tajjuk

Think it's jay rod, he doesn't seem to appear anywhere in those pictures. Also I think Puncheon is in 27. Also I'm sure at some point Rickie is wearing gloves with no 10, on them which is Gaston's number isn't it?

Yeh but what if they are already relegated at that point making the -10 meaningless.

And Clyne

I think they will find the moeny and complete the takeover. However as you point out:- - they will have around £5 million in debt, - they will be in League 2, - they will potentially be on -10 points for next season, - they won't really be owned by the fans. - they will have a property developer (Robinson) circling the club like a vulture. - they will have no working capital. - they will have no players, no real academy, a poor manager, no training facilites and an aging stadium in need of repair. It'll be 10 years before they even have a possibility of making it back to the championship. There is a high chance the might even get relegated again next year! The FL decision in reality was good, Trust or Bust. the Trust bid taking over will ensure them being in the duldrums for years. Another bid might actually have some money!

Indeed.

Yep nice read, anyone spot the mistake in it though?

Agree, his Laywers go to court and show the other bid and it's willingness to pay the rental terms, thus providing evidence of his valuation of Fratton Park. Add to that the Trust out of nowhere added £250k to their bid, despite previously being adament it's only worth £2.75 million adds wieght to the argument that it is worth a lot more than the Trust value it seeing as they were so quick to pay more.

Sadly we need them to be complacent but their recent form means too many points dropped and they basically have to win every game now so they won't be complacent. Comfortable win for them i reckon.

Was wrong on this as it seems to apply just to TV revenues being spent, so it seems to be in line with the TV money going up not going straight to players wages. So off-field revenue streams can increase wages spending I think.

Even if we manage to build are super 48k stadium, fill it, and increase our revenue stream somehow. We'd still only be allowed by these rules to add a 'Gaston' a year and no more without selling. (not sure getting the likes of Richardson, Chaplow etc. off the wage bill will help.

The key here is this, ignore the £105 million that is pretty irrelevant. Now to put that into perspective, wage bills from 2010-11 - TOP PREMIER LEAGUE WAGE BILLS 2010-11 So all those clubs spend over £52 million a year. This means they can't add more than about £76k a week wages to their wage bill. But then neither can a club spending around £52 million a year. Everton for example have a wage bill of £54 million a year from last year, so under the rules they can only increase this to £58 million a year. So providing for example Arsenal can sustain their £124 million a year wage bill without making more than a £35 million a year loss they don't need to reduce it. It means they can essentially offer £70 million a year in wages more than Everton will be ALLOWED to. So Arsenal can continue to offer players £100k a week if they get rid of one or two of their higher earners to make room, but Everton even if they got an increase in turnover wouldn't be allowed to add two players on £50k a week without making space in their wage bill. Essentially Everton could have 20 players on £50k a week. Arsenal could have 20 players on £120k a week and in no way can Everton close the gap. Closed shop is successfully created.

Agree 100%.

QPR away Liverpool Norwich away at Man City Reading away to West Ham Wigan face Villa at home and we have a home game at Stoke. If it does go to the last day we probably have the best fixture. Mid table team at home, who little to play for and don't travel that well.

Just done the predictor and had us with home wins against West Ham, QPR, WBA, Stoke and away draws a Newcastle, Reading, Norwich and at home to Liverpool for 40 points.

Have us 13th with 40 points. Draws at Newcastle, Norwich, Reading, and at home Liverpool. Wins at home to Stoke, West Ham, West Brom and QPR.

We all know MLT will always be a Saints legend to every Saints fan, nothing will change that, but it doesn't mean we can't recognise that he's been a bit of tit here. Even the biggest Cortese critic would struggle to find fault with Cortese in this.

Not sure I mentioned any crossing precentages? Nothing wrong with wing play and crossing the ball but that's not necessarily what Stoke do, they play back to front more often than not and look for the second ball. Not saying that's how they play all the time but I would say it's their plan A. It will always score them some goals but it's become less effective for them in reent years as most teams are fully prepared for it and can counter it. It's their defence that keeps them mid table, excellent positioning, tackling, marking and work rate thoughout the team along with two top quality centre backs and a class keeper. Take their defence and swap it with ours they would easily be bottom, in the long run that style of football rarely works and Stoke have gone backwards in the last few years depsite decent investment. A very 'glass half empty' view considering the teams we played. However you are correct West ham are currently better than us, we'll see by how much at the end of the season. The points though about long term sustainability are valid though, Allardyce keeps teams in the Premier league, he hasn't progressd many past that and eventually he gets moved on. Signing Joe Cole pretty much sums up where West Ham are going.

Very good blog.

Stoke compete because of their excellent defensive organisation and in particular their two centre backs and goalkeeper. Shawcross, Huth and Begovic would improve most sides in the league. Their attacking play is predictable and they score a lot their goals through set pieces, particularly at home where their shrunken pitch turns average free-kick positions and throw in into more dangerous options. It's notable that Stoke and West Ham have the lowest amount of away goals at 8 and 7. Stoke are also third lowest scorers in the league. If the allied their defensive strength with a more cultured and varied attacking style they would push up the league. They have done excellently in establishing themselves in the Premier League, but in a 4 years they have had a net spend of over £80 million and league finishes have actually seen them go backwards.

True, although I'm sure Messi, Ineiesta and Xavi amongst other are changing attitudes about it, but it will take a while for it to ahppen in this country. Considerig the type of football and attrocious pitches you can't really blame lower league clubs for looking for physical monsters. In the premier league though Stoke aside some of the young players coming through like say Wilshere aren't massive. I suppose having Le Tiss as one of our greatest players sets the blueprint for us, whilst not that small, he was hardly the most physical of players. Technique first and then if they have pace or power that's a bonus.

IIRC Ashley Young was turned away for being too small by Watford and then picked up later. While some academies in England have been going down the big/strong/quick route not all have, look at ours with all of it's short blonde clones. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2066333/Ashley-Young-worked-hard-to-Manchester-United--Martin-Samuel.html#axzz2K1Cy9gaN

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12016/8469324?

Yep, need him out of the team, he's not been disastrous sicne he has come back in but I think that's mainly because Boruc, Shaw, Clyne, yoshida have all come on leaps and bounds since the start of the season and have somewhat covered for him. He is definitely our weak link at the moment. Hopefully if Forren gets a good run out for Norway they might think about starting him at Man City.

Maybe we should wait until we know the extent of the injuries before the doom and gloom? I think Clyne and Ramirez have 'knocks', they might miss the game against City. which we aren't likely to win anyway but they aren't out for ages, Lallana is almost back to full fitness, Forren isn't even injured just getting back to match fitness and Guly and Fonte should be on the mend. Only really Shaw and no one knows how bad it is.