Southampton have had the cruellest start to life upon their return to the top flight, Paul Moore asks is Nigel Adkins can replicate his success in the lower leagues?
Nigel Adkins has now taken charge of three games as a Premier League manager but it could all have been so different.
He was a goalkeeper in the lower leagues and in his part time he trained as a physiotherapist. As in life Nigel got a couple of lucky breaks but the work he puts in is there for all to see.
I love the football Southampton play and in Rickie Lambert they have a star; just like his boss they came from the lower leagues so know what it’s like to play on a freezing January night in Burnley.
He started his Managerial career at Bangor City where he was player/manager. He led them to two titles while studying to be a physiotherapist; once he qualified he joined Scunthorpe as physio.
When Brian Laws left the job, Adkins made it his own and despite one relegation when he brought the team back up again his time there was a success.
This didn’t go unnoticed at Southampton and in September 2010 he became their manager. The club were 22nd in League One and going nowhere fast.
In his first season he got them promoted and so his love affair with the South coast club had begun.
The Birkenhead born manager has signed players that he knows will work for him and the team and hasn’t wasted money on silly signings.
I think both himself and his team are learning fast that the Premier League can be very unforgiving. They’ve played well against both Manchester City and Manchester United but have had nothing to show for it at the end of the day, twice letting 2-1 leads slip into 3-2 defeats.
I think Adkins will need to add to his squad in January as long as they don’t get cut adrift from the rest. As I’ve said before I like their style of football but sometimes that isn’t enough in the best league in the world.
If any one knows his squad, their capabilities, and how to get the best out of them it is Adkins, and regardless of their tough start Southampton must stick with him and not panic in order to give themselves the best chance of survival.
image: © mischatuffield
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