.. being beastly to each other and I would hope that the moderators censor any nastiness that gets posted. I would like to start by saying what a great loss it would be for Pompey to lose Appleton should he decide to return to West Brom. He has done a great job in difficult circumstances and I think he could be their Nigel Adkins (not quite as good though but nearly) and see them back up the leagues and playing some good football if he is given the chance. I hope they pull off the fan buy out and get rid of Chanrai so that start afresh with a clean slate. As far as we are concerned I don't think for one minute we shall see the kind of wholesale changes in the first team that some of our young impetuous posters are imagining. I will lay odds that we shall sign no more than 4 maybe 5 new players and they will have to fit within our existing team. No Flash 'Arrys or big heads just good honest footballers who enjoying being team players. So if you are articulate, intelligent, grown up and care about football then this is the thread for you.
That counts me out then. But still........Whilst I won't be beastly, I am nevertheless not too unhappy about Pompey's current position. Traditionally, they were always the more successful club, it was only in the mid-sixties that Saints got on top. That was really the start of the animosity between us, they didn't like it! When they got back on top, they did tend to gloat a bit and rub our noses in it. As such, I won't be too upset if they hang around the lower divisions for a while. But thats it, I don't want to see them go out of business. Meanwhile, I think you are right about the Saints' team next year. It will look very much as it does now with one or two additions having to prove they are better than what we already have. We have a great team spirit right now and we shouldn't underestimate how important that can be when the chips are down. So I wouldn't want to see that undermined by wholesale changes.
We will need more than "one or two" additions to this current team otherwise we will be playing in the championship again.
I have many friends who are Pompey fans and not one of them has been responsible for what has happened and they have been quite pleased with what Birch and Appleton have done although they have mixed views as to the way forward. Some don't like plan B but know the likelyhood of a buyer appearing is quite remote. I am just glad we are not in that dilema. For those Saints fans who want to see them suffer yet further pain and anguish I say they have suffered far more than we did and deserve a bit of stability now. As for Saints I think Nigel has a rotten job ahead of him as well as an exciting one. Some of our players who are excited about reaching the PL and are looking forward to playing are ones I fear that Nigel is going to have to say thanks for all you have done but we have to move on now and you need to find a new club. That is going to be a tough call. I wouldn't like to be in his boots. I am not even going to speculate as to whom they might be as we should all stay in celebratory mode for a little while longer yet and to start saying certain players aren't good enough is just plain disresectful.
You are probably right. I couldn't help wince a bit when Chelsea were 4 up against QPR after 20 minutes, thinking whether or not we could cope with them. But please no big names looking for a let payday.
What happens to Pompey is out of all our hands, and if a little banter goes on between the fans then so be it. I feel we will make about 4 new signings. A centre back, whom I believe Danns of Blackburn is being lined up. A full Back A centre Midfield And A right of Midfield And as N A has already said, they need to be done well in advance of pre season training. I can't wait
I Like the fact we could get the deals done before pre season.. Would have our squad gelled and raring to go.. I love the set up of our club!
Adkins does seem to want this done early...and not get involved in the January window. We seem to have a bit of cash to splash, but Nigel also said that we don't want to pay over the odds as it makes Nicola cry (he didn't actually say the last bit). We live in interesting times.
No we are there now , Cortese I believe will give within reason whatever Adkins needs , 1 Rb 1 cb 1 premiership experienced midfielder 1 premiership experienced striker Pace is also something that concerns me , we will get smashed if we don't get quicker players in .
Since we got promoted on Saturday, I have found myself looking at final tables and the like. Strangely, I actually feel like my animosity towards the blue few has receded a fair bit. When they were "riding the crest of the wave" and playing Italian teams, I and many others couldn't help thinking it was all a bit far fetched to be manageable for little old Pompey. Something certainly smelt rotten, and over the past 2 yrs.... They have found the source of the smell. In my mind, liquidation is wrong, as it fundamentally shafts the lifeblood of the club... Not the deceitful owners. So, I didn't/don't want that... But I wanted then to suffer more than the paultry 2 lots of 10 point deductions. I have now reconciled in my brain that Pompey are in league one... And essentially my anger towards them for duping their fans out of their best bits of their recent history is over. Now, I am just left with normal amounts of dislike for them. Out of sight and out of mind! The more I see the man, the more I believe that the blood that flies through nicolas veins is red and white forever. With him and Nigel in charge, the club is in safe hands..... They will bring in whoever they see fit, when they see fit.... End of...!
No nothing changed for me as far as that is concerned , why did they not question where the money was coming from ? On the old 606 I put it up that is was alledged gun running and the like and got chucked off , what happens ? Well we all know .
This is nice idea St Godders, I will happily join in and also refrain from name calling and petty abuse, so long may it last. As always it's the fans that suffer, having been through what Pompey are going through I have some sympathy. The worst part of admin for me was the constant checking online to see if we'd been bought, and being terribly unhappy when we weren't. Thank goodness for Marcus and Nicola, who appeared from nowhere to save us and given us more than we could have dreamed. Whatever happens I hope Pompey still function, even if in AFC Wimbledon or Aldershot fashion. Having been nice, I have to be a little nasty and say the owners/funders/Harry I dislike very much - and the authorities/banks for letting such things happen without any questions. Entering admin for just being poor is one thing, but spending on an unsecured credit card is another. For this reason I hope West Ham fail in their quest, it will be interesting to see how they react. One day Pompey will be ok, I only hope it's a clean slate with no former owners feeding off you..Appleton deserves as long as needed to turn the club round, he seems a decent manager and recognizes ability. Roy taking the England job may not help him in getting loans tho.. I also write in response to a couple of points above, like St Godders it would be amiss to mention those Saints exiting the bus but I suspect those leaving may know it already. As long as Billy is given a chance I will be happy, being linked with so many strikers already worries me a little given the Lambert/Sharp partnership looks good. Yes we need another target man, but not at the expense of our flourishing front two. Also I don't want Scott Danns. He always looks scared. And doesn't push his defence up the pitch. Cheers for reading all this blabber x
Adkins is a team builder..wants the right people to slot in with the team we have. The system we have at the club enables players to achieve their potential..as mentioned by Fonte, Lambert and others. We will sign quality but compatibility is also a major factor. Doesn't apply to a back up keeper...they're bonkers anyway. A brilliant loonie between the sticks will be ok.
Lets hope that NA and NC have learned a bit from the Jan transfer window, I know everything turned out ok in the end with gettting what appeared to be there 2nd maybe 3rd choice player in Sharp, If we are to get our transfers done early which i thing is a must then we will prob have to pay nearer the selling clubs asking price rather than NC's valuation of them.
