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Writer: pompeyrug 
Date:Friday January 15 2010
Time: 6:02PM
UK time is: 19:19:08
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Grant 'baffled' by James talk?
David James looked nailed on to join Stoke this time last night. Pompey remained tight lipped on the issue but Tony Pulis had, more than once, confirmed talks with the England keeper before the deal broke down today.
Although Avram Grant says he 'does not know what happened' with James, and appears to be suggesting that he was unaware of a 'possible' departure?
Grant said, speaking in his press conference ahead of the game tomorrow: 'I must tell you honestly that I don't know what happened (concerning James).
'From my point of view, he was training with the team and nothing happened.
'He trained today and he trained the day before. There wasn't any problem and I don't know what was happening.'
This is truly bizarre if the manager does not even know what is going on and if a player is in talks about leaving the club without him even knowing?
As far as Grant is concerned James is staying with Pompey, as is everyone else: 'he belongs to the team and I want him to stay in the team.
'I've heard many clubs want our players but we want to keep our players.
'We had 16 players in the squad on Tuesday and tomorrow, if everyone is fit, it will be 18. So we cannot give players to the other teams and we don't want to.'
The 39-year-old is in the squad tomorrow but it is not known if he will replace Asmir Begovic or not or even take a place on the bench - if he even does that? For me I think Begovic deserves to retain his place so I can see no reason why he should not to be honest!
Jamie O'Hara is most definitely out of the game though as his loan has now ended, although Grant says he would like to bring him back but his main focus at the moment is 'getting three points against Birmingham' and then he will worry about 'the ban and registering player' after.
He did say that he knew nothing more about the embargo though, but was focusing on the game anyway so did not want to talk about the issue anymore.
I am still totally 'baffled', probably more so than Grant over this whole David James issue - surely he must have known what was going on?
Does this mean James was never going anyway?
If so, and this was being done without Grant's knowledge or say so this is not going to work is it? Players being sold without his say so will not go down well - assuming that is what was happening anyway?
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Your Comments
Its bad when even Pompey supporters know more than their manager!
Super Bock 1898
It would not be the first time that players were being bought and sold at Pompey without the knowledge of the manager.
eastneydave
The owners say they are dissapointed by the fans reaction to them. Well you have to say they don't show any initiative on any matters related to the "myths and gossip" being created by the lazy media, other clubs, our own internal staff, in this case Grant. If, as some of you say we had the balls to tell Stoke to get lost about Jamo, why haven't they got the balls to put out statements about what is happening. They have no idea about PR, the way they are handling things is just playing into the gossip mongers hands. I just despair at how inept they are at EVERYTHING. For Christ sake's it not rocket science to run a football club properly despite financial difficulties. It's far fetched I know, but can you imagine what they will get up if we do get out of this mess. The mind boggles.
Mike1954
I think the whole stoke thing may have been a ploy to flush out any other interested parties ?? Time will tell, but hey, not surprised that communication within the club seems a little bewildering, it would match with the communication out of the club !!! (He says in his January 2010 positive stance mode ! eek)
PUP
BarneyArmy
Storrie has just been on sky saying Stoke were being unreasonable and that they were unofficial talks saying there was no official approach only telephone calls which were not sufficient enough to even contemplate talking to Avrim. So there we have it, standard practice in football to agree a deal in principal before discussion is had with the manager. But as Dave notes, not the first time Pompey ( Storrie) have struck a deal without even telling the player or manager.
russellm
the way football 'works' these days is frightening...
pompeyrug
Its not the first time Avram appears to be out of the loop on things. Its appalling and no way to run a football club. Perhaps he should start listening to the football hour to find out what's going on!! Mike is spot on with the poor PR by the owners, and its so important at a football club - if they could get that right, in fact if they could make an effort at it, everyone would probably be so much calmer. Thats why we think they don't care.
tracyc
100% tracyc, that is why some people want to march.
007
He's only the manager! what the heck does he need to know? ;-)
pentonpompey
ANOTHER EMBARASSMENT FOR AVRAM. IN FACT I AM FED UP WITH OUR CLUB BEING SUCH AN EMBARASSMENT TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE. WHAT WITH THE 'TAX CHEATING' ANTICS OF STORRIE, MANDARIC AND REDKNAPP, AND NOW ALL THIS MIDDLE-EAST FARCE, WE ARE NOW THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE FOOTBALL WORLD. AFTER 50 YEARS OF LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF SAINTS, AND LOOKING ENVIOUSLY DOWN THE ROAD AT DAVIES, PAINE, CHANNON, BALL, KEEGAN, SHILTON, WRIGHT, SHEARER, LE TISSIER ETC ETC, AND AT THEIR LONG TOP FLIGHT SUPREMACY, AND THEN AT THEIR STADIUM AND THEIR FIRST RATE TRAINING FACILITIES, IT SEEMS THAT OUR MOMENT OF GLORY HAS BLOWN UP SPECTACULARLY IN OUR FACES WITHIN 5 MINUTES. I AM SICK OF IT.
hornsea islander
It's very easy to figure it out: of course Grant knew about the stoke discussion, any kid will figure it out. BUT, as the talks weren't ended up fruitful, Grant wanted to make the GK, feel wanted and important in pompey. That's what it is!
alonrose
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