 20 years, so I ignored the joyous occasions you mentioned, plus Port Vale at home under Heath.

Not that the agony, grief and heartache magically disappears after 20 years though.