um pahars

A different management team could have done a lot of things differently than the current lot, to suggest otherwise is fantasy land stuff. It might have produced better results, then again it might not have. To deny there was an alternative is unrealistic. Of course it could have been even worse, but from what I have seen so far (and from our league position etc etc etc) you would probably have struggled to have got worse than what we have been left with. Management teams aren't homogenous. They don't all achieve exactly the same with the same resources. There is nothing to say that a different team wouldn't have produced better (or indeed worse) results. The problem is that the "best" that the current lot is doing is beginning to look not good enough. Points on the board tell us it isn't good and the dwindling attendances consolidate that. Indeed there isn't, but as each week passes so does the fear that the "revolutionary coaching set up" isn't the right answer grows. I don't think it will be long before this comes to a head one way or the other.

The minute Wilde and Lowe teamed up it was over all bar the shouting for Crouch. Of course there was hope that it wouldn't go through and we wouldn't be facing the disaster we now have. It was their decision to upset the apple cart. We had a manager who had managed to deliver a semblence of pride and unity. We had the support of the bank (within the obvious constraints). They were the ones who decided to undo all that, and now a few months down the line they're going around with the begging bowl with the ar55se hanging out of the team on the pitch. It may not have touched the existing shareholders (because arguably like ours they don't have the readies to contribute), but it certainly affected the existing shareholders. There's no way the Club should be asking for a "loan" of any type from Crouch, it has to be in exchange for something. This is a commercial PLC. It appears Lowe wants to have his cake and eat it on this one. Surely if the only way of saving the Club in the short term is to step aside (and maybe even forfiet shares or something similar), then Lowe and Wilde should be prepared to do that, particularly if the alternative is admin and meltdown. What is Lowe currently bringing to the party????

How about the current PLC Board putting us into Administration rather than conceding defeat (or accepting support)???????

Richards is firmly a part of the Lowe cabal. Always has been. Quite simply, there was never any attempt at that Runnymede meeting (or at any point up until Crouch sounded out Salz) of them looking outside their own circle. I reckon Crouch could, and probably would, put some money in even if it meant just buying us some time. However, there is no way he should be expected to that without some movement from others. Now that could mean asking others to contribute as well, or it could be them forfeiting their shares. As long as we're a commercial PLC then I fail to see how Crouch can put his money in. Of course it might buy the Club some time, but this isn't a charity and it would be particularly galling for him to pump money in knowing that if it comes off, then one of the biggest smiles will be on Lowe's face. Rewind back a few months and Lowe and Wilde's attacks in the press as we were fighting a relegation battle was nothing about a compromise. As it stands at the moment, I fail to see what Lowe (& Wilde) brings to the party at the moment apart from division, rancour and failure. And if their presence is stopping an SOS from Crouch, then their position becomes close to being untenable. I'm not sure of exactly how it would/could work, but if there is a chance to buy some time with a Crouch bail out, then it has to be seriously examined. If it means some have to dip out and forfeit their shares then maybe so be it. It might not be ideal, it might not be a long term solution, but if the alternative is going under then it might be all we have.

If, and I think it's a bloody big IF , then I reckon Hockaday would be in the frame. He definitely has Lowe's ear.

What is the main problem then IYHO??

But going back to the OP I just don't think that scenario will ever pan out, regardless of Lowe's past hiring and firing past. If Jan goes, then Lowe has to go, it's as simple as that. But as far as I tell, there is no way Lowe would walk away again so soon after coming back. His ego and his personality wouldn't allow it. No way in the world would he pull the plug on his experiment so soon after implementing it and admit to failing. Jan is here until it works or until it goes ti77ts up. I remember saying to Rupert that I thought he was drinking in the last chance saloon when he appointed Wigley, but he must surely be drinking in there now!!!!! The only problem of course is that it will be the last chance saloon for Southampton Football Club 1885 Ltd as well.

Was it Public Enemy who sung Don't Believe The Hype?????

Problem is though Phil I have honestly never witnessed such a collective amount of pessimism at the ground and in the city before. In the good few drinking hours before the match there was always a glimmer of hope, a hope that we had turned the corner, but it was always said through gritted teeth and never completely believable. At the match, although the support was pretty good, there was almost a resigned sense of being in the mire big time. I think people are apathetic and just going through the motions and can't even be ars5ed to have a moan!!!! But out last night it was like a wake. The only positive was that maybe, just maybe there are three teams worse than us this season. Then again, if this carries on like this until January and there is an exodus then I fear that will eliminate even the faintest of hope that may still be out there.

In the grand scheme of things, potential saviours appearing (and then disappearing) aren't dripping away on the morale of everyone. I very much dount that many at SMS are even aware of a Fulthorpe / Crouch / A N Other rescue package. It's confined to a few obsessed internet freaks on here LOL. Quite simply what is dripping away at the morale of people is poor performances at home and the lack of any real success. We have the second worst home record in this division and that's what is killing this Club in terms of lack of points and lack of punters!!!!!!!

If Jan really is on peanuts, then surely it wouldn't take much to pay him off. And then if the choice is failure Vs stretching the budget to get an experienced manager in, then I'm sure people will see that it would be a false economy not to spend some money on the single most important person at a football club. The cost of failure will be more than the cost of a decent manager that's for sure. That said, I still think Jan is worthy of our support, but that's not to say he is immune from criticism or a later review.

But the problem is that fewer and fewer people are lying in the bed that Lowe made. Now of course you can blame the fans for not turning up, but ultimately this experiment is having a detrimental effect on attendances.

Sorry Rich, it never meant to come out like that, it's just I'm so pi655ed off with people claiming there was no other possible alternative for this season, when quite clearly there were many alternatives/options, with keeping Pearson being the most obvious one. Of course there was no guarantee that he could have done any better, but I don't think the "they didn't have a choice" line should be used as an excuse to exonerate Lowe & co from facing the music if this experiment goes ti77ts up. Frank Cousin's revelation last week that Wilde and Lowe were committed to a continental set up months before they took over shows that they were always going to go with this "revolutionary coaching set up" and that Pearson (was he even appointed at this point????) was a dead man walking. Agree 100%. I have nothing against him (and have bigged him up on occasions), it's just that I fear he is not the right man for us, in much the same way that as much as I thought Wigley was a good coach and a nice guy, he just wasn't the man for us. Within reason, as although we no longer have the benefit of pre season and the little money we had (rewind back to Sturrock and Wigley back in 2004), there may come a time when ploughing on with Jan is just not the right thing. When that will come to a head, I don't know, and I honestly hope it never comes to that as I would love him to succeed. But there just may be a point when we have to call time on this experiment and try and get a "Pearsonesque" type of guy in. Even if it means paying up Jan's salary and employing someone else then those costs might be peanuts compared to the cost of relegation and/or administration.

He's not Lord Marland, no way in the world!!!!!! And as an aside I'm not sure what Marland's Sport Nexus Lobby Group would make of the current shennanigans at St Mary's when you consider this is a part of their aims: We believe that poor quality of leadership and misguided strategy has too often failed British sport at all levels. Constantly scrutinise the issues in sport to highlight areas where poor management is acting against the public interest. To be the independent voice which challenges the structures, practices and accountability of British sporting institutions. Maybe Marland should be looking closer to home and having a word in lowe's ear. LOL.

Another drab home performance for me. I really can't be ar56ed to report on anything and most on here would probably have seen it via the TV anyway. The only performance of note I have seen so far this season was Norwich at home, so struggle to reconcile what I have seen, with the line often trotted out of "we may not win but at least the quality and style of play is good". The plain fact is that we have been (and are) a pretty poor side.

Keeping Pearson on was one of those short term options that was clearly available. We then have different tactics, team selectiopns etc etc etc. We then have a different strategy of spending the little money we have. The finances certainly dictate some of the choices that were available, but there are things we could have done differently. Even now we could dispense of Jan and get someone else in who might (or might not) be able to do something different with exactly the same resources, as one of my ongoing concerns is that Jan is becoming a bit of a one trick continuing to play one up top when at home.

LMFAO. So here is someone who doesn't go to matches and yet: a) Is the first to moan about players getting on the youngsters backs, without actually witnessing it:smt069:smt069 b) Suggests the youngsters need more support and yet doesn't go. You don't have to go to matches to have an opinion, but it will impact on your ability to speak about issues that you don't have first hand knowledge about. Sometimes you just couldn't make it up.

And what about at the match yesterday??? How did you rate the atmosphere and support from where you were sat??? I'm sure many on here would happily swap those average/poor years in the top flight for the rubbish we are being served up now. I have to laugh that the best defence of our current predicament is that we didn't win very much when we were in the top flight.:smt069:smt069

What is actually more concerning is if the Head Coach is starting to blame the fans. He, and the team, need our support and shouldn't be doing anything to undermine that relationship.

There's one easy way for ther manager (Head Coach actually!!!) to silence his critics, and that's by winning matches! A successful manager will be able to defend any of his decisions if he's successful. As an apologist for the current regime, you're doing a fantastic job.

LMFAO.:rolleyes: What did you think of the atmosphere yesterday??? Did you experience anyone abusing the players yesterday??? How did those react around you to the defeat??? PS If we were average to poor during our time in the top flight, how would you rate the current team. PPS I actually reckon my nephew could do a better job than Lowe as DOF.

Could have kept Pearson on. Could have played a different style or formation (i.e. not persist with one up top when at home). Could have been more focussed with our signings, rather than get the 11 or 12 odd new players in. Could have gone for fewer in number and included a number of more experienced players. Could have gone for fewer in number and managed to hold on to some of the more important players. Could have done alot of things differently. Of course, some avenues were closed due to our financial problems, but there were a number of alternatives and choices we could have made differently. Would they have been more successful????, who knows, but let's not kid ourselves that Jan and the route we've taken was the only option available.

Could have kept Pearson on. Could have played a different style or formation (i.e. not persist with one up top when at home). Could have been more focussed with our signings, rather than get the 11 or 12 odd new players in. Could have gone for fewer in number and included a number of more experienced players. Could have gone for fewer in number and managed to hold on to some of the more important players. Could have done alot of things differently. Of course, some avenues were closed due to our financial problems, but there were a number of alternatives and choices we could have made differently. Would they have been more successful????, who knows, but let's not kid ourselves that Jan and the route we've taken was the only option available.

He's going down in my estimation with this comment. Once again I thought the support yesterday was really good (considering how many were there) and there were many in the Itchen really urging the team on (a quick note to those who don't attend - there is hardly any negativity at the ground at the moment, so you're barking up the wrong tree claiming otherwise). I don't think there has been any animosity or abuse aimed at the players, the vast majority are behind them and can see they are trying their best. They may not have the ability to cope with this division, but there can be no doubting their efforts and tenacity in the circumstances. Personally, I'm beginning to get a bit bored of all the accusations blaming the fans for our predicament, and particularly pi6655ed off at those having a pop at the rump 14,000 who continue to go and support the team.

You need to read through those minutes again Phil, as they (and that's all three of the major shareholders) never once showed any inclination to look outside the three major shareholding groups. Each of the proposals/combinations that were put forward always included a substanital make up pf the status quo. There was never any mention of an outsider, an independent etc etc etc. The only person who I am aware looked outside the interested parties was Crouch when he attempted to get Salz and others involved. You need to ask why that idea never came to fruition.