Adkins still looking on the bright side (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Adkins still looking on the bright side
8:30am Monday 17th September 2012 in Sport
By Adam Leitch, Chief Sports Writer
Nigel Adkins
Nigel Adkins insists Saints have to keep their positivity and belief despite a 6-1 beating at Arsenal making it four games without a Premier League point.
Saints have had a tough start to the season but a heavy defeat at the Emirates Stadium has just piled on the pressure ahead of hosting Aston Villa at St Mary’s.
“I’ve had a conversation with the players in the dressing room and the reality was what many of you journalists already highlighted – it was quite a challenging start to the campaign,” reflected Adkins.
“It has proved that way in respect of the results but we believe we have got a good group of players who play football in the right manner, we have scored yet again so we know we can score and as a unit we have got to make sure we become more resilient in our defending.
“We have played against the three best teams in the division and it just highlights that you will get punished.”
He added: “I think we’ve got belief we can play in this division.
“Obviously this scoreline is not ideal but I think if you know me I’m a very positive person, a very positive character and we will analyse this game and will quickly move on from it.
“We have learnt a lot about everybody because when your backs are up against the wall you do find out about people.
“I must say I thought James Ward-Prowse was outstanding.
“At 17-years-old to keep playing, to keep getting on the ball and wanting to pass it was really really promising.”
Adkins admits there will be major pressure on his players to get a first win since their return to the Premier League at the weekend but is optimistic.
“Of course it does (add pressure) and we are not going to hide away from that, that’s what football is,” said Adkins.
“But what we will do is keep our positivity and we have stability at Southampton . We believe in what we do, how we play and we have demonstrated we can score goals.
“We have good football players and we will work very hard for each other and next week I’m sure St Mary’s will be bouncing because the supporters are with us on the journey we are on.”
Comments(59)
costa gaz
says...
8:49am Mon 17 Sep 12
right now I feel so pessmistic I don't even have a glass.
ps Nige Craig Gordon is still a free agent I think.
See You When The Fog Clears
says...
8:55am Mon 17 Sep 12
Me, I'm Captain Optimist of The Itchen Stand.... COYR
St.Yorkie
says...
9:03am Mon 17 Sep 12
For some The Premiership is a step too far. Let's not point them out for our problems, let's just get behind the team and the Manager.
Some of you lot have such short memories. Rememeber the Dutch duo? I'd rather have Nigel in my corner every week for the next 20-years, than another period of 20-Managers in the same time!
We have some quality players now joining the squad that will need a bit of time to bed in. A week of full training with the whole squad including Cork and Lee, plus Ramirez and Yoshida - and then let's start to make comment on our status.
It's Monday morning and Saturday's result is already forgotten. The squad will have to mentally adjust to not winning every week - just at home and sneak the odd win away.
It is by no way all doom and gloom as posted on these pages over the weekend. Just happy to have a team trying it's best at the highest level - something we didn't do last time we were here! We will not be the whipping boys for every team - and we will dish out some real hurt through the season. Personally I can't wait to put Liverpool in their place!!!
Come on Saints fans get behind the lads - they at least deserve their chance after the last two years of riding on the crest of a wave.
Long live the reign of Adkins!
STOP THE MOANING!!!
St Retford
says...
9:13am Mon 17 Sep 12
We got taken apart by the best passing side in the country who were at the top of their game. It happens. It happened. We move on.
Barcelona Saint
says...
9:16am Mon 17 Sep 12
St.Yorkie wrote:Hear hear
Come on now folks - most of the players were brought up in the lower divisions and it was a major step up to move to The Championship. For some The Premiership is a step too far. Let's not point them out for our problems, let's just get behind the team and the Manager. Some of you lot have such short memories. Rememeber the Dutch duo? I'd rather have Nigel in my corner every week for the next 20-years, than another period of 20-Managers in the same time! We have some quality players now joining the squad that will need a bit of time to bed in. A week of full training with the whole squad including Cork and Lee, plus Ramirez and Yoshida - and then let's start to make comment on our status. It's Monday morning and Saturday's result is already forgotten. The squad will have to mentally adjust to not winning every week - just at home and sneak the odd win away. It is by no way all doom and gloom as posted on these pages over the weekend. Just happy to have a team trying it's best at the highest level - something we didn't do last time we were here! We will not be the whipping boys for every team - and we will dish out some real hurt through the season. Personally I can't wait to put Liverpool in their place!!! Come on Saints fans get behind the lads - they at least deserve their chance after the last two years of riding on the crest of a wave. Long live the reign of Adkins! STOP THE MOANING!!!
Alicesdad
says...
9:17am Mon 17 Sep 12
The only way is up, and we will undoubtedly move in the direction soon.
The time to support your team is not just when they are doing well. The players will need a lift, and that is the role of the supporters.
We are foootball fans and Saints is our chosen club. It's time a lot more people acted like it.
St Retford
says...
9:19am Mon 17 Sep 12
See You When The Fog Clears wrote:I like the cut of your jib. Keep on keeping on.
The season can start now and all the lessons we have learnt in the last few weeks will be valuable.
Me, I'm Captain Optimist of The Itchen Stand.... COYR
Ferngully
says...
9:23am Mon 17 Sep 12
St Retford
says...
9:27am Mon 17 Sep 12
Ferngully wrote:Don't be such a spaztard. We'd all like to have signed Puyol and Vidic but we haven't and there's nothing anyone can do about it. The only thing we as fans can do to help is support the players we have and keep a spirit of positivity around the town.
We need a decent goalie and a decent defence, otherwise we are doomed
teamster
says...
9:27am Mon 17 Sep 12
Tirau Dan
says...
9:27am Mon 17 Sep 12
Still on a 59% win record with Saints.
Those losing faith and worrying should realise that the lads are playing a brand new fast paced fast passing game in a new system designed to take us up the prem. They are brand new to it, have add a few players to help it work and on the face of it it looks good.. As they get to grips with things and grow in confidence Saints will do really well.
Imagine for a moment that dissenters get there way and nigel got sacked in a few weeks.. who will we get that would honestly take us upward with the players we have.. you know what happens ,, the new guy comes in immediately blames the previous manager for the woes and wants a fortune spent in the next window. He gets his players and then when results don't come he says they need time to gel... meanwhile the hoof ball sets in again, fans hate it and start to boo at games...
We've been there and done that for years... Short of forking out for a huge budget overseas manager there is no credible point in change.
Please please please stick with Nigel and stay with the team.. I have this deep fantastic feeling Gaston Ramirez and the steadfast positivity of Nigel Adkins will ignite Saints to blast off and climb.
Good Luck Nigel and Saints..
Hey we are top of the U21 Premier League!!!
SaintnSinner
says...
9:32am Mon 17 Sep 12
Look on the bright side guys, Ramirez looked class for the second half and Yoshida looks solid. I see Corky played a full game for the U21s, so that's another plus for us. We're also playing good football and managing to score against the very top teams. When we tighten up at the back we'll be fine.
Fancy us to give Villa a thumping!
manosussex
says...
9:38am Mon 17 Sep 12
Ferngully wrote:Spot on,should have been sorted in the summer IMO.
We need a decent goalie and a decent defence, otherwise we are doomed
Walter K
says...
9:45am Mon 17 Sep 12
SO50 Saint
says...
9:46am Mon 17 Sep 12
SaintMark
says...
9:56am Mon 17 Sep 12
SaintnSinner wrote:What he said!
We'll be fine even with our shakey back-four and keeper as long we push further up the pitch and stop inviting teams onto us, especially teams like Arsenal.
Look on the bright side guys, Ramirez looked class for the second half and Yoshida looks solid. I see Corky played a full game for the U21s, so that's another plus for us. We're also playing good football and managing to score against the very top teams. When we tighten up at the back we'll be fine.
Fancy us to give Villa a thumping!
Cheapshot
says...
9:57am Mon 17 Sep 12
manosussex wrote:Oh bore off both of ya!
Ferngully wrote:Spot on,should have been sorted in the summer IMO.
We need a decent goalie and a decent defence, otherwise we are doomed
mbetts
says...
9:58am Mon 17 Sep 12
saintshorse101
says...
9:58am Mon 17 Sep 12
i wont be happy untill Adkins is sacked, along with all his staff, the NC should fall on his sword to allow the dark lord back he can the either appoint big mac or redkrapp or ted bates as manager, the new manager can the immediately spend countless millions on new players, yes we all know the transfer window is shut and we cant get loan players in but forget that the fa and prem league might not notice. remember if we dont do this we will be down by christmas and then its too late and you heard it here second!
aaaaaahhhhhhh thats better.
(they must be getting to me)
Block 34
says...
9:59am Mon 17 Sep 12
Lets have a good turnout for Villa & get behind the team... the only way is up!!!
SaintMark
says...
9:59am Mon 17 Sep 12
St Retford wrote:Spaztard! Haha.
Ferngully wrote:Don't be such a spaztard. We'd all like to have signed Puyol and Vidic but we haven't and there's nothing anyone can do about it. The only thing we as fans can do to help is support the players we have and keep a spirit of positivity around the town.
We need a decent goalie and a decent defence, otherwise we are doomed
SaintPC
says...
10:11am Mon 17 Sep 12
I believe that our season starts now, and having such tough opening fixtures will benefit us in the long run as we have been forced to play the best and raise our standards immediately.
Let's all relax a bit, stop worrying, enjoy the next 10 games and see where we are at Christmas. Nothing needs changing until then - certainly not the manager, I would welcome him staying all season as he has earned that chance.
This is the best time at the club for years, I am loving the Premier League even if we haven't won. I would rather have 0 points in the Prem than 10 points in league one.
Seedhouse the Unrepentant
says...
10:31am Mon 17 Sep 12
Sainty saint saint
says...
10:32am Mon 17 Sep 12
GHamilton
says...
10:35am Mon 17 Sep 12
tugboat
says...
10:37am Mon 17 Sep 12
He a bright fella and I reckon he can do it ,but he is on the steepest learning curve of all.
Just shouting pass the ball quicker when were 4-1 down didnt quite cut it for me.
I truly hope he comes good and has the ability to get the best out of the players,strachan had players raising their game to levels they didnt even recognise so it can be done.
The last thing we need is a change at the helm-Come on NA you can do this.
GHamilton
says...
10:38am Mon 17 Sep 12
Sainty saint saint wrote:GREAT POST!!!!!.........HA
By my reckoning we're only about three points off what we were expecting after four games - that's not bad!
HAHA!!
Dickosfc
says...
11:04am Mon 17 Sep 12
I’m sure this will be the main focal point for this week’s training and with the help of our new players being embedded this HAS to come good. I know one thing for sure, come Saturday I will be fully behind the boys and prey everyone else is!
wild rupert
says...
11:28am Mon 17 Sep 12
info@denisbundy.co.uk
says...
11:29am Mon 17 Sep 12
CB FRY LIVES
says...
11:44am Mon 17 Sep 12
TEBOURBA
says...
11:46am Mon 17 Sep 12
He has been badly let down by NC who clearly doesn't want to part with his money evidenced by his failure to sign players during the close season to fill the obvious weaknesses in goal and defence.
A shakey goalkeeper undermines the whole defence, a good goalkeeper is worth 10 points a season, so says LMcM who signed Shilton.
If things don't improve over the next 4 or 5 games I fear NA will be made the sacrificial lamb --- NC doesn't take prisoners --- and sacking NA could prove to be the worst day in Saints' history.
If NC is searching for the reasons Saints have made such a poor beginning he should start by looking in the mirror.
wild rupert
says...
11:55am Mon 17 Sep 12
TEBOURBA wrote:Agree with most of your post.What I can add is that I know 2 bids that were substantial never succeeded .But maybe naiveity at All levels including NC at premiership level has left us where we are.The scapegoat will probably be NA if what I've heard is true.
NA is a good coach, one of the best Saints have ever had, his record proves it. He has been badly let down by NC who clearly doesn't want to part with his money evidenced by his failure to sign players during the close season to fill the obvious weaknesses in goal and defence. A shakey goalkeeper undermines the whole defence, a good goalkeeper is worth 10 points a season, so says LMcM who signed Shilton. If things don't improve over the next 4 or 5 games I fear NA will be made the sacrificial lamb --- NC doesn't take prisoners --- and sacking NA could prove to be the worst day in Saints' history. If NC is searching for the reasons Saints have made such a poor beginning he should start by looking in the mirror.
manosussex
says...
11:57am Mon 17 Sep 12
manosussex wrote:Yep,we owe him a lot but he didn't bring in the right players for the prem and now we will suffer,roll on January
Ferngully wrote:Spot on,should have been sorted in the summer IMO.
We need a decent goalie and a decent defence, otherwise we are doomed
Cheapshot
says...
11:59am Mon 17 Sep 12
Redrobbo
says...
12:01pm Mon 17 Sep 12
We could have 4 or 5 points by now, but we have none, this is a tough division and we need to learn our lessons very quickly.
Walter K
says...
12:58pm Mon 17 Sep 12
You are joking aren't you?
NC Fan4Life
says...
1:44pm Mon 17 Sep 12
It's no good to getting at any of the players as it will only make their confidence worse, we all know that some are struggling to make the grade and some will not make it. We were trying for GK and a couple to defenders but did not get them, so we are where we are until January and have to get the best we can from what we have got.
So what do we do right now . . . ?
I hope NA gets it right from hear on in but the reality is that he is also struggling to get the tactics right, I think he has got it wrong in each game so far, especially defensively as conceeding 14 goals in 4 games and 0 from 12 points demonstrates.
We need to concentrate on keeping clean sheets urgenty in order to earn the right to play the attacking football that NA wants us to.
How long do we give him to get it right . . . ? Anything less than six points from the next three games ie 6 from first 21 will probably be relegation anyway.
How about appointing a top experienced ex manager/coach as assistant manager to help him ? As we can't bring in any players it seems we could bring someone in to improve the tactical and coaching side.
Anyone got any other positive but realistic ideas ?
Lets all get behind the team on Saturday as we fans do make a difference. Come on you Red & White pin stripes !
SaintnSinner
says...
1:49pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Sainty saint saint
says...
2:01pm Mon 17 Sep 12
TEBOURBA wrote:You tend to always slate NC, so I think we can safely assume you have an agenda, no?
NA is a good coach, one of the best Saints have ever had, his record proves it.
He has been badly let down by NC who clearly doesn't want to part with his money evidenced by his failure to sign players during the close season to fill the obvious weaknesses in goal and defence.
A shakey goalkeeper undermines the whole defence, a good goalkeeper is worth 10 points a season, so says LMcM who signed Shilton.
If things don't improve over the next 4 or 5 games I fear NA will be made the sacrificial lamb --- NC doesn't take prisoners --- and sacking NA could prove to be the worst day in Saints' history.
If NC is searching for the reasons Saints have made such a poor beginning he should start by looking in the mirror.
We spent 12 mill (or whatever it was) on Ramirez so NC was hardly being tight with the cash was he?
All I'm saying is if you want to slate NC at least try to cover your bias by picking sometihng that he can be shown to have done wrong - being tight isn't really right is it?
I agree that we didn't address some problem areas (I won't be specific in case I get jumped on again), but I don't know if it's because of a frugel chairman...
TEBOURBA
says...
2:05pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Losing NA would be a catastrophe
and could set the Club on a downward spiral of manager after manager like that experienced under Lowe.
Posters here always accuse me of harking back to the past, it was over 30 years ago, but where there is a will there is a way, as LMcM proved when he signed Keegan, for all you youngsters, it was the equivalent of Saints signing Ronaldo or Messi today.
The players that slipped through our hands in the transfer window obviously considered their terms and prospects were better elsewhere.
Only NC could have come up with the money needed, he didn't and he failed NA.
Remember the late, lamented Marcus was the money earner, driving force and brains in rescuing Saints, NC was merely his employee.
As wild rupert accurately commented Saints management isn't up to Premiership standard and for that, like all companies experiencing difficulties, the Chairman must take ultimate responsibility.
Bet you NC won't!!
For the benefit of Cheapshot Ramirez looked a class act but what is the point of having a wizard in midfield if you have numpties in goal and in defence?
See You When The Fog Clears
says...
2:31pm Mon 17 Sep 12
St Retford wrote:I will do and shall carry on shouting until the Saints Come Marching Home.... We are in the Premiership, Enjoy, Support and above all we belong here so never give anyone a reason to doubt us...
See You When The Fog Clears wrote: The season can start now and all the lessons we have learnt in the last few weeks will be valuable. Me, I'm Captain Optimist of The Itchen Stand.... COYRI like the cut of your jib. Keep on keeping on.
Walter K
says...
2:53pm Mon 17 Sep 12
truelysaints
says...
3:50pm Mon 17 Sep 12
St.Yorkie wrote:"Come on now folks - most of the players were brought up in the lower divisions and it was a major step up to move to the Championship".
Come on now folks - most of the players were brought up in the lower divisions and it was a major step up to move to The Championship.
For some The Premiership is a step too far. Let's not point them out for our problems, let's just get behind the team and the Manager.
Some of you lot have such short memories. Rememeber the Dutch duo? I'd rather have Nigel in my corner every week for the next 20-years, than another period of 20-Managers in the same time!
We have some quality players now joining the squad that will need a bit of time to bed in. A week of full training with the whole squad including Cork and Lee, plus Ramirez and Yoshida - and then let's start to make comment on our status.
It's Monday morning and Saturday's result is already forgotten. The squad will have to mentally adjust to not winning every week - just at home and sneak the odd win away.
It is by no way all doom and gloom as posted on these pages over the weekend. Just happy to have a team trying it's best at the highest level - something we didn't do last time we were here! We will not be the whipping boys for every team - and we will dish out some real hurt through the season. Personally I can't wait to put Liverpool in their place!!!
Come on Saints fans get behind the lads - they at least deserve their chance after the last two years of riding on the crest of a wave.
Long live the reign of Adkins!
STOP THE MOANING!!!
The same can be said about West Ham and Reading.
Stroppy_gramps
says...
4:04pm Mon 17 Sep 12
The ONLY thing that we can do as fans is get into that stadium and give that team 110% support. outsing the away fans and keep on until the final whistle. Its not just about the team on the pitch, its about us as fans giving them as much postivity as we possibly can.
Behind the boss, behind the team, singing all the way.
saintbobby
says...
4:08pm Mon 17 Sep 12
I still think the most disappointing fact is that Saints did not sign someone like Michael Svensson who was such a rock in our defence. When he got injured that was it - bye, bye and relegation.
The Match of the Day's analysis of the game highlighted the woeful and naive defending against a passing side like Arsenal, who it has to be said looked brilliant and amazing. Saints suffered bad luck with 2 own goals, but they say you make your own luck, don't they. I said that for me a good season will be 17th and 42 points. Still do.
I agree with NA and others that Saints season begins with Aston Villa. Please, please lads do WIN this one. It will be wonderful for St. Mary's to see all the new signings and, at last, have something to cheer. Make it loud and deafening.
Also, didn't Sunderland and Stoke look good in their red and white stripes? Cheered me up a lot!!
JohnItaly
says...
6:24pm Mon 17 Sep 12
truelysaints wrote:......and Norwich & Swansea.
St.Yorkie wrote:"Come on now folks - most of the players were brought up in the lower divisions and it was a major step up to move to the Championship".
Come on now folks - most of the players were brought up in the lower divisions and it was a major step up to move to The Championship.
For some The Premiership is a step too far. Let's not point them out for our problems, let's just get behind the team and the Manager.
Some of you lot have such short memories. Rememeber the Dutch duo? I'd rather have Nigel in my corner every week for the next 20-years, than another period of 20-Managers in the same time!
We have some quality players now joining the squad that will need a bit of time to bed in. A week of full training with the whole squad including Cork and Lee, plus Ramirez and Yoshida - and then let's start to make comment on our status.
It's Monday morning and Saturday's result is already forgotten. The squad will have to mentally adjust to not winning every week - just at home and sneak the odd win away.
It is by no way all doom and gloom as posted on these pages over the weekend. Just happy to have a team trying it's best at the highest level - something we didn't do last time we were here! We will not be the whipping boys for every team - and we will dish out some real hurt through the season. Personally I can't wait to put Liverpool in their place!!!
Come on Saints fans get behind the lads - they at least deserve their chance after the last two years of riding on the crest of a wave.
Long live the reign of Adkins!
STOP THE MOANING!!!
The same can be said about West Ham and Reading.
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
7:12pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Mr. T
says...
7:13pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Velleity
says...
7:50pm Mon 17 Sep 12
It's not constructive or helpful in any way as we have no time machine available. All it is is a WHINE and surely deserves a death sentence.
Try a different sentence structure, namely, "What I suggest is....", or "Next transfer window we should...." each of which leads to healthy debate.
Velleity
says...
7:51pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Fatty x Ford Worker wrote:Less of the "we". You are not, and have never been, a Saints fan.
YES WE ARE A PREM TEAM SPENDING CHAMPIONSHIP MONEY WHAT DO YOU EXPECT!
mike saint
says...
7:55pm Mon 17 Sep 12
OSPREYSAINT
says...
8:28am Tue 18 Sep 12
TEBOURBA wrote:I normally automatically disagree with your opinions and as far as your NC comments, still do. You say NA is a good coach, but is he trying too hard with the confusing variations of the tactics he is using. Would it not be better if he went back to basics and looked at the strengths of the players that he has, and get the best out of them by playing them in the positions where they are at their strongest. All too often we see players in odd positions, Guly on the right wing, Rodriguez on the left and Lala in centre mid, none of which has worked. I think we are losing games through poor tactical decisions rather than not having the right players. No doubt we are learning from our mistakes and will turn things around once we have got the hang of it, but it won't happen overnight.
NA is a good coach, one of the best Saints have ever had, his record proves it.
He has been badly let down by NC who clearly doesn't want to part with his money evidenced by his failure to sign players during the close season to fill the obvious weaknesses in goal and defence.
A shakey goalkeeper undermines the whole defence, a good goalkeeper is worth 10 points a season, so says LMcM who signed Shilton.
If things don't improve over the next 4 or 5 games I fear NA will be made the sacrificial lamb --- NC doesn't take prisoners --- and sacking NA could prove to be the worst day in Saints' history.
If NC is searching for the reasons Saints have made such a poor beginning he should start by looking in the mirror.
OSPREYSAINT
says...
8:30am Tue 18 Sep 12
Velleity wrote:He could be on the turn!
Fatty x Ford Worker wrote:Less of the "we". You are not, and have never been, a Saints fan.
YES WE ARE A PREM TEAM SPENDING CHAMPIONSHIP MONEY WHAT DO YOU EXPECT!
randre
says...
1:28pm Tue 18 Sep 12
However, there were a few on there who were laughing at certain supporters on here for wanting Adkins sacked. They can't believe that some fans are calling for his head, for the first time in my life I agree with them.... Now that is a concern!!
randre
says...
1:39pm Tue 18 Sep 12
TEBOURBA wrote:It was actually Nicola Cortese who presented the opportunity of buying Southampton to Markus Liebherr. He presented a plan to Markus and the deal was done, with a plan layed out by both men.
Walter K --- I wish I was joking but two promotions in consecutive seasons is a great achievement by any standard, not even the great Ted Bates or LMcM achieved that.
Losing NA would be a catastrophe
and could set the Club on a downward spiral of manager after manager like that experienced under Lowe.
Posters here always accuse me of harking back to the past, it was over 30 years ago, but where there is a will there is a way, as LMcM proved when he signed Keegan, for all you youngsters, it was the equivalent of Saints signing Ronaldo or Messi today.
The players that slipped through our hands in the transfer window obviously considered their terms and prospects were better elsewhere.
Only NC could have come up with the money needed, he didn't and he failed NA.
Remember the late, lamented Marcus was the money earner, driving force and brains in rescuing Saints, NC was merely his employee.
As wild rupert accurately commented Saints management isn't up to Premiership standard and for that, like all companies experiencing difficulties, the Chairman must take ultimate responsibility.
Bet you NC won't!!
For the benefit of Cheapshot Ramirez looked a class act but what is the point of having a wizard in midfield if you have numpties in goal and in defence?
So I think we can safely say that whilst it never would have been possible without Markus, it possibly never would have happened without Nicola Cortese either.
TEBOURBA
says...
4:29pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Markus was the man that built up a world wide successful business empire.
Underlings can come up with as many ideas and plans as they like but it is the man with the money and nous to invest who is King.
If Saints fail to pick up a few points in their next 3 or 4 games NA will be sacked by NC, which will be a travesty.
It is NC who failed to invest in a decent goalkeeper and two good defenders in the close season.
If I and 1,000's of other supporters could see these weaknesses I'm sure NA did and must have advised NC accordingly.
But NC chose to hang on to his money, by Christmas it will be too late --- Saints will be down and out thanks to NC's tight fisted policy not NA's lack of ability.
randre
says...
10:23pm Tue 18 Sep 12
TEBOURBA wrote:How can spending circa 30 million pounds on transfers be tight fisted?
It was Markus who put his money where his mouth is.
Markus was the man that built up a world wide successful business empire.
Underlings can come up with as many ideas and plans as they like but it is the man with the money and nous to invest who is King.
If Saints fail to pick up a few points in their next 3 or 4 games NA will be sacked by NC, which will be a travesty.
It is NC who failed to invest in a decent goalkeeper and two good defenders in the close season.
If I and 1,000's of other supporters could see these weaknesses I'm sure NA did and must have advised NC accordingly.
But NC chose to hang on to his money, by Christmas it will be too late --- Saints will be down and out thanks to NC's tight fisted policy not NA's lack of ability.
Saints were in the top 10 spending clubs in Europe!
I think you may remember that NA said they had identified various players and among those were defenders and goalkeepers. It seems Saints were trying to negotiate for another left back and possibly another goalkeeper, but as we all know deals can fall through, they can for all clubs for whatever reason.
By the way, NC did invest in two good defenders, do you not think Clyne is a good right back? Do you not think Yoshida is a quality centre back? I saw enough of Yoshida during the summer to know he is a very useful player. I was delighted we got him, I thought there would be a lot of clubs looking at him after his performances.
Anyway, I am astounded that you call a chairman who has spent the knd of money we have on quality players "tight fisted".
I do agree with you that sacking NA would be a bad move and I would not be happy, I believe both NA & NC work well together, they have done well so far. With the two of them I feel confident for the future of our club. I am sure that Cortese will never be the kind of chairman to overspend and get the club into financial trouble.
I believe he is a sound chairman who will spend within our means and he knows when to walk away from a deal if it is not sensible for the club, that mindset will set us in good stead for the future.
JohnItaly says...
8:37am Mon 17 Sep 12