Paul Chuckle Posted 8 March, 2012 Share Posted 8 March, 2012 Did I imagine this or during the Rupert Lowe days did we become linked in some ways to a team in China?? If so what did it entail and did anything come of it?? Is the link now gone??? Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give it to Ron Posted 8 March, 2012 Share Posted 8 March, 2012 It was an oil rig in the China Seas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 8 March, 2012 Share Posted 8 March, 2012 probably the local worker's cooperative football team from the factory where we got those awful home made shirts from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 8 March, 2012 Share Posted 8 March, 2012 Yes, we did... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/4241121.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobM Posted 8 March, 2012 Share Posted 8 March, 2012 Ahead of his time, the Lowe fella (a joke, for the less intelligent). Getting your name known in China is a worthwhile investment at the moment. Sadly, like many things Lowe started, it seems to have generated f-all benefit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Ahead of his time, the Lowe fella (a joke, for the less intelligent). Getting your name known in China is a worthwhile investment at the moment. Sadly, like many things Lowe started, it seems to have generated f-all benefit. How exactly would we have been able to tell if there was any benefit anyway ? A bunch of Chinese players in the reserves ? Chinese language adverts all around the ground (which happened with some Prem games nevertheless)? If we hadn't got relegated, could have been useful. And definitely the kind of thing we'll need to do to expand the club... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Ahead of his time, the Lowe fella (a joke, for the less intelligent). Getting your name known in China is a worthwhile investment at the moment. Sadly, like many things Lowe started, it seems to have generated f-all benefit. Lowe had plenty of bright, forward-thinking ideas. Weren't always well executed mind you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Lowe had plenty of bright, forward-thinking ideas. Weren't always well executed mind you. It's all well and good being a visionary, but without general acceptance and understanding you are just a crackpot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 It's all well and good being a visionary, but without general acceptance and understanding you are just a crackpot! Or everyone else is wrong. I think time has proven Lowe did a LOT of things before his time, but the failure to concentrate on improving the team meant none of it was sustainable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Or everyone else is wrong. I think time has proven Lowe did a LOT of things before his time, but the failure to concentrate on improving the team meant none of it was sustainable. He lost sight of what was important. Therefore I will stick with my earlier, 'crackpot,' assessment. If you do not look after your foundations don't be surprised if the walls crumble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrant Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 He lost sight of what was important. Therefore I will stick with my earlier, 'crackpot,' assessment. If you do not look after your foundations don't be surprised if the walls crumble. And the desire to be proven right allows blinkers to be applied where required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Or everyone else is wrong. I think time has proven Lowe did a LOT of things before his time, but the failure to concentrate on improving the team meant none of it was sustainable. The irony is that the business model Lowe had in place in the late 90's and early 00's of not spending more than you earn, prudence and investing in infrastructure and academies if probably better suited to football when the finanical fair play rules come in than it was when clubs were spunking money left right and centre. A lot of people said Lowe was ahead of his time and a visonairy chairman, this seems to prove it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danbert Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Lowe had plenty of bright, forward-thinking ideas. Weren't always well executed mind you. Sure, like bringing in a rugby coach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avenue Saint Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Lowe did some good things but ultimately fell down with choice of managers. Gray and Wigley killed us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 The irony is that the business model Lowe had in place in the late 90's and early 00's of not spending more than you earn, prudence and investing in infrastructure and academies if probably better suited to football when the finanical fair play rules come in than it was when clubs were spunking money left right and centre. A lot of people said Lowe was ahead of his time and a visonairy chairman, this seems to prove it. Agreed, though the basic model is as old as the hills with the exception of the "investment in infrastructure and academy" part, that only became possible with the kind of sums tv money brought to the Premier League. Though of course some clubs chose to spend it on player wages. Will be interesting if we get up there to see what our approach is, and if it changes much. I'd be surprised if it was anything other than the continued gradual investment in an under 28 playing squad and ongoing expenditure on the Academy, given Nigel's history of picking younger players without egos and Cortese's stated goal of a "Southampton style" and players coming through. Whether that brings the desired results, we shall see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Lowe did some good things but ultimately fell down with choice of managers. Gray and Wigley killed us! A bit harsh on Gray, given that he predated Strachan - but yes, there's a reason some coaches stay as coaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Sure, like bringing in a rugby coach Which was of course an attempt to apply world cup winning sports science preparation techniques from a different team sport to the academy. It wasn't that concept that was flawed, it was attempting to sustain the cost after relegation, and the intended goal of having Woodward as team manager that were the problem there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Which was of course an attempt to apply world cup winning sports science preparation techniques from a different team sport to the academy. It wasn't that concept that was flawed, it was attempting to sustain the cost after relegation, and the intended goal of having Woodward as team manager that were the problem there. Good ol' Rupert. Lowe: "We are appointing a Rugby coach to improve our sports science capability..." Fans: "You're nuts......." Lowe: #now fuming# "No! MY idea is EXCELLENT, I have so much faith and belief in MY idea that I will make him FIRST TEAM COACH! How dare you question ME!!" There's got to be a good comedic character in there somewhere, something along the lines of Fawlty Towers but with more red wine and ducks shoots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danbert Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Pure fantasy from the fishy few in today's Times: http://img204.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=123260773_Times_122_220lo.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Lej Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Pure fantasy from the fishy few in today's Times: http://img204.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=123260773_Times_122_220lo.jpg I've heard it all now, they must really be getting desperate to spout such drivel. Truly embarrassing read, but very funny. An outstanding deal? My sides are splitting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpturner Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Pure fantasy from the fishy few in today's Times: http://img204.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=123260773_Times_122_220lo.jpgWhat a strange thread to post that on.......but I did enjoy the read thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Which was of course an attempt to apply world cup winning sports science preparation techniques from a different team sport to the academy. It wasn't that concept that was flawed, it was attempting to sustain the cost after relegation, and the intended goal of having Woodward as team manager that were the problem there. Absolutely, you can see the reasoning behind it, it just wasn't maintainable once we got relegated. The Woodward for boss thing was just a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Absolutely, you can see the reasoning behind it, it just wasn't maintainable once we got relegated. The Woodward for boss thing was just a joke. Unfortunately, not to Woodward or Lowe. Lowe actually wanted him in charge but Woodward wanted to build up some experience first, according to some quotes from my 50p biography from the dodgy book shop in Eastleigh, anyway. Can't remember the timeline exactly but I think it may have been before we got Sturrock in (March 04) or more likely given how incongruous it looks, Wigley's second go in August-December 2004 - because that CAN'T have been the original plan. Then Redknapp came along and it clearly wasn't going to work on any level, especially with the spiv claiming he "didn't know how to work a Prozone" and "ohhhhhhhhhh my Sandra and the chairman does all that f'sure, you'll 'ave to speak to them - I'm surprised I even remember 'ow tah breathe", etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan The Flames Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 The irony is that the business model Lowe had in place in the late 90's and early 00's of not spending more than you earn, prudence and investing in infrastructure and academies if probably better suited to football when the finanical fair play rules come in than it was when clubs were spunking money left right and centre. A lot of people said Lowe was ahead of his time and a visonairy chairman, this seems to prove it. It is hardly visionary to keep your costs in line with your revenue. Equally it does take a genius to work out that its benificial to develop talent rather than buy it in especially when the cost of buying it in is shooting through the roof. Both things were going on for years in football before Lowe and Co even thought about their nasty little reverse takeover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avenue Saint Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 A bit harsh on Gray, given that he predated Strachan - but yes, there's a reason some coaches stay as coaches. Actually I'll grant you that. However 11 losses in 19 games after we were on an upward curve with hoddle left a lasting bitter taste. Wigley, 1 win in 8 or 9 was it(?) has to be the worst manager I have experienced in my time at saints. Still, fate has a funny way Of running its course I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Diamond Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 Did I imagine this or during the Rupert Lowe days did we become linked in some ways to a team in China?? If so what did it entail and did anything come of it?? Is the link now gone??? Thanks in advance Sheffield United did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 It is hardly visionary to keep your costs in line with your revenue. Equally it does take a genius to work out that its benificial to develop talent rather than buy it in especially when the cost of buying it in is shooting through the roof. Both things were going on for years in football before Lowe and Co even thought about their nasty little reverse takeover. You're right, it isn't necessarily "new", but if it was that simple, why didn't every club take that approach? No-one on here is saying that Lowe was the greatest chairman of all time, that doesn't mean one can't recognise the things he did well and some of the brighter ideas he had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 It is hardly visionary to keep your costs in line with your revenue. Equally it does take a genius to work out that its benificial to develop talent rather than buy it in especially when the cost of buying it in is shooting through the roof. Both things were going on for years in football before Lowe and Co even thought about their nasty little reverse takeover. Not many other clubs we doing it though were they. Lowe oversaw an academy which produced Walcott, Bale, Surman, Best and Chamberlain. We are still reaping the benfits now with the younger players like Shaw coming through. If its that easy why wasn't everyone doing it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 9 March, 2012 Share Posted 9 March, 2012 You're right, it isn't necessarily "new", but if it was that simple, why didn't every club take that approach? No-one on here is saying that Lowe was the greatest chairman of all time, that doesn't mean one can't recognise the things he did well and some of the brighter ideas he had. The in-house radio station and the catering that was the envy of all other football clubs were the acts of genius. Also, one can't fault the PR benefits of the "Tell Rupert" email address, although he gave up responding to all of the flack he got eventually. But to paraphrase from Macbeth, "Nothing in his life at Southampton FC became him like the leaving it". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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