sadoldgit

There is nothing wrong in questioning things, it is when things turn abusive that the problems start. I am not a great fan of Cortese but so long as he does a decent job, thats all you can ask. I don't get the stick that Pardew has taken from some quarters as I think he has done well so far, but you are always going to get people who will take a pop at the manager if he isn't perfect in every decision because they need a fall guy. The same stuff was going on when we were a Prem club (that seems so long ago now). It will continue to go on even if we top the league this season (as Steve Bruce found out at Brum). Such is life.

Post of the day.

Could you take your own photos of the event John, or do you have to buy them from the syndicate? ; )

ex-wife

I have just read the comments on The Guardian web page following the article. I am not sure how much money we will make from this and maybe it is a good idea, but I can't help feeling that we have made a huge PR gaffe with this. As a previous poster said, I don't want SFC to be viewed as a L1 "Manchester City." As a London born Saints supporter if was the family club image that drew me to Saints in the first place. Whilst I accept that football is a business now it is still possible to run that business with family values.

There will a a radio station and Saints insurance soon ; )

Happy days Minty, I used to love the reoprts from training. Just as well Nicola wasn't in charge then or he probably would have had you locked up!!!

I wonder if all visitors will be asked to hand over their mobie phones at the gates?

And the response would have been if Lowe had pulled this stunt? NC sounds like a bit of a control freak to me and is certainly not out to make friends. Oh well....

Yep, never got that either. What difference does the water make? You wouldn't wave like and idiot at someone walking down the road who you didn't know from Adam.

How do you know what kind of effort we made to keep those players David? But if their clubs call them back after their loan periods are up there is nothing we can do.

Best not, I seem to remember Minty getting some grief about posting about corner tactics a while back!!!

Can't argue with that!!!

Our problem will come from the teams that just "park the bus." We saw in the World Cup that no matter how good you are, a well organised defence can often frustrate. A lot of teams will be out to put men behind the ball and that is where we fell down last year apart from the odd few games when we just didn't turn up.

Agree about the Plan B. I suppose the hope at the moment is that Plan A works until he can get others in!

So long as we have a team to do a job until a few new players arrive I am sure we will be okay. Better to wait and get who you want so long as those players are out there. So far he has done well with his transfers.

No I don't Alps. The only people who do are at SFC. They did try to sign Tyson so it is not as if they don't have targets and as I say, the summer is not over yet so stil time to bring in new players. As fo Pardew, just watched is interview with the BBC. He said all the right things and looks well up for the season. I just hope he is given the season. There is no doubt that we are not going to walk this league and it will be tough. It may have to be the play offs but that should not been seen a failure. His job is to get us up one way or another. There is no manager out there who could guarantee us straight promotion. Also as for being ratty, why not? He knows what is he trying to do and trying to achieve and it can't be easy having to anser what sometimes are stupid questions right after a disappointing performace. Are you telling me that Ferguson and Wenger never have a pop back at interviewers?

Liked his final comments. Says all the right things and looks up for the season. Bring it on!

Every manager at every club is under pressure, it goes with the job. I think that Pardew showed last year that he could handle pressure and only missed out on a play off place because of the minus 10 points (which seems to be ignored when talking about his efforts last season). More to the point, can Cortese handle to pressure and will he back his manager? It is going to be a tough season and if Pardew goes at Christmas just because we are not well clear of the pack you would have to ask who is likely to come in and make a huge difference. I did exect to see a couple of big signings this summer and whilst they still might arrive, you couldn't say that, so far, Cortese has thrown open his chequebook to ensure a decent promotion push.

I have no idea how Lowe operated on the board but it is usually easier to change things from within rather than p*ss everyone off and be on the outside. If Cortese wants to exercise some influence he might want to become a part of the old boys club first.

Yes you are right. And as you say, if he delivers no one will worry about how he behaves.

Unfortunately with my belly be it stripes or a sash I will still look like a porker!

That's good, two of us then! C'mon you stripes!

No I don't want him coming out and saying what is true and what is not true every 5 minutes, but I would be much happier if I felt that he was 100% behind the manager at the start of the season. As for why we are spending so much time talking about him (apart from the lack of footbal), we have had a steady stream of CEOs who, for various reasons, caused a great deal of debate. It seems now that we have another. But yes, roll on the season!

Of course not and that is not what I am saying. I am saying that he is no more fireproof than anyone else.