Greenridge

It's comical isn't it. Anyone who's played football at any kind of decent standard knows what Lallana offers and he is by far the biggest potential asset for the club at this moment in time. He will go on to be a very good player indeed and it won't be in the CCC.

From a personal perspective I stick with the old addage...if you're good enough you're old enough. Some of our young guns are clearly not good enough and for those positions then they should be replaced but that doesn't necessarily mean by an older player. Without doubt a blend of experience is essential.

Get out of bed the wrong-side today Phil Maybe Jan Portaloo will be a useful addition to the staff afterall?

It would appear they did in the case of SFC as we scored a grand total of 2 goals (it appears) due to his throw-ins. How many games did he play for SFC and how many throw-ins? Not a great returns ratio I'd say. Stoke had 8 players (I think that's what they said) on the pitch over 6' on Saturday.

Somewhat off topic I know but just listened to Daniel Levy of Spurs talking about the new ground. One of the reasons being that they have a waiting list of 22,000 for season tickets. I know we never had this 'problem' but it just goes to show the difference between the 'have's' and the 'have-nots'.

19 year old Alex Pearce http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/?page_id=10814 I wonder if they have a spare Right Back?

I'm hoping that was a Freudian slip and you meant JP rather than RL but somehow I doubt it.

I'm hoping that was a Freudian slip and you meant JP rather than RL but somehow I doubt it.

Was it to distract from the on-pitch debacle?

Now that was funny Poor old Sundance / Flashman / Firefighter bless him(s)

Half term?

I don't always agree with your line of thinking but on this occasion I have to say that you have stated a very balanced view on the situation we face. I would however say that I think everyone (who is sane) understands the financial situation the club faces and are no longer under any illusion. It's interesting that the likes of yourself and CB Fry and others, who come across as staunch Lowe supporters, now seem to be seeing the situation in a different light. There are only a handful of posters now who seem to think Lowe is the way forward for the club and atleast two of them are trolls! Whether you are pro, anti or ambivalent towards Lowe there is one thing that seems for certain and that is we will always be a divided Club and fanbase. Can we go forwards with that? I sincerely doubt it. Your last sentence is the crux of the matter though. We saw false dawns from Wilde and Co and that didn't help us one bit. There has to be some kind of viable alternative put in place before Lowe goes......

CBF I'm not sure if you've been drowning your sorrows or whether it's tongue in cheek or you're just as fed up as the majority?

''....but perhaps we will look at the formation....'' Going to a basic 4-4-2 would at least give a more solid structure that the players understand and matches up to the opposition formation in most cases. It will also give much needed protection for the full backs and in particular young James who is having a torrid time.

Anyone know how to get tea off a keyboard!

An interesting thread to revisit in view of recent events....

If we are to believe what we are being told about the financial situation then relegation is surely the last thing we need. Alongside selling all remaining assets (including the team) and the points deduction we would suffer even further penalties through reduced crowds and income. Survival this season is almost more important to the club than relegation was from the premiership. Somehow we need to adopt a short term strategy to maintain our CCC status and that means keeping players that could make the difference between staying up and relegation. I'm sure even the banks would understand that policy as it gives their investment a better chance of remaining solvent.

Doesn't the emergency loan window shut at the end of October? If so I don't think it will be Lallana unless it's a firm committment to purchase him in January. I think he's our most saleable asset right now, he really has the potential to go a long way in this game but I somehow doubt it will be with SFC. Purely on a salary basis - which is clearly the club strategy right now - then you would imagine it's the likes of Skacel, Euell, Davis and BWP. Problem seems to be finding someone prepared to pay their wages to the level we did.

and with it almost certain administration (allegedly) and minus 15 points or more. That's marvellous, just marvellous. Great strategy.

Such a surprise to see you take this angle on things. No not really. It's not this decision in isolation that is further demoralising a fractured and punch-drunk fanbase but the collective decisions of the last few months. Yes, please do bang out the financial situation again but there are economies and false economies. If the net effect of these decisions is Div 1 then administration has to be a significant reality and that could spell the end of SFC as we know it. If we survive in the CCC then it will be proven to have been the right strategy, only time will tell but day by day the odds are being stacked against us.

Your posts suggest otherwise. I look forward to an appendum of your pearl of wisdom that was 'Are the Realists.....' Anyway, back to the thread...

and why are you continually and predictably anti-Crouch?

Quality post.

Very well put DD although I think it goes deeper than that in that I get the impression people are falling out of love with football in general. The greed, the money, the wages and lifestyle of very average players is at a level that many can no longer accept, especially in the current global economic climate. And remember most of this stems from that prat Graham Kelly who sold our beloved game down the swanny with the television rights deal. No longer does money stay within the domestic game that for so long was the saviour of lower league clubs. It's a sad state of affairs all round.

I've never felt so lucky. Lottery numbers for me tomorrow. It's yet another myopic false economy from the club. Save a few £k's at possibly the expense of CCC survival? I'm not referring to this one transfer alone but the collective decisions in recent months. Virtually every club outside of top echelons of the Premierhship are trading at a loss - some more than others. Last person out please switch off the lights as it seems a very distinct possibility that relegation would inevitably bring administration. The continuing demise of our belovd club is very sad indeed.