Post by fred emney on Feb 18, 2011 6:19:03 GMT
Lord Bassett is going to do his level best to right the sinking ship, hopefully we`ll end up lookin` like a QE II liner by the end of the season, as we don`t want to anchor next to the leaky, ( but massive) raft of the SS swillsborough.
By Alan Biggs
Published on Thu Feb 17 10:54:37 GMT 2011
Dave Bassett has pledged to examine Sheffield United’s football structure from top to bottom after being recruited by Micky Adams in a move firmly backed by the Bramall Lane board.
The legendary former Blades boss will act as a troubleshooter in underpinning the reign of his long-time protege.
And he won’t shirk from giving full and colourful voice to his opinions, which is an essential part of the chemistry between two men who previously worked in tandem at Nottingham Forest and Leicester.
Bassett, whose return to United was exclusively forecast by the Telegraph three weeks ago, said: “He can talk to me as he might not to other people - and in turn I won’t be blowing sunshine up his backside.”
That’s a typical turn of phrase from the Cockney character Sheffield took to its heart during those riproaring days of back-to-back promotions and an extended stay in the Premier League.
Bassett, whose arrival in 1988 was in similar circumstances to the current plight, added: “I’m Micky’s confidant. He refers to me as his mentor and he trusts me.
“When we speak, I’ll either say it’s a good idea or a load of rubbish! I’m not there to be a puppet - I want it to work.
“Micky knows the way I think, having worked for me and then together. He has the final say and I won’t be stepping on anybody’s toes, just giving opinions that might not necessarily be right.
“But I won’t pussyfoot around. My opinions will be private but he’ll know them. And he can talk to me as he might not to other people.”
Adams wouldn’t want it any other way, having acknowledged he needed help during a difficult start to one of the most challenging environments in the game.
Bassett - “I’m not into titles but they’re calling me football consultant” - believes a lot of ground has to be covered because “the club’s not right at the moment and hasn’t been right for a couple of seasons.”
He added: “I’m there to help in any way, shape or form. . . looking at the scouting and the fitness side, for instance. Have we got the right staff in the right places?
“And if I see anything from the stand, I’ve been told to tell Micky and Corky (assistant manager Alan Cork) straightaway.
“I’ve been asked to look at everything to see if we can improve it. And if we’re buying or selling in the transfer market, I’ll give my two penn’orth.
“Decisions like that are vital. They can either save you a lot of money or cost a lot.”
Bassett insists Adams should not be blamed for the club’s slide into the bottom three, having come into an unstable managerial set-up in the wake of Gary Speed’s fleeting reign and his move to take charge of Wales.
“There has been a gradual slight decline, which happens to clubs,” he said. “If Gary Speed had got these results then I think he’d have probably gone anyway.
“Sometimes there can’t be a quick fix. Sheffield United should have stayed in the Premier League a few years ago and since then they’ve slipped away.
“When I first came to the club it was in similar circumstances and there’s no magic wand. If the players are not up to it, you have a mountain to climb. We had a lot of older players at that time and in a way getting relegated proved the best thing because we could start all over again.
“Only a couple of players survived the cull as I built a new team. But don’t get me wrong. That is only with the benefit of hindsight. I was gutted when we got relegated and we don’t want to go down this season, make no mistake.
“And we don’t want Sheffield derbies in League One, either. When I was here before they were in the Premier League.”
Meanwhile Daniel Bogdanovic has thrust himself back into contention for a starting role as Sheffield United face two crucial relegation battles in the space of four days.
Twice in successive home games “Boggy” has sparked the Blades from the bench, contriving hotly contested penalties that he has converted himself.
“He’s a good substitute then,” said Adams, by way of making an unspoken challenge to the Maltese striker.
Can Bogdanovic convert such an impact into a full 90 minutes, having failed to take previous opportunities? His prospects have improved with Jamie Ward’s move to Derby.
Adams, seeking a first win at the 10th attempt at Crystal Palace on Saturday, is open-minded to Bogdanovic’s claims after trawling through just about every option at his disposal.
“I have to consider him,” said the Blades boss. “It would be unfair if I said he was not part of things. I’ve given everybody a chance - I’ve tried every combination going.”
By Alan Biggs
Published on Thu Feb 17 10:54:37 GMT 2011
Dave Bassett has pledged to examine Sheffield United’s football structure from top to bottom after being recruited by Micky Adams in a move firmly backed by the Bramall Lane board.
The legendary former Blades boss will act as a troubleshooter in underpinning the reign of his long-time protege.
And he won’t shirk from giving full and colourful voice to his opinions, which is an essential part of the chemistry between two men who previously worked in tandem at Nottingham Forest and Leicester.
Bassett, whose return to United was exclusively forecast by the Telegraph three weeks ago, said: “He can talk to me as he might not to other people - and in turn I won’t be blowing sunshine up his backside.”
That’s a typical turn of phrase from the Cockney character Sheffield took to its heart during those riproaring days of back-to-back promotions and an extended stay in the Premier League.
Bassett, whose arrival in 1988 was in similar circumstances to the current plight, added: “I’m Micky’s confidant. He refers to me as his mentor and he trusts me.
“When we speak, I’ll either say it’s a good idea or a load of rubbish! I’m not there to be a puppet - I want it to work.
“Micky knows the way I think, having worked for me and then together. He has the final say and I won’t be stepping on anybody’s toes, just giving opinions that might not necessarily be right.
“But I won’t pussyfoot around. My opinions will be private but he’ll know them. And he can talk to me as he might not to other people.”
Adams wouldn’t want it any other way, having acknowledged he needed help during a difficult start to one of the most challenging environments in the game.
Bassett - “I’m not into titles but they’re calling me football consultant” - believes a lot of ground has to be covered because “the club’s not right at the moment and hasn’t been right for a couple of seasons.”
He added: “I’m there to help in any way, shape or form. . . looking at the scouting and the fitness side, for instance. Have we got the right staff in the right places?
“And if I see anything from the stand, I’ve been told to tell Micky and Corky (assistant manager Alan Cork) straightaway.
“I’ve been asked to look at everything to see if we can improve it. And if we’re buying or selling in the transfer market, I’ll give my two penn’orth.
“Decisions like that are vital. They can either save you a lot of money or cost a lot.”
Bassett insists Adams should not be blamed for the club’s slide into the bottom three, having come into an unstable managerial set-up in the wake of Gary Speed’s fleeting reign and his move to take charge of Wales.
“There has been a gradual slight decline, which happens to clubs,” he said. “If Gary Speed had got these results then I think he’d have probably gone anyway.
“Sometimes there can’t be a quick fix. Sheffield United should have stayed in the Premier League a few years ago and since then they’ve slipped away.
“When I first came to the club it was in similar circumstances and there’s no magic wand. If the players are not up to it, you have a mountain to climb. We had a lot of older players at that time and in a way getting relegated proved the best thing because we could start all over again.
“Only a couple of players survived the cull as I built a new team. But don’t get me wrong. That is only with the benefit of hindsight. I was gutted when we got relegated and we don’t want to go down this season, make no mistake.
“And we don’t want Sheffield derbies in League One, either. When I was here before they were in the Premier League.”
Meanwhile Daniel Bogdanovic has thrust himself back into contention for a starting role as Sheffield United face two crucial relegation battles in the space of four days.
Twice in successive home games “Boggy” has sparked the Blades from the bench, contriving hotly contested penalties that he has converted himself.
“He’s a good substitute then,” said Adams, by way of making an unspoken challenge to the Maltese striker.
Can Bogdanovic convert such an impact into a full 90 minutes, having failed to take previous opportunities? His prospects have improved with Jamie Ward’s move to Derby.
Adams, seeking a first win at the 10th attempt at Crystal Palace on Saturday, is open-minded to Bogdanovic’s claims after trawling through just about every option at his disposal.
“I have to consider him,” said the Blades boss. “It would be unfair if I said he was not part of things. I’ve given everybody a chance - I’ve tried every combination going.”
