How many tactical mistakes is Adkins allowed? (Part 2)

[Dig Dig]

Spot on. The likes of Dig Dig drain the forum of any effective debate with inane drivel, he said, she said. The sooner a rogue poster like this is banned the better, and throw away the key.

 

you're a complete wierdo mate

[Saint Charlie]

you're a complete wierdo mate

 

Again - quality comeback. Keep up your smear campaign against the likes of DPS if you like. Fortunately the Forum will know the truth.

 

Mods - deal with this worm.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

What about your OP?....a few sentences with fairly generic statements about "weird" substitutions.

 

I've never said Adkins has been perfect but always maintained that we should stick with him through the first difficult patch we've had with him at the helm.

 

This is part 2 of the thread. I didn't want to re-write what was said in my first thread, so go have a look at that one.

[Glasgow_Saint]

DPS "Helen Flanagan" is back tracking quicker than an italian tank!!

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

DPS "Helen Flanagan" is back tracking quicker than an italian tank!!

 

Who the hell is this Helen Flanaghan?

[Glasgow_Saint]

Can we lock this dumb thread now?

[NickG]

Curious if those calling for Adkins to be sacked are thinking they were silly or still think he should go?

 

Clearly a long way to go and far from safe but the upturn many predicted after the hard fixtures, getting settled into premiership and Gaston returning has happened and the club seems optimistic.

 

 

 

As the last thread was closed (not exactly sure why), I wanted to know whether people still believe whether tactical mistakes by Adkins are costing us games?

 

For me his time is up. His constant weird lineups, substitutions and formations are killing us.

 

Out of his depth tactically I am afraid.

 

Yep, he's used up his nine lives, imo.

 

Firmly in the camp that believes he should step down, after tonights effort. Really feel sorry for the 500 who made that journey.

 

adkins out

 

Should be game over.

 

I find it hard as he has done so much right and really is a decent chap.

 

But

 

He made silly mistakes in the champ if I remember rightly and just doesnt seem to have a grip on whats goong wrong.

I think we need a change in manager now, and I am usually so positive.

 

Its not just the losing points but seems to be the way we are losing. And it seems to be getting worse.

 

Nicola, you need to make the decision to sack Adkins, and do it now.

 

If you don't act decisively and in a timely manner I can see you being blamed for this appalling start to the Season. Appoint a proper Premier League Manager, even if it is old saggy chops, and do it now.

 

That's kind of like sticking your head in the sand and going ''LALALALLALALA'' though, isn't it?

 

I love NA, I think he's been terrific for us and can't thank him enough for getting us back where we are. But I want to stay here. I want a club that's as competitive as it came be at this level, and if we need to change our manager to achieve it, then so be it.

 

As it stands Nigel is showing that he's not quite at hte level tactically against PL managers, he's made a few clangers, and has tried to change things in the summer which didn't really need to be changed. I want him to go out whilst it's not such a bad situation, rather than seeing him go out being heckled by fans. Which is what will happen if we continue to lose.

 

We played a reserve team a d get hammered and you don't seem bothered? Scary - presumably the first team are too tired to be on the bench? Pathetic - Adkins out.....

 

stick your head in the sand if you want...

 

we are pathetically easy to beat..no matter who we play or what team we put out

 

Its not all Cortese is it though ?

 

The club is obviously trying to be forward thinking (I tjought in the summer it was too early for some of the ideas) and as such they probably all sat down at the start of the season and agreed a way of moving forward.

 

Adkins is out of his depth, blaming everyone else is an easy excuse to not blame a liked man unfortunately.

 

Adkins has been a bad manager since last Christmas not just the last few games,he has shown that when under pressure he can't operate properly,he did get promotion but after leading the pack comfortably for the first half of the season he nearly blew it.

All this 'Eric cantona' style poetry ****** is just him covering his arse because he knows he will be gone soon......I admit that it is not all his fault as he has suggested as much but you can bet your life that he will be the one blamed for the good of the club.

 

Last season Wigan began D..D..W..and then lost 8 in a row, 5 points out of 33.

 

They scored 8 in that time and conceded 22.

 

They stuck with the manager who was implementing a style of play. It was a brave decision but worked out.

 

Cortese faces an equally tough decision, possibly gamble.

 

As much as NA has done for him and i am normally very positive, a few of his team selections and substitutes have been very much unlike his general decisions in past seasons that I am now doubtful that in fact he is capable of this step-up. Perhaps he is bemused by the squad size he now has...

 

Sad but Southampton are more important that any one individual regardless of what he has achieved.

 

I've never been convinced about Adkins and always felt the promotions were acheived with Pardew's influence still evident but I'm not sure how much he is to blame for the present weakness in defence, or whether it is due to Cortese having the final say on transfers. Adkins said early in close season that he anted 2 CBs and a speedy RW. On that basis bith Martin and Seaborene were offered on loan, although Seaborne's loan ultiomately did not go through but it wasn't until the very end of the Transfer window that one CB was brought in and as a Japanese player from a European club, he needed a pre-season with us but did not get it.

We also have too many forwards so thyat a proven goal scorere, Billy Sharp, is out on loan and others are played out of position. Do we know where responsibility for the transfer policy really lies? I suspect it isn't with Adkins. I'll shed no tears if he is replaced with an experienced Prem manager but will feel sorry that he was really out of his depth.

 

I'm starting to believe Cortese doesn't have a replacement lined up he would have acted before now if he did, It was clear ages ago that the players were not performing in any way for Adkins and had lost faith in him.

 

Thats exactly what I think.

 

I love NA, good guy and all that but our PL status is at stake here.

 

I think both of them need to go in all honesty. What difference would sackling Les Reed now do? We can't buy anyone, yet we still need to turn it around.

 

I can't believe that Adkins is such a fanny that he would send his team out in that formation, or at least not change it after 5 minutes? I genuinely believe this formation is his idea.

[itchen]

I think I probably could have predicted most of the contributors to NickG's highlights post above. Though, Nick, there's no point in your post. Even if Adkins guides us to mid-table or better they'll just find another scapegoat. It's the default position

 

You're quite right that 3 good results won't be enough and that we need to keep improving. I hope we do and I'm fairly sure we will. But I'm of the camp that would rather show loyalty to a manager who got us here and who can, if we do go down, bring us straight back up again. I'd rather that than any of the chancers we're likely to get as a replacement. At least we've dodged the Redknapp bullet.

[CB Saint]

The criticism of Il Duce has quietened as well, since the points have started flowing again. Fair play for not pulling the trigger earlier.

[Wade Garrett]

I wanted Adkins sacked. But I'm loving being proved wrong. Yesterday's performance was top class. Jack Cork has made us a lot more solid and harder to break down, and Ramirez, Puncheon and Lallana are outstanding.

 

Long may it continue.

 

Mind you, the smug f*ckers on here, quoting supporters who have/had a different opinion on Adkins than the majority, are getting right on my tits.

[Wade Garrett]

I think I probably could have predicted most of the contributors to NickG's highlights post above. Though, Nick, there's no point in your post. Even if Adkins guides us to mid-table or better they'll just find another scapegoat. It's the default position

 

You're quite right that 3 good results won't be enough and that we need to keep improving. I hope we do and I'm fairly sure we will. But I'm of the camp that would rather show loyalty to a manager who got us here and who can, if we do go down, bring us straight back up again. I'd rather that than any of the chancers we're likely to get as a replacement. At least we've dodged the Redknapp bullet.

 

Sorry, you sound like a smug f*cker.

[Barry the Badger]

I'm firmly in the stick with Adkins camp, but the smug bastards on here after we beat two out of form **** teams is just as ridiculous as those who called for the sacking after we lost to some amazing teams.

[itchen]

Sorry, you sound like a smug f*cker.

 

Thanks. A well-reasoned, well-thought-out post.

[hypochondriac]

I'm firmly in the stick with Adkins camp, but the smug bastards on here after we beat two out of form **** teams is just as ridiculous as those who called for the sacking after we lost to some amazing teams.

 

Precisely. Well done to adkins. He really did have to turn it around though and it looked like we were not changing.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

What I find funniest about this whole situation is that those now being smug have still failed to understand the points made.

 

The reason I felt that Nigel had to go was the strange team selections, flicking between formations and substitutions that in my opinion was costing us matches. I have outlined these many times on this forum so I'm not going to repeat them. However, since we've started Lambert every game, we've not tried to shoehorn JRod on the left wing, stopped taking off our best players etc, we've started winning.

 

I am happy to admit I was wrong and he shouldn't go, but personally I think people should have the humility to also recognise that we were right after all.

 

Very happy at the moment though.

[Turkish]

What I find funniest about this whole situation is that those now being smug have still failed to understand the points made.

 

The reason I felt that Nigel had to go was the strange team selections, flicking between formations and substitutions that in my opinion was costing us matches. I have outlined these many times on this forum so I'm not going to repeat them. However, since we've started Lambert every game, we've not tried to shoehorn JRod on the left wing, stopped taking off our best players etc, we've started winning.

 

I am happy to admit I was wrong and he shouldn't go, but personally I think people should have the humility to also recognise that we were right after all.

 

Very happy at the moment though.

 

Agreed. Your OP makes it clear that is was strange line ups NC substitutions that are costing us. In the last 3 games we've been a lot more consistent, players being played in their proper positions and no wierd subs. Unfortunately may of the mugs on here can only see black and white and ignore this bit and just see ADKINS OUT FFS.

[norwaysaint]

I think the point is that they saw the faults, just like you did, but they had also witnessed that Adkins was an intelligent manager and would learn and improve, which we still hope he is doing. what many people found wrong was the knee-jerk reaction that "the manager's getting it wrong-sack him!"

 

It was a knee-jerk reaction and we should learn better after the amount of managers we've had over the years, but at least it's a knee-jerk reaction born of passion, even if it's a bit misguided.

[alpine_saint]

I'm firmly in the stick with Adkins camp, but the smug bastards on here after we beat two out of form **** teams is just as ridiculous as those who called for the sacking after we lost to some amazing teams.

 

Post of the Day.

[NickG]

A manager who have been exceptional for us for two years doesn't become bad overnight and need to be written off.

 

A manager who has given us two amazing seasons and promotions has earned a bit of slack not to be written off after a matter of several bad minutes of football.

 

You cannot judge a season purely by games against the top ten sides.

 

You should not fail to recognise the quality of football that we produced within games, albeit not for whole games, e.g. Man City, Man U, Everton, West Ham, Aston Villa, Spurs, Swansea.

 

You need to be aware of the impact of missing Ramirez and Cork can have.

 

 

Maybe those who knew Adkins deserved more time are a bit smug.

 

Several of the 'Adkins out' posters were aggressively tediously repeating their critisms of him and shouting down those who disagreed - mocking those saying our season starts in effect in November.

 

If it ****es off a few, maybe it will help them to step back and not over react when we lose...maybe in couple of days time.

 

It could of been worse, I saw someone's thread on here from a couple of weeks ago saying we should sell Ramirez and play Chaplow!!

 

The most reassuring thing, which has always given me confidence that we will stay up..is how sure Delldays and Alpine are that we are already down - with their track record for accuracy we should be fine

 

Enjoyed MOTD2 this morning!

 

Have good day and looking forward to Wednesday and then my first trip to Anfield.

[Wes Tender]

What I find funniest about this whole situation is that those now being smug have still failed to understand the points made.

 

The reason I felt that Nigel had to go was the strange team selections, flicking between formations and substitutions that in my opinion was costing us matches. I have outlined these many times on this forum so I'm not going to repeat them. However, since we've started Lambert every game, we've not tried to shoehorn JRod on the left wing, stopped taking off our best players etc, we've started winning.

 

I am happy to admit I was wrong and he shouldn't go, but personally I think people should have the humility to also recognise that we were right after all.

 

Very happy at the moment though.

 

What I find funniest is that some posters were prepared to draw their own conclusions as to Adkins's ability to manage in the Premiership based on factors where they had no real understanding of the reasons for those decisions he made which they criticised. Most accepted the points being made, but disputed their validity, which they are entitled to do on a forum of opinions.

 

Let's just take your list as an example; you say that there were strange team selections, changing formations and substitutions that you disagreed with.

 

So did you have inside information regarding the fitness of the squad, their mental attitude, or whether players were chosen to counteract strengths, or exploit weaknesses in their opponent's team?

 

Should we play the same formation every game throughout the season and then make it easy for a rival manager to exploit it because we are so predictable? Again, different formations suit the different players available to play them and are also determined by the formation that the opposition are playing.

 

Do you also know the reasons for the substitutions? Were players carrying knocks? Were they becoming overtired? Were some made to counteract substitutions made by our opponents, or were they tactical?

 

We took off arguably our two best players at 76 and 78 minutes yesterday. But we managed to win despite that.

 

It is very easy to look at a string of results and call for the manager's head, but much more difficult to justify it with credibility, unless one has the facts that brought about the results.

 

I very much doubt that we are winning because we are starting Lambert every game, not playing J Rod on the wing and stopped taking off our best players, etc.

 

I suspect that it has a lot more to do with us having available two key players back from injury like Cork and Ramirez, a more settled defence who are starting to develop an understanding of each others strengths and weaknesses, growing confidence gained from playing teams who are closer to us in the table rather than the division's top teams and players adapting gradually to the increased pace and pressures in the Premiership.

[notnowcato]

The war is not over. Knee jerk reactions to defeats or victories is just stupid. To paraphrase the great man "Don't get too high on a win or too low on a defeat."

 

Norwich will be a better indicator of the improvement shown in the results of out last 3 games.

[tajjuk]

Curious if those calling for Adkins to be sacked are thinking they were silly or still think he should go?

 

Clearly a long way to go and far from safe but the upturn many predicted after the hard fixtures, getting settled into premiership and Gaston returning has happened and the club seems optimistic.

 

I think Nick's post highlights why football fans should never be involved in the running of the club, those comments he picked up on look a bit silly now.

 

What I find funniest is that some posters were prepared to draw their own conclusions as to Adkins's ability to manage in the Premiership based on factors where they had no real understanding of the reasons for those decisions he made which they criticised. Most accepted the points being made, but disputed their validity, which they are entitled to do on a forum of opinions.

 

Let's just take your list as an example; you say that there were strange team selections, changing formations and substitutions that you disagreed with.

 

So did you have inside information regarding the fitness of the squad, their mental attitude, or whether players were chosen to counteract strengths, or exploit weaknesses in their opponent's team?

 

Should we play the same formation every game throughout the season and then make it easy for a rival manager to exploit it because we are so predictable? Again, different formations suit the different players available to play them and are also determined by the formation that the opposition are playing.

 

Do you also know the reasons for the substitutions? Were players carrying knocks? Were they becoming overtired? Were some made to counteract substitutions made by our opponents, or were they tactical?

 

We took off arguably our two best players at 76 and 78 minutes yesterday. But we managed to win despite that.

 

It is very easy to look at a string of results and call for the manager's head, but much more difficult to justify it with credibility, unless one has the facts that brought about the results.

 

I very much doubt that we are winning because we are starting Lambert every game, not playing J Rod on the wing and stopped taking off our best players, etc.

 

I suspect that it has a lot more to do with us having available two key players back from injury like Cork and Ramirez, a more settled defence who are starting to develop an understanding of each others strengths and weaknesses, growing confidence gained from playing teams who are closer to us in the table rather than the division's top teams and players adapting gradually to the increased pace and pressures in the Premiership.

 

Essentially this. This thread is full of massive overreactions and some people should be eating some humble pie.

 

We aren't safe yet not even close but I think recent results have put some of these comments about Adkins to shame.

 

I think those that gave him some slack and trusted in him as he's a good manager are allowed to be a bit smug.

[Wes Tender]

The war is not over. Knee jerk reactions to defeats or victories is just stupid. To paraphrase the great man "Don't get too high on a win or too low on a defeat."

 

Norwich will be a better indicator of the improvement shown in the results of out last 3 games.

 

Exactly. The season is a long hard slog and there is still the transfer window in January where adjustments can be made to improve us. Far too early to draw any credible conclusions from a difficult start to the season against very strong opposition early on.

[Frank's cousin]

If we take out the obvious benefits of Ramirez and Cork returning, The back four starting to find an undrstanding and playing sides that are not on their game (and we can only beat who we are playing so it should not detract from teh quality we showed) - the most obvious improvement IMHO has been in the mental side - we seem much more confident and this should help during more difficult games to come. Tactically, I still think we will struggle against the more pragmatic defencive sides, as when we are forced to be patient, we seem at times to struggle to know what to do - when we attack at pace it seems a far morr natural for these players and it shows in the success we have when they dont have too much time to think about it and follow their instincts - which shows they have the brains and ability to make it work.

 

Will Norwich be a better indicator? possibly, but also depends on how they play on the day. I appreciate that we must not get carried away and start believing we are better than we are because of 7 points out of 9 against sides not at the races, but the reality is its 7 out of 9 and to over analyse at times is probably doing the lads a diservice. A win is a win and the confidence that breeds and as we have seen and the media noted, once again teh sum of our parts looks better than the individuals as we seem to have that belief and team spirit that we saw so often last season - maybe we have simply gotten used to the pace and quality and over teh 'shock' of the quality and performance gap necessary to survive and progess?

[Guan 2.0]

Why all the 'we gave your boys one hell of a beating' attitude on here? I would have thought that a 2-0 win with excellent attacking play would have brought out some positive reactions and a bit of looking onwards and upwards. Instead we have all this backchecking of anyone who said a peep against the way the season was going? If you really must moan about something, moan about Merrington and his noddy comments about NA not being his own man. When talking about a guy whose first act with Cortese was to tell him to stick his job if he wouldn't give Scunny a payout FFS.

[Barry Sanchez]

I will stand up and say I have always been one of his biggest critics, his substitutions and formations have left me puzzled to say the least but the last few games have been much better.

Its too early for the pro Adkins fans to think he is Guardiola though, we have won two games on the spin and thats brilliant but we need to get to 40 points before anything else.

[Turkish]

What I find funniest is that some posters were prepared to draw their own conclusions as to Adkins's ability to manage in the Premiership based on factors where they had no real understanding of the reasons for those decisions he made which they criticised. Most accepted the points being made, but disputed their validity, which they are entitled to do on a forum of opinions.

 

Let's just take your list as an example; you say that there were strange team selections, changing formations and substitutions that you disagreed with.

 

So did you have inside information regarding the fitness of the squad, their mental attitude, or whether players were chosen to counteract strengths, or exploit weaknesses in their opponent's team?

 

Should we play the same formation every game throughout the season and then make it easy for a rival manager to exploit it because we are so predictable? Again, different formations suit the different players available to play them and are also determined by the formation that the opposition are playing.

 

Do you also know the reasons for the substitutions? Were players carrying knocks? Were they becoming overtired? Were some made to counteract substitutions made by our opponents, or were they tactical?

 

We took off arguably our two best players at 76 and 78 minutes yesterday. But we managed to win despite that.

 

It is very easy to look at a string of results and call for the manager's head, but much more difficult to justify it with credibility, unless one has the facts that brought about the results.

 

I very much doubt that we are winning because we are starting Lambert every game, not playing J Rod on the wing and stopped taking off our best players, etc.

 

I suspect that it has a lot more to do with us having available two key players back from injury like Cork and Ramirez, a more settled defence who are starting to develop an understanding of each others strengths and weaknesses, growing confidence gained from playing teams who are closer to us in the table rather than the division's top teams and players adapting gradually to the increased pace and pressures in the Premiership.

 

Jesus Les, i'd hate to go shopping with you. When choosing a loaf of bread do you make sure you know the inside information as to who baked the bread, the exact content of the yeast and flour, how hot the oven was, how long it was left to stand before being sliced and packaged and the distance the lorry travelling in delivering the bread to the shop before you were able to decide if that loaf of bread was going to make decent toast the next morning.

[Barry Sanchez]

Jesus Les, i'd hate to go shopping with you. When choosing a loaf of bread do you make sure you know the inside information as to who baked the bread, the exact content of the yeast and flour, how hot the oven was, how long it was left to stand before being sliced and packaged and the distance the lorry travelling in delivering the bread to the shop before you were able to decide if that loaf of bread was going to make decent toast the next morning.

 

[shurlock]

See Lambert was taken off after 75mins -the same as against united and fulham- no complaints yesterday.

Just a shame guly didnt come on- would have been the icing on the cake.

Bless the helmets on here.

[Professor]

The comments by Nick G,, Wes Tender, Tajjuk and others wouldn't be out of place on a Chelsea message board! However much people speculate about NC's input, he's not a serial sacker, despite what happened to Pardew. I've always felt there were better managers around than Adkins and I'm not impressed by his interviews but I don't think he has final say on transfer policy and he has to work with what he's given. His track record shows he's done that very well in L1 and the Champ by utilising the squad. Unfortunately, that approach and playing people out of position that hasn't worked this season but he has persevered until finding his best side and formation and it looks like he's sticking with it. I'd say that its good management to play to your strengths.

[Barry Sanchez]

See Lambert was taken off after 75mins -the same as against united and fulham- no complaints yesterday.

Just a shame guly didnt come on- would have been the icing on the cake.

Bless the helmets on here.

 

Completely different situation and game. Would you like to see Lambert subbed every game at 75mins?

[Greenridge]

See Lambert was taken off after 75mins -the same as against united and fulham- no complaints yesterday.

Just a shame guly didnt come on- would have been the icing on the cake.

Bless the helmets on here.

 

Guly was gutted. I know someone who saw him in the players car park with his contract in hand. He said you could actually see where he had used a highlighter pen to mark a section of a page. This chap I know doesn't have great eyesight but he said he could definitely see a number fifteen in the highlighted section. Well as you know it was a tad breezy yesterday and next thing he knows is the contract is flying all across the car park and ended up in dirty great puddle so I guess we'll never know.

[Thedelldays]

See Lambert was taken off after 75mins -the same as against united and fulham- no complaints yesterday.

Just a shame guly didnt come on- would have been the icing on the cake.

Bless the helmets on here.

the game was all but won...we were not holding on to a one goal lead and defending it...we were on the offensive and had been pretty much all game..

[Wes Tender]

The comments by Nick G,, Wes Tender, Tajjuk and others wouldn't be out of place on a Chelsea message board! However much people speculate about NC's input, he's not a serial sacker, despite what happened to Pardew. I've always felt there were better managers around than Adkins and I'm not impressed by his interviews but I don't think he has final say on transfer policy and he has to work with what he's given. His track record shows he's done that very well in L1 and the Champ by utilising the squad. Unfortunately, that approach and playing people out of position that hasn't worked this season but he has persevered until finding his best side and formation and it looks like he's sticking with it. I'd say that its good management to play to your strengths.

 

Yet another one who has zero information to assist his opinion, but as usual, that is not going to be a factor in him making it anyway.

 

Chelsea message boards, NC's employment of managers, better managers out there than Adkins, his interview technique - you're all over the place, just like a mad professor, really.

 

But on your last point, I give up. Adkins has deliberately deployed players out of position, substituted others and not played his best side for no apparent reason, or was it just to annoy those fans who know better than him how to manage a team?

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

This thread certainly seems to know what it's talking about a bit better. Let's wait for Dig Dig and Glasgow to misinterpret and ruin another thread with their bullying ways...

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Yet another one who has zero information to assist his opinion, but as usual, that is not going to be a factor in him making it anyway.

 

Chelsea message boards, NC's employment of managers, better managers out there than Adkins, his interview technique - you're all over the place, just like a mad professor, really.

 

But on your last point, I give up. Adkins has deliberately deployed players out of position, substituted others and not played his best side for no apparent reason, or was it just to annoy those fans who know better than him how to manage a team?

 

The point is that we don't think he knew his best side. I asked you in the other thread to provide evidence contrary to what you have asked us to provide and are yet to do that.

[Turkish]

Yet another one who has zero information to assist his opinion, but as usual, that is not going to be a factor in him making it anyway.

 

Chelsea message boards, NC's employment of managers, better managers out there than Adkins, his interview technique - you're all over the place, just like a mad professor, really.

 

But on your last point, I give up. Adkins has deliberately deployed players out of position, substituted others and not played his best side for no apparent reason, or was it just to annoy those fans who know better than him how to manage a team?

 

coming from someone who stated his opinion that Saints can reach the champions league based on people once saying man would never climb Everest!

[Saint Charlie]

The point is that we don't think he knew his best side. I asked you in the other thread to provide evidence contrary to what you have asked us to provide and are yet to do that.

 

He also didn't have his first choice team to select...form has turned since he has. He was trying to find the best solution and yes some games were poor but often it was individual errors that killed us, and they have been cut out recently.

[Dig Dig]

This thread certainly seems to know what it's talking about a bit better. Let's wait for Dig Dig and Glasgow to misinterpret and ruin another thread with their bullying ways...

 

Im too busy reading your "unrealistic expectations" thread at the mo. Be back later.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Im too busy reading your "unrealistic expectations" thread at the mo. Be back later.

 

It's ok my child, take your time...

[Jonnyboy]

What I find funniest about this whole situation is that those now being smug have still failed to understand the points made.

 

The reason I felt that Nigel had to go was the strange team selections, flicking between formations and substitutions that in my opinion was costing us matches. I have outlined these many times on this forum so I'm not going to repeat them. However, since we've started Lambert every game, we've not tried to shoehorn JRod on the left wing, stopped taking off our best players etc, we've started winning.

 

I am happy to admit I was wrong and he shouldn't go, but personally I think people should have the humility to also recognise that we were right after all.

 

Very happy at the moment though.

 

So basically you can never be wrong? If we are playing badly he has to go but in a good spell he's listened to your wise words and all is good again, until the next time he really should be sacked. Just admit you were wrong. He should be given until the end of the season.

[Smirking_Saint]

I do love some of the muppets on here, and I certainly thought better of Nicky boy, no debating of points made, in fact at the time nobody bothered to point out in inaccurate points in my posts, now I am a mug because I called for his head.

 

Yes, we may have dropped points against the better teams, now we have beaten two of the most out of form teams in the league. Its all relative really.

 

Ill stick my hand up and say I was knee jerk after 11 games, but because IMO we looked like we lacked confidence, too open and devoid of ideas. WBA was one of the worst team performances I have ever seen TBH.

 

I have no problems being called a muppet, but atleast try and debate the points made.

[Wade Garrett]

So basically you can never be wrong? If we are playing badly he has to go but in a good spell he's listened to your wise words and all is good again, until the next time he really should be sacked. Just admit you were wrong. He should be given until the end of the season.

 

Agreed. I too was an advocate of Adkins being replaced.

 

However, since the 4-3-3 was abandoned we look OK. Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, I'll admit I was wrong.

 

Can I be spared a public flogging now?

[The Kraken]

Agreed. I too was an advocate of Adkins being replaced.

 

However, since the 4-3-3 was abandoned we look OK. Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, I'll admit I was wrong.

 

Can I be spared a public flogging now?

 

Hang on a minute; when was the 4-3-3 abandoned??

 

As far as I can see; while we're now playing different personnel (and not playing players out of position) we're using the same formation that started the season against Man City.

[buctootim]

Hang on a minute; when was the 4-3-3 abandoned??

 

As far as I can see; while we're now playing different personnel (and not playing players out of position) we're using the same formation that started the season against Man City.

 

451 if you ask me.

[The Kraken]

451 if you ask me.

 

I don't disagree. 4231 even. But Nige had been calling it 433 all pre-season and early season. And as I say, apart from the personnel changes I don't see an overall change in formation.

 

We tried a "true" 433 (JWP, Morgan and S. Davis) a couple of times, and also went with a 442 a couple of times. But the formation now is IMO pretty much exactly that to which we kicked off the season with.

[buctootim]

Agreed. I too was an advocate of Adkins being replaced.

 

However, since the 4-3-3 was abandoned we look OK. Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, I'll admit I was wrong.

 

Can I be spared a public flogging now?

 

DPS got the kicking for repeatedly being a big Jessy and then insisting he was misunderstood - not for thinking Adkins time had come.

[Window Cleaner]

Hang on a minute; when was the 4-3-3 abandoned??

 

As far as I can see; while we're now playing different personnel (and not playing players out of position) we're using the same formation that started the season against Man City.

 

 

It's a clear 4-2-3-1 now and because of Puncheon's form and Ramirez's ability the full backs are no longer to maraud forward at all costs. In fact I'd say the difference is down to who's not playing as much as it is to who is. Fox and Davis......losses waiting to happen.

[The Kraken]

It's a clear 4-2-3-1 now and because of Puncheon's form and Ramirez's ability the full backs are no longer to maraud forward at all costs. In fact I'd say the difference is down to who's not playing as much as it is to who is. Fox and Davis......losses waiting to happen.

 

I'd say it was a 4231 against Man City on opening day though. JWP and Morgan as the two, Lallana ahead of them centrally, Puncheon and JRod out wide.

[buctootim]

I don't disagree. 4231 even. But Nige had been calling it 433 all pre-season and early season. And as I say, apart from the personnel changes I don't see an overall change in formation.

 

We tried a "true" 433 (JWP, Morgan and S. Davis) a couple of times, and also went with a 442 a couple of times. But the formation now is IMO pretty much exactly that to which we kicked off the season with.

 

I guess he has his reasons for quietly changing shape and formation without actually announcing he has. In the end though the instructions given to the players count for more than starting positions.