Article from The Secret Footballer on League One so far...

[maxtheblade]

Interesting read...

http://www.thesecretfootballer.com/...g-to-live-up-to-tag-of-pre-season-favourites/

 

[Dkc]

Pre-season, the Blades were adjudged to be shoo-ins for promotion after sacking Nigel Clough – who took them to two cup semi-finals and the play-offs – and replacing him with Nigel Adkins, a resounding failure in his previous job as Reading manager.

 

[ThatJa]

Isn't the secret footballer James Beattie?

 

[maxtheblade]

Isn't the secret footballer James Beattie?

I thought was Dave Kitson?

 

[Kenilworth]

"Although most bookmakers practically elected Sheffield United as champions before a ball had been kicked, their underwhelming, if not disastrous, start indicates that they are hardly likely to become the runaway leaders many thought they would be."

Just about sums it all up, don't yer think?

 

[The_Green_Man]

I thought was Dave Kitson?

I also thought it was Dave Kitson, even more so after reading the books. That said I thought it was Kitson prior to reading to books therefore maybe sub-consciously I tried to link Kitson to everything.

I don't think you can pull too many pieces out of that article to be honest. I think he hits on a few very valid points regarding our squad and the lack of quality. I think he is a little harsh on Sammon who without hitting the ground running has played a part in a couple of games this season but again there is a huge question mark regarding how consistent he is. But overall I say get him in as an advisor because he speaks sense.

 

[Kenilworth]

I predict that we will get 3 points against Donny at the weekend - cos they can't score for toffee so they have no chance of breaching our resolute defensive line

Then, on Tuesday Jimmy's boys will give us a reight pasting at the Pirelli where our lads will look like they are driving with slicks on a wet pan

 

[BushBlade]

'All in all, evidence that Adkins is any better equipped to get the Blades promoted than Clough would have been seems sparse.'

Unless you consider Adkins' four promotions versus Clough's zero.

'After all, Adkins revelled as the plucky underdog at Scunthorpe United and thrived at a big club with relatively low expectations at Southampton.'

More bullshit. Southampton's billionaire owner had very high expectations, ask Pardew.

 

[Ricky]

But overall I say get him in as an advisor because he speaks sense.

You know what, that's not a bad shout. He does have some sort of relationship with the McCabes and we've desperately needed someone with intelligence and football knowledge in the boardroom for years.

Kitson strikes me as exactly the type who'd make a good director of football but not a manager.

 

[itsinyerblood]

"Although most bookmakers practically elected Sheffield United as champions before a ball had been kicked, their underwhelming, if not disastrous, start indicates that they are hardly likely to become the runaway leaders many thought they would be."

Just about sums it all up, don't yer think?

Completely agree Kenners, probably as accurate description of our chances as I've read. The author of that piece is right though, when you look at our squad it doesn't exactly ooze quality and class. We can be a good side when the mood takes us, but are we seriously deluding ourselves that the team has what it takes to grab this division by the scruff of its neck and put space between us and the rest?

It's not Adkins fault, he inherited a team with too many jobsworths. He needs to shift between 8-10 players out between now and the summer, and have replacements in mind who'll up the quality threshold we desperately need. Being a club who's spent time in the Championship and occasionally the Premiership just doesn't cut it. Stop signing mediocre players, let's see a determined attempt to secure players who'll be capable of living comfortably in the Championship. At the moment that wish is a long way off.

 

[Balham]

Written by a 23 year old Blackpool fan not the Secret Footballer. Nothing to see here, move along.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

"After all, Adkins revelled as the plucky underdog at Scunthorpe United and thrived at a big club with relatively low expectations at Southampton."

What drivel. The expectations when he took over at Southampton were virtually identical to those he's facing with us now. The speed to the Premier League was perhaps unexpected – but he was appointed with the sole purpose of hauling the club out of League 1, which is why Pardew was sacked early into a new season and Adkins was appointed.

 

[blade too long]

and all after 8 games
In sure Chelsea were runaway favourites for the prem much shorter odds than us
And Adkins 2 previous promotions from league 1 neither scunthorpe or southampton were in the top 6 after 10 games

glad the article mentioned Bournemouth , who were far lower than what we are after 8 games the season they got out of league 1

 

[Blade56]

Pre-season, the Blades were adjudged to be shoo-ins for promotion after sacking Nigel Clough – who took them to two cup semi-finals and the play-offs – and replacing him with Nigel Adkins, a resounding failure in his previous job as Reading manager.

The infrerance being that we should judge N1's total tenure with N2's first league game

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Completely agree Kenners, probably as accurate description of our chances as I've read. The author of that piece is right though, when you look at our squad it doesn't exactly ooze quality and class. We can be a good side when the mood takes us, but are we seriously deluding ourselves that the team has what it takes to grab this division by the scruff of its neck and put space between us and the rest?

It's not Adkins fault, he inherited a team with too many jobsworths. He needs to shift between 8-10 players out between now and the summer, and have replacements in mind who'll up the quality threshold we desperately need. Being a club who's spent time in the Championship and occasionally the Premiership just doesn't cut it. Stop signing mediocre players, let's see a determined attempt to secure players who'll be capable of living comfortably in the Championship. At the moment that wish is a long way off.

Agree 100%

Defence is like a string vest, midfield is at best underwhelming and up front the school report would say, "could do better" [take the recent pens away we are still struggling to worry the opposition in open play].

Let's hope for better at Doncaster and Burton - that said, as I will be at both as usual, I doubt it.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

You know what, that's not a bad shout. He does have some sort of relationship with the McCabes and we've desperately needed someone with intelligence and football knowledge in the boardroom for years.

Kitson strikes me as exactly the type who'd make a good director of football but not a manager.

It is Dave Kitson , big mate of Simon McCabe. 100%

UTB

 

[Rodley]

It is Dave Kitson , big mate of Simon McCabe. 100%

UTB

Except not in this instance as it's written by a Blackpool fan.

 

[Bladepicker]

So are we getting this teenage Blackpool fan in as Director of Football then?

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

take the recent pens away we are still struggling to worry the opposition in open play

Apart from Billy's three one on one's and McNulty's run against Bury. The second half pressure against Colchester. The first against Bradford. McNulty skewing it into the side netting from a decent position etc.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

All in all, evidence that Adkins is any better equipped to get the Blades promoted than Clough would have been seems sparse.

For sparse read overwhelming.

Yes, they have a goalscorer in their ranks in Billy Sharp but, away from him, other key players are hardly the most reliable. Conor Sammon did very little in the Premier League with Wigan Athletic and has done very little since. Yet United are still stumping up sizeable amounts of cash to parent club Derby County for the on-loan striker’s wages. For creativity, United will look to Jose Baxter and Jamal Campbell-Ryce, who if he had anything resembling an end product to accompany his pace would playing at a higher level. And also Martyn Woolford, who has never really produced the form that first put him on the Football League radar at Adkins’ Scunthorpe. It would be foolish to completely write off the Blades’ promotion hopes.

This is a bit unfair on these players but does point out that to justify expectations of walking the League we'd need two or three or four matchwinners. We don't have them. Or we don't have them, fit, yet.

I think we've got the manager to get us promoted but not necessarily all the players atm.

 

[Harry's Game]

It's Kitson alright, still identifies strongly with Reading and his derisive dismisal of Adkins could have come straight from the Reading fans forums.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

All in all, evidence that Adkins is any better equipped to get the Blades promoted than Clough would have been seems sparse.

For sparse read overwhelming.

Yes, they have a goalscorer in their ranks in Billy Sharp but, away from him, other key players are hardly the most reliable. Conor Sammon did very little in the Premier League with Wigan Athletic and has done very little since. Yet United are still stumping up sizeable amounts of cash to parent club Derby County for the on-loan striker’s wages. For creativity, United will look to Jose Baxter and Jamal Campbell-Ryce, who if he had anything resembling an end product to accompany his pace would playing at a higher level. And also Martyn Woolford, who has never really produced the form that first put him on the Football League radar at Adkins’ Scunthorpe. It would be foolish to completely write off the Blades’ promotion hopes.

This is a bit unfair on these players but does point out that to justify expectations of walking the League we'd need two or three or four matchwinners. We don't have them. Or we don't have them, fit, yet.

I think we've got the manager to get us promoted but not necessarily all the players atm.

I think any success this season ( automatic or play offs ) will be a bonus . The real success will be next season , whatever league we are in.

The positives and negatives are equally balanced . Adkins needs time on his side , to right the wrongs of the past , of which i am sure , he will get from both the board and fans .

I still feel that this season , the league is so wide open , theres not much differance between teams that will be flirting with promotion or relegation , and fortunately , thats the only reason we could make it this season , but need commitment and consistancy .

UTB

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I think any success this season ( automatic or play offs ) will be a bonus . The real success will be next season , whatever league we are in.

The positives and negatives are equally balanced . Adkins needs time on his side , to right the wrongs of the past , of which i am sure , he will get from both the board and fans .

I still feel that this season , the league is so wide open , theres not much differance between teams that will be flirting with promotion or relegation , and fortunately , thats the only reason we could make it this season , but need commitment and consistancy .

UTB

Atm I think the point about the League being close stands: each week there are a couple of surprising results.

I suppose I'm hoping, and it really is hope and not much more, that our big squad and returning players will give us an edge as the season progresses.

Is it too early to cite Adkins' play-off success?

 

[alcoblade]

"'All in all, evidence that Adkins is any better equipped to get the Blades promoted than Clough would have been seems sparse.'"

Fuck me. It's difficult to read on from that point.

UTB

 

[Stretch]

Whoever wrote it I do believe that they are talking out of their backside.

Adkins failed at Reading because he had his budget slashed but not the expectation that he should reach the playoffs with a diminished squad.

 

[Bladepicker]

It's Kitson alright, still identifies strongly with Reading and his derisive dismisal of Adkins could have come straight from the Reading fans forums.

The Secret Footballer published in the Guardian is Kitson.

This is not him. It is a spotty, teenage Blackpool fan who has called his blog thesecretfootballer probably to try and trick people into thinking it is the Guardian columnist.

 

[BushBlade]

The Secret Footballer published in the Guardian is Kitson.

This is not him. It is a spotty, teenage Blackpool fan who has called his blog thesecretfootballer probably to try and trick people into thinking it is the Guardian columnist.

The website is called Thesecretfootballer.com but the blog is in the 'Fanzone' section and it clearly stated its by Josh Nicholls, a Blackpool fan. There's no deception.

 

[Bladepicker]

The website is called Thesecretfootballer.com but the blog is in the 'Fanzone' section and it clearly stated its by Josh Nicholls, a Blackpool fan. There's no deception.

Ah apologies to the lad, it is the proper site it is just a fans comment page on there.

My main point to Harrys Game remains though, it is not written by 'The Secret Footballer'

 

[RealMcCoy]

If it is Kitson then bollocks. He was crap for us. Fell down too easily.
If not Kitson, then maybe I will read it again. Who posted this shit?

 

[maxtheblade]

If it is Kitson then bollocks. He was crap for us. Fell down too easily.
If not Kitson, then maybe I will read it again. Who posted this shit?

Sorry I should have made it clearer in the OP that it was from the website 'The Secret Footballer' rather than written by the footballer or ex-footballer who calls himself 'the secret footballer'