CONFIRMED Nigel Adkins is announced as new Sheffield United Manager

[Silent Blade]

No-one will believe this but neither am I. If, on the other hand, you have defenders of real quality (relative to their level, of course), it can be a very good way of creating time and space for others to do damage further up the pitch.

It is easier to do this if we have defenders of real quality

 

[Mustela Putorius Furo]

Even that's not really totally true though. There was plenty of flexibility under Bassett, especially later on.

First 2 goals in one of Bassett's best ever wins were from Tracey passing and throwing the ball out.

Bassett did evolve the team - he expressed the wish early on to do that, and made mention of it as it happened. As he got better players into his team, with different attributes, he adapted the style (something I alluded to with my "spectrum" post).

The rigourous "do this or else" was definitely part of his early approach as he got United out of the deep shit.... it got more subtle and sophisticated later - you wouldn't employ Hodges in an out-and-out hoof team, would you? - complete waste of talent... Still, it was ever gonna be Barca though

 

[Davie Blade]

Tony Pulis's teams. Don't they generally play Hoofball with some "success"?

No, they don't
Pullis's success is down to many factors but hoofball is 100% definitely not one of those
Watch this seasons WBA's 3 goals against Chelsea or the win at Old Trafford .
Or extended highlights of them taking west Ham apart.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=intl:2345285

Not a shred of hoof.

They play with huge discipline, a massive amount of work off the ball, a settled defence who he gets organised and work together.
Likewise he achieved the same at Crystal Palace.

Watch and learn from a manager who actually knows how to man manage. How to scout for and sign players.
I said ages ago we should have moved heaven and earth to get him to the Lane, and don't think we couldn't have got him he was looking at Brighton. He was saying he wanted a project!

I'd struggle to think of a more contrasting manger to Clough in just about everything he does.
Sorry WHF you've touch a raw nerve there.

 

[Mustela Putorius Furo]

Halle - fucking - luya!!!

Someone who gets it.

I've always got it, but I'm less dogmatic in the way i express it, and I think the basis of my view has a different start point.

I've always understood what you have been getting at, but
a) you've always given the impression that anyone disagrees is absolutely in favour of the opposite extreme of hoof-ball to the game you'd prefer to see - when that's clearly not the case (though some clearly are),
b) I've always thought you need to express that "proper, modern football" or even "ultra-tip-tap" is an idealised, unachievable target as opposed to a "method to employ" - because I believe it arises out of having better players and coaches first, rather than setting out the system first with cart-horses. (Within the extremes though good players can adjust - Kendall showed us that).
c) clearly people are taking an opposite stance just for the sake of an argument or cos they too are driven to dogmatically oppose you without any analysis - we can all quite Bassett/Warnock and "hoof" as a means of success cos they achieved promotions... if we ignore they also achieved relegation too.

I think we have to be pragmatic about what we're going to get until the Gazillionaire comes over the hills and buys us Neymar, Dani Alves, dos Santos, Messi, etc.... or we get to the promised land and can use Sky money to buy them ourselves!

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

No, they don't
Pullis's success is down to many factors but hoofball is 100% definitely not one of those
Watch this seasons WBA's 3 goals against Chelsea or the win at Old Trafford .
Or extended highlights of them taking west Ham apart.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=intl:2345285

Not a shred of hoof.

They play with huge discipline, a massive amount of work off the ball, a settled defence who he gets organised and work together.
Likewise he achieved the same at Crystal Palace.

Watch and learn from a manager who actually knows how to man manage. How to scout for and sign players.
I said ages ago we should have moved heaven and earth to get him to the Lane, and don't think we couldn't have got him he was looking at Brighton. He was saying he wanted a project!

I'd struggle to think of a more contrasting manger to Clough in just about everything he does.
Sorry WHF you've touch a raw nerve there.

Fairy Nuff.

That at least makes some sense of Coerver Coaching filming some of their videos at Stoke when he was there.

 

[SandyMcBlade]

Even that's not really totally true though. There was plenty of flexibility under Bassett, especially later on.

First 2 goals in one of Bassett's best ever wins were from Tracey passing and throwing the ball out.

I think you also have to take in to consideration the condition of the grounds back then, I mean look at the state of the muck heap they were playing on here.......

 

[Bergen Blade]

Gilberto could play football. He didn't do half a job.

So you're not opposed to the concept of such a role - holding midfielder - after all.

 

[baggie192]

No, they don't
Pullis's success is down to many factors but hoofball is 100% definitely not one of those
Watch this seasons WBA's 3 goals against Chelsea or the win at Old Trafford .
Or extended highlights of them taking west Ham apart.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=intl:2345285

Not a shred of hoof.

They play with huge discipline, a massive amount of work off the ball, a settled defence who he gets organised and work together.
Likewise he achieved the same at Crystal Palace.

Watch and learn from a manager who actually knows how to man manage. How to scout for and sign players.
I said ages ago we should have moved heaven and earth to get him to the Lane, and don't think we couldn't have got him he was looking at Brighton. He was saying he wanted a project!

I'd struggle to think of a more contrasting manger to Clough in just about everything he does.
Sorry WHF you've touch a raw nerve there.

Pulis is the highest paid member of staff at ours He's on a huge amount but it was worth the gamble

 

[Mustela Putorius Furo]

Pulis is the highest paid member of staff at ours He's on a huge amount but it was worth the gamble

Pulis' West Brom team is different to his Palace team is different to his Stoke team..... and that's usually down to the circumstances he starts with a club in, and the players they have available to start with.

 

[Pinchy]

I've always got it, but I'm less dogmatic in the way i express it, and I think the basis of my view has a different start point.

I've always understood what you have been getting at, but
a) you've always given the impression that anyone disagrees is absolutely in favour of the opposite extreme of hoof-ball to the game you'd prefer to see - when that's clearly not the case (though some clearly are),
b) I've always thought you need to express that "proper, modern football" or even "ultra-tip-tap" is an idealised, unachievable target as opposed to a "method to employ" - because I believe it arises out of having better players and coaches first, rather than setting out the system first with cart-horses. (Within the extremes though good players can adjust - Kendall showed us that).
c) clearly people are taking an opposite stance just for the sake of an argument or cos they too are driven to dogmatically oppose you without any analysis - we can all quite Bassett/Warnock and "hoof" as a means of success cos they achieved promotions... if we ignore they also achieved relegation too.

I think we have to be pragmatic about what we're going to get until the Gazillionaire comes over the hills and buys us Neymar, Dani Alves, dos Santos, Messi, etc.... or we get to the promised land and can use Sky money to buy them ourselves!

You express yourself very well. You argue your position cogently and elegantly. Well done; a pleasure to read.

As you anticipate, we don't share identical views (why would we?) I haven't time for an extensive dialogue on the finer particulars right now, but I think your Is in the right place.

So you're not opposed to the concept of such a role - holding midfielder - after all.

The role 'midfielder' has always sufficed for me. If you're particularly talented you spend most of your time creating. If you're a great ball-winner (and that's more than just chasing better players around the pitch, making last-ditch tackles and giving away free-kicks in dangerous areas) then that's your aptitude and your main task. Neither (i say neither because I'm a 4-4-2 devotee at heart), however can abrogate the responsibility to do a bit of what the other does. Otherwise you end up with the "Montgomery" job description that we all knew so well. "It's not his job to play football...." Nice work if you can get it.
I admire good footballers. Gilberto was a good footballer. If you can find one as good for the Blades he can call himsel Holding Backtheyears for all I care. Quality players don't restrict themselves to rigid roles- they go out and outplay the opposition and enjoy it whilst there at it. We should remind ourselves of that latter feature from time to time.

 

[diplomat]

Even that's not really totally true though. There was plenty of flexibility under Bassett, especially later on.

First 2 goals in one of Bassett's best ever wins were from Tracey passing and throwing the ball out.

As good as the goals was the brilliant foul on Palmer. Incidentally why has that made the highlights? Was that the best chance apart from the goals? I went to that game and remember the goals and the rain and not much else.

 

[Lane Ender]

You express yourself very well. You argue your position cogently and elegantly. Well done; a pleasure to read.

As you anticipate, we don't share identical views (why would we?) I haven't time for an extensive dialogue on the finer particulars right now, but I think your Is in the right place.



The role 'midfielder' has always sufficed for me. If you're particularly talented you spend most of your time creating. If you're a great ball-winner (and that's more than just chasing better players around the pitch, making last-ditch tackles and giving away free-kicks in dangerous areas) then that's your aptitude and your main task. Neither (i say neither because I'm a 4-4-2 devotee at heart), however can abrogate the responsibility to do a bit of what the other does. Otherwise you end up with the "Montgomery" job description that we all knew so well. "It's not his job to play football...." Nice work if you can get it.
I admire good footballers. Gilberto was a good footballer. If you can find one as good for the Blades he can call himsel Holding Backtheyears for all I care. Quality players don't restrict themselves to rigid roles- they go out and outplay the opposition and enjoy it whilst there at it. We should remind ourselves of that latter feature from time to time.

I've always been wary of "holding midfielders" tackling and breaking play up is essential play but quality passing setting up attacking moves is essential to any midfielder

 

[WhiteHawk]

Can't be arsed to read through 20 pages to catch up but is it true that Karl Robinsons contract runs out on Monday? If so, I hope the board are aware of this!

 

[maxstertheblade]

Can't be arsed to read through 20 pages to catch up but is it true that Karl Robinsons contract runs out on Monday? If so, I hope the board are aware of this!

sure they will be. Think McCabe certainly will be.

 

[YES Blade]

Can't be arsed to read through 20 pages to catch up but is it true that Karl Robinsons contract runs out on Monday? If so, I hope the board are aware of this!

I'm sure his agent would make this well known during talks, no compensation means more money in Robinson's arse pocket!

 

[Blade82]

What are the latest odds?

 

[JohnDenver]

Pulis is the highest paid member of staff at ours He's on a huge amount but it was worth the gamble

How many years of Tony Pulis' specialism of lower-mid-table dirge-ball will you guys tolerate before turning on him and getting yourselves relegated?

 

[Barney]

What are the latest odds?

Nigel Adkins 4/7 Phil Parkinson 3/1 Karl Robinson 8/1 Stuart McCall 18/1

 

[Blade82]

Nigel Adkins 4/7 Phil Parkinson 3/1 Karl Robinson 8/1 Stuart McCall 18/1

Piss off Phil

Other than that seeing Adkins and Robinson on there is pleasing

 

[Barney]

Piss off Phil

Other than that seeing Adkins and Robinson on there is pleasing

Interesting that when is was not evident that SUFC had been going after Parkinson, the odds for him were 1/10.
Now, it is completely evident that we are going after Parkinson as said by their owner, and could be paying off a clause in his contract in order to get him, and the odds are now 3/1?

Doesn't make sense to me. Happy Adkins is favourite now though.

 

[Blade82]

Interesting that when is was not evident that SUFC had been going after Parkinson, the odds for him were 1/10.
Now, it is completely evident that we are going after Parkinson as said by their owner, and could be paying off a clause in his contract in order to get him, and the odds are now 3/1?

Doesn't make sense to me. Happy Adkins is favourite now though.

I thinks it's purely down to the amount of money people have put on Adkins because of the Twitter rumours. Hope it's right though

 

[Barney]

I thinks it's purely down to the amount of money people have put on Adkins because of the Twitter rumours. Hope it's right though

Yeah. I'm not sure about you but for me this has got to be one of the most mis-leading managerial searches we've had. There are so many contrasting views and rumours. On one hand twitter is saying Adkins favourite for definite and could be appointed before the week is out.

On the other hand, we have RS and other valid sources such as the BBC and Sky Sports saying that we've had numerous approaches turned down for Parkinson.

One has to be correct and sadly i'm more inclined to believe the latter mainly due to the reliability of the sources and the quotes from their chairman.

 

[WhiteHawk]

Yeah. I'm not sure about you but for me this has got to be one of the most mis-leading managerial searches we've had. There are so many contrasting views and rumours. On one hand twitter is saying Adkins favourite for definite and could be appointed before the week is out.

On the other hand, we have RS and other valid sources such as the BBC and Sky Sports saying that we've had numerous approaches turned down for Parkinson.

One has to be correct and sadly i'm more inclined to believe the latter mainly due to the reliability of the sources and the quotes from their chairman.

And to throw a spanner in the works, Karl Robinsons contract expires on Monday.

 

[Barney]

And to throw a spanner in the works, Karl Robinsons contract expires on Monday.

It's like something i've never seen before, it's ridiculous! It will at least, even if i don't agree with it, be interesting to see who gets the job after all this speculation and who was actually right all along. That will be the only enjoyable thing about it should it turn out to be a terrible appointment from the board.

 

[WhiteHawk]

It's like something i've never seen before, it's ridiculous! It will at least, even if i don't agree with it, be interesting to see who gets the job after all this speculation and who was actually right all along. That will be the only enjoyable thing about it should it turn out to be a terrible appointment from the board.

KR clearly has a soft spot for us. Considering he's a free agent from next week, we'd be insane not to consider him. I'm hoping we don't hear a thing from the club until next week, KR would be top of my list.

 

[Barney]

KR clearly has a soft spot for us. Considering he's a free agent from next week, we'd be insane not to consider him. I'm hoping we don't hear a thing from the club until next week, KR would be top of my list.

Adkins, Warburton, Robinson, in that order for me. Only thing putting me off KR is it took 5 years for him to get promotion, compared to the 1 year of Adkins and i may be right in thinking he has done it in only 1 year on more than 1 occasion in his career. Impressive stuff.

 

[Blade56]

Interesting that when is was not evident that SUFC had been going after Parkinson, the odds for him were 1/10.
Now, it is completely evident that we are going after Parkinson as said by their owner, and could be paying off a clause in his contract in order to get him, and the odds are now 3/1?

Doesn't make sense to me. Happy Adkins is favourite now though.

Probabley cause no one has the heart to put money on him so odds not affected

 

[Barney]

Probabley cause no one has the heart to put money on him so odds not affected

I think many blades will have put money on Adkins purely in hope.

 

[TheBeard]

Is it just me that find that picture strangely erotic?

Just depends how many beers I've had !

 

[Bergen Blade]

The role 'midfielder' has always sufficed for me. If you're particularly talented you spend most of your time creating. If you're a great ball-winner (and that's more than just chasing better players around the pitch, making last-ditch tackles and giving away free-kicks in dangerous areas) then that's your aptitude and your main task. Neither (i say neither because I'm a 4-4-2 devotee at heart), however can abrogate the responsibility to do a bit of what the other does. Otherwise you end up with the "Montgomery" job description that we all knew so well. "It's not his job to play football...." Nice work if you can get it.
I admire good footballers. Gilberto was a good footballer. If you can find one as good for the Blades he can call himsel Holding Backtheyears for all I care. Quality players don't restrict themselves to rigid roles- they go out and outplay the opposition and enjoy it whilst there at it. We should remind ourselves of that latter feature from time to time.

Gilberto started as a centre half and was limited in terms of creativity, playmaking and skill. Wenger said of him: "What I like was the fact that he kept things simple. He can play all across the midfield but the holding role just in front of the defence is what he does best." So you could say that it was a rigid role, one that made use of his excellent defensive qualities, protected the defence, helped them win the ball in good areas (vital for their superb counter attacking) and allowed the more creative players to use more of their energy going forward. There were hundreds of midfielders more skilful and creative than Gilberto available to Arsenal at the time, but his attributes was what they needed to complement the others. He helped them getting the balance just right.

When you say " the Arsenal Invincibles were everything a football team should be and a model we should aspire to" - a team in which a holding midfielder was a vital component - I suspect you either forgot about Gilberto Silva or you're not so critical of the holding midfielder after all. Surely your main point wasn't about Nick Montgomery again was it?