Seeing the situation with both clubs it is difficult not to recall the opening lines of the book by Portsmouth's most famous resident - "It was the best of time and it was the worst of times." I think Saints' situation could change yet the foundations that have been put in place with the EP3 compliant academy and the calibre within the current squad does mean that , if the wheels do come off this campaign, we will still be in the top 10 within the league. Personally, I can't see this happening. I agree that teams like Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd have not been great this season but there is a sea change in the game and this is leaving room for better organised clubs like Southampton to re-establish the niche they had under the days of Lawrie Mac. I would also say that I think Arsenal are in terminal decline and we are in the dog-days of Wenger's reign. It looks like Liverpool over-relied upon Suarez last season and I think Rodgers seems over-rated as a manager. The only one of the three I can see coming good are Man Utd as the players are taking a long time to adjust to Van Gaal.
A good point has been raised about the contrasting fortunes of Saints and Portsmouth and the might-have-beens had the Fratton Faithful been rewarded with a well-organised set up, sound investment and concentrated on tapping up the local, talent from the schools in the area. Redknapp probably contributed to you fall from grace by building his blue and white castle on sand yet it is still not clear whether PFC's downward journey has been completed as you rest three points above the relegation place. Portsmouth's continuing spiral should have been abated by the supporter's trust yet the experience of appointing unsuitable and incapable managers has continued along with the propensity for large squads albeit this time the playing staff is mediocre at best. I can only base my perceptions on what I have read in the papers and heard during radio commentaries but what should have been an experiment which offered an alternative to running what had become a "basket case" club and established a new tradition whereby the club reflected and matched the aspirations of the community has, so far, not worked. As I've said previously on this board, this is a model which needs to be successful so that other lower league clubs may follow the example but I wonder if the right people are running your club or whether the expertise exits there beyond the passion to transform your fortunes. Most Saints fans barely consider Portsmouth as serious rivals anymore and the gap between our professional and modern club and your almost cottage industry team which garners the same kind of bemusement as many local non-league clubs has never been so pronounced.
There has never been a better time to be a Saints fan but I would also say that there has probably never been a time when the aspiration of Portsmouth's supporters has widened beyond your likely fate. Portsmouth should not be in this position, in my opinion and you wonder if your club will ever reach the Championship where you belong and whether the rivalry between the two clubs can be meaningful in the future?
Only 3 points off that second relegation spot SB. Better get your prayer beads out.
Thats what I like to see PL positive thinking
