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TODAY Newspaper
IT'S A MIRACLE AT ST MARY'S
London 11-01-03
Gordon Strachan's first managerial stint ended wth Coventry being relegated after 34 years in the top flight.
Back then, not many thought that the little ginger-haired Scotsman could emulate a glittering football career that spanned Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds, Coventry and the 1982 and 1986 World Cup finals with Scotland.
But now, a similar sticky end with unfashionable Southampton is unthinkable.
The Scot's endeavour in taking the Saints to sixth in the Premeirship was recognised on Thursday when he was named the manager of the month for December.
In truth, he has been the manager of the past 15 months.
He took over with Southampton in 19th place after Stuart Gray had lost 11 of the 17 Premiership matches in his 113-day reign. Now, three points off third, Southampton can realistically aspire to a place in Europe.
The transformation has been profound.
Strachan was appointed by Rupert Lowe in October 2001 with the brief of keeping the Saints in the Premiership.
And, with his experience of keeping Coventry up for four seasons before it was relegated in June 2001, Strachan proved ideal. Having achieved that, few thought he would take the Saints to the next level.
Even the most die-hard of Southampton fans - those that hailed Matthew Le Tissier as 'God' - could not have predicted that their team would currently be the hottest in the Premiership.
Strachan calls Southampton "almost a very good team", but refuses to espouse its European credentials.
After a nine-match unbeaten run, though, culminating in the devastating 4-0 FA Cup victory over Tottenham last Saturday, the European ambition seems very real.
"I believe the team can get into the top six every now and again.
"But, it's difficult to stay there because if the teams below you have a couple of good results and you don't, then you're in mid-table again," he said.
Of course, he's referring to the likes of Liverpool in seventh, Tottenham (ninth) and Leeds (eleventh), heavyweights which are managed by managers more illustrious than the little Scotsman.
What makes Strachan's achievement even more remarkable is he does not have the kind of squads that Gerard Houllier, Glenn Hoddle and Terry Venables do.
So, what's the Southampton formula?
"There is no big secret," said Strachan.
"The teams have good fitness levels and that has made them better players; because lack of fitness makes you casual."
This could have been said with Le Tissier in mind.
The Saints legend, who played a starring role in keeping the club in the top flight in the early to mid-90's with his majestic play in midfield, was surviving in the squad on reputation alone when Strachan arrived.
The fans would have had it no other way but the manager, without any fractious cull, gradually eased the ageing, bloated Le Tissier out of his plans, allowing others to shine.
Upon taking charge, Strachan quickly decided that the players he had inherited were not fit enough.
The remedy was training sessions in the mornings and afternoons and careful dips into the transfer market.
In came Coventry stalwarts Paul Williams and Paul Telfer, both long-standing friends of Strachan's, for nothing.
Brett Ormerod from Blackpool, Fabrice Fernandes from Rennes, Michael Svensson from Troyes and Antti Niemi from Hearts followed.
The total outlay has been less than £7 million ($19.6 million), much less than how much Houllier paid Lens for one El-Hadji Diouf.
In particular, Fernandes has been a revelation in the Saints' engine room.
But the most spectacular explosion of form belongs to James Beattie.
Strachan's careful nurturing of the striker has brought a 14-goal response so far.
Improbably, it has taken Beattie to the fringe of the England team, less than two years after Hoddle considered selling him to Crystal Palace.
The chairman now also expects, but the mutual suspicion that existed between the hockey-playing, public school-educated Lowe and the passionate, slightly unhinged Strachan, has evaporated.
Improved results helped; proving that the Saints could win at the new £32-million, 32,000-seat St Mary's Stadium - very much Lowe's baby - was imperative.
Relegation was an unthinkable financial nightmare for Lowe.
How spectacularly Strachan has eased Lowe's greatest fear.
The Saints have not lost at St Mary's since April and they and Middlesbrough, which they visit tomorrow, are the only teams with unbeaten home records in the country.
Not Old Trafford, not Highbury, not Anfield, but St Mary's is where you look if you're talking about fortresses.
Strachan, who lives on the River Hamble in the heart of sailing territory, is noticeably more relaxed than when he arrived on a two-year contract and looks as at home as his team.
But he constantly warns that feet must be firmly kept on the ground, when he said: "We only have a small squad compared to some of the Premiership teams. We play a 4-4-2 system and the defence and midfield remain the same and play as units whoever plays.
The expectation levels are now very high and we have to try and keep up that standard, but that's going to be very hard considering our resources."
There is no denying, though, that a minor miracle has been worked down the south coast.
"Much of the credit must go to Gordon," Niemi said. "It is good to work for him. He is very approachable and has a good sense of humour. That is his greatest asset for me, apart from his vast knowledge of the game.
"Before and after training he talks to the players and jokes. But during a training session he says nothing, except if someone makes a mistake or does something good. He is respected by everyone."
And, for now at least, envied by the likes of Houllier, Hoddle and Venables.
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