Points not revenge motivate Adkins (From Daily Echo)
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Points not revenge motivate Adkins
9:10am Friday 7th December 2012 in Sport
Reading’s visit to Saints last season proved to be a defining fixture in the battle for the Championship title.
Tomorrow’s meeting at St Mary’s promises to be another pivotal encounter, but in an altogether different fight.
Eight months on from their promotion showdown, Saints and Reading are now scrapping away towards the foot of the Premier League table, both currently stuck in the relegation zone.
The uncomfortable transition from a perennial winner to a regular loser is one that many a team has to endure on arrival in England’s elite division.
Those who overcome it, and ultimately establish themselves as a stable top-flight side, often do so on the back of success against similarly-placed clubs.
Victory for either Saints or Reading tomorrow will, therefore, represent a hefty blow in this year’s fight for survival.
Last season, it was the Royals who landed the major punch, with their 3-1 win at St Mary’s effectively propelling them to the Championship title.
Revenge, however, is not a motivating factor for Saints manager Nigel Adkins.
“We’ve moved on and we’ve got where we want to be,” he said. “Our focus is on this now.”
Adkins points out that failure to win this weekend would not constitute “the end of the world” for his team.
While that is clear, Saints are in no position to be dropping points at home against teams around them.
By the time Christmas Day rolls round, Adkins’ side will have played ten of their 19 fixtures at St Mary’s.
The remaining nine games on their own turf will include seven of the current top ten. Liverpool, in 11th, are one of the other two clubs due to visit.
Failure to produce an impressive return of points from tomorrow’s contest against Reading and the subsequent home match against Sunderland in two weeks would be cause for some significant alarm.
Conversely, six points would give Saints a solid base to build from.
“We’re at home, you look to pick your points up there,” said Adkins. “That is massively important, especially against teams in and around you in the division.
“It is a game we’re looking to get the three points from. It is not the end of the world if we don’t, but we are very positive in our thinking, our attitude.
“We’re looking focused to make sure we get the performance right, which gives us the opportunity to pick up the three points.”
Comments(24)
scooter75
says...
9:50am Fri 7 Dec 12
SFCOLDBOY
says...
10:23am Fri 7 Dec 12
We have to to shout, cheer, sing our hearts out, not sit in the seats like embarassed dummies.
Some supporters have looked frightened that the neighbours might see them enjoying themselves on TV.
WE NEED EVERY ONE OF YOU!
Right, -- thats the crowd sorted!
Now SAINTS.
This can be the turning point in our season.
Excuses are not acceptable,
Quote----(we were a bit in awe of Liverpool)
------CR@P-----
Professional footballers.
This comment makes us a laughing stock!
What would the likes of Alan Ball,Terry Paine,Jimmy Case,to name but a few, think of that?
WE ARE SOUTHAMPTON PRIDE OF THE SOUTH (you know the rest)
The team that needs to turn up is the one that pulverised Newcastle with their best display since last November.
Nuf said!
Bring them on.
COYS.
seventh-junction
says...
10:38am Fri 7 Dec 12
damoose
says...
10:41am Fri 7 Dec 12
10:38am Fri 7 Dec 12
Nonce Alert @ 9.50am
----
Affirmative
damoose
says...
10:43am Fri 7 Dec 12
InCortesewetrust
says...
10:43am Fri 7 Dec 12
OSPREYSAINT
says...
10:53am Fri 7 Dec 12
scooter75 wrote:As opposed to your pathetic attempts which make everybody cringe.
Tangohead gives everyone a giggle with another comic statement...
Sammy2sheds
says...
10:58am Fri 7 Dec 12
That nonce alert is good stuff.
He is a nonce ffs
OSPREYSAINT
says...
10:58am Fri 7 Dec 12
One Heart....One Vision
says...
12:39pm Fri 7 Dec 12
Let's fill St Mary's and cheer out heroes onto Victory against the enemy.
Come On You Reds !!!!
St Badger
says...
1:08pm Fri 7 Dec 12
One Heart....One Vision wrote:seconded
Every game is a pivotal encounter.
Let's fill St Mary's and cheer out heroes onto Victory against the enemy.
Come On You Reds !!!!
is talking about football allowed on these forums or do I have to insult someone as well.
just asking as it seems most threads colapse into slanging matches
Saints n Winners
says...
1:18pm Fri 7 Dec 12
St Badger wrote:Thirded Badger. These threads use to be OK. Now you have to trawl through pages of slagging to get to the football chat. When did it all start to belly flop!
One Heart....One Vision wrote: Every game is a pivotal encounter. Let's fill St Mary's and cheer out heroes onto Victory against the enemy. Come On You Reds !!!!seconded is talking about football allowed on these forums or do I have to insult someone as well. just asking as it seems most threads colapse into slanging matches
Beer Monster
says...
1:59pm Fri 7 Dec 12
Saints n Winners wrote:Fourthed.
St Badger wrote:Thirded Badger. These threads use to be OK. Now you have to trawl through pages of slagging to get to the football chat. When did it all start to belly flop!
One Heart....One Vision wrote: Every game is a pivotal encounter. Let's fill St Mary's and cheer out heroes onto Victory against the enemy. Come On You Reds !!!!seconded is talking about football allowed on these forums or do I have to insult someone as well. just asking as it seems most threads colapse into slanging matches
The slide in rational posting coincided with Saints being successful and Pompey going down the pan...
COYR
St Badger
says...
2:18pm Fri 7 Dec 12
Beer Monster wrote:very true but as these threads prove stupidity is not exclusive to pompey fans
Saints n Winners wrote:Fourthed.
St Badger wrote:Thirded Badger. These threads use to be OK. Now you have to trawl through pages of slagging to get to the football chat. When did it all start to belly flop!
One Heart....One Vision wrote: Every game is a pivotal encounter. Let's fill St Mary's and cheer out heroes onto Victory against the enemy. Come On You Reds !!!!seconded is talking about football allowed on these forums or do I have to insult someone as well. just asking as it seems most threads colapse into slanging matches
The slide in rational posting coincided with Saints being successful and Pompey going down the pan...
COYR
Saints n Winners
says...
2:24pm Fri 7 Dec 12
St Badger wrote:sixthed!! Is that a word? The best strategy is perhaps to jump on the least used thread of the day, after the slagfest has been set in motion.
Beer Monster wrote:very true but as these threads prove stupidity is not exclusive to pompey fansSaints n Winners wrote:Fourthed. The slide in rational posting coincided with Saints being successful and Pompey going down the pan... COYRSt Badger wrote:Thirded Badger. These threads use to be OK. Now you have to trawl through pages of slagging to get to the football chat. When did it all start to belly flop!One Heart....One Vision wrote: Every game is a pivotal encounter. Let's fill St Mary's and cheer out heroes onto Victory against the enemy. Come On You Reds !!!!seconded is talking about football allowed on these forums or do I have to insult someone as well. just asking as it seems most threads colapse into slanging matches
SO50 Saint
says...
2:29pm Fri 7 Dec 12
CB FRY LIVES
says...
2:45pm Fri 7 Dec 12
COYR
Rising_Son
says...
3:27pm Fri 7 Dec 12
Saints n Winners wrote:So what happened to the football discussion you lot seemed to be creating for?
St Badger wrote:sixthed!! Is that a word? The best strategy is perhaps to jump on the least used thread of the day, after the slagfest has been set in motion.
Beer Monster wrote:very true but as these threads prove stupidity is not exclusive to pompey fansSaints n Winners wrote:Fourthed. The slide in rational posting coincided with Saints being successful and Pompey going down the pan... COYRSt Badger wrote:Thirded Badger. These threads use to be OK. Now you have to trawl through pages of slagging to get to the football chat. When did it all start to belly flop!One Heart....One Vision wrote: Every game is a pivotal encounter. Let's fill St Mary's and cheer out heroes onto Victory against the enemy. Come On You Reds !!!!seconded is talking about football allowed on these forums or do I have to insult someone as well. just asking as it seems most threads colapse into slanging matches
Rising_Son
says...
3:30pm Fri 7 Dec 12
St Badger
says...
4:05pm Fri 7 Dec 12
CB FRY LIVES wrote:I'm going for 3-1.
Lets go for the jugular and beat the royals in style.not only getting the 3 points but drastically improving our goal difference in a positive way and theirs in a negative manner.4-0 to THE SUPER SAINTS will be a nice little earner.
COYR
need to win anyway we can especially as we aren't playing next week.
They look quite a big and physical side so I hope we dont give them to many corners or free kicks near our box.
What do you think rising son or dont you do football?
Dundas20012002@yahoo.co.uk
says...
5:20pm Fri 7 Dec 12
warrens 76
says...
6:23pm Fri 7 Dec 12
7saint7
says...
7:48pm Fri 7 Dec 12
coyr
RedArmy1 says...
9:43am Fri 7 Dec 12
No-one cares about reading and their plastic fans ....
warm welcome and a pre-Christmas Drink with the reading fans ... I DON'T THINK SO !!!
WE ARE THE MIGHTY SOUTHAMPTON.
WE WILL BE OUT IN NUMBERS AT THE PUBS (near the ground) AND WE FIGHT FOR ALL 3 POINTS.
RED ARRRRRRRRRRRRMY.
FIGHT AND WIN. COYR.