Uwe Rosler

[Bladesman]

Paul Lambert is the best available right now.

When and if Clough does leave much depends on who is available at that particular time. The club may wish to pre-empt that and make the change when the right man is available and willing. That's how Clough came to us and Weir finally lost his job at that time.

If the Board decide to give Clough a further season, following the "continuity" rationale, it could cost them millions in further wasted money. That in fact would be the bravest decision if we don't go up this time.

By now the Board will know full well whether the suspicions of us fans are correct i.e. that Clough is not fully supported by the full dressing room. A bloke on Praise and Grumble had a view last night that the dressing room is split into two camps. Without stating which two, it is obvious.

That spineless twit? A man who kept hassling Lerner to sack him last summer rather than having the bollocks to resign himself. Then stayed in the job and let Villa slide towards the shitter before being pushed. He is another bloke low on confidence and has a habit of falling out with players as well.

He is exactly what we don't need, so I expect him to be announced as our manager shortly.

 

[Woodwardfan]

That spineless twit? A man who kept hassling Lerner to sack him last summer rather than having the bollocks to resign himself. Then stayed in the job and let Villa slide towards the shitter before being pushed. He is another bloke low on confidence and has a habit of falling out with players as well.

He is exactly what we don't need, so I expect him to be announced as our manager shortly.

Yes I understand that. However the man was successful with Colchester, headhunted by Norwich and worked absolute wonders for them in League 1 and then the Championship. He did exactly the job we need now - promotions up two levels.

The Villa job is Mission Impossible in many respects but I agree his confidence may be low.

It's just that he is a big enough man to do the job at Bramall Lane because he has already done it once. Spells like his time at Villa happen. Even Brian Clough had two spells like that.

Young Clough has not shown any sign he is such a big manager as Lambert in his many years in management.

 

[Blade58]

Out of Lambert and Adkins, I think I'd prefer Adkins

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

It's the fans fault then I suppose.
I'm glad you've pointed out the perfect formula for success. If you'd told us earlier that all we had to do to guarantee Champions League football was wait patiently and clap like a demented seal I'm sure we'd have all done it.
Incidentally, what was the reason for our 1980's failure when we went down to Division Four with patient, happy clapping fans ?

I didn't say it was the fans fault - I said no manager is ever good enough for some fans, despite any form of success they do get. Which is true. Ultimately the overiding for failure over the past 21 years is down to the owners of the club and boardoom. However, fans don't help matters when they quickly turn on managers.

A lot of fans didn't like Bassett (just watch the United documentary for that) / loads of fans didn't like Warnock / the season Blackwell got to the play off final he took some shocking abuse / a large section were always against Wilson and now look whats happening to Clough.

That same example occurs throughout all of football. Look at Pelligrini for example - he's had 100's of milllions to spend, won the title in his first season, yet even he is being called not good enough!!! Maybe he's just had a season and a few key games where things haven't clicked, doesn't mean he's shit. Steve MaClaren is also now being branded not good enough by section of Derby fans due to their poor run of form.

You can disagree all you like, but give it 8 months into the reign of the next manager and the fans will start coming up with their stupid nick names, calling him clueless, lamenting whatever playing style he implements and calling for a change.

 

[DI36O]

I tried to just set out the considerations and alternative approaches rather than say sack the manager necessarily. Thankfully that is not my decision.

As you ask the question though, maybe better to start again from scratch than to continue in the same direction throwing more money after bad on mediocre signings and playing fearful football. In a year's time clough will have signed another 10 or more players, maybe all interchangeable look-alikes and no game changers if he continues doing more of the same. There are no indications he has altered his approach even after spending over £2m.

I wasn't questioning your approach just that snippet of logic. Alternatively in a years time we could be looking at a mostly different squad of League One players signed at some expense sat in mid table with one half of the fans calling for the manager's head and the other half saying we need more time to gel/can't keep sacking managers.

Maybe I'm just pessimistic and really there's a selection of thoroughly employable chaps out there, able to bring a couple of great signings down to League One and turn the rest of this team into a 90+ points a season side. It's the track record of indifferent shite who've been given the job that's making me think yet another overhaul isn't anything to look forward to.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I didn't say it was the fans fault - I said no manager is ever good enough for some fans, despite any form of success they do get. Which is true. Ultimately the overiding for failure over the past 21 years is down to the owners of the club and boardoom. However, fans don't help matters when they quickly turn on managers.

A lot of fans didn't like Bassett (just watch the United documentary for that) / loads of fans didn't like Warnock / the season Blackwell got to the play off final he took some shocking abuse / a large section were always against Wilson and now look whats happening to Clough.

That same example occurs throughout all of football. Look at Pelligrini for example - he's had 100's of milllions to spend, won the title in his first season, yet even he is being called not good enough!!! Maybe he's just had a season and a few key games where things haven't clicked, doesn't mean he's shit. Steve MaClaren is also now being branded not good enough by section of Derby fans due to their poor run of form.

You can disagree all you like, but give it 8 months into the reign of the next manager and the fans will start coming up with their stupid nick names, calling him clueless, lamenting whatever playing style he implements and calling for a change.

I think you've covered most of the relevant points Borbokis. I think those of us who for some odd reason are disliked, even loathed, by that section of our posters who seem intent on nitpicking where Clough's concerned, seem to recall the arguments that were raised upon Clough's appointment that we must have some stability where the manager is concerned. I'd hoped we'd have been involved in the automatic promotion places but it's not happened. Equally it's not as if we're out of contention for promotion, yet Clough's removal seems to be the only thing that occupies the thoughts of some posters. I can't explain why we seem to steamroller Scunthorpe yet lose to Crewe, one of the mysteries of football I guess. Yes, I feel intense disappointment at this fluctuating form, but it never occurs to me to lose my rag as well as all claim to objectivity.

At some point Clough will leave this club, but I suspect we'll see him remain as manager for several years. I can't predict what will happen to make that possible, but I tend to think he'll continue as manager because we're improving, which I hope includes gaining promotion. Beyond that I'll be patient - which kind of reminds me of those footballing parents who urge their boys on, are vocal to the point of embarrassment, they see nothing wrong with acting aggressively, yet anyone who dares to offer an opposing point of view must be wrong, because.....well, they must be if they can't agree with the aggressive mum's and dad's whose opinions are the only ones that matter. And some people wonder where young drunken bores get their oafish values from?

 

[Woodwardfan]

I wasn't questioning your approach just that snippet of logic. Alternatively in a years time we could be looking at a mostly different squad of League One players signed at some expense sat in mid table with one half of the fans calling for the manager's head and the other half saying we need more time to gel/can't keep sacking managers.

Maybe I'm just pessimistic and really there's a selection of thoroughly employable chaps out there, able to bring a couple of great signings down to League One and turn the rest of this team into a 90+ points a season side. It's the track record of indifferent shite who've been given the job that's making me think yet another overhaul isn't anything to look forward to.

All McCabe has needed has been one great manager but they almost as rare as rocking horse shit. Lets hope the Prince can unearth one.

Southampton and Swansea usually choose very well. Bournemouth have that affinity with Howe. Brentford have the real deal but are repelling him, not sure what that's all about. Wolves have done well with Jackett but so have Ipswich with McCarthy funnily enough. The Middlesbrough bloke seems excellent. up to now anyway. Look at Wigan, they seemed to have the golden touch until it went wrong with two highly successful managers, Rosler being one of them; look at them now.

They are around and Clough was on everyones' lips last season. It beggars belief just how badly he has done since half time at Wembley. The striker and central defence scenarios defy any logic, explanation or understanding. It really is hard to believe that it has happened over so many months and yet we have watched it right in front of our eyes, not really believing it wouldn't change at some stage and expecting the manager to have something up his sleeve. To attempt promotion without strikers, and central defenders and an average keeper at best would be laughable if it were not so bloody serious. Then there is the fact we are such a small, lightweight squad, absolutely ridiculous- " well first of all we find good players to sign and it turns out they all happened to be little" - what the f*** !!

 

[JJBlade]

I didn't say it was the fans fault - I said no manager is ever good enough for some fans, despite any form of success they do get. Which is true. Ultimately the overiding for failure over the past 21 years is down to the owners of the club and boardoom. However, fans don't help matters when they quickly turn on managers.

A lot of fans didn't like Bassett (just watch the United documentary for that) / loads of fans didn't like Warnock / the season Blackwell got to the play off final he took some shocking abuse / a large section were always against Wilson and now look whats happening to Clough.

That same example occurs throughout all of football. Look at Pelligrini for example - he's had 100's of milllions to spend, won the title in his first season, yet even he is being called not good enough!!! Maybe he's just had a season and a few key games where things haven't clicked, doesn't mean he's shit. Steve MaClaren is also now being branded not good enough by section of Derby fans due to their poor run of form.

You can disagree all you like, but give it 8 months into the reign of the next manager and the fans will start coming up with their stupid nick names, calling him clueless, lamenting whatever playing style he implements and calling for a change.

Fair enough, I see what you mean but I'm getting sick and tired of our fans getting slagged off, as though the club has handed us years of success and have unfortunately fell on bad times or something.

Pelligrini's mandate is to win the Premier League title and win the Champions League, or at least get to the later stages of the competition. He hasn't done either this year in spite of being heavily backed.

All Clough has to do is get us promotion from Division Three, a task in which he has also been more than adequately backed. He's in charge of a club in the Third division and we have just as unfair an advantage over the other clubs as Man City have over most of the other Premier League clubs.

In relative terms Pelligrini has outperformed Clough because he at least has big competition from half a dozen other clubs, if Pelligrini is under pressure Clough should be as well because he has realistic competition from nobody.

The fans aren't blind and they aren't stupid. If the vast majority are unhappy it is logical that there is a reason for it. It is illogical to insinuate that all Sheffield United fans are miserable and impatient.

Our fans are magnificent, they're the only good thing about this club. The level of shit that they've constantly had to put up with is unsurpassed by any other club in world football. Even Fleetwood and Rochdale fans can now say that they are the best that they could ever possibly be..........it's all about relative success. United never have any success, actual success or relative success.

Here's a question for you:
Name me ONE football club of a fairly decent size that has underperformed Sheffield United in the last 90 years ?
1) THEY MUST HAVE WON NOTHING IN LIVING MEMORY
2) THEY MUST HAVE HAD LESS SEASONS IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE THAN US
3) THEY MUST HAVE NEVER QUALIFIED FOR EUROPE

Any of the above will do.
Now think, what other clubs fans would have been as good as ours in the same circumstances

 

[Sirius]

Mark Warburton? Although looks like he is being lined up for QPR.

NO VA CANCY

Stick with what we have. If Someone else came in. The season would be over before he knew the players by name

 

[Aston max]

Different time , differant era . You are perhaps correct , but confidence , self beleif , and a infectous character can still work today .

Unfortunately Clough and the players are acting like they have had a charisma bypass , and its started to affect us fans.

UTB

I know that I hate warnock as a few of will have noticed but at least he was passionate about the club and not like a damp squid in an interview

 

[Bergen Blade]

I think Rösler likes to travel around to visit clubs and learn about how they are set up.

 

[DI36O]

I know that I hate warnock as a few of will have noticed but at least he was passionate about the club and not like a damp squid in an interview

 

[LoughboroBlade]

As brainless as McCabe has tended to be at times over the years, not even he would be stupid enough at this time of the season to visibly court a potential new manager in the ground for all to see.

 

[metalblade]

As brainless as McCabe has tended to be at times over the years, not even he would be stupid enough at this time of the season to visibly court a potential new manager in the ground for all to see.

It might be McCabe's way of giving negative Nigel a good kick up the arse. God knows he needs one and fast.

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

Oh, and the only manager in football I would want if Clough was sacked is Sam Allardyce. However, I'm sure plenty of Blades would hate him because he plays direct football.

Fair enough, I see what you mean but I'm getting sick and tired of our fans getting slagged off, as though the club has handed us years of success and have unfortunately fell on bad times or something.

Pelligrini's mandate is to win the Premier League title and win the Champions League, or at least get to the later stages of the competition. He hasn't done either this year in spite of being heavily backed.

All Clough has to do is get us promotion from Division Three, a task in which he has also been more than adequately backed. He's in charge of a club in the Third division and we have just as unfair an advantage over the other clubs as Man City have over most of the other Premier League clubs.

In relative terms Pelligrini has outperformed Clough because he at least has big competition from half a dozen other clubs, if Pelligrini is under pressure Clough should be as well because he has realistic competition from nobody.

The fans aren't blind and they aren't stupid. If the vast majority are unhappy it is logical that there is a reason for it. It is illogical to insinuate that all Sheffield United fans are miserable and impatient.

Our fans are magnificent, they're the only good thing about this club. The level of shit that they've constantly had to put up with is unsurpassed by any other club in world football. Even Fleetwood and Rochdale fans can now say that they are the best that they could ever possibly be..........it's all about relative success. United never have any success, actual success or relative success.

Here's a question for you:
Name me ONE football club of a fairly decent size that has underperformed Sheffield United in the last 90 years ?
1) THEY MUST HAVE WON NOTHING IN LIVING MEMORY
2) THEY MUST HAVE HAD LESS SEASONS IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE THAN US
3) THEY MUST HAVE NEVER QUALIFIED FOR EUROPE

Any of the above will do.
Now think, what other clubs fans would have been as good as ours in the same circumstances

That has nothing to do with what we're talking about. I'm saying we should be patience for once and give a guy a chance, and highlighting that our fans consistently turn on managers, regardless of the success they bring.

Again, it take TIME for a manager to build something. Sometimes some things don't click, some players for whatever reason don't perform, some signings don't come off etc. Then sometimes things come out of the blue and a team has a cracking season i.e. 2002-2003 - who would have thought Brown and McCall would have such outstanding seasons, Tonge would come out of nowhere and Jagielka would be a revelation at Right Back and Center Half. Those things came about because Warnock was given time and not sacked after his first bad season.

As for our fans - yeah, they are magnificent in terms of numbers, but are no where near magnificent in regards to vocal or positive support. There very similar to Newcastle fans in that regards, turn out in numbers, but are very volatile and negative.

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

apologies for the typos above - was in a rush!

 

[Silent Blade]

I didn't say it was the fans fault - I said no manager is ever good enough for some fans, despite any form of success they do get. Which is true. Ultimately the overiding for failure over the past 21 years is down to the owners of the club and boardoom. However, fans don't help matters when they quickly turn on managers.

A lot of fans didn't like Bassett (just watch the United documentary for that) / loads of fans didn't like Warnock / the season Blackwell got to the play off final he took some shocking abuse / a large section were always against Wilson and now look whats happening to Clough.

That same example occurs throughout all of football. Look at Pelligrini for example - he's had 100's of milllions to spend, won the title in his first season, yet even he is being called not good enough!!! Maybe he's just had a season and a few key games where things haven't clicked, doesn't mean he's shit. Steve MaClaren is also now being branded not good enough by section of Derby fans due to their poor run of form.

You can disagree all you like, but give it 8 months into the reign of the next manager and the fans will start coming up with their stupid nick names, calling him clueless, lamenting whatever playing style he implements and calling for a change.

Post of the month

 

[madeinsheffield]

Wasn't just a couple of months ago somebody posted about being worried our good run may make either a Championship or Low Premier League club swoop in for NC and how would we stand in their way hoping NC would be loyal to us?

 

[JJBlade]

Oh, and the only manager in football I would want if Clough was sacked is Sam Allardyce. However, I'm sure plenty of Blades would hate him because he plays direct football.


That has nothing to do with what we're talking about. I'm saying we should be patience for once and give a guy a chance, and highlighting that our fans consistently turn on managers, regardless of the success they bring.

Again, it take TIME for a manager to build something. Sometimes some things don't click, some players for whatever reason don't perform, some signings don't come off etc. Then sometimes things come out of the blue and a team has a cracking season i.e. 2002-2003 - who would have thought Brown and McCall would have such outstanding seasons, Tonge would come out of nowhere and Jagielka would be a revelation at Right Back and Center Half. Those things came about because Warnock was given time and not sacked after his first bad season.

As for our fans - yeah, they are magnificent in terms of numbers, but are no where near magnificent in regards to vocal or positive support. There very similar to Newcastle fans in that regards, turn out in numbers, but are very volatile and negative.

As I said I understand what you're saying, but I was trying to explain the reason why our fans are quick to criticise.
You've just quoted Newcastle as an example of equally intolerant fans.

In the same way our fans have had zero relative success neither have they.
Relative success for Newcastle would be winning a trophy on a reasonably regular basis, they haven't done so for 40 odd years so their fans are quick to turn.