Gricehead

December 2005

November had ended with the fans pleading for the club to push on in the league, and head up into the playoffs. December started with them doing just that. United proved they travelled well, as they made the long journey down to Plymouth and came away with a 4-1 win. With Webber still missing, it was Shipperley and Ifill up front, with 2 goals for the big man, taking him to 5 for the season. Ifill added one for his contribution, and Tongey tucked away a penalty. The win moved United into 5th, but the injury woes continued as Ifill picked up a virus in midweek.

The FA Cup draw ensured that the Blades would have to make two trips to the inhospitable Kenilworth Road within two weeks. The first, the league encounter and undoutably the more important, on the 28th, and the third round of the cup on the 8th of January.

A half-fit Danny Webber was recalled to duty for the home fixture against Reading. To watch the team play, there was no evidence of an attacking crisis, as Webber scored first and Shipperley doubled the lead in the second half. Man of the match went to Phil Jagielka, with the Blades looking dominant and moving another place up the table. As usual, the fans went completely over the top.
Pride before a fall. A bare bones United side, including 20 year old Colin Marrison on the bench, travelled to Stoke on Tuesday night. Stoke threw everything at them in the first 10 minutes, and scored the only goal of the game, whilst the combined might of the remaining Blades attack couldn't break them down. A 1-0 defeat, but perhaps nothing to be worried about.

On to Ipswich, and again the Blades conceded the lead. Shipps equalised though, and after half time they could have had the lead, but Tongey missed the penalty. Man of the Match Sam Parkin scored two in five minutes to give Ipswich a flattering 3-1 win. The Blades would spend Christmas back in tenth place. The fans were concerned.
There were still two games in 2005 though. With sore heads from Christmas over indulgence, and no doubt from barrages of banter from their Wednesday rivals, Blades fans headed to Luton for the traditional Boxing Day game. Only to see their side, returned to some semblance of strength, perform poorly, as though they themselves had eaten too much turkey. Luton ran out 3-1 winners, a late consoloation for Webber the only positive note. Luton had played to their strengths, and the fans could only hope that the Blades backroom staff had learned enough from the encounter to avoid an early exit from the FA Cup. Wednesday won again as well.

United at least ended the month on a positive. It was scrappy, and by no means convincing, but a 1-0 win at home against Millwall was otherwise just what the doctor ordered. Webber got the winner, his 20th goal of the season, but only after Millwall had missed a 2nd minute penalty. So the Blades ended the month in 9th, pretty much where they started. Maybe the transfer window would make a difference?
Nothing had been heard.

Ell and Back

Enjoying this Gricehead. I like the little fan quotes adds a nice dimension to the story.

Gricehead

Thanks "Ell and Back"!

January 2006

New Year, new striker. And with that, a new chance? The arrival of Pawel Abbott, and the departure of Paul Shaw, along with the departure fo young centre back Dominic Roma to Chester on loan, all happened whilst most Blades fans were still nursing hangovers. There seemed to be an air of resolution around Bramall Lane though, as two home wins followed in quick succession to move United up to 7th. The first, and most impressive, came against 4rd placed Cardiff, who were leading 1-0 at halftime. Cue the introduction of Abbott, and an equaliser within five minutes. The Blades gained a numerical advantage not long after, with the sending off of Darren Purse for the visitors. Monty eventually took advantage to make it 2-1, and then Jags was sent off to even the numbers up on the pitch at least. The Blades hung on, a battling performance from Craig Short earning him the Man of the Match bubbly.

Struggling Coventry offered less resistance. Abbott started, and scored in the second minute, before setting up Webber for the second as United eased towards the break. The former Huddersfield man added a 3rd in the second period, with Coventry allowed a consolation ten minutes from time. This was the Pawel Abbott show, have no doubt, and he took away his first bottle of bubbly as a Sheffield United player. No fan would deny it him.
All arguments aside, the last caller at least was right. Abbott would have time to enjoy his Championship champagne - and get over the resulting hangover - as he was ineligible for the FA Cup tie at Kenilworth Road. Webber was also missing, so it was the makeshift partnership of Ifill and Shipperley, with the attacking option of young Korean Lee San on the bench. United's form continued, and Luton were blown away. A goal each for the strikers in the first half meant Luton had a difficult job on their hands. Shipps penalty early in the second ended their chances. They got one back, but Lee San, coming off the bench, got on the end of a cross from Geary and scored his first professional goal. No calls to the phone-in about forgetting the cup that night.

The Cup was back on the agenda for the first Football Heaven of the week on Monday night, as a result of the 4th round draw:
Once again, the Blades were probably guilty of letting cup speculation take their focus away from everything else. There was certainly little comment on the arrival of German Euguen Bopp from Forest for an initial fee just short of £100k. There was a little more consternation as the side almost no-showed for the important away tie at 5th placed QPR. Only a late strike from sub Shipperley made the 2-1 scoreline respectable, as Abbott in particular failed to show any form.

Faith was partially restored thanks to a tight 1-0 home victory over Derby County. Webber, again, scored the only goal of the game, which ensured that the Blades would travel to Old Trafford in the playoff places.

Loan activity hotted up as the fans queued for their tickets, scarves, wigs and hats for the biggest away day of the season. Evan Horwood headed south to Southend, whilst Ian Ross stayed a little closer to home at Stockport. There was incoming activity as well, with out of favour midfielder Gavin Williams arriving on loan from West Ham for the rest of the season.

The much-hyped Old Trafford trip was, perhaps unsurprisingly, an anti-climax. A strong Manchester United side picked off the Blades twice in the first half, and despite a ray of hope provided by Ifill shortly into the second, there were a further two goals for the Premiership side. More concerning for the manager than the scoreline must have been the state of Shipperley and Ifill when they came off the pitch, with an important League game to follow on Tuesday.
What the fans wanted was clear: a positive reaction in the game against Hull. The Tigers had a different idea, and after taking the lead with an early strike, they shut up shop and didn't even allow the visitors - at full strength despite the worries on Saturday - a shot at goal. The performance was good enough to earn Jags the man of the match, but the champers tasted bitter as the league table showed United back in 9th again

Another month with no progress made.

Gricehead

February 2006

Something had to happen in February. Only five games were scheduled, but they could very much shape the future of the season. The transfer window had slammed shut without any more big name signings appearing, and with memories of Old Trafford now fading, there wasn't much positivity around Bramall Lane. In particular, the visit of high flying Southampton wasn't anything to look forward to.
Well, it was Southampton doing the hitting, with a goal to silence the Blades faithful in the 3rd minute. It was only the return of Steve Kabba from the bench that really gave the crowd anything to sing about. Until stoppage time, when Paul Ifill rifled home a freekick for the equaliser. With fans, scoring a last minute equaliser sometimes feels as good as a win, so this was an unexpected escape for the management team.

Fortunately, not many fans would have travelled to the Withdean stadium. Those that did witnessed a mauling by one of the struggling teams in the division. Only Monty (who scored) and Geary (who battled) came out of the game with any respect as Brighton, and in particular Argentinian striker Federico Turienzo, ran the Blades ragged. It finished 4-1, but could have been much worse. Kabba started his first game since injury, playing alongside Abbott, but neither ever looked in any danger of scoring.

More travelled to Leeds, even though it was a Tuesday night, and those who hadn't witnessed the Brighton game first hand might have been of the opinion that everything was OK with the world when Shipperley gave them the lead. Sadly not, as Leeds scored four times before the Blades next troubled the scorer. Good news at least for Kabba, who came off the bench to score a consolation goal, before Leeds made it 5-2. The Blades dropped to 11th and the fans were still talking about it on Thursday.
Saturday came, bringing Preston with it. Webber netted early on, and the Blades faithful held their breath to see what would happen next. The new tactics seemed to be taking the "confuse the opposition" approach, with the two wingers constantly swapping sides. Unfortunately, neither Tongey or Ifill are particularly both-footed, so not much progress was being made. Preston, though, fell on the sacrificial sword, getting a man sent off just before half time, and then letting Shipps add a second goal to kill off the game. Webber completed his hattrick before being subbed in the second half, and the only real sour notes were a knock for Kabba when he came on, and a consolation goal for the visitors. The Blades fans would take it, especially as it restored 9th place and winning ways.

There was shock and dismay during the week, as fans read in the Sheffield Star an interview with Webber, who said he wanted away to a bigger club where he could be more famous. The manager came out the same day and gave a statement to the radio, saying Webber would be better off staying with Sheffield United and helping him make the Blades a successful club. Fans doubted this, but appreciated the sentiment. They probably wouldn't forgive Webber as easily. Strange that, a manager leading them to mediocrity gets their support over a striker who has scored 20 goals.

Second placed Norwich came on the last Saturday of the month, and they went away dizzy and confused as well. Webber and Quinn got a goal each, which silenced the minority of fans who were booing the striker, and Paddy Kenny kept a clean sheet in a performance worthy of the Man of the Match award. The win made the fans happy, if a little concerned that Ifill, Abbott, Webber and McCann all took knocks. Once again, United finished the month in 9th, whilst unhappy youngster Colin Marrison finished it by agreeing a loan spell at Tamworth.

I don't know who was most pleased.

Gricehead

March 2006

Only 4 games scheduled in March, due to International commitments. They could still have a massive impact on the outcome of the season though. First up was the return of the Steel City Derby. If any game could spark a revival, this one could. The buildup was as heated as ever between the fans, although the two managers kept their cards close to their chests. United were coming off back to back convincing wins, with Wednesday's mixed form including a convincing away win and a narrow defeat. Wednesday had home advantage, though, and that often counted for much in these games.

As it happened, the match was a drab affair. For 80 minutes it had 0-0 written all over it, with the fans showing more interest in each other than the action on the pitch, but it all turned when Leigh Bromby was shown a second yellow card for tripping loanee Chris Brown. Five minutes later, in the last minute of normal time, Brown was back on his feet and chipping Paddy Kenny for the winning goal. Not the most popular of outcomes with the Blades faithful. Once the fisticuffs in the streets of Hillborough had quietend down, and everyone was safely back home, there was the radio to listen to.
It perhaps should be noted that Leigh Bromby was out of contract at the end of the season, and hadn't yet agreed a new one. Probably wouldn't bother now, if he'd been listening to that.

Having had a week to stew over the painful derby defeat, Blades fans turned up at Bramall Lane to see their side go behind in the first minute against rivals for the playoff places Leicester. Those that didn't immediately hang themselves or head for the pub would have seen a vintage United performance. Webber equalised within five minutes, and second half goals for Shipps, Webber again and Ifill in the 2nd half made it a rout. Didn't do much for the league position, though.

Coming away from Vicarage Road with a point was more of a relief to the fans than anything else, especially as they had seen their side concede a goal ten minutes from the end. The rarest of things - a Neil McCann goal - levelled it up, and the Blades climbed to 8th, other results having gone their way. Attention turned to the state of the squad for next season.
Plenty of food for thought there, and on Saturday four of the out of contract players were in the squad to face Wolves at home. Despite having the best of the play, United were chasing the game from the 26th minute when Wolves took the lead. Twice United equalised, and twice Wolves regained the slender advantage. For 40 minutes the home fans urged their side on to find that elusive 3rd equaliser, but it never came.

And so the Blades ended March in, you've guessed it, 9th!

Educated Hick

Didn't you use this title in a story a couple of years ago?

Good start as usual

BobBev

Just caught up after my holiday break and enjoying this one Colin :thup:

Gricehead

Thanks guys.

The Run in.

Six Games. Six games that would, for many fans, decide whether this new manager on the block was a success of not. Simple equation: Finish in the playoffs, a success. Finish outside the playoffs? Not. Winning five of the games, statistically speaking, would be enough. And where better to start then almost-already-relegated Crewe? Just about anywhere, as it happens. A Blades side without a first choice right winger put up very little fight, and when Crewe scored with 15 minutes to go there was never going to be a way back, especially as the manager had no strikers on the bench either.

Just 5 wins from 5 required then.

Having lost at bottom side Crewe, the Blades headed to top side Crystal Palace - and won, of course. Palace new-boy Jean-Alain Boumsong contributed to the cause by getting himself sent off. Unsworth converted the resulting penalty, only to concede one at the other end himself later in the half. Parity lasted just two minutes, with a fit-again Ifill restoring the lead. Monty added a third late in the second half to give the scoreline a more flattering look. Not bad for a side that went into the game with the blunt looking attack of Abbott and Lee San. Man of the match for Michael Tonge, but end of the season for McCann as he tore a hamstring two minutes after coming on as a second half sub.

Other results went as well as could be expected, leaving the Blades in 7th place, 4 points outside the playoffs.
The Easter double-header was, fortunately, two home games. Burnley were no pushover though, and with the squad getting thin through injury it was going to be a tough ask. At least Webber and Shipps were back together, and it was the big man who got the first half goal against the Lancashire outfit. Backs to the wall after that, as Geary and Ifill both took knocks for the cause, and even the terminally useless Gavin Williams had to come on. But the Blades held out. To no avail, as it turned out, as results went against them and they remained 7th, 4 points adrift.

Paul Ifill played through the pain barrier as Plymouth came to the lane on Easter Monday. The midfielder had agreed to a course of painkilling injections that would allow him to at least start the game. Fortunately this was a much easier game. Plymouth clearly hadn't relished the long bank holiday trip, and goals either side of half time for Tonge and Jagielka meant that Ifill could be withdrawn with the game already won, and hopefully without causing himself too much long term damage. It was status quo in the league, however.
Reading had been disappointing. Many people's favourites for the playoffs at least, they were lying one place and two points behind the Blades. There season was already over, barring a miracle. Jordan would have loved to have gone hell-for-leather at this game, but with no Ifill or Gillespie, there was only Gavin Williams to attack the right wing. The premiership player had looked low on confidence for his entire loan period. In fact it wasn't really fair to call him a premiership player as he had only made ten starts for West Ham since his transfer from Yeovil. You could see why the fans didn't understand Jordan's decision to sign him.

Those fans making the journey to the Madejski, or listening to the build up on Radio Sheffield, probably groaned when they heard his name read out on the teamsheet. They definitely groaned when Leroy Lita fired the home side ahead after just twelve minutes. As the time ticked down, and first Tonge then Quinn departed with injuries, the Blades fans slunk silently out of the stadium, and made their way home in the sad knowledge that they would be facing life as a Championship team again next season.

The fans could continue their dissection all summer if they wanted to, but there was still another game to play. Williams loan was cancelled the minute the final whistle went at Reading, so he headed off back to Upton Park. Jordan rung the changes, and brought the youngsters out to play. Dominic Roma made his debut in defence, and Kevan Hurst did similarly on the right wing. Forte was given the chance to prove his worth (again), and Kabba started what would turn out to be his last United game. Fittingly, he scored the first goal, before seeing Derek Geary getting sent off just before half time. The remaining ten were still strong enough, though, and Alan Quinn grabbed a second. The referee evened things up in the last minute by sending Stoke's Michael Duberry off.

Irritatingly, Sheffield United finished the season in 7th place, a single point outside the playoffs. Such is the narrow margin between success and failure. Wednesday finished 18th, which didn't help. Norwich and Crystal Palace returned whence they came, whilst Wolves eventually gained promotion through the playoffs. Three sides who were officially great again.

United? Well they were officially still "Once Great". Until next season.

Gricehead

The Summer of '06

The Sheffield United management team wasted no time in getting down to rebuilding the squad for the season ahead. Well, most of them were. Stuart McCall, however, had decided he'd had enough of this sh*t, and actually he had only stayed at the club because of Warnock. So, he buggered off, and Jordan had to work hard to persuade Kit Symons to come to the Lane as Assistant Manager. Kit quickly assessed the squad, and gave Jordan the benefit of his experience. It was clear there were a few areas where strengthening was needed. Unfortunately, budget might turn out to be a problem. Despite being awarded a new three year contract by the board, Jordan had been told he would have no more than £200,000 to spend - a pittance at the side of the million available last year.

It was a case of seeing who could be persuaded to stay, and then figuring out who to sign, without making it obvious you were struggling for cash. Luke Beckett was allowed to go to Gillingham for £85k, despite Oldham having a buyout clause in his loan contract. The only other cash sale was of wingback Chris Armstrong, also to Gillingham, for £26k. Alan Wright, Rob Kozluk and Craig Short were allowed to leave for free - to Derby, Northampton and Swansea respectively, whilst two players who Jordan did want to keep refused to sign contracts. Leigh Bromby, probably irritated by the abuse he received for being an ex Wednesday player, signed for Stoke. Steven Kabba went to Cardiff.

Despite failing in an audacious bid to re-sign Michael Brown from Tottenham (he went to Derby) Jordan still managed to get a decent crop of players in. 23 year old Joe Keenan, from Chelsea, and 28 year old Slovakian Vratislav Gresko, from Blackburn, both occupy similar positions, but could potentially form a great partnership on the left. David Thompson, also from Blackburn, would bring a touch of class to midfield. Grand total for that lot? Nada. Nothing. The signing most likely to make people say "Who?", though, was José Luis Sierra, from Bolton. The 37 year old Chilean playmaker cost £3000. He didn't do much in his 6 months at the Premiership side, but Jordan saw something special.

That's what pre-season would hopefully find out.

Terk

Shame about missing the play-offs, particularly by such a small margin. Best of luck in making the Blades great again in the coming season