Adkins interview

[Caseh]

Robert Page didn't get a sniff at our top job. Went to Port Vale a team above us we now aspire to

The manager isn't the problem. We can't keep looking at the manager and blaming them, this shit is happening with too many of them.

 

[Blade56]

The manager isn't the problem. We can't keep looking at the manager and blaming them, this shit is happening with too many of them.

He's certainly becoming part of the problem.

I was his biggest fan but he's done nowt to say he will make a difference. Results are down, signings apart from Billy questionable and he's not taking on the board. Until tonight's telling interview he's been compliant to the boards hymn sheet and spoken to the fans in clichés

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Staton: "The fans kind of share their frustration with the fact that you've lost a game and a lot of it's also about the board. Is communication good between everybody at this club and are you getting the kind of support you need to get this team promoted?"

Adkins: "Listen, it's my respon... , I said, er, in the week, the buck will always stop with me. It's my responsibility to find a way to make it work... ..."

Staton: "So everything, as far as you're concerned, this club, is all pulling together, working well, to get this team promoted, which is what everybody wants?"

Adkins: "That's what we need to make sure happens..."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03hrd8d
(5.45 - 6.15)


Basically, Adkins has been shafted.

He's taking responsibility (as here). The owners & the board, on the other hand, are (ridiculously) blaming Clough for their failings and broken promises.

 

[Bergen Blade]

The analysis and assessment of the squad that was done in the summer looks very poor. The players weren't and aren't rubbish, but the squad was built to fit into Clough's system. Some players' biggest weakness may be their poor flexibility, they can only do a certain role. Although Clough had his faults he knew all about this, and I think we would have had a better chance of promotion this season if he'd stayed and tried to develop that team, rather than trying to make them all adapt into something very different.

There will be a clear out in the summer. With a generous budget Adkins will be able to bring in players that fits his philosophy and complement each other. Let's stick to that plan and try to improve year by year and see where it takes us.

 

[sheffielder]

If Che Adams was seen by NA as a positive, I am seriously worried.

I thought he did quite well considering he only got the ball deep. When people say he didn't do enough to start, name me one person today who did start who did.

 

[derryblade]

From making 6 figure bids for players to loans and now NA appears to be down to trawling the players freed by other clubs. Totally confused by our recruitment strategy, how can the rejects of other clubs fit in with NA only signing players better than what we have, it's nonsense.

 

[Bladesman]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03hrd8d

Link for anyone who wants it.

 

[robbiez666]

"It should hurt". That says it all about our players.

 

[Bladesway]

I find it hilarious that the manager is still getting the blame, when yet again we're under performing with the same board. I also admit that I believe that I was wrong with Clough, I now no longer believe he was the problem.

Hopefully people will start to believe that it is the board who are the issue. They are the constant who run through this. Every time we sack a manager we actually go backwards not forwards. Its disgraceful the way people like Wilson and Clough have been abused by people at the top of the tree. Used as scapegoats for utter mismanagement at the top level.

 

[Sean Thornton]

From that interview it is quite obvious there is something seriously wrong behind the scenes.

McCabe has no doubt had enough and I suspect the same of Plastic Prince as well. Great, two owners who couldn't give shit and want out. Adkins should walk, if I was promised what he was at his job interview and it turned out to be nothing but golden turds I'd be outta there.

McCabe tried to shift the future financial burden onto a new partner. Clearly that's not worked. The only exit strategy either of them has is to cut their losses and go but McCabe in particular won't countenance that, but his money has gone and he needs to accept it. The only saleable asset to a new owner us the ground so he should sell that at value and retire to lick his wounds. The fans goodwill is to the club not him so should be worthless in any deal.

I don't fancy the thought of the Prince buying him out either.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

I find it hilarious that the manager is still getting the blame, when yet again we're under performing with the same board. I also admit that I believe that I was wrong with Clough, I now no longer believe he was the problem.

Can't agree with that, some of the current problems are down to the squad Adkins inherited from Clough. No centre halves (and he went a full season playing a collection of full-backs and midfield players in that position... in a word a f***ing joke), soft as shit straight down the spine of the team, a squad of players that are all nice lads (many of them dwarfs) but totally devoid of any kind of bollocks and leadership. He had money to spend last January and bought a right back, a wide player with an injury record and another dwarf from Hearts. All these problems should have been rectified by the current manager last summer when he had money to spend and in this window should have been addressed but thanks to that disgrace of a board weren't. But make no mistake about it Clough has a hand in our current problems ... we should have walked the League last season but thanks to Clough we wasted an ideal opportunity.

 

[Blade56]

There will be a clear out in the summer. With a generous budget Adkins will be able to bring in players that fits his philosophy and complement each other.

Ah, you bought the Jam tommora sage again

Hopefully people will start to believe that it is the board who are the issue.

Imo the interview tonight signalled Adkin's pointing the finger at the board. He can't afford the damage to his reputation by leaving and the board won't afford buying off another management team after being screwed by Weir and Clough.

To make it worse I think we have a Mexican stand off between the owners with a 50/50 stalemate

 

[Jon Bon]

He looked a broken man at the end of the game...

 

[Bladesman]

That interview confirmed what I thought in the week that it wouldn't have taken 3 transfer windows like Jim. I just don't think Adkins was backed at all in January and when asked is everyone at the club "pulling together to get promoted?" "That's what we need to make sure happens". So someone put a stop to making signings during the window and I don't think we ever got as far talking to clubs about their players.

I think Adkins thought because some players had been offloaded in January that he would have been allowed to sign some new players. I reckon he has had the rug pulled from him and I can't imagine he is expecting to get anyone on loan either but we shall see.

 

[Bartleby]

"It should hurt". That says it all about our players.

just finally decided to listen to the interview and that was the exact phrase I picked up on and was going to post about, and yes that was so telling, as he's asked if the players are hurting in the dressing room after that he first says it stays private and then he says that, so it is totally fucking obvious that it doesn't hurt them.

So with that and his answer (or careful avoidance of answer) to the question about communication with the board, I think that confirms that we are now royally fucked cos they are two massive elephants in the room - a dysfunctional management and a team that has given up giving a fuck.

 

[davidpinder]

"It was a cat and mouse game."

Heard that 2 or 3 times. Another for the Adkins Bingo cards.

It take it we were Tom?

 

[Deadbat]

just finally decided to listen to the interview and that was the exact phrase I picked up on and was going to post about, and yes that was so telling, as he's asked if the players are hurting in the dressing room after that he first says it stays private and then he says that, so it is totally fucking obvious that it doesn't hurt them.

So with that and his answer (or careful avoidance of answer) to the question about communication with the board, I think that confirms that we are now royally fucked cos they are two massive elephants in the room - a dysfunctional management and a team that has given up giving a fuck.

Yes, quite clear there is a fall out. They have decided not to sanction any transfers. He seems quite peed off with that understandably. Thing is one hand he could walk but then after Reading and then this; where would he go? Think he will wait out till the summer and see what happens.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Bad goals to give away. Gifted them to them

Got to be better with the ball

Changed our shape a few times to get the ball

First goal changed the game

Understands frustration. Thanked the supporters for getting behind them

Too much to do now to get the top 2

Got to win 11 of our last 17 games to get in the play offs

Got to get the right players. We've still got a lot of players. Wants a consistency in the team

Been on a good run

Frustrated , as are the board

Believe we have goals in the team

The buck stops with me.

VERY evasive on whether he believes the board have given him the backing he needed

Asked whether everyone in the club is pulling in the same direction, he replied "well we have to be"

Not going to publicly criticize players

Che Adams was a positive

What goes on in the dressing room stays in the dressing room

A lot of people out of contract who we could bring in. Don't want to collect players who aren't going to get in the side

We look solid in the middle of the park but need creativity

Coutts and baxter are great on the ball but need to do the other side of the game. Need to add some steel

Oh fffs I wish I'd seen this half an hour ago. Would've saved a job.

 

[Roygbiv]

Oh fffs I wish I'd seen this half an hour ago. Would've saved a job.

Your updates are much better than mine. I look forward to them. I write mine live as he is speaking so I obviously miss stuff

 

[William Large]

I read between the lines as 'the players (on the whole) are a shower of shite who don't give a flying fuck. I've not nothing to spend in reality. We've shit out on promotion, the board are lying cunts, i'm having to stay to turn it around because if I don't, then I wont get anything half decent again. Hopefully I cant get someone in who is free that no other fucker wants, I think Sammon is an oxygen thief.'

 

[Bartleby]

Yes, quite clear there is a fall out. They have decided not to sanction any transfers. He seems quite peed off with that understandably. Thing is one hand he could walk but then after Reading and then this; where would he go? Think he will wait out till the summer and see what happens.

well he could use it as a perfectly reasonable excuse to walk now with some damage limitation on his reputation. But no i think you're right that he will wait around a bit longer. Still don't think he'd have trouble finding work and explaining away the Reading and SUFC debacles in any interview with any club that would appreciate and back a manager with his credentials and history of success.

 

[Deadbat]

I read between the lines as 'the players (on the whole) are a shower of shite who don't give a flying fuck. I've not nothing to spend in reality. We've shit out on promotion, the board are lying cunts, i'm having to stay to turn it around because if I don't, then I wont get anything half decent again. Hopefully I cant get someone in who is free that no other fucker wants, I think Sammon is an oxygen thief.'

Yeah pretty much how I interpreted his PC answers!!!

 

[Bladesman]

just finally decided to listen to the interview and that was the exact phrase I picked up on and was going to post about, and yes that was so telling, as he's asked if the players are hurting in the dressing room after that he first says it stays private and then he says that, so it is totally fucking obvious that it doesn't hurt them.

So with that and his answer (or careful avoidance of answer) to the question about communication with the board, I think that confirms that we are now royally fucked cos they are two massive elephants in the room - a dysfunctional management and a team that has given up giving a fuck.

I think it's unfolding like it did at Reading. He has been made promises from the top and they have not been delivered.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I think Sammon is an oxygen thief.'

...but I started him anyway.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Adkins wasn't experienced enough to carry out due diligence before he signed?