Sour Mash

I have never and most likely never will receive "their benefits, freebies and inside info" from the club and neither have any of my mates. However, we all feel that Cortese views supporters as cash cows to be milked for as much money as possible, while paying no interest to their views or opinions on any matter. Communication from the club has been abysmal since he took over. I have no doubt that he is doing a lot of things right, but I certainly reserve the right to criticism him where and when I feel appropriate.

If that is true, it is embarrassingly s***te!

Which shows how utterly thick many Saints fans are.

No, what Green does isn't the same as what the Skates have done. He pays far more into society than any of us ever will and probably takes less out.

That's fair enough, but the Northam probably isn't the best place to head to then if you want to sit down........

Really? Never heard of that before! Thankfully we have posters such as yourselves on here to put us right.

Why? If they're not that @rsed, I'd rather they didn't bother if they need that much encouragement to attend.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/8925775.stm Yep, just reading that this morning and thought it was a VERY strange deal. Maybe its just another example of the werird world of modern football finance, just a coincidence it involves the CHEATS.

Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't, depends on the guard's mood, how many of you there are and how p***d you are. Normally find the later in the day it is, the less they are bothered. Just go on the p**s in Bristol, worse things to do with your Saturday evening?

That's not controversial, just wrong.

You think its the same?

I think anyone who would care enough to come along to the game, will already know about it, really can't see a news article influencing anyone either way. I'm guessing Orient will bring probably a 1k or a bit less, am I right in thinking that block 43 has been opened up for Saints fans? Always a sign of a good crowd.

Why you asking me?

Not too sure how that will make any difference?

It will definitely be more than that. 27/28k minimum I reckon.

Lets hope so eh? Posting from Spain, hoping for an unstable UK government? Some of us live here thanks!

Its not tax evasion, but avoidance we're talking about here isn't it? There must be many thousands of businesses and businesses men that employ accountants etc to legally reduce their tax payments, seems like Philip Green's one is a it better than others. Probably all have the same opinion that they've worked very hard and taken loads of risks for what they've earn, why should they have to then give half of it away, a large amount of which will be wasted by our inefficient governments.

Not on there being an endless supply of firms and entreprenuers being able to do the same thing it isn't?

This thread has loads of laughable comments comparing those who avoid paying crazy amounts of tax after already putting massive amounts into the economy to benefits scroungers, many saying they are worse than benefit cheats, hence the comment. Fair play, John Lewis has decided to run their businesses a particular way, they have every right to work like that, it sounds great, but that doesn't make what someone like Philip Green does is wrong. He certainly isn't my "hero" comes across as an attention seeking big head from what I've seen in the media, but its the principle of rewarding and encouraging successful, progressive British businesses and entrepreneurs, rather than punishing them is what I am arguing for.

Do you think if one firm didn't exist another would just happen to do the same in its place? If one entrepreneur didn't create his business and employ all these people, a.n.other would? If one store wasn't around to be massively popular with foreign visitors and make loads of money (including taxable revenue), then another would just emerge in its place? Do you actually think that is how it works?

First of all, I didn't suggest for a minute they just came to London to go to Top Shop. But its businesses such as his that make London a place for people to come and spend their money. I go to meeitngs round the corner from that store a couple of times a month and its always f****g packed! His businesess has developed a massively successful, world renowned brand I've been, that is ahead of and/or competing with its rivals across the world. Doesn't matter if its clothes/cars/banking/property whatever, it is entreprenuerial bussiness that creates wealth for this country and that we all ultimately prosper from. It should be encouraged as much as possible not put on a par with people who never do an honest days work in their lives and ONLY take out of the system.

No. Go outside somewhere like Top Shop in Oxford Circus for example and see how many foreign visitors are spending their money in our country as an example of the money his business brings in. Money that could easily not be spent full stop or if their was a tired old C&A there or something. Yep, lets reward failure, forget taking risks, employing people, growing businesses, you'll have half of it taken off you to pay for others to sit around doing nothing for the WHOLE of their lives.

Absolute rubbish. "If Arcadia closed down tomorrow the gap would be filled over almost immediately by other retailers" As with any business, it is no-where near as simple as that. I'd love to know, for example, how much money is spent by foreign visitors in the Top Shop store at Oxford Street? How much VAT is paid on that? How many people are employed by his companies? How much income tax each of them pay into the system? How much tax he must pay every time he dines at a 5* restaurant or buys a new car and the people that all that expenditure goes on to employ and the income tax they then go on to pay etc? You think its as easy as saying if he wasn't doing it someone else would? Look how many failed, rubbish clothes retailers have fallen by the wayside. If it was that easy we'd all be doing it (or a lot more people would.) This country receives far more income because of people like Philip Green, we would all be worse off without their contribution.

I agree.