I still think that with a change of formation, we can be more competitive, as there are enough options in the squad. Our 4231/433 isn't working as we're being slaughtered down the flanks. With 4 attacking players who can't defend on the pitch, it can easily look more like 424
Change to a Curbs/Powell 442 or 4411 with one winger and 3 midfielders and we look more solid, e.g.
Keeper
RB Lavelle Famewo LB
Clare/Morgan Arter/Dobson Gilbey/Morgan CBT/Leko
Lee/Leko/Washington
Stockley/Davison
In no way excusing Adkins, but is the constant use of the 433/ 4231 a requirement? We've heard of the pathway plan which sounds exactly like the saints model, a clear pathway from the youngest age group to first team, all play to the same formation and style, players and coaches are scouted and brought in to fit to the club's vision.
I guess a question.to ask is, are we paying 433/4231 because that's what Adkins wants or do we have Adkins because thats what the club wants - 433/4231, sound similar yet pretty different... Look at Adkins' past jobs in particular the League one seasons and he mainly played... yep, 442...add in the comments that Henry wrote up from the teams chat the other day, about what's needed for a league one squad he said:
Tall players - as lot of goals come from set pieces A captian - for those tough games
Warriors - for those tough games Athletic players to get through a 40+ game season
Settled side
Left and right set piece takers - as a lot of goals come from set pieces Pacey player 20+ goal a season man
Sounds like the basics of a 442 to me...
And from that list of league one must haves we signed what?
One tall player - Stockley Pacey player - CBT/Leko
Again, not excusing him as if his hands are a bit tied*, then he needs to have a word and say something to the powers that be rather than act a complete mug and go with it - that's still stackable as that's avoiding our issues in the hope it'll click.
* Not trying to add to the current list of CL conspiracy theories facts:
Roddy keeping Adkins in job because they're old buddies from when they wasn't at Reading together
Roddy not telling TS how bad it really is because TS has no way of seeing that for himself.
Adkins has lost the dressing room because he's far too nice and the players don't respect him because of it.
JJ and Euell have no say because Adkins Mr far too nice immediately shuts them down and bullies them into silence.
Adkins channels his inner Fraye and only gives instructions such as "play football"
DJ threw a dildo called Adkins at the dugout on Saturday.
It's a good question. I see a lot of comments that it's the formation that's the problem or doesn't suit the players we have. Every club in this division, and the one above, play either a flat back four and 1 central striker or 3/5 at the back. The very rare examples of 442 use either a diamond or box 4 rather than the flat 4 of yesteryear.
We played it at the end of the season last season and it worked. Kirk probably hasn't played in any other formation in his career, Leko and CBT would have played it a youth level, Arter has played it most of his career. It shouldn't bother Lavelle in his position. Lee played it at both Luton and Oxford.
All the summer recruitment should have been based on 4231/433 because that's what the manager wanted. It probably was but, to me, it looks like it was more based on data and "good players" rather than how they fit in to the team. Kirk and Lee are good examples of this, they are very different types of players to the ones we had in those roles last season.
It's not, in my opinion, that it doesn't suit the players it's that he doesn't have the players that have defensive nous to play the system. Corey Blackett Taylor does not understand tracking back, maybe one of the reasons he is at this level. Lee is once again a purely offensive player as is Kirk. Contrast that with someone like Miller, who clearly knew how to defend and attack, Pratley and the sorely missed Forster Caskey. Players like Dobson and Morgan are still learning the game but will be very good players but not yet. For me Adkins problem is that he is stuck to a system that is not producing results and refuses to alter that system, look at the substitution of Lee on Saturday, he bought Corey Blackett Taylor on rather than Stockley, he then changed it positionally twice after that.
I agree. Adkins has to go but this squad is no great shakes either. A terrible recruitment drive in the summer.
We are in deep shit
Agreed we are currently in deep shit. However, this current squad is easily a top 6-12th squad in the league. No way should this group of players be where they are. They are partly to blame but buck stops with Adkins.
Must have incredibly thick skin to be a football manager. If I knew the vast majority of people wanted me to go, I'd need to contact TS at first signs of it and sort what was gonna happen with a view to me going, but not leaving him managerless.
This is where I think football is a completely different business to almost any other.
Must have incredibly thick skin to be a football manager. If I knew the vast majority of people wanted me to go, I'd need to contact TS at first signs of it and sort what was gonna happen with a view to me going, but not leaving him managerless.
This is where I think football is a completely different business to almost any other.
They all know the score though, don't they? If it's not going well, stay off social media for a month or two, put up with a bit of booing for 2 hours a week, and then you'll get a pay off that covers your wages for the next couple of years without you doing any work.
And then there's no real ill-will there, he seems a very decent bloke, it just hasn't worked out. So except a few cases, football fans don't hold that grudge too seriously - if 99% of us met Luzon, or Slade or whoever we'd be perfectly civil.
2 years left on his contract. Anyone care to guess what he's on a year? I imagine at a minimum it would cost half a million to pay him off. Don't think he'll be going anywhere for at least another 10 games.
I still think that with a change of formation, we can be more competitive, as there are enough options in the squad. Our 4231/433 isn't working as we're being slaughtered down the flanks. With 4 attacking players who can't defend on the pitch, it can easily look more like 424
Change to a Curbs/Powell 442 or 4411 with one winger and 3 midfielders and we look more solid, e.g.
Keeper
RB Lavelle Famewo LB
Clare/Morgan Arter/Dobson Gilbey/Morgan CBT/Leko
Lee/Leko/Washington
Stockley/Davison
In no way excusing Adkins, but is the constant use of the 433/ 4231 a requirement? We've heard of the pathway plan which sounds exactly like the saints model, a clear pathway from the youngest age group to first team, all play to the same formation and style, players and coaches are scouted and brought in to fit to the club's vision.
I guess a question.to ask is, are we paying 433/4231 because that's what Adkins wants or do we have Adkins because thats what the club wants - 433/4231, sound similar yet pretty different... Look at Adkins' past jobs in particular the League one seasons and he mainly played... yep, 442...add in the comments that Henry wrote up from the teams chat the other day, about what's needed for a league one squad he said:
Tall players - as lot of goals come from set pieces A captian - for those tough games
Warriors - for those tough games Athletic players to get through a 40+ game season
Settled side
Left and right set piece takers - as a lot of goals come from set pieces Pacey player 20+ goal a season man
Sounds like the basics of a 442 to me...
And from that list of league one must haves we signed what?
One tall player - Stockley Pacey player - CBT/Leko
Again, not excusing him as if his hands are a bit tied*, then he needs to have a word and say something to the powers that be rather than act a complete mug and go with it - that's still stackable as that's avoiding our issues in the hope it'll click.
* Not trying to add to the current list of CL conspiracy theories facts:
Roddy keeping Adkins in job because they're old buddies from when they wasn't at Reading together
Roddy not telling TS how bad it really is because TS has no way of seeing that for himself.
Adkins has lost the dressing room because he's far too nice and the players don't respect him because of it.
JJ and Euell have no say because Adkins Mr far too nice immediately shuts them down and bullies them into silence.
Adkins channels his inner Fraye and only gives instructions such as "play football"
DJ threw a dildo called Adkins at the dugout on Saturday.
It's a good question. I see a lot of comments that it's the formation that's the problem or doesn't suit the players we have. Every club in this division, and the one above, play either a flat back four and 1 central striker or 3/5 at the back. The very rare examples of 442 use either a diamond or box 4 rather than the flat 4 of yesteryear.
We played it at the end of the season last season and it worked. Kirk probably hasn't played in any other formation in his career, Leko and CBT would have played it a youth level, Arter has played it most of his career. It shouldn't bother Lavelle in his position. Lee played it at both Luton and Oxford.
All the summer recruitment should have been based on 4231/433 because that's what the manager wanted. It probably was but, to me, it looks like it was more based on data and "good players" rather than how they fit in to the team. Kirk and Lee are good examples of this, they are very different types of players to the ones we had in those roles last season.
It's not, in my opinion, that it doesn't suit the players it's that he doesn't have the players that have defensive nous to play the system. Corey Blackett Taylor does not understand tracking back, maybe one of the reasons he is at this level. Lee is once again a purely offensive player as is Kirk. Contrast that with someone like Miller, who clearly knew how to defend and attack, Pratley and the sorely missed Forster Caskey. Players like Dobson and Morgan are still learning the game but will be very good players but not yet. For me Adkins problem is that he is stuck to a system that is not producing results and refuses to alter that system, look at the substitution of Lee on Saturday, he bought Corey Blackett Taylor on rather than Stockley, he then changed it positionally twice after that.
I agree. Adkins has to go but this squad is no great shakes either. A terrible recruitment drive in the summer.
We are in deep shit
For me, the squad isn't bad but clear mistakes were made.
Not signing a quality midfielder who can run games, like a Dempsey.
Signing a big target man striker when supposedly we want to play football on the floor.
Re-signing Matthews instead of finding a new RB.
I know many would say we brought people in too late and that was a mistake but I don't know what the club was supposed to do there other than break the bank to get them in earlier. The football authorities have to look at how these windows are working where clubs aren't even getting their teams together until well into the season, it's a bit of a joke.
The squad is top half at a minimum, however, we're in mid-October and the manager still hasn't got it playing with any identity or consistent style of play. That's the problem.
Adkins and unfortunately a tarnished by association Jackson must go. An god forbid the Curbs gang , get their way, For me ask Chris Powell to take a contract to keep us up, with this shit squad, and re- evaluate at end of season.
Where was we when Powell got sacked and righty so bottom of the league .. let’s not forget his reaction to fans calling for his head at Sheffield
What did he do at Huddersfield and Southend poor manager who had one good year
Bottom of the league above where we are now with 5 games in hand. Strange you pull apart someone who achieved something at our club and yet defend someone to the hilt who has us in our lowest ever league position since the 4 division structure was created.
I’ve always been suspicious of the anti Powell brigade.
2 years left on his contract. Anyone care to guess what he's on a year? I imagine at a minimum it would cost half a million to pay him off. Don't think he'll be going anywhere for at least another 10 games.
Why? It will still cost half a million in another 10 games
Fully expect to lose tomorrow night and Adkins to be gone Wednesday.
We say that before every game..
I do think it applied before Fleetwood (thought losing 4-1 at home would do it anyway but losing the next game too definitely would, and the win saved him.
Maybe at this stage TS sees it as 2 wins from 3, but frankly we shouldn't count beating Southampton's youth team.
Adkins and unfortunately a tarnished by association Jackson must go. An god forbid the Curbs gang , get their way, For me ask Chris Powell to take a contract to keep us up, with this shit squad, and re- evaluate at end of season.
Where was we when Powell got sacked and righty so bottom of the league .. let’s not forget his reaction to fans calling for his head at Sheffield
What did he do at Huddersfield and Southend poor manager who had one good year
The year after he did very well to finish 9th in the Championship with a squad we'd only added freebies to since League One.
This might have been discussed but in case it hasn’t, I was told at the weekend that Washington asked to play down the middle and that request didn’t go down well with Adkins, so Washington has been marginalised. Sorry if that’s repetition, I haven’t read this whole thread!
I still think that with a change of formation, we can be more competitive, as there are enough options in the squad. Our 4231/433 isn't working as we're being slaughtered down the flanks. With 4 attacking players who can't defend on the pitch, it can easily look more like 424
Change to a Curbs/Powell 442 or 4411 with one winger and 3 midfielders and we look more solid, e.g.
Keeper
RB Lavelle Famewo LB
Clare/Morgan Arter/Dobson Gilbey/Morgan CBT/Leko
Lee/Leko/Washington
Stockley/Davison
In no way excusing Adkins, but is the constant use of the 433/ 4231 a requirement? We've heard of the pathway plan which sounds exactly like the saints model, a clear pathway from the youngest age group to first team, all play to the same formation and style, players and coaches are scouted and brought in to fit to the club's vision.
I guess a question.to ask is, are we paying 433/4231 because that's what Adkins wants or do we have Adkins because thats what the club wants - 433/4231, sound similar yet pretty different... Look at Adkins' past jobs in particular the League one seasons and he mainly played... yep, 442...add in the comments that Henry wrote up from the teams chat the other day, about what's needed for a league one squad he said:
Tall players - as lot of goals come from set pieces A captian - for those tough games
Warriors - for those tough games Athletic players to get through a 40+ game season
Settled side
Left and right set piece takers - as a lot of goals come from set pieces Pacey player 20+ goal a season man
Sounds like the basics of a 442 to me...
And from that list of league one must haves we signed what?
One tall player - Stockley Pacey player - CBT/Leko
Again, not excusing him as if his hands are a bit tied*, then he needs to have a word and say something to the powers that be rather than act a complete mug and go with it - that's still stackable as that's avoiding our issues in the hope it'll click.
* Not trying to add to the current list of CL conspiracy theories facts:
Roddy keeping Adkins in job because they're old buddies from when they wasn't at Reading together
Roddy not telling TS how bad it really is because TS has no way of seeing that for himself.
Adkins has lost the dressing room because he's far too nice and the players don't respect him because of it.
JJ and Euell have no say because Adkins Mr far too nice immediately shuts them down and bullies them into silence.
Adkins channels his inner Fraye and only gives instructions such as "play football"
DJ threw a dildo called Adkins at the dugout on Saturday.
It's a good question. I see a lot of comments that it's the formation that's the problem or doesn't suit the players we have. Every club in this division, and the one above, play either a flat back four and 1 central striker or 3/5 at the back. The very rare examples of 442 use either a diamond or box 4 rather than the flat 4 of yesteryear.
We played it at the end of the season last season and it worked. Kirk probably hasn't played in any other formation in his career, Leko and CBT would have played it a youth level, Arter has played it most of his career. It shouldn't bother Lavelle in his position. Lee played it at both Luton and Oxford.
All the summer recruitment should have been based on 4231/433 because that's what the manager wanted. It probably was but, to me, it looks like it was more based on data and "good players" rather than how they fit in to the team. Kirk and Lee are good examples of this, they are very different types of players to the ones we had in those roles last season.
It's not, in my opinion, that it doesn't suit the players it's that he doesn't have the players that have defensive nous to play the system. Corey Blackett Taylor does not understand tracking back, maybe one of the reasons he is at this level. Lee is once again a purely offensive player as is Kirk. Contrast that with someone like Miller, who clearly knew how to defend and attack, Pratley and the sorely missed Forster Caskey. Players like Dobson and Morgan are still learning the game but will be very good players but not yet. For me Adkins problem is that he is stuck to a system that is not producing results and refuses to alter that system, look at the substitution of Lee on Saturday, he bought Corey Blackett Taylor on rather than Stockley, he then changed it positionally twice after that.
I agree. Adkins has to go but this squad is no great shakes either. A terrible recruitment drive in the summer.
We are in deep shit
Agreed we are currently in deep shit. However, this current squad is easily a top 6-12th squad in the league. No way should this group of players be where they are. They are partly to blame but buck stops with Adkins.
Is it? To be 6-12th we would pretty much have to have had double the points we have got. I could make an argument for 4 or 5 more points, but not 9-10 with the players we have got.
Last season we had a 6-12th team, a couple of slight improvements would have made it a comfortable top 6 team. We haven't improved a single position (maybe right wing and back up RCB at a push). Every other new player is worse than the one they replaced, in the starting 11.
Add in the fact last season, for large parts, we were as poor as we are now, the big difference was Aneke turned defeats into draws and draws into wins.
I still think that with a change of formation, we can be more competitive, as there are enough options in the squad. Our 4231/433 isn't working as we're being slaughtered down the flanks. With 4 attacking players who can't defend on the pitch, it can easily look more like 424
Change to a Curbs/Powell 442 or 4411 with one winger and 3 midfielders and we look more solid, e.g.
Keeper
RB Lavelle Famewo LB
Clare/Morgan Arter/Dobson Gilbey/Morgan CBT/Leko
Lee/Leko/Washington
Stockley/Davison
In no way excusing Adkins, but is the constant use of the 433/ 4231 a requirement? We've heard of the pathway plan which sounds exactly like the saints model, a clear pathway from the youngest age group to first team, all play to the same formation and style, players and coaches are scouted and brought in to fit to the club's vision.
I guess a question.to ask is, are we paying 433/4231 because that's what Adkins wants or do we have Adkins because thats what the club wants - 433/4231, sound similar yet pretty different... Look at Adkins' past jobs in particular the League one seasons and he mainly played... yep, 442...add in the comments that Henry wrote up from the teams chat the other day, about what's needed for a league one squad he said:
Tall players - as lot of goals come from set pieces A captian - for those tough games
Warriors - for those tough games Athletic players to get through a 40+ game season
Settled side
Left and right set piece takers - as a lot of goals come from set pieces Pacey player 20+ goal a season man
Sounds like the basics of a 442 to me...
And from that list of league one must haves we signed what?
One tall player - Stockley Pacey player - CBT/Leko
Again, not excusing him as if his hands are a bit tied*, then he needs to have a word and say something to the powers that be rather than act a complete mug and go with it - that's still stackable as that's avoiding our issues in the hope it'll click.
* Not trying to add to the current list of CL conspiracy theories facts:
Roddy keeping Adkins in job because they're old buddies from when they wasn't at Reading together
Roddy not telling TS how bad it really is because TS has no way of seeing that for himself.
Adkins has lost the dressing room because he's far too nice and the players don't respect him because of it.
JJ and Euell have no say because Adkins Mr far too nice immediately shuts them down and bullies them into silence.
Adkins channels his inner Fraye and only gives instructions such as "play football"
DJ threw a dildo called Adkins at the dugout on Saturday.
It's a good question. I see a lot of comments that it's the formation that's the problem or doesn't suit the players we have. Every club in this division, and the one above, play either a flat back four and 1 central striker or 3/5 at the back. The very rare examples of 442 use either a diamond or box 4 rather than the flat 4 of yesteryear.
We played it at the end of the season last season and it worked. Kirk probably hasn't played in any other formation in his career, Leko and CBT would have played it a youth level, Arter has played it most of his career. It shouldn't bother Lavelle in his position. Lee played it at both Luton and Oxford.
All the summer recruitment should have been based on 4231/433 because that's what the manager wanted. It probably was but, to me, it looks like it was more based on data and "good players" rather than how they fit in to the team. Kirk and Lee are good examples of this, they are very different types of players to the ones we had in those roles last season.
It's not, in my opinion, that it doesn't suit the players it's that he doesn't have the players that have defensive nous to play the system. Corey Blackett Taylor does not understand tracking back, maybe one of the reasons he is at this level. Lee is once again a purely offensive player as is Kirk. Contrast that with someone like Miller, who clearly knew how to defend and attack, Pratley and the sorely missed Forster Caskey. Players like Dobson and Morgan are still learning the game but will be very good players but not yet. For me Adkins problem is that he is stuck to a system that is not producing results and refuses to alter that system, look at the substitution of Lee on Saturday, he bought Corey Blackett Taylor on rather than Stockley, he then changed it positionally twice after that.
I agree. Adkins has to go but this squad is no great shakes either. A terrible recruitment drive in the summer.
We are in deep shit
Agreed we are currently in deep shit. However, this current squad is easily a top 6-12th squad in the league. No way should this group of players be where they are. They are partly to blame but buck stops with Adkins.
Is it? To be 6-12th we would pretty much have to have had double the points we have got. I could make an argument for 4 or 5 more points, but not 9-10 with the players we have got.
Last season we had a 6-12th team, a couple of slight improvements would have made it a comfortable top 6 team. We haven't improved a single position (maybe right wing and back up RCB at a push). Every other new player is worse than the one they replaced, in the starting 11.
Add in the fact last season, for large parts, we were as poor as we are now, the big difference was Aneke turned defeats into draws and draws into wins.
The whole place is rotten.
It really is. This squad is easily good enough for 6-12th in League 1. You can’t keep blaming recruitment and not Adkins. We have a decent squad for the third division of English football.
In October we: Don’t look fit.. all Manager doesn’t know his best 11 Making 5/6 changes per game 3/4 different captains on a match day Look incredibly easy to beat Have no identity or style of play Players in wrong position, i.e Gilbey CDM, Morgan in Number 10.
Who’s fault is that.. just recruitment?
It’s a shambles. The squad is being managed terribly hence why it’s sitting in the bottom 3 of league 1.
You seriously going to say that you don’t think this squad isn’t capable of let’s say.. 9th at this point? Come on now. Stop deflecting it away from Adkins. I like the guy, but it very clearly isn’t working with him.
I still think that with a change of formation, we can be more competitive, as there are enough options in the squad. Our 4231/433 isn't working as we're being slaughtered down the flanks. With 4 attacking players who can't defend on the pitch, it can easily look more like 424
Change to a Curbs/Powell 442 or 4411 with one winger and 3 midfielders and we look more solid, e.g.
Keeper
RB Lavelle Famewo LB
Clare/Morgan Arter/Dobson Gilbey/Morgan CBT/Leko
Lee/Leko/Washington
Stockley/Davison
In no way excusing Adkins, but is the constant use of the 433/ 4231 a requirement? We've heard of the pathway plan which sounds exactly like the saints model, a clear pathway from the youngest age group to first team, all play to the same formation and style, players and coaches are scouted and brought in to fit to the club's vision.
I guess a question.to ask is, are we paying 433/4231 because that's what Adkins wants or do we have Adkins because thats what the club wants - 433/4231, sound similar yet pretty different... Look at Adkins' past jobs in particular the League one seasons and he mainly played... yep, 442...add in the comments that Henry wrote up from the teams chat the other day, about what's needed for a league one squad he said:
Tall players - as lot of goals come from set pieces A captian - for those tough games
Warriors - for those tough games Athletic players to get through a 40+ game season
Settled side
Left and right set piece takers - as a lot of goals come from set pieces Pacey player 20+ goal a season man
Sounds like the basics of a 442 to me...
And from that list of league one must haves we signed what?
One tall player - Stockley Pacey player - CBT/Leko
Again, not excusing him as if his hands are a bit tied*, then he needs to have a word and say something to the powers that be rather than act a complete mug and go with it - that's still stackable as that's avoiding our issues in the hope it'll click.
* Not trying to add to the current list of CL conspiracy theories facts:
Roddy keeping Adkins in job because they're old buddies from when they wasn't at Reading together
Roddy not telling TS how bad it really is because TS has no way of seeing that for himself.
Adkins has lost the dressing room because he's far too nice and the players don't respect him because of it.
JJ and Euell have no say because Adkins Mr far too nice immediately shuts them down and bullies them into silence.
Adkins channels his inner Fraye and only gives instructions such as "play football"
DJ threw a dildo called Adkins at the dugout on Saturday.
It's a good question. I see a lot of comments that it's the formation that's the problem or doesn't suit the players we have. Every club in this division, and the one above, play either a flat back four and 1 central striker or 3/5 at the back. The very rare examples of 442 use either a diamond or box 4 rather than the flat 4 of yesteryear.
We played it at the end of the season last season and it worked. Kirk probably hasn't played in any other formation in his career, Leko and CBT would have played it a youth level, Arter has played it most of his career. It shouldn't bother Lavelle in his position. Lee played it at both Luton and Oxford.
All the summer recruitment should have been based on 4231/433 because that's what the manager wanted. It probably was but, to me, it looks like it was more based on data and "good players" rather than how they fit in to the team. Kirk and Lee are good examples of this, they are very different types of players to the ones we had in those roles last season.
It's not, in my opinion, that it doesn't suit the players it's that he doesn't have the players that have defensive nous to play the system. Corey Blackett Taylor does not understand tracking back, maybe one of the reasons he is at this level. Lee is once again a purely offensive player as is Kirk. Contrast that with someone like Miller, who clearly knew how to defend and attack, Pratley and the sorely missed Forster Caskey. Players like Dobson and Morgan are still learning the game but will be very good players but not yet. For me Adkins problem is that he is stuck to a system that is not producing results and refuses to alter that system, look at the substitution of Lee on Saturday, he bought Corey Blackett Taylor on rather than Stockley, he then changed it positionally twice after that.
I agree. Adkins has to go but this squad is no great shakes either. A terrible recruitment drive in the summer.
We are in deep shit
A good manager will make this side hard to beat, Curbs stated that they are too open, he is spot on. TS and Adkins have stated that they have been surprised by the strength of this division, why? You have to beat the eleven men facing you and with Adkins as Manager there is clearly enough evidence to suggest that the chances of wins are limited.
Getting more pissed off at TS by the day. Why is Adkins still in charge of this football club.
I can't shake off the feeling that something bad is going on behind the scenes.
Most of us fell for Southall at first, and while I don't think TS is in the slightest bit dodgy I do feel we may have got far too excited about him. Let's face it, he did get us out of a dreadful situation but at the expense of separating the club from the Valley. A bit like Southall, he arrived at a time when we were desperate and said all the right things. I'm not sure what to think right now, and maybe I've got my conspiracy theory head on, but I'm anxious about the future under Tommy.
This might have been discussed but in case it hasn’t, I was told at the weekend that Washington asked to play down the middle and that request didn’t go down well with Adkins, so Washington has been marginalised. Sorry if that’s repetition, I haven’t read this whole thread!
I hope a lot of these stories are conjecture and make believe, but more and more seems to be seeping out that suggests Adkins isn't getting on well with players.
We had a transfer window before the season started that suggested we didn't have any money. Fair enough, but then we started buying players and had the size of squad that suggested we did. We heard suggestions of disquiet and no promotion bonuses which also suggested we didn't have any money.
Could it be we found money or was the window just terribly managed. I am minded of the rebuild under Powell, probably with less money spent, where signings were made early and there seemed to be a real togetherness. Could it be that we have too many cooks in our structure tripping over each other?
I feel a bit sorry for Sandgaard because he has invested, but I suppose that has to be tempered with the fact he appointed the people responsible for this mess. I was a bit scathing about him playing his song on the first game, not because of the song, but the lack of awareness of how poor the squad was which made it inappropriate. It can only point to a lack of awareness and being fed ballshit from the people he has appointed.
There is talk of getting a good CEO which is sensible, but the priority is getting a good manager and giving them control of the football side. You don't need a CEO for that. Sandgaard is paying for a lot of experts to discuss on Charlton TV. He can get their help in making the right appointment, but get rid of this stupid structure where Adkins actually told us he hadn't had a chance to speak to Kirk yet........after we had bloody signed him.
I don't get the total silence from Thomas or at least Roddy. Surely at least one of them ought to be saying something even if it's just to explain why Adkins is still here. Is it only Johnnie Jackson that is hurting? Adkins never gives the lightest impression that he's all that fussed. Is it because he's been told he'll still be managing us in the bottom tier! What on earth do we gain by leaving this man in charge. Tomorrow will be awful on every level and even a win won't paper over the cracks. Roddy and Adkins both needs to go. As far as I can see Roddy has added absolutely nothing. As I say apparently he has no view on how badly things are going. Adkins had two weeks to improve things ahead of Saturday. What wonders can he perform in two days? The die-hards like me will still go but lots won't, preferring to take up Nigel's advice and go for a walk. Sadly it'll be away from the club!
I still think that with a change of formation, we can be more competitive, as there are enough options in the squad. Our 4231/433 isn't working as we're being slaughtered down the flanks. With 4 attacking players who can't defend on the pitch, it can easily look more like 424
Change to a Curbs/Powell 442 or 4411 with one winger and 3 midfielders and we look more solid, e.g.
Keeper
RB Lavelle Famewo LB
Clare/Morgan Arter/Dobson Gilbey/Morgan CBT/Leko
Lee/Leko/Washington
Stockley/Davison
In no way excusing Adkins, but is the constant use of the 433/ 4231 a requirement? We've heard of the pathway plan which sounds exactly like the saints model, a clear pathway from the youngest age group to first team, all play to the same formation and style, players and coaches are scouted and brought in to fit to the club's vision.
I guess a question.to ask is, are we paying 433/4231 because that's what Adkins wants or do we have Adkins because thats what the club wants - 433/4231, sound similar yet pretty different... Look at Adkins' past jobs in particular the League one seasons and he mainly played... yep, 442...add in the comments that Henry wrote up from the teams chat the other day, about what's needed for a league one squad he said:
Tall players - as lot of goals come from set pieces A captian - for those tough games
Warriors - for those tough games Athletic players to get through a 40+ game season
Settled side
Left and right set piece takers - as a lot of goals come from set pieces Pacey player 20+ goal a season man
Sounds like the basics of a 442 to me...
And from that list of league one must haves we signed what?
One tall player - Stockley Pacey player - CBT/Leko
Again, not excusing him as if his hands are a bit tied*, then he needs to have a word and say something to the powers that be rather than act a complete mug and go with it - that's still stackable as that's avoiding our issues in the hope it'll click.
* Not trying to add to the current list of CL conspiracy theories facts:
Roddy keeping Adkins in job because they're old buddies from when they wasn't at Reading together
Roddy not telling TS how bad it really is because TS has no way of seeing that for himself.
Adkins has lost the dressing room because he's far too nice and the players don't respect him because of it.
JJ and Euell have no say because Adkins Mr far too nice immediately shuts them down and bullies them into silence.
Adkins channels his inner Fraye and only gives instructions such as "play football"
DJ threw a dildo called Adkins at the dugout on Saturday.
It's a good question. I see a lot of comments that it's the formation that's the problem or doesn't suit the players we have. Every club in this division, and the one above, play either a flat back four and 1 central striker or 3/5 at the back. The very rare examples of 442 use either a diamond or box 4 rather than the flat 4 of yesteryear.
We played it at the end of the season last season and it worked. Kirk probably hasn't played in any other formation in his career, Leko and CBT would have played it a youth level, Arter has played it most of his career. It shouldn't bother Lavelle in his position. Lee played it at both Luton and Oxford.
All the summer recruitment should have been based on 4231/433 because that's what the manager wanted. It probably was but, to me, it looks like it was more based on data and "good players" rather than how they fit in to the team. Kirk and Lee are good examples of this, they are very different types of players to the ones we had in those roles last season.
It's not, in my opinion, that it doesn't suit the players it's that he doesn't have the players that have defensive nous to play the system. Corey Blackett Taylor does not understand tracking back, maybe one of the reasons he is at this level. Lee is once again a purely offensive player as is Kirk. Contrast that with someone like Miller, who clearly knew how to defend and attack, Pratley and the sorely missed Forster Caskey. Players like Dobson and Morgan are still learning the game but will be very good players but not yet. For me Adkins problem is that he is stuck to a system that is not producing results and refuses to alter that system, look at the substitution of Lee on Saturday, he bought Corey Blackett Taylor on rather than Stockley, he then changed it positionally twice after that.
I agree. Adkins has to go but this squad is no great shakes either. A terrible recruitment drive in the summer.
We are in deep shit
Agreed we are currently in deep shit. However, this current squad is easily a top 6-12th squad in the league. No way should this group of players be where they are. They are partly to blame but buck stops with Adkins.
Is it? To be 6-12th we would pretty much have to have had double the points we have got. I could make an argument for 4 or 5 more points, but not 9-10 with the players we have got.
Last season we had a 6-12th team, a couple of slight improvements would have made it a comfortable top 6 team. We haven't improved a single position (maybe right wing and back up RCB at a push). Every other new player is worse than the one they replaced, in the starting 11.
Add in the fact last season, for large parts, we were as poor as we are now, the big difference was Aneke turned defeats into draws and draws into wins.
The whole place is rotten.
It really is. This squad is easily good enough for 6-12th in League 1. You can’t keep blaming recruitment and not Adkins. We have a decent squad for the third division of English football.
In October we: Don’t look fit.. all Manager doesn’t know his best 11 Making 5/6 changes per game Look incredibly easy to beat Have no identity or style of play Players in wrong position, i.e Gilbey CDM, Morgan in Number 10.
Who’s fault is that.. just recruitment?
It’s a shambles. The squad is being managed terribly hence why it’s sitting in the bottom 3 of league 1.
You seriously going to say that you don’t think this squad isn’t capable of let’s say.. 9th at this point? Come on now. Stop deflecting it away from Adkins. I like the guy, but it very clearly isn’t working with him.
To be 9th you would have to double our points. Compare it to last season. Keeper worse, left back worse, left winger worse, a massive JFC sized gap in the middle that hasn't been filled at all. No game changer coming off the bench which, how ever you dress it up, would have left us in the bottom half last season.
I am not deflecting it away from Adkins I am saying that just sacking him and plugging someone else in with the same players and same set up wouldn't magically have doubled our points total. I agree we should be doing better but I don't agree that we should be comfortably top half.
There is so much rotten, some of which is clearly Adkins fault, some of clearly isn't and some that we don't actually know who's fault it is.
He got the sub massively wrong on Saturday but outside of the starting 11 there wasn't anyone who is banging the door down to start a game.
There will be changes tomorrow night, regardless of who the manager is but the players that come in for the ones that were shit on Saturday will be the ones that were shit 2 or 3 games ago.
I still think that with a change of formation, we can be more competitive, as there are enough options in the squad. Our 4231/433 isn't working as we're being slaughtered down the flanks. With 4 attacking players who can't defend on the pitch, it can easily look more like 424
Change to a Curbs/Powell 442 or 4411 with one winger and 3 midfielders and we look more solid, e.g.
Keeper
RB Lavelle Famewo LB
Clare/Morgan Arter/Dobson Gilbey/Morgan CBT/Leko
Lee/Leko/Washington
Stockley/Davison
In no way excusing Adkins, but is the constant use of the 433/ 4231 a requirement? We've heard of the pathway plan which sounds exactly like the saints model, a clear pathway from the youngest age group to first team, all play to the same formation and style, players and coaches are scouted and brought in to fit to the club's vision.
I guess a question.to ask is, are we paying 433/4231 because that's what Adkins wants or do we have Adkins because thats what the club wants - 433/4231, sound similar yet pretty different... Look at Adkins' past jobs in particular the League one seasons and he mainly played... yep, 442...add in the comments that Henry wrote up from the teams chat the other day, about what's needed for a league one squad he said:
Tall players - as lot of goals come from set pieces A captian - for those tough games
Warriors - for those tough games Athletic players to get through a 40+ game season
Settled side
Left and right set piece takers - as a lot of goals come from set pieces Pacey player 20+ goal a season man
Sounds like the basics of a 442 to me...
And from that list of league one must haves we signed what?
One tall player - Stockley Pacey player - CBT/Leko
Again, not excusing him as if his hands are a bit tied*, then he needs to have a word and say something to the powers that be rather than act a complete mug and go with it - that's still stackable as that's avoiding our issues in the hope it'll click.
* Not trying to add to the current list of CL conspiracy theories facts:
Roddy keeping Adkins in job because they're old buddies from when they wasn't at Reading together
Roddy not telling TS how bad it really is because TS has no way of seeing that for himself.
Adkins has lost the dressing room because he's far too nice and the players don't respect him because of it.
JJ and Euell have no say because Adkins Mr far too nice immediately shuts them down and bullies them into silence.
Adkins channels his inner Fraye and only gives instructions such as "play football"
DJ threw a dildo called Adkins at the dugout on Saturday.
It's a good question. I see a lot of comments that it's the formation that's the problem or doesn't suit the players we have. Every club in this division, and the one above, play either a flat back four and 1 central striker or 3/5 at the back. The very rare examples of 442 use either a diamond or box 4 rather than the flat 4 of yesteryear.
We played it at the end of the season last season and it worked. Kirk probably hasn't played in any other formation in his career, Leko and CBT would have played it a youth level, Arter has played it most of his career. It shouldn't bother Lavelle in his position. Lee played it at both Luton and Oxford.
All the summer recruitment should have been based on 4231/433 because that's what the manager wanted. It probably was but, to me, it looks like it was more based on data and "good players" rather than how they fit in to the team. Kirk and Lee are good examples of this, they are very different types of players to the ones we had in those roles last season.
It's not, in my opinion, that it doesn't suit the players it's that he doesn't have the players that have defensive nous to play the system. Corey Blackett Taylor does not understand tracking back, maybe one of the reasons he is at this level. Lee is once again a purely offensive player as is Kirk. Contrast that with someone like Miller, who clearly knew how to defend and attack, Pratley and the sorely missed Forster Caskey. Players like Dobson and Morgan are still learning the game but will be very good players but not yet. For me Adkins problem is that he is stuck to a system that is not producing results and refuses to alter that system, look at the substitution of Lee on Saturday, he bought Corey Blackett Taylor on rather than Stockley, he then changed it positionally twice after that.
I agree. Adkins has to go but this squad is no great shakes either. A terrible recruitment drive in the summer.
We are in deep shit
Agreed we are currently in deep shit. However, this current squad is easily a top 6-12th squad in the league. No way should this group of players be where they are. They are partly to blame but buck stops with Adkins.
Is it? To be 6-12th we would pretty much have to have had double the points we have got. I could make an argument for 4 or 5 more points, but not 9-10 with the players we have got.
Last season we had a 6-12th team, a couple of slight improvements would have made it a comfortable top 6 team. We haven't improved a single position (maybe right wing and back up RCB at a push). Every other new player is worse than the one they replaced, in the starting 11.
Add in the fact last season, for large parts, we were as poor as we are now, the big difference was Aneke turned defeats into draws and draws into wins.
The whole place is rotten.
It really is. This squad is easily good enough for 6-12th in League 1. You can’t keep blaming recruitment and not Adkins. We have a decent squad for the third division of English football.
In October we: Don’t look fit.. all Manager doesn’t know his best 11 Making 5/6 changes per game Look incredibly easy to beat Have no identity or style of play Players in wrong position, i.e Gilbey CDM, Morgan in Number 10.
Who’s fault is that.. just recruitment?
It’s a shambles. The squad is being managed terribly hence why it’s sitting in the bottom 3 of league 1.
You seriously going to say that you don’t think this squad isn’t capable of let’s say.. 9th at this point? Come on now. Stop deflecting it away from Adkins. I like the guy, but it very clearly isn’t working with him.
To be 9th you would have to double our points. Compare it to last season. Keeper worse, left back worse, left winger worse, a massive JFC sized gap in the middle that hasn't been filled at all. No game changer coming off the bench which, how ever you dress it up, would have left us in the bottom half last season.
I am not deflecting it away from Adkins I am saying that just sacking him and plugging someone else in with the same players and same set up wouldn't magically have doubled our points total. I agree we should be doing better but I don't agree that we should be comfortably top half.
There is so much rotten, some of which is clearly Adkins fault, some of clearly isn't and some that we don't actually know who's fault it is.
He got the sub massively wrong on Saturday but outside of the starting 11 there wasn't anyone who is banging the door down to start a game.
There will be changes tomorrow night, regardless of who the manager is but the players that come in for the ones that were shit on Saturday will be the ones that were shit 2 or 3 games ago.
Surely the players are underperforming due to the tactics and coaching?
Yes the transfer window was a mess, but looking at the table we are below the likes of Morecombe, Cheltenham and Cambridge, and no way is our squad worse than theirs for example
I think fitness is an issue and the solution Adkins had for that has failed. I suspect it isn't totally his fault but who is to blame for our shambles of a summer? None of us know and maybe even Sandgaard doesn't know. He needs to reset it all now.
I still think that with a change of formation, we can be more competitive, as there are enough options in the squad. Our 4231/433 isn't working as we're being slaughtered down the flanks. With 4 attacking players who can't defend on the pitch, it can easily look more like 424
Change to a Curbs/Powell 442 or 4411 with one winger and 3 midfielders and we look more solid, e.g.
Keeper
RB Lavelle Famewo LB
Clare/Morgan Arter/Dobson Gilbey/Morgan CBT/Leko
Lee/Leko/Washington
Stockley/Davison
In no way excusing Adkins, but is the constant use of the 433/ 4231 a requirement? We've heard of the pathway plan which sounds exactly like the saints model, a clear pathway from the youngest age group to first team, all play to the same formation and style, players and coaches are scouted and brought in to fit to the club's vision.
I guess a question.to ask is, are we paying 433/4231 because that's what Adkins wants or do we have Adkins because thats what the club wants - 433/4231, sound similar yet pretty different... Look at Adkins' past jobs in particular the League one seasons and he mainly played... yep, 442...add in the comments that Henry wrote up from the teams chat the other day, about what's needed for a league one squad he said:
Tall players - as lot of goals come from set pieces A captian - for those tough games
Warriors - for those tough games Athletic players to get through a 40+ game season
Settled side
Left and right set piece takers - as a lot of goals come from set pieces Pacey player 20+ goal a season man
Sounds like the basics of a 442 to me...
And from that list of league one must haves we signed what?
One tall player - Stockley Pacey player - CBT/Leko
Again, not excusing him as if his hands are a bit tied*, then he needs to have a word and say something to the powers that be rather than act a complete mug and go with it - that's still stackable as that's avoiding our issues in the hope it'll click.
* Not trying to add to the current list of CL conspiracy theories facts:
Roddy keeping Adkins in job because they're old buddies from when they wasn't at Reading together
Roddy not telling TS how bad it really is because TS has no way of seeing that for himself.
Adkins has lost the dressing room because he's far too nice and the players don't respect him because of it.
JJ and Euell have no say because Adkins Mr far too nice immediately shuts them down and bullies them into silence.
Adkins channels his inner Fraye and only gives instructions such as "play football"
DJ threw a dildo called Adkins at the dugout on Saturday.
It's a good question. I see a lot of comments that it's the formation that's the problem or doesn't suit the players we have. Every club in this division, and the one above, play either a flat back four and 1 central striker or 3/5 at the back. The very rare examples of 442 use either a diamond or box 4 rather than the flat 4 of yesteryear.
We played it at the end of the season last season and it worked. Kirk probably hasn't played in any other formation in his career, Leko and CBT would have played it a youth level, Arter has played it most of his career. It shouldn't bother Lavelle in his position. Lee played it at both Luton and Oxford.
All the summer recruitment should have been based on 4231/433 because that's what the manager wanted. It probably was but, to me, it looks like it was more based on data and "good players" rather than how they fit in to the team. Kirk and Lee are good examples of this, they are very different types of players to the ones we had in those roles last season.
It's not, in my opinion, that it doesn't suit the players it's that he doesn't have the players that have defensive nous to play the system. Corey Blackett Taylor does not understand tracking back, maybe one of the reasons he is at this level. Lee is once again a purely offensive player as is Kirk. Contrast that with someone like Miller, who clearly knew how to defend and attack, Pratley and the sorely missed Forster Caskey. Players like Dobson and Morgan are still learning the game but will be very good players but not yet. For me Adkins problem is that he is stuck to a system that is not producing results and refuses to alter that system, look at the substitution of Lee on Saturday, he bought Corey Blackett Taylor on rather than Stockley, he then changed it positionally twice after that.
I agree. Adkins has to go but this squad is no great shakes either. A terrible recruitment drive in the summer.
We are in deep shit
Agreed we are currently in deep shit. However, this current squad is easily a top 6-12th squad in the league. No way should this group of players be where they are. They are partly to blame but buck stops with Adkins.
Is it? To be 6-12th we would pretty much have to have had double the points we have got. I could make an argument for 4 or 5 more points, but not 9-10 with the players we have got.
Last season we had a 6-12th team, a couple of slight improvements would have made it a comfortable top 6 team. We haven't improved a single position (maybe right wing and back up RCB at a push). Every other new player is worse than the one they replaced, in the starting 11.
Add in the fact last season, for large parts, we were as poor as we are now, the big difference was Aneke turned defeats into draws and draws into wins.
The whole place is rotten.
That there is one of the most overlooked issues. We'd have been a lot further down the table last season without his contributions and he helped paper over some bang average performances.
I still think that with a change of formation, we can be more competitive, as there are enough options in the squad. Our 4231/433 isn't working as we're being slaughtered down the flanks. With 4 attacking players who can't defend on the pitch, it can easily look more like 424
Change to a Curbs/Powell 442 or 4411 with one winger and 3 midfielders and we look more solid, e.g.
Keeper
RB Lavelle Famewo LB
Clare/Morgan Arter/Dobson Gilbey/Morgan CBT/Leko
Lee/Leko/Washington
Stockley/Davison
In no way excusing Adkins, but is the constant use of the 433/ 4231 a requirement? We've heard of the pathway plan which sounds exactly like the saints model, a clear pathway from the youngest age group to first team, all play to the same formation and style, players and coaches are scouted and brought in to fit to the club's vision.
I guess a question.to ask is, are we paying 433/4231 because that's what Adkins wants or do we have Adkins because thats what the club wants - 433/4231, sound similar yet pretty different... Look at Adkins' past jobs in particular the League one seasons and he mainly played... yep, 442...add in the comments that Henry wrote up from the teams chat the other day, about what's needed for a league one squad he said:
Tall players - as lot of goals come from set pieces A captian - for those tough games
Warriors - for those tough games Athletic players to get through a 40+ game season
Settled side
Left and right set piece takers - as a lot of goals come from set pieces Pacey player 20+ goal a season man
Sounds like the basics of a 442 to me...
And from that list of league one must haves we signed what?
One tall player - Stockley Pacey player - CBT/Leko
Again, not excusing him as if his hands are a bit tied*, then he needs to have a word and say something to the powers that be rather than act a complete mug and go with it - that's still stackable as that's avoiding our issues in the hope it'll click.
* Not trying to add to the current list of CL conspiracy theories facts:
Roddy keeping Adkins in job because they're old buddies from when they wasn't at Reading together
Roddy not telling TS how bad it really is because TS has no way of seeing that for himself.
Adkins has lost the dressing room because he's far too nice and the players don't respect him because of it.
JJ and Euell have no say because Adkins Mr far too nice immediately shuts them down and bullies them into silence.
Adkins channels his inner Fraye and only gives instructions such as "play football"
DJ threw a dildo called Adkins at the dugout on Saturday.
It's a good question. I see a lot of comments that it's the formation that's the problem or doesn't suit the players we have. Every club in this division, and the one above, play either a flat back four and 1 central striker or 3/5 at the back. The very rare examples of 442 use either a diamond or box 4 rather than the flat 4 of yesteryear.
We played it at the end of the season last season and it worked. Kirk probably hasn't played in any other formation in his career, Leko and CBT would have played it a youth level, Arter has played it most of his career. It shouldn't bother Lavelle in his position. Lee played it at both Luton and Oxford.
All the summer recruitment should have been based on 4231/433 because that's what the manager wanted. It probably was but, to me, it looks like it was more based on data and "good players" rather than how they fit in to the team. Kirk and Lee are good examples of this, they are very different types of players to the ones we had in those roles last season.
It's not, in my opinion, that it doesn't suit the players it's that he doesn't have the players that have defensive nous to play the system. Corey Blackett Taylor does not understand tracking back, maybe one of the reasons he is at this level. Lee is once again a purely offensive player as is Kirk. Contrast that with someone like Miller, who clearly knew how to defend and attack, Pratley and the sorely missed Forster Caskey. Players like Dobson and Morgan are still learning the game but will be very good players but not yet. For me Adkins problem is that he is stuck to a system that is not producing results and refuses to alter that system, look at the substitution of Lee on Saturday, he bought Corey Blackett Taylor on rather than Stockley, he then changed it positionally twice after that.
I agree. Adkins has to go but this squad is no great shakes either. A terrible recruitment drive in the summer.
We are in deep shit
Agreed we are currently in deep shit. However, this current squad is easily a top 6-12th squad in the league. No way should this group of players be where they are. They are partly to blame but buck stops with Adkins.
Is it? To be 6-12th we would pretty much have to have had double the points we have got. I could make an argument for 4 or 5 more points, but not 9-10 with the players we have got.
Last season we had a 6-12th team, a couple of slight improvements would have made it a comfortable top 6 team. We haven't improved a single position (maybe right wing and back up RCB at a push). Every other new player is worse than the one they replaced, in the starting 11.
Add in the fact last season, for large parts, we were as poor as we are now, the big difference was Aneke turned defeats into draws and draws into wins.
The whole place is rotten.
It really is. This squad is easily good enough for 6-12th in League 1. You can’t keep blaming recruitment and not Adkins. We have a decent squad for the third division of English football.
In October we: Don’t look fit.. all Manager doesn’t know his best 11 Making 5/6 changes per game Look incredibly easy to beat Have no identity or style of play Players in wrong position, i.e Gilbey CDM, Morgan in Number 10.
Who’s fault is that.. just recruitment?
It’s a shambles. The squad is being managed terribly hence why it’s sitting in the bottom 3 of league 1.
You seriously going to say that you don’t think this squad isn’t capable of let’s say.. 9th at this point? Come on now. Stop deflecting it away from Adkins. I like the guy, but it very clearly isn’t working with him.
To be 9th you would have to double our points. Compare it to last season. Keeper worse, left back worse, left winger worse, a massive JFC sized gap in the middle that hasn't been filled at all. No game changer coming off the bench which, how ever you dress it up, would have left us in the bottom half last season.
I am not deflecting it away from Adkins I am saying that just sacking him and plugging someone else in with the same players and same set up wouldn't magically have doubled our points total. I agree we should be doing better but I don't agree that we should be comfortably top half.
There is so much rotten, some of which is clearly Adkins fault, some of clearly isn't and some that we don't actually know who's fault it is.
He got the sub massively wrong on Saturday but outside of the starting 11 there wasn't anyone who is banging the door down to start a game.
There will be changes tomorrow night, regardless of who the manager is but the players that come in for the ones that were shit on Saturday will be the ones that were shit 2 or 3 games ago.
Surely the players are underperforming due to the tactics and coaching?
Yes the transfer window was a mess, but looking at the table we are below the likes of Morecombe, Cheltenham and Cambridge, and no way is our squad worse than theirs for example
4 or 5 extra points would put us in with the likes of Morecambe etc and Ipswich BTW, which I think is where we probably should be. But I think we would still be having the Adkins out conversation anyway.
There is no argument now, as far as I can see, that he shouldn't go. The only argument is will just sacking Adkins magically make us a top half team? I don't think it will. And that's a failing of others.
I know I was looking at the signing of Aneke as the marker for me buying a season ticket. We were told he wanted to sign by Adkins, but how hard did we try? No events after that persuaded me. This was all predictable at the time and Thomas writes a bloody song!!!!
Comments
This is where I think football is a completely different business to almost any other.
And then there's no real ill-will there, he seems a very decent bloke, it just hasn't worked out. So except a few cases, football fans don't hold that grudge too seriously - if 99% of us met Luzon, or Slade or whoever we'd be perfectly civil.
So they wait for the sack.
Not signing a quality midfielder who can run games, like a Dempsey.
Signing a big target man striker when supposedly we want to play football on the floor.
Re-signing Matthews instead of finding a new RB.
I know many would say we brought people in too late and that was a mistake but I don't know what the club was supposed to do there other than break the bank to get them in earlier. The football authorities have to look at how these windows are working where clubs aren't even getting their teams together until well into the season, it's a bit of a joke.
Maybe at this stage TS sees it as 2 wins from 3, but frankly we shouldn't count beating Southampton's youth team.
But another loss tomorrow....
Last season we had a 6-12th team, a couple of slight improvements would have made it a comfortable top 6 team. We haven't improved a single position (maybe right wing and back up RCB at a push). Every other new player is worse than the one they replaced, in the starting 11.
Add in the fact last season, for large parts, we were as poor as we are now, the big difference was Aneke turned defeats into draws and draws into wins.
The whole place is rotten.
Don’t look fit.. all
Manager doesn’t know his best 11
Making 5/6 changes per game
3/4 different captains on a match day
Look incredibly easy to beat
Have no identity or style of play
Players in wrong position, i.e Gilbey CDM, Morgan in Number 10.
You seriously going to say that you don’t think this squad isn’t capable of let’s say.. 9th at this point? Come on now. Stop deflecting it away from Adkins. I like the guy, but it very clearly isn’t working with him.
Could it be we found money or was the window just terribly managed. I am minded of the rebuild under Powell, probably with less money spent, where signings were made early and there seemed to be a real togetherness. Could it be that we have too many cooks in our structure tripping over each other?
I feel a bit sorry for Sandgaard because he has invested, but I suppose that has to be tempered with the fact he appointed the people responsible for this mess. I was a bit scathing about him playing his song on the first game, not because of the song, but the lack of awareness of how poor the squad was which made it inappropriate. It can only point to a lack of awareness and being fed ballshit from the people he has appointed.
There is talk of getting a good CEO which is sensible, but the priority is getting a good manager and giving them control of the football side. You don't need a CEO for that. Sandgaard is paying for a lot of experts to discuss on Charlton TV. He can get their help in making the right appointment, but get rid of this stupid structure where Adkins actually told us he hadn't had a chance to speak to Kirk yet........after we had bloody signed him.
Is it only Johnnie Jackson that is hurting?
Adkins never gives the lightest impression that he's all that fussed. Is it because he's been told he'll still be managing us in the bottom tier!
What on earth do we gain by leaving this man in charge. Tomorrow will be awful on every level and even a win won't paper over the cracks.
Roddy and Adkins both needs to go. As far as I can see Roddy has added absolutely nothing. As I say apparently he has no view on how badly things are going.
Adkins had two weeks to improve things ahead of Saturday. What wonders can he perform in two days?
The die-hards like me will still go but lots won't, preferring to take up Nigel's advice and go for a walk. Sadly it'll be away from the club!
I am not deflecting it away from Adkins I am saying that just sacking him and plugging someone else in with the same players and same set up wouldn't magically have doubled our points total. I agree we should be doing better but I don't agree that we should be comfortably top half.
There is so much rotten, some of which is clearly Adkins fault, some of clearly isn't and some that we don't actually know who's fault it is.
He got the sub massively wrong on Saturday but outside of the starting 11 there wasn't anyone who is banging the door down to start a game.
There will be changes tomorrow night, regardless of who the manager is but the players that come in for the ones that were shit on Saturday will be the ones that were shit 2 or 3 games ago.
Yes the transfer window was a mess, but looking at the table we are below the likes of Morecombe, Cheltenham and Cambridge, and no way is our squad worse than theirs for example
There is no argument now, as far as I can see, that he shouldn't go. The only argument is will just sacking Adkins magically make us a top half team? I don't think it will. And that's a failing of others.