Kevin Blackwell & Michael Foot

[Santos]

I imagine not two names you would have thought would share a great deal in common, they don't really, apart from the following statement.

In 1983 Michael Foot was described as writing the longest suicide note in history and yesterday I believe Blackwell has pretty much signalled his departure from Bramall Lane with his own suicide note.

Having just listened to Blackwell's interview on the BBC Website I am afraid his position now is largely untenable. His comments were of a similiar nature to Robson but whereas Robson was dealing with players who he largely inherited, Blackwell's team is more or less his own doing.

To berate the players like that is unforgiveable and if I was one of the players i'd have reservations about running through a paper wall nevermind a brick wall for him.

I didn't go to the game, nor listen to it but he has to take responsability for the performance. Loads of managers in this division would have given their right bollock to sign the type of players Blackwell has signed this season - he should know, at the time of signing the likes of Evans, Williamson, Harper and Taylor just to name four that spring to mind instantly Blackwell was saying how we'd beaten a host of clubs to their signature.

It sounds like the words of a very fustrated, uneasy and desperate man, his comments don't give me any confidence of finishing in the top 6, he doesn't sound like the man who will lead 11 lions into battle at Hillsborough next month nor does he sound llike the man who will galvanise the support into flocking to the ticket office with their dollar at the ready.

Someone at the club needs to make some ballsy decisions in the coming months and get the club back on the right track. I hope this man will be Birch but I get the feeling his role will be to secure investment/lower our debts rather than make calls on the manager.

 

[spadge]

love to have seen what warnock would have done with a team like robson and blackie have had, they are both considerably better than the one when we went up. well was till we decided we'd sell all our defence.

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

I think you're right, Santos. My overall view, as I've stated before, is that Blackwell has done reasonably well, in terms of league position, in very difficult circumstances. However, if he does not have faith in the players he has brought in, there's no point in continuing.

To some extent, I have sympathy for Blackwell. He feels very strongly and is very emotional about the team's performances, and doesn't seem able to control that to keep things like this behind closed doors when it comes to a media interview. I'm sure a lot of managers feel as he does - but he says so. The problem is, it's hugely damaging for team togetherness. How exactly do the team get behind the manager now?

Also, I like the idea of members of the team running through a paper wall. It sounds like a good basis for a low-budget show for tea time on BBC1. Sort of a cross between 'Total Wipeout' and 'Bring on the Wall'. Blackwell could do the commentary, and Gary Sinclair could be on the ground with the microphone, comforting Monty after he took a wrong turn and ran through the wrong paper wall - that sort of thing.

Incidentally - we always complain about players and managers doing interviews and running through the same boring, bland cliches. So why is it that when a manager does an interview and actually says something significant, the journalist picks out all the boring, bland cliches to quote. From that interview the BBC went for:

"I am frustrated, but it's always tough facing a new manager and a new team and I thought they fought like dogs"

and:

"In the first half they battled well and in the second half, although we dominated, we didn't create enough."

Why didn't they go for:

"People are ducking out of tackles, but that's the sort of players they are"

or

"If I can change, when it's right, to get players of a better mentality to deal with away from home, then I will do"

or

"a lot who are here, that are here because that was all that was available..."


Those are the lines I'll remember from the interview.

 

[SE1Blade]

If a manager constantly comes out with the same old bland cliches every week, people moan

If a manager gives little away due to confidentiality, or not to damage the clubs position with transfers, people moan cos "they are keeping things from us".

If a manager / chairman comes out and tells it as it is and pulls no punches, people moan.

When Warnock (our best and most succesful manager since Bassett) was here, people moaned, saying it was all down to Blackwell, and even wanted NW (some even called him Colin!) sacked, even though he got us promotion.

Now Blackwell is in charge, people are moaning and wishing Warnock was back.

I think, that regardless of whoever the manager is, or how he does, how the results are, how the performances are, how the interviews are, how much he pays for players, how much discount he gets in the club shop and how much brown sauce he puts on his sarnies, people will moan.

I just think of how bad we were under Robson, and how much we were paying our underperforming players, and am thankful we aren't in the position he left us in 2 years ago, both in the league and financially (with 3 times the current wage bill).

 

[puppet]

"People are ducking out of tackles, but that's the sort of players they are" -

ARE we seriously expected to believe certain players nesh out of challenges - if so who is he refering to??

or

"If I can change, when it's right, to get players of a better mentality to deal with away from home, then I will do" -

WHAT utter tosh, having a H & A team. A decent team managed properly goes out and does its thing.

or

"a lot who are here, that are here because that was all that was available..."

- LIKE the scottish lad at WBA, best £100k spent this season by any CCC team. Taylor, Stewart, France... they were the best available were they??? No KB, you just dont have the brains or the appeal to find or attract anyone any better.

 

[Santos]

If a manager constantly comes out with the same old bland cliches every week, people moan

If a manager gives little away due to confidentiality, or not to damage the clubs position with transfers, people moan cos "they are keeping things from us".

If a manager / chairman comes out and tells it as it is and pulls no punches, people moan.

When Warnock (our best and most succesful manager since Bassett) was here, people moaned, saying it was all down to Blackwell, and even wanted NW (some even called him Colin!) sacked, even though he got us promotion.

Now Blackwell is in charge, people are moaning and wishing Warnock was back.

I think, that regardless of whoever the manager is, or how he does, how the results are, how the performances are, how the interviews are, how much he pays for players, how much discount he gets in the club shop and how much brown sauce he puts on his sarnies, people will moan.

I just think of how bad we were under Robson, and how much we were paying our underperforming players, and am thankful we aren't in the position he left us in 2 years ago, both in the league and financially (with 3 times the current wage bill).

Fair points but I can only speak for myself and this is the first time i've lost faith with Blackwell after his interview. I firmly believe that no manager who wishes to keep his job who has signed 95% of the squad should outright slag them off after the game and bring their bottle into question.

I too am pleased that we're not where we were under Robson and it is true that things aren't that bad, but as someone said to me today, why should we have to wait until things are that bad till we do something about it.

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

I'm certainly a long way from being a member of the doom and gloom brigade. I just think that once a manager says that the players he brought in he only got because there was no-one else, and that they nesh challenges and haven't the mentality to play away from home - you may as well give up and get a new manager.

Blackwell's far from the worst manager in the world, but if he doesn't believe in his own team, there's no real point in the rest of us persevering. I'll still be there on Tuesday, mind.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Blackwell is another Warnock only worse.

 

[LouTheBlade]

I believe Blackwell has pretty much signalled his departure from Bramall Lane with his own suicide note.

Don't count on it

 

[LouTheBlade]

Blackwell is another Warnock only worse.

Congratulations. Nail firmly on head. That sentence sums it up.

 

[Micalijo]

Workington - great point about the way the interview has been summarised. You'd have thought the media who are bothered about SUFC would have been all over it. Wonder if it will get a mention on Radio tonight?

 

[Grecian2000]

Absolutely spot on analogy up front there Santos.

Michael Foot was a pleasant, loyal and passionate old cove who was hung out to dry by the Labour Party in an un-winnable election. He served his purpose and moved on into the background, leaving better times ahead for his successors. He was NEVER going to be PM.

Blackie is a loyal and passionate (I'll skip the pleasant) young cove who has been hung out to dry by those in power at BDTBL. He has "done a job" and taken the heat away from those who are "re-profiling" the club. He was NEVER going to be the manager to take us to Premiership stability.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

That sums up what i've been trying to say.

Blackie's done a good job within the parameters set down by McCabe.

‘Still got a chance of the play-offs and wage bill slashed.’

I would imagine that McC is delighted. Big question is WHAT NEXT?

 

[raul]

Absolutely spot on analogy up front there Santos.

Michael Foot was a pleasant, loyal and passionate old cove who was hung out to dry by the Labour Party in an un-winnable election. He served his purpose and moved on into the background, leaving better times ahead for his successors. He was NEVER going to be PM.

Blackie is a loyal and passionate (I'll skip the pleasant) young cove who has been hung out to dry by those in power at BDTBL. He has "done a job" and taken the heat away from those who are "re-profiling" the club. He was NEVER going to be the manager to take us to Premiership stability.

Posted elsewhere and acknowledged as your work (unlike some of your other stuff, which I claim to have thought of myself)

 

[SwissBlade]

Picking up on what's been said about Blackies Interview, I've said before I don't take too much notice of what he said. I actually think some of the comments on here have been harsh and too much attention has been put on the detail rather than the wider view.

Part of the reason that I don't pay much attention is that he often talks such rubbish, however I think he cares (despite some people thinking he doesn't) and I think he lets his emotions get carried away, hence some strange outbursts, dodging the questions or sending Ellis/ Speed out when we lose. Saturday was a good example.

None of us know what gets said in the dressing room, so I don't think saying what he said publicly should be disected too much

Without wanting to make a comparison, anyone that has the Neil Warnock Series on DVD - watch the post match team talk after the last game of that season. NW makes a very good summary of the players, but the difference was that this was behind closed doors when it was said, but he knew the TV camera's were there, he just didn't hold back.

I'm not letting Blackie off the hook, I'm saying that I judge him on the field not on his media skills.

 

[Revolution]

He has "done a job" and taken the heat away from those who are "re-profiling" the club.

Absolutely right. This is of course the reason why he got the contract extension out of the blue, which was not apparent at the time. He is essential to the re-profiling project.

This outburst, however, is perhaps evidence that he may actually quit. He seems pretty fed up with the situation.

I do have some sympathy for him. Not much, but some. I am sure that he thought it was an idiot idea to sell our 3 best defenders. Only a complete and utter fool would think otherwise, and he's not that.

He fully deserves criticism for some other decisions he's made. My personal bugbear is his handling of Cotteril, but there are other things that can be levelled at his door which are entirely his own fault.

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

I think this is what they call a "clarification":

Gaffer wants response

Posted on: Mon 08 Mar 2010

Kevin Blackwell has backed his players to find the answer to their puzzlingly poor away form after hinting on Saturday that the answer might lie within their own personalities.

His hope is that by questioning certain aspects of their approach they will respond in the right away and not throw away what is still a good chance of reaching the play-offs:

"I want them all to know what is at stake and sometimes you can't beat about the bush but they are a great set of lads and I have a lot of respect for them.

"Our away form has been our Achilles heel and we have to put it right, and although sometimes things happen that you can't explain it is very frustrating."

The Blades boss takes his squad to Peterborough on Tuesday afternoon determined that his staff, the players and himself will find the answer to a problem that is in stark contrast to last season:

"A large number of the new players and I are still getting to know each other and you need to have an awareness of the respective strengths and weaknesses to build and understanding and a style of play.

"The last few away fixtures have seen us poor in the first-half and good in the second so why do we have to wait until half-time and a possible rocket before we play?

"It might be a psychological problem but we have only been losing by the odd goal and I feel that we have got to be tuned in early so that we aren't chasing the game all the time."

 

[Santos]

I think this is what they call a "clarification":

Gaffer wants response

Posted on: Mon 08 Mar 2010

Kevin Blackwell has backed his players to find the answer to their puzzlingly poor away form after hinting on Saturday that the answer might lie within their own personalities.

His hope is that by questioning certain aspects of their approach they will respond in the right away and not throw away what is still a good chance of reaching the play-offs:

"I want them all to know what is at stake and sometimes you can't beat about the bush but they are a great set of lads and I have a lot of respect for them.

"Our away form has been our Achilles heel and we have to put it right, and although sometimes things happen that you can't explain it is very frustrating."

The Blades boss takes his squad to Peterborough on Tuesday afternoon determined that his staff, the players and himself will find the answer to a problem that is in stark contrast to last season:

"A large number of the new players and I are still getting to know each other and you need to have an awareness of the respective strengths and weaknesses to build and understanding and a style of play.

"The last few away fixtures have seen us poor in the first-half and good in the second so why do we have to wait until half-time and a possible rocket before we play?

"It might be a psychological problem but we have only been losing by the odd goal and I feel that we have got to be tuned in early so that we aren't chasing the game all the time."

All very well but it doesn't detract from the fact he made those comments. I'd happily ban Blackwell from post match interviews when we don't win. He just comes across quite poorly and i think some of the stuff he says could potentially do damage to squad morale, then again I suppose he must say worse stuff in the dressing room.