SaintRobbie

You're probably right. Lets rephrase that to 'Lowe is breathing a big sigh of relief at the moment.' I sense he is under more pressure than he's revealing after the AGM. Probably not laughing at us at the moment. Perhaps a little fear, hence his instructions to stewards to start to confiscate 'inflammatory' banners. Certainly, he let slip that Mrs Lowe may not be happy... poor chap must be being bombarded on both sides. I also agree with many here that most want to get behind their team... and by god its needed...perhaps our only hope if we're honest. But, the last few games I have attended those around me have generally been laughing under their scarves at the ineptitude of some of our squad and JP. Fans are not fools. They may cheer but understand how bad things are and frustratingly some snigger under their breadth - still using humour is a good tonic to overcome depression I suppose! I suspect that had Reading bothered to play to their full potential the crowd may have reacted differently. Rarely do we read an analysis of the other teams performance on here, we watch the Saints. I am sure Reading are kicking themselves that they dropped a certain 2 further points yesterday. Anyway. The key question is: Why are we punchdrunk?

You are right - why invest in a business that sucks away money and rarely pays? Well people invest in football clubs for different reasons. Most reasons I suggest are on initial investigation intangible... but if you look a little deeper the answers are there. Lowe loves the status it gives him - it makes him a somebody, no matter how hated he is. Although to suggest that the retirement home builder is investing is of course a joke. Wilde is heavily connected in the South but comes from Liverpool - he would ordinarily be a nobody businessman based in the Channel Islands, but by owning a significant part of the local pride of the biggest city in the South he gains influence. Again, whilst failing to make anything out of Saints, becomes a name people know which reflects itself through the networking that he is thus able to do to support and expand his more successful businesses. Chelski are run by a Russian seeking further business and financial influence in London. The list goes on... with only a few exceptions who buy to sell on at profit eg Newcastle and he's struggling to do that at the moment. So, forget that people seek influence at Clubs like ours as they love Southampton FC (Crouch may be a clumsy exception). People seek influence in Clubs like ours because - being plcs - it is easy for journeymen to cruise in and seize high profile opportunities like Saints to expand elsewhere. And once established - difficult to shift them....especially when the fans are so punchdrunk they start to roll over. So - in a nutshell - forget that most investors do it for money. They do it for influence, usually elsewhere. That is why you takeover a football club. .... and that is why I keep pushing for a rep from Southampton City Council to sit with sensible fans, legends, board members who care (Crouch) and Mike Wilde as principal shareholder to SELL this club. Extreme, but illustrative, example I know, but a rep from the council looking favourably on say a Paul Allen redevelopment and other business options (in addition to buying the Club), that sits in the international maritime gateway into the UK, has much bigger potential for such investors than a failing footballing plc. One just has to look outside the box and onto a higher level ... build a team and then lobby. We can sell this Club.

Frankly, it is because we have the best fans in the South and largest fanbase by a country mile. But it is strange isnt it? Why are those 15000 odd diehards that we can muster (unlike so many many clubs) so punchdrunk? Lowe is laughing at every one of us right now I think. He must think that we are only a little grumpy but support him and his ideas. He must think his redeployed tactic of telling the stewards to search for banners must have worked. Why is the Northam being so toothless? Punchdrunk? Desperate to help the nippas? I suspect moods will openly change once we recieve our next thrashing. But, there is no leadership behind the fans to really reflect opinion.

Frankly? He couldnt run a bath.

Not a chance in hell. In fact I genuinely believe this team would struggle against most League 1 sides. I am concerned on 2 fronts if Lowe is allowed to continue with this farce: 1. We WILL relegate (certainty). But we will also sell the 3-4 decent nippas we have thus further eroding our hollowed out squad. That means WE WILL NOT PROMOTE BACK TO THE CCC FOR SEVERAL YEARS AT BEST. 2. Once we erode this Leauge 2 standard team still further - we will inevitably fall into League 2.

TAKEOVER. Shearer in. JP sent packing. Delist plc. Lowe out of this Club forever. Optimism. Promotion. Our Club Back.

Across the pitch and backwards.

OMG! Lowe has started to once again to search fans. I knew he would .. another prediction off the list. Talking to those who did go to the game last night (I didnt but am coming to protest at ManUre), I have a question. Will a protest work given that the fans who have been attending seem so punchdrunk with the lack of optimism that they cant even muster an anti-Lowe song. One of the reasons I stopped going was because many sat around me were just laughing at our own team and lack of ability rather than supporting. Sounds as if that is continuing. Have we given up? Why - when the tone of messageboards like this one and the tone of ex directors and legends like Lawrie Mac is so inflamatory against Lowe's foolish ideas - are the Northam in particular prepared to roll over and accept it? We need to support our club .. our team is failing. Lowe must be laughing once more at the fans IMHO. Spineless or punchdrunk? Punchdrunk methinks.

We are avoiding adminitration as it does not benefit the shareholders who voted 95% to keep in Lowe for exactly this reason. The real debate is whether it benefits the Club to avoid administration. Answer is probably not but given Lowe's slide toward League 2... yes League 2... I suspect that when one examines the Leeds example Saints could recover faster if we were to go into administration (AND BE TAKEN OVER BY SOMEONE NEW). Personally - I would hope we avoided it. But, it will happen at some stage on our way into League 2.

Has anyone commented on how Reading played? I suspect they may not have been playing to their full potential perhaps.

Survived relegation... although I think we'll shortly be bottom if I am being honest.

How many teams who have been second from bottom at New Year in the CCC have survived?

Oh dear Mr Lowe.

Oh dear. The inevitable slide continues.

Bottom 3?

We playing again yet? lol

I think whoever takes over knows damn well that the finances need to be kept in order. Frankly, it doesnt need Lowe to do it. One and only good thing about being a plc is whoever takes over has to openly publish the accounts. Lowe is associated with failure. Whoever comes in will not be Lowe and at least provides some optimism. Lowe is not a financial genius.... he'd be pumping in his own millions into the Club if he were. But, he doesnt have any serious personal £s for some reason... wonder why?

I know what you mean, but I think you can support your CLUB without going to games... the team would prefer us there. Sorry though guys... I am supporting my Club.

In 3 years we'll be in League 2 with 5-6000 people attending each game IMHO. This is as likely given the current evidence (and we havent seen the selling of the best nippas yet which IS going to happen according to Wilde a couple of months ago) as a complete turnaround. mmmmm ... so weighing up the likelihood of success or failure of Lowes '3 year plan' I think I am airing towards the realist viewpoint. It will fail and League 2 is a certainty. (BTW I genuinely believe our current squad - less 3-4 exceptions and loanees - is League 2 standard).

Looking at the falling gates I'd say we have already started to empty the stadium when you consider this traditionally well supported Club - with arguably the biggest fan-base in the South - has so few of us now attending.

I think it is a possibility under Lowe. I think it was always his plan. But I do not know whether SCW will want it or will be prepared to give up everything else to accept it. Replacing a Dutchman who at least knows how to kick a football with a sports scientist and sports management consultant would be a typical Lowe-like decision. Afterall, if he did many would get behind SCW (most would say it would fail and be right) but it would buy Lowe more time.

I know. And you are right. But football is all about optimism. It is all about stepping up and supporting something you believe in and hope will be successful - as we know that success will not come for many many seasons under the current regime its natural to look elsewhere. The only thing I can hang on to and I suspect many others is the hope that one day SFC will return and we'll have a Club to be proud of again. There is no optimism under Lowe. Little as a result of the guidance of the other senior shareholders. None in this plc. And (arguably more importantly) virtually none on the pitch. So, we can but hope AND ENCOURAGE someone to come forth and takeover. But hey, times are tough. Who knows? We need some optimism. Ironic that it may be falsely placed in a nonexistant takeover.... but there is no where else to place it.

I sort of agree. But when its the only source of optimism left it is bound to attract interest and attention from the fans. I tell you what, Fulthorpe would be a bloody hero if he could take over, bring in some cash and Shearer as a real manager with enough time to buy in some experience and maybe claw back some of our loanee strikers. Talk about lifting up our heads - he's on a bloody winner if he could pull it off... and whats more given Rupert has now set the scene for relegation I think we'd even forgive him that inevitability at the end of the season.

I withdrew from this - couldnt stand predicting 'loss 0-2' all the time. Too depressing. Still, will return to the league next season .... errrr ... I hope.

I'm not going Baj. I think you should feel proud of yourself for not supporting Southampton Leisure Holdings FC and do as I am... saving my money for the eventual return of Southampton FC. Hope it's not too long in coming. I will only now attend games where protests require support. Man Utd will see me singing for a change as I sense that will be the biggest protest against Lowe and the plc he stands for in recent years.