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Sorry Nigel But Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Sorry Nigel But Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Friday, 1st Jul 2011 22:28

Nigel Adkins has spoken of how he is diaspointed that Oscar Gobern has chosen to turn down Saints offer and join Huddersfield.

On an interview on the Saints offical site today Nigel Adkins speaks of his frustration of Gobern's departure, 

" Im annoyed ill tell you why, we offered him a great deal and he is a player that when i came into the building hadnt played in two years,   

When I arrived i could see he was a good athletic player, I tried to create the opportunity for him to play games by moving the experienced Paul Wotton on an allowing Oscar to become our fourth midfielder"

Im sorry Nigel but this isnt quite true is it, yes you moved Wotton on, but in his place you brought in Richard Chaplow, Gobern didnt play a league game till he came on as substitute on Jan 1st against Exeter and even that was only a 7 minute cameo appearance in a game that was well won long before he got on the pitch, indeed this would be the pattern in the second half of the season after that Exeter league "Debut" under Adkins Gobern would feature a further nine times off the bench mainly in cameo roles that stretched from around 20 minutes to five, out of a total of 25 games.

His only league start came against Brighton when he dug in and did a job, yes we have lost a great potential player for the squad but lets not dress this up as a player that has scorned Saints, the manager scorned the player, if he was the fourth midfielder why did the manager bring in Dale Stephens on loan to start 5 matches, a player that in truth was no better than Gobern.

I would have liked to have seen Gobern stay, I liked him as a player and think that his contribution last season should have been greater and would have been if he had been given the chances, but I understand why he has chosen to go, the manager did no give him enough minutes on the pitch, bringing in a loan signing from Oldham was not a vote of confidence so im afraid for Nigel Adkins to try and suggest that Gobern was disloyal is unfair to the player, if his manager had shown more faith in him then Im sure he would have wanted to stay, but he could see the writing on the wall, stay at Saints and the best he would get is a few more cameo's off the bench, whislt at Huddersfield he now has the chance of regular first team football and the chance to prove himself.

There are some who would say he wasnt good enough anyway and thats fine, this is a game about opinions, my only beef is the way in which our manager has commentated on his departure, this isnt a player who has played regularly and left at the first chance, this is a player who barely got time on the pitch, what was there to suggest things might change next year ?  Certainly if he didnt think him good enough in League 1 then why would he in a higher division

Perhaps its also refreshing that Gobern chooses to look for regular first team football for possibly lower wages than he would get at St Mary's, in these days when many would rather pick up a fat paycheck than play football, then good luck to oscar for choosing football above sitting on the bench. 

Good luck to Oscar Gobern, he never let Saints down in the games he played, he might just be one to come back and haunt us, but his departure can be laid at the feet of the manager who didnt paly him, managers have to make decisions, some are right and some are wrong, Nigel Adkins chose not to play Oscar Gobern, that is his perogative, all we as supporters ask is that he be honest, back your own judgement, if you had played him he would still be here !    

  

     

Photo: Action Images



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winchesterbob added 07:56 - Jul 2
Hey Nick you forgot to mention the games that OG was unavailable for..............after the Bournmouth game maybe!?

I'm sorry to see him go, there was a lot of potential, but he still had a lot to do to convince me he was worth a regular starting place, but Dale Stephens didn't really convince me either. I'm sure he would have got his chance at Saints in the coming season but it's not to be. Good luck to the lad
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131153 added 08:35 - Jul 2
With the midfield already on our books I'm preetty sure OG would have spent most of next season on the bench. So from his point of view the chance to play regularly in one of the stronger teams of Div 1 was too good to turn down. Your point about Dale Stephens is the strongest in your article but I don't remember anyone complaining at the time when he came on loan.And no comments such as "I feel Dale Stephens is going to be holding OG back"
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Kiwifiedpom added 08:47 - Jul 2
I seem to remember there was a lot of posts calling for someone to fill in for those injured. What I don't remember are calls for Gobern to play
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splurty added 09:01 - Jul 2
Good luck oscar ,and thankyou for your contribution ,I agree with nick that given the chance he could have been an asset to us but in that we are striving for the premiership there is always going to be player casualties along the way ,there will be others ! I will forever remember his hong kong fooey antics at boremuff and for that cheers Oscar .. Let's remember this is a great time to be a SAINT .
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splurty added 09:01 - Jul 2
Good luck oscar ,and thankyou for your contribution ,I agree with nick that given the chance he could have been an asset to us but in that we are striving for the premiership there is always going to be player casualties along the way ,there will be others ! I will forever remember his hong kong fooey antics at boremuff and for that cheers Oscar .. Let's remember this is a great time to be a SAINT .
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mg2104 added 09:23 - Jul 2
Nick this is exactly the point I was making on not 606 where others feel he went for the money. I have no doubt our contract offer would have been more lucrative than the one offered by Huddersfield and that his move was primarily motivated by the opportunity to be first-choice and play regular football
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SaintNick added 09:20 - Jul 4
Thanks for those who saw this article for what it was, a comment on why a young player chose to go elsewhere, like many who come through the youth ranks at this and any club, he found it hard to break through and win supporters over, yes there werent many that called for him to be in the side, but that doesnt mean he wasnt worth a go, the likes of matt mills etc are the proof of that
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