Worrying apathy

[stringjunior]

I'm another one how doesn't live in Sheffield any more. I dread the Monday morning conversations in the kitchen at work when I get a coffee. I invariably bump into other footy-mad colleagues who support Leicester, Coventry, Burton, Derby. I don't hang about long in there. It's fucking embarrassing talking about Blades performances.

Think I'll bring my own coffee in a flask.

Showing your age there HB. The kids bring in a Starbucks

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Showing your age there HB. The kids bring in a Starbucks

I almost said 'Thermos'.

 

[Northyorksblade]

I completely forgot (not on purpose) about football yesterday and went fishing instead.

Now if that happened to mne I'd know I'd watched my last United game

 

[Barney]

I'm one result away from packing it in for this season.

 

[Northyorksblade]

This thread has got me thinking back to the good old days. I was never one for boozing before games, but I'd get to Sheffield about 12 watch the first arrivals walking up Shoreham Street, hang around the players entrance and work out who was playing, by the time they walked into the ground. I couldn't bear not to see Bramall Lane during the whole of the summer and would drive across from Harrogate, just to sit in an empty Bramall Lane and perhaps catch sight of a player, or manager or even the physio! The build up to the first game of the season was so exciting, it was almost unbearable. We had the Green un posted to us weekly and that was all the news we got pre-internet.
Sigghhhh! Them were t'days.

 

[metty]

I've been here before over the last 50 years or so, so no matter what I'll still be there come rain or shine.

 

[Woodwardfan]

If anything I take the Blades more seriously in retirement than I ever did while I worked. Involvement in this forum makes me more aware of all things United than I have ever been. I was gutted yesterday and even more so after the Millwall game. It's that sad realisation that our manager is not making the headway he will have hoped for and the players, new and old, are not doing him justice as yet. His fault, their fault, nobody's fault, what does it matter - thing is we have a small mountain to climb to get automatic promotion and if we don't improve soon then it will be a ruddy great mountain.

We need a settled side and Adkins' talisman signing, Howard, needs to get up to speed quickly. Adkins must be embarrassed at the start he's had, even though he has played no first team football for months. Similarly Woolford has had a bad start and Sharp has only scored four outfield goals. Edgar's injury is unfortunate.

I think the new Board deserve better than this and I find that hard to bear, especially when my Wendy pal rang me this morning full of his wonderful week in S6, it's hard.

Apathy no, but I resent my obsession, that I do. However I still think we'll be promoted this season. 26 pros trained on Friday and Brayford will be back soon, surely Done will get going soon too.

 

[Stuart mitchell]

Had a bit of this over the last few years but yesterday was a new low even for me.

I have not been away this season and have no plans to go. It is a complete waste of money and time and it hurts me to say that.

Yesterday, I met up with a few mates for an old work mates retirement do around Sheffield. Met them around 3pm and forgot we were even playing. Seriously. A lad I was with told me we had lost at 5.30pm. I was not surprised but not even angry. I barely looked at twitter or my phone at least in connection with SUFC.

I came home late and I did not look at the table, did not go on forums, did not tweet, nothing. I used to think about defeats for hours, days after and it would eat me up but now I can put it out of my mind almost instantly.

I am resigned to the fact we are crap. We have changed the manager and it has made no difference - we are even worse if anything. The players change most weeks but the results and performances do not. The optimism of Adkins early on has gone completely. We have the same repetitive comments from him and from Phipps every week. It bores me. Bores me rigid. But even due to all this I am not angry anymore.

The most worrying thing? I actually care less now about SUFC than I ever have done. I miss 3 games in the next few months due to work and holidays and I am not bothered. I actually don't even look forward to games any more - I look forward to a beer with mates and family pre game but SUFC does not excite me, even interest me that much any more.

I am sure it is a phase and sure it is down to the complete lack of success on the pitch and maybe 3 or 4 wins on the bounce and I will become more interested again but at the moment it's hard to even get annoyed. I should be but I can't. Does feel odd.

Anyone else feel the same?

Totally agree , I've just about had enough of watching that shower of shite! It doesn't bother be anymore , only been down to the lane a handful of times and haven't seen a decent game , Blackpool / chesterfield , both games we were lucky to win , donny/Fleetwood another poor display, I just enjoy the catch up with family /friends before the game , but as soon as I enter the game my heart sinks and I struggle to stay awake , always walk away wondering why I bother' WELL I won't be in future,

 

[Houston_Blade]

I think it depends on your life situation as well. 5-15 years ago I thought a lot about football and the blades, now I have other interests and priorities.

I'm sure in a few years when the little ones are interested I'll get back interested. I don't have apathy at the moment as I'm still bothered but I don't attend a quarter of the games I used to. I am also a realist and see that we're shite and don't seem to be able to do anything about it which makes it easier to be a bit more distant.

 

[breeny]

I just wish that the club would listen to the fans - been some great suggestions on here over the last 24 hours.

I suppose we want Adkins to justify some decisions, like playing Sammon on the left etc.

Can we be heard??!

 

[Tezza1889]

Connor Sammon is a big lump, who will run all day and move defenders about and create space for his strike partner... I'm not a football manager but I can tell u this, watching him and scougall at Oldham was like watching laurel and hardy, both had no idea what they were doing and Connor Sammon couldn't even handle a ball played into his feet let alone pass it to somebody, square pegs in round holes I wasn't expecting from Adkins....

Starting to doubt Adkins, yeah, we can't go sacking managers, and I support him as he's the best we could get no doubt, but some of his decisions lately make clough look like sir Alex...

All the playing staff, and team involved with the first team need to sort themselves out and sharpish, it's not half as toxic as its gonna get...

 

[Dkc]

I used to look forward to the games all week, and as Saturday approached I became more and more nervous, biting my fingernails and pulling out clumps of my hair. Often I would vomit on a Saturday morning, such were my frayed nerves. In fact, on a number of occasions I actually kacked my pants on the kop when the opposition had an attack. The relief if we'd won put me on an MDMA-like high for days, but a loss felt like my mum had been run over by a truck.

Now, I'm so apathetic I couldn't even name a single one of our players. Haven't been to a game this season, and if we're on Sky I'll put on the BBC Parliament channel instead. In fact, I don't give a fuck so much that sometimes I totally forget which club I support.

 

[metalblade]

Thank god for the OP I thought it was just me getting old ............ my reaction to the crew goal whilst listening to radio pig's commentary was a "tut might have fuckin known" uttered to myself, I can't really be that arsed to come on the forum and have a good rant anymore, apathy has truly set in. I can't even get myself that excited for home games anymore and don't even know if we are at home some weeks until the wife asks if we are going to the caravan for the weekend and I have to check the fixture list. I'm 60 now been going to the lane for over 50 years first ST for the kop in 71 had a ST on the south stand until my divorce then when I couldn't afford to go I worked selling programmes to get into matches. I went back to a ST on the kop but after watching the shit Clough served up I would not have re-newed but for the fact that I now qualified as a Senior. How I wish I had not bothered , fuck all has changed despite what Jim Phipps would have you believe. As soon as the ST monies are in they sell the best player year after year despite Jim saying we no longer need to sell players to survive, as soon as we signed Sharp I knew Murphy was on his way Billy is only here as a crowd sweetener much like Brayford last season when the fanbase was becoming restless and so it goes on and on and on and fucking on ................... Same shit different day.
I have a cracking seat bang behind the goal between the poles on the kop and would hate to let it go but fucking hell the wave of optimism after Adkins appointment has well and truly hit the high tide mark and is fast receding, I'm not sure I can go through this shit again next season, hell I'm not sure a can be arsed for the rest of this season, we have a squad of players who mostly don't seem to give a fuck about the club all they seem interested in is getting pissed in Sheffield nightclubs every weekend or how cool they look in their 15 plate Range Rovers or how good their latest tramp stamp looks and that's the ones who can't get into the first team ......................... well fuck off I won't be funding the worthless wankers lifestyles next season that for sure, when I think how little Del Geary used to run through brick walls on fucked knees this load of tossers make me sick.

 

[DorsetSUFC]

I have been a Blade all my life and I am 56 years old - though Sheffield born, I have not lived in the the great city for many a year. It is the first time that I am shrugging my shoulders to all things Blades. I will always wear the red and white with pride, but I can't explain or understand the performances of my beloved team to anyone. I live amongst Yeovil supporters and shit yes they have hit hard times but compared to them all things being equal - I can't understand for the life of me with the so called Blades talented squad continue to under achieve. I have met Mr Adkins in the past and know how meticulous he is in preparations - so please Mr Phipps back him, clear out the slackers and build a club and team we can ALL be proud of.

 

[blade67]

I gave up really getting bothered watching the Wigan match, just got up and walked away after that one.

I don't think I'll really suffer as much ever again. As they say it's the hope that really hurts you and mine ended that day.

Today I watched a fantastic U18 match that was an advert for spirit and skill and enthusiasm. Ended 5-2 and was probably 1 level down from academy standard. If it wasn't for Sunday's I'd be ready to walk away from football at the moment.

 

[Slim Man]

I feel the exact same and the sad thing is I'm what you'd class as the younger end.
That's what's scary.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Had a bit of this over the last few years but yesterday was a new low even for me.

I have not been away this season and have no plans to go. It is a complete waste of money and time and it hurts me to say that.

Yesterday, I met up with a few mates for an old work mates retirement do around Sheffield. Met them around 3pm and forgot we were even playing. Seriously. A lad I was with told me we had lost at 5.30pm. I was not surprised but not even angry. I barely looked at twitter or my phone at least in connection with SUFC.

I came home late and I did not look at the table, did not go on forums, did not tweet, nothing. I used to think about defeats for hours, days after and it would eat me up but now I can put it out of my mind almost instantly.

I am resigned to the fact we are crap. We have changed the manager and it has made no difference - we are even worse if anything. The players change most weeks but the results and performances do not. The optimism of Adkins early on has gone completely. We have the same repetitive comments from him and from Phipps every week. It bores me. Bores me rigid. But even due to all this I am not angry anymore.

The most worrying thing? I actually care less now about SUFC than I ever have done. I miss 3 games in the next few months due to work and holidays and I am not bothered. I actually don't even look forward to games any more - I look forward to a beer with mates and family pre game but SUFC does not excite me, even interest me that much any more.

I am sure it is a phase and sure it is down to the complete lack of success on the pitch and maybe 3 or 4 wins on the bounce and I will become more interested again but at the moment it's hard to even get annoyed. I should be but I can't. Does feel odd.

Anyone else feel the same?

Always thought Grimsby and Tranmere were good away days.

Never thought the club would take my feelings on board and make such an effort reunite us with those trips.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Connor Sammon is a big lump, who will run all day and move defenders about and create space for his strike partner... I'm not a football manager but I can tell u this, watching him and scougall at Oldham was like watching laurel and hardy, both had no idea what they were doing and Connor Sammon couldn't even handle a ball played into his feet let alone pass it to somebody, square pegs in round holes I wasn't expecting from Adkins....

Starting to doubt Adkins, yeah, we can't go sacking managers, and I support him as he's the best we could get no doubt, but some of his decisions lately make clough look like sir Alex...

All the playing staff, and team involved with the first team need to sort themselves out and sharpish, it's not half as toxic as its gonna get...

Perhaps Clough was right, perhaps the team are worth falling out with?

 

[Bartleby]

I'm with you there. Listened to it yesterday and wasn't even angry when they scored. I kind of expected it.

I went out on my bike instead, never stopped to check the scores on my phone, and didn't rush to see the result when I got back. Have just shelled out on Bladesplayer last month and couldn't even be bothered to listen to it, had to force myself to skip through some of the video yesterday.

 

[grafikhaus]

Mrs G made the choice for us yesterday, when she decided that rather than go to Crewe, we should go and help a local boozer get set up for a Halloween fund raiser, all in aid of Blue Bell Wood children's hospice. I am so glad she talked me out of going to the game.

Bloody part timer! Did the landlady win the best Herman Munster lookalike?

Seriously, they're in danger of losing their only real asset - us marvellous fans. Other teams change managers and, by the law of averages, a lot of them pick up. Us? So deep is the malaise at BDTBL I doubt if Mourinho could lift it. This latest apocalypse started with the Burnley PO Final six years ago. Since then, we've got steadily worse.

 

[super_pig]

you know what..
i have more fun talking to you 'lot' than following the fucking team

 

[Darthblade]

I find myself still caring about the club and it's poor state....but I couldn't care less about the players. Many if them should be ashamed of their performances this season. Even the good players aren't pulling their weight.

Thank goodness for my own football and Revolution jrs football. That's still enjoyable. And Chelsea are hilarious this season.

The players SHOULD be ashamed of their performances but there's no evidence that they actually are.

I expected that, at the very least, the manager and the team captain should have offered a full, unreserved apology to the supporters, on behalf of the team, for the shit we're having to suffer from them but no such gesture is forthcoming.

I hope there are about 500 Blades turn up on Saturday for the Cup game ....... that would make the Players, management & the Board consider their own performance ........
UTB & FTP

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Just chucking this video on to pick mi'sen up. BDTBL was rocking that night!

 

[Northyorksblade]

Oh shit, that's made me feel worse

 

[coaxingstar71]

There was certainly an inevitability about the result on Saturday.
Like many others, I wasn't around, I was in Leeds............... wait for it!........... got hammered in the Tap and on the train and after a cheeky afternoon kip, went to a gig at Belgrave Music Hall to see a great band called Wolf People. Found out result on Sunday morning - wasn't surprised at all.

 

[SRBlade]

I find it more surprising now when we actually beat teams like Fleetwood, Rochdale, Swindon etc.

Back when I was actually bothered about United and how they were doing, it was because we had players in the squad who I felt a sense or pride in, players who were quite deeply rooted in what I felt United represented, players like Morgs, Montgomery, Tonge, Geary, Chris Armstrong, Jags, Paddy, just to name a few who were here for years at a time, some were better than others, yet they all seemed to share that determination and grit to want to win.

Ever since 2010 we have had to endure shit like Nyron Nosworthy on season long loans, Neil Collins for 4 fucking years, players signing on a free from mid table league 1 clubs while at the same time we as a club are surprised when these players can't perform above a mid table level in league one.

Let's just come to the realisation that players like Iffy Onoura, Patrick Suffo, Carl Asaba, Jean Philip Javary, Andy Parkinson for example have achieved more in their time at United than the current crop.

I'd hate to be a young united fan nowadays, at least when I first started to get hooked we were beating Liverpool in a cup semi final and Michael Brown was better and Lampard.

On the flip side, is it the players fault they're not performing or the club's fault for signing them despite knowing they're shit?

 

[Pollingtonblade]

My first game was in September 1985, between then age 8 and the age of 17 when i started working I went all over England and Wales watching United pre season games and reserve games. Then I started working and my appearances varied, but was mainly home games and in year 2000 I got a job where i didn't work Saturdays so again started going all over in THE season 02/03 I went to 58 of the 63 games, I would have crawled through broken glass back then from Leeds to Sheffield to see the game and now my season ticket has already missed 2 home games and on Saturday it's my Daughters 2nd birthday the fact I could go to the Lane for free isn't even a conflict of interest it would have been a few years ago. Which is quite sad really.

My attitude is the players don't give a fuck about us so why should I about them?

My own personal opinion is we Hoover up the young hungry talent from this and League 2 /non league and players that might give a toss instead of the policy of ageing pros or shit Scottish players. Surely someone at board level is thinking of doing this?

Personally I'm dreading January window and feel we'll be at least 15 points off 2nd.

 

[Tezza1889]

An admission from me, I had a £5 bet hovering over Crewe at 7/1 when they scored.... Hesitated and it didn't get placed..

When we think Crewe are going to give us a game, and Adkins says the same (echoing clough last season) then nobody's surprised that they are giving us a game...

Why respect the opposition cause that shows fear, let's fucking go after em..

 

[Whiston Blade]

The club is in serious danger of shedding its fanbase soon if results do not improve.

Its remarkable that were still getting 20k after our 5th season in this godforsaken league.

Someone needs to show this thread to the board members.

The fans patience is wearing thin.

I'd say the process is already under way. I'm not a ST holder, never have and probably never will but I'm not in a rush to waste upwards of £30 on a ticket to watch these tossers show little effort and collect a very good wage in the process. The way we are playing, they don't deserve my money so I'll happily vote with my wallet and spend that money elsewhere. I know my money won't make one bit of difference, but if I'm thinking like that, I'm sure others are too.

Maybe one day, the board and players will wake up and see what is happening to this great club we all love.

 

[Whiston Blade]

I suppose we want Adkins to justify some decisions, like playing Sammon on the left etc.

Can we be heard??!

I blame BBC Radio Sheffield, they never seem to give managers , including Adkins a tough time and ask the questions we all want to hear. It was the same with Clough, how long did it take RS to ask him about the defence situation ?, I'm sure it was after the Playoff Semi-Final loss to Swindon.