Pleased with Pardew's appointment. He is a class above in this league and if the reputation of being strong with players is true then I think it's what we need.
Someone above posted the list of other L1 players, I'd be surprised if any of them had the same gravitas or contacts to bring in the loans and transfers we will need.
I recall my reaction to the previous two appointments of JP and MW: Who? and Why?. When I read at the platform today that Pardew was the new boss I was pleasantly surprised, 8/10 for me.
So which would you release based on the assumption that we will retain a normal three? As it stands we have:
Davis
Poke
Bart
Forecast
Personally I think Bart has failed to live up to some early promise so he'd be sold on IMHO. I haven't seen Poke or Forecast play so would value others opinions who have.
Both Saga and Rasiak are under contract, they both have 1 year left on their deals IIRC. The new owners probably are being prudent and seeing whether the new manager wants to retain then (ad maybe aquire Stern John)
The difference between now and a week ago is we don't have to get shot of them at firesale prices.
The skates will either be taken over or not. Even if they are they will be playing catchup all season as they won't be able to get their first choice manager or players in.
Football is bankcrupt, both morally and financially. It is propped up by a few rich businessmen and benfactors. Any business that does not wash it's face will eventually go under or suffer a steady decline as Chelsea and Man City will find out. The likes of Arsenal and Man Utd are run as commercial operations (I note their debts) that return operating profits.
Both Saints and Pompey have the support base to sustain a lower prem, upper CCC level club with Saints having the infrastructure to go a bit higher. We have a rich new owner but I would trade the rollercoaster to get back to stability and viability.
Adams T 2.37
Adams, M 29.00 :smt039
Bond, K 67.00
Boothroyd, A 34.00
Coppel S 4.00
Dowie, I 41.00
Hoddle, G 67.00
Keegan, K 19.00
Le Tissier, M 41.00
Redknapp, H 81.00
Shearer, A 67.00
Souness, G 67.00
Strachan, G 2.00
Wise, D 34.00
Wright, M 101.00