Crab Lungs

He used the Montauk chair to travel back to January 17th 2013 but it went wrong. Now he's only partly in this dimension If you look closely, you can see parts of Dean Wilkins still fused to the technical area at St. Mary's

Haha, likewise. Put a small bit on Rare Bob and Becauseicouldntsee too!

A small price to pay with what he's delivered and what we stand to gain by staying up (assuming we do). Still don't like how he operates though, but I'm gritting my teeth at the moment in preparation of accepting that he was absolutely spot on to bring Pochettino in.

Been saying it before (as someone else on here has, I can't remember who though) - I wouldn't swap our midfield for almost any of the ones we come up against every week. We have a simply brilliant midfield and great blend. Liverpool, no. Man Utd, no. Spurs, possibly (if it includes Bale). Arsenal, possibly. Man City (three good 'uns and the rest are ****, so no). Everton? No. Very, very underrated, but now people are taking notice. And because they're taking notice, it's the acid test over the summer - can we keep our midfield together?

This.

The blokes a massive pr1ck. I'd love to meet him, I really would. He banned me when I politely questioned him on Twitter and since then (it's been almost 18 months now) I've had to read his drivel without any possible opportunity to reply to him. He's got to be one of the biggest bell-ends on the South Coast, let alone Portsmouth. I hate his sarcastic overtones and shameless trumpeting of "victories" against people they owe some serious money to. I hate the fact that he blames everyone else and doesn't subscribe to the fact they cheated and worst of all, I hate his inane, pathetic and factually baseless witterings about their brilliant support. If he was a bit tubbier, he'd be like that weasel on Demolition Man. You're a c()nt, Allen, you're a c()nt.

Two JWP's and two Yoshida's?

Didn't MP go on a crazy winning streak with Espanyol once he got to grips with them after taking over? I wonder if this could be the start of one for us? I bloody hope so, anyway...

You're right, I wasn't AT ALL. I watched the videos yesterday and rightly or wrongly, the press were basically harassing him. If you've read his autobiography, which I have, it clearly states he believes Mussolini did good and bad things. He had admiration for some things, repulsion for others - and he's got a fair, honest point. Watching them yesterday try and create a headline out of his beliefs and gloss over what he actually said was disgusting. No wonder people, when given the opportunity, give 'em a smack in the mouth... (BTW, I always listen to Guardian Football Weekly in the hope that they mention us... they did, briefly. Again!)

I should clarify... Schneiderlin will be capped (and appreciated) by France. Our equally gifted young English players won't be called up to their respective senior squads until they've moved on OR done so much that they can't be ignored.

He'll be capped by France, no question. I think it's very unlikely our equally gifted English players won't get a sniff though. I'm sure Welbeck, Sturridge, Rodwell, Henderson, Cleverley will deserve every one of their 50+ caps. Ha.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2302698/Paolo-Di-Canio-press-conference--live.html

I'm glad Paolo told them to poke it... absolute w4nkers http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/apr/02/paolo-di-canio-sunderland

He might not be a better manager (in fact, I don't think tactics even come into it with PdC) but he's probably the shot in the arm they need and wouldn't have gotten from O'Neill. Their prospects are better now for it IMO. BTW, it wasn't a Nazi salute, try to understand why he did it and what it means properly. I'm not defending it, but people need to do a little homework, not read the yellow ticker on Sky Sports News...

The ITV commentator yesterday tried to pass off Welbeck's poor first touch as deliberate and something he does to fool the defenders. Pundits, commentators... almost all of them are not right in the head. Neither is Woy. Pace = completely pointless argument. His games not about pace besides, it didn't harm Klose or Sheringham, who, like Rickie, have quickness of thought. Age = inconsequential, providing Rickie keeps himself fit. His game isn't going to decline rapidly like Michael Owen's - he doesn't rely on a single, solitary attribute - he's well rounded as a footballer. Liverpool miss - Ridiculous argument. Players miss chances. Rickie's got 14 goals this season and made another 10 (I think?). How's Sturridge and Welbeck getting on? Or Rooney for that matter...

The Samoan's are big lads :-o

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4158639/Football-Confidential-Latest-news-in-brief-from-across-English-football.html

Personally, I quite like John Terry as a footballer and he's no-where near on a level of ****ishness compared to people like Ferdinand.

I'd imagine that was Cortese gently reminding him that we have Artur Boruc kicking his heels in reserve...

I didn't think they were particularly miserable at all... I certainly wasn't expecting to see them jumping around all over the place with no control of their emotion... I thought they were all quite personable, judging from both of the Matchday Uncovered's I've seen..

Big Radhi

Here comes Di canio... Will make for some interesting viewing!

If we survive, 40 points mid to late Marrch (in and around where Swansea/WBA are now)... then take it from there.

She has something about her, that's for sure. I'm more into my snub-nosed beauties these days... Sandra Bullock if I fancy a bit of mature or Caitlin Stasey if I'm going for around my age. Either way, I'd love to have their little snub noses rubbing against mine.

Here's my best assumption on what what happened to Adkins; 2010-11: Adkins takes over. Charged by Cortese to win the league. We come up just short. Summer 2011-12: Overlooking missing out on the L1 title, Adkins is advised that promotion is the target. A good start potentially undermines Adkins position a bit. Mid 2011-12: Given the commanding position, Cortese now wants the league title. Early 2013: Rumours that Adkins had been sacked after losing 0-2 to Leicester at home. Reed apparently the "peace maker" between the two. Relationship now strained. April 28th 2012: Saints promoted, Adkins makes his famous "eventual parting of ways" comment and is notably tearful in interview after promotion (relief of stress?). Icy handshake between Cortese and Adkins before the "parting of ways" comment. Rumours abound regarding Di Matteo - someone Cortese is personally close with. Chelsea put an end to this, agreeing a deal with Di Matteo to become FT manager after the Champions League triumph. Summer 2012: Transfer committee overrule Adkins' on his top transfer target. Little is known on how much input he had over Yoshida, Mayuka and Ramirez deals. Early 2012-13 Season: Brave performances fail to mask a woeful start, culminating in a showdown with Cortee after the defeat at WBA. Adkins appears to buy himself some more time. 18th January 2013: Despite improved performances and results, Adkins is sacked, presumably not meeting the target Cortese had set. Cortese appearing to want his Southampton to be totally fearless and competing, not just "brave losers". Reports of possible player mutiny, fans outraged. Pochettino brought in. Post-Adkins: Numerous players have since commented on the welcome arrival of Pochettino and his methods etc, leading to speculation that perhaps he wasn't well liked. Reading between the lines, I'd say Adkins was possibly a victim of his own success and Cortese's ruthless ambition. I don't believe for a second the players didn't buy into his methods or philosophy, or that he wasn't well-liked - especially considering how rapidly things improved after the WBA game... for me, they were playing for him 100%. However, like any workplace, he probably wasn't as liked by some as he was others. In addition to the above, I think a few of the senior/stalwart players had been sounded out (or had heard rumblings) that he was being lined up to be replaced. Players in the loop, such as Lambert, Schneiderlin, Fonte, Puncheon, Davis and Lallana (interestingly, all captains this year at some point) - players that have been with the club since the start of his tenure and could accurately gauge the dressing room feeling. Adkins' was great for us but perhaps, just perhaps and as much as it pains me to say it, Cortese has once again pulled a blinder? Who knows, it's only 9 games into Pochettino's tenure and it's still too early to say, but the signs are promising. Summary: Adkins failed to meet Cortese's targets (L1 and latterly, the nPC title) which strained their relationship. Stay of execution because RDM took the Chelsea job in May extended NA's stay, but he could have gone at any moment. Cortese had obviously had this in mind for some time as Pochettino was sounded out months before NA's dismissal, as were the players. NA was well-liked but understand NC's "vision" of competing with the top clubs (interestingly, this also matches all players ambitions I would have thought). Another observation made was that some of those senior players who may have been sounded out have earned a nice little extended contract for all of them. Aside from that conspiracy-laden reasoning, NA also couldn't meet Cortese's targets or convince him he could take Saints to the next level. No real player-driven agendas, IMO (apart from maybe the odd goalkeeper selections).