Interview With Adkins After Port Vale (H)

[William Henry Foulkes]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03k64l6

Pretty short and generally generic motivational stuff

• deserved to win
• players were good
• crowd were good
• built from the back - describes the goal
• two wins in a week - maybe there really are eight days in a week in Liverpool*
• wants to keep two up "If I can" - this is throwaway but again a clear indication of how important this is to him - he'll always return to it, while he's here this is how we'll play, and this is who we'll recruit
• wants to pass the ball quickly - still an issue yesterday I thought: just put 10% more on it and you can pull them about more
• at times exhilirating
• good pass from Hammond to Sharp for the offside goal - I thought this was a really poor pass, Billy was clearly miles offside and Hammond should've kept possession, I'd expect an experienced professional to see this easily and be able to deal with it very comfortably - he didn't
• mentions how hard Adams worked - he's becoming a professional, developing that part of his game which even at semi pro I imagine doesn't get much time - for me he needs to develop technically - hasn't got a trick to get past a player 1v1 - The Secret Footballer said that even in Division 1 the pros got no specific technical training(!), Adams needs to develop this, and even, say, basic step overs would help a lot - fast feet
• players came off exhausted
• Billy and Che those are the standards we need - now improve on them
• would've liked better possession
• more praise for everyone
• wanted to get Louis on the ball
• needs help with the physicality
• delighted with Flo and his "exemplary" attitude
• he's now got confidence in his body - this was mentioned wrt James Wallace but he didn't have that confidence I think - not featured at all last two Shrewsbury games
• been a challenging week
• credit to AC, DW for the work on the new formation
• big team effort from everyone

 

[Tyler Durden]

"At times exhilarating"?

Oh for fucks sake.

 

[Esablade]

maybe there really are eight days in a week in Liverpool*

Quality.

I think Sharp/Adams up top has a lot of potential.
Two powerful explosive players who can cause all sorts of problems...only downside being we could do with one of em being a bit taller!

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Very praiseful of Flo & his attitude. By the sounds of it, we'll be seeing at lot more of The Muscles from Brussels between now & the end of the season - no bad thing.

And agree about two up top being a thing seemingly very dear to Adkins' heart. He might just have found the best formula for doing it here & with this squad. Long live 3-5-2!

 

[Ricky]

About Adams, I've said for a while that his footwork lets him down badly and he does need to improve technically a lot. Given his age and his background he'll be able to improve significantly, and if he does he could be a very good player. So if they don't work on technical stuff in training, at least for certain players, that really is incredible. I think there's often an assumption that once players make it pro they don't need further technical training or that it won't be worthwhile, and that's wrong. I suspect technique coaching isn't something that many coaches specialise in, and that clubs below the top level rarely employ them to work with the first team.

 

[diplomat]

About Adams, I've said for a while that his footwork lets him down badly and he does need to improve technically a lot. Given his age and his background he'll be able to improve significantly, and if he does he could be a very good player. So if they don't work on technical stuff in training, at least for certain players, that really is incredible. I think there's often an assumption that once players make it pro they don't need further technical training or that it won't be worthwhile, and that's wrong. I suspect technique coaching isn't something that many coaches specialise in, and that clubs below the top level rarely employ them to work with the first team.

One of the reasons Sam Allerdyce is expensive is because he has a team of coaches working on techniques. I remember seeing a programme where a skills coach was working on ways to get out of tight spaces when being pressed. . . Considering everyone presses so much these days it would make sense to develop a skill to counter it and practice to make players as comfortable as possible.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

One of the reasons Sam Allerdyce is expensive is because he has a team of coaches working on techniques. I remember seeing a programme where a skills coach was working on ways to get out of tight spaces when being pressed. . . Considering everyone presses so much these days it would make sense to develop a skill to counter it and practice to make players as comfortable as possible.

Makes sense. Just relating what the Secret Footballer (Dave Kitson most likely candidate) said.

I do think Adams in particular would benefit from something like this.

Done also has trouble 1v1.

Sammon does step-overs. I'd get him on the case ;-)

 

[Blade56]

For me the new formation made it work for Sharp/Adams pairing.

Weakness for me were Reed and Wolford. Central mid isn't Flynnaldo best position but he done alright

 

[Barney]

For me the new formation made it work for Sharp/Adams pairing.

Weakness for me were Reed and Wolford. Central mid isn't Flynnaldo best position but he done alright

I agree. Hope we switch the personnel around at CM because it obviously wasn't working with Reed in there. I'd rather Basham pushed up and have Collins back in at CB. Been saying it a while, the kid isn't good enough unfortunately.

 

[Jostein's Bandage]

As long as he doesn't break a leg cutting his toenails.

 

[sheffielder]

I agree. Hope we switch the personnel around at CM because it obviously wasn't working with Reed in there. I'd rather Basham pushed up and have Collins back in at CB. Been saying it a while, the kid isn't good enough unfortunately.

Did you actually go yesterday. Reed significantly improved as the game went on and was always looking for a forward pass. As the game went on people actually starts making runs for him.

Out of interest, which players do you like and not like so we can keep up with you?

 

[Barney]

Reed significantly improved as the game went on and was always looking for a forward pass.

I'd seriously question whether you went if that's how you saw it. He had a stinker. When he wasn't giving it away, he was getting outmuscled or panicking and giving it off to the nearest man. There's no responsibility, risk taking or a want to take it forward to his game unlike Adams for example, who will become a good player.

 

[sitwell]

I agree. Hope we switch the personnel around at CM because it obviously wasn't working with Reed in there. I'd rather Basham pushed up and have Collins back in at CB. Been saying it a while, the kid isn't good enough unfortunately.

Basham has an absolute stormer at the back so you would move him back to where he has been bang average to accomodate a proven nightmare ?

 

[Barney]

Basham has an absolute stormer at the back so you would move him back to where he has been bang average to accomodate a proven nightmare ?

That's a good point. My focus was on removing Reed, who is also a proven nightmare, out of one of the most important positions on the pitch. Maybe try Basham and Collins in this new system, or failing that Cuvelier in for Reed and leave Basham at the back.

 

[sitwell]

That's a good point. My focus was on removing Reed, who is also a proven nightmare, out of one of the most important positions on the pitch. Maybe try Basham and Collins in this new system, or failing that Cuvelier in for Reed and leave Basham at the back.

I would rather see Coutts in for either Flynn or Reed ,not at the cost of Hammond who I thought did well yesterday. No one has seen enough of Cuvelier yet ,we have to reserve judgement until he has played a rune of games. Wallace would have been ideal , and if you are going to try anyone of the defenders it must surely be Edgar who has played regularly there at a higher level. Basham would always be at the back for me.

 

[Deadbat]

I agree. Basham, Edgar and McEveley should be the centre backs whether a 3 or a 2. Collins had done ok last few weeks but should not be a first teamer at all. I would like to see Kieran Wallace get a run at left back/wing back and as others have said, as bad as he has been Hammond still will probably play. I think Coutts and Cuvelier alongside might be worth a try but I worry if any of them would last 90 mins
(due to fitness with the latter two and threat of the red card).

Reed did some ok things yesterday but he still does not convince me he will make it. I thought he would grow and develop physically from 2 years ago but seems similiar build to then. Nothing he can do about height of course (as I say though he would grow a few inches) but physicality he could fill out and develop strength but is so weak.

Flynn is not the answer for me. He could maybe do a right wing back type job as fill in but yesterday game passed him by.

We need to address midfield in the summer. For me 3 players right down the spine, centre back, centre midfield and centre forward all preferably with height and some form of physicality/ domination would help the team hugely and allow some of the others, Long, Brayford, Adams, Sharp that seemingly have a future here to not feel the pressure as much.

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Cheers Kev. Love your "insightful" comments

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Cheers Kev. Love your "insightful" comments

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Cheers Kev. Love your "insightful" comments