Nigel adkins

[grafikhaus]

Wow, an awful lot of vitriol for the bloke. I'm sure he didn't fail here last season deliberately. Ultimately, he couldn't polish the turd that was our squad but at least he brought Billy Sharp back.

The 'turd' that he was entrusted to polish had recently finished 2014/15 under Clough in 5th place, lost out in the play-off semis, lost narrowly over 2 legs in the semi-final of the League Cup to Tottenham and reached the 4th round of the FA Cup.

Enter Champion Turd-Polisher Badkins and we finshed 11th in the League (lowest league finish since 1985), went out in the 3rd round of the FA Cup and 2nd round of the League Cup.

The only turd during his time was the one sat in the manager's dug-out (apart from some of the shite like Hammond and Woolford who Badkins brought in).

However you polish it, Adkins was a fucking disaster.

 

[Pierre's PC]

I have that achievement on my undead

 

[Tyler Durden]

I'll hold my hands up. I defended him pretty much to the end, citing mitigating circumstances for our failure last season. ( I still maintain that the squad themselves were guilty for their part, not to mention the shambles we were in when he took over).

But the fact that Wilder so easily identified the problems and eliminated them so quickly, transforming us so unrecognisably highlights how bad Adkins was.

 

[sitwell]

He got us Billy back, he has an amazing CV and he's got the sort of vision that can see Hammond doing his invisible stuff. What a guy.

Would love to know what Billy thinks really .

 

[1danewhitehouse]

The 'turd' that he was entrusted to polish had recently finished 2014/15 under Clough in 5th place, lost out in the play-off semis, lost narrowly over 2 legs in the semi-final of the League Cup to Tottenham and reached the 4th round of the FA Cup.

Enter Champion Turd-Polisher Badkins and we finshed 11th in the League (lowest league finish since 1985), went out in the 3rd round of the FA Cup and 2nd round of the League Cup.

The only turd during his time was the one sat in the manager's dug-out (apart from some of the shite like Hammond and Woolford who Badkins brought in).

However you polish it, Adkins was a fucking disaster.

It's been done quite a bit on here but comparing his side to the season before:-

1. They were Clough's players, signed to play the way he wanted.
2. Adkins was without the best 2 players of that squad for most of the season (Murphy and Brayford)
3. We signed less players than any other club that season due to the massive wage bill we had.
4. Despite that I think we finished about 6 points worse off than under Clough the previous season.

So yes, he was a disappointment and yes he failed but I think a bit of perspective is needed as to the circumstances he had to work under. But as I've said elsewhere, Wilder has been a revelation and sacking Adkins has proved to be the right call. I just think the hatred toward the bloke is unwarranted.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I'll hold my hands up. I defended him pretty much to the end, citing mitigating circumstances for our failure last season. ( I still maintain that the squad themselves were guilty for their part, not to mention the shambles we were in when he took over).

But the fact that Wilder so easily identified the problems and eliminated them so quickly, transforming us so unrecognisably highlights how bad Adkins was.

To some extent I think that's true but being able to dump half the squad on arrival makes a massive difference to the task at hand. That said, on balance, Wilder has got better value for money on his incoming signings and has brought the best out in Coutts and Freeman which Adkins couldn't.

 

[Grecian2000]

Would love to know what Billy thinks really .

It's and odd one isn't it?
Billy's been around more than one club with him so must know his foibles in advance. Unless, he's simply lost the plot in recent times and turned into something even Billy didn't expect.
Question is, I suppose, did Billy come here despite it being Adkins in charge just because it was United?

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

It's been done quite a bit on here but comparing his side to the season before:-

1. They were Clough's players, signed to play the way he wanted.
2. Adkins was without the best 2 players of that squad for most of the season (Murphy and Brayford)
3. We signed less players than any other club that season due to the massive wage bill we had.
4. Despite that I think we finished about 6 points worse off than under Clough the previous season.

So yes, he was a disappointment and yes he failed but I think a bit of perspective is needed as to the circumstances he had to work under. But as I've said elsewhere, Wilder has been a revelation and sacking Adkins has proved to be the right call. I just think the hatred toward the bloke is unwarranted.

Don't think it's hatred , more disbelief and disappointment . We perhaps all thought Adkins was the man , round peg in a round hole sort of fit .

The mans persona , management style , just wore everyone down IMO .

Nothing against the bloke , circumstances play a part but Wilder has just highlighted his failings even more .

Perhaps as shown at his Reading texture , he his now a spent force , yesterday's man , a bit like Brian Laws , Paul Jewell , Gary Megson .

Don't forget Adkins has been paid for failure .

We as a club , fans want instant success due to previous failures . Adkins couldn't deliver , thankfully Wilder has / can.

 

[sitwell]

It's and odd one isn't it?
Billy's been around more than one club with him so must know his foibles in advance. Unless, he's simply lost the plot in recent times and turned into something even Billy didn't expect.
Question is, I suppose, did Billy come here despite it being Adkins in charge just because it was United?

the latter would be my guess.

 

[Grecian2000]

So yes, he was a disappointment and yes he failed but I think a bit of perspective is needed as to the circumstances he had to work under.

and, for me at least, whatever sympathy I had for his "plight" was undone completely by his refusal to see his biggest error, and indeed as bad a transfer as I can remember this club making, which Wilder sorted (probably expensively) almost immediately.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Don't think it's hatred , more disbelief and disappointment . We perhaps all thought Adkins was the man , round peg in a round hole sort of fit .

The mans persona , management style , just wore everyone down IMO .

Nothing against the bloke , circumstances play a part but Wilder has just highlighted his failings even more .

Perhaps as shown at his Reading texture , he his now a spent force , yesterday's man , a bit like Brian Laws , Paul Jewell , Gary Megson .

Don't forget Adkins has been paid for failure .

We as a club , fans want instant success due to previous failures . Adkins couldn't deliver , thankfully Wilder has / can.

I don't think it's as simple as good managers becoming bad ones overnight. I think these blokes all possess attributes that in the right circumstances would see them be successful. Wen they land on clubs that best compliment their abilities, it clicks and they appear to be very good managers. When it's not a good fit, it can make them appear clueless. The truth probably lies somewhere in between for all of them,

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

and, for me at least, whatever sympathy I had for his "plight" was undone completely by his refusal to see his biggest error, and indeed as bad a transfer as I can remember this club making, which Wilder sorted (probably expensively) almost immediately.

... and expressively so

 

[spongebobblade]

Still the worst night of football I can remember, ever.

I object to that!
In no way can anything we did that night be remotely described as football. That was the 'occasion' which really made me open my eyes as to how bad as a team and manager we really were. He stood there piss wet through arms folded without a fucking clue while us hardy souls gave him real venomous dogs abuse. If you had said to me we would be top 12 months later I'd have asked you for 2oz of whatever you had been taking

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

I object to that!
In no way can anything we did that night be remotely described as football. That was the 'occasion' which really made me open my eyes as to how bad as a team and manager we really were. He stood there piss wet through arms folded without a fucking clue while us hardy souls gave him real venomous dogs abuse. If you had said to me we would be top 12 months later I'd have asked you for 2oz of whatever you had been taking

He did. While 10 of our 11 players, from memory, just gave up. About 15 mins in.

Pissing wet, freezing cold, "We're fucking shit" ringing from the rusting rafters of the grimiest away stand in the football lg (with possible exceptions of Dingles, Port Vale and pigs), players too ashamed to come closer to fans than 5 yards over halfway line at the end, pies served from the counter of a public toilet.

EDIT: re WWF's current great thread in another section of the forum, Do I remember WIlliam Henry coming on here after that game to take issue, vehemently, with the suggestion that we were, indeed, "fucking shit" ?

 

[spongebobblade]

He did. While 10 of our 11 players, from memory, just gave up. About 15 mins in.

Pissing wet, freezing cold, "We're fucking shit" ringing from the rusting rafters of the grimiest away stand in the football lg (with possible exceptions of Dingles, Port Vale and pigs), players too ashamed to come closer to fans than 5 yards over halfway line at the end, pies served from the counter of a public toilet.

Rochdale was bad but the venom spouted that night was very bitter bordering on hatred......... and still nobody gave a fuck

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Rochdale was bad but the venom spouted that night was very bitter bordering on hatred......... and still nobody gave a fuck

I can assure you that we gave plentiful fucks in the car on the way back ...

 

[itsinyerblood]

Just adding to what's already been said - Adkins? Due to him we have Sharp, but nowt else worth discussing, and Wilder cut loose Hammond without a second thought.

What a difference between both managers, one knowing and decisive, the other clueless and barely able to paper over the cracks. In my time as a Blade, it's the best decision McCabe made (there haven't been too many I'm afraid) by appointing Wilder.

 

[Dkc]

I just think the hatred toward the bloke is unwarranted.

Ditto Blackwell, Adams, Clough, Warnock, even Weir. They all did their level best to win every game for us, they weren't working against us. And I'd say those managers had more knowledge of managing a football club than every critical fan (Weir excepted, maybe)

 

[Joe Boltons Left Foot]

not at all saying I speak for everyone but the biggest issue I had was how disappointed I was. I genuinely felt we had made a great appointment following numerous lack lustre managers when he came. His CV wasn't perfect but he seemed to have the ability to strengthen the self belief of the players from his previous roles. What a complete balloon I felt when I realised that not only had he completely extinguished any fire the team did have but he was also living in some parallel universe whereby he couldn't see what everyone else could. When you add in the "motivational" comments he would make it became clear he was just a clueless bell end! On a personal level he pushed me into a wilderness of apathy with regards to my love for the blades, something I never thought could happen and fortunately something Wilder has turned full circle.
To continue my recovery I am choosing to view him as a time filler while we waited for Wilder; in the same way I hung around with that fat ugly bird before I hooked up with that decent one.

Maybe Adkins is Bella Emberg and Wilder is Cindy Crawford

Makes me feel better anyway

 

[I should coco]

They all did their level best to win every game for us, they weren't working against us.

Yes, poor loves.

All they got was hatred and a payoff of a few hundred grand each (except Warnock).

We really should be more grateful on here.

 

[GaryHamsonsLeftBootLace]

Bit unfair on Nige this thread. We didn't give up at all last season. In fact, we kept at it and kept at it and managed to be shite all season long... Never give up!

 

[Dkc]

I'll always remember the spineless performance v Barnsley at home, where a win would have put the play offs within reach. We kept getting chance after chance to mount a serious challenge for the top 6 and we blew it every time.

 

[Leonardo Green]

tbf to nigel, we didn't supply him with s squad full of international quality players to play in league one like southampton did.

 

[Bladey McBladeface]

I'll hold my hands up. I defended him pretty much to the end, citing mitigating circumstances for our failure last season. ( I still maintain that the squad themselves were guilty for their part, not to mention the shambles we were in when he took over).

But the fact that Wilder so easily identified the problems and eliminated them so quickly, transforming us so unrecognisably highlights how bad Adkins was.

Spot on.

I was all for giving him time (in the belief that we needed to give someone time).

Wilder has made Adkins (and me) look like a complete clown.

 

[blade too long]

You might not have got the memo, but he isn't our manager anymore.

H A L L E LU J A H

 

[Bladesman]

I don't think it's as simple as good managers becoming bad ones overnight. I think these blokes all possess attributes that in the right circumstances would see them be successful. Wen they land on clubs that best compliment their abilities, it clicks and they appear to be very good managers. When it's not a good fit, it can make them appear clueless. The truth probably lies somewhere in between for all of them,

Unless you're Bryan Robson.

 

[ucandomagic]

We had 12 points from 5 games last season and ended up with 66points from 46 games.

Madkins actually started with a half-decent team in reasonable form and progressively and consistently destroyed it.

12 months on and we see the complete reverse - 1 point from 4 games followed by steady development, recruitment and increasing confidence.

Madkins greatest fault was not being able to admit to himself that DH was a huge mistake.

How long did Hussey last this year?!

Recognising your own weaknesses and mistakes is one of the most important contributors to ultimate success.

It's also a sign of intelligence!!

UTB

 

[davidblade]

'Invisible stuff' makes it sound like a comic book character which is silly.

We all know it was actually 'unseen work'. Those who didn't appreciate it, probably couldn't see how wonderful the emperor's new clothes were either.

We all know why it was unseen don't we !

 

[Kenilworth]

It's been done quite a bit on here but comparing his side to the season before:-

1. They were Clough's players, signed to play the way he wanted.
2. Adkins was without the best 2 players of that squad for most of the season (Murphy and Brayford)
3. We signed less players than any other club that season due to the massive wage bill we had.
4. Despite that I think we finished about 6 points worse off than under Clough the previous season.

So yes, he was a disappointment and yes he failed but I think a bit of perspective is needed as to the circumstances he had to work under. But as I've said elsewhere, Wilder has been a revelation and sacking Adkins has proved to be the right call. I just think the hatred toward the bloke is unwarranted.

Let's just recall that the football under Madkins was complete and utter spineless fucking garbage.

McEveley as captain?
Wanker

 

[Cerberus Blade]

It's been done quite a bit on here but comparing his side to the season before:-

1. They were Clough's players, signed to play the way he wanted.
2. Adkins was without the best 2 players of that squad for most of the season (Murphy and Brayford)
3. We signed less players than any other club that season due to the massive wage bill we had.
4. Despite that I think we finished about 6 points worse off than under Clough the previous season.

So yes, he was a disappointment and yes he failed but I think a bit of perspective is needed as to the circumstances he had to work under. But as I've said elsewhere, Wilder has been a revelation and sacking Adkins has proved to be the right call. I just think the hatred toward the bloke is unwarranted.

You see, I don't.

Putting the awful signings and the poor performances and his clueless tactics apart, the thing that upset me most about Adkins was the bullshit.

Positivity is a good thing and I'm not knocking that. But when it overtakes realism and honesty he's lost me.

I spent too many years in big corporate organisations where folks survive on bullshit and bluster. I hate it and all it stands for.

And I know only too well what it leads to. As it did with Adkins. Absolute abject failure.

I posted on here a few months into last season that I thought he was possibly the worst manager we've ever had.

I stick by that. And by contrast Chris Wilder is right up there with the best managers we've ever had.