Southampton FC - Official Thread.

Nigel Adkins says that this weekend's opponents are the level Saints aspire to be.

The manager has lauded the achievements of Manchester United, and cannot wait for his players to prove themselves against a team with the mentality he is trying to instil at St. Mary's.

"It's great for our young players and for the football club," he told Saints Player. "It's great for our players to pit themselves against the best and see the level that they have got to get to.

"If you watch how hard Manchester United work, how good they have to be in possession - we have to strive to get to their level of consistency day in day out in training, and week in week out in our performances on the pitch.

"We should have 32,000 fans here on Saturday, we are live on the telly, we want to give a good account of ourselves and we are striving to go and play. The players all want to be involved in it, some of them will be disappointed, but likewise they all understand what we are trying to achieve this season because we have done it before, so it won't be a shock when I change the players around a bit.

"It's for the football club this weekend. We should all have a smile on our faces come the final whistle, regardless of the score. The players have to come off the pitch knowing that they have done the best that they can do as individuals and as a team. If we do that then we give ourselves an opportunity to win the game because it will be a game that either team can go and win."

The magic of the FA Cup is a well worn expression, but as in any cup competition the performance on the day can make all the difference.

"Course you can win, it's been proved in the FA Cup that on your day, anyone can beat anyone. On paper Man Utd should beat Southampton, a Premier League team should beat a League One club. Blackpool, being a Premier League club should beat Southampton, but Southampton convincingly won that game. Now obviously we have a different animal in Manchester United, who have been very successful this season in the league campaign.

"They lost in the Carling Cup to West Ham and they are due another defeat at some stage, so why can't it be us this weekend?

"We did ever so well against Blackpool. It's a big blow that Lallana isn't going to be fit, but the good news is that he isn't going to be out for too much longer. He is a special player for this football club, he's a gem of a player so that is good news for the fans in terms of the important thing, which is the league campaign.

"We have a massive game on Tuesday which is against Exeter, that's the interesting one because I have one eye on Tuesday, but there will be 32,000 fans here on Saturday who will want to see us giving Manchester United a good run for their money. But we need to give ourselves every opportunity to win this division.

"Peter Rodrigues and Hughie Fisher brought the Cup down to the training ground this morning," Adkins added.

"It was nice to talk to Peter, as I have never met him before - he was the captain of our football club who lifted the Cup in '76 which is fantastic. He is in the history of our football club so it was great to meet him and Hughie this morning.

"We've drawn Manchester United in the Cup, how many people have been able to say that they were there at Wembley on that day, they have passed the experience down to their children, isn't it fantastic to be able to talk about a special occasion like that? That's what the beauty of the FA Cup is all about, it brings special memories to people in their lives and we have another special day coming up at the weekend in what I hope will be in front of a full house.

"It will be a great atmosphere. It's about the performance for us though, can we get ourselves through to the next round, and if we can get that magnificent atmosphere round the stadium, that will harbour the vision of where we are wanting to go to, with a full stadium at St Mary's on a regular basis."

Nigel Adkins took many plus points from pushing the Premier League leaders all the way at St. Mary's.

The manager felt that his players did what was asked of them, and praised the way that they went about their task.

"It was a good game of football," he told Saints Player.

"I wanted us to play football, we changed our shape again and I wanted to use this as a chance to work through that scenario and take the game to Manchester United.

"We tried to pass the ball. I wanted us to pass it and move it.

"We worked on little things like the corner with Dan Harding after the backheel from Chamberlain, it went just past the post and it was oohs and aahs.

"There's still things we can keep working on, keep improving on, taking the positives from this game."

Having fended off Sir Alex Ferguson's side for the first half, Saints gave themselves the perfect foothold in the match with a goal on the stroke of half time, and Adkins said he couldn't have asked for anymore at the time.

"It was great we went in 1-0 up after Chaplow scored an excellent goal.

"Second half for the first 20 minutes I think we created so many good opportunities but then a pass just went astray but obviously they've got a bit of class in their side and made changes.

"We tried to be forward thinking in everything we've done and that left us a little bit exposed but that's football.

"I actually said on Thursday when we did about 1,000 interviews that Chaplow would score the first goal. I had Chamberlain to score the winner but it didn't quite happen."

The poaching nature of the visitors' two goals proved decisive, and the gaffer admitted a slight frustration particularly with the second goal.

"Things happen so quickly I don't really know what happened but that's the way Owen scores his goals, he's a predator.

"It was our own undoing. I want us to pass it, I want us to play football and at times during the course of the game there were opportunities where we talk about do the basics right and it broke down and that led to the goal.

"Without a shadow of a doubt we want to have games like this every week," he concluded.

"That's the vision, that's the long term future and we need to get through the obstacles we've got in League One.

"We want to win the league - that's' been the goal since the outset.

"It was great we had a stadium that was full, a good game of football and a great atmosphere. We want that every game next season."

Cameron|94 wrote:You give us Chamberlain, we give you Gibson + O'Shea, deal ?

Jordi wrote:

Cameron|94 wrote:You give us Chamberlain, we give you Gibson + O'Shea, deal ?

Deal!

:troll2:

Straight swap for the lesbian?

Cameron|94 wrote:You give us Chamberlain, we give you Gibson + O'Shea, deal ?

Jordi wrote:Apparentl, the United fans at the front were pushing the stewards around, jumping on the pitch, and I think one of them nicked the ball.

If it's true, then it's not exactly the best portrayal of Man Utd fans.

Iron manager Ian Baraclough has confirmed in a press conference that forward Jonathan Forte is in Southampton discussing a potential move to the League One side.

Former United manager Nigel Adkins is keen to be re-united with the player he intially brought to Glanford Park in the summer of 2007 from Sheffield United.

Forte, whose contract was due to expire in the summer, joined from Sheffield United in July 2007.

The Sheffield-born striker/winger has been capped at junior level by England.

A livewire attacker, who also had a successful short spell at Rotherham, he was capped by Barbados in the 2007-08 campaign - one which saw him perform in a variety of wing and striking positions.

2008-09 saw him go out on loan to Notts County, where he hit eight goals in 18 matches.

He struggled for a first team place in his first three campaigns with the Iron, mainly due to the form of fellow strikers Martin Paterson, Paul Hayes and Gary Hooper.

Forte enjoyed a more prominent role in the team this season, scoring four goals in 28 games.

Overall, he appeared 118 times for Scunthorpe, scoring 11 times.

Saints have completed the deadline day signing of attacker Jonathan Forte from Scunthorpe United.

The player joins the club for an undisclosed fee on a three and a half year deal.

Jonathan is well known to Nigel Adkins with the manager having brought the winger/striker to Glanford Park from Sheffield United in mid-2007.

The 24 year-old Sheffield-born man has been capped at junior level by England, and also represented the Barbados national side in recent times.

He has benefitted from a number of loan moves early on his career having also spent time at Doncaster Rovers, Rotherham United and Notts County - where he made a significant contribution of 8 goals in 18 games at Meadow Lane.

Whilst at Doncaster, he helped them to their Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final win over Bristol Rovers at the Millennium Stadium in April 2007, scoring inside the opening couple of minutes to set Rovers on their way to a 3-2 success.

Forte is a livewire forward player, who can make things happen during key stages of the game, and has made a useful habit at Scunthorpe of making an impact off the bench. This season he has struck four goals for the Iron including a memorable brace against Crystal Palace in a 3-0 win at the start of the campaign, under Adkins.

Nigel Adkins believes that Forte could prove to be a valuable asset to the side, having been a key influence on the player's career to-date.

"Jonno was in the England set up when I first became aware of him. He was one of the elite players at Under 19s," he explained.

"He's lightning quick. When I talk about quick players I always say, 'Is he Jonno quick?' We've found that he's got pace, power, and he's got stronger and stronger.

"He's had a bit part to play, but he can play on the left or right wing or as a centre forward. He's got unbelievable pace and strength, he gets that ball and he runs with it in behind and he's scores goals. In training at times, some of the stuff that he does - he's unplayable.

"He's experienced in the Championship now. He's had a good couple of years and is a player who is getting better and better, and still only young.

"He's always going to be a goal threat because of his pace. He's willing, he's got a great attitude, and I think he'll fit in excellently to the culture that we have at this football club. He's got a good physical presence about himself and we're delighted that he can come and join us.

"We're looking at the culture here and I know what his capabilities are, and I know at times that he can be a little inconsistent as all young players can be, but I just believe that bringing him into the environment that we've got down here he can only get better and better. Good facilities, excellent coaching and great medical with sports science support and I think we've got a physical athlete here who has got undoubted natural ability and is going to be a goal threat, and I think he's going to enhance the group of players that we've got at this football club."

Skysports.com understands West Ham have had a bid rejected by Southampton for centre-back Aaron Martin.

Premier League strugglers the Hammers have already moved to strengthen their frontline in this month's transfer window, bringing in strikers Demba Ba from German club Hoffenheim and Robbie Kean on loan from Tottenham.

And now manager Avram Grant has seemingly turned his attention to the club's defence, reportedly making an offer for young stopper Martin.

However, League One side the Saints are thought to have spurned the approach as they concentrate on their promotion push this term.

Martin, who spent time on loan at non-league side Salisbury City last year, has made three League One appearances for the Saints this season, as well as two cup outings.

Southampton are prime targets to be sold for the second time in less than two years - and again the interest comes from overseas.
Money men from the Middle East consider the club as one of the most attractive to investors in England, despite being in League One. Southampton came out of administration and were sold to late German-Swiss billionaire Markus Liebherr 19 months ago, for what many considered was a bargain £13million.


Southampton now tick even more favourable boxes and are infinitely more valuable at an estimated £50m-plus.
They are pushing for promotion back to the Championship, play in one of the most modern stadiums in the country, have a training ground worth about £10m, a fan base better than most higher clubs and access to a sea and airport.
Liebherr's daughter, Katharina, took control after he died of a heart attack in August

Jordi wrote:About 3 games in hand on most teams around us!

Hopefully Brighton hit a massive slump now.

Glenn Murray wrote:

Jordi wrote:About 3 games in hand on most teams around us!

Hopefully Brighton hit a massive slump now.

No way. Being realistic your target is 2nd considering you have games in hand on bournemouth.