It does annoy me how so many non-Saints fans refer to Chamberlain as our best and/or most important player, presumably based soley on the fact that he's linked to big clubs in the media when our other players are not. If these people had actually ever seen us, they'd know that Lallana and Fonte are both way ahead of Chamberlain, whilst Lambert and Schneiderlin both have a case for being put ahead of Chamberlain.
This. We'd be in much more trouble if we lost Lallana than if we lost Alex, but non-fans will obviously think "£12m, big clubs, none of their other **** will beat that."
I think the real deciding factor this season will be what both squads demonstrated at times last year, team spirit and morale. Pompey certainly showed a degree of bloody minded resistance to put together a great run. Saints just blew Huddersfield away towards the end with a refusal to give up on the final automatic promotion place. Pompey will need some more bodies though as the likes of Kanu will not survive a full season without nursing.
I would answer this question, bit try as I might I cannot loosen the red-tinted specs. Since I realise that, I am not going to commit, other than to observe that I suspect that the gap will probably be quite small and that the injuries and suspensions may make the difference.
With all due respect pompey fans if given the choice between a group of nobodys (as you argue our team are) with something to prove and a good ten to 15 years left in most of them or a group of plays who yes have done a lot when they were in their prime but are now very much not once were. I would certainly not choose the latter. And also Lallana, Fonte Lambert GULY (Will be brilliant this season) and spiderman are all far more important players than young alex, however it will be a blow if he leaves but I have faith in cortese for that one.
Pompey have definitely been saved by the sub rule, but will def need more bodies(suspect via loans) as only 16 players with a number and two of them (Herman & Kanu) don't look like they could manage a Tuesday/Saturday/Tuesday scenario. It will be close, but i think we can have the edge
Pompey have bought a few of their former loan players plus others like Luke Varney etc... Will be very tough but I think Saints will beat them by not a lot
I hope it's a close contest, even if we're both thoroughly mid-table. It will provide some sort of excitement to see who will finish higher and it'll be good if it keeps changing from week to week so that no-one knows who's going to finish higher! Of course, I'd prefer Portsmouth to be the team that finishes higher, in terms of whether it's likely, to be honest I haven't the foggiest about Southampton, I only watched one of their games last season I think, the FA Cup game against Man U. Based on that game, I'd say Southampton have a good chance of finishing highly, but you can't really make a judgement on a team based on one game, particularly a cup game.
I feel Southampton will rather do very well this season, or completely bomb and it will be dependent on whether Lambert is successful in this division. I don't think they'll be leaving the Championship this season though. Pompey I think will be mid-table, not being successful, but certainly not failing either. Brighton though will finish above both of us, thats how I see it!
Although I think it will be close, I do think that scumhampton fans are underestimating this division somewhat. I don't think you will find it as easy as you think. Especially defensively.....
I think we will finish dead level on points, goal difference and goals scored, so everyone will be jolly about that. (But we will be higher on alphabet soup)
lol, Thats because you have your Blue tinted specs on shame we cant discount the Saints and Poopey votes from the pole, because Super Saints have been on here more than the blue few, so the voteing will always be in our favour, would be nice to see how the rest of the Champoinship see it. I would not mind a 1,2 finish tho even if Saints were second to the Blues, Our objective is to become a European force, not just get in the Prem
Our short term objective is to be in the prem then our long term objective is to be a force in england(top 4).
Alot depends on the blue signings. They have a good coach as we do. More important than if we finish above them is how we do against them. I want to beat them at Krap nottarf so badly and then hammer them in April. As for league position I don't care where they come, as long as we are content with our own position at the end of the season.
Keep 'em coming ladies! You have just scraped out of League One and now you're the dogs doodahs! Lets just wait and see.
You've set him up a treat there....here comes the puffed-out-chest scribe on how they finished the Championship on over 100 points.