Chez

me too. You can swap Lallana and Puncheon around in games as well. If Barnard has a stormer today then that will create a tough selection headache.

we signed them to give us options. We can and have played 4-5-1 and 4-4-2 in the same game. So having one or two spare makes total sense. Also if Lambert gets injured we need alternatives. Holmes doesn't track his runners. He comes back, but he isn't goal side. It might be a lack of pace, or it might be a lack of effort. In my eyes he doesn't work hard enough. I realise that many disagree with me on Holmes, and if so then again we have options. Happy days.

makes **** all difference where the wide men position themselves if centre halves always look for Lambert or Wotton hoofs it over his shoulder all day. I actually don't see this `cramping of midfield' that you talk about. Yes Lallana cuts inside onto his right foot, but he doesn't come inside to recieve the ball and steal the space of others. He sits outside waiting for a pass. I'll watch that closely today.

4-5-1 with Barnard dropped? Terrific choices. Perhaps too much choice. Pardew has to find the right formation quickly as the players are there. No excuses at all. If we don't win games the manager has to carry the responsibility now.

The problem on Tuesday was Mills not passing to him. If he plays today we need much better passing from the fullbacks. The midfield have also got to give him the ball more, all the time in fact. Keeping feeding him till he runs himself out. Mind you with Antonio full of confidence its hard not to look to him as an outlet. I'm excited by this signing. Absolutely no excuses for Pardew going into the second hal of the season. He has HIS side now.

you coud be right there. The only thing I would say is that Lallana has been hugging the line for the last few games and when he does he simply does not get a pass. He never sees the ball. The problem is not Lallana coming inside, its that players don't pass it out wide to him. I wonder if the ball will be drawn across to Puncheon a little more. Perhaps we can move to a five man midfield with one of those two at the front of the diamond - like Mellis did before he went off with England. Lallana also played his best stuff as the left winger. not sure I agree. AP plays Antonio, who hugs the touchline.

lovin your enthusiam. He is a great prospect. This is exactky the kind of signing I wanted us to go for. Young and hungry, and the best of what this league has to offer. This reminds me of the Matty Taylor signing for the skates. It will go under the radar at little but give it six months and he'll make things happen here and then we'll win games for fun and have scouts up and down the Premiership looking at him.

Gillett has returned, and Puncheon can play at the front of a three in the middle so to a degree we have done that. I would guess that we were trying for a Gillett/Stock swap deal but both clubs valued the players differently. That could still happen.

what's a midfield general? Very pleased with Puncheon. He was great at Barnet, why Plymouth didn't give him more than 6 games I will never know. Have been impressed with him in both games against us, and he's scoed one or two fantastic goals this season so he will be full of confidence, which means he will hit the ground running. Nice to weaken Franchise FC before the return leg as well.

direct replacement for Mellis as Pardew always said he wanted. I know he said last transfer, but if Gillett leaves I wonder if that will free up a space? Pretty decent window whatever way you look at it. Even if we are too far adrift this season, there are players there that can help us challenge next season.

pompeys new back four?

signing exclusively to the Sun really gets up the other papers noses doesn't it? Couldn't happen to a nicer fella. ****.

feels like one of those `entice you in, then reveal that we have signed a new sponsor, or such like' type announcements. Or do they not do that on ****ter? The Puncheon signing is two years overdue in my book.

very decent footballer. He was great at Brum. Not the `midfield general' people talk about on here though, and can drift in and out of games. Does offer that touch of quality on the ball. Wages would be an issue I feel.

blimey. If he can find the form (and confidence) of three seasons ago that will be some signing. They have some proper players there in Snodgrass, Beckford, Kilkenny and Kisnorbo. Despite that they still shipped three at Swindon. Says something about the top six or seven sides in this league.

does Gary Neville? he was pouting off about not needing agents, although it might have been not needing to pay agents 15% to wipe their arses, and just needing them to handle the contract negotiation.

no one heard him speak before two weeks ago, but he has been running things since October. Just because he has gone quiet again doesn't mean he isn't running things. Besides he was quoted in the News on Wednesday 27th Jan so he HAS been talking a little bit. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/frattonlatest/New-signings-are-on-their.6016527.jp Tells Stories said last night that Jacobs was handling the refinancing of the club. That sounds pretty involved to me. Maybe two board member signatures are needed. O'Hara deal done. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/O39Hara-rejoins-Pompey.6027136.jp

he can play in the Derby game. being on the bench makes no odds.

what, if say his inflamed big toe produced a failed medical? I think we can safely say that the game would be up. I'm amazed they allowed hi to play in the last two games. Amazed.

He runs things. The Quay have been trying to get him on their show for months but for some strange reason he refuses. He did one or two interviews at the time the `March to the Park' was announced - possibly to try and appease fans a little, but none before or after. As I understand it all the finances are now overseen by him. I believe the finance officer resigned last week, and we now Tells Stories isn't allowed anywhere near the books (who can blame Jacobs for that, would you want Tells Stories near your money???). I just wonder if Jacobs gave Stories permission to tell the world last night the inner affairs of PFC? If I was Jacobs I'd be fuming. Stories has undermined him. Amazed he has not got shot. Perhaps he just hopes that if he gives the ****er enough rope...

wage bill is £2.8m. I guess they could have paid say 75% of everyones wages though. Or it has gone straight to pay off one of the short term loans.

can't Jacobs even do that?

if they had two brass farthings to rub together, tells stories would have been paid up and out on his ear months ago.

absolutely, especially as Peter Stories said they wouldn't yesterday evening. he said the money is available to pay the normal staff, but some because of {%*!£^&%#%+& the wages would not go through until Monday. As regards tot he players this is dependent on the Kaboul transfer being completed and funds clearing from that move.

he either had his contract paid up by Forest, in which case he earned a tidy sum and doesn't need to earn it, or if he left without being paid up till the summer then he's a fool for not knowing that he coudn't play for more than two clubs in a season. Everyone knows that, and as its his job you'd think he would have asked the FA or the PFA first. I know he's a local lad, but why should I feel sorry for him?