SW11_Saint

In fact, how do we know that Lowe didn't actually insist that we appoint Guus Hiddink, and wanted to play a mixture of world superstars, experienced pro's and youth players. It was the Bank that forced him down a different route using alternate Dutch resources. My God... I'm starting to see Lowe in a (hypothetical) new light too - he's a genius!!!

I think this lauding of Lowe as some sort of strategic genius for simply replacing a (yet another) failed manager with one of the backroom staff is ludicrous. It happens often in football, rarely with much success - certainly not where Saints are concerned. Let's hope Wotte can be the exception to the rule, but let's not attempt to turn this into some form of strategic work of wonder by Lowe - he simply turned to the only other internal option open to him. If we stay up, we'll be happy - but Lowe will still be judged on his appointment of Poortvliet, and failure to act sooner when things were going so badly awry.

Exactly. IF, and it's a big IF, we do stay up - then fair play to Wotte, but it will only be redressing the ridiculous first 2/3's of the season, and Lowe's flawed plan. I just wonder what would have happened if Lowe had put some faith in Nigel Pearson and let him carry on his work this season, playing the more experienced guys, and blending in the younger ones (as Wotte is now doing)...?

We'll need them all right! COYS - Pride of the South, ALWAYS!

Yawn.

I don't think anyone sees him as a "lost genius" - just a genuine, hard working coach with good experience of the English leagues and who, however close, kept us up last year and seemed to have won the fans over and had built the foundation of something potentially promising. Of course, then along comes dear old Rupert - kicks it all away, and inflicts yet another "revolutionary" scheme on us. Ho hum.

It will indeed. If I was a betting man I'd put money on them making it back to the Prem before us...

Yes! You've lost me on the McMenemy point. Good luck to him indeed. Shame to let him slip through our fingers, and embark on another bizarre gamble, still what's another couple of managers paid off eh? I will get behind the team, but reserve judgement on Wotte. From what I have seen has little of the gravitas of Pearson, and none of the humility. We'll see...

Is that next years Pompey kit he's sporting? It gets gaudier every year... (mind, it needs those CCC badges on the shirt-sleeves).

Interesting piece on Leicester City's resurgence under Nigel Pearson. Couple of quotes really stood out (paraphrased from memory): Alan Birchenall (ex-player and club ambassador) - "He has the same presence as Martin O'Neill had here... when he walks in a room he commands respect". Lee Dixon - "interesting what they were saying about him in the dressing room... he's like that when you meet him... he has something about him". What a great appointment for them. Well worth the 'extortionate' wages I am sure.

Nice one - dredging from my memory (from the Chocolate Boxes) I had the following: Take a two penny ticket to the Arsenal kop, He walks with a wiggle and he walks with a hop, With a walking stick and a hand grenade, We are the Milton, boot boys! Lots would have got lost in translation I am sure - and I had never quite understood the "Arsenal kop" bit, so yours makes more sense. Perhaps Duncan can provide the definitive rendition???

Anyone remember the song that included mention of "a walking stick and a hand grenade" (?!) - I think I remember it but wanted to check it isn't just a figment of my (then) young imagination... ended with the line "... we are the Milton, aggro!".

As something of an 'outsider' these days, it seems to me that their council has done a much better job of promoting commerce and tourism in their City - attracting businesses, investing in Gun Wharf, Spinnaker Tower etc. (whatever you think of it!) and taking major events like the Whitbread Round the World Race etc. What a terrible shame, as Southampton as a City has so much to offer, just seems to be little vision among the City Fathers (unless you cound more shopping centres...). Part of the higher profile of course comes from being a "Premier League" City - note they even replaced us on the BBC Weather map as soon as we went down (previously Southampton was, and should be, the major City on the South Coast and was always the main City represented). This still irks me every time I see it!! Hopefully one day we'll be back, but it won't be too soon I fear...

Actually, quite a humerous comment from one of them below that article: "We beat a load of 16 year old from Southampton. That'll be their first team then!!!!!!!!!!"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1156128/Two-British-tourists-die-taking-heroin-thought-cocaine.html This on the Mail website.

Everyone who was here before is still here. Best not to start mouthing after too much, we don't want this first win to be a flash in the pan... lest you fall into the trap of those who jumped up and down shouting "Rupert's right, Rupert's right!" every time JP got an away result... Let's hope this is the start of a run of wins. One on it's own won't be enough.

Poor attempt, just doesn't work mate. Sorry, Luvvie.

Thank God for that. 3 absolutely critical points, and more importantly a home win. Got to follow it up now though. Oh to have had Saga here all season...

Yeah, but Darling was Melchett's creepy little right hand man. Think what you like about Crouch, can't see him in that role to Lowe!!

Left to Right - Cowan (Darling), Lowe (Melchett), Wotte (Baldrick), Wilde (George). No one is smart enough to be Blackadder!

Don't Panic!!!!

I always think too much is made of Lowe being "something in the City" - lots of us work, or have contacts there, it doesn't mean that you are a major player (like a Gavyn Davies for example).

Definitely a Birdie night!

If what you say were true - yes, very clever; a Plc Chairman purposely going out of his way to aggitate and annoy his shareholders and customers. What a shining light he is to British Commerce...