Sam Ellis - What does he do ?

[Fiery Blade]

Am I the only one to wonder what role Sam Ellis fulfills at Sheffield United FC apart from the odd interview when Blackwell is too embarrassed or too pissed off after another poor performance.
He never appears in the dug out where the majority of coaching / gesturing / directing appears to be shared by Blackwell, Speed and Leaning (why)
He waffles on about this and that and never actually says anything of either substance or use. I know when he was at Wendy he was what is termed as an uncompromising centre half with a penchant for booting the ball into Row Z and ironically the cleverest player in the Football League apart from Steve Heighway! Am I missing something but whatever salary he is drawing it appears on face value to be not earned!

 

[Muttley]

apart from the odd interview when Blackwell is too embarrassed or too pissed off after another poor performance, or to try to justify what the hell is going on!

 

[Wards]

I'd imagine he actually does quite a lot. You don't see what happens day in day out at the club, at training etc.

I'd imagine Blacky does very little in terms of training and is mostly tied up in the office and on the phone. That's probably what Ellis does when Blackwell isn't around.

 

[Fiery Blade]

I'd imagine he actually does quite a lot. You don't see what happens day in day out at the club, at training etc.

I'd imagine Blacky does very little in terms of training and is mostly tied up in the office and on the phone. That's probably what Ellis does when Blackwell isn't around.

Well thats it then problem solved Blackwell employ a pa to answer the phone and be in the office and get Ellis as far away from the training as possible:thumbup:

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Am I the only one to wonder what role Sam Ellis fulfills at Sheffield United FC apart from the odd interview when Blackwell is too embarrassed or too pissed off after another poor performance.
He never appears in the dug out where the majority of coaching / gesturing / directing appears to be shared by Blackwell, Speed and Leaning (why)
He waffles on about this and that and never actually says anything of either substance or use. I know when he was at Wendy he was what is termed as an uncompromising centre half with a penchant for booting the ball into Row Z and ironically the cleverest player in the Football League apart from Steve Heighway! Am I missing something but whatever salary he is drawing it appears on face value to be not earned!

In answer to your direct question I haven't the foggiest, but as I'm not at the training ground or around the offices I couldn't tell you what most of the staff at the Lane do over the course of a working week.

I'm sure Blackwell probably does a bit more than pace up and down 10 yards of touchline waving his arms around and shouting for 2-3 hours / week, but equally I could be wrong. He could be sat in his office eating crisp butties and watching Jeremy Kyle all week.

Yes - it's a results business and it all comes down to 90 minutes once or twice a week, but just because someone is apparently inactive during those 90 minutes it doesn't mean that they contribute bugger all.

My issue with both Ellis and Blackwell is not what they do but whether they have the character and charisma to get the fans and players behind them. I'm pissed off about the way everyone lurches from ecstacy to despondency at every false dawn or mountainous mole-hill - but with stronger leadership perhaps confidence, consistency and tolerance might be easier to come by.

 

[Chengdu_qwade09]

seems to me sam knows very little about football and much rather have mc call back or speed

 

[shorehamview]

Does anybody here actually attend the training sessions, so they can build a valid argument on what Ellis does or doesn't do? No, thought not.

 

[Chengdu_qwade09]

i work at sheffield united and gary speed takes the training sessions and sam stands around talking with a cup of tea i think sam does more transfers and looking at what he has brought in not very good =/

 

[Meat Dagnetic]

In answer to your direct question I haven't the foggiest, but as I'm not at the training ground or around the offices I couldn't tell you what most of the staff at the Lane do over the course of a working week.

I'm sure Blackwell probably does a bit more than pace up and down 10 yards of touchline waving his arms around and shouting for 2-3 hours / week, but equally I could be wrong. He could be sat in his office eating crisp butties and watching Jeremy Kyle all week.

Yes - it's a results business and it all comes down to 90 minutes once or twice a week, but just because someone is apparently inactive during those 90 minutes it doesn't mean that they contribute bugger all.

My issue with both Ellis and Blackwell is not what they do but whether they have the character and charisma to get the fans and players behind them. I'm pissed off about the way everyone lurches from ecstacy to despondency at every false dawn or mountainous mole-hill - but with stronger leadership perhaps confidence, consistency and tolerance might be easier to come by.

Hang on, so its now Blackwells fault that supporters can't help but take failure to win the odd game playing total football as a personal insult? Crivens, he really is on a hiding to nothing....

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Hang on, so its now Blackwells fault that supporters can't help but take failure to win the odd game playing total football as a personal insult? Crivens, he really is on a hiding to nothing....

Not what I said at all - we're a fickle bunch at the best of times, but Blackie has had less tolerance than any recent manager. Warnock probably divided the fans more than any manager in my time supporting United, but he got away with high-scoring draws and away defeats without the place falling down around his ears (within 10 days of a derby win no less).

I've no real personal gripe with Blackwell - I certainly can't be doing with all the moaning and mumping that is going on at the moment. I'm merely observing that perhaps he and Ellis do not unite the supporters behind them - and, more controversially, that lack of charisma might be one of the contributing factors to see-sawing form.

 

[Meat Dagnetic]

Not what I said at all - we're a fickle bunch at the best of times, but Blackie has had less tolerance than any recent manager. Warnock probably divided the fans more than any manager in my time supporting United, but he got away with high-scoring draws and away defeats without the place falling down around his ears (within 10 days of a derby win no less).

I've no real personal gripe with Blackwell - I certainly can't be doing with all the moaning and mumping that is going on at the moment. I'm merely observing that perhaps he and Ellis do not unite the supporters behind them - and, more controversially, that lack of charisma might be one of the contributing factors to see-sawing form.

Fair enough, got the wrong end of the stick! I dont think whats happening is see-sawing form, more some individual mistakes that have cost us big - if they hadnt have happened there wouldn't be any of this moaning and groaning....its certainly not Ellis and Blackwells job to please the fans (or players for that matter) with charisma; its to get results, and which they do pretty well....(in my opinion)

 

[Fiery Blade]

Fair enough, got the wrong end of the stick! I dont think whats happening is see-sawing form, more some individual mistakes that have cost us big - if they hadnt have happened there wouldn't be any of this moaning and groaning....its certainly not Ellis and Blackwells job to please the fans (or players for that matter) with charisma; its to get results, and which they do pretty well....(in my opinion)

If you think its all just individual errors that are costing us then think again.
We are not playing as a cohesive unit, players are bickering amoungst themselves, we do not appear to have a game plan and our forwards are not anticipating the second ball to name just a few problems we have Yes individual errors are costing us dearly but we are not playing well and if you think we are then heaven help you.
The problem with the Blades is that they can turn in some excellent displays and then the following match or even half look like they have not seen each other for a month.
You cannot with any seriousness say that we outplayed a low on confidence Ipswich side who have not won all season - we were second best throughout the match and was very, very fortunate to come out of the game with a point which we hardly deserved.

 

[shorehamview]

i work at sheffield united and gary speed takes the training sessions and sam stands around talking with a cup of tea i think sam does more transfers and looking at what he has brought in not very good =/

What do you do at United? Whereabouts do you work? Just wondering.......

 

[grafikhaus]

I'll tell you what Ellis does on match days. He sits at the back of the directors box with no visible means of communication and just looks pissed off. Exactly as did Kidd under Robson.

 

[Meat Dagnetic]

If you think its all just individual errors that are costing us then think again.
We are not playing as a cohesive unit, players are bickering amoungst themselves, we do not appear to have a game plan and our forwards are not anticipating the second ball to name just a few problems we have Yes individual errors are costing us dearly but we are not playing well and if you think we are then heaven help you.
The problem with the Blades is that they can turn in some excellent displays and then the following match or even half look like they have not seen each other for a month.
You cannot with any seriousness say that we outplayed a low on confidence Ipswich side who have not won all season - we were second best throughout the match and was very, very fortunate to come out of the game with a point which we hardly deserved.

Ok fair's fair - As crap as they were the other night, it's clear that we're struggling for form at the minute, and there are a number of reasons for it - not all within Blackwells control (individual errors). The problem you highlight with the Blades happens to all teams sooner or later - even after this relatively dodgy run then we're still 6th in the league with a long way to go....some perspective is needed: you can't win every game and please everyone every week....

 

[blades1889]

cant careless tbh. all i care about at the mo improve the football at the lane. On the deck. O get rid of blackie

 

[Mary Christmas]

i work at sheffield united and gary speed takes the training sessions and sam stands around talking with a cup of tea i think sam does more transfers and looking at what he has brought in not very good =/

Thanks for this insight Chengdu. Who makes the tea - KB!

 

[bricktop]

What do you do at United? Whereabouts do you work? Just wondering.......

I think he is works as Sam Ellis's Teaboy, and is still peed off he didn't get a Christmas tip last year

 

[Compound_Legend]

If you're of a certain age,you may remember a ginger haired defender for the pigs who when faced with clearing a ball under pressure,would lump it as hard and long as he could - normally into row Z.

40 years later,he is involved with a championship club,who follow this process when under the cosh.Now I wonder who it could be?

As our American cousins say,you do the math....

 

[Revolution]

I actually like Sam Ellis, because whenever I see his name the first thing I think of is him being part of a pigs team that lost the cup final having been 2-0 up with about half an hour to go. Thus Sam Ellis puts me in a good mood.

 

[Isiah]

I'm no expert, just a Blade of many years standing, and it seems to me that putting a team together is like a jigsaw - the pieces have to fit. ( O.K. so a got a degree in stating the b****y obvious!) But obvious though it is, KB doesn't seem very good at it. If you see a quality in a player that you admire and want for your team, and are fortunate enough to get him in your team then - a) use it and b) don't expect to be able to make major changes to his game. We've got a lot of pieces, just not sure we're putting 'em together properly.

 

[Fiery Blade]

Perhaps he organises trips for Blackwell to Stoke and Watford to hold player recruitment evenings!

 

[beechblade]

I'm no expert, just a Blade of many years standing, and it seems to me that putting a team together is like a jigsaw - the pieces have to fit. ( O.K. so a got a degree in stating the b****y obvious!) But obvious though it is, KB doesn't seem very good at it. If you see a quality in a player that you admire and want for your team, and are fortunate enough to get him in your team then - a) use it and b) don't expect to be able to make major changes to his game. We've got a lot of pieces, just not sure we're putting 'em together properly.

I'd have to disagree, he had the pieces fitting together fine at the start, but due to recent injuries cracks have appeared, he has struggled to repair those cracks through poor planning in transfer market. Now he's having to remodel the dimesions and that in itself is looking a task, with a thread bare squad, however on Saturday we saw signs that this thread bare squad has all the potential to adapt and overcome the problems. But we'll just have to see how it goes.

As for Sam Elis not sure unless I attended the training ground but doesn't the assisant also take charge of the reserve team?

 

[Fiery Blade]

Thats why they have probably lost every game

 

[beechblade]

Maybe so, but whos to say Speed isn't taking charge of them to get his coaching experience, the licenses to do the next courses require so many hours experience.

However as stated I always thought it was the assistant who managed the reserves.

 

[Fiery Blade]

And not forgetting He has to cover Blackwell's arse when United put on a poor display!
Had a bit more media coverage in last few games!

 

[Come from away]

And not forgetting He has to cover Blackwell's arse when United put on a poor display!
Had a bit more media coverage in last few games!

Lord I know Yorkshiremen love to grumble and predict failure, but it seems to me you have no clue what Ellis does so make up your nonsense to prove you are right. I though Yorkshiremen had more nouse than that. If games were only as easy to predict as your rumblings I'd be top of the Prediction Table.

Personally I enjoy watching the Blades, great team, well put together in a tough high-pressure league where 'take no prisoners' is often the standard. They have been consistently in the top part of the Championship in the last half dozens years/times they have been in the league; and I note we are still in it (CCC). So, hope for better things, understand it's a fine line between success and failure and there is no magic formula (except in some people's mind). I'm proud of our club's tradition and how we conduct and manage our business. None of which means that players don't mess up or coaches don't get it wrong or transfers don't go bums up. Overall we are no better or worse than the teams in the bottom half of the Premiership - we are just lacking their funds at the moment.

Be a critic if you will but if you can't also give credit then it really does not count for much. :thumbup:

 

[TAMUS]

I'll tell you what Ellis does on match days. He sits at the back of the directors box with no visible means of communication and just looks pissed off. Exactly as did Kidd under Robson.

I sit just behind the dug outs and can confirm Ellis, never sits in the directors box he usually is stood up at the end of the tunnel ,whenever a substitution is made Ellis is usually the instigator. Speed shows more passion and is very aware of what he wants from the players .

 

[Muttley]

...HE looks pissed off???????

 

[Darthblade]

I often wish that they would tie him up in his office on a Saturday afternoon, or a Tuesday evening ;-)