S-Clarke

Surprised Wilkins went, when NC actually promised him a role at the club for life after Pardew was sacked.

I think NC is delusional if I'm honest. He has this genuine idea that we can challenge for the league and top 4 at this level. It's delusional and not healthy. I've got no problem with ambition, but I've got a problem with ambition that's completely off tangent with the size of club we are. I know we'll be getting the usual lot saying how it's possible etc. But it's not. We are Southampton, we are in 2013 and we will not be competing for the league or even champions league. If he wants that, he will need to put his little hand into his back pocket and pull out a billion pounds to spend on players inc. wages. That's the simple reality to it. If he does that, then fair play, but I doubt it.

Oh, totally. We'll be doing a Blackburn/Wolves/Bolton. We'll just turn into a **** NPC team again. Simple fact. This new bloke will be out quicker than you can say his name, and that's that. Obviously I'm praying that doesn't happen.

Still bloody embarrassed and so sad for Adkins. No one deserved to be treated like he did yesterday. Cortese is an absolute animal, but I'll still be going to the games and getting behind the 11 out there - that's all we can do that will make a difference. Let's make the most of what we've got, and go into this ''new start' (not that we needed one) with an open mind. Who knows what will happen. I'm not going to ever be fickle enough to forget Adkins once we start winning under this bloke though. I don't think I'll ever forget how NC treated him, shambolic.

One way or the other with this one, in my opinion. No middle ground. We'll either grow and do fantastically well, or get relegated adrift of the others. I'm hoping for the first one, obviously. This is now a time for the likes of Kelvin to show his worth in the backroom.

I respect other peoples opinions, but I don't understand this extreme level of opinion. This is still our football club, so for chirst sake don't wish it to fail. How we've treated Adkins is shambolic and embarrassing, but wishing the worst for the club isn't the way forward is it? Really? Heart over head moment going on here. Give it a few days.

Sod chants and protests, it won't do anything other than undermine the team and atmosphere. Cortese is a ****, we all know that, he probably knows that. He won't change. So no matter what we do or say won't make any difference. Save your effort and put it into supporting the 11 players out there. They will need it more than ever.

That's sad.

It was confirmed to solent via the club, they announced it earlier.

Exactly...

All backroom staff have left. Crosby, Wilkins and Stannard. He keeps referring to ''we'' in his interviews, again - not sure if that's just translation glitches, but I wonder if he already has his team with him.

Don't read anything into that, besides a lot is going to be lost in translation over the next few weeks. And at the end of the day, NA was always the same. Cards close to chest, don't reveal anything. I'd be very, very surprised if Forren was our only addition. In fact I'm now expecting a fair few, but I'm not sure where the money is coming from.

I think it's the wrong time to even be thinking about ''new starts'' - but, here we are. Who knows at the moment, we all know very little of the guy. He will need to hit the ground running. One things for sure, if we're relegated now then there will be hell to pay. He sounds promising though from what I've read, and people close to him in Spain can only speak highly of him which is a positive. Will be interesting to see what other additions we make this window as well, as this will define how good our 2nd half is.

He has a very simplistic view on the world of football transfers on the whole, so don't be surprised.

Tis' true. I think, as fans, we can't let the way Adkins was sacked cloud this appointment. Obviously, he needs to hit the ground running fairy quickly for this to be deemed an almost acceptable decision, but he looks to have decent attributes to him. Just not keen on his lack of English, and also the fact that the other backroom staff have been sacked as well. The players could well find themselves in a little bit of limbo, which is what worries me.

I doubt either, tbh. I'd imagine he was identified by the scouts after being presented by the management a list of attributes required in a CB.

cringeworthy.

Appreciate your input. He does, indeed, look a very food signing. Pleased that he's left footed as it fits in with the position we need to cover. Could work well with Jose.

Sometimes a change just freshens things up. I don't know the ins and outs of Espanyol, but I know that time and time again that one bad season doesn't make you a bad manager, and one bad season doesn't make you a bad player. You see it countless times. Player A is awful at Club A. Gets a move to Club B, and he's great again. Manager is **** at Club B, gets a move to Club A and turns it around. He's obviously shown promise in the past, but himself and the club drifted apart that season and the relationship soured. That's all I can gauge from it. I don't know a great deal about this guy if I'm honest.

It was odd hearing the poem he recited on Solent earlier on, then realising..we're not going to hear any of his inane ramblings anymore. Such a nice bloke, will be a big miss.

Yep. Makes more sense regarding that link now as well.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21084201 within this interesting BBC article.

Cortese wants sexy now that we're in the PL, and Adkins was just not sexy enough for him and he didn't feel he was ''sexy'' enough to attract the players he wanted. That's what I think anyway, incredibly harsh.

An interesting sub-plot for Southampton fans is the potential summer arrival of talented Espanyol midfielder Joan Verdu, a creative playmaker widely regarded as the Catalan club's best player. Verdu, 29, is out of contract at the end of the season and has not agreed a new deal, with the club struggling to find funds to pay him as they seek to reduce their debts. A host of clubs across Europe are known to be keen on securing his services for nothing in June. Considering his history with Pochettino, it's fairly safe to add Southampton to that list of suitors.

I don't agree with the decision, I think the way it's been done is horrific. I'm embarrased about it. But what good is protesting going to do? As you say, we can't change it. Cortese won't give a ****, he doesn't care - he's shown that time, and time again. Just support the club, support the players and try to accept the new bloke. We can let this change derail the club, or we can rally around it and try to salvage something. Protesting, in my opinion, will not salvage anything. It'll just make the entire situation worse.