Saint 76er

Out the window... of a lunar landing module??? You quite sure about this? Thank God Buzz didn't fall out of the window while he was at it, or else he would have been the first man on the moon, albeit in a rather undignified fashion! Actually I think you might find the windows don't open on spacecraft, it's not as if they need to open them to let some breeze in! The footage of the main man descending appears to be taken from slightly away from the craft. Don't think Buzz took it, but his assistant Mr Spielberg may have done... Back to football matters and Wally Downes appointment certainly seems to indicate that things may be moving in the Coppell direction, as Wally was Coppell's offsider not Pardew's. (I know a bloke who played in the same Liverpool schools team as Stevie C, have seen the photo of them together). Some posters have suggested Coppell was first choice, but he elected to continue his sabbatical, then Pardew turned up. Cortese would never have heard of Pardew so it may be that Coppell actually recommended him and perhaps a deal was done with all parties that Pardew would become manager and that Coppell would join later as DoF? This would fit with Cortese's desire for a DoF but his vague sometime in the future comments as well as Coppell's several sightings at St Mary's (with ML in attendance). Unusual if he genuinely had nothing to do with us...

Good question Robbie. Although I can't answer the question, I do wonder since Armstrong was the first guy on the moon right?... then who actually took the video footage of him coming down the steps prior to being the "first"? Also who took the footage of him and his mate gamboling over the surface since only the two of them were there? Bear in mind this was the sixties and they didn't have the digital camera gizmos we have now or remote control devices. In any event if they had a camera pre positioned outside the craft it would never have survived the landing surely? So many questions and not many answers, but how can I turn this into a Saints related topic? I know! If the UK wants to put a man on the moon I have a perfect candidate... Rupert Lowe. (and let's hope our boffins then tactfully forget how to bring him back!!!). :cool:

Better make it a hypnotherapist .... "and when I click my fingers you will concede no more late goals".... "one, two, three and click".... "You may all wake up now and get back to training".... Problem solved.

Gotta hope this is true! Storrie is a tyre kicker at his own club and if the fake sheik bombs out (is that pc to say about an arabian gentleman?) then that lot will presumably end up in administration. That will give us a few laughs for a while but the reality is with all their debts wiped then someone somewhere (Storrie perhaps, or even 'arry) will probably be silly enough to buy the hulk for a pittance and resurrect the thing, possibly successfully. No, the fake sheik is the best scenario as he is not putting any money in, only taking on a mountain of debt. Since his business acumen appears on a par with Rupert Lowe and he will likely have a similar manner in running the football side of things, ie very hands on whilst spending no money, then they could well plummet through the leagues in a manner we know so well! The other logical scenario is that "dodgy" money may be used to prop it up and if that happens and the PL get wind of it then it will really hit the fan and who knows what the outcome may be, except that it won't be nice...

Report on 606 today claims media sources and says Saga off to Leicester this weekend. Says Pardew wanted Oakley in p/ex but Pearson wouldn't be in it, then AP wanted another player but Leicester valued him more than Saga. AP then reported as saying Saga deal would go ahead anyway as already agreed (been working on it for last week) but that he may revisit the possible signing of other player later in the window. Guess of other player is Max Gradel or Paul Dickov. Gradel was rumoured for us a few weeks ago as I recall and is reputed to be a speedy winger as per Nathan Dyer (but probably doesn't steal things ). Am only reporting from 606 which is not normally reliable, although this poster does have some previous form from his "media sources". We shall see...

It does seem that Cortese is running the show on his own now, whereas he appeared to be part of a double act with Oldknow at the start and appeared to be leaning on Oldknow's knowledge of English football. Now, a short while later, Oldknow's name never seems to crop up in the public realm. Not to say he isn't squirreling away being a COO (whatever that is) in the background, although he did rather give the impression initially (to me at least) that he expected to be standing alongside NC up at the pointy end as the public face of those running the club. However, ML did recently make it publicly very clear that Cortese was his chosen man and whom he had entrusted with executive powers to run the business in his (Liebherr's) name. No mention of Oldknow at that time and very little since...

One important change to team structure could be staring us in the face. By general agreement Wotton should be trashed and Perry is a bit too small and aging for CB in this league. However, once the long promised new commanding CB arrives, why not play Perry as the holding MF sitting in front of the back four? He would be the ideal size and experience for this role and could surely protect the B4 better than anyone else we've got. After all he's only lasted this long at CB because he reads the play so well and can launch into saving tackles when his legs can't keep up...

Not at a million pounds I don't think he does! Jackson and Lambert were the two standout strikers in L1 and each would probably have cost about that figure to prise away from their clubs. Pardew may well have inquired about both and chosen Rickie...

I noticed somewhere on another thread that Pardew was being quoted as saying he could have signed a younger striker for the same money, but chose Lambert. At that price logic would suggest Jackson may have been the younger man in question, but Pards went with proven experience...

Seem to recall that a poster based in the Kent bit of SE London, prior to takeover, had posted that Pardew had recently bought a big place in that part of the world and presumably would not be looking to move. However, now that AP has committed to our new revolution with a three year deal he hopefully won't want to commute that distance and will now buy a, no doubt, equally big spread in God's own country. Talking of all new revolutions, it was this time last year we were having the Dutch one inflicted on us and that ended in tears as many thought it would. Think this new one may end with tears of joy this time though...

Perhaps wee Gordie knows of what he speaks, since several reports on this board have claimed sightings of Tisdale at a Lyndhurst hotel. But rumours of the wee one still persist, so maybe WGS is being lined up in a DoF role to mentor Tisdale? This would make no lie of the alleged above comments and would enable Strachan a bit more free time with his family, if he so wishes. In that regard he's better off having a role with us, if he's living locally, than becoming involved with a club in some other part of the country...

So swop him for Sam Vokes then... sorted.

Thorpie, if you make it a tenner I reckon Bilic will shorten to favourite the way those Skybet odds seem to fluctuate! I'm hoping you are right about being pleasantly surprised due to the deafening silence and lack of announcement. Like most I have been worried sick they might undo all the good work and appoint the skate failure. However, if so then surely it would have been announced by now as he would have been first in the queue biting their hand off, if his Celtic exploits are any guide. If they wanted Adams it could have all been done and dusted by now, ergo I (with fingers crossed) retain the hope that a pleasant surprise does indeed await us...

There you go Thorpie, beat you to it but great minds must think alike! Above posted earlier today on the foreign managers thread.

Absolutely agree with this qwerty. I think people are getting carried away with this lower league manager syndrome, surely that is not why a billionaire just paid a (relative) fortune to buy this club with the stated aim of propelling it back to the premiership in the shortest possible time. Did he spend this money in the desperate hope that Micky Adams might just still be available?... I doubt it. Mr Liebherr will presumably be looking at more upmarket candidates exactly for the types of reasons qwerty has mentioned and rather than a lower league guy who might just get us back to CCC I would want a man appointed now who is well capable of doing that, followed by promotion to prem and keeping us there. Things could be reviewed at that stage. More I think about it the more I like the idea of a foreign coach with proven coaching skills, a winning mentality and no baggage in the English game. Also we may well attract a higher profile candidate as per the names above who would respect our new owner and may accept his challenge to return us to the highest echelon, where of course we belong! With this in mind I'll throw one further name in the ring that's not been mentioned much... Slaven Bilic.

Oh God, this sounds like Micky Adams or Cotterell , or someone equally uninspiring FFS. For once in our football lives we have the chance for something good to happen. The new owner has a chance to hit the ground running with a bit of shock and awe, even allowing for L1, and we certainly don't need the handbrake thrown on from the start. Clearly WGS is the people's choice, if he will do it, followed by Coppell or Keegan. This is the quality of person that must be pursued to excite the fans and thus sell ST's. Talking of quality of persons, it is utterly imperative that Tony Adams and Hoddle are not let within a bull's roar of St Mary's. Both of these are persona non grata and unacceptable to the vast majority of Saints supporters. Please take note Mr Oldknow...

Yes he does look trustworthy, in a kindly grandfather sort of a way. My take on his doppelganger... Richard Bucket, Hyacinthe's long suffering husband! Welcome Markus, you sound just the man for us and hope you will be on the pitch prior to Millwall game to meet your new loyal fans. Might have to change pre game music to the "William Tell Overture" for players entrance now! :D

Very hard to know if this is an indication of new owners pending and sanctioned by them to give Wotte first crack at it, or simply the reality of needing some sort of coaching structure to progress with pre season and, yes, to send a message to the FL. It seemed to have previously been established that Wotte's contract was relatively low paying so probably not much financial risk at stake and, of course, he is fully up to speed with playing squad so continuity is provided. However, any new owners will need to be mindful of the transfer window and bring in a new manager PDQ if that's what they want so he can assemble his own squad. If Wotte starts bringing in players I guess he is here at least semi permanently and in which case perhaps he will become "manager" instead of HC. Maybe also we are now in pole position to bring back Size from Holland...

It seems pretty obvious after some minimal digging that Fialka alone is not a wealthy enough person to bankroll an enterprise like this. On that basis it seems astonishing that TL wheeled him out and presented him to us as the "money man". It must have been obvious that enquiries would be made. We were promised a single owner worth hundreds of millions but, learning quick lessons from the FL, Pinnacle now appear to be changing the goalposts on a regular basis in that regard. Their current missive appears to suggest that Fialka is a frontman for more wealthy "relatives" behind the scenes. I have no idea about his relatives, but it does beg the question of why such a subterfuge may be necessary. Firstly it's hard to understand why members of the north London Jewish community would want to buy SFC. There seems no rhyme or reason to this, and even if so, why then is anonymity necessary? One would hope Saints new owner would be proud to be seen as such. Could there be a reason why the real "money man" won't step out of the shadows, such as already involved with another club perhaps? Which does rather neatly bring us round to another, perhaps unthinkable, possibility. From his name, Michael Fialka may well be of Russian Jewish extraction. Now, who do we know with a similar background who is currently looking to offload a sadly underperforming football club on the way down and who may well be interested in replacing it with a more viable local rival on the way up? Answers on a postcard please...

Monday would seem to be a very critical day for the Swiss. That's the day they can probably gazump Pinnacle should they want to. If they do want the club, then no point in waiting until Tuesday just in case Matty is as good as his word....

Sounds like he might be a front man for some sort of ensemble of his family and/or friends... Not related to Gaydemak by any chance? :confused:

Perhaps we're all worrying over nothing. Didn't a couple of minor legal issues arise that couldn't be sorted by the deadline and didn't MF refuse (quite rightly) an extension as they were matters Pinnacle should have had control over? However, why then not demand the FL hand back our points, knowing that they won't, but hey that's now a problem beyond Pinnacle's control, right? Better still the FL agree to meet Monday arvo to discuss, so Pinnacle can't reasonably be expected to settle until, say, next Tuesday, right? But, hey, isn't that the exact day Pinnacle had asked MF to extend to, but he wasn't able to accommodate them with that wish? Funny coincidence that. So, there needed to be a reason for any extension to be beyond Pinnacle's control, and now there is one. If MF is agreeable to go along with this until after the FL meet, and if the minor legal issues are resolved by then, and both TL and MLT appear to be indicating that they will, then Pinnacle could well settle and be holding up a scarf at a press conference early Tuesday or even late Monday if all goes well. Unless the FL capitulate, this scenario would require accepting the -10 points, but surely Pinnacle would have factored that into their bid price anyway and anything else would simply be a bonus....

Sir David or Sir Frederick Barclay. Reputation as privacy loving and reclusive. City business interests in property, media etc. Probably worth about 700-900 million each and could be acquainted with Matty from Channel Islands. No previous on the football front, although why they would want to buy us now I couldn't say!

Couple of points on this.. firstly, even with the above tangled web is it not still possible for a determined person (or national media) to chase down the audit trail and come up with the name at the end of the line? Secondly, might it be better to avoid such intrusion and come clean up front, especially as people are already worried about the stature of Pinnacle to broker such a deal and if Pinnacle are left as "the owners" these same people may well worry that there never was a multi millionaire behind the deal and it was all smoke and mirrors. For the record I am cheering for Pinnacle and can't wait for our new era, however I still can't fathom why a MM would want to buy a football club yet remain incognito and only get involved to sign the cheques. Perhaps, in reality that's the big ruse and on settlement day a huge party will break out with the REAL new owner dancing on the table and leading the fun for all to see..... :smt113

OS says Megastore/WestQuay closed tomorrow for stocktakes. It just says summer is a good time to do these. However, it is more likely this is a further process requirement for the takeover and may indicate they are nearing finalisation as any retail buy out would require a stocktake for the new owner and logic suggests as near as possible to the actual day of settlement....