VectisSaint

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

You can't count a loan expiry as an "in". If you do then you also have to count Pulis.

Agreed, and I did make that point, Antonio too was non-league 12 months ago, Ian Wright another good example. What surprises me with this is that we have a squad already of about 40 players, do we really need someone who will sit on the bench sometimes, maybe get occassional game in the ressies? AP is going to have a tough job keeping all these players happy. I also note that he already has league experience, Southend clearly did not feel he had the potential and released him after 4 years, he has played for a host of non-league teams, including Salisbury, and has injury problems too. He is also not a kid, 21 already. Our transfer policy at the moment seems a bit odd, buying in decent experienced players for relatively large sums, but also picking up inxeperienced non-league players, we'll have enough players soon to loan a whole team to AFC Portsmouth (except the rules don't allow it of course).

Underwhelming transfer news, we are after players from Crawley Town? I know sometimes there are gems in non-league, but is this really what we are looking for right now? No offence to the fella, had never heard of him before, not that that makes any difference.

Don't you go to home games?

Thats simple. Pay up their contract and make them free agents. It may cost but it means he doesn't have to include them in training which I understand is AP's primary concern. Given that some of our deadwood did not even make the ressies last night I would imaging this is what is happening.

I don't think for one minute that Pompey will be out of business before thr Cup match. They may be in administration but thats different. Even if the winding up order is agreed, there is an appeals process that will prolong the matter. I don't wish even admin on anyone even Pompey, and I certainly don't wish going out of business on them.

He was, not to mention Olly Lancashire as CB. Still, could have been worse, Pulis did not make the team, nor Molyneux. With such a huge squad these players don't even get a reserve game.

Wouldn't worry too much about the police. If they don't like it NC will ban them from the ground

I'll give him a bell tomorrow Doh, on second thoughts perhaps not, he's already got one.

You should go work for the Echo, I think that is their way of doing things as well

Must admit a slightly better solution would have been to move the away fans to the Northam end of the Kingsland, rather than the Chapel end, but it is deffo a step in the right direction. I imagine Northam end of the Itchen was not considered because we don't want away fans anywhere near the Corporates or the Directors It will also be good on TV not seeing any away supporters at the ground.

Same back 4 that played the game before though isn't it (or did Harding play?). It will only be a bad decision if we lose. Not surprised Morgan not included wither, not really his type of game, more rough and tumble, tight pitch that suits Wotton better. My only comment is that the bench is very defensive, is Connolly injured?

Largely irrelevant to us. Our real targets are Huddersfield & MK Dons, maybe Swindon. We can definitely still make the play-offs, but realistically it has to be 6th place. The critical thing is that we win our next 2 games and that we beat Huddersfield (and Swindon) at home and MK Dons away. I thought AP's target was 14 wins by the way, not 15. We have to take 3 points from our rivals when we play them, otherwise we have no chance of closing the gap.

Good post OB, and Duncan's reply is spot on as well. Good local rivalry is great but some of the stuff I've been reading on here since yesterday is quite frankly pathetic. But maybe thats because I am one of the "older" posters and was around before this rivalry became the hatred that it seems to have turned to now. I love putting one over on Pompey, don't get me wrong, but on the field. If people start looking for a kicking then quite honestly I'd rather not be a part of it. When I first started going to the Dell back in 66 there was hardly ever any mention of Pompey, at least not in a negative way, but mention Spurs and everyone would get agitated, they were our rivals then in my opinion. We were hardly ever in the same league as the Blue few so they became somewhat irrelevant. I lived in Cosham for 2 years and regularly went to midweek games at Nottarf Krap (usually in the away end) and many of my family are Pompey supporters, indeed it was my old man, a Pompey man through and through who took me to my first game at the Dell, found someone else to keep an eye on me for later games and never set foot in the place again - little did he know that his Grandmother was born a stone's thrown from St Marys In my opinion the more AP focuses on the things that are important for the future of this club this season the better, and I see that as getting as many points in the League first and foremost to see if we can gatecrash the play-offs, then to win the JPT (our trophy room is sadly lacking in silverware after nearly 125 years) and only then beating Pompey to reach the 6th round. Have to say I was disappointed that we drew them, it was looking good for a game against WBA or Reading and that would have meant a good day/night out with some mates from up north. But make no mistake, on the day I will be crapping myself and hoping like everyone else that we get one over the Skates.

What don't you agree with? Do you honestly think an FA Cup game in 3 weeks time is the most important part of our season? Seriously hope that our players are not taking the same attitiude as some of our supporters and keeping their eye firmly on what is important, 6 points from our next 2 matches. We are not going to win the Cup, and a game against Pompey is the last thing we need right now, not least because quite honestly the chances are that they will turn us over, Premier League v D3. Of course I hope we beat them, but a lot of crowing about this right now could be a ****ing disaster if we were to lose, and even worse if we lose focus.

Any chance the Mods can make this a non-sticky. Need to have threads about important issues as stickies, at least for the next 2 weeks until this game is imminent. Brentford, Stockport and so on are far more critical to our season than some grudge game against the local retards.

Probably not because it was the Football League that docked us 10 points, and the Football Association who have rescinded the red card. You do realise there is a difference?

try looking at the stats again taking into account the assistant manager and you will get a better perspective on his abilities. We made the play-offs because Burley was ably assisted by one of the best assistant managers in the game. Once he had left (and before he joined) the true ability of Mr Burley was evident for all to see. We ended up with one of the most demoralised and unfit squad of players that it was possible to have. I had a lot of time for Burley before he joined us, did very well at Ipswich, but it was clear that he was not the same man when he joined us, and has demonstrated his total lack of ability now with Scotland, thank goodness they did not realise the truth until after they had given us a pay off

Strictly speaking "would have been of school age" would be more accurate. Chances of them having actually been at school are very very small.

Evidently its on the cards, Scottish Courage don't need it. I lived in Reading 78/79 when the old brewery was still operating and casting its aroma over the town.

Don't understand why some people think Pompey won't exist in 3 weeks. They may be in admin, but I seem to remember that didn't stop us existing. Even if (and its a big if) HMRC are successful with their winding-up order, Pompey will at least appeal. They will exist in 3 weeks time, they may be in admin and minus 9 points but there is zero chance that we will get a bye. They may also have their transfer embargo lifeted this week. I know I'm not the only one, but really I would rather have not got Pompey this season. If we get beat can you imagine the stick we will get, and whether you like it or not they can still beat us comfortably as they did yesterday against Sunderland.

As I said on another thread I think we will get Leeds/Spuds Got to be said that this is looking like one of those years when someone will get to the SF/Finals who are not expected. Mind you history would say SF would be as far as we could go, L3 teams have been that far before, in 1976 for instance I seem to recall a certain L3 team beaten by a L2 team who went on to win it.

Hope nobody mentions before the interview that the Courage brewery is likely to be closed this year, GB may be attracted by the environs at Reading

Clearly you answered your own question there. So neither Seaborne or Jon had "standout" games against Millwall. FFS man, it was their first game, playing in a changed back row, quite honestly what were you actually expecting? Seems clear to me that Seaborne is for the future. Jon is also our only fit specialist RB, I think Pardew realises that Murty is unlikely to figure regularly again. Jaidi and Perry are in the twilight of their respective careers and don't seem to be able to play twice a week. Thomas is not in favour, likely to be on his way within the week I would imagine, yesterday's goal notwithstanding. You could tell from AP's interview that he was quite shocked by Thomas' performance, referring to him not showing such ability on the training ground. Not clear why James came into this discussion, as clearly he is a CM, AP has been trying hard to get him back into his preferred position. Still it gave the James bashers some more ammo, luckily I think like most that AP is more skilled at picking good players than some if not all on this forum. James will turn out to be a very good player for us, given a preseason working on his speed, and if he could find a decent hairdresser. So, options seem to be: RB: Jon and Murty (James in emergency) CB: Fonte, Jaidi and Seaborne (Perry in emergency short term) LB: Harding and Mills Thomas and Lancashire surplus to requirements.