...have been up to their old tricks again and having a dig at the way our club is being run: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ola-Cortese-Southamptons-Saint-iron-fist.html I was interested to read "...normally vociferous supportersâ groups have fallen silent, wary that speaking out may cost them their ticket." What a load of poison. If Nicola is the bogey man they suggest why did Markus hold him in such high regard? Perhaps they don't like Nicola as they had worked hard on a spread on the sacking of Nigel and now can't use it. Nicola should treat then with the same contemopt he reserves for the Echo. They are both crap newspapers and on their uppers. Saints and Nicola will be around after both rags have long gone. I expect you can tell that this article made me more than a little angry.
A rehash of old stuff, but doesn't mean there isn't some truths in there. Though some things should be taken with a pinch of salt: I suspect most companies have an ex-employee threatening action at any one particular time. Ex-Saints were asked to move...not banned...moved. There were various changes being made in hospitality...perhaps it was related to this...unlikely that anyone paying the price would be denied. The banning of Illingsworth and questioning the person using Matt's ticket was probably a publicity error...better to ignore such things. Le Tissier said the TVs were turned off when he was on...may have happened once (after all we all love being slagged off in public), but does anyone believe that Sky is turned off regularly in a room where a lot of people are watching it pre-match. NC is doing the best thing by not getting involved with the press...aprt from his releases via The Times and Telegraph. I bet the other papers don't like that either. Nicola must be one of the few 'tyrants' who don't court publicity. The Mail answered their own question really...do we want this man and compete or do we want to be involved with a friendly club going nowhere. We have certainly enjoyed our success...we just require that Nicola continues with this.
That statue is going to follow us about...poor Ted. What was the artist thinking about...if I had hashed it up so badly I would have held my hands up and admitted defeat and not permit it to be shown. It was melted down and the bronze used in the subsequent statue...I hope the sculptor gave the money back.
The alarm bells went off when the sculptor admitted that he'd never modelled a human being before...only animals. You would think that you would have wanted to see some of his work before you commisioned him, wouldn't you?
The first sculpture was a mistake but it was rectified, the memory of Ted was suitably honoured, and I think we can forgive it now. Not entirely sure what it has to do with the theme of the article however, which is a collection of untruths, bile, vitriol and other general nonsense. I am sure it will get some good traction on Saints Web. In situations this I like to think "what would Nigel do?", and we all know he doesn't read the papers (and if he did it wouldn't be this one). So we will just have to see it for what it is and be grateful that we know what Nicola is really like.
Do we really know what Cortese is really like Querty ? I am pretty sure that most of us dont. Although i am glad that the club survived and he has overseen our rise up the leagues, i keep an open mind on Mr Cortese. Time will tell. I also have an open mind when reading this article - there is probably some garbage in it, some fact and some massaging of facts, much like most newspaper articles. It certainly doesnt make me cross. Regarding Ted's statue - i also cant see the relevance of this to the general theme of the article - the first one was a traversty which we all did quite rightly go banana's about and got it changed to one which is excellent and which is a true reflection of Mr Southampton.
First post on here and it has to be about that statue, that statue always makes me laugh, the hand holding the ball at that angle is impossible, his head is huge and the suit does not fit either.
I think like any article there are truth's in there but wrapped around complete conjecture and speculation. Is there truth in the story of Cortese actually demanding tv's to be turned off when LeTissier's face came on the tv?
How would we know that? Stupid post and just adding to the anti NC argument without a jot of evidence. NC doesn't speak very often, when he does at least you should listen and remember what he said. He has a lot more faith in the Club than some of the negatons on this Forum. Oh! I see that you are a newbie, welcome to the site, sorry didn't mean to bite, but it is getting a bit frustrating fending of negative posting.
You misunderstand me, it was actually a post advocating Cortese, I asked whether it was an urban myth concerning this or a complete extension of the actual truth. That article no doubt had some truth in it but not a lot.
Of course none of us what Nicola Cortese is really like. I have an idea that he can be kind in moments and tyrannical in others, but it is mostly myth and rumour. Only his family and friends really know him and that's how is should be. Of the several favourable qualities that he does appear to have is a damned good business head and a burning determination to succeed. The fact is, he's aimed those qualities at our football club, and the results since 2009 speak for themselves. As fans, do we need to know anything else..? He's certainly not a Guy Askham or a Rupert Lowe, of the supposedly cosy family club era, and thank goodness for that.
Why the 'of course ' - some member of this site may have had dealings with him ! As per my original post, i have an open mind on Cortese and time will tell - lets hope that him & Nigel are still here in a couple of years time and we all still think that the sun still shines out of Cortese's bottom.
Perhaps Saints fans are like Faust and have sold their souls to the devil (aka Nicola Cortese) in order to eventually reach the Champions league...sounds a fair exchange to me
