Matthew Le God

Orient 2 - Peterborough 1 Now a two horse race (if it wasn't already)

Saints will have 2 games in hand, needing only to win one of them to go back to 2nd.

According to the press, yes. True or not, who knows?

Saved

Penalty to MK Dons

I doubt any Brighton fan could name 10 clubs out of the thousands of teams that have been promoted (or crowned Champions of a top league) in the last 120 years of world association football that have received a guard of honour. It is a relatively recent phenomenon and Saints are under no obligation to do it.

In the history of association football and the thousands and thousands of promotion and Championships there have been in the last 120 years, I think you would struggle to name 10 teams that have formed a guard of honour!

Over the course of the thousands of promotions in World association football in the last 120 years, how many Guards of Honour do you think there have been? Just because a few clubs have started to do it recently doesn't make it right or put any future club under any obligation to do so.

"Nigel Adkins says no guard of honour by Saints for Brighton." Good

Of course I have no idea how much he will be given. But everything about the Liebherr/Cortese plan "so far" indicates it will be a significant amount for the level the club is at, like has been the case in the past two seasons. Plus being in the Championship significantly increases revenue streams, for example you get.... - around £4m more in TV money compared to League One - higher numbers of home fans at St Mary's - much higher numbers of away fans at St Mary's - more advertising revenue - Saints having a sponsor next season - more corporate revenue - higher solidarity payments from the Premier League etc etc Have you not noticed them already putting huge amounts into the club and spending large amounts on transfer fees. They haven't done this to remain in the 2nd or 3rd tier. Cortese has clearly stated the plan is to get to the Premier League by 2014. They are also investing huge amounts in the training ground. What makes you think this funding is stopping or was never there? You are the one that indicated the owners didn't plan to make a loss in their first year. Of course they did. You didn't answer any of my questions in post #56...

What is your hunch based on? Do you think Liebherr accidentally made Saints trade at a loss last year in League One? They haven't brought the club to hang around in the lower Leagues for years without investment. The training ground they are building this summer wouldn't look out of place at a top 6 Premier League club, why bother funding that if they have no intention of funding the team?

Maybe Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool have given up as Cortese won't sell and are looking elsewhere! Wally Downes thinks they might... http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/6720/5/crystal-palace-starlet-being-chased-arsenal-and-manchester-united http://www.caughtoffside.com/2011/04/20/liverpool-close-to-agreeing-deal-to-sign-7m-french-winger/

So you think Cortese lied when he said he turned down bids in January by putting them in the bin?

I just meant we won't see a (P) Southampton on any League Tables at 5pm Easter Monday. I don't deny that if Saints win both, Huddersfield lose both and Peterborough lose one game out of the Easter games then Saints are pretty much promoted.

Not possible for Saints to confirm for certain promotion on Easter Monday. Only get a "very likely" promotion, due to a superior goal difference if Huddersfield and Peterborough drop points and Saints get all 6 from the two games. Would still be possible for Huddersfield to catch Saints in the two remaining games, but would need a huge swing in goal difference.

Said the man in the orthopedic shoes.

Just because a few teams have in the past, it doesn't mean Saints are under any obligation to follow suit.

I hope they don't.

Then why did Saints turn down bids in January and Alex stayed?

I think he will stay as long as Saints are still noticeably progressing towards the top flight. After all he is 17 years old and could potentially be a Premier League player in 13 or 25 months time without having to move anywhere and in that time be playing regular football for a club he has been with for the last 10 years. If we don't go up this season - he'll leave If we do go up this season - he'll stay If Saints make a promotion charge in the Championship next season - he'll stay If Saints struggle in the Championship next season - he'll go and so on...

Glad that was made clear! Not someone else's opinion then?

I think you are being unrealistic if you think that after pressuring Cortese to let him move, that Cortese would then be happy to have him in the squad as not a proper Saints player.

Well he didn't leave in January even though teams made firm bids for him.

He is under contract with Saints until June 2013. Saints can turn down bids for him, as they already have done in January this year. Before he turns 20 he could possibly be a Premier League player with Saints, he has plenty of time to move to a Champions League club if he wishes later on.