NA's reaction..

[SW11_Saint]

Listening to that interview, it sounds to me like he is absolutely fuming at some of his players. They are making fundamental mistakes that they've obviously worked hard on in training to eradicate.

 

I feel for the guy.

The problem is, most of our players are Championship quality, and it shows. We are paying the price for not signing enough Premier League quality players, especially at the back. We knew the problem, we didn't address it. Paying the price now; simple as.

[buctootim]

The problem is, most of our players are Championship quality, and it shows. We are paying the price for not signing enough Premier League quality players, especially at the back. We knew the problem, we didn't address it. Paying the price now; simple as.

 

Exactly this

[Thedelldays]

The problem is, most of our players are Championship quality, and it shows. We are paying the price for not signing enough Premier League quality players, especially at the back. We knew the problem, we didn't address it. Paying the price now; simple as.

 

Norwich and Swansea had the same problem last season

[Wade Garrett]

it would sadden me.

 

ANY new manager would have the same players at his disposal.....and wouldn't be likely to do better.

 

It's the players fault and not the manager's...

 

Crap, if the manager picks the wrong players, or takes the wrong players off, then it is his fault.

[Whitey Grandad]

The problem is, most of our players are Championship quality, and it shows. We are paying the price for not signing enough Premier League quality players, especially at the back. We knew the problem, we didn't address it. Paying the price now; simple as.

 

Yup.

[Wade Garrett]

Strachan came in when Gray was doing a crap job and we were really struggling. He turned us round. Ball did he same, when he came in for Branfoot.

 

I see no reason why a new manager wouldn't be able to turn us around. We've got decent players, and I don't think our manager is getting the most from them.

 

As each week goes by, and the manager makes more and more mistakes, I have less and less confidence in him. Pay him off now, he'll walk into a Championship job. Win win situation.

[CB Fry]

Strachan came in when Gray was doing a crap job and we were really struggling. He turned us round. Ball did he same, when he came in for Branfoot.

 

I see no reason why a new manager wouldn't be able to turn us around. We've got decent players, and I don't think our manager is getting the most from them.

 

As each week goes by, and the manager makes more and more mistakes, I have less and less confidence in him. Pay him off now, he'll walk into a Championship job. Win win situation.

 

Correct. Another manager could definitely do better. That's true at most clubs.

 

If Adkins does go I think we'd have to go with a Curbishley. An organiser, a driller. I can see Curbs getting ten clean sheets out of us, which would be the ten wins we need to stay up.

 

Dull but effective, a bit like the Hoddle era.

[Pilchards]

Time to play ugly and hump the ****er more, look at the way Guly did a flick to try keep hold of the ball for the Hammers 2nd goal?

Pretty football in the last 3rd IMHO is a starter point as we can't keep conceding these away goals anymore.

[latter day saint]

Correct. Another manager could definitely do better. That's true at most clubs.

 

If Adkins does go I think we'd have to go with a Curbishley. An organiser, a driller. I can see Curbs getting ten clean sheets out of us, which would be the ten wins we need to stay up.

 

Dull but effective, a bit like the Hoddle era.

that would go against the attacking style dictated by the "Southampton Way TM" though

[Pilchards]

Correct. Another manager could definitely do better. That's true at most clubs.

 

If Adkins does go I think we'd have to go with a Curbishley. An organiser, a driller. I can see Curbs getting ten clean sheets out of us, which would be the ten wins we need to stay up.

 

Dull but effective, a bit like the Hoddle era.

 

Curbs is so out of touch with it all IMHO and that's why we won't see Hoddle's & George Graham again.

[Dig Dig]

In all the time Adkins has been with us, that was the most telling interview in terms of what he DIDN'T say. He will be gone soon...a shame yes - however life at Saints will go on without him. If he is being asked to do something that is beyond him, then simply put, he's been found out.

 

Sorry but if its a mandate that we play 433 despite not having good enough personnel to play it, how is that Adkins fault? If he only ever implements his ideas and they dont work then you can say he's been found out.

[The Mac Attack]

it would sadden me.

 

ANY new manager would have the same players at his disposal.....and wouldn't be likely to do better.

 

It's the players fault and not the manager's...

 

completely agree.

[Saint_clark]

Any manager who sticks to one formation regardless of the opposition is a fool IMO and deserves exactly what he gets

 

Have people ALREADY forgotten we have played different formations this season? We went 4-4-2 V Wigan, we started 4-4-2 V Fulham. Just because 4-3-3 is our main preferred formation doesn't mean we won't mix it up.

[The Mac Attack]

Curbs is so out of touch with it all IMHO and that's why we won't see Hoddle's & George Graham again.

 

Ten clean sheets......absolutely no chance in hell

[Sour Mash]

Yes, people playing with words. But, that is undoubtedly the saddest and most depressing NA interview I have heard. Not himself at all.

We seem to be lacking confidence, both on and off the pitch. Football is all about momentum. Last season the momentum was with us, with promotion from league one and a good winning start. That probably allowed us to over achieve. This season almost the opposite is ture. A tough start and some bad results and you can feel the momentum and conficence draining away from the team, whereas a fairly average side like West Ham go from stength to stength. Funny old game.

[Sour Mash]

Correct. Another manager could definitely do better. That's true at most clubs.

 

If Adkins does go I think we'd have to go with a Curbishley. An organiser, a driller. I can see Curbs getting ten clean sheets out of us, which would be the ten wins we need to stay up.

 

Dull but effective, a bit like the Hoddle era.

Would anyone really want Curbsihley? He's track record really isn't that impressive.

[Shrek]

We seem to be lacking confidence, both on and off the pitch. Football is all about momentum. Last season the momentum was with us, with promotion from league one and a good winning start. That probably allowed us to over achieve. This season almost the opposite is ture. A tough start and some bad results and you can feel the momentum and conficence draining away from the team, whereas a fairly average side like West Ham go from stength to stength. Funny old game.

 

Agree to an extent, we had a shocking spell in the Championship as well. I didn't go today, but having watched the highlights I'm just astonished at the howlers we keep making at the back.

[Turkish]

Just heard his interview

 

Despite all the claims on here...Adkins makes the very point that the selections the tactics and the subs are all his decisions... He made that clear

 

Not quite. He says he picks the team and makes the subs. He also says we WILL play 4-3-3 and we have a process at this club we are doing our best to adhere too, but it's about winning football matches.

 

So If your picking the formation & tactics what process do you need to adhere to? You adhere to instructions do you not? And why would you stick to just one formation regardless of the opposition, having the players to play it and If it's working or not?

Why is he persisting with a formation that isn't working?

 

 

Of course no manger is going to come out and say they are told to play a certain way but talk of adhering to processes as best they can and sticking to a formation is as near to that as you can get.

[Thedelldays]

If you say so turkish

[Turkish]

If you say so turkish

 

I didn't say it, Nige did. Either He's a liar or he is adhereing as best he can to

The process at the club, like he said he is.

 

And another thing, it Adkins is choosing the formation, why has he suddenly become so rigid and inflexible? Last season he would often change formation and shape during a game, why ditch What worked so well for two season and now stick to one formation home and away, regardless of who we play and how the game is panning out?

Edited 21 October, 2012 by Turkish

[S-Clarke]

I can assure you TDD that there is a remit all through the club to play 4-3-3, attacking football. It goes all the way through the youth teams.

 

I'm sure NA has the say in who plays and who doesn't, I don't believe NC is picking the team what so ever, but I do believe he has been told to blend the team into the formation which the club wants to progress.

[OldNick]

Watching NA interview on MOtd i think he said 'we thought we had bought some good players in the summer' He must be pretty sore that the signings have not shone.I do think JRod will /is coming good

[Turkish]

I can assure you TDD that there is a remit all through the club to play 4-3-3, attacking football. It goes all the way through the youth teams.

 

I'm sure NA has the say in who plays and who doesn't, I don't believe NC is picking the team what so ever, but I do believe he has been told to blend the team into the formation which the club wants to progress.

 

 

Yep that's exactly how it is.

[Roger]

I can assure you TDD that there is a remit all through the club to play 4-3-3, attacking football. It goes all the way through the youth teams.

 

I'm sure NA has the say in who plays and who doesn't, I don't believe NC is picking the team what so ever, but I do believe he has been told to blend the team into the formation which the club wants to progress.

 

But against villa and Fulham we played 4-4-1-1

[Verbal Kint]

I didn't say it, Nige did. Either He's a liar or he is adhereing as best he can to

The process at the club, like he said he is.

 

And another thing, it Adkins is choosing the formation, why has he suddenly become so rigid and inflexible? Last season he would often change formation and shape during a game, why ditch What worked so well for two season and now stick to one formation home and away, regardless of who we play and how the game is panning out?

 

The formation isn't why we're getting hammered though. It may be representative of a bigger problem in NA being undermined but the reason we're getting dicked most weeks is because we have a championship back four playing in the Premier League. That isn't NA's fault.

 

Reed and Cortese have a lot to answer for...

[S-Clarke]

But against villa and Fulham we played 4-4-1-1

 

It wasn't really. If you watch, it's quite a dynamic formation. It's not set in stone, but the bones are 4-3-3 - it can revert back to a 4-5-1, or a 4-4-1-1 - but in essence, when attacking it's a 4-3-3.

[Roger]

It wasn't really. If you watch, it's quite a dynamic formation. It's not set in stone, but the bones are 4-3-3 - it can revert back to a 4-5-1, or a 4-4-1-1 - but in essence, when attacking it's a 4-3-3.

 

I just feel we should play to the players strengths. S-Clarke how long would you give Nigel? Untilago month ago I thought people were mad calling for his head but he's completely lost the plot for me in the last month. Since villa everything has gone wrong that could go wrong, Ramirez injury, taking lambert off and I include puncheon off as he is a good outlet when up. Defence getting worse if anything and then leaving rickie out for guly.

[Turkish]

The formation isn't why we're getting hammered though. It may be representative of a bigger problem in NA being undermined but the reason we're getting dicked most weeks is because we have a championship back four playing in the Premier League. That isn't NA's fault.

 

Reed and Cortese have a lot to answer for...

 

 

Don't disagree. However some games we've been getting over run on the flanks due to the lack of cover wide. Our midfield has been easy to cut through and of course the defenders simply not being good enough. Which our 'recruitment department' knew about but failed to address and all sorts of excuses were made for them on here.

[Turkish]

I just feel we should play to the players strengths. S-Clarke how long would you give Nigel? Untilago month ago I thought people were mad calling for his head but he's completely lost the plot for me in the last month. Since villa everything has gone wrong that could go wrong, Ramirez injury, taking lambert off and I include puncheon off as he is a good outlet when up. Defence getting worse if anything and then leaving rickie out for guly.

 

The problem for Nige is he is adhering to the process as he says and doing it with players that aren't good enough. He's in an impossible situation.

[S-Clarke]

I just feel we should play to the players strengths. S-Clarke how long would you give Nigel? Untilago month ago I thought people were mad calling for his head but he's completely lost the plot for me in the last month. Since villa everything has gone wrong that could go wrong, Ramirez injury, taking lambert off and I include puncheon off as he is a good outlet when up. Defence getting worse if anything and then leaving rickie out for guly.

 

It's hard to say. I'm a massive fan of his, but he's making really odd calls on things which shouldn't really be up for debate (not formation, but personal). You keep the GK in goal who played well, and you keep your top scorer in the team against a physical outfit Those 2 should be no brainers, so why keep changing it.

 

Since he's been here he has gone on and on about consistency but we're probably the least consistent squad this year in terms of personal and who we've changed in and out. I think he's panicking he's looking for a fix but he can't find one. There was optimism at the start of the season and I think we played above ourselves against Utd and City (and they were also pretty poor) - our true ability is now starting to show against pretty average sides. Fulham were pretty depleted last week, but we gifted them a draw and WHU are a solid PL team, but we shouldn't be getting raped by solid PL teams - we should at least be competitive.

 

Yesterday's result has worried me massively because things aren't changing the problems aren't improving. They're getting worse if anything. At the end of the day if it carries on like this, he hasn't got a chance in hell of staying. The next month is massive, and by December if we don't have 10+ points he'll be out of the door, and it may even be too late for us.

[Roger]

It's hard to say. I'm a massive fan of his, but he's making really odd calls on things which shouldn't really be up for debate (not formation, but personal). You keep the GK in goal who played well, and you keep your top scorer in the team against a physical outfit Those 2 should be no brainers, so why keep changing it.

 

Since he's been here he has gone on and on about consistency but we're probably the least consistent squad this year in terms of personal and who we've changed in and out. I think he's panicking he's looking for a fix but he can't find one. There was optimism at the start of the season and I think we played above ourselves against Utd and City (and they were also pretty poor) - our true ability is now starting to show against pretty average sides. Fulham were pretty depleted last week, but we gifted them a draw and WHU are a solid PL team, but we shouldn't be getting raped by solid PL teams - we should at least be competitive.

 

Yesterday's result has worried me massively because things aren't changing the problems aren't improving. They're getting worse if anything. At the end of the day if it carries on like this, he hasn't got a chance in hell of staying. The next month is massive, and by December if we don't have 10+ points he'll be out of the door, and it may even be too late for us.

 

Two questions mate. How long do you think cortese will give him and what manager would you think cortese would pick? Curbs has been mentioned with les reed influence. Have to say curbs record very good. Charlton solid mid table prem team promoted them from champ. West ham were down and stayed up and were 5th in prem when he left. Is it true that cortese nearly sacked Adkins in summer?

[lordswoodsaints]

It's hard to say. I'm a massive fan of his, but he's making really odd calls on things which shouldn't really be up for debate (not formation, but personal). You keep the GK in goal who played well, and you keep your top scorer in the team against a physical outfit Those 2 should be no brainers, so why keep changing it.

 

Since he's been here he has gone on and on about consistency but we're probably the least consistent squad this year in terms of personal and who we've changed in and out. I think he's panicking he's looking for a fix but he can't find one. There was optimism at the start of the season and I think we played above ourselves against Utd and City (and they were also pretty poor) - our true ability is now starting to show against pretty average sides. Fulham were pretty depleted last week, but we gifted them a draw and WHU are a solid PL team, but we shouldn't be getting raped by solid PL teams - we should at least be competitive.

 

Yesterday's result has worried me massively because things aren't changing the problems aren't improving. They're getting worse if anything. At the end of the day if it carries on like this, he hasn't got a chance in hell of staying. The next month is massive, and by December if we don't have 10+ points he'll be out of the door, and it may even be too late for us.

 

Exactly,Nigel always says in his interviews 'we will learn from our mistakes,draw a line under it and move on'......the problem is he is not learning from his mistakes, he is creating more mistakes.

[Turkish]

Two questions mate. How long do you think cortese will give him and what manager would you think cortese would pick? Curbs has been mentioned with les reed influence. Have to say curbs record very good. Charlton solid mid table prem team promoted them from champ. West ham were down and stayed up and were 5th in prem when he left. Is it true that cortese nearly sacked Adkins in summer?

 

Also what manager will work with Nick Nack and 'the process'

[S-Clarke]

Two questions mate. How long do you think cortese will give him and what manager would you think cortese would pick? Curbs has been mentioned with les reed influence. Have to say curbs record very good. Charlton solid mid table prem team promoted them from champ. West ham were down and stayed up and were 5th in prem when he left. Is it true that cortese nearly sacked Adkins in summer?

 

No idea what happened in the summer, probably not. I think November is pretty big, if we don't start picking up the points next month then he's gone.

 

To replace him - someone young, someone who will embrace a Continental style set up. We won't get a Curbishley, or an old fashioned British manager. It will be a modern, young foreign manager.

[Roger]

No idea what happened in the summer, probably not. I think November is pretty big, if we don't start picking up the points next month then he's gone.

 

To replace him - someone young, someone who will embrace a Continental style set up. We won't get a Curbishley, or an old fashioned British manager. It will be a modern, young foreign manager.

 

But pardew was corteses choice. We have had two English appointments and surely without our players of prem experience we need a manager who has managed in it.

[Norm]

Also what manager will work with Nick Nack and 'the process'

 

How many prospective managers will be aware of 'The Process'? IF such a thing is true? I'm not doubting you but is this all rumour? Every club has an MD or CEO that wants to run the show but it is surely up to a strong manager to kick him into the office.

[Stepgar]

Could Les Reed be the problem? I don't think NC knows that much about football to be calling formations etc. coud LR be NC's voice and LR is really calling the shots? I certainly get a feel of Rupert in some form or another at the club at the moment.

 

I would love for NA to sort this. But until the manager picks the players. Transfers, formation everything! I fear that we will only be going backwards.

[LostBoys]

I do not believe NC is picking the side or the formation. NA is and getting it wrong.

 

A large number of posters (ignoring the usual jokers) on here said pre season we needed defenders and a defensive midfield player but we did not get them in and are now paying the penalty.

 

 

I have not heard the press conference as I was coming back from West Ham but will NA be here next week - I am not sure as NC is not renowned for patience.

[shirleysfc]

Have people ALREADY forgotten we have played different formations this season? We went 4-4-2 V Wigan, we started 4-4-2 V Fulham. Just because 4-3-3 is our main preferred formation doesn't mean we won't mix it up.

 

Why do people keep ignoring this?? I'm assuming some people think Nick Nack (lolololol pmsl!!) fancied a change against Fulham?

 

I know Adkins said we play 4-3-3, but the fact is we have played with other formations this season.

[ART]

Previously Adkins stood on the touchline and very rarely consulted anyone else. Nowadays he sits a lot of the time with the two stooges on either side. He is definitely not running the show like before. Changing Adkins is one thing but do we have the players at this time, especially defenders, for a new guy to turn things round? Very little can be done before the January transfer window, but, honestly, who will be ready to join a sinking ship. Strachan went for old hands like Williams and Telfer to shore things up, but, today, the quality in the Premier League is streaks ahead of then.

[Badger]

Previously Adkins stood on the touchline and very rarely consulted anyone else. Nowadays he sits a lot of the time with the two stooges on either side. He is definitely not running the show like before. Changing Adkins is one thing but do we have the players at this time, especially defenders, for a new guy to turn things round? Very little can be done before the January transfer window, but, honestly, who will be ready to join a sinking ship. Strachan went for old hands like Williams and Telfer to shore things up, but, today, the quality in the Premier League is streaks ahead of then.

 

Strachan also had the luxury of bringing these two in with him for immediate use, anyone joining now will have to wait until January to bring new faces - other than out of contracts - in to the club.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

Feel really bad for him...He looks a broken man...he looked so so different in this interview,really down

 

The players have let him down and badly at times...

 

He needs our support now more than ever....

[charliemiller]

It wasn't really. If you watch, it's quite a dynamic formation. It's not set in stone, but the bones are 4-3-3 - it can revert back to a 4-5-1, or a 4-4-1-1 - but in essence, when attacking it's a 4-3-3.

 

AT LAST, a sensible post with regard to this 4-3-3 Barcelona myth .....Barca play actually a fluid 4-5-1 the two wide players drop back and support the midfield and overload the oppositon pressing them to submit the ball , once they have the ball the short play between the defence and the midfield and push the wide players gradually up on overlaps to support the single forward , full backs also push up beyond the half way line keeping the overload in Midfield .

 

We are trying to this , but it requires highly skilled players with great football brains ...additionally the full backs and wide players need to mega fit and pacey , do we have the players to play like this ? personally I doubt it at this stage and what we are doing is playing a rigid 4-3-3 hence we are having the midfield overrun and leaking goals because out only width is coming from the fullbacks pushing forward .

This leaves us with a shorthand defence and only 3 in midfield as soon as we lose the ball !!

[JustMike]

Who is the defensive coach? That's where id start with changing

[S-Clarke]

AT LAST, a sensible post with regard to this 4-3-3 Barcelona myth .....Barca play actually a fluid 4-5-1 the two wide players drop back and support the midfield and overload the oppositon pressing them to submit the ball , once they have the ball the short play between the defence and the midfield and push the wide players gradually up on overlaps to support the single forward , full backs also push up beyond the half way line keeping the overload in Midfield .

 

We are trying to this , but it requires highly skilled players with great football brains ...additionally the full backs and wide players need to mega fit and pacey , do we have the players to play like this ? personally I doubt it at this stage and what we are doing is playing a rigid 4-3-3 hence we are having the midfield overrun and leaking goals because out only width is coming from the fullbacks pushing forward .

This leaves us with a shorthand defence and only 3 in midfield as soon as we lose the ball !!

 

I don't believe we have the players available at the moment. I wanted an extra wide player in the window, I thought Mayuka would be that player but alas I was wrong on that.

 

When everyone is fit, an attacking front 4 of Lallana > Rameirz > Puncheon > and Lambert up front is as close as we'll get to making this work in our current stance. I personally think we need an upgrade on puncheon, someone in the mold of Tom Ince or Matty Phillips - someone with pace and strength who can run directly at opposition players. I still think that at times we hit a brick wall when we get to the final third, and lack that spark to get in behind enough.

[Roger]

If you google Nigel Adkins there's an interview after yesterday with Adkins sounding very unsure over future.

[Professor]

As I recall, Adkins said publicly in early close season that he wanted 2 CBs and on that basis he loaned out Martin, and had a loan lined up for Seaborne. We then went all summer without signing a CB until the last minute of the window, which I just can't believe was Adkin's fault. Even then the signing was questionable because although Yoshida is a full international a Japanese player who has been playing on the continent is bound to need time to settle in, regardless of how good he is. We should have been able to sign suitably experienced CBs before pre-season. Other clubs managed it. What happened to the bid for Rhys Williams from Middlesboro?

It all feels more like a tight hold on the money by Cortese, not lack of targets by NA.

[charliemiller]

I don't believe we have the players available at the moment. I wanted an extra wide player in the window, I thought Mayuka would be that player but alas I was wrong on that.

 

When everyone is fit, an attacking front 4 of Lallana > Rameirz > Puncheon > and Lambert up front is as close as we'll get to making this work in our current stance. I personally think we need an upgrade on puncheon, someone in the mold of Tom Ince or Matty Phillips - someone with pace and strength who can run directly at opposition players. I still think that at times we hit a brick wall when we get to the final third, and lack that spark to get in behind enough.

 

You also need flying full backs with good passing and crossing ability ....Clyne qualifys I think .......but thats it ??

 

If you take punch and AL as the wide two Ramirez has to play in the centre midfield AMC , with two more defensive midfielders behind him Morgan , Davies and cork fit that roll . BUT the two wide players have to be fluid moving between the midfield and attack.

[Griffo]

What happened to stability and giving a manager time? We've called for stability for years and now a few games in we're calling for his head already. Knee jerk.

[capitalsaint]

"We've got a process in place that we're doing our best to adhere to, but you've got to win games of football."