VectisSaint

Little did we know that the start of the following season would be so poor and that we would part company with a decent manager after a few games, then have an awful run under the caretaker, which has defined our season (meaning we did not compete for the title). But still although we may not have played champagne football (indeed some of our displays of late have been quite poor), nevertheless our manager has a win percentage of well over 60% (I think its 62 but can't be bothered to confirm) and the likelihood is that we will be promoted. Hardly a step backwards, but maybe not as much of a leap forwards as most of us anticipated a year ago. If we get promoted, no-one (except Lardy) will care though.

Details from the GRO index, doesn't include the exact date of birth but basically sometime between 1 Apr and 30 Jun 1989. So, don't believe his date of birth either on Wiki or Soccerbase. Name: Dale Christopher Stephens Date of Registration: Jun 1989 Registration district:Bolton Registration county:Lancashire

1900. 4-0 Bastards.

Hardly simple-minded and thoughtless, actually a measured response based on the facts that since he signed a contract he has played very few good games. Your view that he will look sloppy when he has an off-day or when the match doesn't really suit him is just waffle. So he will only play well when it suits him and when he is feeling 100%, what a load of tosh. Next you'll be making sure he is looked after by Human Resources because he is precious. Fact is he has been poor more times than he has been good since he signed, 2 good games in that time IMHO, and only one of those in the League. You are of course absolutely right that he is a great asset as we don't have an alternative at the moment - the corollary is that he knows he is in the team and therefore doesn't feel threatened by poor performances week-in, week-out. Bloody good job Hammond stepped up last night, someone else that a few weeks ago (v Swindon) looked like he couldn't be arsed, last night got off his sick bed and played a stormer by all accounts, all credit to him.

I remember the Orient game, ****ing brilliant night. I also remember a Luton game, but not sure it was the same season - was it just after the Millwall riot (at Luton) and we were kept in and pelted with bottles and stones that rained in from above the fencing? My memories of Luton was the worst possible place I have ever visited, and I have kept that memory to this day - evil **** hole.

Why not? Here goes, sticking to the theme We've got the best pitch in the land We've got the best pitch in the land We've got the best pitch in the land And our groundsman hates ****in Pompey

And the Gas are now beginning to pick up points as well. Seriously, you really cannot read anything into these results. Apart from Charlton of course the teams we played away we are now playing at home (and vice versa), several games were pre-NA and so on. Maybe Orient was a better result than we thought at the time. I really think we should have the mentality to go into every one of these games believing we can win (without the complacent look that we seem to have sometimes, such as 1st half yesterday). Toughest games out of that lot, Orient (A) and Brighton (A), hopefully we can get a draw in these.

As you say cringetastic (assume thats a bit like cringeworthy), especially as the last lame line has to mention Pompey. We must be the only club in the world that mentions our little rivals in chants more than we mention our own name, sometimes it really is embarrassing. Is that the best we can come up with? He comes from Italy and he hates Pompey, pathetic.

Factor out the games pre-NA and we are now over 2 points per game (60 from 29), 62% win rate in the League.

I'd be ****ed off too if someone snaked me from behind

NA hinted yesterday that DC is ready

Someone posted a week or so back that we were already safe. Due to fact teams still had to play each other there was already no way we could go down.

A win is a win, indifferent performance against one-dimesnional carp team. Great goal from Lambo and good corner from Chambo. Never looked like conceding, would just be nice to play well. Onwards and upwards, 3 points were important to day. Now need MK to do something Monday night.

Helicopter down from Barnsley, should make it in time to be on the bench, he came off early to make sure.

Just goes to prove that with a couple of notable exceptions, big money transfers for us have been a complete waste of time. 17.5m of wasted money IMHO, 7m worth of good investment

Think the following team made up of transfers would take some beating (although even if they were beaten they would be a joy to watch): Shilton, Golac, Watson, Richards, Mills, Case, Ball, Osgood, Keegan, Channon, R Davies (and still had to leave out Peach, Steele, Ruddock, Boyer, Killer, Marian). I thought about adding Skacel but not sure he has signed yet.

No, Rudi is back with Hearts

Out of interest, why are we getting so excited about a player who doesn't seem to be able to get a regular place in the Reading team this season? I know he's a local lad and all, and he has a good record in the past, but maybe there is a reason he is not playing. Still he has started 16 times more than Antonio in the League - what happened there? Can't believe Antonio has not made a sinle League start all season, yet Reading were so keen to keep him. Sometimes football doesn't make much sense.

Watched about 30 minutes of the 1st half, it was at least 15 minutes before he even got a mntion, I assumed he wasn't playing. Looks very slow sadly which was the impression we had of him when he was at Saints. Shame really because he has talent but thats not really enough. Would probably do well in Spain or Italy where games are played at a pace that would suit him.

None

You could have made your edits a bit more convincing, some capital letters perhaps.

I don't think it is a massive achievement. Pre-season expectation was that we should win the League, and that was not just the rose-tinted view of supporters, but all of the bookies and pundits as well. The view was that the other teams in the league were far weaker than the crop from the previous season that went up (Norwich, Leeds & Millwall replaced by Sheff Wed, Peterboro & Plymouth), no-one really foresaw Brighton or Boscombe being at the top. I still hope that we can get 2nd place, sadly as for once I really wanted us to win something, but if we have to go up via the play-offs, so be it, but I suspect we might not win by that route. The original article said something about avoiding the form teams in the play-offs, not sure how we could do that, all the teams that make the play-offs will be in form, there are no easy games, unless Boscombe scrape in. I really don't agree that play-offs is acceptable, although it would be so if we were to win it.

I really don't see any logic. With 2 or 3 notable exceptions I don't believe we would get more for any of our players if we sold them than waht we paid. Because we are a relatively wealthy club we paid over the odds for some of our players. We would not get fees for most if we tried to sell them now, most clubs would just stick 2 fingers up if we tried to get that much out of them for overpriced players. Our only real assests are Lallana and Oxo, possibly Fonte, after that fees for these players is a fairy story. Thats not to say they are poor players, but we paid over the odds to assemble the best team in the division, it is questionable whether it worked of course. Had to laugh at the prospect of getting £100k for Holmes

Yes, he said quite clearly that we are looking at a loan and something will happen. Morgan out for a little bit, club speak for Morgan won't be playing again this season (IMHO). I was going to suggest Jacob Mellis would be a good shout, but I see he is on loan to end of season with Barnsley, would have thought the Big 4 (or is it 5 now) in the PL would be pleased to lend us a player in the hope they might be able to swing a deal for Oxo. I suppose Wilsher is out of the question.