Ask yourself this..

[blade too long]

Paul Stancliffe , we need someone like that , at his best nothing world class just a good steady pro
The boss will know whats needed by the end of the window

 

[Bartleby]

If clough was still in charge and our back four was as is, there is no way anyone on here would have posted the above statement.

True, but Adkins did need time to meet and assess the squad first.

 

[Barney]

True, but Adkins did need time to meet and assess the squad first.

There was enough time in between assessing the squad and today to sign 3 players, all of which were deemed to have been signed after a perfectly reasonable amount of time and none of which deemed panic buys....so i'm afraid there's no excuse for not having a centre back in by now but I'm sure Adkins will be working on something in the background.

 

[robbiez666]

I don't understand posters who say they trust someone they've never met to do something. Or that someone they've never met knows more about the team than anyone else. It started with Clough and seems to be carrying on. Adkins is a great manager at this level but he's hardly fool-proof. He'd be managing Real Madrid if he was infallible.

Given his record, he's among the best managers we could have signed at this level, but the CB situation is concerning.

Yes, players can be rejuvenated by managers but not normally older players. The same weaknesses seem to still be there in pre-season, and he's not a magician. He can't magic Collins and J-Mac some pace. And along with J-Mac's height, the main reason why both make mistakes are because they're trying to counteract these shortcomings.

I'd simply want Nigel to watch a 2 on 2 between Collins & J-Mac vs Murphy and Adams. They'd rip them a new one with pace alone. Plus J-Mac does not have the positioning which only comes from experience. We'll give away goals from errors and lack of pace, as well as pick up red and yellow cards.

And the fact still remains is that those 2 could easily get injured. Replacements just aren't there (Basham can do a short term job, but again no positioning or experience).

 

[Bartleby]

There was enough time in between assessing the squad and today to sign 3 players

my response was in respect to the comparison with the Clough situation, given he was the incumbent in May while NA didn't meet the team till late June

but I'm sure Adkins will be working on something in the background.

I'm sure he will and we just have to trust him cos there isn't anyone better we could have got so if it still does go pear shaped this time then I can't really see where we go from there.

 

[mattbianco1]

Firstly, i'd like to point out I think the signings so far have been decent, but ask yourself this..

Whilst travelling home from Swindon, or after watching it wherever, a game in which our defence leaked 3 goals in the space of 10 minutes, could you ever envisage being 4 days to go till the start of the new season and still without any new signings at CB?

No, me neither, and yet here we are, 4 days to go, without any new CB's..

Not pointing the blame at anyone but I find it quite extraordinary given how many games and points we lost as a result of our abomination of a defence last season.

My initial thoughts were - How have we ended up having to play in the play offs with the squad we have?

Adkins has come in and given everybody a clean slate. I dare say that if Butler was still here our CB pairing would be Butler and Collins. What Adkins has done is come in and assess everybody and everything. He's realised that have lots of players up front we can score in all scenarios. We have pace in Done, Adams & Murphy. Power in Higdon & Sammon and Poaching with Sharp & McNulty. In this league you can get away with a shaky defence as long as you have firepower.

Players who can play CB in our squad - Collins, McEveley, Basham, Kennedy and McGahey in addition to Brayford and Alcock. We have multiple midfield players that can fill in for Basham if he needs to drop back and Kennedy/McGahey are adequate stand-ins. I wouldn't be surprised if he only signs 1 starter then lets McEverley and Collins fight to partner him.

 

[Bartleby]

I'd simply want Nigel to watch a 2 on 2 between Collins & J-Mac vs Murphy and Adams. They'd rip them a new one with pace alone. .

so basically you have no confidence in Adkins' judgement already

 

[Barney]

To the posters saying players can be become new players under different managers; yes they could be. But are we willing to take that risk if we want to get promoted? If we are serious about finishing top then you simply cannot afford to take needless gambles such as sitting and crossing your fingers that a vital part of the team will all of a sudden become completely different. It doesn't work like that, you need to look at how the defence under performed last season and rectify it by signing 2 new CBs, you can't just hope they're going to change, how silly is that?

 

[mattbianco1]

plus 15 opening minutes at swindon apart we didnt defend too badly , towards the end of the season up to losing Brayford to injury in the first leg , why dont people realise this had a great effect on the outcome ,he was the experienced organiser we had and we lost him at the vital moment , arent we a lucky club, we were winning 1-0 up to him going off

Apparently he is "shit 2nd time around" or "not the player he was" or "not worth what we paid"

 

[LoughboroBlade]

To the posters saying players can be become new players under different managers; yes they could be. But are we willing to take that risk if we want to get promoted?

It's equally a risk to bring people in that you haven't had the chance to coach. Sure, you can make a judgement call based on scouting, character assessments etc, but even then it doesn't work out. I hardly think Clough signed McGahey and Butler last summer thinking they weren't going to work out.

New signings aren't always guaranteed fixes. I am a bit surprised that so many of those annoyed at the lack of action don't think that Adkins, with the record he has, is sufficiently capable of assessing players at his disposal. If he was scared to death by their reported shitness he'd have likely signed a centre-back as a top priority. It's fair to assume he rates them a lot higher than some of our fans do.

 

[robbiez666]

It's equally a risk to bring people in that you haven't had the chance to coach. Sure, you can make a judgement call based on scouting, character assessments etc, but even then it doesn't work out. I hardly think Clough signed McGahey and Butler last summer thinking they weren't going to work out.

New signings aren't always guaranteed fixes. I am a bit surprised that so many of those annoyed at the lack of action don't think that Adkins, with the record he has, is sufficiently capable of assessing players at his disposal. If he was scared to death by their reported shitness he'd have likely signed a centre-back as a top priority. It's fair to assume he rates them a lot higher than some of our fans do.

How many competitive matches has Adkins seen either of them play in? 3 or 4 over their career? How many have the people on this messageboard seen?

I'm not saying either is shit. I'm saying they make errors in pressure situations and get exploited by players with pace.

 

[robbiez666]

so basically you have no confidence in Adkins' judgement already

I don;t have confident in your judgement if you think that defence would win out in that match-up.

 

[Bartleby]

I am a bit surprised that so many of those annoyed at the lack of action don't think that Adkins, with the record he has, is sufficiently capable of assessing players at his disposal.

Me too, we haven't even played a competitive game under him yet and people are on his back. Heard reports of some idiot giving hime grief from the south stand against Hull that got his attention and caused him to turn around. FFS! As a club that has won nothing in 90 years, we have over-achieved in getting someone of his calibre to accept this job, that many would say was a poisoned chalice.

 

[Bartleby]

I don;t have confident in your judgement if you think that defence would win out in that match-up.

Fine, whatever. As per my last post just now, I just think we need to get behind him at this stage.

 

[robbiez666]

Fine, whatever. As per my last post just now, I just think we need to get behind him at this stage.

Agreed on that point, at the game. I think it's perfectly acceptable to question on internet forums but all the team should get full support at games. To begin with at least.

I'm just concerned that lack of action will cost us automatic promotion. I could be wrong but the evidence suggests they will make mistakes.

 

[Bartleby]

Agreed on that point, at the game. I think it's perfectly acceptable to question on internet forums ..

Well, yes totally agreed on that point as well, I just find it a all a bit too negative for me at this stage. I'll be as critical as I think I need to be later down the line if it ain't working out but for now I will just wait and see. As I said above if this doesn't work out then god knows where we go from there, maybe Parkinson and L1 for another 5 years.

 

[robbiez666]

Well, yes totally agreed on that point as well, I just find it a all a bit too negative for me at this stage. I'll be as critical as I think I need to be later down the line if it ain't working out but for now I will just wait and see. As I said above if this doesn't work out then god knows where we go from there, maybe Parkinson and L1 for another 5 years.

I've been really positive going into the last 2 seasons. Never again!

 

[LoughboroBlade]

How many competitive matches has Adkins seen either of them play in? 3 or 4 over their career? How many have the people on this messageboard seen?

I don't really like repeating myself, but if you took the views of fans to be the key view, the likes of Murphy (both), Naysmith and others would have all been bombed out before being given the opportunity to win them over. In terms of seeing both play, Adkins said on more than one occasion that part of assessing the players was extensively looking at game footage from last season. I'd hazard a guess he's probably seen more of their games last season than a lot of people on this messageboard.

 

[Bartleby]

I'm just concerned that lack of action will cost us automatic promotion. I could be wrong but the evidence suggests they will make mistakes.

OK so not signed any yet but that's not to say we won't. Transfer window ends 1st September.

I've been really positive going into the last 2 seasons. Not again!

Fair enough, each to his own

 

[Barney]

i think we all know too well and discussed in great length the CB situation.

I think what will be greatly beneficial for all parties from now on will just be to wait and see what happens.

If we get one in before the end of transfer window, great, if we dont..we'll have to trust Adkins and get fully behind the lads on match days.

Either way there's nothing we can do apart from support the team and see where we are at the end of the season. Not again though United please, my health is at risk i think..

 

[Bartleby]

Adkins said on more than one occasion that part of assessing the players was extensively looking at game footage from last season. I'd hazard a guess he's probably seen more of their games last season than a lot of people on this messageboard.

I also think he had been watching us beforehand as he let summat slip in one of his first interviews along the lines of "we've got our own ideas already cos we've been watching over the last 5 months errr.. (pause) a lot of football"

 

[Bartleby]

Not again though United please, my health is at risk i think..

Obviously owt could happen knowing us, but I think there's more cause for optimism this time than the last two seasons. Weir was an unknown quantity as a manager on his own, and Clough was a known quantity who had achieved very little in terms of promotion as a manager.

 

[Barney]

Obviously owt could happen knowing us, but I think there's more cause for optimism this time than the last two seasons. Weir was an unknown quantity as a manager on his own, and Clough was a known quantity who had achieved very little in terms of promotion as a manager.

Agreed, we need to stick with Adkins from now untill we are out of this league, he's a top bloke and easily the best manager we could have got at this level, and he deserves the respect along with the chance and the support to do the business this season and get us promoted.

 

[Bartleby]

Agreed, we need to stick with Adkins from now untill we are out of this league

what and then sack him for someone "better" if we are in the championship?? Is that what you mean? If you do then sorry but you have lost any credibility you had with me mate.

 

[Barney]

what and then sack him for someone "better" if we are in the championship?? Is that what you mean? If you do then sorry but you have lost any credibility you had with me mate.

Nooo! didn't mean it like that haha, I meant stick with him regardless no matter if we finish 6th 8th or wherever, whatever we do don't sack him. That was my point, tried to edit it but it won't let me anymore.

 

[Bartleby]

Nooo! didn't mean it like that haha, I meant stick with him regardless no matter if we finish 6th 8th or wherever, whatever we do don't sack him. That was my point, tried to edit it but it won't let me anymore.

ah fair enough, just the way it read then. Yea agree, just cos he took Southampton straight up twice doesn't mean in will happen immediately this time, might need longer.

 

[him behind you]

If clough was still in charge and our back four was as is, there is no way anyone on here would have posted the above statement.

The first home game if points had been dropped at Gillingham would have been toxic.

Very true. But he isn't so hopefully we won't perform like we did under him.

 

[him behind you]

I don't understand posters who say they trust someone they've never met to do something. Or that someone they've never met knows more about the team than anyone else. It started with Clough and seems to be carrying on. Adkins is a great manager at this level but he's hardly fool-proof. He'd be managing Real Madrid if he was infallible.

Given his record, he's among the best managers we could have signed at this level, but the CB situation is concerning.

Yes, players can be rejuvenated by managers but not normally older players. The same weaknesses seem to still be there in pre-season, and he's not a magician. He can't magic Collins and J-Mac some pace. And along with J-Mac's height, the main reason why both make mistakes are because they're trying to counteract these shortcomings.

I'd simply want Nigel to watch a 2 on 2 between Collins & J-Mac vs Murphy and Adams. They'd rip them a new one with pace alone. Plus J-Mac does not have the positioning which only comes from experience. We'll give away goals from errors and lack of pace, as well as pick up red and yellow cards.

And the fact still remains is that those 2 could easily get injured. Replacements just aren't there (Basham can do a short term job, but again no positioning or experience).

Good point, why would we trust someone we've never met - but how many managers have we actually met? Seriously I assume its why would we trust a manager who we have no experience of but my counter to that is why do some people say they don't trust him because they have the same level of knowledge on which to base it.

For what it's worth, i think we do need strengthening at cb but I'm not going to write us off until I've seen evidence that we can't defend better with a new coaching regime. Oh, and as for playing 2 on 2 vs Murphy and Adams, how many teams in our division have 2 players like that attacking opponents CB's as a pair? I doubt even we will and they're our players.

 

[robbiez666]

Good point, why would we trust someone we've never met - but how many managers have we actually met? Seriously I assume its why would we trust a manager who we have no experience of but my counter to that is why do some people say they don't trust him because they have the same level of knowledge on which to base it.

For what it's worth, i think we do need strengthening at cb but I'm not going to write us off until I've seen evidence that we can't defend better with a new coaching regime. Oh, and as for playing 2 on 2 vs Murphy and Adams, how many teams in our division have 2 players like that attacking opponents CB's as a pair? I doubt even we will and they're our players.

Just an example really. Point is, neither can defend against pace. Whilst League 1 is hardly full of incredible players, they'll have to face pace fairly regularly. The one benefit of Basham back there was some modicum of speed.

There are two obvious ways to attack us:

Drop off, pick the ball up and run at us
Dominate the midfield

I think we're susceptible to both, and both are pretty obvious to anyone who scouts us. I'd also say our right hand side is another target. If Baxter plays in the centre then we're relying on Basham to protect the CBs and LB. I'm guessing Murphy won't be expected to track back if we're attacking teams. There are too many vulnerabilities for me to be confident of success.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Firstly, i'd like to point out I think the signings so far have been decent, but ask yourself this..

Whilst travelling home from Swindon, or after watching it wherever, a game in which our defence leaked 3 goals in the space of 10 minutes, could you ever envisage being 4 days to go till the start of the new season and still without any new signings at CB?

No, me neither, and yet here we are, 4 days to go, without any new CB's..

Not pointing the blame at anyone but I find it quite extraordinary given how many games and points we lost as a result of our abomination of a defence last season.

Agree with the OP, Collins' return will help but they still lack a dominant centre half, the same type of defender we were crying out for the whole of last season. I can't believe we've got to 3 days before the season's start and we still haven't sorted it. Adkins can coach them as much as he wants but a big opposing centre forward will have a field day with our defence.