The Blades Way

[shreds1975]

Can anyone recall when this was launched? I seem to think Blackwell was sat with McCabe and the banner. I am trying to find some press or programme articles about it for an article - you can probably guess the angle I am taking.

Also was it ever defined what "The Blades Way" is, or was it one of those nebulous ideas that is just a way of operating/acting? I seem to recall it was the latter.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Wasn't it flowing football from the home grown talent of the academy and the development squad?

Good idea....

 

[Balham]

Can anyone recall when this was launched? I seem to think Blackwell was sat with McCabe and the banner. I am trying to find some press or programme articles about it for an article - you can probably guess the angle I am taking.

Also was it ever defined what "The Blades Way" is, or was it one of those nebulous ideas that is just a way of operating/acting? I seem to recall it was the latter.

The ever-informative SwissRamble blog has it defined as:

Further evidence of the club’s imaginative approach came with the creation of an international network of overseas clubs that, according to McCabe, would “be commercially profitable as well as nurturing the best academies in those countries.” The joint development of young players was known as the “Blades Way”, featuring feeder clubs in China (Chengdu Blades), Hungary (the famous Ferencvaros) and Australia (Central Coast Mariners), as well as partnerships with clubs in Belgium, Brazil, India, the Ivory Coast and the Caribbean.

It was unveiled around the same time as Blackwell's appointment as full-time manager in the summer of 2008 but I'm not sure whether the full concept was ever spelled out.

 

[shreds1975]

The ever-informative SwissRamble blog has it defined as:



It was unveiled around the same time as Blackwell's appointment as full-time manager in the summer of 2008 but I'm not sure whether the full concept was ever spelled out.

Ah - I suspect i have referenced it before, but can't find it. I forgot about Swiss Ramble's excellent piece.

I agree though, although I think that BoS has probably got to the nub of it, it was never spelled out. Oh well, how can they judge the success if they don't clearly state what it is?!

 

[JohnDenver]

It was unveiled around the same time as Blackwell's appointment as full-time manager in the summer of 2008 but I'm not sure whether the full concept was ever spelled out.

Exactly as I remember it too.

 

[Torrix1889]

"The Blades Way" basically describes everything that happens at BDTBL....it can be a positive or a negative. If there's a good, innovative idea then that's, "The Blades Way".....equally when things infrequently go tits-up then that is also "The Blades Way".......(it should actually be "McCabe's Way")..

 

[Kenilworth]

The Blades Way = Underachieve spectacularly and disappoint thousands of over optimistic mugginses that cannot and will not alter their allegiances - but they still moan about it incessantly.

 

[Jehovah]

I can only associate one thing with "the blades way"....................pain

 

[metalblade]

Blades way - treat the fans like mushrooms .......... keep em in the dark while feeding them bullshit.
Sell any young player that is any good and replace with a 30+ journeyman wanting a 3yr contract.

 

[Jostein Flo]

Blades way - treat the fans like mushrooms .......... keep em in the dark while feeding them bullshit.
Sell any young player that is any good and replace with a 30+ journeyman wanting a 3yr contract.

Then complain the wage bill is too damn high!

 

[Sothall_Blade]

It was unveiled around the same time as Blackwell's appointment as full-time manager in the summer of 2008 but I'm not sure whether the full concept was ever spelled out.

The "international network of overseas clubs" was already in place while Robson was still the manager.
Because when McCabe sacked Robson he offered him the job of overseeing the different academies and deciding which players might be good enough for the Blades. (Graham Taylor was offered the same job initially).
Having said that, I too associate "The Blades Way" with Blackwell so I think they only gave it that fancy name after it had been going for a while without any tangible benefits.

 

[SwissBlade]

Wasn't the Blades Way formed under Robson

 

[alcoblade]

Wasn't the Blades Way formed under Robson

Yep, I think it's fair to blame him. Child prostitution and world hunger - two other reasons we should hang him.



UTB

 

[Jostein Flo]

When the associations with overseas clubs were first formed I was quite taken with idea, partly because I'm a bit of a geek for football from around the world and partly because I thought it was actually quite a good idea. With the benefit of hindsight though they appear to have been a flight of fancy of McCabes which only benefitted his property interests (if indeed they benefitted anyone at all).

Have any details or figures ever been published about the numerous clubs we've been involved with over the years? I'm assuming that they were benefitting financially from the association if our half of the deal was to cherry pick their best and brightest. How much did it all cost? Wouldn't change anything but I'd be interested to know how much of our clubs resources went to managing and maintaining our affiliation with these clubs. We're still affiliated with 7 of them if Wikipedia is to be believed.

 

[SwissBlade]

When the associations with overseas clubs were first formed I was quite taken with idea, partly because I'm a bit of a geek for football from around the world and partly because I thought it was actually quite a good idea. With the benefit of hindsight though they appear to have been a flight of fancy of McCabes which only benefitted his property interests (if indeed they benefitted anyone at all).

Have any details or figures ever been published about the numerous clubs we've been involved with over the years? I'm assuming that they were benefitting financially from the association if our half of the deal was to cherry pick their best and brightest. How much did it all cost? Wouldn't change anything but I'd be interested to know how much of our clubs resources went to managing and maintaining our affiliation with these clubs. We're still affiliated with 7 of them if Wikipedia is to be believed.

I've just started reading Fit and Proper....

 

[Jon Bon]

I've just started reading Fit and Proper....

Well done son. Your grammar will also improve with practice...

 

[shreds1975]

I've just started reading Fit and Proper....

Great book and puts the mess we are in now into a bit of context! It might also be useful as I bet it might refer to The Blades Way.

 

[raul]

Wrapping himself in Bladeness is always KM's default setting when things aren't going to plan.

I'm expecting great things of next years' masterplan - "Bladey Blade Reight Blade Bladey Bladeyness"

 

[SwissBlade]

Well done son. Your grammar will also improve with practice...

I doubt it

 

[Large Mendonca]

I seem to remember something getting launched on the first home game of the season versus Walsall (1-1 draw), around 2001/2002. There was a big centre circle flag in the middle of the pitch which said "Blades 2000" on it - what was all that about ??

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I seem to remember something getting launched on the first home game of the season versus Walsall (1-1 draw), around 2001/2002. There was a big centre circle flag in the middle of the pitch which said "Blades 2000" on it - what was all that about ??

I was a Blades 2000 member.
Basically it allowed you to pay up front for a 5 year season ticket and you also got your name stuck on your seat (which was a bit embarassing really)
Then they had a "bit of a do" with a running buffet and Alan Kelly presented us with a signed picture of himself saving that penalty against Coventry.

 

[raul]

Sothall's real name is Billy Bumclot btw.

 

[Large Mendonca]

Ah right Sothall, nowt to do with the Blades Way then, but probably all to do with raising capital to fill the corners in

Billy Bumclot ???????

 

[Pollingtonblade]

The Blades Way was launched the same era we sold Beattie under the guise of 're-profiling' of the club which was meant to see us signing younger, hungrier players. Turned out to be absolute Bollox.

 

[bricktop]

Remember you heralding the introduction of the Blades way with the words "Welcome to the Wilderness Years"

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Remember you heralding the introduction of the Blades way with the words "Welcome to the Wilderness Years"

The thing about the Wilderness Years is that you are well into them before you realise you are in them and then you're ferking stuck in them!

 

[BladeFisher]

I seem to remember something getting launched on the first home game of the season versus Walsall (1-1 draw), around 2001/2002. There was a big centre circle flag in the middle of the pitch which said "Blades 2000" on it - what was all that about ??

That was how many years fans would have to wait till we won anything.

 

[alcoblade]

That was how many years fans would have to wait till we won, anything.

I stopped thinking we'd ever win anything years ago. It doesn't bother me an iota anymore. What I do want is for us to build towards something.

I could support the Blades in any division - what matters (to me) is that sense of moving forwards. I'd hoped meeting the FFP rules was a sign of us bottoming out. That's why I found the manner of the sale of Blackman so disappointing.

UTB

 

[puppet]

I stopped thinking we'd ever win anything years ago. It doesn't bother me an iota anymore. What I do want is for us to build towards something.

I could support the Blades in any division - what matters (to me) is that sense of moving forwards. I'd hoped meeting the FFP rules was a sign of us bottoming out. That's why I found the manner of the sale of Blackman so disappointing.

UTB

Its been proven though that the penalties for exceeding it are neglible to the rewards, yet we've used it constantly to our 'advantage' to make audacious claims about how its holding us back. I remember McCabe talking over me and rousing the Fans Forum meeting into moderate cheers with one of his bluster statements, when asked by me why he hadn't provided the promised funds for Steve Bruce for 'the final push if we were in a strong position come deadline day' (his words in the weeks up to the deadline day/forum). I knew then he was full of shit and when I enquired clarification about his comment that the 'academy would see us self-sufficient' at the AGM, he roused the audience with names like Ward and Whitehouse, again dodging the reality behind his assertions about the academy as it was clear he'd originally outlined it as a cattle market rather than a breeding ground for Sheffield United to take full advantage on the pitch. Since then, I've never liked the man, never trusted the man, when we unveiled the bust of Jimmy Hagan, he was at a Scarborough Cricket function, big fucking Blade my arse. The Blackman sale is a piss-take, a laugh in the face of people still turfing their money up (ill health and finances ended my ST stint of 20 years), a sale every bit the equivalent of Deane/Fjortoft, of Beattie, of every other deadline cash in for as long as the memories permit.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

Its been proven though that the penalties for exceeding it are neglible to the rewards, yet we've used it constantly to our 'advantage' to make audacious claims about how its holding us back.

FFP only stops spending money you haven't got and building up debt. McCabe can sponsor the stadium for £10M if he wants to give us money to invest. But he doesn't want to give anything.

I agree, hiding behind FFP as though he'd love to not have to is utter bullshit and another reason I've gone off the bloke.

I don't expect him to keep tipping up cash. I expect him to stop pretending he wants to.

UTB