buctootim

I dont think the UK as a whole is predominantly negative - but I do notice the difference when I come back to Southampton. The people I meet in Southampton, my rellies included, do tend to be more downbeat than friends in other parts of the country. Yes sorry, I know I'll get slated, but thats my experience.

Crouch is 'rich' by most people's standards, but he isnt stonkingly rich in the sense that he could afford to buy Saints, pump millions in and weather years of losses before it pays off (if at all). Note Fulthorpe didnt say USA / Germany / Canada / Lymington.

Made me laugh. Very true. Over the years we have beeen averagely lucky and averagely unlucky. Had our share of Cup finals and relegations, but no more. Got a promising but very young squad with an average stadium and average budget.

Of course some penalties will be missed - the average is around 10% I think. Penalties are an attempt to give back the scoring chance that existed before the penalty foul. If every penalty lead to a goal there'd be no point in having them and FIFA would have a rule about awarding a goal instead.

Que?

The Americans are going door to door to stave off bankruptcy. Apparently they need $2,500 from every man, woman and child to avoid being nationalised by China.

We dont have the players for hoofball. Switching styles now would surely send us down. We should keep refining and improving doing what we're doing.

I dont disagree Lowe is a factor or that he's not the main one when people come to parting with their money. The issue is much wider than Saints. People now choose their holidays, cars and household goods from a global market. They want recognised names, brands and to be associated with success more than ever before. Being local means very little -it can even be a hindrance. 'Products' have to be seen as top of the range and exotic - even if in fact it has little substance. Image and perceived style matter more to many - and thats not a chippy pop at other people - we all do it to some extent.

I dont think it is is down to the 'people in charge' - whether Lowe and Wilde at the club or Baj and Steve on this site. Something weird has happened to people's attitudes. They expect a well resourced fans forum for nothing. Half wont pay £5 to fund it for a year. People are staying away in droves from Saints because (despite all the protestations abou Lowe) largely because we aren't in the prem and aren't winning enough - ie the product isnt good enough. People complain about being treated as customers - yet that is exactly how many behave. The psyche of people has changed fundamentally - success and the right brand seem to be more important than ever before. Anything that isnt one of those top brands has to be be free to be popular. Very odd. I feel old.

I like the CCC. I also think our problems are fairly easily fixable. Playing well with commitment, energy and skill without scoring enough is easier to address than lacking all of those qualities in the first place.

Must do better and They definitely will

Thats odd because the large majority of people wanted a referendum on the EU constitution. You might not vote for them but it doesnt mean someone standing for democratic election on a non bigotted (eg BNP) platform "has no class".

Its his thread. You dont like it then......

A lot of truth in that IMO. Burley was good 10 years or so ago but seems to have lost his way now.

It true - we basically had two choices. 1 go for a team of big, cheap and technically limited cloggers who play well drilled long ball - which works for some in this division but will never keep you up in the prem 2. build up over a few years with skilled but cheap youngsters. I know which I prefer.

You think they're going to sack him mid-match?

I think he's done pretty well. He is good at getting top money for players out and getting good players in for little. Not identifying them, just sorting prices and wages out. More than anything paying more than we had was what was killing us under Wilde and Crouch. ps the Avatar is an experiment to see whether people respond to my posts more or less depending on the avatar. At the moment it seems I got loads of posts with the four bare nubiles, a lot fewer with 'RL is Hip' and almost none with Hitler wearing headphones. It seems Lowe is more popular than Hitler but less so than four semi naked sex goddesses. Who'd have guessed it?

I have no views on this. I thought I'd share that with you as its a slow day.

That camouflage isnt working too well. Maybe if they painted it a sky colour.

Thats probably true, but for a long time after he left Saints Theo didnt figure at all at Arsenal and it started to look as though they had overpaid at £12m. Setting a price for a young player is always a big gamble.

Thank you. Sad but possibly true IMO.

Sad but true IMO.

Where might we get some of these wise heads? 'Inconsistent want away Skacel'; 'very inconsistent Saganowski' and 'very occasionally I can be arsed to play Euell' could all benefit from some help.

That'll be Switzerland. No need tho, tomorrow we're all going to be sucked into a space the size of a pinhead where Geneva used to be.

Oh dear. Hell hath no fury like an old woman who wasted his money on an airplane banner.