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Nigel Loving life with Saints


whelk

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That was a good interview. Hope we are not heading for a fall. [sorry about that, a life time of supporting the saints] Cant think of another manager I would rather have managing us. What a genuine guy. Deserves all the success coming to him.

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I was filming a sports tournament in Northern Queensland last week and each of the teams were encouraged throughout by these psychological coaches and in the evening were invited at dinner to listen to inspirational talks from various notables, Steve Waugh, some Ozzy swimmer I can't remember etc etc. One thing that struck me was their infectious enthusiasm. Being the cynical git I am, I swayed between letting out a silent "pah" and shaking my head and then feeling the endorphins bubbling with inspiration. But the way the team's responded took me by surprise. They came out pumped.

NA reminds me of the kind of psycho coach/corporate coach/life coach characters I've come across in work (sadly I'm more irritated by their go go, all is going to be alright view on life than inspired), who talk up a good game, get the blood pumping and can inspire those prepared to listen. I just wish I was one of them.

On the other hand, when you get him off the inspirational patter, NA sounds a real down to earth bloke, good sense of humour and one I have faith in to take us comfortably into the Prem, this year or next.

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And to be pedantic, Nige, the comment about "a house divided against itself will not stand" predates Abraham Lincoln.

 

It was Jesus. When the crowds tried to find fault with him.....

(Luke 11:17) 17 Knowing their imaginations he said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself comes to desolation, and a house divided against itself falls.

 

Lincoln may have referred to it, but the line was and is in the Bible.

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And to be pedantic, Nige, the comment about "a house divided against itself will not stand" predates Abraham Lincoln.

 

It was Jesus. When the crowds tried to find fault with him.....

(Luke 11:17) 17 Knowing their imaginations he said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself comes to desolation, and a house divided against itself falls.

 

Lincoln may have referred to it, but the line was and is in the Bible.

 

Well, OK, Lincoln was the first non-fictional character to say it then? ;)

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he comes across so well, unless he turns into a lunatic in the dugout I can't see how the likes of Poyet can fall out with him, he's too likable.

Top bloke, let's hope he can continue to deliver and we all move forward.

 

As one.

In the same direction.

As a team.

On the bus.

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before I start can I just say that I wanted him here before he came and still want him here (or course) and I believe that actions speak far louder than words. I just want to get that in before someone thinks I am having a pop. But having said all that, is it just me then that feels he just tries to say the right thing all the time rather than what he really feels (ignoring the quick-fire 20 questions thing at the end of course). I guess that method of answering questions works on a grand team motivational scale, so who am I to complain (and I'm not complaining), but I just feel that when he is interviewed he has these preconfigured answers and they tend to be lines from a motivation for dummies handbook. I really dislike all this on the bus, in the building stuff, actually his interviews in general, no matter what happens he just tries to put a positive slant on things (as if that's a crime I know), but maybe he's just too positive for me - someone that's a self confessed bit of a moaner and realist/pessimist. Keep up the good work Nigel and if you don't mind I'll ignore your interviews till you relax and start speaking your mind rather than what you think the players need to hear.

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And to be pedantic, Nige, the comment about "a house divided against itself will not stand" predates Abraham Lincoln.

 

It was Jesus. When the crowds tried to find fault with him.....

(Luke 11:17) 17 Knowing their imaginations he said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself comes to desolation, and a house divided against itself falls.

 

Lincoln may have referred to it, but the line was and is in the Bible.

As far as I know Jesus (assuming he existed) did not speak English. So if you want to attribute the quote correctly the best you can say it was by the person who translated the Bible (whether that was the Venerable Bede or John Wycliff is open to debate).

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before I start can I just say that I wanted him here before he came and still want him here (or course) and I believe that actions speak far louder than words. I just want to get that in before someone thinks I am having a pop. But having said all that, is it just me then that feels he just tries to say the right thing all the time rather than what he really feels (ignoring the quick-fire 20 questions thing at the end of course). I guess that method of answering questions works on a grand team motivational scale, so who am I to complain (and I'm not complaining), but I just feel that when he is interviewed he has these preconfigured answers and they tend to be lines from a motivation for dummies handbook. I really dislike all this on the bus, in the building stuff, actually his interviews in general, no matter what happens he just tries to put a positive slant on things (as if that's a crime I know), but maybe he's just too positive for me - someone that's a self confessed bit of a moaner and realist/pessimist. Keep up the good work Nigel and if you don't mind I'll ignore your interviews till you relax and start speaking your mind rather than what you think the players need to hear.

 

I understand exactly what you're saying Chez and I think that the time will come when a player or opposing manager or even his boss will get to him and he'll be a little more cynical maybe.

 

However I think he's riding what he's created and in the time that he has been here it is all positive...sure there have been the odd blips and there will be many more along the way. So far his method and enthusiasm have seen it through and we (as a team/club) have bounced back which in itself is an endorsement of the philosophy.

 

I like that he doesn't single out players, referees, opposing teams etc to moan at....we come out of it looking classier than those that are forever blaming someone/something (look not far down the road for the prime example) and if we do cock up he's largely honest enough to admit it. I worried that he didn't seem to be keen enough to join us when he appeared to be prevaricating when leaving Sc*nthorpe but I now realise that it was a wrestle with his integrity and a desire to see the right thing done - in football today particularly in the light of some stuff that's happened this last week it's refreshing to find...and good for us to have 'on the bus'.

 

Someone said his interviews are like a middle-management manual on tape...I think I've never found one quite so effective. Cliched certainly but effective without any shadow of doubt.

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before I start can I just say that I wanted him here before he came and still want him here (or course) and I believe that actions speak far louder than words. I just want to get that in before someone thinks I am having a pop. But having said all that, is it just me then that feels he just tries to say the right thing all the time rather than what he really feels (ignoring the quick-fire 20 questions thing at the end of course). I guess that method of answering questions works on a grand team motivational scale, so who am I to complain (and I'm not complaining), but I just feel that when he is interviewed he has these preconfigured answers and they tend to be lines from a motivation for dummies handbook. I really dislike all this on the bus, in the building stuff, actually his interviews in general, no matter what happens he just tries to put a positive slant on things (as if that's a crime I know), but maybe he's just too positive for me - someone that's a self confessed bit of a moaner and realist/pessimist. Keep up the good work Nigel and if you don't mind I'll ignore your interviews till you relax and start speaking your mind rather than what you think the players need to hear.

 

Agree totally. My only concern was if Nigel could cut it this season (and he's shoved that right down my throat). I think he's a great guy but his interviews leave me a bit meh........the best bit about that piece on the beeb was the quickfire questions at the end just for a second you got to see the guy behind the carefully guarded interviews.

 

Good stuff. 3pts this afternoon please Nigel.

Edited by doddisalegend
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I understand exactly what you're saying Chez and I think that the time will come when a player or opposing manager or even his boss will get to him and he'll be a little more cynical maybe.

 

However I think he's riding what he's created and in the time that he has been here it is all positive...sure there have been the odd blips and there will be many more along the way. So far his method and enthusiasm have seen it through and we (as a team/club) have bounced back which in itself is an endorsement of the philosophy.

 

I like that he doesn't single out players, referees, opposing teams etc to moan at....we come out of it looking classier than those that are forever blaming someone/something (look not far down the road for the prime example) and if we do cock up he's largely honest enough to admit it. I worried that he didn't seem to be keen enough to join us when he appeared to be prevaricating when leaving Sc*nthorpe but I now realise that it was a wrestle with his integrity and a desire to see the right thing done - in football today particularly in the light of some stuff that's happened this last week it's refreshing to find...and good for us to have 'on the bus'.

 

Someone said his interviews are like a middle-management manual on tape...I think I've never found one quite so effective. Cliched certainly but effective without any shadow of doubt.

 

/\ This. He seems to be a really genuine, honourable and likeable bloke and his little idiosyncracies endear him to most people.

 

If results are anything to go by, he has certainly proven that he is effective as a manager. I suspect managers rule by fear, whilst Adkins appears to gain the respect of the players because they like him and want to put in the effort for him as well as themselves.

 

I haven't known the team to have such unity and team spirit for many a year, so perhaps Adkins is able to inspire that unity, but also the ability to select the players to join the team who have those attributes that make them team players too.

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Very interesting bit about being wary of bringing the 'wrong' kind of players in. Wonder how much we can read into that.

 

Thought exactly the same and fair play to him as he has obviously got a squad that is happy and "together as one". Wonder if any of our targets over the summer perhaps didn't meet his criteria?

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Thought exactly the same and fair play to him as he has obviously got a squad that is happy and "together as one". Wonder if any of our targets over the summer perhaps didn't meet his criteria?

 

Prehaps and i would say Billy Sharp appears to fit that category. However, the higher up the leagues you go the bigger the egos are and the less likely a player is to be delighted to get their dream move to a massive club like Southampton from the likes Bristol rovers and Colchester. I cant think of too many top sportsman that aren't arrogant with a bit of c*nt in them, that is what sets them apart, nice guys rarely make great players and there will have to come a point where to signifcantly improve on what we have then the persoanlity of the player in question might mean he isn't everyones pal.

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Prehaps and i would say Billy Sharp appears to fit that category. However, the higher up the leagues you go the bigger the egos are and the less likely a player is to be delighted to get their dream move to a massive club like Southampton from the likes Bristol rovers and Colchester. I cant think of too many top sportsman that aren't arrogant with a bit of c*nt in them, that is what sets them apart, nice guys rarely make great players and there will have to come a point where to signifcantly improve on what we have then the persoanlity of the player in question might mean he isn't everyones pal.

at the end of the day, man climbed everest and we are southampton, we'll do what we want

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