Ultimately, it's the timing of the change that confuses people. In this country we're so used to seeing people sacked because they fail, but Cortese doesn't sack people during those moments. Pardew didn't exactly fail, and he was relieved of his duties, and Nigel hasn't either. Cortese does things differently [and successfully], and although I'm incredibly sad to lose Nigel, I'm already coming out of it and looking forward to seeing how Saints perform under a new young manager.
Have to say, respect to Sid Lowe, the only journalist I've seen who has not judged sacking of Adkins, claiming he doesn't know enough about the situation at the club to comment. I wish some others were big enough to say that, instead we're getting this steam of bullshit from the likes of Merson...
As it was when Pardew was sacked I say the same now. If the club keeps moving forward and improving then I will applaud Cortese for his bravery. However, if it goes pear-shaped (and if I was a gambling man I would go and put money on us to be relegated) then Cortese should fall on his sword. I would guess the Liebherr family will put him under intense pressure if we do go down.
Just a thought but anyone else wondering if we're shortly going to announce a big name signing, which could takes some of the sting out of fans' annoyance over the NA sacking?
Because he hasn't been treated badly, simply. He was given a job to do - get promoted from league one. He did that, and was given a chance in the championship, which he took. Fair play to him, he overachieved and deserves our gratitude. But this is business. He got a very generous bonus for his achievements and understood he had fulfilled the purpose he was brought here to do. Cortese is ambitious and pushing the club forward. He can't attract the calibre of players he wants because they don't want to work under a manager they have never heard of. Do you remember Adkins first interviews when we got promoted to the premier league? He was already talking about the fact he had achieved his goal and didn't expect to be around long term. He knows the way Cortese works, he wasn't led on or under any false illusions. Comparing Pochettino with Poortvliet and Wotte really is showing your ignorance I'm afraid. They were brought in because they were cheap and we had no money to pay anyone better. Pochettino has been brought in for the opposite reason, we have money and ambition, and he will help us spend that money effectively and realise that ambition.
Well you start off by quoting people who know a lot about Spanish football as an indication that this guy will be a better manger than Adkins at managing in the ENGLISH premier league. "This outpouring of grief from most fans is quite hard for me to understand." Sounds to me like somebody who sits in their armchair and hasnt actually been to many games over the last couple of years. It is hard for me to understand how you dont realise that we all feel a huge debt of gratitude to Nigel for what he has delivered since his arrival. The one for all spirit he has fostered has been something that has pushed us on, especially last season and we think of him as one of us, thats why we are gutted and disgusted at the way the club has treated him. We dont like seeing one of our treated so shabbily....and you really dont get that? "For me nothing has changed" WTF are you going on about? The manager has changed...utter nonsense. "Why don't they ask someone who knows even the tiniest thing about the club?" So you think an ex player whose old man managed the club doesnt know the tiniest thing about us? As I said, utter nonsense. "I bet Adkins speaks later and says he knew it was coming and he accepts {it}" So you would take a new job, excel it in for over two years and then when things are still going well you would just accept it if you were told you were no longer needed? Absolute rubbish. Adkins may have seem it coming but to think that he accepts it as the right move for the club is once again utter nonsense. "He knew when we were promoted he was going to go sooner or later" All managers know that but not many of them expect it after back to back promotions and a solid enough season so far in the Prem. "People saying he has been treated badly are just exposing their own ignorance." No explanation needed as to why that is utter nonsense.
Well, with that powerful and persuasive argument you've convinced me of the error of my ways. Thank you. Ok, my appeal to logic has obviously failed in your case, I won't waste any more time justifying myself to you
Well you start off by quoting people who know a lot about Spanish football as an indication that this guy will be a better manger than Adkins at managing in the ENGLISH premier league. "This outpouring of grief from most fans is quite hard for me to understand." Sounds to me like somebody who sits in their armchair and hasnt actually been to many games over the last couple of years. It is hard for me to understand how you dont realise that we all feel a huge debt of gratitude to Nigel for what he has delivered since his arrival. The one for all spirit he has fostered has been something that has pushed us on, especially last season and we think of him as one of us, thats why we are gutted and disgusted at the way the club has treated him. We dont like seeing one of our treated so shabbily....and you really dont get that? "For me nothing has changed" WTF are you going on about? The manager has changed...utter nonsense. "Why don't they ask someone who knows even the tiniest thing about the club?" So you think an ex player whose old man managed the club doesnt know the tiniest thing about us? As I said, utter nonsense. "I bet Adkins speaks later and says he knew it was coming and he accepts {it}" So you would take a new job, excel it in for over two years and then when things are still going well you would just accept it if you were told you were no longer needed? Absolute rubbish. Adkins may have seem it coming but to think that he accepts it as the right move for the club is once again utter nonsense. "He knew when we were promoted he was going to go sooner or later" All managers know that but not many of them expect it after back to back promotions and a solid enough season so far in the Prem. "People saying he has been treated badly are just exposing their own ignorance." No explanation needed as to why that is utter nonsense.
I've calmed down now, I'll support Pochettino, and I hope he does well. I'm just very, very bemused at the sacking of Adkins.
I have been wondering whether this was organised before this run of games we'd had, anticipating perhaps losses to Arsenal and Chelsea - which didn't happen, and which has made the timing seem more ludicrous. I have mentione in another thread that I reckon Adkins would ahve known about this before the Chelsea game - perhaps it formed the basis of the half time team talk. "Send me out on a high, boys."
CBK would you rather Southampton got relegated back to league 1, Cortese leaving and someone else come in for Saints to langush in league 1 for years to come?
Happy to give him a chance, but feel like I'm betraying Adkins Not Mauricio's fault though, have to get behind him because this is SFC. COYR.
The white fitted shirt industry is celebrating. Been on a bit of a downward spiral since Mourinho left the UK, and Guardiola decided to go to Bayern. They live and die on the fortunes of AVB at the moment, which is an awful state of affairs for any company/football team to be in, so our new man will see them in bouyant mood.
What an amazing record the new guy has over the last three years (his only three years as a manager) G W D L Win % Espanyol 20 January 2009 26 November 2012 161 53 38 70 32.92 And this is a good sane footballing move on what ****ing planet?
What an amazing record the new guy has over the last three years (his only three years as a manager) G W D L Win % Espanyol 20 January 2009 26 November 2012 161 53 38 70 32.92 And this is a good sane footballing move on what ****ing planet?
Having calmed down a bit I'll keep an open mind about the new coach. Still angry about the decision to sack Nigel though (and that won't change).