Latest at the Lane

[sheffielder]

Where are they saying this?

Don't worry about it Maxster. Didn't mean Clough or anything!

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

"Grayson is tactically astute" Why is he? I would argue his team relies heavily on a very good striker, without whom, when injured earlier this season, his team's form was indifferent. Grayson can't seem to hold a job down in the Championship.

"Robinson has learned a lot in the last 3 years" Finishing positions: 5th, 5th, 8th, 10th - What exactly has he learned?

"Cotterill knows this division and what works here" Based on what? One good season?

I get your point about teams with a more direct, aggressive style seeming to do well in League One, but it's wrong to suggest it's the only way - as Southampton, Doncaster and others have proved in recent years. In fact the closest we have come to getting out of League One was with an approach closer to Clough's than the one you propose.

Agree with your assessment . I think this season you have to give some form of credit to all three is that they have been astute in the transfer market , and have bought and loaned well , with there signings .

The only downside for us is that we have still not sorted out the defence and attack only recently . IMO if we had done this preseason ( Clough had no luck with Higdon , Butler , and taking Wallace in midfield , he is always on a sick note ) , we would be challenging for automatic not the play offs.

Grayson and Cotterill will be on there way sooner rather than later , and Robinson is very lucky that he has a understanding set of fans and chairman.

It does conclude that maybe Clough was a little behind the ball for league 1 , but he is the right fit for the Blades , as there really is no one else out there , who could do the job imo.

UTB

 

[Blade56]

Been talking to a journalist today in London , who said exactly the same , but with a different spin . He said , he had found out due to the Blades touting for another manager . If i think who it is , he has league 1 experience , and promotion on his cV , but would he be any better , than what we've got . Maybe for the final push.

UTB

That's what you want to hear, the board are looking for a strong branch to grab before they let go of the weak one.

If journo's are hearing rumbles it adds some credibility (not) but one can hope cause it ain't floating my boat at the moment.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

That's what you want to hear, the board are looking for a strong branch to grab before they let go of the weak one.

If journo's are hearing rumbles it adds some credibility (not) but one can hope cause it ain't floating my boat at the moment.

Blade56 , the issue i find frustrating is that journalists , agents and board members can create as much trouble for a manager as players and results can on the pitch . One leads to another and vis versa. Thats why the life span of any manager is at a all time low and will get worst , as clubs fight for promotion or try and stave off relegation . Except for a select few , all mangers are or appear to be bad as each other.

UTB

 

[Hodgyman]

I think that when we signed Nigel that most of us optimistically expected "the son of Brian". Clough senior also based his style of play on defending well and the hitting the opposition on the fast counter-attack. The difference is that Brian recruited a world class keeper (Peter Shilton), robust central defenders (e.g. Loyd and Burns), industrious midfielders (e.g Gemmill) and international quality strikers such as Withe, Birtles and even Tricky Trevor) to make the most out of the few chances they made against the top sides. Brian also was quick to recognise when a new signing wasn't making a positive impact, sidelining them until they did or selling them on.

Nigel has tried the same approach to the style of play but the most prominent similarities with his dad seem to be recruiting players that have played for him before (whether good, bad or otherwise), poor interpersonal skills and his single minded stubbornness.

I don't need to tell you where the shortcomings are in Clough's performance. It is approaching make your mind up time for the board, either change how Nigel operates, particularly man management skills or change the manager.

I also think that even if promotion is achieved, Nigel will still need to be coached.

If there isn't a change for the better, I know 4 season ticket holders that will not renew next year regardless of the division we are in. We are not Johnny-come-lately, glory seekers either having over 175 years of supporting the Blades between us, most of which season ticket holding.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Phipps is being bombarded by fans on his Facebook page calling for Clough's sacking.

I can understand why it's tempting to join in. It must be incredibly frustrating to see the team he has assembled put in one crap performance after another. If we drop out of the Play Off zone on Saturday the pressure will be even greater.

People are citing Dave Jones' sacking at the pigs and Wilson's sacking at Barnsley as evidence that a new face can revive a team. But I'd like to see stats on this. I suspect that for Every Barnsley or Wednesday there's been plenty of instances where a new manager hasn't halted the slump. Most recently, Adams and Morgan's appointments didn't have much effect when they took charge at the Lane.

This is Clough's squad and he knows the players better than anyone else, so I'd give him until the end of the campaign. With 10 games to go there's no certainty that a new manager would be able to turn things around - and Clough hasn't failed yet.

Why don't we get a new manager who will win a few as he is a new manager, fuck him of when we lose and get another one who will no doubt go on a 5 game winning run until we sack him for the next genius who will then win a few.

Keep repeating this and we be Champion's League winners before we know it, no wonder I'm looking forward to 2019 so much.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Why don't we get a new manager who will win a few as he is a new manager, fuck him of when we lose and get another one who will no doubt go on a 5 game winning run until we sack him for the next genius who will then win a few.

Keep repeating this and we be Champion's League winners before we know it, no wonder I'm looking forward to 2019 so much.

You ought to be SUFC resident sage, have your own front of house office where irate fans can ask questions and you provide replies similar to the above to pacify the chances of any wrist's being slashed. There, problem solved.

 

[Hodgyman]

Why don't we get a new manager who will win a few as he is a new manager, fuck him of when we lose and get another one who will no doubt go on a 5 game winning run until we sack him for the next genius who will then win a few.

Keep repeating this and we be Champion's League winners before we know it, no wonder I'm looking forward to 2019 so much.

 

[Hodgyman]

I don't care who the manager is, I just want to see decent, entertaining football when I am paying for the privilege. I have seen more entertaining football watching amateurs in the local park than at BDTBL this season, Southampton match excepted. Something whether it is the manager's approach or the manager himself has got to change. I am not confident that it will be any better if we do manage to get into the championship either. Many Derby fans christened him as "Negative Nigel" playing at that level too.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Being in League 1 SUFC should be sending out a team each week with a swagger about them, a team that says 'we're taking the game to you, we dont care how you play, we're doing it our way'.

We shouldnt have to worry about picking up 'Good away points', we should have enough points from away games we win because we went for it.

 

[finlaytheblade]

I think that when we signed Nigel that most of us optimistically expected "the son of Brian". Clough senior also based his style of play on defending well and the hitting the opposition on the fast counter-attack. The difference is that Brian recruited a world class keeper (Peter Shilton), robust central defenders (e.g. Loyd and Burns), industrious midfielders (e.g Gemmill) and international quality strikers such as Withe, Birtles and even Tricky Trevor) to make the most out of the few chances they made against the top sides. Brian also was quick to recognise when a new signing wasn't making a positive impact, sidelining them until they did or selling them on.

Nigel has tried the same approach to the style of play but the most prominent similarities with his dad seem to be recruiting players that have played for him before (whether good, bad or otherwise), poor interpersonal skills and his single minded stubbornness.

I don't need to tell you where the shortcomings are in Clough's performance. It is approaching make your mind up time for the board, either change how Nigel operates, particularly man management skills or change the manager.

I also think that even if promotion is achieved, Nigel will still need to be coached.

If there isn't a change for the better, I know 4 season ticket holders that will not renew next year regardless of the division we are in. We are not Johnny-come-lately, glory seekers either having over 175 years of supporting the Blades between us, most of which season ticket holding.

having followed the blades for all these years you give up now? we have got investment and are on the way up whether this season or next!! clough or someone new!! most strange attitude to take a bit of patience is required its amazing that well seasoned blades take this stand the future is bright harness it.

 

[BerksBlade]

I didn't expect miracles when Nigel was appointed. I expected a steadying influence to get us out of trouble and build for this season. After the Crewe debacle he somehow galvanised the team to play with spirit and passion for a few short weeks. I'm not sure even Nigel himself knows how that happened, because he seems incapable of repeating it.
Throw in a poor preseason, fall-outs with senior players and a questionable recruitment policy and that's where we are today - a team so focused on not losing they seem to have forgotten how to win.