Then and now

[Newbury Blade]

Many people here will remember how under Dave Bassett we did not win a game until a few days before Christmas. I recall going to Villa Park, Vinnie Jones scored and we celebrated as if we’d won the league (we still lost the match).
The fans and the club stood by the manager. We finished 10th.
We have lost two games, playing poorly. Suddenly Wilder is a bad manager and, unbelievably, there are already suggestions that he should go. Not long ago of course he was a hero, one of our own, embodying everything we loved about SUFC.
We aren’t the first team to have made a bad start and CW hasn’t become a bad manager overnight. I think people need to calm down, grow up, and give the man a chance to sort it out as he did after a poor start to the promotion season, which some people seem to have forgotten already.
I know instant reaction, rather then thoughtful reflection, is the nature of social media but really, some of the so-called fans on here are a total embarrassment to the Blades.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Many people here will remember how under Dave Bassett we did not win a game until a few days before Christmas. I recall going to Villa Park, Vinnie Jones scored and we celebrated as if we’d won the league (we still lost the match).
The fans and the club stood by the manager. We finished 10th.
We have lost two games, playing poorly. Suddenly Wilder is a bad manager and, unbelievably, there are already suggestions that he should go. Not long ago of course he was a hero, one of our own, embodying everything we loved about SUFC.
We aren’t the first team to have made a bad start and CW hasn’t become a bad manager overnight. I think people need to calm down, grow up, and give the man a chance to sort it out as he did after a poor start to the promotion season, which some people seem to have forgotten already.
I know instant reaction, rather then thoughtful reflection, is the nature of social media but really, some of the so-called fans on here are a total embarrassment to the Blades.

The players then were giving a bit more than some are now?

 

[zablade]

Many people here will remember how under Dave Bassett we did not win a game until a few days before Christmas. I recall going to Villa Park, Vinnie Jones scored and we celebrated as if we’d won the league (we still lost the match).
The fans and the club stood by the manager. We finished 10th.
We have lost two games, playing poorly. Suddenly Wilder is a bad manager and, unbelievably, there are already suggestions that he should go. Not long ago of course he was a hero, one of our own, embodying everything we loved about SUFC.
We aren’t the first team to have made a bad start and CW hasn’t become a bad manager overnight. I think people need to calm down, grow up, and give the man a chance to sort it out as he did after a poor start to the promotion season, which some people seem to have forgotten already.
I know instant reaction, rather then thoughtful reflection, is the nature of social media but really, some of the so-called fans on here are a total embarrassment to the Blades.

We still had Brian Deane up front which saved us along with the signing of Hodeges.

Now we have Leon Clarke and the manager has just said no more signings.. but never mind eh?

 

[sitwell]

Many people here will remember how under Dave Bassett we did not win a game until a few days before Christmas. I recall going to Villa Park, Vinnie Jones scored and we celebrated as if we’d won the league (we still lost the match).
The fans and the club stood by the manager. We finished 10th.
We have lost two games, playing poorly. Suddenly Wilder is a bad manager and, unbelievably, there are already suggestions that he should go. Not long ago of course he was a hero, one of our own, embodying everything we loved about SUFC.
We aren’t the first team to have made a bad start and CW hasn’t become a bad manager overnight. I think people need to calm down, grow up, and give the man a chance to sort it out as he did after a poor start to the promotion season, which some people seem to have forgotten already.
I know instant reaction, rather then thoughtful reflection, is the nature of social media but really, some of the so-called fans on here are a total embarrassment to the Blades.

Many will never have heard of Bassett ,and we must simply win every game for them because lifes so unfair.

 

[robbiez666]

Many people here will remember how under Dave Bassett we did not win a game until a few days before Christmas. I recall going to Villa Park, Vinnie Jones scored and we celebrated as if we’d won the league (we still lost the match).
The fans and the club stood by the manager. We finished 10th.
We have lost two games, playing poorly. Suddenly Wilder is a bad manager and, unbelievably, there are already suggestions that he should go. Not long ago of course he was a hero, one of our own, embodying everything we loved about SUFC.
We aren’t the first team to have made a bad start and CW hasn’t become a bad manager overnight. I think people need to calm down, grow up, and give the man a chance to sort it out as he did after a poor start to the promotion season, which some people seem to have forgotten already.
I know instant reaction, rather then thoughtful reflection, is the nature of social media but really, some of the so-called fans on here are a total embarrassment to the Blades.

Fair point but have you heard the interview? That's much more worrying than the results or performances.

 

[mattbianco1]

All be needs to do is play Dufffy or Wood Woodburn from the start and then Sharp instead of one of the statues upfront a d we'll be fine.

 

[Iceybabey]

Some criticism has been warranted and some has been a little too extreme. Find a balance people.

That is all.

 

[oldblade]

Many people here will remember how under Dave Bassett we did not win a game until a few days before Christmas. I recall going to Villa Park, Vinnie Jones scored and we celebrated as if we’d won the league (we still lost the match).
The fans and the club stood by the manager. We finished 10th.
We have lost two games, playing poorly. Suddenly Wilder is a bad manager and, unbelievably, there are already suggestions that he should go. Not long ago of course he was a hero, one of our own, embodying everything we loved about SUFC.
We aren’t the first team to have made a bad start and CW hasn’t become a bad manager overnight. I think people need to calm down, grow up, and give the man a chance to sort it out as he did after a poor start to the promotion season, which some people seem to have forgotten already.
I know instant reaction, rather then thoughtful reflection, is the nature of social media but really, some of the so-called fans on here are a total embarrassment to the Blades.

I remember that game at Villa Park. We actually played really well and did not look like a side that hadn't won a game all season.

You are right about the goal celebration. If I remember rightly, we hadn't scored for about 5 games. We were a goal down, but all over them. It was a headed goal at our (the visitors) end of the pitch, and it felt like the crowd sucked the ball into the net. As you say, we all went absolutely barmy.

Ultimately we lost the game to a late goal, but oddly (in todays world) I went home happy. I was really proud of the performance.

 

[oldblade]

We still had Brian Deane up front which saved us along with the signing of Hodeges.

Now we have Leon Clarke and the manager has just said no more signings.. but never mind eh?

We were at a higher level then.

We had Deane and may possibly have still had Agana (not sure), but the side as a whole was nowhere near what most people would consider to be a first division side.

I think many of our current players could have held their own in that side. And I am in no way trying to mock or trivialise that Bassett side. I think even Pinchy would agree that it deserves to be in our fond memories.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

The Forest game was no.17 and memorable as we we were rock bottom with 4 pts from 12 defeats and 4 draws.
I think the next team above us had 12 points.
I’ll also always remember the look of anguish on Stuart Pearce’s face when the Kop chanted “Pearce lost us the world cup”

 

[oldblade]

The Forest game was no.17 and memorable as we we were rock bottom with 4 pts from 12 defeats and 4 draws.
I think the next team above us had 12 points.
I’ll also always remember the look of anguish on Stuart Pearce’s face when the Kop chanted “Pearce lost us the world cup”

Not really an appropriate chant. Waddle was the one who missed the penalty that meant that Germany had won.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

Not really an appropriate chant. Waddle was the one who missed the penalty that meant that Germany had won.

Yeah but Waddle wasn't playing

 

[oldblade]

Yeah but Waddle wasn't playing

No, he wasn't. But it was his failed penalty that lost us the penalty shoot-out against Germany.

Pearce took the 4th kick. Waddle took the fifth. So the chant was a little bit stupid.

If memory serves right, I think Pearce at least forced the goalkeeper into making a save. Waddle didn't and the ball is probably still travelling through space!

 

[Topplayersleave]

Expectations were different back then

I remember meeting a Villa fan on holiday after that season and when I told him I was a Blade he said to me with a strange look on his face
"You lot are f@cking crazy, Why did you invade the pitch when you scored"

I just laughed

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

No, he wasn't. But it was his failed penalty that lost us the penalty shoot-out against Germany.

Pearce took the 4th kick. Waddle took the fifth. So the chant was a little bit stupid

Undeniably so...but it certainly hit home.

As an aside Pearce blamed himself..an honourable guy.

The scene is best explained in Stuart Pearce's own words, "he[Waddle] put the ball into orbit and we were out of the World Cup". Pearce added: "I don't blame anyone but myself. I was the one who missed first and piled all the pressure on him."

 

[oldblade]

Undeniably so...but it certainly hit home.

As an aside Pearce blamed himself..an honourable guy.

The scene is best explained in Stuart Pearce's own words, "he[Waddle] put the ball into orbit and we were out of the World Cup". Pearce added: "I don't blame anyone but myself. I was the one who missed first and piled all the pressure on him."

I have never seen that quote. Pearce has gone up in my estimation and he was already quite high.

England have a poor record in penalty shoot-outs, but did manage to beat Spain in 1996. The fact that Pearce took (let alone scored) a penalty in that shoot-out is a credit to the man.

 

[Bellypork]

Undeniably so...but it certainly hit home.

As an aside Pearce blamed himself..an honourable guy.

The scene is best explained in Stuart Pearce's own words, "he[Waddle] put the ball into orbit and we were out of the World Cup". Pearce added: "I don't blame anyone but myself. I was the one who missed first and piled all the pressure on him."

Pearce was the one who put the tackle in which led to Germany's goal in open play.

 

[HolmesfieldBlade]

Well said.

 

[niktheblade]

In our L1 title winning season, we took 1 point from the first 4 games.....

 

[Rodley]

Early days yet. Let’s hope for a changed line up at QPR. Need to get at least a point to get the show on the road.

UTB

 

[robbiez666]

In our L1 title winning season, we took 1 point from the first 4 games.....

In our L1 title winning season we had better players than anyone else.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Many people here will remember how under Dave Bassett we did not win a game until a few days before Christmas. I recall going to Villa Park, Vinnie Jones scored and we celebrated as if we’d won the league (we still lost the match).
The fans and the club stood by the manager. We finished 10th.
We have lost two games, playing poorly. Suddenly Wilder is a bad manager and, unbelievably, there are already suggestions that he should go. Not long ago of course he was a hero, one of our own, embodying everything we loved about SUFC.
We aren’t the first team to have made a bad start and CW hasn’t become a bad manager overnight. I think people need to calm down, grow up, and give the man a chance to sort it out as he did after a poor start to the promotion season, which some people seem to have forgotten already.
I know instant reaction, rather then thoughtful reflection, is the nature of social media but really, some of the so-called fans on here are a total embarrassment to the Blades.

I don’t think think he’s a bad manager and I don’t think he should go. I’m not impressed with some of his signings though and see them as no better than what we had. I think we are weaker than last season, not stronger.

I do think he should change his mind about his starting 11 which should include Duffy, Sharp and Wiodburn imo.

 

[niktheblade]

In our L1 title winning season we had better players than anyone else.

Not denying that, all I'm saying is that we have lost 2 games poorly and everyone is shitting themselves. We had better players than everyone else and yet still lost 3 games from 4 (poorly) and turned it round dramatically. I'm not expecting that to happen and us to go on a long run, all i'm saying is that there is a little overreacting going on.

Also, the majority of that team that had better players than everyone else, struggled the season before.