sadoldgit

The best squad we had was after the 1966 victory. Our 1970 squad was better but as above their were odd things that happened. Moore was arrested for suposedly stealing a bracelet and Godron Banks went down with Monezuma's Revenge before the Germany game (whn ramsey also made his biggest gaff by taking off Charlton). The fact is though, we don't win the tournament because we are not good enough.

I think that Lowe was a pragmatist and did what he could do with what he had. Don't forget that some of our best players were "cheap". He even told Strachan that he couldn't have the keeper he wanted and brought in Niemi instead, not a bad move. He brought in Redkapp, probably against his better judgement and gave him £6m to spend to keep us up - a fortune in Saints terms. Cortese is working in a complelty different situation and can do things that Lowe would not have been able to do...but I tell you what...I bet he still keeps a very tight hold on expenditure. Look at the players were are being linked with this summer...3rd Divison players...

The direction is undoubtably better. No complaints there. My main worry is that Cortese, like Lowe, is not a football man. I don't think he has 100% faith in Pardew but hope I am wrong. I would be happier if I felt that he supported his manager and left him to do his job. The few commest he uttered last season make me think that he is another CEO of a football club who can only run thinsg by a business model. Every seaosn clubs spend money and don't get a return. We have proved that you can spend £3m and not buy promotion. There is so much more to what goes on on a football pitch than can be dictated by cash and I hope that is a lesson well learned by Cortese last season.

Would we have stayed in the CCC (or out of admin) if he hadn't had come back? Who knows? But we were totally screwed financially the season before last and in big trouble, Lowe or no Lowe.

I totally agree that it is not a popularity competion. What I find hard to fathom is that when Lowe made "unpopular" decisions it was witch hunt time, but when someone else does it, it is okay? As I said before, if Cortese delivers the goods, fair enough. But even when Lowe was delivering the goods (ie continued life in the Prem) he was constanstly slagged off. Double standards.

Perhaps we were relegated with that squad because that is all we could afford? Perhaps we would have gone into administration, even liquidation, way before if measues hadn't been taken to cut costs and to keep the club afloat a bit longer? From what i heard at the time Lowe was brought in to try and sort out the mess left by Wilde and Crouch. I don't know if he considers himslef a financial genious or not, but he certainly did a better job than the other clowns, no matter how fine their motives. Even with the relegation clauses this club was hamstrung by relegation from the Premiership in the same way that the Norwichs and Leeds were - clubs that Lowe had nothing to do with). For a number of years he did manahe to keep the wolf from the door and we even had some relative success, but ultimately the lack of real financial cout did for us, as it does for three clubs every season. We all agree that Lowe had many faults, but as many CEOs find, you can only keep the plates spinning for so long before they come crashing down if you don't have the money to sustain your ambitions.

"Too big for himself" and would you say that Nicola Cortese was a shrinking violet from what we know of him so far I have worked with lots of CEOs and they have all made a point of being friendly and approachable to "lesser" staff. Apparently you are not allowed to address this mighty being unless he addresses you first. Sounds like criticism levelled at anyone else you know?

He brought in Redknapp when we all thought that was the right move. He brought in Burley when he was one of the brightest young managers around. He came back when the club was in a major mess and tried something which possibly bougyt us some time but ultimately failed. Unlike you, I don't know what went on the Boardroom, but I do know that the club was in serious financial difficulties. Even Lowe's biggest critic, (FF) said that Lowe said he didn't know where the next pound was coming from. Was that his fault or the way the league is structured, players stupid wages etc? Even the mighty Simon Jordan could manage Palace's finances for all his smug slagging of SFC under Lowe. If ML decides to pull the plug and Cortese was to stay, it would be interesting to see how he could cope with a very tight budget.

Bender like Beckham? Seriously though, what difference does it make what he looks like if he could play?

Still black and white then Robbie. I don't think that Lowe was incompent. We would have stayed in the Premiership so long or have moved out of The Dell etc if he had been useless at his job. There is one huge difference. Lowe had to operate on a relatively small budget (minute when at The Dell with crowds of 15k) and Cortese has better financial backing. Cortese has only been here for one season and we still do not know that much about him, who he is or how he operates. It is very nice that you nail your clours so firmly to his mast but it smacks again of that "anyone but Lowe" mentality that you and others will never let go of. FRom what is coming out of St Mary's Mr Cortese is much more arrogant and self opninionated than Lowe ever was but you are happy to give this guy your blind allegence whilst still carrying on this silly all Lowe did was crap thing. If Cortese gets Saints to the Premiership and keeps them there for a as long as Lowe did, gets to the FA Cup Final and takes us into Europe I shall be more than happy with him. But lets not pretend that Cortese should be tretaed any differently from Lowe if he acts in the same way.

Indeed. But it doesn't stop anyone forming opinions about what we know about Mr Cortese and what he has done so far. It is one thing making a club competitive in the 3rd division and another to keep a team in the Premiership for a long period of time. It will be interesting to see how things pan out if he stays with us for any length of time.

Why not? We compared him to Wilde and Crouch. We compare players with other players. When that nice Mr Wilde rode into town with his honchos we were told off for asking questions about him because he was getting rid of that nasty Mr Lowe. In hidnsight we were right to ask questions as he and Crouch did more damage to the club's finances than Lowe ever did. From what we know of Cortese he does have some similarities to Lowe. Whether he will be good for the club or not long term, only time will tell. But to say that we can't compare the two, or anybody else for that matter, just harks back to the head in the sand behaviour when Wilde first took over.

How do you know that?

He could certainly do a job for as a coach as well as an ambassedor. Probably burnt his bridges with the Pinnacle thing though...and I doubt if Cortese would want anyone stealing his limelight

There have been some evenings when the ads have been the most entertaining things on telly! I could do without them but without ads everything from newspapers upwards would cost more. A necessary evil, but some of them are art forms in their own right. The ad world is also full of very bright, creative people. Knock Go Compare all you like, but it has done its job, as proved by this thread. It has got people talking about the product - guess what? Some of them will spend their money on that product.

Comparing a CEO of a business to a vile disease is not only ridiculous, it is a huge slap in the face for anyone suffering from cancer or having loved ones suffering from it.

You really are a very strange person. Go back and read the thread again, there is a clue in the title by the way. Not if but when. Get it yet? Please feel free to find any post by me calling anyone immature and unrealistic who was predicting success. I supported Pardew all season long and still do but you seem to be quite happy to ignore the facts. I said that promotion was going to be difficlut. Did we get promoted by the way? Perhaps I was proved right, right right? Do you live in some parallel "Lost" universe. If you you going to have a pop at me at least get your facts right first.

RIP Mary

For all of the discussion about Cortese, Pardew etc. the bottom line is that we are competitive again and can enter next season full of confidence. I do have some concerns about the working relationship between the manager and the CEO but so far they have shown that, between them, they can produce the goods, so long may this continue!

Still early days. Lets see how he goes eh?

No, that would be the not if but when we sack Pardew thread. I don't see the problem in comparing CEOs, centre forwards, kitmen, anyone at the club.

I think you ought to include Alan Pardew along with those two as the people who have turned the club around.

That's a bit strong. There is no need for any protests, but it doesn't hurt to keep an open mind about these people. Be honest, we still don't really know what we have here and won't for a while yet. The first change of manager (timing etc) will tell us more. We had a decade of Lowe. We have had one season of Cortese. One thing I await with great interest. Is he going to employ a DoE as was said before, or does he now fancy that job himself?

Indeed. Given the amount of time spent discussing the likes of Lowe, Wilde, Crouch, Hoos, and Hone I don't see why Cortese should be spared the microscope.

Indeed. Still, when he first came I heard from somewhere that he was bought to develop and sell on to raise a bit of cash. Now that we don't need the money as desparately it will be interesting to see if we keep hold of him.