Is Nigel Adkins up to it ?

[buctootim]

even if lets say Alpine is giving the blowjob?...

 

Depends. Will he take his teeth out and will it be dark?

[fareham saint phil]

I think he is up for the fight/job, we are helped that there are weak teams in the prem, Norwich and Swansea will also struggle now they have a change in manager. If we play some of the football we are capable of then i think we will be safe.

 

I hope NC give NA the season and that we dont get any knee jerk reactions if things are going astray, hes earned his shot and i have confidence in his ability

[Professor]

My understanding is that the Transfer Window opens on 1st July and that prior to that it is only possible to sign a player already playing for an English club, or a player out of contract. Players involved in the Euro championshps are also unlikely to be in transfer negotiations until they are home from the tournament. The clearout of second string players is a strong sign that SFC are going to make signings in defence and at GK and probably MF.

 

I've no doubt the management are possibly even more aware than us fans, that having new players in place for pre-season will benefit performance in the first few games, but there is still 3 or 4 weeks for that to be done so it may be a tad early to get into worry mode.

[dune]

I'm less worried about whether Nigel Adkins is up to and more shocked and horrified that we've only signed one person so far, and we're already into late June. Its typical of this club that we don't have all of our signings wrapped up by July, like every single other club out there. Adkins is setting himself up for failure with that type of lazy, carefree approach.

 

[Gingeletiss]

My understanding is that the Transfer Window opens on 1st July and that prior to that it is only possible to sign a player already playing for an English club, or a player out of contract. Players involved in the Euro championshps are also unlikely to be in transfer negotiations until they are home from the tournament. The clearout of second string players is a strong sign that SFC are going to make signings in defence and at GK and probably MF.

 

I've no doubt the management are possibly even more aware than us fans, that having new players in place for pre-season will benefit performance in the first few games, but there is still 3 or 4 weeks for that to be done so it may be a tad early to get into worry mode.

 

Bugger 'worry' mode, some on here will be in 'slitting wrist' mode by that time.......Alps for one methinks.

[up and away]

We have virtually zero Premier experience in the team and management so there is good reason to be concerned. It would not surprise me if the size of this task had a lot to do with Adkins mini melt down after we beat Coventry and gained promotion. If we start buying players with the known capability of doing a job in the Premier the better it will be, because at the moment we just have optimism.

 

Looking back at Rodgers and Lambert last season and the teams they had, we should be optimistic. I would rate Adkins above both of those and look where they finished. Based upon that and the hope we stay clear of injuries and the confidence not getting splattered early on, I think we should be ok.

 

Adkins is not faultless and made several mistakes along the way but always progressed and became a stronger manager along the way. He fills me with so much hope the job he has done with Saints, I doubt I would want him changed even if we were to get relegated. As long as he learns and improves as he has done, he will do for me.

 

We need to find three teams that we can climb over to ensure safety. Reading I doubt will be one of those clubs, already ahead of the game on us and with what I expect a bigger transfer budget. If Wigan keep Martinez, I don't see them as catchable when you look at all the injuries they came through last season and their final form. It's possible the loss of Rodgers and Lambert will be good for us, but there does not look like any easy pickings out there at present.

[Thedelldays]

why is everyone worried...a few months ago this place was full of it saying the prem is rubbish and there is not much difference between the top 4 in the NPC and the bottom 8 in the prem

[dune]

It's not even July yet and we have splashed out an estimated 7 mil. Considering the precedent for these things i.e no chairman spends early in any summer close season (they don't want to pay the wages!), I see no cause for concern. Quite the opposite in fact with the signing of Reodriguez. The intent is clearly there. Patience.

[skintsaint]

don't think everyone is worried tbh.

[Pat from Poole]

We have virtually zero Premier experience in the team and management so there is good reason to be concerned. It would not surprise me if the size of this task had a lot to do with Adkins mini melt down after we beat Coventry and gained promotion. If we start buying players with the known capability of doing a job in the Premier the better it will be, because at the moment we just have optimism.

 

Looking back at Rodgers and Lambert last season and the teams they had, we should be optimistic. I would rate Adkins above both of those and look where they finished. Based upon that and the hope we stay clear of injuries and the confidence not getting splattered early on, I think we should be ok.

 

Adkins is not faultless and made several mistakes along the way but always progressed and became a stronger manager along the way. He fills me with so much hope the job he has done with Saints, I doubt I would want him changed even if we were to get relegated. As long as he learns and improves as he has done, he will do for me.

 

We need to find three teams that we can climb over to ensure safety. Reading I doubt will be one of those clubs, already ahead of the game on us and with what I expect a bigger transfer budget. If Wigan keep Martinez, I don't see them as catchable when you look at all the injuries they came through last season and their final form. It's possible the loss of Rodgers and Lambert will be good for us, but there does not look like any easy pickings out there at present.

 

I'd like to think a Hodgson-less West Brom should be a realistic team for us to look to finish above.

[Thedelldays]

I'd like to think a Hodgson-less West Brom should be a realistic team for us to look to finish above.

good point

also, would like to know the reasoning why reading are ahead of us now and have a bigger budget?

[St Jim]

Lets get this out of the way...

 

The fixtures coming out today have at least in my case caused the scales to be shed from my eyes. We face some tough matches over the 8 months of the season.

 

 

Yes, those fixtures have scared the living s*** out of me too. After we sealed promotion nearly 2 months ago I hadn't realised we'd have to play Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton, Spuds, and Liverpool all twice......

[Turkish]

why is everyone worried...a few months ago this place was full of it saying the prem is rubbish and there is not much difference between the top 4 in the NPC and the bottom 8 in the prem

 

Its hilarious to be honest Jamie. Plenty of "gulp" posts this morning. What did people think was going to happen? we have to play them all sometime!!! Only a couple of weeks ago everyone was full of it, lots confident of top ten finishes and the season will be a walk in the park.

[Thedelldays]

Its hilarious to be honest Jamie. Plenty of "gulp" posts this morning. What did people think was going to happen? we have to play them all sometime!!! Only a couple of weeks ago everyone was full of it, lots confident of top ten finishes and the season will be a walk in the park.

lets be honest, I know it is not fashionable to say it..but the prem is a massively hard league...its easy to say norwich and swansea did well so it must be easy...but they..err, did really well...

I just hope we give it a good crack...which I have no doubt we will....we have to face it, we are one of the favourites to go back down and rightly so....to stay up will mean a good season....I can see us causing teams problems..more so at home...I do see us getting a couple of spankings too....

 

just the way it is...

 

maybe it is now in black and white, all the crap about champions league football etc will go away

[alpine_saint]

I wish people would read what I write before going for the jugular.

 

I am not even concerned about transfers yet. As a few have correclty pointed out, we closed some stuff late last year and the year before, and got our sh*t sufficiently sorted out to win promotion (maybe a couple of earlier moves might have helped us avoid our mid-season slump last time round - who knows ?). I also think we've closed our biggest target already anyway. I will view where we are at the beginning of the season and how we respond over August and September before formulating any further opinion.

[COMEONYOUREDS]

worst thread. ever

[alpine_saint]

Yes, those fixtures have scared the living s*** out of me too. After we sealed promotion nearly 2 months ago I hadn't realised we'd have to play Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton, Spuds, and Liverpool all twice......

 

One-dimensional ill-considered sarcasm.

 

Football is a confidence game, one could argue that having so many big 6 games in the first couple of weeks is not exaclty helping us build up our confidence.

[Saint Charlie]

Maybe we should just say 'thanks but no thanks', move quietly back to the Championship and let someone else have a go?

[up and away]

Originally Posted by Pat from Poole

 

I'd like to think a Hodgson-less West Brom should be a realistic team for us to look to finish above

good point

also, would like to know the reasoning why reading are ahead of us now and have a bigger budget?

 

Reading were definitely ahead of all the Championship with that run of difficult games at the end. Something they achieved with ease, whilst the rest of us huffed and puffed. Adkins did a remarkable job holding it all together against some injuries and losses of form from key players. Given their Russian has a decent budget to play with, I don't see us leap frogging them unless we invest more (which I doubt).

 

West Brom is a difficult one to call and will come down to Clarkes man management skills, because as a coach he has been far better than a lot of the managers he has worked for (In the Premier). Hodgson will have left things set up nicely, so already a step or two ahead and I can't see him not improving upon that squad.

[Joensuu]

I'm not concerned in the slightest. In fact, having come through what we have over the past few years, even an instant return to the Championship doesn't overly worry me. I just hope whatever happens Nigel is given time.

 

However, I feel Nigel is up to the task, and my heart says we will start off punching above our weight, and shock a few teams, before having a 3 month lull in November-Jan. A few purchases in the Winter window will see us finish clear of the bottom three, with some on here depressed that without our winter form we'd have made the Europa or something. I also predict that Cortese will continue be slated by the small number of haters whenever he does anything (literally anything). Alpine will annoy people all summer (he fills the transfer windows with doom, even more than he manages to fill his replica top), Dune will continue his trolling (but with less people biting than last season), while Turkish will continue with his sudo-ironic 'Champions League' nonsesne for months to come *****il even he realises that the 'joke' was getting stale on it's first outing). Oh, and this summer Saints will make three more signings, an unknown European 20-something keeper for the number 13 shirt, a proven centre back, and a nippy winger on a free. Finally, Bournemouth will get a bye in the first game of the season.

[Thedelldays]

Reading were definitely ahead of all the Championship with that run of difficult games at the end. Something they achieved with ease, whilst the rest of us huffed and puffed. Adkins did a remarkable job holding it all together against some injuries and losses of form from key players. Given their Russian has a decent budget to play with, I don't see us leap frogging them unless we invest more (which I doubt).

 

West Brom is a difficult one to call and will come down to Clarkes man management skills, because as a coach he has been far better than a lot of the managers he has worked for (In the Premier). Hodgson will have left things set up nicely, so already a step or two ahead and I can't see him not improving upon that squad.

brighton were ahead of us the year before...

personally, I think reading play the wrong way for the premier league...much like I knew brighton's style would mean we would do better in the NPC

 

brighton allowed the top teams in the NPC to have 20+ chances against them...whilst very few in their favour..they sat back and hit teams on the break...take the latter games they played against saints, west ham and brighton for example........

 

if you allow premier league teams to have 20+ chances against you...you will get humped....

 

I think our "style" will lend us to do better than reading this season....we will "have a go" more so than them and I believe we will sign better players in general.

 

just they went on one of those runs last season...

[eurosaint]

I wish people would read what I write before going for the jugular.

 

I am not even concerned about transfers yet. As a few have correclty pointed out, we closed some stuff late last year and the year before, and got our sh*t sufficiently sorted out to win promotion (maybe a couple of earlier moves might have helped us avoid our mid-season slump last time round - who knows ?). I also think we've closed our biggest target already anyway. I will view where we are at the beginning of the season and how we respond over August and September before formulating any further opinion.

 

Does this mean that you won't be starting any more sh#t threads then ??

[Dig Dig]

Maybe we should just say 'thanks but no thanks', move quietly back to the Championship and let someone else have a go?

 

Exactly, everyone needs to look forward to the season whatever outcome. We may well end up exceeding expectations or scrapping at the bottom of the table all season...who can say for sure?

 

I don't really care at this moment in time, just looking forward to the season ahead and supporting the players and management as we know that regardless of what happens they will be giving 100% and that's all we can really ask for. If it's not good enough then so be it.

[S-Clarke]

What a weird forum this has turned into today.

 

It's like some of the posters didn't realise we have to play Man Utd, City, Chelsa etc - and today has confirmed that we do have to play them!!!!! Therefore, we are going to struggle.......well I never.! The last 3 years have been great, but next year will be totally different. We will not win much, we will get beaten heavily on occasions and we will go on long-runs without a win. That's the nature of it.

 

Even Swansea and Norwich who had decent seasons last year had spells like above, so I'll be interested to see how certain people react to us not winning every week. Adkins ''Out of his depth'' by September? Wouldn't put it passed some.

[Aardvark]

I wish people would read what I write before going for the jugular.

 

I am not even concerned about transfers yet. As a few have correclty pointed out, we closed some stuff late last year and the year before, and got our sh*t sufficiently sorted out to win promotion (maybe a couple of earlier moves might have helped us avoid our mid-season slump last time round - who knows ?). I also think we've closed our biggest target already anyway. I will view where we are at the beginning of the season and how we respond over August and September before formulating any further opinion.

 

A pint says that you can't.

[Legod Third Coming]

Be honest - who would you feel most confident in:

 

Adkins

Mourinho

Guardiola...

 

It's a no brainer.

 

But then Mourinho once managed a second division Portuguese side that noone had heard of...

[Tom & Gerry]

I have no idea whether Nigel Adkins will be up to the job but he deserves his chance. As very few managers start their careers in the Premier league if someone with Nigel's record over the last 2 seasons can't be given a go then we will soon have a Premier league of just foreign managers.

[Legod Third Coming]

What a weird forum this has turned into today.

 

It's like some of the posters didn't realise we have to play Man Utd, City, Chelsa etc - and today has confirmed that we do have to play them!!!!! Therefore, we are going to struggle.......well I never.! The last 3 years have been great, but next year will be totally different. We will not win much, we will get beaten heavily on occasions and we will go on long-runs without a win. That's the nature of it.

 

Even Swansea and Norwich who had decent seasons last year had spells like above, so I'll be interested to see how certain people react to us not winning every week. Adkins ''Out of his depth'' by September? Wouldn't put it passed some.

 

Some of us are celebrating playing two giants in a month and some have just realised the party is over...

[Noodles34]

Be honest - who would you feel most confident in:

 

Adkins

Mourinho

Guardiola...

 

It's a no brainer.

 

But then Mourinho once managed a second division Portuguese side that noone had heard of...

 

Guardiola is the correct answer?

[aintforever]

What a weird forum this has turned into today.

 

It's like some of the posters didn't realise we have to play Man Utd, City, Chelsa etc - and today has confirmed that we do have to play them!!!!! Therefore, we are going to struggle.......well I never.! The last 3 years have been great, but next year will be totally different. We will not win much, we will get beaten heavily on occasions and we will go on long-runs without a win. That's the nature of it.

 

Even Swansea and Norwich who had decent seasons last year had spells like above, so I'll be interested to see how certain people react to us not winning every week. Adkins ''Out of his depth'' by September? Wouldn't put it passed some.

 

Oh come on, it is a nightmare start. I've seen Saints in the prem enough seasons to know that.

 

It's good to get points on the board early, calms the nerves, give the team confidence and eases the pressure. If we're approaching October on zero points we all know the pressure that brings.

[Thedelldays]

Oh come on, it is a nightmare start. I've seen Saints in the prem enough seasons to know that.

 

It's good to get points on the board early, calms the nerves, give the team confidence and eases the pressure. If we're approaching October on zero points we all know the pressure that brings.

agree really

[dune]

Oh come on, it is a nightmare start. I've seen Saints in the prem enough seasons to know that.

 

It's good to get points on the board early, calms the nerves, give the team confidence and eases the pressure. If we're approaching October on zero points we all know the pressure that brings.

 

Why is it a nightmare start? It's the best time to be playing the better sides as we'll be playing with extra adrenaline following promotion and hopefully they won't be in full flow (as they are at the business end of the season).

[Saint_clark]

One-dimensional ill-considered sarcasm.

 

Football is a confidence game, one could argue that having so many big 6 games in the first couple of weeks is not exaclty helping us build up our confidence.

 

Or you could argue that the best time to play the harder fixtures is whilst riding the wave of optimism and success. How often do we see teams newly promoted do really well, only to fall down the league once they run out of steam? The likes of Hull, Blackpool and Reading spring to mind off the top of my head.

Better to play the harder fixtures whilst it's all in our favour, and the "easier" ones when we've calmed down a bit.

 

Personally I expect Saints to remain consistent throughout the season, as we have done non-stop under Adkins reign. Totally professional.

[CanadaSaint]

Or you could argue that the best time to play the harder fixtures is whilst riding the wave of optimism and success. How often do we see teams newly promoted do really well, only to fall down the league once they run out of steam? The likes of Hull, Blackpool and Reading spring to mind off the top of my head.

Better to play the harder fixtures whilst it's all in our favour, and the "easier" ones when we've calmed down a bit.

 

Personally I expect Saints to remain consistent throughout the season, as we have done non-stop under Adkins reign. Totally professional.

 

When we were in the Premier I can remember hoping - and hearing many others express the hope - that we don't face any of the promoted teams early-on, because they can be an unpredictable handful.

 

Well, now we're one of them.

 

For that reason I'll settle for those starting fixtures - and also because it helps us to get a decent run-in at the end.

[CWD]

Alpine, why do you do it to yourself?

 

You're a glutton for abuse!

[Legod Third Coming]

Or you could argue that the best time to play the harder fixtures is whilst riding the wave of optimism and success. How often do we see teams newly promoted do really well, only to fall down the league once they run out of steam? The likes of Hull, Blackpool and Reading spring to mind off the top of my head.

Better to play the harder fixtures whilst it's all in our favour, and the "easier" ones when we've calmed down a bit.

 

Personally I expect Saints to remain consistent throughout the season, as we have done non-stop under Adkins reign. Totally professional.

 

It could go either way couldn't it? Noone really knows.

The reality is we have to play every time twice and sometimes they will be in form and sometimes we will be.

 

The key thing to remember is that we can neither win nor lose the league in August/September.

[S-Clarke]

Oh come on, it is a nightmare start. I've seen Saints in the prem enough seasons to know that.

 

It's good to get points on the board early, calms the nerves, give the team confidence and eases the pressure. If we're approaching October on zero points we all know the pressure that brings.

 

To be honest, it's an horrific start if we were looking to get points on the board early - but the way people are now saying we're struggle is odd, seeing as we were always going to have to play these teams at some point. To be honest, I'd rather we get those away games at City, Man Ure and Arsenal out of the way in the first month. Just imagine if our fixture list was turned upside down and our-run in is what our start is. I would be much more nervous about that.

[Bearsy]

This ain't really up for debate is it? Adkins is quite clearly up to it, is anyone really thinking not?

 

I mean I get why you need better players as you go up the leagues but it ain't the same with managers, if a manager is getting the absolute best out the group in League 1 and again in the Championship I don't see why it should be any different in the Premier League. Like when I'm playing Football Manager and I get promoted the fans are usually like all pleased and backing me, they ain't all oh I ain't sure he can cut it up here we'd better ditch him for Mick McCarthy or someone with Premier League experiences!

[hypochondriac]

No one knows what Adkins will be like in the premiership. It could well be that he proves himself to be out of his depth but equally he may rise to the challenge. Whatever your opinion on the matter, it is clear that he deserves his chance. He has achieved an excellent two promotions and we have to give him a go.

[S-Clarke]

This ain't really up for debate is it? Adkins is quite clearly up to it, is anyone really thinking not?

 

I mean I get why you need better players as you go up the leagues but it ain't the same with managers, if a manager is getting the absolute best out the group in League 1 and again in the Championship I don't see why it should be any different in the Premier League. Like when I'm playing Football Manager and I get promoted the fans are usually like all pleased and backing me, they ain't all oh I ain't sure he can cut it up here we'd better ditch him for Mick McCarthy or someone with Premier League experiences!

 

They're warming up for the predictable Adkins out threads in October and September, because I can promise you certain people will find it hard to adjust after winning every week, they won't realise that it's because we're up against world class players. The journey we've been on is amazing, but I HOPE people have some perspective at the start of next season and understand exactly where we've come from.

[Bearsy]

You've got to recognise when you're onto a good thing innit. This thread is a bit Charlton, with delusions of grandeur and getting all Curbishly/Adkins has taken us as far as he can, if it weren't for him we'd be European Champions!

[CB Fry]

They're warming up for the predictable Adkins out threads in October and September, because I can promise you certain people will find it hard to adjust after winning every week, they won't realise that it's because we're up against world class players. The journey we've been on is amazing, but I HOPE people have some perspective at the start of next season and understand exactly where we've come from.

 

 

 

So we're back to being teeny tiny little Southampton again haven't we done well etc etc. That's a relief. I was getting a bit sick of the "we're bigger than Everton and how dare anyone say we can't be Champions league regulars"

 

Glad that silliness is all done with.

 

 

Anyway, on topic. Adkins I hope will get the chance to prove he is up to it but he might not get it unless he masterminds an upset or two in those big three ties. I think Cortese may not look past eight games. It won't be the fans on here that lose faith first.

[Dalek2003]

Adkins is a unknown quantity in the premier league and that is a fact.

My only concern is whether he has the sort of status that is needed along with the cash to attract the top players.

We have made a better start in the transfer market than last years debacle, but we still have work to do and need to be ready for August.

Personally, it would be nice to survive next year but I am not that bothered as log as we are not humiliated.

[ericofarabia]

His Interview just up on Saints Player suggests he is definitely looking forward to it and drop big hints that there will be more arrivals before the start of the season.

 

Brimming with confidence and relishing the challenge ahead.

 

He is looking even more sun tanned than ever and was grinning like a dog with two dicks.

[Thedelldays]

just seen old nige on saints player....one thing is for sure...he is BANG up for this. you could not wipe the grin from his face.

again he stresses the importance of getting pre season right...like last season

and that 1 or 2 more additions in before the end of the month....hopefully

[Under Weststand]

Whilst it is not the start we would all have picked & is extremely difficult. We are brimming with confidence having just had back to back promotions.

We are playing the big teams at the start of the season when we will be full of running & energy!

We are an unknown quantity, I'm sure that the big three will hopefully take us lightly. As the fans of City are doing already judging by the fans on sky today.

Even if the worst happens & we lose against City Utd & Arsenal, to judge NA against these teams is ridiculous.

Looking at the fixture list the end of October will be the time to have a look & see how we are adapting. By then we will have played a good spread of teams up & down the league.

In Adkins words if we get tonked don't get to down, if we beat the likes of Utd at home don't get to carried away. We are playing some very good teams with world class players & will undoubtedly get a battering now & then, last season the likes of United, Spurs & Arsenal all took one. accept it & move on.

Surely these big fixtures are the reason we wanted to get back to the prem for? Almost forgot the odd 90-million that comes with it LOL

[david in sweden]

I know that Nigel doesn't give away too much, but to say we are expecting "one or two more " signings sounds a bit thin to me.

 

Certainly...at LEAST..one goalie...hopefully two. I don't fancy the thought of Forecast even as number 3.

 

It seems, he'll likely introduce Shaw and Stephens into the squad - if he doesn't sign another FB.

 

Although I think that the loan out for Aaron Martin is a good decision, it does means that Seaborne (at present is still in the reckoning?)...but for someone who missed most of last season, and still has most of his experience in L1. that's not good and with Jaidi retired it means TWO new central defenders are needed to keep up the numbers.

 

Nigel may be in a minority if he's happy with last season's midfield quartet.. but only time will tell.

 

Likewise, Barnard (like Seaborne) spent most of last season out and can't be seriously rated as a possible Prem. player - can he ?

.......so that means one more striker...now I'm upto FIVE already...

 

Am I be overly critical, or was it just " one of those NA comments " rolling off the tongue, surely we need more than two new signings - even with JayRod.

Edited 18 June, 2012 by david in sweden

[Thedelldays]

 

Am I be overly critical, or was it just " one of those NA comments " rolling off the tongue, surely we need more than two new signings - even with JayRod.

he meant one or two new face before the players come back for training.......not ALL our signings

[S-Clarke]

I know that Nigel doesn't give away too much, but to say we are expecting "one or two more " signings sounds a bit thin to me.

 

Certainly...at LEAST..one goalie...hopefully two. I don't fancy the thought of Forecast even as number 3.

 

It seems, he'll likely introduce Shaw and Stephens into the squad - if he doesn't sign another FB.

 

Although I think that the loan out for Aaron Martin is a good decision, it does means that Seaborne (at present is still in the reckoning?)...but for someone who missed most of last season, and still has most of his experience in L1. that's not good and with Jaidi retired it means TWO new central defenders are needed to keep up the numbers.

 

Nigel may be in a minority if he's happy with last season's midfield quartet.. but only time will tell.

 

Likewise, Barnard (like Seaborne) spent most of last season out and can't be seriously rated as a possible Prem. player - can he ?

.......so that means one more striker...now I'm upto FIVE already...

 

Am I be overly critical, or was it just " one of those NA comments " rolling off the tongue, surely we need more than two new signings - even with JayRod.

 

''one or 2 new signings by the start of pre-season'' was what he said. There will be a couple more after that, I'm sure.

[david in sweden]

''one or 2 new signings by the start of pre-season'' was what he said. There will be a couple more after that, I'm sure.

 

..thanks for the clarification lads, I'll sleep better now. G'night !