yorkie

I'm getting confused - isn't ladysaint a Jan too? No wonder we all love them so much!

Leave me out of it - no matter how well we do I'm never visiting SMS with Lowe in charge - never mind being given out free to every kid with a coke. However if that lovely page three model is visiting SMS on that day I may come down to be her "freebie for the day" - if only I could remember her name!!! She has her knockers but personally I think she's comes across very well!!!

Draw better than a loss. One step at a time at SMS.

Plymouth are a different kettle of fish. They are very direct, and a big strong team afetr what I saw on Sunday on The Championship highlights. The passing will be slick - we'll make plenty of chances, but it will be our finishing that may be the deciding factor. Plymouth seem to up the ante against us - and everything else being even I 'd say we will probably lose at home again. Nothing to do with Lowe Nothing to do with Jan Nothing to do with the SMS faithful. Please proove me wrong!

Just one question - when Lowe left with +£4m in the account - how many players were on long term contracts negotiated by Lowe? The likes of Rasiak, Saganowski, Skacel and the others? Where they signed by the Wilde bunch? Surely the team under Wilde could not be that incompetent could they?

I bet you wax lyrical on the 3rd half tonight again Tim. I hate to pour water on your bonfire, but it's just one win against another footballing team. They don't get physical - they pass and move. They don't turn nasty if they go one down they try to play the game - not resorting to the long "hooooooooooof". Don't get me wrong it's a great win, against a bit of a bogey team for us. It means absolutely nothing if they don't consolidate with a win against Plymouth. I know it sounds daft but did having the experience of Perry in the back four have an affect? The next away game at Charlton will be a real test. A big Saints following and Charlton on a massive spiral down and being thumped 5-2 today. An early goal there would see us proud - but one game at a time. Charlton must turn the corner soon surely - and probably against us. Not as far away as you in the US - but I still won't go to SMS. I may consider it if Block 1 or Block 2 re-opened, and may venture to Blackpool for a weekend. Interesting times ahead...say we put a run together up to Christmas and then in the window we sell, sell, sell? What then for the SMS faithful. Turn the corner playing the youth - then sell the best as soon as the team start to perform? We all know that the winds of change at SMS are coming because of the demands of the bank, but surely even they can see a winning team will do more for their investment (or should I say overdraft facility)? Interesting times as I say... Well done lads...a great win!

I would for senimetal reason say Steve Mills - but he genuinely had everything so there's no need for sentiment.

I see the Lowe PR machine is on the go again - but it doesn't wash with me. I'm another stay away while Lowe is here - I've had enough! Manager after Manager! Journeyman after Journeyman! Excuse after excuse! More loss after more loss! No money after no money! Fans after fans! We have become Saints Disunited - we all have a passion for the club from years of underachievement. Whilst we maintained our Premiership status no problem..but unrest. All fans were crying out for investment after Cardiff (including the Manager). Strachan saw the light - he knew he had gone as far as he could with Lowe and left. Others came and went, no investment and relegation followed. Last season for many was the last straw - Lowe coming back for me was the straw that broke the camels back! As Denzil says on the Echo Forum - Lowe out and take your Dutch boyfriends with you!

How can anyone believe it's not Peter Shilton? His goalkeeping career is second to none...England Caps, Championships, European Cups, League Cups - although never an FACup despite playing in Finals.

Is being anti-Lowe being negative? He's wasted money - but why can someone who owns 6% of the shares be in control? If someone wants/needs to buy him out what about all these super fans who go in week in week out. What can 6% be worth? If 15,000 fans who go every week + the 1,000s of stay aways want him gone so much - lets raise the funds! At the moment I can contribute £54 - any one else in?

If you can't win - home or away you will go down. The problem with the whole home form situation is probably one of expectation. Not just the fans, but the players and Management...surely everyone expects. The only positive I can see is we now have some triers out on the pitch. No matter how much you try - if you are not strong enough or good enough all that effort means nothing. You can carry one or two in a team of professionals, but the reverse is not possible. Personally I think the team shows a lot of potential, and they will be split up later. What's left will flounder in Division 1 with Lowe at the helm pulling the strings. Administration won't matter after that...the club will have lost everything. Talented players, loyal fans and status.

Last post of the day - what about Sheff Wed on 6th?

Right guys it's down to you - pick a game in December 2008 - and let's do it!

ALERT THREAD HIJACK BUT ALL IN A GOOD CAUSE... Good Evening all, it's me again. I have a proposal for all Saints fans - including the anti-Lowe's like me who vowed never to spend whilst he was at the helm...please read on. I was awoken by a dream at 2am this morning which liberated a couple of hours before work for thought! My first thought was that IF every fan currently attending SMS was to persuade a friend to go with them the attendance would be virtually to capacity. This will never happen! My second thought then was to demonstrate to the Lowe, the board and potential investor what Saints are all about. I am proposing the fans unite - the Lowe Luvvies and Anti-Lowe's for one home match per month for the rest of the season. Cost may prohibit this being done every home game - but once a month seems fair. For their part the club open every part of the ground and the fans fill the stadium, get behind the team for 90 minutes - not one moan or groan - just 90mins of songs, chants and encouragement. The next home game those real fans turn up again...15,000. The statement being "It's our club - we want it back". The following month the same thing...Mr Lowe if you go we will keep coming, but this is your last chance. I would hope that this promoted 2-things: 1) An intimidating atmosphere for the away side. 2) Give our lads a boost and confidence to win. The knock on from this will be the Board (and main share holders) will see Mr Lowe for what he is and get him out. Mr Lowe in his turn will allow investment on terms agreeable to the shareholders...not just him. This will then put the club in a position to understand the true fans base, and the affect of the "Never again with Lowe in charge" factor. Some estimate nearly 1,000 - others a sum more. I'm not saying it's the other 15,000 - but if you want a club to be proud of you need to fight for it. This message needs to driven home on every forum, in The Echo, and other froms of press. The Saints Trust should do something - but why do I in the tiny market town in the East Riding Of Yorkshire try to come up with ideas. It needs organising - we can make it count. I've not turned the corner yet, but I think getting people in and generating that sort of atmosphere may get people going back, and maybe enjoying it again. So what about it? Show the board SMS has the fan base to support a once great club, and get the financial backing we desire - and finally show them that the Lowe factor is a MAJOR factor

Well I'm not surprised... Get a decent crowd in for a TV game (any concessions?) and we fail to deliver again. Not going to say "Told you so" but we continue to suffer for lack of leadership on and off the pitch. There's always the hope there will be three poorer teams in the Division come May 2009 - a show down at The City Ground - winner stays up and loser goes down. Men against boys? I know who I'd back! Bitterly disappointed again...just as I was getting more positive.

We have a mean crew up here, they are the "specials" a mini bus full of the elite copper fightclub. They are sent into the roughest pubs in Hull to sort out trouble. They are well hard - but they do not get involved with policing football matches. Most of the police I have encountered over the last 40+years of watching Saints (home and away) normally have a sense of humour and just want the day to pass without any trouble. Having said all that the Welsh aspect has something to do with it. They seem to hate any one remotely associated with England. The further west you go the bigger the chip. It seems "football fans" don't help themselves - and Swansea have a crew who think they are a bit useful - and ever club going there has a crew who want to have a go. Get beered up and you are a nuisance, stay sober and you are looking for trouble. Just out of interest - anyone get funny looks for using a mobile phone? Give the chaps a break - it was overtime for them. Keeping a low profile helps too, avoid walking round in groups, and save the chanting to inside the ground. Football has progressed from who has the hardest fans (I think) but some of us still live in the 70/80s when football seemed to be all about getting a reputation that your town was harder than their town...trips to Ipswich seemed suggest we were just as bad back then too.

When is the AGM? When are the figures due out? Surely as a very small shareholder I can have a say at the AGM, and as many small investors as possible should also be able to demonstrate a lack of faith in the current regime.

It's one win - not an unbeaten run of 30-games. Nothing changes - we need investment, we are cash strapped. So let the investors in Mr Lowe and relinquish your hold over the club...if someone offers to prop up the club financially and wants changes too - go with it. I have to smile...this forum (like The Echo forum) has a lot of teeenage cyber warriors who can't have anyone stating a different opinion to theirs. Forums are for debate, and in the europhoria of a win (yes just one win) many seem to have lost the plot. Realistically we need to keep our eye on the ball (literally) - January will have been and gone before you know it...with such a young team we will probably not miss Lallana or Surman for a couple of weeks - they won't miss Saints.

Strange really - still can't work it out! 1. We score from a corner! 2. We equalised 3. We didn't concede a late winner 4. DMG scored! Still one swallow doesn't make a summer (or as my good lady says a blow job) but it could do wonders for the sides confidence. Brizzol City next week at SMS on SKY...a bumper crowd of 15,000, but will they freeze again? Well done lads - let the momentum continue well into next weekend. Must have been Lowe's HT talk about not paying salaries next week, and letting a few more go that got them so up for the second half. If we are such an attractive footballing side Mr Lowe, give somone else a chance to run the club and get as far out of Southampton FC as possible. Let the investment in no matter what it does for your stnding in the club. You are not Bill Shankley, or Arsen Wenger - not even a Harry Redknap or Glenn Hoddle. Just because you ahve overseen more Managers than any other Chairman it does not make you qualified to run a football club. LOWE MUST GO! Just to re-cap - well done the lads!

What about STs going to the club and demanding a refund on their ST? Trade descriptions act - not fit for purpose? STs represent the life blood - hence send a message to dluker@saintsfc.co.uk enquiring about a refund. If there was enough panic by "hundreds" of people asking surely that would send a message to the club that no one could ignore? Everyone says they are powerless - fan power is the name of the game. What price a panic if there ws a sudden run on refunds on STs? Surely if enough "fans" did this and the bank heard about it (after all they have spent all the money) more money would be required - this might push the bank to it's limit and demand some restructuring starting at the top. I would also suggest we need a figurehead to unite behind. Not The Trust or Nick Illingsworth - someone the fans trust - say Matt le Tissier. He could unite the fans! He has a place in todays crisis - no self promotion (or does he ahve a book/DVD to promote?), no hidden agenda, and someone who could bring the warring stayways and true fans together. Two pronged campaign - Matty out of retirement, and an influx of e-mails enquiring about refunds! Then the crowds could not include the STs as their funds had been withdrawn.

I'm singing them already: "Swing Lowe..." "Swing Lowe..." "Rupert Lowe's a qanker..." "Swing Lowe..." "Rupert Lowe's R&W Army" "Rupert the red faced chairman" "Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio..." "Where's your brown shirts gone...?" By the time Tuesday comes around there will be no one in the ground to sing them! He saw to that by closing the Itchen North. Divide and conquer - the fans are revolting? No that should be a statement not a question!

This would work... Make an giant effigy of Lowe and burn it on Nov 05 2008. Plenty of media exposure if the "Lowe" was big enough...where can you build a bonfire big enough to burn an ego that big?

Lets all take a friend to SMS for the next home game, yes a "Guy" made up of old clothes , stuffed with newspaper, with a Rupert Lowe mask. At the end of the game, douse them with petrol, throw them on the pitch and burn them...will "THEY" get the message then?

What you need then is people on the gates asking fans not to go in - or stand by the ticket office 9 to 5 and plead with people not to buy a ticket. I don't think you will get many with a ticket saying NO at £24 a pop! Perhaps a campaign at a home game distributing literature requesting a boycot of the next game regardless of the result might help. I bet however there would be "bully boys" out to move you on (so to say) as soon as the Management saw what was going on! What can Joe Average do? All the supporter groups are so up themselves (Trust included) they will never come together and construct a plan. Not unless Nick Illingsworth front it...The stick I get on The Echo Forum for going on about not gong to SMS until Lowe is gone... Organising such a protest is virtually impossible without the support of the local media - radio and papers. Forget the internet - people on this forum represent a small minority of fans (believe it or not). So who can get interviewed at prime time in the rush hour on local radio? Who cares enough to give the fans some air time? Who can get front page exposure in The Echo? What about a ritual hanging of a manikin an effigy of Lowe from the Itchen Bridge? Bonfire night is coming up - get some masks printed and distribute them to put on the sacrificial "Lowe" I do mean of course "Guy"? What about a gunpowder plot to blow up SMS? The time is nigh - Your club needs you!

There are so many things wrong - Jan going in isolation is not the answer. Time to protest - but how? At games? - NO confidence a bit fragile at the moment! At SMS before and after games? - see above! Personal attacks on boards members? Achieves nothing and likely result in criminal record. The only thing any business understands is with holding money. Cash flow is the live blood of any company SLH included. If you want to show your anger vote with your feet, don't attend matches. If you are worried about the financial damage you are doing to the club - save the money and if when it is required stump up a lump sum to show your support. For those who don't want to save and spend the money every week - send it to me. I have opened an account with all donations going to the "NEW REGIMES WARCHEST". Admin - make this a sticky and a pole. If people want to take action in this way then I will provide the service, if the consus of opinion is for me and my idea to "go forth and multiply" then I will shut up!