April 2009 - myPompey News

Based on their performances against Newcastle, both Campbell and Distin looked back to their best or at least looked as good as they have done in a Pompey shirt. Yes there were a couple of incidents, but crucially they prevented three of the league's most capable strikers from scoring.

This is in stark contrast to the home display against Newcastle earlier in the season. Both Owen and Martins hitting the back of the net in a 3-0 rout which signalled the beginning of  the end for Adams.

Much of the improvement is down to Hart and Adams plus midfield no longer looks like an accident waiting to happen. But most of all it's down to the players themselves. Distin has admitted he lost focus during Adams' reign and Campbell clearly had his mind elsewhere.

The question of money is very much on everyone's lips. Can we afford Campbell being closely followed by do we want him.

If he's willing to take a cut then we should ask him to stay. He's no longer the best in the league but when motivated he's not far behind. Keep him and Distin and let's concentrate our transfer efforts in other areas, which by comparison are much more in need of attention.

Having gone to the game on Monday night the consensus amongst those present was 500 to 600 Pompey present so it was a surprise to read in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle comments such as 'Pompey were resilient and put in a dogged effort for Paul Hart and the 321 fans who could be bothered to make the trip'.

The Newcastle Chronicle also when analysing the attendance said 'Just 321 Pompey fans, but the Toon Army made it a special atmosphere.

I have also been told that Setanta mentioned a low number of Pompey fans which is a bit rich when they had put us in the position of travelling to Newcastle on a Monday night and that was just 5 days after we had played a rescheduled game at Old Trafford on a Wednesday night.

The Portsmouth police liasion officer actually said there were 561 Pompey fans in the away section and that would correspond with what fans at the game estimated, there was pay on the night available for Pompey fans and so the 321 was presumably tickets bought directly from PFC.

In terms of the atmosphere the home fans were subjected to a so-called opera singer called Graeme Danby.

He may be good at that but in trying to manufacture an atmosphere along with the scarves and flags presented to the home fans it fell flat, he also directed some unwarranted abuse towards the loyal Pompey fans who then proceeded to give PFC support throughout the game, unlike that given from the home fans with many probably finding Mr Danby's efforts somewhat embarrassing.

The Pompey fans at the game were laughing at his efforts to rouse the support but someone who knows about respect is Paul Hart, he praised those Pompey fans who made themselves heard in what was meant to be a cauldron of sound and simirlarly we shouldn't judge Newcastle as a city on the antics of the opera singer as in the main Geordies are friendly genuine people similar to working class Portsmouth people with both deservedly proud of their cities.

Article by FrattonStation of the Pompey Independent Supporters Association.

Do you enjoy golf?

Why not combine it with your Pompey passion by joining Linvoy Primus on the golf course – raising money for a good cause at the same time.

Faith & Football are holding the Linvoy Primus Team Golf Classic on Monday, June 29th at the Meon Valley Hotel and Country Club.

Entry costs just £350 per team of four and includes coffee and bacon rolls on arrival, 18 holes of competition golf, a four-course evening dinner and an auction of exclusive golf and football items.

There is also an option for a morning complimentary nine holes, while all golfers will receive a special goody bag.

The dress code for the evening dinner is jacket and tie.

Registration is from 10am.

To book your team’s place, or to sponsor a hole, please telephone 023 9277 6823 or 07867 973415.

Peter Storrie has let it be known that Paul Hart is in the frame to continue in the hot seat past the end of this season.

Following a run of results  that has seen us lose only 1 match since Hart & Kidd took over, the Pompey board are said to be actively considering keeping things unchanged when the referee blows the big whistle at the end of the season.

Most will have mixed feelings about Hart staying on, but he appears to have done enough to keep us up.

myPompey has had mixed views about his tenure but there is no doubting his achievement, plus he comes across as a very decent man and for that reason alone deserves to be treated accordingly.

If I were him, I'd keep us up and then voluntarily go back to the youth team with a glint in my eye. Quit whilst you are winning and all that... and  then for the next ten tears enjoy living in the headlines every time another team needs rescuing from the abyss.

I've just got off the phone to John and he's confirmed that Peter Storrie has allowed him to take his coveted bell back into Fratton Park today. Westie has also asked for permission to take his bugle in, but there's no confirmaition on that as yet.

You will recall that John and his merry band were moved to the 'Bandstand' and then back into the Fratton End, albeit minus his instruments. Apparently this was in part due to some Pompey 'fans' complaining about the noise. Presumably they didn't go to the Milan match.

Let's hope the atmosphere picks up today and ALL the fans support the team, immaterial of the style Paul Hart deems it necessary to adopt.

Play Up Pompey

If you've got some spare time on Thursday then pop along to the Pompey megastore at 2.30 and you'll bump into Glen Johnson.

Not sure if you'll find him at the back or front, or perhaps somewhere in the middle...  but either way this is your chance to get up close with England's first choice right back and a firm favourite with Pompey fans!

See you there!

We are not used to seeing Pompey players getting sent off for open displays of petulance. OK, there was Belhadj, but that can be excused as a one off unless he does it again. And then there was Muntari. He arrived in England with a nasty red card habit and was sent off within a few games of his debut.  But it was more down to him being ruthless enforcer than gobby protester.

Which is why Johnson's behaviour on Saturday was even more unusual. Some have complained that his second yellow card was grossly unfair. I agree, but the fact is he should have walked within minutes of his first yellow card. The ref, with an eye for fair play tried to give him a chance and ended up causing us all sorts of problems for Saturday. But look on the bright side, at least Johnson won't be playing out of position in midfield.

The bigger issue is why did Johnson play the way he did. In fact he wasn't alone.  Crouchy was giving it ‘some' in a rare display of public frustration and many of the players were taking  chunks out of each other, leading the Sky commentator to correctly forecast that the match wouldn't end all square in terms of players on the pitch.

Was this just a rare case of Johnson acting up or perhaps he's getting a little above himself. England's first choice right back can't handle the attention maybe. Does he now expect to win the ball by flashing his England Cap?

Equally it could just be that playing in midfield he has to learn a new type of patience. Whereas in defence you know you've got to keep it clean else if you're the last man you're off, possibly with a penalty against you for good measure.

But then again was Johnson the visible signs of Harts new tougher Pompey? If so then reel it in guys because getting sent off at this stage of the season could well cost us dearly and we have enough to contend with without having a leading player twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines.

Don't throw it away Glen.

It's been a bad week for Leon Crouch, former Chairman of Southampton Football Club. First he had to witness the Club's parent company Southampton Leisure Holdings enter administration and now his entire investment of over £1.6m is likely to be lost.

Crouch maintains that his only concern is for the Club he loves and is not worried about losing his investment. He declined to comment on whether he will mount a rescue package although he shouldered some of the blame for the appointment of Michael Wilde, until yesterday the Chairman at St Mary's:

"He gave us promises of new investment and getting rid of Rupert Lowe, but it didn't happen, and I have to take some blame because of that."

Although many Pompey fans are delighted at the prospects of Southampton being relegated or worse going out of business entirely, negative ramifications will also be felt in Portsmouth.

Southampton enjoys a much bigger catchment area than Pompey, but despite this their league position has seen dwindling crowds adding significantly to their financial plight. 

Seeing our nearest rival in such distress will do little to help our own efforts to raise money for future expansion and if anything may well prompt the Board at Pompey re-evaluate the extent of our future stadium plans.

Who knows, the troubles at St Mary's may well have been a catalyst in the decision to remain at Fratton Park for the foreseeable future. If it was, it may prove to be very wise reasoning indeed.

Millionaire Crouch keeping his cards close to his chest