Short Memories?

[Numpty's Dusty Ruts.]

The team had a bad day and it's not been a great few weeks. However, a whole load of people (combined attendances of about 94000 over three games) have seen us win one, lose one and draw one over Xmas. We lost at home to a team who have spent large chunks of time in the Premier league when we were fannying around in the second and third tiers. We drew away, after being two down in nine minutes, to a club who have spent very few seasons outside the top flight in their very long history. We clobbered a team in free fall who were in the Premier league last year. Three years ago we were thumped 3-0 in a snowstorm at Port Vale on Boxing Day in front of far less than 10000 people. I'm not a clapper or a "Bladey Blade" but most of the time now I like what I see and it's much better than what I've seen for a long time, if ever (I'm old but something of a latecomer!). I'm very hopeful for the 12th January and for the rest of the season. We won't get relegated and we will finish above the Pigs, which if we're honest is what we all hoped for in August, even if we hoped for more in November! To those who are feeling negative, have a think about all those New Years in League 1, trying to get excited about another game with Swindon or Bury, and enjoy where we are for now. Happy New Year!

 

[Stretch]

I don't think calling out today as a below par performance is forgetting where we have been in recent years. We have set new standards now and need to maintain them if we have any hope of kicking on. Yes a few things didn't drop for us today but by those newly found standards we weren't nearly good enough. 2 maybe 3 genuine moments of quality aside we were bullied by one of the worse teams in this league. I am going to allow myself a dash of arrogance by saying that we are now far better than these cloggers, but today but we failed to show it and deservedly lost.

 

[Bladepicker]

The team had a bad day and it's not been a great few weeks. However, a whole load of people (combined attendances of about 94000 over three games) have seen us win one, lose one and draw one over Xmas. We lost at home to a team who have spent large chunks of time in the Premier league when we were fannying around in the second and third tiers. We drew away, after being two down in nine minutes, to a club who have spent very few seasons outside the top flight in their very long history. We clobbered a team in free fall who were in the Premier league last year. Three years ago we were thumped 3-0 in a snowstorm at Port Vale on Boxing Day in front of far less than 10000 people. I'm not a clapper or a "Bladey Blade" but most of the time now I like what I see and it's much better than what I've seen for a long time, if ever (I'm old but something of a latecomer!). I'm very hopeful for the 12th January and for the rest of the season. We won't get relegated and we will finish above the Pigs, which if we're honest is what we all hoped for in August, even if we hoped for more in November! To those who are feeling negative, have a think about all those New Years in League 1, trying to get excited about another game with Swindon or Bury, and enjoy where we are for now. Happy New Year!

I don't think anyone is saying they are unhappy with the bigger picture, however none of that means the team and/or manager should be above criticism when they get it wrong.

Wilder cocked up today and it likely cost us 3 points against an awful side - by pointing that out no one is saying they are unhappy with where we are.

 

[wizadry]

Not many people have short memories and they won’t stay shut if they see something wrong.

I have brilliant memories from the lower leagues which people with short memories seem to forget and disrespect, we were who we were then and we are who we are now, a good club with a good manager.

Happy new year to all Blades and all the lower league clubs.

 

[Numpty's Dusty Ruts.]

I don't think calling out today as a below par performance is forgetting where we have been in recent years. We have set new standards now and need to maintain them if we have any hope of kicking on. Yes a few things didn't drop for us today but by those newly found standards we weren't nearly good enough. 2 maybe 3 genuine moments of quality aside we were bullied by one of the worse teams in this league. I am going to allow myself a dash of arrogance by saying that we are now far better than these cloggers, but today but we failed to show it and deservedly lost.

Can't disagree Stretch, we do need to set better standards, but still feel we'll be OK!

 

[Stretch]

Can't disagree Stretch, we do need to set better standards, but still feel we'll be OK!

We'll be fine mate, just one of those days and they haven't let us down too often under Wilder. I fancy us to seriously turn against Derby now. We just need to strengthen midfield and bring in an another attacking option [depending on what happens with young David] but other than that I still fancy us for top 6.

 

[Torrix1889]

Not many people have short memories and they won’t stay shut if they see something wrong.

I have brilliant memories from the lower leagues which people with short memories seem to forget and disrespect, we were who we were then and we are who we are now, a good club with a good manager.

Happy new year to all Blades and all the lower league clubs.

Spot on....Let's leave the arrogant stuff to that lot over in S6

 

[metalblade]

I hope this isn't a oooo we are little old Sheffield United and should be grateful to tread water in the championship type thread. Yes we have had six years in league one and were dreadful at times so what ? We set our standards in this league but at the moment our standards are not acceptable in fact they are relegation form and that needs addressing rather quickly or there will be a shitstorm of abuse on the 13th of January. We are in a good position better than many would have thought possible it would be a real shame to just settle for second best because we are little old Sheffield United who just spent the last six seasons in the lower leagues in fact that thinking is probably why we spent six seasons in the lower leagues.

 

[SwissBlade]

The team had a bad day and it's not been a great few weeks. However, a whole load of people (combined attendances of about 94000 over three games) have seen us win one, lose one and draw one over Xmas. We lost at home to a team who have spent large chunks of time in the Premier league when we were fannying around in the second and third tiers. We drew away, after being two down in nine minutes, to a club who have spent very few seasons outside the top flight in their very long history. We clobbered a team in free fall who were in the Premier league last year. Three years ago we were thumped 3-0 in a snowstorm at Port Vale on Boxing Day in front of far less than 10000 people. I'm not a clapper or a "Bladey Blade" but most of the time now I like what I see and it's much better than what I've seen for a long time, if ever (I'm old but something of a latecomer!). I'm very hopeful for the 12th January and for the rest of the season. We won't get relegated and we will finish above the Pigs, which if we're honest is what we all hoped for in August, even if we hoped for more in November! To those who are feeling negative, have a think about all those New Years in League 1, trying to get excited about another game with Swindon or Bury, and enjoy where we are for now. Happy New Year!

We have new higher standards. Do we automatically revert to "yeah but last season we were league one" every time we lose? Because two of the ten games we've lost this season have been against two league one sides from last season.

We Drew 2-2 against a very poor side because we gave away a very soft penalty and then we conceded a really shit goal (even if the cross was fantastic)
We Lost at home against a poor side that set up well against us and we couldn't break them down, missed some sitters and conceded a soft goal.
We Won against probably the worst side we've played in 2 seasons

I've no interest in where these teams were last season, in fact your point about the team we lost against is laughable as the same team finished 2nd to us (by a long way) having been beaten at the lane last season and looking anywhere near as good as us.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

I certainly remember being in the third tier (Walsall, always bloody Walsall) and I also remember beating teams such as Manchester United in the top tier, my first league game was a 4-2 win over Manchester City.

So yes, I am so happy and proud at the end of 2017 at what Wilder has achieved, it's been phenomenal. But like yesterday's result, it's done and dusted, we move on.

In Wilder I trust! But not because of fawning worship of what he has achieved and because he's a Blade (although that may be reason enough) but because he has demonstrated that he can successfully manage a football team. He has consistently demonstrated his ability with us and other teams, so it's a big leap (and not one I've seen any serious contributor on here make) that he has lost this ability.

However, football is a game of opinions, and a forum is the opportunity to discuss these opinions. It's grates when the response to any questions about the manager is rebutted with references to what he has previously achieved, unless it's within the context of the original question.

He's not the Messiah, he's a football manager. And one that has to operate within the constraints placed upon him.

 

[Numpty's Dusty Ruts.]

I hope this isn't a oooo we are little old Sheffield United and should be grateful to tread water in the championship type thread. Yes we have had six years in league one and were dreadful at times so what ? We set our standards in this league but at the moment our standards are not acceptable in fact they are relegation form and that needs addressing rather quickly or there will be a shitstorm of abuse on the 13th of January. We are in a good position better than many would have thought possible it would be a real shame to just settle for second best because we are little old Sheffield United who just spent the last six seasons in the lower leagues in fact that thinking is probably why we spent six seasons in the lower leagues.

No, it's not intended to be a "little old United" thread. I'm not a cap doffer to anybody and this club should never have been in a situation where us fans have had to endure the crap we did. I don't want to settle for second best and want us to win every game! I agree that current form is rubbish (and the actual play and plan yesterday was dire), but perhaps I was just doing some of that end of year reflection which made me feel that despite yesterday (and the poor recent form) we were doing OK. I agree that we need to kick on now and that there will be a shitstorm if they play like that on the 12th! I'm hopeful we'll do better against Derby as they play a game which is recognisable as football, rather than a rugby league/wrestling hybrid!

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Imagine my disappointment at this thread NOT being about former ex-players and tv shows...

 

[Numpty's Dusty Ruts.]

Imagine my disappointment at this thread NOT being about former ex-players and tv shows...

Hopefully NOT "Winnall Takes All" tomorrow!

 

[snootyfenooty]

What it is for me and a lot of others of a similar age is that we've been in this position umpteen times before, where we look good, have the impetus and just need that little shove to push us onto the next level. But instead we don't have the minimum resources to sustain it and have one of our spectacular collapses. You can't blame us for being cynical because we're still here supporting the team despite all the previous disappointments. We live in hope, not expectation.

 

[Numpty's Dusty Ruts.]

What it is for me and a lot of others of a similar age is that we've been in this position umpteen times before, where we look good, have the impetus and just need that little shove to push us onto the next level. But instead we don't have the minimum resources to sustain it and have one of our spectacular collapses. You can't blame us for being cynical because we're still here supporting the team despite all the previous disappointments. We live in hope, not expectation.

Ah, but it's the hope that kills, which is why it's really hard now (and a similar tale many times in the past). Without that great run earlier in the season, we might have been satisfied (not happy, satisfied) with mid-season mid-table, whereas now we're pissed off with being 6th! I'm currently cynically hopeful, or hopefully cynical!

 

[Gavlar]

Short memories? Maybe.........sorry what were we talking about?

 

[snootyfenooty]

Short memories? Maybe.........sorry what were we talking about?

Why are we here?

 

[Booker4]

Few things I thought from yesterdays game that seem to be different to some on here are:

Stearman was quality yesterday and O'Connell was not poor, like some have said. Stearman's distribution was quality and he brought the ball well out from defence as well as defending well yesterday - in my view.

We played some neat stuff yesterday and it could have being a very different story if Leon or Baldock had scored, against a very well organised Bolton side, they will not go down in my view, because their team spirit, organisation and work rate are all very good and they are no mugs, managed by a very experienced manager.

Other thoughts from me are that we desperately needed Brooks yesterday to be able to rest Duffy, or come on for Duffy. We also obviously need two or three new players as the existing squad can't cope with two games in three days and still have the same level of performance. That's why Wilder changed it and it didn't work. In hindsight we should have changed it for Derby given that's the far harder game but knowing United we may well beat Derby tomorrow, we took a draw away at Villa last time away. This team is not to be underestimated!

 

[GrayBlade]

I’ve forgotten all about yesterday’s game already. Time to move on.

That said, I can recall every bit of our 5-0 demolition of them at the Lane 34 years ago today.

Getting older with the added bonus of a selective memory can be a real blessing at times like this.

 

[super_pig]

I hope this isn't a oooo we are little old Sheffield United and should be grateful to tread water in the championship type thread. Yes we have had six years in league one and were dreadful at times so what ? We set our standards in this league but at the moment our standards are not acceptable in fact they are relegation form and that needs addressing rather quickly or there will be a shitstorm of abuse on the 13th of January. We are in a good position better than many would have thought possible it would be a real shame to just settle for second best because we are little old Sheffield United who just spent the last six seasons in the lower leagues in fact that thinking is probably why we spent six seasons in the lower leagues.

i’m grateful.. league one was fucking gash.. perhaps some of us don’t go for the Billy big bollocks stuff

 

[metalblade]

i’m grateful.. league one was fucking gash.. perhaps some of us don’t go for the Billy big bollocks stuff

Good for you mate but there are still a good number of fans who were brought up when the top division or top end of the second division was our normal place, same goes for fans at the other end of town. Bobbing along mid table in the second division will never scratch the itch for some of us we should be better than that, although I do understand that some of the younger fans don't have the same expectations as they were brought up on football where both Sheffield clubs massively under achieved apart from one or two seasons in the top flight.

 

[Blade56]

What's was the OP about?