Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint
Tue Sep 13 2011 15:33:01 GMT+0100 (GMT Daylight Time)
Photos: Ben Hoskins/Getty/GM.
Dizzy Heights
Last Saturday the Saints consolidated their position at the top of the Championship by beating Millwall, one-nil, in the late summer sunshine at St Mary’s Stadium. Despite the stunning first-half goal from Brazilian midfielder Guly Do Prado (far right), the Southampton side were made to work hard and long for their victory against a robust Millwall.
Southampton continue to break records in this season’s fledging league, for not only did the win keep his team at the top, but manager Nigel Adkins became the first coach to amass 100 points from 45 games. The last person at Southampton to compare with that feat was Adkins predecessor, Alan Pardew, who accumulated 80 from 45. One has to go back to the days of Chris Nichol in the 80’s to witness the Saints last unbeaten run of first of four games of the season. And that was only equalled by that of the 1957/8 season and the legendary Ted Bates.
Should these extraordinary proceedings continue then even the most angst-ridden Saints supporters will adopt a “this-is-going-to-be-our-year” attitude, especially after the team’s fantastic mid-week 5-2 win against Ipswich Town. Both the manager and his team are putting in huge efforts to dispel any complacency amongst the fans, but, after so many frugal years this may turn out to be an almost impossible task.
The more knowledgeable supporters are only too well aware how easily life can quickly cease being a bed of roses. Both at Barnsley, last weekend and against the Lions at St Mary’s on Saturday, the Saints had to overcome sturdy defences as well as some dangerous attacking play on the break.
What is reassuring is the current team’s ability to hang on to an early lead. The sheer amount of hard work put in by the effervescent midfielders Adam Lallana and David Connolly since the season opened is incredible. Both needed substituting on Saturday, with new boy Danny Fox 9 (left) and the feisty Belgian Steve De Ridder immediately demonstrating and adapting their strengths to the situation. Prior to the exchange, team captain Dean Hammond gave way to Morgan Schneiderlin returning to fitness after a lengthy spell. The young Frenchman gives a depth to Southampton, not only by his skill on the ball, but also by his positional and possessional sense.
With no mid-week games to play, (Saints will play either Bristol City or Swindon Town in the next round of the League Cup) Southampton can take a short break before their next game, away against Leicester City tomorrow. The Foxes are under new management, the former England Coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson and new ownership. The East Midland side is now owned by Asian Football Investments (AFI) and is sponsored by King Power International, both based in Thailand.
Late news: Saints will now play Swindon Town at the County Ground, Swindon, in the Second Round of the Carling Cup on Tuesday 30 August.
Come On You Saints!
Paddy Browne
The Exiled SaintFri Aug 26 2011 13:48:18 GMT+0100 (GMT Daylight Time)
Photos: Assoc News & Eurosport.
“One Swallow Does Not A Summer Make”.
The travelling Saints supporters returning from Barnsley in South Yorkshire last Saturday could be forgiven for not letting the old Aristotelian proverb dampen their deservedly high spirits. They had just seen their side complete its eighth successive game without loss. True, the record, last accomplished twenty-three years ago, did straddle the end of the last and the beginning of this season. Nevertheless, it has been such a long time since the fans have seen such a promising start.
Although we are barely a fortnight in, the Saints now look a more convincing side, one that promises great contests to come. Sure, the more mature supporters are only too well aware that there is plenty of time for matters to go pear-shaped. However, the Saints’ opening day emphatic three-one victory over highly fancied promotion hopefuls, Leeds United, was quickly followed by a solid four-one win over Torquay United in the mid-week Carling Cup contest. Despite a ten-man Southampton having to endure a very nervy final ten minutes against the Tykes, the whole squad still appeared to have a spring in their steps. A sight not seen since the days of Gordon Strachan.
England Under-21 international Jack Cork was recruited during the seasonal break. Jack, a midfielder, is no stranger to Saints fans, as he spent a half season on loan to us from Chelsea about three years ago, when Southampton was last at this level. Cork, although an attacking midfielder, showed his versatility, last Saturday, with a display of some a very active defensive work. Also joining him was the Saints other close season signing, Belgium’s Steve De Ridder. A winger, De Ridder clearly complements the agility and exuberance of Adam Lallana. When played alongside Guly Do Prado and our “goal machine”, Rickie Lambert, the Saints are assuredly a handful for any defence the nPower Championship can provide.
As far as defensive matters are concerned, centre-back Danny Seaborne slots in nicely alongside the ever-stalwart and reliable Jose Fonte. Left-back Dan Harding now has former England Under-20 defender, Frazer Richardson at the right-back position. Both provide a near perfect balance, as the former England Under-20 defender also likes to get forward.
With skipper Dean Hammond leading by example, and the dependable Morgan Schneiderlin, now back after injury, Southampton now has a team that has played together for some time and is familiar with each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
So, with David Connolly full of ingenuity and guile up front, and the formidable goalkeepers Kelvin Davis and Bartosz Bialkowski, Saints only Premiership survivor, at the back there should be no reason why Southampton FC cannot go on to make more than a half-decent attempt at returning to the top echelon of English football. More especially when they’re aided & abetted by the likes of Lee Barnard, Radhi Jaidi, Danny Butterfield, Richard Chaplow and new boy Danny Fox.
Tuesday evening’s visit to Portman Road to play Ipswich Town will provide a stern test. The Tractor Boys are never the easiest of teams to beat.* Like ourselves, they too have spent a long time out of the Premiership and they are just itching to join their East Anglian rivals, Norwich City, who got promoted last season.
The next home game will be against Millwall and the Saints will be anxious to prove the impregnability of St Mary’s Stadium. Alas it won’t be too long before that swallow starts assembling with his friends for their long journey to South Africa; wouldn’t it be great if Southampton could improve its record and prove Aristotle wrong before they leave?
Finally, The Exiled Saint was able to assist a couple of dads by taking photos of their children with Saints Coach/Manager Nigel Adkins. Unfortunately, one of the fathers forgot to leave his name. If he'd like a copy of his lad with Mr Adkins, just get in touch via the Contact Me page.
Come On You Saints! Paddy BrowneThe Exiled Saint
Photos: Paddy Browne
Thu Aug 18 2011 12:02:11 GMT+0100 (GMT Daylight Time)
* Since posting the above, The Saints beat Ipswich Town 5-2 on Tuesday 16 August 2011.
** Barry Webb, a long time Saints supporter and a member of the Saints Travel club, has just published "we need another goal", a lighthearted account of last season's away games. If you are interested in buying a copy (£4) just leave your contact details on the Contact Me page. It's a jolly good read!
THE SAINTS ARE BACK!
Southampton FC have begun their long-awaited return to the higher echelons of English football by gaining the second League One automatic promotion place. In doing so they also collected the accompanying runners-up trophy. But for their usual slow start, they could easily have entered the nPower Championship as champions, being only three points behind Brighton & Hove Albion, the division’s eventual leaders.
The Saints have now collected two pieces of silverware in two successive seasons. Hopefully this will bring the Club’s recent trials and tribulations to an end. And, as the pictures of the Club’s exuberant fans friendly noisy pitch invasion illustrate, St Mary’s Stadium is once again a happy place. Heaven only knows what the noise level would have been at St Mary’s had the Saints gone up as titleholders! 
Throughout the victory celebrations Saints supporters paid their own noisy tribute to the late Markus Leibherr, the Club’s owner, who died so suddenly and tragically last August.
The interval between one season ending and another beginning is traditionally a time of rumour and speculation. Promotion and relegation issues have been resolved, the gossip regarding player transfers abounds and gets wilder as the opening fixtures approach. Then, when League Fixture Lists are published its time to get out the road atlas and start planning for the newseason’s games. As the Saints absence from the Championship was brief, their opponents are all well known, especially Brighton, our South Coast rivals and Portsmouth, our Solent foes!
The opening month’s games against Leeds United, Barnsley, Ipswich Town, Millwall and Leicester City, provide formidable opposition and though each will be a challenge to our current first team, they offer an excellent taster for the rest of the season.
First up will be Leeds Utd, who under the guidance of Simon Grayson were unfortunate in missing the promotion play-offs by just three points. Like the Saints, the Whites were once Premiership regulars and almost certainly will come out of the traps flying. With Kasper Schmeichel in goal and Robert Snodgrass up front, Leeds should provide an excellent opener to the season.
The Saints first away game is against another Yorkshire club, Barnsley. The Tykes enjoyed a brief outing in the top flight, but have spent most of their life in the second division or Championship level. Last January they became the first club to record 1000 wins in that tier. Most, if not all, of Southampton’s trips to Oakwell have seen great entertaining displays of British-style football.
Southampton’s following game is also away; this time visiting old acquaintances, the Tractor Boys, at Portman Road. Ipswich have experienced troubled times recently but are now in the capable hands of Paul Jewel, and no doubt midfielder Colin Healy and forward Michael Chopra will have some say in the mid week evening fixture.
The Saints second League game at St Mary’s is against Millwall. The Lions, with Kenny Jackett in charge, ended their first venture in the Championship with a creditable ninth position. It will be interesting to see how they fare without goal scorer, Steve Morrison, who has recently moved to Norwich.
The final match of the opening month will be away at Leicester City. Owned by Thai-based football consortium The Foxes are now managed by former England coach, Sven Goran Eriksson. Our away fans will undoubtedly give a warm welcome to former Saints, midfielder Matt Oakley and front man, Dany N’Guessan.
With the pre-season Friendlies and the inauguration of the Memorial Cup, in honour of Marcus Leibherr, Southampton fans can look forward to a promising and interesting opening to their return to the Championship.
Come On You Saints!
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint
Sun Jun 19 17:48:06 UTC+0100 2011
(Photos: Paddy Browne)
ONE TWENTYFIVE NOT OUT
This weekend Southampton approach their one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary in better shape than their supporters might have feared at the beginning of season. The sudden death of their owner, Marcus Liebherr and the unexpected and mysterious departure of the management team of Alan Pardew and Dean Wilkins saw the Saints win only two of their first ten games.
Despite that shaky start the team soon recovered under the tutelage of the newly appointed coach Nigel Adkins and now sit firmly in the top half of the table. Adkins, formerly of Scunthorpe United, successfully guided the Ironmen into the Championship as League One leaders with three matches to spare in 2007 and regardless of the North Lincolnshire side’s relegation in the following season, returned them to the second tier via the playoffs in 2009. In fact he twice took his team to Wembley that year having also won the League Trophy earlier.
Nigel Adkins, a goalkeeper with Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic before a spinal injury ended his playing days, is also a Charted Physiotherapist, and a graduate of the University of Salford with degrees in business management and sports psychology. Adkins skills appear to be working as the Saints are poised for better things drawing closer to the promotion zone. near the midway stage of the season.
Southampton’s visitors next weekend are Peterborough United. The Posh, two places above the Saints, and recovering from a recent five-one drubbing by Charlton Athletic, are bound to be keen to regain their promotion prospects back and won’t have any qualms about spoiling the Saints’ official 125th Birthday Celebrations at St Mary’s. Not that the Saints will have much time to party as they host League leaders Brighton & Hove Albion on the following Tuesday evening. Uruguayan manager Gus Poyet has declared that nothing will distract the Seagulls from their ambition to win the League as champions, not even the FA Cup.
Good results for the Saints at both these fixtures will not only mean Southampton can join the contenders for promotion, but also can relax from their league duties and enjoy their FA Cup Second Round game against Cheltenham at the end of the month. The fans will also hope for an improvement on the lacklustre display against Shrewsbury Town in the First Round.
As the Saints get closer to Christmas, and the mid-way point of the football season, it is also to be hoped that the Club’s talisman, Rickie Lambert, will regain his scoring touch. Should Southampton see themselves placed near the top six by the New Year then promotion could certainly be on the cards; something for which the Northam's newest supporter Isabel (pictured right) can get excited!
Come On You Saints.
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint.
Fri Nov 19 16:36:03 UTC 2010
Photos; BBCSports and Baddy Browne
A Wicked Month.
Less than a month ago, Saints supporters were looking forward with confidence to their opening home game against Plymouth Argyle. And why not; the previous season had seen their Club saved from near oblivion, and with a new coach, management team and players installed, they eliminated a ten-point penalty, and experienced a wonderful winning day at Wembley. Southampton had ended the season with a trophy, and had got within sniffing distance of a promotion playoff position in the league. The future was bright; it was red & white!
Although Southampton’s pre-season friendly fixtures didn’t go as well as the fans would have wished, and losing to the Pilgrims on the opening day of the new season, especially by conceding the only goal of the match in the first fifteen seconds of the second half, was bitterly disappointing. To experienced Saints supporters the results whilst unfortunate were true to form.
The season had barely got underway when the fans and friends of the Saints were stunned into sadness at the untimely death of Southampton’s saviour and owner, Markus Leibherr. Although the supporters had only known Markus for a year, his avuncular presence at home games endeared him to all as illustrated by the thousands of floral and other tributes that lay outside the stadium. Later, supporters not only filled St Mary’s Church in honour of Markus, but the service had to be relayed to an overflow of several hundred fans outside the church. This was especially poignant as it was St Mary’s Church that founded Southampton FC 125 years ago. In addition and out of respect for Markus Leibherr the Club’s next opponents, the MK Dons, postponed their home game against Southampton.
However, the heavy hearts were soon lifted when on their visit to Bristol’s Memorial Stadium the Saints dished out a four-nil thrashing to Bristol Rovers. Despite their diffident start Southampton looked as if they had returned to their impressive form and confirmed the bookies rating as league favourites.
Saints fans had scarcely time to enjoy their euphoria before they were again knocked for six, this time with the news that manager Alan Pardew and his successful coaching team were “relieved of their duties with immediate effect”.
With mystery surrounding the management team’s departure supporters could be forgiven for thinking that Southampton had returned to its bad old days. Matters are hardly helped by a hostile press, still smarting from the newly imposed media restrictions at St Mary’s, making the optimistic mood of four weeks ago evaporate. Once again there is an unsettling atmosphere at Southampton Football Club.
It’s still early days but the sooner the Saints appoint a new manager who can get the team back to its successful self, the better.
August was indeed a wicked month.
Come On You Saints!
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint
(Photos; Paddy Browne & PA.)
Tue Sep 7 16:24:03 UTC+0100 2010
MARKUS LIEBHERR
Markus Liebherr owner of Southampton Football Club died aged 62 on Wednesday 11 August 2010. The suddenness of his passing came as a huge shock to thousands of Saints supporters whose thoughts are now with his family and friends.
It was barely a year ago that the Swiss industrialist saved the Club from extinction and enabled it to remain in the Football League. Although Mr Liebherr was unknown to many of the Saints fans, his marine cranes are a familiar sight in Southampton Docks. It is reported that he fell in love with the Saints as soon as he set foot inside St Mary’s Stadium and was determined in his ambition to return the Club to the Premiership.
Those who knew Markus Liebherr said that although he was a “man of few big words” he loved football and was passionate about “his” Southampton. He was immensely impressed by the loyalty of Saints supporters. The number of tributes placed outside St Mary’s Stadium is a clear indication of the fans' reciprocal esteem and gratitude to Marcus.
Saints fans everywhere are saddened by his sudden loss. However, the forty-four thousand plus who were at Wembley Stadium last season will recall with affection the sight of Markus Liebherr sharing in their delight as Club Captain Kelvin Davis held aloft the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. Markus, busily “snapping” the scene of the Saints triumph, resembled more a doting grandparent at a family wedding, than the billionaire owner of a football club!
Mr Liebherr’s generosity saved Southampton FC from disaster in 2009, his investment in the Club and his vision for its future were on a grand scale; and it is understood that even after his death his care for the Saints will continue.
He was truly a Saint and will always be remembered with affection and gratitude.
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint
Thu Aug 12 16:36:52 UTC+0100 2010
(Photo: Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
Great Expectations
This time last year Saints fans were despairing as the club dropped for first time into the lower levels of league football. Few then would have thought that the 2009/10 Season would have been one of Southampton’s most productive for many decades. In fact there was a period when three-nil winning margins appeared to be the club’s default result. It’s been a long time since Southampton fans could begin the forthcoming season with such great expectations.
Despite achieving a more than creditable seventh place position and putting a new trophy in the cabinet the Saints ended their season with an anti-climatic air. The opportunity of gaining a promotion play-off place had disappeared a couple of games earlier, the non appearance of Club saviour Markus Liebherr at the last game, plus the unexplained lack of the matchday programme made for a less than euphoric mood and added to the anxiety. Surely Southampton FC weren’t going to indulge in another summer of intrigue?
Well that’s in the past and although the pre-season fixtures failed to produce the anticipated results (they never do), nevertheless, despite the recession and the dropping of the club’s credit scheme, some thirteen-thousand supporters have already demonstrated their faith by renewing their season tickets. Their belief is based on manager Alan Pardew’s astute signings and his achievements with the First Team last season.
Twenty-ten sees Southampton begin their one hundred and twenty-fifth year in English football against Championship relegated Plymouth Argyle. The game will give Saints fans an opportunity to view the manager’s close season signings, Frazer Richardson and Danny Butterfield, the defenders expected to fill the void left by the departing Lloyd James and Wayne Thomas; and now that Southampton and Brentford have agreed with the conclusions of the Professional Football Compensation Committee it is hoped that Saints fans will be able to greet the newcomer Ryan Dickson.
Argyle, now under the stewardship of former Saint, Peter Reid, will also be keen to impress their new manager who gave up a lucrative post in charge of the Thai national side. The Pilgrims will also be anxious to get off to a flying start for like Saints supporters they do not want to linger in this division.
It is now a case of “Promotion or Bust”
Come On You Reds.
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint.
Wed Aug 4 16:15:17 UTC+0100 2010
Photos: Getty Images and PA
WHAT A RETURN
What a treat for this Southampton supporter watching the Saints play again, following a spell in hospital. And what better sight to see than both Club and Team Captains hoist the Johnstone’s Paint Football League Trophy before 44000 joyous Southampton fans at Wembley. Just what the doctor ordered!
When the Exiled Saint last saw the Saints play they enjoyed an emphatic 3-1 win against Exeter City on Boxing Day. The team was then in the middle of a six-match run of undefeated games at St Mary’s. The Saints, despite loosing an away game to Colchester United, enjoyed an excellent second half of the season with their only other loss to arch rivals Portsmouth in mid-February.
Apart from slip-ups against Tranmere Rovers and Swindon Town, the Saints continue to progress, even scoring five goals in a brace of games, are currently tenth in the table, enter the closing stages of the season with a game in hand and are tantalisingly close to a League One Play-off position. For a short while so outstanding was Southampton’s advancement without the presence of the Exiled Saint, that future non-attendance was being considered!

However, resistance to such temptation was amply rewarded for when the Exiled Saint seated amongst the fans in the national stadium the Saints romped home to a resounding 4-1 victory over fellow finalists Carlisle United last Sunday. It seemed at the final whistle, there was a sense of liberation and relief as if all of football’s bad dreams in the Solent were at last over. After all the trials and tribulations of recent years, the Saint’s triumph in winning the Trophy seemed to be compensation not just for their fans, but the whole area.
To be honest, as games go, it was far from being a “show-stopper”. The match was barely fifteen minutes old before Carlisle’s central-defender, Peter Murphy “handballed” in the penalty area and provided Rickie Lambert not only with an opportunity to add to his goal tally as the League’s top scorer, but also to set the Saints on their way. Just before the interval, Adam Lallana added to the Cumbrians woes when, unmarked, he headed past the hapless Collin. The Saints victory was all but sealed when Papa Waigo struck the ball into an empty net after the Carlisle ‘keeper had parried with an excellent reaction stop. On the hour mark Michail Antonio put the game to bed when he thrashed a low shot from outside the area. In the game’s closing moments Carlisle’s Gary Madine headed home a consolation goal.

All of the Southampton squad demonstrated their professionalism on the day. Most eye-catching was the work of Dan Harding, who for tactical reasons proved he could handle playing in the right-back position as easily as his normal left-back role. Rickie Lambert deservedly received the Man of the Match award; however, the distinction was wafer thin, as everyone in the Red & White exceeded what had been asked of them.
So, although we enter the Easter period in great spirits we have two tough games, against Brighton & Hove Albion and Leyton Orient respectively, which will not be as easy as some of our Club’s more hubristic followers may think. Should we win these games then perhaps our access to a league play-off position may be more than just aspirational.
Come On You Saints.
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint.
Thu Apr 1 16:13:48 UTC+0100 2010
Photos: Paddy Browne, and AP.
GOING OFF LINE
As I’ll be undergoing a Coronary Artery Bypass operation within the next couple of days the Exiled Saint will be going “offline” for a short spell.
All being well, I hope that both the Saints and myself will be in a better position by the time I come back “online”.
Come On You Saints!
Paddy Browne
The Exiled Saint.
Mon Jan 18 11:35:26 UTC 2010