PuP

I am old school I'm afraid. I think that where any team is in the league at this stage of the season is the real accurate description of where they should be. A team can be top after 10 games and be in a false position, like us last season, but to maintain that over the season is the real measure. So if your team is top end of the league at this stage its because you deserve to be there. Conversely those at the bottom prove they are the worst teams. I think the only statisric that I pay much attention to is attempts on target, and the actual goals scored obviously.

Thanks for your reply. I think clubs like Portsmouth, Derby, Charlton & Bolton are at an advantage in certain ways and disadvantaged in others. I think that players who play at this level will prefer to play for a club with a 'name' as opposed to the Shrewsbury's & Northampton's of this league, where it is financially acceptable of course. On the other hand the big clubs are seen as 'scalps' by opposition players and supporters. I know when we were in League Two supporters & players would look up dates they were playing at Fratton Park and their place as a 'special' day. Subsequently they would up their game which meant our team had to be that much better. Thankfully there is less of that in League One as there are more bigger clubs in this division and, of course, Derby are the ones to be shot down.

Does anyone else think League One is weaker this season than lastseason? Do you think the top three this season would have been successful last season? My view is that without Ipswich the league is a bit weaker. I think Ipswich obviously spent money the rest of the league didn't have or were not prepared to match. They bought players with the Championship in mind which made them the class act at this level. I believe if Pompey had this squad last season we would have featured at the top, especially the players that have been unavailable to us this season because of injury. Obviously I can't comment on Derby but from what I have seen they look every bit a decent team. I don't think last night was a good comparison as the conditions meant that both teams had to adapt from their normal game. On a decent pitch without the weather Pompey may have beaten Derby playing their normal game and, conversely, Derby may have wiped the floor with Pompey. I consider Pompey to be a big club, especially at this level and Derby are doubtlessly the biggest club in this league. Do you think that teams play the name of your club, with its history, as well as your current team? Put another way do you think the bigger clubs at this level get special treatment and opponents raise their game?

OK, please forgive my ignorance as I thought handball outside the area was a red card. In any case it would have been harsh and I think the ref was right in allowing for the conditions rather than see it as a deliberate act.

I will do my best. I think we will still be needing to win games then anyway.

I look on our opponents sites to gauge what people think on their games with us and general points of veiw. A common phrase is 'how are they (Pompey) top ot the league' which is sometimes what we ask ourselves, but this is taking into account our injuries this season. How we have managed to keep competitive when, at one point, we had 13 players out who would normally be in the match day squad. Most clubs will obviously get injuries and I understand Derby have had their fair share as well. I don't think opposing supporters take that into account when assessing their games with us. Most fans sites seem to think we are up and, I suppose, it's fair to say that looking at the table it is definitely ours to lose. I note the words 'keeping Pompey honest' is used by yourselves and supporters of Bolton. As a Pompey supporter I worry that we could still mess up and we still need to win more games. I also note your discussions on how your team would fare in the Championship, much the same sort of discussions we have. I think we have several players out who will be able to make the step up but I do feel the club have signed players this season with League One very much in mind. My feeling is that we would need to sign at least 4 or 5 experienced Championship players should we get there.

Hi, Pompey supporter with our take on lasts nights game. I think the weather made the game less of a spectacular affair but the players, from both teams, put on a really good display. I thought Derby adapted to the conditions better than Pompey where the conditions negated the effectiveness of our wingers Lane and, especially, Kamara. I suppose you could say the same for Blackett-Taylor & Mendez-Lang, both players I would have liked Pompey to have signed. I think Derby quite possibly had the greater attacking threat on the counter in the first half whereas ours was a little laboured due to not being able to adapt to the conditions. I read with interest of the disagreement with your managers choice of the tactics in the second half. However, without a wonder goal he may well have got it right. Closing players down in those conditions was risky as slipping on the surface could let players in. Portsmouth usually play a closing down game but not so much last night. I think overall a draw was a fair result last night which probably benefits us more than your lot. I think the controversial situations were fairly evenly spread out. There was a handball leading up to our equaliser and I think VAR might have ruled out our first goal. Handling the ball by the keeper is a sending off offence normally but I think the ref got it right by allowing for the conditions. I don't think it was a 'nailed on penalty' because I think our player was looking to go down anyway, but on another day it could be given. I thought it was a proper game of football from two famous old clubs. It was good to see the ground full with a decent away following that made themselves heard, which is normally difficult at Fratton Park. The game, allowing for the conditions, was a good advert for League One where both teams look ready for the Championship.