Matthew Le God

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.

What would be the point in that? Might as well keep him for the extra season and see his value go up.

How can the playoffs be "the most likely scenario" for a team currently in 2nd place with a game in hand on those below and picked up 25 points out of the last 30 available?

Well to get 25 points from a possible 30 in the last 10 League games, Saints must be doing something right...

So you don't think Saints will also be "up for the game", considering this game means more to their season than it does for Brighton? When you say Saints "aren't in great form", have you forgotten that Saints have picked up 25 points out of the last 30 points available?

At no point have I said it has remained 100% the same since 1974. I am fully aware of how it has changed over the years. It is still fundamentally the same design since it was first used in the 1970's, albeit with a few tweaks.

Yep, it definitely looks better like that.

Well as Saints have had a number of very different badges in their 125 year history, saying "back to the old badge" is more than a little vague. I had an idea he meant the one based on the 1974 design but just asked for clarification. Nothing wrong with asking that.

I think the people that think Saints started in 1974 and should never change the badge are irritating. The badge designed in 1974 looks like what it is, an amateur attempt at a badge in the decade fashion forgot.

Do you not think Forte looks far more of a threat than N'Guessan?

Which "old badge"? The 1885 one, or the one that has only been used since 1974 and 30% of Saints history?

Pretty much every team has made significant changes to their badge over the years (including Saints). Here is Swindon's badge history... Coventry City are going back to their pre 1970's badge next season... Saints started using the fan designed badge as recently as 1974. So have used this for a mere 30% of the history. The other 70% Saints have had a different badge! Saints badge 1974 - 2011 I'd like to see... Either the 1885 badge return...