The Kraken

Can you talk us through those numbers please? How have you arrived at that notion?

I don't doubt it. SFC seems to think that marketing involves putting the prices on the website and simply waiting for people to call and book. No external marketing, little effort in attracting new business, alienating local companies who previously bought corporate boxes and no longer will, it all adds up to empty seats. The spat with the Echo is a case in point, needlessly banning the local paper from the ground and training ground and thereby negating the possibility of countless free advertising. You couldn't make it up, really.

You don't mean to say our wonderful marketing department let themselves down, do you?! :lol:

Hallelujah.

Sold out weeks in advance for pretty much every game, apparently. Tickets were like gold dust. Simple piffle such as the recession and increased prices wouldn't make a difference to us, we are Southampton and we should be building a bigger stadium right now. I'm sure he'll invent some complete different nonsense as to why he isn't completely full of sh*t, but the lad has been exposed as a sham.

His argument seems to have changed since the season started. Check the bit about "Give it a few years and if we are mid table/upper half the matchgoing fanbase for games vs Wigan will grow." The bravado and bullsh*t of "build it now" and all the references to historical sell-outs has diminished, unsurprisingly.

This exactly. Guly is no right winger, J-Rod is no left winger, our players do not fit our shape. We need to either find some that do or find a shape that fits our players.

They look thoroughly comfortable playing a 4-3-3 formation they've played for years; we've got players playing out position to accommodate ours.

I think that's all we'll get, but earlier statements were for more than that. Then again, Nigel also said (in late July) "there will be new additions before the end of the transfer window and before we play Manchester City", and no-one actually came in. So the transfer committe have already failed to meet that particular target.

Don't know where the link is, it was widely reported at the time, after signing our first 3 players. He said he wanted "1 or 2 goalkeepers, 1 or 2 centre backs". He also separately said a winger, and the interest in Buttner suggested a left back. There's 6, whether Ramirez was included in that or not, who knows. I don't make these things up.

Nigel Adkins disagrees with you. Still missing at least 5 from the list he has said he wants/needs. As for the frustrating part; yeah, we get it. That's why there's been concern we haven't done anything for weeks despite the number of players we're still outstanding per the manager's own benchmarks.

If that's the case I'm intrigued what the delay is for bringing these players in. Why we haven't made the decision yet who we want and gone and got them (we've said we want 2 CBs). I'm sure we've made plenty of enquiries and whatever. Our failure to thus far get over the line is what concerns me.

F*cking brilliant. Our transfer policy is all over the place.

I think you'll be in the minority there.

I think we'd be mental to get rid of him. Even if we go down. That's just my opinion, but I think with his resources (a net spend of £3M on players to get us from L1 to PL is 2 years) he has done an amazing job and deserves backing and patience.

Of course we can. The question will be "why weren't we good enough", though. And if it happens it will be for a number of reasons, but not because the manager is inept and should have been replaced IMO.

I don't buy pulling power because of the manager. Its down to how big the club is, and how much they'll pay in transfer fees and wages. Redknapp had no real standing in European or world football before being at Tottenham, yet they brought in big players because of the club and the ability to pay very well.

It was a response to "if Cortese ditches Nige". If that happens, the role of the transfer committee would also be in question (given that they've yet to provide the manager with players he needs). NC sits on that transfer committee. Therefore, in that hypothetical situation, he would have to look at himself and others rather than isolating one man for the blame.

Yep, just seen it. "@GaryLineker: Surprisingly poor turn out for Saints first game back in PL. Ground looks half empty. Any reason?"

Cortese needs to look in the mirror rather than lashing out at a very good manager. A manager who identified the need for 2 GKs, 2 CBs, 1 LB, 1 RW and potentially 1 LW to be added to his squad. And for which the transfer committee have so far brought in one reserve GK. The manager knows what he wants and needs, he simply hasn't got it yet.

Optimistic at best. Last season, 13 league goals got you 10th place in the top scorers list. 10 - 12 goals at this level is a fantastic achievement. I'm not even sure J-Rod has had a decent shot on target yet, has he?

Who is JRod going to move infield for?