um pahars

Just as I have never claimed Pearson was a rip roaring success and a Saints legend, I think you'll find my views on Crouch are very similar. BUT, just as I would prefer to have Pearson over Wotte or Poortvliet (of course I would want Mourinho, but it's not an option) then I think the same can be said with regards Crouch over Lowe (in that I would prefer another alternative) particularly in this short term period. My preferred postion has always been an outside CEO and Chairman, independent and tasked, something that is eminently achievable and as realistic as changing the manager. Lowe's decision making has once again been shown up to be absolutley appalling, so forgive me if I have no faith in what we have today. And whilst you might want to claim Dodd and Gorman is exactly the same as Poortvliet, then I'm afraid I don't buy it (the same as Gray maybe, in being it was his first big mistake), but go back and think and look at the contexts and when and how Lowe made the decision and remember not least that to install Poortvliet he had to remove Pearson. If the very best reasons we can come up with to keep Lowe are either (a) there is no other alternative, or (b) he's not Crouch, then I have to say that's a very damning indictment on the vision, ambition and desire of those currently in charge of our Club.

I think he's only just come back, so hopefully he will still be off the pace:smt022:smt022 Getting in all these loanees is no guarantee of improvement (just look at our rag tag bunch last summer), but Norwich have also picked up Gow and Killen who are rated.

And that is where I stand on the situation. I'm not outraged by the comment, just find it unnecessary and unwise and someone should have been at his side overseeing what was going on.

Of course it didn't upset me, but I think it was a very ill advised or naive retort, at a time when he should be concentrating on winning over the fanbase and convincing us he is the right man for the job. It demonstrated a distinct lack of empathy with the wider fanbase.

But I am a mere supporter posting on a noody internet message board. I am not an integral part of a "Revolutionary Coaching Set Up" that has so far been an abject failure tasked with unifying this Club and getting us all pulling in the same direction. I don't think that assessing things after 28 games and calling for a change makes us very easy in our judgement. In fact, I think we have been rather patient and rational. In fact, it would appear that the sentiments of the supporters with regards the managerial situation were in tune with those in charge, who finally conceded it was failing.

If he doesn't say it, then it would have never have been an issue.

Well considering so many on here (and even yourself in your last paragraph) are calling for people to come together to get behind the manager, then I think you have answered your own question as to why we need unity. Success on the pitch will indeed go along way in calming down the unrest,but IMHO there are two problems that would still exist. Firstly Lowe's decisions and strategy have delivered abject failure and his decision making has once again been found wanting, so at the moment success seems a long way off. Secondly, I think that even despite a modicum of success, Lowe has too much history and has been at the centre of too many mistakes and errors of judgement for him ever to be able to win back the support. If a neutral was on the outside looking in, then I reckon they would be gobsmacked that the man who oversaw our relegation & initial demise was initially rightly dismissed, only to come back two years later to install a joke of a manager, oversaw falling crowds and has the team languishing in the relegation zone. Given all that I think they would be fairly sympathetic to the plight and reaction of the fanbase. Even if this was happening at Portsmuff, I would have a degree of sympathy for their supporters.

But as I have said above, these are sensitive times and I think he was naive in making such comments at a time when he should be trying to win over as many supporters as possible. I wouldn't say it was aimed directly at those on the march, I think it was aimed at a wider audience than that!!!! Considering he was an integral part of a management team that presided over such a disastrous 28 games, a period in which the team and the management received some pretty good backing, then I think he's plain wrong in suggesting "they are very easy in their judgement".

I would agree entirely, as genuine as the original question from SOG asking the marchers their opinions on hypothetical event. We would do well to remember that there is probably more that unites us than divides us, but for me the problem is that as long as Lowe is here we will always be btching and fighting. He is not the galvanising and unifying figure that we so dearly need at this perilous time.

To be quite frank, given everything that was going on, I would have expected someone to say "hold on, we're not going anywhere in this interview that is to do with Poortvliet, protests, Lowe, Wilde or Crouch". Problem is, we seem fairly leaderless at the moment. Although I am all up for the Club being honest and upfront whenever possible with us, I'm also savvy enough to realise that sometimes the best response is to say nothing at all. IMHO, Wotte's comments were misguided, poorly worded and unnecessary.

Don't you find it slightly ironic that you're grouping all of those who believe they hold a valid and honest opinion why Lowe should go, in with a few rabid anti lowe posters, who you are berating for tarring all of those who hold a legitimate view that Lowe should stay with the same brush???? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

I concur. In the current "state of emergency" I would not have Lowe anywhere near this Club. Not only is he the single most divisive figure at this Club, but his decision making has once again found to be wanting. His first major decision back at the Club has been shown up to be a total disaster, so I have no idea why people feel we must persevere with a busted flush. I don't believe the return of Crouch on a day to day basis is the long term answer, but in this current situation he has to be a much better bet than the failure that is Lowe. What the shareholders and current custodians of the Club should be doing is getting out there to try and find a CEO and a Chairman who can unite this Club and take it forward. We have moved to replace a defunct and failing manager, so it is totally reasonable to move to do the same with a CEO.

It's a bit messy down here. Not heaps of snow, but a good few inches and more expected later (still comiong down now). The Radio is reporting that it's a combination of ice underneath and snow (StageCoach have just suspended their buses in the Winchester area & the airport is closed). I don't think there will be a problem with the pitch, but could easily imagine the police and authorities making a decision due to public safety on the approaches. I'd leave it a bit and then decide.

I can quite clearly see that a few of the more rabid pro Lowe are doing all they can to knock the march and those that march. Not everyone is doing that of course, and my reply was aimed at a few who are. HTH

The initial group right near the Bargate was probably closer to the 300-500 mentioned, but there were alot of people just milling around (in the precinct etc) waiting for the march to get going as north of the Bargate was fairly chocker and you couldn't get near it. But when the march got going the numbers swelled considerably (as the videos show). Being a cynic, I do wonder if some of the media were/are under pressure to play this down. There was talk that Radio Hampshire took a decision not to publicise it and I have to say that I think The Echo weren't that keen either!!!!!!

All they've done is taken a straight lift from The Echo site, so I wouldn't be too harsh on them. As supporters, there's more that unites us than divides us.

Here is the 8 game current form table (we're 22nd!!!). http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D1/oform.html I would say Charlton will struggle. I still think Doncaster might fall back in to the mix, but agree that Watford and Barnsley are the ones we need to be thinking of overtaking, although Derby could well be in there as well. The Watford game next week is a real biggy which we cannot afford to lose.

So Michael, are you going to introduce me to your daughter or not?

I think we should take comfort and support from their posts, which are obviously tinged with a big deal of pssedoffedness!!!!!!!

I quite agree. It was actually probably the best thing connected with this season!!!!!!! Caught up with a lot of old faces from the past and had a good laugh along the way. The march had a really good and supportive feel to it. Plenty of families, a real mix of ages and something all those who started it off and took part should be proud of.

I think it was the Queen Vic and it was also called something before that as well.

I actually think the next one will be even bigger. We're a fairly reluctant and shy bunch down here and even me and a few others in the pub were up for sloping off if only 50 turned up!!!!!!!! This will give others the confidence to come along and play their part. Apply some pressure on the media to advertise it in advance (particularly The Echo and Radio Hampshire who were reluctant this time around). Get a viral advertising campaign going and spread the word. Maybe a different message. Maybe getting some names and/or faces involved to really catch people's imagination. I honestly think the genie is out of the bottle on this one.

I was at the back of the queue and when I looked back up Old Northam Road as we went past the King Alfred the road was pretty empty. You don't get that many fans walking to the ground at 1:40!!!!!!! Also when we went past the footbridge to the ground (the march didn't go over the footbridge) the only person who had taken a right there was one copper. And Hannover Buildings/Hoglands Park/Kingsway is probably not the route that anyone takes!!!!! There were a few supporters in wheelchairs, a few pushchairs, a few on their bikes, a couple walking dogs and even a skater in her bikini (OK I made the last one up).

I wouldn't be so sure!!!!!! The idea of putting money in to the Club now is something that only a really devoted, stupidly rich or perhaps even mad person would do. £2m - £6m won't really solve our problems, but it will potentially give us as stay of execution and a chance to work something out. But it will be a huge risk. IMHO whilst Crouch would be up for losing the money as he is coming from the perspective of wanting this Club to survive, I wouldn't be surprised if the other two were looking at it purely from a business point of view. And the question for them is: a) Is it worth putting my £2m in, ceding some control to Crouch and hoping this comes off, and pray that we're not back to square one in 1 or 2 years time? or, b) Is it better to try and get to the front of the queue the other side of administration and use the money to buy the carcass of the Club on the cheap (even if it has been somewhat raped and pillaged). or, c) Do we just bumble on as we are now and pray we can pull it off without any new funds (and then maybe go back to (b) above).

I must have missed that one as well!!! What was that rumour then?????