Saint Fan CaM Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 I have been pondering over this question. Could Agent Lowe have sold the club years ago when the stock value of the club was at its highest, thus protecting its future and ensuring investment when it needed to push on and improve its 'market standing'? Clearly this did not happen - but why not? Surely as PLC Chairman he had a corporate responsibility to improve the company results? He failed to act when the time was right. Can anyone remember if there were there any stories flying around about 10-12 years ago about Lowe selling the club? NB: I highly doubt it TBF because I feel sure Lowe has been in this purely for his own gain (e.g. as a shareholder) and has not exercised proper PLC corporate governance as Chairman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 There was supposed to be another serious party interested when the reverse takeover happened, but allegedly Askham and his cronies didnt stand to make as much money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 I have been pondering over this question. Could Agent Lowe have sold the club years ago when the stock value of the club was at its highest, thus protecting its future and ensuring investment when it needed to push on and improve its 'market standing'? Clearly this did not happen - but why not? Surely as PLC Chairman he had a corporate responsibility to improve the company results? He failed to act when the time was right. Can anyone remember if there were there any stories flying around about 10-12 years ago about Lowe selling the club? NB: I highly doubt it TBF because I feel sure Lowe has been in this purely for his own gain (e.g. as a shareholder) and has not exercised proper PLC corporate governance as Chairman. DOUBT it he only bought in 12 years ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
um pahars Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 DOUBT it he only bought in 12 years ago Bought it??????? When he first rocked up, he owned something like 3% of the Club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 Bought it??????? When he first rocked up, he owned something like 3% of the Club. i know should have changed wording , !!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
um pahars Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 i know should have changed wording ' date=' !!!!!!!!!!![/quote'] LOL, no worries. In a way it just highlights that even with such a small stake, Lowe somehow managed to carry quite alot of influence and power. IMHO, whilst he is not as astute a businessman as he thinks, there can be no doubting that he is a smooth operator (I think he has all the qualities of a good politician!!!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 LOL, no worries. In a way it just highlights that even with such a small stake, Lowe somehow managed to carry quite alot of influence and power. IMHO, whilst he is not as astute a businessman as he thinks, there can be no doubting that he is a smooth operator (I think he has all the qualities of a good politician!!!). I think that on reflection you'd agree that "qualities" is the wrong word. I believe that the more apposite word would be "traits". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 I think that on reflection you'd agree that "qualities" is the wrong word. I believe that the more apposite word would be "traits". Shame the electors did not agree , did he not stand as a UKIP member Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRichmond Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 I have been pondering over this question. Could Agent Lowe have sold the club years ago when the stock value of the club was at its highest, thus protecting its future and ensuring investment when it needed to push on and improve its 'market standing'? Clearly this did not happen - but why not? Surely as PLC Chairman he had a corporate responsibility to improve the company results? He failed to act when the time was right. Can anyone remember if there were there any stories flying around about 10-12 years ago about Lowe selling the club? NB: I highly doubt it TBF because I feel sure Lowe has been in this purely for his own gain (e.g. as a shareholder) and has not exercised proper PLC corporate governance as Chairman. You have more or less answered your own question Saints COULD AND SHOULD have been sold years ago, but once the very dubious "Reverse Takeover" happened, the die was cast History speaks for itself Lowe has NEVER gone after Investment for Saints. He is Chairman of a PLC, NOT a Football Team, he has said so himself Any Major Investment into ANY Club, normally means a change in who ends up running the Club, ie the INVESTOR wants "hands on " his Investment So, any threat to Lowe's control has been, and will continue to be, resisted by him. In other words, no change, and now that he is back in power, he will do absolutely everything not to be ousted again. His previous demise hurt his ego big time, so he has score to settle, at the expense of the TEAM ON THE PITCH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 Uhm depends really, I recall that for most of 2003 teh shareprice hovered arounf the 23-27p a share mark... would not really have been much in it for any of the shareholders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
up and away Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 I have been pondering over this question. Could Agent Lowe have sold the club years ago when the stock value of the club was at its highest, thus protecting its future and ensuring investment when it needed to push on and improve its 'market standing'? Clearly this did not happen - but why not? Surely as PLC Chairman he had a corporate responsibility to improve the company results? He failed to act when the time was right. Can anyone remember if there were there any stories flying around about 10-12 years ago about Lowe selling the club? NB: I highly doubt it TBF because I feel sure Lowe has been in this purely for his own gain (e.g. as a shareholder) and has not exercised proper PLC corporate governance as Chairman. Where do you get such ******? As PLC chairman, income gradually increased to record levels up to relegation. If you are going to pick a hole with his corporate responsibilities it should be about not maximising profits (or relegation). That would mean far less on players and wages, is that what you are really saying should have happened over these years? As a basis for discussion this is totally ludicrous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scudamore Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 Is this all working on the basis that we were sold to the right kind of people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 Is this all working on the basis that we were sold to the right kind of people? snob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scudamore Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 snob Only the best need apply for my club. I think that's one form of elitism we can all agree on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 10 February, 2009 Author Share Posted 10 February, 2009 Where do you get such ******? As PLC chairman, income gradually increased to record levels up to relegation. If you are going to pick a hole with his corporate responsibilities it should be about not maximising profits (or relegation). That would mean far less on players and wages, is that what you are really saying should have happened over these years? As a basis for discussion this is totally ludicrous. I would suggest that "*******" = absolutely spot on the money. Income gradually increased to record levels - why? Because 12,000 more bums were put on seats in SMS and ate food etc. Let's assume Lowe did all that he could to take the club to what was admittedly a high with Strachan as Manager - well done. What he then failed to do as Chairman of the PLC was to recognise that new funding was required to take the club further and the ONLY way that was going to happen was to sell the club. Unless someone can come up with some info that tells me otherwise, it is clear Lowe did nothing to attract new investment by finding a buyer when the club was at its most attractive. He protected his own shareholding and this was Agent Lowes single biggest failure. It is why he is so despised and also why he utterly deserves to lose his shares/control over the club when his 'master plan' finally goes belly up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
up and away Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 I would suggest that "*******" = absolutely spot on the money. Income gradually increased to record levels - why? Because 12,000 more bums were put on seats in SMS and ate food etc. Let's assume Lowe did all that he could to take the club to what was admittedly a high with Strachan as Manager - well done. What he then failed to do as Chairman of the PLC was to recognise that new funding was required to take the club further and the ONLY way that was going to happen was to sell the club. Unless someone can come up with some info that tells me otherwise, it is clear Lowe did nothing to attract new investment by finding a buyer when the club was at its most attractive. He protected his own shareholding and this was Agent Lowes single biggest failure. It is why he is so despised and also why he utterly deserves to lose his shares/control over the club when his 'master plan' finally goes belly up. So this is nothing to do with a PLC chairman's corporate responsibility, then just say so in the beginning instead of making up these fanciful flights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Channon's Sideburns Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 Why can we all not just agree on this... Lowe had an ideal opportunity to build the club up following our appearance at the Cup final in 2003 by trying to attract investors or buyers...but wanted to keep hold of the train set. --- There it is ladies and gentlemen, the start of our gradual decline into Leeds...without the fvcking success in the first place. Cheers Rupes and Mikey...before anyone starts you must need a labotomy if you think you can blame Leon for this crap we have now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scudamore Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 Why can we all not just agree on this... Lowe had an ideal opportunity to build the club up following our appearance at the Cup final in 2003 by trying to attract investors or buyers...but wanted to keep hold of the train set. --- There it is ladies and gentlemen, the start of our gradual decline into Leeds...without the fvcking success in the first place. Cheers Rupes and Mikey...before anyone starts you must need a labotomy if you think you can blame Leon for this crap we have now. And what are Pompey doing following their appearance (and victory) in the Cup final? Imploding... A good cup run has never been the making of any team ffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 And what are Pompey doing following their appearance (and victory) in the Cup final? Imploding... A good cup run has never been the making of any team ffs. didnt west ham do the same..? it took a player like tevez to save them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 Why can we all not just agree on this... Lowe had an ideal opportunity to build the club up following our appearance at the Cup final in 2003 by trying to attract investors or buyers...but wanted to keep hold of the train set. --- There it is ladies and gentlemen, the start of our gradual decline into Leeds...without the fvcking success in the first place. Cheers Rupes and Mikey...before anyone starts you must need a labotomy if you think you can blame Leon for this crap we have now. Sorry, what opportunity? At teh time there was not the interest in prem clubs of our size that materilaized later in 2005-6. Do you know for certain that investmnent was not sought? Without any sort of evidence...that trainset comment is just a flipant remark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 I would suggest that "*******" = absolutely spot on the money. Income gradually increased to record levels - why? Because 12,000 more bums were put on seats in SMS and ate food etc. Let's assume Lowe did all that he could to take the club to what was admittedly a high with Strachan as Manager - well done. What he then failed to do as Chairman of the PLC was to recognise that new funding was required to take the club further and the ONLY way that was going to happen was to sell the club. Unless someone can come up with some info that tells me otherwise, it is clear Lowe did nothing to attract new investment by finding a buyer when the club was at its most attractive. He protected his own shareholding and this was Agent Lowes single biggest failure. It is why he is so despised and also why he utterly deserves to lose his shares/control over the club when his 'master plan' finally goes belly up. That really is speculation and you kno it - at the time the shareprice was 27p - market capiliazation of just over 7.5 million - and there was no interest - none of teh shareholders would have agreed to sell at 27p - and to expect them to do so is churlish and unrealistic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Channon's Sideburns Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 And what are Pompey doing following their appearance (and victory) in the Cup final? Imploding... A good cup run has never been the making of any team ffs. Depends if you consider the two clubs and what they have done themselves... Saints - underinvestment in quality players.. Pompey - spending beyond their means.. There's no guarantee of not imploding either way...but at least Pompey have 'had their day in the sun'..what the fvck have we had since 97 then??? Malbranque and Saha..two players who should have been signed...oh I know, let's have Neil McCann... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Channon's Sideburns Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 Sorry' date=' what opportunity? At teh time there was not the interest in prem clubs of our size that materilaized later in 2005-6. Do you know for certain that investmnent was not sought? Without any sort of evidence...that trainset comment is just a flipant remark[/quote'] FC, Lowe has done NOTHING to indicate he has actively sought investment...in fact, why do you think that all of these 'supposed' investors that Wilde was on about would never invest whilst Lowe was here?? Salz? Is he wrong in his assessment of Lowe? Davies? There has always been interest in Prem Clubs, it's the cashcow for christ sake. Or I suppose people like Jack Walker never existed???? When was that, 1992????? Investment has ALWAYS (before last year at least) been out there - it just depends on whether you look hard enough. Lowe just doesn't want it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bad Bob Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 Why can we all not just agree on this... Lowe had an ideal opportunity to build the club up following our appearance at the Cup final in 2003 by trying to attract investors or buyers...but wanted to keep hold of the train set. Oh of course, investors were knocking on every single P/L leagues clubs doors then weren't then, just throwing money around asking to invest in a team. Get real, before Abromovich and the Sky TV money football clubs very seldom changed hands, no-one was interested as they knew they were blackholes for money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bad Bob Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 FC, Lowe has done NOTHING to indicate he has actively sought investment...in fact, why do you think that all of these 'supposed' investors that Wilde was on about would never invest whilst Lowe was here?? Salz? Is he wrong in his assessment of Lowe? Davies? There has always been interest in Prem Clubs, it's the cashcow for christ sake. Or I suppose people like Jack Walker never existed???? When was that, 1992????? Investment has ALWAYS (before last year at least) been out there - it just depends on whether you look hard enough. Lowe just doesn't want it. Jack Walker did not 'invest' in Blackburn, he chucked money at the club to get it some glory days as it was his boyhood club. And what exactly have Blackburn done since they fluked the P/L?? Loew was once quoted as saying £25M and it's yours, not a lot of money for investors to be sure. Did anyone jump on this?? Did they **** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 Jack Walker did not 'invest' in Blackburn, he chucked money at the club to get it some glory days as it was his boyhood club. And what exactly have Blackburn done since they fluked the P/L?? Loew was once quoted as saying £25M and it's yours, not a lot of money for investors to be sure. Did anyone jump on this?? Did they **** 25m for a club in our position was peanuts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 Only the best need apply for my club. I think that's one form of elitism we can all agree on! Shame that maxim has not been followed by the club, or maybe the best applied and were rejected Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 FC, Lowe has done NOTHING to indicate he has actively sought investment...in fact, why do you think that all of these 'supposed' investors that Wilde was on about would never invest whilst Lowe was here?? Salz? Is he wrong in his assessment of Lowe? Davies? There has always been interest in Prem Clubs, it's the cashcow for christ sake. Or I suppose people like Jack Walker never existed???? When was that, 1992????? Investment has ALWAYS (before last year at least) been out there - it just depends on whether you look hard enough. Lowe just doesn't want it. The prem is not cash cow - we just broke even because we doid not borrow to invest riskily in the taem - Folk like Jack walker simply lost/gifted their own cash to support their own wilde boyhood dreams - short term glory for what - his own ego too. You only LOOSE money in football not make it - so you are looking not for wise investors but foolhardy rich fans - rich fans who through tehir money away on a dream and then when it runs out leave the club with a list of players on big money contracts which the club cant afford.... now I can see that this short termist approach might appeal to fans - we want quick success and would happily hock the club if it meant 15 min of fame, but that is not what responsible owners do, they build foundations, infrastructure for the long term... we did that bit right, it was teh manager feck ups, some duff playesr on poor form and injuries, + some bad luck that fecked us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docker-p Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 LOL, no worries. In a way it just highlights that even with such a small stake, Lowe somehow managed to carry quite alot of influence and power. IMHO, whilst he is not as astute a businessman as he thinks, there can be no doubting that he is a smooth operator (I think he has all the qualities of a good politician!!!). A good politician wouldn't seek office representing the UK Independance Party. Thats Lowe all over, lots of hot air, but ultimatly backing the wrong horse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 The prem is not cash cow - we just broke even because we doid not borrow to invest riskily in the taem - Folk like Jack walker simply lost/gifted their own cash to support their own wilde boyhood dreams - short term glory for what - his own ego too. You only LOOSE money in football not make it - so you are looking not for wise investors but foolhardy rich fans - rich fans who through tehir money away on a dream and then when it runs out leave the club with a list of players on big money contracts which the club cant afford.... now I can see that this short termist approach might appeal to fans - we want quick success and would happily hock the club if it meant 15 min of fame' date=' but that is not what responsible owners do, they build foundations, infrastructure for the long term... we did that bit right, it was teh manager feck ups, some duff playesr on poor form and injuries, + some bad luck that fecked us.[/quote'] basically agree but our foundation was built on Sky money which was depended on success on pitch. We never had from the reverse takeover a strong financial foundation and it crumbled because the owners forgot that they had built the business using sky money BUT forgot that surivival in the top flight was essential So when it was threatened they should have short term borrowed funds for long term gain, got some decent players in and break wage structure rather than buying squad players but it is to late now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 10 February, 2009 Author Share Posted 10 February, 2009 So this is nothing to do with a PLC chairman's corporate responsibility, then just say so in the beginning instead of making up these fanciful flights. What?! It has everything to do with the PLC Chairmans corporate responsibility and you know it. Agent Lowe has put himself before the club and the only way of disproving that is if someone comes on here and provides evidence (or at least some hard rumour ) of Lowe's attempt to sell the club to an investor. He has acted as a shareholder and NOT a responsible PLC Chairman - there's a huge difference. And before you say where's the contradictory evidence, its there for all to see - Lowe is still with us, he's still employing rubbish managers, we are broke at the foot of the CCC and about to be relegated! Get it?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 What?! It has everything to do with the PLC Chairmans corporate responsibility and you know it. Agent Lowe has put himself before the club and the only way of disproving that is if someone comes on here and provides evidence (or at least some hard rumour ) of Lowe's attempt to sell the club to an investor. He has acted as a shareholder and NOT a responsible PLC Chairman - there's a huge difference. And before you say where's the contradictory evidence, its there for all to see - Lowe is still with us, he's still employing rubbish managers, we are broke at the foot of the CCC and about to be relegated! Get it?! someone will tell you in a minute that it is the fans fault Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Channon's Sideburns Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 What?! It has everything to do with the PLC Chairmans corporate responsibility and you know it. Agent Lowe has put himself before the club and the only way of disproving that is if someone comes on here and provides evidence (or at least some hard rumour ) of Lowe's attempt to sell the club to an investor. He has acted as a shareholder and NOT a responsible PLC Chairman - there's a huge difference. And before you say where's the contradictory evidence, its there for all to see - Lowe is still with us, he's still employing rubbish managers, we are broke at the foot of the CCC and about to be relegated! Get it?! Amen...sitting on the fence is fine unless the panels are rotten..I can't believe that some on here are still making excuses for Lowe..'balanced opinion' is the buzzword for it but how many mistakes is he allowed to make before he is accountable??? By all means back him, but it cannot be said that he courted investment when the evidence (ie the fact he never went to the press and crowed about it when his best mate chucked him out in 2006) speaks volumes... TBH Rupert likes to blow his own at the earliest opportunity then disappears a la Wilde when it all goes tits up...which is often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 10 February, 2009 Author Share Posted 10 February, 2009 That really is speculation and you kno it - at the time the shareprice was 27p - market capiliazation of just over 7.5 million - and there was no interest - none of teh shareholders would have agreed to sell at 27p - and to expect them to do so is churlish and unrealistic. Why are you so sure an offer would not have exceeded 27p? Why would none of the shareholders have sold at 27p+? (If they knew what we know now they probably would have done f'sure!). If there was a real offer of investment to take the club further, surely the majority shareholders would be glad to help the club move along. And what would stop an aggressive take-over if the right conditions were in place? Fact is that Agent Lowe did nothing and by doing nothing he did everything he could to discourage new investment, even making childish and stupid remarks along the lines of "£25m and its yours..."! He really talked the club up, eh - bit of a Ratner moment there don't you think? What a responsible chap our friend Agent Lowe is .... NOT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 10 February, 2009 Author Share Posted 10 February, 2009 someone will tell you in a minute that it is the fans fault How long do think Mike? I consider myself an objective type, but I really cannot understand how some can still defend Lowe's position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 A good politician wouldn't seek office representing the UK Independance Party. Thats Lowe all over, lots of hot air, but ultimatly backing the wrong horse. Was it the UKIP party? I thought that it was Sir James Goldsmith's Referendum Party which fought the 1997 election. Just as an aside, the whole point of the Referendum Party was a farce. The single issue was that they wanted a referendum on Europe, but I reckon that Goldsmith was only doing it for reasons of personal ego, a character trait he shares with our beloved Chairman. Goldsmith was of course an extremely wealthy man and if he had wanted there to be a referendum on our European membership, then he could have arranged one of his own and nothing the Government could have done about it. All he had to do was to send voting slips to every elector on the Electoral roll, call in the Electoral Reform Society to oversee it, hire all of the Polling Stations on a particular day and Robert is your father's brother. Provided that there was a turnout to vote commensurate with a General Election, which I'm sure there would have been, the Government would have to recognise the result if a substantial majority voted against European membership. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 I would suggest that "*******" = absolutely spot on the money. Income gradually increased to record levels - why? Because 12,000 more bums were put on seats in SMS and ate food etc. Let's assume Lowe did all that he could to take the club to what was admittedly a high with Strachan as Manager - well done. What he then failed to do as Chairman of the PLC was to recognise that new funding was required to take the club further and the ONLY way that was going to happen was to sell the club. Unless someone can come up with some info that tells me otherwise, it is clear Lowe did nothing to attract new investment by finding a buyer when the club was at its most attractive. He protected his own shareholding and this was Agent Lowes single biggest failure. It is why he is so despised and also why he utterly deserves to lose his shares/control over the club when his 'master plan' finally goes belly up. Yep, that is just about right. 2003/04 was the turnimg point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 10 February, 2009 Share Posted 10 February, 2009 (edited) Depends if you consider the two clubs and what they have done themselves... Saints - underinvestment in quality players.. Pompey - spending beyond their means.. There's no guarantee of not imploding either way...but at least Pompey have 'had their day in the sun'..what the fvck have we had since 97 then??? Malbranque and Saha..two players who should have been signed...oh I know, let's have Neil McCann... Pompey got to eigth and a cup final, and so did we. We had to play a brilliant London team in Cardiff, Pompey got to play a rubbish Cardiff team in London. There is barely any difference between our "highs" especially since our first season after the cup final was far more successful than Pompey's is turning out to be. Pompey did better in Europe, but we were fourth in January in our season after the cup final, so lets say the two even themselves out. And since 1997 up until the relegation season we only had one season as relegation battlers (Jones second season), whereas throughout the rest of the nineties we were perennial relegation fodder, save Alan Ball's single full season. I think that's pretty good. So why have Portsmouth had a "day in the sun" and we haven't? Edited 10 February, 2009 by CB Fry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Channon's Sideburns Posted 11 February, 2009 Share Posted 11 February, 2009 Pompey got to eigth and a cup final, and so did we. We had to play a brilliant London team in Cardiff, Pompey got to play a rubbish Cardiff team in London. There is barely any difference between our "highs" especially since our first season after the cup final was far more successful than Pompey's is turning out to be. Pompey did better in Europe, but we were fourth in January in our season after the cup final, so lets say the two even themselves out. And since 1997 up until the relegation season we only had one season as relegation battlers (Jones second season), whereas throughout the rest of the nineties we were perennial relegation fodder, save Alan Ball's single full season. I think that's pretty good. So why have Portsmouth had a "day in the sun" and we haven't? I think the problem is CB, that we have always been run to 'survive', firstly in the Prem then CCC... not to progress as a club...yes the Cup Final was a highlight but I'm sure many will agree that Lowe thought that by reaching the final that we had 'made it' - therefore not thinking that investment in better players was necessary... I take your point re the 'perennial relegation battlers', but was a lot of that down to the amount of managers and changing playing personnel??? Same old problems repeating themselves...lose manager and coaches (for whatever Non Disclosure based reason), bring in another and more coaches....clear half the playing staff and start again. That was how the club was being run - no stability on which to build. Now we have fvck all worth to sell and Rupert's latest plan has gone up like a big fart.. My point regarding us and Pompey was in relation to the quality of players they have brought in - yes, they may well now be doing a Leeds - but they are probably just as close to us towards Admin...crashed and burned quickly but ours has been a slow,PAINFUL death. What saddens me most is when you look at how the quality of our players has dropped in such a short time...not wanting to judge our Zoltan before he plays, but someone who isn't considered good enough for Southend or STEVENAGE???? We might as well scour the non-leagues like Bournemouth now, it's where we are heading under Lowe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 11 February, 2009 Share Posted 11 February, 2009 (edited) I think the problem is CB, that we have always been run to 'survive', firstly in the Prem then CCC... not to progress as a club...yes the Cup Final was a highlight but I'm sure many will agree that Lowe thought that by reaching the final that we had 'made it' - therefore not thinking that investment in better players was necessary... I take your point re the 'perennial relegation battlers', but was a lot of that down to the amount of managers and changing playing personnel??? Same old problems repeating themselves...lose manager and coaches (for whatever Non Disclosure based reason), bring in another and more coaches....clear half the playing staff and start again. That was how the club was being run - no stability on which to build. Now we have fvck all worth to sell and Rupert's latest plan has gone up like a big fart.. My point regarding us and Pompey was in relation to the quality of players they have brought in - yes, they may well now be doing a Leeds - but they are probably just as close to us towards Admin...crashed and burned quickly but ours has been a slow,PAINFUL death. What saddens me most is when you look at how the quality of our players has dropped in such a short time...not wanting to judge our Zoltan before he plays, but someone who isn't considered good enough for Southend or STEVENAGE???? We might as well scour the non-leagues like Bournemouth now, it's where we are heading under Lowe. The one thing I did like about our "day in the sun" was that we did do it with players we could at least empathise with a little bit, and with players that were actually at their peak at Southampton - "our" players. Beattie, Marsden, Pahars, Niemi, Lundekvam, Svennson, Bridge, Oakley, Richards, Paul Jones. Never surpassed what they acheived at Saints* - truly Southampton players. Our players. Pompey can't say that about Sol Campbell, or Peter Crouch, or Kanu or Defoe. It was when we signed the likes of Mark Hughes it felt wrong and sour. He was a waste of space for us. I look at our glory day (it felt like a day, fleeting) with fondness because it wasn't built on slabs of cash thrown at mercenaries. We could have built on the Cup run a bit more, maybe, but Pompey and West Ham did throw money and they've shown very little really changes, and often things get worse because teams reach a level they can't surpass. All three of us lost managers in the season after our cup final/eighth place acheivement. Of the three, Saints with a comfortable finish of 12th actually did the best of the three so far in the season-after, Pompey's final placing notwithstanding. Of course we know what happened next. And you can pre-judge Zoltan, if you like. Be my guest! He is clearly awful....he couldn't even get into the Stevenage team last season! Another pointless waste of money in an utterly clueless, pointless season. I don't think we will end up non league, but you are right - under this dopey, selfish, pig headed regime it is the only direction we are going. Edited 11 February, 2009 by CB Fry *except Bridge, but Bridge was homegrown and local, so again, "our" player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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