Updates From Adkins

[blade too long]

Didnt work out too well for us the last half dozen attempts though did it ?

we were favourites in most
got to go our way one day
thats the nature of the beast
who expected bassetts team to win 2 promotions on the trot , that first spring

 

[blade too long]

88 89 promotion year top 3 only went up 14th jan
http://www.sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk/snapshot_tables/1988_1989/14/jan/sheffield_united/index.shtml

didnt look that great , 7 points off 2nd
last 3 home games had drawn 2=2 with chester and lost 2=1 to southend and 3=1 to chesterfield
so wasnt looking likely
had we had tinternet then the same doubts would have been coming out

but 28 months later we were in the top division

 

[judge]

we were favourites in most
got to go our way one day
thats the nature of the beast
who expected bassetts team to win 2 promotions on the trot , that first spring

Ive been watching united for over 30 years and this team just dont have the belief or desire that warnock and bassetts teams had

Im not saying we wont go up but the previous two seasons capitulations dont exactly fill me with confidence

 

[Blade58]

Trying to stand back and look at things objectively, I'm afraid we just aren't good enough

Still think NA is the right man for the job tho and deserves another crack at it next season with the dead wood finally cleared out and fuller picture gained by NA as to what needs to be done

 

[pommpey]

If you don't mind me saying, i think this is exactly what is wrong and this is exactly what people like Jim Phipps, the prince and McCabe have continued to get wrong since Derek Dooley stepped aside... I remember Warnock was always very good at talking down players. It was always about "players with something to prove". Bassett was all about toerags. The barometer for today is a pricetag.

Unfortunately, the pricetag is the measure of talent, more often than not. It seems to me that is why we don't get told how much 'x' replacement is for 'y'. We sell Maguire, a very solid looking central defender with tread on his tyres, and buy Brayford, not necessarily a complete replacement (for less money, we are led to believe by FACTS) and we have to play a clearly out-of-place left back in Maguire's place.

As a supporter we do not need to know anything about players contracts, we don't need to know that a manager doesn't get along with a player, we don't even need to know any transfer fees paid or received. Its entirely irrelevant to us. If a player is shit, they're shit regardless of all this.

I think we do. I actually think that people who go through the turnstiles every other weekend (and some more) need to know as well. You can either be a shareholder by business arrangement and transaction, or a shareholder by buying a ticket, season or otherwise. Or a 'shareholder' by buying £150-00 of merchandise in the club shop. Either way, you are contributing to the club in one or other particular manner, so entitled to ask pointed questions about the direction of the club and its assets. Or you might just invest your allegiance from afar. It matters not. If your club bales and sinks because of performance, you are entitled to be a lapsed supporter, or not at all. A lot of people have done this. So we are entitled to some transparency and we need to see the working out. The club doesn't belong to McCabe and his cabal. If he wants to transmit that, then he'd best be prepared for support to dwindle. So far, he has been lucky.

What we need the club to do is set a policy of how we want to play, how we will play good football, gets results but most importantly generate a culture within the club which is sustainable.

Well, it aint working. All we have is Phipps on Twitter whining about being the lightning conductor for the supporters' disappointment. Unitedites have a remarkable memory. They have to have. They don't take to kindly to mediocrity, yet they aren't so deluded to demand Champion's League stuff. And when statements are made such as McCabe has made, they expect the ambition to reflect it, not to be treat like cunts when people like Murphy are sold for an undisclosed amount.

So what we really don't need is a statement from the manager talking figures... we need that Radio Sheffield tweet to be along the lines of the types of players, not a value...

Why not? To me, this sounds like Adkins finally realising what managing Sheffield United is all about. A large, not-easily-fooled fanbase, the weight of expectancy, a club with a history, and a board who aren't the most dynamic exponents of ambition and forward motion. Hmmm ... it's been like that for years.

A value is no guide, especially in the JTW. Its an inflated price that the selling club can try to extort from a desperate club which failed to recruit in the summer, has had a middle to below par first half season and is in the mood to shop in the sales... except these sales aren't cheaper, they're at a price dictated by a desperate market.

You're telling me this? Do you think McCabe and Adkins don't know it? The hike in price is the price to pay, I am afraid. the penalty is another season in a division we seriously deserved to be in five years ago, but as fans we don't fucking deserve to be in now. Player sales, FA and League Cup runs, playoff runs and the embarkation of a Saudi prince. And where are we? Tell me where we are - today. We are not even in the playoffs in the third tier of English football.

And what does a 6 figure sum get us? In the past it has been mostly miss, Brayford being the real gem, but even he's been injured and now we see fans on forums judging him based on his price tag. Its the way of the world. What we need to hear out of the club and the manager is that we're trying to recruit, young, hungry, pacey, athletic players not 6 figure bids...

So who is doing the recruiting and the wheeling and the dealing in the market? We are 2/3 of the way through January now and there is nothing happening, despite us shipping our best player out at the beginning of the season for (FACT) £money. Our defence ships goals that are avoidable, our midfield is piss weak and our attack relies on one man.

When the Prince came along, it was a chance to clear the decks and build a proper club, they've done nothing to dampen the supporter desires for big price tags...God I hate the transfer window. Its contributing so heavily to killing football at our level.

The Prince has been here three years now. People said, "He spend ten million getting rid of Weir and his staff". Big deal. Do they expect sympathy for that? Fuck me, they sacked Wilson for Weir ... as much as a disaster as sacking Warnock for Robson at a time where ... love him or hate him ... that big nosed gobshite could have at least stabilised this great club a whole site better than the drunkard ever could.

Common denominators, people.

pommpey

 

[Caveblade]

as Ive stated we dont have to be outstanding
win games ugly then blag our way through the play offs like so many others have
around 1 in 3 play off winners havent been the best side

I am not looking for us to be outstanding, but on the balance of what I have seen this season we will win some, but ultimately fall short of the playoffs because simply we are not good enough.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Do people forget we spent £2m last January?

Do you forget that we sold Harry Maguire for about that? Also worth reminding you that we sold Jamie Murphy for something close to that as well.....that money we haven't seen yet, although I imagine they will tell us it's been absorbed into loan signings and wages.

Painful. It really is.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

The club doesn't belong to McCabe and his cabal.

• Cabal. It's a cabal.
• And in the end it does does belong to McCabe and the Prince bc they've paid for it haven't they?
• For all the talk of spending on tickets, merchandise hasn't McCabe (even without his cabal) spent £30, £40, £50 million - make up your own number.

All we have is Phipps on Twitter whining about being the lightning conductor for the supporters' disappointment.

1. He wasn't whining
2. We have much much more than this

Unitedites have a remarkable memory. They have to have. They don't take to kindly to mediocrity, yet they aren't so deluded to demand Champion's League stuff. And when statements are made such as McCabe has made, they expect the ambition to reflect it, not to be treat like cunts when people like Murphy are sold for an undisclosed amount.

I don't feel like I was treated like a cunt when Murphy was sold. There are others who feel the same way.

We are 2/3 of the way through January now and there is nothing happening

There is plenty happening as Adkins made clear in his interview.

etc etc etc

 

[wizadry]

I don't feel like I was treated like a cunt when Murphy was sold.

You're not going to do, Kevin.

 

[pommpey]

• Cabal. It's a cabal.
• And in the end it does does belong to McCabe and the Prince bc they've paid for it haven't they?
• For all the talk of spending on tickets, merchandise hasn't McCabe (even without his cabal) spent £30, £40, £50 million - make up your own number.

• Cheers for the bullet points WHF. They help. In Powerpoint. And I did put 'cabal' didn't I?
• They've paid for it ... but where is the other income stream, please remind me? Those turnstiles/merchandise don't just sell themselves, do they? I mean, I can't see much coming in from the 'Overseas Sponsorship Agent', can you?
• I don't know. You have given us a figure with a £20m range. What you haven't done is scale it by time. If McCabe has shat that much cash into a club that sits seventh in Div 3, then to me I'd say he's wasted rather than spent that much, wouldn't you?

1. He wasn't whining
2. We have much much more than this

1. Yes he was
2. What does this mean, please?

I don't feel like I was treated like a cunt when Murphy was sold. There are others who feel the same way.

Why not? Since we have been in this division, we have sacked a number of managers (many of them without any real logic or reason (Wilson, Clough) and sold a number of players, with their 'replacements' either patently not as good or not at all. And in return, McCabe expects you to continue to support Sheffield United throughout continued existence in the third tier and continued failure.

If I were to shit on your windscreen on a daily basis and rub it in with the wipers, and you knew I was doing it and simply washed it off, only to find another ginger wheelspin across your field of vision the next morning, who is treating who like a cunt?

There is plenty happening as Adkins made clear in his interview.

Signings?

pommpey

 

[Rodders]

• Cheers for the bullet points WHF. They help. In Powerpoint. And I did put 'cabal' didn't I?
• They've paid for it ... but where is the other income stream, please remind me? Those turnstiles/merchandise don't just sell themselves, do they? I mean, I can't see much coming in from the 'Overseas Sponsorship Agent', can you?
• I don't know. You have given us a figure with a £20m range. What you haven't done is scale it by time. If McCabe has shat that much cash into a club that sits seventh in Div 3, then to me I'd say he's wasted rather than spent that much, wouldn't you?

1. Yes he was
2. What does this mean, please?



Why not? Since we have been in this division, we have sacked a number of managers (many of them without any real logic or reason (Wilson, Clough) and sold a number of players, with their 'replacements' either patently not as good or not at all. And in return, McCabe expects you to continue to support Sheffield United throughout continued existence in the third tier and continued failure.

If I were to shit on your windscreen on a daily basis and rub it in with the wipers, and you knew I was doing it and simply washed it off, only to find another ginger wheelspin across your field of vision the next morning, who is treating who like a cunt?



Signings?

pommpey

I wouldn't have bothered writing that if I were you - you'll be on ignore now.

 

[alcoblade]

Ive been watching united for over 30 years and this team just dont have the belief or desire that warnock and bassetts teams had

Im not saying we wont go up but the previous two seasons capitulations dont exactly fill me with confidence

Iots of teams have been promoted without the belief and desire of Bassett and Warmock's teams. That was their trademark.

There are worse teams than ours that have been prompted. But we're a long way off being certain of anything.

UTB

 

[wizadry]

I wouldn't have bothered writing that if I were you - you'll be on ignore now.

I enjoyed reading it, as i do everbodys posts on here even if i don't agree with them. William Henry Foulkes is very ignorant who doesn't like people disagreeing with him, he then puts them on ignore. I'd love to know how many he has on ignore just to show his complete ignorance.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Do you forget that we sold Harry Maguire for about that? Also worth reminding you that we sold Jamie Murphy for something close to that as well

So what you're saying is, we have a good recent record in ensuring money received across a season is reinvested into the team that same season.

Obviously if the window had closed this would be an issue. It has not, and Adkins has before the window opened gone out of his way to say that he expects any permanent deals to be done towards the end of the window. And if we're putting in bids for Dan Burn, I doubt they're at the £100k end of the 6 figure sum.

A fairly easy to read transfer guide is worth reading on the subject of the turned-down bids:
http://www.skysports.com/transfer/n...ansfer-works-from-the-scouting-to-the-signing

"Old-time visions of a club secretary receiving a letter-headed document from a fax machine with a money offer are wide of the mark" says Lippett.

"There will normally be three or four bids done very simply by e-mail," he adds. "The opening bid will be rejected in 99.9 per cent of cases. The second gets closer, and then one or two final bids. It's like a game of poker."

We really have quite a lot of time yet to do the business. I'll be right next to those asking questions if no deals are done come the end of the window. For now, patience folks.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

I enjoyed reading it, as i do everbodys posts on here even if i don't agree with them. William Henry Foulkes is very ignorant who doesn't like people disagreeing with him, he then puts them on ignore. I'd love to know how many he has on ignore just to show his complete ignorance.

it's the grown up equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears shouting 'lalalalalala'
A bit like Lefties do when discussing politics

 

[pommpey]

I wouldn't have bothered writing that if I were you - you'll be on ignore now.

Barney's ignoring me.

I'm gutted.

pommpey

 

[PeteBlade]

around 1 in 3 play off winners havent been the best side

Can't beat stats that are completely made up on the spot.

 

[west_yorks_blade]

Can't beat stats that are completely made up on the spot.

35% of them are.

 

[S5Blade]

Barney's ignoring me.

I'm gutted.

pommpey

Lucky bastard

 

[BushBlade]

So what you're saying is, we have a good recent record in ensuring money received across a season is reinvested into the team that same season.

Obviously if the window had closed this would be an issue. It has not, and Adkins has before the window opened gone out of his way to say that he expects any permanent deals to be done towards the end of the window. And if we're putting in bids for Dan Burn, I doubt they're at the £100k end of the 6 figure sum.

A fairly easy to read transfer guide is worth reading on the subject of the turned-down bids:
http://www.skysports.com/transfer/n...ansfer-works-from-the-scouting-to-the-signing

"Old-time visions of a club secretary receiving a letter-headed document from a fax machine with a money offer are wide of the mark" says Lippett.

"There will normally be three or four bids done very simply by e-mail," he adds. "The opening bid will be rejected in 99.9 per cent of cases. The second gets closer, and then one or two final bids. It's like a game of poker."

We really have quite a lot of time yet to do the business. I'll be right next to those asking questions if no deals are done come the end of the window. For now, patience folks.

That's a really good article. Well worth reading.

 

[secretchief]

I notice that he basically said that Freeman can bugger off as Brayford is first choice.

Firstly, I can think of far worse players than Freeman in our bloated squad. I think he's often looked the pick of a dodgy back four when he's played.

Secondly what if Brayford gets injured? Its not unheard of, for first choice players to get injured (in Brayford's case ..again). If we need back up then surely Freeman would be straight back in.

This is the next transfer disaster waiting to happen. It's as plain as day.

 

[alcoblade]

This is the next transfer disaster waiting to happen. It's as plain as day.

Selling Freeman is a transfer disaster?

UTB

 

[Houston_Blade]

Unfortunately, the pricetag is the measure of talent, more often than not. It seems to me that is why we don't get told how much 'x' replacement is for 'y'. We sell Maguire, a very solid looking central defender with tread on his tyres, and buy Brayford, not necessarily a complete replacement (for less money, we are led to believe by FACTS) and we have to play a clearly out-of-place left back in Maguire's place.



I think we do. I actually think that people who go through the turnstiles every other weekend (and some more) need to know as well. You can either be a shareholder by business arrangement and transaction, or a shareholder by buying a ticket, season or otherwise. Or a 'shareholder' by buying £150-00 of merchandise in the club shop. Either way, you are contributing to the club in one or other particular manner, so entitled to ask pointed questions about the direction of the club and its assets. Or you might just invest your allegiance from afar. It matters not. If your club bales and sinks because of performance, you are entitled to be a lapsed supporter, or not at all. A lot of people have done this. So we are entitled to some transparency and we need to see the working out. The club doesn't belong to McCabe and his cabal. If he wants to transmit that, then he'd best be prepared for support to dwindle. So far, he has been lucky.



Well, it aint working. All we have is Phipps on Twitter whining about being the lightning conductor for the supporters' disappointment. Unitedites have a remarkable memory. They have to have. They don't take to kindly to mediocrity, yet they aren't so deluded to demand Champion's League stuff. And when statements are made such as McCabe has made, they expect the ambition to reflect it, not to be treat like cunts when people like Murphy are sold for an undisclosed amount.



Why not? To me, this sounds like Adkins finally realising what managing Sheffield United is all about. A large, not-easily-fooled fanbase, the weight of expectancy, a club with a history, and a board who aren't the most dynamic exponents of ambition and forward motion. Hmmm ... it's been like that for years.



You're telling me this? Do you think McCabe and Adkins don't know it? The hike in price is the price to pay, I am afraid. the penalty is another season in a division we seriously deserved to be in five years ago, but as fans we don't fucking deserve to be in now. Player sales, FA and League Cup runs, playoff runs and the embarkation of a Saudi prince. And where are we? Tell me where we are - today. We are not even in the playoffs in the third tier of English football.



So who is doing the recruiting and the wheeling and the dealing in the market? We are 2/3 of the way through January now and there is nothing happening, despite us shipping our best player out at the beginning of the season for (FACT) £money. Our defence ships goals that are avoidable, our midfield is piss weak and our attack relies on one man.



The Prince has been here three years now. People said, "He spend ten million getting rid of Weir and his staff". Big deal. Do they expect sympathy for that? Fuck me, they sacked Wilson for Weir ... as much as a disaster as sacking Warnock for Robson at a time where ... love him or hate him ... that big nosed gobshite could have at least stabilised this great club a whole site better than the drunkard ever could.

Common denominators, people.

pommpey

Sorry but you have no rights to know the inner workings of the club as a "customer", a shareholder would only be given enough knowledge to satisfy legal disclosure agreements so saying that all fans should know about player contracts is nonsense. A fan is a "stakeholder" in the club but in a football club it's a stakeholder requiring little information other than the odd "gee up" message from players/manager/board from time to time.

If you go into Starbucks for a coffee do you have the right to know how much the manager takes home each month? Same principle.

 

[PeteBlade]

Selling Freeman is a transfer disaster?

UTB

I assume he means melodrama and tantrums akin to the reaction to McNulty scoring a couple of goals, same as when Higdon did.

 

[Barney]

Barney's ignoring me.

I'm gutted.

pommpey

No I'm not. The only person I've got on ignore is Caseh, and that's it.

I had a brief spell with Tyler and Pete on there but they post too much and so it messes up the reading of the forum.

 

[SRBlade]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/transfers/
How many times is the word undisclosed used on that page?

50 times, you're welcome.

 

[secretchief]

Selling Freeman is a transfer disaster?

UTB

It will be when Brayford gets injured and there is no right back as cover.

Oh wait, the majestic Flynn can play there.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

I had a brief spell with Tyler and Pete on there but they post too much and so it messes up the reading of the forum.

 

[Barney]

 

[Hunkerby]

It will be when Brayford gets injured and there is no right back as cover.

Oh wait, the majestic Flynn can play there.

Or Basham - or someone from our Academy whose path to the first team is blocked by our bloated squad.