SnailOB

i was worried about what Saints side would turn up. The last home game against QPR was pretty flat and we have not been putting our chances away. I really feared for a hammering yesterday as Liverpool had seemed to step up a gear recently. That said, came away thinking that we really should have scored more. It was an outstanding performance from everyone. Very hard to pick out a MOM. Probably the stand out 4 for me were Lallana who showed all of his class yesterday, Clyne for a very assured defensive display (particularly the way he handled Suarez at times), Schneiderlin who has just breezed through the Premier League this year and Rodriguez. For me JRod just pips it, think he offers the team something a little different when he plays with his direct running and willingness to shoot at goal. Now he has had a bit of a run in the side he is improving with every game and starting to settle very nicely.

Thats the main difference for me. Also feel 'slightly' better under Adkins

Personally I think NC has also got a lot to thank NA for as well. The plan was supposed to be 5 years, don't think anyone expected back to back promotions. IF Cortese has done no wrong, why the over zealous stewards removing all posters/banners from fans wishing to show their thanks and respect towards Adkins. Why no mention of Adkins in the match day programme after his dismissal. Once Cortese makes a decision he seems to want to eliminate all history of the outgoing person. Also, why was Adkins dismissed ? Personally i didn't think he was doing a bad job, yes he was still learning about life in the Prem and, as long as we seemed on course to stay up, I was happy to accept that. NC has now made the change and where's the improvement ? I think everything we have seen and experienced with regards to Cortese makes me 'believe' that he is being a cock about the whole Adkins thing. 'IMO' Adkins deserved better and I find it very hard to 'believe' that he was treated with dignity and respect. I think 'most' fans have been pretty consistent with this view

Harder working and have actually delivered more when playing together so far under MP

The timing of the managerial change. Adkins (like his players) had to adapt to the premier league. He wasn't helped by the ridiculous situation of not having a replacement for Fox (Shaw was not ready or tested) or proper GK cover. Loads of speculation over who is responsible for transfers, bottom line, don't think they were good enough (Ramirez too inconsistent, Mayuka offered nothing, Gazza not ready). If Puncheon hadn't stepped up (which i dont think many expected him to do) then things could have been a lot worse. Also had a nightmare start. Then - just as players and manager start finding their feet in prem - NC changes manager. Now MP finds himself in same position as NA was at start of season, not knowing his best team - already tinkering with players. Don't believe our results under MP have been any better then they would have been under NA. What makes it worse for MP is that the players should have already settled into pace of prem which was not a situation NA had at the beginning of the season.

In reply to OP - NO, don't think there has been any 'major' improvement since MP came in. Does that mean I think MP is a bad manager - NO Think he is in same position now as NA was at start of season, he is learning about the PLeague and the players. In his favour is fact that the players were also learning at the start of the season but now they have a bit more experience as they were definitely improving under NA. When season started NA didn't know his best starting XI and formation, and it took him a while to figure it out. MP was limited selection wise due to injuries but got good performances from SDavis & JRod when Lallana & Ramirez were out injured. Now he has almost a full squad to choose from, MP has tinkered a little and think sluggish performance against QPR was noticeable (subs were also a bit questionable) Thats why I found it very hard to understand why the managerial change needed to happen. Other than that - pretty much agree with assesment from Mowgli

SFC don't sack managers - we put them on extended gardening leave

Would be interested to know what the flags that the club have sold in the past are made out of. Then we could all make our own banners out of the same material - if they can be waved then obvioulsy they can't be a fire hazard. Is there anything in the T&C's of Season Tickets that gives a proper reason why banners can't be displayed ?

AL is a top quality player yet (IMO) JRod offered more to the game in same position when he came on for AL yesterday That said, I honestly wouldn't say we are better off without him. Think team selection is about balance and I don't think balance was right yesterday. AL can't be blamed for that. I would always prefer to have AL in the team but not sure he is right choice for a wide role. He is a very creative player and would probably be better suited to playing more central instead of Ramirez.

Did he use to manage us ? I thought according to the London media, Harry was some managerial genius - i'm sure leading up to his QPR appointment, managing Southampton and overseeing our relegation from the top flight was never mentioned. Other than that, i say ignore him and support the team

Don't want to protest as ultimately this can further damage 'our' club. That said, I liked and respected Nigel and would welcome the opportunity to sing/chant his name to further show that respect I'm not that willing to just forget what he has done and frankly feel this is the least he deserves. Singing/Chanting his name should not end up being detrimental to the team performance. Think some people are clouding the issue of showing respect to one of our best ever managers to that of a protest against the club.

When you consider over last few years children received free season tickets with a full paying adult - more 'family' friendly than we have ever had.

Really - how so ? Going down would be disappointing. Going down with huge debts, no squad, looking like no future, now that would be a disaster. We've been there and done that bit and hopefully wont go there again. IF we go down it just means losing players, changing squad etc.. but then we had to do that with going up and no-one seems to care too much about the likes of Hammond, Barnard, Harding etc.. moving on. If anything, fans are already crying out for more of our League 1 / Championship squad to go (Davis, Fonte, Guly...) Of course I want to see Saints compete at the highest level against the best teams but if we have to play in the Championship next season i'm sure i'll enjoy it and will not perceive it as a disaster.

NA said time and again that we were looking at bringing in defenders. Same as last season - yet we have gone for the more flash and marketable type of player so that now we look top heavy with forward players. Is this NAs doing or more the influence of others ? We haven't had a big problem scoring and creating chances over last couple of seasons but the back line has always looked a bit suspect. I like NA as a manager and i would be very surprised if he didn't highlight the need to strengthen the defence to the transfer 'team' (or whatever its called). I just wonder if some of our transfers were not wholly based on footballing reasons.

Norwich first games against : Man Utd : Lost 2-0 / Man City Lost 5-1 / Arsenal Lost 2-1 Swnasea first games against : Man Utd : Lost 1-0 / Man City 4-0 / Arsenal Lost 1-0 As you stated, they had great seasons - we haven't finished ours yet either

Agree - did a lot of donkey work for MLT that season was unlucky not to get player of the season himself. Surprised by how well he performed that particular season.

I think a problem with yesterdays game was with the formation changes. At times i struggled to work out exactly where Guly and Lallana were supposed to play. I sit in Chapel and i was bemoaning lack of width at times as, at times , we really needed some overlapping players to work with the full backs as everything was getting too congested in the middle. Seeing Guly sitting in the middle and floating side to side in these areas was confusing because we don't usually see him playing there. But if thats what the manager wanted then you have to credit the guy for following orders. (I think i might of made 'some' of those above observations at times - certainly not the 'parks football onr or last supposed one though - I hope i'm not your Chapel Clown ) That said, when you did see him move more up front / in the hole (which i think is his best position) - he looked a totally different player. Plenty of touches, good link up etc.. I'm not criticising Nigel Adkins but I would say a lot of the stick Guly got from the fans yesterday was probably due to a lack of fans understanding of what Adkins wanted from him.

Without doubt. How many of our squad have 'realistic' premiership experience ? The players have performed admirably so far. They are now facing their first real test of the season. Like you say, our better players are coming back and I think they have easily matched those teams/players who have been performing together in the championship & premiership. Thats why I am confident that we still have a very good chance of automatic promotion.

Agree with that statement but at the same time, I have seen nothing from any of the other teams in the division to suggest that they are that much better. West Ham play with one up top but play with 3 strikers on the bench, I think after SA January transfer dealings they will implode. Top 10 places are very close, but again, evryone can beat everyone else so points will continue to be gained and dropped by all sides. We need to just get our 'mojo' back. We have great team spirit but results and injuries have taken their toll. As alluded to on other threads, NA now needs to choose his best XI and stick to it. The cup has been a distraction as NA has used this to give some fringe players experience of regular football and to provide run-out time to those players coming back from injury and suspension. I appreciate results over last 15 games has been poor but this is the first real period of disruption the side have had (For a few weeks Fonte is out then followed by Jos. Lambert suspended, Chaplow injured etc..) Furthermore, ruling out the rest of the season because of a Millwall cup result is ridiculous. Personally I feel we have just as much chance as anybody else and would not be surprised to see us in top two come the end as quite frankly 'over the whole of the season so far' I have not seen any one time who I can say are far and away better than us.

I agree that the lack of one of these 'major' signings is frustrating BUT Where exactly have Sharp/Maynard/Hooper/Rodriguez/Sordell/Rhodes actually gone so far ? No-one has signed them yet, maybe that says more about the players and their agents then the buying clubs Just a thought

I hope its good news because he certainly took his time leaving the pitch last night. Went round clapping the crowd as if it was his last ever game !

Thats about how I rated his performance last night That said, didn't give me any cause to boo him - how can you boo anyone with the way the team are performing this year !

My MOM. Also very imPressed with the timings of his runs. Always popping up in the box to make himself available. Superb performance

I think there was probably a few still hiding in subways / under trees / in shop fronts hiding from the rain I certainly passed a few yesterday doing just that on way to ground

I was a big PES fan but PES06 killed that for me. Got back into Fifa 09 and haven't looked back. Every now and then I have a 'dabble' with PES but just can't get on with it. Downloaded both Demos on the 360 yesterday but only had a little play so unfair to fully judge yet, but felt at times with PES that passing it around was almost like playing 'sensible soccer'. Didn't have the feel for it. As for FIFA - noticed that GK still can't throw a ball out properly !