Leeds 3 - 0 Saints - Post Match Reaction

[doddisalegend]

I am still angry after last night...I came away on Sunday hopeful......didn't the prospect of making the last 8 mean anything?

 

Reading some posts on here it seems not. Some it seems would rather finish 17th in the PL than actual try and win a trophy. Although judging by yesterdays team selection that includes the club to.......

[shurlock]

How much football has a lot of our first team even played this year? No midweek games, international weekends off etc. Plenty of players play twice a week regularly without any problems.

 

By the same token, how much competitive football had yesterday's XI played? On paper, the quality was there but unless you're playing regularly, it's hard to switch on and off and be match sharp.

[derry]

What went wrong tonight has gone wrong before tonight in the league. We picked a system and stuck a bunch of players into positions they weren't comfortable in. We picked 451 and shoehorned in the players. To start with the attitude of the club in this cup was wrong, we aren't interested but the worst thing is the amateurish way we are selecting the team. OK, I can go along with using this group of players but not the way we selected them.

 

The back 5 is a formation that is no problem it's the way the rest line up that troubles me. If the club weren't that bothered about the result, so losing isn't a problem, why didn't we give it a go instead of playing 5 in the middle and only Mayuka up front.

 

I personally felt that we would have been better with this group to play 442 with a middle four of Guly, JWP, Chaplow and SDR, with Lee and Mayuka up front. If 433 was used, the front could have been Mayuka, Lee and SDR with a middle of Guly, Chaplow and JWP either would have been better than the sterile 451. Last Sunday we found out how to make 433 work by accident, play three strikers with a bit of pace and interchange. It's not a rigid formation like 442 it is designed for improvisation. 451 is a chickensh1t formation with the players Saints have, it can happen transitionally as a result of playing 433 but shows a defeatest attitude if it is selected that way.

 

We have to get away from the stupidity of selecting a system then putting in the players. We have to see which is our best team and put it out in a formation that gets the best out of those players. All players can usually play in a certain way, two players together can conflict whereas one of them with a different player can be a revelation. It's the same with our 433, picking the usual players doesn't balance but put Mayuka in with Lambert and Rodriguez suddenly make three up front work. Switch Schneiderlin and Davis's roles and the midfield is suddenly more positive.

 

What does worry me is the inability of the management for whatever reason to pick a team that works. The last half hour was accidentally the best we have been all season. Why do I say accidentally? because changing the underperforming Puncheon for Mayuka was the only change that made any sense from those available, also if he had known the difference it would make he would have started Mayuka. The goalkeeper position is still a problem, IMO in the games I've seen, Davis looks out of his depth, Boruc unconvincing and a bit immobile, Gazzaniga, young but a real talent and not to blame for either of the own goals in his last game and our best keeper. Talk of Gazzaniga going out on loan is crass stupidity. Boruc might have played 200+ games for Celtic, that's a lot of games leaning against the post watching crap. I don't give a damn about reputations but the two games he's played to date haven't been impressive.

[doddisalegend]

Having read all of the posts so far, the ones that talk the most sense are those from ChiSaint, Adrian & Bearsy's short but accurate post.

 

Yes, it was a great disappointment that many of those reserve players didn't grasp the opportunity to fight for a place in the first team and I'm sure that as a result they have done their chances some harm because of their lack of effort. But surely on paper that didn't look too bad a team to put out.

 

For all of those who have been tipped into the Adkins out camp, let's have some suggestions as to who they want to see replace him. Otherwise it is going to make you all look a bit lame saying that you want him gone, but that you don't have a clue who would do a better job. Just one proviso to that; the managerial choice has to be available, with a proven record at this level, affordable and wanting to come here.

 

whats affordable ..has NC told you what money he has to spend ?

Whats avaliable mean? out of work? Nigel wasn't out of work when we got him...

Proven record ...fair enough...though Nigels recorded in the championship wasn't to hot before last season

Wanting to come here?...are you asking people to phone up the prefered choice and ask them if they want to work for saints?

[Joe Kirkup]

Just got up having got back in the wee hours. TBH, I wasn't expecting to see many first teamers so no problem with that. I was looking to see how many of the squad could step up and show that they could claim a place in the first team to help solve some of the problems. Guly was Ok, all the youngsters showed loads of promise and certainly seemed up for it. Mayuka looked lost. The rest? forget it. SDR seems to have lost the only thing he was good at which is running at people. Chaplow was all huff and puff. Butterfield and Seaborne shouldn't bother pulling a shirt on again. Lee looked bewildered by it all.

Leeds weren't that good. A team with SDR, Mayuka, Lee, Guly should have caused them problems. Only when Isgrove came on did we start to do anything.

This brings me to Luke Shaw

He is a left back. We don't have a solution for a left back at the moment. NA has tried Fox, Maya, Clyne and even little Ben Reeves. He started Reeves last night with Shaw on the bench. WTF is that all about? Reeves was getting battered every time they came down the right. If Shaw isn't good enough to start in a game like last night WTF is he doing in the first team squad? More interference from Les Reed? To be fair for the few minutes he was on Shaw looked OK.

It was a long day with a very disappointing performance and to be honest I'm just bewildered by it all.

[shurlock]

Just got up having got back in the wee hours. TBH, I wasn't expecting to see many first teamers so no problem with that. I was looking to see how many of the squad could step up and show that they could claim a place in the first team to help solve some of the problems. Guly was Ok, all the youngsters showed loads of promise and certainly seemed up for it. Mayuka looked lost. The rest? forget it. SDR seems to have lost the only thing he was good at which is running at people. Chaplow was all huff and puff. Butterfield and Seaborne shouldn't bother pulling a shirt on again. Lee looked bewildered by it all.

Leeds weren't that good. A team with SDR, Mayuka, Lee, Guly should have caused them problems. Only when Isgrove came on did we start to do anything.

This brings me to Luke Shaw

He is a left back. We don't have a solution for a left back at the moment. NA has tried Fox, Maya, Clyne and even little Ben Reeves. He started Reeves last night with Shaw on the bench. WTF is that all about? Reeves was getting battered every time they came down the right. If Shaw isn't good enough to start in a game like last night WTF is he doing in the first team squad? More interference from Les Reed? To be fair for the few minutes he was on Shaw looked OK.

It was a long day with a very disappointing performance and to be honest I'm just bewildered by it all.

 

Tbf, Reeves has looked more impressive than Shaw and quite a few on here have wanted to see him given a run at LB, so no complaints there. Didn't help that Lee provided nothing defensively or offensively on the left.

[alpine_saint]

What went wrong tonight has gone wrong before tonight in the league. We picked a system and stuck a bunch of players into positions they weren't comfortable in. We picked 451 and shoehorned in the players. To start with the attitude of the club in this cup was wrong, we aren't interested but the worst thing is the amateurish way we are selecting the team. OK, I can go along with using this group of players but not the way we selected them.

 

The back 5 is a formation that is no problem it's the way the rest line up that troubles me. If the club weren't that bothered about the result, so losing isn't a problem, why didn't we give it a go instead of playing 5 in the middle and only Mayuka up front.

 

I personally felt that we would have been better with this group to play 442 with a middle four of Guly, JWP, Chaplow and SDR, with Lee and Mayuka up front. If 433 was used, the front could have been Mayuka, Lee and SDR with a middle of Guly, Chaplow and JWP either would have been better than the sterile 451. Last Sunday we found out how to make 433 work by accident, play three strikers with a bit of pace and interchange. It's not a rigid formation like 442 it is designed for improvisation. 451 is a chickensh1t formation with the players Saints have, it can happen transitionally as a result of playing 433 but shows a defeatest attitude if it is selected that way.

 

We have to get away from the stupidity of selecting a system then putting in the players. We have to see which is our best team and put it out in a formation that gets the best out of those players. All players can usually play in a certain way, two players together can conflict whereas one of them with a different player can be a revelation. It's the same with our 433, picking the usual players doesn't balance but put Mayuka in with Lambert and Rodriguez suddenly make three up front work. Switch Schneiderlin and Davis's roles and the midfield is suddenly more positive.

 

What does worry me is the inability of the management for whatever reason to pick a team that works. The last half hour was accidentally the best we have been all season. Why do I say accidentally? because changing the underperforming Puncheon for Mayuka was the only change that made any sense from those available, also if he had known the difference it would make he would have started Mayuka. The goalkeeper position is still a problem, IMO in the games I've seen, Davis looks out of his depth, Boruc unconvincing and a bit immobile, Gazzaniga, young but a real talent and not to blame for either of the own goals in his last game and our best keeper. Talk of Gazzaniga going out on loan is crass stupidity. Boruc might have played 200+ games for Celtic, that's a lot of games leaning against the post watching crap. I don't give a damn about reputations but the two games he's played to date haven't been impressive.

 

Always enjoy your posts, derry.

 

Might be a job going for you soon....

[Sour Mash]

By the same token, how much competitive football had yesterday's XI played? On paper, the quality was there but unless you're playing regularly, it's hard to switch on and off and be match sharp.

Of course it's hard to switch on and off, the 4 worst players in my eyes were Butterfield, Lee, Seaborne and De Ridder and they've all played very little football this year (plus they're not very good). But my point was that plenty of the first team have already had a season full of breaks, I don't feel it would have been over stretching them with at least a 30mins cameo off the bench to actually try and win the game.

[John McGrath's Jockstrap]

The thing nagging away in NA's mind must be that the team composed of fringe players and players frozen out by him did not produce any sort of performance whatsoever. Surely though it is flawed thinking in NA's mind that they would produce a 100% committed performance - but why should they want to spill their blood for a manager who isn't playing them?. If by fluke they had won ,great, if they don't , well - does it really matter for them personally?. If NA does get sacked at least they have a fresh chance to impress an incoming manager!!. Once this rot starts in the dressing room then normally it is the beginning of the end, and I think NA's comments after the match reflect this. I am sure Cortese has the game plan very clear in his mind and we have to trust him to make the right call.

[shurlock]

Of course it's hard to switch on and off, the 4 worst players in my eyes were Butterfield, Lee, Seaborne and De Ridder and they've all played very little football this year (plus they're not very good). But my point was that plenty of the first team have already had a season full of breaks, I don't feel it would have been over stretching them with at least a 30mins cameo off the bench to actually try and win the game.

 

Agree- like we did at Palace last season. With our next fixture not until next Monday, it's not as if they don't have time to recover.

What I don't understand is why we played last night rather than tonight which would have made the fixture an ordinary midweek fixture. Out of all the teams that played on Sunday, we're the only one that played last night. The rest have been given an extra day.

[alpine_saint]

The thing nagging away in NA's mind must be that the team composed of fringe players and players frozen out by him did not produce any sort of performance whatsoever. Surely though it is flawed thinking in NA's mind that they would produce a 100% committed performance - but why should they want to spill their blood for a manager who isn't playing them?. If by fluke they had won ' date='great, if they don't , well - does it really matter for them personally?. If NA does get sacked at least they have a fresh chance to impress an incoming manager!!. Once this rot starts in the dressing room then normally it is the beginning of the end, and I think NA's comments after the match reflect this. I am sure Cortese has the game plan very clear in his mind and we have to trust him to make the right call.[/quote']

 

At the beginning of September, my son was forced to sit 2 hours in the pouring rain to get the last 90secs of his U-14 game. I organised a club switch, now he's started the last 5 games in a row.

 

Before anyone makes the obvious comment, his new team is at the top of the table, his old team at the bottom, and the last time they played each other his new team won 11-0 and my son got a brace.

 

Sorry, my point is, the managers attitude towards the players does make a massive difference; perhaps NA has indeed lost the changing room. After all, its not just last nights XI, consider Lamberts demeanour on Sunday.

[doddisalegend]

Agree- like we did at Palace last season. With our next fixture not until next Monday, it's not as if they don't have time to recover.

What I don't understand is why we played last night rather than tonight which would have made the fixture an ordinary midweek fixture. Out of all the teams that played on Sunday, we're the only one that played last night. The rest have been given an extra day.

 

They said on Solent last night that the final deiscion on when the match was played was decided by the football league. Saints wanted to play Wednesday Leeds wanted to play tuesday (I think they're playing Friday or something( FL wieghed up the arguments and went with Leeds.

Edited 31 October, 2012 by doddisalegend

[Window Cleaner]

They said on sSlent last night that the final deiscion on when the match was played was decided by the football league. Saints wanted to play Wednesday Leeds wanted to play tuesday (I think they're playing Friday or something( FL wieghed up the arguments and went with Leeds.

 

 

Because we being a Premier League side are supposed to have a squad that can handle 2 matches in 48 hours better than an NPC side. Ther fact that our squad contains a load of old hacks and young players with hardly any league experience does not carry any weight with the the Football league. You get PL money you're supposed to have a squad that reflects it, it's not Leed's fault that we have retained the likes of Seaborne,Chaplow and De Ridder probably because we can't get shot of them.

[shurlock]

They said on sSlent last night that the final deiscion on when the match was played was decided by the football league. Saints wanted to play Wednesday Leeds wanted to play tuesday (I think they're playing Friday or something( FL wieghed up the arguments and went with Leeds.

 

Cheers - didn't know that. Guess than extra day would have made no difference to NA's team/subs selections anyway.

[Dig Dig]

The most surprising thing about last night is that we lost 3-0 despite having Chaplows bite in the middle of the park. With a lot people claiming that he should be starting in CM to make us more solid, how did this happen?

[stinhk]

Christ, this opinion is so myopic it defies belief.

 

I don't think myopia prevents me from retaining a level of perspective.

[Window Cleaner]

The most surprising thing about last night is that we lost 3-0 despite having Chaplows bite in the middle of the park. With a lot people claiming that he should be starting in CM to make us more solid, how did this happen?

 

 

He's a ridiculously overated player, hardly played for us last season and never in CM, he's riding his reputation of a couple of games in League 1. His woefulness probably affected JWP as well cos he's used to playing with Morgan and Davis who can help him along as well as concentrate on their own games.

[Shroppie]

The most surprising thing about last night is that we lost 3-0 despite having Chaplows bite in the middle of the park. With a lot people claiming that he should be starting in CM to make us more solid, how did this happen?

 

Chaplow didn't have a bad game, compared with De Ridder and Lee (who looked strangely unconcerned about anything going on). These rwo should have been our creative players causing problems, but they weren't. In fact our only chances came when he pushed forward. Mayuka looked isolated and he's not a lone striker, especially when Kelvin was using the long clearance, which he was frequently forced into. Guly managed that role better, but still with no support.

[Window Cleaner]

Chaplow didn't have a bad game, compared with De Ridder and Lee (who looked strangely unconcerned about anything going on). These rwo should have been our creative players causing problems, but they weren't. In fact our only chances came when he pushed forward. Mayuka looked isolated and he's not a lone striker, especially when Kelvin was using the long clearance, which he was frequently forced into. Guly managed that role better, but still with no support.

 

 

As I said the other day SDR and TL are probably just waiting to leave in January because they want to play football and they won't do that at SFC. Lee has lost his Japan place to the awful Havenaar since he's been with us, probably because he just doesn't play enough and SDR was a bit of a big star in Holland now he's just a bit part player who won't see any more first team action until we play some minnows in the FA cup..

[shurlock]

As I said the other day SDR and TL are probably just waiting to leave in January because they want to play football and they won't do that at SFC. Lee has lost his Japan place to the awful Havenaar since he's been with us, probably because he just doesn't play enough and SDR was a bit of a big star in Holland.

 

Lee has been injured on and off since March. That's not the club's fault. From what I hear, he's bit of an immature toss*r to boot. That said, he should not have been played on the left last night.

[Window Cleaner]

Lee has been injured on and off since March. That's not the club's fault. From what I hear, he's bit of an immature toss*r to boot. That said, he should not have been played on the left last night.

 

 

Lee was seriously injured in training (just like Ramirez).Even when he was fit he didn't play very much and if you listen to what he's supposed to have said he's been fit for a while and not picked even as a sub, just as he wasn't at the start of the season.

He's lost his Japan place because we do not play him or give him any game time and I can see him wanting out because of that.

 

Connolly was saying the same thing a couple of years back, so was Barnard, when you're out of favour at SFC you might as well clear out cos you ain't going to get a game.

[alpine_saint]

Lee was seriously injured in training (just like Ramirez).Even when he was fit he didn't play very much and if you listen to what he's supposed to have said he's been fit for a while and not picked even as a sub, just as he wasn't at the start of the season.

He's lost his Japan place because we do not play him or give him any game time and I can see him wanting out because of that.

 

Connolly was saying the same thing a couple of years back, so was Barnard, when you're out of favour at SFC you might as well clear out cos you ain't going to get a game.

 

Does this mean we swayed the summer signings with "plays when fit" clauses, or that NA cannot manage and/or motivate a PL-sized squad ?

[Window Cleaner]

Does this mean we swayed the summer signings with "plays when fit" clauses, or that NA cannot manage and/or motivate a PL-sized squad ?

 

It means that our manager has a distinct model for what he thinks is a good player and if you don't fit it your chances at SFC

are slight. IMHO of course. I've always made it known that although I think NA was adequate in L1 and benefited from a vastly superior squad in the NPC that he's not my ideal manager. The nucleus of our side is pre-Pardew and Pardew players and that some of those who are currently seemingly found to be wanting are NA players.

[Jez]

But that's the point. Success in the cup leads to success in the league. losing has become a habit.

 

Like it was for Birmingham a couple of seasons ago you mean when they won the league cup and got relegated?

 

This might have already been picked up, not read the whole thread yet. Regardless of the "manner" of the defeat (mentioned by numerous other posts), it was nowhere near our first team, and this game should have no bearing on whether Adkins should be in charge or not. He pretty much put out a team to lose, let's be honest. I am sure he hoped they would have played better, but they didn't... back to the league and let's hope we can get a result vs WBA. Still would not contemplate replacing Adkins till early December at the earliest, once we have completed a few more favourable fixtures and seen if we have managed to get some points on the board.

[saint1977]

This thread will make more sense after Monday night. Win 3-1 at WBA and Adkins will have pulled a blinder. Draw or even worse lose and he looks a total chump. Nigel has put all his eggs into Monday night's basket so let's see if the senior XI are right behind him and come up with a result. It was embarrassing last night but will be soon forgotten with a second league win of the season. If we lose at WBA however, the display and tactics at Elland Road will come under question again and he will be verging on untenable in the role.

[Wes Tender]

whats affordable ..has NC told you what money he has to spend ?

Whats avaliable mean? out of work? Nigel wasn't out of work when we got him...

Proven record ...fair enough...though Nigels recorded in the championship wasn't to hot before last season

Wanting to come here?...are you asking people to phone up the prefered choice and ask them if they want to work for saints?

 

I'm not making the suggestion that we replace Adkins, so it's not really necessary for me to nominate prospective replacements.

 

But your questions highlight exactly the problems which will relate to any managers who would be nominated by others and are probably the reasons why posters who want Adkins gone are so reticent to give names.

 

Take an example. Pepi Guardiola, mentioned by Dubai Phil, very tongue in cheek, I'm sure.

 

Available? Yes.

Affordable? Would probably cost an arm and a leg. Do we have the money to afford him? As you say, who knows? But I doubt it.

Proven record? As Phil says, not in the Premiership, which seems to be a dominant criteria for some, but undoubtedly plenty good enough.

Would he want to come here? Again, I very much doubt it, as he could take his pick of virtually any Club team in the World and National teams too.

 

So to those wishing us to replace Nigel Adkins, let's have some nominations and then we can apply these criteria to them and see whether they are realistic suggestions or just fantasies.

[Chez]

I am a big believer in trying everything to win the cup competitions, even the league cup, even in this day and age. It was unfortunate that the game came just two days after the league game though, so once I am a little more forgiving of the manager for not fielding the first team.

 

Sadly fielding a completely new eleven, consisting of youngsters and second choice seniors not only means you are weaker in terms of individual quality, but this is compounded by the fact these players have not played together so have little understanding, weaker as a side therefore.

 

I'm amazed any side beats another having made so many changes. The reserves are going to have to be of a very high quality to have a chance.

[alpine_saint]

This thread will make more sense after Monday night. Win 3-1 at WBA and Adkins will have pulled a blinder. Draw or even worse lose and he looks a total chump. Nigel has put all his eggs into Monday night's basket so let's see if the senior XI are right behind him and come up with a result. It was embarrassing last night but will be soon forgotten with a second league win of the season. If we lose at WBA however, the display and tactics at Elland Road will come under question again and he will be verging on untenable in the role.

 

Good post.

[alpine_saint]

I'm not making the suggestion that we replace Adkins, so it's not really necessary for me to nominate prospective replacements.

 

But your questions highlight exactly the problems which will relate to any managers who would be nominated by others and are probably the reasons why posters who want Adkins gone are so reticent to give names.

 

Take an example. Pepi Guardiola, mentioned by Dubai Phil, very tongue in cheek, I'm sure.

 

Available? Yes.

Affordable? Would probably cost an arm and a leg. Do we have the money to afford him? As you say, who knows? But I doubt it.

Proven record? As Phil says, not in the Premiership, which seems to be a dominant criteria for some, but undoubtedly plenty good enough.

Would he want to come here? Again, I very much doubt it, as he could take his pick of virtually any Club team in the World and National teams too.

 

So to those wishing us to replace Nigel Adkins, let's have some nominations and then we can apply these criteria to them and see whether they are realistic suggestions or just fantasies.

 

Hoddle.

[Wes Tender]

Hoddle.

 

Credit for coming up with a name and I'm sure that Dalek would be wholeheartedly behind you there!

 

Fulfills most of the criteria set, but arguably the proven record in the Premiership might be questioned as it has been 6 years since he has been involved in English football.

 

Also, the same thing applies to Hoddle as to Redknapp; would the fans want him? Maybe the wounds inflicted by Redknapp are still more raw than those from our association with Hoddle last time around and at least he didn't get us relegated and perhaps whether the fans wanted him isn't in any event such a consideration for Cortese, who would place more importance on whether he could turn things around.

 

Whether he could do a better job than Adkins is debateable.

[alpine_saint]

Credit for coming up with a name and I'm sure that Dalek would be wholeheartedly behind you there!

 

Fulfills most of the criteria set, but arguably the proven record in the Premiership might be questioned as it has been 6 years since he has been involved in English football.

 

Also, the same thing applies to Hoddle as to Redknapp; would the fans want him? Maybe the wounds inflicted by Redknapp are still more raw than those from our association with Hoddle last time around and at least he didn't get us relegated and perhaps whether the fans wanted him isn't in any event such a consideration for Cortese, who would place more importance on whether he could turn things around.

 

Whether he could do a better job than Adkins is debateable.

 

If NC decides to replace NA, its a calcuated risk whoever he goes for.

[Window Cleaner]

If NC decides to replace NA, its a calcuated risk whoever he goes for.

 

 

as long as there isn't a Dean Wilkins vacuum period I don't much care either way really. Timing is now wrong if he was going to sack him it should have been after the Everton loss, leads me to think NA won't get sacked come what may at any time before January.

[trousers]

Halloween special...

 

Southampton FC ‏@officialsaints

 

Extended highlights of last night's game at Leeds are now on Saints Player: http://sfcne.ws/SeIYbv #saintsfc

[Spudders]

I just came on here to post ther same thing trousers, it's laughable really isn't it! I wonder how long these 'highlights' are?

[pap]

I just came on here to post ther same thing trousers, it's laughable really isn't it! I wonder how long these 'highlights' are?

 

Bottle of whiskey and shotgun viewing material.

[trousers]

Butterfield looked particularly awful if those 'highlights' are anything to go by

[Window Cleaner]

Butterfield looked particularly awful if those 'highlights' are anything to go by

 

 

Doesn't augure well that the commentators gets one of the first thing he says wrong . In 79 the League Cup final was between Saints and Forest, we beat Leeds in the semis, you'd think they'd check their facts before spouting ****** wouldn't you.

[Deano6]

I didn't see the game or whatever as I was being ravaged by Hurricane Sandy, but for all those saying "OMG WTF WE DIDN'T HAVE A SHOT ON TARGET!!", I note the BBC says we actually had 3 to their 5.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20053632

 

Who is right?

[TK8267]

Dan Seabourne looked shocking in the highlights caught out for first goal by varney, dodgey pass back and then gave it to one of their players on half way and took him out... the worry is up until the last few days of the transfer market he was 3rd choice CB!!

[Window Cleaner]

Dan Seabourne looked shocking in the highlights caught out for first goal by varney, dodgey pass back and then gave it to one of their players on half way and took him out... the worry is up until the last few days of the transfer market he was 3rd choice CB!!

 

And he's still on the bench from time to time, absolutely woeful player, should have been shipped back to Yeovil or Exeter by now.

Why we ship out Martin and keep Seaborne just beggars belief. It's either about money or someone's judgement is catastrophically bad. Then again I guess someone may have thought Martin would keep one of the wonder kids off the team sheet.

Edited 31 October, 2012 by Window Cleaner

[trousers]

Dan Seabourne looked shocking in the highlights caught out for first goal by varney, dodgey pass back and then gave it to one of their players on half way and took him out... the worry is up until the last few days of the transfer market he was 3rd choice CB!!

 

Ah, maybe I was confusing Butterfield with Seabourne. Or maybe they were as bad as each other?

[Dalek2003]

Hoddle.

 

Unbelievable !

[Dalek2003]

Credit for coming up with a name and I'm sure that Dalek would be wholeheartedly behind you there!

 

Fulfills most of the criteria set, but arguably the proven record in the Premiership might be questioned as it has been 6 years since he has been involved in English football.

 

Also, the same thing applies to Hoddle as to Redknapp; would the fans want him? Maybe the wounds inflicted by Redknapp are still more raw than those from our association with Hoddle last time around and at least he didn't get us relegated and perhaps whether the fans wanted him isn't in any event such a consideration for Cortese, who would place more importance on whether he could turn things around.

 

Whether he could do a better job than Adkins is debateable.

 

I am sure we would NOT have been relegated if Hoddle had been appointed in the Spring of 2004. We payed a heavy price for placating a small but vocal minority of SFC fans.

The appointment of Hoddle in 2012 is a far more risky option for the reasons stated above.

I think we should stick with NA come what may as I am sure that we can pull things together next season, even if in the NPC.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I am sure we would NOT have been relegated if Hoddle had been appointed in the Spring of 2004. We payed a heavy price for placating a small but vocal minority of SFC fans.

The appointment of Hoddle in 2012 is a far more risky option for the reasons stated above.

I think we should stick with NA come what may as I am sure that we can pull things together next season, even if in the NPC.

 

 

But does NA want to stick with NC? Million dollar question

[Window Cleaner]

But does NA want to stick with NC? Million dollar question

 

ah here we go.....

[dubai_phil]

I'm not making the suggestion that we replace Adkins, so it's not really necessary for me to nominate prospective replacements.

 

But your questions highlight exactly the problems which will relate to any managers who would be nominated by others and are probably the reasons why posters who want Adkins gone are so reticent to give names.

 

Take an example. Pepi Guardiola, mentioned by Dubai Phil, very tongue in cheek, I'm sure.

 

Available? Yes.

Affordable? Would probably cost an arm and a leg. Do we have the money to afford him? As you say, who knows? But I doubt it.

Proven record? As Phil says, not in the Premiership, which seems to be a dominant criteria for some, but undoubtedly plenty good enough.

Would he want to come here? Again, I very much doubt it, as he could take his pick of virtually any Club team in the World and National teams too.

 

So to those wishing us to replace Nigel Adkins, let's have some nominations and then we can apply these criteria to them and see whether they are realistic suggestions or just fantasies.

 

It was mainly tongue in check Wes.

 

But from his perspective - What could EVER beat managing Barca? Man Utd? Real? trying to rescue Italian soccer single handed?

International Teams, let's face it he won't get the England job for the next 2 years, Spain? That is a hell of a task as they have been almost perfect, how can he improve on that? Especially as star players age.

Can't see the Germans wanting him

So then it comes down to money OR a cause.

IF NC really has all the money he could need then he could make a Sales Pitch for the cause of the CL Grail.

 

As of course will the boys down the road from me with Citeh just before the next Transfer Window but that just puts him straight back under supreme pressure and the global spotlight again. Not sure if he still wants that.

 

More likely IMHO to be a successful Italian Manager who understands "The Vision" (not the nob from Swindon although would prefer him to HR)

 

But hey, a quid on Pep wouldn't be a bad punt odds must be awesome and slightly better than Euro Millions

[S-Clarke]

Looking at the teams going out tonight and last night, you have to look at this as an enormous chance missed to make real progress.

[trousers]

BBC Sport ‏@BBCSport

CAPITAL ONE CUP Q-FINAL DRAW - Leeds v Chelsea #bbcfootball

[Shroppie]

Looking at the teams going out tonight and last night, you have to look at this as an enormous chance missed to make real progress.

 

Not at all. It's good we're out. Home to Chelsea we'd probbably feel obliged to play a strongish team who would pick up injuries and yellow cards, be less fresh for the next league game and would lose anyway. So sound tactics last night.

 

(Waits for abuse)

[trousers]

Not at all. It's good we're out. Home to Chelsea we'd probbably feel obliged to play a strongish team who would pick up injuries and yellow cards, be less fresh for the next league game and would lose anyway. So sound tactics last night.

 

And the Chelsea game has to be played closer to Christmas...

 

@SunSportNow: Ties to be played week commencing December 10. Chelsea's match will be played on December 19 due to participation in FIFA Club World Cup.

 

Good job we can rely on Nigel's fortune telling skills to avoid a game vs Chelsea just before the Xmas/New Year fixture pile up... #greatescape