VectisSaint

Not trying to stick up for Scabby by any means, but technically he is correct on this one point alone. Plymouth was first game in charge for NP, but as I pointed out in my post above, he had joined the day before and the team had been prepared by G&D. We took 7 points from the fist 8 games counting Plymouth, but 8 form 8 if you count the first game NP really had any control over. By the way, I have been wondering for a while, Scabby continually refers to the Golden Duo (and he is the only one that does), but how much input is Wotte actually having? I don't see much evidence, apart from with the reserve team.

From the first game when he prepared the team, no the stat is not right. NP got 8 points from his first 8 in charge as well. Technically Scabby is right because he is including the Plymouth game which was the day after NP had joined, with all the preparation being done by Dodd & Gorman.

Vignal knew how to take pens, and was a half decent LB as well (at least he improved during the year). Why we let him go I'll never know.

Mike Wilde has been banging goals in for TNS for several seasons now. Long before the lap dog darkened our doors.

At least we only missed out on an exciting trip to the Britannia Stadium and not a big money spinner that we actually needed, and of course we would have lost to a goal from a Delap throw-in and bundled in by Fuller

70s Mike is correct, a draw would be acceptable today (would mean 3 league games unbeaten), but a win at home is essential as that not only gives confidence but also makes supporters think that home wins are possible again, we not only need points, we also need bums on seats.

Re-read your original post. You stated he had never been in a winning Spurs team in a domestic match. Domestic = home country (in this context) so would mean league or cup. It would not include UEFA Cup. FACT.

Well that may be true, but I think Dyer was demotivated before JP, and there are some people who cannot be motivated. I wouldn't necessarily slag JP off on the basis that he cannot motivate the little turd. You could probably justifiably slag him off for other things but unable to motivate Dyer is a little harsh I think.

That was what I was thinking Answer to the question though is Yes, yes, possibly and yes. Burley is the only one that could have us in just as bad a position, possibly worse. If he had Snodin as assistant then my answer would be different

Not sure why anyone is upset about Dyer leaving. I don't recall many that had anything good to say. I think JP gives a clue on the OS when he says we are geting someone who is motivated, read between the lines, Dyer is demotivated, as we could all see. Agreed we would rather have got a CM or FB in, but on the face of it Dyer going is no loss at all, good riddance. It could be of course that JP's plans will be to have no wide players, but to have the two advanced MFs playing narrower and putting balls to the striker(s) feet rather than crosses from the byline, which our forwards have proved they are not good at converting. I can see Surman and BWP or McG being played LM and RM.

Is Newcastle not a domestic match? They won last night and Bale played the first 53 minutes. FACT.

Absolutely spot on. When Burley first joined we were absolute **** until Snodin joined. Things went quite well while he was here, and once he left the slide started again. Burley was crap, but Snodin at least made him look good for a season. As with many managers, they need a decent No 2 to look good. Hoddle without Gorman, another case in point. Even Clough without Taylor for that matter. Doesn't necessarily mean having Snodin as manager would have worked though, some are more natural as managers than others, as we have seen several times since Rupes has been among us.

Presumably the club don't lose out on the programme sales, the beer sales, the pie sales, the money you might spend in the Mega Store, all if you don't go. Perhaps you never spend any money at the Club other than the ticket itself. What annoys me is that people think the dwindling support is some kind of protest. Its not (except for a very tiny minority), Its the result of continually losing games AT HOME. Football, whether we like it or not, is an entertainment business, and people pay to be entertained. Being entertained includes going home with a good feeling, otherwise it becomes a chore. Well guess what after 2 or 3 seasons of being diabolical at home people have bcome disillusioned, unable to motivate their mates or family to go to the games on odd occassions. Note also, much of this disillusionment is not new this season, it has been happening gradually for 2 to 3 years now. So I'm not even particularly ****ed off with Lowe. Wlde's regime were just as bad, and the drunk that "managed" the team for half of last season has much to answer for. Just when people were beginning to see some shoots of recovery in the NP era, where there really was some passion, if not much skill in evidence, and where a few good youngsters were being blooded, **** me but we get knocked down again. And thats where idiots like Scooby continue to miss the point and make themselves look like complete *****s. They cannot see that it is not the supporters fault, but it is those with the power and leadership who make the decisions that result in a **** poor team.

But this is the problem isn't it. Because we have share holders running the Club who don't care we continue to be in the mire. Crouch dipped into his own pocket (or at least offered to), I think even Wilde did (or perhaps I'm wrong). But Lowe, no chance, just continue to take take take, and no persobal issue if the Club goes into Admin, which it will definitely do when we are relegated. If he and his pals can afford to take a loss on a couple of million shares then so be it. If he doesn't want to take a loss then by putting some money in temporarily then he may actually see a return on his shares, and continue to take take take from SFC.

None of the options is the real reason, the real reason is because we cannot win games AT HOME (closest option was bad start to season but this is not the whole story, the last season or two at home has also been ****)

In the bigger scheme of things a draw would be just about acceptable, the MUST WIN game is Norwich on Tuesday - we must win home games, (a) to get points and (b) to help stop the decline in attandances. A draw Saturday and a win Tuesday would mean 4 league games unbeaten (staggeringly), and begin to give a bit of confidence to the players, and to the supporters. Have to say though that I don't expect the above to happen.

So we are expected to give up, accept relegation and the inevitable administration that will follow. Personally I woudn't touch any of the players mentioned with a barge pole, especially Quashie, but that isn't the point is it. Lowe and Wilde may have to dip into their personal resources, otherwise their personal wealth will take a battering next year when all their shares are worth diddly squat.

It means BWP is playing

Is his name Schneiderlin?

You hmmmm it, I'll play it.

Forecast, John, Pekhart, Paterson, Dyer, Hatch, Thomson. So Rudi doesn't even make the extended bench. Strange.

I do hope that someone told 1976 to go to Sheffield not Rotherham

Unfortunately nothing at present that gives any information on anything later than 31 Dec 2007, except a short trading update statement. The annual accounts for the year ending June 30th 2008 are not yet published, and these are, of course, the pertinent figures.

Alps is absolutely spot on here (we don't always/usually agree). Most rational people can see that if we continue to struggle this year, but maybe somehow avoid the drop, 2 critical things will happen (1) crowds will continue to dwindle, since most people tire of seeing a team failing to win consistently at home and (2) the best of our young players will be sold to finance the increasing debt caused by (1). It seems Lallana is already up for sale, with a measley £5m price tag.

It doesn't have to be either/or, there are shades of gray in between. Whatever style or styles we play though, it is winning that is the be all and end all, especially at home.