S-Clarke

Good update on Solent. We deserve the lead and should have just scored a third - a good run and cross by dickson (who has been outstanding) and the shot by Connolly is stopped at point blank range by their keeper. Doble for Connolly also

Why does everyone assume it's so easy to buy players? This isn't football manager and there are so many ''real life'' obstacles that have to be overcome. For a start, we're in L1. The fact is that this has been a very very very quiet window in all the leagues, so don't hold it against us or Pardew - the opportunities just aren't out there at the moment and we're not going to buy anyone and then watch a better player came along next week (Pardew said that himself). So just chill.

Mills injured and replaced by Oxo

mines the same MB - but the echo have a decent feed going on their site which is up-to-date.

he has a groin injury apparently, no idea if it's serious or if he's rested just as a precaution. Lallana still has a knee injury and must now be rated a real doubt to start the season.

a bit like ormerod, but with a finish!

1-1 - Barnard

Not many clubs would look as strong if you take their 4 best players out of the 11, that is just unlucky. You can't really go around building a squad ''just incase we lose all these players'' - it just wouldn't be workable. Luck comes into play in any season in any league on all different fronts, and injuries is one of them, we were lucky with injuries last season. We still need 2 or 3 bodies, agreed - but you can't really prepare 4 ready made replacements for your 4 best players. We will always be weaker without them.

1-0 to reading

So much for the Tyson done deal then. But i'm really confused by Blackpools targets, John stead (couldn't agree wages so fell through) and now Tyson. Don't they want to even put up a fight? Don't get me wrong - tyson would be a great player for us at this level, but he is never a premiership player.

nope, definitely when. With or without pardew and co.

I did go to some really annoying games last year, one of the more frustrating ones was the 0-0 against Oldham at the end of the season - but we threw everything at them and iirc Papa and antonio (or one of them at least) played for a significant part of the game, but we couldn't get the break through. You get games like that during a season and away from home, you sometimes have to grin and bear it and look at the bigger picture. but I also managed to see the fantastic displays against Huddersfield and Wallsal, which Papa and antonio didn't play much of a part in (Papa had a cameo role in the Hudersfield game to get the 5th). That's why i still have confidence in these lads without papa and antonio.

I have just been told that Rudi Skacel will sign on the pitch tomorrow and then clap his hands to each corner of the ground. I understand that he will then do it for every game thereafter.

But releasing lots of players doesn't necessarily mean the squad is massively weaker. The majority of the players we released were not good enough, were never going to play or had entered the end of their careers, and we've replaced the likes of Llloydy with Butterfield/Richardson, and have added more competition down the left with the signing of Dickson. We also now have the room in the squad to introduce a few of the promising youngsters, young CB Racine will play a part this season IMO - he is a really big prospect. Young Chamberlain is the same... Pardew did say the squad was too big last year, which was true - he's now got a workable squad which he can rotate and work with, and we're closing in on having 2 players for each position - and 2 quality players at that. We will be much much stronger than last season in a few weeks time IMO. (but it's already the envy of most clubs in this league)

I predict we'll get a pacey attacking man and a CM before plymouth, then the 3rd player Pard's wants will prob be on loan at some point.

It's not really, because i had the pleasure of going to 90% of home games last season and i recognize and appreciate that even without Antonio and Papa, we are still dangerous and will still win lots of games.

Agree with you - most people recognize that we need more pace in the team and we trust that the club recognize it too (pardew has said it). What does my head in, in particular, is the constant rubbish coming out of certain posters mouths alluding to the club ''not being bothered'' ''going about half-arsed''. Madness.

Why do you always reply to a sensible post with such utter drivel? All this fuss about losing papa and antonio...they were good players for us, antonio more so. Papa was a sub/bit part player AT MOST - he was at his best in the JPT and didn't ever really set the league alight. Antonio came to his fore in the 2nd half of the season, but was still very raw and you could get some utter rubbish games from him at times. They're not irreplaceable, which is why we will replace them with players as good, or better. Pardrw has alluded to the fact twice already. But that's all we need, a bit of pace and an extra presence in midfield - that will finish us off nicley. But we would still get promotion with this squad if we weren't allowed to strengthen IMO. This is L1, not La Liga.

They do sound in a bit of dodgy ground tbf, not sure what their GK situation is like since Grant has gone either...and grant went for under £1m. I still reckon we could tempt them with an offer for someone like Jermaine Johnson or Tudgay imo...

I'm still somewhat bemused by the general impression that we need all these new players and ''big signings'' in order to hit the ground running. The squad we have is easily good enough to start the season, and it will be added to before - or during the august window.

primarily left footed, but then if we shifted Punch over we'd still need a pacey right-man - which we will get in time im sure.

All we need now is PompeyScot to reassure us all.

Young holder-spooner (great name) is lightening quick too. ..and ps. alpine, I'm not basing our promotion hopes in a young kid.

That's fair, but the time to moan will be when we don't have the points on the board. Not now - we haven't kicked a ball yet.

I'd love us to do a league and cup double....