Paranoid moi?

[Latters]

Can you see anyone in this league having higher wage bills than us or Bristol City ?

I can see it, yes. I don't see why it would be so outrageous. I'm not saying it's the case, I don't have that kind of information, but we are a League 1 club with League 1 players. Why should we pay them more just because we're Sheffield United and we get big attendances?

I was just interested as to why people assume we still have the highest wage bill, despite the fact that we must have reduced expenditure in this area quite drastically year-on-year since we've been in this division to the point where we have very few, if any players that could legitimately claim a Championship wage. I don't think we have the numbers, or the quality of individual to justify a high wage bill.

Granted, I know very little about the other teams in our division. It could be that they have far worse players, or far smaller squads (doubtful) than us. It would surprise me though. I doubt there is such a gulf in the quality of our squad and, say, Preston, Peterborough, Bradford, even the likes of Leyton Orient etc that we pay vastly greater wages to our players.

I saw the back of somebody's programme at the weekend and I was surprised by just how tiny our squad was.

 

[wizadry]

I'm not panicking. Im just bored of league 1.

A visit to league 2 should sort the bordom out,then Mccabe can spend even less on wages

 

[Sirius]

I've obviously missed all the points while I have been frothing at the lips over a single match. For me we have the right man in charge for the first time in ages. If he decides to spend then it's right. If he decides he doesn't need to then it's also right.

If we are mid table at Christmas then we have another transfer window to sort things out. If we don't go up this season then we go again and again until we get out. No one has a god given right and to think we do is frankly stupid. We can't keep swapping managers because that's partly what got us here. We can assemble a good squad and Clough is in my opinion in the best place to do that.

Too much panic for my liking.

Yes,I believe that. Nigel has proved himself to be a good judge of ability.

Indeed, his signings may be better equipped to play in the. Championship,and this worries me.
I prefer football the Way Nigel wants it played, quick breaks and the ball played on the grass where it belongs. Unfortunately though we are a small side, with little protection from officials we are easy meat for the massive thugs who can bully us at will. Did I say massive thugs. It reminded me that Wendy, escaped this league without displaying a deal of skill or finesse not that they are massive.

All in all. I would be happier if we could sign an enforcer,just to keep the opposition honest.

 

[Bladesway]

I saw the back of somebody's programme at the weekend and I was surprised by just how tiny our squad was.

just because they are short doesn't mean we pay them any less.

 

[stannyblade]

I saw the back of somebody's programme at the weekend and I was surprised by just how tiny our squad was.

None of the kids were listed though - Reed for example wasnt on the list

 

[Bladesway]

None of the kids were listed though - Reed for example wasnt on the list

Hardly counts as big wage earners though do they? Probably on buttons in reality.

 

[stannyblade]

Hardly counts as big wage earners though do they? Probably on buttons in reality.

True

 

[Cyprus Blade]

I just think if you're going for automatic promotion in any league, you need to buy proven talent, and it seems we have the money to do so. So why put the pressure on our kids to battle it out when we don't really need to.

I think we have a track record of producing good quality young players but I would hate to see us go down the road that Leyton Orient did in the early 90's.

I used to go to Brisbane Road regularly in those days as it was close to where I lived. Admittedly it was at a time when the then owner Tony Wood lost everything in the Rwandan debacle and cash was tight ( I remember the buckets being passed round the crowd for the players wages ) but they played more and more of the youth team ( a lot of whom went on to bigger and better things eventually - eg Darren Purse - well, better until he signed for the pigs) as the older pro's were sold or let go. The result was that they were always out-muscled (not regularly outplayed) in what has always been a more physical league than the championship and ended up in the bottom division. It was a long hard road back for Orient. So I hope we don't overuse the youth players but bring them on sensibly.

I do have my doubts about our physicality in midfield - eg Reed, Scougall, Baxter are all fairly lightweight - so we do need someone able to put themselves about a bit in there and stop us being bullied. Supposedly that is Basham ( disappointing) or Wallace (sicknote) ..... or Doyle (oh dear - I think I'd rather see Davies there than him because I don't rate him as a r/b and it seems he is the first name on the teamsheet after Howard). Personally I don't mind if the holding midfielder is an ugly player as long as he is effective. Fond memories of Trevor Hockey - he had a beard too

 

[Bladesway]

I can see it, yes. I don't see why it would be so outrageous. I'm not saying it's the case, I don't have that kind of information, but we are a League 1 club with League 1 players. Why should we pay them more just because we're Sheffield United and we get big attendances?

I was just interested as to why people assume we still have the highest wage bill, despite the fact that we must have reduced expenditure in this area quite drastically year-on-year since we've been in this division to the point where we have very few, if any players that could legitimately claim a Championship wage. I don't think we have the numbers, or the quality of individual to justify a high wage bill.

Granted, I know very little about the other teams in our division. It could be that they have far worse players, or far smaller squads (doubtful) than us. It would surprise me though. I doubt there is such a gulf in the quality of our squad and, say, Preston, Peterborough, Bradford, even the likes of Leyton Orient etc that we pay vastly greater wages to our players.

I saw the back of somebody's programme at the weekend and I was surprised by just how tiny our squad was.

Think you make a really good point here Latters. Having been fed the "Biggest wage bill in the world" by McCabe and Co you believe it after a while. In actual fact I don't think our wage bill compared to the size of the supporting infrastructure we have (gate money, sponsorships etc) is actually that large any longer. OK no one knows for sure but all the big wage earners should have long gone. Our squad is assembled largely with unknowns and perhaps a couple of players we have had to tempt in with decent salaries.

Having banked significant monies from the sale of HM you would also expect we have a decent amount of cash to pay both wages and transfer fees without incurring the wrath of FFP. Although perhaps the great spectre of that is something dreamed up by KMac and co to stop us clamouring for the spending of money?

 

[sheffielder]

WHatever the rights and many wrongs of our transfer activity this summer, we are where we are. We need a Centre Back and a centre back only and this needs to be the signing of the summer. I don't necessarily mean in cash terms, but this guy needs to be this teams true leader.

One of Nigel's many blurbs over the summer was having as many captains as possible. Our side on Saturday was sadly lacking, yet we had Collins and Doyle on the bench whilst Wallace (tranmere captain) and Butler (Walsall captain) were not. I am not sure if Higdon has ever been a captain as it certainly didn't look that on Saturday because he forgot at times, when his team needed him. I don't think it comes naturally to Doyle or Collins either, however we need a leader if we are going to be playing Scougs, Reed and McGahey every week.

Someone we wouldn't need to spend money on is Sean St Ledger, who was going to sign for Huddersfield. I am not sure of his captains credentials but he is a free and someone we should check out?

 

[Bladesway]

WHatever the rights and many wrongs of our transfer activity this summer, we are where we are. We need a Centre Back and a centre back only and this needs to be the signing of the summer. I don't necessarily mean in cash terms, but this guy needs to be this teams true leader.

One of Nigel's many blurbs over the summer was having as many captains as possible. Our side on Saturday was sadly lacking, yet we had Collins and Doyle on the bench whilst Wallace (tranmere captain) and Butler (Walsall captain) were not. I am not sure if Higdon has ever been a captain as it certainly didn't look that on Saturday because he forgot at times, when his team needed him. I don't think it comes naturally to Doyle or Collins either, however we need a leader if we are going to be playing Scougs, Reed and McGahey every week.

Someone we wouldn't need to spend money on is Sean St Ledger, who was going to sign for Huddersfield. I am not sure of his captains credentials but he is a free and someone we should check out?

I don't think we know what we do and don't have until we have played a few more games. We may be fine but it may just be players need to settle in. You cannot just make sweeping statements on the back of one competitive game. Although it appears some already have.

I would say we need another striker at least to add to your centre half because its clear to me Clough didn't see Porter as the man for the last 15 minutes on Saturday (for whatever reason). Whoever we get in shouldn't be back up they should be pushing for a start in my opinion. Its about upping the quality of whats on the pitch not filling numbers for the bench. Better players pushes those on the pitch to play better because they aren't assured of a start unless they are on their game.

Saturday showed that in parts we have a good team going forward. It also showed there are some issues at the back for me. However, we could/should have been 3 up at half time and coasting. Then we wouldn't even be having this debate.

 

[Caveblade]

I do try to be a glass half full supporter, but Mr McCabe's tenure at the lane has drained it from me. The resurgence at the end of last season gave me genuine hope of a change in fortunes. I think we have a good manager in Nigel, my fear is how long we will hold onto him.

We are told that the Prince's investment was "game changing", yet all I have heard other than rhetoric is "not in this league", "not in this window" etc etc, only to be followed by the usual summer activity of sell the best player we have, potential signings being mentioned, before we hear the Manager saying maybe we should use the kids!

If we have a long term plan, the likes of Maguire should be a part of it as we plan for life in the Championship. Yet we go running cap in hand to the mighty Hull for 2.5 million! when in all likelihood we would have got that from a tribunal if his contract had run its course.

As for Sheff United chucking money at it, as has been said, other than the disastrous Robson era, we have just seen the club drained of money and asset's with poor replacements for our stars. Despite the changes at board level, we are hearing the same messages (Spin) that we have always heard.

With the Harry money and the revenue from the cup are you seriously telling me we couldn't have at least recruited Coady, who started to show great potential at the end of last season?

This is not a knee jerk reaction after Saturday, but I do not see us romping to Auto Promotion and as a more famous poster than me always said "its the same owd, same owd"

We will be play off material and then it will be down to Nigel's ability to break the hoodoo.

 

[wizadry]

I don't think we need a centre back,i just think he has to play the right players there.Alcock will cover just as good at right back as he can see all the line and not playing people on side,he's no excuses then.

Another striker is a must,re signing Porter was another baffling one to say the least,even i wanted him on the pitch Saturday,so that just shows how limited our strike force is as i don't rate Porter one bit.I do think he will play Mcnulty and Higdon together eventually imo,just how long he waits to do this is a different matter.

 

[OllyBlade]

I think the galling thing is most League One teams haven't consistently sold their best players year on year. Bristol City have a very prolific front pairing in Baldock and Emmanuel Thomas from last year, and so far have held on to both of them and strengthened it further with signings. We have consistently sold any talent that people came looking for, and replaced it with scraps from Scotland or lesser teams in this division. You may argue that Peterborough lost their best striker from last year, but remember how much they paid to get him in the first place and how much they then got for him.

In no way is what I'm saying here mutually exclusive with a policy of playing the u18 squad if they are the best option, but I still think for our aspirations and budget the transfer policy has seemed overly cautious. There have been far too many excuses coming out of the club - regarding Harry, failed transfer bids, 'it's in Cardiff's/Liverpool's hands', 'they wanted too much' etc - I can see why people are frustrated.

 

[metalblade]

Only a few more weeks till the end of the transfer window, yet already the club has been making the Championship striker on loan noises. Well that one has just signed for Bradford City and the didn't have to buy freeman to get him.
At the end of the day we have had a cup run to the semi finals which must be worth a few quid, supposedly are debt free and have the Prince and his investment on board and yet we still sell our best player to a Premiership club for a measly £2.5 million £3m less than Peterbrough sell their best for and to a club in the Championship. Yes we have brought a few new faces in but we are shopping at poundland why do we have to bring in crocks and other players with a bad luck story all the time ? If you can't see it now you never will we are a club that always goes for the cheap option we always sell any thing of value and bring in cheap replacements, always have always will in other word same owd same owd The difference this season is the spin and bullshit from the new regime has been a little bit more believable to the gullible amongst us.

 

[ghandi]

And whilst I'm at it - Torres 50 million, Carroll 30 million, yet Ricky Lambert has bagged more goals than the pair of them I the last couple of seasons.

Lets get buy Lambert ..what are we waiting for