Blackwell's Last Stand?

backwell or sackwell? Image Copyright to SportBox.TV

Blackwell was appointed manager of Sheffield United on 14th February 2008 following the departure of Bryan Robson - he had been at the Lane before as assistant to Neil Warnock but left in June 2004 to take up the post as Leeds United manger and eventually becoming boss at Luton Town.

Despite suffering financial problems at both clubs prior to his involvement with United he suffered relegation with both the Whites and the Hatters, whilst he guided the Elland Road club to the Play-Off Final only to lose out 3-0 to Watford in May 2006.

He arrived at Bramall Lane under troubled times, he inherited a good squad which featured James Beattie and Michael Tonge but they where laying a poor 16th in the table. His first game in charge was a 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough at home in the FA Cup. They drew the Steel City Derby 2-2 at home and eventually fell short of the play-offs, finishing ninth!

Last season he did well to take the Blades into the top six after a long hard season, however Sheffield Wednesday completed the double over the Blades for the first time since 1914 and they subsequently lost the Play-Off Final too in traditional fashion.

This season has been up and down already, they started off well and come mid-September were a comfortable 5th in the table, but a series of disappointing results has lead the Blades to 15th in the table before there fixture at Oakwell this Monday and only five points from the relegation zone.

They beat arch-rivals Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 on 18th September and have failed to win a game since, that's seven games without a victory and they have also lost their last four in a row - not since October 1995 (so I'm told) under manger Dave Bassett has the Blades endured such a bad run of form.

However maybe not all can be blamed on the manger himself, fans alike have become very irate at his 'hoof ball' tactics which has spun through the air at Bramall Lane, but quite recently United have played the ball on the floor and although not exactly convincing it is what the fans wanted. Adding to this is a series of injuries, with ten on the injury list at present and its no coincidence that this run of bad form came just as two key players were sidelined; Jamie Ward and Nick Montgomery.

It has been suggested that this fixture at Barnsley will be his last should he failed to win, a fixture which the Blades have won on the last two occasions on the very short trip down the M1 to J35. The chants of 'Blackwell Out' hasn't been heard since the 3-0 defeat at Blackpool but in all honesty would you want United to start again with a new manager and new ideas, and who would you appoint for starters anyway?

Not since the days of Howard Kendall has the Blades seen a recognised name at the helm until the appointment of Bryan Robson, but should Blackwell leave who would you wish to appoint; the name Steve Coppell (ex-Reading) has been mentioned quite a lot on the Blades-Mad forum but what about the rest.

Currently out of a managerial position is the forgotten manager Paul Jewell (ex-Wigan Athletic & Derby County) as well as the recently departed Gareth Southgate (Middlesbrough). Even Alan Curbishley (ex-Charlton Athletic) has been out of a job for twelve or so months now, although he has stated he wishes to remain in the Premier League - though he has been short of offers.

Taking lesser known manageress into consideration there is Russell Slade (ex-Yeovil Town) who was relived of his Brighton & Hove Albion post a week ago and Bobby Davison who was manger of Hungarian side Ferencvaros a fortnight ago or even (dare I say it!) Simon Davey who was manager of Barnsley.

Maybe the Blades would like to see them poach a manager from another club; Phil Brown (Hull City) has been under fire recently; as well as Rafa Benitez (Liverpool), whilst Sean O'Driscall (Doncaster Rovers) is doing an excellent job at the Keepmoat Stadium. Across the City is Brian Laws (Sheffield Wednesday) who would do a good job at the Lane, not that Lee Strafford would allow him to leave.

But, in an ideal world we would like to see the Blades misfortunes turned around and see Kevin Blackwell remain as the United manger, but only time will tell if Mr. Blackwell has the amenities to turn the squad around back to winning ways.

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