Let's just forget about today's game. Nicola Cortese has done wonders for Southampton Football Club in the 3 years we've been lucky enough to have him. The plans for Staplewood and the stadium also demonstrate that he's intent on progressing our club to higher levels still. He clearly takes no bull**** and has upset a few people along the way, but I don't mind that if he keeps delivering success. However, like any human being he is not faultless - and I feel that this summer's transfer policy is starting to look more and more naive in retrospect. It appears to me (and this is just my opinion) that Cortese seems primarily focused at the moment on establishing Southampton Football Club/"The Southampton Way" as a global brand, instead of ensuring a period of consolidation and cautiousness. Perhaps our rapid ascent through the leagues has given the board a skewed notion of just how difficult survival in the Premier League really is (and how important survival and consolidation is). Just staying up and being content with that doesn't fit with Cortese's personality though, and this could be the problem. Mayuka, Ramirez and Yoshida all appear to be extremely good players - but it seems to me that all were signed with more than an eye on their overseas marketing potential, and, as players, they're perhaps not necessarily what the team needs at the moment. I also worry that these signings, combined with the departures of Sharp and Hammond and the shunning of the likes of Richardson, Chaplow etc., might erode the great team spirit that's been evident during the last three seasons. I also still find our failure to seriously strengthen the defence/goalkeeper just staggering to be honest. [On a further related note: how much input do you think Adkins had in the signing of some of these players? Guly is rumoured to be a Cortese signing too. Is this necessarily a bad thing anyway?] Essentially what I'm trying to say is that perhaps, on this occasion, can Cortese be accused of getting ahead of himself? Have we attempted to take one step too far, too soon? [NOTE: this is not a knee-jerk reaction to today's game. I've been discussing this with others ever since the end of the transfer window]
I think that we are fielding a semi-new squad, in a new formation against three of the best teams in the league. If we lose again next weekend then people can start being worried.
If a 37 year old who has only played amateur standard knows the transfer window was a shocker why could not the whole of a professional outfit ? Thats my main gripe , we do not have enough to stay up as it stands it wholly obvious , why did they not but better players ?
With respect I would not rather talk to you after your comments concerning Hillsborough the other day .
You're thinking of someone else, Ive been travelling for the last few weeks and haven't mentioned Hillsborough.
