Against the sacking?

[SRBlade]

Just watched a few clips of the McCabe forum from last month (?) and a Blade on there stated that Adkins was asked at the beginning of the season if he felt the squad was able to get promotion and he replied with "no", was that the case and if so what kind of plan did he have/put forward to the club. Albeit it matters little now.....

 

[Korean Blade]

Whilst I'm one of the minority who disagree with this (and also against the Clough decision), I hope to god the planned summer culling still takes place.

 

[Treeton Blade]

Absolutely spot on mate. I'm not pissed off about sacking Adkins (as I said earlier), I'm pissed off that the same people keep making the same mistakes in running the club but aren't accountable for it and learn nothing from their mistakes. I think anyone who takes on the job working for these idiots, and thinks they can be successful is a basket case himself / herself. Actually, thinking about it, a female manager is about the only "type" we've not tried. What's Hope Powell doing these days?

Cherie Lunghi anyone?

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

"We're a sacking club" nonsense?

What else would we call the last ten years?

We're not really any different to any other club in this respect.

We've not lucked out on a Warnock type, a fit right for the club, during that period in the way that many other local clubs have, say. (O'Driscoll at Donny, Cook at Chessy, etc. or, looking further afield, Clough at Derby, Brown at Hull, etc.) And the sackings have been a response to continuing decline, not knee-jerk reactions when we're treading water at a semi-acceptable level (as in the case of Leeds, say).

As I've said above, there seems to be something of an expectation from outside the club that we should meekly accept our fate & "be nice" to managers who've failed in their remit. We shouldn't. Finishing 11th in Division Three is a joke.

 

[him behind you]

Cherie Lunghi anyone?

I would have at the time. Not sure how she's aged now though so she might not reach the approved standard .

 

[Bugboyblade]

And they're well known as a sacking club, what's your point?

They just happen to be bankrolled by the Spanish Royal family.

Just that were not the only selling club

 

[Sean Thornton]

And they're well known as a sacking club, what's your point?

They just happen to be bankrolled by the Spanish Royal family.

They aren't

 

[northsomersetblade]

Hey hold on. There's is no shame in losing to the mighty Shrewsbury who went on to finish the season in the heights of................
hold on a minute,
shit,
ignore me

We made them look like Barce-fucking-lona

 

[him behind you]

I don't understand why so many views are skewed to
It's the boards fault
Or
It's the managers fault

It is possible that both have culpability for our current predicament. And on my view they have.

But have all the last 8 or so managers been shit? IMHO the common denominator is the man at the top and, even if all 8 have proven to be shit it's the man at the top that appointed them.

 

[The Crab]

Id like a manager who I've got confidence in for a start and I think Mr Wilder might be that man. He's successful now not 4 seasons ago. He's not out of work and wanted by other clubs. How many clubs will be queuing up for Mr Adkins ?

To be fair, I wouldn't be suprised if he was on Bolton & Charlton's radar.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Don't know much about Northampton players, any young, up and coming players. Normally a new manager brings a few players with him.

Their keeper was signed on a free from Leicester and named in League 2 team of the year.

 

[Bladesman]

The major problem at the club is that we actually have no idea how to get what we want. We're just trying to get lucky. We have absolutely no long term plan.

We're an absolute mess from the boardroom to the first team.

We had a manager that was trying to give us a long term plan but nevermind back to square one we go.

Come on Chris promotion next season, no money and a rabble of a squad.

No pressure mate.

 

[The Crab]

Their keeper was signed on a free from Leicester and named in League 2 team of the year.

Conrad Logan is it?

 

[Jonboy60]

Their keeper was signed on a free from Leicester and named in League 2 team of the year.

That's better.

 

[larkymasher]

We can give this Shower of Shite another season to impress and by that time Wilder will have gone, we will be mid table of The Sunday Alliance league and then next May we can get another manager in and give the same Shower of Shite another season to impress.

You kind of get the pattern

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

I don't understand why so many views are skewed to
It's the boards fault
Or
It's the managers fault

It is possible that both have culpability for our current predicament. And on my view they have.

errr ... players at fault, just a little bit, maybe?

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

I would have at the time. Not sure how she's aged now though so she might not reach the approved standard .

That was 25 years ago so I think you should look in the mirror first

Here she is in 2015, 2 years younger than me (she was born in 1952) and I think she looks great.

 

[Bob Scratchit]

I am a Saints fan and whilst I was disappointed at this turn of events, it was clear to me that it was coming. Adkins has undoubtedly under-performed this season and with a board like yours, it was inevitable. I think Adkins would have got you promoted next season but instead you start again and your incoming manager will get one shot at it by the looks of the statement on your official site. It looks like the strategy from here it may be about to become a crap shoot with a different manager at the helm until you strike lucky. Last season it was a progressive manager with a bloated squad not adapted to his methods. This year its an unproven manager with u-21 players looks like the way ahead. One day, one of these things will work, surely?!.

From an outsiders perspective it is very clear there is a huge issue at Board level and for me, the issue starts with Kevin McCabe. I watched in disbelief at the Fans Forum as he glugged on a beer, said the terrible failure under his watch was all bad luck, players, managers and staff's fault, made undermining comments about current management, recruitment staff and signings. He made blanket statements such as 'no loan signings' as if simply because some of the signings this year were bad. Unprofessional, reactionary, buck passing and hiding his failures behind other people. It reminded me of the dark days of fans forums before Southampton went into administration. Not quite as bad but it wasn't far off.

Watching him inflate as he said the players signed this season would not get past the technical board now and getting a round of applause for this buck passing gesture said everything about the culture at your club from board level down and why history keeps repeating itself. Scapegoating, buck passing, reactionary thinking, myopia, with periodical sacrificial blood letting to keep the rightly angry fans of his own neck. I'll be honest, I felt as sorry for Nigel having to try and manage in that culture as much as I do for your fans for watching the sum product of it on the pitch each weekend.

At Reading it was all Nigel Adkins fault apparently when they finished 7th in the championship under him. Since sacking him they have finished 19th and 17th. Fans got what they wanted but it was clear to an outsider that sacking him would not make a blind bit of difference. Reading were a horribly run club and had nowhere near enough quality players. Fans blamed him but it's gotten much worse since he left and why wouldn't it? They replaced him with worse managers and worse players for the lesser able managerial replacements to work with. Without being disparaging, from an outsiders point of view it is the same at Sheffield United at this present time. Your group of players is average and your board are seemingly stuck in the dark ages. Today you have chosen to remove the only group in the club proven to Premier League level (1 defeat in 12 when we disposed of the same Adkins and his team at Southampton) and you seem to be about to replace him with a less successful manager who has spent most his managerial career around the conference and league 2 and if the fans forum is to be believed, your unproven U-21's will make up a large part of the squad next year, let's hope they are good.

You simply have to get it right this season with player recruitment and hope for your new management group to raise its performance levels, as at this present there is no culture of success at this level, little quality and few track records in the club and thus, at this time there is no reason why you should expect to succeed next season. For me appointing a less successful manager is not a great start, you are a gambling on an upturn in his managerial fortunes but that's not to say it can't work, sometimes magic happens, the face fits, fans and players get behind him and momentum builds. In other words, a lucky crapshoot.

The huge thing going for you this season is that there is a clean slate with so many players bad players off the books this summer. Make no mistake the players and the board are your main issue, with so many of the players going that's half the battle and if you replace them with a smattering of genuine quality and a manager who gives them a kick up the behind, then in this league, that might be enough.

 

[larkymasher]

errr ... players at fault, just a little bit, maybe?

Sorry pal but thats my point...... we change the manager year on year but not the playing staff.

I hope the lot has gone. Manger, Players the lot.

I thought he should have got until christmas this year, but now he has gone i am genuinely excited again

 

[him behind you]

That was 25 years ago so I think you should look in the mirror first

Here she is in 2015, 2 years younger than me (she was born in 1952) and I think she looks great.

View attachment 17396

Didn't realise she was still alive which, in itself, achieves the level required. Born in 1952 makes her a full 6 years older than me so if she fancies a toy boy I'm sure I could help .

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Conrad Logan is it?

Adam Smith. 23 year old

 

[The Crab]

Adam Smith. 23 year old

Cheers Dane.

 

[Ted Danson]

View attachment 17392

I keep seeing this as a reason to keep adkins but isnt starting each football game with Adkins in charge 'doing the same thing and expecting different results?'

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I am a Saints fan and whilst I was disappointed at this turn of events, it was clear to me that it was coming. Adkins has undoubtedly under-performed this season and with a board like yours, it was inevitable. I think Adkins would have got you promoted next season but instead you start again and your incoming manager will get one shot at it by the looks of the statement on your official site. It looks like the strategy from here it may be about to become a crap shoot with a different manager at the helm until you strike lucky. Last season it was a progressive manager with a bloated squad not adapted to his methods. This year its an unproven manager with u-21 players looks like the way ahead. One day, one of these things will work, surely?!.

From an outsiders perspective it is very clear there is a huge issue at Board level and for me, the issue starts with Kevin McCabe. I watched in disbelief at the Fans Forum as he glugged on a beer, said the terrible failure under his watch was all bad luck, players, managers and staff's fault, made undermining comments about current management, recruitment staff and signings. He made blanket statements such as 'no loan signings' as if simply because some of the signings this year were bad. Unprofessional, reactionary, buck passing and hiding his failures behind other people. It reminded me of the dark days of fans forums before Southampton went into administration. Not quite as bad but it wasn't far off.

Watching him inflate as he said the players signed this season would not get past the technical board now and getting a round of applause for this buck passing gesture said everything about the culture at your club from board level down and why history keeps repeating itself. Scapegoating, buck passing, reactionary thinking, myopia, with periodical sacrificial blood letting to keep the rightly angry fans of his own neck. I'll be honest, I felt as sorry for Nigel having to try and manage in that culture as much as I do for your fans for watching the sum product of it on the pitch each weekend.

At Reading it was all Nigel Adkins fault apparently when they finished 7th in the championship under him. Since sacking him they have finished 19th and 17th. Fans got what they wanted but it was clear to an outsider that sacking him would not make a blind bit of difference. Reading were a horribly run club and had nowhere near enough quality players. Fans blamed him but it's gotten much worse since he left and why wouldn't it? They replaced him with worse managers and worse players for the lesser able managerial replacements to work with. Without being disparaging, from an outsiders point of view it is the same at Sheffield United at this present time. Your group of players is average and your board are seemingly stuck in the dark ages. Today you have chosen to remove the only group in the club proven to Premier League level (1 defeat in 12 when we disposed of the same Adkins and his team at Southampton) and you seem to be about to replace him with a less successful manager who has spent most his managerial career around the conference and league 2 and if the fans forum is to be believed, your unproven U-21's will make up a large part of the squad next year, let's hope they are good.

You simply have to get it right this season with player recruitment and hope for your new management group to raise its performance levels, as at this present there is no culture of success at this level, little quality and few track records in the club and thus, at this time there is no reason why you should expect to succeed next season. For me appointing a less successful manager is not a great start, you are a gambling on an upturn in his managerial fortunes but that's not to say it can't work, sometimes magic happens, the face fits, fans and players get behind him and momentum builds. In other words, a lucky crapshoot.

The huge thing going for you this season is that there is a clean slate with so many players bad players off the books this summer. Make no mistake the players and the board are your main issue, with so many of the players going that's half the battle and if you replace them with a smattering of genuine quality and a manager who gives them a kick up the behind, then in this league, that might be enough.

What a thoroughly excellent post succinctly summarizing points I’ve been trying to make over my last 100 or so posts.


The “reactionary” “buck-passing” of McCabe and the way it’s lapped up by some really struck a nerve.


For me Adkins (along with a couple of half decent players) was about the only asset we had and we’ve thrown him away for someone with a less impressive (though not bad) record in the hope we stumble on a winning formula. It’s entirely symptomatic of the rudderless way this club has been run for so long.


The Reading point is also a good one. Everyone goes on about how he “failed” there but given that they’ve not improved under either of the two managers that followed (one of them the hero that got them to the prem before) then it’s hard to be too critical of the job he did there.


I can’t help but feel that we’ve made a huge mistake and we won’t have such a good opportunity with such a manager again.

 

[SwissBlade]

Against the sacking of another manager, but FOR the appointment of Wilder now that the decision has been made.

Well done United for ending a shitty day quite well.

Acted swiftly like we know what were doing. Sacked Adkins when we've clearly got the man ready to replace him.

 

[metalblade]

I'm completely and utterly pissed off by the sacking and with the club as a whole. Not that I think Adkins has done well but simply because:
a) We need stability and to allow a manager time to build his own team as we did with Warnock & Bassett.
b) I don't trust the board to make the appointment. By their own acts they've got the last 9 wrong (sacked them all).
c) The board have put us back to square 1 (the position we've been in for most of the poor sods who've been given the job recently except BR and NC possibly) in that we'll have another new manager with no money because we've probably pissed it away on compensation to the outgoing manager and the club of the incoming manager.

This is the first time in my 49 years of supporting United (actually watching them) that I'm feeling that I no longer want to give them my money. I've made no secret of my feelings about the majority of the current playing squad and their attitudes, and the fact that despite missing only 2 matches up to the end of Feb, I've not been to a mach since. I'm now in the position that I'm delighted that I've not renewed my season ticket and won't be unless the manager appointed is one which peaks my interest (certainly not a Warnock / Evans type and I reserve judgement on the likes of Wilder who's not actually achieved as much as Adams had but is a Blade just like he is) and, even then, is supported by the board and allowed to build a team for the coming season.

If they have, as I fear, pissed away the money and aren't able to back the new manager - they can fuck right off because I've had enough of them. Maybe that makes me no longer a blade but I don't give a toss.

Ditto

 

[Bladesway]

Id like a manager who I've got confidence in for a start and I think Mr Wilder might be that man. He's successful now not 4 seasons ago. He's not out of work and wanted by other clubs. How many clubs will be queuing up for Mr Adkins ?

Odds are he goes to Charlton and gets them up next season?

 

[CarlMcBlade]

I'm one of them. The fanbase has been quite divided over NA and I suppose it's still the same now he's been sacked.

NA hasn't done himself many favours throughout the season but you can't get away from that it was always going to be difficult, left with all of Clough's bang average players and given hardly any funds in the transfer windows in just his first season in charge.

I think we should have at least gave him upto the first 3 months of next season or until Xmas to see where we were.

I'm going to give Chris Wilder my full support though, at least he knows about the lower leagues and you would think he'll have some young hungry players in mind. He'll also know what this club is all about and what is expected, he should be familiar at handling the pressure and expectation here however it is his first managerial role at a club of this size.

Just move on eh?

 

[CarlMcBlade]

We've just had a whole fucking season of looking back at the previous regime. Let's not do the same with Mr Adkins. It didn't work out so let's move on. . . . .

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Can we please dispel this fallacy that finishing 5th under Clough was a great achievement?

20 points off our target of automatic promotion. 20. 8 points off the side who knocked 7 past us over two legs in yet another play-off fuck up.

Jesus! Are all the fucking Adkins luvvies gonna turn into the Clough apologists of last season? Can we not for once forget about all these failed managers and get behind the club.