Wes Tender

Why should we take a paltry offer from them just because it's lil' ole Swansea? They're a division above us and Rasiak has been a Premiership player as well as an International. We hold his contract and don't have to sell him because we're short of cash. It's not like the Dyer deal where we were desperate for money to stay afloat. We're not a charity and it is in our interests that teams above us who cannot afford to buy decent players, get relegated as part of the natural order. If they believe that Rasiak could score enough goals to secure their place in the division, then they had better pay an amount commensurate with the success he might bring them. The question is, would we be able to buy a player of his stature with the money we might get for him from somebody like Swansea? If not, then we might as well keep him, even though it's generally not a good idea to keep players who don't want to be here. But I suspect that Rasiak would understand that we ought not to let him go for peanuts and would stay and play with us if the manager had him as part of his plans.

The difference is though that Wotton is the proverbial old dog and is what he is. His best years are probably behind him at Plymouth. Gillett is a raw talent at the moment, but with the right coaching, could turn into a bit of a diamond. A lot of the basic attributes are already there; he is a little terrier of a player, full of energy and always wholehearted in everything he does. Although he won't grow in height, some good coaching will ensure he grows in stature and becomes the sort of player a good manager will always want in his team, dependable, reliable, right attitude, never say die, a good team player adding bite to the midfield, never letting the opposition settle.

This is Wotton you'e describing here, isn't it? It's him to a tee.

So, Nineteen's been on holiday, has he? I thought that he had been banned and come back as Under Observation or some other moniker. How does he equate having a bit of banter with a couple of the nicer Blue Few residents on here with avoiding accepting the shortcomings of our recent history? I'm certain that almost everybody, except him, are perfectly accepting of the shortcomings of our recent history, but most accept that thankfully those responsible for the club's demise are gone and we are entering an altogether better chapter in our long history. Anyway, go on, Nineteen; name any of their playing legends who might have enough of a reputation to front a consortium bid for them. Jimmy Dickinson is dead, isn't he?

Well, as per the analogy, Pompey is represented by the empty shell that will require extensive rebuilding at huge expense to keep it afloat and operational, although on the face of it, it would probably make more sense to consign it to the scrapyard. Meanwhile, down the road, the good ship SS Southampton is a good modern seaworthy vessel which was badly run by the previous owners and has been bought by a successful shipping magnate, who is going to do a major refit, turning it from a tourist class ship into a first class liner. Quite fitting really, as Southampton is the country's major liner port.

Yes, just as there's always a drunken sailor who will settle on the ugliest Pompey scrubber, looking at her through his beer goggles. Trouble is, realisation dawns on him in the morning, just as it will on anybody stupid enough to buy the Skates when they realise that they've been screwed. Increasingly it looks like an opening for Mark Jackson to exploit

Your situation reminds me of the Jules Verne book "Around the World in eighty days," specifically the bit when Phileas Fogg is heading across the Atlantic on the way home on board a small cargo vessel. When the ship runs out of fuel, Fogg buys it and has the crew burn every wooden fitting and fixture to maintain a head of steam. Your club is just like that boat stripped down. All the valuables have been removed and nobody with any sense would buy the remaining carcass, as the cost of restoring it to even something akin to a football team capable of survival in the Premiership would be enough to put off anybody wealthy enough to consider it. Even if you did end up debt free after the initial FA payment has been made and paid on to the South African Bank, the revenue from your small stadium will not be sufficient to maintain the wages of any players decent enough to keep you up. And if a decent stadium had to be built as a result, the cost would put you straight back into debt. If Gaydamak wants all his remaining loan repaid, then that will presumably come from further payments to the club from the FA, meaning that the monthly running costs will be even harder to sustain. Most buyers will not be spending their money because you are in the Premier division at the moment, without looking long and hard at the probability that you will not be there next year.

The plan was doomed to failure from the instant that it was put into operation. The reasons why that was obvious are as follows:- 1) There were too many youngsters thrown into the deep end together too quickly. 2) The double Dutch were too inexperienced in that division and in this country. 3) The formation played did not suit them. 4) The manager who possibly stood a better chance of operating under those circumstances was dismissed. What is relevant is the effects that this has had on those youngsters who remain. The biggest, is probably the knock that their confidence received. Hopefully, Pardew is addressing that by playing a balanced team with some experienced older heads alongside them and we will start to win matches in the lower division, thus boosting their morale and confidence. Yes, they gained valuable experience as a result of last year, but that experience should have been gained gradually by their introduction into the team in stages, playing alongside seasoned pros, as they are now. The improvement in some of these players is noticeable probably as a result of advice and instruction coming from the likes of Wotton, Murty and Thomas. Last season, more of the youngsters would have benefitted by being farmed out to other teams and learning their trade that way instead of being thrown in at the deep end. Last season was really a concise example of how not to do it and the resultant relegation and administration was the result. Thank God that we will probably never have to endure that bumbling amateurism again. We are now going about our business in a totally professional manner and even in this short space of time, there is evidence of some positive results.

Oh dear, seems as if even he is off elsewhere, prepared to drop down a division, although I suspect that he could have got some games in the Premiership in your threadbare squad. http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/coventry-city-fc/football-rumours-gossip/2009/08/12/coventry-city-fc-agree-deal-for-martin-cranie-92746-24381658/

Well, you were too quick off the mark getting all nervous before the campaign had even started. As many said, would it be preferred that we rushed in and bought several players in haste, or should we be more patient and deliberate in getting exactly the right ones? Don't forget also that Pardew didn't have his backroom staff in place then and had to concentrate on looking at players simultaneuosly with coaching the team. But as you say, it seems that Pardew has done an excellent job so far in those players we have brought in and additionally he is getting more out of the existing team than the double Dutch did last season too. We also now have proof positive that ML is prepared to open his cheque book to buy the very best players if it is thought they are necessary to the team.

His performance tonight was competitive and wholehearted. He was even chasing one or two lost causes to close down angles for the opposition. Had he been on the pitch when Murty put over that devastating trademark cross from near the byeline, Rasiak would surely have scored as he did against Hearts I agree with one or two others that he could forge a good understanding with a player like Lambert and they could both feed off each other on the way to 20 goals or more each. Perhaps Pardew has placed this idea into his head, that unless somebody comes in for him from a higher division, he could make the journey up a league with us, having lots of fun scoring goals in the process at this level. Maybe Kelvin has had a word with him about the quality of life and job satisfaction sometimes being worth more than just a bit more money.

Just back from the match. Really it was quite comfortable for us. Nothampton made some changes early in the second half and for a while looked a bit more determined and dangerous, but the defence was resolute and steadfast and repelled all attacks. I don't know whether it was the case that Perry was slightly injured, or whether Pardew thought it was a good opportunity to give Lancashire a run out in a cup match, but with Thomas, Harding and Murty in support, he didn't do much wrong. Thomas got virtually everything in the air and both Murty and Harding were again exemplary. The midfield was also solid, but it got frustrating witnessing Wotton's total lack of imagination, always passing the ball sideways or back for large parts of the first half. Perhaps Pardew had a word in his shell-like at half time, as he was much more positive in playing it upfield the second half. Schneiderlin grows in stature and competance with each game. Lallana had a really good game and closed down and made some good tackles. His passing was also good and his goal well taken. In the first half, Paterson put himself about and caused problems for the defence in partnership with Lambert. Lambert, particularly in the first half, was quite a revelation, looking a cut above most of the other players on the pitch, dangerous in the last third, good positioning and holding up of the ball, but also a great team player, making some killer passes in and around the box. When he was partnered by Rasiak, it did look like a very fruitful teaming in prospect and if Rasiak stays, I believe that they could forge a deadly partnership. Lambert looks the real deal and value even at that price in this division. I have no doubt that he has the ability to top score in this division again, particularly with the service he will get from this developing team. I had thought that Lambert had been brought off 4 minutes from the end so that he could have received his standing ovation on his debute, but I could be wrong. Overall, a very good performance from most, a real change from the play last season and at last it looks as if we are not too far short of having an exciting and hardworking team, playing as a team, a decent blend of youth and experience, with 2/3 potential captains here already.

I agree. With luck, now his profile has been considerably reduced as he's no longer Chairman of a football club, he will just disappear back to being the non-entity that he used to be. Unless of course he takes on another football club, that is. But hopefully he has learned his lesson; not to get involved with things he doesn't understand.

In case it eluded you, the purpose of this thread was a bit of light-hearted banter at the expense of our main South coast rivals. They are perfectly entitled to have their own equivalent thread on their fans site having a laugh at some of the stupid things that we have said about them. Then you can post the same thing as a response on their thread too, can't you? It's a bit of fun.

I hope you're not taking the p*ss.

You're quite right. Having new owners with a German/Swiss background, I'd expected that with typical Teutonic efficiency we'd have things running like clockwork on this front. It couldn't be that our English manager is the weak link that is holding things up, could it?

Of course, one never sees little kids of three with Skate shirts on, because most of them are in care, so rarely seen outside of the care homes.

Easy enough to do without much effort. http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/League+One/Southampton Just an occasional glance at this site gives all the media updates pretty well as they happen. It's also good for keeping an eye on the Skates' latest catastrophes. I saw the Lowe bit yesterday, but frankly couldn't be arsed to feel much for it, except a quiet prayer of thanks that we were delivered from his clutches.

The difference is that we will still have the bright shiny stadium and the training ground and the facilities of a decent Premiership club. Also by that time, quite a few plastics from the area will have deserted the Skates and returned to us, so even if Leibherr does sell, it will be as a properly functioning, well run Premiership club.

Who?

For me, the priority is a midfield general. We haven't had one of those for quite a while. As mentioned by somebody else, Holland would be a good shout, although getting on a bit. I was just musing that Murty has all of the attributes for the role, good leadership qualities, a good passer of the ball, reads the game well, good tackler, solid physique, etc. I wonder how he'd shape up there? But of course he's proving to be a great RB for us. Interesting to speculate how Dyer would have developed at right wing under Pardew. If we retain James there, he needs to be told to get to the byeline before crossing, just as Murty did and proved the effectiveness of it. On the left wing, Holmes would undoubtedly be good ahead of Harding, but will he regain fitness for long enough in the season? Otherwise Mills has looked useful there. Although the back four looks as solid as we have had for some years, we need extra cover in case of injury, especially for Thomas and Perry. Just a week or two ago, some were slashing their wrists because we had not signed anybody and now they look stupid after the excellent signings of Murty, Harding and Lambert. With others in the frame such as Jaidi and Bryson, it is clear that we really do mean business. I feel absolutely confident that before the transfer window closes we will have a complete squad, with perhaps a loan or two from the higher divisions too, to add extra quality.

Yeah. Pedigree Chum

George Sand, another top bloke.

All the players who grew up playing football in the slums and shanty towns of South Africa, Brazil and Argentina will feel right at home there.

Here you are trying to second guess whether you'll hold onto even the remnants of your current squad before you've even kicked a ball in anger this season! What has become crystal clear during the course of the past few weeks is that your fake sheik doesn't have the money behind him that you lot thought made you mega rich. On the other hand, our new owner does have that sort of financial clout. Sickening, isn't it? Despite assurances that Fahim is going to proceed with the takeover, it now appears to be a takeover for a nominal amount, but I bet it doesn't even go ahead on that basis, as it requires the repayment of the loan to the South African bank of a considerable sum and even then you are still left with a small crappy stadium and no money to buy a new one. What is 50/50 is whether you go into administration or not by the end of the month. If that comes to pass, -9 points virtually guarantees relegation, as those teams you mention aren't -9 points worse than you, even with the squad you have now, let alone if others are sold. Are you putting money on avoiding that?