Dinner with Nicola Cortese

[alpine_saint]

No... Because we have the January window where we have been assured funds are available. Also, fortunately for us there has been no runaway at the top of the league this year. So we are still in with a shout. You were the one who said the first team wernt upto scratch. I was just pointing out why.

 

The OP makes it clear that we should not expect miracles in the January window. So yes, the team is not up to the job and is not improving, so this season is going nowhere fast. However, NC has said a few times apparently that promotion this season is essential for "The Plan".

 

Something doesnt add up. Seems he is hoping that the current squad suddenly wake up and go on a 20-game unbeaten streak...

[Gemmel]

Something doesnt add up.

 

I have to say I came to the same conclusion

[revolution saint]

I don't really want to get into another "Why was AP sacked" argument - I disagreed but there you go - I don't run the club so my opinion is irrelevant.

 

What I would say is that before the season the expectation was promotion and that expectation should remain the same. It's all very well talking about 40K stadiums and being in the premiership but quite frankly at the moment I only care about this season. The squad isn't bad but does need some additions (I think) if we want automatic promotion so I'd prefer to see us active in the loan and transfer window rather than talking about grand visions. We possibly may be doing everything we can but all this five year plan and competing if and when we get to the prem doesn't address the "here and now" problems.

 

It's the same with the style of football - maybe in the future I'd care about it but at the moment just winning is enough for me. We're in div 3 and I don't expect stellar football just consistent wins - I hope that the concentration on the style of football isn't to the detriment of results. I can't say I've enjoyed Adkins brand of football any more than I enjoyed Pardew's but the draws and defeats have left me more disappointed.

[St Chalet]

NB Original Cortese Dinner thread now merged in.

[Smirking_Saint]

The OP makes it clear that we should not expect miracles in the January window. So yes, the team is not up to the job and is not improving, so this season is going nowhere fast. However, NC has said a few times apparently that promotion this season is essential for "The Plan".

 

Something doesnt add up. Seems he is hoping that the current squad suddenly wake up and go on a 20-game unbeaten streak...

 

Its not a money thing Alps, it is pretty obvious what he was saying and TBH it isn't hard to understand it.

 

The players we need to improve the squad may not be available in January as they will be embroiled in their teams seasons already, in the same reason that for us it is easier to lose a player in the summer than mid season. Why just spend willy nilly on players that probably won't improve the squad and no doubt, if they do not perform, the same mongs that will slam the club for not spending will slam the club for buying dross ?

 

I think we will make some signings in January but don't wait for any major shakeup. TBF aswell we are hardly in a bad position, crap performance the other day aside we have been unbeatable at home and are 5 points from 2nd with a game in hand.

 

Some people really need to get a grip.

[alpine_saint]

Its not a money thing Alps, it is pretty obvious what he was saying and TBH it isn't hard to understand it.

 

The players we need to improve the squad may not be available in January as they will be embroiled in their teams seasons already, in the same reason that for us it is easier to lose a player in the summer than mid season. Why just spend willy nilly on players that probably won't improve the squad and no doubt, if they do not perform, the same mongs that will slam the club for not spending will slam the club for buying dross ?

 

I think we will make some signings in January but don't wait for any major shakeup. TBF aswell we are hardly in a bad position, crap performance the other day aside we have been unbeatable at home and are 5 points from 2nd with a game in hand.

 

Some people really need to get a grip.

 

Ultimately the time to discuss this is the end of the season.

 

However, to quote DellDays from the Burley play-off season "we havent been in the top2 all season and not exactly threatening it now either".

 

It doesnt matter we are only 5pts off 2nd place. Psychologically, we are incapable of closing the gap.

 

Our club is the Tim Henman / Andy Murray of football.

[Thedelldays]

Ultimately the time to discuss this is the end of the season.

 

However, to quote DellDays from the Burley play-off season "we havent been in the top2 all season and not exactly threatening it now either".

 

It doesnt matter we are only 5pts off 2nd place. Psychologically, we are incapable of closing the gap.

 

Our club is the Tim Henman / Andy Murray of football.

 

good point....just that being 5 points from 2nd with 2 games in hand is closer than we have ever been...

I just hope we do it....I would LIKE TO THINK that come easter we will be top 2 or fighting it out..

 

if not..then seriously peed off

[Window Cleaner]

Its not a money thing Alps, it is pretty obvious what he was saying and TBH it isn't hard to understand it.

 

aswell we are hardly in a bad position, crap performance the other day aside we have been unbeatable at home and are 5 points from 2nd with a game in hand.

 

Some people really need to get a grip.

 

And I think that far far too much is being made of this arbitrary situation, we are 10th out of 24,defeat at Charlton (should that happen of course) could put us below mid table. I personally would think NA is 6 points shy of where he would have expected to be at this stage. To me 30 points from 13 games is a reasonable expectation given our fixtures in that period.24 from 13 is limit acceptable,maybe unacceptable. I do not doubt that he got chewed out last week.

[Dalek2003]

Thats right Dalek. Pardew was the new Messiah, taking us to heights we never thought we would see. But we wern't happy. We made that very clear, forced him out and now we have appointed someone who shows not a single sign of taking us forward?

 

Pratt.

 

If you want to change your user name, do it properly.

 

Dalek

[Smirking_Saint]

And I think that far far too much is being made of this arbitrary situation, we are 10th out of 24,defeat at Charlton (should that happen of course) could put us below mid table. I personally would think NA is 6 points shy of where he would have expected to be at this stage. To me 30 points from 13 games is a reasonable expectation given our fixtures in that period.24 from 13 is limit acceptable,maybe unacceptable. I do not doubt that he got chewed out last week.

 

I agree, i don't think our current position is good enough at all and have said all season that anything other than automatic will be a major major let down and not getting promotion will be catastrophic. AP's failure to achieve promotion last season was exactly that a failure however if NA fails it will be a disaster.

 

I think we are moving the right way IMO but have been helped immensely by the fact that nobody bar Brighton have looked like finding any real consistancy this year. And NA knows how shocking the game was last week and i don't doubt that the players do either, it was farking terrible.

 

I don't think it is psychological, once again we have had another disasterous start to the season, we have had deaths, unfit players, staff sackings, arrests !! Its like something out of Skys dream team ffs. But before last week everyone was optimistic and it looked like we were closing the gap, indeed we WERE closing the gap.

 

Poor performances happen, i know we have had a few but we seem to have been still picking up the points, which is what the good sides do. All we are missing is someone clinical, and with that we will easily fire up the league, the fact we are were we are without having anyone upfront in any real form is pretty admirable IMO.

 

I still think we will be ok, and yes we need signings in January, but it won't be easy getting the players we need.

[derry]

Sadoldgit... You are STILL going on about that 0-4 win? For the 20th time, look closely as I am bored of saying it now...

 

I WAS THERE AND WE WERE NOTHING SPECIAL.

 

Honestly, I'm so sorry to have to keep saying it, but he was playing you. He never meant the things he said. He never intended on moving away with you. He had no intention of covering you in cream and eating cherries off yours hairy nips. He has done a runner up north and will currently be propping up yet another bar chatting up some other poor old lonely heart.

 

Alan. Has. Left. You. Sad. Old. Git.

 

That is rubbish.

 

Adam's father told Weston the very same thing.

[The Cat]

Our club is the Tim Henman / Andy Murray of football.

 

One of the best 4 in the world, which on it's day is capable of beating Barcelona, Man Utd or Chelsea?

 

A better analogy would be Alex Bogdanovic. Had loads of money thrown at him but achieved nothing.

[hypochondriac]

Adam's father told Weston the very same thing.

 

Told him what? That Alan had an affair? Because that is cr*p.

[St_Tel49]

All that's as maybe. Perhaps he should have remained silent or evasive about this or just said "a few" or something like that.If we shouldn't make promotion this season, this fact (if averred) might come back to haunt him. 17 out of 24 CCC managers,supposedly current must include some really good candidates, like Strachan (if it was current then) or Mowbray (if it's current now).

We don't know how many people he interviewed but I would hazard a guess that he went for the person whose vision of how to progress the club most closely aligned with his own. Is there anything wrong with that? (and I am assuming here that he didn't simply say "This is my plan for the club - do you agree?" - which would be a bit pointless really!)

[Window Cleaner]

Told him what? That Alan had an affair? Because that is cr*p.

 

I find that "Adam's father" is a bit loose lipped about things he should be quiet about if all these quotes credited to him are to be believed.He must know that Weston is just going to repeat them to someone who then repeats them on this forum. Posters have been banned for telling tales out of class.

[Smirking_Saint]

I find that "Adam's father" is a bit loose lipped about things he should be quiet about if all these quotes credited to him are to be believed.He must know that Weston is just going to repeat them to someone who then repeats them on this forum. Posters have been banned for telling tales out of class.

 

There was no affair.

 

By all accounts Pardew was a bit of a bellend however and yes, we are better off without him.

[Window Cleaner]

We don't know how many people he interviewed but I would hazard a guess that he went for the person whose vision of how to progress the club most closely aligned with his own. Is there anything wrong with that? (and I am assuming here that he didn't simply say "This is my plan for the club - do you agree?" - which would be a bit pointless really!)

 

I really don't know. He certainly wouldn't have been my first choice anyway.There were many stories circulating at that time about Les Reed calling most of the shots and a sort of "yes Mr Reed, No Mr Reed,3 bags full Mr Reed" candidate would be chosen.Probably far from the truth but they were certainly put about. To me Adkins is so so but I'd personally be pretty peeved if any of 5 or 6 other

championship managers weren't at least considered as an equally good or better candidate.

[Window Cleaner]

There was no affair.

 

By all accounts Pardew was a bit of a bellend however and yes, we are better off without him.

 

No beef with that, but if we were going to do it then last May would have been a very appropriate time.We procrastinated and even confirmed that all was rosy in the garden, then 4 games into the season we sack him with no replacement lined up. That cost us points because Wilkins was just a waste of time. Pardew didn't become a bellend between May and August now did he?.

Those stories,without foundation as likely as not, that Markus wanted him sacked but NC didn't, now wouldn't they ring truer if it was the other way round??

[Alanh]

If NC's comments are to be believed then we have a very bright future to look forward to. IMO our success or otherwise this season will be determined by the end of Jan. We really need to be in among the top 3 by then if we are going to fight for automatic promotion. I'm prepared to accept that bad performances can happen, the most important thing is to bounce back from each one and put together a run of 5 -6 matches where you pick up 12 - 15 points.

 

I think the comments on player purchases that NC made at the dinner and in the BBC interview was designed to play down our apparent status as a moneybags club. Any statement that boldly claims our ability to buy whoever we want will simply send prices rocketing. Look back to last January and we brought in two highly influential players in Fonte and Barnard. If we match that next month we will be doing OK.

[up and away]

No beef with that, but if we were going to do it then last May would have been a very appropriate time.We procrastinated and even confirmed that all was rosy in the garden, then 4 games into the season we sack him with no replacement lined up. That cost us points because Wilkins was just a waste of time. Pardew didn't become a bellend between May and August now did he?.

Those stories,without foundation as likely as not, that Markus wanted him sacked but NC didn't, now wouldn't they ring truer if it was the other way round??

 

But Pardew did become a bellend between May and August when he ruined most of the squad in pre-season training! Why are Cortese's comments dismissed, that Pardew went against team and medical staff and caused damage to the players which lasts to this day? Why is this so difficult to accept? Every comment and inference lines up behind this statement, from

 

• The comments made by the OS
  
• The condition of the team at the start of the season, nigh on relegation form
  
• The loss of our 30 goal striker
  
• Pardew's gallows demeanour when the "I tolds" were putting the boot in
  

Cortese was then faced with the situation that severe damage had been done to our promotion challenge this season, do you think he should just let it ride? He went against Cortese's wishes in not maximising the chances of promotion last season and he has done the same thing again at the start of this season, where do you draw a line? Cortese knew full well the effect of changing managers at the start of the season, something he specifically underlines.

 

I said at the time that I did not believe the attributed comments by Markus regarding Pardew, it just did not seem his style. Subsequently I changed that view when reliable people repeated this, way before any of this blew up. Your theory that it was Markus allowing Pardew to keep his job just does not follow any of the slightest facts we have. Cortese had total control at Saints, not frightened to upset anyone and absolutely no admonishment from Markus. If Cortese wanted Pardew out, it would have happened immediately!

 

Cortese may not be everyone's cup of tea, but compared to all the Wayne Kerrs we have had previously, he is 24 carat. We may not have the extended finances with Markus passing, but he is by far our best chance. To try and portray Cortese as weak when it comes to the position of Pardew is ludicrous. Suddenly you believe Billy buffalo bollix transforms into Mr Bean over the issue of Pardew, even when it has been stated several times that Cortese was in total control.

[Smirking_Saint]

No beef with that, but if we were going to do it then last May would have been a very appropriate time.We procrastinated and even confirmed that all was rosy in the garden, then 4 games into the season we sack him with no replacement lined up. That cost us points because Wilkins was just a waste of time. Pardew didn't become a bellend between May and August now did he?.

Those stories,without foundation as likely as not, that Markus wanted him sacked but NC didn't, now wouldn't they ring truer if it was the other way round??

 

Does the ill timing of the sacking suggest that in fact something did come to a head, somewhere, somehow ??

 

Its not really too difficult to work out, plus NC can be ruthless if it is his will, we all know that. Add this to the fact that he has been primarilly a business man for a long time, you don't 'release' your top man at a time that is not beneficial just because you don't get on with him. If it was planned we would have had someone lined up.

 

I for one would rather it happened earlier and before pre-season but it didn't. Think about it WC, your not stupid.

[Window Cleaner]

Does the ill timing of the sacking suggest that in fact something did come to a head, somewhere, somehow ??

 

Its not really too difficult to work out, plus NC can be ruthless if it is his will, we all know that. Add this to the fact that he has been primarilly a business man for a long time, you don't 'release' your top man at a time that is not beneficial just because you don't get on with him. If it was planned we would have had someone lined up.

 

I for one would rather it happened earlier and before pre-season but it didn't. Think about it WC, your not stupid.

 

I am totally confused by the whole affair and as you say I am not stupid. There is no logic to anything that happened and I am a very logical person, almost Spock like in my thinking. I see the truth being veiled and then corrected if it's noticed just as Machiavelli

said it should be in his chef d'oeuvre "The Prince". Nothing rings right to me, nothing whatsoever. Now Up and way assures me that

AP did in fact become a "bellend" between May and August and worked the players into the ground. He may well be right but I just don't believe it.....it's personal, it's not logical thus it probably isn't true.There is an old adage, if it's too good to be true it probably is.I liked leftback's stuff, it was altogether probable that most of it was ball-park fact, obviously there might have been a bit of extemporisation here and there but on the whole fairly accurate. Now we have (or had) a post, since deleted or modified, carrying all sorts of strange revelations. Something isn't right,something is rotten in the state of Denmark as the bard would say.

Edited 20 December, 2010 by Window Cleaner

[buctootim]

That post is the very opposite of logical thought - instead its a great exposition of I believe what I feel regardless of evidence.

[Window Cleaner]

That post is the very opposite of logical thought - instead its a great exposition of I believe what I feel regardless of evidence.

 

what evidence would that be then??? I don't think we have any evidence, if as it's stated AP was given the boot because of his pre-season regime how does that involve Downes and the goalkeeping coach but not Wilkins? perhaps Wilkins was the whistle blower.

[buctootim]

The evidence on one side is that AP was sacked at the worst possible time for the club, gives a hit tothe five year plan, the chairman has come out and said he had no choice, he has hinted at the reasons why in an interview, the allegations of over training players during close season are matched by several lingering injuries. The evidence on the other side is diddly squat and makes no sense without, as you allude to, constructing some Machiavellian plot to explain a conspiracy.

[Smirking_Saint]

The evidence on one side is that AP was sacked at the worst possible time for the club, gives a hit tothe five year plan, the chairman has come out and said he had no choice, he has hinted at the reasons why in an interview, the allegations of over training players during close season are matched by several lingering injuries. The evidence on the other side is diddly squat and makes no sense without, as you allude to, constructing some Machiavellian plot to explain a conspiracy.

 

Thank you Buctootim.

 

Glad i am not the only one lol

[up and away]

I am totally confused by the whole affair and as you say I am not stupid. There is no logic to anything that happened and I am a very logical person, almost Spock like in my thinking. I see the truth being veiled and then corrected if it's noticed just as Machiavelli

said it should be in his chef d'oeuvre "The Prince". Nothing rings right to me, nothing whatsoever. Now Up and way assures me that

AP did in fact become a "bellend" between May and August and worked the players into the ground. He may well be right but I just don't believe it.....it's personal, it's not logical thus it probably isn't true.There is an old adage, if it's too good to be true it probably is.I liked leftback's stuff, it was altogether probable that most of it was ball-park fact, obviously there might have been a bit of extemporisation here and there but on the whole fairly accurate. Now we have (or had) a post, since deleted or modified, carrying all sorts of strange revelations. Something isn't right,something is rotten in the state of Denmark as the bard would say.

 

Your stance is against any of the logic out there. For your theory to be true, Cortese is a liar and he has come out with these comments just to justify himself. This guy is not into justifying himself, keeps his mouth shut more than any other chairman we have known and has not even bothered to comment about most of the other controversial actions he has taken.

 

I never fully understood Pardews sacking until this news on pre-season came out, with the rumours about wives obvious rubbish. I even thought Weston's theory that Pardew did it deliberately to get a pay out, had merit. Go back and look at Leftback's posts, apply the bias filter and that all fits in. His condemnation of Les Reed makes no bones about where one of the sources against Pardew came from. Leftback openly admitted that pre-season was a disaster, but placed that blame on Cortese rather than his chum, Pardew. Even the fact the whole of Pardew's aids were also sacked instantly makes sense, when you consider the problem.

 

There is so much out there that falls into line behind this being down to screwing up pre-season, you are peeing into a force 9 arguing against it. Just look at those early season performances under Pardew and the injuries we have had! What else do you put that down to, some form of epidemic? Trying to portray Cortese's character as opposite to all his known traits to suit your purpose, just appears clutching at straws.

[hamster]

So, who is/was this leftback chappy then? AP? Nah.

[John B]

Your stance is against any of the logic out there. For your theory to be true, Cortese is a liar and he has come out with these comments just to justify himself. This guy is not into justifying himself, keeps his mouth shut more than any other chairman we have known and has not even bothered to comment about most of the other controversial actions he has taken.

 

I never fully understood Pardews sacking until this news on pre-season came out, with the rumours about wives obvious rubbish. I even thought Weston's theory that Pardew did it deliberately to get a pay out, had merit. Go back and look at Leftback's posts, apply the bias filter and that all fits in. His condemnation of Les Reed makes no bones about where one of the sources against Pardew came from. Leftback openly admitted that pre-season was a disaster, but placed that blame on Cortese rather than his chum, Pardew. Even the fact the whole of Pardew's aids were also sacked instantly makes sense, when you consider the problem.

 

There is so much out there that falls into line behind this being down to screwing up pre-season, you are peeing into a force 9 arguing against it. Just look at those early season performances under Pardew and the injuries we have had! What else do you put that down to, some form of epidemic? Trying to portray Cortese's character as opposite to all his known traits to suit your purpose, just appears clutching at straws.

 

It is possible that he has not commented about the sacking of AP because he did not have a valid reason.

[Thedelldays]

It is possible that he has not commented about the sacking of AP because he did not have a valid reason.

 

who, pardew..?

[aintforever]

I don't buy the pre-season training theory, Pardew has managed enough football teams to know how to prepare a side for the season. Even if Les Reed thought he pushed them too hard, why are we taking an opinion of a proven failure over a manager who actually has a history of success?

 

There were also rumours at the tail end of last season that proved to be 100% correct. In my opinion Pardew knew he was on borrowed time, hence the lack of motivation and poor start of the season.

[Thedelldays]

either way...imo pardew would not have lasted this season...no matter what happened here, his mate would probably have still offered him the newcastle job

[NickG]

Your stance is against any of the logic out there. For your theory to be true, Cortese is a liar and he has come out with these comments just to justify himself. This guy is not into justifying himself, keeps his mouth shut more than any other chairman we have known and has not even bothered to comment about most of the other controversial actions he has taken.

 

I never fully understood Pardews sacking until this news on pre-season came out, with the rumours about wives obvious rubbish. I even thought Weston's theory that Pardew did it deliberately to get a pay out, had merit. Go back and look at Leftback's posts, apply the bias filter and that all fits in. His condemnation of Les Reed makes no bones about where one of the sources against Pardew came from. Leftback openly admitted that pre-season was a disaster, but placed that blame on Cortese rather than his chum, Pardew. Even the fact the whole of Pardew's aids were also sacked instantly makes sense, when you consider the problem.

 

There is so much out there that falls into line behind this being down to screwing up pre-season, you are peeing into a force 9 arguing against it. Just look at those early season performances under Pardew and the injuries we have had! What else do you put that down to, some form of epidemic? Trying to portray Cortese's character as opposite to all his known traits to suit your purpose, just appears clutching at straws.

 

what makes you say Cortese is a liar? Because the limited facts given don't fit with one particular rumour?

[up and away]

what evidence would that be then??? I don't think we have any evidence, if as it's stated AP was given the boot because of his pre-season regime how does that involve Downes and the goalkeeping coach but not Wilkins? perhaps Wilkins was the whistle blower.

 

Well if the others were doing Pardews bidding and offering anyone who put their noses in, a poke with a stick! Would that do it for you?

 

 

I don't buy the pre-season training theory, Pardew has managed enough football teams to know how to prepare a side for the season. Even if Les Reed thought he pushed them too hard, why are we taking an opinion of a proven failure over a manager who actually has a history of success?

 

There were also rumours at the tail end of last season that proved to be 100% correct. In my opinion Pardew knew he was on borrowed time, hence the lack of motivation and poor start of the season.

 

Les Reeds word was not taken, that is the whole crux of the matter. What would you do in Cortese's shoes should a coach come and tell you the manager is doing something badly wrong? I would have thought pre-season is meant to hurt and let the manager get on with it, which is what happened.

 

The rumours at the end of last season were just that and totally unconnected to this, the reason he got the sack. Pardew knew he was on borrowed time all right, after he saw what he had done to the players after those opening games. Or you think that's just motivation? There was no escape from this now, he had been told of the possible damage and was reaping his error. I don't suppose those that made the original comments about the training were keeping a low profile either.

 

I can understand why Pardew made this error, because it was the one thing holding the team back from winning this league by record margins. Some of the football played by Pardew was superb, but we could never keep it up with two games a week. Sort that fitness out and he was on easy street, trouble is it all back fired.

[Weston Saint]

Told him what? That Alan had an affair? Because that is cr*p.

Are you always such a nit. Adam's father told me that we were not outstanding against Bristol Rovers. We were average against a very poor side on the day. We should have scored 8. I did not get any inside information on what went on with Pardew. The players do not know and that includes all players. I get nothing of interest other than the players are happy with Adkins and there is a good atmosphere about the training and dressing room.

[aintforever]

Well if the others were doing Pardews bidding and offering anyone who put their noses in, a poke with a stick! Would that do it for you?

 

 

 

 

Les Reeds word was not taken, that is the whole crux of the matter. What would you do in Cortese's shoes should a coach come and tell you the manager is doing something badly wrong? I would have thought pre-season is meant to hurt and let the manager get on with it, which is what happened.

 

The rumours at the end of last season were just that and totally unconnected to this, the reason he got the sack. Pardew knew he was on borrowed time all right, after he saw what he had done to the players after those opening games. Or you think that's just motivation? There was no escape from this now, he had been told of the possible damage and was reaping his error. I don't suppose those that made the original comments about the training were keeping a low profile either.

 

I can understand why Pardew made this error, because it was the one thing holding the team back from winning this league by record margins. Some of the football played by Pardew was superb, but we could never keep it up with two games a week. Sort that fitness out and he was on easy street, trouble is it all back fired.

 

You make it sound like the opening games were a complete disaster, we played Plymouth of the park in the first half of that game and were unlucky to lose, the only other game we lost was against Premier League Bolton, even that wasn't a bad performance. We beat Bournemouth 2-0 and Bristol Rovers 4-0 away, the only shocking performance was the Orient draw.

 

None of those opening games were close to how bad the 2-0 loss to Brentford was with Adkins' 'fit' side.

[Chez]

There is so much out there that falls into line behind this being down to screwing up pre-season, you are peeing into a force 9 arguing against it. Just look at those early season performances under Pardew and the injuries we have had! What else do you put that down to, some form of epidemic? Trying to portray Cortese's character as opposite to all his known traits to suit your purpose, just appears clutching at straws.

 

A manager is sacked because he worked players too hard in pre season - don't make me laugh. Believe that and you will believe anything.

[Thedelldays]

my christ.

 

the obsession with pardew is getting embarrassing

 

he would have been off anyway, so to say he WOULD have got us promoted is also daft

[Weston Saint]

I find that "Adam's father" is a bit loose lipped about things he should be quiet about if all these quotes credited to him are to be believed.He must know that Weston is just going to repeat them to someone who then repeats them on this forum. Posters have been banned for telling tales out of class.

Read my reply to Hypo who has got it totally wrong. I do not get any personal information like that. It was merely a quote that Bristol Rovers were poor, we were average and should have scored 8.

[hypochondriac]

Are you always such a nit. Adam's father told me that we were not outstanding against Bristol Rovers. We were average against a very poor side on the day. We should have scored 8. I did not get any inside information on what went on with Pardew. The players do not know and that includes all players. I get nothing of interest other than the players are happy with Adkins and there is a good atmosphere about the training and dressing room.

 

I'm not accusing you of anything. It was the original poster I was asking to clarify what he said you said, nothing to do with you.

[hypochondriac]

Read my reply to Hypo who has got it totally wrong. I do not get any personal information like that. It was merely a quote that Bristol Rovers were poor, we were average and should have scored 8.

 

No the poster who quoted me got it wrong. I have not accused you of anything.

[shurlock]

A manager is sacked because he worked players too hard in pre season - don't make me laugh. Believe that and you will believe anything.

 

No idea whether players were worked too hard but our preseason was not the best - in many of our games, we looked lethargic and clueless going forward -something which has carried through into the season- and the way AP seemed reluctant to give the first-teamers much of a runout was bizarre. This isn't a matter of hindsight -many were wondering why we weren't more active in the transfer market at the time as a result. Something wasn't right.

[dubai_phil]

No idea whether players were worked too hard but our preseason was not the best - in many of our games, we looked lethargic and clueless going forward -something which has carried through into the season- and the way AP seemed reluctant to give the first-teamers much of a runout was bizarre. This isn't a matter of hindsight -many were wondering why we weren't more active in the transfer market at the time as a result. Something wasn't right.

 

Interesting read the last day or so of this thread. Maybe there is hope for the forum after all !

 

Those last 3 words sum it all up, I guess until a poster meets AP after a big night out with Ashley, we'll never know.

 

He's gone, he would have gone at the first chance, we need to play some football so we can get the bad performance out of our system on here and on the pitch

 

(insh'allah as we say down here)

[Spudders]

Chaps just to clarify (as per my very original post) the players being pushed too hard in pre-season was mentioned as being the reason that the start of our season wasn't so good, it certainly wasn’t the reason for any sackings.

 

Training a team too hard (whilst not ideal and maybe worthy of a telling off) isn't going to get a manager the sack. Think about it, being involved in football management (or any aspect of a football club in this country) means you'd be covered by employment law. As in pretty much any job, if you do things slightly wrong, you get guidance, additional training, performance improvement plans, etc. People don't get the sack unless they do something out of line that would mean it was acceptable for an employer to dismiss them. You have to ensure you are totally within the rules and done things by the book before sacking someone, especially when it comes to high profiles roles such as this, you couldn’t just do it on a whim because you dislike someone, or don’t agree with the way they work, etc.

 

I bet there are loads of you on here who manage people, who you would absolutely love to get rid of, but you can’t can you!! Why is that....employment law.

Of course other events could influence an employer’s opinion, but other than maybe making things a bit difficult, the employer still can’t really do anything until the employee steps out of line. In my experience, if you give someone enough rope, you only have to bide your time and wait until they hang themselves.

[Red and White Army]

But do these other chairman have the funding that Cortese has? Pointless having dreams if you don't have the resources, it "seems" like Cortese may have the resources.

 

Why is a 40k stadium unrealistic for Saints? Every year in the Premier League at St Mary's averaged over 30k and that was for a team that had little invested in it. If the team is successful 40k+ crowds are easily achievable for Saints.

 

Just going back to the original post in this thread, it still hasn't been explained how his colleagues account is lifted word for word from Spudguns account of the meeting a few weeks ago.

 

Well we're not in the Premier League, and show no signs of getting there either. We're mid-table in League 1 and struggling.

[saintscottofthenortham]

Well we're not in the Premier League, and show no signs of getting there either. We're mid-table in League 1 and struggling.

 

But as I tried to point out earlier, this is ALL down to pre-season and the completely wasted Summer Transfer Window. Cortese has since gone on record as saying "We did have targets, they didn't come off, by then it was all a bit late in the day" (NOT WORD FOR WORD SO DONT BE A SMART ALEC AND CORRECT ME). By the end of that transfer window, we were all on here saying that we havent done enough, our squad isn't deep enough, we dont have enough pace etc etc etc. We all knew that we didn't have the team we would have needed to really take this League by the scruff of the neck.

 

The Only player who has come in since last season who looks the part is Chaplow. I also like Dickson over Harding but he is not showing enough to make me think he belongs in a squad that will be fighting for promotion from the Championship. Butterfield is a waste of space. Jaidi is Past it. Seaborne is useless. Guly is so inconsistent he is better off clearing off. There is mountains of work to do on the squad to make it one that can compete in the Championship.

[Wes Tender]

He may well be right but I just don't believe it.....it's personal, it's not logical thus it probably isn't true.There is an old adage, if it's too good to be true it probably is.

 

And to counter that, here is the wisdom of a certain Sherlock Holmes, who although a fictional character, came up with a good aphorism here.

 

"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

[Noodles34]

Chaps just to clarify (as per my very original post) the players being pushed too hard in pre-season was mentioned as being the reason that the start of our season wasn't so good, it certainly wasn’t the reason for any sackings.

 

Training a team too hard (whilst not ideal and maybe worthy of a telling off) isn't going to get a manager the sack. Think about it, being involved in football management (or any aspect of a football club in this country) means you'd be covered by employment law. As in pretty much any job, if you do things slightly wrong, you get guidance, additional training, performance improvement plans, etc. People don't get the sack unless they do something out of line that would mean it was acceptable for an employer to dismiss them. You have to ensure you are totally within the rules and done things by the book before sacking someone, especially when it comes to high profiles roles such as this, you couldn’t just do it on a whim because you dislike someone, or don’t agree with the way they work, etc.

 

I bet there are loads of you on here who manage people, who you would absolutely love to get rid of, but you can’t can you!! Why is that....employment law.

Of course other events could influence an employer’s opinion, but other than maybe making things a bit difficult, the employer still can’t really do anything until the employee steps out of line. In my experience, if you give someone enough rope, you only have to bide your time and wait until they hang themselves.

 

Mate, employment law doesnt apply in football. Not saying its not legit, but we all know how clubs get around it, they just pay the guy off, and unless the pay is not big enough then its not going to an employment tribunal (and how many times does that happen?). Interesting that AP was probabaly sacked under 'gross misconduct', so how did he get rid of the coaches, Downes etc? Probably with a big enough pay off, and why would they want to stay and then get released by Adkins, might as well take the cash now.

[Whitey Grandad]

And to counter that, here is the wisdom of a certain Sherlock Holmes, who although a fictional character, came up with a good aphorism here.

 

"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

 

No necessarily. It usually means there is something else that you haven't though of.

[Gemmel]

Mate, employment law doesnt apply in football. Not saying its not legit, but we all know how clubs get around it, they just pay the guy off, and unless the pay is not big enough then its not going to an employment tribunal (and how many times does that happen?). Interesting that AP was probabaly sacked under 'gross misconduct', so how did he get rid of the coaches, Downes etc? Probably with a big enough pay off, and why would they want to stay and then get released by Adkins, might as well take the cash now.

 

Correct, that's the way it is in football.

 

Getting rid of full time employees on permanent terms, can prove a tad more diffficult, but ultimatley nothing that money reslove.