che adams next year..

[United Aren't Back.]

dont think it's about Age... he just isnt good enough to "start" the best place at the moment is from the bench in sort of a Peschi role. as he has been lethal from the bench but more lethargic when starting...

I think McNulty has also been a letdown when starting league games as lone striker.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I agree ..... I really like the look of Wallace as well and we missed a big strong playmaker sooooo much last season , but if we cant get him fit ...... add a bug, strong CM playmaker to the shopping list along with 2 x CH a big strong pacey goal hungry CF and don't be surprised to see a new winger. I'm told by people cleverer than me that NA likes pacy wingers.

One thing is for certain ..... let there be NO talk of play-offs this next season. It MUST be automatic promotion that we go for or teddy is taking a fu**ing good kicking out of the cot !!!
Lets be aiming for 100 goals & 100 points for goodness sake .......
UTB & FTP

you been on the booze? steady on tiger, you'll be calling us massive next !

UTB

 

[Darthblade]

That's a key statement - fans have to realise Adkins is not some sort of magician and he does not start from a sound base, but a base that is a very unbalanced squad. He has his work cut out, but as usual my half full glass is looking forward to the new season.

Hopefully our club can get it's mojo back - there are some great crowds awaiting a good team - ie: Donny & Barnsley away - we need lift off Mr Adkins !

UTB

I think the crowds will very much depend on the ins and outs during the summer and what style / tactics we decide to play. I sense that many fans are cautiously optimistic, but wary of the fact that we were very optimistic at 2.59pm on the day of Utd vs Bristol City last year !!! Oh how it turned to shit !!
UTB & FTP

 

[Darthblade]

you been on the booze? steady on tiger, you'll be calling us massive next !

UTB

Good god NO !!
There's nothing massive about us and I'm in no doubt about how difficult it is to escape this agricultural division. Furthermore all UTD supporters, myself included, are painfully aware that, unlike our MASSIVE, arrogant lady-boy neighbours, we have no divine right to be playing in a European super league.
But that shouldn't stop us from aiming high, unlike last season where we aimed for 6th place and nearly got it !!
UTB & FTP

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I think the crowds will very much depend on the ins and outs during the summer and what style / tactics we decide to play. I sense that many fans are cautiously optimistic, but wary of the fact that we were very optimistic at 2.59pm on the day of Utd vs Bristol City last year !!! Oh how it turned to shit !!
UTB & FTP

I would like to think that the signing of Adkins and a decent start could get us back to 20K crowds at home.

It's the away following that will do us the world of good - we are the biggest club in this division and we should go to away grounds knowing that the opposition see us that way. A big, vociferous crowd always makes the difference and all we want is 11 players that look forward, give 100% and play for the shirt. If Cough had been a little more positive, he might still be in a job, and we might have actually gone up. All history now and we move on.

UTB

 

[Fulwood Blade]

our MASSIVE, arrogant lady-boy neighbours, we have no divine right to be playing in a European super league.
UTB & FTP

I am led to believe the purse strings are about to be unleashed that side of the city - it's now or never for us, we may have some catching up to do.

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

Pinchy, we are watching the same striker.

What I see is a 5' 10", 11 stone striker having to play the one up front role for the majority of the season when he is a 4-4-2 type striker.

First NC tried to sign COG in pre season and failed, then we had the last minute Higdon to supposedly play that role (subsequently unfit, sent off, injured and then discarded) - we had COG on loan and then returned and then Davies on loan.

All the time MM was used in way that was alien to his natural game and when a big lad wasn't available, he had to fill in and "try" and play the same role.

I totally agree that at times he has been poor and a lot of that time was because of the ever changing midfield and MM having to play up top as a very very lightweight COG/Higdon or Davies.

I think you and others have been unfair on Mcnulty - especially as he would have hit that magic 20 goal total if he had not had 23 matches as a sub.

Given the right service from a consistent midfield that gets to know his runs and how he plays then he will be a success. Can see a very unnatural left sided Murphy (if Fulham don't get him) playing on the right and Done on the left side. 2 brutes at CH and Basham plus a n other in centre midfield.

We all wait with interest.......

UTB

I hope you're right, mate. Some people (not you so far as I know) misunderstand me (my fault - a good writer never blames his audience. People assume that I don't "like" certain players. Not at all. I want all our players to do well but I do have some pretty robust opinions about the limitations of certain players whilst others I regard as significantly under-rated. I have my preferences like everyone else but I wouldn't wish a poor performance on, say Reed, because I happen to think, say, Scoogs should be starting.

McNulty is a good natural finisher but has much to learn about about other aspects of playing up front (we can't allow people to do half a job, the 10-year Monty experiment having failed dismally). I want to see MM being the first line of attack and defence, pressing defenders in possession relentlessly like Matt Done does. I've watched McNulty, on too many occasions, simply go through the motions in this respect. That's not acceptable and I don't blame NC at all for trying to get him to wake up and join in. He disappears far too often for far too long. Personally, I shall be disappointed if McNulty starts the season as first-choice because that would not be, for me, a sign that we are in for a promotion season. There are others in that category as well but let's see what August brings, Suffice to say I want a strike force and engine room that will have other teams on the back foot before we even kick off. I don't think the sight of MM on the team-sheet will have anyone trembling just yet!

 

[Pinchy]

Done true position is RB . With Brayford being injured , (and the other attacking options already at the club ) , i can see him playing as a attacking wing back.

It all depends who the manager brings in . Adkins will know , like we do whats required . ( Elsie the tea lady will have told him and she will have been 100% correct , on her assessment )

UTB

I don't think he's ever played right-back, mate. Even if he has, his true position is predatory striker. I think NA will get more than a few quizzical looks if our best poacher is stuck at right-back. Flynn is very capable in that position and would be a better choice. Get Matty up front with a quality (at this level) CF (there isn't one at the club at the moment, for all the talk of Che and McN) and its job Done!

 

[Pinchy]

Good god NO !!
There's nothing massive about us and I'm in no doubt about how difficult it is to escape this agricultural division. Furthermore all UTD supporters, myself included, are painfully aware that, unlike our MASSIVE, arrogant lady-boy neighbours, we have no divine right to be playing in a European super league.
But that shouldn't stop us from aiming high, unlike last season where we aimed for 6th place and nearly got it !!
UTB & FTP

Nigel says we're massive, repeatedly in his interview. I agree. We are. How many clubs, not having won a bean for nearly 100 years, would attract an average of almost 20,000 in League One? Very few. Certainly not the current Champions, for example. Same goes for most clubs in both the Premiership and Championship. The vast majority of them have won something in living memory and that doesn't half stimulate support. Us? Nearly a century ago. We doff our caps and underestimate the potential of our own club far too much. It's a Bladey-Bladey character trait that we could do with losing.

"Why would Nigel Adkins join a club like us....no chance"....

Nigel disagrees. He thinks we're massive. United Together.

 

[fishpie]

I hope you're right, mate. Some people (not you so far as I know) misunderstand me (my fault - a good writer never blames his audience. People assume that I don't "like" certain players. Not at all. I want all our players to do well but I do have some pretty robust opinions about the limitations of certain players whilst others I regard as significantly under-rated. I have my preferences like everyone else but I wouldn't wish a poor performance on, say Reed, because I happen to think, say, Scoogs should be starting.

McNulty is a good natural finisher but has much to learn about about other aspects of playing up front (we can't allow people to do half a job, the 10-year Monty experiment having failed dismally). I want to see MM being the first line of attack and defence, pressing defenders in possession relentlessly like Matt Done does. I've watched McNulty, on too many occasions, simply go through the motions in this respect. That's not acceptable and I don't blame NC at all for trying to get him to wake up and join in. He disappears far too often for far too long. Personally, I shall be disappointed if McNulty starts the season as first-choice because that would not be, for me, a sign that we are in for a promotion season. There are others in that category as well but let's see what August brings, Suffice to say I want a strike force and engine room that will have other teams on the back foot before we even kick off. I don't think the sight of MM on the team-sheet will have anyone trembling just yet!

I hope you're right, mate. Some people (not you so far as I know) misunderstand me (my fault - a good writer never blames his audience. People assume that I don't "like" certain players. Not at all. I want all our players to do well but I do have some pretty robust opinions about the limitations of certain players whilst others I regard as significantly under-rated. I have my preferences like everyone else but I wouldn't wish a poor performance on, say Reed, because I happen to think, say, Scoogs should be starting.

McNulty is a good natural finisher but has much to learn about about other aspects of playing up front (we can't allow people to do half a job, the 10-year Monty experiment having failed dismally). I want to see MM being the first line of attack and defence, pressing defenders in possession relentlessly like Matt Done does. I've watched McNulty, on too many occasions, simply go through the motions in this respect. That's not acceptable and I don't blame NC at all for trying to get him to wake up and join in. He disappears far too often for far too long. Personally, I shall be disappointed if McNulty starts the season as first-choice because that would not be, for me, a sign that we are in for a promotion season. There are others in that category as well but let's see what August brings, Suffice to say I want a strike force and engine room that will have other teams on the back foot before we even kick off. I don't think the sight of MM on the team-sheet will have anyone trembling just yet!

I may be way off the mark, but I think NC's frustrations (criticisms) regarding MMc were more about knowing that he could be better than he is..and he was trying to make him fulfill his potential..Whether he did it in the right way, or not, is a different issue.

 

[Lane Ender]

I hope you're right, mate. Some people (not you so far as I know) misunderstand me (my fault - a good writer never blames his audience. People assume that I don't "like" certain players. Not at all. I want all our players to do well but I do have some pretty robust opinions about the limitations of certain players whilst others I regard as significantly under-rated. I have my preferences like everyone else but I wouldn't wish a poor performance on, say Reed, because I happen to think, say, Scoogs should be starting.

McNulty is a good natural finisher but has much to learn about about other aspects of playing up front (we can't allow people to do half a job, the 10-year Monty experiment having failed dismally). I want to see MM being the first line of attack and defence, pressing defenders in possession relentlessly like Matt Done does. I've watched McNulty, on too many occasions, simply go through the motions in this respect. That's not acceptable and I don't blame NC at all for trying to get him to wake up and join in. He disappears far too often for far too long. Personally, I shall be disappointed if McNulty starts the season as first-choice because that would not be, for me, a sign that we are in for a promotion season. There are others in that category as well but let's see what August brings, Suffice to say I want a strike force and engine room that will have other teams on the back foot before we even kick off. I don't think the sight of MM on the team-sheet will have anyone trembling just yet!

I agree with a lot of that Done does most things a front should puts in a shift and a deadly finisher.
If fit Flynn will as proven will do a job at full back to cover Brayford .
We will see if Mcnulty will shine under Adkins he'll get a chance the rest is up to him I personally aren't sure if he's up to it.
The one who I don't agree with you is Scougall lot of energy but he's poor I don't think he'll be around long his passing, movement are very basic.

 

[Silent Blade]

I don't think he's ever played right-back, mate.

Done was a left back at Hibs

 

[Pinchy]

Done was a left back at Hibs

Yes, I had LB in mind when I commented. I thought Barnsley as well, or maybe it was LM there?

Anyway, I know exactly where I want him for us

 

[Pinchy]

I agree with a lot of that Done does most things a front should puts in a shift and a deadly finisher.
If fit Flynn will as proven will do a job at full back to cover Brayford .
We will see if Mcnulty will shine under Adkins he'll get a chance the rest is up to him I personally aren't sure if he's up to it.
The one who I don't agree with you is Scougall lot of energy but he's poor I don't think he'll be around long his passing, movement are very basic.

I don't agree that we don't agree! I was using Scoogs merely as a 'neutral' example. Neither he nor Reed would be in my current preferred starting XI for next season. Far from it, in fact. Don't ask me who would though; some of them aren't here yet!

 

[SB_90]

I think che adams could be fantastic next yr, but if our constant problem still there if wingers/midfield give our strikers poor or non existent service then might struggle. But I believe that we don't need any more fotwards as with adams done mcnulty & higdon to maybe be the strong one who holds it up like relationship porter miller used to have.

 

[MobileBlade]

I think the crowds will very much depend on the ins and outs during the summer and what style / tactics we decide to play. I sense that many fans are cautiously optimistic, but wary of the fact that we were very optimistic at 2.59pm on the day of Utd vs Bristol City last year !!! Oh how it turned to shit !!
UTB & FTP

Thought Bristol City was a lunchtime kick off, live on Sky.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I hope you're right, mate. Some people (not you so far as I know) misunderstand me (my fault - a good writer never blames his audience. People assume that I don't "like" certain players. Not at all. I want all our players to do well but I do have some pretty robust opinions about the limitations of certain players whilst others I regard as significantly under-rated. I have my preferences like everyone else but I wouldn't wish a poor performance on, say Reed, because I happen to think, say, Scoogs should be starting.

McNulty is a good natural finisher but has much to learn about about other aspects of playing up front (we can't allow people to do half a job, the 10-year Monty experiment having failed dismally). I want to see MM being the first line of attack and defence, pressing defenders in possession relentlessly like Matt Done does. I've watched McNulty, on too many occasions, simply go through the motions in this respect. That's not acceptable and I don't blame NC at all for trying to get him to wake up and join in. He disappears far too often for far too long. Personally, I shall be disappointed if McNulty starts the season as first-choice because that would not be, for me, a sign that we are in for a promotion season. There are others in that category as well but let's see what August brings, Suffice to say I want a strike force and engine room that will have other teams on the back foot before we even kick off. I don't think the sight of MM on the team-sheet will have anyone trembling just yet!

The same players were buzzing under Clough's leadership that previous season but by the time we started last season they were dispirited.

There were no doubts a number of reasons for that but Clough failed to capitalise on his wonderful start at the club and has paid the price. I think the players stopped believing last summer for whatever reason and thereafter it was a hard place to work; nobody seemed to smile! Once that goes, the spring in the step and the optimism in the play deserts everybody. McNulty was a prime example, he was so thoroughly miserable and bewildered that everything he did seemed to be wrong. Of course he said the "hard lessons" he was learning from Clough would make him a stronger person and better player, but that style of management often destroys rather than builds players.

Good luck to Adkins. He has some good players and inherits them from a relative low point which he can work to his advantage and everyones' benefit. I feel as though early momentum is a given almost and it's up to the new manager to do the right things at the right time to ensure that momentum is sustained beyond a few weeks. I hope he takes plenty of time to assess the strengths of the squad and doesn't just spend the money because it's there. He has that essential experience in the job and knows the money can only be spent once. He also knows a season is a long time and there are opportunities to improve the squad incrementally. As Fulwood says above, there is a need to reduce the squad at the same time as improving key positions and indeed improving the physical height and strength of the squad .

As for McNulty himself, personally I think he is that natural goalscorer but he has a lot of work to do in his all round game. As a lone striker he doesn't have presence and as one of two up front he doesn't have the business and mobility needed. I would be worried if we start next season with McNults as one of our two main strikers in a strike-force of four, this has to be a promotion season. I'd much rather him be sat on the bench alongside Adams and for them to grow during the season to displace one of the main two. Again personally, I think Adams could well develop more than McNulty, though I would love to see Adams playing left side midfield and together with Murphy clocking up twenty odd goals from midfield.

A fascinating time to watch the new manager sort out his priorities.

 

[Darthblade]

Thought Bristol City was a lunchtime kick off, live on Sky.

You could be right mate ...... I have worked hard with my therapist to forget last season's debacle, so I'm not going to look !!
UTB & FTP

 

[Darthblade]

Nigel says we're massive, repeatedly in his interview. I agree. We are. How many clubs, not having won a bean for nearly 100 years, would attract an average of almost 20,000 in League One? Very few. Certainly not the current Champions, for example. Same goes for most clubs in both the Premiership and Championship. The vast majority of them have won something in living memory and that doesn't half stimulate support. Us? Nearly a century ago. We doff our caps and underestimate the potential of our own club far too much. It's a Bladey-Bladey character trait that we could do with losing.

"Why would Nigel Adkins join a club like us....no chance"....

Nigel disagrees. He thinks we're massive. United Together.

Well its certainly a fact that this Club do not deserve the loyalty and support that has been given to them by our long suffering supporters. Of course our massive, arrogant, lady-boy neighbours would have had crowds of 75,000 under the same circumstances but ...... hey ho, we obviously aren't really massive are we
UTB & FTP

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Dont forget football has changed
There is instant pressure on Adkins to get us out of this league by hook or by crook
He doesnt really have the scope for too many mistakes
Introduce Adams gradually it has been said previuosly in this thread when hes started games he has looked
pretty average

We had Calvert Lewin play at the end of last season and he was getting dogs abuse, so we also need to factor in our crowd doesn't create the perfect environment for them.
Blood him over the season.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I don't think he's ever played right-back, mate. Even if he has, his true position is predatory striker. I think NA will get more than a few quizzical looks if our best poacher is stuck at right-back. Flynn is very capable in that position and would be a better choice. Get Matty up front with a quality (at this level) CF (there isn't one at the club at the moment, for all the talk of Che and McN) and its job Done!

NA plays a pressing game, he likes the pressing to start from the front, and currently there is nobody at the club as good at this as Done, its a big part of his game. I'm fairly sure it will be Done + 1 other up front.