After witnessing Luis Suarez, the racist cannibal who 'disrespected the club' and handed in a transfer request in the summer, before threatening to take the club to court, wearing the captains armband for the first time it got me thinking; Is football the most immorale sport in the world. In how many other sports would somebody of the Ilk of Luis Suarez be allowed to captain one of the biggest clubs in the world? Is football really so result based that we are happy to cheer on a racist who has twice been found guilty of biting a fellow sportsmen, providing they are scoring goals for our club. The Luis Suarez case is not totally isolated either, with numerous clubs signing, and playing rapists, drink drivers and other such criminals and the fans being happy to support them as long as they are performing well on the pitch. The reason I have posted this on the Southampton board, apart from me being a Saints fan is because I was wondering whether fellow saints fans would pick results over morales. For example, although results suggest our sacking of Adkins and subsequent appointment of Poch seems vindicated by the fantastic run of results and excellent playing style, but would anyone else swap these results safe in the knowledge their club hadn't mistreated and disposed of such a club legend in such a brutal manor. And would you be willing to support and cheer on somebody similiar to Luis Suarez, who dives cheats and generally reflects badly on the club, just because they are performing superbly?
There is a lot of garbled and confused logic in there matey plus a rather tenuous link between the behaviour of a rather objectionable footballer and our illustrious and highly regarded chairman. I think you have got it all wrong and have left me confused as to exactly what your argument is not helped by the fact that that you obviously skipped English classes at school. Perhaps your question should be something like:- "Do you think Walks Like Wanyama is a bigger prick than RedStripe76 or are they one and the same person?"
I used them as separate examples of morales being thrown out the window in the crazy pursuit of better results. Calling a first time poster a prick is not on and how you are not banned from this site I don't know.
Calling Nigel Adkins a club legend is pushing it. Nigel spoke of the club's ambitions, and so did Morgan - in the French press. Nicola wanted to be mid-table, aiming for top ten. We started terribly, and were 15th out of 20. Nicola made a change and it was right. Not a moral question, for me.
I don't think it is just football. Do you think all big firms and their employees become execs by being nice. No the meaner and less scrupulous you are the more likely you will not worry about moralistic objections.
I'd argue that a man who took, admittedly a fantastic squad, from 24th in League One, to 15th in the Premiership in 2 and a half seasons is a club legend. Whilst im not debating that, based on results, it has been proven to be the correct decision, I just wonder whether people would rather our club have the spirit it did in the 70s, 80s and 90s, rather than a very well run club who make harsh decisions based solely on getting results.
Agreed, but this is my question. I wasn't directly on about just Southampton and Cortese, rather talking about the general idea of morals in football. Like how far would you go to see Saints pick up more points? Supporting a racist cannibal?
I'd not go as far as legend, personally. I don't know about others. That's not to say I discredit Adkins. I'm certainly very fond of Nigel Adkins and rate him highly.
The most immoral sport? That should probably go to bullfighting. And it's not like there aren't dicks in other sports. Can you name a boxer who isn't a dick?
So do you agree with the way we treated a man who had done so much for the club? Or to put it in terms of not going over the Adkins-Poch arguement again; Would you be willing to get behind someone like Luis Suarez if it meant your team picked up more points?
Yes I do agree with the way he was treated, at the time. I was shocked by the decision, but that's management. Cortese always stated that it was about improvement. Not 'bad manager' as such, but, he felt Mauricio could do more. He has. He was informed that he was losing his job, NC said that it ended on good terms, as did Nigel himself when he got the Reading job. The only thing about Adkins removal that I now find a bit disappointing is that his compensation wasn't paid up straight away. Although, perhaps Adkins was being unreasonable and therefore the two parties went to court. Anyway, they negotiated a package without needing the final court date anyway, so that's that. On the Suarez point, would I take him? Hell yeah. This season he seems to have calmed down (touches wood), but he is invaluable to Liverpool. He would be if he came to Southampton too. I may not like aspects of his game, the diving and the biting, for example. But even Adam Lallana has been known to go to ground far too easily, yet I still very much enjoy watching and supporting him. I would condemn Suarez's behaviour and be accepting of his punishments and condemnations, but at the end of the day, I'd still want Suarez in my side. Football fans are fickle creatures.
Thanks for the balanced response. I just don't understand how fans can get behind someone who's racist, bites people, and three months prior had threatened to take the club to court because he wasn't allowed to leave the given club.
Oh hang on, I'd forgotten the racism. Yeah, I can't tolerate or support that. Really not quite sure how I forgot about it. That goes for the current players too. Equally, had Lallana or Lambert racially abused someone, I'd be livid and would question my support for them.
Which was the question I was asking. Where do you draw the line between wanting the best for your club, and abandoning your morales?
The truth is that, unlike other businesses, football clubs are in one hell of a spotlight. Businesses behave just as ruthlessly elsewhere, almost certainly more so in some respects, only they don't have to answer for their actions by an outpouring of grief. As Cortese said at the time, perhaps I have to sacrifice popularity for the good of this club. It was a brave thing to say, but by the time he said it, 99% of Saints fans knew where he was coming from. Only the ultra traditionalists and the media were still getting their knickers in a twist. Adkins moved along ages ago, and it's time the ultras did too, because the media have got it at last, and they'll string out every last twist and turn in order to misunderstand an intention. SFC wants to win things at last.
Racial abuse would definitely be in excess of what I'd tolerate. Even spitting... I don't know really. If a friend got in a fight and spitting was involved both ways, or just from him, I wouldn't necessarily end our friendship or withdraw any support or whatever. It's disgusting, and I went ape **** when someone did it to me on a football pitch. Racism, yes, definitely.
I'm sorry but this thread is another 'veiled' opportunity to discredit Cortese in my opinion, throwing in the angle of Suarez type issues. How on earth can the sacking of an employee be considered in the same vein morally as racial abuse? Absolutely ridiculous.
