The big question this week, away from the hurly-burly of the World Cup qualifiers, is: who is Christian Damiano? That’s what Southampton fans are wondering as their topsy-turvy season gets more confusing.
The Saints rarely march smoothly in these days. Under controversial chairperson Rupert Lowe they moved to the St Mary’s Ground from their compact Dell, where points were hard to come by for visiting teams, and, since Glenn Hoddle left for Tottenham in March 2001, it’s been a bit strange.
Gordon Strachan quit mysteriously in February last year; Paul Sturrock had just 13 games in charge before, apparently, he ‘lost the dressing roomâ€, so in came Steve Wigley.
Steve who? He’s 43 on Friday, played for Exeter and, erm, that’s it. The poor guy doesn’t even have the correct coaching qualifications.
The Football Association decided this anonymous chap, who has won one and lost four of his seven games in charge (he also had a two-game stint as caretaker between Strachan and Sturrock, drawing both), wasn’t qualified to run a Premiership team.
Most Saints fans would probably agree. So Lowe had to go out and find somebody to work with Wigley — and has chosen Damiano.
Damiano is 54 and was number two to Jean Tigana at Fulham for three years. He helped Gérard Houllier at Liverpool until his fellow Frenchman’s demise last season.
Lowe said: ‘He is coming here because he sees an attractive squad and he feels he can do a lot with them.â€
Must have good eyesight then. I reckon the bottom three (Saints, Palace and the low-flying Canaries), will stay there all season before heading downwards. Time will tell.
This weekend’s action:
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
This could be Arsenal’s biggest test so far. The unbeaten record quaked in the 2-2 draw against Bolton last month, and David O’Leary’s men may produce something similar if the Gunners turn up exhausted by their World Cup exploits around the globe.
Verdict: Arsenal 1 Villa 1
Birmingham vs Man U
This one sees United old boy Steve Bruce struggling to prove he’s worth the coaching hype against his old boss Sir Alex Ferguson. United can’t afford to slip any further behind Arsenal and Chelsea.
Verdict: Brum 0 United 2
Blackburn vs Boro
Riverside boss Steve McClaren has spent the past 10 days helping Sven-Goran Eriksson with England, which doesn’t help matters at Middlesbrough. Then again, Mark Hughes has been away with Wales. Could be the same result as McClaren vs Hughes at Old Trafford last Saturday.
Verdict: Blackburn 0 Boro 2
Bolton vs Palace
Sam Allardyce was this week named Bolton’s worst-ever player. He arrived from Manchester United in 1963 as a young fullback and lasted three games before being given a free transfer. He’s done a lot better as a boss with his multinational squad while Palace continue to look doomed.
Verdict: Bolton 3 Palace 1
Everton vs Saints
Everton spent the first few weeks of the season overachieving. Reality will set in for David Moyes in the post-Wayne Rooney era while Southampton, with Damiano in the backroom, should start to reverse the slide.
Verdict: Everton 2 Saints 2
Fulham vs Liverpool
Chris Coleman’s side are taking a lot of stick for indiscipline this season and the season’s most astute signing, Andy Cole, is now banned for longer than most murderers for throwing a punch three weeks ago. Liverpool need to start putting a run together under Rafael Benitez. They will.
Verdict: Fulham 0 Liverpool 2
Man City vs Chelsea
Poor old Kevin Keegan is still hanging on at City having spent loads of money to create a side barely capable of survival. Unbeaten Chelsea have spent far more, of course, and, despite their huge list of injured strikers, this should be comfortable — though probably another efficient 1-0 will do.
Verdict: City 0 Chelsea 1
WBA vs Norwich
This is one of those last-man-standing affairs, with both sides earmarked for relegation. Gary Megson’s troubled reign continues thanks to the first win by a relegated club a fortnight ago. Norwich remain winless.
Verdict: West Brom 1 Norwich 1
Charlton vs Magpies
Alan Curbishley’s gloriously inconsistent Athletic were thumped by Arsenal two weeks ago, while Graeme Souness’s arrival has seen Newcastle’s scared squad roar up the table.
Verdict: Charlton 1 Newcastle 1
Portsmouth vs Spurs
Boring? Probably. Pompey will be scared to lose at home; Spurs are incapable of attractive football under the boring but astute Frenchman, Jacques Santini. Ho-hum.
Verdict: Portsmouth 0 Spurs 0