Micky

Did we lose tonight...?

No chips here PES - I would concede that your lot can make a hell of a noise and make FP pretty intimidating. That said, I think to a certain degree the likes of John Westwood do little to actually help the situation. Football has moved on - it is family orientated business - it has a brand. I have never met JW, but personally to me - he portrays an almost thuggish brand - one that we left in the 80's - he does nothing to promote your club. I may have got that wrong - but it is certainly my perception. I understand that fans are fickle - we have debated long and hard here during our own problems as to whether the fans are partially to blame for the downfall of the club. The JCL's stay away, Man U turn up for a cup game and SMS is full to the rafters again - thats fickle for you. It is a difficult situation, but a potential investor will look at the club like a business - how many customers do I have - how much will it generate. At the moment the business is patently not generating enough to run as a going concern, therefore it needs more regular customers. I understand what your saying about the product being crap - but the product will only get better if the income levels increase. If the worst of the worst happens, and you do get wound up and cease to exist (which I really don't think will happen - but a posibility) - how will those stay away fans feel then?

Surely though attendances are paramount to you in your current predicament. I would imagine that money raised from your STH is long since gone - therefore your walk up support is the only gate monies coming into the club at the moment. I believe that you need all the funds you can get right now. It is actually more important though, that you show any potential investors that the fans are still behind the club, and that they will support them should they wish to mount a takeover bid. It would be a far better endorsement of your fanbase than having John Westwood dressed in his clown suit on SSN shouting at potential investors to come and save you. I have heard more than one commentator recently make comment on the number of empty seats at FP - therefore as you can see, not only is it important, but others outside of the SO postcode do give a damn - perhaps it is time that your JCL did the same.

If thats from somebody who was there then I'm more than happy with the point. Then again, I'm a happyclapper anyway.

3 - 1 is relatively easy.

Errr call me stupid - but I cannot answer Q3 - it's just a blank drop down and I can't type anything into it - help...! Edit - sussed it - refreshed page and the Q3 players loaded - geeze I'm getting good at this tinternet thingymajig stuff..!

Gotta feel for them and hope they find their very own ML to get them out. Are they a better prospect than the skates for any potential investor(s) - methinks they have more going for them, but I may be mistaken.

Lets face it, half an ounce of semtex would do the job on FP - it don't take a nuclear strike to level a tin shack now, does it...!

Would you? Would you sell a multi-million pound commodity to a buyer whose credit history has been splashed all over the national press for the past 9 months and whose ownership, at best, is questionable. I wouldn't.

Agree totally. The embargo was not designed to just protect Pompey - it was there to protect all other clubs as well. They (other clubs) will now tread carefully before trading with PFC, especially in a selling capacity. Without further substantial investment - they are still in deep do do as far as I can see.

Exactly - lifting the embargo does what? It allows them back into the market place - it gives them back thier 'flexible friend' - it allows them to dig an even bigger hole of debt - it allows them to effectively trade beyond thier means once again - it allows them to give false hope to thier supporters. Ok they could bring in loans and frees - but that still adds to the wage bill (you know the one that they have struggled to meet recently). Perhaps the PL really have lifted it just to allow them to shoot themselves in the head.

This whole idea has been ripped off from that groundbreaking carrier that is Ryanair. They are pioneers of this lie flat travel concept - except they want to take the seats out completely and 'flat pack' thier customers into the aircraft in a standing position, like bloody sardines. Real forward thinking, quality driven carrier, honest...!

Never mind who runs Saints Twitter - can somebody just explain what twitter is for us (old) dumb users. Ta in advance.

Dear me - if true - that really is sad, I know there's no such thing as a free lunch these days, but a premiership team unable to pay to feed the staff sort of takes the biscuit (NPI). Mind you, if the caterers are resigned to doing this to settle outstanding debts, how long before representatives of Lens, Watford, Chelsea etc turn up to reclaim players that have outstanding monies owed - desperate times call for desperate measures...!

Thank god for the OP - we are in danger of losing the plot and being dragged down by our 'obscession' with that lot down the road. Lets not lose sight of the bigger picture - give me the three points from Brentford, these are the bread and butter games - they are the games that are going to have the most impact on our destiny. A cup tie with those down the road is great - but we need to make inroads towards at least challenging for a playoff place now - the league is the priority.

In most peoples eyes, oh so very true. Perhaps though you should discuss this with one of our other most esteemed ex managers - he would have a very, very different view.

Would wish George all the best if he ends up at Reading. Nobody starts a new job in life with the intention of failing or making a hash of it. I'm positive that GB had the best of intentions when he started with us, perhaps that waned during the second season as we started our downward spiral - but that is not totally down to the manager. Why people wish to throw cheap shots with reference to percieved personal problems is beyond me - would they be so readily accepted if they were being recieved, probably not. Not our best manager over the years, by a long shot - but equally, not our worst. Good luck for the future George.

Exactly. It's weird though - here we are lanquishing in the third tier, midtable whilst the Blue Few are still in the big league - but would one single fan want to swap places. No chance. It's so good to be a fan again - if we miss out on the Paint Pot, and the play offs, and get beat by Pompey, it will do nothing to dampen my enthusiasm now. We are on the up either way, the owners, manager and team are all cause for celebration right now.

Strange how only a few months ago the good Dr was telling everybody how Pompey could draw thier fanbase from right across the south of England - millions of people. Reality seems to have hit home, even most of the local community seems to have deserted them and the Blue Few get Fewer still... Happy days if your a Saint.

Looks like the 'Hardcore' are getting restless too: http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=424&fid=203&sty=2&act=1&mid=2123130250

What he should have done is: dropped the Milton end and parts of the north stand ... because it just ain't used...!

Ahhh so good to see that you have trawled the Board and revived a real classic of a thread - I like your taste, I really do...! Please refrain from the rant though - if it's taken you this long to work it up, it could prove fatal. Relax and breath would be my advice..!

Nice sentiments, but it would appear that there are some of our fans (mongs) who cannot wait to get in there and twist the knife: http://www.fansonline.net/portsmouth/mb/view.php?id=222420

Quality place that has bred quality people...!

Nice story - makes a real change from the normal 'fans in fight' headlines that we are used to seeing. Well done to those that 'made it so', just a shame that the press don't get to hear and report on the good side for a change.