Striking difference to last season

Do the arrivals of strikers Nick Blackman, Shaun Miller and John Cofie, plus the recent acquisition of Dave Kitson suggest lessons from last season have been learned at Bramall Lane?

The Blades fell agonisingly short of promotion due to a lack of firepower in the final few matches, yet with six strikers, Paul Gallagher on loan and youngster Joe Ironside knocking on the door, manager Danny Wilson believes he has enough options to avoid a repeat of the problems that hampered his first season in charge.

For full story and to leave a comment, click on the Sheffield United page

A season to remember or forget?

With the new season well and truly up and running, what does this campaign hold for supporters of our five South Yorkshire clubs?

Are you set for a season to remember or a year to forget? Last season, one club was promoted, one was relegated, one only just avoided the drop and one suffered play-off heartache.

What will it be this time round?

To find out what could be in store for your side, click on the extra-time section and leave a comment

EXCLUSIVE: Another marquee signing for Millers

Rotherham United manager Steve Evans is continuing his rebuilding ahead of next season's push for promotion with the arrival of another marquee signing.

The Millers will soon announce an international midfielder from League One on a free transfer.

Full story and to leave a comment, click on the Rotherham United page

Exciting times for Owls fans

IF anyone was in any doubt about Milan Mandaric’s intentions to turn Sheffield Wednesday into a dominant force, one only has to look at this season’s relentless pursuit of second place rivals Sheffield United to understand the Serb means business.

Exciting times are around the corner for Owls fans, but with every ambitious chairman comes a word of warning for the manager.

For full story and to leave a comment, click on the Wednesday page

Decision time for Barnsley

THE powers that be at Barnsley face a crucial decision in the coming months – do they stick or twist?

This season’s performance, their worst since returning to the Championship six years ago, twinned with the loss of  2,500 fans over that same period should set alarm bells ringing in the Oakwell corridors of power.

But they are faced with a difficult question ahead of what could be a crucial season.

For full story and to leave a comment, click on the Barnsley page 

Tough love on agenda for Rovers

Doncaster Rovers manager Dean Saunders may be rocking on the ropes following his side’s relegation to League One, but he is refusing to throw in the towel.

Here, the former Liverpool and Welsh international striker pulls no punches as he reveals how he plans to inject some tough love into his bid for an immediate Championship return.

For full story and to comment, click on the Doncaster page

South Yorkshire team of the year

Choosing this season’s South Yorkshire XI has been a tough one, with plenty of players deserving representative honours after enjoying seasons to remember.

However, after reading the tweets to @half_timerant and seeking the views of local sports reporters who have watched our sides in action all season, the final XI is now complete.

To view the final XI and to leave a comment, click on the Extra Time section

No such thing as a one-man team

SHEFFIELD United’s defeat to MK Dons in their first game without jailed striker Ched Evans has led to yet more calls that United are a one-man team.

It is a ludicrous claim, as there is simply no such thing as a one-man team. The very meaning of the word team is a sufficient enough answer. Yet, if the Blades are a one-man team for having a prolific goalscorer, then so too are many other clubs, including several on our doorstep.

For full story and to leave a comment, click on the extra-time section

Backward step for Barnsley

WHATEVER happens in Barnsley’s final game of the season at home to Brighton, the Reds will have recorded their lowest points tally since their return to the Championship six years ago.

And more worryingly, had Portsmouth not been deducted 10 points for going into administration, the Reds would be occupying that third relegation spot with one game to go.

So the question has to be asked – has the club made sufficient progress since their promotion to the Championship six years ago?

For full story and to leave a comment, click on the Barnsley page

Opportunity knocks for Rovers

Doncaster fans may not be able to see many positives after their relegation to League One was confirmed last week, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Sometimes, relegation can be the best thing to happen to a club. In fact, Rovers could do worse than follow the example set by their near neighbours Sheffield United.

For full story and to leave a comment, click on the Doncaster page

Back to the drawing board for Donny

Doncaster Rovers are facing up to their biggest pre-season for many years.

If they get it wrong, the club, which captured everyone's hearts with their dramatic rise from non-league to the Championship, face spiralling back down to where this romantic journey first began.

The much-maligned 'footballing experiment' with Willy Mckay has been blamed for their relegation - it was actually an inspired decision, they just used it wrong.

For full story and to leave a comment, click on the Doncaster page

Wrong man at the wrong time for Millers

I almost crashed the car when it came over the radio that Rotherham United had appointed Steve Evans as their new manager.

He is simply the wrong man to lead the Millers in their new home.
Although his credentials on the pitch have never been in doubt, the controversial Scot comes with more baggage than an airport carousel.

For full story, or to leave a comment, click on the Rotherham United page

Coming soon...

Don't miss my next blogs - why I fear for Doncaster Rovers and why Steve Evans is the wrong man for Rotherham United.

Barnsley - a tale of two halves

The million dollar question right now in South Yorkshire football is not who will win the race for second spot in League One between United and Wednesday, or whether the fans at Rotherham United will take to their new manager, but why is it that Barnsley never have a good second half to a season?

Since their return to the second tier of English football in 2006, the Reds have always failed to match the points they have gained between August and December with their tally from the remaining games from January to May.

For the full story and to leave a comment, visit the Barnsley FC page

Why United ARE a one-man team

IF you have listened to local radio phone-ins during recent weeks, Sheffield Wednesday fans, and indeed some of their players, will have you believe their near neighbours United are a one-man team.

The exploits of 30-goal-plus striker Ched Evans are the envy of supporters in the blue and white half of the city, who claim without him, United would not be occupying one of the two automatic promotion spots.

They are right in one respect – there is one man to credit for their lofty league position and it is not their Welsh international talisman, nor their influential midfielder Kevin McDonald. It’s not even one of the highly-rated young defenders Matty Lowton or Harry Maguire.

Click on the Sheffield United page to read more or to leave a comment

South Yorkshire's Premiership XI

WITH relegations and struggling finances painting the picture of South Yorkshire’s footballing landscape in recent seasons, the teams in the area have been forced to become selling clubs.

With that in mind, you could put together not only a very strong Premier League team, but a good squad made up of former South Yorkshire players that could well command a place in the top half based on this season’s form.

Click on the extra-time section for full team line-up or to leave a comment

Why Mandaric has saved Wednesday's season

Whatever happens between now and May, one thing is for certain - Milan Mandaric has saved Sheffield Wednesday’s season.

Radio station phone lines were jammed with angry Owls fans the day chairman Mandaric pulled the plug on Gary Megson’s tenure.

Two wins from the ten games prior to the Steel City derby success was the reason Megson bit the bullet, but the timing, just days after that 1-0 victory, shocked those of a blue and white persuasion.

It was a brave decision to sack a manager in third place whose heart belongs at Hillsborough, but Mandaric saw the iceberg.

Click on the Sheffield Wednesday page to read more or leave a comment