sidthesquid

Nothing but good things today, but can I just put in a word for Jose - after a shaky start, and a lot of us wondering if he could cut it at ths level, he is looking more and more like a Prem centre-half and he was almost faultless today. (Also, you can see why we didn't buy a left back in the summer - we had one all along!)

I make it about 4 seasons of decline X 25 games/season = 100 games, average 2000 away fans = 200000. Wonderful thing, statistics......

Looked up Komisaruk - looks like a prize kn0b to me http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=komisaruk&source=web&cd=9&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CGIQFjAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.co.uk%2Fbooks%2Fabout%2FThe_Science_of_Orgasm.html%3Fid%3D2As5NR2_JygC&ei=9F6uUL_pM46R0QX23ICABg&usg=AFQjCNHhDPEANDFfBfm1-jLQ5YbluDzdoQ

I'd have said it must be over 12, because over that number he'd have had to take his socks and shoes off and it's a bit chilly out.

He would be the final piece of the jigsaw. One of the best keepers ever and one of the most underrated, too. If only it were to be true.....

It's like he was asked to write the definitive list of the twenty most cringeworthy cliches about the skates - awful, awful journalist

The two together is the key

Two interesting snippets, maybe suggesting a bit of belt-tightening at last - firstly they are looking to get a loan in from League Two & secondly that their cheapest and least experienced player isn't being sent on loan to be replaced by a Prem player. League One is becoming an uncompetitive farce..... http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11674/8246424. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/walker-told-to-forget-loan-switch-1-4469756

I actually agree with this - or part of it. I don't know what he said, but I don't think we should pulling posts, no matter how irritating they are. Trolls are a part of modern life, but I enjoy the deluded ramblings of our scaly friends and there are hardly any left (and to be fair, just occasionally he has a point).

In some ways the -10 coming off next season would be even better as promotion looks beyond them this season already. Better still if they can contrive to get relegated without the -10 (not impossible....) and start in league Two on -10.

I'll give it bit more detail All 3 keepers - 5 max. None of them have really looked the part and maybe splashing the cash on Butland is the answer. Clyne 7 - a really good prospect who will play for England before he is done, BUT still has some learning to do before that moment Fox 6 - nowhere near as bad as many make out, but a borderline Prem player who gives his all. And his dead-ball delivery is sorely missed when he doesn't play Fonte 7 - a big surprise plus this season, he has risen to Prem level and (mostly) cut out the silly errors Yoshida 6 - unfairly blamed for the odd error, he has got better and better Hooiveld 4 - poor old Jos, it has all been a bit of a 'mare for him Schneiderlin 6 - looked twice the player with Cork beside him, generally he has done okay without setting the Prem alight S Davis 5 - comfortable on the ball but too pedestrian, too lightweight, a bit of a disappointment Lallana 7 (just) - on his day unplayable and works hard but hasn't quite got there yet Puncheon 6 (just) - still not convinced he is Prem class, but at least has knuckled down to be a team player Ramirez 6 - clearly has huge talent and potential, but his injury means we haven't quite seen it yet Rodriguez 6 - have seen enough to think he will make it in the Prem, but like a few of the others it is a steep learning curve at the moment Mayuka 6 - same comment as above Lambert 7 (just) - could do with a goal, but still a handful at this level Guly 4 - I wasn't convinced he was CCC quality, even less convinced he is Prem quality JWP, Shaw, Reeves 5 - all have the talent, just have to show they have it mentally; the backbone of our future if we stay up.... Adkins 5 - one or two iffy substitutions/ tactical switches don't make a bad manager. Neither does the odd mental aberration by our defenders. I still believe he is one of the brightest young managers around and we would be mad to axe him Overall a 5 - not all good, but by no means all bad. Fundamentally we have a very talented young team, but inexperience and bad luck have conspired to make it a tough start. I just hope people keep the faith.

Just had a look back - after 17 games of our -10 season we had 13 (or 23) points, only five more than the Skates now. We W18 D6 L5 of our remaining games and still missed the playoffs, which is significant for the club regarding the likes of Buzaky, Williamson, Howard etc. And for the players. Presumably the justification for forking out for their wages was based on a push for promotion which is now a busted flush. And how much are those guys really going to fancy a League One relegation dog-fight when a few better offers appear in Jan. Yet again the Skates short-term philosophy is proven to be hollow and after a few anxious weeks of back-to-back wins, yet again we await the fun that will follow.

I like coming on here - the main board is like an overloaded psychiatrist's casebook - anger, denial, delusion, self-loathing, psychopathic rage, plenty of depression and more hysteria than adult men should be capable of.

The point is we have a talented young manager and a talented young team - what they both lack is experience of the harsh world of the Prem. BUT they are all getting that pretty quick at the moment and they are learning, but it doesn't happen overnight. Fortunately for us there are 8 teams that have won 7 games between them at the bottom, so we are far from cut adrift. Personally I still believe that with one or two additions we are capable of making a go of it in this league and the worse thing to do now is panic.

The point you are missing is not that WBA is six days away, but that the Spuds game was only two days before. There was no point putting our best players at risk, two days after a tough game, against a team of cloggers like Leeds. The real disappointment is that the 'fringe' players did not show that they are worth a place in the Prem team. I like the Cup competitions but this result has zero impact on the first team.

It is notable that for a club on its uppers all their first 11 have played at a higher level and whilst not exactly household names, I have at least heard of half their players, not something I can claim for many in League One. Still it's good to know they are competitive.

The reason we haven't seen more of Mayuka is because they were breaking him in gently after a big step up from the Swiss League, disrupted by two international breaks where he headed off to Africa, plus an injury. The next couple of months is his chance to get some continuity, ( just in time to disappear off to the African Cup of Nations!)

Kelvin is a great shot-stopper who can't dominate the box (think Paul Jones) Gazza is young, full of potential, but still too inexperienced to boss the back four Boruc looks the part, but time will tell as we haven't seen enough of him. Incidentally, I do wonder if the problem isn't our keepers but our goalkeeping coach. All three of them always seem rooted to the line when crosses come in - maybe they are being told to do that rather than come flying out.

Thoughts on the game - 1st half we were so pedestrian it wasn't true & Spuds broke with pace every time one of our predictable attacks broke down Clyne - who is overall excellent - has a weakness on the far post that has cost us several goals Second goal was unlucky - Fonte slipped then cleared it onto Dempsey's knee I thought J-Rod put in another good shift & I can see why Adkins rates him Pucheon had a 'mare all game & Mayuka looked really good At half time I doubted we'd ever pick up another point this season, at full time I trust in Nige again We are not great, but we are not that bad & we have a young team who have never played at this level before & they are learning the harsh realities of the Prem quickly - but they are learning And most of all, we have to keep the faith.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/revealed-the-five-backers-who-are-trust-s-big-hitters-1-4417885 The group are dubbed the HNWs – High Net Worths – and they are the key men the Pompey Supporters’ Trust have attracted to boost their bid. They are Stuart Robinson, John Kirk, Iain McInnes, Chris Moth and Ken Terry. There they are my trusty skatehounds - now sniff out all that's dubious about them.......

I think Euell would certainly make the top 5. People like Hirst or Venison who signed then were finished by injury is just bad luck. And Delgado looked like he had all the attributes, but injury and not settling did for him. (And you can't count the likes of Bleidelis & Chala as they were there to hepl Pahars - which made him well worth it, or Delgado - which didn't!) Poor old Jason looked punch-drunk from day one - scared of the ball, mentally 'gone' & off the pace - if we'd taken him on a pay-as-you-play basis you might have accepted it, but as one of our highest ever earners it was tragic. All of those Redknapp relegation signings - his son, Bernard etc certainly merit a mention.

For budgeting purposes in the Jackanory household, he had better plan to get 20% of 20% of his £97.50, less expenses, and spread over five years.

Can I just say that picture number two has come straight out of the murkier recesses of my imagination.....

But, doesn't the fact that they sacked him for his behaviour suggest they had some directorial authority?

Appy get his justifications in early http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2217333/Michael-Appleton-managing-Portsmouth-The-hardest-job-football.html?openGraphAuthor=%2Fhome%2Fsearch.html%3Fs%3D%26authornamef%3DMalcolm%2BFolley My betting on his replacement - Cot the clot 5/1 - out of work, but still a legend Uncle Avram 6/1 (in from 20/1) now that the sex trade can continue on Inbred Island Arry & Rosie 20/1 - now Bompey don't want him Whiskey George 50/1 - surely they wouldn't be that kind to us Jan Poortvliet 100/1 (20/1 if the PST realise the true size of their player budget) Lee Bradbury 150/1 - for when they merge with Havant & Waterlooville