Against the sacking?

[Bob Scratchit]

What a thoroughly excellent post succinctly summarizing points I’ve been trying to make over my last 100 or so posts.


The “reactionary” “buck-passing” of McCabe and the way it’s lapped up by some really struck a nerve.


For me Adkins (along with a couple of half decent players) was about the only asset we had and we’ve thrown him away for someone with a less impressive (though not bad) record in the hope we stumble on a winning formula. It’s entirely symptomatic of the rudderless way this club has been run for so long.


The Reading point is also a good one. Everyone goes on about how he “failed” there but given that they’ve not improved under either of the two managers that followed (one of them the hero that got them to the prem before) then it’s hard to be too critical of the job he did there.


I can’t help but feel that we’ve made a huge mistake and we won’t have such a good opportunity with such a manager again.

What it ultimately comes down to is McCabe does not have a vision for the club. There is no vision, no due process to implement it, no infrastructure for sustainable success.

I found it enlightening when he said at the fans forum that he doesn't have a strategy defined yet for when you get to the Championship. What vision!. His strategy is simply getting out of this 'blessed league' by whatever means possible and worrying about it later. Whether Adkins deserved more time or not and whether Wilder steps up or not, that is not a recipe for success in the long term. Even if you get promoted, you will tread water in the Championship until you have people at executive level with a coherent long term strategy accountable for delivering year on year improvements.

Interesting times ahead, you will learn a lot from your player recruitment. You need quality through the spine of your team, you essentially have an unproven manager with half a squad of players, many of whom have so far proven themselves unable to lift the club out of this league. It is a blank canvas, that is an opportunity. But it begs the question, why going into (what I believe is) your 6th season in this division are you starting again at square 1? It is because there is no one at executive level responsible for coordinating a coherent long term strategy.

 

[TJB.]

Jesus! Are all the fucking Adkins luvvies gonna turn into the Clough apologists of last season? Can we not for once forget about all these failed managers and get behind the club.

I'm not an Adkins luvvie or a Cloughite, I was merely trying to dismiss a commonly repeated myth about Clough's position in 14/15.

I'm behind the new man 100% and I sincerely hope he delivers the success this club badly needs. But I can't say I'm fully behind the club because I disagree with how they go about hiring and sacking gaffers.

 

[super_pig]

statistically we have to get it right some time?? right

 

[blade too long]

Football , as is oft said is a results driven business
Adkins failed to win half of our home games in division 3
he lost 3 more home games than the team relegated to division four

His target was to improve on 5th, he slumped to 11th , had we finished 6th and lost in the play offs hed still be here

whatever squad he took over his remit was to take us forward, he brought in several players who most admit havent improved us
and its for being an entertainment based business , hes failed the most with us

never read as many derogatory remarks over displays as this season
even games we won 3=0 there were lots of disgruntled posts on the quality

We go to get excited, its just very rarely happened
, he had to go
he made Blackwells style look like Pep Guardiola

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

I am a Saints fan and whilst I was disappointed at this turn of events, it was clear to me that it was coming. Adkins has undoubtedly under-performed this season and with a board like yours, it was inevitable. I think Adkins would have got you promoted next season but instead you start again and your incoming manager will get one shot at it by the looks of the statement on your official site. It looks like the strategy from here it may be about to become a crap shoot with a different manager at the helm until you strike lucky. Last season it was a progressive manager with a bloated squad not adapted to his methods. This year its an unproven manager with u-21 players looks like the way ahead. One day, one of these things will work, surely?!.

From an outsiders perspective it is very clear there is a huge issue at Board level and for me, the issue starts with Kevin McCabe. I watched in disbelief at the Fans Forum as he glugged on a beer, said the terrible failure under his watch was all bad luck, players, managers and staff's fault, made undermining comments about current management, recruitment staff and signings. He made blanket statements such as 'no loan signings' as if simply because some of the signings this year were bad. Unprofessional, reactionary, buck passing and hiding his failures behind other people. It reminded me of the dark days of fans forums before Southampton went into administration. Not quite as bad but it wasn't far off.

Watching him inflate as he said the players signed this season would not get past the technical board now and getting a round of applause for this buck passing gesture said everything about the culture at your club from board level down and why history keeps repeating itself. Scapegoating, buck passing, reactionary thinking, myopia, with periodical sacrificial blood letting to keep the rightly angry fans of his own neck. I'll be honest, I felt as sorry for Nigel having to try and manage in that culture as much as I do for your fans for watching the sum product of it on the pitch each weekend.

At Reading it was all Nigel Adkins fault apparently when they finished 7th in the championship under him. Since sacking him they have finished 19th and 17th. Fans got what they wanted but it was clear to an outsider that sacking him would not make a blind bit of difference. Reading were a horribly run club and had nowhere near enough quality players. Fans blamed him but it's gotten much worse since he left and why wouldn't it? They replaced him with worse managers and worse players for the lesser able managerial replacements to work with. Without being disparaging, from an outsiders point of view it is the same at Sheffield United at this present time. Your group of players is average and your board are seemingly stuck in the dark ages. Today you have chosen to remove the only group in the club proven to Premier League level (1 defeat in 12 when we disposed of the same Adkins and his team at Southampton) and you seem to be about to replace him with a less successful manager who has spent most his managerial career around the conference and league 2 and if the fans forum is to be believed, your unproven U-21's will make up a large part of the squad next year, let's hope they are good.

You simply have to get it right this season with player recruitment and hope for your new management group to raise its performance levels, as at this present there is no culture of success at this level, little quality and few track records in the club and thus, at this time there is no reason why you should expect to succeed next season. For me appointing a less successful manager is not a great start, you are a gambling on an upturn in his managerial fortunes but that's not to say it can't work, sometimes magic happens, the face fits, fans and players get behind him and momentum builds. In other words, a lucky crapshoot.

The huge thing going for you this season is that there is a clean slate with so many players bad players off the books this summer. Make no mistake the players and the board are your main issue, with so many of the players going that's half the battle and if you replace them with a smattering of genuine quality and a manager who gives them a kick up the behind, then in this league, that might be enough.

For a Saints/Adkins fan, that's a pretty in depth analysis of SUFC's woes. But not an unbiased one - one, I'd suggest, very heavily skewered in favour of Nigel Adkins.

You criticise a "myopic" McCabe for "passing the buck", but seem extremely willing to pass the buck on Nigel's behalf for his undoubted failures both here & at Reading. Indeed, Adkins seemed "myopic" when faced with the real life situations at both clubs, so much so that he contributed to their decline rather than reversing the trend.

We don't "simply have to get it right" this next season though. What we need to do is visibly progress, hopefully with promotion involved but, if not, then with a renewal of the Fortress Bramall Lane mentality, the growing of a backbone, a clear sense of identity & an improvement on the dire 11th place finish that we plummeted to this season. Manager's have to earn a bit of leeway and manoevrability. Adkins couldn't really point to progress in other areas to offset the appalling finishing position (unless, of course, such progress has been Hammondesquely "unseen" - and, if so, well, he should have concentrated more on the seen than the unseen).

Can't really argue with you about McCabe's part in our downfall. But, as a manager, you deal with the hand you get dealt. It was if Nigel was contentedly playing Happy Families rather than a high stakes game where the outcome truly mattered. I'm just glad that McCabe took responsibility on behalf of this club and its fans to remove a manager who, for whatever reasons, simply wasn't up to the job here.

I certainly don't wish Adkins any ill will. But he's got a lot to prove that he's not a busted flush now. Maybe Charlton or Bolton will take him on? If so, I don't fancy his chances in all honesty. The relentlessly positive approach probably needs the right pre-existing situation for it to be able to thrive.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

I'm not an Adkins luvvie or a Cloughite, I was merely trying to dismiss a commonly repeated myth about Clough's position in 14/15.

I'm behind the new man 100% and I sincerely hope he delivers the success this club badly needs. But I can't say I'm fully behind the club because I disagree with how they go about hiring and sacking gaffers.

Wilson was sacked too soon and Clough was sacked too late. This sacking and subsequent appointment was timed to perfection. This was the most assertive thing the board has done in years. So hats off to that at least.

 

[blade too long]

when all said and done Southampton's last action with Adkins was sacking him , despite his achievements

 

[Darthblade]

I'm one of them. The fanbase has been quite divided over NA and I suppose it's still the same now he's been sacked.

NA hasn't done himself many favours throughout the season but you can't get away from that it was always going to be difficult, left with all of Clough's bang average players and given hardly any funds in the transfer windows in just his first season in charge.

I think we should have at least gave him upto the first 3 months of next season or until Xmas to see where we were.

I'm going to give Chris Wilder my full support though, at least he knows about the lower leagues and you would think he'll have some young hungry players in mind. He'll also know what this club is all about and what is expected, he should be familiar at handling the pressure and expectation here however it is his first managerial role at a club of this size.

Agreed ....... my concern is that the player budget has been blown on sacking Adkins as it was when they sacked Clough !!

Come on Board ....... prove me wrong for a change and give Wilder the financial backing to build a squad to challenge for the top two !!

UTB & FTP

 

[Darthblade]

Poor record there's no doubt but "not accountable" - their bank balances will belie that I suggest.

Nobody has more to gain from success than the owners.

The problem is ...... the owners and their trusted advisors know f**k all about football, think that they can run the Club like a business and continue to make the same mistakes year after year without learning !!

Until they break the cycle, we are going nowhere .......

UTB & FTP

 

[Bob Scratchit]

For a Saints/Adkins fan, that's a pretty in depth analysis of SUFC's woes. But not an unbiased one - one, I'd suggest, very heavily skewered in favour of Nigel Adkins.

You criticise a "myopic" McCabe for "passing the buck", but seem extremely willing to pass the buck on Nigel's behalf for his undoubted failures both here & at Reading. Indeed, Adkins seemed "myopic" when faced with the real life situations at both clubs, so much so that he contributed to their decline rather than reversing the trend.

We don't "simply have to get it right" this next season though. What we need to do is visibly progress, hopefully with promotion involved but, if not, then with a renewal of the Fortress Bramall Lane mentality, the growing of a backbone, a clear sense of identity & an improvement on the dire 11th place finish that we plummeted to this season. Manager's have to earn a bit of leeway and manoevrability. Adkins couldn't really point to progress in other areas to offset the appalling finishing position (unless, of course, such progress has been Hammondesquely "unseen" - and, if so, well, he should have concentrated more on the seen than the unseen).

Can't really argue with you about McCabe's part in our downfall. But, as a manager, you deal with the hand you get dealt. It was if Nigel was contentedly playing Happy Families rather than a high stakes game where the outcome truly mattered. I'm just glad that McCabe took responsibility on behalf of this club and its fans to remove a manager who, for whatever reasons, simply wasn't up to the job here.

I certainly don't wish Adkins any ill will. But he's got a lot to prove that he's not a busted flush now. Maybe Charlton or Bolton will take him on? If so, I don't fancy his chances in all honesty. The relentlessly positive approach probably needs the right pre-existing situation for it to be able to thrive.

I never purported to be unbiased, I have watched objectively what has happened this season, I have formed opinions of the issues at your club. This leads me to a bias, a bias toward my opinions. I said that I believe Adkins under-performed at Sheff Utd, I don't think sacking him is hugely unreasonable. I just think history keeps repeating itself there, you change the manager and nothing changes. It leads me to the 'bias' that perhaps there is more to this than just the managers.

Kevin McCabe is quite right to do as he wishes and you as fans you are quite right to pick your side of the debate. You want to see the back of him and you like Wilder, good for you, I hope it makes your Saturdays better I really do. I also said it may well work with Wilder, its perfectly feasible, this is L1 after all, it shouldn't be that hard. Adkins struggled, he is largely to blame for this season, but hes not to blame for the major problems encountered last season and he's not to blame all the seasons previously that you have been slipping.

My point is I think you are struggling because there is no long term strategy. McCabe has just sacked another manager. My question, who is responsible for the hiring of all these 'terrible' managers who have succeeded at other clubs? Why do they succeed elsewhere come here and fail? If they are bad managers, why are they getting appointed in the first place and why is there no accountability for the failure to appoint the 'right' manager in so long? Another year and you're starting again. That's nothing to do with my opinions on Adkins.

Finally, I disagree with you about not needing to get it right this summer. You do need to get it right if you are to see the progress you demand. At the moment you have appointed a new manager with a lesser record historically (objective reading of history, not bias) and you're about to lose half your squad, a squad that hasn't been good enough for a while and your owner seemingly wants to fill it with kids (the pick of whom haven't exactly pulled up trees when they have been used). I'd say you definitely do need to get it right with recruitment or else why would you improve? Do you think you will improve by getting it wrong with recruitment?. Not quite sure why you think you are entitled to see improvement without getting it right but good luck with that approach.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

I never purported to be unbiased, I have watched objectively what has happened this season, I have formed opinions of the issues at your club. This leads me to a bias, a bias toward my opinions. I said that I believe Adkins under-performed at Sheff Utd, I don't think sacking him is hugely unreasonable. I just think history keeps repeating itself there, you change the manager and nothing changes. It leads me to the 'bias' that perhaps there is more to this than just the managers.

Kevin McCabe is quite right to do as he wishes and you as fans you are quite right to pick your side of the debate. You want to see the back of him and you like Wilder, good for you, I hope it makes your Saturdays better I really do. I also said it may well work with Wilder, its perfectly feasible, this is L1 after all, it shouldn't be that hard. Adkins struggled, he is largely to blame for this season, but hes not to blame for the major problems encountered last season and he's not to blame all the seasons previously that you have been slipping.

My point is I think you are struggling because there is no long term strategy. McCabe has just sacked another manager. My question, who is responsible for the hiring of all these 'terrible' managers who have succeeded at other clubs? Why do they succeed elsewhere come here and fail? If they are bad managers, why are they getting appointed in the first place and why is there no accountability for the failure to appoint the 'right' manager in so long? Another year and you're starting again. That's nothing to do with my opinions on Adkins.

Finally, I disagree with you about not needing to get it right this summer. You do need to get it right if you are to see the progress you demand. At the moment you have appointed a new manager with a lesser record historically (objective reading of history, not bias) and you're about to lose half your squad, a squad that hasn't been good enough for a while and your owner seemingly wants to fill it with kids (the pick of whom haven't exactly pulled up trees when they have been used). I'd say you definitely do need to get it right with recruitment or else why would you improve? Do you think you will improve by getting it wrong with recruitment?. Not quite sure why you think you are entitled to see improvement without getting it right but good luck with that approach.

I agree broadly with your point about the lack of a long-term strategy hindering us over recent years & that blame for this lack of vision should be centred on the board. We've looked to the short-term fix to get us out of this division. (Promotion being something expected, rather than hoped for, from Adkins given his previous record, pre-Reading.)

But, on the one hand, there seems to be the inklings of a strategy developing now in the emphasis on utilising the academy & in looking to buy up-&-coming players from the lower leagues in future. And, on the other, does our lack of an overarching strategy really make us different from most football clubs? - most just bumble along don't they? (Not that I think we should - I welcome the embryo strategy that seems to be forming.)

As regards managers being successes elsewhere but failures here, I reckon that's a bit simplistic. Adkins failed at Reading. Clough's success at Derby was relative - a "stabilising" success, rather than one involving a significant upward trajectory. But both appointments were understandable - given Adkins's prior successes and Clough's proven ability to manage at a higher level. Unfortunately their failures here were understandable too - Adkins's powers seemingly being on a downward spiral and in view of Clough's desire (or, rather, insistence) to do things his own way & take as long as he likes in doing so. Neither appointment worked. But the board acted decisively in the clubs interests in both cases, to put right a failing situation. I could go back further and look at earlier managers - I won't, but similarly the issues aren't cut & dried. If something's not working, better to act than to cross fingers & hope/pray for the best.

Finally re: your point about recruitment this summer, I don't think it's as "do or die" as you suggest, but clearly it needs to be better. And Chris Wilder has a big opportunity with the clearing of the decks as many contracts expire. Hopefully he'll be more proactive than Nigel was too in clearing budget space and not allowing "clean slates" to all & sundry.

Personally, I'm just glad that Adkins has gone (& remain baffled by him not being better than he was - but I certainly don't pin the blame on the board for his general uselessness) & that we've got a bit of renewed hope that, at the very least, we'll have a side full of 100%ers, with a collective identity, & more of a bond between players & fans. Promotion playing sexy football wouldn't go amiss too

 

[Bob Scratchit]

I agree broadly with your point about the lack of a long-term strategy hindering us over recent years & that blame for this lack of vision should be centred on the board. We've looked to the short-term fix to get us out of this division. (Promotion being something expected, rather than hoped for, from Adkins given his previous record, pre-Reading.)

But, on the one hand, there seems to be the inklings of a strategy developing now in the emphasis on utilising the academy & in looking to buy up-&-coming players from the lower leagues in future. And, on the other, does our lack of an overarching strategy really make us different from most football clubs? - most just bumble along don't they? (Not that I think we should - I welcome the embryo strategy that seems to be forming.)

As regards managers being successes elsewhere but failures here, I reckon that's a bit simplistic. Adkins failed at Reading. Clough's success at Derby was relative - a "stabilising" success, rather than one involving a significant upward trajectory. But both appointments were understandable - given Adkins's prior successes and Clough's proven ability to manage at a higher level. Unfortunately their failures here were understandable too - Adkins's powers seemingly being on a downward spiral and in view of Clough's desire (or, rather, insistence) to do things his own way & take as long as he likes in doing so. Neither appointment worked. But the board acted decisively in the clubs interests in both cases, to put right a failing situation. I could go back further and look at earlier managers - I won't, but similarly the issues aren't cut & dried. If something's not working, better to act than to cross fingers & hope/pray for the best.

Finally re: your point about recruitment this summer, I don't think it's as "do or die" as you suggest, but clearly it needs to be better. And Chris Wilder has a big opportunity with the clearing of the decks as many contracts expire. Hopefully he'll be more proactive than Nigel was too in clearing budget space and not allowing "clean slates" to all & sundry.

Personally, I'm just glad that Adkins has gone (& remain baffled by him not being better than he was - but I certainly don't pin the blame on the board for his general uselessness) & that we've got a bit of renewed hope that, at the very least, we'll have a side full of 100%ers, with a collective identity, & more of a bond between players & fans. Promotion wouldn't go amiss too

Well best of luck. I contest most of what you say but neither you nor I need to persuade each other otherwise. You are happy with today's events, it doesn't affect me as its not my club. I have made my points clear and you disagree with them and I don't feel the need to keep going back and forth to convince you otherwise and vice versa.

I hope you do get to enjoy a better season next year, you have had a terrible season, I agree partly due to Adkins under performing here in trying but not impossible circumstances. I maintain the belief that you will struggle with McCabe in charge and maintain that any success you do have will be by luck rather than judgement, by bumbling along until you get it right as you say, a crapshoot as I said in my original post.

I think a club of your size should be looking to do more than bumble along but its your club.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

an experienced manager who is "on the way up"

At Halifax, Oxford and Northampton. Though I think the sacking of Adkins was inevitable based on how our team ended up marooned.

 

[1889]

I wouldn't give a mortgage to a Blades manager. Steelworkers have more job security.

Why on earth not, most are in a position to pay it off after the first twelve months

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Wilder is 100% Bladey Blade. Promotion is nailed on!

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Wilder is 100% Bladey Blade. Promotion is nailed on!

And likes a night on the pop apparently, he gets my vote.

 

[1889]

I keep seeing this as a reason to keep adkins but isnt starting each football game with Adkins in charge 'doing the same thing and expecting different results?'

Yeah, it's bollocks, if we kept appointing the same two managers on a rota, it might be relevant, but as we don't, it's not.
Adkins was a bullshitter from the word go, no substance just words and the players took the piss. With his track record on player recruitment, the suggestion that he should have been trusted to reshape the squad for next season is laughable.

 

[Revolution]

I hope you do get to enjoy a better season next year, you have had a terrible season, I agree partly due to Adkins under performing here in trying but not impossible circumstances. I maintain the belief that you will struggle with McCabe in charge and maintain that any success you do have will be by luck rather than judgement, by bumbling along until you get it right as you say, a crapshoot as I said in my original post.

I think you have a good grasp of the situation. If we go up we will do it despite, not because of, McCabe.

I fear next season will start with:

- at least one of our better players sold (it's harder for a new manager to object)

- a first team featuring at least 2 young players who aren't ready

- lots of league 2 players at the back and out wide

Add that to our crappy non scoring midfield and that's a recipe for relegation.

And all of this with the biggest revenue in the division!

McCabe was, is, and will remain the main problem.

Oh, and thought for the day: the cost of getting rid of Adkins and the rest of his team is probably the same as what we got for Jamie Murphy...

 

[Bladesway]

Jesus! Are all the fucking Adkins luvvies gonna turn into the Clough apologists of last season? Can we not for once forget about all these failed managers and get behind the club.

No one is a luvvie or apologist. Ever stopped to think there's a bloke still at the club who has overseen the entire farce? One who keeps his job while we pay yet another manager off? Everyone will get behind Wilder but don't be surprised if we are here yet again next season. The disease is still within the club while very McCabe stays.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I am a Saints fan and whilst I was disappointed at this turn of events, it was clear to me that it was coming. Adkins has undoubtedly under-performed this season and with a board like yours, it was inevitable. I think Adkins would have got you promoted next season but instead you start again and your incoming manager will get one shot at it by the looks of the statement on your official site. It looks like the strategy from here it may be about to become a crap shoot with a different manager at the helm until you strike lucky. Last season it was a progressive manager with a bloated squad not adapted to his methods. This year its an unproven manager with u-21 players looks like the way ahead. One day, one of these things will work, surely?!.

From an outsiders perspective it is very clear there is a huge issue at Board level and for me, the issue starts with Kevin McCabe. I watched in disbelief at the Fans Forum as he glugged on a beer, said the terrible failure under his watch was all bad luck, players, managers and staff's fault, made undermining comments about current management, recruitment staff and signings. He made blanket statements such as 'no loan signings' as if simply because some of the signings this year were bad. Unprofessional, reactionary, buck passing and hiding his failures behind other people. It reminded me of the dark days of fans forums before Southampton went into administration. Not quite as bad but it wasn't far off.

Watching him inflate as he said the players signed this season would not get past the technical board now and getting a round of applause for this buck passing gesture said everything about the culture at your club from board level down and why history keeps repeating itself. Scapegoating, buck passing, reactionary thinking, myopia, with periodical sacrificial blood letting to keep the rightly angry fans of his own neck. I'll be honest, I felt as sorry for Nigel having to try and manage in that culture as much as I do for your fans for watching the sum product of it on the pitch each weekend.

At Reading it was all Nigel Adkins fault apparently when they finished 7th in the championship under him. Since sacking him they have finished 19th and 17th. Fans got what they wanted but it was clear to an outsider that sacking him would not make a blind bit of difference. Reading were a horribly run club and had nowhere near enough quality players. Fans blamed him but it's gotten much worse since he left and why wouldn't it? They replaced him with worse managers and worse players for the lesser able managerial replacements to work with. Without being disparaging, from an outsiders point of view it is the same at Sheffield United at this present time. Your group of players is average and your board are seemingly stuck in the dark ages. Today you have chosen to remove the only group in the club proven to Premier League level (1 defeat in 12 when we disposed of the same Adkins and his team at Southampton) and you seem to be about to replace him with a less successful manager who has spent most his managerial career around the conference and league 2 and if the fans forum is to be believed, your unproven U-21's will make up a large part of the squad next year, let's hope they are good.

You simply have to get it right this season with player recruitment and hope for your new management group to raise its performance levels, as at this present there is no culture of success at this level, little quality and few track records in the club and thus, at this time there is no reason why you should expect to succeed next season. For me appointing a less successful manager is not a great start, you are a gambling on an upturn in his managerial fortunes but that's not to say it can't work, sometimes magic happens, the face fits, fans and players get behind him and momentum builds. In other words, a lucky crapshoot.

The huge thing going for you this season is that there is a clean slate with so many players bad players off the books this summer. Make no mistake the players and the board are your main issue, with so many of the players going that's half the battle and if you replace them with a smattering of genuine quality and a manager who gives them a kick up the behind, then in this league, that might be enough.

Yer can have the tosser back, yer welcome to him.

 

[Bladesince59]

Well rid. Come back Danny.

 

[grafikhaus]

a) We need stability and to allow a manager time to build his own team as we did with Warnock & Bassett.

Simply not possible in today's game. The TV money is going up so fast, that periods of 'stability' (i.e. standing still) will see you left far behind. We're already so far behind most teams in the Championship it's worrying - and our 'friends' at S6 could really add to our woes.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

No one is a luvvie or apologist. Ever stopped to think there's a bloke still at the club who has overseen the entire farce? One who keeps his job while we pay yet another manager off? Everyone will get behind Wilder but don't be surprised if we are here yet again next season. The disease is still within the club while very McCabe stays.

Yes but he's the immovable object that unfortunately we have to live with.
But there was tangible divide in fans opinion last season, in the stands, in the bars and on social media. The "blind faith brigade" versus the "constant moaners" with the poor folk stuck in the middle who just wanted to watch a game of football.
It might be nieve of me, but let's just give Chris a break and stop the comparisons with previous managers. I would be happy to never see the names of Adkins, Clough, Weir and Wilson on this forum ever again.

 

[Darren]

I think you have a good grasp of the situation. If we go up we will do it despite, not because of, McCabe.

I fear next season will start with:

- at least one of our better players sold (it's harder for a new manager to object)

- a first team featuring at least 2 young players who aren't ready

- lots of league 2 players at the back and out wide

Add that to our crappy non scoring midfield and that's a recipe for relegation.

And all of this with the biggest revenue in the division!

McCabe was, is, and will remain the main problem.

Oh, and thought for the day: the cost of getting rid of Adkins and the rest of his team is probably the same as what we got for Jamie Murphy...

I do wonder if there was a break clause with Adkins allowing us to terminate his contract in the event of a lower than top 6 finish. Otherwise I would have expected there to be far more thought given to the financial consequences of a sacking rather than the decisive action that we saw.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

No one is a luvvie or apologist. Ever stopped to think there's a bloke still at the club who has overseen the entire farce? One who keeps his job while we pay yet another manager off? Everyone will get behind Wilder but don't be surprised if we are here yet again next season. The disease is still within the club while very McCabe stays.

Agree with this but also think that 11th in div 3 is unacceptable - further at least this time the board have acted swiftly and not been fucking about in middle of June appointing a manager.

 

[chipsncake]

I do wonder if there was a break clause with Adkins allowing us to terminate his contract in the event of a lower than top 6 finish. Otherwise I would have expected there to be far more thought given to the financial consequences of a sacking rather than the decisive action that we saw.

Think you could be right.

 

[Revolution]

I do wonder if there was a break clause with Adkins allowing us to terminate his contract in the event of a lower than top 6 finish. Otherwise I would have expected there to be far more thought given to the financial consequences of a sacking rather than the decisive action that we saw.

Apparently there is no such clause. Another lot of 2 year compo has been paid out.

Wilder, of course, will get the same next year.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Woke up this morning and .... hmm... it felt a Mickey Adams kind of morning. Still feeling embarrassed and underwhelmed about yet another managerial change at SUFC so I thought I would read a book to take my mind off it. Which one though?

 

[Darren]

Apparently there is no such clause. Another lot of 2 year compo has been paid out.

Wilder, of course, will get the same next year.

How do you know? Genuine question.

 

[boo radley]

Not ran through 6 pages but let me just mention this; for a bloke who thinks psychology has a lot to do with everything, he cocked up big style. His first cock up was not learning we are SHEFFIELD UNITED not just Sheffield. He then did not get to know what we the fans want and concentrated on his footballing philosophy instead of a bit of both.
He then makes statements that ilude to fans not knowing what they are talking about. What kind of disrespectful psychology is that? NA should have realised that although fans can sometimes talk a lot of crap it is disrespectful to those who have been watching football for years. I'm sure there are many who can read the game well that would not be able to get a message over as a Manager.
If he'd have learned about our club he may well have made a better go of it.
WE ARE SHEFFIELD UNITED COYRAWW AARRRH.