I have been hearing many Portsmouth fans suggesting that because we are top of the league we should have beaten them at St Marys easily - my reply to them was that last saturday was their cup final not ours! Our cup final and decisive ruling over the championship is friday night! - Reading will come at us with an intention to exploit our weekness in midfield. This will be the real test whether many of our players are ready for the PL. Im not going to pluck a score out of thin air, nor am I suggesting which team will prevail - I am only suggesting that if WE believe enough and if we keep our heads we will know whether we as a team are ready. This is the real test!
Yes it's a big game but the next four all are. This division is totally unpredictable and yet we have stayed in the top 2 all season. We have proved we deserve to go up already! Hopefully as Champions!
Results don't always pan out the way you think. We played well enough against Portsmouth to win other games, but our defence had to play a blinder against Leeds (defence is also part of the game so no problem with that). However, over the whole season we have been one of the best teams and have remained in the top two, so deserve to go up. Just the matter of the last four games. Although not mathematically certain, the winner of Friday's game will probably take the title. Time for every Saints player to stand up and be counted...if we win the title by beating Reading, we will be proven to be the top dogs. The most embittered Pompey fan couldn't say otherwise. Want the title, but it won't matter a hill of beans next season if we go up second.
I'd take 2nd any day of the week. I just hope if we do lose on Friday that we just keep chipping away (!!) It's still in our own hands. 82 points down, 6 to go........(7 to be sure!) COYR!!!!
Second would do definately, but first is still in our own hands and can't see why we can't win against Reading. Note that Lee Holmes has scored again and now wants a permanent move to Swindon...good luck to him after all his injuries. Di Canio celebrating promotion already...unlike Nigel who won't admit we've gained promotion until he's shaking hands with Arsene Wenger. Note to Nigel: check Wenger's pockets when he leaves SMS as he may have a few academy boys tucked away.
Promotion - not in any doubt that this is deserved by the hardest working saints team for the last few seasons. Again, scoreline unpredictable against another team that is equally deserving of a promotion spot. As the PL approaches we must understand that all games will be as tough as the one we are facing friday. A derby draw last saturday and a win yesterday when odds were for a home win (noted from previous meets). Friday is our cup final and if we prevail then we are without doubt ready to take on the PL - a couple of new names to strengthen an already good squad and we could see ourselves residents of the PL for many seasons to come. Friday will be the moment when we will awaken as the whispered Giant status!
Relax lads, I'm going to this match and i've never seen Saints lose although I'm a Toon fan, Saints are a very close second and I hope to see us lock horns next year
