~When was the lowest point?

[trousers]

Oh, and hearing that stanley / mole had been banned when it turned out he'd been right all along... ;-)

[Andy_Porter]

When we lost to Swindon.

 

It felt like Pardew had no idea where the club was going or any idea how to turn it round. He didn't seem like he could change the game or that he was even bothered. I really thought we would be in for a long hard season after that performance.

 

Luckily we went a signed a few important player not long after and Pardew managed to turn things around.

[trousers]

No not really - he did say he forgave me but insisted I was wrong to reveal the details of a private e mail.

We will have to beg to differ.

 

Might as well post it again now that the dust has settled... ;-)

[red&white56]

Lowest point was at the star tof the administration when MW went on the radio to explian how it wasn't SFC but Southamption Leisure who was in admin. He was asked one or two questions and his answers start to sound ridiculous. I though to myself, "OMG, these jokers don't know what they're doing.............." That was when i realised it was going to get a lot worse before it got better.

 

On the pitch the Charlton game, we still had the chance to take the ten point penalty last season and start this season with zero points. The fans turned out in large numbers - the atmosphere was electric, appeals from Lawrie and others built the tension before kick-off and then the game started..................... Saints weren't interested, that's when I first got angry - people paying for tickets and putting money into collection buckets to pay the wages of the guys on the pitch who didn't look bothered abut whether they won or lost.

[The9]

Lowest point on the field for me was definitely Swindon away. We had been second best at Huddersfield but they'd played well and at least we'd scored.

 

Swindon weren't much cop, had already been stuffed once, but they just tried harder and looked like they had a clue when we didn't - it was also not a good day for Pardew's reputation, with the lack of subs and the fans making it clear to him so early in his tenure.

 

I missed Brentford at home due to V Festival and when we played Birmingham it was already obvious that even the squad players were putting in the effort, though it wasn't yet clear if that was the manager or opposition motivating them.

 

Against Stockport we were unlucky not to win, and versus Colchester's 10 men we were poor in breaking them down, but there was plenty of effort that hadn't been there against Swindon, just a lack of guile.

 

Charlton away was a decent result, then we beat Yeovil comfortably, at Carlisle we probably deserved better, and then Bristol Rovers and Saints BOTH played pretty well that night, and they were at least 2 points better off than they deserved at the end.

 

So nothing tops (bottoms?) Swindon, we hadn't begun improving at that point, and those who think we were bad against Bristol Rovers simply didn't see the effort the players were putting in.

 

Off the pitch, for me it was being at Saints Aid, realising the level of apathy and knowing that there was no way the fans would be able to save the club as a football league entity without a buyer emerging immediately. Thank you, Herr Liebherr.

[krissyboy31]

Off the pitch, for me it was being at Saints Aid, realising the level of apathy and knowing that there was no way the fans would be able to save the club as a football league entity without a buyer emerging immediately. Thank you, Herr Liebherr.

Funnily enough I was just thinking about that. I remember looking around at the people who had bothered to turn up and my heart sinking that so few actually seemed to care enough about the club. I honestly thought that that was the end.

[Legod Third Coming]

When we lost to Swindon.

 

It felt like Pardew had no idea where the club was going or any idea how to turn it round. He didn't seem like he could change the game or that he was even bothered. I really thought we would be in for a long hard season after that performance.

 

Luckily we went a signed a few important player not long after and Pardew managed to turn things around.

 

I think he was watching and fact-finding. That's why for me, early season games were a right-off. Bizarre as it sounds, I was actually quite positive after that game because we then knew that Pardew knew the scale of the task.

[The9]

Funnily enough I was just thinking about that. I remember looking around at the people who had bothered to turn up and my heart sinking that so few actually seemed to care enough about the club. I honestly thought that that was the end.

 

I can also understand that most people by then had realised we couldn't just keep giving money to some black hole, so it was kind of understandable, I just wanted to make sure I did my bit personally really.

 

And I gave them £3 for to try and win on those bloody penalties too...

[opthomps]

No, the forced administration was the end of the rot for me. A really exciting turning point.

 

For me the lowest point was some time last season when Lowe seemed to be preparing us for life in Division 1 with the youngsters, a poor manager and no investment - I could only see attendances dropping further, more in-fighting and more protests.

 

I totally agree with this opinion. It was an opportunity for a fresh start, we needed a complete overhaul of the sinking ship. Unfortunately this meant dropping down, but fortunately we have a successful businessman and a billionaire rescuing us. It was never gonna be a quick fix, but it will be fixed. Time and patience are essential still

[Weston Saint]

Like Wes says, IMHO we have to differeniate the two - the pitch & survival

 

For me, the approach to the lowest point had to be during the days when it slowly began dawning that Pinnacle may not be what they seemed, culminating in the horror when they finally pulled away.

 

At that point there wasn't anything else "on the table" but a few straws to be clutched, it was about two weeks I recall before indications of the Swiss came to light.

 

At that point we really were facing oblivion, we had no real idea why, or how or where we could get out of it. We still had some hope, but it was getting pretty damned slim

 

Then came the surprise of the ML announcement, and the googling, and the start of the announcements.

 

It still took time for the major surgery to take effect and many still wondered.

 

We were a terminally ill patient, we underwent last minute experimental life saving surgery and it seemed to be touch and go for a while.

 

Now, the REAL change is that we are starting to stop HOPING that it will all work out.

 

We are starting to BELIEVE that it will all work out.

 

On the pitch, actually I think it was probably Bristol Rovers. I think it provided the final kick to the backsides. Sure we'd been improving but I think that may prove to be our real turning point to becoming a really good team and fans finally back in tune with the team and the club

I will agree with all that other than the Bristol Rovers game. That game was the first step in the right direction for me. So rock bottom would be club: just before our new owners signed and paid for the club. In football terms, moments before we kicked off against Bristol Rovers.

[The9]

I totally agree with this opinion. It was an opportunity for a fresh start, we needed a complete overhaul of the sinking ship. Unfortunately this meant dropping down, but fortunately we have a successful businessman and a billionaire rescuing us. It was never gonna be a quick fix, but it will be fixed. Time and patience are essential still

 

I can't understand how anyone can think the bottoming out was BEFORE administration when we were within a few days of extinction at one point after it ? It's fine to say Admin was necessary with hindsight, but at the time no-one but Fry and possibly Cortese and Liebherr could be sure that Saints weren't going to cease to exist - which wouldn't have been very exciting at all.

 

Oh, and if I want to be REALLY specific about the bottoming-out at Swindon, for me it was when Jacob Mellis' family (who were in the row behind me to see his debut) had to listen to some odious mong yelling (apparently) racist abuse at him, around 10 minutes from the end of the game, not long after the substitute gesturing from the fans and a few minutes after Lancashire's pass straight off the pitch and that ridiculous corner he conceded. That stand-up row wasn't pleasant to see or hear and pretty much summed the night up.

Edited 20 October, 2009 by The9

[Thedelldays]

There were so many low points..

 

The appointment if sturrock was a joke.

Wigley was a joke.

 

But getting relegated from the ccc was then lowest for me

[The9]

There were so many low points..

 

The appointment if sturrock was a joke.

Wigley was a joke.

 

But getting relegated from the ccc was then lowest for me

 

Sturrock had us winning one and losing one in the Premiership, I think a lot of people would kill for that right now. The SACKING of Sturrock was a joke, but we were a LOOOOONG way from the bottom of League One then.

[Wes Tender]

A really good "fred", this, Pilchards. Nice one.

[shurlock]

Sheffield Weds away last season. We lost 2-0, the result practically relegated us but the performance above all was abysmal like watching a dying man conclude that breathing was too much bother.

[shurlock]

Lowest point was at the star tof the administration when MW went on the radio to explian how it wasn't SFC but Southamption Leisure who was in admin. He was asked one or two questions and his answers start to sound ridiculous. I though to myself, "OMG, these jokers don't know what they're doing.............." That was when i realised it was going to get a lot worse before it got better.

 

On the pitch the Charlton game, we still had the chance to take the ten point penalty last season and start this season with zero points. The fans turned out in large numbers - the atmosphere was electric, appeals from Lawrie and others built the tension before kick-off and then the game started..................... Saints weren't interested, that's when I first got angry - people paying for tickets and putting money into collection buckets to pay the wages of the guys on the pitch who didn't look bothered abut whether they won or lost.

 

It was Leon Crouch not Mark Wotte that got caught with his pants down and hands covered in blood. And that wasn't end of his well-meaning but totally imbecilic interventions - he then went and gifted Pinnacle the exclusivity/players wages money. The writing was on the wall very early on with Crouchy.

[Andy_Porter]

I think he was watching and fact-finding. That's why for me, early season games were a right-off. Bizarre as it sounds, I was actually quite positive after that game because we then knew that Pardew knew the scale of the task.

 

Looking back now I think the same but after that game I was really quite down, it was like Pardew just didn't have a clue.

[shurlock]

Lowest point was at the star tof the administration when MW went on the radio to explian how it wasn't SFC but Southamption Leisure who was in admin. He was asked one or two questions and his answers start to sound ridiculous. I though to myself, "OMG, these jokers don't know what they're doing.............." That was when i realised it was going to get a lot worse before it got better.

 

On the pitch the Charlton game, we still had the chance to take the ten point penalty last season and start this season with zero points. The fans turned out in large numbers - the atmosphere was electric, appeals from Lawrie and others built the tension before kick-off and then the game started..................... Saints weren't interested, that's when I first got angry - people paying for tickets and putting money into collection buckets to pay the wages of the guys on the pitch who didn't look bothered abut whether they won or lost.

 

It was Leon Crouch not Mark Wotte who got caught with his pants down/hands covered in blood. And that wasnt the end of his well-meaning but totally imbecilic interventions - he then went and gifted Pinnacle the exclusivity/player wages money. The alarm bells should have been ringing very early on with Crouchy.

[Colinjb]

For me it was that Fookin piece of scrap metal that was erected to honour Ted Bates, it reflected what was happening on and off the pitch.

 

Saint till I die!

 

At least that was put right and besides, we need never see it again.

[londonsaint1604]

Sheffield Weds away last season. We lost 2-0, the result practically relegated us but the performance above all was abysmal like watching a dying man conclude that breathing was too much bother.

 

That was grim. Our support that day was awful as well.

[S-Clarke]

I'm still cautious to say we have bottomed out - you know what this club is like, false dawn FC!!!

 

...give it a few more months and being completely clear of the relegation zone before i feel we've totally bottomed out.

[red&white56]

It was Leon Crouch not Mark Wotte that got caught with his pants down and hands covered in blood. And that wasn't end of his well-meaning but totally imbecilic interventions - he then went and gifted Pinnacle the exclusivity/players wages money. The writing was on the wall very early on with Crouchy.

 

You're right it was LC, sorry for the confusion - I'm still in shock about his pathetic attempts to explain how this wasn't really a problem for SFC when the rest of the world could see that it was...........................

[saint lard]

lowest point for me was catching the first glimpse of Fialka on sky, then the scenario dawning on me it maybe between him and Marc Jackson......still sends a shiver down my spine.

On the pitch,Swindon away.

 

The first seeds of doom were firmly planted with the return of Lowe/Wilde.

And the incesant infighting with Crouch and the aforementioned Lowe/Wilde.

 

Thank god they are not here to darken the club anymore.

[Legod Third Coming]

At least that was put right and besides, we need never see it again.

 

Where is it now I wonder???!!!!!!

[Legod Third Coming]

Looking back now I think the same but after that game I was really quite down, it was like Pardew just didn't have a clue.

 

Agreed, but this is the problem of being a fan. You don't appreciate what's going on at the time always and we also want results before it is sometimes possible to achieve them.

 

Let's say Pards had come in and won the first three games.

 

He would then have thought, hang on, this lot are good enough. And soon enough it would have started going TU and then we would have been further back than square one.

 

That old adage, no pain no gain is so apt in our case.

 

We had to go through the early season pain to be where we are now.

 

Well, that's my fervent belief anyway!

[Saint_Jonny]

Burnley at home last season, -10 confirmed, late goal conceded, fights amongst supporters, and the embarrassment that was that pitch invasion. The only time ive left early and the only time ive thought, "man, our fans are a rite bunch of c u nts"

[Thedelldays]

Sturrock had us winning one and losing one in the Premiership, I think a lot of people would kill for that right now. The SACKING of Sturrock was a joke, but we were a LOOOOONG way from the bottom of League One then.

 

I would say that was the new manager effect rather than sturrocks tactical genius. He is very poor in the ccc an would have been for us if given the time.

 

He was crap with Sheffield wed in the ccc and will do well to have a job by the end if the season

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

We all seem convinced our nadir belongs to history now and not the unknowable future , I admire (and share in for what it's worth) the optimism . The exact moment is far less important than the fact that whenever it was it's behind us now hopefully . Spare a thought my friends for the many 100's of Saints fans who have passed away during the last 4 years and never got a chance to celebrate our grand old club's salvation .

 

Bless 'em all .

[St.Patrik]

For me the lowpoint was at the Charlton home game last season when ST Holders in Northam called everyone without a ST a plastic fan. I know people will tell me to shut up about this but for me who is coming over for 1 or 2 games every season since the move to St.Marys that really showed how bad things where. There was not far away that it would have been a fight in the stands about being a plastic fan or not....

 

Now things are looking great and I will take my olderst daughter (she´s 10) to her first Saints game in England after christmas : )

[eurosaint]

Burnley at home last season, -10 confirmed, late goal conceded, fights amongst supporters, and the embarrassment that was that pitch invasion. The only time ive left early and the only time ive thought, "man, our fans are a rite bunch of c u nts"

 

Teamwise, that was also my low point !

Clubwise, I was always optimistic that we would find a buyer up until the Pinnacle bid collapsed and Fry said (for the 2nd month running) that the wages would either be paid late or not at all ! At that moment I genuinely felt there was a chance we could fold !

Thankfully a fresh new dawn has broken and (although there will be hiccups along the way) we should never have to endure such pain again !

Vielen dank, herr Liebherr !!

[red&white56]

For me the lowpoint was at the Charlton home game last season when ST Holders in Northam called everyone without a ST a plastic fan. I know people will tell me to shut up about this but for me who is coming over for 1 or 2 games every season since the move to St.Marys that really showed how bad things where. There was not far away that it would have been a fight in the stands about being a plastic fan or not....

 

Now things are looking great and I will take my olderst daughter (she´s 10) to her first Saints game in England after christmas : )

 

I took my daughter to her first Saints game, FA cup against Newcastle, we lost 3 - 0, she's never been back - I hope you have better fortune!

[wightman35]

For me, the lowest point for the club was the month waiting for the Pinnacle fiasco to unfold and particularly the days leading up to their collapse. In football terms, sacking Pearson and most of last season has to be there, but especially the capitulation in the run up to certain relegation.

 

Luckily (thanks ML and NC and of course AP and team) we can now expect rather than just hope.

[Fan The Flames]

For me the lowpoint was at the Charlton home game last season when ST Holders in Northam called everyone without a ST a plastic fan. I know people will tell me to shut up about this but for me who is coming over for 1 or 2 games every season since the move to St.Marys that really showed how bad things where. There was not far away that it would have been a fight in the stands about being a plastic fan or not....

 

Now things are looking great and I will take my olderst daughter (she´s 10) to her first Saints game in England after christmas : )

 

In hope by then we are steaming up the table and your daughter gets to see us full of confidence and playing good football.

[Fan The Flames]

I can't understand how anyone can think the bottoming out was BEFORE administration when we were within a few days of extinction at one point after it ? It's fine to say Admin was necessary with hindsight, but at the time no-one but Fry and possibly Cortese and Liebherr could be sure that Saints weren't going to cease to exist - which wouldn't have been very exciting at all.

 

I was confident that there was always a plan b, c or d and in some form we would have existed. We would have risen from the ashes in the Blue Square probably next year, we would have just played friendlies this season. Yes it would be ten times worse then our current position but it would have been something and certainly better than nothing. Look at the buzz there is now, bottom of division 3 but with a future; there was no way our fans would have given up on that.

[alehouseboys]

'kin 'ell there's been some painfully low(e) points over the past 5 years or so but for me the lowest point was that gutless capitulation at fartton in '05. With the ol' Bill again deliberately delaying our train and any contest already over by the time we actually got into the sh*thole, we then had to witness what was left of the game with the biggest bunch of spineless c.... ever to wear the red and white stripes.

 

Anything since has been felt with a kind of numbing acceptance.

 

But then enter Mr Liebherr & Co...

[Northant Saint]

Definately Swindon away. I had never seen such an appauling display in my entire life!

[sussexsaint]

Lowest point off pitch was Faika unveiled on SSN. I watched that and thought that was it no more club. End of.

 

On the pitch? Bloody hell too many to mention and for me the buttock clenching shame started with the gutless performance against Pompey 'relegation season. A smattering of decent performances since but nothing like the pride I have felt these last few months

[hypochondriac]

Definately Swindon away. I had never seen such an appauling display in my entire life!

 

The televised Bristol Rovers was the worst display I have ever seen.

[Right sider]

The day Pinnacle pulled out i really felt that was that & the club would cease to exist.

 

+1 :smt038

[St Landrew]

In hindsight, the lowest point for the club was the day Lowe miscalculated on thinking he'd saved the club by putting the parent company into administration. Yet another error in a virtual catalogue of them, by the end. As soon as interested parties began to gather, my spirits went up.

 

In terms of football, there have been worse feelings, such as being at the bottom of the Premiership with Steve Wigley at the helm. Goodness knows, I don't think I'll ever get over that clanger as long as I live. That actually felt worse than the relegation from the Championship, because by then it felt unavoidable. The failure to keep Nigel Pearson after he had succeeded was a body blow for me. Another I can't believe it decision by the then new Saints board.

 

This season, one could say, the football has really reached the bottom of bottoms. So far, in that it has been the furthest down the league the team has ever been. Minus 10 points in League One is actually worse than zero points in Third Division South, all those years ago at the start of some season before I was born [pre 1958, that is]. But the ownership is far, far better. I'd happily trade Lowe and Co in the Championship for this setup in League One. Markus and Co, Pardew and staff have all the makings of a setup that is going upwards. Instead of one that was just slowly going down and out. Good riddance, and here's to better times.

[westofshannonsaint]

When I turned on Talksport and heard that Lowe had replaced NP with Jan.

 

I am supprised that it took 30 posts for this point to be raised. once lowe slimed his way back in, let go a promising up & coming English Manager who seemed willing to take on a tough task, and replace him with head coaches with no experience of English football, along with their experiment I knew it was the end.

 

That was the lowest point at that time. Unfortunately (and in no small part, because of the above), it got much, much lower.

 

over the last couple of years I have been saying to my brother (who will, for the rest of his days be called splitter/glory hunter..lol) that the Saints situation is like when a loved one has a terminal disease, something we both have unfortunately experience with.

 

to continue with this analogy, when RL got rid of NP was like the day you are told that your loved one doesn't have long left, that affairs need to be got in order, if anything needs to be said, say it.

 

going into admin 2 weeks to late was just the final kick in the teeth, like a death at christmas or a child's birthday, or the day before whoever get's here from wherever. it's gut wrenching but the result is the same.

 

Sheffield Weds away last season. We lost 2-0, the result practically relegated us but the performance above all was abysmal like watching a dying man conclude that breathing was too much bother.

 

quoted because it fits in quite nicely & i can't really comment about matters on the pitch as my opinions are based on what I read here & web snippets.

 

Anyhow, to lighten the mood, the Splitters argument was that Saints was like a marriage

that you knew wasn't working any more, she's turned into a nag, doesn't want you to enjoy yourself & if your honest with yourself she's put on weight, it's time you packed your bags and left. I suppose this analogy could be continued to Pearson leaving is like telling her your leaving & the timing of admin is her saying she's been cheating on you for the last 6 months.

 

The end result is I am in a relationship that as strong as ever and full of new hope thanks to that all or nothing final bout of chemo and a miracle or two (administration) and the splitter is out in a singles bar eyeing up Arse(nal)

[hypochondriac]

No not really - he did say he forgave me but insisted I was wrong to reveal the details of a private e mail.

We will have to beg to differ.

 

Another low point for me was hearing that Steve Wigley had been given the managerial position on a permanent basis. I knew then we were going down.

 

Did releasing the contents of the email really make a difference though? I'm not sure we can say really.

[RedAndWhite91]

Lowest point was -10. I'll get my coat.

[opthomps]

I can't understand how anyone can think the bottoming out was BEFORE administration when we were within a few days of extinction at one point after it ? It's fine to say Admin was necessary with hindsight, but at the time no-one but Fry and possibly Cortese and Liebherr could be sure that Saints weren't going to cease to exist - which wouldn't have been very exciting at all.

 

Oh, and if I want to be REALLY specific about the bottoming-out at Swindon, for me it was when Jacob Mellis' family (who were in the row behind me to see his debut) had to listen to some odious mong yelling (apparently) racist abuse at him, around 10 minutes from the end of the game, not long after the substitute gesturing from the fans and a few minutes after Lancashire's pass straight off the pitch and that ridiculous corner he conceded. That stand-up row wasn't pleasant to see or hear and pretty much summed the night up.

 

I take your point and that is dire. I havnt seen saints for ages, so I am just giving my viewpoint and how I feel the club as a whole has been sliding.

The last game I saw was losing to rotherham in the cup at a totally empty don valley stadium. It was so bad my eyes started to bleed. There have been so many low points I'm glad that we now seem to have turned the corner. I had the faith that we would improve slowly this season as we were so bad in august.

 

Roll on MK Dons

[View From The Top]

I would say that was the new manager effect rather than sturrocks tactical genius. He is very poor in the ccc an would have been for us if given the time.

 

He was crap with Sheffield wed in the ccc and will do well to have a job by the end if the season

 

I believe you told everyone last season that they would go down and we would finish above them.

 

Nice to see your finger on the pulse.

[Nadia Sllim]

signing Oliver Barnard.

[70's Mike]

fratton in the first relegation season, imo everything that happened after that was bound to happen because the club had been built on sand backed by Sky Money.

anyone who stood through that 2hors and more of humilation will never forget it, that bl**dy song about sending the scummers down

[Joensuu]

In hindsight, the lowest point for the club was the day Lowe miscalculated on thinking he'd saved the club by putting the parent company into administration.

 

Miscalculated? Not if you read what Saint John said about Lowe on the tube train... Deliberate IMHO. Definately the lowest point for me was watching Lowe having stabbed us (by screwing us up both on and off the pitch), then get to twist the knife (by declaring admin (deliberately) just after the deadline).

 

Burnley at home last season, -10 confirmed, late goal conceded, fights amongst supporters, and the embarrassment that was that pitch invasion. The only time ive left early and the only time ive thought, "man, our fans are a rite bunch of c u nts"

 

Agree entirely, that was so embarrassing. I stood and watched and felt so ashamed of anyone on the pitch. Like a field of Burberry

 

This season, all the hope, all the anticipation, only to have to sit through the awful Colchester home game. No goals against 10 men...

[Rasiak-9-]

Hmm. I don't think the lowest point can really be after the takeover as at that point we knew we had a club that was definately in existence.

 

I'm gonna go for Sheffield United at home.

 

Them having 10 men

All time lowest crowd at St. Mary's

Them getting the last minute winner immediately after our last-minute equaliser.

Generally cold, miserable day in midweek.

 

Only time I've genuinely wondered if it was all worth it.

[Wopper]

When the ridiculous Rupert Lowe waved a piece of paper at the AGM you just knew the club was f*cked