Davvo

When you quote someone, it helps to quote them accurately. It might also help things in general if you calmed the f*** down.

Quite clear that he means Pompey fans are loyal, nothing political here, certainly nothing sectarian for f***'s sake. Faux pas ??

who said it was a fact ?

As do most people on the forum when stating their opinion.

slurp, slurp

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Born in woolly Prescot, I grew up walking distance from Ribby Hall, and there were at least as many Reds as Mancs. In fact in my generation, growing up mid 70's onwards, there seemed to be 50/50 Liverpool vs anyone else.

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that's a good point, and a situation that wasn't present pre February last season. I guess I'm just trying to justify it somehow. The defending this last 3 months has certainly been dreadful, and in no small part due to the injuries, starting with the head collision on day one. Lack of pace in midfield, and our left hand side in general, are certainly areas for concern.

One thing to add to this thread which wont help my popularity, but I care not. Raising issues and slagging off players/staff on an internet forum, is not hypocritical to chanting support at the match. When you are at the match you support the team/staff unconditionally, regardless of your opinions. After the game, in the pub or on the internet, you should be able to voice your opinions as a basis for discussion with fellow fans. There is a huge difference between letting off steam on the internet, and booing at the game for instance. I see no conflict with singing any song at the game, and slagging the boss on an internet forum, although I am far from being at that stage myself.

I must admit, the other night I took one look at the pitch and thought "keep him under wraps", but when he came on for a minute or two as the time wasting sub, I kind of thought maybe that wasn't why he was held back. If that was the case, would rafa not have thrown on Spearing to jog up and down for a minute or so ? Maybe it's just the modern day world of everything being in the public domain 24 hours a day, but I feel as though if I knew exactly what the philosophy was for Aquilani, I could calm down and accept it

Maybe so, but do you not recognise the difference, or is it just me. It seems almost like night and day from mid Feb to end of last season, compared with first half of last season, and start of this.

I agree with this, you can't deny it. However, I also have trouble understanding how we could be, effectively, 2 different teams in one season. Aside from one-off games etc which every team gets, we were almost a totally different side from February onwards. There was a massive surge in confidence, and change in attitude around February. There was a lot of off-field stuff going on, Rafa rumoured to be sacked/walking out, and then a week later Parry's departure was confirmed. From this point, give or take a week, we were a different side. The difference in philosophy was like night and day. In short, I guess what I'm wondering, is has our form and confidence mirrored off the field issues. Last season til Feb, war off the field, poor on the field but occasional good performances and results kept us in touch for a title challenge. From Feb til May, off the field seemed like a cloud lifted, Rafa clearly won some kinf of battle with Coco, and we played the best football of any side in Europe. Summer, Rafa got bent over Hicks' office table again, and since we've had a bad run. Injuries, and the loss of some transfer cash have compounded the off the field issues, and we've been a bit of a train wreck. It may just be coincidence, but the best run of form and confidence,of the last 15 months, has coincided with the period between Parry's announced departure, and the Summer 09 transfer rug being pulled from beneath Rafa's feet.

Le Tissier changes his mind and opinion so often, it becomes obvious he's there to wind up whoever is on the panel with him. He's not very funny with it either. Heard Walsh talking about Darren Bent earlier, and thought it was refreshing to hear some sense on that subject* Basically that Sunderland is his level. * ie an opinion that's the same as mine

and f*** all to do with the semantics of whether or not we can be termed a "selling club". I've no intention of defending G&H so wont comment on your point's, other than to say they have nothing to do with the point I was making. I've also just realised this has f*** all to do with the thread title, so getting back on track, Redknapp to my mind is just a bit dim. All pundits express their opinions on subjects, often with agenda, and often change their view with the wind. There are very few worth listening to on a regular basis, and so I try hard not to. For what it's worth, I find it just as irritating hearing people fawn over my team, as I do hear them slagging it off, I want to hear insight not fandom or bitterness.

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We've had what ? 2 consecutive windows with zero net spend ? Is our budget affected by what we bring in, of course it is, and there are only a couple of clubs for whom that isn't the case surely ? Quite apart from anything else, if you buy without selling you end up with too many players. I think you could accurately say that we have, for some time, had a limited budget compared to less than a handful of rival club's , but in no way does that make us a selling club, whether you temper it with "weaker sense" or not. It's the realities of football without a sugar daddy, that your budget for purchases is dictated in some part by revenue generated from sales.

A selling club is one that consistently buys low and sells high, to generate income to cover shortfalls in their finances. We may have shortfalls in finances, but as of yet that is certainly not our M.O. One of two things happen. A) Rafa identifies a player that would improve our squad, and subsequently sells one of the current squad to make room for him (obviously trying to sell as high as possible, and buy as cheaply as possible). This could be precipitated by Rafa feeling a current player needs replacing, as much as it may be a case of having scouted a worthy purchase. B) A player wants to leave through lack of first team football, or is courted by another club, and Rafa subsequently searches for a replacement. Again, we try to sell as high as possible, and buy as cheaply as possible. Neither A), not B) constitutes the actions of a "selling club". A) is about evolution in the absence of City/Chelsea like funds, and B) is just an unavoidable part of football in the modern era.

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Yeah, they were given options on properties for the Palm Jumeirah when they stopped at the Jumeirah Beach Club en-route to the 2002 World Cup. Most of the squad got the chance to get in whilst the thing was still under construction. Very tasty houses they are too.

Horses for courses I guess. Oddly enough, Owen himself may be a rival bidder.