It was all change on the snooze more than a year ago. Most of the decent posters stopped because of the misery on there. Shortly after it was invaded by Saints (fans?) who go on there to wum. There are a lot of them as well, some with several names. For a while I watched the goings-on, but ultimately got bored with the peurile and juvenile posters. Not the place to pose a serious question, or to expect a decent response. Avoid it - it's just a health hazard now.
a very refreshing view from a southampton fan. i have followed Portsmouth from the age of 5 and even though i come from the bognor regis area it is impossible not to get caught up in the unwavering support and passion of the hard core 8-10k pompey fans. did i really just hear someone bragging that you made more noise then our 3k in your own ground? just goes to show how much you expect of us! The modern grounds have killed a lot of the atmosphere by inviting a different type of supporter (families women oaps etc) wind back the clocks 20-30 years and the grounds would be packed with young and middle aged blokes, the old grounds retain this to a certain extent and therefore avoid the prawn sandwich crew for the most part and keep a lot of the good old fashion atmosphere, having visited most of the newer grounds about i can honestly say the only one thats been decent noise wise is Cardiff. as for bringing up the mindless idiots that call themselves pompey fans that had a pop at billy, its a bit childish really. have a look at some of the abuse Halford received from your lot about his family and the "hope you die in a car crash" that henderson got in the build up to the last derby. unfortunately all teams have an element of twats that follow thats just part of life you are certainly not one that doesn't.
In fairness Pompey Ant I am afraid you went close to joining that group with your posts elsewhere. Anyway the "whose fans are better" debate will go on forever, but if you really think about it the answer is neither, no fans are better than any other. The whole debate just comes from team rivalry and doesn't really mean much. Ian - interesting views, I just wonder how that squares with the modern scenario where a lot more families, children, women attend than previously, it seems too easy to group them under one category. You are right though to say that our core support increased gradually through the Premiership years, probably peaking after the FA Cup/Europe era, and I'm sure this helped us to keep a good gate when we dropped to the depths.
Qwerty Agreed. I think that Southampton have actually done a lot of the attract women and children to football. Even though I always felt we were a "family club" since the days of the old chocolate boxes at the Dell. For me, this is where Southampton have done exceptionally well. Where I sit in the Chapel Stand, there are probably about 33% women - a bit different from the very much male dominated experience of the Dell albeit I think kids have always been present at the club. The sooner we move away from the Neanderthal attitudes such as those experienced on The News , the better. I think that the view of these idiots doesn't warrant consideration whereas the more interesting and considered comments on this thread are more to my interest.
As I have already stated, I have respect for Ian's opinions and have frequently agreed with his posts. On this one however, I am somewhat confused. Most of the Pompey supporters on here seem somewhat embarrassed by the much ridiculed opinion that they are the "best supporters" in the land. "We have never claimed that" is a constant response. In fairness, it's the media which started the whole thing, possibly as a result of the acoustics at Fratton Park and a much publicised man with a bell who makes a nice easy photo for the tabloids. Football fans always accuse each other of not singing or being passionate compared to themselves, but Ian's argument seems to be that Saints fans are a different "class" to the "typical Pompey fan" and that Pompey fans have unreasonably high expectations of their team. This all just seems to perpetuate the whole unhelpful myth based on assumed, approximated averages about demographics.
Good point, I must admit I have been on there trying to create peace and harmony, but mostly falls on deaf ears of a very nasty vindictive minority, occasionally you get some sense, but the sensible ones always get slagged off and flamed, pity really because there is some good crack to be had. Lucky we have sense on here! Yourself included.
Good point Ian, it is my mantra to rid both Clubs of the neanderthals, a thankless task but I don't give up easily. The best posts are always the ones with a point of view, no matter how controversial, as long as it isn't tainted with personal abuse and swearing which serve no purpose.
How about changing it to "We aspire to be the best supporters in the land" and let others decide. Never was one for ego trips but I do know that Saints supporters are, in the majority, pretty good at the moment, but it is so nebulous that things can change extremely quickly, success breeds success.
Strewth it is like the old days in re-incarnation again.......We shout louder than you.......no you don't we are louder. We have the best fans in the world.......no you don't we do. We have the biggest crowds .........ok I'll stop there! Did you notice though.....not one swear word........not one vitriolic comment......just good old fashioned rivalry and a bit of banter. I am glad that Saints have managed to keep to a family club image. Yes going back it was mostly a men's hideaway, along with their sons. Then later their daughters....then their wives. The gentle sex these days are no less vocal and by all accounts vitriolic when they want to be. Certainly where I sit there is a few "ladies" that constantly call some players and officials parentage and worse into question frequently. As for the Pompey Saints rivalry the fair sex are not less patriotic although it usually stops at the verbal and vitriolic. I would suggest this is no less up and down the country. We as men think that football is solely still a mans domain with the odd female thrown in....I suggest you look around you.......there is a lot more of the fairer sex around in the crowd than you think. Although it is true some seem to blend in too well as you can hardly tell the difference......Oh strewth I've done it now......oh well I guess I'll be ducking a diving for a while.............
There have always been female supporters, but seating has made the ground safer for women and children. I know a few men might still prefer a boys day out and why not, but I'm sure others love making it a family day out. It's a lot easier to get to all games if your wife/GF is willing to sacrifice stupid things like food and clothes because she wants to go as well My son wouldn't have been to half the games he attended if I wasn't the first to the ticket office.
How many times has this got to be said....!!!!! If fratton park holds 10 people and 9 turn up that means they have 90% attendance. If st marys holds 100,000 and 89,000 turn up thats a 89% attendance.In pompey land that means they have better support.Dumb dumbs......
I you go back to any post where I mention attendances you will find that at no point whatsoever have I done so in any attempt claim Pompey have better or more loyal support. The only reason it was mentioned in this thread by me was in the context of showing how poor form on-field will effect the number of supporters who turn up on match days. Please, in the future, do not take the original comment out of context.
After this afternoon's results it might be necessary to start a new thread asking whether Portsmouth's fans are the most religious in the country!
The best way for comparison is if they get relegated what will there average be next season ? Catchments area are a smokescreen , people either go to the game or they do not , its as simple as that . I read above that Liverpool have a working class support ? True they do but not like Everton or Tranmere , their fans come from all over Cheshire , the Wirral and Lancashire , not to mention China , Norway and Ireland so that statement is a load of rubbish , pompeys attitude towards their club is indifferent at best but its their hatred of Southampton thats stands out and they are not to be confused , they may not go to the match but a high proportion of the Island dislike/hate Sotonians with a passion . But again not to the point of actually going to the match as they failed to sell out their ground for the earlier game (still their highest attendance of the season) , in short their Island Ze Germans are coming mentality stands out more than anything and thats something us Sotonians do not have because we do not have as such a cul-de-sac mantality .
Generalizing statement. There is a core support which cares deeply and passionately for the club, there is another side which is indifferent unless the club is being successful, then there's the type that support it because its local but dont really care all that much about it and there are those who care about it but place it low on a list of priorities in their lives. Additionally, there are Pompey fans who have a deep a passionate hatred for Southampton, there are also Pompey fans who are indifferent towards Southampton, there are some who like Southampton and others who may just feel some sense of comeradery in being a unfashionable southern team as all teams below London are - to the media at least. Diversity can be found in all walks of life and supporters of football clubs are no exception. My personal stance. I care about the club quiet a great deal but unfortunately I do not have a lot of spare cash lying around and bills and money needed for every day life takes priority over it. Additionally my opinion of Southampton fluxuates from one of a manner of fondness to indifference.
