Interview with a Pompey fan
Monday, 24th Mar 2014 19:35 by Col

Pompey come to town on Tuesday night, and we've had a few words with one of their fans as part of the build up.

1) Who are ya, and how long have you supported Pompey?

My name is Tony and I've supported Pompey for 39 years

2) Best manager / player / Pompey match?

Best manager would have to be Alan Ball, the man just oozed passion for the club and the game. Best player would have to be Robert Prosinecki, how the hell he ended up playing for us god only knows, he was worth the admission fee alone. FA Cup semi-final v Spurs in 2010. We had been relegated the day before and nobody gave us a prayer, we won 2-0 and Judas Redknapp was twitching like mad.

3) Worst manager / player / Pompey match?

Richie Barker, no question, the man is utterly useless. Worst player would have to be Carl Tiler, ex Forest Centre half, truly awful. Sunderland away in 1993, going for promotion to the Premiership, last away game of the season and about 6000 went up, a draw would have sufficed but we lost 4-1. A long, quiet trip home.

4) Right, when we headed down to yours earlier this season, you were one of the best teams we've played all season. So where has it all gone wrong?

I wish I knew. You were unlucky as that is the only game we've played where we looked good. The team is playing with no confidence, if we go a goal behind generally it's game over.

5) Is Barker the right man in charge?

Most definitely not, he is tactically inept, has no man management skills and within 2 months had lost the crowd. The sooner he is gone the better.

6) How much of a hindrance is the financial stuff? Because from the outside, you'd assume with the revenue from your crowds and parachute payments, you'd be able to walk this league with your eyes shut.

The parachute payments are being used to settle outstanding debt, we can't currently buy players without Football League approval so the team is made up of freebies, out of contract players and people in on loan so yes the financial burden is having an effect, no complaints from me though, the financial wrongdoings of past regimes needs to be addressed.

7) How appealing is a midweek trip to Rochdale?

It's not ideal obviously, we would probably have had a following of at least 1000 had it been on a Saturday so probably only half of that will make the trip.

8) What will be the abiding memory of your season in League Two?

What a crap hole Hartlepool is.

9) Any predictions for the game?

Barker will set out for a 0-0, you'll score and that will be game over as he has no Plan B. I can't see anything other than a home win, we obviously both need the points but for different reasons, I'd be happy with a point.

Photo: Action Images

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