Saint Fan CaM

Care to state what he's achieved in relation to our supposed 5-year plan? Oh yes, that's right...he's got them into the nPC to the point where they just missed relegation back to L1 last season by a whisker. OK, so he's had some limited success, but he's hardly set the world alight and "superb" is not a term I would use. If it's really him, then yes he deserves our support...he'll get it from me. However I am underwhelmed and frankly, all things taken into account, I expect him to fail.

This is how I feel too - good post. However, I might point out that this is the Echo we're talking about - since when did they get any exclusive about incoming staff at SMS in the last few months? I find myself hoping that this is a mistake and Cortese is appointing someone who has seen more success than the mighty pinnacle of managing to just escape relegation from the nPC.

Mmm, it is not true to say that just because Adkins managed to get Scunny promoted on a shoestring, he will be able to do the same here with 'better' players. In fact I truly hacked-off seeing this myth bandied about on here. Fact of the matter is, a particular type of manager and managerial approach will suit a particular squad make-up. Saints squad is effectively nearly all Pardews boys selected to do a job for his approach, tactics and strategy. To look at it from another direction, Adkins success has come about by applying his 'way' with a completely different squad make-up. Why should it work with Saints squad? I'm not confident atall that it will. Then of course there's the question of motivating and galvanising support. Instant success will be expected I dare say.

Mmm, debatable? Perhaps they were collectively better than their sole parts due to a certain Mr Pardews influence. It's something that has quietly concerned me while everyone else is creaming themselves over a new manager like kiddies in a sweet shop - what if the new manager can't reproduce the same chemistry with this bunch of players? NC won't sanction too many new loanees, which means whoever comes in has to work with possibly damaged goods. And before anyone says - "nah, that can't happen", think back to the Prem and indeed then the CCC, because the scenario has happened several times over the last 10 years to incoming managers needed to obtain new players and the squad getting bloated with mediocrity. It could be a horrible case of deja vu on the horizon rather than fresh hope. Just a thought.

Can't believe NC would appoint Adkins - too low key.

OMG! With Brown at the De Vere and MON in a rented house in Winchester, you know what that means don't you?!?!? It's a MON/Brown dream-team appointment.

January?!?! If we're not in the top 6 by Xmas, it will be a new Manager choosing how to spend a January budget!

Shearer/Pearson double act. WOW.

Howe would not do anything to convince me of the clubs ambition. Adkins would be slightly better, but by no means would I be excited about the future TBH. We need some experience - Zola/Clarke would be very good indeed. MON better still of course.

Fonte demonstrates how hard he is by exhibiting how to trap a ball using just one's genitals. "It's taken years of practice and dedication" he later commented.

When Saints were nearing collapse last year, I bumped into MD with a bucket in his hands doing the rounds along the exec boxes...shook his hand and had a little chat. He's a top bloke who loves the Saints, even if he does talk out of his arse sometimes.

Way, way beyond even the most fantasising fantasy of a massive fantasist. Nice thought though.

I like the sound of that very much. With slight modification that the timing will be Weds. 8th @ 11.30pm. WOW!

Old news. Move on. Same applies to other thread. My opinion.

Old news. Move on. Same applies to other thread. My opinion.

I giggled.

Jeez, posts like this should be archived for future reference - absolutely one of the best I've seen here since day one. Well done fella - completely agree.

Not only that, but given a free-hand (i.e. no Lowe and Woodward circus) and the proper resources (i.e. the ones Burley had), he would have got us back into the Prem f'sure.

OK then. I'll agree with that. But I think it could be Pearce or now I think on it more, Shearer is starting to shape in my mind as the type of appointment that NC would go for if the interest was there from AS in the first place.

Simple - the club have quite clearly stated that it is recognised that managerial continuity is important. While it may not happen in practice (and who can predict these things?), the aim must surely be to attempt to get a manager that can provide as much continuity as possible. Otherwise, why plan for anything? Appoint a L1 Manager and I would wager he will deliver L1 to you. And before you cite someone like Pearson for Leceister, he had effectively come from the Prem at Newcastle and succeeded at Saints in CCC. There are just too many other better qualified candidates for Howe to be selected and his interview with Solent at the weekend would suggest he has already been told he's not made it to the short-list.

No you're not the only one. Howe may walk on water at Bournemouth, but here he would more than likely be a failure. Remember we're talking Bournemouth FFS! That's not to diss what he's achieved at L2-L1 level - it's great. But to take Saints through to the Prem (the key stated aim) would need a HUGE leap of faith from NC frankly and so I see him as an 'also ran'.

Yes. 10-20 years younger than some other Prem managers. HTH.

It's Stuart Pearce. Had enough of being Capello's boot boy (sic). WOW factor - young Englishman with good CV. Reed approval. Will be given approval to carry on certain England duties. You heard it here first.

I agree - Martin was close to being MotM for me yesterday. Calm and collected but decisive enough to blast the ball if necessary and he was winning a higher % of headers than Fonte. I also think Fonte likes playing with him - a good sign and they could develop into a very good 1st choice pairing.

I thought Connolly and Guly did OK too TBF.