Adkins Interview After Rochdale (A)

[grafikhaus]

1st 60 minutes was probably the best football we've played all season. Quick,incisive and attack-minded.

Is this from Owlstalk about the Hull game on Friday? Burnley's forum from yesterday? No, we're talking about a loss against fucking Rochdale. However it's dressed up, this was the latest in a season of totally embarassing and unacceptable performances.

I need to stop listening to Adkins interviews.

To be frank - listening to him speak is one of the most frustrating and pointless exercises that you could ever submit yourself to.

He tries to speak like a politician - constantly avoiding the question and side stepping anything that could be construed as negative. Ask him a straight question and get a load of meaningless waffle in return. Unfortunately for Adkins, there is a good percentage of Blades who are more informed than the average electorate and can see straight through his bullshit.

We need some honesty. The truth might not be nice but I could take it a damn site easier than his cliche ridden, repetitive and frankly insulting spin.

Spot on. When the RS commentator asked Adkins yesterday if United would make the play-offs, NA said 'We're hopeful.' Hopeful? Fucking hopeful? I'm hopeful of winning the Lottery, but that's not going to happen either. Good managers make things happen. Chancers like Adkins hope for some luck. This is truly shite. When - when - we lose at Fleetwood next Saturday, nobody will be surprised. Spring is here but the only place I can see no bright, green shoots is at Bramall Lane - not a fucking one.

Adkins should hang his head in shame. His signings, bar Sharp, have been disastrous. His 'tactics' and substitutions are regularly overcome by teams with a fraction of Adkins' resources. We've scored twice in the last six games - including games against Galacticos such as Blackpool, Bury, Port Vale and Rochdale. Teams who are near the bottom of the table after 2/3rds of the season because they're shite. It's not a case of missing chances at Rochdale, it's a dismal trend that started on the first day of the season and continues to this day.

Adkins - like Clough - arrived on a tide of goodwill from the fans. In both cases we've been badly let down and it's a miracle that the fans are so patient. Is 'patient' the right word? Or have we been so ground down by the utter shite we've witnessed this season that most are past caring. An old boy on FH last Thursday talked about the 'improvement' in the Port Vale game and how it was good to hear the kop singing 'When the Blades go marching in.' And that's true. We're all utterly desperate for the slightest glimmer of hope - even an unconvincing win at home to Port Vale! But just as that light glows, it gets fucking snuffed out again.

At this rate, Adkins will give us fond memories of Weir.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

I know as well as anyone, the club can't keep getting rid of managers. But. . . . . . . .

 

[SwissBlade]

I know as well as anyone, the club can't keep getting rid of managers. But. . . . . . . .

.... whatever we do, we have to have a plan which will take us forward

 

[Foxy]

Perhaps on another day, Sharp would’ve had a chance from 8 yards to bury and we’d be talking about a good performance and a decent performance, like last week.

He did, he chose to try and round the keeper, who dived at his feet and smothered the ball.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Whether we play well and lose, play poor and lose - I simply don't care. We need results. Sounds like more huff and puff and nothing to back it up.

Sounds a bit like Nige #2

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Piss and wind.

 

[Bedrock Blade]

I need to stop listening to Adkins interviews.

To be frank - listening to him speak is one of the most frustrating and pointless exercises that you could ever submit yourself to.

He tries to speak like a politician - constantly avoiding the question and side stepping anything that could be construed as negative. Ask him a straight question and get a load of meaningless waffle in return. Unfortunately for Adkins, there is a good percentage of Blades who are more informed than the average electorate and can see straight through his bullshit.

We need some honesty. The truth might not be nice but I could take it a damn site easier than his cliche ridden, repetitive and frankly insulting spin.

Noted from day one. The blow by blow account of what happened during the match thing that he does is really fucking annoying. Yes, we know what happened, we saw/heard it happening! Now tell us something we don't know. It's really is like listening to Ron Manager.

 

[Revolution]

I would have liked him to be asked what he expected a midfield 3 of Flynn, Reed and Cuvelier to achieve.

Talk about lightweight.

And I bet Rochdale were shitting themselves when Scougall and Coutts came on.

Mind you, there is another Nigel to blame for this state of affairs too.

 

[bartman]

Is this from Owlstalk about the Hull game on Friday? Burnley's forum from yesterday? No, we're talking about a loss against fucking Rochdale. However it's dressed up, this was the latest in a season of totally embarassing and unacceptable performances.
.

The whole performance wasn't totally unacceptable...just the last 30 minutes. No idea what Owlstalk or Burnley have to do with anything. If you don't want honest feedback from fans who went to the game that's your choice. I have not seen one fan on here who went yesterday claim that the result was anything but unacceptable. But the same fans could see that for two thirds of the game the performance was considerable better than of late until our team of bottlers lost the plot when Rochdale scored

 

[Ecco1889]

The problem is simple,you sell Murphy and replace with woolford,you loan a 1 in 2 goalscorer(mcnulty)and replace with 1 in 6 sammon
We've been weakening the squad for so long that where we are now is inevitable,how people think we can flick a switch and suddenly become a winning team is beyond me,as painful as it is,we are a piss-poor team
If we aren't bringing any loans in,try a few from the u21's,one or two may step up,it can't make things worse,surely?(or do we plod on til the end of the season)Adkins seems a decent guy but he is far from blameless in this car-crash season

 

[davidpinder]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03kwj6l

• played really well first half - yes we really did
• keeper inspired - maybe, I think it was more poor finishing
• dominant, on the front foot, created chances - we were, and we did
• we had energy - we did
• but it's about scoring goals
• started second half well - we did
• their first shot on target - it was
• our player lost his man for the second - at the time it looked like someone was getting blocked off
• but it's about results
• AG: combinations were working well on both flanks
• Flo played well
• AG: Confidence drained away? - Not immediately it didn't. McEveley's wonder run and Adams mishit shot was straight after their goal
• Woolford injured - he was, and there was no booking, got nothing off a poor ref. It was a late baad challenge and no surprise it ended in an injury he had to come off for.
• Flo picked up an injury, hopefully not serious
• Che and Billy looked a good combination - till it comes to finishing
• we are trying to be attack minded and win games - fwiw I thought finishing was an issue pre-season, and all the time up to Christmas - that's what was costing us games - now we're at it again

Any reason why you haven't mentioned "sticking it in one end and keeping it out the other"? Clearly the most entertaining part. I think even NA is realising he says it a lot.

 

[Reynoldo]

We've barely spent anything this season.
The players need to ask themselves why they can get themselves up for the glamour cup tied and not the less glamorous ties.

Don't count wages? Agree with you comment regarding the players - yesterday's loss was mainly down to poor finishing

 

[PeteBlade]

Don't count wages? Agree with you comment regarding the players - yesterday's loss was mainly down to poor finishing

No one really knows what we've spent on wages so we'd just be guessing.

 

[alcoblade]

As pissed off as we all are this team of shit collection of footballer managed to get to 2 semi finals and the play offs - the biggest issue is we are going backwards after adding supposed quality at significant cost.

Not true. We've lost our player of the year, and about 10 players from the squad. We've shed lots if cost.

There's a reason he was restricted to the likes of Woolford. And that's because, for example, he's been ladened with the most expensive third division right back in history.

UTB

 

[Reynoldo]

Not true. We've lost our player of the year, and about 10 players from the squad. We've shed lots if cost.

There's a reason he was restricted to the likes of Woolford. And that's because, for example, he's been ladened with the most expensive third division right back in history.

UTB

We only cut the squad last month! Hammond, Sammon, Sharpe, Edgar will all be on big wages for this division. United should serious consider the cost of running the academy ( wages and infrastructure) against what value it adds - most good products end up being sold for relatively low fees not long after they make the first team. Agree about Brayford, I like him but cost way out of context for this league on a full back.

 

[Reynoldo]

No one really knows what we've spent on wages so we'd just be guessing.

We all guess on all sorts of things other than the performances we see and the results, however most players from higher divisions come at a cost - look how long it took to agree a deal for Hammond I would guess that related to how much of his wages etc we would be paying.

 

[sothall blade]

Is this from Owlstalk about the Hull game on Friday? Burnley's forum from yesterday? No, we're talking about a loss against fucking Rochdale. However it's dressed up, this was the latest in a season of totally embarassing and unacceptable performances.



Spot on. When the RS commentator asked Adkins yesterday if United would make the play-offs, NA said 'We're hopeful.' Hopeful? Fucking hopeful? I'm hopeful of winning the Lottery, but that's not going to happen either. Good managers make things happen. Chancers like Adkins hope for some luck. This is truly shite. When - when - we lose at Fleetwood next Saturday, nobody will be surprised. Spring is here but the only place I can see no bright, green shoots is at Bramall Lane - not a fucking one.

Adkins should hang his head in shame. His signings, bar Sharp, have been disastrous. His 'tactics' and substitutions are regularly overcome by teams with a fraction of Adkins' resources. We've scored twice in the last six games - including games against Galacticos such as Blackpool, Bury, Port Vale and Rochdale. Teams who are near the bottom of the table after 2/3rds of the season because they're shite. It's not a case of missing chances at Rochdale, it's a dismal trend that started on the first day of the season and continues to this day.

Adkins - like Clough - arrived on a tide of goodwill from the fans. In both cases we've been badly let down and it's a miracle that the fans are so patient. Is 'patient' the right word? Or have we been so ground down by the utter shite we've witnessed this season that most are past caring. An old boy on FH last Thursday talked about the 'improvement' in the Port Vale game and how it was good to hear the kop singing 'When the Blades go marching in.' And that's true. We're all utterly desperate for the slightest glimmer of hope - even an unconvincing win at home to Port Vale! But just as that light glows, it gets fucking snuffed out again.

At this rate, Adkins will give us fond memories of Weir.

I am hopeful of growing a full head of hair.............but i dont think its going to happen

 

[alcoblade]

We only cut the squad last month! Hammond, Sammon, Sharpe, Edgar will all be on big wages for this division. United should serious consider the cost of running the academy ( wages and infrastructure) against what value it adds - most good products end up being sold for relatively low fees not long after they make the first team. Agree about Brayford, I like him but cost way out of context for this league on a full back.

I agree with most of that. I'd close the academy tomorrow. But would it really have mattered if we didn't have that cost when we'd just squander more on poor players? Until we solve the atrocious recruitment policy we are fucked.

Clough's recruitment track record was nothing short of abysmal. He takes the blame for Sammon too.

Adkins must do better, no doubt. Hammond looks like another player paid well out of the norm, for not enough return. Woolford was cheap, but not worth the signing. I think Sharp and Edgar hold up. But we need to see more evidence before we can be too damning. Given the mood at the moment. I think we'll be saying the same thing about "Robert Page" next year, because for quite a few, the penny still hasn't dropped.

And we only started cutting cost last month because the penny has dropped that the squad is utterly wank, and the nearer the players get to the end of their contracts, the easier it becomes to do deals.

UTB

 

[sothall blade]

We know he will not be sacked. The club are going no where under him but staying in this league.

Mission accomplished for McCabe then

 

[Reynoldo]

I agree with most of that. I'd close he academy tomorrow. But would it really have mattered if we didn't have that cost when we'd just squander more on poor players? Until we solve the atrocious recruitment policy we are fucked.

Clough's recruitment track record was nothing short of abysmal. He takes the blame for Sammon too.

Adkins must do better, no doubt. Hammond looks like another player paid well out of the norm, for not enough return. Woolford was cheap, but not wirth the signing. I think Sharp and Edgar hold up.

And we only started cutting cost last month because the penny has dropped that the squad is utterly wank, and the nearer the players get to the end of their contracts, the easier it becomes to do deals.

UTB

Agreed

UTB's

 

[SwissBlade]

I agree with most of that. I'd close he academy tomorrow. But would it really have mattered if we didn't have that cost when we'd just squander more on poor players? Until we solve the atrocious recruitment policy we are fucked.

Clough's recruitment track record was nothing short of abysmal. He takes the blame for Sammon too.

Adkins must do better, no doubt. Hammond looks like another player paid well out of the norm, for not enough return. Woolford was cheap, but not worth the signing. I think Sharp and Edgar hold up. But we need to see more evidence before we can be too damning. Given the mood at the moment. I think we'll be saying the same ring about Robert Page next year, because for quite a few, the penny still hasn't dropped.

And we only started cutting cost last month because the penny has dropped that the squad is utterly wank, and the nearer the players get to the end of their contracts, the easier it becomes to do deals.

UTB

If you blame clough for sammon, you need to blame him for Sharp as well... Both were signed by Adkins

 

[alcoblade]

If you blame clough for sammon, you need to blame him for Sharp as well... Both were signed by Adkins

Not according to many, and what I'm told (see above too). Do you know otherwise?

Let's be honest, it will make no difference. You've not liked the man who filled Clough's boots from the off. If I said Adkins had bad breath you'd like the post.

UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

Not according to many, and what I'm told (see above too). Do you know otherwise?

Let's be honest, it make no difference. You've not liked the man who filled Clough's boots from the off. If I said Adkins had bad breath you'd like the post.

UTB

All i know was that the date he was signed was whilst Adkins was here, not clough. The rest is speculation, although i don't doubt Clough was interested in Sammon, but sorry, theres something you can't actually pin on him

If you use your logic, then you may also say that Diego, Collins and JCR would not be here now, so you can render Clough blameless for their diabolical seasons

 

[alcoblade]

All i know was that the date he was signed was whilst Adkins was here, not clough. The rest is speculation, although i don't doubt Clough was interested in Sammon, but sorry, theres something you can't actually pin on him

If you use your logic, then you may also say that Diego, Collins and JCR would not be here now, so you can render Clough blameless for their diabolical seasons

Enough seemingly ITK people state that Clough signed (Derby player) Sammon. Obviously you aren't going to buy it no matter what.

Clough is responsible for any player here that signed under him. I don't really understand your point there.

JCR hasn't really changed, he's just getting older. Ditto the other two, nothing has changed other than another year going nowhere. We need to improve on the lot.

UTB

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I agree with most of that. I'd close the academy tomorrow. But would it really have mattered if we didn't have that cost when we'd just squander more on poor players? Until we solve the atrocious recruitment policy we are fucked.

Clough's recruitment track record was nothing short of abysmal. He takes the blame for Sammon too.

Adkins must do better, no doubt. Hammond looks like another player paid well out of the norm, for not enough return. Woolford was cheap, but not worth the signing. I think Sharp and Edgar hold up. But we need to see more evidence before we can be too damning. Given the mood at the moment. I think we'll be saying the same thing about "Robert Page" next year, because for quite a few, the penny still hasn't dropped.

And we only started cutting cost last month because the penny has dropped that the squad is utterly wank, and the nearer the players get to the end of their contracts, the easier it becomes to do deals.

UTB

Close the academy and train where?
How much would closing the academy actually save the club per year?
Nobody seems to want to answer those questions?

If Adkins allowed an unwanted player to be foisted on him and proceeded to play him in almost every match, then that's equally bad management.

 

[Worksop II]

If Adkins allowed an unwanted player to be foisted on him and proceeded to play him in almost every match, then that's equally bad management.

I think this deal was done during Clough's tenure, we were lumbered with him

But you got to say, Adkins have given Sammon more than a fair chance

Unfortunately Sammon is shite

 

[alcoblade]

Close the academy and train where?
How much would closing the academy actually save the club per year?
Nobody seems to want to answer those questions?

If Adkins allowed an unwanted player to be foisted on him and proceeded to play him in almost every match, then that's equally bad management.

It's the running cost of the academy, not the land. We could still use some if the facilities and sell off the rest.

The accepted heavy running cost of an academy are different to the fixed cost of the buildings.

 

[SwissBlade]

Enough seemingly ITK people state that Clough signed (Derby player) Sammon. Obviously you aren't going to buy it no matter what.

Clough is responsible for any player here that signed under him. I don't really understand your point there.

JCR hasn't really changed, he's just getting older. Ditto the other two, nothing has changed other than another year going nowhere. We need to improve on the lot.

UTB

Ok so on one hand you say that Clough signed Sammon (yes i am sure ITK people have said so), but it was rubber stamped under Adkins. Agreed?
On the other hand, perhaps Diego, Collins and JCR were on their way out under clough, but the club didn't rubber stamp this after he left. In which case he can't be blamed for these three being on the payroll still (hyperthetical point though)

Its also a well known point that Clough had agreed to allow Murphy to move because adams was his replacement.

So for me, Clough can only be blamed/ credited for things during his tenure, not because it suits your point to say that he signed a shit player.

 

[alcoblade]

Ok so on one hand you say that Clough signed Sammon (yes i am sure ITK people have said so), but it was rubber stamped under Adkins. Agreed?
On the other hand, perhaps Diego, Collins and JCR were on their way out under clough, but the club didn't rubber stamp this after he left. In which case he can't be blamed for these three being on the payroll still (hyperthetical point though)

Its also a well known point that Clough had agreed to allow Murphy to move because adams was his replacement.

So for me, Clough can only be blamed/ credited for things during his tenure, not because it suits your point to say that he signed a shit player.

I don't follow.

But anyway, Clough signed lots and lots of shit and and expensive players.

Adkins has signed a few shit and expensive players. 3 on loan.

The jury has returned on the first point and is out on the second. Of course giving a man a fair hearing was a given, at least I thought.

UTB

 

[grafikhaus]

And that's because, for example, he's been ladened with the most expensive third division right back in history.

To be fair alco, when we signed Brayford it was seen as a 'statement of intent' and questioned by absolutely no-one. We were still giddy about the Cup runs including that marvellous game v. Charlton and getting into the play-offs. Since then, he's had a serious injury, we've continued to sell/loan out anybody who shone that season (Murphy, McNulty), others (Flynn, Scougall etc.) have not progressed, Baxter has gone on another bender and the true damage that Clough caused is still becoming apparent and I think the signing of Brayford is the least of our worries. When you sign a statement player, you've got to follow it up by making sure he's got similar talent surrounding him. Players such as Coady, McDonald etc. Instead Brayford is surrounded by dross.