VectisSaint

I don't think the results from this season are carried forward, unless that is a new rule. The difference next season is (1) pre-season and (2) settled squad, hopefully with settled coaching team. My only concern is that we will lose Lallana if we don't go up this season (sorry, because we won't go up this season).

When? Hammond injured, Connolly injured, Jaidi rested because needed for next 2 games, Fonte cup-tied on Saturday, Puncheon cup-tied Tuesday (and Saturday?). Some people just don't get it. Get this week out of the way and you might start to see a settled team. But in the end that team will be Davis, Otsemobor, Fonte, Seaborne, Harding, Lallana, Hammond, Schneiderlin, Puncheon, Lambert, Barnard, with James and Connolly as backup.

Jaidi and Harding were not randomly dropped. Don't you have any memory. Jaidi had an eye injury and missed some games, Harding was also injured, and was replaced by Mills who did a great job. There was no way Jaidi was going to play today, at the age of 34 he is not fit enough to play 3 times in 8 days, and as Seaborne and Fonte are cup tied for one or both of the cup games Jaidi was needed for both of them. There is some real crap being posted on here today. The only thing certain after today is that the play-offs are now gone. If we had won today and other results had gone for us then the play-offs were a distnt but still achievable target. Now they aren't. Simples. The reason for this is that we simply did not get it together quickly enough this season, our first 10 games were very poor, and on top of the 10 point deduction we have not receovered. Since then our form has been and remains good enough for Top 3, but you can't hide from the start of the season problems. We need to also acknowledge that we are missing 2 important players, Hammond and Connolly. Connolly was always a gamble, but he proved to be an absolute gem, but its becoming clear that we may not see him again much. Losing your captain is also a massive blow, and his injury seems to be worse than originally expected. Still, looking forward to Tuesday and getting to Wembley, confident that we will do it. Maybe now I care a little more about the Pompey game, because I want to see us carry on unbeaten and increase our confidence, we need to end the season on a high even if the play-offs are now a dream.

Must have missed that. Why did they have points deducted? Norwich started the season with Bryan Gunn that was their problem. Agree though that Lambert is doing a very good job, as he did at Colchester. Our problem still remains though that on top of the 10 point deduction we had a very very poor start to the season, and we have never really recovered. Until today the play-offs were still achievable, it would have taken a hell of a run but was achievable nonetheless. But without a win today and with other results going against us the reality is that the play-offs are gone. We will be very lucky now to finish higher than 9th.

Come on Alps, AP is nothing like Burley and you know it, Burley was complete cack, and was only made to look good briefly by Snodin. What selection problems are there? There is not much that is wrong with the selection today, maybe Harding instead of Mills but otherwise what would you do different? Basically the problem is that the players are not performing, thats about the only thing you could level at AP, that at the moment he is not getting the best out of what we have. We also struggle to play on cabbage patches, one of the problems of having a billiard table for a home pitch. Changing managers now or soon would be the sort of tactic that Lowe would introduce, success comes with sticking with good management teams, and AP and DW will build a good team, but it may be next season before it comes fully to fruition.

So what's the alternative? For Pompey you have to perm 2 from 3 of Jaidi, Perry and Thomas. And as Thomas is likely to play RB, think Jaidi and Perry is a given.

Today is far more important than next Saturday. Assuming Pompey survive (and I think and hope that they will), a win today keeps us in with at least a chance of the play-offs and hopefully promotion. That would mean playing Pompey (at least) twice next season. Shame about the year after when we will be 2 divisions apart again, with them in the 3rd Divisioin

Don't worry too much about it Tim. Come over for more important games this season, if we can get a result today there is still a good chance of getting to 6th and winning the play-offs, then we will get to play the Skates twice next season, and even better we won't have to give them our home gate receipts (that assumes they still exist of course). Frankly in my view for the sake of our season MK Dons is more important, but not as important as Exeter. Have you tried contacting Pompey, maybe they have tickets, their lot can't even fill a shed for a Prem game this season. I know it would be awful have to sit close to a Bellend, or even W******d, but might be an option. Surprised Saint Nic hasn't come through for you though, seems like a guy who really understands cases like yours. Good luck with the project to get Big Ron over here, no way on earth I will miss a chance to see him at SMS.

Jaidi had his eye injury, agreed Fonte and Seaborne probably the first choice now, but aren't available for MK (Seaborne) or Pompey (both), hence Jaidi will be needed for them, I assume, unless Perry and/or Thomas are included. Personally would still pick Jaidi ahead of Dan given no other constraints.

Have I missed something, why do so many think that Lambert should be or will be rested today? He has had a week off, why does he need a rest, agreed he looked out of sorts during January at times, probably result of the virus or whatever he had earlier. No sane manager would "rest" the league's top scorer before an important match that could define the rest of our season. I can understand resting Jaidi because he just isn't up to 3 games in a week and we have cover, but Rickie, no way.

Just out of interest what is an Australian massage? Visions of a Sheila and a jar of Vegemite are doing my head in. Just as long as it doesn't involve Skippy.

Was thinking more of a Santa Claus (or Saint Nic perhaps)

I thought it might be good to use jaidi tomorrow as well, but fact is we need him for next 2 games, so likely that he will be rested tomorrow, because Seaborne isn't available for next 2.

Duncan - do you know, was the original shirt actually plain white and a loose sash was worn over it, or was the sash actually an integral part of the shirt? I thought back in those days teams used sashes over plain shirts so that they could distinguish against other teams wearing the same colours. Teams didn't have change strips back then hence the use of sashes if I recall (I wasn't actually around then, honest).

I trust that you kneed him in the nuts and told him to feck off

Awesome, especially the 3rd one, like the incorporation of the stripes. Pity about the little diamond thingy. Would the back be plain white, or does the sash go on there as well? As a minor point would it be better to incoporate the original logo as well?

Could you give Pulis a game? Not sure if he would be up to the required standard but could help to build his confidence.

Graham Baker

How many groins do you have? Of course its related

Connolly in makes 11, Aaron Martin makes 12

The Club already has another sponsor, it is called The Mali Group. Just doesn't need to put it all over shirts and hoardings.

Suspect the wage bill has not gone down much overall, OK some of the big earners have gone, but we have 40 players in the squad at present, with one or two "big" earners still in there. But agreed about the overdraft, hence I said "maybe less". Point is that I suspect that we are now operating on a sound financial footing.

Is that your wishful thinking?

That also had to cover hefty mortgage payments which we no longer need to make. I think we would break even now on crowds of 15k, maybe less.

Sorry, I have no spare buckets to donate. I would have thought money would be more useful to them.