Time to show your worth Mr Birch

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Your missing my point. I am not having a go at Hoofy (mark II) I am crticising the board, chair and CEO for making the wrong decision.

You fell out with lenners, he thinks we got our first choice man:
in reality we were doing what all clubs do - go to your first choice

Excellent piece of work by the board according to the main man.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

The club was very clear about the kind of football it was looking for, from Pembo up.

They were but let's see what happens before we write Adams off in that department. As discussed in another thread, the football we need at this moment in time is a far cry from what we COULD be playing if we survive this season and move on.

 

[alcoblade]

"I don't have a massive problem with Adams".

Good job Len, as he was your second choice, just like the boards.

UTB

 

[Ollessendro]

2nd choice, 2nd best. Typical Sheffield United. All you Sheffielders with a lack of ambition (alco's it'll be reit syndrome) are mugs for accepting it time and time again. We've been let down again and Len gets ridiculed for pointing it out. It was time for Birch to stand up and be counted ..... but instead he bent over to McCabe.

 

[JJ Sefton]

2nd choice, 2nd best. Typical Sheffield United. All you Sheffielders....

Says a bloke from Rotherham.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

2nd choice, 2nd best. Typical Sheffield United. All you Sheffielders with a lack of ambition (alco's it'll be reit syndrome) are mugs for accepting it time and time again. We've been let down again and Len gets ridiculed for pointing it out. It was time for Birch to stand up and be counted ..... but instead he bent over to McCabe.

Lets get things straight, lenners posted 2.11PM 4th January that we had got our first choice manager. If that is the case then in my eyes we must have done a fantastic piece of business and those involved must be praised.

I quote sir lenners:

we were doing what all clubs do - go to your first choice

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

2nd choice, 2nd best. Typical Sheffield United. All you Sheffielders with a lack of ambition (alco's it'll be reit syndrome) are mugs for accepting it time and time again. We've been let down again and Len gets ridiculed for pointing it out. It was time for Birch to stand up and be counted ..... but instead he bent over to McCabe.

If your 1st choice turns you down, what are you supposed to do, kidnap him ?

 

[lenners]

Lets get things straight, lenners posted 2.11PM 4th January that we had got our first choice manager. If that is the case then in my eyes we must have done a fantastic piece of business and those involved must be praised.

I quote sir lenners:

we were doing what all clubs do - go to your first choice

Who was obviously SOD.
Then the panic set in.
By the way, is it right that Micky is apparently already suggesting there's no rush to get some new players in?
Well, I never. Who would have possibly thought it.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Who was obviously SOD.

Do you have a quote for that?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

By the way, is it right that Micky is apparently already suggesting there's no rush to get some new players in?
Well, I never. Who would have possibly thought it.

Would you rather he made decisions about squad players we already have before looking at them properly ? All he's said (as you're probably aware) is that he wants to have a look at everyone before making final decisions.

Are you the new head of the 'want-it-now' brigade ?

 

[lenners]

Do you have a quote for that?

Don't need one, it was the bleedin' obvious from what was happening at the time.

---------- Post added at 10:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:28 AM ----------

Would you rather he made decisions about squad players we already have before looking at them properly ? All he's said (as you're probably aware) is that he wants to have a look at everyone before making final decisions.

Are you the new head of the 'want-it-now' brigade ?

Aye. After 16 out of the last 17 years in the second division, we're all such a want it now brigade.
We shall see as regards transfers.
But I think it is fair to say, there's been more than just a whiff of bullshit from the board in that area in recent times.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Don't need one, it was the bleedin' obvious from what was happening at the time

Such as? Genuine question by the way.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Don't need one, it was the bleedin' obvious from what was happening at the time.

---------- Post added at 10:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:28 AM ----------



Aye. After 16 out of the last 17 years in the second division, we're all such a want it now brigade.
We shall see as regards transfers.
But I think it is fair to say, there's been more than just a whiff of bullshit from the board in that area in recent times.

Of course if you drag history into it you have a point but in this instance, is MA not correct in keeping the players on their toes, giving them all a chance and having a look at his whole squad ?

He will be fully aware of our deficiencies and where we need to strengthen, he's already said as much but you'd be the first to moan if we didn't give the likes of Harriott, Parrino, Slew etc a chance and spent money on journeymen or lower division players who could be no better than these lads.

 

[lenners]

Of course if you drag history into it you have a point but in this instance, is MA not correct in keeping the players on their toes, giving them all a chance and having a look at his whole squad ?

He will be fully aware of our deficiencies and where we need to strengthen, he's already said as much but you'd be the first to moan if we didn't give the likes of Harriott, Parrino, Slew etc a chance and spent money on journeymen or lower division players who could be no better than these lads.

Wouldn't be keen on relying on kids at this stage of the season.
If by some miracle we find ourselves safe before the end of the season, I would definitely want us to give several young players a proper chance at first team football.

---------- Post added at 10:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 AM ----------

Such as? Genuine question by the way.

Apologies for the grouchiness, it was the interviews, the reporting, the comments from the board etc.
I do tend to believe the rumours of a split between Birch and McCabe on SOD for the reticence to really push hard to get him at the end of the day.

 

[JJ Sefton]

Apologies for the grouchiness, it was the interviews, the reporting, the comments from the board etc.
I do tend to believe the rumours of a split between Birch and McCabe on SOD for the reticence to really push hard to get him at the end of the day.

Did we officially approach Donny for SOD?

 

[Revolution]

Did we officially approach Donny for SOD?

And on a similar theme, did he turn us down?

 

[broomhillblade]

Of course Adams says he wants to have a look at all the existing players. He would be a poor manager if he'd said "we've got a load of rubbish here, I've got to move several of them on". What would that do for team morale? He did say we need some defensive reinforcements, however.

At the same time, I bet his phone has been red hot these last few days....

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Wouldn't be keen on relying on kids at this stage of the season.

I don't mean rely on kids but if it came to, say, being able to afford Reid if we didn't waste money on Rowan Vine and stuck with Slew then there's only one option.

 

[Trigger Blade]

Did we officially approach Donny for SOD?

And on a similar theme, did he turn us down?

I asked that question yesterday, but didn't get an answer.

It must therefore be blindingly obvious to everybody but you and me.

Alternatively, perhaps people make things up to suit their own agenda and when asked for something factual, they can't substantiate their claim and end up saying spmething like "it was (the) bleedin' obvious".....surely not.....

 

[Ollessendro]

If your 1st choice turns you down, what are you supposed to do, kidnap him ?

To quote Vita Corleone: you "make him an ofer he can't refuse"

Don't remember him turning it down. We as much as stated he was number 1 (as Len has been pointing out) and he issued a come and get me (as much as). Then it all seemed to go up in smoke. Even SOD's denials were half hearted and he never came out and said 'I don't want the job'.

Did we officially approach Donny for SOD?

And on a similar theme, did he turn us down?

Not sure about either of the questions. I'm guessing no. He issued a come and get me and we didn't. Maybe McCabe refused Birch and went for the cheaper option. Who knows. I think given SOD's and Birch's comments, then a deal was possible. However United took the cheap, easy option (again).

 

[JJ Sefton]

To quote Vita Corleone: you "make him an ofer he can't refuse"

Which, sadly, might be an offer you cant afford.

---------- Post added at 12:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:37 PM ----------

He issued a come and get me and we didn't.

Did he? Could you give us a little more info on that? Date etc

---------- Post added at 12:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 PM ----------

We as much as stated he was number 1

Did we? Could we have a little more info on that? Date etc

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Not sure about either of the questions. I'm guessing no.

And that's where people are having issues with the likes of yourself and lennie. Everything is supposition, rumour and counter rumour, some believe one thing, others, not surprisingly, side with the ones which show the board / club in a bad light.

 

[Wards]

My 'insider' did tell me that SOD was on the very brink of becoming our new manager, so much so he lost a lot of money on it. He's not been told why it broke down but the rumours of wanting several staff to follow him could well have been the sticking point.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Who was obviously SOD.
Then the panic set in.
By the way, is it right that Micky is apparently already suggesting there's no rush to get some new players in?
Well, I never. Who would have possibly thought it.

Obviously it was not SOD as we went for our first choice as you clearly state below. Seems your gripe was that SUFC were having us think that there was a selection procedure in place when they clearly wasn't. Don't let the what you said get in the way of having a go eh lenners.

My main issue is with the pretence we were taking ages over some alleged supersonice selection procedure when in reality we were doing what all clubs do - go to your first choice, try and get a deal and so on.

By the way of course MA will have no money to spend, what did you think was going to happen?

---------- Post added at 01:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:10 PM ----------

Did we officially approach Donny for SOD?

And on a similar theme, did he turn us down?

Twice SOD went on RS and stated he was "not part of SUFC's selection process"

Ryan never said we had offically approached Donny to speak to SOD. All Ryan said was that he expected an approach and had told SOD he could speak to us when it happened.

Anyway we got our first choice man in MA. lenners says so.

 

[super_pig]

look guys.. we bottled it.. again.. they wheeled out the ooh micky is a 'proper blade' angle and you all fell for it.. again

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

look guys.. we bottled it.. again.. they wheeled out the ooh micky is a 'proper blade' angle and you all fell for it.. again

I don't think it's a case of bottling it. We need to build the jig saw and having a manager that would be accepted by the fans was the first piece. I'm sure SOD would have been accepted as well but we'll never know now.

The next piece is now in place - fight/passion.
Key is how long can MA motivate the players to keep on doing it; coming back against Donny will have helped and also closing down Donny and stopping them from playing will will have given the players some belief.

Next piece is how we play; the Villa game is timed perfectly, MA has two halves against a good team to experiment and NOT lose points doing so. I bet he can't believe his luck.

Next step is strenghening; we may see that we weeken first by moving certain players on to free up wages but time will tell and it's not that long to the end of Jan to find out. MA hasn't had to wait for the window to open either, another stroke of luck. We may well not know though until we can sign loans in Feb?

Trouble is after that it's a bit vauge as to what we do and which piece fits next apart from praying we pick up enough points to survive. None of these steps would have been different for SOD to get in place but I do think the first piece would have taken a bit longer to find in the box?

I also think getting a few of the younger players involved is a good move as it gives them something to strive for.

 

[JJ Sefton]

we bottled it..

What did we bottle?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Originally Posted by Ollessendro
He issued a come and get me and we didn't.
Did he? Could you give us a little more info on that? Date etc

I'm with Olle on this one. SOD was on RS a number of occasions and every time he had the chance to say he wasn't interested or state he wanted to stay at Donny. He'd have been foolish to have shut the door on us by doing so but there defiantly was an undercurrent in his interviews that said 'come and get me.

Post note: I don't think we bottled it, I think MA was one of our targets and we got him.

---------- Post added at 02:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:38 PM ----------

What did we bottle?

Why don't we sell it if it's bottled cus we're skint?

 

[Oreyt]

"I'm with Olle on this one. SOD was on RS a number of occasions and every time he had the chance to say he wasn't interested or state he wanted to stay at Donny"

It could be 'come and get me', or it was more likely a ''Let's have a chat and in that chat I'll ask if I can bring 4 coaches, 7 physios, my Dog, and Oh, I want 7 mill in transfer kitty and I want Kozluk to dress in a bear costume at all times''.

I imagine a lot of managers will listen to offers, but they're only going to leave a secure job for one that's better for them in every way.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I'm wondering Exactly how much these people who are saying We bottled it would be willing to shell out to get O'Driscoll in?

He was definitely in the driving seat, so he could have easily priced himself out of a move.