Time for a fresh approach from us Blades supporters?

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I agree with most of this Pinchy..No way would I want to see aimless Hoofball,and neither would I like to see play sideways and back...I think Wilder will prove to be better than that,and build a side with mobility and attacking intent along with more passion,hunger,who move the ball quickly,and won't stand for players playing within themselves...We'll have to see how it all pans out,but I'm looking forward to next season under Wilder..think he'll be a breath of fresh air.

As good as the 4th???

Lets hope so.

 

[Sheff de party]

To be honest, I only get to go 5-6 times a season really, sometimes more but not often. When I go it's a treat and definitely something to look forward to, and it costs me a fair bit for 90 minutes.

For that, I want to be entertained, I want to see good flowing football and I of course want to see them win. However, if any of the above aren't delivered that's ok.

My minimum expectation is effort. It should be blood, sweat and tears unless they're winning comfortably.

Too often recently, none of that's been delivered and that's when I'll be quiet, angry or boo. But every time I go, I arrive with an open mind that it'll be good this time.

So I'm sticking with the same approach and I think the players need to as well - if you're not winning, you better be fucking trying. This is Sheffield United - anything less is unacceptable.

 

[dublin 10 blade]

In my time in supporting the Blades , Dinosaur Dave as "Pinchy " calls him , or Sir Dave as I refer to
him , had our team playing to there strengths back then , time moves on , we didn't have premier millions to spend on wonder players , to elevate our game to the passing standards which would have entertained us to the standards which Pinchy would tip his hat at.
Was it pretty , no , was it effective , yes it was , when the percentage game didn't pay off it was shit to watch ,
hence his departure from us , Jack Charltons removal from the Ireland job , Pullis from the Stoke job ,
Trapattoni again from the Ireland job , Jesus one of his subs used to be the fish , ( Sammon ) .
We have to play to our players strength at the present moment in time , under Wilsons first season some
of our football was great to watch , only after Ched did it go tits up .
I can understand what Pinchy is saying , but we ain't going to recruit the players needed to play that way
while in the turd division , so if it means playing it long , when a short pass isn't on then that's the pass you make
your winning 1-0 away you pass it around to each other to do the job . ie To win the game
I didn't watch the champions league final because Athletico were in it and I don't like the football they play ,
in fact it's shit .
I don't give a fuck what other fans say about Sir Dave , according to Scunnie and Southampton fans ,
Adkins was the dogs bollox , when he was just bollox .
If the percentage game gets us out of this league then I'd take it .
The higher you go the better you need to play .
So teams need to adapt , you cannot rely on the long ball game all the time other teams will learn
to counter act your game , football is a simple game .

 

[Grappler]

In my time in supporting the Blades , Dinosaur Dave as "Pinchy " calls him , or Sir Dave as I refer to
him , had our team playing to there strengths back then , time moves on , we didn't have premier millions to spend on wonder players , to elevate our game to the passing standards which would have entertained us to the standards which Pinchy would tip his hat at.
Was it pretty , no , was it effective , yes it was , when the percentage game didn't pay off it was shit to watch ,
hence his departure from us , Jack Charltons removal from the Ireland job , Pullis from the Stoke job ,
Trapattoni again from the Ireland job , Jesus one of his subs used to be the fish , ( Sammon ) .
We have to play to our players strength at the present moment in time , under Wilsons first season some
of our football was great to watch , only after Ched did it go tits up .
I can understand what Pinchy is saying , but we ain't going to recruit the players needed to play that way
while in the turd division , so if it means playing it long , when a short pass isn't on then that's the pass you make
your winning 1-0 away you pass it around to each other to do the job . ie To win the game
I didn't watch the champions league final because Athletico were in it and I don't like the football they play ,
in fact it's shit .
I don't give a fuck what other fans say about Sir Dave , according to Scunnie and Southampton fans ,
Adkins was the dogs bollox , when he was just bollox .
If the percentage game gets us out of this league then I'd take it .
The higher you go the better you need to play .
So teams need to adapt , you cannot rely on the long ball game all the time other teams will learn
to counter act your game , football is a simple game .

This

"...If the percentage game gets us out of this league then I'd take it ...."

 

[dublin 10 blade]

This

"...If the percentage game gets us out of this league then I'd take it ...."

Exactly out of this fucking league , then think Liverpool for game chan .............
well ya know the rest .

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Thing is though: does the percentage game get you out of this league?

Time's moved on, techniques are better, the standard of football in Division Three improves season by season. A decent long ball side coming up against a decent passing side is likely to get outdone.

Take yesterday, for example: Barnsley's clever football vs Millwall's long ball. There was only ever one winner.

Like Barnsley did, you can play proper football while being full of guts & pride & attitude.

 

[BushBlade]

Thing is though: does the percentage game get you out of this league?

Time's moved on, techniques are better, the standard of football in Division Three improves season by season. A decent long ball side coming up against a decent passing side is likely to get outdone.

Take yesterday, for example: Barnsley's clever football vs Millwall's long ball. There was only ever one winner.

Like Barnsley did, you can play proper football while being full of guts & pride & attitude.

Either will work if you get it right but there are few managers these days who can do what Bassett did; take a bunch of journeymen and turn them into winners on the cheap.
He was successful because he was hard working, understood the game, had an eye for a player and paid attention to detail. His style of football was just his way of getting ordinary players (cheap ones) to be successful.

These days, there are a lot of kids coming out of academies with technical ability whereas in Harry's day, there were a lot of players who were athletic and good in the air (but not very skilful). Maybe the modern equivalent of Bassett is someone who can take these technical kids, organise them properly and put a bit of fire in their belly?
Bassett just found a style that suited the type of player that was freely available at the time. If technically gifted players are freely available, maybe it's just a case of finding ones with a bit of drive and having a system that suits them, if you've got the managerial attributes of a modern Bassett?

 

[Revolution]

Thing is though: does the percentage game get you out of this league?

Time's moved on, techniques are better, the standard of football in Division Three improves season by season. A decent long ball side coming up against a decent passing side is likely to get outdone.

Take yesterday, for example: Barnsley's clever football vs Millwall's long ball. There was only ever one winner.

Like Barnsley did, you can play proper football while being full of guts & pride & attitude.

Barnsleys goals were scored from...a long ball, a long range shot, and a header from a corner. Those are the sorts of goals "long ball" sides score.

Of course, none of this is black and white (except to Pinchy)

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Thing is though: does the percentage game get you out of this league?

Time's moved on, techniques are better, the standard of football in Division Three improves season by season. A decent long ball side coming up against a decent passing side is likely to get outdone.

Take yesterday, for example: Barnsley's clever football vs Millwall's long ball. There was only ever one winner.

Like Barnsley did, you can play proper football while being full of guts & pride & attitude.

I'm not advocating to go all out long ball , the point I'm making is there is a time and a place for it ,
the oppo have a corner , Long comes out to collect it and catches it , Billy boy and another attacker are on the half way line , bag up it goes , I can't see why anybody has 11 defenders in the box at a corner anyway
They have to keep defenders back , we get to stretch the game , they then have to worry about our game plan ,
during the game we pass and move , which is the right way to go about it , if your losing with 10 mins left maybe go long .
I'd always prefer to watch Barca then Athletico Madrid , time and a place in the write mix , that's all I'm saying .

 

[itsinyerblood]

The reason good teams manage to progress is because they appreciate that the game consists of a variety of passes, long, medium, and short. Who hasn't thrilled at the sight of Tony Currie making a 30 or 40 yard pass to a team-mate who hasn't had to break stride in order to collect TC's gem of a pass? Or a cross field pass that suddenly changes the attacking options available to the team? Surely it's all about the right pass? I doubt anyone would care as long as it's done with precision, accuracy, and enables us to apply the sort of attacking threat we've lacked? So can we please move on from this unimaginative idea that football should only consist of short passes, and anything else is regarded as blasphemy?

 

[dublin 10 blade]

The reason good teams manage to progress is because they appreciate that the game consists of a variety of passes, long, medium, and short. Who hasn't thrilled at the sight of Tony Currie making a 30 or 40 yard pass to a team-mate who hasn't had to break stride in order to collect TC's gem of a pass? Or a cross field pass that suddenly changes the attacking options available to the team? Surely it's all about the right pass? I doubt anyone would care as long as it's done with precision, accuracy, and enables us to apply the sort of attacking threat we've lacked? So can we please move on from this unimaginative idea that football should only consist of short passes, and anything else is regarded as blasphemy?

Exactly my point IIYB , football is a simply game after all .

 

[Reynoldo]

This is most definitely not a dig at our support, even though last season, when we weren't decidedly quiet at games, we were decidedly critical (we all read Roy's excellent 'views from' don't we?)

As far as I'm concerned, the self-deprecating, piss-taking fans from, and I will say it, tin pot clubs, can do one for me. Don't tell me fans of ANY team would be right behind them after anything like the shambles of the last 9 years following relegation from two divisions higher culminating in the utter dross of last season.

People can look all they like at the likes of 'plucky Crawley Town' and their loyal, let's-just-enjoy-the-ride approach to their new found league status of very recent years. I can tell you that their attitude had changed somewhat by the end of last season when they lost their final game 3-0 at home, and finished at the wrong end of the league, and that after just the briefest of flirtations with the relative 'big boys' of the third division (OK, league one if you must)
Home attendance against Hartlepool last season in League 2? 1,883
Home attendance against Hartlepool 3 years before in League 1? 4,100
Three years ago, Crawley came to BDTBL. Our crowd? 18,000
Our average since then? Pretty much unchanged.
Don't tell me we're one of the most fickle sets of supporters around.
We're right up there with the best of the best.

So, why the perceived lack of support by others?
That's pretty obvious really. Without doubt, 9 years-worth of mis-management, broken hearts and the sense of being butt-f****d by players such as.....actually, I don't even need to name names, has robbed this ultra-loyal fan base of almost every last ounce of enthusiasm and hope....until now!

Now we have a proper fresh start. Early days yes, but so far, the signs are good. I've even dared to allow a little rush of excitement in my heart that reminds me of those times when we have enjoyed great seasons under the likes on DB and NW.

So how might our approach change?

Well, it may be difficult, but letting go of the past would be a start.
I'm old enough to (just!) remember the 74/75 season.
That became my 'bench mark' of what SUFC were all about.
Rightly or wrongly, anything less than that qualifies as a disappointing season for me.
For others, it will be a different successful time that became the aspiration for a good season.
Thing is, we are where we are because we deserve to be, based on the performance of the club and players, oh yes, and a bit of bad luck.
As we have seen, the majority of those players have now either gone or will not feature again, at least not to the pathetic standard they have in the past.
That pervading attitude or dare I say 'spirit' of negativity seems to have been eradicated by 'one of our own'
It really does feel that this particular new broom really has swept clean.

I guess the danger will be not hitting the ground running.
As difficult and unpalatable as it is, I think we're going to have to take on a little of the 'upcoming Crawley' approach rather than the the 'we shouldn't be down here' frustration of the past and try and enjoy the ride for a while even if things don't look too good at first.
CW has an ENORMOUS amount of rebuilding to do.
It might happen next season, it might not, but I wouldn't be surprised if it takes a couple of years.
So, I think it might be time to try and let go of that 'desperate' feeling inside that we just have to get out this year.
That will only lead to more frustration and dare I say it, unreasonable demands on a manager with such a lot to do to reshape us into the type of team we feel we deserve, as the most loyal of supporters.

The past mistakes are none of CW's doing.
Failure to be top 2, even top 6 within the first 2 months will potentially raise thoughts of 'here we go again' but we have to try and see this season as a fresh start and let go of any ideas that CW is a magician with special powers.
Good manager, great manager, out-of-his-depth manager, time will tell.
For now though, the past is the past, my Bladey Bladeness topped up to the max and I'm looking forward to seeing my Sheffield United back next season. My God, I've missed them.

COME ON YOU RED AND WHITE WIZAAAAAARRRDS!!!

Completely agree - we need to apply the same attitude to players that remain also as hard as that may be as they directly contributed to the dismal performances and failings

 

[Pinchy]

Thing is though: does the percentage game get you out of this league?

Time's moved on, techniques are better, the standard of football in Division Three improves season by season. A decent long ball side coming up against a decent passing side is likely to get outdone.

Take yesterday, for example: Barnsley's clever football vs Millwall's long ball. There was only ever one winner.

Like Barnsley did, you can play proper football while being full of guts & pride & attitude.

Halle-fucking-luya!!!!!!

Someone who asks the right question and delivers the correct answer. After all these fucking years I'm not the only person making the self-evident points; trying in vain to educate the ale house afficianados who labour under the staggering belief that parks football standards can possibly succeed at a professional level.

Foxy, Linz. Please re-publish that post every hour on the hour until it penetrates even the dense cloak of footballing fog that suffocates S2.

I Alfreton14Blade.

 

[Pinchy]

The reason good teams manage to progress is because they appreciate that the game consists of a variety of passes, long, medium, and short. Who hasn't thrilled at the sight of Tony Currie making a 30 or 40 yard pass to a team-mate who hasn't had to break stride in order to collect TC's gem of a pass? Or a cross field pass that suddenly changes the attacking options available to the team? Surely it's all about the right pass? I doubt anyone would care as long as it's done with precision, accuracy, and enables us to apply the sort of attacking threat we've lacked? So can we please move on from this unimaginative idea that football should only consist of short passes, and anything else is regarded as blasphemy?

Absolutely IIYB. I have made exactly the same point many times down the years, but because it's me, it is ignored.

The key word is pass. A 50 yard Currie/Hoddle type ball to the feet of a colleague or into his path without breaking stride is one of the great delights of the beautiful game. A hopeful punt of the same distance in the general direction of the other end of the pitch is utter, undiluted garbage.

That's the point. It's a very simple point; it's an unassailable point. It is self-evident everywhere but S2...

 

[stringjunior]

Slight

Absolutely IIYB. I have made exactly the same point many times down the years, but because it's me, it is ignored.

The key word is pass. A 50 yard Currie/Hoddle type ball to the feet of a colleague or into his path without breaking stride is one of the great delights of the beautiful game. A hopeful punt of the same distance in the general direction of the other end of the pitch is utter, undiluted garbage.

That's the point. It's a very simple point; it's an unassailable point. It is self-evident everywhere but S2...

Slight tangent.... I recall with some fondness a radio pundit making the following statement after watching Wednesday vs somebody.

"very few players in the modern game can make a 50yard pass with any degree of accuracy. It was clear from that display that none of them were playing at Hillsborough today"

 

[shorehamview]

The reason good teams manage to progress is because they appreciate that the game consists of a variety of passes, long, medium, and short. Who hasn't thrilled at the sight of Tony Currie making a 30 or 40 yard pass to a team-mate who hasn't had to break stride in order to collect TC's gem of a pass? Or a cross field pass that suddenly changes the attacking options available to the team? Surely it's all about the right pass? I doubt anyone would care as long as it's done with precision, accuracy, and enables us to apply the sort of attacking threat we've lacked? So can we please move on from this unimaginative idea that football should only consist of short passes, and anything else is regarded as blasphemy?

Have a gazillion likes. Yes, it's not about the merits of the long or the short pass. It's only about the right pass. Sometimes there's a need to launch it diagonally across the field to a man in space, sometimes there's a need to tap it a few inches.
As long as they play good, productive passes to a team member then shouldn't that be enough?

 

[Curtisblades1889]

I'm not happy spending another year in league 1 let alone 2 years and if fans are gonna accept it then don't you think the board will too it's a blank canvas for wilder really if he can't build a team capable of pushing for promotion then 1 year is enough for me i don't ask for much 11 players giving 100% every game isn't much to ask given the fans will back them week in week out now let's get the team built before pre season or i can here the excuses already players aren't up to our required fitness levels etc