Adkins Interview Ahead of Wigan (H) - and after the JNTW

[William Henry Foulkes]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03hj7ck

Long interview (24:03) - but Andy Giddings tends to go on a bit of a tour with his questions, and Adkins repeatedly reinforces very strong positive messages about: the grit, spirit, hunger, desire and determination of the players, and that the aim is promotion this season.

AG: "There's been a lot of frustration that there weren't any signings, what's your stamp on what happened, or didn't happen, in the latter stages of the January transfer window?" []

• wasn't through a lack of endeavour
• we've lost two League games in three months
• need to support the players [Yes we do.]
• important to highlight that they are having a right go for each other [they are]
• there is spirit and desire [a focus on JTW has the subliminal message of we're not good enough, he does right to emphasise the positives we have]
• realised at about 5-6pm it wasn't going to happen
• have to make sure you don't panic and buy for the sake of buying
• 18 games left, still a possibility of promotion
• Q: Do you think you get adequate support? A: We put money on the table for targets who had been identified for a long time, done the due diligence, young, hungry ambitious players from above and below. (Also mentions and rejects possible criticism of setting sights too high.) Owners have a strong desire to get back to the PL. There's also a strong desire to do well now. Money has been spent across the club. We want to get out of this division and make sure we never come back here again. So there's a short term and a long term plan.
• aim to have 50% of first team as Academy players mentioned
• Q: Jim mentioned 3 JTWs implication this season is a write-off A: There's a definite desire to get us promoted this season.
• I am more than happy to carry the burden of expectation - the buck stops with me - I will lead from the front
• made it clear it's in everybody's interests to be part of a promotion winning team
• loan - maybe one of the targets will become a loan
• three were tracked for a while then, eg, either got into the team or a new manager arrived
• they were realistic targets to help promotion - a shame
• Q: Dan Burn A: Have to be careful when you are talking about other clubs' players
• also important we kept our players
  
• may happen but no specific plans for loans out
• excellent training today has to be taken into the game
• Q: Is the job harder than you expected? A: Crosby and Wilkins doing a good job. Wanted/Wants to play a certain way but had to adapt and go more solid, have to take that on into wins, be on the front foot, adapt a little bit more, turn draws into wins. otoh that's cost us before
• Q: What about the naysayers? A: We have to keep believing. Take the bull by the horns.
• need the supporters to get behind the team during the game [very strong on this] it can be an unbelievable arena to play football in, can drive the players on - come the final whistle that's the time for the criticism
• supporters, players, owners, manager share a common goal
• no injuries, Bob gets a mention

 

[ziggy4001]

Thanks for the summary, I can't really stand his radio interviews.

 

[Chezzy Blades]

Thanks WHF, there were some interesting points from Adkins in between his repetitive positive spin.

If we have no injuries, I wonder why Kieran Wallace hasn't played for the first team or U21's at all since signing his new contract? (apologies if he played Monday, I didn't see the line up v Huddersfield)

 

[Danny_Blade]

Thanks for the summary, I can't really stand his radio interviews.

Agree, I think he poses his questions in a really lame manner.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Thanks WHF, there were some interesting points from Adkins in between his repetitive positive spin.

If we have no injuries, I wonder why Kieran Wallace hasn't played for the first team or U21's at all since signing his new contract? (apologies if he played Monday, I didn't see the line up v Huddersfield)

The way I see it he's not played for the first team bc McEveley's been playing well. Also despite his attributes going forward he did have a tendency to be wander horribly I think. Maybe this is why Woolford has been used as cover, for all his limitations he is generally disciplined. Why he's not in the u21s I'm not so sure.

 

[Chezzy Blades]

The way I see it he's not played for the first team bc McEveley's been playing well. Also despite his attributes going forward he did have a tendency to be wander horribly I think. Maybe this is why Woolford has been used as cover, for all his limitations he is generally disciplined. Why he's not in the u21s I'm not so sure.

I agree that McEveley has been playing well and wouldn't consider dropping him at the moment but it seems odd he can't even get on the bench and/or U21 football. I think if Harris is fit i'd be inclined to play him in front of JMac on Saturday, it isn't his natural position but I feel he delivers a better cross than Woolford (corners aside) and will get down the line, and he should theoretically offer decent cover for McEveley against their wing back Daniels.

 

[PeteBlade]

He's very much toeing the party line, which I suppose he has to.

I think the club should ban all talk about getting back into the premier league. We're such a country mile away from achieving promotion from this league, it's ridiculous to talk about promotion from the league above. And should by some miracle we do get out of this league and they take the same approach, it'll be another half decade before we can start thinking about promotion again.

He 'hopes' one of these three alleged perm signings 'may' become a loan, which realistically means none of them will.

 

[Bladesman]

He seemed to contradict Jim and didn't seem to believe that it will take "3 transfer windows to sort this squad out".

There was a bit of a hint that Adkins isn't entirely happy with the situation behind the scenes. Not sure he appreciated the message Jim had sent out.

 

[Blade56]

Maybe one, maybe not!

Held on to our players - that must have been a reight battle

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

He seemed to contradict Jim and didn't seem to believe that it will take "3 transfer windows to sort this squad out".

There was a bit of a hint that Adkins isn't entirely happy with the situation behind the scenes. Not sure he appreciated the message Jim had sent out.

Not the way I heard it.

I do think this was one occasion when Jim could have been less open - but he's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

Giddings did his job and asked about any conflict - but Adkins repeated the owners' ambitions for the club several times and mentioned the money that has been spent.

The overriding message throughout was support the team. I think it's a good message.

 

[breeny]

Adkins has become plastic and cliched.

I can't bare his spin, he's in good company with jimbob.

Terrible mess isn't it, at least we are reducing the wage bill.

the club is currently in the wrong hands. A fan buy out is pie in the sky though...

 

[robbiez666]

[QUOTE="William Henry Foulkes, post: 929248, member: 15482"s' players]

• also important we kept our players

[/QUOTE]

Nope, it really wasn't.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Not the way I heard it.

I do think this was one occasion when Jim could have been less open - but he's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

Giddings did his job and asked about any conflict - but Adkins repeated the owners' ambitions for the club several times and mentioned the money that has been spent.

The overriding message throughout was support the team. I think it's a good message.

You're spot on Mr foulkes the message was support the team some on here don't seem to get that which is disappointing

 

[PeteBlade]

You're spot on Mr foulkes the message was support the team some on here don't seem to get that which is disappointing

The company line probably is.
Shame the board don't support the manager.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Thanks WHF, there were some interesting points from Adkins in between his repetitive positive spin.

If we have no injuries, I wonder why Kieran Wallace hasn't played for the first team or U21's at all since signing his new contract? (apologies if he played Monday, I didn't see the line up v Huddersfield)

He did mention Wallace had an hamstring problem

 

[finlaytheblade]

Adkins has become plastic and cliched.

I can't bare his spin, he's in good company with jimbob.

Terrible mess isn't it, at least we are reducing the wage bill.

the club is currently in the wrong hands. A fan buy out is pie in the sky though...

So apart from being plastic Adkins is a yes man is he ,where will that take him!! what a joke

 

[Sean Thornton]

The. " make sure you don't panic " is confusing.

Surely the targets are identified with, possibly, a second choice for each if them?

Why would an experienced professional worry about panicking and signing someone he didn't really want.

Waffle and filler.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Really enjoyed this interview, particularly his remarks about the profile of players he's chasing which, imo, represent longer term planning. Also liked how he repudiated the negative implications of Phipps' comments stressing his desire, and the possibility, of going up this season. Credit (for once) to radio pig for giving a United manager longer than a few minutes to communicate with us, whilst the incumbent pig drones on week after week.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

To miss out on all 3 targets is poor - and suggests that we are continuing to make unrealistic bids and trying to do things on the cheap. With our crowds we should have real financial muscle at this level but we don't. Our owners seem more concerned about balancing the books than driving us forward.
It really is shite.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

The. " make sure you don't panic " is confusing.

Surely the targets are identified with, possibly, a second choice for each if them?

Why would an experienced professional worry about panicking and signing someone he didn't really want.

Waffle and filler.

Don't accept the premise of the statement at all. He was not "worrying".

Experience has taught him that there will be pressure to sign. It is possible to give in to that pressure act in haste and repent at leisure. Simple, true, and clear. All praise Positive Nigel.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Don't accept the premise of the statement at all. He was not "worrying".

Experience has taught him that there will be pressure to sign. It is possible to give in to that pressure act in haste and repent at leisure. Simple, true, and clear. All praise Positive Nigel.

If it wasn't a problem why mention it?

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

If it wasn't a problem why mention it?

Because he was asked. It's a good answer to a straight question. There's pressure to sign. Don't yield.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Because he was asked. It's a good answer to a straight question. There's pressure to sign. Don't yield.

He was asked if he nearly panicked?

 

[Treeton Blade]

Good, if slightly long interview!
Adkins is right re the fans, I wish we could all just get behind the team during the game, a supportive Bramall Lane is an arena where opponents dread.
A negative, moaning Bramall Lane is what every away club strives for.

Get behind the team, and remember being a supporter, means to support!

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

Hate how he points the finger to the fans, tells them the players need supporting. They will get the support once they start getting a spine and start playing attacking football.
I cant believe we are resorting to defensive tactics in this league and still we slip up.
Its embarrassing!

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Hate how he points the finger to the fans, tells them the players need supporting. They will get the support once they start getting a spine and start playing attacking football.
I cant believe we are resorting to defensive tactics in this league and still we slip up.
Its embarrassing!

1. I think that grossly misrepresents the interview he's not pointing fingers
2. the players do need supporting.
3. the defensive tactics (which I really don't like) are pragmatic given our experience of attacking adventurous football: we've lost two League games in three months.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Long interview (24:03) - but Andy Giddings tends to go on a bit of a tour with his questions, and Adkins repeatedly reinforces very strong positive messages about: the grit, spirit, hunger, desire and determination of the players, and that the aim is promotion this season.

Good to see normal service has been resumed - doing the Phipps one did my brain in trying to understand what the heck he was saying. Could I make a suggestion - a count of how many times NA says "alluded to" in his interviews.

 

[I should coco]

A fan buy out is pie in the sky though...

Some right basic science....

There's yer meat and tata, yer snake and pygmy and yer chicken and mushroom pie.

Then there's yer sky (the big blue thing, not the Murdoch scumbag lying cheating thing).

Never have yer pie and yer sky been so diametrically opposed.

Hell freezing over, me not having a hole in my arse, bears shitting in catholic woods with the pope and all that........

ISC

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

Good to see normal service has been resumed - doing the Phipps one did my brain in trying to understand what the heck he was saying. Could I make a suggestion - a count of how many times NA says "alluded to" in his interviews.

And "I've highlighted" and "desire" and "endevor" and "grit" and "determination"....blah, blah, blah.

He spent the best part of the first 5 minutes just repeating himself over and over. So annoying to listen to.

Just empty, plastic, cliche statements.

 

[I should coco]

Just empty, plastic, cliche statements.

Those Scunny players must have been mugs then to listen to that tripe and still get promoted.........twice.

What bloody mugs those Saints players were too! Getting promoted two divisions on that garbage.

Good job we have got him sussed, eh?

ISC