Jackie@home

MP has obviously proved to be a two-faced git, stirring the players up on one side, and telling the board something else. We're really having to pay for shafting Nigel! Speaking to other supporters of Sunderland, West Ham, Stoke, they just said that their players would be exactly the same if one of the top 4 came in for them, they just haven't got any players good enough! If you look at many of the teams out of the so -called 'elite' who have had a good season, they've usually done it with players on loan from top clubs, like Lukaku, or players who are past their peak, like Gareth Barry - that's why we are in such an unusual situation. I'd sell Lovren to any other club than Liverpool, even Spurs, after the way they've behaved. I'm sure they've encouraged this agitation in the press.

But Jan Vertonghen has been quoted as wanting to leave for Champions League football! Getting rather fed-up with this 'project' word. The club have stated they still have ambitions for European football some time in the future, but none of this can happen overnight, even before the restrictions of Financial Fair Play, which many of our players and supporters have conveniently ignored. I don't think it's coincidence that Cortese left after voting against Financial Fair Play; his ambitions would have been stymied anyway. Not that it is really fair, it just preserves the status quo. Agree we need a clearly defined football person on the board. Whilst we wait for that to happen, the board should collectively inform Ronald of their stance, and players should be able to have confidence that they are speaking to him as the mouthpiece of the club.

I thought his quote about the England team's visit to one of the poorest districts in Brazil being a 'life changing experience' for the locals was crass enough, but this takes the biscuit. Can't understand why he couldn't leave with good grace, as most other players who've been brought through the youth system have. Even when we were in financial trouble in the lower leagues, for example, Oxo and Theo could have left on frees with us only getting a tribunal fee, but they were happy for Saints to take some financial benefit out of their transfers; they didn't want the club to be shafted. Lallana's behaviour must have affected our negotiating position, and I reckon he was encouraged in this his agent and Brendan Rodgers. Always thought that there was something dislikeable about Rodgers even before he became interested in our players - difficult to pin down; perhaps the convenient emotion over Hillsborough, other quotes where he seems to say the right thing to get what he wants. Quite why he should want to stir it up with other players, God knows, the clubs been good to him throughout his career, and Saints have been on the up consistently for the last 5 years.

I remember when Beattie was being openly courted by Villa. It got to the point where we would sell to anybody BUT Villa. Would be interesting if this was the case this season - who knows where they will really end up? Doesn't sound like the Scousers have actually got that huge a transfer budget and they're trying to stretch it rather farther than it will actually go (unless Suarez leaves). Anyway, it's not the same as us buying RL - we only bought 1 player from each club, not ripped the spine out of an entire club.

You can blame them - they all know that the appointment of a manager is imminent, and the club have said several times that they have funds available to improve the squad, without anyone leaving. There's been nothing but investment in the squad and facilities since the Liebherr family have owned us; it's not like they've got a record of cashing in - not at all. Lallana is particularly disappointing considering his previous statements, and as captain. There was a chance of the club really progressing, IF the players had just committed to staying together - you wonder how much stirring MP was doing. It just tells you that you are better off buying older players that are on their way down like Stoke, so none of the big clubs want to buy them! And the FA wonder why we don't produce many English players - what's the incentive for any club outside the top 4 or 5 teams, when even the England manager is encouraging them to leave? It's best for us if none of our players get called up for their national teams.

It's not going to benefit Roy if Ricky spends most of his time bench-warming. If anything, he should encourage players to stay where they are so they get more game time. They moan about the small number of English players in the PL and do nothing to encourage the smaller clubs to bring players through.

I agree. I don't think she's trying to asset strip at all. You wouldn't be taking on all these extra staff on the commercial side, spend millions on a new training ground, have a staff of 20 scouting new players and managers, bringing in a new board if this was the case. It's the usual thing that happens when players get in the England squad and start mixing with the likes of Gerrard, they get unsettled. I reckon KL is stressed about the situation as well as us - the players are agitating to leave; they are not being sold against their will. MP had no intention of signing a new contract. Apparently he had an agent in France touting him around for jobs over there in April. She might well be willing to invest more funds this summer but MP used us, and I think the worse you can accuse the board of is naivety - there are some pretty dirty dealers involved in football.

I think Liverpool realise that there are clubs with deeper pockets than them. Well, tough. If they really want him they will wait to the World Cup is over. We should n't be railroaded into selling our best player at their convenience. Remember what you said, Ralph! Just stick to it.

Glad it's come to a head now rather than rumbling along through the summer. It means we've got more choice of managerial candidates, rather than the dregs that are left. I don't think he ever had any intention of signing a new contract; he never uttered any words of encouragement or gave the impression, really, that he was part of the club. Makes you wonder if he's already been trying to tap up some of the players. There are probably a lot of other good managers who only have 1 year left on their contract, but you don't get their players come out in the papers nearly every day pleading with them to stay - there has definitely been some stirring behind the scenes, and I'm sure Cortese is part of it.

I know he's entitled to assess his options, but he's never shown any kind of commitment to the club throughout his time here, even before Cortese left. He just leaves you cold; Nigel Adkins was obviously a decent bloke with morals - you could tell he loved the job, even though Cortese was obviously putting him under incredible pressure, even with 2 successive promotions. I hated the way Cortese tried to wipe him out of our history after being so good as it his job. The players must have rated him as well, otherwise they would never have achieved so much under his management. He was just getting to grips with the PL when he was given the boot. I'd rather him than many of the other names touted.

There was a good article in the Independent by Sam Wallace, think it was on Monday, talking about the vultures hovering over Saints. It's a depressing reality that very few players opt to stay at their clubs when the big boys call. Let's face it, all Premiership teams would rather hold on to their best players than sell - the money is never adequate compensation as you can never replace like for like. He said that what teams like Man U and Man City have bought, is not just players in the transfer market, but also the right to hold on to all the players that the club bring through their youth system. We've continually heard about the class of '92 from Man U over the years, but it's much easier for them to hold on to all their talent. All other teams find their talent picked off by a handful of clubs at the top. I saw a quote from a Liverpool supporter yesterday that he had totalled up that they had been linked with 107 players so far since the start of last season!

Why would KL lie about that? She could have just put the club up for sale and taken the dosh. If she wasn't interested, what's she doing at all the matches now?

Good point! We all know that when players get in the England squad and start hanging around with the likes of Gerrard and Rooney, they start to get itchy feet. It's very easy to say that he would have turned down every bid when he knows we can't prove otherwise. He also voted against the Financial Fair Play regulations that limit how much you can increase the wage bill in the Premier League - this makes it far more difficult to do a Man City now, and effectively confirms the status quo. Any progress has to be more gradual than he would have liked. Besides, it never was his money and eventually any owner would have reigned him in.

Most definitely, unless proved otherwise. The fact that she's been at nearly every game since NC left means she must be getting the bug! Lots of the owners in the Premier League hardly bother to turn up, even if they live in the UK - we could do a lot worse! Her father always said we had to be sustainable after the 5 year plan, and there is nothing in the Liebherr business history to suggest they would do anything risky. However, I don't think Ralph would be here if the job was just to keep us up, that wouldn't excite him. He's a retired sportsman after all, and he entirely got the point, which seems to have escaped Mike Ashley, when he said in an interview on Radio Solent, that sport's about winning.

Possibly, but lots of men in their 60's look very similar to that! However, doesn't tell you very much. If he was negotiating a contract with Saints, he would be in Southampton, if he was negotiating a 'get-out' clause on MP's contract he would be there also.

Too right Man U are desperate! After all, lots of their usual targets will not be interested now they are not in Europe and need total rebuilding - they haven't got one decent defender left at the club! The least we can do is drag it out as long as possible.

Well, if MP goes to Spurs and get sacked after 6 months he only has himself to blame - there's been enough criticism in the media from ex-Spurs about Levy (just been listening to Clive Allen on 5 Live) for him to know what to expect. I reckon that if Jonathan Barnett is his agent, he will be the one putting MP's name all over the papers and Sky - any chance for a big pay day. He's one of the North London Jewish Mafia like Levy. After all, why would MP be their first choice? He's hasn't got the European experience Spurs, you would think, would be after. Steve Clarke didn't get linked with top 6 clubs because he got WBA to 8th last season - it's just as logical, probably more so because he coached at Chelsea. MP is obviously popular with the players, but he has always seemed very detached from the club; it's just a stepping stone, totally different feeling about him compared to Nigel.

Adam obviously loves playing and, like MLT said in his interview, being first name on the team sheet means a lot. I'm sure he wouldn't be happy sat on the bench, even occasionally. On his salary he can do anything he wants already; he's already set up for life, as he seems a very sensible chap.

MoPo didn't even move off the bench today, looked totally disinterested. He's normally kicking every ball, really involved. Feel really sorry for Adam. MoPo sent out all the wrong messages today; we could easily have got this won in the first half, then rest a few players. Totally illogical - if you can't have a good cup run in our position, when can you? I'm fuming. Grrrrrrrrrrr............

That's not actually very logical, SNSUN, because if they Liebherr family regard us as just a business proposition, they ought to sell now whilst we are in the Premier League, and Cortese is supposed to have been lining up investors in case they lose interest. If they are still interested, but they just want another style of chief executive who acts in a less abrasive fashion, neither scenario would mean plummeting down the leagues.

He's done well.I think he could score more with a better level of service, which hopefully he might get next season if the right players are brought in. Impressive performance from him yesterday and a peach of a goal.

I was there; I watch Salisbury when Saints are away. Saints fans on the staff at Salisbury as well. There was a gate just short of 3,500, many didn't get in before kick-off. The first half was a bit dour, but it definitely picked up in the second half! A few good goals, especially from Jamie White, ex-Saint. Fantastic atmosphere and celebrations in the Sarum Suite with the players after the match. About 800 there from Dover.

Last 2 home games the paper towels have run out before the start of the game in the Kingsland ladies, and not been refilled at half-time. Perhaps somebody ought to receive the Cortese hairdryer treatment!

Absolute disgrace.........I'm absolutely fuming. We've watched enough Saints teams over the years to know when the team are giving their all for the manager, and the current squad clearly believed in Nigel. Yoshida confirmed this on the Premier League programme last night. If this new bloke was so good, why was he sacked with 9 points in 13 games? Cortese is behaving like a mini Abramovich, only it's not even his own money! If we had appointed someone like Allardyce who had bags of experience keeping teams in the Premier League, it might have made SOME sense, but still totally wrong.However, to appoint someone who knows bugger all about English football with 16 games left is totally crazy. Jealous of whoever gets Nigel next.

Im afraid Jose's not up to it - looked dodgy against the best Championship players last season, whereas Jos has a much calmer prescence. I think Jos will be fine with the right guy alongside him, a bit like Claus when he had Killer next to him. We're asking a bit much from a Japanese defender whose been playing in a lesser league, let's hope he wasn't about 6th on our target list!