A Conversation about The Blades

Top football league site The Two Unfortunates recently asked me to take part in a "Conversations with..." piece as part of their close-season series.

We talked about the some what eventful and ultimately depressing last 12 months at Bramall Lane. One Blade on twitter described it as "wonderfully eloquent" and another said they "could not fault a single word." Comments that really put a smile on my face.

You can read it here

The Fading Actress

At one time it was thought that this report might be a post mortem, but the patient is still breathing…just. Analysis shows that the patient's precarious position was the result of many, often self-inflicted, blows over a prolonged period of time. So many poorly thought out decisions have led to physical and mental pain being inflicted and it may take a while to rebuild her life and return to full strength.

Probably of as much concern is the mental condition of those close to the patient, who had to witness such behaviour and the corresponding downturn in health, and we should monitor their continuing well being.  Many have already chosen to walk away from the patient, yet their ongoing support - however distressing it may be- is vital at this time.

Evidence points to the first blow being struck as long ago as January 2007. The patient, a long-standing familiar face but fleeting high flyer, had only recently returned to the premier spotlight. A decision was made to invest a relatively  considerable amount on cosmetic surgery in an attempt to preserve her top tier status, one she had fought so hard to re-establish.

Unfortunately, the surgeon used to undertake the significant task - a Mr N Warnock - lacked sufficient experience and skill to deal with such significant change. Much of the money was spent with little overall impact, leaving the patient disappointed  and a good league below the look she was aiming for.

At that point the patient sacked Mr Warnock, when actually the simpler, minor reconstructive surgery that would have been required was more his speciality. Instead the patient decided a more world renowned, "name" surgeon was required. However the only candidate she met with had seen his best days behind him and in a slightly different and more practical field.

It was also around this time that the patient was fortunate enough to come into significant compensation. Although many saw Mr Warnock to blame for her fall from grace, he was relieved to see that his professional standing suffered only minor damage, as some of the blame for his failings was successfully deflected onto others.

Friends of the patient quickly became concerned, as the patient threw more money at reconstruction than necessary. Some of which might have been better spent back in January. Money that Mr Robson (the unanimous choice as surgeon, from a short list of one)  was spending with carefree abandon.

It took  prolonged prompting and protestation from her friends before the patient realised that they were chasing a dream that was not to be realised with the existing strategy. That, despite protests to the contrary from Mr Robson, he was in fact only making the situation worse. His dour demeanour gave little hope that he could put right his failings.

It was during this time that, prompted by her sugar daddy, the patient decided to look at other ways to make money, to finance the pursuit of fame and success.  The first of these was a decision to travel the World. Quite public relationships were sought as she felt that these friendships were going to be profitable both emotionally in the short term and financially in the long term. After all, an international jetsetter presents a  more positive look for potential suitors. Unfortunately, over time, these relationships unravelled as it was revealed that the patient was being strung along by these new partners and incurring significant financial losses.

She also invested in properties, however this was to prove to be poor timing, just before the property crash. All in all, these proved more of a deterrent to potential suitors than an enticement and her sugar daddy suffered alongside her.

At such a distressing time, she took succour in a common sense talking to from a direct, straight talking psychologist, a Mr Blackwell. His strategy was simple; to  first stabilise the patient and then help them acknowledge there was a more direct route to achieve the desired outcome. The end product might not be as pretty, but it was hoped that it would be effective.

Within 18 months Mr Blackwell came close to delivering what the patient needed, but was unable to push the patient that final step. Following his "failure", the cracks in the working relationship between Mr Blackwell and the patient became more apparent and Mr Blackwell broke down on live television, questioning his own ability to do the job asked of him.

Following the fall from the spotlight, income streams had started to dry up for the patient. Year on year the extravagances were being reigned in, only for monies to be splurged in other ways. Despite this, they continued to work together, although Mr Blackwell expressed doubts about what he could achieve on a much tighter budget. He was right to be concerned, as he was unable to repeat or better his earlier near success.

It was also around this time, that the patient started making passing acquaintance with a number of supposedly top level "players" on the scene, in a desperate attempt to pull herself back into the spotlight. These did little to help her situation, only around fleetingly they spent large sums of her money and did little to improve her standing. Despite reassuring her friends that she would not continue with such behaviour, these relationships have continued over the last 12 months. Alongside this others have hung around more permanently, content to receive financial support, often whilst recuperating, yet giving her little in return. The financial and emotional bruising from these encounters have left the patient at her lowest ebb for some time.

Back in August last year, the patient took the surprising step of ceasing to use  Mr Blackwell's services. Surprising in that it had been expected much earlier and the timing, shortly after Mr Blackwell had invested her money in new ideas and resources, could only be to her detriment.

Not unexpectedly, given the timing, she took a chance with Mr Blackwell's young understudy, his media popularity attracted her in the same way Mr Robson had previously. It was hoped that the experience of working alongside Mr Blackwell and many of his more illustrious contemporaries would hold Mr Speed in good stead.

Unfortunately very little improvement was made and Mr Speed soon sought better paid work, in a more stable environment, where the likelihood of failure was halfway expected and he was less likely to be sacked. A Mr Carver briefly stood in, but next the patient sought the counsel of a self-confessed, boyhood fan. This had (briefly) worked well for her before and she believed it might just be the impetus she needed to move onwards and upwards once more.

Unfortunately Mr Adams' methods rankled with those she relied upon and he struggled to get the required results for some time. Her self-confidence plummeted and may friends questioned the apparent passion he, this so-called fan, displayed for her when talking in public.

So what now for the patient? A small injection of youth started to have a revitalising effect recently, but it was too late to prevent a set back that had been apparent for a while. Further injections of youth are most probably the way forward.

Estimates of potential rehabilitation time vary. It depends how much experience the patient holds on to, in order to combine with the youth and energise an aching body. With the patient spending beyond their means for so long, financial hardship is likely. With close friends, of many years standing, walking away and her sugar daddy unable to financially support her whims, the ability to spend her way back to that better place is not going to be possible.

A tough and painful rehabilitation is ahead. The patient needs to be patient. Friends might also need to hold back on their ambitions, as the patient should not try to walk before she can run. She is now operating in a new tougher environment, where she may be viewed as a big fish in a small pond and with confidence and strength knocked out of her. There may be more physical and mental blows ahead and a full rehabilitation is by no means a certainty.

Postscript 10th April 2011:

Just days after compiling this report, the patient's sugar daddy pulled the plug on funding the treatment provided by Mr Adams. Friends are increasingly worried about her mental state, as short term decision making upon a litany of previous short term decisions is leaving her increasingly confused and illogical. They all know she has to be stabilised quickly, but there is little concensus as to how to do it. Sad days....

All I am saying....is give Speed a chance

When I started this blog I was determined that, despite my unending support for Sheffield United, this would be a blog that looked at all football and not just the Blades. The fourth post in and I have slipped, but forgive me it's with good reason.

The opening to the season has been turbulent for the Blades. A point away at Cardiff with 10 men was a reasonable start, but an awful Carling Cup exit at Hartlepool was followed by an equally impotent performance in a home defeat to QPR, which saw the Blades 3 down in half an hour. Despite the multitude of frustrations (with team, performance, manager, officials) that day and the fact that there was a vocal minority calling for Kevin Blackwell's head after half an hour, a majority of Blades fans were shocked and stunned to hear the news of his departure emanating from Bramall Lane as they journeyed home.

After Blackwell had changed the squad over the Summer, the bizarre timing of his departure along with the fact that United had turned down Swansea's approach for Gary Speed in the Summer meant that there was, realistically, only one likely replacement.  Although it took a couple of days to be confirmed, it kind of made sense to promote from within. Yet, despite his standing in the game, his appointment has split Blades support. An element, albeit a minority one, see it as a cheap and easy option for a board that is in the second year of adjusting the club's cost base, after investment in players and wages failed to yield a return. This taking place alongside an apparent reluctance from chairman Kevin McCabe to make up ongoing financial shortfalls.

Last night was an opportunity for fans to quiz the new manager face to face for the first time. Alongside, Chief Executive Trevor Birch, captain Chris Morgan and Summer signing Leon Britton, Speed took questions from some of the 150 or so supporters present. Given his increasing presence as a pundit and as a stand-in captain on A Question of Sport there would be no doubting his confidence in front of an audience but, notwithstanding that fact, he came across very well.

He answered the questions you would expect, with the answers you would expect. "Great opportunity, no thinking it over involved, wouldn't have taken the role if he didn't think he could take us up." He appeared to answer questions openly and honestly; even grabbing the mic off Trevor Birch, who was answering a question on funding for player loans/transfers, to ensure he made a point regarding how he will not be rushed into making loan market moves, despite the anxiety of fans who perceive weaknesses in the squad.

One question from the back about Sam Ellis brought a forceful, bordering on aggressive response. Ellis was Blackwell's assistant and a perceived dinosaur in today's modern football world. The fact that he once played for Wednesday and his apparent comfort in being Blackwell's fall guy in front of the media following a defeat, didn't help his case. His inability to recognise the paucity in quality of a defeat last season, even claiming that he thought we played well, drove me to call the local phone-in to demand some honesty from a management team who seemed to be watching a different match. Speed explained that Ellis was leaving with Blackwell but that he had asked Ellis to return, as an experienced pair of eyes and to provide a strong alternative opinion when appropriate. He said words to the effect of  "it's my decision and i will live or die by it". Stirring stuff and proof that he will be his own man, even if it does ruffle feathers.

That aside, his responses were generally calm and considered and often with good humour. The ribbing amongst the panel was cutting, but taken in good turn. Well Chris Morgan (more often than not the recipient) was smiling, but then they say assassins smile! Team spirit has rarely been an issue at Bramall Lane and that has often driven the club to Cup Semi-Finals, Play Off Finals and the Premiership, when perhaps other teams have had greater quality and footballing ability. This appears to be the case still under Speed.

There has been a noticeable attempt to change the playing style in the first couple of games, to a more passing style where possession is retained more consistently. Speed said this was started under Blackwell, with the signing of Leon Britton as the midfield fulcrum for it. However, Speed has deployed Britton deeper and to better effect in his first two games. He acknowledged that this was yet to create enough in the final third and that he wouldn't be afraid to switch to be more direct when needed. Again, he said it will do it his way to ensure results, regardless of "popular" opinion.

When asked to choose one of the many managers he has worked under, as the one who he will take most from in his first steps as manager, he named Sir Bobby Robson. Some role model to follow. He said that he, amongst many other players, played the best football of his career under Sir Bobby's tutelage at Newcastle. He put this down to the respect between player and manager and how Bobby managed that relationship. He hopes he can apply the same skill set. Thankfully, we don't have Keiron Dyer's at Bramall Lane, so it may be a little smoother than it was at times for Sir Bobby at Newcastle.

The other big switch he faces is from player to manager, but this should be smoother given his enforced retirement and role as coach over the last couple of seasons. Chris Morgan went as far as to suggest that it was harder for Speed and the players when he switched from player to coach, but when a manager has the level of playing experience he has, respect from the players should not be an issue. This has not stopped a number of players getting fined for calling him Gary or Speedo in his first couple of weeks. He acknowledged life wont be easy. Someone had described the role as being full of pressure, but he said that by no means is this pressure compared to what people have to deal with in tehir lives every day. "If thsi is pressure, bring it on".

So, Speed presented him well to the fans and everyone seemed to leave feeling positive about how he will tackle the task in hand. Now that application, commitment and nous needs to be turned into results. No-one can turn around and say he will or will not be a good manager, either way he needs the chance to prove it.

He needs the backing of the fans and that means reversing some of the apathy that has set in around Bramall Lane over the last few months. Fans may be frustrated at the lack of transfer revenues being spent, but realism needs to be applied. Outside of a couple of clubs, who in the Championship is spending money? It is not straightforward cutting £5/6m from a wage bill and so transfer revenues will have to contribute to cover it. 

In these turbulent financial times, some stability is required. For that reason I hope that Speed is given the other big factor in achieving success and that is time, from both the board and fans alike.