2. His methods would not work today; that's why he has been unemployable (apart from answering Quickfix's phone) for many years.
Quite so. And I think 99% of this forum agrees with that. but dare to show any shade of grey in opinion, and you're in the Hoofwaffe, and must bow down to the all knowing Pinchy. You need to stop pretending you're the only one who knows how proper football is played. You're not.
4. I understand why you find my scribbling tiresome. However, I have come to the conclusion that Bassett's legacy - a generation of fans who, against all modern thinking and ignoring the infallible litmus test of "which clubs win things?" favour the most unsophisticated way to play possible; a way you or I could play if we were young and fit enough - is too high a price for three or four years in the sun. We were admired under Harris - loathed and mocked in equal measure under Bassett.
Nope, you're generalising. I know exactly the style we played under Bassett and it was definitely long ball. Doesn't mean I naturally assume that's the best way to play football. You tar way too many people with the same brush.
5. It is totally disingenuous of people (BTL is a classic example) to varnish Bassett's style to the ludicrous extent that it is claimed that an exquisite Currie pass is no different to a Jones or Fucking-Downes aimless punt. Anyone who can't see that fundamental distinction simply doesn't understand the game.
Fair point, but again not actually many subscribe to this view.
6. You can perhaps understand then, why I find repeated references to Bassett as BEYONDFUCKINGTIRESOME. He was no Bill Shankly, Bill Nicholson, Brian Clough or even John Harris. He barely merits a mention at any of his other clubs (Alehouse Wimbledon excepted). He is no legend. He won nothing. He left us where he found us and falling fast.
But Sheffield United never had Shankly, Nicholson or Clough and I'm not a fan of Liverpool, Spurs or Forest. I am a fan of Sheffield United and I have a frame of reference to judge success on and Sheffield United's best era in the last 4 decades was unequivocally under David Bassett. If you then expect people who supported us through that amazing time to accept that their support was a waste of time, what do you expect the reaction to be (on second thoughts I know this, which is why I shouldn't actually be replying.)
He is a Sheffield United legend, he gave a generation of fans games, and periods when SUFC became relevant again in the top division. No-one else has ever given us that in the last 4 decades.
7. Our contributors are, by and large, drawn from the Bassett and Warnock generations. They forget there are those who were not beguiled by either who voted with their feet, certainly in Bassett's day when our Premier League attendances were somewhat embarrassing. He got plenty of stick back in the day, for his style. Make no mistake about that.
That's just something you're making up I'm afraid.
He did get stick back then, as does every manager. But at the peak of his time here in 1991-1992 - we were the 11th best supported club in the country. That is not embarrassing, it's something to be proud of, and i was when I was 15 because I remember it well, thinking we are a big club and belong in the top division. We were just behind Everton and ahead of Chelsea and West Ham.
http://www.worldfootball.net/attendance/eng-premier-league-1991-1992/1/
First season of the Premier League. Oh 11th best supported club in the land again - just behind Everton and ahead of Chelsea.
http://www.worldfootball.net/attendance/eng-premier-league-1992-1993/1/
You are free to pretend otherwise because it suits your agenda, but you're factually wrong.
I don't know if you remember the attendances under McEwan and Porterfield in the mid 80s just before Bassett, but i can tell you that they were definitely embarrassing often below 10k, until Bassett re-invigorated this club.