Adkins Interview Ahead of Crewe (H)

[William Henry Foulkes]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03npvd0

Main points for me were something about youngsters and a pathway, and several (other) indications that he's beginning to be able to impose his plan on the club.

The part about Adams at the end was interesting as well. As we've been saying all season he's clearly a work in progress both in terms of talent and professionalism.

No questions about Evans.

• looking forward to the game
• need a victory
• they need a victory
• creating chances - I think he means opportunities to get on the end of...
• 33 crosses at Millwall
• dominated possession - the crosses fair enough, though we didn't get on the end of many - but the possession they let us have
• better at Millwall than against Oldham - can't agree with that: for me Millwall nearly as bad as Bury - the only difference was it was sunnier
• looking to dominate the play and build - sounds like this is part of the overall strategy developing, but didn't we go counterattacking in a very recent home game after going ahead, anyway it sounds like he feels this part of the long term plan is coming together
• still striving for final play off position got to take it as far as we can - interesting turn of phrase, which maybe means 'not giving up till it's arithmetically impossible but realistically that's probably going to happen at some point'
• anyone can beat anyone
• we have to play teams in and around us
• Millwall - supporters top drawer [ours not theirs] - true dat
• Oldham - support excellent [ours not theirs]
• confidence and belief about the players
• need to put the ball in the back of the net
• very close at this moment in time - the way he said this I take as another sign that he thinks things are progressing - maybe the loans out, pruning the squad means Project Positive Nige is entering a building phase as opposed to digging out the foundations phase where things go down before they go up - I expect an animation of the parable of The Wise and Foolish Builders* to be shown at one of the fans forums...to universal acclaim
• think about go and win the next game
• we now have more control over the game - again indication of the Grand Plan
• keep believing - has experience of scoring in last minute of last game, sneaking into play-offs and getting promoted from there - has this really happened?
• Baptiste not on Satdi but not as bad as first thought - unfortunate though
• have to deal with it, happens to all teams - I think this is always a good point: you focus on the players you're missing, but all teams will be having these troubles
• working hard on loans - things been going on
• Q: Smile on your face implies you're expecting it
• A: Well it has to go over the line - it sounds like things are lined up but very hard to read either way, last week was much more downbeat on this front I thought. Does the club have PR specialist because expectation management is important here. If Adkins hasn't got something lined up then imo, for the sake of everyone's sanity, he should have downplayed this more. It's very easy to talk to the reporter in front of you, rather than see him in his professional capacity as one voice representing hundreds/thousands of fans.
• pathway for the youngsters (1)
• have to make sure system is not clogged up
• pathway for the youngsters (2)
• time for some senior players to move on
• those who are staying need to get game time
• pathway for the youngsters (3)
• Q: Is defence a priority bc the youngsters are attackers?
• Kelly gets a mention, along with the general idea of having young players in and around the first team [possibly showing them the pathway ] either in training or on the bench - makes a good point that a young player in attack/midfield can make a mistake or even several, but in defence or in goal it can be highlighted
• talks about balance between attack and defence
• Q: Start of the season you said "goals win games defences win championships". Do you regret not focusing more resources on defence? - mentions Collins and Edgar but doesn't really answera good question
• planning next pre-season: squad have to arrive at the start of next season in better mental and physical shape
• end of season review for longer term questions
• have you seen reaction from Ché
• talks about picking Sammon over Ché - this wasn't really what the question was about, clearly aware of the uneducated, ill-considered, blinkered, angry-mob, know-nothing-at-all-about-football reaction from nearly everyone, apart from 2 or 3 extremely insightful posters on here - and Conor's mum
• he's trained well Ché - mention him three times bc I've learned the alt code for é
• talk about Ché becoming more professional - the u20s have trained at BDTBL and he was part of the squad last time
• he will develop because we'll make sure he does
• need to add grit - a more general point about young players
• sometimes given everything on a plate, everyone tells you how good you are, but you have to earn that and not sit on your laurels

*http://request.org.uk/restart/2014/12/10/story-time-wise-foolish-builders/

 

[Kenilworth]

Cheers WHF - once again, saves me from allowing my ears to bleed listening to all that guff

 

[Sothall_Blade]

• planning next pre-season: squad have to arrive at the start of next season in better mental and physical shape

Well what wrong this pre-season then?
That excuse only works if you get appointed mid-season.
Adkins was appointed on 2nd June, 4 weeks before the first training session.
What is he going to do differently this season?

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

• planning next pre-season: squad have to arrive at the start of next season in better mental and physical shape

Well what wrong this pre-season then?
That excuse only works if you get appointed mid-season.
Adkins was appointed on 2nd June, 4 weeks before the first training session.
What is he going to do differently this season?

I thought that as well, wish the interviewer had asked him that.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I thought that as well, wish the interviewer had asked him that.

He forgot to mention what bad mental and physical shape the squad was in when he was getting all excited in mid-July:-

http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/sheffield-united-nigel-adkins-2544519.aspx

 

[Woodwardfan]

Pathway for youngsters!!. Not a single youngster in the team last Saturday

 

[UnitedBlade]

Pathway for youngsters!!. Not a single youngster in the team last Saturday

Very good point. One of the reasons people are losing faith in what he says before and after games.

Youngsters played well last week and he left them out. His incessant tinkering is getting us nowhere.

The other irritating thing at the moment is his insistence that 3-5-2 makes us a more attacking force: two shots on Saturday and 7 goals in the last 10 league games.

Who knows what he's going to go for on Friday.

 

[Esablade]

Pathway for youngsters!!. Not a single youngster in the team last Saturday

Segway for the youngsters...Segways!

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03npvd0

Main points for me were something about youngsters and a pathway, and several (other) indications that he's beginning to be able to impose his plan on the club.

The part about Adams at the end was interesting as well. As we've been saying all season he's clearly a work in progress both in terms of talent and professionalism.

No questions about Evans.

• looking forward to the game
• need a victory
• they need a victory
• creating chances - I think he means opportunities to get on the end of...
• 33 crosses at Millwall
• dominated possession - the crosses fair enough, though we didn't get on the end of many - but the possession they let us have
• better at Millwall than against Oldham - can't agree with that: for me Millwall nearly as bad as Bury - the only difference was it was sunnier
• looking to dominate the play and build - sounds like this is part of the overall strategy developing, but didn't we go counterattacking in a very recent home game after going ahead, anyway it sounds like he feels this part of the long term plan is coming together
• still striving for final play off position got to take it as far as we can - interesting turn of phrase, which maybe means 'not giving up till it's arithmetically impossible but realistically that's probably going to happen at some point'
• anyone can beat anyone
• we have to play teams in and around us
• Millwall - supporters top drawer [ours not theirs] - true dat
• Oldham - support excellent [ours not theirs]
• confidence and belief about the players
• need to put the ball in the back of the net
• very close at this moment in time - the way he said this I take as another sign that he thinks things are progressing - maybe the loans out, pruning the squad means Project Positive Nige is entering a building phase as opposed to digging out the foundations phase where things go down before they go up - I expect an animation of the parable of The Wise and Foolish Builders* to be shown at one of the fans forums...to universal acclaim
• think about go and win the next game
• we now have more control over the game - again indication of the Grand Plan
• keep believing - has experience of scoring in last minute of last game, sneaking into play-offs and getting promoted from there - has this really happened?
• Baptiste not on Satdi but not as bad as first thought - unfortunate though
• have to deal with it, happens to all teams - I think this is always a good point: you focus on the players you're missing, but all teams will be having these troubles
• working hard on loans - things been going on
• Q: Smile on your face implies you're expecting it
• A: Well it has to go over the line - it sounds like things are lined up but very hard to read either way, last week was much more downbeat on this front I thought. Does the club have PR specialist because expectation management is important here. If Adkins hasn't got something lined up then imo, for the sake of everyone's sanity, he should have downplayed this more. It's very easy to talk to the reporter in front of you, rather than see him in his professional capacity as one voice representing hundreds/thousands of fans.
• pathway for the youngsters (1)
• have to make sure system is not clogged up
• pathway for the youngsters (2)
• time for some senior players to move on
• those who are staying need to get game time
• pathway for the youngsters (3)
• Q: Is defence a priority bc the youngsters are attackers?
• Kelly gets a mention, along with the general idea of having young players in and around the first team [possibly showing them the pathway ] either in training or on the bench - makes a good point that a young player in attack/midfield can make a mistake or even several, but in defence or in goal it can be highlighted
• talks about balance between attack and defence
• Q: Start of the season you said "goals win games defences win championships". Do you regret not focusing more resources on defence? - mentions Collins and Edgar but doesn't really answera good question
• planning next pre-season: squad have to arrive at the start of next season in better mental and physical shape
• end of season review for longer term questions
• have you seen reaction from Ché
• talks about picking Sammon over Ché - this wasn't really what the question was about, clearly aware of the uneducated, ill-considered, blinkered, angry-mob, know-nothing-at-all-about-football reaction from nearly everyone, apart from 2 or 3 extremely insightful posters on here - and Conor's mum
• he's trained well Ché - mention him three times bc I've learned the alt code for é
• talk about Ché becoming more professional - the u20s have trained at BDTBL and he was part of the squad last time
• he will develop because we'll make sure he does
• need to add grit - a more general point about young players
• sometimes given everything on a plate, everyone tells you how good you are, but you have to earn that and not sit on your laurels

*http://request.org.uk/restart/2014/12/10/story-time-wise-foolish-builders/

Thanks appreciated . Usual positive from Adkins . Wish I could believe and buy into Adkins but we just do not win enough football matches and not got better from day one at Gillingham.

End of season review and lessons learnt to be carried out by Adkins - the guy thinks performances are ok but not winning games .

Pound to a penny we don't get any other loan players coming in.

Standards and values - don't think the players are buying in to Adkins , are they confused and baffled as we are.

Piss poor season and a complete waste of time with zero positives to come out of it . Wish Adkins would be up front and less political economical with the truth , in all his interviews . Fuck me if I was from planet Kapac and just landed on planet earth , I would think we were in the premiership and battling for the top four slots , or LCFC but the goals had dried up.

May be worth listening to some of them interviews on BBC Radio Reading - bring a smile in troubled times.

UTB

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

That excuse only works if you get appointed mid-season.

Excuse?

One point would be the mental shape of the players. This you don't know till they play competitive games.

Physically we also had players who, even when as fit as they could be, were not physically capable of what Adkins wants of them eg Baxter (who was noticeably fitter this season, but still not up to the job) and I would say Coutts.

Then there are the injury-prone, which from interviews I would say Adkins assesses as Wallace obviously, Bob, Freeman, Scoogs, and maybe others.

So we need a fitter stronger squad. Seems sensible.

Call it an excuse if you like - sounds like a reasonable assessment of where we were with what we had.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Pathway for youngsters!!. Not a single youngster in the team last Saturday

Agreed I do think that was because of the particular challenge of Millwall.

DCL, Kelly, and Whiteman were in the squad (worthwhile in terms of career development), and Ché came on.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Pathway for youngsters!!. Not a single youngster in the team last Saturday

So simple and so glaringly obvious that majority of us , I think missed the most relevant issue of the lot .

Well done Woody , and wish he was asked that simple but most important question.

Somebody needs to relay that to Adkins to see what the political reply would be from him. No doubt the man will have a tozzing answer or excuse .

UTB

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

Very good point. One of the reasons people are losing faith in what he says before and after games.

Youngsters played well last week and he left them out. His incessant tinkering is getting us nowhere.

The other irritating thing at the moment is his insistence that 3-5-2 makes us a more attacking force: two shots on Saturday and 7 goals in the last 10 league games.

Who knows what he's going to go for on Friday.

3-5-2 is a big red flag for me. When a manager turns to that system, at this level, I do get worried.

With the exception of Bristol city the other year, Juventus, Chelsea in the late 90's and Holland at the last World Cup I can't think of many examples of when a team playing 3-5-2 has been successful over a prolonged period. It's such a difficult system to play and relies on top quality center halves and wing backs, of which we only have one decent player in those 5 positions - John Brayford.

Unless you've got quality center halves, who are mobile and are happy getting pulled into wide areas, it's never going to work. Scary that that's his current system of choice when we don't have any center halves!

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Excuse?

One point would be the mental shape of the players. This you don't know till they play competitive games.

Physically we also had players who, even when as fit as they could be, were not physically capable of what Adkins wants of them eg Baxter (who was noticeably fitter this season, but still not up to the job) and I would say Coutts.

Then there are the injury-prone, which from interviews I would say Adkins assesses as Wallace obviously, Bob, Freeman, Scoogs, and maybe others.

So we need a fitter stronger squad. Seems sensible.

Call it an excuse if you like - sounds like a reasonable assessment of where we were with what we had.

Again you're talking as though Adkins took over in mid-September with no opportunity to assess the squad. To decide which players weren't mentally and physically capable enough for him and bring in players who were.

He was waxing lyrical about how all the players had "conducted themselves excellently" and to underline how satisfied he was, he didn't offload a single unwanted player from his "bloated" squad until well into the new season.

He dragged players like McFadzean, JCR and Diego back from the exit door and then hardly played them. He built his new team around self-centred egotists like Collins and Coutts and shaped his formation(s) to accommodate the physically incapable Baxter and Coutts (again).

But none of that was his fault because he had a mere 8 weeks before the first transfer window slammed shut? What was he supposed to do last Summer? Make tough managerial decisions and make sure his squad were physically and mentally prepared?

 

[Baxter]

• planning next pre-season: squad have to arrive at the start of next season in better mental and physical shape

Well what wrong this pre-season then?
That excuse only works if you get appointed mid-season.
Adkins was appointed on 2nd June, 4 weeks before the first training session.
What is he going to do differently this season?

I think he may be referring to the overall attitude of the players. I seem to remember Scougall suggesting that having to report back for the new season was a real hinderance and that he'd prefer to still be on his holidays with the new girlfriend. Hopefully come next season we have a squad of players who can't wait to get started, whatever division we're in.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I think he may be referring to the overall attitude of the players. I seem to remember Scougall suggesting that having to report back for the new season was a real hinderance and that he'd prefer to still be on his holidays with the new girlfriend. Hopefully come next season we have a squad of players who can't wait to get started, whatever division we're in.

Really, I hadn't heard that.

If true, should a strong manager have made an example of Scougall and bombed him out at the earliest opportunity? Or leave him hanging around on the fringes of the first team squad until mid-March?

 

[alcoblade]

Again you're talking as though Adkins took over in mid-September with no opportunity to assess the squad. To decide which players weren't mentally and physically capable enough for him and bring in players who were.

He was waxing lyrical about how all the players had "conducted themselves excellently" and to underline how satisfied he was, he didn't offload a single unwanted player from his "bloated" squad until well into the new season.

He dragged players like McFadzean, JCR and Diego back from the exit door and then hardly played them. He built his new team around self-centred egotists like Collins and Coutts and shaped his formation(s) to accommodate the physically incapable Baxter and Coutts (again).

But none of that was his fault because he had a mere 8 weeks before the first transfer window slammed shut? What was he supposed to do last Summer? Make tough managerial decisions and make sure his squad were physically and mentally prepared?

You can't fully judge his assessment of the existing squad without fully understanding what his options were.

Given the lack of transfers in for the entire season, even after the sale of our prime asset, you could easily biils a case that his actions, and associated PR, were heavily affected by this.

"Conducting themselves excellently" is just meaningless bullishit that managers use, Adkins more than most. We should learn to care less about such fluff.

UTB

 

[blade67]

not even bothered to read your summary.

As another poster (apologies, can't remember who) regularly states, what they say means FA, they've all been to media school and either say nowt or mislead on purpose. All that matters is how well his team performs on the pitch

 

[Newbury Blade]

• he's trained well Ché - mention him three times bc I've learned the alt code for é
• If only Che actually had an accent in his name.

 

[Baxter]

Really, I hadn't heard that.

If true, should a strong manager have made an example of Scougall and bombed him out at the earliest opportunity? Or leave him hanging around on the fringes of the first team squad until mid-March?

I seem to remember seeing a tweet from him along those lines and feeling a bit miffed. In regards to bombing out, Adkins took the approach of a clean slate for all which I guess will always divide opinion on whether right or wrong. As he's only recent left us for the mighty Fleetwood, it may well be that once his opportunity had passed there wasn't a long line of clubs queuing up for his services and they were the first to take him of our hands. All speculative though I admit.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

• he's trained well Ché - mention him three times bc I've learned the alt code for é
• If only Che actually had an accent in his name.

His Twitter account does and I've based it on that

https://twitter.com/Che29Adams

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Again you're talking as though Adkins took over in mid-September with no opportunity to assess the squad. To decide which players weren't mentally and physically capable enough for him and bring in players who were.

He was waxing lyrical about how all the players had "conducted themselves excellently" and to underline how satisfied he was, he didn't offload a single unwanted player from his "bloated" squad until well into the new season.

He dragged players like McFadzean, JCR and Diego back from the exit door and then hardly played them. He built his new team around self-centred egotists like Collins and Coutts and shaped his formation(s) to accommodate the physically incapable Baxter and Coutts (again).

But none of that was his fault because he had a mere 8 weeks before the first transfer window slammed shut? What was he supposed to do last Summer? Make tough managerial decisions and make sure his squad were physically and mentally prepared?

Hmmm: waxing lyrical, dragged players back from the exit door, slammed shut, tough managerial decisions.

So we should have added to our cast of thousands with midfielders to replace Baxter (maybe Adkins should've spiked Baxter's drink and offloaded him that way - now there's a thought) and Coutts and a CH to replace Collins. Anyone any good would've presumably cost money in transfer fees and wages: "straight into the first team" and all that.

Looks like the remit was prune the squad, build fitter, leaner and long term. We've started that process. End of 2016 pre-season hopefully we'll have a squad fitter mentally and physically than at the start of this season. (Maybe we can play better football too.)

Seems realistic and reasonable to me.

UTMB

Pre-season at Shirecliffe

 

[Champagneblade]

3-5-2 is a big red flag for me. When a manager turns to that system, at this level, I do get worried.

With the exception of Bristol city the other year, Juventus, Chelsea in the late 90's and Holland at the last World Cup I can't think of many examples of when a team playing 3-5-2 has been successful over a prolonged period. It's such a difficult system to play and relies on top quality center halves and wing backs, of which we only have one decent player in those 5 positions - John Brayford.

Unless you've got quality center halves, who are mobile and are happy getting pulled into wide areas, it's never going to work. Scary that that's his current system of choice when we don't have any center halves!

I would say this is potentially a legitimate system when you have just sold your best player who happens to be a winger and not adequately replaced him. Unfortunately we spent most of the season trying to play the same system or variations, without him. We've come to 3-5-2 simply because results have not been good under other formations and it was the next on the list of things to try. It doesn't seem to emanate from any particular vision or evaluation of the playing staff's abilities.

Which to me is a concern. Anyone from the Kop could come along and randomly try things. You expect a little more from a guy taking home circa 500k per annum.

 

[MobileBlade]

3-5-2 is a big red flag for me. When a manager turns to that system, at this level, I do get worried.

With the exception of Bristol city the other year, Juventus, Chelsea in the late 90's and Holland at the last World Cup I can't think of many examples of when a team playing 3-5-2 has been successful over a prolonged period. It's such a difficult system to play and relies on top quality center halves and wing backs, of which we only have one decent player in those 5 positions - John Brayford.

Unless you've got quality center halves, who are mobile and are happy getting pulled into wide areas, it's never going to work. Scary that that's his current system of choice when we don't have any center halves!

You missed Sheffield United 1998 from the list. You should remember it,; you were the wing-back. Until the board did their business.

Oh, and thanks for the mention

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

You missed Sheffield United 1998 from the list. You should remember it,; you were the wing-back. Until the board did their business.

Oh, and thanks for the mention

Ha ha, I was going to put that, but it only lasted 5 months until it was sabotaged! What a team that was, even Wayne Quinn got a call up to the England B squad! Dane whitehouse playing the inside left role, David Holdsworth playing out of the back. What were the board thinking dismantling that squad!

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I would say this is potentially a legitimate system when you have just sold your best player who happens to be a winger and not adequately replaced him. Unfortunately we spent most of the season trying to play the same system or variations, without him. We've come to 3-5-2 simply because results have not been good under other formations and it was the next on the list of things to try. It doesn't seem to emanate from any particular vision or evaluation of the playing staff's abilities.

Which to me is a concern. Anyone from the Kop could come along and randomly try things. You expect a little more from a guy taking home circa 500k per annum.

Except of course he wasn't *randomly trying things*.


There had been plenty of moaning about "Negative Nige". Part of Positive Nige's remit was to change the style of football. We went 4-4-2 with a 4-5-1 squad.

We won 4 in a row but we kept on getting picked off - especially at home. One big problem despite the focus on the defence was, and remains, taking our chances.

Etc etc.

It obviously wasn't random.

 

[super_pig]

We've come to 3-5-2 simply because results have not been good under other formations and it was the next on the list of things to try. It doesn't seem to emanate from any particular vision or evaluation of the playing staff's abilities.

naah.. it's dem tottenham stylee innit? it's happenin' man

 

[sheffielder]

We have the players to play 352 however as champagne says you need ball playing centre backs on either side. We have that with mceverley, however Brayford should be on the other side. Play basham in the centre who has the ability to come out with the ball centrally or step into midfield. Play Flynn and done at wing back

You should also be able to play 3 ball players in midfield with Whiteman Reed and cuvellier.

This team is built for next season already so Adkins needs to stop being clever and drop players who won't be with us / not helping this year such as all our loan players including Edgar. I know we can't get rid as they are here till the end of the season but we won't miss any of them.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Should Alex come along and take back three points to Crewe, how many clubs will have done "the double" over us this season?

 

[UnitedBlade]

Should Alex come along and take back three points to Crewe, how many clubs will have done "the double" over us this season?

They'd be the third along with Bury and Millwall.

We've done the double over the mighty Doncaster.