Is it time to panic.....?

[Robbie]

Interesting comment at last nights game.....

"After 6 games I bet we had a similar amount of points as last season at same point"

I sat there and pondered, and thought they must be right.....

A quick glance to the results from this season and last show.......

Last season
(H) Sheffield United 2-2 Colchester United
(A) Watford 1-0 Sheffield United
(H) Sheffield United 1-0 WBA
(A) Scunthorpe United 3-2 Sheffield United
(H) Sheffield United 3-1 Wolves
(A) Blackpool 2-2 Sheffield United

Total points 8 - goals scored 10 - goals conceded 9 - goal difference +1

This season
(A) Birmingham City 1-0 Sheffield United
(H) Sheffield united 3-0 QPR
(A) Blackpool 1-3 Sheffield United
(H) Sheffield United 0-0 Cardiff City
(A) Derby County 2-1 Sheffield United
(H) Sheffield United 1-1 Coventry City

Total points 8 - goals scored 8 - goals conceded 5 - goal difference +3

Have we played harder teams to start with? In my opinion no.

When do we start to panic? Some people say to wait 10 games before a judgement is made on how your season will look.

My opinion is, you can do crap for half a season and still get ni to the play offs with ease with a good second half (or even later as last year could have proved)

Is Kevin blackwell the Messiah many people had him down as? Were we just fooled by KB actually getting some results that we actually expected in the begining of last season?

Something needs tio change, and it is the defensive line ups we keep sending out. I'm not saying sack Blackwell (however I don't believe he is the right man for where McCabe claims he wants to be) far from it, and some of his decisions I applaud, like selling Tonge and Hulse. But some of his other decisions are pure madness.

Lets face facts, we are a hoofball team again, and its now like watching a poor version of one of Warnocks teams.

Perhaps this is all a little hasty so far in the season, and we will go on to walk the title.

But the facts don't lie. Robson's tenure at the begining is almost identical to KB's, barring a few goals. And people were calling for his head at this time last season.....

I fear another loss at Norwich, we never do well down there.

I feel now isn't the time to panic, I feel KB should be looking to make changes, these include Hendrie being involved, Cotterill being in the team, and giving Naughton a chance at RB now Sun is suspended. I think Webber should be giving a starting appearance with Beattie too.

 

[Sensiblade]

I did that a couple of days ago

http://www.sheff-utd.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=10998

 

[Robbie]

I did that a couple of days ago

http://www.sheff-utd.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=10998

Apoligies mate

 

[Sensiblade]

Apoligies mate

Tis ok, was just a thought i'd had that day.
Your's is same but different

No one ever read's my posts anywhy :cry2: :cry2:

 

[Kev Gee]

I think some of the things Blackwell says are very strange. Like he said we would use wingers & get lots of balls into the box. Are we playing this way? In my opinion no. He contradicts himself to much for my liking. Is he the man to take us forward??? I'll make my judgement at Christmas. I think the tactics & team selection will have to change though!

 

[matth]

The trouble is, if we sack Blackwell - which I don't think we should, personally - we'd be going down a dangerous route. There must be another way to get the best out of the club, that doesn't involve a managerial merry-go-round (we've all seen what that can do) or throwing vast amounts of money at the problem (we've all seen what that can do, too).

We're in a predicament at the moment due to a number of factors, some of which are Blackwell's fault, and some of which are not. I hope that we can address the problems and move forward, but I am concerned that if we don't get it right this season, another long spell in the wilderness awaits.

 

[Linz]

I hope that we can address the problems and move forward, but I am concerned that if we don't get it right this season, another long spell in the wilderness awaits.

An interesting question was raised in the pub last night though... would we really really want to go up?

The best we could hope to become in the short term is a Wigan and their fans have hardly had the best of times or seen the best of football over the past few seasons, despite being in the Premiership.

We're definitely not able to compete with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool, as nice as they could be. So we'd still be seeing quite a few losses.

As football fans we are supposed to want our teams to get into the highest leagues but should we be desperate to get in amongst the cheats and even shitter referees?

The money would be nice and we'd become a more attractive prospect for players... but is that all?

I don't think just getting to the Premiership will solve a lot of the issues some people have with the club with regards to ambition. If and when we get up... we'll have to spend more money to stay there. Once we've stayed there, we'll need to spend more money to be able to compete. Once we're competing, the players will want more money in wages blah blah blah.

Not saying I wouldn't like another season back up there.. but not sure I could stomach it every week with the current set up.

Where's the wealthy Arabs when you need them?

 

[beightonblade]

An interesting question was raised in the pub last night though... would we really really want to go up?

I'm sure McCabe asked himsen the same question.

He's made his choice !

 

[metalblade]

Where's the wealthy Arabs when you need them?

Busy buying the barcodes.

 

[jodman]

An interesting question was raised in the pub last night though... would we really really want to go up?

The best we could hope to become in the short term is a Wigan and their fans have hardly had the best of times or seen the best of football over the past few seasons, despite being in the Premiership.

We're definitely not able to compete with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool, as nice as they could be. So we'd still be seeing quite a few losses.

As football fans we are supposed to want our teams to get into the highest leagues but should we be desperate to get in amongst the cheats and even shitter referees?

The money would be nice and we'd become a more attractive prospect for players... but is that all?

I don't think just getting to the Premiership will solve a lot of the issues some people have with the club with regards to ambition. If and when we get up... we'll have to spend more money to stay there. Once we've stayed there, we'll need to spend more money to be able to compete. Once we're competing, the players will want more money in wages blah blah blah.

Not saying I wouldn't like another season back up there.. but not sure I could stomach it every week with the current set up.

Where's the wealthy Arabs when you need them?

I have heard people making this exact point but i just cannot get my head around it; the premiership is the best league in the world and i have spent almost my entire life wishing that the blades would either get there or stay there.

Wigan have some of the most fantastically talented players (Palacios, Valencia, Zaki) to come along in recent years and to see this kind of player week in week out must be an absolute joy.

I have had my fill of hard working, long ball teams; from Bassett to Warnock and now Blackwell too it would seem. I want to see the red and white wizards knocking the ball about in the premiership, on the world stage against the best players in europe.

If we don't achieve that any time soon then so be it, but seeing Sheffield United in the premiership has and will always be my one hope for the club.

 

[Linz]

I have heard people making this exact point but i just cannot get my head around it; the premiership is the best league in the world and i have spent almost my entire life wishing that the blades would either get there or stay there.

Before our season in the Premiership, I would have agreed wholeheartedly... perhaps it is the controversy about how it came to an end that leaves a bitter taste. I just did not enjoy the experience as much as I thought I should have.

For the Blades to become a Premiership team... so much would have to be removed and no doubt my season ticket seat would be one of those things - to make way for more corporates. The atmosphere around the club would change if we were no longer to be the underdogs... no more "nobody likes us and we don't care" kind of attitude.

Fighting for promotion from the Championship or battling relegation from the Premiership? Which is better?

 

[jodman]

Fighting for promotion from the Championship or battling relegation from the Premiership? Which is better?

At the moment we are doing neither!

I also think that our days as underdogs have passed following our overtaking of Sheffield Wednesday as the more successful club over the past decade or so.

They often say that the journey is often better than the destination but we have been travelling for so long now that i'm more then ready to be let down upon our arrival.

Last season ended bitterly, but at the end of the day we didn't win enough games an got relegated by a very narrow margin. I personally think that our failure to spend in January when we were in a good position to stay up is what cost us.

Seeing the Chelsea players surrounding the ref at the lane and Gerrard getting a penalty based on 'intent' to foul were disappointments.

Hulse putting us in front against Liverpool, stuffing the Hammers and Nade slotting past Lehman are what i remember from that season and i want more...much more!

 

[Linz]

I also think that our days as underdogs have passed following our overtaking of Sheffield Wednesday as the more successful club over the past decade or so.

Ge'or... we'll never over take them because they're massive and everyone in the world is a fan and their stadium is reight good and that. And you just wait until this takeover happens, then we'll see...



If we could guarantee a fair to middling season in the Premiership... sign me up, I'm there. If not, at least a bad season in the Championship now seems to mean mid-table for the Blades and not relegation.

I think everyone knows it'd take some serious cash, not so much for us to get there but definitely to stay there. Would it happen?

 

[jodman]

I think everyone knows it'd take some serious cash, not so much for us to get there but definitely to stay there. Would it happen?

This will always be the problem, our past shows that we never really go for it in the transfer market and i would imagine that would be the same if we went up. Our board would probably invest if we were to secure a second successive season in the top flight but we wouldn't secure that second season without the investment.

 

[metalblade]

If you don't aspire to be the best in what you do then what is the point of doing it ???? Sure the Premiership has it's faults but if we want better players and better football that's where we will have to be. I went to the Arsenal game last season and it was a joy to watch the way they passed the ball around and that was only their kids, yes we lost 0-3 but worth every penny to see. I'd be more than happy if we got anywhere near that level as it is we are light years behind.

 

[matth]

We'll have just as many disappointments in the Championship, or whatever league we're in. I'd rather lose to the likes of Man Ure and Liverpool than Plymouth and Swansea.

 

[7UpJordan]

An interesting question was raised in the pub last night though... would we really really want to go up?

And here's me thinking I was the only person thinking such a thing. All in all I DON'T miss the Premiership. After the arduously longer than normal close season I found it all a massive dissapointment and thought being in the Premiership was very overrated. Sure it's great when you beat Arsenal and co but at what cost? Your money, the enjoyment factors of the game being ripped apart by teams who play boring football, divers, cheats, dissenters, Ronaldo, Fat Lampard, morgue-grounds, plastic grounds, West Ham, Scudamore... oh I could go on all night here.

I wouldn't say no to promotion, afterall you have to wish the best for your club but I am not exactly biting anybody's hand off to be promoted. The Championship is a lot more exciting than the dull Premiership and you never know who is going to win, anybody can beat anyone. Who gives a crap about flair and quality anyway? We pay to watch a game of football, not some stupid poof showboat and then go down like from a slight breeze and throw childish tantrums and definately not to watch the so-called "big four".

So what if we don't get promoted?

 

[dingledog]

Of course its time to panic, its what we Blades do best. there is nothing like a panic attack six games into a long season!!!!

 

[silverfox]

Of course its time to panic, its what we Blades do best. there is nothing like a panic attack six games into a long season!!!!

I had a panic attack but the pint from you calmed the nerves!