um pahars

Well basically he hasn't. As I pointed out his points per game ratio is lower (something like 20% lower than Pearsons). If he had been here from the start of last season or even for the same length of time as Pearson and managed that rate, then we would have been relegated. It's not beyond the realms of possibilities that Jan can emulate Pearsons rate, and even then I wasn't one of those dancing on the pitch as I didn't think avoiding relegation was much to celebrate (relieved, yes, celebrating, no). As to who had the hardest job, then it's all about personal opinion. One inherited a demotivated squad on the slide, albeit a squad with some under performing talent, the other had to restructure and had fewer "star" players to use, but had all the pre season period to rebuild and develop a style of play. We'll never agree on who had the hardest task!!!!

He was definitely no super hero, but considering what he inherited, when he came in with regards pressure & a downward spiral and what he was up against, he certainly did a good job. On top of that his points per game ratio is better than what Jan has achieved to date.

Have a look at this oracle of truth and you'll see that Jan was managing back in 1990, whilst Pearson didn't start until 8 yars later (that's if the OS is correct of course;)). http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/team/?page_id=6587&player_id=156 Pearson was still playing at Sheff Weds in 1990 (and did so for another 4 years) and then moved on to Boro (for another 4 years) where most of us probably remember him from.

I think it was down to the fact that DMG played "in the hole" as opposed to Lallana. When Lallana plays there he is much more mobile and plays all over the pitch, leaving McGoldrick isolated on too many occasions. Along with that, I don't think DMG is the man to lead the line on his own. Yesterday, Robertson led the line well and for most of the game looked a better option up there than DMG (still not convinced in the long run that Robertson is the answer). And at the same time, DMG didn't roam across the park, but instead played just off of Robertson, meaning Robertson wasn't isolated. A 4-4-1-1, but this time the 1-1 played much closer together almost being a 4-4-2 for most of the game.

I think the lad has talent in abundance, and if being totally honest, his style of play would be better suited to a higher division (although then again, it might not be a bad idea for him to continue plying his trade with us). Given that the "bigger" clubs have money to burn and can afford a gamble (and conversely we're desperate for cash!!!), I think it will be a struggle to hold on to him. Of course, he may not been overly keen on going (and could always dig his heels in) but I fear those in charge will be desperate to cash in on him some time in 2009.

Very impressive performance, made better by free booze and being in with the Reading fans. I had a sneaky feeling that we could pinch a draw, as I thought Reading's style of play would suit us, but those around me were convinced they would stuff us. The Reading fans kept saying they didn't play well, but I think that would conveniently ignore that we put in a fantastic performance and didn't let them play. Looking at the team, it was though Jan had finally got the message. Hope he learns from it. Three out of the back five were very experienced and then you had Cork who has played a season in this division. You can then carry a youngster and James did well in this line up. Being honest, I still don't rate BWP but he got two fine goals, so as it stands, he's on my Xmas card list. Even though he is not my favourite, he should certainly start ahead of Gobern, and with Surman, we had 50% of the midfield with some experience. Scheiderlin looked composed and Lallana was perhaps better suited to wide(ish) right as opposed to playing in the hole. I'm still not convinced of the personnel up front, but the shape looked better with DMG not leading the line. Instead, Robertson led the line well, and it enabled DMG to play off of him. I wouldn't say DMG played in the hole in the same way that Lallana did (i.e. with total freedom and roaming around), but instead played it in a Zola/Bergkamp way. It certainly looked more like two up front, than what we have seen recently when DMG has been isolated. Overall, we definitely deserved the win and at times played with real style and confidence. If he is going to tinker, then I would bring in Pearce, push Cork out to right back. Longer term, I would like to see a tough midfielder next to Schneiderlin, allowing Surman to play on the left, and then someone up front who can score on a regular basis (and would accept DMG playing off of him).

Have to agree with regards getting the amount for Jones, a player who was effectively holding us to ransom. Just as I praised Lowe for at least getting good money for players such as Richards, I always thought getting that amount for Jones (given the circumstances) was a decent job. With regards picking up John in return, there can be no doubt that without his goals last year we would probably have been relegated and in administration by now. Of course, another striker may have scored a similar amount, but then again, as we are now finding out, it's not that easy!!!!!!!! But, it must also be remembered that at that point we did have three well paid strikers on the books, and although you certainly need back up in key positions, to have that many was taking the **** somewhat (given our financial position!!!!!).

Are you for real????? Do you think Hone & Co had never heard of exchange rates???? You sound like my nephew who was **** a hoop when he found a 1,000 Lira note. SAGA "You must match my wages" HONE "What are you on?" SAGA "10,000 pounds (cypriot)" HONE "No worries, we'll give you 10,000 pounds (sterling)" Saga walks away having increased his wages by 50%.:rolleyes:

I await the fine print, but I am always happy to acknowledge the support of the major creditors as being good news. Of course there will strings attached, of course it can be withdrawn at any time and of course it would be better if we didn't have to go to them with a begging bowl, but hopefully it means we live to breathe another day. Although of course, I await GM berating this news as being anything but positive (as he did last time around:rolleyes::rolleyes:).

Whereas when Lowe was no longer at the helm you were the eternal optimist, always bigging up the Club and showing such positivity & gusto. Just where did that moniker Moanji come from:rolleyes::rolleyes: Glass houses me up;)

Well, if you read the Runnymede minutes, then it would appear that they were happy to give Lowe and others the inside track on the companies finances when they were no longer on the board or employed by the Club. I asked the question when it first appeared as I am unsure what the form is with regards one shareholder receiving such privileged and confidential information.

Because, sadly, we are in a rather depressing position. Some rather stupid decisions have been made once again, and the chickens are coming home to roost. At SMS, those who do come are very upbeat, optimistic and very supportive of the team, but away from the ground, just like those who no longer go, the mood is more honest, realistic and ultimately rather drepressing. We can of course always pretend everything is rosey, but you can't keep up a brave face indefinitely. It's tiring. And rather than blame the fans, maybe we should be looking more towards those who have created such a divide. Maybe the solution would be to remove the reasons for the divisions, rather than trying to bridge a gaping canyon with some nice words. The negativity is a response, a reaction, a sympton of the malaise that has engulfed the Club. We need to understand that the apathy, reduced attendances and negativity are symptons of the mismanagement of thic Club, and certainly not the cause of it. Until we recognise this we will continue to look in the wrong place for a solution.

My old mate, ANDY COOK

I posted this a few weeks back, and it is still something that I can imagine is causing us problems: The Annual Report and accounts do indeed relate to the financial period, which on the whole was before Lowe & co returned. But these reports also include a forward looking perspective, namely the concept of Going Concern (i.e. the concept that assumes that the Club will continue in business in the foreseeable future). I wouldn't be at all surprised if there was much heated discussion between the Board, the Auditors and the Bank about this issue. Signing off last years numbers won't be the issue, it will be convincing the auditors that we are a going concern that is probably causing us problems. BTW, they aren't "late" as in overdue, as although in normal seasons they were often out in September, last year they came out late November (although that delay also probably had a lot to do with the SISU offer, Going Concern issues, forcing the Executives to jump etc etc etc).

Their sole strategy for bringing people back throught the turnstiles is to get some wins under our belts. They have no other means of convincing those who stay away to return, as they lack the ability to galvanise the supporters in any other way. They do not have the support, the belief or even thesympathy of the vast majority of the fans. However, I doubt that all those who have been lost will return just because of a few wins, as like you I fear that for many the link between the team has been crudely broken in recent months. Additionally, I'm not convinced that this team can string a couple of wins together on a regular basis, and that the situation on the pitch will get worse come January. The current regime are not the future.

I would have thought you would have been here: http://www.windmillshotel.com/ or maybe you're on an information gathering trip: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windmills_in_the_Channel_Islands Round and round, windy miller me up.

Did he steal it from Bazza?????? Which fool paid Tommac money?????

Better have a quick witch hunt, because I predict a rebuttal of this story in The Echo in a day or so.

It's all a part of Granty's masterplan to drive traffic and make GM earn his wages;). No one reads GM's crappy stories (Gridiron and Groundsharing no less), so he has to get traffic by starting noddy threads. Attention seeking me up. Spoiling for a fight, just like Don Quixote tilting at windmills.

And there I was commenting on how good it was to see some debate and alternative viewpoints:rolleyes: And of course you never said we were poor when we were in the top flight:rolleyes:

At about the same time that he sold them Dean Richards!!!!!!! Who was the other guy talking on there, because as much of a legend Mark Dennis is, I don't think he is an oracle on all things Saints??? If it was Stewart Dennis, then it might have some legs as he is on the inside. And as other have said can this be done outside of the transfer window???? Is it possible to have a pre contract arrangement???

Just imagine you've got a windmill in Bursledon or somewhere, but because you only get 21 visitors and only grind 2 lbs of flour each year, you think about sharing it with someone. The only people who come forward are some old biddies from Clayton who have a few bags of wheat to mill, but to be honest they've already got their own windmill, it's quite a way to travel, they tend to suffer from incontinence and the Social Services aren't keen on supervising them. And ultimately as they haven't got any realy affinity with the Bursledon area and it's windmill, they decide it probably just isn't worth the hassle, and leave the Bursledon Windmill up to the self appointed committee to run it.

Fccukc me, this is turning into a love in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When the Executives were ousted last December, the scenario I outlined above was one that I was pushing for. 1. Find an Independent Chairman who the fans could support, 2. Employ a non alligned empowered CEO, 3. Keep the FD (Jones) for continuity, 4. And then have Non Execs representing the three shareholding factions (e.g. Wilde, Crouch and Richards &/or Cowen as that stake is 26%ish). I wouldn't have had the divisive Lowe as a Non Exec, certainly not as Chairman and no way as CEO. Instead, Crouch couldn't find a way of involving the others (and the other two couldn't find a way of working with each other anyway) and so we missed that option and instead got two former enemies kicking out a common foe leaving us with Lowe making the big decisions again. Quality all round.

How many seas [sic] surround Milano, and which seas surround Milan???

And there was I thinking you weren't like one or two on here (I'm in too good a mood to mention who) who you don't have to spell out everything in a monosyllabic manner.