Wes Tender

Who really cares a jot?

Yes. The City was going cheap in the bargain basement. It was part of the buy one get one free offer. Perhaps their prospective new owner can bring some sand over with him and give them a decent beach too.

Why did it have to be said? He's just trolling.

What exactly is the obsession that Stoke have with us? They must have bought 5/6 players from us by now. Perhaps ML with his wealth ought to just buy us the Stoke team and return Pulis jnr. to Stoke. Job done.

Double Dutch?

Go on. Produce the proof from your computer Notepad record and show the forum what a truly sad individual you truly are. You have no proof whatsoever that I have not attended despite us not being in the Premiership and of course the fact that I have bought a ST with us being in the third division proves what a cretin you really are.

Troll.

Welcome back John. You were another one who got a lot of stick for your stand too. Isn't it sweet to be returning to this bright new future knowing that finally we are rid of those charlatans?

Ah! You've taken me off ignore. I'm deeply moved that I'm once again on your approved list...(doffing cap and tugging forelock). And pleased to be given the seal of approval from the Lord High Chief of pompous windbags, who taught me all I know.

Who's not positive? View from the top was quite right to remind us that GM and 19 Canteen in particular were quite abusive to many fans who did not renew their STs last season on a matter of principle, accusing them of being fair weather fans using Lowe as an excuse not to go. Those same people do perhaps fall into two groups. Those who genuinely did it on principle can feel quiet satisfaction when they renew that they played their part in bringing about the regime change that has brought us the wealthiest owner in our history and bright prospects ahead. Those who just used it as an excuse not to attend, might well be pursuaded to change their minds because of the exciting developments also brought about by the fall in revenue when they absented themselves. But either way, it is feasible that had both groups continued attending, the extra revenue might have kept the previous regime in place and we would certainly have still been relegated and had to endure the next season as the paupers of the division heading towards the trapdoor to the fourth division. So whilst being positive, let's also be thankful for what's come about and spare a few moments to consider what might otherwise have come to pass.

While I was queuing I spoke to others who had been in the same position and who knew others themselves who had renewed after boycotting last season. One lady told of her circle of friends where she was the only one left with a ST out of 7 who had formerly attended regularly. Seems as if many are returning to the fold.

Got mine this morning, as a man of my word promising to renew the minute that Lowe was gone. Business at the ticket booths is brisk, with several dozen people queuing there at 10am. Looking at the screen to choose a seat in the Northam, it looked as if there wasn't that much available in that stand.

It's really quite simple. The new owner has bought the club and can do what he damned well likes, within the remit of the rules and regulations of the Football League. However, as an astute businessman, I'm sure that nobody needs to teach him anything about the principles of good business practice. High up on the basics is the wisdom of treating your customers well, as without them, most businesses cannot function, let alone thrive. So far, all the signs indicate that our new owner is making all the right noises. He has quickly dismissed the former manager who he deemed not to be up to the job. STs have quickly gone on sale at a very good price. The offer of having a free seat at the Ajax match with every ST sold was again good business sense. The appointment of the new manager is possibly the most important decision he will make since he took us over. Naturally he will want to appoint the person most capable of gaining us promotion, but he will also be casting an eye on the reaction of the fanbase too, as he will want somebody deemed to be popular with them, as it will have an effect on ST and matchday sales. It is important that we quickly overturn that -10 deficit and a good turnout of support during those early matches could be crucial to the atmosphere. If we can get to level par with several other teams quickly, we can gain the momentum and belief to swell the crowds and propel us upwards. ML's primary objective is to gain as quick a return of his investment as possible by getting us to the Premiership.

If you're so upset about it all, Seymour Pierce, let's hear chapter and verse about who your group comprised. You let it be known that you're upset because you say that the bid from your people would have been greater than that from Markus Leibherr. But that was just the bid to satisfy the creditors, who have already expressed satisfaction with what was offered by ML, otherwise they would not have accepted it. As to what the position is with us the fans, we are quite happy, thanks. We don't need anybody wealthier than ML, not that you have told us who your people are. Anyway, who would want a consortium when you can have a single owner? We've had enough internal division and bickering from clashing egos in the past. You had your chance, SP and blew it. So thanks for nothing.

Sacha Baron Cohen?

LOL at the irony. So according to your viewpoint, we can be brilliant passing the ball about the park like Brazil and yet by failing to score any goals, could come bottom of the league. That's really good, isn't it?

We'd best hope that the rumour of TA being on the short list doesn't grow legs

Positives for Tony Adam's appointment? His Mum will be pleased. His Bank manager will be pleased. It will make thousands of people in South East Hampshire happy, especially those with special needs, thus providing a valuable social service. He won't have to travel far to work. He might usurp Ian Dowie's position as the ugliest individual ever to be associated with our club. As one of the best defenders during his time as a player, he might be able impart some of that knowledge to our defence as a coach. But then MLT was one of the best penalty takers in British football history, yet we remain crap penalty takers, one of the reasons why we are where we are. He may be able also to impart to the young players (with the benefit of his own personal experience), the perils of drinking and the effect that it has on promising careers. There we are Alain; is that enough positives for you?

I agree with all of this, plus the post after saying that he conducted himself well while here, had presence and the respect of the players. It must also be remembered that at the time of his dismissal by Lowe, he had pretty well a 90% support rating on here, despite the fact that he had only really managed to ensure our survival on the last day of the season. That speaks well of the impression that he had made on us that he had managed to seemingly improve the fitness, the discipline and desire of the players and turn the team around in a relatively short time from a team in freefall and falling confidence. It says that most of the fans would have been confident that had he remained with us this past season, NP had the ability to at least get us a mid table place, even under the financial restrictions that were placed on the Dutch duo during the mad experiment. Having proved that he is emminently capable of taking a team freshly relegated to the third division and bringing them through to promotion as champions, there is no reason that even with the -10 points that he couldn't get us into the play-offs. If he achieved that, I'd be fairly convinced that a team of his would still win through. WGS or Coppell would be nice, but I'd be entirely happy with NP, believing that he was a manager we could keep for several years, the club and him growing successfully together.

Compare all you like, but the most pertinent point is that Pearson then went on to manage a team just relegated form the Fizzy Pop, had no prior knowledge of the team, but kept the best of them and cannily brought in the players through purchases and loans to form a league winning squad. This required skill to mould a team with balance between age and experience, flair and effort and then it also required motivation, fitness and belief. As he is the manager who has achieved the best results on gaining promotion from the third division, most recently and as champions, he is obviously one of the top candidates for the job. And we have a considerably wealthier owner than Mandaric, which was often cited as being the reason why Pearson was successful, but which ignores his personal attributes. With Pearson as manager and the money available, there is not reason whatsoever why he could not repeat the achievement. He is also definitely one of the prime candidates for the long term too.

Another Dutchman with no experience of the lower British leagues. No thanks.

I'd love it. Just what we need, a manager that shouts at the players, is disciplined, will get them fit, earn their respect, knows the division and how to get out of it. Isn't that right, Nineteen Canteen?

Does it not occur to you that this sweeping generalisation is ironically precisely the other side of the coin to that which triggered the OP? It isn't about nationalistic stereotyping; the crux of the debate is not about whether a foreign manager is capable of managing in this country, or indeed vice versa. It really is more a case of whether a manager from abroad is likely to have an understanding of football in the English lower divisions and a knowledge of which players either have experience in those divisions, or are able to adapt. Of course there are some exceptions that stand out purely because they are exceptions. The credibility of some of them is diluted because the managers have come in from the top level abroad and managed in the Premiership. The number of examples of foreign managers successful at Chamionship level and below is much rarer and our two Dutch managers are hardly examples that prove the case for foreign managers at this level. The generalisation of foreign managers not being as effective in the lower leagues is similar to the perceived wisdom that you get nowhere playing kids. Although there are examples like Arsenal that go some way to disproving the theory, that again is in the top flight and with the very best quality kids. Similarly, it is much more difficult to point to examples in the lower divisions, as we ourselves proved last season.

Everybody says not to read anything into it, as the players are obviously not match fit. What a shame that we are playing these lower league teams or semi-pros, whose fitness levels are examplary, because they continue playing every week, foregoing holidays just to maintain peak condition themselves. Hardly fair, pitching ourselves against them, is it?

Oh dear. But we can empathise with this sort of problem, as we have been through it all ourselves. Don't worry yourselves Skate fans, it will no doubt sort itself out in the end.