My Bit in the LT - Sheffield Utd

[Herbie6590]

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25131147.blackburn-must-embody-jack-walker-mantra-play-off-finale/
 

Apparently it’s behind the paywall…so…

[Herbie6590]

I think it was Sir Bobby Robson who summed up the nature of football-supporting best…

“What is a club in any case? Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it. It’s not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes.

It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city.

It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.”

 

On Saturday, at Bramall Lane, all Rovers fans present will certainly be noisy, passionate and proud that their team has improbably strung together a sequence of wins that means a play off berth remains a possibility.

After the appointment of Valérien Ismaël, I was asked on the ‘4000 Holes’ podcast as to what success would look like for him this season. My reply was that going into the last game of the season, there would still be something at stake. There is, and so by my own definition, Ismaël has done a good job – quite the turnaround since half time in the Sheffield Wednesday fixture!

Saturday’s game against Watford was set up for a “Classic Rovers” performance ending with a massive let down but instead, those present witnessed a stirring comeback inspired by Todd Cantwell. Other results in this crazy division were helpful and so the season still holds out a tantalising possibility.

To turn those hopes and dreams into actuality still requires a sequence of results that could be described as improbable, but as many Rovers fans have spent all week assessing, far from impossible. We need yet another new data metric – xFS, Expected Favourable Scoreline.

The days of a transistor radio planted to the ear for 90 minutes to learn how rivals are faring are now a nostalgic whim. I still recall the painful rumours circulating around Eastville that PNE were beating Swansea back in May 1981. Let’s hope that the cellular networks in Sheffield have the bandwidth to keep us informed and prevent a repeat. This time it’s Preston’s turn to travel to Bristol with a lot at stake.

There are no dead rubber fixtures – each of the four rival teams vying for one of the two remaining places faces an opponent with skin in the game in some shape or form at either end of the table. In fact, it is Rovers’ own fixture that arguably is the closest to a dead rubber, as irrespective of Saturday’s outcome, Sheffield United will finish third.

What impact will this have on their approach to the game? I suspect very little. I fully expect a Chris Wilder side to be keen to finish the normal league season on a high in front of their own supporters.

In the reverse fixture at Ewood in November, the Blades dominated, registering nine shots on target to Rovers zero and running out comfortable winners. They are no slouches and for Rovers to win, they will need to be “at it” throughout. Rovers’ reward for a victory may well turn out to be two more fixtures against Sheffield United, so the opportunities for mind games are plentiful.

It’s been a period of vindication for the new manager over recent weeks. He has enjoyed the sort of run that John Eustace experienced in November/December albeit presently four wins on the spin as opposed to six but still, we’d all have scoffed at such a prediction at half time against Wednesday.

His squad has been impacted by injuries but he has shown a ruthless streak in omitting the likes of Buckley & Rankin-Costello from the squad last time out, preferring to promote youngsters such as Montgomery & Tyjon and include (players previously managed), loanees, Dennis & Woodrow. Whoever is selected on Saturday has the chance to become a folk hero by firing Rovers to play offs for the first time since a certain David Speedie.

Following recent podcast appearances and media interviews, the senior leadership team at Ewood, by their own admission talk of projects and incremental progress reminding fans that “it’s not 1995” – trust me Rudy, we know.

I would however remind them of Jack Walker’s favourite saying, “Think Big”.

As for the fans, we fell in love years ago. We’ll bring the noise, the passion and the pride in our town. We are the club, not the directors or the people paid to represent it. Sir Bobby was quite correct.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DE.]

Great article! Liked the pointed comment to the board at the end as well 👍

[TheFinalCountdown]

Another stirring article, Ian. Worth the Telegraph subscription alone.