Adkins Interview Ahead of Blackpool (A)

[William Henry Foulkes]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03gk26v

• weather might be an issue in the game
• Blackpool in form, 5 v Scunthorpe so we'll need to work hard
• we've got goalscorers
• Q: Game in doubt? A: Everyone will want the game to go ahead
• Blackpool on the up as McDonald stamps his authority on the team
• we need a victory
• should be a good game
• Q: JTW? A: Gonna be a busy week
• need to reduce squad size
• we have a team who can do well - I read this as an important message to the players that if we don't get someone in you're still good enough
• has to be the right player - don't want to bring someone in and then wonder why you paid so much for him
• Q: Reflections on the Swindon game? A: Their goal offside - but really not making an issue of it - all part of the challenge - I agree
• could've scored three when we matched their diamond - can only remember one
• Q: How much do you consider the opposition when you set up [very good question] A: talks about how different teams play [this is a feature of this division and maybe contributes to the random results when mismatched systems meet and neither adapts]
• likes the diamond, but it can leave you exposed at the back - I think Bergen Blade mentioned sthg along these lines
• mentions again looking to get a turnover and a 2v2 against Swindon
• need to trust subs
• Q: Boos? A: Everyone entitled to their opinion, not an issue - mentions leaving it till after the game, reality is we've been down here a long time and there's frustration
• Q: Bash? A: Several players playing with niggles
• wants smaller squad with everyone contributing and desiring to take their chance when it arises
• Billy 7 in 7 - mentions Done 2 at Wigan - again I think this is very good man management, keeps the focus on the team, not one player
• have to manage players in the short term so they are available long term - compare and contrast Clough's treatment of Coutts
• need to find a balance in the way we play
• in the end it's about winning - I think the grinds may be a feature of the rest of the season - unless a posse of exciting, dynamic, pacey midfielders leap in through the open JTW

 

[Keen Blade]

How anyone can listen to the rubbish from NA any more just escapes me.

Last time I went to Blackpool we lost 3-0 and the keener away fans were so incensed with our performance they actually offered physical violence to Stephen Quinn & Chris Morgan when they came over to applaud our loyalty.

I hope history won't be repeated , but that man-mountain hulk Ichpeazu destroyed us at Port Vale......

 

[Roygbiv]

Not sure what to make of Adkins at the moment in terms of what he's thinking. I hope that he is fully aware we have an extremely poor squad with one or two exceptions and that's why we are playing in such a negative way. I hope he believes he can't trust this set of players to do anything other than grind out results because that means he knows how bad we are and that gives me hope for the future .

The worst case scenario is that he likes this set up, these players and isn't simply playing how we are due to necessity. If he manages to get us up with the current players and board then for me he will have done a truly incredible job

 

[ThatJa]

Positive
Was a good game that, wasn't it?
Should be a good game
We need to united together

Same owd shit every week. You can talk as well as you like, if you're team aren't performing, the book gets thrown at you and nobody else, regardless of how you speak.

 

[Bladesman]

To sum up some of the dross need to be offloaded so we can sign a better calibre of player.

I don't think he has that much faith in this squad at all but can't do much about it. He is just hoping that he can offload some players this week.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

'It's like everything...............'

 

[PeteBlade]

I'm really not sure what some people expect of the manager.

He, like every football manager, has to give 2-3 interviews per week, some planned, some right after the heat of battle and some people are expecting him to be an accomplished public speaker who tells the fans exactly what they want to hear.

He's going to say things you don't like, he's going to see a game of football differently to you, he's going to bullshit a bit, to protect his players or to deflect from the team.

Get over it.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

To sum up some of the dross need to be offloaded so we can sign a better calibre of player.

I don't think he has that much faith in this squad at all but can't do much about it. He is just hoping that he can offload some players this week.

Unfortunately many of Adkins' signings have added to the dross.

 

[Wards]

Appreciate the summary as I simply can't listen to his interviews anymore. They do make an excellent cure for insomnia however.

 

[stringjunior]

I'm really not sure what some people expect of the manager.

He, like every football manager, has to give 2-3 interviews per week, some planned, some right after the heat of battle and some people are expecting him to be an accomplished public speaker who tells the fans exactly what they want to hear.

He's going to say things you don't like, he's going to see a game of football differently to you, he's going to bullshit a bit, to protect his players or to deflect from the team.

Get over it.

Have a thousand likes.

 

[Esablade]

I think Adkins is giving a lot more than previous managers in interviews, as we see when William Henry Foulkes breaks it down to the bare bones. ( cheers btw)

As PeteBlade says, what do fans expect him to say, " yeah, they were fucking shit that (______) was awful in particular"

Until he can get shut, he's got to rely on these players for his job/our success...poor bugger!

 

[Tezza1889]

I'm hoping that Adkins will emulate Dorothy in the wizard of ozz, because before I saw it as a kid everybody raves about it how good it was, then it started and it was dull boring and shit, then a big storm erupted and somebody dropped a house on the witch, Dorothy comes out and it's all shiny and new, in full colour and amazing, a classic, Dorothy turns cowards into lions, gives tin men the heart to push on to the emerald city where a victory in the playoffs is realised against all odds...

I'm either having an episode right now, or it's an uncanny analogy... Is mcabe the witch, is Collins the scarecrow who falls to bits in the box, is scougall toto..

What I do know, this isn't Nigel Adkins anymore, it's a version of Adkins under the constraints and pressures of managing this club, possibly the hardest job in football at the moment.... And like Dorothy, he hasn't got a pot to piss in..

 

[Wards]

I'm hoping that Adkins will emulate Dorothy in the wizard of ozz, because before I saw it as a kid everybody raves about it how good it was, then it started and it was dull boring and shit, then a big storm erupted and somebody dropped a house on the witch, Dorothy comes out and it's all shiny and new, in full colour and amazing, a classic, Dorothy turns cowards into lions, gives tin men the heart to push on to the emerald city where a victory in the playoffs is realised against all odds...

I'm either having an episode right now, or it's an uncanny analogy... Is mcabe the witch, is Collins the scarecrow who falls to bits in the box, is scougall toto..

What I do know, this isn't Nigel Adkins anymore, it's a version of Adkins under the constraints and pressures of managing this club, possibly the hardest job in football at the moment.... And like Dorothy, he hasn't got a pot to piss in..

Have a like for being batshit mental

 

[Treeton Blade]

 

[Tezza1889]

Got in off nights and I'm tired and having a few glasses of jack n Coke before I go to bed... Now where's that post about being pissed, and posting...

It'll be Charlie bucket tomorrow at this rate if we don't sign a centre half..

 

[Jehovah]

The whole club can bollocks for not sorting the defence out. Still the most amazing balls up in the history of massive balls ups.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

• Q: Reflections on the Swindon game? A: Their goal offside - but really not making an issue of it - all part of the challenge - I agree

Not making an issue of it? Was I listening to a different interview? He practically near enough screamed at Staton about it! Big frustration displayed – quite enjoyed hearing it actually.

More was also explained on the type of players he's after, expanding on the Kennedy/Wallace issues on reliability – wants people in that will reliably contribute to 40 games plus in a season, and who might just need a rest every once in a while rather than being regularly out. Consistency in selection within a smaller squad of higher quality is the aim.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

I'm really not sure what some people expect of the manager.

He, like every football manager, has to give 2-3 interviews per week, some planned, some right after the heat of battle and some people are expecting him to be an accomplished public speaker who tells the fans exactly what they want to hear.

He's going to say things you don't like, he's going to see a game of football differently to you, he's going to bullshit a bit, to protect his players or to deflect from the team.

Get over it.

Pete , agree and well put .

I think the issue which is rubbing fans up the wrong way with the Adkins interviews is the continual position of him being economical with the truth and the creative accounting of the game . This is not Adkins fault but the players putting him in a embarrassing position with performances and his duty to protect them both individually and collectively . The best thing for Adkins and us fans is that we start again with the squad building in the summer , but in the mean time , he has to coax the players with motivation and praise in public , as we might , just might get in the play offs and win them.

The real talking will be done behind closed doors , not in front of a microphone.

UTB

 

[Bartleby]

And like Dorothy, he hasn't got a pot to piss in..

not something you read on a football forum every day

 

[Baxter]

More was also explained on the type of players he's after, expanding on the Kennedy/Wallace issues on reliability – wants people in that will reliably contribute to 40 games plus in a season, and who might just need a rest every once in a while rather than being regularly out. Consistency in selection within a smaller squad of higher quality is the aim.

This to me is another tick for Adkins in the Nigel v Nigel debate. I've all but forgotten the days of last season when the starting 11 was harder to predict than the weekly lottery numbers and although far from perfect, in recent weeks with more of a settled side in place results have seen something of an improvement.

Cliches and relentless positivity aside, I have sympathy for Adkins in that Phipps and co seemingly expected him to make a Maldini out of McEverley and a Shearer out of Sammon without the need for any further squad strengthening.
I think he's in for a tough few months slogging it out with our average bunch but the guy needs time. Warnock took years to achieve a squad capable of promotion and if it takes a couple of years for Adkins to build his own and rid us of this lowly position I hope we show a bit of patience and allow it to happen.

 

[bladesadviser]

I'm really not sure what some people expect of the manager.

He, like every football manager, has to give 2-3 interviews per week, some planned, some right after the heat of battle and some people are expecting him to be an accomplished public speaker who tells the fans exactly what they want to hear.

He's going to say things you don't like, he's going to see a game of football differently to you, he's going to bullshit a bit, to protect his players or to deflect from the team.

Get over it.

Peter I agree with everything you say however what grinds on a lot of us is that he says "honest and hard working bunch" in nearly every interview and its totally irrelevant after saying it once

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Anyway to the game, expecting the same struggling performance that we always seem to put in against bottom 4 sides.

 

[Keen Blade]

have you noticed how windy it is today on the west coast when you come out of the amusement arcades ?

now then , I would describe Ikpeazu as "high-sided vehicle" ................

I'm hoping he gets blown over the promenade before getting to Bloomfield Road this evening !

Because if Blackpool saw how he walked unimpeded through our defence at Port Vale , they will play him.

NEIL Armstrong & Michael COLLINS were 2 of the first 3 men on the moon.

And the moon is where Neil Collins will want to be later tonight !

 

[BushBlade]

This to me is another tick for Adkins in the Nigel v Nigel debate. I've all but forgotten the days of last season when the starting 11 was harder to predict than the weekly lottery numbers and although far from perfect, in recent weeks with more of a settled side in place results have seen something of an improvement.

Cliches and relentless positivity aside, I have sympathy for Adkins in that Phipps and co seemingly expected him to make a Maldini out of McEverley and a Shearer out of Sammon without the need for any further squad strengthening.
I think he's in for a tough few months slogging it out with our average bunch but the guy needs time. Warnock took years to achieve a squad capable of promotion and if it takes a couple of years for Adkins to build his own and rid us of this lowly position I hope we show a bit of patience and allow it to happen.

So do I but the knee jerker who runs the club will sack him in November if we aren't in the top two. Then we'll go through the same shit with another manager until that poor fucker gets the sack too.

 

[Blade58]

Reading the following in that particular order looks to me like he's given the game away

Ah well, stroll on the loan window, although I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned it today in his interview

• Q: JTW? A: Gonna be a busy week
• need to reduce squad size
• we have a team who can do well - I read this as an important message to the players that if we don't get someone in you're still good enough
• has to be the right player - don't want to bring someone in and then wonder why you paid so much for him
  
  
  
  

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

I'm hoping that Adkins will emulate Dorothy in the wizard of ozz, because before I saw it as a kid everybody raves about it how good it was, then it started and it was dull boring and shit, then a big storm erupted and somebody dropped a house on the witch, Dorothy comes out and it's all shiny and new, in full colour and amazing, a classic, Dorothy turns cowards into lions, gives tin men the heart to push on to the emerald city where a victory in the playoffs is realised against all odds...

I'm either having an episode right now, or it's an uncanny analogy... Is mcabe the witch, is Collins the scarecrow who falls to bits in the box, is scougall toto..

What I do know, this isn't Nigel Adkins anymore, it's a version of Adkins under the constraints and pressures of managing this club, possibly the hardest job in football at the moment.... And like Dorothy, he hasn't got a pot to piss in..

If Scougall isn't Toto, then he's a munchkin...

(P.S. Louis Reed's on the left.)

 

[billyblademan]

More was also explained on the type of players he's after, expanding on the Kennedy/Wallace issues on reliability – wants people in that will reliably contribute to 40 games plus in a season, and who might just need a rest every once in a while rather than being regularly out. Consistency in selection within a smaller squad of higher quality is the aim.

Clough said the same. Didn't he once say something about having 19/20 core first team players?

 

[Bartleby]

Reading the following in that particular order looks to me like he's given the game away

Ah well, stroll on the loan window, although I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned it today in his interview

• Q: JTW? A: Gonna be a busy week
• need to reduce squad size
• we have a team who can do well - I read this as an important message to the players that if we don't get someone in you're still good enough
• has to be the right player - don't want to bring someone in and then wonder why you paid so much for him

I thought that as well -

• Q: JTW? A: Gonna be a busy week - need to reduce squad size

 

[Bartleby]

Cliches and relentless positivity aside, I have sympathy for Adkins in that Phipps and co seemingly expected him to make a Maldini out of McEverley and a Shearer out of Sammon without the need for any further squad strengthening.

although Adkins did sign Sammon

Warnock took years to achieve a squad capable of promotion and if it takes a couple of years for Adkins to build his own and rid us of this lowly position I hope we show a bit of patience and allow it to happen.

Absolutely agree, though we were in the Championship when Warnock took over rather than starting our 5th season in League 1, which is the problem really.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

although Adkins did sign Sammon

By choice? Or by fiat from above?