Papa Shango Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Have written a new piece of our fall and rise back up the leagues over the past 8 years or so on my website. Give it a read if you like http://www.thesaintshub.com/fallandriseofsouthampton.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give it to Ron Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Have written a new piece of our fall and rise back up the leagues over the past 8 years or so on my website. Give it a read if you like http://www.thesaintshub.com/fallandriseofsouthampton.html A good read well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsacar saint Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Nice one Papa,a very good read,look forward to the next one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 good read...some whacky things have happened here at SFC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Great read papa - what a few years.....it certainly hasn't been boring at any point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Nice read. Thanks Papa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpturner Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 I like it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saints Fan Dan Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Read this last night, very good. The bit that said we lost 4-1 to Palace on the opening day of 07/08 had me thinking "did that really happen?" I honestly don't remember that game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGTL Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Reading that is odd, it's alsmost like some of those seasons have merged together in my mind into one great ball of crapness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ant Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Reading that is odd, it's alsmost like some of those seasons have merged together in my mind into one great ball of crapness. Likewise. I can recall it all (mostly with dread), but not necessarily the chronology. Such a rollercoaster, really puts into perspective how good things have been since Markus invested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 (edited) Read this last night, very good. The bit that said we lost 4-1 to Palace on the opening day of 07/08 had me thinking "did that really happen?" I honestly don't remember that game. Oh it did happen, and it was horrific. That day I sat and watched the worst display by a centre back that you'll ever see in the professional game. Step forward Alan Bennett. He mis-read the bounce of the ball, he couldn't distribute it, he misjudged his position and was beaten twice....yes twice, by a long punt down the middle of the field, and was outpaced by Jamie Scowcroft all game. Granted, he improved slightly after that, but he was an horrific football player and it's no surprise that he's bobbling around in L2. Reading are usually pretty good with their signings from Ireland, but they got this one seriously wrong. Edited 8 May, 2012 by S-Clarke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miffy Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Good article, so many....unhappy memories! Some good ones too though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmore Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 A good read - thanks! That Fitz Hall transfer was annoying. If I remember rightly I think Palace / Dowie unsettled him by talking about him to the press and he subsequently requested a transfer. He also ended up scoring against us in the 6-pointer with Palace at Selhurst. If he hadn't scored, we might have won that match 1-2 and stayed up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Good article but should read 'Hoddle's imminent appointment was greeted furiously by a MINORITY of Saints fans' This was the tragedy. That a vocal few scuppered the appointment of a very competent maager and set the course for SFC to go hurtling into relegation and ultimate administration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jawillwill Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Read this last night, very good. The bit that said we lost 4-1 to Palace on the opening day of 07/08 had me thinking "did that really happen?" I honestly don't remember that game. I remember it....vividly. I don't go to that many games per season, but that year I decided to go on the opening day full of optimism. What followed was without a doubt the worst I have ever seen us play, and Bennett's debut, was worse still. For me, even though we didn't actually go down that season, that was arguably the lowest I've ever felt as a Saints fan (with regards to on-field matters anyway). Even though I was in denial at the time, I somehow knew we had further to sink, before we were ever going to rise again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Further, the article is excellent in the way it clearly traces back the debacle of appointing Sturrock over Hoddle. Sturrock was an appalling appointment who was well our of his depth. It is more obvious than ever that Hoddle had been lined up for the Saints job and with good reason. Had Hoddle been appointed I expect we would have continued our long ruin in the league to this day. of course, the minority that caused the board to get 'cold feet' to this day, and despite my long campaign have either gone in to denial or have attempted to bury the whole episode in a mire of untruths. You can see why they have attempted to ridicule likes of my campaign. However, it must be galling as I continue to hold forth the torch of truth ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Excellent read. I had forgotten so much of it even though a ST holder. A great trip down memory lane! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlakeySFC Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Fantastic read. Can't believe all that turmoil in 7 years, only for us to go and become a Premier League club again in the short time since Liebherr and Cortese took over. They really have done a bloody brilliant job, absolute clowns were running the club before they came along. Wilde/Crouch/Lowe/Askham all absolute bellends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Further, the article is excellent in the way it clearly traces back the debacle of appointing Sturrock over Hoddle. Sturrock was an appalling appointment who was well our of his depth. It is more obvious than ever that Hoddle had been lined up for the Saints job and with good reason. Had Hoddle been appointed I expect we would have continued our long ruin in the league to this day. of course, the minority that caused the board to get 'cold feet' to this day, and despite my long campaign have either gone in to denial or have attempted to bury the whole episode in a mire of untruths. You can see why they have attempted to ridicule likes of my campaign. However, it must be galling as I continue to hold forth the torch of truth ! I'm glad you're finally starting to see sense regarding Hoddle... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio Saint Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Excellent read!.....But what? No quick mention of Jos's input? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westofshannonsaint Posted 8 May, 2012 Share Posted 8 May, 2012 Great read & Thanks, the only thing I would add is a paragraphe about the Woodward/Harry situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 9 May, 2012 Share Posted 9 May, 2012 Great read. What a basket-case club we were... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry the Badger Posted 9 May, 2012 Share Posted 9 May, 2012 Great read. I will always look back fondly on our time in League 1, turned out to be some of the most exciting times I've had as a Saints fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooney Posted 9 May, 2012 Share Posted 9 May, 2012 Well written article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 9 May, 2012 Share Posted 9 May, 2012 Good article - the only bit I would change is the last sentence. Saints have come back to the Prem STRONGER than ever before - everything about the club now is better than the days under Lowe and as for the future...well, we shall see. Exciting times ahead still I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMojoRisin Posted 9 May, 2012 Share Posted 9 May, 2012 Cracking read but i am a little concerned about letting my 8 yr olds read it as there are far too many swear words in it. Please can you edit them all so they read like this R****t L**e. Thanks Also that palace game was my two sons first ever game sadly enough, but look what they have witnessed in the 4-5 yrs since Two promotions, wembley semi final wins winning game after game, lucky little gits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 9 May, 2012 Share Posted 9 May, 2012 Cracking read but i am a little concerned about letting my 8 yr olds read it as there are far too many swear words in it. Please can you edit them all so they read like this R****t L**e. Thanks Also that palace game was my two sons first ever game sadly enough, but look what they have witnessed in the 4-5 yrs since Two promotions, wembley semi final wins winning game after game, lucky little gits for most of us oldies following Saints has been a trial of nerves and frequent disaster, interspersed with occasional sweet, sweet moments. there have been quite a few of them recently; I recommend you gently advise your kids that it might not always stay plain sailing in the future... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom & Gerry Posted 9 May, 2012 Share Posted 9 May, 2012 I do love a happy ending. It would make a great book if anyone was brave enough to write it. I'd love to hear the views of some of the participants involved but there might be too many damaged egos and the lawyers might be kept busy with libel cases. At the end of the day my view is that Rupert Lowe couldn't raise the investment we needed so when he did hire a good manager (Souness, Hoddle, Strachan arguably Rednapp) they didn't think they could take the club any further and moved on. His alternative was a youth policy which whilst producing some great players, didn't produce enough to either build a decent team or enough funds in the transfer market. The alternative Wilde/Crouch gamble failed and we were left ruined. Then we got very, very lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 9 May, 2012 Share Posted 9 May, 2012 I do love a happy ending. It would make a great book if anyone was brave enough to write it. I'd love to hear the views of some of the participants involved but there might be too many damaged egos and the lawyers might be kept busy with libel cases. At the end of the day my view is that Rupert Lowe couldn't raise the investment we needed so when he did hire a good manager (Souness, Hoddle, Strachan arguably Rednapp) they didn't think they could take the club any further and moved on. His alternative was a youth policy which whilst producing some great players, didn't produce enough to either build a decent team or enough funds in the transfer market. The alternative Wilde/Crouch gamble failed and we were left ruined. Then we got very, very lucky. Hard to get someone to cough up serious moolah if you are insisting that you maintain absolute control over affairs. Personally, I think his ego got more than in the way of any efforts to find investment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted 9 May, 2012 Share Posted 9 May, 2012 Great read - thank you. Certainly helped put some of the muddled detail in my head into some sort of order! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 9 May, 2012 Share Posted 9 May, 2012 for most of us oldies following Saints has been a trial of nerves and frequent disaster, interspersed with occasional sweet, sweet moments. there have been quite a few of them recently; I recommend you gently advise your kids that it might not always stay plain sailing in the future... Prior to 2005 it really wasn't. Top flight for 27 years. A few last day relegation fights throughout the nineties tested the nerves. Hardly the disaster you talk of above. 2005-2009 was among the worst time for most Saints fans, young or old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Shango Posted 10 May, 2012 Author Share Posted 10 May, 2012 Cheers for the kind words folks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmore Posted 10 May, 2012 Share Posted 10 May, 2012 Hard to get someone to cough up serious moolah if you are insisting that you maintain absolute control over affairs. Personally, I think his ego got more than in the way of any efforts to find investment. True - I don't believe that Rupert Lowe ever tried to find external investment in all the years he was here, until it was way, way too late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanthemanfairoak Posted 10 May, 2012 Share Posted 10 May, 2012 [QU OTE=Elmore;1363427]True - I don't believe that Rupert Lowe ever tried to find external investment in all the years he was here, until it was way, way too late he was only in it for his own gain!] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 10 May, 2012 Share Posted 10 May, 2012 Further, the article is excellent in the way it clearly traces back the debacle of appointing Sturrock over Hoddle. Sturrock was an appalling appointment who was well our of his depth. It is more obvious than ever that Hoddle had been lined up for the Saints job and with good reason. Had Hoddle been appointed I expect we would have continued our long ruin in the league to this day.of course, the minority that caused the board to get 'cold feet' to this day, and despite my long campaign have either gone in to denial or have attempted to bury the whole episode in a mire of untruths. You can see why they have attempted to ridicule likes of my campaign. However, it must be galling as I continue to hold forth the torch of truth ! There is no evidence to suggest that Hoddle would have helped to continue our 7 year stay (ruin?) in the Premiership, but as we are conjecturing about what might have been, we might as well conclude that had we stayed up, so would we have kept Lowe, Askham, Richards and all that dross we had on the board. Personally, (and happy to be included amongst those who kicked up a stink about Hoddle's projected return), I prefer with the benefit of hindsight the journey we endured, falling down the divisions in order to rid ourselves of that boardroom dross and emerge anew with Markus Liebherr and Nicola Cortese in charge. It was all worth the pain to achieve the gain. And by the way Papa Shango, thanks for a great read. The only bit missing for me was mention of the board under Wilde, with Dulieu and Hone and also the takeover attempt by SISU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 10 May, 2012 Share Posted 10 May, 2012 There is no evidence to suggest that Hoddle would have helped to continue our 7 year stay (ruin?) in the Premiership, but as we are conjecturing about what might have been, we might as well conclude that had we stayed up, so would we have kept Lowe, Askham, Richards and all that dross we had on the board. Personally, (and happy to be included amongst those who kicked up a stink about Hoddle's projected return), I prefer with the benefit of hindsight the journey we endured, falling down the divisions in order to rid ourselves of that boardroom dross and emerge anew with Markus Liebherr and Nicola Cortese in charge. It was all worth the pain to achieve the gain. And by the way Papa Shango, thanks for a great read. The only bit missing for me was mention of the board under Wilde, with Dulieu and Hone and also the takeover attempt by SISU. Fair play that you admit being against Hoddle in 2004. Rationally you would have to say that Hoddle would have stood a much better chance of keeping the club in the Premiership. Yes, we were very very luck when Marcus stepped in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yate Saint Posted 10 May, 2012 Share Posted 10 May, 2012 Good read. Brought back memories that thankfully are a bit of a blur now. I forgot about Chris Lucketti playing for us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Shango Posted 11 May, 2012 Author Share Posted 11 May, 2012 Wilde/Crouch/Lowe/Askham all absolute bellends. On the subject of Wilde, who remembers the cringe-worthy 'Lets go Wilde' t-shirts? Did anyone actually buy one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 11 May, 2012 Share Posted 11 May, 2012 On the subject of Wilde, who remembers the cringe-worthy 'Lets go Wilde' t-shirts? Did anyone actually buy one? Still wearing mine, never took it off. I also saved a whale back along. It's in the garage somewhere I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wurzel Posted 11 May, 2012 Share Posted 11 May, 2012 Excellent piece. The hurt of those few years will never go away, although the memory of a few of the names mentioned already has. Another thing I had forgotten about. Speculation soon mounted that Pardew was on his way out, especially on the last day of the season when the match-day programme was pulled from sale. Did we ever discover why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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