trousers

What if the Lib-Con coalition ends up working a lot better than most people give it credit for, including the parties themselves? Won't that leave the Tories and Lib Dems in a bit of a quandary in the lead up to the next election? In other words, if it goes really well won't there be a case for the Tories and Lib Dems to campaign at the next election as a coalition rather than as separate parties? If not, then there will be the strange situation whereby they go back into being 'enemies' at the very same time that they are still working together in charge of the country. Surely if it works really well then they would logically want it to continue working really for another 5 year term? And, also.....how's it going to work in by-elections between now and 2015? In particular when there is a constuency where Labour could get another seat in Parliament and whittle away at the Lib-Con majority if the Lib-Con vote was spilt in Labour marginals? All very interesting (in a Steve Davis kinda way)

So, the Bank of England are basically agreeing with the Tory approach for this year?

As we all know, Mr Cortese has today outlined his vision for the future in terms of the playing style he wants to see: Without wishing this to decend into a Pardew 'pros vs cons' slanging match (Bob Hope anyone?), having never been a football manager, or close to someone who is, I am genuinely interested in how easy it is for a football manager to adapt his management style to fit a playing style which isn't necessarily natural to him. I know I'm simplifying things here, and am possibly showing my naivity (just for once) but I see two basic styles of management: those who build on solid defences and are, generally speaking, more conservative and less gung-ho on the attacking side (i.e. the type of manager who is happier to win 1-0 than 4-3) versus those managers whose philosophy is to go all out and attack and not worry as much about the defensive side of things, within reason (i.e. the manager who is quite happy to win 4-3 week in week out). To illustrate my point, I would put Pardew in the more cautious category and, say, Keegan in the more gung-ho category. My interpretation of what Cortese would like is a style that is closer to the latter than the former (?) If people agree with me (which is obviously a long shot!), how easy do people think it will be for Pardew to adapt to meet Cortese's requirements? One thing is clear, for Cortese it's not just about winning, it's also about how we win.

Un-accustomed as I am to reading between the lines.... ....could Cortese's comment in his OS piece (above) imply that there may be a non-commercial 'sponsor' instead or a commercial one, i.e. like UNICEF and Barcelona?

John major's cabinet

Perhaps they're refering to Cortese's official appointment as chairman which, if memory serves me correctly, didn't happen formally until after Pardew's appointment. That said, still sloppy journalism either way

Switzerland would indeed be a grand idea

A matchday programme at every game

They met in the back of Keegan's Toyota Previa in the SFC car park.

Will be interesting to see how 'pretty football' will work on some of the ragged League 1 pitches....

Speaking personally....No

I think that may be more down to the fact that it's not conducive atmosphere for a nice post match pint. Make it a bit more enticing (better beer, bar stools, Chris de Burgh music piped seductively in the background) and people would be more inclined to stay after the game I reckon

Yeah, I agree....you get some right old tripe posted on here sometimes....

Of course, and without wishing to put a dampner on things, the more 'genius' like he gets the more likely it he will attract the attention of other (supposedly bigger) clubs. My message would be: "Get good at this football club running malarkey Nicola, but don't get TOO good quite so soon...!"

I must admit I was in the ambivalent camp regarding whether Pardew was staying or not.....indeed, part of me was a little excited by who our next manager might be as Cortese would have had to have aimed pretty high IMO to out trump Pardew's CV, but having read that article I actually feel a huge sense of relief that Pardew is staying. COYR!!!!

I'm a bit disappointed he didn't end his article with "COYR!" to be honest

"Just like watching Southampton"....has a nice ring to it.... :-)

Who are the Club's "executive committee"?

Didn't MacMenemy and Keegan in particular stick up for Pardew though? Not sure as I didn't read 'them' articles...

I can't imagine to which Saints Fans Forum he might be alluding/responding to there...?!

To those who have seen a copy, does this OS piece form the basis of what he wrote in the last matchday programme? Or has it been tweaked perhaps....?

Ouch....if only Nineteen Canteen was here to comment.... :-)

Couldn't they have taken a new photo of him? That's from September FFS.... ;-)

I'm still reading this morning that the bank of England are actively encouraging the new government to start cuts straight away. Am I missing something somewhere?

Do we know if these 'free flights' were originally offered as a supplement to their salary or have they always been offered as a potentially retractable perk?