Belhadj

This came out of the blue and I for one am happy with this, o we do have a bit of money apparently. Welcome to the fight Belhadj.

Portsmouth have signed defender Nadir Belhadj on a permanent contract after a successful loan spell at Fratton Park.
The 26-year-old Algeria international has signed a four-and-half-year deal after Pompey agreed a fee of £4.4m with French club Lens.
Manager Tony Adams told Portsmouth's website: "I'm delighted to have secured Nadir as a permanent signing - he is an excellent acquisition for the club.
"He has great pace and energy and is a terrific crosser of the ball, too."
As well as shining in defence, Belhadj has also scored twice in his 23 appearances so far this season.
Adams added: "Even Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger commented on his ability to spring from defence to attack so quickly.
"At the moment he is playing at left-back and developing a good relationship with Niko Kranjcar, but he can also play left midfield."

Arsenal 1-0 Pompey

Now this is a game all our players seemed to have all turned up for. I know we lost but from what I heard we were back to our best, thats all I ask from them win lose or draw.
Play Up Pompey!!!!!!!!!!

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Silvestre, Clichy, Eboue (Vela 66), Denilson, Diaby (Ramsey 75), Nasri, Adebayor, Bendtner. Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Toure, Van Persie, Wilshere, Gibbs.
Goals: Gallas 81.
Portsmouth: James, Wilson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Nugent (Defoe 88), Diop (Pamarot 90), Davis, Hughes (Mvuemba 50), Kranjcar, Crouch. Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Little, Kanu.
Booked: Hughes.
Att: 60,092
Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)

January

I think this January will be very interesting, all I want and hope is that the players who want to go go! and we get players in who want to play. I believe that we would be a better squad if we had 11 player on the pitch who all wanted to play, than what we have nowis that only half the teamt seem to turn up.
Play Up Pompey!!!!!

Pompey 1-4 West Ham

" I will be there in about 5" said the text on my mobile phone . 30 odd minutes later my Mum arrived! This was about the only funny thing that happened today I mean that. I said to myself that if we did not win today then we would struggle and we lost big time. And with the transfer window just about to open and it looks like every player is going according to the national papers we could be in a bit of trouble,or is this the call for what the Pompey fans are the best at. Look we Pompey fans are at our best when everything and everyone is against us, the manager left players want to go the owner wants to sell the papers are against us so I say PLAY UP POMPEY!

Portsmouth: James, Wilson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Little (Armand Traore 71), Davis, Hughes, Kranjcar, Crouch, Defoe (Kanu 73). Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Diop, Nugent, Pamarot.
Booked: Wilson.
Goals: Belhadj 8.
West Ham: Green, Neill (Faubert 46), Davenport, Upson, Ilunga, Collison, Noble (Boa Morte 73), Parker, Behrami, Cole (Tristan 87), Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Mullins, Collins, Di Michele.
Booked: Noble, Behrami, Parker.
Goals: Collison 20, Cole 67, Bellamy 70, 83.
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Pub for Boxing Day

The Traveller's Joy my old regular pub for football Stella is it?

This pub name has existed on this site since at least the early 19th century and was once owned by the Peters Brewery. The present house has a public bar at the front, with a larger lounge at the rear (which may not be open at all times). Owned by Friary Meux (Allied Brewers) until the 1990s, the house is now part of Punch Taverns. It is now sadly run down and in much need of a refurbishment. Popular when Portsmouth FC are playing at home.

Bolton 2-1 Pompey

I put the radio on a couple of mins into the game and was shocked to find out we were one nill down all ready, we sounded rubbish. This team needs to wake up now! It's not loosing per say it's the way we are dropping points. And to hear Sol complaining it has somthing to do with whats going on at board room level in rubbish, he has to stand up or ship out!

Pompey 3-0 Heerenveen

Well this pointless game ended up a very good one, with a big change in the squad like Ashdown and Willson. And Willson was a revaluation putting in the cross for Crouch to score. He played very well I think he is one for the future.

Peter Crouch scored twice as Portsmouth ended their Uefa Cup campaign with a comfortable victory over Heerenveen.

Pompey, who went into the game knowing they could not progress from their group, went in front when Crouch headed home a Marc Wilson cross.

The tall striker added a second less than two minutes later when he tapped in after a mesmerising run from Kanu.

Hermann Hreidarsson completed the scoring when he headed in from a Glen Little cross in the last minute.

Portsmouth: Ashdown, Wilson, Pamarot, Hreidarsson, Belhadj, Mvuemba, Diop (Davis 84), Hughes, Armand Traore (Little 63), Crouch, Kanu.
Subs Not Used: James, Defoe, Distin, Kranjcar.

Goals: Crouch 40, 42, Hreidarsson 90.

Heerenveen: Vandenbussche, Popov, Breuer (Smarason 30), Dingsdag, Bak Nielsen, Vayrynen, Grindheim (Janmaat 84), Svec, Beerens (Elyounossi 46), Sibon, Henrique.
Subs Not Used: Zeinstra, Kopic, Jong-a-Pin, Deekman.

Booked: Vayrynen.

Att: 19,612.

Ref: Richard Havrilla (Slovakia).

Diarra Off

In what seems a good deal for Pompey, we will let Diarra go to Real Madrid for about 20 Mill.I expected to see him go this window, I think and hope this will be the biggest name to go. Play Up Pompey!!!!!!!!

Pompey 0-3 Toon

Well I don't have much to say about this except what a load of crock, this is the biggest league defeat in about 10 years at home.
The drinks at the pub were nice and all felt good before the game.The only bad point was they had Spurs on the TV YUKK!!!!

Well I was very happy with the first 20 or so mins, but I did notice that we could not hit the target, both our target men were below pare. We should of been 2 or three up at half time, with a pen turned down and those missed chances. The second half Toon deserved the win we were poor very poor nuff said.

Portsmouth: James, Pamarot, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Mvuemba (Armand Traore 58), Davis, Hughes (Kanu 70), Kranjcar, Crouch, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Lauren, Hreidarsson, Nugent, Wilson.

Booked: Distin, James, Davis, Defoe.

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Bassong, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Gutierrez, Butt, Guthrie, N'Zogbia, Martins (Ameobi 79), Owen.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Cacapa, Duff, Geremi, Taylor, Viduka.

Booked: Gutierrez.

Goals: Owen 52, Martins 77, Guthrie 89.

Att: 19,416

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside

Pub for the Toon.

I like us playing Newcastle, I quite like them so are we ready for another draw with the Toon?
So for the pub as it's an early Kick off we will be going to The Brewers Arms 170 Milton Road, Milton, PO4 8PN is that a Stella Mum?

One of three pubs stood near the junction of Milton Road and Priory Crescent, and by far the best. This former Gales pub (now owned by London brewers Fuller Smith & Turner) replaced an earlier pub of the same name which occupied the same site (see bottom left-hand photograph).



The interior is divided into two main areas and an enclosed verandah can be found at the front of house.



Pool and darts are both played, and a jukebox is sited near the pool table. The Brewers Arms is a recommended pub for both home and away football supporters travelling to Fratton Park football ground which is located a short distance away. The pub has traditionally been a good source of well-kept real ale.

West Brom 1-1 Pompey

So we got a draw at Wast Brom, and that is a good result for us so it's the Toon next at home.

Pompey For Sale

A Statement From PFC.

Following recent articles in the press, notably The Observer and News of the World, Portsmouth Football Club categorically deny that any discussions are ongoing with the South African consortium regarding an acquisition of the club.

While the consortium did express an interest a number of weeks ago no offer has been received, nor has there been any further contact with them and today’s reports are entirely misleading and incorrect.

Alexandre Gaydamak has accurately reported the current situation in an article in the Sunday Mirror (also featured on this website) which is in contrast to the misleading reports that seem to emanate from ill-informed agents and their representatives.

Portsmouth Football Club considers itself privileged to have Tony Adams in charge of the team. Tony is a manager able to deliver performances like that recently displayed at Fratton Park against AC Milan.

The club’s board wish the team, and Tony in particular, all the best for the remainder of the season and beyond, including this season’s defence of the FA Cup.

And this from Alexandre Gaydamak.

Alexandre Gaydamak has put Portsmouth Football Club up for sale.

The club’s owner has already rejected two offers because he is determined to find the right buyer who can build on the outstanding work he has done at Fratton Park.

Gaydamak cited growing business commitments for his decision but admitted it would be tough to leave a club “with the best supporters in football”.

He said the buyer had to guarantee their commitment to a new stadium and training ground for the club.

“I have come to realise over a period of time that I can no longer invest the time required to oversee the running of the club,” Pompey’s owner told the Sunday Mirror.

“I think it’s only right to consider the sale of the club to a group or individual who can come in and invest the time and money to ensure the club reaches its true potential.

“First and foremost it is far more important for me to find the right buyer, with the club’s best interests at heart, rather than sell out at the first opportunity.

“I have already rejected two very good offers for the club because I didn’t feel the buyers motives were in the best interest of the club’s long term future.

“Making money from the sale of the club does not interest me. Finding the right buyer is far more important.

“The credit crunch is having an adverse effect on everyone but we are addressing the key issues affecting every single club and readjusting accordingly.

“I have a very fit and able board that have worked tirelessly to evaluate the current financial problems impacting on everyone and deal with them accordingly.

“We are not in financial meltdown and it is nonsense to suggest we have to start selling key players.

“As regards the stadium and new training ground it is sensible to revaluate things in the current market, but I stress that it is imperative that they go ahead.

“And until I find a buyer who will give me cast iron assurances that this will be the case, I will remain at the club.”

Gaydamak brought into the club in January 2006 and became the sole owner later that year.

During his tenure Pompey have become an established top-10 Premier League club, won the FA Cup and played in a major European competition for the first time.

Gaydamak said: “Only last week during the historic game against AC Milan it dawned on me just how heartbreaking it will be when I eventually have to leave.

“The hardest part being that I am walking away from the best supporters in football.

“Last season’s success was one of great personal satisfaction, one of the proudest moments in my life.

“But I would like to think I am leaving the club in far better shape and with immense future potential.”

Gaydamak said the team was in safe hands under Tony Adams, who he appointed manager in October.

He said: “There was one outstanding candidate for the job – Tony Adams.

“He is bright, innovative and committed and I have tremendous respect for him and faith in his ability to be a major success at this club.”

Pompey 3-2 Blackburn

Well at last Tony Adams got his first home win, and I for one am happy for him and Pompey. And it has been coming.
The pub was one I have not been to for some time, the last time I went there it was for some Rock/Metal road show and I was a bit drunk, not today I am driving. As the club is close to the ground it had one or two Pompey fans in it. I arrived a little bit late for a change, we sat and spoke about the AC Milan game wishing for three points today.
The game was a bit flat in the first half, Rovers and Pompey looked a bit tired.But the second half was a belter, but when Rovers got level I said oh no not again. It was a game I think we needed to win and in the end we did, but what is up with the back five?
Peter Crouch hit his own post in the first period but easily nodded in the opener after 48 minutes.Jermain Defoe soon slotted in Pompey's second but Blackburn hit back through substitute Matt Derbyshire's looped header and Tugay's fizzing 20-yarder. Davis clipped in late on to leave Paul Ince's side winless in nine games.
Looking at the other results we needed that win to keep us in the top half. Tony is doing ok so far, Play Up Pompey!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Distin, Pamarot, Belhadj, Little (Kranjcar 46), Diop, Hughes, Armand Traore (Davis 76), Crouch (Kanu 69), Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Mvuemba, Nugent.

Goals: Crouch 49, Defoe 53, Davis 79.

Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Andrews, Kerimoglu, Pedersen (Villanueva 87), Roque Santa Cruz, McCarthy (Derbyshire 61).
Subs Not Used: Brown, Mokoena, Simpson, Fowler, Roberts.

Booked: Ooijer.

Goals: Derbyshire 62, Kerimoglu 67.

Att: 18,111

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Pub for Sunday

The Rutland Arms, 205 Francis Avenue, Southsea, PO4 0AL.

The Rutland was built as a hotel shortly before the turn of the 20th century and was another pub designed in a brewers tudor style by A E Cogswell. It was originally a Pike Spicer pub and eventually ended up in the hands of Whitbread. The large one-bar interior is divided into two distinct areas, with comfortable furnishings. A small selection of quality ales is served.

Pompey 2-2 AC Milan

Wow what a game that was!, ok we should have won the game but this is the best Football Club in the world. I for one was very proud of Pompey and that was the best I have ever seen them play.

It was raining and a bit cold but we headed for Gunwharf for a meal and a drink, Bar 38 was the chosen place to eat, I had Pasta and Mum had Fish and Chips. We stopped of at Guildhall walk on the way to the ground. We went into Walkabout which seemed to have a lot of Police about inside and out, as we drank the Police frisked the AC Milan fans, but all was good natured so we drank up and went on our way to FRATTON PARK.

It was raining harder now,the AC Milan fans were singing loudly for now. I heard the roar from all sections of the park as the two teams came out and then the best game of my live took place before my eyes. I could not hear the away fans now the noise from the Pompey fans was amazing and the team were to. Both teams wee to be honest were light with players out, so we both had players out, with our line up with no Defoe,Campbell,Diarra and Kranjcar I was expecting to get thumped.
Bit what happened this night was magical.

Younes Kaboul headed in Glen Johnson's pin-point cross to put Pompey ahead and Kanu doubled the lead from close range.
Then On came Ronaldinho, who quickly made an impression when he curled in an exquisite 25-yard free-kick to give Milan a lifeline. The visitors searched for an equaliser, which they got when Inzaghi struck after his sublime first touch set him up to earn his side a vital point in the 92nd, we were half a min from a famous win dam Play Up Pompey!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Kaboul, Distin, Belhadj, Little (Mvuemba 66), Diop, Hughes, Traore, Crouch, Kanu (Davis 81).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Pamarot, Wilson.

Booked: Hughes.

Goals: Kaboul 62, Kanu 73.

AC Milan: Dida, Zambrotta, Favalli, Senderos, Antonini, Gattuso (Seedorf 65), Emerson, Flamini, Kaka (Alexandre Pato 74), Inzaghi, Shevchenko (Ronaldinho 74).
Subs Not Used: Kalac, Kaladze, Pirlo, Bonera.

Booked: Antonini.

Goals: Ronaldinho 84, Inzaghi 90+2.

Att: 20,403

Ref: Serge Gumienny.

Another Stadium Announcement

From the Portsmouth Site.

Portsmouth Football Club (PFC) and Sellar Property Group can announce further evolution of the Masterplan to deliver a stunning Waterfront Stadium and Arena on Horsea Island.

Following a series of discussions with the principal politicians and leading members of the City Council’s Executive, PFC and Sellar have identified a two-stage approach as the appropriate way forward to deliver the stadium in the current economic climate.

A former refuse tip will be transformed into a real destination and new home for Portsmouth Football Club.

The landmark stadium will be accompanied by a fashionable mixed-use development. The Masterplan enhances the environmental qualities of this part of Portsmouth while regenerating the area with new life and utilities.

PFC and Sellar Property Group identified this remarkable location on Horsea Island’s waterfront as the most suitable site for a new stadium for the club that will act as a catalyst to a wider transformation of the gateway to the city of Portsmouth.

Given the prominent location of the site, which is adjacent to both local and national motorway junctions off the M27 and M275, and the multi-purpose nature of the project, PFC and Sellar Property Group decided upon a two-stage approach to this urban regeneration project.

This followed a series of discussions with the principal politicians and leading members of the City Council’s Executive and will ensure on-time completion in the current economic climate.

The first stage of this process will involve the submission of separate planning applications for the Retail and Housing components at Fratton.

The funds generated by this initial stage will then finance the Horsea Island Masterplan, which will contain the new stadium and all-purpose arena.

The dramatic form of the stadium will create a world-class architectural landscape at the gateway to the city of Portsmouth and create a new identity for both the city of Portsmouth and Portsmouth Football Club.

The new stadium sits on the waterfront and acts as the focus for a new destination where people can meet, shop, eat and be entertained, all while enjoying dramatic views of the city.

This exciting intervention will also develop a dramatic new access to an area of the city which has historically been isolated and, in accordance with the naval tradition of Portsmouth, will provide the Royal Navy with a new Diving Centre.

A sustainable approach to energy consumption for the whole Horsea Island scheme will ensure that the scheme generates the lowest possible carbon emissions.

Portsmouth Football Club has already engaged consultancy services from ecologists to ensure the project is delivered following the necessary environmental targets.

Since the new stadium site at Horsea Island was first unveiled in the summer of 2008, there has been much speculation on the scope of the final development. Given the importance of the project, Portsmouth FC and Sellar Property Group want to restate their commitment to deliver not just a new stadium to the Pompey fans, but a new landmark that will enhance Portsmouth’s growing reputation as an outstanding tourist destination.

Although still evolving, the Masterplan proposal includes the following identifiable components:

• Herzog and de Meuron-designed stadium with 35,000-plus all-seater capacity including a 3,000-spectator family enclosure, hospitality suites, catering, club offices and shop etc.

• Multi-purpose Arena: 100,000 sq ft (c. 9,300 sq m)

• Four-star hotel: 40,000 sq ft (c. 3,700 sq m)

• Replacement Royal Navy Diving Centre

• Medical centre

• Dental surgery

• Sports rehabilitation clinic

• Casino: 25,000 sq ft (c. 2,320 sq m)

• Budget Hotel: 30,000 sq ft (c. 2,800 sq m)

• Offices: 30,000 sq ft (c. 2,800 sq m)

• Restaurant and catering: 25,000 sq ft (c. 2,320 sq m)

• Residential: approximately 1,000 units

• Retail: 320,000 sq ft (c. 30,000 sq m) plus car parking

• New access to M275 and improved public transport infrastructure and pedestrian access with the potential for a new bridge link to Tipner

• Approximately 3,000 car parking spaces for the stadium and retail and the potential for park & ride with 1800 spaces and approximately 100 coach parking space.

I for one hope this happens we need the stadium, and I hope the arena brings some good bands to the Pompey area to , Play Up Pompey!!!!

AC Milan

I am looking forward to this match very much. It is not a case of us playing AC Milan it is a case of AC Milan coming to us, Play Up Pompey!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A bit on AC Milan



The club was founded as a cricket club in 1899 by British expatriates Alfred Edwards and Herbert Kilpin, who came from the British city of Nottingham. In honor of its origins, the club has retained the English spelling of its city's name, instead of changing it to the Italian Milano (though it was forced to do it during the fascist regime, like Genoa and Inter); it should be noted that the Italian pronunciation is actually MEE-lan, coming from the local dialect. AC Milan won their first Italian championship title in 1901, and then again in 1906 and 1907.

In 1908 the club experienced a split caused by internal disagreements over the signing of foreign players, which led to the forming of another Milan-based team, F.C. Internazionale Milano. Following these events, AC Milan did not manage to win a single domestic title until 1950-51. In 1963 they ensured their first continental title, winning European Cup beating S.L. Benfica in the final. This success was repeated in 1969, and followed by an Intercontinental Cup title the same year. Following retirement of Gianni Rivera, Milan started a declining period, during which they were involved in the 1980 Totonero scandal and were relegated to Serie B as punishment, for their first time in history. The scandal was centred on a betting syndicate paying players and officials to fix the outcome of matches. AC Milan quickly returned back to Serie A, but returned to Serie B only one year later as they ended in the relegation zone their 1981-82 Serie A campaign.

In 1986, entrepreneur Silvio Berlusconi acquired the club, and immediately invested a lot of money in the team, appointing rising coach Arrigo Sacchi at the helm of the rossoneri and signing a Dutch trio of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard. This was the beginning of the most successful time in the club's history, as AC Milan won seven domestic titles, five UEFA Champions League trophies, and three Intercontinental Cups.

More recently, Milan were involved in the 2006 Serie A scandal where five teams were accused of fixing matches by selecting favourable referees. Milan were initially punished with a 15 point deduction and consequently did not qualify for the Champions League. An appeal saw their penalty reduced to 8 points and allowed to retain their 2006-07 Champions League participation, where they won the competition.

Pompeygary Radio Show

The show will be back this Sunday the 30th so tune in then.

Pompey 2-2 Hull

I had hoped we would get three points from this one, but bad defending and an awful Ref's assistant decision for a corner we would of won this game.
The pub was a friendly one if a little cold. As we got to the bar we were welcomed with a hello from the bar girl and it was not an American false hello but a genuine one. We got round to the other bar and sat next to the fire that warmed us up a bit. A small stage with a big TV screen at the back showing some Rugby match was on, all in all I liked this pub and I will come hear again.
The match was most entertaining if a little disapointing, but I just knew if we didn't kill Hull of then they would come back at us. I got quite animated with the lino, his decision to award a corner to Hull was wrong, I was shouting to him about "this costs me a lot of money!!!" you can watch Match Of The Day and then give me my money back!!!" I must sound like an idiot by I like shouting at morons.
Crouch headed wastefully over from a John Utaka cross but the tall striker made no mistake after Johnson's deflected shot fell to Kaboul and the defender crossed for the England striker to put his team in front. The equaliser come when Kamil Zayatte flicked on a corner at the near post and Turner headed home at the far post. There seemed to be nothing on when the ball fell into Johnson's path but the England defender chested the ball and volleyed it into the top corner with his next touch while Tigers keeper Boaz Myhill stood motionless.

Brown brought on Dean Windass and Peter Halmosi - and the former had a significant role to play in the game's final goal.

Pompey failed to clear the danger and when the ball came back into the six-yard box Windass was on hand to head it goalwards.

His effort lacked power but it bounced off Pamarot and into the net.

Well we are still in the top half, but we must start getting max points soon to keep us out of truble.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Kaboul, Distin, Pamarot, Diop, Davis, Hughes (Nugent 58), Belhadj (Armand Traore 58), Crouch, Utaka (Kanu 74).
Subs Not Used:Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Mvuemba, Little.

Booked: Diop, Davis.

Goals: Crouch 20, Johnson 63.

Hull: Myhill, McShane, Turner, Zayatte, Ricketts, Marney (Giannakopoulos 82), Ashbee, Boateng (Halmosi 72), Geovanni, King (Windass 72), Cousin.
Subs Not Used:Duke, Doyle, Barmby, Garcia.

Booked: Windass.

Goals: Turner 54, Pamarot 89 og.

Att: 20,240

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

Pub For Hull

Drinks for the Hull game will be at The Fat Fox,11/13 Victoria Road South, Southsea, PO5 2Sp.
This latest venture by well-known Portsmouth bar owner Mike Hughes has been established with the intention of making it a replacement for the Wine Vaults, which has since been sold to Fuller's. Divided into two distinct areas, the Fat Fox offers eight cask ales, plenty of seating and live bands covering a wide variety of musical tastes. Good quality, good value food is available all day and an upstairs function room can be hired for parties and meetings. The pub curiously received a brand new façia only months after opening for business.

West Ham 0-0 Pomey

So we get a draw at Upton Park, so our good run at this ground goes on. By all accounts we could of won this game, but I am happy with a point away.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga (Faubert 61), Behrami, Parker (Mullins 75), Collison, Sears (Etherington 46), Cole, Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Davenport, Bowyer, Di Michele.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Kaboul, Distin, Pamarot, Diop, Davis, Diarra (Armand Traore 19), Belhadj, Crouch (Kanu 75), Defoe. Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Nugent, Mvuemba, Hughes.

Booked: Pamarot.

Att: 32,328

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

West Ham

So it's WHU today away and we do have a good record at this place so I hope we get another three points today, Play Up Pompey!!!!!!!!!

Metgod

Former Nottingham Forest and Tottenham midfielder John Metgod has become the new first-team coach at Portsmouth.

The 50-year-old has left his scouting role at Dutch side Feyenoord and signed a three-year deal to join new Pompey boss Tony Adams at Fratton Park.

Still no assistant uet then!

Sunderland 1-2 Pompey

This was a very important win for us, if we had lost we would be very much in the bottom half of the table now, so I am happy with that win. Oh yeah what a strike by Nadir Belhadj top goal.

Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, Malbranque (Leadbitter 80), Whitehead, Reid (Healy 80), Richardson, Cisse, Murphy (Diouf 46).
Subs Not Used: Colgan, Tainio, Miller, Henderson.

Booked: Collins, Whitehead.

Goals: Cisse 4.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Pamarot, Davis, Diarra, Kranjcar (Utaka 75), Defoe (Hughes 90), Crouch (Kanu 69).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Kaboul, Diop, Armand Traore.

Booked: Diarra.

Goals: Belhadj 51, Defoe 90 pen.

Att: 37,712

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Joe

Joe Jordan has left Pompey, I am surprised by this as I had him down as a loyal man, but for all we know he may not of got on with Adams or Adams wants to get his own boys in. As a footnote I think Adams will play the long game as a manager and slowly get his own set up over time.

Pompey 1-2 Wigan

Oh dear!!!!! This was a very wet day in Pompey, winter had started for real. I took the long road to the pub passed St Jaime's Hospital, which is a (Mad House). And I was about to see some mad defending at Fratton Park ( Not A Joke).
The pub was a good one with Pompey picture and stuff all around, This was one of those pubs Ihad not been in since my youth, and it was good to see it still going strong.

The game well what can I say, hoe could we hit the post and bar so many times and lose, we also had a couple of the line to, if a had a cat with me I would of kicked it! I think the first half was the worst we had played all season, and I give credit to Wigan for the way they played against us even though we hit the post and bar, and if Crouch was a bit shorter we would of hit the net! , but the second half was much better. With Wigan one up we got the goal from Kranjcar (who had just got back from injury) and all looked well with a draw, and first points for Adams. But in the dying seconds of the game our defence went all soft and let Heskey score his 100th Prem goal Gutted!!!!

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj (Pamarot 90), Diop (Utaka 73), Diarra, Davis, Armand Traore (Kranjcar 46), Crouch, Defoe.

Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Kaboul, Hughes, Kanu.

Goals: Kranjcar 82.

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa, Valencia, Palacios, Cattermole, Koumas, Heskey, Zaki (Camara 89).

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Taylor, Scharner, Kilbane, Brown, De Ridder.

Booked: Cattermole, Bramble, Figueroa.

Goals: Zaki 45 pen, Heskey 90.

Att: 18,416

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Pub For Saturday

The Old Oyster House

Rebuilt to a design by A E Cogswell in 1930, this pub replaced another of the same name which had existed since the 19th century. A former Portsmouth United Breweries pub, it was latterly owned by Whitbread. Nowadays the pub is well-known locally for its high quality ales and real cider. The outside terrace is handy during the warmer weather.

Rumour of the week

According to reports, Pompey's new stadium plan is set to go ahead thanks to a cash injection from supermarket chains.

It is rumoured that Asda have won the race to buy Fratton Park when the move to Horsea Island has taken place whilst Tesco and Sainsbury's are battling each other for the site next to the proposed waterfront stadium as the retail giants have now been integrated into Pompey's new stadium plans.

These rumours would be backed up by Peter Storrie's recent statement about ditching the plans to combine the development with new housing and instead combine them with new supermarkets, a hotel and other retail outlets.

Pompey spokesman Gary Double expects planning permission for the new stadium development to be submitted in early 2009, whilst the finishing touches are being put into place so that Pompey's new training facility can be built.

Storrie also claims that Pompey have no financial problems and that we won't need to sell our prized assets in January and if we are offered silly money for our best players then Pompey will take it and use it to replace them with other quality players.

Jermain Defoe is one of those prized assets and according to Premier League rules he cannot return to Tottenham within a year of leaving them and because we officially bought the former Spurs striker in February after his initial "loan" on deadline day the ruling rules out Redknapp taking Defoe with him to White Hart Lane.

Of course, that doesn't stop other clubs coming in for him and Premier League rules have been known to be bent before, such as the Benjani situation last year.

Let's hope what Storrie says is true and that we really don't have to sell. Better yet, if this new supermarket investment actually happens then we may have some money to spend in January.

But that would be too good to be true, wouldn't it?

The New King

Tony Adams has been confirmed as the new manager of Portsmouth following the departure of Harry Redknapp.

"I'm very honoured, it's a great opportunity," he said. "I would have been mad to turn it down."

And the 42-year-old vowed to do everything he could to keep first-team coach Joe Jordan at the club.

"Joe is Portsmouth through and through, he's part of the woodwork," said Adams. "But he's a big man and will make his own decision."

With Adams yet to name his number two at Fratton Park, his former Arsenal team-mate Martin Keown has been linked with the position.

Keown has completed the requisite coaching courses but said that he has not been contacted by Adams.

"It's not a call I've had to take," the former defender told BBC 5 Live.

"It would be a life-changing decision to go into football but I've not had to make that decision because I've not had any offers yet."

Adams had refused to comment on the speculation over the assistant manager's position but added: "I'm going to take my time. I've got Joe and Paul Groves [reserve-team coach]."

Adams took charge of the team alongside Jordan for Sunday's 1-1 draw with Fulham following Redknapp's move to White Hart Lane.

The former Arsenal and England defender was named as Redknapp's number two in 2006, after an ill-fated spell in charge of Wycombe and coaching jobs in the Netherlands with Feyenoord and Utrecht.

"We've got some great players here at Portsmouth and I've been kind of responsible, with Harry, for bringing them to the club," said Adams.

"It is a risk because Harry's done a fantastic job for this club and he is a hard act to follow. But I think it is my time, I think I am ready."

Former Bolton and Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce and ex-Chelsea manager Avram Grant, who worked as technical director at Fratton Park in 2006, were reportedly among the favourites to take over from Redknapp.

But Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie insisted Adams was the best man for the job.

"Right from the beginning I liked the idea of continuity," said Storrie. "Although Harry was the manager it was always about three or four of the coaches working together.

The right and correct thing was to see who else was available but I couldn't see anything better than Tony and that's why we decided he was the man to go for.

"We hope Tony will be here for as long as he wants to be here. He's an icon in the game of football. We will give him all the support we can and we hope he will do a great job."

Storrie had said on Sunday that the south-coast club would take their time in finding a new manager, but revealed that the "huge, huge shock" of Redknapp's departure to Tottenham made a quick appointment imperative.

Adams begins his reign as Portsmouth boss with a trip to league leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday.

Speculation linking a number of Portsmouth players with moves to Spurs in January has already begun, but Adams says he will fight to keep hold of the those he wants to remain at Fratton Park.

"They're here because they're good players and other clubs will be interested in good players," he said. "But my job is to keep them here and to get them to play well.

"At the moment they're responding well - they might not like me but at the moment it's going well."

Adams rejected the suggestion that he had been affected by his disappointing experience at Wycombe, where he won only 12 of his 53 games in charge, losing 20.

"I'm one of those annoying people who gets back up. I didn't know what way it's going to go but sooner or later I was going to get an opportunity to manage a very good team.

"At Wycombe my job was to save the club - they were losing £6,000 a week at the time but this is a different ball game"This is the next step for me. It's like Christmas. It's the best job in the world. I'm scared to bits, of course, but another bit of me is really excited. I couldn't sleep last night.

"I would have been gutted not to get the job but thanks to them [Storrie and Portsmouth owner Alexandre Gaydamak] for having the courage to put me in place.

"Harry is a tough man to follow and sometimes it [a number two becoming a number one] doesn't work.

"But I think this is my time. I've got great support from the owner, Peter, the fans, my wife, my family and the players. It gives me fantastic optimism that it will be OK."

Storrie reiterated that the club was not faced with financial problems: "The club is fine, we're moving on, the owner is here and he continues to put money into the club."

So Redkapp Has Gone!

I wish Redknapp well in his new job at Spurs I do, he has done the impossible and has given me and many others some very good times. The FA Cup, Europe and top 10 finishes and I for one thank him for that. Redknapp leaving us is a disappointment, but I do wish he could have kept his mouth shut when he left and he did lie to us about "Pompey Till He Dies" so thet is the reason people are angry at him, not leaving us for the seconed time but the lies and misinformation. We get enough of that from the newly elected Executive Chairman Peter Storrie.

Pompeygary 08

Pompey 1-1 Fulham

So it was time for Pompey's new era. This was the first match without Harry Redknapp since he left us for Southampton!!!!

The weather was wet and a bit windy, I went to Fratton Park on the way to the pub to get an idea of the atmosphere and it was one of shock and a bit of gloom. I watched the TV crews and eadio people talk and interview the few fans outside the ground, only loud voice I could hear was Mark Moodie from 107.4 The Quay. He is the fan in the stand at the live bradcasts, he chips in with his thoughts as the game is going on. He was talking on his phone and he was not happy about what Redknapp had said, not happy at all.
So I got to a very crowded pub, but I was able to find a seat. This pub has TV'S in it showing Football for a Weatherspoons thats good, I could of told them a silent pub don't work. When Mum arrived the topic of conversation was Redknapp and who would be the next Manager.

The ground was a bit quiet as most people were in shock, but as the ground filled up the chants started to grow pace. Once the game got going I noticed the crowd did not sing about Redkapp untill we scored, and rhe classic "Who the Fuck is Redknapp" And we sang and sang, a bit nore like the old days. Even when we let Fulham score with three minutes to go we still sang strong. Tony Adams Blue and White Army sounded good to me.

Pompey took a 60th minute lead through Peter Crouch, who tucked home from close range after being played in by the lively Jermain Defoe.
And with the game heading for a home victory Dempsey found himself unmarked at the near post to equalise.
We played well and it seemed like the players were up for it. Play Up Pompey!!!!!

Pompeygary's MOTM Diarra Slow start but what a player

Pompeygary's Worst Defoe Could not hit a barn door today.

Pompey verdict 7 out of 10 could of scored a few more

Ref watch 9 out off 10 good let the game flow.

Pub watch 8 out of 10 busy and a good atmosphere.

Portsmouth: James, Pamarot, Kaboul, Distin, Belhadj, Diop, Diarra (Mvuemba 83), Hughes, Armand Traore (Kranjcar 84), Crouch, Defoe. Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Kanu, Djimi Traore.

Goals: Crouch 61.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil (Nevland 84), Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Davies, Murphy, Bullard, Gera (Dempsey 71), Johnson, Zamora. Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Ki-Hyeon, Milsom, Kallio, Baird.

Goals: Dempsey 87.

Att: 19,233

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Portsmouth F.C. Statement

Portsmouth Football Club can confirm that manager Harry Redknapp has left the club to join Tottenham Hotspur after he was approached for the manager's job.

Pompey received an official approach from Spurs. Club owner Alexandre Gaydamak and chief executive Peter Storrie spoke to Redknapp and reluctantly granted permission after it became abundantly clear that Harry wanted the opportunity to talk to the north London club.

Storrie said: "Harry is a great manager and we, of course, did not want him to leave. We tried everything we could to keep him at Portmouth.

"However, he made it clear that although he has achieved great success here at Fratton Park, apparently Spurs is one of the only clubs he would consider leaving for.

"We have subsequently agreed a substantial compensation package with Spurs, although our overwhelming desire would have been to retain the manager.

"On his return to Fratton Park, Harry performed a near miracle in keeping us in the top flight and we have since gone on to become an established top ten side. Last season we won the FA Cup for the first time in nearly 70 years and qualified for European competition for the first time.

"Everyone at the club has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Harry and he has been a very good friend to me personally.

"The last thing I wanted was to see Harry leave this club but the lure of Spurs proved too much for him to turn down."

Gaydamak added: "I am personally very disappointed that Harry has left. We did all we could to keep him and up until early evening Saturday I was under the impression that he would be staying as Portsmouth manager."

Assistant manager Tony Adams and first team coach Joe Jordan will be in charge for the Premier League game agaist Fulham at Fratton Park later today.

Pub this Sunday!!!!

The John Jacques, 78-82 Fratton Road, Fratton, PO1 5BZ.

Housed in the former Victory Hall, this was the third J D Wetherspoon house to open on Portsea Island. In typical JDW style, everyone knows exactly what to expect at these establishments. Sadly, the company has recently seemed fit to install televisions in many of their pubs, though thankfully the volume is kept to a minimum at most times. Beware however, that despite the attraction of serving high quality real ales, this pub does have a down side - there is a small minority of undesirables who use the pub on occasions, which hopefully the management has since cracked down on.

So one is not to get lost A map.

Brag 3-0 Pompey

Now I can take a defeat, but the way we played in this one is not good enough lads. All you hear from players is things like "I can't wait to play in Europe" OR " Europe is why I signed for this club" so when you do get a game in Europe then plaese try!!!!!!!! (Rant Over).

Braga: Eduardo, Frechaut, Moises, Alberto Rodriguez, Evaldo, Vandinho (Paulo Cesar 86), Alan, Matheus (Cesar Peixoto 63), Aguiar, Renteria (Stelvio Cruz 83), Meyong.
Subs Not Used: Mario Felgueiras, Mossoro, Jorginho, Joao Pereira.

Booked: Renteria.

Goals: Aguiar 8, Renteria 46, Alan 87.

Portsmouth: James, Campbell, Pamarot, Armand Traore (Kanu 62), Distin, Davis, Diop, Hreidarsson (Belhadj 46), Little, Defoe, Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Utaka, Mvuemba, Hughes, Wilson.

Booked: Pamarot, Belhadj.

Att: 12,000

Ref: Darko Ceferin (Slovenia).

Braga

So we play in Europe again tonight, I can't wait. I hope we get a good result Play Up Pompey.
A bit about Braga.

Sporting Clube de Braga ,also known as Sporting Braga, is a Portuguese sports club, from the city of Braga, that was founded in 1921.

Its football team plays at the Braga Municipal Stadium, which was built for Euro 2004. In the 2000's, the club gradually became one of Portugal's most successful clubs after the Big Three, and they have also competed with relative success in European competitions.




Portsmouth are again likely to be without French international midfielder Lassana Diarra, for their opening Group E encounter in Portugal.

Diarra has a knee injury and will be joined on the sidelines by compatriot Younes Kaboul, who has a back problem.

Another Frenchman, Noe Pamarot, could keep his place in defence after an impressive display in Saturday's goalless draw at Aston Villa.

Richard Hughes is out, but Sean Davis can play before his ban kicks in.

Braga - who have never beaten an English side in five European attempts - are likely to field five Brazilians in their starting line-up.

And up front, Cameroon international striker Albert Meyong, is likely to partner Colombian Wason Renteria.

Villa 0-0 Pompey

So we got a good result at Villa, I think both sides are quite similar so I am pleased. Except for the coin that got chucked and if it was aimed for Redknapp what a bad shot.

Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Davies, Laursen (Luke Young 88), Milner, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Carew.
Subs Not Used: Guzan, Sidwell, Harewood, Knight, Shorey, Gardner.

Booked: Ashley Young.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Armand Traore (Belhadj 78), Little (Utaka 71), Davis, Diop, Pamarot, Defoe (Mvuemba 82), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Thomas, Kanu.

Sent Off: Davis (81).

Booked: Johnson, Davis, Diop.

Att: 37,660

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

I'm back

Sorry for the short delay in post activates, with the international break and a complete PC reinstall down to some dodgy software I'm back.

AC Milan

I don't care about the others in our group except us I can't wait to ses this lot at Fratton Park Play Up Pompey.

Portsmouth have been drawn in the same Uefa Cup group as AC Milan. Pompey, who host Milan on 27 November.

Group E
AC Milan
Heerenveen
SC Braga
PORTSMOUTH
Vfl Wolfsburg

Pompey 2-1 Stoke

On a rainy Sunday I went to the pub to meet my Mum at the pub I had chosen but when I got ther it looked dark and closed, but next to it was another pub with Pompey flags and a flat roof with a trampoline on it so it did not take much yo decide what pub I was going to drink in. The pub The Traveller's Rest was a proper Pompey pub with big screen and full of Pompey fans nice. This traditional local includes an unusual single storey area at the front of house - presumably a later extension to compliment the original Cogswell design. The pub has a two bar interior and for many years was owned by Burton brewers Bass - one of only six such pubs in the city in the 1980s. The other pub we may try again...... well maybe not.

The game was not as hard for Pompey as I first feard. Stoke only had one threat Delap with his long throws, and with Pompey playing in Portugal well passed midnight Pompey could of been a bit tired.

Jermain Defoe netted the winner and Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch scored with a spectacular overhead kick as Stoke were beaten at Fratton Park.

Crouch acrobatically fired Defoe's cross into the bottom corner.

Stoke equalised when Rory Delap's long throw was flicked on by Dave Kitson and Ricardo Fuller headed home.

This game could have panned out very differently had Kitson not failed to take an early chance to open the scoring.


Pompeygary's MOTM Crouch what a goal

Pompeygary's Worst Kitson bad miss thank God

Pompey verdict 8 out of 10 could of scored a few more.

Ref watch 7 out off 10 good

Pub watch 9 out of 10 good other pub 1 out of 10

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Diop, Davis, Hughes, Armand Traore (Hreidarsson 90), Crouch, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Little, Kanu, Hreidarsson, Kaboul, Mvuemba, Pamarot.

Goals: Crouch 25, Defoe 50.

Stoke: Simonsen, Griffin, Cort, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Delap (Cresswell 73), Olofinjana, Amdy Faye, Tonge (Soares 65), Fuller, Kitson (Sidibe 61).
Subs Not Used: Whelan, Shawcross, Wilkinson, Sonko.

Goal: Fuller 48.

Booked: Olofinjana 22, Simonsen 66, Amfy Faye 76.

Att: 19,248.

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Pub

The Castle Tavern, Somers Road, Somerstown, PO5 4PT

Guimaraes 2-2 Pompey (2-4)

So why do Pompey make it so hard? We were so rubbish in the first half I would off had no complaints if we lost this game. But in the second half and extra time our class and fittness showed Play Up Pompey!!!!!!

Guimaraes: Nilson, Luciano Amaral (Fajardo 79), Roberto (Carlitos 62), Wenio, Gregory, Danilo, Douglas, Desmarets, Andrezinho, Flavio Meireles, Joao Alves.Subs not used: Serginho, Moreno, Tiago Ronaldo, Momha, Jean Coral.
Booked: Flavio Meireles, Danilo, Douglas.
Goals: Douglas 19, Joao Alves 32.
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Distin, Campbell, Pamarot, Davis (Mvuemba 73), Diarra, Hughes (Belhadj 99), Traore, Crouch, Defoe (Kaboul 106).Subs not used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Little, Kanu.
Booked: Johnson.
Goals: Crouch 105, 111.
At: 18,000
Ref: Selcuk Dereli.

Europe again

Uefa Cup first round second leg
Venue: Estadio D Afonso Henriques Date: Thursday, 2 October KO: 2135 BST

So we play in Portugal tomorrow for Pompey's first trip into Europe eva sort of. So it's time to get to the group stage so Play Up Pompey!!!!!!

Pompey 2-0 Spurs

Well Pompey beat the new Derby if the chants from the Fratton End (Side?) were anything to go by, and I don't know what that makes Sol Campbell if you could hear what they sang at the Milton End (Apollo Stand!).

Well it was a return to my old pub, this is the pub I used to go to before every match now with a big screen TV LOVLEY!
So after a few drinks we headed for the ground and this was a game we just had to win to put the last two results behind us 10 goals in two game is a bit to much. The talk before the match was about is the club up for sale (aren't most clubs for a good price) Well that is what the club statement said on the official Pompey web site, this was a reaction to a paper article earlier that day. If someone is to by the club I hope he is rich!

So to the game I think it was very even until we got a pen when Jermain Defoe put us ahead when he drove in a penalty after Jermaine Jenas needlessly handled a Glen Little free-kick.Spurs lacked a goal threat but were denied a penalty after an Aaron Lennon cross struck Lassana Diarra's arm.That was close!!!! Peter Crouch nodded in Pompey's second before Diarra was sent-off late on for two bookable offence silly boy will we miss him when Stoke come to town?
So that puts us up to 9th and Spurs stay rock bottom!

Pompeygary's MOTM Campbell back to his best

Pompeygary's Worst Spurs fans sang well but got a bit personal.

Pompey verdict 8 out of 10 good

Ref watch 7 out off 10 good.

Pub watch 8 out of 10 good pub indeed.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Little (Utaka 61), Diarra, Hughes, Armand Traore, Crouch, Defoe (Kaboul 89).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Pamarot, Mvuemba, Kanu.

Sent Off: Diarra (88).

Booked: Diarra, Belhadj, Crouch, Hughes.

Goals: Defoe 34 pen, Crouch 68.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Jenas, Zokora (Giovani 58), O'Hara, Gilberto (Lennon 46), Pavlyuchenko (Bent 73).
Subs Not Used: Cesar, Huddlestone, Modric, Gunter.

Booked: Woodgate, O'Hara, Lennon.

Att: 20,352

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Spurs

So its time for Pompey to return to good form against Spurs this Sunday Lunch time so Play Up Pompey!!!!!

In 1882 the Hotspur Football Club was formed by grammar school boys from the bible class at All Hallows Church. They were also members of Hotspur Cricket Club and it is thought that the name Hotspur was associated with Sir Henry Percy (Sir Harry Hotspur) who was "Harry Hotspur" of Shakespeare's Henry IV, part 1, and who lived locally during the 14th century and whose descendants owned land in the neighbourhood. In 1884 the club was renamed Tottenham Hotspur Football and Athletic Club to distinguish itself from another team called London Hotspur.

At first Spurs played in navy blue shirts. The club colours then varied from light blue and white halved jerseys, to red shirts and blue shorts, through chocolate brown and old gold and then finally, in the 1899-00 season, to white shirts and navy blue shorts as a tribute to Preston North End, the most successful team of the time.

In 1888 Tottenham moved their home fixtures from the Tottenham Marshes to Northumberland Park where the club was able to charge for spectator admission. An attempt to join an aborted Southern League, instigated by Royal Arsenal (later Arsenal), failed in 1892 when they were the only club of the 23 applicants to receive no votes. They turned professional just before Christmas 1895 and were then admitted to the Southern League and attracted crowds nearing 15,000. Charles Roberts became chairman in 1898 and stayed in post until 1943.

In 1899 Spurs made their final ground move to a former market garden in nearby High Road, Tottenham. In time the ground became known as White Hart Lane, a local thoroughfare. Tottenham were the considerable beneficiaries of the escalating unionisation of the northern professional game in the 1890s. Both John Cameron and John Bell, formerly Everton players came to play for Tottenham as a result of the conflict caused by their organisation of the Association Footballers' Union, a forerunner of the Professional Footballers' Association. As a direct result of this in 1900, Tottenham won the Southern League title and crowned this achievement the next year by winning the FA Cup - becoming the only non-League club to do so since the formation of the Football League. The cup was presented to Spurs captain Jack Jones with coloured ribbons on, tied there for the first time by the wife of the Spurs director, Morton Cadman, thus starting the long held tradition of tying ribbons in Cup competitions, which continues to this day.

Pub

This pub name has existed on this site since at least the early 19th century and was once owned by the Peters Brewery. The present house has a public bar at the front, with a larger lounge at the rear (which may not be open at all times). Owned by Friary Meux (Allied Brewers) until the 1990s, the house is now part of Punch Taverns. It is now sadly run down and in much need of a refurbishment. Popular when Portsmouth FC are playing at home.

Pompey 0-4 Chelsea

I told you we would not win I got that correct dam, well at least we have got this bad run out the way I hope.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Mvuemba, Kaboul, Hughes (Wilson 80), Belhadj (Armand Traore 69), Crouch (Kanu 69).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Defoe, Djimi Traore, Little.

Booked: Hreidarsson, Hughes, Johnson.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Bridge, Belletti, Ballack (Ferreira 69), Lampard (Sinclair 74), Kalou, Malouda, Drogba (Di Santo 79).
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Obi, Mancienne, Stoch.

Booked: Ballack.

Goals: Lampard 36 pen, Malouda 45, Lampard 49, Kalou 64.

Att: 15,339

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Cup we wont win this game.

So I predicted the score wrong for the Man City game so I wont predict this. Well at least we can concentrate on the League after this because we wont win. That is a sort of prediction I hope I get this one wrong too.Play Up Pompey!!!!

Man City 6-0 Portsmouth

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Kompany, Wright-Phillips, Ireland (Gelson 77), Elano, Robinho (Sturridge 85), Jo (Evans 71).
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Michael Ball, Hamann, Ben-Haim.

Goals: Jo 13, Dunne 20, Robinho 57, Wright-Phillips 68, Evans 78, Gelson

Portsmouth: James, Johnson (Pamarot 82), Distin, Campbell, Belhadj, Diarra, Davis (Diop 33), Kaboul (Utaka 46), Armand Traore, Crouch, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Mvuemba, Kanu.

Booked: Diarra.

Att: 40,238

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Manchester City

So it's time to get back to the Prem with an away trip to City.
Pradiction 1-1 Play Up Pompey!!!!!

A bit about City.

Manchester City F.C. was founded as St. Marks (West Gorton) in 1880 by Anna Connell and two wardens of St. Mark's Church, who also worked in the nearby iron factory, in Gorton, a district in east Manchester. In 1887, they moved to a new ground at Hyde Road, in Ardwick just to the east of the city centre, and were renamed Ardwick A.F.C. to reflect their new location.Ardwick joined the Football League as founding members of the Second Division in 1892. Financial troubles in the 1893-94 season led to a reorganisation within the club, and Ardwick were reformed as Manchester City F.C.

City gained their first honours by winning the Second Division in 1899; with it came promotion to the highest level in English football, the First Division. They went on to claim their first major honour on 23 April 1904, beating Bolton Wanderers 1-0 at Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup; City narrowly missed out on a League and Cup double that season after finishing runners-up in the League. In the seasons following the FA Cup triumph, the club was dogged by allegations of financial irregularities, culminating in the suspension of seventeen players in 1906, including captain Billy Meredith, who subsequently moved across town to Manchester United. A fire at Hyde Road destroyed the main stand in 1920, and in 1923 the club moved to their new purpose-built stadium at Maine Road in Moss Side.

On 1 September 2008, Abu Dhabi-based Abu Dhabi United Group Investment and Development Limited completed a takeover of Manchester City. The deal, worth a reported £200 million, was announced on the morning of 1 September. It sparked various transfer "deadline-day" rumours and bids such as the club's attempt to gazump Manchester United's protracted bid to sign Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur for a British transfer record fee in excess of £30 million. Also, Real Madrid's Robinho became a Man City player on 1st September, just minutes before the Summer transfer window closed in a British record transfer fee of £32.5 million. Man City's new-found wealth sparked rumours that City offered a blank cheque to Real Madrid for striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy, however Real refused. City were also believed to make a failed £50m bid for Liverpool FC striker Fernando Torres

Pompey 2-0 Guimarães

Wow what a night that was!!!!!
I rushed down to the park from work and got myself a space as soon as I saw one. I headed to the tent for a quick drink and meet Mum. The tent looks bigger than it did last year, and had a couple more bars so that was good.

Once in the ground I soaked up the atmosphere with a coffee!? well why not.
There was about 100 away fans with quite a good voice good on them for coming, but I think we will be taking a few more to the away leg.

The game was fast and for once the ref was very good indeed, yes he made mistakes but he put on a top notch performance.

Lassana Diarra and Jermain Defoe got the goals that gave us victory in our first European match and a healthy advantage for the second leg.
Diarra played a one-two with Defoe and volleyed in to open the scoring. Three minutes later Guimaraes had a chance to level but Joao Paulo Fajardo blazed a penalty over after Sol Campbell hauled down Felix Roberto. After the break Defoe missed a penalty, having won it himself, but made amends with a superb volley to seal the win.
The crowd was at it's best very good and the drums and bell and Bugle were back for this game too.
All together a very good night for Pompey even with the early start so we must thrash them away and progress to the next stage of the UEFA Cup ( that still seems strange!) Play Up Pompey!!!

Pompeygary's MOTM Diarra Again!!!!!!!

Pompeygary's Worst Crouch kept giving the ball away but he will get better.

Pompey verdict 9 out of 10 well done!

Ref watch 8 out off 10 very good.

Pub watch 9 out of 10 the club boozer what else is better.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Utaka (Diop 73), Diarra, Davis, Armand Traore (Hreidarsson 90), Crouch (Kanu 90), Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Kaboul, Mvuemba, Little.

Booked: Campbell.

Goals: Diarra 39, Defoe 60.

Guimaraes: Nilson, Gregory, Danilo, Momha (Luciano Amaral 55), Andrezinho, Joao Alves, Wenio, Fajardo (Jean Coral 64), Moreno, Desmarets, Roberto.
Subs Not Used: Nuno Santos, Sereno, Carlitos, Tiago Ronaldo, Lamelas.

Booked: Roberto, Fajardo, Moreno.

Att: 19,612

Ref: Karl Kircher (Germany).

Europe

Not the band but Pompey in Europe, I can't wait if I get to the game on time!!!!

A little bit about our opponents.....

Although Vitória de Guimarães have never won the Portuguese Football Championship or the Portuguese Football Cup, it is one of the most respected clubs in Portugal, playing in the top division for the last few decades, usually challenging for a UEFA Cup place. However, in 2005/2006 season, the team was relegated to Segunda Liga after its worst championship performance in decades.

In the early 2000s, Vitória struggled to keep itself in the top Portuguese division (Superliga). Those years were marked by the decline of the leadership of Pimenta Machado, former president of the club. Machado was accused on charges of embezzlement. Despite this, Vitória had an impressive season. Progress continued in 2004-05, when they secured an impressive league fifth-place finish and qualified for European competition (the UEFA Cup). Vitoria's recent renaissance fell apart in 2005-06, as they finished 17th in the Superliga despite reaching the cup semi-final, having beaten SL Benfica in the quarter-final where Flávio Meireles scored a goal with his hand. They also failed to progress from their UEFA cup group, as eventual winners Sevilla FC, Premier League outfit Bolton Wanderers and Russian team Zenit progressed.

After the fall, everyone thought that Vitória would get back in the 1st Division quite easily, even though the team itself wasn't that great. Then, what happened was almost a bad nightmare for the fans. Vitória, in the middle of the season, was rounding the 10th place and lower, with very few chances of getting promoted. During the Winter stop, there was a change in the club's Direction and a new coach was hired (Manuel Cajuda). What followed next, was a dream. Vitória started winning game, after game, and in the end managed to get the 2nd place in the 29th game of the 2nd Division. Their promotion was guaranteed.

The promotion was crowned with a 3rd place in the 2007-2008 season, guaranteeing a place in the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions' League.

Pompey 2-1 Boro

What a lovely sunny day we had on Saturday a bit to hot to tell you the truth but hay ho I will be moaning when it's freezing in December!

The pub was an odd but a very good one, very friendly with only a few drinkers in. They all spoke with a posh none Pompey accent but were funny with social comments. It felt like a good old fashioned pub with two bars a snug and a public bar the way it should be, we went in the snug and I had my usual Newcastle Brown Ale's lovely and Mum picked up some books at the pub for 20 pence too.

The game was one of the best at Fratton Park for a long time the 2-1 win gave us 6 points out of 4 games not a bad return for the hard start we had been given.

Boro took the lead when Mido was found by striker partner Afonso Alves and drove in a low shot.
We bounced back in determined fashion and the impressive Defoe lashed in a shot after Peter Crouch's pass. Then Defoe secured the win when he volleyed one in.
His goals also secured our first win at home since 29 March.
I was not worried one bit when we went behind I just knew we had to much class for Boro who in the first half played very well indeed. If it was not for their keeper we would of won by a lot more.
I lost my glasses and almost trod on them when we scored the first goal they are the only pair I have so I was scrambling around on the floor looking for them insted of jumping around like an idiot. I think my Mum knocked them off!!!! But it was so good to score at home again!

So now it is time to look forward to our first Euro match this Thursday at 6pm Play Up Pompey!!!!!!!!!

Pompeygary's MOTM Diarra WHAT A PLAYER!

Pompeygary's Worst O'Neil was he there?

Pompey verdict that's more like it lads 9 out of 10

Ref watch 1 out of 10 Nuff said

Pub watch 7 out of 10 good pub but quiet.

Portsmouth: James, Kaboul (Belhadj 46), Campbell, Distin, Johnson, Diop (Utaka 46), Davis, Diarra, Armand Traore (Hreidarsson 84), Crouch, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Nugent, Pamarot, Mvuemba.

Booked: Defoe, Johnson.

Goals: Defoe 59, 86.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Hoyte, Huth, Riggott, Pogatetz, Aliadiere, O'Neil, Digard (Taylor 70), Downing, Alves, Mido (Adam Johnson 84).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Wheater, Porritt, Walker, Craddock.

Booked: Mido.

Goals: Mido 24.

Att: 19,425

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

Middlesbrough

So it's time for that rare thing a 3oclock kick off and I cant wait! Time for another 3 points me thinks.

A bit about Boro


The football club was originally formed by Middlesbrough Cricket team players so they could stay fit during the winter. They won the FA Amateur Cup in 1895 and again in 1898. The club turned professional in 1889, but reverted to amateur status in 1892. They turned professional permanently in 1899. After three seasons, they won promotion to the First Division, where they would remain for the next 22 years.

In 1903, the club moved to Ayresome Park, their home for the next 92 years. In 1905, the club sanctioned the transfer of Alf Common for £1,000, a record fee. Over the next few years, their form fluctuated greatly, rising to sixth in 1907–08 before dropping to seventeenth two seasons later. The club rose to their highest league finish to date, third, in 1913–14. The First World War soon intervened and football was suspended.

Before competitive football resumed, Middlesbrough won the Northern Victory League, but the team were unable to maintain their previous form and finished the 1919–20 season in mid-table. They remained in the First Division for the next few seasons, but were relegated in 1923–24 after finishing bottom, ten points adrift of their nearest rivals. Three seasons later, they won the Division Two title. During that season, debutant George Camsell, who had signed from Third Division North side Durham City the previous season, finished with a record 59 league goals, which included nine hat tricks. He would continue as top scorer for each of the next ten seasons. Their tenure back in the top flight lasted only one season, and the club were relegated. They were promoted at the first attempt in 1928–29, winning another Second Division title. The club remained in the First Division until 1954.

Pub For Boro Game

The Barley Mow,Castle Road, Southsea

A mid 1920s pub designed by A E Cogswell, though to a design not generally associated with the architect (Cogswell's builds generally having a more elaborate exterior than that of the Barley Mow). It was built to replace an earlier tavern of the same name. The pub retains two traditional bars and has an attractive beer garden.

A good selection of real ales is on offer. The monday quiz night is a popular attraction.

Time for some Real Ale!!!!!!!!

Tranfer Window Ended

Nadir Belhadj is the only player to come in( on loan) at Pompey on the last day of the tranfer window, with Martin Cranie going to Charlton on loan.

Everton 0-3 Pompey

Wow I did not see this one coming!!! a draw maybe but a good win no. So we get our first three points of the season and I for one am happy about that.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Arteta, Rodwell, Jagielka, Osman (Baxter 71), Yakubu, Vaughan (Anichebe 58).
Subs Not Used: Turner, Jacobsen, Nuno Valente, Kissock, Wallace.

Booked: Baines.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Kaboul, Campbell, Distin, Diop, Davis (Mvuemba 90), Diarra, Armand Traore (Hreidarsson 77), Crouch, Defoe (Utaka 76).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Lauren, Sahar, Djimi Traore.

Goals: Defoe 12, Johnson 40, Crouch 69.

Att: 34,418

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

Look who we get in the League Cup

Full draw for Carling Cup third round:

Arsenal v Sheff Utd
Brighton or Man City v Derby
Burnley v Fulham
POMPEY v Chelsea
Blackburn v Everton
Rotherham v Southampton
Swansea v Cardiff
Ipswich v Wigan
Stoke v Reading
Leeds v Hartlepool
Watford v West Ham
Man Utd v Middlesbrough
Liverpool v Crewe
Aston Villa v QPR
Sunderland v Northampton
Newcastle v Tottenham

At least we are at home Play Up Pompey!!!!!

Everton

So we have Everton away today and I for one would be happy with a draw so Play Up Pompey!!!!



A bit about them

Everton were founded as St. Domingo in 1878 so that people from the parish of St. Domingo's Methodist Church could play a sport in non-summer months (cricket was played in summer). A year later, the club was renamed Everton F.C. after the surrounding area, as people outside the parish wished to participate. The club was a founding member of the Football League in 1888, and won their first League Championship title in 1890–91. They won the FA Cup in 1905–06 and the League title again in 1914–15, but it was not until 1927 that Everton's first sustained period of success began. In 1925 the club signed Dixie Dean who, in 1927–28, set the record for league goals in a single season (60 goals in 39 league games, a record that still stands to this day), helping Everton to achieve their third league title.

Everton were relegated to the Second Division two years later but won the title and thus promotion at the first attempt. On their return to the top flight in 1931–32, Everton wasted no time in reaffirming their status and won a fourth League title at the first opportunity. They also won their second FA Cup in 1932–33 with a 3–0 win against Manchester City in the final. The era ended in 1938–39 with a fifth League title. The advent of World War II saw the suspension of League football, and when official competition restarted in 1946 the Everton team had been split-up and paled in comparison to the pre-war club. Everton were relegated again in 1950–51 and did not return until 1953–54, when they finished as runners-up in their third season in the Second Division. The club have been a top flight presence ever since.