FloridaMarlin

We've had this debate before on other threads, but people - especially, but not exclusively, football fans - judge a journalist's ability on the positivity of the articles they produce about their club. Thus, a journo who writes or reports upbeat stories is seen as a 'good' reporter. One who writes negative stories is seen as 'bad'. Yer in reality, it is the other way around. The 'good' journo is often reproducing the positive line pedalled by the club. The 'bad' journo is the one who does his own digging, and finds the unpalatable facts that the club wants to keep under the carpet. By exposing them, he knows he risks the wrath of the club and the fans, but is doing what journos should do, giving the audience the truth. The fact the audience may not like these truths doesn't - or shouldn't, to rational, intelligent, fair-minded people - make him a bad him a bad journalist. In fact, he's a better journalist than the one who merely peddles the official line. Most football supporters don't want rigourous, inquisitorial journalism. They want affirmation. No group of people - and I'm not just talking about Saints fans - when confronted with something they don't like, indulges more in that childish device of sticking their fingers in their ears and singing; "La la la" at the top of their voice. How many people on this forum don't read the newspaper reports the day after Saints have lost for fear they might be told some harsh facts? But those same people will buy every Sunday paper and devour every word when Saints win.

Tony's from Yelverton in Devon, and is a Plymouth Argyle fan. Because BBC South/Radio Solent are Southampton-based, they are reviled by anyone east of Fareham. To try and ingratiate themselves with the Phew and fulfil the BBC brief as a public service broadcaster they have to be positively neutral. In other words, while tacitly supporting the teams in their patch they have to be seen to be objective. None of the sports guys at BBC South/Solent are supporters of any of the teams in the area.

On the recommendation of an article by Frank Keating, I remember catching the ferry over to Mosman Rowing Club and had a blinding night. It began when we sheepishly wandered up to reception waiting for a member to sign us in (as it is a member's club), to be told by the steward in a broad Ozzie accent: "You can bloody write can't you? Put your own names in the bloody book." We then equally sheepishly went to the bar and bought beers and stood there nervously. A couple of guys came across and said; "Are you Poms?" Not knowing what to expect, we admitted we were. We mentioned Southampton, not expecting them to know where it is, when they said they knew it well because they came across to the Boat Show every couple of years. That was is, we were made. I don't think we bought another drink all night, and staggered as p*ssed as pirates to catch the last ferry, and back to Circular Quay.

So The Hero Nugent will be milking them of £3,500 for the next three and a half years. But, of course, that goal at St Marys was worth it. Some other interesting names on that list, not least of all Hayden Mullins who is owed £632,000 and taking the thick end of £22,000 out of the club every month for the next 20 months. I couldn't be bothered to do the maths, but I'm sure somebody on here will work out how much had to come out of the bank account on August 30. And I'm also sure that somebody will work how much will come out of the club's account every month for ex-players, some of whom are getting more in a month than the current heroes. Couple of things. Bearing in mind these payments are scheduled to be paid monthly - presumably to help the club - are the parachute payments paid in one lump? If the parachute payments are paid in lumps, can they be trusted to ring-fence them and not be tempted to spunk it on a few promotion-or-bust signings? But the most interesting thing of all is how this got into the public domain. Fair play to the Snooze for publishing it, but presumably they got the info from the club who are attempting to demonize the former heroes and turn them into villains. What happened to contract confidentiality? I'm not sure if I would like my financial details splashed all over the place and I wonder what the PFA make of this disclosure of confidential information?

If he knew anything about assessing referees he would know that the assessor's job is to see if the referee correctly applied the laws of the game. The assessor does not question or examine the referee's judgement calls on individual incidents and decisions. So the assessor will not tell the referee: "You got that penalty decision wrong," as the most basic tenet of refereeing is that the referee's decision is always final. However, the assessor will note that the referee correctly applied the laws and showed Connolly a red card for violent conduct, and his assessment will also look at how he managed the game and the players. Contrary to what Neill thinks or hopes, Mr Bratt will probably get a decent report from the assessor.

If he knew anything about assessing referees he would know that the assessor's job is to see if the referee correctly applied the laws of the game. The assessor does not question or examine the referee's judgement calls on individual incidents and decisions. So the assessor will not tell the referee: "You got that penalty decision wrong," as the most basic tenet of refereeing is that the referee's decision is always final. However, the assessor will note that the referee correctly applied the laws and showed Connolly a red card for violent conduct, and his assessment will also look at how he managed the game and the players. Contrary to what Neill thinks or hopes, Mr Bratt will probably get a decent report from the assessor.

What guarantees has he got that he'l be first choice at Fulham?

Typical of a club that has stolen everything it can lay its hands on. It will even steal another club's nickname.

Squeeeeeeeeeze. Chumbawumba

I've you've got a SatNav, do you not have to disable the Speed Camera warning? You do in Germany, and I've a feeling you might have to in France.

Good, that's OK then. This particular story will never raise its ugly head again. Will it?

Citeh defence shocking without Kompany.

Not what I was told. A contact whose other half is a Portsmouth councillor reckons they've coughed up £415,000. Some councillors are seething, others sensing their vote going south, are advising caution and already making noises about easing the repayment, up to and including a write-off. Be interesting to see which version is thrust more firmly into the public domain for consumption. Also told that one member of the Trust board was approached at a dinner in London last week by a lawyer offering to oversee their next administration. Cheeky punt, or has he heard something?

Possibly tangental to this thread, but confirmation that whenever and wherever there is something crooked in football, The Septic Isle is lurking in the background somewhere. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10260721/Sven-Goran-Eriksson-I-hate-only-one-person-on-earth-the-man-who-cost-me-10-million.html Halfway down the story - "Eriksson claimed that his money was lost on a range of negligent investments including a residential and leisure development of 92 flats in Southsea, Hampshire." This wouldn't be the same Savoy Buildings development that 'Arry was involved in, would it? There is a marked similarity in the number of flats. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/politics/harry-redknapp-loses-bid-to-ditch-cheap-homes-in-southsea-seafront-development-1-2805955 It couldn't be, could it, that there is a link between Redknapp attempting to get shot of a property development he couldn't get planning permission for and Sven being fleeced in a markedly similar development, also consisting of 92 flats in Southsea?

You can bet a few of these deluded souls volunteered willingly to help out at The People's Club. What could be better from their point of view? They get the chance to help bring the Theatre of Screams up to Conference standard by slapping a few coats of blue paint around, all while being paid by the taxpayer. Workfare can be exploitative and should be confined to projects which benefit the whole community. But you can imagine these numpties leaping at the opportunity to step through the hallowed portals. In fact, some of them would PAY for the opportunity. I'm surprised p****y haven't thought of that yet, charging for the chance to plop your paint on the park (double entendre alert!)

What really gets my bloody goat is another bike thing - cyclists who ride in the road when there is a cycle path beside it. The cyclists who do this are what I call Wannabe Wiggos. In other words, they are the bloody jerks who have kitted themselves out at vast expense with a bike and all the kit, including professional team shirts and think they look the part. Because of that, they think they are too fast to use the cycle paths, that are provided for them at great expense, to keep them safe and out of the road. Instead of which, these tosspots (you can tell I'm getting angry just thinking about them) pedal in the road, forcing cars to go around them and slowing up traffic. It annoys me because I have to pay my Road Fund Licence in order to be able to put my car on the road, these arseholes contribute nothing towards road upkeep for using their bikes, while millions of pounds are spent on providing cycle paths, to which they again contribute nothing (other than the council tax which we all pay). I reserve the right to wind down my passenger side window when I overtake them to gently remind them there is an empty cycle path alongside the road they are slowing up.

What really gets my bloody goat is another bike thing - cyclists who ride in the road when there is a cycle path beside it. The cyclists who do this are what I call Wannabe Wiggos. In other words, they are the bloody jerks who have kitted themselves out at vast expense with a bike and all the kit, including professional team shirts and think they look the part. Because of that, they think they are too fast to use the cycle paths, that are provided for them at great expense, to keep them safe and out of the road. Instead of which, these tosspots (you can tell I'm getting angry just thinking about them) pedal in the road, forcing cars to go around them and slowing up traffic. It annoys me because I have to pay my Road Fund Licence in order to be able to put my car on the road, these arseholes contribute nothing towards road upkeep for using their bikes, while millions of pounds are spent on providing cycle paths, to which they again contribute nothing (other than the council tax which we all pay). I reserve the right to wind down my passenger side window when I overtake them to gently remind them there is an empty cycle path alongside the road they are slowing up.

Fantastic place. Visited Memphis on a road trip that took in Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, Little Rock (Arkansas), Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Louisiana, Biloxi (Miss), Nobile, Atlanta. Whether you're an Elvis fan or not, you have to go to Graceland. It is such a weird place but well worth a visit. Love it or hate it, it is like no other place you will ever visit Sun Studios is brilliant. Even taking into account it is now a tourist destination (although it is still a working recording studio) if you have any feel for popular music history, you'll feel it at Sun Studios. Stax Studio is great and the Memphis Rock And Soul Museum is superb, the only museum outside Washington to be set up by the Smithsonian Institute. The National Civil Rights Museum is very thought provoking and humbling. It is based around the Lorraine Motel where MLK was shot, and if you want to feel uncomfortable, take in the cafe mock-up and that of the bus Rosa Parks sat in to see what black Americans had to endure. The same criticisms that apply to Bourbon St apply to Beale St, although it's not quite as bad. It's worth a night out, especially if you like live music and you like it bluesy, ballsy, brash and loud. New Orleans is great but we decided to go off the beaten track to find the real Louisiana, We stayed out in the boonies near Breaux Bridge and went to a Fais Do Do. A Fais Do Do is a Cajun dance party or social gathering, They are held all over the place - restaurants, bars, cafes, church halls - and if you ask around people will direct you to one. It takes a bit of balls to pitch up as they are not organised for tourists but we were welcomed with open arms by the Cajuns who are very friendly people - especially considering what the Brits did to their ancestors in Canada, They play Zydeco music, which cannot fail to get you moving, the food is help yourself and could include alligator jambalaya, and we never paid for a drink all night, as people kept coming up to us and saying: "We've never had any British folks here before," and insisted on talking to us. You'll hear the phrase Laissez les bon temps rouler (Let the good times roll) all the time in New Orleans, where it's become a bit of a cliched catchphrase. But it's genuine in the Cajun bayous and our night at the Fais Do do will go down as one of my top three nights out ever.

Osvaldo's big day is carefully planned up. Most of this morning will be taken up with his watch fitting.

Syed is formerly Britain's top table tennis player. Cascarino is one of your more intelligent footballers, but a little out of his depth here. He is one of the pundits paid to toe Sky's line that the Premier League (which they bankroll, of course) is the bestest thing ever, and no bad things must ever be said about it. Kirsty Gallacher has just got a director in her earpiece telling her what questions to ask.

This is a bigger factor for mere mortals like us, These guys are coccooned in a bubble that surrounds rich top footballers. They don't have to worry about how long it will take them to get to work, how frequently the trains or busses run, where the shops are, how much a litre of Peroni or a pizza will cost. All they pretty much have to do is turn up to training and play matches. If they want to sample the lifestyle they just have to ask their entourage to get the Porsche Cayenne out of the garage and drive them there. If they don't want to embrace the lifestyle, they'll ensure they have enough of their own people to surround them and make them feel comfortable at home.

Quick! Before he gets away. Somebody send Osvaldo this. http://www.buytickets.southwesttrains.co.uk/combinedmatrix.aspx?Command=TimeTable He can also get off-peak returns, which are a lot cheaper.

What a dreadfully condescending piece that is.

Back in the day, The Snooze was always being banned by p****y for stuff they wrote. But that was when the paper was objective, attempted to get at and print the truth - no matter how unpalatable it was to fans and readers - and was not a mini-skirt wearing, hair-in-bunches, pom-pom-waving cheerleader.

That could apply to the FA Cup. Presumably, if we look hard enough the table worth £500,000 and the painting worth £250,000 should have been listed among the assets, or were they 'removed' before Clever Trevor had a chance to do an inventory and include them? Again, presumably, if the half-mil table and priceless painting are returned, they will be sold and the proceeds used to pay off some of the CVA debts. Under the new, hands-clean, spotless regime, surely nobody could object to a bit of the club's history being sold to pay off debts. Or is more likely they would be sold to pay for a new central defender or left-back. I liked this bit; "The table is currently being looked after by a friend of the builder – a Pompey fan who has taken over the costly footing of the storage bill." What a load of cock. if the storage bill is that costly and he is that much of a fan, he would have returned it to the club straight away. It looks as though Terry Clarke might at last have seen some sense through his blue goggles and found something of value he can cling on to until he is paid. As for the files found in a cabinet in the loft, they should make interesting reading. I was told years ago that a former club employee kept his job for so long through regime changes and previous administrations because he had an 'insurance policy' of documents that he could use if ever he was threatened with the tin tack.