moonraker

There will be bumper crowd for this freindly, Rayo Vallecano. Pompey have announced plans to give serving sailors the chance to watch Sunday’s friendly against Rayo Vallecano. Members of the Royal Navy can collect tickets for the match (3pm kick-off) from the club’s Frogmore Road ticket office on the day of the game, but will need to show naval identification.

Having now read the report in full I belive it contributes a lot to the debate. All 3 main Political parties accept the need for some form of Nuclear weapon system for the foreseable future. The report was commsioned to provide a definitive anaswer to the system options and costs arguments. It has effectively concluded that the only cost effective viable option is the 4 boat CASD one. You might say no surprises there however I belive this report is important, and worth the money, as it gives a credibilty to the proposed 4 boat programme and the fact it was led by and LD whose party members are the most sceptical demonstrates that its conclsuion are not politically skewed.

Thats politicians (all colours) for you, sounds just like Jeremy Hunts reponse to the Keogh NHS report, from which the authors and other well informed and rational people have distanced themselves,.

Originally Posted by badgerx16 What is the solution for Italy, Germany, Holland, Sweden, or Spain ? Or over 150 other countries around the world ? Why does the UK HAVE to have these systems ? Good question; in reply I would suggest none of these have the global legacy, ties and responsibilities the UK has. Each countries needs are shaped by history, Germany is not allowed by international law to have such weapons (maybe Italy I do not know) nor are they allowed to partake in overseas operations (front line), this is also true for Japan. Sweden is a neutral country and Spain was until the early eighties a non-aligned fascist state without the money or technical know how to build and own a Nuclear Deterrent. No nation has developed a Strategic ICBM Nuclear Deterrent since the late 50’s early 60’s (arms limitation at work). Israel’s, India’s and Pakistan’s weapons are essentially regional and tactical and not submarine based. NATO was formed to provide collective security, part of the NATO strategy is a Strategic Nuclear Deterrent maintained by the US and the UK, (note not the French Deterrent, why do they have one?). If the UK decommissions its Trident force without replacement then a key part of the NATO strategy will be undermined and we (Europe) will be even more reliant on the US. I do not subscribe to the argument that it is about empire and past glories it is however a legacy of these. A question if Europe (the EU) were a fully integrated sovereign state do you think it would have a Strategic ICBM Nuclear Deterrent?

First myth to blow away, not a Conservative (the greedy party) type never have been never will be lifelong LD voter. As to the changing strategic situation your bang on, so perhaps you can tell me what it will be in assay 5, 10 , 15 years’ time. Development and deployment of CASD is not an overnight event, as I previously stated the Governments first priority is defence of the realm this means true long term planning; design, build and commissioning to operational status of new platform minimum 20 years, recruiting training and maintaining crew competence on going, if you stop it you lose it 10 – 15 years to regain it; infrastructure to support the capability, it took 10 years to get Faslane ready for Polaris and another 10 for Trident. Can you honestly tell me we will have minimum of 20 years warning to deploy a deterrent? If not what is your solution to long term security in a very insecure world?

The problem I have with the lets do away with CASD brigade is they all say it will save loads of money for schools and hospitals and then go on to say we can spend it on conventional forces, even CND use this argument, just how often can you spend the same £. They also quote the whole life cost as if it were an in year saving, the Trident replacement programme is a 40 plus programme @ £100billion that’s an average saving of 2 - 3 billion or so per year. Essentially the argument should only be based on need: I personally believe the Governments first duty is to defend the nation, CASD is the ultimate deterrent.

Lets hope our new players are more welcome than Gavin Henson is at Bath Rugby http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2361793/Gavin-Henson-knocked-new-Bath-RFC-team-mate-seen-swanning-city-centre-pub.html

No Toilets!!

Paine, as a midfielder in the modern game his skill and reading of the game would set his value very high. No one has mentioned Martin Chivers another who left for a then record fee.

Very difficult this, all the names above have provided me with great memories, but if I have to pick it would Ron Davies.

It is not indicative of anything, if there is no news what do want to hear? What ifs and maybes? Transfer negotiations are a sensitive area and no club provides hour by hour or day by day summaries, which you appear to be demanding, how that limits Saints potential is beyond me. You are entitled to your perception of how the club is run, it would appear that all others who have responded do not agree, if this were a trip advisor review yours would be the one everyone would ignore. Frankly your incessant negativity and pessimism is boring.

So not unusually Alpine is in a minority of 1. Whilst we all want to hear real news June is always a slow month in football terms. As to the kit announcements, there will be a kit, dates and details certainly don’t keep me awake at night.

Many thanks for the update.

I am very impressed and pleased that they will acknowledge Ron. I do doubt it will be 30 mins, The Last Word is normally a roundup of all notable people who have passed away in the previous week or 2.

Truly sad news, the finest header of the ball ever, he was my schoolboy hero and still ranks as one of the best players ever to pull on the red and white of SFC, RIP.

Whilst you are right I did sate Townsend and Dodd were from non-league so included them as it was Saints who gave them chance in the full profesional ranks.

Others: Wayne Bridge, Martin Chivers, Chris Baird, Alf Ramsey, C B Fry, Andy Townsend & Jason Dodd (from non league), Morgan Schneiderlin , Nathan Dyer, Andrew Surman and Adam Lallana

Actually bettered by 4 other players not 6, so does that mean he moves from not bad to quite good!

I believe we meet your criteria of ambitious and realistic and therefore a CL spot whilst unlikely is achievable it certainly isn’t black and white as the sneering purport, my criteria are; Ambitious – the easy one, aim high, yes a CL place is the stretch target but the right target. Realistic – the difficult one, there are a number of factors that have to be considered the key ones for me are: be in the EPL (Tick); be capable of winning football matches (Tick); have enough quality players, not there yet but with summer transfer window who knows; have a manager capable of forging a high performing team, whilst the jury is still out all the signs are that we have such a man; have a chairman who puts his (or someone else’s) money where his mouth is (tick); and my final factor is luck if we have plenty next season who knows. NB. Failure to achieve a CL position will not be a validation of those who say we can’t, it will merely be the actual outcome from one of a number of possible outcomes.

I do find this sort of question foolish and normally ignore them but they are becoming the staple fodder on this board. We have blooded a youngster at left back and he is now first choice, Fox is an experienced if somewhat limited left back, tough not as badb a many make out. Just how many promising left backs do we have in the academy?

There chosen by their fellow professionals not the FA!

Great news, looking forward to next season especially with a couple of quality signings in the summer.

This, my only concern about Gaston is he cant last 90 mins.