Unpalatable Manifesto

Port Vale 0 v Sheffield United 3

League One

Friday 14 April 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

My last game was Oldham away. Since then, we've won Promotion back to Division 2. Salute. It's time for the Unpalatable Manifesto. Con Soli Date.

A bit of stability. A bit of continuity. Will all serve us well. I've supported this shower too long to believe anyone knows what they're doing. If we try to be something we're not, we're doomed. Appointing any successful manager is a happy accident. It depends who is available when you sack the incumbent clown. When you're in the rut of another season, another manager, you take what you can.

We've had that happy accident. It's being trotted out all the time. But, we've got a bit of our club back. The Saudi being nepotismed into a Government job helped. Phipps being canned helped. The Turkish fella deserves credit for lowering the Rabble Rousing & keeping it shut. Evans being acquitted & fucking off to Chesterfield helped.

Appointing Wilder was NOT a masterstroke. It was the next throw of the dice for an ever more desperate set of blokes on the Board. That dice happened to land on an appointment I could get behind immediately. An appointment which I'd have stuck with without promotion. I do not want success at any “price”. I'd sooner languish in Div 3, and be recognisable as my Sheffield United. Salute McCabe, Wilder & Sharp. Salute Luck.

When the season started, I didn't​ think you could do what Wilder has done. Sack off Deadwood. Tell others they're not wanted, but give them every chance to prove him wrong. Bring new fellas in. Get 'em going. Have a blip. Bring more fellas in. Change system to three at the back. I expected to be writing. “Difficult season. Trying to build a new team each year doesn't work. Got to give him next year & maybe the year after”.

Capitalise by Consolidating. I'll not spoil it by saying where they need to finish. The Championship is a superb league. With some proper football clubs in it. Let's hold the “get out of this poxy pub league” bollocks for a bit. My main gripe. He's not been able to get any young ‘uns in the XI. We're up. Champions in our grasp. Main gripe seems minor.

Cor. The Bull's Head has done the Designation Hokey Cokey today. Home fans only. Away fans welcome. Etc. Plod were giving mine host the hard stare when I arrived bang on 11am. The blackboard said home fans only. But, you know. It'll all work out in the end. He's flustered, but coped with it all.

I ENDED with the traditional Titanic, Plum Porter on cask at 4.2%. Majestic.

Preceded by

Pied Bull, Do A Bull on cask at 4.2%
Titanic, Steerage on cask at 3.8%

Even though The Bull's Head must have been Home Fans Only during at least one of those pints, it was far more inviting than the other Burslemist gaffs I passed. Port Vale. I love 'em to bits. Always up to good of the variety no.

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