Just can't get enthused

[Northernsoulblade]

I’m enthused for the Derby can’t wait ferkin love the steel city derby the nerves the tension the adrenaline does an old fcker like me the world of good

 

[Grey Blade]

I get the apathy, this team don't seem to have much about them, aside from one or two standouts at the minute such as O'Hare and Hamer (when he returns).

Just as we find it difficult to be enthused, I feel the players have the same problem. Talking with a friend the other day, who lives near, and talks with the Grandfather of a fairly recent signing, he passes on that many of our players don't live in or around Sheffield and have little contact outside training and match days. The player has found socialising with team mates very limited , compared with other clubs he has been at, and I suspect this does little to help team spirit.

In the days of George Baldock, John Egan, Sander Berge and a few others, another friend used to see them doing extra work at a gym he frequented - in the afternoons. This must have been better for team bonding and the fact 3 players are driven over from Manchester each day (in separate cars I believe), Danny Ings travels from Harrogate (as did McBurnie) and also we have several (too many in my opinion) loan players, it seems they never get the chance to really get to know each other.

The only players who seem to have any kind of bond are Hamer and O'Hare. From the fans' point of view it's virtually impossible to feel any bond with players who always seem be in transit. It's taken me 3 months to actually know what most of our players look like and I believe the loan system, as well as money, has ruined the game, - teams are no longer built - they're bought! It's all about instant success and even if you cheat the system (Man City), you get away with it.

 

[Addison]

I've followed the Blades since the 1960's. Its a love hate relationship. In the past when people asked me if I like football the response was "No I support Sheffield United" followed by a long list of all our play off failures and last minute relegation chokers. That at least caused some amusement. If you can't laugh at your club you're taking it too serious. I've always found Blades to be capable of doing this unlike our neighbours who are mega serious and delusional.

I'm as disappointed as anyone about the present predicament but when you've seen the level of failure I've experienced you accept its just part of following the red and white stripes. I've got my dear Dad no longer with us to thank for imposing this burden on me but I wouldn't have it any other way.

In my working life now retired I was a glass half full person with SUFC its the opposite. If they can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory they will do it. I always strived to be the best in my career rising to FTSE 100 company director and Legal advisor. I want SUFC to have the same aspirations. My current frustrations about the Club are down to being part of organisations that have turned around under performing businesses. Viewing the current malaise from the outside looking in there is a lack of innovation and acceptance of the status quo that could easily be swept away. The "owners need to read this" thread about Sunderlands approach shows what can be done when there is young enlightened ownership in place. I live in hope that one day we will have the same.

Football isn't more serious than life or death. Bill Shankly was wrong about that. Health and family are. I understand that at the moment having had a triple heart bypass this year and currently recovering from an inguinal hernia operation. Despite having a season ticket I havent been able to get down to the Lane so far this season but I aim to do so before Christmas. This forum has helped me get through a difficult period and I'm thankful to my fellow Blades for that and apologise if you have had to endure my long oratories.

The next game is all about being a Blade. If you can't get up for the derby then you're following the wrong club. The other halfs pig relations have already started with the massiv texts. Wouldn't have it any other way. You are either red or blue in this city and I've been arguing with them since I was at infant school. Whatever the result I know I'll still be proud of my Club and thankful that Dad had the foresight to induct me into the ways of SUFC.

 

[Bladesman]

I've followed the Blades since the 1960's. Its a love hate relationship. In the past when people asked me if I like football the response was "No I support Sheffield United" followed by a long list of all our play off failures and last minute relegation chokers. That at least caused some amusement. If you can't laugh at your club you're taking it too serious. I've always found Blades to be capable of doing this unlike our neighbours who are mega serious and delusional.

I'm as disappointed as anyone about the present predicament but when you've seen the level of failure I've experienced you accept its just part of following the red and white stripes. I've got my dear Dad no longer with us to thank for imposing this burden on me but I wouldn't have it any other way.

In my working life now retired I was a glass half full person with SUFC its the opposite. If they can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory they will do it. I always strived to be the best in my career rising to FTSE 100 company director and Legal advisor. I want SUFC to have the same aspirations. My current frustrations about the Club are down to being part of organisations that have turned around under performing businesses. Viewing the current malaise from the outside looking in there is a lack of innovation and acceptance of the status quo that could easily be swept away. The "owners need to read this" thread about Sunderlands approach shows what can be done when there is young enlightened ownership in place. I live in hope that one day we will have the same.

Football isn't more serious than life or death. Bill Shankly was wrong about that. Health and family are. I understand that at the moment having had a triple heart bypass this year and currently recovering from an inguinal hernia operation. Despite having a season ticket I havent been able to get down to the Lane so far this season but I aim to do so before Christmas. This forum has helped me get through a difficult period and I'm thankful to my fellow Blades for that and apologise if you have had to endure my long oratories.

The next game is all about being a Blade. If you can't get up for the derby then you're following the wrong club. The other halfs pig relations have already started with the massiv texts. Wouldn't have it any other way. You are either red or blue in this city and I've been arguing with them since I was at infant school. Whatever the result I know I'll still be proud of my Club and thankful that Dad had the foresight to induct me into the ways of SUFC.

 

[54yrblade]

If I am the Wednesday manager I am playing that interview on repeat in their dressing room on the days leading up to the derby..

It was embarrassing. A total PR car crash.

 

[SouthStandGBlock]

The great thing for you guys is that you're not compelled to go. Just stay at home or go shopping with the wife and stop boring others with your namby pamby thoughts on the Blades.

It's a cult.

A bit like you.

 

[pedro]

Has eveyone forgotten what we were like under Clough and Adkins ?

Its been far worse than it is now...FAR FAR worse.

I'd agree Adkins but not Clough

 

[Pintor75]

When we were being beaten 5 -0, 6- 0, 8 - 0 in the premiership I didn't feel anything driving home afterwards, no anger, nothing, didn't even say to myself things like " he should never play again", "bloody useless!", etc ,etc, last season boring football, no system and no excitement, even when we were winning, just bringing out wins, hoping opposition doesn't get a free kick in the last 5 minutes to equalise. This season new owners, new beginning, new manager, someone relatively unknown, no Dyche, Cooper, O'Neil etc who'd been mentioned, then 6 games in and he's gone, maybe now those managers will get a shout, but no, it's you know who, back in charge with his coaching boys alongside, what happened to the new future?, where's the new fast and exciting football our players are going to produce, nowhere, we're back to negative timid stuff that we had for the last 3 years, whoever is coaching these players isn’t good enough, what doesn't Alan Knill actually do, other than lean against the dug out looking lost?, no wonder it's hard to get enthusiastic over this

 

[Numpty's Dusty Ruts.]

I stopped my ST when Wilder left in the PL and the infamous 'were not football people' presser.

It had become character led by CW and worried for the future even then.
Hecky in, did an incredible job in tough circumstances, sacked and guess who's back?

Last season, lots of points, minimal value for money and atmosphere.
The first time I didnt go to a huge game as I couldn't begin to convince myself that we'd do it.

Pick and choose my matches now. Supporting but on my terms, not tied into a ST.

This season, not a surprise at all. Same manager and coaching team that failed us last season. Eventually, the clichés and positive words stop working.

There's never been a time in my Blades life when we need someone to step in, focus dispassionately on what needs doing to drive us on and wield the axe.

Sadly, no one with real money will come in due to what we are now, so we're stuck with underachieving and another January transfer window, months more of excuses until the summer when we rinse and repeat.

Crossing fingers and believing in fairytales won't make us successful, however much you try to convince yourselves.

Lower league and non league football for me and I'll be at BDTBL when I like.

The smokescreen cleared for me a long time ago.

We've been had.

Great post!

 

[AdamSufc1997]

I just hoped we gone for something different when we appointed selles. Sign some decent players with pace which we aren’t used to but instead we just went back to the same old routine as a club sign random shit and hope they improve as season goes on . I agree on we’ve gone downhill since Covid

 

[MagnifiqueShorehamStreet]

My interest has waned season on season since 2019-20.

Even the Heckingbottom promotion back to the Premier League felt weirdly hollow in some way.

I still follow us just purely out of habit now.

Jesus, come on lads, Man up!
We all got involved with this club for various reasons, none of which could possibly have been,we were entitled glory hunters looking for an easy club to support, with constant success.If you expected a rose garden, it’s not the club for you.
Big derby game coming up, get behind em,

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Jesus, come on lads, Man up!
We all got involved with this club for various reasons, none of which could possibly have been,we were entitled glory hunters looking for an easy club to support, with constant success.If you expected a rose garden, it’s not the club for you.
Big derby game coming up, get behind em,

I'm not going to pretend I care anymore when I don't really.

What would be the point of that?

 

[N20 Blade]

At least the pigs get angry. We just seem so apathetic as a fan base. Generally, football has lost the connection with old school fans. How can we identify with players today, in the same way we did 30 years ago. This site is a good barometer, and the general mood is one of resignation and waiting for the inevitable.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I’m enthused for the Derby can’t wait ferkin love the steel city derby the nerves the tension the adrenaline does an old fcker like me the world of good

I'm not from Sheffield and have never lived there, so the Derby enthuses me when there's something riding on it, or when the rivalry feels at its height.
In our town Blades are probably slightly outnumbered by Wednesday and Forest and on a par with Donny / Leeds.

I don't see this group of players rallying behind Wilder and buying into it...
and, annoyingly, I can half see a slightly galvanised Wednesday (certainly the fans) finding a lot more energy for the occasion.

Two poor sides, so likely to be another stinker. Even when we're a decent outfit we struggle to replicate our league form against that lot.

At least the pigs get angry. We just seem so apathetic as a fan base. Generally, football has lost the connection with old school fans. How can we identify with players today, in the same way we did 30 years ago. This site is a good barometer, and the general mood is one of resignation and waiting for the inevitable.

I don't think is true. Wednesday fans have been apathetic for a long time.
It took years for them to finally turn on Chansiri.

 

[Montymagic]

Really struggling to get enthused right now.

And it's not the results, it's the style, the model, the vision, the direction, the future plans etc.

I'm just not sure what as a club we're trying to be or what our identity is, both off and on the field.

Not sure if it's just me, my mental mind set or just the lack of communication, but I'm even noticing I'm even posting less frequently on here.

Anyone else feeling like this?

Indeed.
I've managed two games so far with my season ticket.
ATM id rather do something with my child than watch this cral with no end in sight.

 

[Super Furry Blades]

Really struggling to get enthused right now.

And it's not the results, it's the style, the model, the vision, the direction, the future plans etc.

I'm just not sure what as a club we're trying to be or what our identity is, both off and on the field.

Not sure if it's just me, my mental mind set or just the lack of communication, but I'm even noticing I'm even posting less frequently on here.

Anyone else feeling like this?

Yep

 

[ancientblade]

I've followed the Blades since the 1960's. Its a love hate relationship. In the past when people asked me if I like football the response was "No I support Sheffield United" followed by a long list of all our play off failures and last minute relegation chokers. That at least caused some amusement. If you can't laugh at your club you're taking it too serious. I've always found Blades to be capable of doing this unlike our neighbours who are mega serious and delusional.

I'm as disappointed as anyone about the present predicament but when you've seen the level of failure I've experienced you accept its just part of following the red and white stripes. I've got my dear Dad no longer with us to thank for imposing this burden on me but I wouldn't have it any other way.

In my working life now retired I was a glass half full person with SUFC its the opposite. If they can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory they will do it. I always strived to be the best in my career rising to FTSE 100 company director and Legal advisor. I want SUFC to have the same aspirations. My current frustrations about the Club are down to being part of organisations that have turned around under performing businesses. Viewing the current malaise from the outside looking in there is a lack of innovation and acceptance of the status quo that could easily be swept away. The "owners need to read this" thread about Sunderlands approach shows what can be done when there is young enlightened ownership in place. I live in hope that one day we will have the same.

Football isn't more serious than life or death. Bill Shankly was wrong about that. Health and family are. I understand that at the moment having had a triple heart bypass this year and currently recovering from an inguinal hernia operation. Despite having a season ticket I havent been able to get down to the Lane so far this season but I aim to do so before Christmas. This forum has helped me get through a difficult period and I'm thankful to my fellow Blades for that and apologise if you have had to endure my long oratories.

The next game is all about being a Blade. If you can't get up for the derby then you're following the wrong club. The other halfs pig relations have already started with the massiv texts. Wouldn't have it any other way. You are either red or blue in this city and I've been arguing with them since I was at infant school. Whatever the result I know I'll still be proud of my Club and thankful that Dad had the foresight to induct me into the ways of SUFC.

wonderful post addison think we must be of a similar age weve both seen plenty of ups and downs from the 60s but the current team is nowhere near as bad as some of the united teams of the past personally i think theres a lot of apathy with our support nowadays little atmosphere and completely opposite to back in the days when the lane used to be rocking and was one of the most intimidating grounds for away teams and fans to visit but and its a big but the slow ponderous football being served up to our fans doesnt help one bit im very nervous about the derby at the sty and praying hamer is fit enough to play hes not played well this season but he walks in to our midfield even if hes not fully fit i dont think a point would be a bad result for us they will be up for it if they go in front i can see swillsbro bouncing to a chant of ' your going down with the wednesday' just hope our lads turn up on the day and put a performance in

 

[Super Furry Blades]

This is something I've repeatedly said to my Dad about people whose hatred for Wilder borders on the unhinged - Wilder's crime wasn't in failing to get us back up to the PL again, it was in succeeding in taking us from League One to so high up in the PL in the first place.

"Dare to dream" is exactly the right phrase for it - you need courage to believe, if your hitherto wildly unrealistic fantasies look like they might come true, because what if you start to believe, and then it's snatched away from you?

That's exactly what happened to us - it looked like our wildly unrealistic fantasies were coming true, so we got drawn in, and started to believe, which of course made the eventual kicking in the guts that much worse.

And some people just can't forgive Wilder for that - he gave them hope, he gave them a glimpse of what could be, and they can't forgive him for the pain that was caused when it was snatched away from us, even though it wasn't his fault - I'm sure it caused him every bit as much pain as it caused us.

But they can't forgive him for something that he should be praised for - giving us hope, and enabling us to dream.

They see life like this ...

View attachment 225292


Instead of like this ...


View attachment 225293

Wilder walked away from us ....first time around.
He knew we were going down and he fucked off ......
I cant forgive him for that ,he should have stood shoulder to shoulder with us and got relegated.
We shouldn't have had him back once nevermind twice ....
He is 100% ruining all the great work he once did .
I cant wait for him to fuck off again

 

[Super Furry Blades]

I’m enthused for the Derby can’t wait ferkin love the steel city derby the nerves the tension the adrenaline does an old fcker like me the world of good

Wonder how many years tha's been going ter lane .....
Not many I suspect.

 

[54yrblade]

Jesus, come on lads, Man up!
We all got involved with this club for various reasons, none of which could possibly have been,we were entitled glory hunters looking for an easy club to support, with constant success.If you expected a rose garden, it’s not the club for you.
Big derby game coming up, get behind em,

Excellent flower related analogy, but our last rose blooms were in 2020 and '22, both flushes failing miserably after insufficient care, whilst copious amounts of horse sh*t have since been layered on to us by people who pretend to be Titchmarsh level gardeners but whose ability truly lies in growing mustard cress and lettuce in a tub on the kitchen windowsill.

I was there when 'Rose Garden' was part of the match build up. I'll get behind them properly again when they stop trying to have us be ever so grateful for a second, almost third rate, product.

Love the club but not in love with it any longer. That's their doing, not mine.

Thanks anyway.

 

[cahill]

Really struggling to get enthused right now.

And it's not the results, it's the style, the model, the vision, the direction, the future plans etc.

I'm just not sure what as a club we're trying to be or what our identity is, both off and on the field.

Not sure if it's just me, my mental mind set or just the lack of communication, but I'm even noticing I'm even posting less frequently on here.

Anyone else feeling like this?

You dream of getting to the Premier League so it keeps you motivated. Having spent three recent seasons there the cold reality of two miserable seasons has left me burnt out. The manner of our defeats in the Prem has left me disenchanted with the whole thing.

I’ll always be a Blade but not greatly missing the matchday experience. I have been to three home matches, Charlton, Millwall, and Watford. Personally think Wilder and Knill will just coast through this season, so I’ve little expectation.

 

[NewyorkBlade]

Cast ya minds back CW said when he first came to the Lane,"I used to come to the games when I could, but noticed more people looking on their phones than watching the match,that won't happen, ill get the fans off their backsides(Has he looked round recently).Exciting players! Attacking football!.Admittedly he did for a few seasons,but I think he can't be respected the same way since he found the back door key and pot of gold.His style of football is boring to be polite ,and whatever happens don't give he good money to spend (Cannon)he can't even coach them hold on to a lead,dont say he's not on the pitch,they are coached all week by him and the grey man the defence doesn't even talk, it fact its a very quiet team overall it's no wonder people are not engaged,
,

 

[Northernsoulblade]

Wonder how many years tha's been going ter lane .....
Not many I suspect.

Been going to t”lane 56 years

 

[NewyorkBlade]

Been going to t”lane 56 years

50 for me till the move now that idiots running NY we are off to Vietnam

 

[Northernsoulblade]

50 for me till the move now that idiots running NY we are off to Vietnam

Name change

 

[raul]

S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-saigonblade?

 

[Lane Ender]

I’m enthused for the Derby can’t wait ferkin love the steel city derby the nerves the tension the adrenaline does an old fcker like me the world of good

100% If the Derby doesn’t exite you summat wrong with yer

 

[UTB Blade]

Forgive me if I'm not seeing the irony in this bit, but honestly... "it wasn't his fault"?

I don't like having to re-trace this every three months but plenty of us noticed in 2020 that his ego had got to such wildly enormous proportions following the praise he was getting from Guardiola, Bielsa, and the media at home and abroad, that it was inevitable that it would all crash and burn like the Hindenburg.

We had a great run, the best since the mid-1970s, but beyond that there was nothing to back it up. There was a tactical innovation and it worked a treat for three years until we reached the PL. After six months the jig was up and we were left with what we had - decent, hardworking players and staff, and that is not enough on its own. Oh, and recruitment. FFS let's not go there again.

Since 2020 we've relied on attempted re-creations of something that has turned to dust, but in reality it's been one player who either got us there, or nearly there. Gibbs-White, Ndiaye, Hamer.

Wednesday live in the past, but we're living in the more recent past. The owners, current and previous, keep going back to the well, but the well has all but run dry. They don't seem to have the balls to go through with the necessary changes because the once-magical Wilder/Knill partnership is not buttering any parsnips any more.

I thought someone would probably pick me up on this, but - no, I don't think the crash and burn when football restarted, after the pandemic hit, was his fault.

The one thing that Wilder's successful teams have always had in common (with us, Northampton, etc), is that the sum is so much greater than the total of its parts. So you have to ask yourself why does this happen? How does he manage it?

The answer to that, I think, is engendering a team spirit, so together, so robust, so committed, so 'on fire', that it makes his teams hard to beat. Note that the fans, and the club as a whole, are all part of that team spirit, as well as the players and coaches.

The circumstances football was played in, when it restarted during the pandemic, killed all that. Not only were fans not present, but the players and coaches weren't even training together.

Of all the work situations not suited to people working remotely, team sports must be up at the top.

The players were given individual training schedules and, iirc, were only allowed to train in 'bubbles' when football restarted. And obviously no supporters allowed in stadiums.

For the Man Cities and Liverpools of this world, with highly talented individuals like Kyle Walker, Virgil van Dijk, etc, these circumstances wouldn't hit so hard. Highly talented individuals don't just suddenly lose their talent, because they're training apart from most of their team mates.

But for clubs like ours, that rely on team spirit, a "we're all in this together" mindset, and at the time that we were riding the crest of a wave to take us as high up as we got in the PL at the time, it absolutely crushed us.

And, no, this isn't hindsight on my part, or an attempt to re-write history. I remember talking about it at length during the shutdown, and when the season was about to kick off again without supporters - I strongly suspected that the circumstances would hit us harder than any other PL club due to the reasons I've just explained here, and I was right. (And no, it doesn't give me any pleasure that I was right, I desperately wanted to be wrong, and the circumstances of the restart not affect us to the extent they did, but sadly, my fears didn't prove to be unfounded).

 

[UTB Blade]

Wilder walked away from us ....first time around.
He knew we were going down and he fucked off ......
I cant forgive him for that ,he should have stood shoulder to shoulder with us and got relegated.
We shouldn't have had him back once nevermind twice ....
He is 100% ruining all the great work he once did .
I cant wait for him to fuck off again

I understand your feelings, but I think the criticism you're levelling at Wilder here, is that he's not perfect.

Well, no, of course he's not perfect. He has faults and makes mistakes, like everyone else. Because he's human.

I guess it's whether or not you can forgive him for some of the things you think he's done wrong.

If you can't, you can't. But I think you're losing out, if you allow that one thing you think he did wrong to colour your entire view of him.

For me, I think he cares very deeply about the club.

We don't know the circumstances behind his leaving the first time. We don't know how much the work situation was affecting him and his family.

For my part, I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe - because I think he really does care about the club - that he'd got to a place where the stress was affecting him (and/or his family) to the extent that he just couldn't carry on, at that time.

So I can't hold it against him. I think he was doing the best he could, with whatever circumstances he was dealing with at the time.

He's shown such a commitment to the club, over his life and career, that I don't believe he'd have taken the action he did in 2021, if he thought he'd got a choice.

Maybe it wasn't that he couldn't carry on. Maybe he felt that a managerial change would benefit the club more, at that stage, than him continuing to manage us.

The point is, I don't know, none of us know, what made him take the decision he did. But, as I say, his commitment to - and achievement for - the club over his lifetime, means that I can't, and don't want to, hold that decision against him. For me, he hasn't, and isn't, ruining the great work he once did. But I understand that others feel differently.

 

[Super Furry Blades]

Wonder how many years tha's been going ter lane .....
Not many I suspect.

Please accept my apologies, my post wasn't supposed to be tagged to yours .
Don't know what happened there .