david in sweden

AGREED, but more than a few games have been lost this season because of individual mistakes. While that continues ....we're fighting an uphill battle.

I watched the Reading v.QPR game last week and I was astounded by two things; 1) How some of the bone-crushing tackles (from both sides) went by without SOMEONE being sent off.. 2) ..how two sides combined to produce a full-blooded cup tie atmosphere with 39 shots between them...and only manage one goal each. I really fear for our "lightweight" midfielder. Lallana will be kicked all over the place and then get booked for "faking".

If so ...I hope he's 13 stone .....6' 5" and built like a brick outhouse....and knows how to defend properly.

I think I'd amend that a bit by saying; I think some of the people responsible for buying players thought they were better than they are..as has been seen since August. Of course the players are to blame... .even though they may be " doing their best ". It's not good enough. Those ultimately responsible ..are the people responsible for acquiring players and misjudging those that we already have. I don't think that responsibility lies totally with Nigel Adkins. He can only utilise the players he has (been given).

He was (at that time) by taking a relegation-threatened side and hauling them up to mid-table. .But you maybe overlooking the fact that we don't have the same players NOW as we had then...... ....and quite frankly I doubt if any AVAILABLE manager could do much better than NA....given the squad we have at present.

I agree with that one at least.

Are you suggesting that he should have used subs? ...or? NA really is on a hiding to nothing from some people. Firstly if he uses subs. he did wrong. Now he 's wrong because he didn't ! WHO do YOU think he should have replaced ...????????? (given that Shaw had his home debut that some were screaming for ...and the lad got cramp. midway through the second half !)

Whilst most of us might agree with some of those comments; I think we might have missed a few things about Wham, last season. Whether they " deserved " it or not...(like Man.U.) they did win some games without really being the best side. Call it luck?. (I think) they won more games than we did, but drew too many important games, especially some at home. Had it not been for Jos Hooiveld's goals in our two games against them. 1-0 at SMS and 1-1 away.....they might have been 4 points better off than us, and it would have been Saints in the play-offs and not them. I don't know if we'd have made it.??? IMHO the main difference between our two sides is that they have several key players who are winning games for them. The type of "old heads " who can play alongside and help develop their younger players. Nolan is one such example, but the balance of their squad is not much better than ours...yet they are still winning. Luck ? ..or "easy" fixtures? We've been far too dependent on Rickie's outstanding performances, but he's now gone 6 games without scoring ..and doesn't it show ! Our problem has been (!) depending too much of the good performances of a side built in L1 and who performed excellently last season....but aren't really Prem. quality. We have good young talent but the problem is just that ....young! As Lawrie Mac. always said....you need a side with "old heads and young legs ". We've got the young legs......but not enough experience playing around them. AS for the question about who has the better side? .....take a look after New Year. If we're not within striking distance of Wham, then (like it or not), then they're better than Saints. No matter how well / badly you play its the result after 95 mins.that matters.

A very smart observation, but the actual fact that an incorrect / overlooked happening can affect the result can /and/ is corrected in many other sports by means of advanced techinacl equipment. Even the eventual introduction of goal-line cameras may give a more correct version of goaline incidents, it would not have be available for other controversial incidents (like yesterday). I watched the game on a stremaed link , saw the replays and wer should have had (at least) one penalty and they should have had a red card. IF I .and millions of others worldwide .can see this and a fourth official in front of a TV scanner can see whjat really happen why do we continue to allow the referee free rein to make it a circus on the pitch.

these three were handed the shi**y end of the stick at very short notice and at (that) time we had no other options. the clubs finances were in a critical state that I believe the short list of possible replacements actually included .. Norm.

in this situation we have to try all options. The lad didn't disgrace himself, but TBF. he didn't have much to do and the Swans front line looked pretty poor. It ws right to sub.him the pace of Prem.football can't be compared with U18 football.

Cortese spent nearly three weeks back and forth to Italy trying to finalise the Ramirez deal... and took the cheque book with him. I'd love to have seen Adkins' "wish-list " because it must have been ignored totally.

memories, memories......... Back 50 years to season 1962-63. Having started the season with only 2 wins in the first 10 games (Um.. that sounds familiar..) we struggled up to 16th through the worst winter in 15 years, and started winning... FA Cup matches instead of league games until we came to the 6th round. We first drew 1-1 with Notts.Forest (a top side First Div. side in those days) at the City Ground and got a replay at the Dell on April 3rd 1963...and a walk-up crowd just short of 30,000 on a night to remember, because Forest were sublime against lowly Saints and we were already 0-3 down ...with only 16 minutes to go. The fight back began with a goal from tough Liverpool-born CF George Kirby, then came a second when Kirby put the ball...and the Forest goalie ..into the back of the net, and the equalising third a few minutes from time. FT 3-3 ...and into EXTRA TIME....the Forest defence struggled to keep out Saints all-out attacks with their goalie making a string of brilliant saves to keep them in the tie . 3-3 AET. the atmosphere that night was well-captured in the report from the legendary Hampshire journalist John Arlott, with these words in his column the following day. " .the crowd-voice went on and on, in an atmosphere at once warm and electric; one of those emotional moments which sport, unpredictably and rarely, produces; which cannot be controlled, nor once shared, forgotten." A week later the 2nd replay took place..at neutral White Hart Lane, and although the official crowd was over 42,000 .....there were surely even more outside the ground who couldn't get in. Saints started...where they left off and totally decimated their opponents and ran out 5-0 winners. (Sadly I wasn't there for that game, but will forever recall the 3-3 game the previous week). .

I wonder which is considered worse......being bottom of the Premier League, or bottom of L1?

I watched my first game in 1959 ..(not a record I know) , but I was born in So'ton.... and only ever supported the Saints. I can't find the words to say anything more meaningful.

I don't think any reasonable person would shout you down, and much of what you wrote is generally agreed, .........but Dodd (example) whilst being a good defender himself ..isn't managing a team (U18) that faces Prem. strikers every game....and I don't believe that you can throw in people here and there just because they once had a good career themselves. I'm sure that MLT has a better record / knowledge of how to take penalties and free kicks ...but like Dodd... not everyone has his in-born skill. Nigel Adkins had been a VERY successful manager... until August of this year....I believe he is a great motivator - even in these dark times - but many of the players he's working with now, (whilst being good in the last couple of years)... have really found their level ...and it isn't the Premier League. We must soldier on and get some top class defenders in January ..perhaps not so young ...or world class.....but tall, tough S.O.Bs who can stop strikers properly before they do the damage. and EVEN IMHO ..yet another goalkeeper.. preferably the best we can find. Those we have have tried their utmost....but none of them has distinguished themself behind some poor defenders.

Sorry Nigel, but it seems that some people have condemned you after only 25% of the games played....but forget about all those clubs at the top end of the Prem. who beat us. They say were s**t anyway. I hate to see you go. There is surely a long list of clubs (with more patient fans) who will greet you with open arms - and only waiting for you to show up with the P45 in your hand. Thanks for your enthusiasm and good humour. Wherever you go to... will become my second team. Nevertheless, thanks for the best two consecutive seasons I can remember in my 50 years as a Saints fan.

the possibilities are endless. Maybe.. we should volunteer to go down to L2....or the Conferrence and entertain our fans by fighting our way back up three divisions ..like Rangers are doing in Scotland ..? Do you think we might get 31,000 to watch us play Salisbury ..... .or Eastleigh? Perhaps not ?

I'm a bit tired, but I cannot believe that I've bothered to read this so far....surely this is a thread we should be seeing after our home game with Chelsea.......or ?

TURKISH!...tell me that's not a serious comment..... .please

yeah we lost 0-2 .. was it just coincidence that they are now 5th..when they were near relegation two / three years ago. but when we scored two goals against Man.City AND Man Utd.......they had players who cost almost as much as our entire team.

positives from last night's game ?....... er .........um..........er......positives ? ......er.....um...... Er......what was the question again ?

.....Steve Davis wasn't at his best either. Skill aside, the main problem with our midfield is not the lack of quality.... but their lack of muscle. I'm excluding Ramirez from this comment as he played like a man fresh back from injury, but we won most of our free-kicks..for fouls on Adam Lallana.. who was bowled over like a man in a hurricane. Having watched the QPR v. Reading game on Sunday, I was shocked by the ferocity of some of the tackling...mostly by sturdy 6 foot heavyweights. I dread to think how we will handle them.

I think you clearly pinned your colours to the mast, TDD. However, we are unable to make the desperate changes (above)....until January. For me the problem is not the manager, who has guided this lot for the last 2 years, but the players themselves. You can beat them with a whip, or scream at them, but it's not going to make much difference (even for a new manager) who tries an alternative method - if they aren't up to it. Prem. players aren't just born... they need the right coaching - and clearly no-one at the club knew what was required. as for the worst managers going to the wire....thats a bit premature as that's still 28 games away..........