Nineteen Canteen

Pretty much sums up my position. You only have to look at ST sales at Norwich to appreciate the meaning of fan loyalty vs team performance. Administration could have easily been avoided by instilling confidence in Barclays and the one thing Lowe couldn't dress up was the declining fanbase because it was based on ill-conceived and petty agendas. Uber fans like Crouch IMO no doubt sat smugly in their box surrounded by a bunch of told you so's when they could have done so much to help before it was too late. McMenemy bemoans the fact the fans didn't support some sad spectacle of a 'legends' game but I didn't hear any rallying crys to support the Saints back in September when we all knew what would happen if we didn't increase revenues. Apart from the hard core and loyal c.15,000 fans the rest may sadly be on the verge of getting what they deserve. Hardly solace for the rest of us but it seems that is all we have left to hang our coats on.

Read my post again I think I said that we all get embrolied with the pettiness on this forum and I do so to try and get a different pov across albeit a less popular one but still relevant all the same. More like fighting fire with fire and why we should heed more balanced posts. I don't have any campaign but like to investigate all the angles especially those who act or our treated like they are beyond reproach IMO.

Maybe because last season and the season before we failed to sell 18,000 season tickets as Norwich have done for next season with the prospect and subsequent reality of League 1 football. Perhaps like a lot of our stay away fans the fatcats don't consider us worthy of their support? Apathy rules along with a serious recession and the fact that money can't be made from football outside the very top clubs (or the risk/reward ratio is to high). If we go to the wall so will the likes of Darlington and Stockport and many more to follow. Football is eating itself and the fan is about to turn browm.

It cuts both ways and whilst the likes of McMenemy, Crouch and Osman parody and pour scorn on Lowe as many fans indeed do they must surely expect to have their own actions challenged. Are your views diluted because of your refusal to accept Lowe was not the only person at fault? Therefore it is of paramount performance that MLT does not allow himself to comment on the past by playing the blame game and getting embrolied in the pettiness they we get involved with on here. Why do I bother? Because one day people will realise that bigoted and bullying views and overtly high expectations of fans are usually unreliable at best and balanced well thought out comments of the likes of Frank's Cousin, Weston Saint, Nickh and when he is on balanced form Fitzhugh Fella, are the type of assessed views we need to digest. Buctootim I appreciate your comment but I think McMenemy missed his last bus home at the start of the season and seemed to be blaming the fans for the cancellation of the legends game in the snippet I read on the web from the Echo last week. Thought that was a bit rich and didn't see to much self-analysis there about high ticket prices, timing or fan's views on players taking a temporary cut in salary. We're all human and make mistakes unless we try to coat ourselves in teflon. IMO, the return of McMenemy would be divisive and appeal to only half the fan base and the half, with all due respect, least likely to represent the future. Surely there can be no way back for McMenemy and the future lies with MLT provided he doesn't adopt the same blueprint.

2 mins before Solent's usual audience is doubled for their no news bulletin

I'll come back to this thought after I've popped out for some paracetemol. As Master Bates said No news is on again in 5 minutes.

Do you think Alan Whitehead can justify it as a second home or flip it?

I hope KPT doesn't read this.

Adrian, judging by the comments on this thread I'm not sure it does for most of us. No news is most definitely good news and until an official statement we wait and hope safe in the knowledge some mercenaries are unlikely to be paid this month when they usually expect it.

Sorry I don't know what come over me.

Bit like semen then.

Is it a sign of the times that a post allegeding the Pinnacle bid of hope is all over is treated with 35 posts of irrelevance and poor humour. It's like we are laughing in the face of our own demise, refreshing if nothing else.

Doubt it he said he had a customer

I don't know, perhaps are you related to Wes Tender or read his posts?

I think he was refering to Tarot cards.

Did you spit on their burger?

Humour like this Pancake deserves a Sunday morning breakfast show on Solent. Shows real talent.

Forget the humble pie if Leicester finish top 6 I will pay to go to a Little and Large show or worse a Mike Osman show if there are any venues small enough. I'll post you the programme or pamphlet (depending which 'show' I attend) to prove it. All we need to agree now is your 'punishment' for your false praise of Pearson's ability. If you like we can have a spread, 7th to 12th where we both avoid 'punishment' so what will you do if Leicester finish outside the top half of the table?

Tame please read my posts before you change the context. I did not question McMenemy's success merely his ability to repeat it. In May 1976 at an impressionable age of 7 I was a Leeds United fan because 80% of my classmates were Leeds fans. They were then what Chelsea are today to most primary school kids and most like me succumb to peer pressure and the need to belong. 1976 changed all that for me with the help of a very passionate relative who these days you would politely class as a real old school Saints fan and despite our differing views I really enjoying visiting him in his now largely housebound existence and chatting all things Saints.

As soon as MLT voices opinions on our recent history he will only reinforce the divide. Subsequent to his (IMO) undipolomatic interview on Solent as I mentioned above he gave a much more measured response to a Q&A article in the Times that put him head and shoulders above those who have gone before him. I am merely saying that whatever capacity he fulfills going forward he must act like an ambassador in the true sense of the word and that's more to do with diplomacy and the greater good than honesty and personal opinions. The moment he tries to seek political capital from the past then he will only serve to split the fanbase and perhaps indicate that his supported consortium have either taken their eye off the future or worse struggling to fulfill their objectives. MLT remains the one man capable (with business support) of reigniting this club. Not many under the age of 35 can identify with McMenemy and his critique or feel part of his success. However, apart from the youngest fans everyone can identify with MLT and the 16 - 35 age group especially will form our hard core support and in time bring their new families to games and who will be hopefully around in the long term to support the club. It's time for McMenemy to stop pedalling his poison and retire from all things Saints related and take his wealthy mate and 3rd rate comedian with him. Matt is an enormous asset to this club and highly loved and revered by all Saints fans. However, if he wants to avoid a messy divorce he cannot simply draw on love alone, life as we know isn't like that. I look forward to your next measured response Um and usual inane insults. What happened to the Saints Trust representative?

Employ KK only on the condition we employ McMenemy and Pearson as his managerial team. It would be good to lay to rest 3 myths at the same time. The myth that any of them are capable of repeating their previous success at this club and I use the term success with regard to Pearson in the loosest possible terms. How about Richard Wright for manager? He kept us up last year in very fortunate circumstances for big Nige. Pity really we could have been celebrating our recent promotion from Division 1, thanks Richard you have a lot to answer for.

Matt can do anything he likes? If you want a club to support in the seasons to come then I would suggest he can't do what he likes. He will need to make or support decisions with the consortium that may need some selling to fans of your simplistic pov. I note you don't comment on the fact that i said if Matt pulls this off he could be a legend twiceover. Its disgraceful and worrying that you appear to have learned nothing from this mess. Worrying because I suspect there will be others backing their horse based solely on name. I want the best deal for the club with or without MLT.

With reverence comes responsibility. I have already been very critical of an interview Solent held with MLT around the time of the points deduction where he seemed to be sucked into the blame game. He needs to rise above that and avoid taking sides based on historical battles and concentrate on the future harmony and stability of a recently once great club and well run but ruined by false promises and a section of unrealistic fans who at times have been ridiculously bigoted in their views. Matt has his work cut out but play a true role of the ambassador and he could become a legend twiceover. He can start by not following the path laid down by other apparently self-elected ambassadors and voices of the people. In any event, nobody no matter how great can't simply rely on their past reputations and certainly not when it involves a significant change in responsibility. If successful this is a far greater escape to pull off than those MLT helped the club achieve in his playing days and he needs to look beyond Saints and maybe even football to help him achieve his aim this time. Reputations are easily tarnished, fairly or otherwise and there are lessons to be learned all around us. I'm hopeful Matt will heed those lessons.

Not even Mr Whitehead? Did he claim a s/t on expenses under the guise of a constituent's meeting? Otherwise, I agree with you. A bit like this club we need proportional representation because a vote in these parts is a vote wasted.