Never a better time to silence Pompey faithful

Deisel wrote...

For many of them this FA Cup final will represent possibly their only chance to win a medal in a blue shirt, so the question is why would they risk injury or suspension? (like Newcastle have won lots of silverware Hahahahahahaha)

Ryder's reply: Just to remind you we've won six FA Cups, four league titles and the Fairs Cup, or do those titles expire if you go a certain amount of time without winning anything?
Actually 1969 is quite recent compared to 1950 (your last major trophy) unless you are counting the Barclays Asia Trophy last year of course.

Posted by: Deisel  | April 10, 2008 9:02 AM

Peter wrote...

Pompey fan here.

I know you've won 3 in a row (what a relief!), but we've only lost 2 at home all season and have won 9 of our last 11 games. We're only 4 behind Everton and they've still got Chelsea and Arsenal to play, so we've still got plenty to play for in the league.

If anything, we've got more to play for than Newcastle?!? You're safe in mid table now, so there's not much else to go for now is there?

I'm not suggesting we'll win at a canter on Saturday, but we've certainly got enough in the locker to get the 3 points (especially with Defoe back in the side).

Should be a good one!

Posted by: Peter  | April 10, 2008 9:21 AM

Charles wrote...

Pompey have a great chance to get the FA cup but only because there are no premier league team on the sheets. Any team on the premiership except for Derby will have a good chance to roll Pompey down the slope in the FA cup.

In any case, the formation will work against Pompey as they were terrible against WB and were only lucky to escape with a one nil win. They should be losing at least three goals if David James didnt interfere.

Newcastle will have a great chance to finish with another win this game, minding the way Pompey have been disappointing few games back. They lost their touch for goals as Newcastle is beginning to gains theirs. Play the same team again KK and see the remarkable scoreline. As for Taylor, pick between him and Edgar will be difficult but I'd fancy Taylor for his experience rather than Edgar who obviously needs more experience and training. Not to bring him down, he's been excellent most of the game against Reading but still needs more work.

When is Milner coming back? Really want to see him gel the new formation. Geremi to me is good but Milner gives better crosses and WILL come back and defend. The only thing separating Geremi and Milner is that Geremi can throw longs and prefers ground passing while Milner is more opt to creativity and expert crosses. Another additional info, Geremi is still taking too much time with the ball. You'd think he calculates the area with a calculator.

And I think the Geordie faithful agrees with Harry, "I didnt regret staying at Pompey" said the Portsmouth manager. Well with all due respect Mr. Harry, we'd regret if you did. If you are going to belittle Newcastle to the fact that they never won a cup in 60 over years then you'd better off with Pompey because Cardiff is going to extend their cups wins.

Posted by: Charles  | April 10, 2008 9:25 AM

TareeDawg wrote...

What a joker this Toon guy is? The Toon have just won a couple of games, and it has clearly gone to their heads, so quickly does the fix-it-quick mentality exist up in the NE.

This game will be just another routine victory for Pompey, over a side that hasn't shown a clue this season.

As for his comment about "only chance of a medal in a blue shirt", this only shows the delusional arrogance of someone who supports a side that is going nowhere. The Prem table doesn't lie either.

Play Up Pompey

Posted by: TareeDawg  | April 10, 2008 9:39 AM

Peter wrote...

re: Charles' comments...

Mate, your delusion is on an incredible scale. Have we been lucky to win 9 of our last 11? We should have conceded 3 goals against West Brom? How is that possible when they only had 2 shots on target the entire match (compared to our 6)? Wake up man...

Any team in the Prem could beat us in the Final? Look at the table pal - we are 6th on merit, which would suggest that we are more than capable of beating most teams in our division...

Our defence has been incredible this season (21 clean sheets and counting), and while the Toon have won 3 in a row, none of those teams have a defence even close to ours.

We have become an extremely professional outfit this season - we will be very difficult to beat. 16 points from our last 6 League home games should tell you that we've not been that "disappointing" of late, contrary to your ill advised opinion.

Show some respect to a team that has performed better than yours this season. Just because we're a relatively small club in the Prem does not mean that we should automatically be considered easy to beat.

Posted by: Peter  | April 10, 2008 10:06 AM

pete wrote...

"Ryder's reply: Just to remind you we've won six FA Cups, four league titles and the Fairs Cup, or do those titles expire if you go a certain amount of time without winning anything?"
an intresting point that - cups obviously dont expire. but having said that, how many of your current team have won anything in a newcastle shirt? and how likely are they to win anything in the near future? Success in the past does not guarantee success in the future. Pompey are more likely to win trophies in the future than newcastle are - as we are (at the moment) simply a better side.

As far as the game goes, pompey have a lot to aim for. they wont, however, want to be suspended or injurred. but taking the view that you can beat us easily is exactly what west ham did, and our tired players easily brushed them aside.

Posted by: pete  | April 10, 2008 10:39 AM

jimbobPUP wrote...

you make you're own luck over 45 - 50 games in a season - we went well in cups, we're in a final, we're 6th chasing 5th - so I can't imagine that a bunch of professionals that have achieved all this would simply take their eye of the ball for the sake of a final well over a month away.

West Ham probably thought that and still lost, at home.

I've always had a soft spot for Newcastle but can't believe the balls some of the supporters above are coming out with.

One simple fact - 5th as opposed to 6th is probably worth £1m more in prize (tranfer) money and a guaranteed UEFA spot (worth god knows how much) - does anyone really think Harry doesn't want that money for strengthening his squad for next season more than a new suit for Wembley?

Posted by: jimbobPUP  | April 10, 2008 11:04 AM

Privs wrote...

I think Newcastle will thump Pompey 2 or 3 nil this weekend.

Then I think they'll go on to overhaul Man U to win the prem, knockout all 4 semi finalists in the champions league and KK on his own will beat both Cardiff and Pompey singlehandedly in the cup final.

Ooooh, let's wet our pants cos we've finally won some games this season....

Posted by: Privs  | April 10, 2008 11:04 AM

Paul Patterson wrote...

Well, on Saturday tea-time it’s Kevin Keegan Vs Deputy Dog (Seriously go on google and type in Deputy Dog and you get Harry Redknapps mug on the screen.

When ‘Appy ‘Arry’s name was hoyyed in the ring for the Toon job, I was on the phone in minutes to mates with the news, and they all came back with the same response- WHAT???!!

I watched their cup semi final performance with utter astonishment, astonished that a side as bad as this could be on the verge of a place in the final- Utter negativity and the word entertainment must have been wiped of the board in the dressing room.

Never the less they are there and were not, but if they play like that in the final (Or against us) they will lose heavily.

Over the course of the season Entertaining, attractive attacking football will win through against negative boring, defensive football any-day- that’s why I’m delighted we have Keegan instead of Allardyce.

Portsmouth have replaced Southampton as the annoying irritation that the Premier League could well do without, the spot of muck, that just never seems to leave the bottom of your pots and pans, the obligatory broken toilet on a long train ride down the country, and don’t we have to put up with that when we go down to Portsmouth.

Now calm down you ‘Up Pompy’ lot, I actually liked your performance up here when you beat us 4-1, (your teams performance as well) but that was so much a one sided affair, that it should have been hauled up in front of trading standards for daring to call it a football match.

It might sound like a Newcastle fan making excuses, but every defeat under Allardyce, I just wrote off anyway, the opposition never had to do anything to win the game, they simply had to turn up and pass the ball a couple of times and they would walk away with the points- That sums up life under Allardyce.

Any victory we did manage was nothing to do with Allardyce, merely to do with that fact that we have a few quality players, so the law of averages suggests we might get something every once in a while.

But onto Saturday, it may prove too much for Newcastle to win 4 in a row, as we all know what they are like, but lets just be thankful we have the security to look onto next season with a little more hope, and if we win I’ll be straight on my laptop to wax lyrical about another Keegan master class.

Shame Deputy Dog can’t play with his laptop eh, it‘s probably still in some London nick being examined.

Paul.

Posted by: Paul Patterson  | April 10, 2008 11:09 AM

Paul Mitchell wrote...

It's amazing how carried you Toon fans have got after three wins. But I've got a shock for you - Pompey's players are on a bigger 'high' than yours, and with good reason. Since Jan 1st in all matches we've won 13, drawn 1, and lost four, and three of those whwere when we were missing key players through the ANC, injuries and suspensions. If you were playing us a week before the FA Cup semis, you might have had a chance, but with the Final six weeks away the players are now fully focused on catching Everton, and I believe they will. We've kept over 20 cleam sheets this season and I'm confident we'll beat you on Saturday,. Villa are a better team than you and we hardly gave them a kick...bye, bye

Posted by: Paul Mitchell  | April 10, 2008 11:40 AM

Steve wrote...

Paul Patterson

Fair enough we had a bad performance in the cup semi but how you can brand HR and Portsmouths playing style as "negative boring, defensive football" is just stupid, yes we have one of the best defences out of the top 4 but that hasn't stopped us from playing some simply brilliant performances i.e. against Toon , Villa, Birmingham, Chelsea and lets not forget the trhiller against Reading where we emerged 7-4 victors!!! etc etc.

"Portsmouth have replaced Southampton as the annoying irritation that the Premier League could well do without, the spot of muck, that just never seems to leave the bottom of your pots and pans" I believe this is only your personal opinion as many regard Portsmouth football club's fans as the best in the country. And ask most fans and you'll find they want success for both us and harry. Just look at this article written by one of your very own Toon fans.http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A34436540

Posted by: Steve  | April 10, 2008 12:21 PM

Daryl wrote...

I think Pompey have been very lucky in the FA cup and I'd think any self respecting Pompey fan should agree. Pompey beat Man U to get through and play West Brom, but I don't think that was down to merit. I think it was due to a very lack lustre performance from Man U; if you look at the way Man U have played against us this season in both games and the way they played in the FA Cup game against Pompey you would think it were two different teams. Again, the performance at West Brom was adequate to get Pompey through, but the game didn't look even half as easy as it should have.

On the other hand, Pompey's record in the Premier League is a different story. Nobody can argue with how good they have been in the league this season and I think Saturday will come down to which Pompey shows up.

Now that silverware is potentially looming in the FA cup, will Pompey switch their performances around? Will their priorities change? Will the Pompey that showed up against Man U and West Brom in the FA cup now show up in the Premiership so that they can put in the good performance, we all know they're capable of, at the FA Cup Final?

Posted by: Daryl  | April 10, 2008 1:12 PM

Charles wrote...

Mr.Peter, with all due respect, I am not saying Pompey is a complete load of garbage.

But I understand it is not nice and not fun to hear your own team being blasted by other greater teams because of a few losses.

Its funny that you should state the tables as a prove that Pompey have indeed achieve better than Newcastle and no arguments from me at all! Newcastle has been dreadful against any team and the only team they possible cruise through is only Spurs, even Derby gave us a bad time.

But understand that Pompey not only had the cash to do so, they also had the January transfer window open to them, Newcastle had to sort out their bloody problems that Big Sam left us with. This is NOT an excuse but it does explain one thing and that is Pompey do have an advantage.

Lets see next season and we shall again clash, this time fair and square. Wait, dont comment on this because I know its foolhardy to judge next season.

Full credit to your judgment on my comment that any team can easily beat Portsmouth, I admit I was a bit rash. I apologize for my mistake but make no mistake that Pompey played badly against WB and even the most fanatical supporters would have been pulling their hair off before they got the goal. Ad for WB only shooting two, maybe you should see their performance...I mean a championship team against a prem number 6, 5 points off forth? They should have at least trashed WB three nil.

And as with your clean sheets, unjustified. Maybe you should see how often an opponent went on target. I think its quite a lot. I thought you said the defense is great! Compared to Newcastle, of course, but dare you say your clean sheets justified your defense?

David James is the only obstacle keeping Newcastle from scoring and should he gets an injury, not to say he would, I fear the goals will start leaking and then you shall feel how Newcastle supporters felt when they watch a live game from the stands...

Perhaps you should show a bit more respect to the 'lower' teams. Newcastle is pretty low...

Dont get me wrong, I love how Pompey play and do not bear any ill judgment upon their players nor their coaches. I wish to say that I am writing this not in self defense but in clearance for my supporting teams and myself's name.

Let us have a handshake and a good clean shout for our team.

Lee, is it me, or is many Pompey fans here commending this blog?

Posted by: Charles  | April 10, 2008 1:15 PM

Fredrich Nietzsche wrote...

Judgeing by the amount of pompey fans reading the blog in the Newcastle chronicle I would say there is more than a wiff of anxiety about a loss of form aproaching their big trip to wembly (again?). They have had a great season. On course for their highest leauge finish in history (correct me if i'm wrong). But to even compare that to Newcastle's UNDER achievments is laughable. As to Saturday's game, great record away but don't score many at home and this Newcastle team is full of goals at the moment. I think this is definatly a good time to play them. Sod the FA cup factor, Portsmouth arn't playing well at the moment. From what I heard they were as flat and lifeless against West Ham as they undoubtedly were against West Brom. Who by the way would have dumped them right out the cup had they had a decent sriker in the team, never mind the dodgy hand ball goal. Que sara!

Posted by: Fredrich Nietzsche  | April 10, 2008 1:51 PM

jon wrote...

pompey fans wake up...tis is juz this season....wait till next season...

Posted by: jon  | April 10, 2008 2:05 PM

Peter wrote...

Charles,

Fair play for your response. One thing I disagree with however - our defensive record is not solely down to David James (although he has won us a few games virtually by himself!). Sylvain Distin has been nothing short of outstanding all season, and Glen Johnson is fully justified in getting back in the England squad this season. Indeed, the entire back five are playing very well as a single unit and should share the credit they wholeheartedly derserve.

Yes, we played terribly against WBA - especially the first half. But even then WBA hardly had any chances and we were still able to win? It represents a huge difference in Pompey these days in that we are able to "win ugly" rather than scrap for anything we can get as we did previously.

We've won every game this season in which we've scored first, and have only conceded 2 League points all season in games in which we've led (2-2 at Derby on the opening day). I think this points very much to the character of our team (not least having Tony Adams behind the scenes!), so when I suggest that we'll be hard to beat I try and do so without the rose tinted glasses.

I don't have anything against Newcastle - I don't think I've disrespected them on here? I was just responding to those who can't see past our size and decaying infrastructure and therefore think that we're just lucky this season.

To suggest that Man Utd were lacklustre against us in the Cup - that was largely down to us not allowing them much else? We were skinned by them at OT in the league so we know what it's like.

As mentioned earlier, it should be a good open game on Saturday. The pressure is off both teams, but we'll certainly be pushing to try and catch Everton.

Posted by: Peter  | April 10, 2008 2:31 PM

Mike wrote...

Goodness, I feel like I'm back in primary school. Lets get over this "our team's better than your team" rubbish and have some proper chat.

Portsmouth fans - you've had a great season, and I'd love it if you were able to pinch 5th place off Everton. Also, I think its unfair to label you lucky in the FA cup, as we reached back to back cup finals in the late 90's by virtue of lucky draws. Man U away doesn't sound that lucky to me anyway!

Regards the toon, we are a completely different side now. Yes our league position is still very poor, but that is down to the fact we had a complete fool in charge for over half a season who refused to encourage our talented players to show their quality. Now, we have a guy in charge who knows what quality players want....to be able to express themselves and play in a style that allows them to show their superior qualities.

I expect an open, attacking game against Pompey on saturday, and I'm very much looking forward to it. If (and its a big if) our defence can hold firm against some inevitable Pompey pressure, I can see us hurting you at the other end. We're passing the ball great at the moment, and the confidence has returned for our strikers.

I'm going for an entertaining 2-2 draw, with Defoe scoring against us again, and Owen making it 5 scoring games in a row.

Posted by: Mike  | April 10, 2008 3:16 PM

John wrote...

i think it is a good time to play Portsmouth, but the record books would suggest a home win, me, i'd settle for a draw.

like portsmouth have a cup final coming up, then our cup final is next sunday, i think alot of our players are playing for their future so there lies a greater motivation.

i can't believe some of the comments of the pompey fans, a few years ago you were probably worse off than us, in total freefal and it took one of our old boys (lualua) to have a big hand in keeping you up! and as for king 'Arry, at sjp a few years back your fans spent the whole 90 mins slating 'Arry & his big mate Jim (whilst we tore your team apart with ease), so before you call us deluded or fickle, practice what you preach!

just remember you can quite easily slide back down the table again....trust us we know!!

Posted by: John  | April 10, 2008 3:34 PM

Lee wrote...

As a Newcastle fan I kind of agree with a lot of the Pompey fans on here. They have had a fantastic season and in my opinion have one of the strongest sides in the Prem - their midfield is different class and for those who say they have nothing to play for they are all playing for their cup final places. Defoe has been on fire since he arrived and hasn't played for a couple of games so he'll be bang up for the game. I'm quietly optimistic we'll get some sort of result but predictions of 2 or 3 nil are pretty arrogant considering the opposition. 17 years remember...

Posted by: Lee  | April 10, 2008 4:27 PM

Kisuke wrote...

When I read the comments I actually thought it was a blog for Portsmouth.

What is wrong for us to believe that we can beat Portsmouth? Why not? We are on a good run, we beat Spurs and why aren't we capable of beating Portsmouth?

Just because Portsmouth is in the cup final doesn't mean they are head and shoulders above Newcastle. Just because they are chasing 5th spot does not mean they are formidable. Newcastle is capable of winning and I do hope our team silence those Pompey faithful this weekend.

The rebuilding of our club will start this summer and time will prove that Newcastle is a bigger club than Portsmouth.

As for those Pompey fans, please come back to this blog after your defeat this weekend. Don't go into hiding, I would like to mock at you as much as you enjoy mocking at us now.

Posted by: Kisuke  | April 10, 2008 4:41 PM

pete wrote...

just a side not to all newcastle fans who think we will be easy because we havnt been scorring much at home lately. we have conceeded a lot less! we have lost 2 games at home this season, and both were down to us failing to turn up - not the oposition being mighty. loosing to spurs was a disgrace, loosing to middlesbrough was...unbeleivable (we forgot how to pass!).
21 clean sheets (15 league - 3rd best in the premiership) shows just how hard to break down we are. the fact that arsenal, chelsea and liverpool all failed to score against us adds to this. winning 9 of the last 11 - and we havnt been playing well (although we did play well against west ham) just prooves that we can win dirty. im not saying we will win for sure - just dont get your hopes up!

Posted by: pete  | April 10, 2008 9:00 PM

Peter wrote...

Kisuke,

Who is mocking you exactly? All the comments from us Pompey fans has been to state our position as a viable top 6 team this season. Nobody is declaring Pompey to be a bigger club than Newcastle, nor are we suggesting that our "supremacy" on the pitch is guaranteed to continue for years to come.

The original blog suggested that it was a good time to beat us, and many of us disagreed - that's about the size of it.

Feel free to gloat if you win - but will you come back if you are beaten by us? Somehow I doubt it...

Posted by: Peter  | April 10, 2008 9:04 PM

dexter wrote...

How come all these Pompey fans are reading the chronicle. Good luck in the FA Cup chaps, you're having a great season, enjoy it.

Posted by: dexter  | April 11, 2008 12:52 AM

andy wrote...

'Redknapp was said to be one of the candidates for the Toon job' - and you ridicule the Southern press for there revisionism. Lee what are you saying - he was not offered the job?

Ryder's: Yes - he was never offered the job.

Posted by: andy  | April 11, 2008 1:19 AM

Teddy wrote...

This is nothing but the usual rubbish from Lee and totally deluded Mugpie fans. Three games and out I think! My prediction is Pompey 2 Mugpies 0 (or 3-0). The Mugs will not win again this season and Keegan will get sent to jail for a bad haircut. Mugpies are such funny creatures in their beliefs, so why not make fun of them. Teddies always get a chuckles from what they say.

Posted by: Teddy  | April 11, 2008 2:00 AM

STEVE wrote...

looks like somebody in pompey has found a pc and theyre queuing round the block to have a go.

Posted by: STEVE  | April 11, 2008 7:57 AM

Dave B wrote...

As a Newcastle fan (thought I'd point that out) I'd like to say well done to Portsmouth for a belting season.
Whilst making unpopular statements I'd also like to point out my beief that Harry is a true gentlman of the game - although admittedly I'd think twice before buying a second hand plasma from the bloke.
Let's not forget that Harry had the decency to listen from the offer of a bigger club (his termonology by the way), consider it, and politely reject it for all the right reasons. Us toon fans should remember the legions of managers who followed the pot of gold like the mercenaries they are - not bothered that they'd fail because they'd be countless millions better off thanks to the in-bred window licker NUFC used to employ in the contracts office.
So fair play Portsmouth - and fair play Harry.
Now that I've got that out my system let me finish by saying I hope we give them a right proper hiding on Saturday.

Posted by: Dave B  | April 11, 2008 8:45 AM

jimboPUP wrote...

Quick response as to why many of us are here... me personally, I use the e-soccer website and click on stuff about Portsmouth. this article is about Newc and Potsmouth so I clicked I read, I disagreed, I posted.

I (possibly we) do have a slight chip on our shoulders - it's been a long while since we've been in the top flight or won anything - we've been in the shadow of our bitterest rivals (imagine being a league lower than Sunderland for over 10 years), we're a "nice" team but not a "big" team like Liverpool, Man U, etc - but we've achieved plenty this year... the game is tomorrow, not 10 years ago or next year - and I guess the chip on my (possibly our) shoulder(s) is telling us to ask for a bit more respect.

Expect your team to win - that's what being a fan is about - enjoy the game if you come down... but expect a close/ loud atmosphere, a small pitch and a team of seriously big/ physical lads that will push the Newcastle team around.

I expect Portsmouth to win... I'd like to see a better performance... I'd prefer to see us win 1 nil.

with regard to the FA cup - WBA are a good side, a potential banana skin - and 'Arry did the right thing. Slow the game down, bring WBA on as we knew they would and hit them on the counter... just be sure not to let it become a scrap and give them a lucky goal they can defend.

May be the reason English teams didn't used to win the European cups as regularly as we liked and the national team is not as great as it should be(given the talent)is because we try to play CUP football like we play LEAGUE football... and they're two completely different mentalities.

Posted by: jimboPUP  | April 11, 2008 9:01 AM

JImmy wrote...

To be honest i think newcastle can get a result this wkend against pompey, as an 100% newcastle fan who lives in pompey it am looking forward to the match, I like portsmouth as a side, dont mind harry redknapp, but to be honest i think you may have struggled a bit more with results if you hadnt signed a certain mr defoe in Jan. He has been your best player by a mile (in terms of golas)so i guess you could praise harry for this. Your midfield is solid and so is your defence. But being a toon fan and having probably the worst season i have ever experienced, when you win three on the trot in some very convincing results you kinda get the idea you can take on anyone... and what is the problem with that?? well to be honest i cant see one. I think pompey have been great and well done for your position this season, we could have only dreampt of being there at this stage. But i still think you are gonna struggle with us on sat. Now i could well be wrong but is that (as stated in previous post) 'what being a football fan is all about?' So anyway i will be watching the game down in portsmouth on sat with my toon shirt on (a very brave move i hasten to add) and i am genuinly looking forward to a good match up of teams. I cant see Kev channgin the 4-3-3 why bother? I predict 2-1 to the toon, with goals from Oba and Big Vid coz he is very dangerous at the min. Maybe even a guest appearance from Mr N'zogbia to who i think is back... Come on the toon!!!

Posted by: JImmy  | April 11, 2008 11:05 AM

cav wrote...

this is to the pompey fan saying newcastle are going no where.you just watch us go next season mate.with king kev and mikes money we will attract top class players.as we always have done.dont get me wrong yous have had a fantastic season.yous have some top players at your little club.but can cambells legs keep up with martins and owen DONT THINK SO.come on the toon.....................

Posted by: cav  | April 11, 2008 1:08 PM

Snapper wrote...

Lee there is too many people submitting blogs who are Makems, and are either too ashamed to admit it (you can usually tell by their grammer and/or spelling mistakes)or are potential wind up merchants, it has to be more than a co-incidence that so many Pompey fans are contributing to this blog. By the way, has their ramshackle ground not fallen down yet?

Posted by: Snapper  | April 11, 2008 1:35 PM

medan wrote...

The way we are playing I belive we can beat Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal maybe even ManU. If KK sticks with the 4-3-3 formation I have no doubt we will beat Potsmouth. This is a different, reborn NewC team than the team that you gus from pompey faced first time around.
The impact player will be Martins as he is geeting into a Form that makes him unstoppable.

Potsmouth is in a a surprise.

Posted by: medan  | April 11, 2008 2:00 PM

Ronnie Lambert wrote...

Stone the crows!!! now I know what it was like for my ancestors when they were invaded by the Romans, then the Vikings. Pompey, this is wor blog, but since you're all in my living room I'll extend to you our famous Geordie welcome and put the kettle on. Sit beside the fire lads and kick your shoes off. Firstly, I personally like and respect the tenacious loyalty of your supporters who like us, have had very little to cheer for decades, but still kept going. I wish you and Cardiff the very best simply because you've gotten to the final in place of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool or Man.U. and I hope it's a cracking game. There won't be any losers in this match. So to re-iterate Lee Ryders' comment, Harry was only one of a short list of possibilities that we approached, and the deciding shot was....Harry asked if he could have a helicopter laid on for him to travel up and down " each day " to which the board said no. The club wouldn't have even publicised Harry's interview as a matter of etiquette, but he felt it was neccessary to quickly distance himself from the fact that " he " was interested, in order not to lose any bon homme with you fans. We all ended up happy in the end.

Posted by: Ronnie Lambert  | April 11, 2008 2:10 PM

John Best wrote...

Newcastle have certainly woken up at last, the potential has always been there but a total lack of confidence, ruined the season for us.Will Big Sam, ever manage another Premiereship club ???, I have my doubts; Bolton Wanderers, was his limit; where he undoubtedly did a fine job but almost got us relegated, with his tactics.

Posted by: John Best  | April 11, 2008 5:57 PM

botlodog wrote...

sorry Pompey fans some of the Toon Army are getting a little carried away
I, for one,respect you as some of the most passionate football supporters in the Premiership.I remember the first time I heard the 'Pompey Chimes' at St James' in the old 2nd div in the eighties- it made the hairs stand up on the bak of me neck (we beat you that day) You are where you are on merit.
But you have to understand we've suddenly emerged from a very long and very dark tunnel so some of us are getiing a little excited.
Many of us are realists - saturday will be a stern test and wil give a genuine indication of how far we have come (and have to go)
We will give you a game on saturday,of that there can be no doubt.
We are no longer the sad pathetic sunday pub league team you beat earlier in the season - we are most definitely back
PS good luck in the final - I have a very vague connection with Pompey - My gerat Uncle Tommy refereed the 1939 cup final Pompey v Wolves - still got a photo of him being presented to king George - the Portsmouth team are in the photo

Posted by: botlodog  | April 11, 2008 7:31 PM

bottlodog wrote...

Snapper it should be 'there ARE' not 'there is' and it's grammar with an 'a'
what's the old adage aboot folk in glass hooses hoyin' stones?

Posted by: bottlodog  | April 11, 2008 7:43 PM

RAY WILSON wrote...

Hi Lee-whats up with all these Pompey fans invading our space-We know what you have accomplised this season Pompey and Harry desrves it -He is miles better than fat Sam and has proved his Premiership capabilities -having said that I was glad he did not join us -I think like it was with Souness,Roeder,and the fat guy -it would have been a step too far - and I think deep down Harry knows that- He has a comfort zone at Pompey which he would have been silly to lose. In the end fortune favoured us with the return of King Kev- Harry got that right -King Kev is the only one for the job at the toon-we have had only Sir Bobby as a source of comfort since Kev left -and now Kev is back I want him to stay forever-He will never try to fool us -or sell us short -he loves the toon as we do and he will always get the best out of the players -surely we can see that already- Long live the King -and roll on next season -better extend the ground to 65ooo this summer MA cos with a few bob Kev will fill it for you- There will only ever be one Kevin Keegan.

Posted by: RAY WILSON  | April 11, 2008 11:02 PM

Malcolm wrote...

I am a committed toon army fan but can hardly believe the rubbish written above about Pompey. Credit where credit's due - they've done absolutely brilliant this season and beaten man u on the way to the cup final and they play attractive football. So I don't see how you can all belittle their performance - if we had managed that we would all be jumping up and down for joy.
Having said that I'll be there today and expect us to get the 3 points - and I've put my mortgage on oba getting the first goal.

Posted by: Malcolm  | April 12, 2008 12:49 AM

jon wrote...

yes yes...newcastle can defeat portsmouth...why argue so much ppl? juz let the football do the talking

Posted by: jon  | April 12, 2008 7:21 AM

harpo wrote...

David James or Steve Harper?

Both decent keepers.

I think our Steve deserves an England chance. Howay Fabio get it sorted. Even Lee Ryder agrees.....

Posted by: harpo  | April 12, 2008 11:16 AM