I thought we did well against probably the leagues best team.

I would feel a whole lot better if we knew we had Andrew Davies to come back

Selling Davies is a joke!!!!.... Rupert - you do this and you will be saying to the fans not to bother.... because you are just cashing in an integral part of our push for safety for a half million profit with no real cover for him.

Today - we played exceptionally well for the first 12 mins then let Bham back in... we then showed spells of dominance before being overrun by a strong physical team and a semi blind ref.

I really like the style of play under Poortvelt but fear that it will only result in a pleasant viewing experience and a fairly regular loss...

WILDE - leave

So angry right now....

Pluses for the day:

*Gillett's work rate was superb.
*Svennsson was incredible throughout
*lloyd James was decent


everyone else had their moments but were otherwise inconsistent.

Rupert had a nice cup of tea...
Michael held Ruperts hand...

COYR!

Given what I saw in the first half there's no need to get hysterical and press the panic button. Yes we have some obvious weaknesses especially in the full-back positions but there were many good things as well.
A bit more experience on the bench would have given us more options in the second half but you can't cater for misses like John's header; that could have led to a very different result and it is on such incidents that our season could hang.
Interestingly/worrin
gly was JP's comment effectively saying he knows nothing about Davis's impending move; I've never been a fan of such decisions being any other than the 'manager's'.

The thing is Dan, today was the first home league game of the season against the favourites to be promoted, and it was far from being a full house, and then you say, 'Rupert, you do this and you will be saying to the fans not to bother.'

I think that the attendance indicates that the fans, and I use the term lightly, are already indicating to Lowe that they are not bothered. They showed it when they could not be bothered to attend the pre-season against Stoke so, after the club had PAID STOKE TO COME TO SMS, I bet that there was littl or no profit made by the club.

Football may be just a game, but Southampton Football Club is a business, that has to earn more than it spends, otherwise it goes the way of Bournemouth, Luton Town, Leeds United and, yes, Portsmouth FC.

If, instead of whinging and whining about the board, the so called 'fans' got behind the club, bought their tickets, bought their programmes and spent a few quid in the shop, then maybe, just maybe the banks would think that the club were a better business to entrust their money with.
At the moment, with the mood of a large minority of supposed 'fans', I would imagine that is not the way the banks are thinking at the moment.
If you love your club, it needs support more when the going is tough than it does when things are running smoothly -
at the moment, the going is TOUGH!

Not the time to panic right now but just as success breeds success, failure can breed failure. My major concern is not the individual match results (at this stage of the season) but the effect on team morale and confidence in the team. Already after the Cardiff match the players were saying how down the team dressing room was, understandable I know but not a healthy situation that can result in a downward spiral of team discontent and finger pointing as has happened in the past 4 seasons.

It seems to me that after several lucky matches in seasons managing to stay up in the Premiership in the 1990's and early 2000's, we have not had any luck since being in the Championship and not got many results that we did not deserve.

Unless the 'total football' approach results in 3 or more goals a game we will continue not to win matches, whilst conceding 2 a match.We've had the chances to score at least 3 goals in each game with more composed finishing so we're not that far away from getting good results.

Got my ticket for Derby match next week I hope that we can get at least a point there and get the league season going. I am concerned that if we lose at Derby, go out of the league cup and only draw or lose to Blackpool then already the pressure will be on everyone at the club.

Where have the 12,000 supporters gone who once attended premier league games at SMS ? I guess that they were not true Saints fans and were there to watch premier league football and not truly support the Saints.
Keep the faith true Saints fans, supporting Saints is for life not just for the premier league.

sailor sam wrote:
The thing is Dan, today was the first home league game of the season against the favourites to be promoted, and it was far from being a full house, and then you say, \'Rupert, you do this and you will be saying to the fans not to bother.\' I think that the attendance indicates that the fans, and I use the term lightly, are already indicating to Lowe that they are not bothered. They showed it when they could not be bothered to attend the pre-season against Stoke so, after the club had PAID STOKE TO COME TO SMS, I bet that there was littl or no profit made by the club. Football may be just a game, but Southampton Football Club is a business, that has to earn more than it spends, otherwise it goes the way of Bournemouth, Luton Town, Leeds United and, yes, Portsmouth FC. If, instead of whinging and whining about the board, the so called \'fans\' got behind the club, bought their tickets, bought their programmes and spent a few quid in the shop, then maybe, just maybe the banks would think that the club were a better business to entrust their money with. At the moment, with the mood of a large minority of supposed \'fans\', I would imagine that is not the way the banks are thinking at the moment. If you love your club, it needs support more when the going is tough than it does when things are running smoothly - at the moment, the going is TOUGH!

sam you know very little - what small modicum of respect that you had was gone in one fell swoop when you stated that pompey was a "tourist mecca"

Saints as you have cleverly stated is a business. Rupert while balencing the books still need to retain a product.

While today was a far more entertaining afair than normal. The sale of Adrew Davies for pitance does not inspire confidence in the "product"

If Lowe relyies on loyalty alone then saints will go the same way as the Great British car industry

Yipee Derby next.

Haven't won in the league since last September 1-0 at home to Newcastle, Paul Jewell still waiting for his first win.

Knowing saints record over the years in this type of situation, home win to Derby it is then !!

That is not all He has admitted.

This was the quote on the Offical Web Site when Poortvliet was asked to comment on the rumours surrounding the proposed transfer he said and I quote "I have heard the rumours but I am not sure exactly what is happening there. I have not chance to see him play yet so I don't know too much about him but I think he may have spoken to them (Stoke) but I am not sure"

WTF!!!! are you telling me that the manager of our club knows nothing about who we buy or sell!!!

Rupert Lowe must be behind this move, we need Davies and after todays game we need him even more.

It also was revealed by Poortvliet that Killers knee is cause for concern as he was feeling it before the brum game and was a doubt!!! also he was not happy with the effort from BWP or Dyer so that is why they were left out today!!

What do you all think of that!!!

For anyone who didn't bother going, but are happy to slag off the club at the first opportunity, the first half was probably the best we've had in the last couple of years, we were not just better, we were streets ahead and deserved to be ahead against what will probably turn out to be one of the best teams in the league. It's obvious that we've still got a lot to learn and the second half showed that, but if we get behind these guys, we've got a real chance. Some of the so-called supporters of this club need to remember what the word means, so get off your arses and get behind the team, slagging off Lowe and Wilde wont make anything right. Show some belief, show some support, get to the games and give it a couple of months, not a couple of games!

We were not physically strong or tall enough and it showed with the kids on the pitch after Stern John went off.

It is totally crazy to let Raisak leave on loan as he could have at least been a presence up front for us as we had no Strikers on the bench

What is happening to us, lost first two league games, haven't got a genuinely good striker or defender and now we loan out Rasiak for the WHOLE season, and sell Davies for a tiny profit.

We really have some major problems and asset stripping is NOT the answer, I am genuinely concerned that the new board is only weakening a squad that only survived last season by the narrowest margin.

First half we played pretty well, some nice movement, but looked lightweight in front of goal and didn't make their keeper work. Svensson at the back was superb, he was being a one-man defence most of the time.

It says an awful lot about our situation that we are now totally dependent on a player with a dodgy knee who hadn't played for 3 years.

As well as we played, today's game felt like a lower league team having a crack at a higher league team. We did well for 50 minutes, but then tired badly and Birmingham steamrolled us. I think Birmingham had two or three more gears to move into, Saints didn't.

Surman looked hacked off at left back. He clearly doesn't like playing there. Lloyd James is not a right back, he is doing his best but we'll get no where with square pegs in round holes. Lee Holmes faded badly. Gillett got away with some silly passes, that in other games will lead to us conceding goals.

McGoldrick on the right didn't work, especially how he didn't track back and help James.

The bench made no sense at all, unless there is something going on with Dyer and BWP and Lowe told Jan not to play them as they maybe on their way.

To me, it feels like Lowe is meddling in team affairs yet again. Everyone is up for sale, but worse than that, he is telling the manager which players he can and can't pick... and not even telling the manager which players are talking to other clubs!!!

A predictable defeat today. Not all bad, some nice football at times, but reality will hit home very very hard soon if we don't pick up points. This league is very unforgiving.

Jesus_02 wrote:

sailor sam wrote: The thing is Dan, today was the first home league game of the season against the favourites to be promoted, and it was far from being a full house, and then you say, \\\'Rupert, you do this and you will be saying to the fans not to bother.\\\' I think that the attendance indicates that the fans, and I use the term lightly, are already indicating to Lowe that they are not bothered. They showed it when they could not be bothered to attend the pre-season against Stoke so, after the club had PAID STOKE TO COME TO SMS, I bet that there was littl or no profit made by the club. Football may be just a game, but Southampton Football Club is a business, that has to earn more than it spends, otherwise it goes the way of Bournemouth, Luton Town, Leeds United and, yes, Portsmouth FC. If, instead of whinging and whining about the board, the so called \\\'fans\\\' got behind the club, bought their tickets, bought their programmes and spent a few quid in the shop, then maybe, just maybe the banks would think that the club were a better business to entrust their money with. At the moment, with the mood of a large minority of supposed \\\'fans\\\', I would imagine that is not the way the banks are thinking at the moment. If you love your club, it needs support more when the going is tough than it does when things are running smoothly - at the moment, the going is TOUGH!

sam you know very little - what small modicum of respect that you had was gone in one fell swoop when you stated that pompey was a \"tourist mecca\" Saints as you have cleverly stated is a business. Rupert while balencing the books still need to retain a product. While today was a far more entertaining afair than normal. The sale of Adrew Davies for pitance does not inspire confidence in the \"product\" If Lowe relyies on loyalty alone then saints will go the same way as the Great British car industry

I am so upset that you now have no respect for me, I doubt that I will be able to sleep tonight.

Perhaps, if I list the tourist attractions at Portsmouth, you could list the tourist attractions at Southampton, and we could make a comparison.

HMS Victory. (When I went to school in the SO postal area, we had a trip to visit it.)
HMS Warrior.
The Mary Rose
The Spinnaker Tower
The Royal Marine Museum
South Parade Pier
Southsea beach
Clarence Pier and funfair
Portsmouth Cathedral
Premier League Football
The D-Day Museum
A panoramic view of the City and Isle of Wight in an arc from Fawley in the West to Chichester in the East, from the top of Portsdown hill.

You are, of course, correct when you say that while ballancing the books, a product has to be retained. That raises the question, is the product to be retained a Championships League product or a Division 1 product?
Could it mean that, by trying to retain a Championship League product, you go bust and lose the business?
They are problems that Lowe has to deal with, but 'fans' tend to forget.

If money has to be raised, and with today's attendance, that certainly appears to be the case, then you get what you can for a player. If you want more than a 'pittance' for Davis, then you have to find a club that is prepared to pay a higher price than Stoke.

Your last sentence sums it up. Lowe obviously CANNOT RELY ON LOYALTY. That was evident today. So, he has to find another means, and that is, sell Davis.

Have the 'supporters' done anything to raise money for the club? If they have, they have kept very quiet about it. Sometimes it is not enough to expect someone else to 'put their hand in their pocke', there comes a time when the fans have to put their money where their mouth is, but at the moment, saints 'customers' have shown plenty of mouth, but have kept a tight hold of their money.

Incidentally. Modicum = a small amount. Did you really only have a small small amount of respect for me?

You gotta be scrapping the barrel if you think South Parde pier is a tourist attraction... LOL

sailor sam wrote:
The thing is Dan, today was the first home league game of the season against the favourites to be promoted, and it was far from being a full house, and then you say, 'Rupert, you do this and you will be saying to the fans not to bother.'

I think that the attendance indicates that the fans, and I use the term lightly, are already indicating to Lowe that they are not bothered. They showed it when they could not be bothered to attend the pre-season against Stoke so, after the club had PAID STOKE TO COME TO SMS, I bet that there was littl or no profit made by the club.

Football may be just a game, but Southampton Football Club is a business, that has to earn more than it spends, otherwise it goes the way of Bournemouth, Luton Town, Leeds United and, yes, Portsmouth FC.

If, instead of whinging and whining about the board, the so called 'fans' got behind the club, bought their tickets, bought their programmes and spent a few quid in the shop, then maybe, just maybe the banks would think that the club were a better business to entrust their money with.
At the moment, with the mood of a large minority of supposed 'fans', I would imagine that is not the way the banks are thinking at the moment.
If you love your club, it needs support more when the going is tough than it does when things are running smoothly -
at the moment, the going is TOUGH!

You know Sailor Sam, for a Pompey fan you talk a lot of sense!
I find it hard to understand why so many 'fans' stay away when they could be seeing the start of something really special at St Mary's. When Man Utd fielded Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Butt, the Nevilles, etc. did the United faithful stop watching? That team of youngsters went on to great things as we know.
On the last game of the season, St Mary's was packed and it was easy to see which were the 'fans for a day'; they were the ones not leaving the pitch when asked but instead, arsing around sliding and taking phone pics.
I don't live in Southampton but make the effort because I support my team. I can't believe more Southampton-based people don't turn out. I have also watched most of the pre-season games and really warmed to our new side. I think their potential will be realised soon.
If the fans do stay away as some kind of protest, it only hurts the club more and that does not help anyone. I would not like to see Saints deducted the kind of points of Bournemouth, etc. all because some don't like our PLC Chairman. If you are a Saints supporter, you go through the ups and downs.

Some people seem to be awking to the ***** obvious ie. that Lowe chooses who to sign and who to sell and JP/MW has little or no say. In any case they are not familiar with the overwhelming majority of players in this league. No doubt they were told that this would be the limit to their role when they were appointed, probably on the grounds that they were the only people available who would accept such restricted roles. Lowe would not have been able to agree this with any decent manager with relevant experience from the UK. For JP it was probably such a massive increase in salary (though relatively little by normal UK standards) that he was prepared to accept Lowe's role in deciding who came in. Surely none of us believe JP knew anything about Wotton, Holmes or Forecast before they appeared on the scene! They were all Lowe's idea, no doubt guided by someone else close to him.
No, get real the club is on the edge of a precipice, there is no money to speak of, everyone in theory is for sale (even a very decent player like Andrew Davies who will be vital to retain to balance an aged set of central defenders), our best will go first leaving either the useless or the young/inexperienced and we will do well to survive.
Good luck to JP none of this is his fault; but he will be proven to be out of his depth with a shallow squad stripped of established players and no doubt Lowe will consign him (cheaply) to the legion he has already got rid of or let go when things get bleak around mid November

Today was disappointing given the effort skill and chances created I counted 8 in the first half.We deserved to go in 2 or 3 nil up athalf time and got caught by a sucker punch early in the second half. Heads went down and we took our foot off the gas but I thought we did well considering who we were playing.We need an experienced left back ,right back and defensive midfielder also more muscle up front.But give them there due they played exciting entertaining football and results will come.KEEP SUPPORTIMG THE LADS WIN OR LOSE.As for Davies going that is a crass error on Rupert's part so lsten to the fans and let him stay we need experienced defenders.Jan I wish you well but Rupert will like a stone around your neck but I hope I am wrong

Just when you thought it was safe to start whispering that saints might be on the verge of turning the corner of the nightmare that has been the last 4 years something strange happens that gets the fans talking and looking glum again. what i am talking about is the potential body blow of losing andrew davies to stoke city. when the club is talking about giving youth a chance you could understand and respect saints for shipping out high wage earners who are 28 or over (rasiak/viafara/wrig

ht/ostlund etc etc)to balance the books. but not at the expense of losing arguably our best young defender in andrew davies! yes he probably is on a decent wage but we cannot substitute all of our quality players to save a few quid. you've got to draw a line somewhere and i feel it needs to be drawn here! if saints are to avoid a relegation scrap this season they're gonna need to keep a few of the more experienced and talented players at the club.
on the subject of todays match i think that backs up the argument for more experience. after a good first half i feel birmingham got a bit more physical in the second half and targeted our 2 young and inexperienced full back in particular. theres no shame in losing to cardiff and birmingham in your first two games but the frustrating thing is saints have played well in spells in both games and have shot themselves in the foot with a sloppy goal to lose in the 91st minute at cardiff and conceded in the first 5 minutes of the second half today. i think that could of been avoided with a bit more experience in the side.
i'm not too concerned just yet but saints need to get some points on the board quick and they're gonna have to put in a performance for 90 minutes, not just 45!
lastly, and on a positive note, i know he's only played 3 times for saints but for me morgan schneiderlin looks a class act! for 18 years old he has the potential to go to the very top. i think he has all the attributes such as an eye for a pass, a willingness to graft and get stuck in and a good head on him to be a brilliant player over the next decade. saints best player so far without a doubt.

Alarm bells are ringing big time..........

These players wont last the pace of six games a month. Its already starting to show now and with no rotation its going to end in a disaster.

Not enough experience in the team

Surman is wasted at left back

no experienced right back

davis is still a liability in goal

Rupert Lowe is DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL in all but name !

Wilde is just a plastic chairman with no substance.

Meant to be at SMS today 4 1st home game but horrible weather meant our family stop-go'ed all the way back from Cornwall to Southampton, and just got wisps of the game on a very patchy Radio Solent signal.

We are season ticket holders, and would have been there if we could - that was the plan...

Cut to comment - Andrew Davies going - bad. Stern John was pulled off to save him for his World Cup qualifier in Cuba.

The team has yet to gell; it will happen. Like all creations, the new Saints FC team will take a while to emerge, instant results are not likely, and expectations otherwise will work against the young team Jan is building.

Support the guys! Don't analyse them to death!

COYR!

NFS

It's only 2 games gone and things aren't yet desperate, but lessons must be learnt if the team are to start winning and lasting for 90 minutes.
Playing a high tempo style of football, closing down players and supporting attacks at top speed is a great ideal, but it has to be tempered with a touch of realism.
The experts will tell you that it takes years for a player to build up the strength and stamina to cope with the rigours of English football, so based on that it would be fair to assume that many of our young players have a long way to go before their bodies have matured physically enough to play this type of football for 90 minutes.
Many top managers tell us that they will only use a young player sporadically in order to enable his body to mature and so as not to over tire him, thus improving his level of fitness gradually.
IMO if JP wants the team to continue playing this way, he needs to know which of his players are the most likely to run out of steam and have a good substitution plan in place before each game, hoping that it isn't disrupted by injury.
Hopefully the players will increase their level of fitness to meet the level of play JP wants, but he is asking a great deal from under developed bodies, which may also be putting them at risk of injury.

Although not disheartened by the 1st two games if we don't build solid leads when in the ascendancy we will always run the risk of being overhauled in the 2nd half, by stronger sides, when we tire.
You also have to consider how will this type of all action football cope on boggy pitches in the middle of winter, and what impact will it have on the players bodies?

Yer but were never going to win because saints think that there new coaching setup is going to win them the championship but guess what its not and they have to relise that to make money youve got to spend money. they just need to stop being blind and stupid because this will cost us are place in the championship.

sailor sam wrote:
The thing is Dan, today was the first home league game of the season against the favourites to be promoted, and it was far from being a full house, and then you say, 'Rupert, you do this and you will be saying to the fans not to bother.' I think that the attendance indicates that the fans, and I use the term lightly, are already indicating to Lowe that they are not bothered. They showed it when they could not be bothered to attend the pre-season against Stoke so, after the club had PAID STOKE TO COME TO SMS, I bet that there was littl or no profit made by the club. Football may be just a game, but Southampton Football Club is a business, that has to earn more than it spends, otherwise it goes the way of Bournemouth, Luton Town, Leeds United and, yes, Portsmouth FC. If, instead of whinging and whining about the board, the so called 'fans' got behind the club, bought their tickets, bought their programmes and spent a few quid in the shop, then maybe, just maybe the banks would think that the club were a better business to entrust their money with. At the moment, with the mood of a large minority of supposed 'fans', I would imagine that is not the way the banks are thinking at the moment. If you love your club, it needs support more when the going is tough than it does when things are running smoothly - at the moment, the going is TOUGH!

I have never heard such rubbish. Would you go and buy a particular car to save the manufacturer. Never mind that the car is crap and the management of the business poor and that it will let you down and while you are at it buy some mudflaps and seat covers as the company want your money. This is 60s and 70s thinking. If the club is poorly managed and administered then let it go to the wall. Why should I save it with my very limited disposable income? The people who own the club are the shareholders not me. They make all of the decisions I am just a by stander. If SFC sinks then there are plenty of other football matches to watch.

Being pragmatic Birmingham are one of the best teams we'll face this season. We matched them until they finally bulldozed us. We have the quality- Schneiderlin looked a class act especially, but we lack the power. Birmingham were technically no better but were just so much stronger. Jake Thomson looked good but was very thin.

I can't see that we're that bad, Burnley have spent a fortune and are much worse.

Still early days and flashes of decent play, though we need to strengthen. we lack pace at the back - svensson's reading of the game and domination in the air are second to none but we tend to be a bit flatfooted when turned (Bothroyd last week; Jerome yesterday). Surman is seriously out of position - I was uncomfortable with playing him fullback last year but that was partly compensated for by a tighter 4-4-2 that gave him more cover. Gillett and Schneiderlin look very good in the middle. On the other hand, from having alot of options upfront, we're now looking stretched. Rasiak, Saganowski are no longer with us; Euell is effectively gone; and BWP and Dyer didnt even make the squad. Only John and McGoldrick are out and out strikers and playing McGoldrick off John didnt work- he seemed stranded at times in the first half. At the moment, hard to think how we can change a game if we're forced to press or come from behind. Both Cardiff and B'ham second half performances exposed that. Still hoping, however.

This forum really is depressing, isn't it? Before I sign off (for good) may I wish Southampton *and* Portsmouth the best of luck this season. It would be nice if both teams (and Bournemouth, Plymouth, Brighton...) were in the top flight, then a healthy south coast rivalry could be played out on a football pitch, rather than through crass vitriol on a third-rate web site. It's all yours. Good night...

My brothers a ball boy at St Marys and saw Wright-phillips,Dyer
,Euell,Skacel all in casual gear outside the changing rooms, before the game. Looks like they are all being forced to leave to!!

I have been reading all these above and other posts since the game yesterday, which I attended. The young lads played very well in about the first 20 minurtes, not the full first half. Whilst we had a few chances so score additional goals, so did Birmingham.
Still fed up with the old song about our neighbours, although glad not being sung so much now, very boring!
As for the abuse that Super Kev got, I think that this went beyond banter and in a way we got our just reward for this abuse. He was a good player for us and did not deserve that reception!
If no other interest has been shown in the players that we want to and could off-load has been forthcoming, then unfortunately if an offer has come in for Davies we have no choice but to sell him, I just hope that we have a decent sell on clause agreed?
No one has also really thought or posted comments about who currently sponsors our academy! Just to remind all fans that the property market in the UK is pretty bad at the moment and I just wonder how long a contract, or how long Orchard Homes can afford, in the current financial climate continue to support or be able to support this?
Unfortunately all I can see at the moment is our best young players being sold to big clubs at every possible opportunity!
Sorry, but the lack of investment by Lowe and Co, post the FA Cup is the reason we are now in the position we are now.
However, despite all the above concerns I live in hope and will support the young lads whatever dicision, because Southampton FC is my club!
COYR

DJI wrote:

sailor sam wrote: The thing is Dan, today was the first home league game of the season against the favourites to be promoted, and it was far from being a full house, and then you say, 'Rupert, you do this and you will be saying to the fans not to bother.' I think that the attendance indicates that the fans, and I use the term lightly, are already indicating to Lowe that they are not bothered. They showed it when they could not be bothered to attend the pre-season against Stoke so, after the club had PAID STOKE TO COME TO SMS, I bet that there was littl or no profit made by the club. Football may be just a game, but Southampton Football Club is a business, that has to earn more than it spends, otherwise it goes the way of Bournemouth, Luton Town, Leeds United and, yes, Portsmouth FC. If, instead of whinging and whining about the board, the so called 'fans' got behind the club, bought their tickets, bought their programmes and spent a few quid in the shop, then maybe, just maybe the banks would think that the club were a better business to entrust their money with. At the moment, with the mood of a large minority of supposed 'fans', I would imagine that is not the way the banks are thinking at the moment. If you love your club, it needs support more when the going is tough than it does when things are running smoothly - at the moment, the going is TOUGH!

You know Sailor Sam, for a Pompey fan you talk a lot of sense! I find it hard to understand why so many 'fans' stay away when they could be seeing the start of something really special at St Mary's. When Man Utd fielded Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Butt, the Nevilles, etc. did the United faithful stop watching? That team of youngsters went on to great things as we know. On the last game of the season, St Mary's was packed and it was easy to see which were the 'fans for a day'; they were the ones not leaving the pitch when asked but instead, arsing around sliding and taking phone pics. I don't live in Southampton but make the effort because I support my team. I can't believe more Southampton-based people don't turn out. I have also watched most of the pre-season games and really warmed to our new side. I think their potential will be realised soon. If the fans do stay away as some kind of protest, it only hurts the club more and that does not help anyone. I would not like to see Saints deducted the kind of points of Bournemouth, etc. all because some don't like our PLC Chairman. If you are a Saints supporter, you go through the ups and downs.

Sam and DJI.

I absolutely guarantee than when it works out well thios season all these Anti, negative weasels will be flooding this site proclaiming their support, telling us they watched every match in the Dutch revolution and think that Saint Woopert should be in for a knighthood.

It's human nature.

Southsea Beach ? A tourist attraction?

Lepe Beach has more going for it

sailor sam wrote:
The thing is Dan, today was the first home league game of the season against the favourites to be promoted, and it was far from being a full house, and then you say, \'Rupert, you do this and you will be saying to the fans not to bother.\' I think that the attendance indicates that the fans, and I use the term lightly, are already indicating to Lowe that they are not bothered. They showed it when they could not be bothered to attend the pre-season against Stoke so, after the club had PAID STOKE TO COME TO SMS, I bet that there was littl or no profit made by the club. Football may be just a game, but Southampton Football Club is a business, that has to earn more than it spends, otherwise it goes the way of Bournemouth, Luton Town, Leeds United and, yes, Portsmouth FC. If, instead of whinging and whining about the board, the so called \'fans\' got behind the club, bought their tickets, bought their programmes and spent a few quid in the shop, then maybe, just maybe the banks would think that the club were a better business to entrust their money with. At the moment, with the mood of a large minority of supposed \'fans\', I would imagine that is not the way the banks are thinking at the moment. If you love your club, it needs support more when the going is tough than it does when things are running smoothly - at the moment, the going is TOUGH!

To restore the fans confidence Lowe needs to go. With the fans back the revenue will increase.

Condor Man wrote:
Being pragmatic Birmingham are one of the best teams we'll face this season. We matched them until they finally bulldozed us. We have the quality- Schneiderlin looked a class act especially, but we lack the power. Birmingham were technically no better but were just so much stronger. Jake Thomson looked good but was very thin. I can't see that we're that bad, Burnley have spent a fortune and are much worse.

Not just Birmingham, but our only other league game was against another team that many 'experts' are saying have one of the best squads in the league.

That's a bit like a prem team getting Liverpool away and Man U at home for their first 2 games.

When the fixture list came out, who really expected anything from these 2 games?

And we were right in the mix in both games.
A last minute goal was all that separated the sides at Crdiff.
2-1 defeat to title favourites Brum.
In both games we had great spells, although not yet able to maintain it. We will in time as this side matures.

In truth, this side seems to be getting there quicker than I expected.

A bit more patience!
We are where we are.
If we continued with last years 'plan', we would have been no better off after these 2 games.

(Davies - don't go!)
(Lowe - if only £1.5m, never enough. Even releasing BWP, Euell & Skacel for nothing to free up wages would be better that that. Or if there is more to this story, then tell us)

Someone posted on one of these stories about Surman's performance yesterday. I think I might have seen why.

According to the Mirror's website, Reading are lining up a £2.5m bid for him (to play at left back!?).

If true, not overly concerned, as long as we can get a real left back in.

Also, could this avoid the need to sell Davies? Assuming of course that the Davies thing is because we need the cash and not driven by the player himself (or his agent).

Would rather keep Davies than Surman.

Hmmmmmmmmm.

It is a little amusing that skates feel happy to criticise our poor attendance yesterday, especially when i remember very clearly how low their gates were when they were in the same situation as us. Let us not forget our gate yesterday was only 1,000 short of a sell out down there.
Our problem is 3 fold.
1. The poor way in which Saints have treated the fans since the move to SMS. They do not listen to the fans or listen to what they want - i am lucky enough to be involved with a very successful fan group in Germany which has doubled the clubs membership in 3-4 seasons purely by making fans welcome and adapting to what fans want. Fans are consulted on pretty much everything that effects them. I even offered to travel at my own expense from Germany to give a presentation to the club about how adopting this could help us attract the fans again and make them feel part of the club - this was declined. I do not make up what this fan group has helped achieved in Germany so why not listen ? If you listen to somebody and call him an idiot it is better than calling him an idiot without listening first. The fans are Saints FC not the board, players or officials. Apparently we have a fans voice on the board however if so i believe their seat is firmly wedged up Lowes a*se so tightly they don't get a say on what is going on. Surely cheaper tickets is preferable to closing half the ground and losing free bus travel was another example, as was spending a substantial amount of club money on training items and tracksuits which are in the exact colours of our local rivals - a certain top seller ????? I think not. Were fans consulted on any of these decisions ????
2. Poor signings since leaving the Premier League coupled with selling any talent we find through the academy at the first opportunity. We signed too many run of the mill players on far too much money and how can you move forward when as soon as we find a decent talent we sell them at the first opportunity.
3. We do not have what you need to be in the Premier League - ie a very very wealthy backer. Without their chairmen/owners half the current top flight would be in the same position (or worse) that we are now. Whilst we do not have this money we need to keep fans as happy as possible and bring people back to the club - Norwich do it and they have arguably had a worse team than us for the past few seasons. If fans are travelling to the ground they will spend money in the shop and in the ground - that is a fact. If they stay at home not only will they not spend money they will not be getting behind the team either.

The young lads have played probably the two hardest games we will have this season and been bloody unlucky to come away with nothing so far. We need to stay faithful to them but we need Lowe and his puppets to do the same by sorting themselves out and stopping selling our players. The likes of Saganovski and Rasiak i can just about live with given their contributions but Andrew Davies should not be sold.
Come You Saints and keep the faith - in the team and manager if not the board.

Rambling Rose wrote:
Not the time to panic right now but just as success breeds success, failure can breed failure. My major concern is not the individual match results (at this stage of the season) but the effect on team morale and confidence in the team. Already after the Cardiff match the players were saying how down the team dressing room was, understandable I know but not a healthy situation that can result in a downward spiral of team discontent and finger pointing as has happened in the past 4 seasons. It seems to me that after several lucky matches in seasons managing to stay up in the Premiership in the 1990's and early 2000's, we have not had any luck since being in the Championship and not got many results that we did not deserve. Unless the 'total football' approach results in 3 or more goals a game we will continue not to win matches, whilst conceding 2 a match.We've had the chances to score at least 3 goals in each game with more composed finishing so we're not that far away from getting good results. Got my ticket for Derby match next week I hope that we can get at least a point there and get the league season going. I am concerned that if we lose at Derby, go out of the league cup and only draw or lose to Blackpool then already the pressure will be on everyone at the club. Where have the 12,000 supporters gone who once attended premier league games at SMS ? I guess that they were not true Saints fans and were there to watch premier league football and not truly support the Saints. Keep the faith true Saints fans, supporting Saints is for life not just for the premier league.

Not true Saints fans !,true Saints have it in there hart,was a season tiket holder for 22 years at the Dell & SMS up until last year,the fans will not put up with low life lowe & dragging Saints out of Championship,last straw was the cut back on free transport into Southampton,your looking at £60-£70 per match after a few drinks & something to eat,Think your find people have less money to spend & thats more like the reason there are less fans but dosen't help when week in week out Saint are losing to a team that needs a cash injection,but instead low life lowe is intent on dragging us out of leauge football !

Ric wrote:

Rambling Rose wrote: Not the time to panic right now but just as success breeds success, failure can breed failure. My major concern is not the individual match results (at this stage of the season) but the effect on team morale and confidence in the team. Already after the Cardiff match the players were saying how down the team dressing room was, understandable I know but not a healthy situation that can result in a downward spiral of team discontent and finger pointing as has happened in the past 4 seasons. It seems to me that after several lucky matches in seasons managing to stay up in the Premiership in the 1990\\\'s and early 2000\\\'s, we have not had any luck since being in the Championship and not got many results that we did not deserve. Unless the \\\'total football\\\' approach results in 3 or more goals a game we will continue not to win matches, whilst conceding 2 a match.We\\\'ve had the chances to score at least 3 goals in each game with more composed finishing so we\\\'re not that far away from getting good results. Got my ticket for Derby match next week I hope that we can get at least a point there and get the league season going. I am concerned that if we lose at Derby, go out of the league cup and only draw or lose to Blackpool then already the pressure will be on everyone at the club. Where have the 12,000 supporters gone who once attended premier league games at SMS ? I guess that they were not true Saints fans and were there to watch premier league football and not truly support the Saints. Keep the faith true Saints fans, supporting Saints is for life not just for the premier league.

Not true Saints fans !,true Saints have it in there hart,was a season tiket holder for 22 years at the Dell & SMS up until last year,the fans will not put up with low life lowe & dragging Saints out of Championship,last straw was the cut back on free transport into Southampton,your looking at £60-£70 per match after a few drinks & something to eat,Think your find people have less money to spend & thats more like the reason there are less fans but dosen\\\'t help when week in week out Saint are losing to a team that needs a cash injection,but instead low life lowe is intent on dragging us out of leauge football !

I agree with Ric. Most people do not have unlimited funds and a ticket or two, three, four + others bits and bobs eats quite a lot in to their weekly salary.
Whilst I support the young team I think that what Lowe and co has taken for granted is that the fans wont all be mugs. At the end of the day you could see most of the team we have now, for free last year at Staplewood! Unfortunately Lowe looks upon the fans as lesser people than him and all we are, are percentages to his business plan! Football is more than that!

Ric wrote: Not true Saints fans !,true Saints have it in there hart,was a season ticket holder for 22 years at the Dell & SMS up until last year,the fans will not put up with low life Lowe & dragging Saints out of Championship,last straw was the cut back on free transport into Southampton,your looking at £60-£70 per match after a few drinks & something to eat,Think your find people have less money to spend & that's more like the reason there are less fans but doesn't help when week in week out Saint are losing to a team that needs a cash injection,but instead low life Lowe is intent on dragging us out of league football !

Well Ric, I live an hours' drive from SMS and it must cost me more to come to a game than someone living in Totton? You don't have to spend £60-£70 for each game. Do what I do, eat before you go and don't bother with the Pub. That way, it costs me about £15 a game (I have a season ticket, bought when they offered the biggest discount) and I get to do what is important, watch Saints play. I accept that times are hard for all of us but, if you wanted to watch the Saints play, you would go without a few other things until the economic situation allows.

Whilst I was very disappointed to lose yesterday (especially after seeing on the TV this morning that Stern John's 'goal' was incorrectly ruled out for offside!), I'm still optimistic that when we play lesser sides than Birmingham, that our youngsters will gel with a few more games under their belts.
Have to say selling Andrew Davies is madness.
Also abuse Kevin Phillips experienced was out of order yesterday.

heed this warning rupert if you sell andrew davies you can kiss the season goodbye.your doing to the dutch puppets exactly what you done when you brought that idiot clive woodward in.your meddling where it dont concern you.come the next home game there be even less at sms because of you rupert.you just dont get it do you.the people of southampton dont want you and wish you would just disappear under the rock you come from.you think your the saviour get real sell all thats best about the team and we are well and truely fuked.i think our young lads are magnificent but the club and especially lowe is asking to much from the youngsters.already the fans attention is already moving from the football to the main culprit to why we are where we are now.Rupert lowe the worse thing to happen to southampton since the blitz.thats why myself and many thousands of saints fans will never return while that egomaniac is still at the club.and before you all get on my case not being a true saints fan you can get a dog up ure ive followed this club for 50 years home and away till this season.NEVER WHILE LOWE IS THERE

Richie wrote:
It is a little amusing that skates feel happy to criticise our poor attendance yesterday, especially when i remember very clearly how low their gates were when they were in the same situation as us. Let us not forget our gate yesterday was only 1,000 short of a sell out down there. Our problem is 3 fold. 1. The poor way in which Saints have treated the fans since the move to SMS. They do not listen to the fans or listen to what they want - i am lucky enough to be involved with a very successful fan group in Germany which has doubled the clubs membership in 3-4 seasons purely by making fans welcome and adapting to what fans want. Fans are consulted on pretty much everything that effects them. I even offered to travel at my own expense from Germany to give a presentation to the club about how adopting this could help us attract the fans again and make them feel part of the club - this was declined. I do not make up what this fan group has helped achieved in Germany so why not listen ? If you listen to somebody and call him an idiot it is better than calling him an idiot without listening first. The fans are Saints FC not the board, players or officials. Apparently we have a fans voice on the board however if so i believe their seat is firmly wedged up Lowes a*se so tightly they don't get a say on what is going on. Surely cheaper tickets is preferable to closing half the ground and losing free bus travel was another example, as was spending a substantial amount of club money on training items and tracksuits which are in the exact colours of our local rivals - a certain top seller ????? I think not. Were fans consulted on any of these decisions ???? 2. Poor signings since leaving the Premier League coupled with selling any talent we find through the academy at the first opportunity. We signed too many run of the mill players on far too much money and how can you move forward when as soon as we find a decent talent we sell them at the first opportunity. 3. We do not have what you need to be in the Premier League - ie a very very wealthy backer. Without their chairmen/owners half the current top flight would be in the same position (or worse) that we are now. Whilst we do not have this money we need to keep fans as happy as possible and bring people back to the club - Norwich do it and they have arguably had a worse team than us for the past few seasons. If fans are travelling to the ground they will spend money in the shop and in the ground - that is a fact. If they stay at home not only will they not spend money they will not be getting behind the team either. The young lads have played probably the two hardest games we will have this season and been bloody unlucky to come away with nothing so far. We need to stay faithful to them but we need Lowe and his puppets to do the same by sorting themselves out and stopping selling our players. The likes of Saganovski and Rasiak i can just about live with given their contributions but Andrew Davies should not be sold. Come You Saints and keep the faith - in the team and manager if not the board.

Well said Richie - so yesterday's gate was 1,000 less than a 'sell out' at Fratton Park, but how far short of a 'sell out' was it for St Mary's?

Was the stadium built that size so that everyone could be 15 feet or more away from the next customer? Of course not. Your 'dedicated', 'Southampton til I die', 'Saints for Ever' supposed fans, have quit.
When the going got tough, they vanish, instead of getting behind the club to try and help it through its financial crisis.

The always want someone else to dip their hand in their pocket to pull out cash, but are unwilling to spend any of their own cash.

Result? You get what you deserve.

Dick Van Dyke wrote:
My brothers a ball boy at St Marys and saw Wright-phillips,Dyer ,Euell,Skacel all in casual gear outside the changing rooms, before the game. Looks like they are all being forced to leave to!!

You're an idiot if you think fashion sense indicates whether someone is losing their job... Dyer signed a new contract so he's NOT leaving.

I am rather pleased with myself at the moment. That young lad Davies should rake in about 1 million when I sell him to stoke and with another 2.5 million from Reading for Surman that will please the bank and earn me a decent bonus as well. I know the fans will not like it but I need to punish them for what they did to me so I am selling their heroes. I do not care what the fans think as this is my club, I run it now and I will soon own it and it will be mine, all mine and no one elses and I can do what I want and no one can stop me. Who are the fans anyway trying to tell me Rupert lowe what I should do and what is best for the club. Thankfully there are some fans who are so stupid that they actually like me and think I am doing the right things. Sad poor little things fancy them not knowing what is really going on. But I will get my revenge on those nasty people who have said nasty things about me. Who do they think they are. Do they not know who I am? I shall remind them for am the one and only super Rupert Lowe the saviour of Southampton Football Club, the only man clever enough to run a football club properly. I like to surround myself with yes men and have managed to that except for the dissenting fans but I will get my PR people onto them who cares if they do not come to matches. I am invincible! No one can stop me now!

James wrote:

Dick Van Dyke wrote: My brothers a ball boy at St Marys and saw Wright-phillips,Dyer ,Euell,Skacel all in casual gear outside the changing rooms, before the game. Looks like they are all being forced to leave to!!

You're an idiot if you think fashion sense indicates whether someone is losing their job... Dyer signed a new contract so he's NOT leaving.

He only signed a contract so we could sell him and make some cash!, hes fit so why not play him?. Everyones up for sale at St Marys

Rubbish team and rubbish team ownership lead to rubbish attendance, and that's when we are playing a top team...
Saints are now mostly unproven kids and over the top medicre veterans. Andrew Davies would be a good exception, so Lowe's selling him to make a few quid. Other teams invest in new players, even players people have actually heard of.
I've watched Saints since the 1950s, but no more.

Just heard that the scummers lost 4-0 at Chelsea, classic!!!!! Bottom of the league...

What should we expect from a dutch amateur coach employed by Lowe ?

Take Woote whose been sacked all over the place its a reciepe for disaster.

True Blue wrote:

Richie wrote: It is a little amusing that skates feel happy to criticise our poor attendance yesterday, especially when i remember very clearly how low their gates were when they were in the same situation as us. Let us not forget our gate yesterday was only 1,000 short of a sell out down there. Our problem is 3 fold. 1. The poor way in which Saints have treated the fans since the move to SMS. They do not listen to the fans or listen to what they want - i am lucky enough to be involved with a very successful fan group in Germany which has doubled the clubs membership in 3-4 seasons purely by making fans welcome and adapting to what fans want. Fans are consulted on pretty much everything that effects them. I even offered to travel at my own expense from Germany to give a presentation to the club about how adopting this could help us attract the fans again and make them feel part of the club - this was declined. I do not make up what this fan group has helped achieved in Germany so why not listen ? If you listen to somebody and call him an idiot it is better than calling him an idiot without listening first. The fans are Saints FC not the board, players or officials. Apparently we have a fans voice on the board however if so i believe their seat is firmly wedged up Lowes a*se so tightly they don't get a say on what is going on. Surely cheaper tickets is preferable to closing half the ground and losing free bus travel was another example, as was spending a substantial amount of club money on training items and tracksuits which are in the exact colours of our local rivals - a certain top seller ????? I think not. Were fans consulted on any of these decisions ???? 2. Poor signings since leaving the Premier League coupled with selling any talent we find through the academy at the first opportunity. We signed too many run of the mill players on far too much money and how can you move forward when as soon as we find a decent talent we sell them at the first opportunity. 3. We do not have what you need to be in the Premier League - ie a very very wealthy backer. Without their chairmen/owners half the current top flight would be in the same position (or worse) that we are now. Whilst we do not have this money we need to keep fans as happy as possible and bring people back to the club - Norwich do it and they have arguably had a worse team than us for the past few seasons. If fans are travelling to the ground they will spend money in the shop and in the ground - that is a fact. If they stay at home not only will they not spend money they will not be getting behind the team either. The young lads have played probably the two hardest games we will have this season and been bloody unlucky to come away with nothing so far. We need to stay faithful to them but we need Lowe and his puppets to do the same by sorting themselves out and stopping selling our players. The likes of Saganovski and Rasiak i can just about live with given their contributions but Andrew Davies should not be sold. Come You Saints and keep the faith - in the team and manager if not the board.

Well said Richie - so yesterday's gate was 1,000 less than a 'sell out' at Fratton Park, but how far short of a 'sell out' was it for St Mary's? Was the stadium built that size so that everyone could be 15 feet or more away from the next customer? Of course not. Your 'dedicated', 'Southampton til I die', 'Saints for Ever' supposed fans, have quit. When the going got tough, they vanish, instead of getting behind the club to try and help it through its financial crisis. The always want someone else to dip their hand in their pocket to pull out cash, but are unwilling to spend any of their own cash. Result? You get what you deserve.

...and you got it today skate lover. 4-0 and youre bottom of the Premiership. You were never in the game and if ever there was a waste of money, it was on display today. See you in the Championship next season me hearty!!!

LOWE & WILDE OUT wrote:
What should we expect from a dutch amateur coach employed by Lowe ? Take Woote whose been sacked all over the place its a reciepe for disaster.

Learn to spell you nugget and we will take you seriously.

sailor sam wrote:

Jesus_02 wrote:

sailor sam wrote: The thing is Dan, today was the first home league game of the season against the favourites to be promoted, and it was far from being a full house, and then you say, \\\'Rupert, you do this and you will be saying to the fans not to bother.\\\' I think that the attendance indicates that the fans, and I use the term lightly, are already indicating to Lowe that they are not bothered. They showed it when they could not be bothered to attend the pre-season against Stoke so, after the club had PAID STOKE TO COME TO SMS, I bet that there was littl or no profit made by the club. Football may be just a game, but Southampton Football Club is a business, that has to earn more than it spends, otherwise it goes the way of Bournemouth, Luton Town, Leeds United and, yes, Portsmouth FC. If, instead of whinging and whining about the board, the so called \\\'fans\\\' got behind the club, bought their tickets, bought their programmes and spent a few quid in the shop, then maybe, just maybe the banks would think that the club were a better business to entrust their money with. At the moment, with the mood of a large minority of supposed \\\'fans\\\', I would imagine that is not the way the banks are thinking at the moment. If you love your club, it needs support more when the going is tough than it does when things are running smoothly - at the moment, the going is TOUGH!

sam you know very little - what small modicum of respect that you had was gone in one fell swoop when you stated that pompey was a \"tourist mecca\" Saints as you have cleverly stated is a business. Rupert while balencing the books still need to retain a product. While today was a far more entertaining afair than normal. The sale of Adrew Davies for pitance does not inspire confidence in the \"product\" If Lowe relyies on loyalty alone then saints will go the same way as the Great British car industry

I am so upset that you now have no respect for me, I doubt that I will be able to sleep tonight. Perhaps, if I list the tourist attractions at Portsmouth, you could list the tourist attractions at Southampton, and we could make a comparison. HMS Victory. (When I went to school in the SO postal area, we had a trip to visit it.) HMS Warrior. The Mary Rose The Spinnaker Tower The Royal Marine Museum South Parade Pier Southsea beach Clarence Pier and funfair Portsmouth Cathedral Premier League Football The D-Day Museum A panoramic view of the City and Isle of Wight in an arc from Fawley in the West to Chichester in the East, from the top of Portsdown hill. You are, of course, correct when you say that while ballancing the books, a product has to be retained. That raises the question, is the product to be retained a Championships League product or a Division 1 product? Could it mean that, by trying to retain a Championship League product, you go bust and lose the business? They are problems that Lowe has to deal with, but 'fans' tend to forget. If money has to be raised, and with today's attendance, that certainly appears to be the case, then you get what you can for a player. If you want more than a 'pittance' for Davis, then you have to find a club that is prepared to pay a higher price than Stoke. Your last sentence sums it up. Lowe obviously CANNOT RELY ON LOYALTY. That was evident today. So, he has to find another means, and that is, sell Davis. Have the 'supporters' done anything to raise money for the club? If they have, they have kept very quiet about it. Sometimes it is not enough to expect someone else to 'put their hand in their pocke', there comes a time when the fans have to put their money where their mouth is, but at the moment, saints 'customers' have shown plenty of mouth, but have kept a tight hold of their money. Incidentally. Modicum = a small amount. Did you really only have a small small amount of respect for me?

Don't forget the ladfill sites, the Tricorn, the country's youngest convicted football hooligan, Somerstown, Paulsgrove, Rowner, Fratton and North End.

Chelsea whats the score!

dave wrote:

James wrote:

Dick Van Dyke wrote: My brothers a ball boy at St Marys and saw Wright-phillips,Dyer ,Euell,Skacel all in casual gear outside the changing rooms, before the game. Looks like they are all being forced to leave to!!

You're an idiot if you think fashion sense indicates whether someone is losing their job... Dyer signed a new contract so he's NOT leaving.

He only signed a contract so we could sell him and make some cash!, hes fit so why not play him?. Everyones up for sale at St Marys

Both dyer & wright-phillips were dropped from the team for not performing in the last game end of.

cant wait to kick you lot allover fratton again and sms

Denzil wrote:

sailor sam wrote:

Jesus_02 wrote:

sailor sam wrote: The thing is Dan, today was the first home league game of the season against the favourites to be promoted, and it was far from being a full house, and then you say, \\\'Rupert, you do this and you will be saying to the fans not to bother.\\\' I think that the attendance indicates that the fans, and I use the term lightly, are already indicating to Lowe that they are not bothered. They showed it when they could not be bothered to attend the pre-season against Stoke so, after the club had PAID STOKE TO COME TO SMS, I bet that there was littl or no profit made by the club. Football may be just a game, but Southampton Football Club is a business, that has to earn more than it spends, otherwise it goes the way of Bournemouth, Luton Town, Leeds United and, yes, Portsmouth FC. If, instead of whinging and whining about the board, the so called \\\'fans\\\' got behind the club, bought their tickets, bought their programmes and spent a few quid in the shop, then maybe, just maybe the banks would think that the club were a better business to entrust their money with. At the moment, with the mood of a large minority of supposed \\\'fans\\\', I would imagine that is not the way the banks are thinking at the moment. If you love your club, it needs support more when the going is tough than it does when things are running smoothly - at the moment, the going is TOUGH!

sam you know very little - what small modicum of respect that you had was gone in one fell swoop when you stated that pompey was a \"tourist mecca\" Saints as you have cleverly stated is a business. Rupert while balencing the books still need to retain a product. While today was a far more entertaining afair than normal. The sale of Adrew Davies for pitance does not inspire confidence in the \"product\" If Lowe relyies on loyalty alone then saints will go the same way as the Great British car industry

I am so upset that you now have no respect for me, I doubt that I will be able to sleep tonight. Perhaps, if I list the tourist attractions at Portsmouth, you could list the tourist attractions at Southampton, and we could make a comparison. HMS Victory. (When I went to school in the SO postal area, we had a trip to visit it.) HMS Warrior. The Mary Rose The Spinnaker Tower The Royal Marine Museum South Parade Pier Southsea beach Clarence Pier and funfair Portsmouth Cathedral Premier League Football The D-Day Museum A panoramic view of the City and Isle of Wight in an arc from Fawley in the West to Chichester in the East, from the top of Portsdown hill. You are, of course, correct when you say that while ballancing the books, a product has to be retained. That raises the question, is the product to be retained a Championships League product or a Division 1 product? Could it mean that, by trying to retain a Championship League product, you go bust and lose the business? They are problems that Lowe has to deal with, but 'fans' tend to forget. If money has to be raised, and with today's attendance, that certainly appears to be the case, then you get what you can for a player. If you want more than a 'pittance' for Davis, then you have to find a club that is prepared to pay a higher price than Stoke. Your last sentence sums it up. Lowe obviously CANNOT RELY ON LOYALTY. That was evident today. So, he has to find another means, and that is, sell Davis. Have the 'supporters' done anything to raise money for the club? If they have, they have kept very quiet about it. Sometimes it is not enough to expect someone else to 'put their hand in their pocke', there comes a time when the fans have to put their money where their mouth is, but at the moment, saints 'customers' have shown plenty of mouth, but have kept a tight hold of their money. Incidentally. Modicum = a small amount. Did you really only have a small small amount of respect for me?

Don't forget the ladfill sites, the Tricorn, the country's youngest convicted football hooligan, Somerstown, Paulsgrove, Rowner, Fratton and North End.

You really are thick Denzil.

Since when has Rowner been in Portsmouth?

Ladfill sites? What the hell are they? I know that Pompey buried your lads 4-1 last time they visited Fratton Park, but have no special sites.

The Tricorn vanished from the Portsmouth skyline more than two years ago, but as you are always well behind the times, I guess your carer has not passed on the news.

You could be right, Somers Town, Paulsgrove and North End do not offer the delights to people like you, that is on offer in Derby Road. Fratton? Well the Park of that name, serves up Premier entertainment, that cannot be enjoyed at any other South Coast City.

I don't know about the youngest convicted football hooligan, but I do know that hooligans are dealt with, and are banned from watching football, so guess they could have moved your way and attacked that middle-aged Manchester United fan some years back.

YOU WILL NOTE THAT JESUS_02 HAS NOT COME UP WITH HIS LIST OF SOUTHAMPTON TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.

I WONDER WHY.

pomp wrote:
cant wait to kick you lot allover fratton again and sms

A bit early in the season for you to accepting relegation, isn't it?

True Blue wrote:

Richie wrote: It is a little amusing that skates feel happy to criticise our poor attendance yesterday, especially when i remember very clearly how low their gates were when they were in the same situation as us. Let us not forget our gate yesterday was only 1,000 short of a sell out down there. Our problem is 3 fold. 1. The poor way in which Saints have treated the fans since the move to SMS. They do not listen to the fans or listen to what they want - i am lucky enough to be involved with a very successful fan group in Germany which has doubled the clubs membership in 3-4 seasons purely by making fans welcome and adapting to what fans want. Fans are consulted on pretty much everything that effects them. I even offered to travel at my own expense from Germany to give a presentation to the club about how adopting this could help us attract the fans again and make them feel part of the club - this was declined. I do not make up what this fan group has helped achieved in Germany so why not listen ? If you listen to somebody and call him an idiot it is better than calling him an idiot without listening first. The fans are Saints FC not the board, players or officials. Apparently we have a fans voice on the board however if so i believe their seat is firmly wedged up Lowes a*se so tightly they don\\\\\\\'t get a say on what is going on. Surely cheaper tickets is preferable to closing half the ground and losing free bus travel was another example, as was spending a substantial amount of club money on training items and tracksuits which are in the exact colours of our local rivals - a certain top seller ????? I think not. Were fans consulted on any of these decisions ???? 2. Poor signings since leaving the Premier League coupled with selling any talent we find through the academy at the first opportunity. We signed too many run of the mill players on far too much money and how can you move forward when as soon as we find a decent talent we sell them at the first opportunity. 3. We do not have what you need to be in the Premier League - ie a very very wealthy backer. Without their chairmen/owners half the current top flight would be in the same position (or worse) that we are now. Whilst we do not have this money we need to keep fans as happy as possible and bring people back to the club - Norwich do it and they have arguably had a worse team than us for the past few seasons. If fans are travelling to the ground they will spend money in the shop and in the ground - that is a fact. If they stay at home not only will they not spend money they will not be getting behind the team either. The young lads have played probably the two hardest games we will have this season and been bloody unlucky to come away with nothing so far. We need to stay faithful to them but we need Lowe and his puppets to do the same by sorting themselves out and stopping selling our players. The likes of Saganovski and Rasiak i can just about live with given their contributions but Andrew Davies should not be sold. Come You Saints and keep the faith - in the team and manager if not the board.

Well said Richie - so yesterday\\\\\\\'s gate was 1,000 less than a \\\\\\\'sell out\\\\\\\' at Fratton Park, but how far short of a \\\\\\\'sell out\\\\\\\' was it for St Mary\\\\\\\'s? Was the stadium built that size so that everyone could be 15 feet or more away from the next customer? Of course not. Your \\\\\\\'dedicated\\\\\\\', \\\\\\\'Southampton til I die\\\\\\\', \\\\\\\'Saints for Ever\\\\\\\' supposed fans, have quit. When the going got tough, they vanish, instead of getting behind the club to try and help it through its financial crisis. The always want someone else to dip their hand in their pocket to pull out cash, but are unwilling to spend any of their own cash. Result? You get what you deserve.

Sour man - it matters not what size of ground we have or how many we get in - you lot used to get 9,000 ish on average - if you doubt me check it out on the internet. That is roughly 10,000 less than we got yesterday. I used to go to Fratton when you got those gates then your money came along and bingo you think you are Man U - shame about your score today though.

We are in trouble plain and simple.

We are asking boys to do a mans job against a background of selling our better players.

At the moment JP has the element of surprise in as much as we look competitive for a good deal of the first half. Once the opposition manager has sussed the system and re-organised his players accordingly at half time we are then under pressure for large parts of the second half with unfortunately the inevitable result of a defence being unable to hold out for 90 minutes.

It is hard to remian positive when the truth is there for all to see.

Interesting to see how the skates have been silent since 4pm. Interesting to see how long it will be before saggy chops goes back to West Ham (rumoured in the papers today). Then it will just the case of who has the worse season.

Here's a thought, what if the league finishes 1st Birmingham, 2nd Saints, 3rd Cardiff. Point is, no one truly knows who the form teams are until 10+ games. Saints have played teams in 3rd and 6th, Coventry have played teams in 19th and 22nd. Now Saints may struggle, they may be mid table or they may push for promotion but it is too early to tell yet. The football I watched was good passing football and we learned a lesson in the second half and we need that 1st win. I think if we carry on as we are things will brighten up. By the way QPR were the league favourites before the first match kicked off and after 2 matches are in a lowly 15th place only 3 points above Saints. Fans don't be silly and make too quick a judgment on leadue position. Leave your negative comments for after the 10th game if we are still down the bottom.

Settle down everybody, it's only game 2 of a 46 game slog where all we have to be is no worse than 21st place when it's all said and done.
That's all I'm hoping for and expect to see points thrown away due to the inexperience of the side and the 'Grand Sale' wupert and wichurd indulge in every available window.
It's Wupert and his flannel attired chums club in case nobody was paying attention lately so all I hope for is enough points to build confidence and maybe just maybe we can stay up.
Then hopefully we get sold of course because whilst I'm positive about Saints there's no escaping the fact that Lowe/Wilde = football obscurity and as they say 'there's no miracles in football' SFC need a sugar daddy to toss the tweed wearing twats out and invest in the actual footballers not each other.
Davis potential sale is endemic and the rot only stops with folk keen on football not bank balances.