david in sweden

It depends on your interpretation of the word " future " -does it , Clarkey? Changes are fast in the Prem. world. Many players are only good for a few seasons at this level and then they will be fighting for their places against the new crop of Shaw's and JWP's. I'd be surprised if we ANY of the old L1 brigade is still at SMS in 2 years time. Who can recall the names of the side we had when NA first took over in 2010? Admittedly, it might seem a million miles away to think of us winning a cup, or qualifying for Europe, but it doesn't seem so long ago when we were in the drop zone in L1. Times change. Assuming that we survive, and changes take place.... then we must accept that Cortese's dream shouldn't be likened to everyone else's nightmare. Favourite players come and go.....and (as we saw yesterday) so too - do managers. We may never know the real reason for Pardew's sudden exit, but the Nigel's departure (though sudden) was predictable and only feels worse because he was " a nice guy" that (almost) everyone admired. IF.... it had been Branfoot or Burley, most people would have been glad to see the back of them.

I would hope that the whole team would improve, but that's not going to happen. However, there is another style of play which the "Latin players" are used to, and Ramirez will understand that, I'm sure. Many of the present 25 squad are there to make up the numbers . If we say that the Chelsea start side + Lambert, Ramirez are the best we have, then some bench players aren't really worth their place. We have an injured Fonte, an unfit Lee and an absent Mayuka (what a surprise for him when he comes back), apart from which few others could expect to get a regular start in the Championship, let alone the Prem. I REALLY liked NA .....and his mannerisms, his openness and enthusiasm, but I'm not sure that he's the real thing for a " top-end " Prem. side (as per Cortese vision). Expect to see a sudden exit for some of the rest, and maybe more at the end of the season...and an influx of new faces - even if they can't all speak English perfectly.

of course, the new manager (can't spell his name yet) will have his own assistants, coaches etc...but unless they are a bit more proficient in English..... that translater is going to have a lot to do..

one unemployed man who will have no problem getting a new job...he'll be head-hunted and linked with a dozen clubs in the next month. His CV looks great....a young-ish manager who's had three promotions....and he will get even more sympathy efter his sudden departure. I suspect that he might well want to take a short break..... he deserves it. He has aged visibly in the last year or so, and now he needs to clear his head and get some perspective. Good luck Nigel. I'll be following you in your NEW club....whoever they are...(.just don't ever consider Pompey ..PLEASE !)

I've had few shocks in 53 years as a Saints fan, and today brought another. I am surprised (and saddened) not only by the dismissal, but also by the manner it which it appears to have taken place. I cannot say in stronger terms that, despite everything .....I AM A NIGEL ADKINS FAN....for what he's done and because I think... he is a nice guy....but what's done is done.....whatever else happens tomorrow is another day, and we must move on. I sincerely hope that our new manager is given a fair chance, and we shouldn't condemn the man because he's accepted the job he's been offered. I'm sure that most of us would say that ......it would have been an achievement for us to survive this season (even under NA) and so.... if we do so under the new manager, then nothing is lost. The big question that we are all puzzling is why this decision was taken ... Why replace the successful Nigel Adkins with an unknown, seemingly untried " foreign " manager? Of course he may have been "unknown " to 99% of Saints fans, but it seems he is held in very high esteem on the continent, (if the various reports now in the media are to be believed) and despite the sad exit from his former club seemed to have worked some sort of " footballing miracle " in a lowly club with few resources and no money....a problem he's hardly likely to endure at SMS. Without wishing to denegrate in any way NA's fantastic achievements, Nigel must have surpassed even his own wildest dreams when we were promoted to the Prem. considering he had a somewhat undistinguished career in the lower leagues and was, until 6 years ago, working as a physio in a small L1 club.. before he took his first managerial job. (No I'm nor being unjust-am I ?) His methodology and enthusiasm obviously work, but for how long?....and was he the best person to move us up to the top end of the Prem. and closer to Cortese's dream of Euro football ? On the last point? ...I have my doubts. To some people it may seem he had reached his own level of incompetence. (See the Peter Principle) ....and so what of the credentials of the new manager?....Argentine international defender with 30 caps and World Cup experience. Has played in a couple of European countries, and managed in Spain. On paper, he has international perspective and obviously Cortese's type of person...no-one can predict what will happen in the next few months, but many of this site will want to tell us, I'm sure..... I only hope that the players in the club will accept the facts (as we the fans have had to) and continue to show the professional attitude that we expect of them - despite everything. Of course, I want our club to continue to move forward and whilst I'm sure that Mr. Cortese had done what he feels is right for the club, those of us who have supported Saints in the past will forever have fond memories of Nigel Adkins' contribution to our club history to place alongside names like; Bates and Mc Menemy, Paine, Channon, Le Tissier ..and a long list of others. Meanwhile ...next game Everton.....COYR !!!!

if Pochettino has " known " about this move for sometime (as seems to be the case), then he's likely lined up a few targets who may start arriving next week......

you can be sure of that .....

well .......he wouldn't have to worry about trying to buy Matt Phillips - would he ?

.....and of course our £12 million signing, too.

now the intersting thing is : If NA and all the staff have gone already, how will he know who to pick for the Everton game...maybe put all the shirt numbers in a hat and draw out the first 11 ?...

....except that Brazilians speak Portuguese....not Spanish.

after 53 years as a fan ......words fail me. Surprise isn't even a word on the list ! I'm not going to start criticising before I see the result of the next 5 games, but I forsee an exit of some of our current regulars.....probably following Nigel to his * new club. There won't be a need for Ramirez's interpreter anymore but the rest of the English-speaking players will need one..and preferably someone who understands football tactics. STILL Shocked ´ * Nigel's new club will be .....??? Difficult to say as his new club haven't sacked their current manager yet, maybe we need a poll on that one MODS ? ......but be assured Nigel will certainly be in demand. After Wednesdays result, it might even be .......Chelsea ?

he was good in L1 ....he'll surely help Bournemouth to a play-off place.

Agreed. The problem was ...we found out too late......and let him put a Saints shirt on.

Frannie...comes into the " Norman Hunter " class of defender......hard but fair (well most of the time). ....but I think you've forgotten Mark Dennis and Terry Hurlock - haven't you +

yes I wrote ....teenage footballer... didn't I ? .......I think we got screw'd on that one.....

well of course, it could be Wham are getting their share of good luck now, but after their 4-1 win over Saints, Sam admitted they'd had some " easier fixtures " up until then....but looked anxious when he named their upcoming fixtures in the coming months......we will have to wait until May to see who finishes above who...unless Turkish has got his crystal ball back from the polishers yet.

if you mean the split bold text - in Turkish's quote ..? it's not that I'm arguing about OL's tenure at the club, but merely disagreeing with Turkish's assumption that a teenage footballer is able to make an accurate character assessment of the club's chairman......

feel rather uncertain about their future......they can buy almost any player they want, yet are going to release three of their best (Cole, Lampard and Terry). Something I think Abramhamovic may regret.... ...but I think the real problem will be WHO they will have as manager for the " new look" Chelsea side...... as they've already....had /sacked ....some of the best managers around.. who is left ?

.....which is exactly what I thought in the first place, having watched the video a dozen times ... but everyone was screaming " dive " at Jay Rod, who did well to come out of that incident without a broken leg .....and seemingly lost his balance in the process. He didn't claim a penalty ....and his facial expression and body language didn't say it was a dive.

many of the things that others have mentioned; Shaw......the "revived" Fonte (who looked tragic in August)... the "new-look" Puncheon....but in retrospect.... the recovery of some sort of form that coincided with the re-emeregnce of Jack Cork. An ever-present last season, he has become an integral part (or is perhaps)... the missing piece in the midfield set-up... I can't wait for him to score his first goal, he deserves one.

yes of course Chez, that's right, but I was reacting to the pedants who insist that any young players before 1998 weren't Academy products. It's just a name ... but as you mentioned, there was a comprehensive youth system in place, at schoolboy and youth level ....long before the name Academy began to be used. Whilst we currently refer to JWP and Luke Shaw as new Academy products. I heard (in interview) that Luke said he and Jamie W-P had played together since they were 8 years old..... Making it to / and through..entering the Academy is the final accolade, but like Theo W.and Gareth Bale they had established reputations long before entering the (official) Academy age group.