Updates From Adkins

[Baxter]

But get rid of Freeman, see the £ signs when someone comes in for Brayford and we could be back to McMahon, Westlake, Nosworthy etc.

Opinions will differ I'm sure but I'd argue McMahon was no better or worse than Freeman. He was part of Wilson's team that reached top by February, formed part of a generally solid defence and cost exactly the same in terms of a transfer fee, zero. The others I'll agree can be regarded as poor pieces of business.

All speculative anyway regarding Brayford. I'd like to think trimming the squad of your Freeman's, Higdon's, Scougall's etc would allow people like Brayford, Sharp and Adams to be retained and built around not sold at the next possible opportunity.

I am aware this is United we're talking about here though and such logical thinking can be very much pie in the sky!

 

[Lane Ender]

Ok, but I am basically saying - don't sell Freeman.

He's not shit, others are. Sell them.

Let's keep our better players so we can play well.

No Freeman really is shit same par as Daryl Westlake they can exchange notes a Kilmarnock

 

[Mickey Jupp]

The problem now is the same as it has been for years. We can't attract decent players and when we do develop good ones eg Lowton, Quinn, Maguire financial pressures mean we have to sell them. This is even more true now than it has ever been due to our league position. Not helped by the misleading "gamechanging" pronouncement from Kevin McCabe in 2011 for which the fans are due an enormous apology - time has shown as it was no such thing.

The only hope we have is that the current squad manage to get us up through the playoffs and then being a higher league will enable us to attract better players. Not holdng out too much hope though. What I dream of is that one day when a player turns round and says "I want a transfer" the answer will be "no you have a contract get out there and fulfil it." If we had been stronger and had a more forward thinking board then we could have held on to the aforementioned players and maybe even Murphy. Yes I know the arguments. Better cash in now because later on we'll get nothing and no-one wants a player on the bench or in the stands who doesn't want to play for you. I just think it would be refreshing for the board to say occasionally "we've had a transfer request from so and so but we've turned it down because he's in a long term contract and if he doesn't want to play he will be subject to disciplinary action."

Too much to ask?

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Opinions will differ I'm sure but I'd argue McMahon was no better or worse than Freeman. He was part of Wilson's team that reached top by February, formed part of a generally solid defence and cost exactly the same in terms of a transfer fee, zero. The others I'll agree can be regarded as poor pieces of business.

All speculative anyway regarding Brayford. I'd like to think trimming the squad of your Freeman's, Higdon's, Scougall's etc would allow people like Brayford, Sharp and Adams to be retained and built around not sold at the next possible opportunity.

I am aware this is United we're talking about here though and such logical thinking can be very much pie in the sky!

I'd say the thing Freeman has in his favour over McMahon is that he's younger so there's the hope he can become a better player. He's also one of our quicker players which given the lack of pace in the squad is useful.

But I hope you're right. I won't be going apeshit if Freeman goes. Just think it's a shame he will be sacrificed because there's others I'd rather see go, most of whom are out of contract in the summer.

 

[Jan Age]

I

Re spending the Brayford money elsewhere. We couldn’t have signed a player of the same quality in a different position if that’s what you mean? The only reason we could lure a player of Brayford’s quality was because of his relationship with Clough and then with the club following his loan spell. If we’d gone out and tried to sign an in form championship striker for example, they wouldn’t have been willing to come even if we had a bid accepted. So the only way the money could have been used elsewhere is to sign more players with he money spread around the team. The problem is, we have suffered from quantity over quality for too long. Increasing the numbers wouldn’t have helped in that regard. For me, if we have an opportunity to sign a player who is clearly better than what we have, we have to take it so I’m still in favour of the Brayford signing. It’s just a shame we ended up having to play him at CB due to lack of adequate quality there and an even bigger shame that he suffered a serious injury.


Re the pitch. The rules allow investment to increase turnover but only 65% (I think, or is it 60%?) can be used on football expenditure. Therefore, there is money there that we can’t spend on players so it makes sense to invest in the pitch to a degree.

wasn't aware of the second fact so that makes sense.

I am not slating the signing of Brayford as in many ways it restored my faith in modern day footballers. However I am convinced that 3 players at £500k would have both increased quality and given us options in more important areas. (Or even 2 at £750k)

 

[blade too long]

Ive been watching united for over 30 years and this team just dont have the belief or desire that warnock and bassetts teams had

Im not saying we wont go up but the previous two seasons capitulations dont exactly fill me with confidence

as I posted yesterday at this time of the season in 1989 we looked well short of the desire and capability
thing is to time it right
if we are to hit a purple patch april and may would suit me fine

 

[blade too long]

I am not looking for us to be outstanding, but on the balance of what I have seen this season we will win some, but ultimately fall short of the playoffs because simply we are not good enough.

again , no dounb several stes of fans have said that about teams that did eventually go up

 

[blade too long]

Can't beat stats that are completely made up on the spot.

not a stat a statement of reality
1 in 3 were not the hot favourites to win the play offs
think thats erring on the kind side

 

[blade too long]

I don’t think it’s preposterous. However, as blades, most of us stopped believing the football gods would allow any such thing to happen right about the time we stopped believing in santa. Doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Just hard to be optimistic based on experience.

so weve not turned up in previous play off finals

more likely then that one day we will
laws of probability

preston took 10 goes , but Im sure they didnt give up before it started , thats pathetic support

 

[Houston_Blade]

If I went to Starbucks and they got rid of their best coffee machines and brought in shit ones, I'd want to know why, and if there was a customer satisfaction-based strategy to ensure upward trajectory. If they'd sold them to service debt or to lay new floor tiles I'd be wanting to know why. If not, I'd go to Costa.

I'm assuming you'd want customer (or 'stakeholder') loyalty to remain with Sheffield United here, based upon prior mission statements issued by the 'company' to ensure 'stakeholder' alliance?

Same principle.

pommpey

Football is a bizarre industry and the customer loyalty is unparalleled. My point was we're not shareholders and legally the club has to share sweet FA with us. The rest is a moral/business choice.

 

[PeteBlade]

not a stat a statement of reality
1 in 3 were not the hot favourites to win the play offs
think thats erring on the kind side

Please post where your evidence is from.

 

[PeteBlade]

so weve not turned up in previous play off finals

more likely then that one day we will
laws of probability

preston took 10 goes , but Im sure they didnt give up before it started , thats pathetic support

We've not won a play off final. Ever. Since they were invented that's more than 20 years.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

I


wasn't aware of the second fact so that makes sense.

I am not slating the signing of Brayford as in many ways it restored my faith in modern day footballers. However I am convinced that 3 players at £500k would have both increased quality and given us options in more important areas. (Or even 2 at £750k)

possibly but it's about who we could attract and there's generally an element of risk about signing the players willing to play for League 1 clubs. Brayford was an exception to that rule.

 

[blade too long]

We've not won a play off final. Ever. Since they were invented that's more than 20 years.

wednesdays not managed to get near a championship play off final ,,,,,,ever
but some in here are championing their cause this year . which is strange to say the least
how come some of our fans think they can win it this year,,, but we have no chance , worrying trend

 

[judge]

wednesdays not managed to get near a championship play off final ,,,,,,ever
but some in here are championing their cause this year . which is strange to say the least
how come some of our fans think they can win it this year,,, but we have no chance , worrying trend

Maybe its because we cant string three wins together

 

[PeteBlade]

wednesdays not managed to get near a championship play off final ,,,,,,ever
but some in here are championing their cause this year . which is strange to say the least
how come some of our fans think they can win it this year,,, but we have no chance , worrying trend

They've won a play off final.
Which I'm sure is why you've specifically stated 'championship' final.
You make odd points.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Maybe its because we cant string three wins together

A bit pedantic here but we only need a max of 2 and neither of them have to be in 90 or even 120 mins.

 

[Blade56]

Maybe its because we cant string three wins together

String theory

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

If I went to Starbucks and they got rid of their best coffee machines and brought in shit ones, I'd want to know why, and if there was a customer satisfaction-based strategy to ensure upward trajectory. If they'd sold them to service debt or to lay new floor tiles I'd be wanting to know why. If not, I'd go to Costa.

I'm assuming you'd want customer (or 'stakeholder') loyalty to remain with Sheffield United here, based upon prior mission statements issued by the 'company' to ensure 'stakeholder' alliance?

Same principle.

pommpey

Good in principle but no matter how shit the product is we ain't going any where else for it, especially the neighbours.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Who did we sign in the summer that was poor?

Eh?

 

[judge]

A bit pedantic here but we only need a max of 2 and neither of them have to be in 90 or even 120 mins.

What ?

 

[Houston_Blade]

What ?

We don't have to string 3 wins together to win the playoffs.

 

[judge]

We don't have to string 3 wins together to win the playoffs.

Might do to get in em though

 

[Worksop II]

We don't have to string 3 wins together to win the playoffs.

If we get there

 

[Bladesway]

Eh?

Uh?

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Uh?

Sammon and Woolford

 

[Bladesway]

Sammon and Woolford

Sharp and Edgar.

 

[blade too long]

They've won a play off final.
Which I'm sure is why you've specifically stated 'championship' final.
You make odd points.

yes which validates my point
they were out played by hartlepool but won it by a dive getting a penalty and a sending off ,
but i DID WRITE WEDNESDAY HAVENT BEEN IN A CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY OFF

 

[PeteBlade]

yes which validates my point
they were out played by hartlepool but won it by a dive getting a penalty and a sending off ,
but i DID WRITE WEDNESDAY HAVENT BEEN IN A CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY OFF

You know enough to know they were outplayed by Hartlepool? What toss.

If you've won a play off final, you've won a play off final.

You get more and more bizarre.

 

[Tezza1889]

The playoffs eh, not our bag is it?

And on the day I see us win at Wembley, all other disappointments will be gone and become history, not painful memories... Hope...that's what u need...hope.