Full article is a decent read too. ADAM Lallana is equal parts excited and nervous about his Saints return, 10 years on from a high-profile £25million transfer to Liverpool. It is a move that feels a long time coming for the 36 year old, who is a different man and different player to the one that departed in 2014. When he left, Lallana was club captain, a PFA Player of the Season nominee and primed to be named England Player of the Year just two years later. In his last two seasons with Brighton, Lallana played under a third of the Premier League minutes he did for Southampton in 2013/14. "He wanted me back in any capacity. He was mentioned as a player or as a coach. I still feel I can contribute on the grass, maybe not 38 games a season, not every minute. "As soon as that was it, I knew then. Even if there would have been an offer from Brighton, I was coming back. I was too excited, I was too stimulated. "Being my age, the player I am, having a manager that will look after you differently is lucky. That doesn't always happen. So I feel really lucky." Lallana's last game at St Mary's was a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on May 11, 2014. His next could be Nottingham Forest, on August 24. "Of course, it will feel special to me, being back at the club," Lallana insisted. "Just because I went to play for a different football club doesn't mean I don't love the football club. I owe the football club a lot because I was here for 14 years. "That never changed. The captain, the homeboy, leaving at 24 or 25 years old - the fans are not meant to clap that. I don't begrudge that. "I am extremely excited and grateful to be here. The lads are such good lads. The dynamic that Russell's got with the group is how I'd want to see myself as a coach. "Still getting involved with playing a bit but if the behaviour or punctuality is not there, we're running. That's how you create a philosophy." Lallana - desperate to deliver for the club - was minutes away from stepping out in Southampton's red and white in front of 5,000 local fans on Friday. Martin had started the 34-cap England international against National League Eastleigh in the first friendly of pre-season, which Saints won 7-1. However, in the final stages of the warm-up, Lallana disappeared down the tunnel and youngster Tyler Dibling stepped into his place. "It was a blow, but I'm fine," Lallana insisted. "I'll be back training in a couple of days." "Just because I've played for Liverpool and England, it doesn't mean that there isn't any anxiety about me coming back home and performing. "I still have high expectations of myself. I still want to be able to perform at the level, which I know I can because I've trained for three weeks and I know I can. "I'm no different, I'm human. Coming back is a different pressure, I'm not the same player that I was 10 years ago. I hope that people accept that. "The most important person is Russell and he accepts that. But there are still, of course, there are doubts that there always are in life. Everyone has them."
"The dynamic that Russell's got with the group is how I'd want to see myself as a coach." I really bloody hope Russ is still our manager by the end of the season.
I hope he does well here but for Saints sake not his. I wasn't angry when he left it was more of a confirmation shrug that our best players will always leave. Likewise, his return hasn't created any strong feeling either way. But what I don't particularly like the sound of is he sees this as a way of furthering his coaching experience at our expense. If he stays fit and contributes to the playing side then great but if he is regularly injured and just sitting there making notes, I will be pissed off this time.
This is what I meant a few weeks back by I feel this benefits him far more than it does us. Still think it's interesting that the club never mentioned him coaching, so he's come in as a player rather than player-coach.
This seems ok though … "I still have high expectations of myself. I still want to be able to perform at the level, which I know I can because I've trained for three weeks and I know I can. "I'm no different, I'm human. Coming back is a different pressure, I'm not the same player that I was 10 years ago. I hope that people accept that.“
