You win the manager of the month award, and lose your next game.
You sign "the next Henry", but he only plays twice and then goes back home in a sulk.
As sure as night follows day, these things happen in football. And what's this got to do with anything?
"Ye, it was so; when upon a new manager were appointed, he shall win his first match in charge".
Alright, so there are some exceptions - Harry took control of us and we didn't win for five months - but on the whole, when the new gaffer strolls in, the team is lifted, players know their future is on the line, and it's time to impress.
This is where Blackburn, Saturday's opponents, come in. On first glance at the fixture, it might be time to start rubbing your hands with glee. Two points from five matches? That's RUBBISH! What's that you say? They even lost to Southampton? What a bunch of mugs! And - get this - they were one of only two teams we beat away from home in the league last season! Surely it can't get any better? Well, it was looking quite rosey until Mark "Dirty Scummer" Hughes went and stuck his nose in it.
Pompey fans have a special connection with Hughes. First of all, there's the fact we turned down the chance to sign him in 1993, a move than can now be filed under "M" for "Mildly Careless". Then, there's the fact that he joined Southampton. Finally, the last time he came to Fratton Park - for Blackburn, as it happens - he kicked lumps out of anything that dared to breathe, and by a sad turn of fate the referee left his guide dog at home that day. Now, Hughes has the potential to upset us again - as I'm sure you know, and as this article has been desperately leading to, Hughes has just been appointed manager of Blackburn, and we're the first team he plays!
As an international manager Hughes has done well, nearly leading Wales to Euro 2004. Alright, so he didn't, but "nearly" isn't bad, considering the players that Wales have to work with. Whether or not he can stand up to the daily rigours of club management is another factor altogether, especially given the fact that he only has two days to organise his squad - a squad that haven't been training since Souness decided to kidnap the entire coaching staff and take them to Newcastle for company. Still, Hughes can't be that bad - he even got the OBE, although to be honest I can't really work out exactly what he's done to deserve that. "Congratulations Mark, you're the manager of an average international side and you have a silly little tuft of hair, here's a medal" - still, I digress.
Can we beat the curse? I hope so, and towards the end of the week (Friday, if you're well behaved), there'll be a full preview of the weekend's clash. In the meantime, lose sleep over the fact that we're not just up against Blackburn Rovers - we're up against evil black magic!