Adkins hits out

[Royalee]

Officially bored with our fans. Total non-story and Adkins is perfectly within his rights to put Akpan in his place given he made his feelings public. I think we should sack our fans for being shit.

[Royalwaster]

i think Adkins should have just called him into his office and told him off.
i thought Nige was PR savvy but this seems a bit naive.
at the end of the day, Akpan is a poor player like Blackman who get a big move from a lower league and think they are good enough to be getting a run in the side.

tbf to him, he's looked decent every time ive seen him play for us.
and im not sure if hes saying "i deserve a place in this team" hes just saying he wants to play, and if he isnt going to play, he'd like to go somewhere else, so he can play

Has he? Which games were they? Leeds .... ?! Pfff ....

[Hoop Blah]

Totally out of keeping of the Reading way of doing things, sack him now. I bet Nigel Howe is seething - and rightfully so.

I seem to remember Coppell and McDermott responding to players comments or news about them in the media as well, so I don't see it as anything too new to be honest. I'm sure Coppell had a pop at Lita on the radio once, and McDermott picked on Pearce for a few mistakes last season which I thought was quite odd at the time.

Adkins has been round the block. I'm sure he hasn't made these comments lightly and has probably had an even more frank conversation with Akpan as well. If he thinks he needs to stamp his authority on the squad at the first glimpse of players runnning to the media then so be it.

Personally I'd rather they all kept it behind closed doors but, realistically, in this day an age that's not likely I'm afraid.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Journo: Akpan, are you happy not playing?
Akpan: Not really.
Journo: Adkins, why isn't Akpan playing?
Adkins: His performances haven't been good enough.

Fans: WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[sandman]

Adkins has hit out publicly again about one of his players. This seems a bit reminiscent of his blast at Kebe following the Perterboro game. I just wonder how helpful this is for the morale of the players. I think if there is a problem with Adkins its that there seems to be a gulf in communications between him and the players that are on the fringe or coming back from injury.Admittedly perhaps Akpan should not have said he is looking to go out on loan but surely an admonishment behind closed doors would have been better?

From the Post;

'He said: “It’s quite easy to say ‘I’m going to go out on loan’, but if there’s nobody actually prepared to take you, then it might underline why these players aren’t in the team.

“Sometimes they have to look at themselves and say, I wonder why I’m not in the side?

“There are obviously going to be factors for that.”

This must be a sign that I’m not doing something right.

Don't quite get why Adkins is having a go at him as Akpan appears from that comment to be, at least partly, doing what Adkins wants him to do.

[Big Foot]

Totally out of keeping of the Reading way of doing things, sack him now. I bet Nigel Howe is seething - and rightfully so.

I seem to remember Coppell and McDermott responding to players comments or news about them in the media as well, so I don't see it as anything too new to be honest. I'm sure Coppell had a pop at Lita on the radio once, and McDermott picked on Pearce for a few mistakes last season which I thought was quite odd at the time.

Adkins has been round the block. I'm sure he hasn't made these comments lightly and has probably had an even more frank conversation with Akpan as well. If he thinks he needs to stamp his authority on the squad at the first glimpse of players runnning to the media then so be it.

Personally I'd rather they all kept it behind closed doors but, realistically, in this day an age that's not likely I'm afraid.

BIG difference - Coppell & McDermott weren't Scummers.

[Einstein agogo]

Totally out of keeping of the Reading way of doing things, sack him now. I bet Nigel Howe is seething - and rightfully so.

I seem to remember Coppell and McDermott responding to players comments or news about them in the media as well, so I don't see it as anything too new to be honest. I'm sure Coppell had a pop at Lita on the radio once, and McDermott picked on Pearce for a few mistakes last season which I thought was quite odd at the time.

Adkins has been round the block. I'm sure he hasn't made these comments lightly and has probably had an even more frank conversation with Akpan as well. If he thinks he needs to stamp his authority on the squad at the first glimpse of players runnning to the media then so be it.

Personally I'd rather they all kept it behind closed doors but, realistically, in this day an age that's not likely I'm afraid.

BIG difference - Coppell & McDermott weren't Scummers.

fcu kk off about COPPELL ,U K un T !! He was part of the <1% of footballers with any ounce of intelligence , let alone , a degree !!! I'd listen to his after match comments any day over nigel puffkins or those other dozy twats that think they have some kind of foosballez brian

[donface]

LOLZ

[melonhead]

i think Adkins should have just called him into his office and told him off.
i thought Nige was PR savvy but this seems a bit naive.
at the end of the day, Akpan is a poor player like Blackman who get a big move from a lower league and think they are good enough to be getting a run in the side.

tbf to him, he's looked decent every time ive seen him play for us.
and im not sure if hes saying "i deserve a place in this team" hes just saying he wants to play, and if he isnt going to play, he'd like to go somewhere else, so he can play

Has he? Which games were they? Leeds .... ?! Pfff ....

certainly never really look out of place when hes come on imo


dont see anything wrong in what he said. just wants to play somewhere.

[Hoop Blah]

dont see anything wrong in what he said. just wants to play somewhere.

Disagree about the quality of his performances but, irregardless of that he was happy to sign on here and take the money in the knowledge that he was coming in way down the pecking order with a chance to push for a place.

It seems he's not so happy with that now and has shared that with the local press guys. I think that's a bit unprofessional and not what the club needs at a time when we're trying to cope with a number of injuries and off the back of a couple of below par performances and results.

I'd rather he kept his mouth shut and kept it behind closed doors.

[Hoop Blah]

BIG difference - Coppell & McDermott weren't Scummers.

Still, not such a big shift away from 'the Reading way' then?

[loyalroyal4life]

Who the fcuk is Akpan?

[RoyalBlue]

Previous clubs and players that Adkins has worked with have stated that he is an excellent leader, man manager and motivator. So I'm prepared to back Adkins' call on this one.

Let's see how Akpan responds but even if Adkins has messed this one up he (Akpan) is no great loss at this stage in his career. Another of Brian's questionnable significant money signings in the latter days of his time in charge here.

Wonder whether Akpan has got his agent to ask Brian to put in a loan bid for him and what the response was if he did.

[facaldaqui]

Not sure we should revere Coppell too much over this one, as I am pretty certain he scouted Akpan to Brian. On the other hand, I think Akpan is very promising, so I am sorry to see Reading fans jumping to the conclusion that he is no good before he has had a run in the side (under Bodgkins, anyway).

[paddy20]

Previous clubs and players that Adkins has worked with have stated that he is an excellent leader, man manager and motivator. So I'm prepared to back Adkins' call on this one.

Let's see how Akpan responds but even if Adkins has messed this one up he (Akpan) is no great loss at this stage in his career. Another of Brian's questionnable significant money signings in the latter days of his time in charge here.

Wonder whether Akpan has got his agent to ask Brian to put in a loan bid for him and what the response was if he did.

I would guess he is one of those managers that providing you agree that I am always right then you will get on with me. Not saying its a bad thing but just his way

[RoyalBlue]

Previous clubs and players that Adkins has worked with have stated that he is an excellent leader, man manager and motivator. So I'm prepared to back Adkins' call on this one.

Let's see how Akpan responds but even if Adkins has messed this one up he (Akpan) is no great loss at this stage in his career. Another of Brian's questionnable significant money signings in the latter days of his time in charge here.

Wonder whether Akpan has got his agent to ask Brian to put in a loan bid for him and what the response was if he did.

I would guess he is one of those managers that providing you agree that I am always right then you will get on with me. Not saying its a bad thing but just his way

That's not the impression of him that I got from his former players that have spoken to the media about his style. Nor was it the impression that I got from the way he spoke when he was on the Footballers Football Show (or whatever it is called). I suspect his style is much cleverer and more subtle than that. I would imagine he is similar to Brendan Rodgers who, despite what some on here would say, is a damn good manager and coach.

[Ian Royal]

Not very keen on this sort of thing tbh. But I still generally like the cut of Nigel's gib.

[P!ssed Off]

So bloody tedious when people start the "Our fans are so shit", "this thread sums up how shit our fans are" etc.

At least wait until a bloody thread has more than 5 posters in it before bitching.

[P!ssed Off]

Can't really understand what the fuss is about. Player opens mouth to spit dummy out, gets told to put dummy back in by manager. Seems to be more for the benefit of those that wish to bash Adkins, than any reflection on the situation with Akpan.

Before your comment, I count 7 people being critical of old Ladkins. 7 people, after the thread had been up for 4 hours!
I'm not sure that constitutes a 'fuss'.

[Einstein agogo]

*Note to self*



Don't post while under the influence of "Russian Standard" Sainsburys @£10 75cl