3rd week of March

[slickmick]

Just a few days left until a points deduction for this season only, if we go into administration.

[slickmick]

The deadline will pass without incident and this will be taken as further proof of:

 

a) our certainty to go into administration

 

b) our certainty to avoid administration

 

 

But i doubt it will for this season.

[once_bitterne]

If the deadline passes then fair play to Rupes for sorting the finances out as there aint a doubt in my mind we would be in admin now if Crouch had still been at the helm....

[Window Cleaner]

If the deadline passes then fair play to Rupes for sorting the finances out as there aint a doubt in my mind we would be in admin now if Crouch had still been at the helm....

 

What?? he'd have put in 35 billion out of his own pocket dont'cha know.

[ottery st mary]

Windows and Bitterne, My top Lowe Dancers, don't let me down again on the training

night Wednesday..Bring the Red and White Pom Poms girls...Keep Smiling Rupert is very proud of our little routines.

[rallyboy]

yeah, fair play to Rupert, he really has managed to turn the club around.

His intention was to get us out of the championship this season and he's right on course at the moment.

[once_bitterne]

yeah, fair play to Rupert, he really has managed to turn the club around.

His intention was to get us out of the championship this season and he's right on course at the moment.

 

 

Given our financial situation in the Summer only a moron would have thought we had any chance of promotion this season no matter who the manager/chairman were.

 

There were only two aims for this season, financial survival and survival in the CCC. It looks like the first has been accomplished and we still have a fighting chance of doing the second.

[Doctoroncall]

If the deadline passes then fair play to Rupes for sorting the finances out as there aint a doubt in my mind we would be in admin now if Crouch had still been at the helm....

 

Don't forget sorting the football staff out, the total football and the challenge for promotion (all talked about by Lowe on Saints TV).

[ottery st mary]

Given our financial situation in the Summer only a moron would have thought we had any chance of promotion this season no matter who the manager/chairman were.

 

There were only two aims for this season, financial survival and survival in the CCC. It looks like the first has been accomplished and we still have a fighting chance of doing the second.

 

Bitterne, you really have no clue about our finances.:---) Like jonah and your man Rupert, you appear to have absolutely no financial sense either... My opinion on finances is usually very accurate :)and my opinion about you as a fan of Rupert is possibly right as well.:cool: Just an educated guess on the mode of your many statements supporting Rupes at all costs. That is why you make statements that will be seen to be pathetic when the true financial picture is released shortly.:smt017

 

Keep waving the Pom Poms....If miracles still happen you might be right about

saving ourselves from relegation...Doubtful though:mad:

[70's Mike]

Given our financial situation in the Summer only a moron would have thought we had any chance of promotion this season no matter who the manager/chairman were.

 

There were only two aims for this season, financial survival and survival in the CCC. It looks like the first has been accomplished and we still have a fighting chance of doing the second.

 

 

Calling Rupert a moron

[Saint_clark]

Given our financial situation in the Summer only a moron would have thought we had any chance of promotion this season no matter who the manager/chairman were.

 

Don't forget sorting the football staff out, the total football and the challenge for promotion (all talked about by Lowe on Saints TV).

 

Really, really funny.

[once_bitterne]

Bitterne, you really have no clue about our finances.

 

 

I think we all have a pretty good idea of the finacial trouble we were in in the Summer, the published accounts tell you all you need to know.

 

Indeed we are fighting relegation this season but the overall wage bill of the club is a fraction of the one that Crouch had assembled last season.... which was also fighting relegation.

[Saint_clark]

I think we all have a pretty good idea of the finacial trouble we were in in the Summer, the published accounts tell you all you need to know.

 

Indeed we are fighting relegation this season but the overall wage bill of the club is a fraction of the one that Crouch had assembled last season.... which was also fighting relegation.

 

You do know that Crouch was only in charge for the second half of the season don't you? During which he sent Rasiak and Skacel out on loan to reduce the wage bill?

[ottery st mary]

I think we all have a pretty good idea of the finacial trouble we were in in the Summer, the published accounts tell you all you need to know.

 

Indeed we are fighting relegation this season but the overall wage bill of the club is a fraction of the one that Crouch had assembled last season.... which was also fighting relegation.

 

I think we all have a pretty good idea of the financial trouble we were in the summer..as you say the accounts...Where is your evidence that Rupert has turned this round.:---)..We are in the same financial trouble if not worse.....It has not improved under Rupert.:smt017..I am told it has got far worse...Unless you prove to me otherwise...Your statement praising Rupert is null and void and your continued sweeping statements supporting Rupert are for one reason only.:smt049.

Are you a genuine supporter of Saints or purely a Ruprt fan?:smt017

 

But then again if it is all guess work about Rupert being our financial saviour please enlighten me with facts and figures...Then if you are right I will apologise unreservedly.:smt049...Mind you regardless of our financial ongoing crisis..I am agreed with you and ALL the true Saints fans if we stay up there is half a chance of improvement next season with new Chairman and coaching staff.:cool: If you are by chance a real fan I will buy you a few beers when I return to Southampton.

[Wes Tender]

If the deadline passes then fair play to Rupes for sorting the finances out as there aint a doubt in my mind we would be in admin now if Crouch had still been at the helm....

 

And I am equally in no doubt whatsoever that had Crouch remained and therefore by implication Pearson, we would not be in such a parlous state as we currently find ourselves.

 

The bulk of the poor financial situation was caused by the appointees of one Michael Quisling Wilde, who in case it had escaped your notice, is back on the board alonside the other failed former chairman. As also stated by Saint_clark, Crouch had been here a comparatively short time and had taken some steps to address the financial crisis and had the blessing of the bank to continue.

 

It is my contention that had Crouch remained in charge, then Pearson would have achieved a far better set of results than the double Dutch and that also the receipts through the gate would have been far better too.

 

But if you wish to continue deluding yourself, then that is your prerogative; it's a free Country.

[Window Cleaner]

Windows and Bitterne, My top Lowe Dancers, don't let me down again on the training

night Wednesday..Bring the Red and White Pom Poms girls...Keep Smiling Rupert is very proud of our little routines.

 

Not me OSM, I'm on late shift 1200 miles away on Wednesday.

Watching over you all as usual..

[ottery st mary]

Not me OSM, I'm on late shift 1200 miles away on Wednesday.

Watching over you all as usual..

 

Appreciated, at least with me and my fellow dancers in spirit...Let us hope all our cheerleading brings us a win against the mighty Mathews boyz.:smt049

[Doctoroncall]

I think we all have a pretty good idea of the finacial trouble we were in in the Summer, the published accounts tell you all you need to know.

 

Indeed we are fighting relegation this season but the overall wage bill of the club is a fraction of the one that Crouch had assembled last season.... which was also fighting relegation.

 

Is this the blip Dave Jones talked about at the AGM?

 

With the player loans having gone back to their parent clubs, player retirements and out of contract players not getting new ones, a financial ninny could see wages would only go in one direction (a clue: that's down).

 

But who in their right mind would then sacrifice salaries of worthy CCC players to bring in loans and transfers, most who have hardly played, with the added 500k agent fees thinking these players would do well in a new team, new coaching set up, using new tactics with defensive frailties that have plagued the team for THREE seasons?

[Chez]

I think we all have a pretty good idea of the financial trouble we were in the summer..as you say the accounts...Where is your evidence that Rupert has turned this round.:---)..We are in the same financial trouble if not worse.....It has not improved under Rupert.:smt017..I am told it has got far worse...Unless you prove to me otherwise...Your statement praising Rupert is null and void and your continued sweeping statements supporting Rupert are for one reason only.:smt049.

Are you a genuine supporter of Saints or purely a Ruprt fan?:smt017

 

But then again if it is all guess work about Rupert being our financial saviour please enlighten me with facts and figures...Then if you are right I will apologise unreservedly.:smt049...Mind you regardless of our financial ongoing crisis..I am agreed with you and ALL the true Saints fans if we stay up there is half a chance of improvement next season with new Chairman and coaching staff.:cool: If you are by chance a real fan I will buy you a few beers when I return to Southampton.

 

we lost £12.4m last year before player trading (£9.4m) got us out of jail. So that's £1m lossed each and every month. Just for the record the overdaft was at £4.4m when Lowe started again and other debt including the mortgage was £23.1m. That is ground zero as far as Lowe is concerned this time round - where we are finanically when the figures comes out are down to him completely - good or bad.

[Chez]

But who in their right mind would then sacrifice salaries of worthy CCC players to bring in loans and transfers, most who have hardly played, with the added 500k agent fees thinking these players would do well in a new team, new coaching set up, using new tactics with defensive frailties that have plagued the team for THREE seasons?

 

people go on and on about the cost all those that came in, but is the reality that all of them don't add up to Rasiaks wages never mind Johns and Saga's?

[aintforever]

Indeed we are fighting relegation this season but the overall wage bill of the club is a fraction of the one that Crouch had assembled last season.... which was also fighting relegation.

 

I think you will find it was Wilde's Execs that assembled the wage bill.

 

Crouch did his best to reduce it by loaning out Rasiak and Skacel, plus he managed to keep us up which is the important thing. Let's hope Lowe can achieve that.

[ottery st mary]

we lost £12.4m last year before player trading (£9.4m) got us out of jail. So that's £1m lossed each and every month. Just for the record the overdaft was at £4.4m when Lowe started again and other debt including the mortgage was £23.1m. That is ground zero as far as Lowe is concerned this time round - where we are finanically when the figures comes out are down to him completely - good or bad.

 

See you have cheered up again..Thank God for that..I thought we were going to lose you:smt049

 

To be honest whatever the figures I am reliably informed we have not got the proverbial pot to wee in...Therfore when I ask for a small wage and travelling expenses from Devon and Jury Inn Hotel bed for the night to star on Wildey and Loweys own Parliament...I already know the answer.

 

Lets hope we win a few games and build up the hope we can pull it of..so to speak.

 

Keep up the good work Chez..By the way will you support me in the return of Ethel the tea lady who was sacked as part of the cost cutting....Mind you her tea was terrible.

 

Bring back Woggy and all will be forgiven Rupes:D

[Doctoroncall]

people go on and on about the cost all those that came in, but is the reality that all of them don't add up to Rasiaks wages never mind Johns and Saga's?

 

I would'nt have minded them going if there was a reasonable replacement, but that's not really the point as we have now abandoned the policy of playing youth as much as possible.

 

So Chez, spill the beans, how much are those three earning? Weekly or Monthly wages with any add ons will suffice compared to the likes of Gasmi, Pulis, Cork etc.

[ooohTerryHurlock]

If the deadline passes then fair play to Rupes for sorting the finances out as there aint a doubt in my mind we would be in admin now if Crouch had still been at the helm....

 

.... Of course we would still have pearson, could be topof the championship and have crowds of twent five to thirty thousand each week as we march back to the promised land of the premiership? .... who knows what would have happened under crouch et al? as for sorting the finances out - well who knows what the actual state is.

[Frank's cousin]

TBF none of us have a clue as to the real situation either last summer or now. Its clear that Ornageman and HOne,Hoos etc sanctioned spending of some 7 mil on an all out push for promotion under GB, possibly on the back of Wilde's initial indication that he had folk ready and willing to invest, and that subsequently Crouch in his eagerness to please fans from a footballing perspective was probably a little late in realing this back in - It was Crouch ousting Wilde - probably for not coming up with those investors that eventually led Wilde getting back into bed with Lowe to form the current board.

 

I think Crouch WOULD have eventually also seen the writing on the wall and done the necessary financially, but would he have been willing to sacrafice popularity with fans gained by his support of the 'football first' by taking the very hard decsions? I dont know and its only speculation to believe we know the answer. We do know that Lowe HAS made some very unpopular decisons and he has probably used the financial situation as teh reason for why he introduced his continental set up now - we know he was always into that kinda thing, but teh timing was always wrong - he felt it was right now.

 

How far Lowe has taken it beyond what was the minimum necessary I dont know and again its just speculation to assume he only did what was necessary or vice versa...

 

OOH TERRRYHURLOCK makes a good point, but so does oncebitterne - why do we need to see iot all as black or white - the fact is until we have Concrete evidence one way or another - its definitely a shade of grey....

[eelpie]

I do hope that we are beginning to emerge from financial disaster. However I cannot see how we are going to avoid it next season when in League 1 with our Premiership-style overheads. My head tells me we have left it too late to avoid relegation this season. So, if we end up in administration next sesson Lowe will have made the biggest gaffe of his very fallible career at SLH.

[eelpie]

people go on and on about the cost all those that came in, but is the reality that all of them don't add up to Rasiaks wages never mind Johns and Saga's?

 

Do you have the figures, or are you just guessing?

[saintwarwick]

You do know that Crouch was only in charge for the second half of the season don't you? During which he sent Rasiak and Skacel out on loan to reduce the wage bill?

 

I would of thought Luketti, Perry, Pericard and Richard Wright would of added to the wage bill

[Saint_clark]

I would of thought Luketti, Perry, Pericard and Richard Wright would of added to the wage bill

 

It was reported by plenty of sources that Wrights wages were paid by Crouch himself. And I doubt Lucketti, Perry and Pericard amounted to more than £20,000 a week.

[saintwarwick]

It was reported by plenty of sources that Wrights wages were paid by Crouch himself. And I doubt Lucketti, Perry and Pericard amounted to more than £20,000 a week.

 

So the wage bill wasn't reduced by much then.

[Saint_clark]

So the wage bill wasn't reduced by much then.

 

But our chances of staying up were greatly increased.

Something Lowe, and the people who support him, cannot seem to understand.

[rallyboy]

I have tried to look at all arguments fairly but it is beyond me that anyone can look at the management of the club over the last ten years and still think that Rupert has done a good job.

 

Yes, there are others to blame, but can people honestly say hand-on-heart that they think with his appalling track record, that Rupert has the skills to salvage our football club?

He was the Frank Spencer of the financial world before he came into our lives and I trust him as far as I could throw Ken Bates and Peter Ridsdale.

 

So Lowe fans, please tell me what he has done that should make me have trust?

The stadium was negotiated on a deal so bad it is still crippling us, so that doesn't count as a positive, and he has cut costs and slashed income this year - which is called closing down in my book.

A genuine question - what has he actually done that has helped us, and for which I should be grateful?

[NickG]

It was reported by plenty of sources that Wrights wages were paid by Crouch himself. And I doubt Lucketti, Perry and Pericard amounted to more than £20,000 a week.

 

did he? would have expected him to announce it if he had.

[Window Cleaner]

did he? would have expected him to announce it if he had.

 

Doubt it, we were in bid situation at the time (well I think so anyway) and I don't think directors can do that sort of thing when that's the case.

 

On an aside note, yesterday there was a wee bit of LSE action at 15.70/share; today transactions have gone down at 13p, I am genuinely worried that whatever we do on the pitch administration will negate it.

[saintwarwick]

But our chances of staying up were greatly increased.

Something Lowe, and the people who support him, cannot seem to understand.

 

In what way, by falling into the bottom three with one game to go and knowing that even a win would not guarantee our survival going into that last game? :confused:

[NickG]

is there a stats site where you can get old game by game league tables from last season? I really can't remember how last season unfolded (age thing!)

[alpine_saint]

If the deadline passes then fair play to Rupes for sorting the finances out as there aint a doubt in my mind we would be in admin now if Crouch had still been at the helm....

 

Complete bullshiiit without a shred of evidence to support it.

[alpine_saint]

So the wage bill wasn't reduced by much then.

 

And Lowe has done such a great job of reducing it, hasnt he ?

 

Or do the management of a football club not get paid ?

[saintwarwick]

And Lowe has done such a great job of reducing it, hasnt he ?

 

Or do the management of a football club not get paid ?

 

Yes he has actually, 14 top earners left in the summer, John, Rasiak, Dyer and Saga for part of the time shipped out to reduce the wage bill. As for the management of the football club previously, didn't they get paid

[Tamesaint]

In what way, by falling into the bottom three with one game to go and knowing that even a win would not guarantee our survival going into that last game? :confused:

 

In what way???? Did you look at the league table at the end of last season. We stayed up.

 

Lets just hope and pray that we do so this season!!

[um pahars]

is there a stats site where you can get old game by game league tables from last season? I really can't remember how last season unfolded (age thing!)

 

After 38 games last season we had 45 points.

 

In the last 8 games we amassed a further 9 points (W2 D3 L3) to finish on 54 points.

 

 

 

So we're about 6 points behind where we were at this point last season, but don't think survival will be 53 points this season (anyway I hope not as 14 points from 8 games is a big ask!!! It would be something like W4 D2 L2 or W3 D5 L0).

[Doctoroncall]

Yes he has actually, 14 top earners left in the summer, John, Rasiak, Dyer and Saga for part of the time shipped out to reduce the wage bill. As for the management of the football club previously, didn't they get paid

 

As I said before, Dave Jones said the wage bill was a blip and it was bound to (and easy to see) the bill come tumbling down with the loss of the loans, retirements and out of contract players. Not really a hard decision, however, when it came to the replacements that's a different story (and BTW it's not about how much as Saints spent more than Swansea, Doncaster, Plymouth, Watford, Sheff Wed and Blackpool in the summer).

[NickG]

After 38 games last season we had 45 points.

 

In the last 8 games we amassed a further 9 points (W2 D3 L3) to finish on 54 points.

 

 

 

So we're about 6 points behind where we were at this point last season, but don't think survival will be 53 points this season (anyway I hope not as 14 points from 8 games is a big ask!!! It would be something like W4 D2 L2 or W3 D5 L0).

 

thanks for that.

 

was also interested in the league table through out last season how it went through GB, JD/JG and then NP reigns etc - is there a site with old tables week to week?

[saintwarwick]

In what way???? Did you look at the league table at the end of last season. We stayed up.

 

Lets just hope and pray that we do so this season!!

 

If you had cared to read the post I replied to you would of seen where I was coming from. I agree lets hope and pray we stay up although it will be difficult.

[alpine_saint]

As I said before, Dave Jones said the wage bill was a blip and it was bound to (and easy to see) the bill come tumbling down with the loss of the loans, retirements and out of contract players. Not really a hard decision, however, when it came to the replacements that's a different story (and BTW it's not about how much as Saints spent more than Swansea, Doncaster, Plymouth, Watford, Sheff Wed and Blackpool in the summer).

 

The surely it would have been a "blip" for Crouch too, ergo, any money that has been saved (and I suspect it is not as much as saintwarwick would have us believe ) has absolutely f**k-all to do with Lowe.

 

Crouch sent Rasiak and Skacel out on loan long before Lowe did...

[Frank's cousin]

I have tried to look at all arguments fairly but it is beyond me that anyone can look at the management of the club over the last ten years and still think that Rupert has done a good job.

 

Yes, there are others to blame, but can people honestly say hand-on-heart that they think with his appalling track record, that Rupert has the skills to salvage our football club?

He was the Frank Spencer of the financial world before he came into our lives and I trust him as far as I could throw Ken Bates and Peter Ridsdale.

 

So Lowe fans, please tell me what he has done that should make me have trust?

The stadium was negotiated on a deal so bad it is still crippling us, so that doesn't count as a positive, and he has cut costs and slashed income this year - which is called closing down in my book.

A genuine question - what has he actually done that has helped us, and for which I should be grateful?

 

You ask a rational and fair question, so will do my best to answer from my perspective, although I am not as such a supporter of any particular individual, (depsite what Alpine might think). I think historically, it would be fair to give Lowe some credit for the changes the club went through as teh premierleague took off, whatever and who ever influenced teh new stadium, it finally ahpened under Lowe and the deal at about 4% interest was more than sustainable in the prem, it go done after 20 odd years of messing about. We were by the time te cup final came along lauded as an example of how a club should be run - in teh national media - as our only debts were teh infrastructure and not on wages and transfers which many other clubs were had as liabilities.

 

In a way I was kind od supportive for two reasons: one I agreed with the nedd to 'Live within our means' - and not follow the risky path taken by other clubs, especially as we had no sugar Daddy, and If honest in part as a reaction to all the Bullsh!t and spin drivel from those highly prejudiced agaisnt him, who were coming out with teh continual rhetoric of 'lowe's back pocket' etc - mostly fans who disagreed with the 'prudent' approach or did genuinely ahve prejudices based on their understanding and ethical position on the shenanigans of the reverse takeover. But as I have said its been more to do with the prudent approach DESPITE also recognising that with everyone else spending big, you had to spend just to stand still - and our succession of managers etc had made some bad choices. Lowe's interference, I think was more born out of this hit and miss approach to teh spending - it probabl;y seemed to hime, as it does to us fans, that it almost seemed a random selection process - even Strachan made some awful buys etc...

 

His biggets mistake came relegation year when i think he bellieved the squad was good enough to keep us up. And here again, if we are really honest they should have been, we WERE unlucky with injuries and we were had a poor manager unable to motivate, the playser also need to look at themselves about that year, but yes Lowe should have known Wigley was not up to teh standard and acted far sooner... although 'arry did have time, had he not vome in and told the media we were NOT good enough.. excellent motivation that!

 

The whole 'lunatic fringe' crap PR suff is water of a ducks back to me, jeez I know i have been called alot worse and thats just on here... ;-) but some take it to heart and are offened by it. fair enough, but its hardly a huge issue its made out top be... but yes his communication and PR skills directed at fans has been appalling, and he is obviously to aloof and out of touch if he still does not recognise that.

 

The whole EGM Wilde, Crouch thing just shows how none of them really appreciate the impact their infighting and behaviour has on the fans and the playing situation- they are all motivated by different levels of ego and self interest, but it is my belief that from a financial perspective right now we need teh tightest reign - FROM WHAT WE HAVE - that that is lowe at the moment, simply put, he seems the one most likely to prevent admin, just a gut feeling - probably because he is prrpared to ignore what fans think of him and make teh nasty decisons that impact on the playing side of things if it means financial survival - I dont think Crouch would go as far as he is too keen on being seen as the fans man.

 

So its not about directly being a fan of or supporting Lowe, as many have said there are thousands of better qualified businessmen who could also do teh job alot better, but about supporting the approach, and given that of th three taht could wield power, I believe his is just that little bit more likely to sort out the mess.

 

Naturally this is complicated by the fact that fans are saying that its because of LOWE they are staying away - I would say that number is limited, but fans are staying away because of the impact his approach is having on the playing side of things - thats fair enough. But, ultimately what you believe will depend on how much you believe the drastic cuts have been necessary or not.

 

As to Dutch total football (with or without the kids) - well, OK I admit it was always going to stand very little chance ina division so heavily linked to a more direct game, but I did like the idea of us being the Arsenal of the CCC, the team that might lose, but play teh best stuff which is why it appealed to me... it was a darn sight more entertaining than we were used to. That again is not supporting Lowe, but liking an idea, one i still wish had succeeded and we were not only in the playoffs but having been lauded as the best footballing side - the way teh game should be played - but I guess we needed to walk again befor we could run.

 

The rest of it is commonly known as bashing the Alpine and Stanley as they play the two backed beast together 'squeeling like pigs boy ' in their constant desire to see anyone who does not say they HATE lowe and Love Mr Crouch, being ridiiculed on here ;-)

[eelpie]

I have tried to look at all arguments fairly but it is beyond me that anyone can look at the management of the club over the last ten years and still think that Rupert has done a good job.

 

Yes, there are others to blame, but can people honestly say hand-on-heart that they think with his appalling track record, that Rupert has the skills to salvage our football club?

He was the Frank Spencer of the financial world before he came into our lives and I trust him as far as I could throw Ken Bates and Peter Ridsdale.

 

So Lowe fans, please tell me what he has done that should make me have trust?

The stadium was negotiated on a deal so bad it is still crippling us, so that doesn't count as a positive, and he has cut costs and slashed income this year - which is called closing down in my book.

A genuine question - what has he actually done that has helped us, and for which I should be grateful?

 

Rupert 'Frank Spencer' Lowe

lol

[alpine_saint]

You ask a rational and fair question, so will do my best to answer from my perspective, although I am not as such a supporter of any particular individual, (depsite what Alpine might think). I think historically, it would be fair to give Lowe some credit for the changes the club went through as teh premierleague took off, whatever and who ever influenced teh new stadium, it finally ahpened under Lowe and the deal at about 4% interest was more than sustainable in the prem, it go done after 20 odd years of messing about. We were by the time te cup final came along lauded as an example of how a club should be run - in teh national media - as our only debts were teh infrastructure and not on wages and transfers which many other clubs were had as liabilities.

 

In a way I was kind od supportive for two reasons: one I agreed with the nedd to 'Live within our means' - and not follow the risky path taken by other clubs, especially as we had no sugar Daddy, and If honest in part as a reaction to all the Bullsh!t and spin drivel from those highly prejudiced agaisnt him, who were coming out with teh continual rhetoric of 'lowe's back pocket' etc - mostly fans who disagreed with the 'prudent' approach or did genuinely ahve prejudices based on their understanding and ethical position on the shenanigans of the reverse takeover. But as I have said its been more to do with the prudent approach DESPITE also recognising that with everyone else spending big, you had to spend just to stand still - and our succession of managers etc had made some bad choices. Lowe's interference, I think was more born out of this hit and miss approach to teh spending - it probabl;y seemed to hime, as it does to us fans, that it almost seemed a random selection process - even Strachan made some awful buys etc...

 

His biggets mistake came relegation year when i think he bellieved the squad was good enough to keep us up. And here again, if we are really honest they should have been, we WERE unlucky with injuries and we were had a poor manager unable to motivate, the playser also need to look at themselves about that year, but yes Lowe should have known Wigley was not up to teh standard and acted far sooner... although 'arry did have time, had he not vome in and told the media we were NOT good enough.. excellent motivation that!

 

The whole 'lunatic fringe' crap PR suff is water of a ducks back to me, jeez I know i have been called alot worse and thats just on here... ;-) but some take it to heart and are offened by it. fair enough, but its hardly a huge issue its made out top be... but yes his communication and PR skills directed at fans has been appalling, and he is obviously to aloof and out of touch if he still does not recognise that.

 

The whole EGM Wilde, Crouch thing just shows how none of them really appreciate the impact their infighting and behaviour has on the fans and the playing situation- they are all motivated by different levels of ego and self interest, but it is my belief that from a financial perspective right now we need teh tightest reign - FROM WHAT WE HAVE - that that is lowe at the moment, simply put, he seems the one most likely to prevent admin, just a gut feeling - probably because he is prrpared to ignore what fans think of him and make teh nasty decisons that impact on the playing side of things if it means financial survival - I dont think Crouch would go as far as he is too keen on being seen as the fans man.

 

So its not about directly being a fan of or supporting Lowe, as many have said there are thousands of better qualified businessmen who could also do teh job alot better, but about supporting the approach, and given that of th three taht could wield power, I believe his is just that little bit more likely to sort out the mess.

 

Naturally this is complicated by the fact that fans are saying that its because of LOWE they are staying away - I would say that number is limited, but fans are staying away because of the impact his approach is having on the playing side of things - thats fair enough. But, ultimately what you believe will depend on how much you believe the drastic cuts have been necessary or not.

 

As to Dutch total football (with or without the kids) - well, OK I admit it was always going to stand very little chance ina division so heavily linked to a more direct game, but I did like the idea of us being the Arsenal of the CCC, the team that might lose, but play teh best stuff which is why it appealed to me... it was a darn sight more entertaining than we were used to. That again is not supporting Lowe, but liking an idea, one i still wish had succeeded and we were not only in the playoffs but having been lauded as the best footballing side - the way teh game should be played - but I guess we needed to walk again befor we could run.

 

The rest of it is commonly known as bashing the Alpine and Stanley as they play the two backed beast together 'squeeling like pigs boy ' in their constant desire to see anyone who does not say they HATE lowe and Love Mr Crouch, being ridiiculed on here ;-)

 

This post just about sums you up.

 

Giving Lowe the benefit of the doubt for absolutely everything, excusing his arrogance and incomptence, blaming our downfall on everyone else and bad luck, and taking a wholly unrealistic perspective on this season where apparently Lowe could perform his radical cost-saving on the team yet the loss of performance, poor results and susbsequent drop in attendance was unforeseeable.

[Frank's cousin]

This post just about sums you up.

 

Giving Lowe the benefit of the doubt for absolutely everything, excusing his arrogance and incomptence, blaming our downfall on everyone else and bad luck, and taking a wholly unrealistic perspective on this season where apparently Lowe could perform his radical cost-saving on the team yet the loss of performance, poor results and susbsequent drop in attendance was unforeseeable.

 

This post just about sums you up

 

The inability to read and understand what is posted and respond appropriately, nowher have i excused anyone or anything, no where have I stated that the unrealistic expectations where excusable, and I never even mentioned attendance in this thread so why bring it up? Alpine I suggest you get yourself a new set of glasses because you are obviously struggling to READ what is said - you just prejudice your response based on what you want to believe I posted - you really are obsessed.

 

Rallyboy has a completely different opinion to me as is obvious, but he asks a genuine rational question which I can respect, so I have given my reply to HIS post. Respect though for other opinions seems beyond you....

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

This post just about sums you up

 

The inability to read and understand what is posted and respond appropriately, nowher have i excused anyone or anything, no where have I stated that the unrealistic expectations where excusable, and I never even mentioned attendance in this thread so why bring it up? Alpine I suggest you get yourself a new set of glasses because you are obviously struggling to READ what is said - you just prejudice your response based on what you want to believe I posted - you really are obsessed.

 

Rallyboy has a completely different opinion to me as is obvious, but he asks a genuine rational question which I can respect, so I have given my reply to HIS post. Respect though for other opinions seems beyond you....

 

As far as I can see, up until relegation, although controversial, Lowe had done a decent job. There would be no way in hell we'd still have been in the Prem until we were if we were still at the Dell. So up until then it was decent.

 

Since then it has been sh!t, whether under Lowe, Wilde, The Execs, Crouch and Lowe again. Burley screwed us, the execs screwed us, Pearson nearly took us down, and now Lowe has nearly taken us down again and possibly will do. If we stay up this season though, with the financial problems we have, and the loss of many top earners, then that will be a succesful season and all I was hoping for before the season started.

 

If that happens, then some kudos must go to Lowe. Hopefully then we can pressure him out of the club, along with Wilde and Crouch and we can start a fresh.