revolution saint

I rarely post on this thread but have been an interested lurker, in fact I think my first post was something along the lines of 'I really don't care about Pompey' but now, due to you nutjobs, I actually do care about them; the sheer hypocrisy and way they've carried on means any football fan should care. Anyway, my take on this is that nothing momentous or significant really happened today except that a few deluded souls managed to write a badly worded letter and attracted the media circus for what is effectively a non-story. The players have already made sacrifices and the thanks they get is vilification - it's not exactly going to make them change their mind, and in any case they haven't even received compromise proposals. I think they know they're being used as scapegoats. It's also quite funny to hear Pompey fans appealing to them on a moral basis after weeks and months of calling them mercenaries. The players they've signed are hardly likely to listen to arguments of conscience either so it's fairly futile - most of them put their careers secondary to a big pile of cash when surely better options were available. That's actually a good moral dilemma - how much money would you need to play for Pompey? If sensible recruitment had taken place, if local kids had been played then maybe those players would have listened. They didn't and the players they've got won't. It's all a smokescreen though and just an endgame where the objective is to make sure the blame lies elsewhere when the music stops because not even the short term stopgap measures add up anymore. Secretly I think all the interested parties are finding liquidation to be the most attractive proposal on offer, and it is even for Pompey fans.

What I liked is when Mo talked about only collecting data that they could use. The problem with this kind of thing is that they can collect too much data and get swamped in analysis paralysis but it seems like they know what they're doing. All good stuff.

Well we tried to sign Billy for 3m last summer so probably.....

The moment a club names a price it means they are willing to sell, and probably want to sell as well. Also, if we've bid 6m and they want 10m then 8m would probably do it. None of which means we'll get him but it's encouraging nonetheless.

We've got youth team keepers - probably more potential than Tommy. I thought we needed a pathway to the first team. Either way people want to talk about it, well probably just me now, and I think that's fine and he's really not getting that much of a hard time so what's the problem?

OK, so I guess you'll be totally non-critical for the rest of the season? That will make a nice change so maybe something good has come of this.......

Who said he was? And why is it wrong to question it?

Of course. I don't know the bloke and have no personal opinion on him either. I think it's still a legitimate question as to why he's still around and as, like all players, that will be based on opinion of his ability so he'll have to accept that - even if we haven't seen much of him, even his defenders would admit he doesn't stand much of a chance of a league career. Not his fault but neither should his continuing presence be something we shouldn't question (personal abuse aside).

Who cares? Anyone contributing to this thread - that's quite obvious, isn't it? You probably meant 'Why should we care?' though. I'll tell you why - it's because we're paying a player who has no future, no value and no worth. Anyone who pays to go games, buys a shirt etc contributes towards this. It may not be a lot of money but this isn't some community help scheme either.

You're right that he hasn't had a chance to prove himself with us except in training but he's had other chances and hasn't done very well with them. Bart, of course, did get a lot of stick after the Blackpool game (and a few others) so you're wrong about that. Difference is that Bart needed to play - and he's managed to get a league club to sign him whereas Tommy can't find a loan move to a non-league club - you'd think that speaks volumes about his ability wouldn't you? You're right though that the real problem lies with Lowe who gave him the 5 year contract. In the mean time, however, we're stuck with someone who is patently not good enough for league 2 - maybe not his fault, maybe not breaking the bank but he's not doing this for free either. He'll still be getting a good wage and I'd rather not contribute towards it.

Or justified depending on your point of view - he's made 4 league appearances in 5 years as a pro and now struggles to even get non league loan moves. Professional footballer? Well it's not really him, is it? TBF It's not his fault he was given a 5 year contract but as the people paying his wages it is our concern, and in our interest. Personally I'd pay him off and get him out - he's never going to make it, we'll never use him and we can't sell him either - what's the point? Might as well just cut our losses.....

Revolution of course!

If the Clyne rumour is true then it might give a good indication of how we can expect the team to play next season, especially if we sign Buttner. Both seem to have their main strengths offensively so perhaps we'll have to rely on width in the fullback or even wingback areas......or it could mean NA just thinks without some pace at the back we'll get punished. Clyne seems a good little player although he was nullified fairly easily I thought both times we played Palace. If we do sign him then I wouldn't expect a right winger to start in front of him too often though - we'll need someone to fill in and cover and maybe where the likes of Chaplow and Guly get their chance.

That's because you are talking rubbish. It's perfectly acceptable to slate a black player without it being racist. I'd prefer Puncheon or Chaplow. It is absolutely the individuals choice to decide their opinion, if you don't like it well that's a shame but don't critisize it.

If that were the case then Lallana would get shedloads of stick for a bad game, but he doesn't. I think people need to recognise that it's an entirely legitimate opinion to think Guly isn't that good without it being uneducated (football wise), rascist or anything else. Personally I don't rate him that much, I'd rather have Chaplow or Puncheon in the side, but today I thought NA's tactics made him look worse than he actually was. I hope he doesn't play against Millwall as we have IMO better options.

Ha ha, that's superb - sounds like a good lad.

I thought that was pushing things a bit!

Yes, RIP Davy. I'm only slightly younger than 40 (at least for 2 weeks) but The Monkees reruns were compulsory Saturday morning viewing. For a manufactured band they had some cracking tunes as well, "Last train to Clacksville" and "Pleasant valley sunday" being my favourites. Oh, and I had no idea Shirley Maclaine was Davy's mother!

The whole hand shaking routine is a bit of a farce and a faff if you ask me. I've more respect when it happens informally after the game as it's voluntary and means something. The pathetic routine before the game is just something that needs to be done before the game kicks off and I doubt anyone really takes it seriously. I'd get rid of it.

Feel sorry for her friends, family and fans. It's a tragic loss to warbling.

Accountable? Really? The whole point of a monarchy and it's strength is that it is not accountable except to God (albeit not of the Catholic persuasion). How on earth will a system that enshrines divine right ever become accountable? It's whole existence is based upon the fact that the royal family are best placed to lead us due to some heriditary "superpowers" I presume. It's a ridiculous, anachronistic and absurd institution that finds it's only defence in tradition and fear of an alternative.

I thought Lambert was unplayable today - fantastic first touch throughout the game, good vision, passing and striking (despite not scoring). Seems strange to say but for me that was his best performance at SMS this season although there were no goals for him. West Ham can buy who they want but I wouldn't trade Ricky for any of their players. I don't think it was a coincidence that he played so well with Sharp either - the two look a tailor made partnership at this level. Think you may be putting too much emphasis on the West Ham game; would be great to win but it's not make or break or even defining.

Don't see this being called off. If it was the surrounding area then they'd have done so already, likewise with the pitch. So it's just the amount of snow on the pitch and given that it's got undersoil heating and probably covered then that shouldn't be a problem either.

Anyone got a list of the charities that they've ripped off, and the amounts owed? Also exactly how much they dodged in tax last time round, and how much they owe now? I'm going to put together a youtube video, got the perfect music "Thick as thieves" by The Jam (Demo version for any fans) and a few stats would help. Ta

Thanks both. I should probably give it a go as I do appreciate a book with good characterisation. As I mentioned I really don't go in for war time drama, and the adaptatation was full of period drama manners and dewy eyed glances which probably fail to convey the emotion of the book. Even the trench scenes seemed a little false, and almost polite. You probably did well avoiding the adaptation and at least I've only seen the first episode. It reminded me of "Atonement" - I've not read that book either but pretty sure both books are easily far, far better than their screen adaptations.