It's time for some action.....

[alcoblade]

And it's not about boycotts or car park protests - it's time for real change in the club.

We've now become established in England's third division. Some realities need to sink in, and we need to shape up for a leaner future;

1. Owner - Kevin McCabe - He should put us on the market and signal his intention to move on. After more than a decade in charge, he has failed, miserably. I don't subscribe to the idea he hasn't invested enough. He is just a serial, piss poor decision maker. Poor and cheap managerial appointments, poor structuring on the boardroom, poor appointments of key decision makers, poor yet big investments into sideshows (China, Hotels, leisure clubs) that have failed. A complete and utter failure, unfortunately.

2. Jim Phipps - Time to quit the social media. His positive spin is inevitably sucked up by the masses, creating expectation that exceeds realities. If you talk about investment into the team, fans inevitably think of new money, not using money form cup runs and player sales to fund the disastrous signings made by previous failed managers.

3. The Academy - Close it, save millions a year, and take the cash injection form selling the land. There's a case that player sales have paid for it - but what positives have come out of the academy overall? Again, raised expectations, the odd exceptional output that had to be sold for the very debt created by the thing that created them. We'd be much better speculating on young players from elsewhere, key players in key positions, at the time we actually need them.

4. The transfer policy - it must be torn up and re-written. We must stop paying a fortune to catch ageing falling stars with zero potential resale value. We have invested a fortune in this area, and still managed to leave the impression that we've done it on the cheap - such is the complete failure of successive management teams to invest wisely.

5. The current manager - we must give him time to rebuild. BUT, he must be told that he has continued with the same failed transfer strategy, and it musts top now. His signings have been, on the whole, poor. The latest window just encapsulates it, perfectly demonstrated today, We resign a 32 year old player on an enormous salary who looks nothing more than an average third division player, and miss out on the young up and comer who formed part of the latest team to roll up and walk all over us.

6. The current team - release every single player who's contract is up. Listen to offers for every single player.

Season over for me. We should put our focus on the summer rebuild, and treat the remainder of the season as preparation for that. Anything positive that comes form this season is an unforeseen bonus from here.

UTB

 

[Compound_Legend]

Could it be for a new form of BIFA, only this time with a bit more bollocks and intent?

21 years after fans raised a collective voice to raise their concerns against one chairman, it's time to do it again. Mr McCabe has lost interest and it shows.

I've been reading a lot on how fans have made a difference in the respect of ownership of clubs on the continent. Have a read of this and it shows a way forward to follow.

http://www.supporters-direct.org/ne...nance-whats-the-big-deal-with-german-football

Is this something we could consider?

Come on then Blades, be united to make yourself heard. Don't just sit there and think it- get out there and do it.

And Mr McCabe, if you consider yourself a Blade, for the sake of the club, then consider your future. You could then leave with some dignity intact before things turn toxic and the fans turn on you.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

And it's not about boycotts or car park protests - it's time for real change in the club.

We've now become established in England's third division. Some realities need to sink in, and we need to shape up for a leaner future;

1. Owner - Kevin McCabe - He should put us on the market and signal his intention to move on. After more than a decade in charge, he has failed, miserably. I don't subscribe to the idea he hasn't invested enough. He is just a serial, piss poor decision maker. Poor and cheap managerial appointments, poor structuring on the boardroom, poor appointments of key decision makers, poor yet big investments into sideshows (China, Hotels, leisure clubs) that have failed. A complete and utter failure, unfortunately.

2. Jim Phipps - Time to quit the social media. His positive spin is inevitably sucked up by the masses, creating expectation that exceeds realities. If you talk about investment into the team, fans inevitably think of new money, not using money form cup runs and player sales to fund the disastrous signings made by previous failed managers.

3. The Academy - Close it, save millions a year, and take the cash injection form selling the land. There's a case that player sales have paid for it - but what positives have come out of the academy overall? Again, raised expectations, the odd exceptional output that had to be sold for the very debt created by the thing that created them. We'd be much better speculating on young players from elsewhere, key players in key positions, at the time we actually need them.

4. The transfer policy - it must be torn up and re-written. We must stop paying a fortune to catch ageing falling stars with zero potential resale value. We have invested a fortune in this area, and still managed to leave the impression that we've done it on the cheap - such is the complete failure of successive management teams to invest wisely.

5. The current manager - we must give him time to rebuild. BUT, he must be told that he has continued with the same failed transfer strategy, and it musts top now. His signings have been, on the whole, poor. The latest window just encapsulates it, perfectly demonstrated today, We resign a 32 year old player on an enormous salary who looks nothing more than an average third division player, and miss out on the young up and comer who formed part of the latest team to roll up and walk all over us.

6. The current team - release every single player who's contract is up. Listen to offers for every single player.

Season over for me. We should put our focus on the summer rebuild, and treat the remainder of the season as preparation for that. Anything positive that comes form this season is an unforeseen bonus from here.

UTB

"Who wants to buy any of this rubbish?" ..Quote from a steward today. Couldn' t put it better I am afraid.

 

[Foxy]

Could it be for a new form of BIFA, only this time with a bit more bollocks and intent?

21 years after fans raised a collective voice to raise their concerns against one chairman, it's time to do it again. Mr McCabe has lost interest and it shows.

I've been reading a lot on how fans have made a difference in the respect of ownership of clubs on the continent. Have a read of this and it shows a way forward to follow.

http://www.supporters-direct.org/ne...nance-whats-the-big-deal-with-german-football

Is this something we could consider?

Come on then Blades, be united to make yourself heard. Don't just sit there and think it- get out there and do it.

And Mr McCabe, if you consider yourself a Blade, for the sake of the club, then consider your future. You could then leave with some dignity intact before things turn toxic and the fans turn on you.

I keep hearing this and calls to do "it".

But what is "it", what are the clear aims? because all it generally comes down to is "sack the board" or abuse of the individuals involved.

There are fan groups or fans with current contact with the channels that would be needed, but I've seen no clear aim or goal other than "get rid".

 

[pommpey]

Feller. He owns much of what we call 'the club'. He has spunked millions (including the Tevez money) on a series of questionable appointments and signings. His wealth is buried deep, deep inside the infrastructure.

At the moment we lie tenth in the third division of English football, so far from the bright lights and big money of the PL you'll need a telescope. If McCabe put the club up for sale ... with all of it's assets and connectivity to his parent companies and ingrained asset debt he'd want back:

1. How much do you think he'd want?
2. Do you think we'd be totally or partially rid of him?
3. Which total berk would buy it, considering our position, talent-free playing staff and nil-rated potential?

The only thing we have going for us at the moment is the fan base. Watch that collapse in the close season.

pommpey

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

1. Owner - Kevin McCabe - He should put us on the market and signal his intention to move on. After more than a decade in charge, he has failed, miserably.

^^^ This.

The usual we get from McCabe's persistent acolytes is that no-one wants to buy us. That there's "no alternative".

But, put the fucking club up for official fucking sale Kev, please for the love of God!! Let's actually see if it's the case that no-one wants to buy. Let's see if you're willing, as a massive Blade, to accept a reasonable price (rather than wanting to recoup all your well-publicised personal losses).

Give us some hope that we'll finally be shot of you.

 

[alcoblade]

I keep hearing this and calls to do "it".

But what is "it", what are the clear aims? because all it generally comes down to is "sack the board" or abuse of the individuals involved.

There are fan groups or fans with current contact with the channels that would be needed, but I've seen no clear aim or goal other than "get rid".

It's a good point - but perhaps a group representing the fans (of course that's yet to be established) could organisee protest in a better way - Red card protests for example. Without it, you end up with cars getting scratched and people getting spat at. I've always believed McCabe has the best intentions for the club, he's just incompetent in its' running. He doesn't deserve abuse - but it's coming.

UTB

 

[Foxy]

It's a good point - but perhaps a group representing the fans (of course that's yet to be established) could organisee protest in a better way - Red card protests for example. Without it, you end up with cars getting scratched and people getting spat at. I've always believed McCabe has the bets intentions for the club, he's just incompetent at running a club. He doesn't deserve abuse - but it's coming.

UTB

But that's one of my main points, what is the aim of the protest? There are the odd group that could do something, but if it's just "Down with being crap", it's not really going to work

 

[alcoblade]

But that's one of my main points, what is the aim of the protest? There are the odd group that could do something, but if it's just "Down with being crap", it's not really going to work

Ah okay, that bit's easy for me. The point is to get the chairman to publicly put the cub up for sale, and signal his intention to move on. It will either suck in potential investors, or at least send out the signal that he's no longer the problem.

Judging by the sycophancy that usually follows the fans meetings with him, I'd hazard a guess he actually thinks that the fans think he's doing a good job.

UTB

 

[Jon Bon]

Could it be for a new form of BIFA, only this time with a bit more bollocks and intent?

 

[Blade56]

Stalemate 50/50 was never going to work. We will see our club in ashes before the current greedy owner and HRH see eye to eye about moving forward. With all due respect alcoblade we can do the square root f feck all but I recognise you pain and passion and commend it

 

[breeny]

Yep - something needs to be done - feel very deflated. Donny next week is a game I may avoid, probably go though.

 

[Bladesway]

And it's not about boycotts or car park protests - it's time for real change in the club.

We've now become established in England's third division. Some realities need to sink in, and we need to shape up for a leaner future;

1. Owner - Kevin McCabe - He should put us on the market and signal his intention to move on. After more than a decade in charge, he has failed, miserably. I don't subscribe to the idea he hasn't invested enough. He is just a serial, piss poor decision maker. Poor and cheap managerial appointments, poor structuring on the boardroom, poor appointments of key decision makers, poor yet big investments into sideshows (China, Hotels, leisure clubs) that have failed. A complete and utter failure, unfortunately.

2. Jim Phipps - Time to quit the social media. His positive spin is inevitably sucked up by the masses, creating expectation that exceeds realities. If you talk about investment into the team, fans inevitably think of new money, not using money form cup runs and player sales to fund the disastrous signings made by previous failed managers.

3. The Academy - Close it, save millions a year, and take the cash injection form selling the land. There's a case that player sales have paid for it - but what positives have come out of the academy overall? Again, raised expectations, the odd exceptional output that had to be sold for the very debt created by the thing that created them. We'd be much better speculating on young players from elsewhere, key players in key positions, at the time we actually need them.

4. The transfer policy - it must be torn up and re-written. We must stop paying a fortune to catch ageing falling stars with zero potential resale value. We have invested a fortune in this area, and still managed to leave the impression that we've done it on the cheap - such is the complete failure of successive management teams to invest wisely.

5. The current manager - we must give him time to rebuild. BUT, he must be told that he has continued with the same failed transfer strategy, and it musts top now. His signings have been, on the whole, poor. The latest window just encapsulates it, perfectly demonstrated today, We resign a 32 year old player on an enormous salary who looks nothing more than an average third division player, and miss out on the young up and comer who formed part of the latest team to roll up and walk all over us.

6. The current team - release every single player who's contract is up. Listen to offers for every single player.

Season over for me. We should put our focus on the summer rebuild, and treat the remainder of the season as preparation for that. Anything positive that comes form this season is an unforeseen bonus from here.

UTB

Totally agree with every word and intent here Alco. In short rip everything up and start again. Academy isn't producing anything that is of benefit to the first team, transfer policy is of the mad house. If you want to stop the rot you have to change what you do.

 

[pommpey]

Ah okay, that bit's easy for me. The point is to get the chairman to publicly put the cub up for sale, and signal his intention to move on. It will either suck in potential investors, or at least send out the signal that he's no longer the problem.

Judging by the sycophancy that usually follows the fans meetings with him, I'd hazard a guess he actually thinks that the fans think he's doing a good job.

UTB

My point above though - he is so ingrained within the club, he'd want several (possibly tens of) millions to buy it for him to be totally rinsed free of it's organisation. And you wouldn't want him buying back in from a sidelines place if we were to shift up divisions, would you?

Plus - who would come in for a busted flush that is Sheffield United just to see them battle another season next year in Div 3?

pommpey

 

[Harry's Game]

And it's not about boycotts or car park protests - it's time for real change in the club.

We've now become established in England's third division. Some realities need to sink in, and we need to shape up for a leaner future;

1. Owner - Kevin McCabe - He should put us on the market and signal his intention to move on. After more than a decade in charge, he has failed, miserably. I don't subscribe to the idea he hasn't invested enough. He is just a serial, piss poor decision maker. Poor and cheap managerial appointments, poor structuring on the boardroom, poor appointments of key decision makers, poor yet big investments into sideshows (China, Hotels, leisure clubs) that have failed. A complete and utter failure, unfortunately.

2. Jim Phipps - Time to quit the social media. His positive spin is inevitably sucked up by the masses, creating expectation that exceeds realities. If you talk about investment into the team, fans inevitably think of new money, not using money form cup runs and player sales to fund the disastrous signings made by previous failed managers.

3. The Academy - Close it, save millions a year, and take the cash injection form selling the land. There's a case that player sales have paid for it - but what positives have come out of the academy overall? Again, raised expectations, the odd exceptional output that had to be sold for the very debt created by the thing that created them. We'd be much better speculating on young players from elsewhere, key players in key positions, at the time we actually need them.

4. The transfer policy - it must be torn up and re-written. We must stop paying a fortune to catch ageing falling stars with zero potential resale value. We have invested a fortune in this area, and still managed to leave the impression that we've done it on the cheap - such is the complete failure of successive management teams to invest wisely.

5. The current manager - we must give him time to rebuild. BUT, he must be told that he has continued with the same failed transfer strategy, and it musts top now. His signings have been, on the whole, poor. The latest window just encapsulates it, perfectly demonstrated today, We resign a 32 year old player on an enormous salary who looks nothing more than an average third division player, and miss out on the young up and comer who formed part of the latest team to roll up and walk all over us.

6. The current team - release every single player who's contract is up. Listen to offers for every single player.

Season over for me. We should put our focus on the summer rebuild, and treat the remainder of the season as preparation for that. Anything positive that comes form this season is an unforeseen bonus from here.

UTB

1, won't happen unless some raving loony pays Kev about 100 million pounds

2, I agree

3, I Think it's worth continuing the Academy for now.

4, Spot on

5, If a board starts telling a manager which players to go far they may as well replace the manager

6, I agree.

 

[alcoblade]

Stalemate 50/50 was never going to work. We will see our club in ashes before the current greedy owner and HRH see eye to eye about moving forward. With all due respect alcoblade we can do the square root f feck all

Next to nothing, I'd accept. But a chairman is far more likely to hang around a vanity project that he brings business partners to for lunch. When you're surrounded by people asking you to leave, that vanity project feels a bit less valuable. I'd say the price you might accept could fall.

UTB

 

[Chezzy Blades]

Didn't McCabe move the stadium, hotel, academy and some other bits under the ownership of Sheffield United PLC (I think it is) rather than Sheffield United football club?

I'm sure the part of the club which has all the assets is now owned by McCabe's Scarborough group and not the actual football club. Who's going to want to buy us if they don't get all the rest that comes with it?

 

[pommpey]

Next to nothing, I'd accept. But a chairman is far more likely to hang around a vanity project that he brings business partners to for lunch. When you're surrounded by people asking you to leave, that vanity project feels a bit less valuable. I'd say the price you might accept could fall.

UTB

What does he care what we think though?

He has enough invested in ground, hotel, staff and other assets to ensure at least a large percentage should the club go under.

pommpey

 

[Blade56]

The only action we can collectively take is Blackpool esk, stay away and I ain't doing that

 

[alcoblade]

5, If a board starts telling a manager which players to go far they may as well replace the manager
.

It's a tough one this. But managers work under DOF's (not that I like them), so it's clearly an idea that can work. And I'm more thinking of a strategy - a limit on the number of 30+ players, more speculation on 18-20 year olds, paid for by closing the academy.

 

[alcoblade]

What does he care what we think though?

He has enough invested in ground, hotel, staff and other assets to ensure at least a large percentage should the club go under.

pommpey

If he genuinely doesn't care then it's pointless, I'd accept. But he's human, and I think he'd care.

UTB

 

[Kenilworth]

After the results today I am convinced there is a fracture in be time space continuum that stretches between Sheffield and Leicester.

Whatever can go right at Leicester goes right and whatever can go wrong at Bramall Lane, goes wrong.

It's the only logical explanation other than we are a complete cluster fuck of a club run by half wits with no balls and a playing staff that play with their clits more than they do with a football.

 

[Roygbiv]

I'm afraid unless McCabe is willing to lose out on his investment on the club, ground, hotel etc then he isn't going anywhere. We are stuck with a man who has presided over the longest spell in our history outside the top two divisions. I'm not sure how many key decisions he actually makes. Is he just badly advised? For instance the reason Robson came on board was because of his relationship with Terry Robinson. It seems McCabe has surrounded himself with footballing imbeciles. Is there anybody on the board who has a football background? Or is it just very rich men thinking they know about the game?

 

[Pollingtonblade]

I'm afraid unless McCabe is willing to lose out on his investment on the club, ground, hotel etc then he isn't going anywhere. We are stuck with a man who has presided over the longest spell in our history outside the top two divisions. I'm not sure how many key decisions he actually makes. Is he just badly advised? For instance the reason Robson came on board was because of his relationship with Terry Robinson. It seems McCabe has surrounded himself with footballing imbeciles. Is there anybody on the board who has a football background? Or is it just very rich men thinking they know about the game?

Don't hold your breath for an answer, I've repeatedly asked on here who makes the decisions and who the people 'working hard behind the scenes' are to be met with a blank.

 

[pommpey]

I'm afraid unless McCabe is willing to lose out on his investment on the club, ground, hotel etc then he isn't going anywhere. We are stuck with a man who has presided over the longest spell in our history outside the top two divisions. I'm not sure how many key decisions he actually makes. Is he just badly advised? For instance the reason Robson came on board was because of his relationship with Terry Robinson. It seems McCabe has surrounded himself with footballing imbeciles. Is there anybody on the board who has a football background? Or is it just very rich men thinking they know about the game?

You'd like to believe that McCabe, having been around the club for so long now would have some sort of nous about what to do and how now that we are (in essence) doomed in this division for another 18 months.

But as said before, he has this club by the conkers. As long as no one is showing interest and he has the controls of much of the assets, what does he care if we slip into oblivion? He has offloaded much of his liability onto the Prince or shares, which no doubt he'll retain even if the club is sold, which he will no doubt profit from if (big if) we turned things round and hit the big time.

There's one small part of me saying "I don't blame him for sitting on his hands and doing nowt" and there's another part of me saying "you put us here, you bastard ... get us out of it".

Then theres another part of me saying "Don't buy your season ticket in the summer until you know we won't sell any more key players."

Out of all the ST holders here, if Sheffield United offered you your money back right now, would you take it?

Second question: After the dismal JTW and todays performance, how many of you actually would buy up a ST without a moments thought?

It is precisely THIS, which McCabe needs to be faced with and understand about his 20000 string band of die-hards.

Loyalty isn't forever like love is.

pommpey

 

[Roygbiv]

It actually crossed my mind today whether McCabe was trying to run us into the ground as there would be some sort of financial gain for him. I don't genuinely believe that but it's a testament to how the club is that I even thought it. It's like a Wednesday fan has been making the big decisions over the past 7 years

 

[Slim Man]

We are sleep walking into oblivion. Nothing is going to change.

 

[Slim Man]

It actually crossed my mind today whether McCabe was trying to run us into the ground as there would be some sort of financial gain for him. I don't genuinely believe that but it's a testament to how the club is that I even thought it. It's like a Wednesday fan has been making the big decisions over the past 7 years

Ever since Dooley went we have been like a parody of a football club.

 

[Roygbiv]

yers."

Out of all the ST holders here, if Sheffield United offered you your money back right now, would you take it?

Second question: After the dismal JTW and todays performance, how many of you actually would buy up a ST without a moments thought?


pommpey

1.Yes. I dont want to go again this season to be honest. I actually dislike going to games at the moment and we realistically have nothing to play for
2.No, I am almost certainly not getting one next season

 

[pommpey]

It actually crossed my mind today whether McCabe was trying to run us into the ground as there would be some sort of financial gain for him. I don't genuinely believe that but it's a testament to how the club is that I even thought it. It's like a Wednesday fan has been making the big decisions over the past 7 years

Or, as has been proposed, McCabe doesn't see us being promoted as viable. Sure, we'd cop for some prize money and an increased bounty next season, but from his point of view, if this is how we take failure down here, imagine what he is going to have to invest next season upstairs in the Championship. We will need every single player clearing out, with no exceptions. Brayford would be run ragged, Sharp would not (and has not proven he could) be able to thwart Championship defences and Done would fade fast through lack of chances. McCabe knows that. He knows we would have to have huge investment to even think about evading the drop back down.

pommpey