Adkins, is it just me ...

[Bladesway]

The biggest things to tip the situation in his favour are his 4 past promotions, he's been there and done it before.

The biggest reasons for sacking him are his performances at Reading and SUFC, both of which are his most recent efforts.

Seriously there is no alternative but to hope he has a good summer and to give him the full season to succeed or fail. That will be long enough I think, probably not before though in view of the size of the task as it has turned out, largely because of the way he has managed us this season oddly enough. He should have done a lot, lot better.

I winder if shipping Collins out could save Adkins job. I think it was that significant.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

Am also trying to understand why not fulfilling expectations in the first few months of a difficult job would make you a c**t.
Is it just the mixture of tribal sport mentality, moderately heavy beer and anonymous message boards that justifies the unsavoury moniker?
The point could have been intelligently proposed (for the umpteenth time on this board) without the gutter language.

People are getting seriously pissed off here Pittsburg.

 

[SwissBlade]

Have a like. I am with you on this.

I have mentioned this a few times but he is taking a similar route to Mauricio Pochettino when he 1st joined Tottenham. He allowed the players too much clout and allowed the players to vote their captains etc; and he trusted them. For his sins, he got Younis Kaboul as captain, Adebayor as the 2nd captain with Lloris 3rd. Pochettino is also well known for having committees like Adkins (maybe something he carried on at Southampton). The French had too much influence over the team from AVB days and it took Pochettino time to ease them out (maybe this is the same with the Scots and Scousers). He then turned to youngsters who were hungry to succeed and young players like Mason got their wings. It's very hard to influence a player who has been there and done it but youngsters should always buy into what you're trying to achieve.

Now we have young lads who follow Adkins and believe he can be good for their careers, and that is the pathway Adkins needed to create to be a success at this club. Suddenly although we have 15 or so players out of contract at the end of the season, our squad won't look so weak to build from. Players like Reed, Whiteman and Adams will get more games and their confidence will grow.

Long
Ramsdale (for the bench, but emergency get emergency loan if Long injured)
Brayford
Basham
Wallace
Reed
Whiteman
Sharp
Done
DCL (still a little unsure his problem is nerves)

Maybe keep Flynn and Cuvellier if they stay fit.

This already looks a stronger building block than anything Adkins had to start with.

Yeah i think there has been a huge bit of 'Adkins - the passenger' allowing things to form naturally, then intervening... It gives him a stronger position, alternatively he might have just thrown the cards in the air and see how they land... But it seems like there has been at least part of this which seems deliberate.

I think this probably leads us back to the retained list, we're starting to get a clearer picture of the basis for the squad for next season and i think the 10 on your list (plus Adams) along with Question marks over Flynn, Flo and JMac( surprised that i've even written his name) as possibles to keep gives us another 4-6 to add.

Presumably then, that gives us

1. Hammond
2. Clinton Baptiste
3. Agile and fast striker
4. Winger
5. Agile and fit Midfielder
6. Another Centre Half or fullback

 

[SwissBlade]

Breathing life and sense into an otherwise dog shit of a thread. Dont agree with all of it but it is well reasoned. Good work sir.

A lot of it is reading between the lines to make my point, so there is some artistic licence added to the facts, but there has definitely been a change somewhere, the Burton game could well have been that Watershed. It certainly tipped Adkins over the edge on Collins, perhaps it was his last chance, given that Baptiste was already with us (didn't he arrive that day?)

I winder if shipping Collins out could save Adkins job. I think it was that significant.

I think it will prove to be a huge factor

 

[Tyler Durden]

First up the OP is a pile, we agree there. Your hell fire on Clough however is inaccurate. We got players in who in the final part of his first year were on fire. He in no small part stopped us getting relegated. Players like Brayford came because of him. While last season ultimately ended in failure had he been given another season we would be further forward than we are now. The problem isnt the manager it is that we keep sacking them before they have finished the job.

Most of the footballing world looked on aghast when we fired Clough. With good reason.

I've no argument about his first season, I agree that was probably the best turnaround in form since Warnock first took charge in '99.
But we were then in a position of strength to build on that, and instead he engaged in the worst transfer policy in recent memory. Which indirectly created a culture of failure amongst a bloated squad.
As far as I can see, he's a big name with some contacts in the game but not much more in terms of substance, like Robson in that regard.

 

[PeteBlade]

I've no argument about his first season, I agree that was probably the best turnaround in form since Warnock first took charge in '99.
But we were then in a position of strength to build on that, and instead he engaged in the worst transfer policy in recent memory. Which indirectly created a culture of failure amongst a bloated squad.
As far as I can see, he's a big name with some contacts in the game but not much more in terms of substance, like Robson in that regard.

And his contacts don't go further than Derby.

 

[BushBlade]

First up the OP is a pile, we agree there. Your hell fire on Clough however is inaccurate. We got players in who in the final part of his first year were on fire. He in no small part stopped us getting relegated. Players like Brayford came because of him. While last season ultimately ended in failure had he been given another season we would be further forward than we are now. The problem isnt the manager it is that we keep sacking them before they have finished the job.

Most of the footballing world looked on aghast when we fired Clough. With good reason.

There seemed to be a misapprehension that Clough was a poor manager, based on some of his odd recruitment, his refusal or inability to find good centre halves.

I don't think that's the case. He made mistakes but I think generally he got the most out of the players at his disposal.

A new manager can improve an under performing team but it's much harder to improve a side that's playing to their ability. That, and the loss of Murphy, is why Adkins hasn't made as dramatic an impact as Clough did when he took over from Weir (or Warnock when he took over from Heath).

And I think he's taken a longer term approach rather than trying too many quick fixes that may cause problems further down the line. It was brave in many respects as it was close to backfiring on him. I think with hindsight he might admit he got the balance slightly wrong, not as wrong as Weir but still not right.

 

[PeteBlade]

There seemed to be a misapprehension that Clough was a poor manager, based on some of his odd recruitment, his refusal or inability to find good centre halves.

I don't think that's the case. He made mistakes but I think generally he got the most out of the players at his disposal.

A new manager can improve an under performing team but it's much harder to improve a side that's playing to their ability. That, and the loss of Murphy, is why Adkins hasn't made as dramatic an impact as Clough did when he took over from Weir (or Warnock when he took over from Heath).

And I think he's taken a longer term approach rather than trying too many quick fixes that may cause problems further down the line. It was brave in many respects as it was close to backfiring on him. I think with hindsight he might admit he got the balance slightly wrong, not as wrong as Weir but still not right.

I don't think he's a poor manager, just very average.

Far too negative for a promotion chasing manager and much better suited to keeping small clubs punching above their weight or fighting relegation.

I don't think he can cope at clubs with expectation and is much better managing a plucky underdog.

 

[Fiery Blade]

What a completely simplistic way to describe the semi final. Beaten at home due to baffling changes made following Brayfords injury snd never in the second leg apart from the last 3 minutes.

Lost out by one goal though aye!

At least they made the play offs last season - Not a snowball in hells chance this year despite Billy Sharp and Dean Hammond !

 

[PeteBlade]

At least they made the play offs last season - Not a snowball in hells chance this year despite Billy Sharp and Dean Hammond !

Yes, with Jamie Murphy and "narrowly missed out by just the one goal"!

 

[BushBlade]

At least they made the play offs last season - Not a snowball in hells chance this year despite Billy Sharp and Dean Hammond !

They still lost.

 

[jt64]

Cool, now JCR on loan, there'll never be a situation where we need to use a winger. No, not at all

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Cool, now JCR on loan, there'll never be a situation where we need to use a winger. No, not at all

This'll be why he's been trying to get in Ryan Kent, Jacob Murphy, Teixeira etc. I can't recall seeing much dazzling wing player from JCR, or any wing play of any note from him to be honest.

 

[SwissBlade]

Cool, now JCR on loan, there'll never be a situation where we need to use a winger. No, not at all

The extra Ball boys have been stood down from their role at the back of the Kop

 

[Bladesway]

I've no argument about his first season, I agree that was probably the best turnaround in form since Warnock first took charge in '99.
But we were then in a position of strength to build on that, and instead he engaged in the worst transfer policy in recent memory. Which indirectly created a culture of failure amongst a bloated squad.
As far as I can see, he's a big name with some contacts in the game but not much more in terms of substance, like Robson in that regard.

I think there are valid points but I argue Clough would have done better with the squad than Adkins has. Appears to me that a manager needs time to clear out the previous lot and bring in his own before he can be judged. To that ends we need to give Adkins the start of another season otherwise we will have to go round again. But I think we are agreed on that in any case.

 

[Bladesway]

I don't think he can cope at clubs with expectation and is much better managing a plucky underdog.

Like Warnock then?

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Still got very big concerns about Adkins, personally. Whatever a situation he found himself in behind the scenes, he's screwed this season up badly, mainly because it's taken him around three-quarters of a season to stamp any sort of personality on the side & properly assert himself. Like Lord Bos said, if we didn't already have a reputation as a sacking club, he'd probably be toast by now.

But... I'm liking the (now) decisive clear-out, the potentially exciting & expansive 3-5-2, the injection of youth & local pride, the intermittent signs over recent weeks of positive play & an attacking identity.

Personally, I've written off this disaster of a season. As I see it, we need signs that genuine progress will be made next season & that 2015/16 can be looked back on as (dreaded word) "transitional".

Oldham was hugely promising, & a sign that some of the patchy progress made over recent weeks was cohering. But the Burton abomination still remains very strong in the memory &, tbh, doubts persist about the Adkins regime's nous in the transfer market

Let's see.

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

People are getting seriously pissed off here Pittsburg.

Seriously pissed off? Over a few football results?
I agree it's disappointing when your team isn't doing so well but some people need a reality check.
There'll be much bigger challenges to face in their lives than losing to...f*ckin' Burton Albion! F*ck!

 

[sheffielder]

The extra Ball boys have been stood down from their role at the back of the Kop

You're on a roll today Swiss. Loving your work

 

[sheffielder]

Yeah i think there has been a huge bit of 'Adkins - the passenger' allowing things to form naturally, then intervening... It gives him a stronger position, alternatively he might have just thrown the cards in the air and see how they land... But it seems like there has been at least part of this which seems deliberate.

I think this probably leads us back to the retained list, we're starting to get a clearer picture of the basis for the squad for next season and i think the 10 on your list (plus Adams) along with Question marks over Flynn, Flo and JMac( surprised that i've even written his name) as possibles to keep gives us another 4-6 to add.

Presumably then, that gives us

1. Hammond
2. Clinton Baptiste
3. Agile and fast striker
4. Winger
5. Agile and fit Midfielder
6. Another Centre Half or fullback

Lots of variations for me. If we are in this division and sticking to 3-5-2 I am keeping McEverley but still looking to improve on that position. Flynn if he can stay fit can be very versatile now he has been tried in midfield. Whoops did I miss Adams? Didn't mean to.

Also now that we have this new gateway for youngsters, maybe we can pick up a good couple of youngsters, ala Coady and the lads at Coventry.

 

[Jostein's Bandage]

He inherited a decent squad for this division, capable of promotion given a fair wind but lacking in quality in all areas. He proved himself completely incapable to motivate that team, how much of that is down to his own failings and how much is down to the so-called 'bad eggs' is something everybody has their own opinions on. So now he is completely dismantling that team. It's a high risk strategy for both him and the club, but presumably the board gave him the green light to do it.

 

[blade67]

... or is anybody else seriously worried where the club is going under this c**t?

He inherited a squad that had plenty of quality in certain areas but lacked in other parts i.e. height, strength and leadership straight down the spine of the team. Since then nearly all the better / good players have either been under performing/under motivated, bombed out of the team or sold, or a combination of the whole 3, to be replaced by a load of rubbish that Adkins has brought in. None of them have been a resounding success, many of them have been down right awful but it looks as though now the club's hierarchy are trusting the future of the club in the hands of someone who is pushing out good players and replacing them with crap.

This is what happened with Haslam in the late 70s and early 80s and we ended up going down 2 levels to the fourth division. Where do they stop with Adkins, sack him when we're in the Conference? Get shut and get shut now McCabe before this gets really ugly.

What Adkins inherited was a mess and he had his one star performer sold from under him before the season had hardly started. We finished last season with Mceverely and Alcock at centre back FFS, Basham as a box to box midfielder who'd scored 1 goal all season and Coutts trialling as a starter for England in the walking football world cup.

 

[SwissBlade]

You're on a roll today Swiss. Loving your work

I'm thinking of retiring from the forum whilst i'm on a high. Never had so many likes from you in one day! I think that's 4 from you in a 24 hour period.

 

[SwissBlade]

What Adkins inherited was a mess and he had his one star performer sold from under him before the season had hardly started. We finished last season with Mceverely and Alcock at centre back FFS, Basham as a box to box midfielder who'd scored 1 goal all season and Coutts trialling as a starter for England in the walking football world cup.

Adkins inherited a side that wasn't his.

What he did with that side was spend 8 months making things worse.... Before his El Collo epiphany.

 

[Darthblade]

He inherited a decent squad for this division, capable of promotion given a fair wind but lacking in quality in all areas. He proved himself completely incapable to motivate that team, how much of that is down to his own failings and how much is down to the so-called 'bad eggs' is something everybody has their own opinions on. So now he is completely dismantling that team. It's a high risk strategy for both him and the club, but presumably the board gave him the green light to do it.

He inherited a squad which was full of ageing, injured underperformers and no adequate leaders.

A squad devoid of strength, height, pace, guile, fight, determination and bottle !!

A squad packed with problems ( McNuts, Baxter, Collins etc )

The squad requires a massive culling ( currently underway but only partially completed ) and the influx of quality I'm all areas ....... GK, FB, CH, MF, Wing, CF.

This will be a defining summer which will decide if we spend a "sixth" year in this agricultural division, which is what will happen if we don't clearout and replace most of the squad.

UTB & FTP

 

[sheffielder]

I'm thinking of retiring from the forum whilst i'm on a high. Never had so many likes from you in one day! I think that's 4 from you in a 24 hour period.

If he had got rid of Coutts in the same week, it would have been off the charts.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Mr Adkins is happily bobbling along winning one, drawing one and obviously losing one. Not pulling any trees up, but at the same time you can't call it abject failure either.
Although I'm not one of his biggest fans we can't fuck Adkins off because there is still an outside chance of the play-offs.

 

[SwissBlade]

If he had got rid of Coutts in the same week, it would have been off the charts.

Once again, i couldn't disagree with that.

I need a lay down and some gas and air...

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Mr Adkins is happily bobbling along winning one, drawing one and obviously losing one. Not pulling any trees up, but at the same time you can't call it abject failure either.
Although I'm not one of his biggest fans we can't fuck Adkins off because there is still an outside chance of the play-offs.

Scrub all that. . . . Get the cunt out.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Quality he inherited = Baxter, Scougall, Reed, Adams, Murphy, Brayford, Done, JCR, McNulty, Coutts. All of them (bar Done and Coutts who weren't here for the cup games) proved they are good footballers and turned in excellent performances against higher division opposition in the cups, in many games that we won. Most of them wide players or forwards, or players that are better going forwards than defending. Most of them have been under motivated under Adkins and moved on or dropped. These players were never the problem, it was the defensive types down the spine of the team that weren't up to the job.

All he had to do was bring in two centre halves (one who should have been the lynch pin centre half who won everything), someone with bite in midfield (a better version of Doyle) and an effective target man (a Davies without injury problems). All should have had leadership qualities and all could have been cherry picked from this division.

Instead he's pushed out a lot of the better players and brought in, on the whole, rubbish. Woolford and Sammon have been dreadful, Hammond and Edgar at best average, I'll reserve judgement on Baptiste and Sharp, although not brilliant, has been the best of a bad bunch. Adkins team now has the same problems with the spine of the team and lack of leadership that he inherited and has now pushed out most of the quality players, so we are left with a poor spine to the team, a lack of leadership and now (thanks to Adkins) a lack of quality.

Adkins has done nothing since he's been here that suggests the club is in safe hands while he butchers a squad that only really need additions down the spine of the team.