benjii

Hang on a minute... the CEO needed to get approval from Daniel Azougy to make a payment. And yet Azougy wasn't a shadow director....? Seriously, the PL are having the **** taken out of them.

That sums up my feelings on the day 100%. I actually enjoyed it. Was a laugh taking the micky out of them, it was a laugh seeing how bad their team is, it was a laugh seeing that their best two players on the day were loanees who they will never sign, it was laughing seeing it confirmed in front of my eyes that they were 100% on for relegation, it was great to see that Saints now have a squad that, even with half a second string defence out and one of our best midfielders missing, can match if not better a poor Prem/ok CCC team. No one expected us to win the FA Cup. We're in the third tier. The FA Cup is a bit of fun. It was a great day.

People saying we would have trouble filling a bigger ground need to consider that in ML's long-term plan we are a top-half Premiership team. We would easily sell out a 40k ground in that scenario for most matches (unless the prices went mental). We will sell out SMS most matches when we are promoted to the CCC of things continue to go well.

It's possible but then he should have given the wrestle on Fonte first

Yeah, but that doesn't mean we played badly second half. Sorry, I might have misinterpreted your post but the second half display ws just as good as the first - just for different reasons. I don't think "scrappy" is really a fair description.

Same here. Some of our nervous fans need to get with the times! Leeds never looked like scoring. Their best chance was the ref deciding to manufacture them a penalty.

Bit slow to get on here so no doubt there are loads of ratings and reports already but for what it's worth, here are my thoughts: KD - n/a - did he actually have a save to make? Can't remember one. Semi - n/a - didn't last long but was looking good. Uses the ball well. Hope the injury isn't bad. Big Wayne - 7 - really solid in defence. Not as accomplished as Semi going forwards but a really reliable performer at the moment. Fonte - 8 - didn't put a foot wrong all match. His reading and positioning is superb. Knows when to hoof it and when to play it. Jaidi - 9 - MOM (just) - absolutely dominant. Didn't give Becchio a sniff and consequently Leeds were unable to get any possession in dangerous area. Harding - 8 - Best full-back we've had since Bale. Too good for League One and another goal. Great signing. Puncheon - 9 - Contender for MOM. So dangerous on the right wing - can go outside and cross right-footed or come inside and create havoc. Unlucky not to score when he hit the post. Whoever at Plymouth decided he was surplus to requirements is clearly a mentalist. Schneiderlin - 9 - One of his best games for Saints IMO. Controlled the midfield and hardly ever lost possession. Hammond - 7 - Unspectaculr but vital. He does a job for us that no one else can do. Lallana - 9 - carried the attack at speed on several occasions and used possession very well. Worked his socks off as always. When he and Puncheon get the chance to link up it's a joy to behold. Barnard - 7 - unlucky to get nothing when bundled over through on goal (I'm sure someone has mentioned the ref already! :mad:). Worked hard. Lambert - 6 - Kisnorbo handled him really well in the air but he battled away and linked well when he got it. Not bad by any stretch but hard to give him more when there were so many excellent performances from our other players today. Waigo - 7 - worked the channels well to run down the clock when he came on. Overall, a funy game which we deserved to have put to bed by half-time. It was only really the ref which ensured that didn't happen. We didn't create too much in the second half but we were still completely comfortable. Our defence and midfield were rock solid and Leeds were reduced to hopeful punts. If this team is kept together then next season will be brilliant!

Gordon Brown personally intervened to stop HMRC pursuing a case that apparently has little merit anyway? Ok. Well you can have one of these: too then

TBF Varisty is ok. It's better than Varsity or Wates' Wine Lodge.

I've no idea whether it was worth them doing it or not in this case. I don't know the facts and I haven't read your link. I was simply suggesting that it might be their choice that this went to trial at a Crown Court and not a Magistrates. There is no reason why a case would get committed to the Crown Court unless the Magistrate's sentencing powers were insufficient for the severity of the crime - therefore, either: 1) this was a severe enough crime for some reason; or 2) they elected to go the CC. What I do know is that if these had been a pair of students you would be crowing about how great it is that they should feel the full force of the law and what a bunch of nasty people students are.

Oh, do stop it!

Any security over future cash will be created by a floating charge over the company. After administration, the football club will be owned by a different company so this different company will get the parachute payments anyway. It's a moot point IMO in terms of security and creditor's rights over it. What it does do though, is form part of the consideration of the creditors when they're deciding whether to accept or not any offer made by a potential purchaser, as they will be aware that this revenue stream is coming in.

I've asked this several times! It's time the FA grew a pair. No team in administration should be allowed to play. There is no other way of levelling the competitive advantage like there is in the league.

No, not at all. It's the law - if you are in administration you are protected from action from creditors like HMRC. They are apparently, validy in administration so there's not a lot HMRC can do about it. Nothing to do with precedent or throwing in the towel.

Ahh, I see Buctootim has rasied a similar point!

Maybe the defendants elected to go to the Crown Court for a jury trial, as they are entitled to do so. The conviction rates are generally lower, or are at least perceived to be lower, in jury trials than in the Magistrates'.

Wish Leeds had beaten Carlisle.

Aye, that's what I meant. Leaving poeple like Fahey on to do nothing in midfield when they had Benitez and Phillips on t'bench.

Exactly, and anyone who watched the cup match against Brum will also have seen that they were awful. B'ham let them off the hook with some slack final balls and the inexplicable decision not to go for the jugular sooner (that and some appaling linesmanship). I expect they will finish in the bottom 3 even without the inevitable points deduction.

Why do you want them treated differently to every other club? Why's that justice?

Well, the FA have let numerous teams play in the FA Cup whilst insolvent before. I don't think they should, but they do. So Crystal Palace also "got away with it" this season. They are going to suffer all the usual things that an insolvent club suffers. If there is no buyer they will eventually be wound up. If there is a buyer they will not be, and they shouldn't be. Same as us. If there has been any wrong-doing that extends beyond football matters then that's a matter for the relevant authorites to investigate. I think after many years of slumming it in the second division that after a brief spell in the top flight, being sent back down one or two divisions with your tail between your leg and a bleak future ahead is about as bad as it could get. If they get promoted from the CCC next year, or anytime soon, then I might start agreeing with you. But they won't.

They are what, 5 points behind Wolves and Burnley? I think they are playing each other at the wkend? That means, unless there's a draw, they will be 8 behind one of them. So that's 17 points to make up. I think they've managed 19 so far this season? Yes, Hull, Burnley and Wolves are not very good. Neither are Pompey. They were outfought and played by us for 75 minutes. They were outplayed and outfought by Coventry in the previous round. They are not going to go on a run where they win 5, 6, 7, etc in a row. They are rubbish.

Thank you!