sidthesquid

Three thoughts reading all the above - 1. I am pleased that the majority, like me, think he was an outstanding player for us 2. Playing in the central midfielder role always seems to attract flack from a certain type of fan (probably those who never actually played football). Think Magilton and currently Dean Hammond to name but two. When they are playing well the team functions without you noticing them. When they are off the whole team stutters, and when they are injured you appreciate how important they really are. Is it any co-incidence that he only managed 6 starts in our relegation year? 3. Just one more reminder how much blame Burley and his incompetence must carry for our fall from grace.

I believe it is 5 in the 18 (or 16 if you are the Skate manager trying to gain sympathy for your paper thin squad TM)

Nobody is ever gonna say 'My what a pretty face you have', though, are they?

Skate News is bigging the Russian deal up, but a quick look on the Workforce Bank website doesn't convince me they are worth millions. More like a pair of chancers and Akers seems even more so. I would have thought they were tyre-kickers, but who knows? http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/bygone-blues/fans_cautious_but_optimistic_with_prospect_of_new_owners_1_2402311

I notice that Poopey claim to have beaten off competition from, among others, Leeds to sign Hogg from Villa. Was it the promotion push, was it the 25k crowds crowds that won him over? Or did the DCFSBs simply, yet again, outbid their rivals? Cheats

Every day without fail, there is always something to bring a smile to your face. And they wonder why we love this thread so.

Interesting little insight in the Skate News into the 'quality/quantity' thing with Cotterill. I've been wondering why all these Prem teams wanted to loan people out to Poopey & now we know...... ‘We are thankful to everyone for the loans we have now. ‘Without them we would be struggling. That’s a credit to those managers. ‘There are obstacles because people might not want to loan players to Portsmouth because they think they won’t get paid. ‘We’ve done that and proved that so hopefully going forward people will think we are trustworthy because that’s definitely an issue.

A long but interesting read on the dodgy Russian's that are allegedly interested in Poopey. Sounds like they'll fit right in. Another one mentioned Akers as one of Ridsdale's cronies that helped wreck Leeds. Some of these guys just can't help themselves. 41Kenwright Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 12:06 PM Here it is in full Whizz THE Russian tycoon putting up almost £75million to buy Rangers is from a dynasty dogged by allegations of links to the MAFIA and MONEY-LAUNDERING. But Gers fans will happily become Russian Bears and hail Vladimir Antonov a saviour if he funds a takeover that wipes out the Ibrox outfit's £30million debt mountain and provides cash to buy players. Antonov, 35, has had to angrily deny stories that his family's business empire is associated with the underworld and money-laundering. The banking magnate recently had a third £6million bid to buy AFC Bournemouth rejected by the lowly English team. And last year his father Alexander, 60, survived being shot 18 times outside his luxury Moscow apartment in a failed assassination attempt. Antonov and his business associate Roman Dubov are providing most of the cash for English property developer Andrew Ellis to launch a new bid for the SPL champs. The sensational move comes just two months after owner Sir David Murray took Rangers off the market after Ellis had spent months trying for a takeover. But it has now emerged that Ellis, 41, could be WEEKS away from taking control thanks to Antonov. Last night a source close to the controversial Russian businessman said: "The takeover is 99 per cent certain. "The only real issues left are ones of timing for the announcement and the practical administration of the takeover deal. Sir David has not yet met Vladimir or Roman but he's been assured that the money is there, it's real and the deal can be done." Antonov, who is thought to be worth more than £200million, made most of his fortune from corporate banking. His father controls the Russian bank Convers Group. And Rangers fans will be hoping he can pour millions into their club - just like his fellow Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich has done at Chelsea. But the Antonovs have been dogged by claims of links to organised crime. Last March, Vladimir's dad Alexander was left with a severe chest injury after he and his bodyguard were blasted in the street by a gunman. They were both rushed to hospital for life-saving surgery. And last year it emerged the FBI, US government and the Swedish security agency Sapo had all expressed fears over the Antonovs' operations. They had been investigated by Sapo's financial experts over their involvement with car maker Spyker. The little-known Dutch firm had announced plans to buy Swedish giants Saab from American parent company General Motors. But Sapo claimed it had found connections between the Antonovs and organised crime as well as involvement in money-laundering. To stop the Russians gaining control of Saab, the Swedes handed their files to the FBI and US government - who then put pressure on General Motors to ensure that the Antonovs had no involvement in any takeover. Vladimir was forced to sell his stake in Spyker and sever his ties with the company before the deal was agreed. But he was FURIOUS at how he had been singled out by the Swedish and American authorities. In February he wrote to the New York Times newspaper to condemn the "surreal allegations of alleged "economic crimes", "money-laundering" and other "false horror stories". Antonov, who has a home in Kent, insisted: "The main aim of those who should have been worried about Saab's survival now moved to ensure the exclusion of this 'evil' Russian investor." He added that: "On December 18, 2009, the deal between GM and Spyker was suspended. I was forced to give up my investment in Spyker because the Swedish government had threatened to veto the deal, insinuating that I had ties with criminal organisations. "There was no proof, but rumours were spread in the media. It is obvious European business has strong prejudices against investors from Russia." The Financial Services Authority has also refused Antonov a UK operating licence for Bankas Snoras, a subsidiary of his family's financial empire. Snoras, the largest listed bank in Lithuania, was first knocked back by the FSA in 2008. According to the regulators, the bank had given "misleading and incomplete" answers to them. The FSA also criticised Antonov, the chairman of Snoras Bankas's supervisory board, personally, saying: "These failures are not an isolated instance but are examples of an ongoing pattern of behaviour by institutions controlled by Mr Antonov." However, Snoras officials insist the authority's reservations about their controls on money-laundering and financial crime were unjustified. Antonov's involvement in the new Rangers takeover bid is not the first time he and Dubov, 36, have tried to get involved in British football. Only last month the pair failed with THREE offers to buy English League One side AFC Bournemouth. After rejecting their bids, club chairman Eddie Mitchell said: "I was approached by an agent on behalf of the Russians. "He asked if I'd be interested in selling my shares. I didn't have to think about it. I just said no." The bids for Bournemouth had been submitted through a third party on behalf of Convers Group Holdings. Now Rangers fans will be hoping that Bournemouth's loss is their gain. Ellis and his consortium first tabled a bid for the Ibrox club in March but the £33million offer failed to impress Sir David Murray and the takeover seemed dead in the water. In June, the Gers owner announced: "Murray International Holdings has received interest in its controlling stake from a number of parties. At this time, however, the board of MIH has not been able to secure an offer which it considers to be in the best interests of the club, its shareholders and its fans. The interests of stakeholders are presently best served by providing the football management team and board with an opportunity to implement its business plan. MIH hereby announces it is no longer marketing its controlling stake in the club for sale." But the News of the World understands Sir David is now ready to do business with Ellis, business partner Chris Akers, 46, and their mega-rich Russian backers. An influx of cash would be welcomed by Light Blues boss Walter Smith, who has overseen an exodus of players from last season's SPL-winning squad. Middlesbrough snapped up striker Kris Boyd, 26, and midfielder Kevin Thompson, 25, while left back Steven Smith, 24, moved to Norwich. Defender Danny Wilson, 18, signed for Liverpool, Nacho Novo, 31, returned to his native Spain and American forward DaMarcus Beasley, 28, has also left. Last week Rangers fans were dealt a further blow when we revealed their manager would not get a penny of the £12million Champions League windfall to spend on strengthening his squad. But on Friday, Smith finally made his first signing in two years when Stoke City striker James Beattie, 32, joined the club in a £1m deal. Now the Gers faithful will be hoping Antonov can match the success of his countryman Abramovich at Chelsea. The 43-year-old tycoon - worth an an estimated £7.2billion - bought the London club in 2003 for £140million. The gas and steel magnate hired manager Jose Mourinho, 47, then splashed out millions on the team, including £30.8m for Andriy Shevchenko. In 2005 his spending brought Chelsea their first title in 50 years and they've gone on to win eight major trophies. The Teddy Bears will hope Antonov can bring them the same kind of result.

What Davis should have been doing and fails to do is command his box from crosses. I think he is a fantastic shot-stopper, but his inability to come for crosses is why he is in League and not the Prem. It is a fatal flaw in his game and at the age he is untreatable. It makes us defend too deep and any contact in the six yard box is always liable to be a goal. It should not be down to Harding or Seaborne to clear it - it was a keeper's ball and we have seen it many many times before.

On the plus side - Everythingontv was the best I've found yet for watching on the computer. Hammond's goal was beautiful & Rickie knows how to score a pen. And we would probably have taken a draw at the start. On the down side - I still don't think we look that great. I think AOC is nullified in the diamond (hopefully on Adam's return we will revert to 442). Seaborne had a bit of a mare & Harding lost the plot. Guly looked all at sea, too. We always looked vulnerable in defence (as, indeed, did they - hence the score!). And Kelvin, despite a couple of great saves looked seriously shaky for their first two. I have said it a million times - any cross into the six-yard box HAS to be the keepers, because as happened last night, if they get a half-decent contact in that position there is no possibility of saving it. Overall it was a fair result - one needless pen each and one dodgy one - plenty of attacking ambition by both sides, but we really should be capable of holding onto a two goal lead & not letting a goal in the last minute of each half. Not a total disaster, but definitely an opportunity squandered.

Has anybody worked out how long Chainrai needs to be in charge of the Skates to get his money back out of the parachute payments? He clearly isn't putting any/much money into the club. I suspect he has told Clampitt he has to fund the club on gate money, which he blew on a couple of 'quality' wage packets... er signings, which is why they can't afford any more despite the bluster. So Chinny sits back, takes the parachute payments to get his 'loan back, and watches on as the club continues to die slowly. But at which point does he cut his losses and run? Possibly just before the CVA money has to begin being paid next April seems a likely moment. Page 1000 here we come.

Fratton Park would obviously sit where Old Kent Road does. The luxury house on Hayling Island could be the equivalent of that pinnacle of ambition, Mayfair. All the tax references in community chest would obviously have to go and you might have to hide the Get out of Jail free card...

I particularly enjoyed this bit - But Pompey’s current finances are looking far more healthy, with the club on course to hit its financial targets for this year. Derr. They are on target for this year because they have put it all off till next year. It is a disease down there, isn't it. Directors, managers, players, fans, even the press, none of them can tell the truth by accident, can they? Or see it, for that matter.

What always impresses me about this site is the better class of post we get - not only references to Dickens, but now Thomas Hardy....

You don't think they would actually have read any of his work, do you? Dickens are what they give their sisters after a night out.

On a very quick calculation admittedly, but the skates 'quality' wage bill cannot reasonably be under £1million/month. And equally they cannot have raised more than £2-3 million out of the £17million they needed on transfers. Added to the dismal gates and no cup run, they must be on target to finish the season £20million plus short of their CVA projections. Not for the first time it is very hard to see where the figures add up in Skateland....

I would almost feel pleased if Bournemouth got promoted (though not at our expense, obviously!). They got in the financial cack, but, to be fair, have gone about the whole thing in the right way, using a bright young manager and picking up bargains from non-league and moulding them into good players, selling them on and finding more good young players. Compare that to the Skates 'quality over quantity, rip off every one and complain about being hard done by all the time' routine, ad it is hard not to wish them well.

I heard that they put in a last minute bid for Torres - £51 million, to be paid at the rate of 4p in the pound annually, starting from next year, but with the option to delay the start date for as many years as they see fit.

The Skate News mentioned David Norris, Bradley Johnson, Tyrone Mears and Paul Konchesky as their other targets that failed. What I still don't get is why would any of them want to go to Poopey, and, that being the case, why do they not go after one or two good young League One players that they could afford and who might (just) see it as a step up?

Interesting article, and now to lower the tone to a level where a skate might follow (or possibly not) I pulled this little gem from the Skate News's rolling deadline day ticker - [Comment From PompeyBen PompeyBen : ] I hear we are close to signing 'Nowon Atall' can u conform these rumours steve?? Please tell me it's wind up. Even on Portsea Island they can't be this thick....... Can they?

Now that the DFCSBs have sold Utaka for a reported £400k & they got £200k (though possibly not all upfront) for Ritchie, how near to the transfer revenue figure they were meant to raise for the CVA are they?

What I learnt at school yesterday: Schneiderlin will be a Prem star before he is done The Oxo kid will also be a Prem star, but not quite ready yet (hurrah!) Chaplow was great, but lacks stamina Our 'reserve' full-backs are excellent Seaborne & Fonte should be our first choice centre-back pairing Guly is starting to look the part And we actually did ourselves justice on TV for once (On the downside, neither Lambert or Barnard quite looked on the pace. And Bart only fills me with a smidge more confidence than Kelvin does, and that is not a lot....) Most importantly, IF we can crawl out of this league, our current squad will do very nicely in the CCC

Interesting article, thanks

But you don't get any sympathy, or get to plead for yet more dispensations to sign a couple of £20k/week players with that kind of honesty, do you now?

I think where young Clampitt went wrong was asking his Uncle Peter advice and mistaking quality for expensive..... http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/frattonlatest/Lampitt-Too-early-to-decide.6703367.jp Still, at least his honesty/naivety in bringing the quality/quantity question into the open has at least stoppede the whinging few and Cotterill from bleating on ALL the time about how unfair it all is on their little squad.