Our glass is totally empty

[Micalijo]

It is very boring no doubt, but there's also a comedy value to it as well. Seeing a squad with the fourth or fifth highest wage bill in the tier (per McCabe) play in such a shambolic manner is quite amusing.

 

[dingledog]

Reading, Dirty leeds, Charlton, Norwich, Derby....just maybe its not all doom and gloom at the Lane. It was in the Lion though last night, of course I was Mr Optomistic, just ask Silverfox!!!

 

[Guesty]

It is very boring no doubt, but there's also a comedy value to it as well. Seeing a squad with the fourth or fifth highest wage bill in the tier (per McCabe) play in such a shambolic manner is quite amusing.

Aren't we just about in the right place in the league then?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I believe he cost closer to £200,000 than £2 Million.

It should be read as half a million not 1 / 2 million

 

[ghandi]

"The big test will be West Brom"

I think West Brom are the perfect model to copy for a club of our size although it does rely on being promoted back every other season or so.

They [both club and fans] take relegation on the chin and don't complain cus they expect it. The fans have fun in The Prem and don't expect to finish higher than 4th from bottom. The chairman runs the club well and keeps a top 4 side together when in The Championship.

It might not go down well with some Blades doing it this way and be frowned upon as a lack of ambition if the club don't 'go for it when in The Prem but I bet its more fun than grinding out results.

Perhaps we should copy their playing style as well as it is far more entertaining than ours

 

[Gingerblade]

A complete financial meltdown, administration or relegation would help galvanise us. Otherwise, fewer and fewer people are going to care about the rank mediocrity on show week in, week out.

Please tell me you aren't suggesting that these things need to happen for people to care about the club? I would rather have the so called 'boring' football were serving up than have any of the above.

People need to get a grip, why have we the divine right to be playing the best football, have the best players, and will 6-0 every week? We have been in the championship for years, with 3, thats right 3 season on the top division since it became the prem.

If your bored, fed up, sick of blackwell, and sick of the way we play, here's an idea!

DON'T BOTHER COMING!!!

 

[Grecian2000]

I think West Brom are the perfect model to copy for a club of our size

I absolutely agree with the general principle. Sadly we tried to do it by appointing their useless ex-manager.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

What's wrong with the Premiership striker we picked up for less than £1/2M who managed his 6th goal in 12 starts last night :thumbup:

He's crap. I know 'cause I read it on here....

 

[grafikhaus]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Been moaning about the loan system, evr since the end of last season.

It's a sop to the premiership clubs.
They can snap up all the best players/potential players, and to keep them sweet when they get brassed off at not playing they loan them out to mugs like us, ( but what's the option ? ).
Then they either take them back & play them or use them as a deal elsewhere.

Ones that particularly brassed me off were Halford for us, and when Man utd. loaned Frasier Campbell to Hull , he did great helping Hull to promotion , then they pulled him back & used him as a swop in the berbatov deal with Spurs, leaving Hull high & dry.

Agree with this. Apart from the heartache if a player - deemed to be not good enough by the owner club (Halford, Sharp, Cahill etc. etc) - turns it on and then has a massive price tag slapped on him, I think it's a way the clubs - at all levels - manipulate their finances.

Take young Kyle. Whatever £millions we have reportedly got, a hefty chunk of this will, naturally, be based on appearances. Obviously, Dodgy Harry is happy to let him stew on the bench (surely he's better than Hatton appeared v. Leeds?).

The result? We get nowhere near as much as we've been led to believe, a bright young talent is wasting the best years of his career and 'undisclosed' transfer fees remain just that, a way for clubs to keep the fans and the taxman in the dark.

 

[lenners]

Please tell me you aren't suggesting that these things need to happen for people to care about the club? I would rather have the so called 'boring' football were serving up than have any of the above.

People need to get a grip, why have we the divine right to be playing the best football, have the best players, and will 6-0 every week? We have been in the championship for years, with 3, thats right 3 season on the top division since it became the prem.

If your bored, fed up, sick of blackwell, and sick of the way we play, here's an idea!

DON'T BOTHER COMING!!!

Believe me, there are many more people utterly fed up with anyone who translates unhappiness with boring football to actually meaning they believe in a divine right to win 6-0 every week.
It's the weakest, most inaccurate imaginable response.
As for don't bother coming, the fans are already doing that.

 

[bladeinlondon]

All I'm saying is, why only judge it to Reading who have gone downhill?
Why not also look at others?

Or could it be that our fall from the PL is a lot different to any of the other clubs, mainly because of our off field antics, also the fact we are guaranteed further payments from WHU, we've had a fire sale with our best assetts too to keep money flowing.

remember we came down with Charlton and watford -nuff said

 

[DuncDisorderly]

Whatever £millions we have reportedly got, a hefty chunk of this will, naturally, be based on appearances. Obviously, Dodgy Harry is happy to let him stew on the bench...

As the precise structure of the deal hasn't been published, I think that is just your supposition...

 

[Pinchy]

Please tell me you aren't suggesting that these things need to happen for people to care about the club? I would rather have the so called 'boring' football were serving up than have any of the above.

People need to get a grip, why have we the divine right to be playing the best football, have the best players, and will 6-0 every week? We have been in the championship for years, with 3, thats right 3 season on the top division since it became the prem.

If your bored, fed up, sick of blackwell, and sick of the way we play, here's an idea!

DON'T BOTHER COMING!!!

I don't expect the best football but why, in terms of style and aesthetics, should we put up with damned near the worst.

I don't expect the best players but why should we tolerate non-footballers who are routinely outplayed by theoretically lesser teams?

As for 'Don't come back' - I've been going to the Lane for 45 years. Why should I abandon our club and surrender to the hoofball lovers?

Rest assured though, many have had enough. Watch the crowds next season if Blacko the Clown is still in the big top with his famous performing donkeys Ploddy and Elpiton.

Think again mate.

 

[Pinchy]

Please tell me you aren't suggesting that these things need to happen for people to care about the club? I would rather have the so called 'boring' football were serving up than have any of the above.

People need to get a grip, why have we the divine right to be playing the best football, have the best players, and will 6-0 every week? We have been in the championship for years, with 3, thats right 3 season on the top division since it became the prem.

If your bored, fed up, sick of blackwell, and sick of the way we play, here's an idea!

DON'T BOTHER COMING!!!

I don't expect the best football but why, in terms of style and aesthetics, should we put up with damned near the worst.

I don't expect the best players but why should we tolerate non-footballers who are routinely outplayed by theoretically lesser teams?

As for 'Don't come back' - I've been going to the Lane for 45 years. Why should I abandon our club and surrender to the hoofball lovers?

Rest assured though, many have had enough. Watch the crowds next season if Blacko the Clown is still in the big top with his famous performing donkeys Ploddy and Elpiton.

Think again mate.

 

[SwissBlade]

.
As for don't bother coming, the fans are already doing that.

Really? Can you say that with certainty?

Last night a shade over 24k

Here are the attendances for the similar periods of Jan

Last season Tues 27 Jan Donny (H) 26,555 (for a S Yorks derby)
2007/08 Tues 29 Jan Watford (H) 23,161
2006/07 Tues 30 Jan Fulham (H) 27,540 (In the mighty PL)
2005/06 Feb 14th Reading (H) 25,011 (Closest I could find that wasn't on TV was a Tues Night)

24,009 is not exactly a sign of a mass drop in support

 

[lenners]

Really? Can you say that with certainty?

Last night a shade over 24k

Here are the attendances for the similar periods of Jan

Last season Tues 27 Jan Donny (H) 26,555 (for a S Yorks derby)
2007/08 Tues 29 Jan Watford (H) 23,161
2006/07 Tues 30 Jan Fulham (H) 27,540 (In the mighty PL)
2005/06 Feb 14th Reading (H) 25,011 (Closest I could find that wasn't on TV was a Tues Night)

24,009 is not exactly a sign of a mass drop in support

24K, at a tenner a go, after the run we've been on in terms of results says it all.
We haven't shaken off the relegation hangover.
Birmingham suffered similar last season but got through by the bloody-mindedness of the manager and keeping a decent chunk of their squad.
They were dire most of the time, their fans were unhappy, but they fought their way up and are now reaping the rewards.
There's nowt exciting about United at the moment, there's no drama, just the steady dripping away of the best players.
Finishing in the play-offs, if we do, and failing again would just underline the 'they're not really worth it' feeling.

 

[SwissBlade]

24K, at a tenner a go, after the run we've been on in terms of results says it all.
We haven't shaken off the relegation hangover.
Birmingham suffered similar last season but got through by the bloody-mindedness of the manager and keeping a decent chunk of their squad.
They were dire most of the time, their fans were unhappy, but they fought their way up and are now reaping the rewards.
There's nowt exciting about United at the moment, there's no drama, just the steady dripping away of the best players.
Finishing in the play-offs, if we do, and failing again would just underline the 'they're not really worth it' feeling.

Didn't know it was a tenner last night. Even so, 24,009 for a Tues at the end of Jan is still not bad. I doubt Reading brought many. I also don't see that with a sell out away at Bolton on Sat and decent mid 20's attendances that we're like Brum or indeed the mass exodus that you would suggest to fit your argument.

I don't actually disagree with everything you say. You made a good point about not having a 'fit' back up in the wings when we sold Killa. I think theres a reactive mentality at the club rather than proactive. We've always got our backs against the wall.

Apart from spells and the occasional 45 mins, the quality of football has been pretty poor all season (since the 1st half against the pigs?)

However, what I don't subscribe to is the "end of the world is nigh" mentality. Its almost as if you'll be happy to stand with a smug grin if it does go wrong. Of course I know you have the best interests at heart, but its the persona.

A lot of what you say is based on nothing more than what you think suits your argument. In reality, we're not in bad shape on or off the pitch, sure we have our problems, but to mask over a 3-0 win with the negativity slant when we've played below our best just opens up your otherwise credible argument.

Keep up the good work Lenners!

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Reading brought less than 400. There was hardly anyone in the away end.

When our lot sang "who are ya?" they replied with a roll call. It only took them 4 mins to name everyone.

23,000 Unitedites I would say would of been a similar amount to what we had against Donny in the ground.

 

[BarcaBlade]

I don't expect the best players but why should we tolerate non-footballers who are routinely outplayed by theoretically lesser teams?

Hang on. So our non-footballers are being outplayed by lesser teams and winning. Funny old game.