so how does everything think we will do next year??? i think we will be play off's and build for season after that to go up if we dont through play offs!!
Going by the bookies [skybet] we are 4th favourites. Granted we were pre-season favourites last year but that was obviously for 'Big Club - too big for this division blah-de-blah' reasons. This time round though reality has set in so I think the bookies should be a bit more knowledgeable. Therefore I would like to think the play-offs are our target. Last time we were in the 'Fourth Division' we were promoted at the second attempt [in 4th place].
I want what I have wanted for the last few seasons, safe mid-table throughout, stabilizing so we can build in seasons to come. Though, honestly, I could see us challenging for promotion this year, so upper-mid-table/play-off zone would be the general area I expect us to finish.
Will be satisfied with consistant and solid performances with flair and entertainment, 4th division notwithstanding. However, I would like to think we will be challenging for a top three place - not saying it's a certainty or a divine right, but it's what we should be aiming for.
Awfs seems to have the magic touch to me, I think we are going to be ok. Also welcome back Dan, you've been gone a while!
Have to agree that play-off position has to be a realistic aim and we do seem to be better equipped this time round and have had a season to know what to expect. Keeping things crossed we get off to a good solid start.
Much depends on the new players. A consolidating middle of the table season sounds good but may be the least likely outcome. I think we will lift/gravitate towards the top or bottom of the table. Awf's got the team playing more attacking (and entertaining) football at the end of last season and started from almost a 'nothing to lose' position. A similar style is almost demanded for the coming season - otherwise the season ticket sales would be dissmal. If a similar style brings early success it may build on itself and hence the good prospect of a near top of the table finish. However, it is a style of football that is very hard to sustain when the luck turns a little. If this happens it will be the second true test of Awf's as a manager (he obviously passed the first one with flying colours!). Hence the possibility of another end of season struggle. When what you are doing is not working you have to change something. Barker's problem was he could not change his defensive outlook when it was not working. Will Awf's be able to temper his attacking outlook if it starts to bring poor results? Well lets hope a good start does build upon itself. Which ever way it goes the indicatiions from last seasons end are that the football will be more entertaining whichever way it goes. All the above is of course based on media reports read by someone who did not see a single match last year - not even on television!
I don't know how this season is going to pan out - it's bound to be full of drama (it's Pompey innit)....... but this time next year we will be looking forward to another season in league 1.
I think the feel good factor around the club this summer is more playing field orientated than last years "it's finally ours" summer. The management from top to bottom are Pompey through and through - they understand the club, understand the fans and the expectation. My expectations are for a solid year - so what if we are down in League 2? I just hope we can have a bit of fun this year. Year on year we are building a fantastic football club again. Year on year the debt decreases (nearly £1m ahead of schedule apparently!) and once that is paid off we can make a charge up the leagues to where I believe, for the size of the club we are, we should belong.
That's an epic troll fail. However, just to give a bit of credence to your trolling................................ we are not where we belong, we are where we need to be for the moment, while we build our foundations.
To back that up. In the history of English football, only 23 teams have been champions of all England since 1888. Go post WW2 and it's only 16. Of which only 11 have won it more than once. We are in the Champions Elite XI. Which is nice
They came 2nd once. Interestingly the list of runners up, if you take out the champions list of 23 is comprised of only 8 teams. So not only have there been just 23 winners, one of those 23 teams made up the runners up spot on all but 8 occasions.
