Two things sadden me about this episode in Saint's history... To the wider football world SFC will be looked at as no better than Chelski, Forest, Blackburn, etc. apparently sacking managers on a whim for another who "matches their ambitions" better. Most neutrals will now hope Saints will go down whereas before I think we had general public goodwill behind us. As far as Nigel himself is concerned, he is a likeable, enthusiastic, glass-half-full sort of bloke. Even when things haven't been going well it hasn't been difficult to rally behind him. Now the other side of the coin... I will not be a hypocrite and deny that a few weeks ago I was begging Nigel to change tack or go. After all, it was Nigel who abandoned 4-4-2 in favour of his new way of playing, dropped Lambert to the bench and put Sharp out on loan because they didn't fit his new way of playing, spent £33m without improving the weakest part of our team (defence), and brought in Yoshida who is clearly out of his depth in the PL. OK he did get us back-to-back promotions and deserves credit for that. But that is history... what matters is the here and now. So a few weeks ago when we were still languishing in the bottom 3, YES I was seriously thinking that maybe Nigel was out of his depth too. Fast forward to now when we have had a decent run and put a tiny bit of daylight between ourselves and some of the other strugglers, and the decision seems ludicrous. But when was the decision made, I wonder? My guess is way back, probably in November! Boycotting the Everton match will have absolutely no effect on Cortese at all. Any loss of revenue will be peanuts in the overall scheme of things. But it could have an effect on the team, not just in that game. So get behind the lads and cheer them on to another vital 3 points, even if it does stick in the craw!
Won't lay our signings at Adkins door...unless he was one reason we didn't attract players. I feel sure Sharp leaving was to reduce costs after signing JRod and Ramirez...a decision probably directed by NC. Adkins knew that Sharp wouldn't play much, but would probably have kept him if he could.
Personally, rightly or wrongly, I believe Nigel Adkins was reluctant to bring in any player bigger than he was. I think that Cortese, although focused on youth development, came to realise that his top four ambition couldn't be achieved without buying some quality. Ramirez arriving was significant, I feel. The Chelsea game, for me, again highlighted selection issues. The introduction of Lambert and Ramirez coinciding with the turn around. Why didn't the best two attacking players available to us start. Early in the season we repeatedly surrendered the initiative when leading, taking off the attacking threat. And several times we have dropped points in very winnable games we led in. Yes, Adkins is a very likeable man, who achieved great things at a lower level for Saints. But did some fans not suspect the Premier League might be the limit. If Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho ( or replace with any manager you rate ) was taking the position, would we be wanting to protest? I wonder if the protest is more about MP being relatively unknown in England. By all accounts, MP is very good, and had Espanyol flirting with Champions League football, until he was made to sell his better players as a result of crippling club debt. Guardiola praised him as a coach, and his style of play. He said MP's Espanyol don't wait for you, they come to get you. I like the sound of that. He was also very big on teaching every youth team ( much like Barca ) to play the same way. Trust Cortese. MP, quite possibly, is the next top coach in the making. I really hope Saints fans welcome him. If you don't like the way business has been done, write to Cortese. Don't affect the new manager and players in a negative way. It's futile.
I don't spend much time on any other sites, but do browse them sometimes, and I was a bit surprised (in my blinkered way) that there were posts that were derogatory about Nigel Adkins, mostly our opponents and like any Forum, from the nitwit fraternity, but he wasn't universally liked elsewhere, maybe jealousy because he was doing quite well, Trixters attitude is not unique.
I find it interesting that as the news broke there was a majority voting for a boycott. Now it has turned round and I suspect it is really even more positive than it appears because people can't change their vote. I do disagree with people saying that Lambert should have started against Chelsea. Lambert and Ramirez were kept fresh whilst the rest of the team set about their business...if we had been one goal down at half-time we could have won. A fresh Lambert against a team demoralised at home was a masterstroke. Note that it also nearly worked earlier in the season. Nigel has previously alluded to Lambert's build which is an asset, but means he tires easily.
I fully agree Fran. Lambert coming on meant we was fresh until the end of the game and it worked as he scored within 3 minutes of coming on.
I think the main reason Lambert did not start against Chelsea was because he cannot cope with two games in four days plus Rodriguez had a good game against Chelsea at St. Mary's and looked sharp. Ramirez has been coming back from injury slowly. Whilst I was very critical of some of Adkins decisions tactically and with team selection I expect the new manager will also take a while to make the correct decisions too.
I acknowledge your logic, but can't buy it. Rickie Lambert was good for 90 last season, and I don't see why he shouldn't be up to it this season, in arguably a less physical division, playing fewer games. Surely, one might argue, bit parts will only serve to undermine match fitness? That said, I do appreciate there are arguments for and against. Although, not sure why Ramirez is being rested?
Just to set a few things straight. The 4-5-1 is less about Adkins and more about Cortese's 'Southampton Way' philosophy. He wants us to play like Barca, and they don't play 442 with a 6ft center forward. Most of the players signed this summer (including the utter liability that is Maya Yoshida) were signed on Cotese's say so (after being identified by Les Reed). I'm 99% certain Adkins had no say on most of our summer signings whatsoever. Which also means it's not his fault we didn't sign a center back worth the name.
I am slowly getting my energy back. I no longer think boycott is the way to go. The players must be feeling bad, they need maximum support.
I think the players will be over it. They are paid to do a job and although some will have liked Nigel others won't have.
I've got a season ticket - it would be pointless for me to boycott any games because the club has already had my money. I'll be going to watch a game of football tomorrow, as that is what I pay for every year, and I certainly wouldn't change my plans just because I disagree with decisions that have been made by the CEO. I suppose in that sense, I am very much a customer rather than a fan, and that is further supported because I don't have the huge emotional attachment to the club that some people do which that causes them to grieve when a highly paid professional gets replaced by another. I have always supported Saints, in my own way, but if they suddenly ceased to exist, I would find a new hobby as my main entertainment and would probably think of football in the same way I do about Cricket - it's agreat game but I can live without it. Saints are the club that I have been watching since 1973, and I suspect that they will still be the club that I choose to watch in another 20 or 30 years no matter who owns them, or what decisions are made about the running of the club as long as the club is still going. Having a moral standpoint on people's behaviour is all well and good, but I'm afraid that football for me is Saturday afternoon entertainment, which is enhanced because it has always been the same team that I am cheering on, and there is a sense of belonging that comes from being in a crowd of people who all want the same thing. What I am trying to say in amongst this rambling statement is that other people obviously feel much more strongly than me about 'belonging' to the club and have an emotional commitment to the club that they feel should work both ways. I on the other hand don't, and am aware that I made a decision to choose Saints as the team that I will support and have had a great deal of enjoyment over the years doing that but am not owed anything by the club. The wailing and gnashing of teeth over the last few days has brought it home to me that much as I enjoy football, I could never be so obsessed with the club that I would allow it to rule my life or change my habits. This is obviously different for some people out there, and good luck to them but I like to think that I keep football in perspective. I'm looking forward to the Everton game, and I am looking forward to what changes may happen to the team in the coming months and years. Hopefully, that will include more sucess and I will get to watch some exciting football.
Nah, this sacking has not personally effected me. Good luck to the new man and I hope he brings us some glory.
I hear a lot about different ways to voice our disappointment at the recent decision. There has been a lot of fans upset this year by their various chairman. In regards to dismissing their hero managers. Nottingham forest comes to mind as does Chelsea and now us. In truth though these are the people with the purse strings these are the people charged with making the club at least break even if not make a profit. These people either succeed or fall by their decision making process. Their job is to sell a product to us fans in this case it is their job to sell us the success of the club to attract more fans and to once again make us a world wide name as we were a few years ago. (No I accept it will not be on the scale of some of the bigger boys.) If Cortese Fails in this, the Family will pull out.......have no doubt about this. We as fans in the main do not like the path he has gone down and is understandable. No doubt some fans will stay away as a protest and that is naturally their right to do so. No doubt some will stay away because it is bloody cold and claim they stayed away as a protest too. I calculate that I have seen in excess of over 1800 games involving my beloved saints over the years, home away and overseas. I am a season ticket holder and I have thought long and hard as to my stance over this. For the life of me I just cannot see that boycotting Saints will change anything. I just cannot see how reducing the clubs income will in the end tell Cortese anything. It will just make him borrow a few quid more. Seriously do you not think he has not taken all of this into consideration before making his decision? Looking at the small picture yes you could say he has ignored our feelings as fans. You could also say he has no respect for us as fans. If he succeeds though to fulfill his ambitions and what he thinks the vast majority of fans want which is to actually compete on a level playing field in the premier league and beyond. Will you still boycott him then and still demand NA is re-instated? Or are you likely to join us (god willing) that stayed to support the team through thick and thin? I know what I will be doing if I can and my sons and daughters and my grandchildren. If that doesn't make us Saints fans, I don't know what will.
Judging by some comments already heard some players and staff looking forward to the new regime... As for what I consider childish "why isn't Lambert playing from the start" question...the result speaks for itself. I am sure we would have lost if he had been there from the start as they'd get the measure of him. Worked for Reading yesterday with Le Fondre. You pick the best team for the circumstances not necessarily your best players. I questioned some of Adkins substitutions this season,but overall loved the guy. However, Adkins is NOT Southampton Football Club. Utterly shocked and angered when I heard about the sacking. Having said that I support my club and we quite possibly would not have a club to support without Nicola Cortese. This same man that got Nigel Adkins in when many were moaning "who?" and "why?" As it turned out it was an inspiring appointment. Obviously not happy in the manner and timing of all this. If you are such strong NA supporters then support his next appointment. If Cortese was vindictive at all, all the protesters could just make him think F.this, you ain't worth it, I'm off. Then where would we be? Must say this whole episode has made us all feel a little less comfortable and somewhat bereaved. The unpredictability of supporting a side (especially below the top 4) is something we live for. What the next few months bring who knows, but one thing for sure...I'll still be supporting Southampton and all those that sail on her.
Beddy...I'm staying away because it is bloody cold...but, if my car was going and it was warmer, I would be there to see the next regime and support the Saints. I bought my ticket believing it was on a Saturday (dumb, eh?), but I will not have to rush from work and catch the bus or lay out on the ferry fare before returning by 11.30. So all things considered, this wimp is chickening out.
