up and away

That really was noticeable, so much pressure from the front to all over the pitch, making a very good side look hardly better than Walsall, who on reflection may not have been that bad. Kelvin is going to need a part time job if this keeps up.

There's always hope, but you must have been looking under every pile of horse sheite for a pony with that optimism. It would be very interesting if we did have a very good chance going into Wembley. Would Pardew then prioritise and ensured the play off's were a must. Easy to say do both, then one injury and a booking and you are drawing air from unexpected places!

Forget the play off's, just enjoy the games as the damage is too great and we have prioritised too late. This will just add too much pressure on Pardew and we really need him to settle down if he wants to be here next season. If you extend Huddersfields average points so far, we can only afford to drop 5 points and that's without Huddersfield upping their game. Huddersfield are exactly the type of team that will give Saints trouble because of their midfield. I expect us to beat Huddersfield but will give no guarantees about Tranmere. The main problem we have is nearly 2 games a week until the end, with Lallana and Schneiderlin just not up to those demands. Even Hammond has been known to suffer and when those energy levels drop off, so will our results. Pardew has found a solution to our midfield problem, it's just being able to sustain that tempo with players who have shown issues with stamina previously. If you are going to have a bet, do the lottery. Your chances are about the same but the rewards will be a lot different.

This is absolute bollix. What the manager has to do is sufficient in his first season to go onto the next season, and so on. Even if you have no money, crowd or resources, success has to be measured against your peers with what you achieve, with the resources made available to you. Why this concern about Pardew? If he is the right person he will have done enough to prove to Cortese he is the man to take Saints forward. If he has not, he will be gone. We can just enjoy all the games now, enjoy the experience and Wembley, seeing what unfolds. Someone should warn Norwich they are heading for ruin by sacking Gunn, how many managers is that in the last season and a half?

Maybe for the likes of Luton in the conference, but any decent player will hardly be bragging about it. Nice to go to Wembley but lets get serious here, it's the next step up from that 5 a side tournament we had listed in our honours. The longer we are in League 1, the more chance we have of losing players. All that contract means is how long we have to pay them for, not how long we can force them to stay. Any player that really wants out, will go.

The dropping of the points alone against Wycombe is not the issue, it's the performance that is the issue. One of our better displays this season was the loss against Bristol Rovers, the performance was there, just the result that was missing. It's when we don't put in a performance that the worry sets in, something down to ourselves and little to do with the opposition. I heard someone quote from the programme that Pardew admitted he got it wrong against Wycombe, be interested to know if that is true. Something was wrong, we never even won a corner the whole game. March will tell us all we need to know, irrespective of Carlisle.

When you look at those results, they are not bad at all. But we only played well in two of those games, poorly in the others. The worry is not the opposition, but our performances just totally dropping off. We have games against Huddersfield and Leeds coming up, both with midfields that will expose any weakness we have in that area. Today was just a continuation of the Portsmouth, Norwich form and Walsall were unlucky to get in the way. We have had a real issue with putting in more than one performance a week, well March should really give us the definitive as to how far we have come.

Maybe we just made them look like that? There's no way of telling how bad Walsall were, one thing for sure is that Saints were very, very good and steam rollered them. That first goal was the worst thing Walsall could have done, it just antagonised the team into giving them a proverbial spanking. Pardews obviously feeling the pressure from that interview, but that was more down to the line they were taking. When you look at the Norwich, Wycombe, Walsall games we are obviously making progress. But we did disappear against Wycombe, not even sure if we won a corner.

absolutely spot on. Hammond is made to be this great player, but for me he is far far too slow along woth Wotton. James offers no pace either. Only Morgan covers the ground at any rate. `Pace' IS important when it comes to picking up second balls, intercepting stuff, tracking runners and getting up and down the pitch. Hammond was the dogs nads in the early part of the season, getting up and down that pitch it was tiring just to watch. Then he had some injury / illness and he found it difficult to put two shifts in during a weak. It is not only pace, putting in the energy in the middle has a possibly more important effect. Looking at Lallana against Portsmouth was typical of that energy, something I felt repeated at Norwich from the commentry. But you cannot do it all the time and by all accounts it was only Puncheon who showed any sort of repeat form against Wycombe. What really concerns here, it is not as Pardew and others keep implying that the opposition raise their game, more the fact that we nigh on disappear. Without doubt the cause is the midfield, exactly the same at the start of the season. We solved that problem by putting an extra man in midfield and getting control, something that worked for several games. We have even returned to it a couple of times with success, before trying different combinations. It is the alarming drop off in our performances, not the raising of the standard by the opposition which is the issue. There are more than one way to skin this cat, but to remove the inconsistency from our performances we must have midfield control over all other aspects of the play, the rest will take care of itself with the quality of players we have.

Cortese does want a DoF, but he has to be the right quality and whilst we are in League 1, that will be difficult. Cortese will view having a DoF in place prior to entering the Premier as an absolute must, so many expensive decisions to be made that help will be vital. Cortese will not shy away from any decision he believes to be correct. So Dof or no DoF, he will make a calculated decision on Pardew and not give it a moments further thought. There is no fans backlash at present nor can I see one in the future should he decide to keep or release Pardew. All we have at present is some frustration with Pardew over the inconsistency of results and whether this inconsistency will carry through to next season. That does not mean that no enjoyment is alongside that small frustration. What ever Cortese does will be for advancing the club through the leagues as quickly as possible, something I have absolutely no problem with. If Cortese makes those hard decisions for the best of the club whilst pumping in so much private finance, only a tosser would compare him to Lowe to argue a point. As far as chairmen go, I would rather favour the likes of Mandaric than Steve Gibson as a fan. When you look at what Mandaric has done over the years in a manner that makes Cortese look like the second Steve Gibson, which would any fan prefer?

I do love the original post. Manufacture a false position so you can then hail down upon all you disagree with, on the basis of unity. Substituting the CEO's position to fit this view, even giving this modified view as support of a lame point. So you don’t feel Pardew should go, irrespective of his results between now and the end of the season. Well many on here and by all indications Cortese, do not share that view. So this is not any form of disagreement with Cortese’s statement, but a positive reinforcement of that view. This is not about promotion this season, but maximising our chances of promotion next season. Cortese has made it very clear he is of a similar mind and most fans will back that with what we have seen. Along with the acceptance if Pardew is still here next season, irrespective of results. The discussion is how much time Pardew should be given, when he has shown no indication he is the correct person to obtain automatic promotion next season? If Pardew suddenly finds the form that can give that confidence for next season, I fully expect Cortese to keep him on, even if we don’t make the play off’s. Bearing in mind Pardew stated he deliberately went against Cortese’s instructions on prioritising the league, I don’t believe he has a hope in hell of being here next season, unless he can convince Cortese he is capable. So what are you moaning about? Cortese, the person that saved us from oblivion, or the fact you feel Pardew should stay, irrespectively?

You make a very good point about Billy Davies and something I remember talking about in the pub after the Bristol Rovers home loss. A comment was made that you would not have got a great game like that if Billy Davies had been manager, to which someone replied, "No, we would more than likely had a strangled 1-0 win. Subsequently Davies has shown with the resources some top class entertaining football, whilst equally being able to defend without giving points away. This highlights the difference to me between the likes of Pardew and Davies. Take the position we found ourselves in December, 6 points off the play off's. Davies would have done the utmost to either reduce that gap or minimise it such, that by the time he had got his new players in the window, the damage would not have been terminal. Pardew is the more eloquent and intelligent of managers, but without the ability to see the wood from the trees, Davies is always going to come out on top below the Premier.

Another OTT. AP has been dealing with different weaknesses as the season has developed. We are still reaping the disadvantage of an almost total team rebuild. Yes we are not yet resolving how to cope with stubborn teams on plough fields, and perhaps we should be studying and learning how the likes of Leeds and Naarwich deal with them. People forget how tiring it is playing on a bog. You try running on a soggy ploughed field for ninety minutes. It is easy to say that they are pros and that is their job, but undoubtedly the match at City on Saturday three days earlier affected stamina. Before demanding the 18 months chop see how AP's team learns to address similar challenges. He has others. Ever since Ashkam disposed of Allen Ball fifteen years ago we have gone downhill because of a never ending succession of managers, and squad changes. Haven't you learned anything? What an absolutely dumb post. If Pardew cannot demonstrate being able to overcome the minnows of this league, you believe that Cortese should plough on into next season without that point being addressed? When you consider that Lambert inherited a far worse position at Norwich with even less time, it just makes a total mockery of your argument. Then to factor in the massive resources we have applied to the problem, makes ManC frugal in proportion. You have so many teams in this league without a pot to **** in, our financial advantage is totally staggering, allowing us to go to nigh on any competitor in this league and buy their best player. Pardew has definitely underperformed, finding ourselves with the same problem still present today. I find Pardew very frustrating, done some very good things but keeps repeating similar errors, that only a reset with a cricket bat appears a viable solution. I fully accept that Pardew could still be the man, but unless he can clearly demonstate that before the season end, it would be smart to get rid of him then. By your own logic you believe the manager should be given sufficient time to prepare his own team, but you are prepared to wreck that by extending Pardews disappointing tenure.

We have an exceptional squad by league 1 standards. The problem we have is a manager that is too slow in figuring out the priorities. Looking at the Norwich and Wycombe games epitomises this, all the good and all the bad. Take Lallana as a classic example, so much energy against Pompey in the cup and carried that on against Norwich, only to disappear against Wycombe along with a couple of other players. If we only had one game a week maybe things would be ok, but previously we have had similar issues. Our run in to the end of the season is similar, so I would expect not much change but to factor in home advantage. I keep hearing this bollix from Pardew about teams raising their game against us, completely forgetting how we drop our own performances to such a level to make this point moot. If you do not have midfielders that can defend as a unit properly you are always going to have issues. Bust a gut a put in the high energy levels and you can offset that problem, but there seems to be an issue in doing that twice a week.

Nope, never went, never even listened to it but I have a very good idea! We would not have gone back to all previous issues? no pace up front and could not create, midfield could not get a grip on the game? I expected this to happen but not quite as quick, at least it puts the play off ******s to bed for the rest of the season. Just so glad Pardew sorted everything out at Norwich so we could really had a go at it, otherwise would not have even got the point.

Would they be given a parachute payment next year? Why would that be that they get relegated because of a deduction of points because of their financial impropriety and then rewarded with a parachute payment just because they are relegated from the Premiership? In any event, I suspect that The9 and others who appear to have expertise on matters involving administration and liquidation are correct when they say that the club can only be placed into administration by either the courts or the preferred creditors whilst the subject of a winding up order. The directors or owner do not have that ability apparently, but presumably where some of the preferred creditors and directors are the same people, they are still excluded from being able to bring about the administration. Also as I understand it, administration would not take place if the assets of the club are considered too small or that the prospects of them being sold and kept afloat as a going concern are not viable. This is an interesting question, just by entering the Premier league they have earned the rights to the parachute payments, that's set in stone. The interesting point is do they get the payment if they no longer exist and when you look at the purpose of the payments, I would say no? The other interesting point being, do they ring fence the parachute payments for any football related debt? Again I would say yes based upon all the other regulations in this respect? There is very little of value left in Pompey, so I am finding it very difficult to understand why anyone would buy them? The only real value for someone buying the club would be those parachute payments, but if they are used to pay off football debts, what are you left with? The creditors are desperate to keep the club going to realise some value on the remaining assets, the players and the possible parachute money. The trouble is the HMRC want to make an example of Pompey and they will either have to throw good after bad or give it up as a bad job. You would need your head examining to invest in Pompey, even if you are a fan. You would be taking on all the existing crippling contracts, with the only sure way of addressing that issue being liquidation. The best possible scenario I can see for the creditors is to get an agreement to sell some of the players on the basis the club goes into liquidation. That would allow players to join other clubs, but the players would have to agree to this and would there be any incentive?

I thought it was only me that didn't understand the relevance of the article! Heard it used before, semi-detached, ie. Not all there, not the brightest. Similar to bungalow but showing other assets. Nothing up top, everything down below.

I would imagine the loan was secured against the ground, otherwise it would never happen. The only question would be the value and to be on the safe side I would imagine that figure is generous. The only way Chanrai and Gaydamak can realise anything on the debts is to find some sucker to take over the club and get something back. They may even have first rights over any of the other assets, such as players. Something they could realise if the club is kept afloat. What does that leave for anyone buying the club? just mountains of trouble and something difficult to see happening. It makes sense what Chanrai and Gaydamak are doing, but how do you make it attractive to an investor when you are asking them to pay for the privilege of a mountain of debt in contract salaries remaining and a short term rental agreement on the stadium?

Just after our worst hammering of the season? yeah that follows. It does not surprise me that we won today, something I could easily see happening. But sadly the only clubs dropping points are the top 2, really not much help to ourselves. We have now got two games a week for virtually the rest of the season, everyone a cup final if we want to get to the play off's. That is a mountain to climb and I can easily see some lame performance to one of the lower clubs putting a big dent in our ambitions. I expect us to get close to the play off's but could easily be 3 points off and you have to ask if the JPT is worth those points, because we clearly sacrificed league form for cup. Why the fook you cannot generate that winning mentality against the likes of Exeter, instead of the MK Dons in the cup is beyond me.

If I remember correctly an additional 8000 seats would cost a fortune, many times what the original seats cost at the same price structure. Then you have to consider what natural volume we could take on regularly and from previous estimates, that was only a few thousand over our current limit. If anyone wanted to maximise revenue, the smart answer has to be from price rather than volume. Based upon previous successful years in the Premier, I would estimate a capacity of 35,000 as being optimal, which just does not make economic sense when £1 on the ticket will give you a similar return.

I cannot see anyway that Portsmouth will not go into liquidation. Gaydamak has sliced up the company such there is nothing of attainable value without his agreement. That agreement will come at a price and if he really wanted to maximise, let them sink like a stone. It all depends how he ranks his love for the club above money? Someone needs to come in like Gold and Sullivan at West Ham, prepared to trash their investment and even then without full control over all aspects. If anyone buys the club now, they are just about paying for the name only. They would also have to take on all the contract wage bill and only the ability to move on players many costly months down the road. At the end of this, what exactly will the owner be left with? Still a massive wage bill, further deductions because of the cva's. A crowd that will be way below even this season and virtually no infrastructure or assets to borrow against. The only bright spot would be the parachute payments, which I imagine would get ring fenced for any football related debts. The immediate problem the administrator will have is to avoid matters becoming worse, then try and get an agreement from the creditors. There is no way the Premier League can help without opening themselves up to law suits such the Tevez affair pales in comparison. If Gaydamak wanted to help the situation I am sure he could, but he seems to have pressing problems elsewhere. I really cannot see what options the administrator will have or anyone daft enough with sufficient capital to be viable. Just expect to see the cherrypips come out of the woodwork, leaving the administrator with an easy option of liquidation.

There's quite a lot of quality there. I didn't want to drop Morgan, but 5 just doesn't go into 4 and I don't much fancy 4-5-1. I've looked at that line-up again, and out of the front 6 I can't think of any of them I'd drop for Morgan. Waigo - Need his pace. Hammond - Need his leadership. Lallana - In great form at the moment Puncheon - Yet to see him play, but I've heard people claim he is the best wide midfielder in League 1. Lambert - Well obviously Barnard - Haven't seen the best from him yet, but he has a great scoring record this season. I think you have hit the nail on the head there. Barnard I would only think about as a replacement for Lambert, to easy to handle for the opposition otherwise. Not that I think Barnard is a poor player, just I don't see them being a partnership, more an either or option. The only partner for Lambert that makes the attack look dangerous is Waigo, until Connolly returns. We are then really struggling to fit all our talent into a couple of slots. Although I believe Schneiderlin and Lallana are two very good players, I would definitely sacrifice one for the team, maybe both if things are not going well. I now this sounds daft after Lallana played so well against Pompey, but that is not always the case. For the moment he definitely deserves his start, but it would not surprise if it never worked out and a substitution is required. Our biggest problem is not having gifted individuals, more the selection problem of too many. Our problem is the best team, which does not look like being our best individuals. If these players cannot generate pressure you have to have a midfield that can gain control. Otherwise all those talented individuals are rendered useless without possession, including the defence.

Correct, registration is the key and the only way you can circumvent that would be to liquidate the club. With Pompey no longer, there is no registration issue and they can go to another club and play. May need to get exemption if already having played for two clubs this season, but that should not be a problem. Otherwise you are paying for a player that cannot be used in this country and who could possibly be available on a free any time soon. This could actually be the end unless they find a buyer.

I don't think administration is now an option. The only way they can sell players now to realise money is liquidation. Even then there's no guarantees of generating revenue, they had to sell within the window as FIFA will not allow that rule to be bypassed.

Ordinary? I don't remember seeing anyone that thin apart from models. Seen him a couple of times after training in the filling station by the Chilworth roundabout. Would not surprise me if he lived in Chilworth or some where that direction, not that easy to get back to the M27 from that point.