SW11_Saint

Cheers guys - am following up all leads. Have also emailed the Echo journalist who did the recent interview wih him.

Any other leads welcome though of course!

Cheers SiW, will check that out...

I heard a rumour that Jim Steele had settled back in the area (possibly running a pub?). I need to get hold of him urgently on a personal matter. Can anyone tell me what pub he runs (or even where he drinks!), or, even better, if you have contact details could you PM me please. Cheers.

Good luck to him, I wish him all the best and Reading have got themselves a great manager. Clearly not wanting them to survive as it'll likely mean us dropping but I hope they run away with the Championship next season. I look forward to giving him a warm reception when he does return to SMS. Great manager and great bloke.

He thinks about it too much. When he doesn't have time to think (eg West Ham away) he naturally finishes. Needs to work hard on that part of his game, if he cracks it he'll be some player. Still, had his best game of the season IMHO on Sat so I won't quibble.

But it don't sing & dance, and it don't walk. And neither does Rickie.

Amazed it's taken us so long to offload him. Hopelessly out of his depth in the Prem. Good luck to him though, hopefully it will lead to a permanent move.

Nice compliment, zero points. He wouldn't have been so magnanimous if we'd have taken something.

Don't start a debate on this - you'll just get a load of idiots telling you how wearing a Liverpool kit "takes us to the next level"...

Quite simply brilliant Chris. You sum up my feelings far more eloquently than I was able to do. I commend every forum reader to read this blog.

Okay, so I have given myself 24 hours to calm down and to see if, in the cold light of day, I can understand Cortese's decision to sack Nigel Adkins. I still can't. Following the other typical reactions to news like this; shock, disbelief, bemusement, depression, I am just plain angry about it now. Very angry. Like 95%+ of Saints fans I think this a despicable act. And if the rumours, from fairly trustworthy sources, are true - that Cortese didn't even inform NA face to face, but let him find out from the media - then it is even worse. How pathetic and cowardly would that be? But would we really be surprised? Nigel Adkins did an amazing job for us. He didn't get everything right - this season especially he has made rookie mistakes without doubt - but he, like most of the players, was on something of a learning curve. But after back-to-back promotions we were still on a seemingly upward trend. Nigel is a man with infectious enthusiasm, a really positive personality and a great philosophy on football (and life for that matter). *To be treated in the way he has been is just despicable. It's the word that keeps Popping into my head. A Chelsea supporting friend of mine recently confided that most Chelsea fans aren't actually that dissatisfied with Benitez; they are actually unhappy with what Abramovich is doing, but won't criticise him as they are terrified he'll pull out of the club. Thus Rafa gets the brunt. What an awful predicament to be in? Terrified to criticise the actions of a super-rich egomaniac who makes decisions, seemingly on a whim. *I never want to be in that position, and feel no fear in letting Cortese know exactly what I think of this decision. *Roll *on Monday night. Of course our own egomaniac hasn't put a penny of his own money into the club, yet finds himself with absolute control and the backing of a billionaire family. *I actually don't doubt his motivation. I truly do think he believes he can make us into some sort of footballing super-power (though like most Saints fans, I am sceptical on this, and frankly am not sure that vision attracts me anyway). *What really depresses me is the total lack of emotional intelligence in this whole sorry episode. Missing the point of what Nigel has achieved, the way he's shaped a true 'band of brothers' in the squad, *the special bond that he has formed with the fans, the way he, above anyone else, has unified this club: 'together as one'. Few before him have come close to this level of unity and purpose. And for the blood, sweat and tears he's shed over the last two and a bit years, the double promotion, the evolving stabilisation in the top league, he gets... the chop. And not only the chop - the chop in the most unceremonial of fashions, and almost as insultingly, warrants just a short phrase in the press statement to announce his successor. Vulgar, crass and insulting. Cortese may have the power, and be the front man for the money, but neither gain you respect or dignity when you trample those around you underfoot. A good, honest and talented man has been stabbed in the back. Let's hope the new guy gets off to a flying start. He will need to Me Cortese or things may get a little tricky over the next few months. As for Nigel - there will be a queue of clubs vying for his services. I wish him nothing but the best. I'm pretty sure he'll end up having the last laugh, and good luck to him.

Absolutely disgusting. I am ashamed of what my club, sorry Nicola Cortese, has done today. Quite rightly every football fan in the country is now hoping we go down, and I don't blame them. We have sacked an inspirational, honest, hardworking young manager who has led us to successive promotions and has now found his feet in the Prem. A very lucky club is going to get him. Nigel - you are and always will be a Saints legend. Cortese, you should hang your head in shame. Absolutely gutted and disgusted.

Yeah, saw that, but that usually just ensures the selling club get a higher price. I can't see it happening either, but if I were Adkins that's what I'd be proposing to Cortese. It has to be worth an enquiry.

Goalkeeper issue - I'd go and test Spurs with a cheeky bid for Brad Friedel. Even if we have to pat slightly over the odds he'd be worth it - experienced, commanding and would marshall our defence.

Had a feeling it'd be a draw, Norwich are handy. 4 games unbeaten, 8 points out of 12. Still on an upward trend. COYS!

Sign a top class keeper in Jan. loan Kelvin out, Gazza as #2 and run him out in the FA Cup. Boruc? Who knows...

Respectfully clap him at the start. Respectfully clap him (and commiserate with him hopefully) after. Fully support NA and the team in between.

Not sure why we went for Boruc in the first place. Should have made a loan move for Cudicini or Given or someone. Was going to say Lloris, but he didn't have a good day yesterday...

You could bring in Pep Guardiola if you want. If he has to work with that back 4 he'll fail. With the exception of Clyne, they are just not good enough. Simple as. Keep Nigel and let him try to sort it in January.

I blame the kit...

A charismatic character no doubt, but I am not a fan of some of his antics - least of all the fascist salutes in Italy. He'll end up at West Ham one day.

Cheers.

Hopefully a new kit, and one that resembles Southampton rather than Liverpool.

Turned down QPR because they coudn't match his wages allegedly. If true, unlikely we will be able to. Basically I think he just doesn't want to leave Spurs.