On to Bratfud

[Revolution]

Very hard to believe. What's the reason they had so few fans that night?

They were playing Birmingham at home. Not a big draw.

Liverpool won the league that year but from an odd position - they were 12th on Boxing Day and climbed back.

They had attendances of 27,000 and 29,000 for European cup games around that time too.

 

[moDtheGod]

They had attendances of 27,000 and 29,000 for European cup games around that time too.

Really? What was the situation with the stadium at that time? Being renovated? or just empty?

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Good post mate. Didn't realise they had Vincelot, always rated him when he was at Orient.

I always liked his brother, Lancelot. He was a real battler, the stuff of legend. Always used to like going to the (ahem) knight matches when he was playing...

The other brother did alright for himself too, got knighted just like Lancelot did.

An admirer of the rounded female form. And honest as the day is long - he was unable to be untruthful.

 

[JohnDenver]

In the world before Sky, football attendances weren't what they are now. No mystery.

The biggest set of glory chasers in this regard are Chelsea. Before the kleptocrat took over, they had crap crowds. Average of 15000 in 1989.

 

[BushBlade]

Really? What was the situation with the stadium at that time? Being renovated? or just empty?

Attendances across the board were shit in those days. We were a freak at the time; a club that had spent almost all its history in the top two divisions finding itself in D4.
A lot of people stopped going because of the hooliganism and the way fans were treated by the law and the club owners. Stadiums were shit, rough and dangerous.

 

[moDtheGod]

I didn't start going to games until 1991. I was of course aware that average attendance are greater today than back then, but I suppose I just always assumed Liverpool had a sizeable following due to their success.

I always moan about Chelsea. When I was a kid they were absolutely nothing.

 

[Ricky]

McMahon has been dropped i think. Their fans are wanting him back for Saturday anyway

Also Wilder singled out Basham for praise last night so I wouldnt be that surprised if O Connell started on the bench although that's not something I agree with

McMahon's not even been in the squad in the last few games, so I'd imagine it will be an injury, and James Hanson also seems well down the pecking order. Hopefully neither play.

If Basham stays in defence he should move to left centre back. That way you're keeping two players (Wright and EEL) in their most comfortable positions and only changing one position instead of two. Not much is gained with Wright LCB anyway - yes he's left footed but it's not like we'll benefit from his passing, and he's not quick either. Basham might be right footed but he'd offer more on the ball from that position than Wright would.

 

[IOM Blade]

A really great and incredible stat for you Blades out there.

Let's go back to a freezing cold night on 30th March 1982. I was there and remember it well.

4th Divison game
Blades 1 Bradford 1 attendance 24,593 our biggest crowd of the season.

The same night the reigning European champions and best team in world football were playing.
1st Division game
Liverpool 3 Birmingham 1 attendance 24,224 their lowest crowd of the season.

Hard to believe that on a night in 1982 there was more watching us play in the bottom tier
compared to watching the best team in world football play at the mighty Anfield in the top tier.

I wasn't there that night due to being born. Bet my Dad was tho!

 

[Revolution]

I didn't start going to games until 1991. I was of course aware that average attendance are greater today than back then, but I suppose I just always assumed Liverpool had a sizeable following due to their success.

I always moan about Chelsea. When I was a kid they were absolutely nothing.

I remember going to Chelsea for the 5th round cup game in 1991-2 - which attracted 30,000 - and everyone singing "where were you on Wednesday night?". They had played Southampton at home in front of a crowd of just over 7,000.

As an aside, I think that's the happiest I've ever been after a defeat - the Pigs lost 7-1 at Arsenal the same day.

Their crowds against us for the league games in 1992 and 1993 were both under 20,000 too.

 

[Revolution]

A really great and incredible stat for you Blades out there.

Let's go back to a freezing cold night on 30th March 1982. I was there and remember it well.

4th Divison game
Blades 1 Bradford 1 attendance 24,593 our biggest crowd of the season.

The same night the reigning European champions and best team in world football were playing.
1st Division game
Liverpool 3 Birmingham 1 attendance 24,224 their lowest crowd of the season.

Hard to believe that on a night in 1982 there was more watching us play in the bottom tier
compared to watching the best team in world football play at the mighty Anfield in the top tier.

I read once that our game against Scunthorpe towards the start of that season was the first game in the 4th tier to attract a larger crowd than a first tier game played the same day. We had just over 11,000 and I think Coventry had a smaller crowd.

One other fun crowd fact from that year: 18 of the other 23 teams had their largest gates of the season when we visited.

Our average gate was also higher than all the average gates in the division above, though this had been done before.

 

[cahill]

Correct, 7,000 during the week against Saints.

The season of the better attendance than Liverpool night was enjoyable. Had several other good attendances that season

 

[Revolution]

Correct, 7,000 during the week against Saints.

The season of the better attendance than Liverpool night was enjoyable. Had several other good attendances that season

I think there were 4 above 20,000 - Bradford, Wigan, Rochdale and Peterborough.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Very hard to believe. What's the reason they had so few fans that night?

A few reasons

The main reason was the unattractive opposition.
Birmingham were seen as a 2nd tier club, were near the bottom and favourites for relegation so everyone knew Liverpool would win.

Also it was a very cold Winter night

And in those days in the hooligan years gates were really low anyway and getting lower.

When we played in division 4 many teams were only averaging 2K.
Bradford were the 2nd best supported teams in the 4th division that season and only averaged 5K
Liverpools average that season was 35K when the ground had a 48K capacity that season.

 

[cahill]

I think there were 4 above 20,000 - Bradford, Wigan, Rochdale and Peterborough.

I think we also had a good gate against Bournemouth, one of the other promoted clubs. We beat P'boro home and away 4-0

 

[Revolution]

I think we also had a good gate against Bournemouth, one of the other promoted clubs. We beat P'boro home and away 4-0

Yes, we had 18,000 odd against Bournemouth. We also had 19,000 v Arsenal in the League Cup.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Hard to believe we're better than 2/1 odds to win on Saturday. The 'experts' not surprisingly are going for a draw but that's big odds for us.

 

[Fraggle Blade]

McMahon's not even been in the squad in the last few games, so I'd imagine it will be an injury, and James Hanson also seems well down the pecking order. Hopefully neither play.
.

I'd rather they both play as McMahon is shit and will give away loads of free kicks and Hanson would never win a header against EEL.

 

[Ricky]

I'd rather they both play as McMahon is shit and will give away loads of free kicks and Hanson would never win a header against EEL.

Hanson would win headers against any centre half and always seems to be a threat against us. EEL hasn't been up against anybody like him yet.

McMahon would probably have a good game against us and make it hard for Coutts or Fleck. Good set piece taker too.

 

[Fraggle Blade]

Hanson would win headers against any centre half and always seems to be a threat against us. EEL hasn't been up against anybody like him yet.

McMahon would probably have a good game against us and make it hard for Coutts or Fleck. Good set piece taker too.

Well he's failed to have a good game against us in all the other games he's faced us.

 

[Good Pinch Of Snuff]

just read Bradford tried to get permission for Mcnulty to play against us on Saturday ha

“I had a phone call yesterday afternoon, fair play to them (for trying),” Wilder said. “They have asked a question and we have declined. I think it’s a sensible thing to do, it was a short conversation.”

very fuckin' short

 

[Blade for Sale]

just read Bradford tried to get permission for Mcnulty to play against us on Saturday ha

“I had a phone call yesterday afternoon, fair play to them (for trying),” Wilder said. “They have asked a question and we have declined. I think it’s a sensible thing to do, it was a short conversation.”

very fuckin' short

So you do indeed admit to having an influence on the opposition line up next Saturday? Hang on while I heave my trembling sweaty arse over to the computer (I'd use a laptop but it's lost in one of my stomach folds) and vent considerable spleen and bile in between bouts of frenzied and quite frankly disgusting self abuse. And then I'll eat a KFC family bucket.

 

[BushBlade]

As a point of order, Kabba wasn't a loan.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Ive read the Bradford forum and their assessment of McNulty is similiar to us.

They actually rate him as a good option and think he's a natural finisher.
He is good at taking half chances.

However he's more of a poacher whereas Wilder plays a high pressing game.
So it's not just about scoring but what they can contribute to the team.
Wilder wants strikers with a high work ethic that chase around round mad men.