Why getting it wrong with Wilson and Clough shouldn’t save Adkins

[Living In a Fantasy World]

Woolford was a replacement for Murphy.

How does anyone think this?

Nothing positive!

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Baps makes a big difference, though sadly I doubt he'll be with us next season ( too good/ too expensive...even at 'his age!)

Don't want to read too much into it - especially as he'll just be glad to be back playing - but he seemed to be genuinely enjoying his game, and really seemed to be part of the team when he came off.

I think he likes the working environment and appreciates the care and attention his injury has got - it would've been easy to exploit him, run him into the ground, and send him back.

The co-commentator for the Southend game mentioned how loan players were hard to judge, some play out of their skins to show what they can do, some don't adapt at all.

 

[Esablade]

Don't want to read too much into it - especially as he'll just be glad to be back playing - but he seemed to be genuinely enjoying his game, and really seemed to be part of the team when he came off.

I think he likes the working environment and appreciates the care and attention his injury has got - it would've been easy to exploit him, run him into the ground, and send him back.

The co-commentator for the Southend game mentioned how loan players were hard to judge, some play out of their skins to show what they can do, some don't adapt at all.

Don't get me wrong...I'd love him to sign and he's getting to 'that age', combined with his injury that mean it 'could' happen ...I just think that even if Boro do go up there will be a host of Championship clubs happy to take a punt...

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Don't get me wrong...I'd love him to sign and he's getting to 'that age', combined with his injury that mean it 'could' happen ...I just think that even if Boro do go up there will be a host of Championship clubs happy to take a punt...

I agree - but he did seem to like it here, and that counts for something.

I think Adams came despite higher offers because of factors other than money.

And anyway...who says we won't be one of those Championship teams

 

[Silent Blade]

Getting it wrong before is not a reason for failing to act again. McCabe acted emotionally in sacking Wilson and cryptically in removing Clough. He needs to make a rational assessment this time, which means - Adkins must go.

I have been told that more than a handful number of players have already agreed to sign for us this summer. I dont know who they are and I dont know if they include our present players whose contract expires this summer. It does look like Dave Green, Adkins and Turnbull have been busy in making the arrangements since January. If we sack Adkins in the next few weeks and bring in a new manager it will make it awkward for the new manager having to play the players he didnt sign.

Since the introduction of the stupid transfer window more and more clubs are now planning the summer recruitment from January.

Good post by the way

 

[The Bohemian]

I have been told that more than a handful number of players have already agreed to sign for us this summer. I dont know who they are and I dont know if they include our present players whose contract expires this summer. It does look like Dave Green, Adkins and Turnbull have been busy in making the arrangements since January. If we sack Adkins in the next few weeks and bring in a new manager it will make it awkward for the new manager having to play the players he didnt sign.

Since the introduction of the stupid transfer window more and more clubs are now planning the summer recruitment from January.

Good post by the way

The dark world of pre-contracts is a big factor in what happens next. Based on this article (http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...es-set-to-complete-midfielder-swoop-1-7676586), you'd think the Hammond deal is probably done. Quite possibly others. If the 2016/17 budget is largely allocated, I agree, it probably makes more sense for Adkins to start the season. A huge gamble based on what we've seen from him this season though.

 

[Stretch]

I don't wish to be picky but the OP states that we have only had back to back wins once all season, with 3 wins in a row. Unless I am missing something didn't we win 4 league games on the bounce after Gillingham and then another 3 on the bounce in December?

Still pants I admit but when we are assessing whether someone should be sacked it's important to get the numbers right.

 

[The Bohemian]

I don't wish to be picky but the OP states that we have only had back to back wins once all season, with 3 wins in a row. Unless I am missing something didn't we win 4 league games on the bounce after Gillingham and then another 3 on the bounce in December?

Still pants I admit but when we are assessing whether someone should be sacked it's important to get the numbers right.

That's a fair point and well spotted.

 

[Silent Blade]

The dark world of pre-contracts is a big factor in what happens next. Based on this article (http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...es-set-to-complete-midfielder-swoop-1-7676586), you'd think the Hammond deal is probably done. Quite possibly others. If the 2016/17 budget is largely allocated, I agree, it probably makes more sense for Adkins to start the season. A huge gamble based on what we've seen from him this season though.

If we still dont do well by December then it is best to bring in a new manager before January so that he will be able to start offering pre-contracts to the players he wants to sign ready for Summer 2017

 

[blade too long]

Can someone do a WHF style bullet point of this ;-)

hes shit

 

[The Bohemian]

What a predicament we are in!

Stick with Adkins on the back of an abysmal season and hope he can build and motivate a promotion squad next season, or start again.....again.

For me, the decision would rest on:

1. How much of next season's budget is already allocated, based on pre-contracts etc.?
2. Who else is available who could be reasonably expected to do better?

If he has pre contracts signed and has offered Hammond an option of a further year, we should probably stick and hope for the best. If not and he is judged purely on his performance this season, he'll be fortunate to survive.

Based on what we've seen this season, how many supporters are really confident Adkins can lead a promotion charge next season?

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Based on what we've seen this season, how many supporters are really confident Adkins can lead a promotion charge next season?

Personally. I gave up on expecting anything from United years ago.
I hope any of you don't feel as wearisome as I do/did, it's no fun not getting too down after yet another defeat or playing out an insipid draw.
Come on United, make me "Believe" as I used to, I could take defeats and insipid draws back then.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

If only the supporters had the money and the moneymen had our knowledge and clarity, we'd not be getting used to League One living as the norm.

 

[Dkc]

If we sack Adkins, chances are he'd go to Accrington Stanley or Wimbledon AFC and get them promoted next season, while we struggle to get in the play offs

 

[blackydog]

Can someone do a WHF style bullet point of this ;-)

It's worth reading mate.

 

[blackydog]

If only we'd kept Murphy. Sharp would have got loads more with Murphy as the Supply line. A pipe dream I know but still....

Agree, the difference between a top 6 place or not this season at least. Kev needs to reflect on letting a contracted player leave with so little resistance and ponder on what could have been.

 

[UpTheClough]

It is irrelevant to me who is manager next year we've seen now this league is a complete lottery. We will always be there or there abouts as we do have more money to chuck around than most but its been shown buying up league 1 talent and getting momentum are the keys to success. Don't tell me Villa who were bottom at Christmas could have got a Europa league spot (equivalent of Barnsley). Like it or not this league is shit and we are now a well established league 1 team. There are sparkles of hope with sharp and Adams but for the most part we are league 1 club with grander ambitions. This brings added pressure to everyone when really we are no more likely to get promoted than Oldham or Chesterfield next year.

 

[zablade]

Agree, the difference between a top 6 place or not this season at least. Kev needs to reflect on letting a contracted player leave with so little resistance and ponder on what could have been.

This summer will probably be the first time since relegation we won't sell our best player.

Whoopee do.

 

[ScoobBlade]

As stated previously, I was one of the large majority, who disagreed with the timing of Clough’s sacking and was completely baffled by the timing of Wilson’s.

McCabe has subsequently acknowledged he got it wrong with Wilson and suggested Cloughie was dismissed for “non-football reasons.” Chastened by the experience of paying off a succession of Managers in recent seasons, McCabe may be tempted to stick with Adkins for “non-football reasons.” Emotion often trumps logic in such situations but a rational perspective is essential given that we are mired in the worst period in our club’s long and proud history.

A rational assessment of Adkins’ performance needs to include his ability to get the best out of the players he inherited, the impact made by his own signings and his tactical nous in finding a winning formula.

Has he got the best out of the players at his disposal?

One argument is that he inherited a poor squad of players. But it was the same squad that achieved a League Cup Semi-Final and 5th placed finish last season. One that the bookies saw as promotion favourites and I, along with many others, believed was only a few astute signings from a top two finish.

The sale of Murphy didn’t help his cause but in Billy he had something Clough never had – a goal-scoring striker. With the addition of a ‘Morsy like’ replacement for Doyle and a proper centre half, the squad should surely have had enough to get out of what looks like the weakest League One since The Blades were relegated. So, generally, it’s difficult to argue he’s got the best out of his players.

There’s an equally disconcerting pattern of his team’s performance tailing off during games (versus Southend, Crewe, Burton and Rochdale recently) with a promising first half offering a deceptive prelude to an inept second period. Which begs the question: What is Adkins doing to his players during the interval?

At an individual level, Adkins has presided over an improvement in George Long’s confidence and form (no doubt his own goalkeeping background has proved useful here). Louis Reed has also shown flashes of the talent he clearly has but hasn’t had enough game time to make a compelling case. Otherwise, it’s difficult to see beyond the diminishing performance of most of his squad and even harder to argue that, with the exception of Billy the Blade, his players are giving everything to the cause.


Has he found a winning formula?

Clearly not, given the probability of his team finishing in the lower half of a weak third division. This is not for the lack of tinkering.


Adkins started the season with an attacking 4-4-2, but without an effective holding midfielder – an approach described to me as “frighteningly naïve” by a lane insider. Realising the error of his ways he changed to a more defensive 4-4-2, filling his midfield with six footers and marginalising his flair players. This served the purpose of shoring things up defensively but Adkins found his team then lacked creativity This is where he needed more from Hammond who provided a barrier in front of the defence but offered far too little in terms of ‘play-making.’

His next and shortest experiment was the much-maligned 4-5-1 preferred by Clough but not by a large section of the Lane faithful. Neither Billy nor Che are suited to the lone striker role so there was never any future in this approach.

He now seems to have settled on a 3-5-2 formation, which, whilst not incompatible with the players at his disposal, has still failed to deliver the consistency of results and performances required.

Adkins has not discovered a winning formula. Indeed his team has only recorded back-to-back league wins once all season (OK, it was actually a run of 3 wins).

His ability to change the course of games with his substitutions must also be brought into question, with scant evidence of his changes triggering a notable improvement in performance (the Wigan comeback was two thirds complete by the time of his first change) but more examples of his substitutions costing points (e.g. Millwall and Swindon at home). Wednesday night’s debacle epitomised Adkins’ substitutions strategy with his team finishing the game devoid of pattern or plan.

Crisis management – in football terms, coming back strong when your team is behind in a game – requires the ability to think clearly and act purposefully, under pressure. Bassett and Warnock thrived in such an environment; Adkins appears to sink.


Have his signings improved the team?

Billy is his one indisputably successful signing and he deserves credit for seeing this through in the face of a mixture of supporter apathy and antipathy, prior to his signing (supporters can get it wrong!).

Edgar started well, dipped and then improved to the point of looking a decent signing.

Woolford has been at best, underwhelming, at worst, woeful. His contribution has been negligible and clearly, a huge step backwards from Jamie Murphy. Woolford was the make weight in the ‘Murphy out, Billy in’ package and Adkins can only deal with the budget at his disposal. Nonetheless, his preference for signing older players on their way down has, generally, failed him.

Hammond has been an expensive failure in a position where Adkins had to get it right - given his preference for an attacking 4-4-2 formation and the implicit requirement for a mobile, aggressive box-to-box midfielder. He has been a step backwards from Doyle, for all his limitations.

Sammon may or may not have been signed on a pre-contract prior to Adkins arrival, so we’ll give him the benefit of doubt on this one.

Baptiste is clearly a very good player but was coming back from a double leg fracture sustained during early pre-season. Unsurprisingly, he sustained a secondary injury in his third appearance for The Blades and hasn’t been seen since.

If we ignore Sammon, Adkins has signed 5 players, all from higher leagues, with only a single clear success.

Moreover, based on recent comments, he seems intent on offering Hammond a permanent deal for next season – indeed it would be no surprise had a pre-contract may have already been signed.

Adkins has presided over the second highest wage bill in Division 3 and has been backed in signing expensive new players either permanently or on extended loan deals. He inherited a team that required improvement in order to mount a serious top two challenge but his signings have made the team worse.



Blades fans have been incredibly patient with Adkins, despite a season that has tested the endurance of even the most committed supporters. There is very little appetite for continuing the cycle of managerial removal and appointment with all its ensuing change. But this season has been a disaster!

Had Adkins been working a 12-month probationary period in a senior position in industry, he would be on his way out. Wilson and Clough were sacked having presided over significantly better managerial performances than his. He has been given leeway because of past boardroom errors and the fact that he was a universally popular appointment amongst supporters. He was the man we desperately needed to succeed more than any other in recent times. But he has failed.

McCabe has an incredibly difficult decision to make. He knows from bitter experience just how difficult it is to find winning managers. His last three appointments, since Wilson, have resulted in the club being further back than it was when he was sacked in 2013. Getting it wrong before is not a reason for failing to act again. McCabe acted emotionally in sacking Wilson and cryptically in removing Clough. He needs to make a rational assessment this time, which means - Adkins must go.

If you get what you want and we sack Adkins then I shall look forward to reading this post again in 12 months time, you'll just need to change the word Adkins for the name of the terrible manager in charge at that time

 

[The Bohemian]

If you get what you want and we sack Adkins then I shall look forward to reading this post again in 12 months time, you'll just need to change the word Adkins for the name of the terrible manager in charge at that time

And that's the gamble, as you rightly point out. Karl Robinson was my first choice to replace Clough and he's hardly set Div 2 on fire, has he?

I've spelt out why I've lost confidence in Adkins. After a full season, I'm still not sure what his plan is. I'd have kept Wilson and Clough because I did see a plan, even though the execution was, at times, painful to watch.

I expect the club to allow Adkins to start the season, in which case I'll be desperately keen for him to succeed, like any supporter.

 

[Sprite]

I agree. Adkins and United are a lousy match and it's simply a matter of time before he goes for one reason or another. A home defeat today (which I think is likely) and I am pretty sure we will hear the "Adkins out!!" chants.

Best we have had since Bassett have been Wilson and Warnock both of whom were hung out to dry by McCabe.

Adkins and United are a lousy match

That is true; its called losing the dressing room. This happened way back in september, but it as been kept quite, albeit patently obvious.

One of the main reasons for Warnocks success apart from his experience is the very simple fact he has got everyone playing as a team, together as a cohesive whole, and not just the players at Rotherham, but the whole of the back room staff right down to the groundsmen. Viz a viz Leicester

A common belief and support structure running right through the club, a belief that the team at United do not have simply because of how the team as been managed, structured and the inability of the management and coaches.

We have the players who are and have been capable of winning games, without a doubt; they have just not had the right management, right coaching and henceforth the right belief which stems from the management.

I know you might say they get paid enough, but when you are pissed off it doesnt make any difference.

• management change ?
• players out
• players in
• play as a team
• support ( each other in the team )
• promotion

 

[PeteBlade]

Adkins and United are a lousy match

That is true; its called losing the dressing room. This happened way back in september, but it as been kept quite, albeit patently obvious.

Really? I've seen no mention of this.

 

[Sprite]

but it as been kept quite

 

[Ricky]

What caused him to lose the dressing room then? I'd be interested to hear any rumours on this.

 

[Deaneandagana]

This season represents the 3rd lowest league position finish in the clubs 127 years - acceptable?

We had the 2nd biggest wage bill in the division, the biggest squad, the biggest crowds, biggest & best academy, best fans in the country - yet we have failed to achieve anything - acceptable?

The manager has singluary failed to motivate, inspire, cajole, kick arse the players into achieving consistent levels of performances & results. His recruitment, selection, tactical awareness, effective use of substitutions has been desperate & totally haphazard - note the consistent change of formations & playing style - acceptable?

The club is both poorly managed and poorly led, the co-owner talks enthusiastically of the club returning back to the promised land of the Premier league, but offers no plan of how this can be achieved - suffice to say that this individuals short sighted policy of continually selling the clubs best players & replacing with inferior talent, has directly led to the present predicament.

The club needs to identify what Sheffield United stands for and appoint suitably qualified and experienced individuals who are capable of delivering this, in the same way that Dave Bassett & Neil Warnock did, by unifying the whole club from top to bottom and harnessing everyone's committment in achieving a common goal.

 

[Sprite]

What caused him to lose the dressing room then? I'd be interested to hear any rumours on this.

there are no rumours........................you ask what caused " him " to lose the dressing room..........ans = himself.

 

[Ricky]

there are no rumours........................you ask what caused " him " to lose the dressing room..........ans = himself.

OK then...

'What did he do to cause himself to lose the dressing room?'

 

[Blade56]

........ But he has failed.

Adkins must go.

Adkins won't go TB. McCabes done chuckin money away. Think he will 'park' SUFC and hope for the best using academy players and a few freebies.

 

[Blade56]

Best we have had since Bassett have been Wilson and Warnock both of whom were hung out to dry by McCabe.

Fair point, he sacks the gud 'uns

 

[Kev Gee]

Unless theres performance related clauses written into Adkins contract then hes goibg nowere. We dont have a pot to piss in and cant afford to pay him and his staff off.