hutch

and on a more serious note, having just read through this morning's nuggets. If, as it is claimed, the PL's powers are indeed discretionary, I can't see how any Arbitration tribunal, or Court for that matter, will interfere in how the PL chooses to excercise that discretion, unless Pompey can show that either it is being excercised unlawfully, or that the PL has a duty of care towards them, and is in breach of that duty. If that is so, then it has the same duty to all of it's members (although Watford, and foreign clubs are, of course, not members). All to be resolved in the next 13 days?

Too many conspiracy theories on here. We know that Pompey have demanded an urgent meeting with the PL. I think it's just to reinforce their demands that they should be allowed to compete on a level playing field. They want to ask the PL if any of the members have a spare roller that they can borrow to use at Fart n'Puke, to level the playing field. Just until they can find somebody to give them a loan to buy their own.

The Sky payments are nothing to do with the High Court case. I think their argument with the PL is that the PL have only paid out 5m so far from the 7m the skates were due. PL have held onto the balance for more payments due soon. Skates say they can't do that. PL say they'll give skates the 2m if skates can prove beyond any doubt that they can, and will, meet all the future payments. Seems skates can't (or won't) do that either, so now threatening PL with arbitration. Personally, I wouldn't mind if PL gave skates the balance. I don't want them to go into admin until after they're relegated. Every little helps.

The petition is about unpaid VAT, PAYE and NI. I've seen nothing about the content of the application which is being considered at the moment. With the skates current track record, it could be about anything.

Don't know if it helps, but I lived for many years in Buckingham. Without any doubt the best route from the West Country is A420 Swindon - Oxford then Buckingham - MK. And from Southampton it's A34 to Oxford then Buckingham - MK. I've done both many, many times. HTH

Yes, I agree. I spend more time than is healthy in those (and other) Courts. But the "tweet" says the application was heard in private at the High Court this morning, whereas "The News" said it was heard on Friday. So, tomorrow morning it is then.

Not necessarily. Confusing statements about whether the hearing was today or on Friday - at least I'm confused. If there was any hearing today, and assuming the Judge was "on duty" all day, I wouldn't have expected the judgement before tomorrow.

I think, being realistic, that we'll end up with somewhere between 72 and 75 points (inclusive). Whether that'll be enough, I don't know.

Not quite, David. It's 39 from more than half our games. And if we only do the same in the second half as we did in the first, we'll fall well short - (28 + 38 = 64). But I'm not saying we won't get there.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=727381&sec=england&cc=3888 "ESPNsoccernet can reveal that Portsmouth have taken the unusual step of asking the Premier League for arbitration in order to resolve their financial dispute, unless the body agrees to two demands: the lifting of the transfer embargo by Tuesday at the latest, and the release of £2 million of TV revenue which is currently being withheld." That makes much more sense than just giving those pesky people at the Premier League documented proof of what they told them, that their finances are all sorted out now, and their football-related debts up to date.

If we're looking at facts, we've won 10 out of the last 21 league games. Will we do better than that in the next 21? I think so. And we've won 15 out of the last 21 games in all competitions. Doesn't mean we'll get to the play-offs, but it's too early to give up yet.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5868441,00.html Note that Scudamore didn't add at the end of the last sentence "... and the transfer embargo would be lifted."

Aren't they due a Judgement today? How many nails can the coffin take?

True, if we had to play Leeds, Colchester and Millwall away again another 5 times this season, I would be less confident about getting to the play-offs too.

C'mon Guys. It happens in football. You have to feel sorry for Coventry (especially their fine upstanding manager). Equaliser against them in injury time on Wednesday. Winner against them in injury time in extra time on Wednesday. And a winner against them in injury time today.

Only if we were to lose the other 7. We won't. We didn't lose 7 in the first half of the season, remember.

Despite the b0llocks which is being written on here tonight, I don't think Pards set out for a draw. But I hope, and I'm sure, he set out not to lose. Imagine the psychological damage to the team, and the squad, if we'd lost 2-0 with our new defence, and lost 3 of our last 4 league games. WE COULD NOT LOSE THIS GAME. We didn't. I'm not over the moon with the result, and the way it came about, but I'm not gutted either. It was an acceptable result, and a great test for the new team. It'll get better (and easier) from here. Pardew's comments on Solent after the game were reassuring and informative. 14 out of 21 is do-able. And telling 8-10 squad members that they need to get out there and find themselves new clubs is good stuff. I'm sure they know who they are, and it will help settle the others down and boost the team spirit in the others.

Bletchley's a better option than MK. It's nearer, and it's a proper old town with real pubs. No idea which one's best for away fans, though. They were still playing at the hockey stadium when I lived there.

But can we keep friends for 3 whole days?

It's pretty overcast here this morning. And humidity is high. The forecast here is the same today as it was yesterday, but there will be more rain here in Pretoria. I expect Jo'burg will be the same. If it stays like this the conditions will definately suit the bowlers.

Duty calls. Got to pay the bills somehow. Went to the first Pro20, where we got absolutely slaughtered. Andy Strauss asked me to stay away after that.

The O'Hara thing is that O'Hara, Spuds & Pompey all want to extend the loan at Pompey, but the PL won't allow it because of the embargo. It's got nothing to do with the number of clubs he's played for.

No sweat. I've got very very thick skin. I'm a Saints supporter.

Since we got the crap new Saints Player, I've taken to listening to the opposition feed, but only when we're winning. At least that way you get some idea of what's actually happening on the pitch as it happens.

Why does everybody want right-footed Fonte on the left, and left-footed Seaborne on the right?