The Kraken

Great result today, but a real disappointment with the attendance. Lots of people pre-game saying "it'll sell out no problem", yet we quite clearly didn't (again). Villa games in the Premier League have been very well supported in past, so what a shame to see so many empty seats again today. Hopefully the result today will get the crowds enthused for the Fulham game.

Ramirez was utter quality but (and this may sound a bit weird) I thought he played within himself. In that, he'll get even better than that. Today he was superb just by doing the easy things very well, and by doing the slightly more difficult things with a complete air of class and confidence. He is a truly top class player. That said, I voted for Nathaniel Clyne today. First half he was good, second half he was sublime (and he did that playing out of position). Full of energy, drive and class, his goal was the least he deserved from a great display. Also a mention for Steven Davis, absolutely superb in breaking up play and very good with the ball at his feet. He really kept the team ticking over and put in a proper shift in the middle.

I've often noticed you waffling and talking self-important nonsense before. But thanks, this clinches it and tells me all I need to know.

Ha ha ha; please tell me you're not still denying it?!! Ha ha ha!!

Yep, which is an advantage in itself. Its been mentioned on here, loans between clubs in the same division should not be permitted. I just highlighted it as its one of a few similar type issues (including players being permitted to bet on themselves but not against their own teams) which could/should really be tightened up.

I agree; but its perfectly allowed in the rules.

Its not quite as black or white as that though. Take the case of Adebayor; while he was at Tottenham on loan his wages were being subsidised by Man City. Is that not in the same ballpark as players accepting payments from rivals clubs in order to perform?

Sounds like a job for these guys. Leaving on a jet plane......

I had the "pleasure" of seeing him play for Saints at Eastleigh. Oh dear me.

I think those posts were outed within minutes; they stood out like a sore thumb so it didn't take an investigative genius to put 2 and 2 together. Pretty sure the Echo ran with the story so that the club then publicly distanced themselves from the PR company. Mikey Wilde was also a poster on here / saintsforever; curiously under the username SaintMarc, if I recall correctly. Everntually everyone knew it was him, and he answered direct questions as himself, but its odd he chose that user name, and I assume was posting anonymously until the point he was outed. As for anyone posting anonymously on Pompey sites and commenting on the Trust and rival bids; that's really sad, why would anyone choose to do that..................

Ticket update; 568 tickets still available, so hopefully the walk up numbers will mean we get close to a full house. Around 60 tickets have suddenly become available in block 1; all towards the back of the stand. Obviously they'd been held back for some reason, who knows what. Hopefully there aren't others blocks of empties that haven't been released, as per Wigan and Man Utd. And if anyone fancies being generous today, me and some mates will be down at the ground bucket rattling before the game for the Saints Foundation. Every little helps....!

Have another drink!

Are Premier League footballers still allowed to bet on their own teams to win? They used to be.

Yep awesome; getting his name wrong and singing it loud and proud would be just the filip he's looking for.

Very well put. You've swayed me Colin; I concur.

By definition, yes it is. As Laudrup is saying though, I'm not sure I agree with the definition.

But if a team are being paid extra to win a game (their natural goal), why are they not doing the same?

You don't like the idea of outside interference encouraging a player to do his job better. The top scorer at world cups, euros etc usually is gifted with a prize supplied by independent sponsors. A prize (often high in monetary value) gained by trying his hardest for his team. Is that immoral?

What about club sponsors? If they give a win bonus, is that ok? What about individual player sponsors, who choose to give out a certain payment? I don't see what bearing a payment paid to a player for winning a game (which a player will naturally try to do anyway) is all that bad. Not ideal, obviously, but I don't see it actually goes to the integrity of the game unless players are diverted away from their natural inclination to win a game.

Apart from the part where he distinctly said that wasn't fine? Or did you miss that bit?

Don't see much wrong with it, if I'm honest. Not much difference in technicality to a win bonus.

As I said earlier; if he's not actually ready then it makes his signing a complete and utter irrelevance. We already had a reserve goalkeeper who wasn't good enough, in Bart. Have we really spent £1M just to replicate that? I really hope not.

Depends entirely on how good he actually is, doesn't it? And there's an argument that we'll never know until he actually plays for the first team. Plenty of young players have been blooded (including JWP who at 17 has been an utter revelation this season). If (and its a big if) the coaches deem he's good enough then he deserves a chance. If he turns out to be the next Keith Grainger then of course we're in massive trouble.

Some would say his P45 is in the post if this game doesn't go his way, so may as well go out by being bold and addressing a clear problem.