The title of the thread is a tad optimistic methinks. Having said that, the form book often goes out of the window in derby matches. Additionally, the Championship is, for me, the most exciting division in domestic football; a division in which any-one can beat any-one on their day. Take the promoted teams in the last three seasons: Last season: QPR lost at Sc.unthorpe (relegated) Norwich took only 1 point off Doncaster (21st) Swansea lost away to all three relegated sides 2009-10 Newcastle lost at Sc.unthorpe (20th) WBA lost at home to Crystal Palace (21st) Blackpool were doubled by Sheffield Wednesday (relegated) 2008-09 Wolves took only 1 point off relegated Norwich and lost at home to Plymouth (21st) Birmingham failed to beat Norwich and were doubled by Blackpool (16th) and Coventry (17th) Burnley were doubled by Barnsley (20th) It is indeed a rollercoaster division!
FFD we are not a provincial little club as you erroneously put it, stop lowering yourself to SP's level. SP and PieKing, stop talking drivel. Rich keep your drivel and levels to yourself. I cant see anything wrong in my last comments at all and i am certainly not a Southampton supporter who thinks promotion is any way shape or form nailed on, far from it. Simple Fact is some of the Blue Few are finding it hard to fall back into place. Maybe i should have said the pecking order in my 45 years of supporting the Souths Best Team funky
That's a little better Possum, but you've still got a lot of catching up to do in the greater scheme of things.
You are right to be cautious my stripey friends. At the moment things are going swimmingly for you and, as I have said on another post, you look unassailable for at least a top six finish. However, I remember 1992/3 when, by mid November, Pompey were similarly placed, only to finish third and lose out in the play-offs. I believe that Reading were even further in front in the third tier and didn't even make the play-offs.
Technically, both Portsmouth and Southampton are provincial little clubs. Neither club has a global fanbase, neither club is a regular title challenger or even a top 10 top league side, neither side comes from one of the top 20 area of England for population and both are unfashionable to the media because they're just that little bit too far south of London. Altogether this means that Southampton and Portsmouth are more cult status for fans that mainstream.
Speak for yourself MAJR but Pompey shirts thrive in many African states- I've seen loads of them from Gambia to Zambia. Then there's the Royal naval connection with score flashes sent round the world still- even though our navy now consists of a couple of frigates and the odd sub.
Football's about the here and now. The best side in the South will be the one that finish's the highest, it's not exactly rocket science. With a 20 point gap in the middle of November, it's fairly obvious who Hants finest is going to be this season. All the Blue few have to play for is a relegation battle................
Football's about tradition. In 125 years you've got very little Quackers. It looks like you might edge it this season but the ducks are not all in a row just yet...and the shooting season is fast approaching.
FFD no-one would dispute or call in to question your history and traditions, although the ongoing ownership saga, not to mention today's events, are starting to take the gloss off of that slightly.
Stop looking back it'll keep you there! When the past calls, push the ignore button. It has NOTHING new to say! Onwards and upwards!
Funny enough I was talking to a Wanderers supporter the other day, he kept banging on about their 5 FA cup wins. Personally, I agree with you. I think teams like Bury, Burnley, Preston and The Blue Few should get 5 points for a win, because of their "tradition". Although even with 5 points a win, you'ld still be 15 points adrift of us................
We have finally got something to look forward to, with a chairman that is driven by his goals for our small club. The futures bright its red n white!
As the table stands today, Saints are top. The only thing I am absolutely 100% confident about is...... Saints will avoid relegation! The rest will depend on how things go for the rest of the season. I would take losses home and away vs pompey if it meant we would definitely go up. (can't see us losing twice tbh!)
LD you seem to suggest that we shouldn't be proud of our history. Why shouldn't the likes of Pompey or Preston fans look back with pride on the feats their club as achieved. Should we Pompey fans not be allowed to say with pride that the the club we support is 1 of only 5 that have won back to back top division titles. Or Preston fans talk about how their club still hold the record for the most games unbeaten (although huddersfield are closing in).
History is yesterday BUT should always be remembered and proudly in some cases. So well done Pompey Today is now,the present and its official Southampton are without doubt not only the best football club in the south but also the biggest and by far on all accounts. There that's put that to bed
I don't think LD is implying you shouldn't be proud of your history and what you've achieved - just that it isn't a measure of your current status or standing.
Of course you should be proud of your history, but we can all cherry pick, after all don't forget PFC is the only 1 of 1 Premier League clubs to go into administration.
It could be something to do with the shirts that were donated to Oxfam from disillusioned JCL Skates that have deserted the club since relegation from the Premier league. PFC... 'The Wigan of the South Coast'... a global club?.....hahaha that is just too funny.
Both clubs are global,ok not as global as Man Utd or Chelsea but still very global if you went to most countries and asked the natives if they knew Saints or pompey you'd be surprised by the amount of people who have heard of are clubs.
