Canaries fan in peace. http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football...nd-SOS-to-former-Liverpool-boss-Rafa-Benitez/ I've just read this article via the BBC football gossip and I'm hoping that it is purely speculative journalism. I think you've had a 'baptism of fire' since your promotion in that any points you won in the first few games would be seen as a bonus. Arsenal seem to be on a bit of a 'purple patch' at the moment and your defence was at fault for a couple of goals. Adkins has worked with most of your players for several seasons and I fel should be given longer before being replaced. Good luck for the rest of the season - except when you visit Carrow Road!!
Hi JR. This has already been discussed to death on our Board and the majority view is that Nigel should be given a lot more time. That said the Premier League is a cut throat place and if we are still in the bottom 3 at Christmas who knows. I for one though hope Nigel is at Saints for a long time yet! Plus who believes anything in the Star!
The Star and Sun have both linked managerial changes. So I thoroughly expect Adkins to accept to a contract renewal in near future. In all honesty, it pains me to say it... I think we'd stay up with Redknapp, but I love Adkins and he doesn't deserve to be sacked so I thoroughly hope we keep with him, even if we do go down. We would come back all the stronger if we stick with him.
Yes, I guessed it was just 'lazy journos' looking for a story when there isn't much happening. I would say that he should at least be given till Xmas to show that he can manage in the Prem, but it is so 'cut-throat' nowadays that owners have no patience. I'm sure once you have a run of 'easier fixtures' (if there is such a thing in the PL!!), then your fortunes will change.
I personally think it is unbelieveable that anybody can even contemplate removing nigel adkins as manager. We have played four games and three of them have been against title challengers..were we expected to win them games?!...no! Secondly, does anybody honestly think that having another manager like Rafa Benitez would have made a difference in the past 4 games?...it has been highlighted that it is our defence which is the problem. Until we improve our defence any manager at southampton will be under criticism! Lets get behind nigel like we have done for the past two years when we have been winning and give him our support through this tough time...he deserves our support after everything he has done!
Problem is that there are no options better than Nigel. Benitez turned Liverpool into a boring counter attack only side. Yes he won the CL on a fluke when they should have been out several times prior to the final before staging a superb second half comeback in the final, but do we want to go from being great to watch and attacking to boring to watch counter/soak it up? Plus we would be left with 50 spaniards that aren't as good as their compatriots when he is sacked. Then there's Redknapp who would put everyone under 25 back into the reserves and academy and spend 50m on old men wanting a pay day. Similar scenario we would be left with when he is sacked. Or we could stick with Adkins who has his teams playing great football, encourages OUR youths through the ranks AND IS WELL WITHIN THE 5 YEAR PLAN EVEN IF WE GO DOWN. End of rant
Hi JR. Yep you've nailed it. It's a pile of nonsense and Nigel's going nowhere. It was a bad day on Saturday but the games before that have given us enough reasons to be encouraged. Once we get a couple of good results on the board everyone will be happy again, anyway six other teams haven't won yet either (and none of them have played last year's top three). Anyway I doubt I could find a single Saints fan who thinks we should get rid of Adkins.
Benitez is a very very good tactical manager , his 2005 team had very good players in it and also when they got to the final again in 2007 , someone mentioned they played boring football , they did but to succeed in Europe counter attacking football is the norm so issue there . The last bit is the most crucial , Benitez WILL not come to us in December when there us no realistic hope of salvation , he would be using us as a stepping stone to other clubs , I don't want Adkins sacked yet he see deserves more time BUT the less time we have in our fight to stay upeansvwe have less time to appoint a quality manager .
Horse knackers. Lazy journaliism. There have been lots of changes already and it will take time to all come together. When it comes together, we will have a team that is a lot better than what we had last season. Reading added some depth and experience to what they already had, as have West Ham, but neither of them have attempted to instill a more ambitious way of playing football. Give Adkins and the players time to learn and I'm confident we can kick on.
The sad fact is you do not get time in the premiership , no one gets the grace of that , few managers have been allowed to be relegated with their team and try for promotion the following year , Cortese would also look stupid after saying no team he controlled would ever be relegated , there would have to be a fall guy .
how will the fans react ? Will they support Corteses decisive action or bemoan his lack of loyalty ? Will they be sad to see Adkins depart for his possible naivety in this league or will they state he should of been given more time to stamp his authority on the team to get them playing well again ?
