Adkins

[wizadry]

• How long did he take to assess the squad? Was this an incredibly unreasonable length of time?

• Could he have gone on the trusted advice of the staff in situ for player assessments, thereby saving time and increasing the chance of capturing targets?

• Would it have been better if he had prioritised the positions most in need of signings?

• Would it have been better to have plan B options in those positions had he not got his first choice?

• Would it have been better to not make the most underperforming player the captain? Thereby increasing the pressure on himself to play someone that is going to make the team worse.

• Is it wise to chase young and athletic players on their way up as opposed to old, slow journeymen on their way down?

A big and indisputable yes to all of the above.

Perhaps so but he couldn't do much about it with the size of our squad plus no one wanting our players.

How can he capture targets if the squad is too big and he's unable to bring players in because of this? He's hardly going to trust people who he hasn't worked with.

Yes it would, but again, did he have enough money to make the signings he wanted?

I think he may have signed plan B options in a couple of positions already, although that's only my incline and i could be way off mark.

Mceveley shouldn't have been made captain, this has been overwhelmingly discussed and i think most were in agreement.

No it's not wise. I agree, you have to have a good balance though of youth and experience, hopefully he will achieve this if given enough time.

Hope this helps.

 

[Barney]

Perhaps so but he couldn't do much about it with the size of our squad plus no one wanting our players.

How can he capture targets if the squad is too big and he's unable to bring players in because of this? He's hardly going to trust people who he hasn't worked with.

Yes it would, but again, did he have enough money to make the signings he wanted?

I think he may have signed plan B options in a couple of positions already, although that's only my incline and i could be way off mark.

Mceveley shouldn't have been made captain, this has been overwhelmingly discussed and i think most were in agreement.

No it's not wise. I agree, you have to have a good balance though of youth and experience, hopefully he will achieve this if given enough time.

Hope this helps.

.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I'm sorry but we could have made another Robson-esque screw up and I'd still say we have to stick with this manager.

Adkins is the best we could have got an getting rid of yet another manager would be suicidal. Put the money into players, not paying the 4th set of management teams off in a far too short a period of time.

 

[SandyMcBlade]

I'm just wondering if we really did sign Nigel Adkins and not his twin brother Morris.......

 

[Captain]

Agree with Adkins appointment but am sick of his post match excuses or lack of them.Today after the Crewe Catastrophe he should have named names, the bloody edited version would have lasted longer than a minute.
Crewe bottom of div 3, no home win in 8 months, no confidence and we turn up in town, Shambles United.
Sharp,Done, Adams all proven goal scorers can't hit the bloody target once, lack of creativity from Baxter, Coutts and Hammond, Christ them 3 will be on more wages than the entire Crewe squad.
SUFC have become the laughing stock of Div 3, brilliant support home and away and players who don't give a toss, if I don't perform I don't get paid these idiots do, Adkins does, get some of these young loanees back and let's build a team, poor Khan was a revelation against Rovram then only gets 1 more run out.
53 years I had to come to terms with being a Blade, today I feel at my lowest ebb,
Not calling for Adkins out, but this squad is taking the p**s so get rid of Sammon Coutts baxter Basham and the likes and rebuild with you and passion.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Before I start I think he's the best manager we could have got and I believe any talk of getting rid of him is idiotic (I notice a few have started with these kind of comments) He should get at least 2 years to sort us out given his record.

He's not had a great start to his tenure though:

Dubious signings thus far (in terms of them working within the team)
Dubious team-based decisions
Dubious team selections
Playing people out of position
The seeming inability to get players to do what he wants them to
Increasingly dubious press conferences

It's early days and he's largely working with another man's players. I think we'll see the best from him next season but he needs to up his game before then.

I have a very tiny nagging worry that Reading broke him but hopefully it was just a blip.

Six reasons to dump him and not one to keep him?

By the way I think it's the high turn over of managers that has got us in this situation.

If there is investment I'd like the board to come out with a long term plan that doesn't involve changing the manager and if it means righting off this season tell us that the new team we need to build next season will be second division quality and most of this seasons squad will be binned off.

Let's invest close season inset of forlornly chasing the dream this season?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I'm just wondering if we really did sign Nigel Adkins and not his twin brother Morris.......

Didn't think Morris made an Adkins, remember the Minor.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

It's this sort of kneejerk reaction why we find ourselves in this position in the first place. You can't get rid of someone after such a short space of time, they need time to make it their own. Whether he gets the time is another matter. We appointed him after the release list was made, it's this decision from the board that needs questioning because although they made the right decision in getting rid of Clough they ultimately could've gone about it better in the fact they didn't do it at the right time. If this board was to organise a stag do they'd organise the fucker for after the wedding, they're fucking clueless mate.

Looking like getting rid of Clough was a major bollock dropped?

 

[Slug]

We have to give Adkins time, we can't sack ANOTHER manager and start the process all over again and i did/do believe he was/is the right man for the job but i have to say his signings so far have been extremely concerning

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Unfortunately I don't think he will get a chance for a total rebuild unless we do manage to get up (edit: this season).

I'm not sure an entire rebuild was ever going to be feasible or part of his remit this season given the contract situation.

Hence it's IMPERATIVE that we get up this season so the rebuild can coincide with loads of contracts finishing.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Hence it's IMPERATIVE that we get up this season so the rebuild can coincide with loads of contracts finishing.

So purely playing D/A here, if we got to the lay off final wheres the incentive to win if they are getting binned?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

So purely playing D/A here, if we got to the lay off final wheres the incentive to win if they are getting binned?

Lay off?

Think that's the best we can do with some of this lot.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

So purely playing D/A here, if we got to the lay off final wheres the incentive to win if they are getting binned?

If they get to a play off final and can't see an incentive to win and to have a promotion on their CV they deserve to be fecking binned!

 

[1889]

Lets forget about Adkins 'CV' and look at his Bramall Lane tenure so far. He's made some poor signings with the possible exception of Billy Sharp.
Woolford and Hammond are past it and haven't got the hunger and drive that will get us out of this division. He hasn't strengthened the central defence, which is a glaringly obvious weakness to anyone who watches our performances and has been for well over a year. It seems to me that a lot of the players are getting away with 60% effort and don't really give a toss, as evidenced by the City Centre piss ups.
Adkins needs to get his arse in gear and start shifting some of these wankers out of the club and introduce a bit of discipline and motivation into those who remain. I think he could do worse than introduce a few of the younger lads into the mix, at least they would put a shift in and hopefully shame some of the older pro's, who appear to be enjoying the laid back post Clough regime a little too much for my liking.
Personally, I think Adkins is just a 'Snake Oil Salesman' who got lucky and is living off his reputation, I hope he proves me wrong but I can't see it and I'm afraid I can only see this ending one way

 

[PeteBlade]

If Curtis-Lite thinks we should sack Adkins then at least we know 100% that sticking by him is definitely the right course of action.

 

[mosbolad]

Lets forget about Adkins 'CV'.I think Adkins is just a 'Snake Oil Salesman' who got lucky and is living off his reputation

So he got lucky on four, 4, yes FOUR promotions! That really is some stroke of luck! Well done 'Lucky Adkins' and 1889 no offence but drop the dramatics and get real.

For what it's worth I do agree about shifting some of the dead wood and bringing in some of the youngsters......

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Lets forget about Adkins 'CV' and look at his Bramall Lane tenure so far. He's made some poor signings with the possible exception of Billy Sharp.
Woolford and Hammond are past it and haven't got the hunger and drive that will get us out of this division. He hasn't strengthened the central defence, which is a glaringly obvious weakness to anyone who watches our performances and has been for well over a year. It seems to me that a lot of the players are getting away with 60% effort and don't really give a toss, as evidenced by the City Centre piss ups.
Adkins needs to get his arse in gear and start shifting some of these wankers out of the club and introduce a bit of discipline and motivation into those who remain. I think he could do worse than introduce a few of the younger lads into the mix, at least they would put a shift in and hopefully shame some of the older pro's, who appear to be enjoying the laid back post Clough regime a little too much for my liking.
Personally, I think Adkins is just a 'Snake Oil Salesman' who got lucky and is living off his reputation, I hope he proves me wrong but I can't see it and I'm afraid I can only see this ending one way

Snake oil salesman don't get lucky 4 times. He needs backing and that doesn't mean just signing players, but getting rid as well. Now that may take time, who is going to want them? Anyone that saw Scunthorpe or Southampton under Adkins saw a team playing a high pressing game, with a quite narrow midfield and quick overlapping full-backs. We don't have the players (full-backs aside) to be close to playing like that.

Two choices, either Adkins tries something totally different or he's given the time to shift out and recruit to suit his way of playing.

Changing managers everytime we fail isn't working. And the above is why, managers who are successful quite logically want to stick to the winning formula. Players don't fit, transition takes time that isn't given and the whole thing just goes round in a fail circle.

 

[The_Green_Man]

Careful he might want his quid back!

Or the other £21m he's injected into the football team

Shit signings along the way unfortunately but I will say this over and over again. He have pissed some decent money up against a wall these last couple of seasons and I don't think you can blame HRH or say he has a lack of ambition with what he has put in.

 

[1889]

So he got lucky on four, 4, yes FOUR promotions! That really is some stroke of luck! Well done 'Lucky Adkins' and 1889 no offence but drop the dramatics and get real.

For what it's worth I do agree about shifting some of the dead wood and bringing in some of the youngsters......

Granted he did well with Scunthorpe, but Brian Robson could have got that Southampton squad promoted, who don't forget bombed him out upon reaching the Premiership?
So you think he's the messiah and I think he's a bullshitter, time will tell who's right and I honestly hope it's you!

 

[mosbolad]

So you think he's the messiah and I think he's a bullshitter

Lol 1889, maybe somewhere in between. Keep the faith. UTB!

 

[Bartleby]

Hence it's IMPERATIVE that we get up this season so the rebuild can coincide with loads of contracts finishing.

yep, think so. Failure to go up, Adkins being sacked, and investment being removed is an ugly prospect to face. I am in my late 50s now and I want to see us in the top flight again, and maybe even see us actually win summat or at least get to a cup final before I peg it.

But, by virtue of my age I guess I can at least count myself lucky that I stood on that kop in 1971 and watched us play whilst we were stood proudly and firmly at the top of the football league, there's a lot of younger Blades fans who have yet to experience that amazing feeling.

UTB!!!

 

[Lawrence]

yep, think so. Failure to go up, Adkins being sacked, and investment being removed is an ugly prospect to face. I am in my late 50s now and I want to see us in the top flight again, and maybe even see us actually win summat or at least get to a cup final before I peg it.

But, by virtue of my age I guess I can at least count myself lucky that I stood on that kop in 1971 and watched us play whilst we were stood proudly and firmly at the top of the football league, there's a lot of younger Blades fans who have yet to experience that amazing feeling.

UTB!!!

Ditto

 

[grafikhaus]

1. How long did he take to assess the squad? Was this an incredibly unreasonable length of time?
2. Could he have gone on the trusted advice of the staff in situ for player assessments, thereby saving time and increasing the chance of capturing targets?
3. Would it have been better if he had prioritised the positions most in need of signings?
4. Would it have been better to have plan B options in those positions had he not got his first choice?
5. Would it have been better to not make the most underperforming player the captain? As this undoubtedly increases the pressure on himself to play someone that is going to make the team worse.
6. Is it wise to chase young and athletic players on their way up as opposed to old, slow journeymen on their way down? Do you think these players would have been much easier and quicker to negotiate with and therefore sign?

A big and indisputable yes to all of the above. All mistakes that lie with, and only with, Adkins.

I'm finding it difficult to argue with any of this.

1. There's hitting the ground running and there's taking the piss. Are we still in the 'assessing the squad' phase? This, for me, is the underlying problem with NA - as it was with Clough. Both were out of work and enjoying life away from the pressures of football as only multi-millionaires can. In short, they've lost their hunger. When mugs like United come calling, the temptation to put one last lump sum in the pension pot is too good to resist. Crass interviews about 'room for improvement' show he's not taking the job seriously.

2. I've no doubt that NA would have asked the likes of Morgan his thoughts on the existing squad. Morgan could well have protected his own position (as he did under Clough) and toed the party line. Or he could have been honest and said that most of them have no skill, no heart and no fitness. You decide.

3. It's been done to death the positions we need to improve. NA seems to disagree with the majority of supporters.

4. As with Clough, no plan B. However, we can never know the 'behind the scenes' stuff that goes on.

5. Totally agree.

6. You probably mean - among others - Hammond. The Third Division is No Country For Old Men (unless they're the McCall type). It's full of young, physical hard nuts (with the odd seasoned pro thrown in). Teams like Bury and Millwall, with young, keen managers out to make a mark in the game.

Instead of Adkins giving another of his tedious interviews about 'how Crewe punished us', shouldn't he be querying how every other team has done the punishing to Crewe?

 

[robbiez666]

2. I've no doubt that NA would have asked the likes of Morgan his thoughts on the existing squad. Morgan could well have protected his own position (as he did under Clough) and toed the party line. Or he could have been honest and said that most of them have no skill, no heart and no fitness. You decide.

There have been 3 constants since relegation from the Championship: McCabe, Collins and Morgan.

I'm pretty sure Morgan isn't part of the solution.

 

[robbiez666]

Six reasons to dump him and not one to keep him?

By the way I think it's the high turn over of managers that has got us in this situation.

If there is investment I'd like the board to come out with a long term plan that doesn't involve changing the manager and if it means righting off this season tell us that the new team we need to build next season will be second division quality and most of this seasons squad will be binned off.

Let's invest close season inset of forlornly chasing the dream this season?

I think he needs to assess now who he wants to keep and get shut of next season and start the process now. Even if that means being weaker for a while.

 

[wizadry]

Only in S2 could fans want a man who has had 4 promotions to his name out already and a man of Cloughs calibre to remain in charge, unbefuckinglievable.

 

[Edinblade]

I'm one of those who thinks Adkins is a failure.
Failed to assess what everyone else knew about our centre half situation.
Runs by committee, having a player committee does not work. Player power is doomed to fail. Strong leadership is what's required.
Appointed one of our worst players as captain.
Recruitment of players: how many played yesterday, how many performed well. Not one of his purchases has so far worked. Even Sharp has gone off the boil.
The team only looks like last seasons because of Adkins failure at recruitment. He's brought in enough players to move on from last season. This is Adkins team now and it's worse than Cloughs.
After match interviews are repetitive and boring.
He failed in his last job for a reason.
Where do we go from here, quite simply I have no idea, thank goodness it's not upto me.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I'm one of those who thinks Adkins is a failure.
Failed to assess what everyone else knew about our centre half situation.
Runs by committee, having a player committee does not work. Player power is doomed to fail. Strong leadership is what's required.
Appointed one of our worst players as captain.
Recruitment of players: how many played yesterday, how many performed well. Not one of his purchases has so far worked. Even Sharp has gone off the boil.
The team only looks like last seasons because of Adkins failure at recruitment. He's brought in enough players to move on from last season. This is Adkins team now and it's worse than Cloughs.
After match interviews are repetitive and boring.
He failed in his last job for a reason.
Where do we go from here, quite simply I have no idea, thank goodness it's not upto me.

but what about the promotions?

 

[Edinblade]

but what about the promotions?

I'm not saying we were wrong to appoint him. I was delighted when he came. His cv is second to none at this level.
However with the benefit of hindsight and looking at the season so far, it's difficult to deny he has not succeeded in anyway whatsoever so far. He has to accept 100% responsibility. Stop running by committee and turn the season round very quickly before lots of supporters turn on him.
I cannot think of one thing he's done so far which has worked. Even Sharp has gone off the boil.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

yep, think so. Failure to go up, Adkins being sacked, and investment being removed is an ugly prospect to face. I am in my late 50s now and I want to see us in the top flight again, and maybe even see us actually win summat or at least get to a cup final before I peg it.

But, by virtue of my age I guess I can at least count myself lucky that I stood on that kop in 1971 and watched us play whilst we were stood proudly and firmly at the top of the football league, there's a lot of younger Blades fans who have yet to experience that amazing feeling.

UTB!!!

Are you forgetting the day we sat proudly on top of the first ever Premier League?