~When was the lowest point?

[Pilchards]

Its clear the team has finally moved away from rock bottom which is when this club could not stop sinking for years, but at what part it stopped?

 

I personally think we carried on reaching lower points after the buy out but when im not sure.

 

what about you?

[Wurzel]

You know when you've hit the bottom. It's when Mrs Pilchards screams "No, not there" ;-)

[Glasgow_Saint]

Failing to win any of our first 7 league games was very poor and probably saw us reach the bottom.

 

The players signed, the staff recruited and the current form has seen us bounce of the bottom and surely now the only way is up?

[skintsaint]

Swindon Away

[londonsaint1604]

I think the Doncaster game last season when our fans were fighting each other at st marys.

[derry]

Just before Waigo's first game. Since he has come into the side we have pace and width on the right and are stretching defenders. Until he arrived we couldn't score.

[Wes Tender]

IMO, a differentiation can be made between our lowest point as a club and the lowest point from the perspective of football. I agree that the footballing standards continued to decline after the start of the season when we had lost players like McGoldrick, Surman and Dyer and had yet to see the new boys and the remaining players gel together and fully understand what Pardew wanted from them. There was also the consideration that there was undoubtedly a losing mentality especially as we had suffered relegation.

 

On the other hand, from the perspective of the club, the lowest point was when we were in administration, looking as if we might actually go out of existence, or have to start in the Blue Square league. Our fortunes changed with the arrival of Markus Liebherr and although we are in the third division, it can be argued that our position is in many ways better than it has been for many years, as our future is secure financially, the fan base is rising once more, no debt at all, etc.

[krissyboy31]

Failing to get the points last season that meant that the 10 point penalty would be rolled over to this. I'm convinced that if we had started on level points, we would have got off to a much better start and would be in the top 4 now.

[Toadhall Saint]

Footballing wise - it has to be Swindon away this season. I wasn't at the game but it would appear that the general consensus was that we were appaling.

 

Club wise - administration and all the Pinnacle shinanigans that meant ML's take over happened later than it should have.

[Junior Mullet]

IMO, a differentiation can be made between our lowest point as a club and the lowest point from the perspective of football. I agree that the footballing standards continued to decline after the start of the season when we had lost players like McGoldrick, Surman and Dyer and had yet to see the new boys and the remaining players gel together and fully understand what Pardew wanted from them. There was also the consideration that there was undoubtedly a losing mentality especially as we had suffered relegation.

 

On the other hand, from the perspective of the club, the lowest point was when we were in administration, looking as if we might actually go out of existence, or have to start in the Blue Square league. Our fortunes changed with the arrival of Markus Liebherr and although we are in the third division, it can be argued that our position is in many ways better than it has been for many years, as our future is secure financially, the fan base is rising once more, no debt at all, etc.

 

No, the forced administration was the end of the rot for me. A really exciting turning point.

 

For me the lowest point was some time last season when Lowe seemed to be preparing us for life in Division 1 with the youngsters, a poor manager and no investment - I could only see attendances dropping further, more in-fighting and more protests.

[iansums]

For me the low point was after the Bristol Rovers game. Everything had been put right off the pitch. The team looked good, we actually played very well that night but still ended up losing.

 

I was thoroughly down after that game but since then we haven't looked back.

[Junior Mullet]

Sorry Piltchards, just read the OP again and it's clear you are talking about the team in which case you have to say Swindon away.

[chocco boxo]

When I realised Doncaster would be in a higher league to Southampton FC. Nothing against them but for the 39 odd years I have followed Saints Doncaster were a Div 4 team with small crowds etc, Now they were above us and in better shape!

[dubai_phil]

Like Wes says, IMHO we have to differeniate the two - the pitch & survival

 

For me, the approach to the lowest point had to be during the days when it slowly began dawning that Pinnacle may not be what they seemed, culminating in the horror when they finally pulled away.

 

At that point there wasn't anything else "on the table" but a few straws to be clutched, it was about two weeks I recall before indications of the Swiss came to light.

 

At that point we really were facing oblivion, we had no real idea why, or how or where we could get out of it. We still had some hope, but it was getting pretty damned slim

 

Then came the surprise of the ML announcement, and the googling, and the start of the announcements.

 

It still took time for the major surgery to take effect and many still wondered.

 

We were a terminally ill patient, we underwent last minute experimental life saving surgery and it seemed to be touch and go for a while.

 

Now, the REAL change is that we are starting to stop HOPING that it will all work out.

 

We are starting to BELIEVE that it will all work out.

 

On the pitch, actually I think it was probably Bristol Rovers. I think it provided the final kick to the backsides. Sure we'd been improving but I think that may prove to be our real turning point to becoming a really good team and fans finally back in tune with the team and the club

Edited 20 October, 2009 by dubai_phil

[View From The Top]

For the team - Swindon (A).

 

For the club - Lowe's return.

[RonManager]

I would say although things on the field did continue to get worse after the takeover, and bottomed out at Swindon, this was coupled, IMHO, with a certainty, not present before July 8th, that this was only a temporary state of affairs, and that the pendulum had irrevocably swung in our favour.

[beatlesaint]

I think the Doncaster game last season when our fans were fighting each other at st marys.

 

Agree with that. The fact that this club had become so divided in every possible way that even supporters were fighting amongst themselves.

[Clifford Nelson]

When Mickey Fialka, the north London letting agent, appeared on the scene living at home with mum, who ran a knicker shop, and dad, who was a taxi driver, claimed to be immensely rich and confirmed to be the power behind the Pinnacle bid. That was when the terribly bad also became the unreal and bizarre, and all hope left.

 

Otherwise we went through what appeared to be a permanent nightmare, which started when Souness waived good-bye.

[lil 1]

the day of the champions league final.our search for a new owner was floundering and the skates announced that . accertain Dr was going to turn them into the new man citeh.that was without doubt the low point for me.

[John B]

When Mickey Fialka, the north London letting agent, appeared on the scene living at home with mum, who ran a knicker shop, and dad, who was a taxi driver, claimed to be immensely rich and confirmed to be the power behind the Pinnacle bid. That was when the terribly bad also became the unreal and bizarre, and all hope left.

 

 

Yes at that point I really thought the club should fold as I did not really want the club being run by Pinnacle

[saints_is_the_south]

The day Pinnacle pulled out i really felt that was that & the club would cease to exist.

[RedAndWhite91]

Low points for me were losing to Charlton and Forest last season, proper 6-pointer games that we needed to win to help our relegation battle. Then it was Pinnacle collapsing, and then Swindon away. But Swindon away was a 1-0 loss, only a low point because of how truly awful the team played, so in essence that being the lowest point for me shows how good we have it now with three straight league wins, a billionaire owner, a manager and a chairman who know what they are doing and a class squad who have started to gel.

[batterseasaint]

Lowest point off the pitch had to be when that Fialka fella came on to Sky Sports, and it was plain to see for everyone that he didn't have a pot to p*** in. I did a bit of research into him both during and after that interview, and I became painfully aware that the takeover just wasn't going to happen, and something had gone terribly wrong with the Pinnacle bid if they felt the need to put him in front of the cameras.

 

As for the lowest point on the pitch, I think it had to be just before the Bristol Rovers game, because unlike others who have posted on this thread, Rovers was the turning point for me. OK, we lost, but for the first time we saw how Pards wanted us to play and given a slight swing in luck towards us, it would have been us that came away with the three points. As disappointed as I was, I said to my brother as we walked out 'we are going to **** the Gills on Saturday'. And sure enough, we did.

[Iowsaintsfan]

Like Wes says, IMHO we have to differeniate the two - the pitch & survival

 

For me, the approach to the lowest point had to be during the days when it slowly began dawning that Pinnacle may not be what they seemed, culminating in the horror when they finally pulled away.

 

At that point there wasn't anything else "on the table" but a few straws to be clutched, it was about two weeks I recall before indications of the Swiss came to light.

 

At that point we really were facing oblivion, we had no real idea why, or how or where we could get out of it. We still had some hope, but it was getting pretty damned slim

 

Then came the surprise of the ML announcement, and the googling, and the start of the announcements.

It still took time for the major surgery to take effect and many still wondered.

 

We were a terminally ill patient, we underwent last minute experimental life saving surgery and it seemed to be touch and go for a while.

 

 

Agreed there though on the pitch Swindon away OMG, that will stay with me for a while, and it was one of my mates 1st ever away game, shockingly he still going and has the bug now!

[Under Weststand]

The lowest point for me club-wise has to be that excruciating Falika Interview on Sky & from that moment the unravelling of the Pinnacle deal. Really looked like we would be going out of buisness at that time.

Football wise it was probably Swindon Away. The turning point seemed to be Gillingham at home when we finally started to convert the scoring chances we've been making.

[SaintDonkey]

I think the Doncaster game last season when our fans were fighting each other at st marys.

 

Seconded. I was so disgusted with what we had been reduced to I left midway through the second half, the first and only time I have ever left before the final whistle.

 

[edit: Thirded even, must read entire thread before replying...]

[aintforever]

the day of the champions league final.our search for a new owner was floundering and the skates announced that . accertain Dr was going to turn them into the new man citeh.that was without doubt the low point for me.

 

Same here, it's amazing that only a few months ago we were facing oblivion and the Skates looked like they would be making a push for the Champions League with their new billionaire.

 

Now, if we carry on our current from, there is a slight chance that we could be lining up against them next season in the Championship, us with the billionaire and them in financial meltdown - what a fantastic reversal of fortune that would be.

[Colinjb]

For me the lowest point was the sales of Drew Surman and Nathan Dyer. Selling off the final players of any value in a desperate final step to stay alive showed we had reached rock bottom in playing and financial terms. From the moment of takeover it has been recovery as in my mind, at that moment the club had died.

[sandwichsaint]

My personal triple whammy was: Wolves away last season, Sheff Weds away last season, and then Swindon away this year.

 

Three absolute shockers on and off the pitch, hopefully we'll never see that sort of a shambles on the pitch again, and that sort of beaten-before-we've-started response from the travelling legions.

 

Last three games I've been to have been brilliant on the pitch and off!

Charlton a Gillingham h Southend a ..... how fortunes can change .... onwards and upwards from here me thinks.

[Lord Duckhunter]

When I turned on Talksport and heard that Lowe had replaced NP with Jan.

[WestSaint]

When I turned on Talksport and heard that Lowe had replaced NP with Jan.

 

I think that may have been mine also. The Bristol Rovers game was appaling though !

[ottery st mary]

When Lord Rupes came back and stated he would once again do it his way with or without the fans.

[krissyboy31]

When I turned on Talksport and heard that Lowe had replaced NP with Jan.

 

That was the lowest point at that time. Unfortunately (and in no small part, because of the above), it got much, much lower.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

For the team - Swindon (A).

 

For the club - Lowe's return.

 

Agree with the top but the lowest position for me was the night Pinnacle pulled out as I really thought it was curtains. Thank God ML was still prepared to come in despite being messed around by Fry.

 

Another low for me was getting a bollocking from Matt the previous Saturday for exposing Pinnacle on here. Not nice being shouted at by a legend.

Edited 20 October, 2009 by Fitzhugh Fella

[Wildgoose]

Like Wes says, IMHO we have to differeniate the two - the pitch & survival

 

For me, the approach to the lowest point had to be during the days when it slowly began dawning that Pinnacle may not be what they seemed, culminating in the horror when they finally pulled away.

 

At that point there wasn't anything else "on the table" but a few straws to be clutched, it was about two weeks I recall before indications of the Swiss came to light.

 

At that point we really were facing oblivion, we had no real idea why, or how or where we could get out of it. We still had some hope, but it was getting pretty damned slim

 

Then came the surprise of the ML announcement, and the googling, and the start of the announcements.

 

It still took time for the major surgery to take effect and many still wondered.

 

We were a terminally ill patient, we underwent last minute experimental life saving surgery and it seemed to be touch and go for a while.

 

Now, the REAL change is that we are starting to stop HOPING that it will all work out.

 

We are starting to BELIEVE that it will all work out.

 

On the pitch, actually I think it was probably Bristol Rovers. I think it provided the final kick to the backsides. Sure we'd been improving but I think that may prove to be our real turning point to becoming a really good team and fans finally back in tune with the team and the club

 

Excellent post! I agree with the view of the Bristol Rovers game as the turning point and said at the time it could prove to be so. Also the lowest point for me was when I honestly thought we may go out of existence all together.

 

Good and insightful posting from you and WT. Thanks

[Legod Third Coming]

The day Mr Liebheer arrived and fired Wotte I knew we were moving in the right direction.

 

When he appointed Pardew, he confirmed it.

 

When we started dropping players who are no good (not good enough yet) and buying a spine for the team, it was finally sealed.

 

Despite some results (Swindon away maybe), all of this season has been an upward curve for me - results early in the season were frankly irrelevant because what you were seeing was the entrails of the previous regime being cleared away. And in reality, they were cleared inside 9 games which is pretty bloody impressive given that it was the excrement of five years being swept away.

 

So the lowest point has to be the day before Herr Liebherr arrived. From now on, it's highs all the way, even if we get turned over this weekend - which I sincerely hope we do not!

[St Marco]

I'd say the momment Lowe took us into admin. That whole period was the lowest point. Sure we came out of it in a better position, one which we all would of traded for. But it shouldn't have had to get that far for things to change in the way they had.

 

The turning point for me at least was when Jaidi scored the late equaliser and the players were running around jumping etc. You could see something that we had lacked at this club for a longtime. People who actually give a **** about our club.

[carljack]

For me the lowest point was the sales of Drew Surman and Nathan Dyer. Selling off the final players of any value in a desperate final step to stay alive showed we had reached rock bottom in playing and financial terms. From the moment of takeover it has been recovery as in my mind, at that moment the club had died.

 

For me it was that Fookin piece of scrap metal that was erected to honour Ted Bates, it reflected what was happening on and off the pitch.

 

Saint till I die!

[Chez]

Agree with the top but the lowest position for me was the night Pinnacle pulled out as I really thought it was curtains. Thank God ML was still prepared to come in despite being messed around by Fry.

 

Another low for me was getting a bollocking from Matt the previous Saturday for exposing Pinnacle on here. Not nice being shouted at by a legend.

 

did he ever apologise?

[Frank's cousin]

Every defeat... especially at home. League/division, never been the biggets factor, so like many the lowest was when Pinnacle was discovered not to have any cash of any substance... and we were left with.... Thankfully ML was not put off and the only way is up ;-)

[alpine_saint]

For me the Lowest point was when Lowe dispensed with Pearson.

 

I know it wasnt as "bad" as the points deduction, relegation or administration, but everything after that was almost inevitable, predictable and unsurprising springing from that crassest of decision.

 

 

I said I would bury the hatchet on Lowe's return if he kept Pearson, so up till that point I was open-minded as the rumours of his return grew and grew but Lowe did the worst he could.

 

So for me that was the Lowest point, simply because of the shock and awful realisation of what it would lead to.

[Blandford saint]

The lowest point was when we looked like we were at death's door and heading for liquidation. Nothing could be lower than Saints not existing.

 

Hope started as soon as Markus's takeover was announced. I remember being at home glued to Radio Solent and this site. Whenever I hear Solent's newsreader Nicola Murray's calm, measured tones I remember her bringing us the good news.

[Graffito]

Micky Wingnut and his empty wallet.

[Saint Mike]

Lowest point had to be when the whole Pinnacle debacle finally become more than just a niggling doubt. Seeing MLT dragged down with it simply made it worse.

For me things have only got better from the moment ML came on the scene. Yes we started with some poor form but it was always going to happen because of the **** left in the side.

Rome was never going to be built in a day, but the appointment of NC for me was the key moment when things really started looking brighter. A businessman who knows his arse from his elbow ... financial backing by a man with REAL money ... A decent manager who knows how to compete in Div.1 ... Happy days!

Still think there will be some low days on the horizon when the team doesn't quite perform. But I am going to be happy with mid-table this year and an all out assault from game 1 next year!

[Sheff Saint]

Seeing Rupert drive past, smug as ever, going to the game as a guest of Notts Forest.

 

After the wretched season and few years and his complete lack of remorse in turning up there when he knew what we had gone through.

 

He drove right past and i filled with rage. I wanted to hurt him so how.

 

I was anti Lowe but not vehemently. I could accept the good things he had done and i appreciated some of the things he tried. But after the season that had gone before for him to stick two fingers up like that, that was the lowest point for me.

[Fan The Flames]

No, the forced administration was the end of the rot for me. A really exciting turning point.

 

For me the lowest point was some time last season when Lowe seemed to be preparing us for life in Division 1 with the youngsters, a poor manager and no investment - I could only see attendances dropping further, more in-fighting and more protests.

 

I agree, the admin was about the future in whatever shape it might take. And I agree again what would have inevitably been a slide towards the bottom division, a division we have never been in before, was more than I could take. The Bristol Rovers cup game was a bleak moment only brighten by an afternoon of drinking.

[badgerx16]

The lowest footballing point for me was the game when relegation to League1 was confirmed, and it became apparent that any points penalty would be taken this season.

 

The lowest point for the club's existance was when Pinnacle unveiled their 'money man', and the whole thing was finally exposed as a cruel con trick, the period from then up to ML stepping in was like being on Death Row.

 

The Bristol Rovers game was just a cringe-making televised revelation to non-Saints of how poor we were at that time, and probably the single worst performance you are ever likely to see by an excuse for a football team.

[Professor]

The Adminstration decision seemed the lowest point at the time, and could have seen the club go out of existence, but with the benefit of hindsight it has worked very well for the best, which is exactly why the League have the 10 points deduction rule.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

did he ever apologise?

 

No not really - he did say he forgave me but insisted I was wrong to reveal the details of a private e mail.

We will have to beg to differ.

 

Another low point for me was hearing that Steve Wigley had been given the managerial position on a permanent basis. I knew then we were going down.

[trousers]

The lowest point was hearing that Paul Allen had backed out and that the only option left on the table was a monkey-chicken petting zoo