I do agree that the usual perspective of Portsmouth fans is usually built on exageration at best and asinine stupidity, to quote the great Ed Reardon, at worst. It has been refreshing to read some balanced views from ex -Pompey players and pour over the more sensible comments in the Portsmouth News, a paper i thought had plunged the depths of gutter journalism when covering PFC when we were both in the Premiership. What interests me is that they genuinely believe an away is not unlikely. I think that it has been a long while since both teams have been so easily matched. My worry is that the new recruits do not appreciate the significance of the derby and that Still will not have had the time to work with his squad. For me , the situation with Saints is that we needed a complete rebuild whereas i think Mousinho is 12 months ahead of us with a squad that is acting like a team. Being devil's advocate, i am not confident that a home win is certain. I still think that a draw is more likely result and that we will be a different proposition in the return fixture when i think.we will run Portsmouth more closely. I would be more comfortable if the match at St Mary's was played in November and once Still has stamped his identity on the squad. I am also cinvinced Portsmouth will lose Mousinho this season to a bigger club. I thought Stoke bossed us a few weeks ago. A draw may not be acceptable to fans but i think it would be a good result. It is interesting to read some of the comments in here with other Saints fans i have talked to thr last few weeks. A bloke i spoke to at Corfe Castle yesterday was more reserved in his assessment. I think it will be Saints wjo are underdogs next weekend and raising their game to get a result.
We've undergone a far more radical shift in our squad, so yes, Pompey are more settled as a team, and as is largely always the case, the more settled teams start the season better than those who have been relegated or had a seismic squad change. We have the far more proficient squad of players though, and as much as I agree that we could do with this game far later in the season (as Libby has said since day one of the fixture announcements), even if we're at 50-60% we should have too much for them. I wouldn't say we were underdogs, but yes, could see a draw.
The 2 things that worry me are John Mousinho who is probably a better coach than Still at this stage of his career and Connor Chapman who has a track record of scoring against us with Ipswich. I would ve cincerned that this could be a deciding factor although i agree Saints are stronger on paper.
