My take ...

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Yes we would be a top 10 Championship club. But I'd like folk's views on what has changed so much since 1976. Our history before this had mainly been mid-table 1st tier, with the occasional better season, and then a shite season to get relegated. A couple of years in Tier 2, then we'd expect to be promoted. Until 1978, we had never finished below 11th in the 2nd Tier. Looking at this, http://alltimeleaguetable.co.uk/ , we rank 18th in the all-time League positions. And this is skewed lower because of our big downturn since 1976. All the original clubs are still there that were there in 1976. And it's not as if our position has been pushed down by the likes of Barcelona, Real, Bayern, Juventus, Ajax, Benfica, Dortmund etc. joining our League is it?
So what's changed to make us so much worse since '76?

The collapse of 'Sheffield', itself. The city has always sat beneath the bright lights, big-city feel of Leeds and Manchester, and whereas Leeds has recovered enough from it's milling trade, Manchester from a similar line, the demise of heavy industry has never rebounded to bestow great fortune upon our great metropolis. Sheffield has always struggled. It has never properly gentrified itself even enough to rise to the great middle class resurgence, and that is the fault of legions of incompetent socialist administrations running the city as some bargain, discount fiefdom. Leeds on the other hand, even having less kudos, has managed to effectively stand itself up as 'the Capital of Yorkshire'. All of this mirrors wonderfully with the cities' football teams. Both Leeds and Man City have, in the past twenty years, been where we have been. Man United - possibly one of the biggest clubs on the planet - are in a real, running-sore crisis since Ferguson left and can't confidently say that in any given season they will have silverware in their cabinet ... when twenty years ago they were winning trophies just for shits and giggles. But still they get investment and glamour, even when they are getting trunked by Watford. Us and the pigs ... even that lot still hold more affection in the public eye ... are seen as Timmy Try Hards, from that city where the Human League and Joe Cocker (and sometimes the Monkeys, if we are lucky) and after that, the conversation about the sixth biggest city in Britain ends abruptly. Since 1976, what have 'we' ... (I say this figuratively as an exile of 41 years) ... United, Pigs and Sheffield itself actually done to blow the country away save for produce a few notable bands, some sports people and the Miner's Strike? As much as I love the place, no one wants to invest, no one wants to build and no one wants to be that bothered, particularly since the mid seventies ... crippling unionisation ... eighties ... horrific Thatcherism and the polarity of the city as a socialist nirvana and nineties when everything Madchester stole the show and Sheffield practically disappeared off the map. We've never punched our weight, have us Sheffielders, despite the place having such potential some great personalities and intent and maybe people living inside the boundaries have trouble seeing that. Living 220 miles away I see it clearly, and its a fucking shame. When it comes to either club living and existing in the top flight it's never a case of if we get dumped back down, but when. If we get an investor in our club it's never a case of endless riches and signings which make your bowels loosen with anticipation. Its more a case of Wikipediaing them and then hoping to fuck there's a player in there who will deliver the goods. If we even get a manger like Wilder most of us are wondering when his sphincter will give way and he shits himself down his leg. Wolves last season two minutes in was that very moment for me. Up to first lockdown did anyone - REALLY - think, 'fuck me, we've made it here. We're in the PL for decades now. Bring it on!' or did people think, 'this won't fucking last'. We are always found out and there's never a solution, a plan B or a safety net to catch us. We say 'It'll be reyt' but we know it won't be. We are always that plucky also rans instead of someone like Leicester City who despite their inherent crises, manage to confound us all and win the fucking Premier League in someone's lifetime and stay in the top flight longer than one or two seasons.

Us? Fucking dream on. Bright lights and big city? Never.

Its the Sheffield United Way.

pommpey
 

The collapse of 'Sheffield', itself. The city has always sat beneath the bright lights, big-city feel of Leeds and Manchester, and whereas Leeds has recovered enough from it's milling trade, Manchester from a similar line, the demise of heavy industry has never rebounded to bestow great fortune upon our great metropolis. Sheffield has always struggled. It has never properly gentrified itself even enough to rise to the great middle class resurgence, and that is the fault of legions of incompetent socialist administrations running the city as some bargain, discount fiefdom. Leeds on the other hand, even having less kudos, has managed to effectively stand itself up as 'the Capital of Yorkshire'. All of this mirrors wonderfully with the cities' football teams. Both Leeds and Man City have, in the past twenty years, been where we have been. Man United - possibly one of the biggest clubs on the planet - are in a real, running-sore crisis since Ferguson left and can't confidently say that in any given season they will have silverware in their cabinet ... when twenty years ago they were winning trophies just for shits and giggles. But still they get investment and glamour, even when they are getting trunked by Watford. Us and the pigs ... even that lot still hold more affection in the public eye ... are seen as Timmy Try Hards, from that city where the Human League and Joe Cocker (and sometimes the Monkeys, if we are lucky) and after that, the conversation about the sixth biggest city in Britain ends abruptly. Since 1976, what have 'we' ... (I say this figuratively as an exile of 41 years) ... United, Pigs and Sheffield itself actually done to blow the country away save for produce a few notable bands, some sports people and the Miner's Strike? As much as I love the place, no one wants to invest, no one wants to build and no one wants to be that bothered, particularly since the mid seventies ... crippling unionisation ... eighties ... horrific Thatcherism and the polarity of the city as a socialist nirvana and nineties when everything Madchester stole the show and Sheffield practically disappeared off the map. We've never punched our weight, have us Sheffielders, despite the place having such potential some great personalities and intent and maybe people living inside the boundaries have trouble seeing that. Living 220 miles away I see it clearly, and its a fucking shame. When it comes to either club living and existing in the top flight it's never a case of if we get dumped back down, but when. If we get an investor in our club it's never a case of endless riches and signings which make your bowels loosen with anticipation. Its more a case of Wikipediaing them and then hoping to fuck there's a player in there who will deliver the goods. If we even get a manger like Wilder most of us are wondering when his sphincter will give way and he shits himself down his leg. Wolves last season two minutes in was that very moment for me. Up to first lockdown did anyone - REALLY - think, 'fuck me, we've made it here. We're in the PL for decades now. Bring it on!' or did people think, 'this won't fucking last'. We are always found out and there's never a solution, a plan B or a safety net to catch us. We say 'It'll be reyt' but we know it won't be. We are always that plucky also rans instead of someone like Leicester City who despite their inherent crises, manage to confound us all and win the fucking Premier League in someone's lifetime and stay in the top flight longer than one or two seasons.

Us? Fucking dream on. Bright lights and big city? Never.

Its the Sheffield United Way.

pommpey
Excellent summary, just one more thing I would add is the word ambition - Manchester & Leeds have it, whereas Sheffield can’t spell or pronounce it.
 
But we have it on good authority that Slav will have £10m to spend in Jan - thats 42% of what we paid for Brewster and he's our record signing and will be the next Robbie Fowler (Klopp said) .

We cant fail to put together a storming 2nd half of the season
he s not even the next Michelle Fowler ffs
 
and after that, the conversation about the sixth biggest city in Britain ends abruptly.
The conversation about the 6th biggest city never ends abruptly. There's always someone insisting Sheffield's actually the 3rd/4rd/5th/7th biggest etc etc, it can go on for hours
 
I've seen some minging Blades teams in the second tier over the decades,players who had difficulty controlling the ball,let alone a game,headless chickens unable or unwilling to do the basics of the game.Usually relegation follows like night follows day,this lot have the same look,sleepwalking into the abyss.The rot has already set in here,and I don't see anybody at the club who are going to change that,the JTW is now something that everybody is hanging their hat on,but based on recent transfer windows and recruitment,I reckon that is not going to work out as many are hoping/praying.
I watched the "Bassett half" of the 95 96 season yesterday and my, how bad we looked. Absolutely shocking football from players like Starbuck, Blount, and many more. We have endured and followed, some unbelievable crap over the years.
 
I watched the "Bassett half" of the 95 96 season yesterday and my, how bad we looked. Absolutely shocking football from players like Starbuck, Blount, and many more. We have endured and followed, some unbelievable crap over the years.

And just accepted it as thus.

The mindset is 'we're just not good enough to be good'

pommpey
 
The collapse of 'Sheffield', itself. The city has always sat beneath the bright lights, big-city feel of Leeds and Manchester, and whereas Leeds has recovered enough from it's milling trade, Manchester from a similar line, the demise of heavy industry has never rebounded to bestow great fortune upon our great metropolis. Sheffield has always struggled. It has never properly gentrified itself even enough to rise to the great middle class resurgence, and that is the fault of legions of incompetent socialist administrations running the city as some bargain, discount fiefdom. Leeds on the other hand, even having less kudos, has managed to effectively stand itself up as 'the Capital of Yorkshire'. All of this mirrors wonderfully with the cities' football teams. Both Leeds and Man City have, in the past twenty years, been where we have been. Man United - possibly one of the biggest clubs on the planet - are in a real, running-sore crisis since Ferguson left and can't confidently say that in any given season they will have silverware in their cabinet ... when twenty years ago they were winning trophies just for shits and giggles. But still they get investment and glamour, even when they are getting trunked by Watford. Us and the pigs ... even that lot still hold more affection in the public eye ... are seen as Timmy Try Hards, from that city where the Human League and Joe Cocker (and sometimes the Monkeys, if we are lucky) and after that, the conversation about the sixth biggest city in Britain ends abruptly. Since 1976, what have 'we' ... (I say this figuratively as an exile of 41 years) ... United, Pigs and Sheffield itself actually done to blow the country away save for produce a few notable bands, some sports people and the Miner's Strike? As much as I love the place, no one wants to invest, no one wants to build and no one wants to be that bothered, particularly since the mid seventies ... crippling unionisation ... eighties ... horrific Thatcherism and the polarity of the city as a socialist nirvana and nineties when everything Madchester stole the show and Sheffield practically disappeared off the map. We've never punched our weight, have us Sheffielders, despite the place having such potential some great personalities and intent and maybe people living inside the boundaries have trouble seeing that. Living 220 miles away I see it clearly, and its a fucking shame. When it comes to either club living and existing in the top flight it's never a case of if we get dumped back down, but when. If we get an investor in our club it's never a case of endless riches and signings which make your bowels loosen with anticipation. Its more a case of Wikipediaing them and then hoping to fuck there's a player in there who will deliver the goods. If we even get a manger like Wilder most of us are wondering when his sphincter will give way and he shits himself down his leg. Wolves last season two minutes in was that very moment for me. Up to first lockdown did anyone - REALLY - think, 'fuck me, we've made it here. We're in the PL for decades now. Bring it on!' or did people think, 'this won't fucking last'. We are always found out and there's never a solution, a plan B or a safety net to catch us. We say 'It'll be reyt' but we know it won't be. We are always that plucky also rans instead of someone like Leicester City who despite their inherent crises, manage to confound us all and win the fucking Premier League in someone's lifetime and stay in the top flight longer than one or two seasons.

Us? Fucking dream on. Bright lights and big city? Never.

Its the Sheffield United Way.

pommpey
Dont think can fully blame the city on lack of investment in the club as long as I’ve followed them they have always thought small even when the city was booming in the 60s
Sheffield is a student city and I like many more have benefited from it.
If the council was not so short sited and reduced rents etc to encourage investment everyone would benefit.
 
Dont think can fully blame the city on lack of investment in the club as long as I’ve followed them they have always thought small even when the city was booming in the 60s
Sheffield is a student city and I like many more have benefited from it.
If the council was not so short sited and reduced rents etc to encourage investment everyone would benefit.

It's not the lack of investment more than it's the unwillingness to invest anyway, given our nearest big city rivals have recent kudos to maintain interest. Leeds United in the seventies under Revie with that industrial, very efficient setup they fielded which contained some luminary international faces and personalities. They also won silverware. Whenever anyone of an investable age thinks of Leeds they still align their thoughts with that 'legendary' side and the feeling it gave football at the time. See also Manchester United with the highs and lows it bestowed English football and also it's heavy-end involvement in the championing of live, televised football and still managing to sell shirts, and put 60-70,000 arses on seats in their stadium. Manchester has just been a lionised cause, mainly because of that very red shirt. Both Leeds and Man U are bankable assets aren't they? Compare that to Sheff Utd and what is there to plough cash into and get a return? We also have failed to cement a steady, reliable presence up in the top flight in the past forty years. Its all been a bit 'maybe' and 'perhaps' and the city itself not benefitting from having consistent footballing success. The whole scenario is a self licking lollipop of mediocrity and failure. Recently, just when we thought we'd bought the golden ticket, HRH gives the credit card to Wilder who buys a shitload of mismatched, out-of-range players who have found it frustratingly difficult to elbow their way into the side and make their mark. This is also set against a gathering unease on the pitch and loss of confidence and criticism from all sides as to how this disaster happened. If anything, it is Swiss Cheese Effect circumstances.

pommpey
 
Dont think can fully blame the city on lack of investment in the club as long as I’ve followed them they have always thought small even when the city was booming in the 60s
Sheffield is a student city and I like many more have benefited from it.
If the council was not so short sited and reduced rents etc to encourage investment everyone would benefit.
Business rates are set by central government and rents are set by landlords.
 
It's not the lack of investment more than it's the unwillingness to invest anyway, given our nearest big city rivals have recent kudos to maintain interest. Leeds United in the seventies under Revie with that industrial, very efficient setup they fielded which contained some luminary international faces and personalities. They also won silverware. Whenever anyone of an investable age thinks of Leeds they still align their thoughts with that 'legendary' side and the feeling it gave football at the time. See also Manchester United with the highs and lows it bestowed English football and also it's heavy-end involvement in the championing of live, televised football and still managing to sell shirts, and put 60-70,000 arses on seats in their stadium. Manchester has just been a lionised cause, mainly because of that very red shirt. Both Leeds and Man U are bankable assets aren't they? Compare that to Sheff Utd and what is there to plough cash into and get a return? We also have failed to cement a steady, reliable presence up in the top flight in the past forty years. Its all been a bit 'maybe' and 'perhaps' and the city itself not benefitting from having consistent footballing success. The whole scenario is a self licking lollipop of mediocrity and failure. Recently, just when we thought we'd bought the golden ticket, HRH gives the credit card to Wilder who buys a shitload of mismatched, out-of-range players who have found it frustratingly difficult to elbow their way into the side and make their mark. This is also set against a gathering unease on the pitch and loss of confidence and criticism from all sides as to how this disaster happened. If anything, it is Swiss Cheese Effect circumstances.

pommpey
It is what it is with the football pal we will yo-yo from the top tier to the 3rd tier that’s how it is.
As a city especially for the younger end you will never be short of entertainment looks 100% better than it did 20 years ago shopping is garbage especially if you like your clothes but Meadowhall and Crystal Peaks seams to keep our lass happy.
Manchester and Leeds are ok for a sortie but that’s all
 
And just accepted it as thus.

The mindset is 'we're just not good enough to be good'

pommpey
It very much goes with the Blades identity I think.
Lsrgely why the small amount of success United get, is usually done on a rather low budget.
Bassett, Warnock and Wilder all reached the top division on a budget.

Warnock and Wilder both annoyed me with the reverence for the richest and best clubs, and running right through the being of Warnock is the belief we cannot match these superstars.
I hate it, reality or not. l
 
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The conversation about the 6th biggest city never ends abruptly. There's always someone insisting Sheffield's actually the 3rd/4rd/5th/7th biggest etc etc, it can go on for hours

It's weird, it genuinely can range from 3rd to 8th depending on how you measure it (3rd is obviously nonsense though because it only counts London as 1 mile square).
 
It is what it is with the football pal we will yo-yo from the top tier to the 3rd tier that’s how it is.
As a city especially for the younger end you will never be short of entertainment looks 100% better than it did 20 years ago shopping is garbage especially if you like your clothes but Meadowhall and Crystal Peaks seams to keep our lass happy.
Manchester and Leeds are ok for a sortie but that’s all

Oh I know what the great city is like and I treasure it when I am up there. I was up in September stood in the City Hall watching Heaven 17 deliver the Human League's first two albums (Phil Oakey baulked at it, the daft arse) which bracketed two distinct periods of my Sheffield existence - the past and the present. I love being up there (although to be honest, I couldn't live there again bar for United and the beer) and I'll be up there again in March, this time hopefully seeing some of you lot in the audience in one of the two gigs in the city my band has managed to blag. It's a mission to my homeland. When I'm up there my accent thickens and if I can, I visit Bramall Lane even if it is to stand in the car park and look at the ground. If there's a match on, my walk to the pub, the chippy and then the ground, and then the game and then the pub afterwards is a measure of personal joy because I am amongst 'my kind of people'. It's a pommpey 10/10 moment. Medderaaaaall is okay, I didn't know Crystal Peaks was still open :)

pommpey
 

Oh I know what the great city is like and I treasure it when I am up there. I was up in September stood in the City Hall watching Heaven 17 deliver the Human League's first two albums (Phil Oakey baulked at it, the daft arse) which bracketed two distinct periods of my Sheffield existence - the past and the present. I love being up there (although to be honest, I couldn't live there again bar for United and the beer) and I'll be up there again in March, this time hopefully seeing some of you lot in the audience in one of the two gigs in the city my band has managed to blag. It's a mission to my homeland. When I'm up there my accent thickens and if I can, I visit Bramall Lane even if it is to stand in the car park and look at the ground. If there's a match on, my walk to the pub, the chippy and then the ground, and then the game and then the pub afterwards is a measure of personal joy because I am amongst 'my kind of people'. It's a pommpey 10/10 moment. Medderaaaaall is okay, I didn't know Crystal Peaks was still open :)

pommpey
Why did you leave Sheff Pommps?
 

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