derry

I've heard that is the intention but not which side. The other alternative is leave the front two and put Puncheon in beside Hammond as an attacking MF.

I doubt they can do it Nick, There will be as many teams against it as for and I wouldn't be surprised that the seven not affected would oppose it.

My view of it Bill is that the scoring on the break was predictable, as Pompey are struggling in the Premier, their game is built on battling, soaking up pressure and hitting on the break. Knowing that, we should have retained our back four across the halfway line. We aren't the quickest at the back, so giving Pompey the room to exploit it wasn't sensible. A number of times this season we have been technically out-thought and we need to get a handle on that. If we can continue to play the same way as the first 75 minutes we could have an exciting season. The last two teams selected were right, against MKD we tucked in the wide players at half time which stifled our passing, we didn't yesterday which was good. If Pardew resists his natural negativity and gives it a go we might make the play offs.

We were beaten today not so much by the pace but by the fact we didn't keep our back four as a unit and allowed ourselves to be outnumbered when they counter attacked. I would have thought with the known pace of the three attackers and the left back, we would have opted for the back four to hold their positions and not throw them forward as we did when level.

You Sir should learn some manners. I think you should apologise. This is an unnecessary insulting, juvenile, rediculous comment.

Tim, you make a very valid point but it would have been better not to link it to today. It loses it's emphasis because of it. I think today was unique in as much as the last three goals were on the counter where we are pressing forward, normally we are getting a lead and backing off, defending deep and gifting the initiative and possession to the opposition who invariably score. We also concede late from set pieces.

Good performance, just a bit naive in the last 15 minutes getting outnumbered by quick counter attacking. What was a shame was Schneiderlin's miss kick across the area that led to the knock on for the first goal. The thing to do is take the positives, play that way for the rest of the season, and enjoy the death throws of today's victors as their story unfolds. Will they even be around when we are at Wembley on March 28th is a question yet to be answered. They won the battle today but unless they find an owner like ours in the next fortnight I know who will win the war. I wouldn't swop places with them for all the tea in China.

I am totally relaxed and recognise that Pompey could well win. I don't want a draw but would take it. If Pardew is positive and doesn't tuck in the wide midfielders we have a chance to play well and win. If he is negative, as he was after half time on Tuesday and tucks in the wide men, we will be back to hoofball and will be picked apart. The beauty of football is that anything could happen. I've been to two great upsets by Saints, beating Man City 5-1 at Maine Road, 3rd div v 1st. Then beating Notts Forest 5-0 at White Hart Lane in a second replay, 2nd div v 1st div. Now wouldn't that be something.

There will be quite a few teams against the payment, Liverpool who gain having been beaten by Pompey, Chelsea four points clear, Wigan and Burnley move up, some like Utd/Arsenal lose 6, West Ham would lose 4 and go from 14th to second from bottom. Comparison tables are in the mail.

There are three camps involved and it's by no means a shoe in. Some teams have taken 6 points off Pompey - for, Teams who have taken 3 points, for, about 6 teams no change. There are teams that will move up if they go, top and bottom, they will be against. The comparison tables are in the mail.

Going back to Tosic, I thought there was quite a lengthy qualification for FA Cup registrations of players unlike the league. I think it used to be 7 days. I've checked the rules, it is now the same, noon on the day before the designated day for the round.

And while we are at it, send them the u tube downfall video, now that WAS funny.

I haven't, but Cortese seems to have come to at least an interim conclusion that the owners don't find the league results satisfactory. He is the one who has a lot of money on the line when it comes to achieving the owner's target. If that looks as though it will be jeopardized there will be changes.

If we don't end up in 6th place we won't be in the playoffs no matter what pie in the sky calculations you use and after Saturday we could well be 18 points off 6th place.

No, but I would have no problem being a Southampton fan if Cortese decides to get rid of Pardew if he thinks he isn't the man to take us forward and the next 18 games back that up.

We are 15 points off the playoffs and currently going backwards from 7 points 5 matches ago.

It doesn't matter what you think as Cortese has already publicly announced that it isn't satisfactory. It is what he thinks and what he decides is satisfactory, on that, Pardew's job will depend.

We have taken 14 points against the sides in the top half in 15 games beating only MK Dons and Walsall, that means only 8 points in 13 games. We have played 13 games against the bottom half and taken 30 points losing only one. For the lovers of statistics that is a pretty damning piece of evidence indicating exactly how good we are. We are nowhere near as good as some wish to believe, we need to be able to take a high proportion of our points from the top half and a lot more against the bottom.

I think Pardew should heed what Cortese is saying because the people that matter see the cups as a sideshow even if there is a profit. If we don't pick up the pace in the league and start making ground up whilst improving the performances, demonstrating if we don't quite make the playoffs or get promotion we have a team structure that can beat the best regularly next season. If that doesn't happen this sideshow though brilliant for us could be the end of him.

SSN said this morning a hearing booked for Wednesday during an interview with Vantis.

HMRC say PCFC is insolvent. Even if administration is possible the club must have the funds to continue trading legally. If there is no money then it is a winding up.

Bottleing!

It could be that this is the last time we will see them in a derby. Pompey are 8 points adrift, 13 games left, the tax bill is going up by a million a month, the £1.8m salaries are due in 14 days. The deadline day for this seasons administration, only if there is enough money to trade, is rapidly approaching. Vantis are independently assessing the accounts so the spin has to stop. It is put up or shut up time at Pompey, either the money is put in and paid to the revenue or it's over. We will probably be beaten by a better side on Saturday, but if Pompey manages to survive and the £60m is paid off, the team on Saturday will be gone in the close season. The ladder has been climbed and the snake is imminent. The reality is we are at Wembley for a cup final, we are a third tier side at the moment. We don't owe a penny, are refurbishing our training complex, own 41 acres at Hedge End, Can afford to buy any player we need, have a nearly new 32500 seater stadium and wouldnt change places with Pompey for all the tea in China. So before you come on here sneering take a bloody good look at your end and it isn't pretty. Even at it's worst last year we didn't owe the HMRC which was the smart thing we did and it bought us time. You didn't and HMRC are looking to make an example and I hope for your sake you are not it. I remember going to some bloody good games at Fratton Park before the stupidity about Skates and Scummers built up, it was just a local rivalry but sadly not any more for a lot of people and honestly what passes as rivalry now I wouldn't miss.

The Pompey tax bill on the salaries alone is going up by about a million a month. That is without VAT liability on trading. HMRC said insolvent. Only another 14 days until £1.8m has to be paid out in February salaries plus the tax, NI, VAT etc added to HMRC bill. Only way out, Current owners invest and satisfy the creditors they can continue trading legally, new owners pay the bills or do the same. From our point of view the Leibherr's don't allow their companies to borrow money.

If you need to pay over the top to get to the game so be it but after the match email dluker@saintsfc.co.uk with the seat number/s and tell him they were touted. The customer numbers will be matched and the greedy buggers won't get any more.