hughieslastminutegoal

My granny is not interested in football, so why should she forego a good refuse collection service so that 15k people can watch football once a fornight, many of whom don't even live in the city? Do football fans spend a lot in the city on match days? Nope. Even visiting fans are encouraged to leave as soon as possible. Football is therefore already more of a drain on local finance than a benefit. (Devil's advocate, before you berate me for not being a true fan.)

Thats the only laugh I've had out of this - Jones remaining to assist the Administrator. Reminds me somewhat of the time-honoured journalistic "Mr X has been detained and is asisting the Police with their enquiries". Not suggesting that anything illegal has been done, of course, although his performance under both regimes has been underwhelming to say the least.

As I've commented on a number of occasions, we MUST have been paid directly or indirectly to take him. As long as we were "paid" more than he costs us in wages, we are no worse off. The fortnight's delay means nothing, just a delay for appearances sake, maybe? Or maybe sonny boy had to pass a milestone at stoke first for some other bit of bunce to be payable to him by them? The whole deal has a certain aroma surrounding it.

You seem to be making a serious bid for Fartypants's crown for the most unique sense of "humour". What's happened down there in Devon? Have they put something creepingly toxic in the water?

Hmm let me get this right --- we loan out experienced goal scorers because we can't afford to pay them... and play a youngster instead because its cheap... only to find we have £400k to pay because of 1st team appearances?

This is the real problem. Most older blokes for one reason or another eventually start to lose that nervous expectation and it all becomes rather unexciting. Previously they were replaced by youngsters who naturally had that "I can't wait for the next game" buzz, but now they have other things to do, the tv is full of top quality football, and the football being served up outside the top level just isn't worth what is being charged to watch it. I couldn't afford to take my kids to watch, so there are fewer interested kids who will encourage their friends to go along. The euro-league will come, and lower level football will become like it is in Holland, Belgium, France and just about everywhere else.

Probably because they are NOT match reports. Oh for the journalistic days of Brian Hayward. Even Bob Brunskell's reports covered events in the match. Now we get event-less wishy-washy drivel in what purports to be a match report, supplemented with club-prompted tripe out the "mouth" of that week's nominated player who repeats the mantra "we are disappointed but still confident.... blah blah." Utterly pointless. I read the "report" of the Blackpool game and was none the wiser about the match when I'd finished.

The Echo printed it all, at length.

Crikey, she must be stronger even than those wild horses...

When I stood by the wall at the Milton end, most of the coins seemed to hit me on the back of the head instead of the target - though occasionally I got a bonus of a half-eaten Mars bar.

Yet again you fail to recognise that looking at the performance of all sides over the last 14 games of that season Saints haul was one position and one point below half way. Pearson was unlucky in that some of the other teams fighting against relegation played with play off form or better over those 14 games. But don't let facts spoil your sad and continued jealousy of Leicester's appointment of a good manager.

Bit of a worry isn't isn't that no one has a clue who to play at RB? So what was the point in adding Lipstick to the payroll? And Pullis - when will he EVER be fit enough to show him off to the public? And why was Wotton given a 3 YEAR contract? Jeepers.

You saw right through his argument there, If I'm to be a bit of a pain.

Why, are you planning on joining the Board? Don't we have enough frottageurs already?

Surman should do it and then maybe he won't be in a position to miss any more sitters.

Yes, it's keep trying to walk the ball into the opposition's goal that is the problem.

I seem to recall we had another manager's son on the books once who sounded very much like that... believe his name was... Chris McMenemy. Dads in the game try their best not to see the lack of talent in their kids but still try hard to secure them a living from it, and unlike in Mcmenemy's day, now you only need one decent contract to set you up for life.... wish the same was true for the rest of us.

Pity Lowe hasn't heard that, isn't it. Chucks cold water over the "play youngsters" policy somewhat.

Especially if they might be playing in the Olympic Stadium after 2012..

Let's hope that if we get relegated, profit from that gamble makes up for the lost revenue. He's done little so far this season, and was taken off at half-time against Derby because "midfield" wasn't competing, or creating.

Are we that hard up we can't afford the groundstaff to narrow BOTH sides, now? Or was it because we only play with one winger?

So, from the posts on here: Hes no right midfielder. He's no defensive midfielder. He can't tackle or win headers, so he isn't a great central midfielder. He's injury-prone He has shown little ambition to get forward and shoot (my observation) But he can boss a pre-season friendly. And he cost 1.2m. We have paid a lot for an 18 year-old "prospect". With our finances that is some gamble.

Yes, it's like that puzzle of the wine barrels in the cellar, some in each corner and some in the middle of each wall. You have to take barrels out but still make it look as though the numbers along each wall are the same as they were before - by taking them all away from the middle of each wall but putting a few back into the corners! Just wait for next season's attendance to be announced as numbers along each side. (When less is more).

Nah, we'll be ok if we tighten up so we dont lose.

There is a difference between toeing the club line and going out of your way to criticise fans for not jumping up and down to praise Lowe as soon as we get a win. I supported Wotte's right to say whatever he thought necessary to change players' losing mentality, get some group cohesion going, even if that meant getting players a bit angry about fan reactions, but he's been here 5 minutes and fans have experienced Lowe for over a decade. Telling us what our reactions should be towards Lowe is something that at this juncture he should keep his mouth shut about, and get on with keeping the players focussed on putting in 100%.