Adam Lakeland Interview

[Mallard]

Just watched AL 15min interview after the Sports game.   Interesting insight into what the hopes are for next season.  Has a hit list drawn up for  who he wants in for next season.

Puts a bit more meat on the bone to the mess inherited when he entered the building earlier in the season.  Was very critical Of the standard recruitments last summer.  I guess the likes of Bartley, Clifford,Oke, Smith, Spence etc could fall into that category.    Who was actually behind last summer’s new signings ?

To me the one glaring mistake in recruitment terms was Mark Hughes being appointment by Stephen Cleeve.  The rest followed behind that.

[Blue_and_Gold]

Just watched AL 15min interview after the Sports game.   Interesting insight into what the hopes are for next season.  Has a hit list drawn up for  who he wants in for next season.

Puts a bit more meat on the bone to the mess inherited when he entered the building earlier in the season.  Was very critical Of the standard recruitments last summer.  I guess the likes of Bartley, Clifford,Oke, Smith, Spence etc could fall into that category.    Who was actually behind last summer’s new signings ?

To me the one glaring mistake in recruitment terms was Mark Hughes being appointment by Stephen Cleeve.  The rest followed behind that.

Well yes, BUT.....

If he didn't have the money for anything better at the time, what was he supposed to do?

No secret what Club finances were like when he decided to give the job to Hughes, and also in fairness to Hughes, that would also have hindered his recruitment.

Things then improved with finances and AL coming in.

A question is if Joe's money was just used to get us to the end of the season (I seem to remember the Chairman saying that 300k was needed to do that  ), or if are there surplus funds for AL to use on his shopping list for next season. 

[rod]

Just watched AL 15min interview after the Sports game.   Interesting insight into what the hopes are for next season.  Has a hit list drawn up for  who he wants in for next season.
                                                                       

Puts a bit more meat on the bone to the mess inherited when he entered the building earlier in the season.  Was very critical Of the standard recruitments last summer.  I guess the likes of Bartley, Clifford,Oke, Smith, Spence etc could fall into that category.    Who was actually behind last summer’s new signings ?

To me the one glaring mistake in recruitment terms was Mark Hughes being appointment by Stephen Cleeve.  The rest followed behind that.

Well yes, BUT.....

If he didn't have the money for anything better at the time, what was he supposed to do?

No secret what Club finances were like when he decided to give the job to Hughes, and also in fairness to Hughes, that would also have hindered his recruitment.

Things then improved with finances and AL coming in.

A question is if Joe's money was just used to get us to the end of the season (I seem to remember the Chairman saying that 300k was needed to do that  ), or if are there surplus funds for AL to use on his shopping list for next season. 

Perhaps the mysterious Joe has a magic money tree?

[Mallard]

Just watched AL 15min interview after the Sports game.   Interesting insight into what the hopes are for next season.  Has a hit list drawn up for  who he wants in for next season.

Puts a bit more meat on the bone to the mess inherited when he entered the building earlier in the season.  Was very critical Of the standard recruitments last summer.  I guess the likes of Bartley, Clifford,Oke, Smith, Spence etc could fall into that category.    Who was actually behind last summer’s new signings ?

To me the one glaring mistake in recruitment terms was Mark Hughes being appointment by Stephen Cleeve.  The rest followed behind that.

Well yes, BUT.....

If he didn't have the money for anything better at the time, what was he supposed to do?

No secret what Club finances were like when he decided to give the job to Hughes, and also in fairness to Hughes, that would also have hindered his recruitment.

Things then improved with finances and AL coming in.

A question is if Joe's money was just used to get us to the end of the season (I seem to remember the Chairman saying that 300k was needed to do that  ), or if are there surplus funds for AL to use on his shopping list for next season. 

It wasn’t just the lack of quality AL was bemoaning but the state of the fitness levels in the players and everything else he found when he came in.

Sounds very much like AL ( with Joe’s cash) dug SC out of a very big hole that he had put himself in.

[dillydilly]

I know that players have to be fit, but we’ll have a better chance when a manager starts putting ability before fitness.

[Linnet465]

  Ability yes however the NLN is full of teams that are physically fit as well as having the ability of sorts. KLTFC were not match fit and suffered with poor recruitment at the beginning of the season. To compete next season the team needs to be physically fit & strong as well as having some skill and ability to overcome some of the tactics we have seen being used by visitors to the Walks. As AL says he likes to win even if it is not pretty especially when some teams have 50 or more points and are getting relegated.

[Colin Fuller]

The starting point for any professional sportsman is surely to be 100percent fit. Clearly Mr Lakeland felt Lynn players were well short of that bottom line. He will have a full pre-season to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
He admits recruitment is the hardest part of the manager’s job. And clearly at elite level that has largely been taken away from the coaches. He will no doubt want to improve Lynn’s skills level next season and that should lead to more attractive football.  This season he had to survive relegation and generally that means players rolling their sleeves up, fighting the cause and not worrying about how pretty it looks.
Lynn financial situation, whatever that is, will have a massive impact on the quality of player they can attract.
Having saved Lynn from relegation he deserves respect from fans and the chance to build a squad capable of challenging for promotion.

[dillydilly]

I, Guardiola, and Alonso don’t understand the idea that winning whether “pretty” or “good” is possible, and have the advantage of knowing that playing well gives a team much more likelihood of winning than playing badly, even with the sleeves rolled up.  That is the main reason their teams win nearly all the time. Any other manager would greatly increase their chance of success by realising that.  It’s the same with any game with a ball!  I’m hoping that’s the priority next season!!!….

[rod]

Adam Lakeland's approach to the job from the outset has been professional and reasonably consistent. He has achieved his only objective for this season: that of avoiding relegation. Tougher challenges lie ahead but given a reasonable budget he might well deliver a team capable of challenging at least for a play off place but alongside of that wouldn't it be wonderful if the off field operation and match day experience were improved: treating all customers - actual and potential, as highly valued supporters?

[Mallard]

Lakeland was brought in to do a job.  The job was too keep us up after the mess Hughes had left us in.  It seems from AL’s interview nothing was right within the playing structure.   

The Manager has succeeded in delivering on his first remit.  Next season will be about challenging in the play offs for Promotion.  That might take a different skill set.   Will we see attractive Football back at the Walks next season?  My guess not on that pitch unless some serious money is spent on it.  Also I think AL’s style isn’t all about free flowing, ball retaining football but more about % football with physically strong, fit players.   

I guess if it’s winning football then will the fans care  what they are watching

[Paul47]

I'm in the "don't care how we play if we win" category. Would think the vast majority of actual match going fans are of the same view.

Do you think Tamworth fans care that they didn't play "pretty, entertaining" football?

And the pitch is having work done on it this summer.

[Mallard]

That’s great Paul,  it’s all about winning Football for you.  100% get that.  Sure it’s great to see us win but to win in style is somewhat more satisfying ( imho).  I guess we were spoilt at this level under Culverhouse ( though he could switch styles when needed) with his possession based game. 

The pitch being sorted could well give AL options in terms of plan’s A, B, C etc.

Tamworth certainly have shown the way how to win a Step 2 League without a doubt.  Be interesting to see how that style works at the next level.

[Paul47]

That’s great Paul,  it’s all about winning Football for you.  100% get that.  Sure it’s great to see us win but to win in style is somewhat more satisfying ( imho).  I guess we were spoilt at this level under Culverhouse ( though he could switch styles when needed) with his possession based game. 

Winning football all that matters. Would think 99% of match going football fans at all levels would say the same. If you win playing nice possession based football then that's fantastic. If you have to dig deep and win without doing this all the better. It's still 3 points no matter how you win....no extra points for style.

[Colin Fuller]

Possession-based, free flowing football and winning matches is the ideal.  Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool have the players to do that. Most of the other big clubs try to match that but fall short.
You have to be realistic and realise at National League level the old virtues of effort, commitment and organisation, backed by sound defending, are the main attributes.  And if you are lucky your team will have two or three players with skill and flair to raise fans’ pulses.
Achieving that balance is the key to next season for Lynn but so much depends on what budget is available for Mr Lakeland to attract the players he wants.

[Mallard]

I agree CF. I don’t expect Lynn or anyone at this level to play out from the back in the style of Pep.  You see so many ‘lesser’ teams getting caught out trying to emulate that style.

There is a still away of playing without it being all about % football and winning 2nd balls and just getting it up to a 9 for him to hold up and play  from there.   AL in his interview was saying he would always back his team to outrun and be fitter than any team, full time or otherwise at this level. 

I think next season will prove very interesting.  I hope the fans come in their numbers and buy into it.