um pahars

I totally agree that most people are not going because we're either not in the top flight or not winning, but I'm also sure there are some who are not going for the reasons I stated. And my reply was in response to you and the other poster saying that not going for that reason was "stupid" or that it was a "lame excuse". For some, I don't think it is either, for the reasons I outlined.

But wasn't Dave Watson massive as well (really broad)????? Or was it the fact that when you're about 12????????

But why is it stupid? For some it is a perfectly reasonable position to hold, in that Lowe and others have reduced this Club to a shell of it's former self. Football has itself changed from the game I started out watching 30 years ago, and our club has also changed (for the worse) over recent years, and I'm not just talking about performances. I feel no real affinity with any of the players and I have lost some of my affinity for the Club. It may of course be more down to me, but I would also argue that our Club has moved away from its supporters (just as maybe a number of clubs have). Football as a whole appears to have moved away from it's core supporters and I think we as a Club have had to suffer more trials tribulations on top of that. Given all that, I don't think it's unreasonable for some to give up going, particularly when the main architect of our own woes has rocked back up. I can easily see why some have said "Fccuk it and fcucuk him".

I fear I have to agree with you. We really should have prepared for life without Killer, with any appearance being a bonus. I certainly think a 75% of what we had before Killer would have been an asset, but if he is in and out of the side it really doesn't do anyone any favours. We need some stability and something we can build around. IMHO unless he can play regularly he should probably only be used for emegency purposes.

Not being rude, but I just can't bring myself to think of Gillet being in the same post as some of the legendary teams and players above, let alone playing the same style of football!!!!!!!!!!

I just want us to win.

I also fear that if we just sit back and wait until we go on a winning streak, then we might be waiting a long time!!!! I do think we need to come up with some other way of getting bums on seats, but fear that many strategies might well ****5 off the most loyal of supporters i.e. the season ticket holders. In the short term, I'm sure many season ticket holders wouldn't mind seeing the benefits of a full stadium, but come renewal time next year, I'm sure it might make some of them think twice about renewing knowing they might get undercut again. What is certainly missing is an esprit de corps, a sense of togetherness engendered by the Club and that's something I don't think either Lowe or Wilde can pull off. If anything they're divisive and do more harm than good.

Could come in with b), but i'll go back and edit my post just for you!!!!

I predict that it won't be pretty on here!!!!! But, fear not, for we shall win today!!!!

This is a must win game. This is definitely a can win game. And I'm sincerely hoping for a will win game. 2-1 Saints. Pekart and Lallana.

I would prefer: a) Winning 3-0 playing great football, then b) Grinding out a 1-0 ugly win, then b) i) getting outplayed for 89 mins, having 25 shots against us but grabbing a last min winner, through a luckily deflection, in our only attack of the game c) Drawing, when we probably should have won, then d) Snatching a draw when we deserve to lose, then e) Losing, but playing some really good stuff, & finally f) Losing, but deserving the spanking. e) is most definitely better than f), and c) and d) are close, but nothing ultimately beats a) and b). (Particularly if b) is away from home or against a team you hate).

I think a couple of those could be in with a shout this afternoon, if not over the coming few weeks. I think it's great to see young, home grown talent come through, but they must be nurtured, protected and played in a team where they get support from some seasoned pros (particularly in this league which is really physical and suffers from shyi7te referees!!!!).

Well it looks as though he can count as good as our man Jan can!!!!!

How do I get a refund on my fiver???????????

Apart from when he says West Brom had 3 points from their first 9 games in his latest interview. They actually had 17 points !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Probably the same person who made up his CV!!!!!!! Just had a look as well and West Brom won 5 and drew 2 of their first 9 games. Very disturbing to hear the Head Coach making misleading statements on the OS.

I would counter argue that I would like to see my son developed and coached at a well resourced Academy (I think that for us, those days are gone). In addition I would like to see him nurtured and used when it is right for him, not thrown in too early because the first team are desperate. Despite some people trying to tell us Staplewood is state of the art, it really isn't and there are a number of clubs who have a much better set up than we have. We're just a low level Championship team trying to do its best to survive. We've always had a decent reputation for developing youngsters and I'm sure we'll tick over, but any line that the Academy will be our saviour is just a rehash of the old jam tomorrow promise.

Should probaby throw in Baird and Surman as well. But we have had this debate many times before, in that the Academy was always rolled out as this jam tomorrow thing that would save us, when in reality it never produced a conveyor belt of talent that then went on to play for the first team. It proved it's worth by earning us millions in transfer fees (which we could then spend), but it was never this conveyor belt of talent turning out players by the bucketload.

Our finances may well restrict some of the things we want to do, but we still have/had choices available to us. Going down this route was not the only option, so let's put that one to bed straight away (for instance we could have gone with Pearson, we could have used the Scheiderlin fee to pay for some experienced pros etc etc et). I'm not saying doing it another way would be better or worse, but there were choices available to us.

If........................

Which is something I said in the close season. People were raving about his performances against some non league teams,when I was more worried that if he was our best player, then in all honesty we were going to be in trouble when the proper football started!! If Gillet has been overlooked by a number of our own managers and a number of other managers/coaches/scouts, then I think you would be pretty safe saying he's not really up to it. He's almost 23 and frankly if he was any good, he would have either been playing regularly here, or some other team would have taken him on. Without being too harsh on him, he's what I would call a long time reserve player who has had to fill the gap!

Exit2 heard a story/rumour (I'll let him confirm) that the reason Skacel is not playing is due to his £4k appearance fees being too much. Is that another false economy??? or do you have to draw the line somewhere???

Are you totally sure, because I personally didn't agree with this part of his summing up: "I have to give a big compliment to the back four after this game because they kept us in the race." I thought our defence (and in particular the full backs) did not have a very good game at all. Having listened to him on many occasions, I have really warmed to him, but I don't think he's above the norm of rolling out platitudes and soundbites that are then beefed up on the OS.

This is one of my biggest worries in that whilst some good results might well get some people back in SMS I'm concerned that others will just get out of the habit of going. But in the short term, what is the solution other than going on a winning streak???

But would the response be: OK we'll shut the Chapel and take the savings there, but we will also continue making the savings by closing the corners!!!!!