Managing Expectations

[bongleblade]

I was looking back to Weir's 1st game in charge 2-1 vs. Notts County, and there were some striking similarities to Bristol City. We should have scored 5+ (but didnt) and dominated for the whole match, we looked much better and supporters were beginning to talk about better pastures for the club, we were also an under-performing club playing a team in a league that on paper we should be top 6 in. The proceeding 11 games... well we all know what happened next

I've seen a lot more talk about promotion in the past few days on here. And while we looked good on Sunday, in fact, much much better, it's very early doors to say these are lasting changes. It was obvious to see Slav was a bad fit here tactically and with character of the squad, so of course when someone comes in and does the obvious (plays to the squads strengths and character - see training), we come out of the traps full pelt.

But maybe that's just what we need, the obvious, changes which most of us fans would make. I'm not trying to piss on Hecky's chips here, but we know in the past his track record leaves a little to be desired, so IMO this season is still a reconnaissance/salvage mission until we string some serious form together and start knocking on the door of the top 6 (7pts to go - do-able!).

Sh*t is going to hit the fan at some point in one way or another (even if it is that we miss out on autos on GD!), so let's keep on backing them Blades when it does happen, and lift the lads to do better.

UTB

 

[Snowflake]

I was looking back to Weir's 1st game in charge 2-1 vs. Notts County, and there were some striking similarities to Bristol City. We should have scored 5+ (but didnt) and dominated for the whole match, we looked much better and supporters were beginning to talk about better pastures for the club, we were also an under-performing club playing a team in a league that on paper we should be top 6 in. The proceeding 11 games... well we all know what happened next

I've seen a lot more talk about promotion in the past few days on here. And while we looked good on Sunday, in fact, much much better, it's very early doors to say these are lasting changes. It was obvious to see Slav was a bad fit here tactically and with character of the squad, so of course when someone comes in and does the obvious (plays to the squads strengths and character - see training), we come out of the traps full pelt.

But maybe that's just what we need, the obvious, changes which most of us fans would make. I'm not trying to piss on Hecky's chips here, but we know in the past his track record leaves a little to be desired, so IMO this season is still a reconnaissance/salvage mission until we string some serious form together and start knocking on the door of the top 6 (7pts to go - do-able!).

Sh*t is going to hit the fan at some point in one way or another (even if it is that we miss out on autos on GD!), so let's keep on backing them Blades when it does happen, and lift the lads to do better.

UTB

I think the difference from Weir’s first match is that we have now players who have previously shown good quality.
There is no guarantee that they will again, but the next 5 games should show what they can or cannot/will not achieve.
After that we can see what ambition the club has in the JTW and then who knows where we might go !

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

 

[CrookesBlade]

I was looking back to Weir's 1st game in charge 2-1 vs. Notts County, and there were some striking similarities to Bristol City. We should have scored 5+ (but didnt) and dominated for the whole match, we looked much better and supporters were beginning to talk about better pastures for the club, we were also an under-performing club playing a team in a league that on paper we should be top 6 in. The proceeding 11 games... well we all know what happened next

I've seen a lot more talk about promotion in the past few days on here. And while we looked good on Sunday, in fact, much much better, it's very early doors to say these are lasting changes. It was obvious to see Slav was a bad fit here tactically and with character of the squad, so of course when someone comes in and does the obvious (plays to the squads strengths and character - see training), we come out of the traps full pelt.

But maybe that's just what we need, the obvious, changes which most of us fans would make. I'm not trying to piss on Hecky's chips here, but we know in the past his track record leaves a little to be desired, so IMO this season is still a reconnaissance/salvage mission until we string some serious form together and start knocking on the door of the top 6 (7pts to go - do-able!).

Sh*t is going to hit the fan at some point in one way or another (even if it is that we miss out on autos on GD!), so let's keep on backing them Blades when it does happen, and lift the lads to do better.

UTB

The now infamous press conference the other day put me in mind somewhat of David Weir's appointment as there was lots of talk then about 'new strategies' and 'doing things differently'.

I remember walking out of the lane that Friday night thinking we were going to walk the league. Completely overwhelmed the opposition with patient possession football reminiscent of Howard Kendall's side with Gordan Cowans pulling the strings. Ultimately though we'd simply outplayed an appalling 10 man Notts County side destined to fall out of the league. Our whole game was based around Kevin McDonald running the midfield and he was sold to Wolves after this and Weir didn't have a clue what to do next.

Obviously we shouldn't get carried away by one performance. However as Snowflake mentioned above there are some notable differences. Firstly Heckingbottom has experience has a manager (including a promotion and trophy) and even has Premier League wins under his belt.

Secondly the players he signed were absolutely dire by any standard and looking at it pound for pound our current lot are far superior with plenty of experienced heads and young talent (albeit some of the current lot have their best days behind them). Weir's side had Harry Maguire in there but was largely full of dross like Darryl Westlake, Jasper Johns and Febian Brandy who had disappeared from professional football within a few seasons.

For me personally I think we've got a chance of the play-offs. A good December will see us right in the mix. We'll certainly get more points on the board as standards start to improve (as Billy alluded to) given we've dropped so many points this season as a result of individual errors .

 

[Mojo]

Yeah but we're not selling the main man who made us tick in that win McDonald before we play again are we?

 

[Scarebus]

How can I manage something that I don't have?

 

[billyblademan]

Yeah but we're not selling the main man who made us tick in that win McDonald before we play again are we?

No, this time Wolves are going to recall our main man next month.

 

[pommpey]

Yeah but we're not selling the main man who made us tick in that win McDonald before we play again are we?

We looked good in that first game, didn't we? It was a televised match to celebrate Notts County and SUFC having so much pay into the formation of the Football League on it's 125 year anniversary and McDonald basically ran the fucking game from midfield with it pissing down with rain.

Then he gets sold. Undisclosed, of course.

pommpey

 

[Revolution]

The now infamous press conference the other day put me in mind somewhat of David Weir's appointment as there was lots of talk then about 'new strategies' and 'doing things differently'.

I remember walking out of the lane that Friday night thinking we were going to walk the league. Completely overwhelmed the opposition with patient possession football reminiscent of Howard Kendall's side with Gordan Cowans pulling the strings. Ultimately though we'd simply outplayed an appalling 10 man Notts County side destined to fall out of the league. Our whole game was based around Kevin McDonald running the midfield and he was sold to Wolves after this and Weir didn't have a clue what to do next.

Obviously we shouldn't get carried away by one performance. However as Snowflake mentioned above there are some notable differences. Firstly Heckingbottom has experience has a manager (including a promotion and trophy) and even has Premier League wins under his belt.

Secondly the players he signed were absolutely dire by any standard and looking at it pound for pound our current lot are far superior with plenty of experienced heads and young talent (albeit some of the current lot have their best days behind them). Weir's side had Harry Maguire in there but was largely full of dross like Darryl Westlake, Jasper Johns and Febian Brandy who had disappeared from professional football within a few seasons.

For me personally I think we've got a chance of the play-offs. A good December will see us right in the mix. We'll certainly get more points on the board as standards start to improve (as Billy alluded to) given we've dropped so many points this season as a result of individual errors .

It’s actually, as far as I can tell, a similar plan to 2013.

McCabe didn’t want to put much money in anymore and wanted the club to be sustainable and self financing. This is virtually impossible in the football league generally and impossible in the Championship, as our owner is going to find out.

That’s not to say we won’t improve this season. But beyond that if you do not spend you will fall back.

 

[Snake]

I honestly wasn't pissed off when Slav was got rid of - right man, wrong time. He needed to bring in his own type of players to play the system he knows and has proved to be effective. When Berge didn't go in the last transfer window and Rammers going very late in the day, it was always going to be an uphill struggle before January.

Our current players weren't recruited to play his system - they were recruited to play the Tufty way. As I see it we are going back to the plan that Tufty put in place when we were promoted - ie to be realistic about our chances of staying in the prem with the resources we have and buying top end Champ players and lower end prem who would be more that capable of getting back up. Then we evolve slowly, bringing in some very promising kids, and making some cute signing - until we reach the position, as a club, that Burnley, Brighton, Palace etc are.

I don't know what went on behind the scenes but there was obviously a very serious falling out with Wilder and the Owner. The Prince decided to go against the plan and bring in Slav to get us straight back up at the first attempt. As we've seen, this became increasingly less likely. Hecky knows the players (from probably 15 year old upwards) knows how they tick and knows the club inside out. With Macca alongside him and Jack Lester looking more than capable to oversee the kids etc, I am more than happy at the moment. We are back to the original plan. Who knows how this will turn out - but the performance last Sunday gave me renewed hope and optimism that actually we are not a load of cack and are more than capable of competing at this level.

Onwards and upwards with the mighty Blades!

 

[Mojo]

We looked good in that first game, didn't we? It was a televised match to celebrate Notts County and SUFC having so much pay into the formation of the Football League on it's 125 year anniversary and McDonald basically ran the fucking game from midfield with it pissing down with rain.

Then he gets sold. Undisclosed, of course.

pommpey

Yes some bright sod thought it would be a good idea to have a 75k release clause in his contract

 

[Pollingtonblade]

It’s actually, as far as I can tell, a similar plan to 2013.

McCabe didn’t want to put much money in anymore and wanted the club to be sustainable and self financing. This is virtually impossible in the football league generally and impossible in the Championship, as our owner is going to find out.

That’s not to say we won’t improve this season. But beyond that if you do not spend you will fall back.

I have watched the conference and I thought exactly the same and for that reason, they didn't even advertise the manager role as it was done in-house. I think we are in for a period of 99-02 hopefully we will do enough to avoid the drop until the time comes the powers that be realise we may have to spend some money, like Warnock pointed out to Mcabe after the shit 04/05 season.

 

[metalblade]

I'm much more confident we will not drop into a relegation battle now Hecky is in charge. To make the play off's though we will have to go on the form of automatic promotion teams this is around 2pts per game unlikely but not impossible by a long way as this league is poor, two sides running away with it the rest seem pretty average.

 

[pommpey]

Yes some bright sod thought it would be a good idea to have a 75k release clause in his contract

That was around about the time we couldn't afford £350k to buy Conor Coady too, wasn't it?

pommpey

 

[ancientblade]

I'm much more confident we will not drop into a relegation battle now Hecky is in charge. To make the play off's though we will have to go on the form of automatic promotion teams this is around 2pts per game unlikely but not impossible by a long way as this league is poor, two sides running away with it the rest seem pretty average.

all bar about 4 or 5 teams could finish in the top 6 its wide open apart from the top 2 who are as good as up now for me if we can only start putting all these chances away weve every chance of making the ground up

 

[Mojo]

That was around about the time we couldn't afford £350k to buy Conor Coady too, wasn't it?

pommpey

Yep but apparently he wanted to play in the championship that was the excuse anyway. The same for Maguire who we sold for a paltry 2 mill about a year or so later. Those league 1 years sure cost the club a lot.

 

[metalblade]

That was around about the time we couldn't afford McCabe wouldn't spend £350k to buy Conor Coady too, wasn't it?

pommpey

Fixed it for ya. Strange how many on here suddenly reckon McCabe would have backed Slav more than the Prince has.

 

[CrookesBlade]

It’s actually, as far as I can tell, a similar plan to 2013.

McCabe didn’t want to put much money in anymore and wanted the club to be sustainable and self financing. This is virtually impossible in the football league generally and impossible in the Championship, as our owner is going to find out.

That’s not to say we won’t improve this season. But beyond that if you do not spend you will fall back.

Yes it feels like we've been down this road before "cutting our cloth accordingly". All that happens is you get progressively worse over a couple of seasons and suddenly you end up relegated.

 

[pommpey]

Fixed it for ya. Strange how many on here suddenly reckon McCabe would have backed Slav more than the Prince has.

That is kinda what I was implying Metal

'Couldn't afford' a player clearly above the required level at the time whither wages or transfer fee or even to make a fast buck (Williamson, Murphy, McDonald et al ad infinitum) is more or less the story of McCabe's tenure. The only player we over-reached for was Brayford, and he was effectively a fast deflating balloon.

Now we can't get rid of the luggage even at a car boot sale. They are still clogging up the garage.

pommpey

 

[Snowflake]

No, this time Wolves are going to recall our main man next month.

Why would they. He probably would not get in their team and cannot go out on loan to another EFL club.

 

[bongleblade]

Yes it feels like we've been down this road before "cutting our cloth accordingly". All that happens is you get progressively worse over a couple of seasons and suddenly you end up relegated.

yep this seems inevitable, as many other have said, you cannot cut your cloth in this league without serious repercussions, and we can talk about strategies til we are blue in the face... but lets talk about that strategy when we find ourselves losing at home to Luton (or a similar situation in the near future)