After a frustrating 0-1 defeat at home to York, we are now 22nd in the league and just 3 points above Northampton. Here is our run-in: Rochdale away Newport away Hartlepool home Dag & Red away Bristol Rov home Northampton away Bury away Plymouth home How many points do you think we'll get - and will it be enough to stop us dropping into the Conference? I can only see us realistically picking up 8 or 9 points, which would give us a total of 50 or 51. Incidentally, last season Barnet were relegated, on goal difference, last season - with 51 points Northampton have Wimbledon home Bury home Accrington away Burton home Wycombe away Pompey home Dag & Red away Oxford home
At this moment in time I just can't see any way that we're going to avoid a drop into the Conference. The worst thing is that we are going to rely on other teams getting bad results to help us out. At least 5 of the next games are away and we do seem to do a bit better on the road so even if we don't get higher than 22nd that will be a relief. I'm beginning to think that Richie Barker may not be here come the final game.
It's going to be touch and go, as to whether we survive the drop or not. I don't think Richie Barker has any idea of what he is doing at the moment, to be frank.
I think Richie Barker needs to be given time regardless of the outcome. Changing managers every six months is not a recipe for success unless you are Chelsea. Even Fergie was given time to shape things at United, so lets give the guy a decent summer to work things out even if it is Conference football. Problem is Pompey hav e 31 players in the squad, which seems OTT for a League 2 team. It seems there's a lot of quantity at the moment but precious little quality in the squad. Love from me in Mallorca!!
its definitely going to be tight......the teams around us are picking up points and northampton are putting a late run together.....something we cant seem to do! Barker will be given time, until next christmas to turn things round. I am not confident, but do feel we will beat the drop, but it will be on the results of others rather than our players pulling it together! which is a worry
We've got only 9 games left now, and I'm not so confident we're going to avoid the drop. If we don't then Barker has to go - he doesn't have the experience we need to try and get back into the league. TBH he hasn't shown he has what it takes to keep us up in this league. He's had 21 games and brought in 8 or 9 players, the bulk of the team is his own and we're now nearer the drop zone than when Guy was sacked. A couple of interesting comments on the Conference Forum http://www.theconferenceforum.co.uk/forum.jsp?thread=31988
Got to remember it's still within our own hands. At the moment we don't have to rely on anyone, just focus on ourselves. Not scoring though is psychologically really starting to affect us.
Also, clamouring for Barker's possible dismissal now or later on, is really not helpful. He's here to stay until the end of the season at least so might as well back him.
Listen! What's that noise? Is it Private Frazer gargling? What will SB3 say if the worst happens? Good luck. I hope you avoid the trapdoor.
it really is time to pick the best 11 and barring injuries and suspension stick with them. I assume the selection changes each week are based on the perceived tactics needed to nullify the other team. The trouble is it takes the focus off delivering OUR strengths.
10 points at best is all I can see.....it will go the wire unless we really get our s**t together in the next 3 games. Want to find positives but am really struggling.
Our shortage of goals is a real problem as well. GW/AA had 19 league games in charge and we got 27 goals. RB in charge for the same number of games with 11 goals. GW/AA we lost 7 games, RB we've lost 7 games. GW/AA we drew 7 games, RB we've drawn 8 games. GW/AA we won 5 games, RB we've won 4 games. It was right for GW to go but RB has proven to be no better even with a team of mainly his own players. With 8 games left I'm finding it hard to see where 10 points are going to come from.
I didn't favor getting rid of Guy, I dont favor getting rid of Barker. The point Barker made in the interview I read in the Southampton Echo is one I fully agree with. Micheal Appleton had to basically build a team from scratch, then Guy Whittingham had to do the same, and now Barker coming in has had to pick up the pieces. It's not been easy and hasn't worked out well but this is not a minor issue that's his fault and can be resolved be getting rid of him regardless of what conclusion we see at the end of this season. This is not a time Pompey can benefit from getting trigger happy again. We need stability, we need continuity, we need a manager to be here for a couple of years and a team that is has a stable core that last more than one season or less, and we need a clear and difinitive plan and direction for the club, we wont get any of that if we dont stick by the manager.
I'm usually pessimistic, but one comment I read the other day (I think it was from a York player) is that last season they were down near the bottom of the table but they kept the same manager and now they're gunning for promotion. Could that happen to us if we aren't relegated? I'm not sure, would be nice though.
Some potential derbies in the Conference if we do go down. Take a look at the Conference South table. Eastleigh are 2nd, a point off the top with 2 games in hand. Havant & Waterlooville are 4 points off the playoffs with 3 games in hand
