Let's face the sad truth of it.

[LoughboroBlade]

I think Wallace is contracted to June 2017 which I see as a problem - how he got through his medical in the first place I'll never know. Just a sick note and and a wage wasted for another season.

me too!

The third year was an optional extra according to Clough's interview at the time he signed. Safe to say we won't be activating that...

 

[super_pig]

The third year was an optional extra according to Clough's interview at the time he signed. Safe to say we won't be activating that...

Safe to say?? that's a bit presumptuous with this bunch of clowns mate
my ST renewal is totally down to the Dean Hammond situation yet has nothing to do with the guy himself. if he is re-signed it basically shows that Adkins hasn't a clue and neither have the board.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

I'm much more worried by the return of the poisonously disappointed/disaffected loanees who are still on contracts - McNulty, Scougall, JWallace - than I am about the likes of McEveley & Flynn being offered short term contracts on reduced terms to be squad players. Same goes for the potentially divisive & circus-attracting signing of some former rapist/non-rapist who hasn't played football for 4 years. Plenty to be concerned about, quite apart from whether or not the manager's too much of a nice guy to be up to the job here.

As regards recruitment, just look at Barnsley's first team for what you can do on a shoestring. The excellent Roberts from Halifax, Williams from Worcester City, two ex-Manure academy youngsters on loan, not a single hefty fee paid for any of their first eleven. Not that they were any great shakes yesterday, apart from their ultra-solid defence. But, in all likelihood, they're making the play-offs (without shelling out any big fees, on much lower average salaries than us); we're not.

 

[PeteBlade]

We can't start any games with the same selection in midfield we have selected over the last two seasons.

Clough's shit, Adkins has had to stick with most of them but hasn't improved on it either.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Kennedy, McFadzean and Baxter are as good as gone.

Baxter was the most difficult one to let go.
Adkins had to spike his drinks twice.

 

[Rudders]

As regards recruitment, just look at Barnsley's first team for what you can do on a shoestring. The excellent Roberts from Halifax, Williams from Worcester City, two ex-Manure academy youngsters on loan, not a single hefty fee paid for any of their first eleven. Not that they were any great shakes yesterday, apart from their ultra-solid defence. But, in all likelihood, they're making the play-offs (without shelling out any big fees, on much lower average salaries than us); we're not.

Hear what you are saying about the wantaway bad apples returning. Still got to get them under contract away from the club.

Not sure your point about Barnsley holds up, they paid decent money for Winnall, I think they outbid us at the time...

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Hear what you are saying about the wantaway bad apples returning. Still got to get them under contract away from the club.

Not sure your point about Barnsley holds up, they paid decent money for Winnall, I think they outbid us at the time...

Yeah, you may well be right about Winnall. I was under the impression they'd got him when he was out of contract, but I was wrong in thinking that. Seems that they recruited him for the dreaded "undisclosed" fee.

And admittedly they also bought Hourihane from Plymouth for £200k-£250k.

I suppose, to amend the point I made above, these two signings show another element of their successful recruitment policy - buying highly promising young players from this division or the one below, players with sell-on value.

Not saying that Barnsley are all that - they hardly dominated the league. But in terms of "going in the right direction", they're on the right track (within the limits of their own financial constraints). We still look a mess in comparison.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Why does everyone try and pick a team ? Silent got this right ages ago ,you cant just pick a team ,football isn't like that anymore ,a team changes on a weekly basis unless you are incredibly lucky. We need a squad of around 20 ,like the national teams do for tournaments ,in that squad there will be places for players like Flynn ,don't just pick an 11 and say he wont get in that 11 so bin him ,it doesn't work like that.

Because Sitters, my dear chum, it's proved difficult enough trying to find 11 decent players with having to try and find 20 of the feckers.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Same goes for the potentially divisive & circus-attracting signing of some former rapist/non-rapist who hasn't played football for 4 years.

So someone who is at this moment innocent and may well have that proved in court, loses any natural ability because he hasn't used it for 4 years?
Or is it because he did something distasteful like cheating on his girlfriend that you wouldn't have him back Alfie?
I don't condone unfaithfulness in the slightest.
I do, however, trust that if he is found not guilty and he can prove he still has the legs and more importantly, the mental capacity to deal with what he went through, then you bet I'd like him back.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

A pre-season where all our hopes are raised by the letting go of players instead of those we bring in.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

So someone who is at this moment innocent and may well have that proved in court, loses any natural ability because he hasn't used it for 4 years?
Or is it because he did something distasteful like cheating on his girlfriend that you wouldn't have him back Alfie?
I don't condone unfaithfulness in the slightest.
I do, however, trust that if he is found not guilty and he can prove he still has the legs and more importantly, the mental capacity to deal with what he went through, then you bet I'd like him back.

Tbh, Greasy, I'm not interested in looking at things from Evans's point of view. I'm not interested in him, or his case, or his circumstances, or his mental capacity, or anything else about him.

Like the many others who've said the same thing: I support Sheffield United, not Ched Evans.

The angle I'm coming at it from is: what effect would having him back here have on Sheffield United? And it's all negative, as far as I can see. More unwelcome intense media spotlight. More "he'll shag/fuck who he wants chanting" (and worse). More signs of us dwelling in the past rather than looking to the future. The risks involved in elevating a player who hasn't played football for 4 years (& counting) into some sort of "saviour" status. Questions about whose decision it'd be (chairman or manager) & about the manager's freedom to manage the side on his own terms without unnecessary interference. Concentration on some sort of personality cult built around Ched Evans to get us out of this Third Division mess, as opposed to building a team to do it. A renewal of the endless debates about what constitues rape. Etc, etc.

Suffice to say that, unlike you, I don't want him back here. Let's look forwards, not backwards.

 

[longinthe toothblade]

I predict:

Long

Brayford Edgar _______ McEveley

Coutts Hammond ______ ______

Sharp Adams

Here we go!!!

 

[PeteBlade]

Ched Bloody Evans.

If the club were considering signing any other player who hasn't kicked a ball in 4 years they'd get absolutely slagged to high heaven.

But because it's Evans, there's this clamour to sign him up from some people who see him as some kind of hero and use what small knowledge they have of his court case to act like classless bastards and shame us all.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Tbh, Greasy, I'm not interested in looking at things from Evans's point of view. I'm not interested in him, or his case, or his circumstances, or his mental capacity, or anything else about him.

Like the many others who've said the same thing: I support Sheffield United, not Ched Evans.

The angle I'm coming at it from is: what effect would having him back here have on Sheffield United? And it's all negative, as far as I can see. More unwelcome intense media spotlight. More "he'll shag/fuck who he wants chanting" (and worse). More signs of us dwelling in the past rather than looking to the future. The risks involved in elevating a player who hasn't played football for 4 years (& counting) into some sort of "saviour" status. Questions about whose decision it'd be (chairman or manager) & about the manager's freedom to manage the side on his own terms without unnecessary interference. Concentration on some sort of personality cult built around Ched Evans to get us out of this Third Division mess, as opposed to building a team to do it. A renewal of the endless debates about what constitues rape. Etc, etc.

Suffice to say that, unlike you, I don't want him back here. Let's look forwards, not backwards.

Well presented response as ever Alfie.
I do share many your concerns, but not to the extent that I wouldn't at least like to give him a try.
if I'm being honest, my desire to see him return is probably more to do with hoping he will slot back in (sorry!) fairly quickly and sort the 'unfinished business' than it is to do with him being the best option all round.
Obviously there are no guarantees, but the disappointment of bowing out yesterday with no more than a whimper has left me as one of the world's biggest straw-clutchers at the moment!

 

[Sean Thornton]

The sad truth of it is that apart from posts about yesterday's game there hasn't been one thread in the aftermath that's added anything new. Just rehashes of posts that have been made after every setback, saying the same thing as if it's all new eureka like opinion.

And now we've got Evans to add to the pot as an "answer" along with yet another call for the Warnockorsaurus.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Ched Bloody Evans.

If the club were considering signing any other player who hasn't kicked a ball in 4 years they'd get absolutely slagged to high heaven.

But because it's Evans, there's this clamour to sign him up from some people who see him as some kind of hero and use what small knowledge they have of his court case to act like classless bastards and shame us all.

And if he did come back and score 30+ goals to help us out of this division, what would that make this particular classless bastard for being rather pleased?
As I said above, there are no guarantees, but it's worth giving an innocent, proven goal scorer some kind of chance to prove himself isn't it?

 

[PeteBlade]

And if he did come back and score 30+ goals to help us out of this division, what would that make this particular classless bastard for being rather pleased?
As I said above, there are no guarantees, but it's worth giving an innocent, proven goal scorer some kind of chance to prove himself isn't it?

Personally I don't want to watch football matches surrounded by people chanting "He shags who he wants" because they think they're clever or have to read the disgusting filth I've read on line from people apparently "supporting" him.

Maybe that's just me. I'd rather avoid the circus.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

And if he did come back and score 30+ goals to help us out of this division, what would that make this particular classless bastard for being rather pleased?
As I said above, there are no guarantees, but it's worth giving an innocent, proven goal scorer some kind of chance to prove himself isn't it?

It is, after the trail, if there is one.

 

[zablade]

The sad truth of it is that apart from posts about yesterday's game there hasn't been one thread in the aftermath that's added anything new. Just rehashes of posts that have been made after every setback, saying the same thing as if it's all new eureka like opinion.

And now we've got Evans to add to the pot as an "answer" along with yet another call for the Warnockorsaurus.

And your stunning new contribution to things is........

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

It is, after the trail, if there is one.

Paper trail, woodland trail?
Da f**k you on about GB?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Paper trail, woodland trail?
Da f**k you on about GB?

Squint more, it says trial.

 

[Sean Thornton]

And your stunning new contribution to things is........

You haven't posted anything new in this thread, why would you expect me too?

I don't need to say it after every game. Or even every day like some. But today i've commentied on the same old same old being served up. Something Barney gets slaughtered for with his Adkins comments.

At the end of the day nothing's changed since day one of the season. God knows why some seem surprised every time it goes wrong, especially because they said it would the week before.

 

[Sean Thornton]

And if he did come back and score 30+ goals to help us out of this division, what would that make this particular classless bastard for being rather pleased?
As I said above, there are no guarantees, but it's worth giving an innocent, proven goal scorer some kind of chance to prove himself isn't it?

At what point would you want to sign him?

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Squint more, it says trial.

Sincere apologies GB.
I've had a couple of beers, plus I left my specs in the kitchen when they steamed up basting the chicken.
Personally, I do heap that he wall be found in a sent.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

At what point would you want to sign him?

The moment he walks out of the court room ST!
I don't sound desperate do I?!

edit:
Unless you mean after he'd proved himself ST.
I would like to give him pre-season if poss to assess him.
Then if he warrants a run in the team, give him a try.
I'd be sure to protect the club with a contract that includes certain 'get-outs' though....just in case.

 

[Sean Thornton]

The moment he walks out of the court room ST!
I don't sound desperate do I?!

What about having him train with us for a while and let the manager and coaching staff decide?

What I like to call the "common sense option".

 

[zablade]

You haven't posted anything new in this thread, why would you expect me too?

I don't need to say it after every game. Or even every day like some. But today i've commentied on the same old same old being served up. Something Barney gets slaughtered for with his Adkins comments.

At the end of the day nothing's changed since day one of the season. God knows why some seem surprised every time it goes wrong, especially because they said it would the week before.

Let's talk about something new then.. What do you suggest? The weather? Brexit? Fall out from the Franko Prussian War?

Or shall we just put the test card up?

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

What about having him train with us for a while and let the manager and coaching staff decide?

What I like to call the "common sense option".

Sorry ST. Was just editing while you posted and agree with you entirely.

 

[judge]

The sad truth of it is that apart from posts about yesterday's game there hasn't been one thread in the aftermath that's added anything new. Just rehashes of posts that have been made after every setback, saying the same thing as if it's all new eureka like opinion.

And now we've got Evans to add to the pot as an "answer" along with yet another call for the Warnockorsaurus.

Thanks for the glib forum analysis

 

[Sean Thornton]

Let's talk about something new then.. What do you suggest? The weather? Brexit? Fall out from the Franko Prussian War?

Or shall we just put the test card up?

I'm not falling for that wrong forum bollocks.

How about the game, players contributions, left field stuff?