i don’t think we will go up.

[Deleted member 875]

Ive thought this for quite a while, even a few weeks back where we was top of the league.

It isn’t a criticism of Chris Wilder, the board, the players or anyone else associated with the club, as I believe given the financial constraints that we operate under we are already vastly over performing and playing some excellent football that is entertaining to watch.

We are in a Division where there are several clubs that can afford to spend a lot more money that we can, have infinitely stronger squads that we do, you just need to look at some of the bench warmers at the top end of the championship for evidence of that, and I worry what will happen if we pick up a couple of long term injuries and get offered stupid money and take it for one of our established first teamers.

The last few years, especially the 6 long years in League One have sharpened my mind a bit about football, and made me a lot more pragmatic about the bigger picture, and since the return of Chris Wilder, it has made going to the Lane every week a pleasure again rather than a chore, but I also do think that the football we have played and some of the excellent results we have enjoyed have raised expectations higher than they should be, and it is too easy to get carried away.

I think being realistic what we need to do is stick firmly behind Chris Wilder, and I also think he knows what the crack is, wait for the mess in the boardroom to get sorted out, although they do deserve some credit for allowing Wilder some more to manouvere in the summer transfer market and hopefully that when it is sorted out in the boardroom that we still have Wilder and the nucleus of the squad we have now, and whoever gains full control sees the chance we have got and invests sensibly to give Wilder what he needs next season to get us over the line, because we are still in an incredibly good position and not a million miles away from where we want to be.

All that is needed from everyone is a bit of time and patience, and understanding that at the minute we are already punching well above our weight, and if we show that bit of patience then eventually we will get what we want.

 

[coolhandluke]

I think you're wrong Brownie . I think we'll go up .

 

[Beans]

I think we have a very good chance of making the playoffs but no idea whether we'd be able to get further than that - even if you discount our history with that particular stage of the season...

Still, the last 3 years have been a hell of a ride, right?

 

[Rusty view]

"Enjoy the journey not the destination" Rusty view 2018

 

[GrayBlade]

It’s common knowledge that McCabe doesn’t want us to go up. Brian the Blade said so.

 

[BigBed]

I don't care aslong as we give it a better go than last year.

 

[Deleted member 875]

I think we have a very good chance of making the playoffs but no idea whether we'd be able to get further than that - even if you discount our history with that particular stage of the season...

Still, the last 3 years have been a hell of a ride, right?

The last 3 years have been terrible, the queues for the beer at half time have been longer, we are going to places Villa Park instead of Spotland, and I’ve normally got very little to moan about after the match.........

 

[BladeInIreland]

I can’t see us hanging on , for the reasons you have stated.

HOWEVER if we do make the playoffs I could see us winning them. Last bit of hoodoo for wilder to overcome

 

[Bladezz]

Right now we are a top 6 team.

In the coming weeks and months we will pick up injuries / suspensions etc. Teams like Derby will cover this and go and buy 2/3 new players and spend £10m we won’t.

That will be the difference.

 

[coolhandluke]

Right now we are a top 6 team.

In the coming weeks and months we will pick up injuries / suspensions etc. Teams like Derby will cover this and go and buy 2/3 new players and spend £10m we won’t.

That will be the difference.

I think Wilders going to be very well backed financially in January .

 

[Deleted member 875]

I think Wilders going to be very well backed financially in January .

What makes you think that?

 

[coolhandluke]

What makes you think that?

An up coming court case between our ' joint owners ' .

 

[Deleted member 875]

An up coming court case between our ' joint owners ' .

I honestly don’t see how that could mean there will be more money for Wilder or spend

 

[coolhandluke]

I honestly don’t see how that could mean there will be more money for Wilder or spend

Which one wants to convince a Judge that they couldn't give a shit about how the Club performs.

 

[Bayingblade]

The last 3 years have been terrible, the queues for the beer at half time have been longer, we are going to places Villa Park instead of Spotland, and I’ve normally got very little to moan about after the match.........

Or during...

 

[Baaaaaaa Blades]

i think we are a top 8 team at the very least and are sitting in the top 4 at the mo and been on quite a poor run

If and a big If , we can click a run of wins together a la Norwich who knows
personally don't rate Norwich that highly but if they win say 3 or more on the bounce they will certainly take some shifting from the top 6

we have a good squad and a few players who are top 2 quality on their day , great management team and play great football

whatever happens i think it will be better than last year and that was a good season

 

[Deleted member 875]

Which one wants to convince a Judge that they couldn't give a shit about how the Club performs.

But surely one can’t invest heavily in the club without either the agreement of the other, or the same level of backing being matched.

 

[Stretch]

I agree, close (much closer than last season) but no cigar for us. I am fine with that as long as the football is good and we have exciting games with some big big wins along the way.

My worry though is whether Chris will stay on for another crack next season, as there is no certainty that things at the top of the club will be sorted. At some point one of the bigger spenders will give him an offer that is hard to refuse, it's almost inevitable.

 

[itsinyerblood]

"I think...", meaning I base my opinion on various factors and intuition. It's no more, or little, than that. Often, how we arrive at a view depends on mood, attempting to rationalise a set of facts, rumours, and what I can only describe as possibilities. That seems to be the sum total of what we have at our disposal when trying to form what may be regarded as "a definite view of the near future".

I wonder how many of us, Blades from head to toe, actually know what's going on within our club? Yes, we pay attention, we sometimes consider that a half-baked rumour is the very stuff of fact, and whatever else seems to fit our own personal set of attributes we depend on for arriving at a view that's a "rock solid certainty".

As I write I really have no view on whether we'll get promoted or not. We're 3rd in the Championship, we've probably lost a couple of games that we might have at least got a point per game from, but no point complaining where this is concerned. The one undisputed thing I think most of us would agree on is that Wilder has achieved wonders on comparatively small amounts of money, and it's this, filthy lucre, that's going to be at the centre of what happens in future. Firstly, the two owners need to resolve their complicated relationship. Secondly, wouldn't it be nice if a new owner appeared out of nowhere, one who actually cared about the club and was flush with transfer funds. Wishful thinking? Definitely. Trouble is, I'm a little weary of the bollocks and bullshit that surrounds the running of United. I'm not anti-McCabe (his infamous decision making (appointing Robson!!?!??!!!) to one side), as for the Prince, well we hardly see the geezer so forming a view is generally based in his invisibility rather than his attendance. It's not as if we receive regular missives form His Royal Highness, so it boils down to this guy from abroad who owns half our club, and is currently wanting to oust old Kev and then.....well what exactly? What are the intentions of the Prince? Sell, stay, invest? So far the story is a grey area where the Prince is concerned, and the way in which he's conducted himself where we're concerned is at best debatable.

Which brings me back to this thread. One thing I feel is an absolute, somehow we must retain the services of Messrs Wilder and Knill. That apart, I hope (my fantasy moment) we embrace a knight in shining armour, an owner able to give us a fighting chance in an increasingly volatile market place.

 

[TJB.]

"Enjoy the journey not the destination" Rusty view 2018

Unless you're flying with Ryanair.

 

[mattbianco1]

I think if you asked 95% of Blades if they deep down expect us to go up, they'd say no. Many are optimistic and rightly so. Many are realistic and know we are lacking a few key signings. If we got those signings in January then we could be in for a great season.

If we don't get the signings, i fear the season will pan out like it did last. We'll flirt with the play offs but nothing more.

BUT - if somehow we did end up getting a couple of big signings in,we are more than capable of a top 4 finish. Let's say (and I know it won't happen but) we signed Andy Carroll, Luke Freeman and 1 of Defoe or Long. Who'd bet against that?

We keep referencing Fulham and Mitrovic. You could see they were in a false position with the 4-5 game. They just required a prolific scorer. We're heavily linked with Defoe and Long, i think we need a tall strong strikerinstead. One who can win flick ons to Billy or Washington and also attack the ball in the air from whipped in crosses, the latter part is a big part we lack in currently.

 

[Champagneblade]

Notwithstanding how we manage Duffy and support his role during absences of fitness or form, we’re a Mitrovic short of a top two team in my opinion.

 

[coolhandluke]

But surely one can’t invest heavily in the club without either the agreement of the other, or the same level of backing being matched.

I agree . And if you look at what happened in the summer it kind of gives the game away . Wilders demands a statement of intent . McCabe says i will back CW with a loan of the money if the Prince agrees . The prince effectively says fuck the loan lets make it an investment that doesn't need paying back . The end result is Wilder gets his cash .

It's not providing funds that's the issue here it's more a game of brinkmanship and which individual appears to have the best interest of the club at heart .

 

[Harrisblade]

Unless you're flying with Ryanair.

Or Crab Airlines

 

[JohnDenver]

Or Crab Airlines

If imagine the destination is something you rarely get to sample when flying Crab.

Still, complimentary parachutes if you upgrade. Mustn’t grumble.

 

[Harry's Game]

I would say financially the odds are against us going up but at the moment we are in with a chance

And at the start of the season I tipped us to finish a couple of places below where we did last season so can’t have many complaints.

 

[Deleted member 875]

I agree . And if you look at what happened in the summer it kind of gives the game away . Wilders demands a statement of intent . McCabe says i will back CW with a loan of the money if the Prince agrees . The prince effectively says fuck the loan lets make it an investment that doesn't need paying back . The end result is Wilder gets his cash .

It's not providing funds that's the issue here it's more a game of brinkmanship and which individual appears to have the best interest of the club at heart .

That makes perfect sense, towards the end of last season I thought Wilder was playing a high stakes game with some of the things he said and i think those words held some gravity with the power that be.

 

[dingledog]

Long shot, but maybe we might get an indication of support for the manager at Mr McCabes AGM a week on Saturday. For me the level of support to the manager will ultimately decide our promotion fate this season.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Notwithstanding how we manage Duffy and support his role during absences of fitness or form, we’re a Mitrovic short of a top two team in my opinion.

Yep, really is that simple. As things are we are nailed on for top 6, the rest is up to Mr Micawber and HRH. I reckon the doubters are secretly terrified of going up rather than just thinking we won't go up, the poor dears wouldn't be able to cope with the excitement.

 

[Deleted member 875]

Yep, really is that simple. As things are we are nailed on for top 6, the rest is up to Mr Micawber and HRH. I reckon the doubters are secretly terrified of going up rather than just thinking we won't go up, the poor dears wouldn't be able to cope with the excitement.

Absolute nonsense