David Cameron Walker

Archive for the ‘Sheffield United’ Category

A new kind of play-off woe

Saturday, May 26th, 2012

When Sheffield United finished the season with 90 points in 3rd place, we tied the unfortunate record of the total number of points in the Football League without automatic promotion. The other holder of that honour is Sunderland, who cruely missed out on promotion on penalties in the playoff final of playoff finals – the 4-4 thriller with Charlton.

If you remove completely the thrilling spectacle angle (and I mean completely), United in the League One final was much the same as Sunderland. So near, and yet so far.

It was a strange experience on the day. I’d read a number of accounts of fans before the game about nerves, but this is the first playoff final where ahead of the game I was fairly relaxed. United have an appalling record in playoff finals. Of the three I’ve been to before this season, I’ve seen three losses – in 1997, 2003, and 2009, with a place in the Premier League on the line in each. I felt well prepared for playoff misery. I hadn’t even seen us hit the back of the net once in any of the finals.

And so, with a place in the Championship up for grabs and off the back of three failures, you can forgive me for not getting excited by another potential failure in the run-up to the game.

The game itself was pretty dreadful for the first 80 minutes – barely a chance created by either team – with a flurry of late activity, with two teams clearly desperate not to suffer another 30 mins in the baking sun. Steve Simonsen pulled off three excellent stops, and Nick Montgomery denied the prolific Rhodes a winning goal with an last gasp goal-line clearance.

Extra time, and the switch to 4-4-2 by Danny Wilson opened up the game at both ends a little, but by the end of it 0-0 was probably the result the cagey performances by both teams deserved.

Penalties are always the proverbial footballing lottery. Sepp Blatter’s recently launched an inquiry into an alternative (though the footballing world would probably prefer an inquiry to find an alternative to Sepp Blatter). A game has to be decided somehow. In the end the game turned on which goalkeeper was able to take a decent penalty – as much a toss of a coin as you can get in football surely.

With the first three penalties missed you wondered whether anyone would score one. In Williamson’s case you even had Smithies tip round an effort thatwhat’d been drifting – just to make extra-specially sure it was missed. Up until Neill Collins ran up to strike the ball, United still hadn’t hit the back of the net in a playoff final before.

With Collins scoring, and Simonsen saving the third Terriers pen from ever-horrible Alan Lee, this was a great chance to win it. Score two of the remaining three penalties and United were up. For the first time in the afternoon, I actually started to believe that this might be the day we win a playoff final – you could almost taste it.

It was not to be. Matty Lowton has had an excellent season, and many inclusing myself would have been happy to see him take a penalty. Sadly, his effort was saved. Then came reserve left-back Andy Taylor, brought on late-on specifically to take a penalty – a surprise to lots of us who were totally unaware of any penalty-taking prowess. And with good reason too. The moment the ball crashed against the post was the moment all the hope I had seconds before vanished.

We then followed that with a back and forth of pressure penalties, where individuals you wouldn’t expect to be any good showed surprising ability – and where any miss would have ended the game. Porter for the fifth and Matty Hill’s top corner effort at 7-7 in particular stood out as being pretty ballsy penalties.

With Smithies scoring the eleventh Terriers pen for 8-7, the task fell to Simonsen, having already saved two of the initial pens. The resultant miss by Simonsen is particularly harsh for him, and I can’t imagine after possibly his best performance in a United shirt that many fans will be putting defeat down to how the eleventh choice penalty-taker dealt with his penalty. A final in the baking sunshine at Wembley, decided by the final kick of what was a drab game – it was like 1997 and Crystal Palace all over again.

So, another playoff cruelty – in an exciting new way! We’ve had the last minute Hopkin goal. We’ve had the three-down-by-half-time final. We’ve also had the final-where-we-got-two-red-cards final. Now we have the final decided by a shoot out involving every player finishing the game.

90 points, 92 goals. No promotion. It’s a cruel way to end the season. Off the back of an abysmal year before, Danny Wilson has done a fantastic job in lifting the players he inherited, getting the likes of Neill Collins and Michael Doyle to be essential players in the team when most fans would have been happy for him to ship them elsewhere. The level of football played has been the best for many years. We’ve had all manner of set backs. And Danny now has to lift us again.

There will almost certainly be a big clearout in the coming months. Various players have expiring contracts. These include:

- Steve Simonsen (excellent in the final, shaky at other times)
- Lee Williamson (excellent in the season, less so in the final)
- Kevin McDonald (key to the midfield in the season, ideal for the Wembley pitch, sadly injured ahead of the final)
- Ched Evans (excellent in the season, in jail for the foreseeable future), and
- James Beattie (dreadful in the season, and who will be missing the first game of next season through suspension were he through some miracle to be fit anyway)

Couple that with the likely bids that will be coming in for young stars Matty Lowton and Harry Maguire this summer, which we’ll probably accept, and it’s looking in some ways to be a bigger rebuild job than this time last year for Danny in getting a decent squad together to push for promotion.

Still, despite everything I’m actually feeling far less despondent that I would have thought I’d be. It’s a sad end to what has been an otherwise really enjoyable year in League One. Let’s regroup, and get that automatic place next year.

Written by Joe Clift, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield United blogger

Joe tweets at @josephclift, and also blogs at One Foot In The Game (@1FITG)

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Featured, League One, Sheffield United | 3 Comments »

The Blades Way

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

If, at the start of the season, Sheffield United fans were told that the Blades would be just one point away from second with one game remaining the majority would never have believed it. This isn’t because of blind optimism leading fans to expect to have already sealed promotion, but instead because of the time we thought was needed to change our fortunes around.

With relegation so unexpected at the start of last season many Unitedites were anticipating a big clear out to help reduce the oversized wage-bill. For this reason, as well as having to find a new manager, 99% of supporters would be thrilled to make the play-offs back in August. However, after 45 league games and being securely in second place since February 14th, being shifted into the play-offs after the penultimate game certainly is painful, particularly when you see who has displaced the Blades.

At the end of May last year, Sheffield United made what was the first contentious managerial decision to happen at several clubs this season by appointing ex-Sheffield Wednesday player and manager, Danny Wilson. The protests to his appointment were partly to do with his past connections but also his lack of success in recent years. This record, accompanied by names such as Roberto Di Matteo on the shortlist, was enough alone to outrage many Blades. Wilson was only one man’s first choice but, thankfully, very few Blades could argue with the selection now with his name being sung from the terraces.

The season started brightly with goals coming thick and fast from all areas of the team, all before top goal scorer Ched Evans had even kicked his first ball of the season. From mid-September, the rocky spell arrived with dropped points against Huddersfield, Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe and more. The run left United in fifth place after defeat to Stevenage in early November. This, however, wasn’t a disappointment as this was where most fans were expecting to be at the start of the season.

The worst part of the rough period was the performances. The players began the season playing with a composed, passing style that worked to break down teams by turning possession into goals. In their down turn of form the side reverted back to their old ways and tried to be more direct, cutting out the midfield which had helped to win so many games.

To be truthful, the Blades got by thanks to some excellent work in the loan market by Danny Wilson to bring in Matty Phillips and Billy Clarke on month-long loans from Blackpool. It wasn’t long after the duo returned to their parent club when Evans began to hit form. Thirteen goals from the forward in little over two months from November to January saw the Blades soar into the FA Cup fourth round and back up to second in the table.

February continued in much the same fashion and staying in second place with a five point cushion and optimism was rich in S2. One of the most important factors in the rise was the lack of attention being paid to the club and its unvarying form. The sackings of Gary Megson and Lee Clark, the consistency of Charlton at the top of the league and Jordan Rhodes continuing to top the country’s goal scoring charts shadowed the progress the club were making. This, accompanied with a very stable squad, built up the confidence to grind out wins and keep Wilson’s men out of the headlines.

March arrived in the worst possible way with a home game against Oldham, where United finished the game with no defenders on the pitch due to family problems, injuries and two red cards. It was a strange game and, despite being 2-0 up and cruising at half time, an injury time penalty saw an emphatic turnaround for the away side. This game seems to sum up our season, especially after the latest slip up. It feels as though only Sheffield United could be so in control before moments of madness, a lack of luck or factors outside of the club’s hands that could destroy thousands of dreams.

Other than a defeat to Walsall, which followed the Oldham game and saw a makeshift defence containing two loanees signed that day, the rest of the month played out as if that game had never happened as the Blades became the highest league goal scorers in the top four English leagues. United were sitting pretty, just above Sheffield Wednesday, to the continued delight of the red and white side of the city.

Even though the Blades had occupied second spot for some time now, almost every supporter could sense danger ahead as has become expected from our past. Rival jeers came flooding in, as would only be suspected, citing Ched Evans’ continued run of fine form to have led the club to become a ‘one man team.’ This, again, didn’t unhinge the progress and it appeared nothing could stop the return to the Championship.

With just four games of the season remaining, Evans was in court accused of raping a teenager the previous summer. Questions were asked as to whether the striker would play on the Saturday midway through the trial, which Danny Wilson responded to by saying he would play if he was fit. At that time Evans was still innocent until proven guilty and in his final game against Leyton Orient, he scored his 35th goal of the campaign. The celebration was unusual for Ched as he tore away, pulling off his shirt rather than his usual jog to the corner and triumphant knee-slide. My first impressions were that he was overwhelmed by his achievement as there is no hiding his record this term, however, in hindsight; it appeared to be as much of a goodbye to the fans as anything else.

On the following Friday afternoon, Evans was charged with rape and sentenced to five years in prison. I, like many others, have questions about the case but a unanimous decision by the jury is the only thing that is a known certainty and that is what must be respected. A day later, a strike force of Will Hoskins and Chris Porter were the chosen partnership to replace Evans and the injured Richard Cresswell at MK Dons.

The performance was lacklustre and many not at the game wondered if this just demonstrated how much United missed Evans. Personally, I think it was the effort and commitment of Cresswell that was most missed and the morale in the camp must have been at a real low. Any manager would have had a job raising his players after such news.

Despite the defeat and a last minute winner in the game at Hillsborough, United were still on top; until Saturday night. Whether it was the media attention following the Ched Evans verdict or the fact the game was to be shown on Sky, it took until the introduction of Cresswell and Flynn before we began to see a side that resembled Sheffield United this season. The goals conceded had an element of luck about them, but they were also the result of poor defending. The result left Blades fans deflated and almost certainly left to find their fate in the play-offs.

After a few days of mulling over the season, Saturday afternoon could be lining up to be the best day in years for Blades fans. It’s true that things are never easily achieved, especially at Bramall Lane, but with all expectations diminished, United fans could still have the last laugh. And even if they don’t succeed in gaining automatic promotion, there is the back-up possibility of the play-offs, but no one wants that, do they?

Written by Eddie Chapman, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield United blogger

Eddie tweets at @eddiechap

Tags: , , ,
Posted in League One, Sheffield United | 1 Comment »

Mental strength key to the run-in

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

With United drawing the game in hand at Colchester on Tuesday night, the picture at the top is made somewhat clearer. A two-point lead over that team in 3rd, with a decent goal difference in our favour. It’s for the time-being all in our hands…

We’ve gone through a tough spell of late. Kevin McDonald, key to the calm passing style we’ve cultivated this season, was injured prior to the derby – we’ve been a much scrappier team as a result, and performances have tipped.

Then game the horror show with the 2-1 loss to Oldham, where everything that could have gone wrong did. Already minus our rock at the back Neill Collins, Jean-Francois Lecsinel (switched to the middle as cover) was stretchered off with an ACL injury – season over for him. Then we saw two of our young stars Matthew Lowton and Harry Maguire sent off in separate incidents. By the end of the game, Richard Cresswell was an emergency full-back in a make-shift defence.

In the following game at Walsall therefore we were minus our entire back 4. Two players were signed mere hours before and thrown straight in – John Egan from Sunderland, and Matt Hill from our favourite club Blackpool (a special orange phone was installed at Bramall Lane as part of the Bogdanovic deal, providing a direct line to Bloomfield Road for loan deals). With a 3-2 loss, the wheels looked as though they were coming off…

A professional performance with the 2-0 win at Brentford has restored some of the confidence lost in the run-up. Given Colchester’s recent form, 4 points from those two games is reasonable. With 10 games to go, we need to be strong.

We appear to be very much a confidence team. The last time we were 2nd at this stage of the season was our promotion from the Championship in 2006, when we were again having to cope with a chasing local rival in Blackwell’s Leeds. That Blades team was littered with strong characters – Morgan, Short, Unsworth, Shipperley etc, players that brought a lot of experience. Current players like Collins and Michael Doyle experienced promotion from this league with Leeds, and a lot will be placed on their shoulders in the coming week. We have some young players in this team that have to grow up quickly. This is Maguire’s first full season for example, and he’s still learning – his decision-making that led to his red card (coming after the losses of Collins, Lecs and Lowton) highlighted his inexperience.

Do we have the mental strength we saw in that 2006 team? The next 10 games will be a huge test. Throughout this season, we’ve looked like a team that relies on having confidence – when set-backs come up, we get a bit rattled. It happened recently in the Oldham/Walsall games, as it did earlier in the year where late defensive errors cost us. We’ve restored some of that – if, as rumoured, Collins and McDonald return this weekend that should give the team a big lift.

One player key to us at the minute is Ched Evans – the stand-out performer in the last few games, who seems to be growing in confidence by the week at the minute. A huge part of our success this year, and he’ll be vital in the run-in. Which brings me to the elephant-in-the-court-room, and the potential absence of Evans. He’s facing an easily-googlable charge, and was told before Christmas that his trial would start ‘in April’. Were he to miss the those games in April & May, the team would have to cope with yet another major set-back – and the signs to date this season on how we’d react are not good. It is unlikely that the likes of Cresswell or Porter could step up to fill the goal gap. Will Hoskins is a potential solution. James Beattie, with his number 10 shirt representing the usual number of minutes he plays, isn’t really an option.

Of course, the pressure isn’t just on United. If our experience of 2006 is anything to go by, the pressure increases on the chasing pack as 2nd place seems tantalisingly in grasp. This is no place for the weak of mind…

Written by Joe Clift, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield United blogger

Joe tweets at @josephclift

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in League One, Sheffield United | No Comments »

Blades Quietly Doing The Business

Saturday, February 25th, 2012

At the start of the season, Sheffield United named ex-Sheffield Wednesday player and manager, Danny Wilson as the man to try and lead the team back into the Championship. Eyebrows were raised by all supporters, including myself, as other candidates such as Keith Hill and Roberto Di Matteo had been overlooked. Many will remember the protests at the press conference as Wilson was unveiled, something that didn’t present the club in a positive light at the start of the new era, however very few could have anticipated what a change would be made.

For years, Sheffield United have been seen as a team who get the job done by whatever means possible. Encouraged by Neil Warnock, Kevin Blackwell and Micky Adams, Blades teams of old have played the long ball game but to limited success. Last season, only one of four managers tried to pass the ball to create openings and that was short-term boss Gary Speed. That mentality soon changed once he took up the Wales job and was replaced, firstly by John Carver and then Adams. Danny Wilson fitted the criteria of creating a ‘no fear’ attitude towards playing the ball on the floor which was called for by many fans although his lack of promotions and career statistics were worrying. Owner and Chairman Kevin McCabe stuck to his guns and it has so far worked out better than most could have imagined.

The transformation from the first whistle of the campaign has been phenomenal with United gaining plaudits from several opponents and being able to control the game at crucial times. The atmosphere at matches has also been a positive influence with the crowd finally singing Wilson’s name thanks to a comical chant first heard at The Valley a month ago. The recent performances against Wycombe, Huddersfield and Preston in recent weeks have epitomised Wilson’s passing mentality whilst maintaining the never-say-die attitude of teams of old, more than justifying the chants.

Patience was a key word used by Wilson after the Wycombe game when the Blades were victorious 3-0 after it took 66 minutes to eventually break down the visitors defence. If the same game had been played 12 months ago, the crowd would have been complaining and abusing their own team which would result in long balls pumped into the box at the first opportunity rather than calmly looking for openings and keeping the ball. ‘The opposition can’t score if you’re in possession’ seemed to be the overriding thought following the game with United enjoying 70% of the overall possession.

In the following game away at Huddersfield Town, an early goal from Neil Collins put the Blades on the receiving end of what could have been one of their own performances from last season. After surviving a barrage of crosses and long throw-ins in the first half, the second was a much more open game with Kevin McDonald instrumental in central midfield for the Blades. Both Wilson and McCabe deserve credit for the signature of McDonald who he has been a key part in resurrecting the sinking ship and a candidate for best recruitment. Despite having the most clear cut chances, Huddersfield couldn’t break down the defence, especially Maguire, Collins and with ‘keeper Simonsen on top form. Views after the game suggested Huddersfield may have made life easier if the players had taken a bit of time on the ball. This result ultimately cost Lee Clark his job at Huddersfield and the appointment of Simon Grayson could be just what is needed to calm the players and focus them as they push for second place.

The next match was at home to Graeme Westley’s Preston side who, like Huddersfield, offered yet another physical threat. Just before the half-hour mark, in-form Ched Evans struck a weak penalty and Preston suddenly came into the game for the first time and hit back with a goal ten minutes later. The thoughts from the stands could easily have been to expect a spiritless performance from then on, given last season’s performances from similar situations but Danny Wilson has renewed the player’s confidence, meaning that their performances have given them the freedom to push on and score goals. This meant it was no surprise when Evans struck an equaliser within five minutes of going behind and then the winner ten minutes from time. A major blow from the Preston game was the injury sustained by Kevin McDonald which makes him a doubt for the game against Wednesday.

United go in to the derby as the in-form side and arguably the favourites for the game against their cross-city neighbours. Both managers have gone into the game with different attitudes. Danny Wilson has kept his cards close to his chest whilst commenting on his own squad and putting the focus on the fans rather than his own return to Hillsborough. Gary Megson on the other hand has become more and more frustrated with recent results going against them and has succumb to making rash comments about opposition players and budgets as if readying himself to defend any dropped points.

The 127th steel city derby this Sunday will be a tremendous atmosphere, despite it being played in the third tier of English football. The game will be watched by around 45,000 spectators at both Hillsborough and via a beam-back at Bramall Lane. The league positions, the openness in the title run and the build up has led this game as being dubbed the most important game between the two sides since the 1993 FA Cup semi final at Wembley. Anything can happen in games like this and the red and white half of the city will be hoping Danny Wilson’s calming influence can bring at least a point back to S2 following the game. A United victory could be a massive blow to Wednesday’s automatic promotion hopes thanks to the other contender’s games in hand. Alternatively, a victory for the Owls could open the promotion race up further by going just two points behind second placed United. Either way, the supporters should be in for a derby day that will live long in the memory, hopefully for all the right reasons for the Unitedites.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Featured, League One, Sheffield United | No Comments »

Neill Collins – from zero to hero in a year

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

In the next instalment of the ongoing series ‘I Can’t Believe I’m Watching The Same Group Of Players That Relegated Us’, we turn our attention to the heart of the United defence to one of this season’s unsung heroes.

On transfer deadline day in January 2011, Neill Collins was a surprise signing from Leeds. His name hadn’t been linked till the day itself, and the reaction from fans was pretty mixed at best. With Chris Morgan injured long-term, we needed someone to bring the defence back from its Nosworthy-led unreliability. Kyle Bartley was unexpectedly recalled by Arsenal late on deadline day, and Micky Adams was scrambling round for someone, anyone, to fill the gap.

Neill Collins was not a name that people felt confident about. Fans just about remembered his two-game loan spell in the 2006 promotion year – Neil Warnock threw him into a debut at Hillsborough, a 2-1 win, where he was solid enough. But following a shaky performance in a loss to QPR, and the return of Craig Short from injury, he was promptly sent back to Sunderland.

His second debut only served to amplify the concerns fans had, a really poor 3-0 loss at Ipswich. Little improved. In 14 games, Collins saw defeat 10 times and 27 goals conceded – there were no clean sheets. This was of course not solely down to Collins, but he quickly became a hate figure for the fans – he didn’t look comfortable, and we were desperate for results. The near-constant abuse he was getting at games was sad to see. Nobody would have blinked an eye had he quietly moved on last summer.

On Tuesday night, you’d have been hard pressed to find a United fan say a word against him. Collins grabbed his first United goal, and led a heroic defensive display to make it the winner. In the process, he claimed his 14th clean sheet this season. His transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. Collins’s Clark-busting goal might have grabbed the headlines, but he’s been exemplorary all season long.

He and Harry Maguire have been an ever-present partnership at the back this season, and it’s been extremely effective. He’s been a rock defensively, and completely embraced the Danny Wilson philosophy – ensuring everyone is confident with the ball at their feet. With the season he had last year, he started with a lot of pressure on his shoulders – his performances have proven everyone completely wrong.

Neill Collins is for this reason an early candidate for Player Of The Year. Many would pick Ched Evans for his invaluable goalscoring, or Kevin McDonald for making us tick in midfield, but Collins at this moment deserves it for bouncing back in quite the manner he’s done.

A week on Sunday in the Derby, it’ll be nearly 6 years to the day since his debut in the same fixture first time round. Here’s hoping it’s a similar result, in a season with a similar end result.

Written by Joe Clift, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield United blogger

Joe tweets at @josephclift

Tags: , ,
Posted in League One, Sheffield United | No Comments »

The nightmare play-off final

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

Sheffield United are on a cracking run at the minute. With Tuesday’s win over Notts County, the club are back up to second for the first time since the loss to leaders Charlton Athletic on 1st October. The defence is looking solid again and Ched Evans has been on fire in front of goal. James Beattie also made his much-anticipated return in the County game as he continues to build up his fitness – a fully-fit Beattie alongside an in-form Evans could cause huge problems for League One defences.

As is the Blades Way, however, you can’t beat a good old dose of pessimism when things are going well. Ahead of the recent Alan Johnston Paint Trophy match on this site’s podcast, I was asked how I liked the idea of an all-Sheffield playoff final. It’s been something that I’ve been asked about on numerous times already this season – always by people that have no affiliation to either side, and normally with them sporting a look that suggests they think it would be the best play-off final ever.

With both clubs firmly in the top 6 and pushing the top two, the chances are that one will end up finishing in the automatic places, with the other having to settle for the playoffs. But let’s imagine they finish 3rd and 4th, and following successful semi-finals both head down to Wembley for the final.

Wembley was the venue for my first Sheffield derby – an FA Cup semi-final in 1993. On that day, United seemed a bit overawed by the occasion. Despite the heavily-bearded Alan Cork equalising just before half-time to cancel out Waddle’s long-ranger, Wednesday came back into it and eventually got the winner in extra-time. Heart-break for the red half; joy for the blue half. Since then, the Blades have been to three play-off finals and in each have expected victory, only for the team to fail to show up.

0-1 vs Crystal Palace in 1997 – which saw David Hopkin’s late piece of quality in an otherwise dreadful game (the debut of the dreaded white kit.) The game had extra-time and penalties written all over it right up to the point before Hopkin let fly.

0-3 vs Wolves in 2003 – a dreadful end to what had been a fantastic season, which included an incredible 4-3 win over Forest in the semi-final 2nd leg. The result was made all the more worse by the fact that it was clear the game was lost as early as half-time.

0-1 vs Burnley in 2009 – another where United failed to show up when it mattered. The minute the final whistle blew, you knew the club were saying goodbye to the likes of Kyles Naughton and Walker.

Three games, three no-shows on our part and not even a goal to celebrate. There’s only one way any of those games could have been much worse, and that’s if you replaced the opponents with Sheffield Wednesday. Both sets of fans hate to lose a Sheffield derby. What could be worse than losing the biggest of Sheffield derbies? Normally, it’s just the bragging rights for the victor. In a playoff final, it’s promotion and the bragging rights for probably years to come. The knowledge that you are single-handedly responsible for the other languishing in a lower league.

There is a slim possibility that we might one day actually turn up to this sort of big occasion. But it would go against the recent trend, and regardless of opposition. play-off finals for this reason fill me with a complete sense of dread.

You can almost picture it. A tense and scrappy game with a late goal sealing it, probably after an uncharacteristic blunder from someone that had been reliable all season. The horrible scenes as the final whistle goes as Megson & Co celebrate. The realisation that this would mean the inevitable sales of United’s better players once more, and a major effort from the manager (possibly the next manager) to pick up the pieces.

An absolute nightmare….

Written by Joe Clift, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield United blogger

Joe tweets at @josephclift

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Featured, League One, Sheffield United | No Comments »

Tragedy of Speed death highlights importance of tackling mental health in football

Monday, November 28th, 2011

The outpouring of grief for Gary Speed during the past two days is a testament to how widely respected he was in the game of football. 48 hours on, and I’m still in a state of shock. I learned of the news through Twitter, and naturally assumed there had been an accident. Then came the news that Speed had taken his own life, and the extent of this tragedy emerged.

So much of the reaction from the footballing world has included the words “I don’t understand it”. I think it’s hugely important that we try to understand why this happens. Speed had by all accounts a successful career, a current high-profile job going well, and a loving family. When you suffer from mental distress, these aspects of your life don’t necessarily factor into the equation. Depression can be highly visible and shared to others (as Stan Collymore recently revealed), or completely private and extremely difficult to spot.

As a society, we could be much better at discussing mental health. Around one in four people are likely to experience a mental health problem every year, and in sport that will be no different. There are plenty of taboos football still needs to sort out – the tragic loss of Gary Speed highlights the need for greater awareness of mental health, and the support available to those that need it. More than anything else, the stigma attached to issues of mental health needs to be tackled. Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, commented yesterday:

“The macho culture of football means that we have seen very few professionals come forward to talk about mental health problems. But it is only by speaking out about mental health, whether through the media or privately, that we can increase understanding and awareness of these issues, and encourage people to be able to seek the help that they need.”

The lack of discussion on mental health is not a football-specific problem. But football is a particularly high-pressured environment, and we can forget that each person connected to the game is a human being like you or me. Think of the players at your clubs that often receive abuse from other fans, or indeed your own fans. An issue like depression is a serious one – one that too many dismiss as trivial. Football has such a strong influence on people that if more people in the game like can highlight their own experiences, it can really help people to get rid of this stigma and enable people to get the support they need.

I saw Gary Speed on numerous occasions at Bramall Lane, and feel privileged to have seen him play, and manage both the club and country I support. He is a huge loss to the game, respected by so many fans at so many clubs – we owe it to him to not just mourn his death, but try and ensure that this sort of tragedy is avoided in the future.

Written by Joe Clift, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield United blogger

Joe tweets at @josephclift

Tags:
Posted in League One, Sheffield United | 2 Comments »

Gary Speed – The Model Professional

Sunday, November 27th, 2011

Sunday 27th November 2011. Football fans awoke after yet another Saturday following their team. As I turned on the radio, I heard the news of a four year old girl who had died in a pile up on the M6. My thoughts were instantly directed towards the girl’s family and those close to her. I personally cannot even dream of how hard this must be to cope with but these thoughts were soon pushed aside for many people. Just a few hours later at 12:30pm, I received a message from a Huddersfield Town supporter that simply read ‘Gary Speed is dead?!’

I didn’t believe the text, not because I didn’t think it possible but because I didn’t want it to be possible. Growing up in Leeds, I was often found talking about their players in the playground despite being a Sheffield United fan and it was my neighbour who first told me about Gary Speed. The stories of his goals always kept me entertained and I dreamt of seeing him play one day.

The years went by and I continued to watch him on TV as often as possible throughout his time at Everton, Newcastle and Bolton. It was his Newcastle career that made me realise the quality he had and how he was able to control the game. His movement and desire on and off the ball coupled with his impeccable professionalism away from the pitch were first class. He worked tirelessly in his career to maintain his fitness levels so that he could play as long as his body allowed it. As well as this, he never once appeared to take his opportunity for granted. Players who have gone on to establish solid careers such as Robbie Savage and Shay Given have shown in their own ways what he meant to them, as have millions of people around the world.

The day ‘Speedo’ pulled on the Sheffield United shirt for the first time, I knew how lucky Blades fans were to have such a player at our club. Speed was just the player we needed at the time, someone who could put their foot on the ball and send a pass to anywhere they wanted it. I know his time at the Lane was short, but there wasn’t a single Unitedite who wanted him to leave the club. I appreciate his reasons for leaving the Blades and I’m sure it was a tough decision for him but ultimately he left for his dream job.

This is not a time to dwell on what could have been had he taken different roads in his lifetime. Instead, it is a time to remember the footballer and manager loved by every single set of fans. That was what was most special about Gary Speed. Fans like us loved him for what he could do and how he went about that. For me, this was shown by tributes on social networking sites and at games such as that at the Liberty Stadium.

Moments like this bring everyone, whether involved with the game or not, together and Gary Speed MBE will be a name that stays with hundreds of people for ever. All I can hope is that these thoughts help the friends and families of Gary and the young girl this morning get through this tough period. Every life is precious and every individual has the right to support from everyone, no matter how it is they are feeling.

Rest in Peace Gary Speed.

Written by Eddie Chapman, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield United blogger

Eddie tweets at @eddiechap

Tags: , ,
Posted in Featured, League One, Sheffield United | 2 Comments »

The second coming of James Beattie?

Sunday, November 20th, 2011

For as long as I can remember, each season at Sheffield United saw rumours of some former great player returning to the club. It used to be talk of Brian Deane returning, and that did actually come to pass once properly in 1997 and sort of again in 2006, brief though it was.

Unfortunately, those brief examples where the Deano rumours were true have been dwarfed by other instances where it’s turned out to be utter fantasy – laughable fabrications from fans claiming to be ‘in the know.’ Michael Brown’s rumoured return is the sort of transfer rumour that a journalist would dust off once in a while if there was nothing to write about, and this used to be coupled with the sort of additional flaky fan info that you’d expect more on a transfer deadline day than the middle of summer. “Browny was seen driving near the ground/at a reserve game/mowing the Bramall Lane turf/leaving the ground dressed in a Rob Kozluk costume as disguise” etc. Brown could barely have had any pre-season holiday the number of times he was supposed to be within Sheffield.

In the last few years, the rumour mill naturally switched over to the most recent big name sale, James Beattie. Beatts, signed for a club-record £4 million in 2007 by managerial black hole Bryan Robson, was an instant hit in an otherwise terrible season. He finished the campaign with 22 goals to his name, joint second highest in the league, his biggest haul since his Southampton days and the fans’ Player of the Year award was a mere formality.

Fast forward to the following January – as the financial repercussions of relegation and, more damagingly, Bryan Robson began to set in, Beattie was sold to Stoke for a rumoured £3.5 million. 34 goals in 57 games spoke for itself – he was going to take some replacing. In May that year at Wembley, instead of James Beattie, United played Craig Beattie. The loan striker as a lone striker in the club’s most important game since relegation. James Beattie was helping Stoke to retain their place in the Premier League; Craig Beattie was incapable of helping United to return there. That summer, the two Kyles were sold to Spurs, and the rest is history….

While the Blades struggled in 2009-10, Beattie’s initial success at Stoke started to evaporate into his 2nd season. Injuries and greater competition for places saw him in and out of the team, before a reported dressing-room bust-up with Tony Pulis led to him being dropped altogether, and so began the Beattie return rumours. “He never wanted to leave…he/his family/his dog love Sheffield…he’ll take a huge pay-cut to return” before the Brown-esque ‘sightings’ started. And so they continued, right up until he headed to Rangers to sign for them in the summer of 2010.

United’s plight worsened, through managers Kevin Blackwell, to Gary Speed, to Micky Adams. Beattie meanwhile was fairing little better at Rangers. Without a goal to his name, he approached the transfer window last January out of form and out of sorts. “He’s available for loan, Adams is trying to bring him in” became the talk. At the club’s hour of dire need, Beattie signed on loan – for Blackpool. Five appearances and no goals later, Blackpool were down, United were down, and Beattie was back up to Glasgow.

The rumours re-circulated again in the summer and supporters waited. Rangers paid up the rest of his contract to release him on transfer deadline day. At last the moment was upon United. In the dying moments of deadline day, the club announced the signing of two players from Rangers. Beattie’s return was surely complete. Only, it wasn’t – two loanees that ultimately didn’t have their paperwork sorted in time, were the players. Beattie, as it turned out, joined nobody.

This will-they-won’t-they farce failed to go away. Beattie, it appeared, was weeks away from any level of fitness – and even the powers-that-be at Bramall Lane aren’t stupid enough to sign someone they can’t play for a few months, particularly when the purse-strings are tight. Late last week however, the first piece of tangible, creditable evidence emerged as Beattie was photographed at United’s training ground. The cat out of the bag, the club had to confirm that he is in training – many say he has been for weeks. His signing appears to be imminent, and seems this time to have an ounce of truth to it. He was spotted in the Director’s Box at the Lane on Saturday. The fans seem excited – it didn’t take long for the Beattie chants to emerge on the Kop.

Assuming he signs, what does this mean? Brian Deane returned to United a better player than when he left – this is clearly not going to be the case with Beattie though. Since his sale nearly three years ago, he has scored nine goals – and no goals in any competition since October 2009. He was pretty dismal at Blackpool, and a Rangers supporting friend considers him one of their worst signings in years. He’s lacking fitness, he’s probably lacking confidence, he’s always lacked pace and he’s going to have huge expectations to deliver based on his previous spell.

Then again, it could work well. Beattie may not be capable of playing in the top league anymore, but could find a new lease of life in League One. At 33, he’s got a few years left in him surely and is a year younger than Richard Cresswell. Certain players also do seem to click at certain clubs, for whatever reason. Perhaps Beattie genuinely does like the environment around the club, and hasn’t been as happy at any of his clubs since – perhaps that’s contributed to his form.

In many ways, this unwanted out-of-form Beattie is reminiscent of when Sheffield United first signed him – he’d been pretty awful at Everton, coming off a season where he’d featured 35 times and scored twice, both penalties. He then proved to everyone during his spell at Bramall Lane that he could still do it. If he at last signs, he’ll need to prove himself once again and if he’s successful, he might make a huge difference to the season.

Written by Joe Clift, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield United blogger

Joe tweets at @josephclift

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in League One, Sheffield United | No Comments »

Blackpool Boys leave big shoes for Blades to fill

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

On Tuesday night, just as I was considering how soon is too soon to roll out the “I never cared about the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy anyway” line, it struck me that two of Sheffield United’s best performers in a disappointing month were playing probably their final games for the club. The pacey Matty Phillips and the tricky Billy Clarke were returning to Blackpool after the Blades’ penalty shootout defeat to Bradford City.

It has been a bizarre month while they’ve been at the Lane – two wins, three draws and one loss does not sound like a particularly disappointing return, but it doesn’t tell the true story.  It could equally read as two reasonable games and four shocking performances.

With the exception of the surprise 4-2 humdinger away to Preston North End at Deepdale and a win over MK Dons, it’s been a period littered with defensive errors and lost points. Ten minutes of madness in the derby against Wednesday, defensive shambles against Exeter, injury time woe at Orient and an inept performance at Stevenage. Three points – yet had United held onto the the score at 85 minutes in each of those draws, it would have been 9 points accumulated instead. That would have put Danny Wilson’s men level with Huddersfield Town, rather than clinging to the play-offs.

United have not been playing well. There have been goalkeeping errors from first Steve Simonsen, then young George Long. In defence, Neill Collins is the only consistently reliable performer at present – a huge shock to anyone that saw him six months ago. The side have struggled to win any midfield battle and up front have been inconsistent. Chris Porter is still showing signs of a player coming back from a long injury, while Richard Cresswell’s early form has deserted him. Of late, the quality players have looked like average League One players – Stephen Quinn for example has started to look more like the Ginger Mess than the Ginger Messi.

The Tangerine loanee duo had therefore been a breath of fresh air. In Phillips, fans saw a goalscoring winger with blistering pace. In five league starts he scored five goals and finished with a superb effort in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. Clarke, though leaving with only one goal to his name, gave the forward line a less predictable feel. The Porter-Cresswell-Evans permutations haven’t scared defences in this league. Clarke’s quickness of foot and mind really provided a different option, and though not prolific he leaves with probably as many assists as Phillips had goals. Holloway sent both players out to bring them up to fitness and form, and United have certainly been able to facilitate that – though frankly the fact Clarke has been behind former Blade Daniel Bogdanovic in the Blackpool squad is a mystery to me.

So a short but sweet loan spell for both players and some serious problems going forward for the Blades. Unitedites have been weary of the loan system following last campaign – the over-reliance on high-paid half-arsed disappointments wrote the story of the season. One of the few decent loans in that collection of rubbish was Andy Reid and it’s the memory of him that concerns me about the Phillips/Clarke exits. Reid in his short spell was a class above the rest of the squad and central to everything that worked – his exit left a gulf that was never filled. The team were over-reliant on him during his loan spell and couldn’t work out how to operate in the immediate aftermath. The concern now is that United been so reliant on Phillips and Clarke, there could be a repeat this time around. Lee Williamson isn’t quite fit enough (and arguably not a proper winger anyway) while Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is still injured and others, like Ryan Flynn, are yet to properly impress.

Manager Wilson has been able to show through the Phillips and Clarke loans that he can attract some quality to the club. His signings up to that point had been mixed at best. But while the club simply act as a fitness-building enterprise for teams from higher leagues they are not going to develop the type of consistency needed to rejoin those clubs.

Priority number one though should be to bring in the personnel necessary to offer some reliability and leadership through the spine of the team. Like last year, the Blades are missing Chris Morgan immensely – the chances of his return from injury any time soon look slim. In the middle of the park, Nick Montgomery and Michael Doyle may be experienced, but they aren’t people to depend on at the minute.

If Sheffield United are really get to grips with this division, they need to bring in the type of player that can help sort the basics out as a start. They can then sprinkle some quality onto those firmer foundations. If the club don’t – as with the two Tangerines – they will be wasting the benefits from any quality brought into the squad.

Written by Joe Clift, We Are Going Up’s Sheffield United blogger

Joe tweets at @josephclift

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in League One, Sheffield United | No Comments »

« Older Entries