itchen

Possibly. I think another club we can all think of (play in Yorkshire, white shirts, t*t for a chairman) were suspected of doing this. But because nobody knew for sure whether the creditors and the owners were linked in some way - because nobody knew who either were -they somehow got away with forcing through a CVA that left smaller creditors and, I think, you and me as taxpayers well out of pocket. I could be wrong though.

I'm a big fan of the BBC. Normally I would choose them for coverage of any sporting occasion over any commercial rival. But these two "commentators" are so bad I long for the days Radio Hampshire. When you can hear loads of cheering from the crowd that tells you something is happening it would be good if they told us what it was.

They both seem so much happier when Yeovil are attacking than when we are. Dave Merrington may have been a great servant to the club but I wish they'd take his gloomy, insightless rambling away from a microphone. They now sound really disappointed Fonte only got a yellow.

I think we're more likely to get promoted than Cameron is to get a majority. Both of these assertions put a little spring in my step.

1-0 Huddersfield

Who will be more pleased to hear the whistle now?

FFS. We've scored. Pardew out.

Why does the Solent commentator get more excited when Rovers attack than when we do? Bloody annoying.

Has he said "What they don't want to do, Chris, is to concede a goal"?

We've wandered off topic a bit from Claus's problems. But I think it's fair to say that handing over the distribution of a desirable product to criminals is not usually a good idea. The USA has never recovered from the strength prohibition of alcohol gave to organised crime. I don't want to see one child taking any drug where the effects, purity and make-up are all unknown quantities. I'm in favour of harsh penalties for drug dealers while the present system continues. But perhaps we ned to ask ourselves if there is a better way and maybe controlled legalisation should seriously be examined. And we should also be examining why so many young people feel that narcotics are the answer. The trouble is that any politician suggesting any new approach to drugs policy is hounded out of the arena. And meanwhile more kids are left at the mercy of unscrupulous people who are only interested in money.

True. But matches aren't played on paper. On paper we should have cruised past Orient but it made hard work of it. It's not inconceivable that Oldham will put in great performance. Well, I can dream can't I?

That's remarkably generous of you but I think Cortese will make the decision. Do you honestly think it's Pardew's fault we switched off at the start? Do you have any doubt that he sent them out haveng told them to concentrate and compete? Or do you think he said "Take it easy lads, this lot are rubbish, have a day off"? He's playing what we would probably all agree is his strongest team and certainly the one that most people on here would have chosen. In the end it's down to the players and, sometimes, a bit of luck.

Morgan's back in place of Wotton.

Don't go bringing facts into this. Don't you know this is yet another Pardew whinge-fest?

Silly boy.

yes - Hammond from Puncheon

...

Funniest things were the three or four people who kept berating fellow fans way up in block 550 for not joining in with their chanting. We're not proper supporters apparently if we don't want to shoot the Pompey scum or to stand up if we love the Saints. However all of this exclusive band of star supporters missed the goals before and after half time because their need for beer exceeded their need to support the team or even watch the game.

I was ill earlier this week but thanks to the work of Alexander Fleming I have now recovered. The antibiotics do mean I can't drink but at least I'm still going to Wemb-er-ley. Hope you recover too.

Wally by name, etc.

Is it? Yes, we'd all like not to be in the Third Division. And we'd all like promotion. But is it "immeasurably" more important. I, like many others, have enjoyed this season more than any in the last few years. We're winning games. We're playing (mainly) attractive football. We have some exciting individual performers. And we're at a Wembley final to which at least 44,000 of us will be going. Compare that to most of our last few seasons in the top flight where we struggled just to stay there, getting beaten week after week. Yes, we were a Premiership club but we were the Premiership club everyone could beat. I's like to see us back uo there, of course, now that we have an owner who might actually let us hang on to our better players instead of flogging them at the first opportunity. But I'm willing to wait for the five years set out when Liebherr bought the club. It would be great of we can make the playofs this year. And I won't gove up believing we can until it's mathematically impossible. But I'm still going to enjoy being part of the biggest ever gathering of Saints fans in a stadium.

I'm not ITK but I did hear the interview with Cortese on Solent where he said that he was looking to expand the academy and that he expected it to provide, I think, 60% of our team in a few years time. That doesn't really equate to what you're saying. But I think it's the case that academies from all clubs let quite a few good players go every year.

In my wishy-washy liberal way I can see both sides. Cortese says we should have done better and I don't think any of us would disagree with that. Most of us can see why we are where we are and the history that got us there but, yes, we should have done better. And nowhere does this artcle, or the one by Cortese it is based on, quote any direct criticism of Pardew. That is Samuels' interpretation and his interpretation is no more valid than yours or mine. Less so, considering it appears in the Daily Heil. So, yes, the chairman should support the manager. And, no, there's nothing in this article to say that he doesn't.

I have a similar plan with a couple of old school friends who still follow the Addicks. And it's true that, even in the days when I used to be a Valley regular back in the seventies, Charlton always have a worse second half to their season. I don't know if we can catch them, it looks a tall order. But I wouldb't mind betting they slip down to 6th, maybe 7th. It would be good if they don't go up if we don't because at least it gives us an excuse to get together and drink too much.

Yep. Thanks to the ticket office for an efficient operation.