Drinks foe Everton.

As the game is so bloody early, I think we should meet at the Marquee outside Fratton Park. I am taking the bus so maybe a beer or two more if we have time.

Fans Forum from Rivals

Pompeygary says " Interesting but mostly Peter Storrie filling us up with rehashed stories but honest to a point. It's a shame Sasha has ran out of money not just for us but for him to. I had hoped he would carry on his good work, lets just hope he finds us a good new owner.


This is from Rivals.


Well firstly it was bloody freezing in there, most people felt it was warmer outside!

Peter Storrie and Paul Hart were the two main guests and the Club had also brought along some old players from the past, Ray Hiron etc.

The Asia cup and a replica FA cup were also there for anyone who wanted photos with them.

Main topics of conversation were:

The Ground
Basinas
Conceding late goals
Gekas
New Kit
Training Ground
Reserve Team
New Owner
Games shifting ie Newcastle now on a Monday!

On the Fratton Park proposal, Peter Storrie said that planning permission had been altered slightly as the previous proposal had included residential building, which in this current climate is a no go. The supermarket option finances 70% of the cost of building 2 and 1/2 new stands, new facilities in the stands (pie and pint shops, new loos with hot running water in the taps...) The South Stand will become the away end. The capacity initially will increase by 5000 and once work is completed by November next season (work is meant to commence in May) it will have increased by 10000.

Basinas is not played as Hart believes we need tougher contact players on the field whilst we are in this relegation battle and feels Mullins is the man for the job.

Late goals issue was defended by saying we've done it all season, not just lately....also said that 5 points from last few games are great, but he knows we are in a battle and words were said in the dressing room after boro.

Gekas did refuse to play for the reserves, needless to say Hart and Storrie are not happy with this as hes contracted to the club and should do as he's told basically. Apparently he was bought after being seen on a video and that he has actually only played 2 hours 59 minutes this season, all as a late sub. Apparently Hart has spoken to him and says he needs to see him play, he cant take risks with team selection as we're fighting for survival and that if he is as good as Gekas says he is why didnt his team keep him!

New kit will be red, white and blue.

Training ground, work to start in the next month, the contracts have been awarded and all plans etc have gone through.

Reserve team, its felt that the reserves need to play more matches and there is supposed to be a proposal that the reserve league becomes an under 21 league.

New Owner, apparently a few people are interested, but until they show the colour of their money, nothing is concrete. Sasha is skint and will not put any more money into the club and if the club isnt sold by the new season, we are going to have a difficult summer, although not as bad as the last transfer window. We are running on a break even basis just now, but with new sky money etc we will be okay.

Afterwards someone asked about Diop, he has started running again today and is about a month away from a return, so good news on that front.

All in all, I thought Paul Hart was a very straightforward down to earth guy who seemed very honest.

There was a bit of joking at the start regarding winning the cup etc, players wanting to go clubbing after the win and take the cup with them, herman being held onto the side of the bus by Sasha when he tried to climb off to go to the loo....

I enjoyed it, my only complaint was how cold it was in there and that maybe it shouldve been held in one of the function rooms.


oops forgot to say about the games being shifted about. Peter Storrie said that we have no control over it, its to do with so many european fixtures etc and not just down to sky and setanta.

He did however say, that without the sky money we and probably every club in the premiership (including man utd) would be bankrupt. The sky money pays the wages and if we dont offer the wages then the best players would all go abroad, so as much as people dislike their games being disrupted theres not much anyone can do about it.

Back To Plan One.

Pompey have announced it will freeze any plans to move to Horsea Island and instead redevelop Fratton Park.

The football club's new plan will see the club's current home increase in capacity to 30,000.

The decision was made to put on ice the Horsea Island scheme following a number of planning and financial issues.

These include:

- New exits to the Horsea Island site from the M27

- A new bridge from Tipner to Horsea Island to link the two developments

- A change to the city plan proposed by the council to accommodate the stadium will still need to be subject to an inquiry by an independent inspector appointed by the Secretary of State

- The issue of the 'credit crunch', which has affected housing and almost all other developments, as well as lenders' attitudes to large projects

In a statement Pompey said: 'The club's ultimate aim remains a 40-45,000-seater stadium at Horsea Island near Port Solent, along with a multi purpose arena and residential and retail development to help fund and support the project.'

Initial work on Fratton Park would see the pitch turned 90 degrees and see two new stands, an extension to the Fratton End and refurbishments made to the south stand.

This work would be paid for by selling off part of the site to a major supermarket.

The club would also build a new club shop, ticket office and club offices.

Pompey say work could start before the end of the year, subject to planning permission.

The capacity would initially grow to 25,000 for the start of the 2010/2011 season and 30,000 once the work is completed by the beginning of the 2011/2012 season.

A planning application for the work at Fratton Park would be submitted 'as soon as possible', the club said.


So Pompeygary says "I hope this is true, but haven't we heard this one before?"

Gekas get to work!

So Theofanis Gekas will not play a reserve game for Paul Hart to see him play in the flesh, well in my mind Hart is right not to play him. Reputation means nothing in practice, so Pompeygary says send him home.

Boro1-1 Pompey

Having to sit listen to this match was in the most not good for one's heart. I said I would be happy with a draw before the match, but to go one nil up and then see the opposition go down to ten men, and then concede a very late goal at the end I would have to say I am a bit disappointed. Well the one good thing at the moment is our form has improved of late but we must keep it up, so it's Everton at home for an early kick off on Saturday so Play Up Pompey!!!!!!

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate on Martin Atkinson dismissing Matthew Bates for diving:

"He is an excellent referee but it was a strange decision.

"But it changed the course of the game because the crowd then came back behind us.

"It could be a crucial point and we are still in there fighting."

Portsmouth manager Paul Hart:

"It is very, very disappointing because going into the last minute in front you think you've cracked it. But if you had asked me before if I would have settled for a point I would have said yes.

"We are not shipping goals like we were, and goal difference could turn out to be important in the final reckoning."

---

Middlesbrough: Jones, McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz (Taylor 46), Aliadiere (Adam Johnson 58), Arca (Alves 71), Bates, Downing, Sanli, King. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Emnes, Shawky, Walker.

Sent Off: Bates (77).

Booked: Bates.

Goals: King 90.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant (Belhadj 36), Davis, Mullins, Kranjcar (Pamarot 90), Crouch, Nugent (Hughes 70). Subs Not Used: Begovic, Kaboul, Utaka, Kanu.

Booked: Belhadj, Nugent, Johnson.

Goals: Crouch 30.

Att: 24,281

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Pompey 0-1 Chelsea

I don't know why I bother going to see us play Chelsea, we never win. But it is always fun and this was a good game and with a bit of luck and a good ref ( yeah right) we might of got a draw. With results going against us at the mo it all looks a bit grim. But I and the few others that have seen all this before just wish JKL's would stop moaning and get behind the team, I know that the players got us into this mess by not playing for Adams. I blame them not completely but we lost to many games we should have won. The day that Paul Hart and co took over I said that we would see a change in the team and we did even when we lost, but is it to late I hope not.

I have to say that the meal that my Mum got me for my Birthday (21 again) was lovely thanks Mum. The pub is a busy one on match days, with home and away fans all getting on, I like that , don't get me wrong I like a good Pompey only pub, but it is good to see everyone getting along ( I can hear the 657 turning in their graves).

The bloody rain was well bad, we woz soaked by the time we got to the ground, as were our seats, we are only four rows from the pitch lovley, we pay money to sit in the cold and rain to watch mega rich stars fall over on the pitch we must be mad, but I love it.

Didier Drogba struck late on to earn title-chasing Chelsea a vital win against Portsmouth in horrendous weather conditions.

Drogba had earlier narrowly failed to connect with an Ashley Cole driven cross as Chelsea dominated possession.

Relegation-threatened Pompey were kept at bay by Blues keeper Petr Cech, who saved from Sean Davis and David Nugent.

Both clubs had shown their ruthless side in sacking their respective managers within 24 hours of each other back in early February.

The visitors endured a nervy final 10 minutes but held on to preserve Hiddink's 100% record as temporary boss and consign Portsmouth manager Paul Hart to the first defeat of his tenure.

On the way home in the car we allways have the local radio station on, and they confirmed the Paul Hart was to be manager with Kidd till the end of the season, I think they could of announced this before the game but hay ho thts Pompey for you, so it's now time to get behind Pompey in the old way and raise the roof and snatch the sky. Play Up Pompey!!!!!!!

Pub for Chelsea Match

2 Eastern Road, Milton, PO3 6ES

Opened in 1938, this large road house was built for the Brickwoods Brewery and is now a prominent feature on one of the city's main roads. Popular with a mainly local clientele, the pub is always packed when Portsmouth FC are playing home matches at nearby Fratton Park.
The pub serves food daily and also features a large TV screen on which to view sporting fixtures. There is ample car parking at the front of the pub.

I will be there at about 5.

Stoke 2-2 Pompey

Bloody ref how on earth did he get that pen so wrong? I tell you it's not because it went against Pompey it's a bad decision all round (it could of happened to Stoke and I would be just as annoyed). This is starting to get bloody annoying the quality of the reffs is getting wors not better.
It was good to see Pompey fight back from going 2-1 down, we would of lost that one with Tony Adams I'm afraid. Listening to the radio I was overjoyed to be one up in what sounded like a poore game, but then Stoke got that pen and we just fell apart when they scored another, but we got a bit of what we deserved when it went 2 all with a Stoke own goal. In my living room I scared to cat as I shouted at our 90 minute leveller sorry Bobby.

Portsmouth earned a dramatic point against Stoke City thanks to an injury-time own goal by Ryan Shawcross.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis:
"It was two points dropped. When you go into injury-time leading 2-1 you hope to win but we have switched off and they have caught us.

"When they went 1-0 up I thought it would be difficult for us but we came back with the two goals and we were looking to see it out."

Portsmouth caretaker boss Paul Hart:
"We were unfortunate not to win. We scored a very good goal, had weathered the storm and defended like Trojans.

"But we didn't have time to get into a defensive shape to defend before the penalty, which wasn't a penalty, simple as that.

"Johnson leant towards the ball but his hands are nowhere near it.

"When you are faced with a decision that you feel isn't right it knocks you back. We were still reeling from it when Stoke scored again."

---

Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Lawrence (Tonge 66), Diao, Amdy Faye, Pugh, Sidibe (Cresswell 84), Beattie.
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Whelan, Kitson, Camara, Sonko.

Booked: Lawrence.

Goals: Beattie 78 pen, 80.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Pennant, Basinas (Mullins 71), Davis, Kranjcar (Kanu 89), Crouch, Nugent (Belhadj 89).
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Kaboul, Pamarot, Utaka.

Booked: Hreidarsson, Johnson, Davis.

Goals: Kranjcar 75, Shawcross 90 og.

Ref: Mike Jones (Cheshire).

A drab game came alive after 75 minutes when David Nugent set up Niko Kranjcar to slide Pompey in front.

James Beattie quickly levelled from the spot after Glen Johnson was adjudged to have handled then, seconds later, he put Stoke ahead from close range.

Pompey poured forward and got their reward when Shawcross deflected Hermann Hreidarsson's cross into his own net.

Given the lack of quality that had been on display for most of the game at the Britannia Stadium, it was an unexpectedly exciting finish.