Clough's future - changes seem imminent

[Silent Blade]

Thanks for the history lesson, but can you please tell me how football in the 50s, 60s and 70s is relevant to modern day football and what other clubs are doing to achieve promotion?

Ok, I have removed the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s managers and this is my answer

McEwan didnt take us up in his first full season, took Warnock 6 and half years before we went up, Blackwell didnt take us up in his first full season.

 

[Blade56]

I know Jim is in town later this week. Unsure why

Got to make a DOWN payment on the grass

The dreaded vote of confidence comes on Friday. Board meeting 10.30am.

UTB

Is that fact LBE?

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Got to make a DOWN payment on the grass


Is that fact LBE?

Its setting the financial budgets for players from a board member , so the same time , i am sure it will be on the agenda of football operational performance . The get together is scheduled for Friday .

UTB

 

[Revolution]

McCarthy was thought to be the answer to our CB problem but he was shockingly poor. Admit this to yourself at the time McCarthy first came to us, it seemed that we had made a good signing

Howard, McEveley, Harris and Flynn were out for spells, Ben Davies and Higdon were starting more games than not before they had long lay offs. Done had groin injury problems in March and April so he was used sparingly, same for Steve Davies (foot injury)

Ah, is this your injury list you were talking about?

Howard - yes, we missed him.
Flynn - JCR played through his injured spell and played very well, I recall. Didn't miss him.
McEveley/Harris - They have both been patchy at best and we have similarly patchy players who could, and did, come in for them.
Higdon - irrelevant as Clough wasn't picking him anyway
Ben Davies - he was injured, but then he was dropped and hardly used again. Clough wouldn't pick him (and based on the Crewe game, not surprising)
Done/Davies - Davies played every game (a miracle in itself). Done was injured but that didn't affect our playoff run.
Kennedy/Wallace - we missed both but both players were injury risks when signed/given new contracts. Kennedy would not have played at all were Clough not so desperate.

So really Howard and Kennedy's injuries were problems. So was Wallace's but that was always going to happen so we can't say were were unlucky. The other injuries were to people easily replaced from this vast squad of mediocraty Clough assembled last season. It's not in any way comparable with the other seasons I mentioned to you, where a number of vital players were out for months on end.

Another thing - Clough caused more disruption himself by endless tinkering and changes. After 8 games, we had only one ever present player. One. That's a man who has no clue as to his best XI. He still doesn't. My favourite change was where all three scorers against Doncaster were dropped for the next game (2-2 with Oldham). The mind boggles.

 

[blades78]

Hi fellow blades. My first post, since signing up to the forum.

My view is that Clough has caused his own problems from preseason. The balance of the squad was poor and he's constantly changed his team throughout the season. He proved he had no idea of his best XI v Bristol City at home. Look how different the team was for our last game v Swindon. I don't think many other teams in the play offs would have the same amount of changes.

I want to back him, but over the last few months my faith in him decreases everytime I listen to or read some of his interviews.

 

[Snowman]

I made an attempt at explaining the management's reasons here:

http://scandinavianblades.webs.com/...3305870-clough-explains-lack-of-centre-halves

Did no one ask him about Butler and what went wrong?

 

[Blade56]

Hi fellow blades. My first post, since signing up to the forum.

My view is that Clough has caused his own problems from preseason. The balance of the squad was poor and he's constantly changed his team throughout the season. He proved he had no idea of his best XI v Bristol City at home. Look how different the team was for our last game v Swindon. I don't think many other teams in the play offs would have the same amount of changes.

I want to back him, but over the last few months my faith in him decreases everytime I listen to or read some of his interviews.

Welcome B78 (as you will be known). Safe first post, bit on the fence but echoes the feeling of many. How far has your faith decreased, back him or sack him?

 

[maxstertheblade]

heard Jim is in sheff on Friday.

 

[blades78]

Hi Blades56, tbh I am a bit on the fence at the minute. I'm not sure I trust Clough to bring in the right players or even give the likes of Che Adams a fair go. On the other hand I don't have much faith in the board to make the right appointment if they sacked Clough.
I'm leaning towards sack him after reading Nigel's comments about needing a centre half and Howard being number 1. We needed a centre half for months and months (just like we needed a striker for a year) yet nothing was done. I got sick of seeing us concede goals speculative shots that you would expect a professional keeper to save. I really don't think he's solid enough to be a number 1.
If Jim is in town, I hope we get some positive info.

 

[metalblade]

I just hope the board do the right thing and sack the useless tw@ I'm not holding my breath though, the boards at SUFC have a long record of dithering and sitting on the fence until it is too late or until they are pushed off. Usually after that a decision is made in panic and turns out to be the wrong choice like when McCabe appointed Negative Nigel.

 

[Kev Gee]

The dreaded vote of confidence comes on Friday. Board meeting 10.30am.

UTB

So when is Adkins going to be announced?

 

[Hodgyman]

I did not enjoy most matches last season due to having stark deficiencies in vital positions despite funds seemingly available, negative tactics, I'm always right attitude, and reluctance to take the blame for mistakes, selecting favourites rather than what are better options for the team from our manager. If he is not prepared to learn from his mistakes then I prefer to see him go. If he "has his script read" for him by the board to improve these areas then I would be willing to be a little more patient. But please God no more of the same.

 

[Going up]

I did not enjoy most matches last season due to having stark deficiencies in vital positions despite funds seemingly available, negative tactics, I'm always right attitude, and reluctance to take the blame for mistakes, selecting favourites rather than what are better options for the team from our manager. If he is not prepared to learn from his mistakes then I prefer to see him go. If he "has his script read" for him by the board to improve these areas then I would be willing to be a little more patient. But please God no more of the same.

What's your first eleven then?

 

[Blade56]

What's your first eleven then?

No. Position Player
1 GK Lee Camp
2 DF Simon Francis
3 DF Steve Cook
4 MF Dan Gosling
5 DF Tommy Elphick (captain)
6 MF Andrew Surman
7 MF Marc Pugh
8 MF Harry Arter
9 FW Tokelo Rantie
10 FW Brett Pitman
11 MF Charlie Daniels
13 FW Callum Wilson
15 DF Adam Smith
16 MF Shaun MacDonald
18 FW Yann Kermorgant
19 MF Junior Stanislas
20 MF Ryan Fraser
22 DF

No manager sackings announced today then?

 

[sitwell]

Credit where its due to lightsoot and Boss.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

This is speculation, but from what I'm hearing, I think it seems more likely that Clough is going to be sacked. I'd be surprised if he's still in charge by the end of this month.

This would hardly be startling news. However many seemed to have formed an opinion that Clough will be retained because he hasn't been sacked immediately, allowed to preside over the retained list etc.

Unlike when stating that we were signing Brayford I don't have any concrete news on this. But rightly or wrongly I think things are accelerating behind the scenes and Nigel will go.

Thought this was worth a "Well Done!"

Can you add some flesh to the reasons why you thought as you did?

 

[Lightsoot]

Thanks Sitwell and BornonShoreham.

Someone with influence at the club told my source that there would be 'major changes shortly'. They didn't elaborate, but I made an educated guess that Nigel's time was up.

I'm sorry that it's come to this but I think United have made the right decision. It really depends who we get in though. I've not heard anything yet other than my contact speculating that Neil Redfern could figure in the mix. But that's not via someone at the club before anyone panics.

 

[Blade56]

This is speculation, but from what I'm hearing, I think it seems more likely that Clough is going to be sacked. I'd be surprised if he's still in charge by the end of this month.

This would hardly be startling news. However many seemed to have formed an opinion that Clough will be retained because he hasn't been sacked immediately, allowed to preside over the retained list etc.

Unlike when stating that we were signing Brayford I don't have any concrete news on this. But rightly or wrongly I think things are accelerating behind the scenes and Nigel will go.

Good call L'oot you and BornOnShoreham nailed it

 

[Edinblade]

This is speculation, but from what I'm hearing, I think it seems more likely that Clough is going to be sacked. I'd be surprised if he's still in charge by the end of this month.

This would hardly be startling news. However many seemed to have formed an opinion that Clough will be retained because he hasn't been sacked immediately, allowed to preside over the retained list etc.

Unlike when stating that we were signing Brayford I don't have any concrete news on this. But rightly or wrongly I think things are accelerating behind the scenes and Nigel will go.

This has to be one of the best speculative posts ever. Can I have this weekends lottery numbers please.

 

[sheffielder]

Got to say, there's a few regulars here who over Lightsoot an apology.

 

[sheffielder]

Thanks Sitwell and BornonShoreham.

Someone with influence at the club told my source that there would be 'major changes shortly'. They didn't elaborate, but I made an educated guess that Nigel's time was up.

I'm sorry that it's come to this but I think United have made the right decision. It really depends who we get in though. I've not heard anything yet other than my contact speculating that Neil Redfern could figure in the mix. But that's not via someone at the club before anyone panics.

Have you had any more info Lghtsoot?

 

[Lightsoot]

Have you had any more info Lghtsoot?

Hi mate.

No, nothing I'm afraid and I'd rather not imply otherwise. Despite the various rumours, United have kept this very tightly wrapped. My source is impeccable but he isn't accessible because he's a tad busy, and I can't chase him for info and appear legit.

I'm pretty sure I'll hear something concrete eventually but it will probably be done and dusted by then. But who knows, some of the supposed ITKers said it would be sorted last week.

The only thing we can be certain of, despite others best efforts to say otherwise, is that we have genuine interest in Phil Parkinson. Personally, I hope Adkins, but can't understand why we haven't appointed him as he's out of work and ticks many boxes. Unless he doesn't want it.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

You may think that, it's more to do with the absolute shite that people are posting. This "ITK" bollocks that is presented as fact is little to do with actual information and more to do with dropping a bomb and sitting back, admiring the reaction while thinking how awesome they are for it.

Is it awesome?

 

[DronnieBlade]

Utterly brilliant thread btw.

UTB.