How lucky are we to have such an intelligent, ambitious (and ruthless) chairman. Think what he's done for our club and look where we are now compared to 3 years ago. All of our youngsters are signed up on long contracts, we've got a manager who clearly holds sway in Europe and a team which is really starting to take shape. Lord knows how many more players will be brought through the academy in the coming years. It's just so exciting on so many levels and a lot of that is down to Cortese. Is there a better chairman in the EPL? How important are chairmen today in a world dominated by agents and player power? All thoughts welcome!
In my 20 odd years of supporting Saints there has never been a more exciting time, absolutely over the ****ing moon.
I hold my hands up, I was furious when he sacked Adkins. I never believed he could achieve what he has. Absolutely incredible! Can't wait to see Osvaldo in action
Likewise, but the truth is I doubt we would have had the same transfer window if Adkins was still here.
Remember after the end of the season, when we all thought it was touch and go whether he would stay or not? Well he's only gone and spent about £35 million pounds on 3 fantastic signings, not to mention tying Luke Shaw down long term. And there's still 2 weeks left in the window!
No doubt. He wasnt the man to bring the club forward. A consistent manager ala pulis but not THE guy. Good decision and i was shocked as anyone
There's a fine line between madness and genius, and it appears as though Cortese's party trick is tightrope walking!
I'd also like to thank Mauricio, who it is clear played a massive role in making Osvaldo sign for us.
Bloody hell is there no end to the surprises Cortese pull's out of the bag....another seemingly excellent signing. Right now how about spending another £50 mill on expanding St Mary's to 45000 capacity?
The thing that I like is that he didn't just go and buy a load of players and hope they would make a team. Our present team consists of players from our league 1 and Championship days, Academy graduates and new signings. They have been melded into a team that fits Nicola's dreams. Evolution not revolution.
I consider that to be the core of it. He doesn't buy into "we have to do it the way it's always been done". Even getting rid of NA was done differently from normal. The usual way is sack the manager then scrabble around for a week or two with increasing desperation and end up with whomever is available at the time. NC sorted out a replacement before the axe fell. I suspect this is just the start. Vin
It's good when a chairmen does the right things for the club rather than do a Mike Ashley and put himself in the limelight. In the beginning, we were all saying something similar about our chairmen at Hull City when he put the money in. Since then he's pissed off the council, the other local professional sports teams, rebranded us and slagged off the fans on the local news saying we're irrelevant. He's certainly divided the supporters. Question though, what do you thin of the Saints getting rid of the red and white stripes?
Slightly sore point I'd say, although at the moment Cortese would probably get away with rebranding us "Southampton City Sea Slugs" and making us play in pink polka dots. Seriously though, it's not so much getting rid of the stripes that annoys most of us, it's using an Adidas template kit. You would think someone with Nicola's ambition would have got Alexander McQueen or Stella McCartney to knock something together for us.
