Matthew Le God

I don't see why attendances will go down. If anything they should be higher this season. Yes, the club will lose some people because of the season tickets not being available in installments. However more people should be be attracted back to St Mary's if the side looks like it will get promotion. With attendances last season many saw the club with little chance of success. Saints have a hard core of fans, the rest turn up if the club is successful or has prospects of success. Just like with every other club. I predict those attracted back to watch a potentially league winning season will more than make up for those lost for other reasons.

Saints have no game on the weekend of 24th July. The Ted Bates trophy may be played then. They could be waiting for the Reading games to sell more tickets before announcing it, as if it is against a big side to celebrate the 125th anniversary people won't go to the Reading game.

No-one has been given a number yet. Last season they were announced on 23rd July.

Unlike last summer, we already know a strong starting 11 which is more than strong enough to compete at the top of League One except for the right back slot. Look back at the Saints matchday XI and 7 subs on the opening day against Millwall August 2009 and compare with the current squad. As long as a right back is signed relatively soon the starting 11 is fine and will need little gelling. On top of that the squad needs some more cover in certain positions, but again this won't impact significantly on the starting 11. To question the transfer policy on 1st July is therefore bizarre. Even the big name free transfers like Joe Cole don't have new clubs yet, there are plenty of players out of contract and I'm sure plenty of other targets Saints are tracking. For all we know many could be quite advanced and signing soon, it makes complete sense for the club not to comment on transfers until they are concluded. If a few players aren't signed by the 8th July when the squad leave for the training camp I'd start to worry a little. But even then it is no big deal as players can be flown out later.

The only thing that has changed is some players have a new photo (Ryan Dickson was already added when he signed). Squad numbers will be updated in late July. They won't stay as they were last season.

Interlaken has hosted Liverpool, the Swiss national team and now Saints. Here are two interesting links... 1) Liverpool at Interlaken 2) Training camps in Switzerland - Interlaken the 2nd camp featured http://www.travelclub.ch/files/2009_training_camps_ch.pdf

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/TicketNews/0,,10280~2080054,00.html

I was hoping someone would get the Theme Hospital reference...

The football administrator is cheating. A cheat is running the football club! http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/Pompey-face-keeper-crisis.6383994.jp?CommentPage=1&CommentPageLength=10#comments AA wants dispensation to sign James (he can't sign a deal under the embargo) and neither could Ashdown (who was released). However... academy keeper Tommy Smith was released. Smith is under 24 and so would have been able to sign a contract. Yet they choose to release Smith. AA doesn't have a leg to stand on.

It was on SSN. Presenter read it out.

Over 20k were at St Mary's for opening game last season, which was also a lunch time kick off Live on Sky. This season Saints are promotion favourites which should help boost crowds.

Millwall at St Mary's on the opening day last season, a Sky live game at 12:45pm, 20,103 people turned up and that was a campaign where Saints weren't favourites to win the League. If anything the attendance will be higher than the Millwall game as expectations of promotion are much higher this season. Also you forget Sky are paying the club to show the game.

Here is the home one. Went on sale at the same time as when the outfield kit was launched.

A loophole that consists of a verbal agreement with Peter Storrie! I wonder if the Football League will accept his word? http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/frattonlatest/Contract-loophole-could-benefit-Kanu.6384018.jp

Already gone to Leeds United. Signed deal on 27th May. Will join on 1st July.

That is a bit unfair as FA cup final and semi final allocations are much smaller.

It doesn't just apply to incoming players on loans and transfers. James, Rocha and HH etc can't sign new deals when their old ones expire on 30th June. Out of contract players, free transfers and loans are unlikely to hang around for Pompey, many will be snapped up by other clubs. I doubt many agents will advise a player to wait for Pompey until the 15th for a possible contract when they could goto another club and sign today. If players did wait for Pompey they may miss the first two weeks of pre-season training. I'm not sure if an unregistered player would be covered by insurance to train. It may mean they look elsewhere for a club rather than be in limbo for the next 3 weeks or more. Also it is 15th July at the earliest, if someone appeals the CVA then the embargo wouldn't be lifted for weeks (possibly months) until it is resolved in court. The players will be in limbo.

I can't see them meeting the roughly £15m required in the CVA. I wonder what happens if they don't? http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/World-Cup-buzz-sparks-interest.6380928.jp

East Cowes Vic play in red and white stripes and are also celebrating their 125th year anniversary having been formed in 1885. http://www.eastcowesvics.co.uk/ I'd guess this is a Southampton XI match and will be youth and reserve players.

He has got louder with age! Any Brian Blessed thread isn't complete unless this classic line is posted!

The holding company was set up 7 YEARS BEFORE the Football League insolvency rules! You can't really be cheating a rule that doesn't exist until 7 years in the FUTURE. It is common business practice to have a holding company. The Football League messed up by not noticing this potential loophole when they wrote the rules and tighten them up so no problems arose.

Chainrai paid it out of his own pocket and is legal to do if those involved wipe off the debt I believe. It wouldn't have made much of a difference % wise as would be a relatively small amount.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059885/

Not his decision if he is first or second choice. But it was Dickson's decision if he moved to Saints or not. He would have met with Pardew who outlined his plans and would I think he'd let him know he would be getting games at Saints. Dickson was apparently attracting interest from the Championship, he was probably Brentford's best player last season looking at their forums, he wouldn't accept a deal knowing he'd be second fiddle to Harding in League One when he could go to the Championship or stay at Brentford.

Those trying to accommodate Harding into the team are likely to be wrong I feel. I think it will be Dickson at left back, 442, Lallana on the left of midfield, Puncheon on the right of midfield and a new right back signed. Dickson won't be coming here as cover. Lallana is the left midfielder and scored 20 goals from that position last season and the balance worked well. Harding is certainly not a centre back. Pardew won't change from his tried and tested formations/tactics to play 3 centre backs just to accommodate Harding and play him out of position as a centre back.