Fitzhugh Fella

You are ferkin mad but you make me laugh! Is that a line from Adge Cutler - you will remember him Ottery!

I think NC has made some good decisions over the last 12 months and some not so good ones. At the end of the day he has all the power and is answerable only to one man, unlike Lowe he can get away with anything. From where we were a season ago I think most are very glad that Liebherr and Cortese rode into town but.........various people who are well-placed and no axe to grind, tell me he is making a large number of enemies out there, there are many decent and hard working employees at SMS who are unhappy at his style of running things and there are many close to the club who think Cortese to be utterly out of control and acting like a despot. I have heard enough to be worried. I hate to say this but I think next season is not going to be a smooth one and the bookies, although making us favourites, maybe unaware of a lot of tension bubbling along under the surface.

that will take off -we are not on strike then

After 20 days of being on a picket line I have today surfaced for air and will go back in to my bunker later tonight secure in the knowledge that Pompey are well and truly f****d.

I have to say I think Steve Grant is talking a lot of sense

This book is riddled with errors, a very slapdash publication which could have been 100 times better if they had spent more than an afternoon cobbling it together. I think we found 8 errors on the first page. We have written and complained to the Echo

Sue, I was about to do an interview with the BBC R4 Today programme. My informant knows what he is talking about - he has got everything spot on so far!

From my original source "Any way, a snippet or two from down the road, courtesy of my friends at xxxxxxxxx Andronicou's talk of contract offers to James, Kanu, Rocha, Hreidarsson and the other players they appear to be desperate to keep is all window-dressing. According to those players' agents (who my mates at xxxxxxx have spoken to) no offers have been made. One player who has been made an offer is Joel Ward. Ward is one of their highly-rated (by them) young players who made it to the fringes of the first team this year and is one of those who their future is based on. So what has this shining epitome of the next Golden Generation been offered to stay at Krap Nottarf and lead them back to the top flight? £2,000 per week? Nope. £1,000 per week? Afraid not. How about the princely sum of £650 a week. This is the realilty. All of Android's announcements are Pollyana-style window dressing as he tries to talk up the club as much as possible in a desperate hope of finding a buyer. He also said that James is not a candidate for the managerial job, although part of his problem is that he says different things to different journalists ad can't remember what he's told them".

I will only become concerned about NC when he actively becomes involved in taking footballing decisions ie identifying transfer targets and trying to influence team selection. It was this that first set alarm bells off in my head with Lowe, who "had done alright up to then". Of course the real difference between Lowe and NC is that Lowe was only the guardian of the club accountable to fans and shareholders while NC represents the owner and is accountable to him only. Huge difference.

it's a drug I can't give up

His "Premiership" wages would be a stumbling block methinks - unless he is prepared to take a cut or Wolves do some sort of deal which I doubt. I expect him to be gracing the Championship next season, possibly with Forest, Leicester, Norwich or another club with serious ambitions of reaching the Prem. I like Drew but I think he is one of that band of players who's attributes lie somewhere between the CCC and the Premiership. Would certainly prefer him to Hammond though.

it all depends how much Waigo would cost. I have never seen a figure mentioned. £250,000 worth a shout....£1m - no rather go with Antonio who is still improving.

Alpine - I dont normally join the long list of people who relish bashing you but (and don't get this wrong) how can you say you would have held on to Perry, Thomas and James if you really haven't seen them play much this season? Not doubting your support for the club etc etc but fans that don't watch the team that much because they live far away cannot really question AP's decisions when it comes to player retention or player performances. I love the "just back from the match threads" that are dominated by people who are just back from the pub. Some of the biggest posters/admin on here, live in So'ton but hardly ever go the matches, but boy do they like to have an opinion on the actual game, usually basing their opinion from what they have heard on the radio!!!! One of the admin chaps actually chastised a postee who had been at the game based soley on what he had heard Dave Merrington had said on Solent. That was the moment I stopped taking this forum seriously.

Careful you will offend Trousers.

You been on that Devon cider again Ottery?

Absolutely nothing. I was just told that. If true make of it what you will. Could be for a variety of reasons. I remember Lowe was reported to be a frequent visitor to Arsenal's training facility.

This is just a rumour but from a good source. NC spends a lot of time at the Chelsea training ground.

To be fair Rupert did not suffer fools. Or a*seholes

horrible - that crest badge whatever is so 70s, should revert to the old city emblem with the 3 roses.

NC's statement is to be welcomed and I found it reassuring. Speaking as someone who had "his ear chewed off" by MLT when I rubbished Pinnacle on this forum, 4 days before the whole deal collapsed, I was once a little hacked off with the man who I regard as the finest ever to don the red and white shirt. However, time is a great healer and I recognise Matt was only doing what he thought best for the club and is guilty of nothing more than probably not doing his homework. Criticising him in print probably went a little too far. Maybe a private phone call would have been better? I think legends like him and LM (I know not everone's idea of a legend) would be best boycotting the Echo because that appears as if they are in their camp and it will only alienate NC. The last thing we need as a club is for the current ownership to fall out with those who have provided us with many of our finest memories. This club needs to be all inclusive and that includes ex-players and managers. The Echo really has gone down hill, I know finances are not good but with the standard of journalism so low it is little wonder hardly anyone buys it and they have to resort to unhelpful sensationalism. Finally I was intrigued about NC's comments on the style of football he wants us to play - very commendable sentiments but ones which any manager would rise an eyebrow to. Should be an interesting season, but with Saints when isn't it?

Although I am not 100% happy with AP this season, replacing him with Cotterill just does not make sense and would be a retrograde step. We will no longer be promotion favourites imo. NC does worry me.

That just goes to show you should not believe a lot of what is said. I am far from "sorted" For the record I have 18 months left of my 2 year term as a branch secretary. The crew have told me they want me to see out that term, I was elected in Dec 09 so will go though until December 2011. I will get some money from Unite while I complete my duties. After that I will be on my own with 2 teenage kids to support. Obviously getting sacked was not in my plans and although I am not going to starve I am pretty unemployable at my age. However I have to say that I believe in what I did and I would do it again, without a second thought. Striking really is our last option - there has been no where else to go.

I don't usually think responding to every rumour is a dignified way to run a football club but NC needs to stamp on this asap - if it is untrue. The longer he let's this fester the more damaging it is becoming. I know someone who spoke to AP this week re the situation and his response was "I am past caring". That can be taken a million different ways but it shows he is fed up with the whole scenario. Despite having small misgivings re AP's tactical acumen I think replacing him would be a foolish step. So SFC; time to put this to bed and hurry up!

Can i just confirm I WAS at the game?

Tbh you had to be there. It was the very patronising way he said it which incensed everyone around me. Once okay, twice irritating 3rd time just unneccessary.