CHAPEL END CHARLIE

I had understood that when a selling club accepts a transfer bid for one of their players, the buying club then has a period of exclusivity during which it may negotiate personal terms with the player concerned without (in theory) other clubs being able to intervene. However, I have also heard of clubs simultaneously accepting multiple bids for a player in the past, so how more than one club can possibly have 'exclusive' negotiating rights is something a mystery to this befuddled fan! Whatever - our period of 'exclusivity' with J Rodriguez has (according to at least one Sunday paper) now expired. Make of that what you will.

Not doubt a very good drivers car, but a overpriced and pug ugly vehicle to my eye. If I really had to have a small BMW then I'd rather do with £7k's worth of 3 Series to be frank - not that even this model is as handsome as it once was.

Saddened by the negative reaction to Prometheus - but will still go and see it for myself regardless. In the meantime I saw 'Two Lane Blacktop' (1971) for the first time in twenty years last night. This very offbeat road movie has acquired a certain cult status over the years, but on reflection I think it may be trying a tad too hard to be 'cultish' if you know what I mean. The plot - such as it is - revolves around two young men known only as 'Driver' & 'Mechanic' (played by singer songwriter James Taylor and legendary Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson) who earn a living by betting on winning illegal street races with their souped-up '55 Chevy hot rod - and trust me this car really is the fastest set of wheels in town. Across the rural south they go and along the way they pick up a teenage hitchhiker ('Girl') and become involved in a long distance on/off road race with the driver of a 1970 Pontiac GTO sports car (who is referred to only as 'GTO' of course) and that's about it really. The script is as sparse as the Chevy's gray primer paint job, its very slow paced by modern standards and the acting so low key as to be almost invisible. The sound track is mainly provided by a orchestra of small-block V8's and as for the ending ... well it just doesn't make any sense at all ! So a mildly interesting period piece then, but not really a film nearly as great as its reputation in my view. However any sense of mild disappointment is largely offset by the performance delivered by Warren Oats as the aforementioned 'GTO'. Seldom in the history of cinema has a character quite so utterly full of bullsh1t as this guy been brought to the screen. Even if you're not into cars, for that wonderful performance alone this movie's still worth seeing.

Some on here really do need to take a reality check and obtain a better grip on the magnitude of the task ahead of us. The Premier League is the 'acid test' of a teams collective strength so any inherent weakness in that collective - such as a player who was missing in action for half a season - will surely be ruthlessly exposed. The Guly do Prado who made a genuine contribution to our play in the first half of last season might just be worth a place on the bench I suppose. The Guly who (in this fans opinion) did the square root of bugger-all in the latter stages of our NPC campaign could cost us our Premier League survival. Gambling on which Guly turns up next season is not a passtime I'd want to engage in. Although I know from bitter experience that there are many on here who will refuse to accept that, I also hope and believe that Nigel Adkins is just too good a manager not to see it.

I must say how much I enjoyed last nights episode of Silk - possibly because for a welcome change the story concentrated on the misadventures of bad boy barrister Clive Reader (a perfectly cast Rupert Penry-Jones) instead of (too good to be true) Martha Costello. Clive, taking his life in his hands, very rashly twice defied the formidable Chief Clark Billy Lamb (Neil Stuke). Firstly he decided to work for the CPS prosecuting a case, instead of the chambers normal defence work. He then compounded his 'crime' by also bedding a influential young solicitor he was firmly instructed to steer well clear of - "your upstairs needs to have a talk with your downstairs sir" as Billy ominously advised him. The CPS case revolved around 3 obnoxious Oxford University posh boys who had sexually assaulted a poor 19 year old waitress as part of the initiation ceremony for some wretched club they were seeking to join. The usual ebb & flow of a well crafted courtroom drama followed, the most interesting element perhaps being that the accused wealthy youths were very much from the same upper class background as Clive. Our hero however (unlike the 3 accused) had reacted against his privileged background by at least trying to seek some form justice for others, while they behaved with a stereotypical level of arrogance towards those less fortunate than themselves. Posh Clive won the case against the odds (hooray!) but in doing so he kept from the Court some vital evidence that came into his possession, and as is the way of things this serious non-disclosure of evidence came to light of course - which will doubtless keep the plot boiling along very nicely.

I see that Richard Chaplow has strenuously denied that he would be returning to Turf Moor as part of this proposed deal. http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/9733188.Saints_wait_for_J_Rod_to_jet_in/

This is getting silly. It's a well know fact that the Saints have already exceeded the UEFA mandated limit on the number of Dans any team can have under contract.

Nearly five decades of bitter experience has shown me that politicians (of all persuasions) are equally likely to be as bent as a £9 note. It's foolish to try and make a party political point out of a individual human failing ... for that matter I'm not so very sure that many of us non-politico types are all that morally incorruptible either.

You make a perfectly reasonable and coherent case. In reply however I would argue that the attack submarine can only embark a small number of cruise missiles, & when they're gone, they're gone. Compared that to the sustained rate of attack sorties a large aircraft carrier could generate (for months on end potentially) In any case cruise missiles such as Tomahawk (TLAM) are fundamentally unsuitable for some vitally important missions - such as reconnaissance or the close air support of troops in the field for instance. The Type 45 Destroyers state of the art air defence capability is truly formidable, but it is limited to the 'radar horizon' of the vessel concerned. An aircraft carrier on the other hand can provide air defence & surveillance (via a suitable carrier AEW aircraft) over a comparatively vast area. As for RAF fast jets & UCAV's, history shows that land based air power can often prove to be a grossly inadequate substitute for the full range of capabilities a proper aircraft carrier gives you when (as in the Falklands for instance) the action takes place far from any friendly airfield. This is why maritime focused nations such as the United States continue to invest heavily in aircraft carriers, they offer a unmatched level of flexible worldwide power projection - if you can really afford them that is.

In their (up sh1te creek) situation I'd be surprised if Pompey were not looking to sign younger players, will correspondingly more modest pay demands, than David Connolly. Mind you, never say never because things happen in this game that constantly surprise me. As for how we should feel about it, the truth is we decided to release this player, so as far as I'm concerned he is perfectly entitled to seek new employment wherever he so chooses.

[ Just a few points: 1 - "All of the arguments for CATOBAR (CATS and TRAPS) are based on the greater capability of the F35C over the F35B" .... Irrespective of the clear superiority of the F35C compared to its V/STOL cousin, a 'cat & trap' fitted carrier can of course operate other (non vertical take off) types as well. For instance one fine day a cat & trap fitted carrier allows us the possibility of much better E3 'Hawkeye' AEW aircraft to be operated instead of the very inferior (helicopter based) solutions we are now reduced to. This is a significant advantage. 2 - "SDSR case for the F35C variant was flawed and skewed by RAF doctrine stuck in 1940s and a SoS who was at best out of his depth and at worst uninterested" Well I thought Dr Liam Fox showed the potential to be one of the most clear thinking & strategically minded Defence Ministers we've seen for many a year. Leaving that matter to one side however, if the RAF didn't really want to stay in the V/STOL business then who could blame them? Decades of Harrier experience proved that these aircraft hardly ever needed their V/STOL capability in practice (air displays excepted) and in reality they spent virtually their entire service careers operating from long fixed runways. In terms of range & payload there is a heavy price to pay for V/STOL flight, and it seems to me nearly all world air forces have concluded it's not worth paying. 3 - UAV's will in 20 years be the front line combat platform of choice, these do not need CATS and TRAPS so investing in them for a single platform is very questionable" I agree that UCAV's (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles) may well be the future, but to claim that naval versions of these aircraft do not require cat & trap is just plain wrong. At this time all (full size) UCAV's designs in prospect would certainly require CATOBAR gear to operate from a aircraft carrier. Any suggestion that we could develop our own V/STOL drone seems unrealistic given the low unit numbers & extreme cost of any such proposal. 4 - "they (the F18 Hornet) are obsolete (still capable but not the future) and will end there days filling secondary combat support roles and in the inventory of 2nd division defence forces" It's a moot point anyway as we are now committed to the F35, but the F-18E/F Super Hornet is a virtually a new type compared to previous generation FA-18 Hornets and by any reckoning a highly capable aircraft. As for its alleged obsolescence, this aircraft entered service in 1999, it is still in production and scheduled to remain in front line USN service until the late 2030's at least. I don't recognise any depiction of the USN as a "2nd division" air force. Apart from that I agreed with everything you said!

I've just finished (in record time) the brilliant historical novel Pompeii by Robert Harris - and if you're looking for reading material that is out of the ordinary and yet still perfectly accessible to the general reader then look not further my friends ! The Roman provence of Campania August AD79 and the mighty Augusta aqueduct sudden fails near Pompeii, plunging the whole region into crisis. Step forward Marcus Attilius Primus chief hydraulic engineer (or aquarius) of the aqueduct who must immediately restore the water supply, deal with his rebellious workforce, investigate the mysterious disappearance of his predecessor and survive the machinations of viciously corrupt Roman politicians ... ... oh and Mt Vesuvius is starting to behave very oddly. Highly recommended.

You Sir are a gentlemen and a scholar because your 'Lady Be Good' link has led me to the title of this half forgotten film - Soul Survivors ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sole_Survivor_(1970_film) Considering it starred two of my favorite actors (Bill Shatner & Richard Basehart) I really should have remembered it without prompting. Ta very muchly.

Last night saw the 10th - and concluding - episode of BBC4's dark Scandinavian crime saga 'The Bridge' and I must say I enjoyed every single minute of it. I won't bore you with a long attempt to summarise its complex plot, suffice it to say that this is basically the story of the manhunt for a dangerous psychopath that takes place in both Denmark & Sweden - the two nations linked by the 'Bridge' of the title. Apart from being a typically well crafted piece of 'Scandinavian Noir' what makes this stand out from the crowd is the highly unusual - if not dysfunctional - personality of top Malmo homicide detective 'Saga Noren' (Sofia Helin) What exactly is wrong with this formidable young detective is never spelt out, but although she is certainly highly organised and very intelligent, she just doesn't understand normal human relationships and how people are expected to behave in society. She's far beyond what we might think of of being just a naturally cold person, she seems to be suffering from some sort of high functioning autism like condition perhaps. To investigate this cross border crime Saga is teamed up with middle aged Copenhagen detective 'Martin Rohde' (the wonderful Kim Bodnia) - a family man with a murky past who finds it difficult to perform the roles of faithful husband and good father. The combination of Martin's charm and instinctive understanding of Human nature set against Saga's ruthlessly efficient Robocop act makes a fascinating double act that will be much missed on Saturday nights by this viewer. So a big hearty "tak" to whoever at the BBC decided to bring this fine series to our screens and please - can we have Series Two as well ?

It doesn't matter much what we think, the better question is what would the Chairman do if we were bottom of the league and five points adrift at Christmas ? Pull the trigger I expect just like most of them would ... and that is the real nature of the game.

I generally don't watch all that much non Saints related football, but I enjoyed the Champions League Final more than I expected to frankly. Even though Chelsea were outplayed for most of the match - and were more than a tad fortunate to win the game I thought - the privilege of just watching top Premiership players in action (even when outclassed) does concentrate the mind wonderfully. Players at this level possess a enviable sense of positional awareness & technical ability that is a joy to watch, they are seldom seen to panic and 'hoof' the ball out of defence, and their ability to instantly control a football & pass it successfully to a team-mate with unerring regularity verges on the sublime. Lets face it the notion that much of our current squad is anywhere near that kind of standard is utter nonsense. Players (such as Richard Chaplow or Dean Hammond for instance) who have served this club well in the past are highly unlikely to be anything more than 'Bit Part' players in the Premier League, & even our better pros (Adam Lallana, Morgan Schneiderlin or even Sir Ricky Lambert) may look distinctly average I'm afraid when pitted against top PL players every week. The mathematics of the situation are undeniable. At this time we have about half a dozen players who we can feel confident will make a significant positive impact next season. Which leaves us needing to sign at the very least another six high quality players to stand even a 'Punchers Chance' of Premier League survival I reckon. Over to you Mr Cortese.

Congratulations to those offered new contracts, my thanks and best wishes for their future to all those leaving - especially the youngsters. The fact that Bart is among the latter group surely confirms that the signature of a new goal keeper must be a work in progress.

Exodus 11:7 And the Lord said: Place not thy faith in even the greatest of guardians for they cometh unready into the world and fail to command the scared box according to holy scripture ....

I was pondering the other day on the nature of our eternal Human search for meaning in life, while the terrible realisation that in truth we wander alone, doomed & damned lost amid the unimaginable vastness of a utterly indifferent universe seems undeniable. .... and whether we should sign a new keeper in case Kelvin proves not up to it next season.

Oops ! I seem to recall I saw a movie many years ago about a WWII US Bomber that crashed in somewhat similar circumstances - not 'Flight of the Phoenix' BTW. Can any kind SWF member remember what this film was called ?

This investment in modern training facilities is all well and good, and it certainly fits in well with the uber successful Germanic business model our owners know so well. But I still have this nagging feeling at the back of my mind that many of the best young players actually don't emerge pampered from a ultra plush training set up such as Stapelwood, but rather from the 'mean streets' of a grim third world slum somewhere, where the height of luxury is having enough to eat every now and then and a (gunfire free) street corner to kick a ball around on. More important than any mere building project is the good judgment (gut instinct maybe) of the people we employ to unearth & nurture young talent. If it came down to infrastructure improvements or finding the next Georges Proust for instance, then I'd prefer flesh & blood, over bricks & mortar any day of the week.

Of related interest: http://www.itv.com/news/2012-05-11/lost-and-forgotten-wwii-fighter-found-in-egyptian-desert/ Just how remote the Western Desert must be so that someting like this could go undiscovered for nearly 70 years, and what a terrible fate for its pilot.

I'm eagerly awaiting the return of the BBC's top legal drama 'Silk' tonight. Although the stars are undoubtedly the wonderful Maxine Peake and the seldom unemployed Rupert Penry-Jones who play the barristers, my personal favorite is their Senior Clark at Chambers 'Billy Lamb' played by Neil Stuke. In a programme filled with clever people something tells me he may just be the smartest of the lot.

There are so many I remember fondly, so just a select few: Children of the Stones - very creepy pagan kiddie horror The Tomorrow People - cheap ITV teatime Si-Fi but I absolutely loved it Doctor Who - I'm old enough to just recall Troughton, but I'm still a Jon Pertwee lad really The Flashing Blade - odd French summer holiday morning series - it went on forever and was set in a castle Tom & Jerry - too good (if not to say horrifically violent) for kids Loony Tunes - animation that has never been bettered Adventures from the Riverbank - Hamster torture for the under 5's And some I hated: The Flower Pot Men - Bill & Ben gave me the creeps Catweazil - Jon Pertwee gone bad Magpie - I was a Blue Peter boy I'm afraid.

There's a nasty rumour going around that he did actually play (briefly) for the first team - I can't honestly claim however that I witnessed this unlikely miracle myself.