TIME TO SAY GOODBYE?

[Bladesince59]

Given that McCabe is a shrewd businessman, it is really very difficult for me to see any rationale in getting rid of both Wilson and Clough (with the costs involved) other than that they both stood up to him and the board and told them that without massive investment we were stuck in League 1. He obviously didn’t like it much when Warnock had stood up to him previously.

What we now have is a manager living off his reputation at Scunthorpe (would you believe it) but who had been found wanting by both Southampton and Reading. Most on here thought we had discovered the ark when Adkins agreed to sign up: my view is that he was bloody relieved to get a job with anyone with a decent “name”.

His acquisitions so far, with the exception of Billy (who let’s face it had to come good eventually for us), have been tragic. His man management skills are clearly poor given the dressing room chatter. His team selection is amateurish to say the least, and is appearing increasingly to pander to the ‘demands’ on this forum. And, finally, his substitutions – just where do you begin?

We were totally wrong to get rid of Warnock and Wilson and Clough. Adkins is now driving us into the deck and unless there is some honesty from the man, some serious culling (Hammond, Woolford, Sammon etc etc etc and Brayford (for the money); and a modicum of consistency and success then I simply have no faith that he will do the job for us. How long does he really need to see what we really need?

I don’t personally think he is man enough for the job and would like to see him gone at the end of this season.

 

[Chali 2na]

Who would you replace Adkins with?

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Cut your cloth according to your purse so I would guess Chris Wilder if Adkins goes.

 

[SK10Blade]

His success at Scunthorpe was as a result of doing things his way, his poor showing so far at The Lane are (as you pointed out) down to the Board. I suggest that Adkins is not the problem.

 

[Chali 2na]

I would guess that firing and compensating Adkins and his staff and then hiring Wilder and his staff and compensating Northampton would eat up most of our summer budget. Is that more important than new players?

 

[I should coco]

What we now have is a manager living off his reputation at Scunthorpe (would you believe it) but who had been found wanting by both Southampton and Reading.

Found wanting at Southampton?

FFS he got them promoted TWICE in successive seasons including to the promised land of the Premier League. They were 15th when they sacked him just after drawing 2-2 at Cheslsea. I wouldn't mind that type of 'failure' at BDTBL right now.

ISC

 

[Highbury_Blade]

 

[Smirth]

His past achievements are great. However he's failed in his last job and is currently failing in this one. It suggests to me his career is going downhill fast.

If he goes then I'd want us to appoint either Justin Edinburgh or Chris Wilder.

 

[pommpey]

Found wanting at Southampton?

FFS he got them promoted TWICE in successive seasons including to the promised land of the Premier League. They were 15th when they sacked him just after drawing 2-2 at Cheslsea. I wouldn't mind that type of 'failure' at BDTBL right now.

ISC

Just speaking to a Saints supporter in my office. He says the board backed Adkins and he also was in the fortunate phase of having talent in their academy coming through.

He says the reason he was sacked is that they knew he wasn't the one to take them into the PL and they had been approaching Pochettino for some time. Suddenly Poch became available and Adkins was given his P45.

I'd take that for 'failure' TBH.

pommpey

 

[pommpey]

His past achievements are great. However he's failed in his last job and is currently failing in this one. It suggests to me his career is going downhill fast.

If he goes then I'd want us to appoint either Justin Edinburgh or Chris Wilder.

Edinburgh wouldn't leave Gillingham. He has crafted a team of pretty slick footballers after the club being in the doldrums for some years. And I reckon they have agood chance of going up.

Why would he come north to Bramall Lane to work for a Chairman who will sell his players and not give him funds to replace them?

pommpey

 

[Bartleby]

but who had been found wanting by both Southampton and Reading

it may be going shit at the moment but I cannot agree with that at all regarding Southampton. He got them from Div 3 to PL in straight seasons, then after a slow start in the Prem they started picking up points in November then he was sacked in January having only lost 2 in his last 12, they were 15th and had just drawn away at Chelsea. That is at least as good as Bassett did 1988-91.

 

[Smirth]

Edinburgh wouldn't leave Gillingham. He has crafted a team of pretty slick footballers after the club being in the doldrums for some years. And I reckon they have agood chance of going up.

Why would he come north to Bramall Lane to work for a Chairman who will sell his players and not give him funds to replace them?

pommpey

Perhaps, but he is the profile of manager we need to go for if we do make a change, which with the way things are going wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.

We need any future manager to be one who's had experience of the lower divisions but isn't tainted by past failure. There's not many of them about but Wilder and Edinburgh are two.

 

[TJB.]

Just speaking to a Saints supporter in my office. He says the board backed Adkins

This is the key and it's part of the huge frustration we now find. He couldn't be backed when he first came in because of the sheer size and lack of quality of our squad. All dem bang average tarts cost wage money, tha knows.

The problem was we were told promotion was the aim and that we were going to go for it. It doesn't look like we've gone for it at all. This can only be due to financial/squad size restrictions, which is fair enough if not extremely annoying. But to say we're going for it, and then not go for it...that's what hasn't sat well with so many.

Try to get into the play-offs if possible, but expect nowt. Limp through to summer and ship the dross out. BACK NIGE in the summer and we'll see what's what. If he doesn't receive the backing he so badly needs, it will be the straw that breaks the camel's back for many.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Found wanting at Southampton?

FFS he got them promoted TWICE in successive seasons including to the promised land of the Premier League. They were 15th when they sacked him just after drawing 2-2 at Cheslsea. I wouldn't mind that type of 'failure' at BDTBL right now.

ISC

Most people could have got Southampton promoted with the players he inherited. He was a disaster at Reading and - whilst hampered by our useless owners - he has been shocking here.

 

[Northyorksblade]

I was against sacking, we can't keep on sacking managers, BUT, with the squad we have, surely any manager could do better than he has, regardless of players attitudes, behind the scenes unrest and lack of movement in the transfer window.
Say we end up tenth, he has a clear out and by Christmas the team still aren't playing to potential, he would have to go and then you get a manager in, playing with Adkins team and very little chance of changing things until the following summer and possibly facing another season in league one. This is all very depressing.

 

[Sean Thornton]

But daft suggesting Adkins successes aren't up to much years later. They were the very thing many wanted after deriding Clough for having none. But that was then, not now. Put to one side the pathetic stewardship by the board and look at what Adkins has achieved on the pitch here and judge him on that. I'd say he's failed up to now, is still failing and doesn't seem to have much of a clue of how to change anything.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Chris Wilder would be crazy to leave Northampton for us now. Crazy.

 

[Bladesince59]

Chris Wilder would be crazy to leave Northampton for us now. Crazy.

Agreed - he will be doing the double over us next year. Joking ?

 

[BusheyBlade]

Found wanting at Southampton?

FFS he got them promoted TWICE in successive seasons including to the promised land of the Premier League. They were 15th when they sacked him just after drawing 2-2 at Cheslsea. I wouldn't mind that type of 'failure' at BDTBL right now.

ISC

It was quite a shock when he was sacked to be replaced by the unknown Pochettino. I don't think anyone would question that decision by the Southampton board a few years later would they? Totally agree that he was in no way a failure at Southampton and were doing just fine in the Premiership with him.

In terms of past achievements in this division there is no better manager out there than Adkins. If we were to sack him anyone who came in would be criticised for never having been promoted before from this division so it really is a no-win situation for all concerned.

 

[PeteBlade]

Given that McCabe is a shrewd businessman, it is really very difficult for me to see any rationale in getting rid of both Wilson and Clough (with the costs involved) other than that they both stood up to him and the board and told them that without massive investment we were stuck in League 1. He obviously didn’t like it much when Warnock had stood up to him previously.

What we now have is a manager living off his reputation at Scunthorpe (would you believe it) but who had been found wanting by both Southampton and Reading. Most on here thought we had discovered the ark when Adkins agreed to sign up: my view is that he was bloody relieved to get a job with anyone with a decent “name”.

His acquisitions so far, with the exception of Billy (who let’s face it had to come good eventually for us), have been tragic. His man management skills are clearly poor given the dressing room chatter. His team selection is amateurish to say the least, and is appearing increasingly to pander to the ‘demands’ on this forum. And, finally, his substitutions – just where do you begin?

We were totally wrong to get rid of Warnock and Wilson and Clough. Adkins is now driving us into the deck and unless there is some honesty from the man, some serious culling (Hammond, Woolford, Sammon etc etc etc and Brayford (for the money); and a modicum of consistency and success then I simply have no faith that he will do the job for us. How long does he really need to see what we really need?

I don’t personally think he is man enough for the job and would like to see him gone at the end of this season.

Yeeeeeaaahh, they really hate him down in Southampton.

The wanker only got them promoted from League One straight through to the Premier League and had them outside of the relegation places when he left.

Bet he daren't show his face down there after that failure.

 

[Sheffsteel]

So easy to comment after the event.

Warnock failed and at the time many wanted him sacked. Imagine if we'd have kept him and struggled. The board would have got slated.

Wilson was really negative in his 2nd season and no one gave us a change in the playoffs: Most were pleased when he got the sack. Imagine if we'd kept him and failed in the playoff the board would be slated.

And it goes on.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I remember in the Summer many Blades saying there's no way we'll show ambition to bring in Adkins because he's too good for us and would be too expensive. His cv suggests he's the best manager in league 1 but his actions this season suggest he's never been a manager.

 

[boo radley]

Here we go again.

 

[Bartleby]

Found wanting at Southampton?

FFS he got them promoted TWICE in successive seasons including to the promised land of the Premier League. They were 15th when they sacked him just after drawing 2-2 at Cheslsea. I wouldn't mind that type of 'failure' at BDTBL right now.

ISC

spot on - I didn't see this when I posted summat very similar just after you

 

[PeteBlade]

Most people could have got Southampton promoted with the players he inherited.

People really do come across as clueless when they say things like this.

 

[bladesadviser]

This summer clear out is fine if it happens. Hammond will come and its not beyond the realms of possibility that both Jay mac and Collins be given an extra year

 

[pommpey]

I was against sacking, we can't keep on sacking managers, BUT, with the squad we have, surely any manager could do better than he has, regardless of players attitudes, behind the scenes unrest and lack of movement in the transfer window.

How does that work then NYB? If you have a team of fairly decent players and a load of second stringers who amount to the division below, and then you lose the decent talent and are left to play the make-up squad week in and week out, where do you think the direction of motion will be?

Look at who we have:

Long: Not exactly showing any potential. Possibly at his level in Div 1
Brayford: A player who puts in a performance when the conditions are good. Currently able, but surrounded by berks
Collins: Consistently crap since Harry left
Edgar: Being found out even at a level below where he was previously playing
Wallace/Harris: Both of them will struggle at any level above
Flynn: Currrently struggling to hold down a place, which is consistent with his overall ability
JCR: Has ability, but is severely limited in what he can do with it
Basham: A real weak link
Reed: Far too lightweight for this level
Adams: Just waiting for an assumed call from a bigger club. The next one to leave, IMHO
Woolford: A gash signing
Sammon: Was once good for about six games four years ago but now playing above his ability
Sharp: Again, just about at his limit. ANything above and he's out of the game.

Does that spell 'promotion' to you?

Now stick Blackman, Maguire, Murphy, S Quinn and anyone else playing at a higher level in there and ask yourself the same question.

You can't polish turds.

pommpey

 

[Hodgyman]

Adkins now has his back to the wall. The best advice that I can offer is for him to understand what is happening (or not happening) on the pitch with players that he has brought in that are just not contributing. His downfall has been his signings (except Billy) and playing them no matter what through either favouritism or misplaced loyalty. Clough came a cropper for that last season.

Drop the dead wood and let's at least start with 11 players contributing. We still have large squad and it would be difficult to pick anyone from it that wouldn't contribute more than Hammond, Sammon or Woolford.

Whatever action is required now, it is urgent for him to avoid being another on the sacked conveyor belt.

 

[Northyorksblade]

How does that work then NYB? If you have a team of fairly decent players and a load of second stringers who amount to the division below, and then you lose the decent talent and are left to play the make-up squad week in and week out, where do you think the direction of motion will be?

Look at who we have:

Long: Not exactly showing any potential. Possibly at his level in Div 1
Brayford: A player who puts in a performance when the conditions are good. Currently able, but surrounded by berks
Collins: Consistently crap since Harry left
Edgar: Being found out even at a level below where he was previously playing
Wallace/Harris: Both of them will struggle at any level above
Flynn: Currrently struggling to hold down a place, which is consistent with his overall ability
JCR: Has ability, but is severely limited in what he can do with it
Basham: A real weak link
Reed: Far too lightweight for this level
Adams: Just waiting for an assumed call from a bigger club. The next one to leave, IMHO
Woolford: A gash signing
Sammon: Was once good for about six games four years ago but now playing above his ability
Sharp: Again, just about at his limit. ANything above and he's out of the game.

Does that spell 'promotion' to you?

Now stick Blackman, Maguire, Murphy, S Quinn and anyone else playing at a higher level in there and ask yourself the same question.

You can't polish turds.

pommpey

No, but you have mentioned eleven players out of a squad of thirty? Couldn't be arsed to check. Surely, surely, turds or not, he could find eleven players to compete in this god awful league. ANYONE, anyone could and has beaten us this season.

 

[grafikhaus]

How does that work then NYB? If you have a team of fairly decent players and a load of second stringers who amount to the division below, and then you lose the decent talent and are left to play the make-up squad week in and week out, where do you think the direction of motion will be?

Look at who we have:

etc. etc.

Damn right. Last night we ended up with five up top (it nearly worked against a Bury team who have been shipping goals, but we managed one shot all the second half, and that was blocked).

Once again, tactical incompetence allied to poor team selection. Yeah, push five up front and let the little problem of 'supply' take care of itself.

So our 'forwards' aren't much good, Adkins is incompetent or probably both.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

People really do come across as clueless when they say things like this.

It was a bit of an exaggeration on my part but there is no doubt he had an exceptionally good group of players at Southampton - and backing from the Board - which made the job easier.

What is also clear is that he failed at Reading and has had a terrible time here. Poor signings, abysmal tactics, seemingly no influence over the players and ludicrous pre and post match comments.