Nigel Adkins sacked 3 years ago this weekend

So it was my sons 3rd birthday this weekend, and that got me thinking its 3 years since this weekend since the great man was sacked... Don't think we'd be where we are now if we still had him, but what a lovely bloke and a great part of our history...

 

I thought you meant Sheff Utd had sacked him. I thought how can they he's just won manager of the month

 

Knew it was a wind up, because he is doing well, but did remind me of that black day. Sick to my stomach then....doesn't matter if it all turned out right in the end for Saints...just wrong not to give him a bit longer after all he had done. Comes second only to death of Markus.

 

Was gutted at the time, but I was wrong. It was the correct decision. Lovely guy, slightly annoying. Good L1/Championship level manager.

 

I was gutted too, irrationally so really. It was a bit like losing a relative or close friend.

Whether or not it was the correct decision we'll never actually know. We had a dodgy start to the season but it was starting to turn around. One thing for certain we wouldn't have the players we now have.

I still think that Adkins doesn't get the credit he deserves as a coach. The 'pressing' game was started by him not Potty, although I won't deny he moved it on to another level. Another thing you see all the time now is the centre backs pushing wide to allow a centre midfielder to drop back and receive the ball from the goalkeeper. I can't recall seeing that before Adkins.

 

I was shocked and angry at first and then gradually over the next three days, I thought more and more about that season to that point. I then got it and understood that no matter how sad it was, it was done for he good and progression of our club. This as one of those Cortese decisions that showed his good managerial side and knowing when to do something.

That's said, Nigel will always be a hero to me and my son. Had the good fortune to meet him on a couple of occasions and he was just a lovely, enthusiastic, warm and friendly man, who loved football.

Now, no more silly thread titles!!!

 

Nigel is my favourite Saints manager ever. Can't believe that was 3 years ago.

Love you Nigel.

 

I also think that Adkins may have turned things round....we will never know and could argue into the night about it. We enjoyed a great season under MP, but was it worth it in the end.....he brought out the best in players (and was reportedly good with the youngsters) but at the cost of losing our major players. However, we should forget the 'might-have-beens'.....we got here from there. Here is okay and we should look to the future.. Glad the club gave Adkins due credit recently....made up for it a bit.

 

Oh Fran, I think we could argue a lot longer than that on here.... there are some right argumentative buggers about you know

 

Bally or Lawrie Mac for me.

Actually that would be an interesting list for people to do.

 

Lawrie Mac with an honorary mention to Ted Bates although I started watching in the Lawrie era.

Bottom would be Ian Branfoot and the ones in between would be interesting to sort out. Bally sadly didn't stay very long

 

My top would likely run something like -

Bally
Lawrie Mac
Ronald
Poch
Adkins

Bottom would definitely be Redknapp. Branfoot one above that.

 

Bollocks. My excuse for missing him out is that I have tried so hard to erase that from my memory. Yes, I would have to switch them around. Would you not have WGS in amongst the top 5?

 

Agh yes! Of course!!!

Bally
Lawrie
WGS
Ronald
Poch
Chris Nichol
Adkins
Dave Jones
Hoddle
Merrington
Pearson
Various Dutch failures that meld into one
Souness
Branfoot
Pardew
Redknapp



I've lost Burley because he's wondered off drunk.

 

Lawrie simply has to be top, because of his achievements: FA Cup, promotion, nearly winning the double, and signing Keegan.
Ted Bates next for me: won the only other major honour (Third Division South title) in the club's history and got us to Division One. Plus the fact that everything Lawrie did was with Ted's guidance.
The rest probably in Laces' order.

Although to be fair to Nigel Adkins, he is the Saints best-ever manager purely in terms of win percentages.

 

Sorry can't put Poch anywhere near the top as he's an underhand lying little weasel who encouraged half our team to leave. Also the last 5 months he was here the team went off the boil (probably because they were all leaving). He may be good for Spuds but his behaviour at the end here ruined his record with us.

 

Same, I never took to Pocketpeso as I did to other managers despite what he did with the team and the way he departed left a bitter taste with me.

In terms of likeability, i'll go with..

Lawrie Mac
Ron
Nigel Adkins
WGS
Ted Bates
Chris Nichol
Bally
Pards
Whispering Dave
Dave Jones
Paul Sturrock
Stuart Gray/Steve Wigley
George Burley
Nigel Pearson
Assorted Dutchmen
Souness
Glenda
Poch
Branfoot
Redknob

 

How can Pardew not be in the relegation places if it's on likeability!!!

I think I did mine as a mix of ability, likeability and what type of mood I'm in this morning!

 

Ah, so you WERE one of the 9!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Haha, well I would had Ron not got his own special mention!