Weston Saint

Glad it went well. Let's hope a full recovery with no after effects. We need him

It was a 10 minute meeting. I doubt there was any compromise.

It was not a mutual departure but a dismissal. Doubt and NDA involved.

This was not Cortese's fault. This was Pardews team playing Pardew's way and doing it poorly. Same narrow, clueless, static team in midfield and up front. One additional issue. You have a right footed brazilian central midfielder and you try to play him on the left all game. As for Lambert he is carrying too much weight and is unfit. That is because he is still carrying a groin injury and cannot get back the last seasons fitness Barnards sending off was correct. Two footed tackle showing studs. We need a Manager to come in and change the whole way we play. It is going to take time. With a few days at his disposal now let us see what Wilkins can do to turn this round on Saturday.

We were hoping to get Tyson from Notts Forest who were in for Matty Phillips. Seems that did not happen with Phillips going to Blackpool today. No idea who the other one was though.

Hampshire have confirmed they have loaned KP to Surrey for the rest of the season following an approach from ECB. Makes sense, we have no room for him, he needs to try to recover his England form and Surrey are in the 2nd division and cannot affect our relegation struggle.

Adams out for 5 but not before completing 1,000 championship runs for the season. On a separate note Derbyshire v Gloucester. Derby are 23/7 off 8 overs!!! James Franklin 6 for 10 of 4 overs

Lancs won the toss and put Hampshire in to bat Carberry, Adams, Hughes, McKenzie, Vince, Ervine, Bates, Cork, Wood, Tomlinson, Briggs. Woods making his Championship debut. Hughes first Championship game for Hampshire. Balcolme injured. 17/0 off 3.5 overs on what is usually a result wicket at Liverpool.

Lallana was not receiving Cortisone injections

The problem with comments on forums and in the media is that very few know the full picture. The late Marcus Liebherr and Nicola Cortese had a business plan. Everyone who was employed were expected to buy into that plan 100%. That meant all aspects not just ones they liked. Part of that was to stop internal politics. Work as a team each with his/her part to play in realising that plan within the timescales. A number of issues have clearly occurred. The timing of the departures was not great but perhaps there is no good time. Something happened to tip the balance. No one knows what other than the Liehberr family and Nicola Cortese. Coming after a 4-0 win it must have been a final straw. The media report some of the Staplewood staff resigned because they could not get on with the group now departed. Pardew was an old fashioned Manager. Is it possible he could not embrace modern technology? Was he side stepping those who were bought in to advance that modern approach? What went on in training? Did it focus on the right issues. Other than Lamberts free kicks a lot of out set plays last season and the start of this were poor, not all but too high a percentage for a progressive team. Did we teach movement? The only person who really passed and ran into new space was Connolly and Waigo. Connolly had injury issues but Waigo was used sparingly. What happened to the "Southampton way". Flowing football was restricted by the narrowness of our play. Part due to lack of pace but this was not addressed in the close season. When a player with reported pace and skill was signed (Guly) Pardew, as he did with Waigo, left him on the bench until it was too late to make an impact. OK we won 4-0 and were 2-0 up at half time but when Lallana went off injured surely that was the time to introduce him. Pardew is clearly his own man and like any Manager he has to have FULL authority on tactics, team and substitutes. No doubt about that but a pattern looked like developing again. Was that the final staw? If any employee of the club is not buying into the plan 100% Cortese and the Liehberr family will want them out. That is how they conduct business. That is why they are successful in the business world. That is what they want to bring to Southampton FC. Will they succeed? For the sake of all us fans let's hope so.

Dotty Otty you do not have to worry. I know where you are coming from. No offence taken by me

Because Corsacar Saint was receiving abuse just as Duncan Holly was a while back so I thought I would back him up. Reason I will not mention a name (may be wrong anyway but fits with what Corsacar was saying) is in my posting history. That is all.

I think the new Manager will still report direct to Cortese but Reed charged to find a replacement for Pardew. In fact I suspect this has already been going on.

Yes, I do not believe Cortese is looking for a Sporting Director (DoF), Les Reed is running most of the show behind the scenes. Will explain when I se you Tuesday week.

Forget about DoF. Les Reed does most of this already. Would expect him to be tasked with finding a new Manager.

Corsacar Saint may be onto something. I have had a name given to me but asked not to disclose. Like CS says, he is English. If it does not happen in the next day or so it could be just speculation but in any event I am going to stick to my previous promise not to put information I receive up on this site.

Whoever it is he has to have the following: Previous proven Managerial experience and tactically aware. Ambitious and hungry for success. 100% buy in to the Liehberr/Cortese dream Experience at lower league football with the qualities to grow with the job Able to work with different personalities and get the best out of individuals and the team collectively Managers who have been out of the job for a while lack hunger and ambition High profile Managers are not the answer in the lower leagues Past sacking or quitings need not apply! All in my opinion of course.

When Pardew was appointed by Cortese it was on his experience at Managing at the highest level but I feel Cortese then realised quite early on that whilst Pardew was a good Manager he did not demonstrate the qualities required to take us as far forward as first thought. Pardew is a good man and can be proud of his achievements at Southampton FC but he was never the man to take us all the way. He did not have the tactical nous or demonstrate the ability to take us to the higher level. That is of course only my opinion but one it seems shared by Cortese. Informed sources indicated to me that Pardew wanted out but was not prepared to just walk. His body language at interviews was telling. However he appeared a proud man and honest. He would have been giving the job 100% despite his reservations. We now have to hope Cortese listens to experienced football advisors and picks the right man for the job. It needs to be a man who has a good track record at lower level and shows ability to go all the way. We do not want a high profile Manager who has not proved himself at this level. He has to be someone who has the ability to get us promotion in this league and grow into the job as we reach higher levels. I would be looking at Eddie Howe of Bournemouth but with one big reservation. He did fine without money and with a limited player pool. How would he perform with Southampton’s wealth ant talent pool? Down the road at Brighton we have Gus Poyet. Another rising Managerial star but does he have the temperament to work with Cortese? We need to support Cortese at this time. We need to give him space. He holds the purse strings. He is the key to success or failure at Saints. If he goes the money will likely go with him. We will be sold and I would hate to see an owner with limited funds just trying to boost his ego running a football club. Cortese has an ego but it is ambition not wanting to be seen at the head of a football club with his toy. My best wishes to Pardew for the future. Some magical moments but likewise some real frustration at times. As for the strange timing I wonder how much that has to do with only putting on our new signing with a few minutes to go. Was that a final reminder to Cortese who picks the players and team on the pitch? Was it the final straw Cortese was waiting for? Who knows, we can only speculate.

I said I would not post knowledge I had but on this occassion to prevent speculation: Adam has been suffering a knee nuisance since pre season. When it did not settle before the season started he was referred to a specialist in London. No reason for the problem was apparent without surgery. He would have been out for about 4 weeks following if nothing found and an estimated 6 weeks if repair necessary. The Specialist recommendation to Adam and the club was to play and see what happened as it might clear itself. The Specialist said if he broke down he would have him in for a further diagnosis and possible surgery. Adam and the club acted on this advice. Let us see what develops. The club are not to blame for the timing. Pardew is not to blame for the timing. Adam is not to blame for the timing.

Agree. It is risky to keep playing with injections. Rather he was out for a while to get it right than him suffer a long term problem.

4-6 weeks is my guess.

If you knew him you would realise no one can lead Dave up the garden path.

At the moment..........they are not getting away with it

Just listening to Merrington on solent. He is purring about our play today. Great result. Hopefully this has kick started our season.

News: Away end is full - not the same in the home sections sadly.