January's magic wand...

[Smirth]

It's exactly the same scenario as last season, the whole last 12 months may as well not have happened as we are in the same position and haven't progressed at all since despite the comings and goings during that time.

Last January wasn't a success. We spent money but it was blown unnecessarily in the most part because we didn't need 2 right backs and an injured central midfielder and the only signing who proved a success was Done.

The club spent good money on Brayford in particular but it was a waste of an investment really. That's been done to death so I won't go on about it now.

Why this January will be any different I don't know. I've very little faith in Adkins dealings up to now. He seems to be strictly following the route of trying to bring in out of favour Championship or Premier League players which hasn't improved us at all.

There won't be too many outgoings either because I doubt many teams will want many or our squad players because they aren't good enough. I wouldn't be surprised to see Done and/or Adams be sold though.

 

[Ted Danson]

The thing I dont get is everyones banging on about getting rid of the deadwood and letting Adkins fix the squad in Jan yet pretty much everyone agrees that the deadwood includes 80% of Adkins signings to date (Edga, Hammond, Woolford, Salmon). I dont get the blind faith in Adkins atall, his followers will tell me he has a great track record but his track record of both signings and management at the Blades is utterly shite

 

[Smirth]

The thing I dont get is everyones banging on about getting rid of the deadwood and letting Adkins fix the squad in Jan yet pretty much everyone agrees that the deadwood includes 80% of Adkins signings to date (Edga, Hammond, Woolford, Salmon). I dont get the blind faith in Adkins atall, his followers will tell me he has a great track record but his track record of both signings and management at the Blades is utterly shite

I agree. If he didn't have the track record he has then people would be wanting him out now.

He needs to be given time IMO, this season and all of next to try and get us promoted. Only then, after 2 full seasons I feel it's fair to judge if he has been good or bad for us.

 

[1995Blade]

I keep reading posters on here and Adkins himself saying we need to keep in touch until January and then we can push on.

Am I missing something here ? What is going to turn our fortunes round? I totally get that some have blind faith but that's all it is, most of our shit we've accumulated is under contract till next summer, they aren't going anywhere in January as no one will buy them, so there will be no 'cull' that I keep reading about.

And as regards us buying anyone we won't do this anyway till the back end of January.

Agreed, but also IMO what Adkins has brought in so far signing wise has been awful, what will make January any different?

 

[Ted Danson]

I agree. If he didn't have the track record he has then people would be wanting him out now.

He needs to be given time IMO, this season and all of next to try and get us promoted. Only then, after 2 full seasons I feel it's fair to judge if he has been good or bad for us.

but if hes not signing good players already then why will the next ones he signs be any good? blindly giving him 2 years on his current record would be crazy in my opinion, he appears to have wasted what funds hes already had, in 2 years he could end up crippling us for another 3 after that

 

[longinthe toothblade]

I keep reading posters on here and Adkins himself saying we need to keep in touch until January and then we can push on.

Am I missing something here ? What is going to turn our fortunes round? I totally get that some have blind faith but that's all it is, most of our shit we've accumulated is under contract till next summer, they aren't going anywhere in January as no one will buy them, so there will be no 'cull' that I keep reading about.

And as regards us buying anyone we won't do this anyway till the back end of January.

Be a lot better post January when the DIY SOS team have overseen the re build

 

[longinthe toothblade]

I prefer to use the term bobbar.
Getting beaten by Fleetwood and Crewe - two years in succession tells you that it's bobbar.
8th place after 17 games (over a third of the season gone) when it could easily be 9th if the team immediately below us manages a draw in their game in hand - confirms that bobbar is definitely on the menu.
9 points adrift of the automatics already suggests a degree of bobbar
Been bobbar for 5 years and counting.
We won't be bobbar as soon as we start challenging for promotion from the Championship.
Until then, yes, we stink the place up.
You can dress it up any way you want to - the results and performances tell you that it's bobbar.

All you can look forward to in January is Mr Hanky, the Christmas Poo.
Watch out for him in your stocking

He may even be on Twitter for all we know.

You're talking 'shit'

 

[Smirth]

but if hes not signing good players already then why will the next ones he signs be any good? blindly giving him 2 years on his current record would be crazy in my opinion, he appears to have wasted what funds hes already had, in 2 years he could end up crippling us for another 3 after that

It's difficult to disagree, he's signed largely average players, who, incidentally, compliment the other average players we already have.

We just need to stick with a manager for a bit and try and get a little bit of consistency. If Adkins fails this season and we sack him I really don't know where we go to next.

 

[Kenilworth]

You're talking 'shit'

No, bobbar.
It's a special kind of shite that is more runny than the other stuff and infinitely more clingy.
The viscosity quotient is lower and the distance it can dribble down yer leg is greater.
It has a more pungent aroma and a far greater vomification factor associated with it.

Bobbar. It's the shite you'll not fight for.

 

[Kenilworth]

It's difficult to disagree, he's signed largely average players, who, incidentally, compliment the other average players we already have.

Player 1: You're decidedly average, Sir.

Player 2: Why, thank you my good man

Player 2: You, too, are just a little bit toss, yourself.

Player 1: Oh, that warms the cockles of my heart, does that.

Player 3: You're both as gash as each other!

Players 1 & 2: You're too kind. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Players 1 & 2: I see you have attained a marvellous 4/10 every week since you joined.

Player 3: Yes, isn't it fantastic? I see you two are just as fortunate with a similar level of recognition. How splendid?

 

[Ted Danson]

It's difficult to disagree, he's signed largely average players, who, incidentally, compliment the other average players we already have.

We just need to stick with a manager for a bit and try and get a little bit of consistency. If Adkins fails this season and we sack him I really don't know where we go to next.

I know where your coming from, Im as confused as anyone as what to do now. Ive been firmly in the camp of not sacking managers and insisting they need time to develop a squad pretty much my entire life, the only managers Ive really called for the head of have been Robson and Weir as it was obvious they were no good (unfortunately Adkins is quickly falling into this camp).

I thought we as a club had changed the philosophy of sacking mangers on a whim but then they sack Clough for finishing in the playoffs and getting us to a cup semi which was crazy unless they're going to pump in absolutely millions to guarantee promotion. it now looks like they pissed all the cash away sacking clough and hiring this guy who on paper looked good but in reality seems clueless. I cant see us progressing under Adkins only going backwards, wasting more money and signing more dross.

If theyd just given Clough the money theyd wasted on signing Adkins and his staff Im confident wed be going up this season but as it is it just looks like we're going to be here going round in circles for years to come. As Ive said I dont know what the answer now as theres no going back but Im getting more and more certain Mr spin Adkins isnt it.

 

[Kenilworth]

No manager seems capable of dragging this club into any semblance of order or success

Mebes it is the fans then, after all

 

[Darthblade]

Is keeping in touch all Adkins can see happening until January? Is that the limit of this squads capability as far as he is concerned?
It gets more worrying by the day.

I think "keeping in touch until January " is actually wishful thinking given the serious and obvious deficiencies in our current squad.

Regrettably, we are likely to be significantly adrift of the top two and firmly embedded in mid-table obscurity .......

UTB & FTP

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I know where your coming from, Im as confused as anyone as what to do now. Ive been firmly in the camp of not sacking managers and insisting they need time to develop a squad pretty much my entire life, the only managers Ive really called for the head of have been Robson and Weir as it was obvious they were no good (unfortunately Adkins is quickly falling into this camp).

I thought we as a club had changed the philosophy of sacking mangers on a whim but then they sack Clough for finishing in the playoffs and getting us to a cup semi which was crazy unless they're going to pump in absolutely millions to guarantee promotion. it now looks like they pissed all the cash away sacking clough and hiring this guy who on paper looked good but in reality seems clueless. I cant see us progressing under Adkins only going backwards, wasting more money and signing more dross.

If theyd just given Clough the money theyd wasted on signing Adkins and his staff Im confident wed be going up this season but as it is it just looks like we're going to be here going round in circles for years to come. As Ive said I dont know what the answer now as theres no going back but Im getting more and more certain Mr spin Adkins isnt it.

Was Adrian Heath before your time?


I note your comments regarding the signings so far and your concerns but I don’t think they’ve been as bad as most make out. Sammon and Sharp have had more good games than bad. Edgar had a good run before that international break. Maybe he can get it back. Hammond has made a slow start but does at least make the odd crunching tackle which is something we’ve missed. Woolford looks poor and a mistake.


But what I would say to you is this:


Adkins has talked about the need to get up this year. He has signed experience pros who have got him promoted before as he though that was the most sure fire way to get promotion at the first time of asking with minimal risk. It’s not really paid off so far but I don’t think it was a bad idea in theory given the number of players we had contracted to use the loan market to bring in players of the calibre of Edgar, Sammon and Hammond. I thought all would improve us and I still do.


But in the summer, over half the squad will be out of contract. It will be a different situation. He will be looking to build a squad rather than supplement an already large one. He might place more faith in young up and coming players. His track record is very good and I would rather trust him to make those calls in the summer than bring in a new man at the end of the season who will need to assess again and move on those who don’t suit him.

 

[Kenilworth]

If anyone has their wand out now......



......... just put t away, will you

 

[Santos]

I completely agree with the person who started this thread.

At best, we will shift out one or two of the tonnes of deadbeats we have and may sign one player who improves us, if we're lucky, but judging by Adkins recruitment so far, we probably have a low chance of this happening. This season is pretty much a right off

I was happy with Adkins being appointed but as soon as he started prattling on about giving everyone months to prove themselves to him and the slate being wiped clean etc i knew we were in trouble.

It doesn't matter if we had the best manager in the world, players of the ilk of Howard, Captain Marvel and Higdon are never going to cut the mustard. I could go through the entire squad but for starters, it was obvious to anyone with a modicum of knowledge that at the very very least we needed a new goalkeeper and two new centre halves. Not addressed. Paid the price. Adkins has a great record at this level but whereas the likes of Mark Woolford and Dean Hammand might have cut the mustard 6 years ago, they have been found to be completely lacking thus far. That said, in defence of the new man, he's working with some very poor 'tools' at his disposal.

The players, as a collective group ought to be embarrassed. Too many bad attitudes, bad habits, too many injury prone players, too many players concerned about their hair, twitter account, clothes and beards, too many over the hill players and too many players signed who haven't improved us. This is despite the Nigels both banging on about not signing players just for the sake of it. How have these average squad players wormed their way onto our books? I would happily be in a position where on 1 June 2016 we have about 6-8 professionals on our books.

The owners aren't getting off lightly either. Only an idiot would have thought we were going to hold strong and keep Murphy. We knew he was going. I'd rather have 1.5 million to spend in June than 1.7 million on 24 of August, 7 days before the transfer window shuts. I could write in 140 characters what the owners proclaim to know about 'soccer'. The new owners have had zero impact on the club, fine,we have a new pitch, new kit sponsor and a bubbly chap who 'engages' with fans on social media. Great. What else that matters really has changed? They could do with keeping quiet and getting things done that count. I hate to big them up but ticket prices aside, you have to say the new owners at S6 have gone about their business quietly and efficiently.

I like to end on a positive, our fans are nothing short of remarkable. You can add up the collective attendances of 4 or 5 of the other league 1 games this weekend and their collective attendance would still be below our crowd. Home and away our fans are brilliant. How long this keeps up will be interesting to see. We really do deserve better.

Come on Blades, we must do better.

 

[alcoblade]

I keep reading posters on here and Adkins himself saying we need to keep in touch until January and then we can push on.

Am I missing something here ? What is going to turn our fortunes round? I totally get that some have blind faith but that's all it is, most of our shit we've accumulated is under contract till next summer, they aren't going anywhere in January as no one will buy them, so there will be no 'cull' that I keep reading about.

And as regards us buying anyone we won't do this anyway till the back end of January.

Alcock, Higdon and McNulty have already been shipped out. In fairness, the cull is already underway.

UTB

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

We can get rid of about 14 who are out of contract in the summer so shouldn't need more than that. If we can get someone to also take Woolford and then the loans going back as well, we will have a clean slate to start from in the summer.

That's assuming we don't also lose the ones we want to keep. A clean slate is only good if we don't have to fill it entirely from scratch.

 

[wizadry]

That's assuming we don't also lose the ones we want to keep.

You almost had me here

 

[super_pig]

I was happy with Adkins being appointed but as soon as he started prattling on about giving everyone months to prove themselves to him and the slate being wiped clean etc i knew we were in trouble.
Come on Blades, we must do better.

i started to worry when he made McEvely captain

 

[Woodwardfan]

I keep reading posters on here and Adkins himself saying we need to keep in touch until January and then we can push on.

Am I missing something here ? What is going to turn our fortunes round? I totally get that some have blind faith but that's all it is, most of our shit we've accumulated is under contract till next summer, they aren't going anywhere in January as no one will buy them, so there will be no 'cull' that I keep reading about.

And as regards us buying anyone we won't do this anyway till the back end of January.

Unfortunately I think Adkins was picturing the side with a fit Brayford together with Hammond in the team, possibly nothing more than that. He said it when Done, Kennedy and Harris were out as well. Also he will have imagined Adams to have benefitted from playing time and the wider benefits of a culled squad and a more manageable group.

Fairly certain there's nothing more exciting going to happen other than mass derision from the fans as the days in Janauary tick by without signings.

 

[finlaytheblade]

I don't get all this negativity yes we have lost our way a bit this season but it is still all to play for. Adkins has come in to a situation which he has experienced before that doesn't make him god he has made mistakes but is that surprising with the squad he inherited (inconsistent players)with a lot of baggage (injuries) from last season.Give him and his staff a bit of time to stamp his style on the club,To a man we were all pleased with his appointment what's changed in a few months?? a number of managers historically have had difficulty initially getting it
Right ( sir Alex of man utd fame being one) he is well aware of the pressure on this club and not nieve enough to think it would be easy.
We as well should accept that it wouldn't be easy ,the style is more in keeping with what we want but do we have the squad to play on the front foot ? maybe not quite as the results have shown so far.If and when our best players get fully fit (brayford,j Wallace, flynn ,coutts amongst others) and players I think Adkins hopes to sign in the window , things hopefully will take off.We still have to live with the fact all teams in this division think we are the team to beat ( is a fact) that makes it harder for a start
Get rid of the negativity and get behind the team.

 

[Worksop II]

all teams in this division think we are the team to beat ( is a fact) that makes it harder for a start

and when they realise we aint all that, that makes it even harder ............................. to watch

 

[1danewhitehouse]

That's assuming we don't also lose the ones we want to keep. A clean slate is only good if we don't have to fill it entirely from scratch.

Couldn’t agree more Patrick. It’s a point I’m very vocal about every year we have a chance to build a team around a few decent players we already own. Then we sell the best of them, sign a load more in the hope someone turns out decent. Eventually, one reaches a decent level and we sell him and repeat the cycle. That cycle has to stop if we are to progress. I would love to see us build a team to climb the leagues with Brayford, K. Wallace, Reed, DCL, Adams all coming on and staying with us when they reach a level of consistency. Unfortunately, I fear Brayford and Adams might be gone in the summer.