SaintBobby

It seems obvious that Markus and Nicola shared a deep and trusting relationship. Sometimes opposites attract. Sometimes birds of a feather flock together. I don't know which. I don't know why. And I very much doubt that it could ever be understood other than by people very close to them.

I hope the club have a great tribute video on Saturday for the Leyton game. Some of the unofficial fan efforts have been fantastic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JjjwQ41W98 Sorry - don't know how to embed these....

Just been sent this video tribute, which has been put together by a friend to "Glory, Glory, Hallejuah" Made me cheer and cry...

The problem is that "must win" has started being used as "would be useful to win". Which doesnt really mean anything. Not just on this thread, but in football generally. Guess we need a different term for games that really are must wins....such as Saints v Sheff Utd in May 2008.

Im sure thats right. Its unlikely that the club was living hand to mouth out of Markus' bank accounts.

Why you think your own personal views of Markuss tragic death merits its own separate thread still beyond me. Arrogant, attention seeking and unnecessary.

The idea is that there are different threads for each topic. It doesn't take a genius to not start a thread on "orient build up" if there already is one. members can start their own duplicate threads of course. But then other members can comment and ask why they haven't contributed to a thread on the exact same subject which is 16+ pages long. Its tedious attention seeking

All agreed. Obviosuly, all fans are very sad at the terrible news. But even I am tiring of the "look at me" tendency to start new threads. There's a Markus tribute thread already. I despair really. Why couldn't the authors of these tributes put them on the tribute thread. Please lock.

Ridiculous. How would Steve Coppells son know? Totally absurd idea. I'm placing my faith in Fitzhugh Fella's unsubstantiated assertion instead. Not only is he ITK, he is aware of which motorway Steve Coppell is on. And when he is on it. That's definitive enough for me. I imagine such impressive GPS technology is common amongst the ITK fraternity.

The "legend" tag is getting devalued IMHO. It's almost as if a player of the season award is enough now. Ive been supporting Saints since 1980 and would say its only really MLT who gets legend status. Lots of other great players and lots of characters Ive loved, and historically, I'd say Bates, Paine and Channon qualify too. So they named the suites at SMS about right. Bobby Stokes obviously has a huge importance in our history, but not really legend status despite the 76 win.

My PA knows a lot about me and my affairs. I don't find this implausible at all.

I quite understand that it would be hard to keep the book open for the Orient game. I'm going to try and take Friday afternoon off work so I can come down to Southampton with the missus and sign the book. I also want to walk right round the stadium when its quiet and empty, which is not something Saints exiles like me ever really get the chance to do. I will be grateful to Markus for the rest of my life.

Dickie Davies (remember him?) Shane Warne? (or did he just pretend, as he played cricket for Hants) Roger Black, the sprinter

Appreciate this is intended to be a bit tongue in cheek, but it needn't pan out anythign at all like this at all. It may be that it's entierly at the discretion of the Liebherr family, but it's just as likely that there are specific provisions in Markus's will (a trust fund or some similar arrangement) that means that the family's discretion doesn't really come into it.

This. Definitely this.

I am quite sure this is true...if not a trust fund, then some other arrangement that is similarly secure and satisfactory.

I hope I may be able to help a little. Obviously, all fans are shocked by the news. But it is only natural to also consider the implications for the club. As it happens - and I feel sick about this now - I met a senior official of the club earlier this month and asked the "what if?" question. I had assumed Markus was rather older than 62, but in any event, it seemed a fair question at the time. Provisions had been made for such an eventuality and thought through quite carefully. There is no reason to worry at all on this score. Billionaires do not die intestate and all of this would have been - and has been - properly worked out. I'm not sure that minimises the shock in the short term, but it is understandable that fans will be thinking about the future of the club, and indeed the statement on the OS reflects this reality. RIP Markus. A true Saint.

Devastated. RIP

Ive never much rated him. Think he's okay as cover, but not great. My worry is that I dont think Jaidi is the nailed on starting XI player I was hoping for. Id like a new signing at CB I think.

I guess I'd be happy if Saints won the league, won the cup, got back into the Premiership and never appeared in a newspaper, on TV or radio or on an internet chat forum ever again. But...I'd prefer the club to achieve all this AND get lots of good publicity

options: 1. move the away fans to the Itchen, on the Northam corner and make Northam a wall of sound 2. encourage (subsidise even?) 100 "ultras" to sit together in Chapel and get it signing

They are going to show the goals as soon as they get the cartoon footage from the animation studios...

Err...wanting both and being hopeful arent quite the same thing! I'm more realistic than you, I think, I'd settle for either....and to be honest, if Connolly can stay half fit this season, I don't think we really need Craig Bellamy...

Good attendance. Feel a bit ashamed I didn't go myself. Fair play to the Cherries - fans, team and manager. I hope they stay up.

You don't sound hopeful....