Ever wanted the Blades to lose?

[Karaoke Blade]

Everton are playing Man City at home on Saturday. If the Toffees win it would virtually hand their neighbours Liverpool the title (assuming they see off Palace and Newcastle in their remaining games, of course).

Can the historians amongst us recall if ever a Blades win meant that our porcine neighbours won/got promoted/avoided relegation?

And would you ever want the Blades to lose in such circumstances?

I'm of the opinion that first and foremost I support Sheffield United so I would always want us to win, regardless of the outcome, but I'd be interested in others thoughts.

 

[blade too long]

if it meant wednesday getting relegated , itd be hard not to feel unconcerned at a gallant loss

 

[Darren]

Everton are playing Man City at home on Saturday. If the Toffees win it would virtually hand their neighbours Liverpool the title (assuming they see off Palace and Newcastle in their remaining games, of course).

Can the historians amongst us recall if ever a Blades win meant that our porcine neighbours won/got promoted/avoided relegation?

And would you ever want the Blades to lose in such circumstances?

I'm of the opinion that first and foremost I support Sheffield United so I would always want us to win, regardless of the outcome, but I'd be interested in others thoughts.

When we played Chesterfield at the Lane on 29/4/80, I belief Chesterfield had an outside chance (i think it would have taken a massive swing in GD) to beat Wednesday to the last promotion place, if they beat United. Chesterfield won 2-0, but Wednesday did get promoted.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I seem to remember a few people wanting united to lose so blackwell would get the sack

 

[blade too long]

When we played Chesterfield at the Lane on 29/4/80, I belief Chesterfield had an outside chance (i think it would have taken a massive swing in GD) to beat Wednesday to the last promotion place, if they beat United. Chesterfield won 2-0, but Wednesday did get promoted.

was worth a try though

 

[blade too long]

I remember east germany "play" west germany in the world cup , now thats not trying

 

[Darren]

For curiosity's sake, I just checked the 79-80 situation.

Before that game on 29/4/80, table was thus

3. SWFC P45 pts 57 GD + 34
4 Chessie P44 pts 53 GD +20

So for Chesterfield to get promoted they would have to win both their remaining games, hope Wednesday lost their last game and acheive a GD swing of 14 . Obviously very unlikely. As it happens, Chessie won both their games 2-0 and 3-0, but Wednesday drew theirs so went up by 1 point.

Obviously, if we had really wanted to put the shits up Wednesday, we could have lost 14-0

NB: 2 points for a win then - the United game was a Tuesday night and both WEdnesday and Chesterfield's last games were the following Saturday.

 

[Darren]

I remember east germany "play" west germany in the world cup , now thats not trying

The East won 1-0.

 

[JJ Sefton]

I've never wanted United to lose.

 

[Karaoke Blade]

I've never wanted United to lose.

Me too, but I suppose there could be an occasion when 'I would'nt be too bothered if we did lose'

 

[georgebernardshaw]

I've never wanted United to lose but, over the years, they did a good job of it without any influence from me

 

[Karaoke Blade]

I remember east germany "play" west germany in the world cup , now thats not trying

No, not trying is what Man City did when they played Wendys at the sty in the 70s when they had to win to stay up. Unfortunately, no one told the City sub, (Boyer?) the script, and he scored two to send em down.

I never could understand why City wanted the pork to stay up?

 

[blade too long]

probably just didnt care was last match ,most went on holiday early then

 

[blade too long]

I've never wanted United to lose but, over the years, they did a good job of it without any influence from me

theres the rub , us trying to lose would be hard to prove as we are brilliant at it

 

[Cheets]

We played Walsall at the Lane circa 2002. Walsall were near the bottom along with Barnsley and Wednesday. Some Blades fans stood up and cheered when Walsall took the lead. Our youth team did a lap of honour at half-time. The announcer thanked the Walsall fans for applauding our youth team. A bloke near me said "Well we cheered their goal so the least they can do is applaud our kids."

 

[Worksop_Blade]

Everton are playing Man City at home on Saturday. If the Toffees win it would virtually hand their neighbours Liverpool the title (assuming they see off Palace and Newcastle in their remaining games, of course).

Can the historians amongst us recall if ever a Blades win meant that our porcine neighbours won/got promoted/avoided relegation?

And would you ever want the Blades to lose in such circumstances?

I'm of the opinion that first and foremost I support Sheffield United so I would always want us to win, regardless of the outcome, but I'd be interested in others thoughts.

Don't they all hands and sing Kumbaya on "derby" day up on Merseyside?

It's a weak rivalry that one.

 

[Selly]

I'd have been quite happy to see us lose to Wigan, had Man U beaten West Ham...

...as it was, I was not happy at all...

 

[United Aren't Back.]

No but i celebrated the dingles relegation in 2002 last game for us, home v Walsall, they beat us and stayed up, guuuuuussssssss on loan for them, from us, that day!!

 

[Greenwich Blade]

We played Walsall at the Lane circa 2002. Walsall were near the bottom along with Barnsley and Wednesday. Some Blades fans stood up and cheered when Walsall took the lead. Our youth team did a lap of honour at half-time. The announcer thanked the Walsall fans for applauding our youth team. A bloke near me said "Well we cheered their goal so the least they can do is applaud our kids."

That day featured my favourite ever call to Praise Or Grumble when an irate Barnsley fan called in to complain that United had sent them down by deliberately losing to Walsall. He ended his rant with an almost tearful: " They call us the Dingles you know!"

 

[Greenwich Blade]

For curiosity's sake, I just checked the 79-80 situation.

Before that game on 29/4/80, table was thus

3. SWFC P45 pts 57 GD + 34
4 Chessie P44 pts 53 GD +20

So for Chesterfield to get promoted they would have to win both their remaining games, hope Wednesday lost their last game and acheive a GD swing of 14 . Obviously very unlikely. As it happens, Chessie won both their games 2-0 and 3-0, but Wednesday drew theirs so went up by 1 point.

Obviously, if we had really wanted to put the shits up Wednesday, we could have lost 14-0

NB: 2 points for a win then - the United game was a Tuesday night and both WEdnesday and Chesterfield's last games were the following Saturday.

A strange night, that one. Our dismal performance against Chesterfield summed up nicely our woeful second half of the season. I remember realising after the game as I headed to The Moor to get my usual bus home that I was in a much bigger than normal group of Blades fans, and they didn't seem like they were too bothered about catching the number 81.

No, they were the bad lads with not a scarf or replica shirt in sight and I was unwittingly near the head of the group. A call went up to head to the Crucible where the snooker was of course taking place. Being an inquisitive sort, and a bit of a starry-eyed 14-year-old I decided to just hang off the pack and see what transpired.

One noticeable thing was the total lack of police presence, and I watched partly thrilled, partly horrified as one Blade very close to me, encouraged by his mates, picked up a hefty stone (there was always a plentiful supply along the way as The Moor and especially St Mary's Gate always seemed to have roadworks and building work going on in those days) and hurled it at a shop window. It didn't break, but it tried its best and his mates let out 'ooooh's of disappointment.

The mob started to run then, so I ran along too, caught up in the euphoria, and as I did I could hear the sound of breaking glass coming from behind. By the time I reached the Peace Gardens I checked myself and decided to get the bus home, so I have no idea whether the others carried on to the Crucible,but I remember hearing on Radio Sheffield news the following morning that thugs had rampaged thought town smashing shop windows. The thing I found strangest was that the news report never made a connection with the match which had taken place that evening.

One more thing: when I got home that miserable rainy night, just as I was about to head up my driveway on High Storrs Drive I was nearly savaged by a dog that lived up the road, and this signalled the beginning of an ongoing battle between me and this canine horror as the vicious bastard lived at one of the houses on my paper-round.

Anyone else remember this (the shenanigans on The Moor, not my rivalry with a local dog)?

 

[Trigger Blade]

I remember east germany "play" west germany in the world cup , now thats not trying

Not quite sure what you mean in that case. I think it suited WG to lose as it meant they avoided Brazil in the next phase, but that's all I recall.

Incredible as it might sound, I was at that game and it was a fairly febrile atmosphere, despite the fact there were hardly any Ossies there as they weren't allowed a lot of freedom to travel in those days

I do remember another World Cup game beween Austria and West Germany, where a draw suited them both very well, but that wasn't quite the same thing, that was neither side wanting to lose and making sure they didn't.

 

[ZoneManWilf]

Not quite sure what you mean in that case. I think it suited WG to lose as it meant they avoided Brazil in the next phase, but that's all I recall.

Incredible as it might sound, I was at that game and it was a fairly febrile atmosphere, despite the fact there were hardly any Ossies there as they weren't allowed a lot of freedom to travel in those days

I do remember another World Cup game beween Austria and West Germany, where a draw suited them both very well, but that wasn't quite the same thing, that was neither side wanting to lose and making sure they didn't.

The West Germany / Austria one was West Germany winning 1-0 in 1982. That result guaranteed both a place in the next round at the expense of Algeria, who had beaten West Germany.

Something along the lines of if it was a draw West Germany went out, but if Austria lost by more than 2 goals, they were out. West Germany went 1-0 up early and the 2 teams disgracefully patted the ball about for the rest of the game.

FIFA changed it from then on that the final 2 games in group stages were played simultaneously.

 

[UnitedBlade]

No, not trying is what Man City did when they played Wendys at the sty in the 70s when they had to win to stay up. Unfortunately, no one told the City sub, (Boyer?) the script, and he scored two to send em down.

I never could understand why City wanted the pork to stay up?

A place in the European Cup Winners Cup final was up for grabs for Ian Bowyer. He was in fact sub for the final but came on and therefore got a Winners medal.

Good lad, played a blinder at the Sty and me and my mates were on the Kop at Hillsborough laughing our bollocks off at the end.

Great game in the end, even though Citeh looked like they were trying to throw it.

 

[Trigger Blade]

The West Germany / Austria one was West Germany winning 1-0 in 1982. That result guaranteed both a place in the next round at the expense of Algeria, who had beaten West Germany.

Something along the lines of if it was a draw West Germany went out, but if Austria lost by more than 2 goals, they were out. West Germany went 1-0 up early and the 2 teams disgracefully patted the ball about for the rest of the game.

FIFA changed it from then on that the final 2 games in group stages were played simultaneously.

Yes, you're right! I can remember 40 years ago, 32 is a bit too recent and therefore hazy That means it was more in line with the OP, one team trying to lose, but not by too many.

 

[boo radley]

I seem to remember a few people wanting united to lose so blackwell would get the sack

Was it a few, or was it just one? even suggesting we got thrashed by them to get Blackwell out! It was such an astonishing suggestion. I really cannot still quite believe it.

 

[blade.i.am]

Never want blades to lose but in hindsight there are some defeats that have precipitated change for the better. Think Hartlepool in the J P T this season, Oldham 1988 and of course Walsall

 

[SE1Blade]

We played Walsall at the Lane circa 2002. Walsall were near the bottom along with Barnsley and Wednesday. Some Blades fans stood up and cheered when Walsall took the lead. Our youth team did a lap of honour at half-time. The announcer thanked the Walsall fans for applauding our youth team. A bloke near me said "Well we cheered their goal so the least they can do is applaud our kids."

This was the only game I can remember wanting us to lose. We were guaranteed mid-table but Walsall and pigs were near the drop zone.
I think Jorge Leitao scored in a 1-0 Walsall win but the pigs still stayed up. The bastards.

 

[Silent Blade]

When we played L**ds in the penultimate game of the 1991-92 season, Wendy fans were saying that it was the only time they wanted the Blades to win a match because Wendy still had faint hopes of winning the league (we took 6 points off them that season- ha ha!). I wanted us to beat L**ds and that Man U win the league (they hadnt won the league since 1967)

 

[blader]

Once the season is mathematically over (such as now) I would definitely accept a defeat if it was at the detriment to our neighbours. If it has no bearing on our season, I don't really care about results if I'm answering in complete honesty. The scenario given in the OP makes it even larger, could you imagine them lot winning the Premier League? Just think about it for a minute. Christ, no thanks!