the way the fixtures are set up....

[Nic83]

Gives us an unbelievable advandate in the quest for our first premiership honours.

Nearly all the biggest games are separted with 'easy' games in between and even more importantly, our first 10 fixtures (on paper) should give us the majority of points available.

If we beat Villa away and West ham home, which we should do, it will stand us in good stead to get on over on Chelsea early on in our third match (home). Then if you look at the next 6/7 fixtures, they are the easiest string of fixtures possible and we could really open up a lead at the top of the table early on.

And if we get our 2 "top quality" players that we've been promised, we really do have a fantastic chance this season of winning the league. And yes, I realise we say this every season but with our defense and the midfield which Rafa has assembled, and the brilliance of Rafa himself; with that flair midfielder and top class forward to play with Crouchy( who is invaluable in the flow of our play) I think we will be the best team next season and won't be caught if we get a start.

[Shaggy]

Has anyone seen Portsmouth's opening half dozen fixtures or so?

[Nic83]

No, i take it all the top 4?

[Shaggy]

Portsmouth's first six games:

Derby (a)
Manchester United (h)
Bolton (h)
Chelsea (a)
Arsenal (a)
Liverpool (h)

[Shaggy]

Anyway Nic, yeah, I agree. Villa away isn't ideal (will we *ever* get a ****ing home game to start with again?) and nor is Chelsea for our first home game, but if we come through those unscathed then the world will be our oyster.

On paper at least, September looks very 'manageable' - they might as well give Benitez the September manager of the month now.

[Tee]

Gives us an unbelievable advandate in the quest for our first premiership honours.

Nearly all the biggest games are separted with 'easy' games in between and even more importantly, our first 10 fixtures (on paper) should give us the majority of points available.

If we beat Villa away and West ham home, which we should do, it will stand us in good stead to get on over on Chelsea early on in our third match (home). Then if you look at the next 6/7 fixtures, they are the easiest string of fixtures possible and we could really open up a lead at the top of the table early on.

And if we get our 2 "top quality" players that we've been promised, we really do have a fantastic chance this season of winning the league. And yes, I realise we say this every season but with our defense and the midfield which Rafa has assembled, and the brilliance of Rafa himself; with that flair midfielder and top class forward to play with Crouchy( who is invaluable in the flow of our play) I think we will be the best team next season and won't be caught if we get a start.

That post has left me feeling rather optimistic now.

I just hope we are able to keep our nerve if we get in front.

[Montana]

We've also got Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea at home first unlike last year when all 3 were away first and were defeats. If we can win these games at home it will give us a great chance.

[donpisci]

We've also got Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea at home first unlike last year when all 3 were away first and were defeats. If we can win these games at home it will give us a great chance.

That'll be a great help, especially if we get results. However, it's all well and good beating these at home, but we really need to start turning the ****ty away draws to crap teams into wins.

That will benefit us more than anything.

[BK84]

i take it no one has noticed these little 3 games we have in a row in late march/early april when we'll HOPEFULLY need to be at our best, aswell as HOPEFULLY having games in the CL and FA Cup

Man Utd (a)
Everton (h)
Arsenal (a)

bring it on...

[Nic83]

Anyway Nic, yeah, I agree. Villa away isn't ideal (will we *ever* get a ****ing home game to start with again?) and nor is Chelsea for our first home game, but if we come through those unscathed then the world will be our oyster.

On paper at least, September looks very 'manageable' - they might as well give Benitez the September manager of the month now.

*checks PP*

*puts 3K on*

[The_weatherman]

Portsmouth's first six games:

Derby (a)
Manchester United (h)
Bolton (h)
Chelsea (a)
Arsenal (a)
Liverpool (h)

Has Redknapp not said anything about this? This is rotten luck...if luck has anything to do with it

[Mwnci]

Gives us an unbelievable advandate in the quest for our first premiership honours.

Nearly all the biggest games are separted with 'easy' games in between and even more importantly, our first 10 fixtures (on paper) should give us the majority of points available.

If we beat Villa away and West ham home, which we should do, it will stand us in good stead to get on over on Chelsea early on in our third match (home). Then if you look at the next 6/7 fixtures, they are the easiest string of fixtures possible and we could really open up a lead at the top of the table early on.

Whoa there horsie!!

Villa away is our first game, followed not by West Ham but by Chelsea, interspersed with a handful of Champions league qualifiers!

Who knows - we may be facing Chelsea after just returning from Azerbaijan or somwhere similar. Don't count chickens.

[Warren]

Who knows - we may be facing Chelsea after just returning from Azerbaijan or somwhere similar. Don't count chickens.

They're normally out by that stage though

[GordonGecko]

Has anyone seen Portsmouth's opening half dozen fixtures or so?

Portsmouth's first six games:

Derby (a)
Manchester United (h)
Bolton (h)
Chelsea (a)
Arsenal (a)
Liverpool (h)

**SHUDDER**

Derby away

[Morph]

Portsmouth's first six games:

Derby (a)
Manchester United (h)
Bolton (h)
Chelsea (a)
Arsenal (a)
Liverpool (h)

But in all seriousness, thats a disgrace, hardly give them a chance to get up and running