So here we go again, the start of a new season at Bramall Lane.

A new season of high hopes, tremendous pressure and hopefully this time, success. After being so far in front of our city rivals nearing the end of the season then blowing it and finishing in 3rd place, then going to Wembley, and losing again was a sort of reality check.

It made me realise during my 17-years of life is that we always seem to throw it away or cave under pressure at the most vital part of the season. That’s why this season I’m only going to be slightly optimistic about promotion.

Looking at the bookies, many seem to have us favourites for promotion. Although they also seem to have Chris Porter as favourite for top goal-scorer. On that logic I’d save my money for the boozer before the game.

I’d like us to finish on top of the pile as would every other fan but realistically I can’t see it happening and instead I think going for 2nd place is our best shot. Aim for second so people will be overjoyed if we finish 1st but still happy if 2nd. Anything less than that in my eyes is a failure.

So far the transfer window has looked quite promising. Only selling one member of the squad (to date) while bringing in six fresh faces. Of the six arrivals, the main signing for me has been John Cofie, the young Man U striker. He is technically brilliant, big and strong, and as demonstrated against Rotherham, he knows where the net is, confirmed by a cracking free kick.

All other signings (bar one. No need to name him but we’ll welcome back LJF with open arms) also look to be decent. I’m starting to like the looks of a Blackman, Cofie partnership up front. Last Saturday against Burton (more penalty shoot-out agony) Blackman looked calm and collected. He has a good first touch and in my opinion will not only be a great asset up front but also a crowd favourite.

Perhaps the highlight of the off-season was not the impressive pre- season unbeaten run but the news that our star playmaker, Kevin McDonald, had put pen to paper. He signed a new contract keeping him at beautiful down town Bramall Lane until 2014 much to the delight of all the Blades fans who had been waiting anxiously, not helped by the vast amount of rumours surrounding him.

For me there are a few players to watch this season: McAllister back from his loan, Blackman and McMahon. McMahon looked impressive on Saturday with his passing ability. He switched the ball with what seemed like ease and wasn’t afraid get forward in attack.

The new season finally starts on Saturday at home to Shrewsbury and hopefully it’ll start with win. Or even more so an early annihilation, perhaps that is wishful thinking but it would be nice.

Hopefully this season we can get promoted the easy way without all the heartbreak and tears of going to Wembley again. Let’s get behind the team and not on their backs. This maybe a cliche but we can be the 12th man. And together we can do it! So on to a successful season. UTB

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If you would like to discuss my thoughts or just want to have a general chat about the Blades, you can find me on Twitter @nathansere.

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Last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at home to Brighton and Hove Albion led to some grumblings amongst the Burnley fans.

After the excellent opening day win over Bolton Wanderers, hopes were high that this could be the season where we progress from wallowing in mid table and make a concerted charge at the top six.

But three defeats on the spin – with an unconvincing penalty shootout win over Plymouth Argyle in between – means that some fans are starting to scale down their ambitions for the season.

I wrote last week about our worrying strength in depth, and I still see that as a major issue. The club was given a boost in midweek with the news that Danny Ings’ surgery went as well as could be expected and there is a chance he could return before the turn of the year. But the fact still remains that if Charlie Austin gets injured, this is a side that could struggle to score goals.

But that is a hypothetical issue and not one I am going to cover in detail here. I think it is important that the fans treat the manager with a great deal of patience and are prepared to give him time to achieve what he wants to achieve. When he arrived here he was asked to reduce both the wage bill and the average age of the squad, and he has done just that.

It has been said time and time again, and with good reason: the Championship is the most competitive league in Europe. Three defeats on the bounce are an obvious cause for concern, but in this division any side are just as likely to turn that around and win three in a row.

Howe is slowly building a young, good footballing side and in my opinion he needs to be allowed time to do that. Now is not the time for a knee jerk reaction from the fans; they have backed Howe since he came into the job and need to continue to do so.

The season is only four games old; September is no time to be calling for changes to be made, and the fans need to look at the facts. We have a relatively small squad and relatively small gate receipts compared to other clubs in the division. As I said before, it is a tough, competitive league and it is difficult for such a young side to be able to challenge the top six for a promotion slot.

The board appear to be behind Howe and what he is trying to do, and that is crucial. I think they have learned their lesson from the abysmal appointment of Brian Laws and they really believe they have the right man for the job this time.

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I am in full agreement with them; Howe has a long term goal and it may take a while to reach it. The fans need to be prepared for the possibility of another season entrenched in the middle of the Championship, anything more would be seen as a bonus.

I plead patience and tolerance amongst the Burnley faithful; please, give the man some time.

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Blackpool and Barnsley both celebrated their 125th birthday on Saturday and they couldn’t have asked for a better day. After the two week international break the sun was shining on what felt like the first game of the season again.

Football fans from Lancashire and Yorkshire, not ones to pass up the chance of a bargain ticket at just £12.50, made up a bumper crowd that certainly looked like more than the quoted 14,134. The atmosphere was brilliant and as the pre-match fun and games subsided the players came out to fireworks that in all honesty were about as impressive as ignited passing of wind. But it’s the thought that counts.

Blackpool went into this game on the back of a frustrating 1-0 defeat at Leicester, and Holloway’s selection showed that he wasn’t happy with what he saw that day. Seven changes were made but, such is the depth of the squad, it was still a very strong side on show.

The first half was a bizarre 45 minutes of football. Gilks made a fantastic save inside the first minute to prevent an early goal, after which it was all Blackpool with good passing and patient play carving out a few chances. But it was Barnsley who struck first after 14 minutes with the previous goal-saver Gilks feeling he should do better as Davies’ shot crept under his lethargic dive. Seemingly lifted by their goal, Barnsley piled on some pressure and had the best of the game until; against the run of play on the half hour mark; Martinez slipped a great ball through to Ince who slotted his finish under the Red’s keeper. The game finally settled into some sort of rhythm for the final 15 minutes of the half with both sides having some good opportunities but failing to convert.

After a really good first half, there was an expectation that the next 45 minutes would build on that. Neither side came out with much gusto though and the game needed something to help it burst into life.

That moment probably came when Barnsley’s dangerman Davies curled an effort which forced Gilks into another great save. That seemed to spark Blackpool into life and the rest of the game belonged to the Tangerines as they penned Barnsley in their own half for the last half hour.

Osbourne came on for the relatively quiet Martinez, which allowed Sylvestre to move forward and really begin pulling the strings. Despite having all of the possession and pressure, poor final decisions cost Blackpool as they searched for a winner. Ince was brilliant and frustrating all at the same time as he would waltz his way into the box and continually choose the wrong option. Gomes had a good shot saved, Baptise and Matty Phillips both had long range shots blocked and a series of corners passed without threat as Barnsley saw off a late surge.

Overall, a point each was probably fair, although Keith Hill said both teams deserved three points, which would always be nice. Blackpool fans left frustrated, which is a sign of the expectations at Bloomfield road this year.

The passing was not as slick as we would expect and despite a 2 week break, the players seemed oddly sluggish. Although the defence performed well, it was a simple goal to give away as players were sucked in. The midfield lacked something until Osbourne came on and when Gomes joined in later. Having Osbourne as an anchor allows the team to be more creative which Sylvestre did well, but he never looks fully fit, probably because he never gets the chance to play regularly. Taylor-Fletcher would be more valuable in the forward line which would allow another place in midfield for Gomes, who I thought was unlucky to be dropped. And as much as it pains me to say it, perhaps it is now time that Kevin Phillips was used as an impact player. His link up play is great and you normally can’t knock his finishing, but he strangely seems to be lacking confidence and a player more willing to rotate positions may be a better idea from the start. Hopefully Tuesday’s game with Middlesbrough will see a few tweaks rather than wholesale changes.

But you have to give credit to Barnsley. You wouldn’t have guessed they were struggling with injures as they put on a really cohesive display. The philosophy that Keith Hill tries to instil was evident too, as his players passed it around nicely and pressed quickly. Another indication of the style was that although their biggest threat was the mountainous Craig Davies, they didn’t simply play to his head, instead using clever movement to feed off him.

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I respect Keith Hill and what he is trying to do at a club similar to ours. Restricted budget and fanbase, and unfashionable in many ways, but he wants to play the right way. In fact, if and when Holloway moves on, he is the kind of man I would like to take the reigns. This game, although neither team will be thrilled with a point, was a testament to two men with a shared passion. Football, played how it should be played.

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Steven Gerrard has announced that he hopes to extend his contract at Liverpool by three years and is pleased to be part of Brendan Rodgers’ new regime at Anfield.

His current deal expires in summer 2014, but the England midfielder believes he can continue playing in the Premier League for at least three more years, by which time he will be 35.

The Liverpool captain has been plagued with injury over the past twelve months, suffering from an ankle infection and problems with his groin.

However, Gerrard has recently revealed that he has returned to fitness and “feels physically strong”.

Gerrard has welcomed the change in management and new approach Rodgers has brought to the club.

“I’m enjoying playing under Brendan Rodgers. The training is good, it’s a very exciting time, and hopefully I can continue to play and to contribute under the new regime,” said Gerrard.

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However, the Anfield star realises his age is a factor in regards to his role in the first team. “It’s getting more difficult for older players. It shows how well Giggs and Scholes have done. You need a manager who’ll play you at the right times – which is what Brendan Rodgers is doing with myself now.”

For a team to go from so good to so bad in such a short space of time, something has gone seriously wrong.

Although they say you never want to head into a two week break on the back of a loss, Ian Holloway is probably thankful of a little respite so he can get his head down and figure out what he is going to do.

For a little while, it looked as though Blackpool would emerge from a bad spell of form relatively unscathed as they came from 2-1 down to snatch a win in Hull. Follow that with a win at home to Charlton and the international break could be enjoyed with the Seasiders sitting top of the league if results went the right way.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Instead, the same habits crept into the game at Bloomfield road which saw Charlton ease to a win without ever having to see off a challenge once they were in front. And it is exactly that which convinced some fans to boo at the final whistle. Not the easy goals conceded from corners, but the lack of attacking threat. Chipping the ball forward and taking passing out of the equation.

There is no escaping the fact that this spell of bad results has had an effect on everything at Blackpool. The manager hasn’t seemed his upbeat self, the players seemed to have no fight or unity, on form players have lost their touch, and the fans who were so supportive at the start of the season have turned into a frightening, impatient and judgemental jury. Blackpool’s buzz has gone. That’s the fickle world of football for you.

If we are honest though, it is possibly the best time to have a dip in form in this league. Traditionally, it is teams that finish the season well that go up. Think Reading last season. Or Blackpool even, in 2010. A good point was made on Radio Lancashire (shocking I know) when they said that in the Championship, it is easy to simply write off a few games without worrying too much. In a frantic Premier League, a run like this could be catastrophic, as we found out, but there are so many games in a Championship season that a loss almost doesn’t matter. It has been a poor spell, but we sit just six points off the top and just one point outside the playoffs. If we can hit the ground running after the break and string some more wins together, I can see this horrible episode being put well behind us.

So what needs to happen for things to get back on track?

Well, needless to say, it all rests with the manager really. Ian Holloway needs to either wipe the slate clean, forget what has happened this season, and start afresh. Simply look at his squad, put loyalty aside, and ruthlessly decide who the best 11 players are to execute his gameplan.

Alternatively, and perhaps the simplest way to go, is to return to the team he had playing so well at the start of the season. It is amazing that the team that beat Ipswich 6-0 hasn’t played together since then.The defence had Cathcart in it, who although he has been injured, was left out on Saturday despite being fit. The midfield for that match, and against Leeds who left the seaside with a footballing lesson, was Osbourne, Gomes and Martinez. None of these players have been injured. Simply alternately dropped. That this trio haven’t appeared together since Ipswich is a travesty, and in my opinion, one of the main reasons for our poor form. The forward line, such are the options, is reasonably interchangeable. Ince is an obvious starter and Matty Phillips looked sharp again against Charlton. Those two firing together will be a potent mix. Then we have Taylor-Fletcher, Kevin Phillips, Dicko and Delfouneso as the other real options. So if Holloway can get back to a team that resembles the previous winning formula, it will be a step to recovery.

When it comes to the defending… well, it just needs a lot of hard work on the training ground. Holloway is friends with Tony Pulis, so I believe, why not give him a ring, ask to spend a day or two watching their training from set-pieces. Or just ask for advice. Or just sort it out yourself. However you want to do it, you need to do it. It is the ugly, billy-basics part of the game that nobody likes practicing or watching, but it needs to be fixed.

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The fans have a part to play as well. As much as I hate the cliche, the fans can really lift the players. Obviously, it has to start on the pitch. There needs to be something with a remote bit of excitement that the crowd can get a hold of and turn it into momentum. But the Bloomfield crowd, whilst fantastic when things are going ok, can be a real menace when things aren’t. And for me, it is the unfairness of it all that stinks. On Saturday, Taylor-Flecther misplaced a pass and nothing was said beyond a few tuts. Eardley misplaced a pass and half the crowd nearly walked out. Similarly, Crainey played a nice ball into the middle and the crowd went wild. Eardley played a nice ball into the middle and you could hear a pin drop. Everyone has their scapegoat, I know I do, but when you watch the game you should try to be objective. Give the same abuse or praise based on the act, not player.

As for the boo at the end (from the handful of fans that were left) it wasn’t violent outrage, but a quiet grumble. Although I don’t condone booing, I thought it was maybe a timely reminder to the manager and players that they aren’t meeting the standards they have set themselves. Standards which, all being well, we will see return after yet another boring break from proper football.

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Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross is apparently being targeted by a number of top Premier League clubs after his consistent performances put him on their radar, according to Sky Sports.

Shawcross has been one of the top performing central defenders in England so far this season and his form even earned him an England call-up for their World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland by Roy Hodgson last week.

Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are reported to be the main admirers as the 25-year-old is coming into the final 18-months of his current contract.

Shawcross, who started his career at Old Trafford, has been plagued by negative media after he broke Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey’s leg in 2010, but it seems his form and honesty has changed peoples’ perceptions.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis will do his upmost to keep the defender at the Britannia Stadium, but the Potters may be enticed by a big money offer in January or next summer.

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Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has expressed his delight at the attacking nature of the Premier League, but wants to improve his own individual performance.

The Spanish international has left a significant early impression on Arsenal supporters, as he has quickly emerged to be a focal point of the side’s offensive play.

Cazorla signed for the Gunners this summer in what was believed to be a £17 million deal from Malaga,  and has really bought into the club’s footballing philosophy.

Despite this, the player knows that he has to increase his contribution to even higher levels, telling the club’s official website: “Here it seems that teams’ first priority is to attack instead of defending their goal, which is great. It’s a huge change for me but I hope to keep on improving.”

The summer signing was also torn when questioned on a long running debate of whether the Premier League is better than La Liga.

“It’s difficult trying to pick one [European] league over the others. There are massive clubs in many of them, especially in the Spanish and the English leagues,” he added.

“There are very good teams competing with each other, for example in European competitions with Chelsea winning the Champions League last year, and Barcelona winning it before that. It’s very difficult to choose between the two.”

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Santi Cazorla will be hoping to build upon his positive start this weekend at Old Trafford as his Arsenal side take on Manchester United.

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Arsenal are weighing up a January loan swoop to bring former club icon Thierry Henry back to the Premier League.

The Frenchman now plays for MLS giants New York Red Bulls, but with the American season set to end soon he could be available to sign with the club for the third time.

He turned out for the Gunners in a similar capacity last winter netting two important goals in seven appearances before returning to the States.

With Arsene Wenger is set to lose Ivorian forward Gervinho during the New Year due to African Cup of Nations duty, he is said to be considering the possibility of bringing the 35-year-old in on a temporary deal for the hectic winter period.

An official deal is yet to be announced, but it is believed that representatives will discuss the possibility with Henry next month.

Wenger is keen to bring back the talismanic striker:

“You know what Thierry gives you: he gives you hope, especially when he comes on (as a substitute). That is the most important thing.” He is quoted by the Daily Mail.

“He is a communicator, an extrovert and very intelligent. I had always resisted (bringing him back). Last year I did it because we lost Gervinho.

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“This year we lose Gervinho again as they are playing the Africa Cup of Nations two years in a row. So we will be confronted with a shortage – particularly if (Marouane) Chamakh should go. Then we will be short.”

Henry is not the only MLS star to have utilised the opportunity to play during the off-season, with the likes of David Beckham, Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan all having performed in Europe to maintain match fitness.

The decision for Euro 2020 to be held across a host of different cities across Europe has had the whole continent talking about the controversial decision.

UEFA President, Michel Platini has confirmed that the event, which will mark the 60th anniversary, will see a one off tournament spread out across the whole of Europe.

The decision has been made due to Platini’s argument that during a time of economic uncertainty, UEFA does not want to trouble one whole nation with the burden.

Despite the majority of fans arguing about the decision, I for one am looking forward to seeing a European tournament spread out across the whole of Europe.

The biggest surprise for me is why a country like England or Germany didn’t make a last minute bid for the tournament. In times of financial struggle these two nations have a perfect infrastructure of football grounds and travel systems in place, money would not need to be spent to get the country ready for a major tournament.

The fact that the tournament will be spread out across a multitude of countries, which will not be decided until 2014, means that a whole lot more people will be able to see live major tournament football.

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The general opinion is that it’s going to be expensive and hard to travel around Europe to different destinations to see your side play, well is it any harder to travel from one major city in Spain to get to another major city in France, than the 940 miles that England had to travel during Euro 2012 with trips around Poland and Ukraine?

Kevin Miles, the Football Supporters Federation director of international affairs can confirm to England fans that group stage matches will be held close and will have a shorter travelling distance to what they did during Poland, which rubbishes fan views that the tournament will be more of a struggle and more expensive, I feel that it is just the general public not able to agree with something that goes against the grain chosen by the ever unpopular Platini.

The fact that it will be a one off to celebrate the anniversary of European tournaments is fantastic and the best way to create an ultimate fans festival. It will give the chance for more people to experience the European Championships, not just the group of die-hard Premier League fans who spend a large chunk of their annual salary on a two week holiday.

UEFA is an organisation which hasn’t always been appreciated by England and its fans with some absurd decisions by Platini, who at times seems to be against the whole nation, well this one decision he has spot on. UEFA wants the fans to get more excited about the 24-team format and doing it this way will develop the tournament into what could be the biggest tournament of all time. The biggest stage possible is being used, to get as many fans as possible to watch live high class international football.

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One of the major positives that this system will bring in is that it will give smaller countries like Norway, Wales and Scotland the chance to host major international games which they wouldn’t normally be able to do. Each chosen country around Europe will have a proud moment to stamp their own culture on to a diverse tournament.

In 2020, it will be EURO 2020 as opposed to England 2020 or Spain 2020, the whole of Europe will be taking place. I can’t see the problem in this, especially as the main fears have been answered. Die-hard fans will still travel; they will take in and experience a plethora of experiences, something that will be a one off. It is a nice way to bring the tournament to everyone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQaD8JBvzIc

The January transfer window always throws up at least one ridiculous transfer as Premier League clubs struggle to sign their top targets without forking out huge sums of money. Usually, a third or fourth choice is drafted in at a knock-down price to save a club’s fortunes, and this season will most likely be little different.

Whether this transfer window will see another Andy Carroll style signing or not is unknown, but there will certainly be a high amount of wheeler-dealing as teams look to strengthen their weaknesses and get in some much needed experience for the business end of the season.

This top 15 is a list of potential January bargains filled with out-of-favour underperformers, ageing bench-warmers, unregistered reserves and clubs looking to cash-in on their stars before they leave for free in the summer.

So read on to check out this January’s top 15 bargains available to any club willing to take a punt or splash the cash for a reduced price winter signing.

Click on Shay Given below to unveil the 15

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