Why we're lucky to have a manager who "treats the club's money as if it were his own."

[itsinyerblood]

Woodwardfan This is a good threat, isn't it?

People putting forward their viewpoints reasonably, some agreement to disagree, no ad hominems - it'll never catch on.

I've said my piece, and I live 7000 miles away, so I entirely accept that my views are less informed than others,so I'll belt up for now, save for two last thoughts:

itsinyerblood I know I'm childishly over-excited by an FA cup win and a European game against AC Milan, but you seem equally overly concerned about the downside at Portsmouh. What's so bad about where they are now? Are they really so much worse off than Sheffield United?

Ted Danson The correlation of success to wages is a good point. However, hands up all those who can remember the endless recitation by the club of the mantra that we had the biggest wage bill in the division ? So it seems we even screwed that one up, it appears.

Hello HB, the answer is a very sharp, YES, Portsmouth are in a far worse position than we are, and that's sayin something. I don't actually think you and I are that far apart, it's just the ways and means that we differ on. If we had anyone other than Clough in charge I might be questioning our strategy, whatever it is, but as things stand I'll invest a little faith in NC, as ultimately it's his decisions that will impact of the direction we go in.

If we do get to play Milan, I will rejoice with you like never before! UTB

 

[Revolution]

Hello HB, the answer is a very sharp, YES, Portsmouth are in a far worse position than we are, and that's sayin something. I don't actually think you and I are that far apart, it's just the ways and means that we differ on. If we had anyone other than Clough in charge I might be questioning our strategy, whatever it is, but as things stand I'll invest a little faith in NC, as ultimately it's his decisions that will impact of the direction we go in.

If we do get to play Milan, I will rejoice with you like never before! UTB

You know, since I've been in this board I've heard others say exactly the same things you're saying about Portsmouth with reference to Watford, Leeds, Norwich, Wednesday, Southampton, Charlton and Bradford, amongst others. All these clubs have come back, well , Bradford haven't perhaps, but they've been in a Cup final. So now we get Pompey thrown at us.

For the record, I would swap their last 10 years for ours in a heartbeat. They have done something we will never do - win something. And they won't go bust (anyone remember Dunc Disorderly's countdown to the Pigs' supposed winding up?).

The point is that teams rise and fall, and rise again, and for a club with many thousands of fans it's never terminal. What do we do, wring our hands, say it's all very difficult, and shout down anyone who has the temerity to wonder if selling our young talent is really good long term planning.

You do not need to spend like Portsmouth to get out of this league. But it helps if you spend something on proven strikers.

 

[itsinyerblood]

You know, since I've been in this board I've heard others say exactly the same things you're saying about Portsmouth with reference to Watford, Leeds, Norwich, Wednesday, Southampton, Charlton and Bradford, amongst others. All these clubs have come back, well , Bradford haven't perhaps, but they've been in a Cup final. So now we get Pompey thrown at us.

For the record, I would swap their last 10 years for ours in a heartbeat. They have done something we will never do - win something.

The point is that teams rise and fall, and rise again, and for a club with many thousands of fans it's never terminal. What do we do, wring our hands, say it's all very difficult, and shout down anyone who has the temerity to wonder if selling our young talent is really good long term planning.

Some fair observations Rev. No, I'm not someone who resigns himself to a future of nothing happening. For myself I think a turning point in what happens may have come in the signing of Clough. Don't interpret that as me thinking he can walk on water, or that we'll repeat what his dad's teams achieved, but I do think we'll show improvement if he's allowed time to get this club the way he wants it to be. Last season he took a sinking ship, saved it, and added a little excitement to boot. That's gone now, it only means that there's potential, nothing more, and that as with every other club, there's work to be done. Whether the comparisons of Watford or Leeds are worth drooling at the mouth I doubt, but I kind of get your point, even if I think that the achievements of the clubs you've mentioned aren't that immense.

What I do think Clough has is a strength of character that will help him, and thus us, to chart our way forward. Whether you agree or not, well time will tell, but it's early days this season, so I'll be patient, not get myself into a lather, and see how things pan out. UTB

 

[The Bohemian]

I understand your concern itsinyerblood and I'm largely in the same camp.

But there is a major problem with your "jam tomorrow" argument, which is that we've been hearing it ever since 1925 and we're still waiting. A strategy that can offer us a a way forward is fine, and it's the sensible way to proceed, but what happens if the next five years just brings more scuffling around in the lower leagues? And then the same for the next five years after that - what then? A different new strategy to offer us a way forward, and yet another five years to see if it works?

God willing, I've got another 30 odd years left to support United - and whatever the prudent view might be, I can at least see the attraction of rolling the dice to try and see what success feels like (and one might argue that a good few years in the Premier League, winning the FA cup and playing Milan in the UEFA cup (as it was then) is a bit more than just a momentary glimpse...) You say that the risk is that the club drops like a lead weight, and of course Portsmouth did so - but they're only one division below us, seem now to be in reasonable shape, and still play in the same stadium in front of the same crowds. Of course, the third division is dreadful, and obviously we'd prefer to be looking upwards rather than thinking about the risk of dropping down a division - but I think you're somewhat overdoing the doomsday scenario. I don't think anyone wants to gamble the future of the club, but I do believe a legimitate argument can be made that there's a greater need to speculate to accumulate.

We're never going to be high-fliers, that's for sure, and I agree it's more realistic for us to aim to emulate a Stoke, a Southamptoon or a Sunderland - but I would like us to get a move on, and I'd prefer not to have too many more seasons of looking up two divisions at the likes of Burnley or Leicester. I'm as yet unpersuaded by our current strategy, which appears to be to make modest offers for lower league Scottish players or guys that NC knows from Derby - it may be financially sustainable, but is it definitively the best way to achieve what we both want?

Difficult to argue with the underlying sentiment expressed here; those of us who have followed the Blades through 'thick and thin' over several decades know how little "thick" we've had if gauged by trophies (zero) and time spent in the upper echelons of English Football (5 seasons in the last 40). So yes, we're well overdue an halcyon period of the like we've not experienced since Len Badger had a flat belly.

But in terms of "rolling the dice" and "speculating to accumulate": isn't that precisely what we've done during the McCabe era? He stated publicly that he had 'invested' £80m-£90m in SUFC over the period of his chairmanship. I would be surprised if that did not put him in the top 20 private investors in English football clubs over the past 15 years. Unfortunately for us and him, most of that investment was wasted through a combination of mismanagement, at board and team level, plus a few bizarre and unforeseeable events.

Portsmouth is an interesting example and I'm really not sure I would swap places with a team that spent 4 years in and out of Administration before ending up in Division 4. Whether they're in a much worse place than The Blades is a matter of opinion. They are now owned by a Supporters Trust which I see as positive but many wouldn't and, as such, will not be engaging in any further 'dice rolling.'

 

[Ted Danson]

Woodwardfan This is a good thread, isn't it?

People putting forward their viewpoints reasonably, some agreement to disagree, no ad hominems - it'll never catch on.

I've said my piece, and I live 7000 miles away, so I entirely accept that my views are less informed than others,so I'll belt up for now, save for two last thoughts:

itsinyerblood I know I'm childishly over-excited by an FA cup win and a European game against AC Milan, but you seem equally overly concerned about the downside at Portsmouh. What's so bad about where they are now? Are they really so much worse off than Sheffield United?

Ted Danson The correlation of success to wages is a good point. However, hands up all those who can remember the endless recitation by the club of the mantra that we had the biggest wage bill in the division ? So it seems we even screwed that one up, which is why it's hard to believe it's going to different this time if we're just patient and trust in Cloughie.

Thing is when weve had the highest wage bill in the division we have done well, other than under Robson and Weir which were just bad managers. We should have gone up straight away from this league in the first season scoring a record number of goals but got screwed by Ched and the pigs having a phenominal run. Made the playoffs again the season after and once we corrected the Weir mistake almost finished in the PO again last season. The money spent on wages doesnt guarantee youl win the league or get auto but it does pretty much guarantee which end of the league youl end up in.

 

[judge]

nigel is like the guy who works hundred hours a week to make a good life for his family but his wife wont let him have any of his own money to replace his old robin reliant hes been driving to work for the last 20 years

 

[judge]

"spend, spend, spend
"bugger the consequences"
Oh yes, a 'free' transfer means exactly that, doesn't it? We mustn't consider the wages that might last for anything up to 4 years

ive put all these phrases in the forums search facility and this is the only name that comes up

itsinyerblood

 

[Revolution]

But in terms of "rolling the dice" and "speculating to accumulate": isn't that precisely what we've done during the McCabe era? He stated publicly that he had 'invested' £80m-£90m in SUFC over the period of his chairmanship. I would be surprised if that did not put him in the top 20 private investors in English football clubs over the past 15 years. Unfortunately for us and him, most of that investment was wasted through a combination of mismanagement, at board and team level, plus a few bizarre and unforeseeable events.'

80 to 90 million sounds high to me, though he has put a lot in.

But it's not his money now. It's the co-owners. And yes, with the exception of promotion it did not work, but:

- as we have seen since 2010, if you stop investing, you fall. You cannot stand pay in the modern game

- I would have more sympathy for McCabe if his response to all 3 of our Playoff defeats on his watch was to sell if the teams best players. That strategy has proved extremely counterproductive. Contrast Huddersfield and Leeds keeping their best players together for another tilt.

 

[blader]

Who would you say we missed out on of interest? Out of all the players that have signed for League One teams on a free transfer, I would have been happy with:

Leroy Lita (at a VERY big push)
Billy Knott (Had we not got plenty of central midfielders)
One of Mark Little or Luke Ayling
Jakub Sokolik

I can't see much else.

Jobi McAnuff
Darius Henderson (say what you want about him, but he is better than Higdon and has already scored more goals)
Alan Sheehan
Aaron Wilbraham
Billy Clarke


The four you have said as well. Now, let's not debate whether they are better, I am stating my opinion that all these players are better than what we currently have in their positions. If you see it differently, then we see football differently and that's fair enough. Let's also not forget the decent signings made for 'nominal fees' such as: hourihane, Agard, Griggs, Baldwin, freeman....

And then there's some good loan deals dotted around too. We've missed out on good players, some which cost, some which don't. This wouldn't have been an issue had we also signed some good players, but I don't believe we have signed GOOD league 1 players. Heightened by the fact or results only improved once we re-introduced Collins and Doyle - the two most berated players in the last couple of seasons!

 

[DazBlade88]

Jobi McAnuff
Darius Henderson (say what you want about him, but he is better than Higdon and has already scored more goals)
Alan Sheehan
Aaron Wilbraham
Billy Clarke


The four you have said as well. Now, let's not debate whether they are better, I am stating my opinion that all these players are better than what we currently have in their positions. If you see it differently, then we see football differently and that's fair enough. Let's also not forget the decent signings made for 'nominal fees' such as: hourihane, Agard, Griggs, Baldwin, freeman....

And then there's some good loan deals dotted around too. We've missed out on good players, some which cost, some which don't. This wouldn't have been an issue had we also signed some good players, but I don't believe we have signed GOOD league 1 players. Heightened by the fact or results only improved once we re-introduced Collins and Doyle - the two most berated players in the last couple of seasons!

I'm with you on a couple of those but not others... varying reasons stopped me from adding them to the list. Whether that's based on players we have here already or what I think they could have added to our team.

Agard went for almost £1m didn't he? If we were to pay that sum for a player he'd be a long way down the list in my opinion. I personally think Grigg was a one season wonder but we'll see about that.

I think we've signed good, proven League One players but they don't seem to have worked as well as we'd hoped yet. Butler was an excellent signing on the evidence of the last few seasons, for some reason it didn't work out. Higdon's goal record in the last 3 years speaks for itself, but he's arrived unfit. I still think he'll get 15 this season and this two week break will have done him good. Campbell-Ryce is a proven player at this level, Wallace was classed as one of the best in the league until his recent injury problems, Alcock has been excellent, Basham and Davies have proven themselves at a higher level. We've signed good players, they just haven't clicked as a team fully yet. Players who did really well for us in the second half of the year just haven't performed for us this season so far (Scougall before injury, Murphy and Harris to name a few), but it's early days.

Once we find the team that fits and get that momentum, we'll be tough to stop in my opinion. I reckon we'll be in contention for the top 2 at Christmas, strengthen in January and push on for promotion. This is going to be the year we get back up...

Hopefully.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

This wouldn't have been an issue had we also signed some good players, but I don't believe we have signed GOOD league 1 players. Heightened by the fact or results only improved once we re-introduced Collins and Doyle - the two most berated players in the last couple of seasons!

I think we've signed good, proven League One players but they don't seem to have worked as well as we'd hoped yet.

We've played five league games!

Are some of our supporters really that impatient?! So you don't think any of our new recruits are good players blader? You've managed to reach that conclusion after five league games?

Hardly surprising that Collins and Doyle improved us. They've been at the club for some time and have been pretty much faultless since Clough became manager. Our two most experienced players came in and made the team gel a bit.....what a shock!

 

[DazBlade88]

We've played five league games!

Are some of our supporters really that impatient?! So you don't think any of our new recruits are good players blader? You've managed to reach that conclusion after five league games?

Hardly surprising that Collins and Doyle improved us. They've been at the club for some time and have been pretty much faultless since Clough became manager. Our two most experienced players came in and made the team gel a bit.....what a shock!

You've pretty much said what I was getting at to be fair. They're good players, they just haven't hit the ground running. I'm confident they'll do the job for us.

 

[itsinyerblood]

"spend, spend, spend
"bugger the consequences"
Oh yes, a 'free' transfer means exactly that, doesn't it? We mustn't consider the wages that might last for anything up to 4 years

ive put all these phrases in the forums search facility and this is the only name that comes up

itsinyerblood

judge, appreciate the effort you're putting into stalking me, but there are sites that cater for that type of mania.

You seem to want to prove a point to underline how right you imagine you are. Rather than continue with this persistent demonstration of what it takes to be a prize example of intellectual dwarfism, wouldn't it be more constructive to contribute in ways that show you've given some thought to how the club can move forward?

The most recent example I can recall of you demonstrating your unique talent for spitting out your dummy resulted in you calling it a day as you felt you'd been ganged up on. I assume you feel less bruised now, thus this demonstration of what you consider trying to prove a point?

Not sure how many marks to award for artistic interpretation, certainly underwhelmed and most definitely unimpressed, but try, try, try again...and then try some more. As part of the miserablist tendency, you represent this spectrum as only you are capable. Hope it gives you as much pleasure as I get realising you devoted time to scouring the various posts to find quotes that suited your purpose. UTB

 

[Kev Gee]

Id like an exciting signing.

One that gets the fans going.

Weve ended up with 11/12 players who, although wont get the fires burning, should get us there or thereabouts.

Its nice hes a tight sod. But sometimes its nice to buy a round in, instead of disappearing to the bog everytime.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

You've pretty much said what I was getting at to be fair. They're good players, they just haven't hit the ground running. I'm confident they'll do the job for us.

Some of them have though. Alcock has been excellent, Ben Davies has put in good performances, JCR has done well in the game time he's had, McGahey has looked very good the last two or three games, McEveley has settled quickly and I really haven't been unhappy with any of the others. Some need a bit more time to settle to new roles and improve match fitness.

 

[BeatleBlade]

That could be our board speaking.

Yes, Wolves are still benefitting from parachute payments. And yes, Portsmouth over-stretched themselves. But there is a middle way. Our (latest) decline started in May 2009 when we lost the play-off final. As tragic as that was, it was nothing compared to the wilful breaking up of a very good squad. Since then, it's been a downward spiral.

Last seasons Cup run, excellent (for this level) crowds and Maguire's transfer fee should put us in a very strong position re. finances. But I fear we'll just fritter away this advantage. Anybody who thinks that this season will be 'easier' now that Wolves have gone is deluded. There'll be the usual suspects such as Preston and Orient. Bristol City and Peterborough already look strong. And there will be somebody who will mount a strong challenge. (Barnsley? Donnie? Don't discount Coventry now they're back in the Ricoh.)

I think we all appreciate that 'free' transfers aren't free, but we seem to be going for quantity over quality - a team 'much of a muchness'. We were never going to get/keep Brayford/Maguire, but to miss out on Cody for a poxy £400k was a mistake. Why are we prioritising the spending of £800k on a new pitch over the much-needed striker(s)? Is the current pitch that bad? (No) Do we want the best stadium and pitch in the Third Division next season?

While we continue to tread water, we get left further behind. Could anybody have seen Bournemouth overtaking us in league position and financial clout? Me neither, but they have. Looking at the upcoming fixtures - Rochdale, Colchester, Swindon etc., is anybody convinced we'll storm them? Or maybe get 4-5 points?

Get a proven striker and all will be well. But we show no signs of doing so.

Have you not seen the Mal Brannigan video on YouTube where he very almost says that we have substantial funds available but stops himself (a little too late)? The board are very keen on keeping quiet how much money we have right now, that's why the Derby deals fell through because Hull released information on the Maguire transfer that was agreed to be kept confidential.
Trust me, the board have been trying to get new players in as Mal Brannigan was stating but these deals did not work out because the clubs were not willing to sell. I don't think Coady did not join because we lacked the money but because he would play at a higher level, something we can't offer right now.
Spending 800k on the new pitch will save money in the long run.
We don't need another proven striker. We have Higdon, Mcnulty (?) and Baxter who has already scored 3 so far putting him 8th in the leading scorers table. If we need another striker we can loan someone in and possibly buy them if they meet the standards required. Maybe Diego might start playing, who knows?
I don't see why we can't get 7 or 9 points from the next 3 games. After the two losses I was convinced we'd not win any of our next 3 games but to get 7 points was far beyond most people's expectations.
Give it a couple of years and we'll see that we are far ahead of Bournemouth once again.

 

[BeatleBlade]

On a side note. Let's say QPR got relegated and did not pay the fine meaning that they got relegated to the Conference. As terrible as that would be would that mean an extra League 1 side would need to be promoted into the Championship in order to make up the numbers?

 

[judge]

judge, appreciate the effort you're putting into stalking me, but there are sites that cater for that type of mania.

You dont half exagerate mate , ive probably replied to your pots haf a dozen times , like a few others on here you seem to think its ok to insult someone as long as ypu dont swear , probably thik you are so intellectually superior that us thickos wont notice

You seem to want to prove a point to underline how right you imagine you are. Rather than continue with this persistent demonstration of what it takes to be a prize example of intellectual dwarfism, wouldn't it be more constructive to contribute in ways that show you've given some thought to how the club can move forward?

The most recent example I can recall of you demonstrating your unique talent for spitting out your dummy resulted in you calling it a day as you felt you'd been ganged up on. I assume you feel less bruised now, thus this demonstration of what you consider trying to prove a point?

Not sure how many marks to award for artistic interpretation, certainly underwhelmed and most definitely unimpressed, but try, try, try again...and then try some more. As part of the miserablist tendency, you represent this spectrum as only you are capable. Hope it gives you as much pleasure as I get realising you devoted time to scouring the various posts to find quotes that suited your purpose. UTB

judge, appreciate the effort you're putting into stalking me, but there are sites that cater for that type of mania.

You seem to want to prove a point to underline how right you imagine you are. Rather than continue with this persistent demonstration of what it takes to be a prize example of intellectual dwarfism, wouldn't it be more constructive to contribute in ways that show you've given some thought to how the club can move forward?

The most recent example I can recall of you demonstrating your unique talent for spitting out your dummy resulted in you calling it a day as you felt you'd been ganged up on. I assume you feel less bruised now, thus this demonstration of what you consider trying to prove a point?

Not sure how many marks to award for artistic interpretation, certainly underwhelmed and most definitely unimpressed, but try, try, try again...and then try some more. As part of the miserablist tendency, you represent this spectrum as only you are capable. Hope it gives you as much pleasure as I get realising you devoted time to scouring the various posts to find quotes that suited your purpose. UTB

No need to get personal lad , ive just got a different point of view to yours if me sticking a few quotes on here youve made up gets you all riled up like that I wont do it anymore I dont come on here to be accused of stalking anyone especially someone ive replied to a handful of times
Your not on bladesmad you know , we can discuss sheffield united without resulting to 200 word personal attacks

 

[blader]

We've played five league games!

Are some of our supporters really that impatient?! So you don't think any of our new recruits are good players blader? You've managed to reach that conclusion after five league games?

Hardly surprising that Collins and Doyle improved us. They've been at the club for some time and have been pretty much faultless since Clough became manager. Our two most experienced players came in and made the team gel a bit.....what a shock!

Well let me pose this question: of our new recruits, who do you believe other top league 1 clubs are looking at with jealousy? My answer would be a resounding zero.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Some of them have though. Alcock has been excellent, Ben Davies has put in good performances, JCR has done well in the game time he's had, McGahey has looked very good the last two or three games, McEveley has settled quickly and I really haven't been unhappy with any of the others. Some need a bit more time to settle to new roles and improve match fitness.

Far too logical and forward thinking Pat. We should have won every game by at least 3-0 by now otherwise you just throw more money at it because that's always been proven to work.

I keep saying it and the likes of Blader will continue to ignore it but to look too deeply into anything before 10 games have been played is just plain daft.
He'll not accept it, and every time there's a slip he'll be on here telling us he told us so and that the sky is falling.
Alcock, McEveley and MaGhay have looked like they will be good additions at the back. Basham still has a fair bit to do for me but it's still early days, Reed looks like he's got a bright future ahead of him and Baxter has been excellent. McNulty and Wallace haven't had the opportunity to have a decent run yet so can't be judged so therefore we light on firepower with Higdon clearly not fully fit.
That's where we are after 5 games, unbeaten in 4, defence looking more settled each game and a nice run of games ahead of us.
There's stil going to up a few results we can't quite understand however come the Chesterfield game I think they're will be clear signs of the promotion winning squad I believe we already have.

 

[puppet]

I understand your concern itsinyerblood and I'm largely in the same camp.

But there is a major problem with your "jam tomorrow" argument, which is that we've been hearing it ever since 1925 and we're still waiting...."

Because successive chairmen, from my living memory Dick Wragg onwards have known what we will put up with regardless of their input or lack of it. Wragg's audacious statement of 'If i could make more money growing potatoes on that pitch I'd be out there with a spade' is the blueprint every successive chairman has followed, occasionally peppered with bad investments. £5m in Maguire and Cup-run money where in hells name has that money GONE? We haven't got a single 'name' player in that squad, nobody can tell me we're paying Basham, Campbell-Ryce etc the earth because we aren't. So where has that money gone, given we were supposedly now debt-free and the money for Brayford and Coady came from the game-changing investment of the puppet Prince, so where the hell is that £5m?

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

Well let me pose this question: of our new recruits, who do you believe other top league 1 clubs are looking at with jealousy? My answer would be a resounding zero.

But very few of us would pose a question in those terms. Your interest in what "other clubs" do is bordering upon an obsession.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Far too logical and forward thinking Pat. We should have won every game by at least 3-0 by now otherwise you just throw more money at it because that's always been proven to work.

I keep saying it and the likes of Blader will continue to ignore it but to look too deeply into anything before 10 games have been played is just plain daft.
He'll not accept it, and every time there's a slip he'll be on here telling us he told us so and that the sky is falling.
Alcock, McEveley and MaGhay have looked like they will be good additions at the back. Basham still has a fair bit to do for me but it's still early days, Reed looks like he's got a bright future ahead of him and Baxter has been excellent. McNulty and Wallace haven't had the opportunity to have a decent run yet so can't be judged so therefore we light on firepower with Higdon clearly not fully fit.
That's where we are after 5 games, unbeaten in 4, defence looking more settled each game and a nice run of games ahead of us.
There's stil going to up a few results we can't quite understand however come the Chesterfield game I think they're will be clear signs of the promotion winning squad I believe we already have.

Agree with all of that. Expectations will always be high at a big club, especially when it's playing in the lower divisions but I think some expectations are unrealistic at times. To write new players off after a handful of games is.....well.....I don't have a word to describe how short sighted that is.

I think it's a fair comment on Basham, he can do more. I have seen him in the past though and he is decent, will be an important player once he settles. I do think he's trying to set used to playing a more advance role. Clough seems to want him playing as the furthest man forward in midfield which surprised me a little.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Well let me pose this question: of our new recruits, who do you believe other top league 1 clubs are looking at with jealousy? My answer would be a resounding zero.

I imagine a good clutch of them would have taken Alcock, Basham and Wallace. A few would have also looked at Higdon given his scoring record in recent years. You're writing players off before they've had a chance.

 

[DazBlade88]

Agree with all of that. Expectations will always be high at a big club, especially when it's playing in the lower divisions but I think some expectations are unrealistic at times. To write new players off after a handful of games is.....well.....I don't have a word to describe how short sighted that is.

I think it's a fair comment on Basham, he can do more. I have seen him in the past though and he is decent, will be an important player once he settles. I do think he's trying to set used to playing a more advance role. Clough seems to want him playing as the furthest man forward in midfield which surprised me a little.

I don't think Basham was half as bad as made out in the first couple of games, but he has shown improvement in every game so far. I reckon he'll become more of an asset as the season goes on.

 

[itsinyerblood]

No need to get personal lad , ive just got a different point of view to yours if me sticking a few quotes on here youve made up gets you all riled up like that I wont do it anymore I dont come on here to be accused of stalking anyone especially someone ive replied to a handful of times
Your not on bladesmad you know , we can discuss sheffield united without resulting to 200 word personal attacks

You have a perception problem son, especially if you consider my response an example of becoming riled, quite clearly you've existed in the shallow end for far too long if you believe this to be the case.

You won't do it anymore if you're accused of stalking? What did you expect you clot? You go to the trouble of compiling quotes that you then, with self-righteous satisfaction, declare were said by myself, and not expect a response? Altogether strange, weird, and unbalanced.

So it's ok for you to attempt to attribute some type of attitude to myself? And you felt it was worth going to those lengths? One thing I would ask, just please don't rummage through my dustbin judge, it's not becoming mate, unless, of course, you get a buzz from wallowing in crap..

I also smiled at your supposed conciliatory comment about how it's possible not to result to personal attacks.....strange that one judge, especially as you have chosen to do the exact opposite in some of your posts. UTB

 

[judge]

You have a perception problem son, especially if you consider my response an example of becoming riled, quite clearly you've existed in the shallow end for far too long if you believe this to be the case.

You won't do it anymore if you're accused of stalking? What did you expect you clot? You go to the trouble of compiling quotes that you then, with self-righteous satisfaction, declare were said by myself, and not expect a response? Altogether strange, weird, and unbalanced.

So it's ok for you to attempt to attribute some type of attitude to myself? And you felt it was worth going to those lengths? One thing I would ask, just please don't rummage through my dustbin judge, it's not becoming mate, unless, of course, you get a buzz from wallowing in crap..

I also smiled at your supposed conciliatory comment about how it's possible not to result to personal attacks.....strange that one judge, especially as you have chosen to do the exact opposite in some of your posts. UTB

only read the first line of your post and had to stop
if you cant stop yourself from dishing out personal abuse to me then dont reply to me ,i havent given any to you and dont expect any back if you carry on i will report you im going to put you on igore now

 

[itsinyerblood]

only read the first line of your post and had to stop
if you cant stop yourself from dishing out personal abuse to me then dont reply to me ,i havent given any to you and dont expect any back if you carry on i will report you im going to put you on igore now

Think that's called a lack of backbone......reminds me of a wilting violet......happy to give it out but far too fragile to engage in the same.

 

[More Bladier than thou]

iam glad we arent wasting the money. we tried to sign 3 in the window. it didnt work out, at least we havent just spent for the hell of it and got players we dont really want/need on the payroll. NC should be applauded for that and not settling for 2nd best. UTB

 

[Hague Blade]

I know we've agreed that transfer fees are for show, and wages are for dough, but I couldn't resist a quick look through the list of club record transfer fees. Proves nothing, of course, but you might use it to argue that Sheffield United have never shown sufficient "ambition" for a club of its size, stature and support

Discounting the various Premier League super clubs, who've spent more on one player than we've spent on transfers in 125 years, it's still a long and pretty depressing list - and it may not even be complete - I gave up when I got past 20 clubs:

Dirty Leeds - 18 million; Southampton - 15 million; QPR - 12.5 million; Swansea and Middlesborough - 12 million; Cardiff - 11 million; Fulham - 10.5 million; Portsmouth, Bolton, Stoke, WBA, Hull - 10 million; Norwich - 8.5 million; Blackburn and Leicester - 8 million; Wolves, Wigan and Palace - 7 million; Birmingham - 6.25 million; Pigs - 5.7 million; Ipswich - 4.8 million; Charlton - 4.75; Forest - 4.5 million

I'd argue Beattie was good value for the £4 million - Ched less so at 3, Claude Davis absolutely not at 2.5, and then you're into joke fees like 2 million for Henderson, 1.85 for Luton Shelton, and 1.75 for Akinbiyi. Maybe it's a good job we've never really splashed the cash - we don't exactly have a great track record....