The fan's fault.

[Bladesince59]

Which fan?

 

[Bartyblade]

I can`t believe its ever questioned.

Of course the fans affect the players.

Have we ever played well in a bitter, vitriolic atomsphere?

Remember Spurs?, once Adams scored the first, the electric atmosphere drove us on and put Spurs on the back foot.
Same with Charlton, the first goal lead to the second.

Up to the players to get the crowd going though, can`t expect the ground to be bouncing when you concede 3 early goals to Southend

Interesting point about conceding.
I seem to remember that at away games (maybe not as recently as last season) that when we conceded, we sang loder and longer.

 

[metalblade]

Here we go again fans soul searching for reasons behind our demise When will the penny drop for most Unitedites? When will tey realise this club will not go upwards until McCabe fucks off and someone with the resources and commitment to make us something takes over. McCabe might be the biggest Blade in his eyes but he has made the choice not to put any cash into getting us promoted years ago hence the arrival of the bog roll prince. Looks to me like we are in a state of inertia while ever we have the present owners, but fans fear change and we get misguided views like the one below ................

There would be no helm without him. We would have probably folded.

Does anyone seriously think if we did fold that nobody would snap us up for next to nothing? No not a chance there would be a queue of buyers always is where money can be made and believe me the right person could make a lot of money at a big well supported club like United. It is just that this is not Kevin McCabe he gave up years ago and is sat hoping to get lucky and get all of his money back

 

[Chali 2na]

I can read. You said that some fans didn't want us to be successful. That is utter nonsense, and I responded to that point.

My reasons for doubting your reading ability stems from you failing to reference my OP. You've made plenty of wrong assumptions of my opinion, despite me making my point very clear in post #1.

Some fans must not want us to be successful or failing that must be monumentally stupid if they think jeering Long before he's even had chance to touch the ball will help with anything.

I want us to get promoted and win games

Fucking aint gonna happen is it? Why should I be positive?

Classic.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Totally disagree with the OP. Tuesday summed up perfectly why the atmosphere is quiet/poisonous at home games.

Despite utterly disgraceful performances in the two previous home games (Crewe & Rochdale), approx. 17,000 United fans decided to turn up regardless. The atmosphere was, if anything, nervous. I certainly didn't hear any booing before the first Southend goal - which was quickly followed by two more. Then there was abuse from some - a very few - fans behind the dugouts, which was directed at Wilder and was - given the tactics, display and general shittiness of the performances so far this season - understandable. This discontent didn't last long, in fact the subdued booing as the disastrous first half ended was remarkably tolerant given what had gone on before. The second half was played out in front of stunned disbelief, especially as this spineless team didn't even try to wrest the game back.

A caller on Radio Pig last night (he was definitely a Blade as he didn't feel the need to intersperse every other word with "Yeah?" as those denizens of Pitsmoor and Southey Green tend to) commented on the booing. I don't know where in the ground he was but, in the second half, Long was halfway into our half and looking to play another misplaced clearance forward. Some in the crowd sarcastically shouted "Shoot!" which may have been mistaken for boos (as in "Root!" in the cricket).

Some fans in the middle of the kop managed to get a "United" chant going which was amazing given that most people - including the team - had long given up on us.

The fans are the very last reason we are so bad.

After the 2nd goal, there was definite active booing of Long the next time he touched the ball coming from the kop but they were shouted down by the others who wanted to get behind the lad and he even got some claps and encouragement from the fans trying to lift him after that. Overall, barring a section that love to get at Long, I thought our fans were decent on Tuesday and the players got off quite lightly for an appalling performance. That said, I do think generally we can do more to create a positive atmosphere even if the players/ management/ board aren’t doing their bit.


It’s a hard one. I spend my time imploring people to get behind the players and give them every chance but they make it so hard as every time you think they can’t get worse, they do.


The vicious cycle goes on. I think Wilder needs to take us very much back to basics (like Clough did in 2014). Set up with an attitude of stopping the opposition, becoming hard to beat and scrapping for everything even if we’re crap going forward. Get a few points on the board even if they are 0-0s and try to build from there. If we are competing, throwing bodies in front of the ball etc. and grinding out a couple of results, the fans will start to come back onside. We could have done with getting past Crewe as well because a battling display as underdogs against PL team would help the relationship just now.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

There would be no helm without him. We would have probably folded.

We’d have probably gone into admin, been picked up on the cheap by a wealthy chancer and ended up stronger for it. Not saying I agree with that approach. Just that I think that’s what would have happened as it seems to with most clubs of a similar size who end up in financial bother.

 

[Silent Blade]

You could read back through 99.9% of your posts then ask how enthusiastic you sound

Well said!

That is him!

 

[Silent Blade]

So how did the curse work out between 88-93?

Bassett often criticized the booing

 

[Hague Blade]

So at least half the forum spends the summer saying we need a better goalkeeper, which Wilder ignores, signing Long up to a new contract. George then doesn't bother with half the pre-season, lets in an absolute howler at Grimsby, and gets worse and worse through the first few league games. Penny finally drops with the manager and the bean counters, and we sign some new bloke from Cardiff.

Reason to boo Long? No, not at all. But it's bloody frustrating, and symptomatic of the retarded way the club is being run.

 

[Silent Blade]

There was a player (that my dad rated) from the 1960's whose daughter went to same school as me. He often spoke to him at school sports day. He told my dad that he found it hard to have the confidence when the crowd got on his back and he preferred to play in away matches. Right wingers enjoyed playing against the Kop End, left wingers enjoyed playing against the Lane end because there were no booing from the cricket pitchside!

Here is what another ex-Blade player said in the Star

TH: There’s no point in beating about the bush. We know it and he knows it. I’m appealing, urging even, all our supporters to get behind him and the team this season. That’s vitally important because there’s nothing worse, speaking as an ex-player, when your own crowd is getting on your back.

Read more at: http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/right-one-to-end-route-one-1-3649109

 

[Bartleby]

Bassett often criticized the booing

Warnock did as well. Clough wasn't keen on the numpties behind the dugouts either.

I think it's fair to say the team needs to lift the crowd right now but I don't hold with booing or dishing abuse to our players. Bad refs and dirty opposition players I am happy to boo very loudly.

 

[Blade56]

Fans are fucking stupid ...
Fans essentially have zero responsibility for anything....
The only thing they're responsible for is sitting on their seat...
...you have no experience of anything relevant whatsoever.

Fucks me right off when people harp on here about our wondrous fans
If you don't like the way we're playing, vote with your wallet.
Don't fucking turn up and give verbal
It's fucking toxic.

Mmmmmmmmm spoken like a player. Sure McCabe would echo the sentiments of playing to a small crowd of say 3/4,000 of loyal fans who cheer our players back to the center spot every time the opposition puts one in the net of our home L3 goal.

It's the fans fault.

Pathetic post

 

[HighfieldBlade]

I must admit it was difficult to get behind a team that was already behind...by 3 goals.

 

[Bladepicker]

I think that's a poor analogy mate, the chef's been shit for years, and we never learn: we keep coming back and eating the shit up more like!

Yup it's hard to find an analogy for football to be honest as you have brand loyalty like nowhere else - however the point was that if the product is bad, I don't think you can lay the blame at those been critical of the product - as much as this may increase pressure.

This is professional sport - part of being in professional sport is dealing with the pressure and the expectation along with the stick you get. If we were winning and giving 100% (remember as recently as under Clough - the cup run springs to mind) the support will be fantastic and you will have players saying how much of a lift it gives them.

It's really simple - win football matches and give 100% and the fans will be great, team spirit will be great and the fans won't slag of players as soon as they go behind.

Pick any club the size of United and let them go through what we have for the last 8 season's, then let them pick up 1 point in 3 games at the beginning of the season and end up 3 nil down after 15 minutes at home to yet another club with about an 1/8th of our resource and what do you think their fan's reaction would be?

Blaming the fans is a lazy cop out for players and managers who are performing way below their target level of performance/pay structure.

 

[Sheffsteel]

We are a joke off the pitch as well. How long it takes us to get deals done is embarrassing.

To be fair I would every club takes weeks to complete details. You just never usually get to hear about protracted negotiations. For example it took Man Utd at least 6 weeks of negotiations with Pogba.

Not sure how old you are but it was a whole new ball game in the 80's and 90's.

Just a few points.

1: Started building a stand, demolished John Street then ran out of money to complete it.

2: Couldnt pay the players salaries some months.

3: As a cost cutting exercise to save in the laundry bill players were asked to wash their kits at home.

4: Being told we've NO MONEY for any transfers so can fans donate into a Red Ribband fund to buy players.

5: Manager being asked to loan the club money. Bassett admitted he'd lent the club money for loans/ signings to go through.

6: Gates down to 12 to 14,000.

7: Poor stadium and very poor training facilities.

8: Directors going missing on the run, involved in fraud, bankruptcy etc

9: Director wanting us to merge with Wednesday.

I've seen several fans of other clubs look at us in envy saying we're the Man City of league 1. Coventry wanted to make Fkeck their highest paid player but apparently they couldn't compete with our wage structure.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

It's a subject as legendary Sam Morsy or Diego's private plate, I am of course talking about whether the negativity from the fans adversely affects the players.

I for one think it does.

Reason I thought I'd bring it up is because I've seen a few comments all loosely saying the same thing; that the fans were behind the players until we started conceding on Tuesday.
This is not true: I could hear ironic cheers for Long cathing the ball before the first goal.

It's a self fulfilling prophecy at times: we go in thinking/knowing they're going to be shit, make our feelings known, and unsurprisingly, they're shit.

To be clear, I don't think it's the biggest factor in our demise. I think board incompetence, manager incompetence and most of all player incompetence have played a much bigger part. But I still think as fans we should be shouldering some of the blame.

Is anyone proud of the atmosphere at the lane? It's library-esqe unless we have the chance to boo someone a far cry away from the "glory days"

I made a point on another thread that it will be extremely hard to bring young players through or get talented young loans in while the atmosphere remains toxic. It also plays a factor in games: how many times have you heard the opposition say "we knew we had to keep it tight, and the fans would eventually get on their backs"? (Or words to that effect.)

And before someone says it, the fact we still have ~18000 fans showing up after 6 years in league one doesn't absolve us. I'd sooner play in front of 500 fans than 18000 critics.

So let's try (as hard as it is at times), to get behind the players. I'm not saying you can't boo, I'm just saying it doesn't help. UTB

If it was as simple as booing or not booing , the solution would be simple.

We are a dysfunctional family set of fans , and tendency to be bipolar .

Read the shite on here and we all need to go for councilling caused by supporting the club and players wearing the shirt .

Stasiland fucking brain washing .

Forget 18,000 , them days will soon be over due to supporters age and new young blood calling it a day .

Yes us supporters need to look each other in the face , but do do the players . Everything's toxic at the lane and it ain't going to change . Players need to grow fucking balls

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

I do think these sorts of threads are funny.

All these calls to fans to behave positively & upliftingly... But, in the real world, as we all know, these pleas have ZERO effect.

Here's an idea for all those urging positivity on the rest of us (in this virtual reality world of social media): why not actually BE vocally positive at games & influence the atmosphere in the only way in can be influenced, i.e. in real-life, in the real world?

 

[derryblade]

There has always been booing and jeering during my time watching the Blades it happens at most other clubs up and down the country. Fans go to watch their football team entertain them and hopefully win a game of football not sit and clap like pet seals if it's dire and individuals continue to make the same mistakes week in week out they have always let the players or manager know it. CW knows that it's the industry he's in you take the plaudits or the criticism when it's deserved, the players and manager need to up their game and then the cheers will drown out the booing as it's done in the past

 

[spongebobblade]

I'm comfortable booing my team at half or full time. If they have given us a performance that is severely lacking then I'm happy letting them know my feelings. They are very well paid professionals and I don't buy into the clapping them off when they haven't given they're all. If they have given there all yet lost I'm more than happy to show my appreciation. We all show our displeasure or get irate during games (be honest, who didn't get wound up tues night?) but I'm a big believer in not booing my team DURING a game. It's of no help to the team and will ultimately get us nowhere. As for the sarcasm directed at Long, well that's just disgusting. I happen to think like many that he isn't good enough but it's not through lack of effort and while ever he pulls on a United shirt he should be supported. As for the fans who want us to concede a goal or loose heavily so someone might be dropped/ sacked, well to me they just aren't true supporters. I want my team to win EVERY game at EVERY level in EVERY competition

 

[blade too long]

to be fair after 15 minutes on tuesday, would have been odd not to show derision, so cataclysmically bad was out defending
its always ideal to get behind the team , but in instances where the players are so inept a good rollicking is well deserved

 

[sheffielder]

to be fair after 15 minutes on tuesday, would have been odd not to show derision, so cataclysmically bad was out defending
its always ideal to get behind the team , but in instances where the players are so inept a good rollicking is well deserved

You wouldn't have known we were 3-0 down looking at Wilder.

 

[Chali 2na]

Yup it's hard to find an analogy for football to be honest as you have brand loyalty like nowhere else - however the point was that if the product is bad, I don't think you can lay the blame at those been critical of the product - as much as this may increase pressure.

This is professional sport - part of being in professional sport is dealing with the pressure and the expectation along with the stick you get. If we were winning and giving 100% (remember as recently as under Clough - the cup run springs to mind) the support will be fantastic and you will have players saying how much of a lift it gives them.

You missed out that the increased pressure has a detrimental effect on players. So any effort to curb said pressure will hopefully improve performance.

Yes they are professionals so they should understand the pressures involved with football, however they're people 1st and generally people need encouragement to build confidence. It's the fans and the players who lift each other, yet some on here (not aiming that at you) appear unwilling to accept this.

I do think these sorts of threads are funny.

All these calls to fans to behave positively & upliftingly... But, in the real world, as we all know, these pleas have ZERO effect.

Here's an idea for all those urging positivity on the rest of us (in this virtual reality world of social media): why not actually BE vocally positive at games & influence the atmosphere in the only way in can be influenced, i.e. in real-life, in the real world?

I am vocally positive at games thank you.

You seem to forget that 99% of discussion on this board has no effect on the real world, that's not why we do it.

 

[Clarkey87]

Many fans are extremely arrogant and think that Sheffield United are too big and too good to be in this league.

Speak for yourself.
Many I know, in fact all blades I know, are not and never have been arrogant.

You are confusing blades fans with another set in this city.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

You seem to forget that 99% of discussion on this board has no effect on the real world, that's not why we do it.

Have a read of most comments made on this subject regarding "the fans are to blame" - they're direct pleas to "nasty" fans to behave more "nicely".

Fans boo and jeer when they're pissed off. Always happened, always will. Except at MK Dons.

 

[Darthblade]

Good post, and bang on. Though I would say you can't boo....it does nothing at all productive for the team.

The fans from a few years back would support them, sing the names of the players etc etc. It could be said that the fan base have nobody to sing about....but in truth bar Deane and Agana we hardly had a decent player amongst the rest back then. But the team worked, the fans loved them and they gave their all.

Perhaps, and this may be controversial, if the fans got behind the players and onto the backs of opponents to make it a hostile environment for them, we might see our players perform better and become confident and win more often at home!

Imagine that!!

I think the club need to try something to generate an atmosphere and get it going. Safe standing on the Kop would do it. Get it so cheap that it is filled, set criterion so that little uns aren't in there...say over 15s only. Make it members/season ticket holders only. We need something of our own to get the noise going, and drown out the gobshites. Not necessarily a drummer/band but something. Flares, and controlled fireworks....huge flags...make it obsessive and try to bring a bit of the atmosphere they get in Eastern Europe on there!
Hell....why not rent a crowd! Get Sela to hire a few hundred of the fener lot....stick em in the middle of the Kop and tell em to get on with it. Over time loads will join in....we want them in the ground, an hour early drinking cheap beer and making a noise.

"I think the club need to try something to generate an atmosphere and get it going" ........

I have an idea which may help ......... its revolutionary ........... not sure the Board will "get on board" with it, but here goes .......

How about we;

a) stop selling our best players ( unless we are offered such a stupidly high fee that its irresistible, unlike our current plan of lifting our skirt for a tenner !! )
b) invest in the first team squad as a sensible level producing a strong, balanced squad with a mixture of flair, pace, guile and the required mean streak which enables us to compete at the top of the league ( instead of the current 5 year plan of lets try for promotion on the cheap )
c) play exciting, fast, attacking football using the quality players from b) above
d) retain a manager for more than 12 months
e) ensure that there is sufficient quality in the players from b) above so that they are worth singing songs about ( unlike the majority of our players from the past 3 / 5 years who have earned the song "you're not fit to wear the shirt" )
f) bring a couple of bodies onto the Board who actually understand the game of football and do have a clue what its all about ( unlike the current board who haven't got a clue !! )

But on second thoughts ...... nah !! lets just carry on with the great plan A which has worked so well for the last 5 years of our self-imposed exile ......

UTB & FTP

 

[jt64]

Tricky one this. Could the players do more to energise the crowd? Absolutely. Could the crowd do more to energise the players? Yes as well. It wasn't too long ago that we turned around a three goal deficit against a team a damn sight better than Southend in a third of the time, but there seemed to be mutual belief we couldn't do it this time. I guess that's the difference home vs away makes, if you're going to Wigan away on a rainy Tuesday night you're probably more likely to fall into the supporting regardless camp rather than the sit and moan camp.

Seems to be a British thing in general though, crowds over here are universally terrible compared to our overseas counterparts

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Warnock did as well. Clough wasn't keen on the numpties behind the dugouts either.

I think it's fair to say the team needs to lift the crowd right now but I don't hold with booing or dishing abuse to our players. Bad refs and dirty opposition players I am happy to boo very loudly.

I think, when the team is playing badly, we can still try to direct the stick to refs and opposition to put pressure on them rather than our own players. Something Stoke's fans do very well.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Tricky one this. Could the players do more to energise the crowd? Absolutely. Could the crowd do more to energise the players? Yes as well. It wasn't too long ago that we turned around a three goal deficit against a team a damn sight better than Southend in a third of the time, but there seemed to be mutual belief we couldn't do it this time. I guess that's the difference home vs away makes, if you're going to Wigan away on a rainy Tuesday night you're probably more likely to fall into the supporting regardless camp rather than the sit and moan camp.

Seems to be a British thing in general though, crowds over here are universally terrible compared to our overseas counterparts

Really? Thought the crowd were superb at times in the second half. Responded well to anything approaching attacking intent, passing interchanges, aggression.

 

[Darthblade]

Its a horrible poisonous atmosphere at the lane at the minute. I hate it.

Unfortunately the only thing that will turn it around is results.

Many fans are extremely arrogant and think that Sheffield United are too big and too good to be in this league. Big maybe, but good? No. The quicker they change their mindset to realise that we now have a bog standard League 1 squad the better.
When players make a mistake, we need to get back to encouraging applause and cheers as opposed to boos and jeers. Its been the latter since Danny Wilson's second season, which just happens to coincide with the time that we actually were no longer "too good" for this league.

Fans can influence games. Positively or negatively. Think of the cup run in 2003, the Liverpool game, Sunderland, Palace games, our stadium rocked on those nights and I bet if you asked a player who played (including the opposition), they'd agree that the crowd carried them through.. That's without mentioning the Forest game.

"Many fans are extremely arrogant and think that Sheffield United are too big and too good to be in this league" ....

I disagree ..... I don't know of any Blades fans who think we're too big and good to be in L1 ....... but I know of loads who are royally pissed off with the fans turning up, but the Board, the manager and the players not doing their part of the job !!

Its been said many times before ...... Premiership fans and the rest is lower division and to be honest the Board, management and the players are proving that over the last 5 years of self-impose exile.

UTB & FTP

 

[Bladepicker]

You missed out that the increased pressure has a detrimental effect on players. So any effort to curb said pressure will hopefully improve performance.

Yes they are professionals so they should understand the pressures involved with football, however they're people 1st and generally people need encouragement to build confidence. It's the fans and the players who lift each other, yet some on here (not aiming that at you) appear unwilling to accept this.

Yes they are professionals so they should understand the pressures involved with football, however they're people 1st and generally people need encouragement to build confidence. It's the fans and the players who lift each other, yet some on here (not aiming that at you) appear unwilling to accept this.[/QUOTE]

Yes there is a certain 'vicous circle' element to it - players are poor, fans get on their back, pressure increases and performance can drop - go back to the start. I get that, however some players may actually be more motivated to do more if they are getting stick (I'll show them attitude etc.) so it is not all cut and dried.

The point is though - the thing that drives the fan's reaction is the performance. If we come out all guns blazing for 30 minutes and attack with purpose from the off - the fans will by and large get behind the team (there will always be the odd type who moan whatever happens) - the driver will always be the players performance in the first place. It could be just as detrimental if we were all sat in silence saying 'jolly bad luck old chap, keep trying old bean' every time we concede a goal at home to someone shit. Again, the influence of any fans negativity is only on the back of poor performance anyway and is easily countered by some decent results/performances.

Where the fans pissed off and at a point of creating a toxic atmosphere after Crewe away under Clough? Absolutely.
Did that stop us going on a winning run with some great fan backing? Of course not.

Being as shit as we are for so long IS NOT THE FANS FAULT!!!!