Which player is NA talking about?

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Look back through Coutts career. He was stripped of the Preston captaincy and dropped by Graham Westlake because of his attitude following a change of manager. He was also told to stay away from the club until he was prepared to commit 100%, He did play for Preston again that season but at the end of the season he was told not to report for pre-season training as he was no longer part of the club's plans. At the time of stripping him of the captaincy Westlake said,

"He's got to get himself focused - I don't care about talent, I want players who want to play for the team. Any professional player who's employed by a club needs to get his mind on that club, the fans are out there giving good money across to give the players a good living and that's what players need to be mindful of."

Previously when he was at Peterborough he was dropped by Marc Cooper amidst strong rumours of dressing room unrest and players trying to engineer a move to Preston. Cooper lasted only 13 weeks at Peterborough.

Tonight Adkins was angry for the first time during an interview and,unlike him, he named names publicly and fingered Coutts and Edgar for the goal.I have yet to see the game (have to wait until it comes upon BP tomorrow) but the radio commentary was critical of Coutts throughout so I would not be surprised if the ego referred to is Coutts.

My take is that there are clearly games when Coutts doesn't fancy it - I've said it before - he seems to hate cold and wet night games eg Blackpool. Other times he just goes missing. He is barely better than Baxter at marking and tackling, is nowhere near Baxter in creativity and passing, especially in the final third and is living off a pre-injury reputation and the very rare good performance. His commitment and appetite is also questionable. Interesting that his recent better perfomances came when Brayford came back.

I do find it amazing that some people rush to defend Coutts as though he is some model pro with a complete skill set. Baxter played 86 times for us (plus 28 sub appearances) and scored 28 goals for us, Coutts has managed lengthy injury spells and 40 appearances (plus 4 sub appearances) and no goals (and its arguable he wasn't fit for half of those games - remember the first season he played when people were wondering why he was always on Clough's teamsheet when he was totally ineffectual and knackered after 30 mins).

Assists wise Coutts has managed 2 since he came? Baxter has probably more assists (5 this season) than the entire midfield combined. Added to this, since his injury, Coutts has lost the pace he once had (one of the reasons Darren Ferguson signed him for Peterborough and Preston).

Don't get me wrong Baxter should not be at Sheffield United because of his off the field activities and I don't want to see him in a Blades shirt again. But neither should Paul Coutts be here if he doesn't want to commit 100% and play as part of a team and team plan, He should just go. His best years are behind him. If he does go I would not be surprised to see him end up at Doncaster with Ferguson.

btw - Baxter has completely disappeared from the OS players and stats pages so I am assuming he has gone for good.

Agree with that. I dont hate Coutts, but he is nowhere near as talented as Baxter was/is. I think Baxter was on 8 assists and 7 goals for this season - and I dont think any of the midfielders can match that - even when combined together - which shows why we are struggling.

It is such a shame Baxter has gone on a downward spiral - but now he has to sort himself out away from football. For me, Coutts is an average midfielder, who clearly was affected by a nasty injury.

Yes, I had seen that Baxter had dropped off the stats. While we know he has done wrong, that feels a little North Korea to me. He did still exist and contribute to the team this season.

 

[alcoblade]

If you take on 30 players at a club ,yet the only 3 who stick with you are who you have brought in ,I would have to say he has very poor management skills and under our monetary situation is definitely no good for Sheffield United. We are in the 3rd division ffs not some champions league outfit ,although we endeavour to be.

It could be they don't want to stick with him because they are realising he's about to execute a plan that the fan-base is almost entirely united about - that's to fuck them all off. It must be difficult to motivate them in those circumstances.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

Its not just about running about like a madhead ,its also about football. That's not a slight on Basham who I like ,but even in his interview he said we have been playing 3 at the back and theyve done well ,so he takes Basham out and puts fucking Collins in ?? Coutts was the only one getting the ball down ,under control and actually playing football. The manager let them down tonight badly by changing players and formations ,his substitutions all season are a fucking joke and now hes critisising them in his interview to deflect pressure off him. He will lose the dressing room if he hasn't lost it already and hes losing the fans. hes lost one tonight ,Ive had enough of him.

You claim Coutts has gone backwards under Adkins, but he could barely force his way into the team of the manager who signed him. He was utterly atrocious last season, and has "improved" this. The promblem is he's gone form a 3/10 to a 5/10.

Take a look on the "who would you keep" thread - you are, I believe, the only poster who has made a case to keep him.

Technically proficient, athletically and energetically woeful. That's got fuck all to do with Adkins.

UTB

 

[bikerblade]

Probably not right thread, but I have always and always will be a clogger, see the opposition with the ball, I have 1 intention, ball or man!! I'm not a great ball player and I know it - give me the ball 10 yards from goal and I'm scared but I'm good passer of the ball even at 50, but any manager signing me in the past has known that. I have however always had a passion that no one will get the better of me ( can't say it's not happened), and it's something that can't be taught). I have been paired with great ball players, cloggers, and just single minded greedy gits, all with variable amounts of success - there is no ideal mantra, or if there is please tell me so I can take over from Wenger.
My point is you know who are your attacking players and defensive players and it's a matter of balance, surely it's not that difficult. I've played with players who we knew would be suspended due to their irrational tackles. I've played with hoofers (not my game, and tippy tappers, again not my game), but the ability to adapt and change to different personnel shouldn't be to difficult. I would gladly take 5-10k a week to see if I am wrong!. I'm not saying that NA had pulled up any trees (in fact i'm extremely disappointed, but any player worth their salt wouldn't moan about tactical/positional changes - I was once asked to play wing back at 32 - with a beer belly, short reply!!)
I think there is a distinct poison about the club at the moment - I don't go to many matches, but the one's I have been to have been very disappointing. I remember back to the; Harris, Haslam, Bassett era's and although I wouldn't condone their style of football, the passion the players showed in those era's would be a good lesson for the current players. I'm not giving Adkins an easy ride(far from it), but players must have personal pride, otherwise they are not going to make it.
Is Adkins the right man, well on current evidence - no, but who has a better CV that we could expect?
Who else could we get? It's a long shot for the owners and one I don't envy. We have sacked many managers in the last 8-10 years and gone backwards. I do hate the fact that Clough beat us last night after all the negative crap played last yeat.

 

[Grecian2000]

Take a look on the "who would you keep" thread - you are, I believe, the only poster who has made a case to keep him.

Not seen the thread but I'd keep him as well.

Lots worse than him including Hammond, Woolford, Flynn and either Edgar or Basham when played in midfield.

 

[Bladepicker]

Too quiet you said it How do you know you would ? Too late anyway

Haha, someone pointed her out at Yeovil away one season I think it was.

Does George call you dad then yet haha?

 

[alcoblade]

Not seen the thread but I'd keep him as well.

Lots worse than him including Hammond, Woolford, Flynn and either Edgar or Basham when played in midfield.

I'm sure that there's more than you and Sitters to be fair, but I'm sure it's a small group.

As for the second part - I'm not sure who'd win the "who's wankest" competition - only that there's loads of competition.

UTB

 

[Bladepicker]

I'm keeping him too alcoblade - my Paul Coutts pajamas are for life.

Seriously though he's a proper footballer, nearest we have had to Kevin MacDonald. Another quality player people moaned didn't score or assist - not done bad for himself. Ball playing midfielders like him and Coutts dont assist but link the play up and play the balls that allow others to assist.

 

[Grecian2000]

I'm sure that there's more than you and Sitters to be fair, but I'm sure it's a small group.

Indeed. I think the "get rid now" group is increased in size by his affiliation with our previous manager though.

 

[sitwell]

Haha, someone pointed her out at Yeovil away one season I think it was.

Does George call you dad then yet haha?

no but I know who he could ,allegedly

 

[alcoblade]

I'm keeping him too alcoblade - my Paul Coutts pajamas are for life.

Seriously though he's a proper footballer, nearest we have had to Kevin MacDonald. Another quality player people moaned didn't score or assist - not done bad for himself. Ball playing midfielders like him and Coutts dont assist but link the play up and play the balls that allow others to assist.

Let's see how many professionals agree with you, and take him off our hands, as with McDonald.

My prediction - zero. But I'll be delighted to be wrong.

McDonald, though still with some limitations, was simply streets ahead of Coutts - who's nothing more than a neat passer.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

Indeed. I think the "get rid now" group is increased in size by his affiliation with our previous manager though.

Really? Why no clamor to get rid of Brayford then, who unlike Coutts has gone downhill under Adkins? Your theory doesn't hold there for me.

 

[sitwell]

Really? Why no clamor to get rid of Brayford then, who unlike Coutts has gone downhill under Adkins? Your theory doesn't hold there for me.

and the other half dozen ?

 

[northsomersetblade]

So, to sum up this thread, it could be any of the useless fuckers

 

[alcoblade]

and the other half dozen ?

I don't follow. The thread I refer to is about which players should be kept - there's hardly any - be it pre Clough, Clough or Adkins.

Clough signed lots of players - statistically most of the players to be gotten rid of will be his. There's no evidence that has any link to picking on Clough himself, though he's clearly responsible for a big mess.

People want rid of Collins, Hammond, Sammon - Nobody is singling Clough out - it's you who's singling Coutts out by suggesting he somehow stands out from our awful pack.

UTB

 

[sitwell]

I don't follow. The thread I refer to is about which players should be kept - there's hardly any - be it pre Clough, Clough or Adkins.

Clough signed lots of players - statistically most of the players to be gotten rid of will be his. There's no evidence that has any link to picking on Clough himself, though he's clearly responsible for a big mess.

People want rid of Collins, Hammond, Sammon - Nobody is singling Clough out - it's you who's singling Coutts out by suggesting he somehow stands out from our awful pack.

UTB

He does he can actually play football. People are dreaming if they think Adkins will clear everyone out and we will have 9 or 10 new first teamers next season. I for one don't really trust adkins to get the required players to get out of this league ,that why I personally would like a change.

 

[Barney]

Let's see how many professionals agree with you, and take him off our hands, as with McDonald.

My prediction - zero. But I'll be delighted to be wrong.

McDonald, though still with some limitations, was simply streets ahead of Coutts - who's nothing more than a neat passer.

UTB

Only problem with McDonald was that he didn't shoot, and thus didn't score many. Anywhere in and around their area and he always opted to spread it about as opposed to having a shot himself. That aside, the type of player I can only wish we had at the moment.

 

[alcoblade]

He does he can actually play football. People are dreaming if they think Adkins will clear everyone out and we will have 9 or 10 new first teamers next season. I for one don't really trust adkins to get the required players to get out of this league ,that why I personally would like a change.

As I've said, only a tiny proportion of the people who watch seem to agree with you. The manager who signed him didn't even seem to rate him. The manager who adopted him likes him a bit more. You're entitled to your assessment, obviously. But picking Adkins out for criticism over his treatment of Coutts, over and above thousands of fans and the manager who signed him, seems totally bizarre to me.

UTB

 

[sitwell]

Where has that lot come from, what a complete load of crap , I haven't said any of that you've just made it up and he has been injured for most of cloughs reign and Adkins . There's only one bizarre post here , why such a fixation about me rating coutts ? Even you did the other week saying you could be converted.

 

[alcoblade]

Where has that lot come from, what a complete load of crap , I haven't said any of that you've just made it up and he has been injured for most of cloughs reign and Adkins . There's only one bizarre post here , why such a fixation about me rating coutts ? Even you did the other week saying you could be converted.

It's very difficult to engage, because you seem to flit around the subjects without directly answering anything - ref numerous examples above. So;

It was widely accepted, though disputed by you, that Coutts was woeful last season. Many people, including his detractors such as me, have acknowledged that he's improved a bit this season. Yet bizarrely (no other word for it), you have deduced he's gone backwards under Adkins and have used it as a stick to beat him with.

I am pointing out an obvious flaw in your point, and you don't like it.

UTB

 

[sitwell]

It's very difficult to engage, because you seem to flit around the subjects without directly answering anything - ref numerous examples above. So;

It was widely accepted, though disputed by you, that Coutts was woeful last season. Many people, including his detractors such as me, have acknowledged that he's improved a bit this season. Yet bizarrely (no other word for it), you have deduced he's gone backwards under Adkins and have used it as a stick to beat him with.

I am pointing out an obvious flaw in your point, and you don't like it.

UTB

I have never said coutts individually has gone backwards Adkins that's something you've decided on and keep saying for some reason . I think Adkins has managed him shockingly as he has the rest of the team. Coutts form has improved with his fitness on a personal level but as soon as he gets going Adkins fucks him about. If it wasn't for his past record we would think Adkins was a bad joke I think he is and his man management is worse than any I've seen before.

 

[alcoblade]

I have never said coutts individually has gone backwards Adkins that's something you've decided on and keep saying for some reason . I think Adkins has managed him shockingly as he has the rest of the team. Coutts form has improved with his fitness on a personal level but as soon as he gets going Adkins fucks him about. If it wasn't for his past record we would think Adkins was a bad joke I think he is and his man management is worse than any I've seen before.

I remain perplexed by your protection of Coutts. Neither him nor Adkins are performing now. Adkins has a track record to give me some confidence. Coutts doesn't.

Whilst the band of people who agree with you on the manager is inevitably growing, you remain in a tiny section who keep apologising for lazy, nothing performances from Coutts.

I think we've done it to death.

UTB

 

[alcoblade]

I have never said coutts individually has gone backwards Adkins that's something you've decided on and keep saying for some reason .

Let's not let the truth get in the way of you getting annoyed though.......

Coutts Brayford Done ,Flynn Scougall ,how many other players are you going to fuck up?

 

[sitwell]

God this is hard ,Coutts form has improved ,but these players are being messed about by an incompetent manager ,he has not gone backwards but like the others he is being held back by not playing even when on form.
Final word from me ,I like Coutts because he is a footballer ,he can do things most people cant on a football pitch.
I don't like Adkins ,I don't give a fuck what hes done at Southampton or Scunthorpe or Reading ,a track record doesn't give me confidence ,it gives me a track record whoopee. For my club he has been dogshit and I don't see it improving as I see no foundations and what I saw last night was possibly the low point as a team in my 46 years watching Utd.

 

[alcoblade]

God this is hard ,Coutts form has improved ,but these players are being messed about by an incompetent manager ,he has not gone backwards but like the others he is being held back by not playing even when on form..

So his form improved, but no thanks to Adkins. Then it fell away, and it's Adkins fault? Too right, this is hard, because it makes no sense whatsoever..........

I don't like Adkins ,I don't give a fuck what hes done at Southampton or Scunthorpe or Reading ,a track record doesn't give me confidence ,it gives me a track record whoopee. For my club he has been dogshit and I don't see it improving as I see no foundations and what I saw last night was possibly the low point as a team in my 46 years watching Utd..

And therein lies the problem running deep trough the football club. Board, and many fans, too reactionary. You should give a fuck about an exceptional track record, because I can guarantee that the one that follows will be far from it, and that there's an immense amount of damage needing clearing up from Clough, whoever mops it up.

I cannot, however, defend the job Adkins has done so far, past the obvious constraints that previous regimes have left him with.

UTB

 

[Barney]

So his form improved, but no thanks to Adkins. Then it fell away, and it's Adkins fault? Too right, this is hard, because it makes no sense whatsoever..........


And therein lies the problem running deep trough the football club. Board, and many fans, too reactionary. You should give a fuck about an exceptional track record, because I can guarantee that the one that follows will be far from it, and that there's an immense amount of damage needing clearing up from Clough, whoever mops it up.

I cannot, however, defend the job Adkins has done so far, past the obvious constraints that previous regimes have left him with.

UTB

Just a quick question. Say Adkins repeats the diabolical management he's displayed so far, in the summer and signs 7/8 or so players of the Hammond/Sammon/Edgar/Woolford ilk, and thus forces the club even further backwards, keeping us in this league and possibly the one below for further multiple seasons. Will you complain?

 

[northsomersetblade]

Loudly. But his form is that when spending money he does well.

You can't blame him for having to clear up the mess that Clough has left for him.

 

[alcoblade]

Just a quick question. Say Adkins repeats the diabolical management he's displayed so far, in the summer and signs 7/8 or so players of the Hammond/Sammon/Edgar/Woolford ilk, and thus forces the club even further backwards, keeping us in this league and possibly the one below for further multiple seasons. Will you complain?

I'll humour your pre-loaded question and silly premise;

I'm complaining already, so yes. It's just drowned out by so many other debates at the moment.

UTB

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

With these comments in his post-match presser

NA: "Anyone who has got an ego has got to put it to one side. We have a responsibility to this great club."

NA: "You can talk about tactics and formations. One player, quite clearly, wasn't going to adhere to that."

I'm guessing it's Coutts.

Whoever, its a sad comment to have to hear/read.

 

[Barney]

I'll humour your pre-loaded question, where I don't accept the premise;

I'm complaining already, so yes. It's just drowned out by so many other debates at the moment.

UTB

So you'd keep the manager, despite being fully aware of his incompetencies and how these have a good chance of being replicated, yet you'd complain if they were? Do you see how that's not a very logical stand point? It's like Barcelona purposefully putting out their reserve team against Real Madrid and then whinging when they lose.