Carlin

I think us (Pompey) and Derby will go up automatically now. 

You guys know that if you beat Cambridge and Carlisle you are up. I fully expect you to win them both. You couldn't have asked for 2 better fixtures really to end the season with.

We need 1 point from 3 games for promotion, which I think we should be able to get but you never know what can happen in football. Not counting our chickens just yet. 

I think Bolton play the best football in the league, but they aren't as streetwise as Pompey and Derby; I think we both are able to grind out results. 

From this position, it really should be Pompey and Derby going up automatically.

From a Pompey perspective, we acknowledge Derby are an outstanding team with quality players such as Mendez Laing, Sibley, Collins etc.

To beat Derby, we will have to be at our best. We have a lot of injuries still but will be able to field a competitive side.

I think 92 points will probably guarantee automatic promotion, so we probably need 6 more points. Still lots of work to do for both sides.

No outcome would surprise me here. We are capable of winning this, and you're more than capable of beating us too.

In the end, we might just cancel each other out for it to end in a draw.

3 hours ago, Carl Sagan said:

I'll be surprised if it's that low - I think 2nd will need at least 2 points a game, probably 93 points which would mean 8 more wins rather than the 7 for 90. It will be a big ask. 

I struggle to see any of the teams in the league winning 8 more games this season. There is no standout team really.

Will be an interesting end to the season.

I actually think 90 points will be enough for a top 2 finish.

I don't think any team will win 8 out of their remaining 10/11 games.

I think 90 points will be enough for automatic promotion.

1 hour ago, LeedsCityRam said:

Very self-deprecating but I'd be amazed if Pompey finished 5th - have collapses in previous seasons coloured your view a little?

Pompey obviously had a bit of a wobble but have taken 10 points from last 12 since & from the outside appear to have had a really good January window - we'd have been delighted with Calum Lang & Owen Moxon as signings. Peterborough's squad is too small to sustain a top 2 push in my opinion (although their first XI is very good) & think Barnsley are a little too far behind to overhaul you now.

Perhaps previous collapses have coloured my view a little but we have a tough run in too. We also seem to have incredibly bad luck with injuries.

I think Derby and Bolton will get over the line as I think you will grind out the required wins.

All ifs and buts at this moment though, still lots of football to be played.

Hopefully we both go up.

Portsmouth fan here. I did post on this board previously so haven't signed up just to respond to this thread.

Anyway fwiw I think 

1. Bolton

2. Derby

3. Peterborough 

4. Barnsley

5. Portsmouth

6. Stevenage

Pompey have been decimated by key injuries, season ending injuries to key players. Morrell looks like a bad injury now too. 

We recruited quite well in January and have a few players back from injury but I doubt we will be top 2 come the end of the season. The key absences and pressure will get to us.

I think Bolton and Derby will finish top 2 and Pompey will make the playoffs in 5th or 6th.

6 minutes ago, CBRammette said:

He or she is on a Derby forum ?‍♀️

True. And the gentleman is entitled to his opinion as it's his clubs forum.  

Anyway, we are looking welcoming the famous Derby County to Fratton. These are the type of games we want to be involved in again and the type of games which excite the fratton faithful. 

22 minutes ago, Ghost of Clough said:

You had 19,009 vs Plymouth this season, so I'm assuming that is your current capacity due to "works". No other sell-outs this season, although Bristol Rovers was close.

The first step is for your club to complete those "works", and see if your average attendance even increases by just 1000 (still 2000 below capacity). You averaged 15003 last season, so it would be a massive risk to expand to have a capacity double what you had last season, just because you sold out one game. The second step is to maintain a high attendance percentage for several seasons.

It would be the same as us expanding our stadium to 45k, because we sold out against Birmingham last season. Fans of most clubs when doing well think they need to expand. We had the same when we were in the PL and the seasons which followed. 5 seasons since our relegation with 90% attendance (vs actual capacity) with plenty of sell-out games. Our lowest average in the PL at Pride Park is an impressive 28,551. We could easily sell more tickets than our current capacity when doing well, probably hitting 45k now and then. But it would be a struggle reaching 50% attendances when not doing so well. The reality is, this is the right size stadium for us.

Our lowest ever at Pride Park was still 66% of capacity. You were below that in 12/13, and were even at 40% of capacity in the mid-90s.The only time in the last 60 years which you've consistently hit 19,000 attendees over a season was during your PL years and challenging for Europe. The likelihood of repeating that is very small, as proven by it not being sustainable and you crashing down the leagues. 

Once your refurbishments are complete, your 20-21k capacity is right for you at this moment in time.

Thanks for your post.

With the greatest of respect, you are incorrect re our capacity and attendances. 

We could hit 30,000 average in the premiership. That's why a new North Stand will be built. We are selling out every week in league one now. 

Tomorrow has been soldout for 3 weeks. We would have sold 25,000 for tomorrow.

The chances of us maintaining a 25,000 to 30,000 average in the near future with the new North stand is very likely if we are doing well.

Last season for much of the second half of the season capacity was reduced to 15k whilst they replaced the North stand seats in the upper tier the lower tier. They also started work on the south stand. You can find all the evidence online.

And it's fact that we have soldout every home game this season.

The three home stands capacity equals 17,200.  That's the fratton end, North stand and south stand.

The away end capacity is about 1600 now due to works but was 1800 a few wees ago. Occasionally we could have home fans in that stand if away fans brought a small amount but if away fans bring 1000 or more we cannot have any fans in the Milton end due to the layout of the stand.

The fact remains we have soldout all home end seats this season in the three home stands, 17,200. On top of that it depends what away fans bring. If away fans bring more than 1000 we aren't allowed to sell tickets in the away stand. 

I'm sure you aren't bothered, but if you really want confirmation, please contact our ticket office and they will confirm the sellouts.

Anyway I'm not here to talk about support etc. Enjoy the game tomorrow.

Just now, Wistaston Ram said:

Much appreciated. Aiming to get down there a couple of hours before kick off, but much will depend on Friday afternoon traffic!

No worries. Safe journey. You'll get a parking space no problem.

36 minutes ago, kevinhectoring said:

Possible. We’ll have a better idea of how good we are when our new manager has use of our injured players (Knight, Barkhuizen, Chester especially). There’s a good chance we’ll be looking good when they return if others stay fit 

I forgot about those players, who are very good players at this level.

When you add those to the squad, you look extremely strong.

You'll certainly be top 6.

47 minutes ago, Wistaston Ram said:

Any recommendations for parking, ideally street parking not too far from the ground?

Yeah sure.

Myself and family members always park in one of the following streets  less than 15 min walk to the ground:

PO4 0AS -  Heidelberg Road

PO4 0HU -  Bath Road

PO4 0JE  -Jubilee Road   

Me and family members have been parking here for night and day games for years without any issues. No permits required, we travel from about 8 miles outside the city anyway. These are long streets and safe to park. You'll find a space.

Lots of fans park on these streets but it does get very busy close to kick off so I would advise getting there as early as possible. I've never been unable to get a space for an afternoon or night game and I always arrive about 1 hr before kick off.

Please note these are one way streets so don't make the mistake of going the wrong way like some people do.

There's lot of other side streets too, I've never parked there but I'm sure they'd be absolutely fine. 

There is a big tesco outside the stadium but not sure of their parking rules.

Those 3 streets above have never failed me and provide a quick getaway after the game.

Hope that helps.

7 minutes ago, B4ev6is said:

Coach mate

Cool.  Safe journey.

They sell programmes outside the stadium yeah.

There are a few burger vans around yeah. There's a couple on Goldsmith Avenue, one at the end of the road on the corner close to the fratton end.

The closest burger van for you though will be right near the away end near your entrance. About 100 yards away.  From your entrance point at the away turnstiles, you don't walk east behind the away stand to it, instead you take a left to the west away from the stadium and you'll see it. Lots of good food there. 

12 minutes ago, B4ev6is said:

Not your fault buddy

Been a few years since we last came to your place.

I guessing card only in your ground tommrow.

Yeah it is in the home ends so I'm sure it's the same in the away end.

In the ground I'd recommend the balti pi and hot dogs, very nice. Enjoy.

Are you driving down or getting the coach? I can recommend some places to park if driving.

Just now, B4ev6is said:

I was hoping be one near the ground due to a broken toe I will struggle to walk that far to be honest.

I'm sorry I don't know of any close to the ground.

Plenty of the normal food chains outside the stadium though.

5 minutes ago, Wistaston Ram said:

I have to disagree. Like us they have been through tough times (admin a couple of times) spending a lot of time in the bottom two divisions over the years but still getting decent crowds. I would put their potential fan base on par with Southampton and like the saints and us, creating extra capacity, be it a new ground or improving facilities at Fratton Park would I'm sure attract more fans, though of course what they do on the pitch will have a bearing on attendances. Proper traditional club with lots of history, looking forward to visiting Fratton Park tomorrow.

Thanks.

Fratton park is having work done and in the near future hopefully they will be extending the North stand which is the stand right of the away end, adding an extra tier or two.  That's in the works when we go up.

As I say, we have soldout every home game this season and tomorrow has been soldout for 3 weeks. 

Southampton have done well since they've moved to their stadium but Pompey have as much potential, if not more than them. Hopefully in the next 5 years we will have a 27k plus capacity.

We aren't Barcelona but we definitely can get 30,000 crowds.

35 minutes ago, Ghost of Clough said:

What's that based on? Current capacity is 21,100 and you've spent the majority of the last 10 years averaging around 16k. 12/13 actually dropped to 12,232. Prior to promotion to the PL you were struggling to reach 14,000.

Average attendances above 18,000...
Since relegation from the PL in 2010: 18/19 (18,223) and 22/23 (18,240)
Since 1970 until promotion to the PL: 02/03 (18,934)

 

This is currently your best season season you were relegated, and you're averaging 86.4% of capacity. For comparison, that would be an average attendance of 29,043 in our stadium (official capacity). Since our relegation in 2008, we've averaged more than 29,043 on four occasions (29,042 once too). 
Pride Park is the right size for us, just like Fratton Park is the right size for you.

Thanks for your post but I disagree.

Current capacity is just over 18,000 due to works. 

I don't want to waffle on too much but we have soldout every home game this season and tomorrow's game has been soldout for 3 weeks. Every ticket in the home ends has been sold this season.

Our support base has grown immensely and with better owners than we have had previously things are looking up.

We need a 30,000 stadium. 20,000 is never ever going to be enough.

I'm not blowing our own trumpet and saying we are Barcelona but we need a 30k stadium. Tomorrow we would have sold 25,000 plus.

36 minutes ago, Gee SCREAMER !! said:

At the minute, I suspect we will need more speed of foot and thought defensively and a more robust presence in midfield as an option over 3 playoff games.  We've struggled against Ipswich physically in midfield, second half with Plymouth and their midfield pace and for the first half against Peterborough although we got 2 late goals.  A bit more pace at the back and muscle to wrestle games back in midfield then a good a chance as anyone.  Can you get that as a loan in January? probably difficult. 

Thanks for your post. I think it's going to be difficult as you say.

I think we need an out and out striker and another creative midfielder. We struggle to break teams down unfortunately who sit back. 

I look through Derby's team and from the outside it looks as if you have a strong team. You'll do well this season after a shaky start.

12 hours ago, B4ev6is said:

Hey mate is there a decent fish and chip shop by the ground mate.

I'm sorry but I don't know of any chip shops by the ground. 

A few people go to this one:

Fratton fish shop , 198 Fratton Rd, Fratton, Portsmouth PO1 5HD

About 1 mile, a 20 minute walk from the ground. 

Heard good things about them but haven't tried them myself. 

13 hours ago, kevinhectoring said:

Thanks for the great post.

Is there any inside scoop on how much Eisner is likely to allow you guys to spend in Jan. And how much you can spend under the rules. I know a guy who interviewed for a job at your club a couple of months ago and he said they sounded very ambitious, as well as switched on. 

Presumably your user name is a tilt of the hat to Will Carlin, Mr Clough’s former full back. Please don’t disappoint us 

Hey there.

No Carlin is my name lol, not after anyone else, sorry to dissapoint  ? .

That's good, I hope the gentleman got offered the job?

I have no idea how much we can spend under the rules, sorry. I don't think we will spend much in January, we recruited a decent amount of players in the summer so probably wont get many, if any, players in.

The owners are focused on improving the infrastructure as opposed to promotion and are tarting up the away end currently so all the money is going on the stadium at the minute. We won't invest in the squad in January. I'm still not sold on the owners, they seem do to the bare minimum, we need a far bigger capacity but they don't seem to want to part with substantial funds to make it possible at the moment. 

Ultimately we will probably finish in the playoffs followed by the usual semi final defeat. I don't think we are good enough for promotion.

Derby look good though, surely promotion is very realistic for you guys now? 

1 minute ago, Bluebazooka said:

Evening lads, pompey fan here. 

Think you'll win this, we're in terrible form.

Injuries have blighted our food start, and at one stage we were playing out 4th, 5th and 6th choice players in midfield. Morecambe should have wolloped us Saturday, and we're winless for about seven matches now. 

Although we are unbeaten at home for about 15 matches, many of those have been draws though. 

If you're driving down I'd advise get to the area early as parking is terrible around the ground. It's off street parking, and spaces are rare on a match day. You might find it easier to park around the Southsea area and walk to the ground. 

The designated away fan pub is The Good Companion, about 500yrds from the away end. Although you'd be welcome in any pub around the ground. The days are long gone regards local pubs not allowing away fans in. 

We've started work on expanding the away end, so you'll probably find the away end a bit sparce at one side, due to seats and old terracing having been ripped up ready for renewal. 

There's no alcohol on sale inside the away end (some rule about fans aren't allowed to drink in sight of the pitch), hence why the away end is being redeveloped with new hidden concourses. 

It's a sell out for home fans, think our home capacity is around 16,000, so add on what you lot bring down and probably looking at a 17,000+ crowd. 

Good luck lads. 

Prediction pompey 1 Derby 2 

Good post by a fellow Pompey fan.

Derby have players who can hurt Pompey, NML, Collins etc. I just think at home we will have enough to get a draw. At Pride Park wed probably lose.

BTW home end capacity is is 17,200. 

I think it will be a 2 2 draw.

As a pompey fan hope I'm allowed to post. Undefeated in the league at home in nearly a year. We draw too many though.

2 - 2

Bishop and Koroma

Collins and NML

Pompey fan here.

Safe trip Friday here and home.

If you haven't been, plenty of good places around the stadium. Behind the fratton end (opposite stand to away stand) there is a big tesco directly behind. Also KFC, mcdonalds etc across the road from tesco and subway around the corner. Shops etc close by too. 

The away end is currently being redeveloped so there won't be any home fans in that stand. The game has been soldout for about 3 weeks for home fans. Expecting a good following from Derby too. Glad to see you're sorted off the field and look to be playoff candidates this season.

Pompey hit a bad patch of form, we've had some injuries but still fans aren't very happy with lots of draws and it looks like another season of fighting for top 6 when the expectation was top 2.

We haven't lost at home in the league in nearly a year, we are hard to beat at home but do draw quite a lot so I dont expect a loss. I think it'll be a score draw.

Should be a good game.