Nigel Clough..

[PeteBlade]

At the end of last season there was a poll on here that showed about 65% of Blades wanted to give Clough another year. This season the directors (Jim) have appealed to us to show patience and yet that was one attribute they couldn't display last June.

Last year at this time we and this 'collection of shite' were looking towards a League Cup Quarter Final against Premiership opposition. Tonight this same 'collection of shite' couldn't even get past Fleetwood.

You seem to be inferring that they aren't a collection of shite.
Let me confirm that they are in fact, a collection of shite.
They were also a collection of shite last season while they were running Spurs close but losing to Bury at home.
This is because they were a collection of shite.

To sum up:
Shite. Collection of. Were they.

 

[Harry's Game]

And got us to two cup semis

Got us somewhere that hasn't it?

 

[Revolution]

While he would have addressed the defensive issues quicker than Adkins.

Why do people believe this? There is no evidence he would have done this. He created these defensive issues in the first place. They were a problem against Bristol City on the first day and against Swindon on the last day.

 

[JohnDenver]

Why do people believe this? There is no evidence he would have done this. He created these defensive issues in the first place. They were a problem against Bristol City on the first day and against Swindon on the last day.

But in between everything was errr... Oh.

 

[SwissBlade]

True, he kept saying that but then insisting it was a squad game. I swear Phipps said stuff about wanting a slightly bigger squad though, although evidently not to size we ended up with, which still managed to be unbalanced.

Yes he did, when we'd signed a few players, but namely Brayford and we were bringing in more players to compete on three fronts.



It's clear from viewing the other videos at this time that league one promotion was key, but they talk about the lesson learnt the season before as players were "leggy" and tired...

 

[Tezza1889]

Why do people believe this? There is no evidence he would have done this. He created these defensive issues in the first place. They were a problem against Bristol City on the first day and against Swindon on the last day.

Well said, buy butler, freeze him out, then turn on Collins.. Madness and ego at its best..

I have to say though, I'm worried on Adkins reliance on the old boys, a trait that didn't work for clough btw..

Give him time, but he better start pulling trees up in the league, or he'll get shown the door.... Possibly sponsored by...

Edit, by the board, the fans clearly have more paitience..

 

[alcoblade]

but they talk about the lesson learnt the season before as players were "leggy" and tired...

Let's hope they've now learned the lessons that the players are actually shite.

UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

Why do people believe this? There is no evidence he would have done this. He created these defensive issues in the first place. They were a problem against Bristol City on the first day and against Swindon on the last day.

He signed Brayford and freeman in January and Kennedy was fairly fit then.

Don't forget he talked a lot about replacing Harry.

However, conceding goals wasn't so much a problem under Clough, but scoring them was . Phipps highlighted that Clough failed to address the striker problem. Despite bringing in OGrady (briefly), done and Davies, it was a failing of his

 

[BeatleBlade]

Why do people believe this? There is no evidence he would have done this. He created these defensive issues in the first place. They were a problem against Bristol City on the first day and against Swindon on the last day.

I thought he was onto signing Mcfadzean from MK Dons but that might just have been a rumour.

 

[SwissBlade]

Got us somewhere that hasn't it?

Well I know you got shot down by many on here for your comments on the cup runs, so I'll be brief and say yes - I guess the two runs paid for Brayford, freeman, sharp and also the money we paid Clough off with (up until about a month ago he was still being paid)

 

[Revolution]

He signed Brayford and freeman in January and Kennedy was fairly fit then.

Don't forget he talked a lot about replacing Harry.

However, conceding goals wasn't so much a problem under Clough, but scoring them was . Phipps highlighted that Clough failed to address the striker problem. Despite bringing in OGrady (briefly), done and Davies, it was a failing of his

I talked a lot about replacing Harry too. Didn't happen.

He signed 2 full backs, played the best one at Centre back, where he got badly injured. I am a Kennedy fan but he is not, and has never been, a long term solution with that knee.

He did an appalling job of building a central defence with the resources he had. Mind you, Adkins is no better.

 

[SwissBlade]

I talked a lot about replacing Harry too. Didn't happen.

He signed 2 full backs, played the best one at Centre back, where he got badly injured. I am a Kennedy fan but he is not, and has never been, a long term solution with that knee.

He did an appalling job of building a central defence with the resources he had. Mind you, Adkins is no better.

I'm not saying you're wrong, just that under Clough the strikers were the biggest issue.

 

[Revolution]

I'm not saying you're wrong, just that under Clough the strikers were the biggest issue.

The whole spine of the team was the biggest issue.

Full backs playing at centre back
Scrappy midgets in central midfield
An obsession with playing one man up front who never scores

And blame all this on McNulty,

I do not miss him. Though this new guy has his own problems. The pursuit of Hammond is very Clouhh like - an obsession with signing a poor player.

 

[JohnDenver]

I'm not saying you're wrong, just that under Clough the strikers were the biggest issue.

I think Clough's much maligned tactics were justifiable for the players he had. Trouble is, he bought the players...

Adkins is discovering we have no midfielder capable of playing in a two man centre. And no defender capable of holding a decent line and pushing up high. But he's mended our striker shortage pretty comprehensively.

 

[SwissBlade]

The whole spine of the team was the biggest issue.

Full backs playing at centre back
Scrappy midgets in central midfield
An obsession with playing one man up front who never scores

And blame all this on McNulty,

I do not miss him. Though this new guy has his own problems. The pursuit of Hammond is very Clouhh like - an obsession with signing a poor player.

Yeah as I said, defence wasn't the issue, the full back at centre half was excellent there until he did his knee ligaments. Then we had problems.

 

[robbiez666]

Yes, let's replace the manager who isn't doing great at the moment with the one we know who is shit. Great plan.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Last year at this time we and this 'collection of shite' were looking towards a League Cup Quarter Final against Premiership opposition. Tonight this same 'collection of shite' couldn't even get past Fleetwood.

Last year at this time we were also watching us limp out 1-0 at the same stage of the JPT, under Clough.

 

[mulroeblade]

Keith Edwards is my new manager if Adkins fails! He talks a lot of sense in my opinion. Said a very accurate judgment of season before pens on radio. Some hate him, I like him.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Last year at this time we and this 'collection of shite' were looking towards a League Cup Quarter Final against Premiership opposition. Tonight this same 'collection of shite' couldn't even get past Fleetwood.

And when Clough led us to the semi-final that mattered against Swindon, we let in five goals, with some of the most laughable defending. And then, when Swindon got spanked around the pitch by Preston, the gap between us was very obvious indeed. I was all for giving Clough time, but the capitulation against Swindon (defensively) saw that patience evaporate. It's November of Adkins' first season, he merits the same respect most gave Clough, any manager, not just him, needs time to sort his team out.

 

[Blade58]

For me personally, the issues of not strengthening the cb position after losing Harry, effectively sacking Butler and Collins and then struggling up top was just part of the problem

I found myself slowly being that bored with what I was seeing on the pitch at BL, that whilst I had decided to renew my ST, I could see myself missing many games because of the sheer frustration of Clough's tactics and strategy. It was utter garbage tbh. It really wasn't what I wanted to witness at home

At the end of the season I'd made my mind up that he had to go. 5th place or not. I couldn't see myself going through a repeat of that season yet again

Whilst NA certainly hasn't got things right, has a long way to go to make us a competitive side, to me he is a far better option than Clough. I'm prepared to give him time. I think the board are and I hope the majority of fans are as well

 

[PeteBlade]

I can't believe we're giving Clough credit to talking about replacing Harry.

I talk a lot about sleeping with Beyoncé. I'm yet to get the credit for actually sleeping with her.

 

[MBoreman]

The thing that confused me with Clough was that he spoke about having a small squad when he came in, which I liked, but then did the opposite. After the first season he should have made small improvements to the team which just missed out on promotion: bring in a striker, and a Collins replacement. That would mean also signing Coady and one of Freeman/Brayford. He didn't do this and signed loads of average players. I'm always wary of signing more than 3/4 in a window, and it didn't work.

I wanted to give him until December, but it didn't happen. We seem time and time again most managers make little difference, so just stick with Adkins regardless.

 

[MBoreman]

The thing that confused me with Clough was that he spoke about having a small squad when he came in, which I liked, but then did the opposite. After the first season he should have made small improvements to the team which just missed out on promotion: bring in a striker, and a Collins replacement. That would mean also signing Coady and one of Freeman/Brayford. He didn't do this and signed loads of average players. I'm always wary of signing more than 3/4 in a window, and it didn't work.

I wanted to give him until December, but it didn't happen. We seem time and time again most managers make little difference, so just stick with Adkins regardless.

Would also have meant keeping Harry, so lining up:
Howard (in hindsight - new)
Freeman Maguire New Harris
Flynn Coady Doyle Murphy
Baxter
New

Then a couple of cover signings could be made.

 

[grafikhaus]

Keith Edwards is my new manager if Adkins fails! He talks a lot of sense in my opinion. Said a very accurate judgment of season before pens on radio. Some hate him, I like him.

As people like Gullit and Shearer prove on MoTD, it's one thing 'talking a lot of sense' and doing it as manager. Fuck me. Keith Edwards? What's Cec Coldwell up to?

The way things are going, we're more than likely in for a relegation fight in Spring, Adkins will be out and it'll be the fans' fault for being 'impatient'. Well fuck that. NA's forays into the transfer market hardly inspire confidence, he's tactically clueless and the sooner people realise that he struck gold with an extremely talented bunch of players at Southampton, the quicker we can act. This is Adkins. Struggling in the poorest Division Three in memory and the season already a write off. In November.

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

Atkins pluses to date

Playing Adams (unlike Clough and not rocket science !)

Trying Kieron Wallace at left back

Using JCR more(although mixed impact)

Getting shot of Higdon and Alcock


Minus points

Signings v poor in Hammond (so far) Woolford, Edgar (later performances but maybe injured when therefore shouldnt play)

Still no CB permanently signed !

Gave many of squad clean slate for far too long hindering replacements coming in.

Playing Sammon on left wing !!

Results against many v poor teams dire.

Seems to have turned Done into a moody, unhappy player.

Seriously repetitive, cliche filled dull interviews and swerving questions about the actual game and performances to talk about game time etc ..!

Seemingly now very bemused what his best team and formation is. After Notts County in jpt changed it but that result was against an unbelievably poor team (see Salford game). Genuinely think he's baffled and hoping Brayford and Done will spark us into life plus whatever is up his sleeve in January when we'll be miles behind top 2 again !!

Jury out

on Sharp and Sammon until he plays them up top together for a spell.

Overall far from convincing.

His body language and interviews in last month are far less upbeat. Really concerning.

 

[PeteBlade]

Counting post match interviews and body language as minus points is stretching it somewhat.

 

[Dalelane01]

Why bother having a manager at all 90% of fans are never happy with them. do what we did when we were kids line the whole squad in the middle of the pitch and choose the best 11 and guess what we will still lose.this squad bar a couple of players will NEVER get us out of this poor division. new faces needed its having cash to spend and type of players who are willing to come here. let this season run itself down and stop kidding ourselves its going to get any better and rebuild with next season in mind and hoe for the best with blindfolds on

 

[cooperblade]

Well said, buy butler, freeze him out, then turn on Collins.. Madness and ego at its best..

Woolford last started a league game in mid-September. Has Adkins bought him and frozen him out? Or perhaps, it's just something that happens regularly in football - manager signs player, realises he shouldn't have and stops playing him.

Fingers crossed that happens with Hammond soon.

Forgetting the cup runs, I think Clough's achievement of getting to the play-offs might look a really good one come March / April.

 

[cooperblade]

Atkins pluses to date

Playing Adams (unlike Clough and not rocket science !)

Trying Kieron Wallace at left back

Using JCR more(although mixed impact)

Getting shot of Higdon and Alcock

So 75% of his plus points are playing Clough signings?

(JCR's loan to Notts Co was nothing to do Clough before that gets mentioned)

 

[Revolution]

The thing that confused me with Clough was that he spoke about having a small squad when he came in, which I liked, but then did the opposite. After the first season he should have made small improvements to the team which just missed out on promotion: bring in a striker, and a Collins replacement. That would mean also signing Coady and one of Freeman/Brayford. He didn't do this and signed loads of average players. I'm always wary of signing more than 3/4 in a window, and it didn't work.

I wanted to give him until December, but it didn't happen. We seem time and time again most managers make little difference, so just stick with Adkins regardless.

Clough screwed over the close season, true, but not signing those specfic players was not for the want of trying. Neither of Brayford or Freeman would sign for us at the time, and Liverpool refused to sell Coady to us.

Of course the problems began because he did not look around for decent substitutes for these players. None of the million midfielders he tried are as good as Coady going forward, for example. Quantity over quality alright.