(04-01-2021, 12:06 PM)Wightblue Wrote: Still a way off but wasn’t the Bristol game at the weekend postponed for Covid related reasons ? don't know the details but if Covid is in the Bristol camp won’t that lead to a delay ? If it is played on Sunday, will Jackett put out a full strength side with some critical games coming in the following weeks (Fleetwood, Hull, Lincoln in January)

Jack has had time to recover I hope although it’s a long process for some by all accounts, Nico and Raggett wouldn’t be a disaster (I hope !) and, anyway, I believe getting promoted takes precedent over everything else. Sure a cup run would be exciting and financially beneficial but getting all the way to, say, the sixth round but missing out on promotion would be a disaster in my book. 

We need to escape the glue-pot that is the salary cap or face significant problems with player retention, sure the Championship next season may be a mighty test but fourth from bottom will be enough if we do get promoted.

(04-01-2021, 12:16 PM)DeepBlue Wrote:

(04-01-2021, 12:06 PM)Wightblue Wrote: Still a way off but wasn’t the Bristol game at the weekend postponed for Covid related reasons ? don't know the details but if Covid is in the Bristol camp won’t that lead to a delay ? If it is played on Sunday, will Jackett put out a full strength side with some critical games coming in the following weeks (Fleetwood, Hull, Lincoln in January)

Jack has had time to recover I hope although it’s a long process for some by all accounts, Nico and Raggett wouldn’t be a disaster (I hope !) and, anyway, I believe getting promoted takes precedent over everything else. Sure a cup run would be exciting and financially beneficial but getting all the way to, say, the sixth round but missing out on promotion would be a disaster in my book. 

We need to escape the glue-pot that is the salary cap or face significant problems with player retention, sure the Championship next season may be a mighty test but fourth from bottom will be enough if we do get promoted.

With no game for the past few weeks Jackett is bound to play a full strength team to get them back into the groove.

And don't underestimate the importance of the financial possibilities of a cup run ... all clubs are in desperate financial straits and we are no exception and with the FA ruling on clubs having to play their cup game if they have 14 players (including youth team) available we have a great chance of going through if City are still weakened by Covid.

(05-01-2021, 12:57 PM)Wightblue Wrote: I understand the short term need for the finance that a cup run might provide but by late 2021 Covid should be at least contained and life, including football, should start to return to normal.

I wonder about the balancing of the short term with the medium term, a cup run which might bring in £1-£2 million might have a price tag of missing promotion as a result of the sheer volume of games being imposed on a squad with too little depth in too many positions.

Would being stuck in L1 for at least another season be anything other than a significant problem ie not being able to afford the players we need to escape at our fourth attempt (I read that Naylor and others out of contract this summer will not be within our Salary Capped means). Many L1 chairmen were pleased to see the cap imposed as a ‘race to the bottom’ exercise where the Pompeys and Sunderlands would have little leverage coming from their larger gates.

I would be as chuffed as anyone on this Board to see Pompey turn over a Premiership club (or two) but not at the cost of promotion. Our owners are reputedly $ billionaires and can comfortably ensure Pompey ride out Covid if they choose, any of you who watched Red Penguins will know exactly what I mean (it’s probably still available on catch-up), Michael Eisner promoting $100 Million investment into a Russian Ice Hockey club together with the owners of Pittsburg Penguins.

I fully accept that Promotion and a Cup run are not mutually exclusive, it’s just that I see escaping from L1 into The Championship (and it’s undoubted challenges) as paramount. I am sure that many, maybe the majority, will not share my view but that’s  what Boards like this are for, a sounding board for fans opinions.

(05-01-2021, 04:26 PM)Isaac Hunt Wrote: I don't really understand why promotion this year is now or never.
3 will still go up next season, cap or no cap

(05-01-2021, 04:48 PM)ForeverPompey Wrote:

(05-01-2021, 04:26 PM)Isaac Hunt Wrote: I don't really understand why promotion this year is now or never.
3 will still go up next season, cap or no cap

True indeed, but I think what troubles me is that the current squad would need to be torn up given we are way over budget. Now, although many are not good enough for the Championship, at least it would put us in a position to make our own decisions about squad and keep those we wanted. As it stands, as I understand it, several would need to take pay cuts they are unlikely to take or move on... probably abroad/ Scotland (is that abroad??) and we would need a major rebuild. It just feels that this is the year we need to get promoted.

(05-01-2021, 07:44 PM)bluebollox Wrote:

(05-01-2021, 04:48 PM)ForeverPompey Wrote:

(05-01-2021, 04:26 PM)Isaac Hunt Wrote: I don't really understand why promotion this year is now or never.
3 will still go up next season, cap or no cap

True indeed, but I think what troubles me is that the current squad would need to be torn up given we are way over budget. Now, although many are not good enough for the Championship, at least it would put us in a position to make our own decisions about squad and keep those we wanted. As it stands, as I understand it, several would need to take pay cuts they are unlikely to take or move on... probably abroad/ Scotland (is that abroad??) and we would need a major rebuild. It just feels that this is the year we need to get promoted.

We're surely not way over budget. We're not over the salary cap either as things stand. But if the players are to be retained (new contracts) then yes it'd be hard to keep them happy under the salary cap rules. 
Isaac-this is surely Kenny's last chance, so for him its now or never.
And if we dont make it it would be difficult for a new manager because with the salary cap in place the lure of better wages in ft of big crowds is gone.

(05-01-2021, 07:44 PM)bluebollox Wrote:

(05-01-2021, 04:48 PM)ForeverPompey Wrote:

(05-01-2021, 04:26 PM)Isaac Hunt Wrote: I don't really understand why promotion this year is now or never.
3 will still go up next season, cap or no cap

True indeed, but I think what troubles me is that the current squad would need to be torn up given we are way over budget. Now, although many are not good enough for the Championship, at least it would put us in a position to make our own decisions about squad and keep those we wanted. As it stands, as I understand it, several would need to take pay cuts they are unlikely to take or move on... probably abroad/ Scotland (is that abroad??) and we would need a major rebuild. It just feels that this is the year we need to get promoted.

We're surely not way over budget. We're not over the salary cap either as things stand. But if the players are to be retained (new contracts) then yes it'd be hard to keep them happy under the salary cap rules. 
Isaac-this is surely Kenny's last chance, so for him its now or never.
And if we dont make it it would be difficult for a new manager because with the salary cap in place the lure of better wages in ft of big crowds is gone.

(06-01-2021, 12:34 PM)Isaac Hunt Wrote: Will the cap system unfairly advantage teams relegated from the Championship. I assume they will have a grace season rather than cut wages immediately