Fitzhugh Fella

I hear the Football Echo (it was never called the Pink'un in the old days) is in danger of being scrapped, possibly as early as Xmas. Does anyone on here still buy it? I tried to get a copy yesterday but was unable to find a copy in my normal outlet and wondered if others had problems. The standard of the FE has dipped alarmingly in recent years and it's rumoured demise does not come as a shock. But is there still a need for it, would fans welcome a newer better more informative local football paper or has it had its day?

Tis a bit bizarre loaning out our fringe players to sides above us in the League!

I am sure if we met him in a pub he would come across as an OK bloke, but I do think he has made the art of flogging a dead horse a speciality.

According to the People! Be a shame to lose him so soon.

I would be interested to know who still comes and who doesn't?

Alpine - I am simply at a loss why there are still folk around trying to persuade us all Lowe was a beneficial presence, especially in more recent times. There again King Canute hailed from Southampton and is apparently related to Rupert.

And Gary Chalk has the matchball from that game at Maine Rd - probably our best ever FA Cup result.

Eastleigh beat Basingstoke 2-0 so potentially just one game away from drawing Saints.

Not at all - I'm sure AP would agree with your sentiments. Let's not get carried away on the back of a decent week. We are moving in the right direction - that is good enough for me.

I have already acknowledged Bern, that Burley's first full season was okayish although some would say sneaking into the playoffs after being given access to more than decent funds wasn't THAT great an achievement, but what followed the following year was poor. And yes losing Jones etc and putting up with Hone's unhelpful comments can't have been easy but plenty of managers have put up with a lot worst and still kept smiling. (Paul Hart anyone)? And yes Bern I am a lot more happy now Lowe has gone regardless of relegation. The atmosphere at SMS is great (have you been yet this season?), the fans aren't bickering, I still meet my mates for a drink before and after and we have all started to go to away games again. I've been to Huddersfield and Charlton and will go to Orient. I am proud of my team again and under the new ownership I feel they have a real feel for the club judging by my dealings with them thus far. A massive cloud has been lifted from SMS - Div 1 won't be forever and we have no more financial worries. Why you continue to praise Lowe is beyond me - while his early years in charge were fairly impressive he grew far too arrogant for his own good and in the final years nearly brought this club to its knees (fancy not putting the club into admin a week early to save his blushes). Seriously Bern, admit it you got it wrong, Lowe was a disaster and better days are ahead now he is gone. i'm smiling but you don't seem too happy.

Fair point - I wonder if he was on the forgery lark that Cherednik got associated with. Saints players who have scored against England at Wembley - step forward Ron Davies!

All 3 played in the Prem for us. Anyone remember Gotsmanov?

Give me a in form Beattie over an in form Jones anyday. Remember that year when he was top English scorer in the Prem just after Van Nie;storoy and Henry!

While Burley's first season (when he was backed big time financially) he did well I accept but once the money dried up he lost interest, let discipline (his and the players) go lax and the club started the slide which a previous poster referred to earlier. You really had to be there to witness the incredible malaise - there were danger signals all over the place and the Board were relieved that Scotland came in when they did! Here's a stat for you - when GB took over we were in 12th place and when he left we were in 13th, considering the money he was allowed to fritter I hardly think that we made progress under his management. In short he was a busted flush living on past glories who had one reasonable year at SMS mainly because he was allowed to spend money we couldn't afford.

Clifford - you are well-informed but your timing of events a little askrew. Yes Crouch had sounded out Pulis and had put Dodd and Gorman in as an interim measure until Pulis negotiated leaving Stoke (assuming they hadn't gone up - which of course they did) but was then forced to appoint NP when Dodd and Gorman's team self-imploded at Bristol. Pearson made such an impression on Crouch he would have kept him on without a doubt had Lowe not returned.

Then draft in Kevin Davies and James Beattie?

Pearson. Why? Already proven he can get relegated club up at the first time of asking (not saying AP can't do it - we will not know for another 20 months) and every story I heard about Pearson from inside the club was very positive re his man management. I know SoG prefers Burley and uses statistics to back up his case but statistics lie at the best of times. When Bern is probably not 100% aware of is just how critical the situation was the day Pearson arrived. The club were in a virtual meltdown that week, not helped by the disastrous few games under Dodd and Gorman and the demoralised state Burley's complete lack of interest had left us in. Pearson walked into a crisis and by the skin of his teeth saved us. I honestly believe if Lowe had kept Pearson there is every chance we would have avoided admin and still been in the CCC. Not that would have been a good thing having now been bought by Liebher but one we would have all taken last April. NickG - I am not against AP at all. He talks very well - I have agreed with everything he says, but I am a little concerned that on the pitch he has made some obvious tactical errors and the team are not gelling as well as perhaps they should by now. My Reading and WHU contacts are very criticical of him citing his arrogance and stubborness but I will hold fire until after Xmas before really judging him. He has had a hard task and has signed some good players, but while we wait to climb the table it will be interesting to watch Leicester's progress this year to see how Pearson performs.

but you would NickG, that's your blind loyalty coming out.

It is refreshing to get an "outsider's" view. Thanks. Your report back is of concern as it seems we struggle to throw off old habits which means AP has much to do.

Yea we have 53 mins but someone has recently queried it and I think it was less.

Well Coppell's 6-month self-imposed sabbatical is nearly up.

Not sure how long he was on the pitch - I have him down as 53min but others say 43mins.

There does seem to be a big Reading connection to most things these days. Bit of a strange one though especially as it's only for a month.

Dave, I feel you have missed your true vocation. An aide-de-camp to Monty during WW2 would have more suited your tactical nous tather than working in aluminium tubing.

St Marco - I think we are happy with yesterday but some of us don't want to get too OTT that's all. The bigger the hope the bigger the disappointment sort of thing. I agree it must be annoying when it seems people only look for bad - my Dad, irritatingly, is a classic example as far as Saints are concerned - but some of us on here can praise when praise is due but also should also be allowed to temper our enthusiasm when we feel it appropriate without people telling us to "change our hobby". NickG seems to take it personally for some reason. I know he is not a bad bloke and positivity is generally a good thing but he (and you) should ignore the postees on here who just are reluctant to get too carried away in case it all comes back to bite us on the arse. Supporting Saints for the best part of 46 years has certainly taught me not to count my chickens. I only clap after the fat lady has finished while Nick goes in paroxysms before she has cleared her throat.