Once upon a time, the PFA Awards were the undisputed measure of a season’s most valuable players. Voted for by the Professionals themselves, the response to their announcement was one of awed hush and consent – how could mere onlookers presume to know better than those involved in the rough and tumble of the actual sport? But the saccharin, sentimental and simply silly award of the 2009 Players’ Player award to Ryan Giggs changed all that. In one fell swoop, footballers were shown to be as susceptible to a bit of old fashioned press lobbying as the rest of us….
All posts tagged Southampton
The Monday Profile: Nigel Adkins
When former Scunthorpe United boss Nigel Adkins was confirmed as the new manager at then League 1 Southampton, eyebrows were raised amongst the St Mary’s faithful. Eighteen months later and Southampton are looking to win back-to-back promotions, with Adkins’ managerial record for the 2010-11 season bettered only by Sir Alex Ferguson. The statistics certainly suggest Adkins has what it takes to carry Southampton back to the Premier League – but is he the man to keep them there, asks Saints season ticket holder Nicky Borowiec? The former goalkeeper from Birkenhead started his playing career with Tranmere, making over 300 appearances…
The Thursday Preview: Coventry Vs Southampton
“There was no hope left. No one even shouted at the players.” Conversation over post-match drinks with a Coventry-supporting friend on Tuesday night was dominated by such sentiments. Toning down my personal delight at City’s 3-0 capitulation at Millwall, I murmured in sympathy. The draining away of hope among the Sky Blues in the Den’s North Stand was not dissimilar to the feeling elicited by Millwall’s own winless run in September. However, it was clear that my drinking partner’s words were not the usual melodramatic whinging of a fickle supporter. They hinted instead at a wider malaise at the club….
Which of Southampton’s players will step up?
Earlier this year, we analysed then Championship Queen’s Park Rangers in order to guess which of their stars might successfully negotiate the jump in standard once promotion was secured. Of course much of that thinking has been rendered moot by a squad overhaul that has left many of last year’s heroes either elsewhere or out of the team, although there is an argument that Alejandro Faurlin has confirmed our belief in his ability, that the jury is still deliberating on Adel Taarabt (well…a one man one at least) and that Sean Derry has defied the years and our lack of faith…
TTU Awards 2010/2011: Worst Kit
Regular readers of these pages will know that we embrace tradition. Identikit all seater stadia and the “it began in 1992″ mentality are not for us. As far as kits are concerned, West Bromwich Albion’s current neglect of the green and yellow stripes offends, and Manchester City should always sport Milanese style away from home.But there is a difference between respecting a trend built up over years and a specious attempt to cash in by attempting to exorcise Gods of a distant, long forgotten past. For all its aesthetically stylish, Teofilo Cubillas-evoking design, Southampton’s 125 year anniversary effort represents a marketing campaign and nothing…
James: Are the wealthy middle classes really the ones to back a football team...
Lanterne Rouge: Garath McCleary on signing for Reading today:
"It's amazing to be a...
Lloyd: On the Oxford / Reading thing, Lanterne, you write that "there is no c...
Ben: Yes, it does loom a bit, doesn't it? Moxey's comments on the ground re...
