Adkins has to stay

[Barney]

I'm assuming that users of that particular forum can only vote once like here? Impressive total if true – I didn't realise they had so many more members of their forum than here.

You were full of it earlier.

 

[blade too long]

apparently Adkins himself voted to be sacked, so he gets a pay off

 

[LoughboroBlade]

You were full of it earlier.

Genuinely curious actually – I have only ever ventured onto Blades Mad once.

 

[Barney]

Genuinely curious actually – I have only ever ventured onto Blades Mad once.

I meant earlier when you were screenshoting polls from this site and the like. Yes, I don't blame you - BM has gone down the pan quite considerably of late. It's a shame though because it used to be quite an enjoyable read.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I meant earlier when you were screenshoting polls from this site and the like. Yes, I don't blame you - BM has gone down the pan quite considerably of late. It's a shame though because it used to be quite an enjoyable read.

Well since you brought it up, our poll has gone up by 2 votes for keep, 1 for sack, with nobody feeling bothered enough to change there vote by the looks of it. I stand by my original belief...

 

[Woodwardfan]

Signing Billy was Adkins' biggest mistake, bigger than making McEv captain or Hammond.

Billy's a great striker but he's most suited to two up top, or in a 451 where the midfield runs beyond him and he receives the ball to feet.

Our team was built to play 1 up front, to counter and to grind out results. We lack pace and creativity in midfield.

You can argue that Clough's style of play was never going to get us to an automatic spot because too many clubs were happy to sit back at the Lane, happy to come away with a draw. We'd always end up in the top six but not the top two.

You have to be braver, to be able to attack teams at home, to dominate them. That's what Adkins thought he could do, that's probably what the board told him they wanted. So he bought Billy; the only bit of quality uncle Kev was ever likely to pay money for, the returning hero, the Blade, the bums on seat signing.

And that's where his problems started. He spent months trying to find a formation that suited Billy (essentially undroppable, our version of Shearer) and suited our midfielders, all of whom are 'specialist' midfielders (basically, good at one job) rather than the box to box types you need for a four four two.

Obviously, it's been compounded by Sammon losing all confidence and turning into a wreck of a player and Hammond losing his legs and turning into a wreck of a player but Adkins took a big gamble getting Billy and hoping he could mould a 442 out of the players we had. He couldn't and it's cost him

And then the biggest gaff by Adkins was taking an age and three systems before adopting 3-5-2 which fully suited the squad, including one or two who had been moved away frankly.

Before that he played that awful midfield 4 - Coutts, Hammond, Basham, Woolford.- how bad is that!

Then in the 5 he persisted with Coutts and Hammond together, sometimes with Bash.

No kids in the midfield; Reed and Whiteman would have done far better and would be all the better for the experience. Done has played out of position all year and even Bash uhh as had to join him out wide. FGS Flynn, Freeman, Woolford and at a pinch Ryce are wing backs available once Brayford and K.Wallace were injured and Harris could have done a wing back job too.

 

[Barney]

Well since you brought it up, our poll has gone up by 2 votes for keep, 1 for sack, with nobody feeling bothered enough to change there vote by the looks of it. I stand by my original belief...

And as has been said, there's another poll in which 64% voted against keeping Adkins. And it had about 700 more voters. Not sure what you're getting at, you're fighting a lost cause and don't really have a leg to stand on.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

And as has been said, there's another poll in which 64% voted against keeping Adkins. And it had about 700 more voters. Not sure what you're getting at, you're fighting a lost cause and don't really have a leg to stand on.

Well in that case, I shall devise a new and better poll

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

our club had 2 teams in cup finals this week who needed support of the staff

Perhaps not getting shut this week is a good move to prevent unrest up at Shirecliffe whilst the kids prepare?

 

[Yewsman]

I cannot make up my mind on whether Adkins should go.
History shows that changing managers is not generally productive. Our two most recent successful spells both came with long serving managers in Bassett and Warnock. The fact is that Adkins inherited a vastly bloated squad half of whom were long term injured so who he was not able to assess. A lot of the players were not good enough anyway but with the wage bill he inherited he has limited scope to bring in new players.

On the other hand the players he did bring in were not a success with the exception of Sharp and to some extent Edgar and latterly Baptiste but what manager ever got all signings right? Was Sammon his signing or had that deal already been done?
One of the big disappointments for me is that none of the young players made any real progress and players like Reed seemed to go backwards but is that his fault? He did eventually manage to clear out a good number of "crocks" and sub-standard players. He also settled on a 3-5-2 formation which seemed to be working and it really looked as though we could go on a good late run and get into the play offs but then it all went wrong again and we failed to beat Gillingham and Barnsley and lost to Coventry and Scunthorpe. Not really what you would expect from a good manager with good motivational powers. This was the weakest L1 since we have been there by a long way and we did not even manage to get in the play offs.
However if we sack him (and have to pay him and all his staff off) who do we get in? Some bloke from Turkey who knows nothing about English football never mind L1? Adkins knows the League and has an impressive record in the past. He and his staff will now have the chance to recruit from scratch. You would hope they already have a list of targets for next season. In my view on balance we have to stick with him.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

. You would hope they already have a list of targets for next season. In my view on balance we have to stick with him.

It is a reasonable argument to keep him but have you confidence in this?

You would hope they already have a list of targets for next season

 

[Woodwardfan]

If getting rid of Adkins and his staff had no effect on the budget whatsoever, who would want him to stay?

Very good question and in actual fact the cost of paying off him and his anonymous coaching team would be substantial but nothing much relative to the ultimate cost of getting United back to the Premier League; time and momentum is the bigger issue.

Would the club lose momentum if Wilder replaced Adkins next week?

Would Wilder be in a position to take over the one-to-one player interviews and work with Turnbull on recruitment or would he replace him with his own scout who would have to start again in a much different situation than Northampton or even Charlton where they could be heading.

Adkins appears to be getting on with it so it's academic unless somebody gets him to lose his temper at a Board meeting next month. Then we'll have the worst of all scenarios like last summer and Wilder won't be available by then, nor anybody else any good.

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

How can he possibly stay with an interview like this:

He clearly doesn't like our fans, somehow forgets that fans were pissed off at Gillingham because we lost 4-0 due to his piss poor team selection, and he still bangs on about his own grit and resilience.

What a prat.

Get this David Brent wannabe out of our club. I don't agree with chopping and changing managers, it's not usually the answer, I didn't agree with the sackings of Warnock, Blackwell, Wilson, clough....but this guys got to go.

 

[Booker4]

So Radio Sheffield saying a decision by the end of week. I wish we could just do it now, if that's what they decide. I hope he stays but if he does go we're fortunate that there's lots of out of work managers that have done well in recent seasons or are in work and obviously available like Chris Wilder. I do wonder if our board are getting itchy feet now that Charlton have approached Wilder? Steve Evans and Steve Cotterill are the other stand outs for me. A part of me wants Holloway! I'd just love the interviews and the attacking football. He'd either be loved or hated at our place!

Does anyone recall when we eventually appointed Weir that the shortlist was supposed to be between Keith Curle, Wally Downs and Rob Page! I almost crashed my car in anger when Radio Sheffield said that as I was driving home at the time!

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

So Radio Sheffield saying a decision by the end of week. I wish we could just do it now, if that's what they decide. I hope he stays but if he does go we're fortunate that there's lots of out of work managers that have done well in recent seasons or are in work and obviously available like Chris Wilder. I do wonder if our board are getting itchy feet now that Charlton have approached Wilder? Steve Evans and Steve Cotterill are the other stand outs for me. A part of me wants Holloway! I'd just love the interviews and the attacking football. He'd either be loved or hated at our place!

Does anyone recall when we eventually appointed Weir that the shortlist was supposed to be between Keith Curle, Wally Downs and Rob Page! I almost crashed my car in anger when Radio Sheffield said that as I was driving home at the time!

What did Readio Sheffield actually? Decision on Adkins' future by end of the week or the out of contract players?

 

[Barney]

So Radio Sheffield saying a decision by the end of week. I wish we could just do it now, if that's what they decide. I hope he stays but if he does go we're fortunate that there's lots of out of work managers that have done well in recent seasons or are in work and obviously available like Chris Wilder. I do wonder if our board are getting itchy feet now that Charlton have approached Wilder? Steve Evans and Steve Cotterill are the other stand outs for me. A part of me wants Holloway! I'd just love the interviews and the attacking football. He'd either be loved or hated at our place!

Does anyone recall when we eventually appointed Weir that the shortlist was supposed to be between Keith Curle, Wally Downs and Rob Page! I almost crashed my car in anger when Radio Sheffield said that as I was driving home at the time!

I too have said I'd take Holloway. He wouldn't lack passion that's for sure. He'd be a far cry from Adkins in pretty much every single element to his personality. And with the pathetic job Adkins has done, there's a very high chance he'd be a much, much better manager.

 

[TJB.]

 

[chipsncake]

I too have said I'd take Holloway. He wouldn't lack passion that's for sure. He'd be a far cry from Adkins in pretty much every single element to his personality. And with the pathetic job Adkins has done, there's a very high chance he'd be a much, much better manager.

Come on Barney, I fully support most of the things you say but Holloway the next manager, are you sure?

 

[binstedblades]

Does anyone have confidance that adkins will sign the hungry players reqiired or will he sign more of the woolford hammomds types utb

 

[1danewhitehouse]

1. Mike Stephenson ‏@Stephenson87M 8m8 minutes ago
2. Mike Stephenson Retweeted James Heneghan
3. Well well well!
   
   
   https://twitter.com/James_ChronNTFC/status/730375925913792512…
4. Mike Stephenson added,
5. James Heneghan @James_ChronNTFC
   Here's the statement - Details
   ' data-permalink-path="/Stephenson87M/status/730376121343201284" data-follows-you="false" data-disclosure-type="" data-screen-name="Stephenson87M" data-user-id="470127153" data-you-follow="true" data-you-block="false">
   
   Mike Stephenson ‏@Stephenson87M 10m10 minutes ago
   Would love to be a fly on the wall in that room right about now! #JudgmentDay #Adkins

1. 
   Starting to look like we're going to make the same mistake again.

 

[Booker4]

What did Readio Sheffield actually? Decision on Adkins' future by end of the week or the out of contract players?

Definitely on the managers future, as well as the players by the end of the week. I mean you couldn't script this could you, although we've been here before of course! How has the conversation gone you reckon? Obviously not like below but you get the gist!

Nigel "Kev I'm cracking on with player appointments to decide on the futures and then we'll meet to decide on who I would like to bring in"
Kevin "Ok Nige, that's fine, is Friday ok with you to meet up, where we'll discuss your future, but in the meantime you decide who we keep, and if you offer that has been Hammond a deal don't bother turning up on Friday!

What's weird about United re the manager appointments is that the only two managers who've succeeded over a sustained period, in my time as a Blade in Harry and Warnock have both been passionate and colourful characters who've also played fast, generally direct football and done best when on a budget as opposed to spending big money and whenever they did it usually went wrong! On this basis, I'm sorry some won't like this, Steve Evans is your man! Appointing Wilder will be a decent shout to be fair and a return to the lets got for a Blade approach that worked so well with Adams??!!, although there's nowt like having one of ours in charge, it has to be said. The Wilder situation will tell us much about Nigel's future. Its looking increasingly like no smoke without fire isn't it!

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Twitter going mad with rumours that Wilder's Charlton talks have broken down and that we are the reason.

Nowt against Wilder but I really hope we don't go through this nonsense again. What manager can ever succeed with the axe hanging over his head and with someone else's players.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

His power point presentation will be interesting if being given to McCabe right now . McCabe does not have the patience of a saint , but has the attention span of a nat. Just could see Adkins , The Vision for the Future boring McCabe shitless and he like Clough talks himself into the sack.

Come in Wilder , looks like it could be your turn for the revolving hot seat . If your in be nice to young Travis.

UTB

 

[Barney]

Definitely on the managers future, as well as the players by the end of the week. I mean you couldn't script this could you, although we've been here before of course! How has the conversation gone you reckon? Obviously not like below but you get the gist!

Nigel "Kev I'm cracking on with player appointments to decide on the futures and then we'll meet to decide on who I would like to bring in"
Kevin "Ok Nige, that's fine, is Friday ok with you to meet up, where we'll discuss your future, but in the meantime you decide who we keep, and if you offer that has been Hammond a deal don't bother turning up on Friday!

What's weird about United re the manager appointments is that the only two managers who've succeeded over a sustained period, in my time as a Blade in Harry and Warnock have both been passionate and colourful characters who've also played fast, generally direct football and done best when on a budget as opposed to spending big money and whenever they did it usually went wrong! On this basis, I'm sorry some won't like this, Steve Evans is your man! Appointing Wilder will be a decent shout to be fair and a return to the lets got for a Blade approach that worked so well with Adams, although there's nowt like having one of ours in charge, it has to be said. The Wilder situation will tell us much about Nigel's future. Its looking increasingly like no smoke without fire isn't it!

What did Radio Sheffield actually say out of interest?

Did they heavily imply or explicitly mention it being about the managers future?

 

[TJB.]

His power point presentation will be interesting if being given to McCabe right now . McCabe does not have the patience of a saint , but has the attention span of a nat. Just could see Adkins , The Vision for the Future boring McCabe shitless and he like Clough talks himself into the sack.

Come in Wilder , looks like it could be your turn for the revolving hot seat . If your in be nice to young Travis.

UTB

'Chris! We'd LOVE to have you on board.

As long as you can guarantee promotion at the end of the season.

If not, well...we'll talk then, yeah?

Fancy it?...'

 

[Barney]

Come on Barney, I fully support most of the things you say but Holloway the next manager, are you sure?

I think he'd be a big step up from Adkins.

Appreciate he's not everyones cup of tea but I personally wouldn't mind it if we appointed him.

 

[Booker4]

What did Radio Sheffield actually say out of interest?

Did they heavily imply or explicitly mention it being about the managers future?

Definitely mate. I listened back to it after someone had said on twitter that Radio Sheffield had said his future will be decided by the end of week. No smoke without fire.

 

[The Crab]

I too have said I'd take Holloway. He wouldn't lack passion that's for sure. He'd be a far cry from Adkins in pretty much every single element to his personality. And with the pathetic job Adkins has done, there's a very high chance he'd be a much, much better manager.

I'd take Holloway over Evans, every day of the week. That being said, I'd take one of those Drinking Birds over Evans.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Definitely on the managers future, as well as the players by the end of the week. I mean you couldn't script this could you, although we've been here before of course! How has the conversation gone you reckon? Obviously not like below but you get the gist!

Nigel "Kev I'm cracking on with player appointments to decide on the futures and then we'll meet to decide on who I would like to bring in"
Kevin "Ok Nige, that's fine, is Friday ok with you to meet up, where we'll discuss your future, but in the meantime you decide who we keep, and if you offer that has been Hammond a deal don't bother turning up on Friday!

What's weird about United re the manager appointments is that the only two managers who've succeeded over a sustained period, in my time as a Blade in Harry and Warnock have both been passionate and colourful characters who've also played fast, generally direct football and done best when on a budget as opposed to spending big money and whenever they did it usually went wrong! On this basis, I'm sorry some won't like this, Steve Evans is your man! Appointing Wilder will be a decent shout to be fair and a return to the lets got for a Blade approach that worked so well with Adams, although there's nowt like having one of ours in charge, it has to be said. The Wilder situation will tell us much about Nigel's future. Its looking increasingly like no smoke without fire isn't it!

Only two managers became family friends outside football with the McCabes , and made McCabe laugh as well as frustrated . They both loved the blades as much as he did . We know who they were , and if McCabe still carries the most clout , that why he could be looking at Wilder .

Football logic doesn't work at the lane , if it did Clough or Adkins would definitely have succeeded.

I have come to the conclusion we are different to ALL other clubs , and Adkins and Clough did not embrace or understand it . That nutter Ian Holloway would , and perhaps we need a manager who is dynamic but also unhinged . Just a thought.

UTB

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

'Chris! We'd LOVE to have you on board.

As long as you can guarantee promotion at the end of the season.

If not, well...we'll talk then, yeah?

Fancy it?...'

You have just hacked into Wilders mobile phone haven't you. Come on be honest.