Wotte is the new version of Pearson...

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Right, I'm probably going to get castigated for this, but I'm not sure that Wotte is that different to Pearson. They've both taken over at roughly the same time, both seem to be disciplinarians. The only difference is that Wotte seems to be a thoroughly dislikeable chap, but maybe that's what we need. Pearson had next to no experience playing or managing in the Championship, probably a similar amount to Wotte.

 

By all accounts we played well at Bristol City last week, and were unfortunate. Perhaps, just perhaps, we may do alright under him. The issue is that if he has the same record as the mercurial Pearson, we'll go down, and he'll be blamed. Fickle fans eh.

 

Personally I think we're down, not because of the managers, just because our team is not good enough player for player.

[JustMike]

yes because NP slagged off the fans at every given opportunity. I am not yet convinced by Wotte and his tactics etc, or his ability to unite the dressing room or install belief like NP did. Time will tell

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

yes because NP slagged off the fans at every given opportunity. I am not yet convinced by Wotte and his tactics etc, or his ability to unite the dressing room or install belief like NP did. Time will tell

 

I agree that Wotte slagging off the fans is not on, but we weren't marching on the club at thee same stage last year so you can't say that Pearson would have said similar if in the same situation.

 

Don't forget, Wotte's first 2 games ended up with us coming back to snatch draws. Does this not show belief, or because it's Wotte it has nothing to do with him?

 

I'm not saying he will be a success by any means, in fact I think he'll crash and burn, but I'm just playing devils advocate here.

[Dan]

Pearson cared about the fans, all wotte cares about is having his head nice and high up Lowes ass.

[davefoggy]

NP is completely different class to MW.

 

NP has loads of experience in the english game, MW has none.

 

cant compare the two in my mind. so depressing looking at how well leicester are doing under him. Lowe should hang his head in shame for letting him go

[alpine_saint]

yes because NP slagged off the fans at every given opportunity. I am not yet convinced by Wotte and his tactics etc, or his ability to unite the dressing room or install belief like NP did. Time will tell

 

Indeed.

 

And if he's like that with us, maybe the "more stick and less carrot than Pearson" approach isnt working that well with the players.

 

Time will tell, but regrettably there is too little of that left.

[InvictaSaint]

I agree that Wotte slagging off the fans is not on, but we weren't marching on the club at thee same stage last year so you can't say that Pearson would have said similar if in the same situation.

 

Don't forget, Wotte's first 2 games ended up with us coming back to snatch draws. Does this not show belief, or because it's Wotte it has nothing to do with him?

 

I'm not saying he will be a success by any means, in fact I think he'll crash and burn, but I'm just playing devils advocate here.

 

Pearson would have kept his mouth shut and got on with the job in hand. At worst he would have declined to comment on issues which didn't concern him or which might have led to distraction. Pearson also had a manner about him which endeared him to fans and which got us on his side. Had he failed to keep us up would we have turned on him? I think not, personally. Given Wotte's involvement with the failed Dutch "revolution", his new presence as head coach and his inability to keep his gob shut, I very much doubt he can expect the same courtesy when we eventually go down.

[JustMike]

I agree that Wotte slagging off the fans is not on, but we weren't marching on the club at thee same stage last year so you can't say that Pearson would have said similar if in the same situation.

 

Don't forget, Wotte's first 2 games ended up with us coming back to snatch draws. Does this not show belief, or because it's Wotte it has nothing to do with him?

 

I'm not saying he will be a success by any means, in fact I think he'll crash and burn, but I'm just playing devils advocate here.

 

Rupert Lowe and Michael Wilde, THATS the reason

[trousers]

They've both taken over at roughly the same time

 

Agree, in terms of 'name above the door', but not a like-for-like comparison with Pearson.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

It's true Wotte has taken over a worse team in a worse position than Nigel Pearson did last season , if he manages to keep this team up it would be little short of a footballing miracle IMO . As for being 'disliked' it seems to me the better managers seem to install a mixture of fear/respect/admiration among their players - not dislike . The jury's still out on whether Wotte has the right qualities to succed in football management , some might say his record suggests he probably doesn't .

 

It's likely to be of academic interest only , we're already down I fear .

[Wes Tender]

Right, I'm probably going to get castigated for this, but I'm not sure that Wotte is that different to Pearson. They've both taken over at roughly the same time, both seem to be disciplinarians. The only difference is that Wotte seems to be a thoroughly dislikeable chap, but maybe that's what we need. Pearson had next to no experience playing or managing in the Championship, probably a similar amount to Wotte.

 

By all accounts we played well at Bristol City last week, and were unfortunate. Perhaps, just perhaps, we may do alright under him. The issue is that if he has the same record as the mercurial Pearson, we'll go down, and he'll be blamed. Fickle fans eh.

 

Personally I think we're down, not because of the managers, just because our team is not good enough player for player.

 

What a load of twaddle. The comparison fits as far as they both arrived here as relatively unknowns at roughly the same time of a season. It ends there. Anybody attempting to make character and experience comparisons between then, is a fool.

[eelpie]

Clearly, Pearson was able to galvanise players and supporters to the common cause. Wotte hasn't achieved this.

[Gingeletiss]

IMO............Jan/Wotte, neither was/is really the manager, they Took/take their orders from the real Manager/Director of football/PLC chairman/Football chairman/etc etc etc!!!

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

What a load of twaddle. The comparison fits as far as they both arrived here as relatively unknowns at roughly the same time of a season. It ends there. Anybody attempting to make character and experience comparisons between then, is a fool.

 

So you're telling me that my comparison between them both being disciplinarians and both not having experience in the Championship is untrue then?

[Wes Tender]

So you're telling me that my comparison between them both being disciplinarians and both not having experience in the Championship is untrue then?

 

Yes.

[Legod Third Coming]

My thoughts exactly.

 

Like Wotte, Pearson was here for half a season as part of the coaching set-up preparing players for the first team. Like Wotte he made some astute selections in his first two games that resulted in us having no shape and then having to make radical changes to save the games. And like Pearson he took an international forward with four goals in three games off because he hadn't been 'contributing' much recently. And finally, like Wotte, Pearson used every opportunity to praise a failing management structure and blame the entire outcome on the paying customer.

 

In fact, the similarities between Hitler and Mother Theresa couldn't be more obvious...

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Yes.

 

Do you want to back that up with evidence?

[VectisSaint]

So you're telling me that my comparison between them both being disciplinarians and both not having experience in the Championship is untrue then?

What evidence is there that Wotte is a disciplinarian? Were we not all debating recently the players being out on the lash etc etc. Serious question, I have seen nothing that has given any indication that this is something associated with Wotte, I'd like to know what I have missed.

[Thedelldays]

What evidence is there that Wotte is a disciplinarian? Were we not all debating recently the players being out on the lash etc etc. Serious question, I have seen nothing that has given any indication that this is something associated with Wotte, I'd like to know what I have missed.

oh right..so when a good thing like the players no ****ing it up anymore it may not be down to wotte..

 

but if the players were seen out on the lash more then that also would not be down to wotte too..?

 

of course not

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

My thoughts exactly.

 

Like Wotte, Pearson was here for half a season as part of the coaching set-up preparing players for the first team. Like Wotte he made some astute selections in his first two games that resulted in us having no shape and then having to make radical changes to save the games. And like Pearson he took an international forward with four goals in three games off because he hadn't been 'contributing' much recently. And finally, like Wotte, Pearson used every opportunity to praise a failing management structure and blame the entire outcome on the paying customer.

 

In fact, the similarities between Hitler and Mother Theresa couldn't be more obvious...

 

Match report from Pearson's first game, doesn't sound like we were much good then either, and similar mistakes were being made with 'astute selections' then...

 

S****horpe 1 - 1 Southampton

 

Maybe this will be the piece of good fortune which turns Saints' season around.

In recent weeks there has been an increasing feeling that things have been going against the team who just needed a break to set them moving.

 

Finally they got it, just when it seemed they might slip to a morale-sapping and potentially costly defeat at the division's bottom club.

With just under four minutes on the clock, referee Jonathan Moss stunned everyone by suddenly stopping play to consult his assistant before pointing to the spot to give Southampton a penalty.

 

None of the Saints players had appealed, even the away fans tucked close behind that goal did not shout for it. But this top picture by Echo photographer Paul Collins clearly shows a shirt tug on Stern John by Andy Crosby.

It was one hell of a spot by the officials who had the courage to give it when it would have been so easy to have let it go - as Arsenal found to their cost with a shorts-tug yesterday.

 

Such fouls are rarely given in the penalty area and the fact that this one was both seen and awarded was enough to suggest that things are now looking up for Saints.

Equally commendable was the courage shown by Gregory Vignal who had no hesitation volunteering to take it.

 

With Andrew Surman off the pitch and Stern John having missed his last kick, the Frenchman stepped up to the plate and drilled into the bottom right corner, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Saints then almost won it at the death as Bradley Wright-Phillips latched onto Adam Hammill's ball through the inside left channel and skipped past the keeper at pace.

 

But the angle was just too tight and he could only hit the side-netting at the near post in injury-time.

That would have been a little harsh on S****horpe who were already feeling a sense of injustice, not only at the penalty but also at being reduced to 10 men on 54 minutes.

 

Wayne Thomas slid in forcefully on Matt Sparrow who took evasive action and tried to leap out of the way of the lunge.

His awkward landing on the defender was seen as a stamp and he was red-carded, again seemingly on the word of the linesman.

 

But if the Iron felt aggrieved at those decisions, Saints were equally unhappy at the penalty award against them five minutes before the break.

Jhon Viafara's lunge on Martin Paterson was certainly clumsy but they were adamant there was no foul.

 

Justice appeared to be done when Kelvin Davis dived to his right to make a fine save from Andy Crosby's firm spot-kick.

Unfortunately the rebound came back out to the defender who lashed it into the roof of the net from close range.

 

In fairness, it was no more than the home side deserved as they had had most of the play.

Saints were clearly lacking confidence and did not manage a serious attempt on goal in the first half while needing a save to his left by Davis from Paterson.

 

They also escaped three times in a goalmouth scramble which ended with Geoff Horsfield scooping wide early on.

But there was little of real note in a scrappy first half which saw both sides struggling to find any real rhythm or fluency.

 

Although they struggled going forward, Saints could take heart from a much more solid defensive performance and they look to have a decent foundation to build upon.

Ian Pearce and Andrew Davies looked a strong pair, giving the keeper good protection while Vignal and Thomas shored up the flanks.

 

Saints still stuttered going forward but the new manager showed he is not afraid to take positive steps to change things around from the bench.

The introductions of Hammill and Wright-Phillips were designed to exploit the space created by the numerical advantage.

 

Initially it may have seemed a strange switch to replace Thomas with Wright-Phillips but it made sense because it was something of a waste having the big defender as the extra man down that right flank.

Gradually Saints began to build up a head of steam helped by the extra man and a growing self-belief.

 

Even so they still managed only half chances as a resolute defence kept them at bay until the unlikely penalty award turned the game and possibly the season.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

What evidence is there that Wotte is a disciplinarian? Were we not all debating recently the players being out on the lash etc etc. Serious question, I have seen nothing that has given any indication that this is something associated with Wotte, I'd like to know what I have missed.

 

Agreed, there isn't anything explicit I'll agree, and it is an assumption.

[Legod Third Coming]

Match report from Pearson's first game, doesn't sound like we were much good then either, and similar mistakes were being made with 'astute selections' then...

 

S****horpe 1 - 1 Southampton

 

Maybe this will be the piece of good fortune which turns Saints' season around.

In recent weeks there has been an increasing feeling that things have been going against the team who just needed a break to set them moving.

 

Finally they got it, just when it seemed they might slip to a morale-sapping and potentially costly defeat at the division's bottom club.

With just under four minutes on the clock, referee Jonathan Moss stunned everyone by suddenly stopping play to consult his assistant before pointing to the spot to give Southampton a penalty.

 

None of the Saints players had appealed, even the away fans tucked close behind that goal did not shout for it. But this top picture by Echo photographer Paul Collins clearly shows a shirt tug on Stern John by Andy Crosby.

It was one hell of a spot by the officials who had the courage to give it when it would have been so easy to have let it go - as Arsenal found to their cost with a shorts-tug yesterday.

 

Such fouls are rarely given in the penalty area and the fact that this one was both seen and awarded was enough to suggest that things are now looking up for Saints.

Equally commendable was the courage shown by Gregory Vignal who had no hesitation volunteering to take it.

 

With Andrew Surman off the pitch and Stern John having missed his last kick, the Frenchman stepped up to the plate and drilled into the bottom right corner, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Saints then almost won it at the death as Bradley Wright-Phillips latched onto Adam Hammill's ball through the inside left channel and skipped past the keeper at pace.

 

But the angle was just too tight and he could only hit the side-netting at the near post in injury-time.

That would have been a little harsh on S****horpe who were already feeling a sense of injustice, not only at the penalty but also at being reduced to 10 men on 54 minutes.

 

Wayne Thomas slid in forcefully on Matt Sparrow who took evasive action and tried to leap out of the way of the lunge.

His awkward landing on the defender was seen as a stamp and he was red-carded, again seemingly on the word of the linesman.

 

But if the Iron felt aggrieved at those decisions, Saints were equally unhappy at the penalty award against them five minutes before the break.

Jhon Viafara's lunge on Martin Paterson was certainly clumsy but they were adamant there was no foul.

 

Justice appeared to be done when Kelvin Davis dived to his right to make a fine save from Andy Crosby's firm spot-kick.

Unfortunately the rebound came back out to the defender who lashed it into the roof of the net from close range.

 

In fairness, it was no more than the home side deserved as they had had most of the play.

Saints were clearly lacking confidence and did not manage a serious attempt on goal in the first half while needing a save to his left by Davis from Paterson.

 

They also escaped three times in a goalmouth scramble which ended with Geoff Horsfield scooping wide early on.

But there was little of real note in a scrappy first half which saw both sides struggling to find any real rhythm or fluency.

 

Although they struggled going forward, Saints could take heart from a much more solid defensive performance and they look to have a decent foundation to build upon.

Ian Pearce and Andrew Davies looked a strong pair, giving the keeper good protection while Vignal and Thomas shored up the flanks.

 

Saints still stuttered going forward but the new manager showed he is not afraid to take positive steps to change things around from the bench.

The introductions of Hammill and Wright-Phillips were designed to exploit the space created by the numerical advantage.

 

Initially it may have seemed a strange switch to replace Thomas with Wright-Phillips but it made sense because it was something of a waste having the big defender as the extra man down that right flank.

Gradually Saints began to build up a head of steam helped by the extra man and a growing self-belief.

 

Even so they still managed only half chances as a resolute defence kept them at bay until the unlikely penalty award turned the game and possibly the season.

 

Straws at clutching...

 

Was Pearson sat in the dugout for six months as part of a 'revolutionary coaching set-up' with interchangeable coaches preparing players for our first team?

 

Did Pearson abuse fans?

 

Did Pearson ever conduct himself with anything other than a stoic and professional objectivity?

 

Yes or No?

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Straws at clutching...

 

Was Pearson sat in the dugout for six months as part of a 'revolutionary coaching set-up' with interchangeable coaches preparing players for our first team?

 

Did Pearson abuse fans?

 

Did Pearson ever conduct himself with anything other than a stoic and professional objectivity?

 

Yes or No?

 

Not really clutching at straws no.

 

That's not the point I'm making in my first post, and I'm certainly not advocating what Wotte has said, I just really can't make sense of a lot of the double standards on this board.

 

As said earlier, I think he'll fail, and this is just me playing devils advocate.

[Legod Third Coming]

Not really clutching at straws no.

 

That's not the point I'm making in my first post, and I'm certainly not advocating what Wotte has said, I just really can't make sense of a lot of the double standards on this board.

 

As said earlier, I think he'll fail, and this is just me playing devils advocate.

 

 

There is no Devil's Advocate card to play though. The two are totally incomporable.

 

Wotte has been instrumental in our current position, Pearson was not.

 

Neither got/are getting good results.

 

But we gave Pearson a chance because he asked for one. All Wotte has done is alienate even more fans and turn them off the club with his stupidity and arrogance.

 

If he keeps us, I shall be grateful but not as much as I was to Pearson. In the same way that if my house were to burn down tonight I should be more grateful to the fireman who arrived on the scene than the one who set fire to it...

[whizzpop]

What I just can't get my head around is why Lowe let Pearson go. Pearson ticks all the boxes where Lowe is concerned, a young tracksuit manager..a la Dave Jones, Wigley, Burley, Gray wishing to prove himself. It has to be either Pearson didn't want to stay, he was too much money...I can't believe that...or Lowe really is that spiteful..wonder which one it is.

[Wes Tender]

Do you want to back that up with evidence?

 

No.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

No.

 

Nice, like it

[SFC Forever]

DPS it would be nice to think that just by accident we have found someone who can steer us to safety. I just don't think it will happen but I still hope.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

DPS it would be nice to think that just by accident we have found someone who can steer us to safety. I just don't think it will happen but I still hope.

 

Unfortunately I agree

[SaintRobbie]

Right, I'm probably going to get castigated for this, but I'm not sure that Wotte is that different to Pearson. They've both taken over at roughly the same time, both seem to be disciplinarians. The only difference is that Wotte seems to be a thoroughly dislikeable chap, but maybe that's what we need. Pearson had next to no experience playing or managing in the Championship, probably a similar amount to Wotte.

 

By all accounts we played well at Bristol City last week, and were unfortunate. Perhaps, just perhaps, we may do alright under him. The issue is that if he has the same record as the mercurial Pearson, we'll go down, and he'll be blamed. Fickle fans eh.

 

Personally I think we're down, not because of the managers, just because our team is not good enough player for player.

 

You can't be a disciplinarian when your players think you're a **** because of your own standards of discipline.

 

Wotte IS part of the problem. Wotte told Lowe 2 years ago this plan would work. Wotte has left every club he has worked for - both internationally and domestically - under shall we say ... errr ... dubious unexplained circumstances.

 

There is not the respect within the club for Wotte you think there is.

 

Bloke's another Simon Clifford...but with playing credibility. Another on the take manager with the same selfish personal outlook as Lowe.

[Thedelldays]

You can't be a disciplinarian when your players think you're a **** because of your own standards of discipline.

 

.

 

please...where is this documented...

 

would love to see this

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

please...where is this documented...

 

would love to see this

 

This is it, it's all hearsay and conjecture.

[SFC Forever]

There is no Devil's Advocate card to play though. The two are totally incomporable.

 

Wotte has been instrumental in our current position, Pearson was not.

 

Neither got/are getting good results.

 

But we gave Pearson a chance because he asked for one. All Wotte has done is alienate even more fans and turn them off the club with his stupidity and arrogance.

 

If he keeps us, I shall be grateful but not as much as I was to Pearson. In the same way that if my house were to burn down tonight I should be more grateful to the fireman who arrived on the scene than the one who set fire to it...

 

If Wotte performs a minor miracle and keeps us up I will be far more thankful. He may have been at the club all season but when he took over the team was in a far worse position than it was last season for Pearson. He also changed the format quickly to wotte we had been asking for for so long. He may have a mega mouth but wotte do you want him to do?

I want Wotte to succeed simply because it is our club he is supposed to be managing. If he succeeds even with Lowe there to keep us amused I will be a happy bunny.

[NickG]

What evidence is there that Wotte is a disciplinarian? Were we not all debating recently the players being out on the lash etc etc. Serious question, I have seen nothing that has given any indication that this is something associated with Wotte, I'd like to know what I have missed.

 

Saeijs radio interview - noticed that training much harder, stricter and less relaxed when Wotte took over, hth

[SaintRobbie]

Saeijs radio interview - noticed that training much harder, stricter and less relaxed when Wotte took over, hth

 

The Dutch player you mean? The one brought in by Wotte.

[um pahars]

So you're telling me that my comparison between them both being disciplinarians and both not having experience in the Championship is untrue then?

 

I have a couple of ins into the current squad & ensemble, and whilst I have heard that things are more "regimented" and "structured" than compared to under Poortvliet (but then again the Academy lad who coaches my nephew appears to know more than Jan), I don't think it is a valid comparison with regards the disciplinary side. Pearson was way, way above commanding the respect and all the things that go with it IMHO.

 

And with regards having experience in the Championship, then I think:

 

(a) Pearson had a much wider, broader and deeper experience of English Football, and

 

(b) Wotte's previous experince was as a culpable part of a 28 game regime that was a complete disaster, a disaster in which he was complicit.

 

The only comparison between the two is because of the position they both find themselves in today. Almost everything else is different (about as worthy a comparison with that of us and Charlton yesterday).

[Thedelldays]

You can't be a disciplinarian when your players think you're a **** because of your own standards of discipline.

 

.

well....?

[NickG]

The Dutch player you mean? The one brought in by Wotte.

 

that's the one, looks good doesn't he?

[docker-p]

Well we will soon be able to tell who is better NP or Wotte. NP is at the top of League One and heading for promotion. We will be in League One ourselves next season and maybe Wotte will have us in a similar position. But somehow I doubt it.

[VectisSaint]

Agreed, there isn't anything explicit I'll agree, and it is an assumption.

Thanks Dibden, nice to get a sensible response rather than the crap spouted by Thedelldays. A disciplinarian would cover not just the activities at the training ground but also how the players behave.

[Thedelldays]

Thanks Dibden, nice to get a sensible response rather than the crap spouted by Thedelldays. A disciplinarian would cover not just the activities at the training ground but also how the players behave.

you what

[Mr X]

We have exactly the same problem again as we did with poorvliet. A manager in charge who doesn't have the respect of fans or players, you have to earn respect from fans and the comments woote makes imply that we are nothing to him other than a ticket number.

 

The end is nigh. I attended the last protest and it was a sucess in terms of making our opinions on the board clear. However at the end of the day it changes nothing we are going down and we know it. It is too late even if the board were to leave

[VectisSaint]

oh right..so when a good thing like the players no ****ing it up anymore it may not be down to wotte..

 

but if the players were seen out on the lash more then that also would not be down to wotte too..?

 

of course not

Thought about ignoring your post, as clearly you have problems reading or understanding other people's straightforward questions, but on reflection thought I would anyway. I never said anywhere whether it was right or wrong, or whether I agreed or not, I was simply asking a perfectly reasonable question, and Dibden came back with a sensible reply indicating that there was no evidence. If you don't have anything sensible to contribute to a debate may I humbly suggest you shut the **** up!!

 

However, to come back to the point I think you were trying to make in your garbled bile-filled message, yes football team managers should and do have a responsibility for the behaviour of their players, and a true disciplinarian would not allow the players to be seen "out on the lash", especially in troubled times. Not to say it wouldn't still be tolerated, but would be kept discrete.

[VectisSaint]

Saeijs radio interview - noticed that training much harder, stricter and less relaxed when Wotte took over, hth

Interesting, thanks Nick. My only comment on that would be that Saeijs has less experience of the previous nice but dim coach than anyone else in the squad. Good to hear though, sounds like Wotte is at least more able and experienced as a coach than JP, though frankly that would not be too difficult. I don't doubt that Wotte is taking things more seriously than JP, and has better ideas about how to achieve some success (his CV alone would give you that impression), but do feel that he is seriously lacking in understanding the politics of football, and particularly Saints, and would be well advised to keep his own counsel and not alienate a significant number of customers, sorry supporters as he seems intent on doing. Thats a significant differenc between Wotte and Pearson, getting back to the original point of the thread.

[sotonist]

Pearson had next to no experience playing or managing in the Championship, probably a similar amount to Wotte.

 

So Wotte captained Middlesbrough to promotion from this division twice then did he? Good to know.

[sotonist]

not to mention six seasons with shrewsbury and one with wednesday in this division.

[david in sweden]

Right, I'm probably going to get castigated for this, but I'm not sure that Wotte is that different to Pearson. They've both taken over at roughly the same time, both seem to be disciplinarians. The only difference is that Wotte seems to be a thoroughly dislikeable chap, but maybe that's what we need. Pearson had next to no experience playing or managing in the Championship, probably a similar amount to Wotte.

By all accounts we played well at Bristol City last week, and were unfortunate. Perhaps, just perhaps, we may do alright under him. The issue is that if he has the same record as the mercurial Pearson, we'll go down, and he'll be blamed. Fickle fans eh.

Personally I think we're down, not because of the managers, just because our team is not good enough player for player.

 

 

 

Is there something wrong with discipline, I wonder ?

 

Someone thoght Mark Wotte ought to bring them a glass of warm milk before they go out and play in this weather.....This is the best situation to get the best out of the squad we have. If we go down after this......next seasons squad

...will be this years Academy lads.

[SaintRobbie]

that's the one, looks good doesn't he?

 

Not bad actually. Apart from the fact he gives up too easily when players pass him, he's ok. Little bit of potential.

[hypochondriac]

Well we will soon be able to tell who is better NP or Wotte. NP is at the top of League One and heading for promotion. We will be in League One ourselves next season and maybe Wotte will have us in a similar position. But somehow I doubt it.

 

He won't be here next season.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

So Wotte captained Middlesbrough to promotion from this division twice then did he? Good to know.

 

I think this league has changed dramatically since 1996 as well though, don't you?