Pugwash

Look, I must be able to communicate with the lads when I want them to change tactics. Danny, Andy, Wayne, Theo and even Je-maine all know what I'm on about. But Wickie? Not a chance...

They play in stripes, don't they? No good at all. They'd be giving the ball away every five minutes against Argentina.

Mrs P has an ordinary Kindle (touchscreen one) which she loves. Have to admit they are very good. I've been using it and the ease with which you can access books has enabled me to read some free classics that otherwise I probably wouldn't have bothered with. The Fire HD has more whistles and bells of course, and is in colour. Looks impressive. The downside is that it is far more hungry on the battery. Whereas the ordinary Kindle will last around three weeks before charging, the colour backlit Fire and Fire HD probably only last a day or so. I use a Nexus 7 tablet and access the same Amazon account. Does everything the Fire HD does and more....but the monochrome e-ink Kindle is still nicer to read, particularly in sunlight.

Tsk... the cost of referees these days!

Not surprised. Italy, Germany, Spain. Be us next.

Can't believe it. How did it come to this for him? Hip ops went well, only a year ago there was talk of getting him over to St Marys. Who was the poster in the states who kept in touch with him - does he still post? Devastating. Absolutely gutted. RIP for one of the greatest players of the sixties, a humble and gracious man.

They're stalking the skates.

Not ITK, but we had a young Austrian student stay with us some years back. Visited them and got to know the family well. She became PA to the MD of Red Bull. Lost touch with her now, but she always had fond memories of Southampton. Just saying, like...

Point is he's too good for L2. Should still be playing in L1 or even the Championship with his quality. Yeovil or Bournemouth might have had him if his agent was on the ball.

Can't believe DC would have signed for - what is it - about £1500 a week?

Let me get this straight. Are you saying he dealt at £7k when the choice was either £5k or £250k?? (face-palm thingy)

Done.

See post above. This is the text of my original complaint to put it into context: Sent: 13 February 2012 20:18 To: FL Subject: Portsmouth Football Club 2010 CVA Sirs, I write with concern at the continuing financial crisis at Portsmouth Football Club. It appears that Parachute Payments will be advanced early, yet again, to support what is clearly an insolvent and currently unsustainable business. This raises a number of questions regarding competitive and financial advantage that are of great interest to other football clubs in the Championship and to existing CVA creditors: 1) The remaining parachute payments represent the only significant source of guaranteed income that is likely to accrue to Portsmouth Football Club over the next few years. Another early advance of these will almost certainly compromise the proper servicing the 2010 CVA, none of which has yet been paid (the first payment being due in March). As one of those people affected by the 2010 CVA, I would ask how can creditors ever be assured of being paid what was agreed? 2) It appears likely that Portsmouth FC will again use company administration as a means to protect the club from winding-up procedures issued by its creditors. Should this occur, can the existing 2010 CVA creditors be assured that the FL will insist upon the complete fulfilment of the conditions of the 2010 CVA, as a condition of the club’s continued membership of the League after exiting a second administration? 3) Have Portsmouth FC committed to high wage earners through the club’s ‘Quality over Quantity’ policy in the tacit knowledge that the Premier League would advance PPs to bail them out if they got into financial difficulties? 4) Is this early advancement of Parachute Payments also available to Hull City, Burnley, West Ham United, Blackpool and Birmingham City football clubs to ensure those clubs enjoy the same competitive advantage as Portsmouth in their bids for early returns to the Premier League?

Made me smile! I think Mr Pomfret was being economical with the truth, without necessarily stating an untruth. His email was following the second admin in 2012 and he is probably correct in saying that payments were not released early. The PL merely re-directed the previous season's payments directly to the football creditors as they became available, so he was probably factually correct. I did respond that email, but then got a stock reply. What's the point in trying to communicate with the blinkered bastards.

Here's the response I got on 29 Feb 2012 when they went into admin: Thank you for your email. Portsmouth FC received a parachute payment from The Premier League as per their normal course of payments to all of its present clubs and those currently receiving parachute funding. The Premier League did not release any funding early and Portsmouth were treated equally with all other clubs paid. As you may have noted, Portsmouth Football Club has been deducted ten points in accordance with Football League rules and regulations. For the latest official statement from The Football League please visit our website here http://www.football-league.co.uk/footballleaguenews/20120217/pompey-given-10 -point-deduction_2293334_2614922. The club is now in administration following an application by the directors to the High Court. The High Court has determined the appointment of Trevor Birch at PKF as administrator, having being nominated by other creditors including HMRC. The League will now work with the administrators as they seek to find a purchaser for the club. At present The League cannot currently comment any further in relation to Portsmouth and any further statement will appear on our website in due course. Thank you for contacting The Football League. Regards, Andrew Pomfret Customer Services Officer The Football League Limited Email - enquiries@football-league.co.uk http://www.football-league.co.uk

Hmmm... The strike pairing could work, but I'm not sure about Shelvey in midfield.

We should be exploring links with Brazilian teams. We've got the relevant history, surely we should be using it.

Don't know. But an email I had from the Football League (not Prem) stated categorically that the club had not been advanced ANY payments before they came due.

They didn't have any PPs advanced.

Surely there's a fair few European teams missing. AC Milan for one, then there's half of the Bundesliga.

So we only need about 15% of our followers to also sign up to AFC Wimbledon then?

One of the old school of managers and players who don't keep up with the modern game and like to spout off about little Southampton, or brave Swansea without ever getting off their lazy arses and watching some games. Bit like the current England manager, in fact.

Awful news. Condolences to Richard and family.

Thought we'd already done that for him? Public at large know him as TCWTB.

Best signing of the season, without a doubt. If he stays fit, he really should go to Brazil next summer. But then there's Hodgson to convince.