There is no doubt that Pompey haven't had the best of seasons, but inconsistent would spring to mind rather than dire. The players have had to adapt to new systems and cope with injuries and suspensions and will probably finish midtable but this still isn't enough for Milan who feels that a 'precedent' needs to be set. What the likes of Dave Waterman and Mladen Rudonja must think is anyone's guess.
These players have come in and done a good job, as have the majority of players who have turned out for Portsmouth this season. The major blip occured on Saturday against West Brom, but does this really warrant a months cut in wages? Although rich, players have mortgages, families and bills to pay every month as well.
Whether this move is warranted or not, the legality of it all also seems to have been forgotten. It will be very interesting to see what the PFA will make of this situation. Although informed, the players are still unsure of what is happening with a delegation of them arriving at Fratton Park in the morning (friday) to see what's going on - the words disbelief sprung to mind when Fratton Faithful quizzed some current and ex-players on the matter. Shaun Derry, Scott Hiley and Kevin Harper will meet the chairman and try and get him to change his mind - to the tune of £700,000.
Then we have a timing issue - after an excellent win against Coventry on Tuesday, Mandaric has choosen to go public with this matter a day before a true 'twelve pointer' against Walsall on Saturday. Quite whether the players will play with the same grit and passion now remains to be seen. Mandaric explained the method behind the maddness to the official site:
"The performances this season lead me to wonder just why I am paying some of them extortionate wages. "Some of our supporters have to keep down two jobs to feed their families and barely survive. These players earn thousands a week and the great supporters in this city who fork out hard earned wages from five days a week, eight hours a day, deserve better."
The statement was rounded off with a statement fitting to the club's current obsession and paranoia with the shady world of copyright:
"Other clubs should beware because there could be a patent on this novel idea to save money at a football club and it should not be copied."
Copyrighting an idea?? Now there's a story in its own right...