Clifford Nelson

Pearson was a nice guy who said the right things and brought hope, but his results were very questionable. In points per game he was no better than Poortvliet in spite of the fact that he had a squad of experienced players, whilst P only had boys from the academy. Wotte did better than both in spite of the boys now being shell shocked and the club going into Administration and slammed with -10 before the campaign was over. He didn't inspire me, but he deserves a better reputation. I can't fathom what the enthusiasm for NP is, but I think he is a realistic prospect.

That seems a more reasonable guess than most I've read on this thread. At least they would all have a good reason to stay quiet until issues between the clubs have been settled. It's otherwise quite strange that the local media speculation is so utterly quiet. I don't believe that Oldknow/Cortese have spent several days drawing up a shortlist, nor do I believe that they haven't approached any of the obvious names if they were interested in them. They might have been turned down already by one or two. I can't help being a bit nervous seeing the days tick away and the team sent out to lose time and again without seemingly a real thought to the consequences. It is not a good build-up to deal with -10.

That's exactly what Lawrie Mac did, mostly successfully.

The problem with DoFs in the english game is that the board appoints both them and the manager, which starts the power struggle. The DoF should be the person appointing the manager. There is an old saying that "directors direct, managers manage". It's when that little saying is tampered with things are going wrong. I rather have a DoF with a sporting background making strategic footballing decisions than a few accountants, bankers and commercial managers who are unlikely to get it right unless they are lucky.

Not that I think TA is reading this forum, but there is no need, to be nasty about him. There is also no need to be sorry for him to the point of looking forward to him becoming manager. He need to rebuild his career with a decent coaching job somewhere and consider whether management is really for him. In that endeavour I wish him well.

There are three types of managers: 1) The ones we'd love to have. 2) The ones we'd hate to have. 3) The ones we don't know or are lukewarm about. I think it's essential that the second category is avoided. I'm slightly worried that the choices are made by people who probably don't know that much about the game, and I hope that they take plenty of advice. If we can get a good appointment we'll support it and hopefully whoever it is stays a long time. If it's a terrible choice, like TA for instance, then it doesn't stand a chance. I, for instance, have delayed my purchase of season tickets. I couldn't endure that kind of appointment after everything we've been through, and I am probably fairly moderate in my views.

I'm afraid you're wrong. TA has been a failure as a manager wherever he has been. Since being sacked at Pompey he also seems to have lost a bit of grip on reality. I don't think this is the time for him to manage anything.

I notice how little real speculation it is in the media. Since agents leak like sieves in this country, could it be because Oldknow and Cortese are on the continent?

I only want to congratulate you for your eloquence. I was about to buy my season tickets, but the idea of the total managerial failure TA as our new manager has made me hesitate. I'll wait until the new boss is announced. Call me a fair weather sailor if you'd like, but I'm not prepared to take a dinghy out in a hurricane. Too depressing for words. Was the name Tony Adams introduced into the mix by some skate who wanted to wipe the smile off our faces?

You are echoing a point I've made once or twice. Would I enjoy the perennial scrap against relegation every year in the Premiership or would I rather see winning football in the Championship. I know that it isn't quite as simple as all that, but seeing us winning games goes a long way towards happiness. Any attempt to get back in the premier would have to be enourmously well funded, and I don't want to suffer relegation like the last time again.

Reading this thread makes you think that the problem with the team is AL. He is one of a few of the youngsters who should be in the first team squad, but the core of the team needs to be players who spreads confidence which will help AL and others to grow and turn their potential into ability week in and week out. The current squad has become used to losing and needs to have a backbone installed by a new manager who knows what he is doing in that respect, since it has been going on for years. (What do you think when you hear that a striker who hasn't scored for the last 14 is visiting? Or when bottom of the leagues, ten points behind the rest and no wins for five months will play here on Saturday?) AL will be OK, and so will Simon Gillett who is the only one I haven't seen lose heart on any occasions. That boy will be great and we might even keep him because he isn't spectacular. I hope he grows a bit more.

John scored goals for us, but what exactly has BWP and Euell done for us which makes us think that they ought to be re-signed?

What has BWP ever done for us wanting to retain him? He doesn't score and can't focus on the game, so he hasn't been playing regularly in the Championship for us even though we've struggled badly. His mindset is everything we don't need. Euell can't score and is far from convincing in midfield. Thompson hasn't been able to maintain a professional contract and has been playing for an amateur side. Out of that list only Murty sounds interesting if he is still up for playing and not only for being paid.

I think you might well be right, but who could do the first job needed here, which is to change the entire mindset of the playing squad. That doesn't come from shouting at players, which the Pearson supporters believe, but requires more subtle understanding of how to get an entire club out of complacency. And by the way is there anybody out there who is working better for being shouted at? Maybe we would need a very experienced Sporting Director who the manager could actually respect.

Thanks for starting an interesting and thoughtful thread. I'm not sure if I'm unusual but I don't follow "football" or the Premiership, I only follow my team. I find it hard to fathom what a "neutral observer" is. I packed my Sky supscription in when I moved three years ago and I have missed it twice, when Saints were on and ended up down the pub, oh what hardship! Football is in one respect in the same situation as the banks were. We all know that disaster is looming, but nobody can take a first step because the others would take advantage of it. We will have to wait for the crash, I'm afraid. That leads me to be doubtful to what a return to the Premiership means for Saints. Another season or two of watching us lose matches and battle with relegation. I think it has become such a habit so that it might explain why the team for a few years has lacked backbone, which they show every time any loser arrives to St Mary's only to walk away with their first win for many weeks or months, and let's not forget the humiliating defeats against lower league opposition in the cups. I will to start with be pleased to watch us win games. A WIN, ahhh, that is something to look forward to. In the meantime the Premiership will eventually crash, and many more teams with it.

We have played three friendlies, drawn against non-league opposition and a loss against Bournemouth. Let's not fall for the non-sense that the results don't matter, because they do. So far we've been practicing losing and a fair bit bit of humiliation. To take that becomes easier and easier for every game that goes past. If the only thing we need is 45 minutes runout, then why don't we have that at Staplewood between ourselves? This is no way to prepare for the season ahead. If we compare with previous seasons, we know that a result poor pre-season is a guarantee for a poor season. I'm surprised that I'm saying this, but this squad is not anywhere near good enough to even guarantee survival in League 1. It suffers all the hallmarks of old which must be removed for us to have any success. We should assert our superiority against opposition like the ones we've had, and walk away with our confidence improved, but instead we lay down and die, followed by any reason for why it doesn't matter. This squad need major surgery, and not the odd addition of loans and free transfers. If it has got the talent, which I doubt, then it needs a transplant in the backbone department. Complacent is the word for what it, and who is the manager who knows how to uproot it?

Me too! On second thoughts though it sounds like a nasty trick to plant the name in the mix just to wind us up? Can anybody suggest a worse suggestion?

I am one of them who have been defending Wotte and I was certain that he wouldn't have been given a contract without the new owner having giving it the nod. I thought he needed support and respect rather than a constant chipping from the sideline, which is a newish and dreadful trait of supporters. The sacking is a loud and clear expression of intent from Markus. Whoever is coming in is the next clear expression, after which we will have a fair idea of what the future holds. I am impressed by the way things are done now that the sale is complete, in an honourable way without rumours or tip-offs. Whoever will be our next manager I will give him (it can't be a her, can it?) my full support, and I hope that every Saints fan will do the same.

What does it feel like to be manager for Saints with fans continuously questioning his ability and to want somebody else. His record in Holland reflects the teams he has managed and his record with Saints since January was the best in points per game since WGS. Could we, please, show the man some respect. And can we also show respect to the new owner. It appears that his choice is Wotte, but whoever it is could we just support the manager!? That will make it sooooooooo much easier to get results. It isn't compulsory to be a negative whinger if you're a Saints supporter.

Can I just stick my head in and say how pleasurable it was reading through these posts, talking players as one should at this time of year. And not one negative comment. It's great to support Saints! Are you all going to Bournemouth?

With so much knowledge you must have a big job in the game already, eh?

As fans we have a massive job on our hands, that of changing our mindsets. There is already those moaning about this or that, and this should be a day of unbridled celebration. We are out of administration, we're no longer a plc and the owner of the club can, if he wants to, put money into it. He isn't promising enormous amounts, put stabilisation and progress. That will do me very nicely. I think that over years we have become used to moan, groan and complain for very good reasons. From the Ian Branfoot era and with few exceptions since, everything has been a long series of disappointments. We really must change that! MLT should be honoured for all his years with the club. So should Lawrie Mac, but let's not believe that they will run a business venture better than somebody with the proven ability. Now I want to start talking about football!

Radio Solent has just confirmed that the contracts are ready for signature and the money to be transferred. Will that finally be the end of this thread tomorrow morning?

Yupp, Adam Blackmore just confirmed on Radio Solent that they are waiting for the money to transfer and for the contracts to be signed.

Another issue in the Pinnacle debacle I am trying to get my head around is, if I was a multimillionnaire interested in buying a football club, wouldn't I want somebody to represent me or my consortium who had experience in this field? Not wanting to disrepect TL in any way, but with his background I wouldn't have considered him as first choice. Why look for a deal maker and not for a corporate solicitor?