Shroppie

Are we in black? If so Come on you Blacks!

Once a player has a proposed move the norm is no involvement, unless they have on the bench with no intention of bringing him on. I think he's staying.

If that were true he wouldn't be on the bench.

But Guly is there, so all is well

I have never put anyone on ignore but Glasgow is seriously testing my patience. I do wish the tedious little-minded person would go away.

Rarely have I read such complete and utter b0ll0ks. But then it is the Express. Is that where NC's PR machine are planting stories now? My theory that he's trying to push the price down is looking possible, but £80m? You're avin a larf. Even Fulham were £150m

Is there any real evidence that KL wishes to sell?

Whatever agenda anyone may have, this is still a good OP and discussion. I pretty well agree with the premise that NC was getting too big for his boots and beyond accountability. If that's true I'm impressed with KL's response. I now lean firmly towards hoping she can put in a new CEO - probably one of her own - and continue her interest in the club. Just beginning to wonder whether, if NC comes back with a new investor he could be turning into Lowe MK II. The choice of CEO will be interesting. An expert in selling would IMO not be good.

I can see them giving everything for MP - or hope so. Would be good to put down a "business as usual" marker. Need lots of loud support for team and Poch. Sorry I can't be there.

I think the opposite could be the case.

I don't think so either, since he arrived to meet her at 2:00 and the 3:00 presser was delayed as he wasn't ready. The Mirror's piece is amazingly warped and seeking to justify their totally wrong take on things the day before. After a meeting with KL Poch says players won't be sold. This becomes effectively "I've told KL I'll resign if she sells players" Of course, NC could be happy to see the club destabilised for now, reduced price, unrest with KL ....

As I posted on another thread, we no doubt have many twists and turns ahead but Poch staying for now is critical and means there will be no mass exodus or meltdown. By the end of the season either KL will have shown her commitment and put in place an exec who can take the club to the next level (ironic if that happens given MC's penchant for moving people on when their project was done) and everyone will be happy again or she will have sold. In that case, we hope NC is at the front of the queue and everyone will be happy. If not, life will get interesting. The next key thing to watch is whether NC is off to Milan. If he is, Poch will follow in the summer, we may have new owners, we will have to find a new manager and everyone will be unhappy. (except the wrist-slitting trolls, of course)

So, that was a fun few hours. Noticed the rumours before I had to work all evening delivering a training session. Got home late after a quick pint and, almost as an afterthought looked to see if the silly rumours of NC going had died down…… Think I’ve just about caught up after a long read and careful separation of the thoughtful and well-reasoned posts from the wrist-slitters (and disgraceful and totally unacceptable abuse of KL based on her physical appearance). FWIW, my attempt at seeing the wood from the trees. There are a few facts known and a huge amount of speculation fuelled by a press that are as keen to see a Saints meltdown as they were to praise our success a week ago. It seems to be a clear fact that there has been a power struggle between NC and KL, starting last summer. I believe that, in their own ways, they both see themselves as the custodian of ML’s legacy. Cortese has proved that he is not a team man. Yes, he respected and supported the team working under him, but every one of the team was emphatically under him. Not a man accustomed to ever not getting his own way. On the other hand we can only guess at KL’s commitment to the ongoing future of the club. I would like to think that she does want to see the continuing success of “the project” in her father’s name and was simply not prepared to be the sleeping provider of the cash. Her initial statement about widening the management structure so that we don’t have all the power vested in one megalomaniac, sorry, individual (but he was our megalomaniac and I liked him) is encouraging and does not suggest that she is about to bail out and sell, but wants more involvement and a handle on her cash. So I really hope that she is still committed and will now take things into a new phase. And remember, each crisis we have faced in recent years has in fact led to the next level, even though few saw it that way in the initial hours after Adkins went, for example. If this is the case, she has little time to impress Poch and the players and to convince them to stay with the project. NC’s replacement(s) will need to demonstrate the same drive and vision and persuade everyone at the club that there is life after NC. He was not Saints: the club goes on. If she succeeds, the future is still bright. I personally don’t think she is looking to sell, but as there are plenty of rumours, what are the scenarios? Cortese could well want to buy Saints (probably as part of a consortium, but with him having even more power), so the spat last summer could have been over control or a selling price. If he still is interested in buying, resigning could be a first step in undermining and destabilising the club in the hope of driving down its value to the point that he can force a panic sale and get a bargain. If that is the case, he will pepper the media with tales of meltdown and use any influence he can to get Poch and players to go. That would be a stormy ride. We’ll see many twists in the coming days. The first key thing will be whether MP stands by his statement that he would go if Nicola went. If he does, it’s a problem: some players will follow and getting the right replacement will be critical. If he backs down, that will be the first indication that KL can take us forward. Whatever happens, Saints are Saints and not any individual and will always have my support.

I'd agree. We always seem to take off a DM for Gaston and it leaves us open.

Low and close to the keeper is always a good bet. Ok, so though his legs may have been a tad lucky but frankly my dear Kraken, it went in and that's all I care about at this inebriated moment.

It went in.

Haven't seen anyone saying how well Adam took the goal. It still had to be finished and he showed the composure he hasn't had until recently.

Lock it quick, mods, or add - NOT to the title

Many to choose from, but I'll go with this. Still my greatest away-day memory. Brilliant weather, good beer and banter with over-confident Brighton fans before the game. Excited even to have a ticket - only 700 as I recall. Crap view, sunburned head, we let in a stupid goal, all seemed lost. Connolly and Fonte save it at the end, finishes Brighton's hopes of going unbeaten at home all season, critical to keeping in the promotion race. Never forget Jose's celebration! Left the ground on a massive high, more beer, can't remember the journey home.

Good post and I agree that the underlying attitude of refs and how that varies from team to team and player to player is the deeper issue. I can't help getting the feeling that some refs see themselves as allies of the "big" teams. They will be careful to keep in with them as these are the teams with more influence in the media. The critical things are respect and trust for refs. There are plenty of recorded instances of big team players and managers showing a lack of respect for refs and getting away with it, and that leads to a lack of trust amongst other teams. I may be wrong but I think Saints have a bigger agenda here than the Lallana incident and are deliberately lifting the lid on a can of worms.

Me too. This needs challenging.

Cortese: This isn't over. He picks his fights carefully and usually wins. This is going to be a big issue and take the lid off the can of worms that is referees' attitudes to different teams and players.

The sweeping under the carpet begins.

Clattenburg should be made to answer the charge. Assuming the complaint is formal and has Cortese's backing, this could be interesting. Our Nicola is not one to accept the normal "sweeping under the carpet" rules.

Deleted. Clattenburg has his own thread.