ladysaint Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 spent 27 years in Div 1, PL and most of them we were fighting relegation but the great escape spirit was always there, this season it appears that we had all given up before Christmas.
exit2 Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 Jan I spoke to an ex player this week, and is worries were that we dont have the fight etc that we did in the 90s etc.
ladysaint Posted 19 April, 2009 Author Posted 19 April, 2009 We dont have the players to fight i.e. Maddison, Benali, Charlton, not great players but fighters.
Saint Billy Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 I believe fighting spirit and desire left this club once GS left for whatever reason. Basically since then we have been on the decline and the atmosphere and passion have ebbed away as well. Pearson showed that he had the abilities to re-invent our old ways but erm, someone else knew differently.
um pahars Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 Players with no real affinity to the Club. The only ones who have are young lads who aren't mentally or physically up for the battle. Players who know they can get a pay day elsewhere and for whom football is a way of earning ££££££££££'s as opposed to something they love to do. A management team that in the earlier part of the season alienated the senior players, pssed off others and delivered results that put a very dark cloud over the whole place. No one at the Club (on or off the pitch) who is able to raise a fighting spirit, a sense of unity and spirit.
beatlesaint Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 Players with no real affinity to the Club. The only ones who have are young lads who aren't mentally or physically up for the battle. Players who know they can get a pay day elsewhere and for whom football is a way of earning ££££££££££'s as opposed to something they love to do. A management team that in the earlier part of the season alienated the senior players, pssed off others and delivered results that put a very dark cloud over the whole place. No one at the Club (on or off the pitch) who is able to raise a fighting spirit, a sense of unity and spirit. Which is exactly why we need a fresh start. Different league, different manager, different players but most of all different owners/directors who have some sense and idea about what a football club means to its supporters.
St Landrew Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 Since 2003 there have been a catalogue of errors in the decline, some major, some minor. The major mistake for this season was not retaining the services of Nigel Pearson. Whether his statistics were impressive or not, he was the approved manager, by the fans and the previous Chairman. It was extreme arrogance to sweep him aside, and then to adopt the playing of inexperienced youngsters. Setting aside when Wotte started playing a few more experienced players, this season was killed by club policy. Inexperienced players may exhibit great skill on the training pitch, and in reserve games, but it is only within a team of more experienced players can they learn how to fight. So not only has the club been set back, but the individual players have been set back. Previous Board members had no confidence in this club policy, the fans had no confidence in it, though did what fans do and supported it; and clearly, Barclays had little confidence too. At this moment, I wish they'd pulled the plug much earlier. I think I first mentioned the phrase managed decline during the Premiership relegation season, and it has been Lowe's policy ever since. Because he engineered the club into being such a poor advert for investment, once the big money dried up there has been little direction to go but down. If Saints were under the continual undisputed manangement of Lowe, I've no doubt they would break even or even make a tiny profit each season. But they'd end up as a non-league club. He basically has little idea where the order of priorities are when it comes to running a football club.
Whitey Grandad Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 The Great Escape spirit has slipped out through a tunnel whilst nobody was looking. I don't think it will be coming back.
rallyboy Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 after the last great escape failed most of the ringleaders were shot. And my trousers are full of dirt, but that's another story. I am hoping that the entire squad will be gunned down this time.
Papa Shango Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 For some stupid reason I thought the players would give it a good go yesterday, how wrong I was. Our fans were singing for the first ten minutes or so yesterday, but once they saw the teams lacklusture performance, I think it rubbed off on the crowd and it was quiet for the rest of the game. To be honest, I thought it was over after the Charlton match, but I think anyone else who still had any sort of hope, lost it after yesterday.
CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 Players with no real affinity to the Club. The only ones who have are young lads who aren't mentally or physically up for the battle. Players who know they can get a pay day elsewhere and for whom football is a way of earning ££££££££££'s as opposed to something they love to do. A management team that in the earlier part of the season alienated the senior players, pssed off others and delivered results that put a very dark cloud over the whole place. No one at the Club (on or off the pitch) who is able to raise a fighting spirit, a sense of unity and spirit. I can't argue with that . Months ago someone posted on here that during one of our numerous home defeats this season the lads from the reserve team/academy were just sitting on the bench laughing and enjoying themselves apparently unconcerned by another dismal showing - this should tell you all you need to know about the typical modern footballer . I've said it before and make no apology for repeating myself - the academy needs to start selecting youngsters not just on their technical ability or physique but on their fighting spirit and strength of character as well .
lamanga Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 It's Wotte's job to inspire the players however bad or lacking in spirit they may be. Wotte yesterday, mumbling "..We'll really need a miracle now to stay up.." Thank you, Mr Wotte.
70's Mike Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 Since 2003 there have been a catalogue of errors in the decline, some major, some minor. The major mistake for this season was not retaining the services of Nigel Pearson. Whether his statistics were impressive or not, he was the approved manager, by the fans and the previous Chairman. It was extreme arrogance to sweep him aside, and then to adopt the playing of inexperienced youngsters. Setting aside when Wotte started playing a few more experienced players, this season was killed by club policy. Inexperienced players may exhibit great skill on the training pitch, and in reserve games, but it is only within a team of more experienced players can they learn how to fight. So not only has the club been set back, but the individual players have been set back. Previous Board members had no confidence in this club policy, the fans had no confidence in it, though did what fans do and supported it; and clearly, Barclays had little confidence too. At this moment, I wish they'd pulled the plug much earlier. I think I first mentioned the phrase managed decline during the Premiership relegation season, and it has been Lowe's policy ever since. Because he engineered the club into being such a poor advert for investment, once the big money dried up there has been little direction to go but down. If Saints were under the continual undisputed manangement of Lowe, I've no doubt they would break even or even make a tiny profit each season. But they'd end up as a non-league club. He basically has little idea where the order of priorities are when it comes to running a football club. a good summary
Mole Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 Too many youngsters in the team. It's about having a blend of youth and experience. The idiot Lowe knew best though.
WokingSaint Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 I agree with most of the comments above but ladysaint hasn't got it quite right. I don't know how old you are but from 1977 until the Branfoot era, Saints were a real force in English football with many of it's top players including 6 or 7 who had captained England. There was regular European Football, Cup Semi Finals and Runners Up in Div 1. In other seasons Saints finished in a respectable position and only a few times were we in real danger of relegation. This all shows how far we have fallen during the Lowe years.
Toomer Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 A number of the youngsters think they are better than thet are and have no fight in them.
eurosaint Posted 19 April, 2009 Posted 19 April, 2009 The policy, the strategy, the targets, the mood, the motivation etc, etc.. all start at the top ! This applies in any company, group, association or team ! Given the hopeless, divided and incompetent leadership that has existed at SFC in the last few years, nobody should be surprised at the disastrous situation which has resulted ! Sure the players have not performed but against a backdrop of bickering, costcutting and appalling mismanagement they do not stand alone !!!!
Barney Trubble Posted 20 April, 2009 Posted 20 April, 2009 It died on the 19th May 2001. I know we excelled for a while, well up to 2004 but the actual fighting spirit hasn't been there since in full swing.
Special K Posted 20 April, 2009 Posted 20 April, 2009 We used to be a very small fish in the big premier league pond. We expected to have to fight to survive and loved it when we gave the big boys a bloody nose. We had that siege mentality, dunkirk spirit, call it what you will, inate in our team and only lads who had the stomach for a fight were attracted to the club. Unfortunately, moving to the new stadium and upping our status has caused us to see things differently. Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying the stadium was a bad thing, but we see ourselves as expecting to do well now and the type of players that come to the club are not of the ilk we used to get. Mix that up with a shocking bunch of egomaniacs who have all wanted to play Bertie Big ******** in the boardroom, some mediocre managers and the only recipe is one of disaster.
SaintRobbie Posted 20 April, 2009 Posted 20 April, 2009 We dont have the players to fight i.e. Maddison, Benali, Charlton, not great players but fighters. Agreed. But I think we're punchdrunk after a succession of poor chairman decisions.
Chez Posted 20 April, 2009 Posted 20 April, 2009 we have a squad full of Cavendish's...bloody useless bastards that fall over when the lights are on them.
Gorgiesaint Posted 20 April, 2009 Posted 20 April, 2009 The policy, the strategy, the targets, the mood, the motivation etc, etc.. all start at the top ! This applies in any company, group, association or team ! Given the hopeless, divided and incompetent leadership that has existed at SFC in the last few years, nobody should be surprised at the disastrous situation which has resulted ! Sure the players have not performed but against a backdrop of bickering, costcutting and appalling mismanagement they do not stand alone !!!! Spot on
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now