I think these sort of rivalries, the more intense the better, are the life and blood of football. It’s just a shame that a minority of people cannot control their emotions, and cannot distinguish between passion and hate. It’s only a game, of course. But there aren’t many games like this one.
Fran is right. I just want a win, no injuries and none of our small group of mouth-breathers to spoil an otherwise excellent day. I would also like a performance as well but that has not been the usual way of things for this fixture. Maybe, just maybe the fan pressure to not lose the game doesn’t help with that?
Yeah we can obviously all do without the mindless violence and idiocy but I do enjoy the extra tension and edge a derby match brings. Nothing quite like it, and as you say there's not many that are as fierce as ours. This will be the biggest game of the season for most fans on both sides and that's how it should be imo. I'd hate to support a club that doesn't have one of these matches.
You would like to think so but I'm guessing their looking back to the 'fan' who kicked/hit a Sunderland player in the play off match. Imagine having the police have to ask for a tempoary rule change because your supporters can't be trusted to not assault opposition players. Pretty embarrassing really.
It's one thing with rivals, but when it's just another team that your team has no historical rivalry with, what's the point? Against tranmere I saw a fan making a ****er gesture all game towards the tranmere fans, it's like why? And same when I was at Shrewsbury away last season, a couple of Shrewsbury fans spent the entire game making ****e4 gestures at the away fans. It's like I'm a ****er for having been born and growing up in Hampshire and supporting a Hampshire team? K, thanks for letting me know. I don't mind banter, witty chants, you know things like that addams family incest chant, and such but that just seems... Mindless tribalism.
Not looking forward to this for 2 reasons. 1. I never like playing them because of the over intense atmosphere, that goes beyond normal banter. 2. It is played on the day I return from my holiday and I never want my holidays to end.
Yeah, agreed. I went to Brighton last month, and the behaviour of a small number of our fans was frankly embarrassing.
I was born in Portsmouth though I think I've lived it down All teams have some embarrassing fans and I repeat what I said....I don't think our players are under physical threat from the average Pompey fan...though you can't account for the odd fan high on alcohol. A problem that the police might foresee is that a match like this could bring in some people attracted by the love of a ruck rather than the game.
Got an email from the club this morning, saying Portsmouth tickets on sale to you now. That was unexpected, as by my calculations I'm not eligible until Friday: but I logged on, picked a seat, went to Checkout - and got bounced back, because I don't have the necessary 9 aways. Which I already knew. So why the email in the first place? Anybody else have the same experience?
One of the worst things about football is the fans, honestly many of them make me embarrassed to even like this sport.
I didn't have that. However, I was eligible yesterday with 10 games, but the email didn't arrive until about 9:30am, which, had I not set a reminder on my phone, would have been a bit late as the best seats were gone by about 9:15.
I've emailed the club for more info on travelling to this game. I'd like to get the train down and have a half day, so I can go whenever. But, there's been no info on whether we have to get certain trains or if we're free to go when we like. I think they're asking for trouble from stupid minorities if they don't have a more orderly travel plan.
Pretty much proves my point. Why can't football fans be trusted be make their own way to Portsmouth or wherever? Why can't they have a nice day out regardless of what football shirt they wear? Because of some pathetic childish idiots that need to get a grip, that's why
Because the police never turn an opportunity down to get the video cameras rolling and dish out some FBO's? On a more serous note I don't think anyone disagrees with you mate, it's just unfortunately the way of the world.
I can confirm i'll be on the train 6pm from Southampton to Portsmouth, but I will be getting off long before it reaches Fratton. Just the normal commute for me .
"We regret to announce that this train has been delayed by 40 minute due to objects blocking the tracks somewhere around Fareham"
https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/news/50840/ John Westwood apparently turned away from the England game because he was too well known and might incite trouble...even if he turned his Pompey shirt and coat inside out. Right or wrong....discuss. The main point of interest to me is that despite being well known and sporting gear identifying him as a Pompey fan, he managed to walk to and from the stadium without being attacked. Be a brave or foolish Saints' fan that wore Saints' colours in Portsmouth. Didn't a couple of our Portsmouth-based youngsters have to travel incommunicado to training....JWP being one of them.
It's a good point you make. The first time I turned away from football it was the hooligan element of the late 70s, going into the 1980's that pushed me away. I know it has become more family orientated these days, but that whole under current of tribalism just turns me off completely. If it was just considered to be a game of sport then it would be fun. But it's often a media driven war, whipped up to get clicks and people buying products. I don't want any part of it, except the core football. And of that, only the Saints football.
On principal and without any context I'd say it's not right to ban someone from attending an international purely because they support the hosts rivals. But as Mr Westwood is lucky that his ban for urinating on our seats was lifted in the first place, I'd say we're within our rights to refuse him entry whenever we want to.