or should we be surprised Nigel Adkins got the sack? A couple of days has passed since Adkin's got sacked and like most people I was shocked and even angry but by sacking Adkins, in my opinion, Cortese is being completely consistent. Here's what I mean: Pardew got the sack after winning the JPT and just missing out on the League 1 playoffs after starting with -10 points which for most would have been a good season for most but not for Cortese. However, after a poor start to the season, including losing at home to Plymouth on the opening game of the following season, Pardew got sacked despite beating Bristol Rovers 4-0. Failure to get promoted after spending a fortune by League 1 standards (eg 1 million for Rickie Lambert) and a poor start to the season cost Pardew his job. Nigel Adkins came in and achieved back to back automatic promotions which meant Saints were back in the Premier League and became popular with the players and fans, despite "Nigel who?" from a lot of people, with a positive and forward thinking and hard working attitude. However, Adkins failed to win either the League 1 or FL Championship, despite being in the top 2 most of last season. A poor start to this season, albeit the fixture list giving a nightmare first few games, despite a large amount, in Saints terms, spent in transfer fees, although he was managing to turn things around including beating Aston Villa twice and drawing 2-2 at Chelsea after being 2-0 down, cost Adkins his job. A large outlay on transfer fees and poor starts to the season seem to have cost both managers their jobs despite but at the time both sackings seem harsh but Cortese has been completely consistent in his sacking of managers. He seems to be saying "I've backed you in the transfer market but you have failed to achieve what I expect so thank you for your hard work but you're fired". Personally I think by turning things around saved Adkins his job until Saints lost 1-5 to Chelsea which was the final nail in the coffin. All said and done I'm still glad Cortese is still Saints chairman for no other reason that he is our best ever chairman. It is bit of a coup though getting Pochettino as manager. He is a very good manager. When he was Espanyol manager they played very good and entertaining football. The season he got Espanyol to 8th in La Liga they stood they toe to toe with Barcelona and didn't come up short. Failing this season wasn't his fault as his best players sold from under him so don't get hung up about win:loss ratios. How would Adkins have faired if Lambert, Lallana, Puncheon, Fonte and others were sold with no one coming in, remember what happened under Rupert Lowe. The only thing I have against the appointment is that he is like an Argentinian Nigel Adkins. Lastly I wish Matt Le Tissier would just shut up.
I think you've summed the whole situation up very well. I agree with a lot of what you've said there.
Also worth highlighting that the decision to sack Adkins was clearly made weeks ago - hence Pochettino spending time reviewing the opportunity. That means the recent run, and result against Chelsea, were irrelevant, and makes the decision seem lees bizarre - it was made when we were pretty much bottom of the league. However, I do think Cortese could have been a little more gracious with his comments about Adkins, and perhaps a little more detailed in his explanations....
Hi am a newbie here and agree with post above. Have just said much the same thing on Cortese Out Post so apologise for repeating similar to above but in a much more long winded fashion. Didn't realise this posted had been started.
Very good post, I'm glad Cortese is Saints chairman too. Lets hope Pochettino is give time by the fans, Everton is gonna by a tough game to start with.
Beddytare, I'm not a serial poster. This is only my second post on Not606. Normally I have to be inspired to put what I think into words but will do my best. I'm just glad people agree with me and didn't shoot me down in flames )
I still think Cortese has taken a big risk. Clearly everyone was in shock on Friday and has had the weekend to calm down and take a look at things objectively, and now we can see that Pochettino is quite an exciting appointment who has the potential to achieve great things, but it might not pay off. I agree with the other thread that suggests that the club generally seems to give staff an opportunity to leave on a high - eg. sacking Pardew after a 4-0 win, and I think it has taken the events of the past few days for people to genuinely start talking about Nigel in terms of "right up there with McMenemy et al". I think that Nigel has been a role model unlike any other top football manager, and each of us has been able to learn something from the way he conducts himself, how he treats his staff and the rhetoric he uses. However, he was not flawless. Last season we had a great start to the season, but we weren't quite so great in the middle and towards the end once teams started to work out how to play against us. This season has still been a learning curve, and while we play nice football, we still aren't particularly ruthless. Our shots:goals ratio under Nigel has never been all that amazing. I think this might be his downfall, and something that we might gain with Pochettino. Nigel will always be welcomed by supporters and I would hope by staff at St Mary's. We have all thoroughly enjoyed his time here and he will be able to look back with pride. He achieved his mission of reaching the Premier League, and I suspect that was the mission Nicola had for him all along. Now, whilst I am still sad that Nigel has left, I am ready to draw a blue line look forward to the rest of the season starting with Everton.
Good post SoriaSaints. Along similar lines is this blog that's doing the rounds on twitter: http://www.itsbeautifuloutside.co.uk/blog/files/why-was-Nigel-Adkins-sacked.html A good read I think, and although it adds fuel to the "board interference" fire some people on here like to stoke, it does lay out why Adkins' dismissal shouldn't be particularly surprising.
Nah mate not at the Mo.......all so far have been well received on the newsnow website all getting front page headlines. Can't be bad!!!
Nice to hear....we do have a few shall we say "outspoken posters" but most will give you a good exchange of views "without the need to shoot anyone down in flames" A good clear discussion is always welcome on here. It is not so much what your opinion is that will upset people on here, more the way you voice it! Do please add to the forum you will be most welcome.........
Cheers. I do read the forum quite often and know who the WUMs are but generally everybody on here seems friendly enough.
Pardew's time here was a failure, we would have finished outside of the play off's without the deduction. Adkins has taken the club as far as he can, people have been criticise his decisions all season. This decision is on Cortese head. He has got it right so far so let's just see. I take it no one will be doing this knob head white hanky thing tonight? It would be great if there wasn't any protest, it would shut up sky, Le tiss etc...
I honestly don't think there is board interference as such. I do think some of the players bought from Italian clubs ie Guly and Ramirez were kind of forced on Adkins and Adkins, it appeared, knew nothing about the Forren deal in the interview after the Chelsea game.
