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Reply | Gaffer on Portsmouth, Christmas and beyond
at 10:56 26 Dec 2025
They've lost FOUR of the last seven not five. Two wins and only one narrow defeat in their last four at home. Apart from already mentioned Middlesbrough they have also recorded home wins against Preston and Millwall.
They are 19th in the home form table 14 points from 11. Bottom of the away table, 7 points from 10. Only one away win all season at Oxford. |
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Reply | Gaffer on Portsmouth, Christmas and beyond
at 10:07 26 Dec 2025
'We should be going down there with all guns blazing for three points.'
Have you ever been to Fratton Park?
It's not the easiest ground to get a result. It's pretty hostile, and particularly with it being Boxing Day, its bound to be a big, motivated home support that will have a very positive effect on their players.
No doubt we shall try and attack from the start. An early goal or two would be great but that doesn't happen every week. We have to be pragmatic, stay in shape, frustrate the opponent, quieten the crowd and build our way into the game. Our fans can and probably will play their part. A 1-0 win would be a fabulous result, a point would be another small positive. |
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Reply | Boxing Day referee
at 15:22 24 Dec 2025
Ah! I thought you were shocked at a Hampshire based referee being allowed to ref a local team against a London one, in case of bias. It's that the authorities have made a practical decision. 😁 |
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Reply | Chair
at 10:36 24 Dec 2025
Not really a fair comparison, at this stage, SE. Morgan, whose form has been patchy, cane through a premier league academy. Bennie came from the outback😁 |
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Reply | Boxing Day referee
at 10:30 24 Dec 2025
No ferries on Christmas day, Terry. So, any travelling for him would be on the day of the match. Lack of transport options as well, so would have to drive on, probably, packed motorways.
I presume he is not a Pompey or Southampton fan and think it is a sensible appointment. |
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Reply | Boxing Day referee
at 10:26 24 Dec 2025
Santa has arrived early and brought us the best referee for what I believe will be a tough physical match. Portsmouth should be happy with the appointment too, with that record when he has been in charge. Hopefully we can stuff their turkey.
Ho ho ho! |
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Reply | Poku
at 10:01 24 Dec 2025
Dembele, Saito, Vale, Poku, Kolli - how many of those are or will be regular 90 minute players? Chair has been but has had four or five lengthy injuries in the last sixteen months.
Smyth is quicker than any of the alternatives and has a decent fitness record and plenty of stamina. I think, like Albert, he could go on for many years as a squad player.
If we can afford all these wide options and he wants to stay, then I hope a deal can be reached as it was with Jimmy. |
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Reply | Madsen
at 16:55 22 Dec 2025
Enjoyed that. His description of the teams struggles with energy at Norwich, Derby and the small improvement at Middlesbrough were very interesting.
Basically said it's so difficult to lift your efforts at the end of the week, especially when you go behind. |
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Reply | Festive fixtures
at 13:34 22 Dec 2025
Time for a change, and in the cup too. |
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Reply | Our Pitch
at 13:25 22 Dec 2025
Just wondering, would it help if we had one of those clear roofs that let light in? |
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Reply | Could we go up.
at 09:12 22 Dec 2025
Ipswich who lost 3-1 at Leicester, last Saturday. They have had their struggles too.
Obviously a talented side but they have lost five games. PNE have lost four. Wrexham have only lost six and they are fifteenth.
None of the above means very much but I doubt they are miles better, at the moment. |
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Reply | Madsen
at 13:40 21 Dec 2025
Madsen and Dembele both showed some signs of their ability at the beginning and in Madsen's case at the end of the season.
Madsen has really got his game together now and has got used to this league, his new role and coach. I was a bit worried about him after Watford but since then he has been excellent on most occasions.
Dembele had injury issues last season, which undoubtedly slowed his progress.
Is beginning to now show similar improvements to his game. Very good yesterday. |
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Reply | Standards
at 10:11 21 Dec 2025
Very good point. I was slightly disappointed that we didn't do more in the second half but on reflection I tend to agree with your view.
A couple of minor points though, I would like to have seen Smyth's pace a little earlier and more than five minutes for Poku. I'm also a little concerned that we are over playing Burrell. |
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Reply | Could we go up.
at 10:03 21 Dec 2025
The Christmas period will be revealing. Are we improving when we have to play a three game week? This time it is a three + one but the last two games are at home.
On this occasion we only have to travel to Portsmouth and the Black Country. We have six days to rest and recover for Pompey. We'll be late back from West Bromwich but not as late as previous from Swansea, Blackburn and (Plymouth  ). So no ready made conscious or sub conscious excuses.
If the injury scenario is kind to us, if Julian is clever with squad rotation, if the players are professional and if Mad man Mbengue can delay his next two yellows.
That's still a lot of ifs but we could go into the new year with real purpose and an opportunity to add some sensible loans to strengthen the squad further.
It's nearly half done and we are in the mix. There is a ten point gap between 'Wallllll in 6th and the chicken farmers who are 20th and have a game in hand. It will be ultra competitive and every team is capable of beating any of the others.
We have to keep going and see where it takes us. As Julian says, like some of his predecessors, we have to stay humble and keep pushing. |
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Reply | Fantastic win but the Cifuentes Abuse
at 09:24 21 Dec 2025
I'm half way up F block and I could hear it coming across from R block. A few of the big gobs at the back of our stand joined in too.
I found it shameful. |
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Reply | So Cifuentes ?
at 22:18 20 Dec 2025
You asked for an explanation of my down vote and I believe I gave you a balanced view. The down vote is for when you don't agree or don't like a post.
I don't see how I've got blinkers on when I said his record was poor and it was a poor appointment by the club.
Ainsworth has been a decent manager with some success, just not for us. It's not being message board police to give an opinion that we should move on and stop hammering him. |
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Reply | So Cifuentes ?
at 13:43 20 Dec 2025
His record was poor but he inherited a sh*t show from Critchley. The players had downed tools and how he managed to get those wins at the end of the first season was a miracle.
It was a poor appointment by the club as his style was the opposite of what the players were used to or would buty into.
We should just move on and stop hammering him.
Agree with you on Marti. |
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Reply | Fox hunt match thread
at 13:28 20 Dec 2025
I note that this is the official thread as it was up 1 minute before the other.
It's been awhile Richard. Full house and Mrs FB and himself are back after missing the last three at home. We did watch them all on the offy.
Applause for Marti and then let's get at them.
U Rrrrrs |
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Reply | SPOTY - Vote our Chloe
at 08:40 20 Dec 2025
True but is darts a sport?
Not for me. It is probably the board with the most exercise though. Oh! Sorry that's Twister. 😂 |
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Reply | SPOTY - Vote our Chloe
at 17:18 19 Dec 2025
One's an athlete.
Take what Brian and ARudd said about golf and multiply it by the average yardage that golfers walk and then compare it to the exercise involved in the board game.  |
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