Which direction will we next get out of this division?

[Darren]

In the shit stakes I make that 6-4 to the 80s, Dazzler!

The Butlin/Porter choice is like deciding between a shit sandwich and a slice of shit pie...

 

[Grecian2000]

Thats what I tried to do. How about the team that started 80-81 v the team that started this season

Richardson Long

Cutbush Westlake
MacPhail Maguire
Kenworthy Collins
Houston Williams

Tibbott McDonald
Trusson Doyle
Peters McGinn
Jones Brandy

Butlin Porter
Hatton Murphy

Now we're talking Dazzler.

Long, should he lose both arms, will always be better than Richardson (as would any other goalkeeper who's played more than a dozen games for us).
Cutbush was better than McMahon.
I'm struggling with the M guys. Maguire WILL end up being a better player but not with us and might not be at the moment. I'd go McPhail right now.
Kenworthy was better than Collins.
Houston probably shades Williams (I never thought he'd ever get in one of my teams).
McDonald was better than Tibbot (WAS being the operative word here)
Trusson was better than Doyle.
I haven't seen enough of McGinn to be sure but he ought to be better than the World Cup final goalscorer.
Who the hell is Jones? I'm going for Brandy.
I'm going with syphillis for the next one.
Hatton is better than Murphy.

That's 4 current players (ignoring the fact one's no longer around).
6 old timers and a toss up to play alongside Bobby Hatton.

God that was depressing.

 

[Grecian2000]

The Butlin/Porter choice is like deciding between a shit sandwich and a slice of shit pie...

Just beat me to it.

 

[Darren]

Now we're talking Dazzler.

Long, should he lose both arms, will always be better than Richardson (as would any other goalkeeper who's played more than a dozen games for us).
Cutbush was better than McMahon.
I'm struggling with the M guys. Maguire WILL end up being a better player but not with us and might not be at the moment. I'd go McPhail right now.
Kenworthy was better than Collins.
Houston probably shades Williams (I never thought he'd ever get in one of my teams).
McDonald was better than Tibbot (WAS being the operative word here)
Trusson was better than Doyle.
I haven't seen enough of McGinn to be sure but he ought to be better than the World Cup final goalscorer.
Who the hell is Jones? I'm going for Brandy.
I'm going with syphillis for the next one.
Hatton is better than Murphy.

That's 4 current players (ignoring the fact one's no longer around).
6 old timers and a toss up to play alongside Bobby Hatton.

God that was depressing.

Jones is Phil Jones. Nondescript bit part midfield player who emerged from the juniors and debuted at Wrexhan in a 0-4 defeat on 28/2/79. That was his only appearance that season and he was in and out of the team in 79-80 and 80-81. He started in the team in 80-81 as Matthews was injured and got his only goal for the club in a 2-3 defeat at Burnley on 7/10/80. He remained on our books in 81-82 but didn't get a game and was offloaded to non-league Boston at the end of the season, where he disappeared from view.

 

[Grecian2000]

Cheers Dazzler. The name Phil did come to mind, bit of a streak of piss if I remember. Sticking with Brandy then.

What a horrible day that was at The Racecourse. Shit away end (no steps), poor follwong and a dismal performance. My mood is not being uplifted here, I'm going to try and find some of btl's drugs!

 

[oldblade]

Thats what I tried to do. How about the team that started 80-81 v the team that started this season

Richardson Long

Cutbush Westlake
MacPhail Maguire
Kenworthy Collins
Houston Williams

Tibbott McDonald
Trusson Doyle
Peters McGinn
Jones Brandy

Butlin Porter
Hatton Murphy

I would say that the 1980-1 team looks better, which is a little alarming.

And even more alarming is that the side that played the final fixture against Walsall was stronger still:

Conroy, Casey, Garner, Houston, Macphail, Trusson, Matthews, Givens, Tibbott, Hatton, Ryan.

 

[Darren]

I would say that the 1980-1 team looks better, which is a little alarming.

And even more alarming is that the side that played the final fixture against Walsall was stronger still:

Conroy, Casey, Garner, Houston, Macphail, Trusson, Matthews, Givens, Tibbott, Hatton, Ryan.

You do wonder how on earth we got relegated. That was definitely a top half 3rd Division team :-(

 

[oldblade]

You do wonder how on earth we got relegated. That was definitely a top half 3rd Division team :-(

Yes, especially when you consider there was also Kenworthy and Charles who didn't take part in that match, but played regularly throughout the season.

I have always felt that the mentality of the side was all wrong, and too many players weren't up for a relegation fight. And really, we weren't in one until the last few games of the season, and never dropped into the bottom four at all until about 4-40 PM on 2nd May 1981.

 

[Racy]

I would say that the 1980-1 team looks better, which is a little alarming.

And even more alarming is that the side that played the final fixture against Walsall was stronger still:

Conroy, Casey, Garner, Houston, Macphail, Trusson, Matthews, Givens, Tibbott, Hatton, Ryan.

Most of that side with the exception of Conroy,Mcphail and Casey were decent players in their time most having played in division 1

 

[oldblade]

Most of that side with the exception of Conroy,Mcphail and Casey were decent players in their time most having played in division 1

And MacPhail was a decent enough player at third division level.

 

[Racy]

And MacPhail was a decent enough player at third division level.

Can't agree with you there pal he was a proper donkey spent too much time in the Stonehouse with Mathews, Kenworthy and JJ.

Then came Stan The Man proper CH for that league and higher

 

[oldblade]

Can't agree with you there pal he was a proper donkey spent too much time in the Stonehouse with Mathews, Kenworthy and JJ.

Then came Stan The Man proper CH for that league and higher

Many, many far better players than MacPhail spent a lot of time in the pub in that era. That does not make him a poor player.

In my opinion he was nothing special, but was an adequate third division player. Stancliffe was a much better player and showed it at a higher level.

 

[Silent Blade]

To be honest when we kicked off against Walsall in that final match of the 1980-1 season, I don't think there were many people in the ground (except perhaps the very small contingent of Walsall supporters) who seriously believed we would get relegated.

I learnt never ever to be optimistic about anything connected with Sheffield United after that match!

I decided that I should play in a 6 a side tournament at Manchester in the same day as the Walsall game because I had felt that there would be a little chance of us getting relegation. At the end of the 6 a side tournament, my Swansea mate was over the moon because he had found out that Swansea had got promotion to the 1st division. I made a little effort in trying to find out United's score because, again, I felt that we would be ok. me and my teammates went to the town centre for a bite to eat before going to the pubs. I then decided to buy the pink final (it was about 7pm), I was surprised to find that we had lost then looked at the other results of thee relegation candidates and was horrified to learn that we were the only team out of the candidates to finish 4th from bottom to have lost! I was totally numb! I saw my Swansea mate again in a pub and told him that the Blades are now a 4th division team. He was sympathetic towards me. The Swans had climbed up from the 4th division to the 1st while we went to the opposite direction!

 

[BladeFisher]

factually incorrect wed finished 8th the season before relegation . and doing it once isnt a pattern
The arguments here aree based on people expecting us to have won all 4 games by 5 goals ,anything less makes our club, to quote one "the entire club is a fucking disgrace"

now we are rebuilding under a new manager and played 4 games , thats 4, some people need to get a grip, Carlisles lost 4 out of 5 by 4 clear goals or more, thats unprofessional , losing at brentford who have only lost twice at their ground in nearly 2 years is hardly hitting rock bottom, more going to form , lets all take a deep breath and use some grey matter, engage our brains before going on one of these ridiculous rants

It is following a pattern. And we've played Notts Co, Burton, Brentford, Colchester, Bradford. That's er 5 games and not won in 4 and lost 3. Great rebuilding there from a team that was meant to be promotion favourites?

We're rebuilding alright, kind of dismantling or scrapping if you like. Perhaps it will end up with the whole club being 'recycled' being relocated to some other ground and Bramall Lane a housing scheme. Thats a type of rebuilding dont you think?

 

[raul]

I think what he is trying to tell us is that whilst our goal difference is better than that of Carlisle we are all just looking for problems that aren't there. And defeats at good teams don't count.

 

[blade too long]

or league cup games

why would we move from bramall lane , these are just lunatic ravings of some conspiracy theorists with absolutely no basis in realty

why not recycle the club , Ive been watching us for over 50 years and weve won,,, diddly squat, so change might work

 

[Darren]

And MacPhail was a decent enough player at third division level.

Fun fact. MacPhail made one top division appearance in his career in 1990-91 when he was with Sunderland.

2nd fun fact. MacPhail was once convicted of falsely using a young person's railcard at Sheffield station. It didn't seem to occur to him that he might be recognised by staff there who would know he didn't meet the criteria for the card.

 

[LSF]

Fun fact. MacPhail made one top division appearance in his career in 1990-91 when he was with Sunderland.

2nd fun fact. MacPhail was once convicted of falsely using a young person's railcard at Sheffield station. It didn't seem to occur to him that he might be recognised by staff there who would know he didn't meet the criteria for the card.

And he played illegally in a summer 5 a side tournament in Ecclesfield for team I was playing for! (Got nutmegged too and nearly took the lads head off next tackle for which he was booked and gave a false name)
Had a huge ego (not uncommon in pro footballers grant you) and thought he could cruise through, he looked shocked that parks players were making him look ordinary. Kenworthy should have played too but thought better of it and decided on a watching brief, he was pissing himself at MacPhail getting the runaround.

 

[Mad Mick]

The fact that 40% of people who cast their vote feel we will get relegated is very worrying. This just shows how deflated Blades fans are. The Chairman and Management should take note.

 

[oldblade]

Fun fact. MacPhail made one top division appearance in his career in 1990-91 when he was with Sunderland.

2nd fun fact. MacPhail was once convicted of falsely using a young person's railcard at Sheffield station. It didn't seem to occur to him that he might be recognised by staff there who would know he didn't meet the criteria for the card.

And wasn't it MacPhail who gave away the penalty against Walsall that saw us relegated. I was at the other end of the ground, but it looked like him, and it seemed a pretty needless penalty as well. Or has the passage of time and my eyesight created a false memory?

 

[Darren]

And wasn't it MacPhail who gave away the penalty against Walsall that saw us relegated. I was at the other end of the ground, but it looked like him, and it seemed a pretty needless penalty as well. Or has the passage of time and my eyesight created a false memory?

It was MacPhail. That is seared on my memory. Alan Buckley got the ball on the left hand side edge of our area. There was no immediate danger, but MacPhail careered across and knocked him flying. It was an obvious pen, unlike the one we got which was a dodgy handball and lots of people I spoke believed that the ref only gave it as he was scared shitless by the ominous rumblings of violence emerging from the Kop and thought he would give us a helping hand to avoid relegation!

 

[Grecian2000]

And he played illegally in a summer 5 a side tournament in Ecclesfield for team I was playing for!

Did he wear his unfeasibly tight shorts? God knows how he ever managed to play at all in a pair that always looked about three sizes too small.

Always thought he was a perfectly acceptable CB. He'd play well for 85 minutes and have a regular 5 minutes of comedy mayhem, which he just about got away with in our league at the time (unlike Calamity Claude who paid for his lapses big time in the top flight).
My worst memory of him stems from Boxing Day '79 when he missed an absolute sitter at 0-1 right before half time which could have chnaged the course of history!

 

[oldblade]

It was MacPhail. That is seared on my memory. Alan Buckley got the ball on the left hand side edge of our area. There was no immediate danger, but MacPhail careered across and knocked him flying. It was an obvious pen, unlike the one we got which was a dodgy handball and lots of people I spoke believed that the ref only gave it as he was scared shitless by the ominous rumblings of violence emerging from the Kop and thought he would give us a helping hand to avoid relegation!

At the time I didn't even know what our penalty had been awarded for. I was just glad it had been awarded, but that joy was soon to be extinguished!

I don't think we played particularly badly that day. We passed the ball around well enough and seemed to have a lot of possession, but never really looked like scoring. Oh dear - another parallel with the present day side!

Mind you, if we hadn't given away that penalty I think Walsall wouldn't have scored a goal if the match was still being played today. They weren't even remotely threatening all match, which surprised me considering what was at stake. They looked like a mid-table side that was mentally already on the beach.

 

[Darren]

At the time I didn't even know what our penalty had been awarded for. I was just glad it had been awarded, but that joy was soon to be extinguished!

I don't think we played particularly badly that day. We passed the ball around well enough and seemed to have a lot of possession, but never really looked like scoring. Oh dear - another parallel with the present day side!

Mind you, if we hadn't given away that penalty I think Walsall wouldn't have scored a goal if the match was still being played today. They weren't even remotely threatening all match, which surprised me considering what was at stake. They looked like a mid-table side that was mentally already on the beach.

I remember it as a nothing match before the last 5 mins. My only other two memories of the game, both in the early second half, were:

1. The ref getting a ball full in the face and the game being held up a bit until he came round
2. Givens burtsing through the middle and having a shot from about 25 yards that went just wide.

Other than that and the pens, I can't recall either side having a chance.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I remember it as a nothing match before the last 5 mins. My only other two memories of the game, both in the early second half, were:

1. The ref getting a ball full in the face and the game being held up a bit until he came round
2. Givens burtsing through the middle and having a shot from about 25 yards that went just wide.

Other than that and the pens, I can't recall either side having a chance.

The whole thing is a fuddled haze. Now you mention it I remember the ref getting flattened and their penalty. I also remember ours being a bit soft, but no detail at all about it other than the farcical situation of nobody wanting to take it until a reluctant Givens stepped forwards. The only abiding memory is the aftermath, kids on the pitch being very lairy and grown men of my dads generation stood in tears on the kop.

 

[Darren]

The whole thing is a fuddled haze. Now you mention it I remember the ref getting flattened and their penalty. I also remember ours being a bit soft, but no detail at all about it other than the farcical situation of nobody wanting to take it until a reluctant Givens stepped forwards. The only abiding memory is the aftermath, kids on the pitch being very lairy and grown men of my dads generation stood in tears on the kop.

My random memories (I was 14 and at the game with my 10 year old brother).

1. Watching the net as Givens stepped up waiting for it to bulge.
2. Seeing a ripped up programme on Shoreham St after the game.
3. A bloke running out of the Kop exit on Shoreham St, arms aloft shouting "YESSS". He had obviously heard the "Swindon have lost" rumour"
4. Walking home to the Arbourthorne, half believing we were safe until my dad confirmed the awful truth when he opened the door.

 

[LSF]

Did he wear his unfeasibly tight shorts? God knows how he ever managed to play at all in a pair that always looked about three sizes too small.

Always thought he was a perfectly acceptable CB. He'd play well for 85 minutes and have a regular 5 minutes of comedy mayhem, which he just about got away with in our league at the time (unlike Calamity Claude who paid for his lapses big time in the top flight).
My worst memory of him stems from Boxing Day '79 when he missed an absolute sitter at 0-1 right before half time which could have chnaged the course of history!

Course he did, we all did in those days mind you, he had to have the tightest as he was like that!
Yep! I remember that miss so well (and I was on their Kop very far removed, I remember jumping up in frustration at the miss and getting some dodgy looks afterwards).

 

[grafikhaus]

The fact that 40% of people who cast their vote feel we will get relegated is very worrying. This just shows how deflated Blades fans are. The Chairman and Management should take note.

Just being realistic, MM. Look at the upcoming fixtures - MKD - on fire. Patrick Bamford (on loan from Chelsea) ran Sunderland ragged the other night. Rotherham away - they can't wait to put one over the other of the 'Sheffield Big Two'. Carlisle away. Always tough. Preston at home, dunno. Wolves away, do know. Peterborough away late October.

Hard to see room for optimism.

 

[oldblade]

The whole thing is a fuddled haze. Now you mention it I remember the ref getting flattened and their penalty. I also remember ours being a bit soft, but no detail at all about it other than the farcical situation of nobody wanting to take it until a reluctant Givens stepped forwards. The only abiding memory is the aftermath, kids on the pitch being very lairy and grown men of my dads generation stood in tears on the kop.

After the final whistle, the Walsall players had to make a mad dash for the John Street stand tunnel (which was where the dressing rooms were in those days) as they were pursued by a number of our supporters who had scaled the perimeter fencing. A few of their players didn't make it in time and were being attacked by our supporters.

Disgraceful scenes which made the whole situation seem even worse. As far as I can remember no action at all was taken against us (or even mentioned) by the governing bodies. In today's world I think we would have been hung out to dry.

 

[oldblade]

Course he did, we all did in those days mind you, he had to have the tightest as he was like that!
Yep! I remember that miss so well (and I was on their Kop very far removed, I remember jumping up in frustration at the miss and getting some dodgy looks afterwards).

He make some amends and actually scored against them in the return at Bramall Lane. We were probably quite lucky to escape with a 1-1 draw in that match.