If Adkins is sacked ...

[Lets B Avenue]

Today (or yesterday) is the 2nd anniversary of his appointment. How about celebrating that rather than have cynical tw ats like Lardyboy vent his peculiar brand of twaddle?

 

If the two Manchester games had been a month or two apart and we had lost them in the same manner, I doubt there would have been this type of witch hunt on here. Apart from the usual madmen.

[Dig Dig]

Today (or yesterday) is the 2nd anniversary of his appointment. How about celebrating that rather than have cynical tw ats like Lardyboy vent his peculiar brand of twaddle?

 

If the two Manchester games had been a month or two apart and we had lost them in the same manner, I doubt there would have been this type of witch hunt on here. Apart from the usual madmen.

 

What about those subs against Man Utd though? If Adkins had Chaplow on the bench and used him, we would have won the game 3-1, maybe even 4-1. Our experts have told us this and now alarm bells are ringing about Adkins ability in the prem. This only serves to prove Lard right when we was saying that Adkins had lost the dressing room in league 1 and when he predicted that NA would be out thought by Andy Thorne and Shaun Dyce in the Championship

[notnowcato]

This. It wont be like that though. NC will replace him this season if he feels we are coming adrift.

 

I do hope NA has learnt something from the Manyoo game though, even if it is only about required fitness levels.

 

Are you saying NA does not know the required fitness levels?

[Leicestersaint]

It woudl be nice to get a point or two, but I would be utterly appalled if he were sacked.

 

I would regard Cortese as a nit wit.

[SaintRichmond]

Today (or yesterday) is the 2nd anniversary of his appointment. How about celebrating that rather than have cynical tw ats like Lardyboy vent his peculiar brand of twaddle?

 

If the two Manchester games had been a month or two apart and we had lost them in the same manner, I doubt there would have been this type of witch hunt on here. Apart from the usual madmen.

 

It matters not one iota how far apart the games were

 

Adkins made STUPID SENSELESS SUBSTITUTIONS v Man U which cost us the game

 

Name the last Team who defeated Man U by trying to CONTAIN them for the last 20 mins

 

Adkins was tactically inept then, and if that trend persists, I can well see Nicola weilding the axe

[alpine_saint]

It woudl be nice to get a point or two, but I would be utterly appalled if he were sacked.

 

I would regard Cortese as a nit wit.

 

I certainly would not agree with it, but thats a bit strong.

 

We went down in the first place because Lowe took too long to replace Wigley.

[CB Fry]

FFS, He has won two promotions, is two years ahead of the plan and deserves the chance to take us forward. Relegation if it happens isn't the end of the world, provided he wins subsequent promotion he shouldn't be sacked.

 

He's not two years ahead of the plan.

 

Cortese expected us to win the league last year.

[Dig Dig]

It matters not one iota how far apart the games were

 

Adkins made STUPID SENSELESS SUBSTITUTIONS v Man U which cost us the game

 

Name the last Team who defeated Man U by trying to CONTAIN them for the last 20 mins

 

Adkins was tactically inept then, and if that trend persists, I can well see Nicola weilding the axe

 

Yea replacing players who could barely run anymore and after Utd had started to gain momentum was clearly senseless.

 

I've never seen such an overreaction to some substitutions before. Get over it everyone, some work for you, some don't.

[Giordano]

Adkins deserves at least half the season and Cortese knows how much he has done here and that he buys into the whole ethos of the club.

 

Adkins has done, is doing and will continue to do a superb job and Cortese hasnt really showed a trigger finger yet - clearly Pardew and him didnt fit together but seems Adkins is perfect for where we are right now.

 

Start is slow in terms of points but grest in terms of performances and I think NA will start picking up points soon. Has to, and will stay regardless of the next one or two results IMO, there is too much planning at Saints for knee jerk reactions to be made. Adkins has us playing the most watchable footy I have seen in 25 years of supporting Saints.

 

This.

Plus: I dont support Saints because i want to see them win every week. I support Saints because they represent something beyond that for me. I think, i hope NC has got something of that in him. He is reaching for the stars and he wants to do it the right way. We've never bought an old has been yet, we've only ever bought young and promising and talented then supported them. A team that prides itself on bringing through youth team players into the main squad yet which ditches its young english manager in such a short space of time - it makes no sense to me. Id rather NA stayed, we played great footy and got relegated than some old fart come in and we played horrible stuff yet grovelled enough to stay up.

[Lets B Avenue]

It matters not one iota how far apart the games were

 

Adkins made STUPID SENSELESS SUBSTITUTIONS v Man U which cost us the game

 

Name the last Team who defeated Man U by trying to CONTAIN them for the last 20 mins

 

Adkins was tactically inept then, and if that trend persists, I can well see Nicola weilding the axe

 

I COULD USE CAPITAL LETTERS TO EMPHASISE THAT I DONT AGREE WITH YOU. But I wont.

 

He replaced our lone striker with another. He replaced the two "wide" players with another two. Now whether the individuals concerned did not live up to the trust he placed in them, is obvious, as can be borne out by the result. However, your tactical genius dosent appear to have considered that for the 10 minutes prior to the subs we had barely had a kick and had luckily stayed in front, due to the penalty miss . Something had to be done, or you and others like you , would have been berating him for being indecisive.

 

IMO the subs were made to restore our earlier pattern of play and not to CONTAIN as we certainly didnt send on anyone who could do that job.

[Dig Dig]

He's not two years ahead of the plan.

 

Cortese expected us to win the league last year.

 

Who cares what NC thinks? He's just some swiss bloke

[sotonian]

Anything at arsenal is a bonus, the villa game worries me, they have also had a bad start and will be desperate and expecting to win at st Mary's, the pressure will be on that game and I'm honestly not sure we will cope with it, Then we are away to everton, we could well be in a position of no points after 6 games, god I hope I'm wrong

[Dig Dig]

Anything at arsenal is a bonus, the villa game worries me, they have also had a bad start and will be desperate and expecting to win at st Mary's, the pressure will be on that game and I'm honestly not sure we will cope with it, Then we are away to everton, we could well be in a position of no points after 6 games, god I hope I'm wrong

 

[CB Fry]

Who cares what NC thinks? He's just some swiss bloke

 

 

 

Join the cult brother. It's the only way.

[beatlesaint]

The only major mistake that I can think that Nigel has made was in the United game with those substitutions. Now wether he was naieve or had more faith in the players that came on than anyone else does I have no idea. But to take off your three best players on the day was a bad, bad move. They couldnt have all been knackered, and if they were then does that indicate the fitness levels aren't what they should be ? I cant say I have ever really noticed the players flagging at the end of games in the past two years under Nigel.

 

I hope he has learnt somethig from that. The players, manager and most of the coaching staff are on a learning curve in this league. I hope NC remembers that before his trigger finger gets a bit itchy.

[tajjuk]

ANOTHER

bedwetting thread.

 

We have an

UNBALANCED fixture list this season

.

The important fixtures are the

eight Home games

this year :-

Villa, Fulham, Spurs (3 days after away Europa game), Swansea, Newcastle (3 days after Europa game), Norwich, Reading and Sunderland.

 

All 8 are winnable, but I will go for 5-2-1 (17pts) plus a few from away games should leave us in mid table.

 

Put this in another thread, August/September was always going to be tough for us. City, United, Arsenal and away at Everton are tough games. Only home to Wigan and Villa were winnable.

 

October/November will shape our season.

[Saint Charlie]

If its not transfers its subs or a run of good displays but bad results.

 

Really do wonder what games some people see. Judging by a few of the regular posters on this thread their internet streams are far from HD.

 

Even talking about getting rid of NA is stupid. Maybe some of thsoe speculating about it would be better off buying a Villa ticket and making the atmosphere as good as it was against Utd.

[Jez]

It matters not one iota how far apart the games were

 

Adkins made STUPID SENSELESS SUBSTITUTIONS v Man U which cost us the game

 

Name the last Team who defeated Man U by trying to CONTAIN them for the last 20 mins

 

Adkins was tactically inept then, and if that trend persists, I can well see Nicola weilding the axe

 

Everton 1 - Man Utd 0. 20th August 2012. Only goal scored in the 57th minute. Everton then CONTAINED them for the final 33 minutes.

[CylonKing]

Persaonlly, I would rather we were relegated at the end of the season than for us to begin a new era of managerial merry-go-round fun again. The one thing that this club needs more than anything is stablilty. A nice stable environment for us to continually bring through our promising youngsters that will be the future of this club. Adkins has brought us through 2 leagues in excellent shape, and while I think he made some errors with the substitutions in the Man Utd game, he deserves more than half a season in the Premier League. I do not think there is anyone out there who could do a better job than our Nigel. We play good, passing, attacking football with a young, exciting team that is clearly being developed for future success. We have brought in some excellent quality into the squad and spent more money in a transfer window than ever before. We've dreamed of being in this position for many years and this is Thanks to Messers Cortese and Adkins (and Liebherr of course). I really do not want anymore of our managers being sacked after a bad run. That was what contributed to us being relegated in the first place with ole droopy face. I want a long period of stability, including relegation. Adkins was and continues to be the right man for the job and we'd be stupid to sack him this season, absolutely stupid.

[The9]

... after Saints lose to Arsenal and fail to beat Villa at home, how will you feel?

 

Why start the thread? Because I have a sneaky feeling that Cortese will react quickly to a poor start ( too quickly in my opinion), and that we'll be seeing Adkins out the door soon.

 

I hope I'm wrong, but will we rally round or implode when and if this happens?

 

I would be massively annoyed, just like I was when Pardew got the boot...

[The9]

It matters not one iota how far apart the games were

 

Adkins made STUPID SENSELESS SUBSTITUTIONS v Man U which cost us the game

 

Name the last Team who defeated Man U by trying to CONTAIN them for the last 20 mins

 

Adkins was tactically inept then, and if that trend persists, I can well see Nicola weilding the axe

 

I happen to completely disagree with all but the last part of your final sentence.

[up and away]

Agree with this in principle, but I have concerns :

 

Who is responsible for our failure to reinforce the defence ? NA or NC ?

NA did screw up the Manyoo game with those subs

Why did we play so badly against Wigan ? We have to view those sort of games as our bread-and-butter this season

 

A couple of very good points there which highlights the problems we are in. NC does have influence over the player purchases as part of a committee but he won't be forcing direction here. The trouble we have is the lack of Premier experience and the fact Adkins is playing catch up in getting to grips with the Premier. Only now do I believe he realises the full extent of what is required. When Adkins got all emotional after gaining promotion and hoping things will be done in the right way with people being given their chance. Very nice sentiments towards his players but when you see how far off the mark most are, shows a misunderstanding of what is required in the Premier. We have the worst defence in the Premier and just so lucky that Clyne has turned out to be such a gem. If Yosfhida does not work out, we really are up against the barrel of the gun.

 

I would never agree that Adkins screwed up the subs against ManU, far from it. Ricky was wandering around at half pace, of little value and Lallana was measurably slower in getting up and down. Those subs coincided with Scholes coming on and bypassing our midfield and a Saints team that were suddenly drained of energy. Looking at the stats from our midfielders showed they put in more of a shift than the ManU midfield. The trouble was that we never paced ourselves for 95 minutes. This error was repeated against ManC and Wigan and I believe to be Adkins biggest error and the reason we did so poorly at the end of the games. I am not blaming our fitness levels because the stats clearly show this is not where the problem lies, it's about pacing the effort over 95 minutes. I cannot understand why some say JRod should not start on the left, when his goals montage of everything significant he has done shows it all to be from cutting in from the left and onto his right foot. Something echoed by the Burnley fans before he got here. There may well be justified clamours to move him now because he just has not delivered but I really do not expect that to sort the problem.

 

The Wigan game painted the bleakest of pictures for me, realising we would find it very hard to compete in the Premier. Against ManU and ManC we were given a lot of space at times, with the top teams happy to go player to player against us and coming out on top.

Against Wigan we came up against a counter attacking set up that just drained the energy and ideas from us then took us at their will. We never had any penetration or pressure against Wigan because they denied us the space to do so. When they upped their pressing in the second half we just faded away without even a whimper. An attack not good enough to bring Wigan to a sweat, a defence always available for donations and burnt out after 75 minutes. The Wigan game is the definitive as to where we are, with the ManC and ManU performances just glossing over our real position. Thankfully it now looks like we may have sufficient in the new signings to break down the Wigans but we are placing a lot on Yoshidas shoulders to sort out the rest.

 

I like Adkins and still rate him as a manager. He's got things wrong through lack of experience with the Premier, it's just going to be about how quickly he now learns. He has already identified us not being able to play in an effective style to last 95 minutes and I expect him to address that matter. If Adkins continues as he has done then it would be no surprise for him to go after 10 games but if we see the improvement I am all for giving him plenty of time. It is no easy matter to find a manager to get you out of such a position, another getting them to sign. I would prefer writing the season off and letting Adkins start again in the Championship than go down the fat Sam route.

[captainchris]

What saints fan thinks that.... Some are just trying to 2nd guess NC.

 

As for not doing a better job..... But of a daft questions really. No one thought adkins would do a better job than Pardew at saints.... But he has..

 

Matters not. I think we will start to pick up points next weekend

 

'No one' ?????????? I think that's stretching it a bit.............

[The9]

Has Adkins done a better job than Pardew would have ? No-one can say. If we'd won both divisions and our first 4 matches of this one, then there wouldn't be much room for argument. One JPT v 2 promotions is all well and good, but there's no way of knowing what would have happened with Pardew still in place. He's still currently higher up the League than Saints are.

[Saint Charlie]

Has Adkins done a better job than Pardew would have ? No-one can say. If we'd won both divisions and our first 4 matches of this one, then there wouldn't be much room for argument. One JPT v 2 promotions is all well and good, but there's no way of knowing what would have happened with Pardew still in place. He's still currently higher up the League than Saints are.

 

Its a bit of a pointless discussion. All we can be certain of is that Adkins will go down as one of our most successful ever Managers whatever happens this season, and that to be questioning if he is the right man after 3 games of the season is pathetic.

[buctootim]

Has Adkins done a better job than Pardew would have ? No-one can say.

 

I can. Adkins has been here two years and we've got promoted twice. No-one can better that, but many would have done a lot lot worse.

[doddisalegend]

Its a bit of a pointless discussion. All we can be certain of is that Adkins will go down as one of our most successful ever Managers whatever happens this season, and that to be questioning if he is the right man after 3 games of the season is pathetic.

 

I thought the OP asked how people would feel if Nigel got the sack becuase he thinks NC may wield the axe. If anything the OP is questioning NC not Nigel. Apart from Lard I don't think anyone has actually said Nigel should get sacked (I think we all think he is great don't we?) this thread is more about how we would react to Nigel getting the boot not if we think he should get the boot.

[The9]

Its a bit of a pointless discussion. All we can be certain of is that Adkins will go down as one of our most successful ever Managers whatever happens this season, and that to be questioning if he is the right man after 3 games of the season is pathetic.

 

I agree with that.

[The9]

I can. Adkins has been here two years and we've got promoted twice. No-one can better that, but many would have done a lot lot worse.

 

I like the use of "no-one can better that" in association with two second placed finishes. Great logic.

 

Ok, let me amend my original statement to "no-one can say... without looking like a maths plank".

[mack rill]

Fist year back in the prem is a feckin struggle, you cannot afford to be sentimental Adkins is not good enough, Get saggy in. His know how and man management will give you a chance

 

(stands back n Waite's for abuse from the stripe tinted specks,)

[buctootim]

I like the use of "no-one can better that" in association with two second placed finishes. Great logic.

 

 

Did you misread my post "got promoted twice" for "went up as champions"? If so Im surprised - different words, different letters, different order.

[Dig Dig]

I thought the OP asked how people would feel if Nigel got the sack becuase he thinks NC may wield the axe. If anything the OP is questioning NC not Nigel. Apart from Lard I don't think anyone has actually said Nigel should get sacked (I think we all think he is great don't we?) this thread is more about how we would react to Nigel getting the boot not if we think he should get the boot.

 

I think it's fair to say that the pondering as to whether Adkins is good enough has slowly been creeping in on here over the last couple of weeks, mainly by the usual suspects. The mass hysteria over the Utd subs hasn't helped, nor has the backdrop o rumours that NC is waiting on the sidelines sharping his axe.

[Saint Charlie]

I think it's fair to say that the pondering as to whether Adkins is good enough has slowly been creeping in on here over the last couple of weeks, mainly by the usual suspects. The mass hysteria over the Utd subs hasn't helped, nor has the backdrop o rumours that NC is waiting on the sidelines sharping his axe.

 

This - the NC axe that has only once been wielded yet he is talked about like he sacks managers every week!

 

I would imagine that NC himself didn't expect to get lots of points from the first four games, has enjoyed watching us, but is disappointed we didn't get a few points from the good positions we got ourselves in.

 

He will look at the fixtures and expect decent points from our next 10 games - as we all do. Its is only fair to judge NA once he has been given a chance, and if the games so far are anything to go by I am excited about this season...as long as the team and NA learn fast.

[saint lard]

I thought the OP asked how people would feel if Nigel got the sack becuase he thinks NC may wield the axe. If anything the OP is questioning NC not Nigel. Apart from Lard I don't think anyone has actually said Nigel should get sacked (I think we all think he is great don't we?) this thread is more about how we would react to Nigel getting the boot not if we think he should get the boot.

 

I don't think I have ever called for him to be sacked.

ive given reasons for why he might be sacked......quite different.

[Gambol2K9]

I would rather see us relegated than Adkins sacked.

[Lighthouse]

If Adkins makes it until October 13th he will become our longest serving manager since Strachan left 8 years ago. If he lasts another 8 months he will be the longest serving manager since Nicholl left in 1991.

[Saint Garrett]

Fist year back in the prem is a feckin struggle, you cannot afford to be sentimental Adkins is not good enough, Get saggy in. His know how and man management will give you a chance

 

(stands back n Waite's for abuse from the stripe tinted specks,)

 

:lol:

[iansums]

It won't happen because we're gonna beat them Gooners, positive thinking.

[SaintRichmond]

Everton 1 - Man Utd 0. 20th August 2012. Only goal scored in the 57th minute. Everton then CONTAINED them for the final 33 minutes.[/QUOTE]

 

 

Great, thanks for that. You can only contain if you have players of the calibre TO contain. We DON'T. Weak point ?? Defence, which I believe a few others maybe have already commented on ?

[Wade Garrett]

Anyone who wants Adkins out at this moment in time is a c*nt.

[NickG]

Its a bit of a pointless discussion. All we can be certain of is that Adkins will go down as one of our most successful ever Managers whatever happens this season, and that to be questioning if he is the right man after 3 games of the season is pathetic.

 

Without wishing to wake up a certain poster...

 

 

He is the best manager we have had since Hoddle, by a distance IMHO. That about 15 managers, over ten years or more??

 

He has started the season with results / performances against the Manchester teams that few teams bettered last season -albeit with nothing to show for them.

 

He lost to Wigan in our 2nd game in the premiership, Wigan who finished the season with this run..

 

H Wolves Won 3-2

A Blackburn Won 0-1

H Newcastle Won 4-0

A Fulham Lost 2-1

A Arsenal Won 1-2

H Man Utd Won 1-0

A Chelsea Lost 2-1

H Stoke Won 2-0

A Liverpool Won 1-2

 

 

And there forum has a thread on him being sacked!!

[Dark Munster]

This - the NC axe that has only once been wielded yet he is talked about like he sacks managers every week!

 

I would imagine that NC himself didn't expect to get lots of points from the first four games, has enjoyed watching us, but is disappointed we didn't get a few points from the good positions we got ourselves in.

 

He will look at the fixtures and expect decent points from our next 10 games - as we all do. Its is only fair to judge NA once he has been given a chance, and if the games so far are anything to go by I am excited about this season...as long as the team and NA learn fast.

 

Twice actually. He got rid of Wotte pdq (not that was a bad thing, of course).

 

My biggest fear is Nige is sacked and replaced by Saggy.

[Saint Charlie]

Twice actually. He got rid of Wotte pdq (not that was a bad thing, of course).

 

My biggest fear is Nige is sacked and replaced by Saggy.

 

If you think about it then Redknapp is about as far from the Saints vision as any manager I can think of.

 

Cortese wants someone who buys into the whole ethos of the club - that is what NA does - enjoys bringing through the young players, improving players we have, very positive promoter of Southampton FC - neverr in trouble with the FA etc..

 

Every prem manager is under pressure and has peaks and troughs of team form and points. If Moyes (widely lauded as one of the best Managers in the PL) had been sacked everytime they lost a few games back to back then he would have probably only had one season there.

[melmacian_saint]

Say for stats lovers, weren't Norwich winless last season until past September?

 

Another one, I'm pretty sure Swansea had 0 goals scored by the end of their 4 game, right?

[Saint Charlie]

Say for stats lovers, weren't Norwich winless last season until past September?

 

Another one, I'm pretty sure Swansea had 0 goals scored by the end of their 4 game, right?

 

Yes - yet both their Managers got moves based on the whole seasons overachievement!

[Bearsy]

Didn't Moyes nearly get Everton relegated in his second season?

[david in sweden]

... after Saints lose to Arsenal and fail to beat Villa at home, how will you feel?

Why start the thread? Because I have a sneaky feeling that Cortese will react quickly to a poor start ( too quickly in my opinion), and that we'll be seeing Adkins out the door soon.

I hope I'm wrong, but will we rally round or implode when and if this happens?

 

 

I'm sorry that people feel the need to start threads like this. Surely no-one is naive enough to think this will happen ..considering the opposition we've played in the three games so far.

 

Wigan are a much better side this season than where they finished last ....Look at the table for yourself.

 

...and if every manager whose team loses to Man .City and Man Utd this season is sacked ....we'll have half of the Prem. clubs with new managers before the New Year !

Edited 14 September, 2012 by david in sweden

[derry]

The Wigan game was pretty even until we were chasing our tails towards the end. The first goal was Hoiveldt in possession deciding to lob a clearance into midfield giving the ball to Wigan broke quickly and broke through on our left. The second was a Fonte error being caught in possession as the last man. If Hoiveldt had put his boot through it and hit it long there would have been no first goal at that time. MC, MU and Arsenal were nightmare games but they are out of the way by tomorrow. Nobody in their right mind would have expected much in the first month. We still need a goalkeeper more than a new manager.

 

As for the substitutions v MU, I did think at the time we we should have used Richardson to stamp on Paul Scholes and man mark him which might have stymied SAF plan. He really raised their general tempo which put us under pressure.

[saints triumph]

Why do people start these when shall we sack Adkins threads. I thought that we would be rock bottom after the first 4 games so if we lose tomorrow I will be right. At no point should we be discussing this topic until after xmas and then if we are in the bottom 3, which we won't be. Onwards with Adkins

[Saint Charlie]

The Wigan game was pretty even until we were chasing our tails towards the end. The first goal was Hoiveldt in possession deciding to lob a clearance into midfield giving the ball to Wigan broke quickly and broke through on our left. The second was a Fonte error being caught in possession as the last man. If Hoiveldt had put his boot through it and hit it long there would have been no first goal at that time. MC, MU and Arsenal were nightmare games but they are out of the way by tomorrow. Nobody in their right mind would have expected much in the first month. We still need a goalkeeper more than a new manager.

 

As for the substitutions v MU, I did think at the time we we should have used Richardson to stamp on Paul Scholes and man mark him which might have stymied SAF plan. He really raised their general tempo which put us under pressure.

 

Richardson as a CM? I agreed with you until then!