Sheffield United Q & A

Vital QPR get up close and personal with Blades crazy supporter Paul Holland (www.blades-mad.co.uk.

1) Sheff Utd had an incredible start to the season but

ore recently you have started to stutter a little, do

ou still believe 2nd place is yours or are you

orried about a collapse with Leeds and Watford

round?

Why United hit a bad run of form I don’t know, maybe

eading were always destined to finish up as Champions

ut I see no embaressment in finishing second (look at

igan), I can only see the Blades going up this

eason.

2) Neil Warnock’s considered to be a good manager, but

ll Rangers fans can see is that he has spent a huge

mount of money on players- something we could not

ompete with, is there something about him we do not

now?

United spent around one million in pre-season but saw

.1M back when Andy Gray was sold to Sunderland (he

as only worth 300K in fans eyes) so Neil warnock did

ome good barganing. Unfortunaly 1.75M was a lot for

kinbiyi though has re-paid us with two goals from

our games though any goal against your bitter rivals

s worth any transfer fee.

A lot of money was spent on the striker from Burnley

ut players like Keith Gillespie, Garry Flitcroft,

raig Short, Bruce Dyer, David Unsworth, Brian Deane

nd Neil Shipperley all came on a free transfer and

ll of which (apart from Dyer) have had Pemiership

xperience!

In truth the money spent has been recouped from

ransfers that wern’t made in the past, the money made

rom the glorious trebble season of 2002/03 were

nited made two Cup semi-finals and Play-Off final was

ever really spent and all went into squashing debts.

3) Bramall Lane was voted in the top 3 grounds in the

hampionship, why is it so special?

Beautiful Down Town Bramall Lane is changing from the

ast time QPR visited the Lane, the corner between the

way end and the South Stand is going to see a new

orner stand in May (work is currently on going) which

hould add another thounsend to the near 31,000

apacity it alreday holds. Also a hotel is to be built

hen planning permission is granted whilst plans to

e-build the Kop is to be put in place, though this

ill not happen until next season.

No doubt neutral fans will compare Bramall Lane to

willsorough, yes they have a higher capacity but when

id they last spend any money on their ground (1989?

fter tyhe disaster). Since 1990 the majority of the

round have been transformed, all four sides have seen

mprovments with an entire new stand (John St Stand)

nd a new corner stand whilst others have seen seating

pdated (out have gone the woodern seats from the

round).

4) What style of football to Sheff Utd play at home

nd whats an average crowd, do you make much noise?

There is no question that 4-4-2 will be used, at times

nited will aimlessly pump the ball up in the air

hough playing on floor is our best way of playing.

nited, if possible like to play on the wings as well.

5) Who are your unsung heroes to watch out for on

aturday?

Michael Tonge and Chris Armstrong were Wizards last

eek in the Sheffield Derby and were arguably joint

an of the Match of me but should Nick Montgomery be

ir then he could play a huge role in the middle. I

ould expect Morgan to be strong at the back and new

oy Neill Collins had a stormer against the Pigs last

aturday on his debut.

6) Rangers come without much to play for now until the

nd of the season, what do you expect from us?

I would imagine that the Hoops will still play for 3

oints, there is nothing like upsetting pomotion

argets but United will expect to win. There is no

anged of the Londoners going down and with 12 points

o the Play-Offs I can’t see Rangers finding the

oints with eleven games left. I expect QPR to put up

challenge.

7) Which Rangers players are you looking forward to

eeing?

Unitedites don’t want to see Gareth Ainsworth play, we

ill never forget him ending Dane Whitehouse career

hen he was at Port Vale. Danny Shittu (high rated)

ill be good to watch whilst former Blades; Dean

turridge, Georges Santos and Paul Furlong will go

own well. Expect Santos top get the biggest cheer

hilst we can not forget Phil Barnes who despite still

eing a United keeper is on loan to Rangers, thats if

e is allowed to play?

8) Promotion and Relegation predictions?

To be honest Reading are already up whilst I would be

ery disappointed to see United not finish second,

nything bellow will be a disaster. The Play-Off pact

ill be difficult and not sure who will be in it,

eeds look strong but I don’t doubt Watford or Palace

ill facy going up, I think the Hornets will surprise

s all.

As for the bottom three I sadly think Crewe can do no

ore unless they beat Brighton this weekend, Millwall

ere my tip at the begining of the season and I still

hink they won’t avoid the drop though look for

ealthier than most. And, at last there is no doubt

hat United will be wanting Wednesday to go back to

ere they belong. Paul Sturrock complains about his

oor strikers but he’s the one that signed them!

9) Match prediction for saturday?

Blades 1-0 QPR