igsey

Just had breakfast with our pet Pompey fan here in Mumbai, I swear he was reading off a list of Portsmouth clichés. They don't boo their players, there were fans singing 45 minutes after the final whistle yesterday. I asked if he would go to the play off final if Portsmouth were playing, he said "of course, Wembley is like my second home". I said if they do go up they won't be a big fish in a little pond any more, there are bigger teams in League One and he said that's a good thing because he hates being the big team because for every other team playing Pompey is their cup final, and that teams just aren't used to playing infront of such a big, passionate crowd of 19k+ fans (average attendance is more like 16k, which is regularly out-sung by the away fans). I did mention that as far as I know Portsmouth Community Football Club have never played at Wembley since they've only existed for five years and he sort of grumbled something about it still being the same team really and nobody cares about their administration. He's pretty worried about Newport coming to play though, as they're coming to claim their 'giant's scalp' for another year.

Don't Pompey have their own Oxlade-Chamberlain in their ranks they should be crowing about? Surely he should be in line for an England call up soon, especially as he plays at a massive club and the FA are biased towards big clubs?

Well deserved all, I think we'd all question Fraser's inclusion but if you don't watch him every week like we do then he's probably got his past reputation helping him out. Walcott not included is a bit of a surprise but Gazza said he left him out so he can look at some of the other players (presumably Redmond/Antonio). Seems odd though that he's included the Ox? Anyway, great news for JWP/Redmond, can't wait to see them get a result against Germany that shows the world that 'football's coming home' so we can go out in the second round next year.

Still don't understand the difference in bans for Mings and Ibrahimovic. Both were dangerous, both lead to a hard blow on the head (whether intentional or not is irrelevant, it's dangerous play) - I think we just see elbows to the head a lot more often than boots to the head. Personally I don't think Mings standing on Ibrahimovic's head was deliberate, but it doesn't change the fact that it happened and is worthy of a ban. Of course, if we had video refereeing, we wouldn't be having this conversation - one or t'other of them would have been sent off before the Ibrahimovic elbow occurred (I think Ibrahimovic was on a yellow when he judo-threw Mings to the ground? If not then Mings would have been off for the stamp).

I'm in India for five weeks for work with a load of people I've never met before, and what do you know, one of them is a Pompey fan. He's spent most of this morning telling me how they have no debt and aren't overspending so they have a good platform and will be expanding their stadium in the next couple of years (replacing the players' car park?).

Waiting at Heathrow for a flight, what a terrible game to follow through a dodgy wi-fi connection! I was fuming when it went to 2-2 after we'd had 16 shots (according to BBC), I moved to find a plug socket - 4-2 when I looked again! Of the five minutes that I got to watch on stream (our second goal) it looks like things are starting to click up-front - a good flowing goal, pleased for Nathan as he's been one of our best players the last few games. Gabbi has been ridiculous, he's our joint-second top scorer after four games! I hope Austin's got a comfy cushion for his place on the bench. Hopefully Caceres is match fit and VvD is not far off as Stephens is not showing himself to be great against the more physical attackers - I really don't fancy him up against Kane in a fortnight's time. I'm not too worried about him for the long term though, he was never going to be 'ready' for the PL at his age. The only similar-aged CB I can think of in the league is John Stones and he's a liability for City - more mistakes leading to goals than anybody else in Europe. Stephens will come good for us. Only think I do worry about is Puel always seems to leave his substitutions very late, and we usually concede just after we make them. Not sure JWP was the right player to bring off, it sounded as though he was having another good game (but again - hard to follow from the airport). Romeu needs a rest, he's our most important player and we have nobody to replace him with if/when he gets injured or suspended. Great 3 points, shame I wasn't there as it must have been a great atmosphere!

Half time in League 2: Pompey (4th) drawing 0-0 with Crewe, Luton (5th), Exeter (6th) and Stevenage (7th) all winning. Would be a good day if it ended like that.

Who was that bursting forward from midfield? Romeu? Great goal.

I think the phrase "form is temporary, class is permanent" is applicable to Fraser - his form for (some of) last season was fantastic, but now he's showing his class.

I feel the compulsory-license model is an outdated method, it's ineffectual and hard to enforce anyway, and should be an optional service. I watch BBC regularly and use iPlayer, and I have a TV license - but when I was a student two years ago, we had three TVs in the house and no license between us. We didn't have a connection to TV signal anyway so we couldn't get any channels, why should we have paid a license fee so we could watch Netflix and play Xbox?

We missed JWP when he was injured, which is something I never thought I'd say. He'd be in my starting XI. He's definitely been more aggressive in the tackle recently too, and moves the ball well enough to mostly make up for his lack of pace.

I really want to know what they feed left backs in our academy.

Do we know if he has any shít tattoos? I feel like that's what's been missing to our game since Jose left.

I hope Sunderland go down and we can grab Pickford - a much better shot-stopper and controls his area well. Forster is big but that's about it.

I don't think VvD will leave this summer, and we'll see how Cáceres gets on. Definitely at least one CB will be needed as Gardos doesn't look like he's going to make the grade. I think maybe Stephens going out on loan to another PL team or abroad would be a good idea, and I agree the Harry Reed either needs loaning or selling - he's not going to get any better playing for the U-23s and the occasional FA Cup game. Martina will leave, and if we can rip somebody off for JRod or Redmond (i.e. £15-20m+) then I'd go for that too. My priority purchase would be a striker that can stay fit. I'd hope we've learned from this season with half a team of crocks - Boufal, JRod and Austin are all injury prone, Gabbiadini doesn't have a great track record, Pied and Gardos have been out all season, and we tried to sign a CB with injury problems. This has obviously cost us badly this season so I'd be happy going for a striker who may not be a world beater but can start 40 games a season. DM competition/cover would be important, and competition/cover for Boufal/Tadic as a creating attacking midfielder (as they'll both be out for half the season each with injuries - or Tadic will go in the summer) - I've been saying Sigurddson for the last three seasons but he's too high profile now I think. Maybe Will Hughes from Derby?

WHAT A START! UP YOURS JOSE!!!

Is this a return to the diamond? -B-A-C-K-F-I-V-E- -------Romeu------- ---JWP--------Davis -------Boufal------- ---Barry----JRod---

They could only put three past lowly Tottenham Hotspur, how are they going to possibly cope against the mightiest sleepiest giantiest giants with their #championship standard fullback?

Big game tomorrow away to Wycombe, who are one place and two points behind them in the table. Dom Gape hattrick to drag them a little further down the table?

Absolutely loving the West Ham game at the moment - 0-4 down and Fonte directly responsible for three of the goals!

Would love Cedric to get a decent 'accidental' elbow into Fonte at a corner as Yoshi plays out of his skin and grabs the winning goal! Not too worried here, Carroll will probably grab a goal but Yoshi should be up to the job - I'm not sure how he goes from being better than Fonte on here to being completely useless when we fail to buy a new CB within the course of a couple of days? West Ham aren't great defensively, and if any players in the PL know how to get the better of Fonte it should be our guys. I can see Gardos starting over Stevens for his extra height against Carroll, and personally I'd drop Clasie and Davis after last night, but that would depend on injury updates, particularly JWP. Boufal over Tadic, Sims to start, and hopefully Puel's not tempted to bring Martina in for Cedric as there's a gulf in quality between the two. 2-1 Saints

We announced Hassen bang on the dot of 2pm. I reckon another to come at 5pm, another at 8pm, and another at 11pm. And flying pigs at 2am.

Possibly the least Southampton-like signing we could make.

Loads here. Second AceStream is particularly good (beinsports rather than Sky) https://www.reddit.com/r/soccerstreams/comments/5q5397/2000_gmt_liverpool_vs_southampton/?st=iyde2gbg&sh=2c9c6465

I'm sad he's gone, but I don't blame him. He was never going to get first team football for more than a season or two after this one, might as well do it at a club renown for paying silly wages for old players. Great servant to the club, great captain - now to stick him on the banner and move on.