Matthew Le God

How do you know what happened with the Echo? How do you know if a ban was or was not justified? What he said about Le Tiss and Lawrie when you read it word for word is hardly "slagging" as you put it... ACTUALLY READ IT! They were asked a question that was based on rumour. Le Tiss and Lawrie could have said "no comment it is just idle rumour". Instead they choose to comment on something they knew little about other than press speculation. Cortese just defended his position in the article, he hardly "attacked" them in that article. If anything Le Tiss and Lawrie should be the ones apologizing.

Do you not know anyone in Southampton that can buy tickets for you?

Maybe this is for the good then. People in that position shouldn't be spending hundreds of pounds to add to their debt with luxuries like season tickets. I'm not saying they shouldn't goto the football(pick and choose a few games through the season), but cutting back on things like season tickets should be a priority when trying to sort out personal finance problems.

This just proves how little you do know. Because... ...the MALI group has nothing to do with cranes and dumper trucks. That is his families multi billion business that he left in 1994 taking his share of money with him and setting up the MA(rkus)LI(ebherr) Group.

Numerous media sources have stated he is a billionaire. A number have put the figure at £2.6 billion. The Mali Group is a huge operation of 5 companies - or MArkus LIebherr Group - just look at their website. He left his families multi billion company to set it up by selling it his share to siblings. The money he got he put into the MALI group. A year ago Nicola Cortese was working for Banque Heritage in Geneva, managing the finances of billionaires according to The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article7070442.ece These are circles Cortese was in and the contacts he had. He is now working for Liebherr at Saints. He met Liebherr through business. He is unlikely to be associated with anything smalltime given his recent past and cliental at Banque Heritage.

Did the owners at these other clubs wipe out £30m of debt, build a new training facility and invest heavily in the first team squad? There is clear evidence of investment at Saints that goes further than just promises.

Can you show otherwise?

I think its because he did so much to the club in a decade that it has made alot of people overly cautious about any other person in charge of the club and they think it might happen again. Cortese/Liebherr have been at the club for 11 months and have already invested far more than any other chairman since the club was formed.

But then Steve will accuse them both of being WUM's.

Care to elaborate with examples?

Not at all. How would a tour of a newsroom help in anyway? The Echo doesn't help itself by running stories with no detail. For example they opened a story with... "Alan Pardew has targeted a new central midfielder as one of his summer transfer window priorities." They then failed to state how they know this. It is public knowledge they aren't on good terms with the club. Pardew hasn't given them an interview where they used quotes in months. They just lift Saints news and Pardew interviews from the OS.

Should we start the protests and get him and Liebherr to leave? I think we'd regret it.

All I do is counter opinions which are solely based on unsubstantiated rumour. If those people are reasonable we can have a healthy discussion. After all this is a forum.

Just because someone has a different opinion to yourself, doesn't make them a wind up merchant.

My point that you have based your opinion on rumour(Dune does the same), when the interview above shows that only Liebherr knows the time frame.

Backs up my point then.

Oh, one of those open secrets that no-one can find a source for!? Top stuff! (btw I think it is very likely that there is a structured plan, however to say it is definitely 3/4/5 years with no evidence, strikes me as odd)

You seem quite confident there... 1) How do you know there is a 5 year plan? 2) How do you know that he is on a massive bonus for reaching the Premiership? I'm not saying both these things don't exist. It is entirely believable that they do. However I suspect you have stated these with no foundation other than rumour on here and elsewhere. I can't remember seeing any quotes from Cortese mentioning a 5 year plan, nor would his bonus structure be made public.

I haven't said that what the Echo prints is a lie. Just you have to give it a massive question mark as it is more often than not unsubstantiated without any source or quote. Most importantly more often than not it ends up being a dead end and their success is so low it suggests it is more a case of a random dartboard of news rather than someone with reliable contacts in the game. If not, maybe they should stop using these contacts as they are clearly passing them duff information. Yes, some stories they get may have truth to them but don't end in a result, but these seem too common to be point down to this. Nor, do I instantly believe Cortese just because it has passed through his lips. Unlike the media and most of the stories they run, what Cortese has said has ended with actual results which makes me more incline to believe him over the Echo. You only have to listen to Adam Blackmore on BBC Radio Solent to realise than he doesn't fully understand the rules of the game. His commentaries are littered with mistakes and fundamental errors. Nor that he knows that much about the club that he has covered for years. So to believe him on the ins and outs of rumours surrounding the manager is hard

Pompey had ticket prices of £38 and that was high due to having a small ground so prices increased. St Mary's was much cheaper comparatively on face value and value for money (albeit 5 years ago). Cortese has stated they want to increase capacity or move stadium when back in the Premiership. If they increase capacity, then prices reduce as supply can meet demand.

Compared to similar sized clubs playing at the same level Saints prices are competitive. It is pointless and irrelevant to compare a seat at St Mary's to a seat at Dagenham & Redbridge, Rochdale & Hartlepool. The stadiums facilities are poorer, the views are poorer and most importantly the quality of the football(entertainment) is poorer. Compare them with similar clubs like Leeds & Norwich last season or Sheff Weds this season. The Chelsea comparison is never going to happen. Saints are a provincial club, Chelsea are in the west of London and their prices reflect this.

Lets take it bit by bit... The feud with the Echo - Dune you don't know what went on the stories of club staff not being allowed to talk to him Dune you don't know what is going on the way he had a dig at MLT and Lawrie Lawrie and MLT weren't forced at gunpoint to give an answer about the unfounded speculation about Pardew/Cortese. They both had no idea what was going on, but choose to comment anyway. I see no reason why Cortese shouldn't respond. He was hardly particulary harsh in his responce either the Pardew speculation Speculation being the key word here season ticket prices/lack of an installment plan/booking tax on tickets.The lack of notice that there was to be a change is the only issue I have, everything else is reasonable .............. To compare Cortese, the man that saved the club from oblivion last summer and attracted a wealthy owner, to Rupert Lowe is ridiculous. Never in the clubs history has it had a wealthy backer. They have wiped out £30m+ of debt, invested in the playing squad and backroom staff, invested money in training facilities, academy, stadium and have stated their future intention to return to the Premiership and fund it and infrastructure improvements. Basically everything that Rupert Lowe didn't do. Yes, Mr Cortese is an ambitious and no nonsense type of businessman, exactly imo what this club has needed for years. Chill Mr Dune and enjoy the ride.

Laughable. You are so easily influenced and taken in by speculation and unsubstantiated rumours. So many assumptions in the opening post. Yes, they may be true, but you have little in the way of evidence to base an opinion on.

I blame Cameron.

What about if it came with a separate sash & shirt like in 1885 so you can choose yourself game by game?