Adkins, is it just me ...

[Normanblade]

Forget the interviews, forget the cliches, forget the results and to an extent the performances. Look at whats happened in two months. I think Adkins has finally started to make some progress/ grow a pair of Bollocks. If you’d asked me a few weeks ago, perhaps before Burton at home, I did wonder the same. Even bringing in the Psychic, Baptiste, I wondered what he was doing wasting money on a loan when he had a squad of youngsters to pick from in a lost season.

However, Baptiste coming in, Whiteman, Reed, Flo all contributing to a seemingly improved midfield, Collins (and hopefully JCR) going out and changing the set up to suit the players we have rather than the ones he thinks we have are all contributing a more optimistic Blade.

Of course, I’ve not watched us play in a month, so the games over easter will perhaps change my view, but my view at the moment is that he’s making the right changes and perhaps tearing up the boardroom model.

Since Burton, since McCabe spoke out at the unrest, since the awful transfer window in January, I get the impression something has gone off behind the scenes and not negatively. I’m not creating a rumour here, but surmising from the above that perhaps the rhetoric that Adkins was given in June last year that it was all Clough’s fault has been discussed. I get the distinct impression that Adkins briefing was that ‘whatever Clough did, undo it’. Its not being disrespectful to Adkins, I believe that he was under instruction. He gets Diego, Sharp, Woolford permanently, but the club were selling Murphy. The rest would be loans, including Sammon. He had a framework to work within.

What I think has happened is that Adkins has perhaps been asked whats going wrong and he’s turned around and said “lets do it my way”. What he’s done is root out the remaining trouble causers, brushed aside the fragile players that can’t string together a few games , regardless of potential talent and tweak things. Of course there are still boundaries, he’s been pushed to play some of the kids too, but he’s picking the right ones by the looks of it.

I’m in no way calling Adkins a mastermind, he has steered us during the worst season in my memory, but sinking to 13th in League one has awoken a few people in the club. Yes Adkins has had quality and talent in the squad that he inherited, but James Wallace, Baxter, JCR, McNulty were perhaps hiding behind reputations. Someone mentioned last week that Hammond will be pissed off that Whiteman has come in and shown him up. I’d say that the likes of Wallace, Baxter, JCR, McNulty, Diego and Collins will be looking at themselves and asking more questions. As Warnock used to say, footballers will always blame someone else, never themselves.

Adkins is far from perfect, but I think things are now changing. This summer needs a focussed approach. Reputations secondary, desire to play for a team the priority. I think Adkins is grasping this. Forget his clichéd interviews, step back and look at what has been done in the last 8 weeks. I’d say we’ve made more progress in that 8 week spell than the 8 months before.

So why play sammon

 

[Normanblade]

I thought the penny had finally dropped with him last weekend. He picked a daring team last week by starting Whiteman in midfield and sticking with Adams upfront to work on a partnership with Sharp who will be our front two next season. In return he got a committed display with the team in full control and the fans encouraging them in return.

This week we revert to type by dropping the two teenagers in favour of Cuvelier (why? Whiteman played well last week) and Sammon (again, why? Adkins himself said a few weeks back that signing him hasn't worked out and he's fucking wank and stealing a wage. What had Adams done to justify being dropped in favour of him?)

And unsurprisingly we have lost again, and much of the good feeling from last weeks assured display has drained away. Well done again Adkins.

I was also disappointed that whiteman and Adams didn't start today . If we are building for next season ... sammon ? I have not seen a worse striker in the last 52 years ( that includes Chris Guthrie ) .. Flo is just a bulked up version of the player that never previously impressed

 

[Tezza1889]

Said it on another thread, team that wins three nil are rewarded with being dropped for a couple of tossers universally acclaimed as key in our problems..

He might look like curly watts, but he's more like lofty off eastenders, a fucking loser..

 

[SwissBlade]

So why play sammon

The point I wasn't making was about the changes in the last 8 weeks.

In fairness, picking a big imposing centre forward to relieve Sharp of some of the physical work was probably sensible. Not saying Sammon was the right player for that though

Adkins also went with a side to counter Millwalls threat which is also a big change from earlier this year when he always set up to play our way, not for the opposition

However, it was clearly a big fuck up because we sounded like we were shite

 

[PeteBlade]

He inherited a decent squad for this division, capable of promotion given a fair wind but lacking in quality in all areas. He proved himself completely incapable to motivate that team, how much of that is down to his own failings and how much is down to the so-called 'bad eggs' is something everybody has their own opinions on. So now he is completely dismantling that team. It's a high risk strategy for both him and the club, but presumably the board gave him the green light to do it.

What does "capable of promotion given a fair wind" mean?

 

[PeteBlade]

it depends what he is building. i can't see anything being built

It's tricky to build something when your keeps pinching your bricks and not buying you any new ones.

 

[Seanshoreham]

I watched a game that featured players with grit, determination and balls (excuse the pun) - England v France Rugby, everything you (very) rarely see from those Tossers at The Lane, it was great and so refreshing

Last year the England team failed miserably in their world cup, changed the manager and are now champions, as for Adkins building wouldn't trust him with a Lego kit, totally clueless

 

[super_pig]

It's tricky to build something when your keeps pinching your bricks and not buying you any new ones.

good point. it doesn't help though Pete if you keep buying old bricks that don't fit

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Must be sleight of hand or an invisibility cloak,like someone said on another thread- the emperors new clothes-if you can't see Hammonds worth then you are a moron

Yes and Adkins is trying to sell us these invisible clothes.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

I would sack him for this week alone. . . . . I hate this "horses for courses" bullshit. Why alter a winning team/formation?

 

[JohnDenver]

I watched a game that featured players with grit, determination and balls (excuse the pun) - England v France Rugby, everything you (very) rarely see from those Tossers at The Lane, it was great and so refreshing

But England underperformed by a big margin at the World Cup. The only way was up. SUFC finished in the playoffs last season and sold its best player. It now bumps along just outside the playoffs. Where's the bounce going to come from?

If you believe certain posters, then next season's planning is already underway. Pull the plug on that and most likely the players who aren't playing for Adkins pick up their form a bit and persuade a new manager to retain them. God help me if I have to watch Coutts, Woolfoord and friends for another year.

It's easy to sack a manager. This chance to sack a squad shouldn't be passed up.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

But England underperformed by a big margin at the World Cup. The only way was up. SUFC finished in the playoffs last season and sold its best player. It now bumps along just outside the playoffs. Where's the bounce going to come from?

If you believe certain posters, then next season's planning is already underway. Pull the plug on that and most likely the players who aren't playing for Adkins pick up their form a bit and persuade a new manager to retain them. God help me if I have to watch Coutts, Woolfoord and friends for another year.

It's easy to sack a manager. This chance to sack a squad shouldn't be passed up.

With you JD even though it is so easy to take a pop at NA.

 

[K16]

Yes, really. We just needed two centre backs and a centre mid.

Totally agree. If this had been addressed at the start of season, that would have done it (and we could have built on the squad from there onwards).