SW11_Saint

Okay, I will press no further, but hopefully you now see the point - Lowe "resorting" to the 'Kids for a Quid' thing is no better, or no worse, than Leon doing it. Some balance prevails. And for the record again, I think it's a good idea regardless. Re. the march - yes, I think the fresh air would probably do you some good

I'm not trying to undermine anything, just point out that your continual serenading of Lowe for appointing the 'next in command' (when his original choice finally does the honourable thing and quits) as some act of strategic genius is, with respect, bow-locks. As for Lowe 'appointing JP, letting him fail, then coercing Wotte into the role, which is what Lowe wanted in the first place' (?!) - let's not go there eh, you've been down that hypothetical hypothesis before and it doesn't do you any favours... Okay, you've lost me again - not sure where I've mentioned McMenemy anwhere, why is he being brought up? And where does nepotism come into it? Was Pearson Leon's nephew or something?!?

PS Still waiting for a sensible answer on this...

Lordy, what is this obsession you have with "succession planning"?! - surely the art of good management is even better evidenced by making the right appointment in the first place? You still seem to see Lowe turning to back room boy Wotte after JP's awful stint as some work of unparrallelled genius. If Lowe saw such promise in him, why not just appoint him in the first place?... then we might be in a better position than we are.

Not sure it's open mindedness Trousers, more blind faith, given his track record of "learning (from) painful lessons"!!!

No one will shoot it down for it being an opinion. They might not agree with your opion mind... I don't as it goes - from what I heard of Wotte after his original outburst he did a lot of back-tracking, and tried to pour oil on troubled waters, which was the right thing to do. His original words were clumsy, and he recognised that which is to his credit. I don't think for a minute the players have developed a 'siege mentality' due to his comments about our own fans. I think he's simply just got them better organised, has a better blend of youth and experience, has clearly done a better job of motivating them and the results are breeding confidence. Well done him, and them - I am happy with what's happening now (which most of us have cried out for all season - hence the frustration, culminating in the demo's), and long may it continue. Let's not turn the recent run of good results into a stick to beat our own fans with!

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...

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). 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).

Absolutely Sandwich - bang on!!

Or perhaps the decision shouldn't have been his since we had to endure 2/3 of a season watching us fail time after time (despite sometimes being "pretty"). Let's hope we've left enough time to continue the Great Escape. Well done to the lads - and to Wotte - just shows what playing a sensible formation for this league, and a mixture of experienced pro's and promising youngsters can do. Why didn't we think of this sooner...?!

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...

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...

and they didn't even show it on The Championship... (not that that surprises me).

and they didn't even show it on The Championship... (not that that surprises me).

Comparing Leicester to a CCC team is like comparing us to Man Utd.?!?? Please... GET REAL! Ahh... but there's such an important distinction isn't there between "nearly" and "did"...? (let's not underplay it, eh?)

Comparing Leicester to a CCC team is like comparing us to Man Utd.?!?? Please... GET REAL! Ahh... but there's such an important distinction isn't there between "nearly" and "did"...? (let's not underplay it, eh?)

Well said!!!

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?!

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".

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...

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...

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."

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?

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

Lordy... I've never seen so many words used to make such a minor point. All this proves to me is that we have some of the most loyal fans in the country - still turning up week on week, despite the dross we have been served up and the calamatous stewardship of the club by sucessive boards. Nothing more than that. As for the point about supporting Lowe as a way of ridding the club of him... "Born and bred in the briar patch. I was born and bred in the briar patch!"