VectisSaint

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.

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.