Fitzhugh Fella

Funnily enough I would not be over-critical of Lowe in his last year here Bern as he hands were pretty tied with the financial situation. He made mistakes yes (The Dutch duo and going into administration too late) but I don't think anyone would have survived with the overdraft as it was. Perhaps he should not have come back. However Lowe's "bad" period was basically between the summer after our appearance at Cardiff up until he was removed by Wilde and Crouch, which spanned 3 years. In that time he failed to capitalise on the success enjoyed by Strachan, and then went on to appoint some unsuitable managers. He compounded matters by not seeing the writing on the wall (just a blip) until it was too late mainly because by then he arrogantly thought he was the only one who knew best. His awful pr referred to by Weston Saint was another nail in his coffin.

Have resisted joining in on this thread for obvious reasons but I did enjoy the above thread which sums it up rather nicely I thought.

Indeed - and probably the "greater" the manager the more flaws. Clough anybody?

Yes, I can go along with this. At the time LM was responsible for establishing us as a top 6 club, playing quality football and punching above our weight in the transfer market. They were great days. But as Richard says as a character there are flaws.

Let's hope his groin problems are behind him.

He rarely visits SMS or The Dell, he works at Tottenham in hospitality and always gave me the impression that he would prefer to be associated with Spurs. I could be wrong of course!

Funnily enough I have just bought a copy (Waitrose, Chandlers Ford) and it was a good read with quite a lot Saints news I was previously unaware off. Also an interview with Martin Chivers who claims Saints is the first score he looks for. I always thought he was a naturalised Spur too.

Yea - I was there. Did not notice him particularly but he is a tall bloke who plays alongside Joe Jordan's son, another giant. Jamie white also played but was subbed. A quietish sort of game.

I know Pulis was spoken to after Burley went and before Pearson was appointed. Because he was under contract at Stoke who were pushing for promotion both sides agreed to wait until the summer. Dodd and Gorman were then given the job on a temporary basis (presumably until the summer). Any chance of Pulis then coming were reduced by a) Stoke going up and b) the need to appoint Pearson. This I know for fact - Pulis jnr's subsequent arrival is purely my conjecture bearing in mind what I knew about his Dad's intentions to join us. I may well be completely wrong but my theory would explain a very unlikely incoming transfer.

I believe it is now printed in Weymouth - hence it's abundance in the bournemouth area?

Yes I will miss some of those old local team pics from way back when. Some of the hair styles over the years were worth the cost of the paper by themselves.

Not much point it coming out on a Sunday. I suppose in the old pre internet/Sky days it was a good way to get the scores on your way home from the games. We (Hagiology) have every FE since before the War but tbh I no longer see the need to keep the archive up to date.

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!