Lighthouse

Yes, it's one of those pointless comparison threads! However, that 2005 team is the standard we have to surpass to stay up. The 2003 team is the bench mark for a top half finish, decent cup run and a possible shot at Europe. My take on it: Goalkeepers We were strongest in 2003 with Jones and Niemi. I'd say the latter lost his form 2 years later, although Keller and Smith performed very well for a brief period. Given that Grimsby thought Forecast was appalling, I wouldn't even bother including him in our plans. He will ship 10 against even the poorest of Prem sides. Kelvin's last outing was a nightmare at Sunderland in 05-06. Verdict: With only an aging Kelvin in 2012 this is clearly our weakest area. Defenders Our cup final side was build on the central defensive pairing of Claus and Killer. Bridge was in his prime with Dodd/Telfer being probably the weakest aspect at RB. 2005 was a shambles and the defense took the lions share of blame for relegation. Davenport, Bernard, Van Dammit, Delap... it still gives me nightmares. Now we have a decent back 4 in Clyne, Jos, Fonte and Fox, but no other Premier League quality, except possibly FR at RB. Verdict: We are stronger than 05, weaker than 03 and need some more cover. Midfield In 2003 we had an excellent balance with Marsden, Oakley, Fernandes, Anders, Delap and later Prutton. In 2005 we lacked leadership and direction. Unfortunate injuries and players like Fernandes losing form didn't help. Redknapp and Quashie improved the team when they came in, but it was too little too late. Now I'd say we are very strong in this area. We haven't had a player of Lallana's tallent since Le Tiss, Morgan matches Oakley's performances in the middle. Cork is Premier League quality and Davis is a natural leader. De Ridder and Guly add something different, although neither is consistent. Puncheon remains and enigma. Verdict: Stronger than in 2005 and probably just about match our 2003 midfield man for man. Strikers Probably our weakest area in 2003, despite Beattie's fantastic season. Pahars and Delgado had the tallent but were normally injured, whilst Davies seemed to have lost interest and needed a fresh start. Ormerod worked his socks off, but 5 goals was a prolific season for him. Tessem did an okay job from time to time. In 2005 I'd say we were stronger. Yes Beatts had lost it, but Crouch, Phillips and Camara were all very good players. With Lambert, Rod, Sharp, Lee and Guly I'd say we have a good blend of options for this season. Verdict: Overall, stronger than 2003 but not as strong as the proven strikers of 2005. So looking at the squad overall, I'd say we're well on our way to beating that team that got relegated. Obviously some more depth is needed at the back, but we're looking good.

Last Dutch-Surinamese player we signed is still on the run from the law.

I'd wait until after the first 4 games when we've been spanked by the top 3 teams in the league and are bottom of the table, THEN stick a bet on Saints to finish top 10. Will probably get better odds.

I meant average in terms of pace. I'm not sure where this idea that everyone in the Prem runs at 100mph coomes from, but if Steffan Henchoz and David Unsworth are 'fast' enough to play in the Prem, I've got no concerns about Richardson. I'd say he was decent back up to Clyne for next season, although I think this is a level above Butters.

No, Jason Dodd and Le Saux were dangerously short of pace last time we were up. Richardson is about average and Clyne is like a whippet on steroids. Both can do a decent job in the Premier League.

Because I can then argue on and on that he is a striker and waste both of our time. Apparently this is fun for some people.

Just making a point. The art of the troll. Post something you know is bullsh*t and people can't resist the urge to correct you.

I'm not all that fussed for Buttner anyway. A striker who only scored 5 goals last season? No thanks. Lets see who can resist.

That Milan team was world class... about 5 years before that game. The reality is that they would struggle to make 5th or 6th in the Prem with that team, hence they ended up in the Europa League to start with. Pompey fans talk as if that would have been their greatest ever win when actually it would be like drawing at home to Liverpool last season.

Or just add him to your ignore list as many have. Then you never have to read his drivel and wont get wound up. He know's this. That is the art of the troll, to appear stupid whilst just about maintaining credibility. He preys on people's desire to look intelligent by posting stuff HE KNOWS is wrong, in order to trigger a response.

Your trolling is getting a lot of bites today Dalek, well done. Have a gold sticker.

Christ, it's Dalek will you guys never learn? He is one step up the evolutionary ladder from having a skate on here saying we will get relegated with 5 points. His posts seriously aren't worth reading, let alone getting annoyed over.

Unless he keeps a clean sheet in every League 2 game he plays, he is clearly still learning. Staying in a familiar environment with the same coaches and players is also going to help his confidence.

I can think of someone....

Why not? He's unlikely to get many first team games, especially as he will hopefully be 3rd choice keeper when we bring someone else in. Would suit all parties.

I love the irony of defending Gillett, then describing him as 'not as good as McGoldrick?' Hardly anyone came out of that season with any credit. Davis and Saeijs were the stand out performers for me. Surman and Skacel did alright filling in the holes, Saganowski was decent for about 10 games after his loan. That's about it.

Yep it's a mere, hence the name. I think Winder was a viking, can't remember.

He's a free agent because Doncaster couldn't pay the wages he is asking for. The fact that Pompey are prepared to out-bid them is sheer lunacy.

Yoann Folly has the best agent in football.

They should have just gone to Windermere, then we'd have none of this nonesense.

So why imply or even mention it then? You're clearly suggesting it as being possible, however it clearly isn't racism. We've had many white players who get more stick than Guly, we also had many black players who were very popular. As for hearing lots of abuse in the Chapel, that's hardly surprising. The place is like a graveyard half the time, it's like shouting 'c**t' at a funeral. It only takes one person, but hundreds will hear and remember it. Why is the whole 'pro Guly' argument based around making his critics look like simpletons. "People love players who run around like headless chickens" "People love shouting "Steve" because they think it's funny" "People who don't like Guly may or may not be racists, although I'm not saying that" "People hate Guly because they're obsessed with pace" It's all bull crap. Forte runs around like a headless chicken, everyone thinks he's sh*t. Cork, Lambert, Sharp, Lallana, Jos, Fonte are all very popular and yet none of them are exactly Usain Bolt.

In what position? He wont get a look in up front with Lambert, Rod, Lee and Sharp. We will need a far more consistent player in RM next season too. I think Guly will spend most of the time on the bench.

Couldn't we just burn Millbrook instead?

If you sit in an odd block number buy the red shirt, if you sit in an even block buy the white. Then we have our lovely stripes back again. Simple.

Guly got 2 from midfield. Some people are getting very precious about Guly on here. Anyone who doesn't rate him is apparently clueless, yet anyone who doesn't think De Ridder is useless is also clueless. Apparently anyone who rates De Ridder only likes him because he can run around aimlessly whilst we shout 'Steve!' at him. They are 2 different players. Neither is without their faults, but both have something to offer. Guly's general build up play is good, he gets into decent possitions and knows how to finish. De Ridder is more direct, will run at players and yes he can put a decent cross in. No we wont swing them in every 5 minutes but that's not going to happen unless he is against a particularly poor LB.