Major rivals: Portsmouth Minor rivals: Brighton, Reading, Bournemouth This may change over time but there is no way that, at this moment, any game could be more like a rivalry than Saints v Portsmouth. If us and Brighton become Premier League regulars and Portsmouth are doomed to obscurity then maybe we will have a new major rivalry, but for now we only really hate Brighton because of Poyet, and they have bigger rivals anyway in Gillingham and Palace. Reading will never be massive rivals because I think a lot of us actually have a soft spot for them. I know I do.
I love this banner/catch all headline you title your thread with Godders... I told you all and you still don't believe me In my experience, people write a thread and maybe half a dozen, or a dozen, bother to read it. I don't even know what you're trying to claim, mate. By all means though, gloat away. Perhaps next time you title a catch-all thread you might title it ALL [- n] for the variable who don't read the bloody thing in the first place.
"Reading will never be massive rivals because I think a lot of us actually have a soft spot for them. I know I do." Me too. What's not to like? They're not showy, mouthy, irritating, just a quiet, well run, well organised football club. This could change of course with their new Russian billionaire owner, even then he was a student at Reading Uni. What's not to like?
I said at the start of the season play off's would be the min we should aim for. At last we have that arrogant swagger back. About time you modest prix!
Totally agree. Pompey have been, still are, and always will be ,if they still exist, our main rival. If Poyet wasn´t the Brighton manager then I don´t see for what other reason we would hate them....They are dirty a team but I think that originates from Gus. Reading are a humble team and Mcdermott is decent bloke and manager. I personally hope that we both go up.
So long as we can win the big ones Doncaster, Blackpool, Palace and Reading, not too worked up about Pompey. It's more important to achieve good results against the teams around us (Reading) and at venues where Saints have struggled in the past - Middlesboro and Palace.
The intensity of the rivalry between Saints and Pompey tends to vary. For example in 1980 when Pompey achieved promotion from the 4th all chants were directed about taking on Millwall - more off than on the pitch. I admit I was follower of PFC for a while but gave up when Mandaric chose to join the players on top of the bus showing off the championship trophy on a tour of the city in May 2003.
