TopGun

This is no surprise and has been coming for a while. AP has not been bad but he is not good enough for NC.

Exactly my thoughts atm. He may be good enough for League 1 if he stays fit but the jury's out.

Yes, agree. Just not sure he communicates his thoughts quickly and directly enough.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8912863.stm It concerns me that AP finds it difficult to string coherent sentences together on that interview... all the classic "erms" and "you, know" stuff that you associate with old school footballers. I recognise that speaking to the media is something he has to do and it is not his prime concern but equally I wonder if that lack of ability to communicate his thoughts clearly and succintly might also be a problem when telling the players what to do on the training ground and on matchday. I know I'll get knocked for this but I think it might be inhibiting the team because it's possible the direction he gives is not clear enough. Managers like Ferguson, Wenger and even Holloway appear to focus on an issue and isolate it and then speak far more concisely about it with the media. They probably do the same with individual players or groups of them in a similar manner and gain the respect of the squad in the process -therefore making the players more receptive and understanding of what they should be doing.

Have to admit I enjoyed the first show. Hope they bring out a DVD of the series.

Hilarious how Alpine knows the Liebherr family so well. Of course they might sell, they could offload now for a profit if they are not really interested in the club.

Maybe not just an indulgence either Angelman. I recall reading somewhere that the purchase all out of SFC for £13m was one of the sharpest coups in modern football... compare that to the situation of our friends down the road in terms of assets and infrastructure. I believe it was actually Cortese who raised the plight of SFC with an unknowing ML in the first place at that distressed point. ML said to NC, "go ahead, but you are the fulltime CEO" to which Cortese agreed. It is my belief that that the plan was to inject funds to take Saints back to the Premiership but also leave ML in a position to sell without debt a PL football club for perhaps five times that amount in the coming years with the overall and intervening costs having been offset by eventual profits handsomely. That's the risk project I think ML saw as a businessman with time and capital to spare. Plus a hobby for him also which he could enjoy on the path.

It's possible he may have made provision for Saints in the event of his impending death, but we don't really know that either. I think he just fancied a bit of fun like any guy with a bit of money and time to watch it happen.

Markus was 60 when he bought the club. Had helped establish a fortune and probably wanted an outlet for his latter day enjoyment. With due respect to Markus he was was not going to hit golf balls with much enthusiasm. I'm sure he wanted to have some fun and satisfation with Saints for a good few years.

I have to say this is nonsense. ML bought the club expecting to see success as owner and chairman. He put Cortese in place as CEO as a man he trusted from their mutual business dealings beforehand where Cortese was a banker. There was no sentiment in that at all. Just an ambition to have the club managed well. To suggest otherwise is plain silly.

Spot on.

I agree with this. Quite happy to see a stand named after Markus but feel a trust for disadvantaged kids or similar would be a great idea.

RIP Markus. When times were really bad not so long ago Markus appeared and gave us all hope. As an owner he was genuinely pleased when Saints fans responded to his input. It was clear. It's a blow and whatever happens now, let's remember Markus took away the dark days and offered us much promise. Even if that promise isn't fulfilled as imagined, now we are a healthy club with much to look forward to.

Very true.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10767768 So that presumably means that DC is fully in favour of UK membership also. That'll set the rabid polecats off in his party and on this forum :-)

Excellente! Let's hope the **** starts to stick this time around!

Fed up with this original poster.

Corden is a charmless fat f**k with no talent. He has rocketed into top spot of the people I dislike on TV. Jamie Oliver is now at number 2 after months at the top.

And will be entitled to a PM's pension for the rest of his days. Like all other former prime ministers.

Nearly every old Mondeo or Escort I see has masking tape on the rear bumper. They must have made them out of really crap plastic.

Yes, this is just spin coming from AA in an attempt to make wavering creditors back his plan. It's fairly desperate stuff too.

Oh dear Dune...

Highly predictable post from TDD :-)

TBH I think I prefer stripes but I accept the reasoning for the kit.

Ah, there's a Romsey connection there also because of the acquisition two years ago...