Would this team survive next season?

[Houston_Blade]

Highly unlikely.

Our best players are only good in the context of Sheffield United. Compared to the better teams in the division, they are way below that standard.

And we need to stop deluding ourselves that Paul Coutts returning will make any meaningful difference.

Behave, stick your fingers in your ears (or wherever else you might like) and pretend that with Coutts the world will be a better place. It’s either that or face up to facts and I’m not ready for that yet.

 

[Champagneblade]

Playi


Using the same formation with the same players will kill us. The conditioning and training needs to be reviewed. The players were knackered in February, high intensity training all season hasn't worked. 4-2-3-1 may be the way forward with the players we have left.

Based on an assumption we lose 1 player, Fleck, for big money, we gain a little from other sales like Carruthers, Lavery etc allowing us to spend a little on replacements I'd go with the following;

Moore

Baldock, Egan (only player we pay a fee for), Oconnell, Robinson (free transfer)

Leonard, Coutts

Brooks, Duffy, Holmes,

McBurnie ( Loan )

Subs: Eastwood, Freeman, Stearman, L Evans, Basham, Clarke, Sharp.

Provides better defensive cover and pace in the midfield and a younger natural goalscorer up front but still big question marks over the goalkeeping position.

Agree Clarke and Duffy are unlikely to replicate the same heights next season and Billy if he stays will only be an impact player. Where would that team finish? probably lower than 11th, never troubling the play offs but doing enough to stear clear of relegation. It won't be enough to match CW's ambition and I expect him to move on later in the season.

I also think it’s a weakness we can ill afford to have two strikers if they don’t add more to our overall play when they don’t score.

That’s why I quite like the idea of one up top with the right midfield.

4-3-3, 3-4-2-1, 4-2-3-1.

Plus strikers cost the most. If you have 2 slots to fill, not one then the cost is greater.

 

[Swannyblade]

Hell of a lot of pressure being put on Coutts to come back and be the same player he was prior to injury. It took him a long time to fully recover (physically and mentally) after his last big injury and I don’t expect this time to be any different. Up until last season a lot had written him off as shite. We’re going to have to display a lot of patience with Paul as he’s eased back into the team and hopefully the same sort of form prior to the leg break. He should have built up enough good will to have earned that patience from the fans. We’ve seen the player he’s capable of being, so let’s give him the time to rediscover those performance levels even if he’s not the sudden impact and saviour we’re all hoping for on his return to the starting 11.

 

[Ricky]

I really don't like the thought of Clarke and Sharp being our best strike pairing next season.

I think they'd struggle to get much over 20 goals between them. Which we can't afford because we don't have enough goals from elsewhere. But most of all it would be paceless, static and painful to watch.

 

[Harry's Game]

Don’t forget Ched will have had his 7th full pre season by that point so you never know what he may produce..

 

[zablade]

And if so where would it finish?

This is what I see as the minimum we'll be able to field, allowing for the departures of Fleck and Brooks and the owners refusing to let Wilder bring any players in, just to piss him off.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Moore

- - - - - - -Basham - Stearman - O'Connell

Baldock - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Stevens

- - - - - - - - - Coutts - - - - - - - - Evans

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duffy

- - - - - - - - - - - Sharp - - - - - Clarke


The staleness and predictability would leave us in difficulty, but the return of Coutts should offset it to a large extent. But Duffy, Sharp and Clarke are all ageing and couldn't be expected to replicate this season, especially Clarke, who's been our talisman. On the other hand I'd expect to see improvement from Baldock, O'Connell, L.Evans and Lundstram.

I think we'd miss Fleck hugely and really struggle to score, but have enough to stay up. But no higher than 18th.

Somewhere in the bottom six.

 

[SuperDuperBlades]

No - with the current team (plus Coutts and minus Brooks) we will struggle.

 

[Hamburg Blade]

The thread is predicated on selling two of our best players and not bringing anyone in at all. Why do Blades insist on being so utterly negative? Oh, that's right, we sold Deane and Fjortoft on the same day. Nothing that extreme is going to happen, so it's a waste of time predicting a final position.
I'm all for "what if" scenarios, but make it reasonable. How about, "this is the team we would be left with, who / how many would we need to bring in?"

 

[Broomhall Blade]

The thread is predicated on selling two of our best players and not bringing anyone in at all. Why do Blades insist on being so utterly negative? Oh, that's right, we sold Deane and Fjortoft on the same day. Nothing that extreme is going to happen, so it's a waste of time predicting a final position.
I'm all for "what if" scenarios, but make it reasonable. How about, "this is the team we would be left with, who / how many would we need to bring in?"

To be fair myself and others have said how many we need to bring in.
I know some don't like the phrase but we have really punched above our weight this season, and without some decent money spent we are going to struggle next season in my view.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

I think it would survive. But we dont want to just survive, we want to challenge for promotion and we need about four quality addtions to the existing team to do that.

 

[SB_90]

Kevincarterversion2.0 That i think was more the basis of the interview. It was more him wanting to challenge for the playoffs & promotion nect season. As he wants the best for fans & club

 

[Lane Ender]

And if so where would it finish?

This is what I see as the minimum we'll be able to field, allowing for the departures of Fleck and Brooks and the owners refusing to let Wilder bring any players in, just to piss him off.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Moore

- - - - - - -Basham - Stearman - O'Connell

Baldock - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Stevens

- - - - - - - - - Coutts - - - - - - - - Evans

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duffy

- - - - - - - - - - - Sharp - - - - - Clarke


The staleness and predictability would leave us in difficulty, but the return of Coutts should offset it to a large extent. But Duffy, Sharp and Clarke are all ageing and couldn't be expected to replicate this season, especially Clarke, who's been our talisman. On the other hand I'd expect to see improvement from Baldock, O'Connell, L.Evans and Lundstram.

I think we'd miss Fleck hugely and really struggle to score, but have enough to stay up. But no higher than 18th.

If we start with that line up we’ll be relegated
Clarke and Sharpe wouldn’t score 10 between them thanks for the memories but you got to go..

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Possibly the most speculative OP I have ever seen on this board.

This season hasn't even finished yet and we're guessing what next season's team will be.

For that reason, I'm out.

If Wilder has to guess why can't we?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

There's an assumption that Coutts will return at the level he was pre injury. I hope that is the case, but Bayford shows how long it takes a player to return to form when they have been out for a long time.

Coutts and Wallace demonstrated how hard a return can be.

Coutts could easily be next seasons Wallace?

 

[Fraggle Blade]

Playi


Using the same formation with the same players will kill us. The conditioning and training needs to be reviewed. The players were knackered in February, high intensity training all season hasn't worked. 4-2-3-1 may be the way forward with the players we have left.

Based on an assumption we lose 1 player, Fleck, for big money, we gain a little from other sales like Carruthers, Lavery etc allowing us to spend a little on replacements I'd go with the following;

Moore

Baldock, Egan (only player we pay a fee for), Oconnell, Robinson (free transfer)

Leonard, Coutts

Brooks, Duffy, Holmes,

McBurnie ( Loan )

Subs: Eastwood, Freeman, Stearman, L Evans, Basham, Clarke, Sharp.

Provides better defensive cover and pace in the midfield and a younger natural goalscorer up front but still big question marks over the goalkeeping position.

Agree Clarke and Duffy are unlikely to replicate the same heights next season and Billy if he stays will only be an impact player. Where would that team finish? probably lower than 11th, never troubling the play offs but doing enough to stear clear of relegation. It won't be enough to match CW's ambition and I expect him to move on later in the season.

I think that team looks incredibly weak defensively.

 

[Bladesthorpe]

We've battered teams with these players and there's nothing to stop them doing it again, who are these teams that are going to relegate us, I've not seen many this season.
Why all the negativity, " I've renewed my season ticket but I'm not looking forward to it " FFS we have just witnessed the best football we've seen for years yet reading this thread it sounds like we've been relegated. I know the wheels have come off over the last few games but that shouldn't diminish what we've seen for the majority of the season.
Finally I think the thoughts what fans have about how much we would get for Brooks are miles off what anyone will offer, especially after his recent performances 10 to 20 million, not a prayer.

 

[FriethBlade]

Assuming Wilder is still here next season's finishing position is going to be influenced massively with how we play the loan market. Even if we sell nobody, as has already been pointed out, the chances of Clarke and Sharp scoring 30 between then next season is very slim. There's little money to spend so we have to get Blackman back on loan and find a forward like McBurnie to take some of the load. We also need a big, dominant centre back on loan.

If we can do that I think we'll be ok but to challenge for top 6 we will need significant investment. 3 of the top 6 will be here again, the likes of Stoke,WBA and Southampton will be coming down and there's plenty of other mid table sides like the Pigs, Norwich, Leeds et al who could do better next year.

 

[Fraggle Blade]

We battered a lot of teams, but lost or drew due to a lack of quality where it matters.
Without a start carrying forward the momentum we had last season, then we will struggle like we have points wise since christmas.
So we need new quality signings to start changing these good performances into consistent wins...or we will struggle next season.

 

[JohnDenver]

On the Coutts front, I’d suggest his biggest challenge will be mental. A “simple” break of a bone shouldn’t hamper him on an ongoing basis. Fingers crossed.

 

[Hamburg Blade]

To be fair myself and others have said how many we need to bring in.
I know some don't like the phrase but we have really punched above our weight this season, and without some decent money spent we are going to struggle next season in my view.

It depends what you mean by struggle. I would say the team we have now would finish mid table, possibly lower mid table, assuming that the new signings we have don't develop / come into their own and assuming summer signings don't add to the quality. But why make those assumptions? Wilder could spark the team to perform, the young players could break into the first team, Brooks could stay, we could make a couple of great signings, get a couple of good loans.
In all the pre-match views I've read this season, the only fans that have the same negative attitude as the Blades were those from teams in a relegation fight. I don't understand the need to cry about stuff that hasn't happened yet, which is what this thread typifies.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

We've battered teams with these players and there's nothing to stop them doing it again, who are these teams that are going to relegate us, I've not seen many this season.
Why all the negativity, " I've renewed my season ticket but I'm not looking forward to it " FFS we have just witnessed the best football we've seen for years yet reading this thread it sounds like we've been relegated. I know the wheels have come off over the last few games but that shouldn't diminish what we've seen for the majority of the season.
Finally I think the thoughts what fans have about how much we would get for Brooks are miles off what anyone will offer, especially after his recent performances 10 to 20 million, not a prayer.

I think your are being a bit selective with the last few games, more like from Christmas.
Add to the fact our two main strikers will turn 33 and 34 next season. Can you honestly say that Clarke and Sharp will equal or better this season's goals totals ?
Add to this the boardroom troubles then i hope you can see how i feel next season could well be a struggle.
Can't help how i feel I'm afraid.
Do agree about Brooks though.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

It depends what you mean by struggle. I would say the team we have now would finish mid table, possibly lower mid table, assuming that the new signings we have don't develop / come into their own and assuming summer signings don't add to the quality. But why make those assumptions? Wilder could spark the team to perform, the young players could break into the first team, Brooks could stay, we could make a couple of great signings, get a couple of good loans.
In all the pre-match views I've read this season, the only fans that have the same negative attitude as the Blades were those from teams in a relegation fight. I don't understand the need to cry about stuff that hasn't happened yet, which is what this thread typifies.

We could also get bought out by a billionaire.
I can assure you I haven't been crying, been supporting the Blades far to long for that.
I can only go on what i have seen and what i know and what i can see happening, thats why i thought long and hard about renewing my season ticket, of course i could be wrong it wouldn't be the first time.
The only January signing that might come good could be Leonard (i don't think we have seen the best of him yet)
I think Evans will be pretty much like this season in and out. Wilson will go back, and Holmes is not good enough and for me was a strange signing.

 

[Rob86]

I really don't like the thought of Clarke and Sharp being our best strike pairing next season.

I think they'd struggle to get much over 20 goals between them. Which we can't afford because we don't have enough goals from elsewhere. But most of all it would be paceless, static and painful to watch.

If Clarke and Sharpe are our main pairing next season we are staring at the drop mate no two ways about it.

I also think Stevens is a liability (or in need of rest) having just watched the Preston goal back. Sure he’s been a fault for some other goals too

 

[Hamburg Blade]

We could also get bought out by a billionaire.

Yes, we could. The ownership battle could be McCabe trying to get back control so he can sell to some billionaire or consortium waiting in the wings. But let's not speculate about that - except to be sarcastic about the possibility, or, as has been posted on other threads, say that's not what we want, despite people calling for huge investment.

I can assure you I haven't been crying, been supporting the Blades far to long for that.

You know what I mean. There has been nothing but the-end-is-nigh threads since it became clear we weren't going to make the play-offs, and there were quite a few even before that. This thread is slightly better than the one about how terrible it will be when we get relegated from the Premier League, but the over-riding doom and gloom is baffling.
We had a good league one team last year, have an average Championship team this year and could easily have an above average Championship team next year. That we haven't stormed the division this year seams to have upset some people and the prospect of not spending tens of millions to follow in Wolves' footsteps next season seems to be driving more into a state of depression.

I can only go on what i have seen and what i know and what i can see happening, thats why i thought long and hard about renewing my season ticket, of course i could be wrong it wouldn't be the first time.

What you have seen is half a season blowing teams away and half a season of bottom end of the table form, though with some great performances which didn't turn into wins. What you have chosen to take from that for your predictions for next season says it all. You don't have to be a happy clapper to look at the situation realistically and see that the team, with a returned Coutts and a fit Brooks, could be top-half of the table without any great shock and with the right management and a handful of good signings could do much better than that.
You are by no means the worst harbinger of doom, I was merely wanting to pick up on the overall tone of the forum of late which - if no one knew the table - would think we were where Sunderland are.

 

[Ricky]

It depends what you mean by struggle. I would say the team we have now would finish mid table, possibly lower mid table, assuming that the new signings we have don't develop / come into their own and assuming summer signings don't add to the quality. But why make those assumptions? Wilder could spark the team to perform, the young players could break into the first team, Brooks could stay, we could make a couple of great signings, get a couple of good loans.
In all the pre-match views I've read this season, the only fans that have the same negative attitude as the Blades were those from teams in a relegation fight. I don't understand the need to cry about stuff that hasn't happened yet, which is what this thread typifies.

It isn't what this thread typifies. This thread is simply accounting for the unlikely worst case scenario and about whether we could cope. But obviously that's too hard for some to understand.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

Why you think we are going to sell any of our players, Fleck, Brooks, Duffy, Clark all signed new contracts.
Think people are making too much out this boardroom dispute.
I say we should always aim for mid table finish, we just need Coutts back playing and a few tweaks to the team and we should be fine.

 

[Champagneblade]

And if so where would it finish?

This is what I see as the minimum we'll be able to field, allowing for the departures of Fleck and Brooks and the owners refusing to let Wilder bring any players in, just to piss him off.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Moore

- - - - - - -Basham - Stearman - O'Connell

Baldock - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Stevens

- - - - - - - - - Coutts - - - - - - - - Evans

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duffy

- - - - - - - - - - - Sharp - - - - - Clarke


The staleness and predictability would leave us in difficulty, but the return of Coutts should offset it to a large extent. But Duffy, Sharp and Clarke are all ageing and couldn't be expected to replicate this season, especially Clarke, who's been our talisman. On the other hand I'd expect to see improvement from Baldock, O'Connell, L.Evans and Lundstram.

I think we'd miss Fleck hugely and really struggle to score, but have enough to stay up. But no higher than 18th.

I honestly don't see where the goals would come from in that team.

The wing backs are one a season men.
The centre backs have four between them all season.
Neither Coutts nor Evans, despite the latter's effort vs Boro are prolific. You'll be lucky to get five between them.
Duffy has just three this season also.
Billy has 13 and Leon 18, but they are not the same players as started the season. I'm not sure they manage much more than half that next season.

Even if you throw in a few from others, you are struggling to muster a goal per game.

Perhaps the team would finish higher than Barnsley/Burton and the other teams coming up, but without some more pace or scoring I would see a season with far more defeats than victories.

Is the assumption both Fleck and Brooks are sold? Or are you picking Duffy/Leon/Billy ahead of Brooks, who you would see improving after overcoming his illness and ye olde favorite of getting another pre-season under his belt.

 

[robbiez666]

We'd be where Burton are now. May stay up, but just.

 

[grafikhaus]

This is what I see as the minimum we'll be able to field, allowing for the departures of Fleck and Brooks and the owners refusing to let Wilder bring any players in, just to piss him off.

Possibly the most speculative OP I have ever seen on this board.

This season hasn't even finished yet and we're guessing what next season's team will be.

For that reason, I'm out.

Really? Here 'Is CW a bottler?'

Love CW as much as I do but I can't help thinking that if he does walk at the first sign of boardroom trouble it will be a sure sign of him possibly believing in his own hype and a dose of billy big bollocks syndrome.

or here 'Wilder to Sunderland?'

He’s the favourite with short odds for the next Sunderland job. Twitter says there is a connection from CW Oxford days to their new chairman?

The new chairman has also made them debt free which is suppose be close to £100million!

Should we be worried?

Just wait until summer, it'll get worse. It reminds me of that superb documentary about Graham Taylor - 'Do I Not Like That'. At an England pre-match press conference, one of the hacks - Rob Shephard (The Sun) is questioning Taylor's team selection:

RS: 'But, Graham, I'm worried...'

GT: 'Well you worry, Rob. Just don't make the fucking rest of us worried!'

A lot of this isn't about opinions and thoughts, it's deliberate shit-stirring and #fakenews. Fowlstalk will be delighted as it diverts attention from the real shit heading for S6.

 

[Torrix1889]

Really? Here 'Is CW a bottler?'


or here 'Wilder to Sunderland?'



Just wait until summer, it'll get worse. It reminds me of that superb documentary about Graham Taylor - 'Do I Not Like That'. At an England pre-match press conference, one of the hacks - Rob Shephard (The Sun) is questioning Taylor's team selection:

RS: 'But, Graham, I'm worried...'

GT: 'Well you worry, Rob. Just don't make the fucking rest of us worried!'

A lot of this isn't about opinions and thoughts, it's deliberate shit-stirring and #fakenews. Fowlstalk will be delighted as it diverts attention from the real shit heading for S6.

10/10 for your multi thread copy and paste skills....

Kinda Ironic that your opinion is that some threads are not others opinions but fake-news......very opinionated if you ask me.... (but that's just my opinion).