[Archived] Nickos Thread

[Paul Mellelieu]

Pompey aren't my favourite team, I just find it hard to escape the following bites of reality...

They have more points.

They are odds on to win the biggest domestic cup.

They have a just as good if not better keeper.

A better defence.

A better midfield.

A better set of strikers.

More strength in depth.

Play more entertaining football. (Certainly IMO)

So; just what was your point again?

And more money.

[Fife Rover]

Theno, Shillito, and Pal M: What has this got to do with anything? Rovers is OUR team, like it or lump it. What does it matter if another team is better in any particular respect than us? If we are true Rovers fans we should love them and support them no matter how well or badly they play (Ok to moan in the latter case) but we should NEVER stop supporting and caring for them; even if they end up in the Conference or worse!!

[Paul Mellelieu]

I just like a good row with easy targets.

[S15]

Theno, Shillito, and Pal M: What has this got to do with anything? Rovers is OUR team, like it or lump it. What does it matter if another team is better in any particular respect than us? If we are true Rovers fans we should love them and support them no matter how well or badly they play (Ok to moan in the latter case) but we should NEVER stop supporting and caring for them; even if they end up in the Conference or worse!!

Yes but Fife, what has that got to do with anything?

I earlier stated that our race for europe was over due to Pompey being better than us.

Theno has since ridiculed this at every given opportunity.

So I drew up the above list of facts.

I still support Rovers. And still will in 2010. In the Championship.

[nicko]

For those who would like a gentleman's wager to settle the Rovers v Pompey debate:

Betfair are pricing Rovers at 6 to 4 to finish ahead of them. It's on the 'season match bets' section in the Premiership.

Looking at the games coming up I think it is an attractive price...as is the 15 to 1 on Rovers making the top six.

It ain't over yet.

[modes98]

A better defence.

A better midfield.

A better set of strikers.

They have a much better defence.

We have better wingers but they have a better overall midfield

We have far a better strike force.

[S15]

You say we have better wingers, we only have one, MGP is sh*te. Bentley and Krankjear would be the combo were you to merge the squads.

Strike force? Are you referring to our decent strikers pluraly? I can only think of one?

[Paul Mellelieu]

You say we have better wingers, we only have one, MGP is sh*te. Bentley and Krankjear would be the combo were you to merge the squads.

Strike force? Are you referring to our decent strikers pluraly? I can only think of one?

If they're that much better than us how come they're only four points ahead of us?

[S15]

If they're that much better than us how come they're only four points ahead of us?

I you had read the debate from the start you would see I stated we have been poor since we lost to Man Utd (11.11.07)

We had a cracking start, which has allowed us to maintain a decent league postion throughout.

[modes98]

Strike force? Are you referring to our decent strikers pluraly? I can only think of one?

Santa Cruz, McCarthy, Roberts, Derbyshire

vs

Baros, Nugent, Utaka, Kanu & Defoe

Interestingly Pompey squad list, It looks like they have stuck Baros' head on someone else's body for the squad picture.

But anyway, ours offer far better value for goals imo. Baros, Nugent and Utaka probably have Derbs' total between them. Getting rid of Benjani has done them in as a major threat against most defences.

[nicko]

Getting rid of Benjani has done them in as a major threat against most defences.

Defoe has scored six goals in six games...and brought them an extra five points in that period.

Equaliser worth a point against Chelsea, one against Sunderland that was worth two points and two more against Birmingham - turning a draw into a win.

He got one against Villa too.

If that's done in then give me some more please.

[LeChuck]

If they're that much better than us how come they're only four points ahead of us?

...and in a cup semi-final.

For what it's worth (nothing) this would be my joint team:

Friedel/James (can't split those two)

Johnson Campbell Distin Warnock

Bentley Muntari Diarra Kranjcar

Santa Cruz Defoe

So that's 7 Portsmouth, 3 us, 1 draw. That alone doesn't tell the whole story either; Portsmouth have a much larger squad, Redknapp has the freedom to chop and change depending on form/opposition, we don't have that luxury. Where we do make up some ground is having a better manager, which explains why there isn't a gulf in points at present.

[PAFELL]

Pompey aren't my favourite team, I just find it hard to escape the following bites of reality...

They have more points.

They are odds on to win the biggest domestic cup.

They have a just as good if not better keeper.

A better defence.

A better midfield.

A better set of strikers.

More strength in depth.

Play more entertaining football. (Certainly IMO)

So; just what was your point again?

Better atmosphere from home supporters

[S15]

Getting rid of Benjani has done them in as a major threat against most defences.

Please say you're joking.

Are you insinuating that selling Benjani and replacing him with Defoe has weakened Pompeys attack?

[Paul Mellelieu]

I give in: Portsmouth, despite not being able to win at home for three months, are far better than the blues.

Hughes out, kids in!

[philipl]

If you took away the 7-4 Reading game, Pompey's other first 11 games at Fratton read W2 D7 L2 F5 A5.

Gripping stuff- at least you can enjoy the bell.

[thenodrog]

That alone doesn't tell the whole story either; Portsmouth have a much larger squad, Redknapp has the freedom to chop and change depending on form/opposition, we don't have that luxury. Where we do make up some ground is having a better manager, which explains why there isn't a gulf in points at present.

And that is the crux of the matter. An increasingly significant problem as we recently are falling behind other teams in this matter. Based of course on wealth. Villa,Spurs, Everton, Mags, Boro, WHU all have more squad depth imo. This means that the likes of Ped would have figured less whilst his form slumped, our midfield would not be under strength and the Axe would have been in the stiffs at Morecambe all season.

imo when the barcodes came 'a courting' Arry he had the board in an armlock and used the situation to

1. match the wages Newcastle offered

and

2. get the money for Defoe.... who really has re-vitalised them.

[nicko]

Maceo Rigters is on his way out on loan...believe he signs for Norwich City. You read it here first [allegedly].

Ryan Nelsen looked good for the reserves, Eddie Nolan is also much better and looks ok while Alex Marrow is lively and useful for a kid from the Trafford Centre.

[tcj_jones]

Come now, Friedel is CERTAINLY the better keeper. I'm surprised to hear people suggesting that he and James are evenly matched and shocked to hear some suggest that he is better.

Our attack is also definitely superior to Pompeys.

I'd keep the same line up as LeChuck, but definitely include Friedel and probably swap Samba for Distin. I don't really know much about Muntari, so not sure about the second centre midfield place.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Maceo Rigters is on his way out on loan...believe he signs for Norwich City. You read it here first [allegedly].

I hope it happens, the lad needs games. Some of my fellow Rovers fans have been very critical about Rigters, but for me he simply hasn't played enough games to form a proper opinion.

[thenodrog]

Maceo Rigters is on his way out on loan...believe he signs for Norwich City. You read it here first [allegedly].

It's one in one out yet again. Is this strict policy for Hughes to follow nowadays?

[Ozz]

Rigters to Norwich eh? At least he's handy for nipping back to Amsterdam.

[S15]

If you took away the 7-4 Reading game, Pompey's other first 11 games at Fratton read W2 D7 L2 F5 A5.

Gripping stuff- at least you can enjoy the bell.

You know how to turn a good stastitic in your favour, tell me, what do our last 11 games at Ewood read, removing NO fixtures?

[Paul Mellelieu]

You know how to turn a good stastitic in your favour, tell me, what do our last 11 games at Ewood read, removing NO fixtures?

Missing the point matey.

As PL points out below.

[philipl]

You know how to turn a good stastitic in your favour, tell me, what do our last 11 games at Ewood read, removing NO fixtures?

W4 D4 L3 F14 A 12 which is obviously a lot less riveting than Pompey's W2 D7 L2 F5 A5. I was only helping the chap who claimed that watching Pompey at Fratton was far better than watching Rovers at Ewood.