Some perspective needed

[Putney Blade]

Chaps,

For me Utd have done better than I expected. Beginning of the season, had us down for mid-season. New manager inheriting average footballers with no money to spend; had all the hallmarks of mid-table. But DW has been able to get more out of this bunch of players than I thought possible, far more than Micky Adams ever did. Has taken a fairly ordinary bunch of players and done well. We are far from the finished version, but you have to remember this is not DW's side. I have more confidence in DW than Robson, Blackwell, Speed or Adams. I have more confidence in him getting us back once he can rid himself of the average over paid bunch we have in our team. Unfortunately this might take 3 seasons. It not his fault some idiot put them on long term contracts.

Like most of you I fear the momentum is with Wednesday, and our play off performance is likely to haunt us once again, BUT in the current circumstances, he ain't doing a bad job, we have to be patient, you never know, we might even get promoted this season.

UTB

 

[Bradford Blade]

Couldn't agree more. I never expected us to be second as we are now way back in August last year, but I've pretty much enjoyed most of the games I've been to this season (which isn't nearly as many as plenty of you guys on here), but I think we - the fans - are (if we are honest with ourselves) as much to blame as anyone else for getting "our hopes up". Moreover, I think the current drop in form/performance is being magnified by the fact that we're being chased by Wendy. If if was someone like Colchester, I doubt we'd be as 'on edge' about it as we are. What do you guys think?

For the record, my own personal opinion is that we'll likely end up in the play offs, and probably miss out on promotion and as frustrating as that will no doubt prove to be, I for one will be back at the Lane next season.

As a bit of food-for-thought, it is also a definite concern of mine that if we did win promotion by whatever means, we will seriously struggle in the Championship and may even risk relegation based on the current squad. Perhaps another season in the '3rd Division' might give Danny the chance to learn from his first season in charge and truly galvanise a 'newish' squad that will really earn their keep and win promotion next year? Or perhaps not...but all I can add is that if I wanted to support a team that didn't do my head in whilst still lovin' 'em, I wouldn't have become a Blade

Just my two-penneth - UTB!!

 

[Rodley]

The most laughable bit is that the people complaining about how shit we are, are the people who predicted we'd finish mid-table.

PS - good to see a local name Bratfed, where abouts are you based?

 

[Bradford Blade]

The most laughable bit is that the people complaining about how shit we are, are the people who predicted we'd finish mid-table.

PS - good to see a local name Bratfed, where abouts are you based?

Let's be honest, if we really thought we would be winning stuff, we'd be over at Old Trafford!

Despite the heartache (and I was well pissed off yesterday especially after being accosted by sty-dwellers on their way home from Notts), I wouldn't change following the Blades for nowt! Like someone referred to on another thread, I find the red and white side of Sheffielders are some of the most amicable Yorkshire folk I've come across. But not being a Sheffield man by birth, I can only imagine the pain of being chased by a resurgent Wendy and the thought of losing out to that lot come the end of the season...IMHO I think this is aiding much of the 'pessimism', but battle on Blades!!

Anyway - as you ask Rodley - we're in Great Horton, South-west Bradford - ironically, when we moved here from another part of the curry-capital, I found out that my long time mate and season ticket holder actually lives just round the corner...small world! And I met a fellow Blade a while ago walking down the road a stones throw from our house - was living here with work I recall. Blades everywhere , but thankfully no sign of the blu 'n' white stripes...yet

Anyway, me and the kids are down next for the Bournemouth game - bring it on!!!

All the best!

UTB

 

[yorkshirecoast]

We are in league 1, up against some very average sides and have the biggest wage bill in the division. Most of our players have played in the Championship, some of them in the Premiership. I don't think it's unreasonable, therefore, for people to expect a strong promotion challenge. I don't think it's the fact that we may "only" finish 3rd or 4th that's bothering people most, it's the fact that once again, when it really matters, we seem to be completely messing things up. 5 points clear with 2 games in hand takes some frittering away in such a short period of time - particularly as we have played some of the poorer sides recently - but we have managed it.

It's not over yet & hopefully we can turn it around.

UTB FTO

 

[pommpey]

I expect us to be exactly where we are, to be honest. In fact, being as Charlton are possibly the only side effectively better than us, we should be in the automatic spots anyway. A month ago I felt the table was set and our destiny sealed. Five points, two games and the shit side of Sheffield crying into their beer as we disappeared over the horizon. Thought we'd scrape a draw at the shit-tip, maybe lose one - just one - game but the way Wilson had us playing, actually passing the ball and not hoofing it long, people like Quinn showing some signs of the potential he has and the defence actually looking 'solid', it couldn't hve been better. If I wasn't mistaken, I'd say that Cresswell nodding in the o.g, Lowton and Maguire's red and the whole shitbox last four weeks since Hudds away is some kind of wierd betting scam conspiricy. But we don't suffer from owt like that, do we? Do we?

We're Sheffield United, you know. Although we don't have a long line of glittering silverware to brag about, we should all figure that division three is a temporary setback, something little more than one season long. Let other teams, such as the pigs, suffer that fate. Or am I wrong? Was Alan Ball right on the nose when he publicly called us a 'glorified Third Division side' back in the seventies and Ian Holloway completely correct when he said to a mate of mine at one of those functions at the Lane, 'Sheffield United? Who the fuck are you? What have you ever won? Fourth Division? When was the last time you won anything?' At the moment we are fulfilling that judgement. Semi Finals, play-offs, you name it, we fuck it up. We scraped into the PL a few seasons ago, after looking like the best thing the Championship ever had a few seasons before (and winning nowt, by the way) and nosedived out first time, despite the cheating Argentine fucker. Why the fuck are we not consistently excellent? We have striven to be constistently inconsistent, ever since I went to my first match in 1968, even when we had Woodward and Currie we could still bring a team worth beating to BDTBL and end up getting buttfucked. Sure, there's moments of surprise and joy - Leeds away a few seasons ago, even Hudds this season. But why the fuck do we choke? Why do people refuse to look at the bare facts surrounding our great club and realise:

a. We sell all our best players
b. We appear to not want to be where 'lesser' clubs like Swansea, Wigan, Stoke and a whole load of Championship clubs (like fucking Doncaster Rovers) are
c. We play predicatble, error-prone football, with no ability to switch track or consolidate a lead, regardless of what substandard manager is stood on the touchline
d. When the transfer window opens, don't hold your breath. When was the last time you thought, "Fucking hell! We signed WHO? Ace!"
e. We're in a pivotal position right now, as we have been in the past many times, and have every chance of committing ourselves to fucking it up and giving the initiative to our sworn enemies.

That is the perspective on Sheffield United. Wild horses wouldn't drag me to support any other team,but I feel it's time we changed the fortunes of our club. How? Fucking no idea. One way is to better our playing staff - that is the board's duty. Another is to energise the team and shut the game down when leading, like we have failed to do so many times this season - that is up to Wilson. I don't think us, the fans can do any more. If we fail to get up this time, expect ST takings to plummet and players like Evans to sod off. Then we can really kiss our arses good bye.

pommpey

 

[metalblade]

Can't really argue with much of that Pommpey, I would say that sums up the thoughts of many a Unitedite.

 

[BladeFisher]

I expect us to be exactly where we are, to be honest. In fact, being as Charlton are possibly the only side effectively better than us, we should be in the automatic spots anyway. A month ago I felt the table was set and our destiny sealed. Five points, two games and the shit side of Sheffield crying into their beer as we disappeared over the horizon. Thought we'd scrape a draw at the shit-tip, maybe lose one - just one - game but the way Wilson had us playing, actually passing the ball and not hoofing it long, people like Quinn showing some signs of the potential he has and the defence actually looking 'solid', it couldn't hve been better. If I wasn't mistaken, I'd say that Cresswell nodding in the o.g, Lowton and Maguire's red and the whole shitbox last four weeks since Hudds away is some kind of wierd betting scam conspiricy. But we don't suffer from owt like that, do we? Do we?

We're Sheffield United, you know. Although we don't have a long line of glittering silverware to brag about, we should all figure that division three is a temporary setback, something little more than one season long. Let other teams, such as the pigs, suffer that fate. Or am I wrong? Was Alan Ball right on the nose when he publicly called us a 'glorified Third Division side' back in the seventies and Ian Holloway completely correct when he said to a mate of mine at one of those functions at the Lane, 'Sheffield United? Who the fuck are you? What have you ever won? Fourth Division? When was the last time you won anything?' At the moment we are fulfilling that judgement. Semi Finals, play-offs, you name it, we fuck it up. We scraped into the PL a few seasons ago, after looking like the best thing the Championship ever had a few seasons before (and winning nowt, by the way) and nosedived out first time, despite the cheating Argentine fucker. Why the fuck are we not consistently excellent? We have striven to be constistently inconsistent, ever since I went to my first match in 1968, even when we had Woodward and Currie we could still bring a team worth beating to BDTBL and end up getting buttfucked. Sure, there's moments of surprise and joy - Leeds away a few seasons ago, even Hudds this season. But why the fuck do we choke? Why do people refuse to look at the bare facts surrounding our great club and realise:

a. We sell all our best players
b. We appear to not want to be where 'lesser' clubs like Swansea, Wigan, Stoke and a whole load of Championship clubs (like fucking Doncaster Rovers) are
c. We play predicatble, error-prone football, with no ability to switch track or consolidate a lead, regardless of what substandard manager is stood on the touchline
d. When the transfer window opens, don't hold your breath. When was the last time you thought, "Fucking hell! We signed WHO? Ace!"
e. We're in a pivotal position right now, as we have been in the past many times, and have every chance of committing ourselves to fucking it up and giving the initiative to our sworn enemies.

That is the perspective on Sheffield United. Wild horses wouldn't drag me to support any other team,but I feel it's time we changed the fortunes of our club. How? Fucking no idea. One way is to better our playing staff - that is the board's duty. Another is to energise the team and shut the game down when leading, like we have failed to do so many times this season - that is up to Wilson. I don't think us, the fans can do any more. If we fail to get up this time, expect ST takings to plummet and players like Evans to sod off. Then we can really kiss our arses good bye.

pommpey

Top Post. My sentiments entirely. Just because I look at things realistically we are accused of as bottlers. Ugh?

The real concern here is that if Wednesday get promoted, we are likely to be cast adrift again for a few years. Jones is a good manager. A bit dour but solid and I think Manderic made an astute move there. Where he was lucky was that United have fucked it up at the same time, something he could not have expected. Realisticaly we should have beaten Oldham and Walsall and maybe drawn with Brentford and Colchester and beaten Tranmere 11 points from which we got 5. Even if Wednesday had performed as they have done, we would now be much closer to Charlton and the Pigs would be getting the play-off preparations arranged.

The anger isn't because I am a moaner or a pessimist it is simply that Sheffield United, have never shown any bottle when it matters and when reverses occur dig dip to get out of the whole they effectively created themselves.

Take relegatioon from the Prem. Yeah West Ham cheated. But we got relegated because we fucked it up, particularly away from home. True it was coupled with Hulse's horrific injury, which then I posted would relegate us, but as is now the happy clappers said stop being so negative. Well the reason I said it was a relegation cert was because Warnock had no ruddy plan B and it looks like DW doesn't have one either. Take Beattie, what has the guy done? Fuck all that's what! He was great but now its long gone, unfit, injuries etc. Heaven forbid if/when we lose Evans. Knowing our luck it will be right in the middle of the play offs. The time to do something is now, now, now. United are behaving along with the clappers like Capt Smith and some First class passengers on the Titanic. "Oh she's unsinkable, now she won't go down", "Oh we're still 2nd, we've got a better goal difference"! Yeah right.

So far from being deafetist only DW and the players can turn it around. This is a really important season because of the relative power bases in the city and of course McCabe's finances. If Wednesday go up and we don't go with them we will be in the wilderness for a long time. Coupled with the financial situation the consequences could be quite dire. Far from taking another 3 or 4 years we simply will run out of time and I don't see a Dave Whelan or a Walker appearing out of the Sheffield business community with a few hundred million to throw at a football club that has won nowt since 1925!

 

[blade too long]

If you look at the run in results the last time we finished 2nd in this division in 88, in a very tight race we hardly stormed home

Tue 11 Apr CARDIFF CITY H League L 0-1 Bramall Lane
Sat 15 Apr Northampton Tow A League W 2-1 County Ground
Wed 19 Apr Chester City A League W 1-0 Sealand Road
Sat 22 Apr BRENTFORD H League D 2-2 Bramall Lane
Tue 25 Apr MANSFIELD TWN H League L 1-2 Bramall Lane
Sat 29 Apr Fulham A League D 2-2 Craven Cottage
Mon 01 May ALDERSHOT H League W 1-0 Bramall Lane
Sat 06 May SWANSEA CITY H League W 5-1 Bramall Lane
Tue 09 May Wolverhapton W A League D 2-2 Molineux
Sat 13 May Bristol City A League L 0-2 Ashton Gate

funnily enough with 10 to go we were only 2nd on gd
but other teams didnt win every game either , which will happen again
the 2-1 away win at northampton we were dreadful and we got 2 points from 9 drawing at home to brentford losing at home to mansfield then drawing at fulham

 

[TarquinDelouche]

d. When the transfer window opens, don't hold your breath. When was the last time you thought, "Fucking hell! We signed WHO? Ace!"

This actually made be laugh. But now on reflection I think I want to cry.

 

[Revolution]

funnily enough with 10 to go we were only 2nd on gd
but other teams didnt win every game either , which will happen again

No we weren't. We were third. Port Vale were a point ahead...but we had 2 games in hand on them. That's a better position that we find ourselves in now.

 

[blade too long]

funnily enough with 10 to go we were only 2nd on gd
but other teams didnt win every game either , which will happen again

No we weren't. We were third. Port Vale were a point ahead...but we had 2 games in hand on them. That's a better position that we find ourselves in now.

sorry looked at the wrong table was 2 games later

 

[Bradford Blade]

We are in league 1, up against some very average sides and have the biggest wage bill in the division. Most of our players have played in the Championship, some of them in the Premiership. I don't think it's unreasonable, therefore, for people to expect a strong promotion challenge...

Hi Deano,

I can wholly see where you're coming from...but being realistic, this is professional football and I would have to argue, with some merit I beleive, that even though we should be able to expect such things as "a strong promotion challenge" we can't truly expect anything in professional football. Footie history is littered with examples of expectations that never materialised (for whatever reasons), as I'm sure any level headed fan will concur..

I don't think it's the fact that we may "only" finish 3rd or 4th that's bothering people most, it's the fact that once again, when it really matters, we seem to be completely messing things up. 5 points clear with 2 games in hand takes some frittering away in such a short period of time - particularly as we have played some of the poorer sides recently - but we have managed it.

It's not over yet & hopefully we can turn it around.

UTB FTO

Agreed entirely, and as painful as it is, I have to keep telling myself that this is simply football, and such suicidal tendancies are not exclusive to us, but it bloody well feels like it at times

There's still 27 points to play for which is easy enough to compensate, but like many on here, I do wonder just how many of those 27 will actually come our way...ah well - time will tell!

Blades 4 Life!

 

[blade too long]

again Ill point out wednesdays had the 2 on form worst teams in the division at home Bury whos lost 3 on the spin 4-1 and bournemouth whod lost 5 on the bounce , and had 1 good win , weve had away games at colchester and brentford, the owls have that pleasure to come
We also get Tranmere mid revival under Moore, we do have more winnable games coming up ,
and the 4 the owls have left away last season they lost 3 and drew 1 of them , lets hope thats repeated

 

[Grecian2000]

It would take an extremely blinkered view of last week-end to suggest that they had the easier fixture. Indeed, it was pretty much assumed they would balance out tomorrow (and that may still happen), but they certainly gained the upper hand last Saturday and have applied the pressure.

 

[Selly]

It would take an extremely blinkered view of last week-end to suggest that they had the easier fixture. Indeed, it was pretty much assumed they would balance out tomorrow (and that may still happen), but they certainly gained the upper hand last Saturday and have applied the pressure.

Spot on, we can consider ourselves to have played extremely well (if we win), or extremely fortunate (if we draw or lose), if we are still in Second come 10pm Tuesday. If we are Clear in second, we have probably been both...