Latheal

Loving this debate. Personally, I don't think Champions League is out of reach in 5 years. However, I'd be happy with just establishing ourselves in the Premier League again with the odd cup run and challenging for Europa. One of the things this debate has thrown up is the size if the club. Last time I checked, you didn't have to be a certain "size" or spend a certain amount of money to get into Europe. Pretty sure Everton qualified for Champions League in recent history and Fulham, Stoke, Boro, Bolton and Birmingham have all been in the Europa. The question of size is always subjective. People look at history, fan base, revenue, attendances, success but all of this is subjective. Some of the comparisons on here (Sheffield Wed) springs to mind is quite frankly, crazy. I don't actually get the arguments - is the fact that Sheffield W having a similar attendance than us in League One making them a bigger club or the same size? I've always looked at potential size of the club when thinking how big a club can be. Again, subjectively, it depends on stadium, facilities, fan base, potential fan base, league posistion and recent success. History plays a part but not as much as I think people give it credit for. 20 years ago would people have been able to argue that Chelsea is a bigger club than Spurs or that they needed a 60,000 stadium? For what it's worth, I'm with MLG on this. I think we have huge potential, but then I feel we can fill a 40,000 stadium in the Prem at least 3/4 of the time. Hell, I'm pretty sure we would have filled that 6 or 7 times this season. But then I also think football is changing again...I believe the big contracts will be lowering in years to come as FFP comes into action and clubs will regain control from players. Champions League is a massive ask but Europa is well within the realms of possibility.

Personally don't think any of them are worth 3.5mil - especially not Mackail-Smith after this season, and certainly not for a team just promoted to the Prem. would rather have Guly than any of them. Hooper/Rodriguez Snodgrass, Davies, A right back, A keeper, A Centre Midfielder Reckon we'll be fine. I'm most looking forward to how Cortese handles the extra media pressure concerning transfers. Will be interesting to see if we can keep it all secret like we have in the past. Also be interesting to see if there's any truth in this "difficult to deal with tag" we keep hearing about.

Thought he was our most dangerous player first half.

Yeah, sorry bout that, bored on my day off!

It's the crux of it from a fans point of view. I actually get what they are saying, it's just that it shouldn't matter. It's quite amazing that those same fans have disappeared now, in the clubs time of need. They're actually giving tickets away and they still can't fill the park. But even if they did fill it, and everyone of them was paying full price, why the hell should that make a difference? You can plead the fans innocence to everybody but not the club's. When the Prime Minister said what he said in that he would do all that he can to help was, quite frankly, disgusting, even if it was just propaganda. The entity known as Portsmouth Football club has committed the crimes and must pay. I actually find it somewhat ironic that when we play them in a few weeks it will be them in the midst of rebuilding. We were a little further along, granted, when we lost the FA Cup match, but it didn't stop my Pompey mates gloating about the win (and it won't stop me either, if we do the same to them on the 7th). Football has a way of balancing its football crimes out, maybe not in the way we want them, but in its own, strange way. If we beat them by more than 4-1, they get relegated and another points deduction, and rebuild within their means, then punishment served in my book. But that's a personal opinion. The millions not paid to others is another consideration. It's something that needs addressing in football full stop. Yes, Pompey have taken the absolute **** in this regard, but there are laws to punish them. They just haven't been enforced (trading whilst insolvent?). The whole structure needs changing IMO. One of the reasons I find this thread so entertaining is the analysis that some of us have gone into to uncover the truth. And while we've all had a laugh at our neighbour's expense, some of the revelations have been truly shocking. Forget that it's Pompey for a moment and the very fact that what has happened there CAN happen, is absolutely frightening. I'm talking about gunrunners, debentures, taking a football club because somebody defaulted on a payment, increasing debt to get the vote on a CVA, setting a wage limit and having it laughed at, setting transfer embargos and then watching players arriving, a person who doesn't even exist being able to own a club...these things (and yes, there are many more I know) are frightening. Imagine, just imagine, if this was Saints. How can something like this be allowed to transpire, and not only transpire, but go on and on? And there is nothing the fans can do about it. So I do have sympathy for the fans, most of them anyway, but more for those that are directly impacted. The taxpayer, charities, non-football employees, local businesses, even foreign clubs that are still owed money. I have sympathy for the Championship clubs, as its made it a mockery, iourselves included. Teams playing them now will have an easier task than they would have had than playing them earlier in the season. It's no wonder West Ham, Cardiff, Brum and Reading are paying them the loan fees. They need those points. They are protecting their investment. Anybody who could, would do the same. Strange how Forest and Doncaster haven't been in though. But the flip side to that is why should those clubs who have made those purchases feel it necessary to do it? The very fact that they are panic buying to protect points and keep Pompey in existence is the exact mockery I'm talking about. If the FL had acted sooner, or more decisively, Pompey may already be gone and those purchases would not have had to be made, plunging further clubs (West Ham, Cardiff, Birmingham) into spending money they themselves probably can't afford. What I don't have sympathy for is the club itself. It may not get everything it deserves, but hopefully it will bring about change. Probably not, but we can but hope. And for the record, if we do go up this season, and Cortese does splash the cash, I hope to god we can afford it. If we start signing people like Defoe on 60k a week, I would hope we start to ask questions. But other than that, there wouldn't be a lot we could do. Financial Fair Play can't come quickly enough, if you ask me. I honestly don't know what the answer is. How can what happen down the road be stopped from happening again? The argument for only 50-60% of revenue to be spent on wages may work but there are so many variables that need to be taken into account. it's not just wages, it's the owners, the way grounds can be used as security, the way you can sell a player even though you haven't actually finished paying for him, the way foreign clubs are treated differently, the toothless rules and punishment...any ideas? Perhaps needs a thread of its own.

Don't post much but love reading this thread, (yes even you Corpy) and to be honest you've made a fair point about not giving credit where credit was due. Congratulations, belatedy, on promotion to the Premier League and for winning the FA Cup. Congratulations also on the runners up spot and for your European Tour. It would be hypocrtical to say anything other than this. I say this because when there was the possibility of Paul Allen taking over dreams of becoming the next Chelsea or Man City excited me. Let's be honest, who doesn't want to see their beloved team win things? But it didn't happen. And the rest is history. Admin, almost dead, countless abuse from my Pompey friends (I still have around thirty photos saved on my email from one such friend from the West Brom v Pompey game and photos of Saints fans crying that fateful day - saved for the simple reason that one day I would be able to reply to each and every one with photos of my own). The company I worked for at the time was close to the Saints administration - indeed was one of the companies that were owed money (as I understand, was paid for in full). I knew people there and still do. It's was a nasty time. But in the end, and yes we go on about this, we cut our cloth accordingly. We gambled, it didn't work, we paid the price. And we took the punishment. I don't think anybody has ever said we didn't deserve it. Admin gave us a second chance, like it has to you, Leeds, B'mouth ect. If we screwed up again, I would expect the book to be thrown at us. And that is the only thing that I have a problem with in regards to Pompey. The club has done it twice. The "it's not the fans fault", while I sympathise, is not a consideration. Portsmouth FC has done this. Yes the directors, owners ect should be punished but the club has to be punished - and punished appropriately. The club is an entity in its own right. If you don't make that first CVA payment then another points deduction should follow. If it doesn't, I won't be blaming Pompey, it would be the FL's fault after all. Only now, with a proper administrator, are you truly going through what we did. The fire sale of players, the real proposition of not having a club, league one beckoning...I really don't hope you stay up. I hope there is a further deduction, not cause I hate the club but simply because that is just. I don't want you gone, I just want proper punishment. Rebuild in League One and let's see where you are in a few years time... With regards to players wages, you don't know what our players are on. I'd be amazed if they are on what you are suggesting. But it's obviously possible. The truth is that we won't know until the accounts are published. In the meantime, please stop going on about our wage bill with nothing to back them up. The accounts you have used are old, you already know that, and it just comes across as desperate. The difference is, most of Pompey's players wages are in the public domain. The fact that it was mentioned that Mullins was not in fact on 33k per week, but 26k or whatever (and the way this was used in a "see, it's ok, it's only 26k") is exactly the kind of thing that makes a mockery of the club. Support your club, and credit has been given. Now take the punishment and rebuild. But please admit the Club deserves its punishment. You're coming across as if you have done nothing wrong. And admit we are the bigger club.

Writing this whilst crossing fingers (difficult), touching wood, asking for forgiveness for even thinking about it before we are there but what the hell, it's a bit of fun. GK- Davis would deserve his chance, but another younger keeper needs to be signed - Lewis or Kasper LB - Fox will be fine, would let Harding go (believe he's lost confidence this year and a shadow of the player he was for us when he first came), let Shaw be groomed. If he is as good as people are making out, don't see the problem in playing him. Can always buy in Jan if need cover. CB, Hoovield, Fonte, Martin Plus two from Davis, Gorkss or Hobbs. Still think we need 4 quality centre backs in the prem and Martin is not ready, nor may he ever be, RB - Richardson, Butterfield and Stephens (don't see the point in spending big if we have a good young player coming through). LM Lallana, and buy some cover Snodgrass, Zaha, Moses, (do not believe a big club will be in for any of them and all can play in other positions CM - Morgan, Cork, Chaplow, + buy Whittingham and a head with Prem experience. Would love to see Surman back. RM - De Ridder, Keep Puncheon as backup CF- Lambert, Lee, Sharp and one of Hooper or Rodriguez. Release/sell the rest. I can see us spending a fair bit if we go up. We'd be ahead of schedule of the 5 year plan and whilst the nucleus is there I think we need an injection of pace in the side. I think De Ridder will come good, really worried about defence ( cover more that anything else) and centre midfield would get found out pretty quickly IMO. Lallana, Lambet, Fox, I think will be excellent Prem players. The rest as it stands can go either way. Would love to see us go at it like Swansea and attack each game. And for those of you who doubt De Ridder, I still believe he is better than Dyer. Really think if we don't get a fair few players in we will struggle. Honestly think the Championship this year is weaker than its been in many a year.

Good, the less attention on Lallana the better. By far our best player, has been for the last two seasons IMHO. If he could sort out his shooting that guy is International Class.

34, Basingstoke, first game v Oxford 3-0 at the Dell in 1987. Think Danny Wallace scored a couple. Was living in Winch at the time and all my mates supported either Everton or Liverpool but for some reason I actually wanted to see the team I supported play, even at that age so supported Saints. Que 20 odd years of gloating when we beat the big teams (Liverpool 4-1 anybody?, stilll better than the 6-3 in my book against the Mancs), a couple of hours hissy fit dreaming of being the new Chelsea when I was told by a very reliable source that Paul Allen was buying us which rapidly turned into a couple of years of grief from Pompey fans (strange how they all came out of the woodwork after promotion to the prem) and probably the best two years of supporting Saints in the last two years since we've started rebuilding. There was just something about League one football that was just so damn honest and was so proud to be part of 30k plus crowds in that division. I still believe that many of e so called bigger clubs would get nowhere near that in League One. First away I think was Man United that same season. Gutted as my brother is an avid Utd supporter and had to endure the torture on the journey home. Proud to be a Saints fan, loving this thread.

Sounded more like a reference to local creditors/traders. I'm sure the interview will be played again somewhere. The website does a highlight section, if it turns up, I'll post a link.

To be fair, it was some Pompey fan that asked a direct question to him regarding the wages, he said something along the lines of "we're looking to pay them" without actually committing anything. Certainly didn't sound like the 2mil reported elsewhere. Regarding the fit and proper test he actually made sense, stating that there is only so much the FL could do. Also made reference to a bank that would have done its due diligence as well. Not sure if that was Antonov's bank or not though.

Birch just been on Sportsdirect TV, interviewed by Mike Parry who gave him a pretty hard time. Some of the snippets; When Birch referred to their fan base "but is it that loyal? You have Brighton-25000, Southampton 25000, Portsmouth 14000" - Birch believes some fans are staying away - did have a little giggle at that. Accounts unfrozen today. "But is there any money in it?" Parry asked. "Yes there's money in it, should be enough to see them through to end of season" although completely dodged the question on when the players and staff would get paid. Parry & co-presenter then ask about the wages, looked uncomfortable about this and then talked about how other clubs are also in debt and living above their means. Community club - as he mentioned this Parry says something along the lines of "but it's the same community that stands to lose money as they haven't been paid." Birch agrees and states they may well lose out again this time. Had a real problem explaining how the club came out of admin last time, actually felt a little sorry for him. He thinks him being administrator may bring other investors out of the woodwork who were worried about previous administrator. Thought it was telling that when he started that he went to lengths saying there was no guarantee a buyer would be found. Good interview to be honest, Birch handled it pretty well and some tough questions asked. Don't know who Parry's co-host was but he was asking some tough questions. They couldn't believe it was twice in three years.

Am I the only one that thought we were the better team in the first half as well? Stone wall penalty on Lambert first half, ref had a shocker. Cardiff goal totally against the run of play. If anything, thought Spiderman and Cork weren't close enough first half but second half was best I had seen us play since opening day. Special mention to Punch for running himself into the ground (anybody else see NA give him a hug when he came off?) and agree he was best player in the first half. Martin did well, Great to see Fonte back, Fox had a solid game, Lee and Adam showed nice touches but Connelly was nowhere near his best. Confident for rest of the season. Crowd were great as well, reminded me of MK Dons last season. Nobody got on the players back and total support. Ref was awful though. Let's get behind the team and keep positive for the rest of the season.

Update from my Celtic colleagues. Apparently there was a Q&A with Lennon last night. One of the guys asked about Hooper and apparently Lowell (Celtic chairman) had told Lenno to tell the agent "no, and don't call back." There's still quite a bit of worry up there as there seems to be a consensus that 8mil might be enough to tempt them, 10mil definitely would. A lot of it has been through the Agent who seems to be pushing this hard. Celtic can't match the wages and won't talk about new contract until the summer, although Lennon apparently has been trying to get a better contract for him. Again, not ITK, just posting back what I heard. I honestly can't see it happening.

Work with a hell of a lot of Celtic fans who have basically said up until the last couple of days that there is no way Hooper is going to leave and 6mil is not enough for many of the reasons stated here (haven't won league for 3 years, playing well, no backup if he goes). Last couple of days they're starting to get worried and 30 seconds ago I get an email from one of them saying we've bid £8 million. Apparently posted by one of their guys on the Celtic FB group (which is locked). He's trying to find out the source of that before people ask. No idea if we have, neither he nor I are in ITK, just passing on what I've just been told. Personally, love the speculation, little worried about the reported 36k per week if true. We just need to look down he road to see where overspending takes us.

Kind of siding with MLG here although maybe not to the extent of 40-45K. Its been alluded to here we can increase the stadium by 4K pretty easily. Taking that 4K at a cost of £6,000 per seat will come at a massive £24million (understand how those costs have been speculated on, but lets be honest, we're not sure they are accurate as well). However, so many people on here are saying that increasing the price of a ticket to £40 would be a better idea. Well if that's true, the extra 4K seats will also be sold at £40 as well meaning it would be paid back within 8 years should we sell out in at least the 19 games we play in the league (yes, I know, we may not, but then, it may not cost £6,000 per seat either). More to the point, such a change would only come if/when we are in the Premiership which brings its own TV money and other riches. I don't actually see the problem expanding the stadium and calls that we won't fill the stadium against the lesser teams like Blackburn, Wigan and Bolton - well, they might not even be there. The Premier League is getting more competitive every season - just look at QPR, Norwich and Swansea this season - if we're at the bottom, in a relegation fight, I have no doubt people will be clamouring to get in. If we're not, and we're doing well, the same will apply but for the opposite reasons. Swansea have increased their attendance 4K from last season and Norwich are apparently looking at a further 8K as they are selling out every week (I know that they have a smaller capacity and were getting a larger attendance than us in League 1, but the point is, they have been getting those attendences for 2 years but waited until they got to the Premiership to put plans into action - where the funds would minimise the cost implications). Getting back to the Premier League will undoubtedly be the right time to increase the capacity - and more importantly provide the funds to do it with a long term benefit that could be met. More to the point, and what TLG has alluded to is the extra revenue this COULD bring in. With fair play rules coming in, the infrastructure costs won't count against us but the extra revenue will count for us. I honestly think we'll average at least 30K if and when we get back to the Premiership and wouldn't believe it beyond the realms of possibility to sell out a 36K stadium for at least 75% of the games. Who here doesn't think we will sell out again at least 4 more times this season alone? We're supporters at the end of the day, and whilst the season ticket argument and ROI arguments are sound, I take pride of being there the day we had over 30K against Exeter and Leeds in League 1, that we averaged well over 20,000 in our 2 seasons in League 1 and will probably over average over 25,000 this year. 36K is not beyond the realms of possibility. And out of interest - and this isn't part of the argument, just honestly interested, answer me this. If we had a 45K stadium, would we fill it against Pompey? My shout is yes, without a doubt. Doesn't justify expanding to a 45K stadium but I believe the fanbase is there. The current economic climate is against supporters getting to games, but that could also work in the clubs favour - expanding the stadium would surely be cheaper now, than in the future when the economy gets back on its feet. Just my thoughts.

And to be fair, the way he put it, did make a lot of sense. Totally agree that Le God should get free tickets, he's one of our best ambassadors still.

Does nobody else think that 4-6million (as reported on various websites for Maynard and Rodriguez) is an obscene amount of money for a Championship striker. We are talking about probably breaking the Record Championship Transfer fee between two Championship clubs. Are either of these two players actually worth it? I can understand Baldock for a couple of million as you could probably get the money back for him if he doesn't quite hit the mark - but say either of these two fail, that's a hell of a lot of money to recoup. Shane Long went for £7 million and he was proven at this level over a couple of seasons and a recognised International. It seems like silly money to me.

Sky Sports just made it official - Baldock to West Ham

Free apparently, more money to the wage bill!

Bet he would! Obvious one is CMS, would love to see Jimmy Bullard (was on Soccer AM saying how he would maybe take a paycut to go to Ipswich - not sure if we could afford his wages but reckon he could offer what we need in midfield), we desparately need 1 Championship quality centre back, a quick right winger if OC goes (don't believe it is as cut and dried as many reckon on here). Need some added creativity to take the burden off Adam, Neil Danns, Howard, Pilkington. Would love to see 2 high profile signings to show we mean business, really interesting Summer ahead. Hopefully get somebody with pace as well! Couple of things will be shown this summer I reckon. 1) Can Adkins attract the top quality players? Not a dig at him at all, done a fantastic job, would love him to stay for years but the only thing he hasn't really proved yet is his business in the transfer market. 2) Is the money to pay for them there? Absolutely buzzing at the moment. Exciting few years ahead I think!

To go on the run they have gone on and still finish 3rd has got to be heart breaking. Absolutely loads of respect for them, they deserve to go up but don't agree the playoffs should be scrapped - reworked maybe but definitely not scrapped. Good luck to them and Bompey in the play-offs (whatever anybody thinks of the Cherries, what they have achieved this year is as commendable in my book).

Saw that report too (wasn't it on one of our threads here?). Also think Forest v Derby is a big one - they also hate each other. Used to have a Palace lodger and she absolutely hated Brighton, she did tell me the reason once but I forget now. Its a definite rivalry though and I would call it a proper Derby, way down on the list but the majority do seem to hate each other. Its a bit like Bompey v Poole. :-)

And whats with Stoke and Bolton not selling out Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final? Fair play to Stoke for the win, but 75,000 in a 90,000 stadium? WTF?

21,600 is actually enough for 7th Place in the Championship. If we do go up this year I can see a few sellouts next year with the amount of local derbys and with the obvious natural increase in average attendence, we should be hitting around the 23-25K mark. I can't imagine many teams would get over 21K for games in League One - out of the ones above us, pretty sure Coventry, Ipswich, Sheff United, West Brom, Middlesborough, Sheff Wed, Sheff Utd and Birmingham wouldn't. Unsure about Wolves and there's obviously Norwich below in the all time list that got a larger attendance than us last year. Its a fantastic effort and still don't think we get the credit we deserve for being such a well supported club from the media - Pompey get 17K or less, not even filling their stadium and everybody from Sky to Solent say what a well supported club they are. Don't these people do their homework?