Last Night

[HeCanDoMagic]

In comparison to other ‘crisis matches’, last night was very different for me.

Under your Robsons, Blackwells, Weirs and Cloughs the inept performances that ultimately cost them their jobs were, to me, pretty obviously down to their management skills, or lack of.

Last night, what I saw from those players had nothing to do with inept management. What they did was similar to me turning up to work, cracking open a few cans, feet up on the desk and putting Sky Go on the laptop. They show that amount of interest, enthusiasm and effort. Never, ever seen anything like it.

Adkins has clearly stated that he wants to play passing football between the lines, with energy and passion (which should be given for any footballer). This is unfortunately impossible when players show no movement, no energy and play with zero passion.

We are a team carrying 11 passengers at the moment (the one exception I will make is Adams – I think he needs taking out of the firing line, all that is going off is affecting him and bringing him down to a level he shouldn't be at).

I really do hope fans keep the focus of frustration/discontent aimed at the players and not Adkins.

Can anyone remember a game where players showed so little for the club they play for?

 

[DiggerBlade]

One would think that the fans singing " You`re not fit to wear the shirt " would be enough to spark some type of enthusiasm last night but the fear factor crept in and the players let it creep in as they have done this season. It`s not to late to overcome this apathy on the pitch but we need a Morgan-esque type fighter kicking arse out there to start with.

I don`t mind a defeat if I see the effort being put in but when no passion is evident then expect to feel the wrath from our loyal supporters.

UTB

 

[Slim Man]

They are a disgrace. I really can't stress enough how much I'd like to see just about every one of them kicked out of this club.

 

[Bladebri]

It's the Adkins diet, guaranteed to lose lots, this is what the pigs are saying, embarrassing to read. Shrewsbury saying worst professional team they have seen, when will it end.

 

[Ted Danson]

In comparison to other ‘crisis matches’, last night was very different for me.

Under your Robsons, Blackwells, Weirs and Cloughs the inept performances that ultimately cost them their jobs were, to me, pretty obviously down to their management skills, or lack of.

Last night, what I saw from those players had nothing to do with inept management. What they did was similar to me turning up to work, cracking open a few cans, feet up on the desk and putting Sky Go on the laptop. They show that amount of interest, enthusiasm and effort. Never, ever seen anything like it.

Adkins has clearly stated that he wants to play passing football between the lines, with energy and passion (which should be given for any footballer). This is unfortunately impossible when players show no movement, no energy and play with zero passion.

We are a team carrying 11 passengers at the moment (the one exception I will make is Adams – I think he needs taking out of the firing line, all that is going off is affecting him and bringing him down to a level he shouldn't be at).

I really do hope fans keep the focus of frustration/discontent aimed at the players and not Adkins.

Can anyone remember a game where players showed so little for the club they play for?

but its the managers job to motivate the players so it is his fault, if he cant get his players to want to play for him then he should fuck off

 

[TJB.]

but its the managers job to motivate the players so it is his fault,

You can lead a horse to water and all that. You can gee a team up as much as possible but when 11 heads drop as they did when we conceded an equaliser in the 25th minute there's little you can do as a manager. If you've got professionals giving the game up after 25 minutes, you have deep issues. That simply should not happen.

if he cant get his players to want to play for him then he should fuck off

You'd rather sack a man who's not had chance to assemble a team than sack the sorry shites who represented SUFC last night? Strange.

 

[essex blade]

 

[Darthblade]

The sorry set of individuals who went out and impersonated SUFC football players last night should hang their heads in shame and the captain should issue a full and unabbreviated apology to all supporters who were unfortunate enough to have that embarrassing excuse for a performance inflicted upon them !!

They should donate this weeks wages to Bluebell Wood because none of them was worth paying last night ....... yes I booed them after the fourth goal ( debacle ) and sang "you're not fit to wear the shirt" as well and that was what they deserved.

I wouldn't be upset if not one of the players in the match squad today was at the Club in August for the start of our 6th season in L1. That's assuming that we can manage to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle, which is looking increasingly likely.

They do not deserve to be at, or to represent the Club that I have loved, supported and spent so much money on for the last 50+ years ........

UTB & FTP

 

[Alwood]

The game which comes to mind was the one against Colchester earlier this season. That night, I composed a letter to Nigel A in which I criticised the team's performance and attitude. We were out-though, out-fought and out-played by a very mediocre mid-table side. Regretfully, on the following morning I decided not to post the letter as, I argued, Nigel A was a professional manager with a proven track record and would have seen the same problems I had seen and would, undoubtedly, correct them. How wrong I was. Last night was almost a duplicate of the players' attitude. How can professional footballers, getting paid thousands of pounds a week and pracising their skills week-in week-out, collect a ball in mid-fiIeld, look up to pick a no-pressure pass, then kick it 20 yards straight to an opponent? And don't get me started on throw-ins. Oh OK I will. In the Colchester match, as in most others I have seen in the last few years, we seem to have a 'designated taker of throw-ins'. Don't any other player dare to pick up the ball and try and take a quick one. No, the designated one has to run 30 yards to pick up the ball thus giving the opposition plenty of time to get organised. We, therefore, have no-one showing to receive the ball, so we dilly and dally until it gets thrown - to the opposition. Last night and in many other matches the opposition took their throw-ins quickly and always had a man spare to receive it. Always! Don't we practice this at all? And if we do why don't we do it in a match? It's so bloody frustrating. And why we practice shooting before the match starts I have no idea, cos when we start playing all confidence seems to drain away. Rant over, but we really need to have a good clear-out soon or we will definitely be in a relegation dog fight.

 

[Ted Danson]

You'd rather sack a man who's not had chance to assemble a team than sack the sorry shites who represented SUFC last night? Strange.

Yes completely!

and he has had enough time to show what hes capable of, every game we get worse, he has shown nothing and signed the wrong players, Clough had the same team playing with pride last season why cant this so called managerial genius?

for me hes now on a par with Weir and must go ASAP

 

[Smirth]

The feeling I got from the crowd was that the frustration was aimed solely at the players and not Adkins. I know I'll be sticking by Adkins and I think the general feeling amongst fans is that we may as well stick with him because changing hasn't helped us up to now.

It was the lowest point of being a Blade for me last night. I'm not one who regularly states "that's the worst performances I've ever seen" but last night truly was for me. It was awful, and the players have to shoulder the blame. I'm just glad we only have one home league game before Christmas because that's the last time I'll see them play this year as I can't make the game on the 28th. I usually love the Christmas fixtures but this year I'm glad I'm missing them all barring the Coventry game. Coventry will tear us apart as well because they have what we lack and struggle most against in abundance - pace and youth.

 

[Bladesince59]

I would like a full refund please Mr McCabe

 

[Geordie Blade]

Much as I understand the fans' frustrations, the booing and singing "you're not fit to wear this shirt" don't particular help either. One poster above said that you'd think the abuse would be enough to spark some enthusiasm, but it can obviously work the other way too. It's obviously a chicken-and-egg situation, in that we only boo when they play badly, but I can't help see it as a vicious circle and the players/fans will get more and more alienated from each other.

To use the OP's analogy, it would be like me turning up to work, turning my computer on and my boss walking up behind me telling that me I didn't turn it on properly, and then proceeding to berate me every five minutes for each thing that I did less than perfectly. In that kind of situation, I'd probably feel pissed off and I'm sure that the quality of my work would suffer. I'd certainly have one eye on looking for a new job.

I know that 'we' pay their wages and that we're entitled to provide feedback and that they should be big enough to ignore the abuse. However, it does appear that we're the bullying kind of boss that thinks that shouting at people will get the best out of them. Some of them are still just young lads and they're only human and they'll wobble under that sort of pressure. It's certainly hard to get behind the players when they're not doing well, but one side has got to break this vicious circle and I'd like to think that the fans could be big enough to try that.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

but its the managers job to motivate the players so it is his fault, if he cant get his players to want to play for him then he should fuck off

Surely we have to wait until they are his players? Probably next season when he can get the bloated deadwood out and bring in his own proper signings rather than the odd loan to try to plug gaps.

 

[Ricky]

That second half last night was the most laughable exhibition of professional football I've ever seen. We've had plenty of similar shocking all round performances and results and I won't often say 'worst ever', but I genuinely mean that.

 

[him behind you]

Yes completely!

and he has had enough time to show what hes capable of, every game we get worse, he has shown nothing and signed the wrong players, Clough had the same team playing with pride last season why cant this so called managerial genius?

for me hes now on a par with Weir and must go ASAP

I've stayed off this forum until now so that I've had time to calm down so here is my considered opinion.

This is (almost) the same group of "players" that our previous manager had problems motivating (well, they are playing with the same level of energy and commitment) unless they were in a big / cup / televised game. The fact that they have shown they can do it "when they want" is enough to show me that they are useless feckers and we will not improve until the majority of them are away from our beloved club - I don't see how changing a manager will improve things.

Oh, and I have completely changed my mind from pre season when I thought they might be professional enough to improve under this new manager but clearly they are happy enough tossing it off at BDTBL and collecting their pay packets without any comeback. Feckers, the lot of 'em.

For me it's time for the board to step forward and support NA in getting rid and to build his own team.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Much as I understand the fans' frustrations, the booing and singing "you're not fit to wear this shirt" don't particular help either. One poster above said that you'd think the abuse would be enough to spark some enthusiasm, but it can obviously work the other way too. It's obviously a chicken-and-egg situation, in that we only boo when they play badly, but I can't help see it as a vicious circle and the players/fans will get more and more alienated from each other.

To use the OP's analogy, it would be like me turning up to work, turning my computer on and my boss walking up behind me telling that me I didn't turn it on properly, and then proceeding to berate me every five minutes for each thing that I did less than perfectly. In that kind of situation, I'd probably feel pissed off and I'm sure that the quality of my work would suffer. I'd certainly have one eye on looking for a new job.

I know that 'we' pay their wages and that we're entitled to provide feedback and that they should be big enough to ignore the abuse. However, it does appear that we're the bullying kind of boss that thinks that shouting at people will get the best out of them. Some of them are still just young lads and they're only human and they'll wobble under that sort of pressure. It's certainly hard to get behind the players when they're not doing well, but one side has got to break this vicious circle and I'd like to think that the fans could be big enough to try that.

If I thought confidence was the issue, I would agree with you. But I didn't think that was the case last night and in many games. I think over-confidence/complacency is more of an issue. Players talk about "matching the opposition for effort" and allowing their "quality" to shine through. How about we do what every decent blades team does and try to work harder than the opposition, pull together as a team and fight for each other instead of strolling around on the promise of some superior quality which seems to not exist. There seems to be an attitude that they can play slow and lazy for an hour to stay in the game and then kick on later to win it. We can't. We're not good enough to do that. We need to work harder as a team. Shrewsbury are not technically better than us but they worked a damn site harder. In that scenario, the chant was entirely justified.

 

[Ted Danson]

Surely we have to wait until they are his players? Probably next season when he can get the bloated deadwood out and bring in his own proper signings rather than the odd loan to try to plug gaps.

Hes bought 5 of them, you seriously want a team full of Hammonds and Woolfords? the mind boggles

 

[Geordie Blade]

How about we do what every decent blades team does and try to work harder than the opposition, pull together as a team and fight for each other instead of strolling around on the promise of some superior quality which seems to not exist.

I completely agree with you on this (though still don't think that the abuse will change what the players do). The only example that I can think of where dishing out abuse seemed to help a player was Bob Booker. After a rough first few months he realised that the only way that he was going to win the fans over would be to roll his sleeves up (literally, at times) and put the graft in. He knew that if fans saw him going in for 30%-70% challenges and busting a gut to get from box to box, then they'd be more forgiving about the odd misplaced pass. Sir Bob was an exception, but I hope that at least some of today's squad come to same conclusion and do something about it.

 

[TJB.]

Yes completely!

and he has had enough time to show what hes capable of, every game we get worse, he has shown nothing and signed the wrong players, Clough had the same team playing with pride last season why cant this so called managerial genius?

for me hes now on a par with Weir and must go ASAP

1. He's had nowhere near enough time to show what he's capable of. If you deem 6 months working with a squad that's not his as enough time then I'm flabbergasted.
2. Clough's sides played with pride in the cup games only. Where was the pride in losing to Fleetwood at home?
3. Who's called him a managerial genius?

If you'd rather side with the useless tossers who took to the pitch to represent our club last night, than sympathise with a bloke working with his hands tied behind his back, then you're a fool.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

How about we do what every decent blades team does and try to work harder than the opposition, pull together as a team and fight for each other instead of strolling around on the promise of some superior quality which seems to not exist. There seems to be an attitude that they can play slow and lazy for an hour to stay in the game and then kick on later to win it. We can't. We're not good enough to do that. We need to work harder as a team. Shrewsbury are not technically better than us but they worked a damn site harder. In that scenario, the chant was entirely justified.

If there was a 'Double Like' button Id have used it.

No manager tells their players not to try and play without passion. Them players last night did that of their own accord.

Adkins in. Players out.

 

[Slim Man]

Can I just stress a few were bemoaning us singing 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' last night, they were saying on the way out. I told them they were on a different planet to me.

These players don't care about me, you, the club, anyone. All they care about is their pay packet and they keep getting a handsome one every single week. They have no respect for us or they'd put in 100% every single fucking week. I don't ask for more than that, I don't ask for 110% like we saw under Warnock and even at times Blackwell and Clough, just 100%. They can't even manage that.

Spineless set of fucking cowards, I really do hate them, I am so envious of Wednesday having a good set up, good feeling around the place and very good players, playing very good football and a huge amount of effort. I hat to say it but it's the truth. We are rotten from the very core.

I won't be getting a ST next season without some spending and a clearout. No fucking way.

 

[Ted Danson]

1. He's had nowhere near enough time to show what he's capable of. If you deem 6 months working with a squad that's not his as enough time then I'm flabbergasted.
2. Clough's sides played with pride in the cup games only. Where was the pride in losing to Fleetwood at home?
3. Who's called him a managerial genius?

If you'd rather side with the useless tossers who took to the pitch to represent our club last night, than sympathise with a bloke working with his hands tied behind his back, then you're a fool.

we'll see whos the fool later in the season when we're in a relegation scrap, Id call anyone who still thinks Adkins is any good a complete chump, how you lot cant see his shortcomings amazes me. He hasnt got his hands tied behind his back either thats bullshit, hes been allowed to sign 5 players but signed all the wrong ones

Name we one thing about our team thats improved during his time here?

 

[1danewhitehouse]

we'll see whos the fool later in the season when we're in a relegation scrap, Id call anyone who still thinks Adkins is any good a complete chump, how you lot cant see his shortcomings amazes me. He hasnt got his hands tied behind his back either thats bullshit, hes been allowed to sign 5 players but signed all the wrong ones

Name we one thing about our team thats improved during his time here?

We score more goals.

 

[TJB.]

we'll see whos the fool later in the season when we're in a relegation scrap, Id call anyone who still thinks Adkins is any good a complete chump, how you lot cant see his shortcomings amazes me. He hasnt got his hands tied behind his back either thats bullshit, hes been allowed to sign 5 players but signed all the wrong ones

Name we one thing about our team thats improved during his time here?

So because he's allowed to sign a few lads he's not working with his hands tied? Are you mad?

We have a huge, huge squad full of average/poor players who are on contracts which we can't afford to just pay up. That means a shitload of lads who he has no choice but to work with regardless of their ability, and restrictions on how many he can bring in. Until he can get to a point where the dross are ready to move on in the summer and he can actually bring in people who can play fucking football, he can't do the job he'd like to do.

That's the absolute definition of working with your hands tied. The squad is full of shite and there's nob all he can do about it 'til January at the earliest, and even then it'll be half a job because nobody shifts half the squad out in the middle of the season.

One thing that's improved? We actually score in the first half sometimes.

 

[him behind you]

we'll see whos the fool later in the season when we're in a relegation scrap, Id call anyone who still thinks Adkins is any good a complete chump, how you lot cant see his shortcomings amazes me. He hasnt got his hands tied behind his back either thats bullshit, hes been allowed to sign 5 players but signed all the wrong ones

Name we one thing about our team thats improved during his time here?

Most aren't saying whether or not he's any good, we're simply saying that it's too early to write him off and he should be allowed to create his own team. It's different to Weir because he had never done it bur Adkins track record isn't bad. We can't keep knee jerk reacting and sacking managers.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Most aren't saying whether or not he's any good, we're simply saying that it's too early to write him off and he should be allowed to create his own team. It's different to Weir because he had never done it bur Adkins track record isn't bad. We can't keep knee jerk reacting and sacking managers.

well put and a point made by others in different threads.

what pisses me off is this "sack Adkins" mentality and NO suggestions of who to bring in or what to do.

No doubt when McCabe has to "find" another manager, it will be all McCabes fault AGAIN to these very same posters.

UTB

 

[Ted Danson]

19 games is long enough to see where we're headed and its DOWN, I dont agree the team was total shit either we got to the playoffs and the semi under Clough (who you all say is a wank manager so surly any half decent manager should be doing better), all it needed was a few tweaks.

For me a manager has to get the best out of his players and be able to adapt to what hes got, Adkins is showing no signs of this and every player hes signed is worse than what we had. We need to fuck him off right now, not let him sign any more shit

 

[chipsncake]

We score more goals.

Gets us nowhere as we also concede more.
No matter how hard you look for any real positives you won't find any cos there aren't any. There's nothing whatsoever in what Adkins has said or done to suggest he might turn things round, the longer he stays the worse it will get.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

19 games is long enough to see where we're headed and its DOWN, I dont agree the team was total shit either we got to the playoffs and the semi under Clough (who you all say is a wank manager so surly any half decent manager should be doing better), all it needed was a few tweaks.

For me a manager has to get the best out of his players and be able to adapt to what hes got, Adkins is showing no signs of this and every player hes signed is worse than what we had. We need to fuck him off right now, not let him sign any more shit

I agree he’s not getting the best out of them and I don’t think Clough was a wank manager. He has his faults for sure but he also had strengths. We say it’s the same squad but Clough finished 5th with Brayford, Murphy, Holt, Doyle, Davies and Davies again at his disposal. Adkins doesn’t have them but does have Edgar, Woolford, Hammond, Sammon and Sharp. The only real assets left from Clough’s reign seemed to be Murphy, Brayford, Adams and Done. 2 of them haven’t been available to Adkins. But I think a bigger issue is that the squad had been assembled by Clough to play the way he wanted. They were therefore more likely to buy into his philosophies etc. It might be that Clough’s players are not behind Adkins and he needs to replace them with people who are. What Clough did better than Adkins has done was getting the best out of predominantly someone else’s players in his first season. But, from then on, his squad building was mostly poor. I would hope that is the area where Adkins will exceed Clough and will recruit people of the right character with a good balance to the squad. For me, the players he has recruited haven’t had enough pace between them but they have had the right sort of attitudes at least. He needs to get the balance a lot better in the summer as well as having people with good attitudes. I can’t accept that changing manager yet again is the way to fix this mess. There has to be something else and for me, that is letting a manager with a very good CV have a proper crack and building a team of real quality and application and then judge him.