Should Blackwell have gone after the PO defeat?

[Ollessendro]

The answer to the original post is starting to look more and more like a yes.

It's not time for panic stations yet. I think KB should be given to the end of the season. However, in my heart of hearts I just can't see him taking us up. Looking at recent performances I think he has probably taken us as far as he is going to. Myabe i'll be proved wrong, but I'm getting less and less optimistic. A few weeks ago (after our good start) I was saying we'd finsih top 4 and had a great shout of automatic promotion. However we've been dire since. We're leaking goals, normally consistent players are making mistakes, tactics are awful and performances are as bad. With a bit of luck we'll make the play offs. However if this happens it'll be more down to other teams being shite than us being good. We've got some tough fixtures over the next month or so and it'll be interesting to see how we do. But after we have taken a measly five points from possible 15 against poor opposition I'm not looking forward to tough games against Newcastle, Cardiff and Dingles i'm a bit nervous.

 

[beightonblade]

The answer to the original post is starting to look more and more like a yes.

It's not time for panic stations yet. I think KB should be given to the end of the season. However, in my heart of hearts I just can't see him taking us up. Looking at recent performances I think he has probably taken us as far as he is going to. Myabe i'll be proved wrong, but I'm getting less and less optimistic. A few weeks ago (after our good start) I was saying we'd finsih top 4 and had a great shout of automatic promotion. However we've been dire since. We're leaking goals, normally consistent players are making mistakes, tactics are awful and performances are as bad. With a bit of luck we'll make the play offs. However if this happens it'll be more down to other teams being shite than us being good. We've got some tough fixtures over the next month or so and it'll be interesting to see how we do. But after we have taken a measly five points from possible 15 against poor opposition I'm not looking forward to tough games against Newcastle, Cardiff and Dingles i'm a bit nervous.

I've been reight about him all along ....... he is a useless two hat !
He shud never have been appointed.

 

[rachyblade]

The way things are going transfer wise I bet he wishes he had gone himself.

 

[SwissBlade]

PO Final, we lost narrowly because too many players didn't turn up. IMO The team was the right one with the players we had available. He made the right substitutions, we just didn't turn up.

So where would we be if Blackie had quit after the PO final defeat?

-A new manager would've still had to sell the Kyle's
-A new manager would've had to reassess all players, each on an equal footing and with the exception of those out of contract, he'd have probably kept the likes of Hendrie, Billy, Howard etc
- Paddy would still be banned
- Geary & Naysmith would still be injured
- Walker may or May NOT have come back on loan
- We'd still have had to cut the wage bill.
- A new manager would've brought his own style and players, also needing time to gel.

I've thought since the PO defeat that Blackie was the best placed manager to sort things out. I still think that.

We have a squad that's been drastically cut in size and we've also had to replace a lot of 'dead wood' with 'potential'

We're on a poor(ish) run at the moment and the squad was stretched in the last 4-5 games.

Blackie was and still is the best placed man as he knew the players that let him and us down at Wembley and throughout last season and has pretty much to a man, got rid of the under achievers. It remains to be seen whether the new players will be adequate replacements.

From last seasons team Paddy, Naysmith, Killa, Morgs, Henderson, Cotterill, Quinny, Monty, Ward and latterly Walker are all big players on their day and with the exception of Morgs the rest have been injured or off form so far this season.

Whether we should've given him a new contract after he turned our season around the season before last (after Robbo's disaster is another issue). But we did and I believe that we need to see it through with Blackie until the end of the season.

Perhaps my sights aren't set as high as some on here, but this season was always going to be tough with a new manager OR Blackie.

 

[Latters]

But one of Blackwell's recent excuses was that he's had to re-build the team three times since he's been here. It wouldn't have been any more difficult with a new manager in place, plus as you mention, the new man may have kept Hendrie and Howard and to a lesser extent Billy, who are capable footballers who don't fit in with our "kick it higher" style of play.

 

[SheepdipBlade]

But one of Blackwell's recent excuses was that he's had to re-build the team three times since he's been here. It wouldn't have been any more difficult with a new manager in place, plus as you mention, the new man may have kept Hendrie and Howard and to a lesser extent Billy, who are capable footballers who don't fit in with our "kick it higher" style of play.

Surely it would have taken a new manager time to assess the squad - time that would have been difficult to find during a pre season that was spread all across Europe (and presumably already arranged before the PO final) - and therefore the task facing a new manager would have been considerably more difficult.

Add to this the need to trim the wage bill, and it's difficult to see how he could have kept Hendrie (without asking other more regular first teamers to leave). From what I've seen of Harper, I'd rather have in the side than Howard - though I would like to have seen Billy have a chance alongside Ched up front.

Not sure about "kick it higher" football being the reason for us losing players - as we are clearly capable of playing attractive passing football when it's appropriate - but sometimes we have to settle for "winning ugly". I think the current squad is potentially a good mix of skills and once gelled (and with players fit again) we should be able to challenge.

Doesn't Blackie have 3 years left on his contract after this season??

 

[Latters]

Surely it would have taken a new manager time to assess the squad - time that would have been difficult to find during a pre season that was spread all across Europe (and presumably already arranged before the PO final) - and therefore the task facing a new manager would have been considerably more difficult.

Add to this the need to trim the wage bill, and it's difficult to see how he could have kept Hendrie (without asking other more regular first teamers to leave). From what I've seen of Harper, I'd rather have in the side than Howard - though I would like to have seen Billy have a chance alongside Ched up front.

Not sure about "kick it higher" football being the reason for us losing players - as we are clearly capable of playing attractive passing football when it's appropriate - but sometimes we have to settle for "winning ugly". I think the current squad is potentially a good mix of skills and once gelled (and with players fit again) we should be able to challenge.

Doesn't Blackie have 3 years left on his contract after this season??

True, maybe it would have taken a new manager longer to assess the players, but I think a full pre-season should be sufficient for a quality manager.

I think a team with Billy and Evans up front as you mentioned, with a midfield with Harper doing the "Monty" role, but less one-dimensional, and Howard having a bash at the Sidwell role could produce some exciting football.

I think Blackwell's problem is he doesn't know himself how he wants us to play. Last season he signed Howard who is a ball playing midfielder and we kicked it over his head most of the time. This season he's signed players that meant we've got four decent wingers at this level, but they never get the ball because we're hoofing it up to Henderson.

What I do think a new manager would bring is a clear idea of what style of football he wants us to play and the type of player he wants to deploy his tactics.

 

[SheepdipBlade]

Which raises the question -

"If all the squad was fit - would Blackwell know what his first choice XI would be?"

I suspect that other than the keeper and the back four he might be unsure. (though Monty and Hendo would probably be fairly nailed on for a start)

 

[Mary Christmas]

Well keeping up with this one has been difficult. With so many interesting and erudite comments I fear that I have little new to add to the debate. In my introduction to the Forum I made it clear that I have little time for Mr Blackwell. I agree with others that have said that he was a poor choice from the outset. In fact he wasn’t really THE first choice he came as a Coach and all of a sudden he was the boss.
Sure like the rest of us I go – home and away – primarily to see United win but I cannot go with Sheepdip’s satisfaction of “winning ugly”. There has to be some football; there has to be some semblance of us moving on and up; and we deserve better than the occasional one season of “losing ugly”.
The question is “Should Blackwell have gone after the PO defeat” my answer is yes. In fact the only thing that cheered up the coach I was on was the rumour that he had announced that he was leaving. However, that was then and this is now and regrettably I find myself agreeing with Brownie in saying that now is not the right time for him to leave.
I don’t quite go the full mile with FieryBlade insofar as I agree with most that he has to offer including his assessment of the back room staff but the Cresswell jibe is a little premature. I think it reasonable to question the role of messrs Ellis and Leaning in fact is there not a thread elsewhere on that very subject (I can’t help but liken Blackwell and Ellis to that of Burns and Smithers). Indeed why do new managers always have to bring with them some sycophantic mate who’s usually no more useful than a nodding donkey.
I’m not at all sure about the idea of a Director of Football (Warnock tried that when he gave his brother the job but thankfully they weren’t mates and John soon went). Also I thought Terry Venables was dead or is he just comatose like that Israeli PM.
There’s so many of us that seem to do nothing else but moan about what we have to put up with. Maybe we should stop and reflect for a moment that there are some who are so much worse off than us for instance those poor twats that go to that rusty old skip at S6 for example.

 

[chipsncake]

Agree totally, cheap option after the Robson disaster, we are going nowhere until he's gone and until McCabe realises he isn't up to the job of appointing the next manager. With the continuous crap we are playing Blackwell is always one poor performance away from being slated by the majority and will always be on borrowed time. Between them they have lost the plot which is a shame cos we had so much become the dominant force in this city. McCabe should put his ear to the ground and realise the effect Blackwell's tactics will have on next year's season ticket sales. Massive opportunity missed and all because the chairman hasn't a clue when it comes to appointing a manager.

 

[chipsncake]

Agree totally, cheap option after the Robson disaster, we are going nowhere until he's gone and until McCabe realises he isn't up to the job of appointing the next manager. With the continuous crap we are playing Blackwell is always one poor performance away from being slated by the majority and will always be on borrowed time. Between them they have lost the plot which is a shame cos we had so much become the dominant force in this city. McCabe should put his ear to the ground and realise the effect Blackwell's tactics will have on next year's season ticket sales. Massive opportunity missed and all because the chairman hasn't a clue when it comes to appointing a manager.

That was a reply to Beighton by the way.

 

[Robbie]

PO Final, we lost narrowly .

The scoreline may have been marginal, but the performance wasn't.

-A new manager would've had to reassess all players, each on an equal footing and with the exception of those out of contract, he'd have probably kept the likes of Hendrie, Billy, Howard etc .

Exactly, some of the players who have been given no chance would maybe have been givena life-line to show they can actually cut it. Others who are picked regularly - regardless of form may have been dropped.

- A new manager would've brought his own style and players, also needing time to gel. .

How many new players have we brought in this pre-season? They need time to gel too.

Blackie was and still is the best placed man as he knew the players that let him and us down at Wembley .

Blackie would need to learn from his mistakes, which I don't think he does.

got rid of the under achievers. .

I love how he gets the acclaim for getting rid of the 'under achievers' but not his fault for losing the better players.

but this season was always going to be tough with a new manager OR Blackie.

Granted

 

[TonyAgana]

I think he'll walk at some point this season.

 

[Robbie]

I think he'll walk at some point this season.

As much as I don't like him or his 'brand' of football - I think he should remain for the season. We're not going down the league, and the results will keep coming to keep us around the play offs.

The main problem is that if he does stay for the full season and go on to next season without getting promoted (which I am certain we won't get promoted) then the fanbase will drop dramatically.

 

[Fiery Blade]

I think he'll walk at some point this season.

I agree TA but he will blame everyone else before he goes!

He is now blaming the BL crowd for poor home performances yets forgets that we have also lost the last two away games too!
He blames agents when he can't sign people, he blames the credit crunch for being unable to afford people.
He mentions that we are in for McIndoe, Smith, Lita, McSheffrey etc when we haven't a hope in hell in signing these players
He states that we will only bring in players if they are better than the players we have yet Reid, France, and Stewart (till the other day) are sat warming the bench every week.
He blames individual players when we lose
He blames the international break when we are on a winning run!
He blames the international break when we have gone three games without winning!
He blames Coptterill for anything else that happens at the club
He praises Henderson every week in order to substantiate his comment 'Henderson is the best striker in the Championship'
Yes, Blackwell will probably go when he has screwed up yet another season blaming everybody but himself!

 

[TonyAgana]

I just think his body language, his relationship with the press, the fans, and to an extent, the board, it's a matter of when, not if.

 

[Ollessendro]

Im with you Robbie in that he should stick the season out. I disagree with Brownie and Mary that now is the time to go. Whilever we are in with a shout I think he should probably stay, but McCabe has to be thinking of replacing him. We should be tapping someone up with the view to bringing them in pre season. It would be difficult to find a manager at the moment anyway.

Something that is a major problem (on top of tactics, man management, etc) is his inability to attract top players. Or any decent players. He has made a few seemingly good singings, but players seem to come as as last resort. Time and time agian (many have been mentioned in this thread) we express an interest and they refuse to come to the Lane. Beighton will say this is bacause of a lack of ambition. I disagree. It's the gaffer. Twatty Robson attracted the players, so others (albeit big names or good reputations) can do it. Surely Gary Speed would attract the players should he be given a shot. What about bringing Stewy Mac back? He is held in high esteem and is doing a good job at Bradford. What about a cobo of Donny's manager and Speed. I'm getting ahead of myself. KB deserves the chance to turn things around. We started brightly and although crap of late he could possibly turn things around. We are still 6th. We are not too far away from the auto spots so KB should be given a chance at achieving something this season. Personally I don't think he'll take us up. And I am siding with Agana in that I think he'll walk at some point; probably the end of the season.

 

[beightonblade]

Actually i feelsorry for Blackwell.......out of his depth and shudneverhave been appointed.

The culprit is McCabe for the cheap as chips option yet again.
What a waste of time is was getting to the Premiership....... a real opportunity thrown away by lack of forward planning and ambition.

Mid table finish at best this season.

 

[DazBlade88]

It's quite an interesting situation regarding Blackwell.

Taking everything into account, he's not doing a bad job. I don't personally think he's a good manager, for which I have my reasons that have been previously discussed in this thread so I'll not bring up past arguments.

He can't be sacked, because we're doing alright. I predicted 10th this season after the transfer dealings over the summer, and being 7 points from the top and 9 points from the bottom 3 I'm still pretty sure my prediction will be about right. My guess is that we'll finish on about 65 points.

In my opinion, when Blackwell came out with the speech after the Play-off final, he should have left. Once a manager starts doubting his future at a club in the way that he did, it shows that he's not confident of taking us any further. Which then sends that doubt to the fans (although there was alot of people with doubts already), leading to alot of unrest in the stands, with an awkward atmosphere at the Lane. That has lead to a visible lack of confidence in the players aswell.

 

[Mary Christmas]

Ollesendro - Although I’m not KB's greatest fan what I actually said is that in answer to the thread’s question is "yes, I think he should have gone after the play off final but now (unfortunately) is not the right time for him to go”.

A bit on the lighter side could I suggest that if KB was to be deposited on a deserted island he could be left with a copy of the Saw Doctor’s song Blah Blah Blah which includes the verse:

Looking for income, looking for hope
Most times you're treated
like a bit of a joke
There's nothing so bad that
couldn't be worse
They say one man's blessing's
another man's curse

Blah, blah, blah

 

[davidpinder]

Agree with a lot of this being said on here i honestly don't know how much longer McCabe will be here for he seems to hint every now and again about retiring so to speak i think he is looking for outside investment and then eventually someone to take us over full time. In the mean time he is not prepared to pump anymore money in he is happy to just break even and blackwell is the yes man to make sure we break even. Top ten finish is likely playoffs is asking a lot of the squad size we have. We'll see what January brings i expect killa to go and davies to sign full time.

Just my opinion/ prediction

 

[Darthblade]

If we were in the bottom 6 of the division, the first two managers on my wish list would be Warnock and Blackwell. However, we are not, we are in the top 6. Without being derogatory with regard to either manager, they are both excellent lower league/lower end championship managers, who usually can be relied upon to squeeze the most out of players who are not "top drawer".

We now actually have some quite good quality players in our squad, capable of playing some good attacking football but unfortunately the current management team do not have the skills to get the best out of our current squad. This is reflected in the inconsistent performances recently witnessed and is unlikely to change without a change in the management team.

It is my belief that we will never be successful (by that I mean establish ourselves in the Premiership) with the current management team in place. I fear that we will continue to be a "nearly there" team until we acquire a management team who have the ability to vary the tactics and team formations in response to changing situations on the pitch and mix up the play more, retaining posession of the ball and making better use of the wings.

I will, however, continue to support the Blades as I have for the last 45 years and will remain forever hopeful for thefuture.

COYRAWW. :nana:

 

[Come from away]

Now let's think, what managers did manage promotion? That would be Warnock and Robson. As to those that keep teams up, how about Moyes, O'Neill even Bruce, and of course Keane. So either out of our range or just admit we have as good as you can get. Oh I forgot, when Warnock went everybody wanted McCall - no lightening bolts there, would Speed be any better? It's a really tough job and Blackwell has had more success than most. The majic success of promotion and staying up takes some good fortune and a stable team. One year Coppell and Reading are brilliant, another year just strugglers - even we beat them. That's soccer and not lack of quality players or a quality manager cause Reading had both and still kept dropping once they had started to slide.