Greenridge

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/186871/Mark-feels-for-Ziege.html

Wonderful insight.

Pompey had the 6th highest wage bill in the 2007/8 season and I recall West Ham's being higher than that a few years earlier under his tutelage. Neither club got anywhere near a top 6 spot in those years. Of course Redknapp can't be blamed in the entirety for these and other episodes but it can't be ignored that wherever he goes this situation arises and normally ends in tears.

Hello Walt. In all cases it's the Chairman, afterall the buck stops there. Invariably though he has them over a barrel. In every job he's ever had he's complained about the size of his squad - performances are never his fault. The Chairman can say 'no, enough is enough' - seemingly what 'Daniel' ultimately did. But in the meantime the Chairman is left to pander to Arry whose no doubt telling him without these squad additions the team will be relegated / won't make the champions league etc. And the 25 man squad ruling came in when? 2010?

He always seems to end up with huge squads on high salaries with long term deals though. That's what seeems to hurt the clubs he's with / left rather than the actual transfer payments.

Problem for old saggy chops would be our squad. No Scandinavians to get rid of with only one African player and no Eastern-Europeans.

He played straight through the middle yesterday from what I could see.

I was in block 18 courtesy of a couple of Arsenal season ticket holders through the business. Some prat behind me seem to think he was best mates with the players with shouts of 'come on Gibbo, Rambo, Jenks, Merts'..you get the drift. I managed to bite my tongue until the 3rd goal when Mr Innit in front of me turned to the left to wave goodbye to the Saints supporters as if mocking that they were walking out. I pointed out to him that I couldn't see anyone walking out and far play to the SFC fans for sticking with it and singing proudly. He didn't seem to have an answer for that.

Were you in the Arsenal end with the sun in your eyes? It was fairly clear to me that he was a cut above the rest of our team even in the 45 minutes he was on the pitch. Oozed class, had a real presence about him, strong, quick, a great touch. Plenty there to get excited about.

Really impressed with him yesterday, has a real presence about him, total class.

This.

Having had the misfortune of sitting in the Arsenal area and having to stand up on 6 occasions, yesterday was a long day! It really was men against boys, they were just so much better than us. Some positives for me were Ramirez who does indeed look class, he has a real presence about him and also Yoshida who looked very comfortable on the ball. Ward-Prowse again showed what an intelligent hard-working player he is.

That's been in the pipeline for around 5 years and is nearing fruition as is development at Woodhouse Lane. Neither of which impact on Jacksons Farm though.

Correct, I live on that road. Jackson's Farm is across the railway line and road.

The problem is, first and foremost his priority is to defend and this is where he is found wanting. He's competent at rampaging up the flank, as was Harding.

Their Chairman appears to think it's a done deal Italian football expert James Horncastle: "Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow has confirmed the signing of Alessandro Del Piero to the Sydney Morning Herald: 'This is huge for Sydney FC, huge for the A-League and huge for Australian football. We feel honoured that Alessandro has decided to play for Sydney FC and we share his excitement that a move to Sydney FC will create a lasting legacy for football in this country.'"

It was an extreme example but goes to show how exposed we are down the left flank with any sort of attacking threat.

I think I'd rather have seen Aaron Martin at left back who at least knows his defending responsibilities. Fox just seems to lack any sense of position when he's defending and would rather be careering up the wing.

Reminds me of Neil Maddison. Does the simple stuff well, almost always finds a team-mate with his pass and breaks-up the opposition play. Be interesting to see how he develops.

There is still a deadline to meet for the 25 man squad submission though I believe? This week sometime?

It's easy to see why Adkins wanted to strengthen at left-back and centre-half.

Could you imagine him working with Cortese

Nigel said he expected to be at SMS till gone 11 and he must have known at that point in time that Ramirez was a done deal so it does suggest another transfer is on the cards....

Any good ones?

His brother needs to speak to the Sydney chairman a bit sharpish then Italian football expert James Horncastle: "Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow has confirmed the signing of Alessandro Del Piero to the Sydney Morning Herald: 'This is huge for Sydney FC, huge for the A-League and huge for Australian football. We feel honoured that Alessandro has decided to play for Sydney FC and we share his excitement that a move to Sydney FC will create a lasting legacy for football in this country.'"