um pahars

To buy out Lowe you have to have a willing seller. Crouch offered to buy Lowe's shares to remove him from the picture, but Lowe refused. But after that I'm not really sure of what your point is here. Mid season is not the best time to start restructuring for a number of good reasons (the window is shorter, contracts expire in the summer, you have no pre season to rebuild your team after selling players, games are thick and fast etc etc). The indecision when Burley finally left was definitely something that should have been handled better. I think He should have got someone in ASAP and not stuck with D & G for as long as he did. As for your second point, NP would never have had a chance no matter what he did at the end of that season. Lowe had a vision and it did not include Pearson, think you're being a bit naive to think Lowe would have stood by him. There's been a constant drip in various outlets attacking Crouch's tenure (mostly pretty unfair IMHO) and the Accounts barrage, plus another attack by Lowe on Sunday/Monday was probably the final straw. I think he's done well to hold his tongue for this long, considering some of the stuff said by Lowe & co. As much as Crouch might be considered a loose cannon, I think the way he has conducted himself since the end of the season has been pretty good (particularly when judged against the words and deeds of those who deposed him). His words today seem rather dignified when compared to some of the stuff Lowe has come out with since he first started sniffing around at the end of last season (Cowen and Wilde should be attempting to rein Lowe in as his outbursts are a continual string of own goals).

But if Wilde is nto re-elected, then doesn't that mean you will not achieve the stability you crave???

To be fair to Crouch I think he held his counsel for as long as he probably could. If he's as passionate as some say, then I imagine the old blood vessels have been close to bursting since he was booted out. I think he probably came to the end of his tether with Lowe's comments when the accounts were released last week and then by Lowe's further mud slinging in the local press about how he feels that the Man Yoo money was a mere drop in the ocen compared to all the money that had been watsed before his ressurection. If Lowe had been more restrained with his accusations, mud slinging and passing the blame and instead tried to be more concilliatory and interested in bridge building, then maybe Crouch would have maintained radio silence. Some subjective/dodgy bits in his interview, but then some other really good bits in there as well.

I bloody well knew Lowe would try and milk this fixture. We're not going to sell out with tickets at that price!!!!!!!!

If only it was that simple!!!! I've seen the David Luker quote, but have to say I'm not sure about it's veracity, as I just can't see that such a low figure would see us breaking even (even after allowinf for the savings made to date). Even with last years attendances, costs were 15million more than income. This year's attendances (and even the 17,000 figure) would mean that income would have fallen, and although we have saved money, I can't see how we haved saved that much!

We'll make something like half a million from this game. That's the equivalent of more than 2,000 extra punters for every home game we've played so far. We obviously need to scream & moan alot louder on here if an extra 2,000 punters for the first ten games is only a drop in the ocean!!!!!

I had him down as only having 5 league goals including the Derby one. Of which one was a penalty (although he should definitely keep practicising cos the Watford effrt was shocking!!).

Aha my little pet, whilst you've been abusing the main man Timmers, you must have overlooked my adoption of a new little favourite. You are no longer allowed to insult me until: a) your full quota has been used up in Cali, and b) Red and White Army gets the spanish archer (applications for a new pet will be taken in the New Year, at which point you will be welcome to apply - HTH).

Do you???? According to most on here, there are very few actual boycotters so it can therefore it can only be a quite a few of a very small number, in which case why are we starting threads on such an irrelevance?

Problem there is, as we found in the summer, there's not many buyers out there for this lot (John is in last year of contract so won't command a fee, it would probably be a big ask for someone to pay a fee and then the wages of Rasiak and Saga & you can only hope that someone sees something in Dyer). Hopefully the FA Cup windfall and 500,000 for Dyer will keep the wolves happy.

What channel we are makes no difference with what we do with our own hoardings, promotional deals etc. Hopefully we will get our share (45%) of a full house and I'd imagine prices won't be cheap. Hopefully we'll be on TV and for the last deal it was 150k per team (regardless of it being BBC or SKY), but think this one might be more. Then we get to sell pitchside hoardings at inflated proces, then there's probably a clause for existing sponsors that comes in to effect, merchandise, radio fees. It certainly won't pay off the overdraft!!!!!, but it might provide us with some breathing space, or at least reduce who we have to sell!!!!!

Guys, you're going to have to let this one go at some point. Supporters come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and degrees of loyalty. Our hardcore fanbase is something like 13,000 to 15,000. No amount of pontificating or moaning on here will change that. That is about the limit of our fanbase when the chips are really down, period, end of, full stop. To get above that we have to start winning games at home, scoring goals, riding up the table, pull in good draws in the cup and/or get promoted. We have to do something to tap into that middle layer of support and get gates something like 20,000 to 25,000 on a regular basis. Then after that we have to do something to tap into that top layer (who are really discerning) and get gates up to 30,000. The reason we did that against Bolton et al, was simply because we had 20,000+ season tickets, a large membership, tickets had a scarcity value, people got in the habit and large crowds drew in larger walk ups. No amount of moaning on here will get the missing 5,000 10,000 15,000 back.

Two quick points. Firstly, as we have seen, there is no guarantee of improving results. Secondly, hopefully the FA Cup windfall will provide some respite from the bank and will enable us to keep the side together for the rest of the season (and maybe even add to it in key areas).

Maybe, but if the players don't want to go (and Weston has stated that Lallana is in no hurry, and I have heard similar stuff about Surman) and the Club is in no hurry to let them go (as the windfall keeps the wolves from the door for a few months), then it can only be a good thing. Then maybe a good second half to the season might convince them not to leave in the summer, might increase attendances and season ticket sales which would in turn release the pressure from the banks in having to sell and so on. I hear what you're saying, but I think on balance I would have gone for this draw as it is a chance to kickstart the season.

Fair enough, I can only go on the games that I have seen. In a response my questions would be, did we look more threatening and look likely to score on the 2nd??? Athough you say we looked better with DMG upfront, does that say more about Robertson than DMG??? Do you see DMG as the man to lead the line for the rest of the season???

Try here: http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=5796 Good to see that an old institution has been reinstalled.

And maybe the windfall that is the United game might go some way to prevent the Club from having to cash in on him and others, which can only be good for both sides. I'd presume that all efforts will still be focussed on getting some money for those players on loan, but with contracts running down this might be difficult for some. And hopefully, the FA Cup money may replace this in their cashflow assumptions.

It's certainly worth a go. IMHO we look better when DMG isn't the sole player up top and it has to be said that neither Pekhart nor Robertson have played the role any better. I'd give it a go before the taansfer window, and if it doesn't come off would then give finding a player who can fit our style and lead the line on his own as a top priority.

Considering all the posts you make about us being lucky to be able to express our opinions in this country etc etc etc, isn't a bit rich to start laying it on a bit heavy about people should and shouldn't post??? Maybe you've out there too long and are going native??? With the exception of one poster on this thread, I think you'll find everyone had a good word for the idea (and going to London Saints on Saturday just emphasises the point). A few were intimating how this shows Jan is the right man, or that performances were also better, or that he is delivering on the pitch and some, (including myself) just pointed out that whilst it was an act that should obviously be applauded and extended, it has to be viewed in a wider context. Additionally, when people start to make such claims, it is common that those with a different viewpoint should come on here and give their own opinion. Maybe you should go back and chastise those who moved off the topic and who started to praise the football played, stated that they thought he was doing a good job etc etc etc. However, that of course would fundamentally miss the point of football forums where the topic can easily move as different views are posted.

Considering Once Bitterne has moved on to TT, it's so nice of you to fill the void and volunteering to be my pet.:smt117

Only pulling your leg fella. Quite enjoying these polls as I definitley have my greatest XI in my mind, but it's good to see how it fits in with others views (particularly those who may have seen players i wasn't fortunate to see). How about extending it to having a subs bench and of course a manager?

Big brother me up;)

If I vote for three, will it blow up?

Get up on a stool and have a look in the mirror then little boy. Just so you can sleep soundly take this to bed with you: I hate Wupert Lowe and I hate Wilde and no matter what dey or Jan do I will always hate them:smt010;) They is naughty boyz. One is posh and is snobby, the other wears glasses and is the baddest, and Jan wears orange underpants. Everything they do is naughty coz I pre judge everyone all da time so they must be baddest cos me is prejujist against dem. HTH I can do it in txt speak if you like

To be honest you've spent a lot of time there talking about the 'other lot' who I don't even think exist (bar maybe the odd nutter or wind up merchant). I haven't seen anyone calling for a boycott and who has been demanding others stay away??? Your first four lines were fine, you should have stopped there!!!!!!