The future's bright ... the future is Red and White

[alcoblade]

I actually think that Adams has inherited more of a sinking ship than Warnock did. The Blades team of 1999 is better than the team we have now. By this I mean the first team, but also perm signings, reliance on loans, form and injuries.

This is true, and it's why I'm worried about relegation. There were some good players in that team who had an immediate uptick in form after Heath went - Murphy and Bent being the two obvious examples. Warnock was also blessed with an excellent keeper, which we do not have now. Credit to Warnock for what he did - we won his first 4 games - but I think quite a few managers could have achieved an improvement with that squad, because Heath was such a terrible coach. There were rumours at the time that Heath had no tactical plan at all, and training was all running...

The same was true of getting Blackwell in and firing Robson. Replace a terrible manager with one who knows what he's doing, and give him a good team, and he'll likely get good results.

This does not apply this season. Most of our good players have been sold in the last 2 years or are injured. there is no great side waiting to emerge. There are a couple of players (notably amongst the forwards) who can and should do better, but otherwise it's a poor squad, particularly defensively speaking. I think Adams is likely to be a better boss than Speed, but he's not a miracle worker. This is a relegation bound squad without further investment.

As for the next 5 years, I think it will be like the 1980s. Bumbling along in this division at best, in the third tier at worst. Loads of loans and short term solutions. No real investment until McCabe leaves, (and if he wants all his money back he's going nowhere) and the sale of young players to continue in exactly the same vein. I give Adams 2 years tops. He will be fired if we go down and don't immediately challenge for promotion, or if we stay up he'll go during the next relegation battle. And there will be one, because to stay in this league you really have to invest, or to have a plan - like youth development - and stick with it, and United will do neither.

But what's the bad news?



UTB

 

[Ollessendro]

I actually think that Adams has inherited more of a sinking ship than Warnock did. The Blades team of 1999 is better than the team we have now. By this I mean the first team, but also perm signings, reliance on loans, form and injuries.

This is true, and it's why I'm worried about relegation. There were some good players in that team who had an immediate uptick in form after Heath went - Murphy and Bent being the two obvious examples. Warnock was also blessed with an excellent keeper, which we do not have now. Credit to Warnock for what he did - we won his first 4 games - but I think quite a few managers could have achieved an improvement with that squad, because Heath was such a terrible coach. There were rumours at the time that Heath had no tactical plan at all, and training was all running...

The same was true of getting Blackwell in and firing Robson. Replace a terrible manager with one who knows what he's doing, and give him a good team, and he'll likely get good results.

This does not apply this season. Most of our good players have been sold in the last 2 years or are injured. there is no great side waiting to emerge. There are a couple of players (notably amongst the forwards) who can and should do better, but otherwise it's a poor squad, particularly defensively speaking. I think Adams is likely to be a better boss than Speed, but he's not a miracle worker. This is a relegation bound squad without further investment..

Agree with most of that Rev. I have 2 slight diference sof opinion, or challenges. Firstly I would say that Adams is a significantly better coach than Speed. Or at least he will be much better preperared for this situation. In terms of motivation, getting the best of players and passion then Micky Adams is streets ahead of Speed. We are in a much better position to fight for survival with him at the helm.

Secondly I think the squad is poor, but we have some quality that can pull us out. Don't get me wrong, we are one of the 6 worst teams in the league (along with Palace, Scunny, Bristol, Preston and Ipswich) but I think the likes of Yeates, Ward, Williamson and Bent (plus Henderson) are good enough. Bartley is a good defender and you quite rightly point out that we are weak at the back. The rest make up numbers. A lot of it will come down to luck and Adams managrial skills. If we can keep Ward, Williamson, Yeates and Bent fit (i.e. luck) then we have every chance. If Adams can get these payers playing to the best of their ability (they are all good but out of form) then I think it will make the difference. A fit Henderson would also be a massive boost.

[As for the next 5 years, I think it will be like the 1980s. Bumbling along in this division at best, in the third tier at worst. Loads of loans and short term solutions. No real investment until McCabe leaves, (and if he wants all his money back he's going nowhere) and the sale of young players to continue in exactly the same vein. I give Adams 2 years tops. He will be fired if we go down and don't immediately challenge for promotion, or if we stay up he'll go during the next relegation battle. And there will be one, because to stay in this league you really have to invest, or to have a plan - like youth development - and stick with it, and United will do neither.

This is where we seperate the optimistists and the pessimists. I am a little more optimistic than you Rev, but I understand why you feel the way you do. I have stated how I feel above (somewhere inbetween - indecis in Francais) so I will not bang on about it.

 

[Ollessendro]

From what I heard last night Micky Adams stated that safety was the priority and stated that it was difficult to look too far ahead.

I only listened to part of it (the crap sound was pissing me off) and hence I might have missed something. I'll listen to it onight if I can, or read the tweets or transcript. But was Adams drawn more into his vision for the club, or just that he wants to get us out of trouble and he'll think about the rest when we get up the league a bit?

 

[SteelCity Blade]

From what I heard last night Micky Adams stated that safety was the priority and stated that it was difficult to look too far ahead.

I only listened to part of it (the crap sound was pissing me off) and hence I might have missed something. I'll listen to it onight if I can, or read the tweets or transcript. But was Adams drawn more into his vision for the club, or just that he wants to get us out of trouble and he'll think about the rest when we get up the league a bit?

I was there Olle and from listening to him I suspect he has a vision for the club in his mind because he did speak of the future, but only in very general terms. His immediate concern is getting United out of trouble and it would appear that this is all he wants to focus on right now.

I think quite rightly, whatever visions he has for the club are firmly on the back-burner for the time being because he cant afford to take his eye off the ball (excuse the pun). It is a case of I cant achieve that, until I have done this....so there is no point talking (or even thinking) about that until we're safe.