Crab Lungs

Just wrote a huuuuuge post on Nicola Cortese and for some reason lost it, though I feel inclined to share with you all what I wrote if I can remember it all. Anyway, I work with someone who knew I supported Saints and just today he found out the man behind our takeover was Nicola Cortese. He used to move in the same esteemed circles as Mr Cortese and I couldn't get in a word edgeways as he waxed lyrical about Cortese' brilliance. He explained how respected and how highly thought of Cortese was in the banking world (not just the banking world RL comes from and what we imagine.) He said Nicola specialises in sports management and sports investments and is the guy who points investors in the right direction to attractive and potential investments - hence how we ended up with Mr Liebherr - Nicola really bent his ear about the opportunity to be had at SFC. My mind was already made up about Nicola post-forum after hearing him speak so convincingly however my colleague reiterated that Nicola was articulate, well-connected (he will open and use alot of his renowned contacts for the benefit of Saints etc), engaging and how genuinely brilliant he is at what he does. As I said, alot of our initial impressions of Cortese are correct - he spoke with admiration about his personable skills and how quickly he is to 'tap in' to the local communities of clubs and listen, understand and deliver upon any queries/concerns they have (my friend didn't know anything about how quick NC was to reply to the fans forums comments and when I told him he wasn't surprised - commenting that is what NC is like, he's exceptionally good and receptive.) He said that the club will be run with a professionalism not seen for circa 10 years and will be viewed as a project and we need to recognise that. Saints will invest prudently and in relation to our status and turnover and will never be run aground again like with what happened before. He is the ultimate problem-solver and has been amazingly successful in practically all of his ventures and could see Nicola, with Markus' investment, guiding us back to the elite once more given the time and opportunity. He mentioned that to have NC meant that we have 'possibly the best person in the world for the job right now' also, which brought another little astounded smile. Anyway, I did write more and if I remember it i will post it but I just wanted to share with you all what i heard - and, essentially, what we already know. That said, it was a great way to start a weekend and I hope this gives you all a good feeling too. Now, another 3 points tomorrow and a seventh consecutive skate capitulation later and I'll be on the cola shots in Linekers to the early morning - happy days Have a good weekend all.

this is quite possibly the funniest **** I've ever had to laugh at from that lot down the road, it's brilliant, like a comedy. we're two divisions below and we're averaging more at home than them we're two divisions below and we're probably averaging more away than them we started on minus 10, we're still on minus 2 and yet i am still laughing at them We've got a billionaire owner who will see that us through our ascendency and they've got a camel salesmen who doesn't know his arse from his elbow. Can't wait for when they go into admin and dear ol' 'Arry starts the 'cor blimey guv, nothing to do with me!' spin in tabloids. Gonna be a rootin' tootin' season folks See you soon, fishboys

Surely if they are thinking of adopting this approach seriously then Graham Rix has to be the man to lead it. Or perhaps not.

Big lol's at the moron who doesn't know whether he'd prefer Hart or Strachan.

He said he would never manage Skatesmouth and has turned them down before. Ans he's unlikely to put up with the mess in boardroom. He wouldn't do it.

Would tie in with Storrie being the odious money shuffler that he is, blackmailing SAF into a bigger pay cheque. LMAO Fratton Park is fallin' down, fallin' down...

lmao, thats hilarious! 'major business commitment' reads cutting the ribbon for a new carwash franchise in Valencia. And even mentioning Villa.... how ****ing embarrassing

Don't go on the ****ing pitch, simple. I think any fan should be prepared to get a slap for entering the field of play. Whatever anyone thinks of Bellamy is up to him, but at least he didn't bottle confrontation.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/portsmouth/6228717/Paul-Hart-called-to-meeting-as-Portsmouth-plumb-the-depths.html No money in January for transfers? LOL SAF wants the club to be modelled on Arsenal? LOL The good doctor swanning around Valencia promoting chess games while his new 'investment' crashes and burns? LOL LOL

They are the ultimate comedy football club, I love every update we get about them on here. LOL

Col, give me a shout if you're hitting Perto Banus at any point mate, that's where I live ;-)

Spot on. Loved the way Pardew TOLD the fans to... if it would have been in more difficult times, no doubt he'd have got an earful from the frothing group of cackers! Why do we get such dribblers at these forums? The questions were dire, though the panel on NC, AP and KD were an excellent mix of personalities. AP and NC were refreshingly articulate and intelligent and KD a bit of a cheeky chappy.

People have used coke in the past as an excuse for violent or irregular behaviour. Probably the same people who were ******s pre-drugs anyway. However, in the past I have known people who used to do it every now and then and it only made them jovial. Decided to try it for myself and didn't really do alot for me, though I definitely felt myself become considerably cheerier. Can't say it made me spazz out and want to attack anyone though, neither did I feel like coming back for more. The buzz just wasn't that special. Never had any since but I don't look down upon anyone if they do use it in moderation - it's their lifestyle choice.

Over here in spain listening to the forum, its absolutely brilliant to see Pardew laying into some of our more clueless and braindead fans. An absolute pleasure. pwn'ed on the Kelvin debate, loved it.

Ouchy Corpy, I'm still the same Crabby y'know - maybe it's you that has changed? After all, there are only so many bull**** lies you can relay to us before you're stock falls? Anyway, it's not the percentage of how much you're ground is full, that's completely irrelevant - and YOU KNOW THAT - it's how many fans you have got and potentially attract. We are getting higher crowds in League 1 whilst you lot can't even give the tickets away and still come in way short. That should tell you something, Corpy...

Just thought I'd pop by as someone mentioned on another thread that Portsmouth took a whopping 500 fans to Villa Park today. Big club, big club.

Far too many left-wing nutjobs appearing now - the imbalance on this thread is shocking. That's the UK ****ed then.

I'm exactly the same as you mate. The same 'experts' who got WGS wrong. Marsden wrong. Crouch wrong.

Your point is flawed. I'm unaware of any radical Hindu, Chinese, Polish or Sikh groups who are openly (or secretly) peddling extremism (though the Polish are a bit, well... extreme in some cases - don't see many of them marching with banners wishing for our soldiers to die in Iraq, Afghanistan etc) So it might be worth being consistent. I do believe there are many, many people who are feircely (rightly) patriotic about their country from all creeds and religions - and I believe alot of people's perceptions have been tainted by the appearance of some of the demonstrators. A skinhead does not automatically mean a Nazi. Neither does any man of asian appearance automatically mean they are an extremist. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKgK-0HwN30&feature=player_embedded#t=16 "They don't want equality they want superiority'' Now this is a worrying comment in some respects but what if it there is an element of truth in it? Regardless, I think the people on the pulse are neither the left or right wing (obviously) but those on the middle ground and who are unaffected by media reports either way. One personal viewpoint is the problem lies within the local and national governments who are too afraid to say "no" to inflammatory organisations and shut them down. Organisations of this nature, regardless of their political leaning only have one objective - to stir hatred. The UK is too soft on extremism and we do need to adopt a hardline policy. Britons by nature are accepting and tolerant people but the same cannot be said for some middle eastern and asian nationals who are hellbent on this bizarre idealism of radicalising the world and peddling hatred. I can't imagine a Pakistani or Lebanese police department allowing a pro-Christian demonstration in their own backyards. The EDL will have to be careful they don't get infiltrated by the BNP, or their message will soon become more distorted and whatever credibility they have left will be lost.

LMFAO, it will never, ever, ever get rebuilt - neither will they get a new stadium. In fact, the stadium debates are one my favourite, where I think the best come back is normally something along the lines of "You've got a B & Q flatpack stadium" Yes, yes we have. And it hold's a considerably lot more than Fratton turdhole. "But at least we fill out stadium" (this argument no longer applies - see last 2-3 years of FP attendances for proof) Though I have to admit, seeing many of them fall for this beauty was one the best - does anyone have any more info on it? (I would love to read the plans again, lmfao, what did they model it on - one of Cloverfield's turds?) http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/06/30/herzog-and-de-meurons-portsmouth-stadium/ And don't ever forget - this guy was better than Le Tissier (and the multiple camera angles make make it look like he scored about forty goals that season)

Loving this little quote from The News: 'I am sure that Al Fahim will look for finance advice from Peter Storrie.' Good Luck with that one, Doctor!!!! LMFAO

Likewise.

Saints team will be a different team when we've shaken the -5, that I guarantee. The shackles will come off....

thankin you... expat sitting here, nervously!

They are so ****ing funny, it's great that even though we're minus 6 in L1, we still laugh our tits off at them. Big club..... hahahaha It's gone VERY QUIET round here, hasn't it?