Interview With Adkins After Barnsley (H)

[William Henry Foulkes]

Of the current contingent: I once thought Coutts could do it, but he prefers not to tackle. Basham has many attributes but positional sense is not one of them. Which leaves us with young Whiteman, who I believe has the physical presence and technical attributes to do the job. All that's missing is experience, which he could and should have had more of, given Hammond's deficiencies.

If we're looking more for the finished article, I really hoped we'd sign Sam Morsy, who doesn't fit Adkins' height criteria but is head and shoulders above Hammond in pretty much every other aspect.

I like what I've seen of Whiteman but he seems more of a creative player.

Thinking about it though: he can play centre half (I think) so it might be that he is a longer term prospect as defensive midfield but...one who can also pass.

Physically I don't think he's not really up to it, and might not be for a few years. It was noticeable (on BP) how many headers Hammond was winning at Shrewsbury. I can't see Whiteman doing that till he's 21 or 22.

He was standing right in front of me at Southend. Hammond pointed out the bloke at the back post. Whiteman did his job it was a hopeless mismatch. Their player headed it back across the goal and they scored their first.

Brooks is even skinnier. He was warming up, and looked about 14.

Benefit
Hammond brings experience, organisation, height, he's a role-model, works very hard and thereby releases others, decent in the air

Cost
He's often too slow, loses the ball (less so recently?) can't pass (put it in front of the man ffs), wages

We have had four clean sheets in five games and it was similar around December when we went on our 1-0 run. Despite his obvious deficiencies this can't be co-incidence.

I'd really like to think we could do better - but in Division 3 can we?

Maybe next to a dynamic midfielder he'd look much more the part.

I wonder who he was paired with at Southampton.

He has been subbed a couple of times so like he said he's not untouchable, but otoh in a recent interview Adkins really praised his influence without mentioning him by name.

I think he'll be here next season, and if we are going to spend it might be on a partner for him.

UTMB

 

[BushBlade]

I'm honestly baffled by this. I do think they're fine. What am I supposed to say?

It's not going down well with some people. Are they representative? Don't know. Should they be allowed to censor or dictate what the manager says? Can't see it. And certainly don't want it.

It is going down well with others. Me for one. Probably his mum too.

I'd imagine most people couldn't give a monkey's nuts.

No, they shouldn't but surely you can see that some of what he says can grate a little and perhaps less is more, particularly when we're having a difficult season. At times, he can sound condescending.

I don't care but it does seem to annoy quite a lot of our support, from what I read on MBs and hear from other Blades and it's something within his power to change.

I'd like him to stay and I don't want another Warnock situation where the fans are split because of how they perceive his personality. It shouldn't matter, but it does.

 

[BushBlade]

I like what I've seen of Whiteman but he seems more of a creative player.

Thinking about it though: he can play centre half (I think) so it might be that he is a longer term prospect as defensive midfield but...one who can also pass.

Physically I don't think he's not really up to it, and might not be for a few years. It was noticeable (on BP) how many headers Hammond was winning at Shrewsbury. I can't see Whiteman doing that till he's 21 or 22.

He was standing right in front of me at Southend. Hammond pointed out the bloke at the back post. Whiteman did his job it was a hopeless mismatch. Their player headed it back across the goal and they scored their first.

Brooks is even skinnier. He was warming up, and looked about 14.

Benefit
Hammond brings experience, organisation, height, he's a role-model, works very hard and thereby releases others, decent in the air

Cost
He's often too slow, loses the ball (less so recently?) can't pass (put it in front of the man ffs), wages

We have had four clean sheets in five games and it was similar around December when we went on our 1-0 run. Despite his obvious deficiencies this can't be co-incidence.

I'd really like to think we could do better - but in Division 3 can we?

Maybe next to a dynamic midfielder he'd look much more the part.

I wonder who he was paired with at Southampton.

He has been subbed a couple of times so like he said he's not untouchable, but otoh in a recent interview Adkins really praised his influence without mentioning him by name.

I think he'll be here next season, and if we are going to spend it might be on a partner for him.

UTMB

Would it have been Schneiderlein?

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Would it have been Schneiderlein?

Schneiderlein , Poucheon ? , Richardson .

All class acts , which I am sure helped Hammond , to do what he is good at , and helped to cover his deficiencies .

UTB

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Schneiderlein , Poucheon ? , Richardson .

All class acts , which I am sure helped Hammond , to do what he is good at , and helped to cover his deficiencies .

UTB

Loaded.

You could equally say he "covered their deficiencies". (This is a wild guess tbh.)

Alternatively "they complemented each other nicely".

My guess would be it wasn't that one was carrying the other: they were working together. But it is a guess.

(Speaking of carrying: Cantona sneered at Deschamps the water carrier didn't he? One of them has a World Cup winner's medal.)

This is not a defence of Hammond - I'm just trying to work out how he's been successful, what Adkins sees in him, what he brings to the team (seems like it's lots of clean sheets?), while vaguely thinking we must be able to do better but not knowing exactly who or how.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Coutts, finally, looks fit enough to see out 90 mins, so some credit to Adkins and his team for that. He is also our most comfortable player on the ball, tries consistently to pass the ball forwards and rarely wastes possession. He may not be the answer but we have far bigger issues to address than Paul Coutts.

Hammond, on the other hand, could yet prove to be Adkins' final undoing. I appreciate the value of a holding midfield player and the "hidden" contribution a good one makes. After too many months on 'Hammond watch' I see two qualities, which he brings:

1. He is positionally aware, keeps the team's shape and provides some protection for the defence. There have been occasions this season when him being substituted - much to the glee of many in the stadium - has resulted in us struggling to contain opponents and conceding goals.

2. He works very hard.

Unfortunately, both 1 and 2 are undermined by, as you point out, his lack of mobility, which results in him conceding free-kicks and being caught in possession. That's aside from the fact that he contributes almost nothing offensively and seems to have a shooting phobia.

Adkins is right in the sense that we need someone to do the job Hammond is paid to do - just someone who can do it better!

If Hammond is here next season I think we will have a better shape to our midfield with Hammond in the roll Adkins beleaves gives the best protection to the back 4.He does lack pace not mobility as his stats show, he covers the ground..He does get a lot of bookings but at times he's the only midfielder
putting a foot in ( he's not been booked as often since Baptiste came in coincidence ? ) .+
A caller on football heaven said he's worried about our aging squad,there seems to be a misconception ! We don't have an aging squad,overall it is quite young and next season will see younger still.Do we have 4 or 5 thirty or more ,the rest are well under thirty.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Loaded.

You could equally say he "covered their deficiencies". (This is a wild guess tbh.)

Alternatively "they complemented each other nicely".

My guess would be it wasn't that one was carrying the other: they were working together. But it is a guess.

(Speaking of carrying: Cantona sneered at Deschamps the water carrier didn't he? One of them has a World Cup winner's medal.)

This is not a defence of Hammond - I'm just trying to work out how he's been successful, what Adkins sees in him, what he brings to the team (seems like it's lots of clean sheets?), while vaguely thinking we must be able to do better but not knowing exactly who or how.

Think the perhaps answer is they were balanced and complimented each other . The name of the game is playing to strengths and covering weaknesses. Hammond could / will be a asset , do others around him make him look a poor player.

As the saying goes the fastest first 6 yards of pace. , is in the head . Get some good players around him , and the bloke won't have to move much to dictate and orchestrate play . IMO.

UTB

 

[The Bohemian]

He was standing right in front of me at Southend. Hammond pointed out the bloke at the back post. Whiteman did his job it was a hopeless mismatch. Their player headed it back across the goal and they scored their first.

That's a fair point but let's not forget who conceded the cheap free-kick for Southend's first goal and gave the ball away in the build up to their second. He did score one back though.

We have had four clean sheets in five games and it was similar around December when we went on our 1-0 run. Despite his obvious deficiencies this can't be co-incidence.

Difficult to attribute recent defensive improvement to one player but if I had to he would be called Juan not Dean. Hammond has clearly been a very good player but is no longer young and quick enough to close down, win tackles and support attacks. Adkins tried him further upfield on a couple occasions and he did OK but he doesn't do enough creatively to play there regularly.

He has a great attitude and I'd love him to do well but he's not what we need in League One.

 

[finlaytheblade]

I like what I've seen of Whiteman but he seems more of a creative player.

Thinking about it though: he can play centre half (I think) so it might be that he is a longer term prospect as defensive midfield but...one who can also pass.

Physically I don't think he's not really up to it, and might not be for a few years. It was noticeable (on BP) how many headers Hammond was winning at Shrewsbury. I can't see Whiteman doing that till he's 21 or 22.

He was standing right in front of me at Southend. Hammond pointed out the bloke at the back post. Whiteman did his job it was a hopeless mismatch. Their player headed it back across the goal and they scored their first.

Brooks is even skinnier. He was warming up, and looked about 14.

Benefit
Hammond brings experience, organisation, height, he's a role-model, works very hard and thereby releases others, decent in the air

Cost
He's often too slow, loses the ball (less so recently?) can't pass (put it in front of the man ffs), wages

We have had four clean sheets in five games and it was similar around December when we went on our 1-0 run. Despite his obvious deficiencies this can't be co-incidence.

I'd really like to think we could do better - but in Division 3 can we?

Maybe next to a dynamic midfielder he'd look much more the part.

I wonder who he was paired with at Southampton.

He has been subbed a couple of times so like he said he's not untouchable, but otoh in a recent interview Adkins really praised his influence without mentioning him by name.

I think he'll be here next season, and if we are going to spend it might be on a partner for him.

UTMB

Spot on Mr Foulkes we do have a number of young players coming through but Whiteman as with others are maybe a year away from having the physical maturity to cope with regular 1st team football. A lot has been said about Barnsley and Crewe having very young teams, but the majority of there players are in there low twenties and twelve months or more is a long time in the development of young players..
I for one and I get the feeling you are two ! Excited with some of the young players coming through,maybe a year or two needed for some but the quality is there. The under 18 through to play off final with a number of that age group playing for 21s who are also in there league play offs They are all playing against teams with older players and that really augers well for there futures for us,accepted all won't make it but we seem to have a really good group
with hopefully a good few coming through in the next few years.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I don't think his interviews are sugary, cliche-ridden, or jargon.

The spirit in the team has been evident on any number of occasions - sometimes when we've lost. What has been lacking for instance are quality and pace.

The *pathway* to the first team is clearly there. It's not some kind of positive discrimination though. It's not a guaranteed place in the first team.

Asserting that experienced players were played out of position just to accommodate them - like the result was unimportant - strikes me as pretty ridiculous.

He didn't say that his brief was to get us promoted within the three years of his contract. And it's disingenuous to say so.

If Hammond's work has led to an improvement in, say, Che's attitude and therefore performances, Whiteman's training trainings a future prospects, then, yes that work is unseen.

Crosby's interview was interesting but are you seriously suggesting the manager of the team should delegate that duty?

Adkins interviews are fine by me.

I'll quote your post to show what he said about promotion within the three year time scale of his contract.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03qfjc2

Response to rumour in bold towards the end.

• sore throat last Friday standard procedure to keep someone ill away from the players
• three or four of the players as well as a couple of members of staff a little bit unwell
• RS: have to win 6/6? NA: Have to win next game
• good game on Wednesday
• spirits are good
• been working on our shape
• can see improvements all the time
• looking a threat going forward
• defensively solid, good compact shape
• pressing really well as a team
• more athleticism
• home form good, apart from Burton - not a good performance
• RS: 3-5-2 suits the players? NA: mentions the solid period around Christmas but the need to win games drove the change in formation
• fewer players means they're all contributing in a big way now
• atmosphere good
• everybody working hard
• playing good football
• Gillingham are very direct
• their RHS - Exocet missile of a throw in
• changed shape over the season but players coming back, expect them to be on the bench
• will they have a diamond?
• we need to be disciplined
• players have shown passion and competitiveness
• the Beard out for a few weeks
• RS: Is Bash one of the players you can build a team around
• NA: (eulogising) Bash outstanding, super season, wholehearted
• two wingbacks one crosses other scores
• we've played him every game we could
• good partnership with Dean Hammond when we tightened it up
• solid and energetic
• on the training ground
• athletic, warrior, robust
• if we win all the games then our points total will be competitive but it's one game at a time
• despite numerous chances to be distracted repeatedly talks about breaking it down and concentrating on the next game
• we will get ourselves to the next level, this year, next year, or the year after that
• camaraderie among the players
• RS: asks about the rumours
• NA (nearly verbatim) "That's the first time I've heard about it. I've got a three year contract. I've got no intention of going to another football club. If that's what you're trying to imply. I'm totally focussed on doing the best I can for Sheffield United and making sure we give ourselves a chance to get promoted back to the Championship in the three year timeframe I signed my contract for. That's what I'm going to be looking for and obviously I've made sure there's a good pathway for the youngsters so obviously the overall picture as well as making sure at least there's a pathway for the youngsters to come through you know I wanna get 50% of them into the first team environment, the heart and soul of the football club that's very very important. So from my point of view we all want to wave this magic wand and we all want things to happen straight away. For me I've got a three year contract: my remit is to get ourselves within those three years back to the next level."
• RS: The way it was put to me was that it would be a mutual parting of ways. Do you fully expect to be the Sheffield United manager next season?
• Where do you get your information from. It's interesting because this is...
• RS (interrupting): It's just what the fans have asked us to ask you today
• Okay. I think I've just stated it there. After this season I've got another two years. I really enjoy being up in Sheffield, being the Sheffield United manager. I've got every intention of making sure we get ourselves promoted to the next level within the period of my contract and I wanna stay here a long time. Kevin McCabe made some comments a couple of weeks ago he'd like to think we're gonna go beyond that.
• I have to make sure everyone keeps believing we have a chance of promotion

It's in bold type and he refers to it twice.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

I'll quote your post to show what he said about promotion within the three year time scale of his contract.

It's in bold type and he refers to it twice.

Fair Nuff but that's taken out of (season-long) context.

He's also said promotion this year, promotion next year, "or the year after that" and, I'm pretty sure, "if not the year after that...".

So which one is it?

Asserting that he's (consistently) retreated into some legalistic stance about contractual obligations does not to me accurately reflect his position.

For me it's blindingly obvious he wants to get us promoted as soon as possible.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Fair Nuff but that's taken out of (season-long) context.

He's also said promotion this year, promotion next year, "or the year after that" and, I'm pretty sure, "if not the year after that...".

So which one is it?

Asserting that he's (consistently) retreated into some legalistic stance about contractual obligations does not to me accurately reflect his position.

For me it's blindingly obvious he wants to get us promoted as soon as possible.

William, FGS, all I said was that Adkins claimed his brief was to get us promoted within his 3 year contract term and he was disingenuous to say that.

Now you are being disingenuous surely for not acknowledging that you said it was me who had made it up.

 

[Revolution]

I thought this was a forum for expressing opinion.

...although you don't regard it as necessary to read anyone else's.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Two positive drug tests and a punch up in the space of a year means that he can't expect another chance. But taken in isolation on skill alone, without the off-the-field issues I'd be tempted to keep him around until we get a replacement.We're crying out for a pacy creative midfielder who can change games. While Baxter isn't pacy, he's creative. Most people would now say he's a bad influence on the squad and there's no way back. I'm tempted to agree, but would anyone support his rehabilitation if he agreed to a weekly drug testing program (and promised not to attack anyone)?

Not for me. Too many chances and has let us down too many times.

And he was only just good enough to get into the worst Sheffield United team I’ve ever seen. He was only a goal threat when played in an advanced position, didn’t have the legs to play in a 2. Does he offer more than a 2nd striker on the pitch? Not convinced. Good riddance to bad rubbish if you ask me.

 

[The Crab]

Adkins has put together a recipe with the ingredients he has to hand which in this case is Hammond and Coutts . Both are adding something but not contributing to the overall taste of things to come . The soup is like piss water.

Adkins to some extent , and being kind to the bloke for once , is having to act as a street vendor chef , not someone in the Savoy or Michelen Star rated restaurant .

It's also whether we shop at Waitrose. , Aldi. , Tesco. or Poundland for players .

Also is he Marco , Delia , Gordon or that lass in the little pokey kitchen in Paris , when it comes to cordon blu choosing players .



UTB

all I know is that I'm hungry now.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

William, FGS, all I said was that Adkins claimed his brief was to get us promoted within his 3 year contract term and he was disingenuous to say that.

Yes he did say "claim his brief was to get us promoted within his 3 year contract term" on one occasion, in response to a particular question, in a particular set of circumstances (SJH's mutual agreement post).

It's been presented as though it's some consistent position. It's not.

It has been interpreted narrowly and taken out of context. That's what's disingenuous.

In reality everything (else) he does and says indicates to me that he wants promotion as soon as possible - and the contract, in this context, is pretty much irrelevant.

KM: Nige, what's happened?
NA: Well I didn't really try that hard this year because I've got three years. Look Kev it says so here.

Really?

 

[Woodwardfan]

Yes he did say "claim his brief was to get us promoted within his 3 year contract term" on one occasion, in response to a particular question, in a particular set of circumstances (SJH's mutual agreement post).

It's been presented as though it's some consistent position. It's not.

It has been interpreted narrowly and taken out of context. That's what's disingenuous.

In reality everything (else) he does and says indicates to me that he wants promotion as soon as possible - and the contract, in this context, is pretty much irrelevant.

KM: Nige, what's happened?
NA: Well I didn't really try that hard this year because I've got three years. Look Kev it says so here.

Really?

Nobody would imply that either WHF, not sure what you've been on about. You've connotated that for some reason.

My suggestion is that Adkins has gradually excused himself for his failure this season by starting after all these months to imply that promotion during his three year contract would be an achievement and relatively acceptable. That is a shift, for obvious reasons clearly to excuse himself from his statements when he joined us about promotion being imperative this season. It's as though he thinks we don't know what should have been achieved or remember what he said last July. I'm afraid that reduces his credibility and that of anyone who blindly swallows every word he utters and it is disingenuous which is what you called me that for stating fact.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Nobody would imply that either WHF, not sure what you've been on about. You've connotated that for some reason.

My suggestion is that Adkins has gradually excused himself for his failure this season by starting after all these months to imply that promotion during his three year contract would be an achievement and relatively acceptable. That is a shift, for obvious reasons clearly to excuse himself from his statements when he joined us about promotion being imperative this season. It's as though he thinks we don't know what should have been achieved or remember what he said last July. I'm afraid that reduces his credibility and that of anyone who blindly swallows every word he utters and it is disingenuous which is what you called me that for stating fact.

This is increasingly difficult to parse and I disagree with pretty much all of it for about five different reasons.

If, for instance, you genuinely think Adkins is making excuses then there's really not much point continuing.

 

[Barney]

This is increasingly difficult to parse and I disagree with pretty much all of it for about five different reasons.

If, for instance, you genuinely think Adkins is making excuses then there's really not much point continuing.

Ah, gerrim on ignore.

 

[Snowman]

This is increasingly difficult to parse and I disagree with pretty much all of it for about five different reasons.

If, for instance, you genuinely think Adkins is making excuses then there's really not much point continuing.

1. 
   parse. 1. to analyze (a sentence) in terms of grammatical constituents, identifying the parts of speech, syntactic relations, etc. 2. to describe (a word in a sentence) grammatically, identifying the part of speech, inflectional form, syntactic function, etc.

Not that I am a genius or even remotely intelligent, but you may be using "Parse" incorrectly in that it appears that you do not understand the concept of someone holding a different factual opinion as opposed to failing to understand the make up or constituents of a sentence.

I understand you WWF. You think he's moved the goal posts. So do I.

Toodle pip!

 

[Snowman]

1. 
   parse. 1. to analyze (a sentence) in terms of grammatical constituents, identifying the parts of speech, syntactic relations, etc. 2. to describe (a word in a sentence) grammatically, identifying the part of speech, inflectional form, syntactic function, etc.

Not that I am a genius or even remotely intelligent, but you may be using "Parse" incorrectly in that it appears that you do not understand the concept of someone holding a different factual opinion as opposed to failing to understand the make up or constituents of a sentence.

I understand you WWF. You think he's moved the goal posts. So do I.

Toodle pip!

I must be on blanket ignore!

 

[Barney]

I must be on blanket ignore!

You're not in a minority.

 

[Barney]

One thing he did say was that he is going to "reflect on things at the end of the season", which is interesting.

 

[blade too long]

One thing he did say was that he is going to "reflect on things at the end of the season", which is interesting.

hes bought a new mirror

 

[blade too long]

1. 
   parse. 1. to analyze (a sentence) in terms of grammatical constituents, identifying the parts of speech, syntactic relations, etc. 2. to describe (a word in a sentence) grammatically, identifying the part of speech, inflectional form, syntactic function, etc

Toodle pip!

I often travel on Ryanair living in Spain and notice in the safety talk pre flight they mention a lorse of cabin pressure
and Chris Deburg sings about starting to daunce

I thought parse the ball was just more of the plum in mouth syndrome

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I think he’s said even recently that the aim was to get promoted this season. The 3 year contract talk I believe was in response to a question about his future and he indicated he had a 3 year contract and is confident of getting us up in that time despite this years’ likely failure.

At least that’s how I interpreted the things I’ve seen or heard him say.

 

[blade67]

It’s very unlikely that Colchester will do us the favour we need next week but I’m sure we’ll all be watching out for the score just in case.

I'm telling you here and now.

1. Chris Porter is going to shin one from a foot whilst falling over in the 89th minute for a 1-0 win
2. Meanwhile Marcus Tudgay is going to score an own goal in the 93rd minute at the Ricoh
3. Nigel Clough is going to pick himself as a sub and come on in the 90th minute to score the winner against Gillingham.

How the final day end will be revealed next Thursday

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I'm telling you here and now.

1. Chris Porter is going to shin one from a foot whilst falling over in the 89th minute for a 1-0 win
2. Meanwhile Marcus Tudgay is going to score an own goal in the 93rd minute at the Ricoh
3. Nigel Clough is going to pick himself as a sub and come on in the 90th minute to score the winner against Gillingham.

How the final day end will be revealed next Thursday

Whilst we're talking fairytales, I was sure Connor Sammon was going to write his name into folklore last week with the last minute winner (after the Baptiste charge). Fans on the pitch, Chris Porter status achieved. Alas, it wasn't to be.