Nostradamus

OK, this is my 100th post.  It was going to be a grandoise list of things that I like and reasons, but I got to 34 and ran out of ideas, so instaed, I will write about the European Draw. 

This morning Pompey were drawn with Dutch side Heerenveen, FC Braga from Portugal, Wolfsburg from the Bundesleague and AC Milan.  Its a bit of an odd set up, where the top 3 go through from the group and we play 2 teams at home, and 2 away. 

So first up for us is a trip to Portugal to play Braga, a few miles down the road from our rivals in the last round Vitoria Guimerias.  Should be an interesting night as they are now higher in the league than Vitoria.  Nostradamus Spex says Draw

Next up for us, on a hopefully wet and rainy night at Fratton Park is AC Milan, I can’t imagine Kaka being up for that kind of evening.  Nostradamus Spex says Draw

Wolfsburg away, thats a tricky one, the Bundesleague has been a bit mixed this season with most of the big teams struggling,  I reckon we might stand a good chance here. Nostradamus Spex says Away Win.

Heerenveen have just beaten Ajax 5-1, which could be a good indicator for Aston Villa who have them in the groupstage, but not for us.  They are supposed to be a good team, but I believe we can take them at home.  Nostradamus Spex says Home win.

OK, I am usually terrible at predictions, but I think we will get through the group and into the knockout stages, I think that we will be there with AC Milan and Wolfsburg, but I could be wrong, and probably will be.

By the way, I may finish the list at some point, but I probably won’t.

Bring on the Second Leg

OK, Pompey did it, a great 2-0 win at home last night.  Now we just have the task of not losing 3-0 during the away leg. 

The performance was probably one of the best that I have seen from us, and Diarras goal was a classic.  OK, we were lucky with their penalty hitting the bar, and Defoes penalty was a bit rubbish (Obviously he was never told as a schoolboy to follow up on your run just incase) but he looked lively and dangerous all night.

Other good points from the night included Belhadj down the left who is looking a little useful (I hope that we sign him properly at the end of his loan spell) and Armand Traore putting in another good performance, I suspect that he will be back on his way to Arsenal at the end of the season.

Player of the night though was Lassiana Diarra who was busy in midfield, making tackles when he needed to and taking play forward at every available opportunity.

Can’t wait for the 2nd leg in Portugal now, I wish I was going.

UEFA Cup

As I sit at my desk eating my Greggs Chicken Mango sandwiches drinking my Dr Pepper, wondering why mylunchbreak has been reduced to this, I am happy in the Knowledge that I am being allowed out of work an hour early so that I can make sure that I get in in time to watch the football.  Got to love Flexi Time.

Yes, Portsmouth are in Europe for the first time, playing Vitoria Guimaraes who came 4th in the Portugese league ahead of Benfica.  I have an impending sense of doom that our foray into the UEFA cup could be a short one, but you never know, Harry has a decent team and they might surprise me. 

But I have my keg of beer and some friends coming over so it will be a good night, its a shame its on channel 5 though because the commentary will be crap.  Also the fact that it has to start at 6 is a bit of a bummer, luckily I will miss the traffic though.

Right lunch has finished now, i’ll see you later.