What will it take?

[silverfox]

What will it take for you to give up on United?

It's an interesting point at the moment. Some of us have been around a really long time....I've been going since the late 60's and have rarely missed a home match and been to far too many away games over the years.

Some of you are much younger and have grown up in a different society with different time scales of so called success and expectations. I must add football is a different game these days.

I don't think I'll ever call it a day....although in recent weeks I've had one of my "sabbaticals" that happen from time to time.....not a rest from United....but from the media and fans. It helps ME not to listen to the hype from the media and the moaning of other Blades.

I'm probably resigned to never seeing us reach what I'd hoped as a youngster and still do. I'll still be there trying to support the team in the best way I can. Football HAS changed over the years and is now more about money than ever before.

One big reason I still go is the "whole day" experience of meeting up with good friends, many who I have met on this forum, for a few pints and some banter. Despite what a few new members on the forum think this isn't a clique, but a diverse group of people of all ages with different views and opinions who can still remain friends despite their wildly contrasting views on United.

I like that!

We are in a difficult period, perhaps we don't have the best Chairman, Manager or players but us older gits remember much worse.

I'm not giving up yet....don't think I ever will.....but you can never be sure.

Will you give up anytime soon?

What keeps you going?

 

[Sensiblade]

Them closing for business.
And then it'd be a struggle to give up on their memory.

 

[torridon]

My love for the club is what keeps me going, i too remember the dark days when things were a thousand times worse than they are now and we were a poor club both on and off the field, even then i was proud to be a blade and my love never diminished, the same goes for today, tomorrow and beyond no matter what the future may hold. Keep the faith, Up the Blades.

 

[beightonblade]

Its cause i'm an optimist
I can't give the Blades up, i know i moan a BIT but its only because i care.

I once saw a fantastic post sumwhere about being a Blade and going through life ..... but i can't find it, it were spot on.

 

[silverfox]

Its cause i'm an optimist
I can't give the Blades up, i know i moan a BIT but its only because i care.

Is this your most positive post ever BB?

 

[Northyorksblade]

It worries me that losses don't hurt as much as they did, that I sleep soundly the night before a match, don't wake up with butterflies anymore, don't go to half the away games I used to, don't plan holidays only in the close season anymore. I think I'm falling out of love. Perhaps I need to go to Relate. I want it to matter again.

 

[beightonblade]

Is this your most positive post ever BB?

I'm going to think positive and be positive..... i can do it ... i know i can.

Well at least until we play Emmerdale.

 

[silverfox]

It worries me that losses don't hurt as much as they did, that I sleep soundly the night before a match, don't wake up with butterflies anymore, don't go to half the away games I used to, don't plan holidays only in the close season anymore. I think I'm falling out of love. Perhaps I need to go to Relate. I want it to matter again.

I often get feelings such as this but.....

When the game starts I'm the same as as I've always been.

 

[beightonblade]

I remember times when i just wouldn't miss a game the Blades played no matter what !
Football has changed for the worse over the years in my opinion and Mr Sky put the boot in big time. No matter what i say or do i'm like a cat on hot bricks when the Blades play an i'm not at the game..... hate watchin on telly... hate listening to radio.... hate waiting extra 10 minutes after full time and checking the result.
Nowt wud make me fall out with the Blades cause i luv em.
Mind yer we have a face on as long as Norfolk Street now an again.

 

[silverfox]

No matter what i say or do i'm like a cat on hot bricks when the Blades play an i'm not at the game..... hate watchin on telly... hate listening to radio.... hate waiting extra 10 minutes after full time and checking the result.

I understand totally!

 

[mickle-blade]

After coming up for 50years of going to BDTBL I think it a pretty safe bet that I will always be there. Whether they deserve it is another matter. But somethings once done can never be undone.
You would think that ass the seasons past by the hurt a defeat inflicts would ease but it doesn't.
Is this the worst manager we've had. No
Is this the worst team we've had. Not by a country mile
Will we ever win a major trophy. No (barring a miracle)
Will we ever stop being a Blade. Never !
Nurse....medication time..........................
PS; Bring back the County Cup - We won that enough times !

 

[shorehamview]

I'll stop when they stop. No other team will replace them, because all the other teams are shit. Because they are not Sheffield United.

 

[Mad Mick]

Been a Blade since the 50's it's in yer blood. Don't matter if we're playing in the Sunday Parks league I will still be looking for the score and who scored, and will still be excited just afore kick off.

 

[silverfox]

You would think that ass the seasons past by the hurt a defeat inflicts would ease but it doesn't.

Too true.....makes me wonder if some of the younger ones would hang on like we have done?

This is not a dig at you young people but you have so many more choices.

Will you give up because of those choices??

 

[Mad Mick]

Another thing is I'm proud to be a supporter of the best club in Sheffield where I was born.
How many Manure or Chelski fans can say that. Lots of so called supporters just looked who was top of the league. It saddens me when people from Doncaster, Barnsley, Sheffield and Rotherham don't support their town or city of their birth. After all what does SUPPORT mean? OR some tossa from Skeggy supports Liverpool. Support your local team and be proud, unless of course it's t'pigs.

 

[mickle-blade]

I think there are a many Manchester born and bred supporters of Man U that simply don't go to Old Trafford because they can't afford the season ticket prices. What few general sae tickets are snapped up by the touts and 'booking agents'.
The away supporters are probably more reflective of the support they have from Manchester. Hence the scenes at Oakwell last week.

 

[Pinchy]

Silverfox,

45 years for me. I will never give up but I do despair at present. Why? Because I care. I remember being the only Blade in the playground [or at least it seemed like it!]. We were very much Sheffield's second team until quite recently. You will remember much the same.

I desparately want to maintain and enhance our relatively new-found prominence and a fanbase unimaginable until the McCabe era [apart fron the halcyon days of TC et al]. I have a fear that will all dissipate pretty soon unless we abandon this barmy notion that Sheffield United must be never - say - die committed battlers and that's OK - nothing more required. Some take a perverse sort of pride in that sort of image. I hate it. I don't like opposition managers routinely saying 'Its a hard place to come. They are a physical team. We must win the physical battle and then let our football count' I dislike it mostly because its true. When did anyone last say 'It's a hard place to come. They have such talented players. If we are not on our game we'll be outplayed".

That's why I want big changes. There is a discernable mood of discontent that's going to manifest itself in a big drop in season ticket sales and the vicous circle of decline that will flow from that [sorry for the triple mixed metaphor]. People are starting to not care. Apathy is more dangerous than hatred.

So when I call for Blackwell to go [and I shall carry on loud and long] and despair that we are bereft of creativity and that many of you elevate highly-committed mediocrity beyond talent [and I shall continue to do so] it is not because I'm a moaner or not a true Blade. It's quite the contrary.

We have a platform for success, created by K-Mac [who, despite your concession to the contrary, is easily the best chairman in my time - not much competition for the accolade, I know!] and I see it sinking in a maelstrom of hopeful punts and aimless flicks as we treat the ball like a ticking time-bomb to be despatched as soon and as long and as high as possible.

That culture; that ethos has been instilled, whether deliberately or by dint of incompetence, by Blackwell. It doesn't matter which. Until he is removed it will carry on and Bramall Lane will be populated by significantly reduced numbers: Those who wear the label of dogged, committed ineptitude as a badge of honour and those, like me. who simply aren't prepared to give ground to that philosophy of despair and will fight the intellectual battle for proper football at BDTBL, pointing out Emperor Blackwell isn't wearing any clothes [what a thought] as we witness yet another turgid, uninspiring 90 minutes, acknowledging that we can't play like Wenger's Arsenal but wondering why we can't at least aspire [like mighty Doncaster, bless them] to a modified version. Then we can, if nothing more, win or lose properly and, oddly enough, actually enjoy rather than endure.

I don't want to see, in 10 years time, some kid standing in the playground lamenting why he or she is the only one in red and white, when the old gits can [and should] make a stand here and now.

There it is, mate. That's why I feel as I do. I write more in hope than expectation that someone will listen. If, however, enough of us take up the argument, who knows?

Will I give up? - No.

What keeps me going? Thoughts of Banks and Moore; Beckenbauer and Eusebio; Platini and Jairzinho; Cruyff and Bergkamp. Pele the nonpareil and our very own TC. I love the beautiful game and won't ever abandon the idea of my team playing it as it should be.

 

[Fiery Blade]

A lifetime watching the Blades and we remember the special moments:
when we beat Arsenal with Jags in goal and only 10 men, Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield with Mick Jones the scorer, 3-1 v Newcastle in 61 to reach the semi finals, 4-3 v Forest in the Play Off Finals, 5-0 v Arsenal when TC sat on the ball, 2-1 v Leeds League Cup, Winning on pens v Coventry Kelly hero These are the days when being a blade is special Silver Fox and Pinchy have probably got it right!

 

[Come from away]

I don't think it is a question I can answer as I can't imagine not supporting the Blades, regardless of Division, Manager, players or whatever. Everything changes and despite our prediction league nobody really has a clue what will happen. I guess the unknown, the hope for a good outcome, the desire to move from where we are in the league to somewhere higher, the hard earned success (cause we just don't have the funds to buy a team like Man City), and yes, the thought I might actually meet the Lion crew once in a while, all make me feel good and keep me hanging in. Thanks for the question SF. See ya next year!

 

[Thorpey Pig]

Too true.....makes me wonder if some of the younger ones would hang on like we have done?

This is not a dig at you young people but you have so many more choices.

Will you give up because of those choices??

well im only 18 so i am a young un to most of you and to answer your question silver fox, no i wont change the team that is so close to my heart, i will admit a few of my mates are boycotting BDTBL until blackwell either leaves or get sacked, and even though I dont like old kev and the way our team are playing at the moment i still go to cheer them on and get behind them, even my first home match i went to was shit, we drew 0-0 to gillingham, at the moment i think it is like a love hate relationship but shorem street is and part of me and i am a part of it, so lets all stop griping and moaning and get behind our team, lets be that 12th player

COME ON YOU RED AND WHITE WIZAAAARRRDDDSSS!!!!

 

[happyhippy]

The only time I gave up was due to meatheads in the ground, on two separate occasions on the same day.

I've tried to 'Just Say No', but I know I can't. The first home match in memory which I hadn't missed through emergency was Palace last year, and even though I could watch it on the Austramerkin's network, I was still like a cat on a hot tin roof.

Away matches don't make me so nervous now, but I still hate having to listen to them as I can't get there. As much as some may want to, you can't stop loving the bloody club, can you?

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

even my first home match i went to was shit, we drew 0-0 to gillingham, QUOTE]

Shit? That's a very generous evaluation of that match!

:cry:

 

[Billyblade]

I will always be a Blade and the only things that would stop me going would be if for some reason (probably Mrs BBs spending!) I became destitute and hadn't got a pot to piss in or if I pegged it.

There was a period (92-93) where I couldn't afford a season ticket because I'd just bought a house but I used to beg, borrow and steal to try and get a ticket for any games I could. I managed to get to the semi in 93 by scrounging an away ticket stub off a pigfan friend of mine.

I think it was 93 when we played Leeds at the Lane and I was desparate to go. My Missus at the time knew this and had scraped together the money for me to get a ticket. She gave it me and I shot off to the Lane to get a ticket the day before the match. When I got to the counter the Woman there said "Do you have any ID?". I said no because I'd grabbed the money off the Missus and ran out of the house with the dog and no wallet before she changed her mind. "No" I said. She said "I can't let you have one with no ID, you could be from Leeds". I said "I haven't got a Leeds accent", she said, rather snottily, "It doesn't go on accents". I trudged back to the car with the Monk on big time, got to the car and sat there. Then I looked in the rearview mirror and saw the dog looking all dopey and panting at me. "Come on Sian" I said and got out of the car. I marched the dog up to the counter and got her to put her front paws at this womans window. I thrust the dogs collar tag towards the window (it had my address on) and said "Will this do?". She replied "That's not a recognised form of ID and besides, how do I know that's your dog?" I despaired and walked out. That shows you how desparate I was to go to matches. The desparation has waned a little now with kids, family pressures etc. but maybe this is because I have, ever since, been in a position to afford a season ticket.

I was lucky enough to be in my football club supporting prime (18-19) during Bassetts promotion season and only missed 3 games that season(home and away including cup matches). I am forever grateful for that and will always have the memories.

Whichever manager (useless or good), whichever players (mercenary or Blades through and through), whichever chairman (Blood sucking publicity hungry leech or Proper Blade) I will still be there and I have seen some shit, believe you and me. I will still be there because at the end of the day I'm a Blade. Always have been, always will be. No matter who comes and goes there will always be a constant. Sheffield United FC

 

[cooperblade]

although in recent weeks I've had one of my "sabbaticals" that happen from time to time.....not a rest from United....but from the media and fans. It helps ME not to listen to the hype from the media and the moaning of other Blades.

I do that for time to time (including recently) and it really helps. Some, but not all, of the whinging just gets really boring and tiring after a while.

I'll never, ever give up on United. I don't get as nervous as I used to and the disappointments don't linger for so long but I think that's just because we've had so many. The feeling after a win doesn't change (or it hasn't as far as I can remember )

We could end up in the non-league or finish 12th in the Championship for the next 25 years and I'll still be there.

 

[Grecian2000]

What an excellent question and one that I have been pondering for several years (usually brought about by coming home pissed off and being greeted by a less than sympathetic "well don't go then if it upsets you that much").

As others have mentioned already in this thread I used to plan holidays, work, family et al around the fixture list. Not any more.
I used to worship the ground the players (and manager if it was Sir John) walked on. Not any more.
I well remember going to places like Brighton and Southampton only to find we were on MOTD and racing home after the match to try and catch us on the box when we appeared on the Beeb as often as Chubby Brown. Bugger that.

To be honest I fell out of love with the game (well the game that Sky invented) a long time before I've lost it with the Blades. But it is heading that way. These days I believe I care more about the club than anyone who represents them professionally and that is a sad state of affairs indeed.

I'll probably be going as long as I can still walk but to even contemplate not going was something I would have never thought when I was a youngster in the early sixties but I actually have to think before I buy my season ticket now rather than it just be a reflex action.

 

[Wards]

not sure I could ever 'give it up' so not speak but like yourself I do take sustained periods of away time from reading and listening to all things Utd. It gets me down enough when we're not winning, even more so when I have to listen to others moaning about it.

 

[Kenilworth]

Another thing is I'm proud to be a supporter of the best club in Sheffield where I was born.
How many Manure or Chelski fans can say that. Lots of so called supporters just looked who was top of the league. It saddens me when people from Doncaster, Barnsley, Sheffield and Rotherham don't support their town or city of their birth. After all what does SUPPORT mean? OR some tossa from Skeggy supports Liverpool. Support your local team and be proud, unless of course it's t'pigs.

Know what you mean. Annoys the hell out of me here in the Midlands when I see ManUre, Chelski and Scouse shirts instead of Blues, Villa, Baggies and Chaventry. Much more respect for locals when they support a local team. Only if the people are from those places and still maintain their affinity is it justified - e.g. Ref at my lads last match was a Chelsea fan but he had been since the days of Osgood and Harris and was born down there.

 

[Vistoma]

If the Blades exist and I am alive then I will be a supporter.

 

[GainsboroBlade]

NEVER!! Sheff Utd for life!!!!!!!!!

 

[rachyblade]

I don't think age and how long you have supported them comes into it to be honest, as SF said football has changed loads and it is becoming more of a business. 50 odd years ago we may have been worse on and off the field than we are now, but I bet those players cared and felt proud to put on a Blades shirt.

The thing that bothers me more today is not that we are shite its more to do with the lack of caring, the lack of spirit and lack of that famous never say die attitude. All this left when Warnock left (and yes at the time I wanted him to go too).

I'd rather have a team of Morgans and Montys, players who would (as someone famously said) die for 3 points.

This season we seem to have a team of 'shop window' players who are simply playing for themselves to further careers. Thats the thing that is putting me off the most.

I'll always support United no matter what they will always be a part of me, it's just lately I seem to have lost interest in football itself because of the way it has changed.