Annoyingly, Paul Lambert is starting to have an effect on Villa, the same as he did to Norwich. I wouldn't want to seem negative, by any shape or form, but it won't be a stroll in the park. Looking on the positive side [can't stay negative for more than a fraction of a second], if we can beat Villa, then we will have definitely turned a wee corner.
The only thing that concerns me slightly is the bit about NA's lacking positivity. Now an outsider might suggest he lacked experience or he is experiencing stress, but to say Cortese was concerned that an apparently happy chappy like Nigel lack of believe might filter down to the team...now that has come from inside the club. Perhaps Nigel has been counselling caution?
Yeah, I think Nigel just shades it. If I was a neutral I'd possibly say Lambert was better, at the moment, purely because of his greater experience in the top flight, but then I wouldn't know of the all-encompassing effect that Adkins has on Southampton FC. With Nigel we get a great manager and an excellent PR man thrown in for good measure.
It's possible that Nicola was slightly taken aback by Nigel's self proclaimed message of his own limitations, just after Saints were promoted, that he probably wouldn't be at the Club long term, because Cortese would want to get a top manager in to take Saints to the next level. It was an honest statement, made amidst overwhelming emotion. It's the one definite chink Nicola must have seen, in fact we've all seen in Nigel's armour, and they'll both need to get past it. Positive as I can make myself, I can see the progress isn't going to be as meteoric as in the past three years. It costs too much to do that. But I honestly can't see anyone who might be better for the all-round job than Nigel at the moment. And I think Nicola probably has as much faith in his ability as at any time, barring that one admission of limitation from his manager.
Not related but not worth another thread. In the Mail (read it for free in cafe before I lose all credibility) there is a piece on stats. Apparently Schneiderlin has run the most in the PL over the first three games: 21 miles in total. And was the top PL runner in 2 of those games. Guess he will need more spare socks if he keeps running them off like that.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2197890/Premier-League-season-far.html interesting to see ward-prowse mentioned as well.
Missed JWP, thanks. See we run the most as a team as well. It's not headless chicken running either. Reflects our playing method (always offering an 'out' for player with ball, chasing as a pack) and our high level of fitness. Think some of the apparent tiredness seen towards end of match may be a mental tiredness as much as a physical one.
The league is relentless. Stick 3 men in the middle and they still have to cover an awful lot of ground. The morning after the City and United games, the players must have hurt like hell. Keeping possession uses far less energy than chasing the ball and teams that are good at it can really make you work. Championship teams don't/can't play like that.
I really hope Adkins is successful this season with Saints. He's a brilliant manager and the football Saints is great at times. Just need to be a bit more streetwise in defence
Spot on. Although Wigan was disappointing I wouldn't be calling for Adkins head after that loss. Adkins is a good'un guys. The difficult start may be a blessing in disguise, our players sharpen up and other teams will under-estimate us.
That's a good point Arsenal will be expected to thrash us after beating Liverpool. Pressure is on them not us.
