Tonights team

[sitwell]

Just my thoughts :
Long. Very good again tonight ,doing much better than expected but not strong or powerful enough for first team. 1 year contract.9
Brayford. John whats happened ,awful again ,played well with Coutts for a bit but otherwise going backwards with this loss of form. Get rid of the beard and rely on your play ,you are a good player get yourself out of this hole.3
McEveley. Poor one tonight but has been good for the last month and is good stand by material. 1 year contract. 3
Edgar. Not the worst tonight and with a pacy partner should be ok. 2 year contract.5
Basham. Didn't play well but the only one to show any passion ,could tell it hurt. stand by mid and cb 5
JCR. Looked our only threat but the doubled trebled up on him ,got no support and we stopped giving it to him. Our only player apart from Scougall and Coutts who can actually run with a ball which I count as entertaining. 1 year contract 5
Reed. Sorry Louis ,awful ,boy amongst bigger boys ,stature is going to be a problem and I personally don't see him making it. Release 2
Baxter. Joke ,con merchant ,Ive said it all before. Release.2
Hammond: Well hidden does a lot of work that no one sees apparently ,be nice to see it every now and again though. Shite Release 1
Adams ,stop the diving ,thinking your a big time Charlie ,start to think football and not let your concentration go ,must improve. 3
DCL : Sorry again but if your old enough to play your old enough to take it. Havent seen anything at all to think he will make it at this level in every game ive seen him in. Joe Ironside mk 2 . release 1

subs
Sharp ,lacklustre ,thrust into a bad situation and no service ,should have been playing if not for bad management. 4
Flynn ,same as Sharp really ,didn't really have an opportunity. 1 year contract 2
Done : same again but suffering from a dreadful lack of form ,again not helped by poor management. 2

Adkins
I hope this is your worst night as a manager ,because it was fucking bad. I hate changing managers and would not have sacked Wilson or Clough and before tonight would have given you next season at least ,however tonight was so bad ,it doesn't seem the players have respect ,tactically it is awful and boring to watch ,signings are poor as are substitutions. I don't see any positive foundations being laid for hopefully the inevitable cull. I would say Im with you 51/49 at the moment but would happily install another more passionate hungry attacking manager with the almost clean slate we will have. Big 2 months for everyone concerned.

 

[Grappler]

Just my thoughts :
Long. Very good again tonight ,doing much better than expected but not strong or powerful enough for first team. 1 year contract.9
Brayford. John whats happened ,awful again ,played well with Coutts for a bit but otherwise going backwards with this loss of form. Get rid of the beard and rely on your play ,you are a good player get yourself out of this hole.3
McEveley. Poor one tonight but has been good for the last month and is good stand by material. 1 year contract. 3
Edgar. Not the worst tonight and with a pacy partner should be ok. 2 year contract.5
Basham. Didn't play well but the only one to show any passion ,could tell it hurt. stand by mid and cb 5
JCR. Looked our only threat but the doubled trebled up on him ,got no support and we stopped giving it to him. Our only player apart from Scougall and Coutts who can actually run with a ball which I count as entertaining. 1 year contract 5
Reed. Sorry Louis ,awful ,boy amongst bigger boys ,stature is going to be a problem and I personally don't see him making it. Release 2
Baxter. Joke ,con merchant ,Ive said it all before. Release.2
Hammond: Well hidden does a lot of work that no one sees apparently ,be nice to see it every now and again though. Shite Release 1
Adams ,stop the diving ,thinking your a big time Charlie ,start to think football and not let your concentration go ,must improve. 3
DCL : Sorry again but if your old enough to play your old enough to take it. Havent seen anything at all to think he will make it at this level in every game ive seen him in. Joe Ironside mk 2 . release 1

subs
Sharp ,lacklustre ,thrust into a bad situation and no service ,should have been playing if not for bad management. 4
Flynn ,same as Sharp really ,didn't really have an opportunity. 1 year contract 2
Done : same again but suffering from a dreadful lack of form ,again not helped by poor management. 2

Adkins
I hope this is your worst night as a manager ,because it was fucking bad. I hate changing managers and would not have sacked Wilson or Clough and before tonight would have given you next season at least ,however tonight was so bad ,it doesn't seem the players have respect ,tactically it is awful and boring to watch ,signings are poor as are substitutions. I don't see any positive foundations being laid for hopefully the inevitable cull. I would say Im with you 51/49 at the moment but would happily install another more passionate hungry attacking manager with the almost clean slate we will have. Big 2 months for everyone concerned.

But apart from all that Sitters, was it ok?

 

[Woodwardfan]

Thanks for the comments Sitters, balanced views, I expected worse.

By nature young lads are inconsistent and it is hard on Adams, Lewin and Reed to all be thrust in together. The manager is asking a lot by doing it twice within 3 days together with Baxter in that new No.10 role too.It all involved resting the top scorer too, presumably because the system needs pace up top.

Adkins has made poor signings and is now on system 4, each other system having failed. Desperation is evident and the manager is under pressure to keep his job. He's lost the fans big time and probably the players. Of those half dozen or so who anybody would want to keep, maybe all of them will leave in the summer, all for different reasons but we'll need some cash.

We are due a total squad turn over and then all the new players have to gel. Maybe half the first team will be under 21/22 years old.

We are staring into the abyss, back to the brief Weir had almost. It will take years to come together IMO, but just maybe we'll come out stronger. Can Adkins sort it? Not from this season's performance, but he inherited a strangely unbalanced squad with long term injuries and no pace or height or consistent skills, then no Murphy.

My dread is bringing back Warnock or Morgan. Wilder would be my choice. He has learned a great deal about what is needed in lower leagues and is enough of a Blade to want to take it on.

I know Adkins hasn't been here a year yet and if we retain him he will need at least 2 years for a total rebuild. That bothers me I must say, but I will understand the reasoning if the Board are looking for continuity. Adkins has a good CV but he has managed like a rookie this season, in particular playing 4-4-2 for so long with poor players assembled for 4-5-1.

 

[bornablade]

Now's the time for all those at the club to take in a heavy dose of realism.
Forget promotion. Forget finishing as high in the table as possible. Let's just muster together as many points as possible to avoid relegation and start planning for next season.

Alongside this let's start delivering some honesty both on and off the pitch. The board need to issue a statement that Nigel Adkins position is not under threat.

Similarly if Adkins wants this support then he needs to start making some character defining decision making. He needs to look at every single member of HIS squad and decide who will be part of his plans next August. If they do not figure then they should not be chosen for the rest of the season. As long as the overall aim of avoiding relegation is achieved and if it means playing 11 youngsters then so be it.

There's been little evidence from Mr Adkins to indicate he is a strong character. I question whether in his managerial career he has ever faced such a challenge as the one he now faces. A true test of his character will be seen on Saturday if Sammon and Hammond are chosen in the match day squad. This is not looking for scapegoats but it's quite obvious these two on the basis of their performances this season should not be considered for next season. I'm not sure if Mr Adkins possesses the necessary equipment to carry this out. We'll wait and see.

I was disappointed with the boards lack of spine when they dismissed both Wilson and Clough. Those dismissals did not materialise from fans frustrations they arrived because there are few true 'leaders' in our boadroom. Phipps, Mcabe et al should start to put together an honest strategic plan of how we will approach next season. Who's staying. Who's going. How much money will be made available to the manager and what positions are the priorities. If this upsets the current crop then tough. Let them consider how upset those hardy Blades fans were on a cold Tuesday night at Gigg Lane.

We are told we should all be UNITED and yet as fans we have been denied honesty and transparency from the club.

Let's use last night as a start of putting this right.

 

[Bladepicker]

Didn't go tonight Sitters so can't comment on performance. But your summary of the players abilities is 100 per cent on the money and agree with 51/49 on Adkins. Though that 51 is down to us chopping and changing too much and not anything he has done to make me think he can turn it round. Sacking Clough just another in a list of shambolic decisions made by the club I love. Gutted.

 

[Treeton Blade]

Just my thoughts :
Long. Very good again tonight ,doing much better than expected but not strong or powerful enough for first team. 1 year contract.9
Brayford. John whats happened ,awful again ,played well with Coutts for a bit but otherwise going backwards with this loss of form. Get rid of the beard and rely on your play ,you are a good player get yourself out of this hole.3
McEveley. Poor one tonight but has been good for the last month and is good stand by material. 1 year contract. 3
Edgar. Not the worst tonight and with a pacy partner should be ok. 2 year contract.5
Basham. Didn't play well but the only one to show any passion ,could tell it hurt. stand by mid and cb 5
JCR. Looked our only threat but the doubled trebled up on him ,got no support and we stopped giving it to him. Our only player apart from Scougall and Coutts who can actually run with a ball which I count as entertaining. 1 year contract 5
Reed. Sorry Louis ,awful ,boy amongst bigger boys ,stature is going to be a problem and I personally don't see him making it. Release 2
Baxter. Joke ,con merchant ,Ive said it all before. Release.2
Hammond: Well hidden does a lot of work that no one sees apparently ,be nice to see it every now and again though. Shite Release 1
Adams ,stop the diving ,thinking your a big time Charlie ,start to think football and not let your concentration go ,must improve. 3
DCL : Sorry again but if your old enough to play your old enough to take it. Havent seen anything at all to think he will make it at this level in every game ive seen him in. Joe Ironside mk 2 . release 1

subs
Sharp ,lacklustre ,thrust into a bad situation and no service ,should have been playing if not for bad management. 4
Flynn ,same as Sharp really ,didn't really have an opportunity. 1 year contract 2
Done : same again but suffering from a dreadful lack of form ,again not helped by poor management. 2

Adkins
I hope this is your worst night as a manager ,because it was fucking bad. I hate changing managers and would not have sacked Wilson or Clough and before tonight would have given you next season at least ,however tonight was so bad ,it doesn't seem the players have respect ,tactically it is awful and boring to watch ,signings are poor as are substitutions. I don't see any positive foundations being laid for hopefully the inevitable cull. I would say Im with you 51/49 at the moment but would happily install another more passionate hungry attacking manager with the almost clean slate we will have. Big 2 months for everyone concerned.

Spot on Sitters, bang on the money.

Its hard to see where Adkins goes from here, my only hope is we can add a couple of players soon, to give us a fresh spark for the final push.
Wouldn`t rule us out of the play offs, but we are going backwards, and look miles away from what`s required.

 

[Revolution]

Just my thoughts :
Long. Very good again tonight ,doing much better than expected but not strong or powerful enough for first team. 1 year contract.9
Brayford. John whats happened ,awful again ,played well with Coutts for a bit but otherwise going backwards with this loss of form. Get rid of the beard and rely on your play ,you are a good player get yourself out of this hole.3
McEveley. Poor one tonight but has been good for the last month and is good stand by material. 1 year contract. 3
Edgar. Not the worst tonight and with a pacy partner should be ok. 2 year contract.5
Basham. Didn't play well but the only one to show any passion ,could tell it hurt. stand by mid and cb 5
JCR. Looked our only threat but the doubled trebled up on him ,got no support and we stopped giving it to him. Our only player apart from Scougall and Coutts who can actually run with a ball which I count as entertaining. 1 year contract 5
Reed. Sorry Louis ,awful ,boy amongst bigger boys ,stature is going to be a problem and I personally don't see him making it. Release 2
Baxter. Joke ,con merchant ,Ive said it all before. Release.2
Hammond: Well hidden does a lot of work that no one sees apparently ,be nice to see it every now and again though. Shite Release 1
Adams ,stop the diving ,thinking your a big time Charlie ,start to think football and not let your concentration go ,must improve. 3
DCL : Sorry again but if your old enough to play your old enough to take it. Havent seen anything at all to think he will make it at this level in every game ive seen him in. Joe Ironside mk 2 . release 1

subs
Sharp ,lacklustre ,thrust into a bad situation and no service ,should have been playing if not for bad management. 4
Flynn ,same as Sharp really ,didn't really have an opportunity. 1 year contract 2
Done : same again but suffering from a dreadful lack of form ,again not helped by poor management. 2

Adkins
I hope this is your worst night as a manager ,because it was fucking bad. I hate changing managers and would not have sacked Wilson or Clough and before tonight would have given you next season at least ,however tonight was so bad ,it doesn't seem the players have respect ,tactically it is awful and boring to watch ,signings are poor as are substitutions. I don't see any positive foundations being laid for hopefully the inevitable cull. I would say Im with you 51/49 at the moment but would happily install another more passionate hungry attacking manager with the almost clean slate we will have. Big 2 months for everyone concerned.

Just curious : He's not our biggest problem, but what has. Ryan Flynn done in the last 2 seasons that makes you think we should give him a new deal?

 

[Mancblade1889]

Just my thoughts :
Long. Very good again tonight ,doing much better than expected but not strong or powerful enough for first team. 1 year contract.9
Brayford. John whats happened ,awful again ,played well with Coutts for a bit but otherwise going backwards with this loss of form. Get rid of the beard and rely on your play ,you are a good player get yourself out of this hole.3
McEveley. Poor one tonight but has been good for the last month and is good stand by material. 1 year contract. 3
Edgar. Not the worst tonight and with a pacy partner should be ok. 2 year contract.5
Basham. Didn't play well but the only one to show any passion ,could tell it hurt. stand by mid and cb 5
JCR. Looked our only threat but the doubled trebled up on him ,got no support and we stopped giving it to him. Our only player apart from Scougall and Coutts who can actually run with a ball which I count as entertaining. 1 year contract 5
Reed. Sorry Louis ,awful ,boy amongst bigger boys ,stature is going to be a problem and I personally don't see him making it. Release 2
Baxter. Joke ,con merchant ,Ive said it all before. Release.2
Hammond: Well hidden does a lot of work that no one sees apparently ,be nice to see it every now and again though. Shite Release 1
Adams ,stop the diving ,thinking your a big time Charlie ,start to think football and not let your concentration go ,must improve. 3
DCL : Sorry again but if your old enough to play your old enough to take it. Havent seen anything at all to think he will make it at this level in every game ive seen him in. Joe Ironside mk 2 . release 1

subs
Sharp ,lacklustre ,thrust into a bad situation and no service ,should have been playing if not for bad management. 4
Flynn ,same as Sharp really ,didn't really have an opportunity. 1 year contract 2
Done : same again but suffering from a dreadful lack of form ,again not helped by poor management. 2

Adkins
I hope this is your worst night as a manager ,because it was fucking bad. I hate changing managers and would not have sacked Wilson or Clough and before tonight would have given you next season at least ,however tonight was so bad ,it doesn't seem the players have respect ,tactically it is awful and boring to watch ,signings are poor as are substitutions. I don't see any positive foundations being laid for hopefully the inevitable cull. I would say Im with you 51/49 at the moment but would happily install another more passionate hungry attacking manager with the almost clean slate we will have. Big 2 months for everyone concerned.

They should all be ashamed of themselves utterly fucking clueless and not one of them as any passion for the club unlike the fans who turn up in cold shitty weather to watch what can only be described as a fucking spineless and disgraceful performance. If had travelled from Sheffield I'd be asking for my money back

 

[Sirius]

Spot on Sitters, bang on the money.

Its hard to see where Adkins goes from here, my only hope is we can add a couple of players soon, to give us a fresh spark for the final push.
Wouldn`t rule us out of the play offs, but we are going backwards, and look miles away from what`s required.

We could have had a young,quality center half on loan from Southampton. We
Pissed about and bloody Coventry have
got him Dozy twats United.

 

[super_pig]

Just curious : He's not our biggest problem, but what has. Ryan Flynn done in the last 2 seasons that makes you think we should give him a new deal?

was about to post the same actually.. what's he done since he 'arrived'? i'll have a go at a Flynn review
runs about a lot. falls down a lot and often loses possession.. doesn't seem to know where he's playing most of the time and doesn't quite have the pace to beat a player.. would struggle in a kickabout with a bunch of 12 year olds.. release.

 

[Lane Ender]

Just curious : He's not our biggest problem, but what has. Ryan Flynn done in the last 2 seasons that makes you think we should give him a new deal?

I agree with most of what Sitwell says apart from Flynn.
One of the first out of the door really poor footballer.
A wide player with no pace! come on

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

The fact 30 something 15 lower division clubs JCR is our top threat says it all really.

We could be looking at 10 plus Billy Sharp next season although if Adkins survives, the team will be built around him and Hammond.

 

[blader]

So, we aren't all going to question giving JCR and McEveley new contracts???? That's exactly the type of s*** we've been doing which has got us here in the first place. RELEASE!!

 

[BarnsleyBlade88]

I'm as angry this morning as I was last night. The fan in me wants Adkins to come out and say what he really thinks 'cos he cannot honestly believe any of what he is saying...I understand why he can't though.


Last night was the worst I've seen - they deserved the reaction they got at the end - as did George Long deserve the one he got before the backlash started as he kept it at 1 and was the only one that came out of that with any credit...


Reed and DCL just looked lost.

Adams - not sure I believe the hype, terrible first touch.

Hammond - turns his back on any kind of a tackle, when he does tackle it's a foul and a yellow card.

JCR - infuriating, why can't he produce a final ball of any note??

Baxter - predictable but probably our best (loosest sense of the word) outfield player tonight.

McEv - how is Bob Harris not better than him?

Bash - never been a central defender and miss him in the midfield for me.

Brayford - like a different player to what he was. At one point last night he was stood 2 yard over line shouting for the ball......

Sharp/Done/Flynn changed nothing when they came on.


The lot of them looked lazy, disinterested, neshed tackle after tackle and were blowing after about 15 minutes.


Bury must be laughing their heads off at us (how much does that hurt) – they’ve shipped 9 goals in 2 games and we didn’t test their keeper ONCE.


Adkins - I want to defend him but it's hard to understand some of his decisions at times.... We seem to be letting better players leave us and sticking with dross. I’d respect him more if he’d come out last night and blasted them, but he won’t....


They deserved every bit of what they got at full time last night and more. Big performance needed for Saturday – although probably too little too late and I don’t believe they have it in them

 

[super_pig]

jcr would be a decent player if he didn't try and beat the same player ten times like a kid in a school playground..
mind you if he ever sorted that part of his play out he wouldn't be here

 

[sitwell]

Just curious : He's not our biggest problem, but what has. Ryan Flynn done in the last 2 seasons that makes you think we should give him a new deal?

I don't think he gets a fair run ,although injuries have been a problem. He is one of the few players as Ive said before who can actually run with the ball at his feet ,we only have 2 or 3 ,and he is a good player in front of a full back. When he plays the full back always plays well because Flynn is an intelligent hard worker who will protect him. I would play him in front of Brayford and give him a 1 year deal to try this and hope there are no more injuries.

 

[sitwell]

jcr would be a decent player if he didn't try and beat the same player ten times like a kid in a school playground..
mind you if he ever sorted that part of his play out he wouldn't be here

To be fair to him last night he beat the same man 3 times ,looked at mcEveley who wa backing him up , then looked in the middle ,DCL ,Adams Reed and Baxter were hopelessly positioned and a cross would just have been a free ball for their back 4 or keeper so he gave it McEveley. Good to watch but no end product and frustrating for everyone concerned including him. Now is that bad management or bad players ? A bit of both if you ask me ,Sammon as bad as he is or a half fit Sharp would surely have been a better choice than the hapless DCL who couldn't get a full game at Northampton

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

Glad your not the manager Sitwell, you've got to he mad giving out so many contracts to our disgrace of a first team and releasing our young players...

 

[Lane Ender]

So, we aren't all going to question giving JCR and McEveley new contracts???? That's exactly the type of s*** we've been doing which has got us here in the first place. RELEASE!!

You are right pointless persevering with them
Times up.

 

[I should coco]

Sitters, thanks for the great summary.

I don't think he gets a fair run ,although injuries have been a problem. He is one of the few players as Ive said before who can actually run with the ball at his feet ,we only have 2 or 3 ,and he is a good player in front of a full back. When he plays the full back always plays well because Flynn is an intelligent hard worker who will protect him. I would play him in front of Brayford and give him a 1 year deal to try this and hope there are no more injuries.

I've always thought Flynn a 'proper footballer' with intelligence, timing and a nice touch. Sadly he is not strong enough (especially at this level) and nowhere near fast enough. I can understand why he was picked up by Liverpool and also why his released.

You've given him the benefit of the doubt with the injuries but I think there is a bit of a sick note mentality there. One different injury after another.
He's more than halfway through his 5th season with us so potentially could have played about in 260 games but has just managed 137. Not good enough I'm afraid. We really don't need to keep 'squad players'.

ISC

 

[shrubbery]

I just find it hard to fathom any real positivity around JCR. The beating the same man several times and getting into good crossing positions is absolutely pointless if he NEVER produces a cross that anybody in the box can actually work with.

I just don't get how a professional footballer with the amount of experience and training that he has had can find it so hard to produce a workable cross. Surely the hardest part is having the technical ability and speed to get around players and into a promising position in the first place? I'm not taking the piss but I can cross better than him and I'm shite.

 

[sitwell]

Sometimes his crossing looks bad because the forwards have either gone together or are just lacking the ability to get into good positions. I remember Bradford away where he was outstanding , they could live with him and he crossed at least 5 balls into the front post and no one anticipated it (even McNultio) and everyone went mad at him ,even though they were good balls ,so next time he sent a good one deep and it went over everyone and out for a throw ,he simply couldn't win. I like him ,he entertains me and you look at every opposition board ,includining last night , they all rate him and last night couldn't believe he was taken off as they were shitting themselves with him.

 

[LSF]

Just my thoughts :
Long. Very good again tonight ,doing much better than expected but not strong or powerful enough for first team. 1 year contract.9
Brayford. John whats happened ,awful again ,played well with Coutts for a bit but otherwise going backwards with this loss of form. Get rid of the beard and rely on your play ,you are a good player get yourself out of this hole.3
McEveley. Poor one tonight but has been good for the last month and is good stand by material. 1 year contract. 3
Edgar. Not the worst tonight and with a pacy partner should be ok. 2 year contract.5
Basham. Didn't play well but the only one to show any passion ,could tell it hurt. stand by mid and cb 5
JCR. Looked our only threat but the doubled trebled up on him ,got no support and we stopped giving it to him. Our only player apart from Scougall and Coutts who can actually run with a ball which I count as entertaining. 1 year contract 5
Reed. Sorry Louis ,awful ,boy amongst bigger boys ,stature is going to be a problem and I personally don't see him making it. Release 2
Baxter. Joke ,con merchant ,Ive said it all before. Release.2
Hammond: Well hidden does a lot of work that no one sees apparently ,be nice to see it every now and again though. Shite Release 1
Adams ,stop the diving ,thinking your a big time Charlie ,start to think football and not let your concentration go ,must improve. 3
DCL : Sorry again but if your old enough to play your old enough to take it. Havent seen anything at all to think he will make it at this level in every game ive seen him in. Joe Ironside mk 2 . release 1

subs
Sharp ,lacklustre ,thrust into a bad situation and no service ,should have been playing if not for bad management. 4
Flynn ,same as Sharp really ,didn't really have an opportunity. 1 year contract 2
Done : same again but suffering from a dreadful lack of form ,again not helped by poor management. 2

Adkins
I hope this is your worst night as a manager ,because it was fucking bad. I hate changing managers and would not have sacked Wilson or Clough and before tonight would have given you next season at least ,however tonight was so bad ,it doesn't seem the players have respect ,tactically it is awful and boring to watch ,signings are poor as are substitutions. I don't see any positive foundations being laid for hopefully the inevitable cull. I would say Im with you 51/49 at the moment but would happily install another more passionate hungry attacking manager with the almost clean slate we will have. Big 2 months for everyone concerned.

Thanks Sitters, if a bloke of your honesty and mettle sees it like that, then things are indeed dire.
My interest in all things SUFC is at a serious all time low and using my season ticket has become a chore, nay, a punishment for all the bad things I've done in my life....
Why am I so low? No, its not the current crop of players who are fast becoming rivals to the Dougie Browns, John Floods, Craig Renwicks, Tony Moores of the SUFC all time crap, we can replace them with better, given the wherewithal from above.
No, its not the manager, who, for all his impressive track record, has distinctly not impressed so far. Yes, he's been dealt a bum hand from above, but his performance with the bum hand has been, well.... bum, so far....
My current mood is brought on by those who can really make the difference at a football club, the owners. My patience with McCabe has finally ran out, I cant comment on the Prince or Phipps, or whoever holds the other half, as they are new boys on the block and probably don't understand what the fuck is going on half the time. But Kevin McCabe has engineered the plight we endure today, and I can't see just where this is going to end, but I'm sure of one thing, while ever this bloke holds the key to our well being, we are one terminally sick club....
Can't wait for Port Vale on Saturday.......yippee!

 

[Bergen Blade]

Sometimes his crossing looks bad because the forwards have either gone together or are just lacking the ability to get into good positions. I remember Bradford away where he was outstanding , they could live with him and he crossed at least 5 balls into the front post and no one anticipated it (even McNultio) and everyone went mad at him ,even though they were good balls ,so next time he sent a good one deep and it went over everyone and out for a throw ,he simply couldn't win. I like him ,he entertains me and you look at every opposition board ,includining last night , they all rate him and last night couldn't believe he was taken off as they were shitting themselves with him.

Quite often the tempo of our attacks is so slow that by the time we actually get the ball out wide to him, the opposition have all their defenders back, waiting, ready to deal with the cross, if it comes in. I think also JCR at times slows things down himself before he takes his man on. Maybe he sees his job as to be available out wide, beat his man and knock it in, then hopefully there will be a teammate on the end of it. But I think he'd be more effective if he was more often part of a wave; quicker attacks where he could run onto the ball, attack his full back and cross before the opposition defence got back and before the movement into the box had stopped.

We seem unable to compose a hard working and aggressive midfield that will make us win the ball in good areas and attack quickly like this, with pace.

 

[sitwell]

Quite often the tempo of our attacks is so slow that by the time we actually get the ball out wide to him, the opposition have all their defenders back, waiting, ready to deal with the cross, if it comes in. I think also JCR at times slows things down himself before he takes his man on. Maybe he sees his job as to be available out wide, beat his man and knock it in, then hopefully there will be a teammate on the end of it. But I think he'd be more effective if he was more often part of a wave; quicker attacks where he could run onto the ball, attack his full back and cross before the opposition defence got back and before the movement into the box had stopped.

We seem unable to compose a hard working and aggressive midfield that will make us win the ball in good areas and attack quickly like this, with pace.

Agree with that Bergs ,maybe JCR has to do that due to lack of bodies in the box ,first half last night DCL ,Reed ,Baxter and Adams really didn't have the brains or heart to get in the box for him. The 6 passes across the back and midfield infuriates me ,especially when we are not in the lead ,its boring dangerous and totally none productive. If Adkins persists with those tactic in this league he is a goner. We have wingers , strikers and midfield players to play at a higher pace and be more direct without becoming a long ball team ,the manager really has to look at himself unless as I suspect he doesn't trust his players.Its going to be a massive summer.

 

[sheffielder]

Flynn had a good partnership with Brayford last season down the right and we have coutts. Right hand side is not an issue for me.

Need a central midfielder with legs who can pick a pass, hopefully has a bit of pace

Need a striker with a bit of pace and power. A James Vaughan, earnshaw type player.

Need a left winger with a left peg who has pace and an end product

Need two cbs power and pace.

We have got a lot of players who are very similar but not enough of the players that we need. Just a badly built squad by both clough and Adkins. Maybe they both had their hands tied to a degree but their signings must be questioned when you're always bringing in similar to what you already have got.

There is blame and shame for everyone

 

[Revolution]

I don't think he gets a fair run ,although injuries have been a problem. He is one of the few players as Ive said before who can actually run with the ball at his feet ,we only have 2 or 3 ,and he is a good player in front of a full back. When he plays the full back always plays well because Flynn is an intelligent hard worker who will protect him. I would play him in front of Brayford and give him a 1 year deal to try this and hope there are no more injuries.

He's always out with injuries and when he plays...

He's supposed to be a wide midfielder and he hasn't scored in 18 months (40 games). When did he last lay on a goal?

His last good games in front of Brayford were 2 years ago.

He's exactly the sort of oft-injured mediocrity we should be saying goodbye to.

 

[Deadbat]

Just my thoughts :
Long. Very good again tonight ,doing much better than expected but not strong or powerful enough for first team. 1 year contract.9
Brayford. John whats happened ,awful again ,played well with Coutts for a bit but otherwise going backwards with this loss of form. Get rid of the beard and rely on your play ,you are a good player get yourself out of this hole.3
McEveley. Poor one tonight but has been good for the last month and is good stand by material. 1 year contract. 3
Edgar. Not the worst tonight and with a pacy partner should be ok. 2 year contract.5
Basham. Didn't play well but the only one to show any passion ,could tell it hurt. stand by mid and cb 5
JCR. Looked our only threat but the doubled trebled up on him ,got no support and we stopped giving it to him. Our only player apart from Scougall and Coutts who can actually run with a ball which I count as entertaining. 1 year contract 5
Reed. Sorry Louis ,awful ,boy amongst bigger boys ,stature is going to be a problem and I personally don't see him making it. Release 2
Baxter. Joke ,con merchant ,Ive said it all before. Release.2
Hammond: Well hidden does a lot of work that no one sees apparently ,be nice to see it every now and again though. Shite Release 1
Adams ,stop the diving ,thinking your a big time Charlie ,start to think football and not let your concentration go ,must improve. 3
DCL : Sorry again but if your old enough to play your old enough to take it. Havent seen anything at all to think he will make it at this level in every game ive seen him in. Joe Ironside mk 2 . release 1

subs
Sharp ,lacklustre ,thrust into a bad situation and no service ,should have been playing if not for bad management. 4
Flynn ,same as Sharp really ,didn't really have an opportunity. 1 year contract 2
Done : same again but suffering from a dreadful lack of form ,again not helped by poor management. 2

Adkins
I hope this is your worst night as a manager ,because it was fucking bad. I hate changing managers and would not have sacked Wilson or Clough and before tonight would have given you next season at least ,however tonight was so bad ,it doesn't seem the players have respect ,tactically it is awful and boring to watch ,signings are poor as are substitutions. I don't see any positive foundations being laid for hopefully the inevitable cull. I would say Im with you 51/49 at the moment but would happily install another more passionate hungry attacking manager with the almost clean slate we will have. Big 2 months for everyone concerned.

Some excellent thoughts and good discussion on this. Enjoyed reading that Sitwell as depressing as it was.


I agree with much of your thoughts on players generally but most would not even entertain bringing back many of them.

Also with others, for me Flynn, Campbell Ryce have to go. I think both have been given a bum time and should have started more. The former is too injury prone and whilst steady as with others when did he last score or make an assist. He has been here a long time and has got worse over last 2 years since being good in the early Clough days etc.

Campbell Ryce gets a lot of totally unjustified criticism and is still one of our bright spots when he plays/comes on. His crossing is mixed but often as others have said there is very poor options as we never get men in the box so have some sympathy. He is one of few who can beat a man an worry teams. Still he is inconsistent and not sure you would see him as close to a regular in a promotion winning side - he was released by other League One clubs..

I would not even give Edgar a 1 year deal. He is not dominant or powerful and is not that quick. So if you have a quick one alongside him we would still lose a lot of aerial goals go in. So you still need a big un who is properly dominant. Not sure he is good enough really. We are stiill shipping goals. In recent times he has been no better than Collins and he has to go. Need 2 new centre backs

McEveley has played well recently but stiill would move him on. Made too many mistakes and he is the wrong age for me. If he has a 1 year contract it could be for cover for centre back and full back not as a starter.

Long - think he has done enough to get 1 more year - wont be on big wages anyway

Basham - Struggle to see what he offers. Honest pro but terrible technically, slow, quite weak for a big bloke and incredibly immobile. His passing is poor too. If he was out of contract he would go for me but he will stay for last year of his contract but should only be cover.

Jury is still out on DCL of course and is young and has shown some flashes at Northampton and has only just made his debut - but deserves a bit more time (he will get it has another 2 years).

Reed for me has been here for a while and done nothing to improve - he is one I would move on but he too has another year or so doesn't he - so wont be leaving

Neither should be anywhere close to first team regulars..

 

[sitwell]

Sorry DB not after your job or owt ,but guessed you weren't there and was in the mood for it
Heres your pen back

 

[Deadbat]

Sorry DB not after your job or owt ,but guessed you weren't there and was in the mood for it
Heres your pen back

No worries, glad to hear any thoughts on away games as I wont be able to report anything from games away from home. Keep em coming. I struggle to bother even penning home reports sadly but know some still dont mind em and quite a few exiled Blades I e mail them directly to and moan when I dont do them!

Sadly i have been to one away game; Man Utd (gloryhunter!). I aint going to any others this season.

A few mates discussed Rochdale and Millwall but I will be honest I cannot be arsed to waste any more money on this shower of shite. I'll go at home and have a beer and banter with mates but sad as I used to love doing 5 or 6 away games at least a season but be better just going on the piss in town instead if I want a good time. Sad reality.