can we, and will we make the play offs and join them next season as predicted previously by SB3? We are only 4 points off and IF we get a further 10 points deduction, could we stay in Administration until next season and take the hit then having won promotion? Any views fellow blues(oh and any Scummers out there that have not gone to bed already)
I'm pretty confident Saints will come crashing back down to the Championship at the end of this season, no doubt about that. It is strange though, as their squad is a lot better than those who are also in danger of relegation .. is it time for a managerial switch ?? Lallana, Sharp, Lambert and Ramirez, amongst others, will leave for the likes of Stoke, QPR, West Brom, Aston Villa, Sunderland and West Ham e.t.c The players they'll have left aren't that bad, in all honesty, so they could still be a challenger for promotion back to the Prem the following season- although I hope not! As for us and promotion, the autos are already out of our reach, obviously. But if we could sneak into the play-offs, I'm very confident we could triumph. If Izale McLeod and Thomas can keep this up- then this could be a good season for Pompey! What's everyone's view on the FA Cup this year- do we try and get as far as we can, or just play youth and squad players in Cup games ??
Is there any substance in what I keep hearing........... that Adkins isn't the person who picks the team?
We'll meet again, of that I'm sure. But it will be a cup tie in about five years. As for same league, pfff never shall you be in the same class as us mighty Saints. (especially while you have by monthy players & only eight points)
I think it was always going to be tough for Saints in the Prem but Adkin's selections have been bizarre at the least. Pompey London's observations are spot on regarding the quality of players on the squad who are of Premiership class. I think they will loose alot of the talent when we go down - sorry but I can only see relegation this season. I got a lot of abuse on the Saints board earlier in the season when I said Saints will not get 20 points this season and I think that we will probably end up being as poor as Derby and Swindon were when they went up. We are something of an embarrassment in the premier league as were are proving to be considerably short of the quality to perform at this level - teams like Man utd, Arsenal and Man City are probably thinking that the two games against us are an obstruction from concentrating on Europe. Quite why things have gone wrong is a mystery although the inability to buy decent defenders will be seen by many Saints fans as our downfall. Adkins' seems to have totally loss his tactical awareness and dropping proven goal-scorers like Lambert shows no logic whatsoever. Other than that, the quality of the creative players is very good with the likes of Lallana being an exceptional player. As far as pompey are concerned, if they didn't have the reduced squad and the threat of the ten point deduction ( I can't see this happening if the supporters acquire the club - although I am aware of the argument for why they have yet to be applied) they should be romping in this league. When we were in the third tier there were a lot of quality teams like Leeds, Charlton and Forest who are absent at the moment. Without doubt, Portsmouth are the biggest team in that league and I think you will make the play-offs quite easily but only on the proviso you keep Appleton. That will be a big question mark as I think he will have attracted the attention of a number of clubs given that he is probably the best English coach outside the Premier League. He is future England material and I cannot see him remaining at Portsmouth in the long term. He is simply too good for this level of football . Without Appleton, your season will implode. Predictions for next season. I think Saints are a shoe-in for relegation but Portsmouth are probably less certain as play-off winners. Tranmere should go up as Champions but whether Portsmouth are good enough to pip the likes of MK Dons, Notts County and Sheffield Utd remains to be seen. I would suggest that Swindon Town are the team to keep your eyes on. If you want to predict things further into the future, if the Pompey supporters acquire the club, I would suggest that, for the short term, you will be unable to get the investment to establish the club at a level it should be playing at. Not only is a rescue package parlous but football will change considerably with the new system for youth development and I would suggest that this will have significant ramifications. You will be unlikely to develop your own talent and the best young players on the south coast will, without question, end up going to Staplewood. For me, this would be the worrying thing from a Portsmouth perspective. Southampton will probably yo-yo between the two top leagues for the next seasons but, in the long run, I think the current set up will manage to get us established in the top flight even if this season will be a disaster and hugely embarrassing for us Saints fans.
please log in to view this image In (almost) the words of the Terminator: "We'll be back" And we're gonna dish out another 4-1 to you. I 4-1 think it's quite likely .. Just by the way, whilst Saints fans are on here- why do you never start with Lambert anymore ?? I tought you all pinned your hopes on him bagging 20 goals or something- and now he's benched every game .. ??
Good thoughtful post Ian As Pompey_London says, why, oh why, omit Lambert from the starting line up ? He surely is your match winner, isn't he ?! By the way, I thought Lallana's goal against the hammers was the goal of the game. Home to Spurs will not be an easy match, especially after their defeat to Chelsea. They will be like a 'wounded animal'.
Are you sure your not a Saints fan on the quiet.......? You seem to worry more about us than Pompey........ If it happens it happens....still early days..........
I find it rather touching, the way the sad blue few still take an interest in the Premier League. It's a bit like the scene in "The Office" Christmas special, where David Brent still keeps hanging around Wernham & Hogg long after he's been sacked. No one really wants him around, and it's so obvious he doesn't belong, yet he just doesn't get the message, and you can't help but feel sorry for him, even though you know he was the architect of his own downfall.
Idiot. Pompey fans are interested in football per se - your lot just happen to be the third nearest of the other 100+ clubs - Gosport and Havant & Waterlooville being the other ones we keep an eye on.
