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

[Legod Third Coming]

Unhappy at the money they earn mainly.

 

Not always true. Countless research shows that money is a contributor but if it were purely money everyone would be a banker and there would be no nurses.

 

Not after a philospohical debate, but what often happens when pople are unhappy is they look for a reason and a way to change and they pick on money as it's the obvious thing they see - what they don't see is lack of respect, lack of support, poor motivation, lack of recognition. These are things the human mind struggles to visualise.

 

Why should football managers be any different?

 

Why does a manager need 300k when he's on 220k, for example?

 

Like I said, who knows the real motivations involved, what we do know is the turnover figure is way too high for any business and suggests an endemic problem.

[Legod Third Coming]

Unhappy at the money they earn mainly.

 

Not always true. Countless research shows that money is a contributor but if it were purely money everyone would be a banker and there would be no nurses.

 

Not after a philospohical debate, but what often happens when pople are unhappy is they look for a reason and a way to change and they pick on money as it's the obvious thing they see - what they don't see is lack of respect, lack of support, poor motivation, lack of recognition. These are things the human mind struggles to visualise.

 

Why should football managers be any different?

 

Why does a manager need 300k when he's on 220k, for example?

 

Like I said, who knows the real motivations involved, what we do know is the turnover figure is way too high for any business and suggests an endemic problem.

[JustMike]

oh dear, oh dear..Lord Lowe has gone against your wishes!! :-)

 

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

 

"monday, 13th April...Kids for a quid"

 

come on then NC, what do you think of this?

[JustMike]

oh dear, oh dear..Lord Lowe has gone against your wishes!! :-)

 

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

 

"monday, 13th April...Kids for a quid"

 

come on then NC, what do you think of this?

[JohnnyFartPants]

Not always true. Countless research shows that money is a contributor but if it were purely money everyone would be a banker and there would be no nurses.

 

Not after a philospohical debate, but what often happens when pople are unhappy is they look for a reason and a way to change and they pick on money as it's the obvious thing they see - what they don't see is lack of respect, lack of support, poor motivation, lack of recognition. These are things the human mind struggles to visualise.

 

Why should football managers be any different?

 

Why does a manager need 300k when he's on 220k, for example?

 

Like I said, who knows the real motivations involved, what we do know is the turnover figure is way too high for any business and suggests an endemic problem.

 

You choose your profession based on many factors, largely ability to do the job. Once doing the job, most move for moolah.

[JohnnyFartPants]

Not always true. Countless research shows that money is a contributor but if it were purely money everyone would be a banker and there would be no nurses.

 

Not after a philospohical debate, but what often happens when pople are unhappy is they look for a reason and a way to change and they pick on money as it's the obvious thing they see - what they don't see is lack of respect, lack of support, poor motivation, lack of recognition. These are things the human mind struggles to visualise.

 

Why should football managers be any different?

 

Why does a manager need 300k when he's on 220k, for example?

 

Like I said, who knows the real motivations involved, what we do know is the turnover figure is way too high for any business and suggests an endemic problem.

 

You choose your profession based on many factors, largely ability to do the job. Once doing the job, most move for moolah.

[SW11_Saint]

Do not compare Leicester in L1 to CCC or you may as well compare us and WBA or Man U.Different leagues, wait for next season and then lets judge NP how good he is.

Comparing Leicester to a CCC team is like comparing us to Man Utd.?!?? Please... GET REAL!

 

The fact as I see it is that he so very nearly took us down, and his main attribute was that many of the disbelievers of now were right behind him and so the fanbase were united. That was his main asset to my mind, LC could not have been that convinced or he would have signed him up well before RL came back in.

Ahh... but there's such an important distinction isn't there between "nearly" and "did"...? (let's not underplay it, eh?)

[SW11_Saint]

Do not compare Leicester in L1 to CCC or you may as well compare us and WBA or Man U.Different leagues, wait for next season and then lets judge NP how good he is.

Comparing Leicester to a CCC team is like comparing us to Man Utd.?!?? Please... GET REAL!

 

The fact as I see it is that he so very nearly took us down, and his main attribute was that many of the disbelievers of now were right behind him and so the fanbase were united. That was his main asset to my mind, LC could not have been that convinced or he would have signed him up well before RL came back in.

Ahh... but there's such an important distinction isn't there between "nearly" and "did"...? (let's not underplay it, eh?)

[Legod Third Coming]

You choose your profession based on many factors, largely ability to do the job. Once doing the job, most move for moolah.

 

Irrespective, given that Strachan left with NO job to go to that can hardly have been his motivation. Nor any number of managers we 'lost'...

[Legod Third Coming]

You choose your profession based on many factors, largely ability to do the job. Once doing the job, most move for moolah.

 

Irrespective, given that Strachan left with NO job to go to that can hardly have been his motivation. Nor any number of managers we 'lost'...

[um pahars]

The Eurosceptic bit is interesting... I recall a quote from Lowe at the time he was defending his appointment of Wigley -

 

"I make no excuse for supporting young British managerial talent" (or words to that effect)

 

I wonder why the same didn't apply to Pearson? And why - for Lowe of all people - have this incredible volte-face and decide it is better to support (not so young) foreign talent at the expense of British talent?

 

'Cheaper' European labour taking "British jobs" - whatever must his chums from the Referendum Party think?!

 

The decision to boot Pearson out is perplexing when you look at it in that light, as arguably he ticked all the boxes which Lowe normally likes, good coaching skills, young(ish), up and coming, no history, English, works with youngsters etc etc etc.

 

In fact, when you look at it like that then you wonder if the decision to get rid of him was more out of a fit of pique due to him being a Crouch appointment.

 

And you can always rest assured that the majority of emotional decisions are very often the ones that turn out to be mistakes.

 

And when you look at Poortvliet and compare him back to that Wigley comment:

 

"I make no apologies for giving up and coming young English managers or players a start to their career",

 

then you have to say that Poortvliet was neither young, not English LOL.

 

If you ask me, he makes these things up as he goes along;)

[um pahars]

The Eurosceptic bit is interesting... I recall a quote from Lowe at the time he was defending his appointment of Wigley -

 

"I make no excuse for supporting young British managerial talent" (or words to that effect)

 

I wonder why the same didn't apply to Pearson? And why - for Lowe of all people - have this incredible volte-face and decide it is better to support (not so young) foreign talent at the expense of British talent?

 

'Cheaper' European labour taking "British jobs" - whatever must his chums from the Referendum Party think?!

 

The decision to boot Pearson out is perplexing when you look at it in that light, as arguably he ticked all the boxes which Lowe normally likes, good coaching skills, young(ish), up and coming, no history, English, works with youngsters etc etc etc.

 

In fact, when you look at it like that then you wonder if the decision to get rid of him was more out of a fit of pique due to him being a Crouch appointment.

 

And you can always rest assured that the majority of emotional decisions are very often the ones that turn out to be mistakes.

 

And when you look at Poortvliet and compare him back to that Wigley comment:

 

"I make no apologies for giving up and coming young English managers or players a start to their career",

 

then you have to say that Poortvliet was neither young, not English LOL.

 

If you ask me, he makes these things up as he goes along;)

[sidthesquid]

Then we agree at last!

 

This is freaky. I once had that Alpine Saint agreeing with me, too. Is it because you finally read what I wrote rather than jumping to assumptions....?

[sidthesquid]

Then we agree at last!

 

This is freaky. I once had that Alpine Saint agreeing with me, too. Is it because you finally read what I wrote rather than jumping to assumptions....?

[SW11_Saint]

The decision to boot Pearson out is perplexing when you look at it in that light, as arguably he ticked all the boxes which Lowe normally likes, good coaching skills, young(ish), up and coming, no history, English, works with youngsters etc etc etc.

 

In fact, when you look at it like that then you wonder if the decision to get rid of him was more out of a fit of pique due to him being a Crouch appointment.

 

And you can always rest assured that the majority of emotional decisions are very often the ones that turn out to be mistakes.

 

And when you look at Poortvliet and compare him back to that Wigley comment:

 

"I make no apologies for giving up and coming young English managers or players a start to their career",

 

then you have to say that Poortvliet was neither young, not English LOL.

 

If you ask me, he makes these things up as he goes along;)

Thanks for the correct quote Um, thought it was something along those lines.

 

It does indeed seem that dear old Rupes has finally seen the light, Europe-wise, and now sees the benefit of a bigger market and the potential for 'cheaper' labour.

 

Can't remember him coming out with a similar "I make no apologies for giving Dutch coaches with, at best, mixed track records a start to their English league careers". Perhaps he was just thinking it to himself in that press conference?

 

As you say, does beg the question why was Pearson seen in such a different light to Wigley, given the checklist you mention? I too share the suspicion that this may well have been a petulant move to "get one over" Leon Crouch and again stamp his authority on the club (well done Rupes - nothing like cutting ones nose off to spite ones face (and everyone elses!)). Of course even though Wotte let slip the timing the other night, there was the convenient "cost-cutting" smokescreen to push through the BOGOF deal for the Dutchies. Shame one of them went off too soon and had to be returned...

[SW11_Saint]

The decision to boot Pearson out is perplexing when you look at it in that light, as arguably he ticked all the boxes which Lowe normally likes, good coaching skills, young(ish), up and coming, no history, English, works with youngsters etc etc etc.

 

In fact, when you look at it like that then you wonder if the decision to get rid of him was more out of a fit of pique due to him being a Crouch appointment.

 

And you can always rest assured that the majority of emotional decisions are very often the ones that turn out to be mistakes.

 

And when you look at Poortvliet and compare him back to that Wigley comment:

 

"I make no apologies for giving up and coming young English managers or players a start to their career",

 

then you have to say that Poortvliet was neither young, not English LOL.

 

If you ask me, he makes these things up as he goes along;)

Thanks for the correct quote Um, thought it was something along those lines.

 

It does indeed seem that dear old Rupes has finally seen the light, Europe-wise, and now sees the benefit of a bigger market and the potential for 'cheaper' labour.

 

Can't remember him coming out with a similar "I make no apologies for giving Dutch coaches with, at best, mixed track records a start to their English league careers". Perhaps he was just thinking it to himself in that press conference?

 

As you say, does beg the question why was Pearson seen in such a different light to Wigley, given the checklist you mention? I too share the suspicion that this may well have been a petulant move to "get one over" Leon Crouch and again stamp his authority on the club (well done Rupes - nothing like cutting ones nose off to spite ones face (and everyone elses!)). Of course even though Wotte let slip the timing the other night, there was the convenient "cost-cutting" smokescreen to push through the BOGOF deal for the Dutchies. Shame one of them went off too soon and had to be returned...

[Nineteen Canteen]

come on then NC, what do you think of this?

 

Mike it's excellent news. Easter weekend and I am away on holiday so will missed the high pitched screaming and all the young Tyro tykes who support Man U or Chelsea shouting abuse at our own players. Unfortunately with a bunch of out of control 10 year olds you can't exactly give them some stick but last year when I was sitting next to some manager/parent helpers listening to then slag off our efforts (and those of Safri who at the time was by far our best player) and how it wasn't like watching Chelsea it kind of grates a little bit. I know some fans who may not have put up with that and willing to make a 'bit of a challenge' in front of a bunch of noisy kids.

 

Hopefully, for your sake they'll be rounded up and stuck in the corners away from the true Saints fans and their kids but personally I am glad to be missing the game as my ear drums won't stand the shrills and my generally calm demeanour won't be tested to the limit by the comments of some wannabe Mouriniho taking his U10's for a dayout whilst sadly wearing his matching and initialled tracksuit.

 

Still needs must and if all our prejudiced stay aways returned we wouldn't have to put with it. However, I have no problem to members and ST holders being offered the occassional child ticket or two for £1 but detest block selling to the junior teams. I have not read the offer but it should be a one £1 child ticket per adult but as I can't make the game they can sell 15,000 tickets for a £1 especially if only 10% of those then badger their Families to attend.

[Nineteen Canteen]

Managers attract players through their contacts. If they are someone who has been about and managed lets say the england u21 squad then they will likely be respected in the business more then the guy who managed your local sunday league team.

 

Pearson has spent as much as we have spent at Leicester. We have spent supposedly £1m on Schniderlin alone. Leicester have spent around £500k. Look at the players they brought in. Hard working pro's who will give you their all. Next season they will be a different team but for the job of going up to the CCC the strategy is right. The same rule apply's to us. Our strategy was to save money but go with the youngsters. A strategy that most people fans and pundits alike knew would not work. But Lowe knew different didn't he? He knew all those people were wrong and he would be right. 30 games later and he changes back to what we were like last season. Great strategy right? Or more likely no strategy?

 

Now you may not have liked Pearson, fair enough people are allowed their own opinion. But using Pericard as an example of Pearson's loans is a bit laughable. Wright,Lucketti,Perry etc all saved this club from the beatings we were getting. We turned into a team shipping goals into a team hard to score against. And that is what kept us up in the end. 3 defeats in 13 games turned it around.

 

Now the journey men that you mention were a bit hit and miss. But John was our top scorer of over 20 goals. You think our current striker DMG will do that? He has played every game this year and is not even close to John's scoring ratio. And that is the difference between then and now. We had lots of players who simply could not be fooked, they needed someone to stand up to them and that is what happened.

 

Marco, I'll give you Perry. However, Wright was never on the radar untill all 3 keepers got injured at the same time forcing Pearson's somewhat lucky hand. If he had bought in Wright and shipped out another keeper to get him in then yes inspired management but otherwise it was just plain fortunate. As for Lucketti, did Pearson think he would have us safe by the last game of season so he could afford not to have Lucketti as the terms of the loan prevented him playing against his parent club? Touch shortsighted given Pearson only had 14 games to 'engineer' our survival.

 

So Pearson's contacts and strength as a manager would have seen players flock to us this season for nothing? Signing fees are largely irrelevent if you pay the player handsomely but you don't mention tke Leicester wage bill which I suspect is quite high for a league 1 club.

 

His managerial experience as at the start of the season was hardly impressive and for an expert U21 helper it was surprising Pearson didn't get the best out of the likes of Surman, Lallana, Gillett, James, McGoldrick and so on as he barely played any youth so hardly the combination of youth and experience you allude to. In fact it seems Wotte is in the process of giving Pearson a master class in managing a team on the brink unless you see any 5-0 capitulations on the horizon.

[Tamesaint]

Marco, I'll give you Perry. However, Wright was never on the radar untill all 3 keepers got injured at the same time forcing Pearson's somewhat lucky hand. If he had bought in Wright and shipped out another keeper to get him in then yes inspired management but otherwise it was just plain fortunate. As for Lucketti, did Pearson think he would have us safe by the last game of season so he could afford not to have Lucketti as the terms of the loan prevented him playing against his parent club? Touch shortsighted given Pearson only had 14 games to 'engineer' our survival.

 

So Pearson's contacts and strength as a manager would have seen players flock to us this season for nothing? Signing fees are largely irrelevent if you pay the player handsomely but you don't mention tke Leicester wage bill which I suspect is quite high for a league 1 club.

 

His managerial experience as at the start of the season was hardly impressive and for an expert U21 helper it was surprising Pearson didn't get the best out of the likes of Surman, Lallana, Gillett, James, McGoldrick and so on as he barely played any youth so hardly the combination of youth and experience you allude to. In fact it seems Wotte is in the process of giving Pearson a master class in managing a team on the brink unless you see any 5-0 capitulations on the horizon.

 

 

 

You don't change do you?? Whether you call yourself Sundance Beast or Nineteen Canteen you just carry on repeating the same drivel. Your debating style is to just repeat the same points again and again and again. They have all been knocked back one by one on countless occasions but you still repeat them ignoring any criticism.

 

We know what y6our points are:

 

Lowe is great.

Crouch is not.

Lowe is great.

Pearson is not.

Lowe is great.

 

See there I have summarised your last thousand or so posts in just a couple of lines. And people will not fall asleep reading these points as they do when they read your turgid ramblings.

[Mole]

Lowe considered Saganowski surplus to requirements - he was wrong.

 

Lowe considered 433 total football was the way forward - he was wrong.

 

The fact we're starting to perform now is because we've abandoned Ruperts ideas.

 

So how exactly has Lowe been proved right this season?

[70's Mike]

Lowe considered Saganowski surplus to requirements - he was wrong.

 

Lowe considered 433 total football was the way forward - he was wrong.

 

The fact we're starting to perform now is because we've abandoned Ruperts ideas.

 

So how exactly has Lowe been proved right this season?

 

And alledgedly leaked Euell's salary details to press

[JustMike]

Mike it's excellent news. Easter weekend and I am away on holiday so will missed the high pitched screaming and all the young Tyro tykes who support Man U or Chelsea shouting abuse at our own players. Unfortunately with a bunch of out of control 10 year olds you can't exactly give them some stick but last year when I was sitting next to some manager/parent helpers listening to then slag off our efforts (and those of Safri who at the time was by far our best player) and how it wasn't like watching Chelsea it kind of grates a little bit. I know some fans who may not have put up with that and willing to make a 'bit of a challenge' in front of a bunch of noisy kids.

 

Hopefully, for your sake they'll be rounded up and stuck in the corners away from the true Saints fans and their kids but personally I am glad to be missing the game as my ear drums won't stand the shrills and my generally calm demeanour won't be tested to the limit by the comments of some wannabe Mouriniho taking his U10's for a dayout whilst sadly wearing his matching and initialled tracksuit.

 

Still needs must and if all our prejudiced stay aways returned we wouldn't have to put with it. However, I have no problem to members and ST holders being offered the occassional child ticket or two for £1 but detest block selling to the junior teams. I have not read the offer but it should be a one £1 child ticket per adult but as I can't make the game they can sell 15,000 tickets for a £1 especially if only 10% of those then badger their Families to attend.

 

 

So if Lowe does it, its "needs must" but when LC did it its wrong?

[1965onwards]

Makes you laugh how Lowes plants claim to be just fans with a balanced view.

 

As if they fool anybody.

 

Their verbose style alone gives them away.

 

Their trained PR prose gives them away.

 

Just makes Lowe look an even bigger ****,but they are too stupid to see that.

[JohnnyFartPants]

Makes you laugh how Lowes plants claim to be just fans with a balanced view.

 

As if they fool anybody.

 

Their verbose style alone gives them away.

 

Their trained PR prose gives them away.

 

Just makes Lowe look an even bigger ****,but they are too stupid to see that.

 

 

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!!

[Mole]

 

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!!

 

Aren't you the comedian.

[JohnnyFartPants]

Aren't you the comedian.

 

Yes, I suppose I am.

[JustMike]

Aren't you the comedian.

 

Yes, I suppose I am.

 

 

not a very funny one either

[1965onwards]

Just a plan(k)t.

[um pahars]

And alledgedly leaked Euell's salary details to press

 

I do hope the person whow did that is eating some rather large slices of Frank Cousin's humble pie!!!!!

[JohnnyFartPants]

Just a plan(k)t.

 

You come across as a right moaning old man. Rather than just be happy at the recent results and improvement in the team you feel the need to constantly drone on about the same old points or move the goalposts and invent more misery. It is almost as if you can't admit you are ever wrong.

 

Christ, Wotte has had the best start to a Saints managerial career that I can remember, and we have had a few, yet still you feel the need to say he is ****ish. And why? Because that was your initial, "firing from the hip" comment when he was appointed by Lowe and all that is Lowe approved must be bad. Get some help you stupid and very boring little man.

[1965onwards]

Wotte is ****ish because of his comments about fans.

 

I actually think it is a very good quality in a football a manager when dealing with little boy mentality footballers.

[dubai_phil]

oops.

 

Maybe Lowe has been right to try and match our income and expenditure (if not with his footballing decisions).

 

This article I found today could be a real issue for the gravy train of "free money" from TV. Setanta considering giving back tv rights across many sports.......

 

Is this the end of the beginning again? or will ESPN ride to the resuce and pay up top dollar and keep the PL players & agents in bling?

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/4934482/Cash-strapped-Setanta-ready-to-hand-back-TV-contracts.html

[samoakley]

Hmm i think Wotte is becoming a hero getting 3 wins in a row but we aint safe yet lose at the weekend and teams pick up points and were in the same situation regarding points as we were but with a little more confidence and belief.

 

Saying this if wotte gets us a point a brum i would be very happy with him and forget about his comments about fans and support him as im already on the verge of thinking he is the man 3 wins in a row i dont think even Geroge Burley done that for us more than once or sk8napp.

[OldNick]

Wotte is ****ish because of his comments about fans.

 

I actually think it is a very good quality in a football a manager when dealing with little boy mentality footballers.

He was spot on about some fans IMO.

[Weston Saint]

I am told very reliably Lowe and Cowen have been working tirelessly behind the scenes with others to try to secure finances and stave off Administration since they came back.

 

I am not going to go into the pro's and con's of the early season coaching structure, I think it has been proved that Lowe and Wilde got it wrong whatever the reasons for the change and Pearson is proving with Leicester he has what it takes.

 

Money is still a massive issue. With the player loans out and choice of first team the overdraft had reduced but of course we all know the consequence was poor team selection, poor application, poor results and the inevitable sharp decline in paying supporters.

 

Now with the present Coach, balance in the team and an eagerness to perform well we are seeing results on the field but unfortunately at the expense of finances.

 

Was Lowe a lot closer to getting it right than we give him credit for? The answer has to be a firm No on playing/results but yes on finances.

 

Is he getting it right now? Results suggest he is but we will only know the answer to that if he can keep us from the relegation trap door and Administration. This is still a very real possibility. Green shoots on the playing field but not in the purse at present.

[Whitey Grandad]

Marco, I'll give you Perry. However, Wright was never on the radar untill all 3 keepers got injured at the same time forcing Pearson's somewhat lucky hand. If he had bought in Wright and shipped out another keeper to get him in then yes inspired management but otherwise it was just plain fortunate. As for Lucketti, did Pearson think he would have us safe by the last game of season so he could afford not to have Lucketti as the terms of the loan prevented him playing against his parent club? Touch shortsighted given Pearson only had 14 games to 'engineer' our survival.

 

No they didn't. It was a personal decision by the player

[trousers]

Now with the present Coach, balance in the team and an eagerness to perform well we are seeing results on the field but unfortunately at the expense of finances..

 

Worrying.

 

It would seem we can't have our cake AND eat it....

[saint1977]

I am told very reliably Lowe and Cowen have been working tirelessly behind the scenes with others to try to secure finances and stave off Administration since they came back.

 

I am not going to go into the pro's and con's of the early season coaching structure, I think it has been proved that Lowe and Wilde got it wrong whatever the reasons for the change and Pearson is proving with Leicester he has what it takes.

 

Money is still a massive issue. With the player loans out and choice of first team the overdraft had reduced but of course we all know the consequence was poor team selection, poor application, poor results and the inevitable sharp decline in paying supporters.

 

Now with the present Coach, balance in the team and an eagerness to perform well we are seeing results on the field but unfortunately at the expense of finances.

 

Was Lowe a lot closer to getting it right than we give him credit for? The answer has to be a firm No on playing/results but yes on finances.

 

Is he getting it right now? Results suggest he is but we will only know the answer to that if he can keep us from the relegation trap door and Administration. This is still a very real possibility. Green shoots on the playing field but not in the purse at present.

 

This is TSW Weston. Such reasoned, balanced and accurate posts have no place on here. All joking aside, that is pretty much my summation on it. It would have been better perhaps to have started with Wotte but then I didn't want Wotte either and I'm happy to eat humble pie for the rest of the season if the results keep coming because I am a Saints fan first and foremost, not a Lowe or a Crouch fan. I might not like Lowe much but if Wotte keeps us up I will give Wotte the credit he will be due.

[Daren W]

This is TSW Weston. Such reasoned, balanced and accurate posts have no place on here. All joking aside, that is pretty much my summation on it. It would have been better perhaps to have started with Wotte but then I didn't want Wotte either and I'm happy to eat humble pie for the rest of the season if the results keep coming because I am a Saints fan first and foremost, not a Lowe or a Crouch fan. I might not like Lowe much but if Wotte keeps us up I will give Wotte the credit he will be due.

 

And no truer word will be said on this forum, whilst both sides of the fence engage in a ****ing competition, the club is slowly begining to turn a corner and get itself out of the godalmighty pile of ****e that it's been in for the last four years.

 

I'm not sure that I like Mark Wotte. I find him cold, arrogant and immensely fan-unfriendly. I think his comments about the protesters was ill-timed rubbish and I wish to god he'd just stick to management as it obviously appears that that is his main strength. But whilst I don't particularly like him, he's the right man at the right place at the right time... right now.

 

Was Lowe closer than to being right than we give him credit for? Absolutely not. There is a fine line between balancing the books and keeping the football ticking along. By getting rid of Pearson and relying on kids, Lowe made a most calamitous mistake. People may mock Alan Hansen for saying you'll win nothing with kids but he unfortunately refered to a once in a generation selection of young footballers. You certainly won't get out of this league by playing just kids, you need a blend, half and half. A strong spine of established pros who know the score and can help make the youngsters better players with that experience. By throwing the youngsters to the wolves I think Lowe has put back the development of some players who have suffered the burdon of expectation.

 

The likes of Drew Surman and Adam Lallana have had huge pressure put on them and god only knows what the long term effects of the boos and jeers will have on the other young lads. Too much, way too soon.

 

Lowe was wrong, end of. He dumped a talented coach and quite unbeliveably put his trust in a nice guy but a nice guy with nowhere near enough experience of English football. People can harp on all they want but the fact that Pearson has gone on to be very successful at Leicester shows that he is a good coach and yes we did miss out. Six months wasted.

 

In the meantime, why can't we just revel in the glory of three hugely impressive wins on the bounce, not be smug, not be bitter and just be Saints fans? Please?

[Chap in the Chapel]

I am told very reliably Lowe and Cowen have been working tirelessly behind the scenes with others to try to secure finances and stave off Administration since they came back.

 

I am not going to go into the pro's and con's of the early season coaching structure, I think it has been proved that Lowe and Wilde got it wrong whatever the reasons for the change and Pearson is proving with Leicester he has what it takes.

 

Money is still a massive issue. With the player loans out and choice of first team the overdraft had reduced but of course we all know the consequence was poor team selection, poor application, poor results and the inevitable sharp decline in paying supporters.

 

Now with the present Coach, balance in the team and an eagerness to perform well we are seeing results on the field but unfortunately at the expense of finances.

 

Was Lowe a lot closer to getting it right than we give him credit for? The answer has to be a firm No on playing/results but yes on finances.

 

Is he getting it right now? Results suggest he is but we will only know the answer to that if he can keep us from the relegation trap door and Administration. This is still a very real possibility. Green shoots on the playing field but not in the purse at present.

 

Great post. I would suggest, however, that green shoots on the field will eventually lead to green shoots in the purse - ultimately the bottom line is that people are more likely to turn up on matchdays and buy merchandise, beer etc if they are watching a winning team, or at least one that they feel has a chance of winning. The question is time - have we got enough of it to generate enough good feeling through winning matches to persuade our creditors to stick with us? A view that, long-term, we have now bottomed out and are on the up again must be maintained. This must happen, first and foremost, by crowds rising again because the team is doing well. We can do some cost-cutting in the summer by losing Gasmi, perhaps selling Dyer and loaning out some of the younger players when the season starts - they will benefit from playing League 1/2. The key players (i.e. Euell, Davis) who are out of contract must be offered new ones as well, as losing them having (hopefully) ended the season on a high runs the risk of developing a situation like the early eighties, when fans bought season tickets on the back of some good finishes only to have Kevin Keegan subsequently sold - not good PR. No more experimenting - let the current bedrock of experienced players stay together and base the team around them, rather than trying to return to the system that gave us this season's 28-league game spell of near-total insanity.

[OldNick]

Great post. I would suggest, however, that green shoots on the field will eventually lead to green shoots in the purse - ultimately the bottom line is that people are more likely to turn up on matchdays and buy merchandise, beer etc if they are watching a winning team, or at least one that they feel has a chance of winning. The question is time - have we got enough of it to generate enough good feeling through winning matches to persuade our creditors to stick with us? A view that, long-term, we have now bottomed out and are on the up again must be maintained. This must happen, first and foremost, by crowds rising again because the team is doing well. We can do some cost-cutting in the summer by losing Gasmi, perhaps selling Dyer and loaning out some of the younger players when the season starts - they will benefit from playing League 1/2. The key players (i.e. Euell, Davis) who are out of contract must be offered new ones as well, as losing them having (hopefully) ended the season on a high runs the risk of developing a situation like the early eighties, when fans bought season tickets on the back of some good finishes only to have Kevin Keegan subsequently sold - not good PR. No more experimenting - let the current bedrock of experienced players stay together and base the team around them, rather than trying to return to the system that gave us this season's 28-league game spell of near-total insanity.

Staying up will be the acid test.The players out of contract will be offered lower ones IMO if we do avoid the drop.

We will have to get some money in from somewhere to keep us going through the summer.Forget not that Saga BWP KD JE wages are paid 365 days a year not just the football season. Fans boycotting the s/t's will help towards somew of these players having to be sold/released. It will pain me if so, but i will do my bit by getting a s/t i just hope the majority see sense and also get theirs.

If we go down i dont think there will be a problem as we will go into administration and the best will leave anyway.

[sidthesquid]

If we do survive & we are forced to part with Saga, Euell, Davis we will at least have some money in the kitty to replace them - they are all decent players but there are other decent players in this league who would come here for half their wages. The problem always was not getting enough of the high-earners off the books because we were paying more than they were worth (That's not a dig at them or justification of Lowe - just as near to a fact as you can get, because they were all available and nobody else out there thought they were worth what we were paying them)

[1965onwards]

God.

 

I agree with you Sid.

[swannymere]

Is the problem that Wotte was right in his comments about the 'fans'? I'm not offended by anything he said but then again i just go and watch the team and support the team;)

[Gingeletiss]

You never know, after testing the market, they may re-sign at more realistic wages...........just a thought.

[SW11_Saint]

Mike it's excellent news. Easter weekend and I am away on holiday so will missed the high pitched screaming and all the young Tyro tykes who support Man U or Chelsea shouting abuse at our own players. Unfortunately with a bunch of out of control 10 year olds you can't exactly give them some stick but last year when I was sitting next to some manager/parent helpers listening to then slag off our efforts (and those of Safri who at the time was by far our best player) and how it wasn't like watching Chelsea it kind of grates a little bit. I know some fans who may not have put up with that and willing to make a 'bit of a challenge' in front of a bunch of noisy kids.

 

Hopefully, for your sake they'll be rounded up and stuck in the corners away from the true Saints fans and their kids but personally I am glad to be missing the game as my ear drums won't stand the shrills and my generally calm demeanour won't be tested to the limit by the comments of some wannabe Mouriniho taking his U10's for a dayout whilst sadly wearing his matching and initialled tracksuit.

 

Still needs must and if all our prejudiced stay aways returned we wouldn't have to put with it. However, I have no problem to members and ST holders being offered the occassional child ticket or two for £1 but detest block selling to the junior teams. I have not read the offer but it should be a one £1 child ticket per adult but as I can't make the game they can sell 15,000 tickets for a £1 especially if only 10% of those then badger their Families to attend.

 

That's all very well 19 - we now know what you think of the type of people these "Kids for a quid" type deals attract (erm, kids I believe) - but let's get back to the point JustMike and others were asking you to address (per your comment to me below).

 

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.

So come on, let's hear it - what do you really think of Lowe 'going down' this route now, which you seem to have seen as some form of 'gate fiddling' manoeuvre under Crouch?

 

(Incidentally, I think it's a sound enough idea).

[SW11_Saint]

If we do survive & we are forced to part with Saga, Euell, Davis we will at least have some money in the kitty to replace them - they are all decent players but there are other decent players in this league who would come here for half their wages. The problem always was not getting enough of the high-earners off the books because we were paying more than they were worth (That's not a dig at them or justification of Lowe - just as near to a fact as you can get, because they were all available and nobody else out there thought they were worth what we were paying them)

Oh God, it's Groundhog Day...

 

Please - if we do survive this season, let's not try and re-enact this season again by shipping anyone with experience/of value out and relying on kids again (or lesser replacements). Let's try and build something FFS and raise our ambition above "4th bottom" of the CCC!

 

Hopefully someone else will be in charge with a little more insight, ambition and acumen...

[trousers]

Is the problem that Wotte was right in his comments about the 'fans'? I'm not offended by anything he said but then again i just go and watch the team and support the team;)

 

The question is....who rattled who's cage first?

 

i.e. wasn't the chronology as follows?

 

1) Saints playing badly

2) A section of fans get fed up and protest

3) Wotte reacts with provocative comments which gives rise to a siege mentality and unity amongst the players and manager

4) Saints start winning again

 

Some might argue that it's the very fans that Wotte rightly or wrongly 'had a pop at' that acted as a catalyst to the current renaissance.

 

Just a theory which no doubt will be shot down in flames for resembling something close to an opinion.

[trousers]

 

Hopefully someone else will be in charge with a little more insight, ambition and acumen...

 

Or maybe Lowe and Co will still be in charge having learned a painful lesson...?

 

(It's ok...I'll stop this balanced open-mindedness one of these days.....)

[1965onwards]

Quite right Trousers.

 

The catalyst for our present form was the spontanious protests at the Doncaster game,which led to us dumping JP.

 

Everything has flowed from that.

 

Lowe deserves no credit for appointing Wotte,he couldn't do much else,he has just got lucky.