We had a chance.

[offix]

We had a chance.

 

It’s not too long ago that those of us with even a grain of common sense, in other words the vast majority of fans, finally managed to get rid of the cancer on our club that is Ru**rt Lowe.

 

It took protests, it took a plane with a banner, it took pressure from the press, but we managed to get rid of him. Or so at least it seemed. Our knight in shining armor Michael Wilde rode in on his stallion to save us.

 

I admit that I, along with many others, believed his “spiel”, which eventually was proven to be a grave error. That was no white stallion he rode in on, it was a Trojan Horse!

 

For a while it looked like it was maybe possible for us to save ourselves when we had a true fan (with money that he was actually willing to spend) taking command. By the skin of our teeth we survived another season and there was reason to hope.

 

Then the Trojan Horse opened up and Quisling came out, pushing Ru**rt once more into the fray.

 

The hope is gone, and now there is nothing left but the eulogy.

 

We had a chance …. Way back when ….. We blew it.

[John B]

We had a chance.

 

It’s not too long ago that those of us with even a grain of common sense, in other words the vast majority of fans, finally managed to get rid of the cancer on our club that is Ru**rt Lowe.

 

It took protests, it took a plane with a banner, it took pressure from the press, but we managed to get rid of him. Or so at least it seemed. Our knight in shining armor Michael Wilde rode in on his stallion to save us.

 

I admit that I, along with many others, believed his “spiel”, which eventually was proven to be a grave error. That was no white stallion he rode in on, it was a Trojan Horse!

 

For a while it looked like it was maybe possible for us to save ourselves when we had a true fan (with money that he was actually willing to spend) taking command. By the skin of our teeth we survived another season and there was reason to hope.

 

Then the Trojan Horse opened up and Quisling came out, pushing Ru**rt once more into the fray.

 

The hope is gone, and now there is nothing left but the eulogy.

 

We had a chance …. Way back when ….. We blew it.

 

 

We failed because we could not raise any money from selling players bought in by the previous regimes and because of the high wages paid to them.

[70's Mike]

We failed because we could not raise any money from selling players bought in by the previous regimes and because of the high wages paid to them.

 

 

the vast majority of which were done in ruperts first spell and by wildes boys

[alpine_saint]

We failed because we could not raise any money from selling players bought in by the previous regimes and because of the high wages paid to them.

 

What a load of bolllocks.

 

But no doubt that is the tactic Lowe will employ, along with blaming the fans for not turning up to watch shiiiit, because there is no f**king way Lowe will accept his share of the blame.

[Katalinic]

We failed because we could not raise any money from selling players bought in by the previous regimes and because of the high wages paid to them.

 

We failed because we got relegated from the Premiership - it really is as simple as that.

[hypochondriac]

What a load of bolllocks.

 

But no doubt that is the tactic Lowe will employ, along with blaming the fans for not turning up to watch shiiiit, because there is no f**king way Lowe will accept his share of the blame.

 

I agree with you. Lowe will release a statement at some point saying that nothing could be done and blaming the previous regime and the fans when we all know that there were a lot of things which could have been done this season a million times better than they were. If Crouch and Pearson were still here I don't believe we would be going into admin soon.

[alpine_saint]

If Crouch and Pearson were still here I don't believe we would be going into admin soon.

 

Yep. That's the bottom line.

[John B]

We failed because we got relegated from the Premiership - it really is as simple as that.

 

Lots of teams get relegated from the Premiership in fact three every season

 

We are in the mess now because we spent too much on players fees and wages

[John B]

What a load of bolllocks.

 

But no doubt that is the tactic Lowe will employ, along with blaming the fans for not turning up to watch shiiiit, because there is no f**king way Lowe will accept his share of the blame.

 

I know you dont like Lowe but surely most of the blame should be heaped on Wilde

 

That is my point.

 

But when Lowe goes are you going to be a happy little Alpine or have you another hate figure lined up?

[hypochondriac]

Lots of teams get relegated from the Premiership in fact three every season

 

We are in the mess now because we spent too much on players fees and wages

 

99% of which is down to Wilde and Lowe yes?

[Katalinic]

99% of which is down to Wilde and Lowe yes?

 

Exactly hypo, he did rather walk into that one.

[John B]

99% of which is down to Wilde and Lowe yes?

 

No because Lowe was not involved when the players were signed on massive wages we could not afford neither was Wilde when Euell and John were signed.

 

 

These are the facts surely.

[alpine_saint]

No because Lowe was not involved when the players were signed on massive wages we could not afford neither was Wilde when Euell and John were signed.

 

 

These are the facts surely.

 

Did you receive a heads-up and a policy statement from Lowe's PR team last night, perchance ?

 

You are saying EXACTLY the things I would be expecting from Lowe and his team once they show their faces.

[sidthesquid]

Lots of teams get relegated from the Premiership in fact three every season

 

We are in the mess now because we spent too much on players fees and wages

 

That is the key and Lowe, Wilde, Crouch, the exec directors & Burley etc all share the blame. We have been saddled with a half dozen or more hugely overpaid mediocrities that we have been unable to shift - namely Skacel, Thomas, BWP, Euell, Rasiak, Saganowski all on about £10k/week - because no-one else will offer them a half what we're paying them. (Incidentally, all bar Rasiak were Burley signings, if you want to apportion blame). Our inability to prise them out of their comfy semi-retirement on the South coast is what has done for us

[John B]

Did you receive a heads-up and a policy statement from Lowe's PR team last night, perchance ?

 

You are saying EXACTLY the things I would be expecting from Lowe and his team once they show their faces.

 

So going into Administration is nothing to with the financial state the club is in because income is less than expenditure together with the massive loss incurred last year because of the facts articulated by SIDTHESQUID

Edited 1 April, 2009 by John B

[John B]

That is the key and Lowe, Wilde, Crouch, the exec directors & Burley etc all share the blame. We have been saddled with a half dozen or more hugely overpaid mediocrities that we have been unable to shift - namely Skacel, Thomas, BWP, Euell, Rasiak, Saganowski all on about £10k/week - because no-one else will offer them a half what we're paying them. (Incidentally, all bar Rasiak were Burley signings, if you want to apportion blame). Our inability to prise them out of their comfy semi-retirement on the South coast is what has done for us

 

 

Yes you are right Sid but Rasiak was a Burley Lowe signing I believe

[alpine_saint]

So going into Administration is nothing to with the financial state the club is in because income is less than expenditure together with the massive loss incurred last year

 

Oh, of course it is.

 

Have you forgotten how we lost our share of the TV money and parachute payments ?

 

Have you forgotten the managerial changes this season that have cost money ?

 

have you forgotten the shiiit footie being served up that has so badly dented attendances ?

[hypochondriac]

Who sign euell and John?

[John B]

Who sign euell and John?

 

Why were Euell and John signed

 

 

We already had BWP SAGA Rasiak but we had not many decent defenders.

 

 

I know John scored lots of goals but maybe Rasiak and Saga would have if they played

[docker-p]

We failed because we got relegated from the Premiership - it really is as simple as that.

 

It really isn't that simple. Thinking it so is another contributory factor to where we are. 5 thousand fewer people paying through the turnstiles as a direct or indirect result of Lowe once more at the helm can't be ignored.

[John B]

No money means a crap team and crap attendances this season

 

 

Money means a crap team last season with attendances boosted by season ticket holders expecting us to be promoted

[John B]

It really isn't that simple. Thinking it so is another contributory factor to where we are. 5 thousand fewer people paying through the turnstiles as a direct or indirect result of Lowe once more at the helm can't be ignored.

 

Yes that could be true but having a crap team does not help

 

If we had done better last season we may have had more season ticket holders

[docker-p]

No money means a crap team and crap attendances this season

 

 

Money means a crap team last season with attendances boosted by season ticket holders expecting us to be promoted

 

Sacking a bright prospect of a manager that enthused the crowds and would have had at least the same attendances as last season, for a no hope, clueless, manager from the Dutch semi-pro leagues with no experience outside of the low countries have anything to do with it John B ????

Edited 1 April, 2009 by docker-p

[Snowballs2]

Lowe and Wilde are personally responsible for the demise of our club. All Lowe has achieved is to get many supporters to stay away from attending thereby reducing the financial income. He originally wanted to come back to preserve his investment...now its gone down Carey Street what sort of poor businessman does that make him.

[hypochondriac]

Why were Euell and John signed

 

 

We already had BWP SAGA Rasiak but we had not many decent defenders.

 

 

I know John scored lots of goals but maybe Rasiak and Saga would have if they played

 

Who signed them?

[sandwichsaint]

We failed because we got relegated from the Premiership - it really is as simple as that.

 

But it's never as simple as that is it?

 

1 We got relegated

 

2 We employed an uncaring, shambolic drunk of a manger

 

3 We spent too much on wages and transfer fees for mostly dross (Idiakez FFS)

 

4 We mainted a near-Premier Lge set-up in terms of academy/squad-size/off the field ops/ticket prices etc.

 

5 We bought back one of the most despised and divisive chairmen in the whole of the football league

 

6 We continued (and still continue) to employ unfit, injury prone, uncaring, unprofessional players

 

7 We failed to actively seek out alternative funding/ownership (going as far as to actively discourage 'inward investment')

 

8 We failed to make any meaningful bond with the spectators/fans ('customers' if you will) and grow any loyalty and community base (au contraire 'the fans' have been consistently lied to and patronised)

 

9 We removed the most popular and only half-decent manager we have had since WGS and replaced him with an unproven and inexperienced foreign Dream Team with a mission to get out of the CCC (which end?) playing 'revolutionary football'.

 

10 We have demoralised our core support to a point where the combination of ticket prices/ lack of success/unpopular leadership (closing the corners being but one small example)/overall 'negative' match day experience/recession (throw in presumaby another relegation) will see ST sales down below 10K next season.

 

Which of 2-10 is/was/were inevitable?

[WestSaint]

Yes that could be true but having a crap team does not help

 

If we had done better last season we may have had more season ticket holders

 

If Lowe had not come back we would definitley have had more season ticket holders!!!

[John B]

Sacking a bright prospect of a manager than enthused the crowds and would have had at least the same attendances as last season, for a no hope, clueless, manager from the Dutch semi-pro leagues with no experience outside of the low countries have anything to do with John B ????

 

Of course it may have but having to reduce costs surely is going to make the team worse

[alpine_saint]

But it's never as simple as that is it?

 

1 We got relegated

 

2 We employed an uncaring, shambolic drunk of a manger

 

3 We spent too much on wages and transfer fees for mostly dross (Idiakez FFS)

 

4 We mainted a near-Premier Lge set-up in terms of academy/squad-size/off the field ops/ticket prices etc.

 

5 We bought back one of the most despised and divisive chairmen in the whole of the football league

 

6 We continued (and still continue) to employ unfit, injury prone, uncaring, unprofessional players

 

7 We failed to actively seek out alternative funding/ownership (going as far as to actively discourage 'inward investment')

 

8 We failed to make any meaningful bond with the spectators/fans ('customers' if you will) and grow any loyalty and community base (au contraire 'the fans' have been consistently lied to and patronised)

 

9 We removed the most popular and only half-decent manager we have had since WGS and replaced him with an unproven and inexperienced foreign Dream Team with a mission to get out of the CCC (which end?) playing 'revolutionary football'.

 

10 We have demoralised our core support to a point where the combination of ticket prices/ lack of success/unpopular leadership (closing the corners being but one small example)/overall 'negative' match day experience/recession (throw in presumaby another relegation) will see ST sales down below 10K next season.

 

Which of 2-10 is/was/were inevitable?

 

Excellent post.

[WestSaint]

We had a chance with Pearson, we blew it by appointing Portaloo

who lets face it was probably alongside Wigley our worst managerial appointment ever and he was left far too long in charge as was Wigley. Couple that with our inability to score, playing one up front at home and poor defensive record and what did we ever expect

[Saint Fan CaM]

Sacking a bright prospect of a manager that enthused the crowds and would have had at least the same attendances as last season, for a no hope, clueless, manager from the Dutch semi-pro leagues with no experience outside of the low countries have anything to do with it John B ????

 

 

Well said - got it in a nutshell.

[John B]

But it's never as simple as that is it?

 

1 We got relegated

 

2 We employed an uncaring, shambolic drunk of a manger

 

3 We spent too much on wages and transfer fees for mostly dross (Idiakez FFS)

 

4 We mainted a near-Premier Lge set-up in terms of academy/squad-size/off the field ops/ticket prices etc.

 

5 We bought back one of the most despised and divisive chairmen in the whole of the football league

 

6 We continued (and still continue) to employ unfit, injury prone, uncaring, unprofessional players

 

7 We failed to actively seek out alternative funding/ownership (going as far as to actively discourage 'inward investment')

 

8 We failed to make any meaningful bond with the spectators/fans ('customers' if you will) and grow any loyalty and community base (au contraire 'the fans' have been consistently lied to and patronised)

 

9 We removed the most popular and only half-decent manager we have had since WGS and replaced him with an unproven and inexperienced foreign Dream Team with a mission to get out of the CCC (which end?) playing 'revolutionary football'.

 

10 We have demoralised our core support to a point where the combination of ticket prices/ lack of success/unpopular leadership (closing the corners being but one small example)/overall 'negative' match day experience/recession (throw in presumaby another relegation) will see ST sales down below 10K next season.

 

Which of 2-10 is/was/were inevitable?

 

Yes good post

 

3 and 4 probably caused

 

5 to 10 to happen

[hypochondriac]

Who signed them?

 

Bump.

[docker-p]

Of course it may have but having to reduce costs surely is going to make the team worse

If your cost reduction means a less quality team, that means worse results and fewer people paying through the gate, which means you have saved f* all because your product ain't selling. Lowe seems to have failed to do that basic equation and instead gambled on beating the system by employing a revolutionary new coaching system that went tits up.

[John B]

Well said - got it in a nutshell.

 

Thats right cost cutting because of our debts makes the team worse and we get in less people paying . Not playing 442 did not help either

 

Paying more for players gets a better team more supporters but probably more debt

 

 

A difficult situation to resolve which Lowe has found out especially when he was unable to sell anybody bar Davies for any sort of money.

Edited 1 April, 2009 by John B

[rooney]

Yes good post

 

3 and 4 probably caused

 

5 to 10 to happen

 

But you still have to go back to why we were relegated. Remember after the Cup Final Lowe said "we were ready to move on to the next level." Then WGS went to him to buy 2 players for £6m, Malbranque and Saha. Lowe refused, WGS "resigned" under subdefuge, and the rest just follows on like a pack of cards.

[John B]

But you still have to go back to why we were relegated. Remember after the Cup Final Lowe said "we were ready to move on to the next level." Then WGS went to him to buy 2 players for £6m, Malbranque and Saha. Lowe refused, WGS "resigned" under subdefuge, and the rest just follows on like a pack of cards.

 

All managers want better players that is true every where.

[AwaySaint1]

we failed because we could not raise any money from selling players bought in by the previous regimes and because of the high wages paid to them.

 

we failed because we floated and become a plc.

To many snouts in the trough over the years = administration.

[Alain Perrin]

35 replies to this thread, and not one commenting on how abhorrent the use of the word 'cancer' is to describe something that is comparatively trivial. There were 154,162 reasons alone last year why this belittles your argument.

 

… that, and you’re wrong.

[AwaySaint1]

35 replies to this thread, and not one commenting on how abhorrent the use of the word 'cancer' is to describe something that is comparatively trivial. There were 154,162 reasons alone last year why this belittles your argument.

 

… that, and you’re wrong.

 

Breaking news: Fan uses the word"Cancer" on a football forum,someone will say gay or the f word next.

 

Get over yourself Perrin,the clubs gone tits up and you decide to nit pick!

Edited 1 April, 2009 by AwaySaint1

[John B]

we failed because we floated and become a plc.

To many snouts in the trough over the years = administration.

 

Yes I agree with that as I posted on another thread.

 

 

Not because we became a PLC something I think we had to do but because of the Premiership and high wages paid to both players managers and executives

[Alain Perrin]

Breaking news: Fan uses the word"Cancer" on a football forum,someone will say gay or the f word next.

 

Get over yourself Perrin,the clubs gone tits up and you decide to nit pick!

 

I don't consider having your lower leg amputated through bone cancer nitpicking. The fact that you do sickens me.

[John B]

I don't consider having your lower leg amputated through bone cancer, nitpicking. The fact that you do sickens me.

 

I usually agree with you but the word cancer is used widely these days in non health type issues

[Pancake]

Remember kids, play nice today.

[sidthesquid]

Who sign euell and John?

 

Burley

[alpine_saint]

35 replies to this thread, and not one commenting on how abhorrent the use of the word 'cancer' is to describe something that is comparatively trivial. There were 154,162 reasons alone last year why this belittles your argument.

 

… that, and you’re wrong.

 

Give it a rest. The "Cancer is a Perfectly Acceptable Metaphor" argument has been done to death and conclusively.

 

Your faux-outrage is all about distracting attention from your embarassment at the club going tits-up under your Messiah's watch.

 

Dealt with it like a man and move on..

[londonsaint1604]

Give it a rest. The "Cancer is a Perfectly Acceptable Metaphor" argument has been done to death and conclusively.

 

Your faux-outrage is all about distracting attention from your embarassment at the club going tits-up under your Messiah's watch.

 

Dealt with it like a man and move on..

 

You're really enjoying this aren't you?

[Alain Perrin]

Give it a rest. The "Cancer is a Perfectly Acceptable Metaphor" argument has been done to death and conclusively.

 

Your faux-outrage is all about distracting attention from your embarassment at the club going tits-up under your Messiah's watch.

 

Dealt with it like a man and move on..

 

With respect Alpine you know nothing about me, or my family, that enables you to determine if my outrage is faux or not. It is very hard to move on if cancer moves with you, so excuse me if I find the metaphor unacceptable.

 

I am not embarassed in supporting Lowe over no viable alternative. I have always held that what is good for Rupert Lowe will be good for Saints FC, and (whilst he's still a shareholder) conversely too.

 

If we manage to go into administration and, by using the rules to our advantage, avoid a 10 point penalty, will you be trumpeting Lowe's business acumen?

[alpine_saint]

With respect Alpine you know nothing about me, or my family, that enables you to determine if my outrage is faux or not. It is very hard to move on if cancer moves with you, so excuse me if I find the metaphor unacceptable.

 

I am not embarassed in supporting Lowe over no viable alternative. I have always held that what is good for Rupert Lowe will be good for Saints FC, and (whilst he's still a shareholder) conversely too.

 

If we manage to go into administration and, by using the rules to our advantage, avoid a 10 point penalty, will you be trumpeting Lowe's business acumen?

 

Nope. The whole situation could have and should have been avoided.

[Frank's cousin]

99% of which is down to Wilde and Lowe yes?

 

True ....but... the irony being though, that when the board DONT/DIDN'T spend money on players and wages and take 'risks' they are criticised as being unambitious, or tight... now that we are in ****e the same board is getting the balme for having done just that from teh same fans.... ?????