With 12 games played we are now over a quarter of the way through the season [already!] How have your hopes and expectations changed since the beginning of August? Where do you think we will finish in the league? (and is this higher or lower than where you would have said at the start of the season?)
I think we'll get a top 10 finish. At the start of August, I was hoping for an automatic promotion place, although that seems unlikely now. Hopefully, we can sneak into the play-offs, but we'll have to wait and see. Also, once Marquis' loan and Trevor Carson's loan expires, we must bring in players of their quality to fill in, or we won't be able to get a play-off finish. Who do people think will win the league?
I fervently hope we will scrape into the play-offs come end of the season, but not too concerned if we don't. As long as the players try their hardest, and continue to gel as a team, I'll be a happy bunny (or duck) ! The way they started the season, I thought that Chesterfield would walk the division, but they are having a bit of a "mare" at the moment. Oxford Utd. aren't that consistent either, so it is extremely open at the present time. Hartlepool are probably the 'form team' at present, moving up the table after struggling earlier in the season. Anyone can win the Division 2 title this season, in my opinion.
I, like many on here, found myself carried away on the crest of the wave of euphoria when the PST finally gained control of the club. At last the club was to be run by OUR people – POMPEY FANS, with the interests of the CLUB at its heart. With this euphoria came, what has been since shown to be, an overzealous expectation as to our fate this season. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that I was already looking forward to a promotion party sometime between Easter and the 3rd of May. A 1-4 thumping at Fratton and being held at Accrington saw my feet back on the ground with a resounding bang! This season isn’t going to go to plan after all. We do, of course, have severe financial restraints, especially for the next couple of years as the club pays large sums of owed back pay to former players. This means we will probably rely a lot on loans and free transfers for the foreseeable future. I hope current loans can be extended so that a team that is starting to gel isn’t broken up and forced to start again. This, I believe, could be the difference to forcing our way into the playoffs and meandering in the 10th – 16th region. Although I am not expecting [that is to say demanding] promotion this season, but I am conscious of the fact that 7th in the Fourth Division, a playoff spot nowadays, is our lowest ever league finish. In the circumstances, I would consider it to be a great achievement for the current team if that is still the case this time next year.
Excellent! He's a decent young striker, and is a good replacement for first choice David Connolly, when (like at present) Connolly can't play. PUP
My expectations haven't changed at all - although I was a bit surprised that so many fans were taken in by the expectations of the media and bookies. I think it's only about a third of the current team who were here last season - and although it doesn't take prem players very long to gel, these are league 1 and 2 players - just not the same quality and it will take them a whole lot longer to become a tight unit. The signs are good though. I still think we'll be in the top 7-10 but would be very happy to get higher than that. I should also add that............. for the first 30 minutes of the first match of the season I nearly got carried away with the same euphoria as Devo...... but that was quickly eradicated when Oxford United tore our team apart.
