pfc123

touche

You just contradicted yourself within one sentence mate... No, of course not. Well, we'll see shall we? You're all going to feel really, really sick to the pit of your stomachs when in twelve months time you're still attempting to convince yourselves you're better off in the third division, because that's where you're going to be, if you're lucky. Oh and we'll STILL be a Premiership club.....

No, because you're two divisions away from the bright lights. It entirely depends on your mindset. Markus obviously felt more comfortable putting in less up front and trying to build slowly, rather than buying into the instant Premiership scenario that requires a large wodge of cash required quickly. Both situations are attractive for different reasons.....

Yep, I do cringe at Le Mans every year when Brits go up to French stallholders and say something like "Allright mate, ow much is that t-shirt?" To their credit, as it's business and there are 50,000 of us there every year, they always brush the ignorance off, but it is nice to see their faces light up sometimes when you at least attempt a bit of broken French, they really do appreciate it. And when in southampton I always try to slip into scummer mode and talk like I've just come off the farm when I'm in Smiths to buy Tractor monthly and Horse & Pony. I find I fit right in straightaway

Yeah, I see your point, but what I'm trying to say is that if for example you had the choice between buying Man U and Citeh, and that they were both the same price, same debt, similar stadiums, similar squads, same size of club and you had no bias for or against either of them, you'd probably look at the clubs respective history and go for United? Or how about say a straight choice between Preston or Plymouth? Most would go for Preston. This is where we differ because you all have the idea that honours are largely irrelevant because you've nearly always just made up the numbers. Nothing wrong with that of course, but history DOES make a difference, and I'm praying that it makes a difference now. Im hoping that there are still some people out there with money to invest who are going to look at Pompey and say, Jeez- needs a lot of work and cash, but they're in the prem and there's a lot of potential.......

I think from what you've said Phil that with all the cultural differences and complications that they entail, investment from a western background sounds a better bet. Trouble is, money's tighter everywhere. We'll probably have to take whatever we can get...

Look, Tony's just showing what a good businessman he is by saving more money to invest in Pompey by contining to live at home. Makes perfect sense to me

Hmmm, interesting how we have the usual airbrushing out of shall we say 'inconvenient' facts across the whole of history which add 'value' or 'kudos' such as: 1. Honours Yours first: 1 F.A. cup, 1 Third division and 1 Third division south. Ours: 2 First division titles, 2 F.A. cups, 1 Second division, 2 Third division, 1 Third division south. I make that 8 to your 3. Southampton 0 Portsmouth 1. 2. Over time, which club has consistently attracted more bums on seats? The only absolute overall fact over which no-one can argue with, as the alternative is the pointless 'I remember when we had xx number for this game and you only had xx blah blah blah....' Yours: 17260 Ours: 17334 Close, but still Southampton 0 Portsmouth 2. http://www.nufc.com/2009-10html/attendance-all-time.html 3. Debt Yours- £27m repaid, but lets not be naiive here- he's not going to just 'forget' that £27m is he? Ours- £27m still owing once transfer income has trickled in. Small for a Premiership club, however: Southampton 1 Portsmouth 2 4. Which club generates most income? No brainer here, we blow you out of the water with the Sky money alone. Wages now well within budget also. Southampton 1 Portsmouth 3 5. Which club has the best league position? Not one, but 2 divisions separate us.. Southampton 1 Portsmouth 4 6. Potential right now, today. You: Plus points- Facilities in place e.g. ground and training ground Minus points: Shrinking fanbase, down more than 40% in three years. Very small turnover compared to a top flight club. Two divisions away from the Premiership, very, very expensive to get back up quickly, or will take years if attempting to do it on the cheap. Bottom of the third division on -8 points. Us: Plus points: Already in the Premiership, training ground ready to go and just requiring cash, site for a new 40k ground with 2018 world cup approval already rubber stamped, again requiring cash. A blank canvas. Minus points: Currently bottom of the Premiership, albeit with plenty of time to turn it around, Poor current facilitiles with limited capacity and very expensive ticket prices (twice the price you pay). You can argue this point either way, so a 'goal' each? Southampton 2 Portsmouth 5 In short, you're ready to go, but are two very expensive to bridge divisions adrift, we're already their but need money spending on infrastructure and players. That really sums it up. Either way, BOTH clubs are attractive but for the different reasons outlined above. However, to be fair, our 'value' will decrease rapidly unless we get out of the bottom three this season. If we don't, then the balance would shift....

What 'value' would that be then? Pray tell us all what is actually attractive about SFC apart from the usual run of the mill flat pack IKEA style ground? How much MORE value do you have at this time than us? Don't kid us about the busted flush of an academy- that clearly produces nothing these days as last season painfully illustrated. A glorious history maybe? Hmmm, maybe not eh? Not a lot else is there? A middling history, no major honours to speak of, so what "value beyond our league status" do you REALLY have?

Yes, lets. What you're forgetting is that Storrie doesn't have to pass a FPPT and crucially, neither does David Dein having already got a clean track record with Arsenal. If they then get A.N. Others onboard with less than 10% stakes each, they also don't have to have a FPPT. There are ways and means....

Yep. Legal tender in the UAE........

Send it to Al Fahim. He respects me, so he'll pay

Hmmm, sounds much easier culture wise to be bought out by one of our own. Cheers for that, interesting....

Phil, so how DOES it work in the middle east? It sounds from what you're saying that the business culture is completely different from the western model....?

Ooh, I feel strangely left out.....

You're all class.....

It's St John, not St John's. I'd have thought you'd have known that with your username? Picky I know, but I'm an ex-member, which is good if you need a plaster or something bandaged up, but not so good if you've stopped breathing and I have to administer the kiss of life :vom:

Yeah! Sort your lives out ffs! 50% of this thread is about Pompey. I pay my £5 and it really ****es me off when you lot argue amongst yourselves. It's just not value for money anymore. *Sigh* I don't know, some people

Yeah, righto....

Hmmm, early days. Just remember it's the hope that kills you. Think how low you're all going to feel when we stay up, maybe on the last day, but stay up, and you fail to even make the third division playoffs

You were relegated without the 10 point penalty. You had the penalty added to this season as a result, and you got the penalty because EVERYONE knew that SLH and Southampton FC were one and same entity. A little giveaway- SLH's official website according to the London Stock Exchange was: saintsfc.co.uk Yeah, a different company...... As far as Pompey S/T's goes, I couldn't give a toss :smt015

You've gotta be joking! Thing is that you will always be able to dredge up stats on individual games, or very selective periods in history. it's the only way you can attempt to justify your position. What matters is the OVERALL pitcture..... http://www.nufc.com/2009-10html/attendance-all-time.html Because we're supposed to have a 40k+ stadium in time for 2018. Still plenty of time....I think :confused: We may well have 'bought' that trophy. You on the other hand bought a new ground, that you also couldn't afford. On that basis I think we're about even... This is becoming a regular thing with you nick isn't it? There's 9 years to go yet ffs... Because we'll take more money by selling more seats at a slightly lower cost... Yep, I've heard this one also. Interesting......

It's called a nice relaxing holiday at home. :cool: Hart was asked if he thought the takeover would go through. He replied, "No, I don't think so". Cue gasps from the audience. Don't know what to think now :confused:

In fact I've just had a look- excluding the family section because not everyone has kids, your cheapest is £342 for a new s/t holder in the Northam/wings. Our cheapest is £710. More than double. Eyewatering isn't it?

Because one of the reasons we don't always fill it is due to cost. Third most expensive in the Premiership. If we have a ground with an extra 10k seats we can bring the cost down a bit and more people will be able to afford to go.... As a comparison, how much are your cheapest adult season tickets this year?