I can't help but feel disappointed with the way Pompey have forced fans to buy tickets for "silver" games if they wish to purchase a ticket for a "platinum" game.
In case you aren't aware, here are the platinum fixtures with their silver counterparts (platinum fixtures on the left):
Manchester United - Hull City
Tottenham Hotspur - Middlesbrough
Newcastle United - Stoke City
West Ham United - Wigan Athletic
Liverpool - Blackburn Rovers
Chelsea - West Bromwich Albion
Arsenal - Bolton Wanderers
The tickets for the "gold" fixtures against Aston Villa, Everton, Fulham, Manchester City and Sunderland can be bought as normal.
Now whilst this won't matter for me or any other season card holders I have plenty of sympathy for those supporters who are on a budget but will be forced to fork out an extra £38 for a game they can't afford or can't make.
And why on earth are the likes of Tottenham, West Ham and Newcastle considered "platinum" opposition when they all finished well below us (points wise) last season?
For the genuine fans who want to watch Pompey the situation may not be as bad as it first seems.
From all of the "platinum" fixtures only the Man United game is played before its sliver counterpart (Hull) and therefore you could just wait for the silver fixture to be played and then wait for the remaning platinum fixtures to go on sale.
In the club's defence I know Pompey have to do whatever they can to increase income if we're to compete with the clubs with the much bigger stadiums but I believe they're going about it the wrong way.
What was wrong with the traditional category system when games against the most popular opposition were more expensive but games where lower attendances were expected were reduced so fans on a budget could still watch the team they support?
Pompey are already one of the most expensive teams in the league to watch and this "platinum" pricing structure is only going to price out more and more genuine fans who can't afford a season ticket.
The club is dangerously close to crossing the line where people will think "enough is enough" and won't bother paying to watch Pompey at Fratton Park and will seek cheaper alternatives such as viewing illegal internet streams or perhaps going to watch another team altogether.
If you want an example of crossing the line then look at Manchester United. Their season ticket holders were fuming when they were obliged to buy games for all home cup games with it or risk having their season ticket cancelled.
Of course, the club officials don't give a damn because the genuine fans can easily be replaced be the upper class prawn sandwich munchers on the lengthy waiting list.
God forbid we become like that as that will be the day my faith in PFC dies and I sincerely hope that if/when the new stadium arrives that the prices will be accessible for all Pompey supporters.