Nicola Cortese Should Be Ashamed of Himself

afternoon roaders!


I a had transfer special on the go and was all ready to post. That was until last Friday lunchtime, when I walked into Old Street's very swanky No.1 Sports Bar in London town, for me to look up to the see the news on Sky that Nigel Adkins had been sacked. So whilst its fresh in my mind, I thought I'd share my thoughts...

Nigel Adkins was appointed as Saints boss on September 12, 2010, shortly after the silver fox, Alan Pardew had been sacked. Adkins left Scunthorpe Utd and signed a three year deal at St Marys. After the honeymoon period, Adkins side then struggled at home, but conversely thrived away from home. Having been appointed manager when Southampton were in League 1, Adkins achieved back to back promotions; From League 1 to the Championship and inside 2 seasons the Saints made the return to the top flight, after a seven year absence.


Their first season back has proved to be a struggle. But then when you look at the fixture list for them, it was always likely to be; playing Utd, City and Arsenal in the first four games, which already put a huge significance on the Wigan game at home, in only their second game. The Saints lost narrowly to a Robin van Persie hattrick, and played very well at the Etihad, again losing 3-2 after a rousing comeback. They then lost 6-1 to Arsenal away.

From that point on, the season began to turn around. The next matchday saw Southampton beat an in-form Villa side, 4-1, Rickie Lambert scoring a brace. Conversely, the next 5 fixtures saw even less of a return; the opening 5 games saw Southampton record 3 points from 15. The next 5 saw them record a solitary point, which saw away defeats to West Brom, West Ham and Everton. the single point coming at home to Fulham. But Nigel Adkin's side were beginning to come together.


In the next five games, 8 points from 15 were recorded. In the last 7 games, the Saints have lost just one game, but more importantly in the last 5 are unbeaten, including a high scoring draws against an eternally stubborn Stoke City and last Wednesday a shock comeback point versus the European champions at Stamford Bridge, with Everton visiting St Mary's this evening. The saint's form is good. That cannot be refuted.



Which is why the sacking of Adkins is baffling. Having survived the chop after a poor start, chopping the weak links of Jos Hooiveld and Danny Fox at the back, they have looked a far more solid outfit. Adkins has bought well, with the coup of Gaston Ramirez and Jay Rodriguez from Burnley. But more keenly the emergence of Luke Shaw at left back has been a real fillip for the team. Nicola Cortese Southampton's Chairman has - in my eyes - always been a staunch advocate of his man in charge.

Questions have been asked about his Ego being the prime reason for his sacking. Im not so sure. But to bring in Mauricio Pochettino (incidentally the man who ahem, fouled Michael Owen for England's penalty against Argentina in Japan/South Korea 2002), a man who has just been sacked for leaving Espanyol bottom of La Liga, with little managerial experience. It just doesn't add up. There has been talk of a fan mutiny and with David Moyes' men to entertain tonight, that may come sooner rather than later...