Lets Be Honest Terrible Season No Excuses

[SUFC Handsworth]

Agree with the OP. I have serious doubts with where the team/squad is going under Adkins. The quality we had in the squad at the start of the season has slowly been squeezed out and replaced with Adkins dross. When it was obvious we were getting nowhere yesterday I thought come on Adkins get this changed, then I saw the bench and there was next to nothing to bring on to change the game. Bringing on Woolford and Sammon said it all.

Thanks to Adkins all the better players, many of who were instrumental in beating numerous Prem teams in the last couple of years, have either been loaned out or are out of the first team picture - Scougal (out on loan), McNulty (out on loan), JCR (out on loan), Reed (played well in his last run in the team, but now stuck in the reserves), DdG (scoring for fun in the reserves but yet not even getting a sniff near the first team). Any of these would have been better options than Sammon and Woolford. Add the absent Brayford (ok injured but his form under Adkins has been poor and he is a lot better player than he is showing under the current manager) and Baxter (not directly Adkins fault for his absence but the player hasn't being managed well by the posh scouser) and quality is going out of the window under Adkins.

Those type of players were never the problem at the Lane, it should have been about getting solid players down the spine of the team and that problem still exists, as it has for the last 2 seasons. He finished the game with Basham on the right, Woolford on the left, Sammon up top and a midfield three of Coutts, Cuvelier and Flynn, the bloke just hasn't got a clue about putting out a balanced, effective team.

I would say another season of Adkins could see us relegated but it won't come to that as he'd get sacked first, however it would mean another wasted season in this division. My feeling is cut our losses with this guy, it simply isn't working between SUFC and Adkins and make sure we get the right manager next time, for me that would be Wilder or Warnock.

 

[robbiez666]

And also the other old chestnut: ALL the fault lies at boardroom level (& with Clough) - Adkins gets a free pass because who on earth could deal with a situation like this?

(Meanwhile, Barnsley - in crisis just a few months ago - sit in 6th place, as Gillingham crumble, & previously shit Scunny offer the only challenge to the Dingles nabbing that last play-off spot).

Even if there is no alternative to Adkins (a depressing thought, but what is the realistic alternative?), he's been a dreadful let-down so far.

Even the green shoots of recovery are choked off when a bit of pressure arrives on the scene. Pressure makes cubic zirconium...

Adkins deserves the criticism for what he's one in terms of recruitment and getting a settled team. He's been far too slow in doing this. Hopefully we'll see a huge improvement this summer. There will be no excuses when the next season kicks off.

 

[Harry's Game]

Some of them can't even get on the bench.

It's going to be a big summer for us.

Recruitment.

And it's going to have to be done with no money... Unless we sell first. Which is why I think most of them are going to be retained.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Some of them can't even get on the bench.

It's going to be a big summer for us.

Recruitment.

It is going to be a big summer and make or break for us . Managers make players into diamonds not pressure . Does Adkins need to change his thought pattern , or do we get rid and start again.

WHF. , Adkins must be worrying McCabe and company . He does need to be strong and stick by his principles but be very careful in what players he keeps and brings in. Adkins is a rabbit in the car headlights .

I can see him getting a tough ride next season , as nothing less than top 2 is deemed as failure IMO.

UTB

 

[Grappler]

What makes it so hard to swallow is this was without a doubt the most shite set of clubs ever in L1 and it was there for the taking. With the money support, managers and players at our disposal how the hell did we r**k up AGAIN.

To be beaten by Rochdale, Bury, Fleetwood, Gillingham, Colchester, Crewe, Southend, port Vale et al in one season is undefenceable.

So tired, be glad when this season is history and I'm not looking forward to another season of embarrassments.

Can't argue with that pal, and as you say, this was such a weak League 1, we should have been up there in the mix at this time of year.

 

[Grappler]

It is going to be a big summer and make or break for us . Managers make players into diamonds not pressure . Does Adkins need to change his thought pattern , or do we get rid and start again.

WHF. , Adkins must be worrying McCabe and company . He does need to be strong and stick by his principles but be very careful in what players he keeps and brings in. Adkins is a rabbit in the car headlights .

I can see him getting a tough ride next season , as nothing less than top 2 is deemed as failure IMO.

UTB

Biggest issue that I can see, your Lordship, is the fact that I just don't see us having the money to do what needs doing. Yesterday, I could have counted on one hand the players I would keep next season, if we had the choice. The problem is, I don't think we have that choice.

 

[raul]

I think everyone expecting /demanding top two next season are setting themselves up for a season of anguished spleen venting , keyboard mashing disappointment.

We've fannied around 9th all season without ever threatening to do much better, spending much of that time nestled in with fellow League One stalwarts Rochdale and Port Vale. Are they expecting to get promoted next year?

Apart from Bristol City - with massive investment - can anyone else think of anyone who have gone from bilge to brilliance in one close season?

 

[mosbolad]

Thanks to Adkins all the better players, many of who were instrumental in beating numerous Prem teams in the last couple of years, have either been loaned out or are out of the first team picture - Scougal (out on loan), McNulty (out on loan), JCR (out on loan), Reed (played well in his last run in the team, but now stuck in the reserves), DdG (scoring for fun in the reserves but yet not even getting a sniff near the first team). Any of these would have been better options than Sammon and Woolford. Add the absent Brayford (ok injured but his form under Adkins has been poor and he is a lot better player than he is showing under the current manager) and Baxter (not directly Adkins fault for his absence but the player hasn't being managed well by the posh scouser) and quality is going out of the window under Adkins.

Whilst I understand your sentiment Handsworth some of your post doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Ive just had a quick look at the players you have mentioned in yesterdays games.

Scougal subbed at 60 mins, McNulty (league 2 remember) subbed at 60. JCR started as sub on the bench but did come on. None of them scored.

I happened to watch the 21s at the lane the other day (v Ipswich I think). Reed average and DDG I would reluctantly say poor.

Brayford injured as you say.

Baxter you say 'not directly Adkins fault'. Nor indirectly I would add. How on earth is Adkins any way responsible for 2 failed drug tests (1 under Clough) and whatever 'incident' went off in Ireland resulting in a club statement and Baxter's suspension, (I have been told what went off and it was not good and he got off lucky with a club suspension).

To then suggest that 'I would say another season of Adkins could see us relegated'. To suggest this when we are finishing the season relatively strongly (18 points out of the last 10 games).

So by all means have a go at the manager as this season has been far from a success but do try to be a bit more balanced in your 'Adkins out' agenda.

 

[Bartleby]

Totally agree, pitch out!

agree as well -we need to return to grass roots.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Another point for Handsworth is

What do you if Warnock struggles with us or if Wilder struggles.
Keep paying mangers off and great expenses and start again?

Many on here will be saying it was so obvious Warnock was past his best and we should go for someone younger and build for the future. Poor decision by McCabe, sack the board.

When Wilder struggles it would be it was so obvious Wilder would struggle because he's never managed a club anywhere near our size and it was always a risk that he wouldn't handle the pressure. Poor decision by McCabe, sack the board.

Almost every fan couldn't beleove we'd shown so much ambition to bring in Nigel Adkins.
I knew some Wednesday fans who would have much rather had him than their manager.
Many neutrals said we had the best manager in league 1 and it was impressive that we'd persuaded him to join when he could have got a job in the Championship. Many Blades couldn't believe we'd been so ambitious to splash the cash for the best manger available based on cv.

I think we have no option but to give him time to show his worth.
Why take the risk? I'd say his track record proves he's a winner.
Give him until Xmas next year them assess the situation.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Let's stop this "shouldn't be beaten by ..... " nonsense.

Even the finest of teams get beaten by "lower standard" throughout the season.

We're in L1, that's our level at the moment, we have no divine right to beat anybody.

 

[bornablade]

Three statements by Adkins at some stage in the season......

(1). The players we currently have are not good enough to gain promotion

(2). The strategy is to wipe the slate clean and give everyone a chance

(3). Promotion is absolutely essential.

Now those three statements in isolation are acceptable but when taken together throw up contradictions.

This sums up one of the most frustrating things about this season - the poor communication from the club. Jim Phipps I supposed tried his best via Twitter but apart from that we as supporters have been completely left in the dark.

I understand Fans Forums are being arranged but we have been treated as an inconvenience both in terms of what's been offered on and off the pitch.

 

[Bartleby]

What makes it so hard to swallow is this was without a doubt the most shite set of clubs ever in L1 and it was there for the taking. With the money support, managers and players at our disposal how the hell did we r**k up AGAIN.

To be beaten by Rochdale, Bury, Fleetwood, Gillingham, Colchester, Crewe, Southend, port Vale et al in one season is undefenceable.

So tired, be glad when this season is history and I'm not looking forward to another season of embarrassments.

Not denying this season's been shit but I'd say it was more shit division last season. Bradford were 7th on 65 points so the 66 we have now would have been enough for the playoffs.

Also the 71 points and 66 goals we did amass can still be overtaken and I hope they are just to shut up all the Clough lovers and Adkins haters saying we've gone backwards when we have merely stood still and are on the verge of getting shut of the crap and rebuilding.

 

[Darthblade]

And while we are venting.
Hammond
FFS again. Wandering slowly around, passing the ball slowly, closing players down slowly.
Even his hidden work has lost interest in covering for his ineptitude and gone (slowly) away.

To be fair ..... yesterday most of the team looked out of sorts.

Sharp & Adams were crap, Hammond was pedestrian, Flynn & Coutts were inconsistent and slow, McEveleys passing was diabolical, Long had grease on his gloves and Done was on a different planet to the rest of us !

Yet more evidence ( if ever more were needed ) that a summer cull of the senior playing squad still very much needs to happen if we are to seriously threaten the to two next season.

UTB & FTP

 

[mosbolad]

Let's stop this "shouldn't be beaten by ..... " nonsense.

Even the finest of teams get beaten by "lower standard" throughout the season.

We're in L1, that's our level at the moment, we have no divine right to beat anybody.

Come on Lydon!

We ought to have pissed this league. It's a pub league full of tin pot clubs and we lose to the likes of (insert name of perceived lowly club here). This is the worst team (we've ever had / insert since whatever date).

 

[Darthblade]

What makes it so hard to swallow is this was without a doubt the most shite set of clubs ever in L1 and it was there for the taking. With the money support, managers and players at our disposal how the hell did we r**k up AGAIN.

To be beaten by Rochdale, Bury, Fleetwood, Gillingham, Colchester, Crewe, Southend, port Vale et al in one season is undefenceable.

So tired, be glad when this season is history and I'm not looking forward to another season of embarrassments.

Our home record, in particular, has been embarrassing, appalling, indefensible and unacceptable and everybody at the Club should realise that, at whatever level.

Anyone at the Club, in any capacity, who doesn't accept this ......... should be looking at their position with effect immediately.

Next season MUST be different ....... there can be no more shit excuses from Board, Management or players

UTB & FTP

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Come on Lydon!

We ought to have pissed this league. It's a pub league full of tin pot clubs and we lose to the likes of (insert name of perceived lowly club here). This is the worst team (we've ever had / insert since whatever date).

As I once said...

"Dripping with irony like the cum from Hefner's flaccid cock"

I applaud you mosbolad

 

[Bladesman]

Some of them can't even get on the bench.

It's going to be a big summer for us.

Recruitment.

Well it's difficult for Roygbiv to keep track of them because they are not playing. Most of them are players Clough signed or decided to keep yet they can't make the first team at the likes of Fleetwood.

Yes Adkins should have done a bit better this season but he had many issues to contend with. I hope he is allowed to sort the rest of this squad out over the summer.

 

[Silent Blade]

McNulty (out on loan)

DdG (scoring for fun in the reserves but yet not even getting a sniff near the first team). .

McNulty not scoring much in last few months and isnt a regular starter for Pompey (League 2, remember)

DDG hasnt really scored many for u21s this season. He missed a penalty last week. Why hasnt any club taken him on loan tells you something

 

[eric_oulthwaite]

Lets Be Honest Terrible Season No Excuses

Isn't that the club motto!

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

I don't buy the cough left us awful players line. That squad should have been strong enough to get out of this Sunday league. He has to go for me. To not make the top 6 is a joke of the wankiest order.

And with Bolton, Charlton and MK next season, its going to get even harder Jehovah.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Whilst I understand your sentiment Handsworth some of your post doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Ive just had a quick look at the players you have mentioned in yesterdays games.

Scougal subbed at 60 mins, McNulty (league 2 remember) subbed at 60. JCR started as sub on the bench but did come on. None of them scored.

I happened to watch the 21s at the lane the other day (v Ipswich I think). Reed average and DDG I would reluctantly say poor.

Brayford injured as you say.

Baxter you say 'not directly Adkins fault'. Nor indirectly I would add. How on earth is Adkins any way responsible for 2 failed drug tests (1 under Clough) and whatever 'incident' went off in Ireland resulting in a club statement and Baxter's suspension, (I have been told what went off and it was not good and he got off lucky with a club suspension).

To then suggest that 'I would say another season of Adkins could see us relegated'. To suggest this when we are finishing the season relatively strongly (18 points out of the last 10 games).

So by all means have a go at the manager as this season has been far from a success but do try to be a bit more balanced in your 'Adkins out' agenda.

Can't comment on why they were subbed in their most recent game (that's one game only btw, ditto Reed, hardly a basis to form a valid view on them as players - Sharp was pants yesterday, does that make him shit???) and I'm basing my comments on what I've seen of them at the Lane, when they have generally done well over a period of time, especially against teams from a higher division. That would suggest to me they are more than capable players, and certainly much better options than Sammon and Woolford, plus quite a few in the first xi. DdG has been in excellent goal scoring form in recent weeks but doesn't get a sniff of the first team. When the other option is Sammon then that's poor management from Adkins.

I've given a more than balanced view on Adkins, his tenure at the Lane as been awful - players he's brought in poor and overpaid, motivation of his team poor, style of play shocking, lurching from one formation to another (he stumbled upon 2 banks of 4 that got some decent results then dropped it midway through the home draw v Swindon when we were 1-0 up and never went back too it), dropping players who had been playing well for no reason whatsoever (it's happened to Coutts, Whiteman and Reed), his blinkered obsession with signing Dan Burn was poor management when he didn't have any alternative options as back up. Let's be reet the only reason we're keeping an underwhelming failure as manager is due to his past CV and the fact that United have sacked a few managers over the last few years.

At the end of last season, there were obvious deficiencies in the team (big dominant centre half, effective target man and a midfield player with some bite, all three to have decent leadership qualities), we still have those problems but now we've got the ones that Adkins has brought to the club too (see above). He's turned United into a right mess and given the fans, arguably the second worse season in our history.

 

[longinthe toothblade]

If the club is fucking stupid enough to get rid of Adkins (and they are), then I'll just spend the whole of next season trashing the new bloke at every given opportunity on here.

Boy that'll be annoying.....

Sadly, I probably agree with that TD. I don't think Adkins has done anything "praise worthy" at all, however, given our track record with managers over the last 5/6 years, we've made mistakes that have cost us and those mistakes have certainly contributed significantly towards our demise.

All we can do is hope that Adkins turns out (or turns into) the 'manager' we need. Let's hope that he and his team, manage the necessary 'cull' from here on in, and that the Board support them to spend strategically and wisely on those players that will get us out of this league.

Adkins doesn't deserve any pats on the back yet, not a one but I pray he (and the Board) get it right. It's going to be a really really really sad situation come January / February / March next season, if we are still the outfit that we are today.

Fingers and toes crossed eh?

 

[alcoblade]

Ah, instead of clinging on to past glories, I tend to side with the idea of looking at the immediate evidence of the poor ability that has taken us backwards to a point where we are going to miss out on the league division three play offs.

And short termism like that is, without a shadow of a doubt, what's fucked us up.

UTB

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Three statements by Adkins at some stage in the season......

(1). The players we currently have are not good enough to gain promotion

(2). The strategy is to wipe the slate clean and give everyone a chance

(3). Promotion is absolutely essential.

Now those three statements in isolation are acceptable but when taken together throw up contradictions.

This sums up one of the most frustrating things about this season - the poor communication from the club. Jim Phipps I supposed tried his best via Twitter but apart from that we as supporters have been completely left in the dark.

I understand Fans Forums are being arranged but we have been treated as an inconvenience both in terms of what's been offered on and off the pitch.

I don't agree those statements are necessarily contradictory. 3 has been said consistently, as you'd expect it to be as whatever resources he's given (regardless of whether enough) that would still be the aim. 2 was said early doors, reflective of the fact we had a big squad and trimming it at that point in time was going to be tough (easier now as contracts expire). 1 (which was said after the "clean slate" approach) was clearly after he'd assessed the squad and deemed them not good enough.

One thing I don't think was appreciated quickly enough by Adkins was that in addition to not being good enough, the midfield wasn't set up well enough to fit his preferred (1-)4-4-2. While I'm not convinced Clough would have done much better this season, he would have at least consistently played a 4-5-1 that fitted the players he had largely brought in. None of the central midfielders work well as a two, they all fit a set-up that has three in the middle. I don't think anyone really appreciated at the time Adkins came in that he'd try and rigidly force those players into that formation (or that the players would adjust so poorly). With the numbers likely exiting this summer, we'll hopefully bring some much-needed balance to the squad so that at the very least we have a better midfield.

 

[bartman]

And with Bolton, Charlton and MK next season, its going to get even harder Jehovah.

Bolton and Charlton are in a mess and I can't see them challenging. If Bradford don't go up j think they will be up there as will Millwall.

 

[Ricky]

I think MK Dons are a shoe in for a top two spot, almost to the same extent Wigan were. I expect Bolton and Charlton to be around the top 6 but not good enough for the top two - they're a mess but they'll still have enough quality to carry them through a shit division. Whoever doesn't go up out of Millwall or Bradford will be strong, especially Millwall who I'd expect to challenge for automatic, so I hope (and think) they'll win the play offs. Barnsley will be up there too, then after that no doubt there will be at least two surprise challengers. It'll be harder at the top of the division next season for sure.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

One thing I don't think was appreciated quickly enough by Adkins was that in addition to not being good enough, the midfield wasn't set up well enough to fit his preferred (1-)4-4-2. While I'm not convinced Clough would have done much better this season, he would have at least consistently played a 4-5-1 that fitted the players he had largely brought in. None of the central midfielders work well as a two, they all fit a set-up that has three in the middle. I don't think anyone really appreciated at the time Adkins came in that he'd try and rigidly force those players into that formation (or that the players would adjust so poorly). With the numbers likely exiting this summer, we'll hopefully bring some much-needed balance to the squad so that at the very least we have a better midfield.

Exactly how I see it.

If he's made a mistake maybe this was it.

His early pre-season acquisitions mean he was committed to 2 up front. Turns out he overestimated the capabilities of our catalogue of one-dimensional midfielders.

Maybe the adjustment to (1-)3-5-2 should have come earlier but then there were (I think) the problems with Collins dropping deep - so we couldn't press.

Hard to know what he could have reasonably done differently.

I wonder where we are in the form table since Baptiste arrived.

 

[Isar]

Adkins has failed. It will be now down to the board to decide his fate. Regardless of who the manager is, we will be starting next season with our lowest expectations since we arrived in this dire league many many years ago.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I wonder where we are in the form table since Baptiste arrived.

We've played 10 games since he made his full debut (Fleetwood onwards). We are 7th in the form table based on the last 10.