You've got me tonight chaps... Foxy is doing the Twitter updates on:
http://www.twitter.com/s24su
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They're expecting around 230 Blades here tonight as all the tickets have gone. Lots of familiar faces and a lovely pie, peas, gravy and Hendos!
In other news... I've spilt some gravy
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Andy Pack is doing the hosting tonight so for ease:
AP = Andy Pack
MA = Micky Adams
AC = Alan Cork
Q = Question from the audience
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And we're under way with a welcome from AP...
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MA has pointed out to AP that at least this is the first Meet the Manager of 2011!
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AP has indirectly introduced Foxy and I as taking questions from people listening in. Remember for BladesPlayer subscribers, this is being streamed live.
A warm welcome for MA.
AP = A great result at Coventry, how has that made this week go as far as training is concerned?
MA = In the grand scheme of things, a 0-0 draw away from home isn't a great result but training has been great this week.
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MA = I'm a bit nervous about talking to an audience. You split them into thirds... one third will be listening, one third will be ignoring me and at least a third are having sexual fantasies about me!
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AC = It's great to be back. Sheffield never changes. I'll be careful because I can't swear tonight.
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AP = Micky, Sheffield lad. You know that resonates with fans. Give us an insight into being a Sheffield boy.
MA: I'm a Tinsley lad. Born in Northern General... went to Park House Junior, same school as Gordon Banks. I do have family that are from the dark side of town but I was a Blade and my Dad was a Blade. I had the chance to sign school boy forms for Wednesday when I was 11 but my brother burst out laughing and told them in no uncertain terms that we were Unitedites. I'll still be a Blade when I get sacked. It's great to be here.
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MA: I was a junior player with the Throstles and they were associated with United at that stage so if you played for Throstles, United became aware of you. I signed forms with United at the age of 12 and I played for the junior side up at the Ball Inn. I remember training at the back of the Kop in school holidays. A lot of my early years were spent as a junior around the club wanting to catch a glimpse of my heroes - TC, Len Badger.
I obviously didn't show too much promise as I got released and went down to Gillingham.
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MA: Being around in the early 70s and seeing TC blowing kisses into the Kop was wonderful. My Dad used to take me to away games whenever we could afford. I used to sit in the Kop but then we moved to the John Street.
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Q: To Micky. My question's about transfers. Today we've let Leon Britton go, someone Kevin Blackwell said 6 months ago was one of the best midfielders in the Championship. Apparently he's gone for bugger all too so why? Any chance of Reid coming back? Corky - any chance of your lad playing for us?
MA: I've only known Britton three weeks and while I was here he was a model professional, always smiling. If a boy wants to leave, there's not a lot we can do as a club to keep him. I think his wife was still in Swansea so I don't know if that had any bearing.
Q: So he wanted to leave then?
MA: Yeah. Three weeks isn't enough time to make any decisions about players. The decision was his. As far as Corky's lad, we can't afford him. Reid was suspended when I first got here but we'll talk towards the end of the window if he's still available. There are funds available for loans and there are funds available if the right player becomes available to buy. It's very difficult to buy the right type of player in the January window.
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Q: To Micky. My question's about transfers. Today we've let Leon Britton go, someone Kevin Blackwell said 6 months ago was one of the best midfielders in the Championship. Apparently he's gone for bugger all too so why? Any chance of Reid coming back? Corky - any chance of your lad playing for us?
MA: I've only known Britton three weeks and while I was here he was a model professional, always smiling. If a boy wants to leave, there's not a lot we can do as a club to keep him. I think his wife was still in Swansea so I don't know if that had any bearing.
Q: So he wanted to leave then?
MA: Yeah. Three weeks isn't enough time to make any decisions about players. The decision was his. As far as Corky's lad, we can't afford him. Reid was suspended when I first got here but we'll talk towards the end of the window if he's still available. There are funds available for loans and there are funds available if the right player becomes available to buy. It's very difficult to buy the right type of player in the January window.
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AC: My lad's a decent player and I think he realises he's got no chance at Chelsea.
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Q: What position are you thinking of strengthening most?
MA: I think we'd like to strengthen in all areas. The back four v. Coventry was a young back four and all loan players so I think my priority is an experienced centre-half. The problem we've got is finding one.
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Q: What is your chosen style of football? Possibly not for the coming weeks but for next season?
MA: It's difficult to talk about next season. My priority is to find a winning style of football for the players we've got and in the scrap we're in. I'm 4-4-2 man. I like to get the ball wide and into the box as soon as I can. I'm not saying I'm a long-ball man but I want to play an exciting style of football. I want to go out and try and win every game for the rest of this season.
AP: Same philosophy as the promotions before?
MA: A reporter said today that I'd got a reputation for fitness and organisation so while it's difficult coming half way through a season, trying to get the team a bit fitter but I do think they need to be a bit fitter. Next week might be ugly for the players because we've got a free week so it might be a mini pre-season.
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MA: Injuries are also a risk. Especially with the loan players we get at this time of the season, they're the ones that haven't been playing first time football. But I'd just like to tell the supporters that all players will be playing in teh reserve team whether they like it or not.
AP: The fans will tell you there aren't many reserve team games any more.
MA: Yeah. I don't know if the influx of foreign players has had an impact and they think they shouldn't have to play reserves. But when you don't play first team squad players in the reserves, you put a burden on the youth squad.
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MA: I felt we needed a left back and Mattock knows this division well. I've played Ertl at centre half so while we aren't keeping clean sheets, I'm asking players to step into the breach where perhaps they aren't used to playing. Lowry I've watched a lot of times for Villa reserves. While he's a young 'un, he's a tough Ozzie. But he's a welcome addition to the squad with his left foot. Bent offers us something different to stretch the opposition back four. The aim is to keep them away from our goal! Bent offers us a bit of pace and I worked with him at Brentford and Leicester.
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Q: Are you happy with the set-up at youth team level or do you have any ideas of what you want to change up at the Academy?
MA: When I went to the interview with the board and KMc, he's a big believer in the youth system and the work John Pemberton's doing. I'll be working closely with John, not interferring, and we'll be looking at ideas of how we can get more young players through. I'm impressed with what I've seen in the youth team against Cheltenham and Millwall. They're organised and forming good habits. We can't look at the game on Tuesday night and guarantee that all will come through. But looking at the system, everything is set up for the kids and I'll be working closely with John on the youth system and trying to get better quality kids into the Academy. What helps is parents seeing lads on the first team bench and what I'm saying is that if the kids are good enough, then they'll get their opportunity. We've also got a Development Centre where we hand-pick kids and try and bring them on.
As far as staff, I'm lumbered with Corky. But my remit is to look at all the staff in the club and make changes if I see fit.
My priority is the first team. But I will be taking a keen interest in the Academy games.
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Q: Can I ask Cork how training's changed since you were here? And can the current training be blamed for injuries?
AC: I was here with Bassett and he liked hard work. Lots of long runs. It has changed and it's all more precise. It's great now though. We've got 6 prozone cameras so we can see what everyone's doing. If I was playing now, they'd see that I never moved from the halfway line. Micky calls himself old-school but I like the IT stuff.
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Q: Have you had a look at the scouting system? Can you give us a picture of how you'd like it to look?
MA: The best I can say is that it's under review. I'm aware that the scouting system has its faults - whether that's personnel or the type of player we're looking for.
Q: We're always told we're a big club. So how should a scouting system look for a big club?
MA: I think a big club should have a Chief Scout who coordinates a network of scouts who also cover Scotland and Northern Ireland. Hypothetically, I should be able to go into a club and say to the Chief Scout that I want a left back and the Chief Scout should be able to hand me a list.
Q: How did Bassett scout Deane, Agana etc?
AC: He was lucky!
MA: Harry had a network of scouts that he trusted and the scouts knew the kind of players that Harry liked.
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MA: I always insist on looking at players myself so I've only got myself to blame. I don't take recommendations from agents and I don't watch DVDs. Or if I do watch DVDs, I always go and watch the player in person. I try my best to get out and see as many games as I possibly can. As I did with Mattock. As I did with Bent and as I did with Lowry. I've seen them all play over the last two or three weeks. If I sign anyone on a whim, you'll know we're in trouble.
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Q: Where are we with the keepers? We've mentioned George Long. According to the media Richard Wright was after a longer term contract. And if anything happens to Simmo, we're relying on young lads.
MA: You have to rely on physios. They initally said 2 to 3 weeks. Richard Wright is with us until the end of the season. Aksalu... that's his name isn't it... has a back problem I think.
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MA: I've seen enough of George Long to know that if he had to throw him into the mix, he wouldn't let us down.
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Q: Will Marcus Bent be an impact player or will he be expected to start games?
MA: Benty hasn't played much football so we can't work him too hard. So we'll work with him over the next few weeks and try get his fitness up. So not to give Saturday's team away... he'll be an impact player.
Q: Can you give us an update on Henderson and Nosworthy?
MA: Both are progressing. About 4-5 weeks with Henderson, he's working hard. And Nosworthy about two to three weeks away with his ankle.
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Q: To both, who are the best players you've played with?
MA: Not Alan Cork. I'd say technically, Matt Le Tissier. I also played with Alan SheaWerer in his early days in Southampton. But definitely, I'd say Matt Le Tissier because he was so gifted. He used to drive managers mad because he'd treat every corner he took as an opportunity to score. So he'd try and shoot straight from corners. He was a terrific player.
AC: I was lucky when I was young because I joined Derby County when they'd just won the league.
MA: But you never played with them!
AC: Yeah but it was a priviledge to be around them.
MA: We were lucky to find Bobby Zamora and I've already said that we don't take players on recommendations and we needed a big centre forward at Brighton so I rang Ian Holloway up and said we needed a big lad. Said he'd got a gangly lad that he didn't fancy on £90 a week so we said to send him up.
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Q: Could we have Alan's memories of Wembley and will you not shave until we get to 50 points?
AC: It was fantastic to see Wembley in red and white. I was sat in the bar with Mel Rees and it was quite sad to see him walking round the pitch. I think the kids panicked a bit because of the big crowd. I feel a bit guilty because I had a chance to score a volley after I'd scored but I was breathing out of my arse by that stage.
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AP points out the lack of goals from United's defence whereas Adams scored goals from left back.
MA: It's the whole team's responsibility to score goals.
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AP pointing out that Corky played in Sweden under Roy Hodgson.
AP: Broke my leg so Bassett sent me out to the most expensive place to get a drink!
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Q: How do you plan to stop Norwich's strikeforce on Saturday?
MA: It's about cutting off the supply to them and squeezing up the pitch. Norwich play in a diamond and if you don't squeeze up the pitch and you leave big gaps, then you're in trouble. Part of the problem we've had is that we've not pushed up the pitch. We need to stop the crosses and make sure there's no gaps between our defence and midfield.
Q: How early do you start thinking about the next opposition?
MA: Saturday night when I can't sleep.
AP: We're quite good with DVDs so on Saturday morning we get the opposition's last two games to look at set-pieces so on Monday morning, we can start working on the players.
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Q: Have you heard if there's going to be any investors in the club?
MA: I'm not aware of that. That's a question you'd have to ask the CE or the Chairman. But I've been told that there's cash available if we find the right player. If we can wheel and deal, we'll do that.
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Q: Is there any chance of a longterm deal for Bartley and will you be looking to sign Mattock and Lowry on a permanent if they impress?
MA: Mattock, Lowry and Bent are here with a view to signing permanently if they impress but Arsenal hold all the cards with regards to Bartley.
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Q: Are you expecting to make any permanent signings in this window?
MA: We've got a problem because we're in a mess. In an ideal world, we wouldn't want to add any more to the wage budget we've got but the board are receptive to any player who will improve us. Ideally, I'll be able to sign players on permanent deals because then they're working for the best of Sheffield United rather than perhaps themselves.
Q: What's your view of Ched Evans?
AC: I'll think about that one.
MA: We've been impressed with Ched since we've been here. He's got a decent work ethic but we need to give him the service. A lot of the season he's been up front on his own without an established strike partner and I think strikers like hunting in pairs. I think when we've got the ball round the box, we need to stop having an extra touch and getting the ball in the box.
AC: I think Wardy and Ched have worked really hard but not having much luck. But the centre forwards need to start scoring goal. You always need one player who's going to be getting 15 goals a year. I think with the work ethic, they'll get there eventually and we hope it'll be sooner rather than later. They've just got to calm down a bit in the box. I used to like having a strike partner. Brian Deane said to me "you do the running Corky and I'll score the goals"... I didn't realise he was 9 years younger than me. It's nice to see those kind of players knocking around... especially Brian Deane. He's a cuddly chap.
