Saints67 Posted 24 January, 2011 Share Posted 24 January, 2011 Rumoured to be joining the staff at Walsall.... http://www.web-fans.com/walsall/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1149%3Aformer-southampton-and-saddlers-manager-returns-to-help-out&catid=1%3Aas-it-happens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Chalet Posted 24 January, 2011 Share Posted 24 January, 2011 What a blast from the past. Sacked as manager because he only managed to get us mid-table. Won't forget the magical 4-2-4 in a hurry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 24 January, 2011 Share Posted 24 January, 2011 (edited) Sacking Nicholl and hiring Branfoot is a key contributing factor for Saints struggling for a large part of the last 20 years. Marked the end of managerial stability with the club only having three managers between 1955 and 1991 and 19 managers in 19 years since 1991. Edited 24 January, 2011 by Matthew Le God Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 24 January, 2011 Share Posted 24 January, 2011 Is this worth a thread? Doubtful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draino76 Posted 24 January, 2011 Share Posted 24 January, 2011 Is this worth a thread? Doubtful. The whole of the internet weighs less than a grain of salt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericb Posted 24 January, 2011 Share Posted 24 January, 2011 I still think Nicholl's teams probably played the best football of any Saints team i've ever seen (although i started going early mid eighties they're the one's i remember best due to age). Pretty incredible to think that we got rid of him for Branfoot for ****s sake, still has to be one of the most insane decisions we ever made and certainly the point at which the rot started for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smirking_Saint Posted 24 January, 2011 Share Posted 24 January, 2011 The whole of the internet weighs less than a grain of salt. Servers are pretty f*cking heavy TBF But very philisophical Draino i like it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Majestic Channon Posted 24 January, 2011 Share Posted 24 January, 2011 I still think Nicholl's teams probably played the best football of any Saints team i've ever seen (although i started going early mid eighties they're the one's i remember best due to age). Pretty incredible to think that we got rid of him for Branfoot for ****s sake, still has to be one of the most insane decisions we ever made and certainly the point at which the rot started for me. I was a fan of nicholl for the first 3 or 4 seasons but i felt we were on a downward spiral nearer the end, he's not gone on to manage anywhere else with success since so was probably the right decision.And he should never have sacked phsyco .Obviously branfoot was a disaster later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Warrior Posted 24 January, 2011 Share Posted 24 January, 2011 Always have and always will be a fan of Chris Nichol. A good footballer and a decent person as well. shame he was shafted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 24 January, 2011 Share Posted 24 January, 2011 Wasn't he manager of Walsall after he left us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Warrior Posted 24 January, 2011 Share Posted 24 January, 2011 Yes he was , I think he did port vale as well as Northern Ireland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Munster Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 I still think Nicholl's teams probably played the best football of any Saints team i've ever seen (although i started going early mid eighties they're the one's i remember best due to age). Pretty incredible to think that we got rid of him for Branfoot for ****s sake, still has to be one of the most insane decisions we ever made and certainly the point at which the rot started for me. This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stmusicdude Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 Is this worth a thread? Doubtful. well yes .. the fact you replied to it verified this! You do have the ability to skip posts .. rather than ***** coz someone starts a thread .. easy really Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St_Tel49 Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 The whole of the internet weighs less than a grain of salt. The hardware to run it on weighs a bit more than that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 Saints decline didnt start with sacking Nichol. He'd progressed as far as he could. Saints decline started with appointing Branfoot to replace him. An utterly insane decision. We have Askham to thank for that little gem, dont we ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimond Geezer Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 Saints decline didnt start with sacking Nichol. He'd progressed as far as he could. Saints decline started with appointing Branfoot to replace him. An utterly insane decision. We have Askham to thank for that little gem, dont we ? I agree with this. Good luck to CN. I had the pleasure of bumping into him a couple of times in Southampton, once in Debenhams & once outside the Mayflower, both times he was happy to spend time & chat about SFC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecuk268 Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 I think that he suffered by taking over from Lawrie Mac. He was a complete contrast - quiet, intelligent, uncomfortable in front of the media and probably a bit over-cautious. But he certainly produced some good footy - the 4-1 thrashing of Liverpool (when they were one of the top European teams) remains one of my best Saints memories. Even miserable King Kenny admitted it could have been 8-1. He also got the best out of Jimmy Case, in my opinion one of our best ever midfielders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huntingdon Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 Happy days on the road watching CN's Saints. He had the impossible job of replacing Lawrie and didn't have the same funds to sign marquee players. He brough Shearer, MLT and Rod Wallace through the ranks and had us playing cracking stuff. I was at Selhurst when we beat Charlton 4-2, and I particularly remember playing away to Villa in Jan 1990. We were 4th going into that match & Villa were 2nd. Saints fans packed the North Stand + we had some of the wings,amazing atmosphere. When Glenn Cockerill equalised in front of us I cut my lip after a mass bundle.......great memories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bender Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 Nicholl was sacked coz of lack of silverware Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericofarabia Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 Servers are pretty f*cking heavy TBF But very philisophical Draino i like it Not this one on Matchday freds - bloody lightweight FFS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint1977 Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 Saints decline didnt start with sacking Nichol. He'd progressed as far as he could. Saints decline started with appointing Branfoot to replace him. An utterly insane decision. We have Askham to thank for that little gem, dont we ? Askham - don't get me started there, this was just one of a long line of his disasterous decisions that led to League One. People talk about Lowe but at least Lowe did some decent things and had at least some commitment to the club, Askham's only contribution was to be messenger boy for Lawrie when signing Keegan. "Mr Burns" even allegedly showed up according to posters on here during administration to see if there were any last crumbs to be hoovered up by him and his vile cronies. Anyway, back to Chris Nicholl who had a tough task in following LM and arguably the best period in our history. He didn't have Lawrie's budget for any Shiltons or Keegans but brought through some exciting talent and when you watched us, you were always going to see goals at either end! We were still a decent cup team but I think Heysel knocking the stuffing out of a few clubs, us included, and when the ban was lifted, we had Askham at the helm after Woodford passed away - not really the forward thinking chief you want when Sky and the Premier League was around the corner! What stuffed Nicholl was a 6-2 hiding at Derby where the players let Chris down badly and were very unprofessional, Derby having finished bottom and been relegated for weeks. His contract was up for renewal and I remember the anticipation all too well before Branfoot was appointed - all sorts of names linked and we appoint him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stmusicdude Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 Saints decline didnt start with sacking Nichol. He'd progressed as far as he could. Saints decline started with appointing Branfoot to replace him. An utterly insane decision. We have Askham to thank for that little gem, dont we ? Spot on .. then the slowness to realise .. damage was then done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 Is this worth a thread? Doubtful. Surely a thread value will depend on how many people reply to it, and the course of time passes, and that is the idea of a forum? Anyway on CN, I started watching Saints regular when he was in charge and some of the attacking football was amazing, but still you move on I suppose.... stupid mistake getting rid of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabrone Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 I thought he was a great manager although I do remember him getting moaned at quite a lot at the time. His teams had goals all over the place but they shipped them at an equally high rate, great entertainment. I'd put him 3rd in my best Saints manager list, behind Lawrie and Ted Bates (WGS might have broken into the top 3 but he wasn't around long enough for me). Whatever he does I wish him the best of luck. One of the decent ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutch Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 I was at Selhurst when we beat Charlton 4-2, If you were down in South London anyway, why didn't you go and watch the Saints? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huntingdon Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 What are you talking about? Charlton didn't return to The Valley until 1992 We beat them 4-2 at Selhurst Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 4-2-4 And loved every minute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsland Red Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 Chris is a strong veterans tennis player these days and has just lost in the Over 55s atthe National Championships at Dudley (Yes it is him ) http://lta.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/player.aspx?id=D2CA1642-EDF7-45D7-858D-FFC7F7C7D484&player=266 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 Saints decline didnt start with sacking Nichol. He'd progressed as far as he could. Saints decline started with appointing Branfoot to replace him. An utterly insane decision. We have Askham to thank for that little gem, dont we ? We survived very well in the top league many years after Nicholl left. The rot set in after the appointment of Sturrock in 2004. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 25 January, 2011 Share Posted 25 January, 2011 Always have and always will be a fan of Chris Nichol. A good footballer and a decent person as well. shame he was shafted The Board sacked him one day and sold Rod Wallace to Leeds for £1 million the next we got a bad deal on both occasions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutch Posted 26 January, 2011 Share Posted 26 January, 2011 What are you talking about? Charlton didn't return to The Valley until 1992 We beat them 4-2 at Selhurst Sorry Huntingdon - senile moment. I only remembered Wimbledon at Selhurst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordswoodsaints Posted 26 January, 2011 Share Posted 26 January, 2011 I used to bump into him all the time walking his dog on the sports centre and he was a very nice bloke,always willing to talk football both when he was saints manager and after he left. Things went a bit wobbly for him towards the end of his saints managerial career but overall I think he did an excellent job.lawrie macs shoes were always going to be big ones to fill but I think he surprised a few people and held his own. His sacking was the start of the slippery slope,I think the family club image and the good old days ended when he was sacked IMO. I wish him luck wherever he ends up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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