Weston Saint

I was told they had left before I got there

Accounts still being sorted but it looks like about £3,000 raised for Smile4Rich Charity.

Mick Channon there as well. Ian Botham popped in for a chat before going into the media, Brett Lee & Watson came in after the game and a nice between innings chat from John Crawley. Also had a nice chat with Geoff Miller, Chairman of Selectors before the game

Spoke to Matt Le Tissier last night. We lost the Golf again

Working doing what?

I believe whoever comes in as Sporting Director, and I have thought for some time it might be Coppell, will be Pardew's boss. He will set the job targets and consult with Pardew but I doubt he will interfer with the training or tactical side. Pardew will go to him and identify a weak area in the team and, following consultation with his coaches/scouts will say who he wants. the SD will then negotiate and try to make it happen. He will also negotiate contracts freeing Pardew to concentrate on team matters on the pitch/training Of course as Sporting Director will have overall control and report to the Chairman. Pardew would not have a say in who is appointed to that position but I suspect he will be content if the set up is as I suggest above and someone with the experience of Coppell got the job.

I saw enough today to suggest we will soon start winning games. Defence looked sound, central midfield needs to create more and get forward to support the forwards. Lallana had a good game out wide and showed he can play there effectively. Mills looked good when he came on. Paterson lacks confidence and needs to avoid getting caught offside. He is just not ready yet. We had enough of the game but just could not break down their defence. Very frustrating but not as bad as many early comments on here from those who did not attend (not having a go at their absence just that they cannot get perspective from verbal or written commentary)

The natives are still restless bless them. POMPEY VIRTUAL ALLIANCE STATEMENTPosted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:48 am Portsmouth Football Club has been bought. The transfer window is closed. The time has come for a united front. We welcome the takeover of the club by Sulaiman Al Fahim in principle. In moving decisively to buy PFC, he has seemingly ensured the spectre of administration has been exorcised for the foreseeable future and that the dead hand of Sacha Gaydamak has been lifted. Al Fahim has pursued the club with a single-minded dedication and clearly wants to take it forward. He brings energy, a flair for entrepreneurialism and a contacts book to die for. We await with interest to see to what extent he is willing to invest himself and bring investment into the club ahead of the next transfer window. We would also like clarification as to the means by which the takeover was financed and its implications for PFC. The interests of PFC are also served by ensuring Peter Storrie, the club's Chief Executive Officer, is allowed to continue, at the very least, in his current role. We recognise and are grateful for the work Storrie has put in to ensure PFC remained on a relatively even keel during the last ten months. We also acknowledge his role in bringing an alternative consortium to the table, which we hope may yet have a significant part to play in the longer-term future of the club, especially if they really are able take the club to a 'level you wouldn't believe' as Storrie thinks. We feel that there is a golden opportunity for a coming together of all parties in the medium to long term to ensure Portsmouth Football Club is able to finally engage in the vital infrastructure projects it needs to ensure its financial self-sufficiency. These include a new stadium and training ground, as well as investing prudently in team building to maintain Premier League status. Above all, the club needs to cultivate improved relations with its fan base. To that end, the supporters represented by the websites in Pompey Virtual Alliance are seeking clarity, reassurance and a sense of common goal. PFC has been - and remains in some quarters - an easy media target. Many damaging statements have been allowed to gain currency among fans and foes of the club alike. It is time to come together to clear away the uncertainty which has sapped morale in the past six weeks. We seek clarity and detail on the long-term vision for PFC, already outlined by Mr Al Fahim. We seek reassurance on the ownership status of the club and its ongoing debt position. We seek acknowledgement that a successful future for the club is intrinsicly bound to engaging in constructive dialogue with fans, leading to a shared sense of a common goal.

Seems to me "people who live in glass houses........." applies to both sets of supporters. Good fun though

Ah, thanks for that.

Injection in the shoulder is all I know.

Griffiths being rested. He is there though. Tremlett not fit.

Rod Bransgrove will agree with you.

Number of issues on this thread. Spoke to Ervine about his "hit wicket" his foot slipped as he played his shot. He told me it is the first time it has ever happened to him. Dimi has an injury to his heel and will be out for about a week. Spoke to his father who said it happens from time to time and they have no idea how it ocurrs. Dimi was limping today when he passed me. Dawson enjoyed opening the bat. Seem likely he will continue to do this for the rest of the season to give him a chance to build a innings as a batsman. He said it was more pressure but found there were more gaps facing the new ball. He sees his future as a batsman, not a bowler. Bad light call is for the Umpires to make. Players can no longer be consulted. Health and Safety issues gone mad. We were on top most of the game yet we end up with only 1 point more than Somerset! 140 in 17 overs was a very hard task without fielding/bowling restrictions but spoke to David Griffiths who said the dressing room were confident of winning before the light.

Can't understand the holiday quote. Thought you were on one long holiday!

http://www.rosebowlplc.com/news/stunning-performance-from-griffiths/ After a good season in Hampshire’s Second XI, David Griffiths’ selection for the Pro40 team to play Gloucestershire Gladiators proved a sound move for the Hawks as he came away with a 4 wicket haul and a Man of the Match Award. At speeds touching 89 miles per hour he bowled first Kadeer Ali for 8 and then castled Alex Gidman for two with a beautiful yorker. In his death spell his skill with the yorker came into play again as he trapped Steve Adshead lbw and then clean bowled key Gloucestershire batsman Chris Taylor for 44 to effectively wrap up the visitors’ chances of posting a really competitive score. Speaking after the game, captain Dimi Mascarenhas was full of praise for Griffiths’ performance. “Just brilliant” he told me. “He’s come into the Championship side and done exceptionally well. He’s bowled with good pace in good areas and we’re very pleased with him. And today – just awesome. Those first couple of wickets, and then to bowl brilliantly at the death. He’s one to watch for the future, that’s for sure.” When accepting his Man of the Match Award, Griffiths gave much of the credit to the Hampshire coaching team, and to Mascarenhas, saying he was just doing what his captain told him to. This made Dimi laugh. “Well obviously I’ve got a bit more experience than him, but just because I tell him to do something doesn’t mean he can automatically do it! He runs in and he knows where to put the ball and that’s exactly what he’s doing. Everyone says ‘bowl a yorker’ but it’s not an easy thing to do, and he did it brilliantly. I’m sure after that performance he’s cemented his place for the next game.” And what did the man himself have to say about it all? “Chalky [Giles White]’s given me the opportunity, with Corky not being here, and I’ve taken it and put another thought in Chalky’s mind that I can play in all forms of cricket. The first wicket was great because it sets the tone for the whole innings, but I enjoyed all four of them. I try to play like that every game, but it doesn’t always come off. All the bowlers bowled well to keep them to 184 and Jimmy finished it off with an unbelievable batting display.” Griffiths was just one of a handful of young players in the winning side. “They’re there because they’re good enough” Dimi said. “We’re not just going to give anyone a game, they have to earn it. Those guys definitely deserve it, and anyway, they’ve proved it.” So where now in the Pro40 for the team as a whole? “We’ve just got to keep winning. Somerset haven’t lost yet and we have to play them, so if we beat Somerset and beat everybody else we’ll win the trophy.” I comment that he makes it sound very easy. “It’s definitely not that easy” Dimi laughs. “You know cricket!”

http://www.rosebowlplc.com/news/billy_taylor_released/ Hampshire Cricket has decided to release fast bowler, Billy Taylor, at the end of the 2009 season. Hampshire born Taylor started his professional career with Sussex, making his first class debut in 1999. Taylor returned to Hampshire in 2004 and was rewarded for some fine performances with his county cap in 2006. Hampshire Cricket Chairman, Rod Bransgrove said ‘On behalf of Hampshire Cricket and all our Members and spectators, I would like to thank Billy for his contribution to our Club. Billy has been a real crowd favourite and I know he will be missed by many. However, together with Giles White, we have decided that our bowling focus lies elsewhere and we have agreed with Billy that now is the right time to part ways. We all wish Billy every success in his future career and hope to see him on a regular basis visiting his many friends here at The Rose Bowl. Billy Taylor commented: ‘I have had six fantastic years at Hampshire and would like to thank all the players and coaching staff for their support. I would really like to thank the fans, who have all been so supportive of me and I will miss them singing my name and giving me such a warm welcome on and off the field, it truly has meant so much to me. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Club and will take away some great memories. I plan to stay involved in cricket and hope to be a regular visitor to The Rose Bowl in years to come.’ Billy Taylor Biography: Billy has played 54 first class matches overall, taking 136 wickets at an average of 33.34 with best figures of 6-32 coming playing for Hampshire against Middlesex. In addition Billy has played 142 list A matches, taking 182 wickets at a phenomenal average of 25.81 and best figures of 5-28 also coming against Middlesex. Billy’s 37 Twenty20 matches have brought him 30 wickets at an average of 29.43. Billy has taken three hat-tricks in his career. Two playing for Sussex and one for Hampshire, which was the first ever first class hat-trick to be taken at The Rose Bowl

I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago and asked if next season he was going to develop into a batsman who could bowl or a bowler who could bat. He said definately a batsman. He opened against the University earlier in the season. Looks like they are going to open him to step up his development.

He has taken over. Sky say it has been announced on Pompey OS. End of Storrie?

That is what I heard last night as well. Also spoke to Nick Pothas. He should be back tomorrow but if the groin goes again that will be it for the season

Email from Peter Storrie quoted on another site Dear ******, Thank you for your email. As of this moment Portsmouth Football Club is still owned by Mr. Gaydamak . I am aware of stories that have surfaced about Mr Al fahim being the sole owner . They are total rubbish . I understand and sympathise with your and other fans concerns about where the club is heading . Thank for you patience and loyalty . Peter

Mike Richards is organising a low profile box so I expect a few ex Directors will be in that.

Mike, Laurie & his wife were at the RoseBowl last night. It was "Presidents Day" and as LMcM is a Vice President of the club he was invited.

Actually he has just moved from near West End to North Baddsley. I spoke to his son a couple of weeks ago on that very subject.

No it is Dan Druff we are after. He is Head & Shoulders above your man