I'm not angry ....

[Pandev]

I'm just disappointed in it all.

We've gone from the heady highs of a monumental rise to the PL, with some of the fastest attacking football that demanded absolute fitness in CW1.0 to this farce.

Players that really aren't up to it, where 'fitness' appears optional, being called out for your effort depends on who you are, and where our manager talks in cliches, losing too many 'games of football' to those managers around us and who is being properly, regularly schooled by them.

I still don't really understand why no money people would come in to buy a club from THE home of football with recent PL pedigree, and it makes me wonder why that actually is. What are the deeper reasons that serious players stay away from us?

The season started with drama, noise, hate, a sacking. CW3.0 has just about managed to keep us up. That's nothing to shout about at all, any competent manager in this league and probably many lower should have done.

He talked about a big finish at Derby in his post match presser. Yeah, ok Chris, whatever you say now.

A summer of crossing our fingers behind our backs, hoping that he finds some fit, young, talented footballers rather than the characters and experience that have too often let us down, or the vague hope that his 2016 fortunes come back in a Space Jam esq (ask your parents if necessary ) style really isn't filling me with much enthusiasm or hope.

I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed in them all.

I can't be bothered to invest energy in being overly engaged in something that really matters, but where character politics and panicked decision making leads the way, and why should I?

Cheers Chris, Knilly, the backroom team, players who haven't taken responsibility and COH.

Talk is cheap. Actions matter and some huge decisions need making now.

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" A quote generally attributed to Albert Einstein, but it doesn't take an intellect like old Albert to see that something has to change now.

Spot on

 

[Wards]

Well he's called them out for not being good enough but they were good enough during the middle portion of the season to look like a pretty good team at times. So what's gone wrong since then? Looks to me like CW and his staff can't motivate them to keep those levels of performance.

Not sure I've actually met anyone in person who thinks keeping him next season is the right move? It all feels a bit desperate to me. Clinging into some hope he'll re-discover his mojo and fire us towards promotion. In many ways it epitomises many of the players he's brought it. I'm not confident next season will be anything more than a flirtation with the play-offs before petering out again to mid-table obscurity.

 

[PrestwichBlade]

Some of that entitlement comment is true for some people.
However, lots more aren't like that. They just want to see more than we did 1st half yesterday and midweek.
Even in the same match we show how much better we can be.
I don't crave for a PL push this season, but the dire performance , and boring back pass football, in those games, and before that gets us nowhere here except in trouble, is what annoys most people.

Exactly, I don't see many kicking off because we've not reached the play offs, I really don't think many expected that. What I do see is people tired of the same old same as, lurching from one season to the next, with little signs of fundamental progression. Yeah, we got it badly wrong with Sellés, but frankly I'm just really bored of Wilder now, of his approach and his demeanor.

 

[Kenilworth]

When does ‘it could be worse’ stop being an argument? Two seasons, same patterns, poor performances when it counts and almost exclusively looking lost against better teams.

Expecting improvement over the course of a season isn’t 'entitlement' - it’s what managers are judged on.

That’s taking no account of the circumstances behind everything and expecting improvement despite any challenges.
It’s all a convenient amnesia for “the grass is absolutely greener on the other side by flicking a few switches, which appear blindingly obvious,” yet have no substantive support.

This season COH. You appear to make no allowance for that debacle, whatsoever.

Last season having to replace 19-20 players, working under an embargo as well as a 2 point deduction, yet still accumulating 92 points, a figure that would have gained automatic promotion this season (90 would have been 4 points above Ipswich’s max possible). And all that competing with two teams that managed 100 points.

It’s all side swept. It’s shoved under the carpet for convenience, strapped to an unrealistic expectation, dressed up as logical musings, which are all based on “what if” “speculation” “fantasy of the new” “change for changes sake” “the premise that it has to better than this,” “it can’t possibly be worse.” Well, we all experienced first hand evidence that it can be much worse. The issues are far more intricate than just changing the person in the hot seat. It’s so easy to say, make the change” it’s not so easy to get that change right.

When Wilder came back we were on the floor, we were adrift, yet there was an improvement. A huge one. It’s just not realistic to expect getting autos from that position or to overtake all those clubs who had a better start to get into the play offs. Even Norwich, with their improvement, haven’t done it and they started much better than we did (still poor start).

So, what is a realistic expectation?
You cited improvement - that’s exactly what you got.
If the goal and the expectation was promotion, given all the circumstances, then I call it entitlement.

 

[wizadry]

Southampton and Norwich have shown what’s capable with some nouse, they were absolutely shite and below us at some point in the season. The club needs sorting from top to bottom. Wilder has his problems and flaws but the players have been full weight cunts, they made Selles look like someone that’s not been involved in football before and they’re now doing the same to Wilder after a very good middle of the season. What a clusterfuck to sort out!

 

[jt64]

Exactly, I don't see many kicking off because we've not reached the play offs, I really don't think many expected that. What I do see is people tired of the same old same as, lurching from one season to the next, with little signs of fundamental progression. Yeah, we got it badly wrong with Sellés, but frankly I'm just really bored of Wilder now, of his approach and his demeanor.

Indeed. All I want to see is some sign of progression on and off the pitch, and all I see is the same level of shit we had last season (except without absurdly running over expectations like we did last year), no sign of any younger, hungrier players coming through (mainly because anyone with half a chance has been loaned out to make room for injured past it overpaid "knows the division" type players to clog the squad), and little signs of anything off the pitch to make me think we are improving structures to help things. It has basically been a wasted season, and wasted seasons in the Championship are fucking expensive

 

[Kenilworth]

Well he's called them out for not being good enough but they were good enough during the middle portion of the season to look like a pretty good team at times. So what's gone wrong since then? Looks to me like CW and his staff can't motivate them to keep those levels of performance.

Not sure I've actually met anyone in person who thinks keeping him next season is the right move? It all feels a bit desperate to me. Clinging into some hope he'll re-discover his mojo and fire us towards promotion. In many ways it epitomises many of the players he's brought it. I'm not confident next season will be anything more than a flirtation with the play-offs before petering out again to mid-table obscurity.

Of course he has. They weren’t good enough then but he had to get some results. Now we are at the end of the season he can be more blunt.
It needs a reset. It needs a clearance to undo the damage Bord and COH created.
My view is that Wilder is the best person to manage that.

Oh, and all the comments about being bored. That’s entitlement, too.
Yes, it’s shit but why is it shit?
It’s a whole heap of circumstances that makes it shit but blaming Wilder for everything is a puerile and lazy, response.

Boo hoo.

 

[Kenilworth]

Southampton and Norwich have shown what’s capable with some nouse, they were absolutely shite and below us at some point in the season. The club needs sorting from top to bottom. Wilder has his problems and flaws but the players have been full weight cunts, they made Selles look like someone that’s not been involved in football before and they’re now doing the same to Wilder after a very good middle of the season. What a clusterfuck to sort out!

Southampton started with one of the best squads. They should be in the lay off positions.

Norwich had a dreadful start (not as bad as ours) and whilst they have improved, they are not going to make the play offs.

 

[luffenhamblade]

That’s taking no account of the circumstances behind everything and expecting improvement despite any challenges.
It’s all a convenient amnesia for “the grass is absolutely greener on the other side by flicking a few switches, which appear blindingly obvious,” yet have no substantive support.

This season COH. You appear to make no allowance for that debacle, whatsoever.

Last season having to replace 19-20 players, working under an embargo as well as a 2 point deduction, yet still accumulating 92 points, a figure that would have gained automatic promotion this season (90 would have been 4 points above Ipswich’s max possible). And all that competing with two teams that managed 100 points.

It’s all side swept. It’s shoved under the carpet for convenience, strapped to an unrealistic expectation, dressed up as logical musings, which are all based on “what if” “speculation” “fantasy of the new” “change for changes sake” “the premise that it has to better than this,” “it can’t possibly be worse.” Well, we all experienced first hand evidence that it can be much worse. The issues are far more intricate than just changing the person in the hot seat. It’s so easy to say, make the change” it’s not so easy to get that change right.

When Wilder came back we were on the floor, we were adrift, yet there was an improvement. A huge one. It’s just not realistic to expect getting autos from that position or to overtake all those clubs who had a better start to get into the play offs. Even Norwich, with their improvement, haven’t done it and they started much better than we did (still poor start).

So, what is a realistic expectation?
You cited improvement - that’s exactly what you got.
If the goal and the expectation was promotion, given all the circumstances, then I call it entitlement.

I get all that but the game changer for me (who wanted him back) is the way our performances and results seem to have gone off the cliff after that initial improvement. There just doesn’t seem any evidence that Wilder is making a positive impact any more. I really emphasise with you but there comes a point where we have to move on and I just don’t think there would be the outcry if he were to go now that there was last season and that change in momentum of support for his methods is critical in my view (you must have heard the booing at recent matches).

 

[PrestwichBlade]

Of course he has. They weren’t good enough then but he had to get some results. Now we are at the end of the season he can be more blunt.
It needs a reset. It needs a clearance to undo the damage Bord and COH created.
My view is that Wilder is the best person to manage that.

Oh, and all the comments about being bored. That’s entitlement, too.
Yes, it’s shit but why is it shit?
It’s a whole heap of circumstances that makes it shit but blaming Wilder for everything is a puerile and lazy, response.

Boo hoo.

Puerile and lazy. Then finishes with "boo hoo"...good stuff!

 

[wizadry]

Southampton started with one of the best squads. They should be in the lay off positions.

Norwich had a dreadful start (not as bad as ours) and whilst they have improved, they are not going to make the play offs.

Spurs have a very good squad of players, it means fuck all if the manager and players aren’t compatible.

 

[SuperSonicBlade89]

I am sure most of you are aware of the cycle by now, so it's not really suprising:

Spend some years being crap or average.
Then have a couple of seasons in and around the play-offs (just to lose).
Then we get really fed up of doing that so we go for a BIG PUSH... and finish 2nd. Up-down, recycle. We've been doing that pretty consistently for a few decades now.

 

[luffenhamblade]

Spurs have a very good squad of players, it means fuck all if the manager and players aren’t compatible.

Agreed, though with the odd exception our squad is just awful! Not sure Pep could get a tune out of this lot!

 

[luffenhamblade]

I am sure most of you are aware of the cycle by now, so it's not really suprising:

Spend some years being crap or average.
Then have a couple of seasons in and around the play-offs (just to lose).
Then we get really fed up of doing that so we go for a BIG PUSH... and finish 2nd. Up-down, recycle. We've been doing that pretty consistently for a few decades now.

I get this, but there is the argument that madness is doing the same thing over and over again whilst expecting different results.

 

[PrestwichBlade]

I am sure most of you are aware of the cycle by now, so it's not really suprising:

Spend some years being crap or average.
Then have a couple of seasons in and around the play-offs (just to lose).
Then we get really fed up of doing that so we go for a BIG PUSH... and finish 2nd. Up-down, recycle. We've been doing that pretty consistently for a few decades now.

Oh indeed, but I feel that most advocating for change are thinking of ways of breaking that cycle . Apparently that's entitlement though

 

[Carlton Blade]

That’s taking no account of the circumstances behind everything and expecting improvement despite any challenges.
It’s all a convenient amnesia for “the grass is absolutely greener on the other side by flicking a few switches, which appear blindingly obvious,” yet have no substantive support.

This season COH. You appear to make no allowance for that debacle, whatsoever.

Last season having to replace 19-20 players, working under an embargo as well as a 2 point deduction, yet still accumulating 92 points, a figure that would have gained automatic promotion this season (90 would have been 4 points above Ipswich’s max possible). And all that competing with two teams that managed 100 points.

It’s all side swept. It’s shoved under the carpet for convenience, strapped to an unrealistic expectation, dressed up as logical musings, which are all based on “what if” “speculation” “fantasy of the new” “change for changes sake” “the premise that it has to better than this,” “it can’t possibly be worse.” Well, we all experienced first hand evidence that it can be much worse. The issues are far more intricate than just changing the person in the hot seat. It’s so easy to say, make the change” it’s not so easy to get that change right.

When Wilder came back we were on the floor, we were adrift, yet there was an improvement. A huge one. It’s just not realistic to expect getting autos from that position or to overtake all those clubs who had a better start to get into the play offs. Even Norwich, with their improvement, haven’t done it and they started much better than we did (still poor start).

So, what is a realistic expectation?
You cited improvement - that’s exactly what you got.
If the goal and the expectation was promotion, given all the circumstances, then I call it entitlement.

You’re arguing against a position I haven’t taken. I’m not working in absolutes, and I’m not “blaming Wilder for everything”.

My point is much narrower: do two consecutive seasons of performances declining as the season goes on, and consistently struggling against better sides, not matter at all? Because that’s the pattern I’m talking about. He's responsible for performances and they've deteriorated badly, twice.

I’ve said repeatedly that Wilder isn’t the biggest problem at the club. Ownership, structure, and decision-making above him matter far more. But you’re now effectively treating any questioning of the manager as entitlement or amnesia, rather than engaging with the on-pitch trend itself.

If your argument were: “I don’t trust COH to appoint anyone better, and Wilder at least guarantees a baseline of competence in chaotic conditions” — I’d understand that. That’s a defensible position. But that isn’t what you’re saying. You’re asserting he’s the best option, and that any improvement over the worst manager we've ever had — in isolation, regardless of when it stalls or against whom — is sufficient.

Circumstances explain why things are hard. They don’t automatically mean patterns of performancesfalling away badly become irrelevant. At some point, results and performances in decisive moments are what managers are judged on. Questioning that isn’t entitlement — it’s the entire basis of evaluation.

 

[Kenilworth]

You’re arguing against a position I haven’t taken. I’m not working in absolutes, and I’m not “blaming Wilder for everything”.

My point is much narrower: do two consecutive seasons of performances declining as the season goes on, and consistently struggling against better sides, not matter at all? Because that’s the pattern I’m talking about. He's responsible for performances and they've deteriorated badly, twice.

I’ve said repeatedly that Wilder isn’t the biggest problem at the club. Ownership, structure, and decision-making above him matter far more. But you’re now effectively treating any questioning of the manager as entitlement or amnesia, rather than engaging with the on-pitch trend itself.

If your argument were: “I don’t trust COH to appoint anyone better, and Wilder at least guarantees a baseline of competence in chaotic conditions” — I’d understand that. That’s a defensible position. But that isn’t what you’re saying. You’re asserting he’s the best option, and that any improvement over the worst manager we've ever had — in isolation, regardless of when it stalls or against whom — is sufficient.

Circumstances explain why things are hard. They don’t automatically mean patterns of performancesfalling away badly become irrelevant. At some point, results and performances in decisive moments are what managers are judged on. Questioning that isn’t entitlement — it’s the entire basis of evaluation.

I’d prefer to carry this on over a pint than thumb typing on here. I’d enjoy the debate since there are really decent points to discuss.

 

[Aston max]

I'm just disappointed in it all.

We've gone from the heady highs of a monumental rise to the PL, with some of the fastest attacking football that demanded absolute fitness in CW1.0 to this farce.

Players that really aren't up to it, where 'fitness' appears optional, being called out for your effort depends on who you are, and where our manager talks in cliches, losing too many 'games of football' to those managers around us and who is being properly, regularly schooled by them.

I still don't really understand why no money people would come in to buy a club from THE home of football with recent PL pedigree, and it makes me wonder why that actually is. What are the deeper reasons that serious players stay away from us?

The season started with drama, noise, hate, a sacking. CW3.0 has just about managed to keep us up. That's nothing to shout about at all, any competent manager in this league and probably many lower should have done.

He talked about a big finish at Derby in his post match presser. Yeah, ok Chris, whatever you say now.

A summer of crossing our fingers behind our backs, hoping that he finds some fit, young, talented footballers rather than the characters and experience that have too often let us down, or the vague hope that his 2016 fortunes come back in a Space Jam esq (ask your parents if necessary ) style really isn't filling me with much enthusiasm or hope.

I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed in them all.

I can't be bothered to invest energy in being overly engaged in something that really matters, but where character politics and panicked decision making leads the way, and why should I?

Cheers Chris, Knilly, the backroom team, players who haven't taken responsibility and COH.

Talk is cheap. Actions matter and some huge decisions need making now.

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" A quote generally attributed to Albert Einstein, but it doesn't take an intellect like old Albert to see that something has to change now.

 

[SuperSonicBlade89]

Oh indeed, but I feel that most advocating for change are thinking of ways of breaking that cycle . Apparently that's entitlement though

We as fans have been wanting to break this cycle for at least 20 years.


The club however, ummm... I think they are and have been pretty content. Which is the number one problem in my opinion.

 

[Carlton Blade]

I’d prefer to carry this on over a pint than thumb typing on here. I’d enjoy the debate since there are really decent points to discuss.

That's the point of it really. None of us are 'right'. It's all subjective

 

[John Street West Terrace]

I’ve very genuine concerns about us for next season , we all know it needs a massive clear out & rebuild . All good on paper but the reality we’re gonna be stuck with dross that are long contracts & I can’t in a million years see anyone coming in to take them off our hands.
Add to that the loss of parachute money and any initial sales are just gonna be about balancing the books not bringing in reinforcements .
It’s now we’ll see how far the owners ambitions extend to & I think I know the answer to that already .
Can only see any incomings as loans , out of contract & free agents in addition to who we’ve got

 

[Back post bob]

I have always liked Chris and I think a lot of our fans have over the years.But how do you defend the recent performances.Its now time for a complete change and a rebuild over a couple of seasons I don't see any instant challenge in the league over the coming seasons.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Thing is, apart from being angry, is anyone surprised?

Said it before, there has been huge turmoil since COH rolled into town and took over from HRH. They've clearly upset a lot of the connective tissue within the club. Firstly sacking Wilder, secondly recruiting Selles and thirdly putting their trust in AI to bring a laughably rubbish array of players to the club who seriously can't play football at all.

And then bringing Wilder back for a third time.

Wilder, here or not in August, has made some sort of pledge of a bonfire of players after the last game. Frankly, if any of them went, it wouldn't break my heart too much. Usually you are dreading the offers coming in but after Blackburn and today, all of them have the option for me. They have proven that after the slim hope of the playoffs disappeared (which we'd mess up anyway) they have just given up. The crowd and the good name of Sheffield United don't matter any more. What we feel as lifelong supporters is inconsequential. Their mercenary behaviour is so evident. And that is criminal.

No idea if Wilder resigns, is sacked or stays after Derby. Whatever happens, our fate is in the hands of these odd owners who don't seem to get what we are about as a club. But then again, did Columbotti, Green, Woolhouse or Brearley, to name but a few 'fit and propers'?

Harsh on Brearley that ..he absolutely got the club & funded us out of our lowest ebb ..unfortunately his business ‘issues’ meant his funding of the club came to an end

 

[john Mathison]

As a team, we have consistently, " run out of steam", all season. The basic fitness level's of the players has been poor all season. CW says a pre -season fitness based regime is essential to hit the ground running for next season. It appears that some players have found that difficult, or were not committed enough.
COH, where do I start!!!!!!! Sacking a manager who guided a side to 92 points, whether you like him or not, was either arrogance, stupidity or ignorance.
The utter shambles of AI deciding which players to sign, followed by the panic buying of players late in the window, and being polite of dubious quality, because we were desperate for bodies, was a business disaster.
The problem we have now, we have players on long contracts, who are quite clearly not championship standard, as such will be difficult to move on.
We will need an incredible amount of wheeling an dealing this summer, and I dare say , several more transfer windows to recover from this quagmire.
Lastly, look at the teams coming down from the prem, the quality they will keep, sadly this does not bode well for us.

 

[Snowflake]

Surely the important question now is which manager, who is available to come, would have a track record at creating a good Championship side better than CW.
If there is one then the owners should go for him, but I suspect that the available “field” is fairly small.
Just getting rid of any underperforming employee without replacing with better is the recipe for the business going further downhill.

 

[VictoryBlade]

Thing is, apart from being angry, is anyone surprised?

Said it before, there has been huge turmoil since COH rolled into town and took over from HRH. They've clearly upset a lot of the connective tissue within the club. Firstly sacking Wilder, secondly recruiting Selles and thirdly putting their trust in AI to bring a laughably rubbish array of players to the club who seriously can't play football at all.

And then bringing Wilder back for a third time.

Wilder, here or not in August, has made some sort of pledge of a bonfire of players after the last game. Frankly, if any of them went, it wouldn't break my heart too much. Usually you are dreading the offers coming in but after Blackburn and today, all of them have the option for me. They have proven that after the slim hope of the playoffs disappeared (which we'd mess up anyway) they have just given up. The crowd and the good name of Sheffield United don't matter any more. What we feel as lifelong supporters is inconsequential. Their mercenary behaviour is so evident. And that is criminal.

No idea if Wilder resigns, is sacked or stays after Derby. Whatever happens, our fate is in the hands of these odd owners who don't seem to get what we are about as a club. But then again, did Columbotti, Green, Woolhouse or Brearley, to name but a few 'fit and propers'?

Reg Brearley kept us afloat when things were bad. He did appoint Porterfield which for a few seasons gave us some hope.

 

[BazWainwright]

Harsh on Brearley that ..he absolutely got the club & funded us out of our lowest ebb ..unfortunately his business ‘issues’ meant his funding of the club came to an end

It's still a long, illustrious list of failures at boardroom level. Maybe Reg was the best of a bad lot, but we still await the saviour of this club and one who has the potatoes to invest and make it what it should be. With the other lot facing extinction, this is an excellent chance to capture the footballing heart of a big city at the actual origin of the game and make us legendary. Each time we end up with nearly-men and dreamers.

 

[Davalon]

What bothers me most is the amount of basic errors that we're making in every match, and most of these are coming from players who can't be dropped because we don't have anyone else in their position.

McGuinness and Tanganga have really dropped off these last few games (especially after Watford and Hull) but they can't be dropped because there's no CB's left now that Bindon is injured.

Rothwell and Burrows both had bad games on Wednesday, but both got dropped because we had other players in their position, but we can't do that with Tanganga and McGuinness, unless we went for an Academy player.

Said it on Wednesday and I'll say it again, cutting out crosses and winning headers are just the basics of defending and I'd expect any CB to be able to do both regardless of the system/tactics.

Personally I'm sick to the back teeth of players incapable of doing the absolute basics like passing the ball in front of someone to run on to instead of straight at them or behind.

Similarly despite training and playing together every week, lazily passing to team mates wrong foot when having time.

 

[jt64]

Surely the important question now is which manager, who is available to come, would have a track record at creating a good Championship side better than CW.

If you're tasking the new manager with just making the first XI perform better than Wilder, then there is going to be a long list of it. If you're looking for someone to "create a good Championship side" as in bring in new players, then you're not going to find many with a track record of doing it because for pretty much any competent Championship side that is NOT the manager's job...