20 May 2014 23:02:22
Hi everyone
I want to ask you all a question that has been bugging me for a few weeks.

Do you think that since Katherine Liebherr has taken control of our club and gave Cortese the boot that we have gone downhill somewhat?

I believe that Coetese was the epitome of what Marcus wanted at our club to push us forward and achieve unbelievable things.
Marcus wanted us to play CL football at some stage and trusted Cortese to bring that along within 10 years.

I would have liked Cortese to still be in charge at the top, because we would now not be. Worrying about allof our players and manager wanting to leave.
Am I right or wrong?

Do you think Katherine and a hockey boss have our clubs best interest at heart?

1.) 21 May 2014
We've just finished our best season ever in the Prem. Where did we go downhill? Without J-rod getting injured I think we would have been further up the ladder. The only negativity is clubs trying to buy our players. Its early days for the new boardroom. I remember a lot of fans screaming for Cortese's head when Adkins was sacked and this little known manager called Poch turned up. Have faith. all will be good. It'll be a long summer for us Saints fans with our players being linked away but as someone else said unless we have a fire sale then I can't see a problem. We are likely to lose one or two but then if the price is right why not, its good business and helps hit the FFP rules. Every top team in the prem have some of their players linked away (Suarez, Rooney, Toure etc).

2.) 21 May 2014
I don't think they do have the clubs interests at heart at all it is certainly worrying

3.) 21 May 2014
Poster 1x1:
Do you not think it was Cortese who had all the vision, not Marcus?
Cortese sold the idea and did all the work. Marcus funded the dream, and will always be a Saints legend for what he has done for our club.
Saints have gone from being a £14m club to £140m, so this 'investment' is worth looking after. I can't see a sensible successful business family allowing the 'product' to lose £100m by letting it fall apart. Just my opinions!

4.) 21 May 2014
I can't see how anyone can say anything about the current regime.

When Cortese came in, and started talking about having 50% of our team having come from Academy, and challenging in the Premier Division, most people thought he was nuts! Didn't he know we were in Division One? Madness!

We'll have to wait and see what happens with regards to the Kruger regime. Personally I feel that if Cortese was around now, he would have told most of the clubs hovering over our players and managers to bugger off.

The problem seems to be that on the back of our successful season, we have attracted loads of attention, and the general football world has decided to test the resolve of the incumbent leadership.

Only time will tell as to whether our club is in good hands. The good thing about this situation though is that we'll soon see whether our squad is to be retained, and therefore the dream is still alive.

5.) 21 May 2014
I'll keep this one short and sweet for once. We've had half a season. There is simply a lack of useful data available to assess whether or not they have made a positive or negative impact to this point. This will be the new boards first real transfer window. Their actions in these next two or three months will show us the shape of things to come and answer your question.

6.) 21 May 2014
I agree with St Christopher.

We can't judge them too much yet.

Cortese got too big for his boots. I agree he was fantastic in some ways and we would not be too concerned about transfers under him. However he did also waste a lot of money and ruffle a lot of feathers with his own staff as well as other clubs. Expecting FULL control of someone else's multimillion pound business and spitting his dummy out is not the fault of KL. I suspect he had other ideas anyway - he's not stupid.

When KL assumed control the media would have us all panicking about a 'meltdown'. I thought she and the staff did very well to get through the Winter fully unscathed and with all our players.

Krueger seems good. KL has been going to games and seems to be enjoying it. Things could be very good, despite the media and plastic clubs who are desperate to unhinge us.

This summer will tell the story for probably the next 10 years. Will we spend? Will we retain our stars, or at least try our utmost? Will MP walk and if he tries, will we let him?

I suspect we will keep a very strong team and any sales will be top dollar which will be reinvested. I expect Shaw and Lallana may be off after the WC. MP staying is 50/50 for me.

I am optimistic now though.

COYR!

7.) 21 May 2014
I generally agree with the above posts - it's too early to take a view. I would expect Shaw to go and Lallana to stay, but dependent upon Poch staying too - and that's the critical decision.

As much as Cortese did for the club, he was an autocrat and arguably a visionary, however he refused to be reigned in by KL and left. I can completely understand her concern that she couldn't have an arrogant (and probably a bit of a bully) CEO telling her how to spend her inheritance. If I were her, I would have replaced Cortese with someone more approachable yet very competent.

Let's see how the next few weeks pan out before getting angry and depressed!;)

8.) 21 May 2014
You forget that Krueger won both men's and womens winter olympics for the Canadian's so is clearly an ambitious man who will want us to be right at the top and he's come across well in interviews, not sure how much he knows about football but he seems to recognise the Southampton way and wants to progress in that way

9.) 22 May 2014
Totally agree St Sam. Remember Cortese was an investment banker before he joined Saints. If you've got ambition and leadership qualities it stands you in good stead.