SaintDonkey

True their compensation payouts won't be huge - but I think I heard somewhere that we're not exactly rolling in cash at the moment. Then there's the hiring of a new team, possibly involving paying compensation payments to another club. A new team who'll, by definition really, cost more. Don't get me wrong I think we need a change. I just don't know how we'll fund it without selling players.

Aye but that contract is with Southampton FC - not with the AFC Southampton that will emerge from the ashes of administration

Didn't he walk from Palace because he wanted to get a job up North near his family. Then got sued by Simon Jordan when 'up North' turned out to be Charlton

Pulis the next Kleba Chala - you mean he's going to play in the world cup? Chala actually had a decent record as a footballer - it was just at Saints where he was written off as a failure. I've never seen Pulis play so I'm not going to write him off just yet. Still I expect him to be gone and forgotten come the end of the season.

Nail on head. We're hopeless on the pitch. Any new man would be lambasted by some as a Lowe appointee and unless there was an immediate and dramatic improvement on the pitch the sheep would follow. He'll be criticized for being the cheap option - because with our present finances he will be - and we'll be stuck in the same mire we're in now. Remember how much Burley divided the fan base and yet for all of the criticism and in some cases raw hatred leveled against him he actually did quite well for us (purely statistically I don't want to re-open that debate!). Lowe must go before any manager can have the full support of the fans. (Once he has gone I'd take Dowie)

Not at all. Lowe's presence has created an atomosphere which certain elements are using to create trouble.

The problem is that the '0.1%' come looking to create trouble, but then people around them get sucked in. The "aggressive gobby lout" I saw chucked out didn't give a damn about Saints or Lowe, he just wanted his bit of aggro. However his actions led to a pitched battle between the stewards and some fans who I dare say weren't looking for trouble, but after a few beers weren't averse to it. Violence between fans, and indeed between fans and stewards isn't about Lowe it's about violence. You want to protest against Lowe during the match? I'd rather you waited until the end of the match personally but no problem - sit there and sing your hearts out, the stewards can't do anything about it if you remain seated. You want to provoke a fight with the stewards or a fan that doesn't agree with you? **** off out of my club.

Yesterday was the first time I've ever left a Saints match early. I didn't leave because of any action on the pitch but because of the disgraceful actions of some idiots in the stands. I was in block 4 and left after some idiots started the fight with the stewards with around 20 minutes to go. We were only one nil down and still in it but to some it was more important to start a fight and look ridiculous in front of the Doncaster fans than to suport our team - who were still in it. This wasn't pro or anti Lowe in fact I honestly don't believe there is such a thing as pro-Lowe really, merely disagreement on whether to support the team or chant against the board during a match. No this was just some idiots looking for trouble and finding that the atomosphere was right to start it. I left the stadium just after a guy who was thrown out by the stewards. Did he look angry about being thrown out? Of course not -he had a huge grin on his face and was straight on his mobile bragging about it. It's not about the football any more, it's not even about Lowe really. For a minority of people coming to Saint Mary's it now seems that it's about causing trouble.

Fantastic evidence of the quality of reporting at the Times. http://soccerlens.com/the-curious-case-of-masal-bugduv/20613/ The player they put at number 30 doesn't exist!

2nd most endebted Championship side? Come on Lowe spend that £400k on reinforcing the team and that coverted top spot can be ours! Or is the plan not to spend it and we'll be the most endebted side in League 1 next year? Could be a better long term plan as Pompey's relegation will set new standards of Championship debt.

That was Dave Jones on Carlton Palmer. Quoted in the Times list of the 50 worst footballers to bring this thread full circle. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2025420.ece

I'm pretty sure we could narrow the pitch at St Mary's and still be within the allowed size - the rules of the game say between 45 and 90 metres is allowed but I guess there will be separate rules for the football league as I don't see many teams playing on pitches 45 x 90 metres! Do you seriously think it would help?

Calling our top scoer McGoaldrought is a touch harsh! He's 13th in the Championship scorers table, not bad from a club in the relegation zone.

'doh just noticed the other thread! close it Mods I agree with SupSaint though. To have scored 9 goals for the current Saints squad is quite an achievemnt!

Sorry if posted elsewhere but appararently David is the next big thing according to the Times http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article5502827.ece?token=null&offset=12&page=2 Some people obviously see more in his play than posters on this forum do!

Redknapp without a shadow of a doubt. He plainly didn't want to be here and his half hearted management took us down. We may have had worse managers but I don't think even Wigley had such a negligent view.

I love the thought of George Best passing on the cup final result, a shame he isn't still around to be the recipient of Ron's call to find out the result this time. A good article about a great Saint.

That would be a good option - the Jan stepping down to the academy bit rather than Henderson taking charge. That way no compensation to be paid and maybe we could afford someone like Adams? We'd still probably be talking about shedding a player to fund it but it could be a Euell rather than a Skacel.

Would be a great signing but I agree with you about lack of pace at centre back. Maybe stick Dailly at defensive midfield and hope the calm heads around him will raise Olly's game?

Oddly enough no. Of course if I don't do my job to the required standard all that happens is I lose my job, nobody gets relegated, nobody goes into administration, no players have to be sold and nobody has to work out how to get to Carisle for a mideweek match in February. Nobody is going to want to pay money for Pulis or Gasmi. There might possibly be takers for JE or BWP but they aren't going to fund a new manager (plus they've been among our better players this season, I know that's not saying much). Lowe isn't going to reach into his own pockets so I ask again. For all those who believe that Jan has had his time who do we sell to fund a replacement?

Jan seems to be a top bloke and I wish him well in whatever he does next. However I think we need a change. We'd probably have to pay compensation to Poortvliet, Wotte (and Gorey?) which would leave us even more cash strapped than we are already. Possibly so cash strapped that even bringing in a free agent like Dowie or Adams would require some sacrifice on the player front, and if we were to poach a manager from someone else we would definitely have to sell someone. So my question is this. Who would you sacrifice from the playing squad in order to fund a change of manager? We don't really have that many salable assets so to change manager we'd probably have to sell one or more of Davis, Lallana, Surman, Skacel or Saga.

The FA have highlights of the match http://exodus.interoutemediaservices.com/?id=280a3c1a-f0ce-499c-9f7b-1e9ec7fddb33&delivery=stream. Smith sets up a goal with a decent cross from the left wing (please note Jan that's the left wing).

I really don't envy Jan trying to pick a team for this one. Personally I wouldn't risk anyone with any injury niggle (a list I'd include Davis on). The best way to play against Manure this season has been all out attack so... ---------------Forecast James-----Perry-----Lancashire---Skacel ------------Gillet ---BWP---------Euell------Smith -------McGoldrick---Paterson Saga in for Paterson if cleared. with James and Rudi under orers to get forwards as much as possible.

That would be the straw that breaks the camel's back. And since the camel already has 3 broken legs, cracked ribs, a fractured pelvis and severe concussion it would be time to have it put down.