Jim Phipps on Facebook

[Pollingtonblade]

He's admitted Clough was shit and got it wrong but that said Clough has no right of reply here.

Also wasn't Mal B part of the clough "regime"

Again and I may be banging my head against a wall here big words and appreciate the 'honesty' but we want actions - I totally agree with we are set up more to attack though it's that damn defence.

One more thing, if Cloughy wasn't acting in their best interests why did he last until May?

Furthermore Mcabe used to blame managers - IE "we allowed to many loans we need permanent signings" before signing more loans and the other belter "we'll rely on our youth players" then none of em getting a look in.

 

[Worksop II]

But you can bet your bottom dollar they won't allow that to happen a second time.

Yeh, make sure the new guy toes the line

 

[Sean Thornton]

Does it matter?

The fans can contribute. It's the first thing I would suggest. There may be other priorities but I liked the idea of the Blades Ultras (if that's what I think it is) as proposed - and sniped at - on here recently. I'd suggest having a look at what's going on with the crowds in the Bundesliga - there's a really positive interaction between players and fans there.

Do we need Ultras more than midfield reinforcements? No.

Would it enhance the club? Yes.

Insomuch as it only referred to the final comment.

Personally, one thing I've always loved about being a Blade over the years is the spontaneity and the originality of the supporters, which aligned with the passion is why I honestly believe we are the best around.

I don't go for manufactured ideas like the Ultras. These things should evolve from the fan base in real time, not be foist upon it because others do it. We were never like that.
Same as having to play the opening bars of Annie's Song at kick off. Plastic cringeworthy claptrap.

Fans are contributing in very good numbers yet we have more of the same. I don't agree with much of the slasher rubbish on here but what else can we do? You can't clap and cheer a boring team devoid of ideas for much of the time, many with no spirit. Jim should be thanking the thousands turning up at this moment in time, not asking for more.
They should be doing more, not us.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I think we're lucky to have statements like that, bit refreshing.

Time will tell how genuine they are, just hope their not pulling the wool over my eyes because as a fan it would be easy to.

Bit of relief from the depression and for that thanks Jim.













But £13M, wow, just wow.

Should read £25M, fuck me.

 

[Ricky]

Proves what I've said for ages about Clough being allowed to do whatever the hell he wanted. It's unbelievable that they let him. It was all about him, not Sheffield United. Never has a man so thoroughly deserved the sack.

 

[PeteBlade]

You get a lot of stick on here but I 100% agree on this.

Phipps makes a lot of interesting and valid points in the post, but openly slating the other teams in the league is not what we need our co-chairman to be doing. It will only fire them up more to play against us.

Weren't we all laughing at the Wigan chairman and manager for doing similar not so long ago?

You've both completely misunderstood what he was meaning.

Not that one of you would ever admit being wrong, even if it's as plain as the nose on your face.

 

[Chezzy Blades]

You've both completely misunderstood what he was meaning.

Not that one of you would ever admit being wrong, even if it's as plain as the nose on your face.

Where do you get that second comment from Pete? I admitted I was wrong on here just yesterday..

I genuinely have misunderstood if that isn't what he meant, how do you interpret it?

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Don't you actually find it bizarre that not one person at management level curbed NC actions, it suddenly hit them like a thunder bolt from heaven eventually. Really? smacks of incompetence to me

They assessed the situation and sacked Clough.

"It suddenly hit them like a thunderbolt from heaven" - this is just made up nonsense.

Do you have a positive suggestion?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Don't you actually find it bizarre that not one person at management level curbed NC actions, it suddenly hit them like a thunder bolt from heaven eventually. Really? smacks of incompetence to me

Yes I do. But it seemed you didn't think they'd now accepted responsibility for that. And maybe still don't.

 

[PeteBlade]

Where do you get that second comment from Pete? I admitted I was wrong on here just yesterday..

I genuinely have misunderstood if that isn't what he meant, how do you interpret it?

It was aimed at the other chap you quoted, not you.

I read it as meaning how tough the competition waS, rather than disrespecting the competition.

He can hardly do that anyway, as they all seen to beat us!

 

[Pierre's PC]

 

[bgodbeheresufc]

I think he's been quite honest and tried to level with the fans, I like that. I think a big error was made in not getting rid of clough and getting Adkins in sooner. Realistically, Adkins only has January to put his stamp on the squad and will that leave enough time to mount a charge for the top spots? I hope so...

 

[derryblade]

So suggest something positive.

I am positive that the current owners/board have neither the nous or wherewithal to reach the Premiership there positivity

 

[Esablade]

You get a lot of stick on here but I 100% agree on this.

Phipps makes a lot of interesting and valid points in the post, but openly slating the other teams in the league is not what we need our co-chairman to be doing. It will only fire them up more to play against us.

Weren't we all laughing at the Wigan chairman and manager for doing similar not so long ago?

I took "the diabolical nature of the competition in L1" statement to mean we're unable to overcome them..not that they are crap!?!??

 

[Esablade]

It was aimed at the other chap you quoted, not you.

I read it as meaning how tough the competition waS, rather than disrespecting the competition.

He can hardly do that anyway, as they all seen to beat us!

Snap!
Not just me who took it that way then...

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Refreshing but do I understand he's saying all the cup, Harry and Murph money has been spent?

Higo did have some appetite. Should make 'em bring their own snap.

 

[Chezzy Blades]

It was aimed at the other chap you quoted, not you.

I read it as meaning how tough the competition waS, rather than disrespecting the competition.

He can hardly do that anyway, as they all seen to beat us!

Fair enough, apologies.

That probably is the case looking at it again. I'm sat next to a Millwall fan (Mum's husband) at the moment, and he called it sour grapes which is why I initially read it as disrespecting the other clubs.

 

[Silent Blade]

This is exactly the kind of post I don't think the Co-Chairman should be making on social media.

Unfortunately by trying to be transparent as possible it opens him up to more criticism, snide comments, and in a lot of cases abuse that is unwarranted just because of the media he's using to convey this information.

Fully agree

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Insomuch as it only referred to the final comment.

Personally, one thing I've always loved about being a Blade over the years is the spontaneity and the originality of the supporters, which aligned with the passion is why I honestly believe we are the best around.

I don't go for manufactured ideas like the Ultras. These things should evolve from the fan base in real time, not be foist upon it because others do it. We were never like that.
Same as having to play the opening bars of Annie's Song at kick off. Plastic cringeworthy claptrap.

Fans are contributing in very good numbers yet we have more of the same. I don't agree with much of the slasher rubbish on here but what else can we do? You can't clap and cheer a boring team devoid of ideas for much of the time, many with no spirit. Jim should be thanking the thousands turning up at this moment in time, not asking for more.
They should be doing more, not us.

Strongly disagree.

It's not either/or.

Everyone needs to look at themselves all the time and ask how can they contribute. how can they improve? Othersie it's just complacent and self-satisfied.

The presumably young lad who proposed the Ultras presumably wanted to be part of a vocal support. Me I prefer to sit and admire backwards and sideways passing.

Properly done I think it would energise the crowd and encourage the team.

 

[PeteBlade]

Fair enough, apologies.

That probably is the case looking at it again. I'm sat next to a Millwall fan (Mum's husband) at the moment, and he called it sour grapes which is why I initially read it as disrespecting the other clubs.

Me too, it did come across like it was aimed at you.

I can see how it could be read the other way.

 

[Tyler Durden]

"That said, some of the current problems in the side (its size, for example) are byproducts of our trying as a board to be true to our approach, in circumstances where we allowed the Technical Board process to be thoroughly undermined by a gaffer, who was not interested in the process; hence, some of the excesses (recruiting in quantity, signing injured players, etc)."

This concerns me somewhat.

As shit as Clough was for the most part, a manager can't 'undermine' anyone when it comes to on-field issues. The manager should be the one who makes the decisions, however poor, not fit in with a pre-subcribed philosophy created by those who don't have a working knowledge of football at pitch-level.

The thought of having the board dictate who we specifically get in or ship out or whatever ever else football wise doesn't sit entirely comfortably to be honest.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I am positive that the current owners/board have neither the nous or wherewithal to reach the Premiership there positivity

OK. You just want to moan. Nothing constructive. Nothing positive. Just moaning.

 

[Blade56]

Higo did have some appetite. Should make 'em bring their own snap.

If it does mean all funds have been spent we would raise that level of income unless we sold all the squad, the pitch, scoreboard, statues and hippo's weight in gold

 

[Harry's Game]

That said, some of the current problems in the side (its size, for example) are byproducts of our trying as a board to be true to our approach, in circumstances where we allowed the Technical Board process to be thoroughly undermined by a gaffer, who was not interested in the process; hence, some of the excesses (recruiting in quantity, signing injured players, etc). We should have seen what was happening (the excesses, any way) and responded more quickly to address. Hindsight is 20:20.

So basically what he's is saying is that Nigel Clough was a bag of shit.

Vindicates what some of us who didn't ostrich our heads in the sand last season were saying, Clough's reign has set us back another two seasons.

Also begs the question why he wasn't shown the door last January when he asked to sign more "injured players" I assume Jim is talking about Coutts in the aftermath of J Wallace.

Wonder what some of those signings are thinking now reading that?

What an absolute shambles.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

"That said, some of the current problems in the side (its size, for example) are byproducts of our trying as a board to be true to our approach, in circumstances where we allowed the Technical Board process to be thoroughly undermined by a gaffer, who was not interested in the process; hence, some of the excesses (recruiting in quantity, signing injured players, etc)."

This concerns me somewhat.

As shit as Clough was for the most part, a manager can't 'undermine' anyone when it comes to on-field issues. The manager should be the one who makes the decisions, however poor, not fit in with a pre-subcribed philosophy created by those who don't have a working knowledge of football at pitch-level.

The thought of having the board dictate who we specifically get in or ship out or whatever ever else football wise doesn't sit entirely comfortably to be honest.

I think it's the opposite of that. They took an arm's length approach and trusted Clough. They now think that trust was misplaced. Isn't that, or something like it, what he means?

 

[judge]

So suggest something positive.

Who are you ?
Why do you think it is your role on this message board to tell everyone what to say and think ?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Tell me what more I can do. Season tickets, away games, club travel, programmes, spend in the club shop on kit etc, Superdraw etc. just like lots of others. Do I need to now stop the odd moan? Quid Pro Quo, Jims being confident, now it's down to me?

Plenty of people sing. I can here then on the Kop. Away games there are people singing all around me usually. That's free to join in, much better than some organised group copying someone else for a bit of Kudos. The Ultras over at S6 are an embarrassment to their fans, it's only the oompah band that keeps them from getting slaughtered. The singing section was a manufactured thing and that died a very quick death.

 

[zablade]

What an absolute shambles.

Yep!

 

[Pollingtonblade]

I think it's the opposite of that. They took an arm's length approach and trusted Clough. They now think that trust was misplaced. Isn't that, or something like it, what he means?

I have no doubt whatsoever that last season you would have been saying "Clough is the man" etc etc.

And effectively Mr Phipps has admitted many of us who raised concerns at the time about signing 'crocks' and 'squad fillers' were right to raise such concerns.

One last point some people think differently - doesn't make you right and them wrong, or vice versa.

 

[Barney]

- What do you think the board needs to do better to help the Club win promotion?

He states the board know what the issues are. Ok. Why ask this question then? As i've said on another thread, the possible causes of us not achieving the aim of promotion this season can be whittled down to just two. And they are as follows;
The first one - Acknowledging the fact that they let Clough loose too much, as he has done here, but then doing absolutely nothing effective to put it right. If they wanted to correct where they went wrong and do everything they could have to minimise the risk of not achieving promotion this season, contracts of these 15 odd players, and many more could have been payed up allowing an immediate chance to rebuild and go up this season. They haven't done that and this is one of the two reasons we won't achieve promotion.

- What do you think management needs to do better to help the Club win promotion?

The second one - This links with the above answer as this is the second and final possible cause of us not winning promotion this season. As I've tediously mentioned on many a time, this management has performed very poorly since arriving. It's no good asking what they can do to improve now, the damage has been done. The first major error of the management was the allowance of the unreasonable, and very costly length of time to assess the squad. The new management team coming in should have spoken to the management staff already in situ at the club and detailed assessments of each player could have been handed to the new management staff there and then. The management staff that had watched them for a full season needed to be listened to on the players, and it's an insult to their professionalism that they weren't. Then, a process of both
A) Attempting to move on some of the many players not good enough, as well as
B) Immediately starting, with the aid of the help given by current staff, identifying players for our positions that were of the highest priority to cover. These being 2 CB'S, a CM, and a GK in that order. These players should ideally, have been hungry athletic and potential ridden players from this league and the one below. We needed players on their way up, not the way down.

Both these vital points have been blatantly ignored by the new management that have come in, and this is the second and final possible causation for the aim this season not being met.

- What do you think the players need to do better to help the Club win promotion?

Frankly there's not much in the way of talent they can do. It's out of their hands as to why they are still playing for Sheffield United, which most shouldn't be. They are limited to what they can do, aside from showing much increased levels of desire, determination and a will to play for the shirt. It's clear from the off field antics that are continually surfacing, and the lack of passion oh so evidently displayed many a time on the pitch, that these players simply do not have the sufficient levels of the correct attitude to be here. I have a convincing suspicion that this is largely down to the fact that many are in the final year of their contracts, and are aware of their incompetence so much so that they have gained the very correct knowledge they will not be where they are in a years time. This is causing and compounding their lack of desire, which coupled with the fact most simply don't have the talent to be playing here in the first place, is just a recipe for failure.

- What do you think the supporters can do better to help the Club win promotion?

Absolutely nothing, and it's shameful that question has even surfaced in this mans mind. A sincere apology to each and every fan that walks through them turnstiles week in, week out, is required before anything else. These supporters are the one's that have gone through the good and the bad of this club. They haven't just walked in from the sunny beaches of California in the summer of 2013. These fans pay very good money to watch their club being mis-managed and their fans mistreated from numerous different angles, season in, season out. They watch their best player snatched away from them every single year, only to be told there's "nothing we could do". The next time you think of directing your beady eyes anywhere near the supporters, take a long, hard, look at yourself and realise what you are about to do is both entirely insulting, and unbelievably unacceptable.

I'd love the man himself to take a good read of that and see what he has to say for himself.