Which player is NA talking about?

[robbiez666]

He's tried to get the players out, but some of them cant be shifted for financial reasons, and won't take the wage cuts required to move on. Some are happy to sit on their ass as "Sheffield United" players. One of the more desirable ones, Scougall, is Adkins' passport to strengthening our team -he wont be let go for nothing (there's been considerable interest in him). Some young players are dropped just because he cannot expect them to go through the physical rigours required, without it potentially damaging them longer term. He's in an extremely uncomfortable position, because he has to ask players who don't want to play for him or the board to put in a shift. The players who are the problem are the most obvious ones, who have not put in much effort all season, have vanished, or have already moved on (not James Wallace). There are players who are claiming to be more hurt than they are as they look towards pastures new, and when they play are not seen on the pitch for weeks. He has already had these conversations with McCabe a long time ago, and the major surgery required has been put off. The board are/were well aware of the squad's general unhappiness with Clough's departure. Adkins is challenging everything behind the scenes, and could potentially modernise the footballing and administrative side of the club - if he and the board can ride out the current storm. His playing Cuveliar on tuesday was an act of desperation, he needs slowly ushering back in and felt a twinge after the Rochdale game. A nightmare!





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This is the first post to make me feel positive about the club all year. Thanks.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

This is the first post to make me feel positive about the club all year. Thanks.

But of course we've seen other ITK stuff down the years that have turned out to be unsubstantiated Bollox

 

[robbiez666]

But of course we've seen other ITK stuff down the years that have turned out to be unsubstantiated Bollox

Tbh, either way, I'll take it right now.

 

[Nick Jansky]

But of course we've seen other ITK stuff down the years that have turned out to be unsubstantiated Bollox

And we have seen other ITK stuff that has been bang on the money. This has a whiff of authenticity about it and is also consistent with things that I have been told by a director.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

And we have seen other ITK stuff that has been bang on the money. This has a whiff of authenticity about it and is also consistent with things that I have been told by a director.

What things ?

 

[Nick Jansky]

What things ?

Things that are consistent with what nopigfansintown has posted.

 

[Barney]

We've not gone and got another load of these ITK's have we? Can't wait for the transfer window now. A true ITK about this sort of thing would not be gassing off on a message board.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

He's tried to get the players out, but some of them cant be shifted for financial reasons, and won't take the wage cuts required to move on. Some are happy to sit on their ass as "Sheffield United" players. One of the more desirable ones, Scougall, is Adkins' passport to strengthening our team -he wont be let go for nothing (there's been considerable interest in him). Some young players are dropped just because he cannot expect them to go through the physical rigours required, without it potentially damaging them longer term. He's in an extremely uncomfortable position, because he has to ask players who don't want to play for him or the board to put in a shift. The players who are the problem are the most obvious ones, who have not put in much effort all season, have vanished, or have already moved on (not James Wallace). There are players who are claiming to be more hurt than they are as they look towards pastures new, and when they play are not seen on the pitch for weeks. He has already had these conversations with McCabe a long time ago, and the major surgery required has been put off. The board are/were well aware of the squad's general unhappiness with Clough's departure. Adkins is challenging everything behind the scenes, and could potentially modernise the footballing and administrative side of the club - if he and the board can ride out the current storm. His playing Cuveliar on tuesday was an act of desperation, he needs slowly ushering back in and felt a twinge after the Rochdale game. A nightmare!

Take all that with the customary pinch-of-salt, but I hope that's a genuine account of what's happened.

I could imagine a "general unhappiness" among the squad on Clough going, and I think that would apply to those regularly in the line-up, but the likes of Collins, JCR, DDG, and to some extent McNulty were probably punching the air at the time it was announced. Had Clough stayed, he'd have almost lay certainly moved on any problem characters he'd experienced last season. Adkins's 'clean slate' approach, while understandable to a degree, likely meant that character issues in the squad from the past season were left to fester. A manager with the hindsight of working with the squad for a full year is surely in a better position to perform the bonfire of the gobshites this summer rather than someone completely new.

 

[nopigfansintown]

I don't know if there's a function to look at my previous posts and align them with what Adkins has gradually unfurled. If there is you will see I've preempted his revelations. I wouldn't reveal anything that I feel would damage the club or risk transfer targets etc. I certainly wouldn't make things up either.

 

[Bladepicker]

Seems like it was Collins as suspected.

 

[1973Blade]

And Coutts dropped to the bench.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Or Coutts, and Collins has got the boot for defending like a twat ?

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Coutts to the bench, Collins dropped completely – presumably that covers both the 'didn't obey instructions' and 'bit of an ego' comments.

 

[JohnDenver]

Coutts to the bench, Collins dropped completely – presumably that covers both the 'didn't obey instructions' and 'bit of an ego' comments.

You can tell Coutts has an ego by how he plays. The ego in itself is probably a good thing, but if it distorts how you should be playing then it makes you a prize throbber.

 

[BeatleBlade]

Coutts is probably one of those ex-derby players who came here because of Clough that aren't trying that nopigsfansintown was referring to hence being dropped. People on here always complain that Collins doesn't keep shape by falling back too far which probably fits with what Adkins said after Burton.

 

[ThatJa]

Mceveley?

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Mceveley?

He's injured. Came off with a knock on Tuesday.

 

[JohnDenver]

Coutts is probably one of those ex-derby players who came here because of Clough that aren't trying that nopigsfansintown was referring to hence being dropped. People on here always complain that Collins doesn't keep shape by falling back too far which probably fits with what Adkins said after Burton.

Collins' tendency to keep the back four deep causes an array of problems. We don't press, the team gets stretched, the forwards are isolated, we never build pressure...

It's not all down to him - McEv and the entire midfield are pedestrian in their own right - but we've got to start somewhere.

Vive la revolution.

 

[sheffielder]

He's injured. Came off with a knock on Tuesday.

Ran straight off too!

 

[blade67]

With these comments in his post-match presser

NA: "Anyone who has got an ego has got to put it to one side. We have a responsibility to this great club."

NA: "You can talk about tactics and formations. One player, quite clearly, wasn't going to adhere to that."

I'm guessing it's Coutts.

What I still don't understand about Tuesday is that if one player refused to follow instructions then why change the formation after 30 minutes. Surely the correct action would be to remove that player and replace with a sub who will do the required. 2 benefits to this approach, the players get the message loud and clear who's in charge and you get to continue with the tactics you've decided can win the game. He's effectively done that on Saturday so why play the wrong formation for 60 minutes on Tuesday ?

 

[Bladepicker]

Lot's of people may slag Coutts for effort on Tuesday but he was in the correct position and trying to do the right things when he got the ball. He may have been poor ( not alone there) but he was definitely not playing against instruction. People just said it was him because of his perceived lack of effort.

It was obviously Collins from the outset. For the first 20 minutes he had us holding a defensive line which was comical it was that deep which fragmented our play and gave Burton a third of the pitch to themselves. Added to this he 'has form' as he did EXACTLY the same to Clough.

I hope this is the last we have seen of him in a Blades shirt but I have said that about 4 times before. As a friend said yesterday:

"Collins is like a boomerang. A boomerang made of shit."

 

[beardyblade46]

With these comments in his post-match presser

NA: "Anyone who has got an ego has got to put it to one side. We have a responsibility to this great club."

NA: "You can talk about tactics and formations. One player, quite clearly, wasn't going to adhere to that."

I'm guessing it's Coutts.

and to think i almost traveled up from Wiltshire, thank god i couldn't make it. id have been really really pissed off !!!

 

[riselikeasalmon]

Lot's of people may slag Coutts for effort on Tuesday but he was in the correct position and trying to do the right things when he got the ball. He may have been poor ( not alone there) but he was definitely not playing against instruction. People just said it was him because of his perceived lack of effort.

It was obviously Collins from the outset. For the first 20 minutes he had us holding a defensive line which was comical it was that deep which fragmented our play and gave Burton a third of the pitch to themselves. Added to this he 'has form' as he did EXACTLY the same to Clough.

I hope this is the last we have seen of him in a Blades shirt but I have said that about 4 times before. As a friend said yesterday:

"Collins is like a boomerang. A boomerang made of shit."

Not defending Collins or arguing about his contribution to our current situation, but it wasn't him who wasn't playing to instruction. Read again Bergen's post match analysis and he has it pretty much spot on, Coutts was supposed to be getting behind their midfield with Cuvelier and then Edgar is holding at the base of the midfield triangle, but Coutts kept coming deep for the ball into Edgar's territory meaning we had most of the team in front of their team, compressing our play and giving fewer options going forward when we did get on the ball which is why so often it had to go sideways or back.

 

[Bladepicker]

Not defending Collins or arguing about his contribution to our current situation, but it wasn't him who wasn't playing to instruction. Read again Bergen's post match analysis and he has it pretty much spot on, Coutts was supposed to be getting behind their midfield with Cuvelier and then Edgar is holding at the base of the midfield triangle, but Coutts kept coming deep for the ball into Edgar's territory meaning we had most of the team in front of their team, compressing our play and giving fewer options going forward when we did get on the ball which is why so often it had to go sideways or back.

No. Coutts was on the right of two more advanced midfielders. The reason he and Flo had to come deep was because of the vast expanse of space between the back line and midfield because of the deep line Collins was playing.

Also last year Collins was dropped for ignoring instructions and playing much deeper than instructed.

Then yesterday Coutts came on 2nd half whereas Collins was omitted from the squad totally.

I find it bizarre that you still think it wasn't Collins?

 

[Woodwardfan]

Not defending Collins or arguing about his contribution to our current situation, but it wasn't him who wasn't playing to instruction. Read again Bergen's post match analysis and he has it pretty much spot on, Coutts was supposed to be getting behind their midfield with Cuvelier and then Edgar is holding at the base of the midfield triangle, but Coutts kept coming deep for the ball into Edgar's territory meaning we had most of the team in front of their team, compressing our play and giving fewer options going forward when we did get on the ball which is why so often it had to go sideways or back.

I think you may be over-rating Bergen's perspective a bit 'rise' - I'd say Coutts never ever plays any different so how would any manager expect any different?

Silent has run a serious thread on it being Collins and weighed in with him getting Clough sacked just for good measure.

I think it was Done who played a 'maverick' role.

Then again if the manager's talking "egos" then apparently Billy Sharp is Mr Big Bollocks according to McNulty's mates. Then Sharp was ill yesterday!!

The manager is out of order fueling Social Media like this - suppose it's better than talking about the team performances though. Maybe he's cleverer than we thought.

 

[sheffielder]

I think you may be over-rating Bergen's perspective a bit 'rise' - I'd say Coutts never ever plays any different so how would any manager expect any different?

Silent has run a serious thread on it being Collins and weighed in with him getting Clough sacked just for good measure.

I think it was Done who played a 'maverick' role.

Then again if the manager's talking "egos" then apparently Billy Sharp is Mr Big Bollocks according to McNulty's mates. Then Sharp was ill yesterday!!

The manager is out of order fueling Social Media like this - suppose it's better than talking about the team performances though. Maybe he's cleverer than we thought.

Let's just get this right. Not one of them played as they should on Tuesday night, either tactically or in effort. Adkins admits that he was wrong to point his finger at a mystery player and you could point at many.

Nobody has said Edgar who then swapped back to his normal position or basham. There is done, sharp coutts. Could be fucking anyone.

Also to note anyone who listens to whatever mcnuts mates says needs their head testing. Maybe sharp was being professional and mcnuts didn't get it, didn't follow suit and had enough of him like clough did.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Can't be arsed to read through 12 pages on this but can I just ask, IF a player was ignoring instructions why didn't the silly bastard just take him off - fuck me its not rocket science is it?