SaintBobby

What a strange stance. Of the seven points list, item 1 (messy food) was directly reported to me by a staff member as was item 4 (staff departures). I received the email (or was it a letter? or both? can't remember) on dress code and was told directly this was at Cortese's insistence (item 5). Was told by a staff member about the volume being off on SSN - item 6 - (and can confirm directly the volume was indeed off). I asked specifically about the boxing (item 7) and was told the reason the next week by a staff member - at the time I was told "It wasn't possible at this stage" to switch channels. Items 2,3 and 4 have all been relayed to me secondhand by a trusted friend (who claims senior staff as his direct source). I'm really not sure how much more "direct" my evidence could possibly be! As I said, it's not any particular single issue that troubles me - it's the plethora of them, the real deluge of a whole continuing string of these sorts of things. It's systemic.

I don't think he's an idiot. He's clearly an incredibly intelligent man. But it does almost seem like some sort of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - or at least a total addiction to micro-management.

Here's what I've heard from the man on the street/employees. Quite a few of the staff in the club lounge have passed less than flattering comments about the chairman. I must admit I don't write them all down and I tend to recognise the staff by face, not name. But a typical conversation this season: Me: "X or Y or Z seems pretty daft"; Them: "Yeah, well, we all know why that is and who insisted on it"; Me:"Nicola Cortese?"; Them: "Yep" (whispered, combined with a sigh, a shrug and a rolling of the eyes). Specifically,I've been told either directly or second hand (another club lounge member relaying a conversation to me) that: The absence of proper cooked food for sale in the club lounge is because Cortese banned it because it was "too messy" (even though I've never seem him set foot in the lounge) The absence of sufficient seating in the club lounge is because any tiny change to the original design and layout has to be personally approved by the Cortese The creation of a bizarre, tiny, almost laughable, ring-fenced area in the club lounge (essentially one table ostentatiously roped off) was because Cortese demanded a separate distinct area and an accompanying, ludicrous email to be sent to all club lounge members saying they needed to pay more if they wanted a guaranteed seat and table service (the email was impenetrable and deeply confusing and the take-up of the ring-fenced area has been nearly zero) A substantial number of staff have left or are looking to leave - because it's a nearly impossible place to work, with virtually zero professional discretion for staff and a requirement to comply with sudden, contradictory bizarre orders or "ideas" (in stark comparison to some other Premier League clubs, where some staff have now secured alternative employment and others are actively looking to follow them) The rather odd (and even slightly offensive) email sent to all club lounge members essentially telling us we should "dress more smartly in order not to embarrass ourselves" was sent out on the direct instructions of Cortese to the considerable embarrassment of many of the hospitality staff (who had previously been instructed to explain the rather ramshackle state of the affairs in the lounge was an attempt to create a "pub atmosphere" and were now having to write to us saying this wasn't the intended atmosphere at all, but was instead an upmarket, corporate facility). The reason that the volume had been turned off on the TV screens showing Sky Sports News in the lounge was because Cortese specifically insisted that no words from MLT should be audible. This actually represented a softening of his original stance which was that no pictures of MLT should be visible in the lounge - which led to the extraordinary situation in an earlier game this season, upon returning to the lounge at half-time, the TV screens were all on Sky Sports 3, showing some preview of an upcoming boxing match. When asked to switch the channels, staff were instructed to say "That is not possible at this stage" but were specifically prohibited from giving the reason. Now, I'm happy to accept that some of these things may have grown in the telling a little. Some may even be wholly untrue. But there is such a continual pattern of such issues being raised, and so many different staff raising such issues (with me or other club lounge members) that it's just impossible to believe that everything is going smoothly!

I think this sort of stuff is customer service and the club does it very badly. The mishandling of relations with ex-pros sits hand-in-hand with a slapdash approach to public/customer relations. I remember one thing which truly irked me was when they did away with the senior citizens discount in the Kingsland stand. My mum is a STH and in her early 60s. She can easily afford the standard adult price. But the fact that her season ticket was going up by some huge % was simply tucked away in some mall print in some tiny little sub-clause, not set out and explained in a sensible, sensitive fashion. Sure, people can respond "Tough"...."If you don't like the price, don't renew your season ticket"..."Why's your mum so damned special, I'm in my 30s and struggling financially, but I pay the full adult price"..."So what, the football has improved by much more than 50%, she should count herself lucky her ticket isn't even pricier" etc etc etc. But - for the sake of a simple, straightforwardly honest and transparent piece of communication, people in my mother's situation would have simply felt a lot better about being a Saints STH. These sort of things should matter to a club/company. It seems they don't.

Yet another rather trivial, but still illuminating, story. To me, this anecdote is symptomatic of a rather officious approach by the club. It's not so much the decisions themselves, but the manner in which they're executed. For out MotM in the 1976 FA Cup Final, perhaps let it go on his first appearance at the supporters club, then drop him a letter on the Monday from Cortese "Dear Jim, I was delighted to hear you were at the game on Saturday and we hope to see you back at St Mary's very soon. We're all enormously grateful for everything you did for Southampton in your distinguished career - especially, of course, on a particular May day in 1976. However, I hope I can draw your attention to our current policy without causing any offence or embarrassment. After long consideration, we have decided...etc etc" Instead, you get some jumped up petty bureaucrat kicking him out on the spot. I myself have experienced similar sorts of jobsworth behaviour under Cortese's chairmanship on several occasions and I find it grating, irritating, unnecessary and it leaves an unpleasant and sour taste in the mouth. It would be so easy to sort out this "soft PR"/supporter relations/internal comms stuff, but they just haven't done so.

I've met Cortese once for about a ten minute one-on-one chat. Have met MLT a few times, and one for a pretty lengthy chat. I wouldn't say I can form a full, robust, 100% accurate impression of either man's personality. But, these meetings, along with stuff in the public domain, lead me to conclude that it is totally unsurprising that they don't get on. Very chalky chalk and very chessey cheese basically.

I doubt he will be better than Strachan tbh....:-)

Blimey. That's it? It's vaguely interesting I guess. But if that's a BIG interview, what's a SMALL one?

Anyone know the lowest ever points total in the third tier? Seems possible to me that the skates could be in that ball park, if the -10 deduction happens this season.

Interesting table, but as others have said, it's very partial. You need to consider the capital value of the players you have and the wage bill. Spending £30m on players is not a problem at all, if you can sell them on. It seems to me that Saints could quite easily realise tens of millions in player assets if, say, we were relegated. Must say I'm surprised that Man Utd's net spend is only about £12m per annum.

Another irritating example of the club's pettiness.

About 60% anti. Seems to know what he's doing, but also seems an unpleasant person.

Beware of anyone who begins their sentence "I understand". If you really understand something, just state it. And just begin your statement with the next word along. Or start your sentence with "I'm guessing" or "I'm hearing" or "My hunch is"... It is the most bizarre, non-qualification ever.

I'm up for this. Well worth £10m IMHO. He replaces Puncheon, who has been great, but isn't a superstar tbh. Of our starting, full fit XI, Puncheon is the one I'd seek to displace and upgrade. Boruc Clyne Fonte Forren Shaw Schneider Cork Coutinho Ramirez Lallana Lambert Subs: Davis, Davis, Yoshida, J-Rod, Puncheon, Fox, De Ridder/Lee (I can see a good case for replacing the last two/three subs...but I wouldn't spend much money on it...)

No. No way. If he does come, I will start to think we have gone mad rather than keeping faith with the "project"!

OMFG. Some highlights from that Farmery interview. "We've got our budget, the more we can raise over that budget, the more we can spend" Q: "What are the main hurdles that need to be overcome if the Trust is to be successful?" A: "I think the key thing is to get over the hurdle of actually owning the club...then I think the business plan kicks in....I think a lot of people who are waverers at the moment will start pledging their money" (he thinks people will write cheques for £1000 after the Trust has taken control...!) Q: "Where realistically do you think Pompey will be in five years' time?" A: "Well, if you look at Exeter and AFC Wimbledon....the Championship" WTFILN

Just put £10 on a Saints win. 15/1 on betfair.

Reading are bigger than Wigan IMHO

Thank god someone started this thread. I was hoping there'd be a match reaction thread somewhere, but just couldn't find one and didn't have the confidence to start one myself....

This is a classic. So bad it's good. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-talk-no-game-but-new-players-incoming-1-4706264 I especially like the bit at about 18 mins in when the bloke seriously says "Who's left? X, Y, Z and Colin the Masseur". "Kev the Kitman...who is very respected in his field...how much more can he take?" WTFILN.

If MLT thinks NC is a total ***t, let him say it. We're all far too precious. Why can't he say it? Let him say what he wants. It's not destabilising the team or anything. Matty is a club legend and now a Sky pundit. Why should be bite his lip at all?

If you will have "Viking Warrior" as the name in your passport, you're likely to get stopped, I guess... Why not go for "Joe Smith" or "Bill Jones" or something similar...

I'm a big fan of Cork. Although I though he was a little under par tonight. But he deserves our support. Let's start a thread for him alone. Not one for him and Morgan combined. It will mean so much to him.

Stewards can be very heavy handed. I think Saints staff particularly so. We should complain when they are. But this isn't an Occupy Movement protest FFS. There was so demo tonight and the self-appointed fans' representatives looks even sadder than ever. The white hankie thing will surely go down as amateur hour legend. http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/10172160.Saints_fans_plan_Adkins_protest/?action=success

Superb tonight. Got my MOTM vote. Not just the saves, command of the area. Although we got the call for the foul, he punched the ball out c. 30 yards one-handed from a corner in 2nd half under pressure. Impressed.