Way, way back in November, during a very tricky spell of results, there were murmurings about the manager at SAFC and some even questioning whether or not he should be replaced. Thankfully we have an owner with some considerably proportioned nads and he resisted the nonsense being spouted about bringing a new manager in and instead was focusing on new recruits and developing the club. We have since gone on a fantastic run through December and January and whilst not totally turned, the corner is in our rear view mirror now. Up at NE1, after a decent start, they have now embarked on a disastrous run of games (2 wins out of 18 competitive games and the natives are restless and calling similarly for the head of the manager. Still, those calls seem to be falling on deaf ears and rightly so as Pardew only won the Manager of the Year award 7 months ago and it would be madness to replace him so late into the season. Down the road a bit at Reading, Brian McDermott has struggled manfully all season to get to grips with this league and his thin inexperienced squad but despite the poor run, their owner too has resisted temptation to sack him and he has provided them with a couple of excellent results of late. Across at Viila Park, Paul Lambert has struggled all season and has been humped very royally recently in a couple of games and still their owner stays firm. So despite so unrest both clubs will resist the temptation and keep their men. On the other hand, after a ruinous start to the season, QPR acted swiftly to replace Hughes with old saggy chops, after much fan unrest and protest and did so only after Hughes was given a wedge of dosh and plenty of time to turn form around but failed miserably. All of the above are shows of admirable loyalty and nerve (common sense as well of course) from owners and in QPR's case, Rednapp was a clever and easy choice for them. What I still cant get my head around is the dismissal of Adkins. As I sat down to watch this match they trotted out some stats that after losing 8 of the first 10 games, Adkins showed a remarkable capacity to learn and develop as they have lost only 2 of the following 12 games and have mustered a point a game in this their first season back in the top flight. They sit 15th in the league and on the morning of Sunday August 19th 2012, I will bet you anything that if they had been offered that they would have snapped your hands off. There have been no crowd protests and no murmurings of discontentment amongst the Saints flock and indeed Nigel Adkins is more popular than many a manager having guided Southampton from the 3rd division to the EPL in 3 successive seasons and was hero worshiped among fans. Why on earth then, with a mere 15 extremely important games to go, would Nicola Cortese decide, over many weeks it would seem, to ditch Adkins and appoint Mauricio Pochettino. The bloke cant even speak English ffs? The club were coping well with no money to spend and found themselves out of the relegation places and in a rich vein of form and spirit, shown by the Chelsea result and comeback the week before. I struggle sometimes to see what foreign fat cat owners/rich benefactors are actually bringing our wonderful game when I see a decent young English coach just **** on without a thanks or **** all after one of the best management jobs in recent history. I don't know Adkins and only vaguely remember his playing career but you know what, I've taken a real interest in his and Southampton's futures here and would love to see him back at a club asap (Blackpool must be definite potential candidate , as he is originally from Merseyside) and I'd love to see Southampton struggle bizarrely? Like I say. Football is a very, very funny old game indeed.
Most certainly is, teams that start strong can fade away and visa versa, all we can predict Is that there's 15 games to play and three teams will go down. Will see how Southampton get on tonight against a strong Everton team but ultimately I think this manager change is for the worse. As long as we finish strongly then I'm not too bothered about other teams.
I don't think O'Neill was under that much pressure or short. There were some moaners but not too many. The crowd never turned at home even at the hugely depressing QPR game. Pardew. He we like the mags lost to Reading I feel then O'Neill would have been under real pressure and short. Luckily they turned the tide before the fans turned. Whilst I whole heartedly back Marty his formation and selections sometime baffle mee sti and the team go from excellent to ****e in the same game. Swansea at home should be a good game.
I think pardew has a job for life under Ashley. Lets be honest, there aren't many self respecting blokes who would work with in the constraints set by our board. We are very near to a stage in the season now where sackin pardew would do more harm than good. Just have to stick at it and percivier and hopefully pull it around and stay in the league. We wouldn't be in this position if we spent some money in the summer and the longer we go without replacing ba is taking a very very risky line. If we never seen cisse do what he did last season then you would think we had signed the next shola, however, with cabaye playing there were signs of life in him on sat. Only some very good goal keeping stopped him from getting a hatrick. But then he misses the easiest of the lot at the end. Looks like our defence is getting some reinforcements at last and this centre half we are getting I'm very surpilrised at(if it happens) because he is top notch from what I've seen of him. But back on point, sacking pardew now for me would only be acceptable if they actually had in place what Southampton did, and that's have a manager sitting waiting to take the job the day pards was let go. Thats just not how out board go about thinks. Drag their arse over everything.
Jarra. If you sacked Pardeaux you could end up with someone like Hughes, who since that bizarre Fulham walkout has looked increasingly on the verge of complete madness!!!!! You have to stick with what you have and cross you fingers for the next 3.5 months.
Win Saturday, you'll be ok, lose, and you are right in the ****. It really is that knife-edge for you lads at the minute, a manager sacking would be insanity.
I think we are right in it already to be honest mate. Just hoping a few signings will be enough to lift everyone. Can't wait to have cabaye and ben arfa on the pitch at the same time again. With cisse not firing and no striker close to signing, they are our goal threat.
That's the way I'm lookin at it mate. Pardew has said on a number of occasions that he has very little input on transfer dealings once the players are identified. I can't see many top managers who woul be happy with that. Pardew is their man. If anything the board have let him down not the other way round.
I agree. Pardew is a very well paid and safe scapegoat and seems happy to take the flack from your pair of utter twats at the top.
You should sign Graham, he'd work with Cisse. We could then sign somebody far superior, and less Geordie.
I cant understand why they wouldn't want Graham for £5m. Would be a good fit for them and a good age for the money. I would love to sign a Sunderland lad who was desperate to play for us with similar ability personally.
