Daren W Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 As 19c seems absolutely obsessed with dragging McMenemy's name into the sewer perhaps we could have a debate on Lawrie McMenmy the manager. Not the personality, not the freeloader, not the guest speaker, but the manager.... For one I cannot forget the moment Saints signed Keegan, it was immense. Along with the FA cup final I cannot remember such a buzz about the city. It was like signing Pompey signing Ronaldo. That and signing so many amazing players. Peter Osgood, Alan Ball, Phil Bowyer, Ted McDougall, Mark Wright, Steve Moran, Steve Williams, Peter Shilton.... I could go on and on... Discuss... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sticksaint Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 I ,for one wish nineteen canteen,would stop his bitter attacks on saints legends! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 i for one can't see why you've had to start ANOTHER FECKIN THREAD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daren W Posted 17 October, 2009 Author Share Posted 17 October, 2009 i for one can't see why you've had to start ANOTHER FECKIN THREAD. Was there a part of the "Discuss McMenemy as a manager" that you didn't get? I am heartily sick and tired of the endless slagging sessions involving Saints legends. Can we not debate McMenemy's without someone bringing club politics into it? 19c starts a rather unpleasant thread yet again slagging off a Saints legend. You say nothing. I start a thread discussing McMenemy's managerial atributes and you think you post about how terrible that is... Some people's priorities are so off kilter it's amazing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 This is a bit like asking is your dad the best dad you know... yes! Are there better dads, possibly. Would I swap? No thanks. For part of my life, Lawrie McMenemy was the best manager in the world thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Saint Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 One thing to remember about that era. Yes McMenemy signed some fantastic players who were still at the top of their profession, more so than any other club outside of the major clubs but that was when wages were not an issue between the best and the run of the mill top 2 division players. If you strip away all his faults, yes he was one of our best, if not the best Saints Manager in our history but to place him in the top 20 League Managers since the war is, in my opinion, quite wrong and that is what Nineteen Canteen was trying to say and to engender debate. Sadly it also attracted abuse. Each to his own I suppose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_mears Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Lawrie Mac is the best thing thats ever happened to Southampton FC in its entire history. Anyone who slags him off is not a Saints fan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minsk Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Lawrie gave me my best years of being a Saints fan, for all the reasons Daren mentioned above and more. One of THE best? Debatable (as suggested). if judged solely on silverware then no. If judged on getting a small team punching way above their weight, then certainly. It didn't go unnoticed (to me) that the Troll who started the other thread put Redknapp at the top of his list of better managers (obviously to try and bait some people) but I refuse to repond to his trolling. However, I will say on this thread that Lawrie and Harry have achieved the same: both relegated Saints, after half a season in charge; Lawrie promoted Saints to the top flight, Harry promoted some other south coast team; both won the FA Cup - Lawrie with a 2nd Div team, Harry with a top flight team who payed ridiculous wages which almost crippled the club. So, on that, LAwrie is obviously the better manager. Then there is the fact that Lawrie got Saints to finish 2nd in the top flight, something Harry has never achieved at any club. Should Harry do such a thing with Spuds the press would be proclaiming him one of the best ever, only he still would not have done all that Lawrie did. So yes, IMO, Lawrie was one of the best - and I will always be thankful for the memories I still hold so dear from when HE was at the helm of our great club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Lawrie Mac is the best thing thats ever happened to Southampton FC in its entire history. Anyone who slags him off is not a Saints fan. Or just a numpty craving for attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 We already have this exact thread but with a different first post. FFS - chill out people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 I ,for one wish nineteen canteen,would stop his bitter attacks on saints legends! Agreed. Why is he allowed on here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Saint Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Agreed. Why is he allowed on here?Same reason you are allowed to post? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 This is a bit like asking is your dad the best dad you know... yes! Are there better dads, possibly. Would I swap? No thanks. For part of my life, Lawrie McMenemy was the best manager in the world thanks. To a degree this post sums it up. Its also a bit like worshipping a band or singer when you were growing up then after a good few years they turn into a "cabaret" band. Does this make make their earlier acheivements worthless? Of course it doesn`t. For the 12 years that he was manager we achieved the near impossible. Whatever he has become, in some peoples eyes, will never change that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minsk Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Same reason you are allowed to post? TBF, if Robbie, or you, or I, were to do as much trolling as that other certain poster does we would probably have been banned by now - I am sure trolling is against the forum rules. Also, if someone was previously banned I thought there was a rule about them signing up again under a new name? We all know that other users previous personas, and even he himself has now stopped denying (some of) them. However, he does (occasionally) have some decent points to make and he does liven things up when everything is quiet. So I am not necessarily saying he should not be allowed to post on here, but his trolling should be curtailed a bit better (for the greater sanity of everyone else). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minsk Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 To a degree this post sums it up. Its also a bit like worshipping a band or singer when you were growing up then after a good few years they turn into a "cabaret" band. Does this make make their earlier acheivements worthless? Of course it doesn`t. For the 12 years that he was manager we achieved the near impossible. Whatever he has become, in some peoples eyes, will never change that. Good post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Same reason you are allowed to post? Indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 TBF, if Robbie, or you, or I, were to do as much trolling as that other certain poster does we would probably have been banned by now - I am sure trolling is against the forum rules. Also, if someone was previously banned I thought there was a rule about them signing up again under a new name? We all know that other users previous personas, and even he himself has now stopped denying (some of) them. However, he does (occasionally) have some decent points to make and he does liven things up when everything is quiet. So I am not necessarily saying he should not be allowed to post on here, but his trolling should be curtailed a bit better (for the greater sanity of everyone else). Fair points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daren W Posted 17 October, 2009 Author Share Posted 17 October, 2009 One thing to remember about that era. Yes McMenemy signed some fantastic players who were still at the top of their profession, more so than any other club outside of the major clubs but that was when wages were not an issue between the best and the run of the mill top 2 division players. If you strip away all his faults, yes he was one of our best, if not the best Saints Manager in our history but to place him in the top 20 League Managers since the war is, in my opinion, quite wrong and that is what Nineteen Canteen was trying to say and to engender debate. Sadly it also attracted abuse. Each to his own I suppose! What I would say Weston is a lot of the managers named as being better than Lawrie have had a budge waaaay beyond ours. You look at the likes of Dalgleish, Benitez, Mourhino and co the money they have at their disposal you'd be fully justified in asking how they could possibly fail? Benitez has spent in excess of £100 million ffs... We were a small club that punched waaay above our weight all throughout McMenemy's time here, to compare him with managers at bigger clubs with bigger budgets is just farcical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Was there a part of the "Discuss McMenemy as a manager" that you didn't get? I am heartily sick and tired of the endless slagging sessions involving Saints legends. Can we not debate McMenemy's without someone bringing club politics into it? 19c starts a rather unpleasant thread yet again slagging off a Saints legend. You say nothing. I start a thread discussing McMenemy's managerial atributes and you think you post about how terrible that is... Some people's priorities are so off kilter it's amazing... Daren, it's the way you feel the need to start another thread about a topic that is already being ' debated', just because you don't like the way the other has gone that gets my goat. Can't you keep your squabbling with 19 to the one thread so it's easily avoidable for the rest of us who couldn't give a toss? I cannot believe that the same posters are happy to argue about the same topics over and over again. You know what all of you think now because it's been done to death, so can't you find something better to do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daren W Posted 17 October, 2009 Author Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Daren, it's the way you feel the need to start another thread about a topic that is already being ' debated', just because you don't like the way the other has gone that gets my goat. Can't you keep your squabbling with 19 to the one thread so it's easily avoidable for the rest of us who couldn't give a toss? I cannot believe that the same posters are happy to argue about the same topics over and over again. You know what all of you think now because it's been done to death, so can't you find something better to do? I'm sorry but isn't that the thread that was set up as yet another snipe at McMenemy? That thread hasn't "gone my way" as it's yet another dull, annoying character assignation of McMenemy. That's why I started this thread. To discuss Lawrie the manager. This thread is to discuss his abilities as a manager and yet funnily enough it's you who's mentioning 19c and not discussing the topic in hand. oh the irony. I haven't posted on here for over month, come back on her and find the same dull, boring "fill in the blanks" bashing that made this messageboard unreadable before. Pardew Out. Pardew in. Lalana out, Lalana in..... ffs. I make one observation about 19c's obsession with Mcmenemy/Le Tissier that is STILL turgidly being peddled on here and try to counter it with some actual debate about McMenemy the manager and it's ME who's obsessed and wrong??? And again I find it unbelievable that you can criticise me for flaming 19c but you say nothing when he say continually slags off McMenemy or Le Tissier. Like I said, your priorities are way off kilter. You seem to place more importance on the tinternet and trolls that inhabit it than the football club you're supposed to support. All rather sad and pathetic if you ask me. In regards to the squabbling, here a little tip. Don't read it. It's what I'm told every time I register a complaint about 19c. He has the right to voice his opinion, so do I. Hence why you're now blocked so I don't have to read your drivel. I suggest you do the same to me. I have 19c on block and now you. In fact I don't know why I bother with this board, it is the antithesis of the real world Saints fans inhabit. I really thought with a new owner, a new executive chairman, manager, players and a real optimism that this club is turning a corner and things are on the up, that people might talk football. Instead we have 19c still whinging about the two people who have given fans the most pleasure over the last 30 years. So one gets free tickets, one had a betting scam on first throw in... Do know what? I don't give a flying f u c k.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scally Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 It's not about debate with 19C its about starting another thread about somebody who has had a go at his idol Lowe in the past. All his threads are just set up to dig dirt on anyone who has had a pop at Lowe in the past, Matt, Lawrie, Leon Crouch , Mike Osman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OttawaSaint Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Great manager, but it still hurts that he buggered off to Sunderland when he had the world at his feet in Soton... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
up and away Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 One thing to remember about that era. Yes McMenemy signed some fantastic players who were still at the top of their profession, more so than any other club outside of the major clubs but that was when wages were not an issue between the best and the run of the mill top 2 division players. If you strip away all his faults, yes he was one of our best, if not the best Saints Manager in our history but to place him in the top 20 League Managers since the war is, in my opinion, quite wrong and that is what Nineteen Canteen was trying to say and to engender debate. Sadly it also attracted abuse. Each to his own I suppose! I have never questioned McMenemy as being the best manager we ever had, even above Ted bates because he took us to the next level. Where I really have a problem with McMenemy, is everything subsequent to him being manager, mainly in the era before Lowe. As to how good Lawrie was as a manager, does not look that difficult to place. Not up there with the likes of Clough, Paisley or Shankly but nipping at their heels. In todays game I would place him somewhere about the same as Brian O'Niel. Would that be good enough to get him into the top twenty? I doubt it but he would not be that far away. The current lack of attendence at games typifies for me all the negative aspects of what he brings, more a question of him rather than the club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Saint Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 I have never questioned McMenemy as being the best manager we ever had, even above Ted bates because he took us to the next level. Where I really have a problem with McMenemy, is everything subsequent to him being manager, mainly in the era before Lowe. As to how good Lawrie was as a manager, does not look that difficult to place. Not up there with the likes of Clough, Paisley or Shankly but nipping at their heels. In todays game I would place him somewhere about the same as Brian O'Niel. Would that be good enough to get him into the top twenty? I doubt it but he would not be that far away. The current lack of attendence at games typifies for me all the negative aspects of what he brings, more a question of him rather than the club.I agree entirely with your post. Many off this board think exactly the same. You meant Martin O'Neil of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
once_bitterne Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 One promotion to the top flight, one relegation from it and one FA Cup all at an unfashionable club. He was yesteryears Harry Redknapp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minsk Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 One promotion to the top flight, one relegation from it and one FA Cup all at an unfashionable club. He was yesteryears Harry Redknapp. Except Lawrie did it with a lot less money, which must obviously make him the far better manager. As someone else said above, there are many other managers who people say were 'great' but all they did was buy their titles - just like 'Arry did with the cup. Also, there is the little matter of coming 2nd in the top flight. When did 'Arry do that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
once_bitterne Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Except Lawrie did it with a lot less money How much would bringing in Keegan cost in today's money? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 How much would bringing in Keegan cost in today's money? Well he's getting quite old now, so probably be on a free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedAndWhite91 Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 McMenemy and Bates were two of the best managers we have ever had... Both unfortunately before my time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Except Lawrie did it with a lot less money, which must obviously make him the far better manager. As someone else said above, there are many other managers who people say were 'great' but all they did was buy their titles - just like 'Arry did with the cup. Also, there is the little matter of coming 2nd in the top flight. When did 'Arry do that? Not to mention runners-up in the League Cup to a certain Mr Clough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
INFLUENCED.COM Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 How much would bringing in Keegan cost in today's money? See LA Galaxy and Beckham imo. No signing since his and for me no signing in the future will ever mean as much, for that I will always be grateful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC Forever Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Lawrie gave me my best years of being a Saints fan, for all the reasons Daren mentioned above and more. One of THE best? Debatable (as suggested). if judged solely on silverware then no. If judged on getting a small team punching way above their weight, then certainly. It didn't go unnoticed (to me) that the Troll who started the other thread put Redknapp at the top of his list of better managers (obviously to try and bait some people) but I refuse to repond to his trolling. However, I will say on this thread that Lawrie and Harry have achieved the same: both relegated Saints, after half a season in charge; Lawrie promoted Saints to the top flight, Harry promoted some other south coast team; both won the FA Cup - Lawrie with a 2nd Div team, Harry with a top flight team who payed ridiculous wages which almost crippled the club. So, on that, LAwrie is obviously the better manager. Then there is the fact that Lawrie got Saints to finish 2nd in the top flight, something Harry has never achieved at any club. Should Harry do such a thing with Spuds the press would be proclaiming him one of the best ever, only he still would not have done all that Lawrie did. So yes, IMO, Lawrie was one of the best - and I will always be thankful for the memories I still hold so dear from when HE was at the helm of our great club. +2 Very well put. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC Forever Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 Well he's getting quite old now, so probably be on a free. Brilliant. LMAO again and again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Saint Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 For my money as a nipper supporting Saints the teams Lawrie put out for MY entertainment were the best teams in the world, humiliating Man U on the largest stage in world club football set the tone and everything grew from there. Promotion to the top flight was great, turning up at The Dell no matter who's name was on the wall of the Milton as that days visitors, you entered the ground believing that your were going to see entertaining football and invariably see the nose of a "bigger" team spread across their faces, even if we were beaten the mood walking away from the ground 95% of the time even after a loss was that everyone had been entertained, which was obviously down to the man picking the team. For my money only WGS has fanned the embers of those fantastic memories of Saints under Lawrie. Personally the fact that he enabled me to get tickets for my Dad and me to see the 1979 League Cup Final puts him high up on the list of people I count as personal heros, and negates the share stuff etc. Anyone who makes a negative judgement on this is talking out of their backside because given the same opportunity very few would turn their back on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minsk Posted 17 October, 2009 Share Posted 17 October, 2009 How much would bringing in Keegan cost in today's money? I don't remember Keegan playing in the '76 Cup Final. :confused: I guess it would cost quite a lot to bring in the current European player of the year, but even if he was at Spuds I doubt they would come 2nd in the league. And 'Arry has spent vastly more (comparatively) in his time as a manager than Lawrie ever did. if you can't see that then I don't know why I am even bothering responding to you. Oh, and I'm pretty sure Keegan was only at Saints for 2 of the very many years Lawrie put out fantastic teams (and, if I remember correctly, keegan had left before we gained our 2nd place finish in the top flight. I am certain had he remained at The Dell we would have won that title easily.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippysaint Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 Lawrie gave me my best years of being a Saints fan, for all the reasons Daren mentioned above and more. One of THE best? Debatable (as suggested). if judged solely on silverware then no. If judged on getting a small team punching way above their weight, then certainly. It didn't go unnoticed (to me) that the Troll who started the other thread put Redknapp at the top of his list of better managers (obviously to try and bait some people) but I refuse to repond to his trolling. However, I will say on this thread that Lawrie and Harry have achieved the same: both relegated Saints, after half a season in charge; Lawrie promoted Saints to the top flight, Harry promoted some other south coast team; both won the FA Cup - Lawrie with a 2nd Div team, Harry with a top flight team who payed ridiculous wages which almost crippled the club. So, on that, LAwrie is obviously the better manager. Then there is the fact that Lawrie got Saints to finish 2nd in the top flight, something Harry has never achieved at any club. Should Harry do such a thing with Spuds the press would be proclaiming him one of the best ever, only he still would not have done all that Lawrie did. So yes, IMO, Lawrie was one of the best - and I will always be thankful for the memories I still hold so dear from when HE was at the helm of our great club. Well said Sir! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 One thing to remember about that era. Yes McMenemy signed some fantastic players who were still at the top of their profession, more so than any other club outside of the major clubs but that was when wages were not an issue between the best and the run of the mill top 2 division players. If you strip away all his faults, yes he was one of our best, if not the best Saints Manager in our history but to place him in the top 20 League Managers since the war is, in my opinion, quite wrong and that is what Nineteen Canteen was trying to say and to engender debate. Sadly it also attracted abuse. Each to his own I suppose! I still find it extraordinary that he was able to persuade Ball to join a 2nd division club and no one in the Div One seemed to want him. He was still in his twenties and was still one of the best midfielders in the country and we got him for 60 grand. Even his Dad didn't want him to come to Saints but LM worked his magic. And what a signing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 What I would say Weston is a lot of the managers named as being better than Lawrie have had a budge waaaay beyond ours. You look at the likes of Dalgleish, Benitez, Mourhino and co the money they have at their disposal you'd be fully justified in asking how they could possibly fail? Benitez has spent in excess of £100 million ffs... We were a small club that punched waaay above our weight all throughout McMenemy's time here, to compare him with managers at bigger clubs with bigger budgets is just farcical. Well not really. There are plenty of other managers who achieved beyond their wage bill - lawrie is hardly unique in that. And anyway didn't he get a big budget at sunderland and he failed. There's a lot of whining about unfair comparison but you and others are intentionally avoiding talking about the totality of his career which contained failure and huge swathes of time out of work or in non jobs. The fact that lawrie didn't get a big big club is a reason why he is NOT an all time great, not an excuse for why he is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 This is a bit like asking is your dad the best dad you know... yes! Are there better dads, possibly. Would I swap? No thanks. For part of my life, Lawrie McMenemy was the best manager in the world thanks. Liking that summary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 I still find it extraordinary that he was able to persuade Ball to join a 2nd division club and no one in the Div One seemed to want him. He was still in his twenties and was still one of the best midfielders in the country and we got him for 60 grand. Even his Dad didn't want him to come to Saints but LM worked his magic. And what a signing. Alan Pardew and Connelly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilippineSaint Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 I still find it extraordinary that he was able to persuade Ball to join a 2nd division club and no one in the Div One seemed to want him. He was still in his twenties and was still one of the best midfielders in the country and we got him for 60 grand. Even his Dad didn't want him to come to Saints but LM worked his magic. And what a signing. Alan ball was 31 when he came to saints Born in 1945 signed for saints in 1976 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvaduck Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 Well not really. There are plenty of other managers who achieved beyond their wage bill - lawrie is hardly unique in that. And anyway didn't he get a big budget at sunderland and he failed. There's a lot of whining about unfair comparison but you and others are intentionally avoiding talking about the totality of his career which contained failure and huge swathes of time out of work or in non jobs. The fact that lawrie didn't get a big big club is a reason why he is NOT an all time great, not an excuse for why he is. He was offered a "big club" in 1981 - Martin Edwards wanted him at Manchester United -but as far as I remember after a fans campaign in the Echo he turned it down So presumably that indicates another character flaw - like MLT he lacked ambition He then went on to take us back into Europe - two years later runners up to Liverpool taking four points off of them -qualifying for Europe again the following season butwe could not take part because of the ban on English clubs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 Alan ball was 31 when he came to saints Born in 1945 signed for saints in 1976 Stand corrected (that will teach me not to be lazy) but even so, at 31 and as fit as a fiddle, his signing was still a coup. Were he to come on the market today at that age there would be a whole host of top clubs in for him. LM did have the knack of signing top quality players from under the noses of bigger clubs. Dave Armstrong, Joe Jordan and Dave Watson to name another three. And who could forget Shilton? Love him or loathe him (and it appears he does polarise the fan base here), he could certainly pull a rabbit out of a hat and it was exciting times to be a Saints fan. I remember signing Osgood (then a real big time Kings Road charlie) and not believing a man of his calibre would ever deign to join us but it was the first of many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 LMs big talent for us was to bring so many "big names" to what was then an unfashionable club. No mean feat and a great testiment to his personality and desire to put us on the map. As for coaching, didn't Channon say that he just bought good players and let them get on with it? Something that worked for us then but I can't see that working nowdays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvaduck Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 Whilst acknowledging that he is not perfect (who is?) I will always be a Lawrie Mac fan because for a certain period he made it respectable to be a Saints fan. I have always been proud to tell people who I support – but I have worked all my life in London alongside supporters of the big clubs – including some who were born on the South Coast but suddenly became Londoners when they moved there. In the early days I received pitying looks when I told them who I supported - but LM and later MLT enabled me to be on (almost) equal terms and the pitying looks stopped – especially after the runners-up year when we finished above all of them!! Just to add fuel to the flames I will post this link which I put on the 19C thread last night http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1158937/THE-LIST-Sportsmails-30-21-greatest-managers-British-football.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Saint Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 I still find it extraordinary that he was able to persuade Ball to join a 2nd division club and no one in the Div One seemed to want him. He was still in his twenties and was still one of the best midfielders in the country and we got him for 60 grand. Even his Dad didn't want him to come to Saints but LM worked his magic. And what a signing.That was something of the McMenemy magic and charm. One of his great assets, even now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifford Nelson Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 If I don't compare Lawrie to other managers, but just think of him in relation to Southampton he appears as a giant. Ted Bates did an amazing amount for this club over a length of career we will never see again. Lawrie did for management and for spreading the good will of this club more in those twelve years of management than all the other managers taken together. In a time when it is fashionable for people to always praise and be grateful to their bosses Lawrie has always spoken his mind. I struggle badly in understanding how that trait of his could be held against him. The man have some principles which I also admire him for. He is the only character in our history who I feel deserves some acknowledgement from the club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 He was offered a "big club" in 1981 - Martin Edwards wanted him at Manchester United -but as far as I remember after a fans campaign in the Echo he turned it down So presumably that indicates another character flaw - like MLT he lacked ambition He then went on to take us back into Europe - two years later runners up to Liverpool taking four points off of them -qualifying for Europe again the following season butwe could not take part because of the ban on English clubs If you read Lawrie's column he was in the frame for every job going. But he didn't get the Man U job, did he? At the end of the day he never managed a big club and was a failure at every other job he did away from Saints. That's why he isn't high up the all time list. Bobby Robson, Venables, Atkinson even Graham Taylor had Lawrie-like success at small clubs on small budgets but they all moved on and achieved bigger things at bigger clubs or internationally. Still our best ever manager and acheived a hell of a lot but just not that high up the all-time list for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 18 October, 2009 Share Posted 18 October, 2009 If you read Lawrie's column he was in the frame for every job going. But he didn't get the Man U job, did he? At the end of the day he never managed a big club and was a failure at every other job he did away from Saints. That's why he isn't high up the all time list. Bobby Robson, Venables, Atkinson even Graham Taylor had Lawrie-like success at small clubs on small budgets but they all moved on and achieved bigger things at bigger clubs or internationally. Still our best ever manager and acheived a hell of a lot but just not that high up the all-time list for me. Only one name on that list is a great manager. Head and shoulders above the rest. And probably, alongside Paisley, Shankly, Busby and maybe Fergie, the last of the genuinely great managers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now