Beckster Von Doodle

Wrong, the academy that we had that turned out the likes of Le Tissier, Shearer etc, had gone to rack and ruin through the mid to late 90's. An FA Cup Final, not sure we had been to close to that for 25 years. Europe the same. And can you blame him for taking his business opportunities when presented to him by Askham? I am guessing that those you say are in the silent majority understand that there is no alternative right now, and I would count myself as one of those.

I pay homage to no one Steve, that is why I am able to see that both sides have an arguement and in fact think Lowe has little to offer the club going forward. But the extremes I see on here are just that, and it is the vocal minority not just on the internet sites, but in the echo and around the ground that have swayed or alienated the moderates. In the real world at election times who do you think the clever orators try to sway? It ain't the stauch Labour or Conservative voter it is the moderates in the middle ground, and I have no doubt that it is the same on here. The blame if any lies at the door of those who gave momentum to the Wilde takeover and to get rid of Lowe at any cost, of which I was not one. I will repeat, I want Lowe out, but NOT at any cost as some still seem to want to do. In the absence of money he IS the best man to run the club. We need a bean counter and he fits that mould. What happens on the football pitch is secondary to managing the business at the moment/

I think Strachan said the negotiations had progressed to a point where evrything had been agreed and he was unable to stop it. Who's to say that Gray didn't just say we needed another striker? Unless you are a very experienced player in the transfer game I would suggest many clubs rely on the scouting reports. I think as a stick to beat Lowe with this is a limp sausage.

But nobody has balanced the arguement, he has developed the academy, delivered the new stadium, got us into Europe, got us to an FA Cup Final, provided as much money for investment as the likes of Bolton were doing and that is just the main things. It is easy to be wise after the event but at a point in time someone has to make the decision on who to employ. Lowe was that person and he has been no more or less successful than the majority of Chairmen in all the leagues. Some seemingly weak appointments have turned out well, WGS, and some strong appointments have turned out badly, Redknapp. Other than te Wigley appointment which I feel repeated the error with Gray I think none of the other managers have been all bad. Even Dave Jones had his good times and Burley had his bad times. Yes I thought it was a good idea to bring him back, Wilde and Crouch had been bad for the club worse some may argue than the 'Devil incarnate' himself. The real mistake though was getting rid of him the way we did. Too many wanted him out at any cost, this was wrong, those that took over should have showed proper funds etc. If I won the lottery I could in theory become a substantial share holder in SL but am I qualified to make decisions about running a football club no. Lowe at least had 10 years experience. I still want him out, but again it has to be the right people taking over. I believe his success and failures are no more significant than those of any other chairmen, why should the Charlton chairman get away with relegation yet Lowe doesn't? Again it is not those paying the money it those who are not that are watching their club go down the pan. I believe the fanbase has split itself on more issues than just Lowe and what has happened will never be healed. Unfortunately the vocal minority and those clever with words like Richard Chorley, Steve Godwin, even John Misslebrook have managed to build up such a chasm between groups that the fans are split pro and anti Lowe, does anybody remember we play football and not politics?

Exactly Steve, your dislike of Lowe means your balance of thought is impaired! The dates don't stack up to support either of the arguements, and I suspect that Gray agreed with the siging even if he would have preferred Forlan, even at that stage Strachan had a chance to say no but didn't.

Shall we have a sweep on how long before he gets sent off again?

Do you think I can watch a game with two less pints inside me?

I think there is a lot of urban myths in this one. He arrived before Christmas and had plenty of games left, the team may have been demoralised but he seems to have turned it around at Spurs OK, and he had money which he invested in the January window in Bernard, Jamie, Camara, Davenport and Quashie. Two were on loan but the loan from Wolves via Celtic must have cost us a fair penny. As for the lack of funds on relegation didn't he have a £1.8m bid for Clinton Morrison turned down? So I am guessing he had the money available but did not spend it. His whole attitude did not help with the players attitudes he was negative and always talked us down in the press. Yes he has proved himself a decent manager over the years, and I suspect he will unfortunately be successful at Spurs, but he has to take his share of the blame along woth the players, and the boardroom. SHARE being the operative word.

It is the missing 14,000 that I am knocking, and those in the 14,000 who boo and moan for 90 minutes. Yes they have paid their money and can do what they like by right, but it doesn't help the kids does it? And the atmosphere on the message boards and in the echo etc is like someone who has just lost a close family member but puts on a brave face in company. The pain is there for all to see and no smile on match day can hide it.

If I had it I would - she looks after the bank account!!!

Well in this we are agreed. Didn't Gray takeover from Hoddle? And therefore the manager when we moved to St Marys? I thin the likes of George Graham were muted by a few but I cannot remember either. But I remember thinking we must be able to get someone better than Strachan when he was appointed and thinking that Redknapp was the best appointment we had made since Hoddle. I am sure many thought the same at the time. I think Wigley who had alledged refused the job when Sturrock was appointed, felt that having been offered it a second time was unable to do so again. This was a huge error IMO. But see above, many were wrong with Strachan and Redknapp just because I was proved right, as were may others, doesn't make it any better.

How do you work that out? Because you don't like them? All they are doing is trying to fix the financial issues created by our attempts to get of the CCC. But Lowe got us relagated you no doubt will shout - and it had nothing to do with an apethetic manager, and apathetic players? What has happened to us happened to Charlton a couple of years ago, Birmingham last year, Sunderland a couple of years ago, and will probably happen to one of the 'established' clubs this year if Hull carry on going as they are. Continually looking back and being clever after the event is helping us move forward. Doom and gloom from supporters is not what is needed with a fragile young squad, a bit of blind optimism and support on the terraces would be better. Sorry this is Bon Call Night using my partners login.

Probably not but who would you have appointed at that time?

1. Bosses desk 2. Master bedroom of Show House 3. In a doorway near Harbour Lights (that was only a blo job though).

Fair play, I know that people within the NHS work really hard ... but I know a lot of people who work in government do so because its easy to fade into the background.

Or is it because its an easier life in local gvt/nhs/charities etc? My cousin works for Lehmans. For what he does, I don't think he earns a bad wage but then again he doesn't earn a fortune. I think a lot of it is down to London rates. He's pretty ****ed as he has exchanged contracts to buy a new property in london and now has no job so unless he can find a job pretty sharpish he'll lose his 10% deposit and the builder can probably sue him too. Happy days.

I watched the football in The Bridge Inn on Wednesday night - very strange pub with very strange people ....

Tonight - Nothing (well shopping for bbq stuff for Sunday) Saturday - Derby to watch Saints - may go into town afters depending on what time we're back Sunday - Otter and Owl Sanctuary during the day and then a bbq in the evening Monday - Lunch at Cafe Shore in Sandbanks with my other half and friends.

Don't get me on the subject of the benefits system in this country. It is completely wrong. Proof of this are my skanky ****ing cousins. The girl got sacked from Asda for stealing but now works at a Pub as an assistant manageress (so much for getting references for people), the mother doesn't work as she's agoraphobic and the ****** of an eldest son doesn't work either. The maximum he lasts at a job is 2 weeks and then it aggravates his bad back so he goes back on the sick for months at a time. Its funny that the bad back doesn't stop him ****ging whichever thick bint he's seeing at the time. He's got 4 kids with 3 different women and doesn't see any of them. Rant over

I did chuckle when she got all upset because the girl was going to have her hymen restored.

Thank god I wasn't wearing my glasses when the girl went back to have her stitches out. Didn't look attractive either (the new bits). What with that and Embarrassing Illnesses that was on the other night .... What makes me chuckle is that people are too embarrassed to go to the doctors but will get their Piles out on telly etc ...

Tonight - chill with a glass or two of vino Tomorrow - see my friend being a bridesmaid at her bro's wedding at lunchtime, go to my nieces 3rd birthday party from 4-6 then head into town to meet up with the footie lads and have a few drinks. (Gutted I'm not at SMS). Sunday - housework, ironing, lunch at the parents, watching footie in the afternoon

I must have been a bit ****ed because all of the photos I took of the Arrows just have the smoke trails in them .... First time I have been to Cowes for the Friday fireworks and thought it was really good.

Hilarious I have been talking to my boss before and its sounded a bit echoey and then he's flushed the toilet and told me that he's just "had a dump". Very attractive.

Chapel/Kingsland corner (where the family section is), I believe