Badger

Rupert Lowe or Martin Semmens ? We may not know the answer for a couple of seasons, but who will history judge as the more damaging to Saints? RL used to get on my tits with some of his his blustering press conferences, but he was at least the real article, a proper Public School ‘old money’ posh chap , who did deliver a stadium before his part in taking us down and to bankruptcy. Some poor manager appointments though. As things stand, Semmens has a good chance of running him close. Received a lot of plaudits during lockdown (interesting he was at his most popular whilst we weren’t actually playing) but the last 12 months have changed all that (last fans forum, ‘ league position doesn’t matter’ , Ralph , NJ, the summer recruitment, if this is his responsibility). No one really knows who the manager appointment rests with of course, may be MS or RA. Might as well throw Ankersens name into the mix as well. His reputation is built with the rise of Brentford on his CV, but we’ll never know how significant his input was there, as opposed to others involved (ambitious chairman, DOF Phil Giles). Like Lowe he seems to see himself as a visionary who can reinvent the wheel, and knows better than those already successful in the game. He may prove to be a genius for us, but on the other hand may go down in history as a Lowe/Sir Clive/Simon Clifford rolled into one* *with a multi-tab fucking spreadsheet of course.

The ultimate in the arrogance at the top referred to in another thread.

..Djenepo, Diallo, the Spanish midget lb, .. and before them Bouffal, Hoedt... We've been consistent that's for sure.

Do the cunts really believe this with our track record over the last few seasons ? Insulting to think the supporters, even gullible ones, are expected to believe it.

Really ? I thought SISA (was that the name?) orchestrated it pretty well with the red cards to get the message across. After Port Vale I was surprised, as I think the club and Police were, by the strength of feeling and protest. It wasn’t just the usual suspects and age group either. There were many grey haired season ticket holders also venting their frustration with it. Possibly helped get the message across as Branfoot was gone within days.

Worth remembering who’s funding this and behind it, as I understood it it’s from Dragan’s business (with 10% from KL). I doubt he built his business by allowing slick marketing types and mid-tier management to self-indulge in schemes devised out of their own headwank (whether spreadsheets or xg’s etc) where his money was on the line. If things don’t improve you’d imagine Ted Talk & Semmens will at the least have some explaining to do, and sort it,

Good options no doubt, but why would either want to join us in our league position knowing they’d have other EPL options in the summer ?

Oh for the days of The Dell car park during the Branfoot protests. Port Vale after the cup tie was particularly heated as I recall.

What is this based on ?

As unpalatable as appointing Dyche was (and is) you would at least follow and support the logic of it. NJ was a gamble. I feel for Jones as he has been thrown into this by the board, and doesn’t seem to have the experience, or resources from the club to make the impact we need.

Did the pastry completely miss the sausage ?

Poch had far better raw materials to work with. He’d struggle to make a battling outfit from the lightweight shit we’ve assembled now. But you’re right he had a plan and implemented it. “Been tracking him for ages …” type bollocks

This is where the ultimate blame lies. Just feel sorry for the managers - both Ralph, and now NJ - who take the supporters wrath for the board’s incompetence especially over recruitment.

I’ve said on a previous thread, that Brighton seem to have quietly gone about their recruitment and have done well. Whereas our board just talk about it and pat themselves on the back in how clever they are in unearthing gems.

Is his interview available online ?

Exactly. Recruitment is key. That for me is improving the team for the here and now, not just assembling talented individuals to sell on in a season or two. No objection to the ‘sell on’ approach, but the young players need a guiding head on the pitch. Bring in experience and leadership in a couple of positions to nurture that talent. But we don’t. Meanwhile, Les was relaxed about it, and Semmens comes out with the same guff at Forums about investing in young players, and our usp , blah, blah. League position isn’t important though .. Ankersen is an interesting one. Gives all the talks about fine margins, and data bollocks. His credibility remains with the success at Brentford but we don’t know his contribution here as opposed to the DOF, and recruitment team, who have got it right more often than not it seems. Sports Republic made money available, but not spent wisely.

More chance of Gok Wan signing, and of as much use to us in our predicament.

Want to agree with the first part of your post. I didn’t blame Ralph for the squad he had at his disposal and feel the same for NJ. But .., remains to be seen if he can formulate the tactics, and provide motivation to get anything out of this bunch. Not holding my breath

And replace them with …. other pathetic cretins perhaps ? No way of breaking it to you gently, but our squad is piss poor.

Semmens will post it in the OS. Probably the day after they post Gao’s Five Pledges.

Unfortunately the calibre of player we need is unlikely to want to join the shower of shit the club has become.

Other clubs have new manager bounces. Ours is a new manager belly flop.

How are Goztpe doing today ?

Rather like Branfoot … we’re not even good at hoofball

Perhaps selected over a boozy Christmas lunch with guidance from his father-in-law.