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What is going on,at our beloved club?


corsacar saint

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Does any one on this forum,have a clue what is going on at our beloved club? There are a lot of things that are concerning me on the pitch,not least of all,our dreadful back 4. However,behind the scenes there are many rumours of NA and NC,having fallen out and Les Reed [ what a success he was running Charlton Athletics first team,a few years back] having far too much of a say.

Up to a few months ago NC,had done very little wrong in my eyes and NA had done a terrific job,however are they both now out of their depth? Finally and probably the thing that bothers me the most,is the situation with Rickie Lambert,his body language on sunday,was that of a player,who really did not want to be here any more,very sad and worrying.

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If les reed or anyone else is having an influence on 1st team tactics, morale or position, you wouldn't need to sack me, i'd walk. If you are judged on results and someone else is adversly effecting those results, then there is no point continiing with destroying your own reputation in this way. I can't believe NC would allow this to happen though, clearly something is not right though amd that is for NC to sort. If he doesn't HR is the one failing in his job.

 

Who is taking responsibility at this club, I do hope its not reed!

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It's very similar the when Pardew went isn't it. Lots of rumours of unrest between the chairman and manager. A manager who appears like a dead man walking, fans rallying behind the manager and the manager being undermined in the transfer market.

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Seriously, you're responsible for some mongboard, tin hat gems but that's priceless.

 

B*ll*cks, Turkish is spot-on. We were flat-track bullies last season, beating the crap, coming up massively short against most of the top 6 or 7, especially at the end of the season.

 

the nature of the defeats against Blackpool away and Reading at home should have been paid a helluva lot more attention to. But no, the happy-clappies just whined about how good form always has blips :rolleyes:

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Heard rumours from two places cortese was interfering with the team and had the way on transfers front through the summer... Both very closely linked to the club.... Who knows but there's generally no smoke without fire?!!!

 

Crowds

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B*ll*cks, Turkish is spot-on. We were flat-track bullies last season, beating the crap, coming up massively short against most of the top 6 or 7, especially at the end of the season.

 

the nature of the defeats against Blackpool away and Reading at home should have been paid a helluva lot more attention to. But no, the happy-clappies just whined about how good form always has blips :rolleyes:

 

What? And those defeats were due to NA and NC falling out? Rather than us being flat track bullies and simply not as good as we thought we were?

Im perfectly happy with that as explanation for our form at the end of the season but that's got nothing to do with off the field issues. Well played sunshine for managing to contrad yourself in the space of a few sentences :lol:

Read your post again, take a long deep breath and relax.

Edited by shurlock
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So you think we finished the season in a convincing manner and marched to promotion is glorious fashion?

 

No we didn't convince (though we turned things around relative to Xmas) but why is that down to NA-NC's relationship - not say pressure, us overachieving all season, a thin squad and injuries, Reading's blistering form etc etc.

On your reasoning, I guess West Ham's series of draws was also due to off the field division?

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B*ll*cks, Turkish is spot-on. We were flat-track bullies last season, beating the crap, coming up massively short against most of the top 6 or 7, especially at the end of the season.

 

the nature of the defeats against Blackpool away and Reading at home should have been paid a helluva lot more attention to. But no, the happy-clappies just whined about how good form always has blips :rolleyes:

 

Alpine you are the limit.....against Reading we lost to a better team. Blackpool away was a shocker. I still think Reading are better than us even now

 

I don't think we bullied anyone.....

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No we didn't convince (though we turned things around relative to Xmas) but why is that down to NA-NC's relationship - not say pressure, us overachieving all season, a thin squad and injuries, Reading's blistering form etc etc.

On your reasoning, I guess West Ham's series of draws was also due to off the field division?

 

It certainly won't have helped would it. Or are you saying that Niges reaction on promotion day and talking about a future parting of ways was perfectly normal for a manager that had just won back to back promotions?

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**** knows what is going on, but remember NA made those cryptic comments hinting that his managerial mortality was short, immediately after the final whistle and promotion against Coventry.

 

Since that moment nothing has been quite right, and I think it does cast some light at least on the way we faded last season and limped home.

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Alpine you are the limit.....against Reading we lost to a better team. Blackpool away was a shocker. I still think Reading are better than us even now

 

I don't think we bullied anyone.....

 

We were bullies at home. Look at our clean sheets, usually came in home games when we were playing mid table sides and battering them 3 or4 nil. How many times did we put in resilant performances and ground out a win or a point in a game we weren't the better side in?

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We were bullies at home. Look at our clean sheets, usually came in home games when we were playing mid table sides and battering them 3 or4 nil. How many times did we put in resilant performances and ground out a win or a point in a game we weren't the better side in?

 

And that was true all season but maybe that's also due to NA-NC's poor relationship.

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And that was true all season but maybe that's also due to NA-NC's poor relationship.

 

So to answer my post above, is a manager talking about a future parting of ways, 5 minutes after winning promotion to the premier league perfectly normal and suggest he has a great relationship with the chairman?

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So to answer my post above, is a manager talking about a future parting of ways, 5 minutes after winning promotion to the premier league perfectly normal and suggest he has a great relationship with the chairman?

 

To be fair turks, I can see your point but he's still here isnt he. If there was that much of an issue surely he'd have walked by now, he wouldn't struggle for work.

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So to answer my post above, is a manager talking about a future parting of ways, 5 minutes after winning promotion to the premier league perfectly normal and suggest he has a great relationship with the chairman?

 

Even if it wasn't normal -and there are lots of reasons why Nige would - I sleep easy that that is not an explanation for why we lost to the champions (despite battering them) and away to a very strong Blackpool side (without Lambert) and a competitive Boro side (stitched up by a dodgy ref decision).

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Those comments from NA after the Coventry game look prescient, and seem to confirm things were already going wrong last season. The way we finished the season bears this out.

 

The fact that we lost to some excellent sides and still managed to haul nearly 2 points a game? Jesus wept.

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To be fair turks, I can see your point but he's still here isnt he. If there was that much of an issue surely he'd have walked by now, he wouldn't struggle for work.

 

Why would he walk? He won't be a rich man, he wouldn't have made a fortune from his playing career or at S****horpe. He's probably paid significantly more than at anytime in his career, he's got the chance this season to manage in the premier league, not a lot of Managers do and he says he loves the club. Although I'm sure we can dismiss that last comment as some have dismissed his 'parting of ways' and 'following a process' comments.

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There is no point discussing with you. You refuse to see anything but a form "blip".

 

Slow down, take a deep breath. Where did I say it was a form blip - if you dont believe me, read my other posts because I actually travelled up and down the country, watched us play week in, week out and regularly posted on the back from the game threads. You'll discover that I was pretty down on a lot of our performances -even when we were brushing teams aside. I've always maintained that we overachieved and our performances would catch up with us. That is as good as any reason why we wobbled towards the end and it has f**k all to do with hocus-pocus off the field issues.

Edited by shurlock
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There is no point discussing with you. You refuse to see anything but a form "blip".

 

And tbh you refuse to see anything but a massive problem.

 

The way I see it is the players and the manager have effectively given up, is it to do with off field bust ups or unrest ? I doubt it.

 

Adkins is out of ideas, and the players have had the belief beaten out of them, we tried so hard in those first big games but for nothing and have lost to teams we perhaps could have taken points from, we have an untrusted defence and have tried 3 GKs to stop the rot...... To no avail

 

Anyone that believes its to do with anything other than the fact WE ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH has their head firmly buried unfortunately.

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Why would he walk? He won't be a rich man, he wouldn't have made a fortune from his playing career or at S****horpe. He's probably paid significantly more than at anytime in his career, he's got the chance this season to manage in the premier league, not a lot of Managers do and he says he loves the club. Although I'm sure we can dismiss that last comment as some have dismissed his 'parting of ways' and 'following a process' comments.

 

 

I have no idea what he's getting paid, but the point you made was about his relationship with Cortese. If it really was as bad as some are suggesting, why would he stick around? He has a track record of four promotions, I cant believe he'd struggle to find another club prepared to pay his wages.

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And tbh you refuse to see anything but a massive problem.

 

The way I see it is the players and the manager have effectively given up, is it to do with off field bust ups or unrest ? I doubt it.

 

Adkins is out of ideas, and the players have had the belief beaten out of them, we tried so hard in those first big games but for nothing and have lost to teams we perhaps could have taken points from, we have an untrusted defence and have tried 3 GKs to stop the rot...... To no avail

 

Anyone that believes its to do with anything other than the fact WE ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH has their head firmly buried unfortunately.

 

Exactly- we overachieved last season but pulled through but have been exposed this season. The prem has proved one step too many. The rest is a footnote.

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I have no idea what he's getting paid, but the point you made was about his relationship with Cortese. If it really was as bad as some are suggesting, why would he stick around? He has a track record of four promotions, I cant believe he'd struggle to find another club prepared to pay his wages.

 

Another club perhaps but not in the PL and maybe not even in the NPC at this time. He has a contract until June 2015 I believe and if he gets sacked that's a couple of million pay-off which he wouldn't get by resigning or from any other club.

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plus West Ham were playing well at the end of the season and the play-offs were a bit of a formality. Not sure that we'd have

won them so easily not with our defence.

 

Would you take more notice of a seasons worth of results or 2 results handpicked to make a point?

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I find it quite astonishing how people can highlight the end of the season as being an issue. If there were issues off the field then it certainly had no effect on our efforts on the pitch as we were only outclassed by Blackpool in the run-in when arguably had we scored in the first 20 minutes when we had some good possession and a penalty miss it may have been a completely different game.

 

So, what do we class as "end of season"? Last 6 games? Last 12 games? Last 18 games?

 

We picked up 10 points from our last 6 games and in that run I felt we had some very bad luck against both Portsmouth and Boro which made the difference between picking up another couple of points. 12 points would have been a good return from 6 fixtures. Prior to that we picked up 13 points in the previous 6 games and 14 points in the 6 games prior to that. The fact is that over the last third of the season we established a sound and regular pattern of form that was better than everyone bar Reading.

 

I can never understand why people suggest our "form" tailed off at the end of the season. Most exceptionally good betting analysts will suggest that "form" takes place over a longer period than 6 games and they are right. We see very often a team have short term variance in their results (either good or bad) only to revert back to type. Our last 6 games was slightly worse than our "usual" form and could be explained easily by a bit of misfortune in the same way that we had a bit of good fortune in games like Leeds etc. The fact is the team got promoted and that last 6 games was nothing to do with off field disharmony in any way whatsover. Anyone that watched the games properly and understands variance can occur over a short term will understand this.

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I find it quite astonishing how people can highlight the end of the season as being an issue. If there were issues off the field then it certainly had no effect on our efforts on the pitch as we were only outclassed by Blackpool in the run-in when arguably had we scored in the first 20 minutes when we had some good possession and a penalty miss it may have been a completely different game.

 

So, what do we class as "end of season"? Last 6 games? Last 12 games? Last 18 games?

 

We picked up 10 points from our last 6 games and in that run I felt we had some very bad luck against both Portsmouth and Boro which made the difference between picking up another couple of points. 12 points would have been a good return from 6 fixtures. Prior to that we picked up 13 points in the previous 6 games and 14 points in the 6 games prior to that. The fact is that over the last third of the season we established a sound and regular pattern of form that was better than everyone bar Reading.

 

I can never understand why people suggest our "form" tailed off at the end of the season. Most exceptionally good betting analysts will suggest that "form" takes place over a longer period than 6 games and they are right. We see very often a team have short term variance in their results (either good or bad) only to revert back to type. Our last 6 games was slightly worse than our "usual" form and could be explained easily by a bit of misfortune in the same way that we had a bit of good fortune in games like Leeds etc. The fact is the team got promoted and that last 6 games was nothing to do with off field disharmony in any way whatsover. Anyone that watched the games properly and understands variance can occur over a short term will understand this.

 

Happy clapping, excuse making rubbish. We all know things weren't quite right at the club. I could sense something was just not right. I couldn't tell you what it is, but I know it's something. You lose games because of nothing, you lose them because of something. Still, most people are happy to bury their heads in the sand, so whatever.

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Happy clapping, excuse making rubbish. We all know things weren't quite right at the club. I could sense something was just not right. I couldn't tell you what it is, but I know it's something. You lose games because of nothing, you lose them because of something. Still, most people are happy to bury their heads in the sand, so whatever.

 

Alternatively we lost games, not that the playersor manager wasnt good enough ? But obviously the conclusion is there is something seriously wrong at the club !?!

 

Strange how Saints have gone through such a string of damaging backroom staff isnt it ?

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... not sure some on here actually are Saints 'supporters' - not with the 'glee' with which our frailties are highlighted....

 

Not sure why the likes of Turkish seem to enjoy pointing out 'issues' and 'problems' laced with sarcasm - something does not add up - no real fans express their dissapointment with such relish - at least Alps is ANGRY which is genuine emotion....

 

Many highlighted last year that alot of our success was not down to being the best side, but by being a TEAM, together, confident and united. Naturally against better sides that is is not always enough and it showed - especially towards the end of a tough season.

 

We are now in a situation where everyone at the top down lacks experience at this level - everyone is on a steep learning curve, yet instead of understanding that and although being disspointed in results which is normal, some seem obsessed with creating further division... not sure what the purpose is, but I dont classify that as support.

 

Conspiracy theories, rampant speculation and warped sense of enjoyment in 'problems and issues', suggests we have some seriously fecked up 'fans'. Thankfully those that post on here only represent a tiny minority.

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... not sure some on here actually are Saints 'supporters' - not with the 'glee' with which our frailties are highlighted....

 

Not sure why the likes of Turkish seem to enjoy pointing out 'issues' and 'problems' laced with sarcasm - something does not add up - no real fans express their dissapointment with such relish - at least Alps is ANGRY which is genuine emotion....

 

Many highlighted last year that alot of our success was not down to being the best side, but by being a TEAM, together, confident and united. Naturally against better sides that is is not always enough and it showed - especially towards the end of a tough season.

 

We are now in a situation where everyone at the top down lacks experience at this level - everyone is on a steep learning curve, yet instead of understanding that and although being disspointed in results which is normal, some seem obsessed with creating further division... not sure what the purpose is, but I dont classify that as support.

 

Conspiracy theories, rampant speculation and warped sense of enjoyment in 'problems and issues', suggests we have some seriously fecked up 'fans'. Thankfully those that post on here only represent a tiny minority.

 

Fair point but actually that "team" doesn't really exsist now. Lots of new faces over the summer. Quite a few old hands shipped out on loan or let go and quite a few players more involved last season now out on the fringes with only cup games to look forward to. Maybe the team spirit that we had the last few seasons just isn't there now?

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... not sure some on here actually are Saints 'supporters' - not with the 'glee' with which our frailties are highlighted....

 

Not sure why the likes of Turkish seem to enjoy pointing out 'issues' and 'problems' laced with sarcasm - something does not add up - no real fans express their dissapointment with such relish - at least Alps is ANGRY which is genuine emotion....

 

Many highlighted last year that alot of our success was not down to being the best side, but by being a TEAM, together, confident and united. Naturally against better sides that is is not always enough and it showed - especially towards the end of a tough season.

 

We are now in a situation where everyone at the top down lacks experience at this level - everyone is on a steep learning curve, yet instead of understanding that and although being disspointed in results which is normal, some seem obsessed with creating further division... not sure what the purpose is, but I dont classify that as support.

 

Conspiracy theories, rampant speculation and warped sense of enjoyment in 'problems and issues', suggests we have some seriously fecked up 'fans'. Thankfully those that post on here only represent a tiny minority.

 

Well said Frank

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Not sure why the likes of Turkish seem to enjoy pointing out 'issues' and 'problems' laced with sarcasm - something does not add up - no real fans express their dissapointment with such relish - at least Alps is ANGRY which is genuine emotion....

 

.

 

Turkish seems to have an almost personal beef with NC, it's pretty obvious that he has a staff member feeding him information

about what goes on at SMS, I do wonder if Turks ever worked for the club himself and was made redundant under the Cortese regime or if he has a mate or family member who suffered that sort;

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What's going on at our club? Well we've gone up to a higher division and probably didn't do enough to strengthen our team in the summer to be able to stay up comfortably in this division. So therefore we are losing quite a few games.

 

It's as simple as that..

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What's going on at our club? Well we've gone up to a higher division and probably didn't do enough to strengthen our team in the summer to be able to stay up comfortably in this division. So therefore we are losing quite a few games.

 

Yep- would add that we slightly overachieved last season as well, making the step up this season that much harder.

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Would you take more notice of a seasons worth of results or 2 results handpicked to make a point?

 

The original point was how we didn't end the season strongly (which we didn't - we went from being clear at the top to needing a win on the last day to avoid the playoffs) - not how we did over the whole season.

 

The fact that we did well over the whole season is irrelevent to this discussion.

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Fair point but actually that "team" doesn't really exsist now. Lots of new faces over the summer. Quite a few old hands shipped out on loan or let go and quite a few players more involved last season now out on the fringes with only cup games to look forward to. Maybe the team spirit that we had the last few seasons just isn't there now?

 

Well its natural that this can erode very quickly when results go against you. Its also about confidence - the belief the players have to be able to hold their own for 90+. Its not about making excuses, but about appreciating that we still have a fair way to go in terms of squad depth, quality and consistency. Those dismissing the 'Southampton way' are missing an additional point - Its also about building a playing culture that is attactive and entertaining and that will provide the potential for being more than just perenial relagation strugglers desperate to avoid relegation at the expense of style. For some, survival and prem is all that matters, fair enough. But ideals and principles and culture is more important IMHO. Just my opinion for sure, but I apreciate what the club is trying to do, even if it means a high level of risk and chance of relagation.

Edited by Frank's cousin
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Yep- would add that we slightly overachieved last season as well, making the step up this season that much harder.

 

We massively overachieved last season - the players and management did fantastically well in a harder division than Norwich faced the year before. Unfortunately now we have to face the consequences, where the weakest teams in the division are better than the strongest teams we faced last year.

 

That said, although this is painful at the moment, surely it's better than the potential alternative - another season in the Championship and probably having Lambert and Morgan leave anyway...

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