Whatever we think about them, we always listen to what they have to say just so we can either applaud them for saying something positive about us (rare) or abuse them for coming out with negatives about Pompey (common). OK, they sometimes get it right but it's often that they'll say something that ends up biting them in the arse eventually. The most famous of them is probably Alan Hansen's "You'll never win the title with kids" when talking about Manchester United back in the early 90's but if you want a more relevant and recent example then take Charlie Nicholas' claim last season that we were certainties to get relegated after about eight games into the season just because we had taken less points per game than Crystal Palace did all of the previous season. I do wonder if he ever did give Milan Mandaric that consolation bottle of bubbly.
Pundits like to make predictions, funnily enough they are paid for it. So I thought if the likes of Mark Lawrenson and Charlie Nicholas can get away with making silly statements without any sort of rational reason (well, reason that can be believed) then so can I! Below are 10 statements about Portsmouth Football Club that I believe will be true by the end of the season. How many do you agree with?
Fratton Faithful Predictions
1) Portsmouth will have 50 points or more by the end of the season.
2) Portsmouth will defeat one of the "big 4" (Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool) on their own ground and at least one the "big 4" will be beaten at Fratton Park.
3) Kanu will hit double figures this season but will not finish as Pompey's top scorer.
4) Portsmouth will keep at least 12 Premiership Clean Sheets this season.
5) Portsmouth will announce a new record signing in January and he will take the number 10 shirt.
6) A former Pompey player will rejoin the club at some point during the season as a member of staff (playing or otherwise).
7) Five Portsmouth players will leave Pompey for good in January.
8) Harry Redknapp will pick up at least one "Manager Of The Month" award but no Pompey players will recieve a "Player Of The Month" award all season.
9) Neither Ben Thatcher or Didier Zokora will feature for their respective teams at Fratton Park this season.
10) Portsmouth Fans will still have no idea about what is happening about the new stadium. (It's October now Storrie and still no word!)
So that's your lot. I await your agreement/abuse!