Saint Fan CaM

Personally, as an ST holder I would have preferred the option of a 2nd ticket or a £5 discount for my loyalty. Now that would have been a great way for the club to say thanks, but sell tickets AND keep bums on seats.

I would say this is going to be the non-event of the year. The LoWilde Consortuim will rule the roost for many a month I would expect - well until we're relegated anyways.

I take it you didn't support the team in 1976 then? The thing with the FA Cup is there's always a chance and the club desperately needs its supporters to SUPPORT it right now. I too suspect we'll be whipped, but frankly if you cannot muster the hope that we might play well and get a result, why bother going to any games? Let's face it, its all we've got left now...

I know what you mean - especially as they almost certainly insist on SMS prices to be raised SKY high....after all, they can't have anyone watch their precious team for a pittance now can they?!

A win is the only result I would wish for. However, ahem...I think we're going to get taken apart quite frankly, so this thread does seem to be a tad pointless to me. Still we can all dream I s'pose....

DMG has proven himself to be totally ineffectual as a striker and should be dropped to the reserves if for no other reason but to make him hungry to score again. I would try a different approach and have BWP up front with Euell supporting him in the slot. I think they could really make the difference. Failing that Euell and Patterson up front. Euell is the only striker at the moment that understands how to break into the box at speed and create problems for the opposing defence - the kids need to learn from his example.

Disgusting - the perpetrators should be locked away for inciting violence. Anyone who has lost a child to a knife attack would agree.

They've ruined the club between them - simple as that. If we think the club is at an all time low (Lowe?) now, I think there's every chance of a lot more pain in store over the course of the next few months. Seriously considering giving up the ST next summer like many others....nothing to do with the kids playing...its all about being held in contempt by Lowe - he has no respect for his 'customers'. That's why so many are walking away.

Two points lost once again by an incompetent Coach/Manager. Firstly, not to play 4-4-2 at home is tantamount to giving the match away before the ball is struck. When will they realise its not just about what WE do - its about how the other team reacts to what we do?! Once Sturrock realised what his rubbish team were heading for, he changed things around at half-time and lo and behold things got even tougher for us. We had no answer for their tactics - beginning to end really. Second, why did JP not put Pearce up front towards the end when it was clear our totally inept "strikers" were not doing their jobs? Given his skill at heading home a good goal, I would have thought he would be the perfect target man towards the end game, plus he would have been a useful extra defensive head if they managed to create any chances. Despite the boys looking like they have the foundations for something excellent, JP is contributing to killing the club off by stubbornly playing the same tactics home and away. No goals at home means no win at home means more fans staying away. Simple equation. Lowe will put the final nail in the coffin by selling the only players of any worth in the Jan window. Sorry, but tonight typified for me all the reasons this club is on the brink of collapse.

The simply answer to the question is "NO". However, given the terrible state the club has been driven to by the Board(s), Lowe is doing what he can to protect his investment and act as a responsible PLC Chairman - that's all.

Fantastic result - well done the lads and JP for getting the tactics right. HOWEVER! Plymouth at home on Tuesday will be different. If we do not play 4-4-2, I think there is high probability we will lose or at best draw.

Well there we have it - confirmation that once again Lowe and Wilde are prepared to hold shares in the club to take money out, but not invest when the going gets tough to maintain the club's standing. Also shows what a complete farce Lowe's big plan is to develop a youthful and succesful side - this will never happen all the time we sell our better players - whether they are 18 or 38 regardless. THE STRATEGY IS NOT WORKING AND NEVER WILL.

Martin - my name sake and keeper during my formative years as a Saints fan.

Euell went in one-footed and had his arse on the ground. Wolves player went in one-footed, but with both feet off the ground and his arse two feet above ground. There is absolutely no-way that deserved a sending off unless it was for the Wolves player - video evidence would prove both players went in for a 50-50. Saints SHOULD appeal IMO.

Well that pretty much sums up my feelings also, although I am not sure the other team lets us play pretty footie as such - the tactics we play LETS THEM dictate the match result. With a lack of 4-4-2 option being played, we don't change our game and so all the opposition have to do is score 1 or 2 early goals and we're fooked, usually when we play at home. And then they shut up shop. They must laugh at the immaturity of JP's tactical nouse. For all the pretty passing, some essentials tactics we do not seem capable of are... 1. Getting to the byline and crossing. If we do, no-one is there to attack the ball because they're all too scared of a fast counter attack and so sit back too deep. 2. Threading a ball through a defensive line and then taking a shot. We ALWAYS seem to want to walk the f-ing ball through umpteen defenders and into the back of the net! IT AIN'T F-ING WORKING JAN!!!! 3. Have a man or two over in attack - what is the point of having supposedly fit 19-20 year olds, when they cannot run the length of the field as a single unit? The only element of surprise we dish up for the opposition is that we DON'T SHOOT when we have a chance! 4. Actually making any kind of deadball situation count. What the fook do they do in training?! I've lost count of the number of times a corner has not cleared the 1st man! We miss two pens in one half of one game. We NEVER seem to deliver a free kick into the box that has any resemblance of causing trouble. LASTLY - the most emphatic best two goals scored this season IMO (at SMS at least) have come from headers, from an on-loan defender - Pearce. Or to put it another way - these goals were scored by APPLYING THE BASICS - no fancy footwork, just honest to goodness basics. And what the hell does that say about Wotte and his fancy ideas for the reserves also eh - what are they teaching them FFS?!?! WE NEED TO GET BACK TO BASICS...playing 4-4-2.

Spot on post St R....there's more ambition to be found in Accrington Stanleys reserve team than in Lowe's plan for SFC.

Rubbish comment. How has Redknapp turned Spurs around without spending? Its because he's a more suitable manager than his predecessor for that team. Likewise, there is every chance a better manager with experience of the English leagues could do a better job than Poortaloo. Couldn't do much worse frankly.

Poortaloo has absolutely no idea and he admitted as much on the radio. He tinkers with the side for some unknown reason and plays players out of position. He seems utterly clueless when it comes to a plan B - i.e. 4-4-2 - at home. Lets count how many (supposed) strikers we had on the pitch today shall we.... Lallana, McGoldrick, Goburn, Euell, BWP, Pekhart - thats six f-ing strikers and not one of them scored FFS! Something is very wrong with coaching and strategy at Saints and it needs sorting out very quickly indeed. Euell made a big difference when he came on and started the charge into the box - then he had to make way for Pekhart and got pushed out the game losing us the impetus. Tactics you'd expect to see at Sunday school! I don't blame the lads - they CAN play football...its the manager/coach who is killing the club. And of course that IS Lowes fault once again, because he once again appointed a cr@p manager.

15386 - fact

Lets face it, whether we like it or not Lowe has all the ace cards - he can pick the team or even do the physio if he so wishes - there is absolutely nothing anybody can do about it except waste time on an internet forum *****ing. It seems the falling gate attendance has bottomed out, so forcing admin and Lowe's hand that way is not going to work just yet - he will see the club into admin before he admits defeat and then will blame the customers for not turning up. Everyone needs to wise up to the fact that Lowe is here to stay - win or lose - admin or Prem. That means we are faced with two choices - get back to supporting the team whatever level they're playing or staying away because the offerings are not that great. Not an easy choice and not one I will need to face now until next year when ST renewal comes around. At the moment I think I'll be saving myself £400 as I'm not enjoying the experience as I once did - whether thats due to Lowe is...well, actually I'm beyond caring frankly.

While I do believe it is Killers place to be making a statement like that given the obvious financial plight of the club, I do not appreciate some of the sentiment or message. I do not blame him particularly because I believe that at least part of the message was scripted for him without any shadow of doubt. What I find utterly disgraceful is how such a long and contrived message can somehow miss the fact that there is a considerable difference between the supporters that bought an ST and those that walk-up on matchday. As an ST holder I have done EVERYTHING I can do to help support the club. I DO NOT appreciate being told that I should stand-up and be counted FFS!!! I HAVE DONE THIS ALREADY BY BUYING MY ST AND ATTENDING EVERY GODDAMN AWFUL GAME SERVED UP TO DATE, EVEN IN THE FACE OF SEEING THE TEAM I PAID TO WATCH BEING SHIPPED OUT THE DOOR BY LOWE!!! PLEASE Mr Lowe and all your staff - do not tell me or any other suffering ST holder to stand and be counted... EVER AGAIN! Rant over...

Why would we lose our best players, Staplewood and the Academy? I would imagine they fall under the assets of SFC Ltd, therefore would be unaffected by the failure of the PLC surely? Anyway, all this is also of some interest when thinking about the nightmare that is presented when considering how to sell the club to a prospective buyer. It's not a simple one is it?!

For a start, I cannot see Lowe et al voluntarily putting the PLC into administration as they will lose their share value (as little as that now is) and their grip on the business. Their business CV's will be stained if nothing else. SFC Ltd is the club that is registered with the League and therefore this will not be entered into administration or the going concern and income will be badly damaged or worse still no longer exist. The Stadium Ltd holds the liability for the stadium debt (I think). Could this be put into administration on its own such that the debt is effectively erased and a new owner sought? I cannot believe that the mortgage was provided in the first place without protection to cover this eventuality. The key is in the balance sheet I would think for the PLC. If income from SFC Ltd does not cover the costs and the overdraft is called in, then administration for the PLC becomes a reality and the shareholding will be dissolved. The administrators will then put into place a plan to sell SFC Ltd and Stadium Ltd + other assets to interested parties. I cannot believe the failed PLC Directors will be given the option to buy back into any part of this - given that Lowe and Wilde are not exactly the richest men in the World, there is every chance surely that they will NOT get their hands on the club - i.e. SFC Ltd and its assets. The Stadium Ltd could be sold as a going concern with the attraction that there is a CCC football club ready and waiting to pay rent. There are other businesses using the stadium permanently at the moment also (Radio Hants and Hants Police are two I can think of immediately). I do not think administration is as bad an option frankly as many here make out - unless they have sizeable shares themselves of course, in which case they will argue against the idea naturally. In fact, I think it only fair for those arguing against administration that they declare here if they have a share interest or not. (-; (PS: I sold mine at 60p).

I don't get it. While I admire the die hard fan who can still take the rough with the even rougher, I cannot understand why there are some that simply seem to forget that the supporters that are walking away have put up with Lowe's failed strategy for at least five years. This is not something that has just happened overnight! How much longer should supporters continue to pour their hard-earned money into a failed club? I bought a season ticket based on a squad that I thought might improve on last seasons results - I feel I have been mugged by the club as everything changed AFTER they had my money. At the core, the PLC has killed the club. The detail starts with the stadium - while very nice, it has a debt associated with it that is not sustainable outside the Prem unless there are sizeable gates (or a rich owner underwriting the debt). There will not be sizeable gates all the while a reserve team of youngsters gets beaten week in week out by large margins. It is heart breaking, but Lowe has killed the club - not because of his background or his looks...but because he has simply made far too many fundamental mistakes and continues to do so. JP is a lightweight - many of us knew this from the day he was appointed and now Lowe cannot sack him because that would be admitting defeat. Sorry to say, but I am now of the opinion that the ONLY way to save what's left of the club will be administration. This will not kill the club - remember its the Holdings PLC that will die, not SFC. It is the only way to rid ourselves of the PLC and Lowe, Wilde etc. - terrible to have to admit it, but it is the only way now and so those that stay away might be considered as real fans, helping to move the club towards a brighter future. Change can be frightening at times when you cannot see the end game, but if you grasp it firmly enough to shape the outcome, invariably there will be a happy ending. At the moment we can change nothing - after administration that in itself will change.

We need to win games...despite tonights performance, which is better than losing clearly, we are still relegation candidates at the moment. JP needs to get Lowe out of the changing room and also needs to ensure there's a decent experienced backbone to the team CONSISTENTLY. No more stupid experiments with 95% of the team under 21 and play 4-4-2 at home.