spyinthesky

I recently spoke to a local 'Captain of Industry' who's view on people I trust. He met Cortese recently and was impressed. As has been said in some earlier posts, often people at the head of high profile organisations are not particularly nice people or have an 'edge' about them. I guess most of us here are not too bothered about whether the CEO or Team Manager is an OK guy as long as they have the best interests of the club at heart and bring with them a modicum of success

Apparently all to do with Cortese agreeing to rent Benali's (very luxurious) house at Chilworth. Benali moved out then Cortese reneged on the agreement much to Benali's annoyance. Frannie, quite rightly got the hump, and decided to withdraw his patronage and company use of office space at St Marys Real shame as we need new owners the Echo and club stalwarts etc to get on as the club moves forward

The veteran Record Producer (Al Green, Al Peebles, Rod Stewart and others amongst his clientele), Recording Artist ('That Drivin' Beat etc) and Muscian, died yesterday at 81 years of age. Unlikely to be known to any young whippersnappers on this board but for those of us discerning music lovers out and about in the 60's/70's, his music was well regarded Have a listen to his early stuff. Southern Soul exemplified

Sorry typo Should have been Portsmouth and Brighton fans

What is the relationship between Portsmouth & Pompey fans around the 'divide' Assume same sort of ambivalence as Saints/Boscombe in Ringwood

I'm by no means a supporter of the Gob****es but do believe in keeping a reasonable perspective. I suspect if we had been in their parlous position (on & off the field), whilst at the Dell, and had been asked to pay up to £25 for a ticket, I doubt if the crowd would have been significally disimilar. Moving to St Marys, having a sense of optimism, plus sensible pricing does wonders. It's great to have the bragging rights on attendances though

Do we have one? If not worth a punt on asking David Coles to return if it continues to implode down the road? As an aside wonder if Soton Uni have been paid up to date for use of the Stoneham Training Ground?

Wonder if the person(s) at Jobsite, who recommended that their company should sponsor Pompey are being sacked or rewarded? Sacked if the stigma of being attached to this car crash of a club reflects badly on the company Rewarded if the club goes bust and all those unfortunate enough to lose their jobs (players excepted) have to rely on Jobsite services in the New Year

Some suggestion that the South Stand at Fratton Park is so old that it could be registered as a World Heritage site. This fits in very nicely with the Neanderthals that populate the area

I don't understand all this Pompey negativity. Didn't that well respected journalist and media star Piers Morgan state categorically that Al Fahim was extremely well minted and Pompey were in for an exciting time in the hands of such a wealthy owner? Surely the once editor of a high profile British newspaper would only report the truth!!!

I truly feel sorry for the decent Pompey fans who have had to witness such a shambles On the other hand there are also many nasty Gob****e individuals who deserve to suffer in the name of the team they profess to support. There are also the Johnnie Come Latelys who emerged out of the woodwork to follow success and give it large and then slink back into their hole or dig out their Man U/Chelsea/Leeds scarves. I guess those Saints fans on the edge of the PO post code would have suffered the most from the JCL's Whatever happens, the committed supporter will always follow their club and I am sure PFC will continue to exist in some shape or form and will see better days. Question is will it be sooner or later?

Killers house at Rownhams is on the market with Savilles at £675k if any one is interested. Normal finders fee rate applies

I was at Uni in Leeds around 1970 and could only get a ticket in the Leeds end (well side actually) when we got beat 2-1. Think we were 1-0 up before Joe Kirkup scored a stunning headed own goal from about 20yds. Second half our keeper, Gerry Gurr, got a whack from behind from Billy Bremner after he caught a corner. Gurr instinctively hit Bremner on the head with the ball (not hard). Tough guy Bremner went down as if poleaxed. Ref didnt see it but the crowd bayed, Ref turned round, saw Bremner on the floor and gave a pen. Without thinking, I shouted out 'cheat' or something similar and a few hundred eyes swivelled round my way. As I was probably one of the very few Saints fans at Elland Rd that day there was a sense of shock which undoubtedly saved my skin. The fact that Johnny Giles scored and we lost probably helped too. Used to watch Leeds quite a bit in those days. Have never really liked them or their fans though

Two great strikes by Richard lambert today. However think my old Granny could have tucked the hat trick opportunity away!! Did he miss from 2 yds?

Does this mean that the Pompey News will now withdraw their campaign to get Harold a knighthood?

Speaking to a Lincoln fan today. In his view young Pulis is ...'the least talented Imps player to pull on a Lincoln shirt in the past 5-6 years'.. Apparently his loan has been extended to 7th January with a rumour that Saints are paying his wages at Sincil Bank. The news hasn't been viwed with much excitement in Lincoln Still can't fathom out why the previous regime sanctioned the signing of Pulis and Forecast. Suggestion of some tax advantage on the Davies/Bale tranfers but surely this must have been offset by wages. However further north Ollie Lancashire seems to be a fixture at Grimsby but they appear to be heading out of the League so perhaps can't read too much into this.

And now Jim Magilton has been accused of headbutting one of his QPR players in the Dressing Room What is it about ex Saints players and the 'Northam Kiss'?

Haven't checked but during my 50+ years supporting the Saints (no wonder I'm permanently exhausted/psychologically scarred), I can't ever remember us losing to a non league team. I certainly can remember us playing Woking (4-0 I think and didn't we play an amateur international midfielder by the name of Hugh Lindsey?), Walton & Hersham (won 6-1 away which was unheard of for us to score so many away from home at the time) and Weymouth (3-0 at home?) Also think we played one of these games in dark blue/light blue quarters which was the colours of the Hampshire Rep side at the time. All this from (fading) memory. Any onne else around who can remember better than me?

Actually he is appearing in 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here' to raise some much needed cash Bush tucker trial will be a doddle after eating the pies at Fartton Park

This is a big game for Luton I believe they will bring at least 2,000, maybe more. Leeds only attracted 10,000 for their game v Kettering and they are flying

Ah Derek Reeves Off topic slightly but anyone else there when Reeves scored all 5 in the 5-4 League Cup win v Leeds in 1960? Floodlights went out. Game finished about 10 pm. Missed the last bus home and had to walk. Mum really concerned as School next day. We had no phone. 4-0 up at one time but pegged back to 4-4. Goalie injured. Huxford (5'8") went in goal. We are a similar side now. Can score plenty and concede too many as well

Inspired title A poorer option might be; 'How the Lowe years made me Wilde'

Rotherham likely to bring a few hundred fans Luton will sell out the Northam end (3,000+)?

'Fraid very little chance of QE2 returning here 1. Previous local 'consortium' were well meaning but not well heeled 2. Where would the ship go? ABP would be reluctant to offer up a berth unless the price was high enough. 3. The ship would rust quite quickly in our damp climate and would need regular maintenance including Dry Docking (probably in Germany) 4. City Council would be supportive, in principle, but no money to chuck at the possibility 5. All Heritage Funding options etc have been diverted to the Olympics in London

Wonder if the deal with Grant is to ensure he has something to do to justify his (apparent) £900k pa salary (plus Storrie on something similar??) Will be interested in Phil's take on the news reported here today that the Dubai company that owns DP World and Nakheel are £48billion in debt and struggling to refinance. If correct wonder what implications this will have on other well known/well heeled Dubai residents (eg the Fake Sheik etc)