Adkins

[benjii]

Genius.

 

How many managers at this level would even think about bringing in the "second choice" right back as part of their team's offensive gameplan which involves crossing from deeper than usual.

 

Great manager.

[SNSUN]

Manager of the Month? It's between him, Freedman and Hughton IMO.

[The Kraken]

Agreed, he really isn't afraid to make changes on an individual game basis. Of course it does help that we have such good backup to turn to for different options; Guly up front, Chaplow out wide, Butterfield in for Richardson. Add in the different options that de Ridder, Schneiderlin and the returning Barnard will give us and we have a squad that can be rejigged at will for a variety of different formations and lineups, and a manager seemingly brave enough and astute enough to get the best out of whoever he selects.

[SNSUN]

Weird computer...

[Appy]

It will be Hughton i think.

[Wade Garrett]

I would be more than happy if Adkins was continually overlooked for the curse that is Manager of the Month.

[Bailey]

I would be more than happy if Adkins was continually overlooked for the curse that is Manager of the Month.

 

Agreed, so long as he then goes on to win Manager of the Year!

[Saint_clark]

Genius.

How many managers at this level would even think about bringing in the "second choice" right back as part of their team's offensive gameplan which involves crossing from deeper than usual.

 

Great manager.

 

*sigh* most of them...

[doddisalegend]

*sigh* most of them...

 

^^^^ this much as we all love Nigel. I think the idea that only Nigel changes his team about to get a result is er.........stupid

[Legod Third Coming]

He is not a genuis.

 

But we are winning 2/3 of our matches.

 

That is exceptional, truly exceptional.

 

When he can provide a theory on the speed of neutrinos he might be a genius. Until then he's just a brilliant football manager.

[The Cat]

Let all the others win manager of the month. Form is temporary, class is permanent.

[Leicestersaint]

He is a very good manager - turning out to be even better than those of us who strongly supported his appointment a year ago coudl have hoped!

[david in sweden]

Genius.

 

How many managers at this level would even think about bringing in the "second choice" right back as part of their team's offensive gameplan which involves crossing from deeper than usual. Great manager.

 

 

Absolutely, and they obviously watch the opposition a great deal and do a SWOT analysis depending on the other teams game plan, and pick a side to combat it.

.....and he has a Plan B ...and likely a Plan C, too . What a manager !

[Dig Dig]

He's a cut above and has embarrassed many managers who others would consider as better qualified. He has drive and enthusiasm and his meticulous attention to detail must make life very simple for the players. I was very excited when he came here after reading up on him and we're lucky to have him, he's highly regarded within the game. And to think that Brighton fans still say he's just a physio. Anyone who actually thinks that must be as thick as pigs cock.

[Upton72]

He's got a better Plan B than Gideon Osborne

[wightman35]

I was very excited when he came here after reading up on him and we're lucky to have him, he's highly regarded within the game. And to think that Brighton fans still say he's just a physio. Anyone who actually thinks that must be as thick as pigs cock.

 

That tells a lot about about their fans then, does it not?

[Graffito]

*sigh* most of them...

 

But Adkins' record at Saints is demonstrably better than most (than all but Ferguson's I believe). If it's not tactical selections like the one mentioned by the OP then why do you think Adkins recent record is better than his peers? It seems to me he makes the right callsmore often than most and the selection of Butterfield is a good example.

[Dr Who?]

England manager in the making if he can carry this on into the Premier league with the clubs support. So good!!

[Ohio Saint]

I no longer look at the team selection and worry about it. In NA I trust!! I suspect that he knows a little more about footy than I do!!

[Ohio Saint]

England manager in the making if he can carry this on into the Premier league with the clubs support. So good!!

 

He would probably make a terrible England manager. The basis of what he is achieving at Saints is based on team spirit and humility. Being forced to work with a bunch of over-rated over-hyped prima donnas? I don't think so. Not for Nige......I just hope he realises that when he gets offered the job.

[benjii]

*sigh* most of them...

 

You reckon? You think Sven would pick a right back with a better delivery from deep because he'd identified a particular weakness in the opposition? You reckon Cotteril, or Clough would? Or Pardew, or Burley? Sorry, but I think that's ********. Most managers develop one style and stick to it. Plan B is to hoof it if you need a goal urgently. You see precious little evidence if the sort of thought and planning that goes in to tactically selecting a different right back.

[Gemmel]

You reckon? You think Sven would pick a right back with a better delivery from deep because he'd identified a particular weakness in the opposition? You reckon Cotteril, or Clough would? Or Pardew, or Burley? Sorry, but I think that's ********. Most managers develop one style and stick to it. Plan B is to hoof it if you need a goal urgently. You see precious little evidence if the sort of thought and planning that goes in to tactically selecting a different right back.

 

Spt on benji. There will be times when it doesn't work out, but when it is, the bloke deserves all the credit he gets.

[jam]

I thought the only reason Butterfield hasn't been in the starting eleven was because he's been injured?

[Supersubpuckett]

You reckon? You think Sven would pick a right back with a better delivery from deep because he'd identified a particular weakness in the opposition? You reckon Cotteril, or Clough would? Or Pardew, or Burley? Sorry, but I think that's ********. Most managers develop one style and stick to it. Plan B is to hoof it if you need a goal urgently. You see precious little evidence if the sort of thought and planning that goes in to tactically selecting a different right back.

 

FFS - the level of unbridalled infatuation with our manager and team is sick making. NA is a fantastic manager and far far better than anyone could have hoped, but to suggest he's the only one who would pick a player with a certain attribute that could defeat the opposition is frankly ridiculous. It's called playing to your strengths isn't it?

[Rasiak-9-]

What impressed me even more was that we actually eschewed our usual passing game and used pretty much long-ball football but did so to great effect.

 

It wasn't hoof-ball thuggery or anything, but we simply lengthened our game and played much more directly, which given the team we were up against exploited their weaknesses perfectly. Butterfield was an excellent choice to add another weapon to our tactical arsenal for just this purpose and another feather has definitely been added to Adkins' and the team's cap as a whole.

[Dig Dig]

FFS - the level of unbridalled infatuation with our manager and team is sick making. NA is a fantastic manager and far far better than anyone could have hoped, but to suggest he's the only one who would pick a player with a certain attribute that could defeat the opposition is frankly ridiculous. It's called playing to your strengths isn't it?

 

Don't think anyone is saying that he's the only one who does it. Just the very good ones Benjii is right, a lot of managers have a one style fits all approach whilst others simply don't give a ****.

[Minty]

Singling out one tactical decision is a bit silly but no one can argue that overall, the whole package that Adkins has brought, in terms of tactical nouse, individual and team motivation, training, adaptability, fan interaction, transfers and everything else, is probably second to none in our history.

 

I say that with no disrespect to the likes of Lawrie or Ted Bates who clearly did very well here and earnt a place in Saints history as managers, but in this day and age, with the scrutiny and exposure that teams and players are under, and the financial risks and rewards at stake, I think the pressure is a lot greater and so his abilities are, potentially, far greater in this context.

[BadgerBadger]

He's defo a big part of the reason we're doing well but it's the whole ship that is working well, from the top to the bottom, without that Adkin could not work his magic. Well done all.

[CB Fry]

You reckon? You think Sven would pick a right back with a better delivery from deep because he'd identified a particular weakness in the opposition? You reckon Cotteril, or Clough would? Or Pardew, or Burley? Sorry, but I think that's ********. Most managers develop one style and stick to it. Plan B is to hoof it if you need a goal urgently. You see precious little evidence if the sort of thought and planning that goes in to tactically selecting a different right back.

 

 

Alan Pardew is currently fourth in the Premier Leauge, level on points with Chelsea with a game in hand. He won't stay there, of course, but he's done pretty well so far, and has previously taken a club to eighth in the Prem and a cup final. Not bad. Burley has finished fifth in the Premier League in his time, but was a complete disaster for us ultimately. Sven, has won leagues and cups in Portugal, Italy and Sweden but would never even consider changing his team to attack another team's weak spot. Never. Oh no.

 

Adkins is brilliant. Love the man. Personally I have only seen the team live twice this season in the East Midlands but we played flipping well both times despite winning neither game. That's why we're just so good this season - we even know how to not win with panache.

 

But this overhyping of him is a little bit wearing. Come on. Great passing game, holding possession, amazing team spirit, interchangable team selections, brilliant brilliant brilliant.

 

But he is not reinventing the whole of football like some try and make out. I remember a couple of weeks ago we had a load of comments about the "amazing risk" he took of, er, bringing on a third sub after 75 minutes or something, which was "groudbreaking" because a player might have got injured and "other managers" would never do that.

 

Come on. Calm down people. He's good. We're brilliant. He's not the messiah, just a very good football manager at this time.

[Dark Munster]

Possibly the best manager named Nigel we've ever had, although the other Nigel (aka "the boot boy" by Lowe luvvies) is also proving himself to be very good. Hull are sneaking up, and if they win their game in hand will only be 3 points behind us.

 

I would love it if the other Nigel takes his team up this year (2nd, behind our Nigel of course). That, along with the Cheats going down, would be perfect.

[Professor]

Come on. Calm down people. He's good. We're brilliant. He's not the messiah, just a very good football manager at this time.

So, how come he walks over the Woolston without using the bridge?

[doddisalegend]

You reckon? You think Sven would pick a right back with a better delivery from deep because he'd identified a particular weakness in the opposition? You reckon Cotteril, or Clough would? Or Pardew, or Burley? Sorry, but I think that's ********. Most managers develop one style and stick to it. Plan B is to hoof it if you need a goal urgently. You see precious little evidence if the sort of thought and planning that goes in to tactically selecting a different right back.

 

How much have you actually studied those managers then to find this evidence that they never change anything or prepare for other teams? CB fry has it right Nigels doing a fantastic job but he is not re-inventing the wheel with what he is doing all managers make changes and try to outhink the opposition when it works they look good when it doesn't they don't. Where Nigels work seems to be really paying off is in fitness and team spirit even when things aren't going right ,like Reading, the players never give up and are always still going strong even at 90+ minutes something we haven't had since WGS.

[Wes Tender]

What impressed me even more was that we actually eschewed our usual passing game and used pretty much long-ball football but did so to great effect.

 

It wasn't hoof-ball thuggery or anything, but we simply lengthened our game and played much more directly, which given the team we were up against exploited their weaknesses perfectly. Butterfield was an excellent choice to add another weapon to our tactical arsenal for just this purpose and another feather has definitely been added to Adkins' and the team's cap as a whole.

 

Did we? I must have watched a different game to you. How about the 25 passes that ended with Connolly's goal? Agreed that we had a smattering of longer balls we delivered and we had that in our armoury because we played a high line with Chaplow often ahead of the two designated strikers, Lambert and Guly. But the strength of a team like ours is becoming, is that we can vary the play during the course of a game to keep the opposition confounded. Most of the play is our neat passing game, but if the opposition try and swamp the midfield to stifle us, we can put the occasional long ball in and get behind them.

 

But the key for me was that Borough did not really know who to mark. Mark Lambert and Guly and Lallana and Cork and Chaplow and additionally the CBs for set pieces? It was too much for them to handle. We took the initiative from the kick-off and kept up the pressure throughout the match

[Ken Tone]

Did we? I must have watched a different game to you. How about the 25 passes that ended with Connolly's goal? Agreed that we had a smattering of longer balls we delivered and we had that in our armoury because we played a high line with Chaplow often ahead of the two designated strikers, Lambert and Guly. But the strength of a team like ours is becoming, is that we can vary the play during the course of a game to keep the opposition confounded. Most of the play is our neat passing game, but if the opposition try and swamp the midfield to stifle us, we can put the occasional long ball in and get behind them.

But the key for me was that Borough did not really know who to mark. Mark Lambert and Guly and Lallana and Cork and Chaplow and additionally the CBs for set pieces? It was too much for them to handle. We took the initiative from the kick-off and kept up the pressure throughout the match

 

Exactly....as indeed Adkins has said himself. I confess to occasionally shouting for 'God's sake clear it' when we mess up passing in our own half and give the ball away, but the point of that style of play is to suck the opposition forward, to they leave space at the back, which either our passes eventually reach, or occasionally a ball over the top can exploit. I didn't think we played signficantly differently against Boro.... just a variation on the theme.

 

I'm really tickled by how many posters on here are now saying how pleased they were when Adkins was appointed. I don't recall such public bucketloads of enthusiasm at the time. An awful lot of 20-20 hindsight!

 

Personally I thought ..."Hmmm, not the big name (O'Neill etc) that was talked of, so obviously we didn't sack Pardew with such a person lined up as some speculated. Don't know much about Adkins, but well, let's see how he does." Pretty damn well seems to be the answer!

[austsaint]

I think three out of our last four managers have been outstanding in their own way - Nigel Pearson, Alan Pardew and Nigel Adkins.

[doddisalegend]

Exactly....as indeed Adkins has said himself. I confess to occasionally shouting for 'God's sake clear it' when we mess up passing in our own half and give the ball away, but the point of that style of play is to suck the opposition forward, to they leave space at the back, which either our passes eventually reach, or occasionally a ball over the top can exploit. I didn't think we played signficantly differently against Boro.... just a variation on the theme.

 

I'm really tickled by how many posters on here are now saying how pleased they were when Adkins was appointed. I don't recall such public bucketloads of enthusiasm at the time. An awful lot of 20-20 hindsight!

 

Personally I thought ..."Hmmm, not the big name (O'Neill etc) that was talked of, so obviously we didn't sack Pardew with such a person lined up as some speculated. Don't know much about Adkins, but well, let's see how he does." Pretty damn well seems to be the answer!

#

 

*nods head* could have written what I knew about Nigel on the back of a postage stamp ,in large letters,when he arraived. My over riding feeling was thank god Wilkins won't be in charge anymore TBH.

[Frank's cousin]

For me its been about a few simple things...

 

1. Coaching - many of our players have improved significantly, from first touch to spotting the right pass, comfort on the ball etc... sure we are not Barcelona, but it shows that you can coach this if prepared to do so

 

2. Fitness - dont know what he did preseason, but it sure worked - being a qualified Physion must have had a certain advantage here.

 

3. Motivation/team spirit - yes we have had teh advantage of the 'momentum' from propmotio, but from half way through last season, that unity and togetherness has been so evident - anyone no matter how good who potentially disrupts is not welcome.

 

4. Tactics - nothing revolutionary - but belief has played a huge part in this - rather than simply playing a set style and playing the strengths (Alladyce take note), belief that technique and style CAN be coached and learned through hard graft means we have players who have learned to pass the ball, and play with confidence

 

So for me it does not make Adkins a genius or a god... simply someone who understands the game, looks to learn from every match and instills belief and confidence that our players CAN pass the ball - in effect what a manger should be able to do. For me its not that Adkins is so necessary great, but that so many managers so so bad! - Some may get results but play a style that is one dimensional, boring and lacks any kind of purity - others constantly fall out with tehir players, others still need to spend fortunes because they cant caoch, others have egos teh size of planets and its all about them....

[up and away]

Exactly....as indeed Adkins has said himself. I confess to occasionally shouting for 'God's sake clear it' when we mess up passing in our own half and give the ball away, but the point of that style of play is to suck the opposition forward, to they leave space at the back, which either our passes eventually reach, or occasionally a ball over the top can exploit. I didn't think we played signficantly differently against Boro.... just a variation on the theme.

 

I'm really tickled by how many posters on here are now saying how pleased they were when Adkins was appointed. I don't recall such public bucketloads of enthusiasm at the time. An awful lot of 20-20 hindsight!

 

Personally I thought ..."Hmmm, not the big name (O'Neill etc) that was talked of, so obviously we didn't sack Pardew with such a person lined up as some speculated. Don't know much about Adkins, but well, let's see how he does." Pretty damn well seems to be the answer!

 

My personal choice as manager would have gone to someone like Billy Davis bearing in mind the issues we had at the time. Wanting and getting are two different things and in practical terms it looked like it would come down to someone like Adkins, O'Drisscol or Howe. Adkins was the obvious stand out because he had got S****horpe promoted twice in recent years. Little surprise and no doubts in my mind.

 

Taking onboard Adkins experience, he was just what we needed. I was not overly impressed with Adkins for the higher leagues to come, but he was exactly what was needed for the position we were in. Adkins got quite a bit wrong during that first season, repeating errors but he also got a hell of a lot right. What has most amazed me with this journey with Adkins is that he eventually gets things right, buttons that down and looks for improvement in other areas. Other things where you feel he has not got things right just go on to another level that you even forget you questioned the original decision

 

This season Adkins have elevated Saints to another level, it is just total football. Fashioned without the need to kick the opponents off the park with a passing game that draws comparisons from the very highest levels. I have seen Pardew screaming the same instructions to the players as Adkins, whether it was to hug the line, push up or discipline. Just one sticks and the other does not. Where did this slick passing game suddenly come from? The addition of Cork seemed instrumental but we can now manage without him such has been the drilling on the training ground. Lallana on Saturday was nowhere near his best, but that little extra quality started taking the water over the top of the dam that the resulting tidal wave came as no surprise. When you have twice the attacking options of most teams in this league, it comes as no surprise when we get a stranglehold of the midfield that someone is in for a battering, no matter how good they have been previously. Chaplow added such focused energy to the midfield that the only surprise is how they got off so lightly. Then look back at the issues we used to have with the defence, looking a distant memory now. The spine and formation of the team we put out against Middlesbrough has always been my idea of our perfect balance.

 

I have no doubt now that we are the real deal and can continue this form through unless injuries decimate us. I am still puzzled where all this passing football arrived from at the start of the season, is this "the Southampton way" Cortese was talking about? Les Reid had a major influence on Adkins arriving at Saints and the manner in which everything is functioning behind Adkins has a lot to do with Reid. But for Adkins to use all these resources so effectively deserves special praise for someone I thought would be perfect for getting us out of League 1 and maybe not much more. The manner in which Adkins has grown as a manager anything is possible, even the England job.

[Wallington Saint]

I think we can all agree he's doing a great job....but what is the strange green badge he's been wearing?

[Minty]

I think we can all agree he's doing a great job....but what is the strange green badge he's been wearing?

A 'Kick Racism Out' badge probably, without having looked more closely.

[Matthew Le God]

I think we can all agree he's doing a great job....but what is the strange green badge he's been wearing?

 

Kick racism out of football campaign.

 

[Lets B Avenue]

How prescient! He first wore it at Reading, the day before John Terry "didn't" say what he said.

[doddisalegend]

How prescient! He first wore it at Reading, the day before John Terry "didn't" say what he said.

 

What's the betting Terry will be seen sporting one (probably a much bigger version) around town in the next few days...............

[DJ_TOAST]

Random question - does anybody know what that green badge is that Adkins wears on his suit ?

[Give it to Ron]

Random question - does anybody know what that green badge is that Adkins wears on his suit ?

what they all said!

Edited 31 October, 2011 by Give it to Ron
numpty too late

[SNSUN]

Exactly....as indeed Adkins has said himself. I confess to occasionally shouting for 'God's sake clear it' when we mess up passing in our own half and give the ball away, but the point of that style of play is to suck the opposition forward, to they leave space at the back, which either our passes eventually reach, or occasionally a ball over the top can exploit. I didn't think we played signficantly differently against Boro.... just a variation on the theme.

 

I'm really tickled by how many posters on here are now saying how pleased they were when Adkins was appointed. I don't recall such public bucketloads of enthusiasm at the time. An awful lot of 20-20 hindsight!

 

Personally I thought ..."Hmmm, not the big name (O'Neill etc) that was talked of, so obviously we didn't sack Pardew with such a person lined up as some speculated. Don't know much about Adkins, but well, let's see how he does." Pretty damn well seems to be the answer!

 

Here's the thread - http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?25200-Adkins-appointed&highlight=Nigel+Adkins+appointed - looks like a lot of happy people at the time...

[Clash City Saint]

what they all said!

 

I think it says ''one team / (one) community''

 

HTH

[Dark Munster]

I think three out of our last four managers have been outstanding in their own way - Nigel Pearson, Alan Pardew and Nigel Adkins.

 

This.

[Dark Munster]

Here's the thread - http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?25200-Adkins-appointed&highlight=Nigel+Adkins+appointed - looks like a lot of happy people at the time...

 

Underwhelmed & uninspired by the appointment, can't see him lasting past Christmas.

 

:lol:

[CB Fry]

Here's what I said on that thread, before some revisionist weasel posts it up for me because it doesn't fit in line with the happy-clapper opinion police.

 

Happy with what I wrote at the time, and note the use of the lines "so what do I know" "good luck to him" and "lets hope Adkins can step up" before some utter dinlow decides that what i was really saying is "Adkins is going to be rubbish" We appointed a manager, I gave my opinion - trepidation - at the time.

 

And if people want to have a go at me for being trepedatious, there were plenty of happy clapper idiots saying we needed to give him two or three (yes, some said three) seasons to get out of league one.

 

Agree with every word you say. 14 years at one club with minimal expectation, with reputation and stature earnt over years of being part of the furniture. He's never, ever had the experience of driving into a new car park, walking into a new dressing room and saying "I'm in charge now". And he's never dealt with immense pressure on his shoulders at a club with expectation of success that he's going to face with us.

 

Good luck to him, but he isn't the natural choice for me. But then I wasn't convinced by Strachan at point of appointment either, so what do I know.

 

 

Good luck to him.

 

 

No, me too. I you had to write the dream CV of a Saints manager for now it would be - experience of promotion from third tier, experience of success higher up including premier league, experience of some knock backs and responding well to them, experience of taking over new clubs, imposing a vision and delivering success. Pardew had that CV, Adkins has a good CV but a limited one. His lack of experience of actually taking over a club eats at me a bit.

 

Yes Adkins has had some success, but at a club and a scenario nothing like what he is going to experience at Southampton.

 

I come back to Ian Holloway - brilliant at low-expectation two-bob clubs like Plymouth and QPR (as was), total failure at high expectation, high wage-bill, high-pressure Leicester. Back to two-bob clubland and bingo, success again. Some managers suit the two-bob club. Let's hope Adkins can step up.