Gemmel Posted 4 February, 2009 Share Posted 4 February, 2009 He says he's not blaming us, just we didnt get behind them soon enough and they have to earn our support.....his latest interview. Snow reason for low crowd - Wotte Southampton boss Mark Wotte has put the Saints' lowest ever league attendance at St Mary's down to the weather. Tuesday's last-gasp 2-1 home defeat by Sheffield United was watched by just 13,257 supporters. The match only went ahead after a number of pitch inspections and safety considerations, following heavy snow. Wotte told BBC Radio Solent: "We had 17,000 on Saturday, they all went home satisfied with the performance. Today, I think it's more about the weather." He continued: "I thought it was silent in the stadium in the second half especially when you go all the way to try to win. "I think there was a very late reaction in support of the players but I know we have to earn that support. I'm not blaming the crowd, I'm just working with the players to do a better job." The result leaves the Saints facing a grim battle to avoid relegation with just 15 matches left. The new lowest league attendance beats the previous worst figure of 14,226 against Coventry City in October. Two months before that game, just over 11,000 turned up to watch the Carling Cup victory over Birmingham City. St Mary's opened its doors for the first time back in 2001 after the club switched from the intimacy of the Dell. Sell-out crowds of 32,000 regularly followed Southampton in the Premier League at the new ground before relegation in 2005. But that is a far cry from the plummeting attendances this season. Saints have won just once in front of their own supporters in the Championship in this campaign and face the prospect of relegation to the third tier of English football for the first time since 1960. Last Saturday, around 500 Saints fans went on a protest march from Southampton city centre to the stadium to voice concerns over the way the club is being run. Saints lie second bottom in the Championship and three points off safety. On Saturday they travel to fellow strugglers Watford. And Dutchman Wotte is confident of Southampton surviving. "This is a battle that we lost, but we haven't lost the war yet," he said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowballs2 Posted 4 February, 2009 Share Posted 4 February, 2009 He says he's not blaming us, just we didnt get behind them soon enough and they have to earn our support.....his latest interview. Snow reason for low crowd - Wotte Southampton boss Mark Wotte has put the Saints' lowest ever league attendance at St Mary's down to the weather. Tuesday's last-gasp 2-1 home defeat by Sheffield United was watched by just 13,257 supporters. The match only went ahead after a number of pitch inspections and safety considerations, following heavy snow. Wotte told BBC Radio Solent: "We had 17,000 on Saturday, they all went home satisfied with the performance. Today, I think it's more about the weather." He continued: "I thought it was silent in the stadium in the second half especially when you go all the way to try to win. "I think there was a very late reaction in support of the players but I know we have to earn that support. I'm not blaming the crowd, I'm just working with the players to do a better job." The result leaves the Saints facing a grim battle to avoid relegation with just 15 matches left. The new lowest league attendance beats the previous worst figure of 14,226 against Coventry City in October. Two months before that game, just over 11,000 turned up to watch the Carling Cup victory over Birmingham City. St Mary's opened its doors for the first time back in 2001 after the club switched from the intimacy of the Dell. Sell-out crowds of 32,000 regularly followed Southampton in the Premier League at the new ground before relegation in 2005. But that is a far cry from the plummeting attendances this season. Saints have won just once in front of their own supporters in the Championship in this campaign and face the prospect of relegation to the third tier of English football for the first time since 1960. Last Saturday, around 500 Saints fans went on a protest march from Southampton city centre to the stadium to voice concerns over the way the club is being run. Saints lie second bottom in the Championship and three points off safety. On Saturday they travel to fellow strugglers Watford. And Dutchman Wotte is confident of Southampton surviving. "This is a battle that we lost, but we haven't lost the war yet," he said Oh so its all our faults again...about time he laid into some of the players...or are the youth not as good as we are led to believe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Jason Posted 4 February, 2009 Author Share Posted 4 February, 2009 I dont think RL is following anyones plan except his own.If not why would some want LC back. I fully understand the logic and need to try the youth, but Jan made the mistake of youth only and a rigid formation. i was not pro NP but I was happy for him to stay because the fans were behind him.To me they gave him an easy ride compared to others, as if any other manger had taken us so close to relegation after taking the club from mid table they would be baying for his head.That said NP is doing a very good job and i will say better than I thought he would. Come on Nick, you know i'm talking about Lowe following the cost cutting plan already drawn up by Crouch. The management and team policy is all lowe's doing though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 5 February, 2009 Share Posted 5 February, 2009 Come on Nick, you know i'm talking about Lowe following the cost cutting plan already drawn up by Crouch. The management and team policy is all lowe's doing though! Jason yes it has been said that LC was going to close the corners and stop the free buses.As a man who plays to the crowd, would he though??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenridge Posted 5 February, 2009 Share Posted 5 February, 2009 Like most people I would imagine I would prefer Wotte to put all his efforts and focus into getting results on the pitch. It his not his place or in his interests to get involved in club politics, that's for the likes of Wilde and Lowe but certainly not Wotte. Get on with your own job and let the others worry about theirs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Jason Posted 5 February, 2009 Author Share Posted 5 February, 2009 Jason yes it has been said that LC was going to close the corners and stop the free buses.As a man who plays to the crowd, would he though??? As a business man that's earned his fortune the hard way, dealing with bankers, deadlines, quoting, cutting costs, having to lay people of, yes, i do believe for the good of the club he would of done so. He's a man that lives in the real world, dealing with all the employee issue's we all do, he hasn't spent 12 years in the fantasy land which is football, especially the years spent in the Premiership, money and ego growing everywhere! As a business man having to make decisions that effect real people with real jobs, real mortgages on a day to day bases there's no comparison between the 2, Crouch wins every time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
um pahars Posted 5 February, 2009 Share Posted 5 February, 2009 Like most people I would imagine I would prefer Wotte to put all his efforts and focus into getting results on the pitch. It his not his place or in his interests to get involved in club politics, that's for the likes of Wilde and Lowe but certainly not Wotte. Get on with your own job and let the others worry about theirs. If the choice was between the fans being pssed off with him for shutting the corners and stopping the buses, or being pssed off with him for overseeing the Club go into administration, then I think the choice would be rather obvious. I think Crouch is brash, gung ho and at times too emotional, but I also don't think he's (a) stupid or (b) be prepared to preside over the Club going into administration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solentstars Posted 5 February, 2009 Share Posted 5 February, 2009 If the choice was between the fans being pssed off with him for shutting the corners and stopping the buses, or being pssed off with him for overseeing the Club go into administration, then I think the choice would be rather obvious. I think Crouch is brash, gung ho and at times too emotional, but I also don't think he's (a) stupid or (b) be prepared to preside over the Club going into administration. i agree crouch has done very well in his business dealings and is not stupid, but i still do not understand why he did not give pearson a 2 year contact while he was in charge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 6 February, 2009 Share Posted 6 February, 2009 He says he's not blaming us, just we didnt get behind them soon enough and they have to earn our support.....his latest interview. Snow reason for low crowd - Wotte Southampton boss Mark Wotte has put the Saints' lowest ever league attendance at St Mary's down to the weather. Tuesday's last-gasp 2-1 home defeat by Sheffield United was watched by just 13,257 supporters. The match only went ahead after a number of pitch inspections and safety considerations, following heavy snow. Wotte told BBC Radio Solent: "We had 17,000 on Saturday, they all went home satisfied with the performance. Today, I think it's more about the weather." He continued: "I thought it was silent in the stadium in the second half especially when you go all the way to try to win. "I think there was a very late reaction in support of the players but I know we have to earn that support. I'm not blaming the crowd, I'm just working with the players to do a better job." The result leaves the Saints facing a grim battle to avoid relegation with just 15 matches left. The new lowest league attendance beats the previous worst figure of 14,226 against Coventry City in October. Two months before that game, just over 11,000 turned up to watch the Carling Cup victory over Birmingham City. St Mary's opened its doors for the first time back in 2001 after the club switched from the intimacy of the Dell. Sell-out crowds of 32,000 regularly followed Southampton in the Premier League at the new ground before relegation in 2005. But that is a far cry from the plummeting attendances this season. Saints have won just once in front of their own supporters in the Championship in this campaign and face the prospect of relegation to the third tier of English football for the first time since 1960. Last Saturday, around 500 Saints fans went on a protest march from Southampton city centre to the stadium to voice concerns over the way the club is being run. Saints lie second bottom in the Championship and three points off safety. On Saturday they travel to fellow strugglers Watford. And Dutchman Wotte is confident of Southampton surviving. "This is a battle that we lost, but we haven't lost the war yet," he said I have heard it all now. We didnt go because of the snow? LOL. This bloke is on the same Dutch smokey stuff as JP. Delusional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 6 February, 2009 Share Posted 6 February, 2009 i agree crouch has done very well in his business dealings and is not stupid, but i still do not understand why he did not give pearson a 2 year contact while he was in charge. I suppose it was because he was a risk - highly respected and promising - but unproven. I bet Leon Crouch wishes he had too now though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Jason Posted 9 February, 2009 Author Share Posted 9 February, 2009 (edited) i agree crouch has done very well in his business dealings and is not stupid, but i still do not understand why he did not give pearson a 2 year contact while he was in charge. Maybe Pearson only wanted a rolling 1 year contract? It's not the first time a rolling contract has been given to one of our managers, wasn't a favourite of Lowe? Wasn't Sturrock on one? Edited 9 February, 2009 by St. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Perrin Posted 9 February, 2009 Share Posted 9 February, 2009 I have heard it all now. We didnt go because of the snow? LOL. This bloke is on the same Dutch smokey stuff as JP. Delusional. Ermmm really? Not everyone lives down the road. I didn't go because of snow, so there's at least some truth in what he says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 9 February, 2009 Share Posted 9 February, 2009 How many of us were gutted when Strachan was appointed? not as many as when JP was appointed. As for Wotte's appointment, the fans knew he would take over so they had prepared themselves for that dissapointment. For the record, those that wanted us to pack in the nice pretty football and play a more combative direct `English' style you've got your wish - and boy is it bloody horrible to watch and just as ineffective so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 9 February, 2009 Share Posted 9 February, 2009 "We had 17,000 on Saturday, they all went home satisfied with the performance. Today, I think it's more about the weather." He continued: "I thought it was silent in the stadium in the second half especially when you go all the way to try to win. "I think there was a very late reaction in support of the players but I know we have to earn that support. I'm not blaming the crowd, I'm just working with the players to do a better job" he's right, the weather did effect the turn out, but midweek games have seen poor crowds for yonks now. He's also right that we were very quiet - the worst atmosphere ever at SMS in my opinion, but not surprising considering the terrible football on display. Gone are the days of passing entertaining stuff followed by niave defending and defeats. Now its hoof ball **** followed by defeat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 9 February, 2009 Share Posted 9 February, 2009 Maybe Pearson only wanted a rolling 1 year contract? It's not the first time a rolling contract has been given to one of our managers, wasn't a favourite of Lowe? Wasn't Sturrock on one?but it wasnt a rolling contract.It had a cut off. If LC had been so shrewd he would have got NP signed up sharpish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 9 February, 2009 Share Posted 9 February, 2009 but it wasnt a rolling contract.It had a cut off. If LC had been so shrewd he would have got NP signed up sharpish But surely most sensible "managers" would say "your job is to keep us up this season. Do that and we will negotiate a new contract at the end of the season dependant on what Division we are in"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 9 February, 2009 Share Posted 9 February, 2009 But surely most sensible "managers" would say "your job is to keep us up this season. Do that and we will negotiate a new contract at the end of the season dependant on what Division we are in"? Could be the case but as NP is a demi god surely any good business man would have had him tied to a contract. Afterall he is so good there was never a doubt that we were going to be relegated surely... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 9 February, 2009 Share Posted 9 February, 2009 Could be the case but as NP is a demi god surely any good business man would have had him tied to a contract. Afterall he is so good there was never a doubt that we were going to be relegated surely..., I suspect that NP is "a demi-god" to some people for two reasons. Firstly, he would seem to have been a better option than what we have had,(in fact almost anything would be) and secondly he wasn`t given the chance to give it a go this season with his own team. Would he have been better than "The Dutch Experiment"? I don`t know more than anyone else - but I know what my guess would be. I didn`t have a problem with NP going, providing someone better was employed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyFartPants Posted 9 February, 2009 Share Posted 9 February, 2009 , I suspect that NP is "a demi-god" to some people for two reasons. Firstly, he would seem to have been a better option than what we have had,(in fact almost anything would be) and secondly he wasn`t given the chance to give it a go this season with his own team. Would he have been better than "The Dutch Experiment"? I don`t know more than anyone else - but I know what my guess would be. I didn`t have a problem with NP going, providing someone better was employed. I wasn't overly impressed with Pearson but maybe we do him an injustice. If you come in to save a team from going down with only a limited number of games, your hands are pretty much tied until the end of the season. A whole new mindset and way to play could end in disaster with players not able to gel in time. Even a drastic formation change could cause havoc, so what does it leave you? Not much more than trying to be an inspiration from the sidelines, a lively figure using non stop encouragement and building confidence. I suppose to his credit he did this well and maybe had we stuck with him he may have been able to show his full hand this season. Equally, he might have been a barrel of poo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 9 February, 2009 Share Posted 9 February, 2009 I wasn't overly impressed with Pearson but maybe we do him an injustice. If you come in to save a team from going down with only a limited number of games, your hands are pretty much tied until the end of the season. A whole new mindset and way to play could end in disaster with players not able to gel in time. Even a drastic formation change could cause havoc, so what does it leave you? Not much more than trying to be an inspiration from the sidelines, a lively figure using non stop encouragement and building confidence. I suppose to his credit he did this well and maybe had we stuck with him he may have been able to show his full hand this season. Equally, he might have been a barrel of poo. You may well be right, but, out of interest, do you think that you would have felt more confident at the beginning of this season with NP there rather than JP/MW? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 9 February, 2009 Share Posted 9 February, 2009 You may well be right, but, out of interest, do you think that you would have felt more confident at the beginning of this season with NP there rather than JP/MW?I would have felt so, but he still may have failed.It is a question that is impossible to answer, but i believe he would have got better results at SMS, but away????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 9 February, 2009 Share Posted 9 February, 2009 I would have felt so, but he still may have failed.It is a question that is impossible to answer, but i believe he would have got better results at SMS, but away????? You just never know. That is one of the beauties of football. Who would have predicted that Chelsea would sack Scholari after just a few months when he was first appointed?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 9 February, 2009 Share Posted 9 February, 2009 You just never know. That is one of the beauties of football. Who would have predicted that Chelsea would sack Scholari after just a few months when he was first appointed??yep and they were baying for him to be England manager! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Jason Posted 9 February, 2009 Author Share Posted 9 February, 2009 But surely most sensible "managers" would say "your job is to keep us up this season. Do that and we will negotiate a new contract at the end of the season dependant on what Division we are in"? Exactly right mate, the people slagging of Crouch for not signing him on a long term contract are the same ones who'd be slagging him of should we of been relegated and be stuck with a manager on championship wages. IMO Crouch got it bang on, he got compensation from the Jocks, realised hie appointment of Dodd and Gorman were no working and sacked them, appointed Pearson and told him keep us up and we'll look at the contract in the summer, good business! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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