With the distateful treatment of Nigel Adkins over the last few days it will be easy for Saints supporters to lose focus on what they actually want for the club when they go to St Mary's for the Everton game.

To start off I like many others am thouroughly apalled that Nigel Adkins should be removed at a time when it looked like he was about to turn the season around, after the draw at Chelsea it had left us with probably four wins and four draws needed from our remaining 16 league games to give us 38 points which I felt would be the safety cut off point, an entirely achievable target, indeed after the Chelsea game, that coming so soon after a hard won victory at Villa there was a feel good feeling around the supporter base that looked set to carry us through the next month or so, where it was quite possible that with some winnable games in the next six weeks we could rattle off three of those wins.

But suddenly there is an air of uncertainty amongst the supporters and that could in itself put such a heavy burden on the team on Monday night it could drag us down and cost us vital points.

Most of the national press last week commented on the atmosphere that surrounded Chelsea's home games and questioned whether any team, let alone one as talented as Chelsea's could win in such a vitriolic atmosphere, they pointed to some great Chelsea results recently on the road and compared it to those at Stamford Bridge and came to that conclusion, sadly for us we are about to create just that same atmosphe on Monday night at St Mary's

But as a Saints supporter I want my team to stay up, I dont want it at any cost and preferably I want it with  my club renowned for its ethics and morals, I want it to be known for the very things it on one hand trumpets ie a united family, but as we have seen doesnt exist, but in the short term I want three points against Everton.

Back in 1993 when we protested against Ian Branfoot, it had all the potential and did on occasions create a negative atmosphere, but on many occasions it did too spur the team on, the general rule there was protest all you want up to kick off, but once the teams lined up it was 100% backing on the pitch, effectively we differenciated between the team and the manager and felt that we could back one whilst demanding the removal of the other, it created many positive vibes that saw some great victories amidst some vigarous protesting, Newcastle being beaten 2-1 with two superb Le Tissier strikes was one in particular where if we could have written the script we would have done.

Now if we truly want to make sure that Nigel Adkins legacy isnt wiped out in the next three months we need to recapture that spirit, on Monday night we do of course come to St Mary's to show our support for Nigel, but we are also there to get three points, let the protests and outrage against his sacking cease the moment the teams kick off, lets help the team show their support for their manager and get those three points and then we can hold our heads up on live TV to the nation and show that the Spirit Of Southampton which has existed long before some of our supporters were even born is still alive and well on the terraces if not elsewhere.

Lets win this game on Monday for Nigel, lets also remember that Mauricio Pochettino on Monday truly only has one fault and that is that he is not Nigel Adkins               

Photo: Action Images

Deano added 18:51 - Jan 20 I think we need to be very careful about the current situation. On Wednesday night when I saw the starting line-up, I thought what was N.A thinking leaving R.L out again. Then at half time I thought it might be 5,6,7 nil. R.L comes on and scores and then a first class goal from J.P. In fairness we were very lucky to hold to 2-2. On many occasions during the season we have all asked questions about N.A team sheet and subs. I would like to thank N.A for what he has done for us and I would like to hope that all goes well for him and his family in the future which I am sure will be the case. We would be in this situation now or in the future so lets move on and get behind the team. In regard to N.C, this man saved our club and only wants what is best for all of us, he would not have done this unless he thought it was best. Lastly, I am M.L.T greatest fan but he has been on radio 5, talksport, skysports slagging off the Chairman but he already had a problem with him.

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ExiledSupporter added 19:02 - Jan 20 Well put! Support the team to the hilt, give the new manager a decent period of probation (none of this mess is his fault), target your anger at Cortese before and after the games, but don't undermine the team's motivation over the coming weeks. Let's do our utmost to bolster their spirits and drive them to success despite all our shame, anger and regret. By the way, as noted in some of the more acute sections of the press, Cortese's propaganda for the new manager shows that the truth is quite a foreign land to our now reviled Chairman. Lots of manipulated half truths, at best, made in the claims published on the club's website. Pity some resourceful individual can't manufacture Nigel Adkins masks for all true supporters to wear to collectively shame the Chairman...nice dream eh?

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ardashuxford added 19:04 - Jan 20 I wonder if the fans complaining about Adkins sacking are the same ones who complained about Pardew's sacking? Thanks Nigel, I wish you a speedy return to management (as long as it's not to the Skates). Mauricio, welcome to Southampton, we're the best fans in the land and we want you to be a winner.
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sholingred added 19:18 - Jan 20 Firstly i am sad Adkins is gone,but two months ago his tactics were bizarre and failure to adress cb and goalkeeper mean we sit 3pts outside the drop zone,Cortese has got the new man in and is paid to make tough decisions and i will back the chairman as he has never let us down yet,maybe nigel could attract the players to take us to the next level i dont know,but protesting is going to be counter productive.

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Bulgarian added 19:20 - Jan 20 Nick's statement is absolutely accurate. I especially liked his final thought: "Lets win this game on Monday for Nigel, lets also remember that Mauricio Pochettino on Monday truly only has one fault and that is that he is not Nigel Adkins". Back the team, love Nigel Adkins, stay loyal to our club's cause - nobody can forcefully deprive us of our pride to be Saints fans.

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Dazzler73 added 19:41 - Jan 20 ok, I am rare to comment on this site but having been a SAINT since birth...(I am reaching 40! thihs year)!! I feel the need..... Like 99.999999% of us I was obviously shocked by what happended on Friday.....but....this is now a new era for us all and I think we should hold stock and see where it takes us. We have the support, we have the stadium.. we have the players..(perhaps a few additions still needed)... we have a chairman that clearly has a vision whom also has put money on the table....(and still is)... I want the new era... I want us to be signing top players....I want us challenging and not fighting.....Bring Saints to where they should be...Semi-finals...Finals....top of the table challenges.... this is not out of the realm of possibility....protest is fine and views must be known..however a new man needs support also... COYR.......

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sidsaint added 21:01 - Jan 20 Well said Nick, well said guys. We've had our say now lets get back to what we are, supporters and support our team, players and manager to get 3 points tomorrow.
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LesVivian added 21:14 - Jan 20 Dazzler73 - do we really want to watch a bunch of mercenaries taking stupid money out of the game, whilst blocking the progress of home-grown, young players? That, unfortunately, is what is needed these days to be in the top group of teams, barring the odd bit of luck which might get us into Europe. Blackburn bought all the best players a generation ago - look at them now! Chelsea bought all the players a few years ago, and look at the mess they are in! I expect Man City to go the same way when their mercenaries don't win everything! We don't need that kind of a future!!

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saintBob added 21:30 - Jan 20 I agree with MLT on two points; the timing of NA's sacking, and shoving the new manager in front of the camera with just his interpreter. Other than that NC is not daft, Markus handed complete control to him after convincing him to buy our club and we have sung their praises ever since. He bought in Pardew, which proved to be a good move, sacked him for whatever reason and bought in Adkins to which some of us queried. Since then we have not looked back. Most of us would be happy to just stay in the Prem but NC wants more than that! He doesn't care what the press says and doesn't care what the fans think either. Time will tell, but so far he hasn't put a foot wrong.

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slynch added 21:37 - Jan 20 Mr Cortese has had to make a brave and difficult decision about the club, again. There is no doubt he has a vision for the club which is greater than anyone has had before. There will be more tough decisions he will have to agonise over while the rest of us do nothing but watch and enjoy (or otherwise) with no responsibility. He did not sack Pardew or Adkins in order to ruin the club but to make it better and so far no-one can say he has failed at that! As far as I can see, at the Everton game all the fans should be singing "There's only one NIC CORTESE.." He must be really hurt by some of the printed media I have seen, I know I would be. He has done more for a once demoralised, bankrupt club, nearly bought by a taxi driver from Ealing than Pardew and Adkins Les Reed and the rest of them put together however good you think they were and not to belittle their achievements, either. NOW LETS MOVE ON AND TAKE THIS LEAGUE BY STORM

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Dazzler73 added 21:44 - Jan 20 Fair comment LesVivian. My view is that in all walks of life changes happen. Ive been born and bred Saints all my life and as soon as I was old enough I was standing on the Milton and roughing it in the Archers. I have seen amazing times and heartbreaking times watching our boys. That I know is that there was never any other team for me. Todays game is so much different to that when I was a nipper both on and off the pitch. Football is a cycle, we once ruled the South...we then didnt...we now do once more... How amazing would it be in my lifetime for us to exceed our expectations. one thing i know is that it would certainly be a rollercoaster! I am not in any way saying that I agree with the actions of Cortese but I am on his private jet until I decide overwise. Tomorrow night lets let our feelings known but as soon as the players and new boss are out we are 110% behind them and get 3 points in the bag. I do however have a feeling that negativity could prevail on this ocassion which would be utter madness.

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stmichael added 21:46 - Jan 20 First of all I am going to back our magnificent players to the hilt tomorrow. However i want nothing to do with the new manager. He has schemed along with the 2 pieces of excrement (cortese & reid) for several weeks to get this job. You would of thought given the time he has known he would be in this position he would have had the decency to speak a bit of English. And even if he is any good (and he hasnt been so far in his magerial career) does anyone really think he will be loyal to us when a bigger job comes. What does he care or even know about the Southampton family. So in a nutshell Come on Saints use this scandalous treatment of NA as your motivation for 3 points tomorrow. In the long term the sooner the 3 amigo,s are out of my club then we can start to rebuild our reputation which is now horrendous in the football world. I am ashamed of my club its as simple as that.

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Dazzler73 added 21:46 - Jan 20 Some positive comments now appearing.... now COYR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Deano added 22:43 - Jan 20 I am very sorry to hear that certain people will not support the new manager. It is not his fault that he was given the job. This is football and nobody stays in a job too long. I have been with 4 teams as a manager at under 6 to under 11's because of supporters/ parents..
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ExiledSupporter added 22:59 - Jan 20 How can we expect players to show loyalty to a club (instead of conceding to the endless urge to increase their pay to the level of gazillions if the Chairman demonstrates a complete lack of loyalty to his outstanding manager and replaces him on a hunch that an apparently over-hyped ex-international player sacked when his club was bottom of the Spanish league only two months ago (and since he left have apparently pulled themselves up several places) without experience of playing in the UK (and with no English) would be better!

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amsterdamsaint added 23:00 - Jan 20 Well said StMichael. Nigel Atkins gave our club SOUL as well as class. It was a shameful sacking. The worst in Saints history.
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amsterdamsaint added 23:14 - Jan 20 Exiled supporter, you are so right. I bought into Atkins dream and loved every minute of it. I feel cheated by the ending as this is the most fun I have had as a Saints fan in my life and I am 47 years old.
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BlackRod added 23:29 - Jan 20 This is probably the worst time possible to change managers. If you think this is going to turn us into a top 4 club you are living in cloud cuckoo land. This is the beginning of the end not the end of the beginning. A return to the Championship while the new guy learns English/experiments with the players is the most likely outcome. You have to question what sort of club this will become. Everyone only in it for the money and to screw the supporters. Managers and chairmen come and go but the fans are always there. It didn't have to be this way. There are examples of decent successful clubs - like Norwich or Swansea. I fear that we will be neither of these things. Bring your hankies on Monday.

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slynch added 00:25 - Jan 21 http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/294222/?
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dune added 03:15 - Jan 21 Forget Adkins, Forget Cortese, support the team and the manager. Life's too short.
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SingaporeSaint added 06:04 - Jan 21 Fully agree with this Nick. I along with most have sadness for Nigel Adkins and am unhappy with the manner of his departure. I do however want us to win and succeed as a club. I expect that Nigel will wish the same and will want his team to be successful for us fans and also somewhat for his own legacy - his note left on Friday implied this. I think a rousing 'one Nigel Adkins' at about 10 mins before kick off followed by a minute's standing applause would please everyone in the ground and send a message to Cortese in a positive manner. I also wish the new manager all the best - I dont believe he 'schemed' in anyway for this job. The basic facts are he has never played in England, he doesnt speak English, he is Argentinian and there is a recent huge hatred of Britain being driven by the current government in Argentina over the Malvinas (falklands) and I doubt we were very well known in Argentina or Spain and would have been in the relegation zone when the discussions started. I am sure Cortese and his advisers did the scheming to get and convince him to join. It is a brave move for him and I'd hope he gets some support. Any hanky protest would be seen as being against him and not the Italian / Swiss Cortese who caused this. People will continue to be hurt by the treatment of Nigel for some time - but I think if as a club and support we get behind the team (inc the manager) then everyone will start healing. This is a big chance to get 3 points and the last chance for our players who may be tempted by Jan offers elsewhere to feel that this is a club they want to be at and I think Nigel will want us to win. For these reasons I hope the hankies are kept in the pocket for the runny noses only as it will be a cold night and we channel the passion to drive the team to victory.

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saintgus added 08:57 - Jan 21 Reading through the previous comments many fans have enjoyed the last three seasons for more than a long time, lets not forget these were under Cortese.I still maintain the manor of Nigels sacking is very disrespectful espically as Pottechino has been researching our squad for a number of weeks, but we must get behind the team , after all its not his fault he is manager

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Butty101 added 10:40 - Jan 21 Dazzler73 == Pr plant no.6
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saintBob added 13:56 - Jan 21 Cortese is a driven man. It's not just NA that he's let go & don't forget he would have had the 3 years remaining on his contract paid up, but he's also sacked and forced out other staff as well. NA was well liked by ALL staff throughout the club and now I suspect that the atmosphere within is far from happy.
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simmo400 added 15:13 - Jan 21 Nigel did a great job to get us to the Prem. But dont forget he mostly did it with Pardews team. Most of his additions where dodgy to say the least ( if he picked them that is.) Timing is the main issue here. I think most woul agree we needed a top manager as sometimes Nigel was abit lacking in formation and tactical subsistutions. Hopefully all the fans will unite behind the team tonite and get the win we all crave. Yes say goodbye to NA but move on. COYR.

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