alpine_saint

Yeah, because we havent had had one of those in the last 12months, have we ? Oh..

Well you can forget any successful conclusions as a result of the revelations of the last 24hrs.

Yes, it may be a public vote, but it could still be interpreted as an act of mailcious mobbing to re-print the votes in such an obvious manner. Its clear the message was "Look, here are the tw*ts"

Indeed. Anyone waiting for a statement from the Liebherrs would be spending their time more productively digging up Spitfires in Burma or explaining colour to a blind man.

Yes, and the most important figure in SFC history since MLT. Sorry, thats not sycophancy, its a fact.

Norty..

I expect Michael Owen to tear us a new arsehole, what with it being his last game. 0-2.

Excellent blog, as per usual from you.

I am assuming a pilot (but not perhaps an additional co-pilot) will still be on board for emergencies. Computers and radio links frequently land planes and take control 500ft after take-off already (got this from an air-traffic controller), and of course we have auto-piloting during the main part of the flight. Cannot see pilots being done away with altogether.

Certainly the management merry-go-round has the potential to shake up the status quo. I can forsee it being a lot tighter. But if we can think like this, so can the board of Spurs, for example, who must therefore fancy their chances of going that step furthet with AVB if they hold their nerve and show some patience now. So I am going to go for Spurs as a bit of a left-field bet (heavily dependent on holding on the Bale and him staying fit), with normal service resumed with Manyoo either under Moyes or his successor the season after that.

Signed - All the Best.

Imo there are enough examples within the game that demonstrate that is not the case (QPR, Chelsea, Toon, City trophyless this season..)

Yeah, heaven forbid we have a peaceful uneventful summer...

This is really a tough situation. We dont know the level of acrimony between Cortese and the Liebherr estate, and whether it can be resolved. Hopefully. I wrote on the other thread if I had to choose between NC with other funding and the Liebherrs, I would side with NC, but there is actually something nice about the aura of benevolence around the Liebherr familys ownership that I am sure we wont have with some pushy Yank, vulgar Russian or oil-saturated sheik. I really hope they find a way forwards together..

The only question mark about NC that I have is his ability to deliver the style of football he wants to see within the sort of budget that is available to us and the sort of club culture we want to retain. I dont want us to be the next ManC...

Yes, but its a mistake imo. The public punch-ups with the Echo, MLT, Franny, etc do not reflect well on the club. This is true. But NCs drive and single-mindedness (OK, dictatorship if you want to use the word) has been instrumental in our resurrection.

On the basis that Cortese can deliver the necessary funding (I dont like the word "investment", because imo getting a return is highly dubious), the answer has to be Cortese. This guy's drive (albeit with someone elses money) is what has made our resurrection possible. I dont give a sh*t about his social skills, he doesnt suffer fools glady (what this club has needed for YEARS) and managed to squeeze Arsenal's balls dry over AOC. He is the sort of chairman we have been crying out for, for possibly decades.

I personally doubt the Liebherrs want such input, but are more drawn to the table position and bank balance. Imo they are probably not too happy with what has transpired since the last transfer window, on- and off-field, and with the return we've got out of Gaston.

Well, if the tension between the Liebherrs and Cortese is over NAs dismissal, that at least means that there might still be transfer funds available for NC or a successor. It does seem that the family are not as far back into the background as we may have envisaged, and the most likely issue between them and NC is the waste of money on an unsettled Ramirez or the dismissal (and cost thereof) of NA.

Right, so we've staggered to the end of this season, only to discover it will be more of the same next season, because the Liebherrs are pulling up the financial ladder. Thanks, Gaston.... And this attitude that NC will be easy to replace is f**king mental.

So in effect, if this theory is true, the party is over. The only way our progress will continue is if the Liebherr family are happy with the return and task NC with the sale of the club to owners willing to spend.

We've been led to beleive the club is close to closing some early deals. These will not now take place, and the players involved will be snapped up elsewhere. I stand by my comment for next season. Everything will stop or be severely delayed until this is resolved.

A good, plausible explanation, as is that the club is up for sale. Whichever, it looks like next season is f**ked before we even finish this one. You can bet your bottom dollar the first thing out of the window due to this uncertainty is layouts on big transfer fees.

Definitely prefer Wigan of the 3 teams at risk to stay up.

I wondered what stone he'd crawled under...