How wrong can one be?

[broomhillblade]

When Weir was appointed - seemingly with great care and consideration by the Board - it appeared we were entering a new era. Onwards and upwards... How wrong I was...

When we beat Notts County it seemed that all our hopes and dreams were coming true. Good football, lots of shots on goal, and a well-deserved victory. I decided I would be making the journey from the depths of Lincolnshire to Bramall Lane more often than I had done in recent seasons. How wrong I was...

When our Saudi benefactor bought into the club, with all the talk about getting into the Premiership as soon as possible, I felt that he would be impatient for success and would not tolerate failure for long. How wrong I was...

So what's gone wrong? When will "enough" be "enough"?

I'm thinking of changing my alias to 'confused.com'.

 

[alcoblade]

When Weir was appointed - seemingly with great care and consideration by the Board - it appeared we were entering a new era. Onwards and upwards... How wrong I was...

When we beat Notts County it seemed that all our hopes and dreams were coming true. Good football, lots of shots on goal, and a well-deserved victory. I decided I would be making the journey from the depths of Lincolnshire to Bramall Lane more often than I had done in recent seasons. How wrong I was...

When our Saudi benefactor bought into the club, with all the talk about getting into the Premiership as soon as possible, I felt that he would be impatient for success and would not tolerate failure for long. How wrong I was...

So what's gone wrong? When will "enough" be "enough"?

I'm thinking of changing my alias to 'confused.com'.

I think the board are confused too. They thoguht they had a plan and now they're stuck in the headlights.

Speed, Wilson, Weir - all footballing men, plenty of attempts to play "the right way", and it's been the most tedious, boring periood in my 40 years of following.

Lots of pointers suggest turning to someone like Pulis, but that means turning all the club's plans on their head. So the next move is a difficult one.

UTB

 

[Torrix1889]

I was discussing the very same with my Dad earlier and the problem is that absolutely no-one expected us to be in the position that we are. If we had picked up another 2 wins and 2 draws we would be P 10, W 3, D 4, L 4 and be sitting around mid-table on 13 points and within 6 of the play-offs.

As Unitedites we would still be dissapointed but we would be probably be reasonably happy that, given time, Weir's master plan was showing signs of working and that with a few tweaks and additions in Jan we might be able to push on and sneak into the play-offs.

The reality is that things aren't working and as football is a results game the pressure is well and truly on-top. Weir simply must change things, he must be able to mix it up and have not only a plan B but a plan C as well.

Personally I think he will be given until Christmas and he will only be dismissed then if relegation is a distinct possibility. McCabe and probably The Prince would much rather stick with the blue-print and I think if Weir can get some points on the board he will be allowed to continue. Relegation however would be a disaster, so whilst it might sound obvious, the more points on the board, the longer he keeps his job, even if that only ends up with mid-table mediocrity.

 

[broomhillblade]

Speed, Wilson, Weir - all footballing men, plenty of attempts to play "the right way", and it's been the most tedious, boring periood in my 40 years of following.

Amen to that.

 

[Blade for Sale]

If Weir goes (and I would love him to turn this round) then we need to look beyond these shores for a manager. Nigh on a century of utter mediocrity, and the one constant in all this is British managers all the way.

 

[alcoblade]

If Weir goes (and I would love him to turn this round) then we need to look beyond these shores for a manager. Nigh on a century of utter mediocrity, and the one constant in all this is British managers all the way.

I don't agree to be honest. I wouldn't rule a foreigner out, if we identified the right man. But you could just aswell identify playing on grass, playing at BDTBL, playing with 11 men as a constant, as identify the nationality of the manager.

Jock's are usually good at it. Trust us to find the world's worst!

UTB

 

[broomhillblade]

If Weir goes (and I would love him to turn this round) then we need to look beyond these shores for a manager. Nigh on a century of utter mediocrity, and the one constant in all this is British managers all the way.

To be strictly accurate we haven't have a 'manager' in the modern sense for those 100 years - and I don't think many other clubs did, either. The club had a 'Secretary' and various 'trainers' until 1931. Then they appointed Teddy Davison as Secretary Manager. He would have watched the matches from the stand. The first 'trainer/coach' was David Steele in 1934, to be followed shortly afterwards by Dougie Livingstone, who was the person who spent most of the time coaching the players. This situation continued until 1949. The first manager, Reg Freeman, did not arrive until 1952 but he probably watched the matches from the stand. I certainly cannot recall any touchline coaching in those days.

 

[raul]

I though this thread was going to be about Global Warming.....

 

[broomhillblade]

I though this thread was going to be about Global Warming.....

Don't get me started on that scam....

 

[cahill]

All this reflection about Wilson. Last season was awful. Half the points we got we barely deserved. Against Oldham at home hanging desperately on to a 1-o lead to have them draw level on 90 minutes + 9. Against Yeovil at home not one single effort on goal and a 0-2 defeat. Absolutely awful and people go on radio and on message boards and say we shouldn't have sacked Wilson, wtf !

What's the point going back over 100 years of history ? Actually disagree with all the negativity we had a great side in the first half of the 1970s, won f***k all mind.

If supporting the Blades is too tough make the 38 mile journey over to Manchester it's not that far

 

[alcoblade]

All this reflection about Wilson. Last season was awful. Half the points we got we barely deserved. Against Oldham at home hanging desperately on to a 1-o lead to have them draw level on 90 minutes + 9. Against Yeovil at home not one single effort on goal and a 0-2 defeat. Absolutely awful and people go on radio and on message boards and say we shouldn't have sacked Wilson, wtf !

What's the point going back over 100 years of history ? Actually disagree with all the negativity we had a great side in the first half of the 1970s, won f***k all mind.

If supporting the Blades is too tough make the 38 mile journey over to Manchester it's not that far

I've sympathy with your opinion on Wilson. True, given what we've become it seems like a daft decision looking backwards. But I was bored shitless with last season under him. Poncing around with a ball in your own half with no urgency to attack is just dull. Blackwell, Speed and Wilson were all guilty of it, though Wilson did have a good season prior to last.

I think the overall negativity is justified. We really are a bit of a joke right now.

It will never get too tough for me to support though. I'm off to watch us get stuffed on Sunday.



UTB

 

[Darren]

All this reflection about Wilson. Last season was awful. Half the points we got we barely deserved. Against Oldham at home hanging desperately on to a 1-o lead to have them draw level on 90 minutes + 9. Against Yeovil at home not one single effort on goal and a 0-2 defeat. Absolutely awful and people go on radio and on message boards and say we shouldn't have sacked Wilson, wtf !

What's the point going back over 100 years of history ? Actually disagree with all the negativity we had a great side in the first half of the 1970s, won f***k all mind.

If supporting the Blades is too tough make the 38 mile journey over to Manchester it's not that far

For the millionth time, when he was sacked Wilson had made us certs for the play offs and automatic promotion was still in our own hands. That was after losing most of his best players. What wouldn't we give now for being as shit as we were last season.

Unlike a certain manager Wilson had some idea of how to get the best out of the resources at his disposal.

 

[dingledog]

It's beginning to make the failed appointment of Robson look like an unqualified success. Deary me, just how bad things have got.

 

[Eskimo]

Did anyone listen to praise and grumble last night? It started with Giddings? reading out a text/email from someone going on about strategic management theory. It went on.........and on........all round Junction 39 and half way to Denby Dale. Did anyone hear it? Must be someone on here.

It went downhill froim there

 

[BladeFisher]

For the millionth time, when he was sacked Wilson had made us certs for the play offs and automatic promotion was still in our own hands. That was after losing most of his best players. What wouldn't we give now for being as shit as we were last season.

Unlike a certain manager Wilson had some idea of how to get the best out of the resources at his disposal.

After Blackman was sold and until Wilson was replaced we only lost 3 games W6 D4 L3 Pts 22 pts/game 1.69. If we had that now till the end of the season it would end up with 66 points. Not bad for a shit manager.

Unfortunately we now have a better manager who is undertaking a re-branding of the way we play.

It's called 'Strictly come football'. So far its dis-agh-sterous darling (as Craig might say). But hey its entertainment. Just not sure who the professionals are...

 

[Sirius]

To be strictly accurate we haven't have a 'manager' in the modern sense for those 100 years - and I don't think many other clubs did, either. The club had a 'Secretary' and various 'trainers' until 1931. Then they appointed Teddy Davison as Secretary Manager. He would have watched the matches from the stand. The first 'trainer/coach' was David Steele in 1934, to be followed shortly afterwards by Dougie Livingstone, who was the person who spent most of the time coaching the players. This situation continued until 1949. The first manager, Reg Freeman, did not arrive until 1952 but he probably watched the matches from the stand. I certainly cannot recall any touchline coaching in those days.

I agree B.B. I think there was only the trainer in the dug out, ice cold water and the magic sponge at the ready.
When he rushed on to the pitch, many a player made a sensationally quick recovery, before icy water could be poured onto their nether regions.

 

[Kev Gee]

I was discussing the very same with my Dad earlier and the problem is that absolutely no-one expected us to be in the position that we are. If we had picked up another 2 wins and 2 draws we would be P 10, W 3, D 4, L 4 and be sitting around mid-table on 13 points and within 6 of the play-offs.

As Unitedites we would still be dissapointed but we would be probably be reasonably happy that, given time, Weir's master plan was showing signs of working and that with a few tweaks and additions in Jan we might be able to push on and sneak into the play-offs.

The reality is that things aren't working and as football is a results game the pressure is well and truly on-top. Weir simply must change things, he must be able to mix it up and have not only a plan B but a plan C as well.

Personally I think he will be given until Christmas and he will only be dismissed then if relegation is a distinct possibility. McCabe and probably The Prince would much rather stick with the blue-print and I think if Weir can get some points on the board he will be allowed to continue. Relegation however would be a disaster, so whilst it might sound obvious, the more points on the board, the longer he keeps his job, even if that only ends up with mid-table mediocrity.

Looks like they wont accept relegation eh Torrix mate?
I thought they might have gievn him till xmas but the bad results have left them with no option.

 

[fishpie]

I think the board are confused too. They thoguht they had a plan and now they're stuck in the headlights.

Speed, Wilson, Weir - all footballing men, plenty of attempts to play "the right way", and it's been the most tedious, boring periood in my 40 years of following.

Lots of pointers suggest turning to someone like Pulis, but that means turning all the club's plans on their head. So the next move is a difficult one
UTB

Hang on. Wilson's first season was almost perfect, as turgid as his second season was. Speed and Weir were around for a fraction of your 40 years surely, so a bit harsh to condemn "footballing men" on that basis...

 

[alcoblade]

Hang on. Wilson's first season was almost perfect, as turgid as his second season was. Speed and Weir were around for a fraction of your 40 years surely, so a bit harsh to condemn "footballing men" on that basis...

His first season was good to be fair, but only really the 2nd half of it when Evans got going. And he failed to get a team, with very good players for the level, promoted. But yes to be fair, it was fairly entertaining. Completely wiped out by last season's borefest mind.

There's nothing wrong with "footballing men". It's the ideology that shackles us to the opposite end of the spectrum to "hoof", that's our downfall.

We need to take a much more pragmatic approach to events, and make sure the club realise that idiots like Pinchy that demand it are a tiny minority. 6% Davey should be enough of a lasting reminder to this disastrous mindset.

UTB