would be less painful than listening to the ramblings of people on here who are likening our position in the table to the day of reckoning
Ian also predicted that Saints and Pompey would be in the same division this season, after 40 games last season and very often plays devil's advocate when it comes to all matters Saints. OK, we haven't got any points yet but you cannot say that Adkins and the team are out of their depth on the basis of the team's performances so far. We haven't been outplayed in any match so far in my opinion and could easily have 3 or more points on the board and NA's tactics have been sound apart from the 3 substitutions yesterday. Our midfield 3 bossed much of the match against Manure and we have a real prospect on our hands in JWP. The criticism of Clyne is perplexing to me, I think he had a fine game yesterday and linked very well with Punch. We have 2 new signings yet to play in Yoshida and Ramirez and they could significantly add quality to the team at both ends and how any Saints fan can question the signing of one of the hottest prospects in world football is beyond me, to me this is the most exciting transfer since Kevin Keegan and is a statement of intent, surely judgement on him should be reserved until we have actually seen him in a Saints shirt. Nigel Adkins has had 4 promotions iin the last 5 years and is widely regarded as one of the brightest young managers in the game, even Harry Redknapp rates him!, he has a win ratio of 2 wins every 3 games, so now he in in the Premier League he suddenly is a novice and tactically naive, sorry I just don't believe it. I'm actually more optimistic for the season now than at the start, a) because of the way that we have played and b) the players that we have signed, we should all reserve judgement until at least October as players have to settle and we would've played some of the so called weaker teams too.
Sorry to disagree with you - but the knee-jerk reaction seems to be dismissive without substantiation. Perhaps you would like to provide constructive comments to support you view?
you will always raise your game against the top teams but its the others that will be the hardest of all games. southampton will be in the relegation battle this season and so will 14 other teams so don't worry about it....Personally i think you will go down as i cant see where you will pick up 40 pts from but that's the norm with newly promoted clubs. last season qpr made it because of other teams results on the last day but normally one if not two of the promoted clubs go back down.....Its much harder to stay up today than the last time you were in the top flight due to Money....
we lose a few incredibly difficult games and peoples expectations suddenly change from staying up with ease to getting a new record low amount of points
You know what..? I think it might be beneficial in the long run. The team being matched up against a few of the strongest sides early on, that is. Not the up/down opinions of a few manic depressives on here.
I was more referring to the manchester games, but tell arsenal, newcastle, liverpool and man utd that wigan is an easy game.
I have always found Ian's posts very thoughtful, well argued and worth reading. I have also found that I disagree with him very often! I too remember him being "stone-cold certain that we would not get promoted and Pompey would stay up. Anyway, others have said it all. How can we say after 3 games, particularly when we played so well against the Mancs? Yes, we lost from winning positions, but we were in those winning positions. How many other teams get a lead against them? So I don't agree with Ian, but it's always a pleasure to read a well-argued case and also see some measured response to that case.
I always enjoy your posts Ian as they provide genuine debate. On this occasion I have to say that my views are polar opposites to your own. What I have seen is a team who want to tear into every match and to hell with who the opposition is, and by default their reputations. More specifically I disagree with the following: Baffling substitutions - Nothing baffling about it at all. Just making sure our front three were the quickest available in a period where counter attack was an inevitable necessity. Soft touch defence - No more errors from our guys than the opposition. we didn't bury our chances in front of goal. Pants pulled down - This simply has not happened. Ramirez signing baffling - the 21 year old playmaker for the FIFA Number three ranked team in the world! Jimmy Case role - Davis/Morgan/JWP all did it as far as I'm concerned Luxury player - MLT Gulf between Saints and other teams - Haven't seen one. Should get a Scholes - 100% of managers have probably been thinking the same for 20 years Only a few of requisite quality - nonsense So, there's my tuppence worth. Saints are one of the best teams I've seen in the PL this year.
Your post is a very clear and insightful one.I don't agree with anything you say though. Those baffling subsitutions were made due to the fact that the players that were being replaced ran themselves into the ground.We're only 3 games into the season and people are already coming up with negative nonsense like this. This is so laughable, we go out and buy a highly rated youngster like Ramirez and people even moan about it , I really find this so, so, strange, I really do.We will get points, we are getting better with every match. Adkins is a superb manager, one of the best young managers around,he hasn't got the tactical nous, what a load of bollocks that is.He is well known for being a great tactician.We didn't play Dag and Redbridge on Sunday, you know.We played Man Utd. Now that the team isn't winning, they all come out of the woodwork,saying stuff like "Oh Adkins isn't good enough", "Sack Adkins" etc... The majority of your posts on here are negative one's.Pathetic. You think that we've come here to struggle?I wanna see what you say in May. People have always got to moan about something, I guess.
Wow Ian, I'm surprised you got to the end of your diatribe without committing suicide! Since you have clearly made an effort to lay out your views however, you deserve some sensible answers. I personally think that Nigel Adkins has handled the step up very well.. Against Man City, Adkins played a blinder by bringing Lambert off the bench. It was only City's multi-million pound quality that rescued the game for them. Against United, he set out the right way and we were leading 2-1. They had the luxury of being able to bring on gamechhangers like Scholes and Nani. We simply didn't have the options on the bench to bring on and see the game out after taking off the players who had run themselves into the ground. Nigel isn't at fault for that. The only real mistake Nigel Adkins made was going 442 against Wigan. He was man enough to admit his error, which suggests he acknowledges it and will learn from it. The defence isn't great and Adkins knows it. I'd imagine that Buttner wasn't the only transfer to fall through as Adkins often mentioned two centre halves. Cortese is frugal with his budgets and won't get taken for a ride, which probably frustrates Adkins at times. Steven Davis is our Jimmy Case. Experienced head wo gets dirty and isn't phazed by anything. Gaston Ramirez is a supremely gifted young player. Uruguay are at the *** end of a golden generation and Ramirez is their great hope for the future. He was the only Uruguay to come out of their disasterous Olympic campaign with any credit. I'd be surprised if he doesn't light up St Mary's.
