Dr Gloom

i would take a lot of pleasure in seeing owen go to a club like wigan and then them releasing him because he isn't up to it anymore. knowing our luck though he will rediscover his form next season and earn an england recall

someone was right! i've got to admit, i never considered relegation at all possible until the nightmare transfer window closed and keegan walked. even then it didn't appear inevitible until after jfk was appointed.

Season starts in 52 days. We have an owner who wants to sell, no manager and an already depleated squad has only shown signs of reducing in size. What's more the current incumbents of the ownership of the club have evidently given up and are putting absolutely zero effort into sorting out the mess. All they want to do is sell - talk about rats abandoning a sinking ship. This club is by far in the worst mess I've ever witnessed in 27 years and quite possibly worse than at any time before save perhaps for when West End went bust over 100 years ago. IF (and it's a massive IF) we get sold quickly and have some time to rebuild then maybe I'll share your optimism. At the moment it's all looking too much of a mess though. it's a massive mess. rudderless ship as long as ashley is in charge, which sadly looks like being the start of the season at this stage.

it'll be a disaster if it isn't sold before the start of the season.

its more because of deluded fans like yourself. i'm not deluded. i know we're a crap football side. i don't think we have a divine right to win anything or even stay in the top flight. we got what we deserved. the jealousy over the fact that we have so many fans turning out despite all of this is the reason most supporters of other clubs give us stick. it's obvious

yes. someone like dave kitson would probably do a job

the average age of the team if we were to buy the targets listed in that slideshow would be about 22. i reckon you need a much bigger dose of experienced old pros to get out this division.

more teams so less chance of us getting relegated too

isn't because we think we have a divine right for success. we're not glory supporters. we haven't won owt for most of our lifetimes. the main reason is jealousy. other fans are jealous of the fact that we have filled a 52,000 for years despite being shite. most other clubs wouldn't get the gates we've had watching such consistently bad football. i suspect attendences will dip now - the blessing will be that attention from bitter, jealous fans of other clubs and the media will also slump

some of the comments here are harsh. yes he was frustrating but he's still been our best striker in the 3 seasons since shearer retired. i doubt we'll replace him with a better player. that said, it's obvious he has to go. we can't afford his wages post-relegation and we'll get some wedge for him - he would destroy most championship defences mind.

one good thing about us going down (hopefully), might be a lack of interest in us by the media and fewer of these ill informed and cliched articles

i think if we can keep taylor, bassong and beye, we'll have a good nucleus of defenders that can perform at championship level. can we afford heir wages though? i presume it's the attackers that are all on the massive wedge and they can all fuck off tbf

don't really care who wins but hope it's more of a spectacle than most cup finals. they tend to be massive bores

i thought strachan was nailed on. doubt he'll ever come here now then

Me too as long as 3 of our four across midfield wasn't nolan, butt and smith and barton

I agree tbh I know he's only had 8 games and all but i've seen no sign at all that he's going to be a good manager. Most of the time he just sits on his arse and lets Dowie do the work. If we had even a remote chance of getting Martinez in, I'd be far more open to that than Shearer staying on. it's sad but true but shearer is the only man for the job now. yes he has zero experience and everything to prove but he has all of the public support and ashley knows that. shearer is the only man who can offer the club any stability right now, assuming he signs a contract. say he gives martinez the job (and he's daft enough to take it) - fans would be on his back if we're not in the top 6 by xmas. shearer will be given time to get it right. that's what the club needs right now - some continuity. also, shearer is likely to command a lot more control and respect from ashley than any other managerial appointment (despite his lack of credentials) precisely because ashley knows the fans back him to the hilt. i don't think anyone bar sky sports and the red tops are saying he's the messaiah. but most of us recognise he's the only man out for the job in the current circumstances

the amount of time it's all taking shows shearer is obviously demanding ashley gives him total control over the playing staff and a healthy transfer budget to get us back up. this is good news. he's got ashley back into a corner - if he doesn't give al what he wants and he walks, fans will stay away in thousands and give him hell. his only other option will be to sell up. if i was a neutral, i'd be fascinated watching to see how it pans out. as a fan, i'm shitting it

if we can hang on to beye and taylor we've got half a back 4 that can do a job in the championship. lovenkrads can fuck right off tbf

ashley says sorry to fans for mistakes made this season and says talks with shearer are ongoing - ssn

get kanu in

get someone like kanu in up front and a younger lad with some pace alongside him

if shearer stays, i can see us pulling in some decent championship-standard players. the trick is to get in a couple of experienced old heads in and surround them with some pacy, younger players. sol campbell is a good shout. him and taylor at the back would do a job. nicky butt can probably mix it in the championship. someone like paul merson or teddy sheringham up front too - they were both different class when they helped take pompey up.

a few more fun away days too. surely we're going to win more than the two we managed away from home this season

Aye, another 3 years. Testimonial time soon for the Fenham Pele! on the plus side, the championship is probably his level so he's maybe worth keeping. i doubt he's on massive wages Aye I thought that about the Championship, but then it was pointed out to me that he was as shit at Stoke as he is here. he's destined to be warming the bench then regardless of what division we drop into. may as well offer him a contract for life

Aye, another 3 years. Testimonial time soon for the Fenham Pele! on the plus side, the championship is probably his level so he's maybe worth keeping. i doubt he's on massive wages