Sheffield United and Kevin Blackwell

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LouTheBlade

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I know a few people have started some interesting threads since saturday but I wanted to try and break things down to explain how I am feeling at the moment and to get comparative responses from some of you. You never know, they might make me feel better.......

Saturday as most of us know was pretty awful. For about 60 minutes we were undeniably dire and looked like a team of strangers trying to clog their way through a tricky fixture. Despite our effort and resurgence in the second half I felt a little for Derby as they probably deserved the three points but I will take what we got and be relieved for it.

I am deeply concerned about the direction of the club at the moment and matters on the pitch are reflective of it, there is no doubt about that. I am not Kevin Blackwell's biggest fan at present and I wont proceed to slag him off because I think his circumstances have become very difficult if I am completely fair to him. His problem though, is that he does himself no favours. In a situation where you have lost a lot of players to injury and have had your investments cut, you really need to stick to the basics and play whatever players you have available in their correct positions.

Playing Monty at right back was a sign of a manager that is on the verge of losing the plot. He had Ryan France and I think even Derek Geary on the bench to play in that position. France would have been the sensible option if we assume Geary struggled in midweek and isnt ready for regular football. The rest of the team he selected was questionable too, though I understand his options are limited, there was a better way on saturday and he opted for something that has put him under fire once again with the fans.

At this stage I think current circumstances have made his position untenable, whether I like him or not and the chap isnt wanting for effort I recognise that. I dont see how the man can continue as manager - the majority of fans dont want him, the board have tied his hands together and he has more bad luck with injuries than an army stationed in Iraq. I personally think his time is running out and we need someone to inject some life into the club. Kevin Blackwell can do a good job with a decent squad of players and a fair budget for spending but he doesnt have that anymore and I dont think he is the right man to lead us through a difficult period.

I was one of those who wanted him as manager when Robson left and at the time I thought he was the perfect choice but I think his time has run its course now and we are losing momentum under him (be it his fault or not). Its time for the board to make a strong decision and think about a replacement who can do a job under the circumstances we are faced with. I dont think KB will go anywhere at the moment but I would be amazed if he is manager beyond the end of the season. He will most likely walk and signs of him spitting out the dummy are already there. Who can blame him in some respects!

At this moment in time there is only one real option in my mind;

BRING BACK WARNOCK

I was never a huge warnock fan and could take him or leave him to be honest but he is the only man that can manage us through what we are about to face. I found his tactics as one dimensional as the current manager but the difference was his teams had heart and real bottle. Something KB's teams seldom show. If we are cutting the budget again and you want someone to put a decent team together on a shoe-string...........

The answer is Warnock. Trust me, it hurts to admit that! :o
 

Warnock wud NEVER come back to BDTBL while McCabe is around ..... and yer know what ...i don't blame him.
 
Bringing Warnock back will solve things..........in the short term only, pretty much like Blackwell did when he took over from Robson. Besides I can't see McCabe having Neil back anyway.

IMO we need a complete change of direction, with Birch's comments about the wage-bill I can see wholesale changes this summer so why not change the bloody lot!

Mind you as Beighton says, Blackwell ain't cheap as chips for owt!
 
I know a few people have started some interesting threads since saturday but I wanted to try and break things down to explain how I am feeling at the moment and to get comparative responses from some of you. You never know, they might make me feel better.......

Saturday as most of us know was pretty awful. For about 60 minutes we were undeniably dire and looked like a team of strangers trying to clog their way through a tricky fixture. Despite our effort and resurgence in the second half I felt a little for Derby as they probably deserved the three points but I will take what we got and be relieved for it.

I am deeply concerned about the direction of the club at the moment and matters on the pitch are reflective of it, there is no doubt about that. I am not Kevin Blackwell's biggest fan at present and I wont proceed to slag him off because I think his circumstances have become very difficult if I am completely fair to him. His problem though, is that he does himself no favours. In a situation where you have lost a lot of players to injury and have had your investments cut, you really need to stick to the basics and play whatever players you have available in their correct positions.

Playing Monty at right back was a sign of a manager that is on the verge of losing the plot. He had Ryan France and I think even Derek Geary on the bench to play in that position. France would have been the sensible option if we assume Geary struggled in midweek and isnt ready for regular football. The rest of the team he selected was questionable too, though I understand his options are limited, there was a better way on saturday and he opted for something that has put him under fire once again with the fans.

At this stage I think current circumstances have made his position untenable, whether I like him or not and the chap isnt wanting for effort I recognise that. I dont see how the man can continue as manager - the majority of fans dont want him, the board have tied his hands together and he has more bad luck with injuries than an army stationed in Iraq. I personally think his time is running out and we need someone to inject some life into the club. Kevin Blackwell can do a good job with a decent squad of players and a fair budget for spending but he doesnt have that anymore and I dont think he is the right man to lead us through a difficult period.

I was one of those who wanted him as manager when Robson left and at the time I thought he was the perfect choice but I think his time has run its course now and we are losing momentum under him (be it his fault or not). Its time for the board to make a strong decision and think about a replacement who can do a job under the circumstances we are faced with. I dont think KB will go anywhere at the moment but I would be amazed if he is manager beyond the end of the season. He will most likely walk and signs of him spitting out the dummy are already there. Who can blame him in some respects!

At this moment in time there is only one real option in my mind;

BRING BACK WARNOCK

I was never a huge warnock fan and could take him or leave him to be honest but he is the only man that can manage us through what we are about to face. I found his tactics as one dimensional as the current manager but the difference was his teams had heart and real bottle. Something KB's teams seldom show. If we are cutting the budget again and you want someone to put a decent team together on a shoe-string...........

The answer is Warnock. Trust me, it hurts to admit that! :o
Good post understand how you feel saturday felt like a defeat to me and i am feeling exactly the same as i did after the Barnsley game wondering where the next 3 points are coming from. Its been said before this season but the next 3 games are massive, Preston tomorrow because they are having a bad time of it, Saturday because we need a performance in front of 25,000 and then Forest just to see how far behind we are against a side who have come up from league 1. I truly believe though that McCabe doesn't want to go up we can't afford to go up because we can't invest in players to stay there and will come straight back down.
 
No I don't agree.

While Warnock may of been superior to Blackwell going back to him isn't a way forward.

If we have to cut the wage bill significantly (although with new contracts on the new payscheme agreed with a lot of the old guard there will be some cuts already achieved).
Billy, Monty, Naysmith are also on the old inflated figures but all of which are out of contract in the next 18 months and will have to re-negotiate or leave anyway.

Let's get some unearthed talents from the lower league, some will hit, some will miss but the risk of buying experienced players from the Premiership hadn't worked in was expensive. Couple that with our own developed players and given the lack of quality in this league I still can't see why we wouldn't be a top half team pushing for the playoffs.
 
No I don't agree.

While Warnock may of been superior to Blackwell going back to him isn't a way forward.

If we have to cut the wage bill significantly (although with new contracts on the new payscheme agreed with a lot of the old guard there will be some cuts already achieved).
Billy, Monty, Naysmith are also on the old inflated figures but all of which are out of contract in the next 18 months and will have to re-negotiate or leave anyway.

Let's get some unearthed talents from the lower league, some will hit, some will miss but the risk of buying experienced players from the Premiership hadn't worked in was expensive. Couple that with our own developed players and given the lack of quality in this league I still can't see why we wouldn't be a top half team pushing for the playoffs.

I hear you Bob and agree with everything in bold. I still think NW is what we need right now though. I agree with you in the sense that it isnt a move forward but I dont think United can move forward at the moment with our current problems. We need someone who can come in straight away and get us fighting. We need to stabilise at the moment, otherwise we will end up another Charlton or Norwich. Taking a small step back is what we need to do IMO and get our house in order so that we can eventually move forward.

We need someone strong who knows the club and can work in hand-cuffs. For me, there is no other answer.
 
P and T please......
 
I know a few people have started some interesting threads since saturday but I wanted to try and break things down to explain how I am feeling at the moment and to get comparative responses from some of you. You never know, they might make me feel better.......

Saturday as most of us know was pretty awful. For about 60 minutes we were undeniably dire and looked like a team of strangers trying to clog their way through a tricky fixture. Despite our effort and resurgence in the second half I felt a little for Derby as they probably deserved the three points but I will take what we got and be relieved for it.

I am deeply concerned about the direction of the club at the moment and matters on the pitch are reflective of it, there is no doubt about that. I am not Kevin Blackwell's biggest fan at present and I wont proceed to slag him off because I think his circumstances have become very difficult if I am completely fair to him. His problem though, is that he does himself no favours. In a situation where you have lost a lot of players to injury and have had your investments cut, you really need to stick to the basics and play whatever players you have available in their correct positions.

Playing Monty at right back was a sign of a manager that is on the verge of losing the plot. He had Ryan France and I think even Derek Geary on the bench to play in that position. France would have been the sensible option if we assume Geary struggled in midweek and isnt ready for regular football. The rest of the team he selected was questionable too, though I understand his options are limited, there was a better way on saturday and he opted for something that has put him under fire once again with the fans.

At this stage I think current circumstances have made his position untenable, whether I like him or not and the chap isnt wanting for effort I recognise that. I dont see how the man can continue as manager - the majority of fans dont want him, the board have tied his hands together and he has more bad luck with injuries than an army stationed in Iraq. I personally think his time is running out and we need someone to inject some life into the club. Kevin Blackwell can do a good job with a decent squad of players and a fair budget for spending but he doesnt have that anymore and I dont think he is the right man to lead us through a difficult period.

I was one of those who wanted him as manager when Robson left and at the time I thought he was the perfect choice but I think his time has run its course now and we are losing momentum under him (be it his fault or not). Its time for the board to make a strong decision and think about a replacement who can do a job under the circumstances we are faced with. I dont think KB will go anywhere at the moment but I would be amazed if he is manager beyond the end of the season. He will most likely walk and signs of him spitting out the dummy are already there. Who can blame him in some respects!

At this moment in time there is only one real option in my mind;

BRING BACK WARNOCK

I was never a huge warnock fan and could take him or leave him to be honest but he is the only man that can manage us through what we are about to face. I found his tactics as one dimensional as the current manager but the difference was his teams had heart and real bottle. Something KB's teams seldom show. If we are cutting the budget again and you want someone to put a decent team together on a shoe-string...........

The answer is Warnock. Trust me, it hurts to admit that! :o
Dear Lou,

I regret to inform you that your recent application to join the Campaign for Real Football has not been successful.

Just for once let's try a manager who recognises skill as well as commitment.
 
While I'd prefer Warnock to Blackwell this afternoon, and aside from the fact that he wouldn't return, I don't think he's the right solution long term to take us forward.

It's time for an overhaul in the ethos at the Lane and SoD would be a step in the right direction. We're safe this season, so I can't help but think the sooner the better in order that we can be ready for August.
 
Dear Lou,

I regret to inform you that your recent application to join the Campaign for Real Football has not been successful.

Just for once let's try a manager who recognises skill as well as commitment.

I agree Pinchy dont get me wrong. NW and KB are from the same school of football but I dont see what other options we have at the moment but to appoint someone with a bit more blood and thunder.

With an ever shrinking budget and lack of transfer funds you will find it almost impossible to appoint a manager that can get us playing nice football and challenge for promotion. Im afraid its back to the good old days of cheap and cheerful kicking our way out.......

But lets at least do it with some gusto and a bit of bottle!
 
I agree Pinchy dont get me wrong. NW and KB are from the same school of football but I dont see what other options we have at the moment but to appoint someone with a bit more blood and thunder.

With an ever shrinking budget and lack of transfer funds you will find it almost impossible to appoint a manager that can get us playing nice football and challenge for promotion. Im afraid its back to the good old days of cheap and cheerful kicking our way out.......

But lets at least do it with some gusto and a bit of bottle!

I disagree. Coppell didn't spend all that much at Reading. And SoD has spent virtually nothing to get Donny into the mid reaches of the league.

Even Robins has got the Dingles playing good stuff and winning.
 
While I'd prefer Warnock to Blackwell this afternoon, and aside from the fact that he wouldn't return, I don't think he's the right solution long term to take us forward.

It's time for an overhaul in the ethos at the Lane and SoD would be a step in the right direction. We're safe this season, so I can't help but think the sooner the better in order that we can be ready for August.

With McCabe slowly stepping back out of the picture and Palace's current situation there is every chance of Warnock coming back. If United are on their knees at the end of the season and KB is departing - nothing would give the arrogant twat more pleasure than to strut back in and be the saviour. Warnock's ego is much bigger than his pride let me assure you.

He would take great delight in picking us up off our arse. It would be even more satisfying for him if he replaced Blackwell. He's loved getting one over on him ever since they parted ways. Despite all that - I would welcome him back with open arms at the moment.
 
I disagree. Coppell didn't spend all that much at Reading. And SoD has spent virtually nothing to get Donny into the mid reaches of the league.

Even Robins has got the Dingles playing good stuff and winning.

But Donny and Barnsley dont ever challenge for promotion. Theyre both mid-table and wont last the course. Thats what I said earlier. Very rare you will get decent football and a winning team on a tight budget and they are both examples of not being able to have both.

Reading were a complete one off and there arent many Steve Coppells about so as I said - its very difficult to find these managers. Its not impossible I recognise that, but Barnsley and Donny arent examples of what our demanding fans want to achieve, they fall well short of it in terms of form and league position.
 
Forget the end of the season look at now. Bunn, Morgs, harper, williamson, ward, evans, hendo, camara, cressy, look at the heart of that team we should be playing better football and the playoffs should be very easy to achieve in this very average league. Nottingham Forest are 2nd remember and Swansea in the playoff come on a new manger in the hot seat that brings new manager syndrome with him and the playoffs should be a minimum. 17 games left 51 points up for grabs.
 

But Donny and Barnsley dont ever challenge for promotion. Theyre both mid-table and wont last the course. Thats what I said earlier. Very rare you will get decent football and a winning team on a tight budget and they are both examples of not being able to have both.

Reading were a complete one off and there arent many Steve Coppells about so as I said - its very difficult to find these managers. Its not impossible I recognise that, but Barnsley and Donny arent examples of what our demanding fans want to achieve, they fall well short of it in terms of form and league position.

SoD at Donny - has had a promotion and despite our constraints, would get a bigger budget at SUFC, better facilities and a better squad to work with

Robins at Barnsley - entirely unfair to say "they never get promoted" considering Robins has only been in the post a couple of months.

Not many Coppells about - there's one I can think of straight away...
 
We need to stabilise at the moment, otherwise we will end up another Charlton or Norwich.

You see I really don't believe things are quite that dire.
The cost cutting has been happening for the past 18 months I think the timley moves of the board to plan for this once it was obvious the mess we were in post Robson has saved us from a real period in the wilderness.

While we have to accept that we can't compete with the parachute teams I think going forward we can still complete with any club in the Championship going forward.
 
SoD at Donny - has had a promotion and despite our constraints, would get a bigger budget at SUFC, better facilities and a better squad to work with

You might well be right about that to be fair

Robins at Barnsley - entirely unfair to say "they never get promoted" considering Robins has only been in the post a couple of months.

True but I honestly cant see them finishing any higher than mid-table

Not many Coppells about - there's one I can think of straight away...

He's an excellent manager but wont move north at his age. SUFC is far more hassle than its worth for a manager who could have several other jobs.

One thing is for sure. Something needs to change.
 
Let's get some unearthed talents from the lower league, some will hit, some will miss......

Like Andy Taylor? Because he makes mistakes he gets slaughtered for it, and there are plenty asking what on earth Blackwell is doing signing unproven lower league players. Many moaned when we signed Jamie Ward. If we sign lower league players there is always the risk that they might not be able to make the step up to Championship level, and some fans will be on the backs of any that make mistakes straight away.

We will end up in a downward spiral - unable or unwilling to spoff money away on Premier League players, and castigating the management when they take a gamble on youth or lower league players. I'm not saying that all fans will criticise no matter what, but there are certain gloomy buggers that can't see any bright side at all. For them, every silver lining has a great big cloud, and it's always a miserable day in the Hundred Acre Wood.
 
Like Andy Taylor? Because he makes mistakes he gets slaughtered for it, and there are plenty asking what on earth Blackwell is doing signing unproven lower league players. Many moaned when we signed Jamie Ward. If we sign lower league players there is always the risk that they might not be able to make the step up to Championship level, and some fans will be on the backs of any that make mistakes straight away.

We will end up in a downward spiral - unable or unwilling to spoff money away on Premier League players, and castigating the management when they take a gamble on youth or lower league players. I'm not saying that all fans will criticise no matter what, but there are certain gloomy buggers that can't see any bright side at all. For them, every silver lining has a great big cloud, and it's always a miserable day in the Hundred Acre Wood.

Yes but there's highly rated players like Ward, who other clubs had actually shown an interest in signing and there's players that have never been tipped for better things and simply aren't good enough like Taylor.

Go for the highly rated ones, leave the shit.
 
Yes but there's highly rated players like Ward, who other clubs had actually shown an interest in signing and there's players that have never been tipped for better things and simply aren't good enough like Taylor.

Go for the highly rated ones, leave the shit.

Andy Taylor was highly rated. And just because they are highly rated doesn't mean they will succeed at a higher level. I think Taylor just might turn out to be a good signing in the long run. Then again, he might not.

That's the beauty of looking into the future. You can't.
 
Andy Taylor was highly rated. And just because they are highly rated doesn't mean they will succeed at a higher level. I think Taylor just might turn out to be a good signing in the long run. Then again, he might not.

That's the beauty of looking into the future. You can't.

Having read up on a Tranmere message I wouldn't exactly say he was highly rated. The word "steady" appears quite a lot and they all seem to agree that a player they had in place of Taylor is better. Apparently they turned down a bid of £100k from Shrewsbury though, so there were other clubs interested!

I agree that just because they are highly rated doesn't necessarily guarantee success, but I'd much rather we go the top players in the lower leagues than the ones that just happen to be available.
 
why would bringing Warnock back mean an end to hoof ball? Sorry dont get it myself. If we need a change we need a change of football style. Hendreson thrived at Bristol when played to feet - thats what we need. We wont get it with Blackwell or Warnock IMO
 

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