um pahars

If Cortese thinks of this Club in pure "business" terms then it would be a big worry. However, in his defence, I don't think he does think that way. As others have pointed out he was instrumental in bringing out a 125th shirt and with the Saints Foundation and other issues he has shown that he understands that the Club is much more than a normal business. But I do think he has probably misjudged this event right from the start. He and others underestimated the sentiment and support out there for "bigger" celebrations of our history and I also believe he has allowed his personal spats with some from our past to colour his judgement with regards co-operating with those who then ran with the event. He may not have done anything to get in the way, but conversely it would appear that he has not done anything to augment or support this event which is a real shame.

You thought Sunday would be a re run of Silverspoons and were quick to knock it, so given your history on calling these events, maybe we should go ahead with a bigger one!!!!!

Got to be happy with those results!!!

Really nice to hear/see that. Will have to have a look the next time I pop down to SMS. Good work from those who kept the faith with getting something done (despite the knockbacks) and well done to the Club for a nice gesture. Cost minimal, effort minimal, reward intangible.

Only in a crazy world would you compare a Football Club to a normal company. You don't get 2,500 current and ex customers of normal companies paying £25 to cheer and applaud a load of ex employees at a theatre. It's the most ridiculous analogy going and seriously fails to understand just what a Football Club means to many of the supporters and communities involved with it. It's the very fact that Football Clubs are so different to normal companies that we are even discussing this issue.

You could do that, but then sceptics might suggest you're out to provoke a reaction. Additionally, many supporters will claim you're not speaking for them and it does not have their name on it so would "rebuke" any award and would go on to claim it is divisive.

Available on iplayer. 9mins 30 secs in (for about 10 mins) http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ycv9x/Late_Kick_Off_South_South_West_and_West_2011_Episode_4/ PS Turn it off before it goes back to the studio, as I'm not sure where on the "Cortese to Lawrie/Matty blame-ometer" the blame should be apportioned on this one, but IMHO the comments at the end by James Richardson don't make pleasant viewing.

You could just tell from the response of those in attendance last night that was a real appetitie for such an event. The rate at which the tickets were sold clearly demonstrates that there is a passion to share and reflect over our past. Well done to all involved for tapping in to that sentiment and allowing us all to indulge ourselves for an evening. What was really moving for me last night was the sight of my old fella (70) and others either side of his age getting all emotional and animated over clips of Sydenham, Paine, O'Brien and others from the 50's and 60's. It's at times like those that you realise how special this Club is to a large number of people and how dear they hold it to their hearts. I'd even go as far as suggesting there might be some mileage left in such an event as I felt we only scratched the surface. Not criticising last night at all, there was never going to be enough time to involve all 40 guests on the stage and delve deeper in to our history, but I reckon there's potential to do much more and potentially a big audience for it as well!!!

I can see where you're coming from and there must be a temptation to tell certain people who have been overly critical (and needlessly *****y) of these functions to put it in their pipe and etc etc etc, but I would echo the words of Osman, McMenemy, Channon, Matty and others last night and suggest that what is needed is for everyone to unite around Saints and channel the positivity and goodwill in to pushing the Club forward. It would be shame if the feelgood factor generated from a great weekend of events couldn't be harnessed for the good of everyone connected with the Club. Additionally, I'm hoping that it might mark a thawing of relations with some on both sides showing some humility and compromise.

Cheap and nasty.

My dad (70) remembered him from his days when he was a youngster!!!!! Found this article about him: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/5045937.Saints_ace_celebrates_diamond_wedding_anniversary/ Didn't have time to have a look through In That Number when I got home, so will have a look tonight.

Wonderful evening, paying tribute to some great heroes of mine. Really great spirit from the audience and those on the stage didn't fail to entertain and amuse. Lasted three hours including a break and the chat was interspersed with a number of good montages (going back to the 60's). Great to see and hear from Danny Wallace who looks in decent enough shape. Bryn Elliott (who???) stole the show, but Matty, Shearer, Flowers, Keegan and Channon were in fine form. Some wonderful stories greatly appreciated by the audience. My dad appreciated some of the older names including O'Brien, Huxford & co. Going in to the break there was a tribute to those no longer with us with Mills, Hayes, Ossie, Ball, Bates and Liebherr all recognised and appreciated by all. Le Tiss one the Echo poll of Saints best player (final three inc Channon and Paine) Well held together by Osman throughout and the mood was uplifting, entertaining and fun. It's on nights like these that you really see the depth of feeling for the Club and its impact on those who have followed it over the years. Very proud to be a Saints fan after that.

I'm sure we would fail miserably, but football is all about opinions & passion and a forum like this allows us to talk bollocx etc. Additionally, many posters support the good and criticise the bad with regards players and/or managers, but I'm sure they would fail miserably if put in charge of the team or stuck out on the wing. That said, is there anything wrong with offering up your thoughts about how your Club is run and how any of the decisions impact on you as a supporter? You never know if a semblence of a consensus could be found, there might even be the possibility that someone might listen.

I very much doubt they are and I svery much doubt they could/should be. It's as lame as "who would you shoot, your mum or your dad". Playground stuff.

Yeah, because those two extremes are the only two choices available.

I was aware from my dealings with Meridian, the City Council and SEEDA that the whole of the waterfront from the Television Studios down to the Itchen Bridge were earmarked for regeneration. As far as I was aware, almost all of the waterfront could have been made available to any developers who were willing to finance it (and the council and the relevant authorities would be only too willing to roll over to achieve it). Obviously a few years out of date (and SEEDA are on the way out), but given the current economic climate, I would have thought the City Council would still be up for greasing the planning wheels etc.

Well we already had a few renditions of "You don't know what you're doing" and "There's only one Alan Pardew" last September (probably sung by the same bunch who were yesterday singing their Cortese song, fickle, my ar%se).

Had my worries that it wouldn't be a happy ending. RIP to the fella and deepest sympathies to his family.

Mentioned on the post match thread, but an oldish fella collapsed just before the start of the game and looked in a very bad way. They were working feverishly on him as they took him out on a stretcher. Fair play to all involved as they were working their bollocx off to try and save him. Haven't heard whether he pulled through or not, so fingers crossed.

Sit in Kingsland North and there was definitely a fair amount of cheering which seemed mainly to come from the Northam when the lad was subbed. It doesn't matter how sheite the game was or how poor his contribution today, that response isn't going to help anyone. I'm all up for honest opinions, but that type of jeering is just so counter productive. He didn't play that well (then again, not many shone today), but the bloke next to us reckons he was one of the better players at Exeter.

Definitely not our best performance of the season and we seem to be misfiring at the moment. Not even the introduction of Lallana at half time got us going. It was definitely one of those Holloway ugly wins. A win is a win. But on a sadder note, I do hope the old fella who collapsed in the toilets under the Kingsland just before the game has pulled through as he looked to be in a very bad way. Fair play to the emergency services, stewards and police who were giving their all to save him.

A tough decision I would say!!!!!! Not going to be an easy task sorting season tickets for next year with promotion hopefully still in the offing and all the problems that brings (delays, potential price changes, take up). To make life easier for the Club, we need to get on a run and get promoted as early as possible (mid April?????). Therefore the problem lies with Nigel!!!!!!!

Football is all about opinions and we're all experts on how things should be done (at least on here LOL), but you're right in that I doubt any "true" Saints fan wants the Club to fail. We all ultimately want the Club to succeed and prosper, which is why I do get a tad frustrated when some people start questioning others credentials just because they have the temerity to offer an alternative opinion on "their" Club. At the very, very, very worse I imagine a few wouldn't mind a name failing (insert Cortese, Lawrie etc), but the Club itself??? I very much doubt it. My one caveat to that would be that given their profile, status and reach, I do think they have to be somewhat measured and thoughtful before they give their thoughts on some of the more "controversial" issues. In the sense that they are not mere fans, there does come a degree of responsibility with their status. I'm not saying they should gag themselves, nor that they should refrain from commenting on things they consider important to them, but there has to be a an acceptance on their part that their words may well travel further.

Fingers crossed, this might be the start of something new, where diplomacy, consideration and reconcilliation are used instead of battles being played out in the public view.

If we're talking in strict business terms, then surely this site could be viewed as being in competition with the Club. I certainly visit this site more for the news (and gossip) than I do the Official Site, so you could argue it takes traffic (and therefore money) from the OS. If we're looking at this in the cold light of day, then I would have to say that if a Charity that has a "good and firm relationship" with the Club and has many ex employees doing good deeds cannot use the logo, then this site should be receiving a request in the next few days. FWIW, I think this site should be allowed to use it, along with a number of other institutions (with the Club's agreed permission). It must be possible for the Club to extend its goodwill and the let the logo be used by a number of initiatives after having a chat with them and being sensible about it. I have to agree and it is not just Saints who have gone down this route. A number of Clubs recently changed their logos in order to copyright it and protect it form exploitation. I can totoally see the logic in protecting the brand in terms of merchandise, copyright abuse etc with regards "normal" business, but would have hoped that there would be the ability to allow agreed dispensations for certain organisations.