positivepete

An interesting line on their "disputed" VAT. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/mattslater/2010/02/pompey_court_out_but_still_ali.html Last month, the club's call to remove the VAT from HMRC's winding-up petition was rejected, but the judge did give Pompey the right to appeal, a right they claimed last week and clung on to for dear life in Derrett's court. The rationale for this was described by HMRC's barrister, Michael Gregory QC, as "ingenious", although he said it much the same way Sir Humphrey Appleby used to call Jim Hacker's decisions "brave". With Pompey claiming the wrong party in football transfers (the buyer) has been paying the VAT all these years and nobody has realised, I believe Gregory was being polite.

Spot on, pains me to say it but they have about 8 internationals, we have no more than five who would make a premiership squad, and none that would start regularly in a premiership side. Some fans need to remember we are a third tier side packed with players to get us out of this division. We are aiming for the Premiership but I doubt many of our current squad will still be here when we get there. Having said that, funny things happen in the cup, and I live in hope!!!

Don't they also have a player on loan (Dindane) who the loaning club (Lens) says he is no longer on loan because he has exceeded the number of matches in his loan spell. have the FA been asked if he is eligible to play? Grounds for suspension?

11.39am: Latest from Nick Szczepanik at the High Court: A Portsmouth source says that new creditors were appearing as late as last night to jump in on the winding up petition but they've all been dealt with. Sounds like they sent the boys round!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article7021629.ece Southend and Cardiff granted 28 day adjournments

Another good article in the grauniad today. Makes the point the ML paid our debts in full http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2010/feb/10/portsmouth-cardiff-hmrc-winding-up No my usual paper but the sports section is very good

highlights on SSN in a couple of mins

A reminder about the kick-off time as the tickets say 7pm. The kick off is now 7:45pm

The two are linked! But then he is one or classes above this division. Poor today but still not the depths of Swindon away

http://newsarse.com/2010/02/04/hong-kong-business-man-wins-portsmouth-fc-in-game-of-pass-the-parcel/ What more do you need to sum it up!

This may save them. Before this event they probably wouldn't have been able to go into voluntary administration (CVA) because they would not have been able to demonstrate they had the funds to be a going concern, and would have probably been wound up. This guy may be able to demonstrate funds to keep them going.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/02/alexandre-gaydamak-portsmouth-administration Gaydamak to the rescue! I wonder how is money is secured?

I got a ticket at the box office today when I picked up my FA Cup tickets, stand sold out, plenty of terrace tickets left

So what happens to James in the next few games? They were trying to get rid of him because they owe him a new £2.5m contract when he plays another 9 games. Either he has given that right up, or they still face the prospect of him sitting on the bench from the end of March

So the plan is find a new deal when we are back in the Championship the season after next! Up there for thinking

And most of these at home! Great that the fans have had the chance to show the new owners their passion, and that they have responded by investing the extra gate money back in the playing staff.

Just arrived in Aberdeen. As soon as the taxi driver clocked I was from Southampton he waxed lyrical about the cup draw and the rivalry, he was looking forward to watching the match on tele. As for Morgan not knowing about the rivalry, I am sure he has had enough nights out to know which "locals" are friendly and which are not!

We could help our good neighbours out by taking any decent players they may have left at the end of January on a months loan to assist them with their cash flow. They can have the players back in March!

And that bloke at Barcelona who came through the ranks isn't doing too bad either!!!! Good luck to Stuart, one of the good guys.

Newsarse is more accurate than the echo....... http://newsarse.com/2010/01/15/football-world-stunned-by-how-little-redknapp-hid-from-tax-man/

I watched his performance closely yesterday, he found space well, exploiting the space behind Steven Ireland. He continually supported the frontmen, only gave the ball away a couple of times, had a couple of very good set pieces, a couple of incisive through balls into the box for the strikers and was involved twice in the best Wolves move of the match with two lovely first touches. When the winger came on who had been keeping him out, the winger was put on the right, and Surman left on. He lacks the pace required to go further but makes up with his intelligent movement and passing. I thought since it was only his third match he did pretty well.

Arsenal 3-2 last game at the Dell, but I think the game we hit the low point was actually this season away to Swindon, that was truly the worst match I have ever seen a Saints team play. We may look back at that being the start of the long climb back.

I suspect the money will go towards keeping more clean sheets, this seems the main goal for AP at the moment. The Tranmere RB looked good today.

I thought Hammond was going to come off when Wotton did on Saturday, he was clearly struggling to get around the pitch at the time, but then he popped up and scored just after! He walked off very gingerly at the end.

Dean Hammond is not fit to lace his boots. Good league 1 player but will go no higher, good performances at this level are no guide to ability to perform at a higher level, you have to look at awareness and movement. Drew is light years ahead.