Leaving cups out of it is this season a write-off?

[Blade58]

Personally, fk the cups

The week in, week out bread and butter of the league is far more important to me, especially as we have been wollowing in div 3 for 4 seasons, soon to be 5 it seems

 

[Lane Ender]

Cups are only a sideshow.

Ridiculous to show him the door know though we would make ourselves a bigger laughing stock than we are.
Fucking ashamed of our club at the moment.

 

[Silent Blade]

The Swindon game will be season defining

Rubbish! After the Swindon game we will no longer have play a league match against teams presently in top position, 3rd and 4th place. We will finish the season strongly

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Not at all. Losing to MK Dons means nothing. We were never (or a least in my opinion) going to be challenging for automatic promotion with out squad, so results against the top sides mean nothing. We need to beat the Rochdales & Bradfords of this world to secure a top 6 spot and hope we can win the lottery of the playoffs. No need to give up on the season just yet!

3 x months ago we were all focusing on the Swindons and Bristol Citys. Now, it's the Rochdales and Bradfords. May be so but looking at the points, let's hope it's not the Barnsleys, Scunthorpes and Coventrys. They are only 7 points behind us now. It's been a long day to witness such a poor, lack lustre game today. Up front, as it's said, "we were like a one legged man in an arse kicking competition". Our form at the moment is woeful and if we don't fix the lack of goals, we struggle to finish top 10.

 

[Gavlar]

Win the Play Offs? We could have our own less glorious version of the "5 times" scouse chant.

5 times! It's only taken 5 times!

Wank and anyone happy with this season or NN overall should give their head a wobble.

I'd be happier with this season after a wank )

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Rubbish! After the Swindon game we will no longer have play a league match against teams presently in top position, 3rd and 4th place. We will finish the season strongly

Yes true . The teams above us are better than us ,

The teams 5th , 6th , 7th , 8th etc etc , are like us ,a much of a muchness. We can easily lose the games as we can win them

 

[sitwell]

Leave the league out of it and its one of our best seasons ever ........ discuss x

 

[davidpinder]

Discuss

To answer the title. Yes. We don't win in the playoffs and can not catch 18 points up. We WILL be in league one next season.

 

[davidpinder]

Yes true . The teams above us are better than us ,

The teams 5th , 6th , 7th , 8th etc etc , are like us ,a much of a muchness. We can easily lose the games as we can win them

But we have to go away to the team in 2nd.

 

[blader]

3 x months ago we were all focusing on the Swindons and Bristol Citys. Now, it's the Rochdales and Bradfords. May be so but looking at the points, let's hope it's not the Barnsleys, Scunthorpes and Coventrys. They are only 7 points behind us now. It's been a long day to witness such a poor, lack lustre game today. Up front, as it's said, "we were like a one legged man in an arse kicking competition". Our form at the moment is woeful and if we don't fix the lack of goals, we struggle to finish top 10.

Like I said, I never believed we had a squad close to Bristol's, so that wasn't a concern for me at the start of the season. The optimists still believe we have the best squad in the league, but unfortunately that is not, and never has been, the case.

 

[pommpey]

Some interesting exchanges on here today, post match.

The optimists still reckon this season has everything to play for and I think (correct me if I am wrong) some advocate we could still get automatic? I'd like to see some people's working out on this. Especially given we are wholly inconsistent this season and automatic promotion requires consistent, pressured wins with plenty of goals.

I am still a bit disheartened to see us fall away from the challenge now and roll out of the playoffs. Unless we can put in a run of at least three wins in the next five, I think even they are not really going to be an option. Not that I give much of a fuck anyway. We are shit at the playoffs (and no one can prove me otherwise) and it always end us in heartbreak, be it rolling over in the final or being buttfucked by an assumed minor team in the earlier rounds.

I'm concerned at the comments also regarding McNulty. Today apparently he was dogshit, can't run, can't put himself about, opposition defenders smoking a fag and playing cards, etc. Strange, because against Southampton, he was fucking unplayable. The Scummers defence didn't know what to do with him and in the end it was he who drew the red card from their player. Other comments defy the play we have seen from players in the cup matches, Are we to assume Sheffield United's focus is on the League and FA Cup, then? They seem to be saving everything to put on the display of talent and commitment we know they possibly have ... for the knockout trophies worth a pittance in prize money and future building than a promotion to the Championship.

If that is the case (and some would think this is so) then I say its a bad move. We could win the League Cup - great stuff - but we'd still be a third division outfit next season. Then what? Our mercurial players will of course be happy to remain at a team in the third tier? No, me neither.

And we still have £2.5m, the cup money from last year, Game Changing Investments, and this new injection of cash we were promised.

The clock is ticking McCabe.

pommpey

 

[Davie Blade]

Basil: Can't we get you on Mastermind, Nigel? Next contestant - Nigel Clough from Sheffield United . Special subject - the bleedin' obvious

 

[Davie Blade]

Pretty much.

Even if we somehow put together a run of 12/13/14 wins we still won't be troubling the top two.

fixed for you.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

weve lost to 4th in the league , a team Robinsons had 4 years to fashion , not great but it wasnt losing 3-0 at crewe, they did flatten man utd 4-0 , so are hardly cannon fodder

So it's 2017 we need to look forward to not 2019?

 

[grafikhaus]

Yes it's a write-off for the League, I'm afraid. When you're chasing the pack (don't mean Brizzle & Swindon, they're gone) you have to rely on them having the occasional slip-up. And then pounce.

Preston are having a wobble, but as ever United have made sure they've finished the weekend another point in front of us.

By the time we play our next league game (31st Jan. v Swindon at home) it is possible we'll be in 14th or 15th place. A sobering thought...

 

[grafikhaus]

We could win the League Cup - great stuff - but we'd still be a third division outfit next season. Then what? Our mercurial players will of course be happy to remain at a team in the third tier? No, me neither.

You were doing sooo well until this bit, pommpey.

Yes, it's been a great cup run again, but the history books only record the winners. A little job to do on Spurs over two legs and then see off Chelsea or Liverpool in the final. Yeah, I can see it!

 

[true99blade]

There seems to be a humungous overreaction in my opinion. I'm a bit puzzled as to why so many have suddenly become to the conclusion that we won't finish top 2. So we were nailed on for it before the game yesterday were we? I still have the confidence in Nigel that if we finish in the top 6 we will go up. The only teams in the top 6/8 I wouldn't relish playing in the play offs are Swindon and perhaps Bristol City. MK Dons, fair enough have taken 6 points off of us. But let's be right, we should've beaten them fairly comfortably at the Lane, I can't see them getting anything on our patch in a pressure-filled Play off semi and we all know how the League Cup fixture went down. So why give up completely? It just appears to me that many love a hissy fit as soon as things turn a little sour.

Would any of you be afraid of Preston, Bradford, Rochdale in the play offs? We've already beaten them in the league so in a cup-like situation I can't see us slipping up this time in the play offs.

 

[stannyblade]

Trouble is it gets harder every year to get out of this tin pot league

 

[Blade56]

we should've beaten them fairly comfortably at the Lane,

And there is the problem, we should have beaten Walsall, Notts County, Chesterfield, mK, LO, Port Vale et al with ease and put up a fight against Bristol and Swindon. Fact is we didn't and I return to my mantra the with our support, resources, financial backing, cup money, sales monies etc we should be a contender in this piss poor league!

That's not a Hissy fit it's a FACT

 

[alcoblade]

Yes it's a write-off for the League, I'm afraid. When you're chasing the pack (don't mean Brizzle & Swindon, they're gone) you have to rely on them having the occasional slip-up. And then pounce.

Preston are having a wobble, but as ever United have made sure they've finished the weekend another point in front of us.

By the time we play our next league game (31st Jan. v Swindon at home) it is possible we'll be in 14th or 15th place. A sobering thought...

Blade too Long will still have a plan for the treble.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

Trouble is it gets harder every year to get out of this tin pot league

Next season will be a true test. There appears to be fuck all money in the present seemingly good position. I think an optimist would gave to plan for 5,000 less through the gates next season.

If there's any truth in the rumour that were prepared to shell out almost half next seasins season ticket revenue

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Rubbish! After the Swindon game we will no longer have play a league match against teams presently in top position, 3rd and 4th place. We will finish the season strongly

Oh great, after the way we've demolished teams like Notts C, Walsall, Barnsley, Oldham etc, that's something to look forward to.

 

[alcoblade]

Next season will be a true test. There appears to be fuck all money in the present seemingly good position. I think an optimist would gave to plan for 5,000 less through the gates next season.

If there's any truth in the rumour that were prepared to shell out almost half next seasins season ticket revenue........

.......on a fullback then it looks to me like we've learned no lessons.

UTB

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

You are joking about Mk & Preston aren't you Hartley ? or have you missed the fact that MK have taken 6 points off us this season ?.

If we make the play offs , like in the League Cup semi final draw , all the other teams will want to play SUFC.

Preston , MK Dons will be more concerned about playing the Rochdales , Bradfords of this world than us . Why -

Because in league 1 football we are predictable and one dimensional .

UTB

 

[bartman]

If we make the play offs , like in the League Cup semi final draw , all the other teams will want to play SUFC.

Preston , MK Dons will be more concerned about playing the Rochdales , Bradfords of this world than us . Why -

Because in league 1 football we are predictable and one dimensional .

UTB

and PNE and MKD aren't predictable and one dimensional ? We have nothing to fear in any of the teams my worry is whether we will make the top 6

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

and PNE and MKD aren't predictable and one dimensional ? We have nothing to fear in any of the teams my worry is whether we will make the top 6

Yes , let us make the play offs , before anything else . The threat all other teams have over us ,is having out and out goal scorers .

Play offs for me , would now be a huge success , and i suppose the cup games and how we have performed in them ,should give us fans a little glimmer of hope , that this year could be the one.

However lets make the top six first , and hope all associated and paid by SUFC know what they are doing .

UTB

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Like I said, I never believed we had a squad close to Bristol's, so that wasn't a concern for me at the start of the season. The optimists still believe we have the best squad in the league, but unfortunately that is not, and never has been, the case.

Couldn't agree with you more. It's a real disappointment - still let's see what we can do in the run in? Still for me, we have to sort out the lack of goals as an absolute priority. It was another long day yesterday, away from home!

 

[Kenilworth]

There seems to be a humungous overreaction in my opinion. I'm a bit puzzled as to why so many have suddenly become to the conclusion that we won't finish top 2. So we were nailed on for it before the game yesterday were we? I still have the confidence in Nigel that if we finish in the top 6 we will go up. The only teams in the top 6/8 I wouldn't relish playing in the play offs are Swindon and perhaps Bristol City. MK Dons, fair enough have taken 6 points off of us. But let's be right, we should've beaten them fairly comfortably at the Lane, I can't see them getting anything on our patch in a pressure-filled Play off semi and we all know how the League Cup fixture went down. So why give up completely? It just appears to me that many love a hissy fit as soon as things turn a little sour.

Would any of you be afraid of Preston, Bradford, Rochdale in the play offs? We've already beaten them in the league so in a cup-like situation I can't see us slipping up this time in the play offs.

Turn a little sour? The fucking thing is already fetid - never mind a little sour.

I tell you what. We have the LC Semi and R4 of the FAC away at Preston then Swindon at home on the last day of the month - then the tranny window shuts. By that time the season will be a fucking rotting corpse and no amount of blind faith and optimism is going to revive it - not even if you fuck it and inject your bladey Bladeness fluid into it.

The cup runs are the only bright spark and as good as they are it's a fucking tragedy that we have screwed the league up so badly at this stage of the season already.

 

[Lampiao]

.[/QUOTE]

Would any of you be afraid of Preston, Bradford, Rochdale in the play offs? We've already beaten them in the league so in a cup-like situation I can't see us slipping up this time in the play offs.

Remember beating Palace and Wolves easily in the league prior to the play-off finals - In fact I made a mistake in being interviewed by Radio Sheffield outside Millenium Stadium for some voxpop, saying we would win easy "four nil" - how deluded I was

 

[pommpey]

You were doing sooo well until this bit, pommpey.

Yes, it's been a great cup run again, but the history books only record the winners. A little job to do on Spurs over two legs and then see off Chelsea or Liverpool in the final. Yeah, I can see it!

My point is ... " ... okay, everyone. The cup is an exciting prospect. But is this the correct priority?"

I don't know. I am not one for conspiracy theories, but something gnaws relentlessly at my core that says McCabe et al have some kind ofstrategy going on that says we are better off in the third (for them and them alone) because as a fanbase, it's better to have the team underachieving in this dismal division and us calling them wankers (something they don't have to respond to) than have us mixing it around the top of the Championship and demanding they spend shitloads on expensive playing assets to fulfil our ambition to get into the Premiership, itself a pretty costly venture. So get the playing staff to ride the wave of mediocrity and disappointment in the league, and have the manager fire them up for cup competitions, where at least the heat is off the board.

As much as I try to dispel this notion, it's the only one that fits and makes sense to explain the board's lassez-faire approach to improving the team. Everyone acknowledges we have put in some sparkling performances this season in the cup and everyone says, "why can't we play like that in the league?" Well ... why can't we play like that in the league? Its the same fucking game, against players of vastly inferior footballing performance capability than those we face in the cup. Unless the brief is, "Nige - forget the league. Good performance in the cup, please."

pommpey