St Landrew

You touched on another part of the problem - the Transter Window itself. The fact that clubs cannot freely sign players means that they have to carry bloated squads, just in case they have a bad case of injuries. The cup-tied rule merely increases the problem. Yes, there should be some rules in the transfer system. For example, a maximum squad size, so that clubs like Chelsea can't sign the opposition's star player just before they are about to play them. The majority of clubs are finding it extremely difficult to operate with the transfer window system, even though it was set up to stop bigger clubs signing players where and when they liked. Yes, it creates a different bit of interest during January, and at the end of the season, but instead of helping smaller clubs to compete, it actually weakens them.

I sometimes wake up during the night, but usually I look at the clock, which shows a reassuring few more hours, and then restart the CD I popped into the player, hours earlier. Sleep is almost immediate.

About a week into the New Year, I decided to cut down on my alcohol consumption. I wanted a change of pace, and for the last 6 weeks have hardly drunk more than a couple of glasses of red wine in total. Guess what, it hasn't changed a bloody thing. I sleep no better, I feel no better, I'm not lighter, or have more or less energy. For the last few years, instead of listening to radio drama at the time it is transmitted, I often record it and burn it to CD. If I find I can't sleep I pop a CD into a bedside player, and listen away. Almost certainly I'll be asleep in 5 minutes whether I want to or not. It now works so well, it has almost become something that Pavlov would have experimented with. No CD, no sleeping. Pop CD on, sleep occurs almost immediately. I don't suggest you go to the lengths I do, but try an audio book.

When Rickie got it right , he was terrific, but there were two or three occasions on Saturday where Lambert's dead ball kicks reached no further than the first defender. His last was the one before Harding took over. Obviously, AP, Hammond or Rickie himself decided enough was enough.

Yes, I'm sure you're right. But the club could argue the point until they were BLUE in the face, as no footballing authority listens to any club in England unless they are called Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or perhaps Liverpool.

Just in case anyone was wondering, a ship is a vessel that is large enough to carry a boat, or boats, and a boat is small enough to be carried by a ship. Boats can carry or tow dinghies. Well that's the easy answer anyway. There is a proper answer which I'm not familiar with.

You're right, it has been light hearted, but quoting someone, and then changing their words is something Admin and Mods frown upon, when we spot it. OK, in TMS, but not in the Lounge. No problems, but just in case you didn't know.

Well I read somewhere you admitting to a bit of a drink and a gambling problem. I'd suggest they might have something to do with your inability to sleep.

I occasionally wave back to cruise ships from a sailing boat or sailing dinghy, because passengers are always waving over the rail at us. Perhaps they think we're sinking..? Often makes me think that what they actualy want is some real adventure, rather than wandering around on a floating hotel. I can just about see an attraction with cruise ships, but I wouldn't want to share one with so many people. Perhaps you can explain the really good points to cruise ships, Jilly..?

yes, but there were no pre-match comments. I skipped the HT chat. Might go back and watch that.

Great to read that you're actually getting underway at last. Here's hoping the reality exceeds your expectation. In my experience of all things boats, they usually do, whatever their size and shape.

I seem to remember his first game being awful. But he got better, and in the end, I thought He and Dailly were a pretty good partnership. Shame they couldn't stay together. Here's a snip:

Moderator

I'm not sure they initially did. Any owner can have ambition, but even a rich owner will admit that giving everyone else a head start in preparation and points is not going to be the best time for expectation. The fact is, is that despite a very slow start to the season, where Saints took an interminable time to overcome the deduction, the team began to overachieve for a while. This raised expectations, and hence much more money was spent. But in all honesty, I don't know where the idea of there being an absolute need to be promoted this season came about, and for there being a risk to Pardew's position if it didn't happen. I'm just enjoying the fact that Saints are in a position where the possibility of promotion isn't a complete fantasy.

Twelve

Desert

I very nearly did take the Trans-Siberian Railway journey, back in 1990. As I was then emigrating to NZ, I thought about doing it in a memorable way, i.e. by boat, train and flying from Hong Kong. Remember, no internet, so everything was having to be arranged by phone, and travel magazines, etc... But Intourist, the Russian travel agency got in the way. The did everything they could to put barriers in my way, and in the end they wore me out, and I was out of time anyway. So I flew with Singapore Airlines and had a great time of it.

Completely sensible comment, although the original post link has Pardew himself suggesting that he was told he would be judged after 18 months in the job. That means around Xmas this year, or newly into 2011. Hence many of the comments by posters.

sted

I watched my recording of the game last night. It included the pre-match build-up, where presenter Matt Smith made it very clear that the two clubs supporters don't like each other at all. He had Mark Hateley [Ex-Pompey] and Andy Townsend [Ex-Saint] as opinion makers. After deciding that Saints were undoubtedly the underdogs, they did suggest Pompey would have a real tough time, and Saints had a real chance of causing an upset. They also compared the turmoil at Pompey with the turmoil that once was Saints, and what now is unity for SFC. Then Matt Smith made his first presenting error. He suggested that Saints fans, although loving the agony for Pompey supporters, wouldn't like Pompey to go out of business, because that would mean nobody to hate. To which Andy Towsend piped up, Oh I think they will Matt, I think they'd rather Pompey fold and disappear..! Then Gabriel Clarke interviewed Peter Storrie, who put up an optimistic front, albeit rather unconvincingly. Mark Hateley wasn't convinced by him either. Andy Townsend doubted whether Pompey's players actually had a sense of the occasion. Then he had a go at the Premier League, and questioned the fit and proper person process. To which I think he had a real point. After adverts, there was a look back to the last FA Cup encounter at St Marys between the two clubs, [2-1 Saints] and Matt Taylor's handball was so definite, I can't believe the controversy. At the other end, the penalty awarded against Claus wasn't. There was nothing there, and Kamara went to ground as he lost control of the ball. After more adverts [bloody hell, I know why I hardly ever watch commercial TV] a pretty good interview with Alan Pardew, who summed up the situation well. Then we had a shot of the Red & White cards held up by the crowd, which looked excellent. All agreed that this was going to be a proper FA Cup tie, and then we went to adverts [AGAIN..?] as the teams walked through the tunnel. Back with a shot of Avram Grant and Alan Pardew shaking hands, grinning and chatting. The big Saints lady with the FA Cup on her head, and then commentator Clive Tilsley said [and I think this is worth reading]: ...now I know what the rest of you are thinking... South coast of England... all yachts and beaches... Howard's way and Cowes Regatta... as much of a football hotbed as... the Cotswolds or the Dales. Well THINK AGAIN. Football in these two great port cities means nearly as much as it does in Liverpool or Newcastle. This is a deep seated local rivalry. Red against Blue. Scummers against Skates - the delightful names the two sets of fans have for one another. An absense that only makes the heart grow harder... this is the first time their paths have crossed since 2005, and who knows when their paths with cross again..? Then we went into the match, and not a single mention of dockers, strike breakers, or any sense that there was a single proper reason behind the hatred.

Nic try Stu. My advice would be to let it go. We lost. Another day we'll win.

Haven't been there in years, by land, except for a couple of times, one example, the DVLA. Sailed into Portsmouth Harbour several times over the years. There's always the feeling that Nelson went that way, which feels distinctly curious. Used to go there, the ordinary way, often years back, and in childhood. Like everywhere else, parts are nice, and parts aren't. It's not the hell hole people make it out to be. That's all football related bull. As usual, there are better places and worse.

Did the BBC Predictor back in October. Tried to be brutally honest, but still found Saints comfortably making the play-offs. Even then, according to the Predictor, it took until March until we entered the playoff places. The team's true form is only a few points below where I had them at this stage of the season, so it is still possible. In truth, my gut feeling is that it is just beyond our abilities, and the -10 point penalty really is the killer of this season. However, my gut feeling means nothing. Saints could still do it, and I'd be as pleased as punch to be wrong.

wingers

Not yet, but I will eventually. It might be a long time though. I still haven't properly watched my recording of the 2003 FA Cup Final.