FAO the Clappers

[SwissBlade]

This is for all the Blades that were backing Blackwell before the Watford or West Brom games ONLY. I have no interest in reading comments from those that wanted him out before then as to be frank, this forum is full of threads that have been twisted into Blackie out threads.

As many of you know I've been behind Blackie for a long time. I've provided (justifiable) reasons for lacks in form, team selections, signings etc. I think I was realistic from the start of the season and I predicted 6th place highest finish and 8th place lowest. All along i've believed that we'd attain 6th place, this was after the sales of the Kyles.

Apparently because I've backed Blackie, I'm a clapper. But recently doubts have set in. Like everyone i'm not happy with the way things are going.

Last week was a real downer, the Trevor Birch confirmation interview, the highs and 'loans' of the transfer window mixed with bad results and poor performances.

I don't subscribe to all the he said/ she said comments on here as I see a lot of it as conspiracy theory. Unless I hear from the horses mouth I don't tend to believe it. That goes for the "Blackie's a bully", "Blackie doesn't like the academy", "Arry said..", "Wardy wants to leave" etc etc

I'm not sure what happened to the Letter that Linz was planning to send. Birch answered some questions. But the key questions were not followed up by Radio Sheffield and many more were not asked.

Basically where is the club going? What do we expect on the field? Forget the off the field matters that are costing us money and putting us further in debt.

But whilst off the field issues aren't new to us Blades, Onfield things aren't looking rosy. Of course injuries aren't new and we can argue the tactics results v performance etc etc all day. But things are becoming worrying on the field. I'll exclude the defence as we have a lot of injuries and new players in- this is club issue not just a team management issue.

Elsewhere, we're not learning from mistakes. I'll perhaps expand on this later.

So to all the fellow clappers ONLY, are you backing Blackie still?

I must admit, I'm in limbo at the moment.

 

[TonyAgana]

I'm not necessarily pro-Blackwell but I am backing him because I think it's a waste of breath discussing getting rid of him.

 

[Maidenhead]

I am not a "clapper" but I back Blackwell because I believe that he is doing a very good job within the constraints placed upon him by lack of finance and the requirements of the board.

As much as many on here feel he lacks charisma he is a very highly regarded coach within the game and given the constraints mantioned above his record with us is excellent.

I think that next year will be the real test for us because we do have to rebuild the team and I do think that we will be best served by signing "cheaper" players that can develop a feeling for the club if we are to move forwards. Whether we sign them from other clubs or they come from our academy is largely irrelevant.

I am a great believer that stability is the key to long term success and whilst a change of manager may bring a short term boost the real test is to maintain that boost over a long period. I think Blackwell has already demonstrated the ability to do that with us.

Injuries this year have been a nightmare, Blackwell has made mistakes with signings, but overall I feel we are doing as well as we have any right to expect in our circumstances.

It is easy to criticise but there is not a single one of his critics on here that could do a better job than he is at the moment, nor is there any evidence that a new manager working under the same constraints would improve things either.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I want a manager that's going to make me feel passionate about the blades again. Blackwell's not that man.

It sounds shit but I don't want us to sneak a playoff victory whilst Blackwell isin charge. I don't want to reach the promised land only for the enjoyment of being there being stifled by cautious anti-football. If that means another couple of years scrabbling around in the ccc whilst we rebuild the squad to play flowing football, then so be it.

 

[SwissBlade]

I'm kind of with you Maidenhead, but I'm thinking if we continue to make the same mistakes on the field then we'll never improve.

The key issue that turned me against Robson was that there was never any consistent improvement, in fact we went backwards.

With the current set up (and granted the poor run of results has been only 3 games) we need to start to put the mistakes right and stop panicing.

In many ways I think that it would have been better, long term, to allow the starting 11 on Saturday to play out the entire game win, lose or draw.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I'm in the same place I've been in all season.

I don't like him, but you have to give him to the end of the season.
You can't sack a manager in 6th/7th position and think that anyone worth their salt will come in and work for the club knowing that you could be sacked while still being on track to achieve your target.

That said I hate the football and if we don't get promoted I would want him replaced.
In fact if we got up I'd want him replaced because I don't think he is good enough.
We have the 4th highest wage bill and it is up to him how that is distributed amongst the squad so we have to be competing in the top 6.
As soon as we can't get a playoff place I wouldn't have an issue with us removing him early, but I don't think that will happen.

P.S. Believe it or not, Blackie did have a bust up with Geary prior to the game on Saturday and has had one with Wardy. This will all come out in due time, but while I didn't believe it originally I've now heard it from too many people who would know.

 

[mattbianco1]

I'm backing him still and i too have had flack on here for saying so... "Is Blackwell your dad matt??" "Do you love Blackwell?" "Is Quinn your brother?" etc..

But i will say i'm only backing him ill the end of the season. No point shifting him now and if by miracle we go up then give him till xmas to prove he can hack the premiership.

If we don't go up then i feel Kevin will do the correct thing and resign. As he really has taken us as far as he can.

Then get in O'Driscoll or someone similar who would see the young strikeforce of Evans & Sharp as the ideal partnership and play to both strengths.

 

[Maidenhead]

Then get in O'Driscoll or someone similar who would see the young strikeforce of Evans & Sharp as the ideal partnership and play to both strengths.

Because Doncaster are really pulling up the trees are'nt they?

 

[mattbianco1]

Because Doncaster are really pulling up the trees are'nt they?

If they had the squad we've got they would be!

 

[Darren]

Because Doncaster are really pulling up the trees are'nt they?

To be fair being mid table in the 2nd tier is, for Doncaster with their resources and expectations, probably equivalent to us being mid table in the top tier.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

There is also a strong rumour now about Wardy and Harper both wanting out at the end of the season.

While I would agree that normally this is just used as a stick to hit over the managers head I know the person who posted it and who he knows at the club. Although players are like kids and fall out with the manager when they don't get their own way, this would seem to be a big potential issue. Harpers issue apparently is solely down to the long ball tactics and poor training methods.
Another believe it or not tale.

 

[shorehamview]

I'm not a "clapper" or a "moaner", I believe I'm like most Blades - a bit of both. I think Blackwell should be backed because to sack him wouldn't help. As other posters have pointed out, Blackwell has got us into the run-in for the play-offs while having to balance the restricted budget. If we sack a man who has done exactly as McCabe has instructed then where does that leave the next incumbent?

Having said that I do think the quality of football is woeful. The players must spend their training aiming at helicopters, because that's what they spend half the match doing. The ground staff at the Lane to to great lengths to gat a nice pitch to play on, what with their half-time forks and all, so why the hell don't the players try and use the grass for the ball to roll along?

If Blackwell does go, then the next man in needs to be part of an overall plan for the club to play "nice" football, not one who wants to mould the team to his wasy of playing, regardless of who it is.

 

[Maidenhead]

I'm kind of with you Maidenhead, but I'm thinking if we continue to make the same mistakes on the field then we'll never improve.

The key issue that turned me against Robson was that there was never any consistent improvement, in fact we went backwards.

With the current set up (and granted the poor run of results has been only 3 games) we need to start to put the mistakes right and stop panicing.

In many ways I think that it would have been better, long term, to allow the starting 11 on Saturday to play out the entire game win, lose or draw.

Ultimately on the field is entirely down to the players.

The manager chooses who he puts on the field but after that it's pretty much out of his hands.

We are constrained now by the lack of players to chooses from and whilst there have obviously been recruitment errors you show me anyone that didn't think our major summer signinmg was a good buy in August.

The rest is down to living within our means as far as possible and cutting our cloth accordingly.

Once the Robson contracts have all expired we will be in a much better position to move forward and judge the managers performance against his peers on a more level playing field.

 

[Maidenhead]

To be fair being mid table in the 2nd tier is, for Doncaster with their resources and expectations, probably equivalent to us being mid table in the top tier.

Don't often disagree with you Darren but expectations are cheap and Doncaster have had a long period of stability whilst we have been flying through turbulence.

There is no eveidence that O'Driscoll can manage in choppy waters just because he can sail on a relative mill pond.

 

[Torrix1889]

I'm certainly no clapper and have wanted Blackwell out since the play-off defeat because that was his peak.

I'm not buying the "you can't sack someone when you are 7th" because I'm not interested in where we are now I'm interested in where we are going and we aren't going anywhere positive under the current regime. Lose tonight and lose Saturday, (and the way we are playing we all know that is more than possible) and we will drop to 10th/11th and could possibly be just 5 points ahead of the Pigs, (if they win their next 2, which again is possible) and they have had an awful season. That puts things into perspective for me.

 

[mattbianco1]

IMO Doncaster are out of the depth like Peterborough are and are doing very well. It's their second season in this division and they're still treading water well.

I remember when Preston, Reading, Burnley and more recently Blackpool came up and really struggled at first but then we all know where Reading have been and Burnley are. Blackpool are doing fantastic too. I still think Donny are in the stability period. As Forest would be if they hadn't spent half the deficit of columbia in the summer. I wouldn't want to be a Forest fan next season if they DON'T go up.

I'm not buying the "you can't sack someone when you are 7th" because I'm not interested in where we are now I'm interested in where we are going.QUOTE]

We're not going anywhere pal unless we finish in the top 6, so while ever that is still a realistic possibility, i'm behind him!

 

[raul]

Don't often disagree with you Darren but expectations are cheap and Doncaster have had a long period of stability whilst we have been flying through turbulence.

There is no eveidence that O'Driscoll can manage in choppy waters just because he can sail on a relative mill pond.

Turbulence???

We've changed divisions once in xteen years and had the same Chairman for at least 10.

Jury out for me on O'Driscoll too, but to rubbish their ability to punch so far above their historical weight whilst pluckly little Sheffield United are smited at every turn is a little too Pravdesque even for you!

I'll put it down to still being in shock from Friday

 

[Maidenhead]

IMO Doncaster are out of the depth like Peterborough are and are doing very well. It's their second season in this division and they're still treading water well.

I remember when Preston, Reading, Burnley and more recently Blackpool came up and really struggled at first but then we all know where Reading have been and Burnley are. Blackpool are doing fantastic too. I still think Donny are in the stability period. As Forest would be if they hadn't spent half the deficit of columbia in the summer. I wouldn't want to be a Forest fan next season if they DON'T go up.

You said it yourself, the big difference is that Donny are in a period of stability.

If O'Driscoll is told to reduce his wage budget by x% next season then we will see how he performs in choppy waters.

Our situation is about off the field issues, the on the field shambles is just the unfortunate fall out of the wider issues facing the club.

A change of manager aint gonna change any of that.

As for the others, you want to swap places with any of them?

I think we will get it right but it will take time, unfortunately patience is not a virtue associated with most football fans

 

[Micalijo]

Don't often disagree with you Darren but expectations are cheap and Doncaster have had a long period of stability whilst we have been flying through turbulence.

There is no eveidence that O'Driscoll can manage in choppy waters just because he can sail on a relative mill pond.

It was pretty choppy for Donny when they were cast adrift in bottom 3 last term.

Any manager who can keep Donny in CCC is a total miracle worker. I think they might drop this term but even then O'Driscoll is miles and miles in credit

 

[shorehamview]

I wouldn't say that Donny are treading water. If we are using swimming analogies they are more like the plucky young salmon that has made it's way up a very tricky waterfall and are now enjoying the limpid pool just below the raging torrent that is the bottom half of the Premier League.

Peterborough are more like the half-knackered trout that is slowly slipping down the waterfall and will soon be in the choppy waters of the pool below.

We are a wounded crocodile - still dangerous but prone to snapping at it's own wounds.

Wednesday are an old fat bullfrog, rather scabby, and just been run over by a small boy on a bicycle. Still breathing, but it's not what you'd call any kind of a life.

 

[Darren]

You said it yourself, the big difference is that Donny are in a period of stability.

If O'Driscoll is told to reduce his wage budget by x% next season then we will see how he performs in choppy waters.

Our situation is about off the field issues, the on the field shambles is just the unfortunate fall out of the wider issues facing the club.

A change of manager aint gonna change any of that.

As for the others, you want to swap places with any of them?

I think we will get it right but it will take time, unfortunately patience is not a virtue associated with most football fans

I have no idea if O'Driscoll would do any good at United, but you can hardly say he has not done a bloody good job at Donny. Their crowds are about 40% of ours (and their wage bill is probably less than 40% of ours), yet they are only 9 points behind us with 2 games in hand and they are having their most successful period for some 50 odd years.

 

[Maidenhead]

Turbulence???

We've changed divisions once in xteen years and had the same Chairman for at least 10.

Jury out for me on O'Driscoll too, but to rubbish their ability to punch so far above their historical weight whilst pluckly little Sheffield United are smited at every turn is a little too Pravdesque even for you!

I'll put it down to still being in shock from Friday

It was a shock as well!

You well know that history has no bearing on the present performances of football teams and is therefore irrelevant to our present situation.

We may have had the same chairman for a while but we live in ever changing times and unfortunately his crystal ball failed to spot an unfortunate relegation, and a forthcoming economic crisis when he pushed the boat out following the relegation.

It didn't help that his appointed captain out wasn't up to the job either when he did push the boat out. We are cleaning up the mess from having tried and failed and we are now regrouping ready for the next attempt.

 

[MAQ]

I wouldn't say that Donny are treading water. If we are using swimming analogies they are more like the plucky young salmon that has made it's way up a very tricky waterfall and are now enjoying the limpid pool just below the raging torrent that is the bottom half of the Premier League.

Peterborough are more like the half-knackered trout that is slowly slipping down the waterfall and will soon be in the choppy waters of the pool below.

We are a wounded crocodile - still dangerous but prone to snapping at it's own wounds.

Wednesday are an old fat bullfrog, rather scabby, and just been run over by a small boy on a bicycle. Still breathing, but it's not what you'd call any kind of a life.

I love your analogies

 

[Maidenhead]

I have no idea if O'Driscoll would do any good at United, but you can hardly say he has not done a bloody good job at Donny. Their crowds are about 40% of ours (and their wage bill is probably less than 40% of ours), yet they are only 9 points behind us with 2 games in hand and they are having their most successful period for some 50 odd years.

Nowhere have I either said or implied that he hasn't done a good job at Donny, he has and I am happy to acknowledge that but that doesn't doesn't automatically qualify him to manage bigger budgets and expectations either.

All I am saying is that the other mans grass isn't always greener.

Any new manager would be a gamble, and it wasn't me that brought O'Driscolls name into the debate.

 

[Maidenhead]

[/QOTE]We're not going anywhere pal unless we finish in the top 6, so while ever that is still a realistic possibility, i'm behind him![/QUOTE]

Spot on, I'm standing right next to you.

 

[Torrix1889]

[/QOTE]We're not going anywhere pal unless we finish in the top 6, so while ever that is still a realistic possibility, i'm behind him!

Spot on, I'm standing right next to you

So you wont be behind him/standing by him when it's no longer a realistic possibility then?

We will therefore welcome you to the "Blackwell OUT" brigade in a week or two....:thumbup:

 

[JohnDenver]

We are a turbulent club just now. It's the nature of the game when a club loses it's parachute payments.

The clubs who've been relegated from the Prem split into two camps... Those who get back up within two years, and those who don't. The latter category have to completely rebuild from a new lower base. It can take many years to restabilize.

We can whinge all we like about our state of affairs, but any management team would be sailing into the same storm as the current mob.

 

[Maidenhead]

So you wont be behind him/standing by him when it's no longer a realistic possibility then?

We will therefore welcome you to the "Blackwell OUT" brigade in a week or two....:thumbup:

I prefer to not to operate within the constraints of "brigades".

I live in a complicated world where very little is ever black and white and if I am to pin my colours to amy mast I have to be absolutely certain that it is the right thing to do.

At the moment I believe the case for stability is much greater than the case for change.

I review my position on a regular basis and even if we finish 10th I may still believe that he is the man for the job because you have to look at more than just raw data to make any sort of sensible decision.

 

[Torrix1889]

I prefer to not to operate within the constraints of "brigades".

I live in a complicated world where very little is ever black and white and if I am to pin my colours to amy mast I have to be absolutely certain that it is the right thing to do.

At the moment I believe the case for stability is much greater than the case for change.

I review my position on a regular basis and even if we finish 10th I may still believe that he is the man for the job because you have to look at more than just raw data to make any sort of sensible decision.

What about the "raw data" that could see us selling more players due to a lack of income as 5 or 6 thousand less fans go through the turstiles next season due to the dire football served up by Blackwell? Like I said, I'm more concerned about where we are going, not in the short term, (I've written this season off) but medium to long term and I can't see anything but bad news.

 

[TonyAgana]

medium to long term and I can't see anything but bad news.

Medium to long term for football in general looks like being "pretty terrible news". Our "bad news" might leave us in a stronger position.