J7

So it's not a rule. I guess we'll find out if it applies to us but as things stand we're in at round one. Ah right. Cheers. I was starting to feel stupid as im sure I can remember relegated clubs given a bye. That must have been why then.

Must have changed then.

Does the team who finished 3rd bottom not still get a bye from the 1st Round of the League Cup?

Why do people love talking about size of clubs? It means nothing on the pitch as is proven at the moment. There are loads of clubs in our new division who could claim to be bigger than the likes of Bolton, Wigan, Hull, Fulham, Burnley and Stoke, but at the end of the day it means fuck all. For me, there are real clubs and plastic clubs. We are a real club. I would rather support this club in the Conference than some plastic club like Wigan in the Premier League. Now lets accept where we are, stay United and get on with the fuckin job. Feeling sorry for ourselves won't do any good, and the vast majority of reaction on here since Sunday has been class!

No. Not at the moment. There arnt many weeks until the start of the season and theres ALOT of work to do. If something happens during the season then so be it, but it would be a disaster if it happened now and we were left standing still for a month or two.

Its a good thread.

We arnt going to just be able to snap up Sheffield United's best players though. Better looking for stars at clubs lower down the league.

Can't wait for some of these away games next season. Just hopes its not too hard to get tickets. Have my heart set on Peterborough, Sheff Wed and Barnsley.

They have to when you think about it. The season is only 8-9 weeks away and we can't fuck around until the end of August to sign players this year. As soon as Shearer is appointed (hopefully) they need to get to work straight away. Thankfully Dowie will know quite a bit about the Championship.

I agree with this. Whats been has been. We need to all stay United and help turn this club around again. Getting the fans 100% behind the club is the only way forward. We need to stop being bitter, stop feeling sorry for ourselves and get behind our new team and Shearer as manager. It might take time, but we have to give it time. I hate whats happened the past 2-5 years, but line in the sand time.

Because it was Blackpool. I don't know how big Bloomfield Road is, but it's under 10k for sure. Yeah, but surely a derby against Preston would be one of their season highlights. Why would Doncaster or Bristol City attract more? Because they're better supported clubs. Blackpool average gate is about 7,000. And also, Dave's stats are wrong. I understand that. But why would Blackpool v Plymouth or Blackpool v Doncaster attract a bigger crowd than Blackpool v Preston. Seems pretty obvious the stats are wrong, you're right.

Looking at some of the best players in the SPL might not be a bad idea.

Because it was Blackpool. I don't know how big Bloomfield Road is, but it's under 10k for sure. Yeah, but surely a derby against Preston would be one of their season highlights. Why would Doncaster or Bristol City attract more?

I agree. Would love a game up at Hearts too.

I have been shocked by the reactions. The people I expected to be going mental and winding toon fans up have been pretty quiet, whereas the most abuse ive had is off two Blackburn fans. Even my Mackem mates havent said much, despite going into overdrive after the derby in October.

I looked on one of their forums when he came back and opinion was mixed between promising and meh. Carroll didn't pull up any trees at this level either. Yeah, I remember Carroll have a pretty poor time of it, but he was quite young when he went to Preston and was acting like a prick from what I remember. Hopefully he's matured a bit. We really need to sign an experienced Championship striker who will do a job for us and get us 15-20 goals at least over the 46 games.

Think we will see alot of them being given a chance, but they need to be merged into a first team rather than thrown straight into the deep end. Did anyone pay much attention to how Lua Lua did at this level with Doncaster? I had heard the Guthrie was brilliant for Southampton as well. Unfortunatly Shola was shite for Stoke. I really think he would be terrible in the Championship.

I think Guthrie will be class in the Championship tbh.

Well we will have to sign some players. We can't just sit around feel sorry for ourselves and moan all summer. The sooner we accept our relegation, get rid of our high earners and start preparing for next year the better.

The only time I saw him for Falkirk was when Rangers hammered them 7-1 I think it was. The goals werent really his fault though.

Agree. Harper just isnt very good. It was highly annoying when he kept paniced yesterday a few times and just put us straight under pressure again. He did it at Liverpool and Bolton as well. Just keep hold of the ball for a bit ffs! I think Krul should be our keeper next season.

Duff would be a great Championship player, however we can't keep him on the money he's on.

Its pointless even typing out a starting line up. There will be loads of new players no doubt, and there needs to be. We can't be arrogant about who we go and sign and need to get players who will get us out of the division. If someone like fat Jon Parkin will do a job for us then we need to sign him without being arrogant. Not saying we should sign him, but just an example.

I hate the fat fuck!

Why the fuck didn't we just go for him in January? Im trying not to get too pissed off about how pathetic our club is run until after Sunday, but its quite hard to stop my piss boiling.