Again, as I said to alco, Adkins had a track record but the only thing we can judge him on is his time at Sheff Utd. Yes he's had 10 + games but my point (again) is that he's not done anything to suggest he's a better Sheff Utd manager than clough. .
How did Clough’s first 16 League games go by comparison? Clough said Morgan had been in charge for the 3-1 over Crewe in his first post match interview so we go from the next game
Shrews L 2-0
Gillingham L- 1-2
Bristol City W- 1-0
Walsall D -1-1
Orient D 1-1
Swindon W 1-0
Stevenage D 0-0
Oldham D 1-1
Tranmere W 3-1
Walsall L 2-1
Notts County L 2-1
Bradford D 2-2
Crewe L 3-0
Shrews W 2-0
Gillingham W 1-0
Bristol City W 3-0
That’s
W 6
L 5
D 5
Pts 23
F 19
A 17
GD +2
W7
D3
L6
Pts 24
F26
A22
GD +4
Not too dissimilar. Adkins has 1 more point and better goal difference and higher goals scored. You could argue that the squads are incomparable and Clough inherited a team on it’s arse but let’s also remember that Clough had the benefit of Maguire, Coady, Murphy and for the latter part Brayford which Adkins hasn’t had. Admittedly he’s had Sharp, Adams, Done, Basham etc that Clough didn’t have for his run. Overall, I would say Clough had a better first 11 at his disposal with Adkins having a deeper squad with more options.
Clough signed
Aiden White
Stefan Scougall
John Brayford
Billy Paynter
(I think Freeman and Davies arrived just after this period)
Adkins has signed
Martyn Woolford
Billy Sharp
Connor Sammon
David Edgar
Dean Hammond
Adkins has so far, done slightly better than Clough did when he first came in. Clough then went on a great run though. Adkins needs a good one to come quick if we're to stay in any kind of contention.
My concern for Adkins though is that in January, Clough managed to rid the squad of some bad apples, bring in a couple he wanted and generate a real spirit between a small group. Because Adkins didn’t get to work with the team before the window, he hasn’t had the chance to identify and then move on his own bad apples as quickly. Hopefully he can get rid of some in Jan and the team spirit will improve like it did under Clough.
When a new manager comes in, there tends to be a contingent of players who don’t buy into his vision for the team and they undermine what he is trying to do for Clough that seems to be Brandy and Taylor. Our failure to improve as the season goes on tells me this problem exists in our squad. I think the fact that around 12-14 players know they won’t be here next season also harms morale. We need to trim the squad massively, bring in maybe 1 or 2 more quality additions in Jan and see if we can gather some momentum like Clough did in that first season and see where it takes us. Then, the real cull can take place in the summer and Adkins can try to build a squad of players who want to be here and who are committed to the cause and see where they can take us.
It’s really hard to stay patient whilst we keep turning in abject performances and losing to sides we should be steamrolling. But we have to consider the bigger picture and the best way forward. These overpaid pampered wankers keep surviving longer than the managers and it just doesn’t move the club forwards. I would sooner pay up 15 players, write off this season and let NA work to develop some youngsters to supplement our squad before adding to it in the summer than sack him and let these bastards have another chance under a new manager.
