He made a positive difference. None of the positive changes he made are going anywhere. If the owner says the club isn't for sale and we carry on in the same direction, then what on earth makes you think everything will suddenly go tits up?
Yes he made a positive difference but then he resigned, despite being asked to stay. Don't forget that he wasn't the one signing the cheques and, I might add, converting £30m pounds of debt into equity, leaving the club debt free. The situation is bit like when Nigel went in the sense that at this point it's difficult to know how things will pan our. But I see no reason for such pessimism just yet.
Don't think you'll get too many people disagreeing with this however the fact is, he's gone. In the meantime Katharina Leibherr has a football club to run (or at least the job of appointing someone to do it for her) and, given some of the nightmare scenarios that could have unfolded I think the one that looks likely now is the best possible one given the situation. Yes, NC was more or less solely responsible for our success over the last few years but is it really that far-fetched to believe that there is someone else who could continue this or do we just hold on to the dream that he may ride back in like some knight in shining armour?
Yes he was making a positive difference, and yes his obvious ambition appealed to a lot of Saints fans. But that doesn't mean we can't carry on without him. In many ways he was an asset, in others he may have been becoming a liability. As for his inspired decisions about managerial appointments, they show that Cortese is a gambler. It's easy to love a gambler when he's winning, and even easier to declare him a genius. Doesn't mean he is one. He picked the right man in Pochettino; which is a way of saying he got lucky. I picked the right horse in the 2005 Grand National, doesn't make me a genius.
Yes, overall he was making a positive difference. That doesn't mean nobody else can make a positive difference. Lets not forget the Liebherr money was also making a positive difference and that's still here. I've always believed that - Cortese or no Cortese, Liebherr or no Liebherr - we will need to spend big money (either on transfer fees or wages for youth products) in order to break into the top 6. Look, if Cortese comes back with a mega-rich backer I'll be pleased. Part of me hopes that happens. In the mean time I'm still cautious about this development but I don't think it's necessarily **** news. If you want Cortese back then, if nothing else, this at least suggests there's no buyer lined up and gives Cortese time to find someone to fund his return.
Markus was known to be ill, but must have been a shock to lose your father at such a relatively young age. She inherited a lot of money and businesses that needed sorting out. Anyone who has ever dealt with a simple inheritance will know what that entails. Southampton was doing well with Cortese (who was also involved in Mali), so was not a priority. It does sound like Cortese was getting above himself...can understand that the owner would want to exert her authority. She didn't choose to sack him, but he wasn't willing to work under her conditions. Nicola has got us on a good path...getting back into the PL was the big achievement. The Academy has always been good and the new facilities are nearing completion. Keeping the manager means that our style will stay in place...I doubt the new CEO will alter that. I am reassured by Ms Leihberr...I like the cut of her jib.
Yes Cortese had the final say on a lot of decisions, but I highly doubt it was solely down to him for every decision that was made. The scouting department etc would have had a big hand in recommending players and Poch, so although NC has gone, I'm sure the new Chairman will have the same staff around him in order to make equally good decisions and appointments. Don't forget, without KL giving the green light to funding Cortese wouldn't have been able to make these decisions.
Martin Samuel has another take on Nicola, obviously in response to Joe's post http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Everton-look-appealing-Manchester-United.html (scroll the page a bit)
If everything is going to head in the same direction then none of this would have happened. It can only be a change of direction.
Whilst we had Cortese, if we were offered a change of CEO i.e. Williams, very few on here would have taken the offer. We have lost Cortese but what I think most people are experiencing is at this early stage, things are not as bad as they appeared when we first heard the news. And KL has so far looked to make business decisions that belie our worst fears. I hope that the new man who comes in, does continue many of those precise, personal touches that we heard about Cortese and his runnings of the club. And if there were a scenario where Cortese could return, we may have time to consider what the new CEO has to offer.
Nicola said that everything was arranged at Saints so that someone leaving would not affect other departments. Some of the media criticised him when he said that the manager was just another department head, but it was clear what he meant. Keep departments small...a recent article highlighting Mauricio's year said that his consisted of him and his 3 main coaches. Other areas such as medical staff, Academy etc did not report to him. Nicola was not talking about himself, but it still holds true. If all areas are good, the direction at least in the short to medium term will be unaffected by the new CEO. The CEO runs the club and provides stability and funds for the activity of all the departments. Nicola was unusual in being the man with the dream...at a lot of clubs that is the owner. If Katharina is happy with where we are going, she will leave most things alone...of course none of us know our financial position...is the club earning money? We'd wouldn't care if we got little return from Saints because we are fans, but most people would want some return from a 100+ mill asset.
She was straight to the point in saying the club isn't for sell. But she didn't say how she would run the club. I was told. She seems nice and tried to put everyone at ease but you can tell when she wants something it has to be done.
Interesting that Nicola gave up a huge pay off by resigning. A matter of honour or throwing his dummy out of the pram? Or a coup by KL?
If you had £100 mill to invest, and you were motivated purely by the best financial return on your investment, a football club's not the first place you'd look. In fact it may well be the last. That's the worry for all football fans I suppose - what motivates the owners? We can't do anything about that though, so I'm hoping that K Liebherr might just have our best interests at heart if only out of respect for her father. All speculation of course, but why not speculate on a positive outcome?
She said the day to day running of the club will not change. Nothing about the direction the club was going etc.
For me it's positive and negative. Positive. We know who is actually in charge and she seems to want to stick around. Negative. We don't know if the rather large spending will continue.
