United or Wednesday

[Dkc]

Have a quick read of porktalk, that'll make your mind up pretty quickly

Be sure to shower well afterwards

Here's the link

www.porktalk.co.uk

 

[South Bucks]

Hello everyone,
Wasn't quite sure where to put this but I was looking to get your help.
I am currently a college student in New York and have been given an opportunity which requires me to live in Sheffield for a year. I love football/soccer (don't hate on the word, it originates from Oxford University) and have been a member of New York Red Bulls since its foundation as well as playing all my life. Anyway, one of the main things I am looking forward to is getting a season ticket at one of the Sheffield clubs, either United or Wednesday, but I am having trouble deciding who to go for. When I was looking into this last year it seemed an obvious decision to choose Wednesday due to the Championship football on offer although that benefit is likely to be equalled as United look set to be promoted.
Why am I here wasting your time on the forum? Basically I want to get the fans opinion to try and persuade me and give me a reason to choose their club. Due to other sports teams I support in the US (red and white colours) and the fact Bramall Lane will be a bit easier to access from where I am staying I have decided to ask you guys first.
I appreciate any advice given though please keep comments constructive, saying things like they are pigs (I know you call each other that) and hillbillies isn't an argument. Match day experience, fan culture, players, history would be preferable.
Thanks

Dear NYKR, you appear to attach some value to things originating from Oxford University.

I often go to united games with a friend who for many years was the head of a leading department there.

If some of the best brains in the UK choose united surely the choice is clear.

I don't include myself in this, I just follow those smarter than me (and the beer).

 

[JJ Sefton]

Hello everyone,
Wasn't quite sure where to put this but I was looking to get your help.
I am currently a college student in New York and have been given an opportunity which requires me to live in Sheffield for a year. I love football/soccer (don't hate on the word, it originates from Oxford University) and have been a member of New York Red Bulls since its foundation as well as playing all my life. Anyway, one of the main things I am looking forward to is getting a season ticket at one of the Sheffield clubs, either United or Wednesday, but I am having trouble deciding who to go for. When I was looking into this last year it seemed an obvious decision to choose Wednesday due to the Championship football on offer although that benefit is likely to be equalled as United look set to be promoted.
Why am I here wasting your time on the forum? Basically I want to get the fans opinion to try and persuade me and give me a reason to choose their club. Due to other sports teams I support in the US (red and white colours) and the fact Bramall Lane will be a bit easier to access from where I am staying I have decided to ask you guys first.
I appreciate any advice given though please keep comments constructive, saying things like they are pigs (I know you call each other that) and hillbillies isn't an argument. Match day experience, fan culture, players, history would be preferable.
Thanks

 

[NYkr]

Dear NYKR, you appear to attach some value to things originating from Oxford University.

I often go to united games with a friend who for many years was the head of a leading department there.

If some of the best brains in the UK choose united surely the choice is clear.

I don't include myself in this, I just follow those smarter than me (and the beer).

My point was that the word originated from England and not a American generated word. If United is a club who are supported by the leading intelligentsia then who am I to question their decision, count me in sir

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

If you have strong ties that mean you must return to NY, then it has to be SWFC.

Attending BDTBL every week will inevitably infect you, slowly and almost unnoticed, but it will happen. Before you realise you are hooked on the club, the ground, the fans, the atmosphere and suddenly you are torn and tormented about your impending return Stateside.

 

[northsomersetblade]

My point was that the word originated from England and not a American generated word. If United is a club who are supported by the leading intelligentsia then who am I to question their decision, count me in sir

I think you will find we are all leading intelligentsia on here, just try misspelling a word or using txtspk and prepare to witness the fury of the mods

 

[itsinyerblood]

Surely it should be obvious by now?

Any association with the blue and white inhabitants on the outskirts of Sheffield is a case of mistaken loyalty, where you mingle with those of a dozy disposition, whose dream of becoming a club whose place in the footballing universe is no better than fair to middling, but they compensate by twisting the truth, by suggesting that they are an outpost of Barcelona-Benfica-Juventus, where their right to be known as a giant of football's leaders is a given, that anyone who suggests otherwise is not of this earth.

By all means take to the role of Wendy supporter, but never, ever, consider yourself a lover of the game known as football.

 

[LenTednTony]

NYkr, ignore all the 'try both and see which feels a best fit for you' malarky. If you want a true football club with family values, a good, traditional ground and a fanbase that is equalled by none in wit and loyalty, then you should feel proud and honoured to be invited to tread the steps of the climb to the wonderful, homely, one and only Shoreham Street kop. We do invite you to become one of the family of Blades and, as you know, once in a family, you cannot extracate yourself from it. United are called The Blades, which are made from Steel. This is what Sheffield is so well known for, world wide. Those who frequent the other place (South Barnsley) are called The Owls. In my whole recollection of Sheffield and it's history, I have not known Sheffield be renowned for birds of prey! Those who play in Blue and White stripes will have you believe that they are THE Sheffield team. Make of that what you will (pinch of salt time) but, Sheffield United is once again rising to meteoric heights and will reign supreme in South Yorkshire once again.

Anyway, Red and White stripes looks better and they don't sing The Greasy Chip Butty song!

Can you feel it rushing through your veins? Even the colour of your blood is right. You know it is the only correct decision to make. Come to 'The Lane', see and feel the excitment, the cameraderie, the great footballing heritage and the out and out joy of what 'being a blade' means!

WE want you. The other lot will have you apply for the possibility of qualifying to be in their gang, if you are good enough. Our arms and family are open to you, their pockets are open to take from you without a thought of welcome for you.

UTB and FTP

 

[DiggerBlade]

Hello everyone,
Wasn't quite sure where to put this but I was looking to get your help.
I am currently a college student in New York and have been given an opportunity which requires me to live in Sheffield for a year. I love football/soccer (don't hate on the word, it originates from Oxford University) and have been a member of New York Red Bulls since its foundation as well as playing all my life. Anyway, one of the main things I am looking forward to is getting a season ticket at one of the Sheffield clubs, either United or Wednesday, but I am having trouble deciding who to go for. When I was looking into this last year it seemed an obvious decision to choose Wednesday due to the Championship football on offer although that benefit is likely to be equalled as United look set to be promoted.
Why am I here wasting your time on the forum? Basically I want to get the fans opinion to try and persuade me and give me a reason to choose their club. Due to other sports teams I support in the US (red and white colours) and the fact Bramall Lane will be a bit easier to access from where I am staying I have decided to ask you guys first.
I appreciate any advice given though please keep comments constructive, saying things like they are pigs (I know you call each other that) and hillbillies isn't an argument. Match day experience, fan culture, players, history would be preferable.
Thanks

Have you posted the same question on Pork Talk?

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

are you from a family of Billionaires by any chance? our football franchise is a sleeping giant

 

[nopigfansintown]

Part one: Location
The proximity to the city centre is a big one. Sheffield is the "steel city" and many of the workers in the steel factories would travel to Bramall Lane post match. Hitler would damage and nearly completely destroy Bramall Lane during WW2 as he attempted to wipe out Sheffield's steel making capacity. Our fanbase hasn't changed that much although the occupations have: -, it is still predominantly working class and sneered at by Wendys. You do get more of a family vibe now with more women and children in attendance. The location difference is brought into stark contrast on a derby day, when you see the united fans using city centre transport to get to Hillsborough, with hardly a Wednesday fan about in the city pre or post match. United fans have a saying that Wednesday fans use a tunnel to get to Bramall Lane when we play them there, as they seem to pop up from nowhere on a derby day. The beer culture in Sheffield, both in the city centre and around Bramall Lane is often favourably commented on by away fans. Most new stadiums are built out of town and away from such amenities. Hillsbourough has always been such a place (although it;s not new!); most amenities that are there are not really part of the community, but there to take advantage of matchday footfall. This is all neatly encapsulated in this Blades chant:


(home on the range)

No pig fans in town.
No Hillsborough to sadden my eyes.
Jack Charlton is dead.
And the pig fans have fled.
And the year is 1889

 

[Champagneblade]

To paraphrase, "it's because I'm (in) Batman"

That's why.

There's something unfashionable fashionable about supporting United.

The Full Monty, When Saturday Comes Abd the Dark Knight all have Blades references in them. Blink and you'll miss the last one!

You're by no means a glory hunter but secretly you know the club is on the rise.

We have a manager who on the verge of a creditable draw, takes off a defender, puts on an attacker and goes for it! And we won!

And we have an anthem all of our own. Not something lifted from another club - one that will incite adulation once you can recite it.

Choose Bramall Lane, choose a team on the rise, choose the Greasy Chip Butty song, choose Life! And c'mon you Red and White Wizards!!!

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Hello everyone,
Wasn't quite sure where to put this but I was looking to get your help.
I am currently a college student in New York and have been given an opportunity which requires me to live in Sheffield for a year. I love football/soccer (don't hate on the word, it originates from Oxford University) and have been a member of New York Red Bulls since its foundation as well as playing all my life. Anyway, one of the main things I am looking forward to is getting a season ticket at one of the Sheffield clubs, either United or Wednesday, but I am having trouble deciding who to go for. When I was looking into this last year it seemed an obvious decision to choose Wednesday due to the Championship football on offer although that benefit is likely to be equalled as United look set to be promoted.
Why am I here wasting your time on the forum? Basically I want to get the fans opinion to try and persuade me and give me a reason to choose their club. Due to other sports teams I support in the US (red and white colours) and the fact Bramall Lane will be a bit easier to access from where I am staying I have decided to ask you guys first.
I appreciate any advice given though please keep comments constructive, saying things like they are pigs (I know you call each other that) and hillbillies isn't an argument. Match day experience, fan culture, players, history would be preferable.
Thanks

Welcome. I’ll try to be as objective as I can in my advice. Obviously we will know more about our own club match day experience than theirs but here goes.


1. Our season tickets are likely to be cheaper. Since the Tuna Man took over there, prices have gone through the roof.


2. If we have anything other than a relegation season, our atmosphere is likely to be better. They’ve been in that league a few years and will be quite down in the dumps if they don’t go up whereas we’re finally being resurrected after 6 years in the wilderness. There’s a great mood about the club at the moment.


3. I think we recently won some sort of football league matchday experience award (Kevin Davies was at the lane for it) suggesting ours might be the best.


4. Location- As well as being more accessible for you, the lane is better placed in the sense that it’s centrally located making it ideal if you enjoy going straight from the football for a night out with London Road being a handy spot for pubs and restaurants and just being a stone’s throw from the likes of West Street and Division Street.


5. History- We play in the oldest professional sports stadium. We are the original United. First to play under floodlights etc. They employed some match-fixers and pretended to have a safety certificate for their ground.


6. Adidas is better than Sondico if you’re interested in buying club merchandise.


7. I’d say we are a bit closer to representing what football used to be about. Chairman, Manager and Captain and top scorer all Sheffielders who grew up supporting the blades. The club is more immersed in the local community with our captain running his own half term football camps for local kids, hosting charity football events etc. where as Wednesday are owned by a Thai tycoon, managed by a Portuguese journeyman coach and their star player is an Italian brought in from Watford for a few million quid while their captain is a Dutch veteran. Given your history with football, I’m not sure how much this sort of thing means to you.


In their favour, I would say:-


1. Their ground is slightly bigger with a bigger capactity.


2. There is a decent sized park next to the ground.


3. They are currently the higher placed team and there is still a chance they could be in the Premier League next season if they win the playoffs. But if not, we will likely be starting next season with a level playing field.


Trying to be as objective as possible and looking from an outside perspective, I would say, if they go up to the PL, there’s a strong argument for choosing them as you will get to watch some of the best players in the world (Lukaku, Aguero, Sanchez, Zlatan, Hazard etc.). But if they don’t, and assuming we don’t blow promotion, I think you’d be better going with our lot.


But as an outsider, before committing, I would be inclined to try both stadiums and see which one “does it for you”. I’ve known quite a few blades who said they were taken to Hillsborough as kids and it did nothing for them but when taken to the lane, it just felt right. I know people who have been taken to games at Hillsborough and never bothered going back. I don’t know anyone who has been taken to a game at the lane and never bothered going back. When I was at school, I had a few mates who arrived from out of town or even out of the country. We had a split of blades and owls amongst our social circles and they tended to try both. Of those that remained in Sheffield, all of them now consider themselves blades. I say this again with personal bias but I suspect, if you choose Wednesday, you will go back to being a New York Red Bulls fan who has a preference for Wednesday as their English club. If you choose United, you will be a blade for life. Just have a look at the players who have passed through this club for whom it holds a special place in their hearts. Once a blade……

 

[1danewhitehouse]

We definitely have the "support the team your born into" mentality in the US, not so much with soccer/football but in the NFL and often college football. Unfortunately the time I come to Sheffield is pretty much bang on when the season starts. Is it a bad idea to buy a season ticket a couple of games into the season if I want a decent seat?

You’ve now just opened up a whole new can of worms with the term “decent seat”. Again, it depends what you’re looking for. If you want comfort, decent facilities and a nice side on view of the game, South Stand or John Street is for you or possibly the Westfield Corner which has an excellent view. If you want a real old fashioned football atmosphere (especially if the Sheffield Derby is back next season) and to be in a position to suck the ball into the net, then there is no better place to be than the Kop, with it’s scabby little kiosks, horrible toilets, lack of legroom and big mound of dirt it’s built on. I’ve been on the Kop since I was a teenager having spent a few seasons on each of the other stands and I wouldn’t swap it for any place in the world. It can be a bit depressing when things are shit but on those special nights, those big games when it’s a full house and the stand is roaring throughout the game, there is nothing quite like it.

 

[Karaoke Blade]

First time I've seen this WB. Wonderful stuff, thanks. I presume this film got an oscar?

 

[Harry's Game]

Well here are some things to think about..

Wednesday have in their history.....

Had three players sent to prison for match fixing

Sacked a club legend on Xmas Eve who had literally given a leg for the club.

Conspired in one of the most scandalous Government and Police cover ups of the 20th Century.




.. but the choice as they say is entirely yours...

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

If you're thinking about Wednesday (fucking daft name for a football club, I think we'd all agree?) I'd advise you to apply for a season ticket now. According to Mark on Football Heaven (or was it Mark? Or maybe Mark?) Wendy would be getting 50k for every game if it wasn't for that pesky SYPD.

In Caaaarloss We Trooost.

Thinking of when the pigs play their midweek home matches, shouldn`t we be making requests to the Football League to make them change their name to Sheffield Tuesday ?

 

[FlamingLip]

You'll be studying in Sheffield, living in Sheffield and forming a fondness of Sheffield. Price aside, you'll be more naturally inclined to wander to S2 for your first match day experience. It's a great time to experience the Lane and it's passion and I doubt you'll think of that lot again afterwards ....

....aside of shuffling through the fixtures to look for the home derby date (I'm certain they'll choke in the playofffs this year)

I imagine the atmosphere will feel much like the 1991 encounter when we meet next season. Christ I'm excited.

 

[Northyorksblade]

I think you will find we are all leading intelligentsia on here, just try misspelling a word or using txtspk and prepare to witness the fury of the mods

Shouldn't that be a full stop after 'here' and a new sentence?

 

[Northyorksblade]

WE want you. The other lot will have you apply for the possibility of qualifying to be in their gang, if you are good enough. Our arms and family are open to you, their pockets are open to take from you without a thought of welcome for you.

UTB and FTP

Yep, we'll have anybody.

 

[Teddy]

Ultimately we're all a little biased, as any fan base will be (and bloody well should be), but people have made some pretty solid logical points in our favour.

But another way to get a more objective view is to have a look at what away fans say about their trips to Bramall Lane. There's a chap on the Forum by the name of Roybgiv who does a cracking blog of pre & post match comments from our opponents. While it can get a little feisty at times, a regular comment is that they love a day out at Bramall Lane. Proper ground, proper fans and great beer and location. Often these fans specifically say how much better a trip is to us than that S6 lot.

Just a thought... your choice mate, but I can safely say you'd not regret becoming a blade for life. There's nowt like it.

 

[UnitedBlade]

Thinking of when the pigs play their midweek home matches, shouldn`t we be making requests to the Football League to make them change their name to Sheffield Tuesday ?

South Barnsley Tuesday, they haven't been located in Sheffield for years.

 

[INTAKE BLADE]

It's easy would you like to be a pathetic bird that can 360 its head, or a flashing Blade that can decapitate said pathetic owl in one fail swoop.
Chose life, choose a Blades life.

 

[Blade for Sale]

Choose Wednesday. Choose a soul destroying club. Choose a careering massive nonentity. Choose a knuckle dragging family. Choose a fucking big semi-condemned stadium, Choose a GBH committing Washing Machine, facial scars, playing with your compact dick, and electrical rust bucker openers. Choose poor health, low self-esteem and mental incapacity insurance. Choose match fixing betting payments. Choose a starter home on the outskirts of Barnsley. Choose your 13 fingered friends. Choose Sondico branded leisure wear and matching pigskin luggage. Choose a three pronged non-scoring attack force costing £20m on hire purchase with a range of fucking excuses never to pay it back. Choose a DIY sex life and wondering who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting in that deathtrap watching mind-numbing spirit-crushing games stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pishing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked-up brats you have spawned to replace yourself. Choose your future. Choose Wednesday . . .

….But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose Wednesday: I chose something else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got SUFC?

 

[JonnyRed(WCFC)]

It is 2015AD...

Twas a cold misty damp foggy November day one saturday morning in a far off land from Yorkshire where I awoke from my dreamy slumbers...

This is the day I had been itching for to arrive for two weeks, and the itch had got bigger....

And it must've been highly catching as another 2500 humble but excited blue and white bescarfed peasants clambered aboard the many horse powered drawn coaches awaiting down by the waters edge!

3 hours later after much galloping up the highway pastures we came upon a signpost pointing towards a mystical valley called Don and entered with hearts beating faster...

And then a quite magical occurrence...we rounded a corner to be greeted by a sight our eyes had never seen or set upon before... after all, we were only used to very humble peasant abodes such the like as Boston, Chorley and Coventry ( )!

A majestic pillared beautiful pantheon soaring up like the Colosseum...

Surely we'd be like lions for the slaughter in such a gladiatorial arena, after all, our very young lambs had already visited a few years before and suffered 9 lashings!

We dared to enter..







And left with heads held high but tails between our legs!

But the story doesnt quite end there for one person...

You see, whilst the other 2499 other peasants went back to their daily trudgery of life and waiting for another trip to a mystical far off land to happen which could well be 3015AD, and their itches wore off...

Mine didn't and now its incurable and i'm trapped on here for eternity!

But its a very pleasant itch and I thoroughly recommend scratching and tickling it with a Blade or two!

 

[TJB.]

I'll add that part of what it will come down to is your personality. Would you say you were a bit of a bragger? Do you have delusions of grandeur? Would you say you were big-headed/pig-headed/a bit ignorant? Would you refuse to let facts and truth get in the way of a good story, simply because you love the story itself and it makes you sound great?

I don't expect you to answer any of these of course, because it's none of our business, but if any of the above apply to you then you may well find yourself drifting towards SWFC.

It's not a lie or a symptom of being biased that I say these things about them - I legitimately believe it to be true. I have many Wednesday-supporting friends and I would say one of them is level-headed, realistic and down to earth about his club. The rest of them, to varying degrees, all buy into the fable that they are the absolute tits, and nobody can tell them otherwise.

Buy a ticket for one of their games, take a walk down Hillsborough to the ground, do a circuit of the ground from the outside, then take your seat and see if you agree.

 

[NYkr]

Have you posted the same question on Pork Talk?

If by that you mean the Sheffield Wednesday forum then yes that was my intention.

 

[SteveBlade]

Sheffield Wednesday is that guy at the gym who's 5 ft 2 and built like a brick shithouse. He'll walk around with a strut and his chest puffed out. He's massive, but he's still only 5 ft 2. He posts shirtless pictures online because he craves attention and needs to be noticed and appreciated.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

It is 2015AD...

Twas a cold misty damp foggy November day one saturday morning in a far off land from Yorkshire where I awoke from my dreamy slumbers...

This is the day I had been itching for to arrive for two weeks, and the itch had got bigger....

And it must've been highly catching as another 2500 humble but excited blue and white bescarfed peasants clambered aboard the many horse powered drawn coaches awaiting down by the waters edge!

3 hours later after much galloping up the highway pastures we came upon a signpost pointing towards a mystical valley called Don and entered with hearts beating faster...

And then a quite magical occurrence...we rounded a corner to be greeted by a sight our eyes had never seen or set upon before... after all, we were only used to very humble peasant abodes such the like as Boston, Chorley and Coventry ( )!

A majestic pillared beautiful pantheon soaring up like the Colosseum...

Surely we'd be like lions for the slaughter in such a gladiatorial arena, after all, our very young lambs had already visited a few years before and suffered 9 lashings!

We dared to enter..







And left with heads held high but tails between our legs!

But the story doesnt quite end there for one person...

You see, whilst the other 2499 other peasants went back to their daily trudgery of life and waiting for another trip to a mystical far off land to happen which could well be 3015AD, and their itches wore off...

Mine didn't and now its incurable and i'm trapped on here for eternity!

But its a very pleasant itch and I thoroughly recommend scratching and tickling it with a Blade or two!

Best post that to me Jonny . Brilliant

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Hey, NYkr - you're from America, yeah? You must know a bloke called Jim Phipps then?