Sunday 22 April 2012

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

Saturday 21 April 2012

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

Thursday 19 April 2012

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

Monday 16 April 2012

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

Saturday 14 April 2012

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

Thursday 12 April 2012

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

Wednesday 11 April 2012

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

Monday 9 April 2012

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