Matthew Le God

In his previous interviews Cortese had with the BBC he even hints of (and uses the term) "a 10 year plan", on top of the 5 year plan commonly mentioned on this forum. The "5 year plan" is merely to get back to the top flight, which they are clearly ahead of schedule for. In any case just because they use the term "X number of year plan" it doesn't mean at the end of that period they won't to sell up. Just that that is the timeframe to achieve one aim, they then could set new aim once that is achieved. Which Cortese's use of the phrase "10 year plan" hints at.

That is rubbish Turkish. You really make this all too easy. The reason it is costing 3 times more is because there is a lot more to it now than was included originally. Anyone that has even had the briefest look at the plans for the development on the New Forest Council website before Liebherr died and then look how much more there is in the resubmitted plans after his death can see that. The main pavilion building is a lot bigger and now includes a lot more, there is a groundman building, security lodge, 3g pitch and improvements to the other pitches, new floodlights on a number of the outer-pitches and the main pitch, a stand with for two of the youth pitches, more landscaping of the entire site etc etc all ontop of what was announced originally. Plus in February 2012 the club submitted the plans for an academy building complex by the farm building on the site.

Yes, you can.

Given what he said in his two interview with the BBC in 2010 (in March on Radio Solent and December on South Today/BBC Website) and the statement on the OS after Markus died, both you and him can't be right.

So by saying that, you think Cortese has lied to us in his previous interviews with the BBC and the statement on the OS. Just saying "I've heard a few bits from a few fairly reliable people", doesn't make it credible to us, it is vague in the extreme.

It doesn't matter. It is still a booking and the referee was right by the rules he is given to work with. I'd guess they don't want players to cause a mass of people rushing to the front of the stand to meet the players, potentially a dangerous situation.

Why is it "absolutely shocking"? It is in the rules that doing things like this... ...is a bookable offence. You can't blame the ref for doing as the rules state. Regardless of whether doing this may seem harmless and make a kids day... It is always going to end with this...

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They are in dreadful form at the moment for a side chasing promotion...

Nicola Cortese denies most of what you just said in this interview... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/8565914.stm plus this interview... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/9269293.stm plus the statements on the OS after Markus Liebherr died Yes, that first interview was before Markus Liebherr died, however Cortese has stated since Markus' death nothing has changed in terms of plans or funding for the club. In actual fact since Markus' death the club resubmitted plans for the training ground/academy which now cost 3 times that of the plans submitted when Markus was alive. So for you to believe what you do, you must think Cortese is a lier, and what evidence do you have to support that?

Saints had more than 44k, the 44k is for the general fan sections. Was actually 50k+ Saints fans there that day. The attendance that day was 73,476, Carlisle only had 21,000. Alot of the difference was made up by high numbers of Saints fans in the "posh seats". Cortese has stated in public interview he thinks Saints could have sold between 15,000 to 20,000 more tickets if Wembley/Football League let the club have a bigger allocation.

I bet you it actually costs more. It is a higher spec that the majority of Premier League training grounds, many of which were built recently and their costs would suggest a very high figure for what is being built at Staplewood. Cortese has even stated the resubmitted plans are 3 times the budget of the original plans which looked to already be impressive. A lot more is being done than originally planned.

His two previous broadcast media interviews... 13th March 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/8565914.stm 8th December 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/9269293.stm

Thats a little harsh Dune, they did put a roof on the the away end with their 7 years (11 years if you include 4 years of parachute payments) of Premier League money.

He went into the crowd after he scored the second goal, the video cuts away beforehand so you don't see it. By the letter of the law the ref was right.

I'm sure they did, but whose to say Saints can't spend big on wages and transfers? They are spending alot at the moment on wages in comparison with other Championship clubs and even some Premier League clubs when you take into account they are currently without Premier League TV money and sources of income. Saints had a £12m wage bill in its first season in League One funded by the Liebherr's, that is huge when you bear in mind it isn't subsidised by Premier League income. Also that first season saw Saints as a League One club as the 11th highest net spenders on transfers in English football, again whilst not subsided by a Premier League income.

Ahhhh so as I expected, their net spend was actually a lot lower than the figures you stated. Not sure how that helps your argument...

Who did they buy for that £48m? Who did they sell? What was their net spend in that period of 3 to 5 years?

No it isn't, was very relevant.

There is no real evidence in the public domain of that at all. It would be more valuable established in the top flight rather than the summer period between promotion and its first season back in the top flight. What makes you think the Liebherr's are in this for financial reward? There are easier less risky ways they could invest that in football. Why would they sell when it goes against the wishes of their late husband/father who wanted to see Saints competing in the Premier League. This is a long term project for Liebherr's/Cortese, along with Staplewood Cortese has also talked of their plans for expanding St Mary's or relocating they wouldn't have bothered with that if they were planning to leave 3 years after taking over. Why would those connected to Southampton and their fans be happy if the Liebherr's/Cortese left? Why would you be happy?

That isn't that big really compared against clubs they were competing against at the top when you consider the income from merely being in the Premier League.

Saints have an owner whose family business philosophy is not to accrue any external debt, have ambitions of upper Premier League finishes and have a net worth far beyond that of Randy Lerner as resources to meet those ambitions. I wouldn't dimiss Saints in the top 6 quite as quickly as Turkish and Sour Mash do. Even Bolton finished in the top 6 as recently as 2005.

Aston Villa 2009/10 6th 2008/09 6th 2007/08 6th They didn't spend a huge amount considering the TV income and other Premier League revenue streams they got. Good management from O'Neil and sound infrastructure took them a long way. Aston Villa average attendance in 2011/12 = 34,137 which is barely more than Saints had at St Mary's between 2001 and 2005 for mid table finishes in a 32k stadium.

Look how little newly promoted Swansea have spent. Their first XI that beat Man City cost £7m and they are 8th in the Premier League in late March, a mere 3 points behind Dalglish's Liverpool with King Kenny having spent £140m on fees since his return. Good management, strong infrastructure and careful spending can go a long way. Saints have a richer backer than Swansea, larger fanbase, larger stadium, better infrastructure at training ground and one of the best academies in the country. Cortese and the Liebherr's are putting everything in place that will allow it to compete at a high level, something it has never been able to do before in its 126 year history. As I said earlier, some Saints supporters are going to need a change in mindset in the coming years (you being a prime example). Even under Rupert Lowe and his lack of investment, Saints were able to finish 8th and reach a major cup final in 2003. Compare Liebherr/Cortese and what they have done already with the lack of investment from Rupert Lowe.

Well it is a daft question, so that is probably why I haven't answered it before. Why have you put a 2 year limit on it? Why "top 5"? Why do you think can you only be successful if you spend huge amounts on transfer fees?