What more can the board do?

[Harry's Game]

That's an expensive role for such a "soft" remit.

UTB

Put it this way anyone who understood football knew we were players short when the last window closed, the board thought we could manage cos we were in the top two at the time...

...look were we are now.

 

[Barney]

By assessing the squad, surely you mean "decide who to get rid of or keep"?

Not necessarily, I mean the time wasted figuring out we need to strengthen when that could have been established with video footage and communication with coaches already at the club in a fraction of the time. Consequently allowing much more time to go out and sign them.

 

[alcoblade]

Not necessarily, I mean the time wasted figuring out we need to strengthen when that could have been established with video footage and communication with coaches already at the club in a fraction of the time. Consequently allowing much more time to go out and sign them.

He strengthened up front, and without those signings we were weak there too.

UTB

 

[Barney]

He strengthened up front, and without those signings we were weak there too.

UTB

It was the least weak of a very weak team.

 

[alcoblade]

It was the least weak of a very weak team.

Perhaps, so it needed strengthening either way. Perhaps he's got the players in in the order that they were available.

Of all our mistakes in recent years, top of the list has to be signings for signings sake, resulting in a high turnover of players who are no better than their predecessors.


Overall, you can tell that he's limited in what he's allowed to do. Given that, and given his superb track record, he gets the benefit of any doubt from me. I'm prepared to give him a decent crack of the whip. From the off, for whatever reason, it's clear he was never going to get that from you.

UTB

 

[Barney]

Perhaps, so it needed strengthening either way. Perhaps he's got the players in in the order that they were available.

Of all our mistakes in recent years, top of the list has to be signings for signings sake, resulting in a high turnover of players who are no better than their predecessors.


Overall, you can tell that he's limited in what he's allowed to do. Given that, and given his superb track record, he gets the benefit of any doubt from me. I'm prepared to give him a decent crack of the whip. From the off, for whatever reason, it's clear he was never going to get they from you.

UTB

He just doesn't approach things as I would.

 

[alcoblade]

He just doesn't approach things as I would.

At some point, don't you ever think "here's a man who's been there and done it, and I'm sat here thinking about getting up at 8AM tomorrow to start another mundane week. Perhaps I'll temper my criticism"?

It's fair enough to debate things, that's what this place is here for. But to give the manager so little slack as you have done is astounding.

UTB

 

[Barney]

At some point, don't you ever think "here's a man who's been there and done it, and I'm sat here thinking about getting up at 8AM tomorrow to start another mundane week. Perhaps I'll temper my criticism"?

It's fair enough to debate things, that's what this place is here for. But to give the manager so little slack as you have done is astounding.

UTB

The little slack is only in proportion with the unbelievably basic nature of the mistakes he's made.

 

[alcoblade]

The little slack is only in proportion with the unbelievably basic nature of the mistakes he's made.

I find it very hard to believe that you really support this club. I can't help but return to the belief that you are on a very clever wind up.

UTB

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

Realistically and within some sort of sensible business restraints, what more can the board do?
We are a 1st division club and are restricted by who we can buy but the board has backed the manager(s).
We wanted a central defender, we loaned a Intl Championship defender in Edgar and also tried to get Burns from Fulham.
We wanted a central midfielder, they approved the loan for a Premier league player in Hammond.
Pre season they got rid of Clough, which the majority wanted and hired Adkins, which pretty much everyone wanted. These 2 actions weren't cheap.
They bought Sharp and Sammon in, who were both Championship level players.
Previously they backed the manager and bought in Done and Brayford, neither of them were cheap.
The only negatives are that they sold Maguire and Murphy, both of whom wanted to go. We can discuss this until the cows come home as to whether we should have kept them but I personally think that a 1st division club is always going to lose its best players to clubs higher up the leagues.

So, I believe that they have supported the manager. The fans have done their part by supporting them in huge numbers both home and away but it seems as though the fault should either lie with the players or the manager(s). They either can't cope with the pressures of playing at the biggest club at this level or are just not good enough. Both issues lie with the manager s who bought the player to the club, not the board for sanctioning the purchase. It's not their job to scout players, that is the manager and his team, the board just has to make sure that the fees and salaries are paid, which they do

Good OP, what more can the board do?? They appear to have got the right sentiments i.e. Bring in an experienced manager with success at this level, allow past and present managers to bring in players (and a lot of them), invest on signings - i.e. 2.5 million on Done, Brayford and Sharp is a lot of money at this level. But I think the key three things they need to do are:

1. Give a manager TIME. i personally beleive Clough should have been given another year (no need to debate that), but it's pivotal that Adkins is given at least two full seasons.

2. Stop buying average championship players!!! This is the biggest mistake we've made since coming down. These players aren't good enough for the championship, they know that, so where is their hunger to get back there???...as they know they will be off loaded if we go up. Psychologically they know they have reached their level - but with cushy surroundings and big wages. Every successful team has hunger, youth and a drive to get better. Yes you need experience, but usually from players who have achieved something e.g. Stuart McCall in 2003 or Unsworth in 2006. We need the best players from league 1 and 2, with some academy products and one or two wiser heads like Sharp and Brayford who have got passion for the club. These types of players are out to prove something and want to move up to the next level because they have never been there.

3. Have the balls to pay up and get rid some of the crap we have such as Collins, Alcock, etc. players we know aren't good enough. As long as we have replacements coming in, then get rid of these types of player whether it be farming them out on loan or paying up their contracts. They aren't getting us up, and won't be good enough to get up, cut our loses and send out a message to the rest of the squad that complacency and low standards won't be tolerated.

Until we do the above three things we aren't going up anytime soon.

 

[Barney]

I find it very hard to believe that you really support this club. I can't help but return to the belief that you are on a very clever wind up.

UTB

It's bizarre that criticism of my club can be linked with support for a rival so easily.

Especially as this accusation seems so unique towards me.

I find it interesting as to the psychology of it actually.

What is it that makes you think I support Sheffield Wednesday for example? Presuming that's the club you think I support.

Can't actually believe I'm debating something as pathetic as this.

 

[alcoblade]

It's bizarre that criticism of my club can be linked with support for a rival so easily.

Especially as this accusation seems so unique towards me.

I find it interesting as to the psychology of it actually.

What is it that makes you think I support Sheffield Wednesday for example? Presuming that's the club you think I support.

Can't actually believe I'm debating something as pathetic as this.

Because you clearly hate this club.

Where do you sit, out of interest?

UTB

 

[Barney]

Because you clearly hate this club.

Where do you sit, out of interest?

UTB

I hate the clueless way it's run.

South Stand, why?

 

[alcoblade]

I hate the clueless way it's run.

South Stand. Why?

Because I'm tempted to quiz you a bit more about it, because as I say, I don't think you really support United and I'd expect to catch you out.

Either way, it's evident that you're almost universally despised here, so I wonder why you'd bother unless you get some strange pleasure out of constantly demeaning the club and arguing with its' followers. Which brings me back to my original suspicion.

UTB

 

[Barney]

Because I'm tempted to quiz you a bit more about it, because as I say, I don't think you really support United and I'd expect to catch you out.

Either way, it's evident that you are almost universally despised here, so I wonder why you'd bother unless you get some strange pleasure out of constantly demeaning the club and arguing with its' followers. Which brings me back to my original suspicion.

UTB

You can quiz me all you like, but I would find it slightly strange to have to justify the action of supporting my own club.

I don't post here to argue with anyone, nor does the thought of what any other poster thinks of me enter my mind at any point.

I post my opinions, without the worry of how many will disapprove or express their discontent about them.

What is slightly concerning though, is that a difference of opinion can so easily mean an accusation of piggery.

I find it wholly unreasonable.

 

[alcoblade]

You can quiz me all you like, but I would find it slightly strange to have to justify the action of supporting my own club.

I don't post here to argue with anyone, nor does the thought of what any other poster thinks of me enter my mind at any point.

I post my opinions, without the worry of how many will disapprove or express their discontent about them.

What is slightly concerning though, is that a difference of opinion can so easily mean an accusation of piggery.

I find it wholly unreasonable.

It's reasonable to have something positive to say about the club you "support". In almost a thousand posts I don't think you've managed it once.

UTB

 

[Barney]

It's reasonable to have something positive to say about the club you "support". In almost a thousand posts I don't think you've managed it once.

UTB

What is there to be positive about? We're in the fifth season of division 3 football.

I commended the very brief run of competent displays where we won something like 4 on the bounce, but that's turned out to be false hope, as predicted.

I commended Adkins appointment, I thought he'd approach things with urgency and recruit effectively. Can you honestly say he's started well? I think he's been extremely poor.

 

[alcoblade]

I commended Adkins appointment, I thought he'd approach things with urgency and recruit effectively. Can you honestly say he's started well? I think he's been extremely poor.

As you were quick to point out, after one game.


UTB

 

[Bartleby]

I find it very hard to believe that you really support this club. I can't help but return to the belief that you are on a very clever wind up.

UTB

I've started suspecting that as well, especially after the flounce. Also thinking back to some weird shit he said when Adkins was appointed. Easy enough to join a forum and do that I guess (need to hide the IP address though). Hmmmm

 

[Barney]

I've started suspecting that as well, especially after the flounce. Also thinking back to some weird shit he said when Adkins was appointed. Easy enough to join a forum and do that I guess. Hmmmm

Would you like to elaborate on this "weird shit"?

 

[Bartleby]

Would you like to elaborate on this "weird shit"?

no sorry - "the walls have ears" and all that

 

[Barney]

As you were quick to point out, after one game.


UTB

As a result of the mistakes he made previous to that game. Yes.

 

[alcoblade]

no sorry - "the walls have ears" and all that

If you check on an early thread he started, his proposed forward line in made up of new players, and the back four contains 2 existing ones. Yet he constantly slated the manager for strengthening the forward line. Weird, yes.

UTB

 

[Barney]

no sorry - "the walls have ears" and all that

What are you talking about?

I'm still waiting for you to expand on all this weird shit I said when Adkins was appointed.

 

[alcoblade]

What are you talking about?

I'm still waiting for you to expand on all this weird shit I said when Adkins was appointed.

I suspect he doesn't want you to go off reporting to porktalk?

UTB

 

[Barney]

I suspect he doesn't want you to go off reporting to porktalk?

UTB

Why's he so reluctant to expand on this supposedly weird shit? Is it because it didn't happen, perhaps.

 

[alcoblade]

Why's he so reluctant to expand on this supposedly weird shit? Is it because it didn't happen, perhaps.

I'd be amazed if it didn't. I'd describe your entire existence on here as weird, and it seems the vast majority think along those lines.

UTB

 

[Barney]

I'd be amazed if it didn't. I'd describe your entire existence on here as weird, and it seems the vast majority think along those lines.

UTB

I challenge you to find anything remotely weird I have said about Adkins appointment.

 

[alcoblade]

I challenge you to find anything remotely weird I have said about Adkins appointment.

I didn't say you did, and I couldn't care less. You've spent months belittling the club and Adkins, right back to the start of the season. I couldn't give a fuck about the exact starting point, it's just weird behaviour.

UTB

 

[Bartleby]

I suspect he doesn't want you to go off reporting to porktalk?

UTB

ha, in my guise as doubleagent BarneyOwl LMFAO