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Adkins still here at end of season?


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If sh!t does happen I can't see it being Di Matteo, he hardly plays the Southampton way.

 

West Brom actually played very well under him. The reality of the situation at Chelsea was that he had to do what he could do with the squad available to him against teams who on paper at least, are far superior.

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After everything has come to light, I am amazed that Cortese did not sack Pardew far earlier. His restraint in not sacking him was exemplary and in near on every other business he would have been out of the door.

 

When Cortese went out and spent £M's on players in the January transfer window he made it very clear to Pardew this was based upon moving forward in the league alone, the cups never came into it. To then be told by Pardew in the programme notes the the cups were deliberately targeted has to go down as one of the most stupid comments ever. I can't think of any other industry where that would be allowed to go without a sacking, especially when already spelt out clearly in black and white. After all of that Pardew still got the second chance but managed to screw up again equally badly, he deserved to go, no doubt.

 

There is more than enough here to say that Cortese bent over backwards to accommodate Pardew, but the bloke had a managerial death wish. The synergy between Adkins and everything Saints is so very clear to see, even to the extent Adkins had his contract extended to 5½ years after just a few months. This could only have been based up what was happening behind the scenes as results gave no indication of this. I still can't believe the depth of vision Cortese had with extending that contract to 5½ years, when it only became evident at the end of the season that Adkins football had surpassed Pardews. I can see the spectre of the DofF raising it's head in the Premier and will need to be handled sensitively for all concerned but I feel Cortese will be more generous towards Adkins than many imagine.

 

I didn't realise Adkins' contract had been extended. He'd be relatively expensive to sack then....

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Please dont think for one second I am stirring it up here (or looking for attention) as I am a massive Nigel Adkins fan, but I also have it on extremely good authority (I wont be sharing names on here for obvious reasons) that there is tension between Cortese and Adkins!

NC was extremely disappointed that we didn't have the stamina to go on and win The Championship after leading for so long and was furious after the Reading defeat at home, which led to no communication between NC and NA until after the Coventry game! I am not saying he is about to sack NA, but I dont think it would take too much (like a small blip at the start of the season) for changes to be made.

I am a huge fan of NC and love how he has transformed our club, but don't underestimate his ambition, as the above statement is fact.

 

It's hard to know what to think when you hear stuff like this. On the one hand, if this is the case then I think NC comes across as very petty and will also have an unrealistic grasp of football. No one can gaurentee that any game can be won so getting upset about 1 game where we were pretty unlucky is a concern. Come August, it won't matter who won the league.

 

On the other hand, NC appears quite measured and logical in other ways so it's hard to see him reacting to 1 game like you describe above and would be concerning regarding the long term future of any managerial appointment.

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Calm down the Voice of Reason. Who is having a pop at NC? I asked a very simple question. What would peoples view be of NC if he were to sack a popular and successful manager. I dont see anything wrong with that and i cant see anyone having a pop at NC.

 

Calm down Voice of Ignorance (we can both act 5 years old if you really want to). Some of us are not that naive to recognise subtle digs when they crop up. Sacking a popular and successful manager will no doubt upset quite a few people and rightly so. But there is often no room for sentiment in football if you wnat success. So any criticism of NC should be dependent on whether there is logic in that decsion. If he has big bucks to spend to suport a strategy for rapid growth and NAs status is preventuing this, then logic would follow it was teh only deciosn he could make... if on the otherhand the plan is gradual growth and progress there would be no logic in such a decision given that NA would be and has demonstrated he is perfect for that role. simple, Reasonable enough for you.... incidently not sure why you apply that tag, given I have never claimed it... but i guess that irony is lost on you.

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You would have to be blind to not realise that something was up between NC and NA after we won promotion.

 

Let's just hope it is resolved.

 

Could be simply that of the emotional relief to be honest - after two years of intensity. Of course you could also read more into it, if you want... did he always know that his job was get promoted to the prem, and he did it early so it might mean an earlier than anticipated goodbye? Who knows....

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Couldn't you say the same about Nigel? he deserves a chance becuase he has had back to back promotions. What if NC agrees with you though and has someone else lined up...

 

Adkins deserves a chance because he's already got a contract to do the job and has overseen two seasons finishing above 22/23 rivals, he's not a caretaker manager whose role was intended to only last a few months.

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You would have to be blind to not realise that something was up between NC and NA after we won promotion.

 

Let's just hope it is resolved.

 

Are we just talking about the 'cold handshake' photo on the OS or other parts of that day? Furthermore if Adkins had not said about leaving after the Coventry game would that photo have been analysed as much as it was?

Despite people on here and journos saying they know something is up and that Adkins will be sacked does everyone think any of this would have been reported were it not for Adkins comments?

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I'm blind...

 

Quite clearly.

 

All angles covered has a better insight than BBC gave.

 

Kelvin approaches first, and he and cortese exachange high five, cuddle and then either a peck on the cheek or whisper in the ear.

Next is adkins, both men heads down smiles gone an an awkward handshake with no eye contact.

 

You don't need to be an expert in these things to work out all was not well

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When Cortese went out and spent £M's on players in the January transfer window he made it very clear to Pardew this was based upon moving forward in the league alone, the cups never came into it. To then be told by Pardew in the programme notes the the cups were deliberately targeted has to go down as one of the most stupid comments ever. I can't think of any other industry where that would be allowed to go without a sacking, especially when already spelt out clearly in black and white.
Very interesting theory. I wonder then if it was the side he put out against Bolton in the league cup that did him - too strong?

K Davis, D Harding , D Butterfield (J Mills, 82), J Fonte, A Martin, D Hammond, J Puncheon, A Lallana , M Schneiderlin (A Oxlade-Chamberlain, 75), R Lambert (D Connolly, 78), L Barnard

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Quite clearly.

 

All angles covered has a better insight than BBC gave.

 

Kelvin approaches first, and he and cortese exachange high five, cuddle and then either a peck on the cheek or whisper in the ear.

Next is adkins, both men heads down smiles gone an an awkward handshake with no eye contact.

 

You don't need to be an expert in these things to work out all was not well

I would agree

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Adkins deserves a chance because he's already got a contract to do the job and has overseen two seasons finishing above 22/23 rivals, he's not a caretaker manager whose role was intended to only last a few months.

 

Ahh the water tight football contract well Nigels safe then. Certainaly no one with a contract in football has ever been given the heave ho...

 

Personally I'd like to see Nigel given a crack at the PL but I'm a fan I view football with emotions....NC is a Football chairman he has to for go the emotions. If he thinks Saints are best served with out Nigel. Then Nigel will be gone contract or no contract.

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I have heard strong rumours that Michael Appleton has been approached to takeover Saints

 

I cannot name names but they are people in the know.

 

 

 

 

See how easy it is to spout of false crap rumours.

 

I dont go with the theories that Nigel is about to be sacked nonsense. If there was any truth do you think NC would keep him at saints during the close season

 

 

What utter tosh is being spouted

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See no one every says what this incident ever was. According to Pardew himself

 

"Obviously there was a breakdown," Pardew told Goals on Sunday. "You have to say the chairman (Nicola Cortese) lost faith in my management and that's all I can assume because there was no other reason.

 

"I can't give an example of why because he's not allowed to talk about it and nor am I. He's a new chairman and I always felt vulnerable.

 

"All you can do is do the job to the best of your ability and I was very proud of the team that we built there and the relationship I had with the players, which was very, very strong."

 

Taken from this http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/04102010/58/league-pardew-explains-southampton-sacking.html

 

So If the AP was sacked becuase NC and he fell out, and not for footballing reasons, there is no reason to suspect that NC wouldn't act the same way if him and Nigel fell out back to back promotions or not.

 

I just cannot underline the significance of Pardew deliberately going against Corteses express order in the league position having total priority.

 

When Cortese went out and spent £M's on players in the January transfer window he made it very clear to Pardew this was based upon priority in the league alone, the cups never came into it. To then be told by Pardew in the programme notes the the cups were deliberately targeted has to go down as one of the most stupid comments ever. I can't think of any other industry where that would be allowed to go without a sacking, especially when already spelt out clearly in black and white. After all of that Pardew still got the second chance but managed to screw up again equally badly, he deserved to go, no doubt. Following on from that at the start of the next season, Pardew comes out with this classic after the Bolton LGCP, "This was not a priority game for us, but we treated it as such anyway."

Just compare this with Adkins where there has never been any doubt and Corteses wishes have been followed to the letter.

 

In the close season there was decisive split behind the scenes which culminated in senior members of the backroom staff going to see Cortese, stating Pardew was doing more damage than good to the players with the pre-season regime. I feel there must have been some unfinished business between Pardew and Reed from previous, where the gloves were well off now. To the extent there were warnings going around that if noses were poked into places, fists would be used to remedy the intrusion. As it is we all know the damage done by Pardew in the pre-season and the lasting damage that had. Adkins demonstrated that by using the system in place that he could take the club on in leaps and bounds and all of a sudden Reed was no longer a hindrance but of great benefit.

 

I can understand what Pardew was trying to achieve in pre-season, but he pushed things that far he could never recover. Pardews problem was playing galactico football one minute against the toughest opposition, then failing to register against the no hopers on a following Tuesday evening. The reason was simple, we could not produce the energy levels the type of play required twice a week. So Pardews pre-season of getting the players super fit to allow for this punishing schedule had merits but when you destroy the core of fitness in the players and accumulate all the injuries, you have to see how wrong he got things. Luckily for Pardew, the Premier league has nothing like this exhaustive schedule and I doubt he will repeat those same mistakes he made with Saints in Switzerland.

 

I have never seen a club where every aspect is so focused on the first 11 producing to the maximum on match day. Adkins was the missing link that provided what Pardew never could. Cortese, Reed and all the others deserve such credit for putting all the pieces into place and Adkins for using them so well.

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I have heard strong rumours that Michael Appleton has been approached to takeover Saints

 

I cannot name names but they are people in the know.

See how easy it is to spout of false crap rumours.

 

I dont go with the theories that Nigel is about to be sacked nonsense. If there was any truth do you think NC would keep him at saints during the close season

 

 

What utter tosh is being spouted

 

AP?

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I just cannot underline the significance of Pardew deliberately going against Corteses express order in the league position having total priority.

 

When Cortese went out and spent £M's on players in the January transfer window he made it very clear to Pardew this was based upon priority in the league alone, the cups never came into it. To then be told by Pardew in the programme notes the the cups were deliberately targeted has to go down as one of the most stupid comments ever. I can't think of any other industry where that would be allowed to go without a sacking, especially when already spelt out clearly in black and white. After all of that Pardew still got the second chance but managed to screw up again equally badly, he deserved to go, no doubt. Following on from that at the start of the next season, Pardew comes out with this classic after the Bolton LGCP, "This was not a priority game for us, but we treated it as such anyway."

Just compare this with Adkins where there has never been any doubt and Corteses wishes have been followed to the letter.

 

In the close season there was decisive split behind the scenes which culminated in senior members of the backroom staff going to see Cortese, stating Pardew was doing more damage than good to the players with the pre-season regime. I feel there must have been some unfinished business between Pardew and Reed from previous, where the gloves were well off now. To the extent there were warnings going around that if noses were poked into places, fists would be used to remedy the intrusion. As it is we all know the damage done by Pardew in the pre-season and the lasting damage that had. Adkins demonstrated that by using the system in place that he could take the club on in leaps and bounds and all of a sudden Reed was no longer a hindrance but of great benefit.

 

I can understand what Pardew was trying to achieve in pre-season, but he pushed things that far he could never recover. Pardews problem was playing galactico football one minute against the toughest opposition, then failing to register against the no hopers on a following Tuesday evening. The reason was simple, we could not produce the energy levels the type of play required twice a week. So Pardews pre-season of getting the players super fit to allow for this punishing schedule had merits but when you destroy the core of fitness in the players and accumulate all the injuries, you have to see how wrong he got things. Luckily for Pardew, the Premier league has nothing like this exhaustive schedule and I doubt he will repeat those same mistakes he made with Saints in Switzerland.

 

I have never seen a club where every aspect is so focused on the first 11 producing to the maximum on match day. Adkins was the missing link that provided what Pardew never could. Cortese, Reed and all the others deserve such credit for putting all the pieces into place and Adkins for using them so well.

 

I know you've had this theroy since the begining but why not sack AP at the end of the Season when we failed to get in to the play offs rather than several games into a new season if your theroy is correct it makes no sense to keep AP on as he had burned his bridges by mid way through our first season in league one.

 

Personally I want Nigel to stay but IMO NC is ruthless enough to get rid of anyone if he feels it's to Saints benefit regardless of what they have done before. I'm not sure I believe Nigel is about to get the heave ho, If I'm honest, but it if happens I wouldn't be surprised either.

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he said one thing...that was at the start of the season...pretty much the only thing he said...and some precious fans slated him for it

 

Why are people expecting him to say something now then?

 

Not quite sure what to make of this thread really. Although I suppose you can't really believe anything until it is on the OS.

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he said one thing...that was at the start of the season...pretty much the only thing he said...and some precious fans slated him for it

 

What did he say...I can't even remember the last time NC said anything...which is how I like my chairman quiet, in the background and getting on with the job of running the club.

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Nicola can't win to be honest, if he does speak it's then a case of him ''wanting all the limelight'' and being ''full of himself'' and if he doesn't speak, there's something wrong and he needs to communicate with us....

 

He's done the right thing, and isn't commenting on mindless speculation.

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Oh the one with him NC doing his man a C&A impression on the front cover did that upset people? I don't remember anything on here? Maybe totally out playing Leeds took my mind off what ever it was NC said.

 

You don't remember anything on here?? Blimey. There was a 6 page thread, even before the Leeds game had Kicked off.

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Oh the one with him NC doing his man a C&A impression on the front cover did that upset people? I don't remember anything on here? Maybe totally out playing Leeds took my mind off what ever it was NC said.

 

You don't remember anything on here?? Blimey. There was a 6 page thread, even before the Leeds game had Kicked off.

 

PortalDougal.gif

 

Aaah c'mon Ted, you must remember.

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I know you've had this theroy since the begining but why not sack AP at the end of the Season when we failed to get in to the play offs rather than several games into a new season if your theroy is correct it makes no sense to keep AP on as he had burned his bridges by mid way through our first season in league one.

 

Personally I want Nigel to stay but IMO NC is ruthless enough to get rid of anyone if he feels it's to Saints benefit regardless of what they have done before. I'm not sure I believe Nigel is about to get the heave ho, If I'm honest, but it if happens I wouldn't be surprised either.

 

Why would you keep a manager on after all that had happened unless you believe that he still represents the best chance of getting promoted? The alternative is that Cortese deliberately kept Pardew around to **** with his head and at the same time **** up any chance of promotion the following season. Cortese knew the devastating effect of having to change a manager at that stage of the season, something he explicitly referred to. Unless you are some hormonal ***** trotter, it makes absolutely no sense that Cortese would have kept Pardew around for anything but footballing reasons.

 

At the end of the season Cortese looked at all of the good and bad, what the alternatives were and decided to stick with Pardew as providing the best opportunity for promotion. Something i did not argue with myself and equally see the sack as being a viable option.

 

Then you look at the start of the season where the damage done in pre-season was clear for all to see. You had an unfit squad carrying injuries that in cases would take a long time to recover from. Added to that you then had the squads two most important players in Lambert and Lallana either out or not fully fit for a significant period of the season to come. Bearing in mind Lallana had just played in that pointless mid-week cup game, then going off after half time at Bristol. Lallana already had the start of the injury in pre-season but that could have been handled so much better. Why did Cortese let things go on for so long? Well I am not sure he knew who to believe until presented with the inescapable facts at the opening of the season. Where to compound matters, Pardew decides to throw in the gem after the Bolton cup game "This was not a priority game for us, but we treated it as such anyway." Not to mention the unsteady truce behind the scenes with the back room staff.

 

So it all comes to a head at the worst possible time of the season and if anyone in their right mind is suggesting Cortese had a hint of half of this coming up, they are out of their minds. Cortese believed that the issue of cup priority had been settled and no reason not to do so, only for that to revisit accompanied by the mother in law. I know Cortese can be a nightmare on match days because nerves get the better of him, even to the extent of his wife not talking to him. I don't know when exactly Cortese knew of Liebherrs problems, but I have never been so grateful to Pardew for giving Markus that final for a cup I viewed as totally irrelevant at the time. Maybe that influenced Cortese?

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I said exactly the same to you about the 'arrogant saints fans' tag you were throwing about, saying most the country didn't notice us and couldn't give a toss.

 

My point is that the media need stereotypical trigger happy chairmen to create headlines over a season and they'll run with it whether true or not. I don't think that's true of Cortese but I guess we'll see won't we. But there will be stories either way. Not bigging up Saints, just saying all top flight clubs are going to be speculated about.

 

The commentary regarding Saints on FIFA 12 is testiment to that!

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Quite clearly.

 

All angles covered has a better insight than BBC gave.

 

Kelvin approaches first, and he and cortese exachange high five, cuddle and then either a peck on the cheek or whisper in the ear.

Next is adkins, both men heads down smiles gone an an awkward handshake with no eye contact.

 

You don't need to be an expert in these things to work out all was not well

 

That's not true as you can see clearly here, Nicola and Nigel look at eachother and Nicola certainly has a huge smile:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XpLCoVpyrf0

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That's not true as you can see clearly here, Nicola and Nigel look at eachother and Nicola certainly has a huge smile:

 

You need to watch it on the All angles covered version. I've seen it 20 times, it is as clear as day.

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You need to watch it on the All angles covered version. I've seen it 20 times, it is as clear as day.

 

I watched this around three times. Start at around 21:30. Taken in isolation, the Cortese/Adkins handshake looks just about cordial. Watch Kelv approaching Cortese just before Nige arrives and the difference couldn't be more pronounced. Cortese super-happy when he sees Kelv, cold by comparison when he sees Nigel. Nigel's body language is off too. Does a little 180 instead of going straight for Cortese.

 

corteseblissfactor.png

 

I'm not subscribing to this "it was the end of a long and emotional day so Nige invented concerns about his job security" theory. More like, it was the end of a long day and Nige let something slip. His guard was down and I don't care how emotional the day was - there is no logical reason for him to mention his job security after securing back to back promotions unless it was in doubt. Didn't hear Allardyce or McDermott talking about the end of their jobs at West Ham and Reading when they got promoted to the Premier League.

 

The club haven't denied the story. That doesn't really say anything apart from they could if they wanted to, and if Nige is an integral part of a New Five Year plan, they'd probably want to.

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Would this have been analysed as much as it has if Adkins didn't make those comments after the Coventry game?

 

Also Adkins has done several interviews since, talking about bringing new players in, the latest one being at the weekend. Cortese may well have been angry after the reading game, just as I was and probably most other fans. I really thought we had not only blown the title but automatic as well. I avoided Facebook, twitter, the papers and this place just so I didn't have to read about it. And I didnt look at any of that until we were promoted.

 

Maybe they didn't speak from the reading game until after the Coventry game - if so maybe this is why said handshake was 'cold' as they may not have known how to react to each other. Or this could all be a load of rubbish, who knows. I guess the next couple of weeks will tell all and if we make any signings.

 

I just can't believe we are even discussing the possibility of him being sacked after two successive promotions!

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Si senor. You want to build the new Barcelona? You hire the architect, of course....

 

Well, if he goes, the RDM rumour mill will start spinning up. Sounds like he's saying "make me an offer I can't refuse". Chelsea definitely a club willing to do that.

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Please dont think for one second I am stirring it up here (or looking for attention) as I am a massive Nigel Adkins fan, but I also have it on extremely good authority (I wont be sharing names on here for obvious reasons) that there is tension between Cortese and Adkins!

NC was extremely disappointed that we didn't have the stamina to go on and win The Championship after leading for so long and was furious after the Reading defeat at home, which led to no communication between NC and NA until after the Coventry game! I am not saying he is about to sack NA, but I dont think it would take too much (like a small blip at the start of the season) for changes to be made.

I am a huge fan of NC and love how he has transformed our club, but don't underestimate his ambition, as the above statement is fact.

SO that's it - a lover's tiff! If this is true I actually share NC's disappointment but I don't think that he will see it as a reason to sack NA. Nevertheless, Cortese needs to get real, there are a lot more disappointments heading our way.

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Well, if he goes, the RDM rumour mill will start spinning up. Sounds like he's saying "make me an offer I can't refuse". Chelsea definitely a club willing to do that.

 

He's had the deal in his hands for ages! It was just RDM winning the Champion's League which has thrown a spanner in the proverbial... But he'll still get the job.

 

I'm sure we'll have NA until Xmas is my guess. And if he's doing well then, he'll be fine because he could easily prove himself the next Pep.

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He's had the deal in his hands for ages! It was just RDM winning the Champion's League which has thrown a spanner in the proverbial... But he'll still get the job.

 

I'm sure we'll have NA until Xmas is my guess. And if he's doing well then, he'll be fine because he could easily prove himself the next Pep.

 

Clearly NA willbe judged by Cortese on results after we get going in the premiership.Don't think anyone would expect otherwise.

 

Personally, I think Adkins is the best potential up and coming English manager, but that could be shown to be false hope in the 'big league' , perhaps he'll prove to be another Warnock in that he's great for promotion but not quite able to keep teams there.

 

There may be some personal history from Switzerland between NC and Di Matteo , and RDM's stock is high after the Champ League, but I don't quite see his record as that great :

 

MK Dons - got to play offs, beaten by Sc^nthorpe who were managed by ...

WBA - a resounding success, got promoted to the prem as runners up (sounds familiar) having never really challenged for the title the whole season

Sacked at WBA - too inexperienced ?

Chelsea - inherited probably the most expensive squad in the Prem, and turned their season around by allowing the old guard to take centre stage, so no inspired signings made by Di Matteo in building anything there.

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People have too much time on their hands. Rumours like these are part of the close season tedium.

The real issue to watch out for is if we show a bit of determination in the transfer market instead of the shambles of last summer !

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People have too much time on their hands. Rumours like these are part of the close season tedium.

The real issue to watch out for is if we show a bit of determination in the transfer market instead of the shambles of last summer !

 

Yep. Just think what sort of season we could have had.

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If we aren't top half after 10 games you just know Dave in Sweden, Proffesor or one of those ilk will start an "is Adkins up to it?" thread.

 

well you just don't know me Turkish, (or any of the other guys who followed this with their humourous comments).

 

I don't write threads like that. I admire Adkins and see no reason why we shouldn't continue in the same vein as last season.

As for him being "upto it", what I think has no bearing on what Nicola Cortese thinks ...it's his decision that matters.

 

The real question is whether the standard of the squad is good enough to enable us to match some of the other Prem.sides.

I think we will be very lucky to get above mid table, and even new signings may not be enough to lift us above that.

 

After 27 years of "survival football " I'd be satisfied to survive every season for another 27 seasons ...by which time I'll be 90 !

 

As for the stats.... Can't promise I won't find a few to prove a point, or two sometime.

 

David in Sweden.

Edited by david in sweden
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Chris ‏@cj_garrett

@reluctantnicko Also...why would Di Matteo come to Southampton after winning the Champions League QUOTE]

 

I totally agree with that, but the real question is ..Will he still have a job with Chelsea by August.. ..I think not, in which case he'll be looking for a job anyway....but I still agree with you ..why would he come to SFC?.

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