Chapter 1: What is Kieron McVay's 10-point plan for Pompey's survival?
Diehard Pompey supporter Kieron McVay contacts Pompey Sound from his home in China. Kieron, a teacher of English as a foreign language and enthusiastic seven-a-side player in a serious local league, followed Pompey on his PC. But this season watches the game more often in the comfort of one of the countless sports bars in China, showing Premier League and Championship games.
He has messaged us his 10-point plan for Pompey's survival. 10. Buy more Ebo Adams. 10 of him and we can be on the beach in three games. 9.
Chapter 2: How can opening bars early impact matchday atmosphere?
If it's a 12.30 kickoff, open the bars around Fratton Park at 8 in the morning. 8. Slip the ref a double-headed coin. Kicking into the Milton End first half is the first big cheer of the game. 7. Round up the handful of Misery Guts keyboard warriors, give them a red and white scarf and tell them to keep out and stay out.
Chapter 3: What unconventional strategies are proposed for team morale?
6. Make the players watch The Great Escape followed by Zulu every afternoon after training, prime examples of courage and adversity. 5. Make the players grow Marlon Pac beards and get his tats too. Why hasn't he got the VC yet? 4. Rent Michael Eisner a huge penthouse apartment overlooking Gunn Wharf, like Milan Mandaric did.
And keep him here till season end so he can smell the fear and drink the joy. 3. Put a lollipop lady on the two-foot alleyway next to the main entrance. Is it still the nightmare bottleneck it always was? 2. Put misleading signs up backstage for the opposition, such as, pitch, this way, pointing to the exit. Fratton Park is a known maze behind the scenes, let's mess with the opposition. 1.
Score more goals, concede less. Er, that's it.
At least one Championship club has raised concerns over a potential conflict of interest involving Northern Ireland and Blackburn Rovers manager Michael O'Neill. BBC Radio Oxford understands Oxford United are one of those uncomfortable with a situation whereby four of their players could be called on for an international friendly by the manager of another side fighting for Championship survival.
Northern Ireland face Wales on Tuesday with Oxford's Jamie Donnelly, Ciaran Brown, Brodie Spencer and Jamie McDonnell all part of the squad. Blackburn, 19th in the Championship, are four points above the 23rd-placed U's in the table. Portsmouth defender Terry Devlin and West Brom midfielder Isaac Price are also in the Northern Ireland squad.
Pompey are one point above the drop zone, while the Baggies are four points clear of the bottom three. Uncapped Blackburn defender Tom Acheson is the sole Rovers player picked by O'Neill. The EFL confirmed they had been contacted by one or more clubs regarding the matter, but it was not an issue that would be dealt with by them.
They added international call-up and release policy was governed by FIFA. And the relevant National Association and team and squad selection decisions were made independently by each National Association manager. They said they would expect all selection decisions to be taken with integrity and in a way that does not bring the game into disrepute.
Wow, well done the EFL. That's a classic example of PTB passing the buck. It's nothing to do with us. You'll have to tell FIFA about it because they don't want to get involved. Because it's labyrinthine, that's to say, it's a maze, it's a moral maze, who can tell?
Is he likely to send his players out there telling them that they've got to go for every 50-50, they've got to risk a broken leg out there because they want to win in this friendly against Wales so much? But that their international futures depend on the performance that they give. And as a consequence, they return to their clubs.
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