Portsmouth as Chelsea Mk II?

On the other hand, if this prices that fucker with bell out of his seat, then I approve wholeheartedly.

The takeover has been confirmed. My uniformed suspicion is that nowhere near £100M is going to be made available, and that this is more like a Romanov situation than an Abramovich one. As Matt says, Portsmouth would be a bizarre pick for someone intent on all-star mega success.

In which case I'm sure some Saints fans will have as good a time as I have with Hearts.

scroll down the videos on the left hand side of the page till you find the entry that says "one in the eye for harry redknapp".

Portsmouth does seem an odd place, surely Villa, Leeds, Wolves etc have a greater potential support to tap into?

actually, sorry, i don't.

Also, DJ Martian (and Swygart) to thread! - xpost

Some excellent clips there, by the way. Any chance to marvel at diCanio is OK by me, and also to laugh at Big Bad John Hartson kicking Eyal Berkovic in the head.

At best they will end up like Middlesbrough.

Noe Pamarot = ha ha.

New Ground Development in 3 stages:

first stage: 28,000
second stage: 35,000 - bigger than plastic skip of st marys
and a possible third stage of 40, 000

Portsmouth have massive potential, there are NO league clubs in West Sussex [to the east of Hampshire] and Surrey [to the North]. Portsmouth could attract more fans in places Chichester and Bognor Regis. Portsmouth could draw in extended crowds from Guildford.

Add in Gosport, Havant and Isle of Wight. Also between Gosport towards Southampton there is a significant new housing building programme.

Add in MOST of Hampshire minus Southampton and Portsmouth have fans in places like Basingstoke, Winchester, Aldershot.

With Southampton likely to ROT in the championship, Portsmouth can extend their fan base westwards towards Salisbury and even as far north as Swindon.

Regarding transfers, we need them badly as Zajec was the biggest clown ever when it came to signing players.

Pompey sell Yakuba for 7.5 Million to Boro, [3 Million went to Macabi Israel club] - an extra 4.5 Million come into the club.

They decide not to take up the 1.5 Million option of Diomansy Kamera, sent him back to Italy and West Brom buy him.

Ricardo Fuller sold to Southampton for 90, 000

Vine sold to Luton for 250,000

Pericard eventually loaned to Sheff Utd

Todorov not deemed totally match fit by Perrin

So Portsmouth needed new strikers in the summer, what happened:

A useless untried overweight African bought in on the cheap for 500K Mbesumba - who was bought as a total gamble
A useless Norwegian carthorse, Karadas loaned from Benfica for 300K - who is not a prolific striker
And a last minute free transfer in Dario Silva - who is not a prolific striker

This is what Zajec gave Perrin to work with, which resulted in not enough goals and Perrin getting the chop. Even Reading in the division below spent more on one player, that Leroy Lita from Bristol City.

Zajec's other buys for Pompey were all poor from last January transfer window.

Last January for instance Pompey off-loaded their central midfield duo Quashie and Faye - combined over 4 million transfer funds in, they bring an average short arsed stocky Greek guy that would look more at home at a mid table championship club, a useless Greek clown Goalie and a Slovenian striker for 1 Million who was so bad that Perrin off loaded him to a Turkish club at the first opportunity.

In the summer Zajec bought in players who couldn't speak English [Vukic, Viafara] and sub standard players like Gregory Vignal. No right wing player was bought in for the departing Stone. Laurent Robert spat out his dummy, and was not a team player in a struggling side.

Portsmouth badly needed these new 5 signings so far in the January 2006 transfer window to make up for the LACK OF QUALITY in the last 2 transfer windows.

If you add in the transfer funds generated last January, plus the profit from the Yak transfer, plus the money that was NOT spent in the transfer market in the summer, even with new investment money coming into the club - Portsmouth's net in/outs over the past 12 months are NOT that significant compared to your typical Mid premiership team even accounting for 11 million + spent so far this window.

Pompey tried to go the cheapo option with Zajec and it resulted in [near?] disaster, let's hope the new players and Harry can rescue Pompey.

Apparently more players are on the way, with Harry targeting a new left back, a right sided player, a goalie and even another striker.

surely Villa, Leeds, Wolves etc have a greater potential support to tap into?

-- ailsa

Villa can't fill their ground and Birmingham the city is a big ghastly urban sprawl with zilch culture

Leeds is Kenneth Bates new toy

Wolves - a more bleak landscape than Birmingham. Who would want to live there? with the new ground development [Stage 2], Pompey will be bigger than Wolves.

Portsmouth is well connected for international travel, Heathrow and Gatwick can easily be reached. So ideal for the international business person.

There was a some kind of study a few years ago (mid-90s?) to see how local the support was for each Premiership team, something like what percentage of its supporters or season ticket holders came from beyond, say, a ten-mile or twenty-mile radius of the stadium, and Leeds came bottom - they had the lowest proportion of 'local' fans. I was amazed at this, as I would have guessed Liverpool or Manchester United. I suppose that whereas those two have a relatively small number of fans travelling a very long way (from the south-east, Ireland, and Norway!), Leeds must have a relatively large proportion travelling a 'medium' distance (say from Lincolnshire or North Yorkshire). Whatever - there should be a lot more Leeds fans from Leeds.

He also, like, won the Champions League with Porto. Good vision, good passing range, excellent first touch. Not an enormous amount of skill on the ball but he'll definitely enhance the Pompey side.

rofl

I am not saying one of the biggest clubs in world football, i am just saying when stage 2 is implemented at 35, 000 - Portsmouth would be rightly a premiership club in terms of support.

those donuts at Boro, Blackburn, Bolton, - already have modern stadiums but can't fill them. Portsmouth with new facilities and a decent team would be a bigger club than all 3 of those.

How many clubs in England IF they are/ could be in the premiership could get 35, 000 +

Manchester Utd
Arsenal
Chelsea
Liverpool
Everton
Man City
Sunderland
Spurs
Aston Villa
Newcastle
West Ham
West Brom

Leeds
Derby
Wolves
Sheff Wed

possible

Birmigham City ?
Ipswich ?
Charlton? [Have expansion plans]

and in time Portsmouth

Villa can't fill their ground and Birmingham the city is a big ghastly urban sprawl with zilch culture

I *know* Villa/Wolves etc can't fill a decent-sized stadium at present, but with the greatest respect, neither can Portsmouth. I'm suggesting that they have a greater catchment area and the bonus of the "former giant of English football" syndrome, so maybe an influx of money + players would make people go back. If you read my post, I did say "potential support".

Also, wtf does "culture" have to do with anything?

Wolves - a more bleak landscape than Birmingham. Who would want to live there?

You don't have to move somewhere to support your team. East End of Glasgow = shithole (by and large, with all due apologies to Madchen who lives in the nice bit), but a fair amount Celtic fans don't come from there. Sorry for dragging Celtic into this, but they had cack attendances and were in danger of going under until Fergus McCann arrived with his big wallet and five-year plan. Suddenly they went from home gates of around 15,000 to a 60,000 seater stadium full every week with an 11,000+ waiting list for season tickets. I'm pretty sure that there's a latent support somewhere in the West Midlands waiting for a decent team to shell money out on to watch. I'm sure there's one there too in Hampshire, but, you know, Portsmouth...I just don't buy it.

I thought your list was of clubs that could theoretically get average crowds of over 35,000 (if they were in the Premiership and had a big enough stadium). I'm pretty sure that none of Wolves, Birmingham or West Brom have a stadium that holds 30,000, never mind 35,000, so I don't think you can exclude Forest on that basis.

I included Leeds on my 35K list. So what's the problem?

Also Leeds is England's 3rd largest City, so it deserves a top flight club.

My predictions for Promotion: Reading, Sheffield Utd and Leeds.

Next week: Dunstable to challenge Rio for world party capital.

Any plans for another new stadium for the Cobblers?

Chelsea have limited spare capacity re new fans, and Pompey ticket prices are cheaper. There are opportunities to expand.

Hampshire, including Isle of Wight, West Sussex, Surrey - Pompey's catchment area is significant - even parts of Berkshire, Wiltshire, Dorset can be reached.

And why on earth would Gaydamak choose Portsmouth and not a bigger club like Villa or someone?

-- Alba

because a 15 million ownership stake was on offer at pompey, deadly doug wants 64 million? for villa

also Gaydamak was impressed with Pompey's vocal support/passion for the team

Bollocks. If people want to support Chelsea, they can easily do so without going to games. Why settle for a different team just because they have seats in their stadium? No-one (OK, hardly anyone) is going to suddenly switch their allegiance to a different team in the same league just because they can't get a season ticket to their first choice, are they?

Martian, the Bristol Rovers comment is, of course, deeply stupid, partly because I have never been moron enough to suggest that Rovers are about to become one of the best-supported clubs, and partly because Bristol is a very big city, and we have Bath a few miles away, and strong connections there too, from our years of exile - I think that offers the same theoretical potential as Surrey and Hampshire. In fact, in the unlikely event that Bristol Rovers ever became a top side on the pitch, I would think we could muster only half-decent support - judging from Bristol City's brief top division foray, even then we would be one of the worst-supported clubs in the top flight. It's not a strong football territory.

I did think about reviving this thread last weekend but at the time I thought it might be a cheap shot. Now I'm quite happy to pile on with everyone else.

1. A Dramatic Survival - 16 Games Left it goes down to the wire and Pompey survive.

it looks like Sunderland plus 2

There is still West Brom, Boro, Birmingham and Pompey "in the mix" - 2 will survive and 2 will go. Villa, Newcastle and Fulham are 7 points above the trapdoor, they should have enough to survive - but what if one of these goes on a very poor run at the end of season.

West Brom must been in a bad way to lose to Sunderland at home. Whilst Boro are a team made up of big time charlies + locals who keep losing.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/premiership.html

Never forget there have been some dramatic escapes in the past, this time 12 months ago everyone had written off WBA. Remember when Oldham won all of their last 3 matches and stayed up.

The teams that stay up, will be those that turn draws into wins - re the second half of matches.

Personally I reckon it could well go to the last game of the season.

or

2. Pompey don't get enough points and have to "Prepare for Life" in the Championship come next August - they would need to regroup and bounce back - ala examples of Charlton and West Brom.

The roots of the problem this season have been Zajec's / Perrin's transfer policy in the summer - particularly in the Forward dept and letting Arjan De Zeeuw go back to Wigan - was a plank of a decision.

The 2 previous season's I was confident that Pompey would stay up.

1st season - start well, then a fairly poor run till mid February, then finished the season on storming form.

2nd season - Pompey start well - Mid table, Harry leaves - Zajec & Jordan take control - not enough wins means Pompey plunged close to the drop. Perrin comes in, a vital victory against Southampton ensures Pompey stay up.

3rd season - the wrong signings made, not enough fire power - Perrin lacks charisma/leadership skills and too many cautious tactics. Perrin gets the chop. Harry comes back, a few decent results, some signings made then back to losing matches. Trouble is Pompey have a 3 part Squad/ Team - Harry era 1, plus Zajec/Perrin era, plus Harry era 2 - there have been so many changes in the past year resulting in a lack of cohesion.

It looks like Harry has gone for "Width" & "Pace" with 2 loans, can these two provide the ammo for the strikers ?

Wayne Routledge and Koroman - Join Pompey

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has continued his rebuilding job at Fratton Park by snapping up Tottenham winger Wayne Routledge and Serbia & Montenegro international Ognijen Koroman on loan until the end of the season.

http://digbig.com/4gcth

Koroman, 27 year old Serbia & Montenegro International midfielder - plays on the Right Wing apparently is known for his fast attacking style
http://www.jadransport.org/articles/2465.html
Seems to have interested Benfica

Q: Will there be any more new recruits?

Johnny Hartson - to reunite with Harry ? wild rumours that a bid of 2 Million or even a 2.5 Million deal could be on the table - take it or leave it BIG offer to tempt Celtic to cash in

or

Benni Mccarthy in record 6.1 Million Deal ?
Tonight, Milan is to busy to speak to the Quay Radio in Portsmouth - as he is trying to arrange more deals.

or

4 Million deal for Central Defender Diawara [spelling?] from French side Schouax ?

ha, Ailsa - Celtic have signed Dion "The Donkey" Dublin - ancient & past it !

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?HLID=358664&CPID=8&title=Pompey+eye+D

Argentine star Andres D'Alessandro looks to be on his way to England and skysports.com understand that Portsmouth are hoping to seal his signature.

Apparently he is "a playmaker"? - yet another midfielder !

was a 9 Million Euros signing for Wolfsburg from River Plate in 2003

Collins "Chunky" Mbesumba [Striker with South African experience] + Aliou Cisse [Defensive Midfield] + 1.5 Million in cash for Hartson.

How did Vignal perform at Rangers in the SPL?

Actually compared to some of the monsters at Ibrox, he wasn't that bad. Here is a comedy picture of him shitting himself at the sight of Neil Lennon's foot.

http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/empics/2264763

NO DEAL ! staying at Celtic

http://portsmouth.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=922&p=2&stid=8402251

Meanwhile Mandaric has admitted he has given up on the chase for Hartson after Celtic vowed again he was going nowehre.

The SPL leaders turned down a £1.2m bid last week and said the 30-year-old was not for sale at any price.

Mandaric said: 'There is nothing further we can do. Hartson will not be coming. The situation is simple; Celtic gave us a definite no and we will now have to look elsewhere. We respect Celtic's decision.'

Quashie will end up at West Brom, and D'Allesandro is the latest "new Maradona" to disappear into nothingness... so yeah, he may well end up at Pompey, wonder how he'll enjoy the championship

Good to see Wayne Routledge is benefitting from his agent agitating for a move to Spurs from Palace to help his career.

DJ Martian (or anyone else) (apart from William Bloody Swygart), is there anything to do in Portsmouth???

arent there loads of naval destroyers and stuff in portsmouth or something? hang out there, if so.

http://www.geoff-thomas.com/

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/jamiefake/tempP2110290.jpg

The new Stamford Bridge hosts the new Chelsea as they power their way to within 48 points of the leaders:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/jamiefake/tempP2110303.jpg

PLANKS at SCOTLAND YARD must stop picking on Sir Harry Redknapp with trumped up charges. Should arrest STEVE McCLOWN instead for real crimes against football. Accusations, transparent attempt by JOSE MOURINHO to knock strongest candidate out of running for plum ENGLAND job.

JAMIE must persuade Louise Redknapp to record with DARKWAVE legends SHE WANTS REVENGE to raise funds for a defence lawyer who uses SYSTEMS THINKING.

Ha.

(That's ha at the thread, not Portsmouth's plight, sorry)

In hindsight, this thread is both hilarious and heartbreakingly pathetic.

Asked in the rolling thread but more appropriate here, what's the Antonovs' angle in buying Portsmouth?

There are rumours that it's being financed by third parties using Vladimir as a front, but even as an exercise in hiding assets, it looks like a strange decision.

Not sure if there's much more to it than them being easy to buy. Either that or it's big guys settling debts to one another somehow. When I was a lad there were stories that the local Chinese restaurants changed hands every week due to the proprietors' stereotypical love of gambling - Pompey might be the oligarch's equivalent, who knows?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/23/russian-banker-coma-london-shooting

The Russian banker who was shot near Canary Wharf earlier in the week was supposedly behind the attempted assassination of Vladimir Antonov's father. He was reported to be terrified about the Antonovs hitting back.

Stuff like this can't be good for London's status as a refuge for dodgy Russian money

Yeah, not sure how it compares to the other relatively safe bolt-hole, Tel Aviv, but it's probably more secure than most places, still.

It looks like Gorbuntsov admitted playing a part in the assassination attempt and wanted to testify against the people who he blamed for planning it, so it could have been the Antonovs or their rivals who wanted him dead. Ramzan Kadyrov, the President of Chechnya's mixed up in it as well. It's all crazy.

Fan-owned!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voK6C8tcIBY

one fan in particular i hope

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fXny66xabgU/T8IS8id038I/AAAAAAAAAjg/FNZk1mXV_qQ/s1600/John+Westwood.jpg

Now for Chelsea as Portsmouth Mk II with any luck