Chasing The Big Leagues – Southampton and the challengers (English Championship)

Tales from Tier Two is a series on Just Football in partnership with @tiertwofooty, in which we assess the promotion chances of the clubs in tier two of Europe’s major leagues at the midway point of 2011/12. We’ve looked at France’s Ligue 2, Germany’s Bundesliga II, Spain’s Segunda and Italy’s Serie B. After leaders West Ham United, Football League correspondent James McMath now runs the rule over the Southampton, second in the English Championship, and their fellow promotion hopefuls:

When Nigel Adkins held his last post-match press conference at Scunthorpe United, on September 11, 2010, there was a lot of love in the room.

It was his farewell match. Everyone knew it, even though no one was saying it. The Iron had been beaten 2-0 at home by Bristol City and Adkins was off to pastures new. A better offer had come along, albeit from a team in the division below.

No one resented him for it, Southampton clearly had a bright future. Even Scunthorpe fans and members of the press who had covered United for decades accepted as much. Southampton had new money, a modern infrastructure and, perhaps most alluring to Adkins, a squad that was capable of much better than they were faring at the time.

After all, the former physiotherapist had built his early managerial career getting more out a squad than he had any right to.

Southampton were 22nd in League One when he took charge at St Mary’s the day after that press conference. By the end of the season, they were second and Adkins had sealed his third promotion from League One.

If that surpassed expectations, what he and the Saints have done so far this season has been simply stunning. (Hands up alert: predictions for the season will testify shock factor).

Southampton’s success so far stems from self-belief. While many were casting doubt on whether they could cut it at a higher echelon, the players were brimming with bravado.

You see, Adkins is Mr Motivator. Professor Positive. Dr Don’t Listen To What Anyone Else Says. Reading or listening to any interview with him will tell you that. It’s on good authority that one of his post-match rituals is to list on a whiteboard the main good and bad incidents from the game before drawing a thick, definite line under them all, instructing his players to move on. Win, lose or draw. Forget it.

Picking up from where they left off last season, their home form has been exceptional, the best in the division. They have lost only twice at St Mary’s and won 11 of the 15 games there so far.

But both of those home defeats have come since December 30th. Does that make it a wobble? They have lost three of the last five league games at all venues.

Adkins is yet to steer his team through a sticky spell and – if this is one – how they come through it will be the measure of him and his team this season.

There is little margin for error and others are ready to pounce.

Position: 2nd

Points clear of chasing pack: 1

Will last the pace or tire in the race? Clinging on to automatic promotion will be a bridge too far for Adkins and his team. A nerve-jangling ride through the play-offs awaits.

Predicted final position: 4th

Key Man: Adam Lallana: A talented, creative force for the Saints. Keeping him and Rickie Lambert fit and on-song, will be vital to their run-in.

The Contenders

Cardiff City, Birmingham City, Middlesbrough and Hull City occupy the play-off places, with the Bluebirds best placed to make an assault on the top two.

After coming so close under previous boss Dave Jones, the Welsh club are certainly due. New manager Malky Mackay has done a sound job, overhauling the squad and blending youth and experience well.

Birmingham City, managed by Chris Hughton, look likely to really challenge for a playoff place. The Blues are unbeaten in seven league games and the emergence of talented winger Nathan Redmond has provided a timely injection.

Middlesbrough have continued the good work done under Tony Mowbray at the end of last season after Gordon Strachan’s unsuccessful tenure. Despite extensive cost-cutting, Boro still have one of the highest payrolls in the division. But at
least fans are starting to see a return for the money. Eleven-goal striker Marvin Emnes has been a revelation.

Hull City, in sixth place, are tough to read. The Tigers are so much better to watch under rookie manager Nick Barmby than his predecessor, Nigel Pearson, but seem to lack the steel they had during that period.

Barmby trusts his players to express themselves and be creative in key areas but the squad is young and the lack of nous is sometimes evident.

Brian McDermott is proving Reading are no flash in the pan after reaching the play-off final last year and, if the Royals can turn some defeats into draws, expect them to be in the mix.

Who do you think will be promoted from the Championship? Comments welcome below. Follow the link for more Tales from Tier Two including Spain, Italy, Germany and France.

(photo credit: Laurence Horton via Flickr)

Birmingham City, Cardiff City, English Championship, Football League, Hull City, Middlesbrough, Reading, Southampton FC, Tier Two Football