For days and weeks now on here I have really noticed the trust we all have in our chairman. Every time a decision is made, whether we expected it or not, and we are talking about it on here it is followed up by something like 'Well I trust NC so this is fine'. Its great to see and I share these sentiments, I was just wondering when it started for each of you? Also when was the last time you had so much faith in your chairman and indeed your manager? For me the sacking of Pardew was what did it. I didn't see it coming at all, and I wasn't happy at the time because I thought Pardew was doing ok. It took a while to get in a new manager, I hadn't heard too much about him when we did but now look at where we are! He isn't afraid to make a bold decision and I genuinely feel he has the best interests of the club at heart. Markus would be proud. In Nicola Cortese We Trust
In some of the interviews he did when he said he would never leave Southampton because it would be like leaving a child, or when he said he would turn us into something like Barcelona. Huge statements of intent, ambition and loyalty, and yet he seems to be sticking to his word! In Cortese We Trust!
I'll admit to being confused and pissed off when Pardew was fired, I couldn't see the logic in it at all. Then rumours of backroom unrest filtered through, which although none of us know anything about, Nicola's candid "I had no choice" at a fans forum certainly showed a grain of truth in the rumours. That said, Adkins was a brilliant appointment (not entirely out of left field as people said, I and several I know picked him out as somebody we should be targeting) so any dismay over that was laid to rest. I have to admit I had my fears about him when he started receiving so much negative press with the banning of photographers - another thing Don Cortese has kept under his hat, but that and the whole South Coast Team saga seems in the past. From what I and all other fans can see, he certainly seems to be a stable set of hands to guide the club. I have full trust in him, despite the niggling doubts that have popped up a couple of times in his spell here. He seems to want what's best for the club, but we must not forget he is a businessman and will do things with business in mind rather than the fans, as anybody sensible with money would do. But as for trusting his judgement, I see no reason not to. Markus trusted him, and let's be fair, so far so good, we have no reason not to. Here's to a bright future.
I think for most, the trust came when we could see that Adkins was making a positive impact on the team by how well they were improving week by week. I honestly feel Adkins has taken the team further than Pardew could have, but at the time of Pardew's sacking I was very concerned about Cortese's decision making. Also, the way in which the club carries out all financial activities in private gives the impression of real professionalism, and so far every financial decision made by Cortese has proved to be sensible and logical.
Also I seen Cortese arriving at the stadium the last day of the season and his shoes are incredible. He had his jacket slung over his shoulder, a pair of sunglasses on and these kind of shiny, heeled boots.
All of the above. But also the signing of Rickie Lambert, I know Pardew asked for him but for Markus and Cortese to walk into the club and immidiately splash £1m on a player showed such intent IMO. I was a long admirer of Lambo and I can't remember the last signing I was so excited about, needless to say good ole' Rickie hasn't let us down! Cortese's also not full of 'broken promises' if you look what he said he'd change at the club when he came in, then you'll find he's actually delivered on most of them already. - Improve the catering - Check. - Develop training ground - In progress but, check. - Investing in the acadamy and helping to develop the next set of youngsters into first team players, to have a 'Barcelona' like effect - In progress obviously, but check. - Get back to the Championship - Check. - Get back to the Premiership - On course, sitting pretty at the top of the table at the moment, and if we don't get promotion this year, then next year we have to be one of the favourites. - Keep investing money in to the team even after Saint Markus' tragic death - Check. I also rate Adkins as one of our best ever managers, already. I rate him over Strachan, and he fills all of the supporters (and players - which is so important) with so much confidence. Cortese employed Adkins, and even though we've signed players like Lambert, Fonte, Barnard, Guly, Cork, De Ridder, Richardson etc - The best signing we could of and have made was that of Nigel Adkins. For this alone, I will always love Cortese!
When Nicola sacked Pardew, he knew that he was taking responsibility for getting the club promoted. If we weren't then he would have taken the blame, either for sacking too quickly or not quickly enough. We were, so full credit to him for picking the right man. The best way to sum up trust I have in Nigel and Nicola is such that if they made what turned out to be a wrong decision, then I would still trust them afterwards.
I for one am totally behind Nicola Cortese. I think his decisions have been good. Getting fed up the press I can understand why. Charging for parking seems a sensible thing to do also. However I know a bunch of pikeys parked up at St Marys last year which no boubt influenced his decision on that. Choice of manager and giving funds to improve the squad has been brilliant as was his stance with AOC. Also the Saints player has improved with quality and content. On the downside I do feel the official website is far too much propoganda than it was previously and shows no real soul. I also dont think I would like to work for NC as I hear from people that work at the club he is a tough cookie. But thats what you want at your own club IMO. I basically think we are/were very very lucky having ML and NC, as who takes over a club is a matter of luck to some degree. Good and bad people have stack of cash. I am just glad Mandric or any soviet weapons dealers didnt take over Saints as I think as you see down the road when dodgy people get involved they tend to only pass it onto further dodgy people. Long may NC be at saints. I hope for another 30 years.
He came in with a statement of intent and is delivering on everything. The only time doubts crept in from my viewpoint was when Pardew left. I said then I would judge him at the end of the season - he had won me over with his appointment of Adkins way before then. It is frustrating sometimes having rumours flying around with no comment from the club but it is also refreshing knowing that there is someone there doing what is best for SFC and not conducting business through the media. By now he should have earned the trust of all us. He certainly has mine.
The little Italian man from Southampton could easily rival Roberto Mancini as the best dressed person on match day! Heard he was chasing down Fontaine from Bristol City, was never really interested in Gorkss to begin with. I'm sure he'll get a cracking deal of Puncheon too.
I'd wanted Pardew out after we finished 10 points off second place. We would of only crept in to the play offs with out the deduction. His ability to sign great players was evident, and that has been of great benifit to the club. But his attitude, tactics and loyalty were questionable. Quite a clever bit of business: get the players in with the big name and then bring some one in with guile, ambition and loyalty to guide them to the prem. Club first, staff second. Fans... well the'll be happy with the results.
I have often wondered why people [obviously not the people here] have held Cortese at arms length, as if he isn't quite what they wanted. The moment He and Markus came in through the door and gave their signals of intent, I knew this was the real deal. I can understand why Saints fans didn't immediately take him to their hearts, as they had been well and truly messed about in the past few years. The single positive and true legacy coming out of the Askham/Lowe years had been the new stadium, and here was another couple of ner-do-wells, albeit with a huge wad of dosh, who were going to cash in. But they weren't like that. They said things about commitment to Saints that stood them apart. Many fans were so used to hearing BS that they couldn't recognise truth when it was being told to them. Very quickly, Nicola said Saints were his baby, and told the story of how Markus was alerted. So although it would have been almost impossible without Markus's money, I give Cortese equal billing in my admiration and trust, because without Nicola, the adventure, we are now having, could have been just another pile of BS.
Thought I had seen the guy in the video before, now I know who it is. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=528_1313957798
After sacking Pardew, depriving Burnley of Fox and Cork, taking 12+ million from Arsenal etc. Cortese prays for his victims...hoping they forgive him and understand it's for the best.
