Joensuu

I would have thought this penalty would have been about right had only one child lost their lives. I would have thought 6 back to back life sentences, with possible parole in 90 years time would have been a fairer penalty. Of course, that is assuming that prison is genuinely a punishment, and not essentially a state funded holiday camp. No TV, DVDs, Xbox etc, entertainment should consist of a big stack of books and journals instead.

Many of the teams in the relegation mix are exceeding a point per game on current form (exceptions are Sunderland, Norwich and Stoke). For QPR or Reading to avoid the drop they'd need to up their efforts to, at least, 4 points from every 6. That's the sort of form Spurs or Everton have demonstrated all season. If we can maintain our form we'll easily top the 40pt mark.

Could we could fit lyrics to Aladdin Sane?

Imagine our crowding of the ref at Norwich will see us lose ground on Fulham when the table is next published.

Has Turkish hacked into your account?

IMO: Niemi >Boruc Clyne > Dodd (or Telfer) Claus > Yoshida Svensson > Forren (or Fonte, or Jos) Shaw on par with Bridge Schneiderlin > Prutton Cork > Delap Fernandez > Puncheon Ramirez on par with Svensson Lallana > Marsden (or McCann) Rodriguez > Ormerod Lambert > Beattie (just)

Ragworms Barry, or are you using a fly? If genuine, I'd suggest, probably never. NB, there is a small probability of this occurring at all, but an absolutely tiny change of this happening 'consistently'. There would be much higher odds on us having a crack at breaking into the top 8, and perhaps even into the top 6 at some point in the next 5 years.

1. Fast, and ideally solid centre back (pace please to help recover from counter attacks against our pressing game). 2. Clinical finisher. Doesn't need to be especially fast or big, just skillful, creative, and someone who puts away their chances. 3. Another wing option to keep Adam and Jason on their toes. 4. A better version of Fox. I.e. Someone willing to sit on the bench while a youngster has the game time, but who is better at defending than Fox.

Well some of them seem to be decked out in the sort of fashion you advocate. I thought the chap with the union jack face mask, and the older chap with sunglasses were both particularly fitting of your online persona.

I'm genuinely flattered, you've caught me from a really good angle. Rather than return the compliment, I wonder if you can see yourself on here? http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2013/01/505688.html?c=on

On the basis we've no intention of selling, hence, excessive offers only please.

Agree with both of the first two posts. I feel Pochettino's attacking game is a significant improvement, but only against teams who play the ball and look to attack. My only concern with Pochettino is that he keeps playing the same pressing game against teams who are stilling back - I feel we should switch to a slightly less pressing game against any team who is set on defending, otherwise we stand to get burnt on the counter attacks. I guess what I'm saying is I'd prefer to have Pochettino in charge when we face Man City, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Swansea etc; but I'd rather we were still under Adkins when we are playing Reading, QPR, West Ham, Villa, Sunderland, West Brom, Stoke, Newcastle etc. Overall, the new pressing style makes for far more interesting game, and it feels like we are playing the game the right way. Certainly many neutrals seem impressed.

March 30 Chelsea (H) Draw April 6: Reading (A) Loss April 13: West Ham (H) Loss April 20: Swansea (A) Win April 27: West Brom (H) Loss May 4: Tottenham (A) Win May 12: Sunderland (A) Draw May 19: Stoke (H) Loss Leaving us on 39 pts, and probably safe

He'd be chuffed to pieces. Guess he'd be slightly concerned about how close we are to the drop-zone, but I would imagine, he would be confident that the finances are in place (and the playing squad generally on-board with the project) for a swift return if the worst does happen. He wouldn't be concerned in the slightest with minor non-issues raised by minority on internet forums.

Good thread, until the previous three posts were added.

Interesting link, thank you for posting it. I would like to see the figures for total spend though, as purchases from previous seasons, wages, loan repayments etc will all substantially alter this table. Then if you contrasted that to club income you'd see a very different picture. As we saw the other week, we're pretty much breaking even this year. We have managed to keep our wage bill down, and have few other liabilities to service. Yes we spent a lot last summer, but that's only to be expected from any team being promoted (surprisingly West Ham have managed to do very well while keeping their transfer spend relatively low; Reading have approached this season in a very conservative way, avoid spending, hope for the best and rebuild if (when) we go down - actually not a terrible strategy). Overall, I don't see anything too concerning in these figures. I think we would do quite well compared to some of the other teams if we go down. Yes some of you think that we'd loose our better players, sure we'll lose some, but I think we'd keep the nucleus of a excellent young team, and still have the spare cash to rebuild for a promotion push. Anyhow, I see that Barry Sanchez has sidetracked this thread and turned it into a debate on how well we spent (as opposed to how much), what a surprise! When was the last time we had a decent thread that wasn't wrecked by the forum brow-beaters (Turkish, Barry, CB Fry, Hypo et al.) before it reached the second page? And people wonder why the better posters have stopped posting!

Why? This is not being infered. No grizzling from me. Simply calling it as I see it. Some posters share the club's ambitions; whereas, the noisy ones who wreck every thread they get their hands on, seem dead set against anything improving at the club. I don't understand the mentality of an interweb troll, I don't know what you get from it. If you object to the club progressing, state your reasons why. If you want to see the club progress, but have some reservations over spending, or us over-streaching, fair enough, state them, but don't just snipe snide comments from the sidelines. What are your problems with the club commissioning, and releasing CAD visulisations?

Wish we had threads dating back to the first St Mary's stadium mockups. Bet the same 'never going to happen' posters were just as prolific, and just as opposed to change. I personally love that the club are thinking big. I love the images, and love the ambition. I find the constant bashing, and wreaking of any infrastructure-improvement threads to be really strange. What do the naysayers get from their negativity?

MLG 1, SWF trolls 0

Does anyone know what the rust coloured box is? Just noticed it has ramps which connect to the Chapel-Kingsland corner. Wasn't it this corner that Cortese wanted to move the away fans to? I wonder if this is some strange away-fan lounge/bus collection point, which keeps the fans separate.

[Last post of the day] Vectis, IMO, it depends what form the investment takes. For example, a grant from a benefator could only be beneficial to the club, as there would be no need to replay anything; but a loan with high interest would IMO be a very bad idea, especially given the very tight margins the club used to try to operate within. Lowe's personal net worth wasn't substantial enough for him to grant us any form of personal investment, I'm sure he could have chipped in some, £250k possibly £500k at most? - but that sort of sum would have been a drop in the ocean on our balance sheet, but would have represented a large amount for Lowe. He simply wan't wealthy enough to have made a difference from his own pocket. So, I feel its unfair to chastise Lowe for not attracting investment. I don't believe there are many wealthy individuals hanging around who want to throw money at our club without wanting a return. I also don't think I'd want to take any form of loan; I understand taking out a loan for infrastucture (aka a mortgage), but taking out a loan for investing in players (who might break a leg on their first outting), would be economically crazy IMO (although I'm sure Pompey's finanical advisers would disagree with me). Any loan has to be replayed; any repayment is money you can't spend in the future (in other words, a loan taken out to strengthen the squad this season, will almost certainly weaken the squad over the following seasons). I'm not sure I can see how we can criticise Lowe for failing to attract investment. I feel the fact he managed to keep the club breaking even (and resisted running us into the red) can only be considered to be a success. Out of interest, what sort of investment do you feel Lowe should have attracted? What would you have spent this investment on? What (if any) is the risk of taking this investment? And how would you budget the replayments (if any)?

I sort of agree, certainly more tempted to up my estimate than reduce it (as per Hypo's suggestion). While it's tempting to agree with Ottery, I feel there were some positive attributes to Lowe, and likewise Cortese, while very good, isn't flawless. All shades of grey in my book. For the record, I'd have rated Cortese around the 9/10 mark at the start of Jan. If the Pochettino decision works (or even if it fails and he is swiftly replaced), I'll be back up close to the 9/10 mark. However, if Pochettino fails and Cortese sticks to his decision, I could drop lower than my current 7.5/10.

Lowe: Pros: tried to innovate; managd to keep the club treading water with limited money; managed to get a good stadium at a great price (with council help) ; sensible, if overly conservative, use of relegation release clauses (although they didn't do much good if the next chairman blows all the spare cash (and some) on the half-baked purchases of a drunk Scot. Cons: too inclined to pick the cheap option with managers; turned too many players away due to price; iffy use of club money to purchase own shares for no real benefit to the club (but plenty of benefit to anyone who happened to purchase shares the day before the club did); photoshots in the 'RL' branded tracksuits. Overall (IMO): 3.5/10 Poor to average, with some redeeming qualities. Cortese: Pros: attracted Markus; highly ambitious; seemingly highly trusted by the Liebherrs; brought in substantial money (which has been written off); invested in infrastucture; overseen the club being promoted twice; has largely kept himself out of the press (no self-publicity, or 'NC' branded tracksuits); has overachieved on his stated goals; the jury is out on his manager selections, although for me it is a positive (Pardew good; Adkins very good; Pochettino shows promise but too early to call); heavy investment in Academy; excellent record or renuing key player contracts; good record of funding player purchases; makes very brave decisions. Cons: seems to be a control freak (i.e. fallen out with (some) ex-players; fallen out with media; seems overly ruthless about employment contracts etc); subject to a large number of rumours (is this a con?); Seems to sometimes make purchases for the manager; seems to sometimes make decisions which are too brave or risky (so far they have paid off). Overall (IMO): 7.5/10 Good, with some clear outstanding qualities offset by some dubious ones. However, it isn't really fair to judge anyone until they part company with us. I'd have rated Lowe far more highly pre-summer 2003. Who knows how Cortese will fair over the coming years.

Jane Austin is massive in the States - a trip to Winchester (or Bath) might be useful if that's the sort of thing they are into. Bath especially has loads for visitors to see. If it's old-worlde towns, how about Lacock, it's a bit of a drive (not far from Longleat), but might be worth the trip, especially as it can easily be coupled with Avebury/Salisbury that others have suggested.

I see opportunities. Yes the internet dominates sales, but with the high street giants closing, will an economically viable gap in the market open for indie stores again? And don't think the teens haven't noticed the the lack if quality in the sea of manufactured-Cowell-cr@p that society calls music. This is just the sort of environment that breeds innovation. At least I hope that's what happens. Id like to see new rebels pulling music off in a new direction, ideally in a direction I'll hate, otherwise where's the rebellion? Sent from my Lumia 800 using Board Express