Reflecting on Today's Result and Recent Weeks

[LouTheBlade]

As I sit here there are around 15 minutes left to play and United are 3-1 down - but of course we are, we're playing a decent team! I will attempt to start this thread with a clear, calm and considered reflection, staying as far away from a rant as possible. So here goes;

Ive been a season ticket holder for 20 years. Many of you who read this will have probably been going even longer than that, but what I want to know is whether any of you stop sometimes and think 'why am I such a mug? This is costing me a fortune and it always ends in tears.' Thats what im thinking at present. Considering the cost of following football nowadays and its apparent lack of affordability for the average working fan - is it too much to suggest that I am not getting value for money? At £400+ a season ticket I would expect good results, coupled with reasonably entertaining football. We might be getting the former more times than not (only against poor/average sides) but we certainly arent getting the latter.

I have never known a season that should be filled with so much hope, that is actually filled with lack of enthusiasm and pride for what should be a great club and for fleeting moments has been. Again today we come up against a decent side that can play a bit......and we have our arse handed to us. I cant see the current manager getting anymore out of this group of players than he already is. Please dont argue of our league position and recent results because the vast majority of our recent fixtures have been against very average teams, the two we have lost being against better teams. Even if we make the playoffs can you honestly see us beating Cardiff, Swansea, Forest, WBA or Leicester over two legs? I cant.

The board dont want/cant invest any serious money in the team any more and KB is hitting a brick wall with the lot he has. I listened to most of the game on the radio and was embarrased at the shouts of "hoof" from the home crowd. Just shows what other teams think of us under this current regime. I had a fearsome debate with Ollesendro recently as he will remember, stating that I had come to accept where United were at the moment in terms of style of play etc. but since I have taken stock and asked myself 'No, why should I accept it?' If I accept mediocrity as a fan im just doing exactly what the club wants - un-ending patience and devotion whilst handing over large chunks of my hard earned money at the start and throughout every season.....

Not going to happen anymore. If there is no improvement in style of play or results in big/key games before the end of the season, I am going to do something I never thought I would ever consider and NOT renew my season ticket. I will pick and choose a few games from then on when I fancy something to do on a saturday. I will always love the club and my allegiance will always be there, but I have more important things to consider in life than to throw my money down a bottomless pit with no chance of a return on my investment. I would imagine many other fans will do the same. Football has been taken away from the average fan, I might just give my chunk back *spits dummy out of pram.*

Apologies it did turn into a rant in the end

 

[lenners]

Going to be an awful lot of season ticket holders thinking exactly the same.
It's the sheer drabness of the football allied to the sale of any half decent player, particularly our home grown, which is draining the lifeblood from the club.
Said it elsewhere but we need a major event in terms of investment, administration, relegation (a cup final is clearly out of the question) to make United interesting again.
The endless mediocrity is making going to the Lane pointless.

 

[wardlowwanderer]

You'll be back next season

You know you will. My heart today said the team would go out and play footballl and we'd beat them. My head knew we would be well beaten. The team is simply too short of quality. There's plenty of hard work and graft but we don't have players who are outstanding. We have a small squad and have too many loanees to build up team spirit/rapport.

However, next season might be different if we can get a sttled ddefence and some quality in midfield. Mr Mc needs to dig deep otherwise he's going to start losing fans and revenue and then the slide could begin.

Maybe we have to just face facts that we are a good championship side and that's what we have to look forward to. This would be easier though if we caould see a bit better football being played.

 

[JJ Sefton]

However, next season might be different if we can get a sttled ddefence and some quality in midfield.

This time next year Rodders...

 

[bladesman3]

Lou,
i feel exactly the same as you...i have already wasted £400 on my season ticket..attended 1 game at home so far..the style of football that KB has the team playing is not what I want to see....we are a hoof team but what makes me angry is that there are some good footballers in our club( or have been until they were moved on)who with the right manager would play well...

 

[Pinchy]

As I sit here there are around 15 minutes left to play and United are 3-1 down - but of course we are, we're playing a decent team! I will attempt to start this thread with a clear, calm and considered reflection, staying as far away from a rant as possible. So here goes;

Ive been a season ticket holder for 20 years. Many of you who read this will have probably been going even longer than that, but what I want to know is whether any of you stop sometimes and think 'why am I such a mug? This is costing me a fortune and it always ends in tears.' Thats what im thinking at present. Considering the cost of following football nowadays and its apparent lack of affordability for the average working fan - is it too much to suggest that I am not getting value for money? At £400+ a season ticket I would expect good results, coupled with reasonably entertaining football. We might be getting the former more times than not (only against poor/average sides) but we certainly arent getting the latter.

I have never known a season that should be filled with so much hope, that is actually filled with lack of enthusiasm and pride for what should be a great club and for fleeting moments has been. Again today we come up against a decent side that can play a bit......and we have our arse handed to us. I cant see the current manager getting anymore out of this group of players than he already is. Please dont argue of our league position and recent results because the vast majority of our recent fixtures have been against very average teams, the two we have lost being against better teams. Even if we make the playoffs can you honestly see us beating Cardiff, Swansea, Forest, WBA or Leicester over two legs? I cant.

The board dont want/cant invest any serious money in the team any more and KB is hitting a brick wall with the lot he has. I listened to most of the game on the radio and was embarrased at the shouts of "hoof" from the home crowd. Just shows what other teams think of us under this current regime. I had a fearsome debate with Ollesendro recently as he will remember, stating that I had come to accept where United were at the moment in terms of style of play etc. but since I have taken stock and asked myself 'No, why should I accept it?' If I accept mediocrity as a fan im just doing exactly what the club wants - un-ending patience and devotion whilst handing over large chunks of my hard earned money at the start and throughout every season.....

Not going to happen anymore. If there is no improvement in style of play or results in big/key games before the end of the season, I am going to do something I never thought I would ever consider and NOT renew my season ticket. I will pick and choose a few games from then on when I fancy something to do on a saturday. I will always love the club and my allegiance will always be there, but I have more important things to consider in life than to throw my money down a bottomless pit with no chance of a return on my investment. I would imagine many other fans will do the same. Football has been taken away from the average fan, I might just give my chunk back *spits dummy out of pram.*

Apologies it did turn into a rant in the end

Good post Lou. The most telling part is your resolution to eschew mediocrity. Well done.

I think you've just joined the Campaign for Real Football.

Please re-consider your decision not to renew though. I've considered it myself but concluded that I refuse to be driven away by Blackwell or his hoofball.

 

[chipsncake]

100% no chance of renewing our season tickets next season if Blackwell is still in charge.

 

[Woodwaaard]

Well said Lou.
It would appear that, whilst our injury crisis is all but over, our "inability to play football well" crisis continues.
From the sound of things, today's game could have been the January version of the May play off final as persistent, never say day, up and at 'em Blades get thoroughly dicked by a football team.................again
I've always been told that if you do the same as you've always done then you'll get the same outcome that you've always previously had.
A change in football philosphy is required.

 

[NN6]

look lads...its too transparent...these kind of posts only ever appear after a DEFEAT.Why does nobody write this kind of stuff after a victory?

I'm not a Blackwell fan but put yourself in McCabe's shoes. First season, he brought him in when we were on the verge of going down and he almost got us to the play offs. Second season he got us to the play off final. Third season we are in a play off position despite the sales of both Kyles and now Killa. There is no way Blackwell is going anywhere so we might as well get behind the team

For a bit of perspective look at the other 2 clubs who came down when we did and tell me what their league and financial positions are like.

 

[Kentblade]

Lou,
i feel exactly the same as you...i have already wasted £400 on my season ticket..attended 1 game at home so far..the style of football that KB has the team playing is not what I want to see....we are a hoof team but what makes me angry is that there are some good footballers in our club( or have been until they were moved on)who with the right manager would play well...

It is not getting any better is it.
Dont want to harp on about it but unless there is some interesting developments on Monday, we are probably going to stay in this division a long time as when every time we come across a team that passes the ball around we are lost.
WBA spent £100,000 on Dorrans who ran the show.
It shows that there are players out there for the midfield.
Still believe Robson set us back years.
UTB

 

[Blade]

This is my first entry into the debate but I'm not sure what you mean by it's too transparent. people are just airing their views - these should be transparent or would it be better for them to join a masonic lodge and keep the vibe underground?

There often are posts like this after a victory, there were plenty of people on tuesday who whilst happy with result thought we could have played better (myself included) and that was after a 3-0 win. Most weeks I feel the same win lose or draw and only rarely am I surprisingly pleased with the way we played.

Whilst I agree Blackwell is unlikely to leave until the summer in reference to the other clubs that came down with us I would suggest that we've invested much more heavily since coming down despite the player sales than the other clubs who were in much more fragile financial states. Charlton were a bubble waiting to burst after spending so long in the premiership and having players tied up in decent PL contracts. Watford barely solvent and a vastly inferior squad. Take a look at the attendances and associated income that each club has been getting since being relegated and you'll see that we come out way on top. I think it unfair therefore to simplistically state that we need to look at their peformances 3 years down the line in order to gain perspective. We should expect more than those clubs and it would be nice to show once in a while that we can compete with the big boys in this league.

 

[Oreyt]

Most weeks I feel the same win lose or draw and only rarely am I surprisingly pleased with the way we played.

Seriously, I'd get another pastime.

 

[Rustyblade]

look lads...its too transparent...these kind of posts only ever appear after a DEFEAT.Why does nobody write this kind of stuff after a victory?

I'm not a Blackwell fan but put yourself in McCabe's shoes. First season, he brought him in when we were on the verge of going down and he almost got us to the play offs. Second season he got us to the play off final. Third season we are in a play off position despite the sales of both Kyles and now Killa. There is no way Blackwell is going anywhere so we might as well get behind the team

For a bit of perspective look at the other 2 clubs who came down when we did and tell me what their league and financial positions are like.

People have been writing stuff like this after a victory all feckin' season f'christ's sake. Only difference then is we get told to shut up and enjoy the win.

The one dimensional football is crap.

The total lack of ideas is crap.

The constant BS from McCabe is crap.

The sheer ball grinding frustration of not being able to see even a glimmer of optimism for the future is, yes, crap.

Is this it then? For the forseeable future? Hanging around in and around the play-offs without a hope of ever winning them, selling our prospects, threshing around with a team of battlers and triers? Where substantial funds (with a capital S) available means getting rid of Killa and pocketing the balance?

Can't wait.

 

[beightonblade]

once you accept the Blades have no ambition .............its easy !

 

[SotonBlade]

As I sit here there are around 15 minutes left to play and United are 3-1 down - but of course we are, we're playing a decent team! I will attempt to start this thread with a clear, calm and considered reflection, staying as far away from a rant as possible. So here goes;

Ive been a season ticket holder for 20 years. Many of you who read this will have probably been going even longer than that, but what I want to know is whether any of you stop sometimes and think 'why am I such a mug? This is costing me a fortune and it always ends in tears.' Thats what im thinking at present. Considering the cost of following football nowadays and its apparent lack of affordability for the average working fan - is it too much to suggest that I am not getting value for money? At £400+ a season ticket I would expect good results, coupled with reasonably entertaining football. We might be getting the former more times than not (only against poor/average sides) but we certainly arent getting the latter.

I have never known a season that should be filled with so much hope, that is actually filled with lack of enthusiasm and pride for what should be a great club and for fleeting moments has been. Again today we come up against a decent side that can play a bit......and we have our arse handed to us. I cant see the current manager getting anymore out of this group of players than he already is. Please dont argue of our league position and recent results because the vast majority of our recent fixtures have been against very average teams, the two we have lost being against better teams. Even if we make the playoffs can you honestly see us beating Cardiff, Swansea, Forest, WBA or Leicester over two legs? I cant.

The board dont want/cant invest any serious money in the team any more and KB is hitting a brick wall with the lot he has. I listened to most of the game on the radio and was embarrased at the shouts of "hoof" from the home crowd. Just shows what other teams think of us under this current regime. I had a fearsome debate with Ollesendro recently as he will remember, stating that I had come to accept where United were at the moment in terms of style of play etc. but since I have taken stock and asked myself 'No, why should I accept it?' If I accept mediocrity as a fan im just doing exactly what the club wants - un-ending patience and devotion whilst handing over large chunks of my hard earned money at the start and throughout every season.....

Not going to happen anymore. If there is no improvement in style of play or results in big/key games before the end of the season, I am going to do something I never thought I would ever consider and NOT renew my season ticket. I will pick and choose a few games from then on when I fancy something to do on a saturday. I will always love the club and my allegiance will always be there, but I have more important things to consider in life than to throw my money down a bottomless pit with no chance of a return on my investment. I would imagine many other fans will do the same. Football has been taken away from the average fan, I might just give my chunk back *spits dummy out of pram.*

Apologies it did turn into a rant in the end

look lads...its too transparent...these kind of posts only ever appear after a DEFEAT.Why does nobody write this kind of stuff after a victory?

I'm not a Blackwell fan but put yourself in McCabe's shoes. First season, he brought him in when we were on the verge of going down and he almost got us to the play offs. Second season he got us to the play off final. Third season we are in a play off position despite the sales of both Kyles and now Killa. There is no way Blackwell is going anywhere so we might as well get behind the team

For a bit of perspective look at the other 2 clubs who came down when we did and tell me what their league and financial positions are like.

Now, for me, this is the problem. I agree with both of these posts. So, even i'm now confused of my own opinion!

 

[Rustyblade]

once you accept the Blades have no ambition .............its easy !

I can take the lack of ambition. It's a given. What is really, really hard to take is the feeling that it's not a club I can identify with any more.

Even in our darkest days there was always something I enjoyed about the team. A player or two I actually looked forward to watching of a matchday, something to put a smile on my face. A core of players who I felt represented the Blades, had been with us for a while, in whom I had invested a little emotion (fnaar fnaar). There was a storyline if you like, a continuity of sorts.

On a Friday afternoon now, just who the fuck do I think about watching perform (fnaar again) the next day? Henderson? Quinny? Monty? And just what the fuck do I look forward to seeing and feeling? Another one paced, one dimensional display of either hoof or stand still and pass football? Being embarrassed by the ineptitude on display?

Maybe I could get excited by Ward (yeah, I know) but he's going to have to be here for a while longer first. And even with him, Blackwell seems intent on playing him wide in a midfield 5 when he could be playing off the shoulder up front.

They're just not engaging me at the moment and something drastic needs to happen before that will change.

Not deathly important in the grand scheme of things maybe. But it saddens me all the same.

 

[maxtheblade]

Lou,
i feel exactly the same as you...i have already wasted £400 on my season ticket..attended 1 game at home so far..the style of football that KB has the team playing is not what I want to see....we are a hoof team but what makes me angry is that there are some good footballers in our club( or have been until they were moved on)who with the right manager would play well...

Honest question - have you only been to one game out of choice or have you had other commitments?

 

[super_pig]

to kevin maccabe.. you are in an entertainment industry mate.. thing is that these people think they have us by the cajones.. it isn't a normal industry where if you get fed up with coke/persil/mcdonalds you go and buy pepsi/ariel/burger king instead.. they know we have blades running through our dna and we wont go and buy the alternative..
the bolton experience here is quite interesting.. they can't go forward because they dont get enough fans.. they dont get enough fans because the product is poor.. so they get owen coyle in with a mandate to improve the product hence more fans .. more revenue and better players.. our board seem to be under the illusion that they are selling us a good product.. you aren't lads.. sorry.. it is just that you have an exceptional set of fans.

 

[super_pig]

>Why does nobody write this kind of stuff after a victory?
i do sometimes but mainly because there is no point.. not many are in the mood to listen
if i come on here and say .. yeah but reading were shit the pigs could have beaten them.. noone will listen.. 'we won . blackwell is a genius' and all that

 

[happyhippy]

Now, for me, this is the problem. I agree with both of these posts. So, even i'm now confused of my own opinion!

Thank God(TM) it's not just me .....

 

[HoodedClaw]

The board dont want/cant invest any serious money in the team any more and KB is hitting a brick wall with the lot he has. I listened to most of the game on the radio and was embarrased at the shouts of "hoof" from the home crowd. Just shows what other teams think of us under this current regime. I had a fearsome debate with Ollesendro recently as he will remember, stating that I had come to accept where United were at the moment in terms of style of play etc. but since I have taken stock and asked myself 'No, why should I accept it?' If I accept mediocrity as a fan im just doing exactly what the club wants - un-ending patience and devotion whilst handing over large chunks of my hard earned money at the start and throughout every season.....

Just did a quick bit of checking and found some astounding figures for some of WBA players:

Graham Dorrans (Possible MOM by the sounds of it) £100K further £150K on apps.
Mulumbu (Sounded as though he had an excellent game too) £175k
Robert Koren (Another who sounded like he had a good game, which was most of their team to be fair) Free Bosman.

Now there is a good case for us not being in a position to invest heavily in the team at the moment, current economic climate, loss of parachute payments still paying for Robsons over indulgence, but if WBA can find these kind of quality players at the prices quoted why cant we, WTF is our scouting network doing???

We pay around £300k for Yeates for him to basically become Cotts replacement on the bench.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

A change in football philosphy is required.

Been advocating this since we got relegated. I'm fed up of been 'battling' United I want to see football being played. And ..

'West Brom spent 100k on Dorrans and he ran the show'

This is part of the problem rarely do United spot talent and we are often told 'there is no one better available' still we continue to play splay footed twat monty who is League 1 at best. We hoof the ball up in the air we have no 'ideas' how to attack teams players with talent are bought for no apparent reason - Yeates? - The new Cotts

Blackwell - I'm not fickle I just dont like you - Mcabe - get on the phone to Donny and give the what they want for O'Driscoll.

 

[bladeinlondon]

We are not doing as well this season ats last when we were unbeaten away from September. Our defence which was our backbone has gone. Conceding a goal 1 minute after getting back into the game -tragic.
How many more goal scoring opportunities for the opposition does Monty have to give? How many more fouls by Hendo? We play direct football but we dont play it well. We need Ward up front and Willo and harper in mid field. There are the makings of a team there but KB doesnt seem able to harness it. I am off to Watofrd Tuesday but cant say I am looking forward to it

 

[Bergen Blade]

There are many things that we could have changed in terms of our style.

However, maybe another thing to consider is the lack of long term planning. Blackwell probably knows that a season where we didn't challenge for the play offs would not be accepted. Rather than looking long term and trying to build a young, strong team that could be ready to survive in the Premiership in a season or two, he's probably felt forced to immediately try and nick promotion both last season and this.

This has made him go for the short term solutions of

• loans
• experienced, high earning players on short contracts
• gambling on a small squad
• not daring to change the playing style
• avoiding playing youngsters

I guess it has brought what we could have hoped for, we're around 6th and still in with a shout. However, the squad on paper doesn't look prepared for the Premiership at all. I'm not sure we have anyone who I'd confidently describe as "Premiership class", there's hardly any youth, and think we'd have to massively rebuild if we were to have a chance of survival. Looking at the (few) players that are contracted beyond this season we'll have a lot to do next summer anyhow.

Will it once again be a desperate attempt to be there or thereabouts, or will we look long term?

 

[JohnDenver]

This has made him go for the short term solutions of

• experienced, high earning players on short contracts
• gambling on a small squad
• avoiding playing youngsters

Not sure you're being entirely fair...

Who are the high earning short termers who Blackwell is responsible for?

A small squad is surely dictated by finances?

And who are the young players he's not playing?

 

[DazBlade88]

Not sure you're being entirely fair...

Who are the high earning short termers who Blackwell is responsible for?

A small squad is surely dictated by finances?

And who are the young players he's not playing?

The experienced high earners are players like Harper, Creswell and Camara. All of which are most likely earning over, or close to £10,000 a week.

The only youngsters possibly within a chance of the first team are such as Wedgbury and Roe, who I thought may have been given a chance recently with them both being defenders but perhaps they're scared to throw them in to such a demanding situation.

 

[JohnDenver]

The experienced high earners are players like Harper, Creswell and Camara. All of which are most likely earning over, or close to £10,000 a week.

Fair point, but the bloke has to balance this season's promotion chances with the medium term prospects of the club. The likes of Camara and Harper bring the quality we need to have a chance at promotion, but we can't afford to sign them on long-term deals. I can't see a way around that.

Blackwell was not responsible for us selling our two best youngsters, but does have the job of finding some more. That's a pretty thankless task.

All things considered, I think the biggest criticism of Blackwell is the style he employs. People would be far more understanding if there was a bit more joy and freedom in our play.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Not sure you're being entirely fair...

Who are the high earning short termers who Blackwell is responsible for?

A small squad is surely dictated by finances?

And who are the young players he's not playing?

This was my "in defence of Blackwell" post...!

Experienced, high earning short termers: Cresswell, Stewart, Fortune, Harper, Camara, France, Little. (+ Jihai and all the loans)

Squad size, the dilemma is

• small squad earning high wages
• big squad earning lower wages

Maybe the biggest difference between Warnock and Blackwell. If you need success quickly I think you're tempted to find 16-18 good, experienced players and hope they stay fit. A bigger squad allows for more long term planning, though Warnock's reasoning may have been more tactical options.


As for youngsters, we hardly have any, certainly not many who we can confidently say will be the future of the club.

Looking at yesterday's line up:


Bunn 26

Walker 20; Morgan 33; Fortune 30; Stewart 28

Ward 24; Harper 30; Monty 29; Quinn 24; Cresswell 33

Henderson 29


Bench: Bennett 39, France 30, Geary 30, Williamson 28, Yeates 25, Evans 22, Camara 33.


(Note; the ages listed includes this years birthday)


To turn the question around; who are the youngsters being played? The Tottenham loanee?

 

[DazBlade88]

Fair point, but the bloke has to balance this season's promotion chances with the medium term prospects of the club. The likes of Camara and Harper bring the quality we need to have a chance at promotion, but we can't afford to sign them on long-term deals. I can't see a way around that.

Blackwell was not responsible for us selling our two best youngsters, but does have the job of finding some more. That's a pretty thankless task.

All things considered, I think the biggest criticism of Blackwell is the style he employs. People would be far more understanding if there was a bit more joy and freedom in our play.

I agree mate, I was just pointing out the experienced high earners

If we weren't so painful to watch I'd be quite happy. We're just so bad to watch I rarely enjoy games, even when we're winning.

 

[lenners]

There are fans who pointed out what was coming after the complete fluke 3-0 win last Tuesday and I seem to recall they got shouted down.
You cannot ever hope to achieve success by consistently selling your best players and replacing them with the likes of Fortune.
Not only he is not good enough but it sends a message to the rest of the team, undermines confidence and leaves us unable to even play the way Blackwell envisages.
There's no leadership at the club, McCabe's no longer bothered, the new chief exec's in to do the dirty work and we're going to get crapped on for the foreseeable future.