FORMER Dell favourite Micky Adams believes strikers Stern John and Michael Mifsud hold the key to tomorrow's crucial clash between Saints and Coventry.
Adams, who interviewed for the Saints job following George Burley's departure for Scotland, managed both players during his two-year spell at Coventry, from 2005 to 2007.
Mifsud and John have each scored 16 times for their respective clubs this season, although the Coventry forward has not found the net since scoring in a 2-1 FA Cup win over Millwall on January 26.
In the league, he has not scored since a double strike in the 4-2 win at West Brom on December 11.
Since then, he has gone 18 league games without netting, and City have won just four of them.
"Michael Mifsud, who was my signing for Coventry, is the obvious threat for them," he said.
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"He's lacked goals recently, but he's someone Southampton will have to be very wary of.
"For Southampton, I would definitely say Stern.
"I had Stern at Coventry. He wasn't having a particularly good time when I came in, but I managed to get him to start scoring goals again.
"He can score goals at any level.
"I know he's got this laid back and languid style, but he will score you goals.
"Both will be looking to them as their main threats to come good on Saturday."
Adams, who made over 150 Saints appearances from 1989 to 1994, believes Saints will do enough to beat their fellow relegation battlers.
"Coventry's away record is not good," he said. "They are scraping results at home, so Southampton to possibly nick this one.
"Both clubs are obviously looking over their shoulders and it could be a very tense game for both teams and both sets of supporters.
"It's not an impossible task to get out of it and neither have dropped into the bottom three yet."
The former full back said he still has a lot of affection for Saints.
"My daughters are still based in Southampton and it's well documented that I was interviewed for the job, so it's a club close to my heart and I wish them well," he said.
Adams also backed the Daily Echo's Spirit of the Dell campaign.
"What an intimidating place at times," he recalled. "I have seen a lot of good quality international players not perform at the Dell.
"It's a really strange experience initially with the fans so close to you, but, once you were used to it, it was a definite plus.
"I have lots of fond memories of that ground."
Adams added he would like to see the club do more to encourage fans into St Mary's for the crucial run in and recreate that Dell atmosphere.
"It's difficult with these new stadia, but it's not impossible," he said.
"It would be a good idea to reduce the prices and get St Mary's full and rocking in these coming weeks."
Posted by: Dopey, st mary's on 12:11pm Fri 21 Mar 08
It would be a good idea to reduce the prices and get St Mary's full and rocking in these coming weeks.
Good idea, we need the place packed, definately help improve the atmosphere in the ground. Also what with it being the holidays people will be lookig for things to do. The club might make a lose on gate revenue, or possibly not, but if the place is packed and there's a good buzz around the place it can only help the team on the pitch.
It would be a good idea to reduce the prices and get St Mary's full and rocking in these coming weeks.
Good idea, we need the place packed, definately help improve the atmosphere in the ground. Also what with it being the holidays people will be lookig for things to do. The club might make a lose on gate revenue, or possibly not, but if the place is packed and there's a good buzz around the place it can only help the team on the pitch.
Posted by: saint steve, southampton on 12:49pm Fri 21 Mar 08
Lower the price of tickets for the remaining home games, fill the stadium & create an atmosphere, it's a no-brainer. The last game of last season there was a great atmosphere at St Marys & although that was partly due to there being a play off place at stake, I think staying up's just as important. COYR!
Lower the price of tickets for the remaining home games, fill the stadium & create an atmosphere, it's a no-brainer. The last game of last season there was a great atmosphere at St Marys & although that was partly due to there being a play off place at stake, I think staying up's just as important. COYR!
Posted by: Big Banana, 182-256 on 4:12pm Fri 21 Mar 08
I have mixed feeling - whilst I appreciate your motive and reasoning, and whilst I appreciate that a rocking stadium would be great, what about all those fans like me that forked out for a Season Ticket from the word go - do we warrant a rebate, or do we just suffer!?
I have mixed feeling - whilst I appreciate your motive and reasoning, and whilst I appreciate that a rocking stadium would be great, what about all those fans like me that forked out for a Season Ticket from the word go - do we warrant a rebate, or do we just suffer!?
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