Topcat

So that was why we had 30,000 oldsarum?

Why not try and get 3,000 to 5,000 more to the Boxing Day+2 game on the 28th? Make another move to reinforce our family image as a Club.

The "bank holiday" in lieu of Boxing Day is the 28th and we have Huddersfield at home that day.

It is not just the spine of the team but also the mental desire to win every tackle. To press and to challenge the opponents. That comes from the Manager and Coach.

Am I right in thinking that we have had fewer special offers for games this season to date than last season? Last season the Boxing Day game had various family friendly specials, this year none. Anyone share any light on it?

I think that it is unreasonable to expect Adkins to get us automatic promotion. But Cortese's judgment was that getting rid of Pardew, waiting to select a replacement and then having Adkins for the rest of the season was a better bet than sticking with Pardew. Cortese made an irrational decision which has probably cost us more points than the 10 point deduction last season.

I am not calling for his head, just observing that Cortese is likely to sack him based on current form.

Adkins is heading for the sack at the end of the season. He has only achieved a win ratio of 50% (League) and a PPG of 1.71. To get automatic promotion, his PPG for the rest of the season it usually needs to be for the remaining games in the range of 2.2. FYI Pardew's PPG for all games (League and cup) was 1.86. But we/Adkins may get lucky and if L2 has a freak season like 2005/6, then the PPG was as low as 1.72 for 2nd place.

In the December/Jan transfer window Lowe decided to make a profit on the transfer/loan dealings of several million (Beattie sale etc). It was the stupidest decision of all Lowe's many dumb financial decisions. By not allowing Redknapp to secure an experienced CB etc, Lowe handicapped our relegation fight. He raised £2m for the Club and then lost £50m+ following relegation.... What Club fighting relegation from the Prem, actually raises cash in that xfer window?

He has fallen out with; many people in the media, many ex-players, one team Manager and his staff, numerous internal staff, Chairmen at other Clubs and several Leaders of supporters groups..... Judge a man by his actions. Cortese has left a trail of bad relationships. But you love him.

Has she started wearing them these days?

He has experience of how cash should be invested such as in Property vs Shares. He had no experience in managing people or in handling relations with the media. Regarding the Echo vs Saints issue, Cortese is the one who keeps picking fights with people. He has form.

The best way to get favourable treatment in the media is to treat them nicely. No guarantee that this will always create positive reports but at least if you do not cause them irritation in doing their job, they are not going to go out of there way to trash you. Cortese just continues to behave as a child that inherited a sweet shop. That this chap with a background as an advisor on where the rich invest, has no grasp of such matters should be of no surprise. He had no experience in running anything prior to the Saints. That is why his external business relationships are so full of disputes and edicts. The real sadness is that he seems incapable of acknowledging his faults and learning from his mistakes. That takes a wise and brave person.

The right time for a large offer was December 2009 which was 6 months after the new ownership and with 18mths left on his contract. At this point Adam can force a sale through to a Club elsewhere simply because he can hold over us the threat of being free of any contract next summer with us then getting a development award. This delay will probably have lost us £2m to £5m.

Exactly right. Cortese reduced our chances of promotion. If we now get automatic promotion, Adkins will deserve a medal - or a statue. 66% win ratio for the remaining games?

It was only a loss away. But it was to a rival. That said Adkins needs to win 2 out of every 3 remaining games, draw 25% and only lose 3 more to be in the automatic promotion slots with 88 points. If its the average 84 points (last 5 seasons) then we could afford to lose 4. It looks like a tall order and is a higher set of targets than when he started. Any slump or a month of draws could finish his season off unless he sneaks through the playoffs.

The question is why no new contract deal was done last season? Or in the summer? Was one offered?

Under his Leadership we went into administration and the Club was nearly finished. Having a nice training ground is rather irrelevant to the issue of survival.

A petty action that speaks more about Cortese. Add to the list of petty actions that Cortese has taken.

You fail to grasp what I said. I quoted Pardew's win ratio (from Oct 09) in League ONE. I then said that from the start of October 2010 Adkins needed to achieve a similar win ratio in League ONE to get us automatic promotion. Those are the same Leagues! Why you think it is relevant to quote roy of the rovers city central tin pot league win ratios is just about the most irrelevant comparison I have ever read. But you seem to think it is relevant.....

The question that arises is why Adkins failed to communicate with the players about hoofball. I hope it is not the Sturrock type of problem.

I am quoting win ratios in the same division. Do pay attention. There is also the fact that Pardew inherited a Club that had forgotten what a winning mentality was. Adkins inherited a Club that had only temporarily slumped back into a losing mentality over a few games.

From October 2009, Pardew instilled a winning mentality and won 64%. We had lacked a winning mentality at the Club for most of the previous 4 seasons. We now need Adkins to do the same and win 62%+ for an automatic promotion slot. The honeymoon is over, Adkins thinks he can get promotion and Cortese thought we were better off with Adkins than Pardew. So prove it.

Hits the nail on the head.

What is very odd is that we have some people being very precious over any adverse criticism on Cortese. It is as if no one is allowed to challenge any decision Cortese has taken. We frequently have a "you do not know why AP was fired therefore you cannot challenge the decision". Add in some sentimental claptrap about watch stories and claims about Cortese's brilliant business management background (no evidence), we then see the sad sight of Saints heroes who have been insulted by Cortese, being slagged off on here as well. Some of the precious Cortese supporters also were the same folk defending Lowelife with many of the same points about "how dare you challenge the great businessman Rupert etc"....... I always do look out for FF's posts even though my politics are diametrically opposed to his (UNITE). But I do respect his insights and contacts about the Club and would encourage him to continue.