Bensfcno1 Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 Apart from a slight feeling of being sorry for Nige for what he has achieved, I've always thought the move was positive and the correct one. Just seen Illingsworth's interview before yesterdays game: what an idiot, or did that really sum up the average saints fans thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 Yep - totally over Nigel. It's a new era now with lots of potential!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horley CTFC Saint Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 FWIW I think Adkins was always employed to get us into the Prem and probably knew it from day one. The back to back promotions surprised everyone and signalled the end for Nige. He had five years to get us in the Prem and did it in a little under two - it was only some rather out of character sentiment on the part of NC that kept NA in a job at the start of this season. Gutted for Nige and always will be but we can't say it wasn't expected. Its a shame as it seemed to me that NA had knocked the team into shape and was likely going to keep them up this year but some of the deep passing game that we played under Adkins was shall we say a tad anodyne. Hope he gets a chance with another Prem team as he looks to have what it takes as a Prem manager. MP will get the kudos if and when we stay up but he will have done it with the team that NA, ?NC and LR? put together - I do have to say that I like the way he has evolved the play to date though pressing more high up the pitch. For me this year will prove nothing though and next season will be the acid test and the signings made in the close season crucial if we really are to move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 Whatever judgement we all make at the end of the season will inevitably be subjective as we'll never know how the season would have panned out with Adkins. Yes, we can cite probabilities but not definitives. Of course. And my subjective judgement will be that as Adkins had us in fifteenth place when he was sacked, a new manager brought in to take us to the next level would therefore reasonably be expected to achieve a higher position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 Couple of lads near me at the game yesterday were singing "Pochettino's Red and White Army" for a large portion of the game, but I didn't join in. When MP keeps us up, then I will sing his name. He's got to prove himself first - no matter what the result was yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 Couple of lads near me at the game yesterday were singing "Pochettino's Red and White Army" for a large portion of the game, That came over loud and clear on the TV coverage at one point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambol2K9 Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 The real test of MP will come when we go on a run of bad form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 (edited) There's a difference between the decision, and the way it was implemented. I think it's pretty clear now that Pottechino offers a step up. So the decision to bring him in was the right one. Some of the critics seem to think you can never fire a manager unless he's performed terribly. There's no logic to that. If the owners are ambitious, you replace a manager if and only if you believe you can install a better one. So I have no problem with the fact that the decision was taken weeks earlier, that it happened right after a great performance, etc. Al that was actually really smart. What wasn't smart is that it would have cost Cortese nothing to honour Adkins with a much warmer statement, program guide recognition, and perhaps even a farewell ceremony on the pitch. Instead of "whilst we acknowledge Adkins contribution..." he could have said: "Adkins was a great manager. A truly great manager. He brought us up 2 divisions. The club will always honour his performance and his time here. We'll give him a great send-off. But I believe I've found a manager who's even better and can take Saints to the very top of Europe.... " That would have made the whole transition so much easier. He didn't do that. It's a real shame. But it was still a brilliant, courageous decision... ...and yes, it's time to move on. This. I think the problem most fans have has never been with MP. In addition, most recognise that Nigel has talent, the ability to learn quickly, qualities such as loyalty and integrity and is an all round decent bloke. A nice guy, honest in an arena of sharks and arseholes. But most also recognise that as harsh as it may seem, it is simply impossible to learn quickly enough when the club is expecting progress to be more rapid. I like most would have loved the idea of of Nige being the next LM - the idea that even if we went down, we would come back stronger and see success under Nige in years to come. But football has changed too much - we needed to invest heavily to improve the squad in an environment that means relegation makes it extremely difficult to keep that squad in tact - I dont belie we would be in any financial disarray if relegated as the talent we have invested in will hold its value and could be sold to ensure we dont see any financial nightmares, but its the breaking up of the squad that has the biggest consequences for 'bouncing back' etc, so time in this case waits for no man... Cortese is direct. Appears harsh and without compassion because he makes decisions that have seem to be without appreciating the emotions that are so fundemental to fans - it irks, concerns and causes some to spout the usual cliched vitriol. But if we acknowledge that the only way to break the mould and expectation that we will only ever be a provincial prem also ran, you need someone prepared to take a risk, put his head on the block and take the flack for when those decisions appear hideous to us... and yet we often reluctantly agree they have had a positive impact on the football. I will say it again, that we are a fickle and often hypocritical bunch - expressing outrage and vitriolic rhetoric at a chairman who sacked someone we liked, yet are happy to express our own vitiol and demand change towards players and managers we dont. If we want to take the moral high ground here because we see it as a human story, then those still moralising about it need to ask were they so defensive of Brandfoot when fans were hanging him out to dry? Or Luggy, Gray? etc? Edited 10 February, 2013 by Frank's cousin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 Couple of lads near me at the game yesterday were singing "Pochettino's Red and White Army" for a large portion of the game, but I didn't join in. When MP keeps us up, then I will sing his name. He's got to prove himself first - no matter what the result was yesterday. Im sure the approval of a fat, drunken student who goes to matches dressed at the honey monster is of the upmost importance to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 (edited) Apart from a slight feeling of being sorry for Nige for what he has achieved, I've always thought the move was positive and the correct one. Just seen Illingsworth's interview before yesterdays game: what an idiot, or did that really sum up the average saints fans thoughts? What did he say? Personally, I will not forget what Nigel Adkins achieved for us, the manner of his sacking was terribly cruel..... but dwelling on that will not help at all. So, the king is dead, long live the king. Edited 10 February, 2013 by Colinjb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 What did he say? Personally, I will not forget what Nigel Adkins achieved for us, the manner of his sacking was terribly cruel..... but dwelling on that will not help at all. So, the king is dead, long live the king. I didn't hear the interview but having just asked Nick he said that he simply said what most fans think, that Adkins was loved, the timing was strange and the fans will give MP a chance. Not quite sure what Bensfcno1 is calling him an idiot for, sounds fair enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 Apart from a slight feeling of being sorry for Nige for what he has achieved, I've always thought the move was positive and the correct one. Just seen Illingsworth's interview before yesterdays game: what an idiot, or did that really sum up the average saints fans thoughts? What did he say that makes him an idiot? Please explain or feel free to call Nick up on it on here http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/fb_mb.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 Im sure the approval of a fat, drunken student who goes to matches dressed at the honey monster is of the upmost importance to him. And the criticism of an over-confident, hypocritical keyboard warrior means so much to me. But no, it probably doesn't matter to him. I don't really care. It's not like he has an individual bond with every fan, but as individual fans we all have a bond (or lack of) with the manager. I'll refrain from chanting his name until he proves himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 And the criticism of an over-confident, hypocritical keyboard warrior means so much to me. But no, it probably doesn't matter to him. I don't really care. It's not like he has an individual bond with every fan, but as individual fans we all have a bond (or lack of) with the manager. I'll refrain from chanting his name until he proves himself. hasnt he done so already...? been brilliant up turn in performances when infact, hell was predicted when he came in...? how long did it take for you to shout nigels name..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 10 February, 2013 Share Posted 10 February, 2013 hasnt he done so already...? been brilliant up turn in performances when infact, hell was predicted when he came in...? how long did it take for you to shout nigels name..? You can't judge a manager on a couple of games, same as you can't judge Mayuka or Lee on a couple of games. Nigel proved himself in my view by taking us up to the Championship in the manner that he did. He made himself a legend (again, in my view) by taking us up to the Premier League and doing well this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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