Joensuu

This will be locked within minutes I warrent... but if rumours are to be belived then this might something to do with a current England player, and the daughter of a former Irish international midfielder of Anfield fame. Perhaps. Maybe. Caveated with massive disclaimers of it's all a fabrication.

That of course depends entirely upon whether you consider 'working for a christian mission in Damascus' as being 'worthwhile'. Interesting, perhaps, but 'worthwhile', IMO most certainly not.

An archaeologist? Used to work for the CBA, but left archaeology behind about 6 or 7 years ago. Are you a field archaeologist, or linked to a uni or council?

Thing is the Tories won't act decisively Dune, as despite having an inbuilt hatred of all things 'foreign', Tories tend to have a even greater love for all things involving money, especially personal wealth. Screw with immigration, and you scupper what's left of the economy. Welfare makes more economic sense to tackle, and is another typical Tory pet hate, so will appease the frothing blue masses. As such, the easiest target for Tory wrath is where Immigration and Welfare intersect, by targetting those who Prince Philip might depict as both 'foreign types' and 'scrounging beggers'. Personally, I agree with swannymere, albeit, that people who chose not to work, who were born in the UK should recieve a slightly stiffer penalty than the merely be sent home. Oh, and by the way, the Heil is wrong in it's basic argument. Politically, socially and economically, the infrastructure of the Country, while heavily utilised, is not at breaking point. As such, the Country can support further immigration - whether it wants to is another question. As such, the Heil is wrong again.

Baj, is there a 'report this post' option via tapatalk?

Agree, but I'm sure many fans would have chosen to do the same - if I remember rightly, Kevin wasn't always entirely loved.. While undoubtably a bad decision, perhaps not Strachan's worst, which for me would be: 1) Failing to find adequate cover for Michael Svensson (made worse by successive managers repeating the same mistake). 2) Failing to take a risk and play Fernandes at Cardiff. 3) Failing to resign when Lowe refused to stump up for Drogba, Saha, Malbranque etc 4) Selecting players based on nationality over ability, cf. Telfer, McCann etc.

Duncan, I recognise you are well connected and may know something we don't, but what proof is there that Cortese ever wanted Pardew out? All we had was a rumour last season, and Cortese's usual 'not responding to idle gossip' reaction (and frankly, why should he respond? Especially if he has privately given Pardew his backing.). Cortese isn't stupid. He won't be sacking Pardew, unless results don't pick up soon. He certainly hasn't already decided that Pardew is going to be sacked. He also won't have changed a decision because the fans didn't approve (perhaps he might have changed a decision because Markus overruled him - which seems doubtful). I'm convinced that if Pardew averages 2.5 points per game, between now and Christmas, he won't be sacked.

Freo, agree that Lowe would have got a lot more flack than Cortese has, and for good reason - over the years of mismanagement he built up enough resentment amoungst fans for every decision to be loudly criticised. Cortese hasn't had years of mismanagement - in fact he hasn't shown much evidence of mismanagement whatsoever. Cortese doesn't feel he should respond to speculation. His policy is that 'no comment' is usually the best policy, and the rumour in question will simply disapear. That's how I would handle idle media gossip and speculation too; any chairman or CEO who gets sucked into making a public responce is usually made to look silly, and ends up feeding the media tattle. This seems to me to be exactly the approach Cortese took with the Pardew gossip - ignore it, and the gossip will fade; respond and the gossip will grow. All Cortese needs to do is make sure that he speaks to Pardew in private, and lets him know, that 1) he has his confidence and 2) that Cortese will not be drawn into responding to media tattle. If this is what has happened, then IMO Cortese handled the Pardew gossip in a the best way he could have. Oh and, from what I have been seeing, the only Saints supporters questioning Cortese are our 'Internet fans'. As far as I can see talking to friends, this anti-Cortese vibe isn't something the core of our fanbase has picked up on. Most fans non-internet fans, seem to genuninely approve of the direction Cortese is taking us in. The 'anti-Cortese' vibe seems to exist only in the world of SaintsWeb.

I have friends who support a whole manner of teams in this division - Bournemouth, Brighton, Walsall, Wednesday, Brentford etc. And, while I haven't quized them on Cortese specifically, most of them have given me blank looks when his name is mentioned without me clarifying that he's our chairman. Quite frankly, most fans of other teams don't have a clue who he is. I agree that last year was only 'acceptable'. I agree that the that we have spent within our means. I agree that we are in every way bar league position a lower Premier club. However, I still think it's more than fair to suggest that Markus and Nicola have turned this club around. All we need to compare this to is the squad, atmosphere, and performances in our Championship relegation season. Have things 'turned around' since we went double dutch?

Not in my circle. There are one or two who are starting to question him, but most think he is doing very well, and that we are finally being professionally run. In fact, outside of this forum, there really don't seem to be many Saints fans who are debating Cortese. To most, he is the chairman, he has helped to pull this club back from the brink, and he has overseen a massive improvement both off (but more importantly) on the pitch. To be honest, the same thing happens with every chairman of every club, the vast majority of fans back them while the team is on the up, and slate them as soon as the the performances start going backwards. Cortese will be no different.

Fair enough... I'd have done the same if I heard it.

I'm not going to disagree with you. All I can say is that from my seat in section 135, the first I heard of the boos was on this site the following day. Also (from memory), I'm sure there was some debate on the 'boo' thread about whether the boos were directed at a different target, and not at Cortese. However, having not witnessed the booing, I can't disagree with what you heard.

SM, I didn't mean to suggest that posters on here were in receipt of freebies. Instead that the smoke might be being fanned by people who did recieve freebies, and that posters on here are seeing that smoke and jumping to their own conclusons. Many professional companies look to find ways to increase their revenue (certainly that is something all of the more successful of companies have in common with one another). I'm not so sure communication is 'abysmal' - IMO it has generally become more professional, with fewer rumours being leaked to the local media. The communications to fans should indeed be improved and hopefully we should soon see the benefits of the recent recruitements in this area. The only example of a communication that definately could have been handled better was the changes to ticket prices, and withdrawl of installment plan. I can only assume that the club (for some unknown reason) was busy evaluating the options, long after the pricing news should have been announced. In my experience, I have encountered plenty of examples where companies have postponed, and delayed making decisions, then rushed them at the last minute. It's never a good idea, and certainly something to be improved, but sometimes (for numerous reasons), a communication gets delayed, rushed, and end up appearing messy. For now I'm willing to give Saints the benefit of the doubt. Certainly, I'm glad we are past the days of seeing BWP or DMG being wheeled out onto the website with a 'determined to do better than last week' statement, only to prove the exact opposite on the pitch a few days later. Yorkie, so far there is little actually evidence, just lots of rumour. He's only banned two groups of people (to my knowledge), the Echo, and press photographers. We don't know the reasons behind these moves, but they can both be explained in rational ways, without needing to jump to a 'mini-hitler' conclusion. The press photographers decision could have been made in relation to Markus' condition; equally it could have been made for financial reasons (whether rightly or wrongly). The Echo decision could have been made to stamp out the leaking of back-door rumours, perhaps even to help end the freebie culture? I'm not saying this is definately what has happened, just that we simply don't know one way or the other. When you blow through the rumour, the evidence relating to Cortese, is that he has been highly successful in his previous career, he had Markus' confidence, he is highly respected, and since becoming our chairman the vast majority of the decisions have been very positive and amitious. Of course I can see that he 'might' be causing problems, but I simply haven't seen enough evidence supporting this opinion. I have however seen a raft of positive changes under his stewardship; I can see a professional, well-run, company emerging from the chaos that we all grew accustomed to just over a year ago. So is Cortese my 'dream CEO'? No, I'll defer my opinion until I've seen the outcome of his management. Forgive me, for not reacting to rumour, especially in the face of evidence to the contary. Hypo, weren't the existance of boos debated? Wasn't there a suggestion that Mawhinney was named at the same time Cortese was pictured (or something?)? Certainly, I didn't hear any booing at any point in game apart from during the Mexican waves.

Why do some many people dislike Cortese? There have been various rumours, but few facts. Some on here seem to have lept into a default postion of thinking that their can't be smoke without fire. I suspect we are seeing the old guard, who have become digruntled in the last year by loosing their benefits, freebies and inside info, and who are desperately trying to fan flames around Cortese. I don't know Cortese, and certainly haven't formed the same opinion of his personality that some on here seem to. So far he seems to be very professional, while showing that he won't take any s**t from anyone. Isn't that exactly the sort of CEO every company dreams of having? I'm not saying I'd get on with Cortese personally, I sense he wouldn't be the sort to grab a pint with lunch, but so far I have seen no evidence to suggest he isn't running the Saints the way successful businesses operate: efficient, streamlined, ambitious, forward-thinking. Seriously what more could we ask for? At the moment, and moreso since Markus' passing, efforts by some on here to undermine Cortese don't strike me as rational. Sure he has ruffled a few feathers, but attacks on Cortese seem to be direct attacks against the future success of the Saints. Do some of enjoy the team decending through the leagues? Are some of you really willing to put your own personal dislike of a man, you have never met, without evidence, before your support of the Saints? That's something I can't fathom.

For the first time ever, I agree with you on this one. Although (I assume) we have reached the same conclusions from very different reasoning. Government Intervention - something to be prevented at all costs (unless the government is protecting individuals, locations, or objects from the excesses of another). Government support - something to be encouraged (but it's gone to far if it causes able people to stop making the effort to try to support themselves).

You do realise Labour has been a right of centre party since Smith passed away... don't you? And here you are again you appear to be confusing 'Socialism' with 'Authoritarianism'. New Labour were led by a cabinet who were right of centre; they were pro-business, pro-free market, anti-financial regulation (which is one of the main reasons the bankers were able to cause the mess in the first place). The only thing they share with a socialist is that they are both borderline authoritarian (hense the shocking restrictions of civil liberties*). In fact, New Labour are more akin to Thatcher than to any socialist. * anyhow, isn't this extreme restriction of civil liberties something you claim to politically support (hense your chosen party on the Election board, and your Political Compass score etc)?

Dune, is there any good reason for referring to the Labour party leadership as 'socialist', other than to provoke?

Can I just point out, that unless better than our current first team, anyone we buy now will have dropped to third choice this time next year when we (hopefully) buy replacements for the Premier push. Unless we can buy players who will walk straight into our first team, then loaning is by far the most sensible option open to us. (Especially as one of the roles we lack is pace in attacking positions - something young, talented Premier League kids often have in abundance)

Wonder if this is a basic wage, or total salary including image rights? Messi was the top paid footballer last year, earning somewhere between £20 and £30 million. We all know that other sports stars earn a lot more Federer received around £40 million last year, while Tiger Woods saw his income drop by 10% (wonder why), which still leaved him with pre tax income of c. £65 million. Put in that context, if £500k per week were the total income, including additional fees earnt for advertising, the £25 million pa would not out of sync with other top stars. But here's the problem, he's at the top of his game, but he's hardly unique, I'm not sure you could even brand him a 'top star'. If this wage is true, and doesn't somehow include 'OTE, estimated total weekly income including maximum bonuses and private advertising fees' or similar, it'd be a crazy (and rather desperate) offer for city to make. On second thoughts, there would have to be a significant compensation for living near Manchester...

Just spoke to a mate who works for the RMT, and is in the same 5 a side squad as Mr Crowe. Apparently this pay rise is 12% over 4 years... so it's still a bit off in the current climate, but no where near as OTT as the Daily Heil suggests. Personally, I think Crowe is one of the least likeable people in the country (up their with Cowell, Clarkson and half the Tory party). Even from my left of centre position, I feel he is a very scary authoritarian, with horridly illiberal views.

I have to say, I noticed exactly the opposite. I was lead to believe from the various locked threads that Pompey fans were going ridiculously overboard with their anti-saints jokes at Markus' expense. But when I checked out Pompey Online, I was suprised to see that the vast majority of their fans had actually been very respectful: many had just left simple 'RIP's. Sure they had a few OTT posts - but nothing I wouldn't expect to see on here if the roles were reversed. Unless of course the most abusive posts have been removed before I read through the thread. Karma is a strange concept. At the moment, both ends of the M27 feel as if they have had a bad run of luck, and have seen nothing but vitrol and abuse coming from their neighbours. Much as I hate the cheating, the lack of punishment, and the abuse of charities etc, I can see that average Pompey fans do not deserve to see their club die - just as we didn't deserve to see our club disappear last summer. Markus saved us, and will be remembered for decades in this corner of Hampshire. I honestly hope that Pompey are eventually saved (and I don't mind taking flack for saying so). FMPR - I respect your call for an end to the point scoring. As for 'Karma' that was a pretty sick comment to make at any time - one of the least repectful on the PO thread. BTW, I wouldn't wish for karma if I were you, if karma comes into it and justice is served, your chosen club will have a long, long way to fall before they eventually recover - the misdemeanours that have been committed in your name certainly haven't yet been adequately punished.

Guilty as charged

Ask Dune. He has certainly been accused, and to my knowledge hasn't denied it.

My subscription has now elapsed. It won't be renewed until the worst offenders have been dealt with by the mods. Two specific posters seem to regularly ignore the rules, spam every thread, and frequently post in favour of violence, or use sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, or racist language, seemingly without Admin redress (I of course refer to the 'artist's' formally known as Stanley and SRS). Kick these two clowns off the board, and watch the sensible, less-polemic debate return. While I respect the admin's stance of taking a hands-off approach, I think there is a necessity to clamp down on the two worst offenders. I love the analogy of mods being refs who want to keep the game flowing, it's definately the best strategy. But when you have certain posters acting like they're Joey Barton having a punch up on every thread, you might think a red card or two really should have really been awarded for that awful tackle they commited early in the game? It's a bit like watching a Cantona-esque kick go unpenalised by the same poster multiple times in the same game. How the afformentioned posters remain members of this site baffles me.

Players in the accendency will demand long term contracts (only players past their best, or being given one last chance get one year contracts. Next summer (if we are promoted) fans on here will be demanding we sign 'Lower-Premier' quality replacements for many of our current squad. Where will this leave a 'Lambert-backup' many are demanding this summer? What, 5th, or 6th choice in a heavily bloated squad? What I'm trying to say, is that if we are serious about promotion, we obviously need a couple of new heads, but we don't want to bloat our squad. As I see it, the only sensible options are: Old quality players on short-term contracts Young potential, who seem likely to make the step up Loanees IMO, getting young quality players on loan is by far the most sensible strategy - especially to inject some much-needed pace upfront. Rather than bloat the squad, it'd be more sensible to loan the players we need, then next summer we will (hopefully) be able to bring in new players of a higher calibre. The current squad IS without doubt one of the best in the league. There IS already plenty of cover in all positions (and yes, I include Wotton in that assessment, he's more than capable of doing a job in this league). Some of us on this board are just being greedy, wanting more, and wanting it now... forgetting that doing so is likely to cause us more of a headache next summer when we find we have c. three good-league one players in each position, and now want to bring in some top-level championship/lower premier players. Finding quality loans is definately the way to go for any club wanting multiple promotions quickly.