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.

UEFA Cup

Pompey have been drawn against Portuguese side Vitoria SC (also known as Vitoria de Guimaraes) in the first round of the UEFA Cup.

The first leg will be played at Fratton Park on Thursday, September 18 with the return leg at Estadio D. Afonso Henriques on Thursday, October 2.

Can't wait for this game! Pompey playing on a Thursday what ever next. Play Up Pompey!!!!!

Pompey 0-1 Manchester United

Well it's first home game of the season and it's a night game under those old floodlights lovely!!!!
So to the pub I went, this is a good place for a pre match drink and chat, it still looks like a building site in the next room! it's been a year since we a a drink at this place and a had a feeling they would of finished by now. This bar now has three tv's in it one showing Sky Sports News no spond the other two Setanta with sound odd! Once mum arrived the drinks started (well two) and we sat on a leather sofa nice.

Now it was time to get to Fratton Park! This lovely old ground is falling apart but I love it. It almost seems like it's alive I have been in the stadium when it was empty (not for a game ok) and you could almost hear it breathing if you know what I mean no? oh well!

Web lost the game to Manchester United but it was close very close. After only 12 seconds when Papa Bouba Diop's shot whistled past the post, before Wayne Rooney shot straight at David James from 12 yards.
Portsmouth might have lacked any real cut and thrust but boss Harry Redknapp will take some consolation that their performance was better than the one that saw them thumped 4-0 by Chelsea in their opening game of the season last week.

Loan player Armand Traore looked very good for a young player impressed I was.

Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch were playing their first game together at Fratton Park and they almost combined to get Crouch in, but Evra nicked the ball of the former Liverpool man's toes when he about to shoot.
An hour of the game had been played before Portsmouth forced Edwin van der Sar into his first save, beating away substitute Thomas's vicious drive.

Manchester United worked the ball inside Diop, for the second time in a few minutes, Evra crossed from the left and Fletcher's effort went scrambled in off Campbell as Sylvain Distin failed to hook it off the line.

Well that game keeps us at the foot of the table only one way to go..... up you idiot.

Pompeygary's MOTM Tevez Ugly but playes well

Pompeygary's Worst Ferdinand well I don't like him.

Pompey verdict Better than the Chelsea game, but we must start scoring 6 out of 10.

Ref watch 2 out of 10 what planet was he on!

Pub watch 8 out of 10 good pub but they need to finish it.

Portsmouth: James, Kaboul, Campbell, Distin, Johnson, Diop, Davis (Utaka 66), Diarra, Armand Traore (Thomas 56), Crouch, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Lauren, Hreidarsson, Mvuemba, Sahar.

Booked: Diop, Defoe.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Fletcher, Anderson (Possebon 76), Scholes, Evra, Rooney, Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Neville, Fabio Da Silva, Rafael Da Silva, Gibson, Campbell.

Booked: Brown, Fletcher.

Goals: Fletcher 32.

Att: 20,540

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

PUB!

So this year we start with one of the best pubs of last season Smiffy's.
This small bar opened within the first few years of the 21st century and is situated opposite the overbridge that connects Fratton Station with Goldsmith Avenue. Advertising itself as a bistro, it offers food all day, as well as real ales and coffees. Popular with those visiting Fratton Park when Portsmouth FC are playing, it is otherwise used by locals and passers by.

Man Yooo

So is it going to be another result for Pompey against this lot. If I see one flag at the away end with something like "Man Utd Oxford Crew" or something like that I will screem! Play Up Pompey!!!!

Thomas Permanent,Traore On Loan

Jerome Thomas’ loan move to Pompey has been made permanent.

The winger has signed a one-year contract with the Blues.

Pompey will pay Charlton a small fee if Thomas plays a certain number of games.

So that frees up a loan place for Armand Traore from Arsenal. Now thats a good bit of business me thinks Play Up Pompey!

Chelsea 4-0 Pompey

So Pompey got thrashed by Chelsea , we looked so bad but Chelsea looked fantastic. We might of lost this one anyway but we have played better than this against Chelsea before. I think Redknapp got the tactics wrong this time. I don't mind loosing but not in this fashion. Roll on Manchester United next Monday Play Up Pompey!!!!

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari:
"I think the owner is happy, like the other fans.

"Portsmouth didn't think we would play like we did and we were more aggressive than last season. I think they were surprised by our team.

"I only give the players the freedom to play and allow them to express their style."

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp:
"You're not going to break into the top four. No-one is this year.

"Spurs have got a squad and can't even win at Middlesbrough, so you start forgetting about them.

"The top four are on another level. We've improved our standard in the last three or four years but, today, you step up into a different level."

---

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa (Ferreira 83), Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack (Malouda 38), Lampard, Obi, Deco, Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 78), Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Di Santo, Bridge, Alex.

Goals: Joe Cole 12, Anelka 26, Lampard 45 pen, Deco 89.

Portsmouth: James, Kaboul, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Johnson, Diarra (Mvuemba 68), Diop, Kranjcar (Thomas 73), Defoe, Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Lauren, Utaka, Cranie, Traore.

Booked: James.

Att: 41,468

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

---

Chelsea today

Time for Pompey to beat this lot, Chelsea are one of two teams we have not beat in the Prem so can Pompey beat them this time away?

A bit about them

Chelsea were founded on 14 March 1905 at The Rising Sun pub (now The Butcher's Hook), opposite the present-day main entrance to the ground on Fulham Road, and were elected to the Football League shortly afterwards. The club's early years saw little success; the closest they came to winning a major trophy was reaching the FA Cup final in 1915, where they lost to Sheffield United. Chelsea gained a reputation for signing big-name players and for being entertainers, but made little impact on the English game in the inter-war years.

Former England centre-forward Ted Drake became manager in 1952 and proceeded to modernise the club. He removed the club's Chelsea pensioner crest, improved the youth set-up and training regime, rebuilt the side, and led Chelsea to their first major trophy success – the League championship – in 1954–55. The following season saw UEFA create the European Champions' Cup, but after objections from The Football League and the FA Chelsea were persuaded to withdraw from the competition before it started.

Mendes gone! Jerome arrives!

Pedro Mendes has joined Rangers for £3m.

The midfielder has signed a three-year deal with the Scottish Premier League side.

Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie thanked the 29-year-old for his contribution during two-and-a-half years at Pompey.

Jerome Thomas has joined Pompey on loan from Charlton until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old winger was training with the Blues on Friday ahead of the Premier League clash at Chelsea on Sunday.

Blues chief executive Peter Storrie said Thomas offered the width and pace that Harry Redknapp had been looking to add to his squad.

Storrie said Thomas had every chance of winning a permanent deal at Fratton Park if he impressed on loan.

Gosport Borough 1-4 Pompey

Well it was a lovely evening at Gosport with a good win. About 2500 people turned up for this including this idiot!From the official site.

Matt Ritchie grabbed a hat-trick as Pompey ended their pre-season campaign with a comfortable victory against Gosport Borough at Privett Park.

The Blues side featured a mixture of youth and experience with Lauren, Arnold Mvuemba, John Utaka and Ben Sahar among the more senior stars on show.

Pompey had an excellent opportunity to take the lead after only 10 minutes when Sahar was felled in the area.

The referee appeared not to see the foul but his eagle-eyed assistant flagged. Not that it mattered. Less than 24 hours after the Blues’ shoot-out misery at Wembley, Sahar’s spot-kick was tipped round the post by Mark Brown.

John Utaka then went close on 18 minutes with an opportunistic long-range strike that flew inches wide.

Chances were proving to be extremely few and far between but Ritchie livened things up midway through the half with a 25-yard shot that sailed just over the crossbar.

The hosts almost broke the deadlock on 38 minutes when Tommy McCormick found Justin Bennett and, under pressure from the advancing Jamie Ashdown, the Gosport striker slid the ball narrowly wide.

Pompey went straight up the other end and their trialist forced a decent save from Brown with a free-kick on the edge of the box.

Ashdown had his first, albeit comfortable, save to make on 41 minutes, comfortably holding onto Bennett’s drive.

But the Blues took the lead just before the interval when RITCHIE’s shot took a wicked deflection off Andy Puckett, completely deceiving Brown as it flew into the net.

The lead lasted just a minute, however. Nathan Lynch received the ball in acres of space at the far post and had the simple task of tapping home from close range.

Half Time: Gosport 1 Pompey 1

SAHAR made up for his early penalty miss just minutes after the restart with a clinical finish after latching onto Utaka’s fine through ball.

The lead was extended further minutes later when Max Frampton could only push RITCHIE’s 25-yard shot into the corner of the net.

Ritchie then had three chances to bag his hat-trick. His first shot was saved by Frampton and he then hit the loose ball against the post, before his third effort was deflected behind for a corner.

But the hat-trick did arrive on 59 minutes. Pompey’s trialist sent a brilliant cross-field ball into RITCHIE’s path and the young winger coolly finished past Frampton.

There was little excitement in the latter stages as the usual host of substitutions took the sting out of the game.

Although one of those subs – John Wilson – almost pulled a goal back for Gosport late in the game but his angled drive rolled agonisingly wide.

And two of Pompey’s young replacements linked up well towards the end. Gael Nlundulu found Andrea Mutombo, whose shot was just off target.

Pompey: Ashdown; Lauren (Nlundulu 85), Duffy (Reynolds 72), Traore, Cranie; Mvuemba, Christophe, Trialist, Ritchie (Mutombo 82); Utaka, Sahar (Cowan-Hall 89)

Goals: Ritchie 44, 52, 59, Sahar 49

Sub not used: O’Brien

Gosport: Brown; Jones, Puckett, Thomas, Birmingham; McCormick, Culliford, Howes, Ford; Bennett, Lynch

Goals: Lynch 45

Referee: Mark Walton

Attendance: 2,575

Gosport Borough

The last pre season game for Pompey this year is at Privett Park home of Gosport Borough and I will be going. I don't know what team Pompey will put out but I don't care, it's a lovely ground at Gosport and I'm looking forward to it.

A bit about Gosport.


Gosport Borough Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Gosport, England. They were founded just two weeks after the D-Day landings in 1944 (as Gosport Borough Athletic Club) in an initiative to bring back organised football, athletics, swimming and cycling to the town of Gosport after a break of several years.
In their first season (1944-45), the football section of the Club won the Portsmouth and District League Division 1 under the guidance of former Southampton F.C. player, Stan Cribb. The line-up at that time included Jimmy Scoular and Peter Harris who both went on to become full internationals.
For their second season, the club were accepted into the Hampshire League and won the Division 1 title at their first attempt. This feat was not repeated for thirty-one seasons despite being a major force in Hampshire football during that period.

KABOUL

I don't like to talk about potential players coming to Pompey but this is on the official site.

Younes Kaboul has agreed a four-year deal with Pompey.

The centre-half will have a medical at Fratton Park on Monday ahead of a proposed switch from Tottenham Hotspur for an undisclosed fee.

The 22-year-old made 19 Premier League starts for Spurs last season, scoring three goals.

“He’s a player the manager set his sights on very early,” said Blues coach Joe Jordan.

“He’s been looked at by a number of clubs, but he wanted to come to us. He was influenced by the presence of Harry Redknapp and the players here who can help him develop.

“He’s a player that wants to progress. Lassana Diarra came here from Arsenal because he wanted to play regular football, and he’s flourished.

“Kaboul wants to come here and do that as well.”

The defender joined Spurs from French side Auxerre in July 2007.

Manchester United 0-0 Pompey

We lost on pens to Manchester United, and I think they deserved it. Pompey now have Chelsea away next Sunday!!!!
From the Official Pompey Site

Pompey were denied another piece of Wembley silverware, losing 3-1 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes.

Jermain Defoe was the player to successfully convert his spot-kick with Lassana Diarra, Arnold Mvuemba and Glen Johnson all off target.

Harry Redknapp made three changes from the side that lifted the FA Cup at Wembley 85 days ago.

Defoe, who was cup-tied for that match in May, partnered summer-signing Peter Crouch up front while Papa Bouba Diop slotted into the midfield.

The three players to make way were Kanu, who has a sore thigh, John Utaka and Sulley Muntari, who completed his switch to Inter Milan last month. Linvoy Primus and Glen Little were both absent with knocks.

Pompey: James; Johnson, Campbell (c), Distin, Hreidarsson (Lauren 79); Diop, Diarra, Mendes (Mvuemba 76), Kranjcar (Utaka 60); Crouch, Defoe

Booked: Distin

Subs not used: Ashdown, Cranie, Traore, Sahar

Manchester United: van der Sar; Neville (c) (Brown 67), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Fletcher, O’Shea (Carrick 67), Scholes, Nani (Campbell 79); Giggs; Tevez

Booked: Vidic, Neville

Subs not used: Kuszczak, Da Silva, Evans, Possebon

Referee: Peter Walton

Attendance: 84,808

Wembley

Time for the third trip to Wembley this year so a prediction a win I hope Play Up Pompey!!!!!!!!!!

Some history on the Community Shield.

The Community Shield evolved from the Sheriff of London Charity Shield that had been introduced in 1898-99 as a professionals versus amateurs cup (the gentlemen and players tradition). The Football Association Charity Shield, as it was known at the time, was designed to replace the Sheriff of London Charity Shield after the leading amateur clubs fell out with the FA.[3] The new format was to have the Football League First Division champions play the Southern League champions, and the first match was in 1908 between Manchester United (the First Division champions) and Queens Park Rangers ([the Southern League champions).The match was drawn 1-1, so the game was replayed when Manchester United won 4-1. This is the only Charity Shield game to go to a replay. Both games were played at Stamford Bridge.

The competition format varied over the years: in 1913 the Shield was contested between Amateurs and Professionals XIs, while in 1921 the Shield was contested between the Football League and FA Cup winners for the first time. The format continued to vary in the 1920s, usually along the lines of Amateurs v. Professionals, including one year (1927) where the Professionals were represented by the FA Cup holders Cardiff City and the Amateurs by the Corinthians.

Hawks 0-4 Pompey

A Ben Sahar brace and late strikes from Arnold Mvuemba and Glen Johnson saw Pompey comfortably beat Blue Square South opponents Havant & Waterlooville at Westleigh Park.

Harry Redknapp made 11 changes from the side that won at Oxford 24 hours earlier, with John Utaka, Johnson and Hermann Hreidarsson among the starters.

Pompey: Ashdown; Johnson, Primus (c), Wilson (Duffy 46), Hreidarsson; Little, Davis (Christophe 74), Hughes, Mvuemba; Sahar, Utaka

Goals: Sahar 7, 36, Mvuemba 87, Johnson 90

Sub not used: Cowan-Hall

Hawks: Scriven (Ashmore 46); Conroy (Ford 72), Simpemba (Butters 46), Elphick, Gasson (Smith 46); Holloway (Balderson 46), Collins (c) (Vincenti 46), Wilkinson (Edwards 46), Poate (Walker 46); Watkins (Nightingale 64), Slabber (Baptiste 64)

Sub not used: Ford, Baldacchino

Referee: Richard Ganfield

Havant

It's time for Pompey to take the short annual trip to Havant & Waterlooville for a pre season game. Methinks it will be all the players that did not play at Oxford tonight.

A bit about Havant and Waterlooville

Havant

Havant F.C. were formed in 1883, and played in the Portsmouth Football League. A notable player in the 1950s was Bobby Tambling, a forward who subsequently played for Chelsea and England. In 1969 the club merged with Leigh Park F.C., a Sunday League club founded in 1958 who were the FA Sunday Cup holders, and the name was changed to Havant & Leigh Park The merged club won the Portsmouth League in their first season, and moved into the fourth division of the Hampshire League in 1970. After three promotions, the club played in the first division from 1977. The Front Lawn ground was inadequate for membership of higher leagues, and the club purchased a site which was developed into the ground where Havant & Waterlooville now play. The new ground opened in August 1982, and the club was renamed Havant Town F.C.

After achieving what would prove to be the pre-merger record attendance of 3,500 against Wisbech Town in the Quarter Final of the FA Vase, the club became founder members of the Wessex League in 1986, and were runners up three times before winning the title and promotion to the Southern League in 1991.

Waterlooville

Waterlooville F.C. formed in 1905 and started playing in the Waterlooville and District League. Just before World War II they joined the Portsmouth League, immediately winning the Division 3 title. After the war they won the Division 2 title and after a few years in Division 1 they managed to win the title three times in a row. 1953 saw the club move up to the Hampshire League where they stayed until election to the Southern League in 1971. Former players to have played for Waterlooville before moving to league clubs include Guy Whittingham, Lewis Haldane, Paul Hardyman and Paul Moody. Moody was the club's record signing when he joined for £4,000 from Fareham Town; the same player was also the record sale when he joined Southampton for £40,000

Oxford 1-2 Pompey

Papa Bouba Diop and Jermain Defoe hit first-half goals as Pompey eased to victory against Blue Square Premier outfit Oxford at the Kassam Stadium.

Peter Crouch and Defoe were partnered up front for the Blues while Niko Kranjcar and Lassana Diarra made their first pre-season appearances in England after being given an extended break following Euro 2008.

And Diop almost added a third late in the game when Crouch’s pass found him free in the area. Only a fine save from Cole prevented the Senegal star from doubling his tally.

But it was Oxford who did manage to grab a goal in stoppage time when Alex Fisher slid the ball home from close range.

Pompey: James; Lauren (Christophe 46), Cranie, Distin (c), Traore; Diop, Diarra (Rodriguez 69), Mendes, Kranjcar; Crouch, Defoe

Goals: Diop 31, Defoe 45

Subs not used: Ashdown, Ciftci

Oxford: Hinchliffe (Cole 46); Clarke (Reid 46), Foster (Willmott 46), Quinn (c) (Day 46), Carruthers (Jeannin 46); Odubade (Groves 46), Davies (Sampson 68), Burnell (Hutchinson 46), Haldane (Deering 46); Guy (Husbands 8 (Taylor 76)), Constable (Fisher 46)

Subs not used: Bowerman, Taylor

Referee: Graham Scott

Attendance: 4,956

Off To The Boro

It has been decided that I (and Mother) will be of to Gosport Borough to watch a Pompey side on Monday the 11th at Privett Park, Gosport Play Up Pompey!!!!!!!! I will have more about this game as we get to it. I will also do a special for the Pompeygary Radio Show as a test run for the new season.

Oxford next

Pompey will play against the bold Eagle Jim Smith and his Oxford United side on Monday at Oxford.

A bit about Oxford

Oxford United was formed as amateur club Headington in 1893, adding the suffix United the following year. It was created by Rev John Scott-Tucker, the vicar at the local church, and a local doctor named Robert Hitchings. The team was created as a way to keep the cricketers fit during the winter break. The first game played was against Cowley Barracks. Headington had no permanent home until 1913, when they were able to purchase Wootten's Field on London Road, but this was developed on in 1920.A permanent home was finally found in 1926, when they purchased the Manor Ground site. The facility was used as a cricket pitch in the summer, and a football pitch in the winter, until the cricketers moved out during the 1940s. Headington United competed in local leagues until being elected to the Southern League and becoming professional in 1949. From 1925 to 2001 Headington United / Oxford United played at the Manor Ground on the London Road in Headington. The club installed floodlights in 1952, one of the first clubs to do so.Headington United first started wearing yellow as the colour for their home shirt in the 1957–58 season. The reason for the change is unknown. In 1960, Headington United was renamed Oxford United in order to give it a higher profile.

New radio show!!!

I have launched the Pompeygary Radio Show so check it out at http://pompeygary.podbean.com/
You can subscribe from there or click on the shows from the top of this blog.
Play Up Pompey!!!!!