dubai_phil

Piecing together the clues from on here Wotton got sent away and trained with Brighton and appears close in the media to joining Sheffield Wednesday Hockaday gets placed on gardening leave Wotton is back on the bench. Seems pretty clear anecdotal evidence to me but wouldn't want to go to court with it....

strangely I just had word back that somebody I know back there even sent it to the Echo as well.

He had big problems at Sunderland with the "bling types" but he loved working with the kids who loved him... And they said he would never work with Quinn. Rupes would be a pussycat in comparison to their relationship hmm nice one

I think it is actually GOOD that we get outside views onto here. It is also good that (most) people actually respond with solid and reasoned arguments. If these really ARE PR or Media people then one critical part of their function is to measure "hit rates" in order to show their client that they are receiving value for money (it's called ROI) Now many of us feel it immoral that they choose to hide, I personally would prefer them to come on and say High Im PRPLANT #468. But what we SHOULD be discussing, is not so much their presence on here but we should be DEMANDING that they correlate the responses and opinions and then REPORT THEM BACK. It should be two way - for many years we've complained that nobody seems to take account of the views of the fans and yet here we have a chance to send a clear and INTELLIGENT message back. I'm all for them but they MUST accept they have a duty to be a two way street

It's what he said to Cowen in public in the reception area of Hospitality on Saturday. I laughed as well

Glad I wasn't the only one thinking this. I wonder if any behind closed doors friendlies have been arranged Like on Friday?

Hey it's my fanatsy poll idea! The concept is simple On a SHORT TERM CONTRACT until the end of the season (because of concerns about finance if we got relegated) And to do the job of keeping us UP, not being "the Lidl's version" - again

Dear Jan I am extremely concerned to read in the media today that the outcome of the meetings yesterday is your declaration to work twice as hard. It is extremely clear to anybody who has watched more than one football match in their life that the club is in trouble, our results are below poor, the fans are angry and restive and the players themselves seem to not understand what it is that you expect them to do on the pitch. I would like you to please explain to me, HOW, with these circumstances, it is necessary for you to ONLY double your efforts AFTER you have had a meeting with senior officers of the club. I am astonished by your reaction, perhaps you have spent too long around young players, as the mere concept that a meeting with your boss should be the spur for you to redouble efforts reminds me of a young child being told off and then promising to do better. As a supposed experienced football coach, you should have already clearly SEEN that your efforts were not sufficient for the task at hand and you should already have been working at "200% capacity". There is no way on this earth that the fans of this once great club could understand how Mr Lowe himself could be needed to point this out to you. From where I sit, this, admission of not giving it all you have got, more than anything else in the past weeks is a clear public admission that you have been promoted above your level of capability. I strongly suggest that you, and the people who talked Mr Lowe into this "The Dutch Method" concept should pack your bags this afternoon and take the first available flight from Southampton International Airport back to Holland. We shall I am sure, turn our attentions next week to the person who allowed themselves to be talked into this mess, after we have placated the bank and brought in a manager with experience, tactical nous and a proper understanding of the needs of footballers to be MATCH FIT when they play a game of football at CCC level. To admit in public that you were not giving every ounce of your ability is a disgrace, FlyBE flight number 1017 departs this evening at 18:05, if your salary does not cover the cost, myself and some other fans will book your single ticket on line for you at our cost. one way of course. Up until that statement, I had some sympathy for your position, but you have admitted to not giving of all of your efforts. That is unforgivable in any position of life. Safe Journey

Meanwhile, give the newbie it's due, it made me think - a conundrum..... Taking out the "emotive bit" for a moment and also the bleedin' obvious... The club has a Football management structure of coaches It has a DoF with even less expereince of football than our Chairman Results on the pitch are horrific We demand that the Chairman stays away from the football team It appears that the players are unfit/uncoached Just who at the club do we expect to actually go to Staplewood and find out what the fook ACTUALLY goes on up there during training? I get a horrid feeling that the Dutch system is not just lacking on the Pitch on match day but somehow they've got this whole horrid kindergarten playground thing going on up there and our dear DoF wouldn't even know what he was looking at... Perhaps somebody should have popped up to Staplewood to check things out a little bit earlier, like end of November It will be interesting to see what happens. Anybody on here with mates who actually play footie tried to talk to them of late?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1125059/Southampton-boss-Poortvliet-battle-save-job-crisis-talks.html Ah I see the official mouth piece puts a slightly different slant on the outcome of the meeting than the Echo did. Fighting yes, but more to save his job... hmm

Well done for letting us know Tim, a good news post for a change after a bad few days. Fingers crossed for the 5th.

yup, looks like we are about to become as important as Cardiff.... Dr Who is due to land here later this year to film one of his hour long specials. Poor old EricofArabia is gonna have his work cut out at air traffic keeping the planes away from the Tardis... Luckily we have plenty of weird aliens for him to fight (the Doc not EoA that is) - most of them appear in the bars around 2am with Blue drinks and the idea of locals in traditional gear getting zapped by daleks (or whatever else) we just haven't stopped laughing about it all morning but he MUST bring Rose & Martha with him that would put a whole new justification to have sex on the beach... local rag had a field day with photoshop, shame they don't have that page on line yet - The OOD at the Rugby 7's complete with tinnies, Davros shopping in the Dubai Mall, the Tardis parked on top of the Burj Al Arab and Cybermen on the beach. lol right cheered us up after the tension of waiting around for the results of the meetings at SMS yesterday! Oh and even funnier the Grauniad has a go at the Beeb becuase of the human rights record down here - lol - they obvioulsy don't want to come here on holiday then! Wonder what other shows would look funny in a different setting... Jonathon Ross in the Fawlty Towers set, Heroes in Skegness The Superbowl in Faarton Park

Just for fun OK, so now putting on a "PR" hat, let us look at what we have as at this time. Ian Dowie has the support of 22% of the votes cast. So in PR speak... let's read the "possible" future press comments Almost 80% of Saints fans asked are not in favour of Ian Dowie becoming the next manager of Southampton FC... Despite drastic action being taken to save Southampton's season, the fan base remains split into many factions and dissent amongst the ranks continues.... After accusations that the Board do not know what they are doing and accusations of weak decision making, the fan base are unable to agree on a suitable future manager and continue to debate fiercely.... Tough job running a football club :-) Peter Taylor is a good shout but not if he already has a job (unless he wants to pay his own compensation!!)

How many meetings were there today, when does the Echo actually go to print? Goodnight - Bullfrogs hit the spot this evening

Well back from the pub & I've given it some thought (sponsored by Bullfrogs) Somebody who can get our squad fit again Somebody with tactical nous Somebody not afraid to make tough decisions So anyone from the judging panel of Strictly Come Dancing or Alan Curbishley Dowie is just sooooo not built for TV

But tomorrow it will be. That's in page 4 of "PR for Dummys" on the same shelf as MS Excel for Dummy's

Ah excellent news, sounds like JP has got a vote of confidence then.....

Ah I was pontificating, not pontiff..... ing

being pedantic, how do we know he hasn't? after all we're only the fans, don't expect us to get to know anything important from the OS and the Echo guys are probably off for Happy Hour down the pub by now Which is where I'm off to

So the meetings appear to continue, much is being done and much has been talked about on here. The silence sends a signal Time for a Poll. Simple facts we have a precarious position in the League and then with our finance. It would be difficult to offer a long-term contract. We have no funds for compensation so it needs to be an unemployed manager The cost of the right man versus the cost of releagtion is irrelevant, as the pacakge can be inflated by results based bonuses. We need to have a new man in place before the middle of next week So, on the basis that we need an INSTANT improvement in our tactics and probably stamina and, who would YOU nominate as a short term manager until the end of the season. If we get enough nominations could we have a poll? For me simply because the feel good factor would push us far enough up the table and to get the arguments going Kevin Keegan

I did

oops sorry for the confusion, the light Tortoises actually translates as Al Arbeein Al Meralaai. hope that clears any confusion. Hey certainly clearer than all the signals coming out of SMS at the moment

Oh do TRY and keep up. It is Wednesday this week. According to my new dual English/Islamic calendar it is Wednesday the 24th of wobblelinebigsquiggle, also 2-60 of Miladi with expected west north winds of speed medium . Next week there is the chance of light Tortoises on Monday and a top raining period by mid week making it likely to be a Friday of next week which should be 1-70 if it isn't the 24th of the 20th... I kid you not, I love this Dubai real Estate Calendar, now if I can just find out what flip squigglysquigglybig U flippetyflippety means I could tell you the exact time of the bid as well

All IMHO of course

lol mind you could do with back at SMS right now.