There's sure to be a carnival atmosphere at Fratton Park on Saturday as the season ends with a 'Battle of the Ports' fixture in front of a probable capacity crowd. With Pompey safe and Argyle out of the playoff running it's just pride at stake. With neither side desperately needing a result to go up/stay up it will hopefully be played and enjoyed by relaxed players in an almost pre-season spirit. Argyle's 'Green Army' of traveling fans are as noisy as ours so it will be electric inside the ground. It's a game just crying out for a 4-4 draw like we had at Bury. So are you going? Are you going in fancy dress? (I expect (being blue) there will be a few smurphs amongst the Pompey contingent.) Here are some stats going into the game. Last 6 games: Pompey: 5-1-0 - 15-8 - 16 (1st) Argyle: 1-1-4 - 4-11 - 4 (23rd) edit - so based on that we'll probably go and bloody well lose Pompey last 6 home: 3-2-1 - 5-3 - 11 (8th) Argyle last 6 away: 2-1-3 - 5-9 - 7 (16th) Against fellow top half [yes, we're in the top half!] sides Pompey: 21 - 5-5-11 - 0.95p/g (16th) at home: 10 - 3-1-6 - 1.00p/g (19th) Argyle: 21 - 7-3-11 - 1.14p/g (11th) away: 10 - 3-1-6 - 1.00p/g (10th) So our record at home to top half sides is equal to their away record. - Should be a close encounter! Score predictions [ and attendance predictions if you think it will be under 18,200]
It surely will be a sell out. I can't see anything other than a resounding win for Pompey, after yesterday they will believe they are invincible! We would end up in 9th, which is amazing all things considered.
Should be as good an atmosphere as against Brizzle Rovers, or possibly better still considering the Royal Naval Dockyard connection between the two cities. Great news to hear it is a sell-out. Hoping for a Pompey win - say 3-1. Jed Wallace to score at least one of them as a possible finale as a Pompey player. PUP
Personally, a few weeks ago I would not have been unhappy to see the back of Jed, partly out of frustration as he thought he was better than most of his team mates. However, under Awfs he seems to have refound his vim. I just have a sneaking feeling that Awfs could persuade him to stay. Looking forward to Saturday - carnival atmosphere and an end-of-season beer and curry evening afterwards.
I cannot help but suspect that for Jed it was a period of frustration - there were a couple of times he seemed to try and take the game by the throat and aim for a win, on his own. But football is really a game of perceptions and opinions as seen through your own eyes. The whole team lost its mojo, including all the new players brought in by Richie Barker. The whole team seems to have refound their enthusiasm once again, thanks to Awfs. Once Awfs is confirmed as Manager Jed may well rethink his position. I certainly hope so. Enjoying your job is crucial whoever/whatever you are and better to be here playing than warming Wolves bench. Saturday is going to be awsome - enjoy!
Can't wait actually - and to finish the season in a very respectable position is no mean feat after the start and particularly middle we had....all credit to AA, staff and the players, be great to end it on a win and then begin the tweaking needed for next season...for tweaking I now think it is.....6-7 weeks ago I was thinking wholesale clearout. PUP
The fact that 700 extra seats were made available in the Milton End, does that mean they've managed to raise the capacity a bit of the Park?
Team for Pompey v Plymouth Carson, Webster, Chorley, Whatmough, Shorey, East, Hollands, Wallace, Fogden, Holmes, Taylor Subs Smith, Devera, N'Gala, Ertl, Close, Drennan, Agyemang 18 year old midfielder Ben Close being given a spot on the bench for the first time. Ricky Holmes will be given Player of the Season Award. Jed Wallace gets 2 awards and Trevor Carson gets 4 supporter groups awards.
Is it a coincidence that we've at let in least 2 goals (including 3 in one and 4 in another) in 3 of the 4 games since Chorley returned from suspension?
Bunky Bowers just talking about him now on Pompey Player - saying his discipline is suspect and probably led to the last goal.
