Late night thoughts about the upcoming season...

[Yank]

Just sitting here chilling with a beer and some pretzels thinking about the upcoming season (The 14th can't come quick enough!). I know a lot on here, on Twitter, and other areas are getting frustrated with the lack of transfer activity surrounding the club, and are anxious about what the squad will be like on opening day. I myself am pretty relaxed overall about the whole situation, and do fully trust that CW and company will bring in at least a couple more before then and we will be good to go.

I had full faith in us before last season that we would ultimately stave off relegation, and make a very good account of ourselves. We went above and beyond my expectations tbh by finishing 9th and not far off from the European places. Some great moments throughout the season, and yes some head scratching moments as well. Overall though it was just great to see the Blades in the Prem again.

Also, like others I would love for us to score a bit more, but I think that will come. Our style of play really frustrates the opposition also and I don't see that changing this season.

Finishing 9th this last season was a fantastic achievement for the Blades, and now let's go after it and do even better.

UTB

 

[BrisBlade]

I'm with you Yank. We had next to no PL experience in the team last year and thrived, so I'm not jabbing at the panic button just because we haven't got Cash, Swift, Dennis, Eze, et al. Of course I'd love to see an exciting signing or two (I blame WUM for raising my hopes by mentioning Aleksandr Isak as a target!). However, I'm more keen not to lose any of our core starters. If we also get in a few lower key signings with potential and desire to take a great opportunity to make a name for themselves at a fantastic football club then that's fine by me.

Bring on the 14th! UTB!

 

[Barney]

New season, new font

 

[Hodgesleftpeg]

The worry is, as CW has said, if we don’t bring players in we will go backwards. We were fortunate last year that we didn’t get many injuries. I thought Robinson did a decent job when he played but we did seem to lose some of our mojo when JOC wasn’t playing... it is frustrating that the players we are in for are going elsewhere. Can’t fault the club at not wanting to pay 50k a week for a back up wingback.. but I think if we are to push on, unfortunately we may well have to start paying these wages, especially for players coming in as first team squad players as opposed to back ups/future.

 

[Teddy]

New season, new font

Part of the Summer ground improvements? Good to know the Prince won’t be pushing Islam on us...

 

[Kev Gee]

Just sitting here chilling with a beer and some pretzels thinking about the upcoming season (The 14th can't come quick enough!). I know a lot on here, on Twitter, and other areas are getting frustrated with the lack of transfer activity surrounding the club, and are anxious about what the squad will be like on opening day. I myself am pretty relaxed overall about the whole situation, and do fully trust that CW and company will bring in at least a couple more before then and we will be good to go.

I had full faith in us before last season that we would ultimately stave off relegation, and make a very good account of ourselves. We went above and beyond my expectations tbh by finishing 9th and not far off from the European places. Some great moments throughout the season, and yes some head scratching moments as well. Overall though it was just great to see the Blades in the Prem again.

Also, like others I would love for us to score a bit more, but I think that will come. Our style of play really frustrates the opposition also and I don't see that changing this season.

Finishing 9th this last season was a fantastic achievement for the Blades, and now let's go after it and do even better.

UTB

Well said Yank!!
UTB!!

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Just sitting here chilling with a beer and some pretzels thinking about the upcoming season (The 14th can't come quick enough!). I know a lot on here, on Twitter, and other areas are getting frustrated with the lack of transfer activity surrounding the club, and are anxious about what the squad will be like on opening day. I myself am pretty relaxed overall about the whole situation, and do fully trust that CW and company will bring in at least a couple more before then and we will be good to go.

I had full faith in us before last season that we would ultimately stave off relegation, and make a very good account of ourselves. We went above and beyond my expectations tbh by finishing 9th and not far off from the European places. Some great moments throughout the season, and yes some head scratching moments as well. Overall though it was just great to see the Blades in the Prem again.

Also, like others I would love for us to score a bit more, but I think that will come. Our style of play really frustrates the opposition also and I don't see that changing this season.

Finishing 9th this last season was a fantastic achievement for the Blades, and now let's go after it and do even better.

UTB

I think we'll struggle to do better than 9th tbh and the lack of incoming, with less than 2 weeks to go before kick off, is becoming a bit of a concern. I wouldn't say I'm getting anxious about it, because I've every confidence Wilder will add a few players to the squad. But ideally these players need to be here now and playing in the practice games and getting to learn the unique way in which we set up. But also for the management's benefit too, not just for the players benefit. The management need to see what options they bring and how they can be incorporated into the team, experiment with them in new positions, etc., in competitive games before the season starts.

That's the thing that concerns me most about the lack of incoming - the lack of opportunity for them to bed in pre-season.

The other thing that is in my mind is how we went from being a very consistent team, pre-lockdown, to being rather inconsistent and a pale shadow of our former selves, in the games post lockdown. Yes there were some good performances in there too, but we'd gone all season pre-lockdown, consistently competing well in all games, then after lockdown it looked like we'd forgotten how to play football in some games! Others may disagree, but I think the one thing above all else that ensured that 9th place finish last season was consistency of performances, week in, week out. If we are to become a team that plays well one week but not another, then that is fraught with difficulty at this level of football. This is my worst fear actually, not having the players at our disposal to put in a solid consistent performance in every match.

I think all the lads who are at the club currently are solid and can be relied upon to perform week in week out, but at the same time, players lose form, get injured, whatever, and you need to have options in depth to plug the holes when those things happen. And I don't think we have enough depth and quality in depth to do that right now.

So, as much as I'd love to see us trailblazing at the top of the table, I'm seeing this as a season in which we will have to really buckle down and battle through and if we manage another top half finish I'll be pleasantly surprised tbh.

 

[metalblade]

Can I just remind everyone we have only lost out on the lad from Wigan, rightly so too £45k per week for back up no thanks. Were we ever in for Eze? Villa despite all the flashing of the wallet have brought in one player from League 2 Exeter City. Most of our fans really do need to get a grip FFS like a load of excitable school girls, infants at that.

 

[metalblade]

As an asides I think the fans are being hugely disrespectful to CW and his team and our owner The Prince who since he arrived at the club has made funds available like no one has before. Even when he was co-owner he was the one who wanted to invest in players when McCabe refused to. While we are on the subject of KM like it or not Championship clubs do not cave in at the first bid over a million pounds as he would have you believe just because he had no balls. Transfers can take time show a bit of patience and respect to the people who have transformed SUFC form league one no hopers to a top half Premier League side in just a few years.

 

[Snowflake]

I don’t have any worries about the first few matches as new players will not be needed, after all we still have the same starting 10 plus Ramsdale.
What would be a concern would be a lack of two or three good players by the end of this month. However I don’t think there is any chance we will be left short by that time and we still would have 16 days of potential transfers next month.

 

[Snake]

Can I just remind everyone we have only lost out on the lad from Wigan, rightly so too £45k per week for back up no thanks. Were we ever in for Eze? Villa despite all the flashing of the wallet have brought in one player from League 2 Exeter City. Most of our fans really do need to get a grip FFS like a load of excitable school girls, infants at that.

Well said mate. We do seem to have a lot of bed wetters supporting us these days. Look at our progression since CWAK took charge and you will see a steady improvement window on window. Even most of the players who didn't quite cut the cloth still earned us a bob or two in the transfer market (Evans and Leonard for example). CWAK and the Prince deserve a whole load of slack from us. Things are cool and we should chill the fuck out and get behind the red and white wizards!

 

[bongleblade]

Who else read this like a Radio 4 presenter in their head when they saw the font

 

[Zipwire]

Well said mate. We do seem to have a lot of bed wetters supporting us these days. Look at our progression since CWAK took charge and you will see a steady improvement window on window. Even most of the players who didn't quite cut the cloth still earned us a bob or two in the transfer market (Evans and Leonard for example). CWAK and the Prince deserve a whole load of slack from us. Things are cool and we should chill the fuck out and get behind the red and white wizards!

As far as I’m concerned this season is more or less another free hit for CWAK and the prince.

My biggest fear is a huge overreaction from certain quarters if this season doesn’t match up to his last season went. Rightfully or wrongfully it has raised expectations and let us dare to dream and it was an exceptional season. Personally I’ve got my doubts that we can either match or surpass that, and being pragmatic I wouldn’t be surprised if we do find ourselves at the lower reaches of the table, but that is hardly surprising considering we fighting in a division where the financial firepower of most of the teams we are competing against dwarves our own firepower

 

[8lade]

As an asides I think the fans are being hugely disrespectful to CW and his team and our owner The Prince who since he arrived at the club has made funds available like no one has before. Even when he was co-owner he was the one who wanted to invest in players when McCabe refused to. While we are on the subject of KM like it or not Championship clubs do not cave in at the first bid over a million pounds as he would have you believe just because he had no balls. Transfers can take time show a bit of patience and respect to the people who have transformed SUFC form league one no hopers to a top half Premier League side in just a few years.

Never miss an opportunity to have a pop at McCabe, it was the prince who wasn't able (unwilling?) to pony up his half of the cash towards the end and us making it to the Prem came just in time to save him. McCabe got the club to a position where it was able to cover most of the costs itself (he initially and then jointly with the prince were covering the shortfalls), so I don't understand why a number of people turn a blind eye to this and only slate him for his time as the owner.
edit : The irony/hypocrisy of this line, ' I think the fans are being hugely disrespectful to (CW and his team and) our owner The Prince...'

 

[Worksop II]

Who else read this like a Radio 4 presenter in their head when they saw the font

I thought that were new Pint Pots .....

 

[Worksop II]

Never miss an opportunity to have a pop at McCabe, it was the prince who wasn't able (unwilling?) to pony up his half of the cash towards the end and us making it to the Prem came just in time to save him. McCabe got the club to a position where it was able to cover most of the costs itself (he initially and then jointly with the prince were covering the shortfalls), so I don't understand why a number of people turn a blind eye to this and only slate him for his time as the owner.
edit : The irony/hypocrisy of this line, ' I think the fans are being hugely disrespectful to (CW and his team and) our owner The Prince...'

Nah, Nah, Nah that not what happened

The Prince was having trouble comming up with the money, but in the event he did, on time

It was McCabe who failed to make the Payments, he decided it wasn't needed

This was covered in the Court case

 

[8lade]

I'll take your word for that, the rest of the statement still stands including the other parts of that sentence.
For clarity :
" Never miss an opportunity to have a pop at McCabe, it was the prince who wasn't able (unwilling?) to pony up his half of the cash towards the end and us making it to the Prem came just in time to save him. "

 

[metalblade]

I'll take your word for that, the rest of the statement still stands including the other parts of that sentence.
For clarity :
" Never miss an opportunity to have a pop at McCabe, it was the prince who wasn't able (unwilling?) to pony up his half of the cash towards the end and us making it to the Prem came just in time to save him. "

You really should do a bit of reading before spouting

 

[8lade]

You really should do a bit of reading before spouting

What an amazing comeback, no defence of your pathetic position on McCabe because as all sensible people can appreciate he has done more for this club than anybody other than Wilder in the last 40 years. You seem to forget the lengthy list of previous owners misleading and screwed up efforts (similar to your own attempt to construct an argument) that had left this club in debt and ready to face year after year of cup runs being the most we could hope for. I'd really like to go to town on you and your appetite for dissing the man who has kept Sheffield United a viable entity over the last 20 years but already feel I am bullying you, no doubt you have a substandard education you can call on to justify your miserable and pathetically wrong views.

 

[frechyblade]

As far as I’m concerned this season is more or less another free hit for CWAK and the prince.

My biggest fear is a huge overreaction from certain quarters if this season doesn’t match up to his last season went. Rightfully or wrongfully it has raised expectations and let us dare to dream and it was an exceptional season. Personally I’ve got my doubts that we can either match or surpass that, and being pragmatic I wouldn’t be surprised if we do find ourselves at the lower reaches of the table, but that is hardly surprising considering we fighting in a division where the financial firepower of most of the teams we are competing against dwarves our own firepower

There are some overreacting to our performances post lockdown. I’m sure I read that our form post lockdown, had it been for the full season, would have us finishing 12th. A position I would have killed for at the start of last season and the upcoming one.
I think the priority over the coming seasons is to establish ourselves as an EPL side, hopefully a good cup run or two. All the time building a better squad.
UTB

 

[metalblade]

What an amazing comeback, no defence of your pathetic position on McCabe because as all sensible people can appreciate he has done more for this club than anybody other than Wilder in the last 40 years. You seem to forget the lengthy list of previous owners misleading and screwed up efforts (similar to your own attempt to construct an argument) that had left this club in debt and ready to face year after year of cup runs being the most we could hope for. I'd really like to go to town on you and your appetite for dissing the man who has kept Sheffield United a viable entity over the last 20 years but already feel I am bullying you, no doubt you have a substandard education you can call on to justify your miserable and pathetically wrong views.

Crack on fella

 

[8lade]

Crack on fella

I actually feel sorry for you, your infatuation with McCabe is wrong and you've had every opportunity to absorb the truth but it seems to be beyond your comprehension.

 

[Constantly Optimistic...]

Jeez, this supposed to be about next season, not the past. Yes, Mcabe kept us financially stable for many years, but had no real ambition for the club. We landed Wilder almost by default. After Madkins no one was interested. Anyway, thank God he took the job. The rest is history.
So, to next season, I think our defence and midfield are stable enough to do another great job. Hopefully Berge has developed well after settling in. We all know it is upfront we need more speed and strength. The hope is that McBurnie and Mousset will move up a grade. But what I would give for a couple of class speedy strikers that can make chances themselves and put away the many chances we can create, well that's my take. I think there could be a surprise or two in the pipeline UTB

 

[Worksop II]

I'll take your word for that

No need to take my word for it, the full Judgement is still online, it's a good read

Here

FYI

SUL = McCabe

UTB = The Prince

If nothing else read page 92 Paragraphs 341 - 344 - it mentions there where Tutton (SUL) tells Giansiracusa (UTB) that Kev aint gonna come up with the cash.

But read on, where you learn a bit more about Kevin McCabe

 

[8lade]

metalblade I'm not doing this for your benefit that decade has clearly past, it's for others to see what you are.

 

[8lade]

Worksop II thank you I shall read that and pass my own judgement.

 

[metalblade]

metalblade I'm not doing this for your benefit that decade has clearly past, it's for others to see what you are.

Wow you have got a boner on eh a real crusader

Worksop II thank you I shall read that and pass my own judgement.

Looks to me like Worksop II has shot you down in flames ha ha

 

[Inox]

What an amazing comeback, no defence of your pathetic position on McCabe because as all sensible people can appreciate he has done more for this club than anybody other than Wilder in the last 40 years. You seem to forget the lengthy list of previous owners misleading and screwed up efforts (similar to your own attempt to construct an argument) that had left this club in debt and ready to face year after year of cup runs being the most we could hope for. I'd really like to go to town on you and your appetite for dissing the man who has kept Sheffield United a viable entity over the last 20 years but already feel I am bullying you, no doubt you have a substandard education you can call on to justify your miserable and pathetically wrong views.

What an amazing comeback, no defence of your pathetic position on McCabe because as all sensible people can appreciate he has done more for this club than anybody other than Wilder in the last 40 years. You seem to forget the lengthy list of previous owners misleading and screwed up efforts (similar to your own attempt to construct an argument) that had left this club in debt and ready to face year after year of cup runs being the most we could hope for. I'd really like to go to town on you and your appetite for dissing the man who has kept Sheffield United a viable entity over the last 20 years but already feel I am bullying you, no doubt you have a substandard education you can call on to justify your miserable and pathetically wrong views.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I'm not concerned at all about the lack of incoming players. I know from 4 years experience that it's best to trust the manager. Anyone remember the panic when we sold Lee Evans?..... but who's going to play in midfield, we're doomed....... oh we've signed Ollie Norwood. He didn't take long to 'bed in' to our style of play either did he?

I'm saying the same about our prospects before this season as I did before last season, I just think we'll be alright. Last season we were more than alright and it's worth noting that our league position has improved every season under his majesty, Chris Wilder.

 

[blade too long]

Think it's become obvious no targets are being bandied about as being close to being signed as Aston Villas scouts are reading who we may bring in then offering silly money for them.
As usual CW AK will announce signings now when they've signed