Dinner with Nicola Cortese

[thorpie the sinner]

One final thought on this snippet.

 

Think someone should have pointed out that actually NC has finally noticed the fundamental central point of the British Psyche, not just us Saints fans.

 

The Whingeing Poms syndrome as the LOSERS down under used to call us. It does often come as a shock to Johnny Foreigners.

 

Turning the club around is feasible, making us challenge for honours in the PL will take a helluva lot of work, but changing us into Optimists?

 

Jeez, if he does that we'll lose him PDQ as he goes off to the UN to solve World Hunger, turn Al Qaeda into a Capitalist Hedge Fund and turn Portsmouth into the European Capital of Culture in 2014.

 

OK maybe he can do all of that except the last one

 

If he supplys a decent cheese board with each match ticket as well, nah.....thats just one step too far!!

[Deppo]

But if you ask him nicely he might get them to do a special showing of My Little Pony for you.

 

Is that actually a film? I didn't realise they made a film of it. I'll check with Nicola but I think he really wants to see Tron Legacy.

[Tamesaint]

Thanks for the excellent reports.

 

How many people attend these dinners ? How many were there last night? I am trying to work out the likelihood of getting an invitation!!

[derry]

Thanks for the updates to those who provided them.

 

It seems even more clear from his comments that Cortese either monitors this forum very closely, or has someone do it for him.

 

That's quite reassuring, but some posters might need to ponder on it before they start pounding keys.

 

Happy Christmas Bill.

[dubai_phil]

OK, this is starting to get freaky, it is still another 15 days until Peace Joy Love and Harmony is really needed

 

(hug)

 

But what the heck Happy Christmas one and all.

 

Because after the last couple of days of interviews and reports from our ST stars. It really IS going to be a Happy time to be a Saints fan.

 

Until the next dodgy result

[Micky]

So, just to be clear then, the Nicola Cortese that some on here were labelling as 'friend of the devil' not so very long ago, whilst others felt the need to boo at Wembley, actually has the clubs very best interest at heart. Well I never.

 

It would appear that we are in very good hands, we can look forward with optimism but above all, feel proud of our club.

 

Many thanks to the 'reporters' - about time we had threads reporting what came from the 'horses mouth' as opposed to speculative guesswork. Onwards and upwards.

[doddisalegend]

So, just to be clear then, the Nicola Cortese that some on here were labelling as 'friend of the devil' not so very long ago, whilst others felt the need to boo at Wembley, actually has the clubs very best interest at heart. Well I never.

 

It would appear that we are in very good hands, we can look forward with optimism but above all, feel proud of our club.

 

Many thanks to the 'reporters' - about time we had threads reporting what came from the 'horses mouth' as opposed to speculative guesswork. Onwards and upwards.

 

oh don't start that one again

[Chez]

if invited would anyone dare to ask about the ticket tax or is that not done?

[landford.saint]

oh don't start that one again

 

Oh yes they did... Oh no they didn't .. Oh yes (etc)

sorry seasonal post over.

[buctootim]

if invited would anyone dare to ask about the ticket tax or is that not done?

 

Its a fair question. As long as its asked in the right way - ie from the premise that both the questioner and NC want the best for the club i cant see anyone should shy away from it.

[doddisalegend]

if invited would anyone dare to ask about the ticket tax or is that not done?

 

I thought they did? Didn't spudgun say NC said it was done to put people off just walking up on the day as it created to many problems at the ticket office. Doesn't explain the online charge though.

[Chez]

Its a fair question. As long as its asked in the right way - ie from the premise that both the questioner and NC want the best for the club i cant see anyone should shy away from it.

 

I think we all know his answer - making the club pay it own way - but personally I'd like to make it clear how annoyed I am by it. However, I'm not going to start `attacking' the guy when he's invited me out to dinner.

The fella is not daft, who is going to give him anything tricky to answer when he is `treating them' (I assume he is paying).

I'm glad he is meeting some fans, but its not really a fans forum is it? is there a seperate forum as I am not aware?

[dune]

Spudgun can you give us a report on the other guests please. Did any trampy looking fans turn up, fat fats, gingers etc.

[Smirking_Saint]

The season ticket instalment plan will come back once we have the electronic type card system in place. The removal of the scheme was because there were over 400 people who set up the direct debit and cancelled it as soon as they received their tickets.

 

He said no more than 1300 people took out the installment plan for season tickets, and as has been said, over a quarter of those people didnt pay but kept coming!, evading capture by sitting in other seats. Id like to add a good old "shame on you" to those involved. This would be solved by the electronic tickets, because these people could be instantly denied access.

 

Strange this is what me and a few others were saying when the installment plan was kicking off, especially about reasons and the levels of installment plan uptake.

 

Obviously SRS had done plenty of research and realised that this was incorrect so Cortese must be wrong.

 

As for everything about the dinners i have been so so impressed by what Cortese has been saying and doing and i just hope everything he says is true.

 

It also goes a long way to make up for his lack of PR which was one of his biggest failings.

[Leslie Charteris]

Is that actually a film? I didn't realise they made a film of it. I'll check with Nicola but I think he really wants to see Tron Legacy.

 

It is an animated entertainment intended for kids but created by adults with, perhaps, some substances on their mind - the kids love it! I just hope that the architects of SFC's future are of a sounder mind than the creators of the My little Pony movie. In NC we trust!

[Chez]

I thought they did? Didn't spudgun say NC said it was done to put people off just walking up on the day as it created to many problems at the ticket office. Doesn't explain the online charge though.

 

how does a fee to buy tickets in advance help reduce the walk up especially when the advance fee is greater than the walk up fee? I hope that wasn't his response as it is total ********. If he just said they needed each department to cover its own costs then it would be tough to argue. As I said, I don't think a dinner is the right place to bring such a thing up.

[Smirking_Saint]

how does a fee to buy tickets in advance help reduce the walk up especially when the advance fee is greater than the walk up fee? I hope that wasn't his response as it is total ********. If he just said they needed each department to cover its own costs then it would be tough to argue. As I said, I don't think a dinner is the right place to bring such a thing up.

 

No his response was the walk up fee, which i can sort of see his point with.

 

I understand that there is a fee for all credit/debit transactions which is probably in use at every other club but hidden inside the overall ticket price. I think if NC really wants to stop the on the day walk ups he needs to make advance bookings more attractive.

 

Either way, if this is just a transparancy thing then his intentions may have been right but it was always going to rile people.

 

IMO he should rid himself of the advance booking fee and also reintroduce half season tickets.

[Chez]

No his response was the walk up fee, which i can sort of see his point with.

 

I understand that there is a fee for all credit/debit transactions which is probably in use at every other club but hidden inside the overall ticket price. I think if NC really wants to stop the on the day walk ups he needs to make advance bookings more attractive.

 

Either way, if this is just a transparancy thing then his intentions may have been right but it was always going to rile people.

 

IMO he should rid himself of the advance booking fee and also reintroduce half season tickets.

 

Charging more for walk up makes total sense. But if there is a admin fee for advance buying surely the same admin fee should apply to walk ups? ie £3 in advance and £5 on the day? Maybe I shouldn't be putting ideas into peoples heads.

[doddisalegend]

Charging more for walk up makes total sense. But if there is a admin fee for advance buying surely the same admin fee should apply to walk ups? ie £3 in advance and £5 on the day? Maybe I shouldn't be putting ideas into peoples heads.

 

I thought the on the day fee was the same as the online one? is the online more expensive becuase that really would be odd?

[Smirking_Saint]

Charging more for walk up makes total sense. But if there is a admin fee for advance buying surely the same admin fee should apply to walk ups? ie £3 in advance and £5 on the day? Maybe I shouldn't be putting ideas into peoples heads.

 

True, i suppose you are right. If you have an admin fee that is because of card transactions then of course this should count at the ticket office as it does over the phone.

I don't know, i am not supporting the move at all BTW, just trying to make sense of why it is there. There must be a reason similar to that of box offices charging over the phone for card transactions however if I went to say the BIC for instance i could buy tickets without the card fee.

 

Either way, you are right. If he really wants to discourage the walkup he should abolish the 'ticket tax' for advance bookings. Or (as i imagine would be more of a likely case) hide it away again inside the overall price of tickets.

[buctootim]

Charging more for walk up makes total sense. But if there is a admin fee for advance buying surely the same admin fee should apply to walk ups? ie £3 in advance and £5 on the day? Maybe I shouldn't be putting ideas into peoples heads.

 

Presumably the online charge reflects not just the credit card charge but also the cost of putting the tickets in an envelope and postage.

[sotonjoe]

I thought the advance booking charge was £3 per transaction whereas the match day extra free was £2 per ticket.

[Deppo]

Just back from my evening with Cortese - it was wonderful! I feel all giddy! I gave him my number - he said he'd call tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Oh, and Tron Legacy was rubbish, but we didn't see much of the film if you know what I mean!

[Badger]

I thought the advance booking charge was £3 per transaction whereas the match day extra free was £2 per ticket.

 

My understanding also.

[Chez]

Presumably the online charge reflects not just the credit card charge but also the cost of putting the tickets in an envelope and postage.

 

Its always the little things that grate. You can use a card on the day (but strangely there is no admin charge) so that means its £3 for an envelope and stamp. Business rate second class post still brings those two items under 30p. Football supporters are obviously suckers, but we don't like being taken for fools. As I said perhaps this is price of pies stuff, but I genuinely am concerned about where the pricing might go whilst we are on this run to the Premiership title. If the club thinks it can get away with pretty much anything then why not try to.

[Chez]

I thought the on the day fee was the same as the online one? is the online more expensive becuase that really would be odd?

 

yes it is more expensive online and yes it is odd.

[Chez]

I thought the advance booking charge was £3 per transaction whereas the match day extra free was £2 per ticket.

 

correct. But I buy one ticket so how does that help me? Damn, I just can't help myself on this issue. I do have a question, will this decision have been made by NC directly (is he proper hands on?) or would he just ask David Luker to cover his departments costs and then he devises the specifics? CEOs tend ti stand back so my ST friend keeps telling me.

Edited 9 December, 2010 by Chez

[SparkySaint]

Just back from my evening with Cortese - it was wonderful! I feel all giddy! I gave him my number - he said he'd call tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Oh, and Tron Legacy was rubbish, but we didn't see much of the film if you know what I mean!

 

Can i have your number? I'll text you with kisses and everything

[doddisalegend]

Its always the little things that grate. You can use a card on the day (but strangely there is no admin charge) so that means its £3 for an envelope and stamp. Business rate second class post still brings those two items under 30p. Football supporters are obviously suckers, but we don't like being taken for fools. As I said perhaps this is price of pies stuff, but I genuinely am concerned about where the pricing might go whilst we are on this run to the Premiership title. If the club thinks it can get away with pretty much anything then why not try to.

 

well if NC wants to get 45,000 at PL games he's surely gone to have make the pricing competitive. Looked into getting some tickets to take my wife's grandad to arsenal game a few weeks back. Almost fell off my chair if pricing goes that way I'll be picking my two matches a season very carefully.

[Nexstar]

well if NC wants to get 45,000 at PL games he's surely gone to have make the pricing competitive. Looked into getting some tickets to take my wife's grandad to arsenal game a few weeks back. Almost fell off my chair if pricing goes that way I'll be picking my two matches a season very carefully.

 

A single adult ticket to watch West Ham v Wolves will cost you £36 and anyone else £21. Cortese would have a massive headache balancing 45,000 crowds each week against prices that will be attractive and enough to be financially viable.

[sadoldgit]

"If we can get promoted this year." Hmmmmm.

 

I thought that was the reason that we brought a new manager in. That promotion would be a given this season. And now perhaps we won't get the players we need until the Summer? Sorry to **** on your chips Spudgun but doesn't this all seem a trifle odd to you? Great that you had a lovely evening and all but have you heard of the words charm offensive before?

 

So then, the great man mention that there were lots of reasons why Pardew was sacked. Did you think to ask him for them or was it just because he worked the players too hard? Perhaps Pardew took Cortese's ambition too much to heart and wanted promotion this season? Oh well, he paid for that with a Premiership job so he must be gutted now.

 

I hope you enjoyed the meal.

[EastleighSoulBoy]

No his response was the walk up fee, which i can sort of see his point with.

 

I understand that there is a fee for all credit/debit transactions which is probably in use at every other club but hidden inside the overall ticket price. I think if NC really wants to stop the on the day walk ups he needs to make advance bookings more attractive.

 

Either way, if this is just a transparancy thing then his intentions may have been right but it was always going to rile people.

 

IMO he should rid himself of the advance booking fee and also reintroduce half season tickets.

 

I attended the ticket office thrice so far this season to purchase tickets for Shrewsbury, Cheltenham & Blackpool. The last two times I paid by using my Debit Card. On neither occasion did I pay any surcharge of any kind. I'd be inclined to think that a Debit Card must work differently from a Credit Card and therefore incurs no charge because the club pay no fee to the card issuer?

[saintscottofthenortham]

"If we can get promoted this year." Hmmmmm.

 

I thought that was the reason that we brought a new manager in. That promotion would be a given this season. And now perhaps we won't get the players we need until the Summer? Sorry to **** on your chips Spudgun but doesn't this all seem a trifle odd to you? Great that you had a lovely evening and all but have you heard of the words charm offensive before?

 

So then, the great man mention that there were lots of reasons why Pardew was sacked. Did you think to ask him for them or was it just because he worked the players too hard? Perhaps Pardew took Cortese's ambition too much to heart and wanted promotion this season? Oh well, he paid for that with a Premiership job so he must be gutted now.

 

I hope you enjoyed the meal.

 

The last time I had to endure one of your utterly pathetic and desperate posts... I ended up with a infraction. I am

Currently trying to workout if it's actually worth getting another right now. But I am beginning to seriously think that you only speak this complete nonsense, because you are a sad old man, who just wants a reaction.

 

If we got to the Champions League Final with 23 players from OUR Youth Academy, playing the best football the planet had ever seen... You would still be negative. So I don't believe for a

Second that your opinion is worth a w*nk to anyone.

[Thedelldays]

The last time I had to endure one of your utterly pathetic and desperate posts... I ended up with a infraction. I am

Currently trying to workout if it's actually worth getting another right now. But I am beginning to seriously think that you only speak this complete nonsense, because you are a sad old man, who just wants a reaction.

 

If we got to the Champions League Final with 23 players from OUR Youth Academy, playing the best football the planet had ever seen... You would still be negative. So I don't believe for a

Second that your opinion is worth a w*nk to anyone.

 

I am amazed soggy never mentioned lowe

[sadoldgit]

The last time I had to endure one of your utterly pathetic and desperate posts... I ended up with a infraction. I am

Currently trying to workout if it's actually worth getting another right now. But I am beginning to seriously think that you only speak this complete nonsense, because you are a sad old man, who just wants a reaction.

 

If we got to the Champions League Final with 23 players from OUR Youth Academy, playing the best football the planet had ever seen... You would still be negative. So I don't believe for a

Second that your opinion is worth a w*nk to anyone.

 

Oh dear, so your opinion is valid and mine isn't? And as for you DD, don't you believe in freedom of speech.

 

It seems that there are ceratin people you can slate on here and others you can't.

 

If my opinions upset you so much then put me on ignore. Ask an adult to show you how to do it.

 

Actually, whilst we are about it, do you think that the sacking of Pardew when he did made it more likely or less likely of getting promotion this season?

[derry]

Oh dear, so your opinion is valid and mine isn't? And as for you DD, don't you believe in freedom of speech.

 

It seems that there are ceratin people you can slate on here and others you can't.

 

If my opinions upset you so much then put me on ignore. Ask an adult to show you how to do it.

 

Actually, whilst we are about it, do you think that the sacking of Pardew when he did made it more likely or less likely of getting promotion this season?

 

More likely, the way things were at the club with Pardew's relationship deteriorating with both Cortese and the development people we were set for implosion. In any case Adkins is a better manager. Pardew didn't embrace the technology available but Adkins does.

[sussexsaint]

Excellent read , thanks .

 

Any clue at all what this ' potential sponsor' might be?

[sadoldgit]

More likely, the way things were at the club with Pardew's relationship deteriorating with both Cortese and the development people we were set for implosion. In any case Adkins is a better manager. Pardew didn't embrace the technology available but Adkins does.

 

I agree that if the CEO and manager aren't working in harmony then something has to give and 99.9% of the time that will be the manager. Whether Adkins is the better manager only time will tell. Embracing technology or no, it is results that count. Adkins can use all of the technology going but if he doesn't get us up it is worthless.

 

There was no technology in the 60's yet players played ankle deep in mud week in week out and the treatment rooms were not where near as full as they are now. I accept that the game has changed but you have to ask yourself for the better? Where are the Paine's and the Davies's nowdays? Tery Paine would have played over 800 games if he was a pro these days.

[doddisalegend]

Excellent read , thanks .

 

Any clue at all what this ' potential sponsor' might be?

 

Durex I believe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

is not going to be the sponsor

[Deppo]

Just back from my evening with Cortese - it was wonderful! I feel all giddy! I gave him my number - he said he'd call tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Oh, and Tron Legacy was rubbish, but we didn't see much of the film if you know what I mean!

 

He still hasn't called. All men are b*stards.

[derry]

There was no technology in the 60's yet players played ankle deep in mud week in week out and the treatment rooms were not where near as full as they are now. I accept that the game has changed but you have to ask yourself for the better? Where are the Paine's and the Davies's nowdays? Tery Paine would have played over 800 games if he was a pro these days.

 

In the Premier, and I agree about the fitness in the 60s, no substitutes, and virtually the same team week in week out. Present day players wouldn't survive the tackling or the pitches.

[Smirking_Saint]

In the Premier, and I agree about the fitness in the 60s, no substitutes, and virtually the same team week in week out. Present day players wouldn't survive the tackling or the pitches.

 

Football has changed, people don't realise that these are high tuned athletes, and i know thats a bit cliche and sounds a bit ghey but it is true. When you train hard to get to that level then you can pick up injuries and they will affect you more than me and you.

 

That added to the fact that everyone of them would probably rather sit on the bench and earn a couple of quid (or on holiday)

[St_Tel49]

Strange this is what me and a few others were saying when the installment plan was kicking off, especially about reasons and the levels of installment plan uptake.

 

Obviously SRS had done plenty of research and realised that this was incorrect so Cortese must be wrong.

 

As for everything about the dinners i have been so so impressed by what Cortese has been saying and doing and i just hope everything he says is true.

 

It also goes a long way to make up for his lack of PR which was one of his biggest failings.

 

SS, I don't understand your defence of SRS (he of not very blessed memory). If 25% of the fans paying by DD cancelled their direct debits then Cortese was absolutely right to suspend it until a foolproof system could be installed. Just what is the justification for SRS's rants?

[Smirking_Saint]

SS, I don't understand your defence of SRS (he of not very blessed memory). If 25% of the fans paying by DD cancelled their direct debits then Cortese was absolutely right to suspend it until a foolproof system could be installed. Just what is the justification for SRS's rants?

 

I was being a tad sarccy my dear friend.

 

I was pretty much against his rants for ages and turned into a bit of a knob for a while as he got my back up.

 

Thing was back then i said it was because of a group cancelling the DD (although didn't realise it was 25% !!) and also said i expect only a small number of which i said 1500 would have used the installment plan anyways.

 

SRS shot me and everyone else down in flames that didn't support the 'NC is trying to get rid of STH's' arguement.

[ericofarabia]

A single adult ticket to watch West Ham v Wolves will cost you £36 and anyone else £21. Cortese would have a massive headache balancing 45,000 crowds each week against prices that will be attractive and enough to be financially viable.

 

Do you have to take your wife to the game as well, or can you take a mistress instead, to avail of the reduced entrance fee?

[derry]

Football has changed, people don't realise that these are high tuned athletes, and i know thats a bit cliche and sounds a bit ghey but it is true. When you train hard to get to that level then you can pick up injuries and they will affect you more than me and you.

 

That added to the fact that everyone of them would probably rather sit on the bench and earn a couple of quid (or on holiday)

 

So highly tuned that they can stay out drinking until the early hours. Footballers compared with real athletes are nowhere near highly tuned. Secondly it is easy to write off history and think that the old time players couldn't compete. Believe me there was much more character, toughness and physical hardness in the 50s to 70s partly because all the players served national service. The present crop of overpaid, mollycoddled woosers would be kicked off the park in tears by the old timers. Given the same training regimes the old timers would be far superior because of the spartan upbringing and the national discipline together with poor pay giving them a hardness that few players today possess.

[up and away]

Charging more for walk up makes total sense. But if there is a admin fee for advance buying surely the same admin fee should apply to walk ups? ie £3 in advance and £5 on the day? Maybe I shouldn't be putting ideas into peoples heads.

 

One of life's inconsistencies that we all find difficult to rationalise. I was puzzled as you are and posed this question previously. The reason given was this is down to actual costs incurred in processing and all they are doing is passing on the additional cost they are saddled with by the various methods. Something common with most clubs.

 

I am not sure exactly how online tickets are processed, but I get the feeling this involves an outside agency and it is their charge we are paying for, or temporay staff brought in to process this. Although the walk ups create far more problems and issues, it is not adding any cost to the club. Looking at other clubs that do this, it appears the charges increase with less volume, as the smaller clubs charges seem higher in a lot of cases?

 

Many would not be uttering a peep if there was a blanket charge covering all of this and included into a standard ticket price. This just reminds me of the Poll Tax and it's reception by the public. Something inherently far fairer and allocating the costs to those that generate them, but never viewed or accepted as such.

[Spudders]

Sorry, bit of a slow response on this as I was busy yesterday.

 

"If we can get promoted this year." Hmmmmm.

You are quoting me there SOG rather than Nicola. I’m not a reporter, I just went there with an open mind, not a pen & paper, so I’m not typing direct quotes word for word.

 

But besides I’m pretty sure common sense dictates that neither Nicola or myself are going to state ‘we WILL get promoted’, there’s still plenty to play for, so who knows what will happen between now and May? Obviously the aim is to get promoted, why would Nicola talk of pushing for the top two in the championship next season, if the intention isn’t to go up this season!!! Use your head SOG, it’s an easy one to work out if you think about it. We could not push for the top two in the championship without promotion. 1 + 1 = 2.

 

I thought that was the reason that we brought a new manager in. That promotion would be a given this season. And now perhaps we won't get the players we need until the Summer?

 

I like that you’ve used the word ’perhaps’ in your post, as it acknowledges that you don’t know yourself do you. Note in my comment on this point in the OP I specifically said “My guess” and I also used the words “We may not see TOO MUCH happen in January” I didn’t say nothing will happen. Then again, perhaps we won’t get players in during the January window, perhaps we will? Perhaps we won’t get promoted with our current squad, perhaps we will? There are no givens are there, seriously SOG you know this all really though don’t you, so I’m not sure why I’m point out the obvious to you?

 

As I mentioned, what Nicola said (and again I’m not quoting word for word) was that they WANT to strengthen the squad in certain areas, but it’s more difficult to get the players they are targeting in the January window as those players are going to be key to the teams they are currently playing.

 

To me this clearly indicates that they are looking at players who stand out within their current teams, that would be unlikely to be allowed to move in January. ‘Perhaps’ they will be allowed to move though, we don’t know?

 

We’ve seen enough ‘ordinary’ players come and go over the years for me to be happy with the fact that our club would rather wait for the ‘right people’ than waste money on players that we then all moan are useless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry to **** on your chips Spudgun but doesn't this all seem a trifle odd to you? Great that you had a lovely evening and all but have you heard of the words charm offensive before?

 

???Ummm, why would you think you are P***ing on my chips? There were a couple of other people from this forum there as well, I’ve not seen anything from them that contradicts what I’ve said, so far. There was nothing that seemed odd to me. Of course I am aware of a charm offensive, what else would you expect from Nicola other than to come out and be charming.

However I have worked with and managed all sorts of people and I know I am a pretty good judge of character when I meet people in the real world. I have a good idea in my mind of what Nicola is ‘really’ like and if I am right I know exactly why some people don’t like the way he operates.

 

But (and here is the key) despite being a pretty cynical and often grumpy person myself, after meeting Nicola, watching him talk in person, in front of me for several hours, after listening to what he had to say and watching him and the way he acted, I am totally convinced we are in the right hands and we will get to the where Nicola wants us to be.

 

There will be up’s & more importantly there will of course be downs, but we will get there.

 

 

 

So then, the great man mention that there were lots of reasons why Pardew was sacked. Did you think to ask him for them or was it just because he worked the players too hard? Perhaps Pardew took Cortese's ambition too much to heart and wanted promotion this season? Oh well, he paid for that with a Premiership job so he must be gutted now.

 

Do you honestly believe that Nicola would have just come out and told us the reason? Had he done so, he would have lost a great deal of respect within seconds.

 

I still find it amazing that some people think that just because we are football fans, we have some god given right to be told every little snippet of information. If we were told such factual details, people would then be calling him unprofessional. Whilst he obviously did not tell us what went on (and quite rightly none of us there pushed him on the matter), I think most at the meal now have a pretty good idea of a big contributing factor.

 

We were with Nicola for several hours and whilst he was very professional and obviously would not answer some specific questions, there were conversations that offered an interesting insight into a few areas that I have absolutely no intention of sharing on here.

 

I totally understand your skepticism SOG, as I’ve already alluded too, I’m generally of the same nature. I don’t expect each and every fan to suddenly become a fan of Nicola just because a few of us have posted on here that we though he came across well at a meal. Perhaps some different forum members have been selected for next month’s dinner with him? As he’s doing this each month now it will be very interesting to see future feedback as and when Saintsweb members get selected. If you are a season ticket holder maybe you’ll be lucky enough to get the chance to ask Nicola your own questions and make a more informed decision. Perhaps afterwards you'll still retain your curent view, perhaps your view may change (mine certainly has).

 

But please don’t be sorry for P***ing on my chips SOG, you haven’t, far from it. I’ve found this season a little disappointing so far if I’m honest, I’ve been uncertain as to what would happen following Markus’s death. But today I go to St Mary’s with confidence, I am very relaxed about our future and am extremely excited about it.

[sadoldgit]

Thank you for your response Spudgun and I am sorry if my post was a bit harsh (bad day at the office). I respect your enthusiasm and I hope it is well founded. I do have misgivings about Mr Cortese, especially after telling us that Pardew's job was safe then sacking him at the worst possible time, but we shall see. I still have doubts that we will be owned by the same people this time next year but sincerely hope I am wrong.

 

It is good of you to spend so much time on feeding back what you have heard and for coming back to me on my post. Good on you mate and have a lovely Christmas.

[NickG]

Thank you for your response Spudgun and I am sorry if my post was a bit harsh (bad day at the office). I respect your enthusiasm and I hope it is well founded. I do have misgivings about Mr Cortese, especially after telling us that Pardew's job was safe then sacking him at the worst possible time, but we shall see. I still have doubts that we will be owned by the same people this time next year but sincerely hope I am wrong.

 

It is good of you to spend so much time on feeding back what you have heard and for coming back to me on my post. Good on you mate and have a lovely Christmas.

 

I think that bit shows he was genuine when backing Pardew at that time