sadoldgit

A few years ago the perception was that Lowe had to go if the club was to progress. He did go and enter the Wilde Bunch to even wilder acclaim. Wilde was a fan so that was good apparently. He then spent a lot of money on what was perceived as a sh*t or bust exercise and guess what, he busted. He went but his acoloytes stayed on, got rid of our 3 best players and stated publically that we were no longer going for promotion, which was quite plainly obvious as Dodd/Gorman/Pearson between them saw as in the relegation zone. So no new dawn there. Depending on who you believe, Lowe and Crouch were brought back by the money people to steady the ship. To be fair I don't think that anyone thought that was a new dawn, false or otherwise. No money, no aspiration, administration and relegation followed. Finally, a new dawn with the A Team. Markus with money, Nicola with huge busness acumen and a Premiership standard manager. Yay! Just over a year in, the owner has passed away (and it seems his money is all tied up following his sad passing), Nicola is said to be "delusional" and the Premiership manager standard manager departed. We sit in the relegation zone of the 3rd tier of English football after 7 games. Lowe was seen to be the reason for our fall from grace but several people have come in a tried their hands at turning things round and, to date, they have all failed. I'd like to believe that the Cortese/Adkins combination, once the money comes through again, will finall get it right, but I am not holding my breath. How much time will Adkins have to get it right before he is out of the door? It is hard to see him seeing out his contract if we are not promoted this season. You do have to wonder though why so many people have not managed to make the impact on this club that we all wish for. It seems that for all the money ploughed into campaigns, for all the planning, there is no winning formula. It happens or it doesn't and that is dependant on all of the people at a club galvanising themselves and a ceratin chemistry kicking in and taking over. We haven't had that in years and when we did have it it didn't happen overnight, it took years of hard work. That is the club I think we are. We do things the hard way, no overnight successes for us, not in the past, not in the future. If we are to grow and flourish then Cortese needs to change and needs to find patience. He might have digestive problems becuase of the stress of matchdays and the overwhelming ambition to see this club in the Champions League, but if he doesn't reign himself in a bit I fear that we will be facing futher disappointments and yet another false dawn.

Although things are far from great right now there is no reason why we can't get promoted. Whether we will or not is another matter. Something was obviously wrong between Cortese and Pardew last season and went futher downhill in the summer. Not a great time to sack a decent manager and perhaps, if Cortese, was having doubts last season perhaps he should have bitten the bullet earlier. I still wonder what on earth went on between the 2 of them but the death of the owner and the broekn relationship between the CEO and ex manager means that the new guy has a hill to climb and apparently littel money to spend right now. It is all very disappointing given how well we did last year (after the slow start of course!). If we don't go up this year and there is no obvious improvement on what Pardew acheived last year, where does that leave Adkins?

Money could well be he problem. The untimely passing of our owner has all kinds of implications re probate and wills as has been mentioned on anothet thread. Then there is the matter of the dismissale of 3 employees. It could well be that we are just not flush right now.

It is one thing saying it, another to achieve it. Good luck mate, you will need it!

I don't think that Redknapp ever got used to it!

Unfortunate name but it goes where is says on the tin!

Alan Pardew was a big name for a 3rd Div club. By all accounts Kevin Keegan was interested and 2 managers from the Premiership. Apparently we are seen as a good job. Probably because you won't be staying long and will walk away with a nice big wedge

Why not? I would like to see some stability at the club. It would have been nice if he had been right behind his other man, Pardew too, but obviously they didn't get on.

I agree that he should get two seasons and as you say Duncan, he comes with no baggage (but high expectations). However, with NCs hurry to get to the Premiership I think we might be looking for yet another manager if we don't go up this year.

Davies was a very good player but we didn't make the most of him. The fact that he is still playing and doing well in the Premiership and we are at the bottom of the 3rd tier of English football should tell you something. All we are saying was it was a mistake leting him go. Calm down, it is only an opinion.

I can't name them because I don't know who they are. I am just repeating what NC has said.

But given his (NCs) ambition, not unlikely.

I thought that Pardew had three years too Alps? Oh well, as we know, contracts aren't worth the paper they are written on. Be nice if we actually had a manager stay long enough to get an extension!

I agree that it would be good if we looked like the Saints again, but it ain't gonna happen this season! His first hurdle is the same as Pardew's: to deal with the negativty and lossing mentality. There are some teams out there who never lie down and don't know their beaten. We are not one of those. We desparately need some loans, but if he can get the Lamberts and Puncheons playing as they can, that will be a start. He will also need to win over the fans and if he doesn't do that quickly and get points on the board he will find it a very long and hard season. I don't know anything about the guy but he comes with a ringing endoresment from Redknapp (not sure if that is good or bad!) but let's hope he does the biz. Pardew asked for 18 months to be judged and I think it is fair to give Adkins the same period. Unfortunately if we don't go up this year he might not make 18 months either.

I am with you on this one Duncan. I still can't believe he ws left out of the team/squad for Cardiff. We all knew he could play and whilst there was obviously something going on, it was WGSs job to fix it and get the best out of his players. A big error.

Van Damme scores for wolves. Ormerod gets 7/10 for Blackpool. Both were considered lightweights in the Saints scheme of things. Lots of ex Saints playing in the Premiership yet we are in currentlly in the bottom of the 3rd tier of English football. As Greavsie famously once said, "It's a funny old game." Shame we can't laugh about it. How the mighty are fallen. I hope this time we get it right.

And if he had they would have been misspelt!

Is wish that were true, but in all honesty he will be judged on his first 3 results.

If what NC says is true then 2 Premiership managers were interested which immediately means that they are bigger names does it not?

I sincerely hope you are right, but with heavy duty credentials you would expect someone to be moving up rather then down.

Be honest DD that is what we said about Pardew. If we don't go up this year, if there is any consistancy, people will be after his head.

Apparently NC had to go knocking on doors to find a manager. The fact that he found one with Premiership experience you would think not.

What is your expectation of NA this season then Dune?

He looks like Curly Watts brother from Eastenders (if he had one that is). I don't expect Fonte will losing any sleep now

I imagine that those who gave Pardew a hard time will also be expecting Adkins to get promotion in his first season. If he doesn't.........eek