Updates From Adkins

[Barney]

That would be nice. Thanks.

Right, here we are.

Nathan Cameron, not really a suggestion as such, but I express my approval - http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/nathan-cameron.41545/

Connor Goldson - http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/connor-goldson.40026/

Tom Eastman - http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/tom-eastman.40647/

Santos - http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/best-cbs-in-l1.40379/#post-776423

Yes that's him. Bullied our forwards all game. Him and Nathan Byrne of Swindon are possibly the best i've seen at the lane in recent years, quality players.

Sawyers - http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/post-match-adkins-interview.41702/#post-821668

Solanke - http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/solanke.40196/#post-771279

 

[alcoblade]

Flynn is the definition of 'bang average'.

He is the equivalent in this division to what Collins and Doyle were to us in the championship.

Yes, I'd get rid of him too.

My point is that people are lining their ducks up to get annoyed at the very clearing out of the bang average squad that everyone has been calling to be cleared.

Freeman is no different to the rest - okay, but if you end up with that type of player covering for every position, you end up........exactly where we are now.

To describe any sale of Freeman as "the next transfer disaster" is really quite amusing.

UTB

 

[Sean Thornton]

Right, here we are.

Nathan Cameron, not really a suggestion as such, but I express my approval - http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/nathan-cameron.41545/

Connor Goldson - http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/connor-goldson.40026/

Tom Eastman - http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/tom-eastman.40647/

Santos - http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/best-cbs-in-l1.40379/#post-776423



Sawyers - http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/post-match-adkins-interview.41702/#post-821668

Solanke - http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/solanke.40196/#post-771279

I take my hat off to you. All doing well but, it beggars the question that while you can clearly spot players at other clubs - based on what I don't know , statistics maybe? - you seem oblivious to Kennedys serious injury problems in thinking he should play and wonder why you still claim we needed two centre backs when we had TK. ( I asked you about this the other day but you must have missed it)

It's not just us that haven't gone for such players though and I'd generally side with the view of the professionals.

 

[alcoblade]

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

^^^seemingly not.

UTB

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Theres only 1 player (JohnMcGinn) in the last 3/4 years I can remember that we might have missed out on due to being accused of a derisory bid.

People resort to these boring and repetitive jibes/jokes because they are impatient and have the face on because its not like when they play Football Manager.

Gary Mackay-Steven? Callum Wilson & Leon Clarke? Johnny Russell? Eoin Doyle?

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Some fans wouldn't be happy unless we show how much money we have, how much we make, how much we want to spend, which players we are after, what we value them at, what we bid, the structure of payments, how much the other club want, players wage details/account numbers/mothers maiden names.

And all that has to be announced daily on Look North, via Jim Phipps on Twitter and the clubs Facebook page.

So even in this fantasy world, the official site still isn’t up to date?

 

[1danewhitehouse]

We have had game changing investment, we might have been relegated or gone into admin without it.

"Think Liverpool" comment was made in reference to the investment strategy, ie it would be a staged process, not a big hit ie "Dont think Man City". But no one wants to remember the whole statement do they...

We are quite comparable to Liverpool (at the relative level). We sell our best player each season (Suarez, Sterling etc.) sign a load of mediocre replacements then sack the manager when he doesn’t improve on the previous season.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

The board have deff put money into the club but can be misguided in how they do it. J.Brayford being an example of signing a player for a massive amount of money that could have been used elsewhere. We could also question spending £1 million on a new pitch that could have been diverted in to the first team.

We can also question how much investment we would have seen without the cup runs and player sales we have had since the new regime arrived.

And before we start talking about debts that we had, they would have known about that before coming on board.

I for one don't see the purpose or benefit of mentioning 6 figure bids. As others have said I would be happy with players who can do the job we require if they cost owt or nowt. 1 perm signing and 2 loans for example.

Re spending the Brayford money elsewhere. We couldn’t have signed a player of the same quality in a different position if that’s what you mean? The only reason we could lure a player of Brayford’s quality was because of his relationship with Clough and then with the club following his loan spell. If we’d gone out and tried to sign an in form championship striker for example, they wouldn’t have been willing to come even if we had a bid accepted. So the only way the money could have been used elsewhere is to sign more players with he money spread around the team. The problem is, we have suffered from quantity over quality for too long. Increasing the numbers wouldn’t have helped in that regard. For me, if we have an opportunity to sign a player who is clearly better than what we have, we have to take it so I’m still in favour of the Brayford signing. It’s just a shame we ended up having to play him at CB due to lack of adequate quality there and an even bigger shame that he suffered a serious injury.


Re the pitch. The rules allow investment to increase turnover but only 65% (I think, or is it 60%?) can be used on football expenditure. Therefore, there is money there that we can’t spend on players so it makes sense to invest in the pitch to a degree.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Hold on cowboy.
Is that the not so good Yeovil Town who dismantled a Sheffield United side, blindfolded and both arms tied behind their backs with consummate ease?

No, it’s a Yeovil squad who edged past Sheffield United by one goal in the playoff semi finals. That being a United side managed by a caretaker after sacking their manager and losing their strike force because they were sold (Blackman) or injured (Miller and DdG). A united side who had recently been pasted by already relegated Bournemouth. A side that contained the likes of Callum McFadzean.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Everyone always get their information from apparent board members who are seemingly happy to blab our club's financial details to all and sundry.

Phipps said on social media that Brayford cost over £1.5million. He wasn’t clear though whether that was all transfer fee, signing on fee, wages etc. Given his manipulation of Investment and Reinvestment figures, I would take it with a pinch of salt.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

To be fair ...... anybody who watched the DVDs of last seasons games should have easily identified the glaring, massive ( sorry ), historic deficiencies in our Cup tarts squad ...... even Stevie Wonder could see it !

UTB & FTP

I’d say two glaringly obvious deficiencies were character (despite Clough citing it as a pre-requisite) and height. Adkins has gone some way to addressing that with his signings. However, there remains other deficiencies like pace, ball carrying ability etc. (heightened by the sale of Murphy). I hope that Adkins will do something to improve us on those fronts too.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Billy Sharp doesn't count as "serious recruitment"? Would you care to explain why?

I’d say two glaringly obvious deficiencies were character (despite Clough citing it as a pre-requisite) and height. Adkins has gone some way to addressing that with his signings. However, there remains other deficiencies like pace, ball carrying ability etc. (heightened by the sale of Murphy). I hope that Adkins will do something to improve us on those fronts too.

 

[Barney]

I take my hat off to you. All doing well but, it beggars the question that while you can clearly spot players at other clubs - based on what I don't know , statistics maybe? - you seem oblivious to Kennedys serious injury problems in thinking he should play and wonder why you still claim we needed two centre backs when we had TK. ( I asked you about this the other day but you must have missed it)

It's not just us that haven't gone for such players though and I'd generally side with the view of the professionals.

Regarding Kennedy, I got the impression (whether rightly or wrongly) from Adkins' interview that at this moment he is fit and able to start a football match. Now who knows how many games he'd have been able to play for, presumably not many with the serious injury you mention.

The point was that whilst he's able to start a game, because he's the best we have in the position in my view, he should be starting - because I believe we ought to be playing our best team for every league game.

That has nothing to do with the need to bring in at least 2 central defenders. We still desperately need them, and have done for over 12 months. The point was that Kennedy is the best we have at the moment, and should therefore be utilised wherever possible.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

My take was he will only bid for players that would go straight into the first eleven. He gives no indication whether the 6 figure bids are close. If they are miles off we can forget any signings. There is a possibility of increasing a bid and landing someone on the final day. My guess is one of the bids is for Burn. I also think we won't get him.

On Adams, I think it's probably the agent touting him around - he'll probably do that in every window, why wouldn't he if he thinks he'll get a slice of a decent fee. The downside is that I imagine Adams likes the notion of PL football and the money but isn't actually pushing for this. For that reason it will be unsettling. My guess is no one will bid for him in this window. He needs to get his head down and work out how to recover his form.

On Swindon, I do get fed up of sides being bigged up prior to coming to the Lane but they have improved dramatically. They've won 7 of their last 10 and the losses include defeats against Burton and Gillingham. We need to be careful, another home defeat will be a blow.

Yep. Promotion form for them since the chairman stopped playing Championship Manager at the start of December. They won’t be pushovers. Ajose is banging them in and they have a lot of pace in their side. But we should be able to get at them as they do leak goals. Since Ling resigned for health reasons, the caretaker has a 100% record with 2 wins from 2. Score draw might be a good bet. Maybe 2-2.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

can those spouting we have absolutely no chance of going up explain why
are we 30 points adrift of the top 6
are the other teams invinceable or 200 times better than us
I wonder why our fans see Peterborough as real madrid

we can blag our way out like a lot of clubs have

man city were really really lucky when they won the play off agaoinst a much better gillingham team

why is it so preposterous that we could wing it
doesnt have to be convincing , just win 2 or 3 games

I don’t think it’s preposterous. However, as blades, most of us stopped believing the football gods would allow any such thing to happen right about the time we stopped believing in santa. Doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Just hard to be optimistic based on experience.

 

[Barney]

1danewhitehouse Jesus Christ man, how fast do you type?

7 posts in a measly 3 minutes.

 

[secretchief]

Yes, I'd get rid of him too.

My point is that people are lining their ducks up to get annoyed at the very clearing out of the bang average squad that everyone has been calling to be cleared.

Freeman is no different to the rest - okay, but if you end up with that type of player covering for every position, you end up........exactly where we are now.

To describe any sale of Freeman as "the next transfer disaster" is really quite amusing.

UTB

I totally get you.

Well I count Sammon and Woolford as 'disasters' so perhaps I am a little free with the word.

But I happen to think that Freeman is a far better player than he gets credit for and that losing him would be a mistake. But it's clear that rightly or wrongly Adkins doesn't want him.

The fact he is actually wanted by other clubs must tell you something, where the idea of someone coming in for (say) Ryan Flynn would be stuff of a madman's dream.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

1danewhitehouse Jesus Christ man, how fast do you type?

7 posts in a measly 3 minutes.

Not very. To pass the time at work, I sometimes copy a thread or 2 into a work document in the morning and type responses to things that catch my eye during the course of the morning. Then I copy and paste those responses at lunchtime when I'm back on.

 

[Barney]

Not very. To pass the time at work, I sometimes copy a thread or 2 into a work document in the morning and type responses to things that catch my eye during the course of the morning. Then I copy and paste those responses at lunchtime when I'm back on.

Fair enough, less impressive. Sounds like a job worth keeping to me.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Ok, since you're having a little cry about it, I'll go ahead and give you my assessment of who I'd have gone for in the summer. As was blindingly obvious (and still is) CB was the top priority (definitely not treated as such by Adkins). I'd have had a look at Tom Eastman (Colchester), Nathan Cameron (Bury) and Ricardo Santos (Peterborough). Connor Goldson could have been a realistic option if we'd have acted with any urgency. I'd have liked a look at Jason Pearce but finances could have proved an issue with that one.

Next priority was a central midfielder - Romain Sawyers, Sam Morsy and Connor Hourihane should have been up there with the one's we ought to have been taking a serious look at. All possess the box to box qualities we've been wanting. Dan Bentley at Southend would have been another one to focus on. Great handling and an excellent shot stopper. Dominic Solanke looks a real prospect for a young striker, but any focus on forward positions should have been after the aforementioned positions had been adequately covered.

Now we're into January, there's one we 'could' be signing if the squad wasn't such an unbelievable size (made impossible to add to with the five poor signings in the summer, such is what we're finding out at the moment and the reason there's moans at a lack of activity). Kemar Roofe - another one we've been too slow to react to. He's probably out of our price range now with all the interest we've let him get.

Tom Eastman- The lynchpin of the worst defence (by some way) in the division.
Nathan Cameron- fair enough, suggested by many on here.
Ricardo Santos- The lynchpin of the only team in the top half that has conceded as many as us.
Connor Goldson- yep. I would have liked him too. Suggested him on blades mad last season and hoped we'd get him.
Sawyers- Not remotely a box to box midfielder. He is very much a number 10 playing just off the lone striker. Good player though.
Hourihane- Another who plays very advanced and not a box to box midfielder.
Morsy- yep, suggested by every man and his dog.
Bentley- Way out of our range even in the summer.
Solanke- No way we could get him over Chelsea's development club.
Roofe- yep. Been suggested by many on here as a good player.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

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.

I have no desperation to see players arrive in the next five minutes. They'll be signed when they're signed.

I was responding to the suggestion that spending £2m in the last January window was some sort of credit worthy investment. Clubs that are successful generate transfer funds through various methods, either via ample investment, sponsorship streams or even just speculate.

It seems that we always have to sell our best players to be able to fund the signing of others. Do you see how that cycle isn't conducive to on the field success?

Reinvesting money that has been made by selling our best players isn't something worthy of congratulations. It's the least we should expect.

 

[Barney]

Tom Eastman- The lynchpin of the worst defence (by some way) in the division.
Nathan Cameron- fair enough, suggested by many on here.
Ricardo Santos- The lynchpin of the only team in the top half that has conceded as many as us.
Connor Goldson- yep. I would have liked him too. Suggested him on blades mad last season and hoped we'd get him.
Sawyers- Not remotely a box to box midfielder. He is very much a number 10 playing just off the lone striker. Good player though.
Hourihane- Another who plays very advanced and not a box to box midfielder.
Morsy- yep, suggested by every man and his dog.
Bentley- Way out of our range even in the summer.
Solanke- No way we could get him over Chelsea's development club.
Roofe- yep. Been suggested by many on here as a good player.

A man is only as good as his team and the men in front of him. Of course there'll be judged on defensive records, but don't you think the other 10 players will have a bit more to do with said record than any one of the more promising players amongst the divisions lowly placed teams? It's about looking beyond such things.

There's always individual talent to be spotted amongst the poor teams. Discounting individuals on the basis of a clubs position and the other players within is very short sighted when it comes to recruitment.

 

[Baxter]

Borbokis, Geary, Naughton, Walker, Lowton, Brayford even Bromby and Jagielka are just some of the players we've been fortunate to have at right back in recent years.

Accepting players of the standard of Freeman is what's led us to the position we are now.

Soon as we're rid and start aiming for a higher standard of signing the better in my opinion.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

A man is only as good as his team and the men in front of him. Of course there'll be judged on defensive records, but don't you think the other 10 players will have a bit more to do with said record than any one of the more promising players amongst the divisions lowly placed teams? It's about looking beyond such things.

There's always individual talent to be spotted amongst the poor teams. Discounting individuals on the basis of a clubs position and the other players within is very short sighted when it comes to recruitment.

I agree and I'm not writing them off. I must say I've never really noticed Eastam so can't comment on how good he is. Regarding Santos, He is big and strong and would bring some useful attributes to the table but he's also clumsy and had mistakes in him. Bit of a Nosworthy character. I think it was him who got robbed by Done for our goal at the lane last season. It was more a point that those teams still concede goals with those defenders in place. Largely because of the way they play. Collins has shown time and time again that he is capable of playing in a team that keeps clean sheets depending on the set up. However, when we play expansive and he is exposed, he looks vulnerable just like these guys.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

No, it’s a Yeovil squad who edged past Sheffield United by one goal in the playoff semi finals. That being a United side managed by a caretaker after sacking their manager and losing their strike force because they were sold (Blackman) or injured (Miller and DdG). A united side who had recently been pasted by already relegated Bournemouth. A side that contained the likes of Callum McFadzean.

Now you've pointed that out, imagine what Crawley, Crewe or Stevenage would have done.


And that double we did over AFC Bournemouth, [relegated?] I think you have your Bourne's mixed up with your Ports, perhaps? Morgan's brief spell as no.1 saw us finish further from the automatics than when Wilson was sacked, should've kept DW?

Blackman sold in the JTW, DdG made a season defining, you tell me how many appearances/goals the Italian wonder-kid made, 'cos I'm sure he was all the difference we didn't go up that season.

As for McFadzean, 0-0 at home to Gary Johnson's Green & White Army, good job the kid scored.

I don't know eh, these facts, they sure do get in the way sometimes.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Now you've pointed that out, imagine what Crawley, Crewe or Stevenage would have done.


And that double we did over AFC Bournemouth, [relegated?] I think you have your Bourne's mixed up with your Ports, perhaps? Morgan's brief spell as no.1 saw us finish further from the automatics than when Wilson was sacked, should've kept DW?

Blackman sold in the JTW, DdG made a season defining, you tell me how many appearances/goals the Italian wonder-kid made, 'cos I'm sure he was all the difference we didn't go up that season.

As for McFadzean, 0-0 at home to Gary Johnson's Green & White Army, good job the kid scored.

I don't know eh, these facts, they sure do get in the way sometimes.

Crawley beat us 0-2 at the lane not so long before as well.

Apologies, I meant Portsmouth, no idea why I said Bournemouth.

As for DdG, he made little contribution (other than setting up a goal for Kitson in his 2 mins v Colchester). But having lost Blackman and Miller, he was the only other real option to play off the big man and him doing his cruciate as well was an issue. I expect he would have played a bit in the run in and given us a different option. Admittedly, a smaller issue than the loss of Blackman and Miller though (top of the league when Miller got injured).

Yes we probably should have kept Wilson. I suppose the thinking was a new man in charge would freshen us up and give the players a lift when we were stagnating but it only seemed to last for one game (Swindon at home).

Yes McFadzean scored but the fact that he and Ironside were getting game time shows how limited our options were and the fact that Yeovil only just made it past us shows that they must also have been pretty ordinary.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Borbokis, Geary, Naughton, Walker, Lowton, Brayford even Bromby and Jagielka are just some of the players we've been fortunate to have at right back in recent years.

Accepting players of the standard of Freeman is what's led us to the position we are now.

Soon as we're rid and start aiming for a higher standard of signing the better in my opinion.

But get rid of Freeman, see the £ signs when someone comes in for Brayford and we could be back to McMahon, Westlake, Nosworthy etc.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

the fact that Yeovil only just made it past us shows that they must also have been pretty ordinary.

Ordinary enough to beat us.

That's the level we're at today.

An ordinary L1 club.
Wish we weren't, but until we progress.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Ordinary enough to beat us.

That's the level we're at today.

An ordinary L1 club.
Wish we weren't, but until we progress.

True, I don't think there was a good team in League 1 that year. The fact Bournemouth could turn it round to such an extent shows that. Brentford were the best team in the playoffs though. They just didn't show it in the playoffs. I think the point btl was trying to make is that ordinary teams who look a long way off automatic standard can sneak up via the playoffs. We have to hope it happens to us this year. Although unlikely, it's not impossible.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

The fact Bournemouth could turn it round to such an extent shows that.
We have to hope it happens to us this year.
Although unlikely, it's not impossible.

AFC this season have spent over £38m in transfer fees. £38m... £38,000,000!

We (not all I believe) on here want United to progress, that means only one thing. The sooner it happens, the closer we'll stay to the likes of the AFC Bournemouth's, the gulf is widening every season.

If by chance it's auto, which we both agree on is unlikely, then so be it the Play-Offs, until that's impossible to achieve too, our ordinariness grows.