Saint_lambden Posted September 20 Posted September 20 May as well get this started as weâve got a 3 week build-up to it. Howâs everyone feeling about it then? Letâs compare to a year or so ago when we played them at home: 1) Team playing better than then - albeit still with obvious deficiencies. We know our best team and the home form is good 2) There shouldnât be the same level of nerves as there were for the players that we saw in this fixture last season now that theyâve experienced the atmosphere and got the âhavenât played them in the league for 13 yearsâ out the way 3) Their time wasting/slowing the game down from the off tactics shouldnât have the same impact due to the change in rules since then 4) Iâd argue theyâre in about the same position quality wise, with a number of injuries again. Their 2 wins have come against newly promoted sides but theyâve looked very ordinary against everyone else. Murphy will be out and theyâre pretty patched up at the back. Kavuma-McQueen has added a bit of spark for them but theyâre just functional everywhere else. We know theyâre going to come and try and frustrate us, especially as thatâs the type of set-up we struggle against. 5) We donât know the outcome of Eckertâs FA hearing. If (when) he has a touchline/outright ban, weâre looking at a combination of Lallana/Garner leading the team. Might add to the siege mentality or be a big hindrance. Hopefully weâll have Scienza available and no injuries picked up over the international break, with Jander back in the matchday squad at least. Same starting XI then all being well.  In to the skate bastards. Nervy 2-1 win.Â
Lighthouse Posted September 20 Posted September 20 Sigh... we're going to contrive to not win this fixture again aren't we. The Clinton Baptiste in me is predicting Saints go 1-0 up in an edgy encounter, then we go full Tuchel vs. Argentina. Pompey are stretched chasing a goal and both their CBs are on a yellow and visibly tired. So instead of sending on Mubama and Dobbin to run at them, we bring on Stephens and Bragg for Larin and Scienza and switch to a back five, eventually clinging on for a 1-1 draw after they score from their ninth consecutive corner. 3 3 1
SouthWalesSaints Posted September 20 Posted September 20 (edited) I donât see a world where we donât win this game.  If Tonda is banned the players will âdo it for himâ if heâs not the club will be âglad to have that behind usâ.  Weâve got to much for them and weâll run all over them, not so confident about the away fixture but we beat them. 100%.  Atmosphere is arguably the best itâs been in years at St Maryâs as well. Thatâll help, along with the fact they are 500 down on last season. Edited September 20 by SouthWalesSaints 1
AlexLaw76 Posted September 20 Posted September 20 Tell you what, as a game, it literally cannot be any worse than last seasons effort. 3-1 win (obligatory goal let in) Leo, JwP and the Schlot 1
IFHP Posted September 20 Posted September 20 I think a lot will depend on who our manager is, and how the players react to them. How many mangers have we appointed mid season and got a win in there 1st game? I hope that idiot parsons and Spores have a plan âBâ so to speak when Tonda gets his punishment. im also wondering when we appeal how long it takes to be heard - will it be months or days?  They are a bit of a boogy side in the league , not sure when we last beat them in the league , was in back in 2004 at home?Â
EssEffCee Posted September 20 Posted September 20 We absolutely have to win this after the shambles of last season, nothing less will be good enough. 5th league game in a row where we'll be comfortable favourites and failing to win yet again will be embarrassing. Slight concern is that they seem the sort of side we struggle against, really need Scienza and Jander fit. 3
EssEffCee Posted September 20 Posted September 20 2 minutes ago, IFHP said: I think a lot will depend on who our manager is, and how the players react to them. How many mangers have we appointed mid season and got a win in there 1st game? I hope that idiot parsons and Spores have a plan âBâ so to speak when Tonda gets his punishment. im also wondering when we appeal how long it takes to be heard - will it be months or days?  They are a bit of a boogy side in the league , not sure when we last beat them in the league , was in back in 2004 at home? Yeah played 4 drawn 4 in the league since the 2005 relegation.
Turkish Posted September 20 Posted September 20 If we turn up we win comfortably. They are shite. Weâve got some time to react the Tonda news whatever that is. Anything can happen in a one off game but we should win and if we can get an early goal it should be a fairly straightforward afternoons work 2
Dr Who? Posted September 20 Posted September 20 We have enough to beat them for sure, but it is a a derby. We will score, we will let a goal in and in this one I can see a 1-1. Would be nice to keep our first clean sheet of the season though in 4/5 to nil win! One can dream dream dream
Green Posted September 20 Posted September 20 Weâre going to have three weeks of Portsmyths in the build-up. Wonder if theyâll come up with any new ones? 4
die Mannyschaft Posted September 20 Posted September 20 (edited) Saints 1-1 Pompey.  Edited September 20 by die Mannyschaft
die Mannyschaft Posted September 20 Posted September 20 Oh and I can see Skates making a video like Wrexham just to try to unsettle Saints. Plus others teams jump kn band wagon.Â
whelk Posted September 20 Posted September 20 6 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said: Saints 1-1 Pompey. Thats on the basis of the team we have now and not got any defenders, midfielder or a natural goal scorer to go along sudd Larin or replce. We can't defend corners and Skates ae same as Wrexham bang it along, run lines, bundle it natural corner. We play a possession game that's high risk playing passing triangles af last minute to draw opposition in. I donât think that will work in this game. Scienza will be taken out as that's Skates style. I really hope we have accumulated lots of points before this derby so that a draw is a good result. I dong think Tonda will be back in time if at all, Boro have made it clear what they want and EFL and FA too scared to make own conclusions.  In English please 1 3
Patrick Bateman Posted September 20 Posted September 20 19 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said: Oh and I can see Skates making a video like Wrexham just to try to unsettle Saints. Plus others teams jump kn band wagon. They couldn't afford to do that. Tin pot.
SNSUN Posted September 20 Posted September 20 It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to. Cry if I want to. Cryyyyyy if I want to... Though I hope I don't have to. 6-0 Saints. Dobbin hattrick to be an instant hero.Â
Lighthouse Posted September 21 Posted September 21 5 hours ago, die Mannyschaft said: Saints 1-1 Pompey. Thats on the basis of the team we have now and not got any defenders, midfielder or a natural goal scorer to go along sudd Larin or replce. We can't defend corners and Skates ae same as Wrexham bang it along, run lines, bundle it natural corner. We play a possession game that's high risk playing passing triangles af last minute to draw opposition in. I donât think that will work in this game. Scienza will be taken out as that's Skates style. I really hope we have accumulated lots of points before this derby so that a draw is a good result. I dong think Tonda will be back in time if at all, Boro have made it clear what they want and EFL and FA too scared to make own conclusions. If this is what your dong thinks, I'd suggest using your brain to form opinions instead, from now on. 4
Saint Garrett Posted September 21 Posted September 21 Simply have to, and should comfortably win. They are dogshit, and we are one of the best teams in the league. Internationals returning late/fatigued is a concern, might we see Mubama start?! But we have to be absolutely on it, the fans deserve a decent win against those c*nts. 5
Pamplemousse Posted September 21 Posted September 21 At home, and without their frothing inbred fans attacking our players on the touchline, we should win comfortably. And I'm pretty sure we will. 3-0, easy peasy.
Pamplemousse Posted September 21 Posted September 21 10 hours ago, Green said: Weâre going to have three weeks of Portsmyths in the build-up. Wonder if theyâll come up with any new ones? Any references to our spying should be met with their wrongdoing. Let's start with them taking money off charities - and not a one-off either https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/portsmouth-steep-new-low-pocketing-3359282 https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9703112.portsmouth-fc-owes-more-than-8000-to-charities/ 4
trousers Posted September 21 Posted September 21 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said: Any references to our spying should be met with their wrongdoing. Let's start with them taking money off charities - and not a one-off either https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/portsmouth-steep-new-low-pocketing-3359282 https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9703112.portsmouth-fc-owes-more-than-8000-to-charities/ Alas, that was a different football club... The new club that plays at Fratton Park (incorporated 2012) have never engaged in any off field misdemeanors, to my knowledge... Edited September 21 by trousers 2
EssEffCee Posted September 21 Posted September 21 17 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said: Any references to our spying should be met with their wrongdoing. Let's start with them taking money off charities - and not a one-off either https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/portsmouth-steep-new-low-pocketing-3359282 https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9703112.portsmouth-fc-owes-more-than-8000-to-charities/ "You stole from charity" đ¶ 3
EssEffCee Posted September 21 Posted September 21 This game truly feels season defining. Hate the fact we've got to wait 3 weeks for it.
Football Special Posted September 21 Posted September 21 (edited) Skates have four calls ups now https://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/2026/september/18/two-more-international-call-ups-for-pompey/ We have seven https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/saints-september-and-october-2026-international-guide  I'll be following the Canada matches closely, any injury to Larin will be a huge blow before the game, vital. Also Azaz with Ireland. Any idea if Saints non-internationals are being given a few days away start of this week with such a long break?  Edited September 21 by Football Special
LGTL Posted September 21 Posted September 21 About time we beat these pricks in the league. If we play anywhere near what weâre capable of, it should be comfortable. Theyâre expecting a drilling, hopefully we administer it. 5
JohnnyShearer2.0 Posted September 21 Posted September 21 16 hours ago, SouthWalesSaints said: I donât see a world where we donât win this game.  If Tonda is banned the players will âdo it for himâ if heâs not the club will be âglad to have that behind usâ.  Weâve got to much for them and weâll run all over them, not so confident about the away fixture but we beat them. 100%.  Atmosphere is arguably the best itâs been in years at St Maryâs as well. Thatâll help, along with the fact they are 500 down on last season. I said the same for Lincoln away..... I said the same (as some others did too) for Wrexham away......  1
St Chalet Posted September 21 Posted September 21 It will nice to see an away team in in blue implode for a change. 2
Football Special Posted September 21 Posted September 21 1 hour ago, sockeye said: Mubama to start, imo. Alongside Larin?Â
Gloucester Saint Posted September 21 Posted September 21 3 hours ago, LGTL said: Theyâre expecting a drilling, hopefully we administer it. Itâll make a change from them drilling varieties of stingrays I suppose. 1
SNSUN Posted September 21 Posted September 21 A meaty game for Adam Lallana to get his first taste of managerial experience... đ 1
Harry_SFC Posted September 21 Posted September 21 Surely we are finally going to beat them in the league. Been way too many draws with this lot.Â
Saint_clark Posted September 21 Posted September 21 9 hours ago, trousers said: Alas, that was a different football club... The new club that plays at Fratton Park (incorporated 2012) have never engaged in any off field misdemeanors, to my knowledge... If that's what they want to go with that's fine, they've also never won a league title or FA cup. 1
bpsaint Posted September 21 Posted September 21 Hard to find excitement for this at the moment if Iâm being honest, which I never thought Iâd ever say because I hate those cunts, but with the pending punishment for Tonda incoming and the realistic possibility we go into this game with Ben Garner on the touchline, or Lallana, or a brand new manager entirely I canât find the enthusiasm right now. Â The whole delay in punishment is a complete clusterfuck. 4
Viking Saint Posted September 21 Posted September 21 22 hours ago, EssEffCee said: We absolutely have to win this after the shambles of last season, nothing less will be good enough. 5th league game in a row where we'll be comfortable favourites and failing to win yet again will be embarrassing. Slight concern is that they seem the sort of side we struggle against, really need Scienza and Jander fit. We need Scienza fit and a referee who's going to give him some protection, giving that most team's idea of dealing with him is just to kick lumps out of him 5
LGTL Posted September 21 Posted September 21 59 minutes ago, bpsaint said: Hard to find excitement for this at the moment if Iâm being honest, which I never thought Iâd ever say because I hate those cunts, but with the pending punishment for Tonda incoming and the realistic possibility we go into this game with Ben Garner on the touchline, or Lallana, or a brand new manager entirely I canât find the enthusiasm right now.  The whole delay in punishment is a complete clusterfuck. Know what you mean, to be honest. Aside all of the above, theyâve also completely and utterly ruined the fixture. 12pm, Sunday, stupid fucking bubble. Pompey home and away should be the best two fixtures of the season, but theyâre easily the worst two fixtures thanks to Hants OB and the two clubs. 6
RedArmy Posted September 21 Posted September 21 7 hours ago, LGTL said: About time we beat these pricks in the league. If we play anywhere near what weâre capable of, it should be comfortable. Theyâre expecting a drilling, hopefully we administer it. It wasnât that long ago that we went to Fratton expecting a drilling off them, things felt like they were at rock bottom at the time. I had certainly had enough of Tonda. It turned out to be a proper team performance that kick started our season, despite not being the result we wanted.  Now weâre praying that Tonda is still our manager and expecting a big result.  Funny old game isnât it.Â
Football Special Posted September 21 Posted September 21 1 hour ago, LGTL said: Know what you mean, to be honest. Aside all of the above, theyâve also completely and utterly ruined the fixture. 12pm, Sunday, stupid fucking bubble. Pompey home and away should be the best two fixtures of the season, but theyâre easily the worst two fixtures thanks to Hants OB and the two clubs. Things have to change, need enough of us to get a purchase history at Pompey, get a load of tickets in the Fratton end and spice things up a bitÂ
sockeye Posted September 21 Posted September 21 6 hours ago, sockeye said: Mubama to start, imo. Just seen he's also on international duty... Larin it is...
TheAlehouseBrawlers Posted September 22 Posted September 22 20 hours ago, EssEffCee said: "You stole from charity" đ¶ âSpy, spy, wherever you may be, but he only hid behind a tree, and it could be worse, you cheating skates are thieves, who like to rob from the charitiesâ
benjii Posted September 22 Posted September 22 On 21/09/2026 at 01:38, die Mannyschaft said: Oh and I can see Skates making a video like Wrexham just to try to unsettle Saints. Plus others teams jump kn band wagon. I don't think they can afford to make a video.
Jack Posted September 22 Posted September 22 (edited) On 21/09/2026 at 09:02, Saint Garrett said: They are dogshit, and we are one of the best teams in the league.  Are we though? Weâve barely picked up the same number of points as Stoke. QPR and Bristol City, got 2 points from 4 games away including being beaten by 2 dire teams. Even a couple of the home games that look like comfortable wins on paper, we were under the cosh for long spells and were lucky not to have conceded more.  Weâre far better than Pompey, yes. But there are loads of sides who look far better than us IMO. Edited September 22 by Jack 1
RedArmy Posted September 22 Posted September 22 1 hour ago, Jack said: Are we though? Weâve picked up the same number of points as Stoke. QPR and Bristol City Weâve picked up the same number of points as West Brom and wolves. 3 points less than the league leaders who we beat comfortably. 2
Saint Fan CaM Posted September 22 Posted September 22 (edited) Iâve got contrasting feelings about his one - yes weâre a better team on paper, but I donât think weâve displayed enough so far to suggest weâre anything more than a good mid-table team. The derby always has and always will throw up non-standard resultsâŠitâs their cup finalâŠarguably ours too for many supporters. Weâve got the impending Tonda punishment to overcome and I think thereâs a good chance the FA will throw the book at him just because they can - 3 months ban. This will do nothing to spur on our team to perform any better or somehow raise their game. Inexplicably Capân Jack will start because he hates the skates, so thatâs us down to 10 men. Manning will continue to position himself in no-manâs land and so allow almost every cross into the box, thus playing into Pompey gameplan. Edozie will come on at 70 minutes and demonstrate his ball skills but never get his head up to deliver a decent ball into the box or take a decent shot in target. Then thereâs the risks of international duty and our players getting injured - especially Larin. Score? Almost impossible to say with all the variables, but I reckon 1-1 or even a disaster 1-2. If everything goes our way then 4-1 is not out of the question. Edited September 22 by Saint Fan CaM 1
macca155 Posted September 22 Posted September 22 On 20/09/2026 at 21:21, Lighthouse said: Sigh... we're going to contrive to not win this fixture again aren't we. The Clinton Baptiste in me is predicting Saints go 1-0 up in an edgy encounter, then we go full Tuchel vs. Argentina. Pompey are stretched chasing a goal and both their CBs are on a yellow and visibly tired. So instead of sending on Mubama and Dobbin to run at them, we bring on Stephens and Bragg for Larin and Scienza and switch to a back five, eventually clinging on for a 1-1 draw after they score from their ninth consecutive corner. That sounds horribly familiarÂ
The Wyvern Posted September 22 Posted September 22 21 hours ago, LGTL said: Know what you mean, to be honest. Aside all of the above, theyâve also completely and utterly ruined the fixture. 12pm, Sunday, stupid fucking bubble. Pompey home and away should be the best two fixtures of the season, but theyâre easily the worst two fixtures thanks to Hants OB and the two clubs. Nah, not having this. Regardless of the restrictions, itâs still the game that gets the juices flowing more than any other by a long, long way. Always an extra buzz about the game/town when we play them no matter what. Canât wait.Â
RedArmy Posted September 22 Posted September 22 25 minutes ago, The Wyvern said:  Always an extra buzz about the game/town when we play them no matter what. Canât wait. Thereâs just not, not the same as without bubble anyway. It feels like any other game out and about.  1
Viking Saint Posted September 22 Posted September 22 Why do I have the horrible feeling that Stephens will start this one? 1
The Wyvern Posted September 22 Posted September 22 29 minutes ago, RedArmy said: Thereâs just not, not the same as without bubble anyway. It feels like any other game out and about.  Of course it doesnât.  You telling me itâs just the same as playing Bolton at home? Pubs in town full at 9am on a Sunday if we were playing Norwich? God knows what circles some of you mix in. đ€Ł Â
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