Bournemouth Fans Reaction To The Opening Day

June 13, 2019 / Roy / Leave a comment

“Great start”
“David Brooks versus his old team, opening day. “
“The Davey Brooks derby to start the season, let’s go!”
“I feel a bit for Sheffield United because their big opening day is in a tiny away end so loads will miss out. Having said that Sheffield Wednesday won us the Championship so f*ck ’em.”
“1100 away allocation”
“Nice home game to start the season. Sheff utd will be thinking it’s a winnable game and it’ll be nice to burst their bubble early.”
“Must be happy with that start”
“Think Sheff Utd may be one to go, hope there are two more worse than us.”
“Cardiff, Aston Villa & WBA the first match curse……………….What happened to those clubs at the end of the season?”
“Just to clarify for any visiting blades fan… Other than Man Utd, every club who has played AFCB on the first game of a Premier League season has ended up being relegated. Have a lovely day”
“First 2 matches, 6 points. There’s no other way.”
“Trickier first 6 games than last season. Being Villa’s first home oppo back in #EPL looks slippery”
“Newly promoted teams at the start, a terrible run in – it’s not great. Absolutely vital we don’t mess about against the bottom half clubs or down tools after Christmas this season!”
“Let’s be honest not the real fixture list tho as sky and bt will shaft fans by changing dates and kick off times to suit them no thought for fans planning on going to games especially away all about money nowadays”
“Anyone remember going Sheff U away first game when we went up to..? old div 2? (wow I can’t remember now lol)…getting on for 30 years ago”
“Our history against Sheffield United: Played: 15, Won: 1, Drawn: 4, Lost: 10. But that famous win in 1987 was so fucking sweet man”

Republic Of Ireland Fans Views On Enda Stevens

June 11, 2019 / Roy / Leave a comment

Ireland Fans Views On The Denmark Game

“Great point away from home, plenty of positives, hourihane, Keogh, Stevens played well”
“honourable mentions for Duffy, Keogh, Coleman and Stevens”
“Stevens, Duffy and Hourihan really good.”
“I was impressed with him”
“I thought Stevens was decent last night, he can pass the ball and put in a few crunching tackles.”
“Stevens did well enough”
“I thought Stevens had a decent game also. He has been playing as a wing-back only for quite a while, but switched back without too many problems. All our players have problems keeping the ball, that isn’t going to change overnight”
“Stevens actually beat a few players when he had the ball but was running down blind alleys because McClean never came short for it, always running away from the ball. I think Stevens was quite solid, one of the few with confidence on the ball to try make something happen.”
“Stevens and McClean is not working at all.”

“our left side of Stevens and mcclean have been awful”
“James McLean has no discipline to hold his position and leaves Stevens exposed!”
“Stevens should be better than what he showed today.”
“Stevens has had a great season with sheff utd but he hasnt impressed me in green atal. I’d be surprised if Stevens made one successful pass”
“Persoanlly i thought stevens was our worst player”
“I know hes had a great season but im not convinced by him.”
“Mick needs to drop Stevens and put Brady left back.Stevens is rubbish , Brady would make a much more decent left back than playing in mid “
“were you even watching last night?? Stevens was very impressive. Brady should not even be in the starting 11. Some crazy cats on here. “

Ireland Fans Views On The Gibraltar Game

“I reckon Enda Stevens be the Republic of Ireland 1st choice left back for years to come. Chap is rock solid”
“He didn’t venture forward with the ball to quite the same degree as Coleman. But like the rest of the back-four, he found himself unruffled defensively.”
“Stevens was often in oceans of space on the left, but Ireland tended to focus their attacks down the opposite flank. However, when involved, he showed some decent touches. He linked up well with McGoldrick and made some clever off the ball runs.”
“Promising addition despite his instinct to control possession and play the safe ball on a night that screamed out for adventure”
“Stevens is a better wing-back too and it is unfortunate that we aren’t really going to get an opportunity to see him in his best position, for a while at least”
“Stevens tried at least, but made some awful mistake”
“how Doherty is not considered for left full ahead of this guy is a complete joke”
“An absolute farce that Doherty isn’t starting in this team. I’d have him ahead of Coleman, Stevens, Brady and McClean in each position they’re playing in now.”
“Really poor, looked a bit lost at times.”
“Thought Enda Stevens was poor this evening”
“I think he is very basic in the LB role, didn’t offer enough quality supporting the attack.”
“Thought Stevens and Coleman were awful the crossing especially”
“we were ineffective down the left hand side, himself and McClean did not link up well.”
“Mc Clean did ok, decent with the ball and created the goal. And with very little help going forward from Stevens.”
“I think we passed the ball into touch about 8 times tonight. Enda Stevens one time tried to play a5 yard ball up the line to McClean and instead just kicked it straight out of play”

Republic Of Ireland Fans Views On David McGoldrick

June 11, 2019 / Roy / Leave a comment

Ireland Fans Views On The Denmark Game

“Superb from David McGoldrick. Everything you expect from an Irish striker, ran his bollocks off and didn’t score a goal. “
“And caught offside 27 times”
“Great work by McGoldrick tonight.”
“McGoldrick put in a great shift”
“McGoldrick so impressive.”
“McGoldrick is a smart and canny footballer. He mightn’t out run a defender but I can guarantee he will hold the ball up. Which last night is exactly what we needed. I like McGoldrick leading the line, smart footballer, brings players in, holds the ball up.Does the simple things well.”
“Weird how Dave McGoldrick is the best center forward of all time?”
“David McGoldrick was brilliant again for Ireland tonight. Does the basics so well. Relieves pressure, keeps it simple. But also vital for winning the ball back.”
“RTE gave McGoldrick a 5/10 for last night, incredibly harsh. Thought his link and hold up play was superb again”
“He was decent”
“McGoldrick big shift but was too deep at times” “we need better strikers and lose McLean and Mcgoldrick”
“Don’t agree with mcgoldrick think he holds the ball up well with very limited support and could have a decent partnership with long for this campaign if we go with 2 up front”
“Maybe Mcgoldrick will work but on his own it’s a waste of time he can’t score. We see where to improve”
“Please never let McGoldrick near an Ireland team ever again, useless is not the word. He was walking around for most of the game ”
“David McGoldrick is so shite I love watching him and we need to keep playing him.” “McGoldrick poor up top not holding it up”
“Didn’t think he offered much”
“McGoldrick is as useful as tits on a bull”

Ireland Fans Views On The Gibraltar Game

“One of the few to impress” “our only forward with a bit composure and intelligence on the ball.”
“honestly love McGoldrick. He is sexual chocolate.”
“felt like most good we produced came through him.”
“What we’ve learned: McGoldrick is central to almost everything we do well.”
“We could do with cloning McGoldrick so he can feed the ball into himself”
“McGoldrick was the best of a bad lot”
“McGoldrick is the only real positive for me over the 2 games”
“he has some strengths that I think we are lacking elsewhere, e.g. his ability to come deep and hold the ball. Think he would need a good strike partner. Him and long with McG more in the N.10 role is probably how I would go against the swiss.”
“He has a weird run, but he’s not actually slow. Has a touch of class to him, skillful footballer.”
“I swear, Mcgoldrick must have a bet on himself NOT to score.”
“McGoldrick? More like McMissdrick AMIRITE?!”
“Has a nice touch but needs to be more ruthless.”
“Ronnie Whelan giving McGoldrick motm is ridiculous, anyone with eyes could see Robinson was the best player we had today”
“Hendrick, Hogan, McClean, Duffy, and McGoldrick should maybe avoid the player ratings tonight and tomorrow…”
“don’t rate him at all. Moves around like he is in his 60’s and against proper International sides won’t do anything.”
“worked hard but long is a better player when fit”
“If Long and McGoldrick are being put forward as our ‘best’ potential front partnership…….I honestly don’t see either playing much football at their respective clubs next season other than bit part players……..”

Roy’s End Of Season Awards

May 19, 2019 / Roy / Leave a comment

A look back at some of the brilliant, beautiful and bitter comments from the past season.

Most arrogant fans: WEST BROM

(Last years winner: Brentford)

They certainly weren’t alone but The Baggies fans fell into the trap of believing their club would better The Blades mainly due to the fact our squad didn’t contain as many big name players as theirs:

” if we have a pretty full strength then I think we should win, however our home form has been terrible and we’ll need to find a way to break them down. If they play gung-ho against us, I think we’ll beat them, bit like the Leeds game.”
“no disrespect to these but come on this should be targeted as a win. i cant think of one of their players who would get into our team. its time for our players and coaching staff to give us a performance that stands out”
“none of their players would get in our best 11. They are punching miles above their weight this season, I’ve never considered them a serious threat to the top 2. Fail to beat these on Saturday and Norwich and Leeds have the automatics in the bag.”
“we should have enough to beat these,with Murphy and Harper improving and Gayle and Phillips back,it will be the usual stupid short passing at the back and in midfield going astray making us own worst enemy that is our biggest problem,maybe at home we need to let the opposition have more of the ball and hit them on the break,rather than us having to attack them.”
“Tell you what, the users on the Sheffield United forum are overly confident aren’t they? Incredible stuff. One thinks they’ve got the best strikers in the League, that’ll be Billy Sharp, David McGoldrick, Gary Madine and Scott Hogan? Ermm no mate. Most think they’ll beat us easily on Saturday, I’m dumbfounded.”
“If we play to our best and Sheffield United play to their best we will beat them comfortably”
“Can’t wait to stuff them on Saturday and then see what they say!”
“No reason why we can’t put 4 or 5 past them”

After the game, their opinions had somewhat changed…

“Come up against a decent side and we’re found wanting again”
“Won’t see a more comfortable 1-0 than that. Schooled. “
“Sheffield United were the better side and probably deserved to win. Disgraceful from Rodriguez to be honest, that’s not the way we should be playing. Though if he scored it’d be a different story, I can guarantee that!”
“Got beat by a team with a better game plan”
“Sheff Utd just about deserved it. Our key players not on the top of their game. Not enough quality in final third, too slow build up.”
“Sheff Utd played well, defended resolutely first to the ball and kept it in possession.”
“It was a test to see where we really are in terms of promotion and the evidence suggests we will fall short of automatic as SU were just too good for us today”
“Wilders plan worked perfectly..could have stayed out for another hour and we still wouldn’t have scored”
“Sheffield United deserve credit, they did their homework on us and it paid off “
“Fair play Sheff Utd. Best team I’ve seen this season. Shut us completely down”
“credit to sheff utd took their chance look a decent side”
“sheff Utd so much better than us tonight,didn’t deserve anything”
“Sheff utd did to us what we did to stoke a couple of weeks back…….perfect away performance from them.”
“Credit to Sheff Utd, thought they played really well, good football, good movement and a yard quicker in every position. “

Some though still were not convinced by United..

“Can’t see past Norwich and Leeds walking it now.”
“sheffield united arent a particularly goods side nor for a minute do i think they will go up but they wanted it more than us”
“We made a good well organised championship team look better than they are really but again not surprised. Just scratching my head”
“Sheff Utd are hard working but ain’t world beaters. “
“Regards Sheffield United I thought they were a functional side nothing more, still expect to finish comfortably above them, and would be more than happy to meet them in the play offs if we don’t make top 2.”
“Even in defeat you can see that we have the better team”
“We dominated just didn’t take our chances. Still think we’ll win the league”

Most Respectful Fans: BLACKBURN ROVERS

(Last years winner: Derby)

United did the double over Rovers, scoring 5 and conceding 0 in the process., but that doesn’t always mean the opposition will give you respect. The Blackburn fans though were extremely complimenary of United after The Blades 2-0 win at Ewood Park in October:

“Fair play to Sheff Utd tonight, they were much sharper than us, organised and stopped us from playing. Best side I’ve seen so far this season.”
“Best side I’ve seen at Ewood in over a year, can’t lie we played dreadful but can’t take that away from Sheff Utd.”
“Best side too have come to Ewood this season for me. They controlled the game and out classed and out played them. Too say Forest have spent a bit this summer, Sheff United are twice the team they are. We never looked like breaking them down. Dack was a no show, Graham had no service and when he did win a header they were first too every ball. The same when one of our centre halves won a header, they were always first to the second ball. It just shows you can be successful in this league without splashing the cash”
“best side I seen play against us this year.”
“can see why sheff united are up there near the top, they look really good”
“Beaten by a team we aspire to follow in the footsteps of. Well done to Sheff Utd. We go again”
“first lesson of the season. Out classed.”
“Out of our depth against a excellent footballing side. It was almost as if the players gave up due to lack of ability.”
“Outclassed, outplayed and we looked a league lower.”
“first time this season were we havent at least dominated half of the game.sheffutd decent side though”
“Very impressed with Sheff U. No shame in losing to a team that has just gone top of the league.”
“Well beaten by a far superior side.”
“we are a newly promoted side and the side we played, last season set the standard for newly promoted sides. That’s what we should be aiming for”
“We were beaten by a better drilled, stronger, fitter side.”
“Very poor tonight. Sheff Utd very hard to break down.”
“Sheff Utd defence impressive”
“Sheff Utd well organised albeit fortunate with their goals but deserved to win from all round play.”
“O’Connell is a beast. Did he really go on a free?”
“Letting O’Connell go and on a free was criminal. It was obvious he was gOod enough back then”
“Billy sharp showing exatly the type of striker we need for this league”

And when United beat the Lancashire club 3-0 at Bramall Lane in December, the Blackburn faithful were just as respectful as two months previous…

” On the plus side, we don’t have to play Sheffield Utd again in the league this season.. “
“Sheff utd were one of my picks to go up this season – and nothing I saw today changed my mind. And honestly, I hope they do go up. Just because if we’re gonna get dicked 3-0, at least it was to a team that got promoted…”
” At the end of the day, we’ve just played the top two in the Championship and the best team to visit Ewood this season. It was always gonna be tough. “
“They are top of the league for a reason”
” If Ben Brereton is worth £7 Million then what is Billy Sharp worth? A quality striker and the difference today. “
” Sure as the sun sets. Sharp scores”
” The one quality striker on the pitch and he makes the difference. What do we do leave our best striker on the bench, start the dud Brereton and are now playing without a striker.”

Funniest Fans: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

(Last years winner: Millwall)

There have been many funny moments on the View From this season. From a Bolton fan shitting in a sink to Leon Clarke being disparagingly labelled ‘Jurassic Clarke’ by Wigan fans but none of them come close to the Pre- Season predictions of Sheffield Wednesday fans. Find the full set of these ill-judged forecasts in the link below.
https://roysviewfrom.com/2019/03/20/loan-updates-6/

Mardiest Fans: NORWICH CITY

(Last years winner: Norwich City)

The first team to retain their award this season is Norwich City. Despite being promoted the Norwich supporters still seem very easy to upset as shown after United’s 2-1 victory over the Canaries at Bramall Lane way back in August. Back then manager Daniel Farke wasn’t quite as revered as he is now….

“We need a new coach”
“Let’s stop farke in about and get a manager that knows how to get out of this league”
“he has no clue, we are going down unless he goes back to the 4th tier of german football where he belongs.”
“3 wins in 19 daniel not good”

Farke wasn’t the only one in the firing line…

“And Sheffield are a Shite side too !! Can’t even beat them FFS !!!”
“We can’t even beat Sheffield United shocking”
“Wilder shouldnt flatter himself ….he obviously has a bigger problem with us than we do with them. ..sheff utd always have been and will be an irrelevance”
“are more obsessed about beating us than the scum are. Know which Sheffield team I’d rather support”
“How on earth did we not get Woodburn from Liverpool given the Dortmund link and the better football philosophy compared to Sheff Utd”
“A message to Sheffield United. YOU ARE DISGUSTING! To hear you’ve chased my friend and his group down the road and glass another fan? Hang your heads in shame”
“Form is temporary, class is permanent. Sheffield fans who glassed a Norwich fan hang your heads in shame. Horrible club”
“Absolutely vile club”
“Must say I’m never going to bramall lane every again”

By the time the teams met again in January, Norwich were top of the league and Farke a hero. The Blades too were in the promotion mix and a 2-2 draw at Carrow Road seemed a fair result but once again the Norwich fans were not happy…

“That’s a sickener. Particularly considering the differing quality of football played by the two sides. “
“For all the talk of Sheff Utd not being cloggers and playing football, they did nothing except hoof it at Madine and kick us. “
“Sheff Utd are bunch of knobheads – those who said they weren’t cloggers clearly don’t know what they’re talking about. Basham in particular is a c-un-t. We scored two great goals playing proper football on the plus side. Another ref with no consistency whatsoever. Let the game flow which was a plus but booked Zimmermann for the same tackle Sheff Utd players had already made 4 or 5 times, and let them kick us off the park with late tackles and leaving the foot in.”
“Strange one. Sheff Utd acting like they’ve won the league when they’ve got a point which keeps them 3 points below us?!
weird bunch.”
“Strange mentality to be happy with a point when they could’ve won it. A win puts them above us but happy to settle for a draw. Not sure about that myself “

They weren’t finished yet. When Chris Wilder was voted LMA manager of the year, the Norwich fans were once again up in arms…

“Sooo, Chris Wilder gets championship manager of the year. Well here’s a message from me to all who voted for him over Farke and to all who consistently ignore #NCFC fabulous achievements this season. YOU CAN ALL FUCK OFF. That’s all. Goodnight.”
“Means more to Wilder. Farke has the trophy he wanted ”
“Wilder had momentum from league 1 promotion, Farke was in the 4th tier in Germany then”
“Shocking bias. Farke managed his side on next to no money and dragged the club from mediocrity to playing splendid football.”
“He’s failed everywhere but blades!”
“Farke inherited a squad full of over the hill players who were hugely overpaid… he’s had a much harder job than wilder”
“We won the league and they didn’t. Farke is better than Wilder and will go on to do bigger and better things than him, with or without Norwich”

Funny how opinions change isn’t it?

Most Knowledgeable Fans: HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

(Last years winner: Brighton)

Whilst many Blades were underwhelmed by the signing of Martin Cranie, Huddersfield fans were telling us exactly the sort of player we had just purchased. In fact their views were ours just 6 months later!

“Good solid pro, hope it works out for him.”
“Played his part in some great times when called on. A good solid pro”
“Lot of respect for him, always been dependable even though he never got much of a chance in the first team.”
“Solid player without doing anything spectacular, did a good job for hs.”
“Really liked Cranie – what a good free signing and servant.”
“I don’t recall him ever letting us down when called upon. I always liked Cranie and was sad to see him go.”
“Good Luck to him, never let us down.”
“I always respected Martin Cranie whilst he was at Town – never a superstar but gave his best every time he was called on and never let us down. Best of luck for your future, Martin.”
“I also like Martin Cranie, a solid pro who did a good job for us when called upon. I personally think alongside Schindler he could still do a job for us if required.”
“When Tommy Smith went off injured at Wembley and Cranie came on, I was unconcerned because I knew he would do a solid, professional job for the remainder of the match. In the club’s biggest game in living memory. With £100m at stake. In a tight 0-0 scoreline. That is all.”
“a solid pro for us, never a regular first team player, but he did a job for us whenever called upon. And didn’t let us down. Good luck for the future Martin.”

Most Depressed Fans: MIDDLESBROUGH

(Last years winner: Ipswich)

Swansea didn’t fancy their chances on the first day and Stoke were reeling from a woeful season but by the time ‘Boro came to Bramall Lane in February their fans had well and truly had enough of “Pulis-Ball”:

“Absolutely outplayed in every department!! Pulis needs to go!! Even if it’s another year in the championship? Football is basic, boring.”
“GET HIM OUT. All the way to Sheffield for another half arsed performance.”
“Don’t dress it up a 13 man Pullis team would of got beat with his tactics and no sticker on the pitch….. Yes I mean NO STRIKER. lumping around does not qualify for this role. Boro lad or not. In fact I bet at least a dozen Boro lads in the crowd tonight are better than Hughill”
“Totally fucking schooled in that Second Half tonight. We play like a Pulis side but we don’t often show the character & savvy of a Pulis team.”
“They made an attacking sub and by some sort of miracle do more going forward, scoring within 15 minutes. Who would have thought!!?
Theres a lesson to be learnt there Tony, but you will never understand.”
We the most boring team to watch in the league”
“We are a horrible, horrible side to watch, it would be a travesty if this team went up playing this negative boring football and with this dinosaur in charge.”
“Lovely stuff. Particularly enjoyed them 4 consecutive throw ins down the right.”

The “We Didn’t Know You Cared So Much” Award: HULL CITY

(Last years winner: Hull City)

The last award sees Hull City once again take first prize. Will anybody truly know why they hate us so much?

“Those of a certain age will dislike them as much as I do , will be tough but here’s hoping for a decent win.. the fact our home record is so strong is promising”
“I hate them. I hate them more than I hate Leeds, and would love to **** them over on Monday.”
“They have always been w*****s ,..made even worse by their new found big time persona despite playing in no mans land for **** knows how many years”
“I hate Sheff U with a passion with their aloof and arrogant fans, worked in Leeds for many years and have more friends there than in Hull so although I don’t particularly want Leeds promoted I would much rather them than the c(bl)unts any day”
“If there’s anything worse than Sheffield U itself , it’s their fans. It would make my week to thrash them tomorrow.”
“I think I now slightly favour the vermin over sheffield.
I was thinking earlier which sheffield player I have disliked most over the years, the one that most epitomises the boastful cockiness of these ****s. The list is a lengthy one:-
Alan Woodward- unsmiling grey haired s y ****
Len Badger- dirty thuggish defender
Paddy Kenny- utter **** of a human being, goads fans then retreats as they get nicked
Billy Sharp- archetypal cocky bluntsman, proper badge kisser
Geoff Salmon- had some verbals with this **** in the Anglo Scottish in 1980?
Colin Morris- another old bastard like Woodward mark2
Keith Edwards- guaranteed to score against us, even if he was guaranteed for us against them.
Chris Morgan- archetypal bluntsman dirty ****, Warnock disciple
Bob Hatton- how did he escape ? How come he ended playing for them of all teams?”
“Edwards was a dirty sod as well by the way, lot of off the ball stuff. But look no further than their current manager for unfavourable traits, always mardy always moaning away to the 4th official when they’ve been on sky and things don’t go his way ,…proper bellend, i can see why the blunts like him he reminds me of that twat Warnock.”
“My dislike for Sheff U is greater than my dislike of TWS but I think there’s more chance of The Blunts coming straight back down and for that reason I would prefer them to go up before Leeds”

“I dislike SU more than TWS but hope SU go up as they have more chance of coming straight back down.”
“The danger is that sheffield would spend the money wisely, take a relegation and then go again. They yoyo between the divisions, don’t need these ****s to go up.”
“Can’t stand either of them, so it would be ****ing hilarious IF they both lost 2 and drew 1 of their games and west brom won all 3 of theirs”

Here’s to next season!

View From Leeds……

May 15, 2019 / Roy / 10 Comments

This is not something I usually do but after huge pressure (about 8 requests) I succumbed to the demand. Here are some of the more tormented comments from Leeds United fans following their failure to secure promotion…..

“They’ve won promotion but yet still talk about Leeds. Obsessed.”
“Absolute respect for Wilder’s achievement at a professional level but his behaviour and that of some his squad has revealed some pretty small time insecurity. “
“Remember Bielsa defending Henderson after his howler at Bramall Lane when everyone else was taking the piss,strange how Henderson/Wilder r now quick to stick the boot in on Bielsas achievements now.Prem club with a small club mentality.”
“It always comes back to bite you in the arse, that kind of bullshit. I’ve plenty of friends from the right side of Sheffield and don’t wish them ill next year, but I might take a look at the chop odds for next season’s PL managers…”
“The whole filming of them partying and carrying on at Bramall Lane looked very chavvy and classless plus the drunken interviews left a lot to be desired especially when he dwells on Leeds rather than his own team and their merits and achievements.”
“Screw Chris wilder. I can’t stand him or his squad of players. They play a shit house style of football. And it’s only through our fuck ups that they are there. It should be us. If we weren’t so Leeds at times it would be.”

“It’s particularly galling in the case of the bacon wearing, rapist supporting, victim blaming, shoe waving, litigious, hypocritical cry babies that are Sheffield United. It’s not even as if they’ve been well run as a club, signed or produced any decent players, or have a decent fan base. What is the point of them in the Premier League, seriously!”
“The blunts will come a cropper amongst the elite”
“I hate and despise the club and all it stands for….always have done. Tin pot club. Awful fans.”
“Relegated by February.”
“Wilder will find out the HARD way next season, he can gob off all he wants now but they are gonna need a miracle to stay up “What Norwich and Sheff utd don’t have is 46 cup finals like Leeds have. They don’t have teams raising their game against them like Leeds. They haven’t had an injury crisis like Leeds have had all season. “
“I’ve been staggered at the number of Norwich & Sheffield Utd fans I’ve seen slagging Leeds. If we’d held or nerve and managed automatic promotion I wouldn’t give a damn about any other team. Strange”
“They’ll come straight back down after the manner of Cardiff; just a collection of aging journeymen who’ve over achieved. Are McCabe and Prince Gazillions still suing each other? Can’t see them investing enough to make a go of it. It’ll give their fans something else to have a greasy chip butty on each shoulder about though, as they inevitably slide back to their natural home in league one.”
“Norwich and Sheff United both promoted but what’s everyone talking about? Leeds vs Villa.. There’s a energy around this club that people are envious of”
“I’d rather be in the Championship forever than support a shit club like Norwich with their shit, inbred fans in a virtually silent stadium despite them being just over 20 minutes away from the Premier League! Imagine Elland Road..”
“2 teams promoted from the Championship and the main talking point was Leeds. Easily the biggest club in this league”
“Fulham played pretty football, some pundits claimed it was the best ever in championship, spent £100m and couldnt stay up. Can’t see overlapping centre backs and Billy Sharp getting on well in Prem. Even teams like Burnley will have a field day vs Blades”

“Only bottlers will be sheff utd next season when they are relegated and embarrassed to themselves”

Premiership Fans Views On Sheffield United’s Promotion

May 15, 2019 / Roy / 2 Comments

A collection of quotes from fans of Premiership clubs about the return of The Blades to the top flight.

Man City Fans

“Well done to Sheffield United. 6 points clear of third placed L***s with and a GD 14 better than the banjo players.”
“Congratulations to Sheffield United and especially my Blades mates after a 12 year absence. What a great achievement by Chris Wilder and his men. Six long years in the 3rd Division and he got them up in his first year. Two years later his innovations (eg overlapping centre backs), and astute man management has worked wonders again.
Looking forward to going to Bramall Lane next season.
Such a shame not about Leeds!”
“Yep congrats to the Blades, I worked in Sheffield for most of the 90s so I know a few Blades, very pleased for them especially as they’ve pipped the dirties to the automatic spot.”

Liverpool Fans

“Their side screams Brexit football “
“They need patterning first game of the season”
“Next seasons whipping boys”
“Giving the LMA award to (Chris Wilder)this anti-football dinosaur perfectly sums up “Brexit Britain”
“They play really good football acc, they get their centre halfs to overlap their fullbacks”

Spurs Fans

“Wilder is a good manager. Hope they stay up!”
“He has done a remarkable job to get Sheffield United back to the big time”
“We like them because they hate West Ham”
“Love Brammall Lane as an away day.”
“always liked bramall lane – proper old school football ground”

Chelsea Fans

“I cannot believe that SHIT Dee daa team is going up. they are so so thuggish and boring”
“We will be Competing with Sheffield United and Norwich when Hazard leaves. “
“They’ll finish bottom”
“Chris Wilder aren’t you a comedian. On Eden Hazard “I’m quite happy he’s going if I’m honest. Does he want a lift to the airport”. For a start it’s not even confirmed that he’s leaving. You think your funny haha can’t wait to see your side get relegated next season“

Arsenal Fans

“Sheffield United got Arab involvement and achieved promotion after 13 years in the Football League. “
“Well my local team Sheffield United got promotion the Prem for the 2nd time in my lifetime so if Arsenal win the the final against Chelsea I will be happy”
“Really good team with CB’s contributing a lot to the buildup and defend as a solid back 5. Would get the necessary games under the belt. Wilder and Alan Knill are a solid duo who have brought out the best in players. Dean Henderon the best example.”

Man Utd Fans

“Nobody was expecting Sheffield United to get promoted at the start of this season. It will be interesting to see them get six points off us, I mean, how they do in 19/20 “
“Really looking forward to Sheffield United in the PL next season”
“Sheffield United have been a breath of fresh air in the Championship this year with a unique style of play that must have come as such a relief to the fans who have had to endure many years of hoofball”
“Sheffield United fully deserve this promotion. Just an example of a talented manager who’s built a club up on relatively minimal resources and also playing the right way.”
“Think they’ll surprise a fair few with how they play next year. “
“Ole won’t make it here and we’ll be back here arguing about whether to go with someone inexperienced but capable of making their team play good stuff like the Sheffield manager with his overlapping centerbacks thing”
“It’s ‘Sheffield United’”
“The jobs Wilder has done at Northampton and Sheffield Utd in particular have been miraculous. He has had the Midas touch so far, and I really hope that the club enjoy a productive summer transfer window and can hold their own in the Premier League next season.”

Everton Fans

“I do hope Jagielka goes back to Sheffield, he left when they were relegated and it would be poetic for him to return as they come back”
“Sheffield play there centre backs in a weird formation they get up along the full backs when they attack, can’t see them getting jags for that role. might be worth them getting him to at a bit of prem experience about the place but not as a starter. “
“Another decent sized club that was floating around the championship”
“They will struggle to stay in the Premiership next season”
“I can’t stand Sheffield United”

Wolves Fans

“Playing Sheff Utd next season. What a job Wilder has done there.”
“Really pleased for them. Proper club.”
“Delighted for the Blades. Great club, great stadium, great fans, great away day. Stoked for them.”
“Norwich and Sheff Utd coming up are both good for us. Both teams play football. ”

Leicester Fans

“They are often fascinating to watch live. Basham is excellent at driving forwards! Often very similar to the way Harry does it when he gets frustrated at the midfield doing nothing”
“Sheffield Utd and Norwich both played entertaining football be interesting to see how they get on.”
“If Sheffield United want to stay in this division, they’ll need to learn very quickly that you need to be able to keep clean sheets.”
“I don’t doubt that Sheffield United will be a lot more defensively focussed in the Premier League”
“Sheffield United will be fine.”
“Looking forward to Sheffield Utd being back. Always had a soft spot for them for some reason”
“Why did Sheffield United having a bus tour for finishing 2^nd?”
“Celebrating promotion?”
“Wilder has done a great job getting them up because they’re a very average group of players. Good to see a big northern club in the Premier League and one of the best grounds around.”
“Sheffield United are a nothing club, million times more than Norwich.”

West Ham Fans

“Fantastic effort by Sheffield United, but please; had they shown the same effort and fight in their final game against Wigan in 2007 then they would’ve remained in the Premier League!”
“Try not to blame us when you go down next season”
“They blame us for everything. They do have a good manager there though.”
“This should be tasty. I wonder how many tevez chants we will bring out for those fixtures ????”
“Sign some unknown Argentine striker illegally and relegate Sheffield United again”

Watford Fans

“Congrats to Norwich & especially Sheffield United. Remember the days in the late 90’s & 00’s when SU were always a tough little outfit & for a time a lot better than SW. Realistically can’t really see anything other than both of these teams struggling.”
“Sheffield Utd in particular appear set to be next season’s Cardiff. Squad very much geared to Championship football.”
“I doubt any of the promoted teams will have the firepower of Fulham in the transfer window.”
“Fair play Sheffield United, always felt a bit sorry for them after how their previous Premier League spell went. Way too early to be writing them off, the Premier League riches (as long as you actually use them, unlike Cardiff, or don’t go mental, unlike Fulham) means that nobody goes in as a no-hoper these day”
“The day Watford are relegated from the Premier League I will celebrate. An incredibly dull league.My wife is a Sheff Utd fan and after our game on Saturday I went up to Sheffield for a curry and a few beers with her and a load of other Sheff Utd fans. They are all delighted at the glory of promotion, but not one of them is feeling particularly excited about actually being in the Premier League. What is there to be excited about? Premier league success is simply avoiding failure.”

Crystal Palace Fans

“Let Chris Wilder learn from his mistakes in the Premier League with Sheffield Utd and then get him in to replace Roy at the end of next season.”
“Chris Wilder is an absolute hero”
“They play great football”
“I’ve always had a soft spot for the Blades.”
“I follow every PL club on Twitter minus Brighton and I must say, Sheffield United have been complete value for the follow in these first few days. They’re having a great time and who can blame them? Palace 2010 levels of team spirit. “
“I went to one championship game last season. Sheffield United v Norwich. Now both promoted. Great to see them both in the EPL. Good teams.”

Newcastle Fans

“Massive congratulations to Sheffield United following their promotion to the premier league! A great city, a club close to my heart after 4 years in Sheffield & an incredible achievement from all involved.”
“Fantastic to have them back next season”
“With Huddersfield down and the other two north east teams still languishing down in the lower leagues, does that make Sheffield United our local derby next season? Jesus Christ!”
“I love the thought of a trip to Sheffield for the Newcastle game, so look forward to a Tuesday night or Sky destroying the plan with an unmanageable kick off time”
“They’ll be a tough team next season”
“Very happy for the wife today as her Shithouse of a team Sheffield United have finally got promoted back to the prem. At least creates a bit of conflict next season between us! “

Bournemouth Fans

“think one thing is blatantly obvious having watched an awful lot of championship football lately. None of the current batch are a Wolves and unless anyone has serious backing , then they can expect a rocky ride when they come up.
Villa are financially up a **** creek, Norwich and Sheff Utd look like the next Hudds / Cardiff . Norwich won’t go crazy on the spending front , not sure about Sheff Utd. “
“the championship been a strange one this season no one has really had a stand out season it has been a lot more even through the league apart from a few poor teams, i agree with them not really spending big either fulham will be a example of why not to blow all the tv money in the summer.
i reckon a trend will be set of getting promoted and hoping to stay up without upgrading team too much and get that big payday”
“It’s nice to see another English manager (Chris Wilder) doing well”
“I feel we will be struggling to stay up with the likes of Brighton,Burnley,Palace Sheffield Utd and Norwich. “
“They are a good bet to go straight back down”
“Not convinced by Farke of Norwich. He stinks of “did well to get them promoted, sacked in November” to me. Sheffield Utd would probably be like us and Huddersfield, wildcard. “

Burnley Fans

“Whoever comes up with Norwich and Sheffield Utd those will be the three relegation places next season,can’t remember the last time three weaker looking clubs came up.”
“Chuffed they’ve gone up….nice 6 points for us next season”
“They are 10 yrs behind us”
“They showed how to celebrate!”
“Brilliant Team Spirit. They’re gonna need that in spades next term. They also need to evolve slowly and not rush it, a la Fulham. Their swashbuckling style will see them take a few thrashings, next season, but it could get them some vital wins that see them safe.”
“Wilder is a great manager and will make them competitive. I’m pretty sure most neutrals wrote us off when we stayed up with the likes of Boyd and Arfield as regulars.”
“Always liked ’em for some odd reason. Remember when their ground was really odd with only 3 sides but they still used to manage an atmosphere. My worst visit there was in the 70’s when they had the Argentine Alex Sabella. He ran us ragged and they stuffed us 4-0.
As someone has said if they play the way they seem to have done this season I can see them scaring a few teams next season but they might just ship 6 or 7 against teams like City and Liverpool. Should be an interesting season for them and I hope they stay up – they are one of the sleeping giants in my view.”
“There’s very few ‘Sleeping Giants’ left, and Sheff Utd aren’t one of them, IMO. They’re a ‘Big’ Club, but their Top Tier history is patchy at best.
Villa maybe, Leeds possibly, Sheff Weds, at a push; but not Sheff Utd.”
“Definitely Villa (THE sleeping giant in my opinion) and Leeds. I think Sheff United not necesarilly because of history (although it is a very long history) but as potential I think. “
“Sheffield United are are not even the biggest club in Sheffield.
Look forward to taking 6 pts of them next season”

Southampton Fans

“Sheff Utd going up with a retro Saints strike force of Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick!”
“Norwich, Sheff Utd and Leeds are good away gigs”
“A relief Sheffield United are up and not Leeds”
“I don’t like Leeds.. and their fans were going crazy a few weeks ago when we were linked to one of their players and they looked like going up then.. different story now.
They are a nasty club, so much there that’s not nice. They don’t behave in a way we’d accept.
I’m glad Sheff and Norwich are coming up..”

Brighton Fans

“This morning I was thinking us, Bournemouth and Sheff U (or either West Brom/Derby if they come up) to go down”
“Both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday are bigger clubs than us where history, even relatively recently, are taken into account. Sheffield United have spent the same amount of seasons outside the first half of the leagues than we have spent in them.”
“Sheffield United have wealthy owner. Some Prince”
“Chansiri knows he bought the wrong club”
“Well done to Norwood. Hope he finally gets a crack in the top flight. Can’t ask any more than 3 promotions in 3 years.”
“Hope he gets his chance (and ****s it up and United fill a relegation spot).”
“I understand Norwoods frustration, however I wouldn’t have said he was a key member of either of those promotions squads. However this year should be better for him, has been a key player for Utd all season and you’d think they’d keep him for next season rather than get rid back to the championship. “
“Norwood can cross a ball better than any of our current players. He has a really good touch. So bad move . Better than Kayal and Stevens and getting better. Good luck to him”

View From The Media

May 8, 2019 / Roy / Leave a comment

A selection of comments from various media outlets about United’s promotion to The Premier League. Where possible, the full articles are available by clicking on the source of the comment.

“They do not have the biggest budget in the division, but they have the biggest hearts and those wins come from an indomitable team spirit created by their manager, Sheffield born lifelong Blades’ fan Chris Wilder, 51. They love the central location of their ground and dismiss rivals’ Sheffield Wednesday as playing ‘somewhere miles away near Barnsley.’ Wednesday actually play in Owlerton, a working-class suburb three miles to the north of the city. McCabe, 71, wants to sell the club and be a supporter once again. There was acrimony, but McCabe claims they’ve also had an understanding for the better of the club. The conflict didn’t hold them back as the Blades are going up having overcome 23 rivals in a division which includes fellow Yorkshire sides, Leeds United, Wednesday, Hull City, Rotherham, plus nearby Nottingham Forest, Derby County and Burton Albion. A raft of spicy derbies and near-derbies which even the Premier League would struggle to match.As the only Yorkshire club in the Premier League next season following the relegation of Huddersfield Town, they’ll be able to live with that. And how they deserve it.”
Andy Mitten, The National.ie

“Wilder’s United might represent “the best of working-class principles” but his playbook has been anything but prosaic. The most striking feature of a 3-5-2 formation typically defensive but here, swaggeringly offensive, is overlapping, outlying centre-backs, helping to create overloads in wide areas. Wing-backs raid like wingers. The play is usually short and patient, prizing cut-backs and high-quality chances. And Sharp is usually in the six-yard box, waiting to pounce.
Sky Sports pundit Danny Higginbotham describes the style, honed by Wilder’s unassuming longtime assistant Alan Knill, as “organised chaos”. Bielsa declared it worthy of study earlier this season. Whatever the verdict, the answer has been elusive for most opponents and the continuity – they have started every game since their return to the Championship with a back three – key. While heavyweight sides have gambled, Wilder has eked the maximum from a bottom-third budget to this time ride the challenges of a gruelling season. Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson, no-fuss defender John Egan and dead-ball specialist Oliver Norwood have proved value upgrades down the spine. Scott Hogan, Gary Madine and Kieran Dowell were canny attacking additions in January, while Martin Crainie and 15-goal McGoldrick have been inspired free transfers. Players with apparent limitations have reached new heights in the Blades’ unorthodox system. Roving centre-back Chris Basham has revelled in a fresh sense of purpose, while Sharp – a driving force in the group, according to Wilder – has elevated his game, running channels and linking play as well as plundering 24 goals. He became the leading goalscorer in English league football this century back in January and Wilder is adamant he does not get enough credit. “
Kate Burlaga, Sky Sports

“If I can offer promoted Norwich and Sheffield United one piece of advise-don’t try to survive on the cheap. Yes Bournmouth managed it four years ago but in Eddie Howe they had a manager of remarkable ability. West Ham have done well because we have rich Hammers supporters as owners and a 60,000 capacity, That is twice what Carrow Road and Bramall Lane can hold. United’s style is pleasingly watchable but much too dependent on 33 year old Billy Sharp”
Karen Brady, The Sun

“I’ve seen them a few a times this year and they are right on your face. Centre backs come out and join in and everything. He’s got them playing great football and they’re competitive.
Mark Lawrenson, Football Focus

“Why would they (change their style). I think one of the things about his teams are that they play entertaining football and it’s exciting. If they stick to their principles then that’s the way to survive.
Jermaine Jenas, Football Focus

“While Sheffield United will be tipped to last just one season back in the Premier League, you’d be advised not to write off their local hero manager Chris Wilder and players who continually defy expectations. Huddersfield and Cardiff both made good fists of their first seasons in the Premier League and Burnley, whose squad has similarites with The Blades, are practically established in the top flight now. Sheffield United are arguably a bigger club than any of those mentioned above with a history and tradition that dates back to winning the old First Division in 1898 and scoring the first goal of the Premier League era, Brian Deane against Manchester United in 1992. Wilder will want to give his heroes a chance in the Premier League but realistically he’ll also need six signings, most of them with some experience at the highest level. Wilder likes 3-5-2 and there is no suggestion he’ll change the format after promotion. Up front he can’t rely on Sharp to match this season’s tally of 24 goals, and may try to make the loan moves of Cardiff’s Gary Madine and Scott Hogan from Aston Villa permanent. On the upside, if the ownership issue is settled, Wilder may have more pulling power, though he won’t want to wreck the spirit within in the dressing-room that has got them this far. “
Joe Bernstein, Daily Mail

“There are many contenders for Manager of the Year and, as usual, the winner will come from the top of the Premier League. Yet nobody has got more bang for their buck than Chris Wilder at Sheffield United. It is an incredible feat to go up from such a competitive league.If Jurgen Klopp wins a first Premier League title at Liverpool he will beat it — but not by much.”
Martin Samuel, Daily Mail

“Only a brilliant coach gets a club with the limited resources of Sheffield United into the Premier League ahead of well-funded institutions such as Aston Villa. Only a brilliant coach outperforms a Leeds side led by the great guru Marcelo Bielsa. But he is quintessentially home-bred in his plain-speaking. Maybe that is what has put Premier League clubs off tapping him up over these past couple of years.
Remember? Had that been his name, Big Sam reckoned he would have managed one of the Big Six.
Maybe if Birra Moretti had been his name rather than his lager of choice, Wilder would have already been among the elite before finding his way there with his beloved Blades.
After all, this is a coach who won a quadruple with Alfreton Town, took Oxford United back into the Football League, kept Northampton in League Two and then won the league title with them and has now taken Sheffield United – whose club crest is tattooed on his torso – from League One to the Premier League.
This is a manager who has never been sacked.
This is a manager of a team with the best goal difference in the Championship. A team that has lost only one of their last 17 matches over the stretch that matters — the closing stretch.”
Andy Dunn, The Mirror

“Egan’s brilliant song went viral, as did many of the Blades’ players boozy antics on Sunday and Monday. And Wilder himself admitted: “I’m a bit fuzzy still and I’ve been topping up at times! But I’ve always been one that if we do achieve a bit of success, we have to enjoy it.Players need to let their hair down, especially when they achieve something as memorable as what we have this year. The scenes on Sunday were something special and will stay with me and the players for a long, long time.” In an interview during Sunday’s promotion party, Wilder took aim at the “muppets from Leeds”, including Patrick Bamford, who had questioned how the Blades would cope with the promotion pressure.He explained: “Emotions were high and we’d had a couple of drinks, but that’s how it is and that’s how I am.“I am old school and when people open their mouth and say things, they have got to expect stuff to come back.“But it’s nothing personal. Leeds are an outstanding team and I wouldn’t bet against them coming up in the play-offs.”
David Coverdale, The Sun

When you go to the Premier League, you’ll shock teams, the way you play. At home, you’ll be able to play the way you want to play. Everybody understands that going to Man City, Tottenham and Arsenal is tough, but at home, the way you play, you’re going to cause the big ones problems because they’ll never have come up against (Jack) O’Connell overlapping the left wing back, or (Chris) Basham overlapping the right full back.It’s going to be difficult for you, but fair play to you”

Charlie Adam, Radio 5

“Wilder’s badge-thumping, heart-on-sleeve approach should not mean his team get painted as simply rugged triers. The last two United sides promoted to the top flight – Dave Bassett’s team of 1989-90 and Neil Warnock’s 2005-06 version – had talent but got by more on perspiration than inspiration. Wilder was part of that Bassett squad, hence those nights out and fountain plunges, but his team are anything but direct. It was fitting that for their first goal in the promotion-clinching win over Ipswich on Saturday the assist came from Jack O’Connell, overlapping on the left. From centre-back. Much of the credit for the team’s style of play should also go to Wilder’s assistant, Alan Knill. While Wilder was talking through his haircut routine, you can picture Knill quietly peering out at the celebrating throng from the shadows and making mental notes about how crowd patterns might be applied to set-piece routines. After the win against Ipswich Wilder, not for the first time, had to shove Knill physically towards the Bramall Lane Kop who were singing his name. Their combination of fire and ice seems to work perfectly.Squad depth has made a crucial difference. The moment last season’s campaign was derailed can be pinpointed to the broken leg suffered by the key midfielder Paul Coutts at Burton in November, but this season the Blades have coped admirably with the bumps in the road – not least in the two wins over Easter, achieved without their injured captain and top scorer Billy Sharp, who returned for a third spell at the club in 2015 and, 89 goals in 175 games later, has firmly established his place in United folklore.Whether this squad can add another chapter by surviving next season can wait. For now they can look forward to a summer of anticipation, a Premier League campaign and, in the next week or two, perhaps another sparkling oration from Wilder on the city hall steps.”
John Ashdown. The Guardian

” The straight-talking Yorkshireman keeps his messages simple but sets the highest standards and expects complete commitment from his players. Uncompromising defending is the bedrock, but Wilder is a canny tactician, with the use of over-lapping centre-backs to overload the opposition this season proving highly effective. Old fashioned team spirit is a prerequisite in Wilder’s dressing room, but when it comes to modern-day strategy, he will not be left behind.”
Four Four Two Magazine

“If Sheffield United had spent the past three seasons in the Premier League their tactical innovations would have been lauded. “If I was in a bar having a coffee with friends, I would say Sheffield United’s manager is someone with new ideas and I have seen very few people with these kinds of ideas,” Marcelo Bielsa, the Leeds United head coach, said in November. The most eye-catching feature of the Blades’ approach — “front-foot football” as Chris Wilder, the manager, describes it — is their use of overlapping centre backs. United play an expansive 3-5-2 formation, with Chris Basham and Jack O’Connell, the first-choice right and left-sided centre backs, either side of John Egan. “
Gregor Robertson, The Times

“It was Sam Allardyce in 2012, then in charge of West Ham, who infamously said he could have been managing a Champions League club had his surname been “Allardici”. At the EFL awards in April, when Chris Wilder walked away with the manager of the year prize, the compere Colin Murray made a similar joke, stating the straight-talking Sheffield United manager would no doubt be in the conversation for the Paris Saint-Germain job if he had a more exotic name. On stage Billy Sharp, a good sport and an even better striker, played along. It was put to Sharp, the captain, that nobody expected too much from a team with a modest Championship budget after finishing 10th last season. Awards season can often feel premature but Wilder is undoubtedly the manager of the year.”
Ben Fisher, The Guardian

Unai Emery’s squad is the exact opposite of the one Chris Wilder has had at his disposal this season as his Sheffield United won promotion to The Premier League. The Blades, psychically and mentally strong, don’t have an iota of Arsenal’s talent and ability. What they do have though, is 10 times the leadership, belief and camaraderie, and that has served them so well in The Championship over the last 9 months.”

Stan Collymore, The Mirror

View From Stoke

May 5, 2019 / Roy / Leave a comment

“Enjoyable match to finish a shit season”
“We were the better side against a promoted team.”
“A half decent game but one we probably should have won. Good luck to Sheff Utd next season, apart from being very average see below. Credit to them for not diving about and cheating which was refreshing for a team near the top. “
“Thought round of applause at start was good, expected more from them but suppose when already promoted not going bust a gut. Wilder spent good 5 minutes giving the subs instructions BEFORE half time!then brought them on and had desired effect immediately. Them two changed the game IMHO. Number 7 & 8.”
“So basically Wilder is saying we couldn’t even beat a team whose players have been pissed up every day since last Sunday.An epic end to a God awful season.”
“Wilder is the next Billy Davies.”
“You really are making a complete prick of youself on here this afternoon”
“Wilder has four promotions with three clubs”
“He’s a quality manager mate, his record shows it.”
“he just has a look of a bloke who could lose his shit at any minute, similar to Davies. Good luck to them in the PL, think they might need it.”
“He can have Afobe, Ince, Berahino, Clucas, Imbula, Wimmer, and McClean for £5 each as a friendly gesture towards his team’s relegation struggle next season. With those players he will probably draw 38 games, which could be enough to keep them up. Now can we have Sharp, please?”
“I assume whoever played ‘Born to Run’ at the end was massively trolling Tom Ince.”
“So, for a team that’s had a shocker and finished in the bottom half, we could end the season unbeaten against all 3 promoted sides… make of that what you will”
“Imagine losing to Norwich or Sheffield United this season”
“Says it all really. Matched both promoted clubs in all areas when versus them, exceeding in some….. finish 16th.”
” 22 draws in 46 league games. Fucking hell.”
“3 wins in 25. Thank God that’s over. To go a season and a half without scoring more than two in a game is some sort of achievement though… “
“Our manager was very classy and sporting by making a move towards the Sheffield United supporters and spent a good minute or so applauding them.”
“Disagree with this completely, if people love it so much go and follow them, I’m mightily pissed off at what a mess of a season my club has delivered”
“I hate it. They wouldn’t have done the same for us”
“A massive hats off to those Blades fans. Didn’t stop singing all game. A quite brilliant rendition of Allez Allez Allez, too! Have a good time up in the Premier League. A good, proper, northern club in red and white stripes. Good luck folks!”
“They hardly sang minute 15 to 75”
“Really poor considering they were going up. Wednesdays fans were better. Leeds were probably the loudest all season. Sheffield United were as loud as Hull and they only bought 100 with them
“What kind of club rushes their own players to do a end of season parade for the players without their wife’s and kids… just so the opposition team can have a promotion party on OUR pitch!”

Pre-Match View From Stoke

May 3, 2019 / Roy / 1 Comment

“Let’s be honest, almost all of us wouldn’t have taken a single player from Norwich & Sheff Utd at the start of the season. How wrong we were. Well done & good luck to both of them.”
“And Norwich lost Maddison and United lost Brooks. Big fair play to them.”
“Chuffed Sheff Utd beat Leeds out, after the early Leeds wank-fest. ”
“I still wouldn’t take their players”
“Just shows that management and team spirit are more important than ‘name’ players”
“The only thing Sheffield and stoke have in common are the red and white stripes everything else we are light years behind.”
“I’m tired of the same old names, we need young hungry honest professionals. Look at the Sheffield United side that have just got promoted, not a big name amongst them. I don’t want any castaway PL player who thinks he’s doing us a favour coming down to the Championship. I want players who were giving the opportunity to show what they can do.”
“NET transfer income/spend 2018/19 according to http://transfermarkt.co.uk : Norwich City: +£29m Sheffield United: +£5m Leeds United: -£4m Stoke City: -£29m. And Stoke fans say the Coates family need to invest more????”
“It’s a competitive division with zero quality.”
“Norwich and Sheffield are fucking average along with the play off teams. “
“Sheff Utd look absolutely shit and will be cannon fodder next season. What does that say about the massively expensive shower of shit struggling to finish 16th.”
“They will get mullered in the Premier League.”
“First time in twelve years they’ll have been playing in a higher league than us. It’s hard to see them doing anything but struggling in the Premier League. “
“Both Norwich and sheff utd will come straight back down. Enjoy your one year in the premier league”
“That’s what they said about us when we were promoted.”
“I said that about Wolves! Although I think you’re right this time”
“Because you know their teams for next season of course…”
“If they don’t spend the same amount as Wolves they are going straight back down”
“I think from 10 to 17th in The Prem they’ll be thinking they’re guaranteed survival with what’s coming up”
“They remind me of us when we went up.Wilder will make them competitive I certainly wouldn’t write them off….”
“They said we would go straight back down. Met a bunch on the M1 services when we were in our 1st season in the Prem Whilst all around were lambasting us and our style they were very complimentary. Suffered just as we have as a city and football – these statements are just sour grapes at best”
“Hopefully they’ll stay up, the top flight needs clubs like them. Sheffield is a proper football city with two big clubs, Wednesday probably even more so than United. “
“It is a shame Sheff Utd aren’t being promoted while WHam are being relegated.”
“Not saying the Sheff Utd players are enjoying their week (quite rightly) but I think we should be providing each of them with a McDonalds breakfast & a 2 litre bottle of full fat coke when they arrive on Sunday. “
“Seeing how pissed their players looked I might actually put a bet on us”
“Nah we will just give them an easy 3 points and safe passage to the league title provided Norwich don’t do their bit”
“After the dogshit season we are now going to have to witness Sheffield United celebrating promotion at our ground.”
“Can’t wait until it’s over and I can look forward to the summer international football and next season. Let us never mention this season again.”
“Can’t see there being a lap of honour. The Sheffield fans will probably remain there longer than the Stoke fans, celebrating promotion!!!”
“Sheffield will piss all over us”
“Have seen them take Leek over before and this weekend will be no different.Recall one visit that where the police shut all pubs whilst Sheff Utd were travelling through and put up road blocks.Not sure if they will do it this weekend.”
“They could absolutely take the piss next Sunday if they wanted to. Man city had to run across the pitch to try and get in the away end back in the day. Sheff Utd would have a field day this time around. ”
“We will be fine……who cares about Sheff utd”
“Already promoted – maybe they’ll come , attend the game then worry about the bigger fish they have to fry next season. Just a thought.”
“Sean Bean will get killed in the first hour.”
“By a Sharpe object maybe?”

The Pre-Season Predictions Of Sheffield Wednesday Fans For The 2018/2019 Season

May 1, 2019 / Roy / 6 Comments

At the end of last season I posted a collection of pre-season predictions made by Sheffield Wednesday fans. None of them came to fruition as United finished 12 points in front of the Owls, taking 4 points off them in the process. With their predictions being so woefully incorrect last season, maybe this time they would be less confident? Maybe this time they would be more measured? Maybe even give United more respect?

Or maybe not…….

Here are a collection of quotes posted on Owlstalk from May 2018-July 2018. Ladies and Gentlemen, enjoy….

“Seriously, I can see us running away with the title this time around and I’ll tell you exactly why.
We have the desire back, the players want to make it happen. They have belief in the new manager.
More than anything else, confidence and desire are what you need to win a title. We have some of the quality players we need.“
“Over the past 8 weeks we have had a few key players back in Fernando, Barry bannan, Tom Lees and Jack hunt. Without looking at the stats I believe our form during this period is up in the top 6 easily. I think that says all you need to know about what this current side is capable of. “
“No team will finish above us next season”
“Not sure about winning the league but we will be promoted next season.”
“If Villa are still in the division, they are the only side I would worry about. Everyone else, I think we could (and should) thrash.
Look at the quality we have, that has been badly mismanaged by Carlos. For two seasons we almost managed to go up, despite the (second season mostly) sterile sideways tippy-tappy football. Jos has us playing much better, attacking, confident football. We are going straight up, and I’ll be putting my money where my mouth is.”
“Top 6 should probably be the aim for me, top 2 not out of reach”
“I’m pretty confident as things stand. I’d only really fancy Stoke, WestBrom and Boro to fare better than us at the minute.
Imo I think Derby and Villa will struggle to better this season, Preston, Pigs and Millwall won’t punch above their weight again. Swansea won’t trouble the playoffs
All in all nothing to fear”
“The pig’s had a fantastic season, we’ve had a truely awful one, and in the end there’s not an awful lot to choose between. We know we can improve. Can they? You’d suggest without investment they won’t. 2nd season and all that.We’ve been decimated by injuries all season. They lost one player and a keeper.Looking forward to next season. Enjoy the Summer folks.”
“Competing at the top- Will be West Brom, Stoke, Potentially Swansea, The three sides in the playoffs who don’t go up, Us, Potentially Brentford, Preston, maybe Birmingham under Monk or Norwich.
Competing at the bottom- Bolton, Wigan, Whoever goes up through playoffs in L1, Sheffield United”
“It’s going to be a long season for both of us, it’s bragging rights between who’s going to finish 13th or 14th.”
“Pigs finishing above us? not a chance”.
“I expect us to finish above Leeds and The Pigs”
“We’ll finish 12th and they’ll finish 19th. Wilder will leave mid season”
“They’re all obsessed with us so will grunt in agreement with Wilder and their wont be any questions as to why they’re in for a season of hanging around the middle of the table.”
“I’ll give Wilder is dues, he’s certainly got the knack for getting mediocre players to perform to levels you wouldn’t think them capable of. However, while last season that proved enough to surprise a lot of people, I don’t think their current crop of players, nor the ones they seem to be looking to add, will ever get a team promoted.”
“I saw enough at the end of last season to know United will struggle this season”
“I don’t really fancy their chances either. They have a lower end championship squad and it will show unless they make any significant changes to their squad.”

“They literally don’t have one single player who would get in our first 11 or bench when fully fit. The two things that stopped us last season were CC completely losing the plot and the mountain of injuries, neither will be an issue next season”
“A realistic Sheffield X
Westwood
Lees
O’Connell
Pudil
Hunt
Bannan
Fleck
Reach
Forestieri
Nuhiu
Hooper
I count that as Wednesday 9, United 2.”
“Fleck ahead of Hutch and Lee after 1 good season at this level?I don’t think so. Hutch and Lee are both far better players than Fleck. ”
“If they sold Coutsy they’d be screwed as last season has shown”
“They keep going on about us not being able to strengthen. They don’t seem to realise that we don’t need new players, we just need to get all the players we already have back out on the pitch, instead of in the physio room “
“Forestieri alone is worth more than Sheffield United”
“I can’t wait to see him rip the pigs apart this season”
“I expect us to finish higher than them, because I expect us to be able to keep far more of our players fit this season than we did last season, and it’s as simple as that for me; compare the two squads when fully fit and ours is clearly superior to theirs. Maybe when we play them again they’ll beat us on pashun – but maybe not – if nothing else, I’d like to think our players will be ready for them and ready for revenge this time around. And in any case, I’m confident we’ll have the better season overall. “
“I wish it was the start of the season tomorrow I can’t wait to ram their boasts down their throats!”
“I said to my dad after they beat us, that they have peaked. A game or two later they did just that….. I suspect next season will be even worse for them.”
“Confident the natural order will be restored next season, the best they can hope for is putting on a performance when they play us in their ‘cup finals’ and avoiding relegation.”
“Millwall massively over achieved last season and I can’t see them doing as well again along with pigs.”
“They are on the decline”
“They probably think they will go up!”
“Way they ended last season suggests they won’t be doing as well next.”
“They need 4 new strikers at the Gary Madine level to stay in the too half of the table. They need to spend spend spend and it ain’t going to happen. As Wilder knows all too well”
“Their attacking options are still poo . How old is Billy sharp now? No way will they score enough to finish higher than mid table. ”
“Bias a side, genuinely think they’ll regress. They’re not gonna have millions to spend and there’s only so much you can get out of Billy Sharp and Leon Clarke in the purple patch of his career.”
“They know our squad is miles ahead of theirs & if they stay fit normal service will be resumed next season & they will be fighting a relegation battle with toy town.”
“down – pigs,Ipswich and toy town”
“With Wilder 16th-20th. Without Wilder 19th-23rd. They will probably get enough points at home to stay up, however, it wouldn’t surprise me if they did drop.”
“we did what we could with a reserve team, and they over achieved, we will win promotion, they will be lucky to stay up and one way or another wilder will be gone by jan”
“Absolutely.If they carry on their mid season slump from Jan into the first half of Next Season,Then it won’t be a complete surprise to find them in the bottom 5/6 of the Championship and quite possibly Chris Wilder being given the boot”
“Grunts are heading for the trap door next season..that’s why wider wants out..he knows this was his big chance and they bottled it”

“Am I the only one who thinks Wilder’s departure will be good for United? You can’t argue that he’s a successful manager (Utd, Northampton, not sure about pre-Northampton) but it seems to be based on a style of average/decent players with a good attitude (not sure how Leon fit in there) based on work ethic, team spirit, “passion” if you like. This combination, even with one or two good players can get you out of league one and, with the momentum of promotion, give you a good go in the championship. But the championship is full of quality players, and before too long quality beats passion, as we’ve seen.So, with Wilder still at Utd, I think their second half dip will extend next season.”
“I just don’t know how the Blades fans aren’t seeing what’s really happening here.Wilder knows he’s taken them as far as he can, the rot has set in, and they need major investment to progress…which isn’t coming”
“They’re brilliant aren’t they. First chance in donkeys years to get their snouts in front of us and they manage to shoot themselves in both trotters. Fookinpriceless “
“Wilder knows this was their one season do do literally anything. Now, as the last half of the season proved the buzz from winning league one has gone, teams worked them out, and unless McSue and the Bog Roll Prince cough up serious cash its relegation battles and nothing else. Even Wilders worked this out, for all hes “one of our own” and has the “pashun” . Burton did 2 seasons with minimal money, Pigs, Bolton, if they don’t get investment they are faced with league one”
“It’s as though the last three months of the season never happened.If we both carry on where we left off, we’ll be top six, they’ll be bottom four.”
“It’s only going to end sour there. No doubt about it they’ve still had a great season, but you can guarantee it’ll be very different come August.”
“I love the fact they have this new found arrogance after finishing above us 1 season out of the last 7, completely ignoring the fact that after they got found out at Christmas their form fell off a cliff edge but naturally they’re going to finish above us again next season. Us on the other hand don’t have many (if any) players who’d make their best 11 even though the group of players we have at Hillsborough just 12 months ago got 81 points at this level and after welcoming back Lees, Bannan and Forestieri took us on a run of form that took us near the top of the form table over the last 10 matches. Keep it up grunters, if there is one thing that’ll amuse me over Pre-Season it’s the piganomics coming from the red and white third of the City”
“I have a feeling their predictions could come back to bite them on the bum later in the season.”