FOR A man who learnt his managerial trade under Neil Warnock, footballs marmite equivalent, it is perhaps unsurprising that Sheffield United chief Kevin Blackwell splits opinion almost 50/50 at Bramall Lane.Blackwell, who worked with Warnock at Scarborough, Notts County, Torquay United, Huddersfield, Plymouth and Bury, celebrated two years in the Bramall Lane hotseat last week with a 2-0 victory over Bristol City. But despite po se sing an impre sive record in charge with 48 victories from 107 games in charge Blackwell is still forced to deal with a mounting feeling of unrest on the terraces, from a United faithful hungry to see Premier League football again.Some of the crowd have been on the backs of the players, Clint Capela Jersey and you can understand why at times, Blackwell said. But the situation is difficult.Despite his over-reliance on long-ball tactics, Blackwells win ratio is hard to ignore and the fact that United still sit three points outside the Championships Play Off positions is made even more remarkable by the fact that he has been forced to compete with a near-impo sible injury crisis this season.By February, Blackwell has already used more players this term than the whole of the last where they reached the Play Off final, only to lose 1-0 to Burnley and has handed a United debut to an astonishing 20 players, in a season overshadowed by the departures of stars David Cotterill, Kyle Naughton, Kyle Walker and Matthew Kilgallon.Forced sale: Cotterill and NaughtonUniteds increasingly-fragile finances forced the sale of that quartet and means that only captain Chris Morgan remains from the back four that played at Wembley. A Play Off final defeat would damage any club but Blackwell Ben McLemore Jersey is only beginning to realise quite how costly that defeat under the iconic arch has been.Every time we try to build a team its smashed, he said.We have a whole new back four, but only two players in the team played in the Play-Off final.Uniteds precarious financial situation means Blackwell is forced to survive on loans and free transfers, as he aims to a semble a squad capable of challenging for Premier League status. It is a task not unfamiliar to the 51-year-old, however, having endured difficult spells at cash-strapped Leeds United and Luton Town.All Smiles: Kevin Blackwells superb record is ignored by the United faithfulUnder his guidance, however, Leeds were Danuel House Jersey one game away from the Premier League capitulating in the Play Off final, and losing 3-0 to Watford. Similar disappointment last May must have hurt Blackwell hard and, indeed, he briefly, and publicly, contemplated resignation in the immediate aftermath, after watching Burnleys players celebrate their new-found top-flight status.But he was persuaded to stay by chairman Kevin McCabe, and celebrated two years in charge on Valentines Day. Clearly, his love affair with United runs deep.This is such a big club and there is a big interest with the media, both local and national, he said.The fans have their opinions and expre s them; they are pa sionate and care about the club. Its a great club and I wouldnt have it any other way.There have been a lot of things happening in the last two years, but Im proud Russell Westbrook Jersey to say that we are still fighting for promotion.If we can have an injury-free run Im confident we can finish in the top six with stability, we are a very capable unit.Stability was one thing that was lacking, when Blackwell arrived in South Yorkshire. He initially agreed to work without a contract, and famously slept on his chairmans camp bed before taking his first training se sion as United manager.Disaster: Bryan RobsonThe club were in disarray left reeling after the disastrous reign of Bryan Robson. Recently, and controversially, relegated from the Premier League on goal difference, Robson replaced Neil Warnock in charge and bought big but by the time he was relieved of his duties, United were facing the very realistic proposition of a second relegation in two seasons.Its been an interesting two years, Blackwell admitted.On my arrival we were too close to the bottom of the Championship and in a relegation dogfight, since then we have always been in and around the top six.Having accepted the United job before his bottom lip met my top lip, Blackwell turned the club around, and they remarkably went into the last game of the season with a mathematical chance of making the Play-Offs. Needle s to say, they failed but succeeded the following season.And if Blackwell Bruno Caboclo Jersey can keep his threadbare squad injury-free, he may do so yet again.
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2024-04-01 10:44:23