Fitzhugh Fella

Well, Mike - I am a year younger than you but the other day I gave my kids permission to roll down the window and spit in the direction of Portsmouth when we drove by. My wife was actually horrified at my actions, especially when my daughter got ready to do just that.

Ha ha - a couple of nights out with you Delia, should fill them out. After yesterday's match am coming around to your way of thinking re Lallana. I was a fan and he has talent but at the moment he is flattering to deceive.

Absolutely - Lallana's corner was crap - never even got close to the near post let alone the far stick, subsequently cleared to Perry who hit an aimless ball into their keeper's hands and they then scored within seconds. Lallana's corners are a disgrace for a professional footballer. We were the better side today but we still have weak links and in the end that robbed us of all 3 points.

The Echo reported last week he had returned

on the pitch - absolute incomparable genius off the pitch - a bit of a naive lad.

I think they have given up!

Copell

It is always dangerous listening to the opinions of other fans when they reflect on their past managers. I know a lot of Reading and West Ham fans and the word they use over and over again is "arrogant" and from that article the Charlton brethren tend to concur. Nothing wrong with arrogance - most top managers could be accused of being arrogant (Clough, Ferguson, Shankly) but I think they became arrogant after success rather than before. I am concerned about Pardew especially as he was not Cortese's first choice but he's here now and proper judgement cannot really be made until after Xmas.

With respect though - he may be history but this is a forum where people debate things historical. Last Saturday's match is history but people still like to talk about it. Nothing will change the result but that's what this forum is about - surely?

Absolutely, people go on about the stats but just sometimes stats lie. The truth is he left us in a lower position thean when he took over, we were in a terminal decline and had less interest in the job (once the money dried up) than Redknapp before he decamped. He set an awful example to the players with his "nocturnal habits", he never considered moving into the area - prooving his lack of enthusiasm or dedication and he was the worst communicator we ever had. Even the man who appointed him, Lowe, said just before he returned that Burley "needed managing" and that "it hadn't been done". Pound for pound - one of our worse ever managers I would say.

Hmmm It is a well known secret that Coppell was Cortese's preferred option as our first choice manager and I gather he was very close to signing a contract - only pulling out at the very last moment due to the fact that he hadn't yet had the 6 months off that he had promised himself upon leaving Reading. I think the Mirror have picked up on this snippet and added 2+2. Like many on here I am nervous of the DoF role - the personalities have to match and not sure Pardew would welcome it.

I rest my case - see my previous post. NickG has been challenged and no one can get away with that without being accused of being arrogant. Hey Nick why don't you let this forum breath now and again without trying to impose your view of the world?

I think you will find that the positivity police now have you under full surveillance. Negativity is not allowed on this site and you can no longer boo at St Marys. George Orwell eat your heart out!

Perhaps we should wait and see him play. All this "he is going to save us or "he'll not cut it in this league" is premature because hardly anyone (inc Pardew) has seen the lad kick a ball in anger.

Off the top of my head - yes, even allowing for the 10 point deduction. I still reckon we must give it at least 3 months - I hear today was frustrating by all accounts (I didn't go, I am on holiday and sent my Dad instead) but - speaking through gritted teeth - let's judge come Xmas. Incidentally my Dad saw a few things that gave him hope and he is far from happy clappy and has hardly been since relegation from the Prem. Back for the Charlton game - it's got to be better than my last away game at Huddersfield. I am intrigued how they have seemed to have turned their club around over the summer. Parkinson seems to be doing a good job.

No but they finished below us last season which proves they must have been pretty bad. What happened over their summer? You got to admit it is a fair question. If going into admin is still affecting some of our players then perhaps they need to find a job in civvy street or consult a shrink.

Charlton seemed to have turned things around overnight?

imo Lambert's arrival was the biggest "statement" of intent - and it showed there is an element of ambition. AP has done well considering the lack of time and back room staff - now we just need to sign a shrink to toughen the players up mentally.

Fair point GS but at the end of the day ML is a wealthy investor not a wealthy benefactor and the sooner we all realise that the better. Now of course if he was a lifelong fan like all of us then it might be different!

ML does not "need" to do anything. He is his own boss, he owes us nothing and Paterson and Lambert leading our forward line this winter won't undy phase him. No, all eyes should be on Cortese for it is he in charge. Lets hope he knows what he doing. I sincererly hope contingency plans for Saga's departure have at least been hatched if not yet implanted because Paterson is no way ready!

He did not pay off our debts. He settled them to acquire the club lock stock and barrel for a bargain 12 million pounds. The club may well be debt free but it no longer is ours. People seem to think ML is a knight in shining armour but that is an illusion. He is a sound businessman with an eye to make SFC into a profit making entity. Without him we could well and truly have been toast, so his arrival can be welcomed but lets not endow him with godlike status just yet. The thought of just having Paterson and Lambert left as forwards is a real worry too!

what do you mean "if"

Storrie in yesterday's Mirror - the tuth is starting to dribble out. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Furious-Peter-Storrie-blasts-former-Pompey-owner-Alexandre-Gaydamak-in-scathing-attack-article137931.html

Probably one of the most sensible posts on here for a long time. People don't seem to realise that until we are informed otherwise all incoming and outgoing expenditure is the exclusive business of, sole owner, Marcus Liebherr's. Whether we got £300,000 or £30m is totally irrelevant. Now if ML decrees that the club must from here on in be self-sufficient then it becomes very important.

I still don't reckon he has taken over completely - have PFC released a statement yet? I am enjoying this more and more - especially as a serious wealthy backer backed by the trustworthy (ahem) Peter Storrie appears to be thwarted at the post by an impoverished imposter. This is delicious irony and I almost wish I was living in Portsmouth to hear the reaction. Might drive out east this afternoon and buy myself a News or better still wait until the news sinks in and buy the "football echo" on Saturday. Oh happy day!!!!!