But we
have. Stats after 45 games don't lie.
https://www.the-newshub.com/football/why-the-stats-do-lie
Spot on. The last few games have masked the general and consistent shittiness of this season. Yesterday's result has been coming for some time. Like when we - extremely fortunately - beat Coventry at home it was another 'pull the rabbit out of the hat' game for Adkins. But the overall trend is there for all to see. This season has been a sorry saga of abject surrender, numerous defeats which - in isolation - would have any team hanging their heads in shame, but have become the norm for United.
Adkins' pathetic attempt to 'change it' has seen 'awkward' players shipped out. When I see a bench consisting of the likes of D C-L, Sammon, Reed etc., are you seriously saying that McNulty wouldn't be a better option? But no. Adkins is 'The Boss' (except where it comes to fitness, tactics and results). He'd probably ship Dele Alli out... And Bob Harris? Worse than the stiffs currently playing?
That's why we have 'no depth'. Like the board, he's lost players (easy) without adequately replacing them (much more difficult).
'Barely had any money to spend?' And, Wigan apart, which teams in the play-offs have a bigger budget, resources, crowds, 'pull factor' than United?
As much as I disliked Clough and his tactics, there
were signs of 'something' there. With Adkins? Nothing. From the utter cave-in on the opening day at Gillingham to yesterday's no-show,
these were typical Adkins performances and have book-ended a season which has included defeats to Bury (twice), Colchester and Shrewsbury at home, Port Vale, Crewe, Rochdale and Southend among others. All teams, to quote you, with 'barely any money to spend'.
The default position for Adkins-defenders is 'who would do a better job?' That's not the point. If NA is in place when the 2016-17 season starts in about thirteen weeks time, there will be as much chance of relegation as promotion, based on his lamentable performance this season. Do you think that's acceptable?
The 'net benefit' of having Adkins around probably shaved 3-4k off next Sunday's crowd with the capitulation at Coventry. We've proved that we'll turn up at the drop of a hat but that won't happen next season so Adkins has become a liability. The much-needed cull has to start with NA or we'll be having this conversation in 12 months' time.