um pahars

Absolutley. And all those who suggested that this squad should be performing better than they were under Poortvliet have been 100% vindicated. I can clearly remember the threads where many were arguing that changing the manager (like changing the CEO) would make no difference. Wotte has performed really well and arguably if he hadn't have been left in such a mess, and such a short time to turn it around, then he could have had us mid table by now!!! We're playing catch up because of some horrendous decisions earlier in this season, so as you say the idea that we should now thank Lowe for succession planning or strategic thinking is risible.

We dropped into the bottom three when we drew with Reading at home in December.

Off the top of my head, is it??? What was the team last year?? ---------------Wright Wright ----Perry---- Lucketti-----Skacel Viafara----Idiakez-----Safri------Surman --------------Saga-----John Defence and upfront pretty similar IMHO. Midfield slightly stornger last year as I'm not the biggest fan of Gillett and DMG. But getting back to the point, I personally had no doubt that both this season's squad and last season's squads were good enough to stay up, they just had to be managed properly. Last season, Burley gave up the ghost and then it went off the rails with D & G, whilst this season Poortvliet did his best to turn a half decent team into relegation certainties.

Not just false economies though Torres, there's also the question of priorities and alternatives. For instance Schneiderlin's fees would probably have covered a decent strikers wages for a season. The money spent on the scattergun approach to signings and loanees (and the associated costs) who never really featured could also have contributed to funding players who would have featured and contributed. Then of course moving on to the manager, then maybe the get out fee for Helmond and his pay off could have covered any deficit from what Pearson wanted (and what Wotte has shown is that a good/different/brilliant/hero manager - delete as applicable - can make a massive difference to basically the same squad of players). And that's even before we get on to false economies with ragrds Saga. Of course it's all hypothetical with no firm evidence (this is a message board for opinions after all), but the question remains, would Saga's goals equated to more wins, more points and more bums on seats??? Given each 1,000 bums are worth circa £500,000, then it's not a huge leap of faith to suggest that we could have offset any additional costs (or income) by winning on the pitch and getting people to turn up. A n upward spiral of success, as opposed to a downward cycle of despondency.

It needs to be read in context Frank. The context being one idiot suggesting myself (and others) were gutted because we had won, and another idiot suggesting I should eat humble pie for all the wrong reasons (actually for no reason really) If you read the two initial idiotic posts, it then actually comes over as rather restrained;)

But I can see both sides though fella. When Wotte was first appointed, you, I and I think SaintJay had a good exchange of views over his record, reputation, background etc, and although we had differing views on some things, the general consensus was that we had to judge over the results during the run in and that as he was the man in situ it was only right that we backed him. Of course, that won't stop me from giving him a rollicking if he takes Saga off when we're behind and then says he's not productive;)!!!!!! But I can also understand some people's concerns given he was, to whatever degree, involved with the 28 game farce under Poortvliet. Indeed, I found it somewhat distatsteful how Poortvliet was hung out to dry, when for the previous 28 games + pre season we were always told it was a Revolutionary Coaching set Up with interchangeable whatevers!!! Given we had been throught the mill for 28 games and staring relegation and administration squarely in the face, then I think it's understandable how some may have got tetchy. Sadly, some struggle to reconcile either position.

I do hope the person whow did that is eating some rather large slices of Frank Cousin's humble pie!!!!!

Still giggling at Frank and SOG's ideas that those who opposed Poortvliet and the Total Revolutionary Coaching Set Up should be eating humble pie and are now gutted because Saints are winning LOL. Only a slight rewrite of history boys, and only slightly ignoring the sea change that the Club has undertaken in recent games. Why eat humble pie, when almost everything that you have prophecised has come to fruition? Surely those who blindly believed Lowe had got it right with Poortvliet and the folly of that strategy should be the ones scoffing it, as with each win under Wotte, using a balanced side and getting the basics right, it just hammers home the crass stupidity of the Revolutionary Coaching Set Up (and before you, or Lowe, claims this was a part of the master plan :-$, it wasn't and what we are seeing now is a million miles away from the original premise). How could anyone be gutted when almost everything they have been asking for has been delivered and the U turn necessary to turn this season around looks as though it may achieve it's desired affect. How can I be gutted?, when: We have finally given the boot to the manager who I believed was taking us down. We have finally ditched the Revolutionary Coaching Set Up in favour of a more traditional set up, which was something I wanted. We have ditched the Total Football in favour of much more traditional line up and formation, as I believed was necessary. We have ditched the folly of going with youth in favour of a more balanced side, which was something I wanted from day one. We are now making the best use of our resources and not freezing out those players who could make a difference, something else that has been mentioned numerous times. And of course, finally, how could any real Saints fan be gutted when their team starts winning? I'm not claiming to be some football visionary, because I was not the only one to realise that football isn't rocket science, you don't have to be revolutionary and that this season was not the time for experiments and ego driven strategies. And the only reason I could even be deemed to be remotely gutted would be that I'm frustrated and concerned that we had to waste 28 games of the season pursuing one man's ridiculous vision, driven mainly by his ego, a vision that was gambling with the very future of our Club. And if there's any humble pie to be eaten, it is by those who instigated and then supported the folly of Total Football by the Revolutionary Coaching Set Up. Good work fellas:rolleyes::smt048:rolleyes::smt048

lol.

It gets even better when you consider we have to travel to Blackpool, so three points there will be massive for us.

Someone else had a great analogy about this mini revival and Lowe's part in it, : You'll forgive me if I don't congratulate the man who set fire to my house if he throws a bucket of water in its general direction as he runs away...

But what if it was as good, what then?:smt048:rolleyes::smt048;)

And as I said on here, my protest was not against Wotte;) Fair play to him and fair play to the players, particularly those who have been frozen out who have shown a great deal of professionalism. Just as it was right to give Poortvliet stick for not recognising our failings and to stubbornly (or stupidly) plough on, then we should be grateful that Wotte was big enough to accept big changes had to be made and to actually make them. He will be judged at the end of the season, but in the meantime he gets the nod from me.

Given his record, you could have put my nephew in charge from last August and he would probably have done better than Poortvliet.:smt048:rolleyes: Feb 2009 = Year Zero LOL

But it wasn't, so a stupid question. Next;)

Why should I be eating humble pie??? You must be getting me confused with someone else, or trying to deflect attention away from all those who thought Poortvliet would do the business. Wotte has had nothing but my support (apart from one little dig aimed at Sundance Beast). I was more than happy to judge him by his results and never claimed he would be a success or a failure. Why should I be eating humble pie, the bloke's doing well, he's recognised the mistakes made in the first 28 games (and as he was a part of those mistakes, then maybe it was easier for him to see) and Ill give him my support, just as I said I would when he was appointed. Some strange posts on here tonight:D:D

Are you 12:D Good to see you've emerged from the low profile you kept when Poortvliet was doing the business (of sending us down). I can clearly remember all the noddy stick you were handing out when I suggested he may not be all he's cracked up to be;) I don't have to readjust my stance with regards Wotte, because I was more than happy to judge him on results, in exactly the same way I judged Pearson (see my little trawl for SOG:D) I admit I was quicker on the offensive with Poortvliet, but then again it was obvious to anyone with half a brain that he was going to be out of his depth (although you thought he was the bestest). Am I allowed to say you've been ownde LOL;)

Of course I'm gutted, so gutted that despite us wanting to lose every match I still go to St Mary's and cheer us on at every opportunity. :rolleyes: You must live some strange life if you imagine I'd be gutted at seeing Saints win. Next time you go to a match Bern, pop in the Pensioners after we've won and see just how gutted I am;) Here's some things my nephew and I typed out together just after Wotte was appointed: Just as I genuinely hoped Jan could pull it off, I hope Wotte will do the same. He and his team will get my support at matches, so I'm happy to live up to my side of the bargain (that's not unconditional support BTW). I think Wotte has already proved that he is much more flexible than Poortvliet and he has also recognised the folly of the strategy that we went with for the first 28 games. Whether he is able to just throw away all the baggage from the first 28 games and move us forward is something we will have to judge him on in the run in. Just look at the way I had written Wotte off:rolleyes::smt048:rolleyes::smt048:rolleyes::smt048

Absolutely agree, and although I'm way happier than bitter, I can't deny a part of me is saying exactly the same as what you have put above. We must ensure that we don't do anything even remotely fcking Revolutionary this summer, so get Lowe out of the decision making process ASAfckingP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But you do know the thought police will not allow that. Feb 2009 is the new Year Zero

As if I'm not, you incorrigle person (Micky is that the right word;))

Not for me. Keep the youngsters as bit part players coming off the bench and stick with the experienced guys up front.

Tough titties. Same team as far as possible. Make sure everyone knows their job, everyone knows their place in the team, keep it simple, win.

There's some six pointers in there!!!!!!!!!!