The summer ahead

[Ollessendro]

I was pleased to see United finally announce their pre season plans this week and am know rather nervously looking ahead at he summer. My slight concern is building, by a tiny amount, day by day due to the seeming lack of action at BDTBL. Perhaps I am being over the top, but I think the management team at the Lane need to start moving and quickly.

I posted earlier in the summer that the new manager has a massive job on his hands (http://www.s24su.com/showthread.php?23381-The-job-on-his-hands&highlight=) and
I think that is even more the case, but with even less time. It could be argued that Wilson has used his time wisely and has been getting to know the club, eyeing up targets, making contact with potential players etc. However we do not have any idea of what has been going on.

5 weeks to Malta

The Blades will travel to Malta on the 14th of July for their training camp. This leaves Wilson less than 5 weeks to build his squad for next season. Undoubtadely this will see several players leave and hopefully see us replacing them. For me this is no time at all. Wilson is likely to see the heart rippd out of his squqd qs the bored accepts any offer for any of his players. He will have been told to decrease the wage will (probably by a significant amount) and be encouraged to get rid of all our top earners.

Behind the rest and the clock ticking?

What is worrying me right now is United seem to be way behind with everything. We still have not released our list of players to be released and have not been linked with a single player. Other clubs (including many of our League One rivals) have been linked with players or have actually made transfers. The only rumours we have heard about United are that Slew, Hendo, Quinn and Monty could be on their way.

Players still on hols

I was really concerned to read a quote by Wilson, from Kopped's fans forum, saying something about shaping the team when the players come back from holiday. They finished on May the 8th (5 weeks ago) so just when ar they coming back? I was hoping that Wilson would have had the likes of Monty, Boggy, Evans, Quinn, Hendo, Morgs, Yeates, Cresswell, Collins, Doyle, even the youngsters and fringe players to talk about reduced contracts, whether they want to play for the club, whether he thinks they have a future etc. I would think he is sensible and experienced enough to think that, but his comments (we will see when they come back from hols) have got me a little worried.

Time to get moving?

For me Wilson has a massive job and the sooner things start to happen then the better. He should have assembled his eam by the time they go to Malta. I would expect no more than a couple of late signings after they come back. That leaves him 5 weeks. I suppose it is difficult for him until he knows the future of his players, but it seems almost certain the likes of Monty, Hendo, Quinn, etc will be on their bike.

I posted something about this last year (http://www.s24su.com/showthread.php?19287-tick-tock&highlight=) though much later. I got told to chill out. This is not a 'I told you so' or 'look at me' post, I just wanted to know if other Blades are concerned by the silence booming from Bramall Lane. It seems so little is happening, that the club has resorted to posting how far we will need to travel to games next season!?

Perhaps Ollessendor needs to chill, but I cannot help but feel I will be looking back come August the 6th thinking that this nagging feeling was right and I should have been concerned about the current nothingness happening in S2.

 

[gavtheblade]

are you mellowing my friend

 

[Lid]

I was pleased to see United finally announce their pre season plans this week and am know rather nervously looking ahead at he summer. My slight concern is building, by a tiny amount, day by day due to the seeming lack of action at BDTBL. Perhaps I am being over the top, but I think the management team at the Lane need to start moving and quickly.

I posted earlier in the summer that the new manager has a massive job on his hands (http://www.s24su.com/showthread.php?23381-The-job-on-his-hands&highlight=) and
I think that is even more the case, but with even less time. It could be argued that Wilson has used his time wisely and has been getting to know the club, eyeing up targets, making contact with potential players etc. However we do not have any idea of what has been going on.

5 weeks to Malta

The Blades will travel to Malta on the 14th of July for their training camp. This leaves Wilson less than 5 weeks to build his squad for next season. Undoubtadely this will see several players leave and hopefully see us replacing them. For me this is no time at all. Wilson is likely to see the heart rippd out of his squqd qs the bored accepts any offer for any of his players. He will have been told to decrease the wage will (probably by a significant amount) and be encouraged to get rid of all our top earners.

Behind the rest and the clock ticking?

What is worrying me right now is United seem to be way behind with everything. We still have not released our list of players to be released and have not been linked with a single player. Other clubs (including many of our League One rivals) have been linked with players or have actually made transfers. The only rumours we have heard about United are that Slew, Hendo, Quinn and Monty could be on their way.

Players still on hols

I was really concerned to read a quote by Wilson, from Kopped's fans forum, saying something about shaping the team when the players come back from holiday. They finished on May the 8th (5 weeks ago) so just when ar they coming back? I was hoping that Wilson would have had the likes of Monty, Boggy, Evans, Quinn, Hendo, Morgs, Yeates, Cresswell, Collins, Doyle, even the youngsters and fringe players to talk about reduced contracts, whether they want to play for the club, whether he thinks they have a future etc. I would think he is sensible and experienced enough to think that, but his comments (we will see when they come back from hols) have got me a little worried.

Time to get moving?

For me Wilson has a massive job and the sooner things start to happen then the better. He should have assembled his eam by the time they go to Malta. I would expect no more than a couple of late signings after they come back. That leaves him 5 weeks. I suppose it is difficult for him until he knows the future of his players, but it seems almost certain the likes of Monty, Hendo, Quinn, etc will be on their bike.

I posted something about this last year (http://www.s24su.com/showthread.php?19287-tick-tock&highlight=) though much later. I got told to chill out. This is not a 'I told you so' or 'look at me' post, I just wanted to know if other Blades are concerned by the silence booming from Bramall Lane. It seems so little is happening, that the club has resorted to posting how far we will need to travel to games next season!?

Perhaps Ollessendor needs to chill, but I cannot help but feel I will be looking back come August the 6th thinking that this nagging feeling was right and I should have been concerned about the current nothingness happening in S2.

we are so lucky to have fans like you ,after relegation the club needs as many know-it-alls telling them what to do as possible
i for one shall be also passing off my opinion as fact in a delusional self gratifying and patronising manner in order to feel/feign some kind of involment in the day to day running of the club

 

[Elsecar_Blade]

Ollie, I don't agree with you much but I do here. I wouldn't go as far as to say I am starting to worry but I think a timely bit of news that shows that something is happening (I'm sure it is) behind the scenes would be nice, would be reassuring.

 

[SwissBlade]

I'm extremely worried, as you say ollie time is ticking and whilst it's good to be allowing Wilson time to make his own assessment instead of ripping the squad apart, we now have potentially increased period of disruption with players going/ players not going/ contracts being renegotiated and players coming in.

I think you've made a good assessment of the concerns.

The big one for me, which Wilson mentioned on kopped's fans forum is that Wilson intends to use wingers, which is fine it won't change the strategy too much as we've played this way to varying success since we came down. Let's hope then that Wilson can find some decent, consistent wingers.

Wilson therefore needs a plan B because whether it's long ball or fancy football, the intention to use wingers is the same and we'll need the strikers on the end and the central midfielders to either pick up the balls that drop or break up play. This suggests that a total football midfield that so many crave won't be without monty/ Doyle.

Like him or not Wilson has a big job on his hands and he hasn't even made assessments on the players yet...

Time is ticking and were still not out of the turmoil yet...

 

[beightonblade]

hey .............................................. I cannot believe it !
Come the start of the season all the owd crocks and big wage charlies will have been fooked off from BDTBL, All the good yung uns will have been given attractive new contracts keeping them at BDTBL for the next 5 years, Danny Boy will have brought in some new talent that we all like, McCabe will have changed his ways and becum a Super Hero and last but not least our gert will have given me what i've always wanted .

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Wilson will probably already be well aware of which of the senior players will be off - it's simply a question of how quickly clubs move for them. Ipswich fans seem to think Evans will be heading their way, we've seen Quinn reportedly gaining interest, and Hendo/Monty continue to be linked elsewhere. It is unrealistic to think we can start doing the large part of our squad redevelopment till probably two of those four are shifted. Wilson has already said as much that we're building up various scenarios for who to bring in, dependent on who leaves. That'll involve informal discussions at this stage - Wilson will hardly be twiddling his thumbs until the players' holidays are over.

 

[silverfox]

and last but not least our gert will have given me what i've always wanted .

A suitcase?

 

[SwissBlade]

Wilson will probably already be well aware of which of the senior players will be off - it's simply a question of how quickly clubs move for them. Ipswich fans seem to think Evans will be heading their way, we've seen Quinn reportedly gaining interest, and Hendo/Monty continue to be linked elsewhere. It is unrealistic to think we can start doing the large part of our squad redevelopment till probably two of those four are shifted. Wilson has already said as much that we're building up various scenarios for who to bring in, dependent on who leaves. That'll involve informal discussions at this stage - Wilson will hardly be twiddling his thumbs until the players' holidays are over.

Whilst I agree in principle, it's not guaranteed that some players like perhaps Quinn or Evans will be able to command the deals that they're on with us... So that uncertainty could leave us with players we don't want and that have resigned themselves to leaving. It makes preparation difficult with the ins and outs.

This pre season is starting to remind me of the one after the play off defeat. Late to get going, poor preparation and player movements during the tour. Let's hope it's different

 

[blade too long]

and last but not least our gert will have given me what i've always wanted .

the remote control back ?

---------- Post added at 07:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:03 PM ----------

Whilst I agree in principle, it's not guaranteed that some players like perhaps Quinn or Evans will be able to command the deals that they're on with us... So that uncertainty could leave us with players we don't want and that have resigned themselves to leaving. It makes preparation difficult with the ins and outs.

This pre season is starting to remind me of the one after the play off defeat. Late to get going, poor preparation and player movements during the tour. Let's hope it's different

dont panic Mr Mainwaring, they dont start training for 3 weeks
thats a lifetime in football

why the rush , dont see movement anywhere , even money rich (titter titter) wednesdays only signed loan players they had

give it 2 weeks well see some sea changes in personnel at the Lane

 

[SwissBlade]

the remote control back ?

---------- Post added at 07:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:03 PM ----------



dont panic Mr Mainwaring, they dont start training for 3 weeks
thats a lifetime in football

why the rush , dont see movement anywhere , even money rich (titter titter) wednesdays only signed loan players they had

give it 2 weeks well see some sea changes in personnel at the Lane

So do you think were sitting nicely when the manager doesn't even know the players yet?

Slow to change the manager, slow to bring in the new one

Let's hope the players were given nice little fitness programs before they went on their well earned holidays

 

[blade too long]

all clubs are on holiday
you cant bring in players when theyre sat on far away beaches

name any player wed be interested in and theres a 90% chance that player or his manager will be necking a san miguel or a mojito

from what Ive seen only players with agents on big money have completed moves

forests only just sacked Davis , now thats slow, and theyre on about bringing in the wally with the brolly

 

[SwissBlade]

all clubs are on holiday
you cant bring in players when theyre sat on far away beaches

name any player wed be interested in and theres a 90% chance that player or his manager will be necking a san miguel or a mojito

from what Ive seen only players with agents on big money have completed moves

forests only just sacked Davis , now thats slow, and theyre on about bringing in the wally with the brolly

I guess we'll see then, but I just think that the mistakes made after play off final are already being made and our new manager doesn't have the benefit of knowing any of the players...

 

[blade too long]

any new manager would have been in the same boat, wouldnt he

will maclaren know the forest squad
will martin jol know the fulham staff

I dont see what you expect from Wilson just now

 

[Bladesway]

any new manager would have been in the same boat, wouldnt he

will maclaren know the forest squad
will martin jol know the fulham staff

I dont see what you expect from Wilson just now

Ignore him, its just a chance for him to start another long quote that says in effect he is concerned about many things, even before we have kicked off. He's bored and no one seemed to be looking at him.

 

[travellingblade]

I must admit that I've got the same concerns as Olle, but I seem to recall something about 30th June beginning when existing contracts end, so very little happens until 1st July.

I'm hoping that Danny Wilson is playing his cards close to his chest, and has his replacements all lined up, rather than announcing things to the world and then let some other club come in and snatch these players from under our noses.

Probably I'm being naive though.

 

[Ollessendro]

Ignore him, its just a chance for him to start another long quote that says in effect he is concerned about many things, even before we have kicked off. He's bored and no one seemed to be looking at him.

I guessed this is aimed at me. But travelling blade was responding to Swiss. This is actually a serious thread. We have 5 weeks to watch the squad get ripped apart and then replace them. To me that is not a long time and I am concerned that we may end up in a similar position to the last 2 years, i.e. relying on expensive, short term shit loan players that do not give a stuff about the club.

This pre season is massive. Depending on the ins and outs and how Wilson plays this then we could be fighting for a top 6 spot or battling against relegation.

I dont see what you expect from Wilson just now

This is part of the problem btl. Wilson has his hands tied until he knows the future's of Monty, Ched, Hendo, Quinn et al. I would hope that he is scenario planning and speaking to players (or their agents if they are supping San Miguel on a beach somewhere ). It actually seems to be fairly quiet everywhere else, but I cannot help feeling me are behind. Perhaps Wilson could state which players have a future and which don't and then release the 'player release' list. That would be a start.

Ollie, I don't agree with you much but I do here. I wouldn't go as far as to say I am starting to worry but I think a timely bit of news that shows that something is happening (I'm sure it is) behind the scenes would be nice, would be reassuring.

That is not the first time you have said that WB

Seriously though, things creep up. In 2 weeks nothing will have happened. Then it will be, 'oh it's pre season and the players are not back from hols'. Then next it will be 'expect a flurry of activity after 30th June when contracts end'. But we heard that last year and saw very little happening. I can only hope that stuff is going on behind the scenes and their will be a flurry of activity.

I must admit that I've got the same concerns as Olle, but I seem to recall something about 30th June beginning when existing contracts end, so very little happens until 1st July.

I'm hoping that Danny Wilson is playing his cards close to his chest, and has his replacements all lined up, rather than announcing things to the world and then let some other club come in and snatch these players from under our noses.

Probably I'm being naive though.

Perhaps this will be the case. But surely a club knows if they are willing/going to release someone and the other club knows if they want them. Many clubs have released players already. My concern will grow larger the closer we get to the magic 'flurry of activity after the 1st of July'. That would leave Wilson 2 weeks to bring in up to around 10 players (depending on who goes).

My manin point is this: for me rebuilding a squad is something that takes some time. If you were hiring a workforce and needed to do it before August you would be recruiting now. You would not be expecting a flurry of incomings after a certain point. Not saying that it could be done. For SUFC I was hoping we would be linked with players, brining in free transfers/players without a club, looking to give trials, stating which youngsters are stepping up etc. I would expect a slow trickle of players over the summer and not the majestic 'flurry of players in the first few weeks in July' (which will probably not appear).

 

[SteelCity Blade]

I agree with Olle on this. We need to crack on with things now. Other teams are starting to shape their squads.....we haven't even confirmed who is being released yet!

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

hey .............................................. I cannot believe it !
Come the start of the season all the owd crocks and big wage charlies will have been fooked off from BDTBL, All the good yung uns will have been given attractive new contracts keeping them at BDTBL for the next 5 years, Danny Boy will have brought in some new talent that we all like, McCabe will have changed his ways and becum a Super Hero and last but not least our gert will have given me what i've always wanted .

Think your Gert will enjoy inserting the red hot poker?

 

[beightonblade]

A suitcase?

hey ......................... SF, blade to long & grumpy .............no no no

this little beaut

 

[ponteblade]

Just listened to wilson on Bladesplayer and he does'nt fill me with confidence, but he says we are a big club and some players will want to come to us, just like we got collins and doyle sob sob sob, but then if we had waited we could of got Davies and he would of filled me with confidence, but mcCabe would of had to resign and made us unhappy (NOT)

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Just listened to wilson on Bladesplayer and he does'nt fill me with confidence, but he says we are a big club and some players will want to come to us, just like we got collins and doyle sob sob sob, but then if we had waited we could of got Davies and he would of filled me with confidence, but mcCabe would of had to resign and made us unhappy (NOT)

The fact remains that we are a 3rd division club and the likes of Davies will go higher up the footballing food chain, whether we like it or not, even to Barnsley !

 

[Ollessendro]

Geez. I thought the hours to destination was bad, but it gets worse. If ever you needed evidence that feck all is going on at the club .....

http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2375378,00.html

Roll on my summer hols, the 'flurry of transfer activity' and ultimately the start of the season.

 

[Grecian2000]

The fact remains that we are a 3rd division club and the likes of Davies will go higher up the footballing food chain, whether we like it or not, even to Barnsley !

I read (with some difficulty to be honest) the previous post to mean Billy Davies rather than Craig (i.e. the "waiting" bit).

 

[Ollessendro]

I wouldn't go as far as to say I am starting to worry but I think a timely bit of news that shows that something is happening (I'm sure it is) behind the scenes would be nice, would be reassuring.

Right on cue WB (http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/Gaffersnotes/0,,10418~2375854,00.html). Talk is cheap though isn't it? Although I have to say it is better than hearing about the pitch, distance to grounds etc and it is something. It shows that Wilson is thinking about this and has been talking to potential targets and members of our own squad. It is reassuring in a way that Wilson is thinking ahead, but still concerning that he appears to have his hands tied until: a) players come back from hols and b) the big earners fook off (or decided to stay).

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I read (with some difficulty to be honest) the previous post to mean Billy Davies rather than Craig (i.e. the "waiting" bit).

Yes, on re-reading I think you're right although why Billy Davies would fill anyone with any more confidence is beyond me.

 

[davidpinder]

Right on cue WB (http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/Gaffersnotes/0,,10418~2375854,00.html). Talk is cheap though isn't it? Although I have to say it is better than hearing about the pitch, distance to grounds etc and it is something. It shows that Wilson is thinking about this and has been talking to potential targets and members of our own squad. It is reassuring in a way that Wilson is thinking ahead, but still concerning that he appears to have his hands tied until: a) players come back from hols and b) the big earners fook off (or decided to stay).

Tick tock tick tock indeed. I don't see much going on at all and that is a worry. I am not to bothered at the moment about players in it is out that worries me, all this talk about players on holiday is bollocks there is plenty of movement in the transfer market at the moment and all players are controlled by agents anyway. I had hoped that a few that are leaving would have started to go by now. Like you say Malta is less than 5 weeks away you can't take players who you expect not to be there come august so we need to start moving get players shipped out and targets in on trial.

 

[Bladesway]

This is actually a serious thread. We have 5 weeks to watch the squad get ripped apart and then replace them. To me that is not a long time and I am concerned that we may end up in a similar position to the last 2 years, i.e. relying on expensive, short term shit loan players that do not give a stuff about the club.

This pre season is massive. Depending on the ins and outs and how Wilson plays this then we could be fighting for a top 6 spot or battling against relegation.

Serious? How can you/we be serious about something which you/we know absolutely nothing about. What is Wilson doing? Who is he signing? Who are we letting go? How are we going to play? When is Morgs going to be fit, who will play up front? Who will play in net? Left back, Right Back, who knows?

You say we are behind the clock, but I don't see anyone else making big bold and brave decisions at our level. In spite of my reservations (of which there are many), I will at least give the man/team a chance before I wade in with my "observations". Some of your posts are funny, others are less so. Some are well written, this is not one of them. Its the sign of a man who is bored and wants to be seen by giving the world another lengthy post about how he is concerned about something which he has absolutely no solid proof of what to be concerned about.

In short, wind and piss.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Tick tock tick tock indeed. I don't see much going on at all and that is a worry. I am not to bothered at the moment about players in it is out that worries me, all this talk about players on holiday is bollocks there is plenty of movement in the transfer market at the moment and all players are controlled by agents anyway. I had hoped that a few that are leaving would have started to go by now. Like you say Malta is less than 5 weeks away you can't take players who you expect not to be there come august so we need to start moving get players shipped out and targets in on trial.

Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not going on

Ched to Boro is a perfect example. Boro alledgedly want Ched but this is alledgedly reliant on Boyd going to Forest. Davies is sacked by Forest (a full 4 weeks after their play-off defeat) and McLaren moves in, the deal stalls. It's the same every year and this year will be no different regardless of whether we'd kept Adams or brought a new man in.

There's hardly 'plenty of movement' either !

 

[davidpinder]

Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not going on

Ched to Boro is a perfect example. Boro alledgedly want Ched but this is alledgedly reliant on Boyd going to Forest. Davies is sacked by Forest (a full 4 weeks after their play-off defeat) and McLaren moves in, the deal stalls. It's the same every year and this year will be no different regardless of whether we'd kept Adams or brought a new man in.

There's hardly 'plenty of movement' either !

There is plenty of movement pigs have signed 3 for starters, even Barnsley are managing a few signings didn't take keith hill long to starting sorting his squad. Nothing less than promotion will do this season, and that won't happen without the right squad. Not questioning DW his hands are probably tied as per usual at the lane.