How disconnected have you been/are you.

[Ned the Donkey]

Totally disconnected, but not so much from the club as from VARball. Bureaucracyball. Kafkaball. Whatever the fuck it is.

Kafkaball. I'm going with that.

I had a season ticket, went to two games. Last one was Man City. It's unwatchable. I can't watch anything with VAR. "It's not footballl anymore." It isn't.

I've watched some unmitigated shite over the years, and for prolonged periods, season after season, but whatever shite it was at least it was shite football.

I've no idea what's going to happen next season, but at least we'll be watching football.


"Someone must have been telling lies about Josef K, for, without having done anything wrong, one fine afternoon he was given offside."

 

[Aml-blade]

It's obviously a results business, but there's so much money involved and so much pressure on winning every game that it seems to me to come at the cost of enjoying the football on display. Even last season when we were up at the top I was starting to lose interest.

The complete lack of fucks given by the club as a whole this year has finally tipped me over the edge. Before this season I'd stay to the bitter end of any game and I believed I was doing the right thing staying until the end of the 8-0 v Newcastle. Since then I've left most games early for the refuge of the pub, to the point where I lasted all of about 12 minutes v arsenal, and didn't bother to turn up to the Chelsea or Forest games.

Next year will now be the first time I won't have a season ticket in the best part of 20 years. I've told myself I'll still attend most of the games, but in reality the idea of paying £35 to watch us grind out a 1-1 draw with Plymouth will be pushed aside to watch my local Northern Counties team with a few pints, and enough money still in my pocket for a takeaway on the way home, with no heartache based on the result/performance. Just a good day out watching the game with mates like following United used to feel like. I always thought if this day came I'd be sad about it but I'm just completely indifferent and it feels like a lot of others are the same.

 

[Bartleby]

All the stuff about VAR, bias towards top 6, horrible league, prefer the championship etc I do get, but it wasn't bothering me that much when we were pushing for top 4 in February 2020. I was loving it then. That was our window of opportunity and we were fucked over by a fucking virus.

It's the fact that we can't hope to compete in it now that's done me in. No way am I paying £38 plus train fare to see us get tonked by Spurs. I have absolutely no idea what to expect next season, but I no longer think Wilder will be able to replicate the remarkable rebuild of 2016. Would love to be wrong about that.

 

[KoppedOff]

Its sad reading through this thread of how many are feeling, but at the same time reassuring that I’m not the only one.

I can’t really add anything that hasn’t already been said here. Missed more home games in one season than in the last 15 combined; all but one by choice. That’s unthinkable to me even 5 years ago. Renewed for next year, but at this point it feels like paying off a speeding fine or a new washing machine because the last one broke.

We said after Burnley that was it; summer started early. Actually thats bollocks- we said DURING the Burnley game that was it.

Spent yesterday afternoon having a laugh with my 1 year old nephew; didn’t even look our result up until gone 6pm. Don’t regret it one bit.

 

[TJ blade]

Its sad reading through this thread of how many are feeling, but at the same time reassuring that I’m not the only one.

I can’t really add anything that hasn’t already been said here. Missed more home games in one season than in the last 15 combined; all but one by choice. That’s unthinkable to me even 5 years ago. Renewed for next year, but at this point it feels like paying off a speeding fine or a new washing machine because the last one broke.

We said after Burnley that was it; summer started early. Actually thats bollocks- we said DURING the Burnley game that was it.

Spent yesterday afternoon having a laugh with my 1 year old nephew; didn’t even look our result up until gone 6pm. Don’t regret it one bit.

Dont think the club care what the fans actually feel about our club, and what this season has done to us, only my opinion put it will take years to get over this shit show!!

 

[shorehamview]

I’ve missed more games this season than any other that I’ve had a season ticket for. I’ve also left early more times this season than in all the others put together. If they can’t be arsed, neither can I.

If it wasn’t for the pre- and post-match meet-ups then I would seriously reconsider going at all, and I’m not a fair weather fan, I’ve seen us in all four divisions during my lifetime, and even when we’ve been shit we’ve had more fight than this side. Under Bassett and Warnock we went from kick-off to full time, this bunch drop their heads when they are three nil down, or when the clock ticks past 60 minutes.

And as other have said, it’s the whole Premier League shit that gets to me. Clubs that are the plaything of a stained overseas regime, or a dodgy billionaire, or a heartless hedge fund all throwing money around like there’s no tomorrow, hoovering up young talent, and then making us feel like the blessed favourite child at Christmas because we can borrow one of their young players for a season or two, and don’t forget to say “thank you Pep“. Chelsea and Man City are the main culprits, but there’s others too. We, and the likes of Burnley, Luton, Forest, and others in previous years like Norwich are just there as cannon fodder for the mega rich elite to boost up their goal difference, and to provide their young talent with an opportunity for first team football they’ll rarely get at their parent club. And they can’t play for us against their parents, oh no, because having James McAtee play for us against City might give us too much of an advantage over them.

In the past I was against the €uropean $uper £eague, but they can all fuck off for me, with their legions of tourist fans and their armchair expert die-hard fans from all around the world, who know everything about English football but have never been to a single game. Their mega rich owners can have their Greedy Bastard League, and they can stay there, and never come back to our leagues again as far as I’m concerned.

VAR can fuck off, five substitutes so mardy cunts like Klopp don’t have millionaires sat doing nothing can go too. Stupid kick-off times like 8 pm on a Saturday can get in the bin, as can pundits like Chris Sutton and the other smart arses. At least Gary Neville has said that he wouldn’t commentate on/analyse a Championship game because he’s not watched enough to know about it. Sutton and the likes just think we are all agricultural fuckwits who can’t compete with the blue-eyed darlings of the Big Six, whoever they are this week.

And the new fans of the “big six”, they can all fuck off. I’d love for City to lose the league to Arsenal, and the FA cup final to Man Utd, just to see their fucking plastic fans crying because they’ve won nothing shiny this year. Do the Poznan to that, you glory hunting cunts.

I have of course renewed my season ticket, because I’m an optimistic idiot, but I did wonder if I’d have been better off spending the £400-odd on a new bandsaw instead. I suppose I’ll find out next season. See you all there.

 

[Pintor75]

Do we renew our tickets in times like this because we don't want to lose the seats amongst our friends I.e . we'll never get them back or is it just a blades thing, eternal optimism, are we really thinking next season will see us back at the top of the league, fighting for promotion again and all is rosy, I admit I've renewed, but I'm going to have to be convinced that until we get a new owner, new manager etc it'll be much the same

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

I haven't been back to the Lane since walking out at half time during the Villa game. I keep asking my kids if they want to go and they say no. I genuinely don't care about the results anymore and can't believe it took this long to confirm relegation. I'm sure last time it was confirmed with more games to spare.

This summer's "rebuild" will determine whether I bother going next season or not, as I can't be arsed to give up my Saturdays to travel all the way to Sheffield, plus the expense, to watch a load of mediocre shite.

Wilder needs to not only come up with new players, but a new formation and tactics as I'm fed up of his stubborn 3-5-2.

Since the Villa game I've been watching the streamed under 21 matches instead and have enjoyed them far more, win, lose or draw, though I can see where we may fail recruiting from there, as we have slow, small, technical players, whilst the modern game is all about tall, strong athletes who can run through teams and shrug them off.

I've never been so disinterested in attending matches at Bramall Lane since Blackwell was in charge. I walked out when he was manager and didn't return until he was gone, as I hated the garbage football I was paying to watch, and giving up my Saturday to watch.

 

[Blademan89]

I think I've just become numb to the pain and suffering of this season, even when we are winning, always expecting to concede on the next attack. I've totally fell out of love eith football due to united, I've even quit playing myself I don't find it enjoyable anymore.

That said watching this boring clown Southgate pick his boyfriend Henderson and Philips and go all defensive in the euros this summer will be a breeze for us england supporting unitedies.

I also did renew when tickets was announced, sign me up for more of this insanity I suppose, surely it can't get any worse?

 

[ColinHill]

been disconnected for a few years now pretty much since Covid. Quite enjoyed the run we had under Hecky when we lost to Forest in play offs. Wasnt bothered about promotion season and not cared all this season, been to about 6/7 home games and given s/t away for the rest. Mind you still end up watching on dodgy box for 30 minutes until we are 3 down.

Its not the results for me, its many factors. 1) Boring football - so many teams play the same, set up to not lose rather than win (seems worse in prem). All this bollocks passing in the 6 yard box from goal kicks, and then everyone bar city and arsenal just launch it 2) The hype that goes around every single game becomes mind blowing to me - wait til we lose first game of season and the shite that people spout. ANd everyone slagging every player all the time, and then praising them 3) VAR is so painful - fulham game being the case in point when they spent ages checking their keeper and no one in ground had a clue 4) I guess this season was a write off when we started it how we did, which didnt help (that said, daft as it sounds we could easily have stayed up this season. We should beat Forest, hold on at bournemouth, win the 50/50 with burnley, beat luton boxing day and we are in it!) 5) the game as a whole, especially the top division, is so different from 10 years ago. The top division isnt even a competition anymore. There's 2 games to go in a really close title race and as a neutral i cannot get excited about it. FA Cup and Champions League knock outs are exciting, but the league is boring.

Ive renewed my season ticket and am actually looking forward to next season. Will be a new look team hopefully (maybe only Egan / Robinson left from the past??), playing Pigs, Leeds (hopefully), and plenty of good supported passionate clubs (burnley, preston, blackburn, Derby, Pompey), playing saturday / tuesday most weeks, in theory knowing we have a chance of winning any game we play in.

Thing is, despite being disconnected from it, was still fuming at Pigs staying up!

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Very disconnected .. seen us relegated on many a time in my 47 years attending The Lane , but never so uncompetitively as we have been this season .
I’ve never seen so many heavy home defeats in one season … everything from a shambolic pre season & on off the field events have been a total embarrassing shit show .
Before this season the last time I’d left a game early was at Crewe as a 13yr old when we were 2-1 down , I heard 2 loud cheers on the walk back to the station & we’d gone onto win 3-2 so it was a lesson learned for a blades mad teenager … this season myself & my mates have left early against Newcastle, Brighton ( twice ) , Villa , Arsenal , Burnley & Bournemouth because it was that fkg bad & heartbreaking to watch my team just collapse/ fall apart & give up .. I 100% understand ppl not going now .. like the daft cunt I am I still will & I’ve renewed for next season .. but this season has been very damaging to the clubs reputation & tested the patience of even its most diehard fans
UTB

 

[Mumbo]

This is definitely the most disconnected from the club I’ve ever been since my first game 33 years ago. It’s not just about this shite season though it’s also the flat atmosphere/price of pints before during and after and football in general but Sheffield United are still 80% responsible for feeling disconnected with football.
All the TV money and we’re still in financial difficulties and that’s mainly to it being squandered on useless signings for the top level. The 0-8 to Newcastle confirmed relegation for me back in October or whenever it was, I persevered but I haven’t been to the lane since the start of the year. Call me fickle or a part timer but it hurts me to see lacklustre performances.
I’ll be there on the first game in August though. The last time I felt this disconnected was under Adkin’s and the relegation from the championship season.

What’s other peoples periods of discontent with United? I’m presuming the late 70’s and periods in the 80’s were no picnic. I was only a kid in the mid 90’s so I was still falling in love but I can imagine as an adult between 94-97 was a difficult period. 99-02 wasn’t great.

I think I’m at a stage where I’m just going to become a glory fan !!

It takes a lot to disconnect but not a lot to reconnect.
UTB.

 

[Bell4]

I gave my ST to a mate for yesterday and Spurs game.
I'm free, I'm just not going

I couldn’t give mine away for the Arsenal match

 

[shorehamview]

Do we renew our tickets in times like this because we don't want to lose the seats amongst our friends I.e . we'll never get them back or is it just a blades thing, eternal optimism, are we really thinking next season will see us back at the top of the league, fighting for promotion again and all is rosy, I admit I've renewed, but I'm going to have to be convinced that until we get a new owner, new manager etc it'll be much the same

Yeah.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Been there and done all of that................... no more.

Just about to book a holiday in September. Unheard of previous seasons until the fixture list came out.

 

[Booker4]

For me there's been much worse than this and I'd say the last season in the PL was worse than this, partly because we didn't have a manager and I was still really disappointed that Wilder had gone because I still felt he was the best man for the job. As bad as this season has been I think we're in a reasonable position to push on next season. We've got some decent players for that level, yes we may lose Hamer which will be a blow but I still think we'll be right up there and going down early can be an advantage because we know where we're going and Wilder has already ta;led about negetotians going on with new players which is encouraging.

Get a few new players in who want to be here and I think we'll be a different team with that edge to us that we all recognise under Wilder and from any decen United team when it's been good. There's a lot to be hopeful for. I'd much rather be where we are now than teams who have been in the Championship for years and without parahute payments which makes it very hard to get promoted or even in the top six. Ipswich did amazingly well this season, fair play, but that's becoming increasingly rare that teams without parachute payments go up.

 

[SirNibletsO'Korne]

I'm not so much disconnected as just disappointed at how the Premier League experience makes me feel, even though every season I get as carried away and excited as any of us to get back there. To say that this league is the most watched, as each season starts, the powers that be seem intent on making it as unwatchable as possible. I can only imagine that the people in charge of the supposed best league in the world, absolutely hate the game. As much as being utterly toss and going down so meekly has hurt, I'm actually looking forward to being back in a genuinely competitive league again however it pans out (and we won't drop to league 1 like some on here have predicted, that's just daft because there's way worse teams in the Championship)
And yes, I will get excited if we end up getting promoted back to the Prem and will forget I even wrote this.
Like the daft twat I am.

 

[Esteban Cambiasso]

The main problem is what is there left to play for ... do we really want to get promoted next season and go through this again!!? It all feels very pointless

For football to fix itself, it needs the big 6 teams to bugger off and play in a European super league. It's all about money and with VAR, extra subs, ridiculous added time the games feel fixed in favour of city, arsenal etc

 

[TJ blade]

The main problem is what is there left to play for ... do we really want to get promoted next season and go through this again!!? It all feels very pointless

For football to fix itself, it needs the big 6 teams to bugger off and play in a European super league. It's all about money and with VAR, extra subs, ridiculous added time the games feel fixed in favour of city, arsenal etc

Don't think anybody could take another dollop of this again mate, soul destroying!

 

[TJ blade]

For me there's been much worse than this and I'd say the last season in the PL was worse than this, partly because we didn't have a manager and I was still really disappointed that Wilder had gone because I still felt he was the best man for the job. As bad as this season has been I think we're in a reasonable position to push on next season. We've got some decent players for that level, yes we may lose Hamer which will be a blow but I still think we'll be right up there and going down early can be an advantage because we know where we're going and Wilder has already ta;led about negetotians going on with new players which is encouraging.

Get a few new players in who want to be here and I think we'll be a different team with that edge to us that we all recognise under Wilder and from any decen United team when it's been good. There's a lot to be hopeful for. I'd much rather be where we are now than teams who have been in the Championship for years and without parahute payments which makes it very hard to get promoted or even in the top six. Ipswich did amazingly well this season, fair play, but that's becoming increasingly rare that teams without parachute payments go up.

Sorry don't agree about this season not being as bad as the previous prem season. We weren't getting battered by 5s, 6, 4,s 3, every week! This season for me as been a new low, and sucked the life out me, I've been attending games home & away, been leaving early in a lot of the games, which I've never done before. In all honesty this is the biggest shit show I've ever witnessed in all my 60 odd years of going, like a twat I've renewed and I'm already worried about next season, Wilders recruitment scares the shit out of me mainly because he's going to return to type with shit signings, I’m also not letting this pathetic attempt to run a club go unnoticed by that useless fucking owner, who sadly ain't got a clue. Hope to fuck I'm wrong but got a feeling in me watter, we're on the slide..

 

[metalblade]

Sorry don't agree about this season not being as bad as the previous prem season. We weren't getting battered by 5s, 6, 4,s 3, every week! This season for me as been a new low, and sucked the life out me, I've been attending games home & away, been leaving early in a lot of the games, which I've never done before. In all honesty this is the biggest shit show I've ever witnessed in all my 60 odd years of going, like a twat I've renewed and I'm already worried about next season, Wilders recruitment scares the shit out of me mainly because he's going to return to type with shit signings, I’m also not letting this pathetic attempt to run a club go unnoticed by that useless fucking owner, who sadly ain't got a clue. Hope to fuck I'm wrong but got a feeling in me watter, we're on the slide..

Wait till next season when the pigs are putting 5 past us home and away.

 

[ancientblade]

our fans are totally broken after this season and thats down to one man and one man only the sooner hes out of our club the better but in a strange way with wednesday staying up i think it might just work in our favour and envigorate our fan base theyve got momentum going for em and their fans are getting very lairy about what their going to do to us next season but they had 3 dinky games at the end and ive watched a few of their games this season and they were awful in most of em only bannan has any class just organised long ball set piece football and physical if they dont spend they will be in the same position next season

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

I don’t think I’ve ever been completely disconnected but there were times during the McCabe era, particularly in League One…where I just thought we are going nowhere. No one at the club cares including the owner, we’re just drifting. There were a couple of times where I just kind of stopped caring quite so much myself. Still either went to or tuned into every game (I’m an exile, haven’t lived in Sheffield for a while) but the results became a little less important….

That kind of stuck because of my distance but the love for them has never left me and I still get into a terrible mood when they’re having a particularly bad spell or blow it in a big game. I’ve just become a little older and I go to fewer games, so it’s easier not to let if affect me. I make a conscious effort not to let it ruin my weekends now, which it often used to when I was younger.

In terms of engagement and enthusiasm for it this is not the most detached I’ve been. Not at all. We have a new squad and the Championship to look forward to next season (with a lot of uncertainty admittedly) but this is not the worst of times supporting United and anyone that thinks it is and is disconnected for that reason needs to cast their mind back a few years….

Hartlepool in the FLT anyone?

 

[BarcaBlade]

Weird. And by the looks of things, it's me that's weird.

I watch every game almost as religiously as ever. I'll admit that I didn't turn round to see what would happen when Newcastle 'got a free kick in a dangerous area' the other week, I'm always interested and looking for any saving grace that might be offered, even though I told you all we were a lost cause when we crumbled against Spanish also rans, Girona.

Then again, I'm not actually shelling out the money to go and watch the games live. I can imagine it must have been truly awful at BDTBL, though looks like the away days have still been a source of pride, not for the on pitch performance, but the fantastic travelling support. To them, I take my hat off.

 

[Bell4]

I feel like we haven't really had a season because the games are over so fast. I've hardly watched any football this year in comparison to the usual.
Looking at this season I'd say, and being very, very generous, there are 20 games that we've been in enough for it to keep my attention.
There are seven games I think I've got to the end of and thought yeah that was alright.
Really is an empty cupboard of a season.

Good post

 

[Working Class Hero]

Sorry don't agree about this season not being as bad as the previous prem season. We weren't getting battered by 5s, 6, 4,s 3, every week! This season for me as been a new low, and sucked the life out me, I've been attending games home & away, been leaving early in a lot of the games, which I've never done before. In all honesty this is the biggest shit show I've ever witnessed in all my 60 odd years of going, like a twat I've renewed and I'm already worried about next season, Wilders recruitment scares the shit out of me mainly because he's going to return to type with shit signings, I’m also not letting this pathetic attempt to run a club go unnoticed by that useless fucking owner, who sadly ain't got a clue. Hope to fuck I'm wrong but got a feeling in me watter, we're on the slide..

This team is worse, but that 20/21 season was obviously the worst there will ever be in terms of enjoyment and disconnection.

 

[Sheffsteel]

The weird disassociation of this season has reminded me a little of the covid lock down season.

Most matches have felt a bit like friendlies because there's almost nothing to play for.
Even when we score.....it's not the same excitement because you know we'll concede and still lose.

Next season will be a mental challenge for the players, manager and even the fans.
If we lose early matches, especially with bad luck or last minute goals, then PTSD could set in, where we all feel sorry for ourselves
and just feel fated to be relegated again.

 

[TopBoy]

This disconnected feeling isn't just a Blades thing, although we have the right to feel it more than others in the top flight after the shite that's been served up this season from players nowhere near the required standard. I have mates who are long-term season ticket holders for Forest, Wolves, Chelsea, and Luton, and every one of them (even Luton) is fed up with the Premier League circus, the cheating (simulation), foreign ownership, and of course VAR all of which have turned the working man's game into a vanilla spectacle designed for the armchair fans in far off lands. I don't know anybody that pays for Sky or watches any other games other than their own.

I haven't left early once this season, but only because I have a 2 hour drive and benefit by staying and missing the traffic.

I've renewed my season ticket. What else am I going to do on a Saturday, go around garden centres having afternoon tea?

 

[alcoblade]

Beer in the pub with mates, new team rebuild to look forward to. Real football away from the premier league.

I can’t wait for next season.

 

[Andy67]

Dislike the owner
Dislike his lip spickles like that daft twat in Spain
Dislike the manager
Dislike a lot of the players
So yeah pretty disconnected

Agree to all of this as the owner will spend fck all and the manager no longer has any respect as he has become an arse licker (even Hecky criticised the board). You get what you pay fair and there’s no short term or long term policy but just whinging self pity from the prince who keeps reminding us he hasn’t got any money. So yeah pretty disconnected too.