The Scale of the Task

[Jostein's Bandage]

I stopped reading when you said Woolford was clearly signed as cheap cover for Murphy.

He clearly wasn't. He was clearly signed as a replacement for Murphy, because clearly Sharp was only bought with the proviso that Murphy was going to be sold.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

The wheels fell off and I get the feeling that no one down there is really interested in putting it back on......

Baxter's sold them on Penny Lane Market.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Why did it have to be a striker or a centre half?

Was it not possible to sign both?

 

[wizadry]

I stopped reading when you said Woolford was clearly signed as cheap cover for Murphy.

He clearly wasn't. He was clearly signed as a replacement for Murphy, because clearly Sharp was only bought with the proviso that Murphy was going to be sold.

He was always going to buy Billy so he only had a bit spare for a replacement for Murphy, this is where Woolford came in.

 

[Canterbury Blade]

Culture, quality and cash...

He had to turn round what appears to be an appalling culture. That seems to be happening as he sorts out some of the tossers who have been taking the mick out of United. That takes time but it's the right thing to do.

Much quality has been gradually eroded and sold, as many of those players who would not only get us out of this division but keep us in the next have been replaced by lower standards. That's hardly his fault.

Cash. Again hardly his fault that the cash is drying up. Bedding in the youth, recruiting loanees with the right attitude and sending out the expensive 'waste of times' all seem to be starting under Adkins.

All of this makes it a very hard task but one that has started and who else can continue it?

Lets face it, the club and its players need to change, the journey has started so lets support the man who seems to be trying to turn the tide in favour.

UTB

 

[Sean Thornton]

This is the biggest issue facing us at the moment I fully belive the board is split and can't decide what to do on Adkins, it's affecting everything from the budget to the season ticket renewals, to the retained list.

They need to sort it, for me I am becoming convinced he is not the right man.

I'd guess the main sticking point isn't Adkins but how much it's going to cost next year.

They can play the Clough blame game all they want but they are in charge and make the decisions. Eight million invested just to balance the books this year with a poor squad unlikely to get much in the way of incoming fees. Will ten million next year even make a dent in the issues we have?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Culture, quality and cash...

He had to turn round what appears to be an appalling culture. That seems to be happening as he sorts out some of the tossers who have been taking the mick out of United. That takes time but it's the right thing to do.

Much quality has been gradually eroded and sold, as many of those players who would not only get us out of this division but keep us in the next have been replaced by lower standards. That's hardly his fault.

Cash. Again hardly his fault that the cash is drying up. Bedding in the youth, recruiting loanees with the right attitude and sending out the expensive 'waste of times' all seem to be starting under Adkins.

All of this makes it a very hard task but one that has started and who else can continue it?

Lets face it, the club and its players need to change, the journey has started so lets support the man who seems to be trying to turn the tide in favour.

UTB

The culture thing is a puzzle. More than one poster said Cloughs intransigence, arrogance and unwillingness to listen to players was his failing. Now it appears this "culture" flourished under his "dictatorship" as it was called by some. How does that work?

 

[Snowman]

The culture thing is a puzzle. More than one poster said Cloughs intransigence, arrogance and unwillingness to listen to players was his failing. Now it appears this "culture" flourished under his "dictatorship" as it was called by some. How does that work?

I'm sorry, I wish I could assist with that. It's certainly a bit of a puzzler!

 

[1889]

How people can say Adkins was misled by the board is laughable. The blokes been unemployed for 6 month after being sacked by Reading due to poor performance and he is offered a lucrative three year contract at Sheffield United. In all seriousness, irrespective of what he was told, or what his own research had revealed, there is no way that anyone in his position would have turned down the opportunity. To suggest otherwise is just ridiculous.

If anyone has grounds to feel misled it is the board, certainly Adkins would have given assurances that he could turn around the football clubs fortunes, both in and out of the arena etc etc. Unfortunately he has failed spectacularly, the players may not be world beaters, but they all performed better individually and as a group under Nigel Clough. To say the players are shit is far too simplistic, I'm afraid you just don't get to be a professional footballer for very long, if you are.But a huge part of the managers job is to make the team gel, create a great spirit, identify leaders, weed out the negative influences and get everyone fighting for the cause.

Whatever situation he found when he started, ten months is plenty of time for him to turn things around or at least start to show some green shoots of improvement? But there is nothing, he spouts that bizarre pseudointellectual nonsense that alienates most of the fans and will doubtless be received in exactly the same way by the players? His signings have been unimaginative, whilst he has moved on players, some of whom were arguably of more value than some who remain? His squad selection, substitutions and tactics are at best questionable. In fact, when you look at Adkins tenure, if he was deliberately trying to get paid off, he couldn't have done a better job.

Give him another season? That's a joke, right?

 

[Sean Thornton]

How people can say Adkins was misled by the board is laughable. The blokes been unemployed for 6 month after being sacked by Reading due to poor performance and he is offered a lucrative three year contract at Sheffield United. In all seriousness, irrespective of what he was told, or what his own research had revealed, there is no way that anyone in his position would have turned down the opportunity. To suggest otherwise is just ridiculous.

If anyone has grounds to feel misled it is the board, certainly Adkins would have given assurances that he could turn around the football clubs fortunes, both in and out of the arena etc etc. Unfortunately he has failed spectacularly, the players may not be world beaters, but they all performed better individually and as a group under Nigel Clough. To say the players are shit is far too simplistic, I'm afraid you just don't get to be a professional footballer for very long, if you are.But a huge part of the managers job is to make the team gel, create a great spirit, identify leaders, weed out the negative influences and get everyone fighting for the cause.

Whatever situation he found when he started, ten months is plenty of time for him to turn things around or at least start to show some green shoots of improvement? But there is nothing, he spouts that bizarre pseudointellectual nonsense that alienates most of the fans and will doubtless be received in exactly the same way by the players? His signings have been unimaginative, whilst he has moved on players, some of whom were arguably of more value than some who remain? His squad selection, substitutions and tactics are at best questionable. In fact, when you look at Adkins tenure, if he was deliberately trying to get paid off, he couldn't have done a better job.

Give him another season? That's a joke, right?

Warnock was unemployed when we appointed him.

Just a comment on your first paragraph.

 

[robbiez666]

If he was so easily misled, it makes me realise the extent of his naivety and overall incompetence.

We were all misled. Surely we're more stupid as we've been lied to for years?

 

[Sean Thornton]

I'm sorry, I wish I could assist with that. It's certainly a bit of a puzzler!

This forums a bit more upmarket than Take A Break

 

[robbiez666]

The culture thing is a puzzle. More than one poster said Cloughs intransigence, arrogance and unwillingness to listen to players was his failing. Now it appears this "culture" flourished under his "dictatorship" as it was called by some. How does that work?

Well, they were going out and getting shitfaced last year. Most of the players were his. so....

Ever gone to the pub with a bunch of workmates and bitched about your boss?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Well, they were going out and getting shitfaced last year. Most of the players were his. so....

Which is my point..........

 

[FriethBlade]

What I can't work out is how can managers at Burton, Gillingham, Southend, Barnsley et al manage to build teams on a far lower budget ?

Adkins biggest problem is he can't seem to see further than higher league aging has beens or crocks like Hammond, Baptists, Woolford etc.

The bottom 2 divisions have plenty of talent but he just doesn't seem prepared to look there. Oxford have 3 players who would walk into our first team and on lower wages than the players listed above so why aren't we signing these kind of players...other than the obvious comment that they'd be mad to come !

 

[Sean Thornton]

What I can't work out is how can managers at Burton, Gillingham, Southend, Barnsley et al manage to build teams on a far lower budget ?

Adkins biggest problem is he can't seem to see further than higher league aging has beens or crocks like Hammond, Baptists, Woolford etc.

The bottom 2 divisions have plenty of talent but he just doesn't seem prepared to look there. Oxford have 3 players who would walk into our first team and on lower wages than the players listed above so why aren't we signing these kind of players...other than the obvious comment that they'd be mad to come !

Gambles. Basset and his team could spot lower league players. Who have we had since who had an eye for players like he signed?

 

[FriethBlade]

Gambles. Basset and his team could spot lower league players. Who have we had since who had an eye for players like he signed?

It's as big a gamble signing the likes of the above who are in decline and suffered bad injuries in the past and they cost more in wages and have no resale value.

Maybe we need someone like Wilder who knows these lower league players and can bring them in on a budget

 

[1889]

Warnock was unemployed when we appointed him.

Just a comment on your first paragraph.

I'm not sure I understand your point, but since you brought him up, I honestly believe Neil Warnock would have this current squad of players in the play offs.

 

[Sean Thornton]

It's as big a gamble signing the likes of the above who are in decline and suffered bad injuries in the past and they cost more in wages and have no resale value.

Maybe we need someone like Wilder who knows these lower league players and can bring them in on a budget

That's what I meant. A manager who will trust his judgement on new pkayers rather than a comfort zone like Hammond on big wages. Whether Chris Wilder is that man......

 

[Sean Thornton]

I'm not sure I understand your point, but since you brought him up, I honestly believe Neil Warnock would have this current squad of players in the play offs.

You said Adkins was sacked for poor performance. Warnock was sacked by Bury fir the same.

To believe NW could get this bunch to perform is, IMO, a big leap of faith because it seems quite a few have no heart. Warnock wouldn't give some of them the time of day.

 

[spongebobblade]

100% correct.

Sadly, mob rule is starting to dictate that it's all Adkins fault and Clough was great and only Warnock can save us.

Adkins will be driven out by the years end if not well before, and he'll prove that he's a good manager with a good club that's not riddled with cunts like ours.

Let's get things right
Firstly there is no mob. Secondly nobody is saying it's all Adkins fault, merely that we have gone further backwards and have seen little from him (tactics, formations, substitutions, player motivation/ recruitment) to suggest he may become the saviour. There is no evidence to support your theory that he will prove he is a good manager after he leaves us. Many a manager who has had success in the past get jobs on the basis they have done this/ that long long after there last success. Danny Wilson for one. I'm not advocating his sacking, just highlighting the serious concerns many have at present. I for one would love to be proved wrong

 

[spongebobblade]

Gambles. Basset and his team could spot lower league players. Who have we had since who had an eye for players like he signed?

great point.
How many times have we said over the last 2 years that cherry picking the cream of leagues 1 & 2 is probably the best way to get us out of this league??!!

 

[robbiez666]

What I can't work out is how can managers at Burton, Gillingham, Southend, Barnsley et al manage to build teams on a far lower budget ?

Adkins biggest problem is he can't seem to see further than higher league aging has beens or crocks like Hammond, Baptists, Woolford etc.

The bottom 2 divisions have plenty of talent but he just doesn't seem prepared to look there. Oxford have 3 players who would walk into our first team and on lower wages than the players listed above so why aren't we signing these kind of players...other than the obvious comment that they'd be mad to come !

Gambles. Basset and his team could spot lower league players. Who have we had since who had an eye for players like he signed?

A Sheffield United manager is not in a position to gamble. The expectation is promotion or the chop. Easy to gamble with a low budget and zero expectations.

 

[1889]

You said Adkins was sacked for poor performance. Warnock was sacked by Bury fir the same.

To believe NW could get this bunch to perform is, IMO, a big leap of faith because it seems quite a few have no heart. Warnock wouldn't give some of them the time of day.

The point was that after six months out of work, he was hardly likely to have turned Utd down or insist on some sort of caveat that the players were all 'good lads'.

Some have suggested Adkins was misled by the board, lured by false promises of transfer funds etc. My belief is that he wasn't in a strong bargaining position and given he'd had no offers in the previous six month, he would have walked over hot coals to sign his three year deal, irrespective of how shit the squad was or what money was available.

As for NW getting this lot to perform, I guess they were saying the same at Rotherham five week back

 

[robbiez666]

The point was that after six months out of work, he was hardly likely to have turned Utd down or insist on some sort of caveat that the players were all 'good lads'.

Some have suggested Adkins was misled by the board, lured by false promises of transfer funds etc. My belief is that he wasn't in a strong bargaining position and given he'd had no offers in the previous six month, he would have walked over hot coals to sign his three year deal, irrespective of how shit the squad was.

As for getting this lot to perform, I guess they were saying the same at Rotherham five week back

Do you know how football managering works? Being unemployed for 6 months is normal.

He could have taken any Championship job that came up. Walked into it. He's vastly more successful than most managers below premiership.

 

[Sean Thornton]

The point was that after six months out of work, he was hardly likely to have turned Utd down or insist on some sort of caveat that the players were all 'good lads'.

Some have suggested Adkins was misled by the board, lured by false promises of transfer funds etc. My belief is that he wasn't in a strong bargaining position and given he'd had no offers in the previous six month, he would have walked over hot coals to sign his three year deal, irrespective of how shit the squad was or what money was available.

As for NW getting this lot to perform, I guess they were saying the same at Rotherham five week back

I dont see it that way. I'd expect paying him off would cost a fortune and he had most of the bargaining chips.


I'd also suggest the fact that Rotherham were promoted suggests at least some of the players had something about them that the previous manager couldn't work with unlike Evans before him. Clearly not the same here.

 

[Sean Thornton]

A Sheffield United manager is not in a position to gamble. The expectation is promotion or the chop. Easy to gamble with a low budget and zero expectations.

No zero expectations when DB was appointed. Quite the opposite, especially after relegation.

 

[robbiez666]

No zero expectations when DB was appointed. Quite the opposite, especially after relegation.

Sorry, I was meaning nowadays.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Sorry, I was meaning nowadays.

True nowadays. Which is the problem.

 

[nowtfancy]

100% correct.

Sadly, mob rule is starting to dictate that it's all Adkins fault and Clough was great and only Warnock can save us.

Adkins will be driven out by the years end if not well before, and he'll prove that he's a good manager with a good club that's not riddled with cunts like ours.

'Mob Rule' wouldn't have got rid of clough - a majority, even on here, wanted him to stay.

Adkins will only be 'driven out' if he continues to bring nothing other than an impressive CV.
Just something would be nice:
- eye for a player?
- ability to motivate your players?
- organising before / during games in a way that brings results?
- changing the course of the game (positively!) with substitutions?
- some decent football?
- grind out results?
- just a vague impression that there's even a plan for next season?

Just something to give us hope please!