Daily Archives: January 18, 2013

Southampton: The End of the Adkins Dynasty

  By O-Posts Team | January 18, 2013 - 20:36 | , , ,
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Adkins.... bizarrely relieved from his duties at Southampton.

When Nigel Adkins was appointed manager of Southampton on 12th September 2010, the general feeling amongst the Saints’ faithful was one of confusion. Just why had Alan Pardew, now at Newcastle, been sacked after winning the Football League Trophy at Wembley and guiding the club to a highly respectable seventh in League 1, after suffering a 10 point deduction for financial irregularities the previous season?

The club was in a good place. They had a strong squad, the financial backing of Swiss saviour, Markus Liebherr, and a manager who seemed to have all the requirements to guide the Saints back to the second tier of English football, and potentially on to the Premier League. Newcastle

Yet not even the most optimistic of Southampton fans would have guessed the impact that the Birkenhead born Adkins would have had on the club. Fast forward two years and the club was on the brink of claiming its first win back in the Premier League at home to Aston Villa. Adkins had led the club to back-to-back promotions to the top flight for the first time in their 127 year history.

It was a baptism of fire for Southampton after returning to the top flight for the first time since relegation under Harry Redknapp in 2004. Their first four fixtures included the reigning champions Manchester City, Manchester United the previous year’s runners-up and Arsenal. Despite holding leads against both the Manchester clubs, the Saints were pegged back late on and a 6-1 drubbing at The Emirates did nothing to help their cause.

Nigel Adkins’ men struggled to find their feet and with regular defensive errors being punished, pundits and fans alike feared the worst. After ten games and only one win, Southampton sat bottom of the Premier League. They had shipped 28 goals – a record high at that stage in the Premier League.

Southampton were not down and out just yet however. Having played eight of the top ten in their first ten games, the fixture list in the run-up to the Christmas period smiled on them. A draw at home to high-flying Swansea was followed by a vital 3-1 away win against fellow strugglers QPR – the team’s first away win of the season.

Wins at home against Newcastle and Reading sandwiched a home draw against in-form Norwich and a narrow loss at Anfield against Liverpool. A setback at home to Sunderland didn’t seem to have an effect on the team as the Saints went on to gain two draws away at Fulham on Boxing Day and at Stoke.

A New Year’s Day home draw against Arsenal was followed by a controversial win in the return match against Aston Villa. This win moved them out of the relegation zone and into 15th in the League. Since the 1-1 draw at home to Swansea, they had conceded just 9 goals in 10 games.

It was at the home of the European Champions, on a bitter Wednesday night in South-West London, where Adkins claimed what some say was his biggest scalp. Two fine Chelsea goals left the Saints trailing at half-time and there was a fear that Chelsea would run away with the game, just as they had done in their 5-1 FA Cup Third Round triumph over Southampton at St. Mary’s a week earlier.

Yet the introduction of talismanic striker Rickie Lambert in the 55th minute proved the catalyst for an unlikely comeback. Lambert’s header only three minutes after coming on was followed by a glorious volley 20 minutes later from Jason Puncheon. The Saints held on a to an invaluable point, which left them three points clear of the drop zone with a far superior goal difference to the teams around them.

The squad that Adkins had assembled was exciting. Filled with young talent from their own successful youth academy and from overseas was now challenging toe to toe with the established Premier League teams. They were solid at the back, physically strong, but technically gifted in midfield and lethal up front. Rickie Lambert led the club’s scoring charts and indeed was the top English scorer in the Premier League with 10 goals.

So no one could have predicted the news that filtered out of the club at 11:54 am on the 18th January 2013. It wasn’t only the decision to relieve Nigel Adkins of his managerial duties that angered many fans; it was the unceremonious way it was put on the club’s website. It was almost as if the club didn’t have a manager in the first place, let alone one who had guided the club to back-to-back promotions to the Premier League.

The announcement on the club’s website was entitled, ‘New First Team Manager Appointed’. It seemed only an afterthought that Adkins’ leaving the club was mentioned.

Ex-Argentinian international Mauricio Pochettino was now to take over the reins at Southampton. It was a case of déjà vu from Pardew’s sacking. The reaction to Pochettino’s appointment was once again one of confusion; just who is this relatively unproven Argentinean?

The 40 year old Argentine, Mauricio Pochettino, was coincidentally born in the same town as Southampton’s young goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga. He played primarily for Catalan-based club Espanyol before moving to France with PSG and Bordeux. He finished his career back at FC Barcelona’s inter-city rivals and, after winning the Copa Del Rey in 2006, decided to call time on his playing career.

He became Espanyol manager in January 2009, where his reputation for bringing young players through the club’s youth set-up drew him many admirers from clubs across Europe and at the top of La Liga. He left the club by mutual consent in November 2012, having expressed concerns over the club’s long term financial stability, with the club bottom of Spain’s Premier Division.

What remains to be seen is if Pochettino can conquer the language barrier between him and his squad. Fabio Capello struggled coming into English football with no knowledge of the language, but the new man has dismissed any dialect problems he may have and claims that football is a ‘universal language’.

So what next for Southampton Football Club? The fans can rest assured that Chairman Nicola Cortese will have done what he thinks is right for the club. Whether he is right or not, only time will tell. The decision to bring in Adkins turned out to be a masterstroke, but the decision to let him go has left many fans calling for Cortese’s head.

If the Saints do survive the drop this season, nobody should forget just what Adkins has done for the club. But just what has he done to deserve this? When he took over, Southampton were 22nd in League 1. Having guided them to back-to-back promotion, Adkins has become a fan favourite at the club, and has left as Southampton’s most successful manager in the past 100 years, with a win percentage of 54%.

However there have been murmurings of his sacking since Southampton’s poor start right back in September. With Nicola Cortese reportedly wanting a bigger name at the club, the writing has seemingly been on the wall for Adkins for months.

But with the club having only lost twice in the past 12 games, and with 18 points being gained in that period, the short term impact of this controversial decision may prove to be Southampton’s undoing as they seek to consolidate their position in the Barclays Premier League for the foreseeable future.

 

Written by Ben Higlett

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AFCON 2013 Team Focus: Ivory Coast

  By O-Posts Team | January 18, 2013 - 16:25 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Arguably, Ivory Coast are the best team in Africa, and they’ve been the best team in Africa for a long time. Didier Drogba’s age and impending retirement won’t change that with a variety of capable target men waiting in the wings.

They’re deep in midfield and on the wings, and while they’re not deep in defense, their starting back line is still one of the best on the continent. There’s no footballing reason to not pick them to win the Africa Cup of Nations.

It was a similar case last year, when Drogba missed a key penalty in the final against Zambia, who went on to lift the Cup. It was the case three years ago, when they were shockingly bounced out of the quarterfinals by Algeria.

Their 2008 loss to a Cameroon side led by Samuel Eto’o in his prime and their 2006 loss to Egypt in Egypt were more understandable, but they were probably the most talented side in those tournaments as well. It’s been nearly a decade since Ivory Coast weren’t one of the top sides on the continent.

And yet, the best generation of players their country has produced — and perhaps the best generation of players one African nation has ever produced — has failed to win a continental crown or advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup.

Not because of any obvious deficiency or lack of balance in their squad, or because of rumored locker room rifts, or because they’ve come up against bad matchups, but simply because they haven’t performed at their best for an entire tournament.

All of the key cogs from last season’s team have returned for another shot at the Africa Cup of Nations. Jean-Jacque Gosso and Kafoumba Coulibaly, a couple of defensive-minded role players from last year’s team, are the only contributors who haven’t returned.

Gervinho is possibly in the poorest form of his life, but Didier Ya Konan and Solomon Kalou are playing regularly for their clubs, while Arouna Kone, Wilfried Bony and Lacina Traore are in excellent form and give young manager Sabri Lamouchi options up top to compliment Didier Drogba.

Their midfield unmatched in athleticism and more balanced than any other team in the tournament. With Yaya Toure playing the most advanced role, in front of a double pivot of Didier Zokora and Cheik Tiote, the Ivory Coast should be able to dominate all of their opponents through the center.

While Les Elephants’ back line doesn’t quite boast the quality of their forward and attacking ranks, it’s still one of the best in Africa. While Sol Bomba has never performed at the highest level of the game, he’s been a solid defender for his country since 2008.

Kolo Toure is still one of the best defenders on the continent, but his lack of recent playing time at center back for Manchester City could be an issue for his team.

The fullback positions aren’t set, but the team has plenty of depth, and will probably start the tournament with Sahka Tiene and Emmanuel Eboue outside. The consistent, but not spectacular Boubacar Barry should remain in goal, though he’s been pushed recently by Daniel Yeboah.

 

Projected Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1)

GK Boubacar Barry, LB Siaka Tiene, CB Sol Bamba, CB Kolo Toure, RB Emmanuel Eboue, CM Cheick Tiote, CM Didier Zokora, LW Salomon Kalou, CAM Yaya Toure, RW Gervinho, ST Didier Drogba

 

Key Player: Yaya Toure

Drogba is still a star and will still be a key player for the Ivory Coast, but the striking talent behind him on the depth chart has risen to the level where his country is no longer entirely dependent on his goals.

They are, however, very dependent on the all-around game of Yaya Toure. He is by far the most versatile midfielder on the continent and will shoulder a lot of creative and defensive load through the center for his team.

 

Prediction: Champions

Once again, this is the best squad in Africa. It’s not particularly close. But it didn’t matter in last year’s final when an organized, well-meshed and motivated Zambia team played a spectacular match to capture the title in an upset. That team is still together, with the stars of last year’s campaign no longer inexperienced.

Hosts South Africa will have similar motivation, and like Zambia have plenty of solid under-the-radar talent. Ghana and Nigeria are always dangerous.

There are plenty of different ways that the Ivory Coast could potentially slip up, but they really shouldn’t. They’re the best team on the continent, by far, and if they do not win the tournament, it will be because they didn’t bring their best. Again.

 

Written by Aniefiok Okon

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Loic Remy to QPR: What can the Frenchman give to the Hoops?

  By O-Posts Team | January 18, 2013 - 15:14 | , , , , ,
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In one of this transfer window’s most bizarre and drawn out sagas, Loic Remy finally chose to join QPR after it appeared that he would be joining Newcastle.

Many analysts and past players, such as Newcastle and England legend Alan Shearer have criticised the player of being greedy and motivated only by money, but Remy is a QPR player now and what nearly happened should not be dwelled on. Let’s see what Remy can offer…

With respect to Newcastle and QPR I am a tad surprised that no bigger clubs joined the race to buy him. Remy’s impressive performances in the Champions League in both 2010-11 and 2011-12 twinned with his excellent goal scoring figure of 20 in 42 games last season in one of Europe’s most respected leagues made me consider him a potentially ideal signing for perhaps Arsenal, Liverpool and even my own side Chelsea.

For those who have never seen Remy in action, he is a tricky, skillful player with great movement. QPR in a sense already have that with Andrew Johnson, although with Johnson aged 31 now and out of favour, I do not anticipate seeing Johnson challenge Remy for the role of leading QPR’s attack.

My only slight concern for Remy is the fact he often appears at his most threatening when stretching defences, but that could be somewhat of a problem on Loftus Road’s tight pitch. In saying that, Remy is highly position-savvy and when he is in an around the box, he always poses a threat.

Another element of Remy’s well developed game that QPR could greatly benefit from is the Frenchman’s ability to create chances out of nothing; he is much like Luis Suarez in that sense.

During his time at Marseille, he was often found on the end of hopeful balls up to the lone striker with support from the Ayew brothers Andre and Jordan. Remy’s ability to switch positions between winger and centre forward almost effortlessly makes him one of Europe’s most difficult players for defenders to track. Such qualities make Remy an ideal player for QPR whose attacking play has been far too slow at times this season.

The signing of Remy for a club record fee of £8 million coincides with the expected departure of Djibril Cisse to Alain Perrin’s Al Gharafa side in Qatar. Many, including QPR’s fans, have been highly critical of Cisse’s apparent lack of effort and devotion to the cause of the relegation threatened side.

It appears Tony Fernandes and QPR boss Harry Redknapp have given up on Cisse and will instead focus on the more determined and energetic Remy meaning Adel Taarabt, Jamie Mackie, Junior Hoilett, Shaun Wright-Phillips and the rest of QPR’s more creative players will be able to look for more of a runner than a fox in the box type of striker. As this old method was not working, I believe QPR have made a positive decision in signing the Marseille forward.

Despite being one of the Premier League’s weakest if not the weakest if the table is anything to go by, QPR have flexed their financial muscle by taking Remy off Newcastle’s hands which is enough of a statement in its own right.

Having one of Europe’s most exciting strikers and possibly one of Europe’s brightest albeit controversial young defensive midfielders Yann M’Villa joining their ranks soon, QPR have the sort of squad which should not be anywhere near the relegation zone.

Plus with Harry Redknapp getting the Hoops more solid defensively and more dangerous on the counter attack (see the 1-0 win away to Chelsea a couple of weeks ago), suddenly things look slightly less bleak for the London club.

 

Written by Joshua Sodergren

Follow him on Twitter @chelsealad1365

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