Rebuilding -Bassett style

[Champagneblade]

Looking at the job at hand in the summer and it will be a huge effort.

It has been done before and I just got to thinking the other day about what a remarkable job Dave Bassett did in building his United team.

Recently relegated having been unable to stop the slide to League One, Bassett has already acquired Agana, out of favour at Watford.

He then got a lanky young man from Doncaster for 40,000, Brian Deane. He completed his '4 tops' as they got to be called at the Blades Christmas party that year, the robust Francis Joseph and the quick strong John Francis as back ups.

In came Ian 'Jock' Bryson to occupy the left wing berth as a goal scoring winger and on the right Alan Roberts, later to be replaced by Paul Wood if I recall correctly (or was that a season later?) after Roberts didn't fancy our style of play.

Simon Webster was brought in and converted from centre half to provide some midfield belligerence. Later John Gannon and his wicked corners were added.

In defence David Barnes I remember was a very good left back who bombed on. Stancliffe and Smith were kept as a decent central defence with Wilder at right back.

Graham Benstead was acquired as an an alternative to Hans Segers who we couldn't quite get back Simon Tracey arrived at the back end of the season.

I'm sure there were others I have not mentioned but I find it remarkable how Bassett built a team from scratch, not just from old mates either, though he did often raid Wimbledon.

How we could do with similar success this pre-season!

 

[Snowman]

Oh what a glorious distant memory. It seemed like magic to me at the time. Instant transformation from day one of the season on a sunny day. (or am I just painting the past so warmly due to the cold bleak nature of our present and future?)

 

[bornablade]

The players he introduced were instrumental but the most important change was the attitude and culture at the club.

Any 'evening with' former players of the Warnock and Bassett eras look and listen how warmly they spoke of their former bosses. They were truly 'United'. Not some empty glib cliche.

Contrast that to the apparent comments by Basham.

 

[spongebobblade]

Looking at the job at hand in the summer and it will be a huge effort.

It has been done before and I just got to thinking the other day about what a remarkable job Dave Bassett did in building his United team.

Recently relegated having been unable to stop the slide to League One, Bassett has already acquired Agana, out of favour at Watford.

He then got a lanky young man from Doncaster for 40,000, Brian Deane. He completed his '4 tops' as they got to be called at the Blades Christmas party that year, the robust Francis Joseph and the quick strong John Francis as back ups.

In came Ian 'Jock' Bryson to occupy the left wing berth as a goal scoring winger and on the right Alan Roberts, later to be replaced by Paul Wood if I recall correctly (or was that a season later?) after Roberts didn't fancy our style of play.

Simon Webster was brought in and converted from centre half to provide some midfield belligerence. Later John Gannon and his wicked corners were added.

In defence David Barnes I remember was a very good left back who bombed on. Stancliffe and Smith were kept as a decent central defence with Wilder at right back.

Graham Benstead was acquired as an an alternative to Hans Segers who we couldn't quite get back Simon Tracey arrived at the back end of the season.

I'm sure there were others I have not mentioned but I find it remarkable how Bassett built a team from scratch, not just from old mates either, though he did often raid Wimbledon.

How we could do with similar success this pre-season!

Takes me back does that Champers. Certain players respond better to certain managers and Bassett filled his team with players with drive and a point to prove (take note Mr Adkins) Your right in that Paul Wood came in the season we went up to the top flight. We started out with Roberts who retired I think due to injury. This is where penalty king Peter Duffield came in. When Simon Webster got crocked his eventual replacement was a certain Bob Booker. A limited player but he gave his all and we loved him......... And luckily for us his legs hadn't gone (take note Mr Adkins again)

 

[blades78]

Martin Pike was the left back. Barnes was bought on promotion to the old Division 2. I believe Paul Wood was bought in around 2 months into the season we were promoted back to division 1 after an impressive performance in the 5-4 epic v Brighton.

 

[boo radley]

Paul Wood looked like he would be a player to build everything around. Sadly it did not happep for him or for us. Did not stop us though. The manager had the ability to move on.

 

[Bartleby]

The players he introduced were instrumental but the most important change was the attitude and culture at the club.

Any 'evening with' former players of the Warnock and Bassett eras look and listen how warmly they spoke of their former bosses. They were truly 'United'. Not some empty glib cliche.

Contrast that to the apparent comments by Basham.

dead right - only got to look across to Rotherham to see that happening again

 

[Bergen Blade]

Out of contract players in League One: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jumplist/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/GB3

Some of the interesting ones include Dan Bentley (GK); Mark Beevers, Leon Barnett, Byron Webster (CH); Adam Hammill, Franck Moussa (RM); Romain Sawyers, John Fleck, Alex Gilbey (CM).

Championship: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jumplist/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/GB2

Hard to know which ones of these are realistic targets for us.

The lists are not 100% correct.

 

[Worksop II]

Hard to know which ones of these are realistic targets for us

You can rest assurred, McCabe will hit the usual target, his own foot .................................

 

[Jonboy60]

Wonder if Kevin mcdonald will jump the wolves ship. Or will they release him.

 

[Silent Blade]

I believe Paul Wood was bought in around 2 months into the season we were promoted back to division 1 after an impressive performance in the 5-4 epic v Brighton.

We signed Wood in February 1990

 

[PeteBlade]

Out of contract players in League One: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jumplist/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/GB3

Some of the interesting ones include Dan Bentley (GK); Mark Beevers, Leon Barnett, Byron Webster (CH); Adam Hammill, Franck Moussa (RM); Romain Sawyers, John Fleck, Alex Gilbey (CM).

Championship: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jumplist/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/GB2

Hard to know which ones of these are realistic targets for us.

The lists are not 100% correct.

Ah John Fleck reminds me of the infamous time we failed to sign two players because of the old "broken fax machine".

Ain't being a Blade great??

 

[Bartleby]

Wonder if Kevin mcdonald will jump the wolves ship. Or will they release him.

do we want another player from the championship who is nearer 30 than 20? While we made them look quite ordinary on Saturday, that Walsall squad that has done so well this season is made up largely of younger players from the lower leagues and their youth system. We seem to have more of a glut of 27-30 year old players who have peaked (if that's the right word) in the championship.

 

[BushBlade]

do we want another player from the championship who is nearer 30 than 20? While we made them look quite ordinary on Saturday, that Walsall squad that has done so well this season is made up largely of younger players from the lower leagues and their youth system. We seem to have more of a glut of 27-30 year old players who have peaked (if that's the right word) in the championship.

The Walsall side has taken at least three years to build after they lost Grigg, Brandy etc and have won nowt so far. Why are they suddenly the shining example of how to run a club?
Aren't we more akin to Wolves, Wigan etc?
Since when is 27 past it in football?

 

[Bartleby]

The Walsall side has taken at least three years to build after they lost Grigg, Brandy etc and have won nowt so far. Why are they suddenly the shining example of how to run a club?
Aren't we more akin to Wolves, Wigan etc?
Since when is 27 past it in football?

not saying it is past it just suggesting our squad is not hungry enough and rebuilding with more emphasis on younger players could be a good way forward rather than continuing to build on older championship players such as Coutts, McEvely,Basham (brilliant though he wass on Satdi), Edgar, Hammond and Woolford etc etc.

 

[Jonboy60]

do we want another player from the championship who is nearer 30 than 20? While we made them look quite ordinary on Saturday, that Walsall squad that has done so well this season is made up largely of younger players from the lower leagues and their youth system. We seem to have more of a glut of 27-30 year old players who have peaked (if that's the right word) in the championship.

No, no,WB, I wasn't advocating trying to get him, just read the list Bergen put up for players at the end of their contracts, and wondered if km was gonna jump ship again. Totally agree with your sentiments.

 

[sheffielder]

The players he introduced were instrumental but the most important change was the attitude and culture at the club.

Any 'evening with' former players of the Warnock and Bassett eras look and listen how warmly they spoke of their former bosses. They were truly 'United'. Not some empty glib cliche.

Contrast that to the apparent comments by Basham.

So did Basham say he liked him or not. Never really understood that tweet? Can anyone put it into a real sentence?

 

[Rufus Smalls]

We signed Wood in February 1990

Wood had a blinder at Filbert Street in "that match" - great winger.

I'd heard there was a fall out with Wood and Bassett. Not 100% sure it was true ?

UTB.

 

[BushBlade]

not saying it is past it just suggesting our squad is not hungry enough and rebuilding with more emphasis on younger players could be a good way forward rather than continuing to build on older championship players such as Coutts, McEvely,Basham (brilliant though he wass on Satdi), Edgar, Hammond and Woolford etc etc.

Generally I agree because I think most championship players that would come to us are poor value for money but signing young players isn't a panacea and there's no guarantee they'll be hungry. They could join us, think they're now big time and start walking around with jumpers draped over their shoulders sucking lollipops and tweeting bollocks.

And every season there's a clamour to be like a certain club that's doing well. 'We should be like the pigs, how they did it; we should do what Bristol did; how have Yeovil gone up, we should be like them, we should get a DoF like Brentford, let's try the Swansea way'. I can take so much but when we're saying we should emulate Walsall it's a step too far.

 

[zablade]

Peter Duffield replaced Alan Roberts on the wing towards the end of that season, then the following year Bradshaw replaced Duffield.

 

[Bartleby]

. They could join us, think they're now big time and start walking around with jumpers draped over their shoulders sucking lollipops and tweeting bollocks.

they could and that would have to be managed of course.

 

[I should coco]

The Walsall side has taken at least three years to build after they lost Grigg, Brandy etc

Yes and we've still not managed to rebuild after the loss of Brandy.......

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Oh to have that ethos of playing for us once again .
Unfortunately for us different time , different era .
One of the best times to support us .
I was gutted when Sir Dave got the bullet ,
couldn't believe it , even when our lass rang me in work to tell me the news .
I would love to say our current crop of players are willing to go through walls for the club .
Bradders , Whitehouse, they ain't , Barnes , Gayle, and Booker are my particular favs ,
not the greatest footballers. but gave 100% , and that's all me as a fan ask far ,
show some fucking pride , and we'll back you to the hilt , otherwise you get the response of the last
few months .
UTB .

 

[Silent Blade]

Wood had a blinder at Filbert Street in "that match" - great winger.

I'd heard there was a fall out with Wood and Bassett. Not 100% sure it was true ?

UTB.

Not 100% sure but I heard the same. Dropped him after the 1-0 defeat at Palace in Sept 1990. Wasn't happy with him not playing to instructions

 

[pommpey]

Not 100% sure but I heard the same. Dropped him after the 1-0 defeat at Palace in Sept 1990. Wasn't happy with him not playing to instructions

I met Woody in a social club down here when he played for Pompey the second time. I asked him why he left United and he wouldn't go into too much detail and seemed still a bit down about it. I gathered there had been 'words'.

pommpey

 

[wizadry]

Yes and we've still not managed to rebuild after the loss of Brandy.......

I think some of our players have supped 5 bottles of the top shelf before playing games this season.