The Kraken

I'm saying I'd like for us to achieve our target set by the manager of having a CB or two and an RM in before the Man City game. Nigel Adkins set that benchmark, not me. Of course we're working on deals, I have no doubt. But the manager has stated areas in which we need to strengthen, and stated he wanted to do that before the season starts. I'm only judging on what he said. In answer to your other question; I think we've done ok with our signings so far (Clyne & Davis good, jury out on JRod for that amount of money, hard to tell on Gazzaniga but seems he's reserve keeper for the short term in any case). Reading look better off than us IMO, like us they've signed a striker, a right back and a central midfielder, I'd say there's not much between all of theirs and ours. In addition they've signed 5 other players, so they're set for the big kick off. As for West Ham, they've signed players in areas we need to strengthen, and particularly at CB I'd be happy enough with their two CBs signed in Collins and McCartney (at least in the short term).

No, but "athletics" does encompass various disciplines of walking, running, running and jumping over things, jumping over things, and throwing things.

You could argue the same for the bikes. And for the rowing. Both of which we've done well at. Personally I'd have more events, not less. Cycling actually got cut down from the amount of events they usually have in the World Championships. Swimming does have different events but they've also been cut down for the Olympics. And the different strokes are different disciplines so fair enough for separate inclusion IMO.

They're not quiet across the board though, that's the point. West Ham and Reading who came up with us have made more signings than us, Reading have done the bulk of their spending in a pre-planned mission to get it all wrapped up as soon as possible. The other clubs who were in the relegation mix (QPR, Villa) have already made more signings than us.

He's already on a contract, that's why they're in this mess in the first place. Lawrence is just desperately holding out as long as he can and telling the fans what they want to hear. He's supposedly on £19K a week yet is saying its not inconceivable he could come to a deal whereby he'd be paid what a League 1 club can afford (i.e. £3K per week at best). He'd likely walk into a Championship side if he reduced his wage demands to a normal level so is just playing a waiting game to hoover up as much as he can.

You'd have to imagine JRod is on at least £25K a week with us, wouldn't you? Therefore, getting Hoilett for free on a 4 year contract paying him £50K a week is pretty much the same as paying £5M for him and paying him £25K a week. Large wages aren't necessarily out of the question.

Do we let in more long range goals than other teams then?

I think we'll get thrashed even with a new central defensive pair. Man City were unstoppable at home last season (18 wins 1 draw, only conceded 12 goals, scored 55). And we're still ate least 2 or 3 players away from a side that'll stay up IMO. As such, I wouldn't even be confident of going in to the Wigan game with our current line-up, which is a much more important game.

There's a couple of parts I don't get. From the Q&A: Do you not think that by shutting down the Academy, that this is in direct conflict of the core values of “being an integral part of the community”? PST does not intend to 'shut down' the Academy. The PST bid is committed to PFC developing its own talent. There is also a commitment in the bid to fund the Academy in 2012-13 and 2013-14. We expect the Academy to be self-funding in Year 3 through commercial sponsorship and through generating income through transfer deals. The Academy expenditure, like all other areas of the business, will be under review to ensure it offers good value and is cost-effective Yet from the council bid document (linked on the previous page of this thread): So, what am I missing? Also: What assumptions have the Trust made with regards to the percentage of pledges that will actually become reality? And what contingency plans do they have to cover any shortfall? The bid works on the assumption of a 75% take up of pledges. This is believed by the PST to be a conservative estimate. Yet the bid document states: Is it me, or are the Pompey trust just full of sh*t?

Try hitting the "Fixtures" link. Its not hard to find.

Presumably the same over-priced slop they sell inside the stadium.

I think you'll find that particular gentleman is a prominent poster on this message board also.

Despite only playing for 30 minutes? Must have been amazing.......

Do you mean apart from the £10M+ spent already? Or just new money spent?

Yep, agreed. A couple of friends of mine who work in the industry have suggested the same thing. There's a big difference between lining up a sale and being desperate to offload, of course.

Really? How so? I'm not sure how lashing out £15M on an upgraded training ground that can't be seen yet (and apparently is over the top in requirements given that we've already achieved top ranking in Premier League Academy ratings without it) is any surefire way to sell a club and maximise profits. Edit; I forgot the ;-) thing.....

I'm sure I used to read about Sports Days like that, Dennis the Menace in the Beano trying it on with massive springs on his boots. Although I'm pretty sure Dennis always used to get found out and disqualified back then, maybe if the rules have apparently changed he'd get away with it now.

Free the dune 1

.....

Christ, they've even got orange on their jackets, not exactly hard to spot.

Or the long jump? Or the triple jump?

No offence, but a lot of people have seen the story and some of the evidence for why he's running. And, funniliy enough, still don't agree with it. He's running with artificial aids. Without which, naturally, he would be much slower. When sports like swimming, cycling, athletics even are doing all they can to cut out the effect of artificial influence (in the form of banning swimming suits, having regulation bicycles, banning performance enhancing drugs, and all sorts of other regulations) its weird how the sport suddenly wants to bend the rules to 90 degrees to allow one competitor in. Although he is clearly an inspiration (and a media dream) it just isn't right. He runs the 400M. what if he did the high jump? What if he got "springier" springs? Where does it stop? Edit: Really, the only question should be is this. His springs on his feet are now, apparently, legal. So if an able-bodied 400m runner found a way to convert those "blades" to running with them strapped on, and they improved his/her times, would they be allowed? If not, why not?

Indeed. Bless the good old days when you could happily parade a swastika without fear of any form of condemnation for acting the tw*t.

So either we played like European champions, or got "bossed" by a less than average Championship team. #confused

12.