Our support/My support

[Bramley]

I'm just a bit fed up with the United experience at the minute, not the games per se (although the football is dour, almost as bad as Robbo), just the support/atmosphere/feeling amongst supporters. Used to be a decent atmosphere at the Lane - noisy, intimidating, bit of a sense of humour albeit a dark one when times were hard (WTTWY anyone?), but nonetheless we were all Blades, didn't give a stuff what other people thought and swaggered along on our own. I used to think this was quintessentially what being a "Blade" was all about. Even Irvine Walsh picked up on it!

I know we've always complained and moaned (its a Yorkshireman's prerogative), but the constant vitriolic and personal abuse on all mediums and the bile spewed out indiscriminately, trumped up people ring up P&G and demanding sackings on the back of what *they* know/heard/invented to fit their own deluded agendas, it just doesn't sit well with me - we've always been crap in my lifetime, but part of the fun was rolling with the punches and waiting for that one joyous moment - a Booker at QPR or a Peschisolido against Forest.

I was in the car park chanting for Robson to go, but perhaps that didn't herald a return to a feeling of a relationship (I felt) between the club and the fans under NW, but marked a watershed - an emergence of a "we want results, we want them now, if not it's shoes off" attitude and lack of tolerance and patience. Maybe I should redefine what I feel a supporter is and what he should be. Does paying your money give you the right to rip two shreds into all and every player? Or does it come with the promise you'll support your team fairly and try and stick behind them? I always felt the latter, but feel like I'm in the minority.

Speaking to (I hate to say this) Leeds fans about them WACCOEing through half-time when they are a couple of goals down, or Bristol City fans re: "bouncing around the ground", I feel slightly envious and think back to the great days out I've had. They seem ages away.

We might replace Blackwell, we might not. If we get a new manager in I can't see him getting anymore of a fair go than anyone else. It's football I suppose these days. Maybe I should pack it in.

(Rant over)

 

[puppet]

I was in the car park chanting for Robson to go, but perhaps that didn't herald a return to a feeling of a relationship (I felt) between the club and the fans under NW, but marked a watershed - an emergence of a "we want results, we want them now, if not it's shoes off" attitude and lack of tolerance and patience.

Werent you the very epitome of "we want results, we want them now, if not it's shoes off" when you stood on the car park hounding out Robson after half a season?

 

[boo radley]

(WTTWY anyone?)

Speaking to (I hate to say this) Leeds fans about them WACCOEing through half-time

Why do people making threads or posts automatically assume people know rarely used abbreviations?
Please explain these.

 

[raul]

Welcome To The Wilderness Years
We Are The Champions, Champions Of Europe.

 

[dingledog]

After 51 years of followingthe blades I can honestly say I have never been so underwhelmed. We have had bad time before, in our 4th division years I didnt miss a game home or away, but its just dull at the moment. to be fair I think all football is, its not just the red and white wizards, i genuinley believe the bubble has to bust. Football is now dominated by TV money, look what it has done for Portsmouth, and I really done see a great future for it.

That said it never looked good after a bottle of red and another blizzard outside. No doubt I will still be there on Saturday.

 

[Linz]

Bramall Lane has been dead for years though.

As for away matches, I think there is still a small gathering of people who follow the club home and away who are there for a laugh regardless. I think most of the people we know and meet at grounds all over the country fit into this bracket.

But there's a growing number of fans travelling who think they invented being an away fan and their main motivation seems to be wanting to cause aggro with everyone who isn't in their little group... coppers, stewards and their own fans. Unless you're stood up at the back, you might as well be an opposition fan.

Foxy tells of being called a "prick" at Blackpool because he didn't want to join in the chants of "green army" (wtf?). These tend to be the same people who go on 70 minutes if we're losing, kicking a few chairs on their way out.

The best away trips are when all of the crowd are there for the same reason. To support the club regardless and engage in banter with the opposition... the football is usually shit but it's the day out and the laugh. QPR was a bobbins game this season, but it was still a good laugh (and bloody cold!) Bristol had more to do with a last minute winner but it was still fairly decent as far as away matches went.

I think once we've had a few more seasons of being in this division... the most vociferous critics will have either learned to put up and shut up, or will have chosen not to attend any more. And you'll be left with the same old faces, fixed with grim determination and a hangman's sense of humour!

 

[raul]

Remember a few years back there was some sort of survey about how often fans thought about their club during the day and we came out on top? That was me that was. In the shower first thing, driving to work, at work, driving home again etc I'd always be thinking.." It's x this week and y next, win them, and if a gets beat by b and c only draw at d we can go 4th etc etc"

Now, I know it's Boro next Saturday, but would genuinley need to consult a fixture list to go any further.

I used to rant and rage when things weren't going well but viewed it as frustrated passion, knowing we could do so much better if only we'd do this...or that..or the other, but viewed this as being an essential part of being a Blade. Promise much, deliver little, dust off and start again.

But somewhere over the past couple of years I've stopped caring about my role in the grand scheme of things and don't come home hoarse through either singing my heart out for the lads or yelling out in anguish as the 43rd ball gets lumped up from back to front and Bramleys excellent post (fair play for fronting up about car-parking, I don't see it as counter to your argument at all, more complimenting it) has just had me put 10 minutes to analysing why this has happened and I think it's this.

I look around the ground and how well it looks, but I don't know what the stands are when I log onto the OS and see their sponsored names. I look in the programme and see features on China and Hungary and The Hotel I look at the scoreboard which doesn't have "Happy Birthday Mavis" flashed up unless someone has paid for the privilege. It feels like, somewhere along the line, we're not Sheffield United Football Club anymore, we're a jigsaw piece in one mans property and leisure business with all the anodyne anonymity of the Premiership, but stuck in the league below - big club-lite.

It's all there to be shot at so fire away if you will, it's nothing other than a personal response to a question put by another forum member and is probably only factually correct in one area and one area alone - it's how I feel.

 

[alcoblade]

Werent you the very epitome of "we want results, we want them now, if not it's shoes off" when you stood on the car park hounding out Robson after half a season?

I think he was one of the minority we should all thank for contributing to saving us from relegation.


I can't believe anyone would think he should have been given more time. And absolute disastrous manager who's contributed massively to the shit we're now in.

UTB

 

[Oreyt]

But there's a growing number of fans travelling who think they invented being an away fan and their main motivation seems to be wanting to cause aggro with everyone who isn't in their little group... coppers, stewards and their own fans. Unless you're stood up at the back, you might as well be an opposition fan.

Foxy tells of being called a "prick" at Blackpool because he didn't want to join in the chants of "green army" (wtf?). These tend to be the same people who go on 70 minutes if we're losing, kicking a few chairs on their way out.

The two all draw a couple of years ago at Colchester I had something like this. Got a mouthful of abuse off some shellsuited yoot because I was apparently obscuring his birds view of the pitch even though neither of them was actually following the match, just continually TXTng their M8s.

 

[puppet]

I think he was one of the minority we should all thank for contributing to saving us from relegation.


I can't believe anyone would think he should have been given more time. And absolute disastrous manager who's contributed massively to the shit we're now in.

UTB

That wasnt the point I was making...

 

[Highbury_Blade]

The two all draw a couple of years ago at Colchester I had something like this. Got a mouthful of abuse off some shellsuited yoot because I was apparently obscuring his birds view of the pitch even though neither of them was actually following the match, just continually TXTng their M8s.

I was sat at Reading earlier this season in front of these knobs who had a negative comment to say about every player, abusing some pakistani chaps in the opposite end who were sat very much minding their own business, abusing blade fans who weren't doing the same and generally being righteous cunts. I think this was at the apex of the 'BladesMad Ultras' movement, and it did make me wonder why the fuck i bother going to games.

Then cotterill dinked one in from 25 yards and i was reminded why i did.

With regards to the apathy problem a lot now feel, for me, the visible face of the problem is the manager. With warnock we didn't have beautiful football, but we had a manager who instilled the battling mentality in the team and the fans. We had a manager with a personality, that opposition fans knew about. Some people didn't like him, but at least he got people talking about us. Now we don't have attractive football and we have a kevin who? as a manager. We are in short, just another club.

People moan that we're not on telly enough. Why would we be? Where's the attraction for the media to put us on TV?

 

[Santos]

Bramall Lane has been dead for years though.

As for away matches, I think there is still a small gathering of people who follow the club home and away who are there for a laugh regardless. I think most of the people we know and meet at grounds all over the country fit into this bracket.

But there's a growing number of fans travelling who think they invented being an away fan and their main motivation seems to be wanting to cause aggro with everyone who isn't in their little group... coppers, stewards and their own fans. Unless you're stood up at the back, you might as well be an opposition fan.

Foxy tells of being called a "prick" at Blackpool because he didn't want to join in the chants of "green army" (wtf?). These tend to be the same people who go on 70 minutes if we're losing, kicking a few chairs on their way out.

The best away trips are when all of the crowd are there for the same reason. To support the club regardless and engage in banter with the opposition... the football is usually shit but it's the day out and the laugh. QPR was a bobbins game this season, but it was still a good laugh (and bloody cold!) Bristol had more to do with a last minute winner but it was still fairly decent as far as away matches went.

I think once we've had a few more seasons of being in this division... the most vociferous critics will have either learned to put up and shut up, or will have chosen not to attend any more. And you'll be left with the same old faces, fixed with grim determination and a hangman's sense of humour!

Sums it up quite well. 'Sheffield United' are quite high up on my list of fans i dislike .

 

[silverfox]

I was sat at Reading earlier this season in front of these knobs who had a negative comment to say about every player, abusing some pakistani chaps in the opposite end who were sat very much minding their own business, abusing blade fans who weren't doing the same and generally being righteous cunts. I think this was at the apex of the 'BladesMad Ultras' movement, and it did make me wonder why the fuck i bother going to games.

Then cotterill dinked one in from 25 yards and i was reminded why i did.

The visible face of the problem is the manager. With warnock we didn't have beautiful football, but we had a manager who instilled the battling mentality in the team and the fans. We had a manager with a personality, that opposition fans knew about. Some people didn't like him, but at least he got people talking about us. Now we don't have attractive football and we have a kevin who? as a manager. We are in short, just another club.

People moan that we're not on telly enough. Why would we be? Where's the attraction for the media to put us on TV?

Please, I hope you don't blame the fans conduct on the manager?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Please, I hope you don't blame the fans conduct on the manager?

Thanks, edited the post to hopefully make more sense.

 

[beightonblade]

I look back on the early 70's and think to misen .............. there were even moaning foo kers then !

cheap as chips will be gone ..... but i'll still be at BDTBL an so will most of you !

 

[silverfox]

Thanks, edited the post to hopefully make more sense.

No problem.....I never thought you meant how it read.

 

[keenzy]

I feel it's more of a chore than an enjoyment going to the match with Blackwell in charge. It's awful at times.

 

[silverfox]

I look back on the early 70's and think to misen .............. there were even moaning foo kers then !

cheap as chips will be gone ..... but i'll still be at BDTBL an so will most of you !

The moaning was all on the terraces and in the pubs though.....

No keyboard warriors!

 

[Linz]

I feel it's more of a chore than an enjoyment going to the match with Blackwell in charge. It's awful at times.

But it's been awful before and will be awful again.

You are kidding yourself if you think this isn't going to be the case

 

[silverfox]

I feel it's more of a chore than an enjoyment going to the match with Blackwell in charge. It's awful at times.

You don't have to go it's your choice!

 

[alcoblade]

That wasnt the point I was making...

the point is surely that you can sometimes want immediate action, and other times see that more time is needed.

I think there's far too much "want it now" mentality in football. But I was amazed that there was still room in the car parks when the Robson protests were underway.

UTB

 

[ken shabby]

Very true keenzy. It`s like sitting down to watch a few Clint Eastwood classics only to find you`ve been given some take off versions starring John Inman.

It`s football jim but not as we know it.

 

[DazBlade88]

But it's been awful before and will be awful again.

You are kidding yourself if you think this isn't going to be the case

I agree with the sentiment, but there's a difference between being shit and being boring.

I've seen us be shit for so many games over the years, but I still enjoyed it most of the time. The last two years, I've enjoyed very few games, and I put that down to our tactical approach more than anything.

 

[Autumn]

Do you know lately, all sport is boring the shit out of me, it's been like it for the last 3/4 years, i don't know if it's the lack of English born talent, or if its that it's gone so clinical....I miss the roughness of sport, even ice hockey has gone crap lately.

One rule after another, imagine now if Morgan grabbed someones gonads, he'd be sent off, hung drawn and quartered.

Sport is turning into a fanny boys thing, not just football either

 

[alcoblade]

it is impossible for Ice Hockey to "go" crap.



UTB

 

[DazBlade88]

it is impossible for Ice Hockey to "go" crap.



UTB

It is, because it's amazing

 

[alcoblade]

Steelers Steelers rah rah rah.

It just sets the pulse a racing, eh?

UTB

 

[raul]

Just got the Fixture List in front of me Alco....

17th Jan - Nottingham Panthers (a)
23rd Jan - Nottingham Panthers (h)
27th Jan - Nottingham Panthers (a)
2nd Feb - Nottingahm Panthers (h)
5th Feb - Sudden Death Elimination Qualifying Final 1st Leg - Nottingham Panthers (a)
6th Feb - Plate Quater Final 7th Leg - Nottingham Panthers (h)


What's not to like??

 

[Northyorksblade]

For too many years to remember, our lives revolved round United games. Both our daughters were 'instructed' that they had to get married in the close season. No holidays if it meant missing a game. We missed friends weddings, celebrations, do's for many a game of football. Not any more! We have just organised a holiday for Aug/September, with not a thought which games we will miss. Have just been away over Christmas and missed two home games, unheard of a couple of years ago. Didn't stop me watching one and listening to the other on the computer, mind. For whatever reason, apathy, crap football, a disenchantment with the beautiful game, I don't quite know. What I do know is I don't care half as much as I used to, and I have a horrible feeling that will continue.

 

[alcoblade]

A few contributing factors;

1. Getting older / wiser / less enthusiastic generally

2. The sanitising of football

3. Premiership hangover / bubble bursting / false hope (McCabe spin)

4. Dull football tactics


over time, 3 will fade. Eventually 4 will change. We're stuck with 1 and 2. And remember, 1 is better than the alternative!

UTB