Chez

I find http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ provides the best prices and the most options.

bridge is the perfect example of how money talks. He was a Saints fan, his whole family are Saints fans, we were in the Prem, he was on the cusp of England recognition, our side were FA cup finalists and top 8, yet despite all that he moved as soon as the Russian money came calling it. That is the pull of a big club with big money. He furthered his career. How was he to know Cole would be signed a year or so later? You don't turn down the move because you are worried you might lose your form or place. You take the move.

you've missed my point. My response was to Kracken saying that `if Prowse and Shaw left at 22/23 for a big club then we would have advanced'. Should that happen, and seeing as Bridge left at the age of 23, then our ability to keep our top talent will not have advanced really, would it? Whether we can keep the really top players longer into their careers has yet to be seen. We are obviously going in the right direction, but don't kid yourself that if we have another Bridge/Theo/Bale/AOC in our midst that the big boys won't take him from us no matter what our ambition is. I'm not comparing Lowe with Cortese, I'm saying their are bigger clubs than us and always will be.

how about we actually see one of them leave before we bring another in. I know Blackpool eventually went down, but is Dickson actually worse than Stephen Crainey? He was first choice I might add.

They sold 300. A fella I know has one. Brave investment at the time, that has paid off massively considering the £700 ST price tag towards the end of their prem stay.

I have to say I don't recall him, too busy putting head in hands at our own display up there probably, but he sounds decent.

wouldn't we be just back to roughly where we were when Bridge ****ed off to Chelsea (worse perhaps as Bridge supported Saints unlike Shaw, apparently)? No idea why people think things will be different this time round. There is a pecking order and we are no where near the top. The only way you can prevent the very best players leaving is be right at the top. If Arsenal can't keep hold on to a player what chance have we got?

Cortese did a fantastic job convincing Lallana to sign a 5 year deal. Let's see if he can do the same with Shaw.

first half of the season maybe, but certainly not the second half.

will there be waving of last seasons tickets

Lallana didn't make the final 23 having been named by Pearce in the provisional 35. I think he qualified because he was 21 at the start of the qualifying.

he's certainly no football god, but having a few hard running players in your side is important.

anyone else smiling at the wonderful comment at the bottom. No need even to reply to a gem like that: Sailor Sam 9:28 AM on 30/06/2012 If Pompey move back to Portsmouth, Southampton will be losing the only quality football available in their area.

to be fair Birch has deferred his sizeable bill to a later date too.

IMO he looks pretty average in the youtube clips, but wht do you ever learn from then anyway?

Happy to see something other than stripes, but home kit looks dull, its not as bad as the yellow kit - the worst kit I've seen for years, but pretty poor. However, strangely the away kit looks like the best kit we have ever had. Love it. I never buy replica kits, but I am actually tempted. Nah.

NTL. Useless, useless bastards. Someone tell me when all their employees have left Virgin and then I might consider cable.

Good point My brummie ST mate said he was worth £6m, and he wasn't kidding, and he isn't a total tool. Something tells me that the undisclosed fee was saving the blushes of Cardiff. Any half decent offer and they'll bite our fingers off. They are in big trouble.

loved that Orient 2-2 game. Best atmosphere at an away games in many many years. However, nothing compares to the buzz of the playoff game at Derby. Unbelievable experience.

‘Trevor has been in constant contact with the Football League and letting them know what is likely to happen at the club. He knows there will not be any further points deduction for Pompey, so that’s some good news.’ http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/pompey-to-avoid-points-deduction-by-football-league-1-3892697 becomes ‘It is not set in stone there will now not be a points deduction...it is at the Football League’s discretion...there is no guarantee. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/birch-fears-pompey-points-deduction-1-3988134

I thought if they were liquidated Birch sells Fratton Park (and any other assets) to the highest bidder with Chinny top of the queue to be paid what is made. Is that not correct?

Miss Portsmouth gets statue

the training in the Dell car park, did that happen a lot and around what year did they stop?