Chez

of the 15k: 10k paying £15 5k paying £25 £375k of the 27k 27k paying £15 (ST equates to £15 a game) £405k so the larger crowd did bring in a little extra, but if you offered £15 prices every week then no one would buy a season ticket the following year, which leads to lower crowds.

Rasiak wage added to Saga's and John's would cripple us. I've never had a problem with Rasiak but god I hope he stays there for that reason only.

Get Mills back in at left back. Skacel has played well but Mills did very little wrong for me. Skacel is better than Holmes in a wide position IMO so lets play him there. Loan a proper right back and get someone in to play right midfield. Our right side is terrible. James is a liability. I have not seen a weaker full back at the club ever, Steve Baker included. Play Gillett in front of the back four. He's no world beater but we miss his hussle when we don't have posession. Far too often we are open to the counter attack. Play BWP with Patterson up front. Lets get some height and pace up there. With these two we should be able to play long, down the channels and to feet. Get rid of Euell, John, Saga, Thomas, Robertson, Smith, Pekhart and Wotton. Wages and ****ness. We are obviously still losing money so more sacrifices must be made. Even if Surman and Lallana leave these guys need to go otherwise the transfer fees will only end up paying John and Saga for 3 months then what do we do? Get Cork here till the end of the season and Pearce as well. Another decent big CB would be handy as well as Svensson is not going to be playing. Play 4-4-2 now and then. Maybe not every game but where it fits. Lets not though start playing strikers in midfield. BWP is not a right midfield. McGoldrick is not a CM. Far too often players are switched about within the 4-2-1-3 formation and nothing changes. Lets mix up the play a little. Far too many times we overpass in our own third. A few more long diagonal balls over the full backs shoulder. The same applies in the final third where we get near to the 18 yard line and then turn round and go back again. Lets get the ball in the box from the byeline not deep. Lets get people in the box as well - far too many times only one striker is in the area and the second winger/deep striker doesn't bust a gut to join him. Keep Perry off the ball. When we build from the back. Let get some coaching for Lallana. He's a terrific player but he needs some guidance, maybe a game plan, something.

are any of those going to come here for £50k a year or will they sit tight and wait for something better to come along?

It's one thing going into administration, takinging the ten point slap on the wrist and then with a clean slate being able to compete, but it's not as simple as that. Creditors are subject to a CVA (Creditors Voluntary Agreement). For the CVA to succeed, 75% of the creditors +£1, must agree to the proposed CVA. If they don't agree by a set time then the League imposes a further points deduction (as it did with Leeds). If they don't ever agree then the club can go into liquidation.

if you don't pay them at any point (in admin or not) that is breech of conyract so they could walk. We'd win in terms of losing Thomas, John etc off the wage bill but we'd lose in terms of Surman and Lallana walking on frees. The adminstrators need to get all creditors to agree (actually its 75% of them) to terms of a settlement (pennies in pounds etc). That includes creditors prior to going ito admin.

It's one thing going into administration, takinging the ten point slap on the wrist and then with a clean slate being able to compete, but it's not as simple as that. Creditors are subject to a CVA (Creditors Voluntary Agreement). For the CVA to succeed, 75% of the creditors +£1, must agree to the proposed CVA. If they don't agree by a set time then the League imposes a further points deduction (as it did with Leeds). If they don't ever agree then the club can go into liquidation.

I had skates telling me all day he was joining them. That would be painful. Whenever I have heard a rumour that Bridge is going down their it just turns my stomach. I feel naucious now thinking of Surman doing just that even at £8m. £8m is a big old sum, has any other CCC player gone for more? Defoe to Spurs?? Johnson to Everton?

Likewise. Everyone makes mistakes, but only fools don't learn from their mistakes.

how about not giving the job to Pearson? I do not understand that at all. I also do not understand the treatment of Skacel and Stern John. I don't really like either player yet to leave them out in the cold in an attempt to push them out the club is poor form IMO. How about the bull**** we had to suffer during the summer on the OS about `total football' and the lies about Holmes etc. Personally I am not all that bothered about Lowe returning, Crouch, Wilde etc have all done a ****ing terrible job between then (I don't want to argue about who did what when), I'm more interested about what happens on the pitch, but the above items added to the years of bull**** and media **** ups are more than enough for people to want to see someone else at the helm. He owns just 6% of the club yet he acts with the humility of someone that owns 96%.

was that to the skates?

sorry but I think you are talking a load of rubbish. Surman is worth £3m on his own. He has been excellent all season and at 22 he has plenty of time to improve - and will. He has matched Cork and IMO been our best player this season. You mention some tosh about corners. We've actually scored two goals direct from corners this year. I can't remember a season since Ruddock was here that we did that. Not sure if Surman was taking them or not but to be honest it matters not. Lallana has been a revalation. 23 starts for Saints and you are happy to see him literaly given away? Jesus he could well be in the Ramsey class and he went for £6m. Yes we are in dire straights financially, but selling Lallana for bobbins ain't going to keep the wolves from the door for long. If they are boith sold I will accept that, because I know needs must, but there will be no excuse for selling them both on the cheap. With the early payments for Theo and Bale we have already done that twice.

agreed, the longer failing managers stay the better from our point of view

As I understand it Nigel Clough has already said he would be interested in managing Forrest at some point but he would not be considering leaving Burton until his kids had finished school.

essential that Saga and Stern are offloaded/loaned as soon as the window opens to strengthen are bargaining position. If those two look likely to stay then Lowe will have to take whatever is offered.

I mean hang on to our CCC place. Does that help you understand?

John and Euell must be available (right now) on a free. If John comes back along with Saga and we can't offload them then I would guess that will force the sale of Surman and lallana. John's wages will be maybe £300,000 alone till the end of May. Saga's wages will have to be paid right through the summer as well so that could be another £300,000 or so. These are serious sums when crowds are as low as they are.

so we have to just hang on for two years and then all promotion sized wage earners will be off the books and everyone else will be on wages much more in line with income allowing us to move forward without increasing the debt.

its the 6% stakeholder that bosses the 16% sharholder though ain't it? Perhaps its time someone started talking directly to Lowe's other backers. How 6% is enough to pull the strings is beyond me. Perhaps his dad might disown him?

First season playing at this level regularly though barring one or two previous outings. McGoldrick is a Saint, the other two are not. Unless they are doing well straight off whats the point in keeping them. By the time they find their feet it will be time for them to go bak to their own clubs. I'd rather see McGoldrick and Patterson than Pekhart and Robertson every day of the week.

thankfully, for our bank balance, they are stuck with him.

Good post. I'm a big fan of Cork and Surman in the middle but there is a lot to be said of Gillett's workrate when we haven't got the ball. Defensively he offers a decent shield in front of the back four and I believe that has been overlooked by JP. Gillett is by no means a top player or in the same class as Schneiderlin, Cork and Surman in possession, but I think we have missed him and the unseen dirty work he performs. We play two wingers yet other than Holmes we don't have a winger in the squad. If we are to persit with three up top then he needs to get fit quick. Schneiderlin's long balls have been the biggest miss. Not missed his lack of tackling though.

because some players take longer to reach their potential than others, besides Walcott and Bale were phenomenons coming through as such tender ages. Just because you're not playing for your national side at 18 doesn't mean you won't come good. Scott McDonald anyone?

If JP is not going to play Euell then I could understand it from a financial point of view, but when fit he should be in the 16 without question IMO.

Surman, Walcott, Bale, Lallana, thats a bloody decent list IMO. In terms of quality I think the Academy can't be faulted. Without it we would be in administration. As for the next batch, McGoldrick, James, Lancashire, Mills and Patterson all deserve a bit more time to find their feet. Anyone writing them off after half a season (some less than that) is a fool.