Hypothetical Situation: Sheffield United or Manchester United?

[Westran]

Just had a conversation with my Tottenham supporting boss, he gave me a hypothetical situation where I developed the skills of world class footballer for two years and had a choice of what club to sign for.

He asked whether I would choose one of the top 4 with the chance to play in the Champions League on the biggest stage in football, earn around £20m and potentially get to play for England.

Or would I play for United, with the chance to help them to promotion but no guarantee and modest earnings of about £1m over 2 years.

Obv I chose United, with age on my side I know that I can make a decent living off £1m and the dream of playing for my own club far outweighs my desire to play at the highest level (perhaps that's where I went wrong when I was young). Although the chance of playing for England did make me reconsider a little when that was added into the equation. What did it for me was that for Man U for instance, you'd just be another one of many top class players with little chnace to make a big impact, even two title winning seasons would not be considered a huge achievement but more just business as usual or achieving their target, where as for United you could become a hero in that time and really make a difference to the fortunes of the club long after you left.

So, what would you choose and why?

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

I'd chose the lifestyle and the finance that a top 4 club brings.

Sorry :-(

Edited to say: And then request to go on a 2 season long loan to the Blades for my development

 

[Danny_Boy]

I'd chose the lifestyle and the finance that a top 4 club brings.

Sorry :-(

Edited to say: And then request to go on a 2 season long loan to the Blades for my development

Me too, I have a wife and two kids to think about and that kid of money can set us all up for the rest of our lives. Love United but not more than my family.

 

[Slim Man]

Top 4 club.

Anyone who says otherwise is only saying it as it's hypothetical. Given the choice realistically it's an absolute no brainer.

 

[sheffielder]

Have I won anything in my career to this point or am I Kyle Walker MkII?

 

[SwissBlade]

I'd play for the Blades

In this hypothetical world I'd be that good I'd get McCabe to hold out for a £100m bid (by turning down every deal offere) from PSG, Man United, City, Chelsea or whoever, sign a 2 year deal and then see out the contract. At the end of the contract I'd leave on a free and return to Sheff United and buy 51% of the club with the money I'd just earned.

I'd see out my career at the Blades

 

[Tyler Durden]

The original United, hands down.

Money doesn't matter after you make your first million and Engerland doesn't matter to me full stop.

 

[mattbianco1]

Top 4 easily - because you put the 2 year limit.

If you hadn't put the 2 year limit on for your skills I would say the Blades. Surely every Blades fan has an ambition to play for the club? And if you were World Class, you would get the move anyway.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

I'd play for the Blades for nothing

 

[Bayingblade]

As soon as you mentioned the potential to play for England.................

I chose United

 

[raul]

I'd play for the Blades

In this hypothetical world I'd be that good

There's hypothetical, and there's this.

 

[Punk Blade]

I could take the contract at the top 4 side so that after retiring from the game I'd never have to work again, spending 50 years regretting not ever playing for the Blades.

Or I could take the Blades contract and after retiring from football spend 50 years reminiscing about the joy of pulling on the famous red and white at the Lane.

Blades for me every time.

 

[Westran]

Have I won anything in my career to this point or am I Kyle Walker MkII?

You've never played professional football before, this is your one and only chnace but regardless of who you play for, you'll be forgotten about when you leave.

 

[Esablade]

Top 4 club.

Anyone who says otherwise is only saying it as it's hypothetical. Given the choice realistically it's an absolute no brainer.

Steve Bull?

 

[SwissBlade]

Steve Bull?

Didn't Matt Le Tissier

 

[Westran]

Top 4 club.

Anyone who says otherwise is only saying it as it's hypothetical. Given the choice realistically it's an absolute no brainer.

I agree it's tough with a hypothetical situation, but with age and experience, as Tyler said once you've made your first million the rest becomes less meaningfull, ulitmately it leads to the problems with overinflated prices across the game that we've been talking about on multiple threads recently.

I'd play for the Blades

In this hypothetical world I'd be that good I'd get McCabe to hold out for a £100m bid (by turning down every deal offere) from PSG, Man United, City, Chelsea or whoever, sign a 2 year deal and then see out the contract. At the end of the contract I'd leave on a free and return to Sheff United and buy 51% of the club with the money I'd just earned.

I'd see out my career at the Blades

I agree with this, a way to do both. I'd probably want to try and play at least a few games for United just for teh chance to pull on teh red and white stripes and play in front of my home city crowd.

 

[ucandomagic]

A million doesn't last a lifetime - 20 million can. Take the 20, don't sign again and then go to The United after 2 years on a free! You're always one bad tackle away from the end of your career and that could be in your first pre-season friendly.

Imagine the magic of coming to play for the Blades, though, having put money away for the rest of your life and playing the rest of your career for your heart. Billy doesn't have to!

 

[snootyfenooty]

I'd do a stint for United to start with then move on. Anyone who gives up on career progression has limited or no ambition.

 

[Liverpool blade]

Blades for me every time. No question!!. Just to walk out in the beloved red and white stripes onto the much loved DESSO and to play for sir Chris!!. It's the stuff dreams are made of!!. Utb

 

[bladesmanluke]

Blades every time. Can turn £1m into a lot more if invested wisely anyway

 

[Whiston Blade]

Sorry, I love the Blades but money pays the bills and big mortgage.

 

[TarquinDelouche]

I'd play for the Blades for nothing

*ding!*
Correct.

 

[TarquinDelouche]

I'd start off with the Blades youth team, make my way through the ranks and earn a regular first team spot on a half decent wage. Once my potential was recognisable, McCabe would sell me to Man Utd for 1m plus a friendly match where I earn big wages. After a solid 10 years at Old Trafford and age not on my side, the manager would not renew my contract. Rumours circulate about who would sign me once my deal was up, in the end, Sheffield United come calling with a two year deal on the basis the pay cut is substantial.

Retire from playing after two seasons and take up a coaching role at Shirecliffe. Sorry, I love the Blades but money pays the bills and big mortgage.

And you plan to do all that in two years?

 

[Whiston Blade]

And you plan to do all that in two years?

Nah, I just didn't read the whole post

now edited.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I'd do similiar to Harry Maguire.

I'd prefer to play for United but if after a few years it came to a stage where I'd outgrown the club and was going stale then I'd move for a bigger challenge whilst still based in the north.

However if United were also in the PL, showing ambition and trying to win something then I'd stay longer but most players grow stale at some point, so I'm sure I'd leave for a new challenge eventually but it would need to be a top deal.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Did anyone actually read the question properly?

 

[Westran]

I guess doing both is an option, you could do one year at United, get us promoted to the PL and experience the glory of that, then move to a top 4 club in the second season and earn a fat wedge whilst plying your trade in Europe, hopefully the second season would coincide with a world cup so you could play for England too.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

A hypothetic opportunity of playing for the Blades? Yes every time.
I suspect our S6 neighbours would also jump at their highpathetic opportunity.

 

[TarquinDelouche]

So many people talking about their willingness to betray the Blades for a shiny penny. Shame on you all.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

I'd rather work my way up as I think the peak of my career would be much higher as a result.

Use Rashford as an example. If he was playing every week for a Southampton or Everton (a la Lukaku) and scoring 20+ goals a season, then a £50m price tag and transfer is likely to get him picked for a top 4 team every week. As things stand, he's a youth prospect so easy for Mourinho to leave out.