CanadaSaint

TK, the sports themselves are less relevant than the fact that the remedies were implemented to rectify exactly the same kind of problems - the "haves" being on a different planet to the "have nots". The equalization arrangements over here evolved over a period of time - it wasn't some blinding flash of brilliant, problem-correcting genius. And they experienced a lot of "push-back" from the "haves", who were quite happy with how things were. The remedies include things such as the draft system (the team finishing last gets first choice of the upcoming talent), revenue equalization (where the high-income teams effectively subsidize the low-income teams), and salary caps (aimed at making it far more difficult for big teams to corner all the top talent and sign players just to keep them away from rivals); I have never seen any suggestion that weaker teams should have an easier schedule. Yes, teams will always find work-arounds but it's getting more and more difficult. In fact, there has been an increasing acceptance that "it's good for the sport". How remedies like that fit into football, where the PL big-boys might well react by threatening to head off and start a European super-league, an option not open to the NA sports, remains to be seen. My "never say never" point about Saints reflects the fact that the measures over here took quite a while to evolve, and football has barely even started. But I do believe that once this process starts and gathers momentum, there will indeed be a levelling of the playing field. That - more than Cortese's vision, skill and financial backing - makes his and Markus's dream far less impossible than some are saying. We can only hope, but I - for one - think football is always about hope.

You make some good points but ending them with that statement diminishes them. I might as well have said that anyone who doesn't buy into the "FFP will make it easier angle" is just a cynic with a negative outlook on life, but that wouldn't be fair or accurate, would it? FFP is not about widening these gaps but about closing them. How it will actually turn out in the case of PL football is anybody's guess, but I've mentioned before that North American sports suffered from exactly the same issues and has managed to level the playing field quite well. Teams that couldn't compete with the "big boys" are winning things. At least one of them is playing in the Superbowl on Sunday, and hockey, baseball and basketball have all managed to achieve greater equality through FFP-type initiatives. I have an open mind on this.

I was never very excited about Coutinho but I've always wanted to see us make a move for Ince. All the more so because Puncheon is still a big question mark - in terms of whether we want to sign him, whether he wants an extension with us, and whether - with his past attitude issues - he'll still perform well without contract expiry on the horizon. And if Reading are in for him I'd be highly p*ssed off if we don't step in at the last minute.

TK, it's because at least two of the top four are spending sums vastly beyond those that they generate through their own size and status. In all likelihood they will always have an advantage but FFP will - potentially significantly - reduce the size of that advantage. That's how I see it, anyway. It's as much about them coming back to us rather than us tying to catch up with them.

It's not out of the question that there is a ton of money set aside, but that it has timing constraints attached to it. I think I'd trust Cortese to handle that side of things a lot better than the financial numb-nuts on this forum, and I include myself in that category.

Yeah, the borrowing thing threw me for a loop, and still does. I'm not sure I buy into the "for tax reasons" rationale, but then I'm not an accountant. I could buy into the "stretch ourselves this year because it becomes much easier next year" rationale, but that is moving into very different territory to where I thought we were.

Well, in my lifetime I've seen Liverpool in (the then) Division 2, Manchester United relegated, Man City light years behind their civic neighbour, Chelsea as everybody's idea of a joke team (including their own fans), and several PL teams playing in non-league football. There's reasons for clichés such as "Never say never".

I don't think Cortese handled it as well as he should have done, but nowhere near as badly as some media folks are suggesting. He's just reaping the dubious rewards of poking sticks in various media eyes a couple of years ago - just what many on here thought would be the result when he did it.

Four reasons why I'm a little more open-minded about what seems like an unachievable goal: 1) We have absolutely no idea how much funding is actually available to us for team and infrastructure development. 2) We're assuming that we have to match demented spendthrifts in order to reach those levels, but financial fair play/equalization arrangements could change that - potentially significantly. That is exactly what has happened in several North American sports. 3) If the idea of us being a top six club is laughable, I would argue that the notion that Swansea and West Brom would challenge for a place in Europe was equally so - for most of the same reasons. They are out-competing teams that spend more and draw more, and that has always been a feature of football. And they are arguably not as well-placed as us - finance-wise, ground-wise or academy-wise. 4) Keeping top-quality academy-produced talent is an equalizer and even a game-changer; it strengthens us in a cost-effective way but also denies the big clubs a source of talent. Of course it's an unlikely dream, very unlikely, but what the hell happened to the notion that football is all about enjoying the ride and dreaming of the destination?

You might want to take your acronym over to meet some of Frank's on here: http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?42880-Cult-of-Cortese-Terms-for-members You might find a certain biological symmetry that sums up the situation on here.

Inventers of the notion that there is such a thing as a “Cult of Cortese” (CoC) - 1 Full Members of the Sneerers and Demonizers (SaD) club believing that there is such a thing as a “Cult of Cortese” – 3 (includes inventer) Puppy dogs with pending applications for membership in the above club of self-perceived 'intellectuals' - 6 Hero-worshippers who will hear no wrong about their heroes, and will hurl insults at anyone who may see a more balanced picture - 1 Actual subscribers to the Cult of Cortese - 0 Normal people who feel that Cortese has mishandled things and may not be a particularly nice guy, but who also feel that he’s done a good job so far and that “there are two sides to every story”, of which they’ve heard only one – 63,586 (Numbers accurate as at January 27, 2013)

What a division this is. In the space of three games teams can move from relative comfort to the edge of the abyss.

It's sad that a number of people in this saga, whether participants or just sideline-commenters, seem to have a moving target for "principles" based on who is supposed to have exhibited/failed to exhibit them. Frankly, I'd like to bang a lot of heads together.

I said at the weekend that I thought that some of the players had been consulted well in advance of the change - all the more likely because Cortese (and, thus, Reed) wouldn't have any qualms about undercutting the manager if they thought he wasn't up to it. But, unpleasant as it may be, that's a sensible thing to do, especially if you can't afford the change to adversely impact performance at such a critical time. I just get the sense that there might be a bit of a split in the dressing room, with some very sad (and possibly angry) to see Nigel go, and some not at all sad. That's certainly not unusual in this kind of situation but it does throw some spins into the situation. Who fits where is anyone's guess right now. Other than with Morgan. He seems buoyed by the change, and almost seems to have become the Cortese-approved spokesman for the players. Correct me if I'm wrong but he seems to be doing a lot more talking to the media than he has before, and I can't see that being allowed to happen unless it's part of "the plan".

But also, possibly, because the up-tempo/high-pressing style that Pochettino favours is physically very demanding, so the ability to rotate in midfield without losing too much quality is very important.

Not just at this point in the season but to a potential relegation rival.

LOL - 16,359 at the last count. 16,360 when you reply to this.

One of the things that most impresses me about him is the absence of the "snob factor" that besets so many of his peers - their almost fawning regard for the Big Four coupled with their patronizing, and often ignorant, comments about anyone else. Neville has a refreshing determination to "tell it like it is" - even if that involves disrespect for the respected and respect for the disrespected. On another point, though, it's pleasing to read the comments on match reports and see that other fans are starting to recognize that the Saints play some pretty decent football, and that we are not the relegation certainties they thought we were at the start of the season. Earning respect in the PL is a long road but, thanks largely to Adkins, we're making progress. Let's hope we can keep it up.

I haven't agreed with too many of your posts but I agree with this one. It is pathetic for Cortese to offer no meaningful appreciation of Nigel's efforts in the media release nor even a fleeting acknowledgement in the programme, but it is something else entirely to deny the fans their right to express their appreciation. I could understand critical stuff being confiscated (understand but not necessarily agree with it) but I can't understand how someone could be so insecure as to issue orders like that. If he wants to come across as a bigger man, perhaps he should start acting like one.

Nice compliment from Moyes, a guy whose opinions are always balanced and worth hearing: "Obviously there's a new manager in place now who takes over the reins and the team tonight did well - they're not a bad side, Southampton."

I can understand the reluctance, and it probably comes more from the coaching staff than from them. If they push on towards the byline, that extra 10-20 yards would make it virtually impossible for them to get back to cover a counter attack. At this level those counters happen pretty damn quickly, and a FB pushing that far forward needs a reliable wide midfielder to drop in behind them. In time, and with improved fitness, I think we'll be seeing it more, but not yet.

lol

The more I hear from Neville the more I like the guy.

Cut and run instead of answer the points, eh? The laughable thing is that, as an "internet type" (which wasn't intended as a compliment), I'm still 16,000 posts behind you. And you can say whatever the hell you like without fear of having to back it up, and hurl your childish little sneers around instead of actually responding to the points that were made. Now that's gutless. The point remains, put up or shut up. It also affects people "in the real world" when you don't substantiate the unpleasant allegations that you post, but that doesn't matter if the person in question is Cortese. And that's hypocrisy.

It was in your hand when you looked at it in 1994.