Turkish

It's good to see nothing changes on here. Any slight criticism of him is met with howls of derision from his biggest fans. People have hailed corteses ability to appoint managers, yet have never actually asked the question how did a man who had no knowledge of English football know about and appoint Pardew and Adkins? How did this man with no experience in sport create the blueprint for 'the southampton way'? Either he's the fastest learner and most visionary human being who ever lived or he had people around him doing that for him, for which he was happy to take the glory. People say he was a great businessman, yet I dont recall us securing any huge sponsorship deals or huge increases in commercial revenue. What I do recall is our commercial revenue being lower than midtable Championship clubs. People seem to forget Cortese wasn't a director or football, the football area where he should have had the least involvement, this area was the most successful in his tenure, coincidence? You decide.

The club achieved a lot or success in his time here, but history will show that this was inspite of Cortese not because of him. Cortese job wasn't to win football matches, it was to employ people to win football matches. In any other industry if a CEO who presides over a building project which came in double the budget, a huge legal bill due to stream of court cases for unpaid bills, a huge staff turnover and failing to increase commercial income despite huge success of the product would be considered a failure. Yet for saints fans the person was viewed a hero. So yes we had a lot Of success on the pitch where corteses control was limited but off the pitch things were close to becoming a disaster. Cortese was great at spending money, not so good at making it. The reaction on here was laughable when he quit, it was beyond the pale, people genuinely did believe that the club was nothing without him. The last year has proven that his isn't the case at all and that we've managed to move onto the fabled next level without being taken to court by local businesses, getting banned from City centre restaurants, banning former players in fact we haven't even had to sign Ralph Krugers name during a match.

It could be that.

Battle of the wotsits with Davis and Reed v Colback.

Terrible game but as others have said didn't need to get out of first gear, they never looked like scoring we were very comfortable. shane Long continues his run of when he scores we win, he really is a becoming a talismanic figure for us.

One thing I do miss is the players and manager constantly praising the chairman in their interviews for all his hard work behind the scenes. Wonder what why that changed?

Some good points very well made Dave.

Anyone know when he starts at AC Milan?? They were sniffing round just before he went.. http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/10935292.AC_Milan_again_linked_with_move_for_Saints_chairman_Nicola_Cortese/?ref=lp

Exactly, Cortese was a good lower league bottom half of the table CEO, a kind of Neil Warnock of CEOs, but to push onto the next level we really needed to upgrade him and we've done so.

So are we better off now than when he was here? Did the ambtion walk away with him? Did the club crumble like some predicted? or Are have we moved on a level? Are we stronger on and off the pitch?

I also heard Calum Chambers was furious he wasn't called when he was in Marbella to be told the new kit was being released, it's why he went. I'll say more when i've got time.

Dont you worry sunshine, i'll post what i know i haven't got time at the moment but i'll post it, you see if i dont, it'll make your eyes water it will. Did you know the board didn't even return Adam Lallanas calls when he was on England duty??

Given they are about to spend £28m on Bony, they spent £48m in the summer and raised £23m in sales this means with their UEFA sanctions of a net spend of £49m they'll need to offload a few players before they even think about bidding for Rodriguez.

I wish she'd stop asset stripping and sell the club.

Yet again

Adrian Durham, the greatest troll of this generation.

It's been the perfect storm for us. Everyone outside of the top two under performing, us performing better than anyone dared hoped. The door is open and I for one am happy to admit that I never thought it would be possible for us.

Yep you're right I did and will be happy to be wrong should that be the case when the final whistle blows at the Ethiad In May. It proves though that the success of this club did not depend on him, the ambition didn't go when he did and this club was not just about him, which so many believed was the case.

We wouldn't have got if he'd still been Here as no one would have left, in the summer we'd have spunked £15m on someone from serie A who doesn't want to be here and Poch would have stayed so we wouldn't have Koeman. Everyone would right now be emploring Poch to play a weakened team Wednesday night so we can overtake Liverpool in 8th.

It's good to see that the people running the club are doing it rather than telling everyone what they are going to do.

Personally think we can make it but will just fall short. We'll be 5th or 6th. That would still be an incredible achievement all things considered and something that we should all be proud of.

In all the hysteria of yesterday I forgot we still have some fans who wished Ipswich had beaten us.

Rushed back too soon do you think?

I did say league games.... Anyway, 4 decent central defenders all of them internationals is good depth, you'd have to be very unlucky to be without more than 2 at one time.