Woolford in the Star on his poor form

[William Henry Foulkes]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/shef...-united-woolly-reveals-adkins-talks-1-7642718

Martyn Woolford has revealed he held heart-to-heart talks with manager Nigel Adkins in a bid to arrest his poor form.

The Sheffield United midfielder, speaking ahead of today’s crucial fixture against Wigan Athletic, admitted to frustrating Adkins with a series of lacklustre displays after arriving at Bramall Lane earlier this year.

But, having forced his way back into United’s starting eleven, Woolford told The Star: “I’ve not got off to the best of starts and I’m the first to hold my hands-up to that. I’ve sat down and spoke with the gaffer.

“Sometimes it’s all about voicing an opinion. Other times, it’s all about asking what you have to do to improve your chances of getting in the team.

“I might have frustrated him by not being at my best. I can see him being a little bit frustrated with me at times. But I’m confident in my own ability and that I’ll show what I’m capable of.”

Woolford, who worked with Adkins at Scunthorpe, produced his best performance of the season when he returned to Glanford Park last weekend. A 1-0 win means United visit fifth-placed Wigan ranked ninth in the League One table; four points behind Gary Caldwell’s side.

Woolford, who left Millwall after rejecting their offer of contract talks at the end of last term, said: “I’ve struggled with missing pre-season to be honest. You don’t realise how important it is until you don’t have one. I’ll never moan about the running again.

“I’ve got to start showing the fans and the manager what he’s fetched me in for. It’s been a tough period in general but there’s a lot more to come. I like to think I’ll help the team and the team will help me.

“I’m excited to be in there now. And, hopefully, the results picking-up is going to be a good thing for me.”

 

[wizadry]

I'd hate to think he was playing at the top of his game, we've been playing with 10 men at best, they always say a team works harder when down to 10 men

On a more serious note, it's good to see he's realised this and will do everything he possibly can to improve his performances because up until now he's been diabolical.

 

[spongebobblade]

Well at least he's admitted it but if the Star reckons that was his best performance at Scunthorpe he's still got an awful long way to go because he was still piss poor. Here's hoping he picks his game up though.... It's long overdue

 

[Sheffsteel]

Words are cheap.

Let's see some actions.

 

[stringjunior]

Refreshingly honest. I like that

 

[wizadry]

Refreshingly honest. I like that

I always have been mate, cheers

 

[wizadry]

Well at least he's admitted it but if the Star reckons that was his best performance at Scunthorpe he's still got an awful long way to go because he was still piss poor. Here's hoping he picks his game up though.... It's long overdue

To be fair it might have been 'his best game' for us but that still really isn't saying much or why they even thought it was his best game for us, it is the Star mate.

 

[Houston_Blade]

It's a shame footballers can't be placed on performance improvement plans or something similar. The only punishment for being shit is that you only get a 1 year contract on a slightly less inflated salary than previously extension instead of 2 or 3. If it's really bad you get paid for just turning up to training all week and then get your weekends to yourself.

 

[spongebobblade]

To be fair it might have been 'his best game' for us but that still really isn't saying much or why they even thought it was his best game for us, it is the Star mate.

That's true mate. You'll rarely get James Shield to tell it like it really is. Probably too much to lose from being "on the inside" I swear blind he's WHF on this board

 

[PeteBlade]

Adkins is a football manager, not a magician.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

"I’m excited to be in there now."

Wish I could say the same.

Best of luck to him mind: we need a proper left-footed midfielder playing on the left, if we're going with Adkins's beloved 1-4-4-2.
Maybe there is actually a football player hidden away in there somewhere?

 

[Bladesman]

Fair play to him for admitting he has not hit form.

Although at this moment I don't think we have seen any glimpse of quality from him.

 

[robbiez666]

It's refreshing to see a footballer who is prepared to publicly admit he's not been playing well. refreshing lack of ego.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Fair play to him for admitting he has not hit form.

Although at this moment I don't think we have seen any glimpse of quality from him.

Have you seen his warm ups? The man's a footballing genius: tricks, control, change of direction - what a shame it all goes to pot in the presence of any actual opponents.

 

[Jehovah]

I like the bit when he says "I've been fucking garbage and I'm embarrassed by my performances and my face"

 

[boo radley]

Refreshingly honest. I like that

No other option than to be.

 

[bladesmanluke]

Remember when we had Brighton's pants down getting a whopping, unbelievable £1.5m for the inconsistent, easily replaceable Jamie Murphy?

 

[Tyler Durden]

Show me a player who admits he's been shit and I'll show you.......a shit player.

Unfortunately there's no room for sentiment in our position. Collins was refreshingly candid in his post-match interview at Morcambe a few months back. It doesn't alter the situation we find ourselves in with personnel who simply don't make the grade.
Adkins has been very generous in giving players chances that they haven't taken. Sooner or later, they have to go.

 

[Bladesman]

Show me a player who admits he's been shit and I'll show you.......a shit player.

Unfortunately there's no room for sentiment in our position. Collins was refreshingly candid in his post-match interview at Morcambe a few months back. It doesn't alter the situation we find ourselves in with personnel who simply don't make the grade.
Adkins has been very generous in giving players chances that they haven't taken. Sooner or later, they have to go.

Exactly.

 

[Barney]

Adkins is a football manager, not a magician.

A football manager wouldn't even be in this position. So you can discard that one too.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Show me a player who admits he's been shit and I'll show you.......a shit player.

Unfortunately there's no room for sentiment in our position. Collins was refreshingly candid in his post-match interview at Morcambe a few months back. It doesn't alter the situation we find ourselves in with personnel who simply don't make the grade.
Adkins has been very generous in giving players chances that they haven't taken. Sooner or later, they have to go.

Agree about the general point. But I don't think Adkins is being generous. It's just good practice to assess your squad, surely.

Some will come through eg Long (improving every game), Collins (within limits) and Coutts (playing full games); others will show that ultimately they are not up to the job - Higdon (though he may have a bit part to play), Alcock, McFadzean, J Wallace and others

Disagree about him being poor. Woolford is a player in poor form looking for an exodus from that poor form and a journey to the promised land of open spaces on the wings of Bramall Lane.

Does it make more sense to abandon that player - who you have worked with in the past, and trust - and then get another player with associated costs in time, money and general risk
or
Work with him and help him to up his game.

At some point though you have to say enough, despite proclamations of simples, end of, and get rid that's a judgement call - and it's hard to get it right.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Agree about the general point. But I don't think Adkins is being generous. It's just good practice to assess your squad, surely.

Some will come through eg Long (improving every game), Collins (within limits) and Coutts (playing full games); others will show that ultimately they are not up to the job - Higdon (though he may have a bit part to play), Alcock, McFadzean, J Wallace and others

Disagree about him being poor. Woolford is a player in poor form looking for an exodus from that poor form and a journey to the promised land of open spaces on the wings of Bramall Lane.

Does it make more sense to abandon that player - who you have worked with in the past, and trust - and then get another player with associated costs in time, money and general risk
or
Work with him and help him to up his game.

At some point though you have to say enough, despite proclamations of simples, end of, and get rid that's a judgement call - and it's hard to get it right.

I do think it is simple as that too many players have been signed by both Clough and Adkins who are not match fit , poor or no preseason , carrying injuries.We are now half way through the season and certain players have still to find there form and be match fit .All this is not condusive to being successful .In saying all that we are so shit I think we will do it this season,by the play offs.

UTB

 

[Tyler Durden]

Agree about the general point. But I don't think Adkins is being generous. It's just good practice to assess your squad, surely.

Some will come through eg Long (improving every game), Collins (within limits) and Coutts (playing full games); others will show that ultimately they are not up to the job - Higdon (though he may have a bit part to play), Alcock, McFadzean, J Wallace and others

Disagree about him being poor. Woolford is a player in poor form looking for an exodus from that poor form and a journey to the promised land of open spaces on the wings of Bramall Lane.

Does it make more sense to abandon that player - who you have worked with in the past, and trust - and then get another player with associated costs in time, money and general risk
or
Work with him and help him to up his game.

At some point though you have to say enough, despite proclamations of simples, end of, and get rid that's a judgement call - and it's hard to get it right.

But in Woolfords case, nobody was particularly ecstatic about the prospect of signing him in the first place. It's not as if he's a great player who's just not firing on all cylinders. His limitations have been very conspicuous throughout the season as far as I can see.

Now normally I would agree with taking a more methodical approach to improving form amongst underperformers. If we were comfortably sitting at the top of this division or firmly anchored in the play-off slots, I would advocate giving players that time to sharpen up.
But from now until May we face a hard slog to be within even a shout of a chance at promotion. It's as much of a risk to stick with Woolford or anyone in poor form (if form is what it is) on the off chance that they might come good, as it is to use someone who might have the required impact.

It's all elementary in the end. Whatever scenario we find ourselves in come May. The only conclusion that can really be drawn is that a large proportion of the squad simply have to go. And I can't see Woolford surviving that purge if it occurs.

 

[secretchief]

All he's done so far is make Adkins look inept and prove a lot of people right about Murphy's sale.

 

[Grappler]

Have you seen his warm ups? The man's a footballing genius: tricks, control, change of direction - what a shame it all goes to pot in the presence of any actual opponents.

Must admit I have been shocked when I have arrived at away grounds early and watched the team warm up (always at the pub pre-match in Sheffield), as you say, Woolford can do it all. At the Oldham game, in warm up, he was the only player to score every single time, during set pieces, Done, Adams and Sharp were 50/50 at best.

 

[zablade]

Has been a poor signing who has offered nothing offensively and does not cover the full back defensively. Struggling to see what he does bring to the side.

 

[Bladesman]

Has been a poor signing who has offered nothing offensively and does not cover the full back defensively. Struggling to see what he does bring to the side.

Yeah but he has the skills on the training ground though. It's just for some reason those skills go AWOL during a match.

 

[PeteBlade]

A football manager wouldn't even be in this position. So you can discard that one too.

It's not you to use a post to continue your short sighted obsession with our manager.

If only Chris Morgan were in charge, eh?

 

[blade too long]

wasnt Jamie Vardy rejected at several clubs for being shittier than Woolfords been

players have bad spells , then given the chance , have good spells
have all Jamies Vardys previous managers been useless , or unlucky in not seeing his worth