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Posted by Ben Smith on 10/02/2009

Parallels are being drawn between the Leeds United meltdown and our current crisis. A large portion of the Blue Army have resigned themselves to relegation, to the absolute collapse of the club they love. But I refuse to be counted among those, because the difference between Leeds and Portsmouth is this: we can pull out of this.

In the time that has passed since our historic FA cup win things have not gone well for Pompey. We've seen a man that we shouldn't have trusted leave us, again. We've seen a Russian billionaire go broke we've seen an Arabian "doctor" go broke within his first year of ownership. We've seen player after player leave for greener pastures, plans for a new stadium scrapped, plans for a face lift on Fratton Park scrapped, and now the player's wages aren't even being paid. And now, if that wasn't bad enough, our "doctor"/"owner" is incapacitated.

You might be wondering what I see in this club that makes me think we can pull out of this seemingly never -ending spiral. I'll tell you what I see, I see Paul Hart. A manager that dang near beat Everton last week. A man that loves this club, and even though everyone and their dog was tipping him to be the first dismissal of the season he puts in his best.

I see Peter Storrie. Who tried his level best to buy this club ( a move I honestly would have preferred) and when he was denied, he stayed with us. He did consider quitting recently yes, but he's committed to this football club and there is no one I can think of that I want at this club more than Peter Storrie.

Our squad is a good one; it's one I have confidence in. It's certainly not the best, but so far none of them have refused to play. And that says a whole lot about the class of this squad. They haven't been complaining to the press about the situation, and those that did, are gone.

Saturday we go to play Wolves. It is my whole hearted belief that we will return to Portsmouth victorious. With a dubious record in the past and with a poor start behind us.

I can't do much; I can support the team, support the manager, and support the club as a whole. I only have this blog to tell the world about my belief in Pompey. I can't call the lads up and wish 'em luck. I can't E-mail Paul Hart and give him advice on Tactics. I can't personally thank Peter Storrie for his devotion to Portsmouth, I'm just not that connected. All I can say is, Play Up Pompey, Play Up.

Comments

Posted by MOT on 10/02/2009

Good luck Pompey as a Leeds fan I feel for you.

Posted by b-boy on 10/02/2009

i remember thinking similar things in our relegation season and we had points on the board at this point and were paying players all season! its very hard to get out of the bottom three in the prem and to be brutally honest i cant see you getting out of it because you have sold all your best players! hope you do stay up cos youve got good fans who back the team all the way, good luck. b-boy (leeds fan)

Posted by mightyleeds on 10/02/2009

Your doomed fella-you know why? Cos your kidding yourself, just as we did when we were in melt down. Face up to it now & you may just limit the damamge to relegation not obliteration!
Pinning your hopes on Harty is all well & good, but football's a dog eat dog world & don't kid yourself further that if an offer came in from another club he wouldn't be off before you could shout "play up pompey!"

Posted by malcolm graham on 10/03/2009

I am an American, who had the pleasure of going to Fratton Park and watching my first English soccer match, I mean football match, when on a trip to England. We went to a pub before the match, and conversed with the local Fans.
I can not understand with fans like P.F.C. has, why is the Club in this situation.
P.F.C. has the most loyal supporters of any sport, here or across the pond that I have ever met in my life.
The atmosphere at Fratton Park was something me and my friends still talk about.
Best wishes and a geat thank you, to all the people of Portsmouth City.
PLAY UP POMPEY, POMPEY PLAY UP

Posted by Gibbo27 on 10/03/2009

The reason that parallels are being draw between Leeds United's spectacular meltdown and Pompy's current woes are because Leeds set a benchmark in mismanagement; hence, all clubs that are in a sticky financial situation get compared to Leeds. The term 'doing a Leeds' is now ingrained in footballs vocabulary; clubs such as Newcastle, Luton or actually any club hovering near administration get this tag thrown at them. Fortunately for Leeds United though, we also see the other side of the coin, if any team in history consistently plays perfect football, such as some Arsenal, Manchester United or Liverpool teams have been known to do that team will always be compared to the Great Team of the Revie era... (i thought that I'd just squeeze that one in :)Having followed Leeds United fall with the interest of an emotive hardened fan and the objective fever of a Puesdo academic, do i believe that there is a true comparison... No! Leeds were never punching above their weight in the first place...

Posted by bendy on 10/03/2009

whats up pompey fans? all got your head in the sand? where are you all?

Posted by maxi smankay on 10/19/2009

whats up pompey fans?all got ur head in the sand?the should try to play more of kanu,though he"s a little old but so creative and productive.

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