Nigel Adkins this week received perhaps the most undeserved firing since Roberto di Matteo, or Carlo Ancelloti, or Rafael Be...wrong month. All I can do is add to the chorus of outrage that football fans from all over England currently feel. What does one have to do right? He successfully dragged Southampton from League 1, to the Championship, and now they are a Premier League team, this a proud club who not long before Adkins appointment endured the shame of administration. Not only was Adkins at the center of one of English footballs finest stories of redemption, he also instilled with in his team a desire to play the game as it should be, on the ground, fast paced and with as many goals as possible. Some credit has to go to Alan Pardew of course for stabilising the team, and injecting some fresh talent, such as Jason Puncheon scorer of midweeks equalising goal at the Bridge.
Let us reflect on the start of the season, newly promoted Southampton faced both the Manchester clubs performing valiantly against United only for the genius of Robin van Persie to thwart them and Arsenal in their first 4 league games. Unsurprisingly the points tally after these games was perhaps more familiar to any British Eurovision fans - nil poi - however did anybody truly expect any different? Yet for all his hard work Adkins was still according to the tamest media reports headed for the exit. So less than 6 months on, Southampton sit in 15th place, looking as though they may yet be suited to life in top flight football having taken a point against two of the leagues "big boys" and all of a sudden, from nowhere Adkins is fired. This begs the question why? There exists no other business model where year on year success is rewarded with such callous disregard. Politicians probably would have felt disgusted by it such was the incredulity of the decision, if of course they knew anything about football or indeed where Southampton was located.
It seems to come back to the old adage that English managers just aren't fashionable. Like him or hate him it was a point best made by Sam Allardyce some years ago, he pointed out that if his name were pronounced with an accent his managerial situation would have been greatly elevated, and that seems a fair analysis. Ever since the initial success of managers such as Arsene Wenger almost every demagogue who runs a football club has been keen to bring in someone more continental. Perhaps the best example of this is Christian Gross, poor chap.
Nicola Cortese must have decided that Adkins was not fashionable enough, because seemingly his successor has little to boast in terms of achievement. Perhaps Mauricio Pochettino is a man who will better attract continental talent? Who knows? The fact is the English game has become a playground for people who either want to earn a quick buck or buy all the toys in the shop so none of the other kids can play with them. I suspect Cortes is an ideologue of the former rather than the later but both types can be as destructive as each over. The quick buck earners drain quality from the game and the rich kids tend ensure the playing fields are constructed without a bubble level leaving the rest firmly in the shadows. Cortese's handling of this matter has drawn the ire of the clubs fans, who in this day and age of the global armchair fan are increasingly overlooked. If it were my team I would suggest a general boycott to reverse the ludicrousness, though that is fantasy. Football has become more and more a theater than a sporting event, and Cortes has made himself the latest villain. Its a sad point that thus far the villains seem to bathing in triumph (not Aston Villa), and there is little hope that any decency will survive in the game.
A delighted Roman Abramovich lauds the work of Cortese with his famous billionaire exaggerated slow-clap.
Asides all this dire and angry bile, there was other breaking news today - chiefly that Theo Walcott the accomplished striker and all round complete forward (and not a turns in a decent performance every few games at best squad player for a big club) has committed himself to not winning any trophies for the foreseeable future. The saga that nobody really cared about, (except maybe Liverpool fans) has finally come to a dull conclusion. Arsenal the financially hardened almost Dickensian club stuck to their guns and made Theo sweat to the point where he had to accept a paltry £100,000 per week contract. Arsenal made it clear as far back as August that they would not be bullied or ransomed in to paying Walcott the £100,001 he demanded. Well I hope Theo has learned a valuable lesson, I suspect the rest of his average squad will do well to learn it. Staying with Arsenal AW has stated that having Diaby return to the first team squad is the equivalent of 10 signings and if he gets injured again which can't possibly happen then Arshavin may be utilized as a tough tackling holding midfielder for the remainder of the season.
Theo Walcott "top top quality?"
Lastly I implore anyone who is thinking of having a punt this weekend or as Ray Winstone would say "Have a bang on" to check out the tips on Next Bet - Jamie Ellis' weekly article is scarily accurate and guaranteed to provide a few giggles before kick off not to mention the fact that he's an all round nice guy. See link below.
Anyone looking for a stage managed belly laugh check out this exclusive talk sport interview with the man of the hour himself Josep Guardiola and why Germany was the right destination all along, at least Rafa will sleep somewhat easier now:
Having fulfilled my quota of bile, sycophancy and cynicism I bid you adieu. Now if you are not a football fan and you made it to this point then my sincerest thanks, and stay tuned for something that I categorically state will not be football related.
