Colinjb

Who are you?

The question should surely be, 'who might try to blag one?' No chance now. No grey area. No space for abuse.

Bang on. End of debate.

Considering my reaction after a bunch of animals soaked me at half time in the Wigan concourse, I wouldn't want to be around me if you did.

Jack Stephens joined us from Plymouth. Not sure about Gallagher. Edit: Yes, you are right. http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Sam-Gallagher-snapped-Saints/story-15702920-detail/story.html

Go on....

I didn't say that. I do not believe he does. As I said before I believe it's a personality clash/ego dispute that could happen between anyone. People from vastly different backgrounds, fundamentally good people can disagree for perfectly valid and understandable reasons when everything is taken into account. The Le Tissier/Benali/Cortese situation is I believe an example of this. Disputes happen in all walks of life and as all three of these individuals concerned have done a power of good for the club, i'm willing to give all of them the benefit of the doubt while wishing their dispute would get resolved.

Benali and Le Tissier have obviously crossed swords with the chairman from what seems to be a mixture of personality clash and and a property dispute. Those two examples seem to be the most severe though. The examples mentioned in the title show that players from the past can find a place if they operate within the way the club is now run.

Interestingly though, those players all have one thing in common.... They are not technically academy products. Blackstock joined at 17 years old from Oxford United. Griffit at 19 years old from Amiens Folly at 18 from St Etienne And Fitz Hall was 23 when he joined from Oldham. The kids coming through now are genuine academy boys. Not poached, even Theo Walcott was grabbed from Swindon.

Careful now, I remember glorious notions of a Saints team pushing for Europe with a spine of Fitz Hall, Yohan Folly and Dexter Blackstock with Leandre Griffit providing a bit of flair from the wings.

It's all PR. The club was naive in simply stopping the previous perks in one swoop but at least it made matters transparent. No possibility of 'why can't I have that, he does...!' or words to that effect. Those that keep contributing to the coaching and infrastructure of the club do seem to be well catered for.

No F.C.U.K, no......

On the subject of Penny Mordaunt. Has anyone actually highlighted the fact that Fratton falls into the Portsmouth South constituency, not her Portsmouth North. Incidentally, the actual MP for Fratton and therefore Portsmouth FC, is Mike Hancock... a fence si.... sorry, Liberal Democrat.

Bugger. Bailed on my training run today after only 5.3 miles. Left calf muscle felt horribly tight and I didn't want to risk injury ahead of the half marathon with only a week to go. Really annoyed. Was meant to be a dress rehearsal for the actual event. As implied above though, maybe best to just do a few smaller runs, stay 'loose' and then focus on giving it for the main thing, rather then trying to do to focus ahead of the event.

Yes, that history will keep you warm on a cold night at Plainmoor. We are so jealous.

QPR? I'll just enjoy the symmetry of League 1 right now. Bournemouth top, The Skates Bottom.

Quite, they won't be applied this season. Curiously, I suspect they will not be applied next season either.

With 12 games remaining. Confident we'll break the 32 point 'barrier' this season anyway!

Hello.... Hartlepool 2-1 Leyton Orient So, The skate, a bottom dwelling fish you say......

Wow. So plucky, so heroic! Cry Havoc! Let loose the fish of war!!!!

No need to dust off the parade bus today. Carlisle have scored.

Like me, will it be repeated anywhere?

Bruschetta on toast? Savoury Mediterranean tomato/olive salsa on toast.... on toast....?

Fnarr fnarr.... Cheers for the Saints eleven.

Much obliged Kraken and VFTT. What a bunch they are.