Portsmouth are debt free now and have managed it in double quick time. They have more potential than any other club in this league and probably somewhere around the biggest budget as well. 55% of twice the crowd as anyone else is bound to be more. All any of the teams including us have to offer of course is potential including Portsmouth but which club has the more potential to go even higher than Div One in the quickest time. I don't think we could compete with their potential and the only question mark is would they realise it before we did. Reid wasn't fit for at least half of last season and we know that now. Anyone who saw him play with half a brain and reasonable eyesight could also see it. Considering that he did pretty well. I blame Sheridan for not giving him recovery time, and I mean proper recovery not a sticking plaster, and playing him regardless. It wasn't a wonder the fans were scathing at times. I don't want to lose him end of. I do think we have some potential, not proven in real anger yet of course, in Jervis but I want him as well as Reid not in place of. Would Brent say no is the only question in town if an offer came in. My guess is he would roll over without a fuss and have his tummy tickled like the puppy he is. If Reid genuinely wants to go whatever Argyle do then of course he will. We have discussed loyalty and contracts many times and all pretty much concluded that Players don't have any and contracts mean nothing. I hope no offer comes in and none of this is even up for discussion in earnest.
Going forward, debt free doesn't mean cash rich. The banks won't lend money to fans as equity owners who can't or won't put in their own cash. Would you? The higher they go, the harder they'll find it to progress whereas the logic of Brent's position is that he puts in his incremental 15% and borrows the incremental 85% to increase the value of his base holding. Ultimately, potential only exists if you get promoted. I wouldn't rate their chances of promotion any higher or any lower than ours (or anyone else's) before a ball's been kicked. Who'd have put money on Wycombe to avoid relegation last season, never mind making the play-offs? That being the case, I think you need to face down any bid from the likes of Pompey. He's a proven scorer and they are hard to find. If it was a higher league club, it's hard to resist. But a bid from Pompey? No, they have no more to offer the player than we can.
55% of turnover allowed for wages etc is not dependant on what you can borrow but what you earn. Ergo my assumption that Pompey have more cash to splash as they don't have debt to service and get double our crowds. I don't think that's an unrealistic assumption. I think Portsmouth learned a lot last season in this league and I would put money on them going up this season. Of course it isn't a guarantee and the fact they have top notch recent history doesn't help them achieve it. I think you can quantify potential for promotions in what is more likely logically than what isn't. There is always one team that comes along to burst the bubble and one with high potential that flops badly. But on paper and everywhere else you have to conceed that Portsmouth have a better chance than most. I stand by my opinion that if Reid wants to go he will go regardless of what Brent or we want. The decision to take the 30 pieces of silver is only Brent's if Reid ain't bothered one way or the other or would rather stay. If Reid doesn't want to leave then I think the decision should be easy. I do also think Portsmouth could offer him more financially than us. That is a great persuader in any argument. To resist saying yes Brent would have to offer better on his contract as well as an extention. Now that would be interesting and say a lot about Brent if he sanctioned it.
Good points, i think we have a better chance than Pompey of getting Promoted. They will be under lot more pressure than us to go up this term. Yes we all want to go up and eep our decent players. Reading Gary Sawyer bit yesterday, he seems to think we have plenty of decent players now. so we will have a challenge around xmas to keep them if that is the case as there will be some one stiffing about.. But good players need to play as a team.. its a team game not individuals as we have seen before. Hope fully they all gel and Reid stays and bags in plenty.. It looks better than it did last season, in my view anyway.. but what do i know..
What do any of us know Joe! No plan survives contact with the enemy so we may go straight to P1 or struggle along. However, if there is a thought rivals may come for Reid, PAFC should kill it now by offering him a new contract. He's 27 so can anyone see any reason why a 3 year contract offer now rather than in 12 months wouldn't be a sensible move?
Adams needs to convince Brent to tie down his main players with longer contracts......when he (Adams) has decided who he needs long term. Reid must be the first one in the queue at present for a longer contract. Remember that at the present time ALL HIS SQUAD will be out of contract at the end of this season......he needs to stagger that over two or three seasons to keep stability. This of course depends on James Brent's commitment to PAFC over the next few years......isn't next year his 5th year as owner......will there be another 5yr plan......or will he need to move on to another project ?
Hope fully we get a good start and Reid is given a new contract.. 3 years would be about right at his age.. he will get us 20 plus and its worth every penny.. No idea when the 5 year plan is starting?
Browsing through Saturday's GoS photos today for a second time.....I came across a photo which includes me in it. Luckily MI6 or as it's called know SIS will not be able to identify me clearly.....so I will not have to go into hiding. A picture taken by Bob Wright... No38... showing the crowd behind one of the goals.....also gives you a view of the main stand in the distance.....at the top of this stand sitting to the right of the roof girder in the last seating section is yours truely in a red shirt.......an excellent position to see Gregg Wylde's brilliant volley into the roof of the net for Argyles first goal.
Torquay's captain Luke Young has damaged knee ligaments in training..... and will be out for at least six months or even the whole of the season.
In a bleddy Red shirt???? What are you a green or a Man U or Exeter fan for god sake. Get a grip Plym and sort your wardrobe out.
It was a red & white check actually......I haven't (luckily) got a royal lilac one......doesn't go with my complexion ducky.
You need to get in touch with your feminine side these days apparently. I've grown moobs to answer the call. Anything to oblige. Nothing wrong with lilac, it's better than a Roy Roger's shirt...
I have set up an e-mail account with PAFC's ticket office.....that is the minimum requirement if you want to buy tickets......but I am still not allowed at present to buy match tickets until they go on "general sale".......I log on to this account each day to see if I'm in favour with the powers that be......and the answers is no yet again......it tells me that I haven't got the "correct privileges" at the moment, and tells me..... to go back to the ticket office and try for another match......the only match I do have the "correct privileges" for is the Newport game on the 29th Aug, no other league match after that. So officially you cannot be a member of PAFC from what I can see, if you do not have the minimum requirement of buying a six game package. This I feel is a slight on many exiles or even locals really, who are unable to fill the requirement of pre-booking six home games. If Argyle were selling out each home game then I could see the reasoning behind that approach.....members first,.... they have committed a £100 or so to PAFC and get preference to choose when they want their six games during the season......but as I said before, less than 50% of Home Park is used on average over the length of the season for games. Some form of membership should be available for those that cannot meet the minimum requirement of six games......even if they charge you say... £25... for the privilege.......that would be £25 in the kitty that would be money for nothing for PAFC, just to let those "members" have the opportunity to buy tickets in advance and then book their weekend trip to Plymouth when hotel /bb can be selected at leisure......we would come down on the Friday & go back possibly on the Monday. Buying tickets for Wimbledon, Dag & Red,Barnet and in the past Gillingham has been completely hassle free everytime that I have applied.....in fact they don't let you go away.....e-mailing regularly telling you what's going on.....you feel that they are interested in you.....PAFC show you that they are not too bothered about you at all......but they will let you have a ticket nearer to the match date....when possibly the choice is less advantages......I think they are missing a trick with exiles especially, who have been following the greens for 20/30/40/50 or even 60 years.....who at times will just go to more local to were they live, hassle free away matches and purchase tickets from the away club.....I have noticed in the past when Argyle have scored or nearly scored that quite a few people around me respond although they are not wearing any Argyle colours....interesting. PS.....I have e-mailed the ticket office twice in the last week.....no answer either time......smaller clubs in this League answer your inquiries.
You are correct Plym- my advice is to go direct to Martyn Starnes ([email protected]), a) with your suggestion and b) with the poor service from the ticket office (not answering is not acceptable). Their excuse (as weak as it is) is that the new club secretary doesn't officially start until early September. It is he that would resolve all these sorts of issues. I would have been good at that job.....
I missed a chance last Friday.....he turned up late to the PASALB meeting with Derek Adams......he did look rather busy at the end of the official meeting when Derek finished.......I expect to get tickets when they go on "general sale".....although of course Rovers will be seen as a local derby.....really big games would probably mean that there wouldn't hardly be any tickets for "general sale".....it's just the lack of any thought for exiles needing some form of membership for the few games they might be able to come to.....no wonder there are lots of empty seats.....PAFC missing a trick or two there.......there is no reason why e-mails are not answered.....that is down right disrespectful.
