Pompey came so close to putting out the Forest fire yesterday afternoon when they were within 3 minutes of ending their hosts eighteen month unbeaten home run. It appears they ran out of steam and simply sat too deep inviting pressure. Forest had the advantage of a full bench and could freshen things up, Pompey had three outfield players in reserve and that included a half fit Ricardo Rocha.
There is no doubt that a full squad is vital to surviving the long forty six game season the Championship offers and Pompey are way short of that. The problem is as I said last week we are paying too much money to a few players most of whom were not playing yesterday. They need to be unloaded quickly if we are to get out of the mess we are rapidly falling in to.
With injuries and suspensions now piling up – Mokoena now serves two game ban for ten booking – will we be able to field a full eleven senior players next week against Leeds?
Expect an interesting and busy week at Fratton Park if David Lampitt recovers from his sick bed.
Another year has passed
Three years ago I got this crazy idea of writing a weekly column on a topic related to Pompey. I remember talking to Rug and Chix outside the Brewer`s Arms before the Plymouth cup game about the name I had dreamt up ‘Sunday Toast`.
It begun with a commemoration of Derek Dougan`s 70th birthday and then meandered around all manner of topics as we marched on Wembley. It was writing the daily blogs in the run down to the semi-final that started the current trend of covering a whole range of subjects in one column. Later I began to include your own Pompey stories. I have not bothered to look back and see how many have contributed but it is a large and diversified group.
This I think is edition number 142 which at 1,500 words per time is well over 200,000 words!! Some task I set myself and I will keep going as long as you the fans want to read it.
I know there are a lot of readers out there who read every week but do not register and comment. Why not folks? If you enjoy the read or totally disagree with me then let me and most importantly the Pompey world know. It is easy just click the link below.
If you are tired of me telling my stories then send me yours and I will publish them. Don`t worry about the spelling or grammar I will sort that, all part of the service. What subjects have we covered?
? My first game
? Strange trips to games
? Over the wall (watched a game without paying)
? And lots more?
Along the way we have discovered that great Pompey names such as Jimmy Dickinson, Peter Harris, Len Phillips and Matt Pollock never represented their club at Wembley. We have uncovered so many coincidences it is untrue. I have written over 300 short biographies of Pompey players since the war to publish on their birthdays – that has now passed to ‘On this Day` which is well worth a read to remember games from the past and listen to regulars like russellm, storagematt and myself reminiscing
It has been hard work but your comments and support make it all worthwhile. So I guess I will keep going.
You might have missed?.
Liam O`Brien signs for Barnet and made his debut in a 3-1 away win over Bradford City at the Coral Windows Stadium. (Appears the Bantams have moved from Valley Parade then)
Marlon Pack scores a stunning opener with a thirty yard free kick at Roots Hall, Southend as Cheltenham storm up the League Two table.
18-year-old defender Perry Ryan has extended his loan spell at Bognor Regis Town until the end of the season. Perry featured on the pre-season tour of North America.
Re-arranged games against Burnley (25th January 19:45) and Scunthorpe (1st March 19:45) need to be added to your diaries. It means Pompey will have seven evening league floodlight games this season.
Away travel prices on Vision Travel have been increased due to the rise in VAT and fuel prices.
Heavy handed Sussex Police
Reported this week in the Sussex press in the wake of the Brighton – Pompey cup tie were signs that overreaction can cause problems.
Peter Smith, landlord of the Warwick(in Worthing), a popular venue for live football on big screens, said: “There was a big police presence in the town. About 20 Portsmouth lads came in the pub to watch Stevenage v Newcastle.
They were fine, no problem. Then the police got wind of it. We didn`t phone them. They came in, told us not to serve them anymore and escorted them to the station.
We closed for half an hour while they drank up and then opened again. There was about 10-15 police outside, a couple with riot shields.”
Not just traffic then that Sussex Police overreact to!
Drink before the game?
On the subject of pubs we have heard that a number of local hostelries will be closing their doors for good soon. Of interest to visitors to Fratton Park is the White House which is to be demolished and a supermarket erected in its place. We gather it will close on 1 February.
I am also led to believe that the Travellers Joy in Milton Road is also facing closure. Other Pompey pubs with a short life include the Taswell and the Fort Cumberland Tavern.
Howe’s that
ddie Howe says farewell to Bournemouth after 100 games in charge and what a great job he has done. He has taken a club on the brink of extinction and at best the Conference to a side sitting proudly in the top three of the League One. Such a shame his last game ended in a last gasp defeat at Colchester.
Eddie had only a short Pompey career which was a great shame and doubtless if not for injury he could have made a name for himself here but at least he is now. Good luck at Burnley but not next week.
Tip of the week
You may have read that SC intends appointing naming the new management for the Academy this week. Well the inside view is that the names will be well known to fans as they have been around for sometime.
They have a lot of work to do to sort out the mess Paul Smalley left it in according to my contacts. Lets see if they are right.
PUP
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