http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/predictor/default.stm How many points do you think Pompey will have by Christmas? [21 games played]
I think 20 to 24 but believe it could be 25 to 29 if we start playing to win rather than not lose, which is what we seem to do for the first hour of every match.
I've gone for the 25-29 because I think we are going to start winning a few games from now on. But I do agree with you Leading Fish, at the Blackpool game it was clear the team are lacking in confidence and were out to not lose rather than playing to win. Even the Fratton end was pretty quiet - or that might have been because everyone had been moaning about the drums. I don't think that helps the team either, they like the noise. In my (very humble) opinion.......... if you don't want to be in the middle of a rowdy crowd cheering your team on to win, stay home and listen to the match on the radio.
Must admit that i was really surprised by Portsmouth's start to the season as I believed that you would have sginificantly improved your squad before August. I rate Cotterill as a manager but he has not been given the resources and the use of loan players has effectively mean't that you have to assmeble a new squad each season. If you compare this with Saints who have had the basic squad together tor three years (and what was effectively a Championship quality suqd at that), you can appreciate why we are top and you remain in the bottom third. I think Saints will remain in the top 3-4 positions - I think Derby,West Ham., Leicester and Boro will probably probably provide a stiff challenge later on and think some of the Saint's fans are a bit over-optimistic. This is a tough league. As for Pompey, if you remain in the current position and keep losing matches in the fashion you have of late, I think your owners might start to lose faith with SC. However, it is more likely you will push on up the table and there is no way that you will be threatened by relegation. I really thought that you would get into the play-offs this season just through shear determination and a few useful additions. YOu will improve before Chirstmas but mid-table is best that yo can hope for. The derbies will be interesting as, at the moment, I don't think you stand much of a chance against us as we have a much larger and more talented squad. (Just like the last cup tie when you beat us in reverse.) Worthwhile remembering that Portsmouth are coming back from a position that is even worse than the scenario Leeds had to recover from and the process of getting back to the level you should be playing at will take a similarly long time.
