um pahars

You're probably right. We're still losing money every month and need to find even more savings to reduce this loss. Of course, the alternative could be to increase revenue (mainly by increasing crowds), but the current regime are struggling with this proposition.

was, as it's now over!!!!!!!!!!! To be honest, you didn't miss much and The Saint (sorry Radio Hampshire) aren't really known for their in depth, Paxmanesque, tough journalistic grilling sessions.

Happily accept Chairman and/or Chief Execs should be involved in the buying part (i.e. doing the negotiations etc etc etc), but still think the identifiaction and final say has to be the preserve of the manager. Ray Wilkins may be saying that, but I would counter that recent events at Newcastle and Spurs are saying the opposite. (Of course some of these new overseas rich owners may be sticking their oars in, but even when they do it still sometimes ends in tears e.g. Mourinho & Abramovich!!).

Maybe we should wait and see before we set out for a lynching. This will come out either way in a couple of days, so maynbe we should just chill for a bit. We can have our lynching over the weekend!!!!!!!!!!

Have to say that every time I hear Jan, I warm to him. Heard him a few times on the radio now and also heard him after the West Ham game in the corporate suites and he is engaging. Some of his language issues actually add to his warmth (I stil have massive concerns about him being the right manager though, as in Wigley was - and still is - a nice guy). Was very positive, alittle bit non commital on some things, usual standard replies on others. Said he had recently spoken to a season ticket holder of 60 years or so who no longer goes and was quite concerned about it. However, wasn't convinced of his answer to the question about who signs/identifies the players and what Lowe's role was on this one. I may be wrong, but thought he said something like he didn't know alot about English players, then he sounded slightly unsure & mumbled and ended by saying there are a number of scouts who pick the players. His reply didn't rule Lowe out being involved in the identification. Was quite clear that he picks the team at the end though.

But I haven't seen anyone claim there is an experienced first 11 being kept in the shadows, so why are you being so melodramatic? What people have been looking for is a balance of youth and experience and sadly it has taken some batterings and a poor start to the season for this to register with the current regime. A number of more experienced players have been left out when IMHO they are better than the youngsters who took their places (John at the start of the season, Cork every now and then, Skacel from the off etc etc etc). What is also worrying about this failure to accept you need a mix in this division, is that throughout the transfer window we concentrated on youth at the expense of experience. The problem is not only failing to play the experienced players we have, but also a failure to augment them with any new faces in August and a failure of getting them to play together during the close season. We are now playing catch up (that's if he doesn't tinker with the line up again).

Yeah of course everyone was saying that it was contractual blah, blah, blah. Are you as stupid in real life as you come across on here??

Then perhaps the manager needs to get on and actually start to manage his squad, a role that includes motivating players, getting players to undertake training regimes to improve fitness and ultimately ensuring that our best players are actually out on the pitch.

There aren't any decent holdings by any investment/pension companies. AFAIK there is only one smallish one with just over 3%.

I predicted a draw:smt024:smt024 I think you're funny.:D I want your babies:smt057:smt057

Sounded like a gritty, backs to the wall performance, so well done to everyone. Maybe adding some experience to the team worked tonight (note to Jan please).

I predicted a draw!!!!!!!! And methinks we will get it here tonight.

Rubbish. I was more than happy to give him some time, and I will still give him some more time to prove himself one way or the other. That's not to say that my first thoughts weren't pessimistic and that currently those doubts are starten to firm up with each passing game, but he still has time to turn it round. You would have to be extremely optimistic to give Jan anything other than a must do better in a quarter season review. Maybe recent performances has finally made him see sense that you need a balance of youth and experience in this division. Of course the problem with seeing this now is that a quarter of the season has gone and so has the ability to bring players in that would make this work.

Ahem, it's more to do with the fact that it's taken some fckuking horrendous performances for the penny to drop and Jan to realise that 9 youngsters plus Davis and A N Other will not work in this division. So why has Perry come back in, why is John now getting a start, how come DMG is not playing, why is Skacel finally getting a game etc etc etc???? Because IMHO Jan has finally cottoned on to what is needed in this league. That means I have little confidence in him.

This bloke does not fill me with confidence!!!!

Maybe someone's realised it was a false economy to have someone like Skacel on the bench when we're getting thumped and attendances are plummeting.

To e fair, that competition is a joke and I'd be interested to know what sort of a team Sheff Utd put out.

Jan was up watching the Sheffield derby, so hopefully he's done his homework. I reckon Stern will start, Rudi to make the bench and DM to still get a game:rolleyes:. 1-1 with John scoring late in the game.

So maybe the next question should be directed at the manager as to why he has not managed to get Skacel playing, particularly when we've been crying out for some experience in the team.

Definitely worth taking you off igore for that. LOL. For the record I reckon we'll get a draw tonight. Can feel it in my fluoride water.

Can someone dig out that reply from the Club, because I have to say that when I read it, I thought it was fairly ambiguous. It said something like "I am not aware of any contractual dispute involving Skacel", which was neither a denial or admission that he has appearance fees in his contract that someone deems prohibitive. I certainly don't think the Club have specifically denied there is an issue over appearance fees and I keep hearing it is one of the reasons why he is not playing (the other being he is still ****5ed off at being fropzen out and then touted around to anyone who declared an interest in him in the close season).

Let's not try and rewrite history SOG. There were many on here cooing at the prospect of Total Football and what the Revolutionary Coaching set up would bring us. The OS, and it's sister mouthpiece The Echo, were shouting from the rooftops about the glorious footballing revolution and many fell for the propaganda hook, line and sinker.

Should read: £16m went out the door in our first year down (if you exclude the one off parachute payment) and even now we're still losing money hand over fist. PS Granty sort out the editing problem.:smt110

As our current Football Club Chairman pointed out a little while back, all of our problems were generated from being relegated and having a cost base and structure that cannot work in the long term in this division. £19m went out the door in our first year down and even now we're still losing money hand over fist. Feel free to outline what happened in that short period that crippled this Club.:rolleyes:

Oh, indeed it does, but there is a masive difference between the two. And there is massive diference in the underlying cause. One is a conscious decision to boycott on principle, which IMHO is a small minority, whilst the other is a sub conscious decision which is a direct result of the way the Club has performed on and off the pitch in recent months. Football has changed in recent years and for many it has become an entertainment business. There will always be a hard core who will come what may, but others need to be convinced that they will be entertained and will enjoy the experience. Indeed, those in charge now refer to us as customers and I don't know of any other business that blames it's customers for not trading with it. Get the product ight and people will buy it, serve up shtye and they will not fall for it. With the odd exception, every club that underperforms sees a drop in attendances. Some may hold up that decline by generating a spirit of unity, pride, respect and trust, others have the decline accelerated for all the opposites of the above. IMHO, we're crrently in the second group.