The most likely is Cork to get a cap. If Adkins is still our manager it will mean that we are in the Champions League...so I like the sound of that. The big question is will Cortese be here.
No real reason other than that this isn't his real career. He may have found his vocation and love it forever, but he also might satisfy his ambition and seek new challenges. I hope he stays because it will mean we are doing well.
Unless something radical or tragic happens, the one certainty I have is that Cortese will be with Saints, and anything that happens to Saints will have his say-so on it. As he said, the Club was his baby and he'll no doubt want to see it grow into an adult. As he again said, this was never about money. It was about a dream. And we know that that it was never Markus's dream. It was Nicola's. Markus made it possible for Nicola, and enjoyed it too. EDIT: So if you're worried that Cortese will move on Fran, then stop worrying. Remember, he's here for the long term.
I'm sorry, I'm one of those who just don't buy this whole, 'were on the road to great things' line. Yeah, we've had two good seasons, but a lot of what I consider crazy things have been said here (on the basis that if, say, a Norwich fan said said them he'd be laughed out of town, or if we went on any other board and said them we would be called arrogant/deluded). For instance, Saints in the champions League? Not in my lifetime (unless we get bought by some sheikh/Russian natural resources magnate, which i hope never happens). Rodriguez as one of the top 6 strikers in the Premier League? Sorry, but he wasn't even the top striker in the championship last season, and he's not THAT young (22 iirc). Not saying he's a bad player, but I think if he does as well as Steven Fletcher has the last few years then he's done well, and i'd be pretty happy. If Jack Cork and Adam Lallana were going to be England players then at their age (23 and 24 respectively) they would have had more premiership experience (I've made as many premiership appearances as them put together). Once again, they are both good players, but I just get the feeling that top championship/lower premiership is their level. And it is far to early to say the any of our youngsters are going to be great players. Remember, at their age players like Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Bale were already first team regulars. They may go on to make a good living from the game, but I don't think any of them will be as good as those three. Yes i'll get called a pessimist, but it's something we realists are used to. Nobody likes the truth.
Mate. Take a happy pill, please. I admire the realism, I have some of that too, but you sound like you lost your job today.
Why do you say in case we get bought by a 'sheikh' or wealthy Russian? For the money? Don't forget that the Liebherrs are billionaires. Don't forget that a few weeks ago we broke our record transfer fee for J-Rod. If what you're saying is that Saints will only reach the CL if we spend spend spend with billionaire backing, we do already have that backing, so thus it seems to follow from your argument that yes Saints could be in the CL in your lifetime
How 'behind' us are the family of Markus Liebherr. Never been conclusively answered imo, but I don't think they've ever been to a match or said anything about us publicly, and we certainly haven't spent as heavily since Markus departed. I'm also not sure that our owners are the same sort of Billionaire as Chelsea or City have. Firstly they are worth less, secondly, there is no indication they are going to embark on a 100 million spending spree.
£6-7m spent on Rodriguez, £2-3m spent on a little heard of Dutch character, assumedly quite big wages on Steven Davis, many more signings to come, £15m spent on a new training ground... yeah think it's pretty safe to say they're behind us, and that's more spending than we made in our first season in league one.
Don't forget that we also sold Oxlade Chamberlain for £15 million last summer, so probably had no net spend last year. We have 40 million coming in from TV revenue next season, so it's not particularly surprising that we have spent money.
Not quite up on your Cortese watching, are you, Wsr..? When all the hoo-haa was about after Markus died, Nicola said that the wider Liebherr family were 100% behind SFC and wanted to carry through the dream. Besides, said Nicola, if he felt that the family were even 1% lacking in their support, he knew many people who were champing at the bit to be part of the dream instead. He said he would have zero trouble continuing the journey without the merest hitch. Now that's what I call a confident business leader.
That's already a change from what you said earlier, which was "we haven't spent as heavily since Markus went..."
If they weren't behind us, they'd go "Oooohhh hello £15m transfer, £40m TV revenue, we'll be having that! Neat profit! Alright Nicola, we're off!"
No, it's not. My definition of spending is trading at a loss in the transfer market. If somebody sells a house for £5 million and buys one for £1 million, he has bought an expensive house, but I wouldn't say he was a particularly big spender. SS, I know Nicola said that, but to quote Christine Keeler, 'well he would wouldn't he'. When CSI went into administration, didn't Lampitt say something about there being no risk to the club? Haven't numerous chairmen in the past said that the 'the manager has my 100% backing'. Now I'm not saying Nicola is lying, but it's a proven fact that chairmen of football clubs lie, so I don't consider what he says to be conclusive proof. Now doubt i'll get shot down in flames for this. Good night, i'll check on the veritable **** storm in the morning.
Cortese also said you put money away in good years to help out in the bad. Said that a team shouldn't need parachute payments. Sound business head. I don't expect him to spend every penny he has...nothing to prove to me.
Not at all. No flame from me. Belief is a tenuous thing. I happen to think Cortese is the least BS'ing Chairman we've had since George Reader. So when you quote... well he would say that, wouldn't he..? He would also say it if he meant it. You're either on the bus or you're not. Looks like you still need time.
Im with wisescummer on this one, I've always been a pessimist/realist whatever you want to call it when it comes to Saints. I wouldn't be surprised if the Liebherrs got us established as a solid Prem team then sold us on when they see their ROI as good enough. Would still be very happy and have no complaints about it if it were to happen as they saved us and would have taken us further than most could of dreamt of.
