Gordon Mockles

As a reporter, I think the day your journalistic content is compromised & your integrity tarnished, is the day you get up & leave your desk, never to return. Work elsewhere. Be objective. Don't pander to the pompous. Your reputation & integrity, as a journalist, are your major organs, without which you don't exist.

Would/Could the club do that?! What would "removal of privileges" mean? (restricted access from games, training ground, etc.) Surely more media curtains would infuriate fans even more...errrr, in retrospect - I don't think the club care. FFS - Why don't the club ban fans that wear glasses in case that's a sign of intelligence & they might write a nasty letter or phone in some censored radio station after watching a crap game & give a damning report! What has this politically correct, absurd country come to?! Next you'll be telling me Paul Mc Cartney hasn't retired & still persists in performing!! Banning reporters or removing privileges due to dictated articles or censorship is pretty fascist & petty mind. Juvenile!! I do concur, The Echo reporting & general Sports editing & content is pretty shambolic. I think that sentiment echoes true (no pun intended!) for most of Southampton in general!!

An excellent point well put. The comments from certain factions (criticising Bassett, the poster or bringing up anything other than the subject in question) should be treated with contempt, or better still, totally side stepped and ignored. Lowe should stay well away from football matters. Arrogance blinds a man from learning, as evidence so clearly suggests. Just think of it this way - Would you allow Jan to speak with the bank manager about overdraught extensions, close parts of the ground, make crucial financial decisions, budget for catering staff and oversee the general operations side of the business?! NOPE! Me neither. Stick to what you know... Chairman (and executives supporting staff) = the running of the business, finances and administration. Manager (and coaches & medical staff) = the coaching, fitness, selection, tactics and general well being of sporting side - the development & progress of the football squad.

OOPS! Sorry, I got the wrong impression from the thread title. Thought this thread was about Guy Askham, Richards, Wiseman, Lowe, esq. and that they may have bought the club!! LOL Errrr, actualy - that's not funny. More a horrid nightmare! Now, seeing as board members (past and present) and share holders are supposed to have the best interests of the club at heart, wouldn't it be novel for some of the profiteers of SLH/SFC to help the club in it's hour of need................................ MORE CHANCE OF BARRACK OBAMA BEING SIGNED AS A FULL BACK!! :smt041

Nicholas – Can you please explain the reasoning behind what must be the most ridiculous statement of the day on TSW? Or, have you just not thought that through?! I’ll be a bit condescending and use capitals (in a CB Fry style) – THE DROP IN ATTENDANCE IS THIS SEASON, NOT LAST SEASON!! Were you at the last game of the season? Can you not remember the ‘feel good’ atmosphere from staying up and the positive outlook for the new season…until the red glow of Lowe re-emerged over the horizon, along with his merry band of ‘Yes Men’ and his ridiculously risky model for the club’s future?! Obviously Pearson didn’t fit into that ethos, and this was one of the first steps in the gradual alienation and erosion of the fans. Ok, the last game is exceptional circumstances, not the best example. But, how you can attribute the monumental failure of Lowe’s (and Wilde’s - in the loosest possibly sense) blatantly flawed doctrine to Crouch (and the previous regime) is paramount to madness. I’ll just assume that was a wind up or you’ve been drinking heavily. :drinkers:

YES - Of course!

Phew! There was me thinking you were doing the scouting! LOL

I thought exactly the same. It goes from bad to worse (irrespective of the lad in question - Wilde is hardly a football luminaire!) at SFC and you've got to laugh. What the f*ck is going on?! We've got Wilde doing our scouting now?! FFS! :smt084 I actually burst out laughing upon reading the article. Unprofessional FC! R.I.P.

I was thinking that the other day. Lowe, Cowen and co all being contractual, calling EGMs, Cancelling Bid Status, Efficient to get back to power, Running the boardroom. Feet under the table - media black out. End of year results AWOL and no word of AGM, or anything that requires transparency or offers information (financial or otherwise) to the inquisitive (and largely disatisfied) fans. Makes you wonder eh?!

I think you speak wise words but the mere return of Lowe itself split the fans base, as Duncan Holley and others so rightly suggested pre-season. It was failed from the start. It pains me to admit, many on here, including myself (not meant smugly) were correct in our predictions. I wish we were wrong. Truly I do. Some ideas that Lowe has about the academy are good but there is too much animosity between him and the fans for success and Lowe makes no effort whatsoever to appease that disdain held by his customer, he doesn’t even acknowledge them (which I feel any community based chairmen should do). Opinions may vary on that statement. Whilst the reaction by Saints fans (to a few, half-hearted words from an ex caretaker manager) may be strong, unsubstantiated and OTT, it clearly illustrates the precipice on which we dangle and the sheer passion and frustration, equally shared by the fans in these testing times. Maybe it’s minor but it “COULD” (and I use this word loosely) be ‘the straw that breaks the camel’s back’. I would think it would take more to move Lowe, continued slumps in attendance, poor results against Wolves and Reading leading to the telling barometer of a season - Xmas time. However, the bank has a level of control (to what extent I do not know) and it may be that Lowe’s pincer grip on Southampton FC is starting to slip. Many on here, myself included, would hope so.

He is cutting the throat of our club - dramatic but true! Lowe has cut costs but you didn't need to be small businessman of the year to implement that change. Half the under-performing players were on contracts due to expire anyway, before Lowe sold Davies, Safri, esq. Yes, savings have been made. A drop in the ocean in football terms. But in implementing certain actions (selling the best players, swapping Pearson for the ill fated Dutch duo, Media black out, Closing Corners, Isolating the senior pros, etc.) he has also compounded greater financial concerns (a huge downturn in attendance - something has would have protracted just by coming back) while totally diluting the quality, having removed the back-bone from our squad (all players of experience [bar Skacel and Davies]) that may have got us out of this self-created mire!)

No, most suspected as much but we hadn't anyone closer to those 'circles' speak out...those that weren't gagged! As for the class comments, just put that down to silly comments getting caught up in the moment. I'm sure Rupert and co have a giggle at the "paying customers" (or not in recent times!) while he plays god (and the fans suffer at his misguided leadership!) Don't get caught up in the class comments, you're missing the point. There is ignorance between all factions in society, always has, always will be. Doesn't make it right, that's just life. I think the more pressing issues of our football squad, selection, transfers, management, coaching & winning games are concerning the fans most!

Well you keep on pumping out your “Lowe’s not that bad” propaganda but I would suggest, judging by the reaction of a forum which is generally much quieter these days (another impact of Messrs Lowe and Wilde), many others would disagree. Just look at our season and how it has transpired thus far, following dozens and dozens or forum members and fans vociferously venting their disapproval from the onset, questioning Lowe’s actual role within the club and DOF status, amongst many other alarming rumours regarding transfers, coaching, managerial swaps, selection and overall control of the football squad (Despite official statements stipulating Mike Wilde was in charge of football matters). Why do you so vehemently defend those that don’t merit your defence? I am a firm believer in, ‘you make your own bed, you lie in it!’ (so to speak). Ok, we have no firm proof but there is such a thing as “slander” and, I feel, Bassett would not speak out lies, for fear of reprisals from a man with a track record for suing those that attack his coloured reputation. Just because Lowe has returned and decided to close all avenues of communication, it does not exonerate him from criticism, especially judging by more recent history, his track record of sporting failure and constant reports of “tinkering” within our failing club. Football fans do not like an incompetent Chairman.

I'm awaiting the onslaught today. Most should be sleeping now (unless you live in Dubai or some other time zone) but give it a couple of hours... You've gotta laugh. It helps the despair although most of us are way past despair now.

Well put. There's been enough evidence but the truths are always deliberately diluted by either stupid supporters of Lowe (no offence but COME ON, look at his track record!) or, more common, posters like Firefighter, Scooby & Sundance who had some obscure agenda that stunk of fish & truths & half truths were swept away in their tide of b*llsh*t!! Surely the more analytical of you can see certain patterns. They're now quite obvious & not just ALL paranoia or hoaxers...IMHO. Still, time will tell. I just remember the now renown, Ill fated clash with Harry & Rupert in his training/tracksuit down at the training ground... Or was that another of those clandestine incidents that never really took place?! (despite half of Hampshire hearing Redknapp hollering to "STAY AWAY" from his training sessions!) Makes you think eh?!

That's his style, must admit! Silence any opposition (I.e. Sack any staff potentially leaking club info., muddy the waters with false rumours & lies to the tabloids, encourage internet plants on fan forums to bad mouth rival chairmen, media blackout all club info. of any substance or value & completely alienate/ignore the fans) and blindly carry on with a regime that was always destined to fail, while surrounding yourself with 'YES MEN' so you can never be subjected to a "nasty opinion" or even the slightest whisper of opposition, questioning or relevant concerns about this clearly botched regime. Ahhhh, Tatchbury Mount fc is our planned new venture?! Would make sense! Ok, a bit OTT there but par for the course. The truth is out there...gotta laugh when what goes around...

Bit patronising though wasn't it!! LOL :smt084

I think people were expatiating on your hypocrisy rather than your ability to hold an opinion (which you have every right to, no matter how misguided). Maybe the well worn cliché "practice what you preach" is the most pertient phrase in this situation.

LOL - About right though. You're as cynical as I! Saints do that to the average fan!

For how long has he been set to return.............. AGES!

I didn't say, or infer, anyone was treated badly. Merely there was a disproportionate number of police in comparison to the number of fans. It was out of the ordinary - enough so to attract the attention of the entire pub! I now realise why, thanks for the comments. :gib:

It'd be even better if we got Safri back but I'll expect we'll just stick with Wotton............ ....on the bench and some 17 year old with no experience playing instead!

Completely agree. With our board (and their supposed methods of media manipulation and insidious behaviour), you do question anything in the public eye regarding the club in a favourable light and hype about players, especialy in the tabloids and websites. The board offer so little transparency to the fans, we work out what we believe is the truth. It has remnants of the "Paul Allen" affair and numerous other player rumours. Rumours bandied out to the media to get focus on Lowe & Wilde's failing football club - now where could they have come from?! HMMMM???? Morgan's certainly not up to Arsenal standard, no matter how much Rupert wants him to be. Hope and desperation will not suffice!

Did anyone else see the long Police procession through Southampton Saturday night? It was just prior to kick off (Below Bargate), around 5pm. Police escorting a group of fans past Walkabout, Dolphin hotel. Meat wagons, Cars, Coppers on Bikes, on foot…huge police presence (some filming) to safeguard what we thought were Bristol fans although someone said some of the group had Saints shirts on. Weird?! Can’t have been Saints fans…or known trouble makers? Just wondered if anyone else saw it and could shed any light (whether the fans were Bristol or Saints). I know Bristol have a reputation. That police escort must have cost the tax payer loads (considering the number of salaried policemen), Why such a police presence? I suppose, good in the prevention ethos and there may well have been good reason. Just curious to know what.

Half of which are complete cr*p too! (yet to see Gasmi but let's hope he has more prowess that Pekhart or Pulis!)