An observation of Adkin......
- Thread starter Blade56
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HighfieldBlade
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I agree. This division is more about putting a shift in, harrying, pressuring, physical presence and not getting bullied off the ball.
robbiez666
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I think on top of those I'd add pace and having one or two players with the ability to do something special.
Our midfield has been largely anonymous all season. Our players are slow, ponderous, not up for a fight, weak and vastly inconstant. They can only play when the opposition stand off them and all we do is stand of the opposition.
How long are we going to limp along without a player with any bollocks in the centre of the park?
We need a natural leader, someone who can get the whole team (and fans) fired up and showing some fucking PASSION!
We need a natural leader, someone who can get the whole team (and fans) fired up and showing some fucking PASSION!
Blade58
Once a Blade, always a daft ****
We need to get these players in that NA is after
We need to stop messing about playing at it
If his main targets won't can't come then fair enough, NA must switch targets
If the board won't back him, then come fkin clean so we know. The fans deserve to know
We need to stop messing about playing at it
If his main targets won't can't come then fair enough, NA must switch targets
If the board won't back him, then come fkin clean so we know. The fans deserve to know
Fulwood Blade
Well-Known Member
You shouldn't be concerned about calling it a criticism - it is, because it is true.
We have been like this for 5 seasons - always bullied, always the "bigger" team, expected to win, but always out played and out muscled in midfield.
Teams have us sussed out - it is so easy to play against us.
Trouble is - we have ANOTHER manager who cannot see the wood for the trees.
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SandyMcBlade
Bennyandtheblades
Didn't Basham get his fifth yellow card today ?
Whiston Blade
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He sure did.
sheepbridge
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Today was same as Bury and Colchester, and other games. They had players who harried us and had a couple of fairly pacy and fairly tricky players who caused our midfield and defence too many problems just by the simple tactic of running at them.
On the other hand we have no pace and not much skill so don't have an outlet. This causes us to pass around in midfield and at the back far to much, which encourages the opponents to press, safe in the knowledge we're unlikely to catch them on the break and we are liable to lose possession. Flynn and Coutts on the wing were dreadful, Flynn especially, he lost the ball frequently and contributed nothing. Baxter in a centre two doesn't work at all. He can't run or tackle and is liable to misplace a pass, and Basham wasn't much better. For all his 'defence splitting passes' that he is in the side for presumably, he actually virtually never does them. The vast majority are sideways or backwards.
The only real pace we do have is JCR and Adams and possibly Done. JCR has zero end product. If he had he would be in the championship.
The other problem we have is teams do seem to raise their game against us whilst some of our players seem to hide if things get a bit difficult.
I do feel slightly for Adkins. He has been left with a lot of dross, but he hasn't helped himself, and I think he does recognise the problems we have, but in the 2nd half after bringing Adams on at the start and him actually looking threatening for 15 minutes he then put him in the centre, where he did nothing. Some of his signings, especially Woolford have contributed very little and his idea of giving players a 2nd chance was a massive mistake. We have been left with the same players who have constantly failed and a large squad that will be hard to change. I think it will take the next 2 summers to get rid of this lot and bring in players of better quality and have a smaller squad. I'm not sure he will get that time, I hope he does, but in the meantime he has to find a formation that suits our players, players with heart and commitment and some loan players who can make a difference. Whether he will be allowed to do this is debatable because I can't see many teams wanting most of our players, or our players wanting to leave so leaving us with an even larger squad and budget. For many of them this is the biggest club and biggest pay packet they'll ever get and have no incentive to leave.
On the other hand we have no pace and not much skill so don't have an outlet. This causes us to pass around in midfield and at the back far to much, which encourages the opponents to press, safe in the knowledge we're unlikely to catch them on the break and we are liable to lose possession. Flynn and Coutts on the wing were dreadful, Flynn especially, he lost the ball frequently and contributed nothing. Baxter in a centre two doesn't work at all. He can't run or tackle and is liable to misplace a pass, and Basham wasn't much better. For all his 'defence splitting passes' that he is in the side for presumably, he actually virtually never does them. The vast majority are sideways or backwards.
The only real pace we do have is JCR and Adams and possibly Done. JCR has zero end product. If he had he would be in the championship.
The other problem we have is teams do seem to raise their game against us whilst some of our players seem to hide if things get a bit difficult.
I do feel slightly for Adkins. He has been left with a lot of dross, but he hasn't helped himself, and I think he does recognise the problems we have, but in the 2nd half after bringing Adams on at the start and him actually looking threatening for 15 minutes he then put him in the centre, where he did nothing. Some of his signings, especially Woolford have contributed very little and his idea of giving players a 2nd chance was a massive mistake. We have been left with the same players who have constantly failed and a large squad that will be hard to change. I think it will take the next 2 summers to get rid of this lot and bring in players of better quality and have a smaller squad. I'm not sure he will get that time, I hope he does, but in the meantime he has to find a formation that suits our players, players with heart and commitment and some loan players who can make a difference. Whether he will be allowed to do this is debatable because I can't see many teams wanting most of our players, or our players wanting to leave so leaving us with an even larger squad and budget. For many of them this is the biggest club and biggest pay packet they'll ever get and have no incentive to leave.
GRUMPY BLADE
Well-Known Member
The shite would be easier to take.
finlaytheblade
Well-Known Member
In Adkins defence when he first took the job he did say players have to be robust to compete over a long season in this division.
Inheriting a squad of players lacking height and physical presence meant he needed to remedy that quickly ,he has improved the height factor to a degree but physical presence is still a big problem..I will be surprised if we don't act quickly and bring in a couple of powerful
Players.I do think he has been aware some of our squad are also short of mental strength add that to the other weakness and you have got a major problem a leader is desperately needed hammond for me fits the bill.
I think he might now realise what he has took on (his toughest job yet) at Scunthorpe there was no real pressure on him:: Southampton he had pressure but inherited a squad with some tremendous young players but he made it work and won promotion twice ,unlucky to get sacked at both Southampton and Reading.he did say pre-season "we ain't good enough to win promotion" when taking the job he must have had assurance s he would get backing to get the squad he would want,that cannot be done overnight especially with the bloated squad he
Inherited with a number of its best players out injured?8
This season is far from lost but we need to kick on quickly or it maybe play offs againbig game next sat now against Rochdale they will come and try to turn the fans against the players as they know we are under pressure and a poor start from us will make our fans turn.
Come on blades stay with the players even if our start is not the best as Adkins says we are the 12 th man we do make a difference.
As I said earlier players will for sure be brought in.[
grafikhaus
Kraft durch Freude
I think most of us agree that aggression, fitness and a 'never say die' spirit will take you far at this level. With that in mind, I find it unforgiveable that a 'manager' - Adkins or anybody else - can't get those basics in place. He needs to remind all of our players of what awaits them after their stint at Bramall Lane - lower pay, miniscule crowds and a job as a minicab driver. People like Shaun Miller - now playing at Morecambe.
HighfieldBlade
Well-Known Member
Look how super-soft the Vale goals are. It's shameful that we're not pressuring the opponents, not closing down, not getting tackles in, not getting our fucking bodies in the way.
http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...s/league-one/10016789/port-vale-2-1-sheff-utd
http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...s/league-one/10016789/port-vale-2-1-sheff-utd
Fulwood Blade
Well-Known Member
Your comments are systematic of how we have been for 5 years - successive managers think we can play our way out by buying better players - they have all been wrong up till now - and I just question whether Adkins is going the same way?
UTB
Fulwood Blade
Well-Known Member
I like your quote but feel the mention of Miller is unfair - he was forging a great partnership with Kitson until he got dropped and did his knee in. We might (just might) have been a good team if both had stayed on the pitch together.
Times had changed when he got fit again.
UTB
SwitchBLADE Smiles
Well-Known Member
We had one of those. People pissed & moaned about how shit he was & couldn't wait to get 'fired up' if God forbid he mis placed a pass. He was regularly identified as a weak link in midfield & absolutely fucking crucified week after week on here / blades mad / football heaven for it.
He was called Michael Doyle.
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