A season that held so much promise...

[alpine_saint]

Fully agreed, best finish for what? 11 years? Superb effort.

 

4 places for 35m smackeroonies ? Excluding the wage bill increase ?

 

If I were KL, I would not see that as value-for-money. Isnt it ca. 1m per place ?

[farawaysaint]

4 places for 35m smackeroonies ? Excluding the wage bill increase ?

 

If I were KL, I would not see that as value-for-money. Isnt it ca. 1m per place ?

 

About right, but we've had tons of positive press, and looking at an investment's return in the first year is a bit counter-intuitive anyway. Call it advertising if it makes you happier?

[alpine_saint]

About right, but we've had tons of positive press, and looking at an investment's return in the first year is a bit counter-intuitive anyway. Call it advertising if it makes you happier?

 

Its not what I think that matters.

[CB Fry]

Well I can only state what I was told by someone with a contact in the club. NC was presented with the decision to appoint the hockey-man to the Board to 'oversee' matters for KL - he didn't agree with the approach, so after discussions failed, he resigned. He was not sacked and he did not leave entirely voluntarily.

 

So he has an amazing gift to see "way, way ahead" but utterly incapable of forseeing the owners of the business wouldn't want some level of input and not just let him run it like his own private fiefdom.

 

He walked out.

[Ajv2809]

Let's not go back to stripes. For me, stripes remind me of the years of struggling and battling relegation and I don't like being so similar Stoke and Sunderland. We're in a new era, let's not go back. The Air Florida style would be great mind.

[Ajv2809]

Sorry wrong thread.

[danner]

4 places for 35m smackeroonies ? Excluding the wage bill increase ?

 

If I were KL, I would not see that as value-for-money. Isnt it ca. 1m per place ?

 

35m is not much though us it, look how much the likes of City Chelsea spend, Arsenal spent more than that on one player.

 

Mid table investment gives mid table results.

[Verbal]

Sorry wrong thread.

 

Agreed.

[Pilsmer]

4 places for 35m smackeroonies ? Excluding the wage bill increase ?

 

If I were KL, I would not see that as value-for-money. Isnt it ca. 1m per place ?

 

This is based on the assumption that the club receives no benefit from its acquistions beyond the end of this season. The truth is that Lovren will continue to more than justify the £7m we spent on him for years to come and if he leaves, will return a profit. Wanyama will also improve whilst we will hopefully recoup most, if not all, of the Osvaldo fee.

 

Of course we are likely to spend another huge chunk of money again this summer but that is the way of it - the club needs to invest heavily to stand still. It's far too much of a simplistic view to measure outlay against league position. The club is also trying to minimise this acquisition cost through the academy.

 

As for the disappointment of this season, people realistically cited a top half finish as a good acheivement back in August and I don't think anything has changed. The FA Cup was extremely disappointing but what I think Poch did was follow what will be a long term policy of rotating the team for the cup to spread the burden of the season across the squad available. At this time there is no burden but following the policy highlights the fact that we are currently too weak as a squad to battle on more than from front. As our squad improves in quality and depth (which I honestly believe it will) then the same policy of rotation will see us capable of competing on several fronts and hopefully win the coveted silverware without overstretching the squad we have and therefore jeopardising our league standing.

[Bearsy]

Of course we are likely to spend another huge chunk of money again this summer

 

i don't think so! We shall see but i'm predicting 2014 to be the summer of parsimony

[farawaysaint]

i don't think so! We shall see but i'm predicting 2014 to be the summer of parsimony

 

Yep, I'm with stupid ^

[Bearsy]

i use dictionary word like parsimony, and still get called stupid There is no pulling wool over faraway eyes

[Beckenham Saint]

4 places for 35m smackeroonies ? Excluding the wage bill increase ?

 

If I were KL, I would not see that as value-for-money. Isnt it ca. 1m per place ?

 

Why does the money matter so much to you? Is it specifically your money they are spending?

 

Earlier in the season Brendan Rogers said that he was happy with Liverpool's progress this year, as (and I'm paraphrasing here to save time finding the exact wording) "No club goes from 7th to 1st." Likewise, we wouldn't have gone from 14th to 6th in one season, even if we had spent more than we did. Steady progress is what a club needs to make, and that is exactly what we're doing. If we finish 9th this year, that's still 4 places higher than last, and if we continue to progress in the same vein that means 5th next year. Now, I don't think that will happen as it gets harder to progress as much from here, but next year, 7th is possible, say. And then, with the right tactics and aggression, who says that the year after we can't be in the position that Liverpool find themselves in now? Bigger pictures, and all that, Alpine.

[the saint in winchester]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/9185715/premier-league-goalkeeper-shay-given-expects-to-leave-aston-villa

 

Yes please!

[Lets B Avenue]

i use dictionary word like parsimony, and still get called stupid There is no pulling wool over faraway eyes

 

 

 

[Pilsmer]

i don't think so! We shall see but i'm predicting 2014 to be the summer of parsimony

 

My generally positive attitude at the moment is based on the thinking that we're at least going to spend enough to consolidate our current position. I would start agreeing with some of the more negative views on here if these season turns out to be a single high point.

[Window Cleaner]

This is what is so sad making, we could easily be 5th or 6th had we just been a little more focused in our recruitment last summer, another LB and a better reserve keeper wouldn't have bankrupt us surely. Now I think the opportunity is probably gone for the forseeable future.

[Window Cleaner]

You're right, but then if we accept that, then Chelsea should be 10 points clear having signed a top striker, Arsenal should be doing better having signed a couple more players, Man Utd should have rebuilt a hell of a lot more to help Moyes, and so on.

 

Every team seems to have their problem areas that could have boosted their season a lot. Frustrating, but I'd be more annoyed/confused as an Arsenal or Chelsea fan.

 

 

Etoo you mean, he's an old hack, don't know what possessed them to sign him really.Schurrle as I said the other day is only average. Ozil was never ever going to last the pace in the PL this season, he's just not used to the intensity, again Wenger should have known that, I mean Mourinho dropped him at Real because of his attitude (and his globe trotting between games running after some woman or other). all these things are known, managers and recruitment directors just turn a blind eye to them and then act surprised when they get bitten in the ass.

[Ludwig]

Again I come back to 'at what point do you enjoy things?'.

Ah, that old one - "enjoyment".Is that what you're all about adriansfc? Is it? You're the sort who go around happily announcing that we've "come so far" and enjoying seeing the progress, aren't you? Go on, admit it.Well, let me tell you something, mate. Some of us don't care much for that attitude. Some of us want more than that. Are we wrong? Are we wrong to want to be in the top 4? I for one will not be able to enjoy any game that we lose or any season where we havent won the league. And I suppose that you and your happy clapper cult will tell me that I'm wrong. You don't get to tell me what to enjoy, adriansfc. I decide that and if I decide that I am going to refuse to find any enjoyment in football and Southampton then that is MY DECISION and not yours.So, with all due respect, take your "enjoyment" and shove it right up your anus. And while you're enjoying that feeling, the rest of us will be preparing ourselves for a whole new raft of threads about how badly we're doing after Liverpool, inevitably, destroy us.[video=youtube;PGn3ge-UIFU]

[Saint Fan CaM]

Exactly as I hypothesised yesterday then, didn't need a contact in the club to work that out really.

Toomer has been saying NC was sacked for a couple of weeks now.

 

Not sure what you're saying there WC - he resigned sure, but that was because he disagreed with a policy that was forced on him. Most observers will agree that NC ran the Company in his own way, but achieved much success. We have to wait and see what the new Board members will achieve, however I predict there will be some more sobbing and wailing on here in the summer.

[Bearsy]

all these things are known, managers and recruitment directors just turn a blind eye to them and then act surprised when they get bitten in the ass.

 

yeah that is true, i.e harry redknapp signing the likes of jenas and shaun wright-phillips, and then complaining bout injuries

[Window Cleaner]

Just mean both had very obvious problems. Both needed a better goalscorer, Chelsea more than any team in Europe given their dominance and chances created. They have a very good team apart from that and I think they'd have walked the league if they have a Suarez, Aguero, Negredo. Maybe even if they had Giroud to be honest, as Eto'o and Torres have been really poor. Don't believe they couldn't have found a striker to grab 20 goals over the season. Could be the difference between first and second.

 

As you say there were options open to them far better than Etoo, like keeping Lukaku for instance, that makes no sense whatsoever, then again it's Chelsea and strange things happen, no doubt for obsure reasons that wouldn't stand up to close examination. I mean with a 50+ game season coming up why loan out Lukaku again. Mourinho is a bit of a basket case sometimes, especially with young players oh and Spaniards..

[Saint Fan CaM]

So he has an amazing gift to see "way, way ahead" but utterly incapable of forseeing the owners of the business wouldn't want some level of input and not just let him run it like his own private fiefdom.

 

He walked out.

 

Far be it for me to defend him, but NC had full control of the club for FOUR years after KL owned the club. It's only after we remain in the Prem and need to invest further to achieve NC's ambitions that suddenly she wants her own man at the top table?? I can't say NC would necessarily have foreseen that, but even if he did why would he walk out until the dog's dinner was served to him? Sure he walked - but under the influence of new conditions being forced on him. You may think that we're better off without him - my position is that we don't know and probably will not until the summer, however IMO we were better off without KL's interference.

[Window Cleaner]

I keep telling myself managers and staff must know more and have their reasons, but some decisions out there do defy belief. Lukaku is raw, but compared to Eto'o or Torres you have to think he'd have scored regularly. Sturridge too. They probably have some striker I've never heard of on loan elsewhere too.

 

Chelsea must have about 30 players out on loan throughout Europe, they just buy players and immediately loan them out, happened again in January with Salah and Zouma. If you checked you'd probably find 20 or 30 Chelsea owned players out on loan , most of them will never ever play for Chelsea. Don't know why they do it, they must have their reasons I guess.

I suppose by doing that they control the market, Everton used to do it back in their glory days.

 

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/chelsea-fc/transfers/verein_631.html

Edited 26 February, 2014 by Window Cleaner

[Window Cleaner]

Not sure what you're saying there WC - he resigned sure, but that was because he disagreed with a policy that was forced on him. Most observers will agree that NC ran the Company in his own way, but achieved much success. We have to wait and see what the new Board members will achieve, however I predict there will be some more sobbing and wailing on here in the summer.

 

 

I'm not saying anything, well apart from whatever it was that I posted yesterday, can't be bothered to find it. However our venerable poster Toomer has said on a few occasions that NC was in fact sacked, he may even possess some sort of evidence to that effect.

[Cascadia Saint]

Thought I made it pretty clear and explained both sides. Even questioned my own enjoyment. Not sure how asking someone about their enjoyment is means 'you don't get to tell me what to enjoy'. I haven't attempted to. I'm interested in the answer for each person, because it's an interesting subject especially when a team has achieved a lot and might be approaching a ceiling. I'm always interested in top sides fans in this way too, whether they enjoy the average win as much as the rest of us or whether it's all stressing about the trophies. I enjoy a Premier win in isolation more than I did the League 1 or championship wins, because they were part of a very important journey to promotion, part of something bigger.

 

Anyway, I'm guessing from the tone you don't want discussion so much as anger! Which is again, your right to enjoy. Cheers.

 

I thought Ludwig was being sarcastic. I'm so confused. Or are you being sarcastic back?

[KelvinsRightGlove]

As you say there were options open to them far better than Etoo, like keeping Lukaku for instance, that makes no sense whatsoever, then again it's Chelsea and strange things happen, no doubt for obsure reasons that wouldn't stand up to close examination. I mean with a 50+ game season coming up why loan out Lukaku again. Mourinho is a bit of a basket case sometimes, especially with young players oh and Spaniards..

 

I'm obviously speculating, but my view is that Roman the Russian does not want to see another pet vanity project oh belly up ala Shevchenko (sp?).

 

I guess he wants to give him every chance to succeed hence signing every talented attacking midfielder going but not a striker.

 

There has to be someone out there they can get. They aren't short of funds, they laid out £30+m on Willian, was it? He's obviously a fantastic player, but I reckon that could have been money better spent on a prolific striker. Then again I'm sat on a busy train talking on an Internet forum. Whoevers decision it was (JM/RA) can rightfully point to pretty decent records of their own.

[CB Fry]

Far be it for me to defend him, but NC had full control of the club for FOUR years after KL owned the club. It's only after we remain in the Prem and need to invest further to achieve NC's ambitions that suddenly she wants her own man at the top table?? I can't say NC would necessarily have foreseen that, but even if he did why would he walk out until the dog's dinner was served to him? Sure he walked - but under the influence of new conditions being forced on him. You may think that we're better off without him - my position is that we don't know and probably will not until the summer, however IMO we were better off without KL's interference.

 

 

KL's "interference" allowed us to buy the likes of Lovren, you ungrateful fool.

 

Cult of Cortese living on I see.

Edited 26 February, 2014 by CB Fry

[Lallana's Left Peg]

If anyone is gutted about this season thus far I'd question how long they've been supporting Saints!

 

I don't think it could be much better. We always knew once we had a few injuries that our replacements were not up to it. The club took a calculated approach to replace what we had with the best we could find, not to upgrade every position marginally and bloat the squad. I think that is the right approach. And above all, the progress from the kids this year has been staggering too. Very exciting times.

[Toadhall Saint]

If anyone is gutted about this season thus far I'd question how long they've been supporting Saints!

 

I don't think it could be much better. We always knew once we had a few injuries that our replacements were not up to it. The club took a calculated approach to replace what we had with the best we could find, not to upgrade every position marginally and bloat the squad. I think that is the right approach. And above all, the progress from the kids this year has been staggering too. Very exciting times.

 

WHS^^

[Saint Billy]

i use dictionary word like parsimony, and still get called stupid There is no pulling wool over faraway eyes

 

I was impressed

[TheCholulaKid]

If anyone is gutted about this season thus far I'd question how long they've been supporting Saints!

 

I don't think it could be much better. We always knew once we had a few injuries that our replacements were not up to it. The club took a calculated approach to replace what we had with the best we could find, not to upgrade every position marginally and bloat the squad. I think that is the right approach. And above all, the progress from the kids this year has been staggering too. Very exciting times.

 

+ 1

[Cascadia Saint]

I'm not even sure.

 

But maybe that's sarcastic too.

 

If you were being sarcastic then ignore this reply.

 

 

 

Turkish has ruined this forum with his 18 layers of sarcasm, now they're all at it. I give up.

[Cascadia Saint]

I like to read most posts as an ironic comment on forum posts. It's a happier world that way. Barry is actually Stewart Lee.

 

Suddenly it all makes sense.

 

Apart from the OP that is, claims of sarcasm can't save him.

[austsaint]

4 places for 35m smackeroonies ? Excluding the wage bill increase ?

 

If I were KL, I would not see that as value-for-money. Isnt it ca. 1m per place ?

 

And the return on that money for those three would surely exceed the 35 million paid if they were to be sold. If you use your analogy for success what would Norwich be thinking? The other factor in this season beyond improving a few places on the ladder and achieving safety earlier is the continuing development of Academy players playing alongside the 35 mill. additions - which in turn increases their value should they be sold.

[Cascadia Saint]

Alpine is more of an unsettling work of art, juxtaposing beauty with an overwhelming sense of despair.

 

There's beauty?

[Saint Fan CaM]

KL's "interference" allowed us to buy the likes of Lovren, you ungrateful fool.

 

Cult of Cortese living on I see.

 

So you have some form of proof that KL dipped into her handbag and funded Lovren personally right? Come on...spill the beans and tell us all about this wonderful personal gift bestowed on the club by KL because she wanted to interfere! LOL...I bet you'll have some lame excuse why you can't prove a thing. Think back - was Lovren brought into the club before or after Cortese left?

 

And you can bait me as much you like with typical internet warrior words - I couldn't give a monkeys tit. BTW can't say I've ever heard of a Cult of Cortese, but if it did exist it would probably be highly successful - intelligent people do that kind of thing. LOL

[Saint Fan CaM]

I'm not saying anything, well apart from whatever it was that I posted yesterday, can't be bothered to find it. However our venerable poster Toomer has said on a few occasions that NC was in fact sacked, he may even possess some sort of evidence to that effect.

 

Perhaps he was - or perhaps there's some misinterpretation going on where somebody has said sacked but meant 'constructively dismissed'? Who knows - but I for one have yet to be overwhelmed with optimism about the club's future under KL and her hockey-man. As I've said, time will tell.

[CB Fry]

So you have some form of proof that KL dipped into her handbag and funded Lovren personally right? Come on...spill the beans and tell us all about this wonderful personal gift bestowed on the club by KL because she wanted to interfere! LOL...I bet you'll have some lame excuse why you can't prove a thing. Think back - was Lovren brought into the club before or after Cortese left?

 

And you can bait me as much you like with typical internet warrior words - I couldn't give a monkeys tit. BTW can't say I've ever heard of a Cult of Cortese, but if it did exist it would probably be highly successful - intelligent people do that kind of thing. LOL

 

You want proof that the Leibherr family own the club and bankrolled it into the Premier League? Are you actually fourteen years old?

 

Maybe you can tell us how much money Cortese "wonderfully bestowed" on us. Because you have some form of proof, right? Round it to the nearest million if you like. Come on, spill the beans. I bet you'll have some lame excuse why you can't prove a thing. Think back. Did the Leibherr family own us when we bought Lovren or not?

 

"Boo hoo. Boo hoo. Boo hoo. A chief executive has left my football club. Boo hoo. Boo hoo."

 

Think a bit harder before you accuse other fans of being pathetic. Because your blubbing is as lame as it gets.

Edited 27 February, 2014 by CB Fry

[Frank's cousin]

You want proof that the Leibherr family own the club and bankrolled it into the Premier League? Are you actually fourteen years old?

 

Maybe you can tell us how much money Cortese "wonderfully bestowed" on us. Because you have some form of proof, right? Round it to the nearest million if you like. Come on, spill the beans. I bet you'll have some lame excuse why you can't prove a thing. Think back. Did the Leibherr family own us when we bought Lovren or not?

 

"Boo hoo. Boo hoo. Boo hoo. A chief executive has left my football club. Boo hoo. Boo hoo."

 

Think a bit harder before you accuse other fans of being pathetic. Because your blubbing is as lame as it gets.

 

CB, I would not have thou you would also have fallen into that trap. Currently, there is No evidence to suggest that KL has invested a penny more than the 35mil converted to equity in the chap season. That figure includes the Original purchase Marcus made of approx 14 mil, so an addition 21 mil to get us back to the prem... And a club worth maybe 100mi....since then the club have also spent money ... But we have also had INCOME .... From our gates, transfers out (oxo) and TV, especially now. Plus the BvI loan.... So to suggest KL has been bankrolling the club is wrong IMHO. It may turn out that she underwrites any loans or losses, in which case you become correct, but we have no evidence of that from any accounts published to date.

 

with respect to NC leaving, again I suggest it's simpler... I do not think NC was spending or expecting to spend Monet y like it was his own... But that the plans were based on what he and Marcus would have agreed would.have been an appropriate investment.... I believe the disagreement may be more that KL was not prepared to continue with that. Again I hope I am wrong and it was just a boardroom thing, but that tells it's own story. If NC had objections to certain folks joining the board, he would gave gad his reasons.... Personally, I would have liked to hear them, before slagging him off as just another egomaniac.... He delivered what he said he would ahead of schedule do deserved that at least.... Whatever he did to Frannies carpet, or the by installing those parking meters.

[CB Fry]

"Not a penny more than £35 million", Frankie? Chicken feed. Let's get these Swiss parasites out of the club then.

 

Just remember who effing well owns us.

Edited 27 February, 2014 by CB Fry

[Frank's cousin]

"Not a penny more than £35 million, Frankie? Chicken feed. Let's get these Swiss parasites out of the club then.

 

Just remember who effing well owns us.

 

Haha, come on CB, can't you Ever just accept the point being made? Where have I mentioned I want her gone, or insulted KL?

 

I have aver speculated that the reasons for the troubles may be a lot simpler than others like to make out... As it suits various agendas to insinuate and make carp up. KL is perfectly entitled to do as she has done, she is also entitled to expect the club to run within its prem revenue means. You have just assumed that because I have been supportive of NC, that I must now be ungrateful of the Liebherrs? How the fleck you work that out is beyond me you numpty.

 

And , I would not say that the 35mil total invested of Marcus's money to dat, is quite the same as KL 'bankrolling us' through the prem.... Otherwise why would we have the BVI loans?

[Goatboy]

So you have some form of proof that KL dipped into her handbag and funded Lovren personally right? Come on...spill the beans and tell us all about this wonderful personal gift bestowed on the club by KL because she wanted to interfere! LOL...I bet you'll have some lame excuse why you can't prove a thing. Think back - was Lovren brought into the club before or after Cortese left?

 

And you can bait me as much you like with typical internet warrior words - I couldn't give a monkeys tit. BTW can't say I've ever heard of a Cult of Cortese, but if it did exist it would probably be highly successful - intelligent people do that kind of thing. LOL

 

It must have been great fun spending someone else's money. £10K for a lampshade. Yes please. Another £10K for the hideous leather tiles. Ship 'em on.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Haha, come on CB, can't you Ever just accept the point being made? Where have I mentioned I want her gone, or insulted KL?

 

I have aver speculated that the reasons for the troubles may be a lot simpler than others like to make out... As it suits various agendas to insinuate and make carp up. KL is perfectly entitled to do as she has done, she is also entitled to expect the club to run within its prem revenue means. You have just assumed that because I have been supportive of NC, that I must now be ungrateful of the Liebherrs? How the fleck you work that out is beyond me you numpty.

 

And , I would not say that the 35mil total invested of Marcus's money to dat, is quite the same as KL 'bankrolling us' through the prem.... Otherwise why would we have the BVI loans?

 

Jeez, once again you've managed to hit the nail on head once again. CB unfortunately thinks too simply to see any kind of big picture.

[CB Fry]

Jeez, once again you've managed to hit the nail on head once again. CB unfortunately thinks too simply to see any kind of big picture.

 

Is the big picture the fact that we were never going to crack the Champions League in a 50,000 seat stadium but utter saps like you lapped it up? That big picture?

 

Boo hoo. Boo hoo. A chief executive walks out on the football club he worked at. Boo hoo.

 

Keep sobbing.

Edited 27 February, 2014 by CB Fry

[Frank's cousin]

Is the big picture the fact that we were never going to crack the Champions League in a 50,000 seat stadium but utter saps like you lapped it up? That big picture?

 

Boo hoo. Boo hoo. A chief executive walks out on the football club he worked at. Boo hoo.

 

Keep sobbing.

 

CB, please - why not contribute in a non aggressive/**** take fashion?

 

Fact remains that Cortese stated CL was the ambition... With a possible stadium expansion thrown in. Now we all know both take serious cash, granted. We also know that to date Cortese had delivered on the expected targets, so one could be forgiven for thinking he might continue to deliver... Even though the probability of doing so diminishes the more competitive the league gets?

 

we simply do not know what Marcus' ambitions would have been or how much he would have been prepared to spend to see how far the club could go. All we do know is that in part they wanted to do it through the academy... Not just spend spend spend. I really do believe that had Marcus still been alive, he may well have invested more, as it was clear even in the short time he was with us, that he had the bug... The shear joy on his face and the famous camera pic is something I think we all agree was a great sight to behold - an owner with genuine excitement and pride n the club.

 

would it have been enough to achieve CL football? all depends on how well the youth developed and if they stayed long enough IMHO, combined with a reasonable, yet not ridiculous spend. ... And not matter what you and the other neigh stayers think, it would have been amazing fun to watch us giving it a go! I think you sometimes forget that the excitement and enthusiasm in supporting football always comes from the possibility of success! not how likely it is.

 

Sadly we will never know. But the impact on the club is insignificant compared to the impact his death would have had n his family and close friends.

 

However, NC promised to carry on? WE DO NOT KNOW, if the financial investment that NC planned and implemented was based on agreements between NC and Marcus or not...but suspect they were since they were continued over the last 4 years. Again, It's possible that NC let it all go to his head etc, but as investment in infrastructure seemed equally important as transfer funding, I don't think so... Too rational an approach. No, I think that one of the following or a combination has happened:

 

1. KL was no longer to fund the club as Marcus intended

2. KL was no longer prepared to fund the club as Marcus intended without having her own folk involved in the decision making process

3. KL wanted more direct decision making authority, and wanted to cut back spending.

 

in all cases, it's not exactly a surprise from a professional perspective that NC felt he could not accept... After all it's about of a kick in the teeth for someone who through his own, often controversial calls, has ensured The value of KLs asset had gone from a 35mil to perhaps as much as 125mil in 4 years... Which is not a bad return...

 

I genuinely think that KL wanted NC to stay... But that NCs pride got in the way... I can't blame either, but will stand by what I said earlier; what was impressive about NC is that if still he, I don't think Shaw would have gone this coming summer... Even with the same desire and same investment, I am to date not convinced we have the same energy, drive and belief in a different future in the key positions at the club right now.... I will be more than happy to eat a shed load of humble pie this time next year if we are even top 10.... Let alone top 6 which I fell would have been possible next season with the continued progress.

[Goatboy]

CB, please - why not contribute in a non aggressive/**** take fashion?

 

Fact remains that Cortese stated CL was the ambition... With a possible stadium expansion thrown in. Now we all know both take serious cash, granted. We also know that to date Cortese had delivered on the expected targets, so one could be forgiven for thinking he might continue to deliver... Even though the probability of doing so diminishes the more competitive the league gets?

 

we simply do not know what Marcus' ambitions would have been or how much he would have been prepared to spend to see how far the club could go. All we do know is that in part they wanted to do it through the academy... Not just spend spend spend. I really do believe that had Marcus still been alive, he may well have invested more, as it was clear even in the short time he was with us, that he had the bug... The shear joy on his face and the famous camera pic is something I think we all agree was a great sight to behold - an owner with genuine excitement and pride n the club.

 

would it have been enough to achieve CL football? all depends on how well the youth developed and if they stayed long enough IMHO, combined with a reasonable, yet not ridiculous spend. ... And not matter what you and the other neigh stayers think, it would have been amazing fun to watch us giving it a go! I think you sometimes forget that the excitement and enthusiasm in supporting football always comes from the possibility of success! not how likely it is.

 

Sadly we will never know. But the impact on the club is insignificant compared to the impact his death would have had n his family and close friends.

 

However, NC promised to carry on? WE DO NOT KNOW, if the financial investment that NC planned and implemented was based on agreements between NC and Marcus or not...but suspect they were since they were continued over the last 4 years. Again, It's possible that NC let it all go to his head etc, but as investment in infrastructure seemed equally important as transfer funding, I don't think so... Too rational an approach. No, I think that one of the following or a combination has happened:

 

1. KL was no longer to fund the club as Marcus intended

2. KL was no longer prepared to fund the club as Marcus intended without having her own folk involved in the decision making process

3. KL wanted more direct decision making authority, and wanted to cut back spending.

 

in all cases, it's not exactly a surprise from a professional perspective that NC felt he could not accept... After all it's about of a kick in the teeth for someone who through his own, often controversial calls, has ensured The value of KLs asset had gone from a 35mil to perhaps as much as 125mil in 4 years... Which is not a bad return...

 

I genuinely think that KL wanted NC to stay... But that NCs pride got in the way... I can't blame either, but will stand by what I said earlier; what was impressive about NC is that if still he, I don't think Shaw would have gone this coming summer... Even with the same desire and same investment, I am to date not convinced we have the same energy, drive and belief in a different future in the key positions at the club right now.... I will be more than happy to eat a shed load of humble pie this time next year if we are even top 10.... Let alone top 6 which I fell would have been possible next season with the continued progress.

 

Is he off then?

[stmusicdude]

it's so funny to see post like this from the troll & clown that is Alpine .. here purly to wind ppl up & so many bite

[Saint Fan CaM]

Is the big picture the fact that we were never going to crack the Champions League in a 50,000 seat stadium but utter saps like you lapped it up? That big picture?

 

Boo hoo. Boo hoo. A chief executive walks out on the football club he worked at. Boo hoo.

 

Keep sobbing.

 

Troll on sunshine...have you taken your foot out of your mouth yet? Why don't you try finding something intelligent to say like Frank eh? I mean, you don't have to agree - that's fine, but you're really not doing yourself any favours acting like that. PS: I'll give you a clue - I couldn't care less about Cortese IF the team and the club in general continue to be successful. I know that doesn't fit with your warped mind, but that's the facts bud. LOL

[Saint Fan CaM]

No, I think that one of the following or a combination has happened:

 

1. KL was no longer to fund the club as Marcus intended

2. KL was no longer prepared to fund the club as Marcus intended without having her own folk involved in the decision making process

3. KL wanted more direct decision making authority, and wanted to cut back spending.

 

in all cases, it's not exactly a surprise from a professional perspective that NC felt he could not accept... After all it's about of a kick in the teeth for someone who through his own, often controversial calls, has ensured The value of KLs asset had gone from a 35mil to perhaps as much as 125mil in 4 years... Which is not a bad return...

 

I genuinely think that KL wanted NC to stay... But that NCs pride got in the way... I can't blame either, but will stand by what I said earlier; what was impressive about NC is that if still he, I don't think Shaw would have gone this coming summer... Even with the same desire and same investment, I am to date not convinced we have the same energy, drive and belief in a different future in the key positions at the club right now.... I will be more than happy to eat a shed load of humble pie this time next year if we are even top 10.... Let alone top 6 which I fell would have been possible next season with the continued progress.

 

Are you aiming for some kind of mong-board Pulitzers Prize?!? This ^ completely...you're on a roll Frank. Such a shame CB has no comprehension of...well...anything seemingly. LOL