Dream Land or Meh?

[HillmortonBlade]

Never said United were only good enough for the Championship, just asking if you would be excited about mid table mediocrity every season,

Compared to consistent failing to win anything in second tier? Yes.

Its not about a lack of ambition its about being realistic.

One season near european quification since 1971 says bottom half of Div 1, top half of div 2 is a reasonable expectation.

I don't follow a team to base my expectations on previous success (if I did I would reflect on our Titles).

I just can't see the argument, second tier failure more exciting than competing at top tier? Without wanting to get anyone's back up.. nonsense.

 

[Kop Cat]

Compared to consistent failing to win anything in second tier? Yes.



I don't follow a team to base my expectations on previous success (if I did I would reflect on our Titles).

I just can't see the argument, second tier failure more exciting than competing at top tier? Without wanting to get anyone's back up.. nonsense.

Again never mentioned 2nd tier failure, i did mention "yoyo" which would imply going up (success) as well as going down. And sorry to mention attendances but several seasons of mid table in the Premiership would see gates of low 20k to high teens and a shite atmosphere unless we had a rare victory over one of the "top" teams

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Again never mentioned 2nd tier failure, i did mention "yoyo" which would imply going up (success) as well as going down. And sorry to mention attendances but several seasons of mid table in the Premiership would see gates of low 20k to high teens and a shite atmosphere unless we had a rare victory over one of the "top" teams

Yoyo is an aspiration?? For every success an equal number of failures? Pinchy ? is this the mentality you often address?

Don't apologise for mentioning attendances, we had a successful season this year (my most enjoyable season, and I have watched our Blades in the top tier) but the atmosphere at times was hardly rock and rolling. That was explained away by some as being the lack of numbers in the away end.

It's well seen it's the off-season when we are debating whether we would rather play in the top tier, or exist in Yo-Yo (or is that La-La) Land.

 

[Kop Cat]

and all the original post was ASKING, would fans be happy with mid table mediocrity and quite clearly you would

 

[YES Blade]

Its not about a lack of ambition its about being realistic.

One season near european quification since 1971 says bottom half of Div 1, top half of div 2 is a reasonable expectation.

Since the Premier League was formed, Norwich, Blackburn, Forest, Leicester, West Ham, Ipswich, Fulham, Southampton, Millwall, Middlesbrough, Bolton, Portsmouth, Birmingham, Stoke, Wigan, Swansea and Hull have all played European football.

If those 17 clubs can make it into Europe, I see no reason why it shouldn't be a realistic goal for us.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Since the Premier League was formed, Norwich, Blackburn, Forest, Leicester, West Ham, Ipswich, Fulham, Southampton, Millwall, Middlesbrough, Bolton, Portsmouth, Birmingham, Stoke, Wigan, Swansea and Hull have all played European football.

If those 17 clubs can make it into Europe, I see no reason why it shouldn't be a realistic goal for us.

Fair point.

 

[blader]

I'm stripping it back to a way more simplistic view than reality but: I'd rather see us beat MK Dons 3-0 that lose 3-0 to Chelsea.unless we are going to compete at the top end of a division (in time) I see little point in being in it for a prolonged period.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

I'm stripping it back to a way more simplistic view than reality but: I'd rather see us beat MK Dons 3-0 that lose 3-0 to Chelsea.unless we are going to compete at the top end of a division (in time) I see little point in being in it for a prolonged period.

Can I bring it back to simplistic reality? True to say we won't be able to compete at the head of the top table straight away, but like all the other teams (bar the top five or so) we won't be able to unless we establish ourselves in the division and build a platform. Which will take any number of seasons.

Better that than cheap thrills playing MK, Bolton, Cov and Burton.

 

[Cassius Kray]

I want to be able to walk into any bar in the world and be able to have a conversation about Sheffield United.

To be able to turn on a TV in Mongolia or Bhutan and watch our games.

I want our team be famous for the quality of football we play, for the kind of football club we are, for the passion of our fans and for the intensity of our play.

I want people to see my red and white shirt and assume it's United, not Southampton or Sunderland.

I want the club's name to be recognised for something other than Tevez and Ched.

I want Bramall Lane to be rightfully famous as the home of football.

I want to watch United in Europe in something other than a friendly.

I don't think it's likely, but there's a chance for Wilder to put something together - taking the best bits of the likes of Bournemouth, Southampton, Stoke, Tottenham, but done the Blades way. A young team of Unitedites playing exciting, attractive football. For a team like that to be constantly featuring midtable in the Premiership, I'd be ecstatic.

The Premier League may be stuffed with overpaid primadonnas, greedy, corrupt chairman and soulless corporations. But we don’t have to do it their way.

Boring? Some of you have no imagination!

 

[Kev Gee]

you should always want to play in the highest league possible?

Whats the point otherwise?

 

[S40BLADE]

I want to be able to walk into any bar in the world and be able to have a conversation about Sheffield United.

To be able to turn on a TV in Mongolia or Bhutan and watch our games.

I want our team be famous for the quality of football we play, for the kind of football club we are, for the passion of our fans and for the intensity of our play.

I want people to see my red and white shirt and assume it's United, not Southampton or Sunderland.

I want the club's name to be recognised for something other than Tevez and Ched.

I want Bramall Lane to be rightfully famous as the home of football.

I want to watch United in Europe in something other than a friendly.

I don't think it's likely, but there's a chance for Wilder to put something together - taking the best bits of the likes of Bournemouth, Southampton, Stoke, Tottenham, but done the Blades way. A young team of Unitedites playing exciting, attractive football. For a team like that to be constantly featuring midtable in the Premiership, I'd be ecstatic.

The Premier League may be stuffed with overpaid primadonnas, greedy, corrupt chairman and soulless corporations. But we don’t have to do it their way.

Boring? Some of you have no imagination!

Possible the best post on this forum i have ever seen!

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

All things relative folks; the wonderful thing about the beautiful game are the experiences like the season we've just enjoyed. Ask Arsenal and Manchester United fans how they feel about the season and many of them will probably tell you it's been shite. Fans in S6 have just endured a pretty boring and ultimately disastrous end to a season that was so full of promise; much like last season. Added to the misery they've just experienced of course is the pain of seeing the Blades so successful and gathering real momentum that threatens to make next season much worse for them. They were possibly much happier at the end of the seasons they looked like they might be going back down and managed to survive.

Personally I'll stick with the ambition I've always had for the Blades - as high as possible and ALWAYS looking to go back to where we belong, and adding Sheffield Doubles along the way to maintain the head-to-head superiority we've always enjoyed.

 

[1889]

I think when we make it to the Premier League, it would not surprise me to see some significant financial backing made available from various middle eastern speculators

 

[SwissBlade]

I think when we make it to the Premier League, it would not surprise me to see some significant financial backing made available from various middle eastern speculators

Absolutely. We'll be in a strong position as I think between the princes links in Saudi and McCabes growing links in China, we'll be in a good place financially.

 

[SteveBlade]

Imagine having a mentality throughout your club that finishing 17th is a success.

If we get up there I'd want us to try for more.

 

[grafikhaus]

Some interesting points here. The OP mentioned Everton, the fortunes that have gone into them and the fact that they have been treading water for years. All true but I think the answer can be summed up in two words. David Moyes. Apart from being OK at Preston years ago, his managerial career has been a disaster ever since. As others have said, being a Stoke, Palace, West Brom or the vast majority of the teams in the PL is utterly boring. Fine for the first 2 or 3 seasons after promotion but seeing the same teams, the same refs., extortionate ticket prices etc. would soon see crowds lower than what we're currently getting.

The 'prize' of winning the Championship play-off final increases every year. This year, it's put at £200m. But who - apart from players and their agents - actually sees this sum? Certainly not teams like Burnley whose ground remains a shithole. Same as the 'parachute payments' for teams relegated from the PL (an utterly corrupt practice). You'd think Villa, Norwich, QPR etc. would be able to stroll straight back up, wouldn't you?

The Premier League may be stuffed with overpaid primadonnas, greedy, corrupt chairman and soulless corporations. But we don’t have to do it their way.

Er, I'm afraid we wouldn't have a choice. You could start off with the best intentions but - as we saw on our last foray into the PL (2006-07) - we were firmly 'put in our place' from the very first game to the very last.

I heard the Bradford chairman on the radio today. He said, maybe a bit tongue in cheek, that if they got to the Premier League (again) then they would sell tickets at £1 for home fans.
How brilliant would that be. Take the TV cash and let the fans see the games essentially for free.

They simply would not be allowed to do that. It would be damaging the PL 'brand'. Rather like a Merc. dealership massively undercutting his rivals, they'd stamp down on them.

For that I'd suggest we'd need to 'take the players with us on a journey', signing home grown players of prem quality would possibly be beyond us?

I'm afraid those days are gone. In the Bassett days, misfits and ragamuffins were part of the charm - and which is being replicated by CW. But no way would it work at the top level in today's world. These 'boyhood fans' the Kyles, Harry etc. would soon leave to better themselves, as they always have. And when they have left, they still want to progress upwards - Walker, Kane, Bale, Alli - and that's just at Tottenham.

I think when we make it to the Premier League, it would not surprise me to see some significant financial backing made available from various middle eastern speculators

But that's become a 'zero sum game' as we see with Arsenal - turning down a one billion pound takeover.

So sorry if I seem 'unambitious', but I'm just being realistic. I bet Newcastle fans have enjoyed the season just gone than their previous season because regularly losing is no fun. Sunderland will find it's the same in 2017-18.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

I bet Newcastle fans have enjoyed the season just gone than their previous season because regularly losing is no fun.

And I wonder how many Newcastle fans did not celebrate promotion?

It's the same logic to say that as we gained 100 points last season and really enjoyed it, we should hand back the trophy and ask to stay in the same tier. But instead we move up a league where we will struggle in some games (not too many I hope) and find it more difficult to compete financially.

Personally, I'd like us to take stock, build and develop and in a few seasons move back to the top tier properly equipped to compete.

(Although back to back promotions would be fun)

 

[TTMeysh]

I agree, but for £150million into the club even I would be a hypocrite and love it

The problem is, this money passes straight through the club like shit through a goose, stops briefly in the hands of the players and their agents before winding up with their Lamborghini salesmen and coke dealers. The economics of the EPL are a good example of why unfettered free markets aren't the answer to everything.

 

[LS16Blade]

As others have said, the instinctive desire is and always has been, for us to get as high as we possibly can. These days, though, I know that the 'getting there' will be more special than the 'being there'.

It may well be a generational thing but, for me, the Premier League is of minimal interest now. I never bothered to buy SKY and haven't watched any Premier League football on TV for years; certainly never tempted to stay up to watch the regulation Saturday night MOTD offering of Stoke, Palace, WBA, Watford, Swansea, Bournemouth and the like.

By reason of having good stewardship at just the right point in their history (i.e. when the TV money has been at its greatest) and/or geographical desirability, there are at least 10 clubs (with 2 more being added next season) in the top flight that are the sort of matches in your fixture list to leave you cold.

In fact, on any given Saturday next season (given that the small number of glamour clubs always get deferred to Sunday), with United, Pigs, Leeds, Derby, Villa, Sunderland, Wolves, Birmingham, Forest, Middlesbrough, Norwich and Ipswich, there'll be far more interest to be found in the Championship than in the Premier League.

 

[Blade56]

Eventually the Clubs aim is the Premier League but for a club of our stature would it be that great from a fans point of view? Look at Everton, and I am not comparing United with them, but just think of the millions and millions that have gone into that club since the Premier League started and for what? treading water for years and years, nothing of note for the supporters to get really excited about, not adding to the clubs history. They are never serious contenders for the title (or even top 4) and never really contenders for relegation, just years of mediocrity, would we as fans be happy with that? Maybe their financial affairs are stable (I don`t know if they are or not) but does that get the fans going?
Maybe being a "yoyo" club adds more excitement and jeopardy to the situation. Stoke and West Brom could also be in this "mid table mediocrity" group to a certain extent, pretty boring as a fan surely.
This past season has been fantastic, o.k. we have ONLY won League 1, but we have actually won something, we are all eagerly anticipating next season, do you think Everton, Stoke etc fans are?
Is the Premier league the "Dream Land" for any club bar 5 or 6 teams?
Just asking

Generally disagree.

I want to go to the PL and see us play the worlds top teams and players,

I do agree with the sentiments re the corruption and greed though.

 

[ucandomagic]

It's not what you do it's the way that you do it.

I enjoyed our losses against Tottenham and Hull more than any League wins under Clough.

As long as the team is a Wilder team playing with heart and pride, battling matches and struggles against high fliers can be fantastically exciting.

Equally, playing boring possession football to get into and stay in the Champ playoffs can be tedious. Did you watch any of those playoff games?!

The Pub League was a step too far, but as long as we have Tufty I am 100% convinced that we will play games that have those magic moments of excitement that make a week too long to wait, and we will have players that we have pride in.

For me our club has one asset that it must never lose - Tufty Wilder - Top Squirell by a mile. As long as we have him, simple survival in the Prem would always be enjoyable, and relegation would still be taken as another step in the building process.

He has brought the magic back.

UTB

 

[Worksop II]

but - as we saw on our last foray into the PL (2006-07) - we were firmly 'put in our place' from the very first game to the very last.

This rings true

I expect next time the 30K inside Bramall Lane will not so starry eyed, and the reception the PL get will not be so generous, from minute 1

 

[Northyorksblade]

I felt, as a club, we were tolerated in the Premier League, patronised by the media and when we won, the opinion was it was the oppositions poor play, rather than our good play, that got the result. I hated the big club players surrounding the ref every time he blew the whistle, the falling over, the play acting and the (in my opinion) bias of officials towards the big clubs.
Like LS16Blade I don't watch premier league football. Everything about it is obscene.
On the other hand, I want us to win every game. Perhaps if we get there again, we may be treated better, due to the style of football we play. Last time under Warnock, who was very unpopular in the media and who in away games played so defensively in the hope we could grab a point that the football was very boring. The previous time, under Bassett, the style of football was universally disliked, even by some of our own fans .
Let's see how next season pans out, if we can compete at that level, with our silky passing game, then perhaps the sky IS the limit.

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

This is a great thread with loads of differing and interesting views that make you think more about the pros and cons of Premiership footy. I confess also to not bothering with Sky and showing zero interest in watching any of it (other than the chance to see our ex-players) but I'm sure I'll show more than a passing interest when we get back there. Congratulations to the thread-starter.

 

[YES Blade]

The thing is, modern football on the whole can be described as obscene in terms of money and not just the Premiership.

I absolutely love Billy Sharp as I'm sure every Blade does, but looking at what he has earnt and the lifestyle he enjoys whilst being at his best a Championship level striker, is that not as obscene as say Rooney being on £300k a week?

To me you either accept this is how modern football is or you pack in watching the professional game and watch Sheffield FC.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

To me you either accept this is how modern football is or you pack in watching the professional game and watch Sheffield FC.

Has to be said, non-league IS great, although I view it as an additional enjoyment rather than an alternative.

 

[Pinchy]

If it's not about being the best, what's the while thing about?

The whole point, put succinctly. Why aim to play Roger Federer when you can win your Club Mixed Doubles pChampionship?

Would I settle for 12th in the Prem every year. You bet. That would involve us competing with the best teams in the land, beating them on a fairly regular basis, admiring excellent players playing proper football in front of huge crowds.

That good old Bladey Inferiority Complex, undiminished by Promotion. It's the Bladesfans' Way.

 

[Pinchy]

Has to be said though.. Spurs challenging for the title? That would be classified as a "surprise" only a few years ago.

Didn't we compete well against them quite recently.

Blades only good enough for the Championship because we might be over shadowed by the likes of Everton? Southampton?

This is one thread I am not altogether sure one would find on many Championship forums. How embarrassing to have such little ambition for a team that has previously finished at the top of the pile?

Maybe if we stayed in League One we could enjoy every season?

And then they accuse the board of lacking ambition.

Our fans have a number of idiosyncratic (I'm using the kindest term I can) features. I point them out. People say they don't exist. They then demonstrate the same feature again...

Alice in S2.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

The whole point, put succinctly. Why aim to play Roger Federer when you can win your Club Mixed Doubles pChampionship?

Would I settle for 12th in the Prem every year. You bet. That would involve us competing with the best teams in the land, beating them on a fairly regular basis, admiring excellent players playing proper football in front of huge crowds.

That good old Bladey Inferiority Complex, undiminished by Promotion. It's the Bladesfans' Way.

Only the one "like"because that's all I am allowed

 

[Grappler]

Some good points on here.

The Premier League is full of diving wanker prima donna's, no doubt about that. But I want to see Sheffield United win every game they play, week in, week out, as I have almost all my life, and that means eventually getting back into the top flight.

I worked over in Liverpool for a few years (that was one hell of a daily commute!), and worked with a lot of Everton fans. I often mentioned their usual mid-table finish, and didn't it get boring never flirting with the top 6 or relegation? They said no, we are the same as you, we just love watching our team play football.

And, apart from the rip off Premier League prices at the turnstyles, they are right. Nothing would change. It would still be "match day", a few beers before the game, meeting mates, seeing men, women, kids, families, walking to the ground in our colours, singing the Greasy Chip Butty song, rising out of your seat as one of our lads closes in on goal.

Walking out, in all weathers, discussing the game. Going for a pint to celebrate or commiserate.

I have watched us play in all four divisions and I am old enough to remember us being one of the top teams in the country.

Chris Wilder will want to walk out with our team in the top flight, and we are all going there with him, no matter what.