The Kraken

Yep, exactly. Players like Ji-Sung Park, Ryan Nelsen, Danny Guthrie, Michael Turner, Robert Green, Pavel Pogrebnyak (all just quickly off the top of my head) are all decent signings who will do well alongside young, up and coming players from the lower leagues.

Well its no good forecasting our chances based upon a team we don't yet have, is it? That's just make believe. I could say "I think we'll finish 12th as we're going to sign Steven Caulker, Scott Dann and Matt Jarvis in the next 2 weeks". But what would be the point? Predictions are made on what you know. We know we are short in certain areas. We know the club want to improve those areas, we know they wanted to do this before the season started but haven't. We may sign players before the window shuts and, you know what, its not against the rules for people to change their minds on how they think we might do. I still think we'll make signings. I think they'll be what we need and if they are significantly better than we have already, I'm confident we have more than a chance of staying up and competing. Until that happens I'll continue to register my concerns at the state of current squad, giving they'll be in action in a few days time.

So we have to come up with who we should actually sign before we say anything about the fact that the manager hasn't brought in the players he said he wanted before the season kicks off? We have to name who it should be before that viewpoint is given any credence?

Sorry, can you point me in the direction of the people who are getting hysterical and saying we should just panic and sign anyone, please?

A free transfer and 60k per week over 4 years is roughly the same as a £7M transfer fee and £25K a week over 4 years. You could argue that's a JRod (conservative guess really).

Its a difficult one to answer just off the bat; in terms of individual signings on a like for like basis I think we've done well. And perhaps wouldn't swap too many players with some that our peers have signed. Saying that, I also think that the other clubs have signed well, and in more areas than us. I'm not necessarily saying peers have signed better individual players than us, simply that they've addressed their squad deficiencies better than us. If we sign a decent RM, a CB or two, and a GK then I think we'll be much better off than our peers. Its just it hasn't happened yet, so I can only judge on what we've done and not what we say we want to do.

First of all 2 years ago is irrelevant, aside from the fact we can say "ooh look, we've done well to get promoted twice in a row". Our needs and ambitions are constantly changing; now in line with being a Premier League team and wanting to at least stay there. So how we got here is a nice footnote in history but no marker on where we should place our ambitions right now. And no, of course I (or anyone else) don't just want anh old player; that's a ridiculous suggestion. I want better than we have, simply because that's what Nigel Adkins said he wanted too. His ambitions, not mine. If we get those players in before the window shuts then ok, and I'll judge them on their quality when they arrive. And no-one is writing the season off are they? Unless I've missed something.

Don't agree with that in the slightest, I think we're well behind our peers in terms of business done so far.

Have you not read Vectis' posts before?

Still not good enough to get promoted from League 1 though.

Probably just remember where we were 3 years ago and smile.

Well that was quite the rant!! But I hope you've calmed down a bit since, you sounded as if you were quite worked up (which is strange, as all I did was ask you a fairly reasonable question and you responded with an abusive outburst like that). Scotland are currently struggling 2-1 at the moment, bless them. But then Australia would probably get relegated from League 2, or something.

And another one for the "look where we were 3 years ago" irrelevant brigade.

I don't mind so much the people who want to see the best of things, and lets be fair there's still some time until the transfer window shuts. That said, Nigel Adkins specifically stated that we were short of up to 6 players (2 x GK, 2 x CB, 1 x RM, 1 x LB/LM). he also stated he wanted to bring them in before the season started. For whatever reason, that hasn't happened and therefore its fully justified to question why. Its those that try desperately to ignore that fact that I fail to comprehend. we haven't achieved what the manager wanted us to achieve, plain and simple.

I've always been sensible, a shining light of rationality.

Chill out? Everyone else in this thread seems fairly calm and rational. 2 years ago has nothing to do with it, Nigel Adkins has stated he wants to bring in a number of players before the season kicked off and it hasn't happened. When is this "look where we were 2 years ago" nonsense going to stop? Its completely irrelevant now.

Our record of loan signings really isn't very good when viewed in total. I had hoped we would avoid the last minute desperation scenario we had with the Hooiveld gamble.

Not sure if I could possibly say we've made excellent signings so far. We have a reserve keeper (when we arguably need a replacement first choice). We have a £7M striker who is being played out of position at left wing, supposedly because we've changed our main way of playing to only one up front. We have a Cm with previous seasons well rated in the PL but who has spent 4 years playing less than competitive football in Scotland. And finally a very good right back, the pick of the bunch IMO. We're still missing up to 5 new players for which the manager himself stated he would be looking to fill. Our signings have been good so; in terms of the overall transfer policy we're possibly only halfway there (if that), and with a few days until the start of the season that really isn't good at all.

There are also many people within this thread who agreed with the concern that we hadn't (still haven't) signed players in key area, particularly CB and RM. So I'm not sure where the "told you so" approach comes from.

This. There is a massive gap in what the Trust can afford to pay the football creditors and what Tricky Trev has agreed. The Trust allowed for £2M to players, and £1.75M to other clubs. Add in PKF's fees (£1.85M at the last count) and you're just under £6M. Portpin are claiming that PKF's agreements with the players and clubs, plus their own fees, are now at £12M. The Football League will not grant a golden share unless all of those footballing debts are paid. And Trev has ensured that those payments are covered by the Parachute payments, so the players and clubs will get paid direct if the club implodes, so they are guaranteed. The trust either have to stump up an extra £6M or forget it.

You thought it was bad for Pompey? According to the BBC, John Gorman is playing for Plymouth.

Christ, can you imagine how uptight this forum would be if Matt Le God got the gig? Infractions for getting facts and statistics wrong, use of sarcasm banned as he doesn't understand it, the same for humour, and bannings issued for non-agreement with the Cortese Champions League Action Plan. It would be utterly horrendous.

You're forgetting that this is a concept that is completely alien to Portsmouth Football Club.

If only dune were here to share his ITK info about our impending top class signing......

I would like to nominate Turkish and CB Fry. I feel they will bring balance and order to the forum.