Gorgiesaint

Harry Redknapp was a guest on Talksports mid morning show today, only caught a few words about his time an pompey. Basically admitted that Sasha was a cover for ownership for Arkadi - although he never seemed to know how Arkadi got his money but knew he was big in Israel (owning a club there).

No, they wouldn't. They were heading to the Championship under O'Neil. I've said it before & I'll repeat it again, PDC was good choice had they given him a contract until the end of the season. Taking them forward, he was always going to be a disaster. Poyet isn't the worst choice in the world, if he can keep Sunderland up this season. Given the time to build, I think he'll do a reasonable job but he may just have been left with pile of rubbish by PDC's summer transfer spree in which case they could be as good as down by Christmas.

Just listened to the Press Pass on Talksport: Tony Evans of The Times was on there (he's a Liverpool fan if you don't know him), and was saying how good a decision it was by Cortese to get rid of Adkins and bring in Pochettino. Cue the host jumping in to say that no-one in the press at the time said that though so was with hindsight. The other journo (name I can't remember) then said after the announcement he had realised how highly rated MP was. Tony then finished by saying that we won't finish in the CL spots - but we won't be far away. One of them also commented about how Cortese is convinced we will be a CL club at some point, and whilst he didn't expect much spending in January, we will strengthen again in the summer. They also commented on our mix of youth and bought players - and also how many have been there since our L1 days.

The other prime example of a top player smoking was Socrates, the Brazilian captain from the late 70's/early 80's, who smoked anywhere between 40 & 60 a day depending on who reports it. That said, he came from a game which in general is not as fast as the game in this country is now. As an athlete, players should be trying to maximise their potential in what is a relatively short playing career. Sadly, footballers seem to be happy taking the multi-million pound contracts without making the sacrifices they should do. Smoking is one of those sacrifices (as should drinking).

and Clotterill

As usual, home game preferably against a weak team - but not sure there's many non-Prem teams left.

Only because she received a number of emails from the FA telling her to value anything related to pompey to well below its true value!

It was a panic appointment, but at the time the right one - so long as they only contracted Di Canio until the end of the season. Sunderland were going nowehere else but the Championship under O'Neill. The key to O'Neill's failure was not having John Robertson as his assistant, just goes to show how important the management team is, not just the manager. Giving Di Canio a contract into this season was a recipe for disaster, as was bringing in 14 new players over the summer. Whether that was Di Canio's decision or not remains to be seen but it will take a big job to get that team to gel. Di Canio will probably be finished in English football as a manager, the only club I could ever see him managing would be West Ham where he is still idolised - Gold & Sullivan are stupid enough to appoint him.

So how good could we become if we can get that fixed....

Or just maybe as a Man Utd fan, he just wants Liverpool to lose in the same Lawro wants them to win every week...

Not had a chance to read the article yet (will do later though) but did read Tim Vickery's column on the BBC website about South American football, and this line stuck out Seems to sum up a problem closer to home as well!

Nice to hear Ian Danter on Talksport now (Brum fan) saying whilst Gerrard was given MoM at Wembley last night, he thought it should have gone to Lambert. Ray Parlour asying he hasd a 'fantastic' performance.

As someone has said, being injured. He's also been coaching at Dumbarton I believe. I'm not sure he'll be back as a player, certainly at the top level.

That won't sit well with Puncheon either...

As a non-season ticket holder because I live in Scotland and being lucky if I get to SMS once a season, I try to get tickets for as many games in the North as I can. Now I often struggle as they often sell out when available to season ticket holders only. So it transpires from the OP that season ticket holders are buying tickets for 3rd parties when they're not going to the game themselves! Sorry but you have no sympathy from me for any problems you've had with that. The person should have waited for general sale like I have to and take their chance. It would be different if you were going yourself, but then you would have had one full price ticket & the issue would not have occured.

On the BBC matchday thread that Toby Alderweirald has passed a medical at Athletico Madrid, will allow Martin Demichelis to move to Manchester City.

Would be interesting, if we had more than 2 pundits predictions to talk about. These were the opening 3 predictions for those interested: Lawro Merson WBA (a) 2-1 1-1 Sunderland (h) 2-0 3-0 Norwich (a) 2-0 1-2 So, neither of them got anything form the first 2 games, so get your money on a draw today

Just going back to the original report, they've "had one bid for Cork turned down in the last 48 hours but wants to go back with around £3million" So how much did they bid the first time round? Heard the word derisory mentioned against a few bids this summer, a sub £3m bid for a guy who was a key starter in a Premier League side last season is taking the biscuit though.

I see that Duvan Zapata, who was linked with us earlier in the window before being linked with West Ham & QPR has signed for Napoli. Obviously no problems for them getting a work permit! Although moving there, I could see him out on loan for a couple of seasons initially. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/8889364/serie-a-napoli-complete-the-signing-of-colombian-striker-duvan-zapata

Ah, you bit! On Monday, he said Shaw was currently the third best English left back and would be England's number 3 in years to come. But, yes, he is a tit!

On a three year deal mind, not sure his fitness is all that for deal of that length.

Also says Spurs haven't tried for him, which goes along the lines that some on here were saying that the Roma/Spurs talks were just about Lamela & Pjanic.

I agree, in much the same way as Arsenal became a better 'team' without relying on RVP to score 30 odd goals for them. With regards to a choice between Spurs and Saints then Spurs really do have the upper hand. Whether they sell Bale or not, then they're in a really strong position to qualify for the CL next season, they have Europa League football this season, They're in London which is where he wants to live (you can argue about the merits of it all day but his perception is what counts right now), and they're a bigger name than us. There are 3 factors that may be able to swing it our way - the first as Turkish points out is money, the question is how motivated by money is he? His desire is to go to Inter, how much are they offering - probably less than we are, so money whilst a factor is not the only factor. Actually, I like the fact that he knows where he wants to go, and probably isn't the biggest wagepack on offer. Secondly, will he actually play at Spurs? I don't know Osvaldo well enough and not seen enough of Negredo over the last couple of years to know if they could play together or if they're too similar. Finally, there is the Pochettino effect. Having played for him before and seemingly got on well with MP, his comments would indicate he think highly of MP - that common ground could be useful in helping him settle if he's got to move to new country and learn the language. What would worry me is if Arsenal came in for him, they have all of advantages of Spurs, plus CL football (assuming they make it through the qualifying round), despite being frugal they will pay the wages, and he would be pretty much guaranteed to be first choice.

Quote on the BBC site from Manuel Pellegrini's press conference regarding Scott Sinclair So could we entice him with a loan to start with (assuming we don't have to pay his full wages)?

Is it me or do the last 4 sentences read that NA is calling the Sheffield Weds boardroom a skip? Bit harsh even if they are oop noorf. Mate of mine got his first chance to see pompey at the weekend having taken a great interest in the saga for the last 3 years, his first comment to me at work today.... 'how the ***k can they afford Connelly & Agyemang in L2 ?' Don't worry, they're only spending 34% of their turnover on wages, innit mush.