'Memries' October 8th 2013: David Weir's low point

[Bladesway]

Weir must have known about the release clause in KMac's contract? Yet he carried on building a team around a player who would be off at the first sign of a half-decent offer. No hint of a "Plan B". We just looked so easy to beat and Weir didn't have a clue how to fix it.

While I agree he didn’t get very long to do it either.

 

[finlaytheblade]

I blame KM for all of it, or whoever was supposed to be running the club at the time. We lowballed KMac (I’m not a big fan of his either) on his contract and got what we deserved.

We couldn’t recruit a decent manager, even McCall turned us down. I’m going to type that out. Sheffield United couldn’t attract a decent manager. How could that be? I can only assume that the chairman’s expectations were far greater than his wallet. And this was after he’d sacked Wilson and instead of replacing him with a better manager, like the pigs did when they sacked Megson, he appointed Morgan.

He’s lucky he’s had two Blades willing to walk over broken glass to manage us and keep getting us out of the shit.

Obviously McCabe has to take some blame for appointing Weir but did we not think it was a good move to start with?.
The sacking had to come but it cost McCabe a lot of money during that period and he turned to the prince for help.
Clough cost the club millions they gave him freedom to do as he pleased with the budget and what seemed a great appointment turned sour with Clough throwing big money at players who either wernt fit or not worth the fee .The Brayford transfer must have cost the club in the region of 5million taking into account the transfer fee and wages including set ting him free to join Burton.
All I can say is the saviour came just in time Wilder !!,just as Harry Bassett came along at the eleventh hour to save us all them years ago .Wilder isn't a Bassett clone but he has .his strengths and more besides.
Not going over board but the footy we play now is better than I have seen in a lifetime of watching the blades.Yes better than the early seventies era as that team had two world class players in Woody &Currie,this is a better around team and Wilder I'm sure will make it better still with strenghthaning in the window.
Enjoy will it lasts as history says something will happen to rip it apart.
For me this is in the hands of McCabe as he can become a blades legend if when he does go he passes it on to caring owners,l sure that's what he wants.

 

[I should coco]

For me this is in the hands of McCabe as he can become a blades legend if when he does go he passes it on to caring owners,l sure that's what he wants.

It may well be 'what he wants', but it is now out of his hands and down to the High Court. We could end up with the Prince in charge if the hearing goes the wrong way.

I'll let than one sink in for the anti-McCabes. A bloke who has attended a handful of matches will decide where we play, who manages us, what the prices are and whether we set up any local taxi companies/kit manufacturers.....

 

[Revolution]

I'll let than one sink in for the anti-McCabes. A bloke who has attended a handful of matches will decide where we play, who manages us, what the prices are and whether we set up any local taxi companies/kit manufacturers.....

That bloke did not appear out of thin air. He also did not force his investment upon us.

 

[I should coco]

That bloke did not appear out of thin air. He also did not force his investment upon us.

I agree completely and it looks like McCabe's due diligence for his new 'mate', was not all it could have been.

That is now water under the bridge though. We now face a bloke who lives in another continent, to whom Sheffield is completely alien, controlling our destiny.

I have to say, I'm really not very keen about that. Better the devil you know and all that.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I blame KM for all of it, or whoever was supposed to be running the club at the time. We lowballed KMac (I’m not a big fan of his either) on his contract and got what we deserved.

We couldn’t recruit a decent manager, even McCall turned us down. I’m going to type that out. Sheffield United couldn’t attract a decent manager. How could that be? I can only assume that the chairman’s expectations were far greater than his wallet. And this was after he’d sacked Wilson and instead of replacing him with a better manager, like the pigs did when they sacked Megson, he appointed Morgan.

He’s lucky he’s had two Blades willing to walk over broken glass to manage us and keep getting us out of the shit.

It was a time of "Transition"

 

[Harry's Game]

Weir beat Gareth Southgate to the job. They were the final two in the frame and the board felt Southgates days as a manager were over...

 

[Revolution]

We couldn’t recruit a decent manager, even McCall turned us down. I’m going to type that out. Sheffield United couldn’t attract a decent manager. How could that be? I can only assume that the chairman’s expectations were far greater than his wallet. And this was after he’d sacked Wilson and instead of replacing him with a better manager, like the pigs did when they sacked Megson, he appointed Morgan.

Thought process for firing Wilson: "Wednesday replaced their manager last season and got promoted. Let's try that"
Thought process for appointing Weir on a shoestring "Yeovil got promoted while breaking even. Let's try that"

 

[BushBlade]

Obviously McCabe has to take some blame for appointing Weir but did we not think it was a good move to start with?.
The sacking had to come but it cost McCabe a lot of money during that period and he turned to the prince for help.
Clough cost the club millions they gave him freedom to do as he pleased with the budget and what seemed a great appointment turned sour with Clough throwing big money at players who either wernt fit or not worth the fee .The Brayford transfer must have cost the club in the region of 5million taking into account the transfer fee and wages including set ting him free to join Burton.
All I can say is the saviour came just in time Wilder !!,just as Harry Bassett came along at the eleventh hour to save us all them years ago .Wilder isn't a Bassett clone but he has .his strengths and more besides.
Not going over board but the footy we play now is better than I have seen in a lifetime of watching the blades.Yes better than the early seventies era as that team had two world class players in Woody &Currie,this is a better around team and Wilder I'm sure will make it better still with strenghthaning in the window.
Enjoy will it lasts as history says something will happen to rip it apart.
For me this is in the hands of McCabe as he can become a blades legend if when he does go he passes it on to caring owners,l sure that's what he wants.

I can’t speak for you but I didn’t. Running SUFC is not a job for a novice. The only thing I liked about it was that it seemed to worry the pigs.

 

[Yewsman]

He was on big wages and I think we thought it was unlikely any club in L1 could match them and no one in the championship rated him. My understanding of the situation was that his first contract was for very high wages and we weren’t prepared to match that for a longer contract. We offered him less than he was on so he’d only accept with a release clause.

Re the first game v County. We were lucky to win that. We got off to a good start and then let them back into it. I thought we looked fragile at that stage and a decent team would have gone on to beat us. As it was, County were shit, stupid foul on KMac gave us the points. We flattered to deceive and I hoped we’d use the momentum from the win to push on.

Obviously we then lost KMac. I lost faith when he tried to shoehorn Taylor into the side instead of Porter. Porter had done OK and didn’t deserve dropping. A manager might have got away with that if Taylor had been fantastic but he was no better than Porter, not as good imo.

Weir was an idiot; crap man management, crap recruitment and inflexible and crap tactics. The ungrateful prick didn’t even have the grace to acknowledge the supporters at Brentford who were singing his name despite the shitshow we were getting on the pitch.

It is also my recollection we were lucky to win against Notts. It was not a good performance. I seem to recall that one of our goals (not sure which one) was scored by KMac. It was a scuffed shot that came off his ankle and just crept inside the post. Somewhat fortunate!

I was one of those who thought DW sounded a great appointment but as with so many of our appointments it was a false dawn. The only solace is that I don’t think CW would have been available then. It lead to a chain of events through Clough and Madkins which meant that when Adkins was sacked we were able to appoint CW. By that time CW had also completed his managerial apprenticeship by managing successfully in L2 and was therefore ready to take on a large L1 club. It was a case of right man right time, right place. Sliding doors. Without Weir, Clough and Adkins would we have been able to appoint CW in May 2016?

 

[BushBlade]

It may well be 'what he wants', but it is now out of his hands and down to the High Court. We could end up with the Prince in charge if the hearing goes the wrong way.

I'll let than one sink in for the anti-McCabes. A bloke who has attended a handful of matches will decide where we play, who manages us, what the prices are and whether we set up any local taxi companies/kit manufacturers.....

And the alternative is? KM takes the club back and then what? He finds £20m down his sofa? Or he goes looking for another deal whereby someone else puts money into the club with no chance of getting it back unless we’re promoted? Who are quite happy to just give him their money and let him get on with running the club?

 

[BushBlade]

It is also my recollection we were lucky to win against Notts. It was not a good performance. I seem to recall that one of our goals (not sure which one) was scored by KMac. It was a scuffed shot that came off his ankle and just crept inside the post. Somewhat fortunate!

I was one of those who thought DW sounded a great appointment but as with so many of our appointments it was a false dawn. The only solace is that I don’t think CW would have been available then. It lead to a chain of events through Clough and Madkins which meant that when Adkins was sacked we were able to appoint CW. By that time CW had also completed his managerial apprenticeship by managing successfully in L2 and was therefore ready to take on a large L1 club. It was a case of right man right time, right place. Sliding doors. Without Weir, Clough and Adkins would we have been able to appoint CW in May 2016?

Would we have needed to appoint CW? We should have been back in the championship long before he had to come and sort us out. Going back further, get Warnock’s appointment right we’d have been in the PL. With no Prince and no court case.

 

[Revolution]

Of course, the best thing about Weir is that he's the only person who's played for or managed United in the last 40 years who Pinchy admires.

 

[N20 Blade]

That interview really is a painful watch, I'd honestly forgotten how wretched things were under him. What did surprise me was that the Clough factor wasn't immediate, from memory I remember going to Leyton Orient and getting a draw, thinking all was good again but it wasn't until beating Fulham and the subsequent cup run, that results really started to improve. Clough himself often made reference to the Crewe defeat just days before the victory at Craven Cottage. Overall, really dark days though.

 

[I should coco]

And the alternative is? KM takes the club back and then what? He finds £20m down his sofa? Or he goes looking for another deal whereby someone else puts money into the club with no chance of getting it back unless we’re promoted? Who are quite happy to just give him their money and let him get on with running the club?

That's probably pretty much it.

KM is not my ideal owner but I trust his motivations far more than most. If he can find a new (Chinese?) partner, then maybe he can get us up to the Premier and cash in his chips in a way that suits all.

My problem with the Prince is for whatver reason, he has not bought into McCabe's idea of how to run the club, hence the fallout. Maybe the Prince is the ideal owner and once KM is out of the way, he will invest sensibly and build on what we already have, to get us into the Premier. My fear is that he might be another Carson Jung/Venkys/Duchatelet and will sack CW and just destroy all we hold dear.

I understand that some on here hate McCabe that much, so any change is preferable. He has made mistakes and is responsible for some of the shittiness of recent years, but now we have a good manager and squad I just want evolution, not revolution (nothing personal Revolution).

 

[BushBlade]

That's probably pretty much it.

KM is not my ideal owner but I trust his motivations far more than most. If he can find a new (Chinese?) partner, then maybe he can get us up to the Premier and cash in his chips in a way that suits all.

My problem with the Prince is for whatver reason, he has not bought into McCabe's idea of how to run the club, hence the fallout. Maybe the Prince is the ideal owner and once KM is out of the way, he will invest sensibly and build on what we already have, to get us into the Premier. My fear is that he might be another Carson Jung/Venkys/Duchatelet and will sack CW and just destroy all we hold dear.

I understand that some on here hate McCabe that much, so any change is preferable. He has made mistakes and is responsible for some of the shittiness of recent years, but now we have a good manager and squad I just want evolution, not revolution (nothing personal Revolution).

I can fully understand why the Prince doesn’t want KM telling him how to run the club. But like you, I’m concerned he doesn’t fully appreciate what he’s got with Wilder. In fact, I don’t like him, don’t trust him and don’t want him near our club. I’m disgusted with the pair of them.

 

[ElephantBlade]

This is the only time I've ever walked out, went for a curry instead. I still feel bad about it.

 

[Sean Thornton]

This is the only time I've ever walked out, went for a curry instead. I still feel bad about it.

Must have been a really dodgy curry after all this time

 

[bladeinspaceandtime]

McCabe has been a car crash as far as appointing managers has been concerned. Anybody who thinks Bryan Boozehound was going to be the guy to get us back up to the Premier League needs psychiatric help, quite frankly. Sacking Blackwell three games into a season was utter insanity (he should have been binned after he had that nervous breakdown after the playoff final no show). Finally, Danny Wilson. The only reason seemed to be that they were neighbours out in Spain. He’s got lucky with Wilder.

 

[GVBlade]

The whole David Weir thing was really weird. On paper he looked like a decent appointment (unlike Robson, who a lot of us knew was going to be a disaster). And he had some good players. But watching the ball being passed sideways and backwards for quarter of an hour, with absolutely no forward progress, was so depressing.

 

[GVBlade]

And the Marlon King signing - embarrassing

 

[BerksBlade]

McCabe has been a car crash as far as appointing managers has been concerned. Anybody who thinks Bryan Boozehound was going to be the guy to get us back up to the Premier League needs psychiatric help, quite frankly. Sacking Blackwell three games into a season was utter insanity (he should have been binned after he had that nervous breakdown after the playoff final no show). Finally, Danny Wilson. The only reason seemed to be that they were neighbours out in Spain. He’s got lucky with Wilder.

McCabe wanted a "name" manager he could wheel out to schmooze his business partners - Robbo was perfect. He also attracted some good players - he just had no idea how to organise or motivate them.
Agree Blackwell should have probably have gone after the Burnley game. When your best striking option in a PO FInal is Craig Beattie then you've got problems.
Wilson very nearly got us out of L1. Losing Ched & Beattie (due to their own stupidity) cost him, as did not keeping Matt Phillips.

 

[blade too long]

The Johnstone Paint Trophy didn't provide much of interest for Blades fans. But five years ago today a particularly shocking 1-0 home defeat to Hartlepool United led to the end of David Weir's brief tenure as Blades manager.
It was difficult listening to his post match interview, as he appeared close to a break down and it seemed kind to out him out of his misery. Which was a pity because his opening game, a 2-1 win against Notts County went so well.
Looking back at the team it was mixed, there were definitely some decent players in there who have since progressed.:
1. Mark Howard, weak on shots now goalkeeper at Blackpool
2. Neill Collins, always felt he was a bit of a fall guy although not as good as when playing alongside Maguire. Now at Tampa Bay Rowde.
3. Daryl Westlake a disaster at right back, now playing for Stourbridge.
4. Conor Coady, rated him straight away, good in midfield, now doing a good job at the back as Wolves captain.
5. Harry Maguire, fantastic defender for us and now England hero.
6. Simon Lappin, was not as bad as some who played briefly on the left for us, OK going forward but quite lightweight. Now at Wroxham
7. Michael Doyle, always gave100% loved for his Cockney dance. Now at Coventry
8. Marlon King, disastrous signing in terms of his play and in PR. Has been in prison since not sure what he is up to now (the less we know the better probably)
9. Jamie Murphy, great skillful winger for us, pity we didn't have him for longer, now at Ranagers
10. Jose Baxter, wasted his talent for us due to drugs, now making a return at Oldham
11. Lyle Taylor, fast, promising, but couldn't shootNow at Charlton
The subs were:
Ryan Hall, briefly with us on loan, now at Eastbourne Borough
Joe Ironside, tried but didn't look like he would make it. Now at Kidderminster
Stephen Mcginn, non descipt midfielder now at St Mirren
George Willis, reserve keeper now at Boston
Matt Hill, always tried, popular. Now at Bradford Park Aveneue

Not one of the subs were good enough for league football

 

[Grappler]

Must have been a really dodgy curry after all this time

 

[mattbianco1]

If we'd finished in the play-offs that season we would have ended the League One nightmare so much sooner. We wouldn't have stumbled upon our Chris though.

In hindsight, I'm glad we didn't. Yes we obviously wanted it at the time but NC is a very poor manager if truth be told. He stagnated Derby and it was evident he was heading down that same road with us. If he had got us promoted that season we would've either come straight back down or scraped survival.

Everything happens for a reason apparently and the path of life eventually meant we got Chris Wilder. If we had got promoted under Clough or Adkins, we would've never been as successful as we currently are. Mid table championship at the very best under those two

... total mid table mediocrity, think Ipswich.

 

[mattbianco1]

Sacking Blackwell three games into a season was utter insanity (he should have been binned after he had that nervous breakdown after the playoff final no show).

Sacking Blackwell was worse than appointing Robson.

Yes the football was shit but we wouldn't have got relegated with Blackwell in charge.

 

[ElephantBlade]

Must have been a really dodgy curry after all this time

Walked right into that hahaha.

 

[Sandygate Blade]

Remember sitting in John Street stand on night of Hartlepool game. Weird had totally lost itit. What was surprising was that he wasn't sacked straight after. Recall he even did the press interview on the Friday for the weekend game before getting the boot

 

[JimW1889]

Went to the Carlisle away game, they hadn't won yet that season before they beat us. Snapped at full time for the first and only time ever at a football match. Nothing too dramatic, just shouted for him to resign a few times as they clapped the away fans off.

 

[Yewsman]

Would we have needed to appoint CW? We should have been back in the championship long before he had to come and sort us out. Going back further, get Warnock’s appointment right we’d have been in the PL. With no Prince and no court case.

None of those appointed after our relegation got us back in the Chamionship therefore opso facto were the wrong appointments. If we hadn’t appointed CW we would have struck with Adkins and we would certainly not got promoted in 2016 an could still be in L1 or have to have appointed who knows who.
In retrospect we should have kept Warnock after we got relegated. That was the best chance we had of getting straight back to the Premiership and based on his record of promotions since I think with parachute payments we could have bounced straight back.