The "ole" passage of play

[Blade for Sale]

What are people's thoughts on the 'olé' passing spell that took place on Sat v Hull? My old man absolutely hates it, whenever we do it I always sneak a glance at him and he's noticeably agitated, wringing his hands, face like thunder. Like clockwork after about 30 seconds (or when it ends) you can almost lip sync to him saying 'I bloody hate it, hate it when they do that'.

I'm wondering if it's because of the almost innate Sheffield catastrophic mindset that assumes it will always end in concession of possession and a goal, and us with massive amounts of egg on our faces. What are other people's views? Are we finally good enough to take the piss in this way even with only a 1 goal advantage? I guess it originated in Spain as an imitation of the toreador teasing the bull into submission...certainly as a method of asserting superiority it takes some beating. Personally I think i'd prefer a 2 goal advantage and 1 min from time before we indulge.....I would love us to be in that position v the piglets in Nov!

 

[Trigger Blade]

I think it's done for different reasons under different circumstances. Saturday was a case of running he clock down and keeping the ball, which we weren't doing a couple of minutes earlier when Johnson put a cross in from the left and gave the ball away when we should have held on to it.

So for me, it was an ole of relief rather than cockiness. It does invite fate to get involved mind, on balance, I'm with your old man.

 

[knowsnowt]

Ole ole Norwood.

 

[JackSUFC]

I don’t mind it at all, if done in the right areas when appropriate of course. We have the players to do it so why not? Game management and all that.

I was also screaming at Johnson for not taking it into the corner a few minutes earlier, which I know some people also don't like to see.

 

[Geordie Blade]

We did it when we were 1-0 up against Hull at Wembley, four years ago.

 

[Stretch]

I enjoyed it, certainly preferable to the usual method of running down the clock by holding the ball by the corner flag.

 

[Baaaaaaa Blades]

loved it personally !
When have we ever said before we have 11 men on the pitch who can pass it around and do it with style like they did on Saturday !? certainly not since my first match in '87 !

 

[Blade for Sale]

We did it when we were 1-0 up against Hull at Wembley, four years ago.

We did indeed. I think we were all so giddy at having scored at Wembley (and had obviously 'turned up' for once) that it was just a real expression of joy and gratitude rather than an out & out piss take. It didn't stop my old man growling like a grumpy bulldog though

 

[DronnieBlade]

Assume your old man is well, old

Which inevitably means this type of passage of play prohibits his more favoured gerritforrard or gerritinbox type approach

UTB

 

[HighfieldBlade]

I love it when we are say 2 goals up and it's in the last couple of minutes.
I'm sure it must really wind up the opposition players and frustrate the hell out of them not having the ball.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

For anyone that saw Fulham 3, Sheff Utd 0 at the end of last season, my recollection was that Fulham did it to us near the end of the game - even though they were 3 nil to the good and probably just took the piss.

Wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't Norwood (and he played that day) and Coutts dreamt that one up against Hull.

Lets see more of it - how about Friday, 9th November at about 21:25 ?

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

What are people's thoughts on the 'olé' passing spell that took place on Sat v Hull? My old man absolutely hates it, whenever we do it I always sneak a glance at him and he's noticeably agitated, wringing his hands, face like thunder. Like clockwork after about 30 seconds (or when it ends) you can almost lip sync to him saying 'I bloody hate it, hate it when they do that'.

I'm wondering if it's because of the almost innate Sheffield catastrophic mindset that assumes it will always end in concession of possession and a goal, and us with massive amounts of egg on our faces. What are other people's views? Are we finally good enough to take the piss in this way even with only a 1 goal advantage? I guess it originated in Spain as an imitation of the toreador teasing the bull into submission...certainly as a method of asserting superiority it takes some beating. Personally I think i'd prefer a 2 goal advantage and 1 min from time before we indulge.....I would love us to be in that position v the piglets in Nov!

I’m with your dad, and you’ve nailed it - it’s my cynical nature based on our history (bubble busting / we are the unluckiest club in the workd etc.).

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Used to hate it when teams did it to us. Leeds in the 70s probably when I hated it the most.
It's disrespectful and unsportsmanlike, so for that reason, I'm out.
But will be well back in again if we do it when we're 5-0 up against the Wendys,

 

[Addison]

Not a fan of going sideways, sideways and then backwards in your own half. The best ole passage of play is Brazils fourth goal in the 1970 World Cup final. Now thats how you do it going forwards.

 

[Jesus_was_a_Blade]

There's no better way of running the clock down, I thought it was a joy to watch.
Whenever someone runs the ball into the corner, 9 times out of 10 they either loose it within 5 seconds or have a free-kick given against them.
We managed to kill a good minute of that game without them touching the ball, possibly stopping them having 1 last attack.
They can't hurt you if they don't have the ball, reminded me of the below...

 

[Beans]

Thought it was great myself - as long as you're doing it in the opposition half and not your own box, there's no danger.

Travelling Blade's video shows it well - that skill from Enda Video should auto-start at the right spot but if not it's at 11:10.

 

[Smirth]

The best way to wind the clock down. And it’s lovely that we now have players capable of doing it effectively.

If you have the ball the opposition can’t score, it’s that simple. The longer you do it the more likely you are to draw a foul too which wastes even more time.

It’s better than Hull’s pathetic showing of time wasting.

 

[JohnDenver]

Used to hate it when teams did it to us. Leeds in the 70s probably when I hated it the most.
It's disrespectful and unsportsmanlike, so for that reason, I'm out.
But will be well back in again if we do it when we're 5-0 up against the Wendys,

Why is it unsportsmanlike? If you instruct your ballboys to waste time, or roll around pretending to be hurt, then yes, fair enough. But this is playing out time in a skilful way, that's within the rules and the spirit of the rules. It's not even holding the ball at the corner flag - it's exercising skill and teamwork in the middle of the pitch.

The crowd crowing over it is what creates the ill feeling and does seem to tempt fate. But the players turning on some Barca keep-ball shows what they're capable of.

I approve of the tactic, but rarely shout "ole!" because it's asking to get it rubbed in your face.

 

[JackSUFC]

It's disrespectful and unsportsmanlike, so for that reason, I'm out.

Yeah you're right, how disrespectful of us to pass the ball around midfield. We should’ve let Hull equalise so everyone home went home with a point.

 

[Rob86]

The crowd crowing over it is what creates the ill feeling and does seem to tempt fate. But the players turning on some Barca keep-ball shows what they're capable of.

Was just going to put this, it’s the fans tempting fate, the Ole’s, ‘your fucking shit’ etc. etc. The players are just keeping the ball, you know, playing football. All the passing was crisp with good movement, there was no fancy bollocks going on, so it was fine. As soon as the crowd started giving it the Ole, it pumped the Hull players up.

 

[Roygbiv]

For anyone that saw Fulham 3, Sheff Utd 0 at the end of last season, my recollection was that Fulham did it to us near the end of the game - even though they were 3 nil to the good and probably just took the piss.

Wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't Norwood (and he played that day) and Coutts dreamt that one up against Hull.

Lets see more of it - how about Friday, 9th November at about 21:25 ?

UTB

Norwood came on in the 65th minute that night

 

[Willie Carlin]

What are people's thoughts on the 'olé' passing spell that took place on Sat v Hull? My old man absolutely hates it, whenever we do it I always sneak a glance at him and he's noticeably agitated, wringing his hands, face like thunder. Like clockwork after about 30 seconds (or when it ends) you can almost lip sync to him saying 'I bloody hate it, hate it when they do that'.

I'm wondering if it's because of the almost innate Sheffield catastrophic mindset that assumes it will always end in concession of possession and a goal, and us with massive amounts of egg on our faces. What are other people's views? Are we finally good enough to take the piss in this way even with only a 1 goal advantage? I guess it originated in Spain as an imitation of the toreador teasing the bull into submission...certainly as a method of asserting superiority it takes some beating. Personally I think i'd prefer a 2 goal advantage and 1 min from time before we indulge.....I would love us to be in that position v the piglets in Nov!

I don’t like it. It’s disrespectful and un sporting in my opinion but I know I’ll be in the minority think so.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I don’t like it. It’s disrespectful and un sporting in my opinion but I know I’ll be in the minority think so.

How can it be unsporting Willie? We knock the ball around generally. The players were doing their job. It was the crowd that picked it up and ran with it.

 

[Willie Carlin]

How can it be unsporting Willie? We knock the ball around generally. The players were doing their job. It was the crowd that picked it up and ran with it.

Perhaps it’s my age Sean

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Norwood came on in the 65th minute that night

yes, and they took the piss near the end - we were chasing shadows and I though.....twats.

we should do it to the piggies on Nov 9th !

UTB

 

[stringer]

How can it be unsporting Willie? We knock the ball around generally. The players were doing their job. It was the crowd that picked it up and ran with it.

Why is it unsportsmanlike? If you instruct your ballboys to waste time, or roll around pretending to be hurt, then yes, fair enough. But this is playing out time in a skilful way, that's within the rules and the spirit of the rules. It's not even holding the ball at the corner flag - it's exercising skill and teamwork in the middle of the pitch.

The crowd crowing over it is what creates the ill feeling and does seem to tempt fate. But the players turning on some Barca keep-ball shows what they're capable of.

I approve of the tactic, but rarely shout "ole!" because it's asking to get it rubbed in your face.

Yeah you're right, how disrespectful of us to pass the ball around midfield. We should’ve let Hull equalise so everyone home went home with a point.

Passing the ball isn’t unsportsmanlike, think it’s the Oles that are

 

[Cappy]

The Players deciding to keep possession and move the ball around in (usually) the middle third has absolutely nothing to do with the fans shouting ole. The ole comes second and is our choice as fans once we notice what the team is doing. The players would play ball-keepy whether we ole'd or not

What is it your dad dislikes, us keeping possession to run the clock down, or the fans noticing and giving it a bit of ole?

He can't dislike the former, surely?

 

[Ned the Donkey]

Passing the ball isn’t unsportsmanlike, think it’s the Oles that are

Exactly.

Wasn't it Cardiff's equaliser last season which came from an injury time free kick, which the ref told them to move back, met with cheers. Launched, nodded down, finished off. 1-1.

No matter where the ball is, if the opposition have it they can hurt you. Best bet is if we keep it.

In the Hull game, about a minute earlier Johnson had the ball on the left and crossed it in to Leon, Hull picked it off easily, and had possession. It's understandable, Kevin Gage said the same on RS, he wants to impress, and tries to set up a goal but he just gifted it to them.

We got it back soon after, at which point Coutts took charge and directed that passage of play. It took a minute out of the game, and the teeth out of the Tigers.

The only disrespectful thing a player can do is start with the tricks, at which point they usually get the kicking they deserve.

The possession football is great. The oles are shite.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Passing the ball isn’t unsportsmanlike, think it’s the Oles that are

Are the players shouting it en masse as well?

Fans taunting opponents. Whatever next.

Oh Danny, have you seen Nancy's on line article saying the Brooks fee was wrongly reported @ £12m.

You and James should have a word. Bad enough on here without colleagues having a pop

 

[WalkelyFan]

\What I find surprising is that teams rarely have a way of combatting it. If anyone starts doing it to us Blades - go man to man. Stops it straightaway.