Nineteen Canteen

At the Sheff utd game back in February I was diagnosed as suffering from monophobia.

Oh how we laughed at the wit

Depends who is doing it. Some ex-directors may had this all wrapped up whilst tucking into their easter eggs.

Great read Duncan. Something there for everyone to enjoy.

Not really because the football league have made their decision by deducting 10 points - at least that's my take on it and as far as I know we haven't lodged a legal appeal, or have we? To much disinformation and about time a summary of the situation was published on the OS or are they continuing the pretence that the FL are wrong and therefore cannot comment on the sale of the holding company even though they use to report on its finances? Confused? I am.

Brokers, agents, wholly owned subsidiary, who cares. They are doing no different than Fry is doing for SFC and both trying presumably to seal the deal for their interested parties. If Pinnacle walk away it will because they are instructed to do so by their clients who they are acting on behalf of so what's the difference. Do you think Pinnacle will stay if their client gets cold feet????? Is now the time to try and be clever with semantics?

EP I was not suggesting you used the word irreverently and believe the word used in the right context to describe the actions of something or someone as badly damaging is acceptable. You chose to use it to describe's Lowe's invasion of SFC and whilst I don't agree with the view I would defend the right to use language as intended and in a context you believe to be correct. What angers me is that people can't complain against the use of the word simply because they disagree with the target. So you would call the Lowe invasion as cancerous - no one complains. I describe Crouch and Mcmenemy as acting IMO in an insidious cancerous manner and the word becomes unacceptable. The word is not unacceptable its the point of view that people have issue with but instead of debating that viewpoint they somewhat lazily try to rubbish that view but describing the poster as vile for his use of language when in fact it is no different to you or anyone else here or in the media where it is commonly used in the context you have described. Apologies if you thought I was having a go at you, I wasn't regardless of your opinion but wanted to highlight how some individuals choose the wrong approach to providing an alternative argument and deflect the need for them to actually address some pertinent issues being raised by vilifying a poster because of their use of a common way of describing erosion within a company, society etc.

I agree with everything you say except the penultimate statement where I would add 'will make the right choice I am sure', on behalf of the creditors of this club. (Notwithstanding the Holding Company is of course a separate entity). It's been said by many before but we are not in a position to start discrediting any genuine offer because until any offer has become contractual and some hard cash put on the table, Pinnacle or god forbid the fans pledges maybe all we end up with by which time Pinnacle may decide to walk away if they are stupid enough to take on board some comments being made on this forum.

I genuinely took offence and normally don't react that vociferously or complain about the usual insults but I didn't read it as an metaphor but in hindsight can see it now but personally not one I would use. Thank you for the explanation Robbie, apology accepted.

Most provocative Daren and I trust it makes you feel better. I consider myself very lucky that I have been able to show my wife this post as she remains in remission and doing very well thank you and we sincerely hope your Mum continues her brave fight.

Similar logic was used after we passed the league's deadline for administration. A few days could be weeks could be months. Investment in this club has been a bit like the story of Peter and the Wolf and I think its time to stop crying wolf and wait and hope. I don't think the legends match or saint aid will worry HMRC or Barclays somehow, do you?

Amesbury, welcome is the wrong word but I wouldn't dismiss him. Preferably, I want an absolute break from the past and a banning order put on any ex-director talking about the club in the media or undermining the new regime because IMVHO they have helped create the division in the fan base without any balance whatsoever. Its been a political shambles and I defend Lowe simply to try and preserve the need for balanced assessment and no one reputation is untarnished from my point of view. If I'm honest although the bloke is a genuine legend in the true sense of the word I even have reservations of MLT being offered a seat on the board with the new consortium. We need some very shrewd and hard nosed businessmen willing to take some tough decisions to move us forward and MLT is I think too close to the club to be seen to make those decisions and could risk his reputation. I also felt some of his recent comments especially on Solent the other week were unhelpful and unbalanced and different to what I read in the Times recently where he was asked a few questions and his reply was exactly the way it should be, measured and diplomatic We need consistency in are CEO and his team and they need to be tight knit bunch and unified in their approach and prepared to go with unpopular decisions for the long term good of the club. Not sure MLT could be part of that as many of our fans are spectacularly short termists in their opinions and will he want to go against fan opinion? Can't see him giving up his role on Sky for an ambassador type role either. Beggars can't be choosers and Lowe with substantial backing would be preferable than some highly leveraged consortium but likewise a consortium of entirely new faces with for example the same funds as a Lowe bid then the new consortium please. Judge it on its merits I suppose but my guess is we will take what we are given and be happy with it. Sorry if you thought a Yes or No would suffice!

Still no assessment as to why the good ship Saints ended up on the rocks when having set sail three years ago under new captaincy everything was ship shape and solvent. Lowe was on a salvage mission and we all knew that from the start but the waves of discontent decided to break up the ship and sink it before he could finish what he set out to do. Verbal your post is pure supposition and a good read if you enjoy your fiction.

I have read it and its well written but that doesn't make it even handed. Just for starters there is no assessment of the previous two years that laid the foundations for a cash strapped season. No comment as to why Crouch lied about the finances of the club early in his tenure and the need to let players go in the January window 2008. No question as to why a wage bill of 81% to turnover was not addressed in that window instead of hoping for investment. It may have resulted in relegation but better than administration. No assessment of how those two interim seasons blew shed loads of cash and although Wilde is the ultimate baddie Crouch and the rest of the board at that time are equally culpable IMO. Without the benefit of a season's hindsight it is fairly straightforward to understand why Pearson was not offered a role. He hardly impacted our club in the way Keane has for instance at Ipswich, or many other new managers and 4 wins from 14 games and some dismal performances wasn't screaming hire me as say a 50% win ratio and just 2 or 3 defeats. No questions asked about Crouch's unprofessional and attention seking petulance at the AGM. Or for that matter his bizarre interview on 5 Live recently - a gaffe that put's Lowe's 'communication errors' somewhat in the shade. No scrutiny of Crouch's offer to inject £2m and whether or not it was an empty getsure knowing the other two could or would not match it for whatever reason. No assessment of the role of the stay away fans and how they've impacted the revenues of the club and the obvious damage this has caused in being able to sell the club as a well supported one and a going concern. No acknowledgement that because of the financial constraints and mismanagement for the previous two years then it was with either experiment based on reasonable logic or do nothing and follow a template that could not be funded. No recognition of the part many thousands of fans have played in the downfall of this club and its a disgrace they are now making charitable donations or pledging cash should the worst happen. That is not Lowe's fault you wish to donate and stay aways moaning about it or acting in a righteous fashion need to ask themselves if only we had supported at least in the same numbers as last season. Finally, 6 clubs in administration in 2 years, 3 clubs relegated from the CCC that 4 years ago were all in the Premiership. There are other uncontrollable factors at play here in the current environment and football in general needs to address them and I am not sure its entirely the fault of the worse recession in 80 years or the credit crunch although they have played their part. Verbal wrote a good piece but balanced? Only if you ignore reality.

2 very different things Daren. The Holocaust happened no debate, Lowe's role in the demise of Saints is open to debate simply because there remains so many unanswered questions. If you think they are the samething you're the retard. Cancer has several and acceptable grammatical uses, Robbie's phrase does not and I don't expect we will be seeing it applied in the media anytime soon to describe someone with an alternative point of view unless specifically discussing the Nazi Death camps. Saint Robbie is morally corrupt for using that phrase even as an alleged analogy and it speaks volumes that you defend him and ridicule me for taking offence. The amount of insults I take in my stride Daren would require a Baj to purcahse a couple of new servers if they were directed at you. Thanks for your input it was enlightening.

Yes but not as some may be hoping for or demanding and it is entirely possible with more point deductions we could be in League 2 by August 2010. Problem is we may have a premeirship sized fan base but we don't have a championship sized average attendance and in L1 with a big points deficit to overcome I don't see how the average attendance of this season can be matched and that must be a worry for anyone buying into the club unless they are looking to sell or utilise our assets. I don't think you are being alarmist over the state of football in this country and i think there is a real risk that it could implode as in many areas, most notably, players salary, clubs are probably living beyond their means. Football use to be a working man's sport but how many true Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal fans can afford to regularly go and watch their team. I suspect Utd have more ST holders in the leafy surrounds of Chester and Alderley Edge than the likes of Salford. Football maybe in danger of pricing out those who are likely to be most loyal in an economic crisis or a reversal of fortune. At Saints for instance its the salt of the earth types who have continued to attend in my experience whereas the more 'corporate' casual fan there to watch the spectacle with his disinterested kids is the one who has lost interest and surrendered their STs. At least that seems to be the case in my block. The problem doesn't get much better when you come down through the leagues but unless the overheads of the clubs are reduced and the costs fall then surely only the big clubs will survive or be immune to administration. Football does seem to live in it's own micro-climate but signs that the outside world are beginning to have a negative impact on it are showing through. It wasn't so long ago that a club going into administration was a rare event and certainly you could not point to 6 clubs going bust in two seasons and I may have missed one or two and have ignored Gretna in the Scottish leagues and Inverness who are on the brink I believe. So we have Saints, Darlington, Stockport, Rotherham, Bournemouth and Luton. Also Coventry I believe stated their intent to go into administration all be it in slightly different circumstances. I think you're right to be worried and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise may have in some cases contributed to our demise with a head in the sand attitude.

WTF??? Way out of order Robbie. I took my grandmother to Auschwitz, have you ever been because there is no ****ing denying it I can tell you. Insult and name call all like Robbie but I think there is a line of what is acceptable and you are way over it you stupid little cvnt.

EP used the term cancerous probably ok to use it for Lowe as many on here operate on double standards. IMO, I think Crouch and McMenemy have acted in a far more cancerous way as they operate in a far more insidious fashion, convincing us they are good for the club when IMO exactly the opposite is the case and yet they seem impervious to diagnosis, a true cancer.

We won't. Do they let you out of your cage at games?

Didn't seem to bother the directors of Swansea and Mk Dons are doing ok.

Yes, undoubtedly Lowe has meddled with his head and told him to spend half the game walking around the pitch with his hands on his hips and take penalities with all the gusto of a shy and backward schoolgirl. Lowe has in fact indoctrinated the whole squad in a very evil way by paying inflated salaries and telling them to stroll around and at least try and make it look good and don't worry about the abuse from the cheap seats. WE SHALL DESTROY THIS CLUB AND I WILL HAVE MY DAY OF JUDGEMENT HA HA HA. Join me you little players and lets make them all pay! (just trying to get into you head). You Stupidoldgit it seems Lowe has messed with your cognitive functions.

Ottery you say you know him well but clearly you are the one with your personal vendetta. Was he rude to you as well in the demanding and cutthroat world of managing businesses in football and finance. Nevermind.

Wes I don't disagree with most of what you say above but I don't understand the emphasis on 'British'. Its narrow minded at best and could be interpretated as fascist at worst.

I think its sad that since Jermaine Wright left for Blackpool no one has stepped up to his mark. He could have walked player of the season this year.

Are you forgetting his effort against Wolves? That was even worse.