Was Lowe a lot closer to being right than we give him credit for?

[Nineteen Canteen]

Appointing a "back room boy" is hardly a revolutionary fall-back plan now is it?!

 

Start Gray? Steve Wigley? Been done before - you seem to be dressing up the appointment of Wotte as some incredible feat of strategic planning. Where else was he going to turn??

 

All we have done now is do what the fans were screaming out for in the first place - play the better experienced players (including those immediately farmed out on loan by Lowe) and blend in the youth. It was hardly rocket science if you know football, but that was never part of Rupert's strategy.

 

PS "spin it" - you said it, not me

 

'Experienced players immediately farmed out by Lowe' and apparently in Saga's case against his wishes. Oh, I wonder why Lowe did that? I'm not dressing up Wotte as some incredible feat of strategic planning but just strategic planning and where else was he going to turn had he not appointed Wotte? You and your it's not rocket science theory if you know football. Knowing is one thing, doing is another thing altogether.

 

I see you choose to ignore the signing of Saejis who has had a major impact on strengthening our defence and I wonder who gave us the inside track on him? Not exactly Vincent Pericard is he? Apart from the returning Saga who has been inspirational the age thing is a bit of a myth as both Skacel and Euell were used in the first half of the season and Euell was written off as being crap by many of those on this forum! Skacel had been looking like he was eating his way through his £12k pw. Remains a great pity we haven't sold him purely on a bangs per buck basis and we look vulnerable at left back whereas James has really come on in recent weeks. Oh more poistive youth over experience b0ll0x.

 

Lets also not forget that Gillett and McGoldrick look like different players and the last two games I haven't seen the latter swan about with his hands on his hips once during a game. Must be all those older players in the team.

 

Lallana remains the weak link and is working hard but it's not coming off for him and we should perhaps play with BWP down the right to reflect the good work down our left. Interesting Wotton has been largely dispensed with during our last two games for the younger Gillett.

 

Shall we drop Gillett for Wotton? Is that what the fans want? Thank god McLaggon got injured as that would really scupper your theory.

[Nineteen Canteen]

Ah stats, don't you love em! Still leaves the obvious point though, that under Crouch (using your figures) we were getting 20k+ gates, while under Lowe we're down at 17k or less. In absolute terms - given our league positions are similar - we were 17.6% better off gate-wise under Crouch. Agreed?

 

Read my previous posts and assess the stats in the light of the massive downturn in the economies. I think it does support though that 1k fans walked away simply because of Lowe but arguably if Crouch had carried on his rate of decline in one season from start to finish then we would have been worse off. Alos Lowe hasn't gone down the £1 a kid route and turn the atmosphere at home games into a kindergarten. I think Window Cleaner mentioned revenues for bums on seats so time will tell.

 

No wonder you love stats if you look at them as simply as you do i.e. in an isolation chamber.

[um pahars]

Firstly, it's interesting your own scrutiny didn't pick up the error that crowds were around the 14,000 mark under Lowe when the average is significantly higher this season. Also when I did some analysis on this a few weeks ago so as not to big up the numbers under Lowe I took out the two obvious spikes of the Forest and Man U games to reflect a more typical crowd. Did you remove the Sheff Utd game to reflect a more typical number?

 

A few posts ago I asked could we assess Lowe's performance in today's world you must have overlooked that. In a recession as bad as many of us have ever seen, with rising unemployment and the number of house repossessions on the up and those numbers barely scratching the surface at the momenet of the real underlying problems of people who have 'cashed in' on equity release deals it is likely crowd numbers would fall even if MLT was chairman. Clearly we also have the stay aways who have the spending power but out of pure prejudice against Lowe or those plastics who simply refuse to watch anything but premier league as the Man U fans so painfully and insightfully sang in our honour. 'You're only here to see Utd' which was so sweet and painful at the sametime to those of us who regularly attend home games.

 

Anyway. I digress and to play by your rules I won't attempt to balance out the spikes in attendances and the average attendance this season for the 20 games under Lowe has been 17,156 and that includes the ever popular early season Carling Cup fixture that draws lower attendances across the board than some pre-season friendlies. Doubt Crouchie had too many of those in his 12 games.

 

Interestingly, crowd numbers have increased since our first home win of the season against Norwich proving once again people choose to paint their own picture of negativity. Using the popular art of rounding attendances have only fallen below 14,500 on 4 occassions this season and 2 of those can be written off against the 'Lets can the Carling Cup' and the closure of the south's transport network due to some snow flurries.

 

All in all not bad in an environment not conducive to rising attendances and with the vocal minority trying to whip up a storm of anti-lowe rhetoric that can only help to satisfy their self fulfilling negative agendas. In other words you get what you wish for and there is a pandemic on here at the moment that reads like a desperate bunch of extremists who are on the cusp of losing sight of their dream. What is their dream? A pancea for all that ails this club and the panic is setting in over any suggested reversal in fortune as they know relegation and administration will only see the ultimate demise of Lowe and further destroy his diminishing wealth and the club's ultimate remedy.

 

Once again though they fail to see the big picture that only by keeping the enemy close and growing stronger along with them can you have any prospect of making yourself something worth fighting for (investing in). Or put it another way if you were a commodity would you prefer to be on the shelf in Poundland or Harrods?

 

If money wasn't an issue Lowe would haven't gone the Dutch youth route but he realised on a limited budget he had to try something different to find an angle to compete and it didn't pay off. Sometimes you need to fail to experience success and make sure you have a fall back option and that is what is happening now but the financial spectre looms large regardless of on the field success due to falling revenue streams and credit squeezing. Lowe deserves credit for getting us this far and getting in league with his enemy, well that was inspired. In turn I suggest those who remain prejudiced against Lowe if you want a club to support today and one that can be worthy of significant investment in the future then back Lowe and support the club. The best way to rid this club of Lowe is to help him achieve a good price for his shares and he won't do that if you refuse to support the club and continue with your moaning and whinging. Its false optimism to think an anti-Lowe agenda can bring rewards it will only bring heartache and disappointment.

 

That's far too many words to say, "I was wrong".

 

LOL.

[JustMike]

Read my previous posts and assess the stats in the light of the massive downturn in the economies. I think it does support though that 1k fans walked away simply because of Lowe but arguably if Crouch had carried on his rate of decline in one season from start to finish then we would have been worse off. Alos Lowe hasn't gone down the £1 a kid route and turn the atmosphere at home games into a kindergarten. I think Window Cleaner mentioned revenues for bums on seats so time will tell.

 

No wonder you love stats if you look at them as simply as you do i.e. in an isolation chamber.

 

what rate of decline was that then?

[OldNick]

'Experienced players immediately farmed out by Lowe' and apparently in Saga's case against his wishes. Oh, I wonder why Lowe did that? I'm not dressing up Wotte as some incredible feat of strategic planning but just strategic planning and where else was he going to turn had he not appointed Wotte? You and your it's not rocket science theory if you know football. Knowing is one thing, doing is another thing altogether.

 

I see you choose to ignore the signing of Saejis who has had a major impact on strengthening our defence and I wonder who gave us the inside track on him? Not exactly Vincent Pericard is he? Apart from the returning Saga who has been inspirational the age thing is a bit of a myth as both Skacel and Euell were used in the first half of the season and Euell was written off as being crap by many of those on this forum! Skacel had been looking like he was eating his way through his £12k pw. Remains a great pity we haven't sold him purely on a bangs per buck basis and we look vulnerable at left back whereas James has really come on in recent weeks. Oh more poistive youth over experience b0ll0x.

 

Lets also not forget that Gillett and McGoldrick look like different players and the last two games I haven't seen the latter swan about with his hands on his hips once during a game. Must be all those older players in the team.

 

Lallana remains the weak link and is working hard but it's not coming off for him and we should perhaps play with BWP down the right to reflect the good work down our left. Interesting Wotton has been largely dispensed with during our last two games for the younger Gillett.

 

Shall we drop Gillett for Wotton? Is that what the fans want? Thank god McLaggon got injured as that would really scupper your theory.

NC Wotton is injured and i would to tell you he like KD is magnificent in bringing the team spirit together.SG deserves his place and there is no animosity because of that.

I remember HR complaining that we had a quiet dressing room and under GB that carried on.KD PW BWP have got the dressing room full of laughter and spirit,a togetherness that an the old style English clubs got that little extra. I have not put this before as i thought some may scoff and make fun of before the fans could see how the morale had lifted a lttle ,but the team also do a huddle with the close staff in the dressing room before they go out onto the pitch. ALL the bits iam hearing from the dressing room are of a determination and togetherness. The players may not adore Wotte but they are growing to respect him and his methods.Have you noticed the way the team actually seem top know what they are doing and what they are supposed to be doing? A plan is being played to and so the players gain a belief not a confusion that was there until recently.

We as Churchill said are not at the beginning of the end but perhaps are at the end of the beginning.(ps i do realise i am preaching to the converted)

[Whitey Grandad]

Does that mean you were happy with last season & the personnel present?

We were talking about Davis, Skacel, Euell and Saga. As for the rest give me last season over this any day. Real football with real footballers.

[Whitey Grandad]

Lets also not forget that Gillett and McGoldrick look like different players and the last two games I haven't seen the latter swan about with his hands on his hips once during a game. Must be all those older players in the team.

I did! Last Saturday from around 70 minutes he was back to his 'dropped shoulders' state. Did I read that according to Wotte his fitness isn't good enough for the midfield role? Read into that what you will. I have criticised hime before and I am the first to say that he has improved a lot lately, but only to the state that he should have been in to start with. Don't expect me to be too impressed. (Credit to the lad for the penalty though, that took real balls).

[Whitey Grandad]

Read my previous posts and assess the stats in the light of the massive downturn in the economies. I think it does support though that 1k fans walked away simply because of Lowe but arguably if Crouch had carried on his rate of decline in one season from start to finish then we would have been worse off. Alos Lowe hasn't gone down the £1 a kid route and turn the atmosphere at home games into a kindergarten. I think Window Cleaner mentioned revenues for bums on seats so time will tell.

 

No wonder you love stats if you look at them as simply as you do i.e. in an isolation chamber.

Correct, it was more like a morgue.

[SW11_Saint]

Read my previous posts and assess the stats in the light of the massive downturn in the economies. I think it does support though that 1k fans walked away simply because of Lowe but arguably if Crouch had carried on his rate of decline in one season from start to finish then we would have been worse off. Alos Lowe hasn't gone down the £1 a kid route and turn the atmosphere at home games into a kindergarten. I think Window Cleaner mentioned revenues for bums on seats so time will tell.

 

No wonder you love stats if you look at them as simply as you do i.e. in an isolation chamber.

Merely trying to provide some balance to your very one sided view of the statistics dear boy.

 

I'm reminded of the Prodi quote - "He uses statistics like a drunk uses lamp-posts, more for support than illumination."

[northam soul]

In answer to the original question NO.

What really annoys me with this cost cutting is the excuse of closing the corners, forgive me for being thick but i have moved from block 2 to block 4 and yet we still have the same stewards and coppers on both sides of the fence if the away team bring a decent following.

If they dont bring a decent following then they are 40 yards away anyway.

Sorry for being off topic but slightly relevant.

[SW11_Saint]

'Experienced players immediately farmed out by Lowe' and apparently in Saga's case against his wishes. Oh, I wonder why Lowe did that? I'm not dressing up Wotte as some incredible feat of strategic planning but just strategic planning and where else was he going to turn had he not appointed Wotte? You and your it's not rocket science theory if you know football. Knowing is one thing, doing is another thing altogether.

 

I see you choose to ignore the signing of Saejis who has had a major impact on strengthening our defence and I wonder who gave us the inside track on him? Not exactly Vincent Pericard is he? Apart from the returning Saga who has been inspirational the age thing is a bit of a myth as both Skacel and Euell were used in the first half of the season and Euell was written off as being crap by many of those on this forum! Skacel had been looking like he was eating his way through his £12k pw. Remains a great pity we haven't sold him purely on a bangs per buck basis and we look vulnerable at left back whereas James has really come on in recent weeks. Oh more poistive youth over experience b0ll0x.

 

Lets also not forget that Gillett and McGoldrick look like different players and the last two games I haven't seen the latter swan about with his hands on his hips once during a game. Must be all those older players in the team.

 

Lallana remains the weak link and is working hard but it's not coming off for him and we should perhaps play with BWP down the right to reflect the good work down our left. Interesting Wotton has been largely dispensed with during our last two games for the younger Gillett.

 

Shall we drop Gillett for Wotton? Is that what the fans want? Thank god McLaggon got injured as that would really scupper your theory.

Sorry, too many words - you're losing me again...

 

There are pro's and con's to all of our players - the key thing is understanding the value of them, rather than just pushing them off the wage bill (ref. Saga, John etc.) - and as any layman will tell you, having a blend of youth and experience will always outweigh just throwing a bunch of kids in (because they're cheap) and hoping for the best.

 

Me and my quotes again - "A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing", Oscar Wilde. Cynical old Rupert...

[Graffito]

The answer to the question posed by the original poster is "no". Whereas there may be an element of outcome bias in some of what's now being posted - because we now know the decision to go with youth and with an unkown manager didn't work - it looked to some on here at the time a high risk strategy.

 

It's claimed e.g. Mike Richards recently, that the strategy was based on economic necessity. Would Lowe have pursued this strategy if the club had been financially stronger? I think he might. Finance was only part of the reason. The strategy fits with Lowe's views on the "Gaffer Culture", on turning "raw material" into players he can sell on for a profit and also he wasted scarce resources on more youngsters that have played few or no games for the first team when the money could have been used to keep a striker or bring in some experience.

[eurosaint]

It's been very interesting to read about Rupert's strategic plan B and how smart he has been to have kept it up his sleeve until just the right moment !

With all the surmisal and speculation as to what he 'may' or 'may not' have been thinking, I feel that there is one strong element which is missing here and that is :

Good communication between club and supporters, featuring - openness, truth, honesty, humility & integrity ! If it ever happened then sorry, but I must have missed it !

Arrogance, secrets, lies and spin have been the order of the day and I'm afraid you can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool Saints supporters all of the time !!!!

[NickG]

He can hide behind the fact that we do not know how bad the financial situation is.

 

Would we have gone bust if we kept those wages? What loan fees did we get?

 

Football is simple to judge though - on the pitch.

 

This season it hasn't been good enough.

 

Last season we were poor and could not have been much closer to relegation.

 

We got rid of loads of salaries this season, Wright x2, Lucketti, Viafara, Idiakez, Safri (big loss IMHO), John, Rasiak.

 

So what was realistic to expect?

 

There were mistakes, of course. Jan didn't work out, took too long to get good replacement for Svensson (about 3 years too long!).

 

The make up of the side isn't hugely different to the start of the season -we introduced Lallana, Gillet, James, and DMG as first team players -and they are still there.

 

The young players signed - Holmes, Schneiderlin, and Ryan Smith will still be part of the first team squad.

 

Wasn't Paul Wooton the first signing of this new set up?

 

I don't think there has been a huge U turn - except on the personality managing the team

[70's Mike]

He can hide behind the fact that we do not know how bad the financial situation is.

 

Would we have gone bust if we kept those wages? What loan fees did we get?

 

Football is simple to judge though - on the pitch.

 

This season it hasn't been good enough.

 

Last season we were poor and could not have been much closer to relegation.

 

We got rid of loads of salaries this season, Wright x2, Lucketti, Viafara, Idiakez, Safri (big loss IMHO), John, Rasiak.

 

So what was realistic to expect?

 

There were mistakes, of course. Jan didn't work out, took too long to get good replacement for Svensson (about 3 years too long!).

 

The make up of the side isn't hugely different to the start of the season -we introduced Lallana, Gillet, James, and DMG as first team players -and they are still there.

 

The young players signed - Holmes, Schneiderlin, and Ryan Smith will still be part of the first team squad.

 

Wasn't Paul Wooton the first signing of this new set up?

 

I don't think there has been a huge U turn - except on the personality managing the team

 

 

no mention of Robertson, Peckhaert, Fortune ( 3 goalkeepers on books no money ?). Gobern, Pullis and others who i never had the pleasure of watching, not forgetting White, Mills and roy of the rovers.

[NickG]

sorry don't get your point?

[Gordon Mockles]

Or Wotte, simply didn't want the first team job as he has stated many times and prefers to work in the background. Perhaps Lowe deserves credit for bringing him in the first place and knowing he had a ready made fall back plan. Then credit for persuading Wotte to step into the limelight and take the manager's job in a no lose situation as a result the JP gamble not coming off. Clever or lucky? It could be the smartest thing he has ever done if he managed to get him at this club to do the job that Wotte didn't know he wanted!

 

Having Wotte on board was simply shrewd succession planning IMO but that does not make good copy and sell local rags to the moaners.

 

So, you're implying Lowe manipulated Wotte into a job he didn't want by potentially getting the club relegated?! Call me cynical but I don't think that merits applause.

 

Appointing (& persisting) with an inexperienced and inadequate manager/youth experiment for 3/4 of the CCC season was a ridiculously stupid gamble. Lowe running the financial business, if prudent actions have kept the wolves at bay, I don't have a problem with. Interfering with the football side, I do (let's not go there, yet again!) Before anyone spouts the well-worn 'finances' mantra, we could easily have employed the current strategy or something similar to the model Pearson suggested from the onset - it's just certain factions at SFC (mentioning no names, of course *cough*) had other ideas.

 

Regardless of blame, we are in grave peril and highly likely to be relegated but I, clearly, pray we survive. The sad fact is, we've become accustomed to watching and being served rubbish at St Mary's. 2 home wins should be the norm. Whilst I don't deny it's great we've broken the hoodoo and managed 2 wins in a row, we've still got a hell of a lot to do. However, unlike our notorious Rupey mouth-piece here, I'd certainly not start hanging the bunting and sounding the fanfare quite yet.

 

*everything crossable crossed*

[Gingeletiss]

but arguably if Crouch had carried on his rate of decline in one season from start to finish then we would have been worse off.

NC'S part quote

 

 

what rate of decline was that then?

 

Don't be holding your breath too long Mike;);), it could be a long time coming:roll:

[OldNick]

no mention of Robertson' date=' Peckhaert, Fortune ( 3 goalkeepers on books no money ?). Gobern, Pullis and others who i never had the pleasure of watching, not forgetting White, Mills and roy of the rovers.[/quote']Mike all due respect but 3 goal keepers is not surprising, we had at least 4 last season at some time.Robertson only came here in a swap deal for Dyer (plus a fee)but that fell through.He then went back. Pulis was all part of the Davies deal (good business as far as Im concerned) Gobern was a free/loan. White and Mills were already on the books so I cant see any cost there.Roy of the Rovers is now managing Fulham

[sperm_john]

saints fans are incredible, just two weeks ago people calling for wottes head, marches protests general unrest etc, now hes our saviour and low had some amazing master plan, you just couldnt make this up! everyone take a step back into reality plz

[trousers]

you just couldnt make this up!

 

Oh yes you could...

[OldNick]

saints fans are incredible, just two weeks ago people calling for wottes head, marches protests general unrest etc, now hes our saviour and low had some amazing master plan, you just couldnt make this up! everyone take a step back into reality plz

some were , many on the marches were but in general the majority whilst underwhelmed gave him a little time.We are a long way of having a new messiah as manager but i do like what he says and even the fans stuff was on the button IMO.

The tone could change again by next monday but it is good not having the constant negative posts on here.

[RinNY]

I notice that many posters seem simply to assume that Lowe decides on the shape of the team and who gets to play; I SERIOUSLY doubt that there is any truth to that, which can at best be based on anecdotal evidence, not to say malicious gossip. Lowe's record with managerial appointments is mixed at best, but appointing a manager is always a gamble. Who thought WGS would be such a success for us, after leading Coventry to relegation? Do people forget how happy most fans were when Redknapp was hired, a "proper manager" who would save us from relegation? Was it not Lowe, as one of his last acts, who appointed Burley, or do I miss-remember that? At any rate, did Burley not lead us to the playoffs, and to within an ace of the playoff final? Of course, Gray, Wigley, and Portvliet were all failures, but every good manager has to start somewhere, and has little or no experience at first. Sometimes appointing a promising young guy with little experience works, like with Jim Magilton at Ipswich.

 

So, to this season: it has always been about cutting costs to avoid relegation while trying to stay in the CCC. We are not yet out of the woods on either account, by report; but there seems to be hope on both accounts. If we do survive fiscally and in the CCC, imo as a long-time non-fan of Lowe's, he will deserve considerable credit. I know people argue that for too much of the season too many youngsters were played, but you only learn which younger players can hack it by playing them, subjecting them to the stress of the real thing. You don't learn much about a player from reserve team football. We have learned that a number of our youngsters can make it: Surman is developing his game before our eyes and turning into a good all round midfielder; Lallana shows the creative flair of a good attacking midfielder, if only he can learn to score goals; James is making the right back slot his own, improving as the season goes on; McGoldrick can definitely do a job, with a bit more consistency in front of goal; Gillett has fire and passion and grit; Schneiderlin still looks a real find; Holmes has looked excellent on the left but for injuries. Yes Poortvliet got the mix of youth/experience wrong, too shaded to youth. Yes, Wotte is doing better in that regard, partly thanks to the fact that no other club wanted to buy the likes of Skacel, Saga, and Euell, so we had in the end no choice but to pay them ourselves (as difficult as that evidently is) and there was hence no point in not playing them. And of course, they know they have to perform the rest of this season to secure their own futures! You think that hasn't helped focus their minds and attitudes? And you know what? None of that is actually down to Lowe, because he doesn't determine the team or who plays or in what system: the manager does. At best we can say that after the error of Poortvliet, Lowe's choice of Wotte looks good so far; and that despite the constant rumours, he has staved off administration so far. And he should get credit for those things from those who are so eager to blame him whenever he does do anything wrong: fair's fair!

[RinNY]

no mention of Robertson' date=' Peckhaert, Fortune ( 3 goalkeepers on books no money ?). Gobern, Pullis and others who i never had the pleasure of watching, not forgetting White, Mills and roy of the rovers.[/quote']

 

An illustration of the determination to find fault no matter what! Fortune: I think you'll find we have never signed Quinton Fortune. Perhaps you mean Tommy Forecast. Check football squads: I'm pretty sure you will find they ALL have three goalkeepers. It's a must: one in the 1st team, one on the bench, one playing for the reserves. If a goalie gets injured, you need a starter and a back-up still: do you know anything about football? Robertson and Pekhart were short term loan deals for cheap but promising strikers who did not pan out. Perhaps we should simply stop trying experiments like that? But we'll lose out on some useful players if we do: remember guys like Guthrie and Chaplow, for instance? Gobern, White and Mills are players from our own academy: what on earth is your point in lumping them in here? And apparently suggesting that these youngsters are failures already too, when two of them are merely out injured, and the other is out on loan for experience.

 

Roy of the Rovers: yes, that seems to be about your level of football knowledge!

[JohnnyFartPants]

An illustration of the determination to find fault no matter what! Fortune: I think you'll find we have never signed Quinton Fortune. Perhaps you mean Tommy Forecast. Check football squads: I'm pretty sure you will find they ALL have three goalkeepers. It's a must: one in the 1st team, one on the bench, one playing for the reserves. If a goalie gets injured, you need a starter and a back-up still: do you know anything about football? Robertson and Pekhart were short term loan deals for cheap but promising strikers who did not pan out. Perhaps we should simply stop trying experiments like that? But we'll lose out on some useful players if we do: remember guys like Guthrie and Chaplow, for instance? Gobern, White and Mills are players from our own academy: what on earth is your point in lumping them in here? And apparently suggesting that these youngsters are failures already too, when two of them are merely out injured, and the other is out on loan for experience.

 

Roy of the Rovers: yes, that seems to be about your level of football knowledge!

 

Can't really argue with those facts.

[Window Cleaner]

An illustration of the determination to find fault no matter what! Fortune: I think you'll find we have never signed Quinton Fortune. Perhaps you mean Tommy Forecast. Check football squads: I'm pretty sure you will find they ALL have three goalkeepers. It's a must: one in the 1st team, one on the bench, one playing for the reserves. If a goalie gets injured, you need a starter and a back-up still: do you know anything about football? Robertson and Pekhart were short term loan deals for cheap but promising strikers who did not pan out. Perhaps we should simply stop trying experiments like that? But we'll lose out on some useful players if we do: remember guys like Guthrie and Chaplow, for instance? Gobern, White and Mills are players from our own academy: what on earth is your point in lumping them in here? And apparently suggesting that these youngsters are failures already too, when two of them are merely out injured, and the other is out on loan for experience.

 

Roy of the Rovers: yes, that seems to be about your level of football knowledge!

 

 

At least we haven't got Tubby Morton in goal though.

 

Typical CCC centre forward

Edited 2 March, 2009 by Window Cleaner

[SW11_Saint]

So, you're implying Lowe manipulated Wotte into a job he didn't want by potentially getting the club relegated?! Call me cynical but I don't think that merits applause.

But that's the 'genius' of Rupert!

 

It's truly astounding the scenarios his devotees will dream up in a desperate attempt to put him in a better light...

[Mister Neil]

....... Alos Lowe hasn't gone down the £1 a kid route and turn the atmosphere at home games into a kindergarten.....

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/article.php?page_id=11438

 

(Crystal Palace on Monday 13th April 2009 This game will have a "Kids for a Quid" promotion. All supporters 16 and under will pay just £1 for their tickets.)

 

 

Oh dear, a mouth and foot convergence!

[um pahars]

But that's the 'genius' of Rupert!

 

It's truly astounding the scenarios his devotees will dream up in a desperate attempt to put him in a better light...

 

Don't worry, I was giggling yesterday when someone was trying to intimate that it was all part of the masterplan.

 

Install Poortvliet, do whatever can be done to make him fail, get us deep in a relegation battle, boot him out, employ the person who they wanted in the first place, and then emerge as heroes:rolleyes::rolleyes:

 

X Files meets You've Been Framed meets Opportunity Knocks meets Strike It Lucky

 

How could have all been so blind that this was all a part of the act;)

[Micky]

I notice that many posters seem simply to assume that Lowe decides on the shape of the team and who gets to play; I SERIOUSLY doubt that there is any truth to that, which can at best be based on anecdotal evidence, not to say malicious gossip. Lowe's record with managerial appointments is mixed at best, but appointing a manager is always a gamble. Who thought WGS would be such a success for us, after leading Coventry to relegation? Do people forget how happy most fans were when Redknapp was hired, a "proper manager" who would save us from relegation? Was it not Lowe, as one of his last acts, who appointed Burley, or do I miss-remember that? At any rate, did Burley not lead us to the playoffs, and to within an ace of the playoff final? Of course, Gray, Wigley, and Portvliet were all failures, but every good manager has to start somewhere, and has little or no experience at first. Sometimes appointing a promising young guy with little experience works, like with Jim Magilton at Ipswich.

 

So, to this season: it has always been about cutting costs to avoid relegation while trying to stay in the CCC. We are not yet out of the woods on either account, by report; but there seems to be hope on both accounts. If we do survive fiscally and in the CCC, imo as a long-time non-fan of Lowe's, he will deserve considerable credit. I know people argue that for too much of the season too many youngsters were played, but you only learn which younger players can hack it by playing them, subjecting them to the stress of the real thing. You don't learn much about a player from reserve team football. We have learned that a number of our youngsters can make it: Surman is developing his game before our eyes and turning into a good all round midfielder; Lallana shows the creative flair of a good attacking midfielder, if only he can learn to score goals; James is making the right back slot his own, improving as the season goes on; McGoldrick can definitely do a job, with a bit more consistency in front of goal; Gillett has fire and passion and grit; Schneiderlin still looks a real find; Holmes has looked excellent on the left but for injuries. Yes Poortvliet got the mix of youth/experience wrong, too shaded to youth. Yes, Wotte is doing better in that regard, partly thanks to the fact that no other club wanted to buy the likes of Skacel, Saga, and Euell, so we had in the end no choice but to pay them ourselves (as difficult as that evidently is) and there was hence no point in not playing them. And of course, they know they have to perform the rest of this season to secure their own futures! You think that hasn't helped focus their minds and attitudes? And you know what? None of that is actually down to Lowe, because he doesn't determine the team or who plays or in what system: the manager does. At best we can say that after the error of Poortvliet, Lowe's choice of Wotte looks good so far; and that despite the constant rumours, he has staved off administration so far. And he should get credit for those things from those who are so eager to blame him whenever he does do anything wrong: fair's fair!

 

Brave post - nice to hear a balanced view and argument instead of the usual 'Lowe is bad, shoot him on sight, kill the 'bar steward'' rhetoric which is so prevalent here these days.

 

Mind you - I guess we are now both in danger of being labelled as 'Lowe Luvvies' - stand by...!

[Legod Third Coming]

I notice that many posters seem simply to assume that Lowe decides on the shape of the team and who gets to play; I SERIOUSLY doubt that there is any truth to that, which can at best be based on anecdotal evidence, not to say malicious gossip. Lowe's record with managerial appointments is mixed at best, but appointing a manager is always a gamble. Who thought WGS would be such a success for us, after leading Coventry to relegation? Do people forget how happy most fans were when Redknapp was hired, a "proper manager" who would save us from relegation? Was it not Lowe, as one of his last acts, who appointed Burley, or do I miss-remember that? At any rate, did Burley not lead us to the playoffs, and to within an ace of the playoff final? Of course, Gray, Wigley, and Portvliet were all failures, but every good manager has to start somewhere, and has little or no experience at first. Sometimes appointing a promising young guy with little experience works, like with Jim Magilton at Ipswich.

 

So, to this season: it has always been about cutting costs to avoid relegation while trying to stay in the CCC. We are not yet out of the woods on either account, by report; but there seems to be hope on both accounts. If we do survive fiscally and in the CCC, imo as a long-time non-fan of Lowe's, he will deserve considerable credit. I know people argue that for too much of the season too many youngsters were played, but you only learn which younger players can hack it by playing them, subjecting them to the stress of the real thing. You don't learn much about a player from reserve team football. We have learned that a number of our youngsters can make it: Surman is developing his game before our eyes and turning into a good all round midfielder; Lallana shows the creative flair of a good attacking midfielder, if only he can learn to score goals; James is making the right back slot his own, improving as the season goes on; McGoldrick can definitely do a job, with a bit more consistency in front of goal; Gillett has fire and passion and grit; Schneiderlin still looks a real find; Holmes has looked excellent on the left but for injuries. Yes Poortvliet got the mix of youth/experience wrong, too shaded to youth. Yes, Wotte is doing better in that regard, partly thanks to the fact that no other club wanted to buy the likes of Skacel, Saga, and Euell, so we had in the end no choice but to pay them ourselves (as difficult as that evidently is) and there was hence no point in not playing them. And of course, they know they have to perform the rest of this season to secure their own futures! You think that hasn't helped focus their minds and attitudes? And you know what? None of that is actually down to Lowe, because he doesn't determine the team or who plays or in what system: the manager does. At best we can say that after the error of Poortvliet, Lowe's choice of Wotte looks good so far; and that despite the constant rumours, he has staved off administration so far. And he should get credit for those things from those who are so eager to blame him whenever he does do anything wrong: fair's fair!

 

Er, so we are to congratulate Lowe for taking us closer to relegation out of the Championship than we have been in our history because he 'learned' that JP wasn't up to the job, and has now discovered that a blend of experience and youth are better than youth alone... right.

 

You'll forgive me if I don't congratulate the man who set fire to my house if he throws a bucket of water in its general direction as he runs away...

 

Why did Lowe not work with Pearson?

 

Why did he have to try an approach to football that has never been tried in this country?

 

Why do WE have to be different?

 

What's wrong with looking at the most successful clubs in the world and trying to emulate them, rather than wanting to change football and suffering in the process?

 

What happened to the revolutionary approach, btw?

 

You have to face facts. Rupert offered us Betamax and the world chose VHS.

 

And I'm far from as vociferous a critic as some.

 

Here are some real undsisputed facts:

 

1. Share price halved.

 

2. Crowds down.

 

3. Income down.

 

4. Worst home record ever.

 

5. Inside the relegation zone.

 

And that's before we start on customers protesting to have him removed...

 

Hardly grounds for champagne celebration...

[um pahars]

You'll forgive me if I don't congratulate the man who set fire to my house if he throws a bucket of water in its general direction as he runs away......

 

That also made me giggle:D:D

[1965onwards]

Seems too many on here have been taught by Alistair Campbell.

 

Professional "spinners" perhaps?

[RinNY]

Er, so we are to congratulate Lowe for taking us closer to relegation out of the Championship than we have been in our history because he 'learned' that JP wasn't up to the job, and has now discovered that a blend of experience and youth are better than youth alone... right.

 

You'll forgive me if I don't congratulate the man who set fire to my house if he throws a bucket of water in its general direction as he runs away...

 

Why did Lowe not work with Pearson?

 

Why did he have to try an approach to football that has never been tried in this country?

 

Why do WE have to be different?

 

What's wrong with looking at the most successful clubs in the world and trying to emulate them, rather than wanting to change football and suffering in the process?

 

What happened to the revolutionary approach, btw?

 

You have to face facts. Rupert offered us Betamax and the world chose VHS.

 

And I'm far from as vociferous a critic as some.

 

Here are some real undsisputed facts:

 

1. Share price halved.

 

2. Crowds down.

 

3. Income down.

 

4. Worst home record ever.

 

5. Inside the relegation zone.

 

And that's before we start on customers protesting to have him removed...

 

Hardly grounds for champagne celebration...

 

 

A couple of points, though I fear it's probably a waste of time.

 

You ignore the basic premise with which I begin and which underpins everything I wrote: this season was always going to be about cutting costs and hoping to survive, both fiscally (in the first place) and in the CCC. In insisting on blaming Lowe for our precarious position, you give the man WAY too much credit: we are where we are in great part because we were (and likely still are) on the verge of economic meltdown, and drastic cost-cutting measures had to be taken. If you know differently, I'd be pleased to hear it, but I emphasize the word "KNOW": telling us that you don't "think" the finances can have been all that dire hardly constitutes a worthwhile argument, in the face of the various people in the club with actual knowledge of the finances who have publicly stated the opposite.

 

You say we should have emulated "the most successful clubs in the world": who are they then? I take it you don't mean Ajax of the 70s and 90s, or Arsenal of the past 10 years, who have had enormous success playing "total football"? I'm not sure in fact what you do mean, if anything, by that statement.

 

You don't like Lowe, fair enough; you blame him for much that has gone wrong at SFC, fair enough. I still say that, given the starting circumstances this season of a huge financial hole and too many senior players who had underperformed and were earning more than we could afford to pay, leading to a real and imminent threat of administration, that IF we do succeed in reaching the end of this season having survived in the CCC and staved off administration, Lowe will deserve considerable credit. I grant that people like you will never give him it, but that is rather my point! You overestimate his input on everything you perceive as bad (thus when Saints play badly it's because of Lowe's players and tactics, though Chairmen do not pick teams, train players, or establish tactics), and underestimate his contribution to anything that may go right (thus, if the team plays well its in spite of Lowe, and if we are not in administration, it's because Lowe's plot to put us there is not working), because you have a warped view of the man as some dark figure of evil. Whatever ...

[ottery st mary]

Brave post - nice to hear a balanced view and argument instead of the usual 'Lowe is bad, shoot him on sight, kill the 'bar steward'' rhetoric which is so prevalent here these days.

 

Mind you - I guess we are now both in danger of being labelled as 'Lowe Luvvies' - stand by...!

 

No you and your mates remind more of James Bond types.

[um pahars]

because you have a warped view of the man as some dark figure of evil. Whatever ...

 

I'm sorry RinNY, but the minute you stoop to such lazy criticism of others, then you lose all respect and credibility. You've done it before, so it is becoming rather tiresome now. Just because you repeat it a number of times, it still won't make it right.

 

The vast, vast majority of those supporters who believe Lowe is not the right man to lead us do so for validly held reasons. Of course it is their own opinion, but the vast majority know why they think that way and they put their thoughts across in a rational manner.

 

I never had LeGod Third Coming as a rabid anti-Loweite (I even think he was fairly pro him at one stage, but I am happy to stand corrected) and he has given a number of reasons as to why he believes Lowe has made mistakes. Now of course you may not agree with them and you may even find some of them rather ridiculous (I don't BTW), but it is rather pathetic to dismiss his views with such a lame last line.

 

I find it as rather lazy, ignorant and insulting, but then again it's also the argument of last resort.

[Legod Third Coming]

A couple of points, though I fear it's probably a waste of time.

 

You ignore the basic premise with which I begin and which underpins everything I wrote: this season was always going to be about cutting costs and hoping to survive, both fiscally (in the first place) and in the CCC. In insisting on blaming Lowe for our precarious position, you give the man WAY too much credit: we are where we are in great part because we were (and likely still are) on the verge of economic meltdown, and drastic cost-cutting measures had to be taken. If you know differently, I'd be pleased to hear it, but I emphasize the word "KNOW": telling us that you don't "think" the finances can have been all that dire hardly constitutes a worthwhile argument, in the face of the various people in the club with actual knowledge of the finances who have publicly stated the opposite.

 

You say we should have emulated "the most successful clubs in the world": who are they then? I take it you don't mean Ajax of the 70s and 90s, or Arsenal of the past 10 years, who have had enormous success playing "total football"? I'm not sure in fact what you do mean, if anything, by that statement.

 

You don't like Lowe, fair enough; you blame him for much that has gone wrong at SFC, fair enough. I still say that, given the starting circumstances this season of a huge financial hole and too many senior players who had underperformed and were earning more than we could afford to pay, leading to a real and imminent threat of administration, that IF we do succeed in reaching the end of this season having survived in the CCC and staved off administration, Lowe will deserve considerable credit. I grant that people like you will never give him it, but that is rather my point! You overestimate his input on everything you perceive as bad (thus when Saints play badly it's because of Lowe's players and tactics, though Chairmen do not pick teams, train players, or establish tactics), and underestimate his contribution to anything that may go right (thus, if the team plays well its in spite of Lowe, and if we are not in administration, it's because Lowe's plot to put us there is not working), because you have a warped view of the man as some dark figure of evil. Whatever ...

 

 

Firstly, I'm a grown man running a business. I have no view of him as being a charicature. If you want a debate on salient points let's have one. I didn't accuse you of being a 'Lowe luvvie' I'd be grateful if you'd extend me the same courtesy.

 

The initial cause of our financial problems was not the economy but relegation from the Premiership for which Lowe must be accountable - that's the essence of being in charge of a business.

 

From there, I agree that last season decisions were clearly taken that affected the finances. To what degree we do not know. Many of those decisions were taken by Michael Wilde who is equally as culpable as Lowe in our current situation.

 

What we do know is this:

 

1. They discarded with the services of a manager who is currently top of the league below us.

 

2. They appointed and espoused a new revolutionary coaching set up which has failed.

 

3. They have and continue to alienate a large number of paying customers.

 

4. Financially they have presided over a collapse in share value and income.

 

All of these are beyond dispute.

 

If Lowe is modelling us on Arsenal, perhaps he would care to recognise that their success is down (and has been ascribed by the board to) ARSENE WENGER and his tenure at the club. I think while he has been there was have been through 13 managers, but do correct me...

 

I broadly concur that if we escape this season with survival financially and in the league it will be considered a success - but ONLY because that is the picture painted for us by a far from transparent board. And because the hole into which we managed to dig ourselves under Lowe's choice of manager in JP, is so deep we will be lucky to escape alive.

[1965onwards]

IMHO,the major problem with this seasons experiment was not so much the conception and implimentation,but the lack of early objective assessment.

 

"Total football" requires intelligence,athleticism,skill,pace and correct attitude.Not even Arsenal can manage all these attributes in sufficient measure in enough players to compete fully.

 

18 year old players are what they are,they can improve with age and experience,but the overwhelming majority will only improve a modest amount,the more modest the player the less they will improve.

 

JP and Wotte should have been able to see,and maybe they did,that they did not have the raw material for "Total Football".They have been around professional football all their lives,they would have known what the young players were capable of,and the extent to which young players can improve.

 

Yet they carried on regardless,and the first few games will have left them in no doubt that they were trying to **** in the wind.And no doubt they were also shocked by the competitive nature of the CCC.

 

Pre-season games,training and half a dozen games,should have been plenty to make a realistic assessmant of the young players.If the experiment had been brought to a halt at that time,fans would have cut Lowe a lot more slack.

 

The fact that the experiment lasted into January shows that there were 3 massive egos at play willing to test the ideas to destruction.

 

Complete pig-headed madness.

[sidthesquid]

Firstly, I'm a grown man running a business. I have no view of him as being a charicature. If you want a debate on salient points let's have one. I didn't accuse you of being a 'Lowe luvvie' I'd be grateful if you'd extend me the same courtesy.

 

The initial cause of our financial problems was not the economy but relegation from the Premiership for which Lowe must be accountable - that's the essence of being in charge of a business.

 

From there, I agree that last season decisions were clearly taken that affected the finances. To what degree we do not know. Many of those decisions were taken by Michael Wilde who is equally as culpable as Lowe in our current situation.

 

What we do know is this:

 

1. They discarded with the services of a manager who is currently top of the league below us.

 

2. They appointed and espoused a new revolutionary coaching set up which has failed.

 

3. They have and continue to alienate a large number of paying customers.

 

4. Financially they have presided over a collapse in share value and income.

 

All of these are beyond dispute.

 

If Lowe is modelling us on Arsenal, perhaps he would care to recognise that their success is down (and has been ascribed by the board to) ARSENE WENGER and his tenure at the club. I think while he has been there was have been through 13 managers, but do correct me...

 

I broadly concur that if we escape this season with survival financially and in the league it will be considered a success - but ONLY because that is the picture painted for us by a far from transparent board. And because the hole into which we managed to dig ourselves under Lowe's choice of manager in JP, is so deep we will be lucky to escape alive.

 

Please let the relegation thing go - sh1t happens & chairmen don't usually resign because of it, managers do. The blame for the financial mess, too, can be endlessly apportioned, but what is the point. Everyone involved is in some part guilty, but it, too, is history. And if we stay up this year, it will be an achievement of miraculous proportions

Of the other points

1. Just playing devil's advocate, but do you why Pearson left? As far as I know nobody has ever spoken in detail except it was financial. For all you and I know Pearson was told that we couldn't afford his current salary, that he would have no money to spend and he would be expected to drastically cut the wage bill if he stayed. He said f00k that, I've had an offer of better money from Leicester and the biggest budget in the division, I'm off I don't know if this is true, or if Rupert hauled him in on day one and said, On your bike. Nobody does. It's conjecture, not fact

 

2. It did fail, but it was a) brave & b) borne partly from the disastrous way the oldest team in the division performed during the peceeding season

 

3. Maybe, but Lowe's mere existence is enough to send some people over the edge

 

4. That was already well on the way, excluding any other external factors(eg global economic meltdown) that may have added to it

[Legod Third Coming]

Please let the relegation thing go - sh1t happens & chairmen don't usually resign because of it, managers do. The blame for the financial mess, too, can be endlessly apportioned, but what is the point. Everyone involved is in some part guilty, but it, too, is history. And if we stay up this year, it will be an achievement of miraculous proportions

Of the other points

1. Just playing devil's advocate, but do you why Pearson left? As far as I know nobody has ever spoken in detail except it was financial. For all you and I know Pearson was told that we couldn't afford his current salary, that he would have no money to spend and he would be expected to drastically cut the wage bill if he stayed. He said f00k that, I've had an offer of better money from Leicester and the biggest budget in the division, I'm off I don't know if this is true, or if Rupert hauled him in on day one and said, On your bike. Nobody does. It's conjecture, not fact

 

2. It did fail, but it was a) brave & b) borne partly from the disastrous way the oldest team in the division performed during the peceeding season

 

3. Maybe, but Lowe's mere existence is enough to send some people over the edge

 

4. That was already well on the way, excluding any other external factors(eg global economic meltdown) that may have added to it

 

 

These are crazy arguments that effectively say - "Lowe has failed mutliply but let it go and let him have another crack..."

 

Tell me, of all the people in the world who have experience of SUCCESS in business and in football, what is your motivation for sticking with someone who doesn't?

 

Ignore the share price - not his fault.

 

Ignore relegation - not his fault (despite the other one looming).

 

Ignore the managerial turnover and failure to retain a man who is now proving himself adept at management...

 

Come off it.

 

I don't need to prove anything. You need to demonstrate what he has DONE and WILL DO that means we should be retaining his services.

 

You dismiss facts with such casual abandon. Are you a member of the Sweeney or Labour party by any chance?

[um pahars]

These are crazy arguments

 

I think you've saved me some time replying there.

 

I just got to the bit about Pearson and thought "Fck me, he hasn't got a clue".

 

I don't mind people having different opinions, but he has just been making stuff up on a number of threads recently.:smt048:rolleyes::smt048

[alpine_saint]

 

And you know what? None of that is actually down to Lowe, because he doesn't determine the team or who plays or in what system: the manager does.

 

What a crock of shiiit.

[Dark Munster]

Please let the relegation thing go - sh1t happens & chairmen don't usually resign because of it, managers do. The blame for the financial mess, too, can be endlessly apportioned, but what is the point. Everyone involved is in some part guilty, but it, too, is history. And if we stay up this year, it will be an achievement of miraculous proportions

Of the other points

1. Just playing devil's advocate, but do you why Pearson left? As far as I know nobody has ever spoken in detail except it was financial. For all you and I know Pearson was told that we couldn't afford his current salary, that he would have no money to spend and he would be expected to drastically cut the wage bill if he stayed. He said f00k that, I've had an offer of better money from Leicester and the biggest budget in the division, I'm off I don't know if this is true, or if Rupert hauled him in on day one and said, On your bike. Nobody does. It's conjecture, not fact

 

2. It did fail, but it was a) brave & b) borne partly from the disastrous way the oldest team in the division performed during the peceeding season

 

3. Maybe, but Lowe's mere existence is enough to send some people over the edge

 

4. That was already well on the way, excluding any other external factors(eg global economic meltdown) that may have added to it

 

Sigh, here we go again. Um Pahars, could you set him straight, please? Ta.

[corsacar saint]

Why did Portviet play as many as 8 youngsters in the team at one go? Was this down to

Lowe. If so that tells everyone exactly what we as fans need to know. Irrespective the

man knows absolutely nothing about the football side of things and never will.

Before you Lowe fans castigate my longheld opinions, I said that if the man stuck

only to the financial side when he retuned, we as fans would have to live with that.

Unfortunately there was never a chance that the pompous buffoon would ever stick to what he is allegedly good at.

[sidthesquid]

I think you've saved me some time replying there.

 

I just got to the bit about Pearson and thought "Fck me, he hasn't got a clue".

 

I don't mind people having different opinions, but he has just been making stuff up on a number of threads recently.:smt048:rolleyes::smt048

 

Before you start getting f*cking offensive - 1. What exactly happened to Pearson? If you REALLY know, I'd like to know. I wasn't claiming to know what happened, I just get sick of other people putting across their conjecture as fact. If someone has the truth, please share it with me 2. I do not make stuff up. Like every other tw*t on here my memory is not perfect, but I resent you claiming I make stuff up

And 3, for your mate - where in my post did I state that I wanted Lowe to stay

I just get so, so bored of people on here trying to rewrite history all the time & going on and on about bloody relegation just to suit their own agendas

I genuinely do not believe I have an agenda beyond trying to get my point of view across. I think Lowe has blown it and can never re-unite the club, but I also think Crouch blew all his legitamacy, too. I genuinely just don't care that much who is in the boardroom & the less I know about them the happier I am, but I seem to end up on here defending Lowe because so much cr*p gets talked about him to keep other people's endless negative agendas going. As discussed endlessly there are a long list of people at fault for relegation and I am bored of reading about it, likewise the financial problems. They're all a bunch of c*nts in the boardroom & they all need to go.

[sidthesquid]

These are crazy arguments that effectively say - "Lowe has failed mutliply but let it go and let him have another crack..."

 

Tell me, of all the people in the world who have experience of SUCCESS in business and in football, what is your motivation for sticking with someone who doesn't?

 

Ignore the share price - not his fault.

 

Ignore relegation - not his fault (despite the other one looming).

 

Ignore the managerial turnover and failure to retain a man who is now proving himself adept at management...

 

Come off it.

 

I don't need to prove anything. You need to demonstrate what he has DONE and WILL DO that means we should be retaining his services.

 

You dismiss facts with such casual abandon. Are you a member of the Sweeney or Labour party by any chance?

 

Btw, you call my arguments crazy but you did not actually answer any of them, just got back on your soapbox and started another rant

[um pahars]

Sigh, here we go again. Um Pahars, could you set him straight, please? Ta.

 

What would be the fcking point???

[NickG]

At least we haven't got Tubby Morton in goal though.

 

Typical CCC centre forward

 

sure he played against us about 8 days ago?

[Legod Third Coming]

Btw, you call my arguments crazy but you did not actually answer any of them, just got back on your soapbox and started another rant

 

Get a grip mate - diazepam, alcahol, whacky-backy... take your pick.

 

No rants, just plain questions which you don't appear to be able to answer.

 

Your line sounds like the government - it was all someone else's fault.

 

All of the arguments in support of Lowe don't add up. Hell, even I wanted to give the guy a chance when he came back but look at the state we're in.

 

How can you keep extending him rope when he's hanging the lot of us?

 

Ok, for the last time - but this is it:

 

1. Forget relegation - hard to, since IT is the root cause of our financial plight. Yes usually managers get the blame. But when you have been through 10 in 10 seasons and 3 in one season... You don't lay that at Lowe's door?? In which case, whose fault was it, the bogeyman?

 

2. The share price - collapsing because of the 'depression'. Sure. I see Astra Zeneca's market capitalisation has halved too...oh wait... no it hasn't... Just the banks which have been equally appallingly run...

 

3. The JP experiment was a good thing/necessary?? How?

 

4. Pearson wanted to go? Was too expensive? Hmmm. Says whom? Even if he was, why appoint a totally unproven nonentity from Holland with the equivalent of Blue Sq experience? Why not relent and understand that MANAGERS make football clubs not Chairman or boards, good m-a-n-a-g-e-r-s... not rocket science... Why not appoint Nick Holmes? He has the same qualification as JP (a man I actually liked a great deal).

 

Oh I'm bored now, I feel like I'm talking to my nephew with a broken vase in his hand telling me it leapt off the shelf and landed on the floor already broken, and that his drop-kick from the hallway simply hit it on the way down...

[SW11_Saint]

X Files meets You've Been Framed meets Opportunity Knocks meets Strike It Luck

Now you have me thinking... how about our next manager is appointed via an "It's a Knockout" type game! Rupert has to cycle - wearing flippers and a snorkel - with a huge effigy of McMenemy (holding the FA Cup) on his shoulders to a circular swimming pool. He then swims out to a greased platform in the middle and Wilde, Askham, Cowan etc. (all blindfolded) throw beach balls to him with pictures of various managerial candidates on them. Which ever one he is able to catch and hold on to (without slipping off the platform) by the time Stuart Hall blows the whistle is the winner, and is appointed our next coach.

 

They then all troop off to a press conference to talk about our new winning "strategy".