CanadaSaint

You're right on both counts - it had to be found but that is (sadly for all of us) too simplistic. It had to be found largely from Cash Flow, which is all the inflows less all the outflows. However, not all of the inflows and outflows are revenues and expenses. The mortgage is an outflow but it consist of two parts - a principle repayment (which is not an expense because it's essentially repayment of a loan) and the interest component (which is an expense). So, when we lose the stadium mortgage we're a lot better off in Cash Flow terms but not much better off in Profit & Loss terms. In theory, though, players are assets, just like the stadium. Yes, we could invest more in players but they usually depreciate (fall in value) much faster than a stadium, and the amount by which they depreciate becomes a loss. If the depreciation on additional players exceeds the interest we were paying on the mortgage, the loss would become greater under ML (if the revenues don't go up as a result).

Not all of the mortgage payment counts as an expense - just the interest portion. The principle portion pays for an asset that the club owns and holds on its books - offset by the loan (liability) that enabled it to buy that asset in the first place. Each principle repayment basically cancels itself out by reducing the debt by the same amount. So, the saving by not having a mortgage is $3 million in Cash Flow terms (money in and money out) but a lot less than $3 million in Profit & Loss terms (revenues and expenses). I don't think things are that much different - perhaps $500,000 or so in saved interest, with the huge exception that we don't owe outsiders any money. But, in the other direction, I'm sure that someone of the calibre of Mr. Cortese doesn't come cheap. Having said that, I'd be very surprised if Marcus holds SFC as some kind of standalone entity unrelated to his broader business interests. It's much more likely that his accountants are treating the club as one part of a broad businesses portfolio. If they are, they could legitimately allocate expenses to SFC that could change the financial scenario significantly. But then I don't think Marcus or his accountants ever saw this is an investment in an English third tier team. They saw it as a long term investment in a team destined to return to the Premiership, so they're probably not too hung up on Profit & Loss numbers right now.

It wouldn't surprise me if Pardew's talking two stories - one outside the dressing room and one inside it. For those of us outside the dressing room it's a story of gradual progress with the possibility of a playoff spot if we can keep developing. Inside the dressing room, and as part of the process of building confidence and setting challenging goals, I suspect he's been very clear that this team has everything it takes to make the play offs, and that falling short of them would be something of a failure. I don't think he wants to let the players off the hook of their own potential - as in, we are not settling for seventh.

Sounds like an appointment by "he who should not be named".

I don't lack confidence but I think we've got to be careful about billing this as the "game of the season" so far. If we do that and end up losing it could dent confidence and create a dodgy streak. Let's take it as "just another game". Having said that, based on what I've seen I'm in the camp that thinks we're better on the front foot. So I'd be tempted to have a go at them from the start, using right-side width to stretch their defence and to help negate the threat of Snodgrass. If he doesn't track back to help his defence they will be vulnerable, just as we are if James is left to fend for himself. In truth I'd feel more confident about picking up three points if Murty was fit but we can still get a result there. And with regard to the JPT I'm all for putting our best side out. Some experience of an important game at Wembley could come in very handy next May.

The pressure on us will increase because the nine point deficit is a lot and we really have to win the games against playoff rivals. Having said that, it's really competitive from third down to us, and I think these teams will be continually taking points off eachother and improving our chances. I agree about KD. Bart strikes me as a real "confidence keeper" - when he feels good about himself he plays very well, but when the doubts kick in his game can go all to hell.

I'd tend to agree with you, but outside the top two it's very, very competitive and teams keep dropping points.

But that's part of the deal with really quick-off-the-mark players, being called offside incorrectly They really need to teach him to hold for an extra split second, and he'll still get to the ball before a turning defender. I don't think he's going to figure it out for himself.

He says it every frigging week and how often has he got his wish?

I'd rather we didn't provide them with any added motivation.

Well, given your prediction history today, not now there isn't.

That well known hatchet man, Antonio, leads the Saints with four fouls.

I'd take that. In order to cut-out it would have to have cut-in in the first place. Still "Connecting to Stream" after well over an hour. Thank god these people don't do blood transfusions.

He's quite comfortable in midfield and like a fish out of water at right back. Losing Murty is really bad news.

I don't know, dammit.

I'm really, really bored without Saints Player, the incompetent b*stards. Did anyone notice that Uganda has banned female circumcision? So they damn well should.

Fricking Saints Player my arse. What an incompetent bunch of b*stards.

Speaking of listening is anyone getting any sound yet?

Thanks, Dave. Cheeky buggers. I'll have you know this is a fine city - one that (unlike others I could name) has won numerous Stanley Cups. It's just a little chilly here in the Winter, that's all. Today is a less than balmy -25. Santa will end up with four kidneys if this doesn't improve.

True, Prof. But one of those teams was ... Walsall. I suspect that the discussion inside the dressing room, but certainly not outside it, is that missing the playoffs would be a failure. Build the confidence and then re-set the goals.

I'm going to venture the opinion that we need to think very seriously about buying a quality keeper. Kelvin is at that point when injuries are going to come more frequently, and when the recovery to full match fitness is going to take longer. I loved his loyalty at the start of the season but I'm not sure he's going to be durable or reliable enough to take us into the Championship - and beyond. Bart's psyche is very fragile and we can't afford that in a promotion push. It will be more exploited the higher we go, and it will worsen as the pressure increases. It may not be the "sexiest" expenditure of limited transfer funds but I think it might be one of the wisest.

And lots of nibbly bits.

Now I understand why you were so keen to know how many wins it would take. Needless to say, I hope you cane the bookies!

I think that the back row could be strong with someone like the Perry of five years ago playing alongside Jaidi, but his age is working against him now. He reads things quite well but lacks the speed we need to counter Jaidi's lack of it. Bart worries me. He was shaping up so well at one point but seems to have very fragile confidence. One mistake, or near-mistake, and he becomes dodgy and unreliable. Forget him coming for crosses. Not the ideal situation when combined with a lack of decisiveness in the middle of the back four. Hopefully, KD will be back early but the only alternative is to cure Bart's head problems or spend money on a keeper in the window.

Dead right, Andy. Dean Wilkins talked about the impact of a complete lack of confidence within the club, and about how long it took to change that. Now we've seen a total reversal of that, and it's reflected in their style and the results. We can't knock the ball around the way we do without a high level of self-belief. Although they'll never say it, AP and Co must think that missing the playoffs would be a major failure.