Is this the best Blades side ever?

[itsinyerblood]

I tell you what, if we're safe (or close to it) in January, I'd love us to have a proper crack at the FA Cup. Winning that in the next few years would definitely bury all arguments about who has had the best team in that time span.

Agree mate, silverware has eluded us for far too long. I think one reason why I'm in agreement is because of the way Wilder is managing to strengthen our squad on a seasonal basis. If I look back to approximately 18 months or so, I could never have imagined the way this team has evolved to the way we currently look. It's definitely a possibility, now the trick is to turn it into a probability.....I hope this happens during my lifetime, it would lift our support that has increased in size and risen in spirit due to the success that Wilder and Knill have already brought to this club.

 

[NotTheSharpest]

The Currie/Woody team is for a lot of us the best team BUT this lot are pushing it very, very close, I will keep my powder dry but it could just be the best team - ever, I bloody hope so

That is the thing about the Currie/Woody team - they are the two names we refer to that era as. There were other good players but those two stood out and were a big part of the success and the style of football.

This team will probably be known as Chris Wilder’s Blades - the whole team/squad are pretty equal in terms of their contribution and importance to the team. No Prima Donnas, no player head and shoulders above the rest. Just an amazingly balanced team/squad of talented players bringing the best out of each other!

Just hope history doesn’t forget Alan Knil in the process.......

 

[MobileBlade]

Apparently we equalled the club record of 15 away games unbeaten if that helps.

(Also only 3rd newly promoted side to go unbeaten in 1st 6 away games equalling Forest in 94-95 and 2 behind Blackburn who went 8 games in 92-93)

 

[Bobby b]

To all chairmen of struggling clubs, Wilder is a dinosaur, his sides are dour, his sides just lump it, hes just a thick northerner devoid of either talent or tactical nouse.

 

[I should coco]

To all chairmen of struggling clubs, Wilder is a dinosaur, his sides are dour, his sides just lump it, hes just a thick northerner devoid of either talent or tactical nouse.

His assistant is a tall gawky bloke who kills cuddly animals for fun.

The team are gritty, physical and play a lot of long ball.

Most other teams like Wednesday much more and they are massive, hence their manager is a much better replacement for you.

 

[Fred Furniss's Flatulence]

It’s interesting we refer to the early 70s team as the Woodward/Currie team. What will this team be called in the future? Wilder overlappers ? McGoldrickBasham team?

 

[ATL Recs]

You can only judge teams by the standard of the times. Let's face it - film showing Fatty Foulke & Co proves the standard of football was piss poor. Our current team is technically superior to any that have gone before, but if you put them on a muddy pitch with a leather ball soaked to 20% extra weight and up against TC, Woody & Co (without prep & conditioning to deal with the differences) they'd get stuffed. Bring the TC/Woody squad into this era, with the quality pitch, coaching, training, light ball etc and it would be very interesting. As for fans my age, we remember 60,000 v the Wendy in a 6th round cup-tie, and 49,000 see the Blades destroy fellow Div 2 promotion contenders Cardiff City 5-1, so we're never going to be able to match that. Would I swap "Greasy Chip Butty" for "Ilkey Moor BahT'at" though.... yes - of course!
(and I much prefer being able to see all the match from the comfort of my seat - back then for big games I took a home-made periscope with me).

All opinions and yes it was wonderful but better than this ?

Tha living in cloud Hovis land

This football in an age where the game is almost non contact and the players are supreme athletes who have personal trainers and dieticians and every movement is scrutinised recorded and analysed
Harris’s teams played lovely football best I’ve seen until this Wilder machine

Sorry but our lads from the Hovis era are legends only leave them there

Embrace watching expansive football on another level like we’ve never seen before or probably will see again

 

[Newbury Blade]

I'm now thinking yes, but Currie and Salmons under Wilder would be truly scarry.

Currie and Woodward might get into this team, but Salmons would probably be on the bench alongside Eddie Colquhoun and Len Badger.

 

[blade53]

Been following the Blades home & away since the early 60's, we've had some good sides in that time , but I believe the current side is better than any of them. The 70's side with TC was great, but never looked as though we could win anything , I think today's team could win a cup and go on to get even better.

 

[BladeFisher]

The Currie/Woody team is for a lot of us the best team BUT this lot are pushing it very, very close, I will keep my powder dry but it could just be the best team - ever, I bloody hope so

Think we may have the best team (sum of the parts) but certainly not the best players. Crikey if we had Woody, TC and Deano in there we'd be disappointed not to get in the Europa League/4th wouldn't we?

 

[Muttley]

I came in in 75, the start of the slide. Saw Currie & Co for the 1 season before we were relegated.
The Bassett years were great, as was the 4th division Title season. Brief good times under Warnock, a promising half season until Deane and Fjortoft were sold, now this.
Yes, for me this team tops the lot. Playing against so called World Class opposition and not looking 1 bit out of place.

 

[sitwell]

Although he didn't score it, that goal shows just how important McGoldrick is to our side.

The passing and build up play is nice but there's little penetration (oo err missus) until he takes the ball on and plays a one two before laying it off to Baldock who does the business.

Fantastic.

That's true ,but Norwood is the key to how we play ,look how many touches he has as an orchestrator ,the players know they can give the ball to him under pressure and he is always there to receive it ,much like Coutts used to do the same, but Norwood has long and short passes in his armoury and he reads the game so well ,he breaks down so many opposition attacks. Hell of a player ,as is Mcgoldrick.

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

All opinions and yes it was wonderful but better than this ?

Tha living in cloud Hovis land

This football in an age where the game is almost non contact and the players are supreme athletes who have personal trainers and dieticians and every movement is scrutinised recorded and analysed
Harris’s teams played lovely football best I’ve seen until this Wilder machine

Sorry but our lads from the Hovis era are legends only leave them there

Embrace watching expansive football on another level like we’ve never seen before or probably will see again

I spend quite a bit of time on this forum asking fellow Blades to read my post again. The only thing I said that couldn't be equalled now is the size of the crowds for the big games. At 5 foot 6" I certainly wouldn't swap my seat and centre-left stage magnificent view of our brilliant Desso pitch displaying the brilliant fast-flowing football from these Wilder-cut diamonds for the TC/Woody days, or the John Harris days of flat caps, rattles and my occasional use of my DIY periscope. Have you got my point now? UTB......

 

[Crackers]

To all chairmen of struggling clubs, Wilder is a dinosaur, his sides are dour, his sides just lump it, hes just a thick northerner devoid of either talent or tactical nouse.

and Garth Crooks, Steve Nichol and Danny Mills are the most perceptive pundits in the history of punditry. Nothing to see here. Move along. This isn't the football club you are looking for

 

[Roygbiv]

I keep seeing comments from other fans about how we have "average Championship players" but play a great system. Obviously the system is incredible but the average players jibe is lazy. Just because these players were brought in from the lower leagues, it doesn't mean they are still lower league players. Nobody says Vardy, Ali, Stones, Madison, Walker, Maguire and Wilson are average Championship players.

We have the future England number one, a centre half who will almost certainly get an England call up soon, one of the best left wing backs in the league, a first choice Irish centre half, a former Northern Ireland captain, a former England first choice centre half, a Scottish international, Ireland's first choice centre forward, a former French u21 international who was linked with Arsenal and Spurs just a few years ago.......

The narrative that we are some rag tag bunch who only work in a certain system is nonsense. Clearly the system brings the best out of these players but they are top, top players. Almost all our first 11 would attract interest from Premier League clubs if we went down.

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

Call it bizarre, but in my time as a Blade, going back almost 50 years, I kept an eye on Wednesday and the teams they've cobbled together. At times they were the better of Sheffield's two professional sides, but I'll wager anyone that what Chris Wilder has managed to do is assemble a side that's head and shoulders above any first team that's represented either United or Wednesday during the last 5 decades.

Far from being bizarre, back in the late 50's/60's many fans of both sides went to the match every week - the Lane one week, Hillsborough the next; that's the way you spent time with your mates. On Sunday you'd be kicking them off the Park in the 16 v 15 two and a half hour match that always ended something like 15-14 after the "next goal is the winner" customary finish, or until you could no longer see the ball 'cause it was too dark. Springett, Johnson, Megson, McAnearney, Swan, Kay, Wilkinson, Craig, Ellis, Fantham, Finney - they were an exciting team to watch, and (putting bias to one side for a moment) I have to admit I did enjoy going to the sty back then, and ribbing my mates about the pain that Doc Pace always seemed to inflict on Peter Swan.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Too young for the Currie era, saw the Bassett era and loved that but does this side eclipse the lot? Big yes from me.

It's a 'no' from me. This team has still got some way to go to match the 1896 to 1902 team in my opinion.

 

[Speedracer]

One thing is absolutely clear from yesterdays game, & that is this team is not the finished article, we have seen them grow over the last three & a bit seasons & get better & better. Confidence & belief is starting to come out of every pore & it is clear that we do not have bang average players who only look good because of the system, CW/AK's coaching methods & encouragement are bringing out what was always inside them. They also clearly enjoy each others company & fight for everything with a togetherness that fans can see & appreciate, so I can be fairly certain there is more to come, unbelievable really. Jeff.

 

[kop blade]

hi.......i wanted 3.0 we got more,,,,i said we would hammer them ,we was more direct with mgw and illman in the team ,well done blades,,utb