Adkins interview on BBCRB 24/01/14

[Victor Meldrew]

Nigel said a lot there about getting the ball back-not really necessary if you keep hold of the ball?
It sounds as though he has accepted that we will continue to give the ball away so they have been working hard on how to get it back (copying the Barcelona and Bayern Munich approach).
It has worked well in the past two games (as it did under Brian and Coppell) so it will be interesting to see how we play in the coming weeks now that he realises that we just have to play our top goalscorer if we want to score goals and it is handy to create more than two attempts on target per game.

[RoyalBlue]

So how does the 'substantial bid' for Hobbs fit in? Well it certainly wasn't the first time that we have reportedly made substantial bids when it subsequently transpired that there was precious little chance of the deal ever going through. Or maybe we just got some form of thanks for agreeing to help talk up the fee for Hobbs!

anyone believing the club makes 6 figure bids, hoping they wont come off is literally mental.
FACT

And anyone who thinks Madejski always tells us the truth and doesn't fail to deliver on his talk is even more mental FACT!

So as you think the 6 figure bid was serious and genuine, then perhaps you might like to explain why Madejski now seems unable or unwilling to make that money available to Adkins when he previously clearly stated (not once in error but affirmed when Dellor checked) that funding was going to be available this window.

[Royal Spangle]

I agree RoyalBlue- just posted this on the Billy Sharp thread
"Madejski is looking a right chump after promising that money would be available for Adkins from both himself and the Russian crook even though the club ownership was up in the air! I wonder what has changed since then that has changed his mind Same old Reading"

[Get Carter]

Sky Sports have just reported that Hobbs has been recalled by Hull from his season long loan.
I thought Forest matched our bid?
How can we afford to bid for Hobbs when we are now being told there is no money for Sharp
and/or Baird?

[Pepe the Horseman]

We can't afford Sharp and Baird because we've offered Hobbs £120k a week

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

He added: “It’s been well documented what’s going on behind the scenes at board level.

Well, actually, it hasn't been well documented .... there's been a whole heap of supposition and conjecture but there hasn't been any well documented fact. Zero. Nada. Rien.

[sputnik]

Who need new player. We have a team won 7.1 last week we can play with player we have no problem I am happy 4-4-2' we can hurt team and it going to get better.

thanks Dave, it's a relief to hear this.

[Ian Royal]

Manager Nigel Adkins spoke in depth to the local media this week about the tactics of regaining possession and how our whole team contributes defensively.

The boss discussed his strategic approach to the game, which gave us a thumping win over Bolton, the first time in almost 35 years that we have scored seven goals and winner of the LMA performance of the week award.

He said, "[Our approach is] Can you get the ball back as quickly as possible, so you can be effective when you've got possession.

"To do that, there's different ways to win the ball back. You can use a high press, and we've always tried to make their goalkeeper kick the ball because we believe our centre halves can win headers. You lock on, and that way the opposition don't control the tempo of the game. If you force the goalkeeper to kick it, it becomes a sharing ball, and who can land on it first - 'win the first one, land on the second one.'

"But sometimes teams can get out, for example Brighton were very good at breaking that block, so then you change from an attacking press to a mid-third block. You set traps, try to force the opposition into a blind alley and get the ball off them. Then with your pace you can counter-attack into the space that's been created.

"There's different ways to do it, likewise you can end up with a defensive third block and the spaces are even more narrow, so the opposition can't get through."

The Royals have employed the same starting XI for the last two games, and Adkins continued, "Having a consistent shape helps, but first and foremost you need a good defensive resolve, for which you have to work hard. When you win the ball, you have the chance to control the game.

"I've said before about Pav and Alfie leading from the front, their workrate has been exceptional. So with a front two working hard, then the two chucky eggs on the outside, the wider players. We're not asking them to be right out on the wing [defensively], they can come in and narrow the spaces with the middle two. It gets us up the pitch and the whole team contributes."

And of course, fitness plays a key role. "We analyse things in depth here. We want to out-run the opposition, we've talked about a periodised training programme with players getting fitter and stronger as the season goes on.

"Last week we were very clinical, scored seven good goals and the hard work on the training ground bore fruit."

Last but not least, Adkins received the LMA award with the whole group of players behind him, and said, "It was good. The award was there, the Sky cameras came down and took a picture with everybody together which is important – it’s not about individuals at this football club, it’s a team performance award and many, many people have contributed to that. I was pleased for the players."

Read more at http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article ... A2tLBhV.99

Yep, never says anything remotely insightful..

What a load of unadulterated drivel

Yeah, it's amazing how he's just got so lucky winning four promotions and playing a part in surviving two relegations given he obviously hasn't a clue and talks such drivel.

[Agent Balti]

Funny that, people moan how Adkins is basically clueless, has no idea how to formulate a tactic, let alone embed it into a squad. Then he reveals the above, which is a damn sight more than I've rarely seen from many other managers...and suddenly that is 'unadulterated drivel'.

Well, I'd like to wonder what the coaching credentials are for those that could convince me of any 'better'. Go for it, share the wealth.

(He does lose points for 'chucky eggs' though.)

[Skin]

http://www.repton3.co.uk/chuckieegg.aspx

Respect the Chuckie Egg

[peterroyal76]

Who need new player. We have a team won 7.1 last week we can play with player we have no problem I am happy 4-4-2' we can hurt team and it going to get better.

Another great point from Dave!

You guys should give him a break,Mathis man has knowledge we can only dream about!

[leon]

Funny that, people moan how Adkins is basically clueless, has no idea how to formulate a tactic, let alone embed it into a squad. Then he reveals the above, which is a damn sight more than I've rarely seen from many other managers...and suddenly that is 'unadulterated drivel'.

Well, I'd like to wonder what the coaching credentials are for those that could convince me of any 'better'. Go for it, share the wealth.

(He does lose points for 'chucky eggs' though.)

It's not exactly The Art of War.

[Millsy]

Of course the you-know-who mongs of HNA will continue to try to make us believe that adequate money was there but Adkins chose not to spend it, just like Parj, Bodgers, Sir Steve, King Brian etc chose to have a worse squad. I can't believe usernames have not been changed yet to hide their embarrassment.

[Agent Balti]

It's not exactly The Art of War.

I don't think he's out to topple Sun Tzu any time soon, affair?!

Gorkss out

[Wycombe Royal]

Of course the you-know-who mongs of HNA will continue to try to make us believe that adequate money was there but Adkins chose not to spend it, just like Parj, Bodgers, Sir Steve, King Brian etc chose to have a worse squad. I can't believe usernames have not been changed yet to hide their embarrassment.

Any one would think reading that that we now play in the Conference having suffered a few relegation so rather that still being in the most successful period in our clubs history. You seem to think that spending money is the answer to everything. No club has ever been relegated with an expensively assembled squad and they always prosper financially following relegation.

The way you are going you will be the one needing to change your name to hide your embarrassment. I assume you had a few too many last night.

[Uke]

so dave royal was right when he said "takeover not happen, reading not sign no player on this window"

in your faces doubters

Apart from the double negative bit?

[Ian Royal]

Of course the you-know-who mongs of HNA will continue to try to make us believe that adequate money was there but Adkins chose not to spend it, just like Parj, Bodgers, Sir Steve, King Brian etc chose to have a worse squad. I can't believe usernames have not been changed yet to hide their embarrassment.

Er. not really.

Coppell said he had money to spend and chose not to. After he left.
No one has ever said Pardew had money to spend which he chose not to. It was fairly well documented that he got the hump when he wanted to sign a couple of extra players and was told they weren't good enough value for the money.
Rodgers spent a shit ton more than anyone else we've had for the level he was at and then reputedly asked for more and was shown the door. So wrong on that too.
McDermott said he spent everything he had. Zingaravich said he should have spent more. The truth probably lies somewhere between in that they agreed what to spend and used it, but realised later they should have shaken more loose to use.

I can't believe you haven't changed your username given how embarrassing it is even without the drivel you come out with sometimes.

[floyd__streete]

"[Our approach is] Can you get the ball back as quickly as possible, so you can be effective when you've got possession.

"To do that, there's different ways to win the ball back. You can use a high press, and we've always tried to make their goalkeeper kick the ball because we believe our centre halves can win headers. You lock on, and that way the opposition don't control the tempo of the game. If you force the goalkeeper to kick it, it becomes a sharing ball, and who can land on it first - 'win the first one, land on the second one.'

"But sometimes teams can get out, for example Brighton were very good at breaking that block, so then you change from an attacking press to a mid-third block. You set traps, try to force the opposition into a blind alley and get the ball off them. Then with your pace you can counter-attack into the space that's been created.

"There's different ways to do it, likewise you can end up with a defensive third block and the spaces are even more narrow, so the opposition can't get through."

The Royals have employed the same starting XI for the last two games, and Adkins continued, "Having a consistent shape helps, but first and foremost you need a good defensive resolve, for which you have to work hard. When you win the ball, you have the chance to control the game.

"I've said before about Pav and Alfie leading from the front, their workrate has been exceptional. So with a front two working hard, then the two chucky eggs on the outside, the wider players. We're not asking them to be right out on the wing [defensively], they can come in and narrow the spaces with the middle two. It gets us up the pitch and the whole team contributes."

And of course, fitness plays a key role. "We analyse things in depth here. We want to out-run the opposition, we've talked about a periodised training programme with players getting fitter and stronger as the season goes on.

"Last week we were very clinical, scored seven good goals and the hard work on the training ground bore fruit."

Last but not least, Adkins received the LMA award with the whole group of players behind him, and said, "It was good. The award was there, the Sky cameras came down and took a picture with everybody together which is important – it’s not about individuals at this football club, it’s a team performance award and many, many people have contributed to that. I was pleased for the players."

This sounded suspiciously like a load of management speak twaddle from our tanned scouse Estate Agent. And clearly 'our approach' is too confusing for our players, who have now managed a hugely mediocre 2 wins and 5 losses from our last 8. If this were a General Election you'd be seeing posters with 'ADKINS ISN'T WORKING' popping up all around the place.

[RoyalBlue]

Of course the you-know-who mongs of HNA will continue to try to make us believe that adequate money was there but Adkins chose not to spend it, just like Parj, Bodgers, Sir Steve, King Brian etc chose to have a worse squad. I can't believe usernames have not been changed yet to hide their embarrassment.

Er. not really.

Coppell said he had money to spend and chose not to. After he left.
No one has ever said Pardew had money to spend which he chose not to. It was fairly well documented that he got the hump when he wanted to sign a couple of extra players and was told they weren't good enough value for the money.
Rodgers spent a shit ton more than anyone else we've had for the level he was at and then reputedly asked for more and was shown the door. So wrong on that too.
McDermott said he spent everything he had. Zingaravich said he should have spent more. The truth probably lies somewhere between in that they agreed what to spend and used it, but realised later they should have shaken more loose to use.

I can't believe you haven't changed your username given how embarrassing it is even without the drivel you come out with sometimes.

Go back further. McGhee was pissed off because Madejski wouldn't make reasonable funds available and, according to McGhee, wouldn't even tip the team coach driver. Jim and Mick are on record as stating that he wouldn't allow them the funds they needed to strengthen the squad during the latter part of their push for promotion. Madejski has form for not delivering on his talk of funding, and it looks like he's going to do the same thing this window. Yet still people fall in awe at his feet.

[Ian Royal]

Might have something to do with his track record of delivering unprecedented success to the club.