[Archived] Portsmouth V Rovers 0-1

[Ozz]

`Ahhh up Pompeii, up Pompeii`, the cry rang out across the seething masses. No it’s not a football match at Fratton Park, but a scene from the Frankie Howerd Oscar winning titter fest, based slightly on loads of people being killed by a volcano. You see it was here that the now famous cry of, ermm, “ Up Pompey, Up Pompey” was first heard. It occurred during the infamous `Volcano Derby` match between Pompeii and Etna, a vital relegation grudge match in Serie A. Howard made a small fortune out of the film, mocking the locals by portraying them as sex obsessed hedonists. But the Pompeian’s had the last laugh as Howerd himself died later that year whilst filming the now notorious epic `Carry On Dying` with Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey and Sid James.

So, as a tribute, the Burgers of Portsmouth, Howerd’s home town, decided to twin themselves with the now pile of ashes that used to be Pompeii. So now whenever the local football, or `Calcio` team play, the fans are made to sing the old song by the council at least ten times a match. And a fat bird has to ring a bell as well.

Ironically, next Saturday Portsmouth play against Blackburn, a town named after a small village near Etna which also burned under the boiling lava, called Burnblack, which brings me very poorly to the preview.

I have a couple of memories of away trips to Portsmouth. The first time I went was for a league division 2 match, around the mid 1980s. You had to have a travel membership card those days, and we went on train from Chorley. We set off around 2am I think on a Saturday morning and the journey took what seemed to be 10 hours. On arriving at Portsmouth station we all walked along the main road, and I could hardly tell a word the locals were saying. All I can remember is they wore lots of long sleeve paisley shirts, in purple and orange. I wasn’t even sure if I was even still in England! Arriving at the ground it looked OK(times have changed) and there was some sort of half timbered pub building near the entrance, which I think is still there.

A look around Fratton Park

Oh look, there it is.!

Anyway the match started and Rovers were getting paggered. Two down after 15-20 minutes and I was getting angry. Then one of the goalscorers Mick Channon, gets subbed. I let fly a volley of abuse, some of which was industrial and next thing I know a copper is pulling me out of the ground and throwing me out. All that way for a 20 minute two goal defeat. Then I had to wait at the station till after the game on my own, which was not a pleasant experience.

The other trip I remember was for an FA Cup 3rd round match. Traveling down on the official coach this time, in freezing cold snow and ice. All I remember about this tie was it ended 0-0, with Chris Thompson missing three open goals at our end.

Recent games have been OK for us, last season winning two-one and a decent draw in the league cup. I think that game was the one were Aaron Flahavan passed out and Blakey stopped playing and helped him.

I also seem to remember a second division match down there where we were two down at half time and ended up winning four two? Garner getting at least three of them?

Anyway, come Saturday all is forgotten and Rovers should look to gain three points against a fragile team, whose main threat for me is pace. And skill, also long range shots.

But who cares about them? Look what we have got:

FREIDEL-Last seasons leading goalscorer.

NEILL- One of only two Aussies in the world to be crap at sport

NISSA-Loads of hair, blocks attackers view

TODD- Hunter, Smith, Case, Harris, Souness-he would waste them all.

MATTEO-Sounds like an Italian,plays like a pizza

TUGAY-Never has a passer of the ball been more aptly named.

EMERTON-See NEILL

FERGUSON-Cultured, sophisticated, great passer-Cannot be Scottish!

REID-Souness got the wrong Reid, and then lost the receipt

DICKOV-If he were a dog, he’d be one of them little yappy ankle biters, that do really sticky sh*ts.

STEAD- On day release from Nicky Clarke hairdressers.

If this lot turns it on on Saturday, god help anyone who stands in their way. Could this our first double of the season?

As to the managers, both bosses are relatively inexperienced in their current positions. Some would say Hughes achieved more as a player than Joe Jordan. They would of course be right. But big Joe, was always a favorite of mine in the olden days, simply because he was the first footballer to have no front teeth. He was also the BIG FEE MAN for Leeds on the football cards I used to collect.

Sparky, (he used to be an electrician) has won virtually everything in the game and played under the main man himself, Sir RFW. His pedigree alone should be enough to motivate and organize better than Joe.

So all in all I predict 3-1 to the Rovers, and this to flatter Portsmouth.

Will I win £5?

We shall see.

PS Is it me or does Gordon McQueen look like OddBodd, the monster out of Carry On Screaming?

Edited January 12, 2005 by ozziejones

[Loose_end]

Hi. Pompey fan here

Some good memories you got there Btw JJ isnt our manager, we got some geezer called Velimir Zajec, Joe's just our dentist

Only joined up to give you lot some tips about staying in our fair old City.

Where to go if you want to have a decent time , or where to go if you want to get yourself stabbed

Anyway, i'll go post it in the "away" travel board.

Is anybody interested in giving a match opinion? Although i'm not a member of the admin team at a website i frequent, i am working on a small project which does involve getting the opinion of an away fan

Pompey Online

Main site is down at the moment, but the forum is still up if you're interested

Regards

Dean

[Flopsy]

great preview - oz - one point Etnas in Sicily, Versuvias (sp) is the one that took Pompeii out

[LeChuck]

NEILL- One of only two Aussies in the world to be crap at sport

NISSA-Loads of hair, blocks attackers view

TODD- Hunter, Smith, Case, Harris, Souness-he would waste them all.

MATTEO-Sounds like an Italian,plays like a pizza

TUGAY-Never has a passer of the ball been more aptly named.

EMERTON-See NEILL

FERGUSON-Cultured, sophisticated, great passer-Cannot be Scottish!

REID-Souness got the wrong Reid, and then lost the receipt

DICKOV-If he were a dog, he’d be one of them little yappy ankle biters, that do really sticky sh*ts.

STEAD- On day release from Nicky Clarke hairdressers.

[philipl]

Shame I am not in the UK because my track record at Pompey is pretty good- seen two wins, one draw (in which we threw away a two goal advantage) and only one defeat at Fratton.

With the nightmare February/March just two games away now, it is going to be so important to keep the improvement going. Without doubt, we are capable of winning at Pompey but being so disrupted at the back by suspensions is going to be a big ask to keep the clean sheets going.

OK so Matteo might not be a big miss but Lucas Neill has been immense in defense and having both full backs fresh could be a bit too much.

On the injury front, Ferguson's groin strain is likely to keep him out of the game but Tugay, Bothroyd and Amo all come back into the reckoning (although the official site omitted mentioning Amo) plus Mokoena and hopefully, Ryan. Presumably the Exeter replay further delays Spector's loan period at Rovers although if Spector were to get a start with the Rovers, this has to be the one with both full backs out.

So, I think we will conceed but I am sticking my kneck out and predicting Rovers to score twice at the other end for no other reason than we will have to sooner or later!

Portsmouth 1 Rovers 2 with MGP coming off the bench to get a late winner.

Edited January 9, 2005 by philipl

[colin]

Write out one hundred times

"Frankie Howerd"

and "Titter ye not"

and thank you for a most entertaining preview

Edited January 10, 2005 by colin

[Ozz]

I didn`t mean him, I meant the other one, spelt with an A !

[Blackpool_Rover]

Friedel

Nelsen Nissa Todd Mcevely

Emerton Mokoenna Thompson Pedersen

Dickov Bothroyd

Subs....gallagher, johnson, amoruso, flitcroft, enckleman

Not making a prediction.

Presuming bothroyd is back and barry is out of course

Edited January 10, 2005 by Blackpool_Rover

[G Somerset Rover]

Going to this one and really looking forward to it-unless it pelts it down with rain (no roofing!!!). I'm confident that we can nick a win here, I'll go for:

Portsmouth 1 Rovers 2

[Dan Furness]

Friedel

Nelsen Nissa Todd Mcevely

Emerton Mokoenna Thompson Pedersen

Dickov Bothroyd

Subs....gallagher, johnson, amoruso, flitcroft, enckleman

Not making a prediction.

Presuming bothroyd is back and barry is out of course

saw Amoruso in Whalley saturday night, about a week away from fitness he said.

[Radagast]

Certainly is going to be an interesting team we put out. The lack of cover for the right back position remains a problem. Any of our American friends know how well Nelsen can play at full back? Reid was decent there last season but at the end of the day it's not his position. The midfield is also going to be the real worry. I'd hesitate about throwing either Mokoena or Tugay into the middle of the park. Maybe this will be Thommo's chance at a central role?

[joey_big_nose]

hughes has got a real selection quandry on. No recognised right back, two new signings to fit in the team, four wide players playing well, Captain out and STILL no authorative partner for Dickov.

I personally would plump for a team like this:

Friedel

Reid Nissa Todd Gray

Emerton Thompson Makeona Pedersen

Stead Dickov

Bench: Tugay, Enckleman, Nelson, Gallagher, Flitcroft

Hughes however, I feel , will go for Flitcroft over Thompson and possibly give Nelson a shot at rightback. Failing that Nelson could come into defence and Nissa gout out at left back. That would be defensively mighty but look very, very unimaginative going forward- especially with the troubles we have up front.

Gray should be in the team- McEverley, Johansson and Matteo have all looked poor. Fair enough Gray has not been up to the standards he hit last season but still the best option. Plus Portsmouth do not have the pace out wide to give him huge problems. Unless something however has happend in the off field department he will not feature.

[Bobby G]

The way our strikers other than Dickov are performing id like to stick a 4-5-1 especially as Pompey is good at home.

Id play Pedersen right behind Dickov is a roaming role,I think it would suit him well.Maybe Hughes will think the same way but I doubt it.

If we go with twin strikers,Id persist with Stead,definitely no Jay.I wouldnt start MGP either in that case.

[Rovermatt]

2-1 Pompey I'm afraid. They're very solid at home and we just can't score enough goals.

[rebelzero]

Any of our American friends know how well Nelsen can play at full back?

I personally don't think he has the pace to play outside the centre in the Premiership. Perhaps in Germany...

on the other hand DC United played 3 in the back, and he often had to switch with one of the other defenders on defensive assignments. Did rather well, but was more liekly covering on the left than the right. More likely to be able to come in like Mokoena and be a holding midfielder if necessary - I just can't really see Nelsen bringing the ball up the pitch on the side. I'd love to, but I just don't see it.

Anyone know if Mokoena can play RB? Perhaps this is why Hughes still wants Spector?

[emerton]

Friedel

Reid Nissa Todd Gray

Emerton Thompson Makeona Pedersen

Stead Dickov

Bench: Tugay, Enckleman, Nelson, Gallagher, Flitcroft

cant argue with that line up, mokena sitting deep will alow thommo to be agressive and get some shots off.

[LeChuck]

Plus Portsmouth do not have the pace out wide to give him huge problems. Unless something however has happend in the off field department he will not feature.

Don't they play Lua Lua on the right? He's pretty pacey and very tricky.

I think we'll draw this, I'll go for 1-1...although my predictions so far are terrible. As for the team, I'd go with this:

Friedel

Reid Todd Johansson McEveley

Emerton Thompson Flitcroft Pedersen

Stead Dickov

Thommo is the most natural replacement for Ferguson we have in that he will give us a goal threat from the centre of midfield whilst still being able to battle if necessary...have a feeling Hughes will play Mokoena (remember this spelling! ) with Flitty and Emerton on the left with Thommo out wide as we are away from home. Whoever we play at right back is going to be out of position so we may as well play Reid there as he's the only one we know is capable of doing a decent job. McEveley didn't do a whole lot wrong a left back when he was in so he deserves another chance.

Edited January 11, 2005 by LeChuck

[American]

McEveley didn't do a whole lot wrong a left back when he was in so he deserves another chance.

I wouldn't say several big cockups is not a whole lot wrong. Had it been any of our other defenders (Matteo, for example) people would be praying they never played again. I do think Jay will come good, but I think he needs to be given more time to develop in the reserves...

[speeeeeeedie]

Having been at home for a couple of weeks I managed to see some live games. My overall opinion is that we are not the greatest team to watch and will never impress many in the flair play league. I saw Newcastle, Villa and Charlton, all of them very forgettable games, especially Villa; cold, wet and crap.

We are however, very resilient and will have no problems staying up. My only hope is that Hughes can get rid of the Souness deadwood so he can mold his own team together. We also need a reliable left back. I've slated Neill for a while on here but over the last 2 months he's been impressive, he's learned to defend again, maybe Matteo can do the same but I doubt it because he's pants. He has the mobility of the Titanic and the left foot of a spoon. His only saving grace is that he's big and can head it from set pieces.

Right, I'm sticking my neck out and going for another draw. Pompey are playing well and we play not to lose.

[frosty]

Pompey 0 - 1 Rovers

Mokoena

Edited January 11, 2005 by frosty

[Jordan]

3-1 Rovers should be a good day out on the south coast.

[Nayef]

4-0 rovers

Reid hat-trick and Stead to score finally.

[Jordan]

Anyone travelling down by train. If so a few of us will be on the 07:24 from Manchester Picadilly which gets to Fraton at 12:39.

[andyrovers]

Orvil are you staying the night in Pomey? Will be staying there, £43 for a double room. Then try to drink the town dry!!!!!

Where is everyone meeting before the game?

[RoyRover]

This is going to be another tough game for Rovers, against a team who are playing well at the moment and are very good at home. For this game I'd like to McEveley or Gray restored to the first team, because seeing Matteo playing right infront of me on Saturday showed me how bad I always thought he was. Mokoena may well start this game and he looks like a good player. Nelsen may also make his debut. I'm not sure whether or not Hughes will keep Pedersen in the side. If we were to get a draw, it wouldn't be a bad result.