Late Kick Off - Saints 125th

[John B]

Yeh it is. But i'm just a ****ing pawn in the middle here, the same as everyone else.

 

Nicola Cortese if you are reading this stop being a ****. I've supported most of the things you've done for us but i'm a not a t0ssp0t like th tweeny gang who will support you no matter what. No ****ing way. I love Saints and I really ****ing love Matt Le Tissier because he is my era. So stop being a complete and utter d1ckhead, and you are being one, and get that ****ing smug grin off your face you cocky arrogant smarmy know all bombastic rude LITTLE (yeh you're a ****ing dwarf - unlucky) man and get it into your head that you ARE NOT SOUTHAMPTON FOOTBALL CLUB, you are new kid on the block round here so ****ing start acting with some humility and be a man and sort all this out.

 

As I am a lot older than you the best days for me as a Saints fan were the 60/70/early 80s when MLT was not around so I was very lucky

 

But I still go to St Mary's and support the team through thick and thin but do not expect to see Saints to be truly successful again in my lifetime because of the way football is today.

 

OXO will go and unlike Terry Paine MLT and Mick Channon will have very little influence on our future except for his transfer money

[sir woody]

Did the BBC program make any mention of the 18 months worth of unsubstantiated sniping in the local and national press those involved with the dinner have been doing? Cortese owes them no favours after that!

 

Or that the anniversary was actually in November 2010 and official events took place then and yesterdays event was three months late and unofficial? Plus where does the money for this event go? Are they just cashing in on the club?

 

I doubt it...

 

All the money raised from these events goes to the ex saints association and primarily Kevin Moore.

[dune]

As I am a lot older than you the best days for me as a Saints fan were the 60/70/early 80s when MLT was not around so I was very lucky

 

But I still go to St Mary's and support the team through thick and thin but do not expect to see Saints to be truly successful again in my lifetime because of the way football is today.

 

OXO will go and unlike Terry Paine MLT and Mick Channon will have very little influence on our future except for his transfer money

 

Everyone talks about sucess, but what the **** is that?

 

Going to Norwich when bally had just arrived and being 3-1 down and ****ing gutted and then a goal back and then a dive and then they score we score 4-5 ****ing magic, off we go, put in a run and survice on the last day. that is sucess. They were ****ing brilliant days.

[John B]

The phrase "making a mountain out of a molehill" springs to mind.

 

Perhaps the BBC asked the club to comment on their lifetime achievement award to LM and they merely clarified that the award was not from the club itself, but from his peers. I expect if they had just said "no comment" as you suggested you and all the other drama queens on this forum would be making a big song and dance about that too.

 

I dont think the comment from the club was required.

 

LM has been the clubs most successful manager and some recogonition from the club would not be out of order.

 

Hopefully one day another manager will be as sucessful as Lawrie or even better

[Saint_clark]

After watching the programme it sounds as if people are reading too much into it.

As Kpturner says, the club could have just been asked to comment and clarified that it didn't come from them. It means more coming from your peers anyway, surely?

[miserableoldgit]

the club did say something, and it clearly comes from the top

 

THE CLUB COMMENTED

" We would like to make it clear that the lifetime achievement award for Lawrie has in no way come from the club, but has come from his peers "

 

That was not the presenters words... but a comment/statement from the club, they could have just as easily given a 'no comment' answer. That would have been diplomatic.

 

again the club are trying to airbrush our history from the record books, like the fact that in 1974 the Daily Echo sponsored the player of the year trophy and up till last season this was considered the official award, the club and paper working alongside to collate the votes and present the trophy, all of a sudden this is cast aside and 36 years of past winners are all of a sudden no longer "Official" players of the year.

And, whatever happened to the Ted Bates Trophy?

Bloody Hell! The club can`t win can it? Non-sponsored "Sash" strip. Ex-players presented on the pitch at games a number of times. The "125" Logo. Celebration Events last year. Yet somehow they are "airbrushing" our history?? "No comment" would have been better than being open and honest?? Imagine the furore on here with "No Comment"! When the event at The Mayflower was announced, I had no idea whether it was organised by the club or not, but it wasn`t. It was unofficial as were the awards to LM and MLT. What do you expect the club to do? Take credit for something that they had nothing to do with? I think that the club has basically supplied answers to questions that were not answered clearly by the organisers of the Mayflower do. I haven`t agreed with everying that the club/NC has done or the way that they have been done, but it seems that you are either for NC or against him. There appears to be very little middle ground.

[kpturner]

LM has been the clubs most successful manager and some recogonition from the club would not be out of order.

 

Hopefully one day another manager will be as sucessful as Lawrie or even better

 

I agree with you - definitely. I also agree that the alledged "air-brushing of history" is, if true, a sad state of affairs. I also agree that the clubs PR around this whole situation could be much better. I carry a golf bag personally signed by LM and I think he deserves all the recognition he can get for his achievements with SFC. However, this particular non-event on last nights programme does not warrant all this fuss - and I expect if you asked him about it he would probably agree.

[kpturner]

Bloody Hell! The club can`t win can it? Non-sponsored "Sash" strip. Ex-players presented on the pitch at games a number of times. The "125" Logo. Celebration Events last year. Yet somehow they are "airbrushing" our history?? "No comment" would have been better than being open and honest?? Imagine the furore on here with "No Comment"! When the event at The Mayflower was announced, I had no idea whether it was organised by the club or not, but it wasn`t. It was unofficial as were the awards to LM and MLT. What do you expect the club to do? Take credit for something that they had nothing to do with? I think that the club has basically supplied answers to questions that were not answered clearly by the organisers of the Mayflower do. I haven`t agreed with everying that the club/NC has done or the way that they have been done, but it seems that you are either for NC or against him. There appears to be very little middle ground.

This.

[Liquidshokk]

Bloody Hell! The club can`t win can it? Non-sponsored "Sash" strip. Ex-players presented on the pitch at games a number of times. The "125" Logo. Celebration Events last year. Yet somehow they are "airbrushing" our history?? "No comment" would have been better than being open and honest?? Imagine the furore on here with "No Comment"! When the event at The Mayflower was announced, I had no idea whether it was organised by the club or not, but it wasn`t. It was unofficial as were the awards to LM and MLT. What do you expect the club to do? Take credit for something that they had nothing to do with? I think that the club has basically supplied answers to questions that were not answered clearly by the organisers of the Mayflower do. I haven`t agreed with everying that the club/NC has done or the way that they have been done, but it seems that you are either for NC or against him. There appears to be very little middle ground.

 

Absolutely. The club needs to be cut some slack as they have done plenty to celebrate the 125th aniversary, which some would say is a very unimportant aniversary anyway! I mean, 125... really?

[dune]

After watching the programme it sounds as if people are reading too much into it.

As Kpturner says, the club could have just been asked to comment and clarified that it didn't come from them. It means more coming from your peers anyway, surely?

 

Can I be honest with you?

[boxosponge]

THE CLUB COMMENTED

" We would like to make it clear that the lifetime achievement award for Lawrie has in no way come from the club, but has come from his peers "

 

Its the way you read it isn't it. Can just as easily be interpreted as a tribute to Lawrie: praise from your Peers is the best complement anyone can be given.

 

But frankly I don't care either way. Its sad that there is so much infighting within and outside the club.

 

Perhaps its part of The Plan anyway intended to keep fans involved when there isn't any real news

[dune]

I think Saint Clark would appreciate me being honest so this is what i will do. And if you think i'm being critical you'd be correct but i think i'm right, i know i'm right, so you either think about it and agree i'm right or you don't and then i'm even more right.

 

You don't like me, I don't like you. That is fine because it is how it is.

 

You deleted and removed some of my light hearted threads. That was bang out of order because some people share my sense of humour and I don't share your sense of humour even though i've yet to see. Soz that was out of order but can't be arsed to delete. maybe i'm being honest, maybe i didn't think that. **** knows what I was on about cos i've now forgotten but i'm gonna read it again and r.e deleting my posts you were wrong, and re ur humour you like deppo, and he is a funny guy at times even thought those times are so so few amd far between because he tries far too hard and when he tries really hard he makes a spag of himself (this happen a lot - did i say that already? oh well it needed enforcing if i did and if i didn't it needed saying).

 

Now i'm not gonna talk about your Cortesism in too much detail because details can end up fogging the thrust or the crux, and then the whole meaning (and for you the cure) is then lost. There is a cure, so without getting into the detail that i said we wouldn't get into I believe your problem is two fold (with maybe a few more folds if i think of any but maybe just one fold if i don't think of anymore. You are first of all quite young, ot maybe ur quite 0old, lets hope ur young cos if ur old ur ****ed and you'll always be as helpul and considerate and generally modtastic. Because u may be young u are always right about everything. Now when i was young i was always right about everything and now i'm not so young i', still always right about everything, but i'm special and you're not. When i say special i'm not talking special needs, although i am special and do have needs and you have needs that are maybe special or maybe theyre not. Only you know this, but maybe you don't but after this ession you will havew a better understanding of how to know, even though you may never know. So we've established you may be young and know all, but with this comes cockyness and that's fine cos teens can be cocky, but once they get past 18 u can legally clip them round the ear (or maybe you can't do this legally although you can smack a child if you do it gently so i see no harm in a gentle slap - call it a friendly slap). That said ignore that ******** so far as it being litteral because it's hyperthectical and i'd never want to slap you. I really do mean taht and whish i'd never rambled off in this directions but as bilbo said once you leave your front door who knows where you'll end. these weren't the eaxt words or maybe they were, but if they weren't they shouold have been the words.

 

Point two in relation to point 1 (this is point two (2)) II) you are a mod. Now i'll be honest and admit when i saw you'dgot the modship I thought bad move boj, but i'll be honest, you have surprised me and not be all that bad, in fact you've been quite good for someone who i thought would be hopless but not as good as someone (this is a hypertical) who i thought might be average and turned out to crap, but from the point from which you came you've done alright. And I think you could improve, but to go back to lord of the rings (just watched them all aghain) it's like with the queen elf of the forest who doesn't really do fook all in the film, unless i missed the bit where she does soemthing, Infact i must reread the books cos i bet the fil;smare **** in comparison just like Prince caspian and the telmarines with their christian swords which should have been scimitar as C S Lewis mean the story to to be a parrable (**** knows if thats the right word) between west versus east and true to form the sterile PC bollovks of a world we live in decided the CS ****ing Lewis couldn't tell his own story right. C8nts C7nts C8nts.

 

So to sumarise remember what MLT has done, remember how loyal he was and the joy he brought, then listen again to the comments issued by the club in respect of the 125 do. Those comments were from cortese, he rules just like Rupert so i terll you that they are his comments. I have no prooof, i need no proof, i know. and after listening to those comments change ur tune becuase if you don't you'll stay wrong abpout this, but if uyou change ur tune you''ll earn a lot of respect because you'll be right.

[Jez]

Do we get to do this all over again for the 130 year celebration? And then 140? And of course something important like 150 year anniversary.

 

Is 125 actually an important number? I don't remember celebrating my 25th birthday in any special way.

[niceandfriendly]

Bloody Hell! The club can`t win can it? Non-sponsored "Sash" strip. Ex-players presented on the pitch at games a number of times. The "125" Logo. Celebration Events last year. Yet somehow they are "airbrushing" our history?? "No comment" would have been better than being open and honest?? Imagine the furore on here with "No Comment"! When the event at The Mayflower was announced, I had no idea whether it was organised by the club or not, but it wasn`t. It was unofficial as were the awards to LM and MLT. What do you expect the club to do? Take credit for something that they had nothing to do with? I think that the club has basically supplied answers to questions that were not answered clearly by the organisers of the Mayflower do. I haven`t agreed with everying that the club/NC has done or the way that they have been done, but it seems that you are either for NC or against him. There appears to be very little middle ground.

 

Absolutely. The club airbrushing our history? For that to be said, in this year of all years, with all the 125 years celebrations, that comment is genius. Never thought I'd see that! thanks patred for making my day.

[rallyboy]

NONE of us know all the facts yet many still want to leap to take sides.

 

My personal viewpoint is I have great respect for Matt, Lawrie and the old players - many are legends and we'll never forget the times we shared with them.

And without Markus and Nicola we wouldn't have a club, their project is to get us back to the levels Lawrie achieved in a different era.

 

This is not a black and white issue, we don't have to take sides, you can support the great names AND the current regime - while being disappointed by both on occasions.

I believe from what I see on here between the knee-jerk postings is that there are many people share that middleground view - two thirds of the fanbase maybe? You tell me...

 

But if we want to analyse the problems surrounding the weekend, this is where we all start guessing as we don't have all the facts -

 

As a major part of the club's history did Nicola have an invite to these unofficial events?

If yes and he declined, boo to him. If no, disgracefully insulting.

What exactly did Lawrie do to upset the current regime? If we knew the detail which side would we take?

Did Matt's unfortunate link with Pinnacle damage the Leibherr bid and delay the project or is Nicola being over-sensitive on that?

Matt was doing his best to help the club, but some suggest Pinnacle were messing up our whole season - two views of one simple thing.

 

We don't know the facts - so I suspect disappointing behaviour has occurred on both sides.

 

As for the BBC stirring it up - you just ask the club about the award they have given Lawrie and you get that answer, simple journalism - but the factual response is altered by the delivery of the presenter who gave the impression it was sinister....

 

 

The flimsy argument that Cortese doesn't care about the club's history?

Look at the shirt.

 

And look at yesterday when he allowed a plaque to be put up regarding loss of life in the blitz, a campaign that has fallen on deaf ears for decades - the man who doesn't care about the club and city's history made it happen.

No big fuss, no gobbing off in the press, he just did it.

 

He's in charge of my club, was vital in saving it and is trying to bring us success.

I love the legends of the club, and in Nicola I trust.

 

Anyone who is really not happy with his management should boycott the club, presumably as they did with Wembley last season.

Stop putting money into a regime they despise and let the rest of the fanbase vote with their feet.

 

I think it will be a lonely protest.

[miserableoldgit]

NONE of us know all the facts yet many still want to leap to take sides.

 

My personal viewpoint is I have great respect for Matt, Lawrie and the old players - many are legends and we'll never forget the times we shared with them.

And without Markus and Nicola we wouldn't have a club, their project is to get us back to the levels Lawrie achieved in a different era.

 

This is not a black and white issue, we don't have to take sides, you can support the great names AND the current regime - while being disappointed by both on occasions.

I believe from what I see on here between the knee-jerk postings is that there are many people share that middleground view - two thirds of the fanbase maybe? You tell me...

 

But if we want to analyse the problems surrounding the weekend, this is where we all start guessing as we don't have all the facts -

 

As a major part of the club's history did Nicola have an invite to these unofficial events?

If yes and he declined, boo to him. If no, disgracefully insulting.

What exactly did Lawrie do to upset the current regime? If we knew the detail which side would we take?

Did Matt's unfortunate link with Pinnacle damage the Leibherr bid and delay the project or is Nicola being over-sensitive on that?

Matt was doing his best to help the club, but some suggest Pinnacle were messing up our whole season - two views of one simple thing.

 

We don't know the facts - so I suspect disappointing behaviour has occurred on both sides.

 

As for the BBC stirring it up - you just ask the club about the award they have given Lawrie and you get that answer, simple journalism - but the factual response is altered by the delivery of the presenter who gave the impression it was sinister....

 

 

The flimsy argument that Cortese doesn't care about the club's history?

Look at the shirt.

 

And look at yesterday when he allowed a plaque to be put up regarding loss of life in the blitz, a campaign that has fallen on deaf ears for decades - the man who doesn't care about the club and city's history made it happen.

No big fuss, no gobbing off in the press, he just did it.

 

He's in charge of my club, was vital in saving it and is trying to bring us success.

I love the legends of the club, and in Nicola I trust.

 

Anyone who is really not happy with his management should boycott the club, presumably as they did with Wembley last season.

Stop putting money into a regime they despise and let the rest of the fanbase vote with their feet.

 

I think it will be a lonely protest.

Absolute top post! Says it all really. Sadly people on here are using rumour and half-truths to back up their own agenda. It`s easier that way rather than dealing with facts. I had also forgotten about yesterdays plaque news.

[Liquidshokk]

Absolute top post! Says it all really. Sadly people on here are using rumour and half-truths to back up their own agenda. It`s easier that way rather than dealing with facts. I had also forgotten about yesterdays plaque news.

 

I wonder if there would have been the same amount of people with agendas if the pinnacle group had got in. Seems whoever is in charge people just have to attack them.

[dune]

I wonder if there would have been the same amount of people with agendas if the pinnacle group had got in. Seems whoever is in charge people just have to attack them.

 

When all else fails generalise and blanket all opposition. This thread is about what thei thread is about.

 

On this issue Cortese is bang out of order especially with that obnoxious press release.

 

We've all seen what happened to our club when fans divide and Cortese is instigating another division.

[kpturner]

On this issue Cortese is bang out of order especially with that obnoxious press release.

Remind me please - which obnoxious press release?

[Liquidshokk]

When all else fails generalise and blanket all opposition. This thread is about what thei thread is about.

 

On this issue Cortese is bang out of order especially with that obnoxious press release.

 

We've all seen what happened to our club when fans divide and Cortese is instigating another division.

 

I just don't know what Cortese has to do to please people like you though. What sources do you use to back up your issues with him? I assume the media? We all know that various media sources have/are twisting things to put him in a bad light so is not a reliable source.

 

How many times does Cortese have to prove media sources wrong before people realise he only wants whats best for SFC and that he does respect everyone associated with it. His respect is just in proportionate measures and at the end of the day he is running a business so is treating it like one.

 

The presenter on this show made unnecesary gestures when commenting on LM's award. As stated above I'd say the club were asked about it and a simple "it wasnt an official club award" was said..... which it wasnt.

[saint1977]

NONE of us know all the facts yet many still want to leap to take sides.

 

My personal viewpoint is I have great respect for Matt, Lawrie and the old players - many are legends and we'll never forget the times we shared with them.

And without Markus and Nicola we wouldn't have a club, their project is to get us back to the levels Lawrie achieved in a different era.

 

This is not a black and white issue, we don't have to take sides, you can support the great names AND the current regime - while being disappointed by both on occasions.

I believe from what I see on here between the knee-jerk postings is that there are many people share that middleground view - two thirds of the fanbase maybe? You tell me...

 

But if we want to analyse the problems surrounding the weekend, this is where we all start guessing as we don't have all the facts -

 

As a major part of the club's history did Nicola have an invite to these unofficial events?

If yes and he declined, boo to him. If no, disgracefully insulting.

What exactly did Lawrie do to upset the current regime? If we knew the detail which side would we take?

Did Matt's unfortunate link with Pinnacle damage the Leibherr bid and delay the project or is Nicola being over-sensitive on that?

Matt was doing his best to help the club, but some suggest Pinnacle were messing up our whole season - two views of one simple thing.

 

We don't know the facts - so I suspect disappointing behaviour has occurred on both sides.

 

As for the BBC stirring it up - you just ask the club about the award they have given Lawrie and you get that answer, simple journalism - but the factual response is altered by the delivery of the presenter who gave the impression it was sinister....

 

 

The flimsy argument that Cortese doesn't care about the club's history?

Look at the shirt.

 

And look at yesterday when he allowed a plaque to be put up regarding loss of life in the blitz, a campaign that has fallen on deaf ears for decades - the man who doesn't care about the club and city's history made it happen.

No big fuss, no gobbing off in the press, he just did it.

 

He's in charge of my club, was vital in saving it and is trying to bring us success.

I love the legends of the club, and in Nicola I trust.

 

Anyone who is really not happy with his management should boycott the club, presumably as they did with Wembley last season.

Stop putting money into a regime they despise and let the rest of the fanbase vote with their feet.

 

I think it will be a lonely protest.

 

Thoroughly sensible post, I'm sick of the pathetic fighting around the club. I say "around" because I think that whilst we have some fantastic ex-players and manager/s who are heroes of mine clearly care about the club, some of the drip-drip of unpleasantness in the media is becoming boring and they will start to lose a little bit of respect if it doesn't cease. NC is taking the club forward, ML cleared our debts and put us with NC on the right footing. He deserves to be cut some slack in my view.

 

Norwich also had this type of problem a couple of years ago but Delia and Michael Wynn-Jones brought in new board members who couldn't believe the freebies and easy life some of the ex-players and officials had which was putting the club in jepoardy and like us, had seen them drop to League 1. That 7-1 defeat V Colchester brought in a hungry new manager and a new broom elsewhere and there seemed to be moaning when the freebies dried up but look at how a leaner and hungrier Norwich are doing in the NPC this season? That could easily be us.

[Mowgli]

Have seen the clip and cannot see what the fuss is about. It seems to have been a great evening and everyone enjoyed themeselves. that's all that matters really.

 

As far as the quote is concerned, from SFC I thought that was a positive. an award from the club would be rated 6/10 by most people. An award by your peers is nothing short of 10/10. Were not SFC making the point that this award really means something much more than an award from the club.

 

Come on people. Chill out and get on with supporting the team / club/ LM/ MLT and all past players...

[Liquidshokk]

Have seen the clip and cannot see what the fuss is about. It seems to have been a great evening and everyone enjoyed themeselves. that's all that matters really.

 

As far as the quote is concerned, from SFC I thought that was a positive. an award from the club would be rated 6/10 by most people. An award by your peers is nothing short of 10/10. Were not SFC making the point that this award really means something much more than an award from the club.

 

Come on people. Chill out and get on with supporting the team / club/ LM/ MLT and all past players...

 

The presenter didnt read it like that though, did he. Which to many on here automatically means the club are being out of order.

[Greenridge]

It's clear from reading the many opposing posts on this thread that whilst Cortese has demonstrated strong and determined leadership he is clearly lacking in accepting that positive PR will do him no harm whatsoever. It wouldn't have taken much to send a couple of 'official' representatives to this celebration evening, indeed he could have attended himself I guess, depending on his circumstances. It just seems so strange to 'appear' to actively alienate The Club in circumstances like this when, with no real effort required, he could have made everyone happy.

[Crab Lungs]

How has he shown lack of respect for the clubs history? We are wearing an anniversary shirt, recently had a number of former players on the pitch at half time and the club held official events in November 2010 - the actual time of the anniversary!

 

The event yesterday was unofficial, 3 months late and some of those involved have been slagging him off in the press for months. He owes them nothing and certainly can't blame him for not doing them any favours.

 

This.

[Liquidshokk]

It's clear from reading the many opposing posts on this thread that whilst Cortese has demonstrated strong and determined leadership he is clearly lacking in accepting that positive PR will do him no harm whatsoever. It wouldn't have taken much to send a couple of 'official' representatives to this celebration evening, indeed he could have attended himself I guess, depending on his circumstances. It just seems so strange to 'appear' to actively alienate The Club in circumstances like this when, with no real effort required, he could have made everyone happy.

 

All comes back to the comparison to a normal company. A company wouldnt send their current employees to an event arranged by ex employees if they dont have any contact with them anymore. Clearly the organisers of the event didnt go down the official route of inviting people from the club and were no doubt happy to not do so knowing the club will come out in a bad light when the media get onto it.

[Colinjb]

Oh for pities sake, not this again.

 

Rallyboy, great post.

Edited 15 February, 2011 by Colinjb

[Greenridge]

All comes back to the comparison to a normal company. A company wouldnt send their current employees to an event arranged by ex employees if they dont have any contact with them anymore. Clearly the organisers of the event didnt go down the official route of inviting people from the club and were no doubt happy to not do so knowing the club will come out in a bad light when the media get onto it.

 

This is about a Football Club not a Company...oh wait lol. It's about PR and it wouldn't have taken much to have a couple of people there representing the current set-up regardless of any other factors. Now I'm not a LMcM fan but I do appreciate what he and all the other attendees have done for our Club in the past. Whether Cortese had good reason to be, shall we say, frustrated with some of the attendees recent vocal angst against the club he could easily, very easily, have turned this into a positive PR of the Club (and himself) rather than, at best, a split view on his actions.

[Liquidshokk]

This is about a Football Club not a Company...oh wait lol. It's about PR and it wouldn't have taken much to have a couple of people there representing the current set-up regardless of any other factors. Now I'm not a LMcM fan but I do appreciate what he and all the other attendees have done for our Club in the past. Whether Cortese had good reason to be, shall we say, frustrated with some of the attendees recent vocal angst against the club he could easily, very easily, have turned this into a positive PR of the Club (and himself) rather than, at best, a split view on his actions.

 

Whether people like the fact or not, the truth is Cortese couldnt give a stuff about PR. He seems to be more than aware of what the media are like and how they will find a way to generate negative press about the club however they can regardless of what the club does to control its image. He knows that all that really matters is the business now and achieving success. I wouldnt agree with that as the history is important but he didnt actually do anything to get in the way of the celebrations. He just didnt want to be involved in a Southampton FC event that wasnt organised by themselves. Fair enough.

Edited 15 February, 2011 by Liquidshokk

[um pahars]

All comes back to the comparison to a normal company. A company wouldnt send their current employees to an event arranged by ex employees if they dont have any contact with them anymore.

 

Only in a crazy world would you compare a Football Club to a normal company. You don't get 2,500 current and ex customers of normal companies paying £25 to cheer and applaud a load of ex employees at a theatre.

 

It's the most ridiculous analogy going and seriously fails to understand just what a Football Club means to many of the supporters and communities involved with it.

 

It's the very fact that Football Clubs are so different to normal companies that we are even discussing this issue.

[dune]

This is about a Football Club not a Company...oh wait lol. It's about PR and it wouldn't have taken much to have a couple of people there representing the current set-up regardless of any other factors. Now I'm not a LMcM fan but I do appreciate what he and all the other attendees have done for our Club in the past. Whether Cortese had good reason to be, shall we say, frustrated with some of the attendees recent vocal angst against the club he could easily, very easily, have turned this into a positive PR of the Club (and himself) rather than, at best, a split view on his actions.

 

Precisely. We can all debate whether Nicola was morally right until the cows come home, but what is more worryin is that this is an example of Nicola Cortese missing a trick and if you miss a trick it's down to poor judgement. Cortese strikes me as the sort of person who could never ever say sorry if he's wrong (or even if he's right and saying it is advantageous) but I think he see's this as a strength and it might be in the dog eat dog world of finace (just as you can never be wrong in politics), but in the role Nicola has now he needs a diplomatic string in his bow. At the end of the day to be a diplomat you don't have to mean what you're saying, it's all about getting a result and coming accross as being sincere. No CEO can be wrong many times or play this card often, but if I was Cortese i'd look at the bigger picture and i'd do what was required to heal the rift.

 

There can be no winners in this stand-off therefore there's nothing to battle over apart from egos and pride and they are worth nothing

Edited 15 February, 2011 by dune

[dune]

Only in a crazy world would you compare a Football Club to a normal company. You don't get 2,500 current and ex customers of normal companies paying £25 to cheer and applaud a load of ex employees at a theatre.

 

It's the most ridiculous analogy going and seriously fails to understand just what a Football Club means to many of the supporters and communities involved with it.

 

It's the very fact that Football Clubs are so different to normal companies that we are even discussing this issue.

 

I've notice you make this point time and time again, and it just seems so logical to me that it's a given, but some people don't get it. It's unbelievable how any fan thats been through even the smallest period of our history cannot feel part of the club.

[Liquidshokk]

Only in a crazy world would you compare a Football Club to a normal company. You don't get 2,500 current and ex customers of normal companies paying £25 to cheer and applaud a load of ex employees at a theatre.

 

It's the most ridiculous analogy going and seriously fails to understand just what a Football Club means to many of the supporters and communities involved with it.

 

It's the very fact that Football Clubs are so different to normal companies that we are even discussing this issue.

 

Wasn't saying it should treated like any other company but goes someway to explain how Cortese might look at things. He is running a business and they are ex employees of the club to him. Thanks for ripping my post apart anyway though. He shouldnt really be slated for this though as he hasnt actually done anything to get in the way of celebrations as stated above. The minute he does I will feel differently on the matter.

 

Dune, I feel part of the club and its probably an unhealthy obsession of mine as I spend far too much time thinking about it. But I do appreciate that there is a new regime in place and SFC is being run as a stable business that wont be dictated to by people who used to be associated with the club. We can all enjoy the history of the club as was done at the weekend but the club have the right to get involved at whatever level they like

Edited 15 February, 2011 by Liquidshokk

[um pahars]

Wasn't saying it should treated like any other company but goes someway to explain how Cortese might look at things. He is running a business and they are ex employees of the club to him. Thanks for ripping my post apart anyway though. He shouldnt really be slated for this though as he hasnt actually done anything to get in the way of celebrations as stated above. The minute he does I will feel differently on the matter.

 

If Cortese thinks of this Club in pure "business" terms then it would be a big worry.

 

However, in his defence, I don't think he does think that way. As others have pointed out he was instrumental in bringing out a 125th shirt and with the Saints Foundation and other issues he has shown that he understands that the Club is much more than a normal business.

 

But I do think he has probably misjudged this event right from the start. He and others underestimated the sentiment and support out there for "bigger" celebrations of our history and I also believe he has allowed his personal spats with some from our past to colour his judgement with regards co-operating with those who then ran with the event. He may not have done anything to get in the way, but conversely it would appear that he has not done anything to augment or support this event which is a real shame.

[chrisobee]

Available on iplayer.

 

9mins 30 secs in (for about 10 mins)

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ycv9x/Late_Kick_Off_South_South_West_and_West_2011_Episode_4/

 

 

 

PS Turn it off before it goes back to the studio, as I'm not sure where on the "Cortese to Lawrie/Matty blame-ometer" the blame should be apportioned on this one, but IMHO the comments at the end by James Richardson don't make pleasant viewing.

 

Thanks for the link, I am going to enjoy it now

[chrisobee]

Great watch, don't think the comments by James Richardson were anything at all. Got the impression he was just repeating what the club/organisers had said and had no judgement either way.

[Liquidshokk]

If Cortese thinks of this Club in pure "business" terms then it would be a big worry.

 

However, in his defence, I don't think he does think that way. As others have pointed out he was instrumental in bringing out a 125th shirt and with the Saints Foundation and other issues he has shown that he understands that the Club is much more than a normal business.

 

But I do think he has probably misjudged this event right from the start. He and others underestimated the sentiment and support out there for "bigger" celebrations of our history and I also believe he has allowed his personal spats with some from our past to colour his judgement with regards co-operating with those who then ran with the event. He may not have done anything to get in the way, but conversely it would appear that he has not done anything to augment or support this event which is a real shame.

 

Well I think he can be forgiven for misjudging this event. Its not like he's ran 10 football clubs before so as shown with a few things (Payment plan, photographers etc) he will no doubt learn from it and bear it in mind for the future (150th celebrations anyone?)

[alpine_saint]

How has he shown lack of respect for the clubs history? We are wearing an anniversary shirt, recently had a number of former players on the pitch at half time and the club held official events in November 2010 - the actual time of the anniversary!

 

The event yesterday was unofficial, 3 months late and some of those involved have been slagging him off in the press for months. He owes them nothing and certainly can't blame him for not doing them any favours.

 

I'm with you on this. Cortese was also there for us when we were on the brink of extinction, unlike the old boys club.

 

Time for them to STFU and for certain fans to wake up to the realities for the club in 2011, and to look forward to the future. This aint an epsiode of Ashes to Ashes.

[alpine_saint]

NONE of us know all the facts yet many still want to leap to take sides.

 

My personal viewpoint is I have great respect for Matt, Lawrie and the old players - many are legends and we'll never forget the times we shared with them.

And without Markus and Nicola we wouldn't have a club, their project is to get us back to the levels Lawrie achieved in a different era.

 

This is not a black and white issue, we don't have to take sides, you can support the great names AND the current regime - while being disappointed by both on occasions.

I believe from what I see on here between the knee-jerk postings is that there are many people share that middleground view - two thirds of the fanbase maybe? You tell me...

 

But if we want to analyse the problems surrounding the weekend, this is where we all start guessing as we don't have all the facts -

 

As a major part of the club's history did Nicola have an invite to these unofficial events?

If yes and he declined, boo to him. If no, disgracefully insulting.

What exactly did Lawrie do to upset the current regime? If we knew the detail which side would we take?

Did Matt's unfortunate link with Pinnacle damage the Leibherr bid and delay the project or is Nicola being over-sensitive on that?

Matt was doing his best to help the club, but some suggest Pinnacle were messing up our whole season - two views of one simple thing.

 

We don't know the facts - so I suspect disappointing behaviour has occurred on both sides.

 

As for the BBC stirring it up - you just ask the club about the award they have given Lawrie and you get that answer, simple journalism - but the factual response is altered by the delivery of the presenter who gave the impression it was sinister....

 

 

The flimsy argument that Cortese doesn't care about the club's history?

Look at the shirt.

 

And look at yesterday when he allowed a plaque to be put up regarding loss of life in the blitz, a campaign that has fallen on deaf ears for decades - the man who doesn't care about the club and city's history made it happen.

No big fuss, no gobbing off in the press, he just did it.

 

He's in charge of my club, was vital in saving it and is trying to bring us success.

I love the legends of the club, and in Nicola I trust.

 

Anyone who is really not happy with his management should boycott the club, presumably as they did with Wembley last season.

Stop putting money into a regime they despise and let the rest of the fanbase vote with their feet.

 

I think it will be a lonely protest.

 

Brilliant post.

[NickG]

particularly this bit:

 

The flimsy argument that Cortese doesn't care about the club's history?

Look at the shirt.

 

And look at yesterday when he allowed a plaque to be put up regarding loss of life in the blitz, a campaign that has fallen on deaf ears for decades - the man who doesn't care about the club and city's history made it happen.

No big fuss, no gobbing off in the press, he just did it.

 

He's in charge of my club, was vital in saving it and is trying to bring us success.

I love the legends of the club, and in Nicola I trust.

 

Anyone who is really not happy with his management should boycott the club, presumably as they did with Wembley last season.

Stop putting money into a regime they despise and let the rest of the fanbase vote with their feet.

[Turkish]

Brilliant post.

 

Plus one. Nail on head.

[Macey_J2]

Good highlights of the event, glad i watched it

[Scudamore]

Yeah this seems the most appropriate thread I can find using an iPhone at this moment. People talk about Adkin's interviews on here.

 

 

Having just heard Lee Clark talking and sound utterly retarded I'd say we're doing alright!