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  • "
    St Retford wrote:
    Sunny Saint wrote:
    St Retford wrote:
    Sunny Saint wrote:
    I think that we will get our arses handed back to us by Everton this evening. I just hope that it’s not a cricket score that will cause the team to lose their momentum. As much as I want the Saints to win, I believe a loss tonight may be the kind of grounding that the new man will need.
    It’s just a shame that NC doesn’t get some much needed grounding (Preferably with a couple of thousand volts).
    COYR's - UTS :-)
    Does your name come from your naturally sunny disposition? It's GREAT to have you on board.
    I live in Israel, part of the 'Israeli Saints Fans group'. The sun is nearly always shining here.
    Still not sure why NC is constantly credited with saving the Saints, when that was clearly Markus. NC was merely appointed by Markus as the guardian of his legacy. His appointment, like that of the managers is in no way permanent or set-in-stone.
    Managers and coaches come and go, we all expect it, as we also expect sudden and sometimes drastic changes. However, it is also generally expected that such occurrences are conducted with a little more decorum and with as negative an impact as possible.
    Believe me when I tell you, that even out here it knocked every (not just football) sporting story off of the headlines and was slammed by all sections.
    Nigel, was rocketed from relative obscurity to National (now global) recognition when he joined the Saints. He will have also been rewarded with a very nice settlement package, that will sit nicely under his mattress when he is quickly appointed by another club. We are still here and have a voice, and we can also lobby very effectively with our feet if needed. Thus, it is important that NC is very aware of our displeasure, whilst at the same time letting the new Manager know that our united voice is his 12 man on the pitch, our colours do not run and the when we bleed, we bleed Red & White.

    Shalom
    There seems to be quite a widespread perception that Markus would have been dismayed by Nicola's actions since the former's untimely death. I don't think that at all.

    Markus was seen as this kindly, avuncular figure who wouldn't have harmed a fly. And maybe to a certain extent this was true. But equally, this was precisely why he had such a close relationship with Nicola and why he trusted him so much - because he needed Nicola to 'get stuff done' on his behalf and enforce tough decisions when they were in his interest. Markus knew exactly the kind of person Nicola was and I think he had a huge admiration for the fact he'd make himself unpopular in order to get results.
    I agree totally, a multi billionaire buys into Saints with 18 month to live
    (WHY WHO KNOWS) , i like to think he was hearing the call from the mighty saints.
    and his dream was are dream to have the best **** club. i still think he deserves a stand named after him at the very least.
    the fact is still if i knew i was dying who would i put at the helm to keep this thing alive after i,m gone ??

    Nicola Cortese

    nuff said
    i still feel as if we collectively have taken old shep out into the parking lot and shot him, with everybody watching"
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Pep's backing for new Saints boss Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino

First published in Saints News
Last updated

by Joseph Sexton

Mauricio Pochettino’s remarkable work with the Espanyol youth academy helped win him a dream job with Saints – and the backing of ex-Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola!

The 40-year-old Argentinian was sacked by the La Liga club towards the end of last November with Espanyol bottom of the table.

In his last 20 league games with the club, stretching back to the end of last season, the new Saints boss won just three and lost 13.

During his 145 games in the Spanish top flight with Barcelona-based Espanyol, Pochettino’s win ratio was 34 per cent with 44 per cent of games lost.

But it was his work with Espanyol’s academy that mainly attracted him to Saints chairman Nicola Cortese.

Pochettino is held in high regard in Spain, and Bayern Munich boss in waiting Guardiola has said: “I admire him for his ideals, his character. The foundations of his principles are always the same.”

Saints’ academy has produced gems in recent years such as Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Alex Chamberlain, Adam Lallana and now Luke Shaw.

But Espanyol’s record is even more impressive, and Pochettino takes a lot of credit for that.

They have produced a remarkable 15 Spanish internationals across all age levels since the turn of the Millennium.

Around forty players currently appearing in Spain’s top two divisions have come from Espanyol.

Cortese has said he wants to build a Barcelona-type model at Saints. Seven of the Barca side that started the 2009 Champions League final were home-grown, and Cortese believes he can oversee such a system at St Mary’s.

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