Saint Or Sinner Nicola Cortese Drives Southampton On

[Graffito]

He is engaged in a bitter dispute with Southampton’s greatest footballer, embroiled in litigation with another former player, has fired two popular managers, banned the local paper, sacked long-serving programme-sellers and increased ticket prices. So, what was the result when Southampton fans were polled for their opinion on executive chairman Nicola Cortese? Ninety per cent backed him.

 

Full article: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/saint-or-sinner-nicola-cortese-drives-southampton-on-8488069.html

[Turkish]

I hope you copied and paste that from an article as thinking and typing all that was probably the biggest waste of time in mongboard history and that's even with FC as a competitor for the title.

[trousers]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/saint-or-sinner-nicola-cortese-drives-southampton-on-8488069.html

[Graffito]

I hope you copied and paste that from an article as thinking and typing all that was probably the biggest waste of time in mongboard history and that's even with FC as a competitor for the title.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/saint-or-sinner-nicola-cortese-drives-southampton-on-8488069.html

 

Evidently he's upped his PR game.

Edited 9 February, 2013 by Graffito

[Turkish]

/\ thank god for that. And FC retains his title too. Everyone's a winner.

[Sour Mash]

When/where was this poll?

[sotonjoe]

Nicola is Southampton FC.

[Graffito]

/\ thank god for that. And FC retains his title too. Everyone's a winner.

 

Quite witty for you.

[Turkish]

When/where was this poll?

 

Not sure which one they are on about but here is one on the echo website about the Cortese v MLT thing and more back Cortese than MLT.

[Turkish]

And he still owes me a pint from the Plymouth away game FFS.

[Professor]

Seems to me that as fans we need Cortese. He has presided over the resurgence of the club and has shown that just hanging on in The Prem isn't eough for him. Whether his solution in swoppimg NA for MP will work we have to wait and see but it has shown his hands-on intention.

[SaintRobbie]

Seems to me that as fans we need Cortese. He has presided over the resurgence of the club and has shown that just hanging on in The Prem isn't eough for him. Whether his solution in swoppimg NA for MP will work we have to wait and see but it has shown his hands-on intention.

 

Yep. You can't fault his ambition and in my experience, ambition is infectious.

 

I like it. I like have hope. I like sharing Cortese's dream. I want to be a top four Club. I want to be the Barcelona of the South.

 

 

“He may be a bastard, but he’s our bastard.” Golden post that one!

 

I still, however, think he's put the first nail in his coffin. If he fails with MP and we relegate, he will have been shown to be a crass decision maker and gambler - he'll be removed, by fans and owners. If he's successful he's achieved his aim and he is certainly not the type of chairman we'd need to retain our position in the top 4 - so the owners will sack him and replace him anyway. He's a little like Nigel Adkins really - very good at getting us up there but unproven and uncertain to maintain success in the long term. So then it's time to replace him with someone with PROVEN high level Chairman credentials. What's more he's a human being and foreign - he'll want to go home someday and no-one likes to be criticised all the time when they're doing their best to complete the job.

 

Cortese will not be here in a year if we relegate, or 4-5 years if we put ourselves into Europe for two seasons on the bounce. So, as the Prof says, get behind him as we need him... until then.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Yep. You can't fault his ambition and in my experience, ambition is infectious.

 

I like it. I like have hope. I like sharing Cortese's dream. I want to be a top four Club. I want to be the Barcelona of the South.

 

 

“He may be a bastard, but he’s our bastard.” Golden post that one!

 

I still, however, think he's put the first nail in his coffin. If he fails with MP and we relegate, he will have been shown to be a crass decision maker and gambler - he'll be removed, by fans and owners. If he's successful he's achieved his aim and he is certainly not the type of chairman we'd need to retain our position in the top 4 - so the owners will sack him and replace him anyway. He's a little like Nigel Adkins really - very good at getting us up there but unproven and uncertain to maintain success in the long term. So then it's time to replace him with someone with PROVEN high level Chairman credentials. What's more he's a human being and foreign - he'll want to go home someday and no-one likes to be criticised all the time when they're doing their best to complete the job.

 

Cortese will not be here in a year if we relegate, or 4-5 years if we put ourselves into Europe for two seasons on the bounce. So, as the Prof says, get behind him as we need him... until then.

 

I am not a betting man, but I would wager that Cortese will go nowhere if we're relegated. This is HIS project - he's here to stay.

[Special K]

Dare i say that it is too early to say whether his latest "big decision" has been successful or not. We'll know the outcome of that one in May. And how we can be "aiming for Europe" when we are 3 points off the relegation zone is beyond me. Perhaps, it's a comment on ambition, but that can be said of the top placed 30 odd clubs in the country, so hardly revelatory. Not a good piece at all, imho.

[dubai_phil]

Well, Goddamn you MLT. We were bumbling along nice and quietly underneath the radar enjoying our football and having our own personal battles to express our own disgust in our own private world of Forums & local media and you came along and poured fuel on the fire, kept it going and kawoosh.

 

Back to where we were with rupert and having a PR machine pumping out a new non-story about NC every 48 hours.

 

Like all Saints fans was horrified at the way NA was discarded, reserved judgement on the reasons but can see a glimmer of why but REALLY?

 

Couldn't it just have been left alone and let the results & performances speak for themselves?

 

Oh no, suddenly we've got NC's name and plans being analysed every 48 hours in a different media format.

 

I was HAPPY with him being shut away in his little world.

 

Dear media STFU and go away until you have something to 1) Laugh at over the sheer stupidity of Stadium/Euro plans as we go down or 2) Applaud our vision as we sail into the group stages of the Europa League next year.

 

I just want to go back to watching football and reading the reports like we have done for the last 3 years

[Gingeletiss]

What is undeniable is that, in football terms, his approach works. Saints have gone from heading towards oblivion to aiming for Europe. Cortese is not afraid to invest serious money with Southampton among the highest spenders in the summer transfer window as £17m went on Gaston Ramirez and Jay Rodriguez alone. His impatience explains Saints’ vote against the financial restraints introduced by the Premier League this week, not that this will bother other clubs, several of whom are unhappy at his hard bargaining.

 

Now that's a shock, I never saw that in the tea leaves!

[pap]

Why did the Indy ignore SaintsWeb?

[trousers]

When people say "we'll know at the end of the season whether or not Cortese made the right decision to change managers in January", how exactly will we know?

 

If we get relegated under Pochettino we'll never know where we would have finished under Adkins. If we finish 3rd from bottom under Pochettino who's to say we wouldn't have finished 2nd from bottom or in last place under Adkins?

 

Relegation under Pochettino doesn't automatically mean that Cortese made the wrong decision.

Edited 9 February, 2013 by trousers

[david in sweden]

And he still owes me a pint from the Plymouth away game FFS.

 

tough luck Turkish !...you'll have to get in a bit quicker next time, then.

[hypochondriac]

When people say "we'll know at the end of the season whether or not Cortese made the right decision to change managers in January", how exactly will we know?

 

If we get relegated under Pochettino we'll never know where we would have finished under Adkins. If we finish 3rd from bottom under Pochettino who's to say we wouldn't have finished 2nd from bottom or in last place under Adkins?

 

Relegation under Pochettino doesn't automatically mean that Cortese made the wrong decision.

 

But a downturn in results meaning relegation would suggest that adkins would have kept us up. That's how it was looking anyway.

[Dr Who?]

I love and hate him..... It is fun and interesting that's for sure.

 

In the media a lot this weekend, but only because we are playing City.

[Bearsy]

two of the main fans forums, The Ugly Inside and rival website It’s Beautiful Outside, seem to have diametrically opposed views of him

.

 

I thought that was a joke! Turns out there really is beautiful outside website.

[trousers]

But a downturn in results meaning relegation would suggest that adkins would have kept us up. That's how it was looking anyway.

 

That hypothesis assumes that form couldn't/wouldn't have dipped under Adkins. Form is temporary - bottom line is we'll never know how things would have evolved under Adkins therefore we can't logically judge Pochettino against Adkins at the end of the season.

[CB Fry]

When people say "we'll know at the end of the season whether or not Cortese made the right decision to change managers in January", how exactly will we know?

 

If we get relegated under Pochettino we'll never know where we would have finished under Adkins. If we finish 3rd from bottom under Pochettino who's to say we wouldn't have finished 2nd from bottom or in last place under Adkins?

 

Relegation under Pochettino doesn't automatically mean that Cortese made the wrong decision.

 

Nice try.

 

We make a change and it results in relegation, that shows it was the wrong decision. Speculating about Adkins is simply that and thus meaningless.

 

You can only assess decisions made, not ones not made.

 

I thought you "understood the vision" better than this?

[trousers]

Nice try.

 

We make a change and it results in relegation, that shows it was the wrong decision. Speculating about Adkins is simply that and thus meaningless.

 

You can only assess decisions made, not ones not made.

 

I thought you "understood the vision" better than this?

 

[david in sweden]

Seems to me that as fans we need Cortese. He has presided over the resurgence of the club and has shown that just hanging on in The Prem isn't enough for him.

Whether his solution in swopping NA for MP will work we have to wait and see but it has shown his hands-on intention.

 

 

agreed (again) Professor,

BUT ...all these vitriolic attacks on NC can scarcely be compared to some of those surrounding Lawrie McMenemy - after we were relegated in 1974 - when he'd only been in charge for 6 months.

....but of course there was no web site at that time to record all our disapproval, and it was down to letters to the "Echo"....but time told a different story.

 

Eight years later, we were top of the Div.1 table, (read Prem.) with FIVE current / former England captains in the squad.

[CB Fry]

agreed (again) Professor,

BUT ...all these vitriolic attacks on NC can scarcely be compared to some of those surrounding Lawrie McMenemy - after we were relegated in 1974 - when he'd only been in charge for 6 months.

....but of course there was no web site at that time to record all our disapproval, and it was down to letters to the "Echo"....but time told a different story.

 

Eight years later, we were top of the Div.1 table, (read Prem.) with FIVE current / former England captains in the squad.

 

Err. I think Nigel Adkins is the Lawrie Mac in this story. Only a Lawrie Mac sacked a few months after we went up.

 

The "stick with the manager" cliches really don't apply to us anymore.

[NickG]

NA, at time of sacking, had been in his job longer than most prem managers.

 

Times have changed managers don't last long, with 3 exceptions

[Turkish]

.

 

I thought that was a joke! Turns out there really is beautiful outside website.

 

The IBO forum is the FC United of Manchester of mongboards. A group of posters were disillusioned with the UI and they way it was being run so set up their own forum. They still talk about the UI and have a look on there but only post on the IBO forum now.

[Thedelldays]

The IBO forum is the FC United of Manchester of mongboards. A group of posters were disillusioned with the UI and they way it was being run so set up their own forum. They still talk about the UI and have a look on there but only post on the IBO forum now.

Much like some of the posters on the Ui looking in on here

[Dig Dig]

Turkish, what do you think of the level of journalism shown in that article?

[Turkish]

Err. I think Nigel Adkins is the Lawrie Mac in this story. Only a Lawrie Mac sacked a few months after we went up.

 

The "stick with the manager" cliches really don't apply to us anymore.

 

And what a bloody shame that is too. Just look at what happened to Man United when they stuck with Alex Ferguson.

[Turkish]

Turkish, what do you think of the level of journalism shown in that article?

 

I can't make up my mind if its a disgusting article littered with assumptions and inconsistencies or a brilliantly well written article which is well balanced and presents alternative arguments for every point. Just when I think it is one I read something that makes me think its they other.

[Saint Charlie]

Good article. When you see the Goofs at Forest, Blackburn, Derby, Villa, Americans at Liverpool previously etc then we landed pretty well with Liebherr and Cortese.

 

He really hasnt made many (any?) poor key decisions during his tenure so far.

[Sour Mash]

NA, at time of sacking, had been in his job longer than most prem managers.

 

Times have changed managers don't last long, with 3 exceptions

A few months in a new league after consecutive promotions, that is a quick change by anyone's standards, regardless of whether you think the decision was right or wrong.

[Bucks Saint]

NA, at time of sacking, had been in his job longer than most prem managers.

 

Times have changed managers don't last long, with 3 exceptions

 

Spot on. Those 3 exceptions have been appalling

[Turkish]

NA, at time of sacking, had been in his job longer than most prem managers.

 

Times have changed managers don't last long, with 3 exceptions

 

So what? Are you saying that regardless of how mangers do they should be fired because that's how it is in the premier league?

[Andre]

How is he "divisive" if 90% backed him? I get what they mean, but hmm...

[Frank's cousin]

/\ thank god for that. And FC retains his title too. Everyone's a winner.

 

Good job to. If I wanted to provide short inane responses I would use twitter surely? Always hilarious how some on her have difficulty reading more than one sentance.

[CB Fry]

Good job to. If I wanted to provide short inane responses I would use twitter surely? Always hilarious how some on her have difficulty reading more than one sentance.

 

You have difficulty typing more than one without driving us all into an involuntary coma.

[Frank's cousin]

But a downturn in results meaning relegation would suggest that adkins would have kept us up. That's how it was looking anyway.

 

... points per game between will be a good indicator - however, there is a more rational thought process applicable - If we stay up then credit goes to BOTH nigel and MP, and if relegated then both take some responsibility, Nige for not getting enough from the first 22 games and so on... so far ewe have hardly had a downturn in results if you want to look at it in microscopic detail - and arguably we have stepped up in quality of play, building on the foundations Nige provided and now upping the pace and pressing. Not sure why there is a need to constantly judge between the two... As to Pushing on and the 'joke' that some think it is, best way to judge that potential is to look at how we are playing. But for defensive errors, we have begun more than holding our own in terms of chances, posession and quality of football - improve the defence and concentration and we aint that far off - but will need to add more strength in depth.

 

Way I see it... there are some fans who are more concerned about the image of the club and how fans of other clubs perceive us than any thing else... egos too fragile to cope with media and other fans 'laughing' at us. Well plenty laughed when we fell down down the leagues, plenty laughed when we NC mentioned an established prem side within 5 years - plenty laughing now when he says top 6 within 3 years... well I would not bet against it and will enjoy the WTFILN if we do.

[Frank's cousin]

You have difficulty typing more than one without driving us all into an involuntary coma.

 

...which presumes you read them... not a problem if you simply ignore is it?

[sadoldgit]

When people say "we'll know at the end of the season whether or not Cortese made the right decision to change managers in January", how exactly will we know?

 

If we get relegated under Pochettino we'll never know where we would have finished under Adkins. If we finish 3rd from bottom under Pochettino who's to say we wouldn't have finished 2nd from bottom or in last place under Adkins?

 

Relegation under Pochettino doesn't automatically mean that Cortese made the wrong decision.

 

If he brought MP in to keep us up and we go down it most certainly does mean he made the wrong decision.

[ART]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=475795609149581&set=a.116121935116952.15284.109043239158155&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

[Leicestersaint]

How is he "divisive" if 90% backed him? I get what they mean, but hmm...

 

Who are these 90 per cent and where did this come from??

[dubai_phil]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=475795609149581&set=a.116121935116952.15284.109043239158155&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

 

I'd like to comment on that but they won't let me

[CB Fry]

...which presumes you read them... not a problem if you simply ignore is it?

 

 

 

You don't need to read a blue whale to know it is gigantic, and that you are stultifying tedious.

 

Don't flatter yourself.

[Frank's cousin]

You don't need to read a blue whale to know it is gigantic, and that you are stultifying tedious.

 

Don't flatter yourself.

 

The day I worry about your opinion on my posts is the day a really need worry - never known anyone who cant open his trap without so much miserable insult pouring forth... the only benefit is the pure comedy in your pseudo intellectualism... top stuff, keep it coming.

[CB Fry]

If he brought MP in to keep us up and we go down it most certainly does mean he made the wrong decision.

 

 

He didn't bring him in to keep us up. He brought him in to take us into the top six, as Trousers well knows.

 

Not sure why our forum chum is already thinking about his relegation excuses. Staying up is a given. Its all about whether we make fourth next season or we have to reluctantly accept slumming it in the Europa.

[trousers]

He didn't bring him in to keep us up. He brought him in to take us into the top six, as Trousers well knows.

 

Not sure why our forum chum is already thinking about his relegation excuses. Staying up is a given. Its all about whether we make fourth next season or we have to reluctantly accept slumming it in the Europa.